of that, deciding to have Corina's
final lesson out on the sundeck.

He took several seating cushions outside and arranged them so the sun
would warm them, yet not glare into his or Corina's eyes. Then he
leaned back on one set of the cushions to wait for her. Relaxing
almost totally, he watched a small cloud drifting in the clear green
sky. The sun's gentle warmth on his fur was thoroughly enjoyable. It
was indeed a pleasant change, he mused, to be able to relish such a day
with no duties to interfere. His position as High Adept made such
luxuries all too rare.

Corina's lessons were a self-imposed duty, one he was pleased he had
assumed. He was looking forward to her initiation into the White
Order, and the fact that he had trained her himself would make that
doubly enjoyable.

It was fortunate that Corina was available to the Order at all. Her
Talent had been deeply latent, not developing until quite late.
Because of that, she had been missed by the Order's usual pre-school
testing. That, Thark thought, still bitter, was one of the few things
the Empire's very presence had not changed. Although the examiner had
believed she had sensed something, Corina had been unable to receive
even the simplest thoughts, and had not had even a trace of mental
screen.

She had been seventeen, close to eighteen years old by the new Imperial
Standard measure, when she had found herself beginning to pick up
thoughts. She had gone, naturally enough, to a local Order chapter for
help and possible training. The chapter had reported it to him,
knowing he would be interested; when Talent appeared so late it was
almost always minimal, usually only telepathy and a weak mind-screen,
and the tester had been astonished at Corina's strength.

Thark had been surprised himself when he scanned her. It was then that
he had decided to take her as his private student. Four years'
training had brought out her potential, the power he had sensed she
should be able to control, when they met. It would be formally
recognized soon, when she was initiated; then Thark could bring her
into the Prime Chapter, where the Order could make full use of her
Talents. He had no intention whatever of letting them go to waste.
Senior Adept Corina of the White Order, he thought--yes, it had a
pleasant ring. He and the others of the Prime Chapter already thought
of her that way, used her last name only when formality required it.

He caught sight of h