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stated. “I taught him his first magic spells, not the Grand Mage of Gratu. I was the first to teach him hand-to-hand, sword fighting, games, how to read common, horseback riding, to hunt, and so much more. We are great friends.” Ahnon stared at him in disbelief. “I’m not the only one that does this, Ahnon. Most sho-ka live this way with their sire. The ones that don’t are the ones they teach us about at the academy. Their sires are cold and distant. I believe it’s because the person that has been with them from birth never shows them that they are a friend.”
    Looking off into space, Ahnon thought about what Theobald said then looked at his scarred face. “It might not be so bad then,” Ahnon said with a rare little smile of hope on his face.
    Relief flooded over Theobald. “It’s not; I promise,” he said. “If you allow it, you will have a friend and a family here,” he added.
    “Maybe a friend, but I doubt family. I don’t have a family,” Ahnon said, standing up and walking over to Theobald. “Why are you telling me this?” he asked.
    “Just repaying my debt,” Theobald told him. “Tanka, the sho-ka for Vilarius’ father, told me what a sho-ka can be.”
    Ahnon walked over to the window and looked at the courtyard far below. He exhaled like the weight of the world was taken off his shoulders. “Them I’m indebted to you, uncle.”
    “Then you can do the service of telling the next sho-ka what I’ve told you,” Theobald said, getting off the dresser. The wood groaned with relief as he stood up. “Ahnon, why did you wait so long to take a sire? Very few humans, even with royal blood and wizard blood, live as long as you have. You took a chance that I think was very foolish.”
    Not turning around, Ahnon said, “I knew who my sire was going to be. It wasn’t a risk. You were over two hundred, and we both have an uncle that was three hundred and two before he became a sho-ka. If I’m not mistaken, he’s still alive.”
    “Aros is so old he can remember dirt getting invented,” Theobald said, laughing, making Ahnon smile. “He is the exception, not the rule. Anyway, I’m glad you chose your sire so you can perform your duty and see it’s not that bad,” Theobald declared.
    “Thank you again, friend,” Ahnon said, meaning it. “I remember you coming to see me off from the academy, and it did mean a lot to me. Not even Mother or Father came,” he said, looking out the window. “I’ve been back to see the others of our line graduate. I hope they felt what I did when you were there, uncle.”
    Theobald put his hand on Ahnon’s shoulder. “That is what gave me so much hope for you. I’ve tried to keep track of you moving through the world, but you are one hard man to follow. I have prayed to all the Gods that you wouldn’t get caught up in just being a protector and not show your sire a human side.”
    “I will do my best,” Ahnon promised. “Are you going to continue to serve after your sire?” he asked.
    Without thinking about it, Theobald replied, “Yes. I’m going to serve this line as long as I can. I won’t outlive my sire by much if at all, but if I do, I will stay with this house.”
    They talked into the evening then met in the hall for dinner. After supper, Vilarius and Theobald walked to the top of the castle walls overlooking the bay. “Is he going to follow the old ways?” the king asked.
    “No, sire,” Theobald answered. “He will try to live like most sho-ka do: as part of our sire’s life and not around it.”
    Letting out a breath of relief, Vilarius said, “I’m glad. We’ve heard many good things about him, and my son can use him, but I can’t imagine life if you would’ve just been a protector and not a friend and member of my family.” He turned and faced Theobald. “You are my best friend, best advisor, and one of the few people I trust with everything,” he confessed.
    Theobald filled with pride. “As you are to me, sire. The years