1

The gruelling march continued the next day. Soon they were out from under the dark cloud of ash that had continued to spread. The volcano was not done, even from this distance they could see the ash column rising high into the upper atmosphere.

For now, they were safe. They could see clear blue sky above them. It was still early summer. The sun was high, bright and warmed everyone.

People were hungry and thirsty. Everything had happened so suddenly that many people fled with nothing more then the clothing on their backs. They had made it this far and survived, but they could not continue like this without help.

They finally made it to the stream by late afternoon. The large mass of refugees filled their canteens and just about anything else that could hold water. Some people waded right in or dunked their head under to drink as deeply as they could. It was the first fresh water they had in two days. The water was cold and crystal clear. The riverbed itself was wide, but shallow, it drifted by slowly.

Once they decided to camp by the river, many people took this opportunity to wash up, cleaning the ash from their faces and hair. A few bolder men stripped right down and dove in.

They had water now and that was great, but they still lacked any real food to eat. Elwin hoped to make contact with the government soon or things could get ugly.

They travelled south for two more days. They met no one from the Empire. Then on the fifth day since they had fled the city, it happened. Someone spotted something up in the sky. It was high up almost a speck, but Selby started to get very excited about it.

“Elwin, up there! I think it’s a griffin rider!” Selby exclaimed. Without taking his eyes from the dot in the sky, he began shouting and waving his hands hoping the rider would see him and suddenly descend.

Nothing happened.

‘It’s too far!” Elwin shouted. “Does anyone have a small mirror?”

“I do!” Myra exclaimed. She rummaged through her backpack. She found it and handed a small silver mirror to him.

“Does anyone know military flash code?” Elwin asked.

“Aye,” Selby said. He took the mirror and aiming for the rider he began flashing a distress signal. Nothing happened right away. Then suddenly the dot turned around and started back towards them. It began to descend.

2

The griffin was a bold magical and majestic creature. The body was the size of a large war horse, but it was shaped much like a lion complete with sandy brown fur in the rear portion. The whole front of the animal was like a giant eagle. It was feathered in the same colour as the fur. Its eagle eyes darted around as it closed in on them. The bright yellow beak looked dangerous enough rip a full-grown man in half. The wingspan was huge, stretching out over thirty feet with massive, long feathers. It glided gracefully through the air descending in a spiral.

Polished steel gleamed in the sunlight as the griffin beat its wings drawing closer to the ground. They could see that the steel was reflecting from the rider on the back. He sat on a leather saddle and wore full body armour of spotless silver scales. He was a knight of very high rank and immense riches. He bore a sash with the purple and gold imperial colours and the Frey family crest of the griffin with the raised paw in the center.

This was good fortune! Elwin thought as the griffin touched down in front of them. An imperial knight! He could not have asked for better.

The rider stepped off the griffin and approached them.

Out of instinct and respect, everyone in the area including all of the companions dropped to on knee. Myra-Lynn was not sure what to do, but Anna grabbed her by the cloak and pulled her down to one knee before she stood out for too long.

“Always show respect to a knight,” She hissed in Myra-Lynn’s ear.

The rider took off his helmet and surveyed the group. Some of the refugees continued to pass by oblivious to the fact that they were in the presence of a knight, but everyone gave the griffin a wide berth.

“At ease!” The rider finally commanded. Everyone rose to their feet again. He was a middle-aged man of about forty. He had a shaggy main of hair that was sandy blonde just like his mount. His face was scruffy like it had not shaved in a few days. He had hard chiselled features and piercing dark eyes. An old deep scar ran down the left side of his face just missing his eye. He squinted in the bright mid-afternoon sunlight.

“Did someone here signal me?” He questioned with great authority and a deep booming voice.

“I did my lord!” Elwin said. He stepped forward boldly.

The griffin rider looked him over carefully before nodding to him. “What’s going on here?” He asked.

“Sir, Domara has been destroyed. We’re refugees looking for help,” Elwin replied. He stood solidly wanting to appear in charge.

“I see,” The rider commented. He surveyed the people filing past him. A profound look of concern was upon his face.

“My lord, the town of Domara is gone, destroyed by a volcano. It just happened a few days ago and I’m afraid the government might not know about it yet. We need to get a message to Verant City!” Elwin beseeched the knight.

The man nodded. “Looks like you’re in luck than. My name is Jax and I’m an imperial officer. I saw the ash cloud from miles away. I wanted to see what was going on.”

“Oh, thank the Fire Lord for this great fortune!” Elwin exclaimed He moved forward with his hand extended. Jax shook his hand firmly. “Sir, my name is Elwin. My friends and I are adventurers. We desperately need your help. We’ve been traveling for days. We have no food, no supplies and soon I fear, no hope! We need to get a letter back to our guild!”

“Guild?” The man said surprised. “You belong to the guild?”

“Yes, my Lord. The adventurers guild,” Elwin said. “We were on an assignment for the Empire to investigate the trouble that Domara was experiencing. When the volcano erupted, we convinced as many people as we could to head south down this road. Most people didn’t listen. I fear countless thousands are dead. These refugees you see here are the only survivors that we know of.”

“Domara should have had a garrison of soldiers,” The griffin rider seemed to be deep in reflection as he thought carefully about the situation. “There are no ranking officers here?”

Elwin shook his head. “There are a dozen soldiers who made it out alive, but no one with rank. No majors, no generals and we believe the mayor of Domara to be dead along with the town’s Captain of the Guards.”

There was a long pause as the knight took it all in. He studied all of their faces closely then watched the refugees as they passed by. He was clearly thinking about what to do next. Finally, he spoke again. “You said you have a letter you want delivered.”

“Not prepared as of yet, but I can write one now if you have a moment,” Elwin said.

Jax nodded in agreement.

Myra gave Elwin a sheet of parchment and a quill. It a few minutes Elwin wrote out a simple note that explained that they were leading a group of refugees south out of the town which had been destroyed. They were in desperate need of supplies and orders as to what to do next. He signed the letter and handed it to the knight.

“You’re far from Verant City up here,” the knight stated. “It will take me a few days round trip to deliver the letter and return with a reply.”

Elwin’s heart leapt at the thought that Jax would deliver the letter and return. This was the best news they could have hoped for. “I don’t know how to thank you my lord!” Elwin said.

“Let’s just say you owe me a favour and leave it at that,” The griffin rider replied. He folded the letter up and placed it into a sack that was attached to the worn leather saddle strapped to the griffin’s back. The griffin made an indignant sound and held its head up high. With one foot in the stirrup, the knight hoisted himself into the saddle and grabbed the reigns.

“What should we do in the meantime? People are starving we have no where to go. I’ve led them out of danger, but I don’t know what to do now!” Elwin pleaded with the knight for advice.

The knight said nothing at first as he contemplated the situation. After a long while he spoke. “About a day’s march south of here, you will come to a crossroads. To the west you will find a farming community. I think it’s called Rasha. I don’t know what kind of supplies you’ll find, but they should have a town storage full of food. I’m going to stop there first and give them orders to supply you. It might not hold you for long, but it’s something at least.”

“Thank you, my Lord!” Elwin said with a deep bow. “We are forever in your debt!”

The knight nodded. “I shall return as quickly as possible. If you’re not in Rasha, then I expect to meet you on this road heading south. Understood?”

“Yes, my lord!” Elwin replied.

At that the griffin rider gave a command and the griffin suddenly leapt up into the air and began flapping its wings furiously. The rider began heading south. The group watched him carefully until he could no longer be seen.

3

As instructed, Elwin told the group what the do. They guided all the refugees towards the village once they reached the crossroads at the end of the next day. Rasha was a small faming community of about five hundred people. There were many large farms in the surrounding area with vast fields dominating the landscape. The village center had an inn and few other businesses mostly relating to farming such as an open-air market and a general store.

The people of Rasha were as generous as they could afford. Everyone wanted to know what had happened in Domara. Elwin explained to the village leaders about the volcano and the imperial knight that had directed them to come here. The village elders acknowledged that the imperial knight had visited them briefly before leaving on urgent business. They explained they could feed the people temporarily for a day or two, but then their own supplies would be depleted. The refugees would have to move on.

No community in the area could support this many people. Anywhere they went they would have trouble getting food and supplies. Elwin knew this, of course. It was why they were heading to the city. Verant City was the only place with enough of a surplus that they could absorb over a thousand people without starving the whole city.

After two day they had to leave, the elders begged them. They wished they could help more, but they simply could not afford it. So once again the refugees returned the road and continued south. This was not without complaining. Many people were grumbling about this experience. The road was long and hard, no one knew when they would eat next. People were starting to get desperate. Theft had been a big problem in Rasha and the main reason the elders pleaded for them to leave so quickly. Some people had even resorted to ransacking houses. Fights broke out. Elwin and his friends were forced to break a few up.

Elwin was growing very worried about the situation. He did not know how much longer he could control the people. His command over them was starting to slip through his fingers.

4

They had been on the road another two days. They were all very tired and hungry when they saw the griffin flying high in the sky. The glint of steel armour caught Elwin’s eyes and quickly he grabbed the mirror and flashed it at him.

Indeed, it was the knight, Jax, who glided in gracefully on the griffin’s strong back. This time no one had to tell Myra to get down on one knee. They all moved as one getting down and pay their respects.

“At ease!” Jax said as he dismounted from the griffin. “I need to talk to the man in charge here. Elwin, is it?”

Elwin stepped forward. “Yes, my lord. I’m at your service!”

“Good. Saddle up Elwin, you and I are going to Verant City immediately!” The knight commanded.

Elwin’s jaw dropped and he stared back in disbelief. “My lord, did I hear you right? You want me to go to Verant City with you?”

“Yes, of course,” Jax replied as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

“But my lord, whatever for? I’m needed here!” Elwin tried to explain, but the knight would not listen. He held up his hand halting further protest.

“I’m under orders myself Elwin,” he explained to him. “The officials I spoke with want to talk to the eyewitness who wrote the letter. They want to speak with the person in charge here. I told them it was you and I would bring you back. Is there a problem with that?”

Elwin looked around at the party. They did not know what to say they just stared blankly.

Selby spoke up. “With all due respect my lord. Elwin is our leader. What do we do while he is gone?”

“Keep heading south down this road. There’s no turning back now,” Jax replied.

“I don’t think you understand. Rasha help us out, but we are on our own again. We still have no supplies and people are getting unruly,” Emerson added.

Jax held up his hand again. “The government is aware of the situation now. As we speak a caravan of supplies is heading north on this very road to meet you. If you keep moving, you will meet them in a few days. They should have enough food and water to last a week or more.”

“Thank you, my lord!” Elwin said. “They mean no disrespect, sir. We are tired and reaching the end of our endurance.”

The knight merely nodded. He asked. “Have you been on griffin back before?”

“No, my lord,” Elwin replied honestly. He had never even seen a griffin in real life before the last encounter.

“Alright, I want you to ride in front of me then,” Jax directed. “It will be easier. You can hold the reigns for security.”

Elwin swallowed hard. He was fearful but did not want to admit it. He also did not have much of a choice as Jax insisted that he must follow his orders and bring him back to talk to some officials as he put it. The knight assured him that after he gave his report in person, he would be returned to his friends. He would be gone about five or six days.

Elwin accepted his fate and said his final words to his friends. He put Emerson in charge of the party. He trusted Emerson to look after everyone and protect them from harm.

Selby vowed to help Emerson keep the refugees from Domara under control and shook Elwin’s hand firmly.

Rowdy said he would keep out of trouble and stay close to the party for his own safety.

Rith was a little upset that his brother would not be around for so long, but he accepted that Emerson would be in charge and told Elwin to hurry back as quickly as possible.

Anna had tears in he eyes as she hugged him tightly and told him to be careful. She did not want him falling off the griffin and breaking his neck as she put it.

Myra-Lynn also looked misty-eyed and was the last one to see him off. She hugged him tightly and to his surprise she kissed him gentle on the cheek.

“Stay safe!” She whispered in his ear and gently squeezed his hand.

Elwin only nodded.

As it turned out the saddle was designed to fit two people. Elwin sat in front where he had a better hold. He could feel the powerful muscles of the creature beneath him. There was a large strap that wrapped around the bulk of the beast that had handles he could grip. The knight sat behind him gripping the reigns tightly.

“Hold on tight! Whatever you do, don’t let go of the strap. These creatures are extremely powerful. They can throw you right off if you’re not careful!” With that he kicked the griffin into action.

Jax was not joking! The creature leapt up with such force that Elwin was thrown back into the knight who did not budge. The wings came out and began beating as the creature rose higher and higher. It was the most incredible sensation. Elwin looked around at the ground which was getting further and further away. The horizon grew and he could see for dozens of miles in every direction. The wind at this height was powerful and the griffin took advantage of it using the currents to glide as much as possible and beating its wings only when necessary.

Elwin could feel his heart pounding with the thrill of flight. It seemed a dangerous way to travel, yet very effective. The griffin moved fast, faster than he had every thought possible. They covered a vast amount of ground in a short time.

Jax made some conversation. Elwin had never been on a griffin. Jax explained that he had been a griffin rider for years. He talked about the care of them and how they bond with their riders, some would not allow other riders upon them at all.

Later that day just before night fall, they made camp hundreds of miles south from where they had started. Jax did something curious. He let the griffin loose and it took off into the air, looked around and disappeared from sight. Jax then proceeded to build a fire.

“Where’s the griffin going?” Elwin asked. He was alarmed that their only mode of transportation had just disappeared into the blackness of night.

“Hunting,” Jax replied offhandedly. “It’s been a long day. She needs to feed.”

“Really!” Elwin said intrigued. “And what do griffins eat exactly?”

“You probably didn’t notice, but a couple of miles back there was a heard of deer grazing in a field. She’ll grab one of them. On a long journey like this one, she’ll eat the whole thing for a day’s meal, just leaving the bones,” Jax replied.

“Wow!” Elwin said. Griffins were fascinating creatures in his mind. “What do we do for food then?”

“Don’t worry. She’ll bring the deer back here for us. We’ll carve off a few good steaks from ourselves and she can have the rest. She won’t mind. Its all part of her training,” Jax explained.

Within moments Jax had the campfire going. He and Elwin pulled up a newly fallen log to sit upon while they waited.

Jax asked him about Myra. “What was with that Elf?”

“What? Myra-Lynn? We met her in Domara,” Elwin told him.

“Why was she kissing you like that?” Jax questioned with a raised eyebrow.

“I don’t know!” Elwin said with a shrug. “She’s an Elf. Who knows what they really think!”

That was not entirely truthful. Elwin had been wondering himself what was going on with her. She had been acting strangely ever since they fled the city. She had become very attached to him and rarely left his side. She was always there in their group. It was like there was an empty space in their party and she just filled it in with such ease that everyone else just accepted her as being there.

“I think she fancies you,” Jax speculated. He has this sly sidelong look that he gave Elwin.

“You think so?” Elwin had not really thought about that possibility. He had been so focused on their continuing survival, that he had not given it much thought. If it was true and she did fancy him, then the feeling was mutual.

“Of course!” Jax said. “Didn’t you notice the way she was looking at you?”

“I don’t know. I guess I’ve been focusing on other things,” Elwin shrugged.

“Yeah, I can understand that,” Jax said. “What happened back there in Domara… Some people won’t be able to handle it. It will haunt them the rest of their lives. I’ve been in a few wars. I know what that’s like.”

“We haven’t been adventuring long, but what we have already seen…” Elwin trailed off not wanting to finish the thought.

“The Empire can be a harsh place,” Jax stated. Jax did not say anything further on that subject.

A few minutes later the griffin returned with a large stag clutched in its claws.

“Ah,” Jax said. “Dinner is served.”