Chapter 47: Training Regimen
I woke up with a dull ache in my arm. The culprit was Isabela, who at some point in the night had turned over and placed her head on my arm, her hand and foot draped over my body as if I were a long pillow.
She was still deeply asleep—and no wonder. I had forgotten to close the window, and it already showed the distinguishable dimness of dawn. Despite having slept late last night, my body still remembered to wake up at the same time the roosters started crowing.
I gently removed her hand and foot. As I always did every morning, I walked to the window for a whiff of the fresh morning air, and to rest my newly woken eyes on the beauty of the paradise I had found myself in.
But I was forgetting something. It slowly came back to me when I heard a faint murmur as I neared the window. This was not the time to hear such a sound—if there were noises, it would normally be the creaking of wheels or the faint voices of those who had woken early to fetch water.
The sight in front of the Casa Real woke me like a rude splash of cold water. A large formation of young men in their white camesitas stood at attention in the plaza, facing the building. As Maximo had promised, I counted around a hundred recruits, with a few latecomers still trickling in.
Naturally, the townsfolk had begun to take notice of the bizarre sight. Curious onlookers were already gathering around the plaza. As I had instructed, soldiers from my escolta patrolled around the recruits, keeping civilians at bay and ensuring they held their formation.
Any lingering sleepiness was flushed out of my system. I hurriedly got dressed, fetched my draft from the table, and walked out the door with a sudden rush of energy.
I halted in my tracks as I reached the sala and saw who was in it. I expected Colonel Abad, Capitan Madrigal, and the two lieutenants—but there were five more guests having breakfast at the table.
"Good morning, Heneral," Colonel Abad noticed me first, as he always did. At once, all heads turned in my direction.