Page 19 of Gryphon’s Fire

“You didn’t buy it,” I said.

“I wanted to. Goddess, I wanted to. I just couldn’t. His explanation didn’t make sense. That’s when things got bad.” Eldon took another drink of water before continuing. “Jaakobah told Father that I’d grown unstable, that I was taking after Keir.”

Keir seemed truly puzzled. “I was never mentally unstable.”

“I know, but that’s the story Father and Jaakobah told the flight. They claimed that’s why you left, that you weren’t mentally well and had refused aid.”

Keir vibrated with rage. “That was the storyline?” His tone was flat and full of fury.

“It was, and the flight swallowed it like a sweet treat. I heard a few whispers here and there. Some weren’t so certain, but those whispers soon died out and the two who spoke the loudest were suddenly gone. Father said they decided to leave the flight, but now… I’m not so certain, Keir. I think… I wonder if maybe they didn’t leave of their own free will. I’m not even certain they left at all.”

I knew what Keir was thinking and attempted to nip his toxic thoughts before they gained solid ground. “This is not your fault. Their deaths, if they truly are deceased, are not on you, Keir.”

“No? Then whose fault is it?” Keir stubbornly asked.

I opened my mouth to answer, but Eldon beat me to it. “Jaakobah and Father’s.”

“Eldon is correct.” I was beginning to like Keir’s brother more and more. The past, while painful, could be forgiven, and Keir had a very forgiving heart. Terrible mistakes had been made, but Eldon had paid the price for them. He could have taken the easy route and listened to Jaakobah’s lies. One could believe any bullshit if they wanted to badly enough. Mental deception was so much easier when one was complacent in its manipulation.

“I was contained after that. Meals were brought to my room. Members of the flight saw me. I tried to protest, to tell them what truly had happened. They wouldn’t listen. Each and every one just looked at me with pity, as if I was the one in the wrong. The food became sparser and sparser. I think… I think maybe some of our flight were starting to worry. I didn’t see as many different faces.”

“And your claws and talons? And your beak?” Keir asked.

Eldon’s fingers gripped the quilt tight enough his knuckles blanched. “I attacked Father. Those with Wasting have good and bad days. This was a bad one. Father seemed confused and a little out of it. I convinced him to loosen one of my restraints. I didn’t wait. I didn’t hesitate to strike out. I was determined to get out of that building. I made it to the hallway and down the stairs. I could see the door to the outside. I was so close…”

“What happened?” I asked.

“Jaakobah. The door opened. I could just make out a sliver of sunlight surrounding his body. The door slammed behind him.” Eldon shivered. “I can still hear that slam. It sounded like thunder. It sounded like death. That’s when Jaakobah filed down my beak and cut my talons and claws. Father helped hold me down.”

Eldon stared at his diminished humanoid nails. Even in this form they were blunted.

“They’ll grow back,” Keir reassured. “We’ll make certain.”

Another tear dropped onto Eldon’s hands. “It won’t help. Mother’s talons and sharp beak were no match for Jaakobah. She fought him. She went up against Jaakobah and Father. They gutted her. I could smell Mother’s blood as I flew away.”

Keir took another shuddering breath. “And you came to me?”

Eldon nodded. “Mother told me to come. When she released me from my bonds, Mother told me to go to my brother. They were the last words she said to me before kissing me on the forehead. Mother sacrificed herself for me, and now Phina is… She’s all alone there. Phina’s about my age, maybe a little younger than I was, when you left. She’s the last of us.” Eldon shifted and reached for Keir. Eldon’s eyes were frantic with a touch of mania. “We can’t leave Phina there. Jaakobah will go after her next. Father can’t hide his illness any longer. The flight knows he won’t be able to lead, that he shouldn’t have been allowed to lead as long as he has. Jaakobah will be desperate to bond and claim the Montenegro name. She’s so young and⁠—”

“We’ll get her,” Keir stated, not a shred of doubt in his tone. “I don’t know how, but we’ll get Phina out.”

Eldon’s body slouched, his burst of concern sapping whatever meager reserves he had left. Keir’s caring nature saw the change immediately. “Rest now. You’re safe, and soon Phina will be too.”

Eldon’s eyes slipped closed as he leaned back into the pillows I’d settled behind him. Within a matter of minutes his breathing evened and sleep claimed him again.

“He is very debilitated,” I said while Keir hovered over his brother’s body, fussing with the quilt.

“He is,” Keir agreed.

“You realize Eldon will be of no use when we retrieve your sister.”

Keir’s fingers stopped fussing and his body stilled. “We?”

“Of course.” There was never a doubt in my mind.

“It’s not your responsibility,” Keir attempted to argue.

“I do not recall mentioning feeling responsible. Is my memory wrong?”