<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>This story takes place right after Shadows of the Past and Present which you can find here <a href="http://metamorkeep.com/story/Shadow_of_the_Past_and_Present1.php">http://metamorkeep.com/story/Shadow_of_the_Past_and_Present1.php</a> .<o:p></o:p> This ponders and what was learned in that story and the questions answered and the new Questions raised. It also brings to mind what our world lost when the Roman Empire collapsed leaving Europe in a chaos it has never really left.<o:p></o:p>Chris<o:p></o:p>The Lurking Fox<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>Thanks to Leo M. Panther for the cool quote at the end<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>********************<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p> The complex of rooms and halls that the Long Scouts called home was technically part of Metamor Keep but was always hard to enter. There was only one entrance and that was heavily guarded by gates, portcullis and a murder gallery. Defenses stronger than those on some castles the paladin had been in. As they made their way through a second doorway that had a steel door he again wondered why the complex was so heavily guarded.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "I am reminded," Nestorius said slowly. The mage was standing next to the paladin and looking up at the slot the portcullis had disappeared into. "Of the old tale that Metamor Keep safeguarded something so dangerous that even God himself thought it best hidden."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "We've all heard that tale," Edmund responded. He shook his head as if to dismiss such wild thoughts. "But that is a tale for another day."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Still," Nestorius said slowly. "It begs the question. What could be so terrible that God himself wanted it hidden."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "That," the paladin answered. "Is a question I do not want to know the answer to."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The two found Long Hall busy. The vast, almost cathedral like hall was usually quiet but today he found it filled with a dozen Keepers all in the midst of combat training. They were wearing padded jackets and all held a long dagger in each hand. At the front of the group was Finbar. The ferret morph had a dagger in each hand. Danielle was standing next to him.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "What are you doing my friend?" Edmund asked. "I don't recognize any of these people as Long Scouts."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "They aren't Longs yet," the ferret answered. "Hopefully at least a few will make it."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The cheetah cocked his head to one side. "Oh?" He looked at the sixteen Keepers who were sparring with each other. "How many do you think will pass the tests and become a Long?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>The Long scout shrugged. "Probably one or two, maybe three."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "That's all?" The feline asked, surprised.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "The problem with us Longs is there are so few of us," the ferret responded.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "The standards to be a Long Scout are very high," Danielle added. "Perhaps too high at times. Only a few people can meet them."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Finbar pointed to a small doorway with a dagger. "Misha is in the office."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Edmund and Nestorius walked into the office and found not only Misha but Caroline and the raccoon mage Rickkter. Misha noticed that the feline's entire tail was bandaged from tip to hip. He placed a small pillow onto a chair before sitting down in it. Nestorius took a seat next to him.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Are you hurt Edmund?" Caroline asked.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "No," Edmund said slowly. "The only real injury is to my dignity. Bridgette has been learning healing and she decided to help me."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The scout leader gave a yip of laughter. "Thank you both for coming today," Misha said, changing the subject. "I've been researching the information you brought and found some interesting things."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Edmund's ears perked up and he leaned toward his friend. "Oh?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Nestorius nodded. "I am most interested in the information you can give us."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The fox held up his hand and in it was a large book bound in brown cloth of about average size.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Misha placed a book on his desk and Edmund was able to read the title stamped on the cover. "Lutin Tribes. Updated 12-707."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "This is THE reference on the lutins," Misha explained. "At least one copy of it. Andwyn, George and myself started this and we've kept it updated as often as possible. It lists the name, size and territory of every single Lutin tribe known or suspected. There are a few names on there I don't recognize and I'm going to check to see if they are in here."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The scout leafed through the book, stopping occasionally to peruse different pages before coming to a halt on one. He read the page intently then looked up at his friend. "The one tribe listed on your papers as the Grundulan are now known as the Axes."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> He read more from the book. "Now this is interesting." He didn't explain the comment but seemed lost in thought, staring off into space. When he spoke again it was in a whisper. "So that's where she was."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Edmund cocked his head to one side. "Who?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Misha closed his eyes for a moment. "You ever wonder where I got my famous axe from? I got it from my Grandfather."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "And where did he get it from?" Edmund asked following the fox's discussion.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> The fox opened his eyes and looked at his friend. "Grandfather never did really explain. He often told the story about how he came by the axe but he never told the story the same way twice."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Edmund gave a chirp of laughter. I know people like that but what does that have to do with my list?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "That tribe, The Axes," Misha explained. "It's a shortened version of an older name; The Black Axes."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "The BLACK axes?" Nestorius said. "Like in YOUR black axe?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Yes," Misha starred off into space for a moment. "You know, this is the second time the axe and its time in the Giantdowns has come up within a month."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Meaning what exactly?" Edmund asked.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "An excellent question," the feline mage added.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Misha laughed and shrugged. "I don't know. The axe was here during the downfall. In the valley. I know that for a fact. Occasionally I catch glimpses and feelings from previous wielders of the axe. Sometimes without her intending it. When I first came to the valley back in 697 I got brief flashes of the valley in an earlier time. Not as it was in 615 when Grandpa was here but back in 150 when this was still a Suielman outpost."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "That's amazing. We have so little information from that time. And none at all about the catastrophe in Camulodunum that created the Haunted Woods," the paladin commented.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Has the axe revealed what happened?" Caroline asked. "After all she was there."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Misha slowly shook his head. "No. It's a very touchy subject with her. The last time I pressed her for details she wouldn't communicate with me at all for a month."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "I've heard the legends of what happened here in 150," Caroline said. "As a child I had to learn by heart the story The Fall of Maractania. It was a nasty and bloody fight. Everyone was killed. No wonder she doesn't want to talk about it and bring up bad memories. Grandma Annabelle used to tell of how Great, great, great Grandma Coventina survived the invasion by hiding in a cave."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "I wonder how many other families here in the valley have similar legends," Nestorius commented. "I've never considered that the people here might have preserved memories of the fall of the empire. It could be an untapped source of information. It would mean a lot of work to collect the information."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "It would be a worthwhile endeavor," Edmund said slowly. His tail was moving back and forth slowly.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Let us not concentrate on what we do not know," Nestorius said calmly. "Let us concentrate on what information we do know."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "The dagger was here in 150," Rickkter said calmly. "I've learned that much from having her and with my own research. Survivors carried the dagger south to Elvquelin using it's illusions to escape."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "The axe was here as well," Misha added. "The guild was able to trace it's journey that far. We know for a fact its last known wieldier was assigned to the 12th Victrix legion. So it's safe to say it was here in 150."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Well the axe wound up somehow in the Giantdowns," Edmund said. "But what happened to it till your Grandfather found it in 615?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Misha shrugged. "No idea. But from their name I think it wound up with the Black Axe tribe."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "The name alone is a good clue," Edmund commented.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "So two of the Five sisters were here during the invasion of 150," Misha said.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Not two of the Five," Edmund said calmly. "Three. During our recent journey into the forest we saw the sword."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "WHAT?" Misha barked. They all leaned closer. "How? Where?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Not where," the lion answered. "When." Slowly the feline mage and Edmund explained what had happened to them in the ghost city. They left out no detail.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Misha exhaled slowly. "That's , , , that's ," he stuttered.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Incredible," Rickkter added.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "I was there too," Edmund added. "All three of us were. As incredible as it sounds that is exactly as it happened."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "I've NEVER heard of the Haunted Forest being so active," Misha commented.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "And interacting with the undead like that is unique," Rickkter added. "You may have actually traveled back in time."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "I am not certain as to what happened," Nestorius responded. "But it was both exciting and frightening."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Not many people can die and live to tell the tale afterward," Rickkter commented.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "The entire episode seems like a dream. Or some nightmare," Edmund said.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Being shot in the throat with an arrow felt real enough," Nestorius said as he rubbed his throat with his left hand. "But what really stands out in my mind is the sword. I was not expecting to see that there."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Misha leaned over the desk and closer to the two felines. "Are you certain it was THE sword? One of the Five?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "It WAS the sword Ka-Staru, that I saw," Edmund commented. "One of the Five Sisters."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The lion nodded his head in agreement. "I do not doubt that what we saw actually happened back in 150. This means it was in Camulodunum at the time it fell."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "I do not understand what happened to us," the paladin answered. "But what I do understand is that what we saw and experienced was the truth."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "All five of the Sisters are unique and unmistakable," Nestorius added. "It could have been no other."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "So three of the five were here at that time," Misha leaned back in his chair. "Sword, axe and dagger."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "After the fall the axe went north and the dagger went south but where did the sword go?" Rickkter asked slowly.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Misha shrugged. "To be honest as a holder of one of the five I really didn't research the other four much. I did hear plenty of rumors but nothing about the sword. I'll contact the Marigund guild and ask. They are sure to have more information."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "It didn't go anywhere," Edmund said in a slow, distant sounding voice. The paladin was staring off into space and seemed lost in thought. "It's still here."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Here where? It's a big valley," Nestorius asked.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "It's in the haunted forest somewhere," the feline paladin answered slowly, still with the distant gaze. "It has to be there."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Why do you say that?" Caroline asked.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Edmund shook himself the way a waking person might try to shake off the memory of a bad dream. When he looked back at the group there was a fierce gaze in his eyes. "The sword was here before the invasion. And it has not been seen since."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Rickkter shook his head. "You cannot be sure of that."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "The three were here during the invasion," the cheetah said firmly. "One went north. One went south. And one stayed in the valley."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "There is a certain symmetry to that concept," Rickkter commented. "If it is true it means that the Axe, Sword and Dagger are together again for the first time in 557 years. And it's in the same place."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "It does explain the increased activity in the forest," Nestorius commented. "With all three weapons together again it is recreating the setting back in 150. I cannot be sure of what powers or magic have been released but something is stirring."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Rickkter nodded his head. "Agreed but what?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "What does that mean?" Caroline asked nervously.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Edmund shrugged. "I don't know but it is significant. Perhaps this is a sign from the Great One. There is a great evil in those woods, keeping many souls trapped there. The presence of the three has stirred it up."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Perhaps the three were attracted by whatever is stirring," the mage added. "Or perhaps whatever binds that evil in those woods is failing."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "That is too many perhaps," Caroline said. "We need more information."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Our recent trip has told us that whatever happened back then was centered on the Castra Prenturio in the city itself," Nestorius commented. <o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "That's a start," Misha commented. "But we need a lot more information."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "I have already contacted Sir Jacob Harrick, Senior Knight Commander of my order and explained what happened," Edmund said. "And asked that Brother Crosley be sent. He is the most knowledgeable of the Order in dealing with the undead."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "When does he arrive?" Nestorius asked.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Within the month," Edmund answered. "He was most eager to come here."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "He was eager? Is that a good thing?" Misha asked.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> There was a pained expression on Edmund's face. "No. The only thing that interests brother Crosley is the undead. If he takes an interest in something it usually results in combating the undead or something equally dangerous."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Rickkter shook his head slowly. "I was afraid you'd say that."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "We consider Nasoj to be the most dangerous threat to Metamor," Edmund said. "But whatever is bound up in that forest is far worse."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "In CR150 the Suielman mages unleashed something truly evil and the evil is still there. In the woods. But how does this relate to whatever happened back in 150. What were the three doing here back in 150?" Nestorius asked. "And what are they doing here now?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "How were they involved in the fall of the city," Edmund added. "My instincts tell me if we understand that we can understand what happened to the city."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "I don't know. This is not good," Misha said. "I don't like having two of the Five Sisters together but three. That is sure to bring trouble."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The raccoon mage nodded his head. "Agreed. But we need to confirm it IS still in the valley. And that means discovering what happened to it after the invasion."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "I am trying to uncover what happened in the Haunted Forest and you are trying to uncover the history of your axe. We all need to know happened back in 150CR," Edmund said slowly. "It seems our quests have converged."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Indeed."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p>**********************<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p> The library at Metamor keep had always fascinated Nestorius Sentilus. Even as a young boy he was intrigued by the legends of the magical keep to the north. But what really excited him were the stories of it's great library that held tomes of long lost knowledge. Even now all these years later the black furred lion enjoyed just wandering its stacks and shelves.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> He had spent the last two days going over the notes he had taken during their recent trip into the forest. Nest wasn't sure what happened but during their brief sojourn into the city of ghosts he had filled five notebooks with information. The notebooks told him something had happened but what? A dream? Illusion? Did he travel back in time or was it something else? The information in the notebooks was exciting. The handwriting was most assuredly his own. He recognized it. What really amused him was that it was all written on old Suiel a language that although he could read and write was one he would never use for taking field notes. And didn't remember writing in that language.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Nestorius took a break from his notebooks and took to just wandering the library at random. A past time that had given him much joy in the past. He found the scroll amidst a small pile of others on a shelf labeled 'Suielman Personal Correspondences.' Other scrolls held information about crop harvests and estimated cattle yields. But this scroll held a crudely drawn but surprisingly detailed map of the valley that listed all the surviving towns and villages. With the map was a long text listing the population for each town. Valuable information that would help the mage calculate the post invasion population of the valley. It was dated Cr200, Thursday.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Below that was a detailed population list (obviously copied from some older and probably long lost document) of the valley from cr 148, two years before the invasion. It listed every town and village with a detailed listing of the population for each. Right below that were two words in stark, red ink so different from the black used for the rest. "ALL GONE."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> What really caught his attention was at the very bottom in a different handwriting was a simple statement. "There once was a dream that was the Suielman Empire, will we ever see it's like again?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Nest stared at that statement for a long time. he remembered the beautiful city of Camulodunum he had been so privileged to see. Now reduced to a ghost haunted ruin in a forest. He thought of the roads, aqueducts and of all the amazing structures the empire had built. All gone into ruin and decay. How the peace it had brought had lasted for centuries. All replaced by the chaos of the current world.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> He picked up a pen and carefully added his own thoughts. "I sincerely hope so. But not in my lifetime."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p>THE END<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p></div></body></html>