<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style></style></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1>True but Misha would get the best reaction from Rickkter. Rickkter would glower and be mad the longest!<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>Chris<o:p></o:p>The Lurking Fox<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>From: mkguild-bounces@lists.integral.org [mailto:mkguild-bounces@lists.integral.org] On Behalf Of Hallan Mirayas Sent: Monday, April 22, 2013 7:30 AM To: Metamor Keep Subject: Re: [Mkguild] Dominion of the Hyacinth (10/10) Revised<o:p></o:p></div></div><o:p> </o:p><div>What about Charles? He got swatted, too. Remember- if one gets found out, the other is immediately given away, too. Mutual Assured Embarrassment.<o:p></o:p><div>> Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2013 04:41:26 -0400 > From: <a href="mailto:chrisokane@optimum.net">chrisokane@optimum.net</a> > To: <a href="mailto:jagille3@vt.edu">jagille3@vt.edu</a>; <a href="mailto:MKGuild@lists.integral.org">MKGuild@lists.integral.org</a> > Subject: Re: [Mkguild] Dominion of the Hyacinth (10/10) Revised > > Wow! Even a thousand miles away Marzac continues to corrupt! > > > And Rickkter had be VERY careful that Misha doesn't find out about him being > spanked! Misha would NEVER let him live it down! He'd use jokes like "It > must have been embarrassing UNLESS Rick liked being spanked!" > > > Chris > The Lurking Fox > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: <a href="mailto:mkguild-bounces@lists.integral.org">mkguild-bounces@lists.integral.org</a> > [<a href="mailto:mkguild-bounces@lists.integral.org">mailto:mkguild-bounces@lists.integral.org</a>] On Behalf Of C. Matthias > Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 10:13 AM > To: Metamor Keep > Subject: [Mkguild] Dominion of the Hyacinth (10/10) Revised > > I want to apologize to Chris Hoekstra. When adding his edits I missed a big > chunk in this section. I hope that I haven't missed any others. Here is > the revised version of the Epilogue with the changes made. > > --------- > > > Epilogue > > > Unable to do anything to help the hawks, once they were all dressed, they > accepted Christina's invitation to a real meal at her husband's tavern a > short walk from the barracks. The tavern, which sported a kingfisher lifting > a tankard to its beak with its toes, was modest in comparison to the Deaf > Mule or the other taverns in Keeptowne, but it was clean, with sweet > smelling candles and lanterns that cast a warm light in almost every corner, > sturdy long tables with enough space between each to keep tails from being > stepped on, and plenty of thick, frothing ale, smoked fish, and savory bread > to sate all their appetites. > > Murikeer was not content to trust that Weyden would keep Jessica safe, and > so had tied a very small tracking spell to his wings as they made ready to > leave. So even as he ate and drank, enjoying the company of his friends, and > the bemused glances that Christina gave them all when she served them their > drinks, he could feel along that spell through the discomfort it brought him > to know how the hawks were doing. > > With the storm overhead there was nowhere for him or the others to go so > they relaxed in the tavern telling stories, eating, drinking, and doing > their best not to talk about their recent three hours of childhood. Murikeer > enjoyed watching his friends relax and enjoy themselves, even if it wasn't > until the storm grew its worst over the lake, pounding the tavern roof and > flashing in the narrow windows that he was able to relax. > > He could feel through his little spell Weyden's relief. He wasn't sure where > the hawks were beyond their general direction, but wherever it was they must > be safe. By that hour is was late and he knew that they would have to either > accept Naomi's offer of a place in the barracks to sleep or find a room for > himself. Lester, Christina's husband, boasted about the half-dozen rooms he > had available and the skunk mage was leaning toward seeing if they were as > comfortable as the leopard claimed. > > A familiar figure settled in next to him with a fresh tankard of ale. The > raccoon grinned and dipped his snout into the froth and lapped it clean. > "Ah, a very satisfying way to end the day. > It is good to work together again, is it not, Muri?" > > "We didn't do much," Muri said with a shrug. "But at least the hawks are > safe now." > > "I know," Rickkter grinned, his striped tail flicking upward and almost > landing on the bench. > "Tracking spells are wonderful things." > > "I didn't see yours," the skunk admitted with a nod of his head. "You are > getting better at that, master." The last he added with a chortle. > Rickkter had long since recognized Murikeer's mastery in magic and was > content to be friend rather than tutor and mentor. > > "Who says I cast my own?" The raccoon's snout broke into another smile as he > glanced across several tables to where Charles and James the donkey were > enjoying their evening meal. He then sipped his ale again. "I trust things > are still well with you and Kozaithy?" > "They are. She's enjoying the country far more than the Keep." > > "Have you taken on any more students, besides her and Lady Kimberly?" > > "Not as of yet. Kozaithy still summons more smoke than flame, but Kimberly > is proving herself capable." Murikeer nodded and wrapped his paw about the > mazer of half drunk ale sitting on the table in front of him. "Kimberly is > more skilled with magic than I had first suspected, but it will be many > years yet before I teach her anything more dangerous than lighting candles." > > He smiled fondly remembering their last session a few days ago. "She says > she hopes that I would teach her children if any of them show any talent. > She was dancing a witchlight around and letting her children try and catch > it. That was... a true wonder." > > The raccoon's eyes grew distant and in them the skunk saw the hint of a > pleasant memory. But the moment past with a blink and Rickkter's gaze > returned to him. "Do you recall, when I first took you on as an apprentice, > why I was reluctant to do so? The welfare of the student; this is an > obligation a master possesses by virtue of being master." He nodded toward > the rat. "She is your obligations, same as you were mine." > > "I know that," Muri replied with a frown. "Why are you..." he followed the > raccoon's gaze and saw the table where Charles and James were attempting to > drink with their arms intertwined. "So it's about him." > > "He's the last of the Marzac party still here in the valley. And he is the > last of them to manifest it. There is no question of if he will, only when > he turns toward that evil." Rickkter lifted his mazer to his snout but did > not drink. > "And when that happens, and it will happen, I think the best person to save > him will be Lady Kimberly. Or perhaps his children. But at the same time, > they will be in greater danger than the rest of us." He narrowed his eyes > and fixed Muri with a stern gaze. "You need to make sure she's prepared for > it." > > He took a deep breath and licked the back of his fangs. "Charles has told > her about Marzac and she knows what happened to James. She's not stupid. > She knows what it means for Charles." > > "Knowing and admitting out loud are two different things." > > "As you say," Muri conceded though in his heart he hoped that there would > still be some way yet for Charles to avoid the corruption. "Why do you say > she could best help him?" > > "It seems to be the one weakness of Marzac - the only weakness that I can > think of. Think back on the last times its arisen, those who turned the > battle against it. This time Jessica had Weyden. > Before that, James had Baerle, and Kayla had me. > When it comes for Charles, Kimberly, or perhaps one of his children, stand > the greatest chance of turning him away from it." > > "You were also its target. Kayla tried to destroy you with it. Same for > Jessica." He sighed heavily, his tail lashing about his legs. "And you're > also thinking the same for Charles." > > "It fits the pattern. We've dealt with it three times; we've beaten it three > times. We know this, and worst of all, it knows this. I fear it may try > something different this time. Thankfully Charles' power is not as... far > reaching as Jessica's is. Whatever happens will be... personal." > > Murikeer sipped at his ale and then licked his whiskers with a grimace. "Now > even mere hours ago we defeat this thing and here we sit worrying and > growing paranoid about the next time." > > "Because when facing the inevitable, there's often little else one can do." > Rickkter swirled his own drink and took a sip. "A last thing; Marzac seems > to need an anchor in this world. To my knowledge Charles does not have any > artifacts that could talk to him. Kayla had the swords, James the bell, and > Jessica the hyacinth. To beat this, we need to figure out what Charles has. > It may already be twisting his mind and we just haven't seen it." > > "I cannot think of anything myself," Muri conceded. "I will be sure to speak > with Kimberly tomorrow. She is due for another lesson anyway. > But Rick, this is going to upset her very deeply." > > "Such is Marzac," Rickkter took a long swill of ale and sloshed it between > his fangs before swallowing. A little dribbled out either side of his jowls > and he wiped them on his sleeve. "And you know what... even with all this, > I'm still pissed that I didn't get to go with them into that hell!" > > Murikeer managed a laugh. But his eye kept straying to the rat a few tables > away. What evil would Marzac seek through him? He dipped his snout into his > mazer and drank. He would not sleep well tonight. > > ---------- > > Mother Wilfrida, unable to sleep, waddled along the makeshift convent still > under construction. > The storm had passed Metamor a few hours ago, but still her mind could not > settle itself. The mallard knew that something must be amiss for her to find > it so hard to take her sleep. In a couple of hours she and the other sisters > would rise for the early morning prayers before they began a new day of > cleaning, prayer, and tending the poor of Metamor. > > She always trusted Eli had a reason to keep her from sleeping on nights like > this. She kept her prayer beads in one wing arm and counted her Hail Yanlins > with expectancy, asking that most holy of women what it might be but she > knew the answer would only come when it was ready. > > After seven decades the answer arrived. There was a timorous knock on the > convent door. Curious, the mallard waddled over and eased the door open. > Standing before her in torn trousers and a grease stained linen shirt was an > animal child. She did not recognize the species, but he had a long, thick > tail jutting out behind him with a black tip, a flat head with large eyes, > round ears, and black paws for hands. In fact, as she looked at him she > wondered if perhaps he was more beast than child. > > "What may I do for you, child?" > > The creature ducked his head once as if gathering courage, and then looked > at her bill. "Mother, I... I need your help. You're the only one I can think > of who can help." > > "What is it you need help with little one?" > > His face twisted in a way that she had learned in her five months here at > Metamor was an embarrassed grimace. "There's... um.... there's a bunch.... a > bunch of orphans, Mother. A bunch of orphans." He nodded and slapped his > tail against the wet stones. "A bunch of orphans who need help. We've been > stealing food and other things to live. We need your help." > > She blinked, trying to decide whether this fellow was a child or not. His > size and something in his diffidence suggested a child, but not the way he > spoke. "Are you an orphan too?" > > "I..." he lowered his head and rubbed one foot over the other. "I am, > Mother. But... not the same as the others. Please help me help the rest. > They need mothers and fathers to care for them and teach them right." > > Wilfrida bent down, pushing the door open all the way. "We will certainly > help them. And you. Do you need a mother and father too?" She wasn't sure > what she suspected, but she would find out. > > A strange wistfulness came to his face and then he shook his head. "I just > need to help them, Mother. And prayers.... I never much paid attention to > that when I really was a child." > > The nun extended a wing and waddled forward a step. "What is your name, > little one?" > > He looked up at her and sighed, a tear dripping down one cheek. "Kuna." He > took a step back. "I have to go or they'll miss me. I'll be back soon. Thank > you, Mother!" > > She tried to stop him but the little fellow dropped to all fours and > scampered down the road and out of sight. Wilfrida stood at the doorway for > several seconds before she admitted that he wasn't coming back. She eased > the door closed and counted off another few decades for all of the orphans > of Metamor. > > END OF DOMINION OF THE HYACITH > > ---------- > > > > May He bless you and keep you in His grace and love, > > Charles Matthias > > _______________________________________________ > MKGuild mailing list > <a href="mailto:MKGuild@lists.integral.org">MKGuild@lists.integral.org</a> > <a href="http://lists.integral.org/listinfo/mkguild">http://lists.integral.org/listinfo/mkguild</a> > > _______________________________________________ > MKGuild mailing list > <a href="mailto:MKGuild@lists.integral.org">MKGuild@lists.integral.org</a> > <a href="http://lists.integral.org/listinfo/mkguild">http://lists.integral.org/listinfo/mkguild</a><o:p></o:p></div></div></div></body></html>