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her.
    It took her the better part of an hour, but eventually, she felt sleep claim her again.
     
    When he left the bed, she woke immediately. The chill against her back and waist was surprising. Ainora got up and went to her dispenser, calling for two cups of tea. Tea seemed to be the default beverage of the Alliance and it tasted all right, so Ainora decided to get used to the blend.
    She sat at her small table and sipped at the tea, debating whether or not she was up to attacking breakfast.
    Lyon came out looking toward the bed. He blinked and refocused on her when she cleared her throat. She lifted his cup of tea with two hands and he smiled.
    “Good morning, Ainora.”
    “Good morning, Lyon. Take your tea.”
    He stepped forward and took his tea with two hands. “Thank you.”
    He sat on the chair opposite her, and she was amazed that it could hold his weight.
    He sipped at his tea and he gradually became more alert. “I will be able to return to my quarters after this.”
    “Good. I have an appointment at the Guard base today. I wouldn’t want to cut into your beauty sleep.” She winked and sipped at her tea.
    He gave her a narrow-eyed look. “Do you often fall over like that?”
    She wrinkled her nose. “I have been using my talent more than usual. I had a flashback to when I was a teen. It used to drain me then, too.”
    “Are you recovered?”
    “Yes, it is just a muscle that I haven’t stretched in a decade. I will have to work to raise my stamina.” She didn’t mention that that event would probably happen today. She had a funny feeling about meeting with a woman who could change matter.
    As they parted ways, he took her hand and kissed it again before disappearing out her door. She stared at the appendage when he couldn’t see her. Her skin tingled and her senses were trying to remember that soft warmth.
    She went to the dispenser and dialled a simple breakfast, sitting with a data pad and catching up on news of Morganti while eating.
    When Yinfa knocked, she was ready to go and they walked outside and stepped into a skimmer. Yinfa flew them across the empty, dusty plain and Ainora asked, “Can I learn to fly this?”
    Yinfa smiled. “Of course. I can teach you or one of the other acolytes can.”
    “I can really learn how to fly myself?” It was a freedom she had never imagined.
    “Of course. You can learn whatever you wish. That is the beauty of the Citadel. It is a private school first and foremost, using its graduates to earn its way. We work for it and it works for us.”
    “I am beginning to like the idea of working for the Citadel, but don’t tell anyone I said that.”
    Yinfa laughed. “Your secret is safe with me.”
    They landed on the tarmac of the Guard base and Ainora’s day began.
     

Chapter Seven
     
     
    Fixer was a pale woman with eyes that sparkled and her long, dark rainbow hair filled Ainora with envy.
    “Good morning, Master Analyst Lenz. I am Mala or Fixer if you prefer. I will probably end up calling you Lenz, so feel free to call me what you like. Yinfa, good to see you again.”
    “Good to see you as well, Fixer. Oh, here is that toy that the Master Analyst Lenz found.”
    Fixer sighed and smiled. She waved the cuddly toy at Ainora. “Thank you for this. His sister made him a replacement, but he knows that it isn’t the real one.”
    Ainora blinked. “Made him one?”
    Fixer lifted a block of wood and transformed it into a copy of the stuffy. “Like this. Radin would still know the difference.”
    “Where did the first toy come from?”
    Fixer turned the toy back into wood. “He was a present on his second birthday from his grandmother. She works at the Citadel training folk with a combination of etiquette and espionage.”
    Ainora grinned. “I might have to take that class.”
    “It is invitation only, but I am sure that Equilar can be persuaded.” Fixer rubbed her hands together. “Now, I am going to test your endurance by asking you to help out on a