Ghost of Whisper Creek

As promised training started soon after the contract was made. Arthion was tasked with showing Krita and her companions to their rooms. Which wasn’t their own and was more like one big barracks. Females shared one and Males another, each cot had a curtain one could pull around for privacy but that was about all you got. Clothes were asked to be changed into a simple tunic and pants. Belt was offered and they were allowed to keep their own boots. Everything else was to be locked away in a chest at the foot of their bed.

Once everyone was settled into their new roles. Arthion and his brothers showed those who signed on where the mess hall was. Food was simple and wasn’t anything too elaborate. Or at least in terms of South Port and La Seines banquet. Meats was offered, breads, cheese and stew. But nothing much more exciting or tasteful than that. Except for one item and that was spirits. Mead, Ales wines. Those at least flowed in abundance but was just as much a trap as an escape. Showing up to practice drunk or otherwise incapable of performing your tasks resulted in punishment and punishment in Lord Matsu’s castle wasn’t forgiving. He did not fear using the lash and felt it an apt tool at securing discipline into his students. He however wasn’t a harsh Lord and unknown to many of the students had taken measures to make sure the tools of punishment were made of soft leathers and things that only made one feel the sting but not become terribly damaged by it.

Megwan was right beside Krita as they made themselves at home in the female barracks. It was easy for Meg she lived in servant quarters at Kronnborg and wasn’t used to lavish things. Krita knew that training was going to be a sacrifice and difficult, but it was worth it. She stowed her things in the provided chest, locked it and wondered if she might give the key to someone else to hold, or if that was a sign she didn’t expect herself to remain disciplined. In the end she tucked the key into her boot sighed at leaving her sword and armor behind and along with Meg followed their guide to the Mess Hall.

The Mess Hall actually wasn’t much of a difference from what Krita was used to at Kronnborg. Though there was a lavish Dining Hall the Rodsvards rarely used it, and the food here was in line if not better than what was served back home. Krita eyed the alcohol suspiciously and opted for water instead. For the moment she would stay with Megwan, until they were asked to break, which she suspected would come sooner than later and silently waited for further instruction.

Morn and Horeak were nearby, but she suspected that they also knew that the harder the Wolf’s Bunnies clung to each other the more likely they were to be split up. They kept their distance, tasting the offered food. Morn couldn’t resist tasting a sip of mead to see what was being offered, he smiled as he tasted a good brew and then put the rest away. Horeak ate silently but surveyed the Hall for his other companions. Without the pressure of Megwan so eagerly following Krita he wondered how many of his fellow soldiers would turn their horses and find new homes.

All of the soldiers were met with three of Lord Tsukimatsu’s sons. They were told what to expect, what their former commanders choice was, and what their own choices were. Be it to sign the contract, return to Kronnborg and neighboring vessels, or seek work in South Port where the commanders of the Dragons were waiting. They were all free. They no longer took command from the Northern invaders but of their own lives and those that delivered the message were all polite and much more mannered than their eldest brother Arthion.

In all a little over half of Krita’s eighty-two men agreed to training and signed the contract. There were forty-six of them total most assumed there would be little way that Lord Tsukimatsu could separate them completely and that they would remain somewhat of a team. The idea of leaving their leader was not appealing, and when it was clear that Walril would be taking over command of those who remained their will to reject the contract became less. Thirty-four of the hardline Arandil supporters left with Walril towards “home”. The lone bunny who would not take the contract and refused to return with Walril was Fruorin, this would disappoint Krita when she learned of it. He chose South Port instead.

In the Mess Hall once her meal was complete Krita rose from the bench and held a hand out to Megwan so she would not follow. The Northern Lady walked across the hall to Arthion, the closest Tsukimatsu she recognized, and lowered her head in a respectful now. “What happens now? We’re fed and signed. Sleep and be wakened in the dark hours of the morning to begin training? Or start right now?”

Arthion was sitting with two of his brothers as well as a few of the more seasoned and ruthless students. They were all laughing and jesting about past experiences they had together and all around looked as if they were having a great time. Even Arthion had a large grin as opposed to the bored expressions from earlier. At Krita’s approach he glanced towards her and sized her up now that she wasn’t covered in armor before tossing a cube of cheese into his mouth and shrugging “Sleep, explore, sit do as you please. Tomorrow is training at the sound of the gong.”

“And be happy that you only have to do this for five years,” came a call from one of the others beside Arthion. He was the youngest by appearance of those who had been carrying on. “If that were the case for me I would be done already.”

Arthion and the others laughed while one of the brothers tossed a crumb of bread at his nose “Ha! you could only be so lucky Ian. As a Matsu you’re stuck here for life, the other sorry saps got ten years. She haz it easy.”

The younger man, Ianice Tsukimatsu, gave a stern look and shook his head, “There are plenty of us to run the academy even if Dad was going to die soon. We’re not all stuck here, look at Chance and Daggers.”

“Chance and Daggers both serve our father and this castle just the same as all of us. Being outside the walls doesn’t make it any different, just the duty. We all have our time spent elsewhere.” Arthion smirked.

“All of us that weren’t held back,” Ian spit back. He didn’t begin his training until he was fifteen extremely late for a son of Lord Tsukimatsu, but he became ill in his youth and the healers did not think it was a good idea he start rigorous training. Ian felt weak and flawed because of it and fought with his siblings often, hoping to regain some of his pride.

Krita’s eyes bounced between the two Matsu sons and smiled with an interruption, “This discussion is enlightening, but maybe I should leave it to you in...” she looked around and the other seasoned trainees didn’t seem eager to leave, “semi-privacy.” The brothers continued to argue without much notice of Kritas departure.

Krita returned to Megwan at the table and pulled at the cloth at the young girl’s shoulder, “We’re done here. Don’t eat too much we’re like as not to be surprised early by the call to practice. Rest is what we need. Tomorrow we’ll get a better idea what we’re in for and when practices are done we’ll look around.”

“Yes m’Lady,” Megwan said lowering her head as she stood.

“No,” Krita corrected forcefully, “Krita, m’Lady can return once we’re finished with training, until then we’re both first year students you refer to me like I am an equal.”

Megwan gave an exasperated sigh and shook her head, “Whatever you say Krita,” she answered with a smile at the ridiculousness of it all. They returned to the female barracks, laid on their cots and waited for tomorrow.

Tomorrow came. After what seemed like the slowest and longest night in their waiting lives. There were only ten women that showed up in the barracks with Krita and Megwan. The Male barracks were split off into two’s due to the mass numbers that flooded them but for the girls it was a modest and small number. Four announced themselves as hunters, they were dressed in better gear than Krita and Megwan and explained you get your leathers on the second year, until then they wore just basic garments. The purpose was so that they could feel everything, each attack, each defense and strain of training. It was a chance to re-learn your body without the limitations and restrictive handicaps of armor. The other women were shadows and most kept to themselves. They were all very beautiful and moved with a trained grace. These were the courtesans, they were trained to be in court performing arts of both physical performances such as music, dance, and even education to the courtship of young lords in places like the Green Dragon all were for the purpose of spying and assassin training.

When the gong rang throughout the castle waking Krita and Megwan to whatever sleep they managed to gain they would find only two women reluctantly getting up and dressing. All the others had already parted for the day. There guide however might of been a surprise. A young boy of ten who waited outside the door whistling with his hands behind his back. When he saw them exit he grinned “Oh! Hi! I am Trever I was sent to show you to the first ring. Follow me?” he bowed and held a hand out down the hallway they were to follow.

Krita shook her head making sure she wasn’t dreaming and the Master of the Academy was replaced by a boy. When she saw Megwan’s face Krita knew it was no dream. Megwan looked at the boy straightening her clothing, “We’re supposed to follow you? You’re just a kid.”

“Well of course I’m just a kid silly!” The boy snickered “I’m ten! What did you think the first years were? Almost all of us first years are ten. You coming?”

Megwan looked at Krita and sighed, gave an apologetic look and started to follow Trever. She felt sorry for her Lady, and the other men that had joined with them. They were all at least five years older than she and a lot were as much as twice her age, now they would be training with boys and girls. She’d be the least out of place of all of them.

Krita allowed Meg to create a buffer between her and Trever as she ran thoughts of what she had gotten herself and her men into. “Do you ever get first years as old as me?” she asked the boy.

The boy shrugged “I don’t know. I’m at mid term myself, been here for six months I think. No one older since I joined.” he turned around and smiled, walking backwards “But. Don’t worry. I hear there are many new first years that are older. I’ll show you! This way!”

Krita nodded and pushed Megwan forward gently, “Separated huh? Well that’s good, I’d hate to have to be sparing some little boy. No offense.”

Meg giggled, “I don’t mind beating up on boys, I wonder where they’ll put me though. I’m closer in age to you Trever than to the rest of the soldiers.”

“Well. There are three basic rings” Trever held up three fingers “The new girl named Krita goes to ring...umm..” he frowned and thought for a moment before smiling “Oh! Ring two! Krita in ring two and Meg-wan? Ring one. And then the teachers come and you learn. Basic things like holding a sword and striking and standing. But first day is just seeing what you know. Papa showed me lots when I was little so I was head of class.” he laughed “I bet you two will beat me though”

It was Krita who chuckled in response this time, “If I can’t beat you then there is something wrong, but I’m not here to beat anyone, I’m here to learn. Some of the ways I do things might be good enough to beat a weaker opponent that doesn’t make them right. Who does the teaching? Will Lord Tsukimatsu lead the first day?”

“Lord Matsu? I don’t know...” Trever shrugged “He don’t really do the training, he has alot of students to watch after all. He just comes by every so often and watches. If theres really something he feels like helping on...he helps. But today I am in ring three and Arthion is teaching my ring. I don’t know who will teach yours.”

Krita nodded, “Well I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what the day has in store for us. Lead ahead Trever.”

The next several months passed with relative ease and for most of the bunnies, Krita and Megwan included, a degree of boredom. They learned a lot of what they had already known with minor, or in some cases major, tweaks to make them perform to the Tsukimatsu standard. Each day Krita looked at the calendar waiting with anticipation the coming of the Sun Festival in South Port. She made sure to be extremely careful with her training as it approached, she wasn’t looking forward to putting herself out there like Ri’ana had at the Festival of the Red Zenith, but she was a bit excited to see what her options were.