[Mkguild] Designing a New Valley

[cokane8116 at aol.com]

Great little story my friend. Shows William has a sense of the future - showing that a good idea never really dies.

Story also shows the budding romance with Blance

   One thing:

>>>hauntedby spirits and abandoned by men. Nestorius and Sir Edmund explored thearea from time to time

you left off Stealth. He is an important part of the exploration of the Haunted woods too!


Chris
The Lurking Fox

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: C. Matthias <jagille3 at vt.edu>
To: Metamor Keep <MKGuild at lists.integral.org>
Sent: Sun, Aug 28, 2016 6:10 am
Subject: [Mkguild] Designing a New Valley


Here's a new tale for Metamor Keep.  If you do not recall thesecharacters, I recommend reading "Landing in a New Age","New Home, New Beginnings", and "InvigoratingFaith".

Part 1 of 1

Designing a New Valley
By Charles Matthias

June 7, 708 CR

Summer was on the way but mornings in Eagle Tower were still cold. Anoccasional breeze brought warm southern air, but mostly the winddescended the mountain slopes on which the northernmost watchtower ofMetamor perched bringing the bite of Winter even on the hottest days. SirWilliam Dupré could not see his breath but he was grateful for the thickwool he now grew. 

The Eyrie cupola at the top of Eagle Tower was warmed by the cast ironfurnace in the center. Alexander, the soldier who’d brought him fromMallow Horn and become a dog, added another log and then retreated tohuddle beneath a blanket on the other side. Samantha, the raven hairedsoldier of Hareford who had first shown them the tower, was the thirdscout enduring a morning watch; she leaned across the eastern belvederewith her cloak about her shoulders, hands clasping a cup of once hottea.

It had been over three months since William lost his temper and assaultedNestorius. Most of the first two months he’d spent on patrol, drillingtroops, surveying the Dike and the rugged trails from Hareford, orsequestered within Eagle Tower so their paths did not cross. In the lastmonth he’d made an effort to befriend the lion mage and earn his trustanew. Their shared past in being exiles helped as the anger and pain theram suffered were ones Nestorius knew well.

It would still take many more months to recover the goodwill he’dsquandered.

And so William took every excuse to stay out of Hareford. After a week ofrunning drills in the countryside and clearing trees along the main roadsouth he needed rest. He’d arrived yesterday with his men and someservants, enjoyed a welcome meal and a few hours of sleep, and then begana shift in the Eyrie. Already he regretted it; his eyes watched theGiantdowns in the north, but his heart turned south to MallowHorn.

The letter his eldest son – the son Verdane had stolen – was treasured inhis quarters. He’d read and reread the letter more times than he couldcount. Jory loved him and knew he was a Dupré first and a Verdane second.His younger children – daughters Sasha and Lydia, and son Timas –remained in Mallow Horn with a mother but no father; a mother who soughtan annulment to deny them even an exiled father. It had been more than ayear since he’d held Jory in his arms; the terrible campaign the thricedamned Marquis enslaved him to had kept him from the others for monthsbefore his sentence of exile. Nine months now perhaps?

He ground his flat teeth and flexed his nostrils, angry at himself forwoolgathering. He tapped the edge of his curled horn against thebelvedere’s wooden supports. He was a Keeper in body but not yet inspirit. The ram was the sigil of his house but he never imagined becomingone himself. After six months with wool, horns, hooves, and two-fingeredhands he had trouble remembering what his human flesh felt like. He’dbeen hairy of chest, arms, and legs, but how did they feel beneath fourslender fingers? The thick heaviness of wool was all he knew. He hatedthe Marquis and Verdane for stealing those memories too.

But the Marquis was dead and Verdane’s eldest was a prisoner in Salinon.Vengeance belonged to Eli, or so the priests always reminded him; perhapsit had already been carried out.

The soft clop of hooves on the steps turned both ears and thoughts.William and Alexander glanced at the trap door as Blanche climbed throughwith a bundle in her arms. The lady ewe had been assigned by Nestorius tocare for his quarters, clothes, and meals, and this she did quietly anddependably. Born in Hareford, she had never traveled farther than thenearby villages until Sir Dupré began bringing her on his patrols tobetter see to his needs and the needs of the men under his command.

“Good morning, sirs,” she said as she set the bundle on the ledge.William caught the scent of fresh bread, butter, and preserves, as wellas a tamer but more interesting scent. It surrounded her and made thedull off-white of her wool fuller and appealing. Some days it wasstronger than others and on those days his nostrils would flare, hischest swell, and he could not stop the scraping of his hooves against theground.

Though many nobles kept mistresses, and lechery was hardly uncommon amongany class of men, William had avoided dalliances after marrying AnyaVerdane. He had already won the most prized hand in all of the Midlands;what need had he to further prove his manhood? And it kept the priestshappier; always wise for this life and the next. But the real reason washis children; he loved them too dearly to sully their line withbastards.

Alexander began panting and wagging when he smelled the food. Samanthasmiled at the ewe before returning her gaze to the still, fog-filledhorizon. William shifted against the belvedere and stepped toward hisservant. “Good morning, Blanche. What have you for us?”

The ewe carefully unwrapped the bundle as her left eye found the ram. Thepupil was slit side-to-side like his making it difficult to know wherethey focused. But he knew; doubtless she was enticed both by his scentand by his sturdy and handsome build. They were both black-faced sheepand this was Metamor.

There was little chance of muddying the lines of succession for hischildren here in Hareford. Perhaps she might consent to being mistress aswell as servant.

Of course, she was probably a spy for Andwyn. He would not trust heruntil he knew for sure.

His nostrils swelled and he scraped a hoof. Not that he needed to trusther for...

Blanche's unassuming voice felt even quieter in the tower cupola. “Ibaked bread for you, sirs, and brought some of the raspberry preservesfrom last Summer's harvest. And a block of fresh butter from Truskmore.Oh, would you like more hot tea, Lieutenant?”

Samantha smiled and handed her cup to the ewe. “Thank you, Blanche. I'llhave my bread with butter and jam.”

Alexander noticed his drool and wiped his jowls with one arm. “The samefor me.”

William deliberately gazed toward the Dike and waved an arm. “I will alsohave some, thank you, Blanche. And bring hot tea when you return. Thensee to the rest of the men. Let Captain Becket know we'll stay here todayand return to Hareford tomorrow; he'll see to the dutyrotation.”

Blanche nodded and offered a shy smile. “Of course, sirs. I will see toit.” She divided the loaf of bread into three chunks, lathered each withbutter and preserves, then handed one to Samantha, to Alexander, and toWilliam. He waited a few seconds while she offered it before turning toher, staring with both eyes. The tips of his hoof-like fingers brushedagainst hers as he took the bread. Her ears tipped back in a caprineblush. 

He took one bite of the bread and nodded. “Very good, thank you,Blanche.” And it was. The jam had more tart than he preferred but thebutter was richer than any in his homeland. Together it made a pleasingtaste. He scuffed a hoof and forced his eyes toward the remnants of theDike. “Do bring some hot tea. The mountain air is especially cold thismorning.”

“I will, sirs.”

Her scent lingered after the ewe disappeared. William chewed each bitefor nearly a minute, eyes intent on the horizon. Branches of treesstirred, birds flitted about with a morning song in their throats, andhe'd even seen a pair of goats capering about the mountainside, butnothing more than they wandered the borderlands between a kingdom ofbeasts and the wild, untamed Giantdowns. It took all his composure towatch them while his heart thrummed and nostrils grasped at Blanche'sfading scent.

He scuffed his cloven hoof on the stone beneath him one last time. Hecould not escape what the Curses had done to him, but he would not bemastered by them. A moment of pride let the Marquis trick him and destroyhis life. A moment of anger broke his friendship with Nestorius. Whatcould a moment of lust cost him?

He'd chewed four bites before Blanche returned with a pot of tea. Sherefilled Samantha's cup and poured some for both Alexander and William.Though he held the cup still while she poured, he did not touchher.

“Thank you, Blanche,” he said when she had finished. “Tell Captain BecketI want him to send two men of the Hareford troop here to the Eyrie. Iwant to take him and my men out along the Dike before the day growsold.”

He breath a silent prayer of thanks when the ewe left. 

Samantha turned in surprise. “Do you wish an escort?”

“Thank you, but nae, we'll be fine. You'll probably be able to watch usfrom here.” And Andwyn was sure to have a spy or two among the birds inthe trees anyway.

----------

It was warmer in the forest than inthe tower and so William and his men only wore the leather mail common topatrols. Two freckle-faced boys, Martin and Robert, led them amid thetrees and the tumbled, moldering stones they'd shoved aside where theGiant's Dike once stood. The boar Becket walked at William's side, smalleyes wary and alert, while his snout turned at every new scent. Behindthem followed Alexander and the red-haired boy Anthony who still rubbedsleep from his eyes.

They were the soldiers who came to Metamor with him from Mallow Horn.Once assigned the task of enforcing his exile, they chose to join himinstead. There was no others in all of Metamor he could trust withoutreserve.

At least not yet.

For a stretch of thirty paces the ground was more stone than dirt.Centuries of neglect allowed tree roots to shatter the Dike's foundationinto a jagged landscape of moss-covered points. Some of the ancientstonework remained above the soil; lonely sentinels creeping with vinesand filled with cracks in which flowers and birds made their home –pitiful reminders of the glory once attained by the Suielman. They hadtamed Galendor, but now they were a story to haunt the dreams of Dukesand their monuments ruins for beasts.

He turned toward the nearest of these sentinels; his men hastened tofollow him.

The sentinel was a stack of four squat stones each as long and wide as aman was tall. They'd been positioned like bricks and now each cavity wasfilled with ivy and brush. William traced palm across the old stone butfelt only moss, lichen, and vines with broad spade-shaped petals. Heground his cud between his teeth and flicked his ears against his horns.He wrapped both hands around the nearest vine and yanked.

It had dug deep roots in the old stone but with a little persuasion itcame free. The ram followed every curve and fork, tugging and scrapinguntil he'd removed all of it. A pile of discarded vegetation littered theground between his confused men. With the vine gone they could seepatches of the granite. One finger traced gently across it.

William swallowed the cud and snorted. “These walls were proud. Men madethem to show his might. He made them to protect his people. But thenlesser men rule to satisfy themselves and damn everyone else; folly rulesand empires fall. Walls tumble down. Who can we protect,Becket?”

“Sir?” Becket asked, stepping to his side. The boar rested a hand againstthe stone, small eyes even smaller as they squinted, trying to seewhatever it was his commander saw in the moldy sentinel.

William turned and gestured at the forest with arms outstretched. “Thiswas the Giant's Dike. A wall stretching from one end of the valley mouthto the other. It kept the Lutin hordes, the giants, and all terrors ofthe north out of the Empire. Until fools neglected them and they wereoverrun. You see what remains. Nothing.”

Becket and the others glanced about. The boar nodded and scuffed a hoof.“It must have been massive. Metamor would never have been Cursed if thiswall stood.”

“Or attacked again last Winter,” William agreed. He kicked the pile ofvines. “How long before they... before we are attacked again?”

Becket shrugged. “It could be many years. Nasoj's hold on the Lutintribes was broken. Metamor is probably the safest it has been ingenerations.”

“Nasoj's hold was broken. But who else might leash them? No, as long asour northern borders look like this,” he gestured at the broken sentineland shook his head. “We will not be safe.”

“But who will rebuild the wall? It has taken them a decade to rebuildHareford.”

William snorted. “It will take a generation or more to build a wall likethe Suielman's. But stone we have aplenty. And I wager there are manyfrom Bradanes who have no place to call home and no work to busy theirhealed hands. The men and resource are here, it is only the will welack.”

“And the money,” Anthony interjected.

“And authority,” Martin added.

William waved them both to silence. “Aye, aye. And I'm sure Nestoriuswill bring up the Haunted wood again.” He glared to the southeast.Somewhere beyond the trees was a huge swath of the valley's north hauntedby spirits and abandoned by men. Nestorius and Sir Edmund explored thearea from time to time, but all others were forbidden to enter. Theythought it a buffer; one day an enemy of Metamor would not be daunted byit and reach their heart. And one day those woods would no longer behaunted and there would be nothing but fading memory and superstition todeter raiders.

“So what can we do?” Becket asked.

William took a deep breath and snorted. “Continue our patrol. When wereturn I will suggest it. And I will work to make it happen. There willbe a wall on this spot again one day. There will be.” He felt anotherlump of cud rising in his throat and so waved his men along. They walkedbeneath the forest trees where his wall would be.

It would be a fight, but it would keep Metamor safe from their northernenemies. And all the hard labor would take his mind off a certain ewe andthe southern world and family left behind. Grim in thought and intent,Sir William Dupré chewed his cud and kept a wary eye on the woods.

----------

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

Charles Matthias 

_______________________________________________
MKGuild mailing list
MKGuild at lists.integral.org
http://lists.integral.org/listinfo/mkguild

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.integral.org/archives/mkguild/attachments/20160829/36a5d107/attachment-0001.html>