Talent Storm (19 page)

Was I powerful enough? I opened my mind to the world around me, trying to feel any presence of talent. My left arm itched and I scratched it, annoyed at the intrusion. Wait. Deo said that your body tingled when detecting talent. I spun left and sprinted down the pathway. It was better than doing nothing. After several turns, fresh air and sunlight welcomed me back to the world. I smiled and dashed for freedom.

Outside, Sid carried a ten-foot long, foot thick log on his shoulders. He was jogging fifty yards in front of me. I hefted up my own log, grunting under its massive weight. I felt the strain on my body, but my talent held me upright. I set off after him. Eventually I caught up, and we sped through obstacles neck and neck. One after another, I kept pace with Sid. After another ten minutes, the grueling pace began to fatigue me.

I reached a fifty—foot wall with square-foot blocks piled under it and peeked over my shoulder. I gasped. Sid was now well behind me, still struggling through the chest high bog. I crouched, sparked green, and leapt for the top of the wall. My fingernails scrapped along the steel wall, well short of its peak. So I did need the blocks. My talent grasped them, stacking them into stairs. I finished quickly and began climbing. Sid had just arrived at the wall when I was nearly ready to jump. My blocks glowed blue, then teetered. I tried to spring upward, but the blocks kicked out from under me, sending me sprawling through the air.

The ground smacked into me hard. I shook my head, feeling dazed and glanced at Sid while he climbed over his wall. He smirked and winked. He interfered with me. That son of a—it didn’t help to curse him. I set to the task again, determined to win. Finally, as I dropped down the other side of the huge wall, I observed Sid’s progress. He was steadily climbing a rope, three quarters of the way up the final obstacle.

Winning required boldness, and I refused to lose. I crouched in a runner’s stance, bunching the muscles of my thighs. After taking a deep breath, I exploded into a sprint. My muscles engaged, propelling me forward as my cleats dug into the ground. Each of my strides surpassed an untalented person’s fivefold. Feet from the pine-board wall, I lowered my shoulder and clenched my jaw, ignoring the rope.

When my shoulder collided with the board, pain lanced up my body, jarring my teeth and knocking me breathless, despite my talent. Glowing shards of wood sailed in all directions as I smashed through. I stumbled around, gripping my head before I managed to look up. Sid was halfway down the wall and climbing fast.

I shook off my pain and dizziness, then sprinted for the finish line. Lilly, the class, and Deo were all wide-eyed and cheering as I sped toward them. I bet they hadn’t expected that maneuver.

“Go, Jaden go!” Lilly shouted, pumping her fist into the air.

It was hard to believe I was about to beat Sid for the first time. I knew I could do it. With a big smile, I pumped my arms, nearly there.

I gasped as I saw the large rock, right before my foot. How had I missed it? I jumped aside at the last second to avoid tripping. Trying to maintain my balance and speed, I focused on my foot placement. If I could just...

My leg buckled as I miss-stepped. My knee smashed into the ground and tore open. Burning pain bolted up my leg as I rolled on the pavement. I guarded my head with my arms, and they ripped open on the rough surface. Finally, I skidded to a halt with a grunt. For a moment, I could do nothing while I cringed, holding my body and rocking back and forth in agony.

The race! My head shot up to see where Sid was. He was fifty feet from the finish line and the same distance in front of me. I glanced back at the rock; it was gone. Damn, it was an Illusion. Could Sid have developed a second talent or was it someone else?

Regaining my wits, I focused on the finish line. Lilly covered her mouth while the Instructor’s eyebrows dipped inward. Still, others cheered for any victor. Watching the pudgy weasel jog to the finish line, I was disgusted. He glanced back, his smug face sickening me.

No. I had to be placed with Lilly. Never again would I give up without a fight. My pain could wait. I leapt up into a sprint, once again legs pumping, wind whipping by me. Sid’s eyes popped wide. He spun forward, accelerating the urgency of his pace. He was too close to the finish line; I wasn’t going to make it.

With a maddening sense of urgency, I used my control, anger, and determination to focus my talent into super-dense flow of power. My emerald aura blazed around me like a fiery inferno, my calves and thighs burning the brightest. I dropped into a crouch, then detonated my power. I launched into the sky, exploding forward, the wind ripping at my clothes.

I sliced through the air like a speeding phoenix, reborn from the fire. The students gaped in complete silence, their wide eyes fixed on me. When I passed Sid, his expression melted from a raised eyebrow into a clone of those before me. After I sailed past the finish line, a profound sense of success washed over me. I beat him, finally. I was the best, and I’d be with Lilly. I grinned, basking in success.

My expression quickly soured as I realized that I would eventually crash. The reality of the pain I was about to feel set in. Talent depleted and muscles cramped, I braced for impact, pitying my already ripped and bloodied body. I shut my eyes, unable to watch as I plummeted. Then I crashed.

Where was the pain? I flinched at the feel of a warm body and powerful arms wrapped around me. I opened my eyes to glance upward. Instructor Deo, elderly frame and all, beamed down at me, with a toothy grin. He jogged along, with me cradled in his arms.

I couldn’t believe he caught me. My smile grew to match his. He stopped before placing me on the ground. He raised my hand to the crowd of onlookers, many of which covered their mouths. Abruptly, applause thundered through the air. Screams of adoration washed over me.

“Jaden! Jaden!”

I saw Danessa in the crowd, pumping her fist. “Stunning, Jaden,” she yelled.

Sid stood a few paces away with his head lowered, rubbing his temples. Lilly ran over to me, with a big, dimpled smile. When she reached me, she threw her arms around me, hugging me tight. I had missed the feeling of praise being showered on me.

☼☼☼

After The Gamut, Lilly and I made our way to the medic to have me patched up. A big grin was fixed on my face, as if chiseled in stone. Everything was coming together. I’d finally conquered Sid and forged myself into a shield strong enough to protect love.

Lilly leaned in, wrapping her arm around my waist. “You were great today, Sugar Plum. When I saw Sid coming over the wall without you, my stomach sank. I was so worried I’d be paired with him instead of you. Then, when you burst through that wall, it was so exciting, so heroic.”

“Hmm. I could get used to hearing that.”

She laughed. “I couldn’t believe when you tripped at the end.”

Feeling my pain from the terrible experience, I frowned. “I didn’t just trip. Someone created an illusion of a rock. I think it was Sid.”

Lilly gasped, momentarily squeezing me. “Could he have developed a second talent?”

“His potential is high enough for sure. He also toppled my blocks before the final wall.”

“I hate that weasel,” she said.

“Likewise. Fortunately, I think the Instructor realized that Sid used an illusion against me. He’s going to get reamed out.” Now that advanced was over, I hoped I’d never see Sid again.

“Well, he deserves it. His treachery makes your win even greater. When you leapt at the end and flew through the air, I was simply amazed. You were magnificent.”

Smiling broadly, I took hold of her hand, feeling warm. “Well, if you must say so, I suppose I was.”

She giggled. “You’re so humble,” she said poking me in the ribs. “Seriously though, you should be more careful. I was so worried for you.”

Stopping, I met her eyes. “I didn’t want to lose you.”

She smiled, her dimples sinking. “Aww. In that case, I liked your recklessness.” She hugged me tightly.

Shouts rang out down a side-street, and we pulled apart. I peered down it to see a group of people brandishing signs.

“What do you think is going on?” she asked.

My brow wrinkled as I shook my head. “I don’t know. Let’s see.” I pulled her toward the crowd.

When we got closer, we heard fifty or so men and women shouting, “Make changes. Protect your citizens.”

One of their signs read,
My daughter and I walk by the training facilities on the way home.

Another read,
Ben Lockhart. He could have been your son.

I cringed at seeing Ben’s name. A protest. Crazy. I knew that people had been protesting, but I’d never seen one before.

“Things are getting bad around here,” said Lilly. “Come on. Let’s get you patched up.” She tugged me away from the crowd.

☼☼☼

Thirty-one Years Before Present

Sara Tamar sat behind an oak desk with a pencil in hand and several pages of notes in front of her. Her white-haired tutor stood at a chalkboard that was filled with writing.

“Good. You’re doing well. Now that we’ve covered morality let me give you some scenarios,” said her tutor. “A ruler’s first duty is to her people not to herself. Someday you’ll be taking over Liberty Kingdom, and the more prepared you are, the better.”

Sara nodded, excited at the opportunity to prove herself. Would she be able to rule as well as her mother when the time came? She didn’t know, but that was why she always attended her tutoring and studied. “Let’s hear them.”

His thin lips pulled into a smile. “Two people have disputing claims to one plot of Liberty land, and both have old legal documents supporting their claims. One is a poor mother, and the other is a man with another plot of land and a steady income. Both discreetly offer you bribes to side with them. The woman’s bribe is a hand-woven blanket, and the man’s is a large sum of money. What do you do?”

She tapped her pencil on the desk. “Hmm. First, bribing an official is illegal, and it would be immoral to make decisions based on gifts anyway. I would cite the man, but not the woman.”

He squinted. “Why just the man?”

“He has more and can afford it. Sometimes rules need to be bent for the greater good,” she said.

“Okay. What else?”

“I’d offer the land to the woman because she needs it more. People who are well off shouldn’t be greedy.”

“You’re right, but they almost always are,” he said, pacing in front of her desk. “You’re thinking is flexible. Well done. Here’s another one. Liberty is at war with another kingdom. Enemy spies are trying to stir up the people with anti-government sentiments. Some people are exercising their freedom of speech and repeating those sentiments. Would you consider arresting citizens who speak out against the government? What else would you do?”

She shook her head, her red hair swaying. “Maybe it would make things easier to arrest the citizens who speak out against the government, but I wouldn’t do it. If speech is a freedom, then it should remain a freedom. Taking away rights for security seems like a slippery slope. Instead I’d attempt to root out the enemy agitators and eliminate them.”

“Good. It’s not worth living in
safety
if we have to lose all of our freedoms to do so. All right, let’s move onto—”

A knock at the door interrupted him, and he frowned. “Come in,” the tutor said.

A huge man in his forties, dressed in a silk shirt and black slacks, entered the room.

“Ah, Duke Goldwater,” said the tutor. “What can I help you with?”

“Hi Thomas,” said Sara, with a big smile that brought dimples to her freckled cheeks.

Goldwater turned his blue eyes on the tutor. “Sorry to interrupt. I was hoping I could borrow Sara.” He turned to her. “Are you almost done?”

Sara frowned. “I’d love to go, but the lesson isn’t over. Maybe I could find you after.”

“You can go Sara,” said the tutor. “You’re the hardest worker I know. Missing a few minutes of a lesson isn’t going to make you any less of a great ruler. You have the heart of your mother. You’ve shown that I shouldn’t be concerned about your morality.”

“Okay, great.” She leapt up and ran over to Goldwater before linking her arm in his.

Goldwater winked at the tutor. “Thank you. And I’m sorry again for the interruption.”

“No problem. Enjoy.”

Sara and Thomas stepped out into the hall, and her four guards followed closely behind. Sara rolled her eyes at them. Why couldn’t they ever leave her alone? Thomas would protect her if anything happened. “How was your day?” she asked Goldwater.

“It’s been productive. I’ve spent most of the day overseeing the farms in my ward. It looks like my harvest is going to double expectations again.”

“You’re such a good ruler.”
He’s so handsome too with his perfect hair, chiseled jaw, and muscular body. I’m so lucky,
she thought.

“It’s important to inspire people to work their hardest,” he said. “I won’t tolerate laziness.”

“That’s wise. So what should we do?”

“I thought we could go for a walk. It’s beautiful out.” He met her eyes, smiling broadly. “But not as beautiful as you.”

A blush crept up on her pale cheeks. She couldn’t believe that a man so charming liked her. “It’s too bad we can’t be by ourselves,” she said, eyeing her guards, who trailed faithfully behind her. “I’d love to spend time alone with you.”

They stopped at the side of a dirt road as a train of carriages pulled by horses approached. The horses’ furry hooves clopped along the ground, kicking up dust. Their drivers whipped the horse’s flanks, spurring them onward.

“Hmm.” Thomas leaned in to whisper in her ear. “I have an idea.” Just before the carts reached them, he pulled her forward. “Come on.”

They darted in front of the cart and ran down a side street toward the lake. Sara’s long red hair streamed and bounced behind her.

The guards were caught behind the train, unable to cross. “Wait, Sara. We need to protect you. It’s too dangerous to be on your own.”

Thomas and Sara didn’t pause as they sprinted onward, darting around pedestrians. When they arrived at the pier on the edge of the lake, they dove under it. Sea birds panicked and took to flight away from the couple. Now that they were hidden from view, Thomas put his finger to his lips. Sara nodded, her heart fluttering. They sat in silence, holding hands as they heard footsteps clunking on top of the pier.