[Mkguild] Heraldic Beginnings (6/7)

[C. Matthias]

Part 6!  We're almost finished!

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March 26, 708 CR


While his chest and jaw stilled pained him at 
times, it was now a faint suggestion of what had 
happened to him on the mount rather than an 
ever-present reminder of Marzac's power. And for 
this he was grateful as he had to keep one arm 
raised over his head to steady his middle boy 
Erick on the back of Malicon while the other 
gently guided the pony around the paddock area, 
while he constantly assured his son that he was 
doing fine and reminding him that he needed to 
keep seated with straight back and focused attention.

It had rained again that morning, and so they 
were all stained with mud up to their ankles, and 
now Charles had a generous helping smeared across 
his sleeves and both front and back of his tunic. 
When he'd tried to place little Berndatte on his 
pony's saddle, she had manage to slip from his 
grasp and wrap her legs about his neck instead. 
He was going to need another bath already; 
judging by the look and smell of the sky, if he 
lingered outside long enough the weather would take care of that for him.

Still, despite the much, he was enjoying taking 
the time that afternoon to begin instructing his 
children in the art of riding horseback. Their 
legs would never be large enough to manage a real 
horse, but the ponies in the Valley were of good 
stock and would serve well enough as much as they 
were able. Already the names of Armivest and 
Malicon were known by most of the knights of 
Metamor as steeds to be respected and that 
brought Charles quite a bit of pride; both for 
his own sake and for his knight's.

“Look! I'm riding! I'm riding!” Erick squealed in 
delight, his tail bouncing off the back of the 
saddle as Charles led Malicon in a wide circle 
around the edge of the paddocks.

“Aye, you are,” Charles replied noting that his 
middle son minded his lessons when it came to 
riding much better than he usually did.

“Ah, he takes to the saddle as if he wert of the 
Steppe!” Sir Saulius announced as he approached 
from the commons. The knight hugged the other 
children who rushed over to welcome him, not 
minding the way their muddy paws smeared across 
his tabard. After setting them each down, he 
gestured over his shoulder toward one of the 
trees on the other side of the commons. “Lord 
Avery dost wish to speak with thee, Charles. I shalt watch o'er thy children.”

Charles drew Malicon to a stop and steadied his 
son Erick. “Where is he? At Lars's?”

“In his home.”

He grunted and handed the reins to the knight. 
Saulius moved into place next to him, one paw 
steadying his namesake on the saddle. “I'd best go find out what he wants.”

Sir Saulius smiled so broadly, and he stood so 
tall on his toes that Charles began to wonder if 
his knight didn't already know. Still, he allowed 
his friend to keep his secret for a little 
longer, patting each of his children on the head 
before heading across the commons to one of the 
ropes that dangled out of the branches.

His chest ached by the time he'd reached the 
landing at the top. This was the place he'd come 
the very first time he'd been to Glen Avery two 
years ago. The small entrance had no roof but the 
branches overhead, and set on either end were 
unlit lanterns. Along the walls on either side 
were narrow windows perfect for archers, and at 
the far end was a round door into the side of the 
massive redwood on whose broad branches the rat now stood.

The door was cracked, and Charles gingerly pushed it open, “Lord Avery?”

“Come in!” he heard the squirrel's voice echo 
from within the small chamber beyond. The Lord of 
the Glen sat by himself at a small table 
fashioned directly out of the tree. “Charles, 
welcome! Please sit.” He gestured opposite him, 
and then rested his elbows on a hand-drawn map. 
Charles glanced at it as he closed the door 
behind him and settled down opposite the gray 
squirrel; it appeared to be of Glen Avery and the 
land to its north, south, east, and west.

“You wished to see me, milord?” Charles asked as 
hew sat, tail bunching behind him as there was 
not much space between the bench and the wall of 
the tree, warm to the touch as in his own home; 
the magic of the woodmage Burris at work.

“I did,” Lord Avery studied him for a moment and 
then smiled faintly. “You have been a help to us 
here at the Glen ever since you first arrived two 
years past and sat in that very same spot. You 
have been away on many long adventures, but you 
know that everyone here considers a Glenner as much as if you were born here.”

He felt his chest swell at that, and his whiskers 
flicked in delight. “Thank you, milord. It is one 
of the nicest homes I've ever known. I look 
forward to raising my family here, and seeing 
them raise families of their own here too.”

“It warms my heart to hear of it,” the gray 
squirrel's tail danced back and forth behind his 
head. “You stared a trend last year; at first it 
was only Angela and I who had children already 
touched by the animal Curse. Now you both you and 
Jurmas have such children, and there are a few 
others who are expecting that my wife tells me 
will be as your children and mine!”

Charles smiled at the thought of the Glen filled 
with beastly children playing their games 
together. Already the few grown humans looked out 
of place in the Glen; could even the human children look out of place too?

“Well, I and my family have returned and we are 
here to stay. Much to Misha's lament I'm sure. He 
did wish me to speak with you about possibly 
providing me, as the representative of the Long 
Scouts here at the Glen, more opportunities to 
help direct affairs for the Glen Scouts. I would 
never take Angus or that skunk's place, but... 
some authority of my own. I hope I am not too forward when I say this.”

Brian Avery blinked in surprise, and then leaned 
back with a hearty laugh, grabbing at the table 
with his sharp claws to keep from completely 
upending. “Oh, Charles! What sweet irony! No, I 
wouldn't want you to take either Angus or 
Berchem's place – although he has gone south for 
a few weeks, no matter. But I do want to offer 
you the chance to lead in a very special here at the Glen.”

“Oh?”

And then he learned what his knight already knew.

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Charles headed straight home without giving Lord 
Avery an answer, though one was promised that 
evening. He saw that Sir Saulius was still at the 
paddocks trying to teach his children to ride. He 
did not pause to greet them; their attention was 
so focused on getting their turn to ride the pony 
that they never looked or sniffed his way. 
Unimpeded, Charles snuck down to the door between 
the roots, and slipped into his home, dipping his 
paws in the washbasin by the door and drying them 
off before looking for his wife.

Kimberly was in the kitchen reacquainting herself 
with all of its implements and scolded him in a 
gentle way on his muddy attire. Then she saw his 
serious expression and set down the pans she'd held. “What is it, Charles?”

He grasped one of her paws and drew her close. 
“My sweet Lady Kimberly. I know you left behind a 
noble's inheritance because the life your family 
had planned for you was so distasteful that you 
would rather live with the common folk as one of 
them. I could never accept the offer that has 
just been made to me without your consent, and without prayer.”

She blinked and then lifted her free paw to his 
face and plucked a bit of dried mud from his cheek fur. “What offer is this?”

He told her. She listened. And then they both 
went to the little house altar Charles had built for them and knelt in prayer.

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It was well into evening and Lord Avery had just 
come from enjoying a pleasant meal with his two 
sons and wife to hear the reports from his scouts 
at the brewery when he was stopped only a few 
paces from the door by a very familiar figure. 
The torches were lit about the commons and 
another pair flanked the stony entrance to Lars's 
very popular establishment. “Who is... oh, 
Charles! It is good to see you. Have you and your 
family had enough time to consider the offer?”

Charles, still touched by mud and smelling 
strongly of horse, nodded his wide head. “We 
have, we prayed, and without reservation both I 
and my family accept the honor!”

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

Charles Matthias


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