The Griffin's Flight Read Online Free

want to.”
    Keth started to speak, her griffish dry and rasping.
    “ ‘The Eyrie is destroyed, and the council with it,’ ” Roland translated. “ ‘Our leaders have gone, and more cannot arise in time. The city of Eagleholm is no more. The griffins have spoken among themselves, and they have decided that they will leave this place now. New homes must be found and new nests built. But those griffins without partners know they cannot survive long without a human to be their ambassador and companion. Therefore, the griffins of the hatchery have come to choose humans to take with them.’ ”
    Bran went pale. “What?” He looked at the red griffin. She looked back calmly. “I can’t be a griffiner!” he almost shouted. “I ain’t a noble; I can’t even read!”
    The red griffin spoke.
    “She says those things don’t matter now,” said Roland. “She has tested your courage, and you impressed her. You are a fighter, and strong, and she likes you.”
    In spite of himself, Bran felt a little flattered. “Well, can yeh tell her I said I don’t think I’m right for it?”
    Roland listened to her reply. “She said she understands you perfectly and that in time you will understand her, too. She said you are worthy because she has made you worthy. And also …”
    The red griffin rasped something.
    “She asked what your name is,” said Roland.
    “Oh.” Bran looked at the griffin. “Do I just tell her?”
    “It works with other humans, lad,” said Roland.
    “Oh.” Bran turned to the griffin and put a hand on his chest. “Branton Redguard,” he said, slowly and carefully.
    She cocked her head. “Raanton Redgurd?”
    “My friends call me Bran.”
    The red griffin nodded sharply. “Ran,” she said.
    “Er—”
    “Griffins cannot pronounce the ‘b’ sound,” Roland explained gently.
    “Oh. What’s your name?” said Bran, a little more boldly.
    The red griffin paused, then raised one forepaw from the ground and touched it somewhat clumsily to her chest, imitating his own gesture. “Kraeya,” she said.
    “Kr-a-ya?” Bran tried.
    She spoke to Roland again.
    “She said you can give her a different name if you’d prefer,” he said. “But her proper name is Kraeya.”
    “Kraeya,” said Bran. “Kraeya.”
    Kraeya looked at him encouragingly. “Ran,” she said.
    Bran started to smile. “Kraeya.”
    She dipped her head and gently tapped him on the top of the head with the tip of her beak. “Kraeya ae ee, Ran ae o,” she said.
    “She said, ‘Kraeya and Bran are friends now,’ ” said Roland.
    Kraeya bowed her head so that it was level with Bran’s chest.
    “Touch her,” said Roland. “Gently.”
    Very carefully, Bran put his hand on the griffin’s neck. The feathers were warm and soft, and he marvelled at their rich colour. Kraeya lifted her head, tilting it upward, and he scratched her under the beak as he had seen griffiners do. She liked that and closed her eyes, crooning deep in her throat.
    Bran looked at Roland. “Now what do I do?”
    “You’ll have to be trained, but, really, the only thing you need to know is griffish, and Kraeya will teach you that,” said Roland. “And you can learn a few things about how to clean her talons and what food to give her and how to treat diseases. Flying takes some practice, too.”
    “Flying?”
    “But of course. Griffins never leave their humans behind if they can possibly help it.”
    “Where’m I gonna learn all that?” said Bran. “Who’ll teach me?”
    Roland sighed. “The griffiners are leaving,” he said. “There won’t be a single one left in the city by the end of the week. Everyone who hasn’t been chosen will have to stay behind. What are you going to do, Branton Redguard?”
    The question caught him by surprise. “I don’t—I dunno, sir, I ain’t got anywhere else t’go.”
    “No doubt Kraeya will have suggestions. But you needn’t go until you’re ready. If you would like, I can teach you a few things