Urzites - telepathic animals of many species found originally only on the southern island of Urz. Receptives - humans who are able to hear the Urzites. Only about one person in eighty or ninety is a Receptive. Most Receptives can only hear the animal who has chosen to be their partner, although there have been recorded instances of very rare people, SuperReceptives, who can hear more than one Urzite. The Warden Corps - a government-sanctioned force within which the Receptive-Urzite pairs function. The Wardens and their Urzite partners are mostly used as espionage agents and scouts in the ongoing war with the neighbouring nation of Zeranda, although some are also involved in search and rescue and also in recruitment and the finding of new Receptives. The next Urzite stepped forward. And the next. And the next. I tell you, it doesn't sound all that hard, just standing there repeating that spell, but it was exhausting work. Urzite followed Urzite followed Urzite, small ones, big ones, young ones, old ones; cats, dogs, horses, donkeys, birds, rats, lizards, monkeys. I stopped noticing them after a while. They just became a blur. I do remember that I did Umbis, though, and Sanpo, who was quite absurdly grateful, and, of all Urzites, Madame Uritta's Chym. I couldn't help but wonder what she'd think of all this. By the time lunchtime was over I was so exhausted I was about ready to fall off my wall and it was getting really difficult to get the words of the spell in the right places. However, I must have taught at least fifty Urzites to read, possibly twice that many. The crowd in the courtyard had thinned to just the last few hopefuls and quite a number who'd stayed as spectators, and as I looked about I saw all the remaining candidates step up to one of the other spell-casters. Amazingly, everyone who had turned up had been processed. I was quite proud of us, really. That was a very good day's work. I hopped down from my wall and made my weary way over to where Naya stood talking to Garina and Annana. Stumpy and Syana were already there, and as I approached, Hoo swept in and took up her usual place on Stumpy's head. At first, I couldn't see Mewla, but then Naya moved and I spotted her in her accustomed place in her arms. It seemed we were all here. Oh, hang on, where was Thimni? Even as I looked around, there was a clatter of hooves on cobbles and Thimni came bounding up, looking disgustingly energetic. How could she possibly gallop like that when I felt about as limp as a wrung-out rag? "That was fun, wasn't it?" she said as she skidded to a halt next to me. "It's going to change things around here now that every Urzite can read. I intend to recommend that the first thing they all read is the Articles of Incorporation. I read them last night, and they're quite an eye-opener. There'll be no excuse for denying Urzites their rights now." I rolled my eyes at Syana, who grinned. Trust Thimni to make this an intellectual exercise. I swear, that goat is the most intelligent person I know, and that includes all the humans. In 'Naya', Naya related how she came to be a Warden. Now, join Slink the fox; a bit of a rascal, somewhat greedy, rather highly-strung, and locked in an ongoing battle with Mewla the cat, as he takes up the tale and tells the next part of the story in his own words, as the team begin their training and settle into life as Assigned Urzites.
