Kullervo travelled back through the North with his new companions, and was relieved to see that nothing had changed much. But even though the people he spoke to along the way all claimed that Laela was still alive and on the throne, his tension rose steadily higher as he grew closer to Malvern. He had been away for nearly nine months, and there was no way of knowing how much things might have changed in that time. Had Laela kept herself safe, and the others as well?
When he finally saw his home again, however, he started to feel better almost before Senneck had flown over the walls. Malvern didn’t look the same as he remembered — it looked better. People had clearly been at work on it while he was away; he saw numerous buildings that had been restored, including the brand new Temple, which positively glowed in the sunlight.
The Eyrie itself looked even better. Brightly coloured banners hung from the walls, most of them decorated with the animal totems of the four tribes. But others had griffins, and others, the most striking, were pale blue with a black triple spiral device. Kullervo thought he had seen it somewhere before.
At the top of the Council Tower, the plants and small trees that grew in pots and half-barrels were more numerous and healthy.
The Eyrie’s inhabitants had long since spotted the large group of intruders, and a second group had gathered among the plants to meet them.
At their head was Laela, with Akhane by her side, both protected by Skandar and Zekh.
Laela wore the thin silver circlet she had inherited from Arenadd, along with a rather nice new gown. But those weren’t what first caught Kullervo’s attention. She was also heavily pregnant.
Kullervo, who had travelled the last leg of the journey as a human, jumped down from Senneck’s back and approached his sister with a kind of wonder on his face. ‘Laela,’ he said. And then, again, ‘Laela!’
Laela looked back at him, smiling. But behind the smile she was almost shocked. Was this really her brother? He looked even bigger than she remembered, easily the tallest of all the people there. His wings hung down from his shoulders, fully feathered in mottled grey, and almost beautiful. She could see his tail too, furred and feathered, trailing uselessly down the back of his legs.
But the biggest difference she noticed was in how he carried himself. He looked taller because he was standing straighter, without the apologetic hunch she remembered so well. His wiry hair had grown a little longer and taken on the hint of a curl. He had a scar now too, thin and twisted, starting at his eye and ending near the corner of his mouth. She had only known one other person with a scar like that.
‘Kullervo!’ she exclaimed, forgetting formalities for a moment. ‘Ye gods, for a moment I thought you were our dad!’
Kullervo frowned slightly. ‘You look more like him than I do, Laela.’ He didn’t sound as if he were completely happy about it.
Laela shook herself. ‘I’m so glad t’see you again,’ she said. ‘Those diplomats you sent back here told us you was all right, but I knew I wouldn’t feel right until I saw you myself.’
Her speech had improved even further, Kullervo noticed. ‘It was the same for me,’ he said. ‘But I should introduce my friends …’
Laela nodded formally. ‘Please do. Excuse me for not speakin’ to you first, Lords and Ladies, but my brother and I haven’t seen each other in a long while.’
They looked suitably impressed by her good manners, and were polite enough themselves to stand there quietly while Kullervo made the introductions.
Now Skandar came forward. He was as huge as Kullervo remembered, and unlike Senneck, whose feathers had begun to show a hint of white around her beak, he didn’t look as if he had aged at all.
He approached Senneck first. ‘You back now,’ he said. ‘Back to bow head to me?’
‘Yes,’ said Senneck, and bowed her head to prove it. ‘I am honoured to be back in your territory, Mighty Skandar.’
‘And you?’ said Skandar, thrusting his beak at Kraego. ‘Who you?’
‘Your son,’ said Senneck, ushering the youngster forward. ‘Kraego, this is your father.’
Skandar sniffed his offspring suspiciously. ‘Big chick,’ he said. ‘Big and dark. Must be Mighty Skandar chick!’
Kraego faced his father boldly. ‘I have come back here to live in your territory, Father.’
‘Not have human,’ said Skandar. ‘Humanless griffin not welcome.’
‘Then I will fight you,’ said Kraego. ‘For my right to stay.’
Everyone there breathed in sharply, even the Southerners. Horrified, Kullervo hunched down, ready to jump in and protect the youngster if he had to.
Skandar lashed out, but with the side of his beak, not the point. The blow sent Kraego flying. He landed against his mother’s legs and lay there in a heap, shrieking in fright.
‘Little warrior,’ Skandar boomed. ‘Come fight Mighty Skandar another time and maybe stand longer!’ He chirped to himself and moved on, and Kullervo relaxed. If Kraego had been an adult he might have been killed. But a challenge from a youngster was a joke to Skandar.
Satisfied, Skandar moved on to speak to each unfamiliar griffin and intimidate them in turn, and all of them sensibly retreated and promised to accept him as the dominant one.
After that, Lady Isleen was allowed to go forward and speak to Laela.
‘Queen Laela,’ she said, ‘my name is Lady Isleen, Eyrie Mistress of Liranwee. I have come to accept your offer of a peace treaty between our territories, and would like to ask if I and my companions can stay here while the negotiations take place.’
Laela inclined her head. ‘Welcome to my Eyrie, Lady Isleen. You an’ your friends will all be welcome to stay for as long as you need to. Tomorrow we can start discussin’ the terms of the treaty.’
‘Thank you, my Lady,’ said Isleen. She sounded quite satisfied.
The Master of Law from Withypool spoke up. ‘Excuse me, my Lady, but I’d like to say something as well.’
‘Go ahead,’ said Laela.
The old woman coughed. ‘My name’s Della and I’m the Master of Law from Withypool. But I’ve retired now and decided that I wanted to come here with your brother, Lord Kullervo. I’m not here to negotiate a treaty.’
‘Then what are yeh here for?’ Laela asked, suspiciously.
Lady Della shrugged. ‘To see Malvern, which I’ve always wanted to do. But I count myself as Lord Kullervo’s follower now, so if he needs anything from me I’ll be ready to give it. The same goes for my friends here.’
Laela looked thoughtful for a moment. Then she nodded brusquely. ‘That’s fine. In fact I think he might soon have a use for you. But I’ll leave him to tell yeh about that later on. For now, let’s go inside.’ She nodded to her own companions, who took their cue and headed back inside. Then she turned to Kullervo. ‘Come with me. We’ve got some catchin’ up to do.’
Kullervo went with her and Skandar, back toward the audience chamber. Senneck, of course, came too, and Kraego followed along beside her.
As for Akhane, he came with them for most of the way, but at the entrance to the audience chamber he said, ‘I have duties elsewhere, so I will leave you and your brother to speak in private.’
‘Thanks, love. See yeh later.’ Laela kissed him on the cheek and let him go. ‘Now, Kullervo, we’ve got a lot of stories to tell!’ She smiled sweetly at her brother.
The moment Akhane was out of sight, however, the smile disappeared. Laela reached up and grabbed Kullervo by the ear. ‘Get in here,’ she snarled, and dragged him into the audience chamber.
Kullervo shuffled along beside her, protesting. ‘Ow! Laela, what the — ? Let go!’
Inside the big marble-lined chamber, Laela let go of him and gave his head a violent shove in the process. ‘You great git!’ she yelled at him. ‘What where yeh thinkin’, bringin’ that crowd here! Have you lost yer head?’
Kullervo stood there, clutching his ear and looking blank. ‘What? Laela, what’s wrong? Why are you so angry?’
Laela ripped off her crown and looked about ready to throw it at him. ‘What? Oh dear gods, he really doesn’t get it. I said send back diplomats, Kullervo. I didn’t say, “Come back with sixteen bloody griffiners we don’t know an’ who’ve got no business bein’ here.” Who the blazes are they?’
‘They’re my friends,’ said Kullervo.
‘Friends?’ Laela repeated, calming down slightly. ‘I sent yeh on a peace mission, not to make friends. Why’d they come here?’
‘Laela, please, let me explain,’ said Kullervo. ‘It’s just … it’s because of these.’ He indicated his wings.
‘Yeah, an’ another thing,’ said Laela. ‘Why’re you walkin’ around with them things hangin’ out? Yeh want people to stare or somethin’?’
‘You said to use my wings,’ Kullervo said sharply. ‘So I did. And that’s what happened. People started wanting to follow me, and I let them do it.’
‘Why let them?’
‘Because Senneck said I should,’ Kullervo said stupidly.
Laela glared at her. ‘Oh yeah?’
‘Followers are always useful,’ said Senneck. ‘They gave us protection on our journey, and made us look more legitimate to the Eyries. By now we have travelled with all of them for a long time, and they have been faithful and obedient.’
‘They believe in me,’ said Kullervo. ‘They all want to believe. How could I take that away from them?’
‘By not bein’ soft,’ said Laela, but she looked much calmer now. ‘I see, then. So my little brother’s got himself some offsiders. Fair enough. But I’m expectin’ you to keep them in line. Any trouble out of any of ’em, anything at all, an’ it’ll be your neck on the block. Got it? If they’re as loyal as yeh say they are, they can stay. Otherwise, they’re goin’ right back where they came from.’
‘Understood,’ said Kullervo. ‘I trust them.’
‘Yeah, well, you ain’t that good at not trustin’ people,’ said Laela, mollified. ‘Now tell me about yer journey. What did yeh see? What happened?’
Kullervo told her. His story took some time, of course, as he outlined his journey and then went into more detail about anything he thought might be important, such as his failure in Withypool.
‘Shouldn’t be a problem,’ said Laela. ‘As long as they ain’t openly hostile. Once all the other Eyries have signed treaties with us, they’ll see more reasons t’do the same. Won’t want to miss out on all the trade opportunities an’ whatnot. So then what happened?’
Kullervo went on with his story, and finally reached the end.
‘Sounds like yeh had an adventure an’ a half,’ said Laela. ‘Yeh got that scar in Eagleholm, then?’
‘Yes. I wish I could have brought Roland back here; you would have loved to meet him.’
‘Probably would’ve,’ Laela said sadly. ‘But that’s how these things go. Death stops us meetin’ everybody in the end. It’s a shame what happened to Eagleholm. I wish I coulda seen it when it was in one piece.’
‘So do I,’ said Kullervo. ‘But tell me about what’s been happening here!’ He looked down at her bulging middle. ‘Either you’ve been eating too many pies, or I’m going to be an uncle.’
Laela punched him playfully. ‘Shut it, you. Yeah, you’re gonna be an uncle. Inva’s expecting too. Her an’ Vander got married. In the Moon Temple, no less. I bullied the High Priestess into it. Bet the Night God was thrilled.’
Kullervo laughed. ‘Ah, who cares about what she thinks?’
Laela didn’t join in his laugh. ‘I do, because Saeddryn does, an’ she’s no laughing matter.’
‘She’s still around, then?’
‘Yeah. There’s been no word of Caedmon in about a year, but Saeddryn ain’t gone anywhere. She’s like a bloody fly yeh can’t swat. Keeps poppin’ up in different places an’ killin’ people. Sometimes important people, sometimes just at random. I think she’s gettin’ frustrated and takin’ it out on anyone what gets in her way.’
‘Have you been safe?’ asked Kullervo.
‘Just about, but there’s been some close calls. She caught up with me twice while you were gone. Nearly did for me the second time, but Skandar came to the rescue again. It’s like he knows where she is, like they’re linked in the mind or somethin’.’
Kullervo shivered. ‘I wish I’d been there to help you.’
‘You were helpin’ me where you were,’ Laela said firmly. ‘But I’m glad yer back now, because I need yeh for somethin’ else. With someone else I might’ve waited a while before I told yeh, but I know you don’t like sittin’ around at home.’
‘What is it?’ said Kullervo. ‘You know I’ll do whatever you need me to.’
‘Yeah, I do.’ Laela smiled. ‘You’re the most valuable ally I got, yeh know. Even more valuable than Skandar, ’cause unlike him you do what I tell you.’
‘Mighty Skandar not follower,’ Skandar growled. ‘Do what want to, not what human say.’
‘Yeah, right,’ said Laela. ‘Exactly. Oeka’s still keepin’ me safe here in Malvern, but I can’t stay cooped up here forever.’
Kullervo chuckled. ‘All right, Laela, enough suspense. What do you want me to do?’
Laela became serious. ‘It’s time to get rid of Saeddryn. An’ I need you to help me.’
Kullervo leaned forward. ‘How? What are we going to do?’
‘We’re gonna catch her,’ said Laela. ‘We’re gonna catch a shadow. An’ you’re the only one we have who can do that. An’ you’re also gonna be the bait. You an’ Senneck.’ She looked over at the brown griffin. ‘You especially, Senneck. Saeddryn wants me an’ Kullervo dead because the Night God told her to kill us. But she hates you. You’re the one what killed her, an’ that gives you power over her.’
‘I understand,’ said Senneck. ‘And I am more than willing to use this to lure her. Her destruction will benefit us all.’
‘You bet it will,’ Laela said grimly. ‘So both of you will bring her in, an’ then you’ll use yer little gift to catch her, Kullervo. I’m thinkin’ after that those friends of yours will come in handy. I’m sure they’ll be more’n happy to bring in the Shadow That Walks. Southerners are her natural enemies, even more than us filthy half-breeds.’
‘And then?’ said Kullervo.
‘An’ then you’ll tell me,’ said Laela. ‘Akhane’s worked out a plan. You an’ I both know the Shadow That Walks can’t go into holy places. Not if they’re holy to Gryphus or Xanathus. She probably can’t go into any place that’s holy to a god who ain’t the Night God, but that’s neither here nor there. Our dad wrote that when he went into the old Sun Temple here in Malvern, he lost his powers an’ got so weak an’ sick he couldn’t fight or even walk properly. An’ I know that’s true because I saw the same thing happen to him in Amoran. He nearly died from it.’
‘But how does that help us?’ asked Kullervo. ‘There are no sun temples here any more.’
‘No,’ said Laela. ‘So we’re gonna make one. Akhane’s priest friends are gonna bless a room. Make it holy to Gryphus. We’ll take Saeddryn in there, an’ if it works she’ll be powerless. Then we can kill her, for good this time.’
Kullervo sat there in silence as he thought it over. At first, as he imagined what the outcome of this plan would be, he felt revolted. To drag someone into a place that hurt them, and then to murder them there …
But then he remembered. Saeddryn was not human, not alive. She was a heartless murderer, the slave of the Night God Kullervo hated. She was …
… exactly what his father had been.
Kullervo banished that thought, and felt the unaccustomed, icy burn of hatred in his heart. ‘We’ll do it,’ he said. ‘I’ll do it. Saeddryn has to be stopped. I won’t allow her to hurt you, or Senneck. And the Night God has to be stopped as well. With Skandar on our side now, she won’t be able to make a new Shadow That Walks easily.’
‘You’re right,’ said Laela. ‘Once this is done, we’ll be safe. If anyone else decides to rebel afterwards, they won’t stand a chance without Saeddryn or someone like her to help. We can get old here together, an’ one day my child will be king, or queen.’
‘And we can work on our alliance with the South,’ said Kullervo. ‘I’ve decided to spend my life making peace between our peoples. Once Saeddryn is dead the Southerners will know they have nothing more to fear from us. Maybe I’ll even live to see the day when we can open the borders again, and form a united Cymria.’
Laela looked a little surprised at this declaration. ‘Maybe. After all, we don’t know how long you’re gonna live for. With our father’s power in you, yeh could be immortal for all we can tell.’
‘I hope not,’ said Kullervo. ‘I don’t want to live forever.’
‘Nah, don’t worry about it,’ said Laela. ‘You got a heartbeat, so that probably means you’re mortal like the rest of us.’
‘I hope so,’ said Kullervo. ‘So when are we going to start our plan?’
‘Soon as possible,’ said Laela. ‘Here’s an idea for yeh. How about you an’ some of yer new friends get together an’ head out to, say, Warwick? Yeh can tell everyone yer takin’ them out to show them the sights while we sort out the treaty here. We’ll send word ahead that you’re comin’, make sure everybody an’ their nosehair knows about it, an’ that’s where we’ll make the Sun Temple. Stay there a few days, an’ make a big deal about it. But I don’t reckon you’ll need to. Saeddryn has a weird way of knowin’ everything that’s goin’ on around here. Knowin’ that not only you an’ Senneck but also a gang of Southerners are about will be too big a temptation for her to resist. Then when she does come, you catch her an’ lock her up in chains — for gods’ sakes, don’t let her disappear again — an’ send word back here. We’ll be along in a jiffy.’
‘It sounds like a good plan to me,’ said Kullervo. ‘Actually, Resling and some others were already saying they would like it if I could show them some of the cities around here. So I’ll tell them that’s what I’m doing. Only Senneck and I will know the real plan.’
‘Heh, you ain’t as slow as yeh look.’ Laela grinned. ‘I was just gonna tell yeh that part.’
Kullervo grinned back, flattered. ‘Thanks! I’ll give them a day or two to rest, then ask them if any of them are interested. They probably won’t want to stay around here too long.’
‘Settled, then,’ said Laela. ‘An’ meanwhile, you go get some rest too! Can’t have my best man too worn out for a little hunting trip, can I?’
‘No, no, understood,’ said Kullervo. ‘And you’re right: I’m exhausted.’
He and Laela parted ways, both cheerful and a little excited, and Kullervo went back to his old rooms with Senneck, leaving Laela to go in search of her beloved Akhane.
Neither of them was aware, or could be aware, of the presence that had hovered in the room all that while, taking in every word.
So they do take after me, Arenadd thought. Lucky them. But cunning and cruelty won’t save them now.
Then he drifted away, flying back unhurriedly to find Saeddryn and tell her everything she had to know.