Sorry it's been so long since I've updated this, but I promise that I'll be updating pretty regularly over the next few weeks. This is the first half of the interview scene from Wyldon's perspective, with him breaking the news of their assignments to Neal and Merric.
17. Assignments
The cider was sweet against his tongue, the sharp spices clearing his head as he prepared for the next meeting. After hours of meetings he'd lost track of how many men remained to be seen, and it wasn't until Merric and Neal had already seated themselves in two of the sturdy wooden chairs that he realized the time had come. He silently cursed his own lack of attention- any dealing with Nealan required something significantly more bracing than cider, and this encounter was sure to be no exception.
"Please excuse me- I must pay a visit to my father, as I seem to be hearing things again. I could have sworn I just heard you say that I would be the chief healer at the refugee camp, but that can't possibly be right. Especially seeing as the chief healer is traditionally…well, a healer, and I, as you well know sir, am a knight, despite your many claims to the contrary." Neal was already out of his chair and halfway to the door by the time Merric had recovered enough to inquire who they would be reporting to, the words sounding strangely clipped and formal to his ears, muttered as they were through clenched teeth. He could tell that the young knight was trying to keep his famous temper in check, and just barely succeeding.
He had hoped that Merric at least would accept his position without complaint- patrol captain was a common assignment for a first-year knight with a head for command- but it was clear that the fiery redhead was worried about seeing his fair share of the fighting. The young men were always so eager for the dangerous assignments, wanting to be in the middle of the action at all times- he had just spent most of the previous meeting explaining to Seaver why he would be more helpful leading patrols with Roald at Northwatch than joining one of Raoul's scouting parties. The next few months would teach them that there were no safe assignments in a war, and he wondered if they'd be so eager to see battle this time next year. Or if they'd even be alive, young as they were, green as they were…
"Lady Knight Keladry". He said it without really thinking, desperate for a way out, a different line of thought to follow. Recently his dreams had been haunted by the images of the knights he had trained, lying motionless as the frozen ground under them ran red and the stormwings wheeled overhead. Had he forgotten to teach them something? Had he pushed them hard enough? This war would measure his successes, and his failures would be paid for in blood.
His words had certainly made an impact. Neal was frozen in the doorway, staring open-mouthed and wide-eyed; for once the boy appeared to have been rendered speechless. Merric seemed to have forgotten to breathe, his face progressing past the red of his hair to a sickly-looking purple color which made Wyldon wonder whether he should be alarmed- now was not the time to be losing good soldiers.
Then Neal came to his senses, grabbing Merric under the arms and half-dragging him from the room. Turning back, he was almost smiling as he said, "I'll leave you to let Kel know her assignment. I'm sure Alanna- and Raoul for that matter- will be quite interested to hear where you've placed- or should I say hidden- her." Then he left, clearly enjoying the thought of seeing his former knightmistress unleashing her famous temper on someone else for once, for all that she was halfway across the country defending the coast.