Bonus material
And now…
An excerpt from Indictment.
Book two in the Elementalists trilogy.
of Novo Mesto, Slovenia
Once a haven of the elementalists, Novo Mesto became the humans’ first successful stand against their oppressive power. Mason Ford crouched in the middle of the road leading into the heart of the city and watched the ash and snow drift to the ground around him. The pavement felt warm to his touch despite the darkening weather. He didn’t want to be there, among the rubble, but he couldn’t walk away—no—Tyr would notice. He kept Mason and Ryan close for his own reasons. Mason couldn’t fathom those reasons anymore. Tyr went mad for his quest—and the world followed him.
“We’re to head out in the morning.” Ryan Everton stepped up behind him with nary a sound, and Mason jumped.
“That’s his orders?” Mason’s stomach dropped.
“Yes.”
“And our task?”
Ryan took a shaky breath of frigid air; it rattled in his chest. “Testing center.”
The faces of one of the families trapped in their house as Mason lifted the flamethrower under orders flashed through his mind. They didn’t look scared but sad and resigned. He would stare at those faces forever and only add more to the number while trapped at Tyr’s side. “What’s he doing with the testing center?”
“Countries under his banner are investing in genetic testing.”
Mason bit his tongue and tasted blood.
“Some have started ghettos,” Ryan continued. “Tyr is sending us to work with the top brass on the testing center.”
“Away from the fighting?” Mason lifted a hand to shade his eyes from the fading light on the horizon. He could see a mass of black dots growing bigger.
“For now.” Ryan spotted the same shapes. “The elementalists are arriving.”
“We should go.” Mason turned his back on the smoldering ruins and followed the wet pavement.
Ryan fell into step next to him. “What’s your rush?”
“If Luana is in that convoy, I don’t want her to know I’m mixed up in all of this.”
“Do you believe the same things as Tyr?”
“I don’t know anymore.”
January 30, 2318
Mason packed his last bag. They would ship out in a few hours. He had to be prepared to lift off from the airfield on time. The elementalists didn’t bother to do much with their camp over the last sixteen hours; they focused on the town—or the piles of ashes. Mason and Ryan would help with the testing facility, but he also knew Tyr wouldn’t keep them out of the line of fire permanently. No.
Tyr wanted them to meet their children on the field. He wanted the reality of the situation to drive a further wedge between the elementalists and the humans. Mason slung the strap of the bag over his right shoulder and stepped out of the nearly empty tent. The lower ranks would arrive later to pack away the beds and disassemble the tent.
He raised a hand to shield his vision from the bright sun overhead and saw the swarm of activity in the lower town. Green uniforms moved among the remains. Mason breathed a little easier. No orange uniforms meant Luana wasn’t there. The same went for white; Ryan wouldn’t have to face his son—yet.
“The Life branch.” Ryan joined him with his bag over his left shoulder. “I doubt they’re all life elementalists, though. That’d be a stupid strategy.”
“It’d leave the element without a military presence, and the others without medical aide.”
“Exactly.” Ryan scratched his eyebrow. “Either way, it’s a smart idea to send the Life Council member. Have you seen what he can do?”
“Not personally. You?” Mason led them through the crowds of people to the airfield a little closer to the town.
“In video—and I heard from Tyr what he saw the day they took his daughter. It’s intimidating to think someone has so much power to keep people from dying. How many of our people would kill for a blessing like that?”
Mason grinned. “I suppose that’s why they’re here.” He stopped walking and watched a unit pull people out of one of the houses from a distance. They looked alive. Mason’s brow furrowed. “Do you know where Tyr is planning to attack next?”
“You mean HISS?” Ryan asked.
Mason laughed. “I’m sorry, what?” He started to cough from laughing and couldn’t focus on Ryan’s identical grin.
“The Human Inquisition for Systematic Suppression. It’s the new name they’ve fashioned for the movement—Tyr is at the head, but it makes the backers feel more involved.”
“And they went with HISS?” Mason rubbed his hands across his face. “I’m glad I wasn’t in that meeting.”
“Same here.” Ryan’s eyes dropped to the city again. “I heard they want to go after all the safe cities first—HISS is planning on the Philippines.”
“Want to make it more difficult for HISS?”
Ryan imitated a fish for a few moments. “How?”