Maven Noah Sommerton
Despite this dangerous drawback, Noah’s abilities become indispensable as Squad 54 treks through the perilous wilds of the Meadows, and later when he takes up his post as a medic for Temple Jocasta. His teammates understand the storm he battles each time his power is unleashed, and they’ve learned to give him space when the red haze sets in. Yet the burden weighs heavy on Noah, whose first instincts lean toward kindness, patience, and quiet generosity. It’s a cruel irony—the gentlest heart in the squad carries the fiercest fury within.
Snippet from A Knack for Metal and Bone
Noah uses his knack to heal.
Noah continued his catalogue of Bretta’s wounds. He cleaned them, treated them with antiseptic and applied bandages. Only one was large enough to need stitches.
“Get me some thread.” He pointed at his bag. When Rowan hesitated, he shoved her aside. “Never mind. I’ll do it myself.”
Rowan sat back on her heels and shot a glance at Conall. The commander stood with his arms crossed over his chest. He saw Rowan’s concern, but only shook his head. It was some kind of warning, but Rowan didn’t know what for.
By the time Noah finished, his lips were pressed into a thin line and his hands shook as he tied off the last stitch. His eyes had deepened from brown to nearly black and seemed sunken in his skull. He rose and stomped over to Valko, grabbed the rail gun from his hands and shot the two loaded bolts into the sky. Then he turned the gun around and smashed it on a nearby boulder. One of the rails flew off and landed in the grass. Noah beat the rock again and again as parts of gun cracked and scattered. When there was nothing left but the grip, he threw that into the river, raised his hands to the sky and let out a primal scream that echoed across the Meadows. The scream died away and he stalked into the grass away from the road.
Conall jerked his head at Valko. “Go with him. Make sure he doesn’t hurt himself.”
“Is that a reaction to thera?” Rowan asked.
“No.” Conall rubbed his jaw as if it pained him. “That’s his knack. He can take the pain away, but it has to go somewhere. Apparently, it turns into rage. Pity because he’s a damn good medic.”