“That is a relief,” Edmund said, his smile growing more genuine. “I understand the Indian climate to be quite enervating.”
“So Bess says.” Amaya leaned her head on Edmund’s shoulder and was drawn into his embrace. “But if Napoleon returns? Having endured Coercion, I cannot bear the idea of it being inflicted on anyone. If he returns, and I have the opportunity to fight, I will take it.”
“I would expect nothing less from you,” Edmund said.
She put her arms around his waist and closed her eyes. The sounds of the garden increased in volume, the whisper of the breezes over the weeds, the songs of birds settling into the trees for the night. Distantly, horses whickered in their stalls, reminding Amaya that Fernándo would likely entreat her to ride over the estate with him as he had said at supper. She did not like to deny him the pleasure despite her fear that the exertion would be too much for him. Perhaps that made her a true Salazar, after all.
The wind shifted, and for a moment, Amaya imagined she heard the cry of the jaguar echoing through the forests of her lost home. The coughing roar came again, and she recognized it now as the sound of distant thunder. A summer storm was rolling in over the hills, pushing the sweet smell of rain before it. How she had mistaken it for a jaguar, she could not understand—but that part of her life was over, and a new life beginning.
When next the thunder roared, she heard nothing but the storm.
The Talents
The Corporeal Talents: Mover, Shaper, Scorcher, Bounder
MOVER (Greek τελεκινεσις): Capable of moving things without physically touching them. While originally this talent was believed to be connected to one’s bodily strength, female Movers able to lift far more than their male counterparts have disproven this theory in recent years. Depending on skill, training, and practice, Movers may be able to lift and manipulate multiple objects at once, pick locks, and manipulate anything the human hand can manage. Movers can Move other people so long as they don’t resist, and some are capable of Moving an unwilling target if the Mover is strong enough.
An EXTRAORDINARY MOVER, in addition to all these things, is capable of flight. Aside from this, an Extraordinary Mover is not guaranteed to be better skilled or stronger than an ordinary Mover; Helen Garrity, England’s highest-rated Mover (at upwards of 12,000 pounds lifting capacity), was an ordinary Mover.
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SHAPER (Greek μπιοκινεσις): Capable of manipulating their own bodies. Shapers can alter their own flesh, including healing wounds. Most European Shapers use their ability only to make themselves more attractive, though that sort of beauty is always obvious as Shaped. More subtle uses include disguising oneself, and many Shapers have also been spies. It usually takes time for a Shaper to alter herself because Shaping is painful, and the faster one does it, the more painful it is. Under extreme duress, Shapers can alter their bodies rapidly, but this results in great pain and longer-term muscle and joint pain.
Shapers can mend bone, heal cuts or abrasions, repair physical damage to organs as from a knife wound, etc., make hair and nails grow, improve their physical condition (for example, enhance lung efficiency), and change their skin color. They cannot restore lost limbs or organs, cure diseases (though they can repair the physical damage done by disease), change hair or eye color, or regenerate nerves.
An EXTRAORDINARY SHAPER is capable of turning a Shaper’s talent on another person with skin-to-skin contact. Extraordinary Shapers are sometimes called Healers as a result. While most Extraordinary Shapers use their talent to help others, there is nothing to stop them from causing injury or even death.
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SCORCHER (Greek πιροκινεσις): Capable of igniting fire by the power of thought. The fire is natural and will cause ordinary flammable objects to catch on fire. If there aren't any such objects handy, the fire will burn briefly and then go out. A Scorcher must be able to see the place he or she is starting the fire. Scorcher talent has four dimensions: power, range, distance, and stamina. Power refers to how large and hot a fire the Scorcher can create; range is how far the Scorcher can fling a fire before it goes out; distance is how far away a Scorcher can ignite a fire; and stamina refers to how often the Scorcher can use his or her power before becoming exhausted. The hottest ordinary fire any Scorcher has ever created could melt brass (approximately 1700 degrees F). When she gave herself over to the fire, Elinor Pembroke was able to melt iron (over 2200 degrees F).
Scorchers are rare because they manifest by igniting fire unconsciously, in their sleep. About 10-20% of Scorchers survive manifestation.
EXTRAORDINARY SCORCHERS are capable of controlling and mentally extinguishing fires. As their talent develops, Extraordinary Scorchers become immune to fire, and their control over it increases.
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BOUNDER (Greek τελεταχύς): Capable of moving from one point to another without passing through the intervening space. Bounders can move themselves anywhere they can see clearly within a certain range that varies according to the Bounder; this is called Skipping. They can also Bound to any location marked with a Bounder symbol, known as a signature. The room must be closed to the outdoors and empty of people and objects. Bounders refer to the “simplicity” of a space, meaning how free of “clutter” (objects, people, etc.) it is. Spaces that are too cluttered are impossible to Bound to, as are outdoor locations, which are full of constant movement. It is possible to keep a Bounder out of somewhere if you alter the place by defacing the Bounding chamber or putting some object or person into it.
An EXTRAORDINARY BOUNDER lacks most of the limitations an ordinary Bounder operates under. An Extraordinary Bounder’s range is line of sight, which can allow them to Skip many miles’ distance. Extraordinary Bounders do not require Bounding signatures, instead using what they refer to as “essence” to identify a space they Bound to. Essence comprises the essential nature of a space and is impossible to explain to non-Bounders; human beings have an essence which differs from that of a place and allows an Extraordinary Bounder to identify people without seeing them. While Extraordinary Bounders are still incapable of Bounding to an outdoor location, they can Bound to places too cluttered for an ordinary Bounder, as well as ones that contain people.
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The Ethereal Talents: Seer, Speaker, Discerner, Coercer
SEER (Greek προφητεία): Capable of seeing a short distance into the future through Dreams. Seers experience lucid Dreams in which they see future events as if they were present as an invisible observer. They may or may not be able to recognize the people or places involved, so Seers tend to be very well informed about people and events and are socially active. Their Dreams are not inevitable and there is no problem with altering the timeline; they see things that are the natural consequence of the current situation/circumstances, and altering those things alters the foreseen event. Just their knowledge of the event is not sufficient to alter it.
No one knows how a Seer’s brain produces Dream, only that Dreams come in response to what the Seer meditates on. Seers therefore study current events in depth and read up on things they might be asked to Dream about. Seers have high social status and are very popular, with many of them making a living from Dream commissions.
An EXTRAORDINARY SEER, in addition to Dreaming, is capable of touching an object and perceiving events and people associated with it. These Visions allow them not only to see the past of the person most closely connected to the object, but occasionally to have glimpses of the future. They can also find a Vision linked to what the object’s owner is seeing at the moment and "see" through their eyes. Most recently, the Extraordinary Seer Sophia Westlake discovered how to use Visions attached to one object to perceive related objects, leading to the defeat of the Caribbean pirates led by Rhys Evans.
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SPEAKER (Greek τελεπάθεια): Capable of communicating by thought with any other Speaker. Speakers can mentally communicate with any Speaker within range of sight. Th
ey can also communicate with any Speaker they know well. The definition of “know well” has meaning only to a Speaker, but in general it means someone they have spoken verbally or mentally with on several occasions. A Speaker’s circle of Speaker friends is called a reticulum, and a reticulum might contain several hundred members depending on the Speaker. Speakers easily distinguish between the different “voices” of their Speaker friends, though Speaking is not auditory. A Speaker can send images as well as words if she is proficient enough. Speakers cannot Speak to non-Speakers, and they are incapable of reading minds.
An EXTRAORDINARY SPEAKER has all the abilities of an ordinary Speaker, but is also capable of sending thoughts and images into the minds of anyone, Speaker or not. Additionally, an Extraordinary Speaker can Speak to multiple people at a time, though all will receive the same message. Extraordinary Speakers can send a “burst” of noise that startles or wakes the recipient. Rumors that Extraordinary Speakers can read minds are universally denied by Speakers, but the rumors persist.
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DISCERNER (Greek ενσυναίσθηση): Able to experience other people's feelings as if they were their own. Discerners require touch to be able to do this (though not skin-to-skin contact), and much of learning to control the skill involves learning to distinguish one's own emotions from those of the other person. Discerners can detect lies, sense motives, read other people's emotional states, and identify Coercers. Discerners are immune to the talent of a Coercer, though they can be overwhelmed by anyone capable of projecting strong emotions.
An EXTRAORDINARY DISCERNER can do all these things without the need for touch. Extraordinary Discerners are always aware of the emotions of those near them, though the range at which they are aware varies according to the Extraordinary Discerner. Nearly three-quarters of all Extraordinary Discerners go mad because of their talent.
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COERCER (Greek τελενσυναίσθηση): Capable of influencing the emotions of others with a touch. Coercers are viewed with great suspicion, since their ability is a kind of mind control. Those altered are not aware that their mood has been artificially changed and are extremely suggestible while the Coercer is in direct contact with them. By altering someone’s emotions, a Coercer can influence their behavior or change his or her attitude toward the Coercer.
Coercers do not feel others' emotions the way Discerners do, but can tell what they are and how they're changing. Many Coercers have sociopathic tendencies as a result. Unlike Discerners, Coercers have to work hard at being able to use their talent, which in its untrained state is erratic. However, Coercers always know when they've altered someone's mood. Coercers do not "broadcast" their emotions, appearing as a blank to Discerners. Because Coercion is viewed with suspicion (for good reason), Coercers keep their ability secret even if they don't use it maliciously.
An EXTRAORDINARY COERCER does not need a physical connection to influence someone’s emotions. Extraordinary Coercers are capable of turning their talent on several people at a time, and the most powerful Extraordinary Coercers can control mobs. The most powerful Extraordinary Coercer known to date is Napoleon Bonaparte.
Historical Note
As with all my Extraordinaries books, I did a lot of reading that did not make it into this novel. The history of Spain’s interactions with Napoleon is tangled up with its own desire for government reformation, and I was fascinated by the struggle to create a constitution that would give more rights to the downtrodden—a struggle that was interrupted by forced abdications and the installation of a puppet government controlled by Napoleon’s brother Joseph. It provided an excellent backdrop for what came before Amaya’s return to Spain, as well as giving me an excellent justification for creating a guerrilla leader whose cause was both just and abhorrent.
Another thing I wish I had been able to include more fully is the important role the Catholic Church played in 19th century Spain. I had not read about the fight for Spanish independence in the Peninsular War when I wrote Wondering Sight, where Sophia refers to the reverence in which the Spanish held Seers, and in writing Liberating Fight I realized I had set myself up well for a culture in which Sight is considered a holy thing, and Seers are destined for a religious life. But, as with much else, this became a background note evident only in Amaya’s few interactions with her Uncle Leocadio.
In real history, Napoleon was driven to defeat in 1814 and was banished to the island of Elba. Clearly, that was impossible in my history; no Extraordinary Coercer could lose control of his Coerced followers so completely. But I wanted that same cessation of hostilities as actually existed, so in my world, Napoleon goes into hiding for a time. The discovery of where he went and what happens when he returns is the subject of another story.
Acknowledgments
As always, I am indebted to the careful reading and commentary provided by first readers Jacob Proffitt, Jana Brown, and Sherwood Smith.
About the Author
In addition to the Extraordinaries series, Melissa McShane is the author of many other fantasy novels, including the novels of Tremontane, the first of which is Servant of the Crown; the Company of Strangers series, beginning with Company of Strangers; and The Book of Secrets, first book in The Last Oracle series.
She lives in the shelter of the mountains out West with her husband, four children and a niece, and four very needy cats. She wrote reviews and critical essays for many years before turning to fiction, which is much more fun than anyone ought to be allowed to have. You can visit her at her website www.melissamcshanewrites.com for more information on other books and upcoming releases.
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Also by Melissa McShane
THE CROWN OF TREMONTANE
Servant of the Crown
Exile of the Crown
Rider of the Crown
Agent of the Crown
Voyager of the Crown
Tales of the Crown
* * *
THE SAGA OF WILLOW NORTH
Pretender to the Crown
Guardian of the Crown
Champion of the Crown
* * *
THE HEIRS OF WILLOW NORTH
Ally of the Crown
Stranger to the Crown
Scholar of the Crown
* * *
THE EXTRAORDINARIES
Burning Bright
Wondering Sight
Abounding Might
Whispering Twilight
Liberating Fight
Beguiling Birthright (forthcoming)
* * *
THE LAST ORACLE
The Book of Secrets
The Book of Peril
The Book of Mayhem
The Book of Lies
The Book of Betrayal
The Book of Havoc
The Book of Harmony
The Book of War
The Book of Destiny
* * *
COMPANY OF STRANGERS
Company of Strangers
Stone of Inheritance
Mortal Rites
Shifting Loyalties
Sands of Memory
Call of Wizardry
* * *
THE CONVERGENCE TRILOGY
The Summoned Mage
The Wandering Mage
The Unconquered Mage
* * *
THE BOOKS OF DALANINE
The Smoke-Scented Girl
The God-Touched Man
* * *
Emissary
* * *
Warts and All: A Fairy Tale Collection
* * *
The View from Castle Always
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