Tarma smiled crookedly, a smile with no trace of humor. 'I was learning swordwork as early as Jadrie, and I'd killed my first man when I was just about your age, Larsh. That, by the way, is not a boast, and it was not in a fair fight. And someday, if you deserve to hear it, I'll tell you the whole story. I was a freelance mere from the age of seventeen and a good one, and believe me, the stories you have heard about me and Keth aren't but a quarter of the truth. Justin and Ikan have similar histories.' Her smile turned feral. 'The reason you weren't told is because both your parents and I know you boys would have had one of two reactions -- you'd either have disbelieved it, figured it was boasting, and ignored what we tried to hammer into you, or you would have believed it and decided to prove you were better than us. Neither reaction is conducive to learning anything, which is why you are here -- not to prove that at your tender age you already know better than your teachers.'
The boys all had the grace to look ashamed. Larsh looked down at his feet.
'As to why your parents chose me -- and J agreed to take you as students -- it's because they wanted something very specific for their firstborn sons. If you are called on by your King to go to war, if you are forced to lead your own people against brigands or bandits, or if you are forced into a position where you might fight to preserve your own life, you will have the best possible training to meet those situations.' She dropped her smile and looked stern. 'And do you know why?'
Hesten shook his head.
'A mercenary knows only one trade -- killing -- and one goal -- to stay alive to collect his pay. No matter what you've heard, most mercs don't like killing, so they make a point of being very, very good at it, and very efficient, so as to get it over quickly. Most mercs do like being alive, so they make a point of learning everything they can to stay that way. That includes a great many things that are not considered 'fair play' by the standards of people lucky enough to have been bom in your rank and class.' Hesten's mouth firmed in a stubborn line; she knew he was the leader of this group, and she would have to convince him before the other two would see sense. He had unfortunately been infected with that noble nonsense known as chivalry; hopefully not for so long that he couldn't be cured of it.
'If and when you take the field in a battle, or if someone decides he doesn't like you and sends an assassin out after you, that is the kind of person you are going to have to defend yourself against. I know that. Justin and Ikan know that. Most importantly, your parents know that, and that is why you are all here. When you go home, you can take all the lessons you want with fashionable instructors, and learn pretty tricks to impress your friends, but when you are here, you'd better keep your mind on the fact that we are going to teach you how to stay alive, even if we have to half kill you to do it!'
Hesten looked even more rebellious. 'Oh, really now, lady!' he objected. 'Assassins? Maybe where you come from, but not here. Things like that just don't happen in civilized lands like Rethwellan!'
She got some unexpected support then, from the hitherto-silent Belton. 'Yes they do, Hesten,' the boy snapped, then dropped his eyes before Tarma's.
Oh, really?
'Belton is right,' she agreed, following up on her advantage, quickly, before Hesten could get over his surprise. 'There are a lot of things that go on that Kings and Princes have no idea of. I know for a fact of two people at least in Rethwellan who are making a very fine profit from assassination. And when you have bodyguards of your own, I'll make a point of giving them that information so they'll know who to watch out for.'
'Why not give it to us directly?' asked Larsh, surprised.
Once again, to her surprise, it was Belton who answered before she could. 'Because some day we might be tempted to use it,' he said, face totally closed.
Hesten opened his mouth to protest, then stared into Belton's eyes and looked properly abashed. Belton's eyes were opaque, and she couldn't read what was in them -- but she had the suspicion that what she had said had struck forcibly home with him. Well, sooner or later he'd tell her; they all did. Kethry might be the more motherly in appearance, but somehow most of the youngsters, the boys especially, came to Tarma when they had fears that needed soothing or confessions to make. Perhaps it was simply because they assumed that she would never be shocked by anything they said.
'And,' she added, allowing her voice to soften with good humor, 'If we can possibly do so, we intend to make sure we all have a good time while we're doing this. Now, I just delivered this particular little lecture for a reason. In a couple of days, you'll be going back to your families for winter holidays. If you really and truly don't want to learn what we have to teach, you have only to tell your parents, or us, and you won't have to come back here. I know this is a hard school -- but we don't accept just anyone, and we don't want someone here who doesn't want to be here. If you're having trouble wrapping your mind around the idea of being trained like a common -- or perhaps I should say, uncommon mercenary, I can understand that. But bear in mind that you are not here as a punishment from your parents; you're all here because they truly, deeply, profoundly care for your well-being.'
Hestin bit his lip. 'But we aren't exactly being trained like mercenaries, are we?' he ventured. 'I mean, we don't spend more than half our time drilling and all-'
Tarma nodded. 'Right, exactly right. Your parents want a special education for you, which is why you spend half your time in classes with Jadrek which seem to have nothing to do with fighting. You'll need them, not only to mark you as gentlemen of the highest order, but to make you better-educated than any other boys of your rank. If you stay, you'll not only be trained in personal defense, but you'll eventually be trained in strategy, tactics, and command, with an eye to serving the King as commanding officers, should he need you.'
She didn't miss the sudden flash of interest in Hesten and Larsh's eyes.
'You'll also be well-rounded and well-educated noblemen, people whose opinions are sought after, and who
