The applause did not cease.
It rolled across Blue Leaf Academy like distant thunder, rebounding from stone walls and tiled rooftops until even students from neighboring training fields wandered over to see what had happened.
Hawk and Garret stood opposite one another, their forearms still clasped.
Neither smiled broadly; they did not need to.
The respect between fighting men was seldom loud.
Garret released Hawk's arm and stretched his sore shoulders. "I'll be feeling that for a week."
Hawk chuckled. "So will I."
Master Oren snorted. "Serves you right."
A ripple of laughter passed through the instructors.
Principal Athenok stepped into the center of the courtyard. "Enough."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried to every ear. Every conversation died immediately.
He looked first toward Garret. "You have no objections?"
Garret rubbed his bruised jaw before shrugging. "No, he belongs here."
Then he turned toward the gathered instructors. "What about the rest of you?"
