Malak Warhammer's Arc

Chapter 5 of 6

Malak watched his newest recruits run drills in the courtyard. They moved in formation now, shields locked tight. Their footwork had improved in just two weeks. He nodded as they executed a clean pivot without breaking the line. Progress. He led the squad toward the new observation platform beyond the training grounds. The brownish burgundy stone rose from the earth in wide steps, its surface smooth and level at the top. Malak climbed first, his boots finding easy purchase on the carved edges. The recruits followed, shields still strapped to their backs. From this height, they could see the entire courtyard spread below them. Malak gestured toward the space where tomorrow's visitors would stand. Dignitaries from three settlements would watch combat demonstrations here. His soldiers needed to show their strength, prove the training worked. The platform gave spectators a clear view of every strike and block. He turned to the recruits and told them to practice their formations again. They would perform here tomorrow, and every movement had to be sharp. That afternoon, Malak walked toward the War Hall entrance and stopped at the row of potted flowers someone had placed along the path. Burgundy petals surrounded bright gold centers, vivid against the stone walls. He hadn't ordered decorations, but someone in camp understood what visiting soldiers needed to see. The War Hall wasn't just a place for battle planning. It was where warriors from different villages came together, where they decided to join his army or return home. The flowers made the entrance feel less like a fortress and more like a place worth defending. Malak touched one of the petals, then continued inside. The hall stretched long and high, its burgundy stone walls carved with figures of troll and orc warriors. Each carving showed a moment of victory, weapons raised or enemies defeated. Names were etched beneath each scene, marking soldiers who had earned their place in this parade of heroes. Malak walked the length of the hall, studying faces he recognized and some he didn't. His current soldiers came here between training sessions to see what they could become. The carvings showed them that excellence had a reward, that their efforts would be remembered. Tomorrow, when the dignitaries arrived and watched his recruits perform on the observation platform, they would see an army already worth joining. And when those new soldiers entered this hall for the first time, they would see why the lowlands would never fall.