[Mkguild] Cut Down A Long Peg

[Kit]

A very interesting story. In particular Thomas' reaction to the letter is
rather amusing. However, I noticed something that'll probably be a problem.
Shortly after the Winter Assault, Misha promised to Caroline that he was
going to retire after his next raid and stop going on wars. He might still
lead and deploy the long scouts, but he wouldn't go on the trip himself. You
should be able to fix that easily enough though.

Kit

On Fri, May 22, 2009 at 11:28 PM, Stealth <stealthcat15 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Short story for a new cycle
>
> Cut Down a Long Peg
> Copyright (c) 2009 Michael Nastov
>
>
> Late January 708
>
>        The vulpine wrapped his claws on the desk, his gray eyes cold and
> good ear folded back. In front of the fox a cheetah sat, stroking a
> bruised arm as well as a bruised ego.
>
>        =93What did they say to you?=94 Misha asked calmly.
>
>        =93=91His grace does not care to be bothered by a messenger.=92=94=
 Stealth
> answered, =93I told him it was an important message from you that needed
> his attention.=94
>
>        =93And the seal? Did you show them the seal on your harness?=94
>
>        =93I did...=94 The cat glowered, =93He told me to leave before the=
 Duke
> and
> Duchess approached... I refused and then he kicked my foreleg.=94
> Stealth rubbed his arm again, =93Big guy with hooves... Good thing for
> my armour.=94
>
>        Misha took a breath and sighed, disturbing several sheets of
> parchment on his desk. The Long scout took the letter he=92d intended
> for the Duke and tore it in two. =93Very well, I=92ll just have to push
> ahead without the horse lord=92s knowledge.=94
>
>        =93I=92m sorry, Misha.=94 Stealth said with his head turned down, =
=93I
> failed
> you. I should have ignored that guy and gone past him, he never would
> have caught up.=94
>
>        Misha shook his head, =93Then you=92d end up in the dungeons or wi=
th an
> arrow through your skull.=94 He got up and walked to the door.
>
>        =93But you get past them easy enough.=94 Stealth countered.
>
>        =93Exactly,=94 Misha said with a dry chuckle and opened the door, =
=93They
> can=92t get me so they get at me through my people. I knew they=92d get
> back at me!=94 Misha looked out the door and called out, =93Get Finbar and
> Georgette! I just heard back from the Duke=92s men and they gave us the
> go ahead.=94
>
>        =93Misha!=94 Stealth shouted and stood up in a panic, =93I=92ll ge=
t in
> trouble if you say that =96 they=92ll say I lied to you!=94
>
>        Some noises could be heard outside while the fox turned back to the
> sore cheetah in the room, =93How can they? They never let you deliver
> your message =96 for all they know you were trying to deliver a late
> Yule time card. Now wait in here, Spots, I=92ll get Jotham to tend to
> that arm.=94
>
> ------
>
>        Thomas arrived back in his chambers feeling wonderful and
> invigorated. He always enjoyed going out for a run, either under his
> own power or on that of a true stallion. He loved the freedom and the
> fun when he and Phil went on such outings but Phil left the Keep many
> months ago, no, a year ago. He sometimes went on outings with his
> daughter but since the death of Posti she was almost always too busy.
>
>        But then there was Alberta. She breathed life into him. Her defian=
ce
> of protocol and love of the saddle energised him. And she was still in
> the stables, helping the stable hands tend their mounts! Tom never
> felt as alive as he did that day... Then a page handed him a letter.
>
>        =93Oh, hello there, lad, what=92s this?=94 He asked, still feeling=
 giddy.
>
>        =93It=92s from Sir Brightleaf, milord.=94 The unchanged boy said s=
hyly,
> =93He
> told me to give it to you after he left...=94
>
>        Thomas frowned and took the letter fearfully.
>
>        Anxious that he might be scolded for being the bearer of bad news
> the
> boy quickly and silently left the Duke=92s chambers while the horse lord
> broke the seal and removed the parchment within.
>
>        To his lordship, Duke Thomas Hassan V
>
>        =91Misha is still sore at me=92 the horse lord sighed. Misha had t=
he
> habit of reserving honourable titles for derision...
>
>        Your grace, thank you for the warm reception my messenger, and good
> friend, received at the hands or should I say hooves of your guards.
>
>        Thomas blinked and ear flicked. He received no message but this one
> =96
> handed to him AFTER the fox scout left the Keep. He read on,
>
>        Seeing as you decided to ignore my last message I=92ve taken the
> incentive to push ahead with my plans. You will however receive a
> debriefing, in due time.
>
>        Yours sincerely
>        Sir Misha Brightleaf,
>        Knight Commander of the Order of the Bow and Axe
>
>        The equine=92s eyes widened in horror.
>
>        =93Is something wrong, milord?=94 Thalberg asked gently though he
> already
> knew the answer.
>
>        =93That damned deranged fox will lead us into a second war!!!=94 T=
he
> Duke
> snapped. =93Bring me George. Bring George now. I want that dog in here
> NOW!=94
>
> ------
>
>        =93Where did he go exactly and when?=94 The horse lord asked quick=
ly,
> his
> tail flicking back and forth.
>
>        =93You should have read his first message.=94 The jackal answered =
idly,
> finding the whole thing slightly amusing. He fancied a sip of wine
> from the cabinet yonder though the Duke wasn=92t offering.
>
>        =93WHAT MESSAGE?!=94 The duke demanded in a whiny.
>
>        =93Why don=92t you ask your guards? Since it=92s clear Stealth nev=
er got
> past them.=94 George put his legs up. Even he didn=92t dare rest his
> leather shoed paws on his lord=92s mahogany desk so he used the other
> cushioned chair.
>
>        =93S . . .?=94 The equine started, perplexed, =93Thalberg=92s kitc=
hen
> thief?=94
>
>        =93No,=94 George said calmly. =93Stealth the courier, scout and fr=
iend of
> Edmund and Misha. He has been running errands for them for some time.=94
>
>        Thomas kicked the canine=92s legs off the chair, =93Bring me the c=
aptain
> of the Guard. NOW!=94 He ordered one of his aides. =93As for you,=94 He
> pointed at George, =93You should be ashamed, Misha is under your command
> and YOU let him leave!=94
>
>        George shook his head slowly. =93I am with Misha on this. We need =
to
> hit those people NOW. Not stand around like fools trying to negotiate
> with them. We thump them once or twice and they WILL start to talk a
> lot more to us.=94
>
>        =93And you NEVER brought it to my attention, not once. Just now.=
=94
>
>        George growled. =93I DID. Misha and me both talked to you about th=
ese
> raiders. Talked to you about going after their base outside the
> valley. You kept brushing us off.=94
>
>        =93My liege?=94 a woman standing at the door asked.
>
>        It was the captain of his guards. Like all gender morphs she had t=
he
> ability to become a bimbo, however, the female human was also able to
> use her curse in other cosmetic ways =96 her bust was actually quite
> modest but her hair was very long and reached down to her legs. It was
> very silky and beautiful, from afar it could be mistaken for a horse=92s
> tail, one that rivalled that of the duke!
>
>        =93This will take a moment, Myrddin,=94 Thomas turned to George, =
=93Get
> out.=94
>
>        George growled and stood up, turning he walked silently past the
> woman and out of the room without another word.
>
>        Thomas ignored the canine and ushered the human into the room. =93=
I=92m
> told your people rejected a messenger from Brightleaf while we were in
> the field today.=94
>
>        =93I was riding alongside you, milord, I never saw anyone.=94
>
>        =93No one reported this to you?=94
>
>        =93No sir.=94 She answered respectfully.
>
>        He nodded, =93Who do you have who has hooves?=94
>
>        =93Several of the guards, I could question them or have this messe=
nger
> summoned for his statement.=94
>
>        =93That would be best. Bring the messenger to me, Zachary or Steal=
th
> or
> whatever.=94 Might as well find out what happened from the source...
>
> ---------------------------------------
>
>        =93I=92m sorry! I was just delivering a message!=94 Stealth said, =
looking
> at his grace with cub eyes.
>
>        =93What happened?=94 The Duke asked, ignoring the feline=92s trepi=
dation.
> =93Why didn=92t I receive that message?=94
>
>        =93They didn=92t let me =96 they told me to go and kicked me away.=
=94 The
> cheetah said, trembling slightly.
>
>        =93They kicked you?=94 The duke asked shocked. =93Who did?=94
>
>        =93I... I don=92t know who he is, a mule with dark fur and a deep
> voice.=94
>
>        The duke nodded. =93What exactly did you tell him before he kicked
> you?=94
>
>        =93That I had an important message, he told me to leave the area
> before
> your arrival but I didn=92t move...=94 He said with a sigh, =93I=92m sorr=
y,
> sir.=94 The cat whimpered.
>
>        =93You have nothing to be sorry about,=94 Thomas answered. =93He h=
ad no
> right to treat you so.=94
>
>        The cheetah nodded, feeling embarrassed in the presence of this
> imposing noble. The furthest he=92d ever been in the ductile chambers
> was the Steward=92s office. Now he sat in the Duke=92s private study. It
> was unnerving at best.
>
>        =93Look ...Stealth? I apologize for your rough treatment at the ha=
nds
> .
> . . hooves of my people.=94
>
>        =93Thank you milord...=94 Stealth said softly, =93I...=94 he began.
>
>        =93Speak.=94 Thomas ordered bluntly.
>
>        =93...I=92m sorry I stole food from your banquette last year.=94 He
> mumbled.
>
>        He nodded and patted the cheetah on the shoulder. =93Thank you.=94
>
>        Stealth smiled and looked down.
>
>        =93Chin up.=94 The duke ordered bluntly again. =93...You seem shy,=
 lad.
> Thalberg spoke of you as a defiant young man needing direction.=94
> Thomas chuckled wryly, =93He said the same about Misha but that was a
> long time ago.=94
>
>        =93What will happen with Misha?=94 The cheetah asked.
>
>        The horse lord sighed deeply, =93I can do little but await his
> return... we haven=92t been on the best of terms lately.=94 He said with a
> tinge of sorrow.
>
>        =93Little? ...milord, I thought nobles aren=92t supposed to show s=
igns
> of
> weakness.=94 The cat said in surprise.
>
>        =93That we aren=92t.=94 The duke concurred, =93But these are my pr=
ivate
> chambers and Misha trusts you to deliver things to me.=94
>
>        =93But I thought you didn=92t trust Misha?=94
>
>        Thomas sighed. =93I do trust him but not as much as I should. And =
what
> is worse he no longer trusts me.=94
>
>        =93That sounds dangerous...=94 The cheetah commented, =93I mean
> cooperation
> and good communication is vital between our leaders... isn=92t it?=94
>
>        =93It is. It is essential in these times. If I=92m right, he=92s g=
one to
> destroy a raiders=92 hideout in the south.=94
>
>        =93In a territory that=92s harbouring them... And the local nobles=
 can
> claim it as an act of war.=94 Stealth mused.
>
>        The equine nodded with a grimace.
>
>        =93I=92m sorry, I said too much.=94 The cheetah mumbled anxiously,=
 =93I
> won=92t
> waste any more of your time.=94
>
>        =93No, please,=94 The duke surprised him by saying, =93Stay for a =
moment.
> I
> could use a good chat right now and I don=92t fancy disquieting my wife
> with quandaries in the south.=94
>
>        Stealth nodded, he did feel like he was being delayed. He wanted to
> say something reassuring but he didn=92t know what so they sat through
> an uncomfortable silence for some time.
>
>        =93...So how=92s your day been?=94 The horse asked offhandedly.
>
>        =93Not too bad...=94 The cheetah answered awkwardly.
>
>        They sat through several long moments of silence.
>
>        =93Misha isn=92t stupid.=94 Stealth said suddenly, =93He=92s silly=
, odd,
> nutty,
> so on and so forth but he=92s an intelligent and competent soldier and
> leader. With any luck he=92ll cover his tracks and even make it look
> like some neighbouring kingdom was responsible!=94
>
>        Thomas weighed the comment, =93He does good work in the north but
> these
> aren=92t shabby ragtag tribes he=92s dealing with now.=94
>
>        =93No but he wasn=92t always a keeper; he used to be a solder in t=
he
> southlands, George too. That=92s where they developed their strategies
> in the first place.=94 The feline countered, =93This might go better then
> we could have hoped.=94
>
>        The duke sighed and nodded. He didn=92t have any hopes for the
> vulpine=92s most recent bout of idiocy and anything other then what he
> was anticipating would be good news but it would do him no good to
> brood and grimace.
>
>        =93I suppose it could.=94 He stood up suddenly, =93Thank you, Stea=
lth. I
> have other pressing matters I must tend to now but I appreciate this
> talk and I will give that guard a serious chewing out, I assure.=94
>
>        =93Thank you Milord.=94 The cheetah stood and bowed.
>
>        =93Call me Thomas, at least while there=92s no one about to look
> official for.=94
>
>        =93Yes mil- Tom, Thomas! Will Tom do?=94
>
>        =93Tom is fine.=94 He answered and opened the door.
>
>        With the outside world visible, Stealth didn=92t repeat the name b=
ut
> just bowed again and then left. He walked quickly out of the ductile
> chambers but with a spirited aura. Metamor was just full of surprises.
>
>
> Cut Down a Long Peg
> Copyright (c) 2009 Michael Nastov
>
> _______________________________________________
> MKGuild mailing list
> MKGuild at lists.integral.org
> http://lists.integral.org/listinfo/mkguild
>
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