The next day, Terra and Will continued their training, beginning in the morning with the Darkness exercises. They stood in a grassy meadow under a bright blue sky. Terra's recovery time to Will's Darkness casts continued to decrease until it became only a few seconds.

Next, Terra gathered the two remaining fighting spikes she had and laid them on the ground before her. At her request, Will fastened two wooden boards to trees on the hillside to serve as targets.

Terra suspended the spikes before her and nodded at Will. He cast the Darkness over her, causing her to waver, and as expected, the spikes fell to the ground. After a few seconds, she extended a hand and telekinetically launched them at the targets, missing one and catching just the edge of the other.

Terra frowned. "I should be able to do better than that."

Will retrieved the spikes and handed them back to her. She nodded again and Will recast the Darkness. This time, Terra waited an extra second before propelling the spikes, allowing the aura to clear of the dark haze. They struck dead center in each of the targets with sharp thunks, so deeply embedded that Will struggled to pull them out.

He looked back at her in amazement. "Ell told me about your accuracy, but I didn't fully understand until now. Only a fool would duel with you."

Terra smiled at the compliment. "Sometimes all it took was a demonstration."

After a few more rounds with the spikes, Will brought out his guns, which included a handgun, a hunting rifle, and an assault rifle he had taken from a Dynasty soldier, placing them on a fallen log.

Terra smirked. "I don't suppose you properly registered these with the authorities?"

Will grinned in return. "It may have slipped my mind."

"Oh, you bad boy."

Will then laid out a small box of projectile darts — each about six millimeters in diameter and eighty millimeters long, tapered to a sharp point — and a power cell about the size of his middle finger. He held up one cell and explained, "This is one invention that transformed humanity, perhaps second only to the Awakening in the last few centuries. The high-density super-capacitor was a huge improvement to chemical batteries, holding more energy and with a much faster recharge. The real benefit came, though, when engineers devised a way to make them and solar panels cheaply. That transformed transportation and home power, nearly eliminating fossil fuel use. Are you familiar with how they are used in guns?"

Terra nodded. "They power an electromagnetic pulse along the barrel that accelerates and launches the darts."

"Right. Essentially, a high torque linear motor. A single power cell in the handgun or hunting rifle will fire about ten darts before it is expended. The assault rifle holds two cells, so it will fire about twenty. It also has a repeating fire mode, but that is not generally recommended, unless for cover fire, because it uses up the cells quickly."

He picked up the handgun. "The shorter barrel on this one makes it better for close fighting, but the tradeoff is less accuracy and lower dart velocity."

They took turns firing at the targets with each gun. Terra's skill improved, although she was already fairly adept at gun usage. They next practiced how to more quickly change out the power cells and reload darts.

Will picked up the assault rifle. "Ell discovered a way that someone with Talent could disable a rifle. If you focus your power in a certain way, you can block the electromagnetic pulse. Not sure how, but she said that this took less aura exposure than pulling the gun out of someone's hands or blocking high-velocity darts. Let's try that. I'll shoot at the target and you see if you can stop the firing."

Terra went into the aura and focused on the firing armature. "Okay."

Will pulled the trigger, and the shot rang out with the characteristic sharp, hollow pop sound.

"Again," she said.

A shot rang out.

Terra thought for a moment. "Ah, I think I see how. It won't work kinetically, but I may be able to induce a counter electrical charge that blocks the pulse. Try again."

This time, when Will pulled the trigger, nothing happened. He pulled again to the same result.

A knowing smile brightened Terra's face. "Oh, Anna, you clever girl."

By then, it was time for lunch. Being a relatively warm and still day, they ate out on the porch. As Terra rocked back and forth on her rocking chair, a sly smile came to her face.

Will noticed this, wrinkling his forehead. "What?"

"I wonder what it would be like to make out in one of these chairs?"

A faux shocked expression came to his face. "I would never do such a thing!"

"We'll see about that."

Terra stood up with a crooked smile on her face. She undid her ponytail and shook out her long thick hair, all the while putting on her best smoldering eyes and pouting lips look. A bit of inward pride washed over her from Will's rapt attention.

He won't be able to resist my seduction, but why do I think this is exactly what he wants?

Terra swung a leg around Will and straddled him in the chair, causing it to rock back, then allowed the chair's return motion to bring his lips to hers as his arms encircled her waist. She squirmed to conform her body against his as the deep kiss lingered, becoming a promise of carnal pleasure to come.

With a loud snap and a yelp, the chair collapsed, sending them both tumbling to the porch deck.

Terra giggled while lying on top of Will, surrounded by broken chair parts. He groaned, "Poor chair. At least it died in a noble cause."

*****

That afternoon they practiced basic hand-to-hand self-defense techniques that did not require the use of Talent. A carved piece of wood served as a practice knife. Will showed Terra the techniques he knew as they sparred. After several hours of practice, they returned to the porch and sat on the steps where the roof overhang provided some shade, their shirts wet with sweat.

Terra asked him, "Where did you learn so much about guns and hand-to-hand combat?"

"My dad taught me some of it. But when I joined up with the Library, they taught me more." He sat a moment in thought, bringing a hand to his chin. "The Library believes in nonviolence, but they realize that sometimes conflict is unavoidable. So, they give us at least some means to defend ourselves."

"I would like to learn more about the Library."

"I will introduce you to some of the Board, who can explain much more than I can. They would like to meet you as well."

Terra narrowed her eyes. "Did you have my recruitment in mind all this time?"

"Partly, if you were willing. It all started with Ell, your Anna. She became part of the cause."

Terra nodded. "Well, from what I have seen so far and Anna's message, I would meet with them."

After a few minutes of sitting quietly, Will examined the numerous scrapes and bruises on both of them. He turned towards her. "I think I prefer making love with you than fighting."

Terra leaned into him as he circled her with an arm. "How about trying the bathtub tonight?"

"You are insatiable, Terra Lorr. But I will resist your seduction."

"Oh, I don't think so," she whispered, placing a kiss on his cheek.

*****

The next morning Terra picked up her viewer while laying in bed, her head resting back on Will's shoulder.

"Message from Hex. We have an audience with the Uprising council in six days. Exact time and location provided later. That was quick. Hmm, according to Hex, the poop still blows."

Will chuckled. "Well, you do have a way of messing things up. Speaking of which, are you going to help clean up all the water you splashed on the bathroom floor last night?"

She raised up, creasing her forehead. "I splashed on the floor? You were in the tub too."

"Yeah, but you were on top."

Terra sighed. "Okay, but only if you make breakfast."

"Deal."

They made travel plans while eating breakfast.

After chewing a bite, Terra said, "We should take your truck. The train is usually the preferred travel for agents, but if something goes wrong, I like having more transportation flexibility. It will take us three long days of driving to get there."

Will nodded. "I would like to check in with Ginny first to tell her our plans and to see how Freehold came through the Dynasty investigation."

"Yes, but can we do that safely?"

"When we get in communications range, I can check for any messages from her. We have our own code words to indicate whether or not it is safe."

"Alright," Terra said. "Then let's try for Freehold tomorrow morning."

Will rose, coming behind Terra to place a series of soft kisses along her neck, invoking small shivers and a moan. "One question, Agent Lorr," he whispered. "Am I still your prisoner?"

"Mmm... Absolutely. I still have you trapped in my sensuous web of desire, don't I?"

"Oh, yes. You do."