her case?” Jame looked around at her friends.
Daneran shrugged. “This is Tigh the Terrible we’re talking about.”
“She isn’t anymore.” Jame picked up her pack and turned to the doorway that led to their mentor’s chambers. The others assaulted her with persuasive words of reason.
“I know you always go for the underdog, but she’s a lost cause,” Jadic said. “She’s not worth risking your career over.”
“She deserves a chance to live a normal life, just like all the rest of the Guards.” Jame leveled a steady gaze at her friends. “We can’t turn down a case simply because it might damage our careers. If we do that, we take justice into our own hands and become both the judge and the executioner. I’m going to take the case.”
She ignored the chorus of protests and strode down the crooked corridor to their mentor.
“Ah Jame, welcome back.” Ingel Renat looked up from her paper-strewn table.
“I want to take Tigh’s case,” Jame said. “And thank you, it’s good to be back.”
Ingel gazed at Jame for a heartbeat and sighed. “I appreciate your offer, Jame. But this could violate the promise to your aunt that we wouldn’t allow you into potentially dangerous situations.”
Laur’s waterfalls . It had seemed like a harmless compromise when Jyac had insisted that she have a royal guard with her in Ynit. The last thing she wanted was something that set her apart from the other students. Besides, she didn’t want her every action reported back home.
“But she’s been cleansed,” Jame said.
“Yes, that’s true.” Ingel fiddled with her pen. “But the potential for danger is there.”
“But that could be said about any case involving a Guard,” Jame said. “Logically, she should be less dangerous.”
“The truth is, the healers aren’t quite sure how effective the cleansing process is on the Elite Guards.” Ingel brushed back a shock of white hair. “Their personality reversals are so extreme, residual effects from the enhancements may linger.”
“Let me get this straight.” Jame clasped her hands behind her back. Her friends, clustered around the door, groaned. “The healers aren’t sure if the cleansing process worked, yet she’s made it through the post-cleansing procedure and her name is on our case roster. Sounds to me like Tigh is being set up to give someone an excuse to find some other means of dealing with her.”
“The healers are just being cautious,” Ingel said.
“Then let me take her case,” Jame said.
“It’s a matter of how dangerous your aunt will perceive the situation.” Ingel gave Jame an imploring look.
“She doesn’t know which cases I take,” Jame said.
“Anything involving Tigh is bound to get out.”
Jame and Ingel stared at each other for several heartbeats.
Just as Jame opened her mouth, Jadic spoke up. “If it means that much to you, Jame, I’ll take the case.”
Jame gave Jadic a wry look. “I thought you said she was scary.”
He chuckled. “It’ll be a good learning experience. It’ll help me develop skills at dealing with clients who scare me to death.”
“Are you sure, Jadic?” Ingel asked.
“I’m sure.” Jadic nodded, not looking at all sure.
AN ARBITER HAD volunteered to argue her case. Tigh envisioned a young, eager student taking the case on a dare. After four days of nervous apologies from Pendon, she figured a dare was the only way to get anyone to take her on.
She sat on the edge of her cot with her mid-day meal tray balanced on her knees and cut her asparagus into neat uniform pieces. She savored the way the sharp knife sliced through the tender shoots.
The assistant healer down the corridor was exchanging words with someone. She speared a piece of asparagus with her fork and chewed off a bit. Much to her delight, the military cooks prepared Ingoran food better than most Ingorans. She’d have to discover their secret when she finally left this place. She popped the rest of the
Daneran shrugged. “This is Tigh the Terrible we’re talking about.”
“She isn’t anymore.” Jame picked up her pack and turned to the doorway that led to their mentor’s chambers. The others assaulted her with persuasive words of reason.
“I know you always go for the underdog, but she’s a lost cause,” Jadic said. “She’s not worth risking your career over.”
“She deserves a chance to live a normal life, just like all the rest of the Guards.” Jame leveled a steady gaze at her friends. “We can’t turn down a case simply because it might damage our careers. If we do that, we take justice into our own hands and become both the judge and the executioner. I’m going to take the case.”
She ignored the chorus of protests and strode down the crooked corridor to their mentor.
“Ah Jame, welcome back.” Ingel Renat looked up from her paper-strewn table.
“I want to take Tigh’s case,” Jame said. “And thank you, it’s good to be back.”
Ingel gazed at Jame for a heartbeat and sighed. “I appreciate your offer, Jame. But this could violate the promise to your aunt that we wouldn’t allow you into potentially dangerous situations.”
Laur’s waterfalls . It had seemed like a harmless compromise when Jyac had insisted that she have a royal guard with her in Ynit. The last thing she wanted was something that set her apart from the other students. Besides, she didn’t want her every action reported back home.
“But she’s been cleansed,” Jame said.
“Yes, that’s true.” Ingel fiddled with her pen. “But the potential for danger is there.”
“But that could be said about any case involving a Guard,” Jame said. “Logically, she should be less dangerous.”
“The truth is, the healers aren’t quite sure how effective the cleansing process is on the Elite Guards.” Ingel brushed back a shock of white hair. “Their personality reversals are so extreme, residual effects from the enhancements may linger.”
“Let me get this straight.” Jame clasped her hands behind her back. Her friends, clustered around the door, groaned. “The healers aren’t sure if the cleansing process worked, yet she’s made it through the post-cleansing procedure and her name is on our case roster. Sounds to me like Tigh is being set up to give someone an excuse to find some other means of dealing with her.”
“The healers are just being cautious,” Ingel said.
“Then let me take her case,” Jame said.
“It’s a matter of how dangerous your aunt will perceive the situation.” Ingel gave Jame an imploring look.
“She doesn’t know which cases I take,” Jame said.
“Anything involving Tigh is bound to get out.”
Jame and Ingel stared at each other for several heartbeats.
Just as Jame opened her mouth, Jadic spoke up. “If it means that much to you, Jame, I’ll take the case.”
Jame gave Jadic a wry look. “I thought you said she was scary.”
He chuckled. “It’ll be a good learning experience. It’ll help me develop skills at dealing with clients who scare me to death.”
“Are you sure, Jadic?” Ingel asked.
“I’m sure.” Jadic nodded, not looking at all sure.
AN ARBITER HAD volunteered to argue her case. Tigh envisioned a young, eager student taking the case on a dare. After four days of nervous apologies from Pendon, she figured a dare was the only way to get anyone to take her on.
She sat on the edge of her cot with her mid-day meal tray balanced on her knees and cut her asparagus into neat uniform pieces. She savored the way the sharp knife sliced through the tender shoots.
The assistant healer down the corridor was exchanging words with someone. She speared a piece of asparagus with her fork and chewed off a bit. Much to her delight, the military cooks prepared Ingoran food better than most Ingorans. She’d have to discover their secret when she finally left this place. She popped the rest of the
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