we lost ten of our number last year in Sierra Leone, and several others have gone missing without a word right here in America. I myself fought off an attack while on my way back to you.”
Cam swallowed his half-chewed cereal. “Are you all right? What happened?”
“It was in Sperlonga. A cloud of weasels swarmed me. Had I been able to change”—he looped his fingers in his gold chain and curled his lip—“I would’ve made short work of them. As it was, I only killed two. The rest got away. It’s why I hurried back to you. The fucking weasels are hunting us. Our numbers are dwindling, Cam, and I’m sensing there’s unrest even among the brothers. You can’t linger about waiting for enlightenment. You’re sworn to the brotherhood, to serve the church. If they say you’re going to Costa Rica, then they have their reasons for sending you there.”
“What about you?”
“In a week, I’m returning to the basilica to breed. The strongest of us will meet and mate, but that will put seven of us out of commission for at least several months. Michael and Daniel have been gravid before, and we’re praying they’ll take again.”
“But they’re so old…”
“I’m no spring cockatrice myself anymore, m’lad, but we must try. Of the seven, two are about your age.” His gaze ran up and down Cam, not sexually but clinically. “If it wasn’t for your strange urge to go out and play superhero, you’d be in this mating ball instead of me.”
Cam couldn’t help twisting his lips into a frown and turning his face away. Tash gave a harsh laugh. “Doesn’t appeal? Don’t tell me you’re developing human notions of romance?”
When Cam shook his head, unconvincingly, he was sure, Tash snorted. “I told Arum I was worried you were beginning to see yourself as more human than trice.” He stood, walked around the table, and caught Cam’s shoulder in his strong hand. “Humans are proud. Unruly. They’ve lost their way. Don’t let their energy and glamor distract you from your true calling. We must be humble and serve our masters. It is the entire purpose of our creation. Don’t forget who you are.”
Cam knew all the stories, the legends of how a medieval knight had saved the last cockatrice from utter destruction in return for loyalty and service to the one true church. That had been his favorite tale as a fledgling, and then he’d been honored to be part of such a venerable tradition. Yet he’d begun to question all he’d been taught. If Tash knew the seed of doubt had not only taken root in his heart but was sprouting branches and flowers, his mentor would see him chained and bound in the basilica dungeons. No matter how much affection they had for each other, Tash’s ultimate loyalties lay with the brothers they served. Cam bowed his head to hide his frustration, and Tash ran his hand over his hair, as if Cam was an obedient hound.
“You’re a good boy, Cameron. I also told Arum of your intelligence and patience. Not everyone could blend in with humans as well as you. What you learn from them will help us discern the good from the evil. Someday, who knows…”
Cam lifted his eyes. “What?”
Tash shrugged. “In the beginning, all creatures walked together in peace, man and monster alike. It’s a foolish dream, but I wonder if that day may come again.”
“If they knew about us…” He hurried on in the face of Tash’s skeptical scoff. “Some humans might be ready to learn.”
“No, not yet. The brothers will tell us, when or if that day should come. Can you imagine now if our existence became known? It’d be a bloodbath. Us first, and humans second if our enemies, the reformatores , have their way. It’s clear their control of the weasels has become more organized.” He shook his head. “No, we must trust utterly in the guidance of the brothers. They are God’s hands on our hearts.” For emphasis, he squeezed Cam’s shoulder, then dropped his arm.
Cam bit the inside of
Cam swallowed his half-chewed cereal. “Are you all right? What happened?”
“It was in Sperlonga. A cloud of weasels swarmed me. Had I been able to change”—he looped his fingers in his gold chain and curled his lip—“I would’ve made short work of them. As it was, I only killed two. The rest got away. It’s why I hurried back to you. The fucking weasels are hunting us. Our numbers are dwindling, Cam, and I’m sensing there’s unrest even among the brothers. You can’t linger about waiting for enlightenment. You’re sworn to the brotherhood, to serve the church. If they say you’re going to Costa Rica, then they have their reasons for sending you there.”
“What about you?”
“In a week, I’m returning to the basilica to breed. The strongest of us will meet and mate, but that will put seven of us out of commission for at least several months. Michael and Daniel have been gravid before, and we’re praying they’ll take again.”
“But they’re so old…”
“I’m no spring cockatrice myself anymore, m’lad, but we must try. Of the seven, two are about your age.” His gaze ran up and down Cam, not sexually but clinically. “If it wasn’t for your strange urge to go out and play superhero, you’d be in this mating ball instead of me.”
Cam couldn’t help twisting his lips into a frown and turning his face away. Tash gave a harsh laugh. “Doesn’t appeal? Don’t tell me you’re developing human notions of romance?”
When Cam shook his head, unconvincingly, he was sure, Tash snorted. “I told Arum I was worried you were beginning to see yourself as more human than trice.” He stood, walked around the table, and caught Cam’s shoulder in his strong hand. “Humans are proud. Unruly. They’ve lost their way. Don’t let their energy and glamor distract you from your true calling. We must be humble and serve our masters. It is the entire purpose of our creation. Don’t forget who you are.”
Cam knew all the stories, the legends of how a medieval knight had saved the last cockatrice from utter destruction in return for loyalty and service to the one true church. That had been his favorite tale as a fledgling, and then he’d been honored to be part of such a venerable tradition. Yet he’d begun to question all he’d been taught. If Tash knew the seed of doubt had not only taken root in his heart but was sprouting branches and flowers, his mentor would see him chained and bound in the basilica dungeons. No matter how much affection they had for each other, Tash’s ultimate loyalties lay with the brothers they served. Cam bowed his head to hide his frustration, and Tash ran his hand over his hair, as if Cam was an obedient hound.
“You’re a good boy, Cameron. I also told Arum of your intelligence and patience. Not everyone could blend in with humans as well as you. What you learn from them will help us discern the good from the evil. Someday, who knows…”
Cam lifted his eyes. “What?”
Tash shrugged. “In the beginning, all creatures walked together in peace, man and monster alike. It’s a foolish dream, but I wonder if that day may come again.”
“If they knew about us…” He hurried on in the face of Tash’s skeptical scoff. “Some humans might be ready to learn.”
“No, not yet. The brothers will tell us, when or if that day should come. Can you imagine now if our existence became known? It’d be a bloodbath. Us first, and humans second if our enemies, the reformatores , have their way. It’s clear their control of the weasels has become more organized.” He shook his head. “No, we must trust utterly in the guidance of the brothers. They are God’s hands on our hearts.” For emphasis, he squeezed Cam’s shoulder, then dropped his arm.
Cam bit the inside of
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