‘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.
‘Outwitted by children in fact,’ Pilo added with a sneer.
Griff stood, threw a soft glance of thanks to Tess, who grinned back at him.
Little Thom strode over and, with great ease, yanked the dagger from Janko’s grip. ‘Don’t think of bolting or we’ll set the gryphon on you,’ he warned the man and smiled close to his face.
Lute took up the story. ‘You see, Uncle Janko, I have learned the truth behind my birth.’
Griff grinned. ‘He’s just been explaining it to me with great pleasure.’
‘Is that so?’ Miralda chimed in, everyone enjoying watching Janko’s head swivelling from person to person, each of whom seemed to be in on the plot.
‘Yes, except that poor peasant falconer you took such delight in sneering at, played you at your own game, Janko. He told you as little as he could, no doubt under threat of death to himself or, more likely, to his sons.’
Janko’s confusion deepened. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘Let me enlighten you, Uncle,’ Lute said with glee, ‘as I can see you are far too muddled by our presence to work it out for yourself. There were two of us. Our mother gave birth to identical twins. Our father kept one of us, who happened to be Griff. The other he agreed to give to the mysterious noblewoman, who promised his son a better, more prosperous life than my father could offer. He didn’t sell me. He gave me to my royal parents. The Queen insisted, however, on building him a home, giving him some money with which to follow his dream to rear and train falcons.’
‘Boys, your father was a modest man but he was noble in his heart,’ said Queen Miralda. ‘He just wanted to give you a chance, Lute, but Griff, he couldn’t bear to part with you both. I hope you’ll forgive him.’
‘Twins!’ Janko hissed, his countenance darkening. ‘I have been duped! I haven’t been pursuing Rodin’s heir?’
Everyone smiled slyly. ‘I’m afraid not,’ Pilo said, ‘and we can all thank young Tess for the brilliant plan that has deceived the great Duke Janko.’
Tess smiled shyly and Griff could wait no longer to go to her side. ‘Thank you,’ was all he could manage. He would say to her all that he wanted to later.
Davren walked into the circle of people and joined Gaston, who made a new noise in greeting.
‘What is this? A misfit’s circus?’ Janko spat.
‘I see no misfits here, Uncle, but there is no place for a traitor like you.’
Griff sought the Silvering. Lute, death is too easy for him. You don’t want blood on your hands to commence your reign.
He’s right, Davren counselled. Lute, there are other ways to make him suffer.
How? I want him to pay.
I think I know, Griff said. Let’s not keep them waiting, they’ll all be wondering why we’re starin
g at nothing.
They all returned.
Lute nodded at Griff. ‘Janko, I somehow feel that death is really too good for you. My brother would like to share an idea.’
Miralda and Pilo looked the most surprised. But they both obviously realised that Lute was now King and his word alone counted.
‘Griff, go ahead,’ Lute said.
Griff took a breath. ‘Bitter Olof, I presume you’re returning to Calico Grace and the Silver Wind?’
‘I will be, for sure,’ Olof said.
‘Then I think you should take Janko with you. Leave him far from here on some island of your choice.’
Lute nodded his approval. ‘Take him to a place so far away that he can never return and where he has no means of travel: not ship, nor horse, nor money. Give him the means to build a dwelling for himself and seeds to sow that he can grow food to feed himself, perhaps a cow that he can milk. Let him learn about life as a simple person, fending for himself. And he can learn what it is to be solitary. He can learn how much it means to share his thoughts with someone, to hear someone else’s voice and he can appreciate all that he’s given up in his greed for power and wealth.’
Miralda nodded, impressed. ‘I have raised a benevolent, clear-thinking son, Janko. And you are such a fool, your wits so dulled by your selfishness and your ego, that you couldn’t even see that you already had power, you had wealth and you had a good family. Now you will live without all of those things. Your title will be stripped, of course.’
‘You cannot do this to me!’ Janko roared.
Pilo laughed. ‘I think King Lute just did.’ He whistled and more men arrived. ‘Master Janko is to be put under armed guard and escorted to Floris. He is to be taken to Deep Bay where he will board the ship, Silver Wind, under the command of Captain Calico Grace. Your King will give further orders in due course.’
‘Miralda!’ Janko cried, as guards began to put him into irons and chains.
‘Oh, go away, Janko,’ she said wearily and turned away.
They heard him screech all the way down the hill until his voice became nothing more than a groan in the distance.
Everyone sighed.
Pilo broke the quiet. ‘Well, boys…and Tess with her marvellous creatures. What a triumph!’
Relieved laughter broke out.
‘I’m proud of you, Lute,’ the Queen said. ‘That was very well done.’
‘Be proud of Griff,’ Lute replied. ‘If it were left to me, Janko would already be dead. It was Griff and Davren who made me see a different way.’
Griff could see in the Queen’s face a question. He would leave that to Lute to explain some day as to how they used magic to communicate with such ease.
‘What now, majesty?’ Bitter Olof said brightly.
‘Well, I think we should all return to Floris, and bring Calico Grace and her crew up to the palace as well. After I have mourned my father, we shall have a proper coronation.’
‘A feast?’ Bitter Olof asked.
‘A big one, in honour of my friends who gave me back my Crown,’ Lute confirmed and everyone laughed when the dwarf began to do a small jig on his short legs.
39
Many years later…
King Lute’s reign was a long and prosperous one. He continued his benevolent ways and became a much loved leader.
Janko, meanwhile, lived as a captive on a place known as Black Isle. Calico Grace and Bitter Olof chose well. The island was buffeted by fierce winds and huge swells. No ship went near that region, which was fraught with danger from rocks and unpredictable winds. Although he was never seen again in Drestonia, curiously, he corresponded with his nephew, and a seemingly impossible yet fragile bond developed between the two. They never spoke in person, but their letters were exchanged as often as Lute cared to send a carrier pigeon. Lute would never forgive Janko but he refused to forget him or the fact that he was a lonely man now, desperate for any word from anyone.
The King’s mother remained in mourning garb for the rest of her life but took immense pleasure in watching her son mature into a fine ruler. Lute’s champion, Pilo, remained at his side, while his kind and loyal counsellor, Griff, was proclaimed as the King’s long lost brother. Lute was honest with his people and explained his birthright by royal announcements all over the realm.
And his people gifted him their trust scarcely troubled, it seemed, by the deception of his parents, such was their love for them. They were far more troubled, in fact, by the murderous ways of his uncle, which were revealed, and relieved that Janko had not taken the throne.
Lute was reunited with his real father and elder brothers, while Master Tyren’s Travelling Show continued its merry way around the realm—but this time with royal minders ensuring that all travelling shows treated their folk fairly and no-one was pressed into service as a performer.
The Stalkers were disbanded and their leader, Snark, was duly punished with a long stay in the King’s gaol.
Tess married her childhood sweetheart, Griff, and at the King’s insistence an area of the royal parklands was cordoned off and became the habitat of her creatures. Here, amongst the most beautiful forest, roamed a centaur, a sagar, a califa and a wild veercat…and their friends.
And on the high seas a magical ship crewed by Captain Calico Grace plied the salty oceans with her special guests, Bitter Olof and Little Thom. The Silver Wind was no longer a pirate ship. Now the sleek vessel was on a new adventure, searching realms both far and wide for a witch called Grevilya and the chance to give its captain and her beloved dwarf their lives back.
But that’s another tale…
About the Author
Fiona McIntosh swears she never climbed out of the wardrobe after reading the Chronicles of Narnia when she was at school, and while known for her blockbuster adult fantasy novels which sell worldwide, she admits to being hooked on writing for younger readers. When she’s not crafting epic adventures set in other worlds, Fiona likes travelling the globe. Her passions include chocolate, email and winter boots. She lives in South Australia with her husband, twin sons, border collie, fox terrier and a pair of lovestruck canaries.
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Copyright
Angus&Robertson
An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
First published in Australia in 2009
This edition published 2010
by HarperCollinsPublishers Australia Pty Ltd
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Copyright © Fiona McIntosh 2009
The right of Fiona McIntosh to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000.
This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced, copied, scanned, stored in a retrieval system, recorded, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
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The whisperer / Fiona McIntosh
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The Whisperer Page 31