I ran the men through various sword drills, and ran them through various exercises, getting them physically fit for the task ahead. They showed promise, except for the skinny farmer boys that Inekwar had recruited in the south. They were fit from their chores on the farm, but lacked swordsmanship. They could outrun the other troopers, but that skill was next to useless if you couldn't fight. They continued through their drills nonetheless, and showed more spirit than the fighters from the north, although they were all determined in the cause they were coming to call their own. "The men show promise." Inekwar said one night as we talked. We stood on an escarpment overlooking the camp where the army slept. I was dressed in my white armour with my sword at my side and my great white cape billowing around me. He was dressed in a sleeveless black shirt, with a leather sheath holding his sword on his back. He wore black pants and high black leather boots, which were scuffed from the rocky foothills in the area. "They'll get better. But they're not ready." I said, crossing my arms over my chest. The wind ruffled my long black hair and cape, but I stood perfectly still. "You know, that white armour can't hide your dark side." Inekwar said. "What?" I asked. "Whenever you get into a fight with your enemies, or your talking about the coming fight, there's a side of you that I've never seen before exposed. Its much darker than anything I've ever seen." Inekwar explained. I closed my eyes and sighed. "We all have a dark side we try to supress, Inekwar. Even you. Even the most kind people you know are trying to supress their inner demons." I explained. "How do you figure?" Inekwar asked. "Human nature. You know people who live by their lighter side, and others who have given in to their darker side." I said. "Like who?" he asked, turning himself to face me. "My late wife Kathleen was the sweetest person I know, and she was always displaying her lighter side. She was scared to see what would happen if she released her inner demons, so she always lived on the lighter side of life. "Your mother on the other hand, was one of the people I knew who lived by their darker side." I said. Inekwar laughed. "What's so funny?" I asked. "Mom always said the same thing about you." he said, chuckling. "Well, I was a different person when I knew your mother. I've faced my dark side, and I've come to terms with it. I've also learned to control it." I said. Inekwar closed his eyes and sighed. "You're one of the lucky ones." he said. We stood in silence until dawn, overlooking the encampment.