Well, this is really just a teaser chapter. I'm waiting until next chapter to get you really connected to the new characters *evil laugh* But I promise it will be posted tonight. Tell me what you think of the new recruits and which one is your favorite!

Okay no more rambling, here

Helmer cleared his throat loudly, over the noise of the crowd. Wilfred, another buck named Victor, and himself were standing on the podium. Each had a list of their new recruits, which were chosen by Harlen the night before. The chattering continued, growing impatient Helmer raised his voice. “Quiet!” He yelled. Sudden silence came, many of the young recruits winced up at Helmer, frightened looks on their faces. Only one of the bucks in the front didn’t look scared. He was a short calico buck, with the strangest eyes Helmer had ever seen. One eye was a bright teal, and the other was half brown, half gold. He looked up at Helmer, stone faced. Tearing his eyes away from the strange rabbit Helmer nodded at Willfred who began to read his list aloud. Once he had finished, he and his bucks left. All of them looked excited and one winked at his friend as he left. Helmer was next. He pulled out the short list and looked it over before reading the first name. “In my group we have, Ioan Mustard. Wait, what kind of name is that? Mustard, like to seed?” he glanced up and saw an auburn, sheepish looking buck walking slowly to the podium. He shook his head, looking down at the list he continued. “Tomas Mustard.” a buck that looked like a smaller version of Ioan joined his brother. “Clayton Spear,” The strange looking buck joined. “And Frances Pots.” the last of the bucks, a plain grey one, joined the small clump of soldiers. Helmer sauntered down and motions them to follow him, and Victor began to read off his list.

Once they made it to the bunkhouse he spoke again. “So, this is the bunkhouse. We will stay here every night and on other rare occasions. You will be expected to keep it tidy. Every morning I will wake you up and you will begin doing the training exercises I choose. The name that I have chosen for this group is The Kings Arm. We are to protect the king, and his subjects from harm. We will also complete any other mission that is provided for us. Understood?”

“Yes Sir!” They said in unison. They stared awkwardly at each other for a moment, then Helmer nodded and they rushed off to the bunk house. Before the door closed he could hear their excited chatter of what they were going to do. He grinned. Just then he heard the door burst open again and Ioan ran up to him, a piece of paper in his hand. “Um, sir this was on one of the bunks, it's addressed to you.” Helmer took it, eyes wide. Ioan walked away quickly as Helmer ripped it open. It read,

Dear Helmer the Black,

I’m not sorry I left, but I am sorry you wouldn’t come home. I know you will do great things for this army, you took a chance and we are all so proud. I don’t really know how to put this, as you know I’ve always been pretty good with hiding my true feelings but I want you to know you were always like a brother to me. I was intimidated by you at first but we became fast friends and I could never be thankful enough. I promise that someday there will be a young Helmer running around my household because I have never known anyone braver than you. As your father once said, you were too good for us.

P.S. Don’t be so hard on the new recruits, they're probably already terrified.

Love from your coolest friend, Snoden.

Helmer snorted at the last part, and he blinked back the tears that were budding in his eyes. He looked at the familiar buckhouse, and decided then that he would take Snodens advice and not be so hard on the new soldiers. He strode quickly to the small cabin and opened the door. Clayton was sitting on his buck, twirling a small dagger. Frances was hanging upside down off of a top bunk, and he toppled off with a yell as he entered. Ioan and Tomas were tangled on the floor, looking as though they had been wrestling for a certain spot. Helmer grinned at their shocked faces. “Well,” He said, “this is going to be fun.”

***

Later that night they sat, huddled around a fire eating a delicious potato soup. “Sir,” Ioan began stirring his soup. “What was that note we found about?” Helmer cocked an eyebrow. “Oh, that was a letter from an old friend.”

“Cool.”

They sat in silence for a while, until Ioan and Frances struck up a conversation about water. Helmer followed along, listening to their argument, amused.

“Well I think that water straight from the lake is the best.”

“Yah, right. And my name is George.”

“It is?”

“No!”

Clayton shook his head, iniching slightly closer to Helmer to whisper. “Nitwits.” Tomas heard, and snorted potato broth out of his nose, all over his brother. Ioan hit him playfully as they lapsed into giggles. Helmer couldn’t help himself, he smiled. A real smile. He knew that these bucks would be good for him.

He knew this was the beginning of something amazing.