by Andi Van
“I’ll take good care of them,” Whogs promised seriously. “All of us will. Now, Tasis also said something about wanting to go up only long enough to speak with the spirit bird. I have a suggestion for that as well. What the youth who climb the mountain don’t know is there’s a hidden path up. It’s not an easy one, but it’s a fair piece better than climbing the mountain’s face. I can lead you up, and then I can lead Tasis back.”
He stopped and gave Kelwin a searching look, his eyes narrowed. “You do trust me with him, yes?”
“I’m an adult—well, okay, I’m close enough to one—and can make my own decisions,” Tasis reminded the giant, his expression dark. “You do recall that, right?”
“And me,” Zaree interjected. “I go where Tasis goes.”
“Hush,” Whogs told him. “I’m on your side on this, both of you. But it’s not me you have to live with. Do you want Kelwin to be mad about this and barely talking to Tasis when you part ways in the morning?”
Tasis’s eyes grew wide with horror as he considered the implication of Whogs’s words, and Kelwin sighed. “That’s not going to happen,” he told Tasis. “I already agreed to you going up long enough to talk to the bird, right? I’d feel better if you had someone with you on the way back down. Because let’s face it, Zaree will have your back and all, but she’s going to be far too concerned about not falling off the mountain to keep a close eye on you too.”
“Yeah, sorry. If it were anyone else, they wouldn’t be able to pay me enough gold to get me up that thing,” Zaree admitted. “I’d sooner sail a half-rotted boat through kraken-infested waters. That situation would certainly leave me feeling less like I’m going to die.”
Whogs laughed, and they could feel the vibration of it roll through the floor. “You won’t die, girl. Death would take one look at you and run the other way. But with that decided, we should all probably be getting some sleep. We have a long day ahead of us.”
“You’re right,” Kelwin agreed, trying to keep the heaviness out of his voice. Certainly, what they were doing was necessary, but it was also dangerous. And while he had no interest in any type of leadership, the others seemed to be looking at him as if he were heading this expedition. This made him feel responsible for them, and even though he knew full well they could take care of themselves—okay, he wasn’t completely certain Jorget could keep himself out of trouble, but that wasn’t necessarily the same thing—it weighed on him a little. But he supposed now wasn’t the time to think about that. He stood and took Tasis’s hand to help him up. “Are we staying in the same place?” he asked Whogs.
“Same place,” Whogs confirmed with a nod. “Emlynn and Nabiha will be staying here tonight, in Em’s room. As for Jorget….”
“It’s okay,” Zaree said. “He can share the second room with me. I trust him.”
“Trusts him not to have a death wish, at any rate,” Tasis muttered, earning him a nudge in the ribs from Kelwin. “Ow, what was that for?”
Kelwin gave him a look, then shook his head before smiling at Whogs again. “We’ll see you in the morning.”
The giant chuckled as Kelwin dragged Tasis outside. When they were away from the others, Tasis surprised him by practically tackling him with a hug. “I’m not the only one that needs to be careful.”
Kelwin nodded, resting his cheek against the top of Tasis’s head. “I know. I promise I’ll do everything in my power to stay safe.” He smiled when he felt Tasis nod, and gave him a squeeze before letting go. “Come on, let’s go. The others are bound to follow right behind us, and we don’t need to subject ourselves to Zaree’s comments tonight.”
“Remind me to tell Reikos to ask her out before she drives everyone insane,” Tasis grumbled.
Kelwin laughed, took hold of his lover’s hand, and led him down the road to their accommodations.
Chapter 11
“WELL,” REIKOS said as he craned his neck to try to see the peak. “This is rather a big mountain, isn’t it?”
“Your brilliance is wasted in the royal guard,” Zaree said dryly as she rolled her eyes. “Of course it’s big. It’s a mountain, for Maker’s sake.”
Jorget looked up much the way Reikos had and shrugged. “Well, I don’t know. There are mountains, and then there’s this. It’s kind of excessive, isn’t it?”
Shan laughed. “Well it’s not like the mountain planned it that way.” He looked at Whogs and raised an eyebrow. “You say there’s a path up this monstrosity? I’ll admit to being glad about not having to climb my way up with ropes and hooks.”
“Where’s your sense of adventure?” Lifit, who had joined their party on the way out of the village, boomed. “It’s just a little one.”
“To a twenty-foot-tall giant, maybe,” Shan said with a snort.
Daro let out a whine as Kelwin looked up the expanse as well, but the elf stayed silent as he began to take in exactly how large a task he had gotten himself into. Even knowing he wasn’t going to have to actually climb, it was intimidating. The place looked nice enough, what with the amount of greenery he could see and the number of birds he could hear, but the top was shrouded in clouds. “Are those clouds always there?”
Lifit and Whogs both looked up, then looked at each other and shrugged. “I guess so,” Whogs said. “I don’t think anyone has ever paid attention to it.”
Tasis gave Kelwin a speculative look. “What are you thinking?”
“It could be my imagination getting away from me,” Kelwin said slowly. “But I happened to think about the storms Vashk set up.”
“What storms?” Reikos asked, turning away from the mountain to look at him.
Kelwin glanced at the rest of the guards, and gave his head a little shake. Hopefully Reikos got the hint. Telling Reikos about the storms protecting the isle was one thing, but talking about it in front of a bunch of guards he didn’t know, even if Reikos did trust them, was a completely different story. Tasis must have been in the same mind, because he ignored Reikos’s question and asked, “You think they might be magic, then?”
“Well, I don’t think we can discount the notion. If one guild is shrouded, it wouldn’t be a surprise to find another in the same state.”
“Now I kind of wish I hadn’t promised you I wouldn’t continue past the bird.”
K’yerin, who was safely ensconced in Tasis’s arms, let out a low growl. Clearly, the cat didn’t like the idea of Tasis putting himself in harm’s way any more than Kelwin did. And Kelwin couldn’t blame Tasis for wanting to be there. He was well aware of his lover’s abundant curiosity, and the thought of there possibly being another abandoned guild hall he wasn’t allowed to enter had to be incredibly frustrating. Hopefully, if that’s what Kelwin and the others stumbled across, he’d be able to share it with Tasis after making sure it was safe. Because as much as he worried for Tasis, he also didn’t want to hold him back. “Well, the day isn’t getting any younger. Shall we begin?”
The hike wasn’t so bad to start off. The grade was gentle, and the path was wide. Whogs and Emlynn took the lead with Tasis following, still holding Rin, and Kelwin walking behind them. Daro had started off at Kelwin’s side, but he’d soon taken to leaving the path, popping back every once in a while to check on their progress. Behind Tasis and Kelwin were Jorget and Zaree, followed by the small group of guards. Lifit walked to the rear, ostensibly to make sure they didn’t lose anyone, but Kelwin had a feeling he was actually there because he didn’t trust the guards, despite the fact they left their heavy armor behind. Kelwin was glad for it, because beyond Reikos, he didn’t know who of the men he could trust. He supposed he could probably trust Shan, but friends had been known to backstab friends before. It would take time. For now he felt there was at least a little danger in putting all of his faith in the strangers.
Nabiha had opted to stay behind in the village. She’d admitted it wasn’t only for the fact she would either have to carry Malik a long distance or leave him behind, but because she still carried a strong fear
of her parents finding her and taking her brother away. She would under no circumstances risk the little boy, a stance everyone in their group had understood. She had wished them well at Whogs’s door, and then watched them as they left. Lifit confessed during the trip that he’d made Brolt aware the girl was alone, and in return the chief had offered to send for her so she could spend the day with him until those who would be returning from the mountain could be with her.
“Is it me, or do the trees seem a little odd?” Jorget asked suddenly, his brow wrinkling with confusion.
They slowed their pace to a stop at his question, and Kelwin stepped to the edge of the path to take a look. “You’re right,” he said after a moment of observation. “They look similar to the other plants in the area, enough so someone passing by might not notice, but these aren’t plants I’m familiar with.” He shrugged off the pack he was wearing and opened it to pull out a small handful of cloth drawstring bags.
“Well, we may as well take a break,” Tasis said, not bothering to hide his fond amusement. “He won’t move on until he’s collected samples for Aldris.”
“Even if he hadn’t, now’s a good time to stop,” Lifit said, shielding his eyes with one hand as he looked around. “The hike is about to start getting rough. When we get going again, be careful. The path will get narrower and steeper quickly.”
“Great,” Zaree muttered under her breath, just loud enough for those nearest her to hear.
Kelwin ignored them and continued about his task. Occasionally Daro would interrupt him by nosing in another new plant and whining. He was a much better helper than Kelwin would’ve expected, though with the intelligence he’d witnessed from the canine over the past year or so, he probably shouldn’t have been surprised. Kelwin had finished filling the last bag when someone cleared their throat behind him. He turned, and smiled when he saw Tasis. “You know,” Tasis said, “it’s not like the mountain’s going anywhere. You can always come back.”
“And I probably will,” Kelwin agreed. “But I’ve finished anyway. Are we ready to go?”
“Just waiting on you,” Tasis admitted.
Kelwin stood and gave him a quick peck on the lips, earning him a melodramatic “awwww” from some of the guards. He made an obscene gesture at them, not taking his eyes off his beloved. “How are you holding up?”
“Okay so far,” Tasis said hesitantly. “But it hasn’t been that bad. I’m worried about getting to the top, but Whogs said he’d carry me if I couldn’t go any farther.”
Before Kelwin could answer, there was an unholy scream from deep within the trees. “What in the Maker’s name was that?” Zaree asked, the quarterstaff she usually carried at the ready.
“We need to go,” Lifit called out from behind them. “Now.”
“Because of what made that noise?” Tasis asked, grabbing up an armful of Kelwin’s samples before rushing back to the group, Daro and K’yerin pressing close, though Kelwin wasn’t sure if it was to protect Tasis or in hopes he would protect them. Tasis opened Kelwin’s pack and began to stuff the drawstring bags in. “What was that, anyway?”
“That was a gryphon,” Lifit said, his eyes firmly fixed in the direction the scream had come from. “That’s the warning cry a mother makes if you’re too close to her nest. She should leave us alone, but if we don’t move fast enough—”
He didn’t get to finish his words before a creature roughly the size of a large horse came barreling out of the forest, letting out another ear-piercing shriek, wings spread in an obvious attempt to look larger and more threatening. Kelwin certainly felt threatened, but something kept him pinned in place, and he had a feeling it was fear. The thing clacked her beak at them as she tore at the ground with enormous talons. It looked as if a giant hawk and a massive feline had collided and become a single entity, and while beautiful, she was as odd as she was majestic. She dropped into a posture Kelwin recognized as the same crouch K’yerin would go into before pouncing on Daro, and he began to wonder if this was the danger Vashk had foreseen. If it was, Tasis needed to be protected.
Before he could move, though, Reikos had sidled up to him, his sword at the ready. The gryphon must have encountered someone with a sword before, because she shrieked again, getting up on her back legs to have both sets of talons at the ready. Daro let out a low growl of warning, and K’yerin hissed.
“Stop!”
Kelwin had expected someone to give that command, but he hadn’t guessed it would come from Zaree, who stood protectively in front of her brother. When Reikos didn’t immediately listen, she snarled again. “Put down the damnable sword and step back, Reikos.”
“She’s trying to attack us,” the guard protested, though the sword lowered a fraction of an inch.
“She’s trying to protect her young, as any decent mother would,” Zaree spat back. “If she dies, her young die. Step away, Reikos. You too, Kel.”
After what seemed like an eternity, Reikos finally complied, lowering his sword and taking several steps backward to put some distance between him and the gryphon. The gryphon, in turn, lowered one of her front claws, cocking her head to one side as if confused.
“Step back, Kel,” Zaree said, her voice losing its sharp edge. “She’s not going to hurt you.”
Indeed, the beast seemed to merely be watching them cautiously now, and Kelwin used the opportunity to take several steps back until he was next to Tasis. A part of him was amused that even with a large, wild creature he’d never laid eyes on before threatening to rip them all apart, he was still holding on to the samples Tasis hadn’t taken from him. The rest of him wondered how they were going to get out of this mess.
And then Zaree dropped her quarterstaff to the ground. It fell harmlessly to her feet, and she held her hands spread at her sides to show she wasn’t carrying anything. “We’re only traveling through,” she said, her words directed at the gryphon. “We aren’t here to hurt you or your young.”
“Zar, what in the Maker’s name—”
Zaree let out a hissed noise, a wordless order for Reikos to shut his mouth and keep it shut. When he did so, Kelwin let out a sigh of relief, though he was of a similar opinion. He had no idea what Zaree thought she was doing, but against all odds it seemed to be working.
Except the beast took a step toward them.
“Keep your weapons lowered,” Zaree barked when Reikos grabbed for his sword again. “She’s not attacking. Surely you can tell the difference between a curious animal and an angry one.” She took one step forward, then another, and paused. The gryphon did the same, and with that was directly in front of the girl. They stared at each other for a silent moment, and then the thing raised one wing and began to groom it.
Kelwin heard Jorget let out a nervous titter of laughter, probably because that was the last thing he’d expected the gryphon to do. Thankfully, she didn’t pay any attention to the noise. She simply lifted her head away from her wing, a large feather in her beak. She leaned forward, gently nudged Zaree’s arm with her head, and waited. Zaree looked to be as surprised as the rest of them, but she reached out cautiously with one hand and took hold of the feather. The gryphon let go of it, making another clacking sound, though this one didn’t seem angry. And then, to everyone’s immense surprise, she gave Zaree a deep bow before turning and heading back into the forest. The girl stared after her, the large brown-and-tan feather still in her hand. When all was quiet, Zaree turned to look at them, her dark eyes wide. “What in the Maker’s fertile expanse just happened?” she asked, her voice shaking.
“You have been tested,” Emlynn answered, her voice holding no small amount of awe. “And you have been found worthy.”
“She’s been found insane,” Reikos spat. “What if that thing had attacked her?”
“But she didn’t,” Emlynn said, giving the guard a cool look. “Zaree handled the situation correctly and was rewarded for her compassion. It is not for you to judge.” The girl joined Zaree, taking the feather from Zaree’s trembling hand.
“Let me put this with mine so it won’t be damaged.”
“Yes,” Zaree said, the shake in her voice gaining strength rapidly. “Yes, thank you.”
And then she crumpled to the ground in a faint.
“I’ve got her,” Lifit said, picking up Zaree as if she weighed nothing. Considering she looked like a toddler in his arms, that was probably the case. “We need to get moving. If there’s one gryphon here, there are likely more. They tend to live in small colonies.” He sighed when most of the group gave him a confused look. “A group. A group of gryphons is called a colony.”
“Well, how are we supposed to know that?” Reikos asked irritably, his eyes firmly fixed on Zaree’s prone form. “I’m pretty sure none of the rest of us knew they even existed.”
“I’ve heard of them,” Tasis admitted. “But I thought they were myths. You know, like we thought merfolk were.” He let out a snort and shrugged before bending down to pick up K’yerin, who was still winding around his ankles in a protective manner. “I suppose that alone should have told me they might be real.”
“We thought dragons were myths too,” Kelwin pointed out, stroking Daro’s fur in an effort to calm him. The poor wolf’s fur was still fluffed out defensively. “I’m starting to think we shouldn’t discount any myths at this point.”
“Keep an open mind,” Jorget murmured to himself. “Huh.”
“What is it?” Tasis asked him, turning to see the other mage’s face was screwed up in thought.
Jorget’s face cleared and he shrugged. “Nothing much,” he said. “One of the things Denekk said to me before I left was that I needed to keep an open mind. He reminded me of the same thing when I contacted him the other night. I always thought he was talking about keeping an open mind because of your relationship with Kelwin, but I’m starting to think that might be good advice about everything.”