I glanced in appreciation at the high ceilings; gilded and white, they arched gracefully above us. Built by talented craftsmen centuries before, they stood as a testament to those times of peace before the uprising that brought about the establishment of the Sept Son. I couldn’t help but long for those times when I would have been a talented crafter of objects, working with wood, metal, or stone to create things. Instead, I worried about war, strife, control, and politics.
“Watch where you are going,” Renato exclaimed as we reached the top of the great stairs that descended into the foyer. A young trainee hurried past with a muttered apology and bowed head. Stepping down three steps and out of the way, I followed him with my eyes as he trotted past me, down the stairs, and disappeared through the doors into the main dining hall.
Another scuffle of feet and a muffled protest from Renato drew my attention back behind me to where he still stood on the first step. A burly young man wearing the robes of a trainee barged past my assistant, pushing him aside.
The young man then plowed into me, his shoulder connecting with my stomach. Air fled my lungs with a sudden whoosh and suddenly I was falling backwards. Instinctively, I reached for my amoveo. The energy flooded through me as I fell, spreading out and giving me a clear impression of my surroundings. Simultaneously, I caught the railing and solidified the newly materialized energy field between me and the stairs. The combination slowed my descent and then pulled my fall to a stop. The back of my head missed the sharp edge of a marble step by only three inches. Thank you, Almighty, I prayed.
“Are you all right?” Renato asked as I worked to right myself. My ribs were screaming at the abuse, and I knew that words were not possible.
“Where is he?” I asked.
Renato straightened to look around. I closed my eyes and worked on breathing once more. The last time I had been bludgeoned like that was when I played a new wrestling game with my older brothers when we were young. Using the energy that still hung around me in a cloud, I traced my own bones. Nothing was broken, just bruised.
“Gone,” Renato said as he reappeared at my side. “I sent a talent after him. We will find him and reprimand him.
“I doubt you will find him,” I sent as I tried to straighten. “He didn’t look like a talent I know.” As I ran over my glimpse of him in my memory, I caught the reason I was so certain. “His hair was cut in the fashion of a Segius.”
I felt Renato stiffen. “So, you think it was planned by the Mesitas?”
“I don’t know.” Air unwillingly entered my lungs again as I forced them to expand. Pain laced my ribs.
“Can you speak?”
I looked up into his worried golden eyes with a grimace. “Painfully.”
“Did he break something?”
I shook my head.
“Are you sure? Maybe you should see the healer.”
“No,” I managed. “I know a broken rib when I feel it. I am only bruised.”
I could see from his expression that he didn’t believe me, but he backed off to give me space to catch my breath.
“So, it has begun,” he said, his voice grim as fear flickered across his face. My stomach was suddenly queasy. The line between words to physical violence was crossed. I closed my eyes against the realization that every aspect of my life was going to become shared. After this I would go no where without a body guard, and security would be as tight as possible.
Almighty, I know this must be in Your plan, but how long? Oh, Lord, how long?
Zezilia
I LAY ON MY STOMACH on my bed. The heavy tome of code lay open across the end of my bed before me, but my thoughts were not on it. Instead, I was watching the bird family outside the window. The mother was giving the mostly grown babies flying lessons by pushing them out of the nest. There was only one left and he was protesting more that others before him.
Just as the mother pushed his fluffy little body over the edge, the door of my bedroom crashed open.
“Korneli is here,” Candra announced as she launched herself at my bed. I scrambled to get out of the way as she barely missed my legs with her knees.
“When did he arrive?” I asked as I closed the code book to make more room.
“Oh, hours ago,” she responded. Suddenly still, she began fingering the edging on my pillow. “He, Selwyn, and Father have been holed up in the study for hours now and I am bored.”
“I am supposed to be studying.” I nudged the tome with my bare toes.
“But there is no one to talk to.”
“Didn’t Eldivo come with Korneli?”
Candra laughed bitterly. “Why would I want to sit and listen to him talk? Besides, Galatea and Eloine have him cornered. Galatea is pumping him for information about Korneli, and Eloine is making calf-eyes at him. Sheesh, one would think he was a prince from the way Eloine talks.” Leaning back, she mimicked her older sister, twirling her hair and acting shy. “Eldivo this and Eldivo that.” Candra tossed a shoe at the wall. “I am sick of listening to her. Galatea is almost as bad over Korneli. ‘Korneli is so handsome.’” Candra batted her eyes fetchingly at me.
“He is handsome,” I pointed out.
“But that isn’t all. You should see her journal.”
“You aren’t supposed
