Read Online City of Death by Laurence Yep - Free Book Online

bowing first to the silvery griffin. “Keeper.” He then bowed respectfully in turn to the griffins on the other walls. “Elders. My patrol just destroyed a band of lyak raiders by the upper lake.”
    There was an uproar as every griffin tried to speak at once until the Keeper struck her branch with the steel-tipped claws of a forepaw. It rang like a bell and as the echoing notes died, she commanded, “Silence! I believe Elder Kacar had the floor.”
    â€œThis is outrageous,” the gray griffin said, flapping his wings irritably. “How long will it be before they begin attacking our very eyrie?”
    Bayang saw a way of obtaining help for them against Roland. “My Lady Keeper, if I may speak?”
    The Keeper looked at Kaccap. “Captain, are these the guests you mentioned in your note?” She craned her head forward. “Merciful Oesho, is that Klestetstse?”
    Kles fluttered into the air, hovering at the same height as Bayang. “My Lady Keeper, let me introduce you to Lady Scirye of the House of Rapaññe, daughter of the griffin master, Lord Tsirauñe.”
    The griffins stirred all around them with whispers and a rustling of feathers as they all leaned down to peer at Scirye.
    The hatchling bowed gracefully. “My Lady Keeper, will you hear my friend, Bayang of the Moonglow clan?”
    The Keeper glanced at the gray griffin. “Elder Kacar, do you yield the floor?”
    â€œWe are all as curious as you,” Elder Kacar said.
    â€œWe are pursuing thieves who stole the Jade Lady’s ring in San Francisco,” Bayang said.
    â€œI heard of the theft,” the Keeper said. “It was an outrage.” She dipped her head to Scirye. “And I was sorry to hear about your sister, Nishke. When she was small, she accompanied your father several times on his visits here.”
    Bayang set a paw upon Scirye’s shoulder. “Lady Scirye bravely chased after the thief, Badik the dragon, and we have helped her in her quest.” The dragon nodded to Kles to continue.
    It was silent within the Nest as Kles told the Keeper and his clan elders of their pursuit and how Badik led them to Roland.
    â€œRoland is a rich and powerful man,” the Keeper noted. “You do not pick simple enemies.”
    â€œThe goddess Nanaia helps us in our quest,” Kles said and nodded to Scirye, who pulled off her glove self-consciously and showed the mark glowing on her hand. The Keeper studied her palm as the elders rustled and murmured again to one another.
    The lap griffin briefly told the gathering about their quest and when he was done, Elder Kacar said skeptically, “It’s hard to believe a dragon could do all that, let alone human hatchlings and … and … a lap griffin.”
    Laughter from the other war griffins mixed with the protests from other lap griffins at that comment. The Keeper struck resonant notes from her branch until they grew quiet.
    â€œElder Kacar,” the Keeper snapped. “I wouldn’t want to think you were saying that war is more important than any other task.” She indicated a beautiful golden disc of a scene of Nanaia riding upon her lion. Chips of lapis lazuli created a blue sky. “This was given to a courtier of our clan who negotiated the Treaty of Peking, saving many lives.”
    Kacar lowered his head stiffly. “Yes, Keeper.”
    â€œAnd he did it with no army backing him, only his eloquence and logic—but both of those were considerable,” the Keeper went on. “I think that took considerable courage, don’t you?”
    Kacar bobbed his head again. “Yes, Keeper.”
    The Keeper turned her gaze back to Bayang and her friends. “And so you claim Roland is trying to reassemble Yi’s magical bow?” the Keeper demanded.
    â€œAlas, we were unable to keep him from acquiring the bow and the ring,” Kles said. “What he needs is the