A Conversation with the Enemy - An Excerpt from The Gryphon

A Conversation with the Enemy

An Excerpt from The Chronicles of Quat: The Gryphon

By Bryen O’Riley

“Why waste skilled soldiers?” Galen asked introspectively.

“To placate the populace. Don’t you know anything about ruling a nation?” a cynical voice spoke up from behind them.

Galen and Tad turned around to see who spoke and Tad’s jaw dropped in astonishment.

It was his father.

He was an older version of Etan, the same blond hair, blue eyes, jawline, and nose, and was definitely the man that Tad had fought in the cave while Alastar had stolen the Stone.

He appeared to recognize Tad as well.

“I thought you said we weren’t enemies up here?” Mikhail asked Galen.

“We aren’t.”

“Yet this one is here? The one who fought with me over your Stone.”

Tad gulped. His father recognized him from that day but might not have put together that Tad was his son. He sure hoped not.

Galen chuckled. “You were stealing our most precious possession, and I said I would not kill you for it while we were up here. And yet you insinuate that the presence of this young man is somehow more detrimental to our uneasy alliance than the fact that you worked with the Betrayer to take our most sacred object? Do you think that this young man is more important to us than the Stone?”

Tad wondered if the Gryphon or the Stone was more important. If the Fae had to choose between him and the Stone, whom would they pick? Surely the Stone. Tad could probably be replaced or something, but the Stone? How could they replace it?

“I would never think that any person was more important to the Fae than that Stone is,” Mikhail said wryly, perhaps even a little bitterly. 

“Do they really have the warriors fight to the death just to keep the people placated?” Tad asked, changing the subject.

“Kingdoms usually have enemies that they skirmish with to keep the people loyal to their own king, but here in the north there is only one kingdom. My great-grandfather united all of the competing baronies under him, and my grandfather solidified them into one nation. My parents have expanded their authority and effectively dealt with their competitors by fabricating foes to ensure that people needed their rule.”

Tad nodded. He had guessed as much when he heard about the various skirmishes with the outlying tribes, but he had never dreamed the Contest of Warriors was another tactic by his grandparents to keep themselves in power.

“So they kill their warriors in sport because it distracts their citizens from plotting to overthrow them?” Tad asked. Tad was trying hard to have a conversation with Mikhail while only showing him the side of his face. He knew he looked like his mother, but he wondered how much of that was the Fae look and how much was her. When his father saw Tad’s dark hair and light green eyes did he just think he was a random Fae? Or did he see his wife in the shape or shading of his face?

“Basically.”

“Despicable,” Tad nearly spat. 

The blond man, his father, chuckled quietly. “Perhaps. But it is no worse than what the Quatists do to secure their power in the south.”

Galen grunted in agreement.

Mikhail cast an amused eye toward Galen and then fixed it seriously upon Tad. “Nor is it any worse than what the Fae did to secure their power. When they had some.”

Galen muttered something and glared at the Quatist behind them but didn’t argue the point.

“Power always tries to secure more power and eventually those with the power will do anything to get more,” Mikhail lectured. “Always.”

“Yes,” Tad agreed, “but isn’t it somehow different when it is your own parents?” He had been thinking of Mikhail’s parents, his grandparents, the king and queen, but suddenly Tad realized he didn’t need to hear the answer to that question. Here, sitting in front of him, was his own father who was willing to kill his own children because of that very power.

A horn sounded to announce the arrival of the king and queen. Tad realized that during their conversation the multiple circular platforms used for seating that set one behind the other all around the arena had filled.

“Goodbye for now, Fae,” Mikhail whispered. “I’ll be at the banquet tonight.” He disappeared into the crowd before the king and queen were visible through the cheering masses.  

To order The Gryphon on Amazon please follow this link.