Page 40 of A Touch of Stars and Stones (Kirrian #1)

twenty-two

. . .

Ever

T wo Custodians are the first ones into the hall for breakfast, as I’m still picking through the enormous plate of food. Calix has already had a second helping and is eyeing my pastries, which I plan on eating next, just to stop him from denying my sweet tooth.

And after them, Ravi and Azur arrive. I try to offer a weak smile as they join us, and Azur smiles back and nods a little stiffly, but at least it’s something.

His pitch-black hair sets off his amber skin and dark lashes.

He’s quite handsome, although he doesn’t have the muscle or build of Ten or Calix.

He’s also a Guard, like Ten, so I make sure to clear my thoughts.

I don’t want another embarrassing moment like the other night in the hallway.

Although maybe I could practice with Ten now I’ve got a grasp of how to do the control thing.

“I’m surprised to see you so early and together, considering yesterday.” Azur’s dark eyes slide between Calix and me.

“I’m pretty sure I’d choose to go back and sleep for the rest of the day if I could get away with it. Actually, could I? Get away with it?”

Azur looks to Ravi, who has similarly jet-black hair, longer and wilder, but close to the scalp at the sides, with a coppery skin tone and a thinner frame. His narrow nose and chiselled cheekbones say he’s pretty rather than handsome.

They all laugh, and I look between them. “I’ll take that as a no.”

“Rowan would have us all running drills as punishment. He treats us all like we’re in the army. Good discipline, apparently. The requirements of training are clear.”

“Are they?” I ask. It’s a genuine question as I’m still fumbling through.

“Well, yeah. Follow the schedule. At least, that was until you arrived. Learn. Complete the trials, or as many as you can until you’re kicked out and then leave.” Calix makes short work of the timeline. But I already know most of this.

I snag the pastry and take a bite as I stand. “See you in class, then.” I walk off, pleased to escape before anyone else arrives.

“Ever?” Perrin’s voice calls after me just as I think I’ve cleared the hall. I stop, turn, and wait for him to catch me. He doesn’t say anything. Just stands in front of me and runs his eyes over me. “You took the tonic.”

“Yep. Thanks.”

“And how do you feel?”

“Fine.” Like my body is weak.

“Okay then.” He turns and heads back into the hall, and I’m left to make my way to my room.

The precious schedule that Calix and the others were talking about has us scheduled for archive study this morning, and I’m grateful for a few extra hours to allow my body to recharge. I still feel exhausted.

But it’s only a reprieve. Physical training—touch—with me at the centre will resume in the afternoon. At least now, with the practice with Kyra last night, I feel closer to knowing what might happen. I imagine the well in my chest and take a breath.

And I’ll get to see what might happen with Ten.

Intentionally, rather than the few times we have touched.

The graze or brush of skin we’ve stolen here and there all seemed to envoke different reactions, as if he’s a wildcard when it comes to touch, and I look forward to it.

Although I’d prefer it without the rest of the class’s eyes pinned to us.

Now, I’ve got my head in a book about the chronicled strengths and weaknesses of the Orders. But no matter how many pages I rifle through, I can’t find any information about the strengths and weaknesses of a Fifth.

Just like every other book I’ve read in class.

If it weren’t for Kyra’s book, I’d think no one had ever written anything about the Fifth.

“The first account of the Orders was recorded years after they were first granted power from Aslendrix. We know this from what the Maker has told us and the histories we have gathered over the years. Each generation, each Head, Triune, and Custodian has added to them.” Aurelia walks up and down between the desks as we all look over the pages of the book she has us working from.

“Aurelia, why is there nothing in here about the Fifth Order if this is about the strengths and weaknesses? Unless a Fifth is an Order in itself?” Silence drops over the class at my question.

She eyes me, boring her greys into mine, but she can’t hide from this, not a direct question, surely.

“The Orders are the construct of our society. They each have a purpose, a role, within Kirrasia and outside its bounds, to support and nurture the peace of the world.” Nobody interrupts her, as if we’re all waiting to hear what she has to say.

“Each Order has grown over generations. Slowly, steadily. And each person’s power has contributed in some way, either combining through their Triune to serve Kirrasia or to use their gifts in leadership, teaching, or in one of our outposts.

That is our way. A Fifth is a rare power.

So rare that it’s unusual to know more than one or possibly two in any one person’s lifetime.

Because of this, they don’t function in the same way as the rest of the Orders.

They will usually exist alone, with no other members of their Order to pull strength from.

Certainly, no Custodian exists for the Fifth, nor is there someone to lead them on how to work with the rest of us. ”

The silence remains, but what she’s said just enrages me. They’ve known this, yet have not shared. “Surely, that’s all the more reason to record anything that’s known about them—us,” I say through gritted teeth.

“Ever, please,” she placates me.

“But—”

“But nothing. You will continue to learn all you can from the lessons we deliver to you all . Every trainee, everyone at The Court, completes training, and while you may find it difficult, with the limited information and resources available to you, it will become easier as you adjust to both arriving here in Kirrasia and the knowledge of your power. There are members here who will document and record you, just like there have been records before. But to answer your original question, you or rather, a Fifth, is not an Order recorded as the others. Now.” She gestures around the room.

“Who can tell me what the most common weakness is for Elementals compared to Guards?”

There are records. That’s what she said. So, where are they?

The question and my simmering anger distract me from partaking in any further questions in class, and I sit and dutifully read the pages and pages of text that list influence, shielding, and emotion as common weaknesses of the Guard Order. There is a similar list of the strengths, too.

I think of Ten, who doesn’t seem to be afflicted with any weaknesses. But then, isn’t that the problem? There are trends and commonalities, but every single Guard’s ability is different, subtly so, but still different. More so than Elemental, Natural, or Warrior.

At least there are pages and pages of text to tell me that.

“Ever?” Aurelia calls after dismissing the class for lunch. I mask my features and pretend not to still be pissed off at her for shutting me down earlier.

“I’ll have you remember what I am, Ever.

” I look blankly at her. “I belong to the Guard Order. I may have passed my powers as an Advocate, but that does not stop me from reading every emotion you experience.” My eyes flick down to my hands, which are now clenched at my sides.

“I believe the best person to answer your questions is the Maker.”

“You said that it’s unusual to know more than one or two Fifths in your lifetime. Have you known Fifths before?” If her long silver hair didn’t age her, the worn lines on her brow and framing her eyes did. She has wisdom, knowledge, and answers. That’s what I see when I look at her.

“I have known others, yes. But they are both dead now. To our knowledge, you are the only living Fifth.” She confirms what Micah already told me.

Questions hurtle into my mind, and the need to grasp and cling to that sliver of information is like a physical pain in my chest. My feet inch forward, but Aurelia mirrors my movement and pulls back. It halts me, and something in my blood chills. Is she afraid of me?

“Go and see the Maker.” She turns and walks back towards her desk.

At lunch, my stomach churns with both frustration and anticipation, both from what Aurelia said and that this afternoon will mean more practice.

Touch.

And there are others, not just Aten in the class.

My eyes dart up and look across at the table he’s sitting at, flanked by Calix. But it’s Calix who catches my gaze and nods my way. And then Crimson looks up and stares right at me.

Right. Because I’ll have to practice with her, too. And by the looks of her, she’s still not happy about our previous showdown.

“You ready?” Micah stands next to me as I finish the last few bites of the bread roll.

“For this afternoon? Yeah. Sure. Are you going to get a good view at the front for the show?” I mock.

“You’ll be fine. Relax.” He smiles at me. “Come on.”

He leads me over to the classroom, but unlike yesterday, the whole room has been cleared. No desks or chairs. Just an empty space.

“At least there won’t be any more surprises.” Micah looks around.

“Yeah. Because the furniture’s been moved, there won’t be any surprises.” I tilt my head at him.

“I’m choosing to be positive.” He steeples his fingers and drums them together as he looks past me to the door, and I turn around to see Rowan striding towards us.

“Ah, Ever. Ready?”

“Sure.” I force a smile and try to centre myself as the rest of the class files in behind him.

“Same plan as yesterday. Make a circle. We’ll pick up again with Ever and Ravi.”

I stay where I am as everyone walks past. My eyes seek out Ten’s, and this time, I catch his gaze. He smiles, and my heart picks up. Get through this, and with a little luck, he’ll be next. Ten stands at the edge of the class, in my line of vision, just past Ravi’s shoulder.

Ravi shifts his weight from one leg to another as the room quietens, expectancy charging the air until he steps towards me and raises his hand.

A last look towards Ten, and I raise my hand to meet Ravi’s, pulling my eyes to his, so much darker than Ten’s. He smiles, but there’s a twitch of anxiety, perhaps.

My palm meets his, and I mentally think of the well in my chest, closing my eyes to concentrate on that feeling—the same one I found with Kyra. It steadies me. But instead of staying calm, a chill shivers over my palm, and a moment later, rain starts to break the water’s surface.

I open my eyes. It’s not just in my mind. The rain is in the classroom.

Rain falls from the ceiling as if we were outside in the open. The drops grow, and wind conjures from nowhere, blowing in and catching the rain with it, gusting the water into our faces. It’s like we’re the centre of a miniature storm.

The water starts to track down my face, rivulets following the contours of my features and drenching my hair.

Ravi’s eyes are wide as he looks around us, but I blink through the water to Ten. My hand starts to grow cold as the water cools us, now soaking through our clothes.

“Ravi?” I say, but I’m not sure I know what I’m asking.

“I’ve only ever been able to pull water when I’m outside.”

The chill travels further up my arm before I drop my hand, severing the connection. The wind dies on the spot, the air stills, and the rain stops falling.

And everyone starts to chatter around us.

I rub my hands over my face and smooth my hair back, taking a gasping breath. One, then two.

And look around at the rest of the room.

The rain seemed to get everyone, although the puddle on the floor under our feet tells me Ravi and I were the eye of the storm.

“Shame we didn’t see that one coming,” Rowan calls from the doorway, his hair dry like he took shelter from the little rainstorm. “Ten.”

Finally.

He strides forward to meet me, his brown hair damp from the rainstorm, and I offer a nervous smile. My eyes shift to his and stay there, watching for any sign of what might happen next.

The vision of me on the ground the first time we touched slams into my mind, and all my muscles lock into place. Please, not that. Not here , I silently beg. That was before. That was when I didn’t know, I tell myself.

My fingers twitch to reach up and hold the necklace at my throat as if it can ward off that previous experience and the chaotic and mind-splitting pain and confusion that came with it. But as my hand moves, Ten reaches for it, grasping it in his.

This isn’t the same as it was with the others. Our palms aren’t up and mirrored. He’s gripped my fingers in his, drawing my arm between us.

And all I feel is heat.

The same heat I’ve always felt with him. I focus on it, imagining the flame licking under my skin. It pulses, a beat, a thrum of energy magnifying and emanating from the point where our hands touch.

My eyes stay locked with his, the overriding comfort I’ve always felt there, like a pillar of strength. And I breathe in. And out, focusing on that well in the centre of my chest.

But still nothing. Only that heat. That burning. Blazing through our joined hands.

Disappointment swims to the surface, and I feel the lag in my body.

With everyone else, it’s just… happened. I’ve felt their power, or they’ve used mine, like Ravi, to amplify their powers.

I so desperately wanted to see what we could do.

I was so sure that something would spark, given what’s happened up until now.

My breath catches in my throat as another thrum of energy ripples out from our hands, and I squeeze it harder. Tighter.

Ten raises his other hand, ever so slowly, like we’re the only two people in the room. With a gentleness I’ve not felt before, his hand brushes against my cheek to cup it.

In that second, I don’t care that we were in a room full of other people, and I don’t care who those people are because all I can see is Ten.

Those deep brown eyes that shine at me. At me, only…

there’s a fragment of darkness, a shadow casting through them.

His jaw is tight. Sweat glistened on his brow.

“Ever—” he grits out. Just before he drops onto one knee in front of me, bowing his head, his fingers still entwined with mine.

My name on his tongue is all it takes for the heat to twist and turn to ice and stone, and my mind closes in, shadows consuming it.