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Sighing, I piled the books at the end of , so I slid the book of linted My stoan to read a technical discussion of the source of a ician’s power Unable to understand all of the detailed descriptions, I only sensed that the power source blanketed the entire world, icians used this power in different ways, depending on their talents Some could move objects, while others could read and influencefires and ical skills Soician, the ician could only read someone’s mind, while a more powerful one could not only read but communicate and even control sopower By pulling on the source too hard or ician could cause creases that would set off a ripple effect This effect, or warping, would concentrate power in certain areas and leave other places bare Fluctuating unpredictably, another wave ht reverse the aicians would have to seek areas of power, but once they found a pocket, they wouldn’t kno long it would reician had tapped into the source, pulling it toward him Because he was so powerful he was able to control the blanket without causing an explosion The other icians were then uncovered Stripped of their power, they united and searched for him Once found, and after a battle that left many dead, they tapped into his stolen source, and killed him Eventually, the blanket had smoothed out and returned to nor the raised lettering on the cover, I now understood why Irys had been so determined that I should either be trained or be killed When ic reached a flameout, it would cause major ripples in the blanket of power I sank deep into ic spells or lessons I had been hoping for an answer So the lines of: this is why you have the power, here’s how you use it, and while we’re at it, this is how to conjure up the antidote to Butterfly’s Dust

It had been wishful thinking, plain and sie in Hope, happiness and freedom were not in norant child in Brazell’s orphanage While hoping for a normal life, I had been raised as a laboratory rat for his experi self-pity to run its course When the an to throb with inactivity, I stood and physically shook off loom If I couldn’t find the antidote in the books, I would find it another way So There had been food tasters on Commander Ambrose’s staff for fifteen years If no one could helpthe antidote or following Valek to its source Skills I lacked, but I was deter, prepared with an e soldiers Ari and Janco breezed past me Janco flashed a jaunty wave andbehind ood

I moved aside to let hilanced back in time to see Nix thrust his arms out His hands connected with round As Nix ran overthe wind out of asped for breath while curled in a fetal position on the ground Once I regainedposition The flow of soldiers remained unabated, and I wondered if anyone had witnessed what that bastard had done

If he was trying to discourageway Nix had just increased my resolve to learn self-defense so I didn’t fall victirels like him I stood up and waited for Nix’s next circuit, but he never ca" Nix, like Margg, was my problem If I didn’t deal with hile of doubt touchedthat had landedexecution

"Your face is covered with blood," Ari said

I wiped the blood on my sleeve "I fell"

Before he could questionelse to think about I repeated Valek’s advice about concealing our training sessions; Ari agreed that it was prudent to go "underground" He offered to scout out a suitable location

"You’re Maren, right?" I asked between gasps for air I had been running laps for a week, and thisI had timedglance Her blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail Wide ure appear disproportionate She moved with athletic ease, and I had to scra strides

"And you’re the Puker," Maren said

It was an insult aimed with a purpose; her interest in my response was keen If she had wanted to dismiss me, she would haveto watch for a reaction

"I’ve been called worse"