1.10

Cameron’s eyes felt like they were glued shut, refusing to open as he heard Logan’s voice breaking him from his slumber, an echoing horrible growl that brough Cameron’s thoughts back to all the time he’d spent with the lunatic. He grumbled sleepily, tossing and turning as he felt his slumber slowly drifting away after hearing Logan’s voice again. He couldn’t quite make out what the man was saying, but as far as Cameron was concerned, it could wait a few hours. After not hearing anything for a while, Cameron had figured he’d been given a reprieve and settled down, slowly drifting off to sleep once again.

Cameron had figured wrong.

Suddenly an ice cold liquid hit his face, stealing his breath in an instant and seeping down his neck and under his clothing. He shot up in an instant, murderous intent in his eyes as they locked on Logan’s form.

“What the fuck do you want?!” He bellowed, hands balled into fists.

“It’s been an hour. Nap times over,” Logan reached for a rag perched on top of his shoulder and tossed it to Cameron. “Clean yourself up as best you can. They’ll be here soon.”

Cameron shot another glare at Logan but didn’t protest, grumbling as he turned and walked away, making his way underneath the squire he’d been piloting, now lying dormant, and sitting down in a cool shaded spot, letting its massive metal leg shield him from the sun’s bright heat as he ran the rag over his oily face. The moment the cool rag hit his skin, Cameron let out a sigh of relief, he ran the rag over his bruised and battered arms and shoulders, before removing his sweat and blood stained training tunic and beginning washing the rest of his torso.

His mind wandered as he bathed, recalling the past twenty-four hours. With no preamble, Logan had burst into Cameron’s room and practically dragged him out of the palace, taking him to the training field and ran him ragged with high-intensity combat training. For ten hours straight, he’d sat in the squire's cockpit, running agility and reaction drills, and sparring with Logan’s Crusader repeatedly. Afterwards, Logan had graced him with a one hour break to eat and rest, only to do it all over again. He hadn’t taken it easy on him either, with using everything at his disposal except for his mace.

Instead, Logan simply beat the hell out of him and his squire with nothing but a shield and his fists. The culminating result was a heavily dented squire, and a badly beaten Cameron. Still, even though he ached all over and his head pounded from a lack of sleep, he felt good. A certain clarity washed over him and he could feel his muscles tighten, coiling like a spring, ready for action at any moment. He knew this feeling wouldn’t last much longer, and eventually his body would force him to sleep, yet still, he enjoyed the strange euphoria.

After taking some time to get himself situated, Cameron pulled his tattered top back on, before walking to where Logan stood at the edge of the training field, eyes fixed on the gateway leading out to the guardhouse.

“They show up yet?” Cameron asked, watching as Logan shook his head, not taking his eyes off the gate.

“Not yet. But I heard the train a few minutes ago so I can only assume.”

“Fair enough. So… what all is this assessment going to encompass? All I know is that it’s going to be a squire fight but you haven’t really given me details.”

“That’s because I don’t know.” Logan said, his tone giving the impression that this was supposed to be common knowledge.

Cameron blinked, looking over at the Logan. “What do you mean you don’t know?”

Logan shrugged, “I mean I don’t know. Every assessment is different. It’s dependent on the assessor.”

“Well, if that’s the case, then who’s the assessor?”

“Something tells me we’re about to find out.” Logan said, nodding and pointing with his chin to the gate, causing Cameron’s attention to shift to the five people now approaching them.

Three of them were familiar, with King Augustus leading the group, flanked on either side by Lendrick and Darwin. The other two were strangers to Cameron, however. They were similar in height and build, and appeared to be similar in age as well, each of them looking aged and grizzled. One of them had short cropped graying hair, faded on the sides and hard, brown eyes, while the other one had his brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, his eyes hidden behind a pair of sunglasses. They also shared a similar outfit, with both men dressed in the practical garb of brown combat pants and tight white compression shirts.

“Sorry dad. Logan’s already filled the abusive babysitter position. You’ll have to take these two dipshits back.”

Augustus didn’t even register the remark, choosing instead to let out a shocked gasp as he looked at Cameron’s sorry state. “By the stars boy what have you been doing?!”

“Training.” Logan said flatly, crossing his arms. “What does it look like we’ve been doing?”

“Was it torture training?!” Augustus asked, his gaze turning on Logan. “He looks beaten half to death! This assessment is compromised already if he can’t perform the task.”

“Oh don’t worry about me.” Cameron said, stifling a yawn, “I feel great.”

“I’m sure…” Augustus said slowly, emphasizing his skepticism. Then he remembered he wasn’t the only one there, and attempted to save his sudden shock by clearing his throat and changing the subject.

“This is Captain Merril, and Sergeant Kurs, two guards from Amreith who have graciously volunteered to be your opponents for this assessment today.”

Now it was Cameron and Logan’s turn to be surprised, each of them raising an eyebrow in confusion before looking from Augustus, to each other, then back to Augustus before Logan voice his concern.

“Is there any particular reason why his assessment needs to be done by foreign combatants?”

Before the King could respond, Lendrick stepped forward, a wolfish grin on his face as he spoke. “I can answer that. As a representative of Amreith, it is not only my duty to facilitate the supervision of Prince Caustos’s diplomatic interests, but his economic ones as well. With all of our planetary exports being received into the port of Ketris, I felt it appropriate to make sure our interests would continue to be secured for the foreseeable future. To that end, I’ve requested two of our most decorated veterans to take part in this assessment today.”

Cameron could hear the growl hanging in Logan’s throat grow louder the longer the dignitary spoke. Lendrick must have heard as well, as his grin grew, his teeth showing as he ended the explanation with, “That’s not an issue is it?”

There was a pause as everyone looked between Lendrick and Logan, expecting a response laced with expletives and at a higher volume than was appropriate. So when Cameron was the one who answered, this caught everyone by surprise.

“No problem at all.” He said flatly, eyeing Lendrick with the same look the ambassador had been giving Logan.

“Oh… er. Well.. Good.” Lendrick said, stuttering out his response as he looked at Cameron.

“I just have one request for you Lendrick.” Cameron said, taking a step forward and getting in the dignitaries personal space.

“And what’s that?” Lendrick asked, still forcing a smile onto his face, even as his eyes burned with hate and anger.

Cameron leaned down, meeting the stout man at eye level as he whispered.

“Watch carefully.”

---

A short while later, Logan and Cameron gathered around the ladder leading up to the Squires cockpit. As confident as he had been, Cameron still couldn’t help but to feel his stomach knotting up with anxiety. He reached down to clutch at his stomach involuntarily. Logan watched and pursed his lips, looking at Cameron sympathetically.

“You alright kid?” He asked softly.

Cameron nodded, pulling his hand away as he felt the knotting turn to nauseousness. He swallowed dryly, a sour taste rising in the back of his throat. “Y- Yeah. I’ll be okay. Just some nerves is all.”

“You better get over them quick.” Logan said, “After all that shit you talked, this isn’t the time to get stage fright.”

Cameron gave a soft laugh, choking down a dry heave. “Yeah, that probably wasn’t the best idea.”

“Not at all.” Logan agreed, his cheeks raising as he smiled. “But it was hilarious to watch that asshole lose his shit-eating grin.”

“Now I just need to walk the talk.” Cameron said, giving a sigh as he felt his nausea fade. He stood tall and exhaled, looking into Logan’s eyes as he asked the question that his body needed an answer too. All the nausea, the worry, the fear. They washed over him in a wave of anxiety, because he knew that for all of his blustering and false confidence, Cameron couldn’t truly believe in his abilities unless he knew the answer to his query from the only person who’s opinion mattered right now.

“Be honest with me, Logan. Can I do this? Can I win?”

“Yes.” Logan said with hesitating, his conviction iron clad.

Cameron couldn’t see a hint of doubt in his mentors eyes. A feeling of relief washed over him, building in intensity the longer he stared, his eyes failing to assess any dishonesty or deceipt. If Logan had faith enough in him, then the least Cameron could do is trust in him, therefore trusting in himself.

Cameron nodded, giving a final look before he grasped the rung of the latter beginning to climb up towards the cockpit.

“Hey kid! Wait a second!” Logan’s voice called out to him from below.

Cameron looked down and was getting ready to ask why, when he watched Logan toss a headset up to him, motioning for him to put it on, to which Cameron nodded, putting the cushioned cups over his ear, hearing his heart hammering in his ears with every rung that he ascended.

Eventually, Cameron reached the cockpit. He hopped inside, and closed the hatch before he began to flip the switches on the dash, listening to a high pitched whine begin to rise in volume as the engine cycled on.

“Kid.. Can you hear me?” Logan’s voice crackled in his ears through the headset. Cameron waited until the engine had fully cycled, the whine lowering in volume, before he flicked the microphone down and began to speak into it.

“Loud and clear Logan.” Cameron said, eyes looking forward to across the field where the two Amreith veterans and their squires stood, weapons already drawn, ready for a fight. Cameron wasn’t sure what to do from here, assuming Logan would guide him if need be, but instead, he watched as his father walked forward, raising his hands to gather their attention, and motioning for them to turn on the outer speaker on their squire units, so he could be heard. Cameron did as requested, watching his father as the king began the festivities.

“We are gathered here today, in accordance with the sacred texts of sovereignty gifted to us from the Mother Planet. Today, young Cameron Pellyn has agreed to have his combat and piloting capabilities be assessed and examined by Lord Lazarus Lendrick of Amreith, as is his right. This bout will be used to legitimize Prince Pellyn’s ascension to Seneschal as agreed by all third parties and signed off by the ruling monarch of the hosting Planet. The rules for this assessment are as follows;

1. No one but the chosen combatants will be allowed to intervene with this assessment at anytime until said assessment has reached it’s conclusion. Coaching and radio communication will be allowed.

2. This assessment will end when the assessing proctor is satisfied with the examinees result, or neither side can continue.

3. Grievous injuries will be allowed to take place without legal ramifications, in order to simulate a real-world scenario. This includes death.

Do you understand the rules as I have stated them to you now?”

Cameron could hear the two men sound off in the affirmative from across the way, and he responded as well. He pushed down a fresh wave of anxiety and fear, switching off the microphone in the cockpit for a moment as he only had words for Logan, his eyes staring intently on his father who was slowly raising his hand high into the air.

“Any last-minute advice here man?” He asked into the microphone. He heard nothing but static for a moment, but eventually Logan’s voice came over the headset, speaking with a hardened and dangerous tone that quick cut through any doubt that had settled in.

“Yeah, I do,” Logan began, “Now listen carefully. Focus up… Lock in… and put these fuckers in the dirt.”

Cameron had to stifle a chuckle as he watched his father’s arm begin to fall almost in slow motion. “Heh… Yes sir.”

He grabbed the throttle and pushed it forward, redlining it as his father’s voice boomed inside the cockpit.

“Fight!”