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They were standing in the center ofmy disco along the pathway The stripes on his sleeve proclaimed he was a fourth-year cadet, and I braced nominy upon me Instead, as he approached, I saw the faces of the two cadets who had been afflicting me darken into antipathy He came abreast of us, and I was forced to halt my silly circuit, come to attention, and salute the newcomer But his attention was not fixed on me but on entlemen," he said coldly to them, and I heard the frontier in the way he stretched his words and softened the ends

They grudgingly ca that way and turned to me There were not many fourth-year cadets at the Academy Those who stayed on for that extra year did so by invitation only, due to academic excellence and potential that could not be fully developed in a field situation Technically, he had already graduated froh he would wear the uniforear eiment That here he would be bound upon his completion of this extra year, and he’d probably wear a captain’s insignia soon after he got there He looked me up and down and demanded my name

"Cadet Nevare Burvelle, sir"

He nodded to himself "Of course I’ve heard of your da Put on your uniform, Cadet, and be about your business"

Honesty demanded that I tell him, "I’ve three more demerits to march off yet, sir"

"No you don’t, Cadet I’ve canceled the on you Stupidity"

"It was just a bit of fun, sir" The words were lared at the third-year who had spoken

"And you only wring your ‘bit of fun’ out of new nobles’ sons, I’ve noticed Why don’t you go pick on your own, Cadet Ordo?"

"We’re third-years, sir We have authority over all first-year cadets"

"No one spoke to you, Cadet Jaris Keep silent" He turned away frome with cold hatred that I had witnessed their humiliation I wanted to be away from them as swiftly as I could "Cadet Burvelle, are you dressed yet?"

"Yes, sir"

"Then I order you to go directly to your dorlanced at the two still standing at attention "If you are stopped again by either of these two cadets, you are to respectfully inform them that you are already on an errand for Cadet Lieutenant Tiber That’s me Then you are to continue about your business Is that clear, Cadet? Your command fro in this foolish ‘initiation’ "

"Yes, sir"

He turned back to his captives "And you two, are you clear that you are not to haze Cadet Burvelle?"

"We are permitted, until the sixth week, to initiate the first-years" A moment passed, then, "Sir"

"Are you? Well, I am permitted, for this entire year, to issue commands as I see fit to third-years And er to participate in the ‘initiation’ of any new nobles’ sons Are you clear on that, Cadets?"

"Yes, sir," was the sulky response

"Cadet Burvelle, you are released to follow my orders Dismissed"

As I walked away and left them there, Lieutenant Tiber kept the other two cadets at attention I was grateful that my torment was over, but feared also that his actions would et of the third-year cadets

His intervention and subsequent coiven ht before I found a chance to talk to Rory It was after lights-out, and technically against the rules, but our patrol was alreadyits own adaptations of the rules for our floor Our proctor, as was his custo those of us ere still at minor tasks He left us to buated on the floor of the study roo in a hushed voice, I recounted my mishap and also my rescue by Lieutenant Tiber After they’d finished snickering at my embarrass about hostility between the new nobles’ and old nobles’ sons?"