The Shadow's heir

“There’s another ship coming this way,” said the man-one of the sailors.

She perked up at that. “Who is it?”

“We’re not sure. They’re not close enough to tell. But we have to be ready, in case. .”

“In case they ain’t friends?” Laela hazarded.

“Yes. Just in case.”

“What, how likely is it that they’re wantin’ to attack us?” said Laela.

“There are plenty of trading ships in these waters,” said the sailor. “Which means-”

“-It’s probably one of them?”

“Which means there are also pirates,” the sailor said grimly.

“What in the gods’ names are they?”

“Bandits. Thieves.”

“Ah. Right.” Laela’s grip on his arm slackened. “I’d better go tell the King, then.”

Arenadd took some time to emerge from belowdecks, and when he did, it was obvious what had taken him so long. He walked slowly, pausing every few moments to look back. Skandar was following-limping slightly and hissing. Several times he tried to turn back, but Arenadd kept talking softly to him, and he gave in to his friend’s coaxing and stepped up onto the deck. There he opened his wings, put his head back and stretched luxuriously. Someone brought a bucket of water and a brush, and Arenadd set to work cleaning the griffin’s flanks. Skandar cooed, obviously enjoying it, and deigned to lift his paws one by one so Arenadd could scrape the muck out of his talons and clean and dress the sores.

Laela, watching, found the scene so strange and weirdly amusing that she almost forgot about the oncoming ship.

“Don’t yeh have people t’do that for yeh?” she asked eventually.

Arenadd glanced up. “He won’t let anyone else touch him. I wouldn’t ask them to, anyway.”

“Well, yeah, they might lose an arm or somethin’.”

Arenadd picked up the sharp tool he used to scrape out the inside of Skandar’s talons. “I may be a King, but I’m a griffiner as well, and doing this sort of thing is part of my duties as Skandar’s human. Yes, what do you want?”

The sailor who’d been trying to get his attention bowed hastily and spoke in Northern.

Arenadd’s expression changed. “How close?” he asked, using Cymrian for Laela’s benefit.

The reply came in the dark tongue-Laela understood a few words here and there, but had no idea what the man was saying. She gritted her teeth in frustration.

Arenadd nodded curtly and went back to his work, speaking to Skandar now. After three months of daily tutoring, Laela was pleased to find that she could understand parts of this, at least.

“. . enemies. . dangerous. . fighting. . many.”

Skandar raised his head and stared out over the sea. His tail began to lash back and forth.

Laela turned, and her face froze. “What?”

The strange ship had come so much closer since she’d last seen it that it was as if it had appeared out of nowhere. Now she could see that it was at least as big as the Seabreath-and far more heavily manned. At least a hundred men were up on the decks-Amoranis, all of them.

Many of them were carrying bows.

“Pirates, Sire,” one of the griffiners said. “They have us outnumbered.”

From the other ship, a thickset man brandishing a spear yelled out a sneering challenge in Amorani.

“Fools,” said Lord Vander, appearing from somewhere as if by magic. “They have no idea that they are up against griffins. Sire-” He turned to Arenadd. “You need not concern yourself with these scum. If you wish, I will go at once and tell the griffins belowdecks. They will deal with them quickly enough.”

Arenadd didn’t look at him. He kept his eyes on the oncoming pirate ship. There was a very strange look on his face. Not angry, not frightened, but strangely. .

Laela stepped closer to him. “What’s up, Arenadd?”

The Dark Lord was pale, and his eyes were gleaming. He was breathing heavily and his fists clenched. He let out a long, slow sigh. “Oh. .”

Laela nudged him. “Sire? Arenadd?”

The ship was very close by now-so close Laela could see the intent expressions on the bandits’ faces.

Fear put a tight band around her chest. She moved closer to Oeka and tried to look calm. Strangely, her mind-addled by the heat and now by apprehension-threw up a memory that seemed to have nothing to do with the situation. She was a child back in the village, listening to the miller’s sons singing a taunting song at their sister. Pretty maid, dressed in yellow, went upstairs to kiss a fellow. By mistake she kissed a snake-

Laela glanced at Arenadd, in time to see a horrible grin spread over his face.

“Sire?” Vander was still hovering nearby, looking slightly anxious.

“Those fools,” Arenadd breathed. “They have no idea.”

“Not yet,” Vander said grimly. “Ymazu and I-”

“No.” Arenadd held up a hand. “Stop. Stop!”

The people around him, who had been hurrying to organise the defence, stopped in their tracks.

Arenadd’s hand went to his belt and freed his sickle. “There’s no need for you to risk your lives here. Leave this to us.”

The griffiners glanced at each other. “But, Sire,” said one of the younger ones, “there’s no need for-”

Arenadd drew himself up to his full, impressive height. “Quiet, Arawn.” He gripped the sickle. “I may have been a King for twenty years, but underneath I am still Kraeai kran ae.” He looked at the pirates again. “And I think it’s time I reminded myself of that.”

Laela gaped at him. “Yeh ain’t gonna-”

Arenadd laid a hand on her arm. “Sorry, Laela,” he said. “But today you’re going to see a different side of me. Skandar!”

Skandar, who had been lying on his belly, stood up and limped toward his human. The ship actually leaned to one side under his weight, and several people quickly ran to the opposite side to try to balance it.

Over on the deck of the pirate ship, the crew stopped their jeering. Laela saw their faces slacken with dismay as they saw the giant griffin.

Arenadd went to the railings and held his arms out, his hair blowing in the wind. “You fools!” he roared. “You think you can stand against me? You dare to challenge the Dark Lord? Look on your deaths and shudder!” and he laughed like a madman.

Behind him, Skandar spread his wings and screeched.

The pirates had already realised their mistake. They dropped their weapons and scattered, desperately trying to turn their ship around. Laela saw them tug on ropes to adjust the sails, shouting at each other in panic.

A handful of them were more collected. They leapt onto the railings, balancing there with incredible ease, and aimed their bows.

The captain of the Seabreath shouted a warning, and everyone, including Laela, dropped flat.

Everyone except for Arenadd and Skandar.

Laela heard Arenadd grunt as an arrow buried itself in his hip. As she stood up, he yanked it out and hurled it into the sea with a contemptuous laugh. Skandar hadn’t been hit at all, and Laela suddenly realised that the arrow had been aimed at the giant griffin’s chest.

Arenadd had put himself in the way.

That was the final straw for Skandar. He stumbled forward and launched himself clumsily into the air. For a moment, it looked as if he were going to go after the pirate ship alone, but once he had gathered momentum he came swooping back and scooped Arenadd up in his talons. Laela stood up and watched, open-mouthed, as the giant griffin flew straight for the fleeing bandits. He paused to deposit Arenadd on the deck, and then landed himself.

Arenadd had already attacked.

On the Seabreath, sailors and griffiners alike ran to the railings to watch,