His words were sincere, and they landed in Griffin’s heart, releasing the vice which had been wrapped around it tightly.
It was instant relief that circumvented Griffin. He had never stopped trusting these men, but he had been afraid. Terrified that his last tangible connections had betrayed him too.
Griffin opened his mouth to speak, but shut it. He wasn’t sure what to say. Wasn’t sure how to express the gratitude he felt at being taken from his cell.
“Your brother will be here in three months to release you. He’s already working out the details. There is an uproar in Grypheem at the fact you were jailed in the first place. There are politics involved, but you will be returning home.” Niko got up from the chair, his finger flicked the heavy metal hook, causing it to sway a bit further, a bit higher. “Your brother does not have our allegiance.”
The words were hot in Griffin’s stomach. His confidence built in this instance.
A reminder of who he was, at all he had accomplished. Violencia was still a horrible place, but the lies were splintering. There were many he had saved.
It just had never been enough.
“He wants one last piece before he comes. You are going to be thrown into a cell with a man named Julian. Talk to him. Listen. Learn what he has to say. Your brother wants to hear it all, but I suggest you don’t relay a word.” Viktor bent down, scraping some dirt off the ground.
He gave Griffin an apologetic smile as he rubbed the mud into his hair, caked it on his face, as he dirtied him up.
Another cell.
But this one had an expiration date. Three months.
I can do that. It will be nothing.
“From what I know, Julian is a good man,” Viktor advised, stepping back and admiring his work. “You look a lot more pitiful like that.”
“Three months, Griffin. Three months and your brother will be here to rescue you.” Niko promised, grabbing hold of his shoulder. “I’ll take you to his cell.”
Griffin was aware at this point he was a puppet. That his strings had been pulled and tugged by his brother. That his father may have sent him here to remain safe, but his brother had an ulterior motive.
“What happened to my father?” he asked the question he had held onto deep in his gut. The one he had been terrified to voice.
Niko stiffened. “All I am aware of is that he missed your mother desperately. Enough to go to war against the High Priestess.”
“How do you know that?” Griffin turned back, watching both men with a steady gaze.
“Your brother informed us,” Viktor easily admitted.
Griffin had spent years in this country, attempting to make some prophetic difference. But really he needed to turn his attention homewards.
Towards the crumbling foundation of the Sacred Trinity.
“Griffin, the people of Grypheem know what you have been up to in your time away. You are garnering support. Your brother is pushing it further. It almost seems he doesn’t want to remain there much longer,” Niko explained. “But we have to go.”
And then he was leading Griffin back into the depths of hell.
Griffin allowed the hum of energy in his gut buzz to life.
He would complete this mission and then he would return home and find the answers he needed for himself.
Chapter 28
A Sheet in the Wind
Levi
Present Day - Grypheem
Levi’s head buzzed with energy as he opened his eyes and came into consciousness. He felt like he had drank several bottles of alcohol and then been ran over a few times.
