fiercely, trying to distract himself. But he couldn’t stop his mind from racing. What was going to happen now? Would Rannagon deny everything and persuade Roland that he, Arren, was a liar? Or would Roland expose him? He touched the collar again, trying to shift it around so it would hurt less. It didn’t work.
“You!”
He turned. Someone else had entered the hatchery. It was a boy, a few years younger than himself. He had straw-coloured hair and blue eyes that looked very familiar, and though he was plainly clad there was something proud and confident about the way he stood. When Arren just stared blankly at him, he strode forward, pointing at him. “I’m talking to you.”
Arren sighed and leant on his broom. “Yes?”
“I’m looking for Lord Roland. Have you seen him?”
“He’s just left for the Eyrie,” said Arren. “He should be back later.”
“Damn! How long will he be?”
“I’m not sure. What do you want? I could be able to help you.”
“I sincerely doubt that,” said the boy. He paused to look him up and down. “I have to say I’m a little surprised to see you here. I’d been told there weren’t any slaves in Eagleholm nowadays.”
“There aren’t,” said Arren.
“But you stayed behind, did you?”
Arren started sweeping again. “This is my home. I don’t have anywhere else to go.”
The boy laughed. “You’ve got some nerve, slave. Is Roland your master? I didn’t think he was the sort to keep slaves.”
“And I didn’t think Lord Rannagon was the sort to father bastards, but you live and learn, don’t you?” said Arren, without looking around.
He derived a great deal of satisfaction from the shocked silence that followed. “How dare you?” the boy demanded. “Who d’you think you are, talking to me like that, slave?”
Arren turned. “Why, would you like me to introduce myself?”
The boy glared at him. “By Gryphus, Roland must be soft on you.”
“Pleased to meet you, I’m sure,” said Arren. “I’m Arren Cardockson.”
The boy’s expression changed. “What, you mean the Northerner who used to be a griffiner?”
Arren gave him a look so cold it was barely human. “And you’d be Erian, the bastard who never was one. Charmed.”
Erian looked a little puzzled at that, as if he hadn’t encountered sarcasm before. “But if you’re not a slave, why are you wearing a collar?”
“It’s the latest fashion, farm boy. Is there anything I can help you with, or are you just here to ask stupid questions?”
Erian drew himself up. “I am here,” he said coldly, “to present myself to the griffins.”
“Is that so?” said Arren. “I hope you’re ready. They eat the rejects, you know.”
Erian hesitated a moment. “Are you joking?”
Arren rolled his eyes and put the broom aside. “Fine. I’ll lead you through it.”
“I’d really rather wait until Lord Roland gets back.”
“You’d have to wait for a long time,” said Arren. “There’s nothing to it. I’ve done it before dozens of times.”
Erian glanced around at the pens. “What am I supposed to do?”
“It’s simple. Just go to each chick in turn and see if you can get its attention. If it takes an interest in you, and not just because it wants food, try to pick it up. If it doesn’t bite you or run from you, that means it likes you. And after that it’s more or less done.”
“What, is that all?”
Arren shrugged. “They have an instinct for these things. It’s uncanny.”
Erian went to the nearest pen and looked over the side at the chick sleeping in it. “I thought they’d be bigger.”
“Well, the adults are next door if you’d like to see them.”
Erian took a moment to think about it, and nodded. “I think I should probably see them first.”
Arren started to speak, but then stopped and smirked. “All right, if that’s what you’d prefer, come with me and we’ll see what we can do.”
“All right.” Erian followed him across the room to the doors leading into the adult quarter. As they neared them, they could both hear the screeches and hissing of the griffins on the other side. Erian started to look nervous. “Uh, they won’t attack me, will they?”
Arren paused with his hand on the nearest door. “Oh, no. Not if I’m there.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. Don’t you trust me?”
Without waiting for an answer, Arren opened the doors and strode through into the next room, with Erian trailing behind him.
The adult griffins looked around sharply the moment the two humans entered. Arren stopped in the middle of the floor and waited, with Erian beside him.