Chapter 342: Night Watch

The meeting between Her Majesty and Blueford and the others ended.

My carriage (the one Agnes had been sleeping in) was set beside Her Majesty’s carriage, and on that carriage Agnes and her two guards, three in all, would ride. Lily and I would ride on Her Majesty’s carriage. Carriages would surround that, and outside that, on the outer line, knights would keep night watch.

Trees were gathered from the riverbed and lit. Several places were set so we would know if a beast drew near. I felt it was doubtful they would last the night, but even so better than not doing it.

When the sky went thoroughly dark the tension rose. Will we last a night in this tense state? I worried. But that worry did not last long. Ahead in the gorge it grew bright little by little. What? Everyone noticed the brightness.

"What is it?"

"Could troops have come from the town to meet us?"

"Were we saved?"

Hopeful observations flowed, but it cannot go that well. I am here. I cannot think it will roll that way.

That light grew brighter and brighter. People’s lights, torches or lamps, cannot get this bright. This still feels like some bad omen.

Then when that light reached its peak, from ahead in the gorge a dazzling griffin appeared! Light came from its whole body. Why!? Everyone would have thought that. And some would have thought, will we be eaten at last? But the griffin showed its whole body, drew near to about twenty meters from us, and stopped.

Then a voice in my head.

I am hungry. Feed me that bird from the day.

The griffin’s gold eyes shone looking at me.

"Lord Robbie, um, feed it the wyvern..."

Lily said. Can Lily hear it too. Her Majesty and Anouk came down from the carriage and looked at me.

"Lord Robbie..."

Anouk said. Did Her Majesty and Anouk hear that voice too?

Did you not hear? Feed me that bird from the day.

The voice rang in my head once more.

"Understood."

I said it, got down from the carriage, and started walking toward the griffin.

"Lord Marie, what is it!? Dangerous!"

Agnes’s voice. Did she not hear the voice? The ones who heard were me, Her Majesty, Anouk, and Lily. What do these four have in common? That they have a relation with me? Why?

I passed between the knights guarding the outer line and stood in front of the griffin.

You have it?

A question rang in my head.

"Yes."

Put it out.

"Yes."

I put one wyvern out of the mana bag.

I eat my fill for the first time in a while. As thanks I will protect you for one night. I will let nothing draw near.

"Thank you."

No matter. But how long since I met one who understands my words. Interesting. Truly amusing.

"Were there people in the past who could understand your words?"

Noisy. Be silent. I eat this. Withdraw.

"Yes. Excuse me."

I was scolded not to say extra things.

I turned about, and Her Majesty, Anouk, and Lily were there.

"It says it will protect us."

"Yes. That is good."

"I am at ease."

"Thanks to Lord Robbie."

Everyone had a relieved face. The griffin’s voice was heard, and the deal of being protected one night in exchange for a wyvern. I feel it is better to make it that Her Majesty heard and negotiated than that I did it.

"Your Majesty, that the griffin will protect us, could you make it that Your Majesty heard the voice and spoke? More than that I did it, Her Majesty is more welcome, and I think Her Majesty’s charisma will rise too."

At my words Her Majesty said,

"Charisma?"

tilting her head, and still,

"Understood. I will pass it from my side. If morning comes and it says feed me a horse this time, it will be my responsibility, so I think that is better."

she said. Then,

I will not say such a greedy thing. Be at ease.

it rang in my head. I turned and looked at the griffin. It was facing away eating the wyvern. The horse that had been lifted by a wyvern and dropped and hurt had been put down, but who had been eating that so tasty? But wyvern is tastier than horse, so it asked for wyvern, I suppose. If I had not had one, would I have had to offer a horse? I think some griffin somewhere said it wanted to drink wine, but this griffin seems not to be that kind.

"Anyway I will pass it from my side."

Her Majesty called Blueford and Dee and told them. The two were surprised and moved. As expected of Her Majesty, they praised her. If I said it it would not become this. Loyalty toward Her Majesty had risen for sure.

When Blueford and Dee told the attendants it traveled like a rustling wave. Everyone knows the griffin is listening to the talk, so no one says extra things. But the tense air loosened. Among the maids some started crying. There was also an idiot who said women’s meat is softer than men’s. Anyway let us sleep quiet tonight. It is not absolutely safe, so we cannot loosen the alert.

I woke while it was still dim. I had passed the night on Her Majesty’s carriage with a blanket over me. I looked at the griffin. It raised its neck and looked this way.

You woke?

A voice rang in my head. That voice was heard, I suppose. There was a rattling movement inside the carriage. Her Majesty and the others came out of the carriage. No mistake it is a bare face just after waking, but is that all right? Not one attendant is awake. The driver, Agnes, her guards, everyone in the procession is dead asleep. The ones awake are only the griffin and we four.

We may meet again. Then have tasty prey ready. This bird is the best. Farewell.

The griffin said that, spread its wings, and ran toward the air. It ran in a straight line as if there were a transparent road, and in no time it was gone.

I still felt as if I were in a dream.