Page 44 of Ellie and the Prince
The griffin sat down, and the tufted tip of its tail twitched. “I didn’t know the foolish thing was magical until it persuaded me to let it go! Fortunately, I dropped it from high altitude and was able to catch it before it hit the rocks. I apologized and took it to Arabella because she was nearby.”
“Where did you first find the child?”
“In a high meadow near Grim’s Peak. The humans looked ordinary enough. It was an honest mistake.” The griffin studied Ellie briefly. “You were that child,” it said. “I recognize your magic. It is stronger now. And weaker. You don’t trust it.”
“Wh-why did you take me?” Ellie asked.
The griffin’s ears flattened against his feathered head. “Human girls make good servants. In my homeland, every nesting couple keeps one in the den to clean and to watch over the young.” He snarled a strange combination of an eagle’s scream and a lion’s roar. “It’s not as if we kill and eat them.”
Ellie felt a weight lift from her heart. “I am glad to know that you didn’t intend to kill me,” she said.
Vlad’s tail lashed from side to side. “Kill you? I went to the trouble of catching you again after you blasted me with magic and made me drop you, even though I knew I could not take you home with me. And I left you with Arabella, the best place for any human child that could force me to drop it.”
“Why did you not explain to Arabella?”
Vlad preened a few chest feathers. “I figured you would tell her. I had to go in search of a more suitable candidate. My mate was near her time.” His feathered shoulders shrugged.
“I hope your family is well,” Ellie said.
The griffin shrugged. “That clutch is grown now and spread across the continent, but they all four send us messages occasionally.”
“What became of the replacement servant girl?” Ellie asked in some concern.
“She was free to go once our brood had flown. Being a sturdy creature, she walked down the mountain with a satchel full of gold and found her way home, none the worse and much the richer for the experience.”
Ellie decided not to comment on the girl’s lost months with her family and the worry caused to all concerned. Instead, she looked at the Gamekeeper. “Did you know about the slave girl?”
“I did not.”
The griffin’s neck feathers fluffed out. “Human girls always tend young griffins. It is a time-honored tradition and beneficial to all concerned. We pay generously.”
“I should defend the tradition myself if only the girls chose to accept the position,” Ellie said. “To steal them away is inexcusable. Why not ask for volunteers? I should think the Gamekeeper could help you locate promising candidates.”
Vlad growled softly. “It is our business, not his. Bad enough that he owns a key to our home.”
“You chose the den with full knowledge that it lay partly inside my domain,” the Gamekeeper said in his quiet yet emphatic way, and the griffin lowered himself into a crouch.
“It is the Gamekeeper’s business to protect magical creatures from humans and humans from magical creatures,” Ellie said in her best persuasive tone.
“Only those within his borders. But I’ll think on it. Not because you’re using your magic on me, mind you, human!”
“My name is Ellie,” she said. “Can you tell me anything about my family?”
Vlad’s yellow eyes fixed on her. “I seem to recall several humans standing near a vehicle, a few seated on the ground on a piece of cloth, and smaller ones running about. I snatched the small female.” He looked Ellie up and down. “You are large now.”
“That was eleven years ago,” Ellie said sadly. “And I remember nothing about my family.” Tears burned the back of her eyes, but she refused to give in to a wave of sorrow.
For the first time, the griffin looked slightly regretful. “I was unaware that humans cared about family, there are so many swarming about. But perhaps they can recognize differences among themselves.”
“We do.” Ellie swallowed hard before adding in a slightly choked voice, “And we love our families very much.”
“Then I hope you find yours,” Vlad said in a magnanimous tone. He gave the Gamekeeper a look. “Will you please leave now? I am already late. Mirka would be furious to learn that you have been inside our cave.”
“We shall leave,” the Gamekeeper said. “Thank you for your time, and best wishes to you and Mirka.”
“Goodbye, Vlad,” Ellie said, trying to sound gracious. “Thank you for taking me to Arabella.”
“You are welcome,” the griffin said in an almost genial tone. “Farewell, enchanters.”
