<html> <body> Part 2! --------- Metamor Keep: Heraldic Beginnings by Charles Matthias March 21, 708 CR Charles woke the next morning to a wonderful sight – Lady Kimberly laying with her snout pointed toward him, her paws curled up beneath her chin, and tail tucked up almost within reach of those paws. He hadn't had much sleep, but what time he'd spent at the altar the night before seemed to have made up for it. As he licked the cobwebs out of his mouth blinked them from his mind, he stretched one arm and gently stroked his wife's ear. She flicked her ear and then blinked open her eyes. Irritation faded quickly into warmth and delight. She reached out her left arm and draped it over his chest, claws clutching firmly in his side. For a moment Charles's bleary mind feared she would recoil when she felt the pliant warmth of the vine, but when her arm met only the fur of his chest he recalled that he'd placed it within the flagstones at the side of his bed for the night. With a pleased sigh his paw stroked down her cheek and then over his shoulder. “Good morning, my lady.” “Good morning, my man,” she replied, her voice the sweetest and most beautiful thing he could imagine to begin his day. “Did you sleep well?” “The best I have had in weeks,” she admitted, slipping closer to him so that her chest pressed against his side. He held her close, the warmth of their bodies making the already warm mattress beneath the quilts as warm as the brush of steam from freshly boiled tea or cider. “Me too,” he replied, gently brushing their noses together. “I'm tired of waking up alone.” “Aye.” For several long seconds neither said anything, arms wrapped tight, fingers and claws gently searching through the fur on their backs. Then, filled with the rich scent of his lady, Charles murmured, “With what shall we break our fast?” “Whatever we want,” Kimberly said, nuzzling her snout against his chest. “But not muffins. I'm a little tired of them.” “No muffins then,” he laughed. “And then... we can try teaching the children some manners at table.” It was her turn to laugh. “You can! They're not even a year old.” “Yet they seem three,” he whispered and closed his eyes. “I'll have to begin teaching them their letters soon too. After we go home.” “Home...” Kimberly's voice filled with yearning, but no trace of the weariness that had often marred her speech last night. “When are we going back? I miss the trees.” “In a few days I think. Today is Wednesday and I have not been able to celebrate Liturgy here in a very long time. We can leave after that. Four days then. Unless you want to stay for something more...” “Well, you missed the wedding so no, there's no more reason to stay. But what will we do with four days?” Charles would have to ask her later how the wedding of Bernadette's son had gone in the midst of the plague. For now, his thoughts turned only on the delicate curve in her flesh, the driving fragrance of her fur, and the gentle tone of her voice. He rubbed her back firmly with one paw and their tails curled together beneath the quilts. “What will we do? Whatever we feel like, my Lady. Whatever we feel like. And whatever it is, we'll do it together.” He could feel her snout stretch into a smile against his chest. Her satisfied sigh was sweeter than any birdsong. ---------- March 22, 708 CR “You wanted to see me?” Charles asked as he stepped into Misha's office in Long Hall that morning. He'd just come from breaking his fast with his family in Gregor's shop where they'd enjoyed some of the capybara's new meat and cheese-filled morsels, when he'd received the summons from the head of the Long Scouts. They had returned together after Charles promised that he would take them to play outside in the gardens when he was finished. The thought of playing outside was more than enough to keep his children boisterous, and his reassurance comforted Kimberly who's whiskers drooped when the message came for her husband. Misha was standing on four legs beside the oaken desk with a map of the valley stretched across the top; mugs of cider and ale held the corners down. The centaur-like fox looked up, one ear lifting and tail wagging in delight when the rat entered. Standing with him around the table was the tall red-haired Laura, the gray-furred ferret Finbar, and the one-handed child Lisa who had a step stool so she could see more easily. “Charles! I'm glad you could make it. I promise, this won't be long.” A small mischievous smile crept over his narrow snout. “I know we all want to see you try swinging from the balcony by your tail with your child holding each of your paws again.” Charles laughed at the memory of the craziest thing he'd done yesterday, well remembering how much his children laughed and squealed their delight as they spun through the air, as well as the expression of worry that blanketed his wife's face. “I think Kimberly will break my tail if I try it again.” “She did look like she wanted a heavy skillet to swing,” Finbar said. Both Laura and Lisa shook their heads while the three men laughed together. Charles closed the door behind him and then came to the table. “So why did you need me?” Misha gestured at the map. “I wanted to take a moment to discuss some plans for the Valley's defense. With you at Glen Avery, there may be some opportunities we can follow through on to make sure we keep the northern lands secure.” “There's only so much I can do myself; most of the time I just double as another Glen scout, either on paw or hoof.” “I want to improve coordination between Hareford, the Glen, and Lake Barnhardt. There's too many old rivalries between them and that's making my job, not to mention George's harder.” “You aren't going to solve that,” Charles pointed out. “And don't tell me there weren't rivalries between the families of Marigund.” The fox's eyes lifted in irritation and he nodded. “One reason I'm glad I'm here and not there! Things here make much more sense than they did there! But that's not my point. I was hoping we might give them all more reason to work together. You live at the Glen and know her people. Laura has spent a good bit of time at Hareford these last few months; and half of those troops are from Metamor to begin with. If you have any suggestions I would like to hear them.” Laura ran her fingers along the map near the Giant's Dike and the old fort of Hareford. “You won't have any problems with the troops at Hareford. They are very capable; they just need more time getting to know the land. Both Lord Nestorius and Sir Dupré seem to understand that. Since he's arrived there, Dupré has been getting the troops out into the forests and hills around Hareford every week; he's running patrols constantly. And to be honest, I've never seen a man pick up on the strengths of the land faster than he. If he's as loyal as he professes, we'll be very lucky to have him there.” Misha nodded and shifted his hindquarters until he was sitting on his haunches. “I was going to ask you about him. Nestorius at first seemed very fond of him, but the last few times I spoke with the lion he was much more distant; he wouldn't say why.” Laura frowned. “That is what worries me. Dupré has a vicious temper and he lost it with Lord Nestorius. They fought and...” “And what?” Charles's ears perked up as he and the rest waited for the woman who'd once been a man to finish her thought. “He kicked Nestorius in the... um...” Both rat and fox widened their eyes and shifted about a little, while Finbar just laughed. “The old lion probably deserved it. I would have loved to have seen his face too.” “That's the problem,” Laura replied with a shake of her head, one lock of her red hair falling across her shoulder only to be shoved back with another flick. “Nestorius didn't deserve it, he just got in Dupré's way.” Misha stopped laughing and frowned. “We'll have to keep a tight leash on Dupré if he cannot put one on his temper.” “If he could manage that, he'd be formidable.” “George said he was when he met him many years ago,” Misha added as he stood back up on all fours and paced back and forth, eyes fixed on the map until he sat back down again and looked at his fellow Longs. “Being exiled and parted from his family is probably the cause. Now, before our rat friend decides to emulate the ram, what of the Glen? How can we win their trust to work with Hareford and the Lake?” Charles waved one paw and gave the fox a sour look. “I'm not going to do anything like that, Misha. You know I don't lose my temper that way.” “I know,” Misha said with a faint yip. “I'm sorry.” But the rat had already forgiven his friend. “As for the Glen, well, if the Valley is threatened they'll fight alongside the Lakeland folk; otherwise it won't happen. They have been fighting over a strip of land between them for over a generation; we aren't going to overcome that.” “They need their heads knocked together,” was Finbar's assessment. “Maybe,” Charles begrudgingly admitted. “As for Hareford... well... they never have anything good to say about them; at least not after the folk at Hareford stayed in their castle while Nasoj was attacking the Keep over a year ago. And I don't think that's going to change unless Haerford's forces have some victory on their own. There's a lot of resentment that Hareford hid while the Glen bled.” Lisa shook her head and drummed the fingers of her only hand on the map. “That's not fair. The blizzard kept Hareford pinned down. They spent a week shoveling themselves out even after Nasoj was driven back!” “And they've been told that,” Charles said with a long sigh. “But when a man like Angus believes Hareford is full of nothing more than craven children, then you can imagine what the rest think.” Lisa was about to object when Misha waved one paw. “Charles is right. I need to think on this. There may be an opportunity for Hareford to show her worth, but I do not see it yet. Still, it seems we have our work cut out for us. Finbar, I want your squad to be ready to head to Hareford tomorrow. You'll be leading them on an expedition into the Giantdowns.” Finbar grinned. “Who are we going to kill?” “Nobody that I know of,” Misha laughed and then lowered his ear, all serious. “We need to keep an eye on the human settlements that have broken free of Nasoj. And we need to keep watch over the Lutins. One tribe may want peace, but there are plenty more than that who don't. So...” “Usual reconnaissance,” Finbar finished. “That we can do. Everybody's itching to get out of Metamor.” “I am too,” Misha exclaimed with a heavy sigh. “I'm sure I'll come up with some excuse that will drive George crazy.” “He can handle it,” Finbar said, his grin widening. “He's a big boy.” “Aye. Now, Charles, I want to see if we can resume the lines of communication we had with you before this plague business. We need to know what the Glen Scouts know and fast. And of course, if we know something, they'll need to know it fast.” “I can do more than just pass information along,” Charles pointed out. “Aye, how well I know that! We'll need to discuss it with Lord Avery and Angus, but I'm sure we can get them to agree that you ought to have more say in the arrangement of their scouts and defenses.” Charles frowned a little. “I do not think they appreciate meddling from Metamor either.” He held up a paw to forestall the fox's objection. “I am not saying that is what it is, only that is how some of the Glenners see it. They are very proud people, Misha. You should know this.” “With good reason to be proud,” Laura added with a chuckle. “Their scouts could teach most of ours a lesson or two.” “I know,” Misha said as his eyes trailed once more to the map. “They really are some of the best. Which is why I want to make sure we coordinate with them better, and that means we need Charles in some position to help organize them. But... that will have to wait until I can spare the time to come to the Glen. For now, we'll go back to passing messages and keeping each other informed.” “Very well. What else do w have?” “Lisa, could you go over the troop assignments for the next few months?” Misha smiled to the one-handed girl, the mischief filling his gray eyes. “And keep it simple. There are still some rafters Charles hasn't swung by is tail from yet!” The rat shot his friend a dirty look before chuckling and shaking his head; it was good to be back! Lisa did as Misha asked, and within another ten minutes the meeting came to an end. After wishing Finbar and his team a safe journey, Charles left to find his family, but not five steps from Misha's office ran into a very familiar face, one that was almost as familiar to him as Kimberly's. She brightened and jumped to her feet when she saw him, long monochromatic tail dancing behind her back. “Kayla!” Charles laughed and gave her a friendly hug. “It's good to see you again. Were you waiting for me?” “Aye, but not long,” she said after greeting him. “I wasn't sure how long you planned to stay in Metamor, but I had an idea and I hoped you'd be able to come.” “To come?” “I sent messages to Lindsey and James too, and Jessica's come back to Metamor already. I was hoping that we five could just meet and share a meal again together, like old times. I know you want to be with your family.” “That's a wonderful idea,” Charles exclaimed, face brightening at the mere thought of seeing his traveling companions in one place again. I'm sure Kimberly and the children will love to meet each of you too. The children especially; I've told them stories.” Kayla's face brightened. “Oh, I can't wait to meet them! But... I can't right now. I have to go meet Rickkter. I'll let you know when I have everything arranged.” Charles took a deep breath and smiled to the skunk. “Thank you, Kayla. It won't be hard to find me – just look for any of my family and you'll find me; but James is on patrol right now. It might be hard for him to get away.” “If he can't make it, we'll manage. We did want to keep an eye on each other,” she said with a slight suggestion. Charles nodded, grimly remembering the evil bell that had nearly consumed the donkey, as well as the dragon that had tried to subsume Kayla herself, or that thing growing in Lindsey's pouch. “Aye, that we do,” Charles agreed. “I'm sure whatever it is, it isn't finished with us.” “No, it can't be.” Kayla lowered her eyes for a moment, and then her expression brightened and she gave Charles a firm squeeze. “Oh, you go have a lovely day with your family. I will see you again soon, Charles!” Charles laughed and hugged her right back. “You know what Rickkter will do if he sees you hugging me like that!” “He'll keep his mouth shut if he knows what's good for him!” Those few words kept Charles laughing and skipping all the way to the gardens where his family waited. ---------- May He bless you and keep you in His grace and love, Charles Matthias !DSPAM:4eff58dc115031804284693! </body> </html>