Page 10 of The Heir's Bargain

A smile tugged at the corner of Quint's lips. I bit back my laughter, opting instead to take another sip of water.

Slowly, others filed in around us, heaving and downing water as if it would rejuvenate them and extinguish the pain piercing through their limbs. While my body ached, a charged energy flowed through me. The anticipation of the upcoming announcement had me bouncing on my toes with nerves that even an hour-long obstacle course couldn't smother.

Having joined us, Sylvia, the lieutenant of one of my platoons, leaned forward with a broad smile splitting across their face. "I heard that promotions are happening today." They wiggled their ginger brows at me.

"Oh?" I diverted my gaze to the obstacle course once more, watching the soldiers run across the finish line.

For weeks, I had known promotions were happening today. I supposed there were some perks to having your father as the commander of the military.

Yet, had he told me who was being promoted? Of course not. That would have been too easy. If my father taught me anything, it was that when we were in uniform, bloodlines were nonexistent. All that mattered was rank and your squad.

Leaning back on their heels with their hands folding behind their back, Sylvia shoved my shoulder. "Oh, come on, Captain."

I held back my smirk. "What, Lieutenant Larpos?"

"It has to be you. I mean, you were the first to finish the course, and your leadership is unparalleled. Who else could it possibly be?"

Sylvia had a point. Even if I hadn't finished first, the soldiers in the companies under my command ran like a well-oiled ship preparing for a storm. Everyone knew their job and their position. I hadn't dedicated my entire life to learning the proper way to lead, different strategies, and the history of the seven kingdoms to be passed up for a promotion. Winning today's obstacle course was simply sharpening a well-worn blade.

At only forty years old, Major Kentos was retiring, which meant his position would soon be vacant.

Why anyone would retire from such a prestigious position was beyond me. I would rather die in the military than spend the remainder of my life wandering aimlessly. It was how my grandfather died, my great-grandfather died, and the ones before him. And as much as I did not want to think about the day ever coming, it would no doubt be how my father went. It was who the Ferrioses were. The fight was in the blood that ran through our veins. We were born warriors, and we would die as warriors.

I didn't want my name to be another Ferrios in the history books, though. I wanted my legacy to live on for centuries after I traveled to the Beneath.

While I might have been young, I had proven my ability and skill time and time again.

Major was the obvious next step.

And it was within my reach. I could feel it.

We stretched as we waited for the rest of the soldiers to finish the obstacle course. Moris and Sylvia joked together, placing bets to see who would finish last, but I barely heard them. My attention was fixed on the leaders gathering upon the raised platform.

As if he could feel my eyes on the stage, my father turned. For a second, despite our uniforms, he was only my father as he winked, his mouth twitching up.

The moment vanished too quickly, though, for the stern commander returned and gave me his back once more.

When the last soldiers filed in, the commander's secretary whistled.

Canteens were discarded haphazardly across the benches as everyone lined up before the leaders. The only noise that ripped through the silence was the ragged wheezes of those still trying to regain their normal breathing. Several soldiers—more than usual—had been directed to the healer tents to recover.

Nevertheless, my father began. "Great job out there today, soldiers. As you all know, physical fitness is important to any soldier's well-being." His gaze scanned the crowd, and he took his time, looking at each company, each platoon. "You are the ones in the front lines—the ones who are the first to the action. If you cannot carry one of your own off the field in the heat of battle, you are a risk to the rest of your squad and the rest of your platoon—a risk to Pontia. If you are not strong enough to fulfill your duties, that is on you. But the weight does not solely lay on your shoulders. Your leaders—lieutenants, captains, majors, marshals, and generals—have trained you. If you fail, they fail. You will only go as far as they have led you because, at the end of the day, there is more to a well-trained military than their physiques."

"But a good physique does give us something nice to look at," Sylvia mumbled behind me, and Moris snickered beside them.

I wiped the amusement from my lips when the commander glanced at my company.

My father continued, "Strong morals, values, and communication are also a necessity. A company can only go so far without those things." He looked toward Major Kentos, who had joined him. "Major Kentos, you have led your soldiers well—better than most, if I am to be frank. However, you have set yourself a new goal, a new mission to look forward to as you put your own family first."

Behind them, Kentos' wife sniffled on the stage as she pulled out a handkerchief.

My father winked at the major. "Your second family, however, will always be here if you ever get bored in retirement."

Major Kentos laughed but shook his head. "I have given the majority of my life to our kingdom. It is about time I give some to my wife."

"About damn time," his wife said through sniffles, and the crowd of soldiers laughed.

When the noise died down, my father added, "It is with sadness that we must fill your position with another, but I know that you have trained your successor well."

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