• My eyes opened and I had the faint sense of being inside a hut. I couldn't quite grasp where I was until I heard a familiar voice.
    "Oh. You're awake." I turned my head and saw exactly who I didn't want to see. General Ambres was sitting next to me with a wet rag in his hands. I tried to stand up, but my ankle gave way. It was swollen to an enormous size.
    "Why are you taking care of me?" I grunted as I sat back down. Ambres pushed me back down so that I was lying down once more. He pressed the rag against my forehead.
    "I made a promise to someone that I needed to keep." He looked down. "Your father asked me to watch out for you. He told me to keep you from the battlefield." He looked back at me, an apologetic look on his face. "I'm sorry I did not tell you this from the beginning."
    I sat up. "So basically, my father ordered you to keep me cooped up for the rest of my life before he died?" I shook my head. "He can't do this. I'm grown now."
    "He needed me to assure him you would live on. I promised him and I intend to keep that promise." I turned to him. "Then promise me something." He nodded and said, "Depends what you want me to agree to."
    "I want you to promise me that you will help me get stronger." Ambres seemed to consider it for a moment, then he nodded twice. "That I can agree to. I swear upon my life that I will help you get stronger, but first we have to heal your ankle. Sorry about that." He frowned, but I smiled at him. "I know how not to attack someone now. Don't make the first move." He nodded and smiled. "I've already made you stronger in one sense of the word. Let's get you to the hospital hut soon. It's better we get your ankle healed than we just sit here."