The Disappearance of Ember Crow

by Ambelin Kwaymullina

  He understood, of course. He raised my hand to his lips, pressed a kiss to my knuckles, and finished the sentence. “We will find each other.”

  And we flew, soaring towards the caves so we could plan out the details of how we would stand between the Tribe, and the trees, and danger.

  THE CENTRE

  The next morning, I was skulking outside Detention Centre 3 with Daniel at my side.

  Yesterday had gone past in a frantic blur as we formulated a plan, and decided who should put it into action. In the end it hadn’t been hard to determine who came on this particular mission. Firstly, Connor, both because of his superlative control of his ability and because he was the one who’d befriended Belle Willis and Jeremy Duoro, six months ago. Secondly, Daniel, because he could control his ability almost as well as Connor, and he was pretty much the only other Tribe member – except for Em, who wasn’t here – who could be trusted to keep their head. The absolute last thing we needed was someone panicking under fire. Thirdly, Jaz, to hide on the grasslands and relay messages by mindspeaking. And finally me, because … well, I hadn’t been about to let them leave me behind. But also because I was the one who knew Rae Wentworth, and that might be important. She’d never interacted with Connor, except as an enforcer; she’d only trust me.

  Now we just had to activate our plan.

  Jaz and Connor were at the front of the centre – Jaz crouched in the grasslands, and Connor hiding in the forests that ran along the road leading to the main gates. Daniel and I were lurking at the back, concealed by a pile of tumbled rocks. Fortunately, there was no shortage of convenient rocks to conceal ourselves behind in the Steeps, the hilly granite country that bordered Detention Centre 3 on two sides.

  I whispered to Daniel, “Are you sure you know where you’re Running to?”

  He gave me a look. It was a tolerant look, because Daniel had endless amounts of patience, but I got the message. I’d drawn him a map of the locations of the major structures within the centre, and of the storage building where we were headed now. He’d said he’d memorised it, and there was no need whatsoever for me to keep checking. “Sorry. You know what you’re doing.”

  “I really do, Ash.”

  I shifted my attention to what was in front of us. Most of the centre was surrounded by a high boundary wall with a walkway along the top that was continually patrolled by enforcers. But at the back, half the wall had collapsed in the fire Connor had started to cover our escape the last time we’d been here. There were still guards strung along the crumbled section, standing about twenty paces apart, as well as patrols that came by at regular intervals. It was the patrols we were concerned about; we didn’t want to pass close enough to one for an alert guard to notice something strange about the movement of the air.

  I watched as two enforcers appeared, pacing slowly past the standing guards. It seemed to take forever before they’d covered the length of the gap and disappeared behind the wall again. Daniel checked his watch. “Fifteen minutes since the last time they came through.”

  That was more than enough time for us to get in, especially with the help of a strong breeze to cover Daniel’s Running. He picked me up and held me tight against his chest. I called out to Jaz. Tell Connor. Now.

  The wind grew abruptly stronger, scattering stones across the ground as it gusted through the centre. Daniel drew in a deep breath and Ran.

  The whole world seemed to disappear into a big smear of paint, all the colours merging into each other. There was nothing concrete to focus on, and no sound except the roar of air rushing past me. Then everything solidified, only I wasn’t where I’d been before. Daniel and I were inside a building, one that was filled with crates and had a staircase leading up to an open floor above.

  He put me down. It was the first time I’d ever Run anywhere with him, and it had been – pretty amazing, actually. “How do you find your way when everything is a blur like that?”

  “Georgie asked me that once. I don’t see a blur. For me, it’s as if I’m moving normally and everything else has slowed to a crawl.” He glanced around curiously. “So this is the place? Where you showed Jeremy Duoro and Belle Willis the cache of streakers?”

  “It’s where Connor showed them the cache,” I replied. “Plus the rhondarite from the secret mine Neville had in the Steeps.” I jerked my head towards the upper floor. “I was hiding up there.”

  The storage building wasn’t very much different from how I remembered, except for the roped-off areas and little signs everywhere. It was an exhibit, now that the centre had been made into a museum.

  Ash? Are you there yet?

  Yep. Has Duoro come out?

  Nope. I’ll let you know when he does.

  “There’s nothing happening at the front so far,” I told Daniel.

  He nodded and began to stroll about. Like me and Connor, he was dressed entirely in Gull-City-blue; we wanted to be able to blend in with the Citizen delegates to the Adjustment if we had to. I leaned against a crate, fingering the stunner in my pocket. It was the only weapon we had, other than our abilities. And the collars, I guess. Daniel had three of the rhondarite collars that we’d taken from the rescued detainees bundled into in a small backpack. He thought that, with his speed, he might be able to get close enough to clip a collar on a minion. That was why he was also wearing thick gloves, to prevent contact between the rhondarite and his skin. Connor had tried to move a collar with air, in case he could find a way to use one as well, but it turned out it was unwise to rely on an ability to shift anything made of rhondarite.

  One stunner, three collars, our abilities and our wits. I wished we had more. I wished we had an army.

  I hoped we had enough.

  “Listen to this,” Daniel said. He was bending over a sign positioned next to an empty crate. “It’s a quote from Jeremy Duoro. ‘I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw what this box contained. Weapons. Row upon row of shiny, deadly, streakers. What terrible plan was lurking in the devious mind of Chief Administrator Neville Rose?’” He shook his head. “Does he really talk like that?”

  “He’s a dramatic kind of guy.” I smiled. “But a good one. He’ll help us if he can.”

  Ash? He’s coming out.

  I straightened. “Duoro’s outside the centre!”

  He’s strolling … He’s strolling … He’s heading across the gravel to the grasslands. Now he’s standing at the edge of the grass, all sad, boohoo. What a terrible tragedy, sixteen children eaten by saurs. Okay, Connor’s sending the rock.

  I imagined our rock being propelled through the grasses to stop at Duoro’s feet. We’d tied a short note onto it, saying that the Prime and the Adjustment were in danger, and asking Duoro to meet Connor in this building.

  It’s hit his foot. He’s glancing back at the gate guards … Wait, he’s doing the old “just bending down to tie my shoelace” trick … Nice. Very nice. He’s got the rock … He’s reading the note! He’s reading the note! Now he’s walking to the centre – bit quickly – whistling loudly – don’t overdo it, friend.

  A long pause, then, He’s back in.

  Thanks, Jaz.

  Good luck, Ash. And Connor says, he’s headed your way.

  I grinned at Daniel. “It went well. They’re coming.”

  He nodded, and we waited. The moments seemed to crawl by until the door finally opened and Connor slipped inside.

  I sighed in relief to see he’d made it in all right. “Any sign of trouble out there?”

  “Not that I saw. Not yet.” He walked over to stand at my side. “Duoro shouldn’t be far behind me.”

  He was right – it wasn’t long before the door opened for a second time, and Jeremy Duoro bounded in. He charged up to Connor, seizing his hand and shaking it enthusiastically. “You’re alive! Belle and I thought Neville might have killed you for telling us his plans.”

  Connor shook his head. “I got away. But I must tell you I’m not quite what you thought me. I am an Illegal.”

&nb
sp; Duoro’s gaze dropped to the Citizenship tattoo on Connor’s wrist. “Got the better of an Assessor, did you? Good for you!” He let go of him, beaming at Daniel and me. “Are you Illegals as well?”

  I nodded; there seemed little point in lying. “I’m Ashala, and this is Daniel.”

  “Ashala?” he breathed. “Not … the Ashala? Ashala Wolf? Leader of the Tribe?”

  “Um, yeah.”

  “It’s such an honour to meet you.” He turned shining eyes towards Daniel. “And you too, of course. I never thought I’d meet anyone from the Tribe!”

  “Thank you,” Daniel replied, and I could hear the suppressed laughter in his voice. “I only wish we weren’t here on such serious business.”

  Daniel, the diplomat of the Tribe; it was a polite way to remind Duoro that we had more urgent things to discuss than his love of all things Illegal.

  “The attack, of course!” Duoro exclaimed. He turned to Connor. “I’ve already warned the Prime. She’s increased security. Don’t worry though, I didn’t tell anyone else where the information came from, or that you are here.” He stepped closer and said in a lowered voice, “Is Talbot behind this?”

  I bit back a gasp.

  “You mean, former Prime Talbot?” Connor asked carefully.

  Duoro nodded. “Stories are being passed around his old supporters that he faked his own death to thwart an Illegal plot to assassinate him, and that he’s about to make a triumphant return. Have you heard anything?”

  There was a small silence. Daniel and Connor were leaving answering that question to me. If there’re rumours, I bet Terence is the one spreading them. In fact, maybe this whole attack was part of a plan for his “triumphant return” to save the world from vicious Illegals.

  I made a decision. “It is Talbot. He’s alive. And he has Illegals helping him.”

  “I knew he wasn’t dead!” Duoro exclaimed. Then bewilderment crept over his face. “But why would Illegals help him, or attack the Prime? She’s trying to get rid of the Citizenship Accords!”

  I sighed. “It’s complicated. The Illegals who are helping him, he’s made them hate themselves, the same way he hates anyone with an ability. They’re young and twisted up.”

  He frowned. “How young?”

  I thought about the minions Ember had encountered on the road out of Fern City, and the Yowler who’d attacked Leo. “About my age,” I replied. “Or a bit younger. Why?”

  “There’s a delegation of students from all the cities here to witness the Adjustment. But they’re teenagers – surely they couldn’t be assassins?”

  I exchanged a horrified glance with Connor and Daniel. It had never occurred to us that the minions might actually be part of the crowd invited to the Adjustment. My thoughts raced. We might have even warned the minions we’re onto them with the increased security … this is a disaster. But there was no time for regrets. “Believe me, they’re not ordinary teenagers, and you don’t want to see what they can do close up. Where’s that delegation right now?”

  “Probably in the old dining hall, at breakfast with everyone else.”

  “Including the Prime?” Connor asked.

  Duoro nodded, eyes wide. “Yes. I never thought – I didn’t think the danger could come from inside!”

  We hadn’t either. “We’ve got to get to the hall.”

  “Wait,” Duoro said. “I don’t know if this means anything, but one of the teenagers was ill this morning. Or said he was. He went to see Doctor Wentworth.”

  “Where’s she?”

  “She’s set up an infirmary in the old hospital.”

  Oh no. “That’s right near the cells!”

  “Ah, yes. Why does that matter–”

  “Because Neville’s in the cells!”

  He looked puzzled, and I realised I’d done a terrible job of conveying the dual threat. And I can hardly say, Rose might be in danger because he knows too much about a paranoid, three-hundred-plus-year-old aingl …

  Daniel intervened to deliver a short, masterful explanation. “We think Talbot was allied with Neville Rose in some way, including being involved in some of Rose’s unlawful activities. Talbot might now be trying to cover his tracks by getting rid of him. Rose could be a target, along with Prime Willis.”

  “Then we have to protect them both!” Duoro said. “Not that I think Rose deserves any help, but an assassination by an Illegal would be a disaster for the reform process.”

  He was a little erratic but not at all stupid; I should have remembered that.

  “We’ll need to split up. I–” I stopped, interrupted by a hissing sound from outside. What’s that?

  The four of us ran out to find a massive fireball hovering in the sky above the centre. We started towards it, but the fireball simply hung there for a moment, popping with small bursts of flame, before vanishing completely.

  “Is that the attack?” Duoro asked.

  Connor gave a grim shake of his head. “It’s a signal. For the attack to begin.”

  We’d run out of time. “Daniel and I will take the hospital and the cells. Connor, you go to the Prime. And be careful.”

  Be well, be safe, come back to me …

  He met my gaze. “You too.” And I knew he was saying that in answer to both the words I’d spoken and the ones I hadn’t.

  I nodded.

  Connor leaned over to grasp hold of Duoro’s arm. “We’re going to have to fly. Don’t worry, I won’t let you fall.”

  An expression of sheer delight flitted across Jeremy Duoro’s face, and the two of them soared upwards.

  I reached out to Daniel. He lifted me up again, and we Ran.

  THE SACRIFICE

  When the world resolved into itself, we were at the old hospital building. Daniel set me down and zoomed inside, tearing through one room after another. I could only follow his progress by seeing doors fly open down the central hall; I couldn’t actually see him.

  He materialised in an open doorway, looking shaken. “Ash? There’s a woman in here … and if this is Wentworth, she’s dead.”

  I sprinted forwards, my heart slamming against my ribs, and stopped at Daniel’s side to take in the terrible scene. Doctor Wentworth. The brown-skinned Mender was sprawled on the floor, red robes pooling around her.

  Half the back of her head had been caved in with a blood-soaked rock that was still sticking out of her skull.

  “The minion who was here has probably gone after Neville,” Daniel said.

  I nodded. I knew I should say something, or do something, only I couldn’t seem to move or speak. My friend is dead. I wasn’t in time to save her. My friend is dead.

  Daniel shook my arm. “Ash? We’ve got to stop them from assassinating Neville, or this is all for nothing. And she’s gone. No one could survive that.”

  He was right. No, I realised with dawning hope, he was half right. One of us had to stop the minion, and almost no one could survive. I shoved the stunner into his hand and started towards Wentworth. “You go. I’ll catch up.”

  “I can’t take the weapon, it’ll leave you defenceless.”

  “There’s no reason for anyone to come back here. It’s Neville they’ll be after.” I kneeled on the floor and called over my shoulder, “Stop the minion, Daniel, and that’s an order!”

  He vanished in a whoosh of air. I felt frantically at Wentworth’s neck. Was that a pulse? It was so faint I couldn’t be sure. But, just as Firestarters didn’t burn and Waterbabies couldn’t drown, Menders were difficult to kill. Their bodies clung to life, and the more powerful the Mender, the harder it was to kill them. Wentworth was the best Mender I’d ever seen. Only she didn’t seem to be Mending, not from this. Had I imagined the pulse?

  I hovered over her, biting back a whimper. Then I noticed the rock. It was a funny shape, all pointed and sharp, almost as if it were – crystal? It’s not a rock. It was unprocessed rhondarite. The minions must have swiped it from one of the displays in the centre. And it was partially embedded in Wentworth
’s head.

  Which meant it was blocking her ability.

  I grabbed hold of the rhondarite, trying to be gentle as I pried the awful thing out.

  “It’s gone, Rae,” I whispered, when I had it free. “Get better. Please get better.” I threw the rhondarite away, and wiped my bloody hands on my pants. Then I brushed her dark hair back from her face so I could see her eyes, hoping they’d flutter open. They didn’t, but … was her skull repairing itself? It was hard to tell, so I felt her neck again. There was a definite pulse this time, growing stronger by the moment. She was Mending. I heaved a sigh of relief and leaned back.

  That was when I saw it.

  There were letters scrawled across the wall to my right. Letters written in blood. We are everywhere. I fought a sudden urge to throw up. Whoever had been here had taken the time to use Wentworth’s blood as she lay dying, so they could – what? Inspire fear? No, inspire terror. To make people believe there were Illegals everywhere ready to attack them the way Wentworth had been attacked. It was cruel and twisted and … effective.

  The doctor stirred. She stared up at me out of dazed dark eyes. “Ashala? What are you doing here?”

  I got control of my rage and replied in something approaching a normal tone of voice. “Long story, and you’ve been badly hurt, doc. You need to lie still.”

  “There was a boy. He said he was sick. Did he hit me with something?”

  “Yeah. With rhondarite, but you’re getting better now. Listen, he’s an Illegal, and he’s here to hurt people. If you’re okay, I have to go.”

  “People are hurt?”

  She struggled up, rising onto her feet. I stood with her, trying to keep her steady. “You need to lie down!”

  “If someone’s hurt,” she said stubbornly, “I need to help.”

  “No, you don’t, and anyway no one’s hurt yet, I hope …”

  “Ashala.” She shook free of me. “Explain to me what is happening. Why would someone attack me?”