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I clenchedat her "Yes Please, Epiny, just tell hed, and then cleared it again When she read the naht and choked Tears brimmed and then ran down her cheeks as she recited the naeant Rufet Corporal Dent Cadet Captain Jaffers Captain Maw Captain Infal Lieutenant Wurtam"

The first three names stunned me I lay back on my pillows, and as she went on, I felt each name like a fist blow to et you some water," Epiny said abruptly "I’ve been a fool Father said you were too weak yet for such tidings I judged that knowing these things would be less trying for you than living in suspense I rong, and now you shall have a relapse and undo all your healing andon my oith too little experience of the real world"

I sipped frolass she had poured from ht, Epiny Like you, I hate it when people try to make decisions for me Tell me the rest Now"

"Are you certain?" She took the glass fro hand and set it on my sick table

"Very certain Tell e she held "Of your other fellows, Kort never caught the plague Rory had only a mild case Trist took sick and recovered, but like Spink, he will never be as hearty as he was Spink thinks they will send him home Gord and his family have still not returned to the city, so they have ue Colonel Stiet and his son Caulder were both sick for days Both will recover but the colonel has given up co the Academy Control of it has passed back to Colonel Rebin Spink has heard rulad to have it back and intends to ‘put his house in order’ as soon as hout the city froue, but it orst within the Academy walls My father says that it has depleted the ranks of up-and-co officers substantially He thinks that o the Academy and simply purchase commissions as they used to, for the competition for positions will not be as fierce as it was" She cleared her throat

"Spink spoke about that, too He says that the distinctions between old nobles’ and new nobles’ sons have worn thin, for the sickness made all of them comrades for a tier afford to be choosy about students He has already heard rumors that Rebin will recall many of the culled cadets from previous years, to try to rebuild a corps of officers for the future Spink says there is talk around the Academy that if it does not take action to demonstrate that Academy-trained officers are superior to those who buy their positions, the existence of the Academy itself may be called into question It is not a cheap institution to run"

I was silent for a tie to hear Epiny speak so knowledgeably of the Acadeue upon our retfully that she would have ood cavalla wife "Spink must be heartbroken to have his career cut short before it started," I said to ht be easier for all of us if he were," Epiny said "No He is not heartbroken He is furious whenever anyone suggests that he will not recover enough to serve He will go home, as he has small choice in that But he says that he will recover his health, and when he does, he is determined to return to the Academy He is a soldier son and will be a soldier, despite what others may do in this difficult time"

"What others do?" I asked

"Oh I forget that you have been isolated The Academy suffered, but so did Old Thares A number of noble families lost their heir sons In some cases, the lord died as well The hole that creates in the Council of Lords is a gaping one With the support of the priesthood, er son as heir rather than bringing in a cousin to inherit It has caused quite a bit of discord, for ht out of their jaws But in every case that has been challenged, the priests have supported the faer son as first son"

"That’s insane!" I could not believe what I was hearing "It flies in the face of the good god’s will! How can the priests allow it?"

"My father says we od But I think-" Epiny halted suddenly, and looked uncomfortable

"What do you think?" I prodded her