spent a little longer focusing on the bars and climbing frames made from living plants. Next to them hung a loose rope net and several thick ropes dangling from a great height, which even went some way towards replicating the conditions found on a ship’s rigging.
On the other side of the clearing were three shooting targets studded with arrows and bolts. Not far from them lay vests with numerous pockets, stone weights, weighted bracelets for the wrists and ankles, and weights for lifting. Next to them stood a large rack holding training weapons made of sturdy and rather heavy wood. The arsenal there was quite substantial and varied. Essentially, one could find most types of weapon used in the modern world there. The final feature of the clearing was a flat patch of ground with short, thick grass, used by the Ansons as a ring.
‘You’ve really… Hmmm… made a good job of it here,’ remarked Tahon when Einar finally stopped panting.
‘I needed a place to practise, and I didn’t really fancy doing it on the youth field.’ Toinen shifted from one foot to the other. ‘You know, it's harder for me to get tired and all that…’
‘Is it easier on your own?’ Ceet leaned against one of the tree trunks tied with ropes.
‘Actually, I’m rarely here on my own.’ The boy looked up. ‘Most of the time my brothers are with me, and when they were away on an expedition, the younger druids and Heres would come over to have a chat whilst I was practising. I reckon they’re a bit bored and are trying to teach me something too.’ He looked around at the trees surrounding the clearing. ‘In their own way, anyway.’
‘It must be hard for you in winter, then.’ Tahon stretched and twitched his ears. ‘It must be quite cold in here.’
‘To be honest, the first winter I trained here, I froze, caught a cold and decided it wasn’t worth it.’ Einar shrugged and began stretching as well. ‘But it turned out there’s one room in the cellars that’s empty.
