The Gryphon
An entry to The Ink Well Fiction Writing Challenge #1 - Realms of Fantasy by @theinkwell.
Thank you to @stormlight24 and @raj808.
Image by mollyroselee from Pixabay
The Prompt
Night fell as I rode into town, the same place where I was taken from so long ago. The calm summer evening awakened memories and emotions that I thought buried deep after the torments I had endured.
I headed straight for the Shining Knight inn, knowing it was the only one in town. After all this time away I felt like a stranger. I couldn’t bear to look down starling street as I rode by quickly, fighting those memories that threatened to break through. That street led to the slum where my house where it all happened. Was it still the same? Some other people probably inhabited it now.
I tied my horse to a tree at the entrance to the inn, and a gruff old man's voice startled me as I filled the horse’s nosebag.
''You’re, alive. I always knew you would come back, Erin ... ''
Through the dim light of evening I saw the feeble old man on the porch of the inn leaning on a walking stick. He cried, his sobs shaking his whole body.
''You’ve returned at a terrible time Erin! You should go back from where you came, the city is full of enemy troops. The Milen Empire lost the city years ago.''
''Hey, you there, unbutton your belt and lower the sword to the ground.'' A sharp voice barked from behind him.
“No sudden moves or we’ll stick you full of holes like a pig on market day.”
My Part
Image by Thanks for your Like • donations welcome from Pixabay
I didn't tense, nor did I do what these fools demanded. I slowly slid down the hood of my cape, enough for them to see the coat of arms branded into the skin just beneath my right ear.
Once I heard their sharp intake of breath, I slowly turned around and gave them a menacing glare. The two fools were already on their knees, begging for mercy.
"Our deepest apologies, Lord Griffith! We-we just didn't expect to see you in this part of town, is all!" stammered out the one with the previously sharp voice while the other only cowered in agreement.
"Fools! The both of you! Now get out of my sight before I lose my patience!" Although once they already had their backs turned to me, I also had my crossbow ready, and after two shots in, they went down two in silent thuds.
Only the whistle of a passing wind could be heard as I wearily glanced back at the old man on the porch, his mouth agape in shock. "That deep ditch in the back still open, old man?" He could only nod his reply.
I've buried a number of people during this war, people who actually meant something to me- friends, comrades, family.
I contemplated on just burning the carcasses of these two, but didn't want to attract any further unwanted attention to the inn.
Stabbing the earth with the old shovel I held, I noticed how old man Remus slightly flinched away from me. "Erin.. This isn't you.." he softly said in the silence of the night as he wobbled on his cane.
"It's what I have become." I replied, as I glanced up at the murky night sky, thinking that maybe it represented what the future held for me.
But I musn't lose my way. I must see this war through the end, even if it costs me my life.
I'm on Steem 'coz of:
My main affiliate program ===> ClickTrackProfit
Documenting my life's journey:
My main blog ===> Fresh Start
I started a series since October 2018...
'Coz I like Tumblr ===> I Am Raincrystal
Hi @iamraincrystal, a free $trendotoken and !trendovoter to you from @Busbecq.
Thanks for playing the new TULIP Mania Game Round 3.
Also consider our MAPR fund and MAXUV vote bonds too.
MAP Steem Fintech: growing your STEEM without SP.
Congratulations @busbecq, you successfuly trended the post shared by @iamraincrystal!
@iamraincrystal will receive 4.64266688 TRDO & @busbecq will get 3.09511125 TRDO curation in 3 Days from Post Created Date!
"Call TRDO, Your Comment Worth Something!"
To view or trade TRDO go to steem-engine.com
Join TRDO Discord Channel or Join TRDO Web Site
According to the Bible, Graven Images: Should You Worship These According to the Bible?
Watch the Video below to know the Answer...
(Sorry for sending this comment. We are not looking for our self profit, our intentions is to preach the words of God in any means possible.)
Comment what you understand of our Youtube Video to receive our full votes. We have 30,000 #SteemPower. It's our little way to Thank you, our beloved friend.
Check our Discord Chat
Join our Official Community: https://steemit.com/created/hive-182074
Interesting direction you took with this one @iamraincrystal
I like how you show Erin has essentially abandoned his roots of where he came from, become a hardened warrior with less emotional connection. That would be every soldiers path I guess.
One of the final passages gives this impression clearly...
Thanks for posting your short story at The Ink Well and responding to our first prompt :)
p.s. As a contributer at The Ink Well you have earned a unique badge on your steempeak homepage. If you use @steempeak you will now see an @theinkwell badge on your homepage. It is a small thank you from us to you for getting involved and sharing your work with the The Ink Well community.
Thank you so much! ^_^ It's an honor to contribute to @theinkwell community :)
Exactly the lines that caught my attention!
Powerful!
Thank you :)
@cramirz
!giphy virtual+hug
giphy is supported by witness untersatz!
This post was shared in the Curation Collective Discord community for curators, and upvoted and resteemed by the @c-squared community account after manual review.
@c-squared runs a community witness. Please consider using one of your witness votes on us here
thank you so much! ^_^
@iamraincrystal, War, no matter what's the cause, it brings so many losses on the Field. Stay blessed.
Posted using Partiko Android
Thank you for visiting my post 🙂🙂
Welcome. 🙂
Good story
I also stay in my hometown
Waiting for my children to go home
!BEER !COFFEEA
View or trade
BEER
.Hey @iamraincrystal, here is a little bit of
BEER
from @cloudblade for you. Enjoy it!Learn how to earn FREE BEER each day by staking.
Congratulations @iamraincrystal, your post successfully recieved 4.64266688 TRDO from below listed TRENDO callers:
To view or trade TRDO go to steem-engine.com
Join TRDO Discord Channel or Join TRDO Web Site
'' I've buried a number of people during this war, people who actually meant something to me, friends, comrades, family. '' To me this highlights story of yours and it seems to me that it tells a lot about complexity and the story that follows his character. I'm glad you found inspiration in my beginning. Thanks for sharing. :)
Thank you 🙂🙂
Lucky you @iamraincrystal here is your COFFEEA, view all your tokens at steem-engine.com Vote for c0ff33a as Witness
Hello!
This post has been manually curated, resteemed
and gifted with some virtually delicious cake
from the @helpiecake curation team!
Much love to you from all of us at @helpie!
Keep up the great work!
Manually curated by @sunravelme.
@helpie is a Community Witness.