Griff Driscoll and the Corruption of Essence by Brandon Harriman

Author:Brandon Harriman [Brandon Harriman]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Brandon Harriman
Published: 2022-04-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Crumpled sheets rustled loudly against the still night, threatening to wake Vincent and Marth. The wood floor was uncomfortable, but that’s not what kept Griff tossing and turning. So much had happened in the past few days. Griff’s thoughts were like a violent whirlwind that battered his sanity. Try as he might to avoid them, there were still times where he was forced to be alone with his thoughts, and he never knew how to piece them all together.

Why had he dreamt of Korrun Aldamund in the caves? Why was the headmaster’s uncle at odds against him? And how could he command the nightstalkers like that?

Although he had more questions than answers, Griff knew one thing. He would never follow Korrun Aldamund and his tainted ideologies. King Aldamund would never invade a school with nightstalkers and mages just to make a point. The king, powerful as he was, would never need to prove his strength like that. No, the only clear choice was to stay at Bergots and remain loyal to the king.

The aftermath of that night in the grand foyer had been almost as chaotic as the battle. Students and faculty worked to help the injured, clear the ground of fallen nightstalkers, and repair broken furniture and chunks of stone that had been dislodged from the walls. The medical ward was full of non-lethal injuries, so the Bergots’ faculty spent the night mending small wounds.

When Marth suggested that they all come to his house for the break, Griff had eagerly accepted. As much as he missed Cordelia, it was too far for him to travel—there were no free warg rides home for the break—and he desperately needed something to distract him from the questions that plagued him. Vincent was also quick to accept the invitation, although Mira was more reluctant, since the quiet castle would allow more time for study. Given the earlier events in the grand foyer, though, both Mira and Sadie agreed that time away from Bergots might be best.

Griff stared out the window, the bright stars now dimming with the rising sun. The barely noticeable pink glow was invading the dark sky. He grabbed his blanket and quietly sneaked out of Marth’s room. He headed down the creaky stairs, hoping no one would hear him. Cold winter air slapped him as he stepped out onto the large wraparound porch. He pulled his thick blanket around him and waddled to one of the wooden rocking chairs facing the sunrise. The long fields of tall grass seemed to glimmer with the sunlight reflecting off the dew.

Only a few quiet moments had passed before Griff heard a creak and the door to the porch opened. Carrying two cups of hot tea, Sadie sat down next to Griff and offered him one.

“Couldn’t sleep?” she asked.

“Y-yeah,” Griff answered, surprised. He half-wondered if she had sneaked poison into his mug.

“Me neither.”

They sat in silence, rocking in their chairs, and slurping the tea. The tea was sweet. Too sweet, even. It was like a child with a taste for candy was given free rein over the tea kettle and sugar.

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