Samantha Edwhan

Griffin's Choice

Chapter 2

It was a few days after Gerold’s death. The sky was clear and the sun was beginning to warm the land. Inside the castle, however, it felt dark and cold. Griffin sucked in a deep breath and tried to calm the icy storm of anxiety in his chest. He was to be crowned High Caln. The ceremony was only minutes away. He paced back and forth in the hallway outside the throne room as he waited to be called in. He didn’t have his crown on, but his cloak floated around his feet with each step and turn.

“You seem nervous.”

Griffin glanced up at Mason, the head of the castle guard, and nodded slightly. “I… I never thought this day would come.”

Mason nodded. “It’s a hard day. Much of the Calndom will be in celebration, but here in the castle we are mourning Gerold’s death. It is hard to put on a happy face when something so heavy weighs on your wings.”

“It’s not just that,” Griffin admitted quietly. “I never truly thought I’d become High Caln.”

Mason tilted his head. “You were Prinze for twenty-two years. Surely you must have realised it would happen eventually?”

“I suppose.” Griffin shut his eyes as he remembered, once again, the promise Gerold had made to him when they were fledglings. They were ignorant then. How had either of them thought this would be a good idea once Gerold became High Caln at twenty-three?

The door to the throne room opened and a red and grey head popped out. “Prinze Griffin, we’re ready now.”

Griffin took another deep breath. This would be the last time he was called Prinze. After the ceremony, he would be responsible for keeping the whole Calndom running.

Something deep within him wanted to run away. Away from the castle, from the entire Calndom, and hide from the responsibilities that were now his. But he managed to push that feeling away.

Griffin strode through the doorway with even steps. How he kept from trembling, he had no idea. Alvar, the new announcer for the courts, walked in front of him, leading the way to the front of the thrones. Mason followed behind him, acting as a symbolic protection. The room was filled with dragons. Griffin recognised the heads of the highest ranking noble families. Adelaide was with them, standing beside Carmina with a hollow expression. She didn’t want to be here anymore than he did. She was mourning the loss of her husband.

Clement and Modesty were in attendance too. Griffin spotted his son and daughter among the other noble heads. Misti wasn’t there. She was still too sick to attend. Griffin pushed past that thought and continued on.

He spotted Simon Waltz standing beside the head of the Rain family. His heart twisted. Simon wasn’t even an adult yet. But after the death of his parents two years earlier, he was the oldest in the family, followed only by his younger sister, who wasn’t in attendance. How did Simon manage to stay so calm when he was barely equipped for his own duties? Perhaps he was hiding his own sorrow and fear.

The rest of the room was filled with the heads of the castle staff and many journalists. Each one was watching Griffin closely, some were even taking notes. Could they see how close he was to falling apart? Could anyone tell how overwhelmed he was?

Griffin pushed the thought aside and focused on Alvar. Once they were in front of the thrones, Alvar turned to face him. Adelaide got up from her place in the crowd and made her way over to them. She stood between Griffin and the crowd and picked up the silver crown that sat on the small stand next to them. It was Griffin’s crown. Nothing had been changed about it, but for the purpose of the ceremony, Adelaide was to place it on his head. A gesture of passing the power to a new royal family.

Adelaide gripped the crown with both forefeet and looked up at him. “Today we welcome a new High Caln. Griffin Silver, do you promise to rule justly and lead your citizens into a better future?”

It sounded like she had practiced the line a million times. But despite her level tone, there was still a hollowness to it.

Griffin nodded slightly. “I do.”

Adelaide tilted her head up slightly. “Then I hereby relinquish all rights of royalty to you and your family. May you live long and well.”

Griffin dipped his head and Adelaide slid the crown over his horns and ears until it sat on his head. He raised his head again and nodded to her.

Adelaide stood and took a step back. “I pronounce you High Caln Griffin Silver.”

Griffin turned and looked at the throne behind him. It was once Gerold’s; now it was his. His chest was tight but he had to finish the ceremony. With slow and careful paces, Griffin made his way over to the throne and sat down as elegantly as possible. He looked over the room of dragons as they quietly applauded by stamping their forefeet on the ground.  Adelaide bowed to him, dipping her head low and spreading her wings slightly. Mason and Alvar copied her, followed by everyone else. Griffin barely held back a choked sound as emotions clutched at his chest. He no longer knew what he was feeling. But he was High Caln now. He’d have to do whatever he could to lead the Calndom for the rest of his life. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t dreading it.