Tales of Regventus 4: The Ring
Author
C A Tarkington
Reads
31.5K
Chapters
53
“Are you asking if it is worth it to save our queen, Hector?” asked Talon incredulously. “And Max, you had him brought here. He may not be your king, but he’s your responsibility. Besides, they’re the only people in the kingdom with Adalwen blood on both sides of their line.”
Griffa is no longer standing in the safety of her crown. Locked deep within enemy walls, she faces a world stripped of comfort, allies, and certainty. Every moment tests her strength, pushing her to see herself not just as a leader, but as something far greater. Beside her, an unexpected bond becomes a fragile light in the dark. Beyond the palace walls, those who care for her scramble to unite, but cracks of doubt and betrayal threaten to slow them down. Loyalties shift, time slips away, and the kingdom holds its breath. As danger tightens its grip, Griffa begins to understand that being queen is not about the throne, but about the fire rising within her when everything else falls away.
Ansel's Promise
ANSEL
Ansel sat in the Ring of Nine meeting next to Griffa. He stared at her, noticing how pale and tired she looked, her eyes appearing almost black. She was so young, much too young to have suffered so much. At just sixteen, she had lost both her mother and father. She was now the head of a great family, and she was the rightful leader of the Ring.
She was the most important person left in Ansel’s life, and he would not let her be harmed or taken advantage of. Her father, Renweard, had asked Ansel some time ago to watch out for his only daughter if something ever happened to him.
Ansel would honor the promise. He would do it for Renweard and Griffa. He took Griffa’s cold hand as she turned and attempted to smile at him.
“Hector, you were Renweard’s closest friend. Can you take the girl?” asked Gorm.
“I could. If Gryphon wants to stay in Delis House, she would be welcome.”
Griffa looked at Ansel with wide eyes and shook her head. He understood immediately. He didn’t want Griffa in Delis House. He wouldn’t have her under the watch of Hector’s wife and daughter.
“Gryphon should come to Wendell House in the Valley. She will be cherished there. I’m very fond of Gryphon, and so is my wife. My son is a close friend of hers,” said Ryker Wendell.
Ansel sighed. One of the last things he wanted was for Griffa to spend years in Wendell House with the rascal Talon Wendell. Ansel had seen the young man and how he acted at festivals. He knew Ryker would love to unite the Keene name with his own, but Griffa didn’t deserve to be used that way. She would make her own decisions when she was ready.
“Gryphon will be the leader of the Ring when she is of age,” said Madam Sidora. “She needs to stay in Abscon.”
“Is it Delis House then?” asked a brown-haired witch.
“No,” said Griffa quietly. “I will not leave my home.”
“You’re not of age. You can’t live on your own,” said Helmer angrily.
“I won’t be alone.” Griffa looked up. “I have Maybell, Jonthon, and Wallis. Ansel is there most of the time too. I want to stay in Keene Manor.”
Hector smiled kindly at Griffa. “Of course, you’re attached to your home, but Gryphon, at sixteen, it’s not proper to live alone without family. You need someone to watch over you.”
“I can watch over her,” offered Ansel. “I promised her father I would. I will let nothing happen to her. I can stay in Keene Manor permanently.”
Hector shook his head. “It’s not proper, Ansel. Perhaps if you were married and your wife joined you, it could work.”
Ansel leaned back and rolled his eyes. “I have no plans to marry any time soon.”
“Well, then, we are back where we started,” said Hector. “Gryphon, you can come stay with my family. You will not be far from Keene Manor. You will be of age in a couple of years, and you can live as you wish.”
“I will not go to Delis House,” said Griffa firmly. “I will not go anywhere but my own home.”
“You can come to the Valley for a few years, Gryphon. You can still learn how to lead the Ring from there. You know you will be loved by all of us,” said Rikard.
“You will not take her to the Valley, Rikard,” snapped Hector. “I know it’s very attractive to have your family united with the Keenes, but she’s still a girl.”
“I won’t push her to do anything,” said Rikard with disgust. “I was very close to Renweard, and I care for Gryphon. I’m offended you would suggest such a thing.”
“You can’t tell me you don’t think about it,” said Hector. “I know you had mentioned to Renweard a few times what a grand thing it would be if Gryphon and Talon married one day.”
“Why wouldn’t it be?” asked Rikard. “The Wendells and the Keenes are the most powerful families left in our kingdom. Why wouldn’t it be appropriate for my son to marry Gryphon one day?”
Griffa turned bright red and covered her face with her hands.
“I can think of many reasons I would never let your son come near Griffa again,” said Ansel.
Rikard turned to Ansel with narrowed eyes. “Talon is young. He’ll settle down by the time Gryphon is of age.”
Ansel scoffed.
“I don’t want to go to the Valley,” said Griffa, taking her hands off her face. “I want to stay in Keene Manor. I will stay there. You will not stop me.”
“She should stay at Keene Manor,” said Sidora, supporting Griffa. “Let the girl stay in her home. She has those who live with her. Ansel is the protector of the kingdom. He’s to be trusted.”
“I can check in on Gryphon every day,” said Hector with a sigh. “She should stay in her home. Renweard would want her to stay in Keene Manor. He trusted Ansel with his daughter. Between the two of us, we can keep an eye on her.”
There was a multitude of voices arguing loudly. Hector slammed his hand down. “Until Gryphon is of age and takes her place in the Ring, I am the leader. This is my command. She will stay in Keene Manor.”
Griffa turned and gave Ansel a genuine smile. He squeezed her hand as the meeting concluded. After thanking Hector and Madam Sidora, Ansel and Griffa left with most of the others. Outside, Ansel offered his arm to Griffa to escort her home when her hand flew to her throat.
“My necklace is gone. The one father gave me for my birthday this last spring—the falcon with the jeweled eyes. I must have lost it in the meeting,” said Griffa as she turned back toward the building.
“I’ll go see,” said Ansel. “Stay here, and I’ll be right back.” He watched Griffa walk to the statue of the gods and sit. She looked up at them and closed her eyes.
Ansel hurried back into the meeting hall. He looked on the floor of the hallway for her necklace as he walked slowly. He reached the meeting room’s doors to find one slightly ajar, where he heard Helmer talking with Hector.
“Do you think this is wise, leaving the girl with the protector?” asked Helmer.
“What other choice do we have? She’s been through enough. She needs to be in her own home.”
“You should have let Rikard take her to the Valley. She could marry that Wendell boy. Perhaps she would have stayed there forever. We could have gotten rid of her for good,” said Helmer.
“No, after all that’s happened, I couldn’t do that to her. I couldn’t do that to Renweard.”
“She will be the ruin of us all if she figures out her rightful place,” snarled Helmer. “You know this.”
Ansel walked into the room and looked hard at Helmer.
“Ansel,” said Hector quickly. “Do you need something?”
Ansel continued to stare at Helmer. “Griffa lost her necklace, and I came to look for it.” Ansel waved his hand, and the necklace flew to him. “I want you both to know that Griffa is under my protection. If anyone threatens her in any way, I will eliminate the threat without hesitation.”
Hector nodded, and Helmer glared at Ansel.
“You’d better keep her in check, then,” warned Helmer. “That girl is wild and dangerous.”
Ansel felt his magic rise to his skin. He was ready to curse Helmer where he stood. “You know nothing about Griffa. She will be the leader of the Ring when the king comes of age. I have a feeling she will be the making of this kingdom.”
Ansel turned and walked from the room. His only thought was getting back to Griffa and keeping her safe.
