Thick clouds of brown dust rose into the air as dozens of soldiers shifted their feet, waiting for their turn to fight.
Standing in the very center of the ring, the instructor held his wooden sword. He looked around the circle of young, nervous recruits.
"Form up!" the instructor shouted loudly. His rough voice echoed against the wooden fences. "I will call two men at a time. Step forward when I point at you. Do not hold back."
The instructor pointed his wooden sword at two tall, muscular recruits standing near the front.
"You and you. Into the ring," the instructor commanded.
The two recruits stepped forward. They both held standard wooden training swords. Their faces were tense. They knew the loser had to run fifty laps around the massive camp in the hot sun.
"Fight!" the instructor yelled, stepping back to give them space.
The first fight started immediately. The two men charged at each other with loud shouts.
Clack! Clack!
