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    The Second Circle wasn''t shaped as a circle either. It housed most of the Kinship''s population. A city, or a series of interconnected cities had sprung up over the years, growing to the point where they could rival any cities from the other kingdoms. Grand was perhaps not a word that would accurately describe the city Emeryn and Heylien rode through, since it was built with practicality in mind. Stone and brick houses lined streets paved with either hard-packed dirt or cobblestones. It was built with the main goal to house thousands and allow outsiders to trade for building materials and other essentials.


    When Emeryn was last in the city, the streets were bustling with people. Now, Emeryn suppressed a shudder. The only sound she heard came from their horses'' hooves as it echoed against the abandoned houses.


    The few inhabitants Emeryn saw were all moving out of the city, heading east. No one wanted to speak with them. Several hours later, as they left the city behind, they didn’t know anything more than when they rode in.


    "This is as far as outlanders are usually allowed to go," Emeryn said, looking at Heylien. "From here on out, you’ll get to see things few from your or any other kingdom have seen before, so stay on your best behavior."


    "I wouldn''t dream of offending anyone," Heylien sighed. "It''s not like people are dying to talk with us."


    "Maybe those over there will?" she said, pointing to a small cluster of people in the distance. When they rode closer, they saw three Kin trying to move a wagon. One pushed the wagon while two others prodded the ox, but the beast wouldn''t move an inch.


    "Let me do the talking," Emeryn said, worried they would ignore them because she’d brought an outsider.


    Emeryn raised a hand in greeting. "Hello. I am Emeryn of the Fourth Circle. Are you in need of assistance?"


    All three stopped what they were doing, but only one looked embarrassed, her face turning crimson. She crossed her arms, frowning. "You’re not a grower, I can sense that much. A geomancer in the Fourth Circle? Never heard of such a thing. That’s what you are, isn’t it?"


    Emeryn ignored the rude remark. "My mother and father are both growers, as are my many sisters. I just happened to be a geomancer. Do you take issue with that?" She guessed that this woman was of the Third Circle. A grower, but not someone important. Purely by status, Emeryn would outrank her, but the growers were all a prickly bunch, and it would sting her pride to acknowledge a geomancer being elevated above her.


    "Oh, I know who you are. What happened to your arm?" the woman asked.


    Emeryn ignored the question and turned to look at the two male geomancers. They were easily identifiable by the circular patch on their clothing, showing a hovering piece of earth on a dark brown background. "Why are you moving east? What is going on here?"


    They both fidgeted and glanced over to the grower, who would surely be the one leading their party.


    One of them did speak, though, and there was not a speck of joy in his voice. "We have been called east. Like everyone."


    Heylien turned and gave Emeryn a look, but she ignored it. "Why?"


    "You lowly geomancers do not feel it, but the call is strong," the grower said. "She sings in our ears."


    Emeryn blinked. Taera.


    Geomancers weren''t able to hear their god or feel her commands. Growing up, Emeryn was jealous of her sisters’ ability to feel their god’s gentle embrace. Now, she was happy not having a god whispering in her ear and tugging at the corners of her mind.


    At first, with Sarien’s strange power making her one with the earth, Taera’s domain, she’d feared the god would start whispering to her, like with the growers. That had not happened. Perhaps the earth did not belong to the tarnished god.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "I have a deal for you," Emeryn said.


    "What deal?" the grower asked suspiciously.


    "My friend here," Emeryn said, pointing to Heylien, "can get your ox moving."


    "And what would you want in return?"


    "For you to tell me what she made you see. I want to know why everyone is going east."


    The grower looked apprehensive, glanced to the ox and then to her two companions. One of them spoke to the woman. "We have to keep going. We''re already too far behind."


    "Yes," the other one agreed." She’s a geomancer, so it isn’t even forbidden to tell her."


    "Fine," the grower said. "Ships are being built by the eastern shore. We’re leaving. All of us. The Kin."


    Emeryn scoffed. "That can''t be right. Leaving? When all of Maydian is under siege? Where will you all go?"


    "It’s the truth. Do with it what you will," the grower said, her lips pressed into a thin line. She wouldn''t answer any more questions.


    "Fine," Emeryn said, nodding to Heylien.


    The archer dismounted and approached the animal with something cupped in the palm of his hand. He whispered in the ox''s ear while it nibbled at the treat. Then, the ox threw its head and began a ponderous walk down the road.


    The two geomancers quickly followed, but the grower didn’t move a muscle. Her head fell forward, hiding her face.


    A chill went through Emeryn when the woman looked up. It was still the grower, only it wasn’t.


    "Little girl playing at being a woman," the grower hissed, her voice entirely different from before. "Do you long for my embrace? This tiny speck of an island will perish. Will you disappear with it, or join your family in the new land?"


    The grower tilted her head left until she held it at an unnatural angle. "This is your final chance to return. Your mother misses you. I miss you. Find me and I shall return you to the Kin. I’ll even make you a grower. Would you like that?"


    Before Emeryn had a chance to reply, the grower blinked and Taera’s shadow left her face. She massaged her neck and looked at Heylien and Emeryn with wide, wild eyes before lifting her dress and running after the rest of her party.


    Heylien looked ready to burst, but he had sense enough to wait for the grower to get out of earshot.


    "So," he said, mounting back up.


    "That was her," Emeryn confirmed. "She''s alive. Not like she used to be, but she is still clinging to life."


    "It''s true then? The Kin helped her, rather than join the resistance in opposing the gods."


    "It''s all true," she answered. "I will tell you everything on the way. Too late to turn back now."


    "We can turn back if that’s what you want," Heylien said. "It’s up to you."


    "No," she said. She nudged her horse forward. "I have to go. Like you said, we didn''t help much the last time. It could be different now."


    He rode up beside her. "Was that really her speaking? Was it Taera?"


    "Yes. I''ve never seen anything like that before, but it had to be her."


    They continued on in silence while Emeryn gathered her thoughts, working out how to explain. How could he possibly understand?


    "We share a bond," she began. "The Kin, I mean. Through her. We are all connected. The growers are her true children. The geomancers are more like the unwanted cousins of the family. Tolerated, but not much more. Through her embrace, we are one. That is the idea, anyway. In reality, she occasionally reaches out with her will, influencing those closest to her."


    Emeryn drew in a deep breath. "So, no, we did not fight, not really, but we didn''t have much choice, either."


    Heylien’s eyes looked like thunder. "Slaves!"


    "Yes and no, it''s hard to explain," she replied.


    "Oh, I understand. Are we here to kill her?"


    Emeryn blanched. "What? No. We''re here to talk to my family and the Kin into joining us in our fight against the rhinn invaders!"


    "And how do you expect that to work when they can’t think for themselves?"


    He still didn''t understand. Emeryn didn’t blame him. She wasn’t sure she fully grasped the growers’ connection to Taera, either.


    Could a grower have made the same choice she did back then?


    Could a grower have left the Kinship?


    "We''ll find a way, you and me. We cannot kill a god," she said.


    "That''s not true, and you know it. With Sarien, we could. You should have told us. All of us."


    "Do not lecture me on sharing. This problem is mine to deal with."


    "Stupid," Heylien muttered. He realized she’d heard him, and his face reddened.


    "Here''s what we do," Emeryn said, ignoring his comment. "We deal with the Kin and Taera first, then we return and aid Eldsprak in their liberation, bringing those who will follow us out of Jordfaste."


    "Do you think Goslin will forgive my betrayal?" Heylien asked, looking away.


    "I know he will."