FSE

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Chapter Sixty Six

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The men in robes awoke Vakaal early in the morning every day. Their servants brought him food, and water. So far, the servants had treated him kindly. Some of them made small talk with the pup as he ate. Vakaal wasn't sure, but he suspected they were every bit as much a prisoner as he was. Each day after breakfast and a bath, Vakaal was led through the fortress labyrinth back into the library, where he was allowed to spend time with his father. The servants pulled books from the shelf, and had Father read them to the pup.

The days blurred into weeks until one day, Father was not waiting for Vakaal in the library. The pup asked where he was, and was only told he'd see his father soon. They brought more books, and this time told him to read them himself. He paged through a few, but only after they repeated their demands did Vakaal do as he was told. Vakaal found he was a fast reader. It was easy for him to be absorbed in the stories, and it made a pleasant escape from captivity.

Between chapters he lifted his gaze to the phrase carved in stone above him.

"Who tells the storytellers' story?" Vakaal murmured the words to himself. One day he'd solve that riddle.

When they brought him lunch, Vakaal again asked where his Father was. This time they told him he was with the Grandmaster, and that Lovro wanted Vakaal to study up. He was told the books they selected for him were important, so Vakaal hurled one across the room, and yelled for his father. The servant brought book back and left the room. Vakaal was too angry and frustrated to focus on reading anything after that. Instead, he thought about the riddle, and about what he'd spoken with father about.

While he waited for his captors' return,Vakaal toyed with his shaping. Despite being able to will the fruit into being the day before, his power now seemed nearly inaccessible. He tried to make fruit appear, tried to change the color of the books, tried to turn the wooden table into stone. But nothing happened. His manacles shuddered a few times, but that was it. It was like father said, the more he thought about it, the harder it became.

Vakaal would have cursed his father if he wasn't so worried about him.

Later in the afternoon they came back for him. Vakaal swallowed back his anger. He did not want to take it out on the servants if they were slaves, too. They lead him through a new section of the fortress maze. Vakaal was glad he didn't have to find his way through such a place alone. He'd have gotten lost ages ago. When they neared their destination, his father's scent tinted the air. At least he was near. The servants opened a door, and waved for Vakaal to go inside.

Lovro stood in the next room, talking with Jirim. Lovro wore the same golden robe as before, and Jirim wore blue clothing, with black sigils at each shoulder. They seemed as if they had been arguing, but they fell silent when Vakaal walked in. He gazed around. Tapestries on the walls depicted a series of spheres, and lines. A table between the men was covered in stacks of books and sheafs of parchment with odd designs on them. Father's scent was heavier there, but he wasn't in the room. Another door was set in the far wall.

In a corner, there was a human boy who looked little older than Vakaal. Scrawny, and with a few freckles dotting his face. He crouched down, staring into an animal cage. Vakaal took a step forward to see what was in the cage. An odd-looking creature hopped around within it, twitching its nose. White and brown fur covered its body in mismatched patches. Long ears lay against its back when it tilted its head. The boy looked up, staring at Vakaal.

Jirim stepped between Vakaal and the boy. "You can go, lad."

"But I want-"

"Another time." Jirim pointed at the door. "Go."

Vakaal looked up at Jirim. "You have a son too?"

The boy hurried past his father, glanced at Vakaal, and slipped out the door.

Jirim gave no answer, and Vakaal could ask any other questions, Lovro strode towards him. "There's our guest of honor!" He spread his arms wide in a welcoming gesture that Vakaal only found mocking. The big grin on his face seemed dishonest. Vakaal certainly didn't share his happiness. "Why, I was wondering when they'd finally bring you down here. We've been ready for quite some time."

Vakaal just glared at him. "Ready for what?"

"Why, to test you, of course." He smiled at Jirim, and flourished a hand at the cage. "The rabbit, if you will."

Jirim sighed and walked to the cage. "Must we?"

The older man clucked his tongue. "Oh, Jirim. Why ask questions you already know the answer too? Just bring it."

Jirim opened the cage, and retrieved the small white and brown animal. He cradled it against his chest, and walked over to the others. Lovro took the creature swift enough to make it squirm and wriggle. It kicked its big back feet.

"This is a rabbit." He held the creature out to Vakaal. "Have you ever seen one before?"

"No." Vakaal shook his head. "Where's my father?"

"The question of the hour, isn't it?" Lovro glanced at Jirim. "We may as well get used to hearing that every day."

"How would your son to be separated from you?" Vakaal turned his attention to Jirim, giving him a long stare. "To worry where you are, to be afraid they're hurting you?"

Jirim grimaced and ran a hand down his face. "What we do...we do to save all the sons and daughters, facing an uncertain future, who need-"

"The rabbit." Lovro's voice was a blade, cutting through everything else around it. "This isn't about Jirim. This is the about the rabbit. And you, little Vakaal. Here. Hold it." He handed the little creature over.

Vakaal wanted to scream at him, to strike him in the face with his manacle, but somehow, he doubted he'd be successful. He also doubted he'd be the one to suffer for it. The pup took the rabbit into his arms. It squirmed at first, but when he cradled it to his chest, and stroked its fur, it soon settled down. It must have been used to being held. Its big ears half perked and it poked its head over his arm. Between its big, brown eyes and its oddly oversized ears, Vakaal had to admit, it was sort of cute. The way it twitched its nose made him giggle. He wagged his tail, and cuddled the little thing.

"I like it."

"I thought you might. If you're a good pup, maybe I'll let you keep it. Assuming, of course, you pass the test."

"What test?" As soon as Vakaal said it, he knew he shouldn't have.

"Give me back the rabbit." Lovro held out his hands.

"No." Vakaal took a step back.

"And you're already failing." Lovro clucked his tongue and waggled a single finger. "Now, now, little pup. Mustn't make your elders angry." Lovro snorted, his voice twisting into a growl. "Someone might get hurt."

Vakaal stepped away again, and held the rabbit back up to Jirim. "You take it. I don't want him to have it back. He'll do something to it."

Jirim reached for the rabbit. "You heard him, Lovro."

Lovro lashed out, faster than Vakaal thought he could move, and snatched the rabbit by its long ears. "Afraid that's not how things work around here." The rabbit thrashed and kicked when Lovro yanked it from Vakaal's grip. "One moment, and I'll give it right back to you."

From out of nowhere, Lovro produced a long knife. Vakaal couldn't tell if he'd hidden it up his sleeve or just shaped it into existence. With one hand, he held the rabbit up by its ears, ignoring the pained, terrified way it thrashed and wriggled. In the other he held the knife, pointing the blade at the rabbit.

"Test Number One was obedience." He shook the knife. "You failed. So, this is what happens when you disobey us."

"No!" Vakaal yowled, jumping for the knife. His fingers came up just short as Lovro held the blade just out of reach. "Don't hurt it!"

Lovro drew the blade across the rabbit's throat. Blood gushed over its fur, and spurted through the air. Panicked and agonized, the rabbit kicked the air, desperate to get free. Lovro dropped it to the ground, where it flopped and squirmed, bleeding out. Vakaal shrieked and dropped to his knees, hands on the animal in an instant.

"No! No, why, would you!" He panted, not wanting the little thing to suffer. _He...he could fix it. Couldn't he? Of course. Of course. He could...he could always..._He stroked its bloodied fur, willing it to be healed, to be whole. Nothing happened. Why wasn't it happening? Healing was never hard, before. He whined, speaking his attempted change aloud. "The rabbit was whole. The rabbit was healed. The rabbit was healed!" When the rabbit's wounds didn't close, Vakaal began to cry. He sobbed his words. "The rabbit was whoooole!"

"What's the matter? I heard you were quite good at healing." Lovro folded his arms, gazing impassively down at the urd'thin. "Is the stress getting to you? You can't do us any good if you're not strong enough to heal a rabbit."

"Gods-damn it, Lovro." Jirim sounded disgusted. "This isn't going to help-"

"All in good time, Colony Commander. I've made enough progress with the others over the years that I assure you I know what to do with this one. It's just going to take time."

Vakaal thrust his hand up to Lovro. "Take it off! The shackle!"

"You don't tell me what to do." Lovro nudged the dying rabbit with his foot. "Besides, I think you're about out of time."

"Please!" Vakaal glared up at the man, furious and terrified and heartsick all at once. "Just let me heal it!"

"I heard you stopped a dragon its tracks with your shackled hand. I guess that wasn't true, after all." Lovro gave a heavy sigh, reaching for Vakaal's wrist. "Very well. If it'll stop your whining. But this goes right back on." He grasped the manacle, and it came loose.

Vakaal immediately snatched up the rabbit with his free hand, and clutched the bloody thing to his chest. He squeezed his eyes shut, heard his own heart beating. He willed the rabbit's heart to do the same. Through his hand, he felt the rabbit's pulse. Blood rushed over his fingers, but it had little left to spill. Vakaal grit his teeth. Healing was rarely difficult for him, but now he found himself pushing for it. The collar and the other manacle still buried most of his shaping. What had father said, the more he thought about it, the more difficult he made it? Maybe it was the same for his healing. The more he feared for the rabbit, the more his emotions took over, the harder it was to do what needed to be done.

The pup took a breath, and let it out slow. He tried to clear his mind. He wanted the rabbit to be healed. The rabbit was whole. And so the rabbit was healed. In one instant, the rabbit went from weak and twitching, to active and wriggling, kicking at Vakaal. He gasped, his eyes flew open, and his joy leapt through him in a simple, child-like cry of delight.

"Yay!" He clutched the rabbit tightly, not even carrying that it was scratching him. It was alive and healthy, and that was all that mattered. "I'm sorry, little thing. You're okay now, you're okay now..."

"Now that was interesting." Lovro's voice had changed. Vakaal looked up and found Jirim staring down at him with wide eyes, and Lovro smiling. "Didn't really think you had that in you. Color me impressed."

"It just...healed. Like that." Jirim snapped his fingers. "None of the others could do that..."

"No, but he still struggled."

"Of course he struggled, you scared the shit out of him. He's a kid, Lovro, you have to take your time."

Lovro whirled on the other man, snarling at him. "It will take years to train and strengthen him as it is! And when he's ready, then we can work on the father. We'll be cutting it close already. I won't waste time babying a little pup. The world is a harsh place, and he must learn that his place is in helping us fix it. We have to discover his limits, and then we have to help him break them."

"I'm not sure I'd call this helping him."

"We're building something that can undo a world's ruin. We're not prepping him for a career."

"I'm just worried you're going to break him."

"Nonsense!" Lovro gestured with the bloody knife. A droplet of rabbit blood ran over his fingers. He turned towards Vakaal, smiling as if the whole ordeal left him in a cheerful mood. "You're a strong little pup, aren't you? Can take a bit of fear, a bit of stress? Learn who to obey? Now give Jirim the rabbit while I put your manacle back on."

Vakaal cradled the frightened animal in one hand. He held the other out towards Lovro, his fingers open. He glanced at the man's knife.

Lovro's smile only widened. "Now, what do you're-"

"The knife was in Vakaal's hand!"

The knife flew from Lovro's hand and into Vakaal's. He squeezed the handle of it, savored the look of surprise on Lovro's face, and then cocked it back. "He hurled the knife into Lovro's heart!"

Vakaal hurled the knife at Lovro, aimed straight for his heart.

Lovro plucked the knife out of the air as easily as if it were frozen in time. "No he didn't. You see, little pup, your abilities may have greater potential, but I've been-"

Vakaal wasn't listening. Instead he threw his unshackled hand out at Lovro with a feral cry. He had no real thought behind it, no change to the story, no shape or form given. He just wanted to teach the cruel bastard a lesson. The air rippled, and an unseen force slammed into Lovro, knocked him off his feet and smashed him up against the wall. Whatever force he unsheathed left the room shuddering. Lovro dropped to his knees, coughing.

"The rabbit is mine!" Vakaal clutched it to his chest, ready to fight for it if he had too. "You leave it alone!"

Jirim took a few steps back, glancing at Lovro as the older man picked himself up and fetched his knife again. "Case in point, Lovro. Too far, too fast."

Vakaal bared his fangs at Jirim, too. "Guess you didn't want _your_pup to see him try to kill the rabbit."

Jirim swallowed and looked away.

"You passed the second test." Lovro grunted, dusting himself off. He grimaced, rubbing his ribs. "So you can keep the rabbit." He tilted his head towards the cage. "Go on, hand it to Jirim."

Vakaal took a step towards the other human, offering him the rabbit. He gave him a long glare, fangs still on display. "You treat him nicely."

Jirim took the rabbit, and eased it gently into the cage.

When the little creature was safely tucked away, Vakaal held his arm out to Lovro. He glowered at him the whole time. His hand didn't shake anymore. Lovro snapped the manacle around his wrist, and once more, the strange, numb sensation stretched up his arm. Vakaal wondered if Lovro knew about the fruit. If only he could call upon that power whenever he wanted.

"Shame you can only harness that courage on your own behalf." Lovro patted his head, and it was all Vakaal could do to hold back from trying to bite off his fingers. "You stand up for yourself, and your powers are right there. But you get a little scared for a rabbit, and suddenly all that fear starts blocking you off. So!" He clapped his heads, and turned towards the far door. "Time for the next test."

Lovro threw open the far door, and Vakaal gasped, frozen in place. The door lead to a small, stone room. Inside was his father, chained up and helpless. Black shackles bound his wrists to the wall over his head. Another set bound his feet to the floor. A chain was locked around the collar at his neck. Leather straps wrapped around his muzzle kept his mouth shut. His eyes went wide when he saw Vakaal, but a muffled cry was the only sound that escaped him. He struggled a moment, chains rattling, smooth, ebony shackles shifting around his limbs.

"Well, well, what have we here?" Lovro's voice was so cheerful it hurt Vakaal's ears. He waved his hand as if presenting some wondrous gift. "It seems we've found your father after all! Well, that's one mystery solved." He pumped his fist. "Good for us. Now." Lovro turned back towards the older urd'thin, and waved his knife in front of Father's nose. "Your little pup's been a very bad boy."

Father growled, low in his throat, a sound they couldn't muffle.

"Oh, I see. Must be where he gets it from."

"Leave him alone!" Vakaal strode forward, but Jirim put a hand on his shoulder. Vakaal hesitated, unsure if the other man was warning him, or trying to protect him. "Don't hurt him!"

"I wasn't going to, until you decided to show off for your new rabbit friend and throw me into the wall." Lovro slapped the flat of the blade against his palm a few times. "I had another test all lined up for you, but instead, I think I'm going to show you what happens when you try to harm one of us." He turned back towards Vakaal's father, tapping the knife against his nose. "Who do you think this will hurt more? You, or him?"

In one swift, smooth motion, Lovro yanked Father's ear upright, and sliced into it with his knife. The urd'thin screamed against his bound muzzle, thrashed against his chains, and squeezed his eyes shut as blood poured down the soft gray fur of his face. Vakaal shrieked and tried to run to his father, only for Jirim to grasp him around the middle, and hiss for him to wait. Lovro cut all the way through the urd'thin's ear, and then tossed it to the floor.

"There, that wasn't so bad, was it?" He shook the bloodied knife at Vakaal. "Not for you, anyway. Think it hurt your father, though."

"NOOOOOO!" Vakaal twisted and fought against Jirim till the man let him go. He ran and threw himself against his father, sobbing into his fur. "No! Noooo! I'll fix you, don't worry, Father, I'll heal you, I'll make you better!"

"You see?" Lovro laughed, somewhere behind Vakaal's back. "You try and harm us, and this is what happens. The more you misbehave, the more he gets hurt. Which really, works out for the best for everyone. Even him, believe or not. The more you heal him, the stronger you'll get. I know that's your people's weakness, after all. And the stronger you get, the less time you'll have to spend healing him. But since this is your first offense, maybe we should give you a break. Bring you back in a few days, see if you can still heal him after the wound's closed."

"You're gods-damned sick, Lovro." Jirim sounded angry.

"Do you, or do you not, want to save our world?" Lovro snarled right back at him. "This is how they get stronger! All the others got stronger when we forced them to focus on their healing, this one will too. But this one...hell, both of them...after what they did to our capture force, they've got so much more potential. This is what we've been searching for. All we have to do now is make them strong."

"You better hope to every god who listens, that you can keep him under control."

Vakaal whirled around, tears streaking his fur the same way blood streaked his father's. He held his hands out to the humans. "Take them off! Please! Just long enough to let me heal him!"

Lovro shook his head. "You should have thought of that before you hurled me against that wall."

"Just take them off him, Lovro."

"No. I want to see if he can do it with them still on."

Panting in desperation, and with Father's blood smearing his fur, Vakaal turned to Jirim. "You do it! Please! Just one! You can put it right back on! Let me help, please! Please!"

"I..." Jirim hesitated, then shook his head. "I don't have the spark. I can't. I'm so-"

"It's not his decision, anyway. You see, Jirim here runs the Colony in most ways, but I outrank him. I'm in charge of our attempts on this world to..." He waved his hand at the urd'thin. "Well, find you. Make you strong enough to help us."

Vakaal spun away from, and hurried back to his father. He reached his hands up towards his missing ear. He didn't want to touch it, didn't want to make it hurt worse. Vakaal tried to heal him, but the manacles stopped it. His collar shuddered, but the wound would not close. Blood still ran from it, dribbling over Father's eyes, and down his face. The pup whined, wanting so desperately just to heal his poor father, just to end his pain. But the healing wouldn't come. The more he wanted it, the further away it seemed. His healing had always been a secret kept from the tribe, but he'd never had reason to doubt it himself until they were caught. Now he half-wondered if it would ever truly be easy for him again.

"It...it's not happening. I...I can't..."

Father blinked away some of the blood, then stared down at Vakaal. Even with pain distorting his face, Vakaal could see it in Father's eyes. Father was trying to tell him it was alright. That he was alright. Father swished his tail in a playful wag. Vakaal could almost hear him trying to say it.

Just a scratch.

That only made it worse for Vakaal. He wrapped his arms around Father's body, crying into his chest. Sobs racked his little body. He cried so hard it hurt his throat. His tears mixed with the blood that matted the fur on his father's chest. The scent of it overwhelmed him. How it must hurt. His poor father. Never hurt anyone else. All he wanted was to heal the world, just a little, to raise his son, to guide his tribe. He didn't deserve this. The pup just wanted his father to be healed.

The pup just wanted his father to be healed.

"Gods above!"

"Is...he supposed to be able to do that?"

"Jirim, step back!"

Their voices barely registered to Vakaal. He heard his father gasp, felt him tense, but Father was already in so much pain he didn't think anything of it. Even when his Father squealed against the bindings around his muzzle, Vakaal only whimpered, wishing the pain would end. It was only when Father relaxed, and his breathing eased that Vakaal realized something else had happened. He looked up and gasped when he saw Father's ear was healed. At first it was all fresh, pink skin, but before Vakaal's eyes layers of fresh, soft fur crept across it.

A smile broke out over Vakaal's face, and he erupted into joyful, incredulous laughter. "You're healed! You're healed, you're healed!" He bounced on the balls of his feet, hugging his father tight. He scarcely noticed the blur sparks fluttering around him as he beamed up at his Father. "Do you feel better now?"

Beneath the muzzle, father smiled. He nodded a few times to his pup. Then Father lifted his head, and glared across the room at Lovro and Jirim. For only a moment, something dark flashed in Father's eyes. As he stared at the humans, his smile twisted into a knowing grin, made more devious by the blood that stained his snout. Vakaal remembered Father's words, the day they were caught.

One day, this will end your peoples' story.

Vakaal reached up and undid the muzzle around his father's snout. Father worked his jaws a few times. Since Vakaal couldn't undo the shackles, he turned away and took a step towards the humans. Something crunched under his feet, and the glanced down. The stone beneath him was cracked. Part of it looked blackened, as if scorched by fire, or a bolt of lightning. He turned his attention back to Lovro, and took another step towards him, baring his little fangs.

"I think I passed that test, too." He pointed at his father. "Take him down."

"I will, but only because we're done for today. You two may have the night together, then tomorrow, you've lots of studying to do." He laughed and shook his head. "You really are one magnificent little pup." Lovro didn't look half as unnerved as Vakaal wished he did. "You can push your healing right through the manacles. You know what that means? You're going to need more shackles! And a stronger collar."

Behind Vakaal, Father started laughing. It wasn't the happy barks Vakaal was used too. Instead, it was a bitter, sad, disbelieving sort of laugh. The humans didn't seem to know the difference.

"And what's so funny to you?" Lovro folded his arms.

"It's funny that..." Father coughed, and then smiled at Lovro, that same knowing, frightening smile. "That you think, when the time comes, you have _anything_that can hold him." Father shook his head. "You don't."

Vakaal was starting to believe it.