[Mkguild] Round Robin: Face the Strange (1/2)

[Indagare]

Kasaima and Trey headed towards the Companion Hearth Inn to meet Reed and
Aldwin. The two met them halfway. Aldwin was looking at a white feather he
was holding. There was an odd expression on his face.


“Good morning Reed-san, Aldwin-san. Did you sleep well?”


“Very well,” said Reed, who was also looking at the feather with some
interest. “Though we both got an an unexpected surprise this morning.”


“The Curse?” asked Trey. He was perched on Kasaima’s shoulder like usual.


“The Curse,” said Reed.


“I’ve got my belly covered in these,” said Aldwin. “I’m not sure what to
make of them, though. They’re not chicken feathers.”


“We could go to the library to find out,” said Trey. “Lots of folks go
there when they’re not sure what they’re becoming.”


Aldwin nodded. “I wouldn’t mind seeing it myself,” said Reed. “But would
that delay you Kasaima-san?”


Kasaima chuckled. “It will not take long, and I’m still working on the
carpet. In fact, I was coming to see if you two wouldn’t mind camping out
away from the Keep while I finish. We could buy some supplies, and I could
train you away from everyone else.”


“Sounds like a good plan to me,” said Reed. “We need the practice and it’d
save us some coin.”


“Are you changing too?” Trey asked Reed as they headed towards the library
area.


“Yes. I got quite the surprise when I went to go to the chamber pot this
morning.”


“Fur? Feathers? Scales?”


Reed’s face turned dusky. He looked left and right, as if making sure he’d
not be overheard and whispered: “Vagina.”


***


Reed and Aldwin looked at the library in awe. Its roof glittering like gems
in the sun, it’s architecture beauty in stone and glass.


“Gods,” said Reed. “No wonder it’s famous!”


Aldwin shook his head, as if trying to throw off some enchantment. The
building did not change. “This is almost worth getting feathers.”


Inside the building was equally impressive. A woman was at the desk and
smiled when she saw them. “Kasaima-san and Trey, I believe?”


“Indeed. Is Mael-Murie-san off today?”


“No, she’s just inside. She’s trying to help this poor little fellow named
Talo. He’s a kobold, I think. As far as I know he was magicked here from
somewhere else. Of course, there are other assistants too. I’m Merlia, by
the way. What do you need help with?”


Aldwin moved forward. “I’m growing these.” He held up the feather to her.
“I’m not sure what type of feather it is, except it’s not a chicken
feather. I’ve seen those enough to know.”


“Hmmm.. Mael is definitely the one to talk to about feathers. Are you okay,
though? You seem to be very calm, which is a bit unusual.”


“You should have seen me when I first found these. Poor Reed. I think I
must’ve woken up the inn and half the street. I’m not sure if I’ve calmed
down or am just in shock, but doing something is better than just thinking
about it.”


“You’ll be okay. I promise. What about you?” she looked at Reed. “Any signs
of changes?”


Reed’s face took on a familiar dusky hue. “Yes, in fact.” Even knowing he
was facing someone who’d gone through this didn’t seem to help, somehow.


“Ah, you’re like me.” Merlia’s voice changed a bit. It was filled with
sympathy.


“Is it that obvious?” Reed felt discomforted. He didn’t like being easily
read.


“I’ve gone through it. While all aspects of the Curse are off-putting, the
pedomorph one tends to make most people elated while the zoomorph one tends
to be admitted, however reluctantly. Gendermorph, though, especially man to
woman, tends to cause a lot of embarrassment. I can walk you through what
to expect in the days to come.”


“We can see ourselves in to find Mael-Murie-san and Talo-san. Perhaps my
senses can help with him,” said Kasaima.


Aldwin took the hint and marched into the main area. He barely got through
before the sheer number of books and scrolls overwhelmed him. “So many!” He
stood gazing up and around like someone seeing the stars for the first time.


“A trove beyond price. Wealth beyond gold,” said Kasaima. It didn’t take
long to find Mael-Murie. She was next to a bat and a small, red dragon-like
creature. Trey was reminded of stories of dragonettes.


Mael saw them coming and made the best smile her beak could. “Ah!
Kasaima-san! Welcome. I see you’ve got Trey as well. Who’s your friend?”


“My name's Aldwin, ma’am. My friend Reed is out with Merlia
talking…um…about personal matters related to the Curse.” His face turned
beet red. “I’ve got my own inquiry. I’m growing these.” He showed her the
feather.


“Mind if I take it to have a look?” She held it close after Aldwin handed
it to her. “Hmm. This looks waterproof. A duck, perhaps? Maybe a seabird.
There’s a rather extensive book on feathers here somewhere. I hate to leave
poor Talo, though.”


Talo had looked up. “No mind. Nyein helps.”


“I might be able to as well,” said Kasaima. “My kind deals with magic
frequently. If it’s permissible, I can try and sense your aura and see if I
can find anything in here that matches.”


Nyein repeated the request to Talo, who nodded. Mael led Aldwin off into
the stack. Trey hopped off to watch. He could just make out something like
a shimmering outline around Kasaima as he examined Talo.


“That is a very odd aura you have. Even with all this interference it’d be
impossible to mistake. Let me see.” Kasaima reached into a pouch and pulled
out what looked like a clear crystal on a silver chain. He held it between
his hands and bowed his head over it, as if in prayer. Slowly the pendant
began to circle, becoming more and more energetic until it stopped in
midair, pointing.


Trey hopped back on and Nyein and Talo followed as the pendant acted like
an unerring guide. Suddenly Kasaima stopped. The pendant was pointing at a
section of books. “These. There’s something about them that’s similar to
Talo’s aura.”


Nyein pulled out one of the books and opened it. Inside there was a map
that looked superficially similar to the one of their world’s but was
labeled completely differently. Even some of the geological features were
off. He handed it to Talo.


Talo’s eyes darted over the illustration and several times he said
something low in draconic.


Hearing this Nyein looked over Talo’s shoulder as he now lightly placed a
claw on one place then another.


“Home! Home!” Talo exclaimed, placing his claw on a continent set somewhat
to the south of a larger land mass. “Names same. Talo certain this my home.”


“But…” Trey said. “These are works of fiction, aren’t they?”


***


Jarrod was deeply uncomfortable. Though the quills had not spread far, his
shirt had been pierced in the back, where they were sprouting out of his
pants. Roderick had lost interest in teasing him for the time being, and
Nathan didn’t seem to have much to say, though he did keep looking at
himself when he thought Jarrod wasn’t looking.


The zebra on duty came back. “Alright. Time for you to face justice.” He
pointed to Jarrod. “Your pride isn’t going to keep those clothes on, you
know.”


“I’ll keep them on anyway, until I can’t. I doubt I’ll have much longer to
worry about it anyway.” The guard did something outside the cell and then
entered it. For one wild moment, Jarrod considered tackling him and
fleeing, but then reconsidered. It would be pointless. Everything was
pointless.


“Come along peaceful-like. Those bands of yours will keep you from running
far.”


“Ha! He’s just another beast like you! Where would he go, a circus?”
Rodrick jeered.


“You think you're so clever, hmm? Well, Misha Brightleaf is on his way for
you two. Your friend here just made the proverbial ass of himself. You two
have upset Misha, and I would not want to be in *your* shoes for the world.”


Nathan gulped and Roderick blanched as the zebra led Jarrod out. “I’m
Officer Ulford.” He paused and looked at the desk. It had a snake of some
sort at it. Jarrod was not sure of the being’s gender. “Taking the prisoner
for mean justice, Dame Aspasia.”


“Very well. His crimes are so trivial I wonder they didn’t deal with them
last night.”


“According to Sir Prent he was drunk out of his head. Drewbert and Franklin
won’t press charges. I won’t repeat what Officer Jenna had to say.”


She let out a hissing chuckle. “I can well imagine what Officer Jenna had
to say.” She motioned and the two went outside.


It was a fair day. The warmth of the June morning should have been
cheering, but Jarrod was not comforted. The quills on his back were
increasingly uncomfortable. When he tried to stay too far behind the zebra,
he felt his cuffs pull him forward. There was no escape.


He wondered if he’d be hung or if his head would be cut off. He couldn’t
complain about not having a good last meal. But they passed the center of
town and there was no scaffolding set up. Nothing there but people selling
their wares, as if there were no criminals among them.


They walked out of the town and kept walking. *Am I going to be executed
like an animal? Is my body going to lay in an unmarked grave as carrion?*
Jarrod felt hollow inside. All the anger he’d had yesterday had evaporated.
He was going to die somewhere in the wilderness. *No, I’m already dead. I’m
not even human anymore.*


Despite his thoughts, he was still mostly human. The spread was slow along
his body. He did lose his shoes as they tramped along the side of a river
on a well-worn path; his feet became paws and lessened the discomfort of
being barefoot. His misery didn’t quite stop him from noticing the beauty
of the river and wood. Or the humans and animalmorphs fishing and playing
along the side of the river.


He was so distracted that he didn’t notice Ulford stop until he bumped into
him. “What is your problem?”


Jarrod looked up and blinked. The zebra didn’t sound so much angry as
annoyed. “What do you mean?”
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