Griffin Quest

Part II:

Secrets Revealed

I

Bells rang out in joyous celebration as Aislin and her companions strode down the streets of Damona, with Cathal the griffin flying overhead. She blushed, waving to the crowd, wondering just how Bevan and Calhoun had talked her into this.

It was exactly one year since the demon Eclipse had been defeated, and it was Aislin and her three companions who had done so. No one else would have dared to approach the mountains of Mac Cacht, and it was less likely that they would have stormed the demon's stronghold to ambush him and fight to the death. This village held naught but pleasant farmers and guilders, all of whom were powerless under Eclipse's control. If Bevan had not come injured to Aislin's door on Cathal's back, Eclipse would still hold the village and its land under his fiery control. But with Bevan and Cathal, Aislin was able to use her magic to arouse the motionless warrior deep within the caves of the Mac Cacht Mountains, and the four comrades were able to succeed where others had failed.

Aislin, in her studies, had learned to use the raw energies of her surroundings. She was taken as an apprentice under the village healer and priestess who had passed on when Eclipse came into power, leaving Aislin to continue on her own.

Bevan was a griffin rider and a creature tamer. His most faithful companion was Cathal, the griffin that he had raised from hatching, when he was only nine years old. Now, a decade later, Cathal was fully grown, standing seven feet tall with a twenty foot wingspan.

Calhoun was the legendary warrior from the springs of Borvo, deep within the caves of Mac Cacht. For ten years he lay undisturbed within the caves, neither aging nor decaying. Last year, he had been pulled back into the world by Aislin's magic, for only with his help could they defeat Eclipse.

Up the podium steps they marched, being nudged and cheered by a wave of flesh. Cathal landed next to Bevan, who stood to one side of Aislin. The crowd was quiet as Calhoun made a long speech, half of which Aislin didn't hear; she was too busy watching Bevan's movements as he groomed Cathal's feathers and fur. There was something attractive about the fluidity of his movements. He looked up and caught her eyes with his, holding them there for what seemed an eternity.

The crowd cheered. Aislin snapped back to reality. Waving and smiling, the companions climbed onto Cathal's back and shot into the air. They were not only giving the crowd a show, they were escaping their well-earned yet unwanted attention. They were heroes in the eyes of the townsfolk. To each other, they were just four friends who had done what destiny had brought them to do.

II

"I must return to the springs of Borvo." Calhoun's voice rang through the air as they flew. Under them, the land was green and flourishing. Just one year ago, the fertile glens that they were now soaring over had been grey wastelands. Cattle could be seen grazing below them, slowly munching away, chewing the emerald blades until they were content. Cathal eyed them and squawked; he loved fresh beef, steaming and right off the bone.

"Why must you go back to the caves of the Mac Cacht Mountains?" asked Bevan. He nudged Cathal in the side lightly, to deter his path to the flock of cows. Sighing, the griffin changed his direction and dropped closer to the ground so they could spot the blackthorn bushes that concealed the entrance to the caves. Aislin pointed and they began their dizzying spiral descent.

"For the past few weeks I have been feeling faint," Calhoun admitted after a long silence. They landed near the shrubs and dismounted. He sighed. "I believe that I must return to the springs for a day or so, so that I may be well again." He would not meet the gazes of his friends as he spoke these words, for he himself did not even know if that was what he must do. Instead, he busied himself by making sure that he had enough rations to last during his rest. Aislin approached the bushes and clasped her hands together, speaking the names of runes. As she spoke, the runes began to glow around the mouth of the cave. The entrance became clear and the bushes parted to give the travelers a clear path. They entered the cave, Aislin in the lead.

The amulet that hung around Aislin's neck shed a soft light by which they could see their surroundings. The caves themselves were cool and moist. Water could be heard dripping from the stalactites onto the floor. A fist sized salamander scurried behind a jumble of rocks as they approached, letting out a spurt of fire from its mouth as it did so. Cathal eyed it suspiciously then walked on.

"LUMINA!" Aislin's voice was tender as she spoke the incantation. Spark-faeries jumped from her amulet and swarmed around the confines of the cave, illuminating everything. They had come to the coffin room, where Calhoun had lain for ten years. A warrior statue stood in the back of the room, hands folded on the hilt of his sword. The shards of the glass coffin still lay on the ground. Dull rainbow hues flashed through the pieces. The awakening spell that Aislin had used to call Calhoun was still in effect, though it was weakening.

Calhoun led the way now, three spark-faeries dancing around his head as he strode through the cave. He pressed his hand down on the interlacing fingers of the statue. Rock ground together. Dust fell from the doorway of a secret passage as it opened. The spark-faeries, excited, hurtled themselves into the darkness, lighting the way. The warrior led, followed by the apprentice priestess, the griffin rider and finally the griffin.

"Theses are the sacred springs of Borvo." Calhoun spread his hands out, as if to show the vastness of the caverns. Water trickled from stalactites into pools of the clearest water that Aislin had ever seen. A twelve foot high crag jutted out of the surface of the largest pond, collecting rapidly dripping water from the stalactites into a natural basin. This water flowed over the edge of the petite cliff, creating a luminescent waterfall. Greenery flourished on the water's edge. The spark-faeries added no glow to the springs; they were radiant by themselves, with no obvious light source except for the water itself. A calm and cool breeze blew from nowhere, as if to welcome the warrior and his companions. With that breeze came a sweet scent, the scent of herbs and healing. The wind itself was magical, refreshing and re-energizing the travelers, erasing their stresses from the day and easing their minds. Cathal and Bevan sat together, awed and relaxed. Aislin watched as Calhoun touched a fingertip to the water, closing his eyes. He seemed to draw power from the springs.

She sat with Bevan and Cathal, and a trickle of precious water landed in her hair.

III

"Leave me for two nights' time," Calhoun proclaimed as he pulled his shirt over his head. "I must rest. I must have absolute peace." He was very kingly for a young mortal man of twenty. His muscles flexed naturally as he removed his dragon-hide boots. "If I am to replenish my strength, I must bathe in solitude." He strode barefoot to Aislin and bowed slightly, kissing her hand. "I shall miss you," he murmured.

"And I, you," she said. Calhoun smiled and nodded, then turned to Bevan.

"Ride true," Calhoun said. Cathal approached him and nuzzled his cheek, purring as he did so. Calhoun scratched under his chin, saying, "And you, my friend, fly high." The griffin let out a soft chirp, his way of saying that he would miss the warrior as well.

"Rest, my friend," Bevan insisted. "All will be well, and if trouble stirs, we will send word." He clasped hands with Calhoun. "We will be back for you in two days time."

Turning towards the entrance of the springs, Aislin, Bevan and Cathal bid their last goodbyes. The spark-faeries circled Calhoun's head once and then flew nimbly out of the cave. Calhoun stood and watched them go, sad to be alone but happy to have time to himself to think things over. He sat at the edge of the largest pond and dipped his feet into the water. The waterfall stood proudly in the middle of the radiant water. As the luminous liquid fell from the rock face and into the basin, it created a wonderful and peaceful sound, lulling him into a meditative state. Questions that had for so long gone unanswered floated to the surface of his mind, and he could imagine them on the surface of the water in front of him. He began to talk aloud to himself, thinking that if he heard the queries spoken then he could not lie to himself when it came time to answer.

"Why was I sealed in the glass coffin?" Unsure in any explanation that would reveal it self, he stared blankly ahead and into the waterfall, as if asking the falling drops.

"Why was I sealed in the glass coffin?" His voice wavered as he asked the question again. He continued to concentrate on the falling water. A form began to take shape, shadowed at first, then clearer. It seemed to come out of the water, out of his mind, and head towards him. He blinked. It was still there. He blinked again, rubbing his eyes in disbelief. A woman stood in front of him, having come out of the waterfall itself. She was clad in seaweed only. Turquoise hair flowed smoothly from the crown of her head and around her body. Her skin shone soft aqua. Her eyes matched the garments she wore.

Calhoun blinked. Without realizing it, he had submerged himself into the waist-deep water and approached her. He woke from his contemplative state, immediately losing his balance. Stumbling to regain his composure, he fell backwards. The water was cool on his chest and face, but he lunged to the surface, gasping for breath. He looked up. The beautiful woman had been frightened by his sudden actions and was hiding behind the waterfall. He could see her peeking around the rock, as if trying to decide whether or not it was safe to come out. Calhoun stood and steadied himself. He offered her his hand, palm open and flat to show her that he meant no harm. Minutes passed. Sensing no danger, the woman stepped lithely from her hiding spot and took his hand.

"I don't know if I can answer your question," she said shyly. Her voice was light sounding. Her words were musical. Calhoun bowed and kissed her fingers lightly, as it was the proper thing to do. Her fingers had the same coolness that the water had when he had fallen backwards and immersed himself. Standing, he introduced himself.

"My name is Calhoun."

"I know," the woman almost sang. "You are known as the Calhoun, the Warrior of the Glass Coffin, but I know you as Morgan." She made those words sound like titles that he should wear with pride. She bowed gracefully, "I am called Ula, and I am but a simple water nymph."

"A simple yet lovely water nymph," Calhoun observed. She blushed. "How did you come to be here?" The curiosity in his voice could not be quelled.

"I came when you did," she replied. She sounded confused, as if Calhoun should have known the answer to that of all questions. "Do you not remember? We have been here for the greater part of one century."

Calhoun fell back into the water again, this time in shock.

IV

When he came to, Calhoun was laying on his back on the outskirts of the mystical pool. His skin tingled from prolonged contact with the water. The sensation made him smile. He opened his eyes slowly and saw Ula kneeling next to him. Her hair caressed his chest softly. It was not wet but it was not dry; it was cool silk on his smooth skin. Her lips formed into a smile when their eyes met.

Feeling water in his throat, Calhoun sat up quickly and turned his head away from her. He spat the water from his mouth onto the ground. Wiping his lips, he met her gaze once again. Then the last words she had spoken rose to the surface of his thoughts. He frowned. She frowned as well, more in worry than in contemplation.

"What do you mean that we have been here 'for the greater part of a century'?" he asked. He could only remember the last year, with Aislin, Bevan, and Cathal. The coffin still remained a mystery to him, though he sensed that he had been confined within its glass walls for an extended amount of time. He also felt that he could only be woken in dire circumstances. His head began to throb.

"In all honesty, I do not know how this has come to be," she murmured, stroking his hair. She slid into the water and sat comfortably on the smooth surface of a protruding boulder, wrapping her arms around her knees. Her back was to him. "All I know is that the years have passed. You have been woken before, when there was a need for your skills." Her shoulders shook as she spoke. "And after you were revived and had done what was called for, you went back to sleep. This last long rest was for a decade." She looked at him over her shoulder. "You do not age."

Calhoun looked at the palms of his hand, examining the lines and creases. He knew one of them to be his life line, from when Aislin had taught him something of palmistry. At first glance, it had seemed that there was a scar going from the palm of his hand to halfway between his wrist and his elbow. He examined it closer now and saw that it was actually his life line. Partly shocked and partly afraid, he turned his attention back to Ula.

"We have never talked before, have we?" he asked.

"No, we have not." She hesitated as she spoke. "The shrine… was built for you eleven years ago… The townspeople found you in the cave… They built it and put your body in the coffin. But, from what I know…" Her voice trailed off.

"What? I have a right to know!" He was becoming restless and even more confused as she continued.

"From what I have heard, your coffin is cursed. An omnipotent evil found out about your apparent immortality and made the coffin especially for you. This last time, when you slept, you were in the coffin instead of on the cave floor. The coffin wiped away your memories, left you with only vague feelings. That glass casket was supposed to hold you forever. How your friends broke you free, I will never know." She slid off the rock and into the water. Her back was still to him.

"Why is it that I did not sleep after we defeated Eclipse?" Calhoun asked, utterly amazed by what this nymph was telling him. "If what you are telling me is true, then why am I still awake?" He plunged himself into the water and approached her, wanting answers.

"I do not know!" Her voice cracked, and she hung her head. "I do not even know why I am here! I cannot leave, either! When you were placed within that coffin, the most important details were erased from my memory as well, though I do retain some information that may be useful to you." She turned, finally, when Calhoun had placed his hand lightly on her shoulder.

"The coffin was to be bound to you," she continued, looking into his eyes.

"My friends broke the casket with a spell," Calhoun injected, trying to be helpful.

"Perhaps when your friends performed the spell, it not only affected you but the glass prison as well.

"When we came back here today, the spell was still working on the shards of the coffin. It was faint, but it was still working, even after a year." He paused, thinking over the things that Ula had said. "But if the coffin is bound to me, then the spell that is on the coffin is bound to me as well… And that means—"

"—that if the spell fades then you sleep again," Ula concluded.

"I cannot let the spell fade!" Calhoun was ecstatic yet frightened. His past was being revealed to him, bit by bit. "But what am I going to do?" He purposely dropped into the water so that only his nose and eyes were above the surface. Bubbles foamed around his head as he sighed, his mouth submerged. Ula stood in quiet contemplation. Minutes passed before she spoke again.

"You must get your priestess friend to cast the spell again, on the coffin shards. This will keep you awake for another year. Every year the spell will need to be repeated—"

"—so I should carry a shard with me, so I know how much time I have left." Ula nodded as Calhoun finished speaking. He stood under the waterfall, letting the drops glide gently down his face. Ula advanced slowly. She met him under the waterfall and laid her head on his chest. Wrapping his arms around her, he said, "I will find a way to get you out of here, I promise."

"There is one last thing I remember," she said as he let go and strode to the water's edge. He faced her.

"Yes?"

"Beware of Murrough."

V

Calhoun walked from the springs of Borvo, escorted by Aislin's spark-faeries. He had bid farewell to Ula that morning, not even knowing that two days had passed already. Aislin and Bevan stood waiting for him in the coffin room; Cathal was outside, having not wanted to go back into the caves. As he met his friends again, Calhoun bent down and sorted through the shards of the glass prison. The pieces still glowed with a soft light, although the smaller bits had faded completely. He stood, having chosen a piece that he would turn into an amulet. Aislin looked at him questioningly.

"What is that for?" asked Bevan, before Aislin could say anything.

"It is… complicated," Calhoun replied, a tone of seriousness in his voice. He handed the shard to Aislin, saying, "I need you to cast the awakening spell." She was examining the piece of crystal that he had handed to her. It was approximately two inches long, coming to a point at one end. Altogether, it looked like a teardrop. When she realized what Calhoun had said, she looked up at him, baffled.

"What?"

"I need you to cast the same spell on that piece of crystal that you used to wake me up." His voice started to quaver as he finished his sentence. A sensation of cool water rising began, numbing his toes and feet. As soon as his toes were numb, he knew he did not have time to waste. Frantically, he closed Aislin's hands over the teardrop, saying, "Please, just do as I ask! I will explain later; there is no time to talk now." The deadened feeling coursed its way up his calves. His knees buckled. The feeling was neither pleasurable nor painful, but cold, a feeling of nothingness. He gasped, falling hard on one knee, yet he did not feel the blow. Ice raced up his thighs.

"I will try." Aislin's voice trembled and her eyes were wide with fear. She closed her hands around the crystal, concentrating on the stone. Her lips moved and words of power could be heard rising and falling. Her eyes opened in shock as she realized that she had none of her powders with her. Searching the ground, she found traces of the powders that she had used one year ago. She bent over quickly, grabbing a handful of the undisturbed dusts and held them to the crystal as she finished her spell. The crystal began to glow, first a deep red, then onto orange and the rest of the colors of the rainbow.

Calhoun, now flat on his stomach on the ground, gasped, clutching at his chest. The pain began to leave his legs, his body, his being. Warmth returned to him gradually. He sat up. Bewildered, Bevan took a step back, retreating to the far wall.

"Thank you, my friend." Calhoun's voice was filled with gratitude and compassion. "I owe you my life." Aislin's expression was one of confusion, fright, suspicion. Smiling, Calhoun stood and hugged her, giving her a kiss on the cheek. Bevan, as courageous as he was supposed to be, was still huddled against stone. "Fear not, Bevan, for I am well again. I will tell you both my tale once we are outside." Bevan nodded, turning and leading the way down the tunnel to the entrance; having come to know it so well, he did not need the guidance of the spark-faeries. Aislin followed, her small source of light dancing around her head. Behind her remained Calhoun.

Turning, he saw that Ula was still at the entrance of the springs. He bowed to her as the passageway closed. "I promise that I'll set you free."

VI

When they all met up outside the caves and were in the air upon Cathal, Calhoun told him his tale of how he met Ula and of how she revealed his past to him. In his fist was the crystal, which he held so tightly that his knuckles turned white and the blood left his finger.

"So you see," he concluded, "I must keep something of the coffin with me if I am to remain conscious. I am bound to that coffin by means of black magick and sorcery." He sighed, watching as the landscape flew by quickly. Aislin nodded, understanding.

"At least you know of your past now," she said, sadness in her voice. There was a long pause as no one spoke. After a minute of deep silence, Bevan's voice sounded.

"We must go to Bram," he said. "It's a port-town not too far from Damona. They've been having some trouble with a water demon, and the chief of the town called for us to help, after hearing about how we defeated Eclipse."

"When did you learn of this trouble?" Calhoun asked, having to shout as the wind took his voice back and away. He gagged, coughed, and spit up a small flying beetle that had found its way into his throat.

"The chief of Bram sent word, which we received after we left you at the springs. We didn't want to disturb your rest, so we sent the messenger back telling him that we'd come soon."

"I doubt that the messenger has returned to Bram," Aislin put in, looking over her shoulder at Calhoun, who sat behind her. "It is a five day walk through the Forest of Brona." Calhoun raised an eyebrow, though Aislin had already turned back and could not see.

"Why can't we just fly over?" he asked. "Cathal can do anything, can't you, boy?" The griffin squawked happily as he heard his name.

"There is some kind of barrier around the woods, making it impossible to fly across," Aislin said. "We have to walk."

"Then walk we shall," Calhoun said.

They landed near Damona and walked into town, to Aislin's house where they all stayed. After Bevan and the others had entered her life, Aislin had expanded her abode so that they would all have a room for themselves; she even added a lovely stall for Cathal, which was the size of a barn and connected to the house. The men of the village had built the extensions for her after Eclipse had been defeated, free of charge.

They went inside and packed their things, ready to leave within the hour. After they bid the villagers farewell, they headed towards Bram on foot, Cathal walking as well, though it did not suit him. Night had fallen just when the forest was coming into view. They set up camp but did not bother with a fire, as Aislin's spark-faeries lit up their site.

"Tell me," Calhoun inquired once they were all comfortably situated. "Do we know the name of this demon that terrorizes Bram?" Aislin looked up at him, remembering what Ula had told him in the springs.

"Yes," she said, her glance downcast for a moment. "It is Murrough."