Morvoren didn't like it that Cloud and Sephiroth would be unguarded even while Captain Aaron held this meeting of Cloud's personal guard, but at least he was still a minor for a few more days, and would accept not being allowed to leave the building if someone needed to stop him. And Sephiroth was always obedient, at least with her and the other guards; he understood that since it was their job to give their lives for him if necessary it was a bad idea to make it harder for them to protect him. There was a focused silence in the room as the last man arrived, and Morvoren was certain that she wasn't the only one who intended to 'discuss' his late arrival with Brian at a later time.
"Now that everyone's here there's two issues you all need to be aware of." At least the captain was getting right down to business. "Sephiroth is keeping Cloud busy for a while, so we're not under the time pressure we might be otherwise, but I don't want to take too long, so save any comments or questions until I'm finished. I'll let Morgan talk first, because his issue's going to directly impact on mine."
"Right, once Cloud's a legal adult I stop being his tutor." Morvoren hadn't really considered that before, that Cloud's guard might lose Morgan's advice, or that Cloud would lose his advice when he turned sixteen, but it was true. "He asked me to become Sephiroth's first bodyguard instead. I can recruit or buy up to four others to help me, but I'd rather not resort to slaves, or risk surrounding him with people who have problems with him. Cloud's given his permission for me to recruit from his personal guard, and Aaron's agreed to let me make my pitch to you all." That sounded...odd. They were already two men down, why would the captain take the risk of losing up to four more warriors? But it had to be true, since it would be pretty stupid for Morgan to bring this up in front of Aaron if it wasn't.
"Sephiroth probably needs bodyguards in a way Cloud doesn't. I know you aren't just his bodyguards, but the Planet's Weapon can protect himself if he has to, Sephiroth can't no matter how good he is at forms or against Reeve's robots, and I'm sure you can imagine how badly it would affect Cloud if Sephiroth was killed. Everyone here already knows this, knows about how vulnerable Sephiroth is, we like him - far too many don't, they hate him for things he can't control. I've talked to Aaron, and I think I can manage for a year with just one other dedicated bodyguard, with help from you, and then I'd like to recruit three more of you to round the unit out. There's two things you need to consider. We all know that Cloud will need a spouse one day, and one of the groups he could find one is among his female guards, but Sephiroth's female bodyguards aren't acceptable. Even if they were I doubt he'd be willing to endanger his consort by taking one of his bodyguards away from him. The other thing is that as Sephiroth's bodyguards we'll have more limited duties, and far less in the way of variation." Morgan glanced at Aaron then, and he stepped forward to take over.
"Could anyone who's interested in moving to Sephiroth's bodyguard unit, now or in a year, talk about it with Morgan some time in the next week please." Morvoren wasn't she liked the wide variety of challenges she faced as Cloud's guard, but she knew some of the others might be, either because they wanted something a bit more predictable, or because they agreed with what Morgan was saying - or because they didn't want to be even considered as Cloud's spouse, not that he'd force anyone to do that for him.
"We need to recruit at least two more guards, possibly three, within the next month or so, and then we might recruit three more in a year, if Morgan gets all the transfers he wants. So, if you know anyone suitable, or even think you know someone who might work out as a recruit, come and talk to me, in the next few days if you can."
Brangwen wasn't ready yet, but in a year she might be, especially if Morvoren gave her a reason to make an effort to get more experience. And if three new positions were going to open up then it would give Morvoren a year to talk Brangwen into applying for the trials despite her woeful lack of self-confidence.
"Dismissed." In other words get back to what they were supposed to be doing, but Morvoren was off duty and had just finished her training for the day. She threaded her way forward against the flow of guards leaving the room, getting to Aaron just as he was about to follow Morgan out through the other door.
"Morvoren. Did you have someone you can recommend, or did you want to speak with Morgan?"
"What? No." It hadn't occurred to her that Aaron might think she was interested in leaving Cloud's guard. "I like being part of Cloud's personal guard, I enjoy the challenges it brings. But I've got a cousin. She's only eighteen," A few months short of her nineteenth birthday, "so she isn't ready to apply for a place with us yet, but if there's going to be three openings, or any openings at all, in a years time, I believe she'd be up to the standards of our recruits by then." They began walking together, Morvoren following Aaron's lead regarding direction.
"You do need to talk to Morgan then, or at least ask him to keep you informed about how his recruiting is going. But I'm glad you don't want to leave. There's few enough women in Cloud's guard as it is." He must mean as espousal candidates, which would give Brangwen an additional factor in her favour when she applied.
"I think I might be a bit old for the role of Cloud's spouse if it comes to that." She was eight years older than he was after all, and even if he preferred older lovers it would be his potential spouse's fertility that was the deciding factor in his choice.
"I wasn't talking about that, not really - although you are younger than his consort is. I don't want him to pick up the attitude a lot of humans seem to have about women, that they, that you, aren't equal to men - and his mother and Isis both help to encourage that idea."
"I seriously doubt Cloud would ever entertain that idea, not with how easily Aeris can bully him and Sephiroth into doing what she wants."
"I find that hard to imagine." Because he hadn't been involved in some of Aeris' schemes no doubt. Morvoren just shrugged.
"Well, maybe 'bully' is too strong a word. But he certainly respects her wit and her persuasiveness. I should go and talk to Morgan now."
"Yes, certainly. He'll be pleased to know that you expect him to have enough volunteers to fill his unit."