Free The Talented by J.R. McGinnity

happened with Lieutenant Nissen. “Captain Garrett, I can
explain—”
    Captain Garrett held up a
hand to stop her. “An explanation is not necessary, nor at this
late date particularly welcome.” That kept Adrienne quiet. “What
interested me was the solidarity amongst the men in response to
what happened. The other soldiers regard you as one of them
completely, and maybe as something more. The respect those serving
here have for you is greater and more true than the respect even
some of the more well-liked officers are given.”
    “ Let me apologize
for—”
    “ Apologies, like
explanations, we can do without at this time. Unless you wish to
make a formal complaint.” The captain’s eyes made it clear that he
did not want one, and it was something Adrienne was not eager to
give in any case. She shook her head. “Very well. Respect is
earned, Rydaeg. It does not come easily, nor do officers
automatically gain respect. You have already earned the respect and
loyalty of the men at Kyrog, just as you have shown your leadership
abilities with Rosch.”
    Adrienne waited, barely
able to breathe.
    “ You’ve grown since you
began training Rosch. I had you take the lead in sorting out
Pelarion as a test. You chose a solid group of men, Rosch included,
and by all accounts you were a good leader. I was further impressed
by your impromptu visit to Red Ridge Keep. Although I would have
preferred you wait until sent, the fact that it occurred to you to
contact our patron and inform him of what had happened at Pelarion
proved to me that you have vision that reaches beyond the walls of
this camp.”
    Adrienne said nothing,
unsure of what to think or feel. The barrage of emotions, from hope
to fear that the captain might find her inadequate, was too much
for her to fully process.
    “ Adrienne Rydaeg, as
Captain of Kyrog, I would like to formally offer you the position
of lieutenant.”
    Adrienne gave a mental cry
of triumph while limiting her physical response to a nod. Despite
her stoic efforts, she was unable to suppress her smile. “Thank
you, sir. I would be honored.” Her words were heartfelt, and she
knew that the captain could see everything she was feeling in her
deep brown eyes. Embarrassment could not outweigh her joy, however,
and her smile grew to reveal straight white teeth.
    Pride that she had reached
the goal she had been secretly striving toward for years swamped
her.
    “ In addition to your
promotion, I would like to place you in charge of training all of
the Yearlings,” Captain Garrett said, surprising her enough that
some of the euphoria cleared.
    “ Lieutenant Mylig is in
charge of training at Kyrog,” Adrienne said. She had heard no
rumors that Mylig would be leaving, or worse, retiring. He was too
skilled a soldier and teacher to waste his talent growing beans or
whatever soldiers did after retirement. He was meant to teach and
fight, not succumb to old age on a farm somewhere in the
countryside.
    Adrienne would rather die
in a fight than spend the rest of her years living such a life, and
she had always gotten the feeling that Mylig felt the same. He was
not the retiring type.
    “ He will remain in charge
of the soldiers who will be staying at Kyrog indefinitely; men who
have years to learn and perfect their skills,” Captain Garrett
elucidated. “In light of what you have been able to do with Rosch,
I would like you to continue training him and other soldiers in the
same circumstances as he.”
    Adrienne was surprised at
the immediate increase in responsibility that came with her
promotion. “I will need to set up a team to help me,” Adrienne
said, still reeling from the sudden promotion and the new task
before her. Excitement, almost like the tense anticipation she
often felt before a fight, coursed through her veins as she began
making plans.
    “ Of course. Although a
one-on-one mentorship will not be feasible due to the number of
recruits, I expect you to assemble a large enough team