Lost and Sound Read Free

her quarters.
    Her bags were next to the bed, and she left the room quickly, meeting the others in the atrium that connected the halls.
    She focused on keeping herself calm while her mind was scrambling with excitement. She took a scan of the nearby area, and the other novices were just as nervous as she was. Heartbeats were pounding and blood was surging. She could hear it all.
    The bodysuit had built-in boots that made no noise when they walked. As their group gathered and was herded to the orientation, Yllin got the impression of nervous ghosts walking through the novice centre of the Citadel Ohkhan.
    They sat through an introduction to the Citadel that reinforced what they already knew. All that they needed to live and learn would be provided by the Citadel on credit, and when they went on assignments or took up teaching or work around the base, they would earn that money back.
    The only exceptions were those who had been courted by the Citadel or who had funds donated by the Alliance or Imperium. Private families could not make things easier for their children.
    Yllin had the satisfaction of seeing Trobie pale.
    Each novice was given a data pad, and when they looked into the scan point, it opened with their personal schedule.
    Even if she lost her data pad, what it contained could only be unlocked with her ocular scan. It was a bit of a relief.
    When the orientation of what was expected of them was over, they were assigned to their primary instructors.
    The psychics were clumped in groups of four, which left the physical talents with one instructor each.
    Master Kibor was her instructor, and he had the physical appearance of a kindly old man. She learned that he was only a decade older than she was, but his species aged more rapidly.
    He was out to get every moment he could out of life, and if that meant spending his golden years as an instructor, he would make sure that she was in the best condition of her life and her talent would be honed to a keen edge.
    They met and shared their goals for her education over tea. She poured and he smiled at her with a wistful look.
    “If I were only a decade younger.”
    She smiled gently. “You would still be fading just as I come into my full glory. That would not be fair to either of us.”
    “I suppose, but it will warm my nights to dream of it. Now, I have lined up fight instructors for you. You and I will work on expanding the range of your talent. Wercor mentioned that you were equipped with knives?”
    “I usually carry one, but I can’t think of where it would go on this suit.” She smiled.
    “We will include knife and other weapons training in your schedule. If you would like to work on your talent today, we can grab one of the labs and you can tell me what you see. I want you to be able to tell the difference between textures and densities.”
    Yllin smiled. “I can already do that. I worked as a waitress so I can tell the difference between different types of wines using my talent. The viscosity is different. It also works for drinks that have been tampered with. No one was ever drugged at a bar on my watch.”
    He blinked. “That will speed things along. I get the feeling that you will be wearing the clothing of a Specialist by the end of the week. How did you gain this mastery?”
    “I practiced. For the last two years, with the exception of a stay in hospital, I worked at a restaurant and used my skills every day. I got used to feeling out a room the moment that I entered and identifying everything occupying it. It has become a reflex. Shutting it off is usually the problem.”
    His eyes lit up. “Then that is what we will practice. Personal shielding is just as important as a strong and nimble body.”
    She grinned. “You are my instructor. I will do as you say.”
    He winked. “Pour some more tea and let’s talk about what you need in a battle suit. Despite your grace and appeal in the robes, I believe that your skills will be more useful if you are