Lidia and Rafael both paused and exchanged a glance.
“Is she in trouble? What happened?” Lidia took a step forward, worry for Adela spiking again.
“She asked me not to tell anyone.”
“Why you? I’m her friend.” Lidia pouted. Adela always confided in her. It didn’t make sense that she would stop now.
“Maybe because she wanted to keep it a secret, and between both of you, I don’t see that happening.” Damian grinned.
They both opened their mouths to protest, but Damian vanished from their sight.
“I can keep a secret!” Lidia shouted after him. She subsided with a peeved toss of her head when no reply was forthcoming.
They both turned and trudged back to the mountain.
“We could always go find her ourselves,” Rafael suggested.
“No, if she wanted us to know, she would have told us,” Lidia said with a dismal sigh. “I suppose we’ll just have to trust her and Damian.”
“But you are still going to try to find out what the secret is?” Rafael asked.
“Of course! Who do you think I am?”
****
A hawk landed on a pine tree a few feet away and looked at Damian, crying a greeting. Damian whistled back from his seat on the abandoned terrace and a mockingbird took up his tune. He pulled Adela’s letter from his tunic and re-read it, trying for the thousandth time to determine how she really was doing.
He still hated leaving her on her own in the castle, but he couldn’t very well go visit. She’d given him no reason to. He smacked his palm against the stone railing. Useless.
He twisted the grass bracelet around his wrist, wishing they could talk directly. From far away he could hear the whine of an animal in pain. He stood and shook open his wings. He set to his work, but Adela still haunted his mind.
****
Adela spent less and less time in the seamstress room as Stefan sought her out in his spare time. She enjoyed his company, but she hated leading him along. Yet she couldn’t tell him who she was or the reason she was there without endangering the ones she held most dear.
She also enjoyed the companionship of the castle folk like Brygida and Filipa. But I’m just lying to them too.
She wasn’t unhappy. But she could never take a step or savor a moment without Marek reminding her of her duty to come.
****
Captain Cyryl rode close behind Adela and the count as the hunting party left the castle. A griffin had been sighted to the north, and the count wanted to get rid of it before it started preying on the people and their livestock.
In the past few weeks the whole castle and town had become fascinated with the newcomer. Rumors had started that she might become the new countess. But Cyryl still had his suspicions. There was something not right about the young lady. She was not who she said she was. She was too refined for a common seamstress, yet not enough to be one of the nobility. And there was the matter of the field where they had found her. It was the first noted to recover from the drought.
He had only shared his concerns with his trusted lieutenant, Jakob, who thought his captain might be overreacting but trusted his judgment. They held another quiet conversation as they rode.
“I don’t understand. You don’t trust her, but you suggested she come along?” Jakob twisted to glance at the lady in question.
“It’s not out of place. Several other ladies came with us as well,” Cyryl said. “And, I want to test something. The north has not recovered yet from the drought. The castle has recovered only since she has arrived, so I want to see what happens when she comes.”
“Who do you think she is?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
“She can’t be a faery,” Jakob said. “Why would they be interested in us? And why would she be with the Count? Has a faery ever married a human?”
“Only once, and that was a long time ago.”
“I still think the whole idea is a bit mad, sir.” Jakob pursed his lips into a frown.
“Good thing that’s for me to worry about then,” Cyryl said. It concerned the count’s safety, and that made her his priority. “Now go and make sure the men are in order. We’re getting close to the last sighting.”
*
Adela hadn’t wanted to come. She didn’t want to see any animal die. But Stefan had asked her to come, and as always, Marek had demanded she attend. Several of the other ladies rode with the group, trying to draw Adela into their conversation.
“Do you think it will be very dangerous?” one woman asked. Her slender fingers tightly gripped the reins of her docile grey mare.
“I shouldn’t think so. Just look at my husband and all the soldiers who came. I would worry about the griffin,” another replied, tossing her blonde curls over her shoulder with a confident brush of her hand.
The women laughed and Adela forced a bright smile. The concept of watching a hunt was strange to her, and she still wasn’t sure what her presence would add.
“What do we do once we find the griffin?” she asked.
“We stay back and watch while the men go after it. Only rarely will women join in to hunt these animals,” Lady Cecylia said. “I myself prefer falconry to all this.”
“You know that’s how they said she died,” the first lady, Elizabeth, added in a quieter tone.
“Who?” Adela asked curiously.
Both of the women’s faces fell.
“Daniele, the woman Count Stefan was going to marry,” Elizabeth said.
He was betrothed before? “What happened?”
“She loved to hunt and ride. She even trained with weapons, if you can believe it,” Cecylia said with a shake of her perfect curls. “That’s how they first met. There were rumors of a Rusalka, a water spirit, that had come to live in the river and lure men to their death in the water. Several villagers were lost. When one of his soldiers died, Count Stefan decided to hunt it down.
“Daniele was the daughter of the lord on whose lands the river ran. She had also decided that it was time to get rid of the Rusalka. As my husband tells it, Count Stefan was angry that Daniele was out there, and she was furious that he had ruined her hunt.”
Adela leaned forward. “And then what?”
Cecylia answered. “They stood there arguing for almost an hour and then decided to work together. After they killed the Rusalka, Count Stefan kept visiting her. They would go on hunts together, and believe me, she was as good as any of the men were.”
Adela couldn’t help but admire the woman’s bravery. “How did she die?”
Cecylia winced and faltered. Elizabeth took up the story. “When Daniele was on the way to the castle for the wedding, she sighted a griffin preying on some livestock. She couldn’t let that pass, and against the orders of her captain and father, she went to battle. She delivered the death blow, but she was badly wounded and died right as they got her to the castle. Count Stefan was devastated. He never really recovered until he met you. I think you remind him a little of her.”
“Oh.” Adela sighed. I wished I had an ounce of Daniele’s courage. Then I probably wouldn’t be in this mess.
Shouts jerked her from her thoughts. Adela’s heart raced. They had found the griffin.
Count Stefan spurred ahead, his face determined. The women reined in their horses and watched in breathless excitement as the griffin turned to face the soldiers’ spears. It launched itself into the air, driving some of the men back with the force of its wings. It shrieked angrily. The sun glinted off its golden hide. But Adela thought she heard more than anger in the griffin’s call.
It’s hurt!
She could hardly watch as the humans and the griffin attacked each other. She stifled a cry as the griffin’s talons slashed dangerously near the Count. The griffin’s head swiveled in her direction. Her breath froze as she caught the faint murmur of words in its cry. Like the day in the forest with Damian, she could understand only pieces. But enough to know it wanted her. It shrieked again and flew
towards her.
“It’s coming this way!” Elizabeth tugged at her reins with a nervous cry.
Adela sat frozen, gaze locked on the approaching griffin. Another nervous scream jolted her from her daze.
“Go. I’ll see if I can distract it.”
“Adela, no!” Cecylia protested, but her face had paled considerably.
“The soldiers won’t make it here in time. Go!” she shouted at the women.
They spurred their uneasy mounts away. Adela quieted her horse. She didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t reveal herself as a faery and stop the griffin, but she had to drive it away somehow before it or the soldiers got injured. She urged her mare to a canter, leading the griffin away from the group. She barely heard Stefan shouting after her.
The beat of wings signaled that the griffin was gaining on her. It called again, a more plaintive sound this time. Pity stirred in Adela at the sound.
Damian would know what to do. Damian! The thought of him brought an idea.
As it passed overhead she reached her hand up to brush at its tufted tail as it flicked past. With the contact she sent a small shock of power infused with the need to find trees to hide.
Adela pulled her horse to a stop as the griffin circled again, afraid it hadn’t understood her. But it gave a soft purr, and she thought she could make out some words of understanding before it flew away.
There were rapid hoof beats, and Stefan pulled up alongside her.
“What happened? Are you hurt?” he demanded, his expression a war of fear and anger.
She shook her head, heart still pounding. In fear or excitement? Adela didn’t quite know. Perhaps both.
Captain Cyryl joined them, consternation on his face. “My lord? What just happened? I don’t understand it.”
“I don’t either,” Stefan said. “Adela?”
She shrugged and fished for a possible explanation. “I don’t know. It must have heard one of us and decided we were easier targets.”
“But it just flew off,” Cyryl pointedly stated.
Adela swallowed hard at the blatant suspicion, but the count hadn’t seemed to notice.
“We’ve never understood these animals.” Stefan’s dark brown eyes tracked where the griffin disappeared into the distance. “We’ll follow it tomorrow. I want more soldiers with us.”
“Yes, my lord.” Cyryl bowed his head and rode away.
Adela and Stefan also turned their horses to return to the group.
“You’re not hurt are you?” she asked. “I saw it come close.”
“No, I was able to move in time. I’ve seen what their talons can do.” A pensive look came over his face. As if imagining another time.
Of course he is.
“I’m sorry,” Adela said.
“For what?”
“The others told me about her. Daniele.”
“Aye, I was so afraid that it might happen again when…” Stefan didn’t finish.
Adela put her hand on his arm.
He looked up in surprise, and she realized too late that her magic still curled around her hand, prickling her fingers in remonstrance at having been repressed so long. She held his gaze. Stefan’s face softened into an expression she was afraid to interpret. She realized too late how he might have read her simple gesture. He moved so that he held her hand. Adela let him, but she couldn’t quite hide her slight tremble of fear, afraid of what might happen if he got too close to her.
****
When they arrived back at the castle Adela excused herself, saying that she would rejoin Stefan before dinner. She went to her room. There, she fingered the grass bracelet as she listened for Marek. She had learned to identify when he was focused on her. His presence was dim in her mind, meaning she had a few moments of privacy to contact Damian.
Unsure what to do, she closed her eyes and whispered, “Damian, please come. I need your help.”
An instant tug of concern came from his faint presence connected to her through the grass bracelet.
“No, I’m all right. But something’s been hurt, a creature, and I don’t know what to do.”
She felt no response. A quick pang of despair replaced her hope that he had understood. Then Marek invaded her consciousness.
“I almost worried about you today. How moving, that you remind Count Stefan of his dear lost love!”
Adela made no reply, distracted by trying to tamp down the swirling emotions from the fight and the possibility of seeing Damian again, before Marek could latch on to any of them.
“Do I sense that you are falling for the count too?”
“No!”
“Not that it matters, because I don’t want to wait much longer. I’ll let you know when the time comes. And just remember what will happen if you try and disobey me.” Marek’s presence faded with that last threat.
Adela sank onto the bed, fighting back tears.
For the thousandth time, she wished that she knew a way out of this.
Brygida came rushing in a few minutes later.
“I just heard the news!” she exclaimed. “You were so brave.”
Adela forced a smile. “No, not really. I was frightened the whole time. I think the griffin decided I was moving too fast and left.”
Brygida shook her head in admiration. “I still think it’s the bravest thing I’ve heard in a long time. But you’d better get changed. It’s not too long until dinner now.”
The hall buzzed with the events of the day, and Adela found herself lauded for what everyone considered to be a sacrificial deed.
“She saved us from that awful thing!” Lady Cecylia loudly exclaimed.
“How did you drive it away?” a lord asked her.
“I didn’t,” Adela said, readying her same response. “It must have decided that I was too small to be worth anything.”
There were a few chuckles.
Stefan spoke for the first time that night. “I’m glad it did.”
The head table fell silent. Adela felt a twinge of sadness. Daniele. Everyone knew what had been on the count’s mind. They had let him be until now, speaking in delicate terms about the creature.
“I hear you want to go back out tomorrow, my lord?” someone asked.
Stefan set his jaw. “Yes, the griffin needs to be dealt with. I don’t want it to harm anyone.”
There were a few volunteers among the lords before the subject was changed for the count’s sake.
To Adela, the meal seemed to drag on forever. She didn’t know when Damian would come to help. She only knew that he would be able to find her. Finally the meal ended, and she excused herself to her chamber, pleading exhaustion from the day. Once out of sight, she practically flew to her room. She slid the copper ring on her finger, opened the window, and waited.
She sat in a chair and dozed off until the flutter of wings woke her. A barn owl landed on the window sill, silhouetted against the starry sky. She smiled as the air shimmered around it, and Damian appeared in his faery form.
“I’m so glad to see you.” She stood and took a step forward.
Damian smiled back, and her heart lifted. “The humans are loud and I heard the rumors drifting through the castle. You drove off a griffin today?”
“I wish they would stop saying that.” Adela pursed her lips. “I only tried to tell it where to go.”
“And I’m assuming that’s why I’m here.”
“Yes. It’s hurt somehow, but I didn’t see where.”
Concern shadowed Damian’s face. “Where is it?”
“I’ll show you.” She took his hand and turned him back to the window.
Adela changed shape into a nightingale while he again took the form of an owl. She darted ahead of him, leading him to the place in which she knew the griffin was nesting. It was almost two miles from the castle in a large copse of trees. When they were close, Adela changed to her full sized faery form. Damian did the same and they walked the rest of the way.
The griffin crouched defensively,
its claws furrowing the earth. Damian stepped in front of Adela. He cautiously approached the animal. The griffin’s warning growl rumbled deep in its chest, and Damian murmured soothing words. Slowly, the griffin relaxed and allowed Damian closer. Adela continued to stand back, marveling at his skill.
Damian looked small next to the massive animal, as a young child would against the walls of a house. Adela took the opportunity to study the griffin. Its eagle wings folded against a feline body, and the eagle head watched them through alert eyes. Its dusky gold coat glimmered in the moonlight. She held her breath as Damian stretched out a hand to the creature. After a moment’s hesitation, the griffin reached its head down to him.
“Now, where are you hurt?” he asked.
It shifted, lifting its wing and uncurling its tail to reveal its hind leg awkwardly tucked up against its side.
“May I look closer?”
The griffin lifted its wing higher to allow him to pass under along the flank. Adela stepped forward to join Damian, and the griffin purred in recognition.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
Damian examined the leg. “It feels like the joint is out of place.”
“Can you help it?”
“I’ll try.” Damian lips pulled into a frown of concentration as he considered the animal before him.
He ran a soothing hand down the leg, avoiding the long, curving claws. Adela suppressed a shudder, remembering how close those claws had come to her earlier that day. But she couldn’t hold it against the griffin that it was a predator. It was hurt, and it was their duty to help.
Damian returned to the griffin’s head. As it bent down to Damian, he explained what he had to do. The griffin blinked in understanding. It stretched out on the ground, and Adela walked over to stand by its head, rhythmically stroking its long, feathered ears.
Adela caught the warm brush of Damian’s magic as it swirled about his hands to aid him as he pulled the hind limb back into place. The griffin sighed in relief as the joint settled. It sat back up and curled its tail around its hind legs. Damian and Adela lingered, sitting on the trunk of a fallen tree, and watching as the griffin began to preen.
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