We diverted from approaching the city to get a look at where we would be adventuring. Close to the slow-flowing lava our flight of five banked over a large section of trees. I studied a partially overgrown trail that lead this way from the city. Before the lava rock started you could see an old camping spot used by adventurers to hunt the lava golems. If I had to guess it would take an hour and a half to walk this far from the city. I checked around the trail for signs of Horde but saw none. I gave a further look and found an orc settlement far south down the river. It was not overly large but it could pose a problem if we did not have a lookout. I continued to study the area around the camp from the air. You could see where previous adventurers had lured their prey into large pits beside the dried lava rocks. All the traps were dug into the soft earth outside where the lava rock ended. It made sense as it probably was the only place to dig easily.
Lord Nova told us we were moving in closer to get a good look at the golems themselves. I immediately felt the uncomfortable heat from the magma. The orange and deep red molten lava crept ever so slowly being pulled downward by Vin's gravity. The dried black rock continued for a good mile before the actual magma was prevalent. Along the snaking trail of the molten rock were caves.
Inside and around the caves loitered a creature that stood ten feet tall on two legs with two arms. The creatures were a shaded gray, the thick shell-like skin making them less humanoid and more monsters. They had ruby eyes, which if I guessed were actual gems. The mannerisms of the creatures were lethargic and simple. A few looked up at us but most meandered around. One roared at us and I saw square large teeth meant for pressure biting. Across the landscape, there were thousands, if not tens of thousands of them. They were prolific in their numbers which made sense because they were so hard to kill and then you had the peace accord limitations.
I had no idea what they sustained themselves off of, how they breed, or what their weaknesses were. I did know the best way to kill them was by bludgeoning them in a trap or drowning via trap. Since there was no close water source the common way in the past had been the pit trap and then roll a giant rock on them. With my strength though I figured I could bludgeon them with the right club. I would need a good distraction and I happened to have brought ten of those with me.
I had seen enough for now and started to form a plan. We took a slow flight over the trail towards Malvia, it was nice to get a good view of our proposed path. I saw a few game trails but no traps or recent signs of the Horde.
We felt the tingle of the barrier as we flew over the farm and livestock fields used to sustain the city. There were two tiers of housing here, the poor in the outer ring. The wealthy in a second ring protected behind another tall wall. The main difference of Malvia from Lakeland was the entire place was clean. That and the Count's manor was not alone on its own, it was in a line of fancy homes, the largest and most extravagant of the group. We made it to the roost and landed.
Lord Nova immediately got upset. There was arguing between him and the resident griffins. They were trying to justify their rationed food intake to Lord Nova, who incidentally bellowed at them to be silent. The hierarchy of the griffin nobility was coming into play and it was my first time experiencing it. The result went from debate to a lecture. Lord Nova told the Malvia pride leader and her pride under no circumstances were they to do anything besides fly direct to Fernlan and eat full meals. When the pack of fifteen griffins launched themselves out of the city and flew east, Lord Nova turned to me.
“How much of that did you follow Gryff,” Nova asked.
“It was hard to follow, you talk so fast among yourselves that I struggle to keep up. The basics were they had not eaten in a while and something about orders from the King. The details were beyond me sorry.” I told Nova.
“Well, this seals the Emperor's fate as a puppet of the Horde. There were two stories, one from a low pride member who was sent to King Dorian's capital for trade. That story was that the griffins there overhead that Dorian got a direct letter from the Emperor to quit feeding all griffins inside his realm. That the Horde had promised additional expanded barrier cities for humanity to reclaim if the griffins were removed from current human cities. The other story was the Malvia pride leader Scarlet telling me that it had to have been misheard and that Malvia was trying to help, they merely were short on food as was everyone else. That is where I lost my temper, pulled rank, and sent them to Fernlan. I really wished she had challenged my authority. It would have been a good fight, but I would have won due to my superior size and fighting skills.
“Tread carefully here Gryff, this city is no friend of yours. It is clear now that there are two factions inside the human race. Those that are pro griffin, and are willing to sacrifice to see them prosper. Then there are those who see us as a massive food sink that is a liability. With no war to help protect them from, we are an unnecessary burden. Which is sad and disgusting. Not to mention disgraceful to those who fought and died for them. Yet that is what Salvoni and Dorian are, weaklings who let others die so they can live. As soon as those fifteen arrive in Fernlan I expect word to head down to King Aves and the griffins to take action. Things will get bloody in the game for Emperor and we griffins will pick Horus as the next likely choice. Assuming he is not murdered in the process. I hate politics, right Gryff?” Lord Nova said as he pawed a divot in the dirt in frustration.
Well, a civil war within humanity's remaining cities would be disastrous, but equally impossible due to the accords. It was going to be assassinations more than likely. It was not like King Horus could take an army and invade Deltan and seize the throne for himself. It would probably be the griffins who could, they were the only ones who could move in large numbers. Maybe that was a mistake by the Horde to allow them free movement, or maybe this is what they wanted. A war between human leadership and the griffins. Actually based on everything I had heard that seemed the exact thing they wanted. Destabilize the relationship between the two species in the hopes that the better fighting griffins died off. Well, that could not come to fruition. I was not sure what I could do but I was angry.
Velia smiled at me after our feet touched the ground. I wanted to let her smile fade some of my burning fury but I was having a struggle controlling my rage. I inhaled a few quick breaths and walked to the roost entrance. An attendant and a guard waited for me.
“Name and reason for visit to Malvia.” The attendant said. The man was wearing a simple brown robe and had a tired demeanor as if he didn't care what I had to say. The guard beside him looked angry.
“Earl Gryff of Fernlan, and we are here to make purchases. Then tomorrow wish to travel to the south side of Maltan to see the sights, maybe do a little hiking.” I said to the two men with a large fake smile.
This set the guard off. He became agitated and was gripping his weapon's hilt so tight his hand was red.
“That is a laugh as if the Count will let some foreign noble hunt his lands in violation of the King's laws. I am to guide you to him anyway. The captain should be here at any moment with your escort detail. We were on strict orders to ensure the griffins did not leave the roost. We want to make sure that blame falls onto you.” The guard said with disdain.
I sighed. I was at a crossroads. If I walked into the Count's manor, we would probably have to surrender our arms. Then we would be ripe to be taken prisoner and would struggle to resist any such attempt. Right now I had me, the nine remaining Frontier Knights, Donnie, and five griffins. I realized I needed to get Velia a pike or something at some point if I was going to take her places.
I turned my back on the guard and looked at my men. They were all ready to go shopping, happy looks on their faces, oblivious to what was about to happen. It really would be helpful if those around me could hear what the griffins had to say. I thought over my options. I could have them all mount back on the griffins and leave. That was probably the smart move. I kind of avoided those and went impulsive. The only ones who truly knew what I w
as up to was the griffins.
“Okay Velia, go get on Nova's back.” She looked confused and started to protest. “Now woman, by the gods now!” This shifted her demeanor and she raced up the saddle ladder. She shot me a nasty look at being yelled at like a child. The Frontier Knights immediately shifted and placed their hands on their weapons. “Follow my lead, if it comes to fighting, stay behind the griffins and finish off any that survive. Get behind them now!” I said with a loud commanding voice.
Lord Nova and the four other griffins stepped in front of them. They were ready to do battle, their posturing displayed a dangerous intent. I was frightened by looking at them. The clang of metal shuffling behind me caught my attention. I turned to see the captain and twenty guards in full armor standing at the gate of the roost weapons drawn. The attendant ran as fast as he could to get away from the situation. For a moment the only noise you could hear was slapping of his retreating footsteps.
“Drop your weapon Earl and surrender to the Count. I will not repeat myself. The King has decreed no griffins are permitted to leave this realm for other sanctuary. You are also guilty of the attempt to go into the wild lands. King Devon has deemed that crime punishable of a hundred gold fine or a month sentence to the brig. We cannot have the peace disturbed, our gracious friends at the Horde have warned us against taking advantage of the leeway the peace accords afford.” The captain demanded in an authoritarian tone.
I started laughing, and the Count's men sneered at me at my audacity. Then the griffins cackled with laughter. They stopped the noise in unison and pounded the ground with their paws. The entire earth shook below our feet. In the distance, the volcano burped in reply. It had the desired effect, some of the men in the formation started to glance nervously at each other. Their courage quickly faded at the prospect of doing battle with well-fed mighty griffins. Griffins that had slaughtered the Horde by the millions. This was not going to be a contest and I felt it was clear to remind them of that.
“I have no desire to rule this little city, nor do I desire to fight. Yet, I see you are trying to kill the griffins that won your city and all the cities of humanity its peace. There would be no accords without the griffins. There would be no peace without the human, and griffin lives sacrificed to stop the Horde's invasion. Now you turn on the only ally that saved you. You listen to the orders of an Emperor that consorts with a shaman of the Horde. I guess it had to start somewhere, and here is the first place that a man like me draws his sword in their defiance.” I pulled my shield off my back and slid it onto my left arm. I yanked my sword out of its ring. I cursed when I realized I was yet again not in the right armor. In this case, I was in simple travel clothes. Bullocks. “I will give you one chance to drop your weapons. Failure to do so and these griffins and I will kill you.”
This really gave the captain and his men pause. They were expecting me to calmly go to my sentencing as others before me had. They certainly were not expecting us to fight a small war from an isolated point in the city. Until this moment they had probably had nothing but boring jobs. Arresting the occasional drunk or hauling in someone before the Count for misdeeds. I gave a clear warning that blood would flow and bodies would fall if they did not drop their weapons. Yet the captain and his men stood defiant as they found their resolve. It was their city, and they would defend it.
“I say again, by order of King Devon, and his father Emperor Salvoni, you are in violation...”
That was as far as he got. Lord Nova took a step forward and with blinding speed swatted the man as if he were an insect. The captain flew into the wall and burst from the impact. It was sickening. I was in full rage mode, and the start of the battle was all I needed. I raced forward dodging the leaping griffins to reach the remaining men first.
My target was some kid probably Donnie's age. He shook in fear and I had to pull my strike in empathy of his situation. I smashed him in the face, when he fell I grabbed his weapon and slid it back into the roost. Hopefully, my men would not kill him when he was weaponless.
The pity for the young man cost me a slash on the arm as a pike tried to stick me. I lunged at the offender with blinding speed and knocked him to the ground with my superior strength and weight. I stabbed down quickly to the heart. I went to find my next target when I saw it was over. The griffins had done the rest of the work. Bodies were strewn across the street outside the roost. The only one alive was the whimpering kid I had spared.
Someone somewhere had seen the fighting and sounded the city bells. The chime of an attack rang loudly throughout the city. Guards raced for the walls looking for the Horde attacking not realizing what was going on.
“Get your men back in the saddle immediately, we must rush and capture Count Winter quickly! Failure to do so will lead to many unnecessary deaths.” Lord Nova ordered.
I bellowed at my men to mount quickly and we did. Velia sat in the saddle face determined not to show weakness at the situation we were in. The moment all the Frontier Knights were secure we shot into the air. It was but a flash before we were close to the Count's manor.
Lord Nova flew right over a balcony and into the second floor opening that was definitely going to be too small for his wide frame. The power of the griffin shook the entire structure as he burst his way into the Count's courtroom and kept going. Chunks of stone flew forward with us as we dramatically entered. The fattest man of Vin I had seen cowered from us. Behind him sat his five wives, and every face was terrified by our sudden hostile entry. I launched myself off Nova's back and toward the Count’s chair.
I landed beside Count Winter who was shrieking in fright. A liquid streamed down his leg and around his chair. His wives were in full hysteria, the nobles in the room were screaming as if on fire. The other four griffins followed behind us and blocked off the exits to the room. My men never even got down.
Lord Nova roared so loudly that I thought I might lose hearing forever. My ears rang, and it had its desired effect. The entire room was covering their ears now silent, well at least I couldn't hear anything, some may have still screamed. My sword was at the Count's throat. He was my prisoner, I needed our hearing to return to inform him his life was forfeit unless he told his men to stand down.
It took a few minutes but I was able to hear again. I kept my eyes on the Count studying him for any sudden movements. He had a bad comb over, a horrid smell of perfume covering his body odor, and food in his shirt. He was the exact opposite of a warrior leader. This man used his connections to get himself a noble role in the post war world and loved it. He lived in excess, it was barely at midday and I could smell the wine heavily over the perfume and odor. Maybe the wine was in the piss he released all down his leg.
“How dare you!” Count Winter screamed at me in defiance.
I smashed his front teeth in with a rapid strike. The man spat out broken teeth and blood trying to say words no one could understand. He was crying now, a grown man crying on the ground in a puddle of his own piss. Both hands were up pleading for his life.
“Put down your weapons or your Count dies. This is not a fight you can win. Do not give away your lives for this pathetic man.” I bellowed with authority.
Unlike the guards at the roost, the Count's personal guards immediately threw their weapons down and lifted hands in the air. Well, that was a start. I called Joey down from the griffin he was on and had him pick up all the dropped weapons and pile them in the middle of the room. I then had Nate secure the Count and start moving his family into the manor's stable in the yard. It would be easiest for the griffins to keep him secure in there. As they were being moved the bells stopped ringing.
Count Winter's first wife Lady Tami had ordered the alarm to be halted. She was a sensible lady that I immediately was happy to deal with. Where the Count was a sniveling baby she was keeping a level head and calming the situation from more bloodshed. The city guards had been told there was a noble altercation that would be resolved soon and to continue to protect the cit
y from any outside threat. They were to leave the manor and the Count to his dispute to deal with on his own. This seemed to stave off any desperate charge against the griffins and my forces.
The adrenaline wore off and my blood stopped from feeling like it was going to explode out of my veins. I had my sword in its ring and my shield on my back. I stood outside the stables by Lord Nova as we watched over the process of the Count's family being secured. Lady Tami stood beside me.
“I expected some sort of reaction to the King's decree. I grew up in the north, my father was an important noble Earl until the invasion. I watched the Horde sack our city, the only thing that saved me was the griffins. They stopped the endless tide of green beasts at the cities third wall. It was a blood bath on proportions I would never hope to see again. My mother helped us escape to the south, what little wealth we managed to escape with got us this far. At sixteen I was married to the Count who was a Trade Master back then. His first prize, my mother's shame. She needed money to keep the rest of my younger siblings fed. I played my role with grace and dignity. Two days ago when word came down that the Emperor himself was whispering of war against the griffins, I paled. How could such a thing ever be thought of? It is madness, and it is sad.” Lady Tami said.
“A civil war is brewing, my actions are going to be one of many. The griffins will surely not lay down and die. Word will be spread and the Emperor will be replaced or his power reduced. He is indeed mad if he thinks he can rule such a vast expanse of humanity without the griffins to pass the word or goods. The Horde is moving south, and while they are allowing most trade to flow via the ground I believe it is a deceiving tactic. Let the Emperor feel comfortable being without the need of his griffins for trade. Then when the griffins are gone sack the caravans. When quotas start to fall and humans continue to fight each other, barriers will drop and cities will burn. It is a good strategy, seven hells it is a brilliant strategy. At least some of us see it for what it is.” I said as I looked down on Tami.
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