The siege hadn’t lasted very long. Like Yakesh said, it was easy to defend the city. None of those platoons even made it to the castle.
Which was precisely why he was angrier than words could describe. The fire in his belly had erupted into a volcano of fury, an unstoppable force of madness.
Not only did the human and pony abandon their position right before the battle, they had taken his daughter with them.
By all accounts, she was seen leaving the city without them, and the duo had been seen leaving on foot in a different direction from his daughter. Who knew why they left the way they did, but it didn’t matter. If she linked up with them, there would be hell to pay for this kidnapping. If they weren’t, he would have them flensed for abandoning their posts and his daughter would receive no ceremony for her marriage; she would simply be sent off.
How could she just leave like that? Why? What did she stand to gain from this? She had everything she could want. A griffon lady needed nothing more than a good husband with lands and wealth who could give her strong hatchlings. It puzzled and infuriated the king beyond measure.
He tried to assign soldiers to go out and search for them, but none of them were willing to go. He threatened them with punishment, but still, none went. When given the choice between death and pursuit, they chose death, because they all figured the human and pony would simply kill them with ease. They were good, but they couldn’t fight off an entire army that was looking for them.
But by now, they had most certainly escaped and were out of reach of his armies. It had been several days, and if they were on the run, they would be moving fast. There was no way his griffons could effectively catch this pair of scoundrels.
Which left only one option. The king hated this option almost as much as the situation, but it was his last one. There was only one being in the lands who would be willing to pursue the human as well as have an actual chance at taking him and his friend down.
The king entered the dungeon and had the torch lit, revealing a cell door with a gruff-looking griffon on the other side. The griffon didn’t open his eyes, but smiled when the king entered.
“I was wondering when you’d come ask me for help,” he said.
The king frowned. “How do you-“
“I hear things,” Yafid said. “These doors are pretty thin. Without these shackles, I’d already be out of here.”
“So you know why I’m here,” the king said.
“Yeah,” Yafid said. “You’re here because the only guy better than me for hunting your nemesis is way out of your league to pay. Not to mention the lord of Griffonstone has him under his command anyway.”
“I could pay him if I wanted,” Yakesh said.
“You couldn’t afford a single job from that human, let alone have him on payroll,” Yafid said. “You’re here because you can’t afford him-“
“Enough about the human Marsoc,” Yakesh said. “I’m concerned about the human who took my daughter.”
“Ah, yes, the human and pony,” Yafid said. “How they must BOTH be enjoying her company…”
“I could kill you, you know,” Yakesh said.
“And who would you go to?” Yafid asked with a cackle. The king sighed.
“Are you going to hear my offer?” Yakesh asked.
“Mmmm… I suppose,” Yafid said, putting his claws together as he listened up.
“I will free you,” Yakesh said. “You will pursue the human and his companion. Kill them if necessary, but I’d like at least one alive. An dbring my daughter home to me, UNHARMED.”
“And what do I get?” Yafid asked.
“Your freedom, nimrod,” Yakesh said.
“Without my freedom, I can’t do this at all,” Yafid said. “How will you reward me for my loyal and CONTINUED service?”
“Fine,” Yakesh said. “On my honor, I will grant you lordship over the Riverland and its inhabitants, with a suitable wife that isn’t my daughter.”
“Good enough for me,” Yafid said, standing up. He shook the shackles and they clanged to the floor, earning a shocked look from the king. “You thought these shackles could ACTUALLY hold me? Please. But I will need you to unlock the door.”
The king nodded to the jailer who had been standing by the door. The jailer came over and opened the door, releasing Yafid, who walked out and stretched out his body.
“Any word o the direction they went?” Yafid asked.
“They went west,” Yakesh said.
“Alright,” Yafid said. He patted the king on the shoulder. “I’ll stock up and head on out as soon as I’m ready.”
The king watched as Yafid walked away, having secured his freedom and a very good contract. He wasn’t really sure that this was the smartest idea he could have followed, but right now, it was his only option. This griffon had been pursuing the human for some time, so with any luck, his journey could come to a close and he would accomplish everything that they both wanted him to.
The chase was on, and it would no tend until either Yafid or the young man lay dead at the other’s feet.