Earth Bound (9 page)

Talon waited until his father left his office before he entered, having pottered around in the corridor with one of his paintings, pretending to find the perfect place to hang it. The only attention his father gave him when he strode past was a look of disgust mingled with disappointment.

Seeing the office was empty he opened the door to the right of the entrance and stepped into the small room, lit only by a barred window, closing the door of the storage room behind him. An old desk, trunks, and several stacks of paper and books filled the barely used room. Talon headed straight for the desk, sliding open the bottom drawer, relieved to find the old key still there. He dropped it into his belt pouch, smiling slightly as he recalled the prank he and Marshall had planned for the laundry years ago. It hadn’t turned out exactly as they’d expected. They’d made a copy of the key and when they’d tried to sneak into the laundry late one night, about six years ago, someone had been in there. Running back to the fortress, they’d hidden the key in the storage room, planning to try again another night. It had never happened. Each of them had made excuses until the key was forgotten when more interesting things came along.

About to leave the room, still holding his painting, Talon froze as he heard a sound in the office. He pressed his ear against the door. It was quiet. Should he open the door and check? He reached for the handle.

“Are you sure this is what she looks like?”

Talon pulled his hand away from the door at the sound of the Supreme One’s voice.

“The soldier I had draw her likeness is a talented artist and he’s seen her a few times, Elden.”

Talon frowned. Who else was with his father and the Supreme One? He’d never heard an Elden mentioned before.

“You have to find her. You can’t let her escape. She’s the niece of their First Officer,” the Supreme One said.

“She was examined. They found no wings,” Barrett said.

“She’s an abomination,” the Supreme One said.

Barrett swore and Talon wondered when Elden would speak, but it was his father who spoke next. “Why didn’t you warn me there was an abomination, Elden?”

“I didn’t think she’d be a problem,” the Supreme One snapped.

Talon stared at the door, wishing he could see who was with his father. Who was Elden and why hadn’t he answered the question directed at him? He didn’t like the suspicion that was starting to form.

“You said you’d help us in our fight against them. Why aren’t we winning?” Barrett demanded.

“You can’t let her escape,” the Supreme One said.

“Stop ordering me around, Elden. I’m not your lackey.”

His father’s words filled him with dread. Placing the painting against a nearby trunk, he lay on the floor to peer under the door.

“Without me, all your people would be dead. I’m keeping you alive,” the Supreme One said. “Don’t you dare forget it. The Prilonians would wipe you out if you were no longer of use to them.”

He could only see his father’s boots and the edge of the black robe of the Supreme One.

“I’ve kept my part of the bargain, you better keep yours.”

There was a short silence before the Supreme One answered Barrett. “Don’t let the girl escape.” He strode to the door, the hem of his robes swirling around him.

Talon continued to lie on the floor, peering under the door. He watched as his father remained in place for several minutes before he swore and left the office, closing his door behind him. Talon searched as much of the office as he could see, the desk obstructing very little of his view of the floor. He was almost certain there was no one else in the room. Rising slowly to his feet, he cautiously opened the door, looking around. It was empty.

Rubbing at the ridges on his shoulder blades, he tried to ease the tightness and pain that was starting to build. What was his father thinking? And who were the Prilonians? Should he be helping Brianne? It sounded like the Supreme One was on their side. But if he was, why weren’t they winning?

Grabbing his painting, Talon closed the storage room door before he eased the door to the corridor open. Seeing it empty, he hurried out, almost running back to his room, mentally arguing with himself over what he should do. He didn’t know if he should still get robes for Brianne, but he didn’t have to decide immediately. The laundry staff wouldn’t start making deliveries and collecting the next day’s dirty linen from the House, hospital and fortress until after lunch.

Reaching his door, he checked the corridor before he knocked, using the prearranged code, and waited for Brianne to let him in. As soon as she opened it, he slid inside, locking the door behind him. Staring at her, he tried to decide what to do.

“Couldn’t you get any robes?”

“I’ve got a key to the laundry, but I can’t go until this afternoon.”

“Then what went wrong?”

Talon placed his painting face first against the wall near the door, not taking his eyes from Brianne. “How do you know something went wrong?”

“Because you look like you lost a war, not won a battle.”

He stared at her a moment longer before he looked away and crossed the room to drop onto the edge of his bed. His back tightened and he fought against letting his wings free. They’d only get in his way.

“Talon?” Brianne came to stand in front of him. When he looked up at her, she asked, “What happened?”

“Do you know the Supreme One’s name?”

She shook her head. “They have to give up their names, their families and their identities to join the House.”

“Have you heard the name Elden before?” When she shook her head again, he asked, “What about Prilonians?”

Again she shook her head. “What happened?”

He rose to his feet and started to cross the room to the window. He stopped and looked back at her. “I have no idea.”

“What do you think happened?”

“Either my father is a traitor or the Supreme One is working against your people.” He carefully watched her expression. It didn’t change.

“If the Supreme One’s working for your people then why aren’t you winning? He has access to everything my people know and plan except for me being here.”

That was exactly what he wanted to know. What in the name of the Master of the Infernal World was his father up to? Whatever it was, it didn’t seem to be helping their people to win.

Brianne paced the room, alone for the second time that day. Frustration filled her at the small pieces of information Talon had given her. How was she meant to figure this out if he didn’t share what he discovered? And how was she meant to learn anything locked in Talon’s room all the time?

Her pacing was brought to a stop by a knock at the door. It wasn’t Talon. She didn’t even know how long it would be before he returned. Surely he couldn’t be too much longer. Another knock. She stared at the door, wishing she had a better weapon than the dagger in her boot.

“Talon,” Garnet called through the door. “Let me in, Talon.” She knocked again, then tried the doorknob.

Brianne nearly groaned. She had no way of getting rid of her.

Another knock. “Come on, Talon. Let me in. I need to talk to you.” Silence. “Talon.” Impatience filled her tone as she pounded on the door. “Talon.” This time her voice was filled with surprise. “Who’s in your room?”

“What do you want, Garnet?”

At Talon’s voice, Brianne quietly stepped up to the door to press her ear against it.

“I can’t find Lacey and our father won’t tell me anything. Do you know where she is?”

“Don’t try and find her, Garnet. Everyone’s looking for her. You don’t want to be mixed up in this.”

“You know what’s going on, don’t you?”

“No. The little I know makes me wonder at how much I don’t know. Promise me you’ll stay out of this.”

“Why?”

“Promise me, Garnet.”

Brianne could hear the urgency in his voice and wondered what it was like to have a sibling.

“She’s my friend.”

“She’s a Caelian.”

There was a moment of silence before Garnet answered. “I don’t believe you. She doesn’t have wings.”

“Trust me on this. She’s a Caelian.”

“They’ll kill her when they find her, won’t they?”

When there was only silence, Brianne wished she could see what was happening.

“Talon? Will they?”

He finally answered. “Yes.”

“You’ve got to find her. Don’t let them get her.”

“She’s a Caelian.”

“So? She’s my friend.”

Brianne’s eyes closed as she drew in a shaky breath, trying to remind herself they were the enemy. The thought seemed false and her heart wasn’t in it.

“What if everything she told you was a lie? Everything she did was a lie. She’s a spy for our enemy, Garnet.”

“I don’t believe that. When you find her, ask her.”

“Garnet-”

“Don’t let them kill her. You want me to stay out of it, then promise me that.”

Brianne held her breath waiting for his answer. It seemed to take an age to arrive.

“I promise.” Silence met his words. Eventually the silence was broken by Talon speaking quietly. “Open the door, Brianne.”

She unlocked the door and let him in. She watched him as he locked the door, dropped a sack on the floor and started to unbutton his shirt. He didn’t speak and she didn’t know what to ask him. Once his wings were free, she found the words she needed to say. “Not everything was a lie.”

Talon continued to meet her eyes, not speaking. She wondered if he was in too much pain to answer and started to reach out for him to check his temperature. He stepped to the side and strode to the middle of the room, his back to her, and began the exercises she’d taught him.

Since he didn’t say, she decided to find out for herself. Reaching for the sack, she opened it and stared at the reddish-brown robes. Closing the sack she dropped it to the floor, fear and excitement rushing through her. She had to find something. It didn’t matter what. Something that explained exactly what was going on. She strode to the bed and watched Talon as he continued his flying exercises. How she wished she was doing them with him, her wings outstretched as she worked on strengthening them and gaining control over them in preparation for her first flight. She dropped backwards onto the bed to stare at the ceiling. It wasn’t fair. Everyone got wings but her. Her view was blocked by Talon towering over her.

“What’s wrong? Are you worried about tonight? If you don’t think you’re up to it, we’ll come up with another plan.”

She shook her head, feeling slightly offended that he thought she might not be up to the task. “No. I can’t wait.” She hesitated, she’d told him more than enough lies. Sitting up, she took a deep breath before she offered him the truth. “I wish I had your wings. I’ve trained my entire life to join a squad and eventually lead it.”

“I’d get rid of mine if I could. I’ve trained my entire life to lead a unit and become general after my father retires.” He held out his hand to her. “Train with me. We’ll use daggers. It should be quieter.”

Placing her hand in his, she let him pull her to her feet, a smile forming. “I wouldn’t count on it, but maybe we should work on teaching you how to use your wings in battle. If we have an enemy out there we’re going to need every advantage.”

Talon let go of her hand and pulled a dagger from his boot. “If we have an enemy out there I can’t understand why my father would surrender to them and not fight to the last person.”

Brianne drew out her own dagger. “None of my people would let an enemy dictate what we can do. No matter what the odds. Even the fledglings would fight for our freedom.”

Talon slipped inside his room, dropping a sack next to the one he’d brought back earlier that day. He turned to face Brianne, searching her face for any signs of fear. “Are you ready?” He gestured towards the sack. “We’ve got rope.”

Brianne slowly smiled, excitement lighting her eyes. “I’ve been ready all day. You’re the one who’s taken forever to gather the gear we need.”

He recognised the look in her eyes, it echoed the way he felt. “Then let’s go. Put on your robe.” He threw the other sack to her.

“You’re coming too?”

“I’ll be nearby.”

“How are you going to get down?”

“Fly.”

Brianne shook her head. “You can’t. Asking a thousand questions isn’t the same as knowing how to fly.”

“I guess I’ll find out soon enough.” He started to remove his shirt and bandages.

“Are you crazy?”

“One of those vests you told me your people wear would be good right now.” He tied his shirt at his waist before he took the rope from the sack.

“Talon.” Brianne reached out to him.

He stepped past her, avoiding her hand. “Unless you’ve changed your mind, let’s do this.” He shrugged off her hand when it finally landed on his shoulder.

“I know what to do to keep your wings retracted.”

He spun to face her. “Don’t even think about it.”

“You’ll kill yourself.”

“I thought you said I was killing myself anyway.” How hard could it be to fly? If the Caelians could do it, there was no reason he couldn’t.

“Don’t worry about flying. Once you step out that window, spread your wings as far as you can, then beat them very slowly. You’ll kind of glide to the ground.” She eyed him up and down. “Or at least you should, but you have a more solid build than my people. At least you’re not as solid looking as most Terstens. If you were that heavy you’d probably drop like a rock.”

She said it like it was a bad thing. Who wanted to look like they could be easily snapped in two? “Put the robe and gloves on so we can get moving.” He strode towards the window and tied the rope to the thick stick he’d collected earlier, bracing it against the wall on either side of the window before he threw the rope outside.

Brianne stopped beside him, resting her gloved hand on his arm, the hood of her robe pushed back. “You don’t have to come. Take your first flight another day. Preferably from the ground.”

“Are you still going to do this or should I do it myself?”

“You’re too tall to pass for a penitent.” She frowned. “I never realised that before. None of them are much taller than me and I know people who’ve joined the House of the Lord and Lady that are a lot taller than I am.”

So did he, but they had other things they needed to focus on. “You’re wasting darkness.” He held the stick steady while she clambered onto the window ledge.

She stared at him for a moment, perched on the window ledge, her hands clinging to the frame. “Don’t kill yourself.” She lowered herself over the edge, making her way down the rope.

Talon waited until she was partway down before he climbed onto the ledge, facing his room. Holding onto the window frame, he leaned backwards out the window. It took several painful moments before his wings burst forth and he let go, stretching his wings out as far as he could. The ground rushed up to him. He felt a moment of fear and pumped his wings hard. Then the ground was rapidly receding so he slowed the movements. He cursed when he slowed his wings too much and again the ground came rushing at him. A little more wing speed had him finally landing on the ground, staggering as he came to a stop.

Brianne threw herself at him, her arms sliding around him, a palm resting high on his back between his wings. “I thought you were going to die. I can’t believe you did that.”

Over the initial fear, he grinned. “Actually, it wasn’t too bad. I think I’ll have to try that again.”

“Now?” She drew away from him.

He laughed at her expression of disbelief, clear enough even in the shadows. “Later. After we see what you can find in the House.”

Once Talon had retracted his wings and put his shirt on they travelled quietly through the streets, avoiding several units that were searching for Brianne. The area around the House of the Lord and Lady was quiet, dark and deserted.

He reached out to take her hand and pull her back to him when she started for the entrance. “Be careful in there. Don’t take any chances and get out if you think it’s too dangerous.”

“Like you with your flying?”

Talon laughed softly. “I’m still alive. I bet your Macklyn couldn’t have done so well.”

“He’s not mine. I gave him to you. Remember?”

“Are you trying to put off going inside? Have you changed your mind?”

“A million times, but I’ll still go through with it. I need to find out how much danger our people are in.”

“Good luck.” He held out his hand to her.

She looked from his hand to his face several times before she spoke. “My people don’t offer to shake hands in situations like this.” She leaned forward and kissed first one cheek and then the other. “That’s how friends wish each other luck in Caelis. As well as say hello and goodbye.” She pulled her hood up, hiding her grin as she turned away from him.

He stared after her as she ran across the space between him and the entrance. She better be careful in there. It wasn’t like he had a disguise he could use to rescue her if she got into trouble.

Looking around he spotted a place in the shadows where he could wait and still see the entrance. He’d barely hidden when a unit marched past, lanterns swinging as they continued their search for Brianne. His father was going be in a foul mood when they failed to find her.