<html> <body> And part 6. Metamor Keep: Investigating Calamity By Charles Matthias <x-tab>         </x-tab>None of the other mages had the stomach to ask any hard questions after that Questioner had pointed out something that should have been obvious to them.  It unsettled each of them to their core.  The thought that there might still be evil from Marzac left to stain the world was frightening.  But at least one of them was certain it was merely a Questioner trick to keep them from doing what they must. <x-tab>        </x-tab>This mage had kept silent for the remainder of the inquiry until they’d finished hearing the Questioner’s testimony.  They’d dismissed him for a short recess after which they promised to bring all three of them in for corroborative discussion.  It was formality in many ways for there were no obvious gaps in any of their testimonies.  The sooner they completed these interviews the sooner the trio from Yesulam could return to their thrice-damned city. <x-tab>        </x-tab>Would they have enough information to see that justice was done? <x-tab>        </x-tab>“Ah,” the other mage said once the two were together in an alcove off a side hallway.  His pet rat perched on his shoulder this time, sleek black face sniffing at the other. “And what did you learn?” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“The Questioner’s ability with light is stronger than we expected.  It cannot be defeated by any magic we possess.  It ripped right through anything Massenet erected.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“Massenet is overconfident,” the man replied as he gently stroked the rat’s back with one finger. “But, I trust your assessment.  And he is too well protected inside the Cardinal’s palace.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“We need to get him out somehow.” The other mage paused in thought and then began to nod. “Sleepwalking.  If we can put an anchor in him, I can force him to sleepwalk.  We can then take him anywhere we want in the city.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>The man smiled as the idea took shape. “Aye, that is the best way.  An anchor that he will digest soon enough to hide the spell, but not so soon that we cannot get to him.  Boots can deliver it tonight.  But how to kill him.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“Leave him in a Rebuilder district.  They will kill him soon enough.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>The man shook his head and gently kissed the rat who leaned against his face. “No, the Yeshuel and Yesbearn might be warned in time to save him.  Rumour has it that the Yeshuel’s heroism in striking down the evil that murdered Patriarch Akabaieth has impressed many Rebuilders as well.  We cannot count on that.  We need something more...” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“But what?” <x-tab>        </x-tab>The man gently kissed the rat’s cheek and then smiled. “There is a blind man who sometimes does work for Master Demarest.  I know who he is and how to get a message to him that will ensure he is discreet and efficient.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“But still it will look like a Rebuilder killed him.  All without the Caial knowing?” The other frowned. “And how do we know we can trust one of Demarest’s dogs?” <x-tab>        </x-tab>The man laughed faintly, a smile that seemed to delight in the approbation. “I am one of Demarest’s dogs as well.  I assure you, it is a risk, but we will avoid the Caial.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>The first mage smiled as well. “Then we are agreed.  Find something for the Questioner to eat unawares and I shall place the anchor on it.  And contact this blind man.  Tonight we act.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“I will do as you say.  Tonight.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>The two went their separate ways.  Justice was coming! ---------- <x-tab>         </x-tab>Elizabeth came down to antechamber only a few minutes after with a scowl that creased her face into a death mask.  The serving woman who’d finished serving them tea almost dropped her tray in her haste to escape.  Czestadt crouched lower in his seat, both hands holding the delicate porcelain.  Kashin turned from putting another log in the hearth, while Akaleth looked up with empty expression.  None of them were quite prepared for the verbal tirade that erupted from her lungs. <x-tab>        </x-tab>“Just how arrogant and stupid are you?” Elizabeth snapped.  Her face was bright red and her whole body shook.  Her arms gesticulated wildly with each word.  Her scream was directed mostly at Akaleth, but the Yesbearn was not excepted, nor the Yeshuel. “Is it impossible for you to remain polite for a single moment?  Why must you antagonize EVERYONE!  My brother Misha is more polite and he uses a battleaxe!  We cannot kill you but the King can!  Keep your arrogant, obnoxious tongue still!” She pointed a finger at him but her fury was so rich it could not keep still. “That was your only warning.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Akaleth pursed his lips and said nothing.  Czestadt grunted and turned the cup of tea around in his hands.  Kashin stood and his scowl, though not as fierce, remained firm. “No doubt you know the old adage, ‘physician, heal thyself.’” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Elizabeth turned and pointed her finger at him. “Don’t even start with me.  I’ve had enough of your arrogant preening.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Kashin took a few steps closer to her, his sole hand clenched into a fist kept clear of his sword. “Since we’ve arrived we have been belittled, sneered at, called liars, and treated like human offal.  And this by your vaunted Mage Guild.  You, Mistress Lumas, are one of the few who have not and for that I thank you.  But if this is how we are to be treated, why would you expect anything else from us?” <x-tab>        </x-tab> Elizabeth’s shout was loud and it made the tea set rattle. “Do not play games with me!  Your actions have nearly cost lives!  Just shut up and answer the questions and keep your preening arrogance to yourselves!” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“Our actions?” Kashin replied and spread his fingers over his chest. “No, Mistress Lumas.  It is the actions of your own mage guild.  It is our restraint that has saved lives.  Do not lie to me or to yourself.  You know the truth.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Elizabeth drew herself up and curled her fingers into her palms. “The truth is that you are by your behaviour convincing everyone of the wisdom of keeping your kind out of Marigund!” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“We have no reason to be here,” Kashin told her as he took another step closer. “If we are not welcome, then we will leave.  What have you done to make us feel welcome?  You wanted our knowledge.  Have you and your ilk no decency?” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Elizabeth lips quivered and her eyes almost grew as red as her cheeks. “Have you no sense!” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Kashin nodded his head. “Then tell me, Mistress Lumas, are you pleased with the way your fellow mages have treated us?  Can you honestly say that you find their behaviour exemplary?” <x-tab>        </x-tab>She stood for several seconds breathing heavily, eyes boring into the Yeshuel’s unperturbed countenance.  Her voice, when it did emerge, was crisp with the crackle of autumn leaves under boot and wagon wheel. “Just because my people are acting like ignorant fools does not give you the right tod o the same.  If you keep your friends under control, I will keep mine.” She swept around, robes billowing and slapping the air, and departed out the door which banged behind her. ---------- <x-tab>         </x-tab>The room was altered by the addition of two new chairs.  This skewed the arrangement and no longer were any sitting in the cardinal directions; still, the atmosphere suggested a casual, friendly conversation between equals.  The expressions of the various mages and their guests indicated that it was anything but. <x-tab>        </x-tab>“Now that we’ve concluded our solo interviews,” Demarest said in a dry voice that crackled beneath his breath, “we would like to discuss all of these matters in brief one last time to make sure that we have all of the details correct.  As you know, we wish to speed you on your way.  Your presence in Marigund is unwise but necessary.  Let us keep it brief.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“Then make your interrogations brief,” Czestadt replied tersely.  His scowl had deepened from the first moment he returned and knew that their magical translation spell was active again.  It did not waver in its disapproval. <x-tab>        </x-tab>“Do not speak to Master Demarest in such tones,” Sir Rivers reproved with a sneer. <x-tab>        </x-tab>“I will speak to whomever I wish however I wish.  Do not make me lick his boots like you.” Kashin glowered at the comment and reached his hand over to restrain the Yesbearn. <x-tab>        </x-tab>Sir Rivers drew himself back up with purpling cheeks. “You bastard!” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Czestadt snorted. “For me, an accident of my birth.  You?” A faint smirk teased the edge of his lips. “You’re a self-made man.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>The offended mage lunged from his seat and struck Czestadt across the cheek with the back of his hand. “Loathsome creature!  I will not stand for such humiliation!” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“No.  You will crawl.” <x-tab>        </x-tab> “Czestadt!” Kashin snapped. <x-tab>        </x-tab> “Alexander!” Demarest shouted in a nearly apoplectic rage. “Sit down!” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Sir Rivers stepped back, but kept his gaze focussed on the Stuthgansk knight. “There is a practice chamber beneath this room.  When we are finished here, I would greatly like to feed you those contemptuous words.  You may even bring your swords.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“Oh for the love of Eli!” Elizabeth swore and rolled her eyes. “Are you mad, Alex?  And you, Sir Czestadt?  Are all of you completely mad?” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Akaleth put one hand on Czestadt’s arm and shook his head. “We do not have time for such games.  Let them sully your honour, your name, anything, as much as they want.  Their opinions should matter nothing to us.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Czestadt lowered his eyes and then nodded to Elizabeth and Demarest. “Forgive my outburst.  As Knight Templar of the Driheli, I would suffer none to besmirch the honour of my knights.  None.  Since my charge is not concerned with his honour and bid me also not to be concerned with mine, I shall not be.  I apologize.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Elizabeth took a deep breath and glanced to Demarest who had sat imperturbably still through the exchange.  He gave a slight nod and the Elizabeth turned to Sir Rivers.  The noble sat back down again, but there was a twitch in his eye still.  None of the others had moved. <x-tab>        </x-tab>“Good,” Demarest said at last. “Now, we will quickly review your testimony and attempt to put it in chronological order.  Correct us if we err.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>There was little need for correction.  The mages replayed the events of the last year without rancour and neither Akaleth or Sir Czestadt spoke except to corroborate what had been reported.  Kashin and Demarest did almost all of the talking. <x-tab>        </x-tab>When it was over three hours later, things had changed not at all.  The mages did not look favourably upon the trio from Yesulam, and the trio from Yesulam did their best not to respond to anything said by the mages.  And when Demarest gave them a dismissal they were very eager to accept it. <x-tab>        </x-tab>“Thank you for sharing us what you know,” Demarest said with an obvious expression of relief. “I believe that we have learned all that we can and so you may return to your home.  Please do not linger here in our city longer.  I want you to leave tomorrow morning without delay.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“It is our intent,” Kashin replied with a nod of his head. “See that our carriage is ready and we shall be gone.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“It will be done,” Demarest assured him. <x-tab>        </x-tab>The trio rose and each nodded their heads.  Sir Rivers and Chalcus scowled at them, Massenet had a fierce moue, Diomedra’s eyes were calculating, Bartholomew was barely paying attention, and Elizabeth seemed relieved.  A moment later, Akaleth, Czestadt, and Kashin were on their way out of the Mage Guild.  They all hoped desperately never to return. ---------- <x-tab>         </x-tab>Cardinal Bertu was relieved as well to hear that they would be departing in the morning. “Is the Guild pleased to hear the news you brought?” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“More pleased I think that we’ll be leaving,” Father Akaleth replied with a faint grimace.  They were seated in the Cardinal’s study again sharing tea and biscuits.  Father Marchel was officiating an evening Liturgy to it was only the four of them. “I fear the thought that there may still be evil from Marzac in the world left them rather distressed.  It has me concerned as well, but I neither know where it might be nor under what form it could take apart from those chevrons I mentioned the other night.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>The red-haired cleric frowned, his wide cheeks firm with concern. “Indeed, that is unsettling news.  Still, I trust that there were no more histrionics this day?” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“In that you would also be unsettled,” Akaleth said with a definite grimace. “I fear I did lose control of my tongue at one point and offered some rather injudicious candour regarding the differences between Followers and Rebuilders.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Bertu scowled and shook his head. “Can you ever learn?  Do you intend to make my role in this city as difficult as possible?” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“In his defence,” Kashin interjected as he turned a biscuit about in his fingers, “the mages goaded him by slandering the Ecclesia in a rather foul way from what I’m told.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“Their ill behaviour, and I do not doubt that it was ill, is no excuse for your own!” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Akaleth bowed his head and sighed. “Hence my calling them injudicious.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Bertu’s lips curled in a milk-curdling scowl. “If you have set back relations between the faiths here in Marigund...” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“If I have set them back?” Akaleth retorted incredulously. “We had this conversation once before, your eminence.  There is nothing from which those relations can step back.  So long as you insist on dodging around the central truth of your people there will never be advancement!  You will always live one breath away from your Burning time.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“You have no notion of what that time was like, Father,” Bertu replied with a long sigh and shake of his head. “We may be right that we are living on the edge of anarchy; but if so, it can only be avoided by a careful balance.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“And what does it say of your people if they are living on the edge?” Akaleth asked in softer tones. “You are a house divided against itself.  Marigund could be a world power and force for good.  Instead, you are a dog on the leash of Salinon hosting Galendor’s greatest mage guild which is too busy jealously hoarding knowledge to be of any good to anyone else.  How far from the truth am I?” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Bertu folded his hands together, eyes wavering from the Questioner to briefly glance at both Kashin and Czestadt.  The two warriors sat unperturbed and quiet, their thoughts cloaked though it was clear both of them gazed inward.  What they saw none could guess.  Finally, the Cardinal nodded his head slowly, red hair brightening in the warm firelight. “We are not what we could be, it is true.  Marigund is unchallenged by any of our neighbours, but, we cannot stretch forth our hand to object to anything Salinon does.  At least not coherently. Sometimes I think Duke Otakar uses our internal squabbles to keep us at his heel.  Last year he took the heir to the Kelewair duchy hostage and has been holding him since.  Our reaction was mixed and loud, and so completely enfeebled.  We should do better.” He lifted his face, and his eyes filled with strength. “But we will not be united by starting holy wars!” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“No, you won’t,” Akaleth agreed.  He sipped at his cup of tea and stared inward for several long seconds.  How well he could remember his years thinking the only solution to the division in Yahshua’s body was to kill all the heretics.  Had not Yahshua said that there was more rejoicing in the one sinner repenting than in the ninety-nine just who did not need repentance?  The mercy of Eli was vaster and more sublime and ultimately, more powerful than the justice of Eli which was itself perfect.  To insist on justice and despise mercy was not to hold to virtue; it was to mask some sin those who sought justice possessed.  The story of Yahshua and the Yehudim leaders who’d brought the adulterous woman for stoning showed that clearly enough. <x-tab>        </x-tab>And what had his own sin been?  A never ending quest to dishonour his father, a man who had once used violence and hate to try to beat what he saw as sin out of his only child.  Akaleth took another longer sip of the warm tea, the subtle hint of maple soothing his wounds. <x-tab>        </x-tab>“No,” he repeated after setting the cup of tea aside. “You cannot start a holy war.  It will only serve to drive more into the Adversary’s arms.  But you know the status quo cannot persist.  Your holy office was not given to you to be your property, your eminence.  Nor is it usufruct.  Nor was my office given to me to use as I wish.  We have a responsibility to be the light on a lampstand, the city on a hill that cannot be hid.  We must be open and we must be honest about our faith, and it must alone guide our lives.  Let Yahshua tend to the peace in this city.  Man has always made a mess of things when he tries to usurp Eli’s authority.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Bertu did not reply immediately and for several minutes the four of them ate and drank in silence punctuated by the sharp cracks of the fire, the creaking of the walls, and the rattling of the windows in their frames.  His voice when it returned, and his expression, were resigned but calm. “There is much wisdom in what you say, Father.  Allow me the chance to consider what this might mean in my city.  But for now, you all ought to consider what recompense you can make for the unrest you brought to the Guild.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“Indeed,” Kashin agreed with a light nod. “And that we shall.  Our departure is entirely necessary; I was rather hoping to stay for Sunday Liturgy, but we shall do with what Father Akaleth can provide us on the road.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>Bertu nodded. “I will not delay tomorrow morning that you might celebrate with us one last time.” <x-tab>        </x-tab>“Thank you, your eminence,” Father Akaleth said with a genuine smile. “If then we have your leave, I would like to retire for the night.  I have much to pray over before I sleep.” Bertu nodded his ascent and the Questioner priest silently departed.  Neither Czestadt nor Kashin lingered much longer themselves. <x-tab>        </x-tab>But the little white-booted rat who’d been watching and listening to them followed the Questioner and paid no heed to the others. ---------- May He bless you and keep you in His grace and love, Charles Matthias !DSPAM:4c97e928230601122247586! </body> </html>