“Well done. The images were clear, the emotions well portrayed, and the words perfect.” He opened his eyes and smiled at me. “I have rarely had a story told to me with such eloquence. You should consider studying with the Aegyptus storytellers.”
“The wanderers?” I asked. Famous for their storytelling and music, Aegypti move from place to place within our country. They stayed in one place for only a few days, entertaining and fixing things before moving on to their next temporary home.
“I spent sometime with them four years ago and heard many a wondrous tale. Your telling tasted of theirs. I wouldn’t be surprised if you have a natural gift. If you are interested, I will speak to Errol about having you meet with a friend of mine. She is a retired Aegyptus, married and settled down with her farming husband.”
“I would love that.” It was a struggle to keep my enthusiasm from overflowing into the sending. I had never met an Aegyptus. My mother proclaimed them beneath our notice, but she was no longer overseeing me.
“Then consider it done.” He placed his hands on the table. “Now to see about that problem of yours,” he said as he rose to his feet. “I want you to pick up the ink pot and place it in my hand.”
Reaching for my amoveo, I called to the little black jar. As I lifted it into the air, I felt a brush of foreign energy.
“Ah, as I suspected. You aren’t using a field. That might be your whole problem. Put it down on the desk again.”
I replaced the pot.
“I want you to touch your amoveo.”
I did and the now familiar rush of energy filling me made my heart speed up slightly.
“Do you feel it?”
“Yes.”
“Form the energy into a field around you, like enclosing yourself in a sphere.”
“How wide?”
“To here,” he sent as he extended his hand four feet before me. “Close your eyes and see everything within that sphere with your energy.”
I tried to obey. I extended my energy out like a sphere around my body, but as I closed my eyes, I could see nothing. Then suddenly something crossed into the field and ripples echoed out from the disruption. It looked like a hand.
“Do you see my hand?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Stop it from moving by making the sphere solid.”
I almost asked for more explanation, but even as I formed the words for the sending, I did it. His hand froze in mid-motion and he yelped in surprise. I reacted by letting go of my amoveo. When I opened my eyes, Korneli was looking at me oddly and shaking his hand as though it hurt.
“I am sorry,” I murmured, half afraid that he was angry.
“Don’t be. I know it was unintentional.” He examined his hand, wiggling all the fingers gingerly.
“What happened?” I asked.
He glanced up from his examination of his palm and pinned me with his powerful gaze. “You just closed over my hand so solidly that the pressure surprised me. I thought that the size of the sphere would be enough to dilute your energy, but I was wrong.” A thoughtful glimmer passed over his face. “Let us test how far your ability goes. Stand over there.” He pointed to the far corner from the door. “I will stand near the door to the hallway. Touch your amoveo and extend it until you can detect my hand again.”
I obeyed. With my back against the wall, I touched my amoveo. As the energy coursed through me, I fed it into a sphere. This time I could instantly feel the energy working its way through the wall at my back and the bookcases to my right and left. Closing my eyes, I continued to expand the field, sensing more and more of the room with each swelling. I could also detect what was on the other side of the wall at my back, the millstone, hibernating plants, and the air. Finally, I detected Koneli’s hand, passing across the far face of the field. The disruption of its movement played across the energy field like ripples on a pond.
“Solidify the field around my hand,” Korneli ordered.
This time, I was much more gradual. I knew that with only a few practice tries, I would be able to master this new skill.
“Enough,” he said aloud. I released my hold and suddenly felt blind.
Opening my eyes, I found Korneli thoughtfully rubbing his hand. “I am guessing that you did not reach your most solid. Am I correct?”
I nodded. “What does it mean?”
He met my gaze. “It means you are very powerful, Zezilia. With power comes responsibility. I need you to promise me that you will work hard with Errol and Selwyn to train this talent. Without the training, you might hurt someone inadvertently. The injury could be far worse that a broken bone. Even now, you could easily crush my hand or me with a thought.”
Visions of Candra falling and the sickening crack of her bone breaking flashed through my thoughts. I didn’t want to accidentally do that again. I quickly assured Korneli that I would work hard.
He smiled as he crossed the room to the desk in the middle. “I know you will.” Taking a seat, he skimmed the open book. “Code, etiquette, sending, receiving, mass movement,” he looked up at me, “I think we have finished the testing. Congratulations, Zezilia, you have passed your first year testing.” He closed the book with a thump and leaned back in the chair. “Now, I understand that you had some questions for me.” A spark of mischief glinted in his eye as he folded his arms across his chest.
It took me a moment to recover from his casual change of topic. “When did he know he was talented?” I had secret hopes that there was another like myself who hadn’t known until someone discovered them.
“Well, his parents suspected since his birth, but he didn’t show any inclination until he was a teen. That fits
