Free Magnet by Viola Grace Page B

breakfast with the other Terrans, and they had all scattered for the training they were to undergo.
    “Good morning, Ms. Garner.”
    “Polly, please, Instructor Tovnani Rin-Aloth.”
    “Tov, please. I am going to be rifling around in your mind; this is not time to stand on ceremony.” He smiled, and his vaguely feline features were enhanced by the expression.
    His dark chestnut skin with its fine nap of velvety coating looked like it would be both soft and hard to the touch. His feline teeth were needle sharp and were charming when he grinned. The flattish nose and tilted eyes completed the resemblance, and the wild mane of hair didn’t hurt either.
    “Tov then. Good morning.” She smiled and rubbed her gloved hands together. The material was thick, and it gave her the feeling of being in a playsuit and heading into the snow.
    “We are going to begin with meditation. You need to reach inside and find the parts of you that actually activate your talent.”
    A platform with two sets of cushions was in the centre of the dome that looked out into the sky. It was obviously where class was going to be in session.
    They settled onto the cushions, and Polly sat with several pillows in her lap to support her arms. She closed her eyes, relaxed and smiled. “Found it, what is next?”
    Her tutor gave her a wry look, and she felt the touch of someone else’s thoughts on her mind for the first time. “Well, hells, it looks like you did.”
    She rubbed her hands together. “Now. What is next?”
    Sighing, her teacher straightened and said, “Hidden in this room there are five objects with metallic signatures. Find them and bring them to me.”
    “Yes, Tov.” She grinned and closed her mind as she went hunting. Training was going to be a piece of cake.
     

Chapter Two
     
     
    Polly lifted her head and looked at Tov with something akin to hate in her eyes. “What next?”
    Her piece of cake had turned to brick somewhere around day twenty.
    She stood with nineteen objects of different compositions and weights swirling around her in steady orbits.
    Tov lobbed in a stuffed bear, and she scrambled to get a grip on the magnetic traces in it, spinning him in his own rotation as he wobbled wildly.
    Applause rang out and her Azon tutor called a halt to the proceedings. “Line them up and you are done.”
    Just to be peculiar, Polly lined the objects up in order of size. “Ta-da.”
    “Congratulations. You are now able to head into the Nyal Imperium and assume your new role as Guardian support.”
    Polly chuckled. “Is that what I will be?”
    “That is what you are. Can’t you feel it? You were born to do this. This means so much more than your participating in petty crime.” His expression was wry.
    She snorted. “That had its moments.”
    Tov came up and gave her a hug. “I was glad I was here to see your evolution.”
    Polly enjoyed the hug on several levels. He was an attractive man and he had given her pointers on dealing with pheromone-sensitive species. Their fooling around had remained within the strictures of tutor and student, but she had definitely learned a few things. Despite his outward control, if he got too excited, she had to be firm with her no and firmer with the use of her talent. It only took once and they had agreed to cease all physical friction. For Polly, having her partner lunge at her wasn’t much of a turn-on.
    He carefully released her and they both smiled. It just wasn’t quite right and they both knew it.
    “Come on, Polly. Your going-away party is waiting.” Tov offered her his arm, and she placed her hand on his forearm.
    Learning etiquette along with control of her talent had been a bonus that she hadn’t been expecting. Since her assigned world was already known, the rules and regulations of the W’lyn were her primary concern. She had managed to absorb as much as she ever would.
    With the hug as her final farewell, she walked to the common room and had cake and ice cream with her