Vakdranar’s hands were shaking as he slowly backed away. Even looking at the headless creature before him brought on feelings of revulsion, yet he could not look away.

“Vak,” Nina called as he continued to stare at it. She walked around in front of him, blocking his vision. “Listen, it isn’t your fault.”

“What?” Vak said after a minute. His mind was slow to process her words.

“You did what you had to do, that thing would’ve killed you.”

“I lost control again,” Vak said, defeated.

“Everyone does, it’s….”

“It is NOT okay!” Vak shouted. To her credit, Nina did not flinch away. “Nothing about any of this is okay.” He said quieter.

“Tell me what you’re feeling.” She said, slowly leading him away. She brought him to the gentle waters of the small, brilliant blue lake. The calming tide was a welcome distraction. Vak came back to himself, bit by bit.

“You’ve seen it now, twice! This rage inside me it is dangerous. Don’t you understand?”

“I’m not entirely sure I do, but I’d like to. Why does this part of you frighten you so much?”

“Because when I let it take over, I...I lose control. I am no longer me.”

“Aren’t you?” Nina asked, and the look Vak gave her of complete shock made her barrel onward. “What I mean is, this anger is part of you. You don’t get your power from it, because it is you.”

“How can you say that so casually.”

“Maybe because you see it as scary, but in the short time I have known you, you have done a lot of good. You fought a giant and a demon. You say it's dangerous, but I think it's only dangerous for the bad guys.”

“That is not true. I have hurt people that did not deserve it.”

“Did you mean to?”

“No, but that is the entire point! I cannot control this thing! I am terrified I will lose control again and…”

“Hey, stop,” Nina said softly, taking his hands in hers. The way she looked up at him, Vak felt his anger softened. “You are scared because you feel like you can’t control it.”

“Yes, exactly.”

“So, change. Start controlling it.”

“I have tried!” Vak said, breaking from her.

“Have you?”

“Of course, every day, I try to maintain my temper. I sometimes count to keep calm.”

“That sounds like you are trying to suppress it. I’m talking about controlling it. Making this power work for you.”

“How?”

“I don’t know exactly. You say you hold it back?”

“Yes.”

“Well, stop holding it back. Let yourself be angry, and while in that state, try to be mindful of yourself and what you’re doing. Don’t try and suppress it; try and use the power to do what you want.”

“Just like that?”

“It might take some practice. It probably won’t be overnight, but from what you HAVE told me about it, I think you have been subconsciously controlling yourself already.”

“I am not sure…”

“Uh, beg your pardons!” A voice called. Nina and Vak looked around the small cave, and then in a moment of pure horror, Vak turned to the body of the beast he had killed. “Not the monster! What? How could that be talking, you smashed in its head! No, up here!”

Tracking the sound, Vak turned up to the small crevice in the wall that the creature had been so intent upon when they’d first approached. Standing in the cleft was a strange birdman with dark blue feathers and a black beak.

“Yes, that’s right, hello! One thousand pardons for interrupting your… lover’s spat?” Vak and Nina pushed away from one another, far too quickly. “Or, not…”

“Who are you?” Nina asked, her face unusually blushed.

“A wonderful question! Thank you! I am the Warbler of legends, the mysterious heartbreaker, the grand embellisher: Falcix. Pleased to meet you.” He said as he raised his long-winged arms and slowly descended to the lakeside. He straightened the brown vest he wore as he landed and then offered his hand to each of them.

“Hello, I am…” Vak began.

“Yes, Vat. The big guy with the rage problems and the mean right hook!” Falcix said while throwing a few jabs in the air.

“Wait; what?” Vak asked.

“Oh, I’ve been watching you both since you entered the cave. I was very grateful you did, by the way. The way you let that Goural beat you up and tire itself out before you smashed its face in was an impressive battle tactic. You must be a skilled fighter.”

“Well…” Vak began before being cut off again.

“I did not get the name of this charming woman,” Falcix said with a small bow.

“I am Nina Hale.”

“Amazing! You both have such exotic names.” Falcix said. While Falcix talked, he moved around the side of the lake, making grand gestures with his hands. He spoke as though performing to an imaginary audience. “The song I sing about this day will have my colleagues in absolute jealousy!”

“Your… colleagues?” Nina asked.

“You mean there are more of you?” Vak said while mentally making a note to avoid them.

“Of course! You don’t think I just popped out of the ground, do you? No, of course, there are more of my kind. I’m not surprised you’ve never met another Rowavir. We are not often ones to intervene in the affairs of the featherless races.”

“You mean humans?” Nina said unimpressed.

“Of course. We must stay apart. We are the watchers of the skies, and as such, we are forbidden from aiding less advanced cultures.”

“I suppose that makes a certain amount of sense,” Nina said.

“It does?” Vak asked incredulously. Nina just shrugged her shoulders in response.

“Of course, it does, my angry punching friend,” Falcix said. “On that subject, I require your aid in locating my Master.”

“Now, I am confused,” Vak said. “You said you were not permitted to interfere?”

“We are not. It’s the First Mandate.”

“So why would we aid you, if your people have mandates against helping us? Does that not strike you as hypocritical?”

“I’m sorry. Hold on one second.” Falcix said. “The matter we are discussing is important, and I want to get back to it, but I need to know, why are you talking like that?”

“What do you mean?”

“It sounds odd, archaic.”

“I do not see anything the matter with it,” Vak said.

“See, there, that was on purpose, wasn't it? Are you just messing with me?” Falcix said, laughing.

“I assure you, this is how I speak.”

“It is,” Nina confirmed. “He grew up on an island.”

“Oh… sheltered. I understand.”

“Hold on; I never told you that, Nina,” Vak said. “And I was not sheltered.”

“It is alright. I am an expert at pronunciation and the vernacular.” Falcix told him, clapping him on the shoulder. “You help me find my master, and I will help you sound more normal.”

“And what do I get out of this little arrangement?” Nina wondered.

“Excitement. Adventure. How about a date?” Falcix told her.

“Um, no thank you, I have a boyfriend,” Nina informed him.

“Wait, you do?” Vak asked. “I mean it is none of my business, I merely thought after you heard the things Destin had done…”

“It is complicated, alright,” Nina told him. “I can’t agree to dates before I technically break it off with Destin.”

“So, you do intend to go out with the bird?”

“I’ll ignore that bird comment,” Falcix said. “I didn't mean to step into some lover’s triangle here. You both reacted so negatively before when I asked, and she is strangely attractive for a featherless… uh, anyway, I apologize.”

“There is nothing to apologize for,” Nina said.

“Of course, I will just keep my beak shut.”

“So, if we were to help you rescue your Master. How would we proceed?”

“Ah, first lesson. Try saying ‘what’s next.’ It’s simpler than ‘how would we proceed.”

“Yes, what can you tell us about him? Who has him? What can we do to help?” Nina asked.

“I can do better than tell you. I can show you!” Falcix said with glee. He gestured with his long-winged arm, and they walked back out the way Vak and Nina had come in. Vak lagged.

“I never agreed to this!” He called as he gave them chase. “There is nothing the matter with the way I converse.”

Falcix led them back to the crossroads. There were still only three directions available to take. To the left now was the way back to the surface marked with an arrow. The passage behind them would lead back to the underground lake, and the intricate stone carving blocked the path ahead. That left the trail to the right, which Falcix used to take them further downward.

* * *

They walked along for a few hours with Falcix getting to know both of them better while mostly avoiding questions about himself and the Rowavir people. He maintained his performance attitude while leading the way. Much of the time was spent insulting the way Vak spoke.

“That was almost a halfway normal sentence,” Falcix said, beaming with pride.

“You overheard the part where I have anger problems?” Vak growled.

“Of course,” Falcix said while using his beak to pick at something on his shoulder.

“Would you not…. Don’t you think you should cease pushing me?”

“Splendid! A contraction! We are making progress.” Falcix practically sang.

“I think I see something up ahead,” Nina said, taking the lead. The tunnels they used were dark, and so Vak was relying on torchlight to make his way through. Nina turned the corner, and Falcix placed a hand on Vak’s chest, halting him.

“I am not trying to anger you,” Falcix said in a hushed tone.

“You are not succeeding.”

“You aren’t.”

“Falcix…”

“Right, what I’m trying to say is that the young lady fancies you, how can she not: a big strapping barbarian like yourself.”

“Nina?”

“Yes, trust me, my friend, I am well versed in the many love songs of the feminine gender.”

“Not interested,” Vak said, brushing past him.

“Oh come on now,” Falcix said quickly, circling in front of Vak again. “While her feelings are a hushed aside to the audience, you are singing your feelings with the choir behind you. Belting out the tunes of your love for the entire Underrealm to hear.”

“Wait, what do you mean by that?”

“That you have feelings for her, Vat!” Falcix said with a pat of his wing on Vak’s shoulder.

“Not that. Stop that entirely. Why did you call this place the Underrealm?”

“Well, that is where we are. An old song by the Rowavir tells of a place below the surface. A place of fire and burning war between the Ignari and the Goural.”

“Now that is the first fascinating thing you have said today.”

“Are you two coming?” Nina said, poking her head back around the bend.

“Of course, Nina,” Falcix assure her. “We will be there presently.” She turned back around, and Vak followed. Falcix grabbed Vak’s arm spinning him around and said very quickly. “Listen, songs, and stories are just that; what you have here is real. At least it could be if you play your notes correctly.”

“Falcix…”

“Let me help you with your verbose lyrics, and I assure you she will coo with admiration.”

“I will not repeat this,” Vak said, turning to face Falcix. “If I had feelings for Nina, I would be direct, and I would tell her. I do not.”

“Ooh, uh, wait! Vat, she is...”

“Listen. She has been through a harrowing ordeal. A series of events that would have broken a normal person.”

“So, I am not normal?” Nina said from behind them.

“Nina!” Vak said, turning around.

“If you two are done gossiping, I thought we were off to save your Master.”

“Quite right,” Falcix said, shifting past Vak once again. He leaned in as he did. “Well, you needn’t worry about her feelings for you. I think she’s decided to go a different way.”