I made a decision - maybe a rash one - but I had to. I ran up to Viper and touched his arm:
"Viper, I've had a dream this night - Nightwind the unicorn warned me - Nero is in great danger! May I please take the griffin and rush over? I need to get an artefact to help him - Please?"
Viper frowned - I knew he didn't like this idea - but he knew how stubborn I was:
"Well, if I can't hold you..." My face brightened up... "under ONE condition, you take Jvb and DQueene with you. Ask them first."
I nodded and ran up to Jvb, explained everything and the little guy consented - though he went a bit pale by the thought of flying on a griffin's back all the long way to Rabaer's Castle.
A long and imploring look towards DQueene was all I had to do: "Thank you both - thank you very much!"
I took out the griffin feather, blew gently over it and wished for Ascolan...
The wind rose and after a while I saw a tiny spec in the sky, growing slowly - then - at last, Ascolan the mighty griffin landed in front of me.
I ran up to him:
"Ascolan I need your help - my friend is in the hands of Rabaer, the mighty Doom Wizard - your former master. I have to get to this castle and find an artefact to free him out of his bonds. Please, could you carry 2-3 of us there - and do you know where it is?"
His fiery and proud eyes viewed me - then he nodded silently, turned around, spread his wings and waited patiently for us to mount him.
"Come on, Jvb and DQueene - we're off and away!" To the others:
"Don't worry, we'll return as soon as we have this artefact, we'll catch up with you on our return - Farewell!"
I was excited - my eyes shone, I would fly for the very first time in my life. Then I scrambled on the griffin's back and held out my hand to pull Jvb up. I knew, DQueene would rather do it on her own...
