Princess Willowyn's Arc

Chapter 25 of 70

Willowyn crossed the mossy courtyard toward the gate. Raven waited by the wall, the fox tucked against her cape, her pointed hat tipped low. She said nothing, only nodded. That was enough. Willowyn breathed the morning air and felt the road open before her. "Wait, Willowyn. I almost forgot." The voice came from the keep steps. Elara stood there, one hand on the pale stone rail, the other on her round belly. She moved down slowly, careful with the weight of the child. Willowyn's chest tightened. She feared another plea, another reason to stay. She gripped her cloak and ran to her mother. "What is it?" Willowyn caught Elara's arm. "Are you all right? Is the baby all right?" Elara laughed, soft and low. "We are fine. I have a gift. I almost let you leave without it." She led Willowyn past the vines to the stables. Raven followed, the fox peering out from her arms. Inside, in a wide stall of clean straw, stood a griffin. Its coat was pale white and caught the light like snow. Silver plates guarded its chest. A silver saddle sat across its back. The beast turned its golden eye on Willowyn and went still. Willowyn stopped breathing. She had never seen anything so large and so calm. "Eros brought her as a gift," Elara said. "But I have no wish to ride any flying beast." She pressed the reins into Willowyn's hand. "She is yours now. The roads are long. Let her carry you across them." Willowyn touched the white feathers at the griffin's neck. Warm. Real. The beast leaned into her palm. "Mother, this is too much." "It is exactly enough," Elara said. "You wanted to heal distant lands. Now you can reach them." Raven stepped closer and looked the griffin over. "She can cross oceans," she said. "That changes our road." She reached up and stroked the pale wing once. The fox climbed to her shoulder. Willowyn set her boot in the stirrup and swung up into the silver saddle. The griffin shifted under her, strong and steady. She reached down. Raven took her hand and climbed up behind, the fox riding her shoulder. Willowyn felt the whole weight of the world grow smaller. Mountains, seas, warring kingdoms—all within reach now. Elara stood back in the straw. Tears shone on her face, but she smiled. "Fly well. Send word when you can." "I will," Willowyn said. "And when my brother comes, I will hear of it, however far I am." She turned the griffin toward the open stable doors. The beast walked into the courtyard, then broke into a run. Its wings spread wide. With one great sweep it lifted, and the mossy spires of the keep fell away beneath them. Willowyn held the reins and did not look back. The whole sky lay ahead, and every land she meant to mend.