Gawyn sat on the grass propped on the willow tree's trunk, which was bending over a small pond, the long branches taping at the water, painting the small circles on its surface. Part of his mind was still nagging that he was wasting time while the work was piling up, but he learnt to ignore it already. The precious time he got to spend with his daughter was never wasted.

Thalia was running around with Breeze on her heels while Zephyr and Gale were trotting around them, just out of touch and teasing them to run faster. The laughter and high-pitched shrieks of pup gryphon were more delightful than the most sophisticated music. Gawyn couldn't suppress the smile tugging on his lips.

Finally, after a few more rounds around the pond, Thalia trotted back to him and plopped down on the grass, heaving and sweaty but also glowing with happiness.

"Did you manage to catch Zephyr or Gale?" Gawyn handed her a jug of water.

The girl greedily drank half of it and then wiped her mouth with her sleeve. "No. They are too fast! Will I be this fast when I'm bigger?"

"Yes, but you need to eat your vegetables to grow," replied Gawyn. He took out a little warm packet covered with a white linen cloth and handed it to Thalia.

She quickly unwrapped it and scrunched up her nose. "Farmer's Pie? I thought it was a cake!"

Gawyn smiled. "I have a cake too. You'll get it once you eat up your pie."

The girl eyed a piece of savoury pastry suspiciously. "What are those green things here?"

"Thorn Zucchini. And some herbs."

"Yuck! I don't like it!"

"You haven't tried it yet. You can't say you don't like it!" Gawyn scoffed.

"I can! I don't like it!" She put the pie down on the cloth.

"Well, that's a shame because if you don't eat it, I will have to eat this delicious bullaces pie all by myself." Gawyn fished another packet from the basket and unwrapped it. The mouth-watering smell of plums with cinnamon assaulted their nostrils right away.

Thalia's dark eyes suddenly get brighter. She bit her lips, eyeing the cake and then looked down at her discarded pie, weighing her options.

"I'm glad you don't want it because it smells so amazing," Gawyn teased. He lifted the cake closer to his mouth.

"No, Daddy! Don't eat it! I want it!" the girl protested.

He grinned and put the cake back in the basket. "Then eat up your pie first."

"Ugh, fine!" Thalia huffed and picked up her pie. She took a tiny bite and chewed it carefully. When she swallowed, her face got brighter again, and she nibbled it again.

"And how is it?" asked Gawyn, trying not to smile too wide.

"It's good," she replied, munching happily.

They ate in silence for a moment looking over at three gryphons who still played happily, chasing one another. Zephyr and Gale were trying to teach Breeze how to float gracefully over the pond, but her little wings were still not fully developed. What started as a promising attempt ended with a loud splash and a panicked shriek when Breeze fell right into the pond.

"Why are we the only ones who have gryphons, Daddy?" Thalia asked.

"Because our family made a special bond with them many centuries ago. Have I never told you this story?"

Thalia shook her head. She licked her fingers and wiped them on the cloth. "Now cake time! Gimme!"

"I will when you ask properly."

"Pleeeeeeease!"

"Fine, since you ate the whole pie. Here you go." Gawyn handed the cake to his daughter, who was almost bouncing with anticipation.

She took a huge bite and her face beamed with pure bliss. "Mmmm, delicious!"

Gawyn laughed. "It is. Do you want to hear the story now?"

"Yes, please."

"It was many centuries ago. Lamyria, as we know it today, did not exist yet, nor did our ancestors use the name Gryphonheart. They were called Fourwater, as the four lakes surrounded their lands."

Thalia laughed. "That's a funny name."

Gawyn smiled. "Yeah, it's a bit funny. They were mostly working as carpenters and woodcutters. One day Oskart Fourwater was wandering the south-eastern forest searching for a special kind of tree. Ironbark oak was rare and grew only near the Scatter Heights, the steep and dangerous mountains, so few people ever dared to venture there. Even though Oskart searched for many days, he did not find what he wanted. But he did encounter something else."

"A gryphon?" Thalia asked excitedly.

"Yes, it was merely a pup, just like Breeze. It was severely injured and barely alive. It must have fallen off the nest high on the mountain. Oskart took the gryphon home and nursed it back to health. As time passed, he grew to love the little pup. But he knew it must miss its family, so Oskart took it back to the forest when it was strong enough.

"When they were nearing the mountains, the beautiful, full-grown gryphon flew down the slopes to greet them. It turned out he was the leader of the local gryphon herd, and a little pup was his only child. To show his gratitude and seeing that his little pup was already attached to a human, he promised that from now on, the gryphons would come down from the mountains to forge a bond with Oskart's descendants of pure blood.

"And he spoke the truth. Soon Oskart changed his name to Gryphonherat, and since then, every member of the family had a gryphon at their side."

"Then why Mummy doesn't have one?" asked Thalia.

"Because Mummy got our name by marring me, that is not the same as being pure blood. That only works for those who are born from Gryphonheart, like you and me."

The girl's little brows frowned while she was analysing the story. "But your brother did have gryphon too, right? What happened with it when he died? Can't Mummy get that one?"

The wave of memories flooded Gwyn's mind with a strength he did not expect after all this time. When Alarat was murdered, he was too busy running for his life to wonder what happened to Chinook, his brother's gryphon. Almost a tenday later, when they returned to the palace, they discovered chains bound the creature in some remote cave, half-starved and barely alive.

He had no idea how Elinora managed to separate them without any warning signals through their bond – Gawyn could always feel when Zephyr was in danger or angry. She probably used some of her foul magic. As soon as Chinook was strong enough to fly, he left for his home mountains, not looking back once.

Gawyn pushed his glasses up his nose. He couldn't tell Thalia all those gruesome details - she was still just a child.

"The bonds we are creating with gryphons are for life," he explained. "When Alarat died, Chinook was heartbroken. It's as if you suddenly lost your best friend. He could not possibly forge such a strong connection with anyone else. He returned to the rest of his herd in the south-eastern mountains."

"I see." Thalia looked at playing gryphons with a fond smile. "It's sad. The bond... It's amazing. Even if Breeze is not with me, I can still feel her. It's like I'm never alone. I wish Mummy could feel it too."

"I know, Princess." Gawyn stroked the girl's hair gently. "But Mummy is family for Zephyr and Breeze too. Even if she doesn't have a bond, it doesn't mean they love her any less."

"I guess so," murmured Thalia, but she didn't look entirely convinced.

Gawyn wanted to replay, but he noticed a distinguished figure walking towards them. Madam Constance was an older lady, but she still moved with poise and grace that most young noblewomen could envy. Her silver hair was pinned at the back of her head in an immaculate bun, and her dark dress was prim and simple yet elegant. She was an excellent governess, and Gawyn was glad he hired her. He smirked when he remembered Sky complaining that madam tried to give her additional etiquette lessons every time she got an opportunity.

"I think it's time for your lessons now." He stood up, brushing the grass off his uniform.

"Already? I don't want to go! I want to stay here with you, Daddy!" Thalia groaned.

"Come now." Gawyn offered her a hand. "If you want to be a princess, you have to learn how to do it properly. And I can't stay here any longer either, as I need to go to the palace to attend the council."

The girl sighed and reluctantly grabbed his hand and let him pull her to her feet. "Fine. Can we come here again tomorrow?"

Gawyn smiled and brushed the cake crumbs off her cheek. "Of course, we can, Princess."