Prologue
The summer was dry and Da’Magathan was irritated greatly. He was young and horrifically troubled. Only three moon cycles before he had killed Shang’Gor, the great leader of the kingdom. And the heavy responsibility of keeping his position as King was overwhelming.
The mountain’s meadow stretched before him as his eyes scanned the dry country before him. He could wait. Da’Magathan was a large griffin even for his breed and he was the largest griffin to prowl the mountain at this time. His whitish tan coat ruffled slightly in the stiff breeze, proportioning his scarcely scattered rosettes of black. He held his wings firmly pressed against his back, the wind teasing the feathers playfully.
Finally he saw her. She was old and her coat was greying. She was the smallest griffin he had ever seen and yet he knew it had been her that had called him.
“Da’Magathan.” She droned softly, her beak clacking as she neared him, her bright eyes flashing as she took him in. The new King raised his hackles and parted his large maw in a soft hiss of warning. The griffin before him smiled. “I am Zürich, you once knew me, my King . . . ” she chuckled softly. “I trained your healer . . . I am a Prophetess from the outer circle of the Ice Cloud.”
Da’Magathan eyed her carefully, he had heard much of this griffiness, yet in all the stories he had learned only that he should be wary of her. More important things pressed at him and he glared at Zürich.
“You are from the outer circle. I have no use for you. Be gone, Zürich, before I harm you.” Da’Magathan glowered at her before turning to leave.
“You are in danger, my King.”She hissed quietly, letting the words pour like water from her aged and worn beak.
Da’Magathan paused at her words and turned his massive head to regard her.
“You have not assigned yourself a harem. Am I correct?” Zürich asked slyly. Da’Magathan moved around to face her once more, his eyes searching Zürich as if to unveil some great secret.
It was custom that when a new King or Queen fought their way to the top they would dispel the current royal family and guards and choose a new harem, Queen, and guards from the outer circle. Da’Magathan hadn’t had the chance to enforce such things as of yet.
“Your silence tells me that I am correct.” Zürich laughed. “A warning to our King from a humble servant . . . when choosing your harem and your Queen . . . it would be best to leave the royal family alone . . . ” Da’Magathan narrowed his luminescent golden eyes. The old royal family, the family with the True Blood, was the Sky family. It was custom that when a new King arose his new Queen was always from the Sky family.
“How dare you insult ancient custom fool?!” he growled, his heart beating fast. Zürich grinned, her eyes flashing.
“On the last star of the last moon
A daughter will be born soon
Princess of the one true Queen
The perfect one, or so ‘twould seem
But she’s the poison by which we will fall
Doomed be that day, doom to us all
Kill her now while she is of but mind
Or pay the price, the death of your kind” Zürich let out a horrendous cackle just as snow started to fall and she turned to leave.
Da’Magathan startled. Snow? In the summer? The king was thrown from his confused and trembling state of being as Gorge flung himself up the mountain toward his King to whom he had sworn his soul to.
“Your Majesty! We must leave. A strange storm is approaching. We must return to the Snow Clouds summit before it hits!” Gorge called, his eyes nervous as his master finally nodded.
As one, Da’Magathan and Gorge took to the snow strewn sky, the wind buffeting their thick furred coats as they turned to climb the mighty Snow Cloud.
Da’Magathan wondered if Zürich’s words were true. Should maybe this once the Queen come from a different strain of griffiness’s? Should Sky’La, the beautiful young daughter of the royal family not be his Queen? No.
When he traveled down to the outer circle in a moons time, he would choose his Queen and harem. Sky’La would not be left behind.
❦❦❦
Chapter One
Midnights Betrayal
The snow fell thickly in great turrets as the storm raged on. It was far too early for cubs . . . and yet they were here. Ragno grimaced as the snow battered him but ‘twas the storm that raged inside him that so bothered the young griffin. He knew where his loyalty lay. In the great and all-powerful King Da’Magathan. Didn’t it?
He brushed the feelings off and continued his ascent. The climb was not easy and he was weakened from lack of food. He pushed on though, the blistering storm pressuring him.
Go back
It seemed to warn as it hissed through his feather protected ears. He wondered for a moment if there had ever been an assassin for him. Maybe he had been allowed to live at the mercy of his assassins life. It did tend to happen . . . but only the few chosen by the King were allowed to live, that was the way it had always been, and that was the way it must stay.
The cave was damp and the lingering traces of a meal from a week before lay strewn across the caves’ floor. Da’Magathan was sleeping at the far end of the cave next to his mate, Kay’La. Kay’La sensed Ragno’s presence and she lifted her great white head.
Ragno shivered inside. Kay’La had always unnerved him, her pure white coat strangely haunting. The Kay family had always had fewer spots than most griffins and Kay’La was completely devoid of any at all. It was beyond him why the great King had gone against thousands of years of tradition and taken a Kay family member instead of the beautiful Sky’La. It had caused his people to murmur greatly that day five years ago.
“Why have you come here, Ragno?” Kay’La asked, narrowing her golden eyes. The cool voice awoke not only the King but the griffiness’s young. Three cubs of six moons lay between their two parents, their golden eyes staring up in wonderment at Ragno.
“Ragno!” Da’Magathan yawned out sleepily, his eyes shining fondly. He was a kind soul and Ragno enjoyed being his guard . The King was never cruel. Maybe the cubs would be spared.
“I have come to tell you of your Harem.” Ragno coughed nervously. Kay’La’s interest was immediately sparked as she was greatly jealous of Da’Magathan’s other griffiness’s.
“Yes?” she asked cooly, her eyes shining intently, caulking her head to one side. Da’Magathan took a weary glance at her and Ragno was aghast as he detected fear filling his Kings eyes.
“Sky’La . . . ” he mumbled. “Sky’La had two cubs.” Kay’La’s eyes narrowed as she glared at him.
“That’s impossible! No cub is born this time of year you fool. Cubs won’t be born for two or three moons at least!” she hissed, her beak parting in a grimace.
“It is true, my King. I would not lie to you.” Da’Magathan pushed past Ragno as if not hearing him. He left the shelter of the cave and glared up into the snowing sky, searching.
A sliver of the moon shone above them, hardly visible at all. Da’Magathan’s memory stirred as he realized that it was the last moon of the year . . . judging by the size, it was nearly the last day of the year.
“Kill them.” Ragno stared at his King as the words left his Majesties lips. He also noticed that Kay’La looked greatly pleased.
“Kill them?” he stuttered, knowing that it had been his mission even before he had been summoned. Only the queen’s cubs could live. Sky’La was not the queen, only part of the king’s Harem. If he had chosen, the king could have dismissed Sky’La and she would have raised his cubs in the outer circle. But no, he was not about to loose Sky’La to cubs.
“Kill them.”
✰✰✰
Far away from the Snow Cloud mountain and its range a small pack of griffins dwelt safely, oblivious of the danger the great mountain held for them.
The pair lay beside one another, asleep. The long fruitless day had been greatly tiring and the two had been forced to retire to their caves with nothing to show for the days efforts.
The Griffiness was fine boned and feminine, her black rosettes evenly spaced over her thick tan coat. Azmaria was the leader of the small band of griffins and at her side lay her two cubs that were almost a moon old now.
Her mate, Caelum, was small for a male griffin and his spots were scattered loosly while his fur was a bold white. His massive head was his most expressive feature, illuminated by his large golden eyes.
Caelum stirred slightly as the night’s storm carried on outside the caves. He felt the presence of the rest of the clan. Azmaria’s closest friend lay close to her side and the other ten pairs of griffins were strewn about the cave.
Long ago in the past the griffins had found no reason to live in packs and yet over a period of hundreds of years, as territory had grown sparse, the beasts had adapted to living in large groups.
The wind howled on outside, masking the scent of the huge white griffin who stood unnoticed at the cave entrance. His eyes scanned the odd clan of Griffins. They were much finer boned then his own people yet graceful and powerfully muscled. He wondered distantly where they had come from . . . but he knew his brother would be proud. Da’Magathan did not appreciate scavengers’ and this pack was too close to the Snow Cloud for comfort. It was time to act before they grew too numerous.
✰✰✰
Da’Tregon bowed before his brother, his golden eyes gleaming. Da’Magathan dipped his head allowing his older brother to speak.
“Brother.” Da’Tregon spoke softly as he rose to gaze into his brothers eyes. “You know that I have been gone for the length of three moons traveling the outskirts of our territory . . . ” his eyes gleamed.
“And I expect the report is satisfactory?” Da’Magathan asked, hardly interested as he watched his two young cubs battling at his feet. They were not Kay’La’s kit’s, but he had allowed the two males to live. In a king’s Harem, the only cubs normally allowed to live were the Queens. If any of the other females had kits they were either excused to raise them in the outer circle or the cubs were killed. Rarely the king would allow some of the males to live to grow up to become guards.
His Harem consisted of three females right now. As his mind drifted to his Harem he wondered if Ragno had killed Sky’La’s cubs yet. He made it a point that he would go check on her later.
“Not exactly, Da’Magathan.” The great king looked up wearily at his elder brother and sighed.
“What has happened now, Da’Tregon?” he asked quietly, turning his full attention to his brother.
“In the outskirts of the southern boarder I found a small clan of griffins . . . I figured they should be eliminated before they grew too numerous.” Da’Magathan relaxed and shook his great head.
“There is no need, Da’Tregon. Long ago, when Shang’Gor was still king, they came to him as a small pack and begged for the small mountain range to the south and he accepted. Though I am King now, I see no reason to eliminate the Clan of Mu’Shaw. They have lived there peacefully for many years . . . I do not mind them being there . . . ” He rose to his feet and turned away from the fuming griffin behind him as his cubs scattered after him.
“If that is all, I have more important matters to tend to you know?” He let out a scoff of laughter as his words settled about the large cave.
“You are too careless Da’Magathan! You underestimate too many things. In the end it will be your fall.” Da’Magathan didn’t seem to hear his brothers roar of anger and Da’Tregon smiled sadly. “You’ve underestimated your greatest enemy for far too long Da’Magathan. Soon you will regret it.”
✰✰✰
Da’Tregon slipped speedily away from the cave. Da’Magathan had taken the last step. If he refused to protect his people from possible enemies, Da’Tregon would.
His first stop was the single highest cavern at the summit of the Snow Cloud. It was where the Harem resided, and it was time to go.
✰✰✰
Da’Magathan rose to his feet slowly and quietly. Kay’La was finally asleep with the cubs and he knew he would be safe to go.
He quietly padded across the bare ground of the great cave and out into the still night. The storm had passed and with it the passing of a year. The night before Ragno had come to him and told him of his children . . . the children Zürich had warned him about when he had become king five years ago.
The great beast heaved a sigh as he took off on a small air current winding up the mountain. It wasn’t a far journey to the summit but the king dreaded every moment that passed along the way. What would Sky’La think of him now? After he had taken her cubs from her?
He pressed on though and when he reached the cave at the top he was astounded. It was empty. Not a single female griffin was visible. Sky’La, Shan’Ti, and Lar’A were all gone and the cave held a coolness meaning it had been vacated for a while.
As the king took a step toward the entrance he felt flesh beneath him and recoiled quickly. Lying in the snow, half buried from the day’s storm, lay Ragno. Blood poured from his beak and he was wounded badly.
“Ragno . . . ” Da’Magathan breathed out, hardly believing what had happened. Ragno and Gorge had been the twin male cubs spared to guard the next king and Ragno had always been his friend.
“He’s dead.” A sharp voice caused the king to look up and he was surprised to see Lar’A sitting before him, a newborn cub at her feet. Lar’A was the mother of the two male cubs Da’Magathan had spared.
“But where . . . ” Da’Magathan stuttered. “Where did you come from and where are the others?” he asked worriedly, his eyes shifting to the small whimpering kit.
“They are gone . . . as for me I was further in the cave where it is warmer . . . my cubs are tired and cold. Without the other griffiness’s it is hard to sustain heat here . . . ” she growled lowly, shifting her paws closer to the small mewling kit.
“But where?” Da’Magathan gasped, his eyes filled with horror at his loss. “Where have they gone?” he begged, looking deep into Lar’A’s golden eyes.
“Did you really think Sky’La would just let Ragno kill her kits like that? No . . . she knew it was the female you feared, so after killing Ragno she fled the mountains with her cub and left her son with me . . . ” she growled bitterly. Lar’A had been the eldest of Da’Magathan’s Harem and she had mothered Sky’La and Shan’Ti two greatly when they had been summoned five years ago. Now it was as if she had lost both daughters’ in the same night . . . all because of a foolish King.
“And what of Shan’Ti?” he implored, his eyes brightening at his last hope. Lar’A let out a small wistful laugh.
“You never were firm enough your majesty . . . you never should have let your brother leave the outer circle to join you . . . Anyone who ever cared to look would have seen that the young Shan’Ti had eyes for no one but Da’Tregon. When he arrived this evening and offered for her to be his queen she accepted . . . ” Da’Magathan let out a roar of anguish as he stepped backwards fretfully, his wings flaring in the cold night wind.
“My own brother has betrayed me . . . how could I have let this happen?” he cried, turning fretfully.
“He has left the Snow Cloud.” Lar’A growled softly. “He took many whom he had befriended both from the upper and outer circles. He is planning to overtake the Shadow Cloud, the great mountain to the south . . . near the lands of darkness. It is on the outskirts of your territory but he will still be a threat to you, my King.” The small cub let out a loud cry and in his great fury the king bent down and breathed on the small kit. His small wings looked naked without feathers and his tiny beak gaped wide, his golden eyes closed.
“Be strong my cub, son of Sky’La. For one day you will be King and it will be a hard and difficult rein.”
✰✰✰
The great beast was trembling as she lifted her massive head to look for sanctuary. But out here in the land of ice and snow, away from the protection of the pack, she had little chance of surviving. The kit dangling from her beak had no chance at all.
The night was unfolding about her and she was weak and bleeding. Ragno had been a strong and powerful male. He had been hard to defeat in her weakened state.
The mother griffiness pressed onward, her mind and body almost numb to everything around her. After two more hours of the epic struggle she at last scented an abandoned cave and gratefully took shelter.
She wrapped herself around the small kit as she heard her mewling hungrily. “I’m sorry there was nothing more I could do for you my small one . . . I’ve given you the only chance to live that I could . . . I just hope it’s good enough for you . . . Sky’Breaker.
✰✰✰
Erhm, sometimes I often don't know what I am talking about. So if you come across something that you know it wrong within my review and I have stated incorrectly, I'm very sorry.
