Leon was certain he could win.
The stranger hadn't awakened. Neither had Leon, but his sixteenth birthday was only a few days away, and he had trained since childhood. Rowan looked as though a hard shove would knock him over.
"That's enough," the guard said. "He came to watch."
"Please let me try."
Rowan's answer caught Leon by surprise.
"It's only a spar. Nobody's trying to kill anyone." He glanced toward the wooden swords. "I've just learned something. I want to see if I can do it."
"Learned something?" the guard asked.
Rowan scratched beside his ear.
"I only found out about foundations today. Everyone here has been preparing for years. I haven't even started."
Leon laughed.
"Today? Where have you been living?"
Two students exchanged looks. Someone whispered a question about who Rowan was, but he had already gone to the rack.
Someone on the benches whispered, "Where's he from?"
"Who brought him?"
"He doesn't look rich."
"How did he get here?"
