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The next couple of days flew by unnoticed as he led e and channel the potency flows Some of it was familiar--refinements on known techniques--and some completely new But by the end of the ere both satisfied that I was ready for the next step

Mzatal had told ht by a lord, and the saht that siht by others I rong A summoner required direct initiation from a lord to shape floaters I could see, but not influence the needed potency strands He explained that first, a summoner had to have an innate capacity to control potency combined with acquired skill If those prerequisites wereas already there, which was successful about half the tih the first part, so all that remained was the second, which he acco my hands clasped between his I didn’t feel any different, but I could sure as hell touch the strands afterwards

He asked if I wanted to wait until the next day for the actual floaters since it was so late, but I knew the sooner I could get this shit down, the better, so I opted to forge ahead Besides, I was pretty damned excited to try it A couple of hours later, I had the kick-all-the-ass, h on the floaters, and by dawn could lay consistent anchors and had a grasp on tracing il series

"And now it is ti an to protest that I was fine and could keep working I closed rin, and nodded assent instead

"Come to the workrooo toSzerain’s blade"

I blinked in surprise "I’m ready for that?"

"This is not the actual recovery, nor is it even part of the seeking," he explained "However, e do will determine hoill construct those rituals in order to best utilize your unique energy signature"

I wanted to quiz him more, but he turned me bodily and pushed me toward the bedroom "Get in bed and sleep," he ordered

"Pushy fucker," I muttered, but did as he co the pillow

After sound sleep, a bath, and plenty of food, I headed down to the workroom a little earlier than the appointed time so that I could practice all of the new stuff on my own After about half an hour, Ilana came in and peered expectantly atas soothing as ever

I gave her a puzzled look "Yeah, I guess You’re working with us today?"

"Only to transport you to the beach," she said with a delicate flutter of wings "Mzatal is still in the plexus and will be here il I was practicing, then shifted my attention to her "Ilana, what’s the deal with Zack AKA Zakaar? Is he as off-the-charts insane as Rhyzkahl?" He’d never shown any signs of treachery but then neither had Rhyzkahl before I’d arrived in his realht of Jill, Ryan, and Tessa at the nawed at me

Ilana shook her head "Zakaar is demahnk--an Elder like Helori, likethat he stood resolutely against Rhyzkahl’s choices several decades ago"

"And the other?" I asked "Or is that souardianship, also because of Rhyzkahl’s actions"

I tugged a hand through"Zack is close to a friend of mine Is she safe with him?" That he was one of the elder syraza eased ht from Ilana

She moved in close and laid her hand on my arm "If this is one he has chosen to protect, she could not be safer Zakaar is the most resolute of us all"

I released a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding "Thanks" I still had plenty to worry about arounda diabolical fiend on the back burner

Mzatal entered, one hand behind his back and a docuh tunic-coat, pants, and boots Strands of h his complex braid were his only orna him a quick s over me in a quick assessment of who-knehat as he lyph-covered paper "Today ill atte of the beacon ritual at the nexus"