Again, there was that wry turn to his words, forcing her to recall that morning … and the complete lack of formality of their first “meeting”—if it could even be called that. “If that’s the case, then it is truly a surprise that you were chosen to assist in my training.” Evelayn was better at keeping her own agitation from her voice, maintaining her cool demeanor instead, even though she loathed having decisions that directly affected her made without her knowledge or consent. Such as summoning a High Lord from the front lines of the war to assist in her training. “Kelwyn has worked so hard to impress upon me the necessity of proper decorum, after all.”
“Lord Tanvir was a leader in my battalion and impressed me with his skill and ability. But he is also young and has only recently inherited his title. And this is his first time at court. He will soon learn.” Kelwyn gave her a look that clearly indicated that she should help persuade the High Lord of the Delsachts that Kelwyn was right.
Evelayn acknowledged his unspoken request with a slight dip of her head, all the while turning over in her mind what little she’d discovered about the mysterious Draíolon. He was attractive, had only recently become High Lord, which must mean his father had passed away not long ago—a blow she could well relate to—and he was apparently young. One curse—or blessing—of the Draíolon’s long lifespan was the challenge of ascertaining age when meeting someone for the first time. It was rather difficult when they looked mature by the time they came into their full power at eighteen, and then didn’t show any signs of aging until late into their second century, sometimes even third.
“Let’s get started,” Kelwyn finally announced, much to Evelayn’s relief. “I asked Lord Tanvir to come help demonstrate what I wish you to do, and to assist in your training. As I said, he was considered one of the best marks in our armies, before he was called back to his family’s holdings to take up the mantle of High Lord. You will soon see why.”
Ah, so that was why he’d come—or at least one of the reasons. He was being presented at court as a new High Lord.
Kelwyn turned to Dela, whose mauve hair was pulled back in a severe braid. “Will you fetch the targets and place them in center field, please?”
“Of course.” Dela turned to walk away after flashing a smile at Evelayn, her teeth shockingly white against the pale cerulean color of her skin.
When she had finished her task, four wooden targets cut in the shape of Draíolon males and females stood across the large field from them. They seemed really far away but Evelayn kept her face impassive, refusing to give any sign that she was nervous or uncertain. Kel nodded at Dela and then turned to Evelayn.
“Up until today we’ve only worked on minor skills,” he began, “but now that you have come into your full power you are capable of so much more. Not only will I expect you to be able to hit those targets, I want your aim to be perfect. Many Draíolon struggle with that. They can achieve distance with their attacks, but they struggle with precision. As the princess—and someday the queen—you must be the exemplar in every way, including this.” Kel gestured at Lord Tanvir. “If you please, go ahead and take out the first target.”
Lord Tanvir nodded, all trace of amusement wiped away, replaced by a collected concentration that started in the narrowing of his eyes and extended all the way through the suddenly tense lines of his body. He was a predator ready to pounce, his muscles tightened in preparation. Evelayn studied him, analyzing his stance, the way he rolled his shoulders back and down, the sudden sharp scent of what she could only describe as anticipation in the air, how he lifted his hand and exhaled slowly …
And then a blast of light—very similar to the lightning that sometimes tore through the sky—rent a hole in the first target, right where the heart would be, had it been a real male. A tendril of dark smoke drifted up into the otherwise clear morning sky. The smell of singed wood and ozone filled the air, burning her nose.
“Excellent. Now again—but this time, aim to injure the target, not to kill.”
Lord Tanvir repeated the entire process, but this time he struck the target in the bicep, just above the elbow, barely leaving the rest of the arm attached.
“Do you see that, Your Highness? The control and precision. He makes it look easy, but as you will soon find out, it is anything but. You must take into account tiny fluctuations in the wind, the amount of force to use for any distance, and many other factors. And of course this is all compounded if your target is moving. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” Kelwyn raised his voice and gestured at Dela. “Get ready, I’m going to have the princess try now.”
Dela nodded while Evelayn struggled not to scowl. Most Draíolon had the same skills—Light could manipulate and summon heat, sunshine, and light, while Dark could manipulate cold, shadow, and darkness. But occasionally some would exhibit an extra ability. Dela’s particular affinity was with water—she could control and direct it. A rare and useful skill, especially if one was expecting to put out a fire, for example.
“I want you to face the target fully. This is not so very different from what we’ve already been practicing—though it requires more power and more control, as you have learned in your lessons the last few years. You are probably feeling somewhat off-balance with all of the additional input you’re receiving from your heightened senses, but you will soon learn to control them and pay attention only to what is necessary.”
Evelayn did as he instructed, squaring her feet and settling into her stance as she’d watched Lord Tanvir do. She tried to block out everything else—all the extra scents and sounds that tempted to distract her. This was nothing like the minor skills she’d worked on with the limited access she’d had to the Light Power before now. Shooting a jet of light at a target hundreds of feet away was much more difficult than creating a spark to start a fire or summoning a ball of light to hover above her hand to light a darkened hallway. Yes, she’d studied tome upon massive tome about gaining her full Light Power and how to wield it, but that wasn’t the same as actually using it—as she’d learned that morning.
But she did her best to keep her face expressionless, refusing to give any sign that she was nervous or uncertain.
“When you reach for your power, you will feel the difference—you’ll sense the well of power you now have access to. You must learn to call only as much as you need, not too much or too little. If you summon too much you will take from others who might need it and you run the risk of injuring yourself or others unintentionally. And if you don’t summon enough you will fail at your task and waste the power you called upon.”
Evelayn nodded, even though Kelwyn was only repeating what she’d heard a hundred times before.
“Clear your mind and focus.”
She stared at the target across the field and took a deep breath. Not too much, not too little, Evelayn coached herself as she lifted her hand. Aim with precision.
She called upon the power that had always been there, deep inside her. Only it wasn’t the same at all—it was like comparing the trickling of a tiny stream to the rush of a torrential waterfall. The tidal wave surged within her and out of her hand in a blast of light that exited her body with such force it knocked her backward off her feet, to land unceremoniously on the ground, breathless and embarrassed.