The Half-Hearts Chronicles by Kealohilani

Author:Kealohilani [Kealohilani]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780990977063
Published: 2019-07-03T06:00:00+00:00

The days quickly turned to nights, one blurring into the other— each day beginning seemingly before the last one had ended— as the six friends worked hard to learn how to use their various weapons and care for the camp. The arduous duties became routine as they constantly helped to build fires, cook food, gather wood, clean up, and wash clothes in the streams— along with everything else that was required.

One of the hardest tasks was filling the small water tanks for the makeshift showers— but it did serve to help build up both muscles and calluses. The tanks were made of animal skins so that they could be rolled up and easily transported when not in use.

Hanging full tanks in nearby trees allowed gravity to bring the water into the folding canvas shower enclosures, which also doubled as stretcher-like devices to carry supplies from camp to camp.

One pull of the rope attached to the bottom of each tank would open the spring-loaded caps so that the water could sprinkle through the multiple tiny holes that the caps covered. Releasing the rope automatically closed them again.

There were two choices for carrying water— single buckets, or wooden yokes with double-sized buckets. The choice was made by the trainers. They made their decision based on what they felt their apprentices needed— unless an apprentice had complained or underperformed. In that case, the needs of the attitude outweighed the needs of the body.

Justin had been shocked by the level of priority placed on hygiene. Jharate had been equally shocked that Justin would not want to bathe as often as possible— simply because it was inconvenient. Jharate even managed to shave his face every day, with only a straight razor to complete the task.

The camp moved forward every three days or so. This was necessary in order to have time for training as well as for proper rest. The woods were so thick that it was hard to make a great deal of progress in a day, especially since they had the contents of an entire camp to maneuver through it. After a month or so of this, they finally neared the edge of the forest in Kelamosa and travel became somewhat easier as the trees thinned out slightly.

On this particular late afternoon, they came to a clearing that was large enough for the entire party to be able to camp together— for the first time since entering these woods. As it would not be long before the sun would set anyway, they cheerfully made use of the space and quickly set up their camp.

There was something about this simple pleasure that set everyone abuzz. There were more smiles, more happy chats, and more kind words between them than there had been in the entirety of the past three or four or five weeks or so. The atmosphere held within it a feeling of hope and joy for a coming success that was discernable by all.

As the camp was in the final stages of preparing for nightfall, Jharate and Arante met to discuss the strategy for the next day.

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