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looked at Urad. “I want to see how far it goes.”
    Before he could say or do anything, she slipped through the hole and had her shadows sprinting across the landscape. The tower was a tiny speck when she turned and the streak of energy still hadn’t stopped. As far as she could tell, it eased up and into the sky taking out trees, rocks and even the tip of a mountain.
    Shaking her head in amazement, she returned to the city, and since the talents were already sealing the hole, she climbed up and over once again.
    The crowd was helping the shapers by giving them materials to seal the breach in the wall. Upon seeing how hard they were working, she climbed back over the wall and headed for the nearest pile of tumbled rocks. She lifted a large chunk of minerals with her shadows and hiked back to the tower.
    Noma had to admit it was freeing to be able to use her talent and not care who saw it. She hauled the rock up one side of the wall and carefully lowered it from the battlement before she descended herself.
    One of the strength talents was already smashing up the rock and handing it to others who put it in place for the shapers. It was an act of community power and spirit and made Noma smile.
    Not bad for her second day.
     
    Urad was sitting with her during lunch, and he was still a little stunned around the edges. “I have never felt a power rush like that in my life.”
    Noma poured another glass of water from the pitcher. “Me neither. It was quite something.”
    “So, are you teaching tomorrow?”
    “Yes, I will teach until there is no one else who needs to learn, and then, I will move on to more detailed lessons, classes, tutorials, that sort of thing. Of course, I need to do some exploring. I need to go out and find a pit.”
    Urad paused. “Why would you want a pit?”
    “I need to know what is inside it and how it works. I suspect that there is a vessel and some cold storage inside one, but I need to get into one in order to make that determination.”
    “That will be a dangerous mission.”
    She snorted. “I have ripped through time and space. I think I am up to some priests and chains.”
    “They have wants, staves, all designed to stun and keep you passive.”
    “I am sure they will get in a few good shots, but I am not a normal, untrained power. I know what I can do and I have surrendered to my fate.”
    He reached out and grabbed her hand, stroking her knuckles with his thumb. “I do not wish you surrendered to fate, I want you to surrender to me.”
    She blinked and wondered if her mind had mistranslated the phrase into something suggestive. “Not until I get a change of clothing.”
    He stared at her and started laughing. “I had forgotten that you did not run here with supplies. Minny is willing to make you clothing.”
    “I thought she and the other shapers would be too tired after today.”
    “On the contrary, working together, they are energized.”
    “Can you show me to Minny’s home after we eat?”
    “Of course.” He grinned. “I might even stay to find out how this all takes place.”
    It took her a moment to realise that he was speaking about watching her get dressed from the skin out.
    “That isn’t going to happen. My shadows aren’t just for hauling rocks around; they also make an impressive privacy screen.”
    He chuckled and leaned back, his eyes twinkling. “I love a challenge.”
     

Chapter Six
     
     
    Noma had to admit that Minny had a deft touch and an eye for colour.
    “You really don’t have to do this. I am sure that I could manage for a few weeks before I am desperate.”
    Minny smiled. “I enjoy the challenge. I come from a family of weavers, so I was able to continue for quite a while without being noticed. It was my fiancé that turned me in to the priests. He saw me working one night and knew that what he was seeing wasn’t normal. The next morning, the priests were at my door.”
    She shook her head and kept wrapping the bark over Noma, shaping it into