The Soldier

The Soldier is about another son of Ca'laer Gardon Bloodclaw, Ca'ler Hotar Bloodclaw. This is a part of The Heirs of Zyainor Volume One.

## Synopsis

Ca'ler Hotar Bloodclaw's story about his experience in the Zyaise Army.

## Story

January, 20 Z. R.

He parried the strike that was aimed at his head and punched his enemy in the stomach. The attacker moaned and was distracted enough to allow him move his sword so that he would cut the head off. He stopped when the blade had almost touched the neck. He removed the blade after his enemy had accepted defeat. He stuck his sword in its sheath and handed the sword to his opponent. They nodded and went different ways. Lord Thanok, who had watched the battle with crossed arms, still stood there, showing no emotion. "Acceptable." was all that he said as the young man passed by. Hotar hadn't expected anything else from his teacher. Thanok was hardly satisfied with, well, ANYTHING. He was a harsh teacher and in his younger years, Hotar had hated the dragon in human disguise, but as time went on, he had come to understand that Thanok was the best teacher he could've asked for. His father had told him once that Thanok had drilled his army into shape during the war - and Hotar could see that no one would want to get on the bad side of that guy, even if he wasn't capable of turning into a dragon and burning someone alive. On the way to his tent, Hotar met the soldier whom he had just defeated in combat along with another soldier. He smiled at the man and went to him. They shook hands. "Well fought, young Ca'ler! If this would have been a real fight, I would be dead now." the soldier congratulated him. "Thank you for not holding back. I wouldn't have wanted to win because of that." Hotar said. The soldier and his companion laughed. "You don't need us to hold back, Ca'ler Hotar. You are a very skilled warrior, despite your youth. Lord Thanok has trained you well." he said. After a short conversation, Hotar said goodbye and went off into his tent after telling them he'd meet them later this evening for a few drinks. "What do you think about him?" the companion asked. "A good soul and a good soldier. I'd gladly share a drink with him on any occasion. I'd also fight on his side on any day or night, no matter against whom." the other soldier replied.

Inside his tent, Hotar put his weapons into the racks and looked on his bed. Smiling, he took off his clothes and laid down next to the woman lying there. He kissed her on the backside of her neck. "Mhhh, I was sleeping." was the reply with played annoyance and the woman smiled at him. They kissed. She was Laura Greendale, a recruit a few years older than Hotar, whose mother had served under the command of both Thanok and Gardon during the Second Voidwar. Hotar and Laura had grown close quickly. He liked her, she was a honest person with sharp tongue and an open heart. Thanok knew of their relationship, but never commented on it. Hotar was not sure if the dragon didn't mind or didn't care. "The old dragon let you fight long today, huh? Is the dragon not proof enough that you're a skilled warrior?" she asked. Hotar shrugged. It was two months since Thanok had sent him onto a mountain where a red drake had resided. He wanted Hotar to kill it. It had been a dangerous encounter, but Hotar had managed to slay the beast, however he had been severly wounded and had been injured for weeks. This had been his first battle in a while. "I guess he wants to make sure that I am still in shape." he replied and stood up. "He's a good teacher from what I can tell - even if everyone is scared of him. Hard to believe that he still finds the time to bark at us recruits when he has a duchy to rule." Laura said and stood up as well, grabbing her clothes. They were going to meet with the other soldiers later. "Maybe it is his dragon magic that allows him to do multiple things at the same time?" Hotar quipped. Laura gave him a playful slap. "Come on, let's go." she said and left the tent. Hotar stopped before the exit and looked back towards the desk. On it stood the impaled head of the red drake. One day, he would slay one of the big red dragons as well. One day...