Ortho led the four through the riverfolk shantytown on the east side of Yellowrock. Within an hour all four had their packs strapped on their shoulders

They should've left it all there, Chip realized as they trekked to the top of the Yellowrock Mesa. It was still mid-day and the sun was bright overhead.

Clearing the top step, Chip saw that there was a gathering of woodland creatures that dwarfed the previous otter gathering.

Parents and their young children waited patiently as a group of druids had them queue up and wait. A handful of otters and beavers were there, but not many. The company only had so many youngsters this season.

One by one the four druids blessed the two to three-year-olds as they approached. With his newly enhanced eyesight thanks to his ranger bond with River, Chip was able to make out a little puff of red mist with every touch. The parents all walked away satisfied.

Ortho didn't crack a smile, but Chip could tell that he was pleased.

The beavers looked like their legs were about to give out as Ortho had them halt just before the queue. Ortho scanned the four of them.

"You. You're in charge. I didn't expect four but I do have enough cloaks so you will be the squad leader."

Sam, the only female otter in the group batted her eyes at the ranger.

"Yes, Swordmaster," she said.

Ortho waded past the crowd to find a large pack, hitched on top of a cockroach. He pulled the reins of the roach bringing it back to them. One by one he pulled out brown cloaks with green splotches and handed them to the four of them.

"Use your pin," he indicated a fold at the top, "to lock it in place. I don’t suppose any of you have used a stave before?"

Blank looks greeted the Swordmaster.

From the side of the pack, four long weathered sticks were produced and handed out. Chip and Sam had finally placed their cloaks in place, as the beavers struggled to adapt.

He noticed the twins had belts with hand tools on them. One had a hammer and the other a sickle, both paw-sized.

"Well the druids are not done, but we can start with your first lesson. Stand up straight, merchant wannabe."

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Chip saw Sam gull back something and felt a twinge over their bond.

"One paw up, one below...good, good. Now," he produced a sword, turning halfway to give them a profile view, "all you are going to do is take turns trying to hit me. Here are the rules. You touch me with your stave, you eat today."

Chips' stomach rumbled.

"You miss, and I'm just going to evade or block today mind you… you miss, you don’t eat until we make it to the valley."

Chip noted that the sword was sheathed as Ortho held it out. The black sheath glinted with the sun. Placing both hands on it like a cane, Ortho nodded to Sam.

"Squad leader, you're up. BEGIN."

Sam hefted her stave to begin an overhead strike and then feinted moving around to the left, slashing diagonally. Without moving his head, Orthos' sword pushed the stave out and away.

A loud whack startled the nearby line, as more than a few parents turned to watch, Sam reengaged. With two fast thrusts, she forced Ortho to move around her in a quarter circle. He cracked one eye open.

Then he tripped her, moving the sword faster than Chip could follow.

Sam sat there panting for two minutes as she caught her breath.

Then she got to her knees and in a half-bow, she leaned forward.

"Teach me," she said.

A pit of resolve coalesced in his bond and Chip began to wonder if he would be the one keeping his raft afloat or if she would.

"Watch. Beaver," Ortho motioned to the closer beaver, "Prepare yourself."

In the back of his mind, Chip was surprised to find that Ortho seemed to have not taken it easy on Sam.

Ortho batted the beaver around like a weak baby mouse. Chip and the remaining unharmed beaver watched as every strike the beaver made was countered and ineffective.

Gasping and panting far worse than Sam, the beaver keeled over.

"Bonsai!" One beaver stood over the other. Bonsai had a yellow daisy tucked behind one ear, but otherwise looked like the other beaver.

"Oak, I… I'll be right," Oak gripped his twin's paw. Idly Chip saw that the Beaver with the sickle was Bonsai.

"That is the difference between an untrained ranger with a bonded druid and an untrained creature," Ortho said, inspecting his sheath," Sam, has already bonded her ranger, indeed we were told to expect you. And Chip."

"Honorable swordmaster, I would go next," Oak said, brandishing his stave.

"Suit yourself, ranger."

Chip watched as Ortho neatly dismantled the second beaver. Sam lowered Oak to the ground as Chip stood with his stave ready to go.

"Last, but not least, eh?" Ortho said, "At least try to make it a challenge for me."

It wasn’t even close.

Chip nursed his bruises as the last of the line passed them. He felt wrung out and the only thing that kept him standing upright was the strength he felt from River and Sela.

They must know, as River and Sela had left earlier in the week to pick up a few druid initiates and rangers on their way. They left before but because of their circuitous route, they would arrive later. Chip could feel them far to the west, faintly.

Sam looked the way that Chip felt. But Sam leaked resolve even as she couldn't dodge a single counter. This might be the adventure of a lifetime for Sela and Sam, but for Chip, this was a big change from his original plans.