<html> <body> --------- Metamor Keep: Divine Travails of Rats by Charles Matthias and Ryx Pars II: Denuncio (b) Monday, June 21, 724 CR Together with the house guard the Sutt family shared a few more japes and pleasant jests as they walked through the halls of Metamor. This time the Keep required them to descend two flights of stairs before depositing them in a long causeway draped in ivy with soft purple blossoms. There, arranged in rows, were their steeds, the other knights, their squires, and the house servants who would accompany them to the tourney fields. Six horses waited for them. Intoran's destrier was at the front bearing a champron with spiraling horns between the ears much like the oryx's own. Behind him waited a stocky percheron Keeper named Versyd and an elegant white quarter horse who was nothing but a horse. Versyd had long ago chosen to serve Malger and seemed to relish being dressed with braids in his mane and tail while a vibrant linen caparison white with the house heraldry sewn throughout covered him from neck to hindquarters. The saddle was designed specifically for Malger's proportions and to his taste; a fan of bright feathers arrayed along the back of the saddle to frame his tail when he sat, adding to his usual appearance as the court peacock. Behind them waited Maysin and Lurminny, Charlie and Suria's mounts. Both were adorned with ribbons through their manes and tails proclaiming their allegiance to house Sutt, but neither would take a caparison. And why should they? A caparison would hide the zebra Maysin's beautiful stripes and obscure the deep mahogany red of the roan Lurminny's coat. Both of their heads turned toward the Sutt family with eager expectation. Timothy and Peter Matthias were already mounted on their ponies; as sons of a noble house they were accorded a place of respect after the Sutt house, while behind them rode the other two knights sworn to the Sutt family, Sir Farester who was still human and Sir Trymal a hooded rat with a gouge that had cleaved most of his left ear. The rest of their staff would accompany them on foot, paw and hoof. Malger helped Misanthe mount her horse, before stepping to Versyd and hugging him round the neck once with a whispered word in his ear. Charlie and Suria approached their mounts with broad grins. The rat ran one hand down Maysin's neck and then lifted himself into his saddle. He bent forward and whispered into her ears, “After the festival, what do you think of the idea of the two of us going for a long ride from Ellingham to Iron Mine and back again?” Maysin's ears perked at that and she stomped a forehoof in approval, whickering and stretching her supple lips as if she were trying to form words. Charlie felt his heart broaden at the idea. If she wanted to serve him like this, it would be good to let her and trust her. One day his life could depend on it. As awkward as it felt, perhaps it was best to let each Keeper best learn how to use the body that they'd been given. Intoran lifted a slender trumpet to his snout and blared a quick triple note. Charlie and everyone else sat up straight, while their steeds lifted their heads and began a slow, regal walk out of the causeway and into the main courtyard between the castle and Keeptowne. The gates stood open to welcome them, and in the distance over the gamboled roofs he could see the tourney fields and the makeshift stands always erected in the preceding weeks. Bright pinions snapped in the dawn breeze and the thrum of hundreds of voices already assembled filled the air. Lanterns burned in most windows as the townsfolk roused themselves for the festival. Already the streets were lined with keepers either setting up booths to sell their wares to travelers from the rest of the valley. Most of the shop fronts had brightly colored signs of their wares to capture the eye, and from many enticing smells drifted that captured their noses. All of the Sutts had to keep their heads from turning to follow one savory scent after another. The Matthias boys were not quite so well trained and turned from side to side their whiskers a riotous quivering mass. The thickening crowds on the street parted before them, though a few needed to be pushed aside by their soldiers, but only those few who had not been paying attention. As they neared the tournament fields they could see more and more merchants and travelers filling the inns with lights flickering in nearly every window and fresh splatters of chamberpots still waiting to be swept into the gutters beneath most. But even the malodorous refuse did not remain for long as street sweepers were hard at work to keep Metamor clean and hospitable for her abundant guests. As they rode past the Shoeshine Inn, he amused himself with watching a pair of young lads just shy of the curse wrestling with a broom while betting which window was the next. The shorter of the two cheered when a second story window on the northern side opened to discharge the occupant's leavings; the taller was quick to tend his losing duty. As they came around the last turn in the main road before the gatehouse leading to the tourney fields, Charlie was delighted to see the rear of Duke Thomas's train. There were so many soldiers and servitors in the train however that it was impossible to see Bryn or the Duke apart from where the banners flew highest. Of the long-eared horse who was his closest friend he saw nothing. So he contented himself to Maysin's comfortable and noble gait as the zebra kept aligned with the rest of his family. But he could hear the cheering of the people gathering about the Duke's train. Many were also cheering his own family, a fact that he never quite knew how to feel about. In Sutthaivasse when he and his father were cheered there was always the fear that some assassin might be amongst them ready to throw a poisoned dagger. But here in Metamor there was never a reason to fear. They passed through the Keeptowne gates to the tourney fields, following close on the Hassan train of servitors and soldiers. The dirt-beaten road led directly toward the lists and the stands prepared for them. Now Charlie could see through the throng to the Duke, who rode tall in the saddle, the duchess beside him in an elegant gown but one that could be quickly made serviceable for riding. Riding behind them were Bryn who was waving to the gathered throng, as well as his younger brother and sisters. Charlie smiled as his friend's eyes brimmed with delight; Metamor would be in good hands when he ascended his father's throne. The Hassan family made a full circuit of the lists before riding past the Sutt family. Thomas smiled when he caught sight of the marten. “I see you caught up at least, Malger!” “Oh, you're going to make me chase your royal... and you are looking lovely today, Duchess.” Malger turned effortlessly towards the gray-coated Assingh who was Thomas's wife. Alberta's ears lifted in amusement at the suggested but unsaid jest. Still chuckling and trading jocular conversation the Sutt household slipped from their steeds and mounted the Duke's stands. The High Box, as it had been named by the workers building it, rose a head higher than any other viewing platform at the tourney. Below the canopied pavilion risers were set deep with seating spaced wide so that the lesser nobles and aristocrats graced before the Duke's retinue could bring their own chairs or divans or whatever manner of repose that they wished. Commoners who were lucky enough to secure seating in the stands had only benches to sit upon or the occasional perch above them where everyone else would be relegated to standing. Despite Malger's official title being higher on the ranks of nobility than Thomas' their seats were on an equal level. The displaced southern archduke refused to rest upon a mere title, having abdicated his own throne in all but name, and acknowledge Thomas as the ruler here where the marten was merely a diplomat; if a highly ranked one. The Hassan seat was to one side of the box and the Sutt seat opposite it allowing room for both families and their immediate retainers without being crowded. Although once the younger Hassan children grew restless the High Box would not seem quite so spacious. Bryn had three sisters and a younger brother all less than ten and each filled with the boundless energy and enthusiasm of a colt; it was impossible for them to keep still for very long. Charlie was always impressed that Duchess Alberta could hold them in her lap for more than a few minutes; they had hooves for feet and they liked to kick, especially the young boy of six Phillip. Bryn's younger brother thought the world of him and wasted no time in grabbing his wrists and dragging him to the edge of the railing so Bryn could identify all the knights coming onto the field for the opening parade. A light meal was served consisting mostly of finger foods while the first parade of the day circled its way through the lists and passed before the Nobles' platform. The promise of sugared pastries was enough to convince Phillip to release his older brother, and for a moment a sense of decorum settled on the High Box. For one and most the solstice was a time of merrymaking. For many, many others it was a time of their greatest labors; bakers, carpenters, smiths, craftsmen, and above them all the Duke himself would find little time for frivolity in the four days of the Solstice festivities and tournaments. Decorum amongst his children would be brief, for Thomas would not be denied their innocent joy. Still, there was much joy to be had in his role during the festival. The normal duties of statecraft were set aside for the more mundane trivialities of judging the best sow, or best tasting fruit pies, jams, best tailoring or upholstering or any of a few hundred other crafts brought before the High Box or toured during the day. As well the final arbiter of the tests of valor which would occupy the lists in the hours and days ahead. After the opening parade, in which Bryn held his younger brother out over the railing so the sable-haired boy could better wave at the passing knights, Charlie and Bryn secured Sigismund from his post attending the ducal family and slipped away down the back ramp of the platform into the tables where the un-cursed, mundane horses were kept ready for almost immediate use and those horses that had once been people were relaxing the hours of their duty rotation away over various games and distractions that came with the festival crowd. The zebra mare Maysin, clad in a simple kirtle of gray, looked up from a game of cards she was enjoying with Argamont and Versyd, her tall ears pricking when she spied Charlie. “Milords,” she whickered warmly as she and Argamont set their cards down and started to rise. Both Bryn and Charlie quickly waved their hands in downward motions. “Sit, sit, we are just fine afoot,” Charlie demurred with a smile. Bryn vaulted over the stair railing came to earth with a heavy whump a second or two before Charlie and Sigismund reached the bottom of the stair in quite a normal manner. “We're going to the registrar's pavilion to add our names to the lists.” “And then to find the master brewers' alley to... judge their labors.” Bryn winked with a huge grin. Argamont chuckled with an agreeable nod and Versyd merely snorted. Where Malger was Versyd would remain. “Worry not, Ver, I'll try to remember to bring you a pint.” “Hah, colt,” Versyd nickered as he boldly picked up Maysin's discarded hand of cards to see how solid her bluff was. With a snort he slapped the cards down and tossed his hand down as well. “If you bring less than a cask, my lordling, I'll toss you back to refill that pint until I'm completely skuppered.” Maysin picked up a baldric containing her longsword and slung it across her back loosely. Argamont hefted a flanged mace and propped it back against his shoulder. Normally, when he was acting as Bryn's mount, the young noble carried the mace but the mount was as capable with it as his rider was. The two of them together, either as mount and rider or paired foot, were a devastating duo. Charlie had not practiced nearly as much with Maysin to develop as clean a partnership and, at that moment, he somewhat regretted that fact. But then, there were no questions raised when Argamont and Bryn were training together as there might be should Charlie and Maysin do the same. “We'll swagger along with, then, and put our own names in,” Argamont said with a flick of his neatly groomed tail. “Let the common folk see how nicely you nobles look planted on your tails.” Bryn brayed a laugh echoed at a slightly higher note by Maysin's similar laugh and Charlie found himself laughing as well. With the two young nobles and their reptilian friend in the lead the quintet, and a further quartet of men-at-arms, made their way through the thickening festival crown to the registrars' pavilion. The first heats would be brief and held en-masse upon the tourney field every two hours. Sigismund found that he would be among the first call while both Bryn and Charlie, being placed among the knights and other aristocrats, would not be called until the final bout of the day. Bryn and Charlie put their names on both the foot and mounted lists while Sigismund chose only to participate in the dismounted list. He, however, branched out into the open magic side of the tournament which neither Charlie nor Bryn felt confident they could do anything other than get singed. While they waited for the first bout the three friends wandered about the fairegrounds like a small gang; two nobles and an aristocrat accompanied by six armed retainers. Merchants were kept at bay from hawking their wares as aggressively toward them as they did toward others who appeared monied yet lacking armed escort and the group was able to browse where they wished. In addition to the vast array of pastry combinations, seasoned and exotic flavored meats, hunks of lamb roast, chicken, and deer on sticks, crispy skinned potatoes, dishes sauteed in onions, with noodles of every shape and texture, soups almost ladled into Keeper throats, and fruits from all across the Midlands and some from as far away as Whales, there were also booths selling trinkets of every variety from wood carvings in the shapes of animals on two legs and four, to glass work of such exquisite delicacy that the merchants hired guards to keep their table from being crushed by eager revelers and their wares shattered, and even metal and leather workers offering more mundane equipment for both the many farmers who had come and the townsfolk who lived here, as well as haberdashers hawking tunics, breeches, vests, pantaloons, doublets, tabards, of simple taste to gawdy array suitable for his father's taste. But there was even more than just delicacies and meals to satisfy their gullets and wares to empty their purses. Jugglers and acrobats plied their trade at nearly every corner while musicians either accompanied them or tried to distract them with boisterous song. A few less talented mages even tantalized the simple folk with parlor tricks. Some of the musicians Charlie recognized from the Blue Note and he applauded for them. Sigismund muttered a few bewildered comments at the ease of some of the mages chicanery, but in a low voice that only his friends heard. There was far too much joy to be had for all to go spoiling it for anyone else; even drinking they knew that! ---------- May He bless you and keep you in His grace and love, Charles Matthias </body> </html>