This is a fan made story. I don't own the rights to the Protector of the Small series, any of its characters belong to Tamora Pierce… Much to my disappointment. This goes AU about midway from the book Page. Fair warning. Constructive criticism is welcome but if you don't like it simply because you don't like the line of thinking, please don't attack me for it. This is mostly centered on Joren. This is also a slow build Kel/Joren.
Spring 457
Lord Burchard of Stone Mountain died three days after his son returned, none the wiser about the change in his son's morals. When informed of the promise Burchard had extracted from Joren, Verene had laughed loud and hard. She had spent too much effort keeping her husband from laying Stone Mountain's wealth to waste to destroy the effort now. Lionel also got a chuckle out of the idea that Burchard was truly ignorant of what a poor Lord he truly made.
In the time it took for Burchard to die, two blizzards had hit Stone Mountain and the family would have been hard pressed to reach the nearest village much less return to Corus. Lord Burchard had a rather dull funeral, only the village priest to attend to his interment into the family crypt with just Joren, Verene and Lionel to observe it. Not even Joren's sisters Cassie and Margery were present, being stuck in the even more frozen convent in the City of the Gods. Little Oliver wasn't in attendance because the weather was too harsh for the small boy to stand the cold.
In the end, Paxton decided that Stone Mountain was as good a place as any to winter and none could reprimand him for ensuring that his Squire had a good grasp over his new fief upon the death of his father. By spring, Joren had aided his mother and uncle in sorting out the convoluted mess of Stone Mountain's records. His parents silent war waged over control of the fief had led to quite a few discrepancies in their books but in the end Joren realized his mother had truly ruled the fief, despite his father's best efforts. When the snow began to melt, Joren ordered his mother to pack for her and Oliver because he fully intended to allow her to enjoy her life now that his father was gone. Sir Lionel had agreed to act as steward of the fief and Lady Verene was to finally be free.
The enthusiasm that he received for his announcement had Joren baffled. His mother began going on about getting a whole new wardrobe for the Grand Progress that would take place over the next two years and Joren ended up tuning her out when she started on renewing her friendships with ladies she had known from her years in the convent before she had been locked up on the mountain. Sir Paxton couldn't help but chuckle as the older woman went on. Her son couldn't possibly understand what this kind of freedom meant to a woman who was a free spirit but had been shackled to a way of life she hated for eighteen years. Joren had eventually escaped to his own rooms to begin packing after ensuring his mother that she could indeed have her own say in a wardrobe made and that he would even arrange for it to be done by the very seamstress that worked for the Queen herself. By this point, he knew Lalasa well enough to know that she would be happy to do the work, especially at full price.
This had set his mother off on another layer of delight that had followed him through the halls of the castle as he retreated. His own packing was rather straightforward. He needed only a few things for himself. Paxton had informed him that they would just be sticking with the Grand Progress unless ordered elsewhere. Once his things were settled, he went to the nursery and ensured that Oliver's nurse maid, and secretly his natural mother, had begun packing. He had no intention of letting his little brother languish by himself in Stone Mountain when he could have fun on the Progress. His mother would hardly be the only one with a younger child in the Progress. His sisters would be presented to court in the coming midwinter as well, so he intended for them all to enjoy themselves now that his father was no longer an issue.
The next day, Paxton and Joren observed while the top of the carriage was loaded with trunks and finally Lady Verene and Oliver along with his nursemaid were helped into it. Once they were secured, Joren and Paxton mounted and the group, along with a squad of men-at-arms departed from the still mostly snowy mountain top. They made little better progress leaving Stone Mountain than Joren and Paxton had made in getting there in the first place. It took a solid week to final reach Corus, by which time, Lady Verene was beside herself with excitement and Oliver had taken on his adoptive mother's outlook on life and was bouncing in excitement when he was let out of the carriage at the Stone Mountain town house.
Master Ebroin of Genlith, their Steward in Corus was frowning at the sight before him when he realized that Joren had no intention of keeping his mother a prisoner as his father had. Joren realized in that moment that he would likely have to dismiss Ebroin, not that he hadn't already decided to do so. Vinson's uncle would most likely only cause problems in the coming years as he attempted to steer Stone Mountain and its wealth in a direction that his father would have despaired at.
This became even more apparent as soon as he had gone to what was now his study to find something to read after dinner that evening, "Master Joren, it is good to see you well. I must admit though, I was surprised to see Lady Verene and Master Oliver with you and Sir Paxton when you arrived." The almost question in his voice told Joren that the man was hopeful that Joren would be of a similar inclination to his father.
Joren decided to immediately disabuse him of the situation, "Yes. I thought Mother and Oliver would enjoy participating in the excitement of the Grand Progress. Uncle Lionel can well care for Stone Mountain in her absence and I thought it would be nice for her to experience some real freedom after being locked up on a fief for the past two decades. Also, I know it likely new to you still, but it is Lord Joren now."
"Oh, of course. How remiss of me to forget, my lord," Ebroin had visibly paled as Joren had spoken. He then switched to another tactic. "It is just that… well, my lord, your father was always rather addiment that your mother not travel very much, her health was always a bit frail from what he implied."
"Is that what Father always told people to justify his keeping her locked up and away from society? Well, it certainly isn't true. I don't think I ever recall a single instance of mother being ill in my life," Joren shrugged and pulled out a few books from the shelves.
"Is that so, my lord? Well that is good to hear. Might I ask what you are looking for in my study?" Ebroin had approached him while he set the books on the desk.
"My study, I think you mean, Ebroin. This is my house, my study, my mother and these books are records of MY holdings if I'm not mistaken. I'm not mistaken, am I, Ebroin?" Joren looked firmly at the man who was now ghost white in realizing that his standing with the new Lord of Stone Mountain was not on as firm ground as he had thought. Joren felt pure and utter distain for the man before him.
"Of course, this is your home, Lord Joren. I would be happy to go over the records with you, if you like. It is all somewhat complex to follow the numbers if you aren't used to them," Ebroin quickly attempted to sooth the irate younger man.
"No, thank you. I think Sir Paxton and Mother should be able to help me muddle through anything I don't understand," Joren gave him a tight smile and picked up a stack of books that contained the last three years in financial records. "I trust the Master bedroom has been made ready for me, Ebroin."
"Of course, my lord. Your things have already been brought there," The nearly translucent man breathed out.
Joren nodded and left the room with the books. As soon as the door clicked shut behind him, Ebroin scrambled to the desk, pulling out a key from the chain around his neck and unlocked a drawer. Inside was a lock box that, when he opened it with a second key from the chain on his neck, contained a bag full of gold crowns. It was only thirty or so, but he figured that would easily by him passage to the Cooper Islands where he had sent all the money he had quietly been taking from the Stone Mountain finances for the past decade. Lord Burchard had been a certifiable moron and never noticed the discrepancies but Ebroin knew that the same didn't hold true for Lady Verene and Sir Paxton.
With the gold stuffed into his tunic, Ebroin swiftly moved to his rooms and shoved some clothing into a bag. He shouldered it and slipped out through the servants' entrance. He made quick work of saddling his horse and attaching the bag to the saddle. He sent a silent prayer to the Trickster as he mounted the horse and guided it first out of the courtyard and then out of the city. He had little knowledge that he had just done exactly what was expected of him.
"Well, that was easier than expected," Verene stated looking out the window as the Genlith man believed he was slipping out before being caught. "The Lord Provost's men should be waiting for him in Port Caynn."
Paxton shook his head in awe, "How long have you known that he was stealing from Stone Mountain?"
"For years. When I first married Burchard, I attempted to point out the discrepancies to him, but he didn't want to hear it. Instead, I made friends with the Lord Provost's wife and during each Congress when I was let off the mountain would sneak down to the study at night and record the discrepancies and pass them on to her. The Lord Provost should send a man tomorrow to collect the records books as evidence against him. I fear my friendship with Lady Genlith will never be the same after sending her brother-in-law to prison," Verene gave a mock sigh before chuckling. "I doubt we will ever fully recover the whole amount that Ebroin stole but at least he won't be around to steal anymore. I've no doubt that a good chunk of it went to bolstering Genlith's failing fief."
"I still don't understand why you didn't tell me about him until just before we arrived here," Joren stated.
"I wanted to have the evidence on hand before I condemned the man for you. Your father didn't listen in part because I waited until we got back to Stone Mountain. Though, I suppose your idea to keep him from stealing or destroying the evidence was inspired, I thought," Verene smiled in approval. It was just another piece of evidence that her son was more hers than her husband's these days.
Joren nodded and went to bed. In the morning, he met briefly with the Lord Provost himself before he and Paxton moved up to the Palace. Joren also wrote a letter to the Gold Smith's guild that his mother was to have access to whatever funds she considered necessary. When he dined with the squires in the mess hall, he received a slew of condolences from Cleon, Yancen, Zahir, Faleron and even Garvey. Vinson had predictably sneered at him but he hadn't made any commentary to Joren which made Joren realize that the other didn't yet know the mess the Genlith family was likely to be dragged through, in part because it was likely Ebroin had been stealing from Stone Mountain to bolster and keep the Genlith fief from completely floundering, along with keeping some of it on the side for himself. Joren wouldn't even be surprised if it had been him who had paid the fine for Vinson's crimes rather than the Genlith family.
Genlith was an old fief but it was also a fief that had long been mismanaged and while it wasn't public knowledge, Joren had known that the coin required to pay off the fine from Lalasa's kidnapping had likely cut deeper than most realized. He decided to leave it be for the moment though. Vinson would have enough to deal with soon. Joren focused on his friends and assured them the he and his father weren't close and as such he had little need for condolences.
His friends all nodded in understanding, his father was a well-known conservative that had been of a bent that most of them didn't like either. He turned the conversation to the upcoming Progress and quietly inquired into the different viewpoints of what would be the best competitions to enter during the festivities. This lighter topic led to more general ones and Joren relaxed.
Two days later, it became clear that Vinson had been informed of his uncle's arrest because he had nearly attacked Joren in the practice courts, only his knight-master's last-minute appearance had kept him from doing so. Sir Nualt of Rosemark and another knight had to hold Vinson back until he finished spitting his vitriol at Joren before storming off.
"What was that about?" Cleon asked in awe of such violent language used in such a colorful manner.
"We found evidence of his uncle having stolen a good-sized fortune from Stone Mountain for the past two decades. So, most likely that was his reaction," Joren had shrugged and turned back to his friends and holding up his practice sword to go back to the sparring match with the much taller Cleon.
"How much was stolen exactly?" Faleron asked before they could begin again.
"I am not sure of the exact figure, Mother only gave me an estimate but somewhere around the sum of twenty thousand gold crowns," Joren responding before restarting the match and ending the discussion.
His friends all whistled in awe of the amount but let the matter drop, they all agreed that it was definitely grounds for having one's own steward arrested. They all secretly convened and decided that it would be prudent to ensure that Joren wasn't left alone very often as Vinson was clearly nearing the edge of his sanity. The Knight-Masters present for the practice were also in a silent agreement that an eye needed to be kept on Vinson of Genlith.
Two weeks later, Joren and his friends, sans Neal, who hadn't returned with his knight-mistress, and Kel, who was still off with the Own, found themselves mounted on their horses and in a very long and slow-moving train of horses, carriages, carts and pack horses that were guided by more people than he could possibly list. Joren's mother and younger brother were happily among the masses, Verene's new wardrobe having been furnished by a very pretty penny out of Joren's coffers and Lalasa's shop was all the wealthier for it. In truth, Joren had a feeling that at the rate Lalasa was going, she would soon find she didn't have to work beyond running the shop if she wanted. The woman was becoming very wealthy in her own right.
Unsurprisingly, Joren and his friends quickly found that the only real source of entertainment for them to be found was on the tournament fields. In the evenings, the squires were forced to preform through the same ordeal they had as pages every year at Midwinter banquets. Joren found that while he was vaguely amused with the antics of Master Oakbridge, the constant feasts were intolerable. It wasn't until June that Kel arrived with the King's Own, though they had been expected for over a week after a messenger had been sent to hurry them along.
Joren's first sight of her was in the assembly room, waiting for the standard instructions from Oakbridge. He had to keep himself from gasping in pleasant surprise at seeing her. Secretly, he was grateful that only Neal and Cleon were aware of his feelings. Even though now Cleon gave him a knowing look as Kel joined their group, which now included Owen.
"Owen, you've joined our ranks?" Kel teased immediately after greeting them all. Her silence on him getting a knight-master was for the obvious reason that Owen wore the cloths of a squire attached to the palace.
"I've got the title, but not the work," Owen responded, despondent. Kel's response was clearly sympathetic.
"What happened?" She asked carefully. "I thought surely you be chosen."
"Lord Wyldon says it's like last year," Owen informed her. "You had the congress, so everyone took their time picking. Now it's the progress. There are plenty of squire-less knights everywhere, but they are in no rush. It stinks and in the mean time I get to answer to him."
Owen had gestured to Master Oakbridge who was sending those he had been speaking with away and heading towards them. Kel gave Owen a reassuring hug that Joren would have liked for himself while Oakbridge began his usual tirade of doom for the feast. The spiel was the same as it had been for the past month, Squires attended the tables of their knight-masters and whoever dined with them. After the feast, they kept refreshments available at their posts. When he finished, Cleon was on one side of Kel and Joren on the other.
"We thought you would never get here," Joren stated, he had missed her though he could hardly say it out loud.
"Lord Raoul was just finishing up a few things," Kel excused the delay without looking at him. Staring at the finger bowl she had collected instead.
"Finishing up? Hah," responded Merric from behind them. "Everyone knows that the king had to order him to catch up now."
"Well, is social scheduling what you thought you'd do as a knight?" Kel defended as they headed to the banquet hall, holding finger bowls.
"I didn't think," Merric was unusually cheerful in his response. "I just did what my parents told me to for once."
They all split at this point to tend to their Knight-Masters. Joren was, unsurprisingly, serving Paxton who had been paired with a pretty girl who was likely sixteen and the others at the table were Joren's mother along with a knight who had no squire apparently. As they attended to their tables, Joren kept an eye on Kel, smiling a little at the end when the confections came out. Joren was stuck at his post for far longer than most of his peers. Sir Paxton was enjoying his opportunity to flirt with the noble ladies. Eventually, the man did take pity on Joren though, knowing that Joren had a challenge in the afternoon the next day.
Joren had found the one thing that he couldn't abide these days was hearing someone suggest Kel was less than virtuous. This was his third joust that he had challenged someone to because of an unsavory comment. He was even beginning to think that some conservatives had taken to making them near him and his friends in the hopes of a challenge. He attempted to sleep as late as possible before getting up and going over his gear carefully.
After he had eaten his noon meal, he let Owen into his tent to help him don his armor. He had taken pity on his fellow squire who felt left out, being unattached. When they arrived, it was to find Cleon, Merric and Kel already on the field observing the jousting. He smiled at her as he joined them, noting that Lord Raoul stood not far away, also prepared for jousting. He also noted the knight whom he had challenged on the other side of the field arrogantly laughing with his friends.
Joren's challenge came and went, Joren unseating the knight on the second run and received five gold crowns. When he rejoined his friends after he finished, Kel asked what the challenge was about and Joren gave the banal 'philosophical discussion' excuse, not wanting Kel to know that it was about her. They then watched Lord Raoul as he had his exhibition match and then defeated a knight from Tusaine and a conservative.
"In the old days you could keep the armor and horse of the man you beat," Owen explained to Kel, the only one who hadn't seen a tournament before. "Now, most people just pay coin instead."
"It's simpler," Cleon finally spoke for the first time in Joren's hearing that day. Once they had seen Lord Raoul joust, Joren claimed fatigue and went to clean up and see to his horse and gear again.
Sir Paxton nodded his approval when he found his squire polishing his armor, "So, does Lady Keladry know that your reason for the joust was to defend her honor?"
"No, and if I have my way, she won't either. It would just upset her. Mostly because she will think it isn't worth the fuss, which is ridiculous, of course it is," Joren didn't even bother denying his motivations.
The winter snowed into Stone Mountain had resulted in his mother, uncle and Knight-Master teaming up on him and subsequently extracting a confession of his feelings for the realm's only female squire. His mother had decided that she would go out of her way to ingrain herself with the girl's mother, even if it took time to do so.
Paxton didn't argue with his squire, figuring that he knew the girl better than he did. The next day, Cleon and Owen were entered into other competitions so Joren kept Kel company by himself, much to his delight, as she watched Lord Raoul defeat a second Tusaine knight and then Stigand of Fenrigh, a conservative. Kel left with Raoul after the matches to see to his gear and horses so Joren decided to visit with his mother. She promptly demanded he go for a stroll with her. Joren sighed but gave in, knowing she only had a few true friends due to her prolonged isolation.
They had strolled through most of the city of tents when they encountered a small crowd gathered. They paused to see what was causing it and Joren couldn't help but smile at the sight before him. Kel and the Yamani ladies were tossing a fan around in a circle. Each time one caught the fan they seemed to move gracefully like dancers. Joren doubted the Kel was even aware that she was moving with just as much grace as the Yamani ladies, for all the she was in breeches rather than their elegant kimonos. Suddenly, one of them, the princess, shouted something in Yamani and the way they began throwing the fan around changed, as did their pace and movements, both becoming faster.
Another Yamani command had the pace slow and movements changing again. Joren had recognized what the fan was, having given one to Kel for last Midwinter. He caught a glimpse of Neal as he stepped forward and into the circle, "This is the prettiest thing I've ever seen. May I play?" The fool requested, he then promptly attempted to catch the fan which had the four women playing and Joren all gasp at the same time. Neal thankfully caught the fan base down and then immediately dropped it in surprise.
"What is this thing?" He demanded, glaring at the fan.
Joren had to hold back his laughter as one of the Yamani ladies walked over and took the fan from him, "Beware the women of the warrior class, for all they touch is both decorative and deadly." She then took the fan over to a pile of tent poles and sliced one in half directly in front of Neal before storming into the Princess's tent.
The other Yamani ladies followed her before Kel began to scold Neal for his carelessness. Neal asked what the fan was and Kel explained, pointing out that she had received one as well and Neal had seen it and the man's eyes widened in realization. At this point, the queen, who had been a part of the gathered crowd, declared she wanted one. Joren also noted that Lady Alanna was in the crowd, which made sense with Neal being there.
Kel caught herself staring at the Lioness before addressing the queen's statement, informing her that Princess could easily have one made for her. As the queen disappeared into the tent, Kel whisper-scolded Neal again. As the crowd broke up, Joren decided this was as good a time as any to introduce his mother to Kel as any. He led her up to Kel who finished scolding Neal and let him escape with his Knight-Mistress.
"Kel, may I introduce you to my mother, Lady Verene of Stone Mountain. Mother, this is Lady Squire Keladry of Mindelan," Joren began without hesitation.
Kel looked startled but recovered quickly, "Lady Verene, it is a pleasure to meet you. I heard of your recent loss. You have my condolences."
Verene positively beamed at Kel, "Oh, don't bother with those. Joren's father is hardly worth a thought, he never really was. I must say though, that display with the fan was quite spectacular. I must admit, I was startled to realize that a weapon could look so innocent and beautiful. It was quite mesmerizing to watch the whole thing until the interruption at the end."
"It is a shukusen, a lady fan. It is meant to look innocent but enable a lady to keep herself safe despite its beauty," Kel offered carefully not to offend, uncertain of where Joren's mother stood in terms of women with weapons.
"Well, it certainly looks like it could do that job well. What was that dance you and the Yamani ladies were doing with it called?" Verene was nothing but curious.
"It isn't a dance. It is a game called fan toss. Yamani ladies play it with the shukusen. I learnt it while I lived in the Islands when my parents were ambassadors there," Kel explained and was startled when she received an understanding nod.
"Yes, your mother is Ilane of Mindelan, formerly of Seabeth and Seajen, correct? She was my sponsor at the convent. I admit, I had wished to renew our friendship but whenever I attempted to locate her in this grand circus, I get turned about," Verene hinted to Kel. Joren had to hold back a groan. He knew his mother was speaking the truth. He was just wondering why she seemed to be attempting to coerce Kel into taking them.
Kel smiled and nodded, "Is that so? Well, I can show you to her tent if you'd like. It isn't far from here." Joren bit back another groan at Kel giving his mother exactly what she wanted.
"That would be wonderful, if you don't mind. Joren be a good gentleman and give the lady your other arm, dear," His mother instructed him before he knew what was happening.
Joren hesitated, "Mother, Kel is a Squire. I assure you she is not nearly clumsy enough to need assistance through the camp. She is quite skilled at keeping her balance, even on that mountain of a horse of hers."
Lady Verene immediately swatted her son on the back of the head, "Squire or no, she is still a lady and as such deserves the respect of having the offer at least made. Now, offer her your arm." She prodded him in the side with the last sentence.
Joren sighed and his cheeks turned a light shade of pink as he did as he was ordered, "Lady Kel, might I offer you my arm as we walk. You will find the ground rather rough in the camp." He even held out his elbow fully expecting to be both rejected and humiliated in the process. Kel, from what he could tell, never really liked being treated like a 'fragile female'.
He was startled as she actually placed her hand on his arm, "Certainly. Though, fair warning, if I did stumble, I might take you and your mother down with me." Kel was smiling wide at him when he looked at her in surprise. She was the same height as him these days and, he realized with surprise, would likely end up being taller than him when she finished growing.
It unsettled him slightly, but he pushed the thought aside as he allowed Kel to direct them through the camp as she and his mother chatted. The walk was quick, and they found Ilane was, in fact, in her tent. The two of them dragged their children in and forced them to sit with them as they caught up. Joren swiftly felt like the two women were having a minor competition of who could embarrass their child more.
"You know, I had never met Lady Keladry before today, so I only had Joren's description of her to go on, you know tall, brown hair, hazel eyes, a unique sort of beauty is what he said. I wondered what he meant by unique beauty when he said it, but I think I understand now. It isn't that kind that stands out in an obvious way, but she really is quite pretty, and I can't imagine most Tortall noblewomen can manage to look that graceful while tossing about a dangerous weapon either. Though, I suppose she picked up that grace from the Yamani Islands as the Yamani Ladies have a similar grace to them," Verene commented as she took a sip of the green tea that Ilane had just made for her. "Oh, this is quite lovely. I wonder if it would be possible to get some of this."
"Yes, the Yamani are rather big on grace with weapons, which one was she throwing about, if I may ask? It is called green tea, it is from the Yamani Islands," Ilane smiled and glanced at her daughter who was blushing at the complement.
"She saw me with Shinko, Yuki and Lady Haname playing fan toss," Kel explained before she could be scolded for being careless with a weapon.
"Ah. Yes, fan toss. I can't say I am surprised you thought it was graceful, Verene. It's really quite the sight to see, I admit. I never could get a handle of the game myself but Patricine and Kel both seemed to learn it easily enough. Patricine is my eldest daughter, she married a Yamani nobleman not long after we took the ambassadorship to the Islands. Her husband is Toshuro noh Akaneru, and they…" Ilane went off on a tangent of her grandchildren in the Yamani Islands at this point, Joren and Kel both rolled their eyes and shared a sympathetic look.
It was another half hour before Joren managed to think of an excuse for them to escape with and announced that Kel probably need to get back to feed her charge, a baby griffin and he, as a proper Lord and fellow squire, should probably escort her to her tent. Ilane of Mindelan gave Joren an odd and confused look while Joren's mother gave him a nod of approval as Kel and Joren got and exited the tent.
Once they had made their escape, Joren and Kel shared a laugh and sigh of relief, "Who knew that our mothers were so close when they were younger?" Kel giggled as they walked through the camp back to her tent. Joren planned on doing as he stated before finding Sir Paxton.
"Mother had mentioned your mother to me before, you know. She talked about her a lot when I was younger, told me how wonderful Lady Ilane was and that she was so lucky to have married for love. I think mother envied her a little. Father kept Mother a virtual prisoner in Stone Mountain and she hated him for it. There was certainly no love lost between them. I'm glad Mother has an opportunity to rekindle an old friendship. It will be good for her," Joren had started off amused still but had turned serious towards the end.
"Was your father really that bad?" Kel asked suddenly, softly.
"Worse than you probably realize. All the awful things I said to and about you as a Page? I may as well have been parroting him. When I was about five, father practically banned me from seeing Mother for more than meals. He claimed that the reason I was so 'pretty looking' was because she was corrupting me and that soon I would be a Nancy-boy. I didn't really understand until I was older, but they were essentially at war with each other. Anything that my father could use against mother was used," Joren decided to go with honesty. If he wanted a future, even a distant one, with Kel, he knew he couldn't have a relationship with her like his father had with his mother. "Mother was rushed into marrying him almost immediately out of the convent and even though she initially tried to make it at least a comfortable marriage, Father was a very narrow-minded man. He only ever felt lust for Mother and even that faded quickly, mother went from indifference to absolute hatred by the time my sisters were born."
Kel nodded, a puzzle piece of the puzzle that Joren was to her falling into place. They arrived at her tent and he bid her fair-well, the griffin within squawking for his meal.