Conflict and Courage by Candy Rae Page B

heels, taking in the
implications of what his eyes were telling him. His awkward, gangly
middle son had paired with a Lind.
    There was a
chuckle in his mind. Mislya, aware as always, had grasped the
situation at the same time, even though she was resting in the sun
some distance away.
    Wilhelm walked
towards them and Eitel and Jilya emerged from their mental sharing
with apprehension.
    Wilhelm didn’t
say a thing. He grinned at his son as he absently patted Jilya’s
neck. Mislya telepathed her own congratulations to her fellow Lind
who received and accepted them with stunned pleasure. There had
been no need to worry about Mislya and Wilhelm’s reaction at
all.
    “Well son,”
Wilhelm said, “what I am going to say to your mother I don’t
know.”
    “Won’t she be
pleased for me Father? It’s what I’ve always wanted.”
    “Always is a
long time Eitel but I am pleased and proud. Your mother will take
some time to accept it, she does not want any of her children to be
soldiers and soldiers is what the Vada needs.”
    “I’m almost
grown-up,” he protested.
    “You will
always be a child to her; it’s in the nature of mothers, no matter
how old you are. You are now a cadet and must live in the barracks
with the others, but our cabin is close by. You and Mislya will be
more than welcome to visit, duties permitting.” He added, “I will
explain to your mother. Take your time. We will see you both at
supper.”
    He gave his son
a quick hug then moved away, deliberating just how he would break
the news to Unda.
    : Life gets
more interesting each day : ‘sent’ Mislya to Wilhelm.
    : It will
certainly be a challenge : he returned : he is my son, which
in itself creates its own problems :
    : You will
treat him the same as you do the other cadets : she said, as
usual interpreting what was bothering her partner.
    : I have no
favourites on the practice field : he agreed.
     
     
    * * * * *
     
     
    Brian, Eitel in
tow, showed him the timetable in the common room next day.
    “What’s that?”
asked Eitel, pointing one stubby and dirty finger at one of the
squares that contained the subjects. “It just says EQ.”
    Many and varied
were the suggestions from those spending their free time in the
room.
    “Equine?”
    “Don’t be
silly, as far as I know there are only six horses on the planet and
they came with the Electra ,” said Emily, looking up from the
book she was reading.
    This was news
to many and Emily was hoarse by the time she had told them the
story about the desperate escape from the Fort the previous summer
and of the two girls who had managed, against all odds, to get
themselves and the six mares to the north. She knew only part of
the tale and, as there were many questions she could not answer, in
desperation she said, “ask Jsei, he was there, at least at the
end.”
    “I will,”
promised Duguld. “I loved working with the horses on our ship and
would be glad of the chance to see some again.”
    That started
the argument.
    “Why do you
need horses when you’ve paired with a Lind? Horses are okay I
suppose, but they can’t talk to you, can they?” asked a tall
boy.
    “I know that
dimwit and I wouldn’t swap Ganya for a dozen horses or more, but
they are beautiful in their own way.”
    “Dimwit, who
are you calling a dimwit?” Grant, one of the seniors stood up and
began to walk menacingly over to Duguld.
    Emily watched
the scene unfolding with consternation.
    This was not
the first time the two had had a spat, usually vying for her
attention.
    Brian caught
her gaze and one eyebrow rose. He knew Emily disliked such scenes.
He indicated with a surreptitious jerk of his head that she should
follow him outside.
    “Sofiya is
calling for me,” he said aloud in explanation.
    Emily grasped
at the opportunity and sidled away. So intent were Grant and Duguld
on their argument on the merits and demerits of horseflesh that
they didn’t see them depart.
    “They’ll argue
for ages,” said Brian as