‘Right,’ Griff said, although he was back to pacing nervously again.
‘So how do you propose we are going to stay alive?’
‘I’m going to start by finding out where my brother is. Give me a few moments.’
He found the Silvering with ease. Within the silvery void he tugged at Davren’s mind. Davren was with him in the blink of an eye and Griff quickly told him what he’d learned.
I’m not sure Tess will accept this situation, Davren said.
You can be sure I’m not going to give her an inkling.
There was an awkward pause and Griff was about to ask what was wrong when Davren sighed and spoke before he could. You’d better speak with Lute.
It was easy to find Lute as well. It occurred to Griff how difficult he had found this initially and how Lute’s voice had only ever sounded like a whisper in his mind. Now Lute sounded clear and as close as if they were standing next to one another.
Lute, it’s us. Where are you?
Griff, I’m so relieved you’ve reached me. I wish I knew how to do this.
You did it first, remember?
I have some news.
I hope it’s good, because all I’ve been hearing is bad news.
Oh?
Bitter Olof and Little Thom have just admitted that they don’t think anyone’s coming back for us, Griff said carefully.
Lute sounded excited when he replied. Well, you can assure them that we certainly are coming back. In fact, we’re already on our way and we’re bringing the might of the Drestonian Guard with us.
Are you serious?
Utterly.
I knew you’d come.
Did you doubt me?
Never.
Griff, you just have to hold on now. Stay hidden until we arrive.
I’m not sure that’s going to be so straightforward. The Duke is almost upon us. We’ve hidden Tess and the creatures are safe but…Griff trailed off. He didn’t want to utter the words that were in his heart.
You make it happen—find somewhere to hide! You are not going to die, Griff. Do you hear? Stay safe. We have to ride.
Wait! What about your father?
I’m afraid he is dead, confirmed by my mother, who also rides with us.
I’m sorry to hear that.
There will be time to grieve but only when I have his murderer to answer for his death, Lute said grimly, his voice driven with emotion. I must go, Griff. Please, be alive when we arrive.
We’ll do our best, Griff replied doubtfully. Still, it felt heartening to know his instincts about Lute were right and he wasn’t going to allow his companions to feel anything but pride for their new King. He snapped the link shut and shook his head clear of the silvery void.
Bitter Olof and Little Thom waited expectantly. ‘Well?’ the dwarf prompted.
‘King Lute is riding hard, with the Drestonian Guard at his rear,’ Griff said triumphantly.
They could barely believe what they’d heard. Smiles stretched across their faces.
‘Truly?’ Bitter Olof asked.
Griff nodded. ‘We just have to hold on, he urged me.’
‘I’m too difficult to hide,’ Little Thom reminded them and he smiled regretfully. ‘But let’s get you two hidden. Perhaps I can lead them away?’
‘No!’ They both said it together.
‘We’ll fall together if we have to,’ Bitter Olof told his friend. ‘But we must do everything to save Griff. He’s got his life ahead of him and I’ll be damned if I allow the murderous Duke the satisfaction—even for a few false minutes—of thinking he’s destroyed the real heir.’
‘You can talk all you like between yourselves but it just soaks up more precious time and it doesn’t alter the fact that I am standing alongside you. It’s only when he sees me that this trick can work. We will have to face him, keep him talking, hope that he will want to prolong the pleasure of finally having me at his mercy.’
‘You’re putting a lot of faith in his arrogance, son. He may just fill us all with arrows and be on his way back to the palace.’
‘Well, if he does that he’s going to meet the real King and the Guard flanking him. I’m sure Janko’s hired soldiers will flee at the sight.’
‘It’s true those sorts of mercenaries won’t stick around. They’re little more than a motley mob of paid thugs…not even proper soldiers for hire from what I could see of them.’
‘So,’ Griff said, ‘we stand together.’
‘You’re very brave, my boy,’ Bitter Olof said, shaking his head. ‘We’re giving you a chance to live—both you and your brother can survive this.’
‘Bitter Olof, I’ve always been afraid. Afraid to be left behind by my elder brothers when they joined Master Tyren’s Travelling Show, afraid of the skill I had that allowed the thoughts of others to storm my mind, afraid of being found out. I was afraid for Tess when she arrived and afraid of the Stalkers when they were pursuing us. But mostly I was afraid of the truth I felt deep down that there were secrets to my life—I knew this because of the way my father kept his mind so closed. And now I know part of the truth, and now that I don’t feel so alone, with a twin brother and friends like yourselves and especially Tess and her creatures, I do believe it’s time for me to be brave and face all those fears head on. What we’re doing this morning could save a lot of lives. That’s worth being brave for.’
Little Thom nodded. ‘Well said.’
Bitter Olof smiled his sad agreement. ‘Alright, Griff. But we are going to do our best to conceal ourselves. I reckon we’ve just got enough time, so let’s not waste any more of it on chatter. Let’s settle on a spot where we shall make our stand and hope your brother—the King—gets here very soon.’
There was one more talent that Tess had not thought to mention to Griff before, mainly because she had always taken it for granted, as others might accept a talent for being good at sums or fast at running.
Tess had always enjoyed exceptionally fine hearing and here in the almost silent forest and despite being high up she had heard every word discussed by her three friends down below and she was both furious and frightened.
Davren!
He sighed. I know what you’re going to say. I didn’t even bother explaining to Griff that you would have heard everything being discussed.
They’re all preparing to die. They’re accepting it!
He said nothing.
Davren!
I hear you, Tess. I just don’t know what to say to you other than don’t even think about climbing down from that tree or I’ll pick you up myself and drag you away from here. As it is I’m concerned that you are present at all. This is not something you should watch.
I’m not going to sit by here, cowering in an oak, and watch Griff give his life meekly to that thieving, murderous—
Tess, listen to me—
No! There has to be something we can do.
You and I? What use are we against weapons? If I had my way I’d have nothing to do with men at all. They always bring my kind grief.
There has to be something we can divert the Duke’s men with, she groaned.
Well, I suppose I could charge into the clearing and surprise them.
Don’t be ridiculous; they’d just shoot you full of arrows and worry about how interesting you are later.
We could sing for them, he offered.
Davren, you’re not taking me seriously.
Listen, Tess. There’s nothing we can do. His voice was grave now and all the sarcasm had fled. If I heard it right then Bitter Olof and Little Thom have known from the outset of their journey that they were likely coming here to die. And so did Pilo.
Well, I can assure you neither Griff nor Lute had any idea.
No, but that was the point. The men knew that if either Griff or Lute realised this, they would not agree to the plan.
It’s all my fault. The plan was my idea. Griff is going to die because of me. Her voice began to tremble.
You heard that Lute
is on his way back now with the army. It’s not over yet. Lute told Griff they just have to hang on for a little longer, stay out of sight, keep the Duke and his men searching for as long as possible.
We need a diversion, she repeated. We have to throw the Duke off the scent or at least hold him up. What can I do? What can I do? she muttered desperately.
I’ve got an idea, said a new voice.
Rix?
You know I don’t care for any of these people. They’re more trouble than they’re worth in our lives.
I don’t agree, Tess replied sadly.
I know. And because I love you, Tess, I agree that we should try and help.
What have you got in mind? Tess asked. I’ll go along with any idea if it’s got the slightest chance of throwing the Duke off Griff’s trail.
Oh, it will do a lot more than that, Rix responded and she could hear the sly tone in his voice. I can’t believe neither of you have thought of it. I just hope there’s enough time.
What? Tell us! Tess shrieked across their magical link.
And Rix did.
38
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.
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