Rom furrowed his brow and had to ask, “You mean you’re just tryin’ to make sure they get a chance in life? Are you sure this is the only way? I mean no offense, Master Raven, but I care about these boys. Maybe they could apprentice with a carpenter or somethin’—you know, somethin’ respectable.”

The Raven’s face darkened, and he replied, “Are you saying a warrior is undeserving of respect?”

“No, no, of course not, Master, nothin’ of the sort,” Rom sputtered.

Rezkin shook his head. What is it with carpenters? “I know a carpenter’s apprentice, and he wishes to be a warrior. I am trying to make these small-men into warriors, and you wish them to be carpenters.” He was just about to make a comment about the nonsensical ways of outworlders when Ash interrupted.

“We’re gonna be warriors?” the small-man asked as he bounced on his toes. “Are we gonna be like you?”

Rezkin looked at the small-man and recalled what he had been doing and how much he knew by the time he had reached the same number of years. He shook his head and said, “No, not like me. But, you will succeed to the best of your abilities, or you will not succeed at all.” The small-man furrowed his brow in confusion and pondered the statement as the grown men talked. Eventually, the Raven and the grandmaster walked away to discuss matters in private.

“When did the Adana’Ro leave, Riel’gesh?” the grandmaster inquired. “I am afraid my head was not clear enough to notice.”

“Directly after your oath,” the Raven replied. “Why were they here?”

The grandmaster nodded in acceptance. He was not ashamed of his loss. It had been an honorable challenge, and no one who had witnessed it could argue the fact that the grandmaster had been outmatched by a man with inhuman skill.

“They have been hoping for a pact for many years, but we have never been able to come to an agreement,” he answered not even attempting to hide his frustration. “They do not approve of our ways, nor do we care to live by theirs. I cannot speak to their specific purpose for this visit. We did not have the opportunity to discuss the details before your arrival.”

“The two groups possess conflicting dogmas. I find it odd that they would seek a pact at all,” the Raven commented.

“You seem quite familiar with the elusive Adana’Ro,” the grandmaster said. The Raven gave no response.

After discussing all their other business, Rezkin finally said, “There is one last issue we must discuss, and this is most important.”

“What is that, Riel’gesh?” asked the grandmaster.

“Marcum Jebai, general of the army of Ashai,” the Riel’gesh replied.

Chapter 22