[Mkguild] Dominion of the Hyacinth (10/10) Revised

[Hallan Mirayas]

What about Charles?  He got swatted, too.  Remember- if one gets found out, the other is immediately given away, too.  Mutual Assured Embarrassment.

> Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2013 04:41:26 -0400
> From: chrisokane at optimum.net
> To: jagille3 at vt.edu; MKGuild at lists.integral.org
> Subject: Re: [Mkguild] Dominion of the Hyacinth (10/10) Revised
> 
> Wow!  Even a thousand miles away Marzac continues to corrupt!
> 
> 
> And Rickkter had be VERY careful that Misha doesn't find out about him being
> spanked! Misha would NEVER let him live it down! He'd use jokes like "It
> must have been embarrassing UNLESS Rick liked being spanked!"
> 
> 
> Chris
> The Lurking Fox
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mkguild-bounces at lists.integral.org
> [mailto:mkguild-bounces at lists.integral.org] On Behalf Of C. Matthias
> Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 10:13 AM
> To: Metamor Keep
> Subject: [Mkguild] Dominion of the Hyacinth (10/10) Revised
> 
> I want to apologize to Chris Hoekstra.  When adding his edits I missed a big
> chunk in this section.  I hope that I haven't missed any others.  Here is
> the revised version of the Epilogue with the changes made.
> 
> ---------
> 
> 
> Epilogue
> 
> 
> Unable to do anything to help the hawks, once they were all dressed, they
> accepted Christina's invitation to a real meal at her husband's tavern a
> short walk from the barracks. The tavern, which sported a kingfisher lifting
> a tankard to its beak with its toes, was modest in comparison to the Deaf
> Mule or the other taverns in Keeptowne, but it was clean, with sweet
> smelling candles and lanterns that cast a warm light in almost every corner,
> sturdy long tables with enough space between each to keep tails from being
> stepped on, and plenty of thick, frothing ale, smoked fish, and savory bread
> to sate all their appetites.
> 
> Murikeer was not content to trust that Weyden would keep Jessica safe, and
> so had tied a very small tracking spell to his wings as they made ready to
> leave. So even as he ate and drank, enjoying the company of his friends, and
> the bemused glances that Christina gave them all when she served them their
> drinks, he could feel along that spell through the discomfort it brought him
> to know how the hawks were doing.
> 
> With the storm overhead there was nowhere for him or the others to go so
> they relaxed in the tavern telling stories, eating, drinking, and doing
> their best not to talk about their recent three hours of childhood. Murikeer
> enjoyed watching his friends relax and enjoy themselves, even if it wasn't
> until the storm grew its worst over the lake, pounding the tavern roof and
> flashing in the narrow windows that he was able to relax.
> 
> He could feel through his little spell Weyden's relief. He wasn't sure where
> the hawks were beyond their general direction, but wherever it was they must
> be safe. By that hour is was late and he knew that they would have to either
> accept Naomi's offer of a place in the barracks to sleep or find a room for
> himself. Lester, Christina's husband, boasted about the half-dozen rooms he
> had available and the skunk mage was leaning toward seeing if they were as
> comfortable as the leopard claimed.
> 
> A familiar figure settled in next to him with a fresh tankard of ale. The
> raccoon grinned and dipped his snout into the froth and lapped it clean.
> "Ah, a very satisfying way to end the day. 
> It is good to work together again, is it not, Muri?"
> 
> "We didn't do much," Muri said with a shrug. "But at least the hawks are
> safe now."
> 
> "I know," Rickkter grinned, his striped tail flicking upward and almost
> landing on the bench. 
> "Tracking spells are wonderful things."
> 
> "I didn't see yours," the skunk admitted with a nod of his head. "You are
> getting better at that, master." The last he added with a chortle. 
> Rickkter had long since recognized Murikeer's mastery in magic and was
> content to be friend rather than tutor and mentor.
> 
> "Who says I cast my own?" The raccoon's snout broke into another smile as he
> glanced across several tables to where Charles and James the donkey were
> enjoying their evening meal. He then sipped his ale again. "I trust things
> are still well with you and Kozaithy?"
> "They are. She's enjoying the country far more than the Keep."
> 
> "Have you taken on any more students, besides her and Lady Kimberly?"
> 
> "Not as of yet. Kozaithy still summons more smoke than flame, but Kimberly
> is proving herself capable." Murikeer nodded and wrapped his paw about the
> mazer of half drunk ale sitting on the table in front of him. "Kimberly is
> more skilled with magic than I had first suspected, but it will be many
> years yet before I teach her anything more dangerous than lighting candles."
> 
> He smiled fondly remembering their last session a few days ago. "She says
> she hopes that I would teach her children if any of them show any talent.
> She was dancing a witchlight around and letting her children try and catch
> it. That was... a true wonder."
> 
> The raccoon's eyes grew distant and in them the skunk saw the hint of a
> pleasant memory. But the moment past with a blink and Rickkter's gaze
> returned to him. "Do you recall, when I first took you on as an apprentice,
> why I was reluctant to do so? The welfare of the student; this is an
> obligation a master possesses by virtue of being master." He nodded toward
> the rat. "She is your obligations, same as you were mine."
> 
> "I know that," Muri replied with a frown. "Why are you..." he followed the
> raccoon's gaze and saw the table where Charles and James were attempting to
> drink with their arms intertwined. "So it's about him."
> 
> "He's the last of the Marzac party still here in the valley. And he is the
> last of them to manifest it. There is no question of if he will, only when
> he turns toward that evil." Rickkter lifted his mazer to his snout but did
> not drink. 
> "And when that happens, and it will happen, I think the best person to save
> him will be Lady Kimberly. Or perhaps his children. But at the same time,
> they will be in greater danger than the rest of us." He narrowed his eyes
> and fixed Muri with a stern gaze. "You need to make sure she's prepared for
> it."
> 
> He took a deep breath and licked the back of his fangs. "Charles has told
> her about Marzac and she knows what happened to James. She's not stupid. 
> She knows what it means for Charles."
> 
> "Knowing and admitting out loud are two different things."
> 
> "As you say," Muri conceded though in his heart he hoped that there would
> still be some way yet for Charles to avoid the corruption. "Why do you say
> she could best help him?"
> 
> "It seems to be the one weakness of Marzac - the only weakness that I can
> think of. Think back on the last times its arisen, those who turned the
> battle against it. This time Jessica had Weyden. 
> Before that, James had Baerle, and Kayla had me. 
> When it comes for Charles, Kimberly, or perhaps one of his children, stand
> the greatest chance of turning him away from it."
> 
> "You were also its target. Kayla tried to destroy you with it. Same for
> Jessica." He sighed heavily, his tail lashing about his legs. "And you're
> also thinking the same for Charles."
> 
> "It fits the pattern. We've dealt with it three times; we've beaten it three
> times. We know this, and worst of all, it knows this. I fear it may try
> something different this time. Thankfully Charles' power is not as... far
> reaching as Jessica's is. Whatever happens will be... personal."
> 
> Murikeer sipped at his ale and then licked his whiskers with a grimace. "Now
> even mere hours ago we defeat this thing and here we sit worrying and
> growing paranoid about the next time."
> 
> "Because when facing the inevitable, there's often little else one can do."
> Rickkter swirled his own drink and took a sip. "A last thing; Marzac seems
> to need an anchor in this world. To my knowledge Charles does not have any
> artifacts that could talk to him. Kayla had the swords, James the bell, and
> Jessica the hyacinth. To beat this, we need to figure out what Charles has.
> It may already be twisting his mind and we just haven't seen it."
> 
> "I cannot think of anything myself," Muri conceded. "I will be sure to speak
> with Kimberly tomorrow. She is due for another lesson anyway. 
> But Rick, this is going to upset her very deeply."
> 
> "Such is Marzac," Rickkter took a long swill of ale and sloshed it between
> his fangs before swallowing. A little dribbled out either side of his jowls
> and he wiped them on his sleeve. "And you know what... even with all this,
> I'm still pissed that I didn't get to go with them into that hell!"
> 
> Murikeer managed a laugh. But his eye kept straying to the rat a few tables
> away. What evil would Marzac seek through him? He dipped his snout into his
> mazer and drank. He would not sleep well tonight.
> 
> ----------
> 
> Mother Wilfrida, unable to sleep, waddled along the makeshift convent still
> under construction. 
> The storm had passed Metamor a few hours ago, but still her mind could not
> settle itself. The mallard knew that something must be amiss for her to find
> it so hard to take her sleep. In a couple of hours she and the other sisters
> would rise for the early morning prayers before they began a new day of
> cleaning, prayer, and tending the poor of Metamor.
> 
> She always trusted Eli had a reason to keep her from sleeping on nights like
> this. She kept her prayer beads in one wing arm and counted her Hail Yanlins
> with expectancy, asking that most holy of women what it might be but she
> knew the answer would only come when it was ready.
> 
> After seven decades the answer arrived. There was a timorous knock on the
> convent door. Curious, the mallard waddled over and eased the door open. 
> Standing before her in torn trousers and a grease stained linen shirt was an
> animal child. She did not recognize the species, but he had a long, thick
> tail jutting out behind him with a black tip, a flat head with large eyes,
> round ears, and black paws for hands. In fact, as she looked at him she
> wondered if perhaps he was more beast than child.
> 
> "What may I do for you, child?"
> 
> The creature ducked his head once as if gathering courage, and then looked
> at her bill. "Mother, I... I need your help. You're the only one I can think
> of who can help."
> 
> "What is it you need help with little one?"
> 
> His face twisted in a way that she had learned in her five months here at
> Metamor was an embarrassed grimace. "There's... um.... there's a bunch.... a
> bunch of orphans, Mother. A bunch of orphans." He nodded and slapped his
> tail against the wet stones. "A bunch of orphans who need help. We've been
> stealing food and other things to live. We need your help."
> 
> She blinked, trying to decide whether this fellow was a child or not. His
> size and something in his diffidence suggested a child, but not the way he
> spoke. "Are you an orphan too?"
> 
> "I..." he lowered his head and rubbed one foot over the other. "I am,
> Mother. But... not the same as the others. Please help me help the rest. 
> They need mothers and fathers to care for them and teach them right."
> 
> Wilfrida bent down, pushing the door open all the way. "We will certainly
> help them. And you. Do you need a mother and father too?" She wasn't sure
> what she suspected, but she would find out.
> 
> A strange wistfulness came to his face and then he shook his head. "I just
> need to help them, Mother. And prayers.... I never much paid attention to
> that when I really was a child."
> 
> The nun extended a wing and waddled forward a step. "What is your name,
> little one?"
> 
> He looked up at her and sighed, a tear dripping down one cheek. "Kuna." He
> took a step back. "I have to go or they'll miss me. I'll be back soon. Thank
> you, Mother!"
> 
> She tried to stop him but the little fellow dropped to all fours and
> scampered down the road and out of sight. Wilfrida stood at the doorway for
> several seconds before she admitted that he wasn't coming back. She eased
> the door closed and counted off another few decades for all of the orphans
> of Metamor.
> 
> END OF DOMINION OF THE HYACITH
> 
> ----------
> 
> 
> 
> May He bless you and keep you in His grace and love,
> 
> Charles Matthias
> 
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