by Jann Rowland
“You could be lying,” Tierra said.
“He could be,” Canyon said, speaking up at last, “but you know he is not. Reach out with your senses, Tierra. Feel the ground beneath you and the earth above you. Can you say with any confidence that the destruction of even one tunnel would not have a cataclysmic effect on all the surrounding tunnels?”
“I do not know,” Tierra said with a frown. “Determining structural weaknesses has never been my strength. It is possible, I suppose.”
“More than possible—” Canyon began.
“We need to capture the Fenik, Princess,” Quicksilver said, throwing an irritated look at Canyon.
Tierra narrowed her eyes. “Why? So you can destroy the Skychildren?”
“No. We need to capture it so that the Skychildren have one less weapon in their arsenal. You must know that the Groundbreathers have no way of using the Fenik against the Skychildren. Accursed Celesta no doubt ensured that it could not be used against her children when she made it. You do understand your history, do you not?”
“I do,” Tierra said, glaring at the man, “but I wonder at the manner in which you speak of it. The Fenik was stolen from the sky long after we were sundered as a people, or do you have traditions about that as well?”
If Tierra had been hoping to rile him with her scorn, it was a miserable failure. Quicksilver only regarded her, his knowing smirk taunting her. She wished to slap it from his face.
“Indeed, there are traditions concerning that. For it was one of the Chosen who instigated the plan to deny the Skychildren of the Fenik.”
Tierra regarded the man as though he had sprouted a second head. “Stonedog was a hero of my people.”
“As he was a hero of the Chosen. But he only came to the surface world once Terrain had commanded him. Stonedog did so for the express purpose of convincing the first Surfacer king to organize a plan to wrest the Fenik from the Skychildren. Terrain knew his people could not stand against Celesta’s monstrosity, so he wanted to ensure they would not have to face the Fenik when he withdrew from their presence. And as he was still in close proximity to the people of Hearth, it was through one of the Chosen that he gave the orders. The Groundbreathers on the surface simply helped to carry out the command.”
Chewing her lower lip, Tierra looked at the man, frustration almost overwhelming her. What Quicksilver said was not in agreement with the traditions of her people, but then again, they had not even known the underground city existed.
“The Book of Earth tells us that Stonedog was a farmer,” Tierra said.
“Of course he was,” Canyon returned. “But he was a farmer among my people, coaxing food from the caverns deep in the earth. He went above-ground for the purpose of selling his produce. My people have not always held themselves quite as separate as we do now.”
The Book of Earth was vague enough at this part of the story that it made his tale possible, though Tierra could hardly fathom it. Tierra did not wish to believe them. But she could not discount what had been said out of hand.
“So I was never anything more than bait.”
“Of—”
“Quiet, Quicksilver!” Canyon snapped, cutting the man off with a glare.
Quicksilver only smiled with insouciant smugness. Tierra fixed the man with her own displeasure, certain that he had been about to confirm her suspicions.
“Of course, we did think this would be a way to lure the Skychild into the caverns,” Canyon said.
But though he appeared to begin with the same words that Quicksilver had been about to speak, Tierra was not fooled. Still, she listened to him without interruption.
“One of our informants suggested that the Skychild king valued you enough to come looking for you personally . . . and that he was rash enough to do so with only a few retainers accompanying him. Furthermore, we judged it likely that he would bring the Fenik to ensure he had a weapon with which he could overwhelm us if stealth and cunning should prove insufficient. Though we have never felt certain this would be the case, it has seemed probable.
“However, we also thought to save you from an alliance with this Skychild. We, being closer to Terrain, know that such a marriage would not be his will. The fact that you have been on the surface, further from Terrain’s influence, suggests that you might not understand this as clearly as we do. So to say that we wished to use you as bait to lure him here is not entirely incorrect, as it does not encompass all of our goals.”
Tierra crossed her arms. “And if I do not wish to be saved from the Skychild king?”
“That is, of course, your choice,” Canyon said, though he appeared unhappy with her response. “But I hope you can see the need to deny the Skychildren such a powerful weapon. Our people cannot stand against it, as you have experienced firsthand. You trust the king, and he may indeed be trustworthy in this matter, but you cannot trust everyone in the sky, and you must know that there is no way to guarantee the current Skychild king will remain in power.”
“The Fenik must be in Groundbreather hands, Princess,” Quicksilver added. “We cannot risk someone unscrupulous gaining control over it. The Groundbreathers on the surface escaped a gruesome fate only by the narrowest of margins last time.
“Furthermore, we have credible evidence suggesting that Celesta has some plan in mind to finally eradicate her ancient enemies. She has an agent working within the Skychildren to bring this about.”
“We both know Terrain would defend his people if such a thing happened,” Tiera said.
“He would. But the presence of the Fenik might tip the balance against him should he and Celesta meet.”
The truth was that Tierra, despite how much she trusted Skye personally, had always been uncomfortable with the thought of the Fenik being in the sky. Was it not better to neutralize the creature? The Groundbreathers could not actually utilize it—surely it would be best for all concerned if the Fenik was forever denied being under the influence of those who could harness its destructive power.
“What would you have me do, then?” Tierra asked.
“Nothing,” Quicksilver replied. “We are certain the Skychild king will come to Hearth at some time or another. We also know that due to Terrain’s water, you will be in contact with him long before he arrives. We simply wish for you to stay silent on the matter and allow us to protect our people by taking the Fenik from him.”
“And what of Skye?”
Quicksilver snorted. “We have no interest in the Skychild king. Once we have the Fenik, he shall be allowed to leave. For that matter, your sister has turned out to be a . . . well, I shall say that she has not proven herself to be a stabilizing force. It would likely be best if she could be removed from the throne in favor of you. You have proven yourself to be somewhat more level-headed than your sister.”
“And if I still persist in my plans to marry Skye?”
“That is a matter to be discussed later. For now, I believe we would be content to allow the situation on the surface world to return to what it was before, without the Skychildren having access to such a devastating weapon.”
“We will give you some time to think on the matter,” Canyon said, glaring at Quicksilver when he would have spoken again.
For his part, Quicksilver only shrugged and settled into his previous indifference.
“You should return to your rooms to consider all you have heard,” Canyon continued. “If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask for me.”
The plea in his tone told Tierra that he had not given up his hopeless infatuation, but as there were so many other things to consider at present, Tierra could not muster up the ability to concern herself with his obstinacy. In a quiet voice, she indicated her agreement, and a moment later, she was on her way from the room. Unfortunately, Quicksilver could not allow her to depart without one final shot.
“Remember, Princess,” his voice floated to her as she walked away, “we will capture the Fenik regardless of what you decide. But Terrain wil
l be aware of your actions. Think on that before you consider angering the god you claim to revere.”
Who can know the mysteries of the Skychildren? They are a disgusting people, living lives of idleness and mischief, their very homes an abomination, their existence a blight on the perfect order of Terrain.
It is not given to Groundbreathers to understand the motivations of such creatures, for Groundbreathers mirror their god, delighting in balance, living their lives with soberness and judgment.
The glider of the Skychildren was like its creators—fickle, uncontrolled, and reeking of abomination. But it was the only means to travel to the skies, so the Groundbreathers suffered themselves to be carried on the craft.
As the one who understood Skychildren more than any other, Stonedog was assigned to pilot the craft. It was a small vessel, capable of carrying only a few soldiers garbed in battle attire, so he was forced to make several journeys. The location they chose was behind the Skychild palace, an area seldom used, and the Groundbreathers gathered there in secret.
Some of the Groundbreathers wished to charge forward, but Stonedog convinced them that stealth was best, and they crept forward and snuck into the Skychild palace, the noise of their feet masked by Terrain’s power to make their footfalls nearly silent. The sky-dwellers were arrogant and lazy, believing none could assail them in their own domain, a mistaken belief Stonedog meant to exploit.
CHAPTER
THIRTY
Stealth
To Skye and the other Skychildren, the journey through the caverns was like some vast, endless night, dark and frightening, from which they might never emerge. They trudged through the darkness, their way lit only by the two torches, moving from tunnel to cavern and back to tunnel, passing through a bewildering array of passages. After some time, Skye began to feel as though they had traversed the same passages over and over again, like they were walking in circles, even though he knew, instinctively, they were not. There was no possibility of any Skychild ever finding their way successfully through the maze. It was an utter labyrinth of passages.
If he had not had Tierra’s soothing voice in his head to keep him company and keep his mind from thoughts of the never-ending gloom, he did not know how he would have emerged with his sanity intact. He wondered how the other Skychildren managed it.
As they progressed, however, Skye began to get a sense that Tierra was struggling with some great weight. She was trying to hide it from him, but he felt a distinct sense of unhappiness and maybe even indecision from her. Any attempt he made to pry, however, was rebuffed.
Yet he could not find it in himself to be overly irritated about it. Knowing that his journey would soon be over was enough to overcome his tendency toward irascibility. As he drew nearer to Tierra, he felt almost as though her presence swelled in his mind.
At one point, Jasper called for the party to stop, and he crouched on the ground, reaching a hand out and pressing it against the ground as his eyes traversed the path ahead. After a moment, he said, “I believe the cavern Princess Tierra spoke of is nearby. We should move slowly and quietly from here on.”
Skye glanced at Strix, who remained perched on his shoulder. “You hear that, Strix? You need to be quiet.”
“Because I’m the one to worry about instead of all you clumsy-footed humans,” the bird groused.
“I am going to scout on ahead,” Jasper said.
“All right,” Skye said. He was itching to go with the man, but he knew that if a Groundbreather saw Jasper, then it was at least possible they would consider him to be one of their people. Skye would never be mistaken for such.
And so the party waited for Jasper. Skye was antsy enough that he began tapping a hand against his leg. He reached out to Tierra. “We’re close,” he told her. “It won’t be long now before I get to hold you in my arms.”
“I cannot wait to see you,” she returned.
Her words seemed almost muted in spite of Skye’s closer proximity to her, and Skye inquired once more, “Tierra, what’s wrong?”
“Do not worry about me, Skye. I miss you. That is all.”
Skye did not believe her, but he let it go.
When Jasper finally reappeared, Skye hastened toward him. “Well?”
“We must remain quiet, but I found a vantage point where we can study the city. It does indeed sit in a large cavern, and I must say that I am impressed despite myself.”
“Impressed with an underground city?” Skye asked skeptically.
“You shall see,” Jasper said, a smile tugging at his mouth.
And so, moving slowly and quietly, the party made their way to a large outcropping for the purpose of looking down and studying the city. It was all Skye could do to keep his jaw from dropping.
The city itself was not all that impressive. Certainly, the cavern was by far the largest they had seen yet, extending out for some ways on both sides and almost twice as long from front to back. The cavern ceiling was far enough overhead that it was difficult to see in the gloom, though the outcropping on which they studied the city was a lot higher than the floor below. The city was a sprawling collection of structures, most seeming to be made of the same gray stone of the cavern walls. The streets wound haphazardly between the buildings and continued up slopes on the sides of the cavern, often with several switchbacks to many points along the walls where there were dwellings that had been cut into the rock. But for all that stood before Skye, all the sprawl of the city, the structure situated at its center could not help but draw the eye.
“Is that entire castle made of gems and precious metals?” Skye murmured, awestruck. The castle gleamed in the torchlight, rearing up above the rest of the city in a way that seemed designed to draw attention to its majesty. It was largely constructed in three sections, the one in the middle being the tallest, but whereas the Skychild palace boasted battlements—and the squat, harsh castle of the Groundbreathers above-ground was massive and easily defensible—this castle seemed like more of a large house. Even so, it was the most dazzling sight he had ever witnessed.
“It appears so,” Sequoia said quietly, her voice matter-of-fact. But Skye did not miss the fact that she could not take her eyes off the place.
Skye shook his head, chasing away the daze the sight had placed him in. “Well, even if this place is something of a marvel, I’d rather saw off my own arm than live here.”
Sequoia snorted but did not comment, and Skye found his attention caught by a whine. “What is it, Stone?”
The garm whimpered a little more.
“All will be well,” Sequoia murmured, leaning down to scratch the creature’s head. “He is just uneasy.”
“How are we supposed to go about finding Tierra and River?” Gusty asked. “That city’s not small, and our party won’t exactly blend in.”
“The answer is simple,” Jasper said. “You need a Groundbreather to go down there. And one who is not as easily recognizable as Her Majesty.”
“I am not certain I like the way that you seem to be indispensable to our party,” Skye said, crossing his arms.
Jasper smirked. “I am afraid you shall have to become accustomed to being unnecessary, Skychild king. On the ground, you are about as useful as a newborn babe.”
“I’d like to ram a whirlwind straight up your—”
“Boys,” Sequoia cut in, sounding irritated, “that is enough. Much though I would like to be the one to first rest eyes on my daughter, Jasper has a point. He will be able to blend in long enough to find her.”
Skye and Jasper locked gazes, and then the former finally looked away. “Fine.”
“It is not safe for us to remain here,” Sequoia said. “We will wait at a slight distance for your return.”
“Let me speak with Tierra first,” Skye said. “She might be able to give you directions to her current position.”
After a quick consultation with Tierra, Skye turned his attention back to Jasper. “Just head toward that great, gleaming . . . thing. Tierra’s
still stashed in the castle.”
“I do not suppose you received a few further details from her?” Jasper asked with a raised brow.
Skye rolled his eyes and then proceeded to give Jasper more helpful directions to Tierra’s location. He finished by saying, “It sounds like you may not actually be able to get inside the castle, but if you do manage it, at least you’ll know how to find her.”
After Jasper was satisfied that he had been told enough, he broke away from the party. Skye hoped security was lax enough that the man could venture forth with a hope of success. Then Skye, Sequoia, Gusty, and Griffin went to the designated meeting place.
While they waited yet again for Jasper’s return, Skye struck up a conversation with Sequoia. “Do you have any idea how we’re going to manage this?” he asked.
“Not precisely,” the queen answered, pressing her lips together.
“To tell the truth, I’m a little surprised we haven’t come across anyone so far in the tunnels,” Skye said. “It’s been all too easy.”
“We still have to wait for Jasper to return,” Sequoia pointed out. “Our plans could all be falling apart right now.”
“Have a little faith in your loyal garm,” Skye said with a smirk. “Jasper won’t do anything to jeopardize what you’ve worked for.”
“Not on purpose, certainly. But I agree that this has been far easier than it should have been.”
“There’s also Vesper to think about,” Griffin said, drawing a surprised look from Skye, who had not expected to hear him talk. “Even if everything goes smoothly down here, there’s always a chance that Vesper will face trouble on the surface.”
“I would not worry about your Skychild companion,” Sequoia said. “I believe she is capable of taking care of herself. If a patrol comes upon her, she only needs to fly up in the air to escape.”
