Page 86 of The Beauty and the Griffin

That day became a celebration filled with feasting and storytelling and congratulations and thanksgiving. After a mid-day meal (served by delighted brownies who occasionally did handsprings when their hands were empty) in the dining hall (which had stretched significantly to accommodate every guest), Prince Briar related the tale of the Battle of Faraway Castle, including how the Trollkarl had been “freed from a hundred-year curse by the love of a beautiful yet humble nanny who is also the niece of Lady Arabella de Wynter, the part-time fairy godmother, part-time wise old woman.”

Just then, the dining-room doors burst open, and a familiar voice called out, “That’smynanny!”

“Eddi?” I exclaimed as twofterotá(winged horses), the stallion Snow White and his mate, Spring Flurry, entered the dining hall with their riders, Princess Edurne Zuri and her betrothed, Kai the mountain dwarf.

Cheers rose all around as I hurried forward to hug my dear friends with Niel at my heels. Eddi talked nonstop, voicing every thought that passed through her head in the old familiar way while Kai smiled and quietly congratulated us.

Somehow the brownies adjusted the head table to seat two more, and buckets of carrots and apples appeared for the fterotá, who had seemed to enjoy their venture into the castle but were better pleased to eat out on the sunny deck where they could observe their humans through the windows.

Before they were quite settled, I saw Dodger land on the deck and hurried out to welcome him with a big hug. “Where’s Win?”

His neck feathers fluffed, and he answered into my head.Win need Beeetrice. Chicky destroy the Mirror—now Win know she been bad.

“Where is she?”

“On the beach. I go stay with her.”

I felt torn. Win needed reassurance, and I was the only person present who knew her. I glanced back toward Niel and met his gaze through the wall of windows. He spoke into my head like the griflets did:Go to Winifred if you wish. I’ll be here.

Minutes later, I sat beside Win on the warm sandy beach and gazed out at the open water reflecting blue sky. “I’m thankful you’re here and safe.”

“Why do you care?” Her tone was flat.

“Because I know you were enchanted by that terrible mirror.”

She looked down at her hands in her lap. “It kept telling me how stupid and selfish you were. I hated you, and I really believed the Gamekeeper was an evil beast that killed the king. The Mirror wanted me to kill you, and I did try.” After a moment, she muttered, “Now I’m thankful I failed.”

My heart went out to her. “You’re not the only one to fall under its spell. Last summer, the girl who owned it tried to kill a princess and is still in rehabilitation.”

“Yeah. Princess Eddi and Kai told me that story after Dodger left me with them. They were really kind, but I can’t help thinking everyone here must hate me. I mean, I planned to give the griffin eggs to Mage Einarsson, and yesterday I tried again. Dodger went with me to the cave where the mages were hiding, and Vlad and Mirka were there—enchanted too. They tried to convince him, and Einarsson tried to enchant him with the Mirror, but he refused to be enchanted and snatched me away.” She paused, her face wrinkling as if she struggled to hold back tears. “He was so brave!”

“Dodger loves you, Win. I do too. And we both understand now why you were so angry and confused.”

She gave me her icy scowl. “You can’t possibly love me.”

“Oh, yes, I can.” I gave her side-eye. “And you can’t stop me.”

She dropped her gaze to her clenched hands, but I saw her lips twitch with a hint of humor.

I gently bumped her shoulder with mine. “I need to go back inside. Sure you don’t want to come sit with us and hear all the stories of the day?”

She studied her bare feet covered with warm sand. “No thanks. But . . .” She peered up at me through her pale lashes. “Can I stay with you tonight? And Dodger and Chicky?”

“We would love to have you.” I gave her a quick one-armed hug. “After all we’ve been through together, how can we not be friends?”

On that note, I brushed sand from my beautiful jumpsuit and returned to the dining hall by way of the deck. Niel pulled me close and spoke into my ear. “Any luck?”

I looked up into his stunning eyes and nearly forgot to answer. “Oh! Um. Yes. Win asked if she and the griflets could stay in my suite tonight. I’m sure Auntie won’t mind.”

“Excellent.” He kissed my forehead. “We’ve all been requested to disperse for a few hours to give the brownies time to prepare for a celebration feast this evening.” He chuckled. “I anticipate yet another celebration feast at the Forbidden Palace tomorrow, and the same stories to be told.”

I shrugged. “This is a historic occasion. We might as well enjoy it while it lasts!”

Many of the creatures and dwarves gave us farewells and thanked Niel for his protection and guidance over the years before they headed home, ready to return to everyday life. I noticed Princess Eddi chatting with a young ogress and a pretty girl centaur, but the horse-thing following Prince Briar around freaked me out . . . and when it transformed first into a creepy rabbit, and then into an even uglier man, I had a death grip on poor Niel’s hand.

“Bane won’t harm you,” he assured me. “Several pookahs take refuge in the Forbidden Lands since few creatures in this world appreciate their unique qualities. Their trustworthiness is questionable, but those taking refuge in my lands know to behave themselves. Bane is a good-hearted creature, loyal to a fault.”

I found this explanation less than reassuring, but I trusted Niel’s judgment. Next, two griffins approached him to apologize for their treachery—it took me a while, but I finally realized they were the infamous Vlad and Mirka. Niel forgave them both—they had been enchanted, after all—but I was relieved when they left without mention of their missing offspring. Did they even remember their eggs? How such a self-absorbed pair had produced my beautiful and beloved griflets remains a mystery to me.

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