But there were consequences even for the greatest of victories, and while the countryside had been spared the ravages of a thousand-strong force of rampaging griffons, the tiny bands that had bled away after the army was routed and destroyed fell upon the unprotected villages. Many of their griffons of spear-wielding age had been away to the fight, including her father who had gone with the baron’s soldiers. He was not among them when they returned.