Path of the Specialist

by Pedro Urvi

  Very well, have fun with your friends. He moved away, smiling.

  He reached the spot where he had found fox tracks and searched for the best place to set the trap. He had failed, and it had not been his first failure; he had been trying for weeks without success. But he was not going to give up. He would manage to make the trap work, and if it did not, he would try again in a couple of days. It was not simply pig-headedness; he wanted to get better, and you only improved with practice. All the Rangers knew that, so he would practice.

  Ingrid was fifty paces or so away from him, and he indicated to her he was stopping at this new position. She nodded and looked for more targets. She was giving him space, but not too much, just in case. Lasgol watched her release against three trees at dazzling speed with her short bow. Three magnificent, very swift shots.

  My, she’s good with a bow... well, she’s good at everything.

  He set the trap with extreme caution and covered it very carefully, putting the bait in place last of all. He looked at the trap from different angles, and it was nearly perfect. It was barely distinguishable. But you can just make it out. He put more leaves over the trap, trying not to make it look deliberate. That’s better. Now you almost can’t see it. Almost... He took a closer look, crouched down by the trap and spread a few more leaves over it. For a moment he was lost in thought, with his hands over the trap.

  What I’d give to be able to hide it completely. He sighed and closed his eyes. I wish it were invisible, he thought as forcefully as he could, as he had done on innumerable occasions. Then he felt a tingling on the back of his neck. Magic? he thought, a little startled, then realized that it was not coming from outside, that the tingling was being caused by his Gift. Uh-oh. What’s happening?

  Suddenly he visualized his small pool of inner energy in his mind, as he did when he called upon his power. But he had not called upon it – or had he? What was going on?

  He took a deep breath and let out the air. He wished with all his being that the trap would become invisible. And suddenly there came a green flash which ran through his arms and hands and spread as far as the trap on the ground. He was surprised but not frightened; he knew it was he himself, invoking a skill. But which one? This was something new.

  He looked at the trap, and now it was no longer there. Neither the trap, nor the leaves and branches he had covered it with. Only the bait was visible. He shook his head: it was impossible, there was no way it could have vanished. He touched the ground, and in fact it had not. The trap was still there, it was just that he could not see it. And if he could not see it himself, then nor, probably, could the fox. Have I developed a new skill? Unintentionally? If that was true, it would be fantastic, as Egil would say. He felt extraordinarily happy.

  There was only one thing he could do, which was to try it out. He wiped off all traces of his prints and climbed up a nearby ash. Hidden in the crown of the tree, he waited patiently, full of excitement, for the quarry to come close. It took a long time, but in the end a fox appeared. From its size he guessed that it was a male. As the vixen had done, the fox approached very cautiously and distrustfully. When it reached the trap, it began to sniff at the bait, then looked in all directions and finally back at the bait, as if making sure there was nothing there. Lasgol thought it had seen the trap, and that was why it was looking so closely.

  And it took the final step toward the bait.

  There was a click and the trap closed fast on the fox, trapping it inside.

  Yes! Lasgol said to himself and clenched his fist in a sign of victory.

  The frightened animal tried to escape, but there was no way it could, because the trap was in the form of a hollow spherical grille shut with a hook. He hurried to free the poor animal.

  “Be more careful next time,” he told it as he freed it, and the fox ran off in zigzagging leaps, swift as lightning. Lasgol smiled from ear to ear.

  Magic, came Camu’s message, and Lasgol saw the little animal in a tree in front of him.

  It’s mine. Did you feel it?

  Feel all magic.

  Easy, little one, it’s mine, it’s okay.

  Camu nodded and ran off to play with the squirrels.

  Did he really nod? And have I developed a new skill?

  “I think I did,” he said with great satisfaction. “It’s been a ‘fantastic’ day,” he added, and thought of Egil.

  Chapter 36

  Lasgol spent the whole fall season visiting Ilsa and her family. He went to see them every day, even if it was just for a moment at dusk, because he did not want to lose the link that joined them and the trust which had cost him so much effort to earn. When he was with the panthers, he always followed every one of the instructions Elder Gisli had repeated to him countless times. They were engraved in his memory: how he always needed to behave with the panthers and how to deal with each situation, as well as how to whisper to them and let them know his wishes or respond to their gestures. Now he was able to tell when they were hungry, tired, happy or angry, and used different techniques Gisli had taught him in each case. In fact the relationship was going very well, and he was deeply happy. How many humans in the whole of Tremia could say they were friends with a family of snow panthers? Very, very few.

  Every day that he went to see them was a gift. But it was becoming more complicated as time went on, because he also had to attend the training in tracking that Gisli obliged him to do. His days were getting longer and harder all the time. He had jobs to do at the Lair every day too: hunting, fishing, fetching water, cleaning, and so on. Then he had physical training, followed by Tireless Tracker instruction, and finally his training as Beast Whisperer. He came to dinner so exhausted that he could not even talk to Astrid or his friends. Luckily, they realized this, and understood.

  “That’s what happens when you’re a weirdo,” Viggo would tease him with a malicious smile.

  “You mean when you’re exceptional,” Astrid would defend him, with an affectionate gaze.

  “Weirdo. He’s the only one with two Elite Specialties. If I were you, I’d give up one of them.”

  “Don’t pay any attention to him,” Ingrid would say. “It’s an honor and a privilege to be able to train in two Specialties at the same time.”

  “And exhausting...” Lasgol mumbled.

  Molak came up to him to give him an encouraging pat on the back. “Cheer up, you’ll manage. I’m sure you will.”

  “You’ve no idea how many leagues we cover in the forests and the mountains,” said Erika.

  “You too?” Viggo asked.

  “We certainly do,” she said, pretending to look horrified. “Elder Gisli takes me to study animals in their environment, and we walk and walk...”

  “He does something like that with me too,” said Luca. “He sets trails for me to follow, and they’re never-ending. Quite honestly, I don’t know when he does it. I guess he must go out at night. I don’t even know whether he sleeps at all. But the one who’s getting the worst of it is Axe.”

  “Why’s that?” Ingrid asked.

  “Because his specialty’s Tireless Explorer. Gisli makes him explore day and night. I’m not exaggerating. Day and night. Look, he’s nowhere to be seen now.”

  When the others looked around, they found that it was true. Axe was not there.

  “I’d already noticed that he’s often absent,” said Molak. “Even for physical exercise and daily tasks.”

  “He’s got Sigrid’s permission,” Luca explained. “Gisli has him exploring, and he prepares ambushes for him. He told me a couple of days ago that he almost had a heart attack in one of them, and in another he almost lost a leg in a trap.”

  “He must be having a great time” Viggo said acidly.

  Luca shook his head. “You can say that again.”

  “We all train very hard,” said Lasgol. “So don’t worry about me.”

  “We don’t,” Viggo said, looking amused.

  Lasgol did his best to look amused in his turn. “
You’re such a good friend.”

  They all laughed and went on dining.

  In fact, Lasgol was beginning to feel really exhausted, but he was not prepared to give in. He would draw strength from his weakness and keep going, as he always did. With the coming of autumn, the weather worsened, and cold and snow returned to the Shelter, which did not make things any easier. The training was growing tougher by the day, not to mention more difficult. When he had negative thoughts, he focused on the task at hand and wiped everything else from his mind. This made it easier for him to concentrate and carry out whatever he had to do. The Proficiency Test was approaching with giant steps, and he knew he was not ready for it yet.

  Autumn was a season which he usually enjoyed. He felt rather melancholy at the sight of the ochre shades which the forests were taking on. He had to admit that this had been an autumn he would never forget. Not only because of how hard it had been, but because of everything he had learnt and experienced. What he most valued was the time he had spent with Ilsa and her cubs.

  He was now used to accompanying the family on their hunting expeditions, and always carried his bow ready in case of a mishap, or to help catch the quarry if it managed to elude Ilsa. The few times he had finished off a quarry that was trying to escape, she had thanked him by coming to him and rubbing against his leg to make him stroke her. Once, when he had killed one before she could do so herself, she had been angry. He learnt that she was the one directing the hunt, and that he must not intervene, unless there was some danger or unless the quarry got away. Once he had learned that, they never had another misunderstanding.

  Spending time with the family filled him with joy. Many times, they simply went down to the river to drink or lay down to rest on a hill to look out at the landscape. At other times they slept peacefully under a great tree. Panthers had no natural enemies in the mountains, other than humans. The bears left them alone, because they were far nimbler and faster. Other times they climbed trees to wait for some small quarry, and he did the same.

  In fact he felt part of the family. He could now shoot accurately from the tops of the trees. But what he certainly enjoyed most was playing and romping on the ground. He would fight the three cubs, which were big enough now to pose a problem for a human. He enjoyed himself immensely, especially with Ona, who was the one he trusted most and who always sought him out to play with. Her two brothers were a little larger and older than she was, and they wanted to prove to Lasgol that they were strong and powerful. Some days he ended up in some pain from the effort he had to make in those affectionate fights they had on the ground.

  Something else that made Ona different from her brothers, Igor and Hari, was when it came to hunting. She was a lot better at it, particularly with smaller and faster animals such as hares or fallow deer. Her two brothers were clumsier, though stronger, and dared to attack larger prey. Now all three of them hunted. Ilsa allowed them to lead the chase and take charge. One experience Lasgol had shared with them had surprised him, and this was when Igor and Hari went after an unusually imposing boar. It had turned on them, and Hari had ended up wounded by one of its tusks. Ilsa had scolded them both harshly. She was not at all happy that they had gone after such a large and dangerous animal when they were not yet fully grown. Ona, with better judgment, had stayed back.

  Lasgol had taken charge of treating Hari, and fortunately there had been no complications. In a few days he was fully recovered. Ilsa thanked him for the healing by licking his hair again and again. It was a gesture that surprised him very much, since she had never done this before. When he told Elder Gisli, he told him that he was making real progress. That gesture was one of affection and respect. Ilsa now considered him a member of her family. Soon they would be ready for the final test he would have to pass with Ilsa and her family.

  And the moment came. Gisli and Lasgol went to see Ilsa and the cubs on the last day of autumn. It was snowing lightly, with large snowflakes swaying gently, since there was barely any wind, beginning to cover the ground with a white blanket. Lasgol looked up at the sky, which was overcast but not currently threatening a storm.

  Gisli stopped on a hilltop to look up at the sky. “We’ve got two or three good days ahead of us.”

  “By ‘good’, I take it you mean without a storm,” Lasgol said. He had stretched out his hand to let the snowflakes fall on it.

  Gisli smiled. “What do you mean? Today’s going to be a fine day.”

  Lasgol was not so sure about this, but he smiled, and they went on.

  The family was not far from the cave. Gisli signaled Lasgol to track, so he got down to work, and it was not long before they found a trail a little to the north above a steep ridge. The snow was falling on the panthers, but they did not seem to notice as their fur was thick and they were well-equipped to survive the harsh winter of the north. Seeing the four of them resting peacefully amid rocks and snow, with their lethal cat gazes and their beautiful fur glittering with its covering of crystal flakes, was a real spectacle. The scene touched Lasgol’s heart.

  When they went closer, Ona saw them and came straight to Lasgol, who squatted to welcome her and put his arms around her with a broad smile. Her brothers got up a little more slowly and came to them: Igor to Gisli and Hari to Lasgol. They both hugged the panthers, stroked them and whispered affectionate words to them. The panthers returned the affection with grunts and rubbed themselves against the two humans.

  Ilsa was the last to come forward. She did so slowly, letting her cubs play with Lasgol and Gisli. Finally she greeted Gisli, and they hugged. Then the great snow panther went over to Lasgol and hugged him too. For him these moments were something to be treasured. His heart melted within him, and he felt a great joy.

  “The time has come for the test of trust,” said Gisli.

  Lasgol looked at his Master with doubt in his eyes. He did not want anything to change in his relationship with the panthers. Better not to push any situation that might be counterproductive. If Ilsa got angry with him it would break his heart, and he would go back to the Lair deeply disheartened.

  “Do we have to?”

  “Yes, my young pupil, it’s time. Autumn’s coming to an end.”

  Lasgol sighed. “All right,” he said, but he sounded unconvinced.

  Gisli crouched down in front of Ilsa and stroked her. Very slowly, from his Specialist’s belt, he took out a thin cord, uncoiled it and showed it to her. The panther gave a long, deep growl. Lasgol recognized the sound; it was a protest, threatening. She did not like that cord, or what it represented. This made him nervous, which was precisely what he did not want to happen. When they heard it, Ona, Igor, and Hari were left staring at their mother. They did not know what was happening, but they knew that something had upset her.

  Gisli spoke to her in an almost inaudible whisper. “The moment has come. You know you can trust me.”

  Ilsa stared at him with her fierce cat-eyes. She gave another complaining grunt, but this time less deep and threatening.

  He pointed to Lasgol. “Everything’s going to be all right.”

  She looked at Lasgol and protested again, but this time it sounded more like a whimper and she no longer looked so threatening. Lasgol did not know what was happening, but he was feeling more and more uneasy. The cubs too seemed nervous.

  “Take the cord,” Gisli said.

  He hesitated. “Master?”

  “Follow my instructions. Take the cord.” He had not raised his voice, which he kept deliberately neutral.

  Lasgol took the cord with one hand.

  “Now you must choose.”

  “Choose what, Master?”

  “Which of the three cubs you choose as your familiar animal.”

  Lasgol’s eyes opened wide. This was something he had not been expecting, and least of all at that particular moment.

  “Do I have to...?”

  “If you want to be a Beast Whisperer, you must have a familiar animal. Otherwise you won’t fulfill the requirement for
the Elite Specialty.”

  “But –”

  “You can renounce if you don’t wish to have a familiar animal. It’s happened once or twice. But it would be a shame, because you have great potential.”

  “But I already have a familiar animal.”

  Gisli nodded. “The creature from the Frozen Continent can’t count as a familiar. It has to be one you adopt during your training here with me. It can’t come from outside, because it won’t have followed the process of creating the link, as taught by the Path of the Specialist.”

  Lasgol was thoughtful. He looked at the three cubs. He wanted to be a Beast Whisperer, he wanted it with his heart and soul, but he did not want to separate one of them from their mother. He felt it would be a terrible thing for Ilsa.

  “But... what about her?”

  “The cubs will soon be hunting on their own, then later they’ll leave her side once they’re grown-up. She knows. It’s the law of nature.”

  Lasgol sighed. He felt bad. “Can’t we do it when they’re all grown-up? When they’ve already left her side?”

  “No. If they grow up into adults, they won’t be able to be your familiar, because they’ll have their own life. And as I told you, we don’t tame them.”

  “Right...”

  “The choice is yours. I understand your doubts, but trust me. The cub you choose will be very happy with you, that I know for sure. Otherwise their lives are very lonely.”

  Lasgol thought about it and made his decision. He would follow the Elder’s advice. He was going to choose, even though he had known from the start, because she had stolen his heart from that very first day. Ona gave a leap and started playing with the cord which dangled from his hand.

  Gisli smiled. “It looks as though she’s choosing you.”

  Lasgol smiled in turn.

  “Yes, and that makes me very happy.”

  “Put the cord around her neck and tie a knot.”

  Lasgol obeyed, while Ona went on playing peacefully.

  Gisli turned to Ilsa and whispered: “With your permission, Lasgol will take her.”