Thunder Struck by Viola Grace Page B

Citadel outpost. I spent the first four years on Iskan learning how to sort my talent out, and then one day, I was on a Sector Guard mission with a jackass and putting my energy into a strange sky, restarting a weather system.”
    Haedock laughed into his hand. “The jackass would be me.”
    The table at large laughed but Sohosh was disapproving. “You have been with him since you were a child?”
    Kedna shook her head. “No. The courtship has only begun. Last night in fact. We have never been in any illicit relationship. His ancestor would have killed him if he had tried anything untoward.”
    Haedock muttered, “That is the truth.”
    The novices were staring at him and Leyan asked, “Ancestor?”
    Ked looked at Haedock, “Do you want to tell them?”
    “You do it. You know her better.”
    Kedna smiled, “Iskan is a sentient world. Inside it lurks a consciousness that controls its fabric and elements. It has probably had hundreds of Avatars in its time, but I am familiar with the most recent incarnation. Halwis is a lovely woman of the Iskanoi who became the Avatar after her husband died and all her children were grown. She is the living voice of the world beneath your feet, and she and Iskan have agreed to all the changes that are currently underway.”
    Leyan leaned forward. “What is she like? The planet I mean.”
    “Iskan is a male mind. He and Halwis have a relationship like a well-worn marriage. They speak for each other and switch conversations within one sentence. When her eyes are golden, she is Halwis. When the darkness swirls inside, you address her as Halwis-Iskan. When the eyes are dark, you are speaking with Iskan. The planets address each other before the Avatar, which I believe is just rude but that is my opinion.”
    The group laughed. She rose to her feet. “Racadd, pull off that harness and let’s head outside. It is time to see what you can do. Leyan and Sohosh can practice in the fun room.”
    Leyan was blinking. “You weren’t kidding?”
    “No. Those foam blocks are really for you to play with. Go and pelt each other without your harnesses.”
    Quen nodded and inclined his head. He beckoned to them and they followed him.
    “Pahla, this is Master Healer Yini. She will help you to analyze your own talent, and if Sohosh throws the foam blocks like a girl, I am sure that one of them will have a minor injury that needs tending to. Tend, you are with the pretty ladies, I am heading out with Racadd so I want you all indoors.”
    Racadd laughed. “It sounds like you don’t have faith in my abilities.”
    “I don’t know what they are, so let’s give you a shakedown and find out what you can do.”
    She headed outside with him trailing behind her.
    He sighed. “I know that weather is destructive, but is there anything interesting that I can do with it?”
    Ked laughed as they stepped outside and away from the building. “I think I can show some interesting applications.”
    They kept walking until they were five hundred metres from the Citadel, and she turned to face him. While he watched, she called the wind and urged it to lift her up and away.
    She flew up a few hundred feet and then slowly lowered herself to the ground. “Is that interesting enough for you?”
    He whistled and applauded wildly. With a grin, he opened his novice suit and removed his null harness. He carefully placed it on the ground and stepped toward her. “Teach me.”
    She picked up the harness and tucked it on her belt under the robes. “Show me what you can do.”
    Racadd shoved his fist to the sky and a bolt of lightning streaked out of the cloud to strike the ground just ahead of them.
    Ked snorted. “Men. What else? A member of the Sector Guard can’t just be used in battle situations; they must be able to be useful to planets in need.”
    Racadd called down a gentle rain, but his face showed that it was a tremendous effort. He swayed.
    She laughed and watched until he couldn’t hold himself upright.