The psychological test.
Over the next several days, Keeper and the Evil Ferret Overlord, along with the help of Chef Philippe nursed Maureen back to some semblance of health. Livilla and Twila returned to their regular weapons forging duties, opting out of the business of playing nursemaids, citing the fact that they had done nothing wrong, and they had duck-trapping devices to perfect, besides. As soon as Maureen seemed in reasonable physical condition, the psychological examinations began.
“Let’s try some word association, ja.” Said the Evil Ferret Overlord, taking an unlit pipe from her mouth. She held up some flashcards.
“I say chair, you say.”
“Go to hell.” Said Maureen. Or, at least, that’s what she meant. It came out more like “Quack, quaaaack.”
“Interesting. Mother.”
“QUAAAAAACK!” Maureen protested.
“Again, interesting, but wrong. Mothers do not say quack. Well, duck mothers do, but I bet your mother was at least kind of human, wasn’t she?” Maureen glared at her. “Okay, last one. What does a duck say?”
“…Quack.”
“Finally got one right.” The Overlord tossed her a saltine, which she swallowed down in one gulp. “Reflexes improving, appetite returning, shame about the attitude.” The Evil Ferret Overlord wrote down in her book. “Here, have some paper. I’ll take off your arm restraints. It’s clear you can’t talk in a way a normal person would understand, but you’re free to write for help.”
Maureen grabbed for the paper and pen, and proceeded to scribble furiously on it. This lasted for a few seconds, and then, without warning, she began to chew on the paper. The Evil Ferret Overlord snatched it away.
“No, no, no. I want to see. Hmmm…that almost looks…huh. Maybe not. I can’t make heads or tails of it. Excellent.” She handed the paper back to Maureen. “Fine, eat it if you must, but try not to spoil your appetite.” The Evil Ferret Overlord injected Maureen with a sedative, and soon she was sleeping like a duck. The Overlord made her report to the Royal Keeper. “It seems she can understand us fairly well, but she can only communicate like a duck. We’re fairly safe from any liability. I think I have one of Alter’s old leashes so she won’t disturb your rowing.”
Keeper blinked. “What? Leashes?”
“We can’t let her run around, and she’ll be even less welcome in the dungeon now her voice sounds like that all the time.”
“She can’t stay outside. Someone might see.”
“Well, where do you want to put her?”
“That heated pool of yours will do nicely.”
“But it has chlorine. She doesn’t have the sense to try not to drink it.”
“We’ll install some other kind of filtration system, and it has that little half-bath. It’s perfect.”
“We could just keep her tied up.”
“Don’t you think she’s suffered enough?”
“But…my pool.”
“It makes your fur turn funny colors and you come out reeking of wet ferret.”
“That’s because I am a ferret. A ten-foot-tall anthropomorphic ferret. With teeth.”
“So, you of all people should understand the importance of treating the pseudo-animals with some decency.”
The Evil Ferret Overlord let out a pitiful whimper. “Stupid ethics. Make sure to nourish the algae in the moat so the minnows will eat more and breed faster. Not going to ruin Alter’s fun for this nut.”
“Fair enough.” Said Keeper.