by Avril Sabine
The guard shook his head. “Come now. Your goodbyes are done.”
Garnet turned back to Talon, reaching through with a hand to pull him close and whisper in his ear. “Brianne’s waiting for you. I stole the key from our father’s room. I’ll try to keep the guard busy, you knock him out.” She pulled away, head bowed as she walked away, the guard following.
Talon stared after her until she was out of sight before he opened his hand to see a key. Dread pooled in his stomach. Their father would know who’d taken the key. He had to get Garnet out of the fortress. Opening the cell door, he carefully swung it open, running lightly down the corridor. The guard started to turn, but he didn’t have a chance. Talon smashed him into the stone wall. Hard enough to knock him out. The guard was going to have a massive headache when he came to.
Garnet gasped, staring down at the guard. “Is he alive?”
Talon nodded. “Where’s Brianne?”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Now where’s Brianne?”
“This way.”
Talon ran after Garnet who sprinted down the empty corridors. “Where are all the guards?”
“Brianne took care of them.”
Garnet’s earlier question made him worry for his people. “Are they alive?”
Garnet came to a stop in front of a door and nodded. She tapped lightly, then tapped again. The door swung open and Brianne stood there. She grinned when she saw Talon, her grin fading when he glared at her.
“What did you think you were doing getting my sister mixed up in this mess?”
“That she was better off out of it than stuck here with your traitorous family.” She paused. “Think you can fly?”
Talon was torn between wanting to agree with her and wanting to keep his sister completely out of it, but that was impossible as long as she was at the fortress. “Let’s hope so.”
With a single sharp nod, Brianne stepped into the corridor. “This way then.” She led them up a couple of flights of stairs, each time sending Garnet first to check for guards. Then she was entering an empty room, flinging open the window.
“Get Garnet over the wall. Marshall is waiting for you on the other side of the wall, behind Garnet’s room.”
Talon stared at Brianne. Surely she didn’t expect him to leave her in here, not after she’d rescued him. That didn’t make sense. “What about you?”
Brianne picked up a familiar rope tied to a large stick. She grinned at him. “You better come back for me. I’ll be at the base of the wall.” Flinging the rope out the window, she checked the stick was secure before she lowered herself over the window ledge.
Talon waited until she’d cleared the ledge before he climbed out, clinging to the window frame as he stretched his wings. “Wrap your arms around me, Garnet, and hold on tight.” As soon as she clung to him, he dropped backwards, pumping his wings hard so they immediately rose into the air. When they were above the height of the wall, he struggled to make his wings tilt. It took far longer than he liked, but he was finally across the wall and lowered them to the ground.
They landed in a tangle of limbs and Talon rolled away, coming to his feet as movement caught his attention. He relaxed slightly when Marshall called out his name. Helping Garnet to her feet, he pushed her into Marshall’s arms. “Get her out of here. I’ll meet you at the cave.”
“Where’s Brianne?” Marshall demanded.
“I’ve got to go back for her.” He launched into the air, the action feeling more familiar, but once again, tilting his wings to be able to fly across the top of the wall was an effort. He headed for the ground, scanning the area for Brianne. When she called out, he dropped rapidly, flying towards her.
“Took your time, didn’t you?” The two soldiers, that she kept at bay with her sword, turned towards him. She used his distraction to barrel into them, knocking one to the ground, throwing the other off balance before she ran to Talon.
He reached out for her as he began to pump his wings, sending them into the sky with only a tenuous hold on Brianne. “Don’t let go.”
She clung with one arm, the other still holding a sword. “Get us to the wall. We can set down up there.”
The wall was filled with running feet and many shouts as Brianne began to slip from his arms. “Drop your sword and hold on tight,” Talon said.
They were over the other side of the wall and Brianne laughed wryly. “No way, I’d probably land on the sword. Drop faster. Pull up hard at the end.”
He tried to follow her directions, but she hadn’t said how fast. The speed of their fall dragged her from him. Fear filled him. He reached for her shadowy figure in the dark, missed, then finally caught her arm as he tried to pull up hard. It wasn’t enough. They were slammed into the ground, the wind knocked out of them.
Brianne was the first to speak, groaning as she struggled to rise. “When are you going to learn how to fly?”
“Where’s that infernal sword?”
“That way. I threw it from us when we were close to the ground.”
“Which way?” If she’d pointed out the direction, he hadn’t noticed in the darkness.
Brianne moved away from him. “I’ve got it. Where’s Marshall and Garnet?”
“I sent them to the cave.”
“Come on then. Our horses are tied up over here.”
He followed the sound of her footsteps, the world full of shadows. He had no idea how they were going to find their way to the cave in the dark. The only upside was that it’d make it difficult for pursuers to follow.
Chapter Thirty-One
Brianne
Brianne stared at the letter she’d just finished reading by the campfire where their breakfast of wild foul baked in the coals. She looked over to Marshall and Talon who’d returned to arguing after the few hours sleep they’d managed to have after rescuing Talon. Beyond them, Garnet was curled up in a bed of leaves, the embroidered shirt rolled up for a pillow, while she read the Elder’s diary.
“Talon.” She waited until he looked over from his argument. “Listen to this.” She paused before she read out the section of letter. “We are sending more soldiers to protect the mountain passes as the rebels have increased their attempts at crossing into Terst.” She looked up from the letter.
“What does it say next?” Talon asked.
“Just tells Elden which garrisons to send the extra tribute to.” She glanced at the top of the letter. “It was written nearly a year ago. The House asked for a larger share of the crops to cover the rise in followers. I remember it because Grandad complained how they were already well fed and the army deserved more rations than the Holy Ones.”
“We have to give the House a portion of every harvest. My grandparents own an orchard and they always send part of each harvest there,” Marshall said.
“You’re missing the point,” Brianne said.
“Which is what?” Marshall asked.
“The rebels,” Talon answered before Brianne had a chance.
She nodded. “Yes. There are other people fighting the Prilonians.”
“How do we find them?” Marshall asked.
“We take out the garrisons and let them find us,” Talon said.
“Exactly. But first we let my people know because we need help,” Brianne said.
“There are Terstens who’d fight if they knew what was going on,” Marshall said.
“Where?” Brianne asked.
Garnet sat up, setting the diary aside. “There are people who argue against every decision my parents make. They’d love to see them fail.”
“But that doesn’t mean they’ll fight against the Prilonians.” Talon glared at Marshall.
“Some of them would,” Marshall said.
Brianne decided she better interrupt before they began a new argument. Talon was probably going to be annoyed with Marshall for a very long time for helping her involve Garnet. “Would you know who to talk to?” When Marshall nodded, she kept her eyes on him, determined not to let Ta
lon sway her. “You and Garnet find them while Talon and I go to my people.”
“No.”
Brianne ignored Talon. “Only take a couple of the letters. Ones in Barrett’s handwriting so they know they’re true.”
“She’s not helping,” Talon said.
“I’m not a little kid.” Garnet’s eyes narrowed as she turned her gaze on her brother. “I can do this.”
Continuing to ignore Talon, Brianne kept her eyes on Marshall. “We have to keep this place safe. We need somewhere to meet up when we all return. Don’t show it to anyone you don’t trust.”
Remaining seated, Talon reached out to Brianne, grasping her shoulder and turning her to face him. “You’re not endangering my sister.”
Brianne met his gaze, not at all surprised by the anger she saw. “What would you have her do instead? Sit by and let them steal her country? Have all her friends taken as slaves? Why shouldn’t she fight for her world? Would you sit back and let someone take everything from you?”
“No, but she’s only a kid.”
“I’m not a kid,” Garnet protested.
Brianne ignored Garnet. “So, because she’s a kid she should let them take everything from her?”
“No!” The word exploded from Talon.
“Then what should she do?” She watched as Talon wrestled with the question.
Swearing, he rose to his feet and stalked away.
Brianne hesitated only a moment before she followed him outside. The horizon was tinged with colour from the rising sun and Talon stood with his back to her, his wings out. She came to a stop beside him.
“I don’t want anything to happen to her.”
Brianne could make no promises.
Talon turned towards her. “Garnet and Marshall are all I have left.”
She reached out and clasped his hand, meeting his gaze. “No they’re not.”
Talon’s eyes lowered to their clasped hands, remaining silent for several minutes. He finally raised his eyes and met her gaze. “We should leave soon, before the day is too far advanced.”
“Garnet can help?”
Talon nodded. “Yes.”
Garnet shrieked from the mouth of the cave, running out to throw herself at her brother, breaking Brianne’s grip on him. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Talon held her from him, his expression stern. “You’ll be careful.”
“Of course.”
Marshall joined them. “I’ll look out for her.”
“Both of you be careful.” Talon looked from one to the other.
Brianne headed for the cave, pausing at the entrance. “I’m taking the diary and a couple of letters. Hide the rest once you choose which letters you’re taking.”
Garnet ran after her. “But I haven’t finished reading it yet.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Talon
Talon sat on his horse, waiting for Brianne to rejoin him. Yesterday had been spent avoiding patrol units and the last thing he’d wanted to do was spend time going out of their way so she could pick up a couple of things. And how long did she need? Maybe he should go after her. What if she’d gotten into trouble?
His eyes searched the area. How was he meant to see the enemy? Rock pillars rose randomly throughout the wide gully that narrowed at one end, red dust in every direction he looked. He missed the open meadows of his country where you could see an enemy from miles away.
Brianne stepped around a rock pillar, wearing fitted trousers, a vest like top and sleek boots. A bow hung at her back. These clothes suited her a lot more than the serviceable ones worn by Tersten soldiers.
“Why were your things in the middle of nowhere?”
“Because I didn’t trust Macklyn to take them home for me.” She put her other gear in the saddlebags, tying the Tersten boots on behind the saddle before she mounted.
“He didn’t look like he could be trusted.” In fact, he’d reminded him of Bellamy, always out for himself. “Which way now?” He glanced around. How did Caelians put up with all this red dust? He was sick of it.
Brianne nudged her horse forward. “This way.”
“How much longer?”
“We’ll get there late afternoon, but we should wait until dark. I don’t want anyone knowing we’ve arrived, especially not the Prilonians. Elden may have sent word to look out for us.”
Talon nodded as he rode beside her. Another look around showed more red dust. Where were the trees, the rich earth and the lakes? It was a wonder they could raise any crops on ground like this.
The land they rode through didn’t change and by late afternoon they saw the fortified city in the distance. Towers rose high above the walls, making it look like many fingers reaching for the sky, a multi-towered castle behind them.
“Why are the buildings so tall? It must take forever to reach the top.”
“Not if you have wings. For many of the towers that’s the only way you can enter them.”
“What about people without wings?”
“There are no people without wings, only children. They’re easily carried by their parents.”
“How do we get in?” Talon began to think she wasn’t going to answer, but she finally faced him.
“I can get us in on foot, but you’ll have to fly us to my grandfather’s home. I’ll get us to the base and it’ll be straight up from there.” She paused. “Think you can fly yet?” Her lips curved into a smile, a challenge in her eyes.
“Of course I can.” He was getting better at it all the time. He’d be outflying Macklyn before long.
Brianne grinned. “I guess I’ll soon see for myself.”
They left their horses tied to a narrow rock pillar, in a well hidden gully, and headed for the city once it was dark. Talon followed Brianne as she glided from shadow to shadow, his wings still out. Having them out more often and regularly doing the exercises Brianne had taught him seemed to be lessening the pain. His fever had also gone, which was good since Caelis was warmer with its lack of shady trees and grassy meadows.
The wall around the city was made from the same stones used in Terst, as were the towers, but that was the only similarity. The streets were deserted, there were very few lowset buildings and his gaze was drawn upwards to where Caelians flew overhead. Each time someone passed he tensed, ready to draw his sword should one of them swoop down on them.
Brianne stopped at the foot of a tower that shot up into the sky. Towards the top, a small platform jutted out. “Are you ready?”
Talon continued to stare at the platform, highlighted by moonlight. “You want me to land on that?”
“Think you can do it?”
Talon hesitated. What choice did they have? “Yes.”
“There’ll be a guard up there. Try not to land on him.”
“Three of us are meant to fit up there?” Surely she didn’t really mean that.
“If you can’t do it, let me know and I’ll climb up, but it’ll take me hours and someone’s likely to notice. Especially since it’s something only a dirt walker would do.”
He heard the derision in her voice when she said the words ‘dirt walker’. It reminded him of the way Macklyn had said them. What would it have been like not to be able to hide how different you were from everyone else? “I can do this. Are you ready?”
Instead of answering, she removed her bow from her back and leaned against his chest, holding her arms out slightly, an arrow in the other hand.
Talon wrapped his arms around her chest, his hands gripping her shoulders. “What are you planning? You’re not going to shoot the guard, are you?”
“I hope not.” She paused. “Fly.”
Talon launched into the air, holding Brianne tight. The platform came closer. When he was beside it, he started to tilt his wings.
The guard raised his bow, an arrow trained on them. “Move away.”
Brianne raised her own bow and called out at the same time, “It’s Brianne Devin, I need to see my grandfather.”
“Who’s with you?” The guard’s bow remained trained on them.
Talon struggled to keep his height constant while he inched slowly towards the platform, his wings barely tilting.
“I need to see my grandfather. It’s important.”
“Can we land?” Talon whispered in her ear. If she said no, he didn’t think he could keep hovering.
The door swung open. “What’s going on out here?”
“Grandad.”
“Brianne. What are you doing here? Macklyn said you’d been caught.”
“Can we land?” Talon asked Brianne again.
“I brought someone for you to meet,” Brianne said.
Talon watched as the old man made a sharp motion and the guard lowered his bow. Taking that as an invitation, he slowly dropped to the platform, relieved when he managed to stay on his feet.
Holding the door open, the old man stepped out of the way. “Inside, quickly.”
Talon let go of Brianne as she pulled away from him, staying close to her side as he looked around. The guard stayed outside and Brianne followed her grandfather to a lantern lit room with a desk, two stools on the side closest to them, a single stool on the far side.
Once the door was closed, the old man turned to Talon. “Who are you?” His eyes were drawn to the dark feathers.
With a grin, Brianne stepped forward and answered before Talon could. “This is Talon Morin, General Barrett Morin’s son. Talon, meet my grandfather, Briant Finnin.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Brianne
Brianne paced the floor while her uncle finished reading the letters she’d brought and her grandfather skimmed through the diary. Talon stood in a corner, his wings still out and his expression wary. With the length of time it was taking the two of them to go over the information they’d brought, she and Talon could have collected the horses themselves instead of letting Briant send someone for them. It would have been a lot more interesting than being cooped up in her grandfather’s office.
Ewyn nudged Briant, who was seated on a stool next to him. Briant looked at the letter Ewyn read, then almost as one they both glanced at Brianne.