Gryphon's Glenn

Chapter Twenty-Three

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Casey had not been at sea in eight years. That didn't mean he'd forgotten his way around a ship. Once, nothing had brought him more peace than taking trips with his parents and Nicholas on their father's boat.

The brothers had grown up in a fishing village. Casey had loved living by the sea. His father was one of the top fishermen in the village and he did his best to take care of everyone who wasn't as well-off. His parents had been good people.

Casey couldn't help but flash back on the day he'd lost them. Nicholas had joined the Knights on his eighteenth birthday about three weeks prior, so it was the first time Casey was taking the trip alone with their parents. Everything had been perfectly routine until their ship was attacked.

These people murdered my parents, he thought. What am I doing here? I know the Queen wanted me to trust them, but how can I? He sighed. His loyalty to the Queen ran very deep, but he still wasn't thrilled to be on the Pirate ship.

He approached Sphinx, who was steering the ship. "You are the shapeshifter, Sphinx, correct?" He asked.

"I am," Sphinx confirmed. "What can I do for you, Casey?"

"I was sent on a mission prior to the attack," Casey said. "The Queen asked me to bring something to you and the incubus."

"Manny, get over here," Sphinx called.

The rather intense incubus walked toward them. "What's up?" He asked.

"The Knight's got something for us... From the Queen, apparently," Sphinx replied. "Let's see it."

Casey made sure no one was watching them before he pulled out the pouch containing the talisman. "Whoa..." Manny mumbled. "That is some very dark energy."

"This pouch contains a powerful dark talisman," Casey said. He was nervous to let the Pirates have it, but he had to trust that the Queen knew what she was doing. "The Queen believes it will only be safe in your care. After I saw what lengths Marcus will go to in order to procure it, I'm certain she's right. She requested that the incubus-"

"The incubus has a name," Manny said in an annoyed tone.

"Of course. My apologies... Manny, correct?" Casey asked. Manny nodded. "Manny, the Queen needs you to cloak the energy surrounding the talisman. As for Sphinx-"

"She wants me to stick it in a labyrinth," Sphinx guessed.

"Yes. Will you do it?"

"Making labyrinths is my specialty, so it's not a problem. I just need to be careful. The False King knows how to mess with my labyrinths if he's inside of one, so I can't trap him or he might find a way to get the talisman. Anyway, if the Queen specifically requested this, I'm in."

"You despise the Royal Family. Why is her request enough of an incentive?"

"We have nothing against Queen Bethany. It's that murderous maniac Girard we have a problem with."

Manny began cloaking the energy of the talisman as Casey and Sphinx talked.

"Isn't that a hypocritical stance for a Pirate?" Casey asked.

"We're not the monsters he makes us out to be," Sphinx replied. As Manny handed him the talisman, Sphinx created a small labyrinth. The talisman vanished seconds later, and Casey could no longer detect it.

"I know the sort of things you've done," Casey said after a moment. The talisman was safe. Now, he needed to call them on their past actions for the sake of his own sanity.