On Lonely Paths (Earth and Sky Book 2)

by Jann Rowland

  “Yeah, but with those blasted horses, she might try to stay and fight,” Griffin said. “I sometimes think she cares more for animals than people.”

  “She may like the horses,” Skye said, “but she isn’t a fool. She’ll get out of the way, Griffin. Don’t worry.”

  “And what about us?” Gusty asked, joining the conversation. “We might return to the surface to find the tunnels held against us.”

  “There is nothing we can do about that now,” Skye said, exasperated with his companions’ sudden pessimism. “Let’s not go borrowing trouble. We’ll deal with whatever we need to deal with.”

  The others nodded and then fell back into silence.

  Skye glanced at Sequoia. “I’m going to talk to Tierra for a minute.”

  She nodded to indicate she had heard, and Skye moved to stand away at a slight distance after removing Strix from his shoulder and instructing him to wait on the ground nearby. “Tierra, Jasper is coming to look for you now. I have been trying to think of a good strategy to get you out of there, but it’s not exactly easy to come up with anything.”

  “I know what you mean. I doubt I can just walk out of the castle. I have guards who follow my every move. I also have my attendants to worry about. If they had dropped their guard at any point, I would have already been out of here, but they watch me closely.”

  “Then that is what we’ll have to work with. Now, you said they keep the same hours as those on the surface, right? Sleeping when it’s night above-ground?”

  “That is correct,” Tierra said.

  “Then maybe that’s the best time for us to do this. While the city sleeps, we can try to get to you.”

  “It sounds as good as anything to me,” Tierra said. “Be careful not to do anything foolish, all right?”

  “Foolish? Me? Come now, Tierra,” Skye said with mock-affront. “I expected you to have more faith in me.”

  “Says the man who flew into the teeth of an enormous fire-breathing monster without hesitation.”

  “Hey, it worked, didn’t it?”

  Skye laughed along with Tierra, glad that the old dynamic of their relationship was returning. They had been apart for so long that it seemed like ages since they had been able to banter back and forth.

  “Hold tight,” Skye said, indicating he meant to break their connection. “We’ll probably make our move tonight.”

  “I cannot wait.”

  And then the connection was severed, and Skye was left on his own. Sighing, he turned back. Griffin and Gusty were speaking quietly to one another while Sequoia sat against one of the walls, her eyes closed as though she were trying to get some sleep. Skye decided to follow her example. That evening would no doubt be harrowing.

  It was only an hour or so later when Jasper returned, slipping through the rocks and into the hole where the group had been concealed. Though Skye had thought it unlikely he would sleep at all, he had dropped off almost as soon as his head had leaned back against the wall.

  For all that, however, he was instantly alert when the man entered.

  “What have you found?” Skye demanded, standing and confronting the Groundbreather.

  “I thank you for your warm welcome,” Jasper said, a sardonic smile fixed on Skye. “Your concern for me is touching, Skychild king.”

  “Do not be facetious,” Sequoia snapped from where she had arisen. It was one of the few times Skye had heard her reprimand the man directly.

  Jasper, however, did not take offense. “The castle is not particularly well-defended, from what I can see. I was not able to enter, as it is the one place in the city I could have no business, but there is little activity.”

  “And what about the city proper?” Sequoia asked.

  Jasper shrugged. “It is much the same as any other city. The common folk go about their business without much thought to what their leaders are doing, though I will admit these people seem to have an overabundance of pride. There are guards in evidence in various locations in the city, but they do not seem overly concerned about their surroundings, likely due to the fact that no one from the surface has ever known about this city.”

  “How do they eat?” Gusty asked. “They must have some means of feeding themselves.”

  “I heard of a cavern further into the cave system where they grow food,” Jasper said.

  “Without any sun lighting their crops?” Gusty replied skeptically.

  “We are Groundbreathers,” Jasper said. “We can coax food to grow, even within the confines of a cave well below the surface. Changing the hard rock of the cave floor to soil suitable for the growing of food would not be a difficult challenge.”

  Skye chewed his lip in thought. “This is too easy. They must know we’re coming. Why would they leave the path wide open for us to enter and reach Tierra? And why would they take her in the first place?”

  “It seems to me like they want to capture a Skychild,” Sequoia said. “In fact, it seems to me they want the most important Skychild currently in existence.”

  Skye gave Sequoia a sour look, but she only said impatiently, “You must know this to be the case, Skychild. There is no other logical explanation for why we have been lured here. As a princess, Tierra is certainly important, but Wisteria was the heir. If these people simply wanted to hold something over my family, it would have made sense to hold Wisteria hostage.”

  “But why would they intervene now—after purportedly being hidden for millennia—to capture a Skychild king? None of my people have ever plagued them deep in their hole. It makes no sense for them to suddenly interest themselves in surface politics and conflicts.”

  “You are betrothed to a Groundbreather princess,” Gusty said, inserting himself into the conversation.

  “I’m not sure why they would care.”

  “It is possible that their homes deep in the earth bring them closer to Terrain,” Sequoia said, tapping thoughtfully at her chin. “If so, their situation might have given them a virulent hatred for all Skychildren that has, in spite of your raids, largely been lost in our surface communities.”

  When Skye glared at her, Sequoia shook her head. “I am, by now, resigned to your match with Tierra, Skychild, though I still do not comprehend it. But I do understand, however reluctantly, that reaching an accord with your people can only be beneficial for our entire world.

  “However, if these people feel they are more closely connected to Terrain, they might think themselves to be the best possible defense against any alliance with Terrain’s hated foes.”

  “That is possible,” Jasper said, “but it does not help us get your daughter out of that glittering stronghold. We will not remain forever hidden in this alcove, so we had best do something quickly.”

  “I suppose waiting until they become complacent is not an option?” Sequoia asked dryly.

  “We would run out of food long before that happened, I am sure,” Jasper said.

  “You say security at the castle is lax?”

  “So it seems from what I saw, though I could not exactly go in and inspect the place.”

  “Then maybe the simplest plan is the best,” Skye said. “Tierra says she is trailed by guards wherever she goes. If she and River announce they’re going for a walk and head to the courtyard, we can subdue any guards there and any that are following her and make a run for it.”

  “That is the best idea you can come up with?” Sequoia asked incredulously. “What of the fact that the entire city would be on our heels as we tried to flee through these narrow passages to the surface? That does not even take into account what might happen if one of us is injured while we carry out this reckless plan.”

  “Do you have any better ideas?” Skye snapped.

  Sequoia glared at him for a moment and then turned her head away in concession. “I do not.”

  “Then I think we need to make a daring move. These Groundbreathers will surely think we intend to use some sort of subterfuge to smuggle Tierra and River out of the castle. If we strike
now, we might catch them by surprise. Then, as we flee, you can bring a few tunnels down behind us to discourage pursuit.”

  Skye looked at the two Groundbreathers, entertained by their matching scowls. With a half-smile, he asked them, “Is it not easier to bring down a tunnel than it is to clear one or put one back in place?”

  “Of course it is,” Sequoia said, “but that does not mean we should do it. We have no idea what the structure of this cave system is like. If we bring down a tunnel, we could start a chain reaction that would damage the entire complex.”

  “Again, I am waiting to hear a better alternative,” Skye replied, folding his arms across his chest.

  “Unfortunately, I must agree with the Skychild,” Jasper said. “There is nothing better at hand, and we cannot stay here for long. I would suggest I go in first, however. If I find Tierra, perhaps I can disable her guards before you reach the courtyard. If I am able to do so without being noticed, that might buy some additional time for us to escape.”

  “Loath though I am to say it, your suggestion only makes sense,” Skye said with a sigh. “It seems I’m falling further into your debt.”

  “Let it be understood once more that I am doing none of this for you,” Jasper said. “I am doing this for my queen.”

  “Yes, yes,” Skye said, waving him off. “I get it. You’re loyal to her, you hate my guts, and so on. Now, is our plan set?”

  “As set as it can be,” Sequoia said, shaking her head at the byplay of the two men. “Please tell me exactly how to get to the courtyard, Jasper.”

  As Sequoia and Jasper spoke together about how to traverse the city and how long it would take to arrive at their destination, Skye reached out to Tierra to explain the plan. He let her know that she and River needed to proclaim a desire to go to the courtyard, and he advised of the expected time frame after a brief consultation with Jasper. Skye had no idea whether this scheme would work, but there was nothing to do but try.

  As Tierra explained the plan to River, her stomach began to churn with nerves.

  Tierra’s recent conversation with Quicksilver had been eating her up inside, and she had not known how to handle it. She did not want Skye to be captured, yet she also did not think any of the Skychildren should be allowed to keep such a destructive weapon. Quicksilver had indicated that Skye would be allowed to go free after the Fenik was taken, yet she did not know whether she could trust him. Had the words come directly from Canyon, she might have been inclined to believe in their sincerity, yet Quicksilver had done most of the talking, and he could have been telling her what she wanted to hear.

  She did not know what to do. Should she warn Skye that he might be walking into a trap? She did not know it for a fact, but since Quicksilver and Canyon were aware of Skye’s impending arrival, it was possible that they knew he was nearby.

  A part of her wondered whether she should tell Canyon that Skye had arrived. If she did, it was possible that Canyon could meet her fiancé with enough manpower that Skye would surrender outright. Then Canyon could take the Fenik away without getting hurt, and Tierra and Skye could leave this wretched place behind forever.

  That was what she wanted to happen. But she could not betray Skye in such a way. There was no guarantee that Quicksilver would abide by what he had said. As a result, she would try her best to ensure that Skye’s rescue plan—no matter how foolhardy—succeeded. She had to hope that Quicksilver’s awareness of the connection between Tierra and Skye would be enough to keep him from doing any permanent damage to Skye. Since Skye could not be killed without Tierra dying as well, perhaps that would be enough to save him.

  She wanted the Fenik to be out of Skychild hands, but she would not do anything to jeopardize Skye’s safety—and not merely because of her own interest in his continued survival. She loved him, and she would do anything for him. They were going to return to the sky realm and marry, and they would put this entire mess behind them. She was determined to make that happen.

  After giving Jasper a suitable head-start, the party turned to other matters. Most importantly, they began to discuss Skye’s concern that the Skychildren would stand out in the city, not only due to their height, but also due to their fairer features and blond hair.

  “You wished to come,” Sequoia said, brushing his concerns off. “You had to know this would be an impediment to our success.”

  “Of course I did,” Skye rejoined. “And I am not about to back down. But I believe three such figures, even obscured by cloaks, would invite too much attention.”

  “What are you trying to say, Skye?” Gusty asked, frowning.

  “Essentially what you think. You and Griffin need to stay behind.”

  Griffin looked at him in shock, and Gusty appeared only a little less surprised.

  “Your Majesty, you cannot leave us behind!” Griffin exclaimed. “We are here for your protection.”

  “Your king might have a point,” Sequoia interjected. “If we reach the castle and everything goes to plan, we have a chance of making it back out. We have no chance if we are discovered before we ever get there.”

  “But . . . But . . .” Griffin struggled for a moment to find the words, eventually settling on, “Your Majesty, we are here to protect you!”

  “How much protection do you think you’ll be against an entire city?” Skye asked. He attempted a humorous tone, but it fell flat.

  “More than you would be against a city all by yourself,” Griffin snapped. It was clear from his annoyed glance at Sequoia that he did not trust her not to join in with her people against him. “You must have some support with you, Your Majesty.”

  “I agree with Griffin,” Gusty added quietly. “If you mean for us to stay behind, then it would be best for you to allow Sequoia and Jasper to handle it.”

  “You know I can’t do that, Gusty.”

  The long look his friend directed at him was not a plea, but rather a method of sizing him up. At length, Gusty sighed. “I suppose you can’t.”

  “Well, I can’t let you go into that city by yourself either,” Griffin declared. “I am now the highest-ranking member of your escort, and I can’t state my objections to this in a strenuous enough manner. This is not a good idea.”

  “Your objections are noted,” Skye said with a glare, daring the man to contradict him again.

  Griffin opened his mouth to say something, but the objection apparently died on his tongue. He lowered his head in surrender and muttered a few imprecations under his breath that Skye ignored.

  Gusty, for his part, did not appear to be any happier than Griffin, yet he let loose a sigh and asked, “What would you have us do? We can’t stay here for long. And you know we’ll have to attempt a rescue if you don’t come out.”

  “If we don’t come out, I doubt there’s much you can do,” Skye said. He considered the matter for a moment and then turned to Sequoia. “Can you suggest anything?”

  “There was a chamber a little ways back that appeared as though it is not used often,” Sequoia said. “You should be able to hide there. And Stone can stay with you. He would be more of a hindrance in the city than a help, and he would only stand out.”

  Stone whined, seeming to understand that he was not to be included, but Gusty only gave a curt nod. “Very well then. We will hide there. But we’ll be keeping an eye on the city as well.”

  It was the work of only a few minutes for Sequoia to show them the chamber of which she had spoken. It was nothing more than a small cave, barely deep enough for two men to lay down in, but the entrance was hidden behind a pile of rocks, and Skye would never have found it on his own. The two men stowed their gear inside and then insisted on accompanying Skye and Sequoia back to the end of the tunnel. A few moments later, Skye and Sequoia left the concealment of the tunnel and started down into the city.

  They did have one advantage working for them, Skye reflected. As it was cool in the underground cavern, they had cause enough to wear the hoods of their cloaks to obscure their hair and fac
es. As for Strix, though he was less than pleased, the bird remained hidden beneath Skye’s cloak. Skye was no happier about the situation, but a bright red bird would attract far too much attention.

  They had been walking for several moments and were just approaching the outskirts of the city when they felt a rumbling under their feet. The tremor was nothing more than a slight shivering beneath them, and it did not cause anything else in the caves to sway as far as Skye could tell, but it rattled his nerves nonetheless.

  “What was that?” Skye asked, stopping to peer at Sequoia.

  “Nothing, I would think. The earth does shake from time to time in certain areas. It can cause devastation if it is strong enough, but this was only a minor tremble. It may be that this place is prone to such things.”

  “You’ll forgive me if I hope they get one strong enough to bring the whole place down around their ears.”

  “First, let us get my daughter and my niece out of this place, shall we?”

  Her voice was deceptively mild, for her eyes were as hard as agates. Skye decided it was not worth commenting further. He merely motioned for her to lead the way, and they again began to walk.

  With haste, they made their way down into the city. Due to the lateness of the evening, there were not many people about, but there were enough that Skye noticed more than a few curious glances his way. His height made him stand out, but he hoped that Sequoia’s shorter stature served as enough of an equalizing force that he would not draw too much untoward attention.

  Despite himself, Skye felt an intense desire to study the city around him. He hated being underground, yet the notion that people could actually live in such a place—and enjoy it—was an oddly fascinating one. Still, getting to Tierra was the more pressing issue, and he was not about to stand around and gawk at the unusually shaped houses and their pale-skinned owners.

  Skye and Sequoia had almost reached their destination when Jasper appeared in front of them, looking harried.