Chapter Twenty Four:

When the shipped docked at the Tenth, Navihm let most of the soldiers and crew handle the unloading of their things while he talked to what was left of the Ianterran group, specifically, Rose and Professor Ward.

“This trip will be a little different to our last visit to the Tenth,” he said. “We are now officially at war with Somal and I won't always be around to ensure your safety or translate. Therefore, I’m going have to pair you with someone who knows the area and who can protect you. Professor Ward, I want you to stick close to Min Mishka.” Navihm gestured to a stocky guard with pink cheeks that had traveled with them from the First.

“You might recall meeting his father, Mai Mishka.” It was his pink face and unusual shortness that struck a chord in the Professor’s memory. This must be the son of the Mishka Rei Amias was talking to when they had arrived at the First.

“Rosaline,” Navihm continued. “You will be paired with Aalto. There is no reason why you would need to go anywhere in the city without your guides. I do not want to see you wandering around without protection.” Navihm looked directly at Rose when he said this.

“Kaia, you are to stay with me.” Kaia grinned. “We need to meet with Rei Levi, but Mishka and Aalto will show you to where you will be staying, they have already been briefed.”

As they watched Navihm and Kaia leave, Professor Ward noted the way Navihm acted now that he was technically in charge. When they had first left the Lowlands, the Professor had lead the trip in name, but he was under no pretenses; Navihm was the expert and made the decisions. Still, Navihm had always been careful to approach the Professor suggest a course of action, rather than impose it on the whole group. Ward suspected that if he’d disagreed with anything Navihm had suggested, Navihm would have conceded and been overruled without argument. Navihm had always made it clear through his actions that the Professor had the final say.

That was obviously not the case now. Rei Amias had, quite blatantly, put Navihm in charge, even over his own daughter who technically outranked Navihm. Professor Ward was quite happy to hand over the responsibility and believed that the burden of authority was not misplaced. Navihm was a good leader.

Rose was not so convinced. She baulked at the idea of having a babysitter. She wasn't a child. Aalto approached her. He was tall, like most Gentis, though not quite as tall as Navihm. Rose couldn't wait until she returned home and didn't need to crane her neck to look someone in the eye.

Aalto wasn't very handsome, with deep set eyes and a nose that had been badly broken. It was unusual to see someone in Genticus with such injuries because of the prevalence of magical healers. Aalto’s botched healing job was due to his own actions. He’d broken during some boyhood mischief. Rather than be caught getting into trouble, a friend had tried to heal it and due to his lack of experience, the result was a healed, but rather squashed looking nose.

The Professor and Min Mishka were getting along much better than Rose and her guard, who had yet to say a word to each other.

“I met your father back at the first,” Professor Ward said. “We didn't talk much, but he seemed a very pleasant man.” He had been pleasant, with a smile permanently fixed on his round face and impeccable manners.

“He would be glad to hear you say that.” Mishka smile was much like his father’s; broad and genuine. He was very much like his father in many other respects too; tanned, leathery skin prone to flushing red and a short stocky build, though Min Mishka bulk was more muscle than fat, like his father. Professor Ward had no problem imagining that if Mai Mishka was twenty years younger, the two men would be nearly identical.

“I seem to recall him mentioning that you were behind Prophet Healani’s successful rescue from that assassination attempt.”

“Too much credit was given to me, I think.” Mishka lead them to the jetty where their things were piled up, ready to move. “I did what anyone else would have done.”

Professor Ward laughed heartily.

“You sound like Navihm.” Ward wouldn't be surprised if Mishka’s actions earned him his own bead. As far as he knew, foiling an attempted assassination at the risk of your own life qualified as a ‘good action’ and would earn him his Bon Accion. Such matters would probably be left until after the invasion, though.

First of all I wan't to do a couple of shout outs. Again, VtrCst thank you for your comments on my chapters. They have feed fanstastic, feedback wise.

Mukkaar, Thank you for your amazing review and your comments on the chapter. Please, feel free to follow Mukkaar's example and post a review (the more honest/brutal the better)

Bonus time!

Min Mishka will, in fact, earn his Bon Accion for this action. He will later become an Enfeitar, though not until he is in his mid-thirties.

Enfeitars are rarely brave or loyal or self-sacrificing just for the sake of earning a bead. They are brave and loyal and self-sacrificing because that is who they are, earning their Bon Accion is just incidental.

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