The Shadow's heir

who you really are, he won’t rest until he’s killed you.”

Laela’s fists clenched. “No,” she said. “I won’t.”

They stopped at that. “Laela, he’ll do it,” said Bran. “Yeh don’t know him like we do. Yeh haven’t seen what he can do.”

“I have,” said Laela. “I’ve seen it.”

“Then get away!” said Flell. “For gods’ sakes, save yourself!”

“No,” said Laela. “I don’t believe it. He wouldn’t hurt me. Never. Not for anythin’. I know it.”

Erian returned. “You don’t know anything, half-breed. He’s a murderer.”

“He’s-”

My child. Listen. Gryphus’ voice rose above them all, deep and powerful. Light glowed all around, and the statue appeared again, standing with the three ghosts. You do not understand, he said. You see the world with Southern eyes. Your nature is of the day. You are the Risen Sun, the last survivor of the sacred blood. My grace is on you, as it is on all your family. You alone can stop him.

From somewhere far, far away, a voice came drifting. “. . Laela. .?”

“I don’t want t’stop him,” said Laela. “All he wants t’do is protect his people.”

The Shadow That Walks must be punished! said Gryphus. He must perish for his crimes, before his mistress uses him again!

The distant voice came again, calling plaintively. “Laela. .?”

Erian turned to look out at the temple interior, now beginning to show through the fog. “You’re wasting your time, Master,” he said. “She’s her father’s daughter.”

“Laela. .?” The voice sounded louder now, calling out. A living voice.

Laela looked at the ghosts and realised they were beginning to fade. “What about my father?”

Your father is dead, said Gryphus. A cruel death, at the end of a cruel life.

“Laela. .?”

The vision was disappearing; the fog thinned, and Gryphus’ light dimmed.

Flell was crying. “He’ll kill you. He’ll kill you if you don’t get away.”

Laela! Gryphus came close, urgent now. You must not listen to the Night God’s lies. If you do not accept your destiny, your soul will be cast into darkness forever. You must believe this! The Dark Lord has no heart; he cannot love, he cannot feel. He does not care for you, and he will destroy you.

Laela opened her mouth to shout at him, to tell him to leave her alone, but in that moment, as he began to vanish at last, she looked past him and saw the dark, gaunt shape, slowly and painfully lurching toward her. Calling her name. “Laela. . Laela. .”

She looked into the eyes of Gryphus again, and said, “He came for me. He came into your Temple, just for me. Even though it hurts him. He cares.”

Gryphus looked solemnly at her, and vanished. Beside him, Flell disappeared, too, and Bran faded. Only Erian was left; a vague shape in the air, outlined in fog.

Laela saw Arenadd clearly now. He walked like an old, old man, shaking in every limb. His breath sounded like a death rattle.

She reached out to him with the beginning of a smile, and started to speak, to tell him she was safe, that she was going to take him out of this place and get him home, where he could rest, and she would look after him. .

Erian had seen him, too. “You son of a bitch,” he breathed. “Come back to look for me, have you?” He charged, fading with every step, his war-cry a distant howl of wind. He raised the vague outline of a sword, and stabbed it into Arenadd’s chest.

Arenadd jerked suddenly, lurching backward as if a real sword had struck him. Laela saw him put his hands to his chest.

There was blood on his fingers.

Laela ran toward him. “ARENADD!”

The floor jerked under her and turned sideways to hit her in the head, and the world slid out of her grasp.

25

Half-Breed in Charge

Laela opened her eyes, and groaned. The first thing she noticed was the heat; her entire body felt as if it was in an oven. She was in bed, and the sheets were stuck to her with sweat. The instant she moved, sickening pain slammed through her head. The pain rose with every heartbeat, as if each thud were driving a spike into her forehead. Her vision flashed red.

She rolled onto her back, and the effort of doing just that nearly paralysed her. She lay there, gritting her teeth as the pain spread through her body. Her stomach felt as if it were on fire, and her lungs burned with every breath.

Oh, gods, she thought. I’m dying.

A few moments later, a harassed-looking Amorani woman appeared. She said nothing and helped Laela drink some water. The water felt like a blessed gift from the gods themselves; Laela gulped it down and sighed as it cooled her down from the inside out.

When the cup was empty, she managed to rasp out a few questions, but the woman only glanced briefly at her and said nothing. Most likely she didn’t speak Cymrian, and Laela was too confused to try griffish. She accepted another cup of water and watched resignedly as the woman left.

The water had helped her to wake up, though, and she lay still and tried to think. The memory of what had happened in the Temple came back slowly, but it felt confused and unreal.

Laela put a hand to her forehead. It was slick with hot sweat. Maybe she’d been sick. A fever. She’d had fevers in the past, and they always made her have strange dreams.

But I did go to the Temple, though, she thought. That was the last clear memory she had. She didn’t remember getting sick at all.

Something had happened in the Temple. There’d been someone else there. . She’d talked to them. . A priest? And he’d. . done something. .

The pain rose sharply in her head, and she hastily shut her eyes and stopped thinking.

When the pain had faded again, she opened her eyes and yelled.

Oeka hissed in alarm and moved away from the bed. “Laela! What is wrong?”

Laela sat up. “Openin’ my eyes an’ finding a huge beak shoved in my face didn’t do my heart no favours,” she mumbled. “What’s goin’ on?”

“You are in the. . place where the Amoranis bring the sick and wounded,” said Oeka.

Laela lay down again, very carefully. “Did get sick, then.”

“You were very bad,” said Oeka. “They were afraid you would not recover.”

“Had the weirdest dreams,” said Laela. The pain in her head was fading now.

Oeka cocked her head. “I am not surprised. The fungus the priest burned is a very powerful drug, and you took many times the safe amount.” She paused. “Many who burn as much as you did go insane and do not recover.”

Laela shuddered. “Holy gods. .”

“I am glad that you are well again,” said Oeka. “Laela, terrible things have happened while you have been ill.”

“What terrible things. .?” Laela began, and stopped, as a horrendous noise split the air. She cringed and put her hands over her ears. Even Oeka tried to hide in fright.