Master Garvin watched his former pupil, Daram, run his newest pupil, Mackinley, through patterns with the pudao with pride, though neither would know it. His face was a stoic mask as it always was. He had heard about the girl, Lindy, jumping to her death--the Masters had ruled it an accident but that did not make the loss easier. She had been one of his Chosen: he didn't Chose often.
The two students were a blur of color and speed, they switched from weapon to weapon naturally and demonstrated all of the patterns that Mackinley had learned in his absence. And then they stopped, the final stance leaving them breathless, they stood and bowed to each other, then to Garvin. "Well done," he praised, "Significant progress in the time I was away. How is your stamina, your reading, writing and arithmetic? How are your other skills?"
"I visit Helf with Master Kurt to visit the people there, I learned to light fires by striking two stones and by creating a bow with a couple sticks, and how to make the fire smokeless so no one can know where you are." Mackinley reported, "Daram says that I am learning faster than any Hushai Junior he has met."
Garvin nodded, "Daram is correct."
Mackinley hesitated then finally asked, "Master, will your leaving always be like this: no warning and instructions to me?"
"Sometimes," Garvin admitted, "when you begin missions you will understand. Now, tell me who you learn from other than Daram?"
They fell into easy chatter, Daram, and the girl, Garvin observed. He was proud of both his students and watching them brought back memories of other students. They laughed over shared memories and antics of other trainees.
Garvin had come to the Hushai thirty two years earlier: neither of his pupils knew but the day was the anniversary of his own Choosing. He remembered it like it was yesterday: his father was a falconer for a Lord, his mother did laundry, there were seven siblings.
As the eldest of the boys he'd learned to care for the birds and to work with them. He'd hated it. The Hushai had rescued him that day as far as he was concerned.
There was no mistaking her abilities, it was time for the true test: she needed to go out in the world.
It had been a long week preparing to leave: last minute lessons, a surprise farewell, meetings with the Council for briefings and admonitions and preparing for the journey. Master Garvin was asleep but Mackinley wasn't tired.
'Not true' she reminded herself, 'I'm exausted, but the my-body-needs-to-rest not the I-am-sleepy kind.'
She lay back on her sleeping roll, a pack under her head half propping her as she stared out into the distance. The sun had long since gone to bed but this was the most alone Mackinley had been since she'd come to the Hushai, and even before orphanages and the kids she'd met. She thought about her training. She thought about her future. She was ten and one of the youngest Hushai to ever go on missions with a Master.
The trees stood--tall, proud shadows around them; they'd sheltered under evergreens with thick boughs. Garvin had shown her some things to build a smokeless fire faster and they cooked a dinner of stew that the cooks had insisted on sending with them. She knew they wouldn't always have good food so she savored it, grateful she hadn't had to put her hunting skills to the test yet.
In the distance she could hear wildlife moving around and trees snapping as dead trees or branches came down. There was a wind that smelled of rain but they had been lucky so far. Owls ands bats hunted in the dark. Finally she slept.
"Come on, Mac" Garvin kicked the sole of her foot jarring her awake, "let's get in four patterns before breakfast."
Mac got up: Daram had broken her of grumbling about mornings even though she hated them. She missed her long time instructor but was pleased that Master Garvin had not been able to find any fault with her training. She grabbed her pudao and settled in to the simplest pattern meant to stretch her muscles. It was no surprise that Master Garvin could keep up with her tempo, but as they moved from one movement into the next he increased the speed until they were both a whirl of color.
An hour later they halted. They moved about having breakfast and cleaning up camp clumsily until Mac finally lost her temper: "Would you stop trying to do everything and let me help! I've been looking after myself and others my entire life I do not need you to do everything."
Garvin laughed, "sorry Mac, it's a habit since I usually travel alone or have to teach Juniors how to do all this. We'll smooth out in a few days."
She glared at him and took the satchel of food he'd taken from her to secure to the pack animal waiting to be loaded. "Tell me about this mission, and what's expected of us."
As they worked Garvin told her what he knew, "In the kingdom of Santao the government meets with the Guild masters for various trades and resources quarterly to review the matters of state. This year had been especially bad for bandits and thieves on the roads, Guildmaster Solomon from the Merchant's guild was robbed both times that he had attended this year so he has asked for an escort."
"No offense Master, but one Hushai is hardly an escort."
"You say that because you have never seen our skills tested by any who are not Hushai." Garvin told her, "come along, Guildmaster Solomon intends to leave in two days with or without us."
"You can't seriously expect me to believe that one Hushai can stand against a group of bandits."