They really did not give me a choice here. I mean, I did my best to behave and sit still... but those little claws all over me, up and down my shirt... how could I sit still...
I'm sitting in a room full of kittens! -- Anon Guest
To seek out the Sensei of the Shadow Arts in Whitekeep, one must first find where the Dojo is hidden. One must be clever. One must be observant. And being sneaky helps. A lot.
Such a pity that Arydan was none of these. Ze had had to track it down through following the Novices to an otherwise ordinary, cozy little cottage with a garden and some supremely lazy Dire Goats. And way more people than the Novices, apparently.
Ze found the Sensei in the garden, walking with a cane and wearing... a mixture of clothes. Black hakama. White linen shirt. Some variety of vest that had not been closed. He had a gleaming gold band in his left horn, and the only other decoration appeared to be made of dried grasses and laquer, as some kind of brooch.
"Took your time," said the Master, tipping a mixture of grains into the Dire Goats' feeding trough. "Four days just to find the place. A further three to knock on my front door. You came in by the front door." There was a hint of Teutonian in the way he spoke. "That is not the Way of Shadows."
"I came to learn," said Arydan. "I need to learn."
"Oh you need to, ja?" He went to fetch water from the household well, tucking his cane into his belt so he could use both hands. "Who's going to die if you don't?"
"Me?" said Arydan. "I really need to know how to disappear and avoid notice... and the Art of Shadows seems ideal."
"Somebody after you? Someone who keeps tracking you down?"
Arydan nodded.
"Not surprising. You make as much noise as a marching band. And you trust the front door."
"What's wrong with the front door?"
"Only a fool or a Novice enters by the front door. Which are you?"
Arydan gave the only answer ze could. "The worst of fools."
Which lead to the test.
Sit still, and practice quiet. In a room full of hazards of Master Kosh's choosing. It seemed too simple. Which was why it was harder than it seemed.
As Arydan sat for meditation, the Master or his wife or one of his Adepts entered with a basket, placed it by a wall, and left.
Never by the only door. That was an education alone.
After an hour, Arydan discovered what was in the baskets.
Kittens.
Dozens of them.
They escaped their containment and began gamboling about the room. Easily ignored until they began to do other things kittens liked to do.
Dozens of sharp little pinprick claws. Digging into Arydan's flesh through hir clothes as they climbed hir. Kneading and treadling at hir legs. Nibbling at hir ears or fingers or clawing at hir nose.
Sitting still was torture under these circumstances.
Arydan managed to resist movement until the sun set, and failed to notice a host of Trainees capturing and removing the kittens.
Master Kosh gave hir bread and cheese and some worryingly warm milk. "Well done. I start you as a Novice on the morrow. It will be a challenge for you to learn but... on the other hand... It will be a challenge for me to teach."
[Photo by The Lucky Neko on Unsplash]
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