Free The Shadow's Heir (The Risen Sun) by K. J. Taylor Page B

Laela.
    “The griffiners,” said Arenadd. “And what they’re doing.”
    “Oh. Well, I . . . they . . .” Laela trailed off, as realisation finally dawned on her.
    “Yes?” Arenadd prompted.
    “They, er . . . they . . . dunno much, Sire.” She was babbling now, trying to think. “I’m just a peasant girl, Sire,” she said at last. “I wouldn’t know that much.”
    “But you might know something,” said Arenadd. “What are the people saying?”
    Laela thought quickly. “Well, after Eagleholm fell, Canran sent griffiners an’ soldiers t’grab some of its lands, an’ I heard tell they got a good chunk, but the Withypool gang came from the other way, an’ they ended up in a scrap. Canran did well but Withypool got the upper hand somehow, an’ in the end Canran’s Eyrie burned, an’ most of their griffins went over t’Withypool. That was a while ago, though, Sire. By the time Dad an’ me came t’live in Sturrick, Withypool owned that land, but it was all disorganised, Dad said. They couldn’t rule so much land from all the way over on the coast, so they was buildin’ a new Eyrie further West.”
    Arenadd leant forward over the table. “Where?”
    “Dunno, Sire, but I’d say somewhere where Eagleholm lands used t’be. Probably halfway between Withypool an’ where Canran was. Best place to control the lands all around. Sire.”
    He blinked. “Did you work that out all on your own?”
    “Yes, Sire.” Laela looked away. “I thought it made sense . . . It was only a guess, like.”
    “It was a bloody good one,” said Arenadd, and the offhand Southern accent and phrasing caught Laela off guard.
    “Thanks, Sire. Is that . . . is that everythin’?”
    “You tell me,” said Arenadd. “Is that all you have to say?”
    “I ain’t heard nothin’ about no plans to attack yeh, Sire,” Laela said with sudden boldness. “If that’s what yer wonderin’. They ain’t strong enough; they’re spread all over the place. Too much buildin’, too much reorganisin’, an’ they got no slaves now t’do the work for ’em. An’ besides, no-one’d attack
you
, Sire. They ain’t mad. They know what yeh can do—they know about yer powers. They’re too
scared
, Sire.
I
would be,” she added.
    Arenadd stared at her, apparently nonplussed. Then he burst out laughing. His laugh was a harsh, humourless thing—one that sounded like it hadn’t been used in a long time. “Ye gods!” he exclaimed. “What a find I picked up off the street last night! Traveller, fighter, master negotiator, political strategist, and now a tactician!” He laughed again. “Next I suppose you’ll tell me you’re a griffiner as well.”
    Laela gaped at him. “I ain’t . . . well, it was just . . . I shouldn’t’ve . . .” Suddenly, his mocking laughter made anger flare in her. “I’ve given yeh all the information yeh wanted, Sire, so now yeh’ve been repaid for yer trouble. Can I go now?”
    He stopped laughing. “I wasn’t making fun of you, Laela—I was laughing at myself. I wasn’t expecting payment, but it was kind of you to provide the information, and I appreciate the free advice. And of course I’ll let you go. But there’s just one last question I wanted to ask you.”
    “Yes? Sire.”
    Arenadd rubbed his broken fingers. “I just wanted to ask . . . does the name
Aeaei ran kae
mean anything to you?”
    Laela stared. “What, Sire?”
    “Aeaei ran kae,”
he repeated. “It’s griffish, in case you’re curious.”
    “I, uh . . . no, Sire,” said Laela. “I don’t know any griffish.”
    “Obviously. Well, then, have you ever heard tell of someone called the Sun’s Champion? Gryphus’ Warrior? The Chosen One?”
    “Oh. Yeah,” said Laela. “Of course. Everyone knows about that, Sire.”
    “
What
do they know?”
    Laela hesitated. “Well . . .”
    “Go on. I’m listening.”
    “Well, uh . . .” she plunged on. “They say yer . . . that the