ras' throat, then nothing. "Very good, you have
it. Now down again."

Seconds passed, then, *How's that?*

*Excellent,* she complimented him. *You learn quickly. Now I must
test you, to find your shield's present strength. Prepare yourself.*

*Right.* Medart's shield went back up, and Corina began probing,
gradually increasing the strength and intensity of her attack while the
Ranger fought to hold his shield. His eyes closed, his fists clenched
with his effort. He was starting to break out in a sweat when Corina
felt the shield waver and instantly released her pressure.

"Are you all right, Ranger?"

"I think so," Medart said, shaking his head experimentally. "That was
. . . it was like nothing I've ever felt, ever even imagined." He took
several deep breaths, relaxing, then asked, "Just how much force were
you using?"

"About half my maximum."

"How's that compare to Thark?"

"That is difficult to say." Corina's ears went back slowly, a
thoughtful frown. "I would estimate he has half again my strength, so
that would be perhaps a third of his maximum."

The Ranger looked grim. "One chance in five? Looks to me more like
one in fifty."

"You forget he trained me. I know his patterns, can anticipate how and
where he is most likely to strike me, and strengthen my shield
accordingly. There is the added factor that this practice will benefit
me almost as much as it will you. My estimate remains one in five."

"You know more about it than I do." Despite his words, Medart was
doubtful. "Do we try that again, or what?"

"That would be unwise now; it is more of a strain than you realize. No
more than two, or at most three brief sessions like that per day, until
you gain strength. It would be as well to begin teaching you to use
darlas, however. It means going much faster than is usual for this
type of training, but our time is limited."

"It is that," Medart agreed. "How do I go about darlas?"

"It is similar to telepathy, which you already know, but is projected
directly rather than through the TP center, and is much more powerful.
You must try to force a feeling of pressure, of constriction, on your
opponent."

She raised her shield, holding it at half strength so she could feel
any success he might have. "All right, go ahead."

She waited patiently, but felt nothing, so she lowered her shield
slightly. Still nothing. She dropped it even further, finally managed
to detect an extrem