Earth Bound

by Avril Sabine

  “I’m sorry, Talon.”

  He nearly reached out and shook the old man. Instead he asked calmly, “What happened?” Calm was the last thing he felt.

  “Tell us,” Brianne said.

  Briant stared at his granddaughter a moment before his gaze returned to Talon. “The Prilonians executed hundreds of Terstens. They were hung from the wall of the Tersten capital. Your parents were among them.”

  Talon felt his hands curl into fists. He pulled away from Brianne. The ferocity of his people during the battle now made more sense. No wonder no Prilonians had survived. “Are there any Terstens left in the city?”

  “We don’t know.”

  He faced Briant, Brianne’s hand against his back between his wings. “I want to fight. I don’t care which battle, but I want to fight.” The few Prilonians he’d killed didn’t make up for all the lives they’d taken. “And what about the bodies?”

  “There’s plans to gather the dead tonight. Prilonian archers man the walls and it isn’t safe to try during the day,” Briant said.

  Talon nodded. “I want to help.”

  “Me too,” Brianne said.

  Briant nodded, a short, sharp nod that reminded Talon of Brianne. “I’ll arrange it. For now, we need to finish up here. We have to bury our dead, take care of the wounded and deal with the bodies of the enemy. Everyone is needed.” Briant strode away without waiting for an answer.

  Brianne continued to stand beside Talon, her hand on his back. “We’ll make them pay. Not just for today, but also for the centuries they pitted us against each other and all the senseless deaths because of a war they created. We’ll destroy them.”

  Maybe his parents had deserved to be hung, but how many of those on the wall had been innocent? How many had been tricked into thinking they were protecting their family, their people? Talon turned towards Brianne, his hand going behind her head as he tugged her close. “We’ll destroy them. Together.”

  “Yes.” Her arms went around him.

  He remained there for a moment, taking comfort from her, his anger burning steadily. “Let’s deal with everything here so we can return to Terst.” He pulled away from her, taking her hand as they headed to the garrison.

  It took the rest of the day to bury the dead, gather what arrows and bolts were still usable and see to the wounded. Even with soldiers left behind to protect the garrisons and officers remaining to talk with the leaders of the rebels, there were many soldiers who returned to the Tersten encampment.

  As they waited for dark, the crowd waiting to collect the dead from the walls around the Tersten capital began to overflow the encampment. They were divided into four groups, one for each side of the city. And each of those groups was divided again for sections of the wall. Talon stared at the people in his group, Lyle, along with a large group of rebels who had chosen to join the mission, Bellamy, Brianne and three Caelians he hadn’t met before. Of them all, he only trusted Brianne to watch his back. Not that it mattered. He was still going ahead with the mission. His anger at the Prilonians had only increased while he’d waited for this moment.

  The call came to head out and Talon carried Brianne while Lyle carried Bellamy. The group flew towards their section of the wall, leaving Brianne, Bellamy and one of the Caelians to cover them while they flew in to collect the four bodies they’d been assigned.

  Shouts rang out from the top of the walls and arrows whistled past him. Talon reached his target, wrapping his arm around the woman, his dagger slicing through the rope that held her there, her stiff cold body difficult to hold. Then he was flying back to camp, wishing he didn’t have to leave Brianne to make her own way back, trying not to think about the woman in his arms. She could have been his sister. If Brianne hadn’t involved Garnet in rescuing him, this woman could have easily been his sister. The thought caused fear to race through him.

  As soon as he dropped the body in the camp, he headed towards the city to look for Brianne. He swore when he found her shadowy figure still returning fire at the archers on the wall, all the other soldiers around her doing the same.

  Dropping beside her, he grabbed his crossbow from his back, where it hung down low between his wings, and joined her. “Are you crazy? The order was to return.”

  Brianne flashed him a grin. “I guess that means you’re crazy too.”

  He barely saw the grin in the shadows. “You’ve got no cover.”

  “We don’t need it. We aren’t lit up like idiots.”

  He had to admit the soldiers on the wall were clearly lit by the torches placed around them. A trumpet call sounded from their encampment. Not a single soldier moved. Again the call rang out.

  Talon turned at the sound of wings behind him.

  “Don’t fire,” Lyle’s voice came out of the dark. He landed beside them. “The officers have returned and they’re livid their orders aren’t being followed.” He laughed when the trumpet call came again and no one moved.

  “I saw a young child up on that wall,” Bellamy said.

  “I did too,” Brianne said.

  Talon swore as fury hit him. Killing children wasn’t right. He aimed at another soldier, fierce satisfaction filling him when the man fell. “If others saw, no one will leave until this city is taken.”

  “It will be, but we’re taking it from the inside. The officers have a plan and I was sent to fetch you,” Lyle said.

  Bellamy lowered his crossbow. “The tunnels into the House of the Lord and Lady. They’ll be guarded.”

  “Yes. It’s probably a suicide mission, but I did say it was a good day to die,” Lyle said.

  Talon returned his crossbow to his back. “I’m in.”

  “You’re not leaving me behind,” Brianne said.

  “Or me,” Bellamy said.

  “Then let’s go. Need a lift, dirt walker?” Lyle grinned at Bellamy, using the name that Talon and Conal regularly called him.

  “If you think you can manage, bird-boy.” Bellamy continued to hold his crossbow.

  Still holding her bow, Brianne pressed her back against Talon’s chest. “Ready when you are.”

  He wrapped his arms around her, wishing she wasn’t coming with him, but glad she’d be at his side. “Let’s take the city back.”

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Brianne

  Brianne crouched beside Talon, Bellamy pressed against her other side, waiting to invade the Tersten capital. Her bow was drawn back, an arrow ready to be fired the moment the word was given. She just needed light to see the target. Then the Prilonians would see what happened to those who tried to enslave her people and kill innocent Terstens.

  She watched as a flaming arrow flew through the air and the command was given to attack. The flames momentarily lit up the guards at the hidden entrance leading to the House of the Lord and Lady and within seconds they were riddled with arrows and bolts. Brianne raced through the night with the rest of the soldiers. Amongst them were the three rebels, Marshall and Conal. She didn’t know the other soldiers with them that were a mix of Caelians, Terstens and rebels.

  Conal attacked the door, which was hidden inside a shallow natural cave, with his axe. Lanterns were lit and they were soon racing along a corridor, attacking the clusters of guards throughout it.

  Brianne winced when one of their men fell, pierced by an arrow to his side. When she would have stopped to help him, he waved her on, clutching where the arrow was imbedded. With a nod she obeyed, continuing along the corridor with the rest of the group.

  No one spoke, only fought, and soon they were breaking through the door at the other end of the tunnel, coming up into the lower levels of the House of the Lord and Lady. Brianne put away her bow, drawing her sword like those around her. The clash of steel filled the night as they fought their way through the corridor, headed for the stairs. Then they were in the street and under fire.

  Brianne’s eyes darted everywhere, trying to locate all threats. She crouched against one of the shrubs at the front of the House along w
ith the rest of the team, who had spread out across the street.

  “Get to the front gates. We have to get them open,” one of the soldiers called from where he knelt behind a shrub to the side of the House, his bow drawn to take out enemy that fired on them.

  Brianne raced at Talon’s side, Bellamy and Marshall keeping up with them. Bellamy pulled ahead and Brianne made the decision she dreaded making. “Talon. Fly. Don’t wait for me.” She would only slow him down.

  “I-”

  “Fly! Get the gates.” She veered off in another direction. “Bellamy. Marshall. Come on.” She headed for the tallest building that should have a view of the gates, not waiting to see if anyone followed.

  Talon took to the air, Conal, the rebels and the Caelians at his side. She prayed they’d make it. Her sword slashed at the soldiers who tried to keep her out of the building, Marshall and Bellamy beside her, several Terstens joining them. They raced through the nearly empty building and Brianne thought fleetingly of those who had once lived here, hoping they’d escaped and not been hung from the walls.

  On the top floor, she broke a window to stare at the gate, her bow ready. She saw a movement and fired as soon as she was certain it wasn’t one of their own.

  Talon and his companions landed at the gate and Brianne fired on the soldiers who came out to attack. Bellamy, Marshall and the soldiers who had followed her hung out the now broken windows also firing at those who tried to stop the gates from being opened.

  “Hurry,” Brianne muttered under her breath as she saw twenty Prilonians running for the gate. There was no way they could survive that many. She kept firing on the enemy, barely able to draw breath as she waited for the gate to be opened. “Hurry,” she muttered again.

  The gate swung open and she shouted in victory, those with her echoing the shout, none of them pausing in their attacks. Their people poured through the front gate in time to meet the arriving enemy. Relief rushed through Brianne when Talon was out of extreme danger. As much as she wanted to join him, she’d be able to protect him better from up here, picking off the enemy before most of them got close.

  More of their people poured in the front gate and dawn found their army exhausted, but victorious. Brianne raced through the building, headed for Talon’s side, wanting to make sure he wasn’t hurt. Those who had followed her earlier followed her once again.

  Upon reaching Talon, she threw herself at him, her bow still in one hand. Her lips met his and she ignored Conal’s growl. Pulling back, she eyed him. “You’re unharmed?”

  Talon nodded. “Only a few scratches.”

  “If I tell you I was harmed, will I get that sort of treatment?” Lyle asked.

  Her arms still around Talon, Brianne looked Lyle over. “I don’t see anything.”

  He turned his back to her, his wings retracted. “Now can you see?”

  There was a shallow cut across the middle of his back, but that barely kept her attention since it was such a minor wound. Her eyes were drawn to the ridges on his shoulder blades and the scars that ran the length of each of them. “What happened to your wings?”

  Lyle faced her. “What do you mean?”

  “The old scars on the ridges of your wings.”

  “I would have thought you’d know, being an Erien without wings.”

  “Know what? And what’s an Erien?” She dropped one arm from around Talon so she could face Lyle.

  “An Erien is a Caelian of mixed heritage, named after the first child born of Caelian and Tersten parentage,” Lyle said.

  “And the scars,” Brianne prompted when he didn’t continue.

  “Erien bones often grow over where their wings would form. We’ve been operating on them for about a hundred years. We scrape the bone away so the wings can form. It doesn’t work for every Erien. Some don’t have the wing growth develop at all, but it doesn’t hurt to check.” He grinned. “Well, it does hurt, but it won’t kill you.”

  “Both my parents are Caelians.”

  “Might have been one of your ancestors before they left Iralen to cross the Feronian Mountains.”

  Brianne could only stare at him, dazed. “Who does the operation? How do they know how to do it?” The question she really wanted to ask, she couldn’t bring herself to voice. Can I have the operation?

  “Our doctors perform it, but you’re out of action for about a month if you’ve got no wings and up to a year if you have wings. You have to take it easy while they develop properly.”

  “And anyone can have this operation?” Brianne couldn’t take her eyes off Lyle as she waited for the answer.

  “Anyone who’s willing to give it a try,” Lyle said. “Even you.”

  Brianne felt light headed. She could get wings. She could fly without help.

  Talon’s arm tightened around her. “Does anyone die from this operation?”

  “The last death was about sixty years ago. We don’t take unnecessarily risks with the lives of our people,” Lyle said. “But it isn’t a guarantee of wings. Sometimes there are none and sometimes even if there are wings they don’t grow no matter what is done.”

  She wasn’t certain if she completely trusted the rebels, but her people would look out for her while she was incapacitated. Talon would too. “When we’ve taken back Iralen I want to talk to one of your doctors.” Almost anything was worth a try if it meant wings. Hope mixed with scepticism. Maybe.

  Lyle nodded. Before he could say anything else, a Caelian dropped out of the sky to land at their feet. “First Officer wishes to see you.” He faced Brianne.

  Bellamy, who had followed her, said, “You’re not leaving me out of anything.” He turned to Lyle. “Want to give me a lift, bird-boy?”

  “Sure, dirt walker. Let’s hope it’s about killing a few more Prilonians.”

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Talon

  Talon leaned against a wall in a room that had been taken over in the fortress for discussions. Brianne was seated next to Marshall and Bellamy leaned against the wall in the opposite corner. The room was crowded, many of the people he recognised from fighting along side them. This hadn’t been what he’d expected of the summons. At the front of the room, the officers sat facing the crowd.

  Briant held up his hand for silence. He rose from the stool he sat on, officers from his army and those of the Terstens on either side of him, rebel leaders mixed in amongst them. “We’re looking for squads and units willing to volunteer to help us take the Holy City, entering through the hidden passages. Today we learned Elden, the impostor Supreme One, left before the city was locked down. He organised the taking of the Tersten capital before he retreated to the Holy City.”

  The moment the crowd realised Elden would be at the Holy City, those seated rose and many called out. The noise was a swell of sound. Talon stepped away from the wall, wanting to be amongst those who captured Elden. He might not have been the only one to mistreat their people, but he was the leader of them on this side of the Feronian Mountains.

  Briant held up his hand again for silence. This time it took longer for everyone to settle. They all remained standing. “That isn’t the only task we have that we need volunteers for. We need enough squads and units to hit the eight defensive towers around our ancestor’s capital city, Taeranelle, so our relatives in Iralen can destroy the Prilonians. We need Caelians to carry Wildfire and Terstens to provide cover for them and set it alight once it has been dropped on the towers.” Again Briant held up a hand. “I want you all to realise this is the most dangerous task of all. There is no way to put Wildfire out. It will even burn under water.”

  Talon’s eyes were drawn to Brianne as she turned to speak to Conal who had joined her. Like the rest of the crowd, they were both still standing. Brianne nodded then raised her hand. Talon pushed through the crowd, raising his own hand as he stopped between Brianne and Marshall.

  “You don’t have to do this,” Brianne said. “You don’t know how dangerous Wildfire is. It’s like carrying death.”

>   “You’re not leaving me behind.” Talon met her blue eyes, seeing worry and determination in them. He wondered if she could see the same in his. “Besides, someone has to show you they’re glad you survived.”

  Brianne grinned, facing the front of the room, moving closer so her side pressed against his, her arm still raised. “Maybe we’ll even get lucky enough not to be interrupted.”

  Talon sent a glare to Conal when he snickered. The glare became a look of annoyance when he noticed Bellamy’s hand was also raised. That was all he needed. Couldn’t he find someone else to pester?

  “Do you mind if I attack the Holy City?” Marshall asked Talon. “I want to be there when they get Elden.”

  “You do what you have to. I’ll keep an eye out for your sister when we attack the Prilonians,” Talon said.

  “Thanks.” Marshall turned his attention back to the front of the room.

  Talon did the same, lowering his hand when the order was given to separate into two groups. Those attacking the Holy City left the room, more than three quarters of the crowd and most of the leaders.

  “What made you volunteer?” Talon asked Brianne as they moved towards the front of the room.

  “Conal said Grandad asked me to help. He wants as many people as possible who have handled Wildfire to be involved in the attack.” Brianne sat on one of the stools at the front of the room, Conal and Bellamy sitting on the other side of her.

  Talon sat beside Brianne. “What’s it like?”

  Brianne nodded towards Briant who was handed a leather bag. “I think you’re about to find out.”

  Three men brought in a large metal trough and placed it in front of Briant. Wood was placed inside and two pails were placed beside him. One of water and one of sand.

  Briant removed a glass globe from the leather bag. “Wildfire.” He moved the globe from side to side and the liquid within sloshed around, a murky grey filling nine tenths of the globe. He held it over the trough and beckoned two men forward who held a heavy blanket around the trough. Once it was in place, he dropped the globe and stepped well back. The men tipped the blanket into one end of the trough.