The Second Solstice

Looking back, the first year after Teela left was a whirlwind. His parents (whether spurred by Teela's departure or other considerations, he never fully knew) decided it was time for Adam to better know his contemporaries and invited various dukes' and earls' sons to stay at the palace and share the prince's tutors and training. The first group arrived in the spring, a few weeks after Teela left. Sharing all his waking moments with three youths about his own age, who also were expected to inherit significant wealth and responsibility from their parents, was a completely new experience for Adam.

After a few months, when the novelty wore off, Adam realized he was glad that he hadn't been exposed to such companions at an earlier, more impressionable, age. Older Dreus, who spent most of his time trying to figure out ways to bed any creature wearing a skirt, and proud Capsim, who arriving without knowing how to speak civilly to a servant, would have been horrid influences. At least he got along with Karl, although Karl was happiest with a sword in his hand and wasn't much for conversation or even witty banter.

As the winter Solstice approached, Adam found himself counting the days until Teela would arrive back home for the holidays. Cadets at the Academy had a rigorous first year and were allowed only to send and receive a single letter per week, and the first time they would be permitted to leave campus on their own was for the Solstice. Man-at-Arms had shared each of Teela's letters with Adam, and they always ended with Teela's asking Man-at-Arms to convey her best wishes to the King, Queen, and Prince. That, according to the code Adam and Teela had developed before she left, meant she was unhappy but bearing up. He felt bad for her, but he had to admit part of him was glad that she hadn't settled into her new life without a hitch, at least not while he still missed her.

Three weeks before Solstice, while Adam took a break from javelin practice, Man-at-Arms came to the side of the field and motioned him over. Duncan had a letter in his hands – on the same blue paper that the Cadets used. Usually he had a smile on his face after receiving one of Teela's letters, but today he wore a serious expression. Adam's stomach lurched, wondering what kind of news he'd received.

"What happened?" Adam asked in a low voice as soon as he got within earshot.

"Adam, I have some bad news. Teela isn't coming home for the Solstice," Man-at-Arms said, putting a hand on Adam's shoulder. "She was selected for guard duty over the break."

"What?" Adam hadn't even known that was a possibility. Had Teela done something wrong and was being punished?

"When I was at the Academy, they selected the best and the worst of the class to stay – not that we knew the criteria at the time. So either Teela is doing an outstanding job, or they are questioning whether she belongs in the Academy and this is a last chance for her to prove herself. We won't know until the spring advancement ceremony where she stands." Man-at-Arms gave a tight smile. "But as always, she sends you and your parents her best wishes."

"I'm sure she's at the top of the class. There's no way she'd be anywhere but there," Adam said, as much to reassure himself as Duncan.

"Let's hope you're right." Duncan took his leave and Adam let out a heavy sigh. This would be his first Solstice without his partner in crime (as his mother sometimes called them) and the holiday suddenly lost a bit of its sparkle.