The Shadow's Heart

by K J Taylor

  Finally Arenadd reached a door and drifted through it. Saeddryn opened it quietly and went inside.

  It was a bedroom, and she didn’t need to be told whose. The moment she stepped inside the smell hit her nostrils: a musty, confused smell of both feathers and human skin. Nobody else in the world had a smell like that.

  The room was utterly dark, but Saeddryn could see everything. She saw the bed, and the bulky shape of the vile hybrid asleep on it. She couldn’t see Arenadd anywhere, but she didn’t need him now.

  She walked silently to Kullervo’s bedside. The blankets covered his neck, so she carefully folded them back and pressed the point of her dagger into his throat.

  Kullervo’s eyes snapped open and he jerked upright with a deafening yell of shock. Instinctively, Saeddryn jumped backward and into the shadows. While Kullervo freed himself from his bedclothes and groped for a lamp, she started to stalk him, trying to position herself in the right place to strike.

  Kullervo found the lamp and lifted the cover from it. Instantly light flooded into the room. Saeddryn hissed involuntarily, but confusion muddled her mind. Why had he kept it burning? Why keep it ready like this, unless …?

  Kullervo turned sharply. He was still fully clothed, and his yellow eyes were puffy with sleep, but wide open and fixed on her.

  ‘I know you’re there,’ he hissed. His was a griffin’s voice: low and full of menace.

  Saeddryn backed away silently, moving around behind him. Kullervo turned to follow her, but couldn’t quite see her, and her confidence began to return. He could only barely tell where she was, and if she was careful she could still hide from him.

  A strange, low, whispering sound filled the air. Kullervo shook his head confusedly and batted at his ear, as if a mosquito were bothering him.

  Saeddryn took her opportunity and lunged at him.

  And then a voice split the air, loud and commanding and furious.

  NOW! Kullervo, now!

  ‘Arenadd — !’ Saeddryn began, but her moment of shocked realisation came too late. Kullervo came straight at her. His big, taloned hands thrust into the shadows and caught hold of her, and this time they did not let go.

  He pulled her back into the light and slammed her against the wall, pinioning her arms.

  ‘No!’ she snarled, trying to break free.

  But though she was strong, Kullervo was strong as well. His hands wrapped around her arms in a crushing grip, stunted talons cutting into her flesh. She kicked out powerfully, catching him in the stomach, but he only winced and tightened his hold.

  But the shock of being caught was nothing next to what she saw then, and it was something so horrible that all the strength seemed to leave her.

  She saw Arenadd’s dark spectre hovering by Kullervo’s side, whispering to him as he had once done to her.

  Don’t let her go, son. For gods’ sakes, don’t let go! Call for help, get those chains on her, fast!

  ‘Arenadd!’ Saeddryn screamed. ‘No!’

  But he did not reply. He stayed by his son and spoke on.

  Kullervo seemed vaguely aware of his father’s voice. He yelled out for Senneck, and she came rushing into the room as if she had been lying in wait. She helped Kullervo pin Saeddryn to the floor, hissing in sickening triumph. Moments later the door slammed against the wall and others came running.

  Southerners! Saeddryn saw their brown hair and pale eyes, all alight with hatred. And worse, other Northerners were there too. Guards, armed and obedient to the hideous man-griffin.

  But it was the Southerners who put the chains on Saeddryn. Manacles snapped shut around her wrists and ankles, all of them attached to iron weights.

  Once they were on her, Kullervo finally let go. ‘Take her to the dungeon,’ he said.

  Saeddryn fought like a wild animal when they got her up. But the chains weighed her down unbearably. She tried to escape into the shadows, but they pulled her back.

  The guards lifted the weights for her — each one needed a man to carry it — and dragged her away.

  The Southerners came too, and Kullervo, and Senneck as well, none of them letting her out of their sight.

  And all the while there was Arenadd, the traitor Arenadd, watching calmly from his son’s side.

  Down in the prison under the tower, they put her in a small cell without a single piece of furniture and chained her to the wall by the wrists, neck and waist. She couldn’t even stand up once they were on her.

  Kullervo locked the door on her, and hung the key around his neck. ‘You guards,’ he said, ‘I want all of you to stay here — all of you. You can’t leave unless someone relieves you, and I want you to keep your eyes on her at all times. Don’t let her out of your sight for an instant. And don’t talk to her, or listen to anything she says. I mean it. Is that understood?’

  ‘Yes, my Lord.’

  ‘Good.’ Kullervo stayed a moment, looking in at her. His friends stood beside him. Most of them looked afraid, but all of them looked triumphant as well.

  ‘I vowed I’d stop you,’ Kullervo said. ‘Now you’ll never hurt anyone again. Laela will be here soon. In the meantime, you’ve got plenty of time to think about what you’ve done.’

  ‘So that’s her, is it?’ one of the Southerners asked. ‘That’s the Shadow That Walks. The Dark Lord’s successor.’

  ‘The Dark Lady,’ one of his friends suggested with a smirk.

  ‘It is,’ said Kullervo. ‘But I don’t want any of you coming down here to see her again. She’s the most dangerous creature in the world, and don’t ever forget it.’

  ‘We won’t, sir.’

  ‘Good. Now let’s go and get some proper sleep.’

  Kullervo left, taking his friends with him.

  Senneck lingered, casting a contemptuous blue glance into the cell. ‘I killed you once, Kraeaina kran ae,’ she said. ‘Now, I shall watch you die a second time. Erian will be avenged.’

  Saeddryn spat at her. ‘Coward! Fight me again an’ we’ll see who finishes who.’

  Senneck looked amused. ‘I would turn you to stone as I did the griffin who chose you, but the end that my human has worked out for you will be far more satisfying. I will see you then.’ She loped off after Kullervo.

  Trapped, with only the stares of her guards for company, Saeddryn started to struggle against her chains. When that failed she subsided and started to examine them more carefully, looking for any sign of weakness she could exploit.

  She found nothing. The chains and manacles were brand new and well made. Even the Mighty Skandar himself would not have been able to break them.

  Quivering slightly with anger, Saeddryn looked around the cell for something, anything, that could help her.

  What she saw instead was Arenadd, standing by the doorway and watching her.

  She lunged at him, falling back when the chains pulled her up short. ‘Ye son of a bitch!’ she screamed at him.

  I’ve been called worse, said Arenadd.

  ‘Traitor! Filth! How could ye?’

  How could I? Arenadd drifted closer. I’m sorry, Saeddryn, but you had to be stopped.

  ‘They had to be stopped!’ said Saeddryn. ‘The half-breeds — an’ the Night God …’

  Oh, burn her, said Arenadd. I’ve had enough of her and her orders. I’d had enough of them a long time before she killed me, in fact.

  ‘But betraying her … and me …’

  I really am sorry, said Arenadd. But I had no choice. I told you back on the island. I’m not a king any more, or a Shadow That Walks, or even a man. But I’m still a father. I couldn’t let you hurt my children.

  ‘But the Night God,’ said Saeddryn. ‘She taught ye … she said …’

  Arenadd laughed softly. Her? I fooled her too. Haven’t you guessed? I seduced her. Once I realised that was what she wanted from me, I took my chance. I told her everything she wanted to hear. She’s not all-knowing, Saeddryn. Otherwise she would have known I’ve been working against her ever since I got back her
e.

  ‘Ye what …?’ Everything was falling apart now. Saeddryn’s world was in ruins around her.

  Who do you think warned Skandar about where you were going to be? said Arenadd. Who brought him and Kullervo to stop you when you kidnapped Laela? Who knew this was a trap but didn’t tell you? Who went into Kullervo’s dreams tonight and told him to wake up? I did.

  ‘But they can’t hear ye,’ said Saeddryn. ‘Only I …’

  They both have the dark power in them, said Arenadd. Kullervo has just a touch of it. Skandar can hear me as loudly as you can, and Kullervo can hear me too, just a little. He hears me better when he’s asleep. I found that out at Malvern when I warned him to get out of the Eyrie. After that I followed him to the Moon Temple. It was I who whispered to him about what the Night God really is and what she’s done. I taught him to hate her.

  ‘Why?’

  Because if he let her do it, he could become like us. The seed’s in him. But now he’ll never trust her, and he’s used his power to stop you.

  Saeddryn felt close to tears. ‘Why?’ she whispered. ‘Why?’

  Why? Do you really need to ask me that now? Arenadd’s voice had been quite steady, but now it grew louder and full of the passion she remembered so well. There must never be another Shadow That Walks. Our kind should never have existed. All we do is destroy. Once you and I are gone, Kullervo will make sure that nobody else rises to take our place. His form solidified, showing the scarred face she had once loved. The world is meant for the living. We are the dead, and the only place for us is the grave.

  Despair twisted in Saeddryn like a knife. ‘Go away,’ she groaned.

  No. I’m staying here to keep an eye on you. The instant you try anything, Kullervo will know.

  After that he said nothing more, and only moved silently around her, watching her every move.

  Saeddryn did not rest. She fought on endlessly, nearly wrenching her arms out of their sockets in the process. She hurled threats at the guards, but they were as unyielding as the chains, and Arenadd would not answer her any more.

  Finally, she tried to pray. The Night God had to know what had happened, had to be warned about Arenadd’s treachery. But here in her prison even the Night God seemed to be out of reach, and deep down she knew that her master could not help her now.

  She was lost.

  Kullervo returned to his quarters with his heart pounding. Part of it was excitement, but there was fear there as well. To have been so close to Saeddryn, and to know she was so close now, even though she couldn’t hurt him, made him afraid. So did the memory of her face glaring at him with more hatred than he had ever imagined could exist. It was the face of a woman who had no fear, and no conscience. He knew that if she got the chance she would kill him, and feel nothing.

  The memory of his dream lingered as well. That face, the same bearded face he had seen in Malvern, shouting at him to wake up, wake up now. So he had woken up, and once again the dream had been accurate, and had probably saved his life.

  Once was a coincidence. Twice meant something more. Kullervo knew that something, or someone, had come to warn him — and he had a good idea of who.

  ‘Father?’ he said aloud. ‘Was that you? Did you come to help me?’

  But the insistent whispering in his ear had gone now, and it didn’t come back. If Arenadd had been there, he was gone now.

  Someone was waiting in Kullervo’s room when he arrived. Kraego, crouching on the bed and idly grooming a wing. He looked up when Kullervo entered and stood up to greet him.

  ‘Where did you go?’

  ‘She came,’ said Kullervo. ‘Just as we were hoping. Senneck and I caught her. She’s chained up in the dungeon now. Didn’t you hear all the commotion?’

  ‘No,’ said Kraego. ‘I was flying.’

  ‘In the middle of the night?’

  ‘Yes. I like the night.’ Kraego shook out his black feathers.

  ‘You can see in the dark, then?’ asked Kullervo. He knew that most griffins couldn’t.

  ‘I can,’ said Kraego. ‘Like my father.’ He hopped down off the bed. ‘You can have this back now. I am not tired yet.’

  ‘Thank you,’ said Kullervo. ‘Listen, Kraego — can I ask you to do something for us?’

  ‘Perhaps,’ said Kraego.

  ‘Now that we’ve caught Saeddryn, we need to tell Laela right away,’ said Kullervo.

  ‘You want me to go to Malvern?’ said Kraego.

  ‘Yes. You’re faster than any of us, and you wouldn’t be carrying anyone either.’

  Kraego purred to himself, and scratched his cheek thoughtfully. ‘I have never flown alone before. It would be interesting.’

  ‘It would be,’ Kullervo agreed. ‘And your father would be impressed. Everybody likes someone who brings them good news.’

  ‘That is true,’ said Kraego. ‘I will go, then.’

  ‘When?’ asked Kullervo.

  ‘At once. I have already slept tonight.’ Kraego strutted toward the door.

  Kullervo knew better than to tell him he should wait until morning: Kraego was young, but he was as proud as any griffin. That pride, and his desire to impress Skandar, would be more than enough to assure that he would go straight to Malvern as fast as he could. He would make a good messenger.

  Kraego left the room and walked on down the tower, tail swinging easily behind him. He fully intended to do what he had said he would, but not immediately. First he would satisfy his curiosity, and go to look at this human that even his mother feared.

  To Kraego, humans weren’t something to fear at all. From the moment he hatched they had been around him, all ready to feed him and to play with him. Not once had a human ever been unkind to him, or posed any threat. Some of them were dark and some of them were light, but both kinds were friendly, and weak.

  On his way down toward the dungeons, he met his mother coming the other way.

  ‘Kraego,’ she said. ‘Why are you here?’

  Kraego didn’t need his mother’s care any more, but she was still a protective figure for him, and he answered her politely. ‘Your human has asked me to fly to my father and tell him that Kraeai kran ae has been captured,’ he said.

  ‘The human is Kraeaina kran ae,’ Senneck corrected. ‘Female. You must go to the Mighty Skandar quickly. The sooner she is killed, the better.’

  ‘I know,’ said Kraego. ‘I will leave at once.’

  ‘Go, then,’ said Senneck.

  Kraego darted between her legs and went on his way, before she could ask why he was going down the tower rather than toward the nearest flight entrance.

  At the place where the dungeons began, he found a pair of humans guarding the way. But he was too small and quick for them. He crept up on them and sneaked past under their weapons, and because he was only a small griffin they didn’t try hard to chase him.

  His confidence soaring, Kraego almost swaggered along the dungeon corridors, searching for the place where the dark human was trapped. Barred doors blocked his way, but he squeezed through them. Once a human tried to stop him, but he hissed at him and went on his way.

  He knew that he had found the place when he saw it. Not because of the four guards standing there, but because of the scent. It was icy cold, metallic, and it made the feathers stand up on his spine. Nothing living should have a scent like that.

  He crept closer, keeping low to the ground without realising he was doing it, and heard the dark human muttering aloud in her own language. It wasn’t the human language he knew, but the other one, and he only knew a few words of that.

  Caution told him he should leave, but his curiosity got the better of him. He went to the door and peered through it, ignoring the shout from one of the guards.

  And there she was. She was brightly lit by many fires, and he saw the iron ropes that stopped her from running away.

  She looked like just any other human — an old, thin, sickly one with only one eye. But in that long moment that Kraego looked at her, he saw som
ething in that eye that wasn’t human at all.

  It was a black eye, black and savage, and the look in it was not a human look. It was the look of a wild animal. A look that Kraego felt deep inside himself, as if it were a part of him.

  Irrational shock gripped him, and he crouched low, extending his talons, and opened his beak wide to rasp at her. It was an animal reaction, one he had no control over, and it caught Saeddryn’s attention at once.

  Her head turned toward him, and he saw the human look of surprise appear on her face.

  ‘Dark griffin,’ she whispered in his own language.

  Dark human, Kraego thought.

  And then something rushed at him, something shadowy and horrible, screaming a curse at him.

  Kraego had had enough. He turned and ran out of the dungeon as fast as he could go, feeling as if the screaming thing were chasing him all the way.

  It was.

  In her cell, Saeddryn watched dully as Arenadd returned and started to float around rapidly, swearing in a low, feverish voice. Shit! Shit, shit, shit. Gods damn it! She’s made another one! She’s given the power to another … shit!

  ‘Ye see?’ Saeddryn hurled the words at him. ‘Ye can’t stop her, Arenadd. So what if ye an’ Skandar have turned traitor? She made Skandar; ye must have known she could make another griffin like him.’

  He saw me! Arenadd exclaimed. He could see me. He heard me! He’s got Skandar’s power. Shit. I have to … gods, what am I going to do? Got to do something, something …

  ‘Give it up,’ Saeddryn said as smugly as she could. ‘Ye can’t win.’

  Arenadd said nothing. Trying to ignore her, most likely.

  ‘Ye’ve lost,’ she continued. ‘Ye know those half-breed brats of yours can’t kill me. Nobody can. Sooner or later I’ll get away. The Night God’s sent this griffin t’be my partner. One day he’ll be as big as Skandar. He’ll help me kill yer children, Arenadd. Both of them.’