cthia wrote:Does textev list the specifics of Alfred's training? Does he have a master himself?
If you read Weber's short story BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, in the BEGINNINGS anthology, you will find that Alfred was in the Royal Manticoran Marines prior to going to Beawulf for medical school. Weber alludes to Alfred being involved in some very serious violence that was heroic but diplomatically problematic. The incident caused Alfred to fear himself. The story evolves to Alfred having to rescue Allison Chou from some Mesan nasties whom he kills quite a few of.