Thunder Struck by Viola Grace

peculiar.
    Ked watched the shuttle land, and she stepped forward when the hatch opened. When the three novices came out, she folded her hands in front of her until they were only a few feet away. “Welcome to Iskan, I am Kedna—or Thunder Struck if you prefer—and I will be introducing you to your new home.”
    She gestured to the huge and nearly empty structure behind her. “If you would come with me, we can get you settled and give you a tour.”
    The smallest of the three, a young woman, stepped forward. “Excuse me, miss. Are you the Avatar?”
    “No. You will meet the Avatar in good time, Leyan Arfur.”
    “You know who I am?” she went from hot pink to deep purple in an instant.
    “Each of you was chosen because of the intense nature of your talents. Here on Iskan, you can use them freely and without danger of injury to those around you. Frankly, there is no one around you to be hurt by your efforts to get a grip. Sohosh, Recadd and you are free to move as many rocks as you can and pull the heavens down if you wish. I am a weather talent as well, so I can undo anything that goes awry.”
    She turned and her robes fluttered around her. It was fairly impressive and had gone well. Ked hoped that the rest of the day went as well.
     
    By the time they had completed the tour and they were in the care of Master Healer Yini and Hospitality Master Quen, Ked was exhausted. Leyan’s rioting telekinesis had caused objects to jump every time they stopped. Sohosh had worked at trying to catch the objects, but his gross telekinesis had caused widespread disaster as it shoved at tables and walls. Recadd had stayed back while the two other talents ran amok.
    Ked couldn’t introduce them to the harnesses soon enough.
    There would be more novices arriving in the morning and she was going to need her sleep.
    Halwis-Iskan was waiting when she returned home. “Well, how did it go?”
    “Telekinetics may have been an error in judgement.”
    “I am sure that it will be fine. I made you some hot cider. Go on up.” Halwis was smiling secretively.
    Haedock was sitting in her living room with two cups of cider. “You look like you have had a hard day.”
    She sighed and sat next to him on the couch. “I have. First day of the Citadel. It was not smooth, but I think it was all right.”
    “Good. Will you allow me to court you?”
    She sighed and put her head on his shoulder. “Yes. I don’t see my life getting any less wild, so if you are willing to step into it, I am willing to let you.”
    He put his arm around her shoulders. “I had better get started then.”
     

Chapter Eight
     
     
    Haedock stayed in her spare room for the night. He came with her in the morning to meet the new arrivals.
    The three from the previous day were still in the facility. Haedock assured her that they were having breakfast with Quen. He could feel nothing but peace and relief from the Citadel.
    “Are you sure?”
    “I am sure. They seem a little dull for talents, though.”
    Kedna laughed. “They are wearing the null harnesses. This is the first power-free day or night that they have had since their talent emerged.”
    “Do they hurt?” He seemed concerned.
    “No. They are easy to wear under a bodysuit. Simple and comfortable, they adapt to any body shape, even someone without arms or legs. The bands simply wrap around whatever is there and stifle the reaction of the part of the brain that activates talent.”
    “Can you break through it?”
    She grinned. “Oh, sure. You just need sufficient motivation.”
    The shuttle was landing and she was chuckling at the memory. She felt his touch on her thoughts and felt his shock.
    “You jumped off the roof?”
    “The watchtower. Yes. I would have jumped off the Citadel but I didn’t want to freak out the workers.”
    She could feel him vibrating with tension beside her. He really wanted to yell at her but the door was opening. Kedna inwardly smirked. She wondered how many times she could goad