The days spent with Kedes were brutal, and completely exhausting, filled with sweat, bruises, and an endless ringing of metal grinding against wood.
In the mornings, the air felt thick with mist rising from Dragon Tooth's colony's wild undergrowth, the smell of wet earth and overripe fruit hanging in the air.
All of that was happening, and Jonan found himself standing in the arena, spear in hand, with Kedes staring at him.
"Grip it tighter," Kedes barked, his voice coarse like gravel. "The spear isn't some stick you wave at your enemy. It's a limb, treat it like one, lose it, and you lose your life."
Jonan obeyed with a nod, and he started adjusting his stance, and he started feeling the rough wood press against his palm.
Kedes demonstrated again. His feet were planted on the ground, his spear was held not too high nor too low, and then he gave a thrust like a viper's strike.
The natives of Dragon Tooth fought differently than the warriors Jonan had trained with in Starfall.
