Read Online The Reluctant Mage: Book One in the Zandar Series by R. E. Donnellan - Free Book Online Page B

advanced. Deficient in the bow, I am afraid.”
     
    “Still, much better prepared than most candidates. Advanced with a blade you say? That could be very helpful. I am afraid we missed our quota to the army last semester. Baltar! Take Marko Kunich here to the quartermaster to get his kit and then take him to the barracks and show him a locker. If you hurry, you can drop him off at the dining hall. He has half a mark before breakfast closes. I will work through the details with his uncle.”
     
    Marko’s uncle gave him a wink and then nodded to the door. Marko followed Baltar down the stairs to the first floor. They turned left and went down a long hallway. They stopped at door with a sign of a crossed sword and key hanging next to it. “This is our quartermaster’s office.” said Baltar. “He is out today ‘cause his wife is sick. I know what you need, though. Let me put your kit together and we can get you situated.”
     
    After Marko had his bedroll, two pairs of clothes, boots a gray tunic, and a towel, Baltar walked him to a building at the back of the property. He led him up two flights of stairs to a large room with bunk beds. There must have been fifty beds at least in the room.
     
    “First years sleep on this floor. Technically you are a first year until you pass your examinations. After that, they will move you down a floor with the browns. Your bed and locker are here in the front. All the others are taken. You get the draftiest one, sorry. Just change into your uniform and put the rest in your locker. We’ll get you down to the commissary for breakfast.”
     
    Marko put on the “grays” as they were called. The pants and shirt were made of wool. The gray tunic was also made of wool but was fringed with a cotton cord. In the upper right of the tunic, there was a small patch embroidered with an eagle. He looked at it closely and realized it was the symbol of the Emperor. He looked up at Baltar with a gleam in his eyes.
     
    “Don’t think you’re some Imperial general leading armies now.” He laughed. “That just means that the Emperor owns you now. No one is lower than an Imperial orphan in grays.”
     
    “Well it beats living in a cave,” Marko said defensively.
     
    Baltar laughed. “Well in that case, congratulations on your ascendency! Let’s get your Imperial stomach full. Come to think of it, maybe I can introduce you to some of the other students. If I am lucky, I won’t have to return to the headmaster’s office for another mark!”
     
    They walked around the building in front of them and across the courtyard. Their final destination was a building just behind one of the main buildings.
     
    “Think of the orphanage as two half circles. The inner circle is the one around the courtyard. That’s where we have our classrooms and where the professors live. The outer ring is where we have barracks, eat and train. The courtyard is really just there to get our feet sore as we traipse all over the compound. Sometimes the whites will have reviews and of course the selections are done there.”
     
    Marko just looked at Baltar like he was speaking another language.
     
    “Oh, yeah. Sorry. I guess I should take it slow for now. Don’t worry, you will learn all about this quickly. The color of your clothes designates your progress at the orphanage. Gray is for the first years and those that have not passed the progression test. The browns come after that and then the reds like mine. If you see anyone wearing white, then they will be tested within six months for graduation. If they pass, they will start one of various careers. If they fail…well, the Empire needs people to build roads, don’t they?”
     
    “The men you see in blue are the professors or administrators. Always call them “sir” if you don’t want any trouble. Some of them can be touchy,” he laughed.
     
    When they entered the commissary, Marko noticed that there were only a few tables occupied. He immediately