The old man didn’t want to sign my travel log. I told him, as I’m required to, that Courier Griffins promise to reimburse – that means to pack back – any travel fees accumulated – or built up. He understood what I was saying.

He told me he sold pumpjacks at the Hurley Agora. I saw massive orange vegetables in his wagon. Apparently he had to pay a tax to sell there, so he knew all the businessy talk.

The old man was real sweet. Told me his life story. He travels all the way from Nethpool, that’s around Elbow Bay. It’s real close to Trough, so he was happy to give me a ride. He said when he was a kid other farmers used to take him to the capital, and he would help them sell at the agora. It’s easy to make a fortune at Hurley rather than down at Trough he said. The rich pay three times as much for fresh produce, unlike all the merchant folk at Trough. And he said the ‘Golden Bank’ is the safest place to keep your coin when you were done. I keep mine there too. I got my own little fortune piled up there, but that’s a different story.

I think the old man was happy to have some company on the ride. When we stopped at Trough, I asked him about the travel log again, but he waved it away and said to save it for the greedy. And I did.

The first ship I asked was going to straight to Kwasson, and in just a few seconds too. You know what the first thing they asked me was? If I had a travel log. I pulled at my hat and coat to show them I was a true Griffin. I guess they were happy with that. I remember their captain. He was a chubby fellow, with a big brown sailor’s beard. He ships clothes from Kwasson and sells it here in Monrosia, then he gets furniture from here and sells it over there. I think that’s why his ship cabins were so nice and clean. Even his crew’s gear wasn’t too shabby. It took about a whole day until we got to Kwasson.

When I got there, I had to make my way to the other coast. It was all the way on the other side of the country where the Olivian Sea shored. I couldn’t find anybody travelling that way, but there were stables where I could hire a trotter. It was lucky I was able to get a fresh hoove at every town I stopped. They weren’t the best hooves around, but there was always fresh ones available. I think the Kwassies ride them differently cause them hooves weren’t used to the way I kicked off.

There was this one palfrey but. I think it knew I wasn’t from around Kwas. It didn’t budge much when I tried to pick up speed. When I got to the second last town, I dropped him off and went to get a meal. It took me 22 hours all up to reach that place. The people there told me I wasn’t far from Plage. That’s the port town I needed to reach to find the coast. They said if I kept a steady ride, I’d get there in a bells time.

So I went to the stables and asked for a good ride to get me to the port. Apparently the hoove I left wasn’t feeding, and was acting wild. I told them he was a bit of trouble for me too. If they found him a handful, maybe it wasn’t my fault. The hoove started making a ruckus and I went to see.

As soon as it saw me, it calmed down. It was really looking at me too. I got pretty scared. But then I recognized something about him. It was in his eyes. And I didn’t think I’d find it in a big fella like him. He wanted to keep riding. He wasn’t finished. That’s what his eyes told me. I’ve come across a lot of travelers in my duties, and the ones who didn’t want to stop or rest had that very look.

I thought it would be better to get some fresh legs, but when I turned to leave, the very hoove from before started calling at me. I think he wanted to prove himself to a foreigner like me. I didn’t know hooves could be so manly, if you know what I mean.

Well, he took me all the way to Plage. Barely any rest too. I don’t know if he was happy with that. He didn’t really look at me afterwards. Maybe he proved his point.

I was tired, trying to keep up with that hoove’s energy. So I had a nap. I found a nice inn and everyone inside was really nice. Maybe it was because they got to sign my travel log.

When I woke up, I didn’t realize that I slept in. I was out for 10 hours. I had to hurry. When I checked the time, it was 2 days and a half since I left Hurley. And that was amazing. All the other griffins told me it would take 4 days to get to Plage. I guess they underestimated the best griffin around. But when I knew how long I’d taken, it meant I only had 2 days left. I needed to keep my promise.

That’s when my journey took a big turn.

I went to the docks, looking for any ship heading to Zandara. It’s a city on the coast of Kairoza. As long as I got to Zandara, there would be thousands of boats that could take me to Iarhu. I was sure because Zandara and Iarhu were the two big cities of Kairoza.

The only problem was that none of the ships at Plage heading to Zandara were leaving until the next day. There were other ships, stopping at ports on the way. So, I could have tried my luck and hoped there was something at those ports that could get me closer. But no one knew what other ships I could catch or if there would be anything to sail me further after I landed. I think there was someone who would know, but I had no idea where to find them. I couldn’t waste my time with that search.

When I was at the docks, trying to think of a plan, an angel walked past me. Well, it wasn’t much of an angel. It was a guy with shiny dark skin, wearing a headdress. But he was still an angel to me.

I knew what he was. There was no mistaking that dark shiny skin. I stopped him. When he turned, I saw his eyes. They were marked with black lining. I could really tell he was angry I interrupted him. Those eyes can really show how they feel.

It’s okay! I knew what I had to do. I had an assignment, and I promised to complete it. So, I asked him,

“Are you from Kairoza?”

The guy said nothing.

Then I asked, “Did you sail here? Where’s your ship?”

He kept his mouth shut, but kept looking at me. I saw suddenly in his eyes that he didn’t understand me. He could have been my only chance, and I couldn’t let him get away.

I pointed out at sea and asked, “Are you going to Zandara?”

As soon as I said the name of the city, his eyes lightened up. I was saved! I said ‘Zandara’ again and his eyes widened more. I said it again and again, and he smiled. We were really hitting it off. Then he walked further down the docks. He waved his hand for me to follow. He brought me to a ship near the end of the pier. It was big, and it had loads of his kind on board. They were loading lots of crates of something, but I didn’t get a good look.

The guy I followed then talked to a taller fellow, and that fellow began to stare at me. I could really see him look at me, even from the distance. It’s the eyes. Then he started to smile and called out to me.

“Arh yhoo going t’ Zandarah?” His accent was thick, but at least he spoke human.

“Yes, I am.” I called back. “I want to be there as soon as I can.”

The fellow smiled even more and said,

“Come ahboard, friend. We sail at t’ next bell’h.”

And of course I climbed aboard. The tall one came to me with a big smile. He told me,

“We arh Qatahni traders. We sail straight t’ Zandarah. Arh yhoo ah Royal Guard’h?”

I looked at my green jacket and hat, and realized what he was thinking.

“No. I’m a Courier Griffin. I delivery special things.”

He asked, “What’h special thing d’ you have’h?”

“A letter.” I told him. Then he laughed,

“You arh Royal Messenger.” he said as he laughed. All his crew laughed too, but they didn’t look at me. I think they were busy.

His name was Dazim. He told me he was the captain and gave me a cabin to stay in. It wasn’t the best cabin. They gave me a bed and all, but it was just a rug. And I wanted to know where the pillow was, cause they just gave me some wooding thing that looked like a cleat. The cleat sort of worked, though. It held my head up nicely. I think I got too used to Captain Big Beard’s pretty ship and all the fanciness of Kwasson. And sometimes the door wouldn’t open. I had to bang on the door for a while until the captain opened it for me.

Dazim was the nicest out of all the Qatahni. He was the only one who would talk to me or look at me. Well, him and the first guy I met at the docks. The first guy brought me food. It was just bread, and it was flat. I asked the guy for some jam or butter, but when I saw his eyes, I knew he had no idea what I was talking about.

After a bit of rest, I climbed on deck to see how our journey was going. All the Qatahni were hard at work, keeping the ship and sails in order. I couldn’t find Dazim anywhere. I think he was busy in his cabin.

Then all of a sudden, the Qatahni lad in the crow’s nest started to call out something. He was pointing out. When I looked in that direction, there were two ships coming in fast. Pirates! I knew.

Our big ship couldn’t get away from them. The two ships came in from both sides. I saw there were heaps of them pirates, ready to aboard us. They were Qatahni too. Even though I couldn’t see their faces, they had the eyes. And their faces were covered with the same kind of headdress that all the lads on Dazim’s ship wore. That’s what gave them away. But I also saw their bare arms and skin. It was really hot that time of the day. Lucifer shone right above us and shined their metally skin.

I went to look for Dazim to warn him about the pirates, but I couldn’t find him anywhere. He wasn’t in his cabin. He was nowhere on deck. I was gonna check down the hatches, when all of a sudden, I knocked out.

I knew I got hit on the back of the head because when I woke up, it really hurt. Damn pirates, bloody blind folded me too. I couldn’t touch my head cause my hands were tied behind me. They tied my arms and my legs. I was scared as hell. When you can’t see and you can’t move, you feel like you’re deep in hell itself. I hated the feeling. I screamed for my life. Well, I didn’t scream. I yelled very loudly. But nothing happened. I tried to move around a little more, but it was useless. I yelled again.

“HELP!”

And then, someone spoke up.

“No one will help you. Just relax.”

His voice was clean and he spoke perfect human. He sounded like a wise old man, from a noble family. It made me feel better to hear that lovely voice. I had to speak back to him. I think I knew who was speaking to me.

“O’ Father, from above? I cannot move. I cannot see. Where am I?”

The voice laughed, then he said in his gracious voice,

“You are at sea. Lost somewhere unknown. I cannot tell you where exactly.”

And he was right, cause then I heard the waves and water. And then I felt the rocky feeling of being on water. I asked him,

“Why am I here?”

And he told me,

“You are here because the Qatahni have taken you. Pirates, I suspect, but they may be something more iniquitous.”

The Father from above was too smart for me. I had to tell him.

“Forgive me, O’ Father from above. I do not know what you mean by ‘iniquitous.”

And he said,

“I think they are more than just simple Qatahni pirates. Your common pirate steals riches and slays any folk in their way. But you are still alive.”

And then I remembered the pirates came. And then it all made sense. He was being honest with me. So I asked him,

“O’Father from above. Can you set me free? I’ve been good my whole life. Well, except that one time when one of the head griffins took me out to enjoy the poisons, and then we went to the inn with all the pretty ladies. But I went to the holy house the next day and prayed for forgiveness. Please set me free, O’ Father from above.”

And then he told me,

“I am afraid, I cannot do that.”

I got scared again. I thought the Father was going to save me.

“Why, O’ Father, from above?”

He then told me,

“I too, am tied up and blind folded. We can only wait and see what is next to come.”

I was shocked. The Qatahni pirates took O’ Father from above as well. They must have been truly evil.

But that’s when I thought about it.

“Wait. Are you the Father, from above?”

“No. I am not.”

That bastard had me fooled. I thought he was the Father, questioning me on my day of reckoning. But he was just some bloke who got himself captured too. He told me he was just pulling my leg because I believed he was our master from above. The tricksy bastard.

But he was a big help. Like I said. I was really scared. We were both blind and tied up. But he told me what he figured out. And it made big sense. He told me we were on a ship somewhere on the Olivian Sea, and Qatahni outlaws had kidnapped us. He also said that he didn’t think they would kill us because they would have done so ages ago if they wanted to. He thought that they were trying to keep us so they could trade us for money from our Kingdom. Apparently the Kingdom would save a world hostage, especially if all the worlds knew about it. Because if they didn’t, the kingdom would fall to shame for not saving one of their people.

When I told him I was a Courier Griffin, that’s when he said they definitely took me as a world hostage. My uniform wears the royal colours of our Kingdom, and the Qatahni probably thought I was a royal guard.

The fellow was really smart. Everything he said made sense. He’s the fellow from the old school I told you about before. The scholar.

Since we were tied up, we couldn’t do much. So we just talked. I found out that he was at Olivia and trying to find some ancient ruins of an old school. He was also looking for some old scholars. He said they were wiser than all the advisors of all the kings in the worlds, combined. He never told me why he was looking for them though. It was probably some scholarly business. Then when he had no luck at Olivia, he wanted to go to Zandara to find more ruins. He found a Qatahni ship, who let him aboard. And that’s when the pirates came and took him.

When I told him we needed to escape, he said he tried already. Said he tried to stand and move off, but we were locked in some small room. That’s when the ground shook. Well, the boat shook. There was lots of yelling outside and the sound of lots of running on the deck.

That went on for a long time until our room door opened. There was talking, but it didn’t sound human. Then another voice came and told us to hold still. Someone untied us. And when our blindfolds came off, I saw it was a huge Qatahni guy that saved us. He was way taller than anyone I’ve ever seen. He was bald, had a dark red-brown skirt on, metal arm guards, shoulder guards and a breast plate. His big muscly arms and his dark shiny skin looked fierce. I didn’t wanna ever meet him on the battlefield.

Soon enough, we found out he was from the Imperial Kairoza Army. And so were the lot with him, as they all wore the same skirt and armor. They saved us. Then they brought us to the Kairoza palace. I didn’t know it at first, but we were in Iarhu. The place was really hot.

When we got off the ship, I saw the army caught most of the pirates. But then I saw the Qatahni guy I first met at the docks in Plage, and he was piled up with the pirates too. I recognized him the most because he was the first Qatahni I ever met. I tried to tell the army he was innocent, but they said he had to be taken for questioning. I hope he’s alright. Captain Dazim was nowhere to be found. I wonder how he was.

When I got to the palace, I was so happy that I was saved that I almost forgot I had a letter to deliver. It was still in my jacket. Same with my log books. I guess the pirates didn’t know how to get to my secret pocket.

I didn’t know, but the letter was for Kairoza palace. I made it just on time. Not that I wouldn’t have. But I made it, even when everyone said I’d be too late.

It wasn’t clear who the letter was for, but I gave the letter to a palace guard. He later came back to me with another letter, but he didn’t look that happy about it. I think he wasn’t supposed to be an errand boy, since he was a guard. But the letter was for Hurley.

They sailed me back on a ship the whole way though. The ship didn’t even stop anywhere. I’m surprised the ship had enough supplies.

But anyway, I got the letter to the Hurley Court house. I found out that the plateau actually gave me a very important assignment. And when I got back to the plateau, a head griffin congratulated me. It was so cool. They promoted me to a Griffin Claw. That’s why I got a big badge on my jacket now. And it’s a big thing.

Griffin Feathers – or normal griffins – get promoted to Griffin Wings. Then after Wings, they might get promoted to Griffin Tail or Griffin Breast. Then after that, they might get promoted to a Griffin Talon, Griffin Claw, or a Griffin Beak. Those three positions are hard to become, but the harder one is Griffin Beak. Beaks are more like bosses, or griffin heads. After that, they might become a Griffin Crown. You’re pretty much a lord griffin when you become a Griffin Crown. There hasn’t been a new Griffin Crown in almost 50 years. I’m probably gonna be the next one.

Well, as I am now a Griffin Claw, they gave me time off. It explains why I’m back.