Free Masters of the Veil by Daniel A. Cohen Page A

it was in his mouth, the glob dissolved. Sam swirled it around—this time, on his own. After a few gurgles, he looked back at May for further instruction.
    “Let it go on the ground.”
    He did as he was told and the white substance hit the grass; however, it didn’t stay there. It seeped into the ground like ink drawn into a parchment. Where it disappeared, a small green flower sprang into existence. It happened so quickly that Sam could have sworn he was looking at a stop-motion animation.
    His mouth felt exquisite, like after a trip to the dentist, but without the gum pain.
    Sam took a deep breath, the air minty and soft against his throat. “You win.”
    “It’s also used to bathe our bodies and our hair.”
    Sam looked back into the pond and another rinsefish gave up its white bubble.
    Sam took the glob and started rubbing it on his arms. The white material dripped off him and hit the ground, sprouting more flowers.
    He looked his arms up and down, noticing that his skin was so clean it almost glowed. “And the green flowers?”
    “Take a sniff.”
    They smelled like warm cinnamon.
    “Most people take the rinsers back to their homes, so when they are done cleaning, the flowers sprout and freshen up the rooms.”
    “Where do the people live?”
    “In the towers. Think of them as apartment buildings. They circle all the way around the center of Atlas Crown. Inside the walls, where we are standing now, are the giving-huts—like Fromson’s—the amphitheater, the clothing houses, the Arena, the library, and all sorts of wonderful things you will experience. You’re going to love the tinker-hut.” She pulled herself onto the wall and swung her legs back and forth like a young girl. “Outside the walls is where we grow our crops and teach our students.”
    Sam didn’t know how to gracefully transition to the subject, but he needed to know. “So…why did you bring me here?”
    “I thought that you would like to see the rinsefish for your—”
    Sam shook his head. “I meant Atlas Crown.”
    May hopped down, took his hands in hers, and peered deep into his eyes. “I brought you here so we can help you.”
    “Help me what?”
    “Learn to control and use the Veil correctly. Right now, you are a danger to yourself and others. You need to be around others like you, so you can learn how to deal with the power responsibly. I know you don’t want to hurt anyone else.”
    Sam’s mind flashed to the cornerback’s blood on the grass. He pulled his hands out of May’s and took a step back. “But all I did was grab his shoulder!”
    “It’s not your fault.” May stepped up and ran a hand against his cheek. “No one is blaming you, Sam. You could not have controlled what happened to you. I’m just telling you what must happen. For now, you must stay with us.”
    A pleasant tingle remained after her hand dropped from his cheek. “But when will you take me back?”
    “Back?”
    Sam plucked the collar of his jersey. “Yeah, I have to go home at some point.”
    She nodded with the grace of someone much older than she seemed. “If you wish, but you just got here. How can you be so sure that you want to leave?”
    “Because I have a life back home, I have my friends, school, football…” Okay, maybe he didn’t have football. “Why do you even care?”
    “I care deeply, for more reasons than you would understand as of this moment. I will explain more soon, but it is not in your best interest to know everything right now. Something outside of your control has happened and it needs to be dealt with. It is safe for you here. You can learn here. I am truly sorry, but for now, that is all I can tell you.”
    Sam scowled, but then took a deep breath to calm himself.
    I’m tougher than this .
    “Fine. So what’s going to happen to me until it’s safe to go back?”
    “Well.” She turned and folded both hands over the small of her back. “You are going to live with Bariv for the next few days, until the