Gryff The Griffin Rider

by Sloss, Marcus

  ​ “The war has dragged on for well over a decade. A stagnated engagement that has altered the course of human history. Tonight, we unfortunately report that those remaining on Alpha Prime have surrendered.” The reporter said sadly. Had I gotten lucky and arrived right at a recap or was this playing for me.

  ​ Virtue interrupted any chance for me to hear more when he banged the table with his staff.

  ​ “Huh,” The old man realized he had visitors and melted the tablet into the desk. “Oh. I will get her.” He reached behind his ear and pressed a button I barely noticed.

  ​ I was curious as to what would happen next. I was not disappointed in my surprise as his body morphed. It was hard to explain what I saw, but it was best described as a skin flip, one atom at a time. He burst into a trillion little specks but it was a controlled contained explosion. Then as the atoms rotated he reformed into her. Sara, Empress, Madame Mastermind, the Seducer. It had been less than a month since I had seen her last, but her human body had aged ten plus years.

  ​ She wore the same tight, form fitting deep blue spacesuit. The zipper was lowered to allow her busty rockets to be exposed the prefect amount. Her gray steely eyes pierced into mine with more than shock, outright astonishment.

  ​ “How can this be?” Sara exclaimed. She raced to hug me but Virtue thrust a hand out to stop her.

  ​ “The fact that you exist still surprises me, Madame,” the shaman said angrily as he furrowed his hairy brow. “The contract for us forfeiting Earth was very clear. No clone of Gryff, by you or any member of your Empire or they would forfeit both lives. It cost us a great deal to have him assassinated, and more to lose Earth. I am wondering how you outplayed our deal.”

  ​ I paced and absorbed the conversation.

  ​ “I also would like to know. Alas, somehow he is here. When you awoke did you do so covered in dust?” Sara asked as she tapped on her chin. The woman was a legend for her intellect so I guess she asked a very specific question I could answer.

  ​ “Yes, a light covering. I am not in a simulation, am I? I am a clone... My real body?”

  ​ “No, this is real, and your original body died on Earth. You were betrayed by an old training coach from Swan. A bone knife across your throat and then through your eye. I still torture the traitor in my hidden dungeons.” She said and then turned to face Virtue. “Okay, well, it was not me or the combined Empire of humanity and A.I. I rule. I am sorry I cannot help you further. As I see you are wearing white, I know my Gryff is safe. Last question, what was the last thing you asked me?”

  ​ I pondered this one and realized she called me her Gryff. A lot had happened, oh right I wanted a signing bonus... Sex. I thought that over. If she raced to hug me here, which meant the other Gryff probably was friendly with her, if not intimate. What had she said earlier in that meeting? Her new body reminded her of lust... She erased it. We had sex and she scrubbed it from my memory. I knew it was odd that as things heated up between us, everything suddenly went black.

  ​ “Are you figuring it out? It is okay, you will get there with time, and all young minds are prone to doing irrational things.” Sara leaned over the table and flashed me some cleavage. I think I got the hint.

  ​ We had sex, the young mind would be a child. A child that was probably as enhanced and brilliant as her mother. If that was true then where were they, and how were they not part of the Empire their mother ruled? Did I have a son or a daughter? Had they had cloned me? Not on Vin, but where, and how did I get there? Or did she lie and the Earth Gryff was a clone? So many more questions raced through my head. I went to start asking but was halted.

  ​ The seductress stood tall taking away my view of her lush assets and waved a finger at me.

  ​ “Say no more Gryff. I wonder Virtue, if you and the councils would be willing to bargain with me to have some private time?”

  ​ “I have allowed too much, I hoped this Gryff would slip and provide us with vital information. He seems as cunning at the last one at holding his tongue. Your time here is complete. I hope you believe me now. Until later Empress.” Virtue conjured up a portal and dragged me with him.

  ∞∞∞

  ​ I shook my head in an effort to clear my vision, portal travel was disorientating. All around me the noises of battle ensued. Screams of pain were drowned out by an earsplitting roar. Virtue retreated into me as he evaded a thrown boulder. The Fearless Company was battling six ogres in the location where I had disappeared.

  ​ “Wait Gryff, we are under the white color of truce. You and I cannot intercede until you are to safety. There are rules to prevent ambushes after meetings. I must guide you to the barrier and let you cross it before we can part ways. That or portal us elsewhere to safety.”

  ​ I wanted to argue. I needed to help my troops. The wagon mounted ballista spewed bolts against the spread out ogres. I made the wisest choice I could think of. I ran as fast and as determined as I could to Fernlan. I sprinted and pumped my legs with every ounce of my being. Fernlan was not very far from the river. I glanced back and spotted Virtue floating over the ground in a meditated spell. The moment I felt the tingle of the barrier he flashed away.

  ​ Nate and the Frontier Knights were mounted on warhorses in full battle armor. They all talked to me at once. I ignored them and yanked Donnie off his mount. He stood there mute in anger at my actions.

  ​ “My lord, they would have seen you and should be retreating now. It would be prudent to wait!” Nate shouted down at me, desperate to get my attention.

  ​ I wanted to ignore him but I could not. My blood surged through my veins as I leaped into the saddle. I did not know how many survived still as they battled their way back. The brief glimpses I had gotten of the ogres were daunting. They were twenty feet tall, making the one I had killed before seem tiny. Every step they took while they fought shook the ground. Seven hells, I could see the rocks dance in the dirt this far away.

  ​ Fearless company materialized into view in a full sprint through the pines. The noise that followed them was frightening. Three ogres chased the tiny humans with snarled faces full of rage, clubs raised waiting to strike. Their tiny ears must not feel the pain of how loud their roars were. Lazra shot an arrow behind the trailing ogre and I heard a screech of pain. Four ogres.

  ​ The men were barely faster than the monsters that hunted them. The only thing that allowed the four humans to stay ahead of their pursuers was the fact that the ogres had to explode through pines to keep up. We yelled as loud as we could for them to hurry.

  ​ The Frontier knights drew weapons, the air rang with the sound of steel. The ogres had stopped their advance and tensed awaiting our rush. The remaining Fearless troops crossed and we bolted forward. Our mounts flung clods of earth and we closed the distance. The ogre I charged released an overhead swing with his thick club. I full stopped my warhorse. The horse neighed so drastically we went vertical. The spiked club missed us by inches as I grappled to stay mounted.

  ​ When the horse connected four hooves back to the earth, Nate and Marcus delivered thrusts into each leg of my attacker. I spurred the mount to within spitting distance. As I got close enough I stood on the saddle and launched myself to the chest of the Ogre. It was focused on trying to swat Nate when I plunged my sword deep into his heart. I kicked off the chest and crashed to the ground, getting the wind knocked out of me.

  ​ The ogre looked at his gushing wound then staggered to a knee. He teetered and swayed. I gathered space between us when he toppled in death.

  ​ Nate and Marcus joined the fighting that was a game of cat and mouse with the other two ogres. Blood poured from numerous minor and a few major wounds. Kyle and his horse were clubbed and sent flying dozens of feet. I hesitated on what to do, my mount had moved on and was trying to kick an ogre.

  ​ The ogre's club called to me. I sheathed my sword and picked up the immensely heavy weapon. I ran silently at the ogre that had his back to me. When I got within range I tor
qued my back for a powerful swing. I felt my aura pour into the weapon. I swung high for the upper right thigh and connected with a shock wave of power.

  ​ My victim's femur snapped as his hip popped out of place. He crashed quickly into the ground with a thump that made my feet bounce. His vision was blurred and he looked to be in immense pain, so I ended his misery. An overhead swing into the skull mushed his brains. A leg and a hand twitched before he shat himself and died. I wanted to comment or complain but I tried to not vomit. The last ogre was panicked now.

  ​ He was alone and injured. There were still ten humans, most with mounts fighting. He turned and ran from his current engagement to retreat. I was ready as he approached me with his awkward gate from a crippled hamstring. The spiked club caught his good foot. The twenty foot monster tumbled and rolled.

  ​ I went to end his life when Nate dove off his warhorse and slid his pike deep into the creature's eye. It connected with the brain rapidly, the arm that was trying to stop Nate flopped to the ground and the monster breathed his last.

  ​ “Everyone on a mount, Lazra fired at a fourth ogre who probably was mortally wounded or close to death. Chase it down. If you cannot find it recover the ogre hearts from the first battle. Wounded take priority. Go now!” I shouted as I raced over to the dead ogre and sawed at the chest with my sword for the prized heart.

  “Wina update.” I called out as I proceeded with my gruesome work.

  ​ “There are orcs on the east end rounding the barrier now towards you, maybe ten minutes before they arrive. They are fifty strong and are large veteran warriors. The only luck you have is they are too big for wargs. Your men have found the trail to the fleeing ogre. They will find it dead not too much further away. There are two wounded humans at the river crossing, one looks mortal. You can recover them both if you sprint now .”

  ​ I sliced through the arteries that connected the heart and plopped it free of the ogre's body. “Nate I am off to get wounded, get these two hearts. Hopefully, we can salvage the one I pierced from the most awesome kill shot ever, well besides your leaping eye stab. Back to chat later.” I hollered as I tossed the heart I had into the barrier and spun to return to the river.

  ​ I was tired and sore but without injury somehow. So untypical of me. I cruised past the battle remnants and leaped over the fallen trees. I saw the destroyed ballista, it was a tangle of wooden parts and frayed rope. Bodies littered the ground, mostly human. A man was squished beyond recognition, and another had been torn in half. It was disturbing. The two dead ogres were littered with the ballistic bolts, blood pooled below them.

  ​ “Left, under that brush, and then a dozen feet from her is the other ,” Wina told me.

  ​ I flung the bushes about and found Una barely breathing. Her legs were shattered and her pelvis crushed. Large round holes revealed she had taken a brutal spiked club hit to her lower body. I knew there were proper ways to handle someone with a broken back, but I did not have the time. I went to the other wounded man to see he had already expired. His cold eyes stared in denial at his death.

  ​ “Wina how long?”

  ​ “Minutes at most they are at the river shore south of you making fast progress .”

  ​ I swore at the gods in muted frustration. I picked up Una in a cradle and jogged as fast as I could while limiting her movement. I watched four men including Marcus and Brad ride up to the ogres to harvest their hearts. I warned them off and continued with a purpose. They raced past me when I told them to set up defenses inside the barrier. I arrived not a moment too soon.

  ​ A company of the biggest, meanest, scariest looking orcs bellowed a challenge at us to fight them. I did not stay to accept and felt that magical sensation of a tingle. I called out for Jak or Bella. When no answer came I called out for any healer.

  ​ An old man with black hair that had sprinkled gray in it approached. He laid a hand on Una and told a lady in an exquisite pink dress to catch him if he fell. He poured healing into Una, her hips reformed. Then her arteries that had been clenched closed with compression flowed freely. Horrified I watched as Una's heart pumped blood out of her destroyed legs faster than the man could heal. He noticed her pale as she bled out and fought harder to heal. He did not fall, he crumpled as if his body had no bones. The woman picked his face out of the dirt and propped his head up.

  ​ I held Una as her breathing stilled and she died in my arms.

  ​ “No!” I screamed out. Sure we had our differences but I revered her as a brave warrior. She was vital to me in ways I could not afford to lose.

  ​ Bella showed up moments too late and tried to help her sister. It was for naught, her healing flow never entered the now cooling body. I laid Una down and left Bella to grieve. Instead of joining her I decided to meander the area and check on the living.

  ​ I surveyed the survivors for more wounded and found Jak healing a pale man. The patient's color returned slightly when Jak face planted into the man's chest. I helped right him, as he muttered about being fine.

  ​ I found Nate who was slumped against a tree by four ogre hearts.

  ​ “Eight from Una's Fearless. Two from my company. Kyle, and a new mercenary.” He tilted his head back until it gave a slight thud when it contacted the tree. He closed his wrinkled tired eyes and gave an angry sigh. “I bet we never recover the other two hearts. The Horde knows how much magic they create. Let us be glad they have no earth magic. This heart with the slice, it will have to be split into two but can still be used to almost the same potency.”

  ​ I squatted beside him and the plopped down to rest on the same tree.

  ​ “This is real. This world was created by a... well... a god I know. That is where I went. I got answers from my god through a shaman portal. I am still in shock. Some good news, some bad news, more questions though.”

  ​ “Ha, I want to believe you. We know that griffin came to the Inn like the hells themselves had ascended. She rushed us to the eastern gate and pointed to the fishing spot, then the many and the scariest of bad guy images. The griffin drew an image of your face right over there. Una threatened me to get first attempt to find you when we realized what had the griffin so worked up.” Nate said and took his head from tilted back to find the spot a bunch of people stood and pointed.

  ​ “Oh, wonder what happened to King Horus. Is he... Phew, he is breathing. Odd place to take a nap.”

  ​ “The older warrior right there, huh never would have pegged him as a King. He tried to heal Una but did it wrong. He went hip down and opened up her arteries. If he had gone feet to hip she may have lived. It is things like that, that haunt good men. He gave it his all though. Hit the dirt so fast even I would not have caught him. So much for offering him a combat healer spot on our team right.”

  ​ For whatever reason the two of us found this dry stupid humor to be hilarious. We broke into a roaring laughter that caught the attention of a few. It was inappropriate but we were attempting to cope with the situation.

  ​ I went to the creek smothered in ogre and Una blood. I stripped naked and scrubbed down in the cold water. Velia waited patiently for me to finish with a change of clothes. These were new and she had stitched them together herself. It was cloth pants with pockets. I immediately dug my fists into them with glee. Velia knew she has broken a bit of my glum and kissed my cheek. I pulled over the tunic and saw a mopping Bella make her way to us. She told me that we were being summoned to a meeting.

  ​ I followed Bella as we entered Dais. Luminous torches were being added to the vast cavern by workers and fire mages. It was already significantly brighter and none of the vole hearts were on the ceiling yet. We walked in somber silence down the ramp and toward the mage academy section until we got to a new building.

  ​ A four foot fence enclosed the space in a large rectangle. Inside were sectioned areas for training lessons and ranges. Every space was large enough to accommodate human or griffin. Deep into the yard, the main structure rose five stori
es high. It had lots of windows and a massive two story entry door. Extra bright torches adorned the walls inside the foyer.

  ​ The intense light told me these were torches that included more golem heart. We passed beside a central staircase and were lead into a private room further back.

  ​ Inside the room, an extra large table was surrounded by chairs. Engraved into the table was an intricate display of a griffin beside a human fighting an orc. At the head of the table sat King Horus. Behind him were two window cutouts large enough for a griffin to fit their heads in. I saw Lord Nova in the blazing light and did not recognize the other griffin. Duke Riza, Zack, Patti, Tarkon the water mage, Eona the air mage, Master mage Lamont, and a few other lords sat patiently. I choose a random chair not sure where to sit.

  ​ “Let us begin, I for one would like to hear a report from our allies the griffins. It would be the first time for me. If you could oblige us Earl Gryff.” King Horus said as he rotated an open palm toward the griffins behind him.

  ​ “Well met Gryff, I am King Aves, leader of the griffins. Tell him we need more food. We expect additional prides to arrive every day. It will be a struggle to get the malnourished properly fed again. Mention that we are content here, and are looking forward to our new roost being built. We thank him for bringing so many mages here so we can begin training in secret. Got anything to add Lord Nova ?”

  ​ “If we use one of the ogre hearts we can have the roost built today. That would be nice, we were lucky we took too long designing it and the mages used the remaining goblin hearts on this academy and houses. Our latest design is much grander in scope to accommodate all the extra griffins. There is an endless amount of work to get to. We need food but we have those two spare villages sitting empty. I recommend we begin launching small offensives from Cern, Xiq, Lakeland, and that outpost to draw off some of the attention here. Hunting around Fernlan is becoming too difficult .” Lord Nova added.

  ​ I relayed their message to the King. The entire time I talked to him, he held eye contact with King Aves and Lord Nova.