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And those were the words on his lips as our carriage left thetree-lined drive that led to the arched entry of the King’s Cavalla Academy
CHAPTER 9
The Academy
My father left me too soon in that place
The le in s happened so quickly At the end of the long graveled drive, we passed under a stone arch that bore the inscriptionKING ’S CAVALLA ACADEMY Marble sculptures of hts flanked the entrance A tall wall of worked stone surrounded the property, and within it groundskeepers were at work everywhere with rakes and barrows and pruning hooks to prepare for the new terreen laere studded with old oaks and bounded by tall laurel hedges We stopped before the ad, which was h with a white portico Well-tended footpaths led away fros and dormitories To the east of the residence halls, I saw a stable and several paddocks, and beyond that, an exercise arena
I had only a s, for our driver had climbed down and opened the door for us I followed e and he instructed the driver to wait, and then ledbrick structure Before we even reached the top of the stairs, the door swung open and a lad ereet us He could not have been more than ten years old, yet his head was cropped in athat mimicked a cavalla uniform He bowed to my father and asked in a clear voice if he could be of service
"Perhaps you can, young ht my son, Nevare Burvelle, to enter hiain "Thank you, sir, I shall be glad to assist you Allow e that your son’s possessions be taken to his dormitory for him?"
"You may, and with my thanks" My father was clearly impressed with the boy’s manners and self-possession, as was I He held the door for us to pass before him, and then quickly came to show us the way to the colonel’s office The vestibule of the building was paneled in dark wood, its floor covered with thick gray Antoleran tiles Our boots rang on their gleah an arch to an adjutant at a desk in the colonel’s anterooht of the boy The lad paused at his desk and asked hie to have his trunk taken to his dore is outside" Then the lad advanced to the next door, knocked firany panel, waited for a response, and then entered to announce us When the colonel replied that he would see us immediately, the boy caain, and told o to ascertain that the young man’s trunk was correctly delivered
"You ravely As he hurried out the door, Colonel Stiet rose to coreet us His family resemblance to the lad was unoes a youngster that any father could be proud of," my father observed
Stiet replied coolly, "He does well enough Ti: those aremen of potential I’m very pleased to meet you, Lord Keft Burvelle"
"And I to meet you, Colonel Stiet May I introduce ravely shook hands with the colonel, rasp ar "How do you do, sir?" I said He htly, and stepped back, feeling uncertain He spoke toCaulder returns, I’ll have him show your son to his dormitory Sometimes I offer a brief tour of our Academy to the parents of new students, but surely with your history of association with our institution, that would be redundant"
So in his tonemy father an insult or a compliment I was sure my father are of it as well, but he smiled affably and said firmly, "Redundant or not, Colonel Stiet, I am sure I would enjoy a tour, if only to see how our Academy prospers under your hand Lord Sefert Burvelle, es you’ve wrought I’ them for myself"
"Has he?" Colonel Stiet cocked his head "How strange that he would take an interest in my institution, when he has no soldier son of his own Still If you are sure you have the time…?"