flying them out over the water until you reach your limit.” Lesarovich thought for a moment before shrugging and returning to his weapons practice with Alvin.
“How about you?” Em’risi had to catch the attention of a thin lad that was studiously inspecting a blunted pole arm.
“Who? Me?” Em’risi flinched as a flair of red and yellow energy swirled around the young man who was looking over his shoulder in the hopes that she was addressing someone else.
“Yes I mean you and don’t you dare tell me that you aren’t Gifted. Take a seat please.” Em’risi directed the lad to the chair and waited a few seconds for him to respond. Hindsight told her that her impatient tone had made him even more nervous. “We can start with your name.”
“Yes mam. Princess. I meant Princess.”
“I still don’t know your name.”
“Oh! Sorry. I am Halden.”
“No need to be sorry or afraid for that matter. I won’t intentionally hurt you. How about telling me what you can do?”
“I don’t want to hurt anyone.” Halden nearly knocked over the table as he tried to cross his arms while still holding on to the pole arm. After dropping the pole arm, he righted the table and crossed his arms.
“I can step back if you would feel more comfortable.” Em’risi stood, but had to quickly step out of the way. Halden had hastily jumped to his feet and tipped the table over clumsily.
“I’m so sorry.” Halden tripped over the chair he had been sitting in as he attempted to right the table.
“Relax Halden, I just want you to show me what you can do.”
“I don’t have any other clothes.”
“I’m sure that can be taken care of.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
“Yes, I am sure. Go ahead.” This time remaining placid took a concentrated effort.
“Why don’t I just tell you about what I can do?”
“After this much trouble, I think I want to see what you can do.” Em’risi crossed her arms in a way that most men noticed and obeyed immediately after noticing.
“I will need a lit candle to show you that I’m fireproof.”
“I doubt that you need a lit candle or that being fireproof is the only thing that you can do. Try picturing your hand on fire.” Em’risi picked up her chair and set it a few paces away from Halden before sitting down.
“What would that accomplish?” Halden crossed his arms before uncrossing them and uncertainty hanging them at his sides.
“Just do it, please? I am curious what might happen.” Em’risi crossed her arms again. Halden held one hand up in front of his face and looked at it a few seconds before looking back at Em’risi. She could see the yellow and red light emerging and twisting around his hand and was about to encourage him when there was a flash of light and flames angrily twisted from his fingers.
“Ahhh!” Em’risi could hardly refrain from laughing as Halden jumped around waving his hand in an attempt to put the fire out. A few moments was all it took for his clothes to catch flame. It was only when he accidently tripped into an alarmed Carlisle that the flames suddenly disappeared.
“Halden, after Alvin gets you some more clothes, we will have to work on your control. Also, I believe that Carlisle should be your sparring partner. For that matter I think Carlisle should also be your bunk mate.” A few minutes later, Alvin returned to the courtyard while shaking his head.
“You sure have your work cut out for you. Jumpy as a grasshopper and able to shoot fire out of his fingers. I have a bad feeling about this.”
“He lacks control, but I sense great potential. Carlisle’s Gift seems to be able to dampen anyone’s energy rather than just your own. It was almost like he threw a bucket of water on it.”
“You said that you couldn’t see him clearly so perhaps he is also affecting your Gift.” Alvin rubbed the stubble on his chin thoughtfully.
“Perhaps. Who is next?” Em’risi glanced around the courtyard at the men sparring enthusiastically.
“Well… There are only a couple left. You could do that one next. Have fun with him. Something about him just puts me on edge. Can’t shake the feeling that we should send him back to the ranks.” Alvin pondered the man who was wielding a straight sword with a certain degree of skill. Better than most the others on the courtyard. Em’risi gave Alvin a curious glance. She could see no reason