Daughter of Darkness

Chapter 9

"That was moronic." Jed growled as he waved his hand over her gash wound. The blue magic cooled the burning sensation until it was completely healed. "What were you thinking?"

"I wasn't." She replied dryly. "All I was thinking was about protecting the camp." Looking around she saw the other pages cleaning up the mess by gathering the arrows and piling up the bodies of the Goulaks.

Robb came walking over, and he knelt down next to them. "There's about 15 dead Goulaks, 5 of them with your arrows in them." He said speaking to Sal. "You did good, Sal."

"Thanks." She mumbled lowering her gaze so he couldn't see her blush. "And thanks for having my back." He pat her on the back and walked off.

"I think you got his respect." Jed said as Copper came trotting over with something in his mouth. Sal cocked her head, and Jed held out his hand and Copper dropped whatever it was in his hand.

"What is it?" Sal asked sitting up.

"A pouch." Jed said sitting down next to her showing her a crude leather pouch. He opened it up and he pulled out five large golden feathers. "I wonder what kind of bird these belong too."

"Let me see them." Sal said feeling a strong pull towards them. He shrugged and dropped the feathers in her hand. Almost instantly a wave of energy washed over her. "They're griffin feathers."

"How do you know?" He asked taking one of the feathers.

"I just do." She said standing up. "And the griffin whose feathers these are is close by."

"Griffin feathers are extremely rare and valuable, they are used in powerful magic." Jed said. "But Goulaks aren't magical, what would they need with griffin feathers?"

Sal stroked the feathers thoughtfully. "Maybe they were doing the bidding for someone else, and that's why they are in the forest." Sal suggested. "This forest is known for having griffins in it."

"There are griffins other places, why choose to hunt these griffins?" Jed asked.

"I don't know." Sal asked feeling a sense of dread. "Maybe we should find these griffins and find out why."

"How? We don't know where they are."

"We have to try." Sal got up and tucked the feathers in her belt. "I'm going to sleep."

She began to walk off, but Jed stood up. "You better come get me if you plan to do anything stupid." He called after her. She didn't turn around but she smirked.

******

She awoke early the next morning with a jolt. Sitting up she panted heavily with sweat covering her skin. Memories of her dreams flashed in her mind; sounds of screeching, the smell of rotting flesh, and the sight of a full grown griffin flailing its talons. Sal knew that whatever she saw wasn't just a dream.

Pulling off her sweat covered clothes she changed into fresh pair, and she clipped on her weapons. Whatever that dream was, she had to find out what it meant. However, when she stepped out of her tent she was greet with a panting Copper and Jed staring down at her with a pointed stare. "Going somewhere?" He asked.

"You know where I'm going." She snapped.

"I know why you're going, but not where you're going. Besides, what makes you think Robb is going to let you wander off?" He asked.

"Because I don't plan on telling him." She strung her bow and checked it by pulling it back. "And you better not tell him."

"How can I if I'm coming with you?" He said picking up his sword and clipping it to his belt.