The Griffin's War (Fallen Moon Trilogy) Read Online Free PDF Page B

nothing.
    The Night God smiled very slightly. You still have a chance. Give yourself to me completely, and I will send you back. Commit to my cause, and I will give you all you desire. Love me, and I shall love you .
    “You mean I can go back? I can wake up?”
    Yes. I will send you back, and your true powers will be unlocked. You will have another chance to kill your enemy and to destroy all those that have stood in your way .
    “And then?”
    When you were a boy, you dreamt of becoming the greatest and most powerful griffiner ever to live. Fight in my name, and you shall have your desire .
    Arenadd began to smile. “My own Eyrie? A proper home for me and Skandar?”
    And freedom for your people . The Night God’s expression softened. They suffer, Arenadd. Their lives are far harder than yours. You had power and privilege once; they have never had either .
    “I know that—”
    The time has passed for you to think as a griffiner does, Arenadd. Fight for them . . . and so fight for me .
    Arenadd shook his head slowly. “You’re right. My life ended a long time ago. If I have to be this—this thing I am now, then I should use it. Try to make a difference again. What choice do I have, anyway? There’s nowhere else for me to go.” He looked up at her. “I’ll do it.”
    Then swear yourself to me .
    He knelt. “I’ll do it. I hate the Southerners as much as you do. I’ll make them suffer for what they did to us. I’ll kill Rannagon’s bastard. I’ll set the North free and make it ours . . . master.”
    Rise .
    He obeyed. “Now what?”
    The Night God said nothing more. She reached out, pulled him toward her and took him in her arms. Then she kissed him.
    Her lips were icy against his, and for a moment he tried to pull away—until he felt the power flowing into his body. Her lips were cold, but her power was colder. It filled him from end to end, rushing through his veins like blood, but it was dark and lifeless—and familiar.
    As it moved in him, he felt his senses come back. Light touched his eyes, and he began to breathe. Before the void left altogether, he heard the voice of the Night God one final time. Use the shadows, Dark Lord .
     
     
    W hen Arenadd woke up, he felt wonderful. All the pain in his body had gone, and new strength had replaced it.
    His eye opened, and the first thing he saw was the hated face of Erian looking down at him. The instant he saw it, rage gripped him. Erian the Bastard, who had become a griffiner in front of him and mocked his own disgrace. Erian, who had sold Arenadd’s parents into slavery. Erian, who had hunted him across Cymria and finally dragged him to Malvern and handed him over to be tortured and killed. Erian, the one his new master wanted dead.
    All those thoughts flew through his mind in a moment. Then Erian saw him move.
    His scream shattered the stillness as he reeled away, one arm flailing for a sword that wasn’t there.
    Arenadd sat up—his hands were untied!—and was on his feet in an instant. He didn’t even bother to look around and see where he was. He ran straight at Erian, eye fixed on his throat.
    Erian had turned sickly white. He stood and stared at Arenadd for one terrified moment before he pulled himself together and ran away.
    Arenadd felt hands grabbing for him, but he dodged them and sped up. He found himself running into a familiar place: the same open space where the people had gathered to see him hanged. He had woken up underneath the platform before they could drag him away, and most of the crowd were still there. Erian plunged into their midst, pushing people out of the way in blind panic.
    Arenadd followed, completely ignoring the guards on his tail. “Stop him!” he yelled at the bewildered people in his path. “Stop him in the Night God’s name!”
    They moved out of his way very quickly, but if any of them tried to stop Erian they failed. He reached the shelter of the buildings and ran on, into the city.
    But Arenadd’s fellow