He stood with outstretched arms, his eyes covered, and breathing in a slow deep rhythm. His keen ears could hear the soft footsteps of the three men circling him, looking for an opening, waiting to strike. The assailant to his rear moved in first, he heard the man's armor shift signaling an overhand strike. Tobias sidestepped the clumsy attack and in one alacritous motion drew his own blade and brought the flat side down across his foe's back dropping him to his knees. As he brought his armor clad thigh up across the man's chin he could hear his other two attackers moving into flanking positions to charge him. The sound of their hurried steps let Tobias know their angle of attack and the folly with which they made it. He crouched to one knee, swept his right leg in a large circle and brought both men to the ground. His blade streaked through the air like a falling comet ringing mightily as it found the helmet of one of the men knocking him into darkness. His last foe stood and took out his knife, tossing it to the side in hopes to distract the invincible warrior. Tobias turned to where the knife collided with the dusty ground of the training circle and prepared for the incoming attack. His attacker, now sure he had the advantage, sprung to the general's rear to bring his sword to target only to find the hilt of Tobias's longsword across his cheek, breaking his jaw. The man, blood pouring from his mouth, collapsed in intense agony as Tobias removed the shroud covering his eyes. He stood looking down at the defeated men and returned his blade to its scabbard as the cheers of onlookers rose across the courtyard. He strode across the yard to a table where sat a large wooden bucket. He took a cup dipped it within and drew the fresh water to his lips. Garin, Tobias's captain, stepped upside the old general and placed his hand upon his shoulder.
"You are getting old General." He said in a lighthearted tone, "five years ago that dog would never have gotten a second attack."
Tobias smiled, "Five years ago your arm would already be on the ground for such a jest." The two men laughed and sat upon a bench beside the table. Tobias became more serious now, staring out across the courtyard with a furrowed brow. "These conscripts are terrible Captain, have we nothing better?"
The captain nodded in agreement, "We have taken every able man in the city and surrounding farms, this is the lot we have drawn."
Tobias stood up to refill his cup. "Then we need to look beyond the immediate area and draw recruits from the distant villages of the empire." Garin's face reflected his shock at the general's idea. "You do not agree captain?"
Garin rose and held out his arm to his long time compatriot. "The loyalty of the outer villages is weak General but if you command it it will be done." Tobias grasped the captains arm and they locked for a moment gripping each others forearm.
"Do it."
Garin gave a slight bow of respect to his leader, "consider it done sir."
As the captain walked out of the courtyard Tobias sized up the remainder of the conscripts before him. He placed his cup back upon the table, walked back to the training ring and pointed out three new men. He tied the shroud back around his eyes, returned to his neutral stance and commanded "Come at me dogs!"
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