"You heard anything about an Agoge?" Left Guard asked right.
"Nope, sergeant."
"Okay, so no Agoge going on here. You can leave."
"And what is the gate cost?" I asked. "So I can see for myself?"
"Two copper." Left Guard said.
I handed the coins over.
"Per tusk." he said.
No, of course I didn't rip my own tusk out. What young uruk would willingly do so?
I handed over the graft.
"You know, now that I think about it..." Left Guard said.
<Combination attack. Shove. Trip. Act now.>
"Don't you DARE mistake my kindness for weakness." I said, gesturing with my axe.
Thus did I enter Rakkal's Glory. Kinder to those of us with tusks my ass. Well, they didn't call out, didn't try to arrest me. I guess that's kinder.
So, I've studied the Agoge; it was basically institutionalized child soldiery. Cadets were basically tortured in every way that wouldn't cripple them; scars were considered part of the training.
But we'll get to that soon enough; I promise.
Thank you as always for your continued readership; it matters more to me than a normal life.