The old Landen rested a gnarled hand on the shoulders of his Leopard and let his eyes sweep the gathering of students waiting for class to start. Seeing as how today was the last day of thier schooling before thier first circuit or posting, and more importantly the day that the travelgroups would be announced, old Aldon thought it best to allow them to talk out thier excitement. His eyes completed another circuit, and though they were not what they once were, frequent trips to the Drakes kept him spry enough to teach. His gaze rested for a moment on the young Lafe, quietly talking to another young Landen. Interested despite himself by the youngster's quiet, intense conversation, he asked his bondmate for information. ::Leilei, what's wrong with the boy?:: he queried.

After a short pause, Aldon's bondmate Leilei responded. ::Joanna says that he's concerned that the Drakes don't learn self-defense in their classes.:: Her lower jaw, though faded with the white of age, was dropped with amusement. Her teeth, easy to see, were healthy and white, and gleamed in the low light. To the uninitiated, the showing of teeth of an animal would generally signify aggression... but the bondfolk knew better and Aldon shared his bondmate's amusement.

::The best ones always do, love. That's our function - worry about our Drakes. We exist to serve and protect.:: Aldon thought back. With no discernable pause, his bondmate snapped back. ::We do not serve. We protect, often at the objection of every woman in the Hall.:: Aldon curled his hand into the ruff of Leilei's neck to calm her. ::If they didn't hate fighting as much as they do they wouldn't be half the healers that they are.:: he thought back. To forestall any further debate, Aldon whistled sharply. The gossip had gone on long enough - it was time for class to begin. Aldon waited a moment for all eyes to turn to him, then began his last lecture of the season.

"All right boys - and lady." He started, acknowledging the one female Landen in the hall. "You've heard me talk about what you're to do for the past couple of years. You've had all the training you're going to need to prepare you to go back out into Lorna and do your jobs. Seeing as how I've trained you in everything I knew when I went out - and then some - and that I've survived, I feel pretty good about your chances. Overall, you're the best group - physically - that I've seen in some time. You'll do well. You don't need me to sit up here and tell you what mistakes you're going to make in the next year. Instead, I'm going to tell you a story none of you have heard before. I know - because I've never told it before. But some of you need it." Aldon gave Lafe a mental nudge. ::This one's for you, boy.:: he said privately, and with some effort. Lafe didn't have enough experience with free-for-all telepathy, and Aldon was - damnably - getting old.

"A while back in time, a young Landen was assigned to his travelgroup. The assignment came as no surprise, as he had been friends with his group members for quite some time. His drake - and yes boys and girls, I say "his" Drake. No matter how much they snarl at that, you are hers and she is yours and everyone in a travelgroup belongs - at least in some little way - to everyone else. Theres a tie there that will almost never be broken. Anyway, as I was saying..." His gaze swept over his audience, and the light laughter died away. "...was saying, His drake put his Leopard to shame with her snarls over being followed everywhere when they were posted, and being constantly protected while she was doing her job. The drake consistantly tried to send the Landen away, and he refused. Finally, fed up with the woman's griping, the Landen gave his drake an ultimadium. 'I'll stop following you, stop protecting you, and stop keeping the Aristo fool's tongues in thier mouths when you learn how to protect yourself.' Warily, his Drake agreed. Quiety furious, the young Landen taught the girl he had been charged to protect at any cost how to protect herself - both unarmed and with a dagger. Soon enough, with the young fighter not dogging her heels, young Aristo brats began to. In the begining, she was happy with the attentions, and did not tell the Landen what was happening. After a while, she began to feel nervous, but her pride kept her from telling him. Unfortunately, one night the young drake was acosted by the group of young Aristos." Aldon stopped, taking a moment to regain his deadpan voice. "The young Drake gutted three of the bastards, screamed for help from me, castrated a fourth - by accident, I'll grant you - and had another Aristo on his knees puking his balls and his dinner. By the time I got there it was over - and I'll tell you that I've never felt so useless in my life." The old Landen paused again, but this time his eyes swept the group he held in rapture. "Until that young Drake started to heal them all - and collasped into that young Landen's arms, utterly spent. Then I realized that that's what we're really here for; to protect our ladies from thier own natures." A grin split his face for a moment, a nostalgic grin full of old memories. "That isn't to say you're to do a damnfool thing like leave your drake on her own with nothing but a knife and her wits, of course - or that you'll never fight." The grin was wiped away. "There's a war coming. You know it and I know it. The question is how long until it all blows up in our faces. Protect our ladies, boys. Make us proud. Now g'won and git. I expect you to be happy with your Travelgroups, too."

The students filed out of the room, and Aldon watched them leave, thier faces somewhat somber as they considered his words. ::I hope young Lafe understands that message...:: he told his bondmate. ::Don't worry - I was watching him. He'll train her how to take any weapon in reach, how to use a dagger, how to fight unarmed, and if I'm not mistaken, he'll never leave her side.:: she replied, amused and confident in the next generation.