<html> <body> We are finally here! This is the final part to my story which I began writing two years ago. And the ideas for this story first were in my head back in 1998! So I do hope that folks enjoy it (and say so)! Recall that scenes set in 724 are 16 years after the current timeline. --------- Metamor Keep: Divine Travails of Rats by Charles Matthias and Ryx Pars VI: Acceptio (a) Wednesday, June 23, 724 CR, Early Evening Both rats tilted their heads up. A loud cheer erupted overhead and persisted for several seconds before turning into sustained applause. Their whiskers and ears twitched as dust sifted from the rafters above to settle across their snouts and drape the golden horses. The Steppe horses shook their hides and grunted at the annoyance. The one that had been idly lipping at the fur between Charlie's ears as he leaned against the wooden slats of the horse's enclosure went so far as to stomp his hooves, sending another spray across the top of the rat's head. The baron and his son brushed the dust from their fur and waited for the delight of their fellow Keepers to dwindle. Charlie grimaced and cast one irritated glance at the ceiling. “I expect that means the mages have finished their show.” His father nodded and stretched his legs from atop the saddle blanket-draped bale of hale. “It will not be long before everyone begins to disperse. Are you expected anywhere, Son?” Charlie shrugged and brushed the last of the dust from the soft fabric of his leggings. “I am, but neither my father nor the Duke will take their leave just yet. We have a little time.” “That is all that we'll need.” Charles, still trembling, took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. The horses stabled behind him draped their heads across the wooden stall doors to watch him; their green eyes sparkled like emeralds in the lamplight. When his father opened his eyes a measure of calm had returned to his countenance. His voice was low and full of regret. “I was lost for a time after stepping from the shadow and suffering that excruciating pain. I did not even understand at first that I had been denied the chance to tell my father what had become of his son. I knew only the shadow in which I journeyed and in which I smouldered. “At some point we reached the next terrace but I confess to having very little memory of that place. What few images of it I recall speak of a place brimming with trees bountiful with fruit, fresh and ripe for the picking if anyone could have reached them. All of the branches were far overhead and the bark too slick to climb. None of those who sojourn there could reach them to sate their hunger. Of all that I saw there none of the men were known to me save the one also in the shadow, and even that one was not a man I knew but one that I had learned of after our triumph at Marzac.” His father's expression twisted in distaste for a moment and one hand reached for the empty goblet only to slip back to his lap. His long tail thumped against one of the wooden slats as he shifted in his seat. The horses lifted their ears at the sound before turning them back to the rat. “I knew he was once the Bishop of Eavey and that he'd been taken by Marzac when sent to help exorcise that demesnes. But I had nothing to say to him and merely crawled on through the shadow. “I did not return to myself until we reached the final terrace.” Charles breathed a heavy sigh and shook his head. Above them the crowds cheered again though the applause did not last as long as before. When only the creaking of the rafters overhead and the snorting of horses surrounded them, the Baron leaned forward, hands gripping his knees, toe claws digging into the hay beneath him. “My tale is almost finished, my son. What you hear now you cannot ever breath to another living soul.” Charlie edged closed, ears turned to catch every word. ---------- May He bless you and keep you in His grace and love, Charles Matthias </body> </html>