Rezkin shrugged. “Then you will make a good soldier once you are trained. Do not mistake your ignorance or lack of skills for cowardice. It is a wise man that acknowledges his limitations. If you had attempted to engage those men at your current level of Skill, it would have been foolhardy. You would have gotten yourself, and maybe Frisha, killed.”

Tam nodded and swallowed a sudden lump in his throat that had developed at the thought of him or Frisha dying. “Thanks. That does make me feel a little better about myself. I’m glad you’re okay. I didn’t see you here where the biggest group was, so I guess you caught a few stragglers?” he asked curiously. Lieutenant Jimson passed by at that moment and gave Tam another odd look.

Rezkin shrugged again and said, “Nothing I couldn’t handle.”

Frisha gasped and covered her mouth with a hand. “Oh, did you … did you have to kill anyone?”

Rezkin looked askance and motioned around the clearing, “Of course, Frisha. These men were bandits intent on killing all of us. Of course I had to kill.”

“I-I’m sorry, Rezkin. I didn’t mean to be insensitive. It must be hard for you to go through this. I can’t imagine what it would be like to kill someone. I think I would be sick if I did. I admire you for holding it together like you are. Just remember, you did it to protect us, and I’m sure it will get easier with time.”

Rezkin furrowed his brow, stared hard at the woman, and then glanced around the clearing. What was she talking about? Did she think he was upset about killing the bandits? What else was he supposed to do? He could have captured them alive, some of them anyway, but then what would they do with them? The bandits would ultimately be put to death after a trial, so what would be the point in waiting? Although he was utterly confused, he lost the opportunity to respond when the lieutenant called to him. Fearing his dismay would show on his face, Rezkin chose not to look back at Frisha as he walked away.

Frisha felt terrible for Rezkin. He had probably never had to kill anyone before, and that was making it so much more difficult to talk about what happened. It was obvious he was distressed since he couldn’t even bring himself to look at her. His eyes kept bouncing around the campsite as though he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He was clearly much more upset than he was admitting. He was putting on such a brave face. She sighed. She really just wanted to take him into her arms and tell him it was okay, but nothing she said would convince him at this point that what he had done was necessary. He would have to come to that conclusion on his own someday.