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It took Mal eight months after he finished his schooling to decide what his next step would be. His momma didn’t push him to leave the ranch. It never hurt to have an extra hand around (especially one who wasn’t allowed to backtalk when she gave him the lowliest grunt work to do).

Still, Mal felt the pressure. He sat up at night, staring up at the sky and trying to ignore the battle between devotion and freedom fighting it out in his head. There was so much to see and experience beyond Shadow’s atmosphere, but there were things and people needing attending to planetside as well.

He couldn’t say whether it was one particular thing or another that influenced his decision, but as soon as he passed through the gates there was a kind of serenity that filled him throughout. This was what he was meant for; freedom and devotion didn’t have to be mutually exclusive.

Mal pledged his oath to Father Galean on the last Sunday in November, receiving a “zhufu ni” in return. Once he finished his study in the seminary, he’d be able to take the word out into the world. Me could barely contain his excitement at the thought.