On Lonely Paths (Earth and Sky Book 2)

by Jann Rowland

  A chuckle and a shake of his head comprised Cirrus’s initial reaction. “Skye, you should not take everything you hear at face value. The gullible will always see phantasms in the darkness.”

  “Normally, I would think so, too. But I’ve heard the story from too many people for it to simply be ghosts in the night. What happened, Cirrus?”

  “There was nothing supernatural about my escape, Skye,” Cirrus said. He looked Skye in the eye, and this time, his expression was serious. “I had the assistance of a couple of my close friends in the guard, and they helped me escape.”

  “And what of the rumors?”

  “Undoubtedly, someone saw something they didn’t understand. Given that there was a storm the night of my escape, they obviously put unrelated pieces together and started spreading the story you have heard. Rumors have started with less.”

  “Storms are uncommon in the sky realm,” Skye said, feeling an unaccountable need to challenge his friend. “Most of them happen closer to the ground realm.”

  “But they are not unheard of,” Cirrus returned.

  Skye considered the matter for a few more moments before deciding not to pursue it any further. It was not important in any case, and since Cirrus was unconcerned, it was likely not something to worry about.

  “Fair enough. I do admit to some curiosity, however, about how you spent your time while I was in captivity . . . and why it took you so long to arrive at the battle. It doesn’t seem like you to hold back for so long.”

  Cirrus shrugged. “I tried to time my arrival to give the greatest boost to your forces and take the Seneschal’s men by surprise.”

  That seemed reasonable enough on the face of it, though it still bothered Skye. Furthermore, it did not answer everything he had wanted to know.

  When Skye prodded further, Cirrus replied, “I spent a lot of time recuperating from what happened to me in the ground realm. After my initial treatment by the healers, I had to do the rest of my healing by myself, and it took some time.”

  “Having a Skychild fly down and lift me back up to the clouds would have been helpful,” Skye grumbled. “Not to mention much faster . . . and quite a bit less annoying.”

  “And do you think we would have been able to get the collar off your neck?”

  “I’m sure we would have figured out a way.”

  “Don’t complain,” Cirrus said with a laugh and a slap on the back. “I was confident in your abilities, and I figured it was a matter of time before you were back. Besides, I could not be certain that you had been captured by Groundbreathers. For all I knew, you were hiding out in one of the other communities and would be back before I even left to look for you.”

  Skye was forced to acknowledge the validity of the other man’s assessment, though he still thought Cirrus should have come looking for him. He had been among the Groundbreathers for the better part of two months, after all.

  “I suppose you’re right,” Skye said out loud. Then, with a grin, he continued, “Besides, I shouldn’t complain. Because I was with the Groundbreathers for so long, I came out of my trials engaged to the most wonderful girl in the world. It would never have happened if you had come earlier to rescue me. Everything worked out fine in the end. Hawkins is gone, and we have the Fenik back, so it doesn’t really matter.”

  “But though you now have me in your possession, you have yet to use me to accomplish my true purpose,” Strix inserted.

  “That’d be counter-productive, don’t you think?” Skye said, turning to the bird. “I doubt Tierra would be happy with me if I used you to destroy her people.”

  The Fenik’s head bobbed up and down, and it replied with dark humor, “Undoubtedly.”

  Skye looked at the Fenik for a long moment, considering what he knew about the creature. The avowed purpose of its creation was to destroy the ground world, but after its transformation back into its current form, it seemed to have lost its bloodthirstiness and had settled into a state of general complacency. Perhaps that was due to the fact that it had no hope of being a dragon again anytime soon. Whatever it was, this development confused Skye, as it made the bird appear almost human.

  “By the way,” Cirrus said, breaking Skye’s concentration, “I had wanted to speak to you about that anyway.”

  “About what?” Skye asked as he turned and faced his friend. He could not help noticing the uncomfortable expression with which Cirrus regarded him.

  “Your proposed marriage to this Groundbreather. I think you should reconsider what you’re doing. I doubt Celesta would be happy about the king of her people marrying a Groundbreather.”

  Skye frowned. He had heard similar complaints from a few of his advisers, but he had never thought he would hear them from his good friend. Could Cirrus not see how happy Tierra made him? Skye had never thought his friend to be such a stickler for tradition. In fact, he would have expected to find that Cirrus was happier for him than anyone else was! Well, except for perhaps Gusty, who had known Tierra for even longer than Skye had.

  Skye gritted his teeth in anger. “I don’t think Celesta would want our people to cling to an ancient enmity without good cause. The Book of Celesta doesn’t teach us to hate people indiscriminately, and I am frankly rather surprised that you would have such feelings.”

  Cirrus held up his hands defensively. “You are right that Celesta is good, and she would never advocate hatred of any kind. She wants us to treat our own people kindly and fairly, to be certain. But you have to remember how terribly Terrain treated the mother he claimed to love. Celesta only ever showed him kindness, and what he did to her was unforgivable. A people who venerate that kind of god, well . . .”

  Upon seeing Skye’s expression, Cirrus said hurriedly, “While I’m sure that Tierra can only be a good sort of woman if she’s merited your approval, I know Celesta would not want us to . . . unite with their kind.”

  “And how do you know what Celesta wants?” Skye asked, his irritation leaking into his voice. There was a small sculpture sitting on a table nearby, and it was all he could do to keep from flinging it to the floor and smashing it into a thousand pieces. “Does she speak to you in your dreams, spewing off her opinions and prophecies?”

  Cirrus’s eyes narrowed at the insulting implication that he thought himself a prophet, but he did not respond with anger. “That is not what I said, Skye. I just think you should seriously consider what a marriage to a Groundbreather will do for you. What sort of message does it send to your people? It tells them that you think Skychildren women are not good enough for their prince . . . and that you prefer a . . . a Groundbreather.”

  When Skye responded, his voice was like cold steel. “No, it tells them that I wish for there to be peace between our two peoples . . . and that my genuine love for Tierra proves that Groundbreathers are not so different from us after all. I will thank you to be wary of what sorts of implications you make about my future bride. If you feel you must make derisive comments about the Groundbreathers, the least you can do is to be careful about leaving her out of it.”

  Cirrus heaved a sigh, as if making a concession, but there was a gleam of wariness in his eyes as he watched Skye. “I am sorry, Skye. I misspoke. It was not my intent to insult your fiancée. I hold no ill will against her specifically. She seems a pleasant enough sort of girl, for a Groundbreather. I know of nothing to disparage about her character. The problem is she is worshiping the wrong god. Terrain is but an ant compared to Celesta’s almighty glory. Were your fiancée to convert to worship of Celesta, then she might not be so objectionable of a choice. And while I admit there are some benefits to trading with her people, I think there is a danger to allowing such a blatant mixing of the races. Suppose others of a less sturdy character were to follow your example? If they go to live down among the Groundbreathers, they could start worshiping Terrain rather than Celesta, and if Celesta is not displeased now, well, she shall be then.”

  “I have more faith in our people than that,” Skye said firmly. “I sh
all never ask Tierra to conform her religion to mine, and neither would she ask the same from me. We will serve as an example of the marital felicity possible between two persons of separate races and religions.”

  “Skye—”

  “I will not be dissuaded from my current course, Cirrus,” Skye said coldly, his anger having cooled somewhat, though it still simmered beneath the surface. “Let it go. I will have no one disparaging my future wife—and, I might add, the future queen of the Skychildren—without facing my displeasure. She will be treated with the respect that is her due, and anyone who dares act against her shall face most severe consequences.”

  “I have no intention of harming the girl, Skye.”

  Skye sighed, trying to dispel some of his fury. “I know that. I trust you. But if my greatest friend speaks out against my wife, then it shall only bode ill for the future. I want your support, Cirrus. Your prejudices and ill will must be released. It was difficult for me to admit the Groundbreathers had any redeeming qualities while I was among them, but I have since come to see that they are an admirable people. They are different from us, but we share a common ground of humanity.”

  Cirrus dipped his head. “I hear you, Skye. I am only worried. There are . . . signs that Terrain is stirring beneath the ground. I fear that he may try to have his people rise up against us, and I don’t want them to be given an opportunity to stab you in the back.”

  “Stirring beneath the ground?” Skye asked, looking at his friend with confusion. “What would you or any Skychild know about Terrain?”

  “Oh, come now, Skye! You don’t think our little fracas with your bird friend there,” Cirrus gestured at the Fenik, who gazed at him with placid amusement, “didn’t draw his attention?”

  Skye let out a humorless chuckle. “I seriously doubt Terrain cares much about Skychild infighting. Hawkins and the Fenik are subdued, Cirrus. Our people have nothing to fear now. Terrain will remain ensconced in his cocoon of earth as he has these past millennia. You’re worrying about nothing.”

  Cirrus’s lips were a thin line as he studied Skye, but then he nodded and murmured, “Very well.” He then raised an eyebrow and asked, “Will that be all, Your Highness?”

  Skye shook his head in exasperation. “You know it’s always been ‘Skye’ to you, Cirrus.”

  The man gave him half a smile. “Soon, it will be ‘Your Majesty.’”

  “It’ll always be ‘Skye’ to you. You know that.”

  Cirrus gave him another smile, but it did not meet his eyes. “Of course,” he said. And then he took his leave, citing the need to attend to some business.

  Skye watched him as he left. This was no permanent breach in their friendship, Skye was sure. Given time, Cirrus would come to admire Tierra as Skye had. Until then, Skye would have to show the entire world how serious he was about marrying the love of his life.

  As the need was dire, Stonedog resolved to take the Fenik from the Skychildren at once. But he knew he could not enter the stronghold of the children of the sky goddess alone. A company of great warriors would be required.

  And so he went to the king of the Groundbreathers and told him what he had learned. The king was dismayed at the treachery of the Skychildren, but he had been well-chosen by Terrain to hold his position of power. Acting quickly, the king gathered the greatest warriors and advisers of the Groundbreathers together.

  For three days, they met, but their discussions descended into quarrels, for they could come to no accord concerning how to use the glider or what should be done once Groundbreather soldiers had been taken to the sky realm.

  At last, Stonedog said, “Before more time is lost, we must depart. Whatever is lacking in us, Terrain shall provide. He shall not suffer us to fail.”

  The king saw that what he had said was wise, and though a consensus had not yet been reached, those gathered praised Stonedog’s plan with one voice, calling out, “Hail Terrain!”

  CHAPTER

  FOUR

  King

  There was something wondrous about the sky realm. Tierra had been terrified the first time Skye had carried her up into the clouds, but now that she had journeyed there a number of times, she found the experience exhilarating. It was more fantastic than she had ever imagined as a girl. She loved the caress of the wind on her face, the sense of adventure, and the feeling of utter freedom that being in the sky allowed. Her inability to hold herself up in the air was rendered insignificant when she was in the presence of Skychildren whom she knew and trusted.

  “Hello, Princess.”

  The Skychild in front of her grinned as he alighted on the ground. Several of his compatriots landed behind him as a large Skychild barge set down just outside the castle. Though Tierra could not claim to be an expert on Skychild vessels, this one appeared to be much larger and better appointed than the craft in which she had journeyed during her first visit to the sky realm. It was brightly painted, as were most Skychild items, but it was also fitted with luxurious seats around the outside which were padded with some form of leather. This was to be the Groundbreather delegation’s means of reaching the sky on this important day, but Tierra was more interested in looking upon the friendly face that was even now grinning at her.

  “Gusty!” she greeted. “How are you?”

  “Better than ever,” the Skychild replied. “Things are busy in the sky realm, and I was grateful for a chance to get away, even for a few minutes.”

  It had been busy in the Groundbreather castle as well. Sequoia had originally spoken against the upcoming marriage, but she had been overcome by the excitement of having a daughter married and had thrown herself wholeheartedly into wedding preparations. While royal weddings were important affairs, this one promised to be the most impressive celebration that had been seen in some time. Though Tierra might have preferred a simple ceremony with the man she loved, she knew a large and lavish affair was warranted, as it was to be the first ever marriage between a Skychild and a Groundbreather.

  “Gusty,” her father greeted as he strode up to the young man. “Thank you for assisting with our transportation to the sky realm.”

  “It is no trouble, Your Majesty,” Gusty replied. There was a slight hesitance in his conduct, as though he still found it unusual to meet with the Groundbreather king as something more than a slave.

  A slight noise caught Tierra’s attention, and she turned to see what it was.

  “Skye!” she said in surprise as she took in his appearance.

  He was wearing a linen shirt over royal blue pants and had a thin white-gold circlet on his head, but the most interesting part of his attire was the heavy cloak that covered his shoulders. The blue of the cloak was even deeper and more impossibly blue than the pants, and when Tierra looked closer, she could see the cloak was actually fashioned of small feathers that had been woven tightly together and dyed. But Tierra could not make out what kind of bird they were from.

  “You didn’t think I’d let you fly back up to the sky realm without me?” the young man said with a knowing grin and a raised eyebrow. He obviously had not missed her examination of his person.

  “I suppose not,” Tierra said, continuing to look him over. “I have never seen you dressed like this, Skye.”

  “And you never will again,” Skye replied. “This is the traditional dress of a king’s coronation.”

  “Our royal color is emerald green.”

  Skye laughed. “Can you imagine the royal color of a people of the sky being anything other than blue?”

  Laughing with him, Tierra pointed at the feathers. “I’m not sure I have ever seen feathers like this.”

  “There are many different kinds woven into this cloak, Tierra. It is supposed to represent every creature of the sky.” He leaned forward and told her in a low voice, “Even one of Strix’s feathers is sewn into it somewhere.”

  Looking closer, Tierra could see that Skye was correct. There were many feathers of all different shapes and sizes, but as someone who was not an expe
rt on creatures of the sky, Tierra knew she had no hope of finding Strix’s feather. “I do not remember Hawkins wearing a cloak like this.”

  Skye shrugged. “He likely didn’t have time to have one made, though he broke enough traditions that it’s possible he didn’t care.”

  It was only the truth, and Tierra did not pursue it, knowing that despite Skye’s nonchalance, Hawkins was still a sore spot.

  Turning to Tillman, Skye said, “If your people are ready, we can depart at any time.”

  “I will give you the word shortly,” Tillman replied, looking at Skye and then Gusty. “I for one am looking forward to the upcoming ceremony. I imagine Skychild coronations differ greatly from Groundbreather coronations. It should be interesting and instructional to witness.”

  “We hope you enjoy it,” Gusty said, smiling.

  Tierra could not be happier about how easily her father was taking to the Skychildren. He already treated most Skychildren with respect and friendship, as though they were simply foreign dignitaries, and he was the only one of the family to do so thus far. Sequoia, though not protesting the state of affairs any longer, remained reserved when in contact with Skychildren, and the less said about Wisteria, the better. The only reason the elder princess was attending at all that day was because her father had decreed it, telling her that he would be greatly displeased if she stepped one foot out of line. Wisteria, though angry, had taken his warning to heart.

  It was a few moments before the queen and her eldest daughter arrived, and if Wisteria gave all the appearance of sullen intractability, Sequoia seemed quite stern. No doubt Wisteria had complained once more about attending Skye’s coronation.

  “We are ready to go, Mother,” Tierra said.