<font color='black' size='2' face='arial'><br>
<font size="2"> Here is a new Metamor Keep story!<br>
<br>
Chris<br>
The Lurking Fox<br>
<br>
<br>
</font><br>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-align:center;line-height:normal" align="center"><u>Journeys and Destinations</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-align:center;line-height:normal" align="center"><u>By Christian Okane</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal">Takes place after <a href="http://metamorkeep.com/story/Taking_Account.php">http://metamorkeep.com/story/Taking_Account.php</a><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>in April 708.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal">Also read <a href="http://metamorkeep.com/story/Pondering_the_Past.php">http://metamorkeep.com/story/Pondering_the_Past.php</a>
for more information</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Edmund had kept the retinue
small. Only forty soldiers and brothers would accompany him on the trip. Those
were enough to scare off any bandits or raiders. Along with them were three wagons
filled with supplies. At the head of this small group a woman in full armor
carried a pole from which hung a banner. The banner was of dark blue and had a
gold Follower Cross on it. It marked this small group as an official procession
of the Order of Protectors. While their weapons and size would keep most
bandits at bay the banner would scare off any meddling or overly hostile
nobles. It was also sure to attract a lot of attention.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Edmund could go covertly, just
himself and a few others and easily and quietly make the trip. He had done such
things before in the past but the paladin wanted people to know that this was a
group of the Order of Protectors. Letting all know that the order was in the
area and there to stay. It was sure to stir up trouble and it was an unsubtle
message to Lord Donel that the order would oppose the man's ambitious
expansion.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal">*******************</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>At Castel Roegh the
Knightmaster of the Order of Protectors was also preparing for a journey. He
was traveling with a far larger retinue. Besides himself there was a close
guard detachment of twenty Knightbrothers. another one hundred Lay swords and
two wandering Brothers (whose special skills were always useful). All were to
help protect the two hundred lay brothers and servants and ten wagons full of
the records and material that went along with running a large organization like
the Order of Protectors. Also two more wagons came along for the food and
supplies needed for the trip.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In spite of the short time and
the number of people involved. things went remarkably well. Still there were
some issues. There just weren't enough wagons to haul all the needed material.
So after unloading at the destination the wagons would make a second trip. Patricia
Samantha Fitz Hues (wife of Lay brother Joseph Fitz Hues) was in her third
trimester. No one wanted to risk mother or unborn child so the couple would
remain behind. Their skills with the bow would be missed but all wished them
well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The distance involved in
traveling from Cantel Roegh to Chough castle and then on to Kelewair didn’t
overly worry the Knightmaster. Even though it meant traveling across most of <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>the width of the Southern Midlands. The roads
between the two points were well maintained and the weather was good.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What worried Kenward was who they
would meet along the way. They were traveling through an area that was highly
populated and had recently suffered through the brutal civil war. One of the
after effects was this very journey. He knew the route. As a Knight of the
Order of Protectors he had traveled it many times. There were few places he
hadn’t gone over the years of serving the order.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Southern Midlands like all
of the Midlands was badly divided religiously. Half the population was
Lightbringer, a pagan faith with a bewildering array of many gods and goddesses.
They were diametrically opposed to the monotheistic faith of the Followers and
the two groups had clashed and fought many times over the centuries. Of the
remaining half most were Follower but a good portion were the misguided
Rebuilders. A group who, although they worshiped the Great One opposed. (often
violently) on HOW to worship him. With some of the Rebuilder sects it was hard
to tell that they weren’t Ecclesia. So trivial were the differences from the
True faith. But some were very odd. Even in more peaceful times it made for a
trying trip. With tensions and emotions running high after the civil war it
made it all the more difficult. It was why he was taking along so many Knightbrothers
and Lay swords. Their combat skills might be needed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He was placing great hope in
the two Wandering Brothers. Both brothers Sedgewick and Aelfrick were paladins.
Being a knightbrother of the order was difficult. Being a priest was equally
difficult. But a real paladin mixed both the rules and measures of a knight
with the vows of a priest. It made for a difficult path that few could follow but
those difficulties had their own rewards. They could dispel the undead, heal
the sick and injured and accomplish other impressive feats of faith. Both had a
long history of working with people. Of being able to solve problems by word
and prayer rather than by sword and bow. Something all too rare in the
Midlands.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal">*******************</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The City of Laselle itself was
decently if unimaginatively laid out. Its city walls were square with a gate on
each of its four walls. The western wall hugged close to the river that brought
so much trade. The western road left the western gate and crossed the river on
an overly grandiose bridge of stone. It then ran arrow straight to the sea of
Stars. The road itself was an old empire construction and had stood up to the
centuries well. The road that ran from the east gate went continued east and
eventually reached the city of Midtown. But it didn’t stop here. Instead it
continued onward before ending in the town of Medalia.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Sitting at the mouth of the
Metamor valley meant that as many times as the valley had been invaded and
destroyed, So had Laselle. It left all of its citizens a touch paranoid and its
walls were tall, thick and studded with many towers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Laselle was geographically to
the west of Midtown but it was politically midway between Metamor Keep and
Midtown. The Duke and Lord Donel were at odds for control of the important
town. There are two factions that vie for control of the city government. It
showed in the treatment Stealth received. Some people were friendly and
helpful, while others showed hatred. Most seemed to waver in between showing
something between indifference, disgust and nervousness. But all were quite
happy to take his coin when he showed interest in buying something. Stealth was
not here to shop. He was here to see what the town was like and to meet
someone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Edmund had stopped his small
group outside the city in a small grove of trees just out of sight of Laselle.
“The order has sent a Lay brother as a guide. He’s meeting us in Laselle. I
want you to find him and bring him here.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“That’s it?” Stealth asked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The paladin shook his head.
“No. We have heard rumors of,” he paused for a moment. “Problems between the
people of Laselle and Keepers.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Stealth tilted his head to one
side. “Problems? You mean Keepers being attacked? Or just being rude.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“We’re not sure,” Edmund
responded. “Mostly word of harassment but no open attacks.”</div>
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normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“You want me to find out,”
Stealth responded. “Go and see what occurs?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Edmund patted his friend on
the shoulder. “I know that you have the common sense to avoid trouble and the
skills to get out of it if something happens.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Moving at a moderate pace (making
sure to not too fast or too slow) so as to not attract attention the cheetah made
his way through the town. He would occasionally pause at a shop or at some
vendor but he always kept his true destination in mind.</div>
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normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It stood in the center of the
city where the two old, empire roads crossed. Literally. It was a tall, squat
rectangular building at least forty or fifty feet high. It was made of a tough
stone that had weathered to a smoky gray through centuries of battering by
weather and armies. At first Stealth thought it was a massive gate tower. Its
most unusual feature being that it had gates on all four sides instead of just
the usual two. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Massive, thick wooden
doors bound with iron stood open but were ready to be closed at a moment’s
notice. But as he got closer he saw things that confused him. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The battlements on top were of
stone of a different color and were obviously a much latter addition. The walls
should have been smooth but they were covered with nooks, niches and alcoves.
All manner of things that recessed into the stone or protruded from it. There
seemed to be no rhyme or reason to them but as he got closer Stealth saw that
most were empty but several held the battered remains of what might have once
been statues. Above, below and alongside those were the remains of writing in
old Suiel, carved into the stonework. None of the writing was complete. Just
parts and pieces of words and sentences that made no sense.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Over the gate in front of him
was a particularly large niche. It held a battered, stone torso that was barely
recognizable as being human. It had no head or arms and just two chipped and
cracked bits below that might be legs. Above the niche was writing in large,
bold lettering. “HAIL EMPOROR TAGIL . . .<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>CONQUER . . .“ Nothing else was legible.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Stealth looked around. The plaza
was filled with people headed about on their own errands. Some were simply
moving through going to places unmentioned. Some were browsing the shops and
booths that lined the edges of the open area. All of them seemed intent on
their own business and paying him no mind.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was a quiet sound that came
to his sensitive feline ears. He heard it over the hustle and bustle of the
town around him. It was the soft rusting of leaves. A sound so out of place in
a town. A shiver ran down his spine. Stealth slowly turned around and looked
again at the monument.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Gone was the battered gray
tower of stone. In it’s place was a tall, towering victory monument clothed all
in white marble. Its sides were covered with statues of proud, courageous,
legionnaires killing tall warriors who all seemed to be naked and wielding long
swords and spears.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The thick wooden doors that
could close the archways was gone, He looked up at the place over the arch at
the niche. There stood the statue of a tall man dressed in the full ceremonial
armor of a Legion general. He had a proud, regal look on his face. “ALL HAIL
EMPOROR TAGILLINUS CAVARILLI CONQUEROR OF MARACTANIA” were the words over the
statue.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Are you all right sir?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Stealth turned away from the
strange tower and looked in the direction of the voice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Standing next to him was a man
slightly taller than himself. He was black haired and had a full beard and
mustache. He was wearing a shirt and breeches of a dark brown and had on tall
boots. Over the shirt he had a short coat of dark blue. In the center was a
gold Follower cross. A short sword in a plain scabbard hung from his belt and a
box was strapped to his back. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Stealth turned and looked back
at the tower. It had returned to it’s modern, battered and worn appearance. “I
. .<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was just looking at the monument.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“It was built to celebrate
emperor Tagillinus’ conquest of what’s now Northern Midlands in -570,” the man
explained. “This is the place where the last Centli chieftain Louernios
surrendered.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Stealth gave a chirp of
laughter. “It’s pretty battered.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“It’s over a thousand years
old,” the man responded. “It’s a miracle that it’s survived at all.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“It was pretty impressive back
before the invasion.” Stealth commented.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“It’s still impressive now.”
The man put his right hand to his chest and bowed. “I am Lay brother Emile Mosin.
Your guide.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The cheetah returned the
gesture. “I am Stealth and I’m glad to meet you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Brother Delacot is close by?”
Emile asked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Just outside of town,” Stealth
responded. “Please follow me.” He turned and looked at the monument and saw it
was still in it’s old, worn form. Then he turned and hustled off down the
street.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal">*************</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In the small tent that Edmund
and Stealth shared a council was held. Aside from the two cheetahs Terrie was
there. Also with them was<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"> </b>Emile.
Stretched out on the table in front of them was a map of the Northern Midlands.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Which way do we go now?”
Terrant asked. “We can follow the main route and go east but that takes us
through Midtown. Lord Donel is sure to stop us. I know you want to confront him
but that is a taking him on at his strongest.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“We could avoid Midtown,”
Stealth responded. “But how? The main road goes through Midtown.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“I was born and raised in the
area,” Emile said. “I know every road and trail and there are ways around
Midtown.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“We can’t go east,” Stealth
said. “So we must take the road south or west. The west road leads to the Sea
of Stars and eventually Menth and Soran.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“And south?” Edmund asked. He
traced the road south of the city with his finger. The river flowed south out
of Laselle and the road followed it. Some miles south the river branched into
two smaller ones and road split too. Each smaller road following one of the
river branches. One branch meandered west and eventually reached the Sea of
Stars. The other branch went south and ended in a large green spot.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“That is Tearmann marsh,”
Emile commented.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“I’ve traveled the main road many
times but I’ve never left the road. Never been in that marsh.” Terry said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“No reason you should,” the
scout answered. “The road detours around it for a very good reason. Travel
there is difficult at best. It’s even parts earth, water and mud. Lots and lots
of mud. Travel by walking or riding isn’t possible because of the mud and
water. But the water is too shallow to really use large boats.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“How are we supposed to get
across?” Edmund asked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“There is a trail that picks
up where the empire road ends,” the Lay brother commented. “It crosses using
the few bits of hard ground that there are. For the rest it uses a causeway, a
low bridge, to cross over the worse parts.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“What is the causeway like?”
Terry asked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“It’s wood and about five to
six feet wide,” Emile answered.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Terrant made a pained
expression. “That’s barely wider than the wagons.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“What happens if we run into a
caravan going the other way?” Stealth asked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“There are various islands
along the path. Some large enough to hold the whole group. “The trail leaves
the marsh here,” Emile said and pointed to a spot south of Midtown. It then
heads east and ends at a spot south of Medalia.” He tapped a spot on the map to
the south of Midtown, close to the Great Barrier Range. “There’s a small road
that heads south from there.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“What’s that road like?”
Edmund asked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The lay brother traced his
hand along a faint line on the map. It hugged close to the mountains following
each curve and twist of the terrain. “Been a long time since I was on it. It’s
not paved like the main road but it was in good shape. It skirts the mountains
before it ends in Kormley. It’s not straight like the main road and it will add
several full days to the trip.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“I don’t mind the extra time
involved,” Edmund said calmly. “But I will not skulk around in the wilderness.
I want people to know of this trip.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Emile was quiet for a moment
and seemed to be counting to himself. Ticking off numbers with his fingers.
“We’ll pass through at least eight, good sized villages.” He tapped several
spots of the map. Each representing a town or village.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal">*******************</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They left before dawn when
most of Laselle was either still asleep or just waking up. The group packed
quietly and quickly. Then they headed south, moving quickly but not too
quickly. They didn’t want to be seen as fleeing. But they also wanted as few
people as possible to see them at all.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Dawn found them several miles
south of the city and moving along a road whose stone had been laid down almost
a millennia before. Roads branched off at irregular intervals heading in
different directions but the main road continued south following the river
closely.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Finally, they came to where
the river branched into two separate parts as did the road. One branch with its
road went west to the Sea of Stars. The other continued south.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The passage of the centuries
had worn the stones smooth but they were still strong and the road flat. They
passed mile stones at regular intervals that marked the distance from
somewhere. But the numbers shown didn’t match the miles to Laselle or Midtown.
The further they south they went the higher the numbers became.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They passed small towns and
villages interspersed between fields of wheat and corn as they traveled. The
people there gazing at them with a mix of curiosity and confusion. The villages
grew smaller and further between until they vanished leaving just woods and
fields laying fallow and returning to the wild.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Suielman road simply ended
in a field of knee high marsh grass. They could plainly see where the gray
paving stones simply stopped. It wasn’t that the rest of the pavement had been
lifted and stolen long ago. The road had been cleanly and deliberately stopped
at that point. The stones ended in a neat straight edge. A trail of gravel continued
onward as it wound its way south quickly disappearing into brush and low trees
in the distance.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Ahead is the marsh,” Emile
said solemnly. “They say the empire engineers got this far before they realized
they couldn’t get through the marsh.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Dasan knelt and felt the
ground. “I’d believe it. Even after a small rain this would turn to mud.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Knee deep mud,” Emile
responded.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Can we cross it?” Terrant
asked. “Will the wagons make it?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“They should unless it gets
worse,” the scout answered. “Small groups and caravans use this route all the
time. Mostly to avoid paying tolls.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“It remains gravel and earth
till it reaches the trees,” Emile said. “Then it crosses the swamp on a wooden
causeway.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal">*******************</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The marsh didn’t suddenly
appear. Instead it slowly crept up on them as they moved. The grass around the
trail gradually got higher and thicker while the ground grew softer and wetter.
Walking on the trail was hard enough with each step being more labored. The
horses pulling the wagon had to strain more. Any step off the trail would see
the person’s leg sink into the mire. Finally, the gravel and dirt of the trail gave
way to roughhewn planks which squeaked and squished when pressure was applied
to them. The planks gradually lifted off the ground, held aloft by pilings made
of tree trunks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The marsh itself was a mix of
swamp, streams, slow moving rivulets, rivers. small islands and mud humps that
were an equal mix of earth and water. Interspersed with all of that were islands
of grass and brush and dense stands of trees. Any movement through that was
impossible. A person would sink up to their hips in mud that seemed to be
everywhere. The only reason the group could make any progress at all was the
causeway which ran arrow straight through the marsh.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The going was slow as the boards
were slick and covered with moss in spots but they were generally sound. Worse
still the causeway was only slightly wider than the wagon wheels.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“This is a great place for an
ambush,” Stealth commented. “Out in the open on this causeway we’ve got nowhere
to hide.” He looked at the marsh all around and below them. He spotted a
hundred places where someone could hide.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“No need to worry,” Emile said
cheerfully. “The locals won’t bother us. So long as we stick to the causeway.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Locals?” Edmund asked as he
looked around. All he saw was mud, trees, waist deep water, more mud and
plants. “People live here?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The lay brother nodded his
head. “Oh yes. Have for millennia. They say when the empire first conquered the
Northern Midlands Centli survivors fled here. Centuries later when the Suielman
empire collapsed their survivors fled here as well. To escape the Lutins.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Certainly a place no army
would go,” Adelyte commented.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“And I see lots of birds and
fish to hunt and eat,” Dasan added. “Lots of plants too. You could easily
survive here. So long as you don’t mind the wet.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Just then a flock of birds
spooked by their noise took off and flew away squawking their fears.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><br>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><br>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
normal"><font size="2">End part 1</font><br>
</div>
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normal"><br>
</div>
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normal"><br>
</div>
</font>