by Bianca D’Arc
“Sir…” Seth spoke while the three came to a halt. Gryffid turned to face them, an expectant look on his face. “Sir, the problem is, the leadership of the Southern Lair is waiting to hear from the capital. One of my fathers went to talk to the king personally, but it will be a day at least before orders come back to the Southern Lair. For now, it’s just us. Genlitha, Hrardorr, Gowan, me, Lady Livia, who is with the gryphon, Flurrthith, and one other knight-dragon pair—a dark blue dragon named Xanderanth, with his knight partner Leonhardt.”
Gryffid frowned. “Where are these others you speak of?”
“They landed on the far side of the island to avoid being seen by the pirate fleet. Flurrthith and Livia are making their way here now, over land if need be. It was a very long flight for young Flurrthith. Sir Xanderanth and his knight will fly at Genlitha’s direction once we know where best to place him.”
“I see.” The wizard looked troubled and a little angry, if Gowan was any judge.
“But Sir, you must understand,” Gowan tried to mitigate the damage. “Hrardorr alone is the reason Dragonscove was not overrun. He is worth an entire Lair full of regular dragons. His abilities in the water are unmatched.”
Gryffid turned that cunning gaze on Gowan, and he felt a moment of apprehension. What did he know of wizards? He was a simple soldier. He knew sword work and strategy. The politics of wizards and gryphons was beyond him.
Although…he knew dragons now. Thanks to Seth and Genlitha, he was learning more and more every day. But did that qualify him to meddle in the affairs of wizards?
“If not you, who else?” Genlitha put in, her presence a comforting shadow in his mind, as she had been since the day she’d spoken the words of claim over him.
Buoyed by his dragon partner’s faith in him, Gowan felt once again up to the challenge. He hoped.
“Thanks, Gen. I’ll do my best.”
“That’s all we can ask of ourselves, in the end. Your best is better than most people’s, Gowan, else I never would have chosen you.”
“A sea dragon who can flame, you say?” Gryffid once again had all of Gowan’s attention. The wizard’s expression was thoughtful.
“More like a land dragon who can swim like a fish,” Seth put in helpfully. “Hrardorr is mostly land dragon, but one of his ancestors was a stranded sea dragon who mated with one of ours in Draconia centuries ago. He has very muted coloring, unlike most of our dragons, and more webbing in his claws, which helps propel him through the water. I’ve never seen an actual sea dragon, but I suppose he gains those attributes from his sea dragon ancestor. But other than that, he is all Draconian. He flies well, flames with the best of them and was a fierce fighter on the border.”
“Was?” Gryffid asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. “Is he old then? Retired in the seaside Lair like the others?”
“Oh, no, Sir. He is Genlitha’s age. Not old at all, for a dragon,” Seth was quick to say. “But he did come here to recover. He was injured in the fighting on the border and lost his knight.”
“A tragic thing,” Gryffid said, compassion in his mutable gaze. “But is he still badly injured? Is he fit for this duty?”
“Sir, the worst injury was to his head. He was hit full in the face by skith venom and could not break free to wash it off for far too long. His eyes…” Seth swallowed, visibly looking for the right words. “He is blind, Sir. But underwater, he isn’t. I don’t understand how it works, but he can sense things underwater in ways that allow him to see, in a fashion. It’s only above water that he is…somewhat…crippled.”
Gryffid breathed a sigh. “Echolocation,” he said, the word meaning nothing to Gowan. “It is the way sea dragons see underwater. They emit a pulse of sound, and it comes back to them, telling them the distance to things. It is complicated to us, but natural to them. It seems your dragon friend inherited that aspect of his sea dragon heritage as well. Lucky for us—and for him.” Gryffid began walking again. “Come, we have much to discuss. I have a map in the hall that you need to see.”
Walking beside the gryphon over the green hills of Gryhpon Isle would have been pleasant if not for the dire circumstances that brought them to this foreign land. Flurrthith had given his all flying back to his homeland and simply couldn’t fly another yard. That was fine. Livia liked walking along the countryside. Gryphon Isle was lovely and like no other place she’d ever seen before.
They’d landed in a small cove surrounded by cliffs, out of sight of the enemy ships that nearly surrounded the entire island. Only small sections of coast were free of them—those sections that were either sheer cliffs or those that had dangerous hazards making it impossible for a ship to approach, such as sand bars or rocky outcroppings in the water that could destroy a hull.
The cove they’d chosen was one of the latter. Livia could see the navigation hazards sticking up out of the water all around the mouth of the secluded cove, and some way out into the ocean. And that was just what she could see above the surface. She knew without having to look that there would be even more unseen rocks just below the lapping waves. No way could a ship of any size run that gauntlet and make it to shore in one piece.
The cove was surrounded on both sides by cliffs, so that stretch of coast was free of ships, luckily for Livia and her friends. Xanderanth had landed first, scouting for Flurrthith, who looked completely exhausted. Leo and Xanderanth had stayed for a while to make sure Flurrthith was all right, but after Livia and Flurrthith had made it safely to the top of the sloping cliff face, Xanderanth had launched skyward again, to patrol the far side of the island until called for.
Livia knew he would be called for sooner rather than later. The element of surprise was one of the main things they had going for them and delaying too long would jeopardize that small advantage. She tried not to think too hard about it, concentrating on her task, which was to make sure Flurrthith made it back to his people safely. For all his bravery, he was still a child who might need some help, and Livia was it for now.
“You did so well flying here, Sir Flurrthith,” she praised him, hoping to raise his flagging spirits.
She wasn’t sure if he was just tired or also depressed. He’d accomplished his mission, but he hadn’t brought back a dragon army. She knew he had to be disappointed with that. She was too. She was more than disappointed. She was downright angry with the leaders of the Southern Lair, and if she ever got a chance, she would tell them so in no uncertain terms.
“I’m happy you think sso, Lady Livia. I had hoped…” His words trailed off, but she knew what he was thinking.
“I had too, my friend,” she replied, daring to reach out one hand and stroke the long feathers of his wing, folded on his back. He was very soft compared to dragon scale. “But you did your duty and got word to us. That some did not respond as they should is not your fault. Have faith. I know the king will not let his allies suffer alone. Once he hears what’s happening here, he will send whatever help he can spare. I know he will. Roland is a good and just king.”
“I jusst hope it’ss not all over by then,” Flurrthith answered dejectedly.
“Take heart, Sir Flurrthith. You did not see what I did when Hrardorr sent the enemy running from my home town. If Hrardorr lets loose on the pirates, I doubt they will stand against him, even after knowing what he can do from the last time. No, especially after last time,” she amended her words. “They’d be wise to run at the first sign of him.”
“I hope you are right, Missstresss.”
Poor Flurrthith. It seemed nothing she could say would raise his spirits. They continued walking along until the crested the hill in front of them, and Livia paused. Below them lay a sloping plain that led downward to a town. A lovely town built in a style she had never seen. Each house was ornate with carved wood and worked stone. There were many marvelous statues and works of art everywhere. In fact, the entire place looked like something out of a fairy story.
And maybe it was.
Livia had heard that only fa
ir folk lived on Gryphon Isle. Fey were the next best thing to immortal, and their artisans were said to be the finest in all the lands, for they had many years during which to perfect their skills.
And then, she noticed a dot in the sky, slowly growing larger.
“Is that a gryphon?” Livia pointed into the distance as Flurrthith raised his head, following the direction of her finger. Despite the name of the island, Livia hadn’t seen any other gryphons yet, besides her companion.
Flurrthith didn’t answer, but took off running across the grassy plain, as if to meet the newcomer. There was no way Livia could keep up. Once his cat body got going, he was bounding away faster than her human legs could manage. She watched him go, concerned, but she realized when the faraway dot resolved itself into a large gryphon that Flurrthith was happy to see his friend.
The flying gryphon landed and then enfolded Flurrthith in her wings, holding him close for long moments. Livia could see the older gryphon was female now that it was closer, and she looked enough like Flurrthith for Livia to think maybe it was his mother.
A tear came to her eye at the happy reunion as Livia continued jogging toward them. She didn’t want to intrude on the moment, but she also didn’t want to get left behind in case Flurrthith was so overcome with rejoining his people that he forgot all about her. She could always get help in the town below, but it was still very far away, and she’d have a heck of a time explaining who she was and how she’d arrived there. She’d much rather stick with the gryphons, if at all possible.
CHAPTER NINE
What Gryffid had called a map was a thing of magic. A glowing, transparent representation of what was happening in real time on the waters and beaches of his coastline. Seth had to consciously shut his mouth, his jaw having dropped open in astonishment at first sight of the wizard’s so-called map.
Gowan seemed less impressed with the wizard’s magic and more troubled by what it showed him. He had a scowl on his face as he watched the movement of the ships and the deployment of the gryphons.
“The red ships are the ones we’ve already seen shooting diamond-bladed weapons. They seem to have an endless supply of the things,” Gryffid said, sounding extremely put out.
“Skithdron was being supplied with diamond blades by the Northern barbarians. We believe the pirates got them from Skithdron,” Seth explained.
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Gryffid replied, grimacing.
“The orange ships have only used more conventional weapons to this point. They may be hiding diamond blades somewhere aboard, but have not used them yet. And the yellow ships have not yet engaged with weapons. They’re either scouts or reserve. Or both.” Gryffid summed up the action on his living, glowing map.
“Seth?” Hrardorr’s voice came to him suddenly.
“I’m here. What news?” Seth said quickly, eager to know what the dragon had found.
“I believe I’ve identified all those ships holding diamond blades,” Hrardorr reported. “There are quite a few.”
“We are with the wizard, Hrardorr,” Seth told the dragon. “He’s got this amazing map of the ships they have confirmed shooting the blades, and those that have not.”
“It would be good to compare notes,” Hrardorr said.
“Sir, I’m talking with Hrardorr—” Seth began, but Gryffid held up one hand.
“I heard,” Gryffid said aloud, then switched to silent speech. “Sir Hrardorr, this is Gryffid. First, thank you for coming here to help us. Now, can you see this?” Gryffid opened his eyes wide and concentrated on the glowing map. Seth could only assume he was somehow sending the image to Hrardorr, though Seth wasn’t sure how such a thing could be accomplished.
“You are a mightily gifted wizard if you can make me see through your eyes, sirrah.” Hrardorr’s tone was full of emotion, coming through to all of them. “Some of those yellow ships carry the blades,” he said in a stronger voice as he seemed to regain his equilibrium.
“As I suspected. Can you show me which…” Gryffid’s eyes unfocused for a moment, then he came back. “Yes, I see.” He waved his hand, and several of the yellow ships turned red, as did a few of the orange ones. “Thank you, Sir Hrardorr. My generals have a duplicate of this map in their meeting place, and it, too, has been updated. Now, what is your plan?”
“I would gladly fight at your direction, sirrah.” Hrardorr’s tone was as awed as Genlitha’s had been, though he didn’t seem quite as cowed by the wizard’s presence.
“And I bow to your superior ability and knowledge of the enemy, Sir,” Gryffid said in a respectful tone. “You have faced them before. We will support your action, whatever course you decide to take.”
“I will start by flaming them, then work from below where I can see. I can disable their ships from beneath in many ways.” Hrardorr sounded as if he was looking forward to the battle, which made Seth happy for the dragon, even under such circumstances.
“When the ships start to become disabled, the men on them will make for the shore,” Gowan put in. “That’s what happened in Dragonscove. Your fighters will have to meet them on the beaches.”
“We have already been engaging them in such ways, though not in great numbers,” Gryffid said.
“That will change,” Seth told him. “Once Hrardorr begins his work, many men will make for shore all at once. Your people must be ready for it.”
“I can help there, Sir,” Gowan volunteered. “Genlitha can report from above, and I can help deploy the teams to the right spots with her input.”
“Then, that is what we will do.” Gryffid stood to his full height and seemed to gather his resolve. “Captain Ferator will assign one of his gryphons to take you, Sir Gowan, to the front lines. There is a headquarters set up just beyond our widest stretch of beach. You will work with the captains of our fighting forces there. When you are certain all is ready, you may begin the operation, at your—and Sir Hrardorr’s—discretion.” The wizard’s eye fell to Seth. “Now then, what about you?”
Seth gulped, facing the great man. “I was going to be the liaison between your people and Hrardorr, but if you can communicate with him as easily as a knight, then there is no need. I am a healer of dragons, Sir, but I would be happy to help your gryphons or anyone else, if there is need.”
“He is also the swordsman who led the defense of Dragonscove from the cannon batteries in the harbor,” Gowan put in helpfully. “If you need more fighting men, Seth could definitely help. And he can coordinate with Hrardorr, since they are close friends.”
Gryffid’s eyes lit with interest. “Then, that is what he shall do. We have enough healers for now. Goddess willing, we will not have too many more serious injuries, and your services in that area will not be needed.” Gryffid looked worried for a moment, but turned to a servant who had been standing in the shadows. “Alert Captain Ferator that these two will need fast transport to the beach.”
Less than ten minutes later, Gowan was settling in with the tall blond warriors who led the two-legged fighters of Gryphon Isle. Gowan pointed Seth toward the leader of the winged contingent, and Seth understood his role. He would deal with the winged creatures—liaising between Hrardorr and the gryphons where needed.
Frankly, Seth thought he got the better end of the deal, but then again, Gowan seemed right at home among the fair-skinned warriors of the fair folk. They spoke the same language—that of warriors the world over—and were soon fast friends.
Meanwhile, Seth approached a gryphon who had been pointed out as the general of the fighting wing with caution. He made his ritual bow and waited to be noticed. The male gryphon was huge, much larger than Flurrthith, but they shared a bit of coloration.
Seth couldn’t guess too much about his wingspan, since both wings were folded neatly across the general’s back at the moment. Still, just going by his body size, those wings must be quite broad and powerful. Suddenly, the beak turned, along with the rest of his face, and the gryphon’s eyes were set on Seth. Was it wrong to feel like
prey?
Seth swallowed hard and did his best to stand his ground. It would not do to show fear or weakness to such a strong and intelligent predator.
“You are the healer they’ve ssent me, eh?” the general asked rhetorically.
“I am Seth, apprentice healer of the Southern Lair. I am your liaison to Sir Hrardorr, our best weapon against the pirates,” Seth introduced himself, giving credit where it was due, to Hrardorr.
“I look forward to sseeing thiss weapon in action,” the gryphon replied, and Seth couldn’t tell if his tone was impatient, annoyed or just factual. Seth wasn’t great at interpreting full grown gryphons’ moods yet—if he ever would gain such a skill. The gryphon general’s gaze dropped to the sword and sheath strapped around Seth’s waist. “You carry a blade? Odd for a healer, no?”
“I’m also a student of the sword. Sir Gowan taught me and gifted me this blade just before the battle of Dragonscove,” Seth replied honestly.
“It hass been blooded?” The gryphon looked skeptical.
“Yes,” Seth said quietly, remembering the lives he’d been forced to take and the many injuries he’d inflicted on the invaders before it was all over.
“Ah.” The gryphon nodded sagely. “Well, then. Perhapss you will be of ssome usse, after all. Tell me, when doess thiss ssecret weapon plan to sstart working?”
“Hrardorr?” Seth sent his silent message quickly, hoping for an update.
“I am nearly in position,” came the reply just as fast. “Is the beach defense ready? I’m going to start on the eastern point and work my way down the beach.”
