Novek had ideas — he wasn't sure if they were good ideas, but he had ideas. If there was going to be trouble, he wanted to be ready for it. For both his sake, and those of his new companions — or maybe friends?

  There was something about the whole bandit attack he couldn't put down. More than he'd mentioned to Ceress, even. Call it the intuition of a long time mercenary, but he'd been through the start of enough wars between states that he could just feel that something was brewing in the background. He'd been feeling it for months now — normally he could find work in a skirmish here or there — they happened all the time. But all the small work had dried up — it was like the entire region was holding its breath waiting for someone to take a swing.

  So, it was time to take those ideas, and make some plans. But to do that, he needed to understand better what sorts of capabilities they could bring to bear. After he was done using Moira as a rangefinder, that is.

  They'd gone just out of camp on the upper plain for some level ground where he could easily see where his shots landed and retrieve them later — no point wasting ammunition.

  “Okay, so you can put lines at every twenty-five meters or so on the ground. That is remarkably useful, and I am absolutely going to put some drop indicators on my crossbow. In fact, I am going to do that now — eyeballing it is all well and good but that trick could make me effective out at twice my usual range. Can you put an indicator in the air, say, two meters above the ground?”

  Well, I can guess at it, assuming level ground. I'm using Nat as the locus, so it will be using him as a reference point.

  “That'll work for now, I just need to range my shots so I can adjust the sight on the crossbow.” Novek grabbed a hinge and a small metal strip, clamped them together, and started screwing the improvised sight to the top of the stock.

  A smiley face appeared in the air over the nearest target. He raised the bar via the hinge, took a shot, and it went directly through the center — then made an awl mark on the side.

  “Next, please.”

  This one he was a little low on his first shot — he reloaded, leaned the plate forward the tiniest amount, fired again, and was happy with the result — another awl mark.

  Well, since they were currently trying out ranging activities, now was the perfect time to get to know his group. He'd thought he had a good understanding multiple times this week, but it seemed every time the loose group talked for more than an hour, someone was putting together a new combination.

  Nat had an interesting all-rounder ability that synergized well with anything, really. The problem with it, if there was one, was that collateral damage seemed to be the default state — the incident with Hekkan had shown that. Also, any use of it destructively seemed to put Nat on an increasing cooldown, and any enemy could simply pile more damage on his frozen form to keep him locked down. Sure, some random Human might not know that, but Novek would be willing to bet that every local governmental body had a dossier of well known counters to that Talent.

  “So, Nat — what would you do if someone gets their hands on you? Or a rope?”

  “Um, what?”

  “You heard me. You can obviously run away if you're expecting an attack, but what if someone doesn't want to let you? What do you do?”

  “Well, um. I suppose I could just rub a rope until it burned through?”

  “Okay, that's on me. I was overly specific. What if it's a wire or something strong that can't be burned easily?”

  “I don't know, honestly. I don't know if it would hurt me to push against it.”

  “Well, what else can you do? Also, Moira, next please.” Novek took another shot, and made another adjustment.

  Sure thing. Also, Nat, do you want a hint on this?

  “Yes, please. This is all very new to me and I haven't thought about potential scenarios much.”

  Look in your hand.

  “Oh, aether. Right. I keep thinking that because Moira's flame doesn't burn, it can't, but that's not true at all, is it?”

  Lyn decided to join in, “Correct. The intent is what matters. It's not fast — and using it inside your Talent can hurt you if it's close enough. Having it burn only what you want is an advanced technique that will take you a lot of painful practice to get right.”

  Novek, like Nat, had forgotten that the aether ability could be turned to offensive use — it was good to keep that in mind. “Okay, so next question — what if it's a Ber'Duun or a Human who has hold of you? A hug, or grapple?”

  Nat paused at this. “I… do not know. I guess the question I have back is — are they actively trying to harm myself or my friends?”

  Huh, he hadn't expected that from the kid. “Let's assume you don't know for sure — it's a rough surprise grab from behind, by someone you don't recognize.”

  Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  “I suppose I'd try to slip the grip first, and run.”

  “It's too tight. You can't slip out without hurting them.”

  “Then I burn them enough to make them let go.”

  “So, you do that, but now you're a statue for how long?”

  “Could be anything from a fraction of a second up to three.”

  “Okay, so now you have a spear tip pointed at your face.”

  “I'm not sure what the point of these questions is. Is this a lesson?”

  “Maybe — maybe not. Do you want it to be?”

  “I'm not sure.”

  “Okay, then it's not. We'll talk more later, but do me a favor, and think about it. Okay? Also, Moira, next, please.”

  The next target lit up, and he took three adjustments to hit this one. He might need to adjust the vanes on the bolts for better stability at range — this wasn't just drop, but even the light breeze was throwing his aim off.

  He decided to press the issue with the next member of the group.

  Lyn hadn't really impressed him initially — Novek hadn't been sure why Ceress spoke so highly of them, other than just the excitement of having medical support. And then he'd seen how much raw power then could put down range in literal seconds. Granted, every time they used it, they immediately had some half-cooked Ber of one sort or another in their mouth, but that was a small cost for the output potential. Sure, he wasn't going to stop a line of combatants with it, but they might take a group of elites out of the fight. His current plan for any future silverpaw was just a wooden bolt through the skull, from behind, a hundred meters away.

  “So, same basic question, Lyn. I know you can handle a Ber — what about a Ber'Duun, or Human?”

  Lyn looked at him for a moment and creased an eye ridge before answering. “If it would be problematic to kill them, I would attempt to use non-lethal shocks.”

  “It's both problematic, and your life is in danger.”

  “Then I kill them.”

  “How, exactly? What kind of control do you have? I've seen the discharge and the plasma. What about single targets in a crowd?”

  “That would require getting close, or using Nat, or a tool — like the iron-core walking stick. But anyone I can touch, I can subdue, or kill in less than a second.”

  “What about if they're not vulnerable to electricity? Metal armor? Insulated Ber? Also, Moira? Next please.” More shots, no hits — yeah he was going to need to work on the bolts out past a hundred meters.

  “That's only half my skill-set — my racial capabilities. Aether's the other half, and I know how to wield it effectively, though admittedly only at short range.”

  He decided to see just how far he could get a shot, rather than trying to range any further until he could get some better distance bolts crafted. “Moira, could you put range lines further out, please?”

  Sure, how far would you like? I'm at two hundred meters at present.

  “Give me five hundred, please.”

  Lyn turned their head and looked at him; Nat did not. That was informative.

  Novek made the decision to show off for a moment, and placed his hand over the bolt and string — really more of a cable — and they glowed briefly yellow-orange. He fired, and the crossbow shook with the force — he'd need to fix that, too. The bolt took off, and none of them could see exactly how far it had gone from where they were.

  437 meters. Impressive, Novek.

  “How did you know that?”

  You imbued it with aether. I can track it once you do.

  “Oh, now that opens up yet another whole world of possibility. But yeah, you should see the guys who specialize in this. I'm just a mechanic.”

  I somehow feel that statement is intended to be misleading.

  So far, the least impressive of the group had been the one he'd expected to be surprised by — Moira; he suspected she was holding back, but when he'd asked Ceress, she'd said to just ask her himself. It was comments like this last one that hinted at why — let's see if she'd come clean. “Oh ho. We've got a smart one here. So, Moira, same kind of question for you — what can you do, would you do, with your back against the wall?”

  Well, since I can't be directly threatened, I assume for this exercise I should assume that my goals, or someone I feel necessary, is at risk?

  “Oh, now that's a cold way to put it. Perhaps I've misjudged you.”

  Perhaps. But here's an answer for you — and a true one, since Nat's going to need to know this very soon — and Lyn already does.

  “Now that answer has me curious.”

  Simply, if it's a Human, I can't kill them — period. A Brin, probably. A Ber'Duun, sure. A Ber, absolutely.

  “Everything you've shown so far seems fairly… passive? Light shows and some simple density tricks. Do you have any offensive abilities? Not that I don't appreciate you ranging my targets for me, but I'm honestly curious.”

  In response, the air a meter above him lit up, aflame. This was not just light show — it might be aether, but it was hot. It quickly grew from a small disc to one twice its size, and started bending down at the edges.

  He jumped backwards, but the ring of fire stayed precisely in position above him. Then it winked out suddenly, as if it never was.

  Be aware that residual aether on your hands and the string render you targetable for a few minutes.

  Nat and Lyn were both staring at him now, their mouths wide open — Nat then looked at the flame in his hand, like he had just discovered he was holding a gun. Novek's newly updated estimate put her closer to artillery. Heavy artillery — that was what she'd been willing to show, and he had no doubt that what she considered necessary to demonstrate, safely, without scaring the others into fearing her.

  As someone who made a living being the scariest thing on the battlefield, Novek had an idea of just how much she'd held back. He was glad he'd left Siya sleeping back at camp while they performed weapons testing; just in case.

  “Okay, point taken. Is that demonstration intended to show that you're both willing, and capable?”

  To protect a Human, there's little I can't do. To protect many, almost nothing.

  “Your answers are raising more questions than they answer.”

  Yep, sure are.

  Just then, he saw the distinct silhouette of Ellie's coach approach in the distance on the eastern bend of the road. Perfect — he had some modifications to the coach, and a shopping trip to talk her into.

  “Hey, Ellie's here. I'm going to pick up my bolts and head back. Let's avoid scaring the nice lady — I have things I need from her.”

  Lyn chimed in, “Nat and I can get them, dusk is coming soon, and we're still on pulse watch — just in case.”

  “Works for me. You want me to bring you the blanket?”

  They looked to Nat, then looked back, “I think we're fine without it, honestly.”

  Nat smirked, “Oh, hey, I've been downgraded from fire hazard.”

  “Sounds good, I'll get a dinner fire going — Ellie said she's going to teach us how to cook something using these things called ‘vegetables’ and ‘spices’ instead of just eating raw Ber.”

  Nat sighed in relief. “Oh, thank AMA.”

  Lyn looked askance at Nat, “Hey, I can cook.”

  Novek called out, as he started walking away, “Yeah? Why don't you?”

  With a pout on their face, Lyn gave a sad gesture, “Well, nobody asked. I didn't think it was important what with all the random attacks we keep experiencing.”

  The last thing Novek heard before he walked out of hearing range was Nat's solemn reply, “Lyn, good cooking is always important.”