Chapter 22 - The Shadow of the Inquisition

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Chapter 22

 The Shadow of the Inquisition

Danny stared at the gryphon, which lay peacefully on the ground and ate.

"Plain text!" Duke stood between Danny and Ascendary. "Why the hatred? What have I done?"

"Not you. YOU!" Danny clenched his fist.

"Speak!" said Duke Kit in a serious voice while everyone looked at the two.

"You murdered my father!" said Danny.

"I don't understand. Who was your father?" Duke seemed perplexed.

"He was a hunter. He was supposed to catch the last griffin so that the breed wouldn't die out." Danny looked at Duke.

"Wait. Waiiit! He wanted to kill Ascendary's mother, not catch it! It was self-defense!" Duke replied.

"What are you talking about? You killed him from behind. The Inquisitors have detected the aura of your weapon. The magic sword of the captain of the Griffin Guard! In addition, the 

typical traces of griffin claws on the body. After the deed you went away and left him lying there! And why mother? There was only one griffin left, wasn't there? And that one is male!"

Danny clenched his fist.

"Boy, you've been tricked quite a bit. NOW, Ascendary is the last griffin. But your father chased his mother without knowing that there was a cub, which she defended with her life. We had to leave her body behind to avoid being caught. When I showed up there, your father wanted to kill her with a crossbow. I had to act quickly to save her, not knowing how badly she was already injured. She died and I saved Ascendary."

"YOU LIE!" shouted Danny.

"No, he doesn't," Dexter said.

Everyone turned to him.

"I was with the Inquisition squad at the time, which found the dead griffin and your father." Dexter looked thoughtfully at Ascendary.

"What?" Cecile looked at Dexter in shock.

"The order was to kill the last gryphon before he killed the king. According to an old legend, a griffin will kill the king and plunge the land into darkness.

On that day the stars will fall." Dexter stood in front of Danny.

"I don't understand..." Danny was completely confused.

"I wasn't an inquestor at the time, and I was following orders. After both bodies were recovered, the lie was spread, which you believe to be true to this day."

"What was the point of all this?" Danny shook his head.

"We didn't know anything about the baby either. The complete suspicion was directed to the captain of the Griffin Guard, who had gone into hiding. Duke." Dexter pointed to Duke. "Your father was deceived and sacrificed. For a lie. The shadow of the Inquisition is long."

Danny looked at Ascendary and then at Duke. "It ... I'm sorry. I didn't know that."

Duke looked at Danny. "It's good, boy. You couldn't know."

Cecile took Danny in her arms comfortingly.

Duke built up in front of Dexter.

"Which brings me to the question of which side you are on, old friend."

"Old friend?" Marianne looked at both of them. "What surprises do you have in store?"

Dexter turned to Marianne.

"We fought side by side back then. Inquisition and Griffin Guard."

Duke nodded. "We were a very good team."

"Until the Denerias Incident. That's when the disaster began." Dexter lowered his eyes.

"I remember it like it was yesterday." Duke put a hand on Dexter's shoulder.

"My loyalty is to the Inquisition, but we are corrupt." Dexter raised his eyes again.

Cecile looked at Dexter indignantly. "How can you say that?"

"Because that's the way it is. I've had the suspicion for a long time and now it looks like I can uncover it." Dexter turned to Marianne.

"And you are the key to the whole thing, Marianne."

"Me?" Marianne was surprised.