Earth Bound (21 page)

Brianne followed the guard to the cell where Macklyn was kept. Upon returning Elden to the Caelian capital yesterday, she’d asked if she could talk to Macklyn. Word had finally been brought to her that she could.

The guard stopped to unlock another gate and followed her through before he locked it behind them. She was tempted to ask how many more gates there were, but she guessed if it kept prisoners from escaping, what did it matter?

The guard opened yet another gate, but this time, he didn’t follow her through. “Fifth cell on the right.” He gestured in the direction before he closed the gate and locked it.

Brianne slowly turned to face the direction he had indicated, taking a single step forward. She hadn’t expected to be locked in here too. A glance over her shoulder showed the guard had his back to her, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword where it hung at his side. She continued along the corridor, looking in cells as she passed, counting the ones on the right. They were empty. She stopped in front of the only one with an occupant. He sat on the narrow bed fixed to the wall on the left side of the cell, leaning against the wall, his wings retracted. To the right of him was an enclosed area with a closed door, the rest of the cell empty.

Macklyn remained on his bed, the sheet and light blanket a rumpled heap at his feet. “They said you wanted to see me. Did you come to gloat?”

She shook her head. “Why did you tell Elden where I was?” Ewyn had told her Elden had returned to Terst because of what Macklyn had told him.

“He asked where you were.”

“You were told to tell no one.”

Macklyn rose to his feet, stalking to the bars that separated them. “He wasn’t no one. He was the Supreme One. When he asks you a question, you answer. I’m locked in here because of you.” He jabbed a finger in her direction.

“You’re locked in here because you also told them I’d been caught.”

“The Supreme One said to tell them that. He said that to tell them otherwise would have caused the death of many squads in a futile attempt to rescue you. The loss of that many lives wasn’t worth trying to rescue one person just because of how important your family is.”

“How could you believe him? My family would never have rescued me if it meant so many were to die. I wouldn’t have expected it of them.”

“You told the dirt walker he could kill me.”

Her earlier anger at the slur against her family evaporated in a smile, she fought to contain, as she remembered Talon’s comment. “I didn’t. He just took my words that way.”

“You’re going to destroy our people. Not everyone believes the lies you’ve spread about the Holy Ones being impostors. Your family wanted to gain more control. That’s what all this is about.”

All sense of wanting to smile faded. “You’re an idiot if you believe that. Who else believes you?”

Macklyn’s lips slowly curved into a smile. “I’ll get out of here one day. I was only following the orders of the Supreme One. His word is above law. His word is direct from the gods themselves.”

“They won’t let you out of here.” Ewyn had told her that Macklyn went against orders and there was no way he was getting out.

“Sacred Law is above common law.” He grasped one of the bars and moved as close to them as possible, lowering his voice. “And I’ll make sure you pay for every moment I’ve spent in here.”

Brianne wanted to take a step back at the venom in his tone and gaze. Instead she remained where she was. “They’ll never let you out of here. I’ll make certain they know you’ve threatened me.”

“And like every other time, it’ll be your word against mine.”

Brianne recalled each time he’d managed to twist situations so they went in his favour. But not this time. This time he was behind bars and she was going to make certain he remained there. “My family will help keep you locked up. They’ll believe me when I say you threatened me.”

“Will they? When I’ve already voiced my concerns that this has all been a ruse to make things more difficult for me?” His tone changed to one that was a blend of uncertainty, sorrow and hope. “She wants to see me? Really? You can’t imagine how badly I want to apologise to her after the Supreme One tricked me into betraying her. But how can I expect her to forgive me? She’ll want to get even with me. How do I know this isn’t a way to get even with me? Maybe even say I’ve threatened her.”

Brianne could see the scene perfectly. How many times had he swayed someone to his thinking? “I’ll tell them about the act you put on for them.”

Macklyn laughed softly. “You do that. It doesn’t matter. Of course I told you about my concerns when I begged your forgiveness. Do you want me to play that scene out for you? I bet I could even manage a tear or two.”

This time Brianne did take a step back, wishing she hadn’t bothered to come and ask her question. “I don’t care what you say, I’ll make sure you’re locked up forever. You were an idiot to believe Elden.”

“I would’ve done as he said even if I hadn’t believed him.” Macklyn glared at her a moment before he turned and took the several steps back to his bed. He faced her again, still standing. “A million times over.” Sitting on the bed again, he leaned against the wall, stretching his legs out in front of him.

Brianne stared at him for a minute before she spun on her heel and strode along the corridor to the gate. When the guard turned at the sound of her footsteps, she said, “I’m finished here now.” She should have brought someone with her. Someone who could have backed her up about Macklyn’s lies. But he probably would’ve said nothing if she hadn’t been alone. She stepped through the gate and waited for the guard to lock it again. She’d talk to her grandfather and see what he had to say.

Talon sat on Ailis’ balcony, Brianne against his side, their shoulders pressed together, his wings retracted. Ailis was inside, having been with Brianne when she went to see Briant. As he listened to her speak about her visit with Macklyn, he wanted to pound him into the red dust that seemed to be everywhere in Caelis. “What did your grandfather say when you told him?”

“He said not to worry about Macklyn since the poor kid, his words, was feeling terrible about being duped by Elden. That I couldn’t expect him to have realised Elden was the enemy when no one else did.”

“Are they keeping him locked up?”

Brianne nodded. “Grandad said he’d be in there for as long as they deemed it necessary.”

“How long is that?”

She shrugged. “I have no idea.”

He slid his arm around her waist. “It doesn’t matter. If he tries anything when they let him out, we’ll be ready.” He grinned as he felt the tug of pressure at his back. “And I haven’t seen anything from him to be worried about.”

Brianne laughed, tilting her head to look up at him. “You think you can fly better than him now?”

Before Talon could answer, Marshall called up from the base of the four storey high tower, “Hey, bird-boy.”

Talon looked over the edge to see Marshall grinning at him. He grinned back. “What, dirt walker?”

“You going to come down here or do I have to keep yelling at you?”

Talon turned to Brianne. “Coming down?”

“Sure.”

Grin still in place, he tightened his grip around her waist, his other arm encircling her as he slid them over the edge of the balcony, his wings snapping out to glide them to the ground. He made a perfect landing, folding in his wings.

“What are you trying to do? Kill us?” Brianne stayed in his arms.

“This from the girl who throws herself off walls?”

“Shh.” Brianne glanced upwards.

Talon laughed, guessing she didn’t want her mother knowing about that incident. Leaving only one arm around Brianne, he turned to Marshall. “What’s up, dirt walker?” His tone didn’t contain the derision it did when he called Bellamy that.

“I’m heading home tomorrow, are you coming?”

“I don’t know.” Talon was torn. Brianne had talked about him watching out for her when she had the operation, but what about before then. And after? “Brianne?” He had no idea what question to ask, other than to make a question of her name.

“On horseback?” There was a tone to her voice that made it sound like it was as bad as a one way trip to the Infernal World.

“I can fly you there,” Talon suggested.

“You don’t have to decide this minute. I don’t leave till daybreak. And if you aren’t leaving, I can take a letter back to Garnet with me if you want,” Marshall said.

“Thanks.” He wanted to say more, but how did you tell someone you appreciated them being there for you even when you kept pushing them away. Even Marshall’s parents were there for him, taking Garnet in while he chased after enemies. “I’ll let you know tonight.” He held Marshall’s gaze until his friend nodded.

“I’ll see you later then.”

Talon watched as Marshall walked away.

“Do you want to go home with him?” Brianne asked.

Talon shrugged. “I don’t really want to travel by horse, but there are still some Prilonians attacking travellers. It’s going to take time to capture all of them. I could probably do aerial sweeps of the land and make sure they aren’t attacked.”

“That sounds good. Need an extra pair of eyes?”

“Absolutely.” It was all he could do not to grin like an idiot.

“I’m only coming as long as I don’t get stuck riding.”

Talon nodded.

“And after we see your mate home we go to Iralen and see the doctors.”

Joy burst through him, but he only nodded again.

“And I need a lift home, even though you can’t fly.” Brianne glanced upwards.

Talon grinned. “Can’t fly, huh?” He pulled her close, his arms wrapping around her waist as he launched into the air, his eyes meeting hers. He hovered above the balcony.

“Don’t let my grandad catch you flying me around like this. He’ll lecture you for hours about how dangerous it is.”

“Dangerous? Then I guess we should be grateful we’re still alive.”

Brianne laughed. “Absolutely.”

Taking her repetition of his earlier answer as a yes, his lips met hers. He lowered them to the balcony, his wings folding in as one of his hands rose to the middle of her back. The sound of wings and a rush of air drew Talon slightly away from Brianne and he swore under his breath as he saw her grandfather join them on the balcony. He bit back another curse as Brianne pulled completely away from him.

“I’ll get ready.” Brianne disappeared inside with a smile and a hello for her grandfather.

“Fly with me.” Briant didn’t wait for an answer, but rose into the air.

With a glance at the doorway Brianne had disappeared through, Talon took to the air, speeding up to come alongside Briant. He waited for the man to speak, but he remained silent. They eventually reached Briant’s house and Talon landed on the balcony next to Briant, a guard by the door.

“Inside.” Briant gestured for Talon to go ahead.

Talon hesitated a moment, wondering what was going on. There was only one way to find out. He preceded Briant to his study and stood across from the desk when Briant sat down. They had the room to themselves.

“I’ve talked to my granddaughter about joining one of four special teams we’re creating that will be a mix of all our people. She said she needed to think about it and it wouldn’t be until she’s had that operation the rebel told her about.”

Talon nodded, still wondering where the conversation was leading.

“I want you to talk to her. She doesn’t need to risk herself on some operation that may not even work. She’ll be out of action for ages. We need to be part of rebuilding our nations.”

“No.”

“What?”

“I won’t ask that of her. And you shouldn’t either.” Didn’t he know how important wings were for Brianne? Hadn’t she done enough for everyone by risking her life as a spy?

“And why shouldn’t I?”

“Because she deserves wings.”

“I’m not saying she shouldn’t get the operation in the long run. Just not now. There’s still too much to settle. When things have been sorted out and when we know more about the operation, then she can have it.”

Talon shook his head. “No. She deserves wings now. Not years in the future.”

Briant stared at him for several minutes, silent. “I want you to lead one of the teams with her.”

“Lead? As in co-captain?” He willed the man to say yes.

“No. Not captains, these teams will be separate from the armies. They will answer only to First Officers, Generals and Political Leaders. They’ll be involved in policing the armies and ensuring each race abides by the laws and treaties agreed upon. These teams will be considered as one of the highest military ranks you can achieve. What do you say to my offer? With all you’ve done to help free our people you deserve it.”

He wanted to say yes. Desperately wanted to say yes. “Is this offer only available if Brianne takes it up too?”

Briant nodded.

He couldn’t. As much as he wanted that position, he wouldn’t convince Brianne to give up her wings. “Thank you, but no.” He started for the door.

“We’ll want monthly reports,” Briant said.

Talon stopped. He’d been certain he’d said no. As much as he’d wanted to say yes, he was sure he hadn’t. He turned to face Briant. “I turned your offer down. Brianne is having the operation.”

“I know. You’ll protect her while she’s recovering and make sure the team functions without her until she can help you lead it.”

His eyes narrowed. “What would you have done if I’d said yes?”

“Known that you wouldn’t be the one to protect my granddaughter. I would have found someone else to protect her.”

“And what if I still say no?”

Briant chuckled. “You won’t. You might be annoyed with my test, but you’re not an idiot. Besides, your friend Bellamy will be in one of the teams.”

“Not mine.” He didn’t think he could put up with Bellamy permanently.

“No. He’ll co-lead another team.” Briant rose. “Tell Brianne. I expect the two of you to be at the middle garrison in two weeks. Being the first team, that will be your base. It will also be where all the teams gather for planning. Off you go.” He waved towards the door.

Talon had so many questions to ask that he continued to stand in front of the desk.

“Go on.” Briant gestured towards the door again. “All your questions will be answered at your first meeting.”

Talon nodded, deciding to tell Marshall that he’d travel with him the next day before he told Brianne what her grandfather had offered them. It certainly wasn’t the unit captaincy he’d strived for his entire life. No, it sounded a lot better than that.