My father pursed his lips and looked as though he wanted to retort, but did not get the chance.
‘Are the two of you prepared to put your lives on the line to fight the war against Human enslavement?’ asked Bran Stalk.
‘Yes,’ I said fiercely. I looked to Jack, expecting him to show the same determination.
He nodded. ‘Of-of course.’
And so it was settled. Jack and I were the newest members of the Human Emancipation League.
~
The meeting was complicated. Elise Stalk pulled out an assortment of building plans of the Martinez Manor, showing where she thought Humans would most likely be kept.
‘You can see there is a dungeon underneath the kitchens here.’ She outlined a small, rectangular room. ‘We can break in through the servant’s entrance at the back of the manor, but the stairs that lead to the dungeons are through this corridor here -’
‘So if we know where they are being kept,’ I said, ‘why can’t we just go and get them?’
‘It’s more complicated than that,’ Elise said. ‘Nicholo Martinez is a very rich man and has a lot of security around his manor. He controls the largest shipping business in the south, which makes him very powerful,’ said Elise.
‘We have been doing research on the security around the manor,’ Bran Stalk took over. ‘I have a friend who works the docks and has overheard a few things. From what we have learned, Martinez has a group of cronies who go everywhere with him. We don’t know what their Powers are just yet, so we are waiting to learn more about them before we break into the manor.’
‘What is Martinez’s Power?’ Jack questioned.
‘Martinez can absorb most forms of energy.’ Tom Truscott said.
‘Like you?’ I interrupted.
‘No, not like me,’ Tom explained. ‘I can mimic Powers to a certain extent, for a short amount of time if the host is close to me. However, since I am only a level four Mage, my Power is limited. Martinez, on the other hand, can absorb light, heat, or electricity and channel it into whatever form he likes. This might be superhuman strength or enormous blasts-’
‘But if you mimicked him,’ I began slowly, ‘can’t you do the same thing?’
‘Like I said,’ Tom sighed, ‘My Powers are limited by my level. Martinez is a much higher level than all of us. Level eight, I think. I would not be able to mimic his Power completely. And since none of us are a level eight-’
‘I am,’ Jack interrupted. All eyes turned to him.
‘What?’ I gaped.
‘I-I’m a level eight Healer. Not that it helps much,’ Jack shrugged, ‘I can’t Heal Martinez into submission.
‘You never told me that!’ I said outraged.
Jack shrugged. ‘What does it matter? How else do you think I can out-heal your burns? If I was a lower level I wouldn’t be able to touch you when you combust.’
‘It matters a great deal,’ my father said. ‘This means you can heal at the same rate that Martinez absorbs energy.’
‘So?’ Said Jack, still confused.
‘So,’ my father said impatiently, ‘you may be the only one who can get close to him without sustaining permanent damage.’
‘Get close to him?’ Jack repeated. ‘Why would we want to get close to him? Won’t we try to free these Humans without notifying Martinez?’
Elise rolled her eyes. ‘Of course we are going to attempt a stealthy rescue; however we cannot assume that there won’t be a fight. Martinez and his cronies will defend the manor against intruders. We must accept the possibility of a fray.’
‘I wouldn’t be much use in a fight,’ said Jack.
‘You don’t need to fight,’ Bran said. ‘The Fire-Mages will focus their long-range-attacks against Martinez’s mob, since any direct hits on Martinez himself will be useless since he can absorb them. Meanwhile, Penny and Elise will try to find a way into the dungeon to rescue our family. I will focus on physical combat, seeing as Martinez can’t absorb my energy. Tom will be able to mimic Martinez to some extent and you will be there to mend any injuries we sustain. If all goes well we may be able to overpower him.’
A prickle of fear ran down my spine. I could see the doubt in Jack’s eyes. Had he thought Martinez would hand over the Humans willingly?
‘Um,’ Jack began nervously, ‘this might seem like a stupid question, but, has anyone tried knocking on Martinez’s door and asking him politely to give the Humans back?’
Almost everyone laughed, except me, because I knew that Jack wasn’t joking.
After calming down, Bran said. ‘Look, Martinez is one of the largest exporters of Humans in the country. He breeds Humans and ships them worldwide. If we can bring him down, we will be doing a great service to Human-kind.’
Jack seemed to understand, but still looked apprehensive.