Jodiah

At the range, the Range Master paired him with a First Class and gave him body armor to wear. Once the Range Master was satisfied Jodiah was able to don the armor, and fire a weapon to his satisfaction, he allowed both young men to enter the combat zone where they began a thorough work out that included weapon’s practice and light physical training. Briefed on Jodiah’s limitations, the First Class pushed him no further than he was able to go. A good while after he entered, a sweaty Jodiah exited the combat zone. The Range Master was waiting for him.

“Not bad for a first workout, Junior First Dalton. How long has it been since you’ve held a weapon?”

“Too long, Sir.”

“Well, that may be, but I am signing off on your permissions to have one issued, if you so choose.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

“Keep your appointments.”

“I may need reminder calls. Life gets a little strange sometimes around Senior First Tavyl.”

The Range Master laughed, “I’ll bet it does. That is one Senior who has had a hard time keeping a Junior.” “What do you mean?”

“Well you know about the whole mess with Pieter.”

Jodiah nodded.

“Before Pieter several young men either turned him down flat out, or did not stay his Junior for more than a few months.”

“How many Juniors has he had?”

“Before you? Pieter and one other boy.”

“Where is the other boy?”

“He recently made First Class, name’s Xan Lander.”

“I think he and I shall speak.”

“It might be a good idea,” the Range Master agreed. “Now get dressed and enjoy what is left of your evening.”

Jodiah stripped off the body armor and returned it to its rack, then pulled on his uniform.

“Hey, there are showers back there, if you want to use them,” the First Class told him.

“No, it’s all right. I’ll go home, shower and crawl between my sheets.”

“I didn’t work you that hard.”

“No, it’s just been a long time between work outs. I’ll adjust in time.” Jodiah reassured him, and he knew that he would, he always adjusted to his circumstances, no matter how strange they seemed to be.

“You have a unique style, Junior First Dalton. I hope to be your sparing partner frequently so that I might learn it.”

“Request it of the Range Master, I would not oppose you being my regular partner so long as our schedules match well enough.”

“Thank you.” He said as he left to shower.

Jodiah was grinning as he headed back to his quarters. The work out had felt good. The weapon’s training had been different, but not much different than home. A few more like that and they would feel as natural to him as his old ones had. He was glad now that he had taken the time and effort to keep up his private training and stretching exercises so that he was limber enough to do some of the moves required of him tonight. As he pressed the buttons to enter his office, Jodiah wondered if Kryst knew how to give a massage.

Taban stood waiting in his office. “Kryst needs you. Come.”

Jodiah had no reason not to trust the Third Class; he went with him. In the hall, they passed Journeyman Wyven who was walking slowly and listening intently. Jodiah bobbed his head in acknowledgement then moved on with Taban.

Kryst

In Alod and Taban’s quarters, Kryst lay face down on the floor, biting on a pillow. His back was aflame again. He wept with pain but would not cry out. Alod poured ice on Kryst’s back only to see it instantly melt off into the towels he had placed nearby.

“It happened like this last night?”

Kryst nodded.

“And Jodiah didn’t go screaming from the room?”

Kryst shook his head.

“You got a good one this time, Kryst, don’t mess it up. Do you know what is causing the cycles to come so fast together?”

Kryst nodded.

“Can you stop it?”

Kryst shrugged.

“Taban is coming, maybe he has Jodiah with him.” About that time, Jodiah burst into the room and started peeling off his own shirt.

“I’m sorry, Kryst, I should have listened earlier.” He stroked his hair and when both the shirt and undershirt lay on the other side of the towels, he lowered his pants only enough that they would not come in contact with Kryst’s back, then he pressed the soft skin of his stomach against the heat of Kryst’s back. Instantly he felt as if he was on fire, but he would not cry out with it. Instead, he kissed Kryst’s hair and entwined their fingers.

Kryst finally stopped biting on the pillow and turned his head to look at Alod. “He shows no fear at all of the beast with in me, Alod. Instead, he embraces her, and she embraces him.”

“I can see that. Jodiah, would you like ice on your back?”

“It’s bearable.” Jodiah whispered. “Are you feeling better, now Kryst?”

“Yes, the heat is bearable again. I do not know why it flared up again.”

“I do. Taryn is hunting. He was in the hall and appeared to be listening. If he triggered this again, and the poor bastard did not know what was going on, then he would be screaming his head off. Then Taryn would hear, correct?”

“Most likely.”

“But in our rooms we are buffered by our offices and workrooms, you can’t hear a loud party in the passageway.” Alod said.

“But does he know that?” Jodiah asked.

“Probably not.” Kryst said, understanding where Jodiah was headed with this. “We must keep him out of our rooms, I’ll inform the others.”

“I don’t want to move yet.” Jodiah purred against his cheek.

“Get a room guys - yours.” Taban laughed. “Besides didn’t you just say you were not sleeping together this afternoon?”

Kryst growled. “I can swear I have not bedded the tease.”

Jodiah laughed, “And I can swear I am still a virgin in every sense of the word, much to Kryst’s dismay.” However, he did slide his body off Kryst’s body, reaching for his undershirt as he did, pulling it on as he stood up.

Kryst arched his back and stood nude in front of his friends and confidants. “You know I’m going to ask you to keep Jodiah’s secrets as you keep mine.”

Alod kneeled, and Taban kneeled at his side. “On our honor and by our oath.” Then each held out a hand and Kryst ran his finger along the palm. “I bind you by your blood and mine.” Where he ran his finger a scratch appeared, and then he ran the same finger along his own palm. A welling of blood appeared he poured some in each hand and it mixed with theirs as the scratch healed to as if it had never been. Kryst smiled at them. “Thank you.”

Jodiah watched him bind the two to him seemingly not for the first time and wondered how true the rumor was that Kryst ruled the Seniors and Juniors might be, even if they allowed it.

Once Kryst dressed, and the mess cleaned up, they left for their own quarters. It seemed they had a lot to talk about tonight, and Jodiah still had to study.

“Are you hungry? I started dinner, but when the pain came, I had to stop. Taban finished it.”

“I’m very hungry. I’m glad Alod was able to take care of you.”

“Alod was able to hold off the worst of it until you got to me. You made it go away.”

Jodiah blushed. “You say the sweetest things, it almost makes me wish I knew your language.”

“Why?”

“So that when you say sweet things to me, they are in your native tongue.”

“Is this a condition of my being able to seduce you, Jodiah?”

Jodiah bit his bottom lip then nodded.

“Then be prepared to learn.” Kryst smiled, “For I want you very badly.”

“I’ve heard you were the best tutor to have.”

“I can be pretty efficient when properly motivated. As of right now, when we are alone, and except for study time, only Dastonese will be spoken.” Kryst grinned and switched languages on Jodiah. “Greetings, I am Krystyval Phoenixia. It is my pleasure to meet you.” He bowed formally.

Jodiah recognized the formal tone of the greeting, sort of recognized Kryst’s name although it had a different inflection and was run together. He returned the bow as he had been taught. That much he knew from his culture class. He turned the words he thought Kryst must have said around in his head and came up with what he hoped was an appropriate response. “It is my pleasure to greetings you. I am Jodiah Dalton.”

Kryst laughed. “Good!” He kept up a constant chatter while setting the table, having Jodiah repeat words after him. Jodiah had never learned a language this way, but he found it not too difficult to pick up what Kryst was trying to get across, and it would help him in the future, if he were ever in a place where there were no common languages. So, he learned.

After they ate, Jodiah declared it study time, and went to find his books. He was not sure what he missed in classes today, but he wanted to do a little reading at least. Kryst finally broke down and pulled out some of his books, they sat together at the kitchen table, and studied together. Jodiah asked questions when he needed help with a concept, but otherwise they did not speak.

When he crammed as much reading in his head as his eyes could handle, Jodiah slid his books to one side of the table and headed to the shower. The hot water felt good on his stiff shoulder muscles. He stood in the spray for a long time, thinking about the events that had transpired since the last time he stood in the shower’s cleansing spray. With a smile on his lips, he turned off the water and wrapped a towel around his waist after drying off, and went into Kryst’s bedroom.

Kryst was sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting on him. He spoke directly, “If you share my bed I can not promise I will keep my hands to myself.”

“I accept that as a condition of sharing your bed. Will you teach me the words for continue and stop, please?”

Kryst told him the words.

Jodiah repeated them. “I will try to remember.”

Kryst slid over in the bed and made room for Jodiah who lay down beside him allowing skin contact. Kryst wrapped his arm around Jodiah, spooning him from behind. Jodiah sighed contentedly and soon was asleep. Kryst did not sleep so quickly, however, though eventually sleep came to him.

Jodiah

The weeks flew by for Kryst and Jodiah, and now midterms were behind them. Somehow, they had managed to avoid detection by Taryn, but they both sensed their time was running out. He had managed to trigger Kryst’s cycles every few days and each time Jodiah closed the cycle, his own phoenix became more like Kryst’s tattoo and less like the brand it first appeared to be.

Jodiah, for his part, could speak the language as fluently as Kryst and was now working on learning to read and write it just as easily. Somehow, through this process he still remained a virgin, although there had been a few times where he had to beg Kryst to stop in several languages before he would desist.

The Range Master had recommended him for a few special ops classes and he took one of them so far. The class had earned him a ribbon to wear on his uniform, but Jodiah did not feel it was appropriate on his everyday wear uniform. Maybe, if he had to go to some formal event, then he would wear it.

As he suspected, Jodiah moved from Programming I to Programming II at the midterm, and was now trying to play catch up and keep up, but the instructor was cutting him some slack, teaching him at his own pace until he caught up. His mid-term percentages placed him in the top one percent of the ranks. Where Kryst said all the Seniors and Juniors should be, as well as most of the Squad Leaders. Jodiah was pleased to see all his siblings there as well.

Ian was still avoiding Jodiah, and Jodiah was not sure how to bridge the gap with his brother. He felt he should, and soon, before the damage between them was irreparable; but he could think of no way to get his brother alone to talk to him.

This particular day was nearly half way between midterms and finals. Jodiah was particularly irritable for having been kept awake all night by Kryst going through yet another unnecessary cycle. He needed to stop Taryn and he needed to stop him now, only he did not know how; however, he knew who might. It took him a little over an hour after the morning muster to travel to the office of Protocol where he presented himself at the front desk.

“How may we be of service to you?” asked the pretty young receptionist.

“I need to speak to someone on an intergalactic matter.”

“Let me see who is available,” she tapped her screen a few times then responded, “Ambassador Diglimesh is available. Your name please?”

” Thank you, Jodiah Dalton. ”

In a matter of minutes, a short, thin man presented himself at the door and called out, “Jodiah Dalton”.

Jodiah stood up and walked over. He gave a short bow and greeted the man in his native language.

Diglimesh was surprised as he bowed in return, giving the customary greeting. Then he escorted Jodiah back to his office.

“You spoke of needing help with an intergalactic issue?”

“Yes Sir. What do you know of the Dastonian people?”

Diglimesh blinked then focused intently on Jodiah, “They are a race who are living in exile, looking for their King. There are many rumors surrounding the young man, but only one thing that is known for truth.”

“What is that?”

“He bears the living phoenix on his shoulders,” Diglimesh said while watching Jodiah for a reaction, but he got none. “What information are you looking for in particular?”

“Puberty Rites, Binding Rituals, and Capital Punishment,” Jodiah said.

“That’s quite a list, any particular reason?”

“I’m studying for my culture exam on the Dastonian people. While there is mention of these things in the books, there is no mention of what they are or any details about them. With the people in exile, I obviously cannot travel to their court and prevail upon their King to allow me to study them. Therefore, I am gleaning what I can from whom I can, and hopefully there will be enough truth among it that I will be able to pass my exam.”

The ambassador nodded and began talking. Jodiah dutifully took notes, even of the things he and Kryst already knew about. The things they didn’t know about were very educational. He stopped the Ambassador from time to time to clarify a point or to ask a specific question. When it came time to discuss Capitol Punishment, the rule was simple, the King decided. Jodiah asked about cases of murder. The response was the same, it was up to the King to determine the fate of the murderer, in all cases except kin slaying. In that case, the nearest kin remaining was allowed to determine the way the murder would die, as death was always the penalty for kin slaying. Jodiah then wanted to know how this process would be complicated if the person doing the slaying were not a member of the Dastonian society, but was an off-lander bound during the Puberty Rites to one of the Clans.”

“That would seriously complicate matters. Off-landers do not have the same rights as the members of society, yet if he is truly bound during Puberty Rites that makes him virtually equal in class rank as the member of society he bound to. I am not exactly sure, but I would have to interpret that portion of the law and binding oath to mean that at the moment of the binding, he became a naturalized citizen.”

“Interesting, very interesting. Now, just out of curiosity, if say the death of a Dastonian citizen occurred at the hand of a non Dastonian citizen on this world, other than the Paradine’s Office, who would be called in?”

“Naturally someone from this office, quite possibly even myself as there is only one other who knows of the Dastonian law. And the First Chancellor of the Dastonian people–he has come forward at long last.”

Jodiah nodded. “Where is he right now?”

“Actually he is right here: Taryn Wyven is the name he is going by.”

“What does the First Chancellor do?”

“Taryn was named First Chancellor when he was just eighteen years old, when he came to rescue the royal children. There were four of them — the eldest two girls and two boys, only a gestation period apart. The living avatar might choose any of the four to rule next. Rumor has it that Taryn has hunted down the other three siblings. Nevertheless, to your question, the First Chancellor is bound to the ruling monarch. It is his duty to love the monarch, never show fear, and to give his life if needed. He is bound by love, duty, and honor, but never by blood. What he gives the monarch he gives of his own free will, by his own admission. The monarch can offer his choice to the living avatar, but it is the living avatar that chooses the First Chancellor, and that is the part that Taryn has forgotten, I think. He can not use the title publicly until he is bound, but first he must find the boy to bind him. Then he must convince the living avatar to accept him.”

“You don’t think he will be accepted?”

“No, I do not.”

“Why not?”

“Because I think the First Chancellor has been named, but is afraid to come forward just as the King is afraid to come forward. They are in exile; they are safe there. When they come out of exile, it will be because one of their lives is in danger.”

“I think you may be right, but I can not say with any certainty. I would like to thank you for your time today. I will write my paper, then study some more for my exam and hopefully I will have enough information to make First Class.” Jodiah grinned.

“Are you studying the Dastonian people for a First Class exam in Linguistics?”

“Yes Sir.”

“How do you plan to learn the language portion?”

“I learned that before I arrived. My mother knew many people, Sir; many of them were willing to teach her son what they would not teach others.”

“So you can speak, read, and write it?”

“Yes Sir.”

“Well enough to pass the exam?”

“I hope so, Sir.” Jodiah said rising from his chair.

“Good luck to you, then.”

“Thank you, Sir.” Jodiah bowed again as he exited the office.

He barely heard the Ambassador say, “You will need it, First Chancellor,” in Dastonese.

---

Jodiah arrived back at the academy just in time to make his last class of the day, but he decided not to attend. Instead, he headed to the Provost’s office. The secretary greeted him by name.

“Is the Provost in?”

“I believe he might be.”

“I would appreciate it if he could find time for me.” Jodiah smiled.

She pressed a few buttons on her screen and a few minutes later the door opened.

“Jodiah, what a surprise. We were just discussing you. Come in.”

Jodiah wondered who else was in the office as he walked in; to his surprise, it was the Quartermaster. He released a breath and relaxed his shoulders.

“You’ve grown son, but then most boys about your age do,” the Quartermaster said, “when we leave here why don’t we go down to storage and get you some clothes that fit.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Please, Jodiah, sit. That was one of the things we were discussing, your physical growth. The Quartermaster also brought it to my attention that you requested a very odd set of books.”

“Yes, Sir. I intend to take the first in the series of exams for my First Class.”

“You’ve been studying for your First Class exams, Jodiah as well as taking everything we’ve been giving you?”

“Yes, Sir, on my own time of course.”

“I looked up the requirements for the First Class exam for Linguist. I’m not sure how you can do all this while stationed here.”

“Well, Sir, there is an office of Protocol. They may need a translator or a transcriber. I could earn the necessary points there, or I could teach a language class if you were interested in offering one.”

“That might be possible for the next rotation, if there are enough people interested, and willing to do it on their own time.”

“I understand Sir.”

“How are you going to get the necessary marksman points signed off?”

“The Range Master has already signed them off.”

“Have you spent that much time at the Range?”

“The marksman points are not time based, but skill based. I’ve reached the required level of competency for a First Class.”

“Jodiah, you know that when you become a First Class you will no longer be eligible to be Junior First.”

“I understand that. However, when I make First Class, Kryst will not be Senior First.”

“You will be.”

“No, I will be his roommate.”

“Both of you will be stepping down?” the Provost asked.

“He will be a Journeyman, Sir. I do believe my duties as Junior First end when he is no longer Senior First.”

“Jodiah, Kryst has only been a First Class for a year. The rotation usually takes three.”

“Where does he stand right now?”

The Provost looked at the Quartermaster who shrugged. The Provost tapped his screen. “He’s a little over halfway through his coursework on his self-study program.”

“Exactly. For my next rotation, I would like the self-study program; I think I would go faster if I just had the books and access to the instructors during office hours.”

“Do you seriously think you can handle it, Jodiah?”

“I’m handling Linguist just fine. I can handle the technical stuff. It’s starting to click pretty well.”

“Are you and Kryst a couple yet?”

“No Sir, our relationship is purely professional. I do not understand why everyone had such a problem with us at first.”

“Hum, Taryn seems to think you two are lovers.”

“He’s the reason why I wanted to come and talk to you. I understand he is seeking his fellow citizen, and I understand you have said that it is not an academic affair. However, I must request that he cease triggering the cycles. You can tell him or I can.”

“How is Kryst handling it? Medical says he has not shown up once since Taryn began triggering them.”

“The student that is being harassed is handling the situation as someone from his world would.”

“He’s chosen someone else to bond to.”

“Yes Sir.”

“Do you know who?”

“I’m not at liberty to discuss that Sir. However, if Taryn does not cease to harass the student, I will inform him of the student’s status. If he still does not desist; he will be issued a challenge from the one who was accepted. If that occurs, Sir, I will not be held responsible for his safety.”

“Is that a threat, Jodiah?”

“No Sir, according to the Office of Protocol, it is fair warning and not required.”

“You’ve contacted the Office of Protocol?” The Quartermaster asked as he looked at Jodiah.

“Yes Sir. interesting chat it was too. It seems they know more about Taryn and his people than he intended for me to know.” Jodiah grinned, “Interesting thing is, he does not know who he seeks exactly, or so he says, but he has tracked down three other members of the Royal line. No one seems to know what has happened to them since he has come into contact with them.”

“What are you saying Jodiah? Kryst’s safety was entrusted to me,” the Quartermaster said softly, “I saw when Taryn was named First Chancellor, and when he earned those epaulettes he wears. If he is not the First Chancellor I need to know so I can protect both Kryst and his bonded.”

“I can’t give you that information, Sir,” Jodiah said softly.

“He has bound you to silence?”

“Yes Sir.”

The Quartermaster nodded. “It’s just as well then, at least you can’t divulge his secrets then.”

“Do you know where the other children were sent?”

“That information can be found.”

“Find the siblings or what happened to them. A life depends on it.”

“I’ll have the information as soon as I can.”

“Thank you Sir, it’s all I can ask.”

“I think we have time to catch him before dinner and invite him,” the

Quartermaster said to the Provost who nodded.

“I’ll tell him I want a progress report on the students he is tutoring.”

The Provost began tapping on the screen and the Quartermaster stood up, indicating Jodiah should come along.

“Let’s see about some new uniforms, I swear, boys at your age. The only worse ones are the Plebes.”

Jodiah followed the Quartermaster down to the storage area.

“Strip those off and let me pull a few sizes and we will see what fits best.”

“Do you have a changing room?” Jodiah asked.

“There is no one down here but you and me, Jodiah. Are you afraid to be in your underwear in front of me?”

“No Sir.”

“Then strip.”

Jodiah sighed and started unbuttoning his shirt. He did his best to keep his back to the wall as he handed his clothing to the Quartermaster, who soon returned with a different uniform in his hand.

“Remember that conversation you had with Taryn about the requirements of the person Kryst can bond to?”

“Yes Sir.”

“What are the first five?”

“Intelligent, language oriented, combat trained, of an age, and fearless of Kryst.”

“You don’t fear him do you?”

“He’s given me no reason to.”

“Turn around.”

Jodiah turned.

“Ma’Kyr be merciful,” the Quartermaster whispered in his native tongue.

“It is nearly identical. Does it flame?”

“I don’t understand what you mean by flame,” Jodiah responded in the same language.

“Burn, move, rise?”

“It gets hot and the outer edge rises when Kryst is in a cycle.”

“You share his cycle with him, no wonder Taryn hasn’t found him yet, with two of you to bear the pain,” the Quartermaster laughed. Then he turned Jodiah around. “I welcome you, First Chancellor Jodiah Dalton. I am Kyvendel Phoenixia. A distant cousin of Krystyval Phoenixia.”

“The pleasure is mine, Kyvendel Phoenixia.”

Then Kyvendel pulled Jodiah into a hug. “I’m glad that you were chosen.”

“What about Taryn?”

“He was only named to put an end to the bickering among the older children. He was the eldest and had taken a serious wound. Who knew he would survive it?” Kyvendel handed Jodiah the new uniform.

“Not only did he survive it, he took it seriously.” Jodiah put the uniform on.

“Do you really think he harmed the other siblings?”

“Harmed them or forced them into some type of bond they did not want.”

“Only the one with the living avatar bonds. The others go through their Puberty Rites alone, but he could have triggered them early. Kryst has been putting his off for a while because he was having trouble finding an appropriate person to bind to him. Had he been on his world boys who fit the first five requirements would have surrounded him. Then when his cycle hit, the avatar would have made her choice known.”

Jodiah sighed. “This uniform fits much better.”

“I’ll bet you get a bit broader in the shoulders and bulk up a little more. Are you working out regularly?”

“Yes Sir. With the Paradines.”

“Excellent, how far have you gotten in their program.”

“I’ve started special ops training.”

“That is well beyond First Class proficiency.”

“I was First Class proficient when I was an Apprentice. I have just become old enough for the special ops training. I’ve already earned one service bar.”

“You really should start wearing your epaulettes, especially if you are getting ready to challenge Taryn.”

“I don’t want to yet, but if I challenge him, I will.”

Kyvendel nodded, “Let me get you a few more uniforms in your size. Do you mind if the first few do not have the yellow patch on the pocket? I can send up the rest in a day or two, then you can send these back and I’ll get them looking proper.”

“I don’t mind. The extra room feels too good to give up.”

“I thought it might.” He grinned, and then turned serious, “You know I will keep your secret, but you should bind me to silence just the same.”

“I don’t know how.”

“I can teach you as you do it, but I will have to have a chat with you and Kryst together about your education.”

Jodiah nodded.

“First you tell me what you are binding me to.”

“I am asking you to keep my secrets as you keep Kryst’s secrets.”

He knelt and bowed his head, “On my honor and by my oath.” Then he held out his hand. “Now, choose a finger and run it along my palm wanting to open the skin, saying, ‘I bind you by your blood and mine’.”

Jodiah did as he was told, but nothing happened.

“You must believe it will happen just as you believe I will keep my word.”

Jodiah put that thought in his mind, and tried again. This time a red welling up of blood occurred.

“It’s good to know you believe in me. Now, you must do the same to your own palm, cupping it to catch the blood.”

Jodiah did, the blood flowing freely in his hand, dripping to the floor.

“Now pour it into my hand and wish me healed.”

Jodiah poured the blood into the Quartermaster’s palm wished him healed. When he looked at the man’s palm again, it looked good as new; there was not even a mark on his hand. “How was I able to do that?”

“You are First Chancellor, that proves it, Jodiah.” Kyvendel said softly.

“Taryn may try to break your binding yet, but because of his meddling you have the strongest binding I have ever seen. You spend a lot of time skin to skin because of the cycles don’t you?”

“Yes, it makes the burning go away faster.”

“Do you want to make it stage three?”

“Yes, but we don’t know how.”

“Each of you must give up something personal and precious. I don’t know what it is, but when it happens, you will know because the third stage will begin shortly thereafter.”

“Is it as painful as stage two has been?”

“It is not.”

“I’ll tell Kryst.”

“You do that, and Jodiah, tell him I approve.”

“Thank you Sir.”

---

Jodiah entered his office just before dinner. Kryst was not home yet, so he started cooking. It was a skill he had picked up over the past few months, and one he was quite proud of, as he was now able to serve palatable food. Kryst arrived just before he was ready to put it on the table.

“Excellent timing, are you hungry?”

“Starving,” Kryst walked over to him and gave him a long hug. “Hey this is a different uniform.”

“Yes, it is. I bumped into the Quartermaster today and he insisted my old uniforms were too small, interesting chat we had. Especially when I refused to strip for him.”

“I told you I had protectors.”

“Who else, Kryst?”

“The Provost, a doctor…” Kryst shrugged. “I can’t swear everyone to secrecy. Most people I don’t share my secrets with.”

“Why didn’t you bind me to a blood oath?”

“I was hoping you would bond with me. If I bound you by blood, I would be refusing you as a candidate. Alod asked to be bound by blood so he could not be chosen, and Taban is too young so I bound him also. They felt safer that way.”

“Kyvendel says to tell you he approves of your choice and that he needs to speak to you concerning my education. It seems I am able to bind people to silence as well.”

“You are?”

“So it seems, I did it today.” Jodiah began to set the table. “Kyvendel had to talk me through it, but I managed it. He also told me how to get to the next level of your Rites.”

“I never thought to ask him,” Kryst said quietly. “How do we do it?”

“We must each give up something personal and precious to us.”

“I’ve already decided what mine will be. You can decide for yourself, just let me know when it’s done so I can be prepared for whatever might come.”

Kryst nodded.