Elemental Release

Chapter Eight

The road to Hesterton felt deserted. No one left Tarpulin when I did; no one passed me going into the city. The city-state of Junction sat between Tarpulin and Henderson, only a day's walk away. I should've seen merchants, traders, and trappers on the road. It was nearing September, and the summer spoils should be displayed in markets for the fall festivals within the week.

And yet I saw no one. I stopped for lunch, but before I ate the leftover roast chicken the cook had packed for me, I composed an air message to Airmaster Rusk. Is there a sanction on traveling? I see no one on the road from Tarpulin to Junction.

I sent the current away, hoping my mentor would answer immediately. I crunched through an apple, my chicken, and drank as much water as I could hold. Mentally tired, I decided to create an air cushion and soar over the remaining miles to Junction.

The city-state sat between the mountains and the sea, and all roads led to it. It was a thriving, bustling city that provided shelter and safety for travelers. With more visitors than permanent residents, finding a room and a hot meal had never been hard. When I arrived, I still had a couple of hours until the dinner rush. I used the time to find a place to sleep for the night.

I'd traveled through Junction several times as a sentry, and my arrangements had always been made by the Supremist's Unmanifested Councilmember. Now, I entered the inn on the south end of the city. Coming in from the bright sun made everything appear dark.

"How can I help you?" a man asked as I waited for my eyes to adjust.

"I need a room for the night," I said.

"No problem," he said. "Our standard package includes dinner at six, and breakfast before nine. Just you?"

"Just me," I confirmed, finally able to see the man. He stood to my right, behind a counter. I moved to him and counted out the appointed price. He handed me a key and told me I could go up now if I wanted.

I thanked him and made my way to my room. I left my backpack on the bed and washed my face. I didn't want to spend time enclosed by four walls, even if I did think a nap sounded like a good idea. Instead, I left the inn, hoping the town square would provide me enough entertainment to kill the next three hours.

The market wasn't too busy, normal for this time in the afternoon. I found a bench in the small park that faced the merchants and settled down to people-watch. No one seemed nervous; people conducted their business with ease, and my fears about traveling sanctions eased.

A group of trappers entered the square, bought a ham bun from a street cart, and made their way toward the end of the road, where a stand was being constructed. They dropped their packs and began unloading their furs. With their scraggly beards and dirty clothes, they'd obviously just arrived from their caches in the mountains.

I couldn't help watching them. Something about their lifestyle, the way they lived off the forests for six months out of the year, appealed to me. No conference rooms, no meetings, no mentors demanding they perform impossible Elemental feats.

"Adam Gillman?"

My name in a man's voice drew my attention from the trappers. I focused on the ginger-haired man for a few seconds before I recognized him. I stood quickly, moving to shake his hand.

"Shane Mendelson." We shook hands and clapped each other on the back. "What are you doing here?" Shane had been on the same Council as Isaiah and Cat—the Council I'd been tasked to kill. I hadn't been able to do it, and Shane had taken the blame for the murder of his Councilman, Reggie Avis.

But I was the one who used my air to smother Reggie. He'd offered his life for those of his Council. Seeing Shane simply reminded me of what I used to be, what I used to do. What I still knew how to do.