Is it the old one? Kanin asked Khollo sleepily from within the hold. What does he want?
Never mind, just rest, Khollo told him gently. I can handle him.
But Ezraan was shouting again. “Do you hear me, dragon? This boy cares nothing for you! He will abandon you too, as he abandoned his friends, as he means to abandon me.”
That is not true, Kanin growled.
“You may not believe me now, but you soon will,” Ezraan vowed. “He thinks you useful, dragon.” Ezraan snorted. “I suppose that is why he so despises me. I am no longer useful. It will happen to you too someday, dragon, just wait.”
Kanin rose from his bowl within the hold. I have heard enough, he growled.
Khollo turned, meaning to stop him. Kanin, wait, don’t do this! You need rest, so that your leg can heal properly. What if you hurt yourself permanently?
Then I will no longer be useful, Kanin told him, pacing towards the entrance to the hold. Is that a problem?
Khollo froze. There was an edge to the dragon’s voice, and he realized that Ezraan’s words had created a worm of doubt in the dragon’s mind. “No,” Khollo said finally. “If this is what you want, then do it. And if you are permanently crippled, I will stay by you. I will hunt for you, bring you water, and care for you. I will not abandon you in your need.”
Kanin cocked his head. Yet you went to the library yesterday, leaving me behind.
What does that have to do with anything?
You were not with me.
Yesterday was different, Khollo explained. You needed to heal. I wanted you to take care of yourself and recover. And I needed to start research. Yesterday, we thought your injury was only minor, that all you needed was rest. There was no need for me to be here and you encouraged me to go.
Kanin thought about this. Okay, he replied finally. I understand and accept your reasoning.
Khollo breathed out a sigh of relief. Good. Now, what were you getting ready to do?
Kanin edged past Khollo and looked down at where Ezraan stood, looking up at them expectantly. Kanin’s appearance, apparently in response to his taunts, brought another sneer to Ezraan’s face.
“You see, the dragon knows the truth of it. He understands that you don’t care. He – ”
Kanin launched himself from the third ledge, dropping heavily to the second level. Then, he lowered his tail and wrapped it around Ezraan, immobilizing him. Ezraan struggled and kicked feebly as he was lifted off the ground.
“What is this? What are you doing? Khollo, call your dragon off!”
Khollo shook his head wordlessly, watching as Kanin hauled the struggling man up to the second level. The dragon stared at Ezraan for several long moments, and the older man ceased struggling. Then, with a dragon-sized snort of disgust, Kanin climbed back up to the third level. He sat on the ledge comfortably, but continued holding Ezraan aloft.
“Kanin, what are you up to?” Khollo asked.
The old one needs help.
Khollo raised both eyebrows in surprise. “He needs help?”
“Who needs help?” Ezraan demanded. “Are you talking about me? Tell your dragon to put me down!” He began thrashing again, then gasped as Kanin squeezed him a little tighter.
The old one is trapped in the past, Kanin explained. His prison contrives to erase his future.
“And how are we supposed to help him?” Khollo muttered.
By . . . I don’t know, Kanin admitted. By being examples of all that is good?
Khollo thought about this. Ezraan did not seem likely to change on his own. He was too entrenched, too bitter, too angry . . . too set in his ways and twisted.
He deserves a chance.
Khollo sighed and closed his eyes. He knew that Kanin was right. But how could he possibly give this pathetic wreck of a man another chance?
You spoke of how you forgave your uncle, Kanin said slowly. You gave him another chance. Does your father not deserve the same?
The situation was different, Khollo replied. I knew Janis for years before I found out we were related and that he had caused the death of my father. We had a history together which allowed me to see that he was doing the best he could and that he really cared.
Oh. Kanin subsided, seemingly stymied. So, what do we do with the old one now?
Khollo studied his father critically. Ezraan had fallen silent as he became aware that Khollo and Kanin were discussing his fate, debating what to do with him. He had stopped struggling and was glancing quickly back and forth between the faces of his captors, seeking some clue as to their verdict.
We can’t kill him, Khollo decided. We can’t let him go, that only delays the inevitable. I guess the only thing we can do is give him a chance.
Kanin’s eyes whirled rapidly, indicating surprise and confusion. Are you sure?
“Positive,” Khollo replied aloud.
“Positive about what? What are you going to do to me?” Ezraan wailed.
Khollo took a step closer to the old man. “You’ve had a hard life Ezraan, and not entirely of your choosing. That I understand. But you have let the bad things that happened to you make you something you’re not: an angry, bitter, and hopeless old wreck.” Khollo paused, letting this sink in. “I want to help you find yourself again, and regain your life. I forgive you for your weakness, in hopes that you can learn to put the past behind you.”
Ezraan opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
“Kanin, do you have strength enough to lift him up to the
