[Mkguild] Round Robin: Endings and Beginnings

[Indagare]

It may be hard to believe, but tomorrow will be a full year from the start
of the Round Robin! Things were a bit rough at times, and still are, but I
can't thank Rimme, Kamau, and Chris enough for doing this!

Speaking of which, Kamau mentioned wanting to add a "flying lessons with
Rorlyn" section, but I haven't heard back from him since. I'm hoping he's
okay and will add his part once life gives him a chance.

That said, I wanted to give the Round Robin a proper close, so that a new
one might begin. Below is my part with some of it from Rimme. I hope
everyone likes it.

-Indy

Noontide June 6, 708 CR


The flying lessons with Rorlyn had been interesting and very helpful to
both Talo and Alwin were much stronger in flight. Kasaima had also paid
attention. Though he was still changing, Eastern Dragons could also fly,
and it would pay to know something about it.


The rug Kasaima had enchanted was now fully ready. They had loaded the
center with gear and sat around it in a circle: Kasaima, Trey, Yuèliàng
(with Yuèjiàn), Rita, Aldwin, and Talo. Kasaima and Yuèliàng both knew how
to steer the rug, but the others didn’t, so they would learn one by one.


The enchantments for a magic carpet were quite complex, as Kasaima
explained. First of all, there was the upward force that kept the carpet
airborne. There were special charms designed to allow any Keeper to direct
it--and only Keepers, as a safe measure. There were subtle charms along the
edges of the carpet to pull back anyone who rolled too close to the
edge--but not someone who deliberately stepped off. And there was a wind
charm so that even at top speed, the wind did not overwhelm them. And there
were a few more spells as well, something to do with make the air warm
enough and thick enough for breathing.


"Is this safe?" Aldwin squirmed in his seat.


"I trust Kasaima with his magic,": Rita said, though she kept three limbs
on the carpet at all times and eyed the edges uneasily.


The Barrier Mountains loomed before them, imposing and beautiful. Blinding
snow-covered tips leading to greener areas below. Through a path long
covered with debris onto a broken road: clearly there, but long neglected.


Trey, Rita, and Aldwin all took one last glimpse back as the Valley faded
out of view. For Trey, the only home he’d ever known. For Rita and Aldwin,
a last glimpse of the world they knew anything about. The three could feel,
now, for Talo whose own world had been taken from him so abruptly.


And then Trey turned and looked forward. The winding road going ever on,
the valleys full of life. From somewhere in his memory, he started singing
a song*:


“One more step along the world I go,

one more step along the world I go,

from the old things to the new,

keep me traveling along with you:

And it's from the old I travel to the new;

keep me traveling along with you.


Round the corner of the world I turn,

more and more about the world I learn;

all the new things that I see,

you'll be looking at along with me:

And it's from the old I travel to the new;

keep me traveling along with you.


As I travel through the bad and good,

keep me traveling the way I should;

Where I see no way to go

you'll be telling me the way I know:

And it's from the old I travel to the new;

keep me traveling along with you.


Give me courage when the world is rough,

keep me loving though the world is tough,

leap and sing in all I do,

keep me traveling along with you:

And it's from the old I travel to the new;

keep me traveling along with you.


You are older than the world can be,

you are younger than the life in me,

ever old and ever new,

keep me traveling along with you:

And it's from the old I travel to the new;

keep me traveling along with you.”


*Carter, Sydney. “One more step along the world I go” Carter's Riding a
Tune, 1971. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YquLANPYiRU

–End–
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