Several more days passed, and the Seabreath followed the chain of islands back to Maijan. The further away from Amoran they sailed, the stronger Arenadd felt. His wound finally began to heal again-but at normal, mortal speed. It was enough.
He slept and ate as much as he could, and those mortal nourishments helped him recover. He wondered if his powers would return when he set foot on Northern soil again.
When the ship docked in Maijan, Vander came to see him for what they both knew would be the last time.
The diplomat was plainly dressed and had his messenger dragon perched on his shoulder. He looked as calm and collected as always, but there was a hint of tension in his voice when he said, “How are you feeling this morning, Sire?”
Arenadd could sit up in bed by now. He sipped some water and inclined his head politely toward him. “Much better thank you, my lord. How’s your journey been so far?”
“I cannot complain,” said Vander.
“And how’s Ymazu? I heard she laid her eggs.”
“Yes indeed, Sire. Five of them-an unusually large clutch. The Mighty Skandar is the father, of course.”
Arenadd raised a sly eyebrow. “You’ll have to carry them. I hope you’re prepared for that.”
“They are not the first clutch Ymazu has had, Sire,” Vander said stiffly. “We have carried eggs with us before.”
“Of course. But it must have been difficult for you not to have a clutch of your own, so to speak.”
“A diplomat’s life is often a lonely one, Sire,” said Vander. “I have been longing to settle down for many years now.”
“Every man needs a place to call home,” said Arenadd. “And someone to share it with makes it feel like one.”
“Yes.” Vander scratched the dragon’s ears, and finally smiled. “For what my advice is worth, Sire, I think you would do well to keep your Master of Wisdom close. You will not find a better advisor or a better friend if you live for a hundred years.”
“I know.” Arenadd smiled, too. “She’s something very special.”
Vander chuckled. “You are no ordinary man, either, Sire. You know,” he added unexpectedly, “I pride myself on my ability to judge a person’s nature, and my memory is superb. But even so, you still managed to surprise me, Sire.”
“Oh, how?” said Arenadd.
“When I saw you again, after so many years, I was astonished by how much you had changed,” said Vander. “I barely recognised the boy I met in Eagleholm once upon a time. But now I see I was wrong.” He smiled and smoothed his moustache. “Underneath, you are still the same mischief-maker you were then. Oh yes, I knew your reputation in Eagleholm. Every man in the city said you were very thoughtful and quiet; not the sort of man who would make trouble. You did your duty and never challenged authority, you were very gifted at talking to commoners. You were not a fighter, you were good with books and numbers.” He laughed softly. “But everybody knew how the mild-mannered Northern boy they looked down on was bedding Lord Rannagon’s daughter.”
Arenadd froze.
“It was a scandal, you know,” said Vander. “Few could understand why Lord Rannagon had not moved to put a stop to it. But the Lady Flell would tell anyone who asked that she loved you. Now that was a fine way to irritate the Eyrie Council!”
“Yes,” Arenadd managed. “I. . I suppose. Now, I’m tired. .”
“Of course, Sire,” said Vander. “Forgive an old man his reminiscences.” He bowed low, murmuring, “Farewell, Arren Cardockson.”
Then he was gone, and Arenadd never saw him again.
Weeks passed after Vander left, and the Seabreath and its new companion-the former pirate ship Serene-sailed back toward Tara with all speed. Gradually, week by week, the heat grew less and less. And with every week, Arenadd felt better. After a month he was strong enough to walk again. Another week after that he was up on deck, talking to the griffiners and sailors and training Laela in the art of the sickle.
But he spent most of his time with Skandar. The dark griffin had refused to live belowdecks any more, and instead slept in the open, by one of the masts. He’d made himself a nest there with straw and some stolen washing, and spent his time sleeping, eating, or idly flying overhead with the other griffins. He was more than happy to see Arenadd, though.
If their time in Amoran had weakened Arenadd, it looked to have had the opposite effect on Skandar. When Arenadd saw him again after emerging from his cabin for the first time, the giant griffin practically shone with lazy good health. His coat was glossy and his eyes bright, and his sides were thick with solid muscle and more than a little fat. He’d spent their entire visit to Amoran doing nothing but eating, fighting, and mating, and it showed.
Arenadd found he had almost nothing to say to him. Skandar, never talkative, seemed happy enough just to have him there, and the two sat silently together for long periods, neither speaking nor needing to speak.
Arenadd would stare out over the sea, his expression serene. When Laela was near, he would watch her. He never tried to speak to her, and she pretended he wasn’t there.
Once, in the evening while the sailors were in a cheerful mood and had decided to play some music, Laela and Oeka were up on deck and began to play together. Oeka, who’d grown a lot since leaving the North, nipped at her human’s hands and shoved at her-inviting her to play. Laela pushed back, and they wrestled and chased each other around the deck while the sailors laughed.
Arenadd sat with his back resting against Skandar’s flank, and kept his eyes on Laela. She looked happier than he’d seen her in a long while. Her long hair fell around her face, black and glossy, and her angular features were alight with laughter.
Gods, how could I not have seen it?
It wasn’t the first time he had thought that.
The final weeks of their journey home passed peacefully enough, and Laela felt immensely relieved when she felt the air begin to grow steadily colder. Tara’s shore was thick with snow when it came in sight, and chunks of ice floated in the sea.
“My first Northern winter,” she remarked to Oeka.
The griffin sighed and wrapped her tail around her paws. “I hate snow.”
Laela understood her almost perfectly by now, and only smiled.
Skandar had already flown on ahead and landed on the beach, and he was waiting for his human when he disembarked. Arenadd put a hand on his shoulder. He’d taken to using a walking stick again, and he pointed it at Duach. “The Mighty Skandar and I are going back to Malvern, and Lady Laela and Oeka are coming with us. I want you to stay here and organise transport for our new citizens. Feed them well, get clothes for them. Keep them warm.”
Some of the slaves had already come off their ship. Arenadd had personally removed their collars, and their hair had begun to grow back, but they still looked strange. They huddled together, staring blankly at this new land they found themselves in.
“They ain’t so different from how I was, once,” Laela remarked to Arenadd.
“They’re not so different from how I was, either,” said Arenadd.
Laela smiled at him for the first time in months. “They’ll find a way t’live. They’re Northerners, after all, an’ if we survived, so can they.”
Skandar nudged her heavily in the back. “Come,” he rumbled. “Come now. I carry.”
Arenadd climbed onto his partner’s back, and helped Laela up behind him.
Oeka watched resignedly. “I am nearly large enough to carry you.”
Laela caught the hint of resentment, and smiled inwardly. “There’s no hurry.”
Oeka rasped noncommittally, and took off a few moments after Skandar.
Skandar flew over the vast snowy reaches of his kingdom, his wings beating powerfully. Below, everything was white, darkened by trees and the occasional brown cluster of houses. To Laela, it looked like a country she’d never seen before-as strange to her now as Amoran had been.
But it’s my country, she thought. I’ll make my home here again.
She and Arenadd spent the rest of the journey back to Malvern close together-flying on Skandar’s back during the day, and sharing their quarters at night. But it was a joyless kind of closeness. They rarely spoke to each other unless it was necessary-Laela talked to Oeka, and Arenadd didn’t speak at all. He seemed less upset than preoccupied; Laela often caught him fixing her with a penetrating stare, as if he were looking for something. She pretended not to notice.
And then, finally-Malvern.
Skandar saw its walls approaching first. He opened his beak and sent out a ferocious screech, sending his own name ahead of him. A little while later, he screeched again, and again, as Malvern drew closer. By the time he reached it, the griffins circling over the towers had long since heard him. They began to gather, flying out to meet their lord.
Skandar screeched again at the sight of them. It was a sound full of challenge, but none of the oncoming griffins answered it. They circled and flew behind him, riding on his slipstream back toward the Eyrie. He’d been away a long time, but they still recognised him as their master.
Skandar flew straight to the Council Tower and landed on its wide, flat top. The human inhabitants had had plenty of warning, and by the time his talons had touched stone, Saeddryn was already there, with Aenae, and Iorwerth and his partner Kaanee were with her. The other councillors were just arriving.
Arenadd slid off Skandar’s back. He landed awkwardly and nearly fell, catching himself by grabbing his partner’s wing. Laela got down, too, and quickly handed him his walking stick. He took it and leant on it while Skandar went forward to meet his son and the other griffins there.
Kaanee bent his forelegs and put his head down, displaying the vulnerable back of his neck to Skandar in a sign of submission. The other griffins did likewise, and Skandar acknowledged it with a quick huff through his beak.
Aenae faced his father arrogantly, with his head held high. He was a head shorter than him, and not as powerfully built, but he was bigger than Kaanee.
Skandar’s feathers puffed outward, making him look even larger. He opened his wings, holding them above his own head, and hissed.
Incredibly, Aenae didn’t back down. He raised his own wings and hissed back, his tail twitching like an angry cat’s.
Skandar’s hiss swung around into a snarl. He rose up and hit his son hard across the face, throwing him to the ground. Aenae landed on his belly and stayed there. Blood glistened on his feathers. Skandar stood over him, huffing his aggression.
Very slowly, Aenae got up. He made no sound, and only bowed his head.
Skandar rasped in satisfaction, and turned his back on his son with a dismissive flick of his tail. “Am home. Am master.”
Arenadd laughed rather unpleasantly. “Getting ideas above your station isn’t a good idea when Skandar’s about. Now.” He limped toward Saeddryn, leaning on his stick. “Dear cousin, you look younger every day.”
Saeddryn smiled and bowed to him. “Welcome home, Sire.”
Iorwerth bowed, too. “It’s good to see ye home, Sire. We’ve already begun preparing a feast in yer honour.”
Arenadd inclined his head. “I’d love that. Thank you, Iorwerth.”
The Master of War had obviously been expecting a refusal, and he looked pleased. “So tell us, Sire-how was Amoran, and the Emperor? An’ how are ye?”
“The visit went well,” said Arenadd. “We got everything we were hoping for. But we have Laela to thank for that.”
Iorwerth smiled with genuine warmth at her. “Lady Laela, forgive me. Ye look well.”
Laela nodded to him. “Iorwerth. Same thing to yeh.”
“So the slaves have been freed?” Saeddryn interrupted.
“Yeah, they have,” said Laela. “We both saw t’that. Arenadd an’ me, I mean.”
“There’s no need to be so modest, Laela,” said Arenadd. He turned to Saeddryn and Iorwerth. “I had. . an accident, while we were in Amoran. It was none of the Emperor’s fault-it was nobody’s fault. But while I was unwell, Laela completed the treaty and bought our brothers and sisters their freedom. We’ve brought a hundred of them with us, and the rest will follow.”
Iorwerth laughed aloud. “Ahah! I knew it, Sire! I knew we’d see them come back! An’ Lady Laela was behind it, ye say?”
“Yeah, I was,” said Laela. She shrugged. “I was only doin’ my duty t’the King an’ to our friends.”
“The first group of them are on their way here now,” said Arenadd. “But we’ll discuss that later. For now, we all need rest.”
“Then I shall see ye later,” said Saeddryn.
Arenadd caught Iorwerth as he started to leave, and muttered something to him. Iorwerth nodded back, and a moment later they were both walking off as if nothing had happened.
Laela had seen it. She frowned, then shook her head and walked off after Oeka, deciding that she was too tired to wonder about it for the time being.
She didn’t know whether to be surprised or disturbed to find that her room hadn’t changed at all since she’d last seen it. Someone had obviously been in to clean it up and put fresh sheets on the bed, and there was a bath ready and a good fire in the grate, but this could have been her room at the end of an ordinary day-not after more than nine months away.
She yawned and stripped off her clothes before climbing into the tub, while Oeka went into her nest.
The hot water felt good. Laela sighed and relaxed into it, feeling it soothe her sore muscles. She actually fell asleep, and woke up to find the water cold. Shivering, she gave herself a cursory wash and got out. There was a new, warm woollen gown waiting for her on the bed. She put it on, her mind suddenly full of one person.
Yorath.
Laela realised that she hadn’t thought about him in ages.
Guilt made her shiver. Poor old Yorath. Did he still miss her? Was he waiting now, expecting her to come and see him?
The guilt only lasted briefly, though, before she started thinking of the feast instead. The thought of food made her stomach gurgle, and she sighed to herself and pulled on her boots before going to fetch Oeka. The griffin was awake, and just as eager to go-though more to find out what had been happening while they’d been away.
Outside, a passing servant told them the feast was being held on top of the Council Tower, where celebrations usually were.
Sure enough, when Laela emerged into the open air, she found herself surrounded by the sounds of music and laughter. People and griffins were everywhere, mingling freely. Night had come by now, and long, metal stakes holding torches lit up the place. A group of musicians were playing, and tables had been set up and laden with food.
Some of the feasters were sitting down, but plenty were walking around freely. A few people were even dancing.
Oeka saw the carcasses that had been laid out for the griffins. “I will go and eat now, Laela,” she said. “Go-find food for yourself. Enjoy yourself!” she added. “We are home, and all is well. This is our night.”
Laela nodded vaguely and wandered off among the crowd. She stopped at the nearest table and helped herself to a slab of bread covered in hot venison, and some cheese, roasted carrots, and a toffee-coated apple to follow. The finest mead, all the way from Fruitsheart, had been brought out, and she gulped down a mugful. It warmed her up and made her feel better, so she had another one.
“Gods, I needed that.” She sighed.
Without any warning, a man appeared to her right. He shouted something at her in the dark tongue, and clapped her hard on the shoulder.
Laela almost hit him before she realised he was being friendly. “Hullo,” she said, using griffish.
The man grinned and held out a hand. “Sorry,” he said. “Had a little too much t’drink.”
Laela linked fingers with him and gave the traditional tug. “I understand that just fine,” she said. “I’m plannin’ t’have too much myself, in fact.”
The man laughed loudly. “That’s the spirit. Name’s Dewitt. My dad’s the Master of Building.”
“Pleased t’meet yeh,” Laela said politely.
“I’m more than pleased t’meet ye, my lady,” said Dewitt. “I’m honoured.”
Laela laughed awkwardly. “I ain’t nobody special.”
“Ye freed the slaves, my lady,” said Dewitt, completely serious now. “I heard the whole story.”
“I did my duty,” said Laela.
Dewitt looked keenly at her. “Yer duty to who, though?”
“To the North,” said Laela.
He grinned. “Thought ye’d say that. Well, I’ve got more drinkin’ to do, so if ye’ll excuse me. .”
Laela let him go and refilled her own mug before wandering off through the crowd. To her surprise, more than one person stopped her to say similar things as Dewitt. They called her by her title now, all of them. Lady Laela. There were no suspicious looks or half-hidden sneers.
Laela, by now a little drunk, ran into Arenadd almost without realising it. He had been talking quietly to someone, and when he saw her, his expression faltered for an instant before he relaxed again. “Laela, there you are,” he said. “We were just talking about you.”
Laela nodded briefly to him. “Sire.”
The person Arenadd had been talking to was a woman-and Laela was surprised when she recognised her. It was Aderyn-the priestess who had first begun to teach her about the Night God.
Tonight, Aderyn was wearing a fine silver gown, and she looked at Laela with open admiration. “So here ye are,” she said. “Home triumphant, eh, my lady?”
Laela smiled at her. “Hullo. By the Night God, I’m surprised t’see yeh here. How’ve yeh been?”
“I’ve been well,” said Aderyn. “But not as well as ye, by the sound of it. The King tells me ye did us all a great service in Amoran.”
“My duty,” Laela said automatically.
“A great service,” said Aderyn. “To the King, to the North, to the darkmen-an’ so to the Night God herself.”
Laela grunted noncommittally. The idea of doing anything for a god didn’t appeal to her much now.
“So Aderyn and I have decided,” Arenadd cut in. “Tell her, Aderyn.”
“Yes, Sire.” Aderyn folded her hands over her stomach. “We’ve decided it’s high time ye were welcomed into the Night God’s arms, Laela.”
Laela’s insides lurched slightly. “What d’yeh mean by that?”
“That it’s time for the womanhood ceremony,” said Aderyn.
“Oh.”
“We’ve decided the Crow tribe is right for ye,” the priestess went on. “So yer own ceremony must happen on the night of the new moon-an’ it’ll be a while before that happens!” She chuckled and pointed at the sky. “See how bright the Night God’s eye is tonight. I’ve never seen it so big. She must know great things are happening down here.”
Laela followed her hand, and gasped. The moon was enormous. Tinged with gold, it sat on the horizon like a massive. .
. . eye.
Laela shivered. “Is it meant t’do that?”
“It’s happened before,” said Arenadd. “It’s a sign that the Night God is watching very closely.” He kept his eyes on the moon as he spoke, and Laela caught just a hint of unease in his voice. “Very closely,” he said again, more quietly.
“Well,” said Aderyn. “What do ye think, my lady? Are ye ready for it?”
“I suppose so,” said Laela, without enthusiasm.
“Good. Then I’ll take it up with the High Priestess. I’m sure she’ll be happy t’ask the Crow priestess to conduct the ceremony.”
“Yeah.” Laela took another swallow from her mug and muttered a quick “Excuse me” before walking off.
She didn’t want to think about the Night God now. She didn’t want to think of Gryphus, either. Once upon a time, she’d been more or less indifferent to the whole idea of gods, but now they made her feel sick and frightened. She was tired of it all.
She distracted herself with another drink and some more food. It left her stomach feeling warm and wonderful, and she relaxed again.
Laughter rose from the crowd nearby, and Laela stopped and watched as Penllyn staggered away, helping a visibly drunk Saeddryn. She laughed, and only laughed again more loudly at how Aenae primly ignored the jokes being thrown at him.
Saeddryn’s gown was a mess, and the silver circlet with the crescent moon she wore was askew. She muttered some half-coherent curse, before Penllyn led her away through the trapdoor and down into the tower.
Laela took a swig of mead and snickered to herself. She hoped Oeka hadn’t missed it.
She turned, hoping to see her around, and froze when her eye caught someone else. He had seen her, too, and now he was coming toward her.
“Yorath.”
Yorath had grown a beard. It made him look older, more mature and reserved. “Laela.”
They stood awkwardly, neither one willing to speak.
“How have yeh been?” Laela said eventually.
Yorath smiled, but it was a careful smile. “I’ve been. . well, my lady.”
“Don’t call me that, Yorath,” said Laela.
“I have to,” said Yorath. “Ye’re a lady now.”
There was another awkward silence.
“I heard about the Amorani prince,” said Yorath. “I’m happy for ye. Really.”
“What?” Laela started. “No, Yorath-stop. It wasn’t like that.”
“Really? How wasn’t it? My lady.”
“I never even slept with him, Yorath,” Laela lied. “He didn’t come back with us. It was just a marriage of convenience. The Emperor wouldn’t let us seal the deal with him without it. It’s an Amorani custom.”
“Oh.” Yorath’s face was blank.
“I had t’do it,” said Laela, not sure whom she was trying to convince. “Sometimes the realm comes before we do.”
“Exactly,” said Yorath.
Laela watched him unhappily. He wasn’t angry with her, not really. For her part, she didn’t know what to say or how she felt.
“Well,” said Yorath. “I’m. . I think I’ll go and get something to eat if that’s all right with ye, my lady.”
Laela searched desperately for something to say. Something, anything. Something to reach out to him, to show him she still. .
. . still what?
Yorath took her silence as permission and walked away.
Laela, watching him go, tried to convince herself that she was upset.
But she wasn’t. No matter how hard she tried, she felt nothing. It was as if Yorath were a stranger to her now. She’d enjoyed her time with him, but now it was over and there was nothing she could do.
The last of the enjoyment had gone out of the evening. Laela finished her drink, put the mug down on a table, and wandered off. She needed to get back to her room and sleep off the mead, and hopefully it would all look clearer in the morning.
She couldn’t see Oeka anywhere, so she shrugged and went down through the trapdoor. It was warmer inside, and she stumped off down the sloped corridor and into the tower proper.
As she was passing a door, she heard the faint sound of a voice. She paused to listen, and grinned to herself. It was Saeddryn. No doubt the High Priestess was doing what Bran had always called “lettin’ the drink do the talkin’.”
Laela pressed herself against the door and listened.
That was when she realised there was more than one voice.