Read The Griffin's War (Fallen Moon Trilogy) for Free Online

Northerners did help him. The guards, following close behind him, suddenly found that what had been a clear path wasn’t a path any more, and a moment later they were being tripped up and shoved from all sides.
    By the time they had extricated themselves, Erian and Arenadd had disappeared.
     
     
    E rian had never been so terrified in his life. Unable to think, heedless of direction, he dived through a gap between two houses and sprinted down the street beyond, his mind full of nothing but the need to escape.
    No matter how far or how fast he ran, it never seemed to be enough. All the while, along every street and around every corner, his enemy followed. Every time Erian glanced back, there he was, bounding over the cobbles like a hunting animal, never seeming to tire or to slow.
    He made no sound. That was what made it worse. No grunts or gasps for breath. No footsteps.
    Erian sprinted on, not even noticing the pain from his bandaged arm as it bounced against his chest. He searched desperately for a hiding place, but there was nothing. No place to go that wouldn’t mean being cornered. And Senneck was not there to help.
    Arenadd was gaining on him. “Isn’t it fun, Bastard?” he called. “Running through the city, running for your life?”
    Sobbing with fear, Erian ducked into an alley and hid behind a stack of boxes.
    It did no good. He had barely begun to catch his breath when he heard the voice again, coming closer and closer.
    “It’s a terrible thing, isn’t it? To be hunted. Running from place to place, knowing there’s no escape. Knowing what will happen when you’re caught. Because you can run from fear . . . but you can’t run from blood. Not your own blood.”
    Erian listened, scarcely breathing. The voice was coming from the other side of the stacked boxes. He braced himself against the wall and pushed them over.
    He heard a yelp of surprise as he ran out of the alley and away.
    The boxes bought him some time—time to think. Don’t try to hide, he told himself. Head for open spaces! Senneck must be looking for him, and if she could see him, then she could help. It was his only hope now.
    With that in mind, he went out into the street and ran straight down the middle, dodging oxcarts and people. Arenadd was quick to follow.
    Shortly afterward, something strange began to happen.
    Oxen, hitched to wagons or carrying loads, suddenly panicked and ran, trampling several people in the process. A herd of goats being driven along the street broke and scattered, fleeing in all directions. Everywhere in that part of the city, other animals reacted in the same way.
    Birds flew up from the buildings in a cloud of whirring wings. Rats left their holes and skittered away. Dogs, trapped in houses and yards, lifted their heads and howled.
    Erian hesitated very briefly, half-turning in mid-stride to see the chaos. But he saw Arenadd, still running toward him without seeming to notice, and quickly forgot about it. He tried to call for Senneck, but he had no breath left for it.
    Ahead, a large building loomed. Its huge front doors were open, and to Erian they looked inviting. Safe.
    He reached them and dived inside. Sheltering in the entrance, he turned and sent out his call as well as he could. “Erian! Erian! Erian!” His voice seemed weak to him, but he kept trying, even when he saw Arenadd coming and it began to waver.
    Arenadd’s pace slowed. The expression on his swollen face was steady, calm. He charged.
    Erian stumbled backward, raising his good hand to shield himself. “No!”
    And then, the impossible happened. Arenadd ran through the doorway, and stopped. He staggered forward a few more steps, but came no further. Erian, staring in terror, saw him double over in pain. A soft groan came from him.
    Erian backed off further, searching for a weapon, but he kept watching.
    Arenadd looked up. His face had turned grey, the mouth stretched into a grimace. The one eye narrowed and he came on again, but there was