Read Choice of the Gallant - Paradox Equation I Page 3

  ****

  "He has potential, Master Demisk."

  "My lord believes so. He has survived all the stims."

  "Good. Too often, I'm given ones to train that have only had the body stimmed. Combat is as much of the mind. Do I have his full time, or is he in other use?"

  "He is, but my lord will reduce his link time with the computers to three hours per day during his training."

  "Reduce?! How much is he on now?"

  "Twenty-two hours. He is given four of rest."

  "He may be interesting to train. I ask the lord schedule his link time with regularity. It will aid his training."

  "He has already done so. You have him but the first three hours of the day."

  "Thank you, Master Demisk. Good. Now that he's gone, let's get acquainted. Do you have a name?"

  "No. It was taken."

  "Sounds like Hensk. Been pretty heavily used, haven't you, boy?"

  "Since I haven't had a chance to compare notes with anyone, I've got no basis to judge, but I definitely have been busy."

  "Hold still. I'm going to look you over. Now, now, don't tense. I won't hurt... Oh, I see. A blush. You've not been broken by it. You'll learn control."

  "That would be much appreciated. Just once I'd like to... "

  "Not respond to every touch instantly."

  "It would be pleasant not to have my body temperature rise at a tap on the shoulder."

  "And if I teach you to fight, what will you do?"

  "Fight."

  "Yes, you'll do."

  They became friends. The old trainer had been seeking someone like him for a very long time. He held his dream of freedom in his heart and trained the boy. Lord Hensk had made an error. He had created a hero. The old trainer would teach him to be a warrior.