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re-sealed the gate, closing us within the city, his professional manner dropping. I wondered if he really did need to escort me to the Power Seer Headquarters as part of his responsibility.
    “Um … work is hard to come by in Mortlock.” I gave a small embarrassed shrug, not meeting the man’s gaze as he took me ten meters down the street. We turned into a smaller street.
    “Ah. Small town girl.” He nodded, “This might seem a bit odd to you then, eh?”
    “I’m not quite sure I understand what’s going on exactly.”
    “Ah, you’ll understand in a minute. Just a safety precaution really. There are some dangerous people out there, you know. Can’t be too careful. It’s law here to have all newcomers recorded and registered, just in case. Permanent residents are already recorded. Kids are recorded often as they grow up, because their Powers change so often, ya see?”
    I nodded, not really seeing at all.
    “What’s your name?” Stone asked a little too casually.
    “Avalon Redding.” I mumbled. Toby Stone smiled at me and led me another few meters down the street where we came to a halt in front of a grand building. Large iron wrought doors towered above me, with enormous steel lion heads holding the knockers in place on the door. Two more guards stood either side of this door, but took no notice of us and stayed positively still.
    Stone gave one of the knockers two thunderous raps before rolling back on the balls of his feet and shoving his hands into his pockets.
    It seemed like only a fraction of a second later that the doors were being pulled open. A greying man in very smart clothes bowed to the Guard.
    “New comer. Residency. Needs Papers.” Stone nodded in my direction.
    “Thank you, Toby.” The elderly man said in a polite voice, “I trust your day is going well?”
    “Ah, all right Edmund.” He shrugged, “It’s looking better now, though.” He nodded in my direction again, “Not every day you get a looker at the gate.”
    I dropped my head once again, and decided my feet were much more interesting than this embarrassing conversation.
    Edmund heaved a sigh and Stone chuckled, “Well, anyway, better get back to the gate.” Stone turned on his heel before flashing me a grin and disappearing down the street. I gulped and looked up at Edmund.
    “Welcome to Frost Arch, Miss Redding.”
    “How did you know my name?” I said in a rather high pitched voice.
    “Miss Redding, if you wouldn’t mind following me please?” He ushered me in through the large iron doors, ignoring my question. It was very pretty inside. Besides the cold atmosphere the room was rather charming. A deep crimson walkway flowed through the centre of the room, and long drapes of the same colour hung from the windows that went from floor to ceiling in great arches. Tapestries hung on the walls, and stone columns lined either side of the long room. At the opposite end was another door, this one wooden.
    I followed Edmund, who I assumed was a butler, to the other side of the room and he showed me in through the large wooden door. My throat was very dry, and I was quite nervous about what to expect with this Power Analysis procedure. Would it hurt? I wondered.
    “No, it won’t hurt.” Edmund answered my unspoken question.
    I stared at the old man. Had he just … no … it was impossible.
    “Not quite.” He said again.
    My mouth opened with a little pop, “What are you doing?” I breathed.
    “Apologies Miss.” Edmund began, colour toning his pale, aged cheeks, “With my terrible sight, sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between thoughts and speech.”
    Edmund could hear my thoughts. I huffed. That was hardly fair. I had all sorts of embarrassing things running amok in my brain. I didn’t want a complete stranger to think I was an absolute nutter before he even got to know me.
    “Apologies again.” He bowed me through the door before closing me into the room, quite alone.
    I turned to face the room I