chapter Eleven
Mace called a halt later in the day, his hand signal clear enough to Drake, though he’d never trained with knights. They were to land and proceed with caution.
“Nellin sees something,” Jenet told Drake as they circled and dropped altitude. “The trail ends abruptly. Mace sees it now too and Nellin says he’s upset.”
“Upset how?” Drake asked as they neared the ground. He braced himself for landing as he’d been taught as a youngster in the Lair.
“He’s furious!”
They hit the ground with a jarring thump and Mace jumped off Nellin’s back before he’d even come to a full stop. Krysta was left to scramble down as best she could, but Drake vaulted from Jenet’s back and caught Krysta when she jumped down from Nellin’s tall knee.
“What’s wrong with him? He started grumbling about traitors and took off.” Krysta’s tone was both curious and concerned. “I’ve never seen him like this. He’s livid.”
Drake looked to where the knight was stomping around the edges of the trail, kicking at stones, though he was careful to aim his irritation away from the signs he studied. Drake shook his head.
“I have. Mace is normally the steadiest of men, but when something pushes him past his limits, watch out. He sees something about this trail that has him in an uproar and we need to find out what it is.”
Drake approached Mace cautiously. He could hear the knight almost growling under his breath. A habit he’d probably picked up from his dragon, Drake thought. Nellin didn’t look all that happy either, come to think of it.
“Mace?” Krysta approached him with sure steps, though her voice was calm in the face of his obvious fury. “What is it?”
The knight whirled on them. “What is it? Damn it to the nine hells! This is beyond anything I’ve ever seen!”
“What, brother?” Drake asked quietly, hoping to calm his friend. “What did you see from the air that we didn’t?”
Mace walked briskly off, pointing to the ground. “This!” He cursed viciously. “The trail ends here.”
“Ends?” Drake met Mace and looked at the ground. Seeing things from this vantage point, the tracks started to make sense. “I see. They left by air.”
“Dragons?” Krysta asked, incredulous. “Dragons participated in Prince Wil’s kidnapping? How could this be?”
“It could not. No dragon would harm a royal black. It goes against everything we are.” Nellin spoke as he moved forward with Jenet beside him. She nodded as well, though her expression was sad and more than a little confused.
“It wasn’t a dragon,” Drake said into the tense silence. He moved off to stand beside a large print in the sandy soil. “See this?” The rest of them came near to view the depression in the earth. “This is no dragon claw. This is a paw. See the pads? Like a cat’s paw, but on a grand scale.”
He walked forward a few feet, his entourage following. “And this?” He pointed out a deep scratch in the surface of the land. “This is not a dragon mark either. It’s a bird’s claw.”
“What bird could grow to such a size?” Mace wanted to know.
“In all the lands the Jinn roam, I’ve never heard of a bird that would carry people on its back. Or even in its grasp,” Krysta said quietly. “Or a giant flying cat that would do the same.”
“But I have,” Drake insisted. “This creature is neither bird nor cat. It’s both. And neither.” Drake stepped back to view the two sets of prints together. “We’re dealing with a gryphon. Probably more than one.”
“Gryphons!” Nellin roared. “By the Mother, they shall pay for this!”
“But they’re very rare, aren’t they? And not inclined to deal with humans, or so I’ve heard,” Krysta questioned.
Drake nodded. “Not usually. But I knew two gryphons who dealt quite well with people in the court of the Doge of Helios. They were bound protectors of the royal line and had lived among people for many generations. I knew them well, which is why I recognize these prints beyond the shadow of a doubt.” Drake nodded with grim confidence. “Somehow gryphons have been enlisted to aid in the kidnapping of a royal prince of Draconia.”
“It makes sense in a sinister sort of way,” Nellin said. “Only their great magic could even hope to stop a black dragon in human form from changing and flying away. If Prince William somehow managed to change, the gryphons could always fly him down, but their brand of magic could probably prevent him from shifting form at all. They are very potent against humans, but have little impact on dragons.”
“Their magic and ours negate each other. At least that’s what the elders say,” Jenet agreed. “But they are said to be powerful indeed.”
“The worst part of this, though—” Drake bent to examine the earth, finding the tracks many hours old to his trained eye, “—is that we have no hope of catching them before they reach the sea now. If they fly as fast as a dragon, they’re already at the coast.”
“We fly faster,” Nellin said with determination.
“But probably not by much.” Jenet was more honest, craning her neck over so she could touch her head comfortingly against Drake’s chest. “Drake,” she said quietly, “how are we going to get Wil back now?”
The lost tone touched his heart. Drake knew Jenet was closer perhaps than any dragon to the young prince, and she worried for him. Drake reached out and stroked her head, hugging her for a short moment as he tried to reassure her.
“The gryphons didn’t bother to hide their sign.” Mace had calmed considerably and was now stalking around the area, looking for clues.
Jenet straightened, and Drake joined the knight, nodding as he went. “And they’re well within Draconia’s borders. They knew someone would come after them on dragonback. It’s like they wanted us to know who and what they were…and follow behind.”
“Do you think it’s some kind of trap?” Krysta asked astutely, coming up beside the men.
“Even if it is, we have no choice but to follow,” Mace said, turning to her. “Securing Prince William’s return is paramount. We can’t turn back just because we fear a trap. But we go in with our eyes wide open and plan as best we can to avoid whatever the enemy may have in store.”
“The other possibility is that they want us to find them so they can make their demands. They may still want to negotiate for Prince Wil’s return.” Drake sifted some of the sandy soil through his hands as he studied the tracks and thought.
“Then why make us run the length of the land to find them?” Krysta wanted to know.
Drake looked up at her. “To bargain from their place of strength. They may have some sort of stronghold they believe sufficient to contain a royal black dragon. You must admit, there are few places that could hold him if he didn’t want to be held. Mace and I both ran with Nico and Roland when they were about Wil’s age and they already had the strength of ten men and magic to go along with it.”
Mace nodded. “The gryphons are probably part of the reason we had to come south. They would have been seen and remarked upon had they ventured farther into Draconia than this. As it is, they probably flew at night to avoid detection. This is about as far inland as they could get in one night’s work.”
“But where did they come from?”
“Gryphon Isle.” The dragons spoke in unison as the men turned to regard them with surprise.
Jenet stepped forward. “It’s a place of legend that the elders speak of only rarely, but we’ve heard the stories. It is part of every dragon’s training to learn the history of what came before. Gryphon Isle is the place where Gryffid, one of the last of the wizards, fled when the end came for their race. It was he who created and nurtured the gryphons in the days before, and he retreated with his children to his island when the end drew near for wizard kind.”
“Where, exactly, is this island supposed to be? And why have we never heard of it? Or this wizard Gryffid?” Drake stepped forward, curious. Apparently there were things dragons were taught that humans no longer knew—if they ever had.
Nellin moved next to Jenet protectively as Drake confronted them both. “It is not for humans to remember the distant past, but we dragons must keep the memories alive against the coming days. That’s what we’ve been taught. It is our role.”
“And why is this the first I’ve ever heard of it?” Mace moved to stand beside Drake. “I thought there were no secrets between us, Nellin.”
Nellin’s head shook. “Not a secret, exactly. Just something you didn’t need to know. Now you do.”
“There’s more, but it’s not our place to tell,” Jenet said with quiet respect.
Drake grew intrigued. He’d had no idea the dragons were keeping—if not secrets—then their own counsel on certain things. Drake’s eyebrow rose as he regarded the dragon he’d known all his life. He knew her…and trusted her. Yet it was strangely unsettling to find out there were things about her kind, unknown even to a knight.
He sighed deeply and made a quick decision, hoping he was right to trust his instincts—to trust her.
“Keep your secrets for now, sweetheart. I believe you would never withhold anything that could harm either Mace, Krysta or myself.”
Jenet sighed in smoky relief. “That means more than I can say, Drake. And it’s the truth. Dragonkind is mankind’s ally in this. If we have longer memories than you, do not fault us. It will be for your benefit in the long run.”
Curiouser and curiouser, Drake thought, but he’d leave it for now. They had little time to waste.
“We have to go.” He shot a look at Mace, and the knight nodded.
“But how do we track them across the sky? There’s no trail to follow anymore.” Krysta followed Mace to Nellin’s side and mounted.
“We don’t need a trail,” Drake called. “We know where they’re going. Or at least, I believe the dragons do. Don’t you, sweetheart?” Drake turned his words toward Jenet who hung her head almost bashfully. “You know where Gryphon Isle is, don’t you?”
Slowly, she nodded. “I think so. At least, we’ve been taught the signs by which to find it.”
Drake held her eye for a moment, then nodded. “All right then. Let’s fly as quick as we can for Gryphon Isle.” He mounted with a gentle leap and they set off almost before he was settled, Nellin, with Mace and Krysta, right behind.
Sometime around dusk, they reached the coastline. This was the southern border of Draconia, a foamy turquoise sea and lovely wide beach. They’d passed a few villages and fishing huts on the way to this secluded spot, but the dragons were looking for signs only they knew and had brought them to a secluded cove between two large pillars of rock.
Drake looked up at the walls surrounding the cove and realized it would be nearly impossible for humans to reach this area other than by boat. The steep walls were too barren to allow for easy climbing and the monolithic rocks guarding the mouth of the cove kept all but the most intrepid away.
A few large caves were hidden on the inner walls, but none showed signs of human use. Still, there was something odd about the area…
A moment later, the little hairs on the back of Drake’s neck stood to attention. Something was battering against him, but Jenet’s loud trumpeting roar blocked whatever it was. And then Drake knew.
It was magic!
Gryphon magic, to be precise. He’d felt its flavor only once before, but that was enough to remind him of his first meeting with Taldor and Rulith, the gryphon pair he’d known in that far-off land.
Drake turned, and there they were. Two mighty gryphons emerging from the largest of the caves. Their stance was adversarial, and the dragons went immediately on guard. Mace and Nellin took point, having more experience training and fighting as a pair, but Jenet moved to mimic Nellin’s motions and Drake tried to follow suit, though he didn’t carry a sword like Mace did.
Mace’s sharp weapon was drawn and ready as he faced down the gryphons. Krysta, no doubt, knew enough to stay out of his way, her own hands occupied with weapons she’d had secreted on her person.
But Drake knew human weapons would have little effect on creatures such as these. He slid off Jenet’s back and strode forward, facing the gryphon pair, his gaze steady and determined. He knew showing fear at such a crucial moment would spell his death. Gryphons were not to be trifled with, but luckily, he knew something of the creatures.
Jenet screeched at him in the back of his mind, but Drake tuned her out. This moment was too important for distraction.
Holding one hand up, palm facing the creature, he braced himself as he walked up to the female gryphon. She raised the blunt side of her front claw and he felt the jolt of her enormous strength against his hand. This was the moment.
If she meant harm, she would kill him now. If she were willing to parley, she would temper her strength to match his own, taking his measure.
Drake breathed an inward sigh of relief to find it was the latter.
When the female pulled her foreleg back, Drake stood before her, as tall and strong as he could. These creatures valued strength, skill and bravery above all.
“I am Drake of the Five Lands,” he said loudly. “Plume bearer of Taldor, in hereditary service to the Doge of Helios. I’ve come for Prince William of Draconia.”
“We have heard of you, Drake of the Five Landss.” The female gryphon spoke with a clacking of her beak, her bird-like tongue making a hash of the letter s. Drake was used to it, though he hadn’t heard gryphon speech in a very long time. The ones he’d known rarely talked aloud. Drake supposed this one did in deference to Krysta. It was interesting to note the gryphon evidently wanted all to know what was said.
Drake renewed his firm stance. “I’ve come for Prince William. Will you return him or must we battle?”
“He iss not ourss to give.” The male gryphon stepped forward, his voice a little raspier than the female’s. “You were expected.” The male cocked his eagle-like head and looked at Mace and Krysta. “Though we thought it would be two, not three. Sstill, we will deal with you asss we were insstructed.”
“By whom?” Drake asked, not backing down. It didn’t do to show any weakness in one’s first encounter with a gryphon. “Who took Prince Wil and why? Neither Draconia nor the prince have any disagreement with your kind. This act of aggression will not go unanswered.”
The female bowed her feathered head in acknowledgement. “We are only messssengerss, but I can ssay that your prince will not be harmed. And he will be returned.”
Jenet strode forward to stand behind Drake, her scales rippling with irritation.
“I want him back right now, do you hear me?” She was shouting in a way Drake had never heard, truly upset. “You had no right to take him! No right!”
“Calm down, little hen,” the male gryphon said almost disdainfully. “Your prince is ssafe.”
Krysta watched the exchange with a strange mixture of awe, fascination and amusement. The dragons—Jenet especially—squared off with the gryphons. They were about equal in size and both species had sweeping wings, but where dragons sported a leather-like hide and glimmering scales, the gryphons had sleek wings of gleaming feathers the likes of which she had never seen.
Jenet was clearly upset, facing down the gryphons and breathing smoke in her agitation. Even Nellin bristled as the gryphons replied to the dragon’s silent speech, though he sat back and simply observed the exchange for the most part. Krysta could only hear the gryphons’ side of the conversation, but it was enough to indicate Jenet was definitely giving the half-bird, half-cat creatures of myth a piece of her mind.
Krysta took up a position beside Jenet, wanting to stand united with the dragons and men. One of the gryphons cocked its head at her, as if questioning her presence.
“I wish I could hear what Nellin and Jenet are saying to you birds. I bet they’d make me proud.”
The gryphon cocked his feathered head at her, his nimble tongue lolling while he clacked his beak. “Truly? It iss ssimple enough.”
Krysta stood up straight as she felt the gryphon’s incredible magic reach out to her. One feathered wingtip brushed her face, and the last thing she heard before she collapsed was a roar of anger from the dragons before her head hit the sand.
When Krysta woke moments later, there was a cacophony of sound in her head and her senses were scrambled.
“You meddlesome bird. Now look what you’ve done!”
“Will she be all right?”
The first voice was gruff and angry. It sounded male, but like neither Mace nor Drake. The second was female and worried, if Krysta was any judge. Both were musical and rumbling, like the voice of a storm.
“Stop shouting.” She sat up, holding her head with both hands as she struggled against the pain. “Please!”
Strong arms supported her back, and she looked up to find Drake at her side. Searching for Mace, she found him confronting the gryphons, sword drawn. The gryphons didn’t look too worried, though they backed away just slightly, giving them space.
“Did she bump her head? Check her head, Drake.” Jenet craned her long neck over Drake’s head, bringing her concerned, jeweled gaze into Krysta’s line of sight.
Krysta tried to shrug him off as Drake ran his hand lightly over the back of her scalp. “Did Jenet just ask if I bumped my head?”
Drake stilled, and all eyes turned to her. “How did you know?”
“Ssilly humanss.” The male gryphon tossed his beak, ruffling the feathers around his neck.
“She can hear us.” Nellin’s voice was low and gruff, his giant face swam into her line of vision as he craned his neck to look at her. “Can’t you?”
“Stars! I can,” Krysta whispered, feeling Drake’s hands tighten on her shoulders. “But how?” She looked to the gryphon who’d touched her. “Why?”
“It iss ssimple magic. Conssider it a gift to new friendss.” The male gryphon tossed his head again as the smaller female moved forward.
“My mate hass a ssoft heart. We both like you, Kryssta. And your family.”
“But more,” the male spoke once more, “you are our alliess now.”
Krysta stood with Drake’s help, then moved out of his arms to face the gryphons. She held their gazes for a long moment. She realized what these amazing magical beings had given her and tears formed behind her eyes that she refused to let fall. Now was not the time for tears. Now was the time to forge new friendships that might see them through the tough times ahead. Krysta bowed low to each gryphon in turn, in the Jinn sign of respect, her gaze never leaving theirs.
“You honor myself and my clan.” She fumbled for a moment, trying to recall the traditional words, modifying them with a smiling shake of her head to fit this amazing situation. “I’m not certain I can ever repay this honor. Your gift of friendship is beyond measure and I am in your debt.”
“Sshe sspeakss well.” The female spoke as if to the male, but her words were clearly heard by all.
“Sshe doess,” the male agreed, then nodded firmly. “Asss it wass foretold.”
Krysta wondered at the gryphon’s words. She got the feeling these magical beings were operating under their own agenda and somehow, she and her little band of dragons and men fit in with their plans. She could only imagine what would come next.
“I am Herorthor and this is my mate, Llydiss. We give you our namess and now you have ssome power over uss. Do not sshare them with otherss.”
Krysta put one hand over her heart. “I will guard your names as a secret.”
“Sshe iss good at keeping ssecretss,” the female, Llydiss, said with an amused feather ruffle. “You ssurprisse uss, Kryssta. We thought the sspymasster of the prophecy wass Drake.”
“We don’t know what prophecy you speak of, Lady.” Drake came to stand next to her, and Mace was not far behind. He took up a position on her other side while the dragons stood behind them, united.
“We can tell you only part, for now.” The gryphon began to recite:
Sspy, bard, dragon’ss brother
Comess on wing with another
Sseekss the sstolen, asss iss hiss right
Newly mate and newly knight
When winged brethren finally meet
On ssand, on sstone, on tired feet
There to sseek the sstolen prince
A wizard’ss ward they musst convince
New friendss, a common foe
Together they will go
Toward the easst and rissing ssun
Yet the quesst, jusst begun
“The resst will be told by otherss when you reach the island. Asss we ssaid, we thought the sspy was Drake, but it could asss eassily be you, Kryssta. Then the ‘other’ would be you, Ssir Mace.” The female gryphon stretched her wings as if to fly, shifting backward to gain room.
“But I’m no knight,” Drake objected, “newly mated or otherwise.”
The gryphon clacked its beak as if in laughter, all but ignoring him. “Sstay tonight and learn to sspeak with your friendss, Kryssta. Bond asss you will need to. Tomorrow, sspeak our namess and we will come for you. Then we will go together to the island.” The male moved off to join his mate, also stretching his wings in preparation for flight.
“Why can’t we go now? Tonight?” Krysta asked.
“It iss not yet time. You musst bond fully to be protected from the magic of the island. Do that tonight. Or perisssh tomorrow.”
With that final admonishment, the gryphons leaped into the air, their great leonine hindquarters propelling them into the sky as their eagle’s wings drew them higher. They were beautiful to watch, but their words were frustrating.
Krysta turned to the men and dragons beside and behind her.
“Well? What now?”