Author's Note: I'm really sorry this is so short, but I had to put it in
somewhere. The next part will be longer, I promise.
Kel quickly adapted to this new regime, although it was much tougher than that of the pages. That winter came the first winter expedition she'd ever done. Their task was to travel from the palace in the very south of the island to the small village on the northern coast. At first, Kel had thought this would be much like the expedition she'd done as a page. It wasn't. The sakuros went unaccompanied by any fully trained warrior or teacher. The most senior sakuro, Anzu in this case since Hiroshi had left as a takuro to a member of Prince Eitaro's guard, led the group. They had to scavenge for their own food, mostly by hunting although very few animals were about with the snow two inches thick on the ground. They travelled a good twenty-five miles a day - the longer they could manage per day the fewer days they'd have to last.
In Kel's opinion, the worst part was that they were camping out. She could live with being hungry, for a few days that was no big deal. In this case, however, they were living in thin canvas tents, barely waterproof at all, with only a single blanket for warmth. They soon found that instead of sharing tents one between two, it was much better for them to crowd as many as possible into each and huddle together for warmth. That at least made sure they survived. There were times she wished that, like the pages, they could do this in summer, but she knew really that this was much better experience, and would in the end make her a much better warrior. They made it in the end and were happy to be taken back to the palace by boat. Anzu gained an instant promotion, since none of them was even sick, or suffering anything but cold.
Kel's favourite teacher was old Nariko. She wasn't sure why until she realised that beneath the rather stern, gruff exterior was a kind heart, but of course being kind to your students was a sure way of getting them killed in their first battle. She quickly became a mentor to Kel, probably because Kel was the youngest and smallest of all the sakuros, and one of the more talented ones. Kel was also determined to do her best, partly to prove to the Tortallans that she could, and she always put her heart into her work.
Kel quickly adapted to this new regime, although it was much tougher than that of the pages. That winter came the first winter expedition she'd ever done. Their task was to travel from the palace in the very south of the island to the small village on the northern coast. At first, Kel had thought this would be much like the expedition she'd done as a page. It wasn't. The sakuros went unaccompanied by any fully trained warrior or teacher. The most senior sakuro, Anzu in this case since Hiroshi had left as a takuro to a member of Prince Eitaro's guard, led the group. They had to scavenge for their own food, mostly by hunting although very few animals were about with the snow two inches thick on the ground. They travelled a good twenty-five miles a day - the longer they could manage per day the fewer days they'd have to last.
In Kel's opinion, the worst part was that they were camping out. She could live with being hungry, for a few days that was no big deal. In this case, however, they were living in thin canvas tents, barely waterproof at all, with only a single blanket for warmth. They soon found that instead of sharing tents one between two, it was much better for them to crowd as many as possible into each and huddle together for warmth. That at least made sure they survived. There were times she wished that, like the pages, they could do this in summer, but she knew really that this was much better experience, and would in the end make her a much better warrior. They made it in the end and were happy to be taken back to the palace by boat. Anzu gained an instant promotion, since none of them was even sick, or suffering anything but cold.
Kel's favourite teacher was old Nariko. She wasn't sure why until she realised that beneath the rather stern, gruff exterior was a kind heart, but of course being kind to your students was a sure way of getting them killed in their first battle. She quickly became a mentor to Kel, probably because Kel was the youngest and smallest of all the sakuros, and one of the more talented ones. Kel was also determined to do her best, partly to prove to the Tortallans that she could, and she always put her heart into her work.