Ellie and the Prince (Faraway Castle #1)(50)

“Why did you not explain to Arabella?”

Vlad preened a few chest feathers. “I figured you would tell her. I had to go in search of a more suitable candidate. My mate was near her time.” His feathered shoulders shrugged.

“I hope your family is well,” Ellie said.

The griffin shrugged. “That clutch is grown now and spread across the continent, but they all four send us messages occasionally.”

“What became of the replacement servant girl?” Ellie asked in some concern.

“She was free to go once our brood had flown. Being a sturdy creature, she walked down the mountain with a satchel full of gold and found her way home, none the worse and much the richer for the experience.”

Ellie decided not to comment on the girl’s lost months with her family and the worry caused to all concerned. Instead, she looked at the Gamekeeper. “Did you know about the slave girl?”

“I did not.”

The griffin’s neck feathers fluffed out. “Human girls always tend young griffins. It is a time-honored tradition and beneficial to all concerned. We pay generously.”

“I should defend the tradition myself if only the girls chose to accept the position,” Ellie said. “To steal them away is inexcusable. Why not ask for volunteers? I should think the Gamekeeper could help you locate promising candidates.”

Vlad growled softly. “It is our business, not his. Bad enough that he owns a key to our home.”

“You chose the den with full knowledge that it lay partly inside my domain,” the Gamekeeper said in his quiet yet emphatic way, and the griffin lowered himself into a crouch.

“It is the Gamekeeper’s business to protect magical creatures from humans and humans from magical creatures,” Ellie said in her best persuasive tone.

“Only those within his borders. But I’ll think on it. Not because you’re using your magic on me, mind you, human!”

“My name is Ellie,” she said. “Can you tell me anything about my family?”

Vlad’s yellow eyes fixed on her. “I seem to recall several humans standing near a vehicle, a few seated on the ground on a piece of cloth, and smaller ones running about. I snatched the small female.” He looked Ellie up and down. “You are large now.”

“That was eleven years ago,” Ellie said sadly. “And I remember nothing about my family.” Tears burned the back of her eyes, but she refused to give in to a wave of sorrow.

For the first time, the griffin looked slightly regretful. “I was unaware that humans cared about family, there are so many swarming about. But perhaps they can recognize differences among themselves.”

“We do.” Ellie swallowed hard before adding in a slightly choked voice, “And we love our families very much.”

“Then I hope you find yours,” Vlad said in a magnanimous tone. He gave the Gamekeeper a look. “Will you please leave now? I am already late. Mirka would be furious to learn that you have been inside our cave.”

“We shall leave,” the Gamekeeper said. “Thank you for your time, and best wishes to you and Mirka.”

“Goodbye, Vlad,” Ellie said, trying to sound gracious. “Thank you for taking me to Arabella.”

“You are welcome,” the griffin said in an almost genial tone. “Farewell, enchanters.”

When they turned, Ellie again felt the tug, and stepped with the Gamekeeper into the meadow near the cinder-sprite enclosure. Curious, she turned around in time to see a vertical black rectangle narrow into a line then disappear, as if an invisible door into darkness had closed.

“This is all so very strange,” she said, blinking hard. “I am not sure I will remember it fully once I leave here.”

“You will remember everything that matters,” the Gamekeeper said, and led her back down the slope. “We have another important errand today.”

“Very well.” Ellie was unable to keep her voice from quivering.

“This one will not frighten you.” He sounded slightly amused.

As they returned to the castle, Ellie pondered that strange meeting and realized the most important fact she had learned. “I have a family. The griffin stole me from my family. I thought I was abandoned, but all this time they may have been looking for me, missing me!” She looked up at the Gamekeeper’s hooded head. “Why couldn’t they find me? Did the griffin carry me so very far away?”

“Grim’s Peak is not far from here,” her strange companion answered quietly. “Arabella is difficult to find unless she wishes to be found.”

They entered the castle through the great outer doors and climbed the staircase, turning left at the landing. “Wait!” Ellie stopped short on a stair. “This staircase! It reminds me of something.” Her heart pounded. “I remember dancing on the floor of a large house with a staircase that went straight up toward a wall with a crest on it, then branched off toward the two sides, leading to long open galleries filled with paintings and artwork.” She ran her hand over the smooth railing and stared at it without seeing. “I was a very good dancer!” she added in some surprise. “I never knew I could dance. Perhaps I was a performer?”

“Do you recall any faces or voices?”

She racked her brain, but it stubbornly went blank. “No. But now I really want to try dancing again!” She thought of the Summer Ball with a twinge of regret.