The Griffin's War (Fallen Moon Trilogy) by K. J. Taylor Page B

should we really be telling people?”
    “I think your sister has a right to know,” said Elkin. “Kraal agrees.”
    “Tell her,” Kraal rumbled.
    Erian tried not to look at the child in Flell’s arms. “Senneck and I have to go east,” he said eventually. “To find something.”
    “All the way t’Amoran?” said Bran.
    “No, not that far,” said Erian.
    “So, what is this thing?” said Flell. “And why do you have to go after it?”
    “Well . . .” Erian glanced desperately at Kraal, who stared back, calm and still. “Well,” he said again. “It’s something magical. A weapon.”
    “Magic weapon?” said Bran suspiciously. “What sorta magical weapon? What for?”
    Erian felt cold hatred rise up inside him at the sound of the man’s voice. “You know about what happened yesterday,” he said, trying to keep his own voice level. “In the city.”
    “When Arren escaped,” Flell said coldly.
    Erian turned away. “You don’t understand, Flell. You don’t know what he did. He didn’t escape. He came back from the dead.”
    “What?” said Bran.
    Erian found himself savouring the disbelief in their faces. “Yesterday morning, Arenadd Taranisäii was executed for murder and sedition. He was hanged, in public. I was there. I saw it. I saw him come back to life. He has magic; I saw him use it. He disappeared . . . like a shadow.”
    Erian watched the horror etch itself into Bran’s and Flell’s faces as he spoke, and felt his embarrassment vanish as well.
    “Your friend ,” he said. “Your dear, misunderstood pet blackrobe—he’s not human any more. He’s become something else.”
    Flell gripped her husband’s arm. “Become what?”
    “Kraeai kran ae,” Senneck hissed.
    Every griffin in the room stilled. Thrain whimpered and pressed herself against Flell’s leg, and Kraeya stood up sharply.
    “What is this?” the red griffin demanded. “Senneck, what are you speaking of? Kraeai kran ae is not possible; it cannot be real.”
    “It is real, and if you do not accept it then you are a bigger fool than I thought,” Senneck snapped back. “The blackrobe is Kraeai kran ae . He has the powers of death and the shadows; he is chosen by the dark griffin. The dark griffin has shared his magic with him, and soon they will both return to bring down the same fate to Malvern as they did to Eagleholm.”
    “And that’s why we’re leaving,” Erian interrupted. “Senneck and I are going to find a special weapon that can kill him. He has to be stopped, and I’m the one who’s going to do it.”
    “Why you?” said Flell.
    Erian drew himself up. “Because I’m his enemy. Gryphus chose me.”
    “You think that this bastard is Aeai ran kai ?” said Kraeya to Senneck.
    Senneck snapped her beak at her. “I do not know.”
    “But I do,” said Kraal, silencing them both with a glare. “Save your petty bickering for another time; we do not have any to waste. This human is Kraeai kran ae ’s enemy, and that makes him Aeai ran kai , and that is all. I have spoken, and my word is final. Senneck, I have entrusted you to help him reach the Island of the Sun. Once you are there, you will know what must be done. Protect and guide your human.”
    Senneck arched her neck and puffed out her chest proudly. “I shall, Mighty Kraal.”
    “We shall have our own work to do while they are gone,” Kraal added. “Return quickly, Senneck, and we shall fight Kraeai kran ae as well as we can until then.”
    “I shall not fail,” said Senneck.
    Kraal drew himself up to look at them all. “It is time,” he said. “Come.”
    They followed him through an archway and out onto an oversized balcony, where a cold wind ruffled hair and feathers. Erian looked out over the city and the lands beyond. They looked enormous. To the east were farmlands and, beyond that, the darkness of wild forests. Somewhere on the other side of them was the sea.
    Senneck nudged him. “Come. We do not have time for dreaming. Say your