Silver Elite: Chapter 4

[penwalla]

The chapter opens with Wren lying in bed, being sad about Julian as she tries to figure out how to save him. He's a typical abrasive but secretly kind mentor type, but this is still a good scene.

“My name isn’t Girl.” I stubbornly stuck out my chin. “My name is—”

“No,” he interrupted. “It isn’t.” He knelt in front of me, grasping my chin when I tried to look away. “That name you think is yours, you need to forget it, do you understand? The little girl you used to be is dead. You are somebody new now.”

We learn Wren named herself after a bird she saw during this conversation. I assume her real name will be revealed later for drama. Anyways, next scene.

Wren has arrived for Julian's execution. She makes her way there, skillfully dodging all surveillance. I don't know that I buy that Wren, who seems to have spent most of her life hiding out in relatively rural areas, would automatically be an expert in avoiding being caught in an urban area, especially when it seems like she hasn't spent a lot of time here. Ah well.

They bring Julian to South Plaza (god, the names of things in this book are so bad) and Wren mindlinks with him as she tries to figure out how to save him.

“How do we stop this?” I ask Jim.

“We can’t. You really shouldn’t be here.”

“Where else would I be?”

I scan my surroundings in desperation. I need a weapon, but the citizens are unarmed. The only weapons belong to the officers on the platform. Close-range assault rifles. They’ll do. One of the men is speaking into his comm now. I can try to distract him and—

“Don’t even think about it,” Jim admonishes.

Wren can't do anything. She tries not to cry and thinks about how her mother was also a member of the military, who begged Julian to smuggle Wren out because Wren's gifts manifested so early.

This is a monumentally stupid thing that Wren is doing, because if anyone notices she's crying they're going to think that is very suspicious, but it is a realistic thing to do and this book opened with Wren making a stupid decision because she was horny, so I don't necessarily mind it as long as this character flaw goes somewhere.

The firing squad arrives and raises their weapons.

Put your guns down, I want to scream. Put them down. Put them down.

A hush of confusion moves through the spectators.

I blink.

Half the squad has lowered their weapons.

The ones who are still in position glance at their comrades in bewilderment. One of the women, a tall brunette, appears puzzled. She shrugs one shoulder, her body twitching. Then she shakes her head a few times as if trying to snap herself out of something. She begins to aim her rifle again and I furiously glare at her. Put it the fuck down.

All eight rifles are pointed at the floor now.

I realize they can hear me. They can hear me. I feel a familiar surge, like my mind is suddenly alive, exploding with energy. It’s the same way I felt the first time I was able to incite Jim in the Blacklands.

Wren desperately tries to control the eight soldiers, to make them shoot themselves, but she loses control and makes them shoot Jim instead.

“Inciter,” I hear someone hiss.

I don’t know if it’s directed at me, but it doesn’t matter. I can’t draw any suspicion.

Incitement is punishable by death. Not just that, but it’s the only high crime in the Continent where the perpetrator doesn’t get to plead their case to the Tribunal. Which is a big hellfucking deal. Even an assassination attempt on the General lands you a hearing with the Tribunal.

Inciters, simply put, aren’t allowed to exist. We terrify the Primes too much.

Hey, uh...why? Why does trying to assassinate the General still get you a hearing? Isn't this a military-run dystopian world? Like, I get what the author is going for, but that feels a little ridiculous.

Anyways, Wren is immediately caught, and the chapter ends.

I thought this was a pretty effective chapter. This book isn't very original so far, but the execution (ha) has been okay. Let's see what happens next.