The Whisperer (29 page)

Griff peered from around a huge tree and glimpsed the Duke as he entered the area on foot. All of his men had needed to dismount because the trees were so dense and low in this part of the woodland.

He was surprised how calm he suddenly felt. It was as though this had always been his destiny. Fear was behind him now. He had a role to play and an important task to save the life of his brother…of a king. It felt absolutely right that he did this and his only regret was that he might not live long enough to see Lute again, or to find out the truth of their birth.

He deeply wished he had insisted that Tess remain behind on the
Silver Wind
but at the same time he knew she was safe and that Davren and Rix would protect her to the end. Hopefully reinforcements would arrive before the Duke even noticed Tess. So long as she didn’t get involved!

They’d decided not to run deeper into the wood because that’s what the Duke would expect. Bitter Olof had reasoned that they should stay here in the shallow reaches of the trees because it kept them closer to where help might come from, but that it also may just fool the Duke. He would not expect them to be so close but rather running for their lives, the dwarf had argued. And he and Little Thom had finally agreed.

So now they each watched, hidden as best as they could be,
behind the widest trees they could find, as the Duke approached with armed men.

Griff opened a link and reached Lute immediately.
He’s here. I can see him. He’s brought a dozen or so men, because we’re obviously such a formidable trio, unarmed and helpless as we are.

So much for the brave warrior of the north
, Lute snarled back over the link.
I can see the Landing, Griff. One more hill and we’ll be galloping across country straight at you. You just have to hold on.

Davren?

Yes, Griff.

Ask Tess to send Rix up. Lute needs to get a fix on where we are. But don’t let him be seen. If they look up, they might put two and two together.

I doubt it
, Davren replied.
However, if they look up I think they’ll get a much bigger surprise.

What are you talking about?

I don’t think Lute will have any problem at all knowing where we are.

You’re talking in riddles
, Lute said, having listened to all this.

Griff shook his head.
I don’t understand either but I need to focus now. I’ve been blind for too long in here and I need to know where the Duke is. Hurry, Lute.

He snapped shut the link and just in time it seemed, for the closest man was now mere yards away from where Bitter Olof hid. Griff held his breath as the dwarf instinctively stepped back further around the tree and, in doing so, snapped a twig underfoot. In any other situation it would have gone unnoticed but in this one it was as though a clash of cymbals had sounded.

Every man went on the alert, bows were pulled tight, their arrows loaded and ready to fire, while swords, already drawn, were lifted and ready to slash down.

‘That was a mistake,’ Duke Janko drawled. ‘Now we know you’re here and close.’

He waited and the silence lengthened. Griff closed his eyes as he watched Bitter Olof’s shoulders slump in defeat. The fight
was over yet it had hardly begun…and all because of a snapped twig.

‘You might as well show yourselves now,’ Janko urged and a sly smile stole across his face. ‘I might even be lenient with you, dwarf, and your giant friend. I’m really only after the boy.’

Again he waited and again his query was met with silence.

He seemed in no particular hurry, feeling so confident of his prize. ‘I’m even prepared to pay you for your trouble in keeping him safe for me. I’ll offer the giant compensation for the arrows he took and my somewhat amazed congratulations that he not only survived but is apparently fit enough to come back here trying to hide my nephew and elude me.’ He took a few more steps, signalled to his men to spread out slightly. ‘Let’s talk gold, dwarf, shall we? I’ll let you keep the haul that I know you’ve already hidden somewhere around your cave, but I’m prepared to offer right now two hundred gold pieces to you and your big friend, in exchange for the boy and your silence. What’s more I’ll grant you safe passage. I have no fight with you…unless you steal any more of my money, of course.’ He laughed. ‘Then I’ll see you hang from the nearest tree.’ He grew serious again. ‘But right now I want my nephew and there needn’t be any bloodshed on your part—only profit. He is meaningless to you and I’m going to put this behaviour of yours down to some sort of misguided loyalty to the Crown. Fret not, you’ll find me a most benevolent King. I’m going to ignore your previous black marks. We shall wipe the slate clean and you may take yourself and your now good name away from here. You can be rich and you will have the protection of the new King.’

Griff thought that if the Duke took another three steps, he’d all but tread on Bitter Olof. Their hiding time was over. Now he just had to keep the Duke talking and hope it gave them enough minutes for Lute to arrive.

He shocked Bitter Olof and Little Thom by stepping out from behind the tree and yelling. ‘He already has the protection of a king, you treacherous sod! The true King!’

Janko swung around and Griff could see the man’s eyes glittering with joy.

‘There you are, Lute. Tsk, tsk. Did you really think you could outwit me?’

‘I have, several times,’ Griff said.

‘Brave talk,’ Janko sneered.

Immediately, Bitter Olof and Little Thom showed themselves.

‘Train your weapons on them,’ the Duke ordered. ‘If they run, cut them down and make it permanent this time.’

‘So much for trusting you,’ Bitter Olof said indignantly.

Janko ignored him, turning his attention back to Griff. ‘Yes, brave talk indeed, but your tricks and turns have led you nowhere but here…at my mercy.’

‘Is that so? Somehow I feel my best trick is yet to come, dear
Uncle.
’

Janko laughed with high amusement. ‘Really? I have you cornered and helpless, and I’m going to kill you because I suspect your mother has only pretended to consider my offer of marriage.’ He frowned. ‘Oh, did I mention your father is dead by the way? His poor weak heart. Anyhow, your narrow-minded mother will not agree to being my wife, so I can’t possibly agree to keeping you alive as she begged. No, Lute, you must die. But first, would you like to know the truth of your birth? Let me at least send you off to Lo knowing the real story, because I fear I rattled you during our morning ride. My word, that seems such a long time ago now, doesn’t it?’

Griff remained silent.

‘We were discussing how you didn’t look like either of your parents. You see, I did some digging and greased all the right palms. I’ve learned that you were born on the eastern coast on the fringe of a village. Your real father is a lowly falconer. And your mother?’ He laughed. ‘Your mother was born to peasants and remained a peasant for the whole of her short, hard life.’

Griff’s teeth clenched, along with his fists.

Janko must have noticed because he smiled his evil smile. ‘She died, Lute, giving birth to you. You killed her. She bled out within hours of her peasant son’s arrival. But wait, the plot thickens. The very poor falconer father, unable to feed his first two sons, let
alone another one, agreed to sell you.’ The Duke loaded his voice with astonishment. ‘Sell you!’ He clicked his tongue in sad amazement. ‘What a rogue. He sold his newborn son. What he didn’t know was that the highborn woman who offered him gold for his child and for his silence, was no less than Queen Miralda herself, who could not carry a child of her own.’ The Duke droned on, ‘And rather than face life without an heir, Rodin obviously agreed to her sinister plan to buy one. She could lavish all that unspent love on the son she craved and Rodin could parade you around Floris as the heir that finally blessed their marriage.’ He clapped his hands. ‘How convenient, don’t you think, Lute?’

Griff snarled. ‘How do I know you’re not lying?’

‘You know I’m not,’ the Duke baited. ‘You know it in your heart. And if I had the time, I’d let you meet your real father. I’ve had him brought to Floris, you see. I didn’t know whether I’d need him in this whole sorry sideshow of your life. But now I know I don’t, so I’ll likely kill him too and then the secret of your birth remains safe and does not tarnish the Crown.’

Griff felt fury rise and consume every inch of his body. He imagined his father locked up in some dungeon, cold and confused, unsure of whether his three sons lived or died—probably unaware of who his fourth son had become.

‘I’m going to see you punished,’ Griff snarled at the Duke.

Janko laughed uproariously. ‘Really? Well, that is frightening. So perhaps I’d better kill you first.’ Until now his sword had remained in its scabbard but he drew it now with a chilling clang of metal.

‘You’re murdering a king,’ Bitter Olof warned, his voice filled with loathing.

Janko shrugged. ‘Oh well, it won’t be my first,’ he said, his tone as uncaring as he could make it. ‘Right then, Lute. Be brave now, unlike your pretend father, Rodin.’ He raised his sword.

‘Duke Janko!’ cried a new voice.

‘Tess!’ Griff yelled. ‘I told you not to—’

‘Ah,’ Janko said, turning to one of the men. ‘You did say
something about a girl with them.’ He glanced at Bitter Olof. ‘You have collected some strange hangers-on, haven’t you, dwarf?’

‘Leave her alone, Janko!’ Griff snarled.

Janko grinned. ‘I’m not sure you’re in a position to do anything about it even if I defied you, Lute.’

‘No, but I am,’ Tess said. ‘Duke Janko. I’d like you and your men to meet a friend of mine. His name is Gaston and he’s very angry that he’s been disturbed.’

As she said this, all the horses reared as one, whinnying with fear, and bolted. Everyone looked startled except Tess. And then, impossibly, a huge shape loomed into view, its shadow darkening the area where they stood. It broke branches as it smashed its way into the clearing.

Duke Janko’s jaw fell open. ‘What in Lo’s name is that?’

Gaston spread his enormous wings, each tipped with a vicious and clearly sharp claw, then opened his equally threatening hooked beak and let out a savage snarl.

‘I don’t think he’s taken kindly to you threatening me or any of my friends. I’m going to talk to him now, can I suggest you all remain very still?’

A moment later the gryphon moved in a sort of swooping motion and immediately they heard the creak of branches which suddenly crashed to the undergrowth.

Duke Janko looked mortified. ‘What just happened?’ he asked, swivelling to take in the fact that half a dozen large branches lay near the terrifying beast.

‘That was Gaston’s little demonstration of what his sharp claws can do. As you saw for yourselves, it took little effort. Imagine what it might do to flesh. Actually don’t, it’s far too scary. And as I said, he’s angry and I could lose control of him if you don’t put down those weapons this second!’

Every man but the Duke threw down his weapon.

Again Gaston let out a loud roar.

The hired men turned tail and ran for their lives, their leader yelling over his shoulder, ‘We didn’t agree to any of this. You’re on your own, Duke!’

Janko let out a roar of his own, filled with frustration.

Bitter Olof laughed. ‘That’s a fine creature you’ve got there, Tess.’

‘Beautiful, isn’t he?’ she replied, her voice filled with pride. ‘He lives in the mountains to the north of here. A stroke of luck that he was foraging close enough to be here so fast.’

The initial shock had passed, but none of the fear or awe had left his voice when Duke Janko tried to sound his usual controlled, dry self. ‘How convenient.’

Tess laughed at him. ‘A word from me, Duke, and your whole body could be easily sliced in half. And don’t think I wouldn’t give that command. I hate bullies and you are so much worse. Bullies, I’ve found, are usually cowards. And yet you have nothing to be cowardly about. You are adored by the people for your strength and courage.’

‘And that’s why I would make a great king,’ he spat at her. He threw down his sword but despite that moment of relief for all, they were astounded by the speed at which he dragged a dagger from a small scabbard at his waist. ‘And why,’ he said, shocking them as he leaped at Griff and grabbed him, ‘he wouldn’t.’

A tense silence ensued. Tess had obviously told Gaston to do nothing, although a low growl was coming from the gryphon.

‘Call off your…your…thing,’ Janko yelled at her.

Griff linked.
Lute?
he asked into the silver void.

Moments away, brother. Unless we’re mistaken, there’s some strange winged beast that we’ve just watched land. I’m assuming he’s one more of Tess’s oddities.

You’ve guessed right but hurry, Janko’s about to slice my throat open.
He cut the link.

‘I said call your creature off,’ Janko bellowed.

‘Or what?’ Griff hurled at him, twisting in his grip.

‘Take a guess,’ Janko replied nastily. ‘I don’t feel squeamish about killing a king, I’ve already told you that.’

‘No king here, you fool,’ Griff jeered.

‘Did you hear that, Janko?’ Bitter Olof questioned angrily. ‘There is no king here.’

‘I’m glad you finally see it my way,’ Janko sneered.

‘No,’ Little Thom joined in. ‘You’re not getting it, Duke. There is no king among us.’

Janko hesitated, frowning. ‘What are you going on about?’

The group had arrived soundlessly on foot and now one of the new party joined the conversation.

‘Because that is not Lute,’ said a familiar voice.

Janko’s head jerked up and stared with bewilderment at Pilo and then into the face of a boy identical to the one struggling in his grip. He let Griff go in his astonishment at seeing them and, standing nearby, Queen Miralda and five archers, each with their bows drawn tightly, arrows trained on Janko.

‘A word from me, Janko and you’re full of holes,’ said Lute calmly.

Janko pushed Griff to the ground. ‘What’s going on here?’ he growled.

‘You’ve been tricked, Janko,’ Miralda explained, her satisfaction obvious.