The fight is on

You give a silent sigh, knowing that your next words will likely ruin any chance you might have to work together with this striking woman.

"The students will be informed that we will be following the Code of Conduct as it is written." You tell her, without any attempt to sugarcoat your words. "If, as you say the young ladies in our institution behave as they should, then it will not matter. But if they don't, I intend to enforce the rules as they are written." At first, the only indication you have that Ms. Naylor hears your words is a tightening of her lips a the whitening of the knuckles of her fists. After three deep breaths she speaks, and with her opening salvo you know you are in for a rough ride,

"You are a throwback to the dark ages Mr. Hawkfeather." Her eyes flash in anger, "a crude savage with no regard for the advancement of time, nor research that shows a definitive link between corporal punishment and low self esteem." She stops your attempt to defend yourself with a swiftly raised hand. "I know your life Mr. Hawkfeather, has been that of a warrior immersed in conflict, bloodshed and destruction, and I appreciate the sacrifices that you have made for our country. However, the Pink Rose is a haven from the evils of the outside world; you cannot expect me to stand by while you bring forceful violence into our school climate."

As much as you'd like to climb to your feet and bellow down at Ms. Naylor from your advantage of 8 inches, you stay in your seat and keep your voice calm.

"I do not expect you to stand by, Ms. Naylor." You tell her as she starts pacing through her office, "that is precisely why I came to speak with you early in the morning. You and I have to come to an understanding about this matter before the faculty meeting tonight; I had hoped to talk this through rationally-"

"Don't call me irrational Mr. Hawkfeather!" She whirls with the quickness of a cat, turning on you with undisguised fury. "I am the Headmistress of this institution and I have the respect and support of my faculty. It is not irrational to leave the errors of our past behind."

"I don't doubt that Ms. Naylor, but I've been assigned here for one year to bring discipline and order to this Academy." You pause for a second staring at your hands, "I'm sorry, Diana. I really am. I just don't see any way around following the rules as they are written."

"You are an infuriating man Mr. Hawkfeather." It is clear from her expression that she has not yet conceded this fight. "I will think over what you've said and let you know how we will proceed by early this afternoon. "Ms. Naylor stalks to the door to her bedroom looking as sleek and dangerous as a lioness, she pauses by the door before stepping through. "I'm sure you can find your way out." The door slides shut with a soft thud leaving you alone in the office.

As you walk past the couch where Ms. Naylor had been sitting, you see the corner of a paperback book sticking out from beneath a dislodged pillow. Curious to know as much about your advisory as possible you lift the pillow the rest of the way. A picture of a slender, golden-skinned harem girl in very revealing silks resting in the arms of an armoured knight wearing a white surcoat emblazoned with a crusader crosses fills the cover and in flowing script the title: The Templar's forbidden temptation. The blurb on the back outlines a storyline where a Templar knight sworn to chastity is assigned the task of delivering a Christian noblewoman freed from a Saracen harem back to her family's ancestral home in England...

With a wry smile you return the book to its spot under the pillow and quietly leave Ms. Naylor's private office. Maybe, just maybe, being a warrior in Diana's eyes was not quite as bad a thing as you feared.