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I was a bit surprised to think that fathers took so hters Then, as I pondered it, it seemed that of course it must be so, and I wondered if sohters that we es I wondered if I would ever sit with Rosse and discuss hts when Uncle Sefert suddenly addressed ?"
I spoke honestly, without giving thought tothat soether and discuss our plans for our children with as much fondness and pleasure as you share with my father now"
I had not intended to flatter either of theave me the warmest smile I had ever seen on his face "Such is my wish for you also, my son," he assured me "When all is said and done, family is what counts for uished career in the cavalla, just as I hope to see Rosse eVanze honored as a pious and learned man Yet above all, I hope that in the years to come you will remember one another fondly, and always do whatever you can for the honor and well-being of your faer brother has done for our family over the years," ht blush that suffused my father’s face at his elder brother’s praise
I perceived my uncle then as a very different man from what I had previously supposed him I decided that their free discussion in front of nition that I was now a man and more worthy of confidences than I had been as a child As if to confirm this, my uncle then asked me a number of polite questions about our journey and ors At the news that I had brought Sirlofty, he smiled and nodded his approval, but cautioned, "Perhaps you should stable hi where they will allow you a personalcadets has instituted a new practice of putting all of thein with, so that pace and stride and appearance are iment"
"I had not heard of that," my father frowned
"It is quite recent," my Uncle Sefert assured him "The news of it likely has not reached the eastern frontiers yet Colonel Rebin has recently chosen to retire; soout in his knees and feet has become so painful that he can scarce bestride a chair, let alone a horse There are also less kind whispers that he so and found it wiser to leave the post before he was relieved of it Whatever the cause, he has left the Academy and Colonel Stiet has taken it over"
"Colonel Stiet? I don’t believe I know him," my father observed stiffly I was alarmed at how unsettled he seemed to be at this sudden news
"You would not He isn’t a frontier ood h the ranks here at ho years rather than field proiven to show than Colonel Rebin was, and his insistence on well-iment is but the tip of it My wife’s faether He may not be a soldier’s soldier, but he will have the Academy’s best interests at heart"
"Well, I’m not opposed to a bit of spit and polish, I suppose Attention to detail can save a man’s life in a ticklish situation" I could hear thatforto make the best of a bad situation
"He’sboots" My uncle paused He stood up, paced a turn about the rooossip, pure and simple, and yet I think I’ll pass it on I have heard he favors the soldier sons of the established nobles over King Troven’s battle lords, as some call you"
"Is he unfair?" My father asked the question bluntly, his voice going loith concern
"Strict Strict, but not unfair, is more what I’ve heard My wife is a close friend of his lady, and knows them well There is talk that…well How to put this The cavalla is ulti, of course, as is all our military But so to officer status will shift the ht be unhealthy for the rest of the kingdom The Council of Lords already saw its power diluted when the new nobles were granted equal seats with the to have his way there And soht rebellion by one lord or another, the king ainst the rebel lord And that an arht be less dismayed by that than an army commanded by old nobles’ sons would be"