I walked down the stone path towards the 'fortress'. I had no idea what they called it the 'fortress'... Because it didn't look anything like a fortress. It was basically a sanctuary with some fancy weapons.

I crossed my arms in disgust as I entered. Bamboo poles. Everywhere. "Ugh." I grumbled under my breath and sat down on one of the benches... Also made of bamboo.

"Ah! Zendra!"

I looked up. A stout looking man was walking briskly towards me. He was almost sprinting. "Um, hi."

"I must introduce myself! I am Sir Whethersworth." The man grinned.

"Whethersworth?" I blurted on impulse. "Um, excuse me. I'm Zendra."

"I know who you are." Whethersworth's happy mood slipped away.

"Uh... Sorry?"

He scowled and said nothing.

"Grab a pole." His tone was slightly less cold.

I did as I was told, taking one of the bamboo sticks off the ground.

"Twirl it."

I blinked at him. "I... I can't."

"Yes you can! Like this." He picked up a pole and twirled it between his fingers.

My eyes widened. "Oh... No, sir. I can't."

He glared at me. "Yes. You. Can. NOW DO IT."

"O-okay." I did a quick clumsy twirling thing. It slipped out of my fingers in the first couple seconds.

"Hmph. You could use work."

Oh, you noticed? I rolled my eyes as he turned around.

"Like... This." He turned and did the twirling thing again, only slower. "Now do it fifty times and call for me." He whirled around and stalked off.

"Oh, great." I growled and began my twirling exercises, or whatever.

What seemed like forever was only an hour. I had done 25 without messing up. Another hour went by and I had finally finished.

"Sir!" I yelled.

Whethersworth was there in seconds. "Took you long enough." He grumbled and picked up a pole.

I groaned. "More-" I was cut off as Whethersworth came at me with the pole, using it as a sword.

I somehow managed to dodge his first slash and back up. "Woah, dude!" I ducked. "This is-AHHH!" I ran to the other side of the room. He was now chasing me with it.

"FIGHT!" He roared.

"Um, right. I could fight, but I might get killed in the process." I yelled back at him and kept running.

He stopped. I could never describe the look on his face. It was... Like a mixture of laughter and pure disbelief.

"Get killed?" He spluttered, laughing. "It's a bamboo pole! The worst damage I could do is give you a couple bruises. Now, come on. Fight."

I didn't like the whole thing... But I obeyed.

He came at me again, this time using the pole as a jousting stick.

I slapped my bamboo rod against his and made an offensive move. I threw the pole at his face.

Yeah... That probably wasn't the smartest move... But there were poles all around!

He caught the pole and lunged.

I scrambled at grab another stick, only to get shoved into a wall.

"Oof." I groaned and sat up.

"Never throw your weapon." He said.

"Whatever." I mumbled under my breath and got up.

I stumbled down the same path I had walked to the fortress on. I was sore, bruised, and tired. It was bad enough I had to walk all the way to my cabin.

I entered the village about thirty minutes later. Nothing had changed, really. I glanced down at the big oak at the base of the hill I had to walk up.

People had gathered around a person and were listening to him talk. I already knew who it as. It was always him.

I began my walk up the hill, dreading it the whole way. I was about halfway up when I felt a presence beside me.

I glanced to my side. Great. He was walking with me now. He did enough at the celebration, he didn't have to walk up the hill with me.

"How was the fortress?" Archer asked.

"Fine." I grumbled.

"Bamboo poles?"

"More then I'd like to see in my lifetime."

He laughed. "I'll take that as a yes."

"The dude's name is Whethersworth." I said. "He's like... Pudgy. But he can really do some damage."

"Yeah, I heard." He smiled.

I smiled slightly.

We walked all the way over the hill and down to my cabin.

"Oh, I almost forgot." I said, turning to him. "How was Zuni?"

"Beautiful." Archer grinned. "I'll tell you more about it tomorrow."

"You better." I smiled and headed into my cabin, falling asleep as soon as I hit the mattress.