Path of the Specialist

by Pedro Urvi

  She looked at Ona and chirped affectionately at her, and she chirped back.

  Gisli stood up. “Now. Let’s see how Ona reacts.”

  Lasgol got to his feet, and they started walking. He was looking at the cord to see if he would have to pull Ona, but there was no need. She followed him confidently. When they reached the edge of the ridge, he stopped. Ona looked back at her mother and brothers, then turned to Lasgol and chirped inquiringly. He thought about using his Gift and calling upon his Animal Communication skill, but it would be a risky thing to do. He did not know how Ona would react, and the last thing he wanted to do was to frighten her, particularly at this critical moment. He rejected the idea.

  He crouched down beside her and whispered: “Do you want to come with me? I promise we’ll come and visit them soon.”

  Ona turned to look at her family again. They were not moving from where they were, and she seemed to understand what was happening. She looked at Lasgol and purred happily.

  “She’s a champion,” he said to Gisli.

  The Elder smiled, “Yup, she has the spirit of an adventurer.”

  “Let’s go, Ona,” Lasgol said, and they set off.

  Ona took her place by his side and went on with him as though he were her older brother. The family was lost to sight on the upland as they went on down the mountain.

  As they walked, Gisli, who had been watching Ona’s behavior, said: “With this you’ve passed the third stage, which is that of trust.”

  Lasgol stopped. “I have?”

  Gisli nodded. “Otherwise Ilsa wouldn’t have let you take Ona. She trusts you.”

  Lasgol looked at Ona, who was watching a squirrel in the distance. He felt honored, very honored that Ilsa should trust him with her cub. Suddenly a strong feeling of responsibility came over him, and his expression changed.

  Gisli noticed this. “Is everything all right?”

  Lasgol was still looking at Ona. “Yes... it’s just that... it’s quite a responsibility.”

  “Yes, it is. And so it will be for your whole life.”

  “Oh...” He looked troubled. He had not properly considered the implications of it.

  “But first you have to become a Beast Whisperer. Then she’ll be your responsibility. If you don’t succeed... then I’ll take her back to her mother.”

  “I understand...”

  They went on down. Ona was completely at ease and happy, in search of new adventures, while Lasgol was growing more and more worried about his own future and hers with every step.

  Chapter 37

  The arrival at the Lair with Ona was a real spectacle. Lasgol was leading her by his side on the cord as if she were a huge kitten, curious about everything she could see around her. Erika, Luca and Axe watched with their mouths open in wonder, and above all in envy.

  “Wow... what wouldn’t I give to have a familiar animal,” said Erika.

  “That makes two of us,” Luca said.

  Axe was not saying a word. He was staring at Ona with eyes wide as saucers.

  Frida was coming out of the Cavern of Runes, carrying an enormous tome which she nearly dropped in amazement. “Is that a snow panther?”

  Elina had come out behind her. “It most certainly is,” she said.

  At the same time Gonars and Sugesen reached for their weapons at the sight of the panther.

  “Take it easy, all of you,” Gisli told them. “We don’t want to startle our new friend.”

  “Are you sure she’s a friend?” Gonars asked with a look of terror on his face.

  “She’s just a cub,” Lasgol said as he stroked Ona’s side. She looked up at him and chirped happily.

  “I’d say she looks big enough to create an awkward situation,” said Sugesen.

  “Don’t bother her and she won’t do anything to you,” Gisli reassured them.

  “Can we pet her?” Erika asked.

  “No. Only her Whisperer can go near her. You must keep away. She’s a great cat, don’t you forget.”

  “Oh...”

  “And in the future?” Luca asked.

  “Even more so. Once she’s fully grown, only her Whisperer will be able to go near her. Anybody else who tries to will run the risk of being killed.”

  “Oh, well...” Axe muttered regretfully.

  Gisli turned to Lasgol. “Now then, let’s take her to the Wildlife quadrant in the Cave of Autumn.”

  As they went into the Cave, they met Ingrid, Viggo and Astrid.

  “Don’t tell me that’s your panther,” said Viggo.

  Lasgol nodded.

  “As if we didn’t have enough already with that creat—”

  Ingrid elbowed him in the ribs. “Every Whisperer has to have a familiar,” she pointed out.

  “She’s beautiful,” said Astrid. She moved forward to touch her, but Lasgol raised his hand and she stopped.

  “I’m the only one who can pet her,” he said firmly. “Nobody else ought to come near her.”

  “Hey, that sounds perfect to me,” said Viggo. “Less chance of an accident.”

  Ingrid was eying the panther through half-closed eyes. “She’s a wild animal, so it’s natural that nobody ought to come near her.”

  Astrid was looking at Lasgol. “A great cat, no less. You must be very proud.”

  “She’s very good with me,” Lasgol assured them. “Yes, I’m really proud.”

  “She’s not yours yet,” Gisli reminded him. “This is part of your training, but there’s no guarantee that you’ll keep her.”

  “I understand that.”

  “Hey, that wouldn’t be entirely a bad thing,” said Viggo.

  “Yes, it would, because that would mean Lasgol wouldn’t be graduating as a Beast Whisperer.”

  “He’s still got Tireless Tracker left. Me, I think you ought to concentrate on that Specialty. It suits you better, it’s really you.”

  “Don’t listen to him, Lasgol,” Ingrid said.

  Lasgol stroked Ona again. “It’d be a shame to part with her...”

  Astrid smiled at him encouragingly. “You won’t need to part with her. You’ll make both Specialties, I’m sure of that.”

  “That remains to be seen,” Gisli said curtly, and led Lasgol away.

  They went into the Cave of Autumn with the eyes of Astrid, Ingrid and Viggo fixed on their retreating backs, and Lasgol followed the Elder to the Wildlife quadrant. There came a menacing roar, and he tensed suddenly. Then they went in, and Snowflake came to greet them.

  “Hello Champ,” Gisli greeted him, and stroked his head. The great white tiger looked at Ona, who was frightened and moved behind Lasgol.

  Gisli introduced her to Snowflake. “This is Ona.”

  The great tiger took a couple of slow steps, in the manner of the great predators, and came closer to her.

  “He won’t do anything to her, will he?” Lasgol asked uneasily.

  Gisli went up to Ona and Lasgol. “Ona, friend,” he told Snowflake, petting the panther at the same time. The great tiger stared back at him.

  Lasgol wondered whether to use his Animal Communication skill to communicate with Snowflake and persuade him that Ona was a friend.

  “Ona, friend!” Gisli repeated more forcefully and turned to pet Ona’s head again.

  Snowflake growled and circled around Ona, who was watching him nervously all the time.

  “Ona, friend!” Gisli repeated a third time, even more loudly. He petted the panther once more.

  Snowflake growled and lay down at Gisli’s feet like a gigantic kitten.

  “He accepts her.”

  Lasgol breathed out in relief. For a moment he had feared that Snowflake would attack her.

  “And the others?” he asked, with a wave toward the other animals in the quadrant. He could see a wolf, a fox and a bear cub, along with other, smaller, animals.

  “Snowflake’s the one who’s in charge here. If he accepts her, nobody’ll harm her.”

  Lasgol relaxed rather more.

&n
bsp; “To make you feel better about it, you can sleep here all this week. By doing that, you’ll strengthen your link.”

  “Thank you. I’ll do that.”

  “She’s your responsibility now. Don’t fail her.”

  “I won’t, Master.”

  Lasgol did not even go to dinner. Not wishing to leave Ona with the other animals, he stayed with her, whispering words of encouragement and stroking her to calm her. Gisli brought her some meat, and after gulping it down she was more relaxed. She and Lasgol lay down in a corner and rested. The other animals did not bother them at all, because Gisli had taught them well. Each one had its own small space there, and they lived together like siblings of different species. This amazed Lasgol, who dreamt that he was in a different world in which animals of every species, including a human like himself, understood and respected one another. He had happy dreams in which he ran and played with Ona while Snowflake and other animals joined them in harmony to enjoy the beautiful natural world around them.

  The following morning, he went with Ona to the pond of the blue ducks. It was some way away, but it was a good place for hunting as well as a safe one, and the panther was sure to like it. Ingrid was with him, as Astrid and Viggo had ‘special’ exercises with Engla. They called them that, but Lasgol knew that what they were being taught was different ways of killing someone by surprise, in silence, and in a single moment. He did not like it, but there was nothing he could do about it; it was their choice.

  Elder Gisli had told him that he would join him there later to start working on different Beast Whispering techniques with Ona. He was keeping her on her tether, as for the moment he was not completely sure that if she were let loose, she would come to him when he called. She was a wild cat, after all. Ingrid followed them at a distance so as not to scare the panther, carrying her bow with an arrow ready nocked to defend Lasgol in case it was necessary.

  The snow was falling softly from the sky, covering everything in white. It was not too cold and there was no storm threatening, so Lasgol was enjoying the beautiful landscape. He felt very happy to have Ona with him. The panther was enjoying the new scenery, taking notice of every movement she picked up. She would stare intensely, keeping very still, moving her ears, trying to catch any sound. The snowflakes crystallized on her mottled grey and white fur, tinting it white.

  “Do you know what a beautiful cat you are?” Lasgol whispered to her.

  She looked back at him and moved her head.

  “We’re going to have to work on communicating with each other.”

  The panther saw a bird take flight, and at once her attention was focused on it. She stared fixedly at it with her ears turning one way and then the other, ignoring Lasgol.

  He smiled. “We’re going to have to work pretty hard.”

  He knew he could use his Gift to communicate with Ona just as he did with Camu, but he preferred not to do so for the moment, at least until he had completed his training with Elder Gisli. Suddenly he realized that he would have to introduce Camu and Ona to each other. Would they get along, or would they hate each other? Suddenly uneasy, he broke out into a cold sweat. If they failed to get along, it would be a disaster. Somehow, they must. But suppose they didn’t? They were both wild animals, and both had restless natures... they would either get along or hate each other; there would be no middle way. He hoped with all his heart that they would become friends.

  “You’ll get on well with Camu, won’t you?”

  Ona turned to him and gave him a look with her turquoise-blue cat’s eyes. The more he looked at her, the more feminine and beautiful he found her. In her gaze he could see the nobility of her heart, and the deadliness of her instincts.

  “I’m sure you will. You’re good and obedient.”

  The panther came closer to him and rubbed against his leg.

  He stroked her side. “Yes, you’re very good. But Camu isn’t either good or obedient.”

  He untied the cord, hoping he was not making a mistake. “Off you go,” he said. “Have some fun.”

  He trusted her to come back when he called. That was what he expected would happen. Ona transmitted honesty to him, and he felt he could trust her.

  Very slowly, the panther went to one side of the pond and stared at the water, with the snowflakes falling on it. She was tense, her gaze intent. He went over to see what she was looking at so fixedly. Under the water he saw the answer: several mid-sized fish.

  When he looked back, he saw Ingrid practicing with her bow. She was releasing against a tree fifty paces away, rolling over on the snowy ground, getting down on to one knee and releasing again with impressive agility and coordination. She did not miss a single time. He smiled; his friends were turning into genuinely deadly weapons. They would leave the Shelter as lethal Specialists.

  He went over to Ona, who was sitting on her haunches, staring fixedly, flicking her long tail. Elder Gisli had explained to him that this meant she was restless. The rest of her body was absolutely motionless.

  “Are you going to catch some fish?”

  Ona went on staring.

  Seeing the pond so quiet and the snowflakes melting into the water, he remembered the strange visions he had had, and reached for his mother’s jewel, which hung around his neck. He touched it as though making sure it was there, that he had not lost it. He felt it, and it relaxed him. Losing that jewel which was able to bring him images of his parents’ lives, of their memory, would mean a great sorrow to him. He felt the need to see them again, to learn more about their lives, their experiences, their secrets...

  He thought of trying the trick he had learnt and which had worked for him the last time. There was no guarantee that the jewel would be activated, since he had already tried several times over the last few weeks without any luck. The pendant seemed to manifest itself of its own free will, which frustrated him greatly. If Egil were here with him, perhaps he would have been able to help him understand how to make it work the way he wanted it to. Or maybe that was simply impossible. You could never get everything you wanted with magic; there were always limitations and prices to be paid.

  He put his finger in his eye and rubbed until a tear appeared, then dropped it on to the jewel and waited hopefully. Nothing happened. He protested under his breath. He moved to put the pendant away, and there was a blue flash.

  “Yes!”

  Ona started. She stiffened and stared at him, with her ears flattened back against her head.

  “Sorry... it’s the excitement.”

  There was another blue flash, and Ona was not happy about this. She growled threateningly.

  “Easy, girl... everything’s all right...” He made a soothing gesture with his hand to calm her.

  The third flash came, and Ona took up an attacking position, growling more loudly as she did so.

  And an image began to take shape over the water of the lake. Lasgol began to feel nervous. What would the vision show him? What relevance would it have, if any? Would it be his father or his mother? He calmed down a little and tried to soothe Ona with gentle words.

  The image began to clarify, and he could make out two figures. At first he did not recognize them, but then the scene sharpened until he could see it clearly. It was his father! But much younger, perhaps his own current age. The image went on growing clearer, and he realized where the figures were. It was the Cave of the Dragon. When he realized this, a shiver ran down his spine. What was his father doing there? Who was the other person? If they were there, at that age... then they must have been training to be Specialists, just as he was himself.

  “Are you ready?” asked a figure who was dressed like Sigrid, but whom he did not recognize.

  “Yes, Mother Specialist,” they both replied. Lasgol guessed that the woman, who was in her eighties, must have been the previous Mother Specialist, Sigrid’s predecessor.

  “I’d like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for volunteering for this experiment.”

  When he heard the word ex
periment, Lasgol had a sense of something ominous.

  “It’s an honor,” Dakon said.

  Lasgol was afraid for his father. Did this mean that he too had been subjected to the same experiments as he had himself? Or other ones like it? Full of questions, he concentrated on watching what was unfolding.

  “Elders, please,” said the Mother Specialist.

  Behind Dakon and his partner the four Elders appeared, except that they were not the ones Lasgol was expecting but their predecessors. They were all very old: three men and one woman, with lined faces and snow-white hair.

  “Today we’re looking for a development in the Path of the Specialist which will enable us to create new and better Specialists. If we succeed in doing this, it will represent an advance beyond anything seen since the founding of the Rangers. Do you give your consent to this experiment? It involves a risk, I’m not going to lie to you.”

  “We do,” the young ranger said. He looked aside at Dakon, who nodded in agreement.

  “Good. So it will be noted. Elder Ranger of Nature, the potions, please.”

  The woman, who was also in her eighties, stepped forward and gave them two phials of a reddish liquid. It was different from the one Lasgol had taken. Dakon and his partner drank, and after only a moment they had to be held up, as their legs were buckling under them. Lasgol swallowed hard. This potion seemed far more powerful than the one he had drunk himself. He had a growing feeling that something was not going right. For a long moment they waited, until both young men were able to stand on their own.

  “Ogulson, come forward,” called the Mother Specialist.

  A man appeared in the image. Lasgol knew at once who he was, or rather what he was. He was wearing a long white robe, and over it one of the same color patterned in silver. His long, snow-white hair fell to his shoulders. He must have been in his sixties: an Ice Mage.

  “The time has come,” the Mother Specialist announced. “The volunteers are ready, and so are we.” The four Elders nodded.

  “Good,” Ogulson said, and moved to stand beside the frozen dragon. “I am now going to seek ancestral power,” he announced.

  He closed his eyes, raised his staff and began to cast a spell, a long one. Lasgol could see his lips moving. Suddenly a beam of power, like a bolt of lightning, issued from the dragon and shot to the tip of the staff. Above it a sphere of energy took shape. Ogulson was obtaining energy from the dragon and storing it for the experiment.