Book 1, Chapter Seven: The Ascent, Pages 185 and 186

The Servant takes the crown —
golden wreath
of oak and myrtle
— and snaps it into two.
Grinds with surprising strength the pieces in his palms, till the crown is reduced to golden dust.

The dust The Servant brings to a griffin’s maw, and spreads some across its mane.

The Servant then places the remaining dust in Alexander’s hands.

“My king, you too.”

Alexander, surprised that he too must play a part, takes his new duty with grace, and copies what he has seen the Servant do. He feeds the second griffin, and coats its mane in flecks of gold.

It is not long before the griffins stir.

As if awaking from a dream, they sit upright,
and shake their heads and beat their wings. What was once broken and bloodied, they leave behind, becoming as magnificent as they were,
when Alexander first saw them.