J. Mitchell: The Severed Tower

It was cryptic. Had it been just words, Mira might not have understood, but it was more. It was emotion, and intent. For reasons still uncertain, Ambassador and the others had come here to keep Zoey from falling into Assembly hands. They had failed—and now there was only one course open to them. The same as Mira’s and Holt’s.

Mira nodded to the machine as they approached, and answered with a single word. “Okay.”

Ambassador turned and stomped southward, followed by the Hunters. Light flickered brightly off the armor of the rest of the silver Assembly in the distance. Engines roared to life. Walkers began to move. Dropships lifted off, gathering up machines for transport.

Bright flashes and pulses of sound accompanied dozens of other walkers like Ambassador, teleporting in with yet more forces. Mantises, even three or four Spiders, all of them beginning to move, joining the others, their footfalls echoing like thunder.

All around them the White Helix were landing on the ground, thousands, stretching in every direction, following after Holt and Mira, chanting a single word, over and over. “Strength! Strength! Strength!”

For once, she and Holt weren’t alone. On the contrary, as strange as it was, it appeared they had an army.

“Go find her, boy,” Holt told Max, and whistled three loud notes.

Max darted forward, eagerly tearing ahead of everyone, blowing past three of the silver Hunters. They trumpeted in surprise, racing after the dog, but even they couldn’t keep up with him.

Holt took Mira’s hand. She gripped it tightly. They walked south; down one last, unseeable road. Together.

Midnight City

J. BARTON MITCHELL is a creator and writer of speculative fiction living in Los Angeles. This is his second novel.

The author and publisher have provided this e-book to you for your personal use only. You may not make this e-book publicly available in any way. Copyright infringement is against the law. If you believe the copy of this e-book you are reading infringes on the author’s copyright, please notify the publisher at: us.macmillanusa.com/piracy.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

THOMAS DUNNE BOOKS.

An imprint of St. Martin’s Press.

THE SEVERED TOWER. Copyright © 2013 by J. Barton Mitchell. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

www.thomasdunnebooks.com

www.stmartins.com

Cover design by Lisa Marie Pompilio

The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:

Mitchell, J. Barton.

The Severed Tower: a Conquered Earth novel / J. Barton Mitchell.— First Edition.

p. cm.—(The Conquered Earth series; 2)

ISBN 978-1-250-00947-0 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-250-02070-3 (e-book)

1. Fantasy fiction. I. Title.

PS3613.I8548S48 2013

813’.6—dc23

2013028724

e-ISBN 9781250020703

First Edition: November 2013