On Lonely Paths (Earth and Sky Book 2)

by Jann Rowland

  To make matters worse, the tunnels were a veritable maze. No Groundwalkers or Skychildren could ever have hoped to find their way through the area alone. Successful passage required an intimate connection with the earth to make any sense of it, and that was something Skye could not claim. Even Sequoia seemed rather at a loss most of the time, and Skye was almost as impressed with her Groundbreather powers as he was Tierra’s.

  The fact that many of the tunnels were large only marginally decreased Skye’s discomfort with the situation. Even Strix, though he feigned nonchalance, frequently tightened his talons on Skye’s shoulder when he looked from side to side at the walls that pressed in on them. Traversing underground was no easier for a bird than it was for a Skychild.

  At one fork in their path, when Jasper paused, Stone turned his snout to the left route and lightly growled. Strix’s toes dug down so hard that Skye winced and said, “Strix?”

  “We must not go that way,” the bird said, his voice oddly distant. “There is something there . . . something extremely large.”

  “Are you sure?” Skye asked with a frown. “Why would something big be living down here? What could it be? And why would it intimidate even you?”

  The Fenik leaned over and gave Skye’s neck an irritated nip.

  “Ow!” Skye said, rubbing his neck and giving the bird a glare. “What was that for?”

  “Just trust me,” Strix said. “You do not want to choose that path.”

  “Fine,” Skye said. “If it’s something that has your feathers all ruffled, then I guess I’d best take notice.”

  Skye then strode forward to Jasper, who was examining the paths before them.

  “We need to go this way,” Skye said, pointing to the right path.

  “Are you certain?” the Groundbreather asked with a frown. “Did you get something from Tierra?”

  “I am certain,” Skye said, ignoring the man’s second question. He felt unnerved by the fact that Strix seemed afraid of something, but he was not about to cause anyone in the group to panic unnecessarily.

  “Very well,” Jasper said, not contesting the matter. But he studied Skye with a certain glint in his eyes for a moment before striding ahead and taking the tunnel Skye had indicated.

  To Strix, whose gaze was fixed unblinkingly on the left path, Skye said, “Let’s just hope whatever it is doesn’t find us.”

  The bird, to Skye’s ill ease, did not respond.

  The fury of the Skychildren was such as had never been seen before, and they gathered in preparation for war. Before the sun had set that evening, the attacks on Groundbreather cities had begun, and pain and suffering were left in their wake.

  The great war that ensued caused many deaths on both sides, but the Skychildren were relentless, screaming like beasts as they attacked without quarter, merciless and crazed, setting fire to Groundbreather villages and even slaughtering children at play. The Groundbreathers mourned the loss of so many of Terrain’s people, but the Groundbreather king rallied his forces, preparing for a devastating attack.

  Stonedog was asked by the Groundbreather king to lead their armies into battle, and a council of war was held. When the question was posed of how the Skychildren could be lured to come to the field of battle, Stonedog stepped forward.

  “Hold up the Fenik,” said he, “and the Skychildren shall come.”

  The king fretted over this course of action, and he said, “But if we do not succeed, the Skychildren shall recover their weapon. What shall we do then?”

  “We must not fail,” said Stonedog. “Success is the only option. Terrain will succor us, such that we shall win the day.”

  CHAPTER

  TWENTY-NINE

  Schemes

  As Skye’s presence moved closer to her position, Tierra felt her excitement grow. Though it would be some time before he reached her, she was having a difficult time reining in her emotions.

  Her mind continually leaped toward the future—particularly, what it would be like once she and Skye finally wed. She thought of the wedding bracelet that Skye had commissioned for her, and she longed to wear it. She could feel it around her wrist already, a calming and steady reminder of their limitless love.

  Having Skye’s presence back in her mind reminded her of what she had been missing, and on occasion, she would reach out to brush against his mind, to remind herself more solidly that he was alive and well and coming for her. She did not like to think of herself as a damsel in distress, but she and River could not face the Chosen alone. With Skye and the others, they might stand a chance of escaping this place.

  Unfortunately, Tierra saw King Canyon several times after first making contact with Skye. She attempted to maintain her typical demeanor with him, yet she feared he would see past her front and realize that Skye was on his way. She was unaccustomed to withholding such strong emotions, and she worried that she was overcompensating. River was not especially skilled at such prevarications either, but she at least was able to decline the king’s dinner invitations at will—as she did frequently.

  The dinners were a source of headache to Tierra. Not only was she forced to spend time in Canyon’s company and hide her building excitement, but the man was also beginning to make her feel uneasy. He was a likable sort of man, kind and intelligent, but he showed his interest in Tierra more clearly with each passing day. It was only a day or two before Skye’s expected arrival at the underground city that the true extent of the man’s attentions became known to Tierra, placing her in a situation of considerable distress.

  They were eating, and Canyon related some amusing anecdote, causing Tierra to laugh in response. Rather than laugh with her or grin as he usually did, Canyon reached one hand forward, covering Tierra’s where she held it on the table.

  Tierra snatched her hand back, feeling as though she had been burned. Skye seemed to sense her sudden burst of emotion, and his voice rose within her mind. “What’s wrong, Tierra? Are you all right?”

  “Quiet, Skye. I am with the king right now.”

  His queries subsided, but she could feel his worry, like the sensation of an aching muscle, in the back of her mind. Tierra focused on Canyon, taking in his slightly upturned lips, the way his heart appeared to be in his eyes, and his hand, which had not moved from the area on the table where he had placed it over hers.

  “Your Majesty,” Tierra began, deciding that formality was best.

  The man interrupted her, saying, “Will you not call me by my name? You have not hesitated to do so in the past.”

  Tierra shook her head. “I am sorry, Your Majesty, but it seems to me you want something that cannot be. I am already betrothed to the king of the Skychildren.”

  The smile fell away from Canyon’s face, and he regarded her with disapproval written all over his brow. “Do you not think proceeding in such a way is unwise?”

  Though annoyed at his presumption, Tierra kept her temper in check. “I do not. I believe the world needs to heal from this senseless conflict, and I mean to bring about that healing with Skye by my side.”

  “I cannot agree with you,” Canyon said, shaking his head. “Our god has taught us that the children of Celesta are not to be trusted. You do not know anything about this Skychild. How can you consider tying yourself to him for a lifetime?”

  “You forget that I am connected to him by Terrain’s water,” Tierra snapped. “In fact, I know Skye better than any other person in the world, as I have seen into his mind. He has seen into mine. He is a good man—the best I have ever known.”

  “Tierra, this is blasphemy. There is no other word for it. Terrain will not allow it, and if you persist in your present course, you will almost certainly be punished for it.”

  Tierra snorted. “Terrain has not taken an interest in guiding or punishing his people for millennia. Why should he suddenly intervene now?”

  After a moment of hesitation, Canyon shook his head and focused once more on her. “Tierra, I will not argue the worthiness of this Skychild with
you, nor will I argue the interest of Terrain in our daily lives. What is far more important in my mind right now is that I am interested in you. You are so much more than I ever expected, and I must admit myself to be enthralled with your beauty, your generosity, and your determination. I wish to see what we could become if we had a closer relationship. Will you not even consider such a thing? There is no need to hurry and throw yourself into the power of this Skychild.”

  “I love him, Canyon. I am not ‘throwing’ myself into anyone’s power. I am choosing this of my own free will because I cannot do anything else.”

  “Tierra,” Canyon started, his voice rising in exasperation, but Tierra cut him off.

  “And what of the water of Terrain? If I should throw off my betrothed and marry you, it does not change the fact that I am still bound to him. Would you forever have a third person bound with us?”

  Canyon paused for a moment, his brow wrinkling in thought, and then he said, “We will live underground. We will be far enough away that the link will not matter.”

  “I do not wish to live underground forever,” Tierra replied. “I do not like it here. I wish to feel the wind on my face and once again see the beauty of Terrain’s living creations. I have to marry Skye, Canyon. But even if I had another choice, I would marry him by virtue of my own free will.”

  “Canyon, you are wasting your time,” Quicksilver’s voice rang throughout the room.

  Tierra started and looked up at the detested man. He walked into the room from where he had obviously been listening at the door, and Tierra scowled at the sight of him.

  “She is enamored of the Skychild,” Quicksilver said. “You cannot convince her to change her mind, and it is fruitless to try.”

  “Quicksilver,” Canyon said, but the other man only cut him off.

  “It does not matter anyway. We are nearing our objective regardless, so the princess’s feelings are irrelevant.”

  “Objective?” Tierra echoed. “What are you talking about?”

  Quicksilver favored her with a most unpleasant sneer. “What, Princess? Did you think that we captured you and brought you here for nothing more than your sunny personality? Or perhaps you thought we wished to congratulate you on your betrothal?”

  “I believe you made it clear that it was for my protection that I was brought here,” Tierra said, her anger rising at his jabs.

  “Do you think we would go to all this trouble for the sheer joy of protecting a spoiled princess?” Quicksilver scoffed.

  “I have seen plenty of proof that you have little concern for my well-being,” Tierra snapped. “If you have no interest in protecting me, then what is the reason to keep me here? Other than to annoy and inconvenience me, of course.”

  “I never said we had no interest in protecting you,” the man said, appearing irked that he had to make the concession. “Rather, there is a bigger plan in mind that goes beyond such a triviality.”

  “And what is this plan?” Tierra cried, throwing her hands up in the air. “I am sick of hearing about it without ever being given any of the real details!”

  “If a war were to break out with the Skychildren, how do you think the Groundbreathers would fare?” Quicksilver asked suddenly, looking at Tierra with a serious expression.

  She gritted her teeth. “That will not happen—”

  “If it did happen,” Quicksilver said. “Humor me. How would Groundbreathers fare?”

  “I think we would be evenly matched when it comes to pitting powers against powers directly,” Tierra said. “Of course, the Skychildren would have an advantage when it comes to retreats and surprise attacks, as we cannot reach them in the sky.”

  “They can flee at will,” Quicksilver agreed. “That alone is a considerable advantage. They would be almost unstoppable if they had a weapon which could rain down destruction from the air, would they not?”

  Tierra felt her stomach drop. Of course. The Fenik.

  If Hawkins had succeeded in defeating Skye, then it would have been devastating in more ways than one. The Groundbreathers would not have been able to hold their own against that villain’s wrath—not with such a powerful weapon at his disposal. Tierra could easily picture the path of fire and ash that would have been left throughout Groundbreather and Groundwalker lands if the Fenik had been given free rein to unleash his fiery breath without thought for consequences. Tierra’s people had been able to face Strix in battle alongside the Skychildren, but would they have been able to survive without their airborne allies? Arrows had proven useless against the beast. What could they have done?

  To Tierra’s chagrin, Quicksilver seemed to follow the emotions that played across Tierra’s face, and when her eyes lifted up to his, he gave her a knowing look. “But they do have such a weapon, do they not?”

  “I do not know what you are talking about,” Tierra said, swallowing nervously. Not wanting Skye to feel more of her mental state, she put up a block to keep him out. She knew she would be hearing about it later, but she was flustered enough without feeling his emotions on top of hers.

  “Oh, but I think you do know what I mean,” Quicksilver said in a low voice. “I think you have personal experience with the Fenik that makes you more qualified than most to speak about it.”

  Tierra licked her lips. It seemed almost pointless to play dumb, but she still persisted. “I have no personal experience with that creature of the Skychildren. It is only a myth.”

  “Groundbreathers participated in that battle in the air,” Quicksilver said, his irritation showing through. “Did you really think no one would have whispered about the fantastic beast that spewed fire from its gullet? That foolish man who controlled the Fenik was too eager to gain power. He did not have the opportunity to focus on harnessing the strength of that creature against our people because he was too busy using it against his own. But what do you think would have happened if he had sent the Fenik to attack your parents’ castle? Do you think your family would have survived a direct attack without any help from the Skychildren?”

  Tierra looked away. She did not want to agree with Quicksilver on anything, but she was not so stubborn as to lie to herself. If Strix had not been confined by the limitations imposed by Seneschal Hawkins, he could have obliterated the home where Tierra had been raised. If the Fenik attacked her people’s lands from a distance, nothing could be done to stop him.

  “I do not know,” Tierra murmured despite herself.

  “In terms of sheer strength, I agree that Groundbreathers can more than match Skychild powers with their own,” Quicksilver said. “But the advantage of being out of reach is something that is difficult to surmount. Do you want to allow the Skychildren to have such a powerful weapon as the Fenik in their possession? Would it not be better for the Groundbreathers to possess such a weapon in case the Skychildren ever decide to unleash an assault on the lands thriving beneath them?”

  Tierra bit her lip and tried to calm herself. She hated that the man’s argument sounded so reasonable to her. “Skye would never do that to us. He and I are building a peaceful relationship between our two peoples. He is not about to send the Fenik careening off on a whim to destroy Groundbreathers.”

  “Perhaps not,” Quicksilver said, his tone placatory. “Perhaps he is as peaceful and ‘good’ as you say. But can you guarantee that his successor will feel the same way?”

  “Do you doubt me Quicksilver?” Tierra snapped. “If Skye and I were to be married, that ‘successor’ of whom you speak would be one of my children!”

  “What if your Skychild is dethroned before this peace you desire takes hold? Is his position unassailable? Will you doom your people by clinging to the hope that the present Skychild king and his position are untouchable?”

  Tierra’s traitorous mind let his questions take root. While she honestly believed Skye to be one of the most powerful men alive, he was not infallible. Furthermore, he was prone to follow his emotions over his head. The smartest course would have been for him to abandon Tierr
a, giving her up as lost. Instead, he was charging head-first into danger. Would he always do that any time he found her life to be in jeopardy? Tierra knew he would. And if someone else he cared about—like Gusty—found themselves to be in trouble, would he try to help them? Of course he would. He would always put himself at risk to help those for whom he cared deeply.

  And if something happened to him—and, by proxy, Tierra—what would the next Skychild who placed hands on the Fenik do? There was no guarantee that they would hold a similar viewpoint. There was no guarantee that they would not use the Fenik against Tierra’s people.

  Quicksilver remained quiet as Tierra’s mind worked through these issues. As for the king, his concern seemed almost palpable, for he continued to gaze at Tierra with a pleading expression.

  Finally, Tierra managed, her voice a mere whisper, “Why are you asking me these things?”

  “You can see how important it is that our people regain the Fenik, can you not?” Quicksilver asked.

  “I understand your argument,” Tierra conceded, not wanting to give him more. “But again, why are you asking me all these questions?”

  “Did you know that these tunnels, despite the fact that they have stood the test of time, are somewhat fragile?” Quicksilver asked, ignoring her questions. “If a creature of great destructive power, like the Fenik, were to unleash an assault in such close quarters, it could cause the entire tunnel system to cave in. Even the giant cavern where Hearth sits cannot withstand such an attack.”