Garn woke slowly, drifting up from his dreams to the waking world. Morning light spilled in through the window. The otter sat up and tossed the blankets aside, today was the day he was going to go up to the temple. The otter made his way out of his bedroom and across the hall to the bathing room. His mother had a rain cubicle installed and he made good use of it washing his fur clean and cleansing himself of the tangles and knots of sleep. Once cleaned and refreshed Garn made his way back to his room to belt on his Kilteran, he smoothed out a crease or two from where it had lain folded over night. He ran his claws through his head fur trying to pat it down into some semblance of order. Satisfied he had done the best he could he headed downstairs to the kitchen to see where his sister had got to.

His mother was baking bread in the kitchen and the smells made his mouth water but he resisted the urge to eat. He could not eat anything until he had entered the prayer. "is Krystal here? I intend to leave now and if she is not here I will leave without her."

His mother smiled and patted his cheek, "Don't look so gloomy Garn you have to perform the prayer sooner or later." She handed him a small package, "Give that to Nomon Sierea Junice for me, Krystal is in the living room she heard you get up and has been itching to set off." She paused and looked him in the eyes, stern and serious now. "Look after her and do not let her enter the inner sanctum."

Garn took the package and tucked it under his arm, "I know mother she is too young for that," he grinned back at her and patted the package, "I'll hand her over to Nomon Sierea Junice along with this package."

He left the room quickly as his mother tried to swat him with her tail and stuck his head in the front room, his sister was sprawled over a chair reading a book. She bounded to her feet when she saw her brother.

"Are we leaving?" she asked excitedly and she clapped her paws together at his nod. She followed her oldest brother out of the house and into the street. It was about midday and the street was bustling with otters going about their business. A stream of people headed up and down the street towards the Brewers guild hall and back again. Several of them waved a hello to Garn as he passed and several otters called out, asking for news from the army. He responded by telling them he sadly didn't know and was off duty and they nodded their heads in understanding and continued on their way.

His sister walked alongside him babbling a constant stream of questions as she tried to find out more about what Garn would be doing inside the temple. He refused to answer her questions just telling her to be patient and that one day she would find out herself. The streets of the core wound before them, taking them higher and further in. They passed through caverns and along wide terraces, up stairs and around curving ramps until finally they came out onto a wide boulevard flanked by pale marble columns on either side. They walked out into a wide square at the very top of the core. It was the highest public place in the city. A tall grilled fence ran around the edge giving a view out over the holt but it was the building in front of them that drew their attention.

The temple of the River Lady rose before them a tall building made from the same marble as the columns. A domed roof was the buildings main feature topped by a cupola where the great bells hung. Garn led the way across the square, not many otters were up here at the temple so the square was relatively empty. The siblings climbed the steps and entered the great hall, a tall circular room situated under the great dome above. Otters dressed in the robes of Sierea's and Bierea's moved back and forth across the room talking in quiet voices to citizens and their companions. A slim Sierea approached them both and smiled as she curtseyed to them.

"Greetings citizen," she addressed Garn, "How may I help you this fine day?"

"Greetings Sierea I am Garn Hantel and this is my sister Krystal, we are looking for Nomon Sierea Junice."

"Certainly I shall take you to her, please follow me this way." She glanced over Krystal and frowned. Usually someone as young as her would only be brought to the temple on feast days and for religious ceremonies. Shaking her head she turned and led the way across the great rotunda to a door on the far left. She passed them through and led them into the offices and quarters of those dedicated to the temple. They walked along a corridor for a few moments before she Stopped outside a door she rapped once before opening it to a curt "Enter" from inside. "I have a citizen here to see you, Garn Hantel and his sister."

The door was suddenly pulled wide and a large motherly looking otter stood in the door way, her robes straining against her large bulk as she waved the priestess out of her way and came forwards to hug Garn and pat Krystal's head. "Welcome children, come in, come in and be welcome here in the Ladies House."

She ushered them inside and shut the door behind her. "How is Marie? Well I hope, is this for me?" She chattered on not letting them get a word or reply in edgeways, she took the package from Garn and settled his sister down in a chair. She frowned at Garn and nodded as she took in his Kilteran and guild symbol. "Off duty I see, bringing you sister up to listen to the Bierea and Sierea's lectures? Very good of you…" she paused and looked at him again as he shuffled his feet. "Or are you here for another reason my son?"

Garn sighed and brought his paws together in a triangle shape and bowed to her, "I am here to do my duty and perform the Mire Prayer, I should make my way to the Bierea on duty at the inner sanctum. Now that I have discharged my duty in delivering my sister and my mother's package into your care."

Junice nodded and bowed in return, "Very well my son, go well, I shall see your sister home safely if you do not return to us by First Night." Garn rose from his bow and left the office, as he shut the door he heard Krystal ask were he was going and Junice's sharp reply that it was not her business.

The otter made his way back out to the grand rotunda, he paused to drink in the splendour of the ceiling high above them, white marble friezes of otters through out history. Garn shook his head and headed towards the double doors at the far end, opposite the main entrance and guarded on either side by three Bierea and three Sierea at all times whilst the doors were open. They barely glanced at him as he passed inside they where there to keep out those who should not pass beyond and into the inner sanctum of the temple.

A long corridor stretched out before him, on either side tall stained glass windows let in the light from outside dappling the floor and his fur in a multitude of colours. He walked slowly along the path a shiver running up his spine and across his fur as he entered this holiest of places. At the end of the corridor he pushed his way through another set of doors, shut this time to stop eyes from outside glimpsing what only those on the pilgrimage of the Mire Prayer or initiates of the temple got to see. The grand altar of the River lady stood on the far side of this small rotunda and Garn walked forwards to the padded steps and knelt on one knee before the altar. He looked up and smiled a tall silver urn embossed with the symbol of the lady a waterfall framing a leaping otter graced the centre of the altar and it caught the light from the window set behind. Shining silver and casting dazzling motes of light around the room it was a sight that always held him in awe whenever he got to see it.

He rose from his kneeling position and looked around the rest of the room, it was as plain as always asides from the altar and the tall clear window that looked out over the holt and a drop down to the core below. To his right a door was recessed into the wall with a table in front of it with a Sierea sat behind it. She was watching him with a smile and nodded her head at him, that was the door women used when they came for the mire prayer. He turned to his left and walked towards the identical door and table set there. The Bierea seated behind stood up as he approached and reached out to take his paws in welcome.

"Be welcome my son, you are hear to do your duty? The mire prayer awaits you."

"I am here to do my duty father, please lead me onwards I place my self in your paws for the mire prayer calls me onwards." Garn intoned the formal greeting and allowed himself to be led through the door and into the corridor beyond. This corridor swept away to his right, curving around a bank of windows that looked out towards a similar curve on the far side. The left wall was interspersed with stone archways, each one opposite a window, Some where closed by a large stone slab whilst others stood open. Garn let his eyes wander down the corridor as he was led along behind the Bierea, he smiled as he saw the round chamber at the far end that held another, smaller altar to the river lady. He came to an abrupt halt when he realised his guide had stopped in front of one of the stone archways, about half way along the hall.

"We are here my son, enter." Was all he said and Garn stepped forwards into the small rectangular room beyond the arch.

He was stood on a small square of flagstones just inside the door, on hexagonal flagstone that was the centre of this space. The flags ended at a step up onto the edge of a rectangular pool. A pool filled with dark black mud, it was deep, thick, clinging and only slightly warm, it was the prayer pool and beyond it a low altar was set up with a bronze urn and two candles. The only light in the room came from a globe above his head that gave off a dim light, to either side of him a basket sat, one filled with fruit the other containing a jar of water, enough for six days should it be needed.

Garn turned and stretched his arms out to either side, his finger tips brushed the walls. "Thus I am prepared to enter my prayer with the lady." He said in a calm voice. The Bierea's paws unbuckled Garn's belt and unwrapped the Kilteran from around his waist and folded it over his arm.

"You are unclothed to meet the lady, to enter your prayer, are you ready?" he had a smile on his muzzle as Garn knelt down before him and looked up at him.

"I am ready to meet the lady in prayer, to enter mire pool and rediscover myself." The scout winced slightly as the priests paw wrapped around the thong around his neck and pulled it free. He held it lightly in his paw and Garn's eyes fixed onto it, that small pottery circle represented who and what he was in the holt. The priests arm whipped back and then forwards and the necklace sailed over Garn's head and he heard it hit the mud of the pool with a solid thwap. It would sink below the surface and it would be his duty to locate it..

"Before you can discover yourself, you must first loose yourself to the ladies prayer, rise otter and enter the prayer with the lady." The priest stepped back through the arch, bowed to Garn and pressed something on the wall outside. A large thick stone slab slid down, cutting off the light from outside leaving Garn kneeling there in the dim light of his prayer room.

Garn stood up and turned around to look at the room, it was quite warm in here, the pool was heated from below and that heat filled the room with a fog of warm air. The otter picked up two incense sticks and a lit taper from the basket holding the water, he fixed the incense sticks into holders on either side of the step. The sticks would last for at least six hours before he had to replace them, he lit them, replaced the taper in it's holder next to several more and moved up onto the step before the pool.

The smoke form the incense swirled around his head and he breathed it in, the scent nothing he had ever smelt except inside these prayer rooms, it supposedly relaxed and helped one prepare for the prayer. He clasped his paws in front of him and closer his eyes, swaying back and forth as he chanted softly under his breath. He rocked forwards and back upright, always swaying slightly further forwards with each movement, he chanted louder and raised his arms up above his head, steepling his fingers, he swayed forwards and kept on moving, arching his back as he leant down and flowed into the pool head first, he slipped under the mess, feeling it immediately latch and cling to his fur, he allowed himself to just drift down hoping to feel his necklace but it was very rare to find it straight away. His paws hit the base of the pool, it was only about five feet deep so he could easily stand on his hind legs should he wish to but it was frowned upon to raise yourself up higher then the altar. He rolled onto his back and broke the surface and after blinking his eyes open looked up at the ceiling, he was plastered in the thick black mire mud now and the room was swiftly filling with the heady scent of the incense.

His head was spinning slightly as he looked up at the ceiling and the globe that illuminated the room, he began chanting softly a deep gentle prayer to the lady, his body was relaxed and drifting, he hardly heard the words he was speaking, the incense fogged the mind, only the routine of the prayer and the words seemed to exist, even the mud clinging and sticking to his fur was ignored. He rolled and sank and swam, feeling all the time and moving as he sort for the thong that held him. He lost track of time, the dim glow was constant and never changing, the temperature of the pool, sometimes he was silent, other times he chanted and sang all the time swimming and crouched in the pool of thick black mud. He was surfacing from a period of being submerged when he came aware that the air was clear, the light clearer and not shrouded by smoke. He raises his head and shivered as he felt the mess sliding down his neck, he pulled himself up onto the step and wrapped his paws around himself and shivered as his paws furrowed across his fur, sticky and oozing with the filth of the black mire mud, he looked more like some kind of monster from a child's tale then an otter at the moment.

With his tail was still immersed in the pool Garn removed the dead incense sticks and replaced them with new ones without leaving the step. He picked up the still smouldering taper and blew on it to create a small flame and lit them. The smoke was soon filling the air again; the otter brought his arms up above him and closed his eyes, letting himself sway as he absorbed the relaxing, cleansing smoke. He slid forwards once more in a dive into the pool feeling the mud slick over his already covered form, the mud had not even begun to dry whilst he was on the step. It took a lot of heat to dry out this mire. For the rest of the day the otter performed the same rituals again and again, turning and twisting, chanting and breathing in the incense, all the while searching for the small pottery disc that was his purpose in life. Hours later the otter stopped chanting and just floated in the pool, his head was heavy and his thoughts sluggish as he watched the light in the ceiling over head dim slowly, the current incense was burning down, it was time to rest, crawling onto the platform Garn curled up, leaving his tail in the pool and closed his eyes. He could feel the mud covering him, inches thick and slick, he was no otter; he was in transition, a creature in prayer to the river lady herself. Slowly he began to drift off to sleep and his last thought before sleep took him was that really, the mud did not bother him that much… then he slept, peaceful and calm through out the night.

He was woken the next morning by light shining onto his eyes, the room was illuminated once more, it was dawn and time to once more prayer to the lady and ask for her to allow him to return to the world outside. Without moving from the step he ate the plain bread and drunk the water from one of the baskets and then set up two more incense sticks, he stood between them breathing in the smoke, swaying back and forth and thanking the lady for her gift of food. He then dove gracefully into the mire mud and began to swim, to stroke, to weave and flow through the pool, his paws searching and grasping through the mud, whiskers trying their best to sense anything within the pool. The passage of time faded from his mind once more as he let the prayer sweep him away, swimming, constantly moving or just lying, floating in the mud, on the top, at the bottom or someplace in between, he changed the incense three times. During each rest period where he changed the incense he smiled to himself, trying to recall why he disliked this prayer? It felt so good to once more be embraced by the lady as he strove to honour her.

It was after he changed the incense or the third time that his whiskers brushed against something, wrong, and solid within the mud, he brought his paw up and grasped it, feeling the carving on the disc pressing into his paw. He gasped and cried out as he touched it, the mud seemed to ripple and embrace him, and his head broke the surface as he arched his back and cried out in pleasure at the touch of the river lady's grace. Her blessing settled on him making his ears ring. The moment of ecstasy passed and the otter sunk back into the water shivering in the after shock of the ladies touch, his mind still fogged by the incense. Making his way to the end of the pool with the altar Garn laid his head on the stone slab and sung fervently the closing prayer. As the last words of the prayer faded he pushed off from the altar, swimming slowly back to the far side and climbing out onto the step, taking a deep breath he stepped down onto the hexagonal flag stone for the first time in two days and gasped aloud. The flagstone had depressed slightly and a rush of ice cold water poured from a hole in the ceiling, it drenched him and washed away most of the thick sludge covering him, leaving only the thing mess tangled into his fur.

With the cleansing shower complete Garn placed the pottery disc attached to the leather thong on the floor before him and dropped to all fours. Keeping his head bowed as a grating sound reverberated throughout the room and the stone slab that was the door slid open. A Sierea was waiting for him on the other side, she stepped inside and placed a paw atop his ears and smiled.

"Welcome back to us Garn, Nivarae of the Scouts Guild, the lady has blessed thee and sent you back to us." She took the leather thong and re-tied it around Garn's neck then bid him to rise. "Come Garn, we shall get thee cleansed and sent back on your way."

Garn followed him back out into the long curving corridor, the Sierea led him further along to the small round chamber at the end, a deep pool of warm water sat here, pouring into the chamber from the tall stone urn slanting at an angle above the pool. With his place in society restored to him Garn happily stepped down into the pool, gasping at the hot water. He waded out under the cascading waterfall and stood there letting the pounding water cleanse his fur, allowing him to emerge as an otter once more.

"You have been cleansed, the River ladies faith in your restored, welcome once more to the Holt Garn." The Sierea intoned as she helped Garn from the pool and wrapped a single white loincloth around him. Edged in green it would inform all who saw him that he had completed the mire prayer and he would be respected and allowed to pass unhindered through the city of the core and most of the greater Holt.

"Thank you Sierea, I always forget just how amazing the prayer is." He tails off thinking back to his last two days in the chamber. "I always dread coming and yet once I am in there it is all I want to do, the single most amazing thing in my life."

Smiling the otter took Garn's paw and led him back along the corridor, passed opened and closed mire chambers. The windows looking down upon the Holt showed that the day light fungus was fading now, heading into the evening period. "It affects us all like that Garn, but I felt your joy as the lady's mind touch and blessed you." She smiled as she handed the other otter the Kiltaren he had been wearing upon his arrival, "It is always pleasing to us to feel your devotions bring you joy, come I shall see you out so you may return home, unless you wish to remain here the night?"

Garn paused and thought, he should probably head for home and his mother, but he did not feel like making his way through the streets quite yet, his head was still foggy from the incense and everything felt better, colours seemed brighter, heightened senses was one of the side affects of the mire prayer and it could be quite disorientating at first. He remembered last year when he had headed straight for the Guild Hall in the Quvell Holt.

"That would be nice Sierea, but I really would not wish to impose."

"Nonsense Garn, you are our welcome guest, and you may call me Hendia," she takes the otters paw and leads him back into the grand chamber then down a side corridor leading towards the guest quarters. "Are you tired or still wide awake? The Mire Prayer usually leaves you one or the other."

"I'm wide awake, I feel like I could stay up all night, I'm also hungry…can I eat yet?"

Chuckling Hendia led him up a staircase and into the guest dormitory, a large common room was the central feature, but many doors lined the walls, leading into the cells that were the guest rooms. "Yes you may eat now, take a seat and I shall bring something."

"Are you sure this is ok?" Garn asks quietly. "I don't want to be a burden…. Or impose on the priesthood."

"I told you it is fine, you've obviously never taken us up on the offer to remain before or you would know, at the moment your one of the most hallowed otters in the city, the river lady just touched you." Hendia heads into a small kitchen area leaving Garn to think about this.

Garn smiled as he lounged back in the chair, it was true what Hendia said, he was a very privileged otter the River lady had just touched his mind and blessed him. After about ten minutes the priest returned to find Garn bouncing from paw to paw as he did hand stands and flexed his small lithe form, using up some of his restless energy.

"You seem active." Hendia said as she laid a tray full of food on the side table, "I guess you have a lot of pent up energy?"

"Yes, it always leaves me like this, head foggy yet energised….everything smells, and looks so much better."

He moves to the tray dropping to all fours and snuffling at the food to take in the scent, he then looks up at the Sierea and catches her looking down admiring the small brown otter. He blushes and looks away staring at the food. Garn smiles softly and digs into the food eagerly; bidding Hendia to join him, after a moment's hesitation she sits down and starts picking at the food as well.

With the food eaten and most of the small talk they could think of used up. Life stories, dreams of the jobs they had thought they might have when they were kits. Speculation on the state of the army and the attempt to free the salmon, they were left with an empty tray, a warm empty room as no other guests were currently staying in the temple.

Hendia was fiddling with her cushion and making a point of not looking at Garn. Garn had, had enough of that and decided to make the move himself, he stretched and laid his head in Hendia's lap smiling up at her. The priestess jumped and looked down at the scout with a nervous frown, she was about a year younger then Garn but bigger in stature then the scout.

"Hendia…. I know it is accepted practice…..would you be my Mie-en-ore tonight? I need to feel, feel the ladies blessing rushing through my veins, everything is a thousand times brighter then before….please Hendia? Will you?"

He was almost pleading as he looked up at the priest, holding onto his robes with his paws. The right to a Mie-en-ore was part of the Mire Prayer; afterwards it often left the participant filled with energy and the heightened sense of touch, smell, sight. Everything was sharper, clearer and it was encouraged for them to share that with a friend, loved one or relative, for until he completed the ritual Garn was Mie-en, "the blessed" and he wished to share it with this shy, beautiful priestess, her scent was overwhelming Garn. Probably because he had spent so much time with her, but he wished desperately to have her as his Mie-en-ore, it was always the same, who ever Garn spent the most time with after the prayer he wished to join with.

Hendia fiddled with her cushions and blushed, "I'm not sure Garn…. I'm flattered but… I mean, surely you will want to wait for your loved ones tomorrow?"

Garn wrapped his paws around her waist and growled, "No…I want…I need to experience the Mie-en-ore…. It is filling me….please Hendia….please."

Hendia smiled slightly and hugged the other otter to him, "I'd heard it could overwhelm some otters, I never thought I'd get to see it, is it really that strong?"

Garn pressed his nose into the otters fur, "yes…oh yes……your scent, it is all I can smell, this always happens, whoever I spend the most time with….Hendia please…."

Smiling Hendia stood up and drew the other otter with him, "I would be proud and happy to be your Mie-en-ore, it is an honour and I will gladly share with you." She led the otter towards a door. Eagerly Garn followed her towards one of the guest rooms, the full force of the River ladies blessing slammed home, filling the small otter almost to bursting, he swung the door closed behind them shutting out the world and wrapping them together in the seclusion and beauty of the River Ladies blessing.

Morning broke over the Holt, the illuminating fungi growing stronger and stronger along the roof of the major Holt until full light filled the cavern. Garn woke slowly wrapped in Hendia's arms, her gentle breathing stirring the fur along his neck. Smiling the scout lay where he was, staring at the far wall and remembering the blissful feeling of completion that accompanied last night. He had performed the Mie-en-ore and the Mire Prayer, this was the happiest moment so far this year, and even the mud had been bearable. Sighing softly he wished he could remain in the bed longer, forget the scouts guild and his duty for a few more hours but he really should get moving. Turning gently he nuzzled Hendia and she stirred, opening her eyes she looked at the otter silently and smiled.

"Morning Sierea Hendia," he murmured softly.

"Morning Nivare Garn," she smiled and sat up slowly, "I take it you must leave Mie-en? I should probably report for duty too."

Sitting up Garn picked up his Kiltaren and wrapped it around him self then positioned the white loincloth over the top. It was a bit bulky but he was supposed to wear the green bordered white loincloth for four days after the prayer. Once dressed they held each other one last time and garn whispered in her ear, "Thank you for being my Mie-eh-ore Hendia."

Making their way down through the halls of the temple they entered the great dome. As they made their way towards the exit they where intercepted by Nomon Sierea Junice, she bustled up and smiled at Garn and Hendia.

"So Garn you are returned to us once more." She said with a broad smile embracing him in her arms. "I heard you emerged last night," she eyed the Sierea and smiled "And I also hear you've already performed the Mie-eh-ore." She finished with a laugh as both of the younger otters blushed.

"Yes Nomon Junice, I have completed the Mire Prayer." Garn mumbled shuffling his foot paws. Hendia was blushing a bright red under her chocolate brown fur.

Gathering up the Sierea the Nomon bade Garn and good day and ushered him out the front doors. Waving goodbye the Scout turned and made his way down the grand stairs and back onto the sloping path that led down into the depths of the city. As he made his way back down into the core the streets began to fill up with more otters moving about their early morning business. Pausing Garn called into a chapter house of the Messenger's guild and penned several messages. One was scent to his mother to inform her that he had successfully returned from the Mire Prayer and the other was scent down to the main Scout's Guildhall in the Quvell Holt. It was a request that his belt and kit be sent up to him at the Core Guildhall, it was a reasonable request and a novice would probably be dispatched to drop it off.

Moving deeper into the guild hall Garn paused at the main office of the Ziereae who ran the place, a rather portly retired scout Mistar, she smiled when she saw the otter and waved him into her room.

"Come on in Garn, I hear you were up at the temple rolling in the muck?" she chuckled and shook her head as the younger otter took a seat. "You scouts, any excuse to get filthy." She winked jovially at him and pours him a cup of blackberry wine.

"So what brings you here? I thought you were off duty for two weeks?" leaning back in her chair she frowned at him over her own cup.

"I am Ziereae but I need to see to my equipment before I can go off and enjoy myself, I'm hoping to meet up with Yalice this evening." He grins as he thinks about his old friend "She asked me to step out with her last time I was in the city and I agreed."

Laughing Mistar shook her head "Ahhh your mother will be happy, she's always wanted you to get together with an archer. If you're going to be around for the afternoon, could I ask you to take a class for me this afternoon? You just have to keep an eye on some novices whilst I head to a meeting with the bakers."

Nodding Garn spoke up "Sure, I'll just be sat around oiling my belts, oh any news from the front?"

"Yes seems your information was spot on, the Lord Dannings is harrying the wolves forces back into the woods, he apparently wants to make sure they leave the tributary alone."

"Well that's good news, I hope they return soon," Garn said quietly as he sipped his drink, "it is empty down in the guild hall with just the novices, and most of them are mud covered little rips as it is."

Laughing Mistar shook her head again "You're a right old fraud Garn you moan on and on about the mud but your always the first to go charging in." she looked up as there was a knock on the door and a novice walked in, carrying the heavy belts that were Garn's uniform. "Ah here they are, well the oils are all stored in the main storeroom, and the Novices should be gathering in the main hall, I'll be back in about an hour maybe two."

Saluting the otter watched her leave before taking his belts off of the novice and motioned him ahead "Ok lets get down to the hall then, so what is this class?" he asked.

"General exercises Nivare, just general exercises, acrobatics and the like." The young novice said quietly, he was a second year by the looks of him, all second years spent half the year at the city Guild hall for various training, scholarly education and duties. They were split into two groups, half remaining in the guild house, the other half housed up here, so about twelve otters for him to watch over. A break from the constant mud and sweat of the more physical training they were put through down at the main guild hall.

Heading into the guild houses interior they paused to collect a bottle of oil and then headed into the main hall Garn sent the otter off to join his classmates before addressing them, "I am Nivare Garn, I'll be sitting on this lesson, you should all know what to do by now." He sat down in a chair facing the room and smiled. "And any ideas that I may not notice you as I am busy with these," he held up his belts, smiling as he watched all their eyes follow them, every novice coveted the day when they might be awarded their own belts, "Is sorely mistaken."

With a grin Garn was true to his words, paws moving with ingrained skill to oil and attend to the leather of his belts, yet his eyes never left the training otters as they warmed up, and began to work through the rigorous routine of acrobatic feats, weight lifting and physical exercise. Calling out advice, reprimands and generally keeping things quiet and firmly in his grip, it wasn't until nearly an hour and a half was up, his belts long oiled that he encountered a problem.

He'd gotten up and was passing by two girls using the barrel vaults when one of them slipped, she stumbled as she landed and crashed into a boy a few steps over. The both went down with a crash, the girl was picking herself up mumbling apologise when the boy lashed out with his claws and hit her muzzle.

"How dare you knock me down Ziean, how dare you touch me, you forget your place." He choked off his next word with a gasp as Garn loomed above him, eyes flat and level as he leaned down and gripped the offending otter boy by his arm.

"Yes do tell me who you are novice." He whispered in a soft deadly voice.

The otter stared at him for a minute, obviously trying to decide what to do, he decided to go with bravado, "I am Ermit Feldaron, that is who I am, I run these novices, mind your own business Nivare." He smiled, aristocratic and expected Garn to fold and walk away.

The older otter looked around the room; everyone had stopped and was watching him. "Is this true? Do you let this dung rat order you about? Your all novices, equal and classless, your status is meaningless whilst you are training."

"Nonsense!" Ermit shouted tugging to try and free his arm, "class is everything." He shut up with a whimper as Garn dug his claws into him

"I do not think so little one," looking around he shook his head, "seems you are all in need of a lesson or two in your place as novices." He began to drag Ermit towards the doors, "Follow me now, all of you, young Ermit here just earned himself a round of Di'el oniae."

Ermit groaned and tried to break free, "No, how dare you I am a Feldaron, I am not a common criminal…." He cut off as Garn slapped him.

"You have been bullying novices, setting yourself up as a noble, you are a novice of the Scouts Guild, for a short time longer at least, I have deemed you are a Di'el and you will be punished as such according to our rules."

Marching down the corridors of the city guild house the otter dragged the novice Ermit behind him, pausing outside a small door, deep down in the bowels of the basement he turned to look at the assembled novices who had followed them.

"I am really very disappointed in you all, allowing him to boss you around just because he is slightly bigger, you outnumber him, no matter Ziereae Mistar will dear with you when she gets back, for now."

Turning he tore off Ermits tunic and pushed him through the door, the otter wriggled and cried out as he saw the small hole in the floor of the plain stone room, with a yell he was tipped head first down the hole and through into the room below. It was filled with a terrible coating of slime and the room stunk, the passage through the small hole had coated his fur and landing head first into a pile of the stuff finished the job.

"There you may stay down there for a good day or so until we decide to deal with you Di'el." Shepherding the other novices before him he shut the door and returned to the upper levels where they were met by a disgruntled looking Zeireae Mistar, tapping her rudder on the table as she looked at Garn. The small novice who had been bitten was by her side, eyes on the floor and looking chastised.

"Is it true Nivare Garn?" she asked, snap to her voice as she demanded an answer.

Saluting garn nodded "Yes I am afraid so he is in the oniae, maybe he'll learn some humility."

"We can hope so but his parents are going to be unhappy when they find out," she waved a paw under Garn's nose as he opened his mouth to speak "Oh hush, leave them to me, I can deal with them thanks for watching them, I'll have your belts sent back to the locker room in the main guild hall, you go and enjoy your evening."

With that she headed off shouting orders at the novices to form up and fall in, shaking his head Garn headed out of the hall towards the front doors, he had a lady to meet.