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<div> <font size="2">Very Cool story my friend!</font><br>
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<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica;font-size:10pt;color:black">-----Original Message-----<br>
From: C. Matthias <jagille3@vt.edu><br>
To: Metamor Keep <MKGuild@lists.integral.org><br>
Sent: Sun, Sep 1, 2019 4:52 am<br>
Subject: [Mkguild] Gauging Loyalty (3/3)<br>
<br>
<div dir="ltr">3 of 3<br>
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<div dir="ltr"><br>
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<div dir="ltr">Metamor Keep: Gauging Loyalty<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">By Charles Matthias<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">July 14, 708 CR<br>
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<div dir="ltr"><br>
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<div dir="ltr">To George's chagrin, Sir William led him and a <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">small group of soldiers back through the thick <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">forests west of Truskmore more quickly than he <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">had managed the evening before without snagging <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">brushes or ducking branches. They left shortly <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">after sunrise and were outside the walls of <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Hareford by mid-morning. George was left to his <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">own devices until the noon hour as William met <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">with Nestorious and made quick arrangements for a <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">larger contingent of soldiers to accompany them to the Dike.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">George used his time to sample the wares of the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Starven merchants. The bear pelts were thick and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">soft to the touch and he knew any Keeper would <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">easily keep warm within them. He found several <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">arms and legs separated for use in lining winter <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">garments, while there were a few full body pelts <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">sure to decorate the bedspread of a noble or rich <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">merchant. George pondered buying some of the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">smaller pelts for the winter patrols, but he <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">didn't have nearly enough money. In the end he <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">bought two arms; he'd let Misha try them with the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Long Scouts to see if it was worth buying more.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">It was easier deciding to buy some of the salted <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">meats and fish the merchants had brought, at <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">least those few they were already cooking to help <br>
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<div dir="ltr">draw buyers. The tang of the salt was distinctive <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">to the Giantdowns, cultivated as it was from the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">fatty sinews of wild beasts common to the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">forbidding and cold forests and the bitter tundra <br>
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<div dir="ltr">fields of their land. The meat came from every <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">type of wild beast found there and George enjoyed <br>
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<div dir="ltr">cutlets from elk, bear, and even the tangy, <br>
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<div dir="ltr">almost cinnamon flavored, roast of Galumph. Each <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">was an easy sell and when William found him again <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">ready to ride, the jackal's stomach was full and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">his tongue heady with every flavor.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">They rode at a steady but comfortable pace toward <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the Dike. The last time George had been this far <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">north the trails were forged beneath boughs of <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">elm, alder, and pine. Now a broad swath had been <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">opened in the forest canopy for the sapphire blue <br>
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<div dir="ltr">sky. The earth was hard and dry, crunching <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">beneath hoof and boot, while grasses and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">wildflowers thrived between the stumps remaining. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The nearest trees were marked with sashes or with <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">letters carved in their trunks. William, who sat <br>
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<div dir="ltr">comfortably in the saddle, gestured to various <br>
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<div dir="ltr">landmarks as they rode, outcroppings of granite <br>
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<div dir="ltr">or clefts in a hillside where a stream cut <br>
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<div dir="ltr">through, and explained his plans for each. Rocks <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">would provide natural fortifications for his <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">road; a stream would be diverted into a culvert or siphoned for irrigation.<br>
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<div dir="ltr"><br>
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<div dir="ltr">George listened and often nodded, shifting his <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">tail from one horse flank to the other on their <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">journey. They left the cleared land after an hour <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and the verdant shade of the forest cooled him. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The midsummer's warmth was muted by mountain <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">airs. William fell into silence, only <br>
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<div dir="ltr">occasionally gesturing wordlessly at some feature <br>
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<div dir="ltr">of the land. His attempts to use patrol sign were <br>
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<div dir="ltr">hampered by only having two fingers on each hand, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">but the jackal usually understood.<br>
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<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The entered the darkly forested combe after the <br>
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<div dir="ltr">second hour and George felt the hackles on the <br>
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<div dir="ltr">back of his neck lift. The air blowing down from <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the southeastern ridge carried a sultry and <br>
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<div dir="ltr">bitter tang, like loam and dead trees covered in <br>
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<div dir="ltr">toadstools. He rubbed his snout several times <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">while they rode in silence beneath the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">thousand-shade arbor of trees choking out the <br>
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<div dir="ltr">sky. Green of every kind above and below; even <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the remnants of a Spring stream running down the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">middle of the combe was coated with algae.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The combe shallowed the further north they <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">traveled until at last they emerged onto a ridge <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">climbing up into the mountains. The trees, now <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">mostly pine and fir with stands of birch, thinned <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">as they ascended the rocky slope. Boulders of <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">granite thrust up through the ground and in every <br>
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<div dir="ltr">hillside, forcing them to curve round or pass <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">single-file. George knew William was not leading <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">him the easiest way to the Dike, but up the more <br>
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<div dir="ltr">challenging pass toward Eagle Tower. When they <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">reached a break in the trees and could see down <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">into the woods where the Dike once stood, hazy <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">with the last remnants of morning fog, he asked the ram about it.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Aye, I'm taking you to Eagle Tower first. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">There's no better place to appreciate my plans <br>
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<div dir="ltr">than there. You'll be able to see almost the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">whole northern mouth of the valley from the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">tower. We'll visit the site of the Dike this evening or tomorrow.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Even with this fog?” George swatted at a mosquito buzzing his ear.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“We'll be able to see enough. It'll be worse in <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the forest.” William flicked his ears to avoid <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">another insect. “As will the mosquitoes. And black flies.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">George swatted another as it landed on his snout. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">He winced and wrinkled his nose and jowls. “Now I <br>
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<div dir="ltr">remember why I don't like coming up here. Sea of <br>
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<div dir="ltr">Souls breeds these damn things and who knows what else.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“They don't usually bother us at the Eagle, or so the Hareford scouts say.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
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<div dir="ltr">George grunted but said nothing more as they <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">ascended the defile past the last stand of pine. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The granite blocks of the Eagle tower were hazy <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and gray in the noon day sun, with the occasional <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">glint of color where the haze had burned off. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Behind it an uninterrupted blue sky hung over the <br>
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<div dir="ltr">Giantdowns, while the last peaks of the Dragon mountains loomed to its right.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">When they reached the top of the defile William <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and his soldiers dismounted, walking their horses <br>
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<div dir="ltr">toward the oaken doors in the southern face of <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the tower. George remained atop his mount for a <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">minute more gazing out across the thick forest <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">covering what had once been the Dike. He tried to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">imagine a massive wall of stone stretching from <br>
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<div dir="ltr">the cliff at the tower's feet to the far east <br>
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<div dir="ltr">lost in the clinging fog. The trees for hundreds <br>
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<div dir="ltr">of paces in every direction would have been <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">cleared with bare earth and wooden fortifications <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">in their place, each pressed close to the stone <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">like suckling pigs to a sow. Deep ditches would <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">carve the land beyond the wall, traversed only by <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">heavily guarded bridges. Towers and banners would <br>
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<div dir="ltr">snap in the wind, each wind a cool breeze <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">drifting down from snow-locked mountains on <br>
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<div dir="ltr">either side. Merchant caravans would funnel <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">through the gatehouses on either side of the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">valley mouth, and the cries of people, cattle, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and the clank of wagon wheel and iron would fill every ear.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">His own heard only the groan of trees in wind, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the whistling of breeze across distant snow, the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">chirping and squawking of birds seeking nests, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and the occasional buzzing of a pioneering insect <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">braving the heights. George whistled, tongue <br>
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<div dir="ltr">pressed between his fangs, and shook his head. <br>
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<div dir="ltr">Not in his life time would they see it. He <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">climbed down from his horse and followed the others inside the tower.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The lower floor was covered in wooden planks and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">hay and broken off into stalls for their horses <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">on three sides. Stairs rose to the next floor in <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the northeastern corner. William stood with a <br>
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<div dir="ltr">hoof on the first step and waved toward the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">jackal. “My men will take care of your horse. Follow me.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Each landing was punctuated by a jutting wall <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">forcing them to enter the main chamber. They <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">found a few soldiers sleeping on the first <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">landing and another pair playing a game of dice. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The players saluted William before returning to <br>
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<div dir="ltr">their game. The next landing smelled of food but <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the doors to the larders were all closed. The <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">third and final landing before the eyrie had a <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">broad table in addition to four sleeping chambers <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">for William and the watch commanders; the sound <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">of snoring came from behind one door. At this the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">ram stopped. He took a scroll case from his <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">saddlebag and drew several papers from within. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">These he spread across the table and bid George come see.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Here are some of the drawings I've already made. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">This one I had a copy sent to Metamor with my <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">request. Here you can see the wall stretching <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">from Eagle tower to the Barrier Range. It's half <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">a mile north of the Haunted Woods so we'll be <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">able to reinforce from the south if need be.” <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">William drew a finger across the map and the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">jackal nodded. “There are signal towers along the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">entire length, each one should be visible to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">their neighbor in the worst fog. Twelve to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">fifteen altogether; it depends on how accurate <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">our maps are of the eastern edge of the valley mouth.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“We'll have to clear out the raiders there <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">first,” George noted. “There's a small village of <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">thieves and brigands there, just outside the range of the Curses.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“I know. I am curious why you haven't sent enough soldiers to roust them out.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Draconia is a nuisance but with the Haunted <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">woods between us and them, the only approach is <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">from here, and any force we sent would be too <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">exposed on their northern flank to make it worth <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the risk. Besides, without a wall, it's not <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">strategically important enough. Your idea makes <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">it important. So I suppose we'll have to do <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">something about it sooner rather than later.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">William tapped the eagle-head mark for the tower. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“We can begin work on the western flank before we <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">deal with the brigands. Shoring up the defenses <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">here will give us the rallying point we need to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">mount such an offensive. Unless the Haunted Woods <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">are cleansed, there's no reason to rush to claim the northeast.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“I agree.” George glanced at the other plans and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">saw detailed drawings of the signal towers with <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">their balustrades and cupolas to protect from the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">elements and flying things, and another drawing <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">of a massive gate and fortress in the wall. He <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">tapped the latter. “Is this what you want to build first?”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“There will have to be a gatehouse to allow <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">merchants and travelers through. We want to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">protect the valley not blockade the Giantdowns. I <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">intend for the gatehouse and the fortress to be <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">built at the base of this mountain. Having the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">fortress here allows us to cultivate the lands <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">along the road to Hareford and protect the stone <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">masons and engineers as they work to extend the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">wall. Eagle tower is enough to start the work, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">but a fortress provides supplies and a rally point in case of trouble.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Stepping Rock was once such a fortress for <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Metamor,” George noted, tilting his head to stare <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">at the drawing. “But she's north of the valley <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">mouth and not much more than a glorified ruin now.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">William blinked and flicked his ears against his <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">horns. “I have not ventured so far north yet. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Perhaps someday. Either way, I have not counted it in my plans.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">George tapped his snout with a claw. “This <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">fortress is impressive, if I am judging sizes <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">correctly. It alone will take many years to build.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">William pushed another drawing across the table <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and the jackal saw a much less imposing fortress, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">one with only a pair of towers and a single <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">curtain wall and barracks. “In sooth. We will <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">start with this. With enough men and stone we <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">could build this in a year; two at most. It will <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">not be very strong against attack, but strong <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">enough to begin the larger fortifications, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">especially the western edge of the wall. I'd like <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">to begin work on this once the road to Hareford is complete.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">George barked in surprise. “In Winter?”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Nay, nay, the ground will be too hard for it. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">But we can begin the quarries and assembling the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">supplies. And we can begin tearing down what is <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">left of the Dike and clearing trees. But mostly <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Winter is the time to prepare the men. The cold <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">will harden them; when the thaw comes and the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">ground is ready, we'll be able to lay the first <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">foundations. If I've the men and the material, we <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">can have the fortress wall and at least one tower <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">if not both built before harvest.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The sound of boots climbing the stairs made the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">jackal's ears turn. He shuffled some of the pages <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">together, glancing across each, a sense of <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">confidence building with each new schematic he <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">saw. He laid one hand atop them when the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">green-mottled monitor lizard and a black-furred <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">dog emerged around the corner. The lizard's long, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">forked tongue slipped out of his mouth and back <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">in again before he said, “Sir Dupré, the gear and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">horses have been tended. What are you orders?”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“We're not here to relieve anyone; but check with <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Captain Becket about the duty rotation. We'll be <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">doing some sweeps of the Dike on hoof and paw <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">while we're here for the next few days.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“I think Captain Becket is sleeping,” the dog <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">replied, nodding his head to the door through <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">which they could still hear snoring.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">William's snout spread into a caprine grin. “Then <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">relax until he wakes! Hah! Nay, Alexander see if <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">you can make something to break our fast before <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">we ride this evening. Sebastian, join the other <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">scouts in the eyrie for now. I'll want both of <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">you with me when we head for the Dike.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The two soldiers went their separate ways. George <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">cast a glance at the snoring door and shook his <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">head. “Do all your commanders snore so loudly?”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Becket is a boar; he cannot help it any more <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">than you can keep your tail from wagging.” George <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">grimaced and put a paw on his tail to still it. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Now, you don't need to hide my plans from my <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">trusted soldiers. If there are any spies here they work for the bat.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">George pushed the pages across the table toward <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the ram. “We have had our share of traitors, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">William. I do not take chances. Did you draw <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">these yourselves? If so your two fingers are better than my four.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">William traced his thick fingers across the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">intricate lines of his wall design. “The initial <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">sketches were all mine, but to bring out these <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">details I've had help from the surveyors. They <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">have the tools and experience for this sort of <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">work. Sebastian is one of the best; most of these are his.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">George glanced at the stairs up to the eyrie and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">then whispered, “How does he handle the cold? We <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">don't like assigning reptile Keepers to the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">northern patrols because it's usually too cool for them even in Summer.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“He has a talisman Nestorius crafted for him to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">help. He grew up in Truskmore; this is his home.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“And yours now? I can smell your wool here in <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">this room.” George nodded to one of the middle <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">doors. “If I'm not mistaken, you have slept many <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">days and nights in yonder room.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Aye, I have. I would be a poor commander if I <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">did not learn all there is to know about the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">defenses at my disposal. And you only learn them <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">by spending time serving them.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">George tilted his head to one side. “Your scent <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">is stronger here than at Hareford.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The ram's snout tightened. Narrowed eyes regarded <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the jackal for a few seconds before he spoke <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">again, quiet and firm. “I have no doubt you know <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Nestorius and I had a falling out a few months <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">back. We have begun rebuilding our friendship and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">now I am spending more time at Hareford again <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">when I am not about seeing to my plans. Surely <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">you have heard all of this already.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Hearing and seeing are different. You do not like these questions, do you?”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">William did not raise his voice nor soften his <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">tone. “Metamor has every right to gauge my <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">loyalty. Duke Thomas would be a fool not to have <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">his doubts. But you, George, should know better. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">What are you here for, to study these plans or to study me?”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The jackal tilted his head further, tail wagging <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">once. “To study the plans for the most part. But <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">I am also going to provide my thoughts on how you <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">are performing as commander of Hareford's <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">military. As you say, Duke Thomas would be a fool not to do so.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Then let us waste no more time.” William slipped <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">another parchment across the table and tapped one <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">thick finger atop it. “Here, this fortress plans <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">shows what the interior could look like, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">including how we'll store water and food.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">George huffed and smiled as he cast his eyes down.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">----------<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Emerald light cascaded through the treetops upon <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">William, George, and the sextet of soldiers <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">accompanying them. The ground was soft beneath <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">his hooves, mostly loam and pine needles with <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">only the occasional bramble or twig to avoid. The <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">tracks of animals, men, and those in between <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">littered the grounds near the Dike ruins, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">disappearing only where the ancient stone thrust <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">through the clinging roots and garlands of ivy <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and moss. Dig but a few hands anywhere and they <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">would find the tombs of those ancient stones interred by the passing of ages.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">William chewed on cud as he led the jackal onto a <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">broad avenue of stone and tree roots stretching <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">beneath the summer boughs for thirty paces. Like <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the grass he'd begun eating, he'd at first been <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">uncertain how he truly felt about having to chew <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">his food, swallow, and then chew it again when it <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">came back up. The taste was not as unpleasant as <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">he once feared, and after seven months he'd found <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">certain spices and grains which kept a savory <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">flavor every time it touched his tongue.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">It also meant he had an excuse to keep silent when he did not wish to speak.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">George followed, eyes, ears, and nose turned in <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">all directions as they reached the ruins of the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Dike. The jackal had said almost nothing since <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">they left Eagle tower, for which William offered <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">him grudging respect. George knew how to behave on Metamor's frontier.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">And George had been eager to learn more of his <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">plans, but the jackal could not help but continue <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">to ask questions or make observations about <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">William. Each left the ram wondering just what <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">anyone in Metamor thought of him. He did not <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">expect to be trusted right away, but he resented <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the dance this old mercenary kept trying to play. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Surely the bat knew everything there was to know <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">about William's habits and surely he'd shared <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">some details already. George's questions and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">observations were too pointed to be otherwise.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">But to be out at the Dike, to feel the ancient <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">stone beneath his hooves, and to smell the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">moldering granite was balm for these wounds. Here <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">he trod when Suielman soldiers had once served a <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">thousand years past, defending for centuries the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">greatest empire man had ever built. Here he <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">walked in the footprints of legends.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">And their hoof, paw, and boots stamped the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">beginning of new legends into the ancient stone.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">They made their way through the woods beneath the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">watchful eye of the Eagle, afternoon sun having <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">finally burned off the fog rolling down from the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">north, and after an hour reached the Dike and the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">site of one of the last standing sentinels in the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">west. The stacked stones were covered in ivy, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">with bushes and pine trees growing out of every <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">crack. Needles carpeted the stone and swaths of <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">loam. Wildflowers rippled through the underbrush <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">where the sun shone through, little blue and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">purple blossoms bobbing up and down in a <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">northerly breeze like gentle ocean surf. Swarms <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">of black flies danced around them, dispersed by <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">waving arms and swatting tails, only to reform and redouble their efforts.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">William and George walked only a few paces apart, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">while the other six soldiers surrounded them ten <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">to fifteen paces away. But once William stepped <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">toward the sentinel, beckoning George to stand at <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">his side, they each closed to five paces, eyes <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and ears fixed upon the surrounding wood. They <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">moved their hands from their weapons only to brush away the mosquitoes.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">William set one hand upon a bare spot of the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">ancient stone and swallowed his cud. “How often have you come this far north?”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“More often in my first years at Metamor,” George <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">admitted. He stared up at the stacked blocks of <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">stone. The highest was more than twice their <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">height. The few trees growing from the top <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">stretched dozens more hands into the canopy. “I <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">was here a few more times after Winter Assault; <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">it took a lot of time clearing out the last <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">straggling bands of Lutins who'd attacked. Once <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">we were confidant the Hareford garrison and other <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">northern defenses were restored I haven't had a reason to return until now.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The jackal's snout spread in a canine grin, fangs <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">visible beneath his nose. “I must say I am glad <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">you gave me a reason. It's good to stretch my <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">legs here in the hinterlands again.” A fly landed <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">on his nose and he brushed it off. “I don't miss <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">these pests.” A few of the soldiers chuckled under their breaths.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Sebastian,” William bleated in a low voice. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Show the Patrol Master our plans for this site.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The monitor approached, long, forked tongue <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">slipping in and out of his mouth as he rifled <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">through his satchel. After a moment's search he <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">withdrew a parchment stretched on a thin wooden <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">board and offered it to the jackal. Sebastian's <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">dark eyes fixed upon the many lines already <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">etched upon the page. William stood at George's <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">side so they could study the plans together.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The page showed four drawings, one in each <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">quarter. William pointed to the upper left <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">corner. “You can see this is what this area looks <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">like now. Here's the old sentinel stones we're <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">standing next to. Here's the trees circling <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">around. Off to this side in the distance is Eagle <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Tower. This direction is north into the Giantdowns.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“I see it, very well done. Sebastian, you are quite the artist.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Sebastian bobbed his head and wrapped his long <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">fingers around one another. “Thank you, Sir. The <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">ideas come from Sir William, I just draw them.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“So what do we have here?”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">William gestured at the other three pictures. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“These are the first stages in what we want to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">do. Here we'll be clearing out the trees. You see <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the sentinel here by itself. Then we'll use the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">wood we've harvested to erect barricades and a <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">small watchtower. Once done, we'll have some <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">defenses while we tear down the sentinel and clear the tumbled stones.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“And ditches?”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">William nodded and pointed to lines near where <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the trees remained. “There's too much stone <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">foundation to have ditches where we stand, but <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">we'll have small ones out at the northern edge to start.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">George nodded, taking a few seconds to study the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">diagrams before glancing up at the massive <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">stacked stone sentinel at their side and the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">forest surrounding them. The morning's gentle <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">breeze was now a steady wind rattling the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">branches and knocking loose pine needles. The <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">jackal grimaced as he brushed a needle from the fur between his ears.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Wind's from the north and the air is moist. We <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">might have a storm coming tonight or tomorrow.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Sebastian nodded, rubbing his hand along the back <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">of his long, arched neck. “We usually do, but it <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">shouldn't be until dawn. Wind's not strong enough <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">yet. We'll know its coming when the flies go.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Do you still want to stay out here?” William asked.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">George shrugged “I've been rained on before. And <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">my fur could use a good soaking. So, aye, let's <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">stay here tonight and tomorrow. If the storm is <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">bad enough, I'd rather wait it out in Eagle Tower anyway.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“In sooth.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">George tapped the drawings with one claw and then <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">gestured at the forest and sentinel. “How long do <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">you expect this to take? And how many men do you need?”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">William took a step away from the sentinel and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">pointed at the nearest trees. “With all the stone <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">beneath the ground the trees are thinner here <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">than the rest of the forest. Clearing them out to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">thirty paces in every direction will take two or <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">three weeks with a dozen men. Half if we can <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">spare two dozen and if we do it during Autumn <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">when the weather is at its best. It'll take <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">another few weeks to put together all the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">defenses, assuming the wood is of good quality. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The watchtower will require the engineers to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">help, but my soldiers are competent enough to do the rest.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">George's expression and voice grew solemn. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Before you begin, there is one thing to know. A <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">lot of Legionnaires died defending the old wall. Some of them are still here.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The ram nodded. “Any we find will be treated with <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">care and respect. Graves of honor will be given them next to our dead.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">George licked his nose and offered a faint smile. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“And remember, the engineers have to return to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Metamor by Harvest; there is a lot of other work the Valley needs.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“So you have said. I hope to convince you <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">otherwise and I hope you convince Duke Thomas <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">otherwise. The sooner we can begin the better.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“I thought you said you hoped only for thorough <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">plans to be drawn up for your wall?”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“For the wall, aye, but these are tasks we must <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">do regardless. It makes little sense to wait <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">until next year to begin. The plans I mentioned <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">are for the quarries, manpower, supply lines, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">soldiers to protect them all, and funds to pay <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">for it. Those we must spend months in planning. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">This is paltry and can be done before the first ink is spilled.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">George shook his head, barked a laugh and leaned <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">against the sentinel, wagging tail making a long <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">strand of ivy bounce against the rock. “Just how <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">many of these plans do you think you can <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">accomplish before the winter buries you behind Hareford's walls?”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">William took a few more steps away from the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">sentinel, the monitor lizard at his side and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">still carrying the schematics. He kept his head <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">turned so one eye could see the schematics and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the other George. “The road to Eagle tower and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the watchtowers are my first priority. With those <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">same men we could easily clear the woods here and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">begin the fortifications. Unless Winter comes <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">early. I am told it can snow in October.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“And September, but only once during my time, and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">it was gone by the afternoon.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Then barring an early Winter, we can accomplish <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">everything I have said. If anything is to be left <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">undone this year, then let it be tearing down those rocks.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">George glanced at the rocks, and then up at the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">sky between the trees. The afternoon blue had <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">become a leaden gray with clouds from the north. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“So long as you can keep the engineers until <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Winter. Who will man the defenses in the cold <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">winter months? Without a proper fort, even those <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">fortifications will avail you nothing. They'll be <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">overrun in a Lutin's breath. Even drunk Lutins <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">could take them. You'd be wasting your time building them even in the Autumn.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">William ground his teeth together, but made a <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">show of turning to study the plans. Sebastian <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">flicked out his tongue with a grimace suggesting <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">he agreed with the jackal. And, the ram had to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">admit, there was a very real chance he was right.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Quite possibly. We'd need a constant rotation of <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">soldiers here, far more than we should need to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">defend this place. But with the road in place we <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">are not so vulnerable. It will be far easier to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">move troops in and out. The defenses are only to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">protect this area while we begin work on the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">fortress I showed you a few hours ago.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">George crossed his arms as he leaned against the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">sentinel. “So why not build it after the Spring <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">thaw when there is a chance we might be able to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">spare the men and resources to begin building the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">fortress? Otherwise you're sending squad after <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">squad to defend a blight of land with nothing <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">worth defending in the worst of winter stinging <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">their cheeks with ice and enemy arrows.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">William rubbed his lips with one hand. “Perhaps <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">you are right; it does seem a waste. But,” he <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">turned toward the jackal and now crossed his <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">arms, “we can still build the fortifications. The <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">plans call for them to be built with the wood we <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">cull from these trees, but they don't need to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">remain here. We can build them in pieces and keep <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">them in Hareford. Then when Spring comes we can <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">cart them here and erect them in a day or two. We <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">could begin work on the fortress in May instead <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">of June or July. But only if I have engineers; to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">make fortifications we can assemble and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">disassemble... it is not an easy thing.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The jackal snorted, and for a moment it seemed <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">he'd tip his head back and laugh even louder, but <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">then remembered where he was. “Same old William <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Dupré. Even when I do find a flaw in your plan <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">you turn it around into another reason to do what <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">you want. Again, I won't promise you the men, but <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">I will explain your reasons to Duke Thomas.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">William kept back the bleat of pleasure. “Thank <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">you. Now, let us turn to the plans for the first <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">fortress. I want to build it near this very <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">spot.” As he spoke Sebastian returned the first <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">set of plans to his knapsack and began rummaging <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">about for the next set of drawings. George ran <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">his hand down the side of the stone sentinel and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">nodded, before lifting his ears and eyes. William <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">followed the jackal's gaze and saw a long-legged <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">white bird with black-tipped wings descending into the canopy of trees.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The stork beat his wings several times before <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">settling on the sentinel. It was Walpole, one of <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Hareford's messenger birds; he'd even delivered a <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">few messages for the ram. The bird bowed his head <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">toward William and cawed with his long beak. “Sir <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">William. I have a message for Patrol Master George.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Down here,” George called, waving up to the bird <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">who had managed to land above him, before <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">slapping at another fly. The bird spread his <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">wings backward and peered down the edge of the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">stone, eyes and beak widening in delight. He <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">jumped down, landed beside the jackal, and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">swelled in size as he assumed a more human-like shape.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The stork brushed his feathers down and then <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">leaned in closer to the jackal's ear. William <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">knew the poor fellow was trying to whisper but <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">some voices were simply not suited to it. He <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">uttered only two words, “String carrion.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The impact of those two oddly paired words was <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">immediate. George's ears and tail fell, his <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">shoulders tensed, his eyes cast about furtively, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and his jaw slackened, nose swelling to sniff at <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the air. He didn't even try to dislodge a pair of <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">flies upon his brow. Had he been human, William <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">would have thought his face turned white.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">George composed himself after a few seconds, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">though the swagger of the mercenary was gone. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">There was determination in his voice, a <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">determination covering over all else. “I <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">apologize for dragging you out here, William. I <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">must return to Metamor at once. With all haste. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">No questions. Return to Hareford, and if you are smart, stay there.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">William did not hesitate. “Everyone, fall back to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Eagle Tower. We're riding for Hareford as soon as <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">we return. Walpole, fly on ahead and tell them to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">have our horses ready for a hard ride.” The stork <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">nodded, shrank back down to normal bird size and launched himself into the air.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">George said nothing the entire way back. From the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">north the sky began to rumble.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">----------<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">May He bless you and keep you in His grace and love,<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Charles Matthias<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">_______________________________________________<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">MKGuild mailing list<br>
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