On Lonely Paths (Earth and Sky Book 2)

by Jann Rowland

  “I took care of the guards,” the man said. “You must hurry. I am going to scout around the area briefly.” Then he left them to perform yet another scouting expedition.

  Skye transferred Strix from beneath his cloak to his shoulder, and then he and Sequoia rushed toward the courtyard where Tierra and River waited.

  Too easy, Skye thought as Tierra came into his sight. But his concerns immediately melted away.

  Without a thought for who might be watching, he sprinted forward and launched himself at Tierra, prompting a muted cry from the startled River, who had apparently not noticed his arrival, and a startled squawk from Strix, who flew off Skye’s shoulder and landed on the ground a few feet away.

  “Oh, Skye!” Tierra cried out, overjoyed. She clung to him as though she never meant to let go.

  “Tierra,” he murmured, squeezing her against him. He then pulled away slightly, taking her head in trembling hands. He peppered her cheeks, her brow, her lips with kisses, desperate to brand every inch of her flesh with his love.

  She was laughing and crying as she clumsily tried to meet his wandering lips with her own. “I worried I might never see you again,” she said after she had briefly succeeded in touching her lips to his.

  “Foolish Groundbreather,” he breathed, kissing her forehead firmly. “You know I could never stay away from you.”

  “Skye,” a voice said sharply.

  Skye turned to Sequoia, certain she was admonishing him because she wanted to take her own part in this reunion. But then he saw the alarm on her face and redirected his gaze.

  The courtyard was filling up with Groundbreathers. They were fitted with armor and bore swords that gleamed in the nearby torchlight. This response to their presence was not the result of a raised alarm. This was a planned ambush.

  Skye gathered Strix back to his shoulder and gazed around wildly. He and his party were boxed in. Any conceivable escape route had been blocked off.

  Skye reached for the sword at his right side. He would face an entire army for his lady-love and think nothing of it. He would succeed through sheer determination. He knew he could manage it.

  But that was when he saw it. And all his plans and hopes crumbled into dust.

  A low rumble resonated throughout the large cavern as a giant mass slowly began to rise up several meters away.

  The first thing Skye saw clearly were two bright green eyes gleaming like emeralds. The dark slits that split the eyes in half bespoke only of cruelty and malice. Beneath the eyes was a cavernous mouth with hundreds of small razor-sharp teeth and a nose with a pair of undulating tendrils that looked much like the whiskers of a catfish.

  As the creature’s head rose higher into the air, overlapping silver scales—shaped like leaves, but with points that were much more lethal—could be seen glistening in the nearby light. The creature’s neck seemed to continue on and on, and when it threw its head back to let out a giant bellow, Skye saw two wing-like protrusions at its side. As those protrusions fanned out in the air, Skye was struck by the fact that they appeared more like fins than wings, and he wondered, briefly, whether this was some sort of rare creature suited to both water and land.

  “What in Celesta’s name is that?” Skye asked hoarsely, gazing up at the beast that towered over everyone. His heart pounded in his chest, and it was like every coherent thought was escaping his head, leaving him with only stunned numbness.

  Tierra shook her head, shocked into silence as she, too, stared upward in fear.

  The monster let out an angry shriek, its tongue vibrating in the air. And then its eyes fell on the Fenik.

  Strix tightened his talons’ grip on Skye’s shoulder.

  The Skychildren continued to taunt and torment the Groundbreathers, laughing from their vantage point on the clouds. And then one day, a Groundbreather named Stonedog had left his fields to go to market when three Skychildren came down on their gliders.

  “You may hand over your produce, Groundbreather,” said one Skychild with a sneer.

  “I will not,” said Stonedog. “I refuse to give the gifts of my fields to criminals.”

  “Then this will be the last day you ever see,” said another Skychild. And the three sent forth howling winds that whipped at the landscape nearby.

  But Stonedog gathered soil to cover his feet and kept himself from being flung about on the winds. He sent an explosion of earth toward the three Skychildren, who returned his attacks with a fury of gusts.

  Though outnumbered, Stonedog persevered, felling one of the Skychildren. When the other two Skychildren saw their fallen brother, they fled in fear and returned to their home in the clouds.

  When Stonedog approached the Skychild, he saw that the Skychild was not dead, so he took the man’s glider and bound him with shackles made of earth. Stonedog remembered what Terrain had commanded his people concerning murder, and he stayed his hand, taking the Skychild to a nearby village, where he would be enslaved and made to serve Groundbreathers for the rest of his days.

  CHAPTER

  THIRTY-ONE

  Capture

  The reflexive stiffening of Strix’s claws drew Skye’s attention, and he regarded the bird, a desperate thought coalescing in his mind.

  “Do not even think about it,” Strix said without looking at him. The bird’s attention was still fixed on the monstrosity which hovered over the square like some grotesque behemoth from Terrain’s own hell.

  “But—” Skye said, only to cut off when the bird turned his head and focused one beady eye on him.

  “That thing is larger than my dragon form,” the bird said derisively, “and in this cavern, I will have no room to maneuver. How do you expect me to fight? Even if I could fight effectively here, I have no doubt you puny beings would be trampled underfoot or burned to a crisp.”

  “That very fact could help us!” Skye exclaimed, grasping onto any idea that might get them out of this mess. “A protracted fight between you and that . . . thing would threaten their homes. If you could fight it out for a few moments, we could rise over their heads and escape, and then we could collapse the tunnels behind us.”

  “Do not be foolish, Skychild! Considering the effort they expended to get you here, do you not think they would be willing to deal with any damage to their city? I have no doubt that people living in the homes in that thing’s path have already left them in anticipation of such a battle. I can’t fight with any expectation of holding that thing off.”

  “I never thought I’d see the day that the almighty Fenik was afraid of something,” Skye said.

  “I have never found anything that can harm me, but I’d prefer not to find out that I am not invulnerable when at such a disadvantage, thank you. That creature is . . .” The Fenik trailed off and shook his head, turning his attention back on the beast towering over them. “There is something familiar about it . . . .”

  Skye wanted to ask what he meant, but two men approached from the line of Groundbreathers, one gazing at them with savage glee while the other looked on them with something like regret.

  “Stand down, Skychild,” the first man said. “Unless you wish for your comrades to be destroyed, you will surrender.”

  “Perhaps I prefer to fight you and your despicable people to the death,” Skye snarled. He wondered whether he could raise himself and Tierra in the air quickly enough to escape.

  “Do not be so foolish,” Sequoia snapped. The hiss of metal leaving its sheath only gave Skye a moment’s surprise before the queen’s sword was pointed at his throat.

  “Mother!” Tierra exclaimed in shock.

  Skye glared at Sequoia, a tight ball forming in his stomach. “So this was a ruse all along? Your struggles to find your daughter were only a screen to deliver me to the hands of these Groundbreathers?”

  “Do not be stupid, Skychild. I had no knowledge of these people, and I could have no love for them since they killed my husband. But I cannot see my daughter married to a Skychild.” She spat the word with considerab
le disgust. “If that means I must provide you to them, then I will do what I must.”

  While Skye delivered the most venomous look he could muster to her, he handed over his weapons to a few nearby Groundbreathers. And when the first Groundbreather told someone, “Grab the Fenik,” Skye gave another fierce glare before handing the bird over.

  Skye murmured, “Don’t do anything they tell you, Strix. Remember who you are meant to obey.”

  “How could I forget?” the Fenik returned lightly. But the way he eyed the Groundbreather who took him indicated his mental state was not so buoyant.

  “I cannot believe this of you, Mother!” Tierra hissed, confronting the former queen. “What about what I want?”

  “You will eventually thank me, Tierra,” Sequoia replied.

  “It does not matter anyway,” Tierra said, turning back to the first Groundbreather. “Quicksilver, you promised me that Skye could go free once you had the Fenik. I now ask you to honor this promise.”

  “What?” Skye exclaimed. “Tierra, you knew about this?”

  “I am afraid I cannot do what you have asked, Princess,” Quicksilver told Tierra, ignoring Skye’s words. “We have plans for the Skychild.”

  “He cannot be allowed to leave at present,” the other man of prominence said. “I am afraid we must keep him here.”

  “Enough talk,” Quicksilver said. “Guards, take them into custody and deliver them to their cells. As for the dowager queen,” he paused and nodded at Sequoia, “install her in quarters near her daughter.”

  Several guards stepped forward. They grasped Skye by the arms, leading him away from the courtyard. As Skye departed, he glanced back, looking at the scene he was leaving behind. His heart felt like it was in tatters.

  “I cannot believe you, Mother,” Tierra yelled, her hands on her hips as she glared at Sequoia. “Once again, the infallible Queen Sequoia decides the lives of others, even though she is in no position to command anyone given the fact that her eldest daughter collaborated with an unknown group of Groundbreathers to murder her husband!”

  “Calm yourself, Tierra,” Sequoia said, unperturbed by Tierra’s fury. “You are young and inexperienced. Not everything is as it seems.”

  “It is exactly as it seems,” Tierra snarled. “Once again, you seem to be of the impression that you can direct the course of my life. I am no longer a child whom you can order around, Mother, and you are no longer the queen. You should think of that before you alienate me.”

  With those words, Tierra spun on her heel and left the room, slamming the door in her wake. Her mother had indeed been installed in a room right next to Tierra’s, though there was no adjoining door as there was from Tierra’s to River’s. It was just as well. Tierra was almost ready to strangle her mother, and such a temptation would not do her well when the woman was asleep.

  Out in the hallway, two guards stood at attention, and they moved to follow Tierra as she began to walk away. Already pushed beyond her endurance, Tierra spun and faced the two men, who seemed surprised at her sudden motion.

  “I am going to see your king,” Tierra said harshly. “You do not need to follow me.”

  Then she turned and stalked away. She was not insensible to the fact that the two men still followed her, but they stayed well back, seemingly intimidated by her displeasure.

  The halls were mostly empty, which was unsurprising, as it was late at night, but Tierra was glad she was not confronted with any obstacles on her way through the castle. If Garnet had presented her smirking countenance—or if Jade’s persistent scowl had appeared—Tierra might have lost complete control over her actions!

  Tierra found Canyon in the rooms in which they usually ate dinner, and she was savagely pleased to see the man look up in surprise when the door opened by Tierra impacted the wall with a great crash.

  “You liar!” Tierra snarled. “You told me that Skye would be allowed to go free once you had the Fenik.”

  “He will be safe enough in our care,” Canyon replied, avoiding Tierra’s accusation. “I will promise you that much, though we cannot release him at present.”

  “Then all of this was nothing more than a sham?”

  “Tierra,” Canyon said, rising and approaching her. He reached out to grasp her shoulders, but Tierra wrenched herself away from him, a glare fixed on her face as she dared him to touch her again. He did not.

  “You know it is madness to allow the Skychildren to control the Fenik,” Canyon said. “We were able to convince you of this, which was why you allowed events to play out the way they did. Please trust me a little longer.”

  “How can I trust you? My betrothed is locked up in a dungeon. It is no different from when my mother held him on the surface.”

  “Your mother is a wise woman,” Canyon murmured. “Continuing to profess love for this Skychild is madness. Terrain will not look kindly on a betrayer of his people.”

  “I am not convinced that it is as you say. I think Terrain wishes for his people to be at peace.”

  “I am sorry, Tierra. There is nothing to be done at present. I must ask you to be patient.”

  Knowing she was not in a position to insist, Tierra changed the subject, asking him, “What was that huge creature we saw over the castle? Where is it now?”

  Canyon paused, looking uncomfortable about the question. When he finally responded, he did so slowly. “I know little of the creature, to be honest. The Leviathan has not been among us for long.”

  “Where did it come from?”

  “The creature was brought here. I do not know the exact circumstances of her creation, as I was not there. But Celesta created her own weapon. Did you think that Terrain would not have the same capabilities?”

  “Then why has he not created such a creature long before now? Would the creature not have been useful during the time when the Fenik was first in the hands of the Skychildren?”

  Canyon spread his hands out. “I cannot answer your questions, Tierra. Who knows the mind of a god? Terrain has seen fit for the Leviathan to be created now; that is enough for any of us to know.”

  “There were rumors about a creature on the surface living among the mountains. It supposedly killed animals without eating them, leaving their carcasses to rot, which is obviously unusual for a predator. Was that this Leviathan you speak of?”

  The king grimaced. “Yes. The Leviathan has proven to be a little . . . difficult to control. She escaped for a brief time and went a bit wild.”

  “Why would the Leviathan kill creatures without eating them?”

  “The Leviathan is somewhat . . . manic in nature. I am afraid I do not know much else about the creature and can only speculate. The control and use of the Leviathan tend to fall under Quicksilver’s domain.”

  “And who is Quicksilver anyway? He has a powerful influence on you, considering you are the king of this place.”

  “He is someone you should listen to,” Canyon said. “He is someone we should all listen to.”

  “But what does that mean?” Tierra cried. “I have still been told nothing!”

  “I am sorry, Tierra,” Canyon said, looking contrite. “I must not overstep my bounds by saying much more.”

  “You are the king! The only restrictions you should face are the ones you put in place yourself!”

  Canyon shook his head. “It is not so simple—”

  “I swear the air here is addling everyone’s heads!” Tierra exclaimed. “A king should be making the laws, not following the laws of another. And my mother should not be siding with the group of people who murdered her husband!”

  Canyon paled. “If your father had not resisted—”

  “If he did not care for his family, you mean,” Tierra said. “But enough of this. It is obvious that you do not care to tell me, and I doubt I shall meet with any success in trying to drag more information out of you.”

  The king almost seemed to be in pain. “Tierra—”

  “I wish to go see Skye.”

 
“I do not think that is the best idea at this point—”

  “Am I forbidden from doing so?” Tierra snapped. “Has Quicksilver explicitly told you that I am not allowed to visit Skye?”

  Canyon hesitated. “Well, no—”

  “If your master has not set a rule in place, then I see no reason why you would need to object. Should you care even the slightest bit about my feelings, then you will advise my guards to take me to my fiancé. You know the man I am talking about—the king you have unjustly imprisoned.”

  Canyon met her eyes for a few moments before he finally wilted under the force of her gaze. “Very well. I shall do as you say. But at this point, you will only bring yourself heartache by seeing him.”

  “What do you mean?” Tierra asked, raising an eyebrow. “You do know that you cannot kill him without killing me due to our bond?”

  “We do not mean to kill him. But I wish you would reconsider visiting him.”

  “I will not,” Tierra said. She crossed her arms and glared at him.

  Rather than respond, Canyon pulled her guards in from where they waited outside the room and directed them to allow her to do as she had asked. He then looked at Tierra, his face betraying a deep sorrow.

  She gave him the barest of nods—her acknowledgment of his slight kindness—before she left the room. She could not regret her treatment of Canyon. He had made his own choices, and he would have to face her displeasure as a result.

  Her guards gave her a few looks, but they took her to where Skye was being held without comment. Ironically, he had been imprisoned in a cell located near the top of the castle, but since there were no windows, he had no hope of making an escape in that fashion. Tierra suspected that the Chosen considered dungeons offensive to Terrain, who resided deep in the earth.

  She stood in front of Skye’s cell, looking at him through the bars. He was seated on a small cot, holding his head in his hands. The bond between them had been blocked off, and as she looked at him, she felt as though her heart were breaking.