“You’ll want Heralds Keren and Ylsa,” Talamir said thoughtfully. “Neither of them will be in the least impressed with rank and birthright; they saw Selenay as a first-year Trainee and helped me whip her into shape.”

“Women there are in the City Guard as well—” And he couldn’t help the wry smile. “Locasti Perken, Berda Lunge, and Haydee Delias.” His spirit rose a little at the thought of recruiting those three to his bodyguard. Selenay would have to be a deal older and craftier before she could outwit or overawe them.

Dethor raised an eyebrow. Talamir chuckled. “Oh, I believe I know those names,” the King’s Own said, matching Alberich’s smile. “They have night patrol around the Compass Rose and Virgin and Stars, don’t they?”

“And just last week frog-marched young Lord Realard back to his father, then delivered a lecture to the old man that fair pinned his ears back,” Dethor said, with a nod. “Or so I heard.”

“Correctly, you heard. Impressed with rank, they are not, either.” Two Heralds, three City Guards, that made five, and with the addition of a Palace Guardswoman who came to his practices who was called Lotte—if she had a surname, he’d never heard it—that would give him two women at Selenay’s side at all times. That would do for close bodyguards; for her battle guards, and Sendar’s, he’d want another ten or a dozen. Twenty or twenty-four good fighters; he’d have to think long and hard about who…

“These, I need—” he said, rattling off the names; Talamir nodded. “—those six at once. Special training, will they need. The rest, from Palace and City Guard, I will make a list.”

“Have it to me in a candlemark,” Talamir said, getting to his feet. “Send it by page. I’ll have Sendar sign on it. That will cut through any objections. I’ll have your six women report in the morning, and the rest to you within the week.”

He would have liked it to be sooner, but that was probably the best that could be done. Replacements would have to be found, schedules juggled, and all of that took time.

Time—which was now working against them.

“Selenay, I want as well,” he added. “Best it is, that she learn her guards to work with.”

“Right,” Dethor agreed. “And if we can get Sendar down here to work with his—” He stopped at the grimace that Talamir gave.

“Ask for the moon, and you’re more like to get it,” the King’s Own said grimly. “If he sees his bed for more than four candlemarks in a night now, I’ll be surprised, so don’t expect him to come down here for what’s ‘only’ a little arms practice.”

“Then his Companion, we shall have!” Alberich said, in a burst of inspiration. “One at least of the pair shall we train with!”

:Done, Chosen,: Kantor said instantly.