19 Cut-off time

The second she tapped into the gravitational field to gain consciousness of the weight of the pebble she held her breath and with all her concentration focussed to get it to rise from the ground.

Telekinesis required great effort and concentration and often led to the inability to perform any other tasks while your mind was locked onto its target. Also, it could cause physical and mental stress if it was used for long periods or if it was done on objects on which a force was already exerted.

Even though it was just a pebble, Rue began to understand what this meant as her abdomen muscles got too tight and she realized she was not breathing. It got her lips to rip apart as she gasped for air and lost her focus from the pebble which fell back to the earth.

Her older Mera friend Sifu was there and had recorded the distance she was able to lift the pebble into the air. Ever since her spark he began helping her instead of suggesting she focused on other areas like her stealth energy shield.

"One inch," he told her.

Her head hung to the ground in disappointment. They both had been working on improving her telekinesis from early that morning with little progress. Now there was a ringing in her ears and felt she too weak. It was exhausting. She had put the image of a Werewolf in her mind as he said, but that's all she could get out of it.

"Don't overdo it," he told her as he stood to his feet. "That's enough for today. I recommend you get something to eat. They're making another of Roshar's favorites."

Roshar one of the head cooks and a volunteer for the Quest had decided to treat his fans by making their most loved foods until he departed.

Rue thought that was a good idea, as she had used up most of her energy. The second she moved to stand from the ground, her guards began to lean up from against the stone wall behind them. It was seldom that they broke from their statue-like stand and usually only did so on very boring occasions, such as watching her practice her telekinesis.

As she walked out of the stone-walled archway to an opened path with trees above their heads, Meras that passed her wished her luck on the Quest. It had been like that ever since the last gathering.

Three days had already passed since the six volunteers rose to take on the assassination Quest to eliminate the White Queen. The cut-off time was the next day at noon.

With Ezra now a part of the Zunbera-xefi he was at the training plains every day since then and Rue took every opportunity to harass him. Now was one of those times as her eyes locked onto him from a far distance.

He was with a group of male Meras practicing dagger throws. He looked saner since the volunteer gathering. He looked like he had slept with his hair combed like she's used to, but dressed in his dark red uniform with long sleeves down his arms and legs.

The dagger he held was completely drained of all its poison from holding it faced-down for too long. It had all dripped out and so it left no red stain around its edges once it hit the target. Rue slapped one hand over her face at the thought he was going to get himself killed before he even reached the Werewolf Domain.

If only she had some Jedposa to weaken him and then tie him to a tree hidden deep within the forests until time passed and the others go on the Quest without him.

She leaned up against a pillar to watch him with rage. Her guards made her too obvious and once his eyes caught her he decided to take a break and headed over to her. Unlike her, he found her attempts to convince him amusing.

"Good morning your highness, is it that time of the day already?" he asked with a smirk as he passed her. Like her, he was heading to get food from Roshar's station.

"Good morning Turill the second. With every passing day you remind me more of that unlawful lowlife," she greeted him as they both marched down the same path.

"Tomorrow is the deadline and you still haven't withdrawn. Why are you so fixed at aggravating me?"

"Me?" asked Ezra who glimpsed back at her with shock before slowing down to walk at her side. "Aren't I supposed to be asking you that question?"

He waved to several members who wished him luck on the Quest as they passed by.

"See, why can't you be more like them wishing me luck instead?"

But before Rue could speak another word he persisted, "Let's leave the talking for when we're comfortably seated by the benches, it's not good manners to talk while walking. You for one should know that."

Those statements got Rue to slow down a bit and glimpse behind at her guards. He was right, speaking at the top of her voice and tagging behind such a low life Mera like him made her look bad. She stopped talking and walked with her head held high until they reached the end of the paths that lead to the kitchen station.

It was a small temple with opened windows on two of its sides for making and receiving orders. Surrounding it were benches under several pergolas all covered with trailing plants. The plants blocked out the right amount of sun to cast gentle streaks of yellow light down on the benches.

They were serving a special kind of ramen. Ezra who had become friends with Roshar in the meager span of three days greeted him.

"Hey chum, it's only one day until we're legally bound by our life-changing adventure. Heard about any new volunteers yet?"

"I doubt it," replied Roshar with a chuckle as he handed him a bowl with thick steam rising from the top. "The smaller the gang the better I always say."

"Why did I wait until now to join the Zunbera-xefi it's like a holiday here," commented Ezra as they headed towards one of the pergolas. The lights shining down through the vines and leaves on the roof cast millions of tiny blotches on the wooden benches underneath.

Rue slammed her bowl down hard and sat on the opposite bench to face him. "Ready to start talking?"

Ezra sighed as he positioned his chopsticks in his fingers. "Fine, but can we eat first before you start your speech?" His eyes moved from her and down into the steaming bowl. "Yesterday my food got cold and I got gassy because of you."

"I don't give a damn about that, you son of a human!" she fumed. "You are making a great mistake. Just think about what your parents would think about you slaughtering innocent Werewolf lives and repeating this stupid cycle of revenge and hatred?"

"You mean hunting down their murderer? I know they would be honored."

"No, they won't. As the daughter of the Chief and likely heir to the throne, I command you to withdraw." Her fist slammed onto the wooden table so hard other Meras seated nearby had to glimpse their way.

Her strong display of rage got him to lower the bowl from his mouth and he took a hard swallow. He looked up at her and said, "For someone from royalty you're acting out of character. But don't worry" -- he winked at her -- "it amuses me."

"Ugh!" uttered Rue with disgust.

He reached for her hand and gave her a flirtatious sneer. "You are way cuter when you're mad. Keep it up, you'll get a medal soon."

Rue pulled her hand away from his. "Stop changing the topic."

"Fine," said Ezra. "So, how are things going with Crayon and your brilliant plan?"

Rue was hurt that Callum had not made any efforts at pleading to get her to withdraw. She wondered if he had heard the news or not.

"...It's Callum," she mumbled and looked down into her bowl. She no longer had the energy to pester Ezra as she went on to think about Callum. The sadness made her realize how hungry she was so she began to eat.