Lord Griffin's Quest Part 2

we all have our secrets and painful memories that burden our souls. Some secrets and memories will be revealed as occasion arises, others we will take to our graves.  1

Now, there are important matters to discuss with the King and his councilors. Perhaps you’ll be so kind as to introduce me? 2

Daniel, it is time for you to go. Tell me first though; could you feel the power separate from our words? “Yes but...?” Daniel replies. “Describe what you felt.” Griffin commands. “I felt a strong power of coldness from Witchy that I don’t know how to block. It made me shiver all over.” “I understand, that’s ok. If you are and remain of good heart, Witchy may find it within himself to teach you more about that.” Griffin replies. “What about me?” He asks. “Well that was strange, at first I could feel a warmth that soothed and comforted me. I didn’t want to stop it then suddenly as you started to speak to Witchy it disappeared. Then I felt nothing but the sound of your voice.” “Very good, what you had noticed is me, out of respect for Witchy, stopping any power that may be considered an effort to influence from being transmitted. That is enough for today’s lesson. Now go and remember what I said about Kathren.” The boy slips off the bed bows to Witchy and I then departs. 3

At the door he suddenly stops and turns “Do you think that Queen Essilynn will be ok?”, he asks “Of course she will. She is just sad right now.” Griffin replies confidently. “Why do you ask?” “ Well, just before I came here she was running through the hallways screaming something about someone named Kain and going to the dungeon.”  He states with concern in his voice. “Thank you for telling me Danny. We’ll check in on her don’t worry. Now go!” I reply as I look now toward Witchy. “I was afraid of this, we must act quickly. Come, let’s get the King and find her before she acts unthinkingly.”  4

Danti comes into Griffins room just as they were about to leave. He greets Griffin politely but then offers a secondary greeting in elfin. Griffin doesn’t show it but he is shocked. Does he know? he wonders. He sends a quick precise questing probe into the apprentice mage, finding only that these words were only due to his heritage and out of respect. Relieved he welcomes him.5

“Yes, of course you may join us, if it is acceptable to Witchy your master instructor. I want all those who love and care for the Queen to join us. It is my hope that if we surround her with love we may break the hold that hate now has on her. She is the light of this kingdom. We can not let the clouds and demons of darkness take her.” Now come, both of you, offer me what support you can as I confront the King. I have heard that she loves him. We will need his help and that of any others who are close to her. There must be no avenue open for her to escape from herself.” Griffin states as he dons his cap and scabbard. I hear the King is in the dinning room. Griffin with a serious look upon his face rushes from the room his cape waving behind him. He immediately encounters the ghosts in the hall. Without breaking stride or even an acknowledgement, he sends out beams of mental energy that immediately disperses them. There is no time now to settle the spirits of the castle.   6

As griffin rushes down the hallway young Dante races up to him. “Wait M’Lord Griffin, the King is no longer in the dining hall. He went out to the practice yard to exercise.” ‘Thank you, lead the way then.” Griffin replies. They race out to the court yard and find the king practicing in full armor with his great sword.  Griffin watches in admiration for a moment as the King performs complex katas with his great sword. The King laughs as he sees us. “Ahh so you have come out for a little fun then.” He says while twirling his blade. Then notices the serious look on all our faces, leaning the sword against a wooden pillar used for practice he approaches. I lower my head and kneel before him. “Sire’ I….we have grave concerns about Queen Essilynn.” Griffin then proceeds to explain ….shortly after the King a grave look upon his face states “You bring bad tidings indeed. Now stand and let us head for the dungeon.” taking Griffins arm and pulling him up. I know a shortcut from here.” as he now leads the way. 7

Griffin though happy that the Queen is with child is reserved. Something is not as it appears perhaps. He will not probe the Queen. Everything he stands for will end if he shows any disrespect. But the bruises…. timing…hmmm. Perhaps it’s just his war torn memories. There are those with power watching her for both Good and Evil.  Soon she must face her greatest challenge, she has the tools needed to face them, but can she use them anymore?8

Griffin looks too Witchy, “We must talk.” He says calling him aside. “I have not been in the realm of Orion that long. Is this the way Queen Essilynn always acts? I mean the impulsiveness of her actions seems off. I think I have noticed, that all of you who know her well, seem to be concerned or am I mistaken? Has she spoken to her ancestors recently asking for advice? I understand that is the Elvin way. She didn’t even want to discuss anything with her mother or any of us for that matter. You know her better then I, advise me.” Griffin speaks with mounting concern and states the question he fears the most. ”Is she competent to rule? If not…..” 9

Witchy having put a ball of ice around them while he spoke, listens carefully to Griffins words and considers all that he has seen and heard of late.  Then says “There are certainly strange goings on of late I admit.  She is like a daughter, or sister if you will, to me. As such, I will not answer hastily. It grows late, lets rest and consider and hope for new question and wisdom that will lead us to different more acceptable answers. Good night sir Griffin ”  With a wave of his hand he dissipates the ball of ice. Turns with a look of concern on his face towards his room and walks away. As they part and walk there separate ways Witchy turns one more time and looks at Griffin walking to his room, his eyes furrow for a moment then he turns and walks on.10

Griffin having well rested after his talk to Witchy, decides it is time to leave the castle for a time.  Anna comes in early with Daniel beside her with a breakfast tray in her hands. “Good morning Sir Griffin I hope you have slept well?” She says putting the tray on the desk. “Good morning to you and Danny as well. Why this special treatment?” I ask, smelling the odors of the fine food wafting through the room. “It is for the kindness you have done for Daniel. He hasn’t stopped talking about you since you gave him his first lesson. I think he is practicing using his new found skill on all his imaginary friends. He even talked the master craftsman into making him a wooden sword. He thinks your going to be a hero to the realm or something.” She laughingly states. “I am honored. We all need our heroes. I hope I can live up to his expectations.” He says as he sits to give justice to the food. They wait in respectful silence while he eats.  Once completed he says. “That was wonderful, thank you for your kindness as well. Now I must be going. I have a an important journey to make. If Danny would be so kind is to inform the stable master of my emanate departure, I would be grateful. Daniel eagerly complies rushing out of the room.   I turn to Anina now alone. “When and if I get back, I will need to know more about these imaginary friends of his.” So saying I don my scabbard, cape, and leave. She will care for his room.11

I ride late into the evening through the forest. The sounds of the creatures abound. When suddenly silence…. I am wise to the woods and silence means something or someone is near. I move slowly and quietly keeping to the darker edges of the path. My steed snickers giving my location away. There ahead something moves in the shadows and again to my right. I know this now to be a band of bandits. Seeing a traveler riding alone they wish to rob me first of my steed and then my life. I have seen there like before. This fine black stallion I ride is well trained and will hold the path alone as well as be a dangerous foe with its teeth and hooves to any man alone.12

With my left hand I grab the rains with the other my sword. As I draw my sword from its scabbard fire glows from the blade. My steed rears back his paws cleaving the air. I strike to the right… an arm that was reaching is severed. The night fills with his screams. My steed comes down on another. On my left another comes I kick out knocking him down. I kick in with my heels signaling my horse ahead. Ha, they think I’m running off. That is to be there second and last mistake. As I break free ahead I stop and turn. My heart pounding in anger. I let go of the rains reach into my jacket and pull out a knife. Again my horse rears up and we charge back in. I throw my knife at one piercing him through the throat. Then grab my pummel and lean to the right slicing off the head of another. Breaking free again I stop and turn. There gone, disappearing into the night. I wait for a moment calming myself, then dismount from my horse and walk over to the bodies. I retrieve my knife cleaning it upon his jerkin. I search them but little do I find. Remounting my horse I walk on deeper into the forest. I will reach the cave by morning.13

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