A Fine Black Sky
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
There were many ways to intimidate and bully, be it verbal, psychological or physical, yet nothing hurt Kid more than the one of the mind.
There became, within Kid, a turmoil of emotion, as he arrived in the Gobbi Halls, much fed through the subconscious from his underdeveloped brain stem, which prodded dangerously at the primitive survivor within, producing for Kid a desperate need to run and hide, from a learned response based upon the instinct of a fear incarnate before him, because there he stood, the rambunctious Osseus Rivalis, employing all the tactics of the bully, displaying his vicious skill upon the young Apprentices. Yet despite his own fears and the attention it would provoke, Kid could not let anyone else suffer as he did at the hands of his bully. Whether it be an altruistic response, or simply an instinctual desire, Kid had to intervene.
“Osseus! Leave them alone!” called Kid from the sidelines. Words were simple. Action was function. And both together was a solution.
Osseus then stopped his attack upon the fearful Son of a Noble, turning his attention to Kid, “Really? Who are you to tell me what I can and cannot do - in my own Tower!”
Upon his mediation, Kid knew there required of him more than words of cessation, therefore Kid was compelled to continue, now upon the consequence of his interruption - that focus would turn upon him, “Osseus, it is your Father’s Tower, and I believe you need to learn at least that much before it becomes yours -“
“Clean my boots.” snapped Osseus, plainly and simply.
Believing the contretemps to be purely verbal, actioning an instruction seemed to diminish the strength of the assumption, “Osseus, really -“ tried Kid, to no avail.
“I said - clean my boots!” said Osseus more vehemently. Within his image, there was nothing that indicated an alternate course. Osseus was bent upon the commitment he had made.
“I don’t think -“ tried Kid further, ever hopeful, as the demand seemed incongruous and absurd.
Osseus then looked to his cronies, who simply automated their response, “Make him do it.” instructed Osseus, and upon those words, the cronies did what Kid would not. They complied. One at each shoulder forced Kid to a bent over position, upon his knees. One of the Boys thrust a cloth into Kid’s hand and forced him to rub clean the boot.
“Osseus, this is ridiculous. Please. It is absurd. It only belittles us both -“ tried Kid, still polishing an already spotless boot. The crowd of others, not all Apprentices, watched detached. Some of the gathered were under an assumption that Kid must be deserving of this degradation, and those people were no better than Osseus, and should have known better, for both Kid and Osseus were too immature to be cognisant of the impact this would have upon both of them. Control, power, ownership - all with no consequences and no view to the future, with an unerring focus upon the present being the aspects that made Osseus. Yet there was something of a scared, pained child behind it all.
“Quiet, scum! And clean!” insisted Osseus, now becoming amused, for the spectacle he had created. But it was in danger when the Vigilant broke through the group of people, querying the assembly. The crowd began to disperse, assuming their theatre over, yet all the Vigilant did was look upon the scene and sniff, turning his head as he moved on.
Once the Vigilant was out of earshot, Osseus rose his voice once more, “And there lays the proof, scum! I am the Son of the Lord, and even the Vigilants do as I tell them, and there is no Understeward to save you this time! Who are you to think you are more than that? You are less than the mark on a stone floor! You are not even worth my breath, you broken, disgusting, ugly -“
But it was over, and not before time, for a Tutor noticed the action, accidentally destroying the moment of subversion with the words, “What is all this ruckus?” This time Osseus let Kid go and began to back away.
”Be it by birth or Apprenticeship, we are equals, Osseus.” uttered Kid, apprehensively.
“You are nothing like me! And I am certainly nothing like you! Now get out of my sight, scum, before I have you beaten!” Kid hoped they were empty words, but part of him still wished to reach the crux of Osseus’s nightmare and discover the reasons why his life hurt him, so that, in some way, he could ease Osseus’s torment - for it was the case that many who would bully were in some way bullied themselves. Kid simply hoped that it would not always be thus, yet he knew he himself had much to learn. As did Osseus.
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