Elements of Glory: The Princess of Nothing

’She has arrived… the final hope for Weral!’

-King of the Griffins, twenty-two cycles ago

Emily leapt back and let out a little sound of surprise as the Griffin landed on the floor in front of her. Her heart was hammering in her chest, and she was drenched from head to toe, just the same as the beast in front of her. The Griffin slowly looked up at her, parted and closed his dripping beak, and locked his blue eyes on Emily’s brown, as he blinked large eyelids.

Emily felt Aragam step up beside her, and he stood boldly, though she could feel his fear. The Griffin stared at Emily for a long moment, then glanced at Aragam, and lowered his head, shaking his fur and feathers, spraying water everywhere. When he was done, he looked at Emily again, his blue eyes powerful and intense. He reached up with a clawed hand and stroked his long white beard, that grew underneath his sharp beak.

’You are her,’ the Griffin said, ’you are the daughter.’

Emily swallowed the lump in her throat.

‘You are the Princess of the Weral Kingdom,’ the Griffin went on.

Emily was quiet for a moment, then she said, ‘Yes.’

The Griffin King stooped into a bow, and spoke, with his face toward the floor. ‘You are heir to the Realm of your parents.’ He looked up again. ‘What has transpired while I’ve been locked away?’

Emily said nothing. Siri stepped forward, offering, ‘Much and great darkness has come to pass since you were locked in your prison, great Grijyn.’

The Griffin looked at Siri and narrowed his sapphire eyes. ’That’s you, Siri?’ he asked.

‘Yes, my Lord,’ Siri responded, bowing her head, ‘it has been too long, has it not?’

Grijyn nodded in return. ‘It has indeed, dear lady. Please, tell me what I missed.’

*

Vodwat had failed, he knew that… What he didn’t know was who was after him and the Hag… who’d found them, who was chasing them. Vodwat wondered if his son had lied, he’d really not given Vodwat another chance to prove himself, and instead loosed some wicked monster on him and the Hag, to finish them. He wondered if it really mattered, he was on the run, heading north, toward Everdark, with no real plan, only hoping he could stay one step ahead of the monster that was pursuing him.

A crackle of Gemgic exploded behind him and sliced through the air, between him and the Hag. The purple monster roared and leapt to one side, slamming into the trunk of a large tree, and dropping heavily to the ground.

Vodwat smiled at his good fortune, and ran faster, weaving through the forest, becoming more and more drenched in the downpour, and the water that soaked the dense underbrush.

He heard behind him the Hag snarling and growling. There were pops of Gemgic, and then a loud shriek, followed by a wet-sounding explosion. Vodwat ran faster, and faster, racing down a hill, great trees all around him. He pressed on, splashing through a swollen stream, and leaping over a dead, moss-covered, tree. He tore on, and raced out of the trees, into a wide clearing.

Ahead was an old, dilapidated, mansion. One tower had crumbled. All the windows were broken. The iron gates in front were bent, and twisted, hanging on their hinges. Tall green grass swayed like some strange ocean between Vodwat and the mansion.

He ran for it!

He was almost to the gates, when he heard a blast behind him. Then something hot and crackling slammed him squarely in the back. He pitched forward, tumbled through the gates, landing on wet cobblestones, and slid forward, until he slammed into the base of an old stone fountain.

Vodwat’s back was searing with pain. He screamed in agony and struggled to his knees. He was breathing quickly, and he looked toward the open gates of the mansion. Out in the tall grass, a large robed form was marching forward. Hateful yellow eyes glowed out from the hood.

Vodwat tried to climb to his feet, but the large, robed, man held out one enormous gloved hand, and Vodwat couldn’t move. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t. It was like being trapped inside of ice. He screamed as he strained. Still, he couldn’t move.

The huge robed man walked right up to him, and towered there, glaring down with those smouldering, yellow, eyes.

‘Vodwat,’ a cruel deep rumble spilled out from the shadowy hood. ’Your sons are dead… only you remain.’

‘I know you!’ Vodwat snarled up at his captor. ’You were the one who worked for Ratikgurr… you were Servantt!’

The tall man chuckled. ’Except I never worked for him… all he did, was my doing… Wilth frustrated my plans in the end, when he lost control of the Elements of Glory… but… all that will be corrected now… You’re my last loose end, Vodwat.’

‘My son was a visionary!’ Vodwat snapped angrily.

’Your son was a puppet!’ Servant laughed. ’I let him be what he was, because it served me… now it serves me to reveal myself. Soon, all of my plans will come to fruition! I have walked a long road to get here.’

Vodwat peered at Servantt and opened his Gemgic senses to the being, trying to read him. Suddenly, a dread realization flowed over him. He gasped, then choked, and stared in horror at the monster before him.

’You are! I know what you are!’ Vodwat screamed, pointing. ’I see your mind… your heart! I see your plans! You want all the power to yourself! Only one will stand… and you! You’re insane!’

Servantt growled, ’You’ll not be around to find out, old man.’ He closed his hand into a fist and Vodwat exploded!