Silverwing
hit Orin’s face, he closed his eyes, breathed deeply, and exhaled slowly. He’d been cooped up a long time and savored the sun and fresh air. Next, he took in all the sounds of the city. He heard carriages and wagons scraping their wheels along stone roads and dirt paths, horses and dogs running and playing, people and birds chit-chatting and chirp-chirping. Clearly, it was a busy day for market, because Orin had never heard that many people before.
Tamaria was abuzz in the light of the day. The Plains City, as Orin knew it, was of particular significance, and rightly so. It was built around a calm section of the great Palori River, named after the great city of old that had once stood proudly to the north where the river ran adjacent to Elderwood Forest. The river ran from the ice caps somewhere in the Drelek Mountains in the north, all the way to Last Lake in the south. Tamaria’s centralized location in the land of Tarrine made it a hub for trade and commerce. It was not uncommon for one to see men, elves, and dwarves from across Tarrine within the city limits. With such prosperity, the city had grown quickly to become one of the largest cities in all the land.
Orin opened his eyes and turned to the young woman holding his arm. Ellaria patiently waited, watching him as he had his moment. His gaze wandered over the vast city.
Tamaria’s diversity was not limited to its people but extended to its structures. Many people groups had influenced its construction. The view from Lady Bird Hill, on the outskirts of the Karos district in the north end of the city, better revealed to the beholder how varied Tamaria truly was. Watchtowers of men and elvish design were scattered throughout the city. Over time, the city had grown past its original watchtowers, and the builders erected new ones. The city’s rapid growth resulted in dozens of such towers throughout Tamaria. The city, while nonuniform, was a marvelous sight that inspired wonder at the greatness people could achieve when they worked together.
After a while, Ellaria squeezed the guardian’s arm. “How does the sun feel on your face?”
Though he hardly heard her, he replied, “Better than I can say.”
He was mesmerized by the view. From just outside Ellaria’s home, he could see much of the Karos district. Towers jutted toward the sky in all directions, and their size seemed titanic in relation to the endless sea of homes around them. Down one street, he glimpsed the edge of the Karos market square where people were trading, bartering, and going about their business. To his right, Orin saw the slope of Lady Bird Hill, on top of which stood a single tower. He wondered if it was the highest tower in Tamaria or if his vantage point was playing tricks on him.
And the noise!
“This is amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever heard so many noises in my life.”
Ellaria laughed. “You get used to it. Whitestone must be similar on good market days, aye?”
Orin shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. “Not like this. I’d certainly like to see more of the city one of these days.”
“Well, maybe I can take you to the market afterward.”
“After?” Orin asked.
“You’ll see.” She gave him a wry grin.
Ellaria led Orin toward Lady Bird Hill. They walked down the dirt street and, after a short stint, found themselves next to a field that rested at the bottom of the hill. Horses grazed on the wild green grass, and flowers painted the field with color. Hundreds of butterflies flitted about like a beautiful storm. Off to the right was a small stable. They walked to the stable, and Ellaria led Orin inside.
“The horses are all outside, but I’ve been bringing this fella in at night. Good morning, you!” She almost sang as she left Orin’s side to greet the young griffin.
Orin’s heart leapt. “Silverwing!”
“Silverwing? Ah, so you do have a name then. That’s much better than Silly Boy now, isn’t it?” She teased the young griffin as she stroked him around the neck. Silverwing nudged her red hair affectionately with his beak and head.
Orin stood to the side in awe. He had never seen a griffin get along with anyone who was not its guardian. He understood that after the last battle Ellaria must have become the griffin’s only caretaker. The notion made him uneasy, and his head swirled. He slumped against a wooden railing and tried to hold back his devastation.
“Orin!” Ellaria said, startled. She raced to his side. “Are you alright? What is it?”
He raised his face toward Ellaria while his eyes welled with tears. “He ... he was my brother’s.”
Ellaria’s heart broke for him. She didn’t know what to say. Words cannot bring back a man’s brother. She held him. For a long time, they stood in a silent embrace.
“I am so very sorry, Orin,” she said with all the sincerity in the world. “I ... what was his name?”
Orin took a deep breath. “Rayin. He was my younger brother. The youngest of us.”
Ellaria looked at her feet, then back to Orin. “We lost me oldest brother, two years back. Greggo. Plains bear got him. It had been a tough season, and Greggo decided we needed to go out for one more hunt. One more. We were out for four days, and on that fourth night, the bear found us. We weren’t sure how long he had been tracking us, but his intentions were clear.
“I shot that bear with three arrows, but they were like bee stings to him. Greggo grabbed a large log from the fire and yelled over his shoulder at us. ‘Run! Run!’ he said. Me other brother, Merrick, grabbed me hand, and we fled. The last time I saw me brother, Greggo, he was standing his ground with flame in his hand, as he stared that beast down.
“The next day, when Merrick and I returned to the camp site, Greggo and the bear were both gone. My brother died a hero, Orin. He died to save Merrick and me. I have often wondered if my aim had been better, would I have been able to save him? I don’t know, but what I do know is that my brother joined the heroes in the gardens of Kerathane. A hero’s death granted him that. There is no love greater than that of one willing to lay down his life for his brothers—or in this case, his sister. I believe your brother and my brother are there together, toasting and feasting, right now.”
As Ellaria told her tale, she twiddled a necklace in her hand.
“What’s that?” Orin asked.
“Greggo gave it to me after he found it on one of his hunts. Said it was caught on a rock, wagging in the current of Bron’s Creek,” she said, holding it up for the guardian to see.
At the end of the leather necklace was tied a small green stone. The stone was smooth, and when it caught the light just right, it glimmered like an emerald. Ellaria’s similarly emerald eyes were lost in the distance, and Orin couldn’t help noticing a glow of sadness, and yet, a glow of pride in them. He knew she really believed their brothers were together in Kerathane.
“Thank you, Ellaria,” Orin said softly. “I believe you may be right.”
She wiped the tears from her face and helped him upright again.
“Let’s get Silverwing some fresh air.” She smiled broadly and produced some reins from a hook around the corner and prepared Silverwing to go outside.
The griffin’s feathers bristled, and the beast began an excited dance. Apparently, he knew what was happening. As they exited the stable, Ellaria picked up a small saddle. Orin was still in awe at the respect Silverwing showed her. Griffins were notoriously ornery creatures with anyone other than their guardians. Yet he watched as Ellaria meticulously saddled the young griffin.
“His wing was damaged in the battle, but I’ve been mending him for as long as I’ve been mending you. He was very ornery at first; that’s why I called him Silly Boy. Eventually he came around to liking me ...” She paused, looked over her shoulder at Orin, and shrugged. “I think.”
She laughed and rubbed the top of Silverwing’s head. The griffin riled with joy and cooed.
“I can see that,” Orin laughed.
“Well, he’s ready. Would you like to take him for a flight?”
Orin looked at Ellaria as if she had lost her mind.
“What? I can’t.”
“Oh, you’ll be fine. He hasn’t gone very fast or high while on the mend. I would like to push him a little harder to see what he can really do. Your injuries should be fine, as well.”
Orin stared at her, dumbfounded. He walked closer to the pair and looked hard at Silverwing. He was a young griffin, lean and strong. He had always been one of the faster griffins in the Guard. Many griffins had white feathers peppering their heads and chest. But most griffins had predominantly brown feathers on their wings and down their backs to where the fur took over. Silverwing, however, had beautiful white and grey wings that shone like silver in the moonlight. As Orin approached, the griffin’s back paws stamped the wild grass, and he raised one of his front talons uneasily.
“Whoa! Easy there, Silly Boy,” Ellaria said, trying to settle him down.
“Have you been able to ride him?” Orin asked as he backed away to give the griffin space.
“I have, but I’m sure a guardian like you could show me how it’s really done. And again, we haven’t flown much at all as we have been repairing that wing of his. But surely, you’d be able to get him really going?”
“No, really I can’t.”
“What?” Ellaria studied the guardian for a moment. She didn’t understand. “What is it?”
“It’s just …,” he paused, trying to figure out where to begin. “Griffins are loyal creatures, but they are only loyal to certain people. That’s why, in the Griffin Guard, we are carefully matched. I don’t know what it is about you, but you seem to have some sort of connection with Silverwing. One that he and I could never share because I’m not Rayin ...”
“I never meant to ...”
“No. No, really. It’s alright. I’ve never seen this before. My brother was kind. Rayin cared deeply for people. You must have that same spirit in you.” Ellaria’s green eyes never left his as the guardian shook his head, trying to process all the morning’s news. “I am truly grateful, you know. You have done more for me than I can ever repay. You honor my brother’s memory with Silverwing. I know he will be well cared for. Thank you.”
With some prompting and a few tips, Orin convinced Ellaria to show him what she had learned with Silverwing. He watched the two of them fly in spurts around the tower atop Lady Bird Hill. Silverwing did not have the speed he did before his injury, but it looked as though his recovery was going well. Ellaria explained that most of the damage Silverwing took was to his left wing, and even with all her experience at healing, she wasn’t sure he would ever be back to full strength. All the same, her brilliant red hair blew wildly in the wind as Ellaria and Silverwing worked in tandem. All Orin could do was smile.
After many hours at the field beneath Lady Bird Hill, Ellaria prepared Silverwing for an afternoon of shade in the stable while she took Orin to the Karos market square. The square itself was impressive, but not wholly unlike that of Whitestone. The difference between there and Whitestone, however, was Karos market square was one of many in Tamaria. Orin also noticed many more colors in the market. Common colors in Whitestone’s market square were greens, blues, and, of course, white, lots of white. But here, the array of blues and oranges, reds and purples, greens and yellows made it hard to focus on any single thing.
Pitched tent stands were strewn across the square. Vendors of cloth, breads, meats, grains, toys, tools, and everything else were set up in crooked rows. People from all over filled the walking paths, bartering and trading with vendors, looking to get the best deals on what they needed.
“Oh, Ella!” an elderly woman cried from a small stand under a bright yellow rain cloth. “Hi, deary! Have ya come to git some bread?”
“Aye, that I have, Gabby!” She replied, a giant grin on her face. “I’ll have the usual.”
“Of course, deary.”
The old woman began to separate some loaves into a new pile. She had half a dozen baskets filled with a dozen types of bread. She was clearly a skilled baker. Orin smelled all the breads in front of him and realized he was hungry again. He watched the old woman doing what she did best and studied the breads she had. Some were familiar, but others looked completely foreign.
The baker’s eyes noticed Orin, and a wry smile crept across her wrinkled and sun-spotted face. She turned to look at Ellaria, brought a hand up to her face as if to block Orin from hearing, and said, “Ella, deary, who’s the handsome fella?”
“Gabby! Don’t let that name of yours turn you into a gab, now!” Ellaria scolded her.
“No, no. Not me,” she replied, shaking her hands in front of her innocently and donning the most heartbreaking face she could muster. “But all a poor ole’ woman like meself has nowadays is stories from ya young’uns.”
Ellaria tried to hide her amusement and shook her head at the elder woman. When she had feigned her disapproval long enough, she conceded. “This is the Kallon I was telling you about. Meet Orin.”
“Oh! Ya didn’t tell me he was so handsome!” Gabby replied with wide eyes and a larger-than-life grin.
Orin shook his head and chuckled quietly.
“Pleased to meet you, Miss Gabby.”
“Oh, and such a gentleman,” Gabby gushed.
When the pair pried themselves away from Gabby’s conversation, they returned to the house of Grell, laughing the whole way. When they walked through the door, Marie had already begun dinner preparations, and Ellaria’s brothers and father were sitting in the front room.
Orin noted one brother he had not seen that morning when he shared breakfast with the family. There was something different about him. He seemed older than the others, his shoulder length mess of hair was more brown than red, and his face revealed moments of sorrow when he wasn’t laughing with his father and brothers. His brothers seemed to look up to him, and Orin learned the man was Merrick.
They sat around the table and enjoyed a savory rabbit stew. Merrick and his falcon, Rora, had caught a dozen rabbits earlier in the week and half a dozen ducks the other day. Marie had prepared the stew with local herbs and vegetables, and the aroma was almost as good as the taste. They passed a loaf of fresh bread around the table and tore off pieces as they shared stories and laughs. Eventually, the small feast ended, and Grell invited Merrick and Orin to join him on the outside steps. Orin glanced at Ellaria, who returned his gaze with an impressed look and nod of approval.
Once outside, the three men sat on the top step and observed the night sky. From there, Orin saw several of Tamaria’s watchtowers. Inside the top of each, small fires signified a man was posted within. The night was clear, and the stars had begun their slow invasion of the sky. Night in the Karos district was much different from the day. It was, in fact, peaceful and quiet.
Grell produced a long pipe from a pocket inside his tunic and chewed the tip. Orin stared longer than he intended, wondering if Grell was going to light it. The older man caught him out of the corner of his eye.
He laughed a hearty laugh, slapped his knee, and held up the pipe.
“I am an old man with old habits. I don’t smoke no more. Marie doesn’t like the smoke, see. Or the smell. Well, she doesn’t like anything about it, actually.”
He twirled the pipe between his fingers and then placed it back between his teeth.
The three men sat silent for a long time. Orin glanced at Merrick’s unmoving shape. The man seemed to be somewhere else entirely. He couldn’t have been more than a couple years Orin’s elder, but there seemed to be an ancient determination in him that Orin couldn’t quite figure out. Eventually, Grell adjusted, cleared his throat, and was about to break the silence when the door swung open behind them. Grell quickly concealed the pipe beneath his tunic.
“Gentlemen, Ma wanted me to bring you all some lemon flower tea,” Ellaria said, handing a bowl to Grell, who took it with the most innocent face he could muster.
“Thank ye, me dear,” he said, as sweet as gravel covered in honey.
She gave him a suspicious look and glanced at Orin out of the corner of her eye.
“You just came to snoop,” Merrick accused with a smirk.
Ellaria crinkled her nose at him and went back inside. Grell blew the steam off the top of the bowl and took a careful sip. He slowly passed the bowl to Orin, who took a sip as well and passed it on to Merrick. They passed the bowl and shared the tea as Grell spoke to the younger men.
“Ye haven’t had any contact with your folks in several weeks. I suppose they will probably be thinking ye’re dead,” he said somberly.
Orin nodded. “For a while, I wasn’t sure myself.”
“I imagine ye’ll be heading back to Whitestone now that yer up and about?”
“I will. Your hospitality has been more than I can repay, and I can’t stay longer. I’ve imposed long enough.”
“It’s been no imposition, Sir Guardian.” Grell waved one of his big hands dismissively.
“I am grateful. But if I have been gone so long, no doubt, my brother would think himself all that’s left of our family. Unfortunately, I will bear the news of the death of our youngest brother, Rayin, but I hope my survival will bring him some small comfort.”
Grell nodded and stroked his beard while he listened. “So, ye’ll be heading back, then?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Again, with the ‘sir.’” Grell laughed and shook his head. “I have a request.”
“Anything,” Orin assured him.
“I want ye to take Merrick with ye.”