Iris awoke to a gentle female voice. It was a whisper, just out of earshot. She got up and rubbed her eyes. The area around her was a dark. Pieces of the walls were crumbling, and water was leaking through a hole in the roof. She looked around, Black Star was nowhere to be found. She called out to him, but heard no response.

The door out of the damp room had a small crack underneath it. Some light was showing through. Iris opened the door and looked both ways down the hall. It was empty, save for some furniture strewn about. As she slowly made her way out, she began to notice the styling of the chairs and tables. She was in gryphon lands, somewhere in one of the kingdoms.

Iris’ heart beats quickened. If she was back here, she was in danger. Thunder boomed in the distance, making Iris crouch low like she was a hatchling again. While she hid, she began to plan out what to do. If she was in one of the kingdoms, she would first need to find out which one, and how to get to safety.

She made her way down the halls and came to an open door. Iris walked outside and gasped. The air was absolutely frigid. She had only once felt air this course and biting, when she was on a trip up the mountains with her father and brother. After looking around, several things caught Iris’ attention. The first of which was her location, a place familiar to her. She was in Recusant Castle, in the eastern kingdom. This area was known for causing trouble. Her father would routinely send his soldiers and vassal houses to deal with problems from the dukes and barons that dotted the region. At one point in her youth, several of the dukes banded together and attempted to break away from the kingdom. The area was far from the capital city of New Gryphus, but it was still a part of the Grey Wing Kingdom. Her father was not pleased. King Ziraal had little patience for the selfish actions of lesser nobles. He led his royal guard and a detachment of soldiers to personally snuff out the sparks of rebellion before they caught fire. The dukes decided to fortify themselves inside the castle, an ancient gryphon structure thousands of years old. Iris’ father laid siege to the fortress, the dukes could not withstand his might. After personally executing the offending nobles, he later renamed the fortress ‘Recusant’ due to the rebellious gryphons that dared defy him.

But there was something different about it. The ramparts where she was provided a view of the countryside far below the mountain. There was snow all throughout the valley, and there was never this much snow here. Not even in the heart of winter. Then, a sound drew her attention to the right and upward. Large blue and purple crystals grew from the towers and courtyard below. They were layered around the fortress like a fungus latched to a tree. There was something strange about them. Iris fluttered into the air and cautiously approached one. It was almost as if they had... veins? Small streams of energy grew from their bases and stretched out to each tip of prominence on the lattice.

Iris looked up and saw gathering stormclouds. Snow covered parts of the castle courtyard and towers in drifts, but at the moment there was no snow falling, only the bitter cold wind that would whip up occasionally. Though the clouds did concern her. They were starting to spin slowly around the area of the castle. Something was definitely wrong here.

As Iris touched down on the ramparts, a bright light caught her eye. Further down was another gryphon. However, this was no ordinary gryphon. Iris’ expression turned to one of shock when she focussed to get a better look. The gryphon was a female, wearing only simple blue robes. She was a brilliant white and grey, and sported four wings...

Four wings, only two things have those. Black Star... and the ancient gryphons, and she isn’t Black Star.

As Iris slowly began to move toward her, she couldn’t stop her beak from falling open. The female spread her wings and stood up on two legs. Gryphons were known to do that, but only for brief moments. Iris did it a lot with Frost and with Pyrite. But this gryphon stood tall and stared at Iris. She flexed her wings behind the blue robe then turned to go into the main body of the castle.

Iris followed, not in a hurry, but with purpose. She didn’t want to alarm her, but she didn’t want her to leave either. She entered the castle and walked silently down the hall. This part wasn’t in such disrepair, rather it looked lived in. Iris tried to ascertain her surroundings and analyze the female gryphon. Kathe had told her about the ancient gryphons before, they had been the subject of many bedtime stories.

Iris stopped and put a claw to her breast, memories flooding back from those innocent days. She would climb into his lap and he would tell her stories about heroic ancient gryphons and their awesome deeds. He always said that their ability to walk on two legs was a blessing from the blood of the matriarch herself. They literally stood above the other normal gryphons when they wanted to.

With that in mind, Iris renewed her search in earnest. Not only was that an ancient gryphon, but  an ancient gryphon in a blue robe. Kathe had said some of the orders of priests were founded by ancients gryphons. Whoever she was, she probably knew what happened here.

As Iris moved further down the halls, she followed the glowing light into a circular stairwell leading down a tower. The lower levels of the castle were cold, and more of those crystals were growing from the walls and ceiling.

Movement ahead caught Iris’ attention as she saw a few shadows creep across the intersecting halls ahead. Fear overcame her when she saw two gryphons walking toward her as they rounded the corner. There was no place for her to hide, and if she retreated back to the stairs they would certainly spot her. However, as they drew nearer, one of them looked right at her and did nothing. Iris noticed there was something wrong with them. One wore armor of her kingdom, and had grey wing tips. The other was golden gryphon, and sported a faded gold tunic. Iris didn’t understand, shouldn’t they be fighting? What was going on? As they came within paces of her, she saw crystals growing out of their breasts and shoulders. The same types that lay strewn about the fortress, but much smaller. Then, they walked right through her.

Iris turned around as they ascended the stairs, leaving her alone once again. This wasn’t right. Was she dreaming? If she was, this was the most lucid dream she’d ever had.

Iris gave up sneaking around and decided to casually walk instead. If something saw her, she’d know. Suddenly a blood curdling scream ripped through the hallway, making Iris jump.

“You know where they are! Tell me!”

Another scream, followed by three cracks. Iris walked further down the hallway, but at a slower pace.

“I don’t know! I don’t know!” another voice yelled.

“Where is Jena and the rest of her golden gryphons?! Where did she take them after fleeing the battle?!”

More loud cracks came from the room, followed by screams. Iris moved further down the hall and rounded the corner.

“Lord Thest... where is he? Tell me and I’ll make all this stop, it will all go away...” a smooth voice said as Iris came by another sealed door.

“Piss off. You monsters don’t scare me, and your freak leader will only be your undoing.”

Iris didn’t know why these gryphons were being tortured, but it seemed they were all gryphons who were her enemies. The one on the other side seemingly worked for Thest.

“We’re already undone, hatchling... as is the world,” the smooth, and now elder sounding voice replied. “But you will not speak ill of our lord and leader.”

Shrill screams of pure agony broke through the door before the sound of electricity drowned out the cries. Iris slowly walked up, she pressed her claw against it to see if she could pass through like those other gryphons passed through her. She could not. She did however look through the bars near the top of the door.

On the other side, an older gryphon wearing a red sash stalked back and forth in front of another gryphon. He was chained to the ceiling, forced to stand on his hind legs. From what she could tell, a red priest was torturing one of Thest’s soldiers. He also had some crystals growing from his light armor around his back and shoulders. As for the other, though his armor was charred black in several places, Iris was still able to recognize Thest’s family crest. She had to admit, seeing her enemy like this was pleasing, on the most base of levels.

“I’ll never break, priest. Your freak master can rot in the matriarch’s talons! Whatever he is, he is an abomination. The matriarch will destroy him.”

“You will tell me what I wish to know, and if you survive me, I assure you, you will not survive him.”

More screaming forced Iris to look away as intense electrical currents surged through the chained gryphon. She decided enough was enough and moved on. Iris followed the familiar light left by the ancient gryphon to a balcony overlooking the throne room. Crystals were everywhere, their lights dim, only allowing a portion of the room to be lit. The stained glass windows were covered, but not destroyed.

Iris noticed that the room was completely empty until another red priest flew in with two grey wing gryphons in toe. They were carrying another prisoner. The priest approached the throne, but did not bow. Instead he merely balled his claw into a fist and touched it to his heart.

“This is a deserter we picked up flying low across the fields. He tried to remove it, but he wore the rank of a captain. I thought perhaps you would have words with him.”

Silence filled the room after the red priest finished speaking. Iris moved a bit closer to the throne to see just who sat upon it. The entire thing was shrouded in darkness, but the light from the crystals did illuminate a portion. A cloaked blue figure leaned on the side, it’s face was obscured by a large hood. Iris leaned over and could see a hoof resting on the left armrest of the throne.

Suddenly the lights from the crystals dimmed.

“Leave us,” the figure on the throne commanded.

A male voice. Iris’ eyes grew wide as she saw the figure raise his other arm. He had a claw, a gryphon claw. It’s feathers were light blue under the robe. He flicked away the guards standing over the deserter. The crystals all flashed when he commanded them to leave, briefly illuminating the entire room. Iris saw something move behind the throne, something big.

The red priest nodded to the guards as they released the prisoner and flew out. After a moment of silence, the priest began to pace back and forth between the throne and the prisoner.

“Why did the Golden Nest invade the Grey Wing Kingdom?”

The prisoner remained still and looked at the ground. The priest turned to face the throne, then walked back to the prisoner. He adjusted a ring on his talon and clasped the deserter on the shoulder. The prisoner shrieked in pain as he was electrocuted.

“Where is Thest?” the priest asked, now pacing around the prisoner quickly. Iris noted he was younger than the other one in the dungeons. “He did not kill King Ziraal, where is he? Tell me and I may let you live...”

Iris could not believe what she was hearing. Hope surged through her. Her father was alive?

“You have no power here, priest.” the prisoner spat.

The priest’s face contorted in rage as he drew a blade and raised it. However, he was stopped by a raised claw. The figure on the throne halted his action. The priest sheathed his blade and stepped away from the prisoner.

Iris’s eyes bulged as a giant snake unwound itself from behind the throne and slithered over top and around it. It was a purple and white python. With it’s length it could easily loop around the entire room twice, and it was as thick as the stone columns on either side.

The python wrapped it’s tail around the prisoner and lifted him high into the air. His screams were soon cut off by bones snapping and veins popping. The room returned to silence when the python had finished it’s meal. It returned to it’s place behind the throne.

Iris watched the red priest depart and leave the throne room in silence once again. After some time observing, Iris watched the figure sit back, his head lolling to the side. She decided to glide down and take a closer look.

As she approached him, she noticed the fur on his hooves was a light blue. Iris began to shake as the cold intensified, she lost all feeling in her talons. Just as she was about to look under the hood, a flash of light caused her to turn around.

The ancient gryphon stood there with a sad look on her face. Iris stepped off the throne and stared at her, “Who is that? What’s going on here? I don’t understand.”

The gryphon bent down and placed a claw on Iris’ shoulder. She stared into her eyes and uttered a single response. “Fear the future.”

---------------------

Iris woke with a start and shook her head. What had she just dreamt? She rubbed her eyes and got out of bed, trying not to disturb Silver Spark in the process. The little guy had waited for her to return from following Rigel to that island. That was a trip. Iris still couldn’t believe Rigel capable of something like that. It only served to make him appear more dangerous. Marigold had spent the rest of the day night with him when they returned.

Iris didn’t understand why an ancient gryphon would appear to her in a dream. She didn’t even believe half the stuff the priests went on about. She always laughed whenever Kathe talked about it and was so serious. It was one of the few times he ever was so serious.

Iris stretched her wings and flew out into the hallway, she had to find Frost. He always listened whenever she had something on her mind. She arrived at his room and slowly opened the door, surprised to see it was empty. She crept inside and saw a light on in the washroom. The door was closed, allowing light to only escape through the bottom slit.

She walked up to it and knocked, no response.

“Frost, are you in there? I need to talk to you...” Iris said.

Still no response. She touched her claw to the handle and pulled back immediately. It was frigid, so cold it almost burned. Iris’ wings twitched in nervousness. She scratched at the door and continued to call out to Frost. All with no response.

Iris shoved against the door, then slammed her shoulder against it. Iris was no small gryphon for a female her age. The thin wooden door should have come off it’s hinges by now, but it didn’t budge. There must be some sort of spell on it.

“Black Star!” Iris quietly called out, “I need you!!”

Within seconds shadows behind Iris morphed into her protector.

“What is it, Iris?”

“Help me!” Iris said through panicked breath, “Frost is inside and I think there’s something wrong.”

Black Star slid across the floor and molded himself around Iris, once again granting access to their merged form. Iris pressed her now larger talons to the door and focussed Black Star’s energy. Slowly the cold began to fade and the door buckled.

Iris burst into the washroom to find icicles on the ceiling and pipes about to burst. She saw Frost sitting on his haunches staring out the window. Iris walked over and tried to see what Frost was staring at. She focussed and thought she saw something sparkle in the trees, but it was nothing. Meanwhile Frost continued to stare, he hadn’t even noticed they were there.

“Black Star, what’s wrong with him?!” Iris asked, her voice laced with worry.

“I believe he’s in some sort of trance,” Black Star replied.

Iris touched a claw to his shoulder and immediately retracted it. She had never felt such cold in her life.

“Frost! Frost! Wake up! It’s me!” Iris screamed. Her voice sounded dull, weak. It was as if the very cold of the room was sucking away everything.

Iris stood up to her full height and slapped Frost in the back of the head. He fell forward and smacked his head off the wall. In response, the room went from frigid to something warmer. Iris looked around and noticed the change.

“That seems to have worked,” Black Star said. “That was powerful magic.”

Iris looked down as Frost slowly turned around. His face pale and his eyes glowing a faint blue. He shivered and shrunk away from the looming four winged gryphon standing over him.

“D-d-d-don’t hurt me... p-please,” Frost pleaded, teeth chattering.

Iris stepped forward, and Frost backed away even more.

“He’s delirious,” Black Star observed.

“Frost, it’s alright. It’s me, Iris. I’m not going to hurt you.”

Frost blinked and stared blankly at the floor, “Iris... Iris, I’m so cold...”

Iris immediately reached out but stopped when Black Star took control. “Black Star, what are you doing?” Iris asked.

She didn’t like how that felt. It went from feeling the most free, to the most trapped. She felt Black Star’s presence mold itself around her body further, like she was cocooned in his essence. The void of black she floated in rippled and coalesced. In the black, a green eye opened and looked down at her. Iris recognized it as Black Star’s third eye.

“I’m protecting you, Iris. I’ll handle this.”

Iris watched as Black Star maneuvered their large form back into Frost’s room, doing so slowly as to not alarm him. Then, they sat on their haunches. Thick black tendrils seeped out of their chest and slithered into the washroom. They returned with a terrified Frost in their clutches. He could do nothing but watch as they pulled him to the gaping hole in Iris’s chest. He whimpered as he was pulled through and the blackness closed around him.

Sometimes the void has it’s disadvantages. While Iris was never truly frightened when fused inside Black Star, there was always a slight sense of apprehension. Being in a void, there was no up and down, it was very hard for her to comprehend the space. Plus, being a creature with wings, spatial orientation and observation was natural. To be deprived of it only served to make her uneasy.

Iris struggled to judge the distance between herself and Frost when he appeared. He was below her and a fair distance away. Black Star materialized in his own gryphon form and stood beside Iris in the void.

“Stay here for now, please.” he said with a calm smile. “Allow me to give him comfort that only I and my siblings can.”

Iris watched his eyes flash green, then nodded.

Frost gripped a thick black tentacle with all four hooves, holding on for dear life as he looked frantically around the void. More tendrils crept around him and massaged away the chill. He jumped each time one touched him and shuddered as the large tentacle moved. Black Star materialized beside him and smiled.

“Hello Frost...”

Frost shook and gulped, “Where am I? Who are you?”

“You’re safe, you know who I am...” Black Star said, his voice slowly transitioning to a familiar female tone.

“Selene... is that you?” Frost whimpered.

“It is,” Black Star replied. “Here, there’s someone who wants to see you.”

Frost let go of the tentacle and let it gently push him toward Iris. Iris watched as he slowly floated toward her. In the void, she noticed she retained her ancient gryphon look. She sported the four wings and three tails, and with her current size she was about three times as large as Frost.

“Frost...” Iris whispered as he plucked him from the void. He was still incredibly cold, and Iris felt him shivering.

She folded her wings and pressed him against her breast, letting her warmth seep into him. Frost shuttered and spread his hooves, trying to gather as much feathers as possible.

Iris bent over and nuzzled him gently with her beak, “Frosty...”

She heard a muffled reply and smiled.

“Iris... goddess, you’re so warm... why haven’t we cuddled like this before?”

She fell back in the void and giggled, “We’ll have to more often, you’re too cute when you're this tiny.”

Black Star relinquished his forms and observed them from his third eye, content they were both alright within his domain.

Iris looked up and shook her head, “Frost... what were you doing?”

Frost stared into Iris’ big golden eyes and frowned, “I don’t know.”

-----------------------

A cold wind swept over the mountains and down into the city of New Gryphus. The capital city of the Grey Wing kingdom was different now that the golden gryphons had occupied it. Each street was patrolled by their soldiers, and their airships roamed the skies overhead. Citizens were required to pay a tax to the Golden King, now that they were considered a province of the Golden Nest.

Valda spit on the ground as two golden gryphon soldiers passed her. She would do nothing, but she wished she could do more. The time of their attack was perfect with the army gone to the north. Thest had outplayed the former king, something she surmised would happen eventually, even if Thest wasn’t the one to do it. Ziraal was a good king, a fair and just king, but not really a smart one.

Another gust of wind blew through the marketplace, causing Valda to pull her red robes tighter. As a red priestess, she could pass through the city relatively unchecked by the golden gryphons. The priesthood had many advantages in that regard. Most of the sects were apolitcal in nature, only aligning themselves with kingdoms and feudal lords in the rarest of times. The priesthood and all it’s orders swore allegiance to the gryphon race as a whole. Though even despite that, some priests saw fit to fight on behalf of political figures for political ends. Several blue priests seen skulking around with Thest were some such miscreants.

Valda mentally cursed, disgusting. But... even so, she couldn’t blame all of them. After all, her lord and master was one such gryphon, a long time ago.

“Miss Valda?” a voice called from the food stand. “Your order is ready.”

Valda turned around and walked inside the small shop. It was a quaint little place where her lord would often drag her for lunch or dinner. She never understood the appeal of the food, but her master refused to eat anywhere else when they were in this part of the city. But really, it wasn’t the food that brought him here.

Valda watched as the diminutive gryphon went about gathering her order. He sported grey wingtips, just like her master. A mark of pride and honor from the dragon war, he was a veteran. Valda often heard stories about the brutal fight with the dragons, but never from those who were there.

“Thank you, Mr..”

“Ezrel,” the gryphon said with a polite smile. “I see you here often with the High Priest Zendreyta, but we’ve never spoken before.”  

“No,” Valda said while leaning on the counter, “I prefer to let him do the talking.”

“I wish he would come around more,” Ezrel said with a sigh. “I miss our talks. But with all the changes around here, I understand it must be difficult.”

“About that...” Valda began, “How are you holding up, are they bothering you?”

“The golden gryphons? No, aside from when they come to collect their tax. They ask for a lot, and my family doesn’t have much as it is. It makes things hard.”

Valda frowned and reached for her belt, “Here, take this.”

Ezrel looked at the sizable pouch of coins, “Miss Valda, I can’t... this is too much.”

“Nonsense,” Valda replied. “For the children, I certainly don’t need it.”

Ezrel nodded and bowed in thanks, “You’re a good gryphon, priestess. Just like the high priest. My little one is at the Ruby Palace today with the other children. He’ll be overjoyed to learn a priestess came by and gave us her blessing.”

Valda smiled and gathered her things, “Perhaps I can see him when I return.” As she turned to leave she stopped, curiosity getting the better of her.

“Ezrel...”

“Yes, Ms. Valda?”

“Zendreyta rarely speaks of the war... I know it’s not my place to ask... but... what happened? Did you fight with him?”

Ezrel looked at his wings and nodded, “I did... he saved my life, Valda. And I saved his. We were in the same unit, and together we killed a dragon. One of the largest and meanest... but not without cost. The cost is often the subject of our conversations.”

“I see,” Valda replied, “I’m sorry I asked.”

“Oh quite alright, quite alright.” Ezrel reassured her. “It only makes sense to be curious. Tell him I wish him well.”

Valda smiled and pulled up her hood, “I will, sir. Goodbye, and thank you for your service.”

Ezrel smiled and saluted as she flew off. Valda looked back as she turned toward the palace. It was because of gryphons like him that she was even alive today.

-----------------------

In the western district of the city, surrounded by red brick walls and a picturesque plot of land, sat the Ruby Palace, home to the red order. An awe inspiring location, it was a fortress built around a cathedral to the Matriarch. While not as large as the fortress belonging to the former king, it was still an impressive piece of architecture and home to at least three hundred priests at any given time.

The red priests used this as their home and headquarters. This was where they had their meetings and conclaves. It was where their highest members gathered, and it was where she spent the remainder of her childhood. Other orders were based in cities in other kingdoms, but this was the only one in New Gryphus. Valda flew down to the gate and presented her papers, then flew to the fortress.

She flew to her room and deposited her personal effects before changing into something more formal for the occasion. She put on some crimson dress robes and took her things downstairs to Zendreyta’s room.

Once she arrived at the huge double doors she banged the door latch three times, then waited. After a few moments she chuckled at the jovial answer.

“Come iiiinn!!!”

Valda walked through the doors and found her master, the High Priest Zendreyta, going through old books on his massive wall. The north wall of his room was one gigantic bookshelf, stretching at least one hundred paces to the ceiling. Zendreyta was hovering above a row and flipping through some pages when he looked down and saw Valda.

“Valda my dear! You’re back!”

“Yes, your excellence. I’ve brought some bread and pastries. Also... your wine.”

Zendreyta landed with a loud thud and grabbed Valda in a massive hug, lifting her several paces off the ground.

“What would I do without you? hmm?”

Valda squirmed and managed to push him away. She dropped to the floor and smirked up at him. The High Priest Zendreyta, an imposing gryphon to say the least. While his size was above average, and he was in peak physical condition, those weren’t his defining features. No, his feathers and fur, that was what stood out when you first laid eyes on him. Both were a deep shade of auburn, almost dark crimson if the light was hitting him a certain way. A red gryphon who was high priest of the red order. Stories are made due to things like that. The vicious scar on his left eye only served to make him more menacing, but those who were familiar with him knew better. Ninety percent of the time he was the gentlest of giants, just like now.

“You’d be a slobbering drunk, just like when I met you...” Valda snarked.

“Oh come now,” Zendreyta said with a huff, “I wasn’t that bad... all the time...”

Valda chuckled and produced the wine from the bag. She quickly moved it away as Zendreyta reached for it, “Ah ah, not until your dinner.”

Zendreyta grabbed it anyway and walked over to his desk, “Matriarch, Valda! I have some restraint. Give me at least a little credit. Now, let’s see...” he said while tracing the bottle, “Ahh... pleasant berry... not the most refined, but one of my favorites. Ezrel is an excellent wine maker, Valda. If you were older you might appreciate it more. His family used to own a vineyard before the dragons came and scorched the place.”

Valda smiled as she watched him caress the bottle. Despite his troubled past with the drink, she afforded him times when he could have some. And she knew that for this, it was the sentimental part he valued more than the drink itself.

“Yes I’m sure it’s all interesting, but we can discuss that tonight. For now you need to get ready, the children are here for lunch.”

Zendreyta smiled and flapped his large wings happily, “That’s right! Valda, Valda my dear, you’re on top of things as always. Oh, what should I wear? Burn it all I hate these fancy dress robes.”

Valda walked over to his dresser and pulled out a simple red tunic with an embroidered hood signifying his status in the priesthood. She had them made especially for purposes such as these.

“Here, your eminence.” Valda said while flying over and giving him the tunic.

“Ahh... this will do nicely, thank you.” Zendreyta said with a small bow. “And stop calling me those titles. Just call me Zendreyta, or Zen, or even my real name. You of all gryphons can do that, you know.”

Valda laughed and performed the most formal bow she could. Touching her beak and each wingtip to the ground.

Zendreyta slipped on his outfit and flicked Valda with his tail, “Very funny, hatchling.”

Valda got up and opened the door for him, “Let’s go, we’re going to be late.”

“I’m coming! I’m coming!” Zendreyta yelled while putting on his ring.

Valda walked down the halls to the dining room behind Zendreyta. Though she was a priestess, and thus subject to the many duties required for such a role, she spent most of her time as an assistant and aid to the high priest. It was something she enjoyed, and she felt responsible for him. In many ways, he was like a father to her.

“What are we having today? Anything good?” Zendreyta asked.

“Soup, salad, breadsticks and some fruit.” Valda replied. “Nutrition is important for hatchlings, I figured.”

Zendreyta let out a depressed sigh, “That’s true, would have killed for some meat though.”

Valda made a note of what to have for his dinner. Zendreyta had many responsibilities as head of the order, but he always made time for philanthropy and fun. He hosted weekly lunches and dinners for the children in the neighborhood and across the city. Those who didn’t have much and needed whatever help could be given.

As they entered the hall, the children played around the indoor garden and cheered when they saw the high priest. He flew over and chased them around the plants and trees before it was time to eat. Once the lunch was served he sat down and raised his claws to quiet down everyone at the table. Valda helped some of the smaller ones get into their chairs. She counted about forty in total.

“What a lovely day!” Zendreyta exclaimed, “Now, who wants to say the prayer for today?”

About four seats down, a small gryphon chick raised her claw and smiled brightly.

Zendreyta pointed to her and nodded. He lowered his head and took the claws of the children sitting on either side.

“Matriarch bless us for this yummy food, for the pretty sky, for the fluffy clouds, and for uncle Zeny letting us into his house for lunch.”

“There... that was lovely,” Zendreyta said with heartfelt smile, “Now, let’s eat!!”

As the servers delivered the food, Zendreyta watched from the head of the table the smiles on the hatchling’s faces. He was glad that he could give them this. One of the few genuine perks of his position that didn’t come with so much baggage.

As he was about to take another bite, a shrill screech startled everyone.

“Ow! Why did you do that, Ralin!?” a female hatchling screeched.

A young male recoiled back in fright shaking his head, “I didn’t mean to! Really! I’m sorry!”

“What’s going on?” Valda asked, somewhat irritated. “It’s rude to misbehave at the high priest’s table.”

“He shocked me on purpose!” the chick shouted, “He and his friends were poking me and making fun of me!”

Valda stared down Ralin and noticed the familiar features. “You’re in trouble Mr. Ralin...”

“Valda bring the child to me, please.” Zendreyta asked.

Everyone in the room went silent. Ralin’s face went pale as a ghost. Valda led him to the front of the table where Zendreyta gave him a look over.

“You’re Ezrel’s boy, aren’t you? He’s your father, yes?”

“U-uh yes, sir.” Ralin answered.

Zendreyta nodded and got up, “Children, I must leave for a time. Enjoy your meal, and after you’ve finished have the chefs give you some ice cream.”

Ralin followed Zendreyta to a large room with a several pews and a throne near the end. Zendreyta sat upon the throne and plucked the young gryphon from the floor and sat him on one knee.

“Am I in trouble?” Ralin asked.

“That depends...” Valda said from her position next to the throne.

“Oh stop...” Zendreyta groaned. He bent down and whispered, “She’s such a killjoy, no fun at all.”

Ralin giggled a bit and smiled, “That’s what my dad says about mom sometimes.”

Zendreyta and Valda both laughed. “I wouldn’t tell her that, Ralin.” Valda said.

“Give me your claw, Ralin,” Zendreyta said. “It’s alright, you’re not in trouble.”

Ralin slowly extended his claw and watched as the high priest’s claw closed around his own. Within a moment, a surge of energy left Ralin and zapped Zendreyta. He yelped and tried to jump away, but Zendreyta held him firmly.

“I’m sorry high priest! I didn’t mean to!I don’t know what’s happening!”

Zendreyta laughed and flexed his claw, “I do, you have the blessing of the Matriarch, Ralin. You can be a priest like me.”

“I can?!” Ralin exclaimed. “What does that mean?!”

“It means you and I are going to have a talk with your parents tonight, I think that-”

“Excuse me, high priest... you have guests. They just arrived and demanded to have an audience...”

Zendreyta and Valda watched as five golden armored gryphons marched into the room, one of which wore highly decorative armor and a long crimson cloak. Each of their faces were obscured by the typical golden neckwarmers and goggles.

Valda was about to say something but stopped when Zendreyta narrowed his eyes and stopped her with a raised claw.

The gryphon in the center of the other four bowed and stepped forward two paces.

“Good afternoon High Priest Zendreyta. I am Jenna, commander of the golden gryphons in New Gryphus.”

Zendreyta sat back and rubbed Ralin’s back in reassurance. “I wasn’t expecting visitors today, usually when gryphons wish to see me they make an appointment.”

“Yes,” Jenna said. “I regret not following the proper methods, but this simply could not wait.”

“I see...” Zendreyta replied, “Then tell me, what is it that simply could not wait? That is so important you barged in and disrupted me in a very important meeting.”

Jenna raised an eyebrow and removed her neckwarmer and goggles, “Important meeting? With that hatchling on your knee?”

Zendreyta was not amused by Jenna’s smirk, the same expression likely shared by her guards.

“The future of a child is very important, Jenna. I hope you have a good reason for taking his time.” Zendreyta said.

Jenna chuckled and nodded to Ralin, “I’m sorry, I’ll be brief. But I’m glad you and I share an interest in the welfare of the young ones. As a matter of fact, that’s why I’m here.”

“Is it?” Zendreyta asked.

Jenna nodded, she walked closer to the throne and took on a more casual tone, something that quickly got under Valda’s skin.

“We’ve noticed that you received a letter a few days ago from a pony. One Princess Desalia. An invitation to her daughter’s wedding. Quite prestigious wouldn’t you agree?”

Zendreyta looked around and smiled down at Ralin, “It’s like she doesn’t realize I’m the boss of every red priest and priestess...”

Ralin giggled, causing Jenna’s eyebrow to twitch.

“Yes... but from Princess Desalia? The grand silver alicorn known to preside over the Silver Isles, a rich and powerful society with an army, navy, and arcane secrets?? No other gryphon got an invitation to this. None of the other high priests, not even the current regent, Lord Thest...”

Zendreyta yawned, “Well... I’ve known the Silver Princess for a few years now. Our order is focussed on the magical applications of the Matriarch’s blessings, thus it is only natural that we keep correspondence with authorities on such things. Desalia is certainly such an individual.”

Seemingly satisfied, Jenna nodded, “So, you’ll be attending the wedding then?”

Zendreyta clicked his beak and looked out the window to the city, “I hadn’t planned on it,” he said with a shrug. He looked down at Ralin and ran a single talon through a tuft of his feathers, “Lately things at home require my attention.”

“I see... well that is a shame...” Jenna said. “You see, we believe a certain gryphon princess has fled there with some ponies from Equestria. She’s in hiding, far from our reach.”

Valda noticed Zendreyta’s demeanor change instantly. He sat up straight and glared down at Jenna. She guessed the conversation was going to take an ugly turn.

“Is she...?” Zendreyta asked, motioning for Valda to take Ralin away. “So... what then? You were hoping I’d go and retrieve her for you?”

“Perhaps,” Jenna said with a casual shrug and smug grin. “More likely I’d send some of my soldiers with you and they would take care of it. Matriarch knows what the ponies could be doing with her. And what if the Silver ponies found out who she was?! We could have a ransom on our claws!”

Zendreyta narrowed his eyes, his own smug grin forming across his beak, “Oh, and that would be terrible for golden gryphons to part with their gold coins.”

Jenna tapped her paw on the marble floor impatiently and cleared her throat, “I was hoping to gain your assistance, and wasn’t prepared to face such resistance. This is the former king’s daughter, we want her home and safe. You bear the markings of the king, the grey wingtips. I would have thought that alone would be enough. But on top of that, I know that you’re not a native to the Grey Wing Kingdom. You were born a Golden Gryphon...”

Valda’s eyes shot open, “Holy crap...” she and Ralin muttered in unison.

Zendreyta bent over and began to chuckle, then threw back his head in raucous laughter.

“Something funny...?” Jenna asked.

“You, hatchling...” Zendreyta said, “You’re funny. You’re a riot. Me? Help you because I’m a former citizen of your father’s kingdom?”

Valda noticed Jenna’s four guards begin to get agitated. They held their formation, but some of them began caressing their weapons.

“That’s funny... why?” Jenna asked.

“Your father hasn’t said anything about me? He didn’t tell you anything?”

Jenna shook her head, “Father doesn’t speak to many gryphon’s anymore, not even his own children.”

Zendreyta stopped laughing and cleared his throat, “Well, that makes a bit more sense. Let me tell you a little story, Princess Jenna. When I was just a hatchling, only a little older than Ralin, I did live in your father’s kingdom. My mother and father were there with me, and we were poor. All of us, including some our aunts, uncles, and cousins, we were all poor. You see, that wasn’t uncommon back then. When your father took the throne, his taxes forced many into poverty. When gryphon’s couldn’t pay, bad things would happen to them. So, in order to stop that from happening, we fled the kingdom along with many others. Long story short, I made it, the rest of my family did not. Your father’s soldiers cut them down as they were fleeing across the border to the Grey Wing Kingdom. I’ll never forget the vibrant gold armor and warm golden cloaks... just like those...”

Jenna turned around and realized he was pointing to her guards. She cursed under her breath, realizing she was getting nowhere.

“You didn’t know,” Zendreyta said with a sigh, “It’s not your fault. You were a hatchling at the time. But now you understand why I’m in no hurry to help you. The servants will show you out. Good day, Princess Jenna.”

Jenna fumed and stared at the floor. She looked at Valda, who gave her a pitying smile, then at Zendreyta who gave her a small bow. She turned to leave and rejoined her guards, but not before hissing from the corner of her mouth, “Beware you don’t come to regret this decision, high priest...”  

As she was about to leave, the double doors slammed shut and locked from the outside. Jenna froze and slowly turned around. Zendreyta was off his throne and standing on the floor in front of it.

“That sounded like a threat... perhaps I misheard you...?” he said while staring her down.

Jenna seethed. The wedding invitation was the perfect cover to slip in and capture Iris. It didn’t get any better than that. All her problems would disappear if this stupid old gryphon would simply cooperate. But no, that wouldn’t happen. And she had no way of convincing him. What are the odds that some street urchin from her kingdom would escape with his life, AND become the high priest of the red order?! It was like the universe itself was set against her.

“It was me imparting you wisdom, we all have regrets. I hope you won’t regret this decision.”

Zendreyta flexed his wings and cracked his neck, “Are you scared of me, Princess Jenna?”

Jenna rounded on the high priest and scratched her talons against he the marble floor, “Scared... of a broken down drunk? No. Perhaps apprehensive due to your power, but never scared.”

Zendreyta clicked his beak in annoyance and stood on his hind legs, “That... is unfortunate. You see, if you were afraid of me... then it would make sense to bring four blue priests as guards. But since you’re clearly not afraid, I can only assume they are here for some other, foolish reason.”

Before Jenna could say anything events were already in motion. One of her guards conjured a bolt of lightning and hurled it at the high priest within seconds. Jenna watched with beak agape as Zendreyta caught the bolt in mid air and crushed it in his claw. He then conjured a bolt of his own and threw it at the guard, piercing his chest and throwing him into the wall.

The other three guards immediately fanned out and surrounded him. Zendreyta waited for one to make the first move and reached out to his throne. A compartment opened and a sword flew into into his claw. He blocked the attack from one of the priests and kicked away another who came in for an attempt. The third priest landed close to Valda and conjured a bow of lightning. He drew an arrow and fired directly at Zendreyta’s back.

The high priest turned, and casually knocked the arrow away with a gauntleted claw, then balled a fist. He unclenched his fist and raised his claw slowly in the blue archer’s direction. A pillar of fire erupted beneath him and set him ablaze.

Valda grabbed Ralin and whispered to him that everything would be alright. She flew to the other side of the room only to find two more golden gryphon’s about to enter the fight. She shoved Ralin into the corner and shut the door, only to conjure a blast of wind from her talons that blew it off it’s hinges. The door sailed through the hallway knocking down one guard while the other tossed a bolt of lightning at her.

Valda stepped into the hallway and conjured a shield with her silver gauntlet. She advanced on the blue priests while only one was in the fight. She said a prayer to the Matriarch and stepped into the light to reappear some distance down the hall and drive a dagger through the skull of the downed priest. The remaining blue priest performed the same miracle as she did and tackled her to the ground. He electrocuted her with his medallion in hand, causing her to screech in pain. The blue priest unsheathed his own dagger and almost made an attempt to stab at Valda when a large object struck him in the head.

A vase bounced on the floor, thrown by Ralin. Valda took the opportunity to gouge the priest in the eye and open his throat with her own dagger. She quickly threw him off and flew over to Ralin.

“Thanks, buddy... I owe you one.”

Ralin smiled as she picked him up hovered in the air. “Will Zendreyta be alright?”

Valda chuckled, “He’ll be fine. We’re just gonna stay right here. It’s about to get very hot in there.”

Zendreyta parried a lunge from one of the blue priests and sidestepped as his momentum carried him forward. He grabbed the priest from behind and drove his blade through his chest. As he removed his blade, the final blue priest appeared behind Zendreyta and stretched out his talons. Gouts of fire erupted from his claws and consumed Zendreyta and the priest he had just killed.

A larger flame erupted where Zendreyta was standing, a dark red fire that surrounded the high priest. His eyes glowed red and he disappeared in a puff of ash, only to reappear behind the remaining blue priest. He grabbed him by the throat and lifted him in the air. He held him there for a few seconds, then an explosion erupted from Zendreyta’s claw as the charred body of the final priest landed in front of Jenna.

Zendreyta allowed the fire to die down and once again disappeared in a cloud of ash. He reappeared in front of Jenna and smiled.

“Do you know now why they call me the burning phoenix?” he asked with a laugh. “It’s not made up. During the dragon war I saved a group of soldiers from a direct blast of dragon fire. However I couldn’t keep the shield up long enough, and ended up being consumed by the fire myself. For reasons known only to the Matriarch, I didn’t die that day. I survived, and what little feathers I had left were charred this color. I command the power of flame, even the power of dragon fire.”

Jenna’s mouth trembled, “Y-you can’t kill m-me, I’m a p-p-princess.”

Zendreyta smiled and walked behind her. She went white as a ghost when his claw clasped her shoulder. “You golden gryphons were never strong in faith. Do you believe in the Matriarch?”

“I-I do, I do,” Jenna stuttered.

“Then pray for her to save your life.”

Jenna took a deep breath and calmed herself. She slowly recited an old prayer she hadn’t heard since she was a child. Her old nanny used to say it before she put her to bed. After she finished she swallowed and clenched her eyes shut.

Zendreyta sighed and removed his claw, “That’s an old psalm. A good one. Let me guess, one of your old servants taught it you, yes? You likely didn’t think much of it, but it just saved your life.”

The high priest turned around and pointed to the door, “Your kind aren’t welcome here anymore. If they are seen on the grounds, they will be driven out. And I never want to see you again.”

Jenna nodded and tore into the air down the hallway.

“And stop reading my mail!!!!” Zendreyta shouted as she burst through the front doors of the cathedral.

Valda hovered back into the room and covered Ralin’s eyes with a claw. Zendreyta saw her and motioned her to follow him. They both flew back to his room and shut the door.

Zendreyta sat down in his large comfortable chair and let out a tired sigh, “That’s going to be a lot of paper work.”

Ralin nervously flapped over to an adjacent chair and plopped down, “You were awesome against those blues, they didn’t stand a chance.”

“Nope, they didn’t...” Zendreyta said with an almost disappointed sigh. “The blue order has turned to crap in recent years. They fight like kids, uh, no offense...”

Ralin chuckled, “None taken.”

Valda brought over a tray with a glass of wine and a bottle. Zendreyta looked at the tray and grabbed the bottle, ignoring the glass. He popped open the cork with a claw and proceeded to down nearly all of it. “Blue priests, they don’t make em’ like Kathe anymore...”

“Zen... please, you don’t need that much.” Valda said while taking the bottle away.

Zendreyta looked at Valda, stunned, “What... ‘Zen?’ Did I hear that right?”

Valda frowned and looked over at Ralin, “What are we going to do?”

The high priest wiped the wine from his beak and sat up. He extended his wing and pulled Valda over for a half embrace. “We’re going to take Ralin home and explain to his parents the possible future he has with. Than we’re going to the Blue Temple to explain why they have four less members.”

“Six, actually...” Valda said with a sly smirk.

“Six...?”

“I helped,” Ralin said with a proud smile.

“You did?!” Zendreyta asked.

“Yeah, he did.” Valda said. “Bonked one on the head so I could finish him off.”

Zendreyta laughed and gave Ralin a playful wink, “He’s practically a red already! We won’t even have to have the ceremony!”

“Will you send other priests to the wedding in your place? I can draft up a list of names that would be appropriate.” Valda suggested.

“What? Send others in my place? Oh no, I’m going, and you’re coming with me.” Zendreyta said.

“I- what? I thought you said matters were important here?” Valda asked.

“They are, but this takes priority. It’ll be good for me to get some sun and stretch my wings in the tropics. Plus, do you know how good pony wine is? Silvershade Reserve?! Exquisit!”

Valda sighed, “Great...”

Zendreyta got up and smiled, “It will be great. Oh, and while we’re there. You’re going to find Iris and bring her before me.”

“Why? What do you plan to do?” Valda asked.

Zendreyta gave Valda a confused look, “Bring her back, of course.”