Elemental Release (11 page)

That night, Liz’s message began with “The weather in Rhyss is windy.”

“Hold,” I instructed the air as I stood. I’d been sitting with a pencil gripped in my hands, ready to transcribe as quickly as I could. It had become a routine.

“What?” Gabby asked.

“That’s her code sentence for ‘I’m worried about something.’” The air current zipped around the room happily, unaware of the potentially upsetting message it was carrying.

“Continue,” I told it. “Slowly.”

“Plans to leave the city are in place. We leave at dawn the day after tomorrow. I should be home in two weeks.”

I glanced at Gabby, who shrugged. Her travel plans going as expected wasn’t concerning news.

“However, another Airmaster has arrived in the city. We haven’t seen him, but Airmaster Gold can feel him. The Councilman has his sentries looking.”

The message paused, and my heart rippled in the silence. I didn’t dare breathe in case of I missed Liz’s next words.

“The consensus is that the Airmaster is Theodore Wellington. Councilman Midstone would like Davison to know immediately.” I held up my hand as someone started for the door. The air message wasn’t finished yet. If it was, it would’ve already left.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you that we’re taking the train to Tarpulin. I’ll see you in two weeks. Hopefully the weather will be good.” The air whistled away, rattling the glass as it left.

“What does that mean?” Gabby asked. She knew all the weather sentences indicated mood.

“She’s worried, and so is everyone in Rhyss.” I ran my hands through my hair. “They aren’t taking the train, because that wouldn’t take two weeks. Or maybe they are taking the train…I don’t know.” I swallowed, trying to reason through what her coded message meant. We’d never discussed using the railway as code. But she obviously wouldn’t be taking the train—she’d be home in only a few days if they did that.

“Someone must’ve been listening to the message,” I muttered to myself. “Maybe it was altered? Maybe she was trying to throw off anyone who intercepted it?” I glanced up at Gabby, who only stared back.

I headed toward the door. “Let’s go tell Davison.”

Davison paced in his cavernous office. He hadn’t spoken since we’d arrived and I’d given him the report from Liz. The hour was getting late, but no one from my Council left. Airmaster Rusk had joined us on the way over to the fortress, somehow knowing everything from the air. I suspected that he could do more than read minds.

He glanced at me, then inclined his head toward Davison, who was now considering a table-sized map. My mentor’s meaning was clear.

“Sir?” I stood, and everyone looked at me. Gabby’s stare felt particularly heavy. “Perhaps Airmaster Rusk and I should head to Rhyss tonight.” The thought made my muscles quiver with exhaustion, but I pressed forward. “I believe the situation is more dire than Liz could say.”

He kept his gaze on the map for a moment longer, then lifted his head slowly. He looked to my right, where Airmaster Rusk had moved silently. I appreciated him standing by me, and as a rush of gratitude filled me, I felt like we presented a united front.

“Peter?” Davison said.

“If Airmaster Gillman believes we should go, I trust his instinct.” I didn’t glance at Rusk, but I wanted to gape at him. He’d never addressed me as
Airmaster Gillman
. It was always
Adam
or
Mr. Gillman
.

Buoyed in my confidence, I refused to look at Gabby who had stepped to my left. “We need to go.”

“I’ll go too,” Gabby said.

“No,” I said quickly. I pinned her with my eyes, silently begging her to stay here. I couldn’t stand the thought of her in harm’s way, especially up against someone as powerful as Theo. “We don’t want this to seem like an offensive move. Sending a Firemaker will feel predatory to Theo.”

“Adam—”

“Gabby,” I said.

Davison held up his hand to prevent our argument. “Councilman Kilpatrick, I cannot spare a Firemaker.” He exhaled. “I cannot spare two of my best Airmasters either, for that matter.” He paced away again, his fingers worrying the hair on the back of his head.

“Sir?” I asked when the silence had stretched so thin I couldn’t stand it anymore.

“You must go,” he said. “Leave as soon as you’re ready.”

Gabby didn’t say
anything back in her apartment. She sat cross-legged on the bed, watching me as I tucked my spare set of boots in my pack. I knew she had a lot on her mind, but she wasn’t saying anything out loud.

“Well,” I said. “I guess that’s it.”

“I don’t see why you can’t wait until the morning.”

I sat on the bed with my back to her, looking into the bathroom. “If it was you out there, traveling across the open prairie, I wouldn’t have wasted time to pack. Liz is our Unmanifested, and she’s my friend.” My throat narrowed. “If I can help her, I’m going to.”

I closed my eyes in a long blink, hoping Airmaster Rusk could get his hands on some hot coffee. I’d been tired before receiving Liz’s message.

I stood as Gabby scrambled toward me. I saw the fear in her eyes before she flung herself into my arms. “Don’t go,” she whispered.

“Everything will work out,” I said, something my brother used to say to me.

“I know that, I do. It’s just that I love you, and I’m so worried something will happen to you out there.”

I stiffened, though I wanted to hold her forever. I pulled back so I could see her face. “Did—?”

“Yes, okay?” She laughed at the same time tears spilled from her eyes. “I love you.”

Though my stomach felt twisted, a smile formed on my face. “I love you too.” I kissed her, wishing she hadn’t confessed her feelings for me only five minutes before I needed to leave.

Airmaster Rusk interrupted us as he rapped on the balcony door. I could barely see him because of his black robes. I pulled on my set of robes, shouldered my backpack, and kissed Gabby again.

“I’ll be back soon, okay?” I wiped her tears. “I promise.”

I sent little currents ahead of us as scouts. They returned every five minutes, bringing nothing sinister. Rusk and I soared over the land, each of us using our own cushion of air. I huddled into myself, my robe pulled as tight as possible to keep the icy air from assaulting my neck and shivering down my back.

We flew hundreds of feet above the earth so we wouldn’t be detected. I could see for miles and miles, but only darkness blanketed the horizon. Not knowing what lay ahead unsettled me.

I thought of Gabby, of her glassy eyes. Of the way she pulled on her hair and lifted one hand into a farewell while trying to give me a brave smile. I heard her words over and over.
Yes, okay? I love you.

By the time dawn chased away the night I’d found my center. Fear and worry wouldn’t help anything, and I needed to be strong to help Liz, to get home to Gabby.

“Airmaster Gillman, I believe you are ready for this,” my mentor said. He nudged his cushion closer and handed me a thick slice of dark bread. Then he produced a cup filled with coffee. It was cold, but I didn’t care. I needed to be awake and alert today.

“Thank you,” I said. “He will not come without a fight.”

Rusk considered the sky. “No, probably not. But Rhyss has a Council, and trained sentries.”

I nodded, but familiar worry gnawed at my insides. Theo could take down Councils and sentries. He had the forces of Mother Nature at his command, and he certainly knew things I didn’t. He knew how to invoke fear, use his power to bind and torture. If anything, Alex only chose those Elementals who had a sinister streak.

I knew that was why she commanded Isaiah to bury the Academy during his field trials. She wanted to see if he’d do it—and if he liked it. I hadn’t realized the depth of her intelligence, but I knew every one of her Councilmembers had done something as equally appalling as killing thirteen hundred innocent people—just to prove to her that they could, and would.

Wondering what Theo had done occupied most of the day. By nightfall I glimpsed the city lights of Hesterton to the west, and I knew we were close. My soul ached to return to that mountain city, to find the peace I’d had there during my vacation.

Airmaster Rusk glanced at me. “Davison will apprentice you in any city you request,” he said.

I shot him a startled look.

He folded his hands in his lap. “I’m sorry. I should not have read your thoughts. I have been trying not to these last few days.”

“But you still can,” I said. “Which means I have not mastered my Element.”

Rusk hummed. “But your thoughts have been dimmer lately. Harder to pluck from the mind.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means you’re calm, in control, centered.” I caught his smile through the last rays of light as night fully descended. “It means you are ready for this final test.”

I leaned away from his voice, shocked. “This is a test?”

“All assignments are,” he said. “I have passed many. A few, I have failed.”

The pitch of his air current changed, deepening as he began to shoot toward the earth. “Come,” he called. “We must sleep tonight.”

I riddled through what assignments Airmaster Rusk could’ve possibly failed. He never showed emotion beyond encouragement. He always presented himself as the emblem of patience and calm energy, with complete control over himself and the air.

I touched down next to him, my legs giving out. He wobbled for only a moment before offering me his hand to help me stand. I took it, and we set out walking.

“Where are we?” he asked.

The half-moon had joined the sky, but the real light emanated from a small village about a mile south of us. “Just north of Quail Run, I’d guess.” I turned my attention north. “Which means Rhyss is only a few hours by train.”

“And we’ll be on it by midnight,” Rusk promised. “We need to make sure Liz and her company are safely away, and they leave in the morning.”

“They’re not taking the train,” I said. I’d gone over her message countless times. “It wasn’t a slip. She was planning to be back in Tarpulin in two weeks. The train was a diversion.”

Airmaster Rusk nodded his approval. “I believe you are right, Airmaster Gillman.” He suddenly stopped to listen, holding up his hand for me to do the same. I heard the grumbling of the train as he did.

“Come,” he said. “Let’s fly.”