<html> <body> Sorry I didn't post anything yesterday. Life ate me up. Metamor Keep: Divine Travails of Rats by Charles Matthias and Ryx Pars III: Descensum (p) Friday, May 11, 708 CR Charles gave Malicon his morning feed before heading toward the Mountain Hearth. A small crowd had gathered there that morning to surround the visiting Archduke, notably Baron Avery and his closest confidants. Charles sat near the entrance and smiled to Jurmas when he approached with one of his daughters clutched in his arms. “An egg and some juice will do, thank you,” he said when asked if he wanted anything. The deer nodded and went to procure the requested meal. The strange sort of disconnect he had been feeling finally disappeared as he studied the Hearth common room and its occupants. At one of the long tables on the other end of the room reclined the foppish pine marten who had helped them on their return. Surrounding him were Sir Egland and Intoran, Baron Avery, Angus the badger, Alldis the deer, and Berchem. Both Alldis the chief hunter for the Glen and Berchem its chief archer appeared bored by the conversation but both Avery and Angus were eager to meet with the archduke. Charles watched but did not bother to listen. His eyes were drawn toward a small shape lurking in the shadows beneath the table. Golden eyes stared back at him from beneath the benches, ones he almost missed because of Angus' laughing bulk. A fox. Charles chuckled to himself and contented himself with waiting until his liege and friend were finished. Jurmas returned with a small bowl with a fresh fried egg and a tumbler of berry juice. He ate without haste and sipped rather than drank. By the time he finished his meal Baron Avery was rising from the table, along with his coterie of chief men. Charles waited where he sat, smiling to each of the four as they walked passed. Berchem's return nod was polite but somewhat awkward; at least the malice he'd once sensed from the skunk was now gone. Alldis wished him a good day, but Angus lingered a moment to ask him a question. “Malger is going to help me teach our scouts a lesson. Would you care to assist, Sir Charles?” He smiled and finished the last of his juice. “Thank you for the gracious offer but I have matters to tend on my fief. You should join me there one day; I'd love to show you all that I've discovered.” “I will take you up on that offer,” Angus replied, grinning widely with an array of short, sharp fangs hidden behind his jowls. “And you will help me train our scouts one day, oh knight of the Glen!” Charles laughed and patted his friend on the shoulder. “Aye, I will. If it keeps me closer to home Lady Kimberly will approve.” “And how do you like your lands?” Baron Avery asked as his long tail bounced back and forth behind his head. The squirrel had a mischievous glint to his eye that reminded him subtly of Baron Barnhardt's careful but pointed questions. Once more he felt like a weapon being interposed between two feuding nobles. “They are very beautiful and bountiful, your grace. I will be riding out there shortly to continue learning the land. But first I have one errand to tend to.” He nodded his head in the direction of the marten who had not yet moved from his place between elk and oryx at the far end of the commons. An old friendship to renew. “And an old friendship to renew,” Charles added as both Angus and Baron Avery turned to glance at the marten curiously. “He saved my life down south once.” Angus' smile broadened, and the rat could see that all mention of an errand had been forgotten. “That is a tale I hope you share with us someday.” “Aye, I will do that as well.” Baron Avery nodded and patted him on the shoulder, tail flicking as if shaking off dust. “Well, we shall leave you to your affairs. I do expect you to tell us about all that you've found in the Narrows. Perhaps there is more we can do protect that land.” “Perhaps,” Charles admitted with a smile. He felt reasonably confidant that Glen scouts in the Narrows would provoke the Lakelanders to send troops of their own, but those were details that could be sorted later. Once Baron Avery and his coterie had left the Hearth, Charles rose from his seat and walked toward the opposite corner where Malger waited. The pine marten smiled to him, waving him closer. “Sir Charles! It is a great pleasure to see you again. My congratulations to you on your investiture.” “Thank you, your grace,” Charles replied with a slight bow of his head. “It was an unexpected honor, but I am grateful for it.” He lifted his eyes and met the elk's warm gaze. “We all knew you would become a knight,” Egland said with verve and conviction. “You have a noble warrior's heart.” “Thank you, Sir Egland.” He turned toward the oryx and smiled. “I'm sure it won't be long before you have felt the touch of blade on either shoulder and bear the title Sir!” “A few years yet,” Intoran replied a trifle self-consciously. “I have only been a squire for a year now.” “You are strong and accomplished. It will not be more than that.” You have something to ask Malger and it must be done privately. Charles lowered his eyes and voice, allowing a figure of regret to mar his good humor. “There is a matter of personal concern I must discuss with Malger, his grace. I beg pardon, but it is something I can only mention when we are alone.” Malger nodded and stood from his seat. “I do not think we need fear Sir Charles bringing me to harm. If you would care to follow me, Sir Charles, I will escort you somewhere that we can speak without bringing temptation to idle ears!” ---------- If the little fox thought she was hidden from the rat's view, she was gravely mistaken. Charles said nothing as he followed Malger up onto the second floor of the Mountain Hearth and all the way to the northern corner and the well-apportioned room waiting there. In addition to the canopied bed, large chest for clothes, wash basin, and magnificent view of the Glen from an eastward-facing balcony, there was a stone hearth around which a quartet of rustic but cushioned chairs had been arranged. Malger invited Charles to take any he preferred and the rat selected the one with the largest hole for his tail. This he slipped through with the adroitness that eight years of having a tail had given him. Malger choose the seat next to him and the little fox secreted herself underneath. Charles pretended not to notice her. Malger stretched his toe claws as he reclined, a lop-sided smile accenting the lop-sided hat he bore between his ears. “I see you are wearing the buckler you found in Sutthaivasse.” Charles lowered a claw and traced it over the sculpted brass ears of the rat-head buckle. “I thought you might remember it. I was quite surprised to find it. Not many lands would give the face of a rat such nobility.” “Some in my homeland are known for a,” Malger paused as if savoring the taste of the word, or at least the thought suggested by it, “certain satirical wit. I expect you were the first to ever wear that; it had been in my family for at least two generations. The relation who had obtained it went to great lengths to ensure the giver of the gift gave no more gifts at all.” His mischievous smile returned to one of pleasure as he added, “I'm glad it has found a home where it can be appreciated.” “You deliberately set it aside for me?” Malger shrugged. “I may have mentioned it to someone.” “Well, in any event, thank you. I'm rather fond of it.” “I'm glad to hear it. So,” he straightened some and his expression turned serious, “what might I do for you, Sir Charles?” “You may have heard that while we were down south bracing Marzac my youngest son contracted an illness particular to those with my gift. This illness grew worse despite my wife's best efforts, and then claimed his life.” Malger took a deep breath and nodded, frowning. “I did. I am very sorry for your loss.” “He, Ladero, had the Sondeck as I do. None of my other children have this ability. He was very dear to me and it broke my heart to learn that he was gone. Not a day goes by when I do not think of him.” “I'm sure,” Malger nodded, a grimace fixed across his lips. “But what does this have to do with me? I can do nothing about what happened.” The Aedra would not help you. But he does not follow them. “None of us can do anything about what happened. The past is the past,” Charles noted with a heavy sigh. “I have no intention of trying to change the past. But the future is before us and it is determined by our actions. My family... I would do anything to protect my family.” “I'm glad to hear it,” Malger replied. “You have a lovely family to protect. Your children are adorable.” “You've seen them?” “At Long House during the quarantine.” His eyes darkened. “You still haven't explained what you want from me.” In a moment. He must first know how your son died. “In a moment. You must first know how my son died. It was late October and he was bed-ridden. Garigan, my pupil in the ways of the Sondeck, knew something terrible was happening. He could feel the tear in my son's Sondeck. It is hard to describe what it is to those without our gift, but imagine a knife inside your flesh, jabbing and cutting you apart from the inside out. That is what my son suffered from, what Garigan tried to save him from, and what ultimately killed him. Lady Kimberly... my wife, could not bear to tell me what my son looked like when they buried him. She didn't need to.” Charles felt tears brimming in his eyes. Malger offered him a handkerchief which he took and dabbed his eyes. “Thank you. I have never seen it myself, but I have heard tales of it from my homeland. It is as if something has clawed its way out of your flesh, bursting from within to leave you a bloody ruin almost beyond recognition. It is a way to die I could not wish on my greatest enemy and yet it happened to my son and I could not be there to try and protect him from it.” He dabbed his eyes again and shuddered. He was stolen from you. “My son Ladero was stolen from me, Malger.” And the Aedra who compelled you to go to Marzac did nothing to save him. “And even Akkala would do nothing for him. Oh yes, Lady Kimberly summoned the Lothanasa in hopes that they might heal our boy. But they did nothing. And before my wife's stricken eyes she saw her son die. She still cries uncontrollably whenever he is mentioned.” This one has seen terrible suffering in the Bradanes refugees and in the Keeper's captured, caged, and paraded as freaks. He did not withhold his hand from their aid. Charles nodded toward the marten and then briefly glanced at the fox hiding behind his legs. “I know you are a good man, Malger, and you do not withhold your hand from those who are suffering if there is anything you can do to aid them. I know this. The fox beneath your seat is proof of it.” Malger grimaced but slowly began to nod, shifting his legs some even as the little fox scooted back out of sight. “I have helped some, aye. And I am terribly sorry to hear about what you and your family has been through. But I still do not know what you want of me.” Speak first of your wife's needs; it is best to allay his misgivings. “Father Hough has assured us both that our Ladero is now in Eli's hands. But two wounds remain in my family. My wife's last moments with our boy were filled with sorrow and anguish. Can you imagine her suffering? She had to watch her boy literally torn apart and there was nothing she could do. Everything she tried ended in failure. She even called on the Pantheon for aid, something that we as Followers are not supposed to do. But nothing helped. She needs to know deep in her heart that he is well. Father Hough's word is not enough. Some token to assure her, to heal her heart is required.” Malger opened his mouth to object again but Charles lifted one hand and bid him wait. “The other wound is mine, Malger. I wasn't there. I spent four months after he died pondering how I would teach him when I returned to Metamor. I had no idea. I have my lost son without ever once being able to say goodbye to him. And there is no way that I can without aid. That is where you can help me, Malger.” He will not wish to. And as expected, Malger, rather agitated, shook his head. “No, Charles, I cannot help you. You do not even know what it is you are asking of me.” “You are a servant of Nocturna,” Charles gestured at the crescent moon medallion. “You have ways that are mysterious and hidden from men. Even learned men, those who walk in the light of their gods and wield the powers of the world as a smith a hammer!” “I can walk in dream, aye, and I have striven far too little to maintain that secrecy I can send omens, lighten the horror of nightmares, such things at that. Perhaps I can help Lady Kimberly ameliorate the pain of that grief, for it is truly the sharpest of blades and cuts the deepest. But that is all. I cannot bring the dead back to life.” That is not his job. “That is not what I am asking you to do.” Charles leaned forward, claws trembling. “And what I am asking you to do I know that you can do. You've done it before. For Murikeer.” Malger stiffened and his eyes narrowed. “He told me about what you did for him, bringing Llyn's soul back for one moment in a dream so that the wounds struck in the moments before her death could be healed. I am asking of you the same thing. Bring my son back for just one dream, so I can say goodbye.” Do not forget your wife. “And offer my wife a token showing that he is truly well and protected by Eli, that he no longer knows the pain that she saw him suffer. This one thing will heal the wounds in our family, so that we can move on from this grief, and be the better parents our children need, and deserve.” Malger took a deep breath and then ran his tongue along the back of his fangs. “You are asking for more than you know, Charles. What was done for Murikeer... there was a price for that. It was a gift from me because I had loved Llyn as well. I cannot do the same for you. There will be a price that you and Kimberly must pay to enter the dreams, and another to pay if you wish to see Ladero, something I cannot promise will happen. I cannot even promise that a price can even be paid for this! It is not up to me.” It was done once. Why not a second time? “You've done it once. Why not a second time?” “It is complicated. I do not even know what Nocturna did to bring Llyn's soul back to say goodbye! But,” Malger held up a hand and bid him wait, “I will ask. I can see the pain this has caused you and I will at least ask. Can you wait until tomorrow to learn whether or not this is even possible?” A day's wait is another day's agony. But it will grant you strength and resolve to do what must be done. “I can wait another day.” You have already waited so many. “I have already waited so many.” Charles grimaced and shook his head. “It is an agony to me, but I will wait to hear your answer tomorrow. If it is yes, what will we need to do?” “I will need to bring you and Kimberly into the dream so that the price can be agreed to with Nocturna. You do realize that it is Nocturna to whom you ask this favor? I do not believe a Follower such as you are to have any rapport with her.” “That is my choice,” Charles reminded him. “And for that reason, I ask you to keep this to yourself.” Not even your wife must know. “Do not even tell my wife. Lad Kimberly... if she knew what I intended, would be heartbroken all the more if it failed. Whatever price must be paid, I shall pay it alone. Only then can we bring her in; only when it is successful.” “I do not even know how I would go about that!” Again, Malger held out his hand to stifle his objection. “But I promised that I will ask and so I shall. I will convey your request in all its particulars and will tell you the answer and what must be done tomorrow morning. Are there any other details I should know?” “Only that I ask this because I see no other recourse to ease the wounds we have suffered.” “Most families lose children to sickness,” Malger pointed out. “Few if any ever have this chance, Sir Charles. The cost asked of you may be more crippling than any wound you feel now.” No, it won't. There are many ways payment can be made. “There are many ways payment can be made. I hope that we can find one suitable that will not be as fearsome as this.” Charles took a deep breath and then shifted in his seat. “That is my request, your grace. If I have your leave, I must see to me duties in the Narrows so I can return home before the evening meal is served.” “Of course. Go in peace, Sir Charles. May you and your family walk in paths of light.” His whiskers twitched at the suggestion, but no reply came through his lips. As quietly as his claws would allow on the wooden floor, he departed, the hope of seeing the hooded face of his youngest son kindling his heart into a radiant plume. You will see him again. “Aye,” he whispered under his breath on his way from the Inn. “I will.” ---------- May He bless you and keep you in His grace and love, Charles Matthias </body> </html>