Freder stood upon the gritty rock of Blackstone Edge and looked south across the rugged landscape towards the distant grumbling of a huge zeppelin. Its silvery covering caught a few stray shards of sunlight that managed to penetrate the louring skies, it was coming their way. He was on lookout duty on the border of the uplands where the Brotherhood still lived free and this was why he had that lonely duty, the ever boldening excursions of the Righteous Hand. The diesel powered craft was a commandeered military machine, armed with guns and bombs, so much metal that he could feel its presence against his aura. It would be easy to destroy, a buildup of charge on one bomb arcing over to another would set off the magazine and send the blazing carcass to the ground. But this was not war, not yet, and there were other ways to deter this clumsy intrusion. He raised his left arm skywards and began the cycling chant that drowned out all other thoughts. He no longer saw or heard, touched or smelt, he was completely in tune with his aura and at his thought it swelled and projected outwards high into the swollen clouds where warm currents soared. There, where charges were being stripped by the turbulent motions, he fabricated a conduit. The insubstantial column fed on the charges all around it and rapidly became a self sustaining maelstrom of heated air. Now all it needed was a path to earth and Freder sent his aura down to a high tree, feeling that certain tickle as charge began to leak upwards to initiate the strike. Many masters had died summoning such lightning from the sky; they were either too slow to disengage their aura or to confident in their ability to focus the strike. Freder had no target he wished to hit and immediately withdrew his aura, allowing his senses to re-engage just in time to see the lightning blast down to the tree a scant hundred or so metres ahead of the advancing zeppelin. There was an immediate response from the air machine, motors whined ever higher as the pilots sought to swing the clumsy behemoth around and away from danger.
In a few minutes it was heading south and its grumbling exhaust lost in the soughing wind. Freder smiled at his little victory, yes life here was good, but it wasn’t half parky he reflected as a sharp swirl of wind stung his face with rain drops and forced him to hunker down in the lee of the sheltering rocks. Despite the heavy cloak he wore the chill seemed to penetrate easily and he briefly thought about drawing energy through one of the large stones about him to heat it. Then his gaze shifted onto the pile of large fragments of the last rock that he had tried this with. He had been lucky to have escaped with only a few cuts and bruises when it had spectacularly exploded. It had been a combination of a deep flaw in the rock and his over enthusiastic energy flow that caused the detonation but he didn’t consider that he was really cold enough to try such a risky procedure today. But he was exposed to dangerous manipulations of his talent on a daily basis, a consequence of how radically his life in the Brotherhood had changed since his rescue of the Master Supreme’s daughter. In the aftermath both he and Valentina had been declared master elect by Miranda Bluesky and they were now receiving intensive training in many advanced aspects of the good arm. Indeed they were practicing techniques considered too difficult for even the senior novices and now only saw their fellow juniors during the classes on healing with master Elias and reading and writing with master Brookwyrde. They were being fast tracked in the skills that the Brotherhood needed in order to repulse the Hand as their nemesis became ever bolder in its attempts to crush them. He paused to recall just how long it had been since he mastered the art of throwing lightning, just one month ago. A month. The self revelation set a new train of thoughts rolling through his mind and he realised with shock that he had been in this strange world for six or was it seven months now ? Half a year during which he had been completely cut off from his brother Josef, the only news being a few scraps from Stannous for none of the letters he had written to his twin had ever been answered. He had no way of knowing whether Josef had even read them or if they had been intercepted by the Hand and it pained him greatly not to have had any reply. Thoughts of his brother inexorably led to thoughts about his parents, a painful luxury in these long dull watch hours, what must they be thinking ? Did they think they had died, been killed or kidnapped ? He lowered his head onto his knees and stared unhappily out into the grey rainy air; he had even less chance of telling them he was alive and well than he had of telling Josef.

The cold seemed to bite that bit harder when these despairing thoughts threatened to overwhelm him and he felt tears welling in his eyes but then like a ray of bright sunlight he felt the touch of an aura approaching. Before the morose mood had gotten a deep hold of him Valentina’s bright blue aura lifted his spirits and he wiped away the tears. Tina must have finished her classes for today and she was climbing up to his eyrie to join him in his sentry watch as she had done many times before. It was her way of helping him and the Brotherhood for she was not yet able to draw from the hidden energy streams and so could not wield the awesome powers that they unlocked without anothers help. Freder very much welcomed her company, since they had shared the perilous escape from Crossblinging they had become firm friends and confidants, and he was able to tell her of his lonely feelings. Nor was it a one way exchange as Tina shared her frustrations at not being able to tap the vatenloeker which was stopping her from progressing to the next level of her training to become a master.
“Hi Tina.” He called out when he knew she was within earshot and few moments later she came into view.
“Hello Freder.” She said warmly but a little breathlessly as she climbed up onto the high ledge her red hair streaming out around her head in the strong wind, the very image of her austere and powerful mother. Then she sat down beside him and the wild halo subsided to reveal just Tina.
“I have brought you some soup.” She said producing an iron pot with a close fitting lid. “Mrs D’s soup for a cold wet day.” She added with a grin. “You’ll need to warm it up.”
“Thanks Tina.” He said accepting it and then leaned over to kiss her on the cheek.
She looked back at him in pleasant surprise, this had been the first time that he had offered her an overt sign of affection beyond a few hugs. When they held hands it was only for him to channel the energy for her and never longer than necessary, but then he was only eleven years old and awkward about such things.
“You know,” Freder began in reflective voice. “you should heat this up. It would be good practice for you.”
“Don’t tease me.” She told him with a frown. “You know full well that I can’t reach the vatenloeker to do that.”
“But that is precisely my point.” He said perfectly seriously. “You are so talented and your aura is really strong now, you should be able to do it easily.”
She hung her head and shook it miserably.

“I’m not strong enough, I can’t reach them.” She murmured.
“But you are strong enough Tina.” Freder insisted. “I have watched you grow ever since Crossblinging, you have an aura that is close to your mother’s in its strength.”
“I can’t do it.” She repeated in dejection and she didn’t even look up at the mention of her mother.
He reached over with his left hand and took hers in it very gently, now she looked sidelong at him.
“What’s wrong Tina ?” He asked her in genuine concern, this was not like the bright and confident friend he knew.
“I’m frightened.” She admitted in a tiny voice.
“What of ? You handle power with such skill, beautifully. What is there to fear ?”
“The dark earth.” She confessed her deepest fear. “What if I become trapped down there ? Unable to return, trapped.” She rushed on and shivered with fright.
Freder couldn’t comprehend her deep fear, it was so easy to dip down into those rushing silver streams and so wondrous to immerse his being in their electric flow. He had never encountered any resistance to the movement of his aura through the rocks.
“It’s just like using othersight above the ground Tina, there is no pressure, no resistance and the streams.” He paused to bask in the memory of them. “They are just so wonderful, you have to experience them.”
But she shook her head tearfully and turned away from him.
“Tina, look at me.” He urged her and stroked her hair until she looked back up at him, her clear blue eyes full of tears.
“I’m here Tina, I will never leave you alone. I will be with you and bring you back if you feel trapped.”
Her intense gaze bored into him and out beyond his mortal frame to where his dark aura lay exposed to her othersight; he almost flinched but held himself steady and reached up with his right hand to gently brush a tear away from her pale cheek.
“Do you promise to be with me always ?” She demanded in a low husky voice charged with her raging emotions.
“I promise Tina, you will never be alone.” He repeated the litany that he had first uttered during their flight from Crossblinging.
Her gaze saw both his concerned face and the honesty of his promise that was undeniable in his dark mantle.
“I’ll try.” She said very quietly.
“No.” He said with a smile. “You will succeed Tina. Use the chant and think of the streams as bright jewels lying there, waiting for your touch alone. There is no earth, no sky, there is only the othersight.” He told her and let her hand slip from his as she began to cycle the chant through her mind and her face gained a serenity and beauty beyond the physical. Around her, the blue of her aura intensified in brilliance yet the margins still wavered as fear and doubt knawed at her resolve. He closed his eyes and let the chant open his mindseye fully so that his own dark aura flared blackly around both of them, a comforting cocoon for Tina that told her that he was there for her.

“Have no fear Tina, I am with you.” He said calmly. “Look down, see them, reach for them.”
Her aura steadied and shone a stunning purple rimmed blue, then plunged down with almost reckless haste whilst his own dark aura followed like a shadow. There they flowed, bright and silver mercurial streams of energy, brilliant in their othersight.
“So beautiful.” Valentina whispered in rapture at the sight of them and she needed no further prompting to reach out to the nearest and immerse herself in its electric embrace.
“Ohhhhh !” She breathed ecstatically as she felt the tingling thrill of power surge through her very being and she bathed in the long moment, washing away all her doubts, all her fears about this first encounter. For long slow seconds she remained immersed within the one vatenloeker, then like a hummingbird she began to flit from stream to stream ‘tasting’ each for its unique tang of power.
Freder was content to watch her at play there in the deep earth for this was the true element of all who possessed the good arm and he felt a stirring within himself, a new goal. It was no longer enough to be a master, he must help any who had the talent to realise their potential, to experience this sublime moment for themselves.
After what had seemed hours Valentina had tried every available stream and she reluctantly slid free of the last and returned to the physical world where she sat beside Freder and opened her eyes to see his round face smiling back at her.
“Soup ?” That face said impishly and she laughed out loud before throwing her arms about hims in a warm hug.
“Thank you Freder, I couldn’t have done it without you.” She said gratefully.
He doubted that was true, but said nothing and returned her hug.
Valentina pulled back slightly and planted a kiss on his lips, much to his surprise but also his delight as he rathered liked it. Nonetheless he blushed at her kiss for he was still a bit embarrassed by such adult shows of affection. That was when he noticed that Valentina was gazing at him in a strange but very intense manner that was quite unlike her normal penetrating stare. Her lips were slightly parted, her normally pale face ruddy and she began to lean forward again, then stopped. Her eyes seemed to refocus and she shook her head sightly as though to clear it before grinning guiltily and wiping some unseen mote from the end of his nose with a finger.

“Soup.” She said chirpily as they disengaged and she picked up the pot before beginning the chant and effortlessly made contact with her chosen stream. Setting the pot on the ground before her she drew a spiral of energy through the thin metal and had reheated the contents in a matter of a few seconds.
“Soup.” She announced popping the top off to allow the rich aroma to diffuse up to his nose.
Freder drank his fill of the warming broth but left plenty for Valentina to share, then leant back against the cold hard stone and gazed out over the rain filled valley.
“They’ll have you up here standing guard once you can harness the lightning.” He said quietly and she turned to look at him as the truth of his words sank in.
“Yes, I’m sure you’re right.”
“It’s not so bad when the weather is fine.” He began in a light tone. “But when the rain falls and the wind bites and all you can do is think….then it gets to you.” He concluded unhappily. “I’m glad you came Tina, I was feeling pretty low just now.”
“Why Freder ?” She asked him in concern.
“I was lonely.”
“It is very isolated here.” She nodded but sensed this was not his meaning, she waited for him as he had done for her.
“I miss my family Tina. I’ve been here for six months and a month or more in the Stone.” He told her with a heavy heart. “In all that time I haven’t heard anything from my brother.”
Valentina knew of Josef, indeed knew much of what he did for the Hand under the guise of working with the Society of Galvanists, the two seemed so unlike that she scarcely could believe they were twins.
“I’ve written to Jo but he hasn’t replied.”
Valentina reached her arm around him and hugged him to her gently.
“I think that the Hand are intercepting all mail to your brother Freder, trust him, he would reply if he knew.” She told him and felt him nod slightly.
“But the worst of it is what our mum and dad must be going through. We’ve been gone for over half a year, they’ll think we’re dead.” He choked on the last words as the tears began to flow.
She held on to him and stroked his back as he let his emotions have full rein, saying nothing, just being there. After long minutes he suddenly stiffened and looked up and around, his mind seeing in othersight.

“Someone’s coming, it’s Jake.” He said in relief as he recognised the aura.
“I don’t feel him.” Valentina said casting her aura as far as she could.
“You will in a while.” Freder said with a slight smile and wiped the moisture from his face. “Thanks for listening Tina.”
She smiled back at him and produced a hankerchief to mop up the last traces of his tears.
“Maybe you can show me something.” He said thoughtfully.
“Anything I can.” She volunteered immediately.
“I want to send a greeting to Jake, you know like a summoning.”
Valentina vividly recalled the last time Freder had sent a summoning, the entire House had felt it, indeed complained that it had been a severe shock to them in its intensity. There had been no attempt to repeat the experiment.
“That is likely to be heard across the next three counties.” She said in a semi serious tone.
“Come on Tina, you have great insights, you can think of a way for me to do it like you can.”
She looked back at him, his young face full of hope, expecting her to come up with a solution just as she had done in Crossblinging, but this was a totally different challenge.
“Well ?” He prompted her expectantly.
“Shhh. I’m thinking.” She prevaricated.
“Oh, sorry.”
While he waited, and Valentina futilely racked her brains for an answer to the problem of toning down his potent dark aura, Freder pulled out the yo-yo that he had been given by master Brookwyrde and wound the string up. He had become proficient at using it left handed but it was still difficult with his right hand, even after the practise at Crossblinging, and he decided to give the right hand a bit more practice. Valentina watched as the little toy brought about the remarkable change in his aura, turning the almost invisible dark mantle to a feeble red-orange as Freder used the opposite side of his brain, the side so badly damaged by his childhood injury. She had witnessed this chameleon-like transformation many times before and never thought much more about it, but today, today it stirred a thought in her. Up and down went the toy, steadier and smoother with each cycle and the red-orange aura grew stronger with each cycle too. Yet when she slid fully into her othersight she could see that the dark aura was still present, greatly diminished to the point of invisibility. Now she saw a possible answer to Freder’s problem.

“Freder.”
“Yes  ?” He answered still concentrating on the yo-yo.
“Send your greeting now.”
“Huh ?”
The yo-yo string unreeled and it bobbed at the end without his return stroke.
“Now ?” He asked her mystified.
“No, you must keep the yo-yo going Freder; send your greeting while keeping the yo-yo moving.” She told him brightly.
He looked at the toy and then back to her and smiled as he saw what she had seen, the attenuation of his talent. Rewinding the string he set the yo-yo in motion once more then when he had it going smoothly set the chant cycling in his mind in preparation for sending his ethereal message.
Now as Valentina watched she saw only a clear dark blue aura edged in purple swelling about his slight figure, the brooding darkness remained suppressed by his right handed physical action.
“Hello Jake.” He said quietly and Valentina clearly felt the tingle of the message as his aura projected it away to the distant figure who had only just entered her perception.
‘Freder !’ Came back the delighted disembodied call.
“It worked!” Freder whooped joyfully. “Tina you are a genius.” And for the second time that afternoon planted a kiss on her cheek.
Jake finally poked his head over the edge of the lip of the rocky shelf to see Valentina levitating the empty soup pot over her hand while Freder made soft comments to help her in getting it to rise and fall.
“Oh ho.” He said jovially. “I shall be out of a job if this keeps up young master Freder.”
“No fear of that.” Freder beamed back at him. “Tina can do most of this herself, I’m just providing a few tips and hints.”
“Including harvesting the vatenloeker.” Jake mused and the pot clattered to the ground as the revelation broke Valentina’s concentration. “Don’t you worry Valentina, we shan’t demand that you throw lightning tomorrow.” He told her worried face. “Everything has it’s natural order, but it is excellent news that you have mastered the harvesting.” He glanced meaningfully at Freder.
“Tina did it by herself, I didn’t need to channel for her.” He said slightly defensively.
“We all have to find it in ourselves.” Jake agreed. “And no matter how or when we achieve it, the harvesting is a threshold to be celebrated, well done Tina.”
At his words Valentina smiled, she didn’t feel quite so intimidated by what challenges she might face in the light of her new status; a small warm hand took hers and she looked around into Freder’s smiling features.
“Never alone Tina.” He told her.
“As ever it is in the Brotherhood.” Jake concluded. “You two must be perished up here.” He commented as a strong gust of stinging wind hit him. “You’ve done your duty spell, I’m your relief, off you go.”

“Thanks Jake.” Freder grinned, he certainly felt ready for a hot bath and some of Mrs D’s delicious food.
As they descended the hill Jake called out to them.
“The harvesting is worthy of celebration Valentina, tell your mother.”
As they approached the House in the early twilight Freder sensed a tension in Valentina and moments later she looked down at him and took his left hand in her right. He didn’t ask why, he knew, she was steeling herself for telling her mother what she had achieved on the hillside. Why she should feel so nervous about such good news was a mystery, but as he had done on the hillside he was happy to be her support for as long as she wanted it.
“Okay ?” He asked her and received a tight smile and nod in return.
They crossed the threshold hand in hand, a peculiar sight but one that drew only smiling glances from the masters they encountered and a sly grin from Lewis as they came upon him in one corridor. Then they were confronted by the ornate door that led into the demesne of the Master Supreme, Miranda Bluesky, and there they stopped cold for long seconds. Freder gave Valentina’s hand a squeeze, whatever the outcome he was beside her, she reached up to the carved metal plate and rested her hand upon it. Within a heartbeat they both felt the summons from within and stepped into a room filled with masters. Valentina’s mother sat behind the large intimidating desk and looked up from the piles of papers to smile at them in welcome, she had not failed to notice that they were holding hands, their auras merged.
“Valentina, Freder. You wanted to see me ?”
Freder gave Valentina a nudge when she didn’t say anything immediately.
“I have touched the vatenloeker.” She said in a small nervous voice.
“Wonderful !” Miranda exclaimed.
“Go on Tina.” Freder prompted her when she remained silent.
“I….I have touched them and harvested them mother.”
Miranda turned to her husband her face radiant at the news and both of them stepped around the desk to embrace their daughter. Freder quietly disengaged from the group and stood to one side largely ignored by everyone in the room as they began to offer their congratulations, but he noticed that someone was scrutinising him closely, Catherine Deepsight.
“You must show us Valentina.” Vernon demanded happily as he stood in front of his daughter his hands upon her shoulders, face beaming with delight.

“Master Supreme.” Catherine said clearly above the hubbub. “May I borrow Freder for a moment ?”
Miranda looked across to her friend with a look of puzzlement and something passed between them before she nodded her assent.
“Freder.” Catherine said beckoning him as she made for the door.
“But…” He began only to fall silent as Catherine placed a finger to her lips and steered him out into the corridor.
“Tina needs me.” He insisted outside.
“Trust me Freder, you have done what was necessary. Tina can take it from here, even if you are not physically present. Come with me.”
A little sullenly Freder trailed after her, what if Valentina succumbed to her nerves without him being present ? His mind was still playing out the possible scenarios when Catherine opened her room and gestured to the chair he had first occupied on the first day he had been in the House.
“Sit down Freder, tell me how it occurred.” She ordered him softly.
“Well I told Tina she should…..” He stopped as he saw her shake her head.
“Not about Tina Freder, about you. Your aura has changed, you have achieved something, tell me about that.”
“Oh.” He had largely forgotten about his own little advance.
“I suppose it was a sort of trade, I helped Tina so I asked her to help me.”
“Go on.”
“I had felt Jake coming up the valley and I wanted to send him a greeting you know.”
Catherine nodded and recalled the last time she had encouraged him to try a sending, the shout had resounded in far too many minds, far too loudly.
“She thought for a while and I got out my yo-yo to practise with.”
“Right hand ?” She queried him.
“Uh, yes.” He admitted. “How’d you guess ?”
“Master Brookwyrde and I have had long conversations about your education Freder, as you saw at your initiation feast Simon is a very talented master when it comes to manipulation. He was most intrigued by your performance at Crossblinging and proposed that the use of your right hand might help you in fine control of your talent.”
“I suppose he was right in a way.” Freder commented. “Tina told me to make my sending while I used the yo-yo with my right hand.”
“And ?”
“Well it did something, sort of turned down the volume control or something because Jake picked up my sending but no-one else seems to to have. Did you Cat ?”
“No Freder, I didn’t. I saw the difference in your aura as you entered the Master Supreme’s rooms.”
“Really ? What is it like now ?” He asked her enthusiastically.
“It is a subtle thing Freder.” She answered with a smile. “A slight increase in the colour, few would have noticed it but I have studied your aura very deeply.”
“Oh.” He said slightly deflated.

“Let’s try a little experiment Freder.” Catherine suggested brightly and stood up to retrieve a familiar object from amongst her clutter, a frame of weights.
“Levitate the smallest weight for me Freder.” She said placing it upon the table between them.
He grinned back at her and pulled the yo-yo from his pocket. Establishing a steady rhythm with the toy he then began the chant in his mind and chose a spot in one of the stone walls where he could harvest some meagre energy. He carefully directed the flux at the base of the tiny weight and found that it wasn’t moving. The yo-yo bobbled as he lost his concentration and the weight shot up into the top with a sharp ring.
“So you have found a way to turn down your volume control.” Catherine commented in an amused tone.
“Tina found it.” He reminded her. “She was the only one to make the connection between my using my right hand, the effect upon my dark aura and the use of my talent.”
“Indeed she did Freder, I meant that you have now found the means to perform the delicate actions that had previously eluded you.” Catherine said laying a friendly hand upon his arm. “With this advance you will be able to perform the fine manipulations upon locks, healing, summoning. In short you will be able to face the labyrinth and so become a master.”
“When ?” He demanded excitedly, it was his first and still his most desired goal.
“I cannot say Freder. You will need tuition in such uses of the talent. But just as Valentina will now be trained in the uses of power you will be trained in the uses of finesse.” Catherine said with considerable satisfaction. “Ahh, Freder it was a happy day for both of you when you discovered your friendship with Tina.”
Freder hadn’t thought of the numerous ways that they had helped each other, he had been just happy to have become friends with Tina so that they could support each other where before she had denied all such overtures.
“I think that there will be a double celebration tonight Freder.” Catherine said getting to her feet. “Coming ?”
“Oh, sure.” Freder answered her as her words broke into his reverie and scrambled down off his chair. “Where are we going ?”
“To eat of course.” Catherine laughed. “It’s time for the evening meal, aren’t you hungry ?”
“Absolutely.” He affirmed and stepped out into the corridor as she waved him through the doorway.

As he entered the refectory he spied his friends waving from their table and glanced up at Catherine, she smiled and nodded as he sped over to them to trade tales of the day. He quite forgot about his encounter with the zeppelin as he told them that Valentina had achieved the harvesting of the vatenloeker.
“That is just marvellous !” Win enthused. “I can make them out these days, reckon I’ll be able to harvest them soon ?”
“Why not ?” Freder replied happily as he tucked into his meat stew.
“How was the sentry duty then ?” Lewis asked him with a grin.
“Oh, pretty dull and cold, and wet.”
“Bit warmer when Tina joined you ?” Lewis continued.
Freder flushed a deep red at the question.
“What do you know Lewis ?” Ariadne demanded, alert to the possibility of gossip.
“Well I’m not saying anything.” Lewis said with a straight face. “But Fred and Tina were holding hands when they came back to the House.”
“No !!” Came the chorus around the table and all eyes turned to Freder.
“I….its….that is…” He tried to get out an answer but was saved by the arrival of Miranda and Vernon, and between them Valentina.
There was an undeniably happy air about the trio, so Freder presumed that Valentina had been able to demonstrate her new found ability. He smiled and waved back when Valentina looked his way and a broad smile lit up her face.
“See.” Lewis commented and Freder went bright crimson again.
“My friends.” Miranda announced to everyone. “Today has seen two remarkable advances in our circumstances, first my daughter has harvested the vatenloeker for the first time.”
The news was greeted with many happy salutations from around the room, it was widely regarded as the final major hurdle before the actual challenge of the labyrinth in becoming a master.
“And second.” Miranda spoke above the hubbub and Freder thought how small his own advance was in comparison. “Our other master elect sent another incursion by the Hand away with their tail between their legs. Well done Freder.”
“Hey, why didn’t you tell us about that ?” Harley demanded of him.
“I, uh, forgot.” Freder said lamely, which was the truth however banal it sounded.
“Well come on Fred.” John urged him. “Tell us what happened.”
So with congratulations raining down on him from all corners of the room and his meal going cold he told his friends of the appearance of the zeppelin and how he had summoned the lightning to discourage their advance.
“Wish I could forget such ‘little’ things.” Stella said wistfully. “But all I have to forget today is cleaning the kitchens for Mrs D.”
At the end of the meal, just as Freder was wondering if he could link up with Valentina to practise some of the more delicate manipulations at which she was so adept, a presence stopped behind him.
“Hello Stannous.” He said and looked round with a grin to see his mentor grin back at him.
“Hah ! Freder my young friend, scourge of the Hand. I saw the flash from my station, quite a strike, quite a strike.”
“Then you told the Master Supreme.” Freder said in realisation.
“I did indeed. I’m surprised you didn’t report it yourself.”
“It didn’t seem that big a deal.” Freder commented. “Besides Valentina achieving the harvesting drove it from my mind.”
“I can understand that such good news might do that but you should still have reported it Freder, we have to know anything that the Hand does.”
“Sorry.” Freder murmured hanging his head over his error.
“Chin up Freder.” Stannous boomed cheerfully. “You’re fresh to this game, we all make little errors all the time. Do as I do, write it down and hand the report in when you return to the House.” He concluded and gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder.
“Damn fine show Freder.”
“Thanks.”
When he looked back to the top table Miranda and her family had gone, he would not be able to practise with Valentina tonight it seemed.
“Come on Fred.” Lewis called from the doorway. “You promised us a session on levitating, remember ?”
“Oh, sure, sure. Coming.” He replied, the truth being that he had completely forgotten his promise to help his fellows. Then a broad smile crossed his face as he got up from the table, yes, he was going to teach his friends the skills that would help them become masters. With that happy thought ringing through his person he hurried after them.