The Shadow's Heir

by K J Taylor

  “He is a noble man, my lady,” Vander said softly. “I have always thought so. I do not like to see him suffer this way.”

  Laela shook her head. “There’s nothin’ for it,” she said. “We’ve got t’take him home. Now.”

  “The King is in a very serious condition, my Lady,” said Vander. “It would do him no good to move him now.”

  But Laela knew in her heart that she was right. “We’re takin’ him home,” she said. “If he stays here, he’ll never get better. In Malvern, he’ll heal.”

  “I agree,” said Duach. “This journey was a mistake.”

  “But the slaves,” said Penllyn. “And the Emperor. The negotiations aren’t finished yet.”

  “Leave that t’me,” said Laela. She saw the doubtful looks she was getting and drew herself up with all the pride a griffiner should have. “I am the Master of Wisdom. My word is final. Now, go. I have t’see the King, an’ I’ll do that alone.”

  That said, Laela turned her back on them all and strode into the room where Arenadd lay.

  There wasn’t much she could do there. Her friend lay on a stone slab, with a sheet covering his lower half. He was as pale as a corpse, and his scars looked red and raw. In the middle of his chest the old wound left by Erian’s sword had indeed re-opened. It had been heavily bandaged, but Laela could see a thick line of blood soaking through them, following the length of the cut.

  Arenadd was unconscious, breathing slowly. His face was lined with pain.

  Laela touched his forehead and stiffened when she realised that his hair, once pure black, was now shot through with grey.

  When she saw that, she knew her decision had been the right one.

  “I’m sorry, Arenadd,” she whispered. “We’ve done everythin’ we could. Now it’s time t’go home. The North’ll miss those slaves, but it’ll miss you worse.”

  • • •

  Laela hurried out of the room and found the Northerners and Vander waiting, along with Oeka. They all looked at her expectantly.

  “How is he, my lady?” Vander inquired.

  “Comatose,” said Laela. “Again. But this time he ain’t gettin’ up anytime soon.” She thought quickly and pointed at Duach. “Right, here’s what yer gonna do. We’re takin’ him outta here an’ back onto the ship, an’ I’m gonna need someone t’keep watch over him. Skandar’s gotta be there, too—make sure he’s somewhere Skandar can get to him, ’cause I reckon that’ll help.”

  Duach nodded very readily. “At once.”

  “Good,” said Laela. “Once he’s on board, keep him out of the sun. Keep him cold—cold as yeh can. Use water, fan him—whatever yeh can think of. The heat’s makin’ it worse. An’ . . .”

  “Yes, milady?” said Duach, now very attentive.

  “Pray,” said Laela.

  The Northerners there who knew her looked a little surprised. “Of course, milady,” Duach said politely.

  “Do it,” Laela growled. “Trust me, if there’s anything up there at all, it’s watchin’ over him. You’re gonna make sure she doesn’t get distracted.”

  “I will.” Duach glanced at his fellows. “Penllyn, ye can come with me.”

  “Right.” Penllyn nodded.

  “As for the rest of yeh,” Laela continued, “yer stayin’ here.”

  “What do we do, then?” one of them asked.

  “Same as what yeh were doin’ before,” said Laela. “Be guests. Polite ones.” They muttered at that, and Laela raised her voice. “Yeh just insulted our hosts pretty damned badly, in case yeh didn’t notice. Now go—make it up to ’em. Or else.”

  “Or else what?” one Northerner said in a sulky undertone.

  Laela leaned in threateningly. “Or else. Got it?”

  “We’ll do as ye command, milady,” Duach said, covering the moment. “In the meantime, what will ye be doing?”

  “Finishing what we started,” said Laela. “Vander?”

  The diplomat straightened up. “Yes?”

  “I gotta go talk to the Em—” Laela broke off, remembering herself. “I mean, I need t’go talk to the Emperor. Once I’ve been back t’my room an’ cleaned myself up. Could yeh let him know what’s happened an’ say I need to talk to him?”

  Vander smiled to himself. “Of course.”

  “Right.” Laela waved at the Northerners, unceremoniously shooing them away. “Get to it, you lot. I got work t’do.”

  She walked off without waiting for a reply. For an instant, she thought she didn’t know the way, but then she saw Oeka strutting ahead—silently showing her where to go. Laela fell in beside her and let her partner lead the way out of the hospital and through the palace, where she entered her guest room very gladly.

  As always, a collared figure was waiting for her with infinite patience.

  Laela couldn’t help but smile. “Inva. By gods, I’m glad t’see . . .” She trailed off. The shaved head had confused her for a moment, but now she saw that this was not Inva but some other female slave.

  The newcomer bowed low. “Inva is not here any more. I am here to serve my lady now, and must be a better attendant. The gracious Emperor apologises for my predecessor.”

  Laela gaped, and then shook herself. “What happened to Inva?”

  The new slave stared politely at the floor. “Your previous attendant has been punished and will not be here to cause you trouble again, my lady.”

  “Punished?” Laela exclaimed. “For what?”

  “My predecessor allowed you to be harmed, my lady,” said the slave, still avoiding her eye. “This is punishable. She has been sent away and will not be allowed to serve fine nobles such as yourself again.”

  “I—” Laela stopped abruptly, and gave in. There was no point in yelling at this poor woman, who was only doing as she’d been told—just as Inva had. This wasn’t the time or place to go on about it. Besides, there was work to do. “Right, then,” she resumed as smoothly as she could. “What’s your name? I’m Lady Laela.”

  “I am called Telise, my lady.”

  “Nice to meet yeh, Telise,” said Laela. “Now then, if yeh don’t mind, I’ve got a meetin’ with the Emperor, an’ I need some cleanin’ up.”

  “At once, my lady.”

  Laela’s mouth felt hideously dry from so much talking. Her headache had been growing steadily worse ever since she’d woken up as well, so now she submitted very gratefully to a cool bath with soothing oils, and the gentle attentions of Telise, who was at least as well trained as Inva had been.

  Oeka stayed close by and groomed herself with the help of her own personal slave, who had apparently been allowed to stay. “You have done well,” she said.

  Laela, half-asleep in the cool water, didn’t look up. “Can’t go home till we’ve sorted this out. Gotta do my job.”

  “Your job was to advise the King,” said Oeka.

  “Still is. But he told me I’m his second-in-command here, an’ that means I gotta take charge now. So that’s what I’m doin’. Simple. Besides, I ain’t leavin’ Inva an’ all her friends behind.”

  “I am sure they will be grateful,” said Oeka through a yawn.

  Laela mumbled something and dozed briefly while Telise massaged her head—which did a wonderful job of making the headache go away.

  She woke up reluctantly and got out of the bath to accept yet another new outfit. Despite having spent so much time unconscious, she was dying for some more sleep, but she settled for a long drink of water and some exotic fruit while she waited for the Emperor to send for her.

  It took longer than she had expected, and she nearly fell asleep again on her couch, but she came back to her senses when Telise answered the door, and then turned to say, “The Emperor sends for you and your sacred partner, my lady.”

  Laela stood up automatically and walked out, with Oeka padding along beside her.

  Outside, Vander was waiting, with Ymazu and a pair of powerful-looking guards. Laela glanced nervously at them, but they said nothing, and only sto
od silently on either side of the diplomats.

  Vander bowed his head briefly. “My lady, the Emperor would like to see you.”

  “Good,” said Laela. “Will yeh come with us, Vander?”

  “We shall,” Vander said briefly. “Ymazu and I are expected to attend. Come, and we will show you the way.”

  Laela nodded to Oeka, and the pair of them followed Vander and Ymazu. The guards silently fell in behind, uncomfortably close to Laela and Oeka. Clearly, the Emperor was taking no chances.

  Vander and Ymazu led the way toward the centre of the palace, an area Laela hadn’t seen yet. At the end of their journey, the corridors, already open and airy with large glassless windows, opened out even further into a column-lined walkway. Beyond that was a large courtyard. The city outside had looked barren to Laela, but the courtyard was beautiful. It had been filled with plants, all lush and green. Vines covered the walls, festooned with bright red flowers. Water splashed into a shallow pool that was covered in lillies. Small, ornamental trees grew around the edges, filling the air with a pleasant, spicy aroma.

  Despite the circumstances, Laela felt much calmer here. This, she decided, was the perfect place to negotiate. Peaceful, friendly, and elegant.

  The Emperor was waiting by the pool, sitting cross-legged by the base of a tree. He was wearing the usual white kilt although this one was edged with bright red and decorated with gold beads. His bald head nearly shone in the sunlight.

  He looked very relaxed, but despite that, there was another thing in the garden that added the faintest hint of a threat. This time, for the first time Laela had seen, the Emperor’s partner was there.

  She almost missed it at first—the griffin lay on her belly among some bushes, nearly unmoving. The slow flicking of her tail had given her away. Her feathers were magnificently patterned with browns and yellow-golds, and the splash of green on her wings had melded in with the plants around her. Even her beak and forelegs were brown. Her eyes were the colour of sand and stared unblinking at the newcomers.

  Laela had learned a lot about how to behave around the Emperor and his partner. So had Oeka. The pair of them stood where they were and let Vander and Ymazu go first.

  The two diplomats approached the Emperor and his partner. Vander stood with his head politely bowed, while Ymazu took a step toward the other griffin.

  Laela, watching, frantically tried to remember her name. She couldn’t come up with anything.

  The Emperor’s partner didn’t stand up, and barely even turned her head when Ymazu lowered her own in submission. She opened her beak, and said something. Ymazu replied.

  Finally, the two griffins looked toward Vander and the Emperor, neither of whom had moved.

  Vander knelt, and spoke in Amorani. The Emperor answered him, and finally stood up to look at Laela and Oeka. Acting on some unspoken signal, Vander and Ymazu both stood aside, leaving Oeka to approach the Emperor’s partner, who now stood to receive her. Standing, she was much taller than Oeka, but lighter and slimmer.

  Oeka bent her forelegs and touched her head to the ground. “Great and powerful Zaerih, I am Oeka of Malvern. I come to you as an inferior in every way, and carry no plan to attack or insult you, who are dominant over me and my human.”

  Zaerih—that was her name, Laela remembered with relief—gave Oeka a long, slow look. Oeka said nothing and stayed exactly where she was, allowing the other griffin to scent her.

  Zaerih gave her a rough shove with her beak, pushing her away. Oeka resisted for an instant, but quickly realised that she was being dismissed and loped back to Laela’s side.

  The formalities finally over with, the Emperor smiled and gestured at Laela to join him. “Sit with me,” he said.

  Laela obeyed, sitting cross-legged opposite him, by the pool. “Thank you for seein’ me, Sacred Ruler.”

  “I am honoured to receive you, Lady Laela,” the Emperor said gravely. “May I ask how your King is faring?”

  “Not well,” Laela said honestly. “Sacred Ruler . . . the King is very badly hurt. But—” She raised a hand, and her voice as well. “But there’s no blame on you. The doctors yeh sent did a good job; yeh’ve been takin’ good care of him, an’ me as well. I know there’s been some tension, bad things bein’ said, but I’m here to tell yeh there’s no problem. I was a witness. You had nothin’ to do with this, an’ neither did any of yer good people, Sacred Ruler. Yer our friend, our good friend, an’ I know the King would say the same if he were here. But obviously he ain—isn’t, so I’ve come in his place.”

  “You are his highest official here?” said the Emperor, unreadable.

  “I am,” said Laela. “My words are his. What I say, he says.”

  The Emperor smiled. “He told me this. That is why I granted you an audience.”

  Laela’s heart beat faster. “Good. Then here’s what I have to say.”

  “Speak,” said the Emperor.

  Laela took a deep breath. “The King needs t’be taken home, an’ quickly. Only Malvern has the medicine he needs. But before we leave, I’m here t’finish the negotiations. So tell me what’s left t’be done, an’ I’ll see it done.”

  The Emperor frowned. “You are certain that the King must be sent home?”

  “I am,” said Laela.

  “But what medicine can your people have that mine do not? The doctors of my palace are the finest in the world.”

  “They are,” said Laela. “An’ they’ve done good work for him an’ for me. But they don’t have what he needs.” She smiled slightly. “He needs snow. Only the North has that.”

  “Very well,” said the Emperor. “Your people must treat him as they see fit, and if our help is not asked for, then so be it. I hope that he will return when he has recovered, so that we may complete our treaty.”

  “We can do that now,” said Laela. “I’m empowered to do it.”

  But the Emperor shook his head. “Our treaty cannot be sealed without the King.”

  “Why?” said Laela. “What did yeh need from him that I can’t give?”

  “The marriage,” said the Emperor. “The King must marry my daughter, or the treaty will be void.”

  “Can’t she come back with us?” said Laela. “The ceremony could happen in Malvern once the King got better.”

  “That is not good enough,” said the Emperor, not angry but firm. “The ceremony must happen on Amorani soil. There must be a wedding. We are prepared for one.”

  “Can’t we seal the treaty some other way?” Laela asked in desperation.

  “No. We complete every new alliance this way. There must be a meeting of two souls, a binding of two families. This is vital.”

  “I understand,” said Laela. “But the King is unconscious, an’ he’s never gonna wake up unless he goes home. He can’t get married this way.”

  “Then he must come back later,” said the Emperor, unmoved. “Without the marriage, there is no treaty. Do not waste our time in arguing over this, Lady Laela.”

  Laela knew there was no chance of Arenadd ever setting foot on Amorani soil again. If he ever tried, she would stop him. But there was no way the Emperor was going to change his mind.

  “Then maybe we can do this another way,” she said at last. “Could someone else here maybe marry her instead?”

  “Only a member of the King’s family may make the marriage,” said the Emperor. “It must be royal blood to royal blood, or the wedding would be meaningless.”

  Laela rubbed her eyes. She was quickly running out of options. At this point, it looked like she was going to have to accept the inevitable and go back home with the treaty half-finished. And when—if—Arenadd recovered, she would have to tell him that she had failed and that he would have to go through another six months of agony because she had been unable to finish what he had started.

  She settled on a compromise. “I understand, Sacred Ruler. If yeh don’t mind, I’d like some time t’think about this.”

  “Of course.” The Emperor smiled.
“You look very tired, and are more than welcome to rest. I will see you again tomorrow, when you are ready.”

  “Thank you, Sacred Ruler.” Laela stood up, signalling the end of the meeting.

  She left the garden with Oeka, feeling exhausted and angry with herself. There had to be some way to resolve this, had to be. But how could she ever persuade the Emperor to change his mind?

  She was so worried that she didn’t notice that Vander and Ymazu had followed her until she had nearly reached her own rooms. When they arrived, Vander took a step toward the door. “With your permission, my lady?”

  Laela brightened up slightly, realising that he might be able to help. “Come in.”

  She and Oeka entered first, with both Vander and Ymazu. The two diplomats made themselves comfortable. Telise and Oeka’s own servant were instantly on hand, offering refreshments.

  The guards from before had come along as well, but to Laela’s relief, they stayed outside, stationing themselves on either side of the door. She sat down on one of the odd cushion-chairs provided, and accepted a drink.

  Vander, sitting with Ymazu directly behind him, folded his hands and looked frankly at Laela. “You did well with the Emperor. I was impressed.”

  “Thanks,” said Laela. “Doesn’t look like it worked, though.” She put her head in her hands. “I dunno what I’m gonna do, Vander. I really don’t.”

  Vander put his head on one side. “My lady . . . may I ask if you are married?”

  “Eh?” Laela looked up. “No, I ain’t.”

  Vander smiled in his mysterious way. “The Emperor will accept nothing but a marriage—one of his family to one of the King’s. Any man or woman with the King’s blood will do. Whether legitimate or not.” With those words, he fixed Laela with a penetrating stare.

  She frowned. “That’s nice, but there’s nobody here with his blood except him.”

  “If you say so, my lady.” Vander smiled again. “Now, I will leave you to rest and consider your next discussion. I hope that my advice is . . . useful.”

  With that, he stood up and left the room with Ymazu.

  Laela stared up at him. “Huh. I know what he’s gettin’ at.”