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"Ursula?" Wraythe asked, making Migard turn as well.
She pushed out of her chair and headed over. "Please tell me they haven't removed the female guardians from our classes?" she asked the guys.
"No," Talin assured her. "We've just been hearing things about the Path of the Body, and now it sounds like Kinen's selling off initiates to men from the upper end of society."
"That's the auction I was telling you about," Migard explained. "These two are my clients. My best clients, actually."
"Why are you here?" I asked her.
Ursula's face fell. "I'm a Priestess of the Word, and technically an initiate on an exemption. I'm no longer allowed to instruct combat courses - even though that's why I wasgrantedthat exemption - and I've been informed that even though I can take down a god half the time, I'm too small and weak to have anything to offer. So, I'm a scheduling assistant until I start my own initiate training with next year's class."
"How long has this shit been going on?" Talin demanded, struggling to keep his voice down so this conversation couldn't be heard by the entire room.
"Ever since I got back from Kaznia," Ursula said.
"Since your Choosing," Migard added. "First, it was questions about any indeterminate lace. If the marks on our arms went too high, the lace on our chest touched our backs, and so on. One man with a comma-shaped birthmark had to get a witness that he'd had it before Choosing. He was in his seventies."
"Kinen's trying to make sure there's no way to question his position," Ela realized.
"And instead," Ursula countered, "we all are." Then her eyes jumped over to me. "Be careful in this session, Nari. The nobility is blaming you for their problems. They see you as the reason for the labor revolts and citizen protests."
"There are citizen protests?" Talin asked.
Ursula scoffed. "Small groups. Five to ten people, but that's how things start. I've been told about your first-year sessions. Roek made sure I knew about the incident when I started training you."
So that was what we were calling it now? Granted, talking about the death of a student wasn't something most people wanted to either hear about or talk about. I could understand that.
But Migard just tapped his papers again. "So we need to make sure this is perfect. Ursula, it sounds like you know Nari well. What about Eladehl?"
She glanced over at my partner and smiled. "Well enough, I think. Why?"
"Because I want to make sure we have so many bids on these two that we can refuse any who seem off," Migard explained. "I want to make sure that they accept only the offers that are best for them." He looked up, his eyes moving between the four of us. "I believe in Zeal. I believe the tears are right. I also think that our temple needs someone to stand up for it, and in order to do that, we need to keep you safe until you are full priests. So, how about we start with going over your limits, and we can make sure that is very carefully detailed?"
"I'm in," Ursula assured him.
"And we have all evening," I promised. "I'm a little worried that this is somehow going to bite me later, so I want to get ahead of it."
"Me too," Migard promised. "I mean, of all the potential specialties, only Entertainment was picked for this? Sure, I can make the argument for why, but it's all a little too coincidental. Let's make sure we have youbothcovered, because if coming after you isn't working, Nari, then going after your partner might."
Wraythe just reached over and clasped the man's shoulder. "Thank you, Migard. You're a good priest, and I owe you one for this."
The smile that put on Migard's face was the proudest I'd ever seen. "Just doing my job - and glad I still have it."
Chapter 61
Nariana
We stayed hours after Migard usually called it a day. He swore he didn't mind, but Talin made sure to leave a nice tithe on his desk while I thanked our scheduler for caring about us so much. Ursula saw, but she didn't say anything. At least not until after we'd all left, comfortable in the knowledge that Migard would make us look as good as possible.
The next day started with Saval apologizing for walking out on class and then diving into what would be expected for this session. We covered clothing styles, mannerisms, language skills, and the display aspects. The goal for those who weren't requested as a date was to be unassuming, casually enticing, and to not distract from the important men in the room. It all sounded good, but after what she'd already said to us, it was easy to see that Saval was basically reciting a script.
Thankfully, we had our regular lunch date with Maela, so I would have something to distract me from the auction I wasn't allowed to attend. Either I'd get a tolerable patron or someone who wanted to make a fool out of me and guarantee that I'd fail the class. Talin would likely know which, and if not him, then I would ask everyone who might, including my brothers. If my assignment was a setup, then I'd simply refuse to do it, and take that risk instead.
I had a feeling that no matter what I did, Kinen - or his cronies - would find some way to turn this session against me. The entire reason why Ela and I had resisted picking Entertainment as our specialty was because of the extra sessions, and now our fears were being proven valid. I may have been grumbling over that when I headed to my Word class.
"Having trouble with your list?" Livia asked when I stepped through the door.
I looked up, wondering who she was talking to and saw her eyes on me. "Uh..."
