The crushjaw, or tyranno, was the second most magnificent and terrifying creature Revin had ever seen. He felt the vibrations in his ribs when it let out a rumbling growl, its huge head bearing fierce teeth. This creature would destroy the giant serpent he’d mastered back home, and Blackfire would have been lunch in seconds.

Revin waited as the soldiers he’d brought restrained the tyranno. Its tamer, a burly man with thick, spiky armor, patted it reassuringly and whispered to it. The soft care on such a rough face was a strange image.

After they had finished, the tamer glared at Revin, “I don’t appreciate you practicing your witchcraft on Ibjig.”

Revin scowled. “It isn’t witchcraft, it’s a gift from Sephitaro.”

The man shook his head in disbelief. “The only reason I’m allowing this is because it’s on Omrai’s orders.”

Revin nodded, “I understand.”

“A man who can control a beast by enslaving its mind is no true tamer.”

“Thank you for your opinion,” Revin said, growing annoyed, “Now step aside, I’ve got a saurian to master.”

The man frowned, then moved reluctantly.

Revin approached the beast, his mastersuit creating that familiar sound of metal brushing against cloth as he went. After wearing it for so long, the weight of his mastersuit was really starting to bother him. But he bore it, he was sick of getting caught without it.

The crushjaw’s head was big enough to gulp Revin down in a bite or two. It growled, shifting in its restraints. Baring teeth.

“Easy Ibjig,” the tamer said.

It settled down. Still growling softly. Or was that just its breathing?

Revin approached it from the side, reaching for its shoulder. It snorted angrily and Revin stopped, his heart jumping into his throat. When it didn’t continue moving, he cautiously stepped forward, reached out, and touched it.

✦✦✦

In his mind’s eye, he faced a mind of surprising strength. Stronger than any he’d faced before. Stronger even than the yutaraptor. It wasn’t smarter though, not quite, but it was more resistant.

He formed his will into a lasso, preparing to wrap it around the tyranno. He threw it. It sailed through the mental space trying to circle around.

The other mind bucked, smashing against his will and sending it sailing back into Revin. He was surprised. With further determination, he tossed it again, the mental energy shooting forth as another cable.

He continued to reach, feeling the strain as he stretched for something just out of reach. He pushed harder, bending his mind. He felt the strain as the mental space seemed to shake. With a thrash, the tyranno’s mind struck out, smacking his stretched out will, and knocking him back.

✦✦✦

Revin tumbled backward and his eyes opened. He fell to the straw covered ground with a painful thud. His chest feeling like he’d been struck by a blunt hammer.

He lay on his back, breathing hard, hearing the beast struggle against its chains with a snarl. The tamer spoke loudly, trying to calm it.

Revin sat up slowly, feeling a new bruise developing in his chest. As the tyranno calmed down, Revin felt his ribs for fractures, feeling the slowly healing wound from the metal monster’s musket ball. He didn’t find any new injuries.

The tamer glared at Revin. “You deserved that.”

His attention was diverted when he heard some quiet laughing.

Shifra worked with the gallimais, holding a hand to her mouth to stifle a laugh. She quickly looked away when she noticed him glancing her direction. She patted their beaks and whispered reassuring words. They honked in return. He looked at the crushjaw, glaring back at it.

Maybe I should get a little advice.

He slowly stood up, wincing. He turned and approached Shifra. “Something funny?”

She turned to him and chuckled. “You are,” she said. Looking back at the gallimai. “That was very entertaining.”

“Well, what do you think? You’re good with animals.”

“You sound surprised,” Shifra said, raising an eyebrow.

“It’s surprising anyone can be good with animals without reading their minds,” Revin said, “I don’t know your secret.”

“Can you read the minds of everyone you talk to?” Shifra said.

“No,” Revin replied, looking back at the crushjaw. “Well, other monks, but we don’t mindspeak much, feels too intimate. It’s mainly just animals.”

Shifra shook her head, “Maybe you fail to master them because you don’t understand them.”

He gave her a confused look. “What do you mean?”

“How did you learn how to do it in the first place? Is it something that can be taught? What does it feel like?” Her eyes widened in interest and she stepped closer.

He laughed awkwardly and raised his hands. “Whoa, that’s a lot of questions. Only a few monks have the power to make other people a beastspeaker. It’s passed down by the laying on of hands.”

Shifra cocked her head. “What do you mean? Like in a religious ceremony?”

Revin nodded. “Yeah, and I can’t do it.” He frowned. “I’m sorry.”

“I see.” She looked disappointed.

He paused, trying to think of something to say. Birdy landed on his shoulder. He squawked affectionately at Revin. Shifra reached out and scratched Birdy’s feathers. Birdy reveled in the relaxing sensation.

His mind went back to the question he hadn’t answered.

“It... feels like being in someone else’s head. Watching their senses, thoughts, and emotions pass by. Maybe like a river? Like Birdy. He’s comfortable, and he really likes what you’re doing. He’s not thinking much else right now. But he was easy enough to master, I can imagine a tyranno being harder, but not impossible to master.”

He looked at the massive beast. It would be the biggest thing he’d ever mastered. He groaned in frustration. “Ugh, it would be so useful . And I just can’t do it.”

“Maybe you’re missing one very important thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Beasts aren’t tools. You’ve seen their minds, they have hopes and fears. They’re as alive as you or me.”

For a reason Revin couldn’t place, that stung. She was right, of course. But he knew that. Right? He let out a breath. “I’m sure there’s a lot I’m missing, but I am trying to help your father win this war.”

Shifra frowned. “Do you think he could be reasoned with?”

“Your father?”

“No,” Shifra said, “Jebuthar. Or Narazoth. Could we talk to them? Convince them to stop?”

Revin let out a harsh laugh. “You weren’t there, Shifra. Jebuthar was not interested in any discussion. He’s a killer. We tried. He attacked after our first meeting with him. He slaughtered us.”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Shifra frowned at him. “You don’t think I know that?”

It took Revin a second to remember, his eyes widened. “Oh no, your friend… I’m sorry! I forgot.”

Shifra’s frown tightened. “I know exactly what his weapons are capable of. One of his warriors almost… may have killed my best friend. That still doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to stop this war before it continues. Before anyone else dies.”

Revin remembered the battle. The blood and gore. The wide-eyed slack-jawed look of horror on the men who died. The mourning calls of saurians. He shook the memories away “I don’t know,” Revin said, “I’m no political leader, but sometimes you don’t have a lot of options when you’re getting invaded.”

“Yishai doesn’t give many,” Shifra said.

Revin thought back to the dinner. “He really is a stickler for rules, isn’t he?”

Shifra chuckled mirthlessly. “That’s an understatement. Forcing everyone into Shevidarism, taxes, tithes, his punishments are strict for the smallest crimes.”

Revin cocked his head. “The worst I saw was a kid priest yelling at me for ditching that agonizingly long ceremony.”

“Omrai has been shielding you from the worst of it,” Shifra said, “the whippings, the beatings, prison. Being late for the Holy Weekly Incense Ceremony can get you a dozen lashings.”

Revin’s eyes widened. “Seriously?” That couldn’t be true.

Shifra nodded.

“I hate that he forces a religion,” Revin said. He looked back to the rex again, narrowing his eyes. He imagined those teeth around him, there would be little his armor could do. “There are worse things.”

Shifra let out a breath. “I think he wants what’s best. But the burden he places on people… The poor suffer nearly as much as before because they can’t afford both the tithes and the taxes. When the church and the state take their due, the poor suffer. This burden needs to be lifted.”

Revin let out a breath. Not only did he need to master better saurians, find knowledge that was destroyed, but now she wanted him to fix her country? “That sounds awful, Shifra, but what can I do? You saw how that dinner went. Yishai walked all over me.”

“It’s not just you,” Shifra said, “You might help me convince Omrai to do something. He is the one who might be able to make some change, talk some sense into Yishai. Omrai is his older brother.”

Revin cocked his head. “Wait, I thought Yishai was older?”

Shifra looked at him, “Has Omrai told you nothing?”

“He always just called him ‘my brother.’ So, does Yishai rule because he killed your emperor?”

“Yishai overthrew the emperor, Omrai killed him,” Shifra said, “Yishai also outlawed all noble titles, and made a system of courts and judges and tests to rule. Anyone who wants to obtain or keep positions of political power have to pass his tests.”

“Man, your country is complicated,” Revin said, massaging his forehead. What mess of a place had we walked into?

“I haven’t even gotten to the complicated part!” Shifra said, “Many who rebelled with Yishai hoped for a government with policies chosen by the common people. Instead, we got this system of priests chosen by priests, and judges chosen by passing exams. The people don’t choose their leaders nor their laws. It’s a step up from kings, but not much.”

“Well, what do you want me to do?” Revin said, surprised. “I’m a foreigner.”

Shifra stepped in closer to him and grabbed his shoulder, locking gazes with Revin. “I want you to help me convince Omrai that his opinions are valid. He worries about the people, and he can’t ignore how he dislikes Yishai’s system forever. We need to convince him that it is his place to speak up about this.”

Revin glanced at her hand on his arm. The physical proximity was quite distracting.

“You want me to help with that?” Revin said.

“Why not!” she let go of him and put out her hands.

“What if Omrai doesn’t agree?” Revin said.

“Then we’ll have to convince him,” Shifra said.

“Is that why you came on this trip?” Revin said.

Shifra cocked her head. “I came to help.”

“But you saw an opportunity and took it. Have you tried talking to him about this?”

She scowled. “Yes.”

“And what happened?”

She sighed. “He told me what he always has, he must deal with the people’s safety before their comfort.”

Revin stepped back, he grabbed Shifra’s shoulders with both hands.

“Shifra, I see what you want, but he has a point. I mean… I want to help you… I really do…”

He let go of her shoulders.

“But I’ve got so much else to worry about. I mean, I’m trying to master saurians, stop a war. I don’t have time to argue politics with Omrai. I’m here to stop an invasion. If I fail, Jebuthar’s going after my people next. Once he’s dealt with, then I can try to help. I’m… sorry.”

She shrugged with a disappointed frown, “Well, thanks for listening.”

A long moment of silence followed.

She looked at the gallimais. “Well, they’re tucked in for the night.” She yawned. “Are you going to stay up all night?”

Revin shrugged.

“Maybe. I won’t be able to sleep until they get back.”

“You should try.”

“I should be out there. I don’t know why he didn’t want me to come,” Revin said, “I’ve spent a lot of time in the wilderness.”

“Maybe he really wanted you to rest. After that battle…”

“Or he didn’t want me screwing up again,” Revin said, “A lot of people died because I panicked.” He looked to the crushjaw. “And despite my attempts, I still can’t master a carnivore. I just don’t get it. The masters back home said I was as talented as Narazoth was when he was there.”

“You’ll figure it out,” Shifra said.

“Kaiato said the same thing,” Revin said.

“Kaiato’s smart,” Shifra said.

Revin nodded in agreement. “He’s been a good friend to me. Saved my life.”

“From the giganoto?”

“No,” Revin said, “I still don’t think it wanted to kill me. He saved me from that frozen forest. He’s certainly more useful to Omrai than I am.”

She looked at him, “Just because your skillset isn’t about killing people doesn’t mean you’re useless.”

She gave him a slight smile. “Goodnight, Revin.” She glanced at the tyranno. “And good luck.”

“Goodnight,” Revin replied with a bow of the head.

After she’d gone, Revin looked back at the tyranno. He walked over to the tamer who’d been pretending to ignore their conversation, “Take off the restraints, I’m done.”

The man looked relieved. He removed the shackles and shouted orders to it. The shouts weren’t angry, they were in fact caring. The man talked to the tyranno as they walked away, offering it comforting words. It gave a deep, low growl, and its head went down to nuzzle the tamer. The tamer laughed. They passed through the tall doors into another section of the saurian pens.

Laughing like old friends… Revin and Blackfire had done that. The pain of loss spiked again, turning to anger. But a familiar presence landed on his shoulder. Birdy.

Time to try something else… Revin thought.

He reached into Birdy’s mind. It was small and unique but dwarfed by Revin’s own complex mind. He slid through the outer layer, weaving past Birdy’s current feelings and emotions. He found something moving at a deeper level. Something strong. Birdy’s lower levels of consciousness?

Birdy had been born in a city. In a nest perched atop a building. He’d lived there for years but had wandered far in search of food and strange smells. Birdy was more adventurous than others of his kind, curious.

He was a part of the world, moving with the heartbeat of nature. A single cog in the clockwork of the cosmos.