Chapter 65 - Fairy tale creatures...

Chapter 65 - Fairy tale creatures...

Beverly

I made sure to leave everything the exact same way he left it and left my brother to sleep it off in his office. The entire place stank of alcohol! I decided to change that as well in the morning. If he wanted to behave like a child, I would treat him like one! First thing in the morning! I climbed into bed, and it felt as if I had just closed my eyes for a moment when my servant showed up with my coffee.

With my mug in hand and still in my pajamas, I made my way downstairs and found my brother still fast asleep in his office. I put the cup of coffee down in front of him and ripped open the curtains while he complained about the bright light. I wasn’t done! I opened the windows and glared at him.

“You stink.” I pinched my nose and he glared at me. “When last did you take a bath? When last was this office aired out a little? You can’t think in this! Get up and get cleaned up, and I will make sure your office is clean when you return.” He opened his mouth to protest, but I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him for a moment before continuing. “Brother, there is no way you are going to find the person you are looking for in that state! Now go! I promise I will make sure they don’t touch anything on your desk.” He glared at me as he stood up, and I had enough of him! “GET!” I shouted the same way my mother would have, and his eyes softened for a moment before he left without another word.

Now that he was gone, I could read through the reports while the staff cleaned his office for the first time in weeks. When he returned, I had just put the last piece of paper back in its place and his office was clean and smelling clean again. He looked a lot better, and I instantly noted that he had shaven again. I could only hope that it was a good sign. I quickly rushed to my room to change and was pleasantly surprised when my brother joined us for breakfast.

My father brought him up to date on what I had been busy with, and he frowned but didn’t say anything. After breakfast, my brother returned to his office and my father and I got busy with fixing everything else.

“Dad, do you believe mom was killed?” It was a stupid question, but I had to ask.

“Yes, but we don’t know why or by whom. None of the creatures your brother has looked at could have done something like that.” My father sighed deeply, and I could see the pain in his eyes.

“What do you think could have done that?” I frowned, and he shook his head just as the well builder called us to come and take a look. I had to drop the subject as everyone was celebrating around the well. It was all cleared up and cleaned up and almost looked brand new. The well was working again, and our people could get water without hassle! It was a huge relief because it meant we could stop rationing water, and soon we would be able to stop rationing food as well.

With the well fixed, it was a lot easier and faster to get the gardens sorted out again. I felt better than I had felt since my mother was found dead. I felt like I had accomplished a lot and the people were looking happier than they had in a while. That left me with only one more problem. Who killed my mother? The time had come to help my brother. He wasn’t going to let it go, which meant if I didn’t help him solve it, we would soon be right back where we started and our people would die of thirst and hunger.

“What do you have so far?” I walked into his office with my hands on my hips and he looked up. My brother looked lost. The piles of reports now had books strewn on top of them.

“I’m at a total loss. I’ve gone through every possible creature that could have done this and there is only one that makes sense, but it also makes no sense at all. I’ve never heard of a griffin actually really existing.” He sighed just as my dad walked in and sat down opposite my brother.

“Oh, they do, but they are very rare. Remember, we once had dragons and they were wiped out in a war. Every creature you read about in your books existed at one point or another and some of them still do. We just don’t have them here.” My dad seemed intrigued by my brother’s suggestion.

“But why would a griffon have attacked mom? If we haven’t seen them here in a very long time.” I felt confused and sat down beside my dad.

“There could have been any number of reasons. Your mother could have startled the creature, or they were planning to attack, and she came across them by accident while they were spying on us. Griffons are very peculiar creatures. The slightest thing could set them off.” My dad shrugged, and I noted my brother looking furious, but at who or why?

“Why did you never tell us about them?!” My brother growled and it suddenly made sense.

“Son, we did. You just thought they were creatures from fairy tales.” My father shrugged, and I could feel the tension growing thick. I had to stop it before the two of them went at each other!

“What happened, happened. We can’t change it. I’m sure mom would have told you the same. What is important now is to find out if it was an accident or if they are coming for us.” I sighed, and both men looked at me as if I had suddenly changed. Honestly, I had. I wasn’t the same girl that had left the castle a couple of weeks ago.