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"Just wait until you meet him," Talin said. "He's not quite what you expect."
"At all," Harlin confirmed. "But if you can get someone to start making the other students - especially the other guardians - "
"Why the guardians?" I asked.
Jamik reached over to rub my shoulder. "Because our only concern is protecting our desires - or wards. If we think a teacher might screw with their grades, it's a threat. Not one we can do much about, but that need to protect them from it is still there."
"So it sounds like me making it through my first year as an initiate has a lot to do with impressing the guardians, huh?" I looked at all of them. "Would being better at protecting myself help?"
"Would gain you a little respect," Harlin admitted. "Although you've come a long way since the start of the year."
"So we push harder," Jamik decided. "Irila?"
"I'll ask Shalsa to leave this hour open in her schedule," she assured him.
"I can do the same," Harlin offered. "Except holidays, but usually I can be here."
"I can't promise that," Balon said. "But I do know a few others who'd be willing to help train her. We can keep switching up her partners until she can counter just about everything. Not just hand-to-hand and grappling, but also with weapons and paired work."
"She should pair with Talin," Jamik said. "He's her guardian."
Balon jerked his chin that way. "Has to be a little hard for you, huh?"
"I'm managing," Talin assured him.
"Wasn't what I said," Balon pointed out.
Talin just glanced at me. "No, I didn't get an easy desire. I also don't regret it. I don't think I'd be happy if she made it too easy. I also think it's sexy that she can hold her own most days."
"And me?" Ela asked, nudging Talin in the ribs.
"If Wraythe wouldn't kill me, I'd say it's an excuse to get you on your back."
Balon snorted out a laugh. "And now I understand how your quad works. Well. Then let's split this up. Harlin, you take the Chosen. I'll work with the big guy so those two pretty ones can flirt on their own. Jamik, if that's ok?"
"Harlin, push her hard," Jamik said. "Because Ghale has already made it clear that he's not opposed to hurting her to convince her to pick a Path."
"Pretty little priestesses don't belong in Protection," Talin told them. "At least that's Ghale's opinion."
Harlin nodded at me once. "Then let's show him that looks have never stopped a guardian from holding their own. Give me five minutes to stretch, and I'll meet you on the mat, Nari."
"And if I get you on your back?" I asked.
"Don't want to know," Jamik said, tossing up his hands to walk away.
"No!" I insisted. "I meant..."
But the guys were all laughing. Irila just gave me a knowing look and whispered, "Which means Jamik won't see it coming when I drop him now. Thanks." Then she winked.
Evidently things were going very well for them. It was enough to put a smile on my face, even with all the problems that were quickly piling up.
Chapter 7
Nariana
The day after that, I thought everything would go back to normal. Naturally, I was wrong, but this time it was a good thing. It was near the end of my Service to Others course, listening to a lecture about how to mix ingredients most efficiently, when someone knocked at the open door of the classroom. Priestess Elma paused, a look of confusion crossed her face, then she gestured for the priest to step in.
"Can I help you?" she asked.
