Free Thawed Fortunes by Dean Murray Page A

bloodline won't end with us, that there is still
hope. Mi'lo will make a fine Guadel."
    Pavir shook her head. "Oh, I agree he is a
fine young man, but he isn't the future of our bloodline. He's far
too timid for that. I suspect we'll have to range further afield to
find someone to replace you. Possibly this young man you've had
your eye on?"
    For a moment the comment caught On'li off
guard, and she realized she was spending far too much time with
politicians. It was time to get back to teaching on a regular
enough schedule that it wouldn't surprise her when someone actually
just came out and said exactly what they meant.
    "He really would make an excellent Guadel,
but I don't think we'll be able to get him sponsored outside of
normal channels now."
    Pavir sighed. "Javin filled Ba'loc in last
night while they were hacking away at each other with big swords
just like the barbarians they are. So what happens now?"
    "I don't know. The Council has approved the
creation of an intermediate class. After they've passed some fairly
extensive tests, we'll promote the more advanced students and allow
them to marry. They'll still be operating under the supervision of
their sponsors, but this will allow us to put more people out on
patrol, thereby reassuring the various villages."
    "So they'll be promoted before their field
work?"
    On'li nodded. "I can put Mi'lo forward for
advancement if you'd like."
    "I don't think so, he's only another few
months from becoming a full Guadel following the normal course of
advancement. Throwing him into a new situation would just make life
more difficult. Maybe if he had a sweetheart he was pursuing it
would be a different matter, but I really think he'll be better off
if we just leave things as they are."
    Pavir laughed at the barely restrained
expression of disappointment on her hostess's face. "I hope that
you aren't that transparent when you are in the Council chamber.
You were hoping of course that I'd jump at the idea of promoting
Mi'lo, and then agree to sponsor Va'del."
    On'li felt herself blush. "I know I shouldn't
presume like that, it's just that he's been through so much, and he
has such potential. It breaks my heart to think of him being stuck
in the Guard for the rest of his life."
    The younger woman nodded. "I understand; I
really do. When I think of the lengths I would have gone to in
order to ensure that Joh'nith was sponsored...let's just say it is
a good thing that the Council approved his promotion to full
Guadel, or who knows what would have happened. I'll do the best I
can for the boy, but my first loyalty has to be to Mi'lo. If I give
him anything less than my best, it will set him back more years
than I care to think about."
    On'li squeezed Pavir's hand. "I know you
will, and you're right to set Mi'lo as your priority. Honestly,
right now I'm not sure that even sponsoring Va'del would be enough
to ensure he eventually became a Guadel. The boy saved us all, and
in doing so, seems to have earned himself more enemies than any
three full Guadel."
    ##
    Va'del walked over to where Fi'lin was
supervising a practice bout. The bruises were just tender enough to
make him want to favor his right leg, but he did his very best to
move normally. For days now he'd done his best to be a good little
prospective candidate, but the trainees had finally pushed him too
far. If Ah'bi hadn't strengthened his bones he was pretty sure a
couple of the 'accidental' blows would have put him back in the
healers' care.
    It was fear of facing him in the training
ring that had made them leave him alone when he'd first arrived. He
didn't have any choice now but to see if the same kind of threat
would work a second time.
    The wiry Guadel looked up as the teenager
approached him and nodded. "Trainee, should you be here
already?"
    "Sir, I feel fine, and would like to get back
to some limited training."
    "What did you have in mind?"
    "There are a number of the trainees who I
think would be ideally suited to helping me