Page 24 of A Touch of Stars and Stones (Kirrian #1)

fourteen

. . .

Ever

T en’s words ensure the next day, I’m outside the training residence ready, dressed in the same gear and my new boots, before anyone else.

My toes wiggle in the leather, the only sign I’ll allow to show how nervous I am to do this all over again.

“Hey. I’m Raiden.” A pretty girl with coily, shoulder-length brown hair, a similar height to me, approaches. She does the slight nod bow thing, which I’ve learned to accept as a Kirrian greeting, and I offer it back.

“Ever, hi.”

“Nice to meet you. Let’s hope I get to say more than ‘hey’ to you today.” Her hazel eyes are kind, and I’m grateful for her making the effort to introduce herself.

“Thanks, I appreciate that. I’m hoping for a better day.”

She smiles, and I hope that she might be someone that I can get to know. She turns away as I notice the slow arrival of the rest of the class around us.

And Ten.

He holds my gaze until Crimson picks her spot next to him, spoiling the view.

“How was the reading?” Micah interrupts me as he comes to stand next to me.

“Um, good. Useful. I think. Thank you.”

“Ready for today?” he asks with an eager grin.

“Training, yes.” Although I already feel tendrils of concern creeping around me at the expression on his face. I look back at Raiden.

“I think he’s meaning the obstacle course. They set it up last night. Drills this morning and study later. Natural Order studies, so feel free to ask me anything. I’m a Natural. Good luck.” She nods, then heads towards a couple of other trainees.

“I’m sorry, obstacle course?” I turn to Micah.

He must be able to see the alarm in my eyes because his grin slides into more of an anxious smile.

“You’ll be fine. A few weeks of training, and you’ll be as good as Crimson.” I highly doubt that, and I don’t have weeks, I have minutes. Plus, we already know my running ability is patchy.

“Why are we put through this again?” I ask, hoping for clarity. I’m never going to be a Warrior, that’s clear.

“Welcome, Ever. Ready for training?” Rowan interrupts my question to Micah.

“Mr Star, glad to see you’ve found your way back.

I believe we’re still owed a conversation from yesterday, but that can wait.

Shall we?” Rowan leads us around the residence building, and right before us, set up in the three rings, is a collection of, well, obstacles.

Tall A-frames, tree trunks sunk into the ground at varying heights to make, um…

step-stones, maybe. Beams, bars, and other shapes of wood are in front of me.

“We’re meant to what, navigate around that?” Looking at the assortment, that’s the best outcome I can hope for.

“It’s a race. My guess, two-team relay,” Micah says.

“Great. So, not only do I have to figure out how to do this, but my attempt will either help or hinder my teammates. Way to make friends.”

“You were good at sprinting? Maybe you’ll be good at this?” His optimism is appreciated, and maybe he’s right. Maybe I won’t make a fool of myself.

“There are ten trainees now. Two teams. This is a basic race. You can choose the order you go in. Use your magic if it will aid. Calix and Crimson, separate teams and pick.” Rowan lays out the rules.

The twins give each other an eye roll and separate.

“I call Ten,” Crimson starts.

And I wait, my heart pulsing heavily in my chest and my feet growing twitchy as Calix and Crimson start to call names.

Calix calls Ravi, and Crimson chooses Capella. Raiden, then Azur, are picked next, and Ascella, until only Micah and I are left.

“Micah.” Crimson twists around and doesn’t even wait for him to join the rest of the teammates. He gives a little glance back as he heads towards them.

“Let’s see what you got, new girl,” Calix calls to me as I step towards the group of waiting people. Raiden at least looks welcoming. Ascella, I think that is her name, is small and slight, with dark blonde hair and olive skin, and she offers a reserved smile.

“So,” I start, finding my tongue. “What’s the plan?”

“Ascella leads off. She can give us a head start,” Calix instructs.

“Against Crimson?” Ravi asks.

Ascella picks up the planning. “I go first. It’s not a straight race. Calix, you’ll need to help. You’re going to be doing most of the heavy lifting.”

“Fine. But Crimson will be out for blood. She always has to win. What can you do, Ever?” Calix asks.

They all look at me. “I’m not sure. I guess that’s what I’m here to find out.” I pull my arms around my waist. There’s a general pause as if they’re all figuring me out and what I might be able to do.

Calix nods at me, and we all walk over to where Rowan is waiting.

Now that we’re closer, I see the obstacles lined up in a set of two. And they are a lot bigger than I first thought.

“Be careful.” Ten’s voice sounds from behind me, soft and gentle as if he doesn’t want anyone else to hear. I turn to him and watch his eyes scan over my face.

“I will. This is what I’m here for, right?”

“Yeah, but…”

He doesn’t need to remind me of the other night. One touch, and I was seeing other places, other worlds—from the ground. “I know.”

Ten takes his position up against Ascella, leading off. Crimson is right behind him, and I watch as he reaches his hand behind him, and she takes it, wrapping her fingers around his.

My body breaks out in a rush of heat watching that simple interaction, and I know that I want to hold Ten’s hand like that. Their hold doesn’t break, and I’m still watching as Rowan signals the start of the race.

Ten bolts off, impossibly fast. Ascella too.

“How?” I whisper.

“Ten used Crimson’s power,” Raiden explains. “Just like Ascella used Calix’s.”

“Sorry, what?” I shake my head a little. They are both up and over the first A-frame, neck and neck.

“Touch ignites our magic. We all possess unique powers based on our Order, but when we touch or make skin-to-skin contact, it can become more. Different. Training helps us to understand and unlock our potential.”

Touch.

That’s what Ten was doing with Crimson.

I watch the race as they both climb to the top of a fifteen-foot-high pole, balance at the top, then jump to the next one. It looks terrifying, yet they both scale and leap from one to another with no hesitation.

My eyes draw back to Ten as he climbs back down to the ground, racing for the balance beam, before hitting a small barrier. They both hurdle over and then duck under the next section. But Ten’s pulling ahead.

It’s a straight sprint back to the beginning for round two, and Ten has the lead. But Ascella is chasing. Her speed is coming into play, and I wonder if I’ll be able to do whatever I did during the run to make up some time.

Without touching anyone.

While I’ve been watching, Calix has been holding Raiden’s hand at the start, and I begin to understand what they’re doing—borrowing or combining their powers, becoming ‘more’ as Raiden said. Out here, in practice, I can see how that would be an advantage.

But it also terrifies me.

Raiden sprints off as soon as Ascella crosses the line, but Crimson is right there as Ten races over. Raiden might have used Calix, but she doesn’t have Ascella’s speed, and Crimson takes full advantage, eating up the ground.

“You’ll be up against Micah, Ever. Easy peasy.” Calix comes to stand near me.

“Well, I’m not so sure. But thanks for the support.”

“No worries.”

It looks like this round will be a foregone conclusion, with Crimson out in front, but then Raiden’s obstacles start to change, and they look different. “What’s she doing?” I ask.

“She’s a Natural. She’s giving herself all the advantage she can.”

“But how?” I ask as I watch the shape of the obstacles change as she tackles them, confused that they are turning green with foliage and vines, wrapping around the wooden structures at her will.

It looks like she’s weaving new growth around the wood itself, building more footholds or handholds, widening the balance section.

“How can any of us do what we can? But she’s giving all of us the benefit.” That’s the extent of Calix’s explanation.

I nod.

Despite everything Raiden does, Crimson is back first.

Calix does the same trick with Ravi, who’s up next for us and gives me another lesson in what the other Orders can do.

He’s slower than Capella, but he’s got another tactic. He’s drawing water from the ground and forcing it over the other team’s obstacles, raining rivulets and small channels of water down to coat the surface. And it works, causing Capella to slip and fall from the first climbing barrier.

She recoversand, just like Raiden, covers the areas her hands touch with flora, absorbing the water.

I look over to Ten, who’s pacing back and forth near the start line, but turns and spies me watching him.

He’s not watching his team. And he looks agitated, even though they’re winning.

There’s only Calix left, and then I’m up.

“Here.” Calix holds out his hand for me. “It might not last, but take it. You should feel strength. And do whatever it was that made you fast when you beat Ascella and Crimson, too.”

I recoil from his hand, knowing what happened…

“Hey, it’s okay.”

“No, it’s not that, it’s just…” I wrap my hands behind my back, “I don’t know what will happen if I hold your hand, and it’s a little terrifying right now.”

“I’ve gotch ya. This is what training is about, right?” He puts his hand out again, encouraging me.

“Calix!” Ten’s voice interrupts us.

“Chill, Ten. We’ve got this.” Calix looks back at me, but my attention is pulled to Ten pacing over to us.

I look at him, the anger clear on his face. But I can’t be afraid all the time. My arm reaches for Calix’s outstretched hand. He’s a lot nicer than I thought he’d be, given his sister.

My skin touches his palm, and my whole body tenses, waiting for the visions to cripple me on the spot.