Frozen Prospects by Dean Murray Page A

himself practice with his sword and
dagger.
    The
one offsetting advantage to the menial labor was that Va'del
continued to bulk up at a prodigious rate. Even that was cheapened
by the knowledge that it was in large part due to the forbidden
changes Jasmin had worked on his body. As much as possible he was
trying to avoid the notice of the few adults in his life. Can't have Jasmin's memory
tainted even further.
    Va'del
was just about to put down the law book he'd just finished reading
through for the second time, when a quiet clap announced someone
seeking entrance to his room.
    Javin
and On'li had been the only people to ever visit Va'del, so maybe it
shouldn't have surprised him when after more than two weeks of
absence On'li was the one to slowly walk around the privacy corner
to his room.
    The
slender old woman waved Va'del back down before he could fully stand
to greet her. "I see you've been reading. What do you think?"
    The
question caught Va'del by surprised, and he looked at On'li in an
effort to understand what she was getting at, but he didn't know her
well enough to read her expression.
    "I
like it, I suppose. I mean, I don't understand everything I read,
and it can be pretty dry, but Jasmin told me to look at it as a way
for the rights of the villagers to be protected. I like that there
is a way for people to appeal to someone other than the village
Headman for justice in those cases when the Headman is wrong."
    There
was a flicker of something in On'li's eyes as she nodded.
    Pity?
Is that how she stops herself from hating me?
    Obviously
unaware of his thoughts, On'li pointed to Va'del's weapons. "Do
you still practice with those as well?"
    Va'del
had no sooner answered in the affirmative than On'li instructed him
to follow her along a set of corridors he hadn't been down before.
A few minutes' journey brought the pair to a large, roughly finished
cavern filled with men, both young and old, engaged in weapons
training.
    On'li
walked over to one of the knots of figures without stopping.
"Master Branar, I've another trainee for you."
    The
man who turned in response to On'li's voice was one of the most
unprepossessing men Va'del had ever seen. The weapons master was
only of average height, well-muscled, but so lean it looked like
I'rone or Javin could have broken him in half.
    "The
next beginner class doesn't start for a month, Councilor. He'll
have to wait until then."
    On'li
shook her head. "He isn't a beginner, I believe you'll find
that he can keep up fairly well with your more experienced students.
I'm afraid this isn't just a simple request."
    It
looked for a moment as if Branar would still refuse, but there was
steel in the Guadel's manner that apparently had him unwilling to
match wills with the tiny woman.
    "Very
well, I'll throw him in with the second-years and see how he
manages." The arms master pointed to a group along one edge of
the cavern, and then turned back to the students he'd been
haranguing when they'd arrived.
    On'li
looked at Va'del for a moment before sighing the way one does when
considering an especially unwanted burden. "Well, there isn't
anything for it but to jump in and give it your best. You'll find
that there are a number of Guadel candidates at the Capital
currently, and they train here as well. For all practical purposes,
they and the guardsmen trainees all outrank you, so make sure you're
polite and don't cause trouble."
    The
Guadel gave Va'del a smile that was still tinged with something he
couldn't identify, and then turned and left.
    ##
    It
wouldn't have mattered if I was polite or not. They were determined
to hate me from the start.
    The
second-year students had stared openly at the newcomer's skin before
returning to their practice bouts. If that had been the worst of
it, Va'del could have dealt with things, but Alir, the senior
apprentice in charge of the second-year students, seemed to be set
on making things difficult for him.
    Alir
had directed Va'del to a rack