<html> <body> Part 13 - Now let's hope my next one doesn't take as long! Metamor Keep: Keeper's Return By Charles Matthias <x-tab>        </x-tab>In the end a similar course of action was decided upon. George brought a metal canister big enough to contain the ball of dragon dust.  Lacking a deep sea at hand, they settled on placing it in one of the secret storehouses in Long House beneath as many magical wards as Murikeer and Rickkter thought prudent.  For fear that either Abafouq or Andares might still have some corruption upon their souls, they were not allowed to see either where the canister was placed or aid in any further magical casting upon it. <x-tab>        </x-tab>Those Vissarion had attacked were all well; Kindle was shaken but in good spirits while the four soldiers remembered only the smashing of the window before all went dark.  Murikeer and Abafouq examined them thoroughly but found no trace of foul magic on them.  And at Lindsey and Kayla’s insistence, they also examined Charles and the others who had journeyed to Marzac.  But again they found no trace of the evil corruption that had briefly overcome Kayla. <x-tab>        </x-tab>The room itself, though, was not nearly so fortunate. Vissarion had destroyed pretty much all the furniture and ruined the rugs and even the stone floors in his fight with the Keepers. It was settled on Kiya being the best person to handle the cleanup. <x-tab>        </x-tab>Once the room was cleared, George sent the rest of his soldiers back to their regular duty posts and then told Misha to inform him of anything he needed to know.  The jackal left after giving Rickkter and Kayla both firm embraces, which surprised everyone.  Murikeer, barely able to stand without assistance, was helped to Rikkter’s dishevelled bed and laid out.  The raccoon fetched a chalice from a cabinet and mixed some noxious smelling concoction that the skunk drank down without a flinch.  Shortly thereafter he faded into blessed unconsciousness. <x-tab>        </x-tab>Misha also sent his fellow Longs back to their regular duties but also had them along with Sir Saulius deliver a message to Charles’s family that everyone was well and there was no more reason to worry.  But Misha stayed, keeping a wary paw on Whisper, his good ear alert and his eyes focussed for any other signs of danger. <x-tab>        </x-tab>The travellers, who were all there apart from Guernef and Jessica, waited patiently assisting where they dared but otherwise kept quiet.  Once the canister was secreted away all were again assembled in the Long Hall.  Rickkter glared at them all with the scrutiny of a judge. “Now that all the excitement is over, would someone like to inform me of what in all the hells is going on?  Where did that dragon come from and how did it possess Kayla?” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“His name,” Andares said with profound sadness, “was Vissarion.  He was a dragon of great wisdom and power.  Your swords can tell you that much.  But long ago he sought to destroy the power of Marzac and was corrupted by it instead.  He became Vissarion the Mad.  He met his death in Carethedor at the hand of Pelain of Cheskych.  But all of Marzac’s servants were connected even in death.  Whatever remained of Vissarion must have latched onto Kayla as we made our escape.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“I have heard the legend of Vissarion the Mad,” Rickkter admitted as he paced back and forth, eyes passing over each of them.  He glared a little more intensely at Charles and Jerome but spared none of the others his displeasure. “Carethedor is one of the places I always wished to find and explore, even if only to see Vissarion’s bones which were rumoured to still linger in that dead city.  I never thought to see them in my quarters!” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“He is truly dead now,” Andares continued. “No more of his spirit remains.  What is left in the dust is an evil that lingers only because the last remnants of Marzac have yet to be extinguished.  Lindsey was the first.  Kayla the second.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“I’d hoped it would only happen to me,” Lindsey said in a deep groan. “But I guess that was foolish.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“So it seems.” Rickkter stopped his pacing and faced them directly.  They stood in a line against one wall, their hearts heavy, especially those for whom no darkness had yet surfaced. “But this brings us to several questions.  First, have any other evils infected Lindsey or Kayla and how would we know?  And also, can we expect to see some evil blossom in each of you?” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“And another question,” Abafouq added quietly. “How will we know when all of the lingering evil has been extinguished?” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“I do not know,” Andares admitted. “But I suspect that each of us will only be struck once.  And once defeated they cannot be touched again.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>The raccoon’s eyes narrowed. “What makes you say that?” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“The letters Habakkuk wrote.  Though destroyed by fire, what is left suggests care and precision and perhaps but a single clue to unravel.  If there were more that we should face there would be more than one clue.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>But at this Rickkter scoffed. “Prophets.  Prophets speak in riddles because it pleases them.  Habakkuk was no different.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“He was right about me,” Kayla said in a small voice. <x-tab>        </x-tab>“What?” <x-tab>        </x-tab>All eyes turned toward the skunk who trembled still from the memory of what she’d given assent to. “I had but three words on my letter.  ‘Bracer’ ‘Swords’ ‘Rickkter’.  They were the map to our victory today.  Inside Vissarion’s mind, the only thing I could touch was the bracer given to me by that fortune teller, Rick.  Because of it, Muri and Abafouq’s spell was able to pull me out of him.  And then I gave the swords back to you and you were able to use them to get your strength back from Vissarion.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“And my letter was much the same,” Lindsey added. “What was said there was exactly what I needed to hear to know what grew in my pouch was evil.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Rickkter ran his tongue over his teeth mulling their words.  Beside him Misha began nodding his head. “It all makes sense to me, Rick.  Now we just have to worry about what evil may be in the others.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“And Guernef and Jessica.” Abafouq added in a quiet voice. <x-tab>        </x-tab>Rickkter, face descending into an unpleasant moue, asked, “What has become of the letters?” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“We each have our own now,” Charles said.  He was flesh again and the side of his tunic was scarred where it had touched Vissarion’s searing hide. “It would probably be a good idea to go over them again.  Perhaps your eyes can help us see things we have not.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Rickkter’s ears lowered like an angry beast at the sound of the rat’s voice.  But he tempered himself and said, “I suppose I do owe you all some measure of gratitude for helping save Kayla and myself.” His gaze settled on the rat and he forced the scowl from his face. “And even you for returning my Sondeshike.  I see you found another.  Don’t tell me, I’m not that interested.” He sighed deeply. “Very well, I’m going to spend the next several days reestablishing my wards; wards Vissarion destroyed when he sapped my strength.” He snorted in amusement and turned to Lindsey. “Actually, you should thank the evil, old lizard for that.  If he hadn’t, we’d be clearing you up along with the rest of the wreckage, what with how you burst through my door.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Lindsey grunted but said nothing. <x-tab>        </x-tab>“In the meantime, there are some magical practice rooms in which we can work.  I want you to bring your letters.  Jessica and Guernef too when they show themselves.  Murikeer, when he recovers, and I are going to study them at length to see what we can learn.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“Will he be well?  I did not see how the dragon injured him so.” Abafouq asked in concern. “He was stronger than I ever imagined a single person could be, but using his strength seems to have caused him great pain.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Rickkter waved one paw dismissively. “He will be well, the injury he suffers came at the hand of another.  He wrought just vengeance for that injury and a life taken.  We do not need to worry about him.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“But we do need to keep a closer watch on each other,” Kayla said. “Vissarion struck me just as I was left alone.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“It’s unreasonable to think we can all stay together all the time,” Charles pointed out. “We all have our separate lives here at Metamor.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“But we can gather together frequently to help,” Kayla pointed out. <x-tab>        </x-tab>“Not I,” Jerome said with a sigh. “I’m leaving the Valley after the funeral tomorrow.  I will not be back for some time.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Charles put a paw on his fellow Sondecki’s side. “Are you sure that’s wise after what we saw today?” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“No, but I will not risk the Curse.  I am no use to you beyond this Valley if I look as you do.  I will return as soon as I can.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Rickkter crossed his arms. “You may be a danger to everyone around you.  We can make you stay.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Jerome snorted. “No, you can’t.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Misha swung Whisper into the ground between them.  Chips of stone shot in either direction. “Enough of this!  We all need to be more watchful.  Until some evil is shown in them, we cannot treat them like prisoners and I won’t allow anyone to do so.  That includes you, Rick.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“You haven’t been the victim of that evil, Misha.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“It isn’t right to do it,” Misha declared with cold voice. “Nor will Thomas countenance it.”  For a moment the raccoon and fox glared at each other.  But after several seconds the raccoon turned aside and shook his head. <x-tab>        </x-tab> “Fine.  Let him leave for now.  But he should return regularly so we can scan him for any taint.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>The Åelf lowered his eyes and sighed. “I fear that if there is a taint, no one will be able to see it until it has expressed itself.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“Then what can we do?” James asked. <x-tab>        </x-tab>“We do what we must,” Andares said with a simplicity that brooked no argument. “We keep vigilant and trust each other above else.  If any voice tells you that you cannot trust your friends, then the evil is upon you and you must not listen to it.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“Aye,” Lindsey agreed. <x-tab>        </x-tab>“Aye!” Kayla echoed with a gasp. <x-tab>        </x-tab>“Then let us renew our pact here and now,” Abafouq said, holding out his hand. “To always trust each other until the evil in each of us is defeated.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>One by one Keeper and ally came forward and placed their hands and paws together.  Eyes met and hearts affirmed their solemn pact.  Trust and vigilance until the evil of Marzac was defeated unto its last dying gasp. ---------- <x-tab>        </x-tab>Kayla rested her head on Rickkter’s shoulder as they walked out of the Long House, arms around each other’s waists and tails brushing against each other. This was the man she loved; irascible, irritable, and temperamental as he was at times but also caring, loyal, and indomitable. She had risked everything for him because she knew he’d do the same for her. <x-tab>        </x-tab>And now she had him back. Not weak and ravaged like before, but hale and hardy like he had been eight months before when she had last seen him. Reaching a large stairwell, they stopped and gazed out and over it a few moments before Rickkter turned and faced her. <x-tab>        </x-tab>He reached up and ran his fingers alongside the stripe on her muzzle and back around to her ear, tenderly rubbing into the thick fur there. “I told you I was jealous of everything you’d done while away, love. And part of me is. The bigger part, though, is proud of you. I am so proud of what you accomplished. Having seen Vissarion, a shadow of what Marzac was, I can only imagine what you had to go through. But you never faltered, you never wavered.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Kayla wrapped her paw around his, closing her eyes and purring deeply as she savoured his touch. “You were what kept me going. I would have never let you go.  Even in all the darkest moments when everything else seemed lost, especially when we faced the Marquis and then Yajakali himself, I thought only of my friends but mostly of you.” She nuzzled her snout into his shoulder. “And I dreamed of the day you would be here to welcome me home.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“Then let me truly welcome you home.” Rickkter leaned forward and pressed his muzzle to hers in a deep, passionate kiss. Kayla let her paws drift to his side and pull him in close to her as she kissed back just as passionately. Eventually breaking it, he kept close, his nose rubbing against hers. “Now, there is the matter of quarters. Mine are in rather a shambles...” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Eyes bright and with a merry laugh she squeezed him close again. “And your student would be little pleased to find us sharing your bed when he wakes?” she chortled softly. <x-tab>        </x-tab>Rickkter grinned and nodded, “Even drugged to the eartips as he is he might just take note.” He added with a warm laugh of his own, full of strength and vigour once again after what seemed, to him, like an eternity.  “Let him sleep, mine are not the only chambers to tenant.” He asked as he looked into her warm gaze. <x-tab>        </x-tab>She agreed, her own would do quite well, for the both of them, for the next few days. ---------- May He bless you and keep you in His grace and love, Charles Matthias !DSPAM:4b998815139132612618147! </body> </html>