The Conduit The Gryphon Series - By Stacey Rourke Page 0,30

wagon, unsure if they would ever see them again. The last child to be loaded was Alaina’s own brother.

Tears streamed down his pink cheeks as he called out for his mama. His small hands clung to her clothing. Alaina had to pry his hands free, and then held her mother tight to prevent her from scooping him out of the wagon. Her mother collapsed on the ground wailing as the wagon pulled away.

A lone tear streaked down our Alaina’s face. “That was the last time I saw my brother. Or any of the children for that matter.”

“This is so awful!” Keni hiccupped, and wiped her nose on her sleeve. “It’s worse than watching Titanic!”

The village men grabbed their swords and positioned themselves at the edge of town as the echo of thundering hoof beats drew near. The women clung to each other trembling and openly praying. Together they prayed for their loved ones to be spared. For the children to reach safety. For mercy. For…a miracle.

A flurry of chaotic activity erupted within the village. Fabric ripped. Women shrieked. A burst of feathers. Men crumbling to the ground. The roar of a lion, followed by another, and another.

“Uh…what the heck just happened?” Gabe asked.

“Just watch.” Alaina eyes were intently fixed on the scene.

The incoming horde of soldiers trembled in their metal boots when they saw what awaited them within the village—a pride of lions and a flock of winged women. In spite of their fear, the soldiers attacked. Arrows sliced through the air, one hit an ivory wing and bounced right off.

“That’s the moment we figured out our feathers were impenetrable.” Alaina commented. “We became the lions’ shields.”

Lions sprang at the soldiers, their monstrous paws knocking them from their horses. An elaborately armored soldier shouted to burn the village. He had to be Barnabus. Torches were cast onto the rooftops, setting the homes ablaze. Busy battling the army, the villagers could do nothing to prevent it. The younger Alaina snatched a soldier right off his horse, flew him high off the ground, and dropped him.

I looked up at Alaina. “Nice move.”

She lived through the battle, but still couldn’t tear her eyes off of it. “He did not die. At least not that day or by my hands.”

Even with their new gifts, the villagers were losing ground. Dozens of soldiers would team up against one lion. They closed in on them in tight circles and blocked any protection the feathered women could offer. I squeezed my eyes shut as one of the mighty cats howled in pain, then crumpled to the ground in a bloody heap.

A deafening screech pierced through the night. My eyes snapped open. After a brief moment of panic I realized the sound came from within the flames. Soldiers and villagers alike froze as a menacing looking creature flew over the burning town and landed in the heart of the battle. His enormous wings arced up behind him as he glared down his beak at the soldiers. That pull I felt when I touched the statue in the garage returned with a vengeance. I leaned closer to the flames. I wanted to know every nuance and color change of his feathers, the consistency of his fur, the shade of his eyes, whether his scent was feline or avian, everything. However, unless I wanted to stick my head directly into the fire, these precise details would elude me.

Beside me, Keni crinkled her nose. “What the heck is that thing?”

Alaina opened her mouth to answer, but I beat her to it. “That’s the Gryphon. The Protector of the Divine.”

“He’s a badass.” I had to agree with Gabe as the Gryphon tossed soldiers around like ragdolls.

He towered over the soldiers’ horses. As he stalked toward them the spooked equine reared up and bolted, whether their riders stayed on or not. With his help the villagers finally began to overpower the army. Some of the once indentured soldiers took advantage of a weaker Barnabus and turned on their captors with unexpected vigor.

Either a steel or feathered shield blocked every blow. The swipe of a flesh shredding claw or the swing of a blade matched every attack. Some soldiers lost their lives, while others surrendered and ran. When it became obvious he couldn’t win, Barnabus ordered his troops to fall back. They gratefully obliged.

Barnabus himself hesitated before making his escape. He raised one armor clad arm in the air and pointed at the Gryphon. “This isn’t over beast!” He then yanked his horse’s head