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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I thought we decided on Andrew getting the stories from now on? Am I right?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Chris<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>The Lurking Fox<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> mkguild-bounces@lists.integral.org [mailto:mkguild-bounces@lists.integral.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>kyle.vernon@gmail.com<br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, July 13, 2014 3:16 PM<br><b>To:</b> mkguild@lists.integral.org<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Mkguild] MKGuild Digest, Vol 88, Issue 4<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Question, did we ever figure out who would take over for Virmir?<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Sat, Jul 12, 2014 at 11:19 PM, <<a href="mailto:mkguild-request@lists.integral.org" target="_blank">mkguild-request@lists.integral.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Send MKGuild mailing list submissions to<br> <a href="mailto:mkguild@lists.integral.org">mkguild@lists.integral.org</a><br><br>To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit<br> <a href="http://lists.integral.org/listinfo/mkguild" target="_blank">http://lists.integral.org/listinfo/mkguild</a><br>or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to<br> <a href="mailto:mkguild-request@lists.integral.org">mkguild-request@lists.integral.org</a><br><br>You can reach the person managing the list at<br> <a href="mailto:mkguild-owner@lists.integral.org">mkguild-owner@lists.integral.org</a><br><br>When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific<br>than "Re: Contents of MKGuild digest..."<br><br><br>Today's Topics:<br><br> 1. Experiencing the Dawn part 3 - the final part (christian okane)<br><br><br>----------------------------------------------------------------------<br><br>Message: 1<br>Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2014 22:57:50 -0400<br>From: christian okane <<a href="mailto:chrisokane@optimum.net">chrisokane@optimum.net</a>><br>To: <a href="mailto:mkguild@lists.integral.org">mkguild@lists.integral.org</a><br>Cc: 'Furry Literature ML' <<a href="mailto:furry-lit@lists.integral.org">furry-lit@lists.integral.org</a>><br>Subject: [Mkguild] Experiencing the Dawn part 3 - the final part<br>Message-ID: <000001cf9e46$3c3cf180$b4b6d480$@net><br>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"<br><br><br><br>Here is third and final part of Experiencing the Dawn. Some questions are<br>answered but yet others are raised. And it does end in a cliffhanger.<br><br><br><br><br><br> Chris<br><br> The Lurking Fox<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br> The arrival of Father Philip Guthrey into the office of Cardinal Antione<br>Bertu was something of an anticlimax. No being stunned and dragged, wrapped<br>in chains. He was simply shown into the room with only Marchel as his<br>escort.<br><br><br><br> The man himself was of middling height and his black hair that was cut<br>short as dictated by the rules of his order. His clothing was the black<br>robes of a priest. The only sign of color was his white collar. He tried to<br>hold himself with a calm bearing of one in full control, But that calm was<br>only skin deep, His mind was in turmoil of questions and confusion. He had<br>expected to eventually be brought before the cardinal at some point. he had<br>not expected his reception to be so . . . firm. There had been no choice.<br>He could go quietly or have the entire church and congregation dissolve into<br>a riot. Guthrey wanted many things but hurting innocent people was not among<br>them. His escorts had been calm and correct but had remained silent for the<br>entire trip.<br><br><br><br> To greet him was the cardinal who was standing as still as stone behind<br>the desk. His face was cold and devoid of emotion, like the statues that<br>festooned the exterior of many churches.<br><br><br><br> Marchel bowed to the cardinal. "Father Guthrey is here as you requested<br>your Eminence."<br><br><br><br> The cardinal gave a nod of the head. "Thank you. You are dismissed.<br>Please leave the two of us alone."<br><br><br><br><br><br>********************<br><br><br><br><br><br> Salona cocked her head to one side. "You're taking me where?"<br><br><br><br> "A little trip into the sylvan mountains," Carlisle explained. "I think<br>we both need time away from the guild to just relax and talk."<br><br><br><br> A short carriage ride took them out of the city and to the south. Soon<br>they were deposited on a small side road that lead towards the Sylvan<br>mountains that loomed up ahead.<br><br><br><br> She stood in front of a large field that was filled with new wheat that<br>was barely knee high and was slowly rippling in the breeze. The only sign of<br>civilization was a small group of farm buildings off in the far distance.<br><br><br><br>"There used to be a farming estate here with a large villa. It was home to<br>over two hundred people. At least it's still farmland."<br><br><br><br> They skirted past several houses and a farm and soon left the cultivated<br>fields and orchards behind as the ground started to rise. Looming up over<br>them was the tall, glowering Sylvan mountains.<br><br><br><br> The path in front of them led up the mountainside switching back and<br>forth as it climbed higher. Carlisle paused a moment and checked the quiver<br>of arrows on his back. Then he calmly strung his bow.<br><br><br><br> "Expecting trouble from mountain raiders?" Salona asked.<br><br><br><br> "No but I'm not taking any chances," he answered.<br><br><br><br> "The mountain folk are still causing trouble?" She asked with an amused<br>tone in her voice.<br><br><br><br> "No one has conquered them," he said. "Not for lack of trying. The Dukes<br>have attacked several times but failed. But they at least broke them of the<br>habit raiding and pillaging us lowlanders."<br><br><br><br> "That is an impressive feat!" She said.<br><br><br><br> "They do come down to trade occasionally," the mage said. "But mostly<br>they keep to themselves. I'm not worried about the mountain people. Them I<br>can handle. There are things in these mountains far more dangerous than<br>temperamental humans."<br><br><br><br> "I am well able to defend myself." Salona responded, sounding mildly<br>insulted.<br><br><br><br> "You are one of three known surviving automatons in the world and are<br>very valuable. There are many who would dearly like to take possession of<br>you regardless of what you want. Also many are not happy with your being<br>revived," he said calmly as he slung his bow over his shoulders.<br><br><br><br> "I'm not sure I am happy with it either," she said honestly.<br><br><br><br> "You were in limbo for over five hundred years," Carlisle countered. "No<br>one or nothing deserves that type of cruelty. I'm glad you are back."<br><br><br><br> Salona was silent for a moment. "Thank you."<br><br><br><br><br><br>************************<br><br><br><br><br><br> Both the cardinal and Father Guthrey remained quiet as Marchel left the<br>room. The oak door closed behind him with a solid sounding thump.<br><br><br><br> Silence filled the room. The father stood quietly and waited for the<br>cardinal to speak and the elder cleric remained silent.<br><br><br><br> "Father Philip Guthrey." The cardinal said slowly. Finally breaking the<br>silence.<br><br><br><br> "Your Eminence." the priest said and bowed.<br><br><br><br> Bertu gave the man a nod of the head. He picked the letter from off the<br>desk. "I received your letter. You did not hesitate to state your feelings<br>about Salona."<br><br><br><br> "I am not alone. I was simply stating the feelings of many people,"<br>Guthrey responded nervously.<br><br><br><br> "Every living creature has a right to live and be happy but technically<br>she is not a flesh and blood creature and therefore not living," the<br>cardinal said calmly. "But Salona is mobile and can obviously think. She<br>could be called living - sort of. She most certainly does have a soul."<br><br><br><br> "I do not argue that point your Eminence," the priest countered. "What<br>appalls me is that soul was ripped from its Creator-given shell and planted<br>into another. A false counterfeit of a flesh and blood life."<br><br><br><br> The cardinal glowered at the younger man. "I can understand your feelings<br>on this but what I don't understand and will NOT allow is your agitation.<br>First you loudly railed against the cursed folk of Metamor and now you are<br>agitating against the automatons. I can understand your feeling troubled<br>over those. Both are difficult issues that must be considered carefully. But<br>you have used phrases like 'demons to be cleansed.' and I have even heard<br>you talk of a crusade." There was anger and disgust in the man's voice. We<br>cannot afford such public displays," the cardinal said harshly. "We cannot<br>allow such agitation. Marigund has seen too much of it in the past. You will<br>behave yourself from now on," the cardinal ordered. "Father Larbourne."<br><br><br><br> The priest opened his mouth to respond as his face filled with anger.<br>Then surprise replaced the anger. "What did you call me?"<br><br><br><br> "Father Franklyn Larbourne," the cardinal answered simply and in clipped<br>words.<br><br><br><br> That earned the cardinal several moments of confused silence and a<br>puzzled look on the man's face.<br><br><br><br> The cardinal gave a faint, wry smile. "Have you read Mister Rouis<br>Mountbaun's book?" Bertu said coldly.<br><br><br><br> "I have read the Canticles and the prayer book," was the younger priest's<br>cautious answer.<br><br><br><br> The cardinal nodded and sighed. "I thought so." He pushed a black,<br>leather bound book across the desk.<br><br><br><br> Guthrey picked up the book and examined it. On the cover in white<br>lettering was the title "The Burning. A History of the Marigund Civil War by<br>Rouis Mountbaun."<br><br><br><br> "Read it," the cardinal ordered. "Perhaps it will teach you how to speak<br>wisely and not loudly."<br><br><br><br><br><br>************************<br><br><br><br><br><br> The lower slopes were heavily cultivated and as they walked the two<br>passed groves of trees interspersed with fields of grazing sheep. As they<br>made their way upward the path grew steeper. The meadows and groves<br>gradually thinned out, replaced by true forest until all trace of<br>civilization was gone. All that remained was the forest around them and the<br>trees that crowded close to the trail.<br><br><br><br> Salona kept climbing the path with the steady, untiring precision of a<br>machine but Carlisle had to stop every so often to catch his breath. Finally<br>the path leveled out into a small level area on the steep mountainside.<br><br><br><br> "They say from up here you can see the whole country," the man sat down<br>on a large flat rock.<br><br><br><br> Carlisle rested his back against a rock and stared down the mountainside.<br>Laid out below them was the fields and farmlands of the country. In the<br>distance was the gray/brown shape of the city itself. Beyond that was the<br>looming, green mass of Tol Doron. Even at this distance the ancient forest<br>looked foreboding.<br><br><br><br> "You can," the feline answered delightedly. Her eyes sparkled with<br>excitement. "It's a spectacular view!"<br><br><br><br> "I have always loved this view," Carlisle said. "I proposed to Gina up<br>here."<br><br><br><br> "From up here I can see the changes time has wrought," Salona said<br>calmly. "Towns and cities gone and farms and fields reclaimed by the wilds<br>they were taken from."<br><br><br><br> "Things are always changing," the man said. "The one constant is change."<br><br><br><br> He turned to the metal feline. "Who are you Salona? We know what you are<br>physically but what is the soul inside like?"<br><br><br><br> She didn't answer immediately but kept staring at the world below. "Who<br>am I?" she asked in a whisper. "That's an excellent question." There was a<br>long moment of awkward silence. "I don't know anymore. I'm lost in a world<br>that has passed me by and is strange to me."<br><br><br><br> "Madog is still here," Carlisle responded and leaned close to her. "And<br>you will always have a home at the guild."<br><br><br><br> "Thank you," she said simply.<br><br><br><br> "Watching you experience things for the first time has been a true<br>epiphany for me," Carlisle said. "It's like seeing the world for the first<br>time. I am seeing old things in new ways and new things in old ways."<br><br><br><br> "What will happen to me?" She asked in a somber tone.<br><br><br><br> "I am not sure. Technically you were the property of the Guild. We are<br>listing you as a guest, but that's only till we can make you an official<br>member," the man responded. "There is a huge debate going on about exactly<br>what to do."<br><br><br><br> The feline gave a low growl. "There is always such a debate. Usually it<br>all ends with killing, burning and destroying."<br><br><br><br> "You are safe with the guild," he said firmly. "We will never allow<br>anyone to take you apart ever again. But we must tread carefully. Everyone<br>is stumbling around in undiscovered country here. No one knows exactly how<br>to handle this."<br><br><br><br> "So we aren't up to the smashing and killing phase yet?" Salona commented<br>sarcastically.<br><br><br><br> "No. Hopefully we'll avoid all that. Marigund has already had too much of<br>that in the past." He was silent a moment as he looked at the world spread<br>out below them. "I have received several requests for private audiences with<br>you," Carlisle said slowly.<br><br><br><br> "To be expected," Salona answered in a bored tone. "Some self important<br>person."<br><br><br><br> "The king himself has asked to meet you," the man answered in clipped<br>tones. "And he is a man I hold in high regard."<br><br><br><br> "I have met too many leaders to hold any in high regard," the automaton<br>shot back "But you I do trust."<br><br><br><br> The man smiled. "Thank you Salona. He is not a self important noble. I<br>have met many of those myself. Alfred is ruler of this land and we must gain<br>his trust and support if we are all to survive."<br><br><br><br> "Could he destroy me and the guild if he wanted?" The feline asked.<br><br><br><br> The man shrugged. "I am not sure. But I'd rather not find out."<br><br><br><br> Salona nodded her head slowly. "I am all too well aware of how the game<br>of politics is played. Unless the rules have changed."<br><br><br><br> Carlisle shook his head. "No it's done the same as in the empire days.<br>There is lot less of the torturing and slaughtering of whole families."<br><br><br><br> She gave a growl of amusement. "I guess that is an improvement."<br><br><br><br> He gazed at her intently and with a seriously look. "We need to cultivate<br>allies and Alfred has always been a friend of the guild."<br><br><br><br> "All right," she said. "I'll meet him. Who else desires a private<br>audience?"<br><br><br><br> "Three people you've met already," he answered. "Cardinal Bertu, Bishop<br>Harson and Rabbi Arstein all wish to meet with you."<br><br><br><br> "What of the Lightbringer priestess?" Salona sarcastically, showing her<br>teeth in a growl.<br><br><br><br> "She sent a long list of questions but has kept her distance," Carlisle<br>responded. "But that is not surprising. When we first showed them your culua<br>she was hit with a bolt of light that knocked her twenty two feet across the<br>room."<br><br><br><br> "I don't like her kind," she growled.<br><br><br><br> "So Madog informed us. He also told us why," the man said solemnly. "Lady<br>Delminie is a good person at heart. She has good bones as my father would<br>say. Very dedicated to protecting her people. You must meet with her at some<br>point."<br><br><br><br> "Someday perhaps," she answered. "But not soon. I want to gain the<br>measure of that female first."<br><br><br><br> "I think she wants to gain a measure of who and what you are too before<br>even attempting a meeting. I understand how you feel about the<br>Lightbringers. But high priestess Delminie is the leader of all<br>Lightbringers in the Outer Midlands. As such there are hundreds of thousands<br>who follow her command. She is someone we cannot afford to make enemy out<br>of."<br><br><br><br> "She is already my enemy," she answered flatly.<br><br><br><br> "No," He said with more anger then he had intended. "She is not our enemy<br>but if we are not careful she can be. You cannot compare the Lothanasi of<br>the past with those of today. Five centuries has passed and great changes<br>have occurred. Both to the people and to the Lothanasi itself. But do not<br>misunderstand. King Alfred might not be able to destroy the guild but the<br>Ecclesia and the Lightbringers could."<br><br><br><br> The feline leaned close. "Could but will they?"<br><br><br><br> "I do not know," the mage answered honestly. "It's plain that they don't<br>know either. Yet." He sighed deeply. "What we do and how we act will affect<br>automata for centuries. This can either be the rebirth of Automaton magic or<br>its destruction."<br><br><br><br> "I will not let myself be taken apart again," Salona snarled.<br><br><br><br> He placed an arm around the felines shoulders. "Salona my friend. I will<br>not let them destroy but things aren't that bad. We must move and act<br>carefully until we can consolidate our position."<br><br><br><br> "What happens if we do gain the ability to live here," she asked. "What<br>happens then?"<br><br><br><br> "We recover what knowledge that we can and relearn what we can't<br>recover," Carlisle explained. "And we make sure that knowledge will never be<br>lost again. That objective was, is and will remain the Guild's primary<br>goal."<br><br><br><br> Suddenly Carlisle stiffened and cursed loudly in several languages.<br><br><br><br> "What's wrong?" Salona curled her lips in a snarl and looked around for<br>any trouble.<br><br><br><br> "Something just tripped wards and alarms back in Guild hall," the mage<br>answered. "Someone is trying to break into the Automaton department!"<br><br><br><br> She looked down towards the city and using her magically enhanced sight<br>soon found the Guild's property. It wasn't too hard as a pillar of blue,<br>green and black smoke was starting to billow up from one part.<br><br><br><br><br><br>****************<br><br><br><br><br><br> The jewelry market was busy today. Everywhere the booths and stalls were<br>filled with merchants trying to sell their wares. Misha and Caroline made<br>their way through the crowd but quickly became the center of attention. Word<br>had spread that not only was the fox a Brightleaf (a wealthy family) but was<br>also rich and spent his coins freely. This meant that every merchant within<br>range was trying to convince the Brightleaf of the wonders of their own<br>merchandise.<br><br><br><br> Misha paused at one of the vendors' booths. The simple structure held a<br>wide variety of jewelry. He picked up a silver cross inlaid with bits of<br>what could have been jade. "Drift would have liked this."<br><br><br><br> Madog raced up to them and danced excitedly in a circle around before<br>coming to a halt in front of Misha. "Papa come NOW!"<br><br><br><br><br><br>The End<br><br>-------------- next part --------------<br>An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<br>URL: <<a href="http://lists.integral.org/archives/mkguild/attachments/20140712/bad27b06/attachment.html" target="_blank">http://lists.integral.org/archives/mkguild/attachments/20140712/bad27b06/attachment.html</a>><br><br>------------------------------<br><br>_______________________________________________<br>MKGuild mailing list<br><a href="mailto:MKGuild@lists.integral.org">MKGuild@lists.integral.org</a><br><a href="http://lists.integral.org/listinfo/mkguild" target="_blank">http://lists.integral.org/listinfo/mkguild</a><br><br><br>End of MKGuild Digest, Vol 88, Issue 4<br>**************************************<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></body></html>