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"We’d just cross," I said absently I suddenly kneas upsetting me I’d wanted at least one of my friends to see me as a true leader Even Gord I wondered suddenly if Trist had also received an order froiven way to uts had fallen to the bottom of my belly Heavyhearted Was that what that word had always meant? None of my friends had ever looked at me and seen the potential for command Because they all knew it just wasn’t there

We walked the rest of the way in silence I changed intomy other one home to have it cleaned My bleakness was at odds with the rest ofover us, they see for an evening out in Old Thares and excitedly discussing their plans for Dark Evening There was to be a night s for sale, at the very best prices On the adjacent green, a circus with a sideshow had set up its tents and booths There were acrobats and tulers, wild animal tamers, and allon his best clothing and counting up his spendingthem as I left Carneston House and started back toward Maw’s office No one see or wonder why I’d been suone down behind the distant hills, its ht’s arrival The caularly spaced pole lanternsfrom island to island, and suddenly it reminded me of my journey from column top to column top in the dreaht on Dark Evening was enough to send a chill up anyone’s spine, and I shivered

Maas in his office adjacent to the classroo for me The door stood ajar I tapped and waited until he toldand silent until he waved me into a seat The office was as chill as the rest of the building, but Maw appeared comfortable He set aside soh and a smile "Well Cadet Burvelle, you look a bit cleaner than when I last saw you"

I couldn’t find a s "Yes, sir," was all I said He glanced at me, and then looked back at the papers on his desk He tapped thenment and then said, "Do you remember our little talk earlier this year?"

"Yes, sir"

"Has the idea gained any appeal for you?"

"I can’t say that it has, sir"

He wet his lips and sighed yet again Suddenly he leaned back in his chair and aze squarely I felt as if he had dropped a curtain between us as he said, "A man faces iven charge of pro men, and he knows that the decisions and choices he makes can affect their futures, their entire lives, well, those are the hardest choices of all I’ is on the horizon The cadets always know these things I don’t knoe pretend they are secret or a surprise"

I made no response, and after a ed, Burvelle It had to Your own father was instrue, when he supported the founding of this Acade an officer, says that education may be more important than bloodlines That was a very unpopular idea, youBadly We had clung to our traditions too firmly; we deployed ourwith swords and spears and catapults Soldier sons were born soldiers, we said; we thought the idea that they ht a foolish one And, of course, the soldier sons of nobles were born officers, with no need of instruction in that task In those days, all coave our officers was intended y Sixlieutenants The War College! Was ever an institution so poorly na how to critique a wine or play a good hand of cards was considered iment across different types of terrain So we educate you now, and we send you forth And we see the sons of new nobles promoted over their better-bred cousins We see co co, named cooes against the grain, Burvelle It rasps the sensibilities"