The Anvil (87 page)

Tom
smiled
and
yelled
“
Everyone
listen
!
I
am
Tom
,
your
new
leader
.
So
please
line
up
.
We
will
be
getting
special
shields
.
But
until
we
get
them
use
your
own
.”
most
the
men
simply
sat
and
laughed
.
Tom
looked
at
them
for
a
moment
then
saw
a
man
who
would
fit
his
purpose
.
He
walked
over
and
shook
his
hand
. “
What
is
your
name
?”
Tom
asked
“
My
name
is
Joseph
Yon
.”
the
man
replied
.
Tom
whispered
“
Mind
if
I
use
you
to
show
I
am
the
new
leader
.”
the
man
laughed
“
As
long
as
it
’
s
a
fight
.”
and
Tom
nodded
.
The
two
walked
a
little
distance
away
and
got
ready
.
Tom
took
his
practice
axe
out
and
spread
his
wings
.
He
leapt
at
Joseph
,
who
lifted
his
shield
to
block
his
strike
,
but
Tom
had
planned
on
this
.

He
landed
with
all
his
weight
and
momentum
behind
him
and
send
the
other
man
stumbling
back
.
Tom
followed
up
and
swung
his
axe
,
Joseph
blocked
it
with
his
shield
,
but
Tom
stepped
in
slammed
his
shield
against
his
chest
.
Then
Tom
swung
his
axe
at
the
man
’
s
neck
,
stopping
it
just
in
time
as
Joseph
was
too
slow
. “
Now
do
you
all
believe
I
am
your
new
leader
?”
Tom
asked
,
this
time
they
all
agreed
.

Joseph
was
one
of
the
best
warriors
they
knew
and
this
boy
had
defeated
him
easily
.
They
were
almost
ready
to
believe
this
was
their
new
leader
.
Then
Tom
pulled
a
paper
from
his
pocket
and
started
to
read
. “
Tom
,
read
this
to
the
men
if
they
are
not
cooperating
,
but
please
try
to
prove
to
them
you
are
their
new
leader
first
.
Signed
,
King
Frederick
.”
then
he
showed
them
all
the
seal
at
the
bottom
.
They
all
nodded
and
waited
for
Tom
to
tell
them
what
to
do
.

Tom
paused
for
a
moment
then
started
speaking
“
First
,
we
will
begin
teamwork
and
discipline
practice
.
So
follow
me
.”
Tom
then
led
them
through
the
training
ground
until
they
came
to
a
rather
large
space
,
used
for
group
training
.
Tom
had
them
divide
into
two
groups
,
then
sent
each
group
to
an
end
of
the
field
.
He
nodded
to
a
small
group
of
boys
,
who
distributed
practice
swords
and
spears
.
Each
weapon
was
freshly
covered
in
paint
to
show
where
each
man
was
hit
.
He
went
to
one
group
and
showed
them
the
basic
idea
of
the
troop
.
They
made
two
equal
rows
,
each
with
nineteen
men
,
then
stood
close
to
each
other
and
put
up
all
their
shields
.
The
second
row
put
their
shields
over
themselves
and
the
man
in
front
of
them
.
Tom
had
the
group
of
boys
get
small
rocks
,
cover
them
in
paint
then
line
up
in
front
of
the
group
Tom
was
with
.
On
Tom
’
s
signal
the
boys
threw
the
rocks
at
the
group
.
Afterward
Tom
had
the
men
stand
down
and
let
the
other
group
see
if
they
had
been
hit
.

Only
one
man
had
been
hit
,
but
in
the
foot
where
the
regular
shield
didn
’
t
cover
.
Then
Tom
had
both
groups
get
ready
,
this
time
the
second
row
didn
’
t
put
their
shields
over
head
.
He
joined
the
group
he
had
been
instructing
,
then
told
both
groups
to
attack
.
He
let
the
other
group
do
what
they
wanted
,
but
made
the
group
he
was
with
stay
in
the
lines
.
They
advanced
at
a
fast
walk
towards
the
unordered
half
.

They
hit
and
started
stabbing
through
the
holes
in
the
shield
wall
,
defended
by
the
shield
wall
.
Tom
stepped
back
from
the
front
line
and
told
the
second
line
to
split
in
half
and
get
behind
the
other
group
.
The
second
line
did
what
they
were
told
as
Tom
went
back
to
the
front
line
.
Soon
the
other
line
began
to
press
the
other
group
towards
Tom
’
s
line
,
squeezing
the
other
group
between
them
.
Tom
yelled
for
a
stop
after
a
minute
.
He
had
both
groups
examine
each
other
for
paint
marks
.