In the early morning two days after Darian left, Einar was standing in front of 50 slaves who were between 16 and 25 years old. All of them had families and all were married to a woman.
Staring at them, Einar placed his hands on his back as he walked through the assembled slaves. After seeing them completely, he began to walk to a small, specially prepared wooden platform.
"Today will be remembered in the annals of our history as the rise of the intelligence organization of our people, whose code name will be the eyes of Odin.
I have chosen each of you because you meet the requirements to be trained in the art of espionage, although for the moment you will only be in charge of caring for and protecting our entire tribe.
I want you to remember that your work will be of the utmost importance because if something were to happen in the tribe, your families and the tribe will be in danger, so you must obey the rules and commands that are given to you.
If you are ordered to kill, you will do it without blinking. If you are ordered to befriend the enemy you will do it, but even more important if you are asked to do something impossible you will do it.
Each mission will be absolute because if they cannot be completed it will mean the end of our tribe and their families, I know that many of you are not going to like these words but I want you to know that as important workers in the tribe.
You will receive privileges that range from obtaining subsidies from the tribe to being able to buy your freedom yourself or simply get it because of the merit you have achieved.
You do not have to worry about your families because if something happens to you, you will receive a stable income every month so that you can live with a decent quality of life. Also, remember that missions that are impossible may cost you your life.
Because the difficulty of the task will be so high that an error could mean your death, but as I have already told you if you do not do it, someone else will have to do it, because the future of the tribe will depend on it.
But how the organization is going to work and what things they will do, I will finish by explaining it when I finish this course, which will last 2 months, in which you will receive hellish training.
I will teach them to receive orders, to write and read, they will learn how to use tools and most importantly, they will learn how to end life when asked. "
After Einar finished speaking, he pointed to some boxes containing a few chicks.
"Each of you will take a chick and you will have to take care of it throughout the training, you will have to give it a name and spend all your free time with it."
All the young slaves began to walk towards where the boxes with the chicks were located.
Einar just sighed silently as each of them took their pet.
'To think that I would have to repeat special forces training in this place, I still remember how I had to kill my chicken to prepare my meal that day.
It is something cruel, but it has to be done. Perhaps the only good thing is that firearms do not yet exist so it is not possible that they have to suffer things like the ones I experienced ... '
Einar only remembered a little of some bloody fights against organized crime that he had in the mountains, so he had to shake his head as he regained his composure.
When all the slaves had their chicks in their hands, Einar directed them to return to line up as ordered.
As they were all in their places, Einar stroked his mustache and pointed to some wooden houses behind the slaves.
"Behind you are the temporary barracks that you will have to use while you build a real building that you can call barracks.
You will sleep, eat and take care of all this place because it will be where you will have to work in order to become true intelligence leaders.
You will be able to see their family only during the weekends but if you do not respect the rules or cannot with the training, you will be punished and they will be quartered.
So you will have to spend their weekends completely alone and you will have to do social work in the camp on a mandatory basis.
Because you were chosen by me after analyzing your situation, you will be receiving a weekly salary of 5 silver coins and all their meals within the camp will be guaranteed.
This way none of you will go hungry or have to sacrifice your source of income.
But the most important rule is that all of you are going to be here for two months and even if you try to escape, you will not be able to leave this place.
Was what I said completely clear? "
All the slaves shouted, "Yes, herald Einar !!"
Einar nodded and pointed to them "From this moment you will start his training, first you will have to prepare their place of residence.
Inside each of these wooden houses, you will find a bed, a wooden trunk, the houses have a capacity for only 10 people.
So you will have to choose wisely because you will be sharing the same room for the next two months.
When you have chosen your place of residence, I want you to go to the kitchen because you will have to prepare your food for yourself.
After eating you will have to come to this place because I will tell you what do you have to do. "
When he finished speaking, Einar got off the platform where he was standing and, after bending down, he took a somewhat large hourglass.
Which he placed on the platform while turning it over "This hourglass will take the time you have to do the orders I told you.
If the sand in the clock runs out and you are not in this place, I will be forced to punish absolutely all of you, because for one all will pay.
In this place, you will learn to do teamwork by hook or by crook.
Now start moving, for your time is running out. "
After saying those words, the slaves began to run towards the wooden houses that were behind them.
While they did, they held their little chickens as if they were the most precious thing in the world, for none of them wanted to find out what would happen if they were killed.
Aiken, one of the many young slaves who had been selected, did not hesitate to enter one of the five houses there were.
Because he did not know anyone, he did not worry about his future roommates. When he entered, he looked at the ten beds that were divided into 2 rows with five beds each.
It did not take him more than three seconds to choose the bed that was at the bottom in one corner, this is why he realized that it was far from the wooden window.
'The last thing I want is to be cold at night, plus being near the door is also a real problem.
Good thing I could choose… '
When he reached the bed he had chosen, he opened his drawer and left his little chicken inside.
"Very well, Mildred, you will stay in this place. It is not the most comfortable, but I am sure that you will not be able to suffer an accident.
At the moment, just wait for my training to finish so I can get back to you. "
The chick just looked doubtfully at the human who was talking to him, so he just settled inside the trunk and decided to sleep.
Aiken just sighed due to the chick's strange behavior 'I must find some worms or some bread so he can eat.
Otherwise, he may be dead tomorrow. '
Closing the trunk, Aiken decided to go to the kitchen to help make the food, because he knew that if he was one of those who prepared it, it was possible that he could eat a little more.
Which would be quite good since he didn't know how much the training would demand of him. When he left the wooden house he began to walk towards what appeared to be a makeshift area that was covered by a wooden roof.
In the place, he could see a wood stove as well as a large table and a sink that had a small water well next to it.
When he arrived the first thing he did was washing his hands with soap in the sink. When he finished he looked seriously at the slave who seemed to be directing everyone.
"I am Aiken and I would like to be able to help with anything where it may be necessary."
The slave who was using a knife to remove the scales from a fish raised his head and looked at the slim young man with brown hair and blue eyes.
"I see that you have already washed your hands. That is a point in your favor, but if you want to help take an ax and start chopping wood as we need a constant supply."
Aiken nodded and went to a pile of wood where there was a tree stump and an ax. After taking the ax in his hand he put a piece of wood on the stump and cut it.
Seeing how the two halves of the wood fell, Aiken could only sigh because he knew that this activity was going to tire him, but even knowing that he made all his efforts to complete his task.
After some time and already quite tired, the slave leader walked over to where he was and handed him a good plate of fish stew.
"You have done well, Aiken, but now you must eat as you must regain energy because the herald's hourglass seems to only have a quarter of sand."
Aiken gave the slave leader a smile and asked, "May I know your name?"
The slave leader laughed at the surprise of the question so he patted Aiken on the shoulder "I am Drew, a 25-year-old slave, maybe after training I will tell you some of my stories but for now eat we all have to be trained in a timely manner.
When the hourglass reaches the end. "