Rogue Powers Read Online Free PDF Page A

floor.
     
    ***
     
    Bored, the teenage princess plucked a rose from the vase beside her. Twirled between Lydia’s fingers, the flower emanated a bright inner light, oscillating between lovely hues of pink, green, and blue.
    “Show off.” Smiling, Lydia’s friend Belle appeared at the door separating the outer sitting room from the rest of her family’s individual royal residence. “Shall we go?”
    “Finally!” Putting the rose back into the vase, the flower instantly returned to its natural, unlighted form. “I thought we’d never leave.”
    “Well, my dear.” Giggling, Belle grabbed Lydia’s hand, leading her through the guarded outer door of the royal apartment into the castle passageway beyond. “I needed to look my finest today. After all, the new recruits are here to meet the King!”
    Both 16 year olds wore sparkly dresses, their hair held back with bright ribbons. And indeed, Lydia’s couldn’t help noticing a slew of appreciative glances from the male functionaries and military personnel they passed by.
    But Lydia wasn’t in the mood for her friend’s boy-crazy antics that morning. “I thought we were going down to the market!” she protested. “The wagons came in yesterday with all the new scarves from the eastern flat lands.”
    “There’s plenty of time for that.” Belle stepped around an old woman shuffling down the center of the stone hallway. “But the recruits will only...” The princess paused, frowning in concentration. “Oh, Lydia! You’re needed downstairs. There’s been an accident.”
    As an empowered royal, Belle received mental “flashes” from any agitated group of people watching the same thing. It was a completely passive ability, and didn’t often come into play, particularly in the castle itself. Yet if Belle thought her friend would be of use, it could only mean one thing.
    “Come on!” Picking up her skirts, Lydia jogged down the passageway to a sunlit outer veranda overlooking the courtyard, her friend following.
    In contrast to almost all the other royals, Lydia actually possessed two separate abilities. The first was being able to cause any object to emit light or color, as she’d done with the rose. The second, however, was far more interesting.
    Racing out onto the veranda, the large grassy area between the castle itself and outer stone defensive wall was laid out below them. Both girls watched a group of men with pikes in a loose circle, threatening a distressed horse cantering about.
    With blood on its flank, the panicked equine was obviously wounded. Taking a deep breath, Lydia mentally reached out to the animal’s mind.
    Stop running! These men want to help you!
    Coming to a shocked halt, the horse looked up at her, whinnying in pain. Only now did she notice an arrow protruding from the animal’s flank, blood still flowing.
    I’m sure it was an accident. Let us help make you better. Then Lydia sent out soothing impressions of the arrow being removed and the pain going away.
    Snorting in reply, the horse almost seemed to nod. Quickly, the castle veterinarian approached the horse’s head, patting him gently on the nose. Then, while Lydia still held the equine’s attention, the vet pulled out the arrow.
    There! Doesn’t that feel better already? Lydia asked. Only now did she notice a young boy off to the side, holding a full-size bow.
    “Take care that lad doesn’t shoot any more horses!” the princess called out.
    “Yes, my Lady!” answered a groom, taking the young archer’s weapon.
    “That’s awful!” Belle declared, turning to Lydia. “But you did it! They might have had to kill that horse if you weren’t here.”
    “I know,” Lydia replied, staring out at the courtyard’s far wall and robust town visible beyond. “Thank you for letting me know.”
    “You’re very strong,” Belle observed. “And with two powers! If you were a man, they’d be talking about you becoming king someday!”
    Right now that sounded really boring.