Let's Get Down to Business

When the first signs of morning flooded light into Tarmen's room, he had already been awake. An old, but useful, habit.
He hoped there would be something physical to deal with the festering knot from last night. He would mouth off if all they got was another rousing speech about their employment. Not wanting to let that anticipation build, he joined the others that were already heading towards the keep.
The orders given for the day were better than he had hoped. Archery and swordsmanship, something he knew he could use to get a position outside of guard duty.
The bows provided were cheap, to say the least. They would work in battle or for hunting, but it was truly a blessing for Tarmen that he knew how to use all but the worst quality. Each target provided gained an arrow through the middle, the patient cunning giving some relief from his frustrations. He was curious why none of the supervising officers got on to him for taking his time, just standing there with that calm smugness of authority, but if they let him do it his way then he wouldn't think to hard on it.
When it came to using the swords however, he was less than happy to be provided a wooden one. What good was this, when it lacked the danger and weight of practicing with real steel. Not only that, but they all looked like a regular soldiers sword, which he had never found comfortable to use. None of the heft that came with a machete.
Still, he found satisfaction in showing off his brutal grace. He might not have the fancy discipline of the average soldier, but he had tested his style against many that thought that it mattered.
Taking orders was the more troublesome part. He knew his endurance wouldn't be found lacking, but to have to listen to an officer bark instructions or critiques made it very, very difficult not to spit on their boot. That didn't mean it wasn't met with a glare, sometimes blamed on the sun or sweat, sometimes not.
When the day was done, he felt confident he had advertised that he could hold his own. With the group gathered, he raised a few questions about the outside world. What had been charted already? Were there natives and if so, did we know of their borders? He also wanted information of the local fauna and flora, though he kept his interest in the more dangerous ones hidden.