The Golden Griffin (Book 3)
Page 22
Daria chewed at her lip.
“Why don’t you do it?” Hob asked Narud. “Turn into—I don’t know—a crow or something and fly there?”
The wizard lifted his withered hands. “I won’t have that kind of power for days. And I wouldn’t make it halfway before I became a man again. I’d be forced to wait and replenish my power.”
“All right, it was just a suggestion,” Hob said. “Seems like we don’t have any other choice than to send riders.”
“How about sending for Whelan, instead?” Edouard said. “He has a sword that could bind the souls of these ravagers.”
“We won’t recall Whelan from the east,” Narud said. “He has a chance to overthrow the dark wizard in his citadel before the enemy regains his strength. Nothing is more important. No, we must bring Markal back. We’ll go on horse. If it takes weeks, it takes weeks.”
“We don’t have weeks,” Hob said. “The ravagers are growing in strength day by day. By the time you get back, it might be too late.”
“Wizard, can you fly a griffin?” Daria asked.
“No.”
“But if I fly, you can at least ride along, right?”
“Of course,” Narud said. “So I suppose you can help, to a certain point. Carry me to Montrcrag, at least, then east along the Way to Balsalom. I’ll pick up the Spice Road from there.”
“That will cut a week, at least,” Hob said. He looked more hopeful.
Daria nodded eagerly. “And if we flew south on the Spice Road together—”
“Child,” he interrupted. “I told you—”
“Together,” she insisted. “You could conjure some small magic to keep me cool, couldn’t you? Don’t tell me you couldn’t manage a nice breeze.”
Narud looked thoughtful. “It’s dangerous for you. And the griffin—there are beasts in the desert. The desert is the homeland of your enemy. This dragon you wounded will have retreated there to recover from its wounds. No, I can’t let you do it.”
“The girl wants to help, wizard,” the captain said. “Who are you to tell her she can’t do her share?”
“She has done her share,” Narud insisted. “Twice over, already. I promised her mother—”
Daria let out a harsh laugh. “Oh, I see. I should have known. There’s no risk of my melting in the desert, you just made an arrangement with my mother.”
“I didn’t invent that,” Narud said. “Believe me, I didn’t.”
“But you overstated.” She put her hands on her hips. “I’m flying to Marrabat whether you come or not.”
“How will you even locate the city?” he asked. “It’s in a wasteland of sand and stone.”
“Watch and find out.”
Edouard leaned in and whispered something in the older wizard’s ear. Narud frowned. He studied Daria as Edouard continued. At last he nodded.
“Very well. You may go.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Thank you, but I am Daria Flockheart. I don’t need the permission of man, woman, or wizard to do what I must.”
He looked taken aback at this. She met his gaze until he looked away. Edouard and Hob stared.
“What I mean is, we’ll go together,” Narud said at last. “Is your griffin ready?”
“Talon is always ready. Let’s fly.”
-end-
From the Author
Thank you for reading The Golden Griffin. Most of my books (and sales) are thrillers, but I enjoy writing fantasy novels as well. Of course, as a writer trying to make a living, I need to balance my interests with what people are willing to buy. If you would like to support my ability to write more stories in The Dark Citadel series, a quick review wherever you purchased the book helps readers discover my work.
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Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One