Orn followed his uncle as they made their way into the trees. From time to time, his uncle led him through the trees, from one trail to another. With the seemingly random path, Orn wondered if Uncle was messing with him again. That was the third time we turned right in an hour. Are we going in circles?

Orn bit back the question, as his Uncle's demeanor had become strict over the last few hours. It seemed that nothing Orn did was correct. When he moved quickly to keep up, his uncle would stop and tell him too not be so loud. Then he moved quietly his uncle snapped at him to pick up his feet. Just when Orn found a good in pace, his uncle would stop suddenly and ask him to identify something. The next day was the same, as was the one after that...

Orn woke up on the fourth day feeling exhausted. He dreaded a repeat of the previous few days as he gathered his things. It would not be so bad if he was getting better, but everything he did seemed to fall short. Nothing seemed to make Uncle happy. It was as if he had two Uncles; one who was kind, and the one who enjoyed pushing Orn to the edge. The last few days had been nothing but the latter.

Something feels different about today. It took him a few moments to realize what it was. Unlike the previous days Uncle was not criticizing or testing him. Instead they walked in a silence. A silence that, once he realized it, seemed somehow worse. Then without warning, Uncle turned sharply to the left and started running.

Orn raced to keep up abandoning all attempt at moving quietly. What is he doing? Is he trying to abandon me? Did I fail that badly?

He struggled to keep Uncle within sight as the man easily outpaced him. His lungs were burning, when he raced out of the woods. Ahead Orn could see Uncle standing in the morning light smiling up the road. The road running between the farming village and his home. Orn stood there dumbstruck, as a familiar carriage rolled into view.

The carriage had barely come to a stop when his parents rushed out to embrace him. Over their shoulders he could see Olivia and the driver grabbing things from the carriage.

“How do you feel?” his parents asked slowly easing their embrace.

“Confused. Tired.” he mumbled at a loss for what was happening.

“We will explain in a bit. But if you are just feeling tired, you are doing better than I did. I also did not learn our traditions until after I took a path.” Orn looked up as he heard the pain in his father’s voice. “I was able to identify some of the plants, and make a snare, but that was about it. So the trip here was challenging. I actually started to think Uncle hated me.”

Orn’s head spun to look at the older man. Clearly having overheard his nephew’s statement, he shrugged. “Everyone does, it is part of the test. I have to know how far you can be pushed. None of you broke, you four are far too stubborn from what I can tell.”

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Four? Orn turned to see his mother intentionally looking away, while Liv rolled her eyes a the old hunter. Everyone did this?

His farther tussled his hair and gently pulled him toward the picnic that was being set up. Glancing back at uncle he asked, “How about the twins? I heard they started with Aunty.”

“They did and they should be out to join us momentarily.” As if waiting for the cue, Orn saw the two girls and their father exit the trees with Aunty.

...

As Orn finished his story of the trip, his father sighed shook his head, “That sounds exactly like my trip. I felt, so inept. I could not do anything right. I had just about given up when I made this trip with Uncle. I do not think I have ever felt so worthless. I could not do the most basic things. Things children half my age could do. Then I had to go running through the woods, being told to move quieter, and faster every couple steps.”

He paused before turning to Orn. “Do you know I am a little jealous of you?”

“Why? I did not do any better. I keep getting told the same things. Uncle just said he does this to everyone.” Orn could taste the bitterness as words left his mouth.

His father stared at him, “Orn, …” he paused searching for words, a hurt look on his face “It took me almost a week to do what you have managed to do in the last few days."

Orn stared at him, “What?”

His father’s expression softened, “Yes, almost a week to cover the same distance. I seemed to trip over everything. I could have sworn the forest hated me. The hunters pick the pace based on how fast and loud the child moves. It is meant to be a sort of final test before they go back to their home. They were doing all they could to help me, but they had to have you run in circles. It may be that you are older and pay closer attention, but Uncle says you did better than most children. In fact, even on this trip, everyone has been shocked by you. Do you know know that?”

Orn shook his head.

“Well you do now. ” Orn could clearly hear the pride in his father's words. “Uncle said he struggled find reasons to keep pushing you.”

His father leaned in conspiratorially, “He even cornered me yesterday, after you went to sleep. He asked if I was sure, you were a knight, not a hunter or scout. “

“You make it sound like I was being unreasonable” Uncle interjected form the nearby blanket where he sat with the twins and their father. “Nearly all the village children get hunter paths, and none. None of them, were able to move that quiet while moving that fast. It took them time to adapt to their skills. Most have to grow into them a bit first. A knight should not be able to do that.”

Orn was not sure what to say. He felt so bad the last few days only to be told he had been exceeding everyone’s expectations. He could not help the smile that began to grow on his face.

“Do not start to get a big head over it boy. You have a long way to go still.” Uncle added, “But before we call it a day there are a couple more things to do. So, finish your breakfast.”

“He is right. The testing is over, but we still need to do the ceremony.” His father then pointed to into the trees, “Over there is the boundary of the forest. It is the edge of our blood’s ancestral lands. You have finished the first part of the ceremony. You made a journey to to the edge, showing you are able to leave if you want. Then you come back in to show you are ready to become part of the greater family. So, are you ready?”