[Mkguild] Divine Travails of Rats - Pars VI. Acceptio (l)

[C. Matthias]

Metamor Keep: Divine Travails of Rats
by Charles Matthias and Ryx

Pars VI: Acceptio

(l)


Wednesday, June 23, 724 CR, Evening


It was a little over an hour later that all of 
the nobility finally succeeded in their passage 
through Keeptowne and into the Keep itself. The 
procession was for the most part decorous with 
the pomp of blaring trumpets and waving banners. 
The young children did their best to show the 
dignity of their houses, but there were always a 
few who yearned to run ahead or hide among the statuary or tapestries.

They paused briefly to dismount when they reached 
the Keep proper, Charlie giving Maysin another 
hug around the neck before taking his place with 
the Sutt household. Since his House had already 
been announced and occupied the High Table with 
the Duke and their visitors the delay was but 
moments compared to the wait many had to endure 
as they reached the Great Hall and each house was 
announced by crier and invited in. Duke Thomas 
kept the formality for the sake of each house 
that they might have their moment to be 
recognized; each was proud of their name and it 
was best to show them that honor. But by the time 
each house entered, their youngest children were 
bundles of uncontrollable energy that finally 
found release. One section of the hall had been 
set aside for their play and they happily took 
advantage of it, even if at first they mostly 
played only with their own siblings.

It took perhaps a half hour before the room was 
thronged with nobles and their children of all 
ages. Servitors brought refreshments, though 
after the feasting they had all done on the 
tourney field there was nothing heavy served, 
merely bits of fruit, cheese, or meat along with 
wine or juice. Charlie and Bryn sampled a little 
of each as they watched the other families enter 
the hall, chatting with their friend Sigismund 
who had stationed himself to serve them, rather 
than delegating that task to another of the 
numerous pages. The young alligator was still 
heady with the magecraft and he gushed excitedly 
about the entire affair even as his father, the Steward, watched with pride.

Despite the noise from the playing children 
echoing in the heights of the hall, clusters of 
nobles gathered to chat and discuss. Charlie knew 
that much of it was gossip about who was in favor 
in which court, and he was certain that his 
antics in the last two days were part of that 
gossip. But he did not lie to himself; the 
majority was certain to be about Bryn and the 
foreign princess who even now was enjoying the 
company of the Duchess. For his part, Bryn was 
doing his best to pay it no heed.

As Charlie scanned the crowds gathered he felt a 
small pain in his heart. He turned back to 
long-eared horse and alligator and dipped his 
head in an apologetic bow. “Sig, I'm sorry, but 
there's somebody I need to speak with. You can 
tell me all I missed in a little bit.”

Sig opened his jaws wide in a toothy grin. “I 
will tell you when you return, Charlie!”

He laughed and slipped away from his friends. He 
took two goblets of wine from a passing servitor 
and then waded into the throng. Charlie wound 
past several minor nobles, some beastly and 
others human, until he reached a fellow rat 
standing at the edge of the crowd watching the 
children scamper about. He stepped alongside and 
offered a goblet. “You look like you could enjoy something to drink, Erick.”

His brother and litter-mate turned, eyes flashing 
down to the goblet and then back up before 
stretching a clumsy hand to grasp it. “Oh, um, 
Charlie,” The young rat offered pensively, staring at the cup. “Thank you.”

Charlie sipped the wine and smiled as he watched 
the Duke's young son Philip trying to stomp 
across the room with four little rats hanging on 
his arms and legs. “Did you enjoy the mage's spectacle?”

Erick's ears and whiskers lifted. He sniffed the 
goblet but did not drink, shooting a glance 
toward the knot of people clustered around the 
mage's table where Murikeer and his wife, 
Kozaithy, held the center of attention with the 
visiting Magyar adept. “It was very impressive! 
They really outdid themselves this year. Having 
all the bells in the valley sound at once... that 
will long be remembered.” He took a sip of the 
wine and frowned, eyes focused on the goblet. “Charlie, I...”

“I'm sorry, Erick,” Charlie interjected softly while his brother stammered.

Erick looked up at that, whiskers and ears 
flatting back briefly. “I'm sorry too,” he offered at length.

They sipped the wine, neither saying anything as 
they watched their younger siblings finally drag 
Philip to the ground where they proceeded to 
tickle the horse's sides, keeping well clear of 
his hooves as he kicked and brayed. A dozen paces 
to their left Bryn shouted encouragement to his 
younger brother. On their other side, Peter, 
Timothy and the other Matthias children squeaked 
their approval for all to hear, louder almost 
than the score of other children joining in their 
fun. Nobles and aristocrats from around the 
valley laughed at their antics with the delight only parents could feel.

Nor was the melee restricted to horses and rats. 
At seeing the approval of their parents most of 
the rest of the youngest children of the valley's 
nobility rushed into the fracas to either help 
the Duke's second son struggle from beneath the 
weight of scampering rodents or to hang from his 
arms like the rats had. Soon the hall was so full 
of young voices, both human and beastly, that it 
was hard to hear aught else. Charlie cast a 
glance at Duke Thomas who stood with the foreign 
King at the high end of the hall beaming at the spectacle.

“How was the... talk with Father?” Erick asked at 
length after taking a slow sip of his wine.

He turned back to Erick and shrugged his 
shoulders. “Perplexing. You know how his stories 
can be.” At that Erick nodded with understanding 
eyes. “But it did help me see, at least on his 
account, just how wrong I had been. If not for my 
Gift, we'd be competing, you and I, to see who 
would lead the Matthias house.” He chuffed 
ruefully. “I've seen many brothers, from peasant 
to royal, at extreme odds when they sought to be 
the head of their houses. Acrimony is the often 
sad result, if not worse still.” Reaching out he 
tapped the rim of his goblet against the one his 
brother held. “In that, I guess I should be 
pleased that we are brothers in different families.”

The thought made Erick blink in surprise and then 
he laughed, covering it with another drink of 
wine. “I hadn't thought of that. And it might be 
you who was betrothed to Lenora and not I!”

He laughed and patted his brother on the back. 
“Master Julian's comely daughter would be a much 
better wife than some of the girls my father has 
introduced me too. One of them screamed in terror on meeting me!”

“Ouch! There's always your lovely zebra. She seems fond of you.”

Charlie grunted and glared at his brother, 
chiding, “I told you yesterday that she already 
has a suitor. Although...” he shook his head 
before saying something ill about the lass who'd 
offered her service as steed and who cherished 
the role for his sake. “She is a fine lass who 
will become an even more fine woman and for the 
sacrifice of her service, unique only to Metamor, 
I am in her debt. But enough of that. I 
understand you will not be returning to the Narrows until Friday?”

Erick favored him a lopsided grin, evidently 
enjoying his brother's chagrin. “Aye, tomorrow 
will be nothing but chaos on the streets. Father 
very much wishes to avoid that, so we shall wait 
for the exodus to die down before returning home.”

“Care to join me for a bit of exploration?” 
Charlie suggested. “I know where Master Julian 
and Master Goldmark keep a secret stash of wines 
amongst many other interesting secrets! I can 
even take you in to see Long House if you'd like.”

His brother stood taller and his ears lifted in 
excitement. “You could? Oh I'd love to, Charlie. 
I bet it would take days to see everything.”

Charlie's ears pricked up and he shook his head 
slowly. “In the Long House, itself? Hours, 
perhaps.” He leaned back to look up at a raucous 
tumult above, where a half dozen winged Keepers 
were cavorting among the witchlights among the 
rafters with the more arboreal of the visiting 
children. “To see is but brief. To listen to the 
histories of what you see, however; months if not 
years. Misha and many of the older Longs have 
stories to tell that would rival our father's. 
Perhaps I can convince him to let you spend some 
time here with me. I could even let you enjoy training sessions with Vidika!”

Now his brother's eyes went wide. “That little 
devil!” Erick winced with a flat-eared frown. “Oh 
I can feel bruises already from the mere suggestion!”

They both laughed, sloshing wine from their goblets in their enthusiasm.

And then a booming voice carried over even the 
tumult of the children playing. Enhanced by 
magic, it was clear to all even through the thick 
Steppelander accent. Charlie and Erick turned 
toward the high end of the hall where King 
Pelaeth stood with his arms outstretched and his 
younger sister at his side. His dark-hair had 
both refinement and a wild energy as if it were a 
horse's mane in mid-gallop. His eyes swept the 
assembled Keepers and yet were fixed upon the 
ducal heir who stood a short distance from him 
beside Thomas and Alberta. The words would be 
meant for Charlie's closest friend and yet witnessed by all.

Incongruously it was Sigismund who stood slightly 
behind king and princess, one hand held forth 
yellow palm up while his powerful muzzle was 
dipped and eyes closed in concentration. Clearly 
it was the young mage and steward in training who 
supplied the magic that made the visiting king's voice fill the hall.

Pelaeth swept one hand wide to encompass the 
hall. “Thou hast a mighty land and a mighty 
people. Tested by wars and by a curse that has 
sundered thee from thy own race, thou hast 
thrived! Thou hast triumphed! Thy enemies have 
been thwarted and the kingdoms that rose against 
thee now beg of thee for thy plenitude! Thou art 
warriors true! Thou art a great people!

“And thou hast shown great honor in welcoming my 
house to thy celebration. Thou hast shown great 
honor in welcoming the riders of the Steppe and 
one of the greatest of mages of the Magyars into 
thy contests.” With his other hand he drew the 
long silver and black blade from its scabbard – 
the only weapon allowed in the Great Hall apart 
from those born by the Duke, his family, and 
their many guards – and lifted it high over his 
head that all could see. “Thou didst show great 
honor in allowing my sword to stand in the 
contest; and a man given the guise of a rat 
defeated me! I am in awe of thy prowess, thy 
generosity, thy honor, and thy spirit! Would that 
I too couldst accept thy curse to bring such virtue back to my kingdom!”

There was a roar of approval from the gathered 
crowd at those words. Charlie and Erick hooted 
and stomped their feet in approval with all the 
rest. But Charlie's eye was focused on his friend 
Bryn who did not move, but stood tall and proud, 
ears lifted, ready for the words that were to come.

King Pelaeth did not make him wait. “I doth find 
thee and thy kingdom, good Duke, to be worthy of 
Vysehrad! If it is thy noble son's desire to seek 
my sister's hand in marriage, only one thing 
would I ask of him. If he dost seek her hand, 
then he wilt journey next Summer to my kingdom 
and win her heart for himself.” The crowd 
murmured in wonder at the suggestion. It was at 
least a two to three month's journey to the city 
of Cheskych in Vysehrad for the vastness of the 
Steppe with all its dangers and deprivations had to be crossed.

Pelaeth lowered the blade and held it before him 
with both hands so that the point was only inches 
from the marble floor. “What dost thee say, good 
Thomas Bryn Hassan. Wilt thou come to the Vysehrad to seek my sister's hand?”

Bryn stepped away from his family and crossed the 
distance to where Pelaeth and Brygitta waited. He 
lifted his head and in as loud voice as he could 
muster, Bryn answered, “Your Majesty, you have 
shown us great honor by coming to our land and 
joining us in contest of sword and sorcery. And 
you show my family great honor by the offer you 
make to me. I accept your offer, your Majesty. I 
will come to the land of Vysehrad and the ancient 
city of Cheskysh to seek Princess Brygitta's hand and to win her heart.”

The crowd erupted in a roar of approval. Pelaeth 
and grabbed Bryn by the shoulders and gave him a 
hug that looked likely to break a normal man's 
back. Brygitta bowed her head respectfully toward 
her equine suitor and once he was free of the 
King's embrace returned the bow. Duchess Alberta 
beamed with unalloyed pride and even Duke Thomas 
appeared pleased with the offer.

Charlie cast a glance at his family and saw his 
sister Suria scowling, ears back, jowls quivering 
as her eyes shot daggers at the princess. He sighed and shook his head.

As the roar died down, Erick nudged him in the 
side, “Well, well, well! It looks like yon ducal 
heir has finally found love, eh brother?”

“Perhaps,” Charlie said with a nod and a smile. 
“So, would you like to accompany us to Vysehrad next Summer?”

Erick spluttered into his wine. “Wha... what? Me?”

“Do you think Bryn will go alone? Of course not. 
He'll have mages, soldiers and retainers aplenty 
on the journey, as well as many friends to advise 
and encourage him. He will ask me and I will go. 
And I will need mages, soldiers, and retainers 
aplenty! We must pass through lands that are not 
friendly to Keepers and who knows what other 
dangers we may face. Bryn would never object to 
you joining my company. And if you want to invite 
Sir Bertram I'd be happy to have him along as well.”

His brother Erick stared at him open mouthed and 
wide-eyed. And then in the happiest laugh he'd 
ever heard from his brother, Erick flung his arms 
around his middle and hugged him tight, even as 
all the wine from his goblet sloshed across the 
floor. “I will go! I will go! Thank you, Charlie! 
What an adventure it will be!”

“That it will!” Charlie hugged him right back, 
excited beyond measure at the prospect of a long 
journey with his brother at his side. “Come, let 
us go see yon ducal heir – oh, here he comes anyway!”

They both turned to find Bryn slipping through 
the crowd of nobility, all of whom made him stop 
to offer their congratulations and best wishes on 
his journey. Bryn thanked them even as his eyes 
kept turning to the pair of rats. Charlie and 
Erick saved him the trouble of fighting through 
the crowd by forcing their way to his side.

“Ah, Charlie, Erick, how did you like that little 
show?” Bryn's deep voice was buried in the tumult 
of the celebration to such a degree that, even 
with their keen ears, the rats had to lean close to hear him.

“Very impressive, your grace,” Erick beamed, his 
whiskers twitching in excitement even as his tail 
thumped back and forth behind him.

“Well, it will be a very long journey to Vysehrad and so...”

“Yes, Bryn,” Charlie assured him. “I will be at your side.”

Bryn laughed and pulled him tight with one 
powerful arm, snatching Erick close with the 
other. “I knew you would!” Dipping his muzzle 
slightly to look down at them he raised an eyebrow. “What of...”

Charlie caught the question before it was asked. 
“And Erick, yes, I have asked and he accepted. 
Now we need only convince Father to allow it.”

Bryn patted the shorter rat on the shoulder. 
“Excellent! You've a good arm, Erick. We'll be 
delighted to have you.” His expressive equine 
lips drew back in a grin. “After all, the good 
Baron would not refuse a request of his liege now would he?”

“No, that I doubt,” Erick agreed with an effusive 
bob of his head. “I will not disappoint you, your 
grace!” With a brief salute of his empty goblet 
Erick withdrew to convey the request to their sire.

Charlie leaned closer and spoke into the horse's 
ear. “Do you love this princess, Bryn?”

Bryn grimaced and cast a quick glance back over 
his shoulder. “She is pleasant and fetching and 
she seems to have a good soul. I cannot know if I 
love her after just two days, but... what an 
adventure to find out!” He leaned in a little 
closer and in a whisper added, “Besides, Mother 
would have skewered me if I hadn't said yes!”

Charlie tipped back his head and laughed.

----------

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

Charles Matthias
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