by Nick McNeil
“Sometimes it takes a minute.” Bertly blew the whistle again, but still there was no sign of Clia. “Peculiar.”
“Maybe we can go and grab her,” Edfrid added. “Everyone else can stay down here with Bear. After this adventure, I’m not sure I have it in me to crank her all the way up the mountain.”
Bertly chuckled and looked back to his acquaintances. “I will be right back. Stay here while my father and I retrieve Clia.”
The Winter Wizard and his father arrived at the top of the mountain and stood in the entrance of Stonebank. The smell of the air was the only thing Bertly recognized of his hometown.
“It’s quieter than usual.” As Edfrid approached the city, he seemed in a rush. “The streets are half full.”
Bertly looked all over the city, and nowhere did it seem as busy as it had when he’d first returned. He observed the city’s castle. “Look, near my statue, there is a huge crowd of people.” Bertly and his father took off. They turned every head that was still walking the streets, and it was not long before the masses flocked to them. People shouted, “The Winter Wizard!” and, “The warden!” Bertly and Edfrid, being the two largest folks in town, were able to shove their way through the crowd.
Bertly’s priority was looking for Clia. Still, he couldn’t help his excitement over all the people herding around him. “Pardon me, my magnificent people,” the Winter Wizard sang. “Oh, for me?” He grabbed a blue rose from a woman in the crowd and held it up to his face. People gathered just to lay out flowers and offer food.
“Oh, thank you, thank you,” Bertly said as people gifted him all sorts of small items. His ego had grown so large he could physically feel it developing inside him. “You are all far too kind.”
“I see I raised a very humble young man.” Edfrid shook his head.
“I am a man of the people, Father.” Bertly waved and shook hands with every human he could as they bustled through the crammed roads. “What can I say?”
As Edfrid pushed through the crowd, the citizens’ hands were all over him; however, he seemed not to notice. “Aye, then act like one.”
“I do,” Bertly shouted.
“Ah, is that why you stole the golden pepper from Lemon’s farm?” Edfrid countered.
Bertly’s chest tightened and his skin crawled. He looked at his father with a blank face as he stopped shaking the hands and greeting the residents of Stonebank.
“When you were knocked out, before the trip back, I had to go through your sack to get peppers for everyone.”
Bertly’s mouth dried up, and he couldn’t muster a defense or an explanation.
“Are you going to at least attempt to make up some horrible excuse?”
Bertly shook his head. “I don’t have one.” The tugging and prodding from Bertly’s fellow humans was now closer to bothersome than it was encouraging.
“What’s your plan?” Edfrid asked.
“I didn’t really have one.” Bertly looked ahead toward his statue. They couldn’t get there any sooner, and he wanted nothing more than for the conversation to be over. “I thought I could enchant it to do something, or use it somehow.”
“You don’t have many options. You can sell it for a nice payday, or you can give it back to Lemon so he at least has it for next season. His peppers are most likely dead already. You know what the right thing is.” Edfrid looked over at Bertly, with his eyes cast in such a way that Bertly could see his disappointment. “But I’m not going to make you do it. This is your decision,” Edfrid added. “I know why you haven’t taken it back yet, and it’s the same reason I wouldn’t have taken it back…if I’m being honest with you.”
Bertly and his father approached the statue. The thickness of the crowd became so dense it was hard even for the warden of Stonebank and the Winter Wizard to shove through.
“You wouldn’t give it back?” Bertly inquired.
“I am going to answer your question with another,” Edfrid replied. “Why haven’t you given it back?”
Bertly hesitated. “Because I don’t want the people of Noskar to know what I did. Everyone is looking to me to bring them…something.” His chest loosened and his heartbeat returned to normal. “I feel highly anticipated and overestimated, and all I want is for everyone to like me.”
“You’ve set yourself up for failure if that’s your goal.” Edfrid snorted. “If you can manage to make a fraction of the people you meet like you, then you’ve done something right.”
Bertly didn’t answer, but somehow, he felt like turning around and running all the way back to the Academy.
Edfrid nudged his son. “The reason I’m not mad is because I did the same thing when I was your age.”
Bertly’s eyelids raised and his lips parted. “You did?”
“Yes, when I was about a year older than you. And I didn’t turn it in for the same reasons. My pride wouldn’t let me admit to everyone that I’d made such a horrible, irreversible mistake.”
“What did you do?” Bertly asked as he and his father squeezed their way past the sculpture of Bertly and toward the castle steps.
“Sold it for a small fortune,” Edfrid bluntly stated.
“You what?” Bertly yelled.
Edfrid came to a standstill. “Well, I’ll be damned.” Spread across the castle stairs were scores of people bowing down and showing their offerings. They held up fresh fruits, vegetables, and buckets of worms. Poised at the top of the staircase was an arrogant gryphon lying on its chest, with its front legs crossed. Its beak was stuck high in the air as humans flocked around and stood on stools just to hand-feed it. Several people surrounded the gryphon’s legs, manicuring its sharp talons and grooming its feathers.
One of Bertly’s eyebrows raised as his eyes remained half closed. “I see Clia let herself out of the barn.”
XIX
Bertly stood next to his father, who sat on his icy throne. The Winter Wizard’s arms were crossed across his chest. He glared at Clia’s body; she sprawled across the light blue rug that divided the snow-colored room.
Bertly stepped forward. “What happened to staying in the dragon stable?”
Clia turned her head away.
“Guards.” Edfrid clapped his hands. “Please fill us in.”
“Sir.” Amongst the line of guards, one had a symbol of a sword across his chest. “A few moments after you left, the gryphon escorted herself out of the castle.”
Edfrid narrowed his eyebrows and lowered his voice. “Did you try to stop her?”
“Yes, sir. But she put up quite a fight,” the captain responded. Bertly looked over the group of soldiers. Many had bandages and wore tattered uniforms. “Instead of calling for the archers, we assumed it was best to let her roam the city at will.” The lead soldier looked at his men. “I don’t think any of us had the intent to harm a gryphon, sir.”
“You made the right decision, Captain,” Edfrid assured him.
The captain continued, “It only took a couple of hours before word spread across the whole town there was a gryphon in Stonebank.” The soldier’s voice grew. “Humans have seen a dragon more recently than a gryphon. We took to the streets…” The soldier paused. “The citizens took to the streets and celebrated all night. They assumed it to be a blessing from Cordelia.”
“How did word not spread before?” Bertly asked.
“I presume they were too distracted by the return of the Winter Wizard for it to really settle in, sir.” The soldier kneeled. “I think only Cordelia herself would have brought more joy for the citizens to see than you, sir.”
“Ha.” Bertly smirked. “You are too kind.” The wizard whipped his cloak behind himself and strolled toward Clia. “So, we leave for five days and you think you run the place?”
Clia let out a drawn-out yawn and rested her head on the ground.
“Well then, I suppose I will just have to leave for the Academy without you.” As Bertly walked for the entrance, Clia popped her he
ad back up. That was the most alert Bertly had seen her since he returned.
“You got her attention with that one.” Edfrid laughed.
Clia stood up in a rush and paced to the entryway of the throne hall that overlooked Stonebank. Bertly walked out next to her and leaned into her soft-feathered body. Rows of guards were lined up at the bottom of the stairs, holding back masses of humans from rushing the castle. Mixed into the swarms of people were humans waving quilts and holding painted signs. Sprinkled throughout were images of Bertly, Clia, Polly, Edfrid, and Cordelia—most were of the Winter Wizard.
“You haven’t been here a full cycle and already they have you painted on wood and sewn into blankets.” Bertly nestled his fingers between her feathers. “This is a better home for you, Clia.”
She stepped back and let out a gracious chirp.
“You’re locked away all day at the Academy, but here…” Bertly closed his eyes and listened to the cheers of the citizens. “Here you will be worshipped.” Bertly reached out and rested his hand under her beak. “If you think about it, I won’t be all that far away. You’re the fastest creature in all of Pangea; you can still visit me anytime you’d like.”
Clia pressed her forehead into Bertly’s.
“Plus, I think my father will be more than happy to go for nightly rides with you. He needs to get out of the house.”
Bertly took his hands and squished them into her cheeks, ruffling her feathers in all sorts of directions. He brought her face closer, making her eye level with him. “I do, however, have one more favor to ask of you.” Bertly smiled. “I will still be needing a ride to the Academy.”
Clia let out a loud squawk; Bertly assumed she didn’t mind at all.
“Wonderful,” he replied. “Stay right here. I need to say goodbye to my father.” Bertly turned around.
“I get a gryphon, aye.” Edfrid was standing with his hands on his hips and his chin up.
“How much of that did you hear?” Bertly lowered his eyebrows.
“Enough to know I get a gryphon.” Edfrid clapped and walked in Clia’s direction. “We will build the stables just how you like it. I also hear gryphons like high perches.”
Clia cocked her head.
“We will get you the tallest perch in the world. I will send some guards to retrieve mammoth hay for you. It’s the warmest in all the land.”
Clia propped up and rounded her eyes into the shape of plates.
“We have this huge lake just near the south side. We can fill it with fish in only a few cycles for you.”
Clia started to bounce around.
“Father,” Bertly interrupted with a smile, “you’re rambling. I need to borrow Clia for a day, but she will be back soon. You can get started on all these projects while she is traveling.”
Edfrid cleared his throat and adjusted his vest. “Right.” His voice dropped several octaves. “Well, I suppose I will be seeing you soon?”
“Yes,” Bertly confirmed. “Drizzle Day is less than eighty nights away.”
“You’d better not forget, Bertly,” Edfrid grumbled.
“Don’t worry, I don’t think Roderick is going to let me forget.” Bertly and his father chuckled. “I haven’t had a holiday in nearly seven years, and if I miss this one, I will have to wait another five hundred nights.” Bertly shook his head. “I’ve missed Noskar. Now that I am a master, I will be coming back here more often. I have plans for this country.” That rang a bell in Bertly’s head. He reached into his travel sack and pulled out the crystals from the Dragon’s Crypt. “I almost forgot about these.” He extended them to his father. “Keep these safe. I will be needing them.”
Edfrid took the crystals from his son. “What did you have in mind?”
“I’m going to leave that as a surprise.” Bertly whistled and Clia bent over for him to climb aboard. “I know you hate goodbyes just as much as I do.” He climbed aboard the feathered creature. “So let’s save it for when we actually mean it.”
“Aye,” Edfrid agreed. “I will see you in seventy-seven nights.”
Clia flapped her wings and whisked away with the Winter Wizard aboard.
***
Clia and Bertly flew through the entrance and scaled down the side of the mountain, beside the tracks of the wooden lift. Bertly could see Polly, Devdan, and Roderick coming into view, all of them resting next to Bear. The wizard’s heart skipped a beat; he had forgotten Bear was still down there. Clia made a strange grunt, and Bertly felt her feathers grip him and her body tense up. She burst into a speed he had yet to experience. She landed abruptly and tipped back onto her hind legs.
“Clia, it’s okay,” Bertly shouted.
Clia flopped onto all fours and growled.
Bertly looked ahead. Standing in front of him was Bear. His friends hid behind her—Polly’s dragon was nestled in her arms. Bear snarled her teeth, drool sliding between them. “I did not think about this.” Bertly placed his hands on his head. “Clia, this is Bear.” He slid off the furry gryphon. “When I was on my trip…I soul-bonded with this bear. Like Alestar did with you.”
Clia turned her head toward Polly.
“And that is Polly’s new companion,” Bertly continued. “She’s a dragon. Maybe you two can fly together one day.”
Polly jerked her head and stared deeply into Bertly’s eyes.
Bertly felt as though he was about to become lunch. “Or not,” he added.
Clia crept toward Bear and the others, her body much stiffer than usual. Bear continued to growl as Clia got within breathing distance. However, the gryphon brushed right past Bear. Clia extended her beak and placed her face right next to Polly and her dragon. Bertly could hear Roderick’s teeth chattering from a few dozen paces away. Clia poked the dragon and cocked her head back. Polly yelped and Clia trotted back to Bertly.
Bertly spread his arms with his palms facing up. “What just happened?”
Clia chirped and bent over for him to climb aboard.
“I think she likes the dragon, sir,” Roderick responded.
“Or she realizes the dragon isn’t a threat,” Devdan added.
“Either way, I’m glad we still have our ride home.” Roderick dashed toward Clia. “This place is too cold.”
“I never thought I’d see you so excited to fly, Roderick.” Polly chuckled.
As Bertly’s traveling partners situated themselves with Clia, he took the opportunity to have a moment with Bear. “I know we haven’t had much time together, but I will miss you, big bear.” He scratched behind her ear. “I will see you in due time. Don’t make it too rough for those guards escorting you.” Bear rotated her head and lifted her snout, allowing Bertly to scratch under her chin. Bertly had to reach far above his head just to reach. “No promises, I see. Fair enough.” He patted her on the chest. “I really do look forward to seeing you soon. Please come home safe.”
***
“Sir?” Roderick placed his pen on the parchment laid out in front of him and walked over to his master. “Sir,” Roderick emphasized as he poked him in the chest. Bertly flailed his arms and gasped. “Did you fall asleep, sir? We have a novel to write.”
“Of course not, Roderick.” Bertly rubbed his eyes and stretched. “I was only resting, not sleeping.”
“Right, sir,” Roderick agreed. “That’s why words stopped coming out of your mouth.”
“Roderick.” Bertly elevated his cheeks to push against his lowering eyelids. “We have a book to write, so I suggest you get back to writing.”
Bertly’s apprentice sat back in his seat and shook his quill. “Ready whenever you are, sir.”
The Winter Wizard began to speak, but the words stumbled out of his mouth. “Which part were we on again? You distracted me.”
“The part where we were arriving at the Decomposite,” Roderick responded.
“Oh, right.” Bertly sat up straight and placed his finger on his chin. “Bertly, along with Polly, the twins
, and an incompetent group of failures, made their way through the Remnant Forest.”
“I knew you fell asleep!” Roderick shouted. “We were at the part where we were heading back to the Academy.”
Bertly’s nose crinkled and his face turned red. His fists were so tight that the sound of the leather stretching could be heard. The Winter Wizard clenched his jaw. “Roderick, we do not have time for your tomfooleries. You-know-who is almost here, and if we do not finish now, then we may never have the chance.” Bertly stood up. “This is not just a story about me, my apprentice. Your legacy is very much intertwined into this tale as well. I suggest you start taking this a bit more seriously.”
“Sir, I have written three-fourths of a book, I feel as though I am taking it quite seriously.” Roderick shook his head and pressed his quill against the paper. “Ready whenever you are,” he groaned.
***
With two days to spare and just before the sun started to shed light, the Winter Wizard and his companions arrived safely at the Academy.
“Remember, you can visit me anytime you’d like.” Bertly pulled out Clia’s whistle. “And be listening for me, because sometimes I may need you.” Bertly and his gryphon nuzzled foreheads, and in a moment too soon, Clia was in the air and headed back to Stonebank. Bertly would miss seeing her every night, but he knew she had a better life waiting for her, one a gryphon deserved.
“Are you going to be okay, Bertly?” Polly asked.
Bertly turned toward her and shrugged as though he didn’t know. “I have Bear now and we are soul-bonded. It wouldn’t be fair to her to keep a gryphon around.”
“I know why you did it, Bertly.” Polly put her arm around his shoulder. “But that doesn’t make it easy.”
“Sir, I am going inside. I haven’t had a good meal in nearly a cycle.” Roderick stood with his arms crossed over his stomach. “We elves aren’t meant to be starved out like this.” Without hesitation Bertly’s apprentice took off for the dining hall.
