By midmorning, whispers follow me everywhere I go. It appears that word of my promotion has spread quickly and attention follows me wherever I go.
Everywhere I walk, I feel it. Not the sideways glances or half-muttered commentary I used to get as the only woman on the training field, this is different.
Eyes linger just a moment longer and some watch with something like respect, but other stares are more calculating. Nara senses it too. They’re watching us, she growls, half proud, half wary.
I keep my chin up as I walk across the grounds toward the assignment board. My boots crunch in the gravel, echoing louder than they should.
I scan the patrol roster. My name’s listed beside two junior guards I’ve worked with before. Standard. Then a voice cuts through the air. “McMann.”
The Capt
