Prince Garibald Talonuel stood patiently at the train station, the gentle and thoughtful gaze of his yellow eyes fixated on the horizon. The pillar of black smoke coming from the train bringing his mother, and the corpse of his father, back home was already visible.
Talonuel was a relatively large griffon, a virtue of being well fed. His diet also had a role in his looks: in a time when everything old traditional was called into question, his countenance alone was a decisive pro-monarchy argument. A dark brown face with a white jaw and neck, and a short black mustache over a long, curved beak gave him a charismatic look, which was enhanced by his light brown plumage and two "crests" of feathers reaching backward. That look was marred by the expression of pure grief that grew more and more visible as the train approached. When it finally stopped with a loud screech, he looked to be on the brink of despair.
From the first of the two carts pulled by the train stepped a reddish griffon with graying feathers: queen dowager Garia Geresa Giovanna of Wingbardy. She donned a simple dark dress, the closest thing to a mourning dress that had been available. Two young servants trailed behind her.
Garibald bowed. The various griffons that had followed him to the station followed his example. It was an act of reverence, and in some instances, shame. Some of the griffons responsible for the late king's security detail were at the station.
Garia nodded back and then spoke. "Rise."
With the formalities out of the way, Talonuel walked to his mother and gently pressed his forehead against hers. "I am sorry, mother," he said with a hoarse voice. His eyes were closed and a few tears rolled down his cheeks.
"It's alright, little Tal," she answered, wiping his tears away. The two stayed like that for a moment, as a mother and a son. When they stood so close, it was obvious Talonuel had received most of his features from queen Garia, except for his colors, which came from his father.
The screeching of an opening door caught their attention. Talonuel watched as a hastily built casket was carried out of the second carriage. He wanted to go there, to see his father one last time, but he could not bring himself to do it. His limbs froze in place and the ache of fear under his ribs almost made him double in pain.
The four griffons carrying the casket looked at Talonuel for orders.
Talonuel cleared his throat to get rid of the hoarseness. "There is a chariot of the clergy outside," he told them. "They will take him to have his last rites."
The group hurried to obey. Talonuel watched them go before he turned back to his mother. He had rehearsed this so many times in his head, but suddenly he was unable to say anything. Unable to comfort his mother.
"Talonuel," she said, trying to bring regality back to her voice. "Please escort us to the palace."
Talonuel understood the meaning of her words. They were both overwhelmed, and she wished to be inside the safety of the palace before the dam broke.
Talonuel stepped to his mother's side and gestured for her to follow. With an escort of soldiers trailing them, they left the enclosed brick building. With the immense size of the train station, it took them a while to get out, even without having to worry about the massive crowds that usually filled the space.
Outside the Gumberto Station awaited a black car. Black veils had been draped over the windows, and while they did not hide the car's occupants from view, they served as an announcement that this was not the time to come to praise the royalty on the streets.
Talonuel opened the car's black passenger door, letting his mother inside. He followed suit, before speaking to his escorts: "Ensure that no-one will bother us for the rest of the day."
The escorts nodded and left for their own vehicles. A pair of guards stood on steps jutting from the sides of the car before they moved out.
Queen Garia coughed at the smell of the exhaust gas, making Talonuel lean closer to her with a worried look on his face.
"Mother," he gasped. "Are you alright."
"No need to worry," she answered. "We have not become weak while we were away. So quit your fretting." The last part was said with a semblance of a smile.
"Of course."
A silence fell in the car, or at least the closest thing to a silence that could be achieved with the horrendous sound of an engine coming from a few meters in front of them. After a few minutes, Garia broke the silence.
"You said that no-one is to bother you? Isn't your schedule filled with meetings?" Her tone made it clear that she wanted an explanation.
"Us," Talonuel corrected her. "No griffon is to bother either of us. Father has just died, and I thought we need a moment of peace."
Garia smiled ruefully and lowered her head. "That was a beautiful gesture, but we can survive on our own. Do not let us distract you from your work."
"I know you can, but..." Talonuel's breath hitched, and a painful pressure grew under his ribs. No. He had to hold the pain in for now. He could let it out in the palace. "...I can't. Mother, I need your help."
Garia nodded and raised her eyes to meet Talonuel's own. "Then we will help you."
"Thank you. I will make this right." Conviction filled Talonuel's voice. He had failed when he had allowed his father to lessen the guard detail. He was not going to fail again.
"We know you will. And we are so proud of you."