Free Siege of Pailtar by Robyn Wideman

necessary,” explained the old man.
    Kiana groaned, she knew rule thirty-seven. Heck, she knew all the rules, but she didn’t really think that it was that firm of a rule. She had thought it meant play nice during Guild meetings, don’t steal from each other (very often) and never kill another Guild member (unless attacked first) and the last one was actually its own rule; rule twenty-six “thou shall not kill Guild members.” Kiana was mortified, her success in Guild school relying on others? It was bad enough she had to trust and work with others? Mother had not mentioned that!
    While she pondered that, an older boy that she didn’t recognize came around and gave each of potential students a sheet of paper. The grades thought Kiana. Guild school was not like normal school, in Guild school students were graded on skill level and then students applied for courses.  Students could choose two subjects and two were given to the student by the school. The courses given to students were often more important than the ones they were allowed to choose. Guild school only lasted a maximum of three years and with only four classes per year and if stuck in dumb classes like Guild law it severally limited a student’s ability to improve their abilities. Her mother had often warned her that not studying Guild laws could lead to wasting a valuable spot having to take the Guild laws class.
    Kiana was nervous when the boy handed her sheet to her. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and then looked at her sheet.
    1)       Pickpocket: Four
    2)       Sneak: Four
    3)       Guild Law: Two
    4)       Applied magic: One
    5)       Hand to Hand: Three
    6)       Cat burglar: Four
    7)       Weapons: Two
    8)       Surveillance: Three
     
    Kiana handed her sheet to the old man, “Is this good? Does a two in Guild law mean taking a class?”
    The old man carefully looked over her sheet. “Impressive scores you have there, young lady. Guild law only goes up to two. Getting a two means you don’t have to take the course.”
    Kiana sighed in relief. Not having to take guild law was one less thing to worry about.
    “How the hell can you get a four in three subjects and a one in Applied Magic?” asked the old man.
    Kiana shrugged, “I avoided magic studies like the plague. My mother finally gave up trying to force them on me. She said I could do it when I was ready. But now I am all about the magic. I am going to study it like never before.” Kiana then told the old man the story about the scorpion.
    The old man laughed at her “You must have pissed someone off to get that assignment. Most first time applicants don’t get things quite that challenging. Your mother taught you? So you are a legacy? Lucky child.”
    Kiana nodded, she was a legacy, but not a normal one. She avoided that subject. “So when do we find out about the group challenge thingy?”
    We find out about the team challenge any minute now. The Guild instructors compare our grades and put us into groups. Tomorrow we do the challenge.”
    As the old man explained, the same boy who had handed out the grades came into the gym and posted a list on the wall. As soon as the boy left again all the students headed to the wall to read the list. Kiana looked at the list.
     
    Group three
     
    Aldwin Appleton
    Osmond Wentworth
    Aspen Wentworth
    Kiana Clairmont
     
    Kiana didn’t recognize any of the names. The old man stood beside her and read the list. “Ah it looks like we are in the same group,” he said.
    “We are?” asked Kiana.
    “Well, I am Aldwin, and unless you are not one of the girl names on that list, we are on the same team.”
    Kiana laughed, “Hello, Aldwin, I am Kiana. It is nice to formally meet you.”
    The other girl walked over to them with one of the two younger boys in tow. “I am Aspen and this is Osmond.”
    Kiana looked at her group, she was pretty happy she didn’t have to work with winker or rude boy. Maybe the