[Mkguild] Second Steps - Part 3 the finale

[Christian Okane]

Here is part 3 - the last part. I hope you enjoy it!

Chris
The Lurking Fox



   As a paladin Edmund had forsaken many of life's pleasures. Drinking,
gambling were things that others enjoyed. But as a paladin he had taken vows
of abstinence and he was not allowed such things. But he did allow himself a
few small pleasures. One of those was having a nice, long bath. Just
relaxing and soaking in the hot water of one of the Keeps baths.

   Edmund has removed his clothes and stepped into the large room where the
bath was. At this early hour the place was empty except for Edmund and one
other person. There floating in the water was another cheetah. "Stealth!" he
called out. "Good to see you!"

   The cheetah morph was floating in the water eating a sugar coated pastry
of some sort. Stealth waved to the paladin. "Hello! Come in! The water is
great!"

   Edmund dropped his towel onto a bench and slowly stepped into the pool.
the water was hot but not too hot. he could already feel his body relaxing
and his muscles loosening up.

   "Have you heard the good news?" Edmund asked as he slowly made his way
over to where his friend was.
   "Mmmm," Stealth commented without stopping his eating. 
   "There has been an offer of peace from the lutins," the paladin
explained. "An important chieftain has asked to negotiate with Thomas."
   "What do I think?" Stealth snarled. "Kill all of them!" He clenched his
fist squashing the pastry into a sticky mess that oozed out between his
fingers.
   "Why so hostile?" the paladin asked. Surprised by his friends reaction.

   Stealth let the tip of his tail poke free of the water for a moment..

   "I see.”

   The cheetah-man nodded as his tail sank back out of sight, "If those
ranting little bastards want peace all they have to do is NOT attack us to
begin with, let alone rape and eat us."

   "That, my friend is what this is about. He wants peace,” Edmund
commented.

   "Why? What difference does it make now? For years, no, centuries they've
been attacking us and they've always come off second best, now we just
happen to have wiped out another generation of their best fighters and our
defenses are stronger then they've ever been."

   "And what happens in 20 years when the lutins have recovered enough to
attack? They will attack us repeating a cycle that has gone on for
centuries,” the paladin countered.

   "Then we'll kill scores of them again and again until they learn. And if
they don't that's their problem and their choice, not ours,” Stealth
snarled.

   Edmund shook his head. "Learn what Stealth? Learn to make peace with us?"

   "Oh, please, you call this attempt peace? The only reason they're doing
this is hereditary. Because one of ours was raped." Stealth countered
scornfully, "Like I said, they want peace, don't attack us. It's not that
hard, it's not like we want to fight them or invade their crappy barren
lands."

   "You make it sound so easy,” Edmund said sadly. “But reality never is."

   "Then what do you expect to come from this?"

   Edmund shrugged. "I don't know. But we have to break the cycle of
violence somehow. Or our children and grand children will be fighting
lutins."

   Stealth waved a hand, "I'm not a bloodthirsty monster, Ed. If we decide
to... try to make peace, so be it. I won't stand in the way."


************************


   The message and an explanation from the chief came with the freed slaves.
It answered some questions but raised many more.

   ‘Dear Lord Thomas,

   I am pleased that my little gift was so appreciated. I have always
thought keeping slaves was detrimental in the long term. I do apologize for
the poor condition of many of them. I only recently acquired them myself
from Nasoj and there was little time for rest and recuperation. I believe
that there are no other Keepers still in lutin hands although that foul
monster Nasoj might still hold more.

   I do have one request. The Long Scout known as Finbar MUST be present. To
clarify I demand the presence of Finbar whose current species is a ferret
and who fought so well during the Yuletide assault and personally killed
General Selig.”

   Sincerely,

   Kelrag (The Conqueror) Arthedain “

   “Why does he want to see Finbar?” Thomas asked.

   Misha shrugged his shoulders. “I’ve no idea but we do have a clue. He
mentioned Finbar killing Selig.”

   “He mentioned it twice,” Thalberg commented. “It must be important to him
to meet Finbar.”

   Thomas nodded. “Agreed but we will have to wait till we meet him to find
out his exact reasons.”

   “He gave his last name as Arthedain,” George said. “That’s not a lutin
name.”

   “It’s a name common among the human communities in the Giantdowns,”
Andwyn commented.

   Misha shook his head.” I’ve never heard of a lutin using a human family
name except with the words ‘Slayer of’ in front.”

   “We need more information on him,” Thalberg ordered. “What’s already
known about him?”

   “Little personal information,” the fox explained. “He is the leader of
the Crushing Fists tribe and has been for around twenty years.”

   “He took control of the tribe in coup,” Andwyn added. “Which is fairly
normal for lutins.”

   “And many human governments as well,” George commented sarcastically.

   “We believed he was allied with Nasoj but none of his tribe took part in
the Yuletide attack,” the bat said.

   “We can be certain of one thing,” George explained. “He hates Nasoj as
much as we do.”

   “I like him already!” Misha said cheerfully. "I do know he led an
alliance of tribes against Nasoj soon after the Yule attack failed. It was a
very well planned and coordinated strike.”

   “That means he knew of the Yule attack before it happened,” Thomas said.

   “Yes and he also knew it would fail,” Andwyn offered.

   George took a sip of wine. “Perhaps he helped it to fail.”

   Andwyn and Misha nodded in agreement. “A lot of tribes did not join the
assault against Metamor. I’ll bet he was involved in that. Talking, bribing
and threatening tribes into not joining Nasoj," Misha commented.

   “Agreed,” Thalberg added. “But why did he do that?”

   “To increase his own power,” Andwyn said. “With Nasoj in control of the
Giantdowns his power would be limited. He would have to follow Nasoj’s
commands and only have what Nasoj gives him. But with the failure of the
Yule attack Nasoj’s control of the Giantdowns is failing. That leaves a lot
more room for him to expand and to take control himself. He's wasted no time
in taking advantage of the chaos. He has attacked and conquered several
nearby tribes."

   "Also attacked Nasoj's troops at every chance," George added.

   “Whatever his motives he has no love of Nasoj,” Misha said. “And that is
something we can exploit.”

   “I am sure Kelrag is thinking the same thing of us,” George added.

   “Whatever his reasons, he deserves to be heard,” the duke said. “And meet
me face to face.”


********************


   Dear Lord Kelrag,

   I do offer you my heartfelt thanks for the return of our people. I agree
to the terms of our meeting but insist that that it take place at Hareford
in three weeks on the twenty first. I will be there myself along with a
small entourage that will include Finbar. I do look forward to what we will
be discussing.”

   Sincerely,
  Duke Thomas Hassan


********************


Three weeks later


   “Why am I here?” Finbar growled.

   “How many times are you going to ask that?” Misha snapped back. A large
group was waiting just inside Hareford by the Main gatehouse. Along with
Misha, George, Finbar and Danielle was duke Thomas with a good sized
entourage of knights and soldiers. Also present there seemed to be everyone
in the town. The only ones not present were Nestorius and Dupre'. The lion
had deemed it important to keep his distance. The mage was nearby and Misha
had confirmed that he would have several powerful spells cast and others
ready. Just in case. Dupre' was also nearby. Close enough that if a fight
broke out he could rush in and help but far enough away that any deceptive
attack would not get him as well.

   “Until I get a good answer,” Finbar asked. The ferret was sitting in a
dark corner with his head down and his arms, legs and tail tucked in. No one
would come near him. Even Danielle was standing at arm’s length.

   “Finbar,” Misha said coldly. “They requested you be here. They
specifically gave your name.”

   “I don’t . . “

   “Finbar,” George barked in a cold tone. “Shut up.”

    Finbar didn’t say anything but bared his teeth at George. The old scout
pulled his lips back revealing a set of teeth larger and sharper then
Finbar’s. “I don’t care if you sulk just do it quietly.”

   Misha couldn’t fault Finbar for being so confused and asking the
question. They were all asking that question but no one had an answer.

   Three weeks of waiting planning and more planning and now all they could
do is wait for the lutins to arrive.


********************


   Further north in the valley another group of keepers waited. Most of this
group was mounted. Some were riding horses, several were riding elk and
other deer. All the riders were Keepers and so were some of the mounts they
were riding. At the front was a tall wolverine morph riding a horse. He was
dressed in full armor and carrying a lance. Andre was trying to look calm
and seemingly having everything under control. But that was far from the
truth. He had arraigned his outriders and Georges scouts were scattered in
the woods and brush nearby. Ahead of him was the object of his nervousness.

   Coming down the road towards the keepers was a large group of lutins. At
any other time a group like that would have been attacked by archers while
Andre's cavalry ran them down, killing all the lutins with arrow, lance and
sword. But today these lutins were the guests of the Duke. So all the
Keepers could do is wait as the group approached them.

   When the group of lutins was within a hundred yards of André and his
cavalry a figure detached from the mass and moved ahead. When this figure
got close enough Andre realized that this was a human, a man dressed in
loose flowing robes. Misha or one of his Longs would probably recognize who
this person was but to the cavalry officer he was unknown. He was not
wearing armor and had no visible weapons and he did not carry himself like a
soldier. So the wolverine guessed he was probably a mage of some sort. 

   "Greetings," the man said. "Lord Kelrag the slayer comes to speak with
the duke.

   Andre gave a nod of the head. "Greetings. Lord Thomas welcomes you to
Metamor Valley. I am to escort you to Outpost."

   The man nodded in reply and smiled. "Thank you."

 
********************


   The chief arrived on time, Almost to the minute of the time he had
promised. He arrived with a large retinue. First came no less than one
hundred Lutins all dressed in plate mail armor and each carry a sword and
shield. In spite of the bright and shiny look of their weapons and armor
Misha knew these were highly skilled soldiers. They moved with the ease and
confidence of skilled warriors who knew well how to fight.

   What came next surprised all the Keepers. Humans. Not slaves or farmers
press ganged into serving. These men and woman wore a wide variety of
clothing. Some wore armor, some didn’t. Many wore a variety of shirts,
pants, skirts and robes. But all were obviously there of their own accord.

   Walking at the head of the group was a black haired woman wearing a long
robe that covered her from neck to toes. Her long black hair was braided and
bound close to her skull.

   “Hey!” Caroline commented in a whisper. “I know her.”

   “She’s on one of Andwyn’s lists,” Misha commented.

   “Several of them,” George added. “The reward for her head is quite
large!”

   “She's one of Nasoj’s Druzhina,” Misha commented. “All of them are.”

   “Not anymore,” Caroline said softly. “They seem to have a new employer.”

   George nodded. “Be sure that you keep Andwyn’s people away from them. The
chief might get upset if some of them turn up dead all of a sudden,” he said
in a tone loud enough for all to hear.

   Misha nodded in response. “The cooks and servers are all my people and
from Long house and I trust them but there is only so much I can do about
Andwyn.”

   “Who checked them besides you?” George asked.

   “Rickkter of course.”

   George nodded. “Good. Also be sure our guests don’t get creative and do
anything nasty.”

   “Rickkter is handling that as well,” Misha answered. Misha did not know
exactly where Rickkter was but he was sure the raccoon was hidden nearby
watching and waiting.

   “What was his price?” the old scout asked.

   “Three pages of information on his dagger,” the fox morph answered in a
soft whisper.

   George didn’t speak but looked at Misha for a moment.

   “I told him nothing of deadly importance,” Misha said answering George’s
unspoken question. “Beside those two need to start getting along sometime.
It seemed a good way to start.”

   The group of humans gave way to a pair of very large lutins. Each one was
over six feet tall and had to weigh at least five hundred pounds. They were
both carrying oversized scimitars. Their bodies were covered with scars,
telling of countless fights.

   Finally the chief himself came into view. He was of five and a half feet
tall and was wearing full plate mail armor that was buffed and polished to a
high shine and was edged with gold and silver. Engraved on the chest plate
was the image of an armored fist crushing a sword.

   The lutin gazed at Thomas and nodded. He looked at George and then Misha
and gave a polite nod of the head to each. He keep looking around at the
keepers until his eyes fell upon Finbar. The ferret was standing at the very
back of the group and was still sulking. The Lutin’s face brightened into a
broad smile. Then he bowed deeply to Finbar. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

   This took Finbar by surprise as much as it did everyone else. The ferret
stood there for a moment. Danielle gently poked him in the arm and Finbar
bowed to the lutin. “Sir,” the ferret stuttered.

   The lutin looked behind him and then pointed to Finbar. Two servants left
the group behind the chief and walked towards the ferret. Both were carrying
an assortment of items. The first, a young female lutin was carrying a small
bag that jingled loudly when she handed it to Finbar. In her other hand was
a jacket of blue silk with gold buttons and braid. She held it out to the
scout but Danielle took it from her. The woman’s eyes widened in surprise as
she looked over the piece of clothing.

   The second servant was a male carrying a small box made of a black wood.
Every inch of the box was covered with intricate carvings. He opened the box
revealing a pair of knives inside. The blades of both weapons were covered
with gold and the hilts were of solid ivory.

   The lutin held out the box to Finbar expecting him to take it. But the
keeper did not move.

   “I don’t want any of your gifts,” Finbar snarled. “Not now, not ever!”

   “Why?” the lutin asked sounding genuinely confused. “You earned them!”

   “MY MOTHER WAS RAPED BY A LUTIN,” Finbar snarled. His hackles were up and
his teeth and claws bared.

   “So was mine,” the lutin answered calmly. “By the same lutin.”

   A very deep and profound silence filled the room that seemed to last
forever. Finbar stood as rigid and still as a stone statue.

   “You . . .” Finbar stuttered. “You’re. . . ”

   “Yes brother, yes.”

The End


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