Chapter 4

Griffen, Glen and Charlie had been trekking up the side of Mt. Everest for five days now, and it was hard work. Well, for Griffin. Glen and Charlie bounded up as if it was natural, and it was really annoying. One day, they had stopped for a drink at a stream, surrounded by patches of grass and large, grey rocks. Griffen had decided to go for a walk. She was wandering about in a small cluster of trees she had found, near the stream, when she saw something glinting a few yards away. She went over to have a look at it. And there, under a rock, was a shiny stone. An envelope was lying on the ground next to it. Griffen picked it up. It was ivory- coloured, and on the front, in curly script, it read ‘Griffen Graenson’. She turned it over and slowly opened the wax seal on the back. There was a small piece of paper inside. Griffen read it:
‘Dear Griffen,
You do not know me now, and probably never will. I am most likely dead, killed by my own warriors. But just listen to what I have to say.
My name is Gwillen Graenson. I am a dragon- woman. You probably will not believe me when I say it, but I am your real mum. The woman who you have lived with for most of your life is not your mother. She is the leader of a gang of dragon- fighters, and has killed most of my family. Except you. She has taken you to her village, to prevent you from taking your revenge. I will be killed by her warriors, the last one left alive, so that you may live. If you are reading this, it means that your time has come and you must accept these words. Fulfil your destiny, child. Save the world, before it is too late. And remember: I love you, and always will.
Gwillen Graenson,
Your loving mother’

Griffen read these words over and over again, trying to take it all in. She had a proper mother. The high priestess had been lying to her all her life. But in some ways, this explained everything. Why she had never been let outside, why she looked so different to the rest of her clan. Why she could like animals so much, when everyone else hated them; and how she was part dragon. It even explained why she had been picked for the sacrifice. It wasn’t random. She was chosen to stop her from seeking revenge. But she had been rescued, and now there was nothing to prevent her revenge. There was a fury rising inside her, and she wasn’t going to stop it. This was for her and her family, for all the lying and cheating. Good riddance to them all.

There was also an amulet with it. It had a label: ‘To Griffen, in the hope that she can end the persecution.’ It was a ruby, set in obsidian. A small dragon was painted on the jewel. Griffen put it in her pocket, as a good luck charm. She hadn’t thought anything more of it, until that dream again last night. Maybe there was something more to the stone than she first thought?