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"I like him," Jamik said to me. "Start bringing him to the Salle with you?"
"No," I moaned. "Jamik, I'm falling behind. I need to spend more time on my Body classes. That's what I was trying to say earlier. I'm failing Eroticism. I'm close in Sexual Orientation. If I don't get those grades up..."
"Then Protection is your fallback plan," Jamik said. "It's also the course that will keep you alive, because if you haven't noticed, a few of your instructors want to see you not only fail, but get hurt in class and possibly even evicted from the temple."
"Whoa," Grath breathed. "That's a pretty heavy assumption, sir."
"It's not," Jamik told him. "Oryll has made it clear that he has no interest in a Priestess of Temptation. According to him, if she's allowed to walk this Path, then others will try the same thing. Ghale? He warned her guardian that pretty little priestesses get hurt."
"Shit," Grath breathed. "So that's why Talin's tense, huh?"
"Still?" Jamik asked.
I nodded. "Yeah, and Wraythe's not much better. Ghale's been pushing me, but I've been holding my own. Working with Harlin helps. Irila too. Sadly, I'll never fight like you, Jamik."
So Jamik looked over at Anver. "And you're just piling more onto her plate. What's your real problem, Anver?"
"If I'm being babysat, I can't walk the halls freely," he said, looking over to Grath. "You're what, five doors down from me?"
"About that," Grath agreed. "Why are you walking the halls so much?"
"I have my reasons," Anver assured him.
Grath just sighed. "Ok. I'm starting to see what they mean about the inner circle. Look." He turned to me instead of Anver. "I like my ward. I'm thrilled with my Path. I believe in my god. All I'm trying to do is help, and I feel like I'm being shut out."
"You help," I promised. "You've been a lifesaver in grappling, actually."
That earned a little smile. "Good. So can you tell your friend here that I'm just trying to make his life easier?"
I began to chuckle and just couldn't stop it. "Oh, he doesn't listen to me. Grath, Anver's so sure that he has to suffer because we used to be stupid kids. His ward, Tishlie? She's a fucking bitch. She thinks Anver should be fucking her - never mind the rings, right?"
"Or his lack of sexuality," Grath agreed, looking over at Anver this time. "Thought you said you'd known your ward awhile. Never told her you're not into it?"
"She doesn't get it," I explained before Anver could come up with another excuse. "Tishlie thinks him being asexual is code for her needing to try harder."
"No," Grath said. "That's..." He grumbled, the sound almost like a growl in his throat. "Your ward needs a lesson on our preference, and I'm willing to give it to her if you aren't. Shit, half the guardians in this temple are asexual." He looked over at Jamik. "You?"
"Nope," Jamik said. "Paired with a lesbian, though. Well, she has a strong preference for women, at any rate."
Grath huffed, making it clear he understood. "Yeah. That kinda ends up about the same. Anver, all I'm saying is that you have limits, and you're allowed to have them. Fuck, they strap us down and ring us to make sure of it! You are not her partner. You're herguardian,and your ward needs to learn the difference. Kinda why I'm here." He looked across the room. "Where is she?"
"With Ciella," Anver mumbled.
"And you're not there?"
"Nope," Anver said. "She's safe in the temple and with her dearest friend. Ciella's guardian is there, so there's someone watching."
"Shit," Grath breathed. "That's a pretty weak bond."
"Where's your ward?" Jamik asked.
"Class," Grath explained. "I've got a two-hour break. Hers is only one. I'll meet up with her in a bit and we'll eat together. Yours, Jamik?"
"Her office," he said. "She gives me this hour to have lunch with Nari. It's become a thing. I have a feeling next year will be her turn."
"Aw, no more bonding time?" I teased.
He just pointed at my plate. "Not if you don't put some of that into your face."
