Excerpt: Legacy (working title)

Kohl was waiting just inside the entrance of the cave when Amber got there. He looked around for any signs of Saffron following, but didn't seem at all surprised that there were none. He smiled at Amber, the first time one of the Kesari had seen him smile, and was repaid with a shy smile from Amber that lit up deep eyes that matched his name in colour and made him seem so different from the quiet boy who followed Saffron around.
“I was curious to see if any of you Kesari would notice the mushrooms as we came though,” Kohl said softly. “But it seems that you really are new to being out on your own.” Amber only nodded in reply. “Never mind,” said Kohl, “I can teach you a few things that will be of help to you. Come, follow me.”
Kohl took a few steps further into the cave, where the air still held some moisture and the sun didn't warm the walls. He looked around slowly, his purple eyes searching the shadows before they found something that held his gaze. He knelt down and motioned for Amber to do the same.
“Do you see it?” he asked. Amber peered carefully at where Kohl was pointing. It took his eyes a few second to adjust to the darkness, but gradually subtle details became clearer. Growing out of a crack at the base of the cave wall he saw four large stems, grey and fat, topped with plump doams that were greyish brown in colour. Kohl reached down and picked one at the base of the stem and dropped it carefully into the small brown pouch he was carrying, then motioned to Amber to do the same. Amber reached out and carefully wrapped his fingers under the cap of the mushroom.
“Further down the shaft,” Kohl instructed, taking Amber's hand and running it down to the base until the back of his hand touched the cave floor.
“Now hold it firm. Sometimes it's hard to pull off in one. Try and get it as low as possible so there's more to enjoy.” Kohl nodded encouragingly at Amber. Amber gripped firmly and then picked the musroom and handed it over to Kohl.
“How did I do?” he asked nervously.
“Very well,” replied Kohl. “Now, there are more here. You and I will be busy for a while. You pick these while I go and find the next group. And make sure to only take the mature ones. We need to give the small ones time to grow properly.”