Orn followed the noble students out of the building. Once through the door they began to mutter about the class, and needing to learn old fashion dances. A group of the boys had gathered around the red haired boy and were talking quickly. Orn guessed from the few words that carried back to where he was they were asking for dance lessons.

He stopped to create some distance between himself and the rest of the class. Once Orn felt he had enough distance he turned to where Kao stood a few paces away. “It sounds as if she does this every year. If it is always the same dances why did their mothers not teach the dances to them?”

Kao looked at him then looked away clearly annoyed.

Before Orn could manage to ask what the issue was she muttered, ‘stupid Orn’ and disappeared.

What is her problem?! Orn stared at the space she stood only a moment ago. Is she mad about the trick I pulled in class? I got the better of her once. She has been making fun of me for the last couple days.

“What are you staring at?” A voice came from his left and Orn turned to see Clay walking toward him. “Did something happen in class? You are staring rather hard at that wall.”

“Oh, no I was just thinking about something else,” Orn managed unable to discuss the truth. Realizing Clay had come to pick him up he changed the topic. “What brings you here?”

“I wanted to make sure you found your way to the old library,” Clay said smiling. “Tack is busy with his work so I decided to pick you up.”

Orn fell in alongside the older boy as he continued. “I do not know if he told you, but every officer has something they are responsible for. Some just lead groups of underclassmen, and others, Tack for example, have specializations. Tack is in charge of making sure everyone keeps up with their academic work. Since you are an officer under him, you get to help.”

“So that test he gave me,” Orn said understanding.

“Tack said he expected you would know enough to be useful, the test was unneeded,” Clay shrugged. “He really just wanted to see if you would actually do it. There are usually levels to the things he does. If you are ever bored, try to understand the games he is playing. I used to ask, but the explanations I got made my head hurt.”

“But as I said you know enough, so not you get to help the ones who are a bit behind,” Clay patted him on the shoulder. “I do not envy your job. Most of the first years need a bit of help.”

“When you say a bit of help?” Orn had a feeling he knew the answer even as he asked the question.

“Most have a few subjects they will struggle with, and we normally have one or two who are completely or at least nearly illiterate,” the older boy sighed his smile fading. “You have to be able to do certain things to be useful as a knight. A lot of them are taught here, but if you cannot read or write a simple set of orders you are kicked out.”

Orn grimaced.

“Exactly,” Clay continued. “But ever since Tack started his after class sessions, no one has failed. A few came close, but we have not lost anyone yet. The issue is it is a lot of hard work. On that note why is Tack waiting for us outside the library?”

Orn turned his attention up the path to see tack watching them. “Does he look annoyed to you?”

“Not really,” Clay replied. “That is how he usually looks.”

…

Three hours later Orn, Tack, and Clay sat at a table putting students into groups.

“Jack is in the low risk group,” Clay said, crossing out the name. “He can read and write, but barely. If we do not improve his writing and expand his vocabulary he may not make it.”

Tack nodded absent mindedly, and pointed at Orn to add his bunk mate’s name to the bottom of that list.

“Travers and Bloom can read and write acceptably, though they have weaknesses in other subjects,” Tack counted off the other two boys in Orn’s room. “They both need practice as well so they can help him,” Tack looked over at Orn. “You can help if they need it, but your main task is to help me with the other boys. There are a couple rooms without any strong readers and I will need your help with them.”

Orn nodded and added Bloom and Traver’s names beside Jack’s.

“And Orn,” Tack continued. “I need you to tell me if you are getting overwhelmed. I cannot have you falling behind, or worse, letting others fall behind. I will be checking up on your progress as I can, but tell me if you need help.”

Orn nodded, and waited for the next name looking between Clay and Tack.

“That is all of them Orn,” Tack said causing Clay to smile. “Yes, general you can go.” Tack rolled his eyes, “I know you have been waiting for the chance since you snuck off to get Orn.”

The larger boy stood, and walked quickly for the door.

“Remember to come straight here tomorrow. Orn knows where to go now,” Tack said not bothering to see Clay slump at the words.

“Now Orn tell me about your dance class,” Tack said staring intensely at Orn.

“We had to show Madam Bode a dance we knew,” Orn replied. “She said she wanted to see how well we danced.”

Tack sighed. “So I will have to do this the hard way.”

Orn stared at him in confusion. “What?”

Tack would spend the next two hours asking Orn about the class focusing on details that Orn barely paid any attention to.

{Kao’s POV}

Stupid Orn, Kao muttered to herself, as she left Orn to talk to the large boy approaching. What did he have to do that for?

Kao thought back to the look on Orn’s face as he patted her on the head. Did he have to be so gleeful about it? I was offering to help. He did not need to be mean about it. I … did I go to far?

She shook her head. No, I have been joking around like we always do. If it was bothering him he would have said something.

Her mind raced remembering his responses to her jokes over the years. Have I been bullying him? No, he was laughing some of the time just not the last couple days.

I should talk to him, Kao looked a the older boy talking with Orn. It is hard to do with everyone around him.

This is so frustrating, Kao muttered in irritation. Absently she bent to scratch at her shin.

{A private room}

The fire poker lifted the small slip of paper into fireplace. Even before the paper touched the coals blue wax dripped from the broken seal.

With a sharp motion the paper fell into the hot coals. It instantly smoldered the edges curling up around the few words written on it. ‘It is done.’

The head priest’s smiling face was lit by an eerie glow as he watched the paper turn to ash.