Elemental Rush

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve:

“Adam Gillman?” A sentry emerged from the shadows of a tree ten miles from Gregorio, his eyes as sharp as Felix’s had ever been.

I stopped at the sound of his voice as I appraised him. He likewise sized me up.

I’m taller than him, he thought. He’s skinny, but looks to be all muscle. Needs a haircut, and his eyes look like he’s seen dangerous things and knows how—

            I blocked his mind then, unwilling to know what he thought I could do. Sentries tended to be able to identify a fellow sentry easily enough. There was something about the way we carried ourselves that spoke of the horrific things we knew how to do.

“I’m Adam Gillman,” I said, taking a step backward. A sentry would never do that. He was taller than me, and he obviously ate better than I had been. But I’d been trapping, hunting, and cooking my own meals for a few months now. He sat down in a dining hall and ate as much as he wanted. He probably didn’t even know where his food came from.

He probably worked out every day. My life had become a constant workout, and thought I had stayed in shape, I knew I’d lost some of my strength. This sentry could likely take me in a hand-to-hand battle.

“Davison sent me to accompany you to his high-rise.”

“Lead the way,” I said.

#

“You’re sure?” Davison asked. He’d cleared his conference room upon my arrival, and then demanded to know how I knew Alex was a woman. I’d told him of sneaking into her quarters.

“Absolutely sure,” I said. “She has a vest she wears to make her shoulders wider and to cover her chest. It’s impossible to see under her clothes.”

Davison sighed like my confirmation of Alex’s womanhood caused him great pain. “I do not want to start a war,” he said. “But she’s nearly destroyed the Elemental educational system in our country. She almost destroyed the school here, and it’s still hasn’t reopened.” He stood and paced to the window, where he looked across the expanse of the city. “To my knowledge, there are only four schools left, and I believe they won’t be operational much longer. She is systematically removing the opportunity for Elementals to train and advance their skills.”

“But sir,” I said. “Why? Why is she doing that?”

“I don’t know,” he said more to the glass than to me. “I wish I did. At the same time, it doesn’t matter. She cannot be allowed to eradicate the way our government functions. We need trained and talented Elementals in order for our city-states to operate.”

“Maybe she wishes to be Queen,” I suggested.

“The thought has crossed my mind,” he said, turning back. He took a deep breath, which seemed to buoy him up. “Which is why I’ve spent every moment these past few months finding out the heart of each Councilman in each city across the Territories.” A tight smile formed on his face. “Secretly, of course. Everyone agrees with me. Something must be done to stop Alex. So Mr. Gillman, are you with us?”

“Of course,” I answered quickly. “I still have much to learn about my Element.” And politics. And running a city. And being a Councilmember. But I kept those things to myself.

“This will take some time,” Davison said. “And when the moment is right, we will strike Tarpulin and evict Alex from her Supremist position.”

I swallowed. “Do you think we can, sir?”

“I hope so,” he said, sounding tired now. “It’s never been done in the two hundred years since the Manifestation, but there’s a first time for everything.”

#

Only a week later, I was training with my old instructor in the orchards. I’d just sent a particularly powerful cyclone into the sky. He said, “Take a break, Adam. You’re doing great.”

I retired to the edge of the orchards, where I could see into the broad expanse of land surrounding Gregorio. I liked watching the wind wave through the prairie grasses and listening to the air currents sing as they streamed above the earth.

In the distance, my eye caught movement. I stood, trying to make out what the black dots on the horizon were. In my heart, I already knew. “Sentries,” I whispered. When the hum of a vehicle met by ears, my suspicions were confirmed. Only sentries on a mission could use motorized transportation.

“Mont!” I called to my instructor. Several seconds passed before he joined me. I pointed into the wilderness. “Sentries. Tell Davison, would you? I’m going to sneak out there and see who they are.”

Mont clapped me on the shoulder. “Be careful. Heroes can die too.” He turned, created a cushion of air, and soared toward the city. I copied him, but I aimed myself toward the black ants marching in two neat rows.

I positioned myself ahead of them by a few miles, which gave me enough time to find a hiding spot. My plan was to watch and wait—a lesson I’d learned well over the years.

My stealth was rewarded as the first sentries passed the low brush where I’d concealed myself. I could see them, but I didn’t recognize anyone. Their thoughts roamed from hunger, to concerns over the northern winter—which had been particularly nasty thus far—to what they might find in Newton.

I kept my anxiety contained. Newton was one of the last cities to house an Elemental school. I felt certain that if these sentries were allowed to reach their destination, Newton wouldn’t have a school for much longer.

“…Felix will know,” a man said, and I jerked my attention back to the line of sentries. “We keep moving,” he continued. “We don’t stop until Quail Run.”

“If only we all had a hovercraft,” one grumbled, and I knew where I’d find my brother. Of course he wouldn’t walk all the way to the Unmanifested village of Quail Run. Not if there was a heated vehicle available.

I waited until the sentry squad had gone another two miles. Then I sailed back to Gregorio to alert Davison of their mission.

#

“We need to go now,” I insisted. It had been two days since I’d spotted the sentries on the prairie. “They could be there any day now.”

Davison spared me a withered look. “Newton is a two-week journey from here.”

“On foot,” I argued. “And Felix had a hovercraft.”

“These things take time to plan,” he said. “I had Airmaster Jones send Councilman Sumpsion a message. He has assured us that they are ready for an attack.”

I accepted his answer, but my skin itched. I needed to go, follow Felix, and soon.

“Requesting permission to leave ahead of the defense party, sir,” I said. That got Davison’s attention.

“Mr. Gillman, is this personal?” he asked carefully.

I was unsure if an affirmative answer would get me what I wanted. I decided to go with the truth. “Yes, sir. I need to know what my brother is doing. Where he is. And why he’s doing this.”

Davison scrutinized me for a moment. His Unmanifested leaned close to him and whispered something. Finally Davison nodded. “Permission granted.”

I left that night, a backpack stuffed with an extra set of clothes, a blanket, two knives, and enough food to get me to Newton. I’d insisted I didn’t need so much, that I could find birds and rabbits on my own, but the cook didn’t listen.

I wasn’t willing to waste time by walking. I used the air, hoping to get to Newton at the same time as Felix—or faster.

When I’d been flying for five days, I crested the rise to see the city in the distance. That night, I stole over the wall. I could smell something strange, but didn’t pinpoint it as ashes until I encountered the ten acres where the Elemental school used to stand.