Page 72 of Gryphon’s Fire

Jaakobah’s answering grin made my scales ripple with discomfort. “A supposition I will allow others to contemplate.” Grin turning malicious, Jaakobah’s attention focused back on me. “It would be interesting to know if Mr. Azure was able to learn enough from his first confrontation to aid him should a second take place.”

The threat was clear. “An interesting supposition,” I answered, unable to keep the smoke contained within my lungs. “An idea it seems you’ve been considering.”

Jaakobah shrugged. “I’m afraid I must contemplate many possibilities, Mr. Azure. That is the burden of leadership. Keeping one’s flight safe from all possible threats, especially foreign ones, is a constant battle. Thankfully, such considerations are something I enjoy.”

Taking a page from Lady Usha’s book, I simply answered, “Indeed,” and left my answer at that. Unsure how much longer Lady Usha or myself could keep our emotions in check, I turned to my hostess and said, “I would imagine Jaakobah has many more guests he needs to speak with.”

Lady Usha’s smile rivaled Jaakobah’s. “A generous thought. Come, Lazarus. Let us find our seats. I would enjoy a good vantage point from which to watch the festivities.” Lady Usha took my offered arm. Turning her back on Jaakobah was Lady Usha’s dismissal.

I warily scanned the skies as we silently walked through the gathered guests. So far, there were no signs of Verona or Axios. I wasn’t sure if that made me feel better or worse. As we walked, any gryphon who looked askance at my presence, Lady Usha firmly handled with either a withering glare or friendly banter. She seemed to know just the right weapon to gain the desired response.

Leaning toward me, Lady Usha kept her voice low. “Lulabelle just happened to mention your friendship with Keir within the hearing range of two of my flight’s greatest gossips.”

“How convenient,” I answered, a smile tugging at my lips.

“Wasn’t it though? The rumor has spread as anticipated. I’m sure it has also grown and has legs, claws, and wings by now, but that is all the better. It will keep their minds occupied with nonsense.”

Sitting, Lady Usha leaned back into her chair. Silence stretched between us until she finally let loose a huff. “You have my gratitude, Lazarus. If you had not intervened earlier…” Lady Usha gently shook her head. “I was out of control. I had thought, wrongly it now seems, that I had my emotions firmly under lock and key. With no outlet to vent my anger, I have allowed it to fester and it now sits like poison within my soul.”

I understood all too well. I’d allowed the same to happen to me after my sister’s death and the assumed loss of her offspring. “There is no need for gratitude.”

“Quite the contrary, but I will let the matter go for now. Later, we may speak of it again when there are fewer prying ears about.” Reaching for my hand, Lady Usha entwined our fingers and calmly said, “And now, we wait.”

While I was a fairly patient wyvern, that patience had been dwindled to a trickle. “I am afraid my ability to remain calm is not what it once was.”

“Good,” Lady Usha answered without a moment’s hesitation. “You must only hang on a little longer, as must we all. I too grow weary. My heart cries out for vengeance. The longer my daughter’s murder goes unavenged, the deeper my rage grows. I am old, Lazarus. Time and experience have taught me control, but time has not dulled the inferno raging within my chest. I cannot take that rage out on Jaakobah. I must accept and trust Keir to deliver his justice, but I can aim my vengeance at Hunapo. My earlier words were true. Hunapo will not survive this day.”

I stared, transfixed by the absolute calm Lady Usha spoke those words with. To the casual onlooker unable to hear her voice, they would believe Lady Usha was speaking of the warm weather we’d been gifted today.

Truly, this elderly gryphon had a gift.

Bless the Goddess, we did not have to wait long. A low trumpet sounded, gaining everyone’s attention. Those not previously seated found their places. Low-level chatter and the natural rustling that comes with groups of individuals died to a low, nearly imperceptible hum.

Lady Usha’s fingers moved up my wrist gripping tightly as another, ghostly figure entered the field. Gait slow and prodding. Our newest arrival appeared to be a smaller version of who he’d once been. The frame was larger than the flesh clinging to it. Shoulders rounded and eyes dark and hollow, I could barely see the resemblance. “Hunapo?” I guessed.

“I was uncertain he would show,” Lady Usha answered. “I am glad he did. It will make slaughtering him easier.” Cold satisfaction bled through those words. “Hunapo’s blood will join Jaakobah’s upon the field.”

Whispered murmurs filled the air as those around us also noted Hunapo’s appearance. Shocked gasps accompanied some of those rumblings.

“Has he been poisoned?” I heard someone nearby cautiously ask. “I heard rumors that it was a local witch coven, but I wasn’t certain…” Her voice trailed off, lowering as she spoke with her companion.

Unfortunately, I heard snippets of similar conjecture. The scenario was similar, only the culprit changed. When I glanced Lady Usha’s direction, her attention remained fixed on the field. The tightening of her jaw was evidence that she’d heard the whispered rumors as well.

Eliminating Jaakobah and Hunapo would only be the beginning. Lady Usha truly had her work cut out for her untangling the webs of mistrust Jaakobah had successfully woven across gryphon society. It never failed to amaze me how much damage one individual could inflict, unraveling centuries of peaceful cohabitation within such a relatively short time.

While I was internally ruminating, a shorter individual appeared at the archway. His coloring and stature indicated he was also a gryphon, though far stockier than most I’d seen. His dress was similar to Jaakobah’s, only lacking the feathered crown.

“Falon,” Lady Usha said. “He is one of our spiritual leaders.” Lady Usha pursed her lips. “I have never found Falon to be especially spiritual although others would claim the opposite. I suppose his spiritual nature and mine do not align well.”

“No?”

Lady Usha remained silent for a moment before quietly answering a simple, “No.” I felt like she wished to say more and either could not put her thoughts into words or did not wish to speak of it here. “Let me simply say it does not surprise me that he is the one Jaakobah chose to conduct the ceremony.”

“I see,” I answered, although I wasn’t certain I completely understood. Regardless, the implication was clear enough. “Should his blood also feed the soil today?”

Lady Usha’s lips twitched. “It would not be a loss if that were the case.”

“Understood.” Perhaps I shouldn’t take one individual’s word regarding another’s worth, especially when considering life and death. However, given the situation, my moral compass was content to do so.