By the end of dinner, he had his list. He didn't like it when I said Maverick or Neil were on that list, but he did believe me. They had finished in the top of their class just as we had- we had been the four perfect scores of our class. I had never thought Neil so cold hearted. Not like Maverick.
"Guardian Eveline?" asked the king after taking a small sip of wine.
"Aye, my king?"
"I failed to notice this before, but now that I have, I ask you to be put on medical release from your duties until you are fully healed."
"Sir?" I asked, confused. Alistor lightly squeezed my knee.
"You are released from all guardian duties," he repeated. "until fully healed."
A knot grew in my stomach and my hands shook. Being a guardian was all I knew. What would I do with so much free time?
"And me, my king?" asked Alistor.
"I would ask that you join the prince's guard for now."
No. No. I would rarely see Alistor! The prince was traveling the kingdom with his wife teaching and showing her what they would eventually rule. I looked at Alistor in dismay. We had never been so far apart. How would I handle this?
"Sire?" asked Alistor.
"Aye?"
"May I humbly deny?" he whispered.
"May I ask why?"
"Guardian Eveline has a way of finding trouble. Someone needs to be there for her to at least try to keep her out of trouble. Besides her Angelic gene has her healing quickly. She will be back to normal within the week. We are a tracker team."
The king laughed.
"Forgive me," he said. "I forgot that you two were courting."
I relaxed slightly.
"Guardian Eveline?" he asked.
"Aye, my king?"
"Is it taking longer than normal to heal?"
I hadn't really thought about it, but it was. Usually, after a few hours, I was fine. What was happening?
"I … it seems that way, my king," I said sadly. "though I've never been hurt this badly before."
"Perhaps you should go see Guardian Rook," he said gently.
Guardian Rook had become my mentor over the years. With the mention of his name a small smile crossed my lips.
"As you wish, my king."
He smiled. "Rook has been very angry at me for causing you to be shunned from court. No one has let him know that you have been 'pardoned', Guardian Eveline."
I smiled too. That sounded like him. He had always had a fond spot for me and had always pushed me harder, seeing my potential.
"I will enlighten him then, my king," I said with a smie.
"Aye, though I do think your current injuries might make him a bit angrier with me."
I grinned. "I'll try to persuade him."
The king chuckled. "I hope you do."