61 Ash 121 Steel
Hall of Reconciliation
Hall of Reconciliation
"...which brings me to Aspirant Leichenberg."
Vigilant Richter's razor-sharp gaze cut up to him over her steepled fingers. Everything about her was sharp. Even the white silk scarf around her neck, the one concession she made to personhood when it came to her uniform, was so pristine it was almost difficult to look at sometimes.
"They remain a work in progress," he replied. "Per my reports—"
"Yes, of course. I have read your reports. I had hoped for more depth when speaking to you in person, but alas."
Sometimes he wondered whether the Vigilant was a relative of his father's somehow. There was no pleasing her, and yet she was selective about those she took under her command. The weak were culled quickly, so he supposed that was something in his favor, though it hardly felt like a blessing to have her as a mentor. If he were of a keener mind like Stefan Dornkirk, perhaps he could have been happy in the College of Minders, studying under the supportive, bespectacled gaze of someone like Orator Agata Beeman, but such was not the case.
Only Delia of the Angevin children had escaped a military career and that was mostly due to her mother's desire for at least one of her daughters to use her strategic mind in society rather than on the field. Now Delia was married to Stefan Dornkirk and their families were finally bound by marriage. It worked out for Eitan; Brenner and Stefan were already close friends of his and now they were his brothers-in-law.
But all of that was beside the point here and now.
She slid a slim dossier across her desk to him.
"Not again," he muttered, but he opened it and began to peruse. "Gaurein Katho-Okamu. Defense Corps. Private." He frowned and looked up. "I don't understand. A Mortallen infantryman? I see no credible reason to investigate him."
"Nor should you. He is a volunteer and has already been vetted. Due to the amount of danger you put yourself in for the Order, it has been deemed appropriate to assign you a bodyguard. Due to constraints in manpower and a desire to work more closely with the military, we tapped the Defense Corps."
Eitan had questions, but he was learning more and more to hold his tongue around the Vigilant. For one, internal politics meant he needed to talk less and smile more. For another, her wit was as sharp as her gaze and she would tear into him if he asked questions he could suss out the answer to himself. An airman might have been a more suitable match as they could have just been transfered to the Noble Gambit. A ground pounder might accompany him on the ship under special dispensation if they were anticipating needing extra manpower on the ground, but otherwise, he supposed it wouldn't hurt to have a giant beside him when blunter instruments than his social graces were required in Zaichaer or if the exigencies of his posting required more time spent in the Warrens.
"All right."
Her smile, too, was sharp. One might almost have thought she was proud of him, but surely not. There was a knock at the door.
"Come!" she called.
