The Vixen Trials

The Father

"You're not the only son he abandoned"

Malek

Malek couldn't control the way his eyes widened. The Hattavah grimaced. "Did you think I was lying when I said I sent for him?"

Yes was what Malek wanted to say. Instead he shook his head. "When can I see him?" He kept his voice deliberately quiet. It would never do for the Hattavah to guess the torrent of anger and hatred mixed with an odd yearning that was churning around inside him. His father. So many things he could say to him. So many different ways he'd pictured them meeting. Some of them involved a dagger which would be easy for him to obtain now as the Hattavah's trusted guardian. Even though the Hattavah would no doubt hover, he could plead for a moment alone. With his new-found brother act he'd have to grant his request. Killing his father would not only be well-deserved justice for his life-time of misery but he suspected it would help him transform too enabling his escape from the no doubt enraged Hattavah.

He opened his mouth then shut it again. The Hattavah was pacing up and down the room. A bead of sweat was on his prominent brow.

"What's wrong?" Malek asked, dropping the title as the Hattavah had said to when they were alone. One of his more puzzling requests.

The Hattavah stopped and peace descended on his face. "I'll tell him to come back tomorrow."

Malek gaped at him. "Why?"

"I don't have to explain myself to you," the Hattavah shot back, then he stopped and sighed. "I'm not ready to meet him, okay. I thought it would take longer for him to come. You're not the only son he abandoned."

Malek jaw sagged. "He looked for you." He recalled Brenan so clearly, the ragged clothes, the desperation in his eyes as he searched for his favored son not the one he'd deserted.

"If he hunted for me as hard as you say, he must have found me. So it's clear he discovered what I'd become and walked away." The Hattavah turned away. "Don't you think I know that?"

Malek digested that for a moment then shook his head. "I think you're wrong. The man I met loved his acknowledged son." He couldn't resist emphasizing 'acknowledged'.

"He loved Dakkoul," the Hattavah spat out with such force that Malek edged backwards towards the door out of the room. No point making himself an easy hit.

The Hattavah took a deep breath and stilled his body. "I'm not angry at you. I know you want to meet him but it will have to wait. Today is a busy day anyhow with the first ball. I'll send him a message to come back tomorrow."

Malek found he was relieved. He didn't know what he would say to his father either and he found himself sharing the Hattavah's sentiment: the father who had given up on both of them deserved to be made to wait until they were ready to see him.

Still, he'd make sure he'd steal a dagger in preparation just in case before he went to the meeting. It was clever of Cleb to arrange it for a time when all the important Wayvolkan would be busy. This time they'd have to respect him. Even if they mocked him for becoming the Hattavah's slave first, the information he had gathered would compel their interest. He'd finally prove himself worthy, he was sure of it.