The Last Griffin

PROLOGUE

Author's note: I have this story up on my other account as well but there's been some problem with spacing over there so I am reposting here.

A manstood on the edge of the pier staring, with glazed over eyes, at thetrunk stowed away on the small boat anchored there. His whole bodytaut with tension as if the entire world was resting upon hisshoulders. One of his boot clad foot tapping furiously against thewood beneath, betraying his otherwise still posture.

"Sorrywe are late. We had to take a detour"

Hedidn't seem startled by the sudden intrusion or the fact that thepair of dark hooded figures seem to have had just appeared without anoise out of the thin air. He instead just slowly let out the breadthof relief he wasn't even aware he was holding in.

"Thankyou", he said trying to put the immense sense of gratitude thathe was feeling into those two little words.

"HereRoy", the smaller one of the pair stepped forward offering theman a tiny velvet bundle.

"Thankyou, Aira" repeated Roy, his voice barely above a whisper. Helooked down at the baby wrapped up neatly in velvet blanket sleepingso soundly. Shifting the baby into the crook of his arm, heoutstretched his other arm to cup the petite brunette's face.

"I love you"

"No youdon't, Roy. But I do know that you love your daughter. I understandthat she is the only one in this world that you probably - could -love. You will keep Malika safe, won't you?", said Aira,stroking the chubby cheeks of the sleeping baby girl.

Roy nodded. "Wewill see you soon.", he said even though deep in his gut he knewit wasn't true. Wasn't it why he was leaving with his infantdaughter? He might not love Aira the way she did him, the way shedeserved to be loved but she was still his oldest friend. The idea ofletting her die fighting a war while he fled like a coward, unsettledhim.

"Youare not being a coward.",said Aira as if reading his mind. Hehad always hated how she could do that. Now he wanted her to readeverything he couldn't tell her. He wanted her to know how much hehated that she was siding with the enemy, how much it bothered himthat because of her, his daughter will be forced to grow up away fromher own home. He wanted to ask her if it's worth it, fighting a warthat forces little girls to run and hide. Instead he kissed herforhead and let go of her to wrap his arms around his daughter. Asmuch as he would love to blame her for everything going wrong intheir world, he couldn't. He knew that but he still had to make peacewith it.

"Idon't want you to win Aira, but I don't want you to die either."

"Iknow. But we will win. That's why you have to leave now. Wehave fought very hard for more than a couple centuries, so believe mewhen I say that we will celebrate our victory and it will haveeverything to do with your head on a stick, Roy.", said Airacharmingly.

Hechuckled despite the grim notion. It struck him that this wasprobably the most bizzare conversation. They were supposed to be eachother's worst nightmare, but as he looked at her he knew she was hisonly ally where it actually mattered.

"Theywill kill you too, you know. They will never forgive you for helpingme.", said Roy. He felt like it's important that she knew that.

"Iknow that they will most likely kill me if they find out. But I don'tfight for them because they are the winning side, I fight along sidethem because it's the right side of the war. Just like it'sright to help you run now.", said Aira, smiling like she knowshis fate better than he does.

Inthat moment he realised that regardless of her petite stature, shewas probably the most fierce warrier in this world. He knew he wouldnever have had the courage to go against every single person he caredabout just because it was the right thing to do.

Hewatched her with a strange sense of melancholy as she bent down andkissed Malika goodbye.

"It'stime", the deep voice from behind Aira startled him out of histhoughts. He had completly forgotten about the tall hooded man who'sstood there the entire time. Apparently so had Aira, as she hadjerked upright upon hearing the sudden intrusion. Wasn't the mancapable of even a noisy breadth?!

Roynodded at the heavy set man. It wasn't doing anyone any good,prolonging this goodbye. He walked to the boat and climbed over theedge to the starboard side.

Roywatched as the hooded man untied the boat from its anchor. The boatstarted to sway and move away from the harbor at once. He watched asAira raised her hand in fairwell. He waved in reciprocal at the twofigures rapidly fading into the vast darkness as the unchaperonedboat speeded towards the bright blue horizon.

Royturned on his feet and held onto the only reason to his life now, alittle more tighter as he waited for the boat to pass through theglowing portal.