"Welcome back, Grindyr," I said once I was near him.
"Ah, yes. It is good to be back." Grindyr snorted. "I do hate places with many people. I always fear that I will accidentally squish someone." He lowered himself to the ground so that he might be eye level with me. "I trust things have been going well here for you?"
"They have. Morganna tasked me with reading the mind of the spirit within the willow tree. Your landing disturbed me." I struggled hard to keep the sass out of my tone.
"Oh, my most sincere apologies. If you had a belly like mine, though, I'm sure you'd find it hard to not shake the ground where ever you went too." He threw his head back and laughed a jolly, baritone laugh. "Still, I'm sure you'll have all that silly tree's secrets by the end of the week. I called you over to inform you that during my errand in Eyena Aethel, I found someone willing to teach you how to swordfight."
"To fight? Really?" I asked, tilting my head. "Why would I need to know how to swordfight when I'm learning magic?"
"Because," Grindyr said, leaning his head close and lowering his tone of voice a bit dramatically. "Don't tell Morganna, but I am personally of the strong opinion that you cannot trust magic to win all your battles. Sometimes, you just have to do things the good old fashioned way, you understand?"
I nodded. I suppose that did make sense. It was a strange concept to me, learning to fight with a sword. I had a fascination with it when I was little, but both father and mother constantly reminded me that I did not belong in the arena, trying to fight like the knights. I belonged in the court, learning how to become a queen.
"His name is Ceredan. He said that he would have some last bits of business to work out, before he'd make his way here in about a month." Grindyr huffed. "He's not the best swordsman in Eyena Aethel, but I'm sure he could teach you a thing or two." He then stood back up, arching his back and stretching as though he were one massive house cat.
"That's better than nothing, I'd suppose," I commented, unsure of what else to really say.
"Yes, yes. Come with me, and then I promise to leave you alone." Grindyr carefully stepped around me, making his way to the pond, where he sat down on his haunches. "My vision does not only grant me sight of the future," he told me, before holding a claw out over the still waters of the pond. Ever so carefully, he lowered it, until it tapped the surface just enough to cause ripples. A sea-green light formed in the ripples, reminding me of the Oracle of Blackbottom's display so long ago.
The image reflected in the mirror of myself, Grindyr, and the sky shifted. It revealed two familiar figures on horseback, riding through the countryside. Marius and Veran. They were just passing a road sign. I squinted my eyes, trying to make out the words on the sign.
The Bloody Isthmus.
I worried for them, knowing the Bloody Isthmus was inhabited by a particularly fickle lord whose name was Gurkon the Impaler. His family once owed his allegiance to the Northerlands, but in recent generations, his family has only had allegiance to themselves. They were the self-proclaimed rulers of the Isthmus. Practically untouchable. Jagged rocks on either side of the Isthmus prevent naval attacks, and since it was a thin strip of land, it was easily defensible from any army.
"I figured this might ease your mind, seeing your friends," Grindyr said, swiping his claw over the surface of the pond to dismiss the image. "I will show them to you whenever you ask me to."
"Thank you, Grindyr. I appreciate that very much. Though, I will still worry for them. Where they are going now is dangerous. I hope Gurkon is feeling generous."
"Have faith, little Zaraline. They will find there way." Grindyr offered my a smile, or at least what I assumed was one. Really, it was just him stretching his lips back over rows of pristine white fangs. "Now, I think I might go and take myself a nap. My wings are rather weary. Good luck with your task, Zaraline."
"Thank you, Grindyr. And sleep well." I waved at him as he leapt up into the air, buffeting the ground with great gusts of air as he flapped his wings. He carried himself over the rock arch and into Lake Voemm. I could hear the splash of him landing within from here.785Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytLgZGPDBh
I turned my attention back to the Willow Tree. It was midday. I still had plenty of time to get to that blasted light. I swear, by all the gods, that I was going to get to it, even if I had to stay out here through the night.
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