[Mkguild] Fellowship of the Egg (3/3)

[C. Matthias]

And here's the conclusion!  We hope you all enjoyed it. :-)

Metamor Keep: Fellowship of the Egg
By Christof Bradford and Charles Matthias

         The Fellowship meeting ran well into the afternoon, but with 
the winter dusk nearing, and with it a bone cold chill that 
threatened torpor even for the most bundled of reptile, Emily, with 
only a little ceremony and a blessing from both Follower and 
Lothanasi representatives, brought the gathering to a close.
         Miriam had spent much of the afternoon listening to stories 
from a trio of sea birds who'd flown in from the southern coasts and 
had barely noticed the passage of time.  Their adventures were 
amusing and their manner infectious.  They had heard of the people of 
Bradanes and she asked them many questions about how many more were 
still coming to Metamor.  But she was not surprised when she learned 
that the rest were waiting for the Spring.  Kozaithy had assured her 
as much only a few days past.
         She was unable to interrogate the trio further before 
Copernicus absconded with them in a very official manner.  Next thing 
the alligator knew, Emily began the closing ceremonies and she found 
herself at Thalberg's side again.
         And then, before Miriam quite realized what was happening, 
she was doffing the white robe and donning her own heavier 
clothes.  The cool air in the hallway outside the Fellowship hall 
made her tremble as if she wanted to fall back, but Thalberg's 
strong, scaled hands ushered her out; and gave her confidence.
         The various birds and reptiles dispersed with riotous 
laughter and merriment, the singing of songs and the promises of 
seeing each other again soon.  Thalberg gestured for Miriam to wait a 
short distance from the entrance but he didn't say what for.  She 
waved to a few friends, some from Bradanes, but many those she'd just 
made.  Tabitha gave her a firm hug before heading on her way.
         When the dusty komodo emerged wearing a bright scarf around 
her neck and a harness pulling a small wheeled wagon in which was 
coiled a mottled viper covered in a thick blanket, she knew that this 
was what Thalberg had been waiting for.  Thalberg nodded to the 
komodo and gestured for them to walk together.
         "Ah, Miriam," Emily said with a croaking hiss. "You never 
had a chance to meet my husband."
         The snake waved a small arm at her from just above the 
billowing blankets.  His long forked tongue flicked out and he hissed 
in a friendly manner. "Raymond.  It is a pleasure to meet you, Miriam."
         Miriam cracked her jaws in a saurian smile. "And you, 
Raymond."  She fell into step with Thalberg and just a little behind 
Emily whose back and forth gait made her tail swing a few feet from 
side to side.  She felt a bit awkward but managed to ask, "Why are 
you in a wagon?"
         "The ground is a bit too cold to slither on," Raymond said 
with a sibilant laugh. "My body does not like snow.  Now a good hot 
stone basking in the sun, that my body can never get enough of."
         Miriam had to admit that sounded rather appealing. "Where do 
you live?"
         "Euper," he replied. "Although," the viper looked askance 
and seemed to narrow his slitted eyes, "I don't think we'll be making 
it back tonight."
         Emily turned her head back and asked, "Would it be too much 
to ask if we might stay with you this night, Miriam?  At least until 
the storm passes."
         "The storm?" Miriam blinked.
         "Yes, the one the birds mentioned.  It should be passed by morning."
         Miriam recalled it now.  The trio had been complaining of 
snow when they'd arrived late.  She'd just been so excited to hear 
their stories that she'd forget their entrance. "Of course you can 
stay.  I don't have much, but I can keep it very warm and humid."
         "Oh thank you," Emily hooted as she tugged the wagon.  The 
wheels kept trying to run over her tail tip, but she swung it back 
and forth quickly enough to keep it safe.  Raymond's slitted eyes 
watched his wife's thick tail sway with rigid intensity. "That is 
very kind of you."
         Miriam wanted to lean closer to Thalberg, but the Steward 
was being his usual cagey self.  Every time she stepped nearer, his 
gait would draw him a little bit away.  She just couldn't quite reach 
him.  Still, there was a warm regard in his yellow eyes as they walked.
         "So are you, Emily." The new alligator held her heavy robes 
close to her chest, scaled hands and claws digging into the fabric. 
"I'm just so glad there is a Fellowship.  Thank you."
         Emily's jaws opened in a lizard-grin but she didn't say 
anything more.  A few minutes later they reached Miriam's 
unremarkable door.  The wood was warm to the touch and Emily's head 
picked up when she approached.  Miriam opened the door wide, letting 
light from the hallway spill inside.  Emily gestured with a wave of a 
forepaw and Miriam walked in ahead of her.  She was careful not to 
smack the komodo in the head with her hefty tail.
         After she lit all the lamps in her small quarters, Emily 
dragged Raymond in after her.  Thalberg followed in last, but 
lingered near the door.  Emily stopped in front of the hearth and 
grabbed a fistful of kindling and began arranging it in the 
centre.  Raymond leaned over the edge of the wagon and patted his 
slight hands on the stony floor.  It delight he exclaimed, "It's warm!"
         Miriam nodded as she bent down to help the komodo build a 
fire. "I live over the kitchens.  My floor is always warm at the end 
of the day.  Don't sleep on it though.  It will be cold by morning."
         Raymond slithered out from underneath his blankets and 
deposited his long body on the stone floor.  He then grabbed his 
blankets and hissed in serpentine contentment. "This is so nice for now."
         Emily chuckled a throaty laugh, while Thalberg rumbled in 
his belly.  The massive alligator then grunted and put a hearty paw 
on Miriam's shoulder. "I fear I will need to return to my duties.  Is 
there anything I can have sent for you?"
         Miriam straightened and felt her heart sink. "You have to 
go?  I thought his grace gave you the day!"
         He nodded. "He did, but a great deal will have piled up 
already.  I ought to see to it before it becomes unbearable 
tomorrow.  I will send you three something pipping hot from the 
kitchens." He glanced down at Miriam's meagre wood pile. "And some 
more wood so you can keep your fire burning through the night."
         Miriam felt a barrenness of disappointment for a moment, and 
then, not quite realizing it, she flung herself at the larger 
alligator and wrapped her arms about him. "Thank you, Thalberg.  Thank you!"
         Thalberg grunted in surprise, but very gently put his arms 
on her back and patted as if unsure what more he should do. "You're 
quite welcome.  Now I need to go.  I will see you again tomorrow."
         She let go of him just as suddenly, feeling embarrassed but 
grateful that as a reptile she couldn't blush.  Still, her eyes never 
left the Steward until his massive bulk disappeared down the 
corridor.  Finally, she let her door shut, trapping the warmth 
inside, and turned back to her guests.  Raymond was trying not to 
look like he'd been watching.  Emily nodded her large head in 
approval, dark eyes beaming with delight.  Miriam lowered her head 
and bent down next to the hearth, trying not to look at either of her 
guests. "Let's get that fire started, shall we?  I can boil some 
water to make the air nice and humid too."
         So saying, she threw herself into the task while Emily and 
Raymond watched, smiling as only reptiles can to one another.

         Dinner proved to be chicken in a warm broth coupled with 
fresh noodles.  Miriam recognized the little mouse who brought it for 
them as Bernadette.  Despite being a mouse bringing food for three 
creatures who in the wild would have gobbled down a mouse without the 
slightest prodding, she showed no fear but gushed in delight at the 
chance to serve them.  Both Raymond and Emily were courteous and 
thanked her profusely after having she set their bowls on the floor 
before them with complete solicitousness.  No hint of disdain at the 
reptiles who couldn't eat at a table anymore.  Miriam felt some 
relief that one of her new friends from the Keep Kitchens would have 
so effectively proved Yousef wrong.
         She stayed only long enough to make sure that they were not 
in want, and then bustled back to the Kitchens to finish cleaning for 
the day.  The three of them shared a prayer before sedately enjoying 
their meal.  Neither Emily nor Raymond could easily use utensils, but 
they did try for Miriam's sake.  At seeing their discomfiture, Miriam 
set her bowl on the ground too and stuffed her snout in and slurped 
up the chicken, noodles, and broth.  That set all of them at 
ease  and they even laughed at the silly ways their bodies forced 
them to eat.  Raymond took particular delight in slithering his 
noodles down his throat one at a time.
         By the time their bowls were empty and their bellies 
satisfied, they'd given their lungs plenty of good 
exercise.  Instead, they gave their tongues exercising, talking of 
the Valley before the days of the curses, how so much more than just 
appearances had changed since then, and of course, how Miriam was 
settling into her new life.  What was never asked was anything about 
her old life at Bradanes, and for that she was very grateful.
         The candles she'd lit to mark time were beginning to burn 
low by the time Miriam finally gave into the increasing exasperation 
and impatience she felt. "Doesn't he ever go to sleep?" Miriam asked 
of the komodo, waving an arm at the snaked coiled up near them.
         Emily glanced at her husband and her tongue flicked out from 
between her scaled lips. "Raymond? He's fast asleep right now."
         "He can't be, his eyes are wide open!"
         Emily seemed to smile at her husband, "Oh yes, he's asleep. 
Like most snakes in the Fellowship, he can't close his eyes, ever. 
His eyelids have become transparent and sealed over his eyes."
         Two months ago, she would have found this less than 
comforting.  But now, it felt right and natural, even if a little 
unusual.  And the news was a great relief.  Miriam looked down at the 
floor in silence for a long moment before she lifted her eyes to meet 
Emily's gaze, "Now that your husband is fast asleep, affording us 
some privacy, I have to ask you something. Thalberg has been a great 
help to me in this last month, but there is an aspect of my new form 
of which I have not been able to bring myself to seek advice from him."
         The komodo tilted her head to one side in thought. "Oh. Oh! 
Yes, that would be something that a lady could hardly ask in polite 
company, especially of such a fine gentleman as the good Steward. 
Well, I'd be happy to answer the questions I know that you want 
answered, but propriety barred you from asking. The Blood of the Moon 
is a thing of the past. Every couple months or so, you might instead 
find yourself dropping an empty egg or two."
         "An egg?" Miriam blinked her own strange eye lids and her 
scaled hands as if bidden by some unheard command lowered to the 
robes covering her waist and tail. "You mean I don't have to... to... 
to lay eggs?"
         Emily nodded, her long tail dragging about the floor as if 
it were laughing for her. "You have been an alligator for almost a 
month now, you should drop your first very soon.  Do not fear.  It 
will be a little uncomfortable at first, but you will get used to 
it.  And you'll know when your eggs are empty or not.  I didn't 
believe it at first either, but it is true.  And," her eyes glimmered 
as if with mischief, "you do not need to be with any for this to 
come.  It is just part of who we are now."
         Miriam lowered her long snout again and her claws tightened, 
catching against the fabric. "And through the same... same..."
         Emily nodded sagely, and then, pushing herself closer, the 
warm fire crackling and reflecting brilliantly off her scales, she 
whispered her next words as if they were a vast secret.  Miriam 
listened, believing, even if there was still a small part of her that 
wanted to be revolted by the idea but couldn't quite bring itself to 
do so.  There was no denying it; she was a reptile now, and that's 
just how things were with reptiles.
         The komodo chuckled with a hiss and in a slightly louder 
voice added, "It's really not that different from before, 
really.  There is only one place to cleanse now, instead of two.  In 
fact, some of us are grateful for the increased ease in caring for 
ourselves." Her voice lowered again with a quick glance at her 
husband still staring empty-eyed into the distance. "It is all around 
better for us women.  We lose the discomfort.  Men lose... well, we 
don't talk about it so we don't embarrass them."
         It took Miriam a few seconds to understand just what the 
komodo was suggesting.  And then her jaws opened in a great 
crocodilian smile and she laughed heartily.  When she finally managed 
to catch her breath, she gestured with one hand to the viper, "How 
was it with Raymond... the first time... you know."
         Emily took in a deep breath, sighed and shook her head. "Oh 
the poor dear."  And they laughed again, croaking and hissing in 
reptilian mirth.  As the evening wore on and night claimed Metamor, 
the leader of the Fellowship and one of its newest members gossiped 
like sisters until all the candles had gone out.

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May He bless you and keep you in His grace and love,

Charles Matthias


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