Beaver steps forward. “Sir, no offense, but bringing on females is against the bylaws.”
Light chuckles spread among the recruit group. Chris’s demeanor instantly changes. Emily and Sixes remain stoic, every bit recruits in training.
“It’s against the bylaws for a female to participate in training among the Emerald Guard with the exception of the royal family. The special ops division is a separate entity that does not fall under the same guidelines as the Emerald Guard, although some of the guards transferred to the special ops division, depending on their skillset.” Chris stops pacing and stands in front of Beaver. “Why the sudden interest? For the past year, you have shown no interest in anything other than the basics.”
“Yes, sir. I hadn’t really found anything that piqued my interest until now. I’m interested to learn more about the requirements. I mean, I’m sure I’m not the only one since this is the first time we’re all hearing about it.”
Chris’s eyes narrow, stepping forward. “You think you have what it takes?”
Beaver wavers, and beads of perspiration dot his forehead. The twins chortle, and Beaver glares at them. “I may have the skillset if I understood what the division does, sir.”
Chris smiles. “I don’t think you have it.”
The perspiration on his forehead turns into sweat.
Chris moves next to Elias. “What do you think, Elias? Think he has what it takes to be in the special ops division as a covert operator?”
Elias tilts his head, examining Beaver. Then, he hums. “Maybe. He’s pretty good.”
Beaver’s chest puffs out, and a haughty smirk crosses his features.
“May need to work on covering his tracks a little better, though.”
Beaver stiffens and shuffles his feet.
I open my link to hear his thoughts. He tries to keep his mind calm, thinking of other things, like he did earlier.
“He needs to learn how to control his body language. He’s squirming, and we haven’t done anything. Yet.”
“Aww, give him a break. He wasn’t trained… by us,” Chris says. “He’s simply showing an interest in wanting to specialize. Isn’t that right, Beaver? You’re expressing an interest?”
“Yeah. I mean, yes, sir. I’m just showing an interest in that division.”
“You think we should tell him about our covert operators in this recruit program?” Elias asks Chris.
Chris crosses his arms over his front. “I don’t think he understands. Our covert operators have a special skillset that he doesn’t have.”
Beaver’s brain stutters. He instantly abandons the list of letters to send home to his family.Magic wielders! That’s their special skillset. Then, he remembers the camera in the corner of the training room.
I push that information through to the Leads. I glance at the twins. Can they hear too?
I heard his thoughts through your link,Jeremy answers.
Beaver catches himself and restarts the list of letters he needs to write. Now Iknowhe knows I can hear his thoughts. Otherwise, why guard what he’s thinking? Plus, it’s too soon for him to know about Odyssey.
I face Luke, who frowns.
Without second-guessing my decision, I push the information to Luke.
He simply stares, not giving any indication he heard me.
Let us link to him, so we can all communicate,Justin says.
I open my mind between the four of us.
The corner of Luke’s mouth twitches.Thank you, he says to me.
I blink, acknowledging his reply.
