“That’s for certain,” my father agreed.
I wasn’t sure I agreed, but there were things you didn’t speak aloud, and treasonous thoughts were one of them. I was certain of one thing: the Emperor was known to be a kinder and wiser leader than his father and grandfather combined, when he wasn’t waging wars and trying to conquer faraway countries.
“It’s alright,” I explained. “Tell Kaleb I insist he comes to the ceremony. I’ll take it as a personal insult if he doesn’t, and he doesn’t want to insult someone who can see his future.”
My mother tilted her head, giving me a fond smile. There were times she frustrated me—rather often actually, but I knew I’d miss her, and my father and brother too.
“You have your bags, I see. Is that it? Are you ready to go?” my mother asked.
I nodded. “I think I am. I have everything I mean to take with me.”
My father looked a little lost, but I knew he’d be alright. “We’re going to miss you, Astera. You stay safe and take good care of the… uh… Karulo.”
I smiled and hugged my father goodbye. “I certainly will. You take care of each other and I’ll be seeing you.” It had been my idea of an oracle joke, but I wasn’t sure they got it.
Five minutes later, I was outside and I’d left home for what would be the last time. Karulo walked beside me as we strode down the hill toward the ocean. I had my heavy bag of possessions slung over my right shoulder. My guardian drew more than a few looks, and I realised that even though few people knew about gryphons, their existence didn’t appear to be a secret. After all, he probably wouldn’t have accompanied me out into the world if they had.
I wasn’t sure where to go from here, but I knew it was entirely up to me, so I took some time to think about it. It wasn’t the first time it had crossed my mind, but things felt different now that I’d left home. There was something about the ocean that always felt refreshing and renewing to me. It occurred to me that if we wanted to, we could board a ship, and it would take us far away from the city, but I realised that wasn’t what I wanted. Korlas was my home, and my family was here.
I missed Araena. She was my dearest friend and she’d moved away with her parents a few years before. I didn’t know where she was now, despite seeking visions of her a number of times. If I was going to visit anyone, I’d choose her. I knew I’d likely be able to find her again once I was an oracle, but by then it would be too late to visit her.
The beach was strewn with large rocks and I sat down on one of them, while Karulo watched the waves in the distance. I wondered about his family and if gryphons missed people the way humans did. I envisioned him swooping over the waves like a dragon, but he seemed content to sit beside me. Maybe he realised that I needed his company because I was feeling lost. Life felt so desolate somehow, even though I knew it wasn’t. Not really. As we relaxed there, a light wind whipped my hair about and stirred Karulo’s feathers and fur.
“Karulo, do you think you could help me find my friend? I want to visit her but I’m not sure I’ll ever get the chance. If you were searching for a trader’s daughter, where would you look?” I asked.
A city or village seemed most likely, but I knew she could be anywhere. I sensed a change in my surroundings, though I couldn’t have said how at first. They just felt different, and when I glanced at Karulo again, I was stunned to see he was gone and a man sat beside me in his place.
“Where did you come from?” I asked in surprise and glanced around me, and along the beach. There was no sign of my gryphon guardian, so it didn’t take me long to suspect there was more at work. Veria had said gryphons could change shape. It was either that or Karulo had left and this man had sat down beside me without being noticed.
“I’m from Korlas, the same as you,” he replied, smiling slightly. “Don’t worry, it’s me and I’ll help you.”
The man was young—around seventeen, the same age as me. He had dark hair with a slight wave to it. Bright hazel eyes—a colour you didn’t see all that often—regarded me. It was fascinating that they were different when his form changed. He was rather handsome actually.
“How is this possible?” I asked. I was just getting used to the idea of Karulo being a legendary animal, and now I felt as though I’d been caught off guard. Not in a bad way, just in an unexpected way.
“It’s my birthright,” he said.
It didn’t really answer my question, but I nodded.
“I’ve been paying attention since we met. I’m wondering, do you want to become an oracle? You seem like you don’t.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” I said. “I just… I’m still figuring out what I want and who I am, I guess. I’m not sure I feel ready, but then I’m not sure I ever will. It’s not a reason not to do something, but I need to think about it some more first.”
He nodded in understanding, seemingly with another question on the tip of his tongue, but he didn’t voice it. If anything, he seemed wary of angering me. We settled into an awkward silence.
There was no sign of anyone else close by, but I could see some small boats in the distance, left on the
