Griffons and Ponies

Gori tonged the roof of his mouth as he paced back-and-forth. He would occasionally stop and spare a glance toward the young griffon before starting again. The fledgling, for his part, stood motionless in front of him watching Gori with his striking red eyes. After ten minutes of pacing, Gori would stop and turn toward the hatchling and without a word he ushered him to follow.

The first order of business for Gori was to give him a bath. The boy not only smelt horrible but looked so as well. The mare-in-the-moon was showing her full face so despite the hour the streets remained well-lit which made it easy for Gori to find what he was looking for. After navigating the narrow maze-like streets of the city, Gori and the boy would come across a bath house that was neatly nestled right at the entrance to the town as to be more likely to catch the eye of weary travelers as they made their way through. The bath house was run by the family of an old friend of Gori’s, Giada Banju, and Gori would rather have avoided the place, however given the circumstances, he could not wait till morning and would be hard pressed to find another place open that late at night.

The door to the bathhouse opened with a quaint ring and not shortly after a Gryphoness walked in from a room behind the counter to welcome them. ‘Hello-,’ the words died on her lips, ‘Gori!?’ Giada yelled in surprise before covering her mouth and sending an apologetic look behind the curtain she appeared from. Giada had been described as a pretty and attractive hen. Half falcon and half lynx, she was small compared to most other gryphons but no less fierce. Her face was a warm, rusty brown with black spots. Her wings were a reddish brown, and her fur was a thick gray with faint black spots. She was always known for being remarkable well-keep and clean – a perk of working in a bath house. Every part of her was well manicured from her well-preened feathers to her smooth brushed fur. In a blur she had ran past the counter and scooped Gori up in a hug. After about a minute, she pulled away and planted a kiss on each of his cheeks. ‘Gori… I never… where…,’ the words fumbled their way out of her hooked beak, she took a step back, eyeing him up and down before taking a deep breath and smoothing out her feathers with her talon. ‘You should come in…,’ she said after a minute, ‘…my father would be happy to see you again.’ Gori shook his head and gave her an apologetic look, ‘I am sorry, I do not have the time.’ He said, twisting his neck and gesturing toward the hatchling behind him who during that entire time just stood quietly to himself. ‘Who is he?’ She said, her dark brown eyes moving between the two of them. ‘He is a-…,’ Gori paused and thought it better to avoid the truth, ‘… a kitten I found that I am taking care of.’ Giada’s eyes narrowed, ‘What is his name?’ She asked, Gori shrugged his shoulders. ‘So, you had time to take care of a random fledgling whose name you do not even know but not enough time to visit me?’ She questioned with a scoff. ‘Giada-,’ Gori would begin before being cut off by Giada, ‘Have you even seen your mother?’ Gori did not answer. Giada moved back behind the counter and grabbed a pile of towels which she silently placed on the counter. She gave Gori a look before walking back behind the curtain.

After Giada had left, the kid and Gori walked into the bathroom which was empty this time of night. With a sigh that spoke volumes of his weariness, Gori sank into the warm water. The fledgling eyed him carefully as he bathed, but after five minutes of watching Gori clean himself, he decided that it was fine and began to scrub himself down with a rag. Although Gori appeared relaxed, he was anything but, and watched the boy from the corner of his eye. While Gori typically loved the quiet, this one was awkward and thick. His mind raced and the seconds slowed as they both bathed in silence. Having decided the quiet was unbearable, Gori moved behind the kitling and grabbed the rag from his claw. The boy froze under his legs as he washed him. After Gori felt he was clean enough, he gestured for him to open his wings and he did so silently. ‘What is your name?’ inquired Gori nervously as he washed him. ‘If you do not wish to tell me then at least let me know what I should call you,’ the fledgling remained still and Gori turned to rinse the rag when he spoke in a raspy voice that was dry with unuse, ‘Lsir’ the word floated in the air. ‘Is that your name?’ asked Gori, but he remained quiet. ‘Okay, Lsir…,’ Gori said tasting the name on his beak, ‘…it is a two-day journey to Bejta, can you make it?’ The young griffon remained silent but nodded. Satisfied, Gori finished washing the Griffon before taking him back to the Apple’s Eye.

The walk back to the hotel was uneventful. The bar had closed for the night, so Gori made his way directly to his room. The apartment had already been cramped when it was just Gori, now it was practically incommodious. It had only one bed with a small night table next to it that sat underneath a window that looked out onto the street. There was a cushioned velvet chair in the corner that reclined slightly and was therefore the place Lsir was going to sleep for the night. ‘Almost everything is better than a floor’ Gori thought, so he found no need as to why he should give up the bed. Lsir, apparently sensing his thoughts, quietly moved to the chair and laid down. Gori watched him for a few minutes until he was satisfied the boy was at least good at pretending to sleep and moved to the bed. The bed protested under his weight, and moving his sword next to him so it remained in reach, Gori pulled the letter from his bag:

Dear Esteemed Subject,

Under the protective gaze of our majestic realm, it is with urgency that I, Gann Ljun, write to you on behalf of his royal and opulent majesty, Prince Ġiovanni Ajkla. This letter herby summons you to the royal court on the 15th day of this present month. Your presence is essentail to discuss a mater of utmost importance. It is his high graces beleif that your unquie talents make you indispensable to the task at hand. I trust your will heed this call without delay, so that we may countine to forge a golorius future for the relam and its inhabitants.

On behalf of his majesty,

The Royal Secretary, Gann Ljun.

He read the letter again and stared at it for a few minutes before deciding he had had enough fretting and carefully placed it back in his bag. He spared one more look toward the fledgling, and with a shake of his head he went to sleep.