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“Kaia, don't take that on yourself, or it will tear you up inside, and I fucking hate the thought of that,” Griffin ground out. “You have been through more pain and loss than anyone deserves in such a short time. Do not torture yourself more. Mourn them. Heal. Let us be here for you. You’re not alone.” Griffin's deep voice was quiet but firm. He was not offering sympathy but a command. “The Noelani name will be remembered for the good it’s done, not the supposed disgrace. Eryk was a good man, and we will prove that.”
I stared at Griffin wide-mouthed. I had hardly heard him speak. Even during the journey, he was quiet. He seemed to save his words for when they made the most impact. I was captivated, and I longed for more from him. I wanted all his words.
“How does Father have your loyalty so fiercely?” I asked, internally begging him to answer, to tell me his story.
Griffin hesitated, clearly reluctant to say more.
“He saved my life,” Griffin finally said, looking into the distance, his focus miles away.
For a while, I thought he wouldn’t say more, and I felt strangely disappointed. I’d come out here to be alone. I wanted quiet and didn’t want to talk about anything. But he had me opening up to him without a single word, and I longed to know him as well, to feel the way his quiet words spoke to my soul.
“Eryk took a chance on me and ultimately taught me what respect meant.” Griffin finally said, his eyes still far away. “I respected no one, and no one respected me. It was always me and Mother, and I didn’t need anyone else. Been hurt too many times. Eryk earned my respect over time, before eventually earning my trust. It was the only reason I accepted the position on the team. That position changed my life.”
I went to ask a question, but he continued.
“My mother was dying working in the kitchen at the capital. Terrible conditions. It’s why I initially joined the guard. To earn enough to save her. I wanted to get her out." Griffin looked down, scratching the coarse hair on his chin. “Eryk saved both of our lives that day. I was the most powerful Earth User in the program, yet they had paid me next to nothing. The additional earnings bought Mother a small home outside of the capital, and I was able to save, ensuring she never had to work again.”
“That’s your own accomplishment, not his.”
“It was all because of him. A lesser man wouldn’t have spent the time needed for me to trust them. A worse captain wouldn’t have focused on building up my individual strengths and self-confidence. He made me the man I am today. It was absolutely because of Eryk.”
Not knowing what to say, I laid my head on his shoulder. Reaching for his hand, I squeezed tight, and silently pleaded for him to continue his story. His words meant more than he could ever imagine.
Griffin wrapped his arm around my back, pulling me close to his side, and surrounding me in the smell of cloves.
“Eryk wasn’t a traitor,” he continued. “He was one of the best men I have ever known. I don’t believe he attempted to kill the king.”
Griffin's breaths warmed my face as he peeked down at me, running his thumb across my tear-stained cheeks. When my tears kept falling, he rested his palm against my cheek and pulled my head against his muscular chest.
“Why?” I whispered, looking up at him.
“Eryk discovered things many people would have killed to cover up. I think he was silenced.”
“What?” I gasped, trying to pull free to see his face, but Griffin tightened his hold.
“They didn't make an example of his execution like other traitors. It was done in private without any public notices.”
“Not the same.” I shook my head. “He tried to kill the king. He would have been killed immediately at his order.”
“Someone is always trying to kill the king. They received a public execution and their heads on the wall. Except for your father. They executed him quickly, giving him no chance to talk to anyone, including the king's own men.”
“What were they so afraid he'd say?"
“Even the monarchs became desperate when Adarians started to lose their magic. Power corrupts, and the ones who possess it will do anything to keep it. The elite are guilty of doing many things to preserve their power. Eryk wanted to stop the corruption and save this kingdom by any means.”
Griffin considered his words, unconsciously caressing my cheek with his thumb.
“He was a risk. He knew too much. Was too well connected, His cooperation with the rebels, working with them to find a cure, was the least of their worries. He did what needed to be done and had a lot of respect in this kingdom. He scared them.”
“He kept so much from me.” I sniffled, burrowing deeper into Griffin's embrace, feeling the vibration coming from deep in his chest when he spoke.
“Telling you any of this would have put you in danger. Eryk may have worked to save the kingdom, but you were always his main concern.”
I shrugged, Was I better off not knowing?
“Do you wish you could go back and never know? Remain ignorant?” I looked up at Griffin, our faces somehow closer. “You wouldn’t be in this situation right now. You could have stayed at the castle, kept your position, and protected your mom.”
“No,” Griffin insisted softly. "It's only getting worse. The land is drying up. Water Users cannot coerce water inland efficiently anymore. Only the strongest Earth Users can still grow fields of crops using their elements. Some can barely manage a small garden.”
