The early summer sun warmed our heads and brought out the deep green of the grass beside the trail. With a slight breeze keeping it from being too hot for comfort, it was a perfect day for a long walk in the cool of the gardens.
“How is Septimus doing?”
Korneli grimaced. “The boy’s parents were complete idiots. They taught him to be a haughty, arrogant brat. Thank the Almighty he is teachable. I am telling you, Ilias, I spend more time teaching him how to behave around people than how to use his talent skills.”
I nodded gravely. Korneli enlightened me about the boy’s past months ago and his parents’ behavior toward their son didn’t make much sense. Sadly he wasn’t the first to be treated differently because of his abilities. I thanked the Almighty daily for my parents. They raised me exactly as they raised their other sons and continued to love each of us equally.
“How did his meeting with Errol’s girls go?”
“Surprisingly well,” Korneli replied. “He talks of Eloine all the time and he was flabbergasted that Zezilia was the one I was there to test.”
“You did tell him to not speak of her to anyone?”
“Of course.”
“The necessity of keeping her abilities a secret increases daily. The Elitist mentality is spreading and I haven’t heard from my contact within the community for a few weeks. If they got a hold of her, they would destroy her in trying to bring her to submission.”
“I heard news of at least three disappearances in the east of young women rumored to have talent.”
“Where?” I stopped in the path. This was news to me. All previous disappearances occurred near the Elitist village and I had hoped that they would remain contained along the Western coast.
“They were taken from homesteads on the east coast near Urnucia,” he replied with a worried look. “You mean you didn’t hear about that?”
I frowned, but began walking again. “No, I didn’t. That means that they are probably working from the coast inward. Do you know where I could get descriptions of these women?”
“I would expect that your brother Anonto would have that. He was the one that mentioned it to Selwyn, who mentioned it to me when I visited him after testing Zezilia.”
“If that is what is happening, Zezilia might not be safe where she is. We will have to move her.”
“Might I suggest an alternative?”
I looked over to find Korneli frowning at me. “What?”
“Have Errol teach her defensive skills; so, that she is prepared regardless of what happens. You said yourself that she seems to have a knack for keeping people out of her head if she wants to. If Errol gives her the skills, I am willing to bet she could keep even you out.”
As memories of her closing me out that first evening filled my thoughts, I found myself nodding. Korneli was right. With the training she would be the match of any talent who attempted to breach her thoughts or attempted mind control. I made a mental note to write to Errol to focus on defensive techniques next. However, it would not help her defend herself physically. I said as much to Korneli.
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that,” he said with a laugh. “All she has to do is surround herself with an energy field and solidify it and she could clear a room. With a little training, she will be fully capable of handling herself in that area too.”
Just then, we reached the front door to my quarters. The low building was surrounded by a well-tended garden hedged by bushes and trees so that no one could see into the large windows. Built back when the compound was first constructed, the stone walls were ancient, but well maintained. I had chosen this as my residence as opposed to the more austere and recently built quarters nearer the center of the compound.
“This is a ways from the office, isn’t it?” Korneli commented as I unlocked the heavy oak door and pushed it open.
“When I am not working, I don’t want to constantly be reminded of the work yet unfinished.”
“Do you stay here alone?”
The dim recesses of the foyer opened up in the brightness of the common room. The doors into the gardens were open, letting in the breezes and a hint of baking bread wafted in from the kitchens on the other side of the gardens.
“Renato stays with me. The cook makes sure we don’t starve, and the gardener comes daily to work on the vegetation. Do you want something to drink?”
“No, thank you,” Korneli answered as he crossed to one of the upholstered chairs.
“So, what did you think of Zezilia?” I asked as I sank into my favorite chair near the cold fireplace and stretched my legs out before me. It felt so good to relax. I was not winding down enough lately. As the muscles in my shoulders gradually eased against the softness, I promised myself to take more walks in the future.
“I like her. She is a quiet little thing, but she gets her point across when she needs to. Have you given any thought to what you are going to do with her once she is trained?”
I leaned back and closed my eyes, resting my head on the back of the chair. “Her father has my promise that I will marry her off to someone or marry her myself. I was hoping that she and Septimus would hit it off.”
“No, not likely. Septimus seems to have taken to Eloine.”
“So you say.”
“I do say. The boy finds Zezilia a bit intimidating, despite the fact he hasn’t tasted her abilities yet. I think it is her confident manner. You were right about her not using an energy field, by the way. Errol says she is now mastering mass moving without any trouble now.”
I nodded and smiled. “I am glad. I know how frustrating it is to not manage something that should be easy.”
“Like touching your amoveo?” Korneli asked mischievously. I ignored him.
We
