Royal Griffon Ch.15

Parties were going to be the death of Nic.

Every single time he went to one he somehow ended up neck deep in trouble. Not usually to this degree of life and limb granted, but still. One would think that eventually Nic would recognize a pattern.

Some other day perhaps. In the here and now, the young techne was back to running. More staggering really, the day finally starting to catch up with him as he lurched his way forward. He was completely out in the open now, barely even trying to stay hidden in favor of just getting away from the people chasing him. They weren’t being subtle thankfully, fully armored guards and full-grown griffons not being notable for their subtlety. Whenever he heard their stomping feet or harsh calls, Nic would simply move in the other direction. So far it had worked.

That worried Nic, or at least a part of him not mired in exhaustion. There had to be cameras everywhere in a place like this, not to mention any number of magical defenses. It should have been child’s play to corner him, and yet Nic’s strategy of running away from bad sounds seemed to be easily outfoxing them. Rather than reassure him, Nic got the uncomfortable feeling that was being herded. To where he had no idea, but even he could recognize there was something going on. Some web that he was scrambling around inside, unable to see the spider waiting to pounce.

Or maybe that was just his exhausted brain making things up. He really wasn’t in a position for complex plans right now. More of a blind fight or flight state, both of which he had acted upon very recently. He was in purely reactive mode, his only concern to keep moving and hope he reached something that might be able to save him.

Passing through an archway, Nic stopped short as he suddenly found himself outside, immediately recognizing the thick air of a contained atmosphere. He stood in an enormous courtyard, the arch he’d passed through one of dozens that lined the outer ring. Some led back inside, while others led out into open balconies, Nic able to see blue sky beyond. His eyes didn’t linger there long, instead drawn to the center of the yard, whereupon it almost burst out in hysterical laughter.

It seemed he at last had gotten to see the great Urdtree of Harakin Aerie. He stood before it now, the titan that had indirectly started this whole thing. It was just as impressive up close, the bark dark and knotted, running up the trunk in deep gorges that Nic could have fit his entire hand inside with room to spare. The silver leaves shivered lightly, a sweet smell lingering in the air, reminding Nic of springtime sap. Even with everything going on, Nic felt a deep serenity settling on him in the presence of this ancient giant.

“Finally.”

Nic jumped, turning to find Kalthus striding in through one of the gates. He carried himself tall, his wings partly unfolded as he approached with purpose. Nic stepped back, overwhelmed by the Judai’s intimidating presence. He thought to run, but a glance over his shoulder revealed Saku entering through the one behind him, firmly cutting off any chance of escape.

“You have no idea how much trouble you’ve given me groundling,” Kalthus said.

“I can take a guess,” Nic said, affecting confidence he did not feel.

Kalthus laughed, a high-pitched manic sound that disturbed Nic greatly.

“Ah, the famous Greytower wit, never knowing when they should be taking things seriously.”

Nic blinked, despite himself. That sentence made precisely zero sense for a bunch of reasons, but Nic wasn’t about to question the traitor who was wandering a bit too close to the edge.

“Kalthus, enough,” Saku snarled, moving closer. “We need-”

“Silence!” Kalthus snapped. “If you had just hired someone competent then this wouldn’t have-”

Kalthus in turn was cut off by the sound of marching boots as guards flooded into the yard from yet another gate. They were led by Nathyl, bounding up the steps and coming to stop some distance from Nic, leveling their weapons as they surrounded him.

“Well done you two,” Nathyl said.

“I, of course my lady,” Kalthus said, throwing his voice back together. She nodded before turning back to Nic.

“You’re surrounded, boy,” Nathyl said. “Come quietly and you will be spared.”

“My lady, be cautious,” Saku said.

“Why are you doing this?” Nic asked, addressing Saku.

“Saku take him, now!” Kalthus screeched.

“Quiet Kalthus,” Nathyl said, keeping her gaze on Nic. “Give me the egg boy.”

Nic looked at each griffon in turn, his eyes dancing over the many, many soldiers in between. He was outmatched utterly, cornered, surrounded by people who meant true harm and there was nothing he could do about it. He hugged the egg closer.

“No.”

“Wrong choice,” Kalthus said. “Saku take him!”

Nic braced, preparing for a very short, very violent last stand. Before it could happen, a flash of light cut through the space. It resolved into a holographic image of Saku and Kalthus, several times larger than life, enough to be clear and obvious to everyone present. They animated, sound issuing forth from some unseen speaker to fill the entire courtyard with their voices.

“-ready to be moved as soon as all the patrols are in place,” said Saku. “It will have to be quick, she is, resilient.”

“And the egg?” asked Kalthus.

“That’s…there were, complications.”

“What do you mean complications?”

“The egg was gone when the operatives went to retrieve it.”

“Gone? How could it be gone!?”

“Someone else was there and took it first. I have the operatives hunting them now, they’ll get it.”

“They better! Need I remind you this whole plan revolves around having both at once?”

“Mind your tone chick.”

“Don’t test me old man. We’re both clipped if I can’t convince the flock to go along with this. I need absolute leverage or some of them might try to side with the old bird brain.”

“And we will. Trust the plan.”

The hologram paused, then reverted to its initial pose and began playing the entire conversation over again. It made it through only one exchange before Nathyl spoke up, her voice like ice on the air.

“What is this Kalthus?”

“My lady, I-” Saku said.

“Silence!” Nathyl snapped, keeping her attention firmly on her heir. “What have you done?”

Kalthus just stared for a moment, meeting his lady’s glare with one of his own, refusing to bow. Nic took the chance to shuffle towards Nathyl, who suddenly seemed the closest thing he had to an ally. He stopped when Kalthus spoke up.

“Take them! For Judai!”

At his word, half the house guard sprang to action, opening fire into the other half with their weapons. Griffons leapt, aiming for their equivalents on the other side, screeching war cries and striking with their claws. Shouts rang out as fighters started going down, dead or wounded Nic had no idea. He didn’t have time to dwell as Saku took the opening and leapt at Nic, claws extended and wings fully open to ensnare him. Nic fell back, startled by the sudden bulk of a warrior griffon flying at him, spared only by Lady Nathyl slamming into her champion from the side.

They flailed briefly in midair, falling into a heap of feathers and violence on the ground. Nathyl managed to disentangle herself and move away, standing firmly between Saku and Nic. Saku rose to meet the standoff, a hard look on his face that reminded Nic of fractured stone.

“Traitor,” Nathyl hissed, bearing her wings at him.

“I do as I must,” he said. “I do it for you.”

Nathyl screeched and charged. In the same instant, a flare erupted from Saku’s back, flying skywards like a shot. As it cleared the Aerie, it burst into an even brighter light, burning like a second sun. For a moment all was still, time and space frozen in glass.

And then the cannons began to roar.

*

Isabella fell into the wall as a great tremor shook the floor beneath her. It had barely settled as the Judai flagship fired a second volley, their shots raking along the spire like the blows of an enraged giant. It was testament to the Aerie’s construction that it held up so well under such furious assault, though a third volley sought to put that resilience to the test.

This hadn’t been how she thought her little gambit would pay off. She’d expected Nathyl would be able to talk down her wayward retainers once she knew that they were acting outside her influence. She hadn’t thought Kalthus would be so invested in his little coup that he would dare attack his own patron.

Still, it had probably saved Nic’s life, though unfortunately that had been the extent of her plan. Looking through her spy bead’s camera, she saw that Nic was smart enough not to hold still and was bolting for the nearest cover. He was stymied by the ongoing fight, Nathyl and Saku going at one another with terrifying ferocity. The house guard fought as well, a messy melee as the two sides were still struggling to figure out who was on whose side. Isabella couldn’t see Kalthus, which she suspected was bad.

Shouts brought Isabella’s attention back to her immediate surroundings. She went to hide until she heard a voice she recognized.

“Sounds bad out there,” came Lord Worthington’s voice.

“It does,” said Master Greytower. “Come, we need to-“

Isabella didn’t give him the chance to finish the sentence. The second she recognized the voices she was up and sprinting towards them. They met right at the corner, the two elder techne stopping short as they nearly ran straight into her. They were both wearing rigs, built from the same white material as everything else in Harakin Aerie. The look clashed horribly with what the men were wearing but that hardly mattered. It was good that they had access to magic again, fashion be damned.

“Master Greytower!” Isabella said, loudly.

“Miss Hemlock?” Orlin said. “What are you-?”

“No time to explain!” she said. “Nic is innocent, Kalthus and Saku are behind this, Nathyl didn’t know, they’re fighting up there and Nic’s in the middle of it.”

“What in-” Lord Worthington began, cut off by another volley. It wasn’t as bad, the impacts moving further down the tower, allowing Isabella to talk through it.

“You’re just going to have to trust me!” she said. “Nic needs help, now!”

Orlin looked at Isabella for the span of a heartbeat, then nodded before turning towards the courtyard gate.

“Come Julius.”

“Right with you Grey,” Lord Worthington said, a wide grin on his face. “Time we got mucked in.”

Orlin said nothing, hands already weaving activation sequences for his rig. Worthington was right behind him doing the same, and Isabella was close behind them both. She wasn’t about to sit this one out.

*

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