Earth Bound

Earth Bound

Published by

Broken Gate Publishing

PO Box 6241

Maroochydore BC 4558

Australia

978-1-925131-10-9 (Kindle)

978-1-925131-23-9 (Print)

978-1-925131-25-3 (Printed in Australia)

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Copyright 2014 © Avril Petersen

Cover design by Caitlyn Petersen

All rights reserved

For Rhys, who once thought he could fly.

Nineteen-year-old Brianne has always dreamed of leading a squad. The one thing she has no control over is holding her back. Like the Caelians’ mortal enemies, the Terstens, she’s earth bound. Sacred Law demands her death by her twentieth birthday.

Twenty-one year old Talon is the son of the Terstens’ General. Three years ago he quit the army. He can’t tell anyone why he abandoned his life long dream. His secret could end the lives of him and his family.

Both societies revolve around their armies, believing the other race caused the centuries long war. When circumstances bring Brianne and Talon together, they start to learn the real truth may lie beyond the Feronian Mountains, which haven’t been crossed in centuries.

This novel was written by an Australian author using Australian spelling.

Pronunciation for some of the more unusual names in Earth Bound.

Ailis (ay-lis)

Brianne (bry-anne)

Briant (bry-ant)

Caelis (kay-lis)

Caelians (kay-lee-ens)

Eriens (air-ee-ens)

Ewyn (you-in)

Feronian Mountains (fur-row-knee-en)

Iralen (ear-rah-len)

Prilonia (pril-own-ee-ah)

Prilonians (pril-own-ee-ens)

Taeranelle (tay-rah-nell)

Terst (tur-st)

Terstens (tur-stens)

Zinervie (zin-ur-vee)

Brianne Devin reached for the next handhold, her fingers gripping the piece of red rock that jutted out above her. Dust clung to her pale fingers as she pulled herself upwards, her feet seeking higher footholds. She reached out and grasped the top, pulling herself over the edge, her torso against the dirt on top of the natural rock pillar. Her legs dangled over the edge as she paused to draw in deep breaths of air. She wriggled forward until she could rise to her feet, resting her hands on her hips. A stab of grim satisfaction filled her as she looked out over the rocky countryside, her back to the castle and fortified city. A warm wind swirled around her, tugging strands of blond hair from the long plait that hung down her back. She rubbed her left shoulder blade. It felt the same as always. A little angular. No ridge rose slightly above the contours of her shoulder blade. Satisfaction faded to be filled with an ache. It wasn’t fair. Before she had a chance to mentally list how unfair, the sound of beating wings had her turning in that direction.

Her mother, Ailis, flew towards her. White, outstretched wings closed as she landed on the narrow pillar. Like Brianne, she had the typical pale skin, blond hair and blue eyes of their people. “I’ve been looking for you for nearly an hour.”

Brianne’s hand dropped to her side as her shoulders shrugged, ignoring the worry in her mother’s eyes.

“Why do you keep dragging yourself up here? It isn’t safe.”

She ignored the question. “What did they say?” She held her breath.

“Let me take you to the ground.”

Her stomach lurched. “What did they say?”

“Now don’t dismiss this until you think it over. Your grandfather had to make a lot of concessions before the assembly agreed to break with tradition. We’re running out of time. With less than a year until you’re twenty we don’t have much choice.”

“What did they say?” She pronounced each word individually, teeth gritted.

“The Supreme One said Sacred Law is as important as common law. He demanded the death sentence. He said letting a… ahh… children like you-”

“Abominations.”

“You’re not an abomination.” Ailis reached out towards her.

Brianne brushed the hand away. “It’s what he called me, isn’t it? Without wings that’s all anyone sees me as.”

Ailis looked away. “You’re forbidden to ever have children or take male lovers. If you do, it’s an instant death sentence. You have the choice of joining the House of the Lord and Lady of the After World or teaching in the lower level schools.”

Brianne stared at her mother for several seconds, barely able to believe the words, before shaking her head. It was as bad as a death sentence. “No.”

“Bri-”

“No. It’s not acceptable. I’ve trained my entire life to join a squad. I won’t accept anything less. Grandfather knew that.”

“Be reasonable.”

“I am. I’d be miserable. I’d rather die.”

“You don’t mean that. I’m sure your father would have wanted better for you than a short life in the army.”

“No, he wouldn’t. He was always the first one to volunteer for a mission. First to grab his bow and sword. He lived and breathed the army.”

“And look where that got him. Not here at your side, not here demanding they recognise you as a citizen of Caelis. Brianne, be sensible.”

“I’m sick of being sensible.” She turned away, taking the single step to the edge so she could stare down at the ground. It had taken her over an hour to travel that distance. Her mother could do it in less than a minute. A hand absently moved to her left shoulder blade and rubbed the place where a wing should have been. “Joining a squad is all I’ve ever dreamed of.” Even before she’d been old enough to train she’d pestered her grandfather to teach her.

“It’s your grandfather’s fault for filling your head with all those romantic tales. War isn’t romantic. A squad mate dying in your arms isn’t romantic. Losing family isn’t romantic. This would keep you safe. And on the ground.”

Brianne spun to face her mother. She heard pebbles and dirt slide over the edge, skittering across the uneven surface of the side of the pillar. She refused to step forward. “I don’t want to be on the ground.” She raised a hand and pointed skywards. “That’s where I belong. With a bow, a squad at my side, fighting the earth bound. Not being one of them. Do you know what they say? That you must have cheated on your husband with a filthy earth walker. That I have Tersten blood in me.”

“Never. And you know that. Who says that? Tell me.” Ailis grabbed her by the shoulders, tugging her away from the edge.

“Why? Do you think you can make them stop? You can’t. The moment you turn your back they’ll start again.”

Ailis sighed, letting go of Brianne. “Talk to your grandfather. Hear what he has to say.”

“Why? Wasn’t stabbing me in the back good enough for him? I thought he was on my side. I thought he’d make them see I can be part of a squad. Somehow.”

Silence filled the air. With another sigh, Ailis finally spoke. “Please. Just talk to him. He wouldn’t tell me what it was about, but he said he was certain he could help you make the right decision.”

Maybe she should see him. Just so she could tell him how she felt about him not standing up for her. “I’ll think about it.”

“Do you want me to fly you to the ground?”

“No.” The sharp word was filled with bitterness.

Ailis opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again. She stared at Brianne a moment longer before she snapped her wings open and soared into the sky.

Brianne watched her mother fly towards the walled city, envy burning through her. That should be her. She rubbed her right shoulder and swore. Staring at the ground she began to wish she hadn’t sent her mother away. Going down was always a lot harder than climbing up.

She was still several feet from the ground when the beating of wings filled the air once again. A glance over her shoulder made her swear. Hurrying to reach the ground didn’t help. She barely had time to move before Macklyn was at her shoulder, stirring up red dust from the cliff.

“I hear they’re going to do us all a favour and put you out of your misery.”

Brianne ignored him, shooting a quick glare at Zinervie instead. So much for always being friends. Zinervie had ditched her the moment Macklyn and his friends had started tormenting her for being friends with a dirt walker.

“They’re wasting their time waiting until you’re twenty,” Macklyn snarled. “Are you listening to me, dirt walker?”

Brianne gritted her teeth and tried to ignore his words. Anger burned through her as she tried to find the next hole with her foot.

“Don’t ignore me.” Macklyn pushed against her.

“Macklyn!”

Brianne felt herself fall as Zinervie’s word rang out in the air. She rolled as she felt herself hit the ground, coming up on her feet, her fists raised as she spun to face Macklyn. He continued to hover above her. “Come down here and try that.” If she’d brought her bow with her he’d have soon lost that smug smile.

“Why don’t you come up here?”

Brianne’s jaw clenched as she felt the familiar ache. Why him? Why did he deserve wings and she didn’t? “Scared? You worried I’ll pound you into the dirt that seems to terrify you so much?” She didn’t even bother addressing Zinervie, sending her a venom filled glance before she returned her gaze to Macklyn.

“You’re the one who should be scared. I hear they use an axe.” His hand made a chopping motion at his neck. “Sometimes they don’t cut right through on the first attempt. You’re left alive and in agony, before the axe descends again.”

She could almost feel the bite of the metal across her neck. Forcing herself not to flinch, she continued to meet Macklyn’s eyes. “Come down here and tell me that. Or are you staying up there because I’ve beaten you enough times in class, you know you can’t win against me.”

“I’m staying up here because I don’t want to be contaminated by your filth.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Come on, Zinervie.” With a last look of disgust and a sneered, “Dirt walker,” he flew towards the city.

Zinervie watched Brianne for a moment, a look of pity and fear in her blue eyes, before she flew after Macklyn.

Brianne stared after them, her eyes drawn to the sweep of their white wings as they rose higher, above the walls of the city. She lowered her fists, keeping them clenched. How could her grandfather have failed her? How could he have expected her to be subservient to people like Macklyn? No one would respect her if she gave in and lived in the lower levels of the city with the wingless children. Even the children wouldn’t respect her, knowing that one day they’d grow wings and she never would. And joining the House wasn’t an option. She wouldn’t give up who she was to become a nameless Holy One, denying the existence of her family.

She stared at the city of towers that rose into the sky above thick stone walls. Most of those towers had no ground entrance and could only be entered through an upper entrance by those with wings. Her grandfather lived in one of those towers and he expected her to visit him. Expected her to have someone fly her to him like a child who hadn’t yet developed wings. She was no fledgling to be carted around. There was no way she was going to see him.