Griffin's Daughter

by Leslie Ann Moore

  Magnes nearly choked on the bile rising in his throat. Pointing at the corpse, he croaked, “My father must have fallen and hit his head…We were arguing…Oh, gods!”

  The maid’s eyes widened with fear. Her mouth worked, but no words came out.

  “ It was an accident,” Magnes whispered plaintively. “I didn’t mean…”

  Oh, gods, I didn’t mean to kill him! Did I?

  A wave of weakness threatened to topple him. His muscles began to twitch uncontrollably as his mind succumbed to panic.

  I’ve got to get away, run away, they’ll think I murdered him, I’ll hang!

  It was an accident! Someone please believe me!

  The maid opened her mouth and screamed.

  Magnes bolted past her and ran, fleeing up towards his apartments, the girl’s shrieks feeding his own terror.

  Back in his chambers, he stopped just long enough to scoop up his hunting knife and a small pouch of coins he kept beneath his mattress. From his window, he could hear shouts. The maid’s screams had been heard.

  Got to leave now, or they’ll catch me!

  Cautiously, he opened the outer door of his chambers and paused to listen. He heard the sound of many feet pounding up the stairs toward his father’s study. A heartbeat later, the hoarse shouts of men crying out in dismay, followed by the piteous weeping of the maid sent him stumbling out into the darkened corridor. He turned and rushed away from the main staircase to a smaller, back stairway that led down to a side door in the outer wall of the keep. Under the cover of darkness, he slipped out of the keep and quickly made his way to the stables.

  Inside the barn, the soft snores of horses at rest filled the warm air. Silently, Magnes glided down the rows until he reached the stall of his favorite mount. Storm greeted him with a sleepy whicker, and Magnes stroked the horse’s velvet nose. Briefly, he pressed his face to the warm skin, then reluctantly moved on to the next stall. He would have to leave Storm behind yet again. He knew that, eventually, he would have to sell whatever horse he rode out on tonight, so Storm must stay at Amsara.

  Magnes had never ridden Storm’s neighbor, an unassuming piebald gelding. The horse was small, but looked sturdy enough; in any event, he would have to do. Magnes went to the tack room to fetch a saddle and bridle, and soon had the beast ready.

  As he led the horse cautiously out of the stall, a childish voice broke the relative quiet. “Oi! Who goes there? What are you doin’?”

  Gods, Dari!

  “ Hush, Dari!” Magnes hissed. “It’s me, Lord Magnes!”

  Dari appeared at Magnes’s side, carrying a stub of candle. He held it up, and in the flickering light, Magnes could see the look of puzzlement on the boy’s freckled face. “Lord Magnes, sir. I didn’t know t’was you. I was just on me way to the privies. If you don’t mind me wonderin’, sir, but it seems awfully late t’ be goin’ out.”

  “ Please, Dari. Listen very carefully. You can’t tell anyone you saw me.”

  “ But why?”

  “ Don’t ask me any questions! I need to go now.” Magnes immediately regretted the sharpness of his response. “I’m sorry, Dari, but I must go.”

  The boy let out a startled cry. “M’lord! You…ye’ve got blood all over yer shirt, sir! Wha’ happened? Are ye hurt?”

  “ Remember what I said to you,” Magnes repeated fiercely. The young groom nodded slowly, wide-eyed with bewilderment. Magnes snatched a spare saddle cloth down from the stall railing and draped it over his shoulders; a poor attempt at hiding the incriminating bloodstains, but he could think of nothing else. He clicked his tongue and the horse followed him out into the yard. He checked the saddle girth and mounted, but before he could turn the horse toward the gate, Dari reached up and put his hand on the rein.

  “ Lord Magnes, will I ever see you again?” The boy gazed up at him, a sad, knowing look in his eyes.

  “ Dari…” Magnes’s voice caught, and he had to pause in order to keep from sobbing. “I don’t know. I’ll pray to the gods, that I might return home someday. You’re a good boy, Dari. I’m sorry you got involved.” He looked toward the keep and muttered, “It was an accident.”

  From the direction of the keep, faint shouts drifted on the night breeze.

  “ What was, Lord Magnes?” Dari whispered. “What accident?”

  Magnes did not answer. He shook the reins and tapped the gelding’s flanks with his heels. The muffled clop-clop of the horse’s hooves on the hard packed earth beat in counterpoint to his pounding heart. He looked back once to see Dari standing motionless, his face eerily lit from below by the candle stub in his hand.

  “ Evening, milord,” the guardsman said in greeting as Magnes rode up to the outer gate.

  “ Goin’ out so late, sir?” his fellow guardsman inquired.

  Magnes had to think fast. He put on a sheepish grin. “Um, well, yes. You see, there’s this girl who lives out on the Greenwood Road and, well, her father…”

  Both guards guffawed. “Say no more, milord. We get yer meanin’!” the first guard said in a cheerfully conspiratorial tone. His eyes flicked to the saddle cloth over Magnes’s shoulders, and his brow furrowed in puzzlement, but he made no comment.

  “ Aye, that we do,” the second added. “We was both young and unmarried once!” The men scrambled to open the gate, just wide enough for Magnes to ride through.

  “ Will ye be back before or after sunrise, sir?”

  “ After, most definitely,” Magnes replied. He could hear the guards snickering as the gate swung shut.

  The night engulfed him, warm and very dark. He had only the light of the stars to see by. Once again, Magnes found himself leaving Amsara in the dead of night with virtually nothing, except that this time, he was the fugitive. The horse proved to be sure-footed and steady as they wound their way down the steep switchbacks and into Amsara village.

  Just as he had two days ago, he took the track that skirted the village and ended up on the road that led past the homestead of Livie’s parents, the road that would eventually take him all the way to Darguinia, city of the Emperors. A man could lose himself among the multitudes there, shed an old identity, and invent a new one.

  All around him, the darkness hummed, alive with the sounds of a late summer country night. A soft breeze tickled the nape of his neck, still wet with the sweat of shock and fear. Loneliness, dense and heavy, settled over him.

  He burst into tears and wailed like a child.

  Chapter 23

  Confessions And Heartache

  "Is she not the most magnificent woman in all of Alasiri, Little Brother?” Sadaiyo drawled, eyeing his wife-to-be over the rim of his silver wine goblet.

  Ashinji had to agree with part of Sadaiyo’s assessment-Lady Misune Dai was indeed magnificent, in the manner of a glacier or an ice-rimmed lake in winter. To his eyes though, her cold beauty held no allure.

  The Ceremony of Welcoming had taken place earlier that evening. Misune’s parents had brought her before the members of the House of Sakehera, assembled in the small chapel reserved for private family worship, clad only in a simple white robe, her hair unbound. There, Ashinji had intoned the ritual chants that bound Misune to her new family; afterward, the bride-to-be retired to the guest quarters so that she might rest for a time before preparing herself for the feast.

  “ You and she will make a perfect match, Brother,” Ashinji commented dryly.

  Sadaiyo either didn’t notice, or didn’t care about the subtle insult. He grinned wickedly. “One more day, and then she’ll be mine. I can barely control myself, and she’s practically across the room! Come our wedding night, I’ll ride her so hard, she’ll scream and come like she’s never done in her life! Then in the morning, I’ll tell you all about it!”

  Ashinji sighed and took a pull from his glass. Sadaiyo never tired of this game, and as the evening progressed, he knew that his brother’s comments would become increasingly crude. He was thankful that their sister Lani sat well out of earshot, beside the
ir mother.

  Sadaiyo turned his attention to the older man seated to his left, a minor lord from Dai’s retinue, giving Ashinji a welcome respite. He allowed his eyes to wander over the elegant gathering. The bride now sat revealed-her veil thrown back so that all present might admire her-straight and proud between her father and older brother, Ibeji. Ibeji Dai reminded Ashinji of a young eagle-all sharp angles and glittering, amber eyes.

  Brother and sister were deep in conversation. Occasionally, Misune would look up to stare boldly at Sadaiyo, as if taking his measure.

  “ I see you staring at her, Ashi. What would that delicious little mongrel messenger say if she knew you were lusting after another woman, eh?”

  Ashinji glared at his brother, struggling to control his fury, but Sadaiyo’s smirk made it all but impossible.

  “ I understand your envy of me, little Brother. I will soon have a real woman in my bed, while you…” Sadaiyo’s lip curled, “you must content yourself with, um, tainted meat.”

  Ashinji rose abruptly from his chair, tossed off the last of his wine, and excused himself with a muttered apology to his startled parents. Fuming, he stalked from the great hall out into the night, Sadaiyo’s mocking laughter ringing in his ears.

  Ashinji walked quickly, unmindful of direction, his only thought to escape his brother’s toxic presence. He had come perilously close to losing control and had nearly smashed his fist into Sadaiyo’s face.

  Eventually, his boiling anger cooled, and he found himself among the fragrant blooms of his mother’s private garden. He sat down on a wooden bench carved in the shape of two sea creatures entwined, their flukes upraised to form arm rests.

  He wondered what Jelena was doing at this very moment. Was she thinking of him, longing for his embrace as much as he longed for hers? He knew that she could feel the tug of the undeniable connection between them. He could see it in her eyes whenever she looked at him. He loved her, and he felt certain that she loved him, but was love enough?

  Could his desire to be with Jelena come from selfishness, considering all of the obstacles they would face? She had, by far, the most to lose. She had no family to protect her, and Lord Sen could cast her out with impunity if she became too much of an inconvenience.

  No, Ashinji thought. Father would not do that, even if he thinks Jelena would be trouble for me. He’s not that kind of man.

  Lord Sen did know how to take care of a problem, though. He would simply arrange to transfer Jelena’s service to another household, as far away from Kerala as possible.

  Ashinji stood up from the bench, full of restless energy. He thought of going down to the barracks to see Jelena, but reluctantly dismissed the idea. No, not yet, he thought. After the wedding ceremony, he would speak to her, confess his love, and together, they could decide what to do. He spent the remainder of the evening walking the battlements, thinking about his future.

  There are seven hundred and seventy seven faces of the Goddess.

  All are manifestations of the One.

  She has seven hundred and seventy seven names.

  All are names of the One.

  She who gave birth to the World.

  Mother of us all.

  The two priests intoned the sacred chant, their voices a steady drone. The bride and groom knelt before the altar, heads bowed, all but immobilized beneath the weight of their heavy, multi-layered wedding robes.

  Ashinji knelt behind and to the left of Sadaiyo, clutching in his hand the gold bracelet that his brother would soon place on the wrist of his new wife. Ibeji knelt behind his sister, a similar bracelet in his hand. Ashinji felt hot and miserable in the close, incense-clouded chapel. He wished fervently for the entire affair to be over so that he could throw off his own stiff, heavy garments and go to Jelena. The image of her face-so beautiful and dear-bolstered his strength.

  The priests anointed the heads of the bride and groom with sacred oil and intoned the chants of joining. The exchange of bracelets would come next, then the obeisance before the One, and finally, the official pronouncement. Ashinji went through the motions, only because he had to. He felt no happiness, love, or pride. He felt nothing but the desire to escape.

  At last, the priests made the final pronouncement. The assembled guests rose and cheered loudly as the Heir and his new wife exited the chapel. The newlyweds headed toward the great hall; there, they would be enthroned in large, ornate chairs like two statues on display, while the guests lined up to present their wedding gifts. Only after all gifts had been received would they be released to return to separate chambers for a few hours of much needed rest before the big feast that evening.

  For Ashinji, the painful ordeal had come to an end.

  He returned to his chambers and stripped out of his heavy robes, leaving the exquisite garments in a colorful heap on the floor. Redressed in a plain unbleached cotton tunic, breeches and sandals, he hurried down a back staircase and out a side door into the upper yard.

  A crowd of people, most richly dressed, some not so, milled about the yard, sweating beneath the late summer sun. The castle swarmed with guests. Every noble family in the district had been invited, and Lord Sen had made it known that any Kerala citizen, be they noble or common, was to be made welcome.

  Ashinji avoided the crowd by ducking through the front garden and sticking close to the wall. He made it through the upper gate without being seen and jogged downhill into the lower yard. The barracks area was quiet. Most of the castle staff who weren’t directly involved in the logistics of the wedding had been given the day off so they could enjoy the festivities.

  Ashinji climbed the stairs up to the second floor barracks where Jelena now lived with the unmarried female castle guards. He stuck his head into the open door and looked around. The common room stood empty.

  “ Hello? Is anyone here?” he called out.

  Silence.

  “ Hello?” he repeated.

  This time, a sleepy voice answered. “Lord Ashinji. I’m sorry. I was asleep and didn’t hear you the first time.” Aneko appeared in the far doorway and came out into the common room. “I was on guard duty ‘til first light,” she said, rubbing her eyes.

  “ I should be sorry, for disturbing your rest, Aneko. I’m looking for Jelena.”

  “ Jelena’s not here, my lord. She rode out this morning.”

  Ashinji bit his lower lip in consternation. “Surely my father didn’t send her out with a message,” he said.

  “ No, I don’t think so. She said she wanted to go out to the old stone circle for a while. She should be back soon, my lord.” Aneko smiled sympathetically.

  Ashinji felt himself blushing. Am I that obvious? “Aneko, please tell her…tell her that I’ll come looking for her during the feast tonight. I have something very important that I must say to her. Promise me you’ll tell her.”

  “ You have my promise, Lord Ashinji.”

  Ashinji left Aneko to her rest and returned to his rooms, successfully avoiding any guests. Fatigued, he sought his bed, where he lay down on the soft feather mattress with a weary sigh. He knew he would not be missed for several hours. Before he dozed off, he vowed that tonight, he and Jelena would be together at last.

  ~~~

  The wedding feast was well underway by the time Ashinji slipped into an empty chair beside Lani.

  “ Where have you been, Ashi? Mother was just about to send someone out to look for you,” Lani said, eyeing her brother curiously.

  “ I was tired, so I lay down to rest, and I overslept.”

  “ Will you look at them?” Lani indicated the newly married couple who occupied pride of place at the center of the table. “They can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. Why don’t they just leave right now and go get started?”

  Ashinji turned to look at his sister, eyebrows raised in mild shock. “Lani!” he exclaimed.

  “ Oh, don’t look at me like that, big Brother. I’m not a child anymore. I’m practically old enough to be married myself soon. I
do know all about sex, you realize.” Ashinji just shook his head. It seemed like only yesterday that he cradled baby Lani in his arms and laughed at her comical, infant expressions.

  Sadaiyo and Misune did seem quite taken with each other already. They sat with their heads pressed together, whispering earnestly. If Ashinji had not known otherwise, he could believe that they were already lovers.

  “ Aren’t you going to eat anything?” Lani asked. Until that moment, Ashinji had not been hungry, but Lani’s question prompted a rumbling response in his stomach.

  The castle kitchen had outdone itself. Never had Ashinji seen such a display of the culinary arts presented before in Kerala’s great hall. Platters of roasted game, fish, and fowl vied for attention alongside tureens of soups and stews. Mounds of boiled vegetables, breads, cheeses, pies, and fruits rounded out the feast. Ashinji helped himself to a dish of jellied eels. A servant stepped forward to fill his wine goblet.

  “ Ashi, do you think Mother and Father would consider Lord Dai’s son as a prospect for me?” Lani asked thoughtfully.

  “ Do you like him?” Ashinji responded. “Have you even spoken to him?” He looked over to where Ibeji Dai sat beside his father, his quick, amber eyes darting around the room as if he were trying to memorize every detail.

  “ He’s very handsome. He did look at me and smile, a little.”

  “ You’re still too young, little Sister. Enjoy what’s left of your girlhood. There’ll be plenty of time to think of marriage.”

  Lani rolled her eyes. “I’m old enough to wonder what it’s like,” she said.

  “ What what’s like?” Ashinji innocently inquired.

  Lani reached over and rapped him on the forehead with her knuckles.

  “ What it’s like to be with a man!” she replied, rolling her eyes with exasperation. Ashinji sighed, suddenly feeling very old. Lani abruptly changed the subject. “Is it true what Sadaiyo says about you and the new messenger girl?”