Allegiance

The quiet morning was interrupted only by a rustle of wings and the soft landing of talons and paws on soft grass. Goldback's bright eyes took in every corner of the queen's entry hall. Like those of the gryphons, it was outdoors - a worn path flanked by tall columns, cracked with age. Each oak bore a banner, emblazoned with a different crest.

"Step forward, warrior," a strong voice called out. His yellow eyes snapped up to a round, polished circle of stone where the faean general stood. She wasn't wispy like the others, but tall and powerful, with a pair of feathered wings at her sides. His suspicious eyes thought 'human'. To gryphons they were all 'humans', elves, fae, angels and demons alike. But Goldback was here to form an alliance. War was coming, and the fae were the only allies who didn't want to leash them up like beasts of burden.

"Your armies and ours, together, will be a force they cannot defeat." Despite this important conversation, they were alone. No guards, no watchers...an alliance between two generals.

"General Goldback, will you join us?"

The gryphon had come to his choice long before landing here. He lowered himself and bowed his head, hoping this decision would save his kind.


_{Watercolor and acrylic on illustration board, 8 X 11 inches}