Maidens & Killers

Explanations

       We walk in unnerving silence to my room, though Garrick never lets go of my hand that he is holding. I can’t help but feel like whatever Garrick has to tell me, it is something that is going to change my life from this point onward. It obviously weighs heavily on him, as I can sense that his mind is running a mile a minute. When we reach my room, Garrick falls back and allows me to unlock the door and follows me into the room. Garrick looks around the room we have spent so much time in, “ I never thought that I would see this room again.” He says quietly.
“I never thought that you would be here again either. In fact, I spent all night last night in a nearby cave in the mountains with Craobh coming to terms with that. I’ve never had a panic attack before.” I say.
Garrick reaches out for me, “How are you feeling now?”
I nod to him, “ I am feeling a bit more like myself, my heart rate feels like it is getting back to normal. I am feeling more secure on my legs.”
“Good, I’m glad. You should probably still sit down though.” Garrick says and gestures towards my overstuffed armchair that accompanies my desk.

      I take the seat, not wanting my legs to go all jelly on me again and leave me in a bad position. Garrick paces slightly and I let him, sitting quietly in the armchair with my hands folded in my lap and waiting patiently. Garrick would start talking when he was ready, I knew.
Eventually, Garrick begins. “What do you know about what we are fighting out there beyond the wards?”
I shrug, “ The gryphon riders attack us sometimes, they want to take over Navarre and the surrounding areas. It’s a fight we’ve been fighting for years.”
Garrick bites his lip, “ What if I told you that what you’ve been told is wrong? That the gryphon riders aren’t really the enemy.”
I don’t speak at first, rolling the thought around in my mind. “Well, I guess that would mean that a lot of people are lying. Why would they lie to us?”
“Because they don’t want us to know the truth. It is easier to pit us against the gryphon riders than to deal with the real threat. Many of them may even be lying to themselves. I don’t know how high up this thing goes exactly.” Garrick says sitting down on the edge of my bed.
“Okay. So the gryphon riders aren’t the enemy you say. Something hurt you though, you had to have fought something. What is it?” I ask trying to use some sort of reasonable thought process.
Garrick takes a deep breath before continuing, “Do you know what a Venin is?”
I can’t help the gasp that exits me, “I have read about them. The evil corrupted souls of those who have abused magic right?”
Garrick nods, worrying his lip within his teeth again. “I’m scared you aren’t going to believe me.”

     I stand up from where I am sitting and walk to the bed where Garrick is. I sit down next to him and take his hand in my own, “ I swear to you, whatever you are about to tell me, I will take it as truth. No matter how far-fetched it may seem to me.”
I say this with a confidence that I am surprised by, but when I roll it around in my head I know it to be true. I trust Garrick completely, and with every fiber of my being. I know that he would never lie to me or hurt me on purpose. I haven’t been able to rely on very many people in my life, more often than not I am the person who other people rely on, not the other way around. It feels good to have this connection with Garrick, especially after I thought that I had lost it. Whatever story he has to tell me, I know that I will believe them.

      For the next few hours, long after the sun has moved clear across the sky, Garrick tells me about the last three days of his life. He tells me about how he and Xaden have forged a relationship with the Gryphon riders, and how they have been stealing ammo and weapons. He tells me about Riorson House, and where he disappears to when he and Xaden disappear too. But most disturbing of all, he tells me about the Venin threat, and the wards. It’s so much to take in that we take breaks on multiple occasions, and when he finally finishes his story with him being healed by Violet’s thought to be deceased brother Brennan after a great fight with the Venin at Athebyne.

      We sit in silence for a while before I finally speak. “That was a lot to take in.”
Garrick has been clinging to my hands and gives them another squeeze. “Yes, it is a lot. I’m so sorry that I have to put all of this on you. It’s part of the reason why I wanted to keep my distance from you in the beginning of all this.”
“One of the reasons?” I say with a haughty tilt of my head.
Garrick smiles back at me, “One of the reasons. Another is that having this information puts you in a tremendous amount of danger. In your second year, you will be taught Rider Survival and they will try to break you. The more information that you have, the more at risk you will be. Information is a dangerous thing around here.”
I shiver at the thought of that. “I’m scared, Garrick. You’re leaving and I just learned that everything that I have ever been taught and the whole reason that I became a dragon rider has been a lie.”
“I wish that I could stay with you. I would do anything to be here to have your back for just one more year. But that isn’t possible. Xaden and I have already been given our orders and we will be expected to report by Sunday in order to get settled and be ready for duty on Monday morning.”  Garrick says, tucking a stray curl that has fallen out of my braid behind my ear.

      My stomach rumbles loudly, breaking the quiet of the room.
“We should go down to supper. Gods knows, I could eat a horse and if I know anything I am pretty sure you’ve barely eaten since I left you.”  Garrick declares.
I blush and look down at my floor, “ I suppose we should, though I hate to lose any time with you. I don’t know how I am supposed to just sit there with Sawyer and Ridoc and not be with you.”
“I know, I get it. But your friends need you right now. Liam is still gone on to Maleck and they are hurting and confused. You and Violet are the only ones who know what really happened. You will have to rely on them alot this coming year. Them and Imogen.”  Garrick says.
I sigh knowing that Garrick is right. Even though I want to trap him in this room for the next 48 hours and not let him leave, we can’t do that. We both need to eat and Garrick needs to prepare his things for his trip to his duty station.
“Will you come back tonight?” I ask hesitantly.
Garrick smirks at me as we leave my room and head to the dining hall, “Wild Venin couldn’t keep me away killer.”