Free Sworn To Raise: Courtlight #1 by Terah Edun

occurred to her, to desire makeup, to wear gowns and jewels. Those had been fantastic figments of every laundress’s imagination.
    But alongside the painful desire to continue in this lifestyle of luxury was the near certain feeling she had that she’d fail to manifest her powers. That, in turn, brought the issue of her powers—or lack thereof—back to the forefront of her mind, and from there it was just a downhill emotional spiral.
    As the dance ended, Damias said with a chuckle, “You’ve done well. But you need to learn to focus on what your partner is saying with his or her body. Then you’ll know which way to turn your body.”
    “I know,” said Ciardis. “It’s just difficult to read my partner’s cues when they’re nothing but ghostly shapes.”
    Damias grinned. “If you can learn to master the dances with a visual partner with no physical presence, then you’ll be able to read the cues of a real partner with no problem.”
    Ciardis nodded and prepared for the next set of dance instructions. As Damias demonstrated with moving hands and flowing movements, Ciardis tried to fake a smile, but when he turned to her, a silent tear betrayed her feelings.
    Damias frowned and brought his hands down. “Clearly this is about more than a dance. Sit. Let’s talk.” He folded himself gracefully into a crossed-legged position on the ballroom floor. Ciardis followed, tucking her legs under her in the proper ladylike equivalent of his position.
    “It’s my powers…” Ciardis said, her eyes closed in shame. “They haven’t manifested yet. If they don’t, all the Patrons will rescind their invitations.”
    “Ciardis,” said Damias softly, “You know as well as I do that female Weathervanes have to wait longer for their powers; they invariably mature after their eighteenth birthdays. And it can take even longer. My partner’s powers didn’t even come in until her twenty-first birthday, and she’s a Fire Master!”
    “Yes,” said Ciardis, sniffling, “But your partner is Leinada Firelancer! She’s…she’s Imperial!”
    “And does that make her different?” Damias asked.
    Ciardis issued a trembling smile as he handed her his handkerchief. “I guess not.” With a gulp, she looked at him. “What if I really am mundane, though? Or what if Sarah was wrong, or—”
    Damias cut off her tirade with an upraised eyebrow. “Do you honestly think I would waste my time on anyone without potential? There is no way, my dear, that you are anything less than worthy of a full-fledged Patron Hunt. Besides,” he said with a cocky grin, “Sarah is never wrong, and if she ever heard you say that she might be, she’d tear you a new hide.”
    Ciardis laughed.
    “Now, I want you to take the rest of the day off. No tutorials, no family history. Just be you!” he said rising gracefully and extending a hand to help her up.
    She nodded, taking his hand and pulling herself to her feet.
    As she was about turn away, he said, “Also, your patron interview is scheduled for tomorrow. All you need to do to prepare is be relaxed. The panel will be there to help you, guide you, and answer any questions you might have.”
    Relax, he tells me , Ciardis thought with an inward sigh as she headed back to the dorms. Easy for him to say.
    She reached her room, a pensive expression on her face as she unlocked the door. She hesitated in the middle of the huge space, thinking about what she should do next. There was no way for her to study for the patron interview tomorrow because no assignments had been given for it and no one would tell her what it involved. She bit her lip. She’d been meaning to get a second primer from the market in the Bookbinders’ District, but this week had been so busy that she’d had no time. She was already done with the first reader’s primer, though, and was ready to move on to the second. Mind made up to enjoy the day and pick up another primer, she grabbed a scarf to wrap around her hair in the