Guardians

By Anna L. Walls

The war had been going on for years - almost generations; the enemy, the Cerfcum, was a bug race something like ants or perhaps bees, where the queen is the foundation of the nest and the population of the nest was dependent upon the queen. The Cerfcum queen had complete control of her population; she controlled whether her eggs were workers or warriors, or whether they were fertile males or females; she even controlled their shape, but the bug shape had worked well for a long time.

When Reed came of age, he joined the mercenary school and became an accomplished mercenary, completing several assignments successfully. When the call for new guardians came, Reed came forward to do his part. It wasn’t easy, becoming a guardian, and it wasn't reversible, but it was then that he found out what had happened to his father; if his father could do this, so could he.

The resonance that made a guardian what he was, occupied the same place in the brain normally reserved for memories. A guardian knew what they knew, but memories of everything that had happened before the procedure were gone; his existence began the moment he woke up after the procedure. Under the guidance of the one and only friend he knew, Paul, Reed learned how to use his magic. In time, if he survived, he would become quite powerful, and one day, he and his team managed to kill a queen.

The Queen Mother wasn't at all pleased about this and she decided to try to figure out why these soft creatures were being so difficult. Though the hatching of the human infant was successful, it was very disappointing. But just in case there was something to come later, the queen ordered more captures; they would make their own human forces and win the war that way. The bugs started coming up directly into human habitations to facilitate captures and they were reemerging on previously cleared planets. Before long, the term ‘mobile infantry’ earned a whole new meaning.

The assault on the Queen Mother wasn't at all easy, but they did manage to come away with a miracle. To hide Adam's true origins Reed forged the necessary paperwork and he became a member of the family. As Adam and his brother grew up, Adam's bloodline began to show, and when his sister on his mother's side discovered him, she felt sorry for him. But she wasn't the only sister out there, and not all were willing to be benevolent.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anna L. Walls
• Release date: Mar 14, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370210855

Anna L. Walls

I grew up a rancher's daughter hoping to inherit the ranch and run a riding school for city kids. However, my brother bought the ranch from our parents in order to avoid an inheritance tax and I ended up joining the army, marrying my fisherman husband and moving to the wilderness of Alaska where I raised two wonderful boys. One of them gave me an old laptop computer and now I'm a published author. Go figure.

Book preview

Part One

R

eed

Volunteer

Reed strode down the familiar halls of the Mercenary School toward the auditorium. Since he’d been taking assignments, he hadn’t been around much, but the place had been like a home to him since he was a teenager. He knew little about his father; he hadn’t seen him in years, but he knew his father had close ties to this school. It was what had prompted him to apply. His foster parents and his caseworker had objected hotly, but he was sixteen at the time and they couldn’t stop him. With an acceptance letter in his hand, he walked away from the foster system and into the life of a mercenary. Six years later, he graduated at the top of his class, and now he was just returning from his third assignment to see a bulletin requesting all the school members, those of age anyway, to attend a meeting.

The auditorium was filled with familiar faces. Most he could greet by name, some of the older graduates he knew of by reputation only, they just weren’t on Earth all that often. There were new, fresh faces too, most young enough to be students. The school was more than just a school; it was a hub of their existence. When the school called a meeting, everyone came if they could.

As the last of them finished their greetings of old friends and had shuffled into available seats, the school commandant stepped out onto the stage and waved for silence. Good evening, gentlemen. There was an audible ‘ahem’ from the audience and ladies, Quigley amended with a nod in the direction of the sound, winning a chuckle from those nearby. Nice to see you all here. I’ll get right to the point since I know you are all busy. As you all know, the war with the bugs drags on. There’s not a one of you who hasn’t lost some family member or friend to this war. I called you all here tonight to ask for volunteers. Many of us have done so in the past, and I hope the tradition will continue until this war can be ended. I can’t go into all the details here. Let me just say, should you decide to volunteer, it will change your life. Think it over. I know you all have obligations. Not volunteering will have no effect on your career. Should you decide you would like to know more, I will meet with you in my office in an hour.

Reed knew such an open-ended invite would likely turn out very few volunteers. Then again, that might have been the point. Reed had never been to the commandant’s office; he’d never believed in rocking the boat. Doing so attracted attention, and that was something he’d always avoided. He was, however, very curious, and ultimately curiosity won out. He put off the visit as long as he dared; he didn’t want to appear too eager either, only to discover the job to be something he’d want to avoid anyway.

Reed entered the outer office to find eight other people already waiting, six of them, the three girls and three of the men looked to be in their last year of school, the other two men were older than Reed by at least a couple years.

The students and one of the older men sat around a coffee table talking about simulator scheduling, while the other man was looking at something on one wall. His attention drew Reed’s and he realized that the entire wall was carved marble. Curious, Reed moved closer, seeing MIA engraved at the top of a long list of names. Next to the names were places and dates.

At a glance, Reed recognized many of the place names, but then he saw something that took his breath away. The name ‘Rafe Meyers’ was on the list. Why would his father’s name be on this wall? The date beside it was nine years ago, shortly after the last time he’d seen him.

My father died and no one told me.

It’s not as if they didn’t know who his father was. Every time he visited, the system would find some reason to move him to another home, and sometimes even to another city. The moves made making friends nearly impossible, accentuating Reed’s already strong desire to do things on his own, to depend on only himself. ‘Loner’ appeared in his file many times.

Reed was only four when his mother died, but he still remembered his father carefully explaining why he had to go with the nice lady, and that he would come find him every chance he could. He gave him his big ring to show he intended to keep his promise. And he kept his promise, finding him every year, as close to his birthday as he could manage. Reed turned the heavy ring on his finger; it was the only thing of his father’s he’d managed to hang onto.

Commandant Quigley entered the room, interrupting Reed’s thoughts. Hello ladies and gentlemen. I’m glad you’ve come. Have a seat and I’ll try to explain what this is all about. Feel free to ask any questions; it’s very important that you understand every aspect of what you may be volunteering for. I reiterate – you can back out with absolutely no repercussion, all the way up until the last moment.

Reed raised his hand, and at Quigley’s nod, asked, What are those names? He pointed at the marble wall. Why are they listed as MIA and yet there’s a place listed with them?

A very good question to start our discussion with, but let me go back just a bit farther before answering. You all know from your history how, after the capture of a bug queen, we were able to turn the tide on the war and begin to push them out of our territory. What really happened was obscured, and in many cases, outright hidden. He pointed to the wall Reed had asked about. Thanks to our captive bug queen, we were able to create those men and women, and many others like them. We have come to call them Guardians; they are the linchpins of the war. As you can see, he indicated the wall yet again, being a Guardian can be quite hazardous.

Why are so many of them listed as MIA, and yet have a location listed as well? Reed asked again.

Guardians are our most powerful weapon, and as such, they are pitted against the worst the bugs have to offer. Sometimes they lose. Those people listed here are volunteers from this school who died protecting the federation. The date and place are where they were assigned when they died; they are listed MIA because no body could be recovered.

At Quigley’s pause, one of the girls rose, muttered an apology, and left, followed closely by one of the young men.

Quigley watched them go, remaining silent until the door was closed behind them before continuing. Being in the line of fire isn’t the only reason this is voluntary. He looked around at the expectant faces for a protracted moment. Since our farthest past, it could always be claimed that magic was just undiscovered technology, nothing more, and that has always been true—until now. When we captured a bug queen, we discovered that she had something akin to an extra gland in her brain that allowed her to manipulate sound waves by way of vocalizing certain sounds in a manner that can only be described as magic—very powerful magic, ultimately, and it had nothing to do with communication.

Reed watched the others in the room. Commandant Quigley had their rapt attention, but he was certain there was more to this than just offering them unlimited power, whatever form it came in. He’d heard rumors of guardians, and now he understood some of why they were so feared and probably why they were almost never seen—at least, not that anyone knew.

Quigley continued. This power comes at a fairly high cost. You can’t go back, not ever—it can never be undone. If this war is ever won, and I’m certain it will be someday, those guardians who survive will be left to try to find a niche for themselves in a world that will and does fear and hate them. But I get ahead of myself. Quigley paused for a moment, studying his audience. The cost… Our scientists and doctors have found a way to add a small portion of this gland… He held up his little finger with his thumb marking off a bit of the end. …no more than the size of a pea, into the human brain, where it then grows and molds into your central nervous system, giving you this power. We call this a resonance because it resonates a harmonic signature that will be all your own. He held his little finger up again. The cost for this…is your past…all of it.

Our past? Why? blurted one of the remaining girls.

The gland needs room to grow, and it will make whatever room it needs. We found that leaving that to random selection was quite hazardous and even fatal. If there is one portion of the brain that could be spared, it was the part where past memories were stored. Now, before you panic. No one is going to cut out a quarter of your brain. This small piece of gland does not expand in size. What it does is reprogram a portion of your brain, and it’s this reprogramming that enables you to do what you learn to do.

But what about our training, or talking for that matter? asked the girl.

You will still know what you know, you just won’t remember having learned it or who taught you. The biggest loss will be childhood memories, memories of family and friends. You won’t remember your best friend’s name or what your mother looked like, or even that the woman you meet is indeed your mother. Most of our guardians assemble some sort of memorabilia, detailed picture albums or videos.

One of the young men raised a hand, and at the commandant’s nod, asked his question. What about memories after the… procedure?

The brain is an amazing mechanism. To date only minor details may have a hard time finding a place to cling. Things like remembering what you ate for breakfast might be totally lost to you fifteen minutes after you brushed your teeth.

The young man tipped his head in confusion, so Quigley tried again. Lets say you and the young lady here loved each other immensely, and you married just before you became guardians; totally discouraged but just for the sake of this argument, it’s a good example. When you woke up, neither one of you would have any of those feelings. You would be utter strangers to each other.

Reed watched as this detail sank in, no past, bits of present just so much smoke if that much. Two of the men and another of the women stood. Uncertain how to make this parting, they just saluted and left.

Once again Quigley waited while the door closed, and then he waited a few moments more, in case there were others who wanted to leave. Now there was only one girl, Reed, and the two older men. Are there any questions?

Just as Quigley was preparing to close the meeting, the man who had initially drawn Reed’s attention to the memorial wall spoke up. Has anyone ever…you know…with all that power… gone nuts?

Quigley sighed and seemed to age. If such a person were to turn their power against us, they would be able to do a great deal of damage, not only to us, but to all guardians—to the entire program. A guardian, a very powerful guardian, would be nearly impossible to stop. Such an occurrence could only be dealt with by other guardians. We were looking at our own extinction until we were able to turn their power back on them; to have it walk among us, invisible until it destroys entire cities, would be devastating. For god’s sake, man. The bugs had nearly reached earth. None of us could afford to have such power turned against us from within our own ranks. Quigley took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. To answer your question more directly, it happens, but so far, it has only happened on the battlefield, and it has never cost friendly forces, not that I know of anyway.

To Reed’s thinking, that’s as good as saying it was a well-kept secret. I won’t let that happen.

The others looked at him for a long moment, then they looked back at Quigley.

Very well then, report to the infirmary first thing in the morning. Now that your minds are all set, we’ll see if your bodies are up to it. Let me remind you, this is still voluntary. If you don’t show up tomorrow, I won’t think any less of you. He stood, as did the others. They all snapped him a proper salute, which he returned, and then they left, leaving him standing there.

At 0800 hours, he was a little surprised to see all four of the potentials coming through the door. He studied each one of them carefully and saw the determination in their eyes. Gentlemen, and lady, the first step we will take here will be a detailed physical. Being a guardian is very strenuous. Anyone with any physical imperfections will be disqualified.

They were subjected to an intense and meticulous physical that consumed the entire day. They all appeared to be in good health, in their prime, and at the top of their game, but two were disqualified. One had fluctuating blood pressure, and the beginnings of arthritis in his left elbow, and the other suffered the first signs of prostate cancer and had an inner ear imbalance. None of these disabilities would affect their current career and with detection this early, the arthritis and the cancer could be cured, but not in time for this. The high blood pressure was treatable with a sub-dermal implant and the inner ear imbalance was all but unnoticeable and therefore virtually uncorrectable. Those two men returned to their previous duties; a guardian could not be relied upon to remember to take medication or to make regular visits to the doctor. That left the young lady, Jennifer by name, and Reed.

Quigley escorted them to an empty office. As soon as he was seated behind the desk, he reminded them, You can still back out all the way up to the moment when the first switch is thrown; after that, there is no turning back. Now, do you care to tell me why you want to do this?

Reed sighed and tried to organize his reasoning into coherent words. I don’t have very many memories I can’t do without. I really have only one, or rather one chain, I would rather not lose, but...if my father could do it, so can I.

Jennifer said, I lost my entire family on Corvinus. I’m looking for a little payback.

Quigley looked at Jennifer. Many of us have sentiments like that. He turned to Reed. Who was your father?

My father was Guardian Raife. He was declared MIA nine years ago. I didn’t know that until yesterday, in your office.

Jennifer rested a sympathetic hand on Reed’s shoulder.

Quigley punched up the name. Yes, the information is here. He is survived by one son, Reed Meyers, location unknown.

After my mother died, I was shuffled around from foster home to foster home. I couldn’t write him because I never knew where to send the mail. He always found me, though. He told me once that sometimes it took him days to find me, but he kept looking. He said I was all he had. It’s those memories I don’t want to lose; the rest is just so much chaff. Reed held up his right hand to reveal a heavy silver ring on his middle finger. This was my father’s ring. He gave it to me when I was just a kid. Do me a favor, sir. Tell me that when I wake up.

I’ll do better than that. He typed information into the computer for several minutes. There, I combined your account and your father’s account. You have just received your lawful inheritance. He swiveled the screen to face Reed. You tell yourself everything you remember about your father. Take all the time you need. When you’re finished, punch this button. We’ll be waiting out in the hall. He rose and escorted Jennifer from the room.

A New Guardian

His first awareness was overwhelming pain and intense cold. Both centered between his eyes. One – the cold – he might be able to do something about – maybe. His hand weighed a ton, but he managed to lift it from where it lay in an effort to bring it toward his face. He couldn’t get it past the corner of his pillow though, so he turned his attention to his other hand. It took forever, but he brought it up and snagged the icepack away. He couldn’t decide whether it had been a mistake or not.

Are you sure you want to do that? asked a soft female voice.

Only one eye was free of his pillow, so he experimented with the idea of opening it and achieved a slit. He attempted to locate the source of the voice, but found the movement and focusing of his eye lit up a whole new range of pain. Closing it again didn’t make the pain subside; it was too late for that.

A cool hand touched his neck, but the tension was already strangling his spine. He heard a woman speak. Oh, no you don’t. Come on; relax. I know your head hurts, but if you just relax, you’ll feel better. And then a moment later, she said, All right, all right, hold on. Her words made no sense, but he was so thankful when the darkness came again.

The next time he woke, he felt better, but not much. He was lying on his back this time and he could see when he opened his eyes, and that was a plus. Where am I? he whispered. He didn’t expect an answer.

Hello. How do you feel? asked the nurse.

After a slow search to find words to answer her question, he said, I…hurt.

I know, she said sympathetically. Would you like to try to sit up?

Sitting up sounded like it’d hurt worse, but what did he know? What did he know? Who are you?

If she answered, he didn’t hear it. The nurse slid her hand under his neck and started to lift him. The touch was gentle, but the motion caused his face to explode. He coiled away from the fireworks behind his eyes, and then tumbled into the blackness once again.

A new and angry voice woke him next time. "You find out what’s gone wrong. Either there was something wrong with him that you missed, or something wasn’t done right during the procedure, but you find out, and you find out now! I never want something like this to happen again. The voice, a man’s voice this time, sounded so angry. He winced when a thumb lifted his eyelid. Take it easy, son. You’re doing just fine." Before his numb mind could form any questions, drugs ensured he drifted far away from the pain once again.

When he woke the next time, he was lying on his side again. Fortunately, the pain had receded some, so he pushed himself onto his back, at least most of the way. The nurse came up to help him make it the rest of the way. Good morning, Guardian Reed. You must be feeling better. Would you like something to eat?

He thought about it for a few moments. I’d rather take a shower. I don’t think I could eat anything just yet.

A shower, you must be feeling a lot better. Good. I’ll go get a male nurse; he’ll be able to help you.

She left and he tested his extremities to see just how much motion he could tolerate. His head still felt like it was on the verge of bursting, but moving didn’t seem to affect it much this time.

The male nurse came in and introduced himself. Hello, Guardian, my name’s John. Julie tells me you want to take a shower. He helped Reed to sit up on the edge of the bed. Reed waited for a few moments, in case his face was going to explode again. It didn’t. So far so good. He nodded and John lifted his arm over his shoulder and guided him into the small bathroom. Reed turned the navigation issue over to the guy under his arm and concentrated on keeping the over-stuffed bolder balanced on top of his shoulders.

Reed was glad for the stool John put in the shower for him to sit on. He propped his hands against the wall and tipped his face up to the pressure of the water. He made the water hotter and did it again, relishing in the heat and the thrumming while John washed his hair and then worked his way down his body with the soapy washrag.

Reed coughed, causing John to look up, and when he saw blood running from Reed’s nose, he said, That’s not good. It’s time to get you back to bed.

Reed wiped the water from his eyes and saw the blood on his hand. Not yet. It actually feels good. The pressure is letting up. He coughed again and spat. Ugh, it’s not all coming out of my nose. He reached up, and using the end of his finger, he knocked himself solidly between his eyebrows.

I don’t think you should do that, said John.

Reed coughed again and then gagged, throwing up a stomach full of old blood. More blood clots sprayed from his nose making way for a fresh flow, and then he wilted to the bottom of the shower.

Questions

When Reed woke again, he saw two strange men in his room. Suddenly, it occurred to him that he had a very short list of faces to remember and an even shorter list of names to go with them. In an effort to remedy that, he asked, Who are you?

The older of the two, sat up straighter in his chair and greeted him. Hello Reed, I’m Commander Quigley and this is Guardian Eagan. Eagan will be your teacher as soon as you’re ready. He’s here today to see if your resonance has taken hold.

Reed didn’t understand what Quigley meant, but he soon learned; Eagan scarcely took a single step closer when he felt it – as if someone just raked their nails down the chalkboard that was his spine. Involuntarily, he hunched his shoulders and grimaced.

His resonance is rather well developed, commander, said Eagan as he backed away again.

I’m glad to hear that; we were worried. I suggest you remain here and stand guard over him until he can leave. There’ve been some rumblings across campus.

I agree, he should have been able to come with me yesterday, but he’s still running a fever, said Eagan as he leaned against the wall next to the door.

Quigley patted Reed on the arm and said, I need to go. I have a meeting I just can’t get out of. I’ll be checking up on you. He left without further ceremony.

Reed gazed at the man leaning against his door. I guess my name is Reed. What was that I felt when you stepped closer?

Questions. That’s a good sign. I’ll try to explain. Yes, you’re Reed, Reed Meyers, as a matter of fact, but from now on, you’ll be called Guardian Reed far more than anything else. You have the most spectacular pair of black eyes I’ve ever seen. Gives you quite a raccoon mask. Sure looks painful. You sure you’re okay?

Painful, yeah, but it’s better now, said Reed.

Eagan shook his head slightly, then attempted to answer Reed’s question. We all get implanted with what they call ‘a resonance’. What it actually is, I have no real idea, but it’s what enables us to cast spells. Each of us has a slightly different resonance, so it is a wavelength of sorts. It was the discord between us you felt, and since your brain is a mite tender, it hurt. I was released from the hospital the second day and my headaches stopped altogether within a week; you’ve been here for four days now and I hear you’ve yet to make it out of bed without passing out.

I hope it’s not a trend I’ll have to deal with for long; I don’t think I like headaches.

I only know of one guardian who still gets headaches and she’s been a guardian for six years now.

Since I strongly suspect there are more than the three of us, I guess that’s a pretty good record, said Reed, as he reached up to rub his forehead between his eyebrows. He waited a moment, puzzling. So tell me, who am I…really. I can’t… I don’t remember. He could hear Eagan shift his weight.

You are a mercenary – one with a lot of promise, or so Quigley tells me. You volunteered – we all do – to become a guardian. It’s what they call us now. As soon as you’re able to move around, I’ll be taking you where you can learn to use your magic.

Why can’t I remember any of it?

Eagan shifted again. I don’t know all the technical reasons, but apparently, the same section of the brain that holds our oldest memories is the same section of the brain needed to cast these spells. As I understand it, a quarter of the first guardians they made died; the rest were completely wiped, like you are now. Since they started wiping memories before the procedure, there’ve been no more deaths. After the procedure, the brain adjusts and puts your memories somewhere else, I guess. We all have some memory gaps of one sort or another, but they’re only little things, small details mostly.

I guess I’m not going to forget how to…mercenary, then.

Eagan let out a loud guffaw. No, you’re not going to forget how to do what you do.

Up until now, Reed had been carrying on this conversation with his eyes closed, but he opened them to the sound of footsteps in time to see the nurse coming in with a small tray and Eagan stepping to block her way. She’s a nurse, Eagan, he said. He was irritated that Eagan ignored him. He also thought he should know her name, but for the life of him, he couldn’t remember what it was.

She handed Eagan a small card, which he scrutinized closely before handing it back and letting her pass. She came up to Reed with a gentle smile and brushed his hair back from his forehead. I brought you another pain killer for your headache. Would you like it now?

Will it make my headache stay gone?

She smiled a little wider. I’m sure your headaches will stay gone soon enough; in the mean time, this’ll let you have some peace so you can sleep. That’s the best medicine, you know.

Reed looked past her at Eagan and saw that he seemed to be tense. Hey Eagan, will this deaden what I felt between us?

It won’t even touch it, replied Eagan, as he stepped out the door to check the hall.

Reed looked back at the nurse. Just leave it on the table. I’ll take it if it gets any worse, or if I can’t sleep after all. I have to get used to this sooner or later.

All right, if you say so, she said with a look of disappointment. She adjusted the call button so it was close to hand. I’m only a buzz away, she said, and then she left the room.

After she left, Reed had another question. Eagan, why do I need a guard?

There are some factions that don’t like us, and there are some who are bold enough to try to stop us. We are most vulnerable when we are like you are now, and you’ve been here long enough for someone to possibly make a try.

Are you saying that someone might try to kill me? The thought of trying to defend himself just now seemed like a far-fetched goal. He was glad Eagan was here. Why?

They fear us, and some people hate what they fear, said Eagan with some bitterness in his voice.

Why? This constant pain was beginning to annoy him.

Because of the magic we can wield. We become very powerful, in time.

And I volunteered for this? Reed closed his eyes. No one volunteers for this much pain – not even for all the power in the world. He was just about to ask why there would be a need for so much power when he felt sleep settled over him like a feather pillow, and he drifted off.

A strange voice woke Reed with a start. A male nurse Reed didn’t recognize had run up against Eagan’s scrutiny. I just came to bring the guardian his night-time pain killer, said the nurse.

Eagan immediately bristled. You must be mistaken.

The nurse opened a notepad on his tray and read its contents. Then he looked at the room number on the door. Nope, this is the right room, excuse me. He pushed past Eagan.

"STOP, said Eagan. He spoke softly, but the word filled the room. The man stiffened in his tracks while Reed curled up into a ball and moaned. Sorry, Reed," said Eagan as he checked the contents of the man’s tray. A commotion out in the hall interrupted his search, but he had learned enough.

Eagan, called a familiar voice from down the hall.

With caution, Eagan poked his head out of the door.

Get him out of here, Eagan, said Quigley. "Security has been breached, and Eagan, I heard that clear out here, don’t cast any spells on him."

Eagan gave an irreverent little salute down the hall toward the voice of Quigley and then quickly stepped to Reed’s side. Come on, Reed. We can’t stay here any longer. Get dressed. He pulled Reed to his feet.

Through blinding, screeching pain, Reed made his way over to a locker, hoping to find some clothes inside. Swaying dangerously, he managed to struggle into a pair of jeans. He had to sit on the floor in order to deal with the socks and boots he found. He felt like his brain was bouncing around inside of a giant bell that wouldn’t stop ringing; it felt like his head was going to explode again. He clawed his way to his feet again and shrugged into a shirt and jacket.

He looked up while fumbling with the buttons of the shirt to see Eagan lifting the stiff body of the nurse into his bed. What did you do?

He’s just knocked out. Are you ready?

Reed glanced back in the locker and saw it was now empty. I guess. He gave up on the buttons and reached up to hold his head together.

Here, maybe you better take these anyway. They might help a little, said Eagan at his shoulder. In his hand were the pills brought in earlier.

Reed did as he was told. That’s why people don’t like guardians, isn’t it? he said as he looked at the still stiff form on the bed.

Eagan steered him out of the room. More than likely.

Reed wanted to ask more questions, but he couldn’t think past the pain in his face, and the clawing jangle in his nerves that was the close presence of Eagan was making his skin crawl.

Quigley met them at the door and slipped a thin plastic case into Reed’s inner pocket. Look at it later; now, get out of here and good luck.

Eagan pulled Reed along as fast as he could go.

Reed wished Eagan didn’t have to be so close, but he knew he wouldn’t have been able to stand for long on his own, let alone make it down the canyon of stairs. He wanted to close his eyes against the pain too, but he had to make sure his feet made it one in front of the other.

He was so glad when Eagan helped him to sit in a car; it meant he didn’t have to balance the giant clapper that was his head on top of his shoulders anymore. He rested his forehead against the cool window.

Are you all right? asked Eagan.

I must be doing fine; I didn’t pass out, replied Reed.

Did the codeine help any?

I can’t tell, but thanks for trying. Where are we going?

We’re heading for the airfield. It’s a little premature, but I’m going to take you to your new training grounds. As soon as you learn to use your status magic, we’ll be returning here for our orders. After that, it’s just a matter of gaining experience and strength. When he didn’t get any other questions, he looked over and saw his passenger had either fallen asleep or fainted. By the flashing streetlights, he studied the pulsing vein in his neck and saw it was steady.

At the airfield, Eagan stepped away and allowed two of the crew to help Reed into the shuttle. Reed was able to walk there under his own power, though he still held a hand to his head as if holding it together from the outside.

Over the next two days, Eagan taught Reed the status spells and what they would do. These were the basic magic words that activated the resonance causing a word-specific effect. All of them were used on a single target only, and most of them were restricted by line of sight.

Reed needed to practice looking at a specific target before casting a spell. He was amazed at how difficult that was – to narrow his attention to a single opponent while attacking. Since they were aboard a ship too small for a simulator, they couldn’t use the actual resonance, merely saying the words instead. Reed wasn’t ready to flex his resonance yet anyway, and Eagan discouraged it saying he could still feel it fluctuate and surge.

Reed was laying on his cot early one morning, relishing not having a headache for the first time in his all-too-short memory. With his head clear, he remembered that someone had slipped something into his pocket as they left the hospital. He retrieved his jacket and pulled the