Sins Of The Father

Chapter Four: Family History

Over the next few days, Nyroc offered his assistance to Soren in his daily duties, as part of his plan to gain his unknowing uncle's complete trust. Most of those duties inolved the ferrying of books and tools to other Guardians, and occasionally aiding in the training of future Guardians.

Nyroc noted that the Guardians' training methods were unlike anything he had expected. The teachers were supportive and encouraging, gently extolling their students to do their best. It seemed odd to him that "monsters" like the Guardians were created through such teachings.

'There must be something I'm missing.' Nyroc thought. 'Something they do to turn their students into the kind of fiends mother spoke of.'

As time progressed, Nyroc decided to ask Soren about what happened between him and Kludd. He wished to satisfy his morbid curiosity as to the way this owl would speak of killing his own brother, and how he was able to live with himself after comitting such a vile act.

"I'm been talking to the other owls about you." Nyroc said nonchalantly. "And I heard some extraordinary things. Is it really true that you killed your own brother?"

Soren froze.

"...Yes." He replied. "It's true."

"How could you do something like that?" Nyroc asked, the venom rising in his voice. "How could you kill your own flesh and blood?"

"I didn't want to." Soren sighed.

"Pardon me?" Nyroc asked, stunned. This was the last thing he expected Soren to say.

"I didn't want to kill him, but he left me no choice." Soren declared.

"No choice?" Nyroc asked. "What do you mean?"

"He would have destroyed everything." Soren replied. "Kludd was my brother, and I loved him, but his lust for power drove him to madness, to conquest."

"It... did?" Nyroc asked.

"Perhaps I should start from the beginning." Soren declared. "Kludd and I were young owlets, just starting branching, when we were kidnapped by the Pure Ones. I managed to resist the Pure Ones' rhetoric about how tytos were destined for power and rule, but Kludd accepted their words as gospel truth. When I and Gylfie managed to escape, I tried to have Kludd come with us, but he refused, deciding to stay with the Pure Ones instead."

'It's all lies.' Nyroc thought. 'Very elaborate lies, but lies nonetheless!'

"The next time I saw Kludd, he tried to kill me." Soren continued.

"Really?" Nyroc asked.

"I tried to reason with him, but he wouldn't listen." Soren sighed. "Our struggle threw us against a tree branch. Kludd's wing broke on impact. He asked me to help him up, and I did. But then, he tried to kill me again. He missed, and the branch he was hanging on to snapped, and he fell into a raging inferno below."

All Nyroc could say was "Go on."

"I thought Kludd was dead." Soren continued. "When I heard he hadn't been found, I hoped for the best. But those hopes were dashed. Kludd became king of the Pure Ones, and once again tried to kill me, kidnapping one of our Search-and-Rescue chaws and holding them for ransom, so I would come to him."

Nyroc was shocked. From what his mother had told him, he'd never imagined his father could do such things.

'They're lies.' Nyroc kept telling himself. 'They're lies!'

"Again, Kludd failed to kill me." Soren continued. "But he kept trying. One terrible day, the Pure Ones discovered the location of Ga'Hoole. They laid siege to the tree. When it seemed like the Pure Ones were losing, Kludd led his followers to the lower levels, hoping to hold the trainees and civillians hostage. Once again, we fought. I tried so hard to reason with Kludd, to convince him to turn away from his quest for power. But by then, Kludd's madness had become all consuming. He was all too willing to kill me. He left me no choice but to respond in kind."

Soren lowered his head in sorrow.

"So, you really killed your own brother in cold blood." Nyroc summarised.

"Not a day has gone by without my wishing for things to have gone differently." Soren sighed. "We may have been enemies, but Kludd was still my brother, and I loved him."

Nyroc's eyes widened in shock.

"When I think of Kludd, I try to remember what he was before the Pure Ones." Soren smiled sombrely. "The brother he once was, not the enemy he became."

Soren lowered his head, a single tear running down his cheek.

Nyroc was dumbfounded. He had not expected this. From what his mother had told him, he had expected Soren to boast of this act, to play it up as a great deed. Instead, he was acting as if it was the worst thing he had ever done. The look of anguish on Soren's face - No-one was that good an actor.

"I'm sorry if I brought up any bad memories." Nyroc found himself saying.

"It's okay." Soren sighed. "What's done is done. It does not do to dwell on the past."

Some time later, Nyroc was perched on a branch, his head swimming.

'I always thought Soren was a monster, but now...' Nyroc thought. 'Everything I was told about him was wrong... But mother wouldn't lie to me...'

Nyroc's mental musings were interupted by Dusk, who landed in the branch next to him.

"Hi!" She beamed.

"H-hello, Dusk." Nyroc stuttered. He had seen her a few times since their initial meeting, but this was the first time they were alone together.

"Is something wrong, Coryn?" Dusk asked. "You look a little... preoccupied."

"I... have a lot on my mind." Nyroc told her.

"Well, you know what's good for clearing a head?" Dusk asked. "A nice flight! Care to join me?"

"Uh, okay." Nyroc agreed.

"Three times around the tree." Dusk smiled. "Try and keep up."

The two took off. As they flew, Nyroc couldn't help but notice how graceful and agile Dusk was in flight.

"That all you got, slowpoke?" She teased.

"Not even close!" Nyroc shot back.

As their flight continued, Nyroc found himself having fun. Nyra had been very strict in his upbringing, having him in training for practically every waking moment. This was the first time he had ever flown recreationally, and he was loving it.

Nyroc and Dusk landed on their branches at practically the same time.

"Not bad." Dusk smiled. "Not many owls can keep up with me."

"I have my moments." Nyroc said modestly.

"Feeling better now, Mr. grumpyface?" Dusk asked.

"A little, yes." Nyroc admitted. "Thank you."

"Anytime." Dusk nudged him playfully. Hey, it's almost time for dinner. Shall we?"

"Yes, we shall." Nyroc smiled.

The two flew due to the dining level. As they dined, they made small talk. Nothing major, just stories about flying experiences and whatnot. It helped Nyroc to get his mind off his troubles, but that night, they came roaring back.

'If Soren isn't a monster, then what does that make father?' Nyroc asked. 'I'm so confused. Mother can't have lied to me. She can't have! Perhaps it was just a misunderstanding...'

In the middle of Nyroc's musings, the voice came to him again.

'Do not falter, boy!' The voice roared. 'You must finish your mission.'

'I promise you, it will soon be over.' Nyroc replied. 'One way, or the other.'

'Gooood.' The voice hissed as it faded away.

Before long, Nyroc feel into an anxious, doubt-ridden sleep.

To Be Continued...

(Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole and all associated characters are the property of Kathryn Lansky, Warner Bros and Village Roadshow Pictures.)