The Anvil (90 page)

“
I
would
just
put
in
my
old
spot
,
but
you
haven
’
t
had
training
in
this
fighting
style
yet
.”
Tom
told
Tyler
,
who
nodded
and
saw
the
reasoning
behind
it
.
Tom
had
the
three
lines
separate
into
three
different
groups
,
then
put
each
group
in
a
five
by
five
formation
.

He
had
the
first
two
groups
get
ready
,
having
one
group
in
the
usual
Anvil
formation
,
with
Tom
behind
them
,
and
the
other
in
a
normal
formation
.
The
third
sat
on
the
side
of
the
battlespace
and
watched
the
training
exercise
.

Soon
the
groups
rotated
,
Tom
stayed
where
he
was
as
the
third
group
came
onto
the
field
and
took
up
the
Anvil
formation
,
the
first
group
went
to
the
other
side
and
the
other
group
went
to
the
side
.

Tom
stayed
each
time
the
groups
rotated
and
ordered
the
group
as
they
trained
.
After
a
few
times
with
each
group
had
them
all
sit
while
he
told
them
the
maneuvers
again
and
then
had
them
practice
each
one
.

First
he
had
the
first
line
go
to
the
back
then
the
other
two
lines
move
forward
.
The
whole
thing
took
a
bit
longer
than
Tom
wanted
,
but
it
was
still
only
about
fifteen
seconds
before
the
second
line
closed
up
.
They
could
work
on
it
,
Tom
thought
,
then
he
had
them
practice
more
maneuvers
for
about
an
hour
.

Then
he
asked
another
troop
to
practice
with
them
and
this
time
they
lasted
alot
longer
,
each
time
a
little
longer
,
and
finally
,
in
the
last
fight
,
they
won
.
After
the
victory
Tom
told
them
to
relax
and
rest
the
remainder
of
the
day
.

Tom
and
Tyler
talked
as
they
walked
back
to
camp
,
Tom
explaining
what
was
happening
with
the
Anvil
,
how
they
had
been
formed
,
what
fighting
style
they
were
training
with
,
what
special
equipment
they
would
have
and
why
Tom
was
leading
it
.

The
two
 
boys
went
to
check
on
the
shields
,
which
were
almost
done
,
then
went
to
dinner
.
After
dinner
they
sat
around
a
fire
with
their
friends
,
as
usual
.

As
Tom
sat
back
against
a
log
after
finishing
a
song
he
thought
how
peaceful
this
was
,
especially
when
they
were
in
a
war
.
The
next
day
the
Anvil
got
their
new
shields
and
they
progressed
so
quickly
,
they
soon
won
almost
every
fight
.

Two
weeks
after
the
Anvil
started
,
only
one
battle
had
occurred
,
but
the
Anvil
was
stuck
in
the
back
,
as
they
hadn
’
t
been
training
very
long
.
Now
Tom
was
training
with
the
Anvil
,
keeping
an
overall
command
of
the
group
as
they
moved
forward
against
the
other
troop
they
were
training
with
.

Tom
was
amazed
that
only
two
weeks
ago
,
these
men
knew
nothing
of
this
new
fighting
style
.
Now
each
one
supported
and
trusted
the
men
next
to
him
,
each
man
was
equipped
with
a
sword
,
shield
,
spear
and
javelin
.

They
would
wait
until
the
enemy
came
into
javelin
range
,
the
second
and
third
rows
would
throw
theirs
,
the
first
row
would
switch
with
the
second
and
throw
theirs
,
then
they
either
waited
or
approached
the
enemy
,
the
first
row
using
the
swords
to
stab
between
the
gaps
in
the
shield
wall
,
stabbing
at
whatever
came
into
view
as
their
visibility
was
very
limited
,
while
the
second
and
third
used
the
spears
.

Tom
commanded
and
helped
where
he
was
needed
,
flying
or
walking
along
the
line
.
Tom
leaned
to
the
second
and
third
row
leaders
,
each
row
had
one
,
and
whispered
“
Swing
it
closed
.”

Then
half
the
third
row
went
to
one
side
while
half
the
second
went
the
other
way
,
forming
one
long
line
.
And
on
a
signal
from
Tom
they
swung
inward
,
squeezing
the
other
troop
between
them
and
the
first
line
.