The Gryphon Highlord

by Connie Ward

  I held it to the light and admired its simple yet elegant beauty. It was a perfect fit! I whirled, overcome with joy, prepared to throw my arms around him.

  Then Ginger said a strange thing. “Take it off."

  "Take it off?” I echoed. “But, why?"

  "Just do it.” There was a mournful quality to his voice, a harsh glint in his eyes.

  Though disappointed, I obeyed ... but the ring refused to budge. How could this be? It had slid so easily over my knuckle. Frustrated, I tugged with all my might.

  "Stop it,” Ginger said. “You're going to hurt yourself."

  "What are you talking about?” I snapped. “What's wrong with this stupid thing? It's like ... melded to my finger.” I looked up, straight into his steely mage eyes. Then I understood. Silently, I cursed myself for being so ignorant in the ways of magic, for being naive enough to believe he still loved me, if ever he had.

  "It won't come off, short of cutting it off—your finger, I mean. If you choose that remedy, I recommend you get a good surgeon."

  "You bastard,” I whispered.

  He was calm. “I'm sorry I had to deceive you this way. The ring is ensorcelled with a spell that will neutralize your Teki powers. You will not be able to manifest your thoughts into anything more substantial than tears. It's a simple binding, however time consuming. It's less detrimental to the body than your tonic and there are no side effects. See how short-sighted Bertrand was to banish the Umagi? Any common hearthmage could have done it."

  "You ... bastard!” I screamed, at a loss for a more suitable word. I leapt at him, my fist poised to strike.

  He grabbed my wrists and held me firm. “I had no choice!” he yelled back. “Do you think I enjoy this? Do you think I want to see you leashed like a dog or caged like a wild beast? But it was the only way Castarr and Naren would agree to our terms. It's only temporary, until they decide whether or not to trust you, until the assassin is caught."

  I writhed free of him and spun away to the other side of the room, turning my face so he would not see my tears. So this explained his absence from Idyll, his refusal to discuss how he planned to convince Castarr to accept me as the Gryphon Highlord. The devious, heartless snake!

  His impatient sigh drifted over me. “I'm Umagi too, remember? I would hate anyone who attempted to control my powers in this fashion. But I did argue it. I tried to explain that your fledgling powers are no threat to anyone. They wouldn't listen. I had no choice. Please believe me. This isn't personal."

  Rage scythed through me, he was so goddamned smug. I had an unkind thought ... and was grateful it proved impotent. “Does that mean you don't trust me either?"

  "I trust you to do everything necessary to help us if it means you'll wear the crown,” he replied carefully.

  "Well I won't help you,” I declared. “Rot the lot of you. I'd rather relinquish my throne entirely than become a Crusader puppet."

  "I'm afraid you have no choice, unless you want to spend the rest of your life like this, your powers fettered, your will restrained by mine."

  It would be a fate worse than death, bound forever like a hound on a chain to the wily, perfidious mage. “I hate you."

  "I don't doubt that. You trusted me and I was compelled to betray you. I know well the bitter sting of treachery."

  He just had to rub my nose in it.

  "You have the title of Gryphon Highlord if you want it."

  "No, I don't want it,” I snarled. “Valleri is the Gryphon Highlord. I am the Princess Kathedra."

  "Suit yourself. You are no longer under house arrest."

  "Instead I am your prisoner?"

  "Don't think of it as such. I don't consider myself your captor."

  I laughed, though my tears only flowed faster. “You must find it amusing how you could so easily trick me, even flattering how I loved you so blindly."

  "Believe me,” he murmured. “This is the hardest thing I've ever had to do."

  Perhaps. But he did it so effortlessly. “How is the spell broken?"

  "By removing the ring. And I'm the only person who can do that."

  "What if something should happen to you?"

  He shrugged. “Let's just hope it doesn't."

  I was incredulous that he could so carelessly toy with my life. I was not a person to him, merely an instrument to be used and discarded at will. I stared at him, filled with a strange mixture of anger and anguish. “You are no better than Valleri."

  Somehow my remark managed to prick him. I saw the dismay plain in his eyes. As he headed for the door he said, “I hope one day you can forgive me. When this is all over, and you sit on your throne, I hope you'll understand."

  I flung a curse at his departing back, where it bounced harmlessly off those broad shoulders.

  I tried to pull the ring from my finger, attempting in vain to summon my Teki powers. I clawed until I drew blood, until my finger had swollen twice its size, which only served to adhere it tighter to my flesh. I even chipped a tooth in a foolish effort to gnaw it off.

  Throughout the long night I wept tears of rage. Ginger, Sestus, Castarr, all of them were no better than Uncle to hold me prisoner, my powers in thrall. The mage was mistaken if he thought I would ever forgive him.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  The next day I strutted around Idyll in my official role as the Princess Kathedra. To my amazement no one objected at my pomposity to stroll through camp like a warrior queen surveying her troops. Instead I was greeted with all the courtesy due a royal personage. Wherever I went, outlaw freedom fighters dropped to their knees, hailing me with ‘Your Highness’ and oaths of allegiance. Although I wore no elegant gown, no uniform and sword, I tried to muster an appearance of dignity and regal splendour for my supporters. I waved and smiled, pausing often to praise their efforts or simply chat.

  As for the Crusader officers, I had a mental grudge-list. Almost every one was on it. Only Belvemar was exempt, and Sestus borderline. I considered Belvemar my sole ally, since he alone had the gumption to defy his treacherous cohorts by defending my honour.

  I plied the former mercenary with questions, none of which he could answer. He knew only that Ginger plotted to hatch some grand counterattack against Valleri. The mage had instructed his spies in Castle Gryphon to plant the rumour the Princess Kathedra was alive and well in Crusader territory, having survived an assassination attempt by the Regent, and now prepared to denounce Valleri as a usurper/traitor. Such a juicy tidbit would elicit dissent and confusion within Gryphon's Royals.

  Poking around the dungeon did me little good, except to annoy Sestus. Not that he was doing much these days. He spent hours at the worktable, flipping idly through daily reports or building a house of cards in mid-air, the Umagi equivalent of doodling. If he knew what magic tricks Ginger had up his sleeve, he refused to tell. One thing I knew with certainty; whatever the mage had in store for Valleri it would involve me. I'm sure he could manipulate my powers through his sorcerous link to me: the ring. Exactly how he would employ them remained a mystery.

  Only Ragsey seemed sympathetic to my plight. We sparred occasionally on the practice field, where he listened and offered his commiseration as I aired my grievances. His skill with the sword was improving, but he had a tendency to lower his guard, a failing for which Valleri had often chided me.

  On this particular day, I tapped his ribs as a gentle reminder instead of upending him in the turf as Repachea might have done. “Up, Ragsey. Keep your arm up. C'mon, let's take a break."

  We removed ourselves to a stump, which had once been a magnificent oak tree in Idyll's courtyard, to sip water from our flasks. In a matter-of-fact tone, I asked, “What do you know of Castarr?"

  He shrugged. “About as much as you do, I'm afraid."

  "Do you think he might have killed Repachea?"

  "Anything's possible, I guess. Castarr doesn't really like anybody. But not even Ginger kills just because he dislikes a person. If that were the case, he would have planted Castarr
in the dirt long ago."

  "Hmm, but Castarr might have killed Repachea for the passkey. Maybe to give it to Valleri. Maybe Val doesn't want to destroy the teleportals so much as he wants to use them to lead an pre-emptive strike against the Crusaders."

  "All I know is that Repachea's key is missing. But that doesn't necessarily mean it was stolen. Only that no one can find it. But why do you suspect Castarr?"

  "For one thing he has no love for the Umagi, Ginger especially. The story goes that he had a falling out with my Uncle, and in a moment of rashness joined the Crusaders to get even. Perhaps he's had a change of heart. Or he hopes that by betraying the Crusaders to the Royalists, he will earn his way back into Uncle's good graces."

  Ragsey mulled it over, eyes intent on his fingers where they toyed with the pommel of his sword. After a moment he tipped back his head, and squinted in the bright sunshine. “I see your point. Ginger's never trusted him from the start. Have you told anyone else your suspicions?"

  "Like who? No one will listen to me."

  "Belvemar might make a good ally. Who better? After all, the assassin had tried to kill him, too. I bet he'd even insist on a search of Castarr's quarters."

  "Yes, you could be right.” I took a sip from my flask, then traded it for my sword. “Let's get back at it. I hope you're not going easy on me because of who I am,” I teased.

  Ragsey got to his feet, brandished his sword with a winsome grin. “No, highness. I'm going easy on you because I am truly an awful swordsman."

  * * * *

  "Belvemar, this way,” I hissed. “Hurry."

  I crouched in the lee of the stables, waiting for the commander to catch up. He materialized at my elbow, huffing a little and grumbling a lot. “I don't see why we have to do this now, skulking about in the shadows in the middle of the night."

  "Because if we skulk about in broad daylight somebody is bound to see us. Now pay attention.” I patted his bearded cheek and pulled his hood lower over his face. “Do you remember what we're looking for?"

  "A bottle of diamond dust, a vial of poison woodroot, and maybe a lock pick. By damn, if that no-good lump of toadshit is the bastard who put rat poison in my wine I'll strip him naked and put him up on a spire for the crows to take their sport with!"

  "Shh! Someone might hear. Are you ready?"

  At his nod I crept forward, motioning him to follow me.

  Why exactly was I out, sneaking like a thief through the broken corpse of Idyll with a grumpy ex-merc captain at my back? My earlier conversation with Ragsey had given me an idea. It made no sense to wait for the Crusader masterminds to get around to searching Castarr's quarters when I could do it myself. Better yet, why not bring Belvemar with me? Then, we could take our evidence and make our accusation together. When Castarr's duplicity was revealed the Crusaders would see how wrong they had been about me and absolve me of all suspicion of treachery. Ginger would then be forced to restore my powers.

  Before setting off on our mission, however, I had checked the duty roster and scout reports. At a glance, I knew the location of each Crusader patrol and the time that various couriers had reported in or out of camp. In order to keep the peace, Naren had suggested that Castarr take a perimeter check. Restless and mopish, Castarr had jumped at the idea. He was scheduled to return in the morning. If there was any evidence to be collected, it had to be done tonight. Already misty, predawn light was stealing across the sky.

  Situated downwind from the stables Castarr's quarters, assigned by Ginger, were dark and quiet. I tried the door. It slid open with nary a creak. I exhaled a sigh of relief, for I wasn't at all certain I could jimmy the latch with his dagger, though I might have given Belvemar that impression. It had taken some time to convince the commander of my plan and I didn't need him having second thoughts at the last moment.

  Duck-walking, we stole inside and paused to get our bearings. Camp cot to the left, trunk at its foot. Table and two chairs to the right. Man crouching with sack directly ahead. Oh, bloody hell.

  I froze, there in mid-squat, startled and perplexed. The evidence was there all right, sitting on the floor beside the sack: one lock pick, the vial of poison that Biddy had reported missing from the infirmary, and a tin box such as the kind purchased from disreputable apothecaries known to sell diamond dust.

  Despite the man's dark clothing and the gloom, I recognized him, squatting there with sack in hand and staring at me with an expression I expect was similar to my own. He was not Castarr. My perplexity stemmed not from the who or what, but why. Why was he removing the evidence? Surely, not to protect Castarr.

  Then the revelation struck me like one of my own thunderbolts. He was not removing evidence. He was planting it.

  I felt a nudge in my back as Belvemar bumped into me, unaware I had stopped. “Kathedra, what's—?"

  But he didn't get to finish the thought, as the man suddenly sprang, bowling me into the captain and sending us sprawling. I crashed into a wall headfirst. Pain lanced through my temple, stole my breath. Feebly, I struggled to reach something I could use as a weapon but my fingers refused to respond. Next I heard a dull thud and Belvemar's soft grunt as something heavy struck him, repeatedly it seemed, before a second blow to my head rendered me unconscious.

  * * * *

  I awoke somewhere cold and damp, unable to move my arms, hanging somehow in mid-air. My skull throbbed like a bellows in Hell's own forge. Pain across my shoulders and a tightness at my wrists told me my hands were bound with rope. Wary, I opened my eyes and squinted into the murk, surprised to find my tethered wrists looped over a hook suspended from the ceiling. Next a glaring torch was thrust before my face as someone lifted me down. But my legs wouldn't hold me and I slid to the floor of the cave, agony shooting through my arms.

  "You're too clever for your own good, highness,” a familiar voice sneered, dragging me upright.

  "Ragsey?” My wits were as fuzzy as my vision. With swift violence, it all came tumbling back. “Belvemar?” I asked in panic.

  "Don't worry about him. He's a tough old fart to kill. I should know. I've tried twice."

  I snatched myself away, fought for balance. “Where are we?” I spat.

  Ragsey set the torch in a crevice, pulled a dagger from his belt. “On a ridge not far from Idyll.” His smile was distinctly unpleasant.

  Glancing around the cave, I noticed a couple of things straight off. First, the shaft of daylight just beyond his shoulder and the crates of supplies lining one wall. He was obviously prepared to stay a while. “Why did you bring me here? Do you plan to ransom me to the highest bidder?"

  "You flatter yourself, but not without reason.” His eyes roamed obscenely over me. “Oh, you are a beguiling temptress. You need only wrap your legs around a man to get what you want. You did it to Valleri and now you've done it to Ginger."

  I stared at him, affronted by his scathing gaze. He was not the same man I had met in the infirmary on that long ago day, not the cheerful, charming fellow who had pretended to be my friend. I did not want to believe he was an informant or an assassin. Not that it didn't make sense. As a courier, he came and went from Idyll as he saw fit, ferrying confidential communiqués from one Crusader outpost to another, or transferring them directly into the hands of Gryphon's agents, whichever the case may be. He'd even told me himself that he had been with Ginger almost since the beginning. By earning Ginger's trust, he had also won the trust of the remaining outlaw leaders, if only by association.

  "I really would like to believe that you were implicating Castarr to protect me,” I managed.

  "Sorry, no. I was implicating Castarr to protect myself. And Valleri."

  Though I was pretty sure I didn't want to hear the rest of it I asked anyway. “So why don't you enlighten me."

  "Very well.” He sighed, as if bored. “When Bertrand discovered your powers had grown beyond his control he approached Valleri with a proposition. ‘Distract Kathedra. Weaken her will. Make her forget the revolt and the throne. The le
ss use she has for her Teki powers, the feebler they will grow.’ In exchange, Bertrand promised him your command."

  I felt the blood drain from my face. “I don't believe it."

  Although Sestus and Ginger had told me the exact same thing, I refused to believe Valleri had ever conspired with Uncle. Valleri wanted my command and my throne, yes. But it is inconceivable he would stoop so low as to deal with my uncle, a man he hated beyond all reason.

  "It's true,” Ragsey assured me. “Valleri accepted Bertrand's offer because he found it a perfect opportunity to double-cross him. Valleri tried on numerous occasions to convince you that Bertrand plotted against you, to persuade you to renounce the Regent. But you refused to listen, to act. So when Bertrand retired you and announced your engagement to Lesuperis, Valleri recruited help."

  "Averi and Serasteffan,” I hissed.

  "Yes. Two of the biggest lowlifes that ever crawled out from under a rock. A decision he's come to regret. Their hunger for wealth and lust for prestige is boundless. They make their outrageous demands and Valleri must yield or brave their threats to reveal his secrets. In order to free himself of your restraints he thought to tuck you away in Zigores. His plan might have worked if he had not placed his trust in that weakling Averi."

  "You know about Averi?"

  "Of course. Valleri explained to me the elaborate escape he'd devised for you. He believes Averi followed his instructions admirably. The woman whom Valleri murdered to serve as your corpse was an Umagi sympathizer captured at Bolta."

  Dagger in hand Ragsey stepped towards me, barring the cave mouth. Still unsure of his motives, I backed away. “So you work for Val?"

  "Isn't it obvious? Valleri planted me when the first rumblings of a revolt broke out. Even so early in the game, he recognized an opportunity for self gain. I hooked up with Ginger shortly after Dundurn. He brought me with him to Idyll. Next thing I know you're here, and I realized Valleri's plan had gone awry. When I told him you'd blundered into Sestus, Valleri thought you'd be safe in Idyll under his protection. It then became my job to chaperone you. But I failed. Miserably, it seems."