[Mkguild] Delivering a Friend (1/1)

[cokane8116 at aol.com]

Nicely done!


Chris
The Lurking Fox

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: C. Matthias <jagille3 at vt.edu>
To: Metamor Keep <MKGuild at lists.integral.org>
Sent: Sat, Dec 24, 2016 8:32 am
Subject: [Mkguild] Delivering a Friend (1/1)


Merry Christmas everyone!  My present to you all is my latest taleof Metamor Keep!

Part 1 of 1

Metamor Keep: Delivering a Friend
By Charles Matthias

Wednesday, June 6, 708 CR

“Earl Tarkas Kardair reports the Kestrel's Wing is more than adequatefor their needs in Salinon and Lady Deya Thores is confidant they havefound all the listening enchantments and spy-holes; she's left a fewactive so Otakar thinks he can spy on them. Jaime Verdane should now haveover a dozen pieces of the message, though they suspect Otakar knows thejackdaw is from Metamor. Tarkas is requesting advice on how toproceed.”

Kayla lowered the parchment on which she had condensed the last week'sworth of reports from the ambassador to Salinon and lifted her gaze toMetamor's chief spy. Andwyn the bat dangled from an iron grill affixed tothe ceiling, a half-eaten peach gripped in the claws on his right wing.He narrowed his eyes and in his high-pitched but quiet voice replied, “Weknew Otakar would have mages observing the Verdane heir in his donjon;our spy's secret could not be kept forever. If Otakar is taking no actionagainst him then they should continue providing the message pieces. Makesure the jackdaw knows to find as many different approaches as he can; aswift arrow can be excused as a soldier trying to feed his family. Wehave no other way to protect him.”

The skunk scribbled the bat's words on the same parchment. Her handreached toward the ink pot and paused, “How long will it be before theyhave given Jaime all of the message? And what then?” Andwyn did not shareall his secrets with her, but he rarely demurred when she asked. She hadserved Prince Phil as assistant for a few years before the rabbitreturned to Whales, and had never once betrayed a confidence. Andwyn knewshe could be trusted.

“A few months more,” the bat replied. He took a bite from the peach andstared past the skunk as he chewed. “The message will be complete byearly next year at the latest. After will depend on Jaime and to acertain extent on Otakar. Earl Tarkas's negotiations are not merely afront and who knows what might come of them. And there's always DukeVerdane; I doubt he will act, but a desperate father is capable ofdesperate things.”

Kayla nodded. She knew of both Midlands dukes only by what she had readfrom first Phil and now Andwyn's spies. Both were good men in certainways, and she suspected each would put the good of their people beforetheir personal ambitions. But they were ambitious; Verdane hadnearly swayed Giftum to his side, while Otakar had snatched Bozojo andJaime in a single stroke, all the while playing friend to Metamor.Neither would hesitate to strike at Metamor if they thought it wouldbenefit them.

She finished writing down Andwyn's instructions and set the parchmentaside. Another waited in her hands. “Next we have news from Arabarb. Thesouthern coasts are still controlled by the last of Calephas's men. Oneof the commanders has organized the forces and is proving difficult torout; they've taken refuge in fortresses along the coast and have pressedthe fishermen into their makeshift navy. Our friends in Fjellviddencontrol the Arabas river and have freed the lands to the north and east,but with Summer, many of the men want to protect those lands, herds andcrops. They may not move until Winter or next Spring.”

“What of the mountain pass?”

“Our forces should be arriving in a week to help clear out any ofCalephas or Nasoj's men still holding the pass.” Kayla felt her heartflutter; Rickkter was one of the Keepers leading soldiers and scouts tothe northern mountain pass. It would be many months before he returnedhome, but after all he'd suffered she would never have tried to stop him.“No word on whether Fjellvidden has marshaled their forces.”

Andwyn took another bite and frowned. “We will need to send more men. Ittakes too long for word to reach us from Arabarb. I must...” he turnedhis head and then gestured with his free wing for Kayla to set theparchment aside. When the Curses turned her into a skunk she had marveledat how much better her hearing and sense of smell had become. She feltdeaf compared to the bat.

He walked two steps along the grill and with his free wing pulled a leverset in the ceiling. The shutters to the single window folded openallowing the warm midday air to flow. Kayla set a hand on the parchmentto keep it from fluttering in the sudden breeze. A few seconds later awhite barn owl landed upon the casement and grew in size until smallhands and a human quality touched its face.

“Alban,” Andwyn greeted his spy. His voice was neutral, but his smalleyes regarded the owl with what Kayla had come to recognize as fondness.“What have you seen?”

The owl tilted his head on its side – Kayla tried not to cringe – andhooted, “All is well in Metamor. Two creatures are coming down from theBarrier Range toward us. A white gryphon and a little man upon hisback.”

Kayla's heart leaped in her chest and she sat up straight. She yearned toask for more details.

Andwyn bobbed his head. “How far away are they?”

“They are following the road from Lyme Regis so perhaps an hour ortwo.”

“Thank you, Alban. Continue your watch and your payment will be in theusual place. Worry not about these two; they are friends toMetamor.”

“Oh, I remember them,” Alban assured him before shrinking back to hissmaller form and leaping from the casement. Andwyn stared after the owlfor a moment before pulling the lever. The shutter closed with a heavymetal clank.

“This is unexpected,” Andwyn noted as he turned back to Kayla. “Go. I'llreview the summaries myself. I'm sure your friend Jessica will want toknow too.”

“Thank you, Master Andwyn!” Kayla took only a few seconds to finishorganizing the parchments before leaving the bat's office. She startedrunning once the door closed behind her.

----------

After months of flying, Abafouq felt he was an extra lump of feathers andfur on Guernef's back. His fingers cramped as they clutched the leatherstrap wound about the Nauh-kaee's neck and chest. His short legs werebruised from bracing against the inside of flapping wings. But it was notthose wounds which hurt most. What had he nearly done? What hadGuernef!

They followed the ridge of mountains northwest from the cliffs,descending out of the cold glacial air he'd braced for the last threemonths and many years before. He savored the touches of warmth it broughtand dared to lift his head to peer through his master's ear tufts. Wherethe valley narrowed he could see the resplendent spires of Metamor Keep.Spread before those towers like an elegant gown was the city on the ridgeand on the hill below down to the river and small lake. For a month theydwelt there with their friends. Abafouq had longed to return one day, buthe never thought it would be so soon. He felt excitement and a sullendread, but mostly excitement.

With the last ridge of mountains at their right, the castle and its townseemed a small jewel nestled within the folds of a magnificent formation.But once they passed the mountains and there was nothing but forestbetween them and the Keep he felt its immensity. His eyes alighted uponthe central tower and its belfry. He shuddered at the barest memory ofthe Shriekers, the Marquis and his allies, and the dread Censor boundwithin. Even their final victory could not efface the fear.

A dark speck moved toward them from the Keep. Abafouq only saw it whenGuernef tucked his wings and dove to the same height. Once Guernefreturned to a glide he loosened his fingers and stared at the speck. Ittook almost a minute before he saw it was a black-feathered bird. Anotherminute and he recognized her.

“It's Jessica!” he shouted. Guernef flicked an ear but did not turn hishead.

The hawk flew toward them for another minute before circling in widearcs. When they reached her she swooped in beside them, screeched intothe wind, and then dove a little ahead and toward the Keep. Guerneffollowed, banking his wings every few seconds so as not to overtakeher.

Jessica guided them to one of the grassy fields on the northern side ofthe Keep near the fortifications overlooking the edge of the ridge andthe forest beyond. Waiting below them was another familiar face, a ladyskunk reclining against a hand cart. Jessica landed next to her andswelled in size. Guernef swept past, beat his wings several times, andthen settled down. Abafouq waited for the Nauh-kaee to fold his wingsbefore letting go of the leather strap; he stretched his legs to work outa cramp and then climbed down. He bent forward and ran his fingersthrough the soft grass and felt a laugh burble from his throat.

Looking up he saw Jessica and Kayla crouching over him. His laugh eruptedand he thrust himself into their arms and wings, savoring the touch ofthe skunk's soft fur and the hawk's gentle feathers.

“Welcome back to Metamor, dear friends,” Jessica cawed.

----------

Kayla had brought fresh food and drink in the hand cart. In addition tobread, cheese, and fruit, there were strips of jerky and even a hunk ofsalted but uncooked mutton Guernef devoured. For drink she brought apitcher of milk and a small bottle of wine. Abafouq accepted the milk atfirst but knew the wine would be gone before he dared stand upagain.

“It is so good to see you both again,” Jessica said, sharp eyes capturingboth Binoq and Nauh-kaee without moving. “We did not expect to see youagain so soon.

“Nor did we,” Abafouq admitted as he reclined in the grass. Free from themountains, he'd stripped the heaviest furs from his chest and legs andpiled them behind him for a pillow. He tore a chunk of bread but did noteat it. “Where be the rest?”

Kayla sipped her wine and gestured toward the northwest with her snout.“James is at the Glen; he will be very happy to hear you've returned.Charles, Lindsey, and Jerome left for Sondeshara almost two weeksago.”

“Sondeshara? Why?”

“One of Nasoj's mages, a creature called Gmork, cast a terrible spell onJerome. I tried my best but could not remove it. Charles believes hisonly hope is to return to Sondeshara. What Gmork did touched the verycore of his being, his Sondeck. I could see it but nothing more.” Jessicafluttered her wings as she spoke. Kayla felt the frustration in hervoice; it was all too common in the last month.

“Then may the bears guide them,” Abafouq murmured. “Let me then say onething we all know to be true. We have each thrown off the corruption ofMarzac.”

“You felt it too?” Kayla asked.

Both Binoq and Nauh-kaee nodded, but it was Guernef who answered them inhis screeching voice. “We had already begun our journey back here when wewere roused in the early hours before dawn by a gasping. The wind liftedus without wing. A harshness to its touch we had not even noticed wasgone. We both knew Marzac's final hold on us was defeated.”

“How did it affect you?” Kayla asked. “You saw what it did tome.”

“And I,” Jessica added, “tried to use what remained of Yonson's hyacinthto change the curses. It wanted me to use them to control all ofMetamor.”

“Yajakali did wish to make the human race into beasts like yourselves,”Abafouq mused. “I am thinking all of our temptations were aboutsubjugating others.”

“They each had a focus. Mine was the hyacinth.”

“And mine the dragon swords.”

Jessica nodded to the skunk and continued. “James had his bell, Charleshis son, and Lindsey had the memory of Zhypar. We never learned whattempted Jerome. And now...”

“We may never learn.”

Abafouq frowned and finished off the loaf of bread. He eyed the array offruits on the platter in the grass between them. “I faced my corruptionnot long after we left Metamor three months ago. He was being in mydreams and in my wakefulness too. No matter where I turned I kept seeinghim stand next to the Sentinel of Forgiveness in Qorfuu. My effaced namehe showed me, taunting me with it. He assured me my people would neveraccept me. I... I was tempted to prove him wrong. I would make my peopletake me back.” 

He leaned against his furs and gazed at the towers. “Two months ago Icould no longer tell dream from waking. I fell from Guernef's back anddidn't even notice. All I could see was Qorfuu. I had a hammer in myhand, and with it I pounded Kifqunan's head into the Sentinel ofForgiveness until his bone filled all the cracks of my name.”

Kayla blinked, a bit of peach half-way to her muzzle. “Kifqunan?”

“One of the elders of my people. It was he who arranged for my banishmentseven years ago and who ensured I would be marked as unforgivable by mypeople last year.” Abafouq closed his eyes, hands balled into fists. Hisshort but stout frame trembled. Jessica stretched out her wing andbrushed her feathers across his shoulder.

“We are your friends, Abafouq. You are safe now.”

The tension eased from the Binoq's shoulders and a moment later from hisarms. “Thank you, Jessica. I will not say all else of what I saw. Aftermy tumble, Guernef helped me wake from the corruption. To free myself Ihad to give up. I hope a way can open to see my family again, but I haveno more hope to see Qorfuu. It is not my place to change my people... Iam not so wise.”

Kayla reached across the platter and gripped his other arm. “You arewise. And you are a better man – Binoq – than those who cast youout.”

“I thank you both again.” Abafouq took a deep breath and sat up; bothskunk and hawk returned to where they had been. “I thought I would returnto Guernef's cave high in the Tabinoq, but even there I could not go.Guernef?”

The Nauh-kaee stepped forward and sat on his haunches. His wings drapedacross his back and his black beak and golden eyes regarded them withboth majesty and shame. “I too was tempted. Not with taunts but thanks.The old crow came to me and thanked me for freeing him fromMarzac.”

“The old crow?” Kayla asked.

“The one coated in fire; the one we defeated outside the Chateau. The oldcrow.”

Jessica bobbed her head and Kayla sucked in her breath. “Vissarion cameto me and said the same.”

Guernef nodded to the skunk. “The old crow knew me as the wind, and heknew the wind as himself. I listened. Abafouq had no home and the timehad come for a choice. The old crow urged me to keep Abafouq and make himwalk the Paths of the Sky. But he advised me not to tell him. If not forthe scrap of the prophet's words drifting from ash I would have obeyed.And so we returned here.”

Kayla blinked as she picked up a piece of cheese. “I... I do notunderstand any better what the corruption did to you than I did beforeyou spoke! Guernef, what are the paths of the sky?”

But the Nauh-kaee turned his face away and said nothing.

Abafouq finished a strawberry and shook his head. “I only understand itin part. I am thinking I would not be as you see me if I had walked them.What I know is when we reached the plateau, the same plateau whereGuernef rescued us with Nak-Tegehki, he told me what I must do to remainwith him. My place is with stone, not with sky, and so we returned hereinstead.” The little man cast a quick glance at the Nauh-kaee. Both Kaylaand Jessica felt sure there was far more to the tale.

Jessica cawed. “Are you both here to stay?”

“I am,” Abafouq replied. “Guernef must return to his people. He is theKakikagiget and has already been gone too long from them.”

The Nauh-kaee did not turn back, but he did speak. “I will stay longenough. I will not leave until I know you will be well.”

Abafouq smiled to the Nauh-kaee so widely it seemed his entire body wassmiling. “Then I know I will be well!”

“What will you do?” Jessica asked.

“I be a mage. A different sort than those living at Metamor, I amthinking. I will do as your people do and trade my skills for food and aplace to sleep.”

“You can stay with me for now,” Kayla offered. “Rickkter is away and Iwould enjoy the company.”

His smile for the skunk was not as large, but no less happy. “Thank you!Being we have settled such matters, you must tell us more of how you, ourfriends, fare. Where has Rickkter gone? And have you wed your lovelyhawk? Please, tell us all!”

For the rest of the afternoon the four friends reclined in peace, eatingthe pleasant morsels, drinking the milk and wine, speaking of the happiertimes ahead.

----------

With the days of the solstice near, by the time afternoon led to eveningall of the friends were exhausted and ready for sleep. Moreso Abafouqafter so many months of journey; the last hour of conversation wasalready a mystery to him. Kayla offered him a place to stay in herquarters until he could find one of his own, and Jessica offered Guernefa place warm and comfortable while he was visiting. But the Nauh-kaeedemurred and so they left him in the field to tend to himself. Afterreturning the hand cart and the empty platter she'd borrowed from theDeaf Mule, Kayla escorted Abafouq to her modest quarters inside the Keep.She only had the one bed, but she arranged a sleeping pallet in onecorner with an array of cushions and quilts she only used in the Winter.“It is not much, but...”

“It is more comfortable than anything I have enjoyed since I left Metamorthree months ago.” Abafouq thanked her and after another bit of wine torelax themselves they retired for sleep.

But sleep was something the Binoq found he could not have.

Up to the moment he laid down he was certain he would fall asleep rightaway. But when he snuggled into the quilts his eyes opened and stayedopen. Light slipped around the edges of the tapestry covering the window,and it was enough for his eyes to count the stones and wooden beams inthe ceiling and trace the path of the mortar holding it all together. Heattempted to lose himself in the network of lines, turns, and crevices,but no matter how far he wandered his eyes always returned to the spotabove his head where two cross-beams neared but never quite met.

It was not the smell. Every animal-morphed Keeper had some sort ofunusual smell about them, but Kayla's musk was particularly unpleasant;or it would have been if a little spell didn't mask the worst of it. Hehad enjoyed her company for many months and had grown used to the way herparticular tang made his nose itch. And though it was stronger within herquarter than he'd ever experienced before, it was all the more comfortingfor its unpleasantness because it meant his friend was near.

But there was something missing.

After an hour staring at the ceiling, and after he could hear Kayla'schurring slumber, Abafouq slipped from the quilts and quietly eased outof her quarters. The hallway beyond was narrow and straight; it had beena broad intersection when they arrived. He shook off his disorientationat the Keep's peculiar magic and began walking. 

After a few minutes of halls marked by the occasional tapestry, banner,or decorative statue of some ancient king, Abafouq reached a long spiralstaircase twisting up into darkness. The darkness alone caught hisattention; the subtle, quiet magic of Kyia always had lanterns or torchesevery twenty to thirty paces in the rest of the Keep. Why nothere?

He produced a witchlight behind his head and started up. The stairsturned to the right and were broad enough three grown men could standabreast. Having spent his entire life in the mountains, Abafouq foundthem an easy climb. After he settled into a rhythm they became relaxing.Every step led him up. Lift one knee. Set down one foot. Lift other knee.Again and again. On all sides was cold, gray stone. A Binoq could savorit.

The stairs, after many minutes of climbing, ended in a wooden hatch whichhe pushed upward. He gasped when he saw the four brass bells around thecentral pillar of stone and the open air of night through the four largegaps in the tower walls. He blinked and shook his head. Where else butthe belfry did he think he had been going?

He walked toward the opening nearest the hatch and stood, flexing hisfingers. A year ago he had braced himself in the same spot, weaving amagical construct to pierce the vortex of magic Yonson had erected totrap them within. He could hear the echoes of his friends grunting andcrying out as they battled the Shriekers and Marzac's dread wizards. Heshuddered at the memory of the Marquis's laugh. He could still feel thepain from the card he'd been forced to touch.

Abafouq walked around the bells, a part of him afraid of what he wouldfind on the other side of the belfry. He trembled with each step, a partcertain he would see a golden censer dripping with malice. Instead hegasped in relief when he saw his friend.

“Guernef! Why are you in this place?”

The Nauh-kaee glanced at him, blinked hard avian eyes, and then turnedhis resolute stare upon the bells larger even than he. “The same as you.Remembering.”

Abafouq came to his friend's side and rested a hand on his shoulder wherethe feathers met the fur. “I am being glad to see you here. I... I do notwish you to leave.”

Guernef said nothing. This would not be the first time in their journeythey had spoken of parting ways. It had been the rock upon which all oftheir words had rested in the days since throwing off Marzac. Almostseven years ago he was banished from Qorfuu; it was then he had soughtthe Nauh-Kaee out at Qan-af-årael's command and after nearly freezingatop the mountains was rescued by them. Guernef became his protector andbrought him food and taught him to survive on the forbidding peaks. Attimes he felt a colleague to the white gryphon, but at others he feltmore a servant and even at others a kept animal. And yet Guernef was hisfriend, no matter his beastly guise or manner. When Guernef left Metamorhe would be taking a part of Abafouq with him.

The Binoq's gaze followed his friend's. The brass bells were broader thanthe Nauh-kaee and even when a sudden wind coursed through the belfry thebells were unmoved. He could not help but recall the carillon James haddropped on Zagrosek in the Chateau. But were they had oozed a consciousmalevolence, these merely carried the taint of memory. 

“What do you see?” Abafouq asked. With so little light even the brassappeared dull. Other than their shape the Binoq could see nothing inthem.

Guernef stretched out his wing and brushed it across the top of Abafouq'shead. “I see the place where ancient winds sought to drive the clouds yetto come back to the sea. Those winds are gone, their touch only in thewhispers of memory. New winds will come, a breeze, a blizzard, they willcome. I listen to the winds, and am carried by them. You are strong; theybuffet you but as the mountain you do not move.”

The avian beak and eyes turned, capturing Abafouq with his characteristicintensity. “I see a Binoq who must remain so. The Path of the Sky is mineand I have walked it. The wind may shelter the stone for a time, and evenmay wish to abide and be as stone for a time, but it must go and returnas it will. You are my friend, Abafouq. This parting will not be ourlast. But you have friends here too. Stone is never alone.”

Abafouq rested his hand on Guernef's beak and then leaned his face in. Helaughed, chest tensing, eyes closed tight to keep from crying. Thesurface of the beak was hard and though smooth in appearance, wascrisscrossed with subtle cracks. Never before had he clutched theNauh-kaee's head so. Guernef spread his wing across the Binoq like anawning. Despite the cool mountain breeze the two friends felt nothing butwarmth.

And together they stayed until the first light of an early Summer's dawnmade the bells glisten with radiance, pure and bright with Metamor'spride.

----------

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

Charles Matthias 

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