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is it?” Laela said eventually.
    He nodded once.
    â€œInva said yeh wanted to see us.”
    Another nod.
    â€œSpeak, then,” said Laela, finally giving up. “Tell me why.”
    Ravana put his hands together in front of his chest and bowed low. “I am Ravana,” he said, in fractured Cymrian. “I am
Hm-Waw’ew
.”
    â€œWhat’s that?” said Laela, glancing at Inva.
    Ravana followed her gaze, and said something briefly in Amorani.
    Inva stepped forward. “He does not speak Cymrian. I will translate.”
    Laela gestured at her to continue.
    â€œ
Hm-Waw’ew
is a warrior slave,” said Inva. “Trained from birth to do nothing but fight. Slaves from our race were prized as fighters. Their masters would use them for . . . many purposes.”
    â€œI see.” Laela looked at Ravana with renewed interest. “Yer a fighter, then, Ravana.”
    Inva translated. Ravana smiled, showing several broken teeth. He spoke rapidly in Amorani, showing a hint of what looked like excitement.
    â€œâ€˜I was a valued
Hm-Waw’ew
,’” said Inva. “‘I have fought many battles against the sand-barbarians and the snake-spears. I have taken many hands.’”
    Laela kept her eyes on Ravana and began to be more and more interested in him. A fighter was just what she needed.
    Ravana spoke on, and Inva continued to translate. “‘In the beginning, I had no name. But I fought for the right and was rewarded. For my ferocity they named me Ravana, the demon of the flaming sands.’”
    Ravana gestured at his scars as he continued.
    â€œâ€˜Every mark you see on me is the last mark of a dead man.’”
    Laela thought of her father and the terrible scars he hid under his robe. She shuddered.
    â€œâ€˜When the wars were done, I was sold to a noble in Instabahn,’” Ravana said. “‘I was his guard, and I followed him through night and day, protecting him against his enemies. Now I have been sold again. I see my new Master, and she is most beautiful and most powerful.’”
    â€œI ain— I’m not his master,” Laela interrupted. “Tell him that. He’s not a slave now.”
    Inva translated, but Ravana only shook his head. “‘You are my Master now, my Queen. I have come here to see you, so that I may offer these hands of mine in your service, as they were meant to be used.’”
    â€œHe wants to serve me now, then?” said Laela.
    Ravana knelt again. “‘Master. Accept me, and I will guard you as I guarded my master in Instabahn. Make my life your shield. I am yours.’”
    Oeka looked up. “A guard for you?”
    Laela thought quickly. “Inva, what do yeh think?”
    Inva folded her hands. “I have known many
Hm-Waw’ew
in my life. There are no better bodyguards in the world, my Queen.”
    Laela got up and confronted Ravana. “So yeh want to protect me, is that it?”
    â€œâ€˜I would be beside you always, protecting your life at any cost,’” Ravana said at once.
    Oeka had come down off her platform. She walked around the man, examining him disdainfully. “He is big for a human, but still human. What protection can he provide that I cannot?”
    â€œExtra protection,” said Laela. “The more the better, I say.”
    â€œWe shall see,” said Oeka, and sprang straight at her, talons outstretched.
    Laela reeled away, but she wasn’t quick enough. Oeka’s front paws struck her in the head and shoulders, knocking her back against the throne. As Laela struggled to rise, the griffin came at her again, rasping aggressively.
    â€œOeka, stop it! What are yeh doin’?”
    Oeka ignored her, and reared up, batting at her with her paws.
    Laela meant to step forward and face her partner down, but in that moment something hit her in the midriff and she found herself being pulled away.