Page 13 of The Neverfear

Almost nobody – not even Nighthand, a Berserker sworn to serve the Immortal – knew where Teren and Senan had been living. Senan, the Immortal’s mother, had chosen to bring up the Immortal child in secrecy, until he was old enough to understand the full weight of his powers and knowledge.

‘Thank you, Nighthand,’ said Senan, but her face was grave.

The sphinx padded on to the land. All sphinxes are forbidding: Belhib looked, at that moment, actively resentful.

‘You’re welcome too, Belhib,’ said Irian.

‘I have no wish to be. I came only because my mother ordered me to travel here with them. The Immortal and his mother have been living among the clan on the Sphinx Peninsula. Humans, among sphinxes!’

‘Yes,’ said Senan. ‘Naravirala offered us a home. It’s not an easy place to live – but she was generous to offer it, and it seemed to me safest to take it.’

‘But this is where my duty ends,’ said Belhib. ‘I am permitted to return to my people.’

‘Won’t you come first to the garden?’ said Irian. ‘I can get you food and water, before you fly.’

‘Sphinxes should not dine with humans,’ said Belhib. ‘We dine on them. My mother is too much invested in your lives. It is not the ancient way, and it will not be my way when I inherit the clan.’ And without saying goodbye, he took off into the air.

‘I think he still resents that his mother never let him eat me,’ said Christopher.

More figures were arriving, running down the lane towards the dock: Argus, Ratwin, three kankos and the chimaera, who hated to be left out.

‘Where have you come from?’ said Argus.

‘What fetches yous to Glimts?’ said Ratwin.

‘How long can you stay?’ said Nighthand. ‘We’ll serve you a fabulous dinner – ten courses, all of them original recipes.’

‘A fate more terrifying than their journey, I imagine,’ said Irian.

But their celebratory voices faltered in the face of Senan’s silence.

‘I bring bad news,’ she said.

‘Tell us,’ said Irian. ‘We’ll help in any way we can.’

‘You know that my mother and father live with my youngest sister and cousins on the Island of Arvatana?’

Irian nodded. ‘Yes. I remember you said you grew up there.’

‘Their village on the island has been attacked.’

‘Are they hurt?’

Her face was bleak. ‘My father was killed. They say it was a tiger, though I do not know how that is possible.’

Anya and Christopher exchanged glances, but said nothing.

‘My mother was injured in the fires.’ She swallowed. ‘The men called themselves Astorians. They left as fast as they came, like lightning out of a blue sky. My parents knew where I was. My mother sent a message via ratatoska,’ said Senan. ‘She begged me to come. But I can’t take Teren. It’s not safe. And I thought of you all; I knew he would be safe here, on the refuge of Glimt, with you, Nighthand – a Berserker, sworn to protect him.’

‘But you will stay, at least for a night?’ said Nighthand. ‘Recover your strength? It must have been a hard voyage, manning that boat alone.’

She looked at him in thanks, but shook her head. ‘I can’t. Every moment counts: my mother could be dying while I stand here. Will you take Teren? Will you promise me he will not leave Glimt? Will you protect him?’

‘Madam, to the death. With all my soul and skill,’ said Nighthand, and he bowed low to the little toddler in Christopher’s arms.

‘The Senate lands in the City of Scholars tomorrow,’ said Irian. ‘I’ll tell the senators what has happened.’

Senan nodded. ‘Yes. Tell them my father’s name: Johan Lyet. Tell them he was a good man.’ She turned back to the boat, pushing her hair from her eyes. She looked exhausted.