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<div><font size="2"> Cool story my friend. Only a few typos. And what is a scute?</font></div>
<div><font size="2">:) Nice. I need to do more MK writing too.</font></div>
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<div><font size="2"> Chris</font></div>
<div><font size="2"> The Lurking Fox</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: Thu, Jan 9, 2020 12:06 pm<br>
Subject: [Mkguild] Gator Courtship (1/1)<br>
<br>
<div dir="ltr">I have every intention of writing more than one <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Metamor Keep story this year! I started this <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">during Christmas break, but did most of it this <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">week. I hope you enjoy! Do let me know what you think.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Metamor Keep: Gator Courtship<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">by Charles Matthias<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">July 14, 708 CR<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“I thought they would not stare. We are all Cursed aren't we?”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Miriam's worried question made the large <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">alligator turn his head slightly toward her as <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">she followed at his side through the tight <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">streets of Euper. The main thoroughfare was <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">choked with wagons and merchants as it always was <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">in the Summer, making foot traffic all but <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">impossible if the travelers had any intention of <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">reaching their destination. The narrow streets <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">behind the Inns and other trades along the main <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">road were filled with people rushing from errand <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">to errand, soldiers on patrol, and street <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">sweepers making sure the offal was rinsed into <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the sewers. All eyes turned to the pair of large <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">reptiles as they also made their way between <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">buildings they could touch on either side and still hold scaled hands.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“We are,” Thalberg replied in his basso rumble. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">His jaw hung open without moving as he spoke in <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the way of many reptiles and birds at Metamor. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“We are still larger and more impressive than <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">most, almost dragonish, Miriam. And dragons are <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">always a source of awe.” He then turned his head <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">more fully, jaws closing a moment as one yellow <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">eye peered behind them. A subtle tightening of <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the eye and slighter opening of his long jaws <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">conveyed what Miriam had learned was mirth. “We also walk with ducal guards.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Miriam turned to look at the quartet of soldiers <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">who followed them through the city. All were <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">dressed in the blue livery with horse-head <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">insignia of the ducal house. One lizard, a <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">sparrow, some sort of spotted canine the name of <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">which she could never remember, and a human <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">woman. She felt a rush of chagrin; she'd spent <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">almost all of the last seven months serving with <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Thalberg in the Keep and now she'd stopped <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">thinking the ubiquitous soldiers were unusual. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">She knew all four by name and had even bought <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">meaty broth to the green anole when he'd been ill last month.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Her gaze returned to the Steward. His stocky and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">broad-shouldered frame confidently marched down <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the street. He leaned forward enough so his long <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">green tail would not drag along the close fitting <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">stones beneath them and the effluence yet to be <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">cleaned. For the same reason he was not wearing <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">his usual red robes, so she could see the green <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and yellow scales adorning his body along his <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">neck, hands and arms up to his elbows, and all along the wide and long tail.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Seven months ago to see them not only on him but <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">also on herself had been an escape from one <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">nightmare only to land in another. Now she <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">admired the toughness and the variety of texture, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and especially the way they moved as Thalberg <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">walked, barely cloaking the muscles beneath. This <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">alligator who had welcomed her to Metamor and had <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">found a place for her working and helping run the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Keep kitchens was, to her great surprise, handsome.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">And now he was taking her some place she had <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">never been before. He'd almost seemed embarrassed <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">when he suggested it during his inspection of the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">kitchens the night before. But the number of days <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">it was easy for alligators to roam about outdoors <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">in Metamor were few. The mid-morning sun was <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">already hot and where the streets allowed its <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">golden rays to bathe them they always slowed <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">their steps to soak in its radiance. Today would <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">be a bristling day, uncomfortable to those <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">covered in fur who would pant endlessly; even <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">those still human would wipe sweat from their <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">brows and soak their tunics. Not even the sewage <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">system, a marvel of the civilized world, would be <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">adequate in the face of the heat, bringing the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">stink of the city to its malodorous zenith.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Have you come this far into Euper before?” <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Thalberg asked as they rounded one of the Inns <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">catering to merchants. Amid the din of shouts <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">from the main street she could hear the familiar <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">clanging of a smithy ahead. She could hear little else.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“No.” She took an extra step to keep pace with <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">him. “Not since I arrived last Winter. I have <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">only been to Euper to visit with Emily and a few <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">others from the Fellowship.” Both anole and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">sparrow guards gave slight nods at the mention of <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the leader of the Fellowship of the Egg. The <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">human and dog-thing either didn't hear it or were <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">accustomed to pretending to not hear the conversations of those they protected.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“I rarely venture beyond the gates of Metamor <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">either,” Thalberg admitted with a faint shrug. “I <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">do journey to the farmlands surrounding Metamor <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">once or twice a year to personally inspect the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">crops, but usually only as Harvest nears. I never leave in Winter.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">They fell silent as they reached the smithy. The <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">scent of hot iron and slag burned their snouts <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and the ringing of the hammer made her head <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">tremble. Thalberg's hand steadied her shoulder, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">strong claws soothing her at their touch. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Together they leaned forward, tails lifting four <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">hands from the ground as they rushed past.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">When they were past Thalberg lowered his hand. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“There are many things you will adjust to in <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">time. Some sounds and scents hurt more than they <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">once did, others will seem pleasing you once <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">found unpleasant. It took me more than a year <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">before I felt at home as an alligator.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“So long, truly?”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Compared to a lifetime, it is nothing. Look, we are at the gates.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Miriam followed Thalberg's arm as he pointed down <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the narrow street. A dozen or more paces beyond <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the last bend in the road she could see the gray <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">stone walls of Euper. The ground beneath the wall <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">had been cleared, though wildflowers and clover <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">sprouted in patches of bare earth. Miriam let her <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">jaw dangle an inch, emphasizing the crocodilian <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">grin ever etched upon her cheeks.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">They left the maze of tight roads behind and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">turned to the left toward the main gates. Even <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">though there was now a wide path of beaten earth <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">between the last of the buildings and the wall, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the two alligators continued to walk side by <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">side. The four soldiers following them spaced <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">themselves apart, spreading into a wedge-shaped fan behind their charges.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Merchant caravans dominated the gatehouse, with <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">ostlers and pages scurrying about to tend to the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">horses as the soldiers inspected every carriage. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The merchants come to sell their wares or <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">attempting to leave grunted in annoyance at the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">delays but few did more than grunt. Thalberg <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">walked past them, his bearing commanding and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">confidant. Miriam fell a pace behind him, hands <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">clasped at her waist, one eye ever upon the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Steward, the other upon the soldiers who stiffened at his approach.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Milord Steward!” A white-furred bear who stood <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">taller than both of them growled, snapping a <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">spear to his breastplate. “Where are you headed? <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Do you need a carriage or more soldiers?”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Only to the wharves, Sergeant Cassius, and the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">ducal guards will be sufficient. We should return <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">this afternoon. Tend to your duties; you appear <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">to have more travelers than usual.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The bear nodded and almost belched a laugh. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Cursed and uncursed alike, and none of them <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">happy. Good day to you both.” He offered Miriam a <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">polite, measured bow, then stomped toward the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">nearest caravan shouting, “Open your curtain, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">young man! Do not even think of hiding anything! <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">All your wares must be inspected!”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Miriam felt exhilaration and trepidation as they <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">walked together beneath the portal, the heavy <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">portcullis secured above them. The gatehouse and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Euper wall had been under construction when she'd <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">first come to Metamor. Nearly finished, it still <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">lacked a sense of utility as if it were a brave <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">front put on for friends rather than real <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">courage. Now it felt imposing and strong, the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">final marker between civilization and the wild beyond.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The portal faced the south and so before they <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">finished passing beneath the stone archway and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">wide-swept iron doors they stepped into the sun. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Two soldiers stood next to either door with <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">spears held straight, their stature fixed and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">imposing, one a large gray-skinned creature with <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">a nose as long as his chest, the end of which <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">wrapped about the spear like a third hand, the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">second a massive cat striped orange and blank. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><font size="2">>>>I think you mean orange and BLACK</font><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Miriam had heard the names of both fantastic <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">creatures but could not recall them. She wondered <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">if they'd been selected for this duty due to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">their imposing size. The doors looked very heavy.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The road beyond the gates was fitted stone for <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">only twenty paces before being replaced by <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">hard-packed earth. The main portion of the road <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">ventured to the east and south where it forked <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">along the eastern face of the hill on which <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Metamor perched. A more modest road continued to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the west and down toward the river flowing <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">through the valley. To this Thalberg turned.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Miriam followed, casting one glance back at the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">gate. “What are the inspections for?”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Since the plague this Spring every wagon coming <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">into Euper must be inspected.” Thalberg turned <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">his head a little so his eyes could find her. He <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">gestured for her to come to his side again. “At <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">least one mage capable of seeing magic is always assigned as well.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Do the soldiers take anything they find?”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Not if they wish to remain soldiers for <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Metamor,” Thalberg replied indignantly. “Duke <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Thomas compensates them as generously as he can; <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">far more generously than most lands. If our men <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">started extorting from the merchants we'd have <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">fewer merchants come, and we need them to survive.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Miriam closed her jaws before another question <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">could slip past. Instead she took several quick <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">steps to catch up to the Steward. The road <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">followed the city wall before descending a steep <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">hill toward the river. The eastern bank of the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">river was cleared along the road so only rocks, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">grass and scrub remained, but the western bank <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">was flush with oak, pine, and birch.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The river channel had been carved wider around <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the city providing a small lake on the eastern <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">bank where the current was gentle. The wharves <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">were adequate but not extensive, catering mostly <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">to local fishermen and their boats. Miriam had <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">heard the river was not navigable; fierce rapids <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">choked passage toward Lake Barnhardt and toward <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Lorland. Generation-old plans to dredge the river <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and clear out the cataracts lay fallow from lack of money or men.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">As they started down the first of the switchbacks <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">leading to the docks, Miriam found the courage to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">ask, “Why are we going to the river, milord?”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">For a moment something seemed to dance in the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Steward's yellow eye. He gestured with the sweep <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">of one arm and slapped the end of his tail on the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">ground with a thump. “We are alligators, Miriam. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">I want to show you what our animal bodies are made for.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“For swimming? We have the baths. The water is so delightfully warm there.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“The baths are... not the place for what I want to show you.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“But won't the water be cold?”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">His jaw closed half-way, and in a quiet rumble he <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">replied, “You will see.” He shut his long jaw, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the flap of scales at his throat swelling for a <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">moment as he swallowed whatever else he might have said.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Miriam followed in silence, listening to their <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">footfalls, the chirp of birds in the trees, and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the voices of fishermen down at the docks sorting <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">last night's catch. The road twisted back and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">forth five times before they reached the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">shallower land abutting the river. Walls of stone <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">held up the steeper hills and cliffs to the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">north, while to the south several buildings stood <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">for the fishermen to keep their equipment and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">even to live if necessary during the peak fishing <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">seasons. The wharves stretched from the buildings <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">a good hundred paces with a dozen moorings <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">jutting into the river, each fashioned from stone pilings and wooden slats.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The fishermen were too busy and too near the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">buildings to notice the two alligators and four <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">ducal soldiers who turned to the northernmost <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">dock. Thalberg motioned for the soldiers to stay <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">at the landward side while he and Miriam <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">continued on to the end of the pier. The four <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">quickly arranged themselves in a semi-circle with <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">their backs to the alligators.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Thalberg stopped and stared down into the gently <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">rippling water. Miriam followed his gaze, noting <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">first the glint of sun shimmering upon the dark <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">surface. Slowly little darting shapes below <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">became visible. A few moments later she knew they <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">were minnows and could see the dull colors on <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">their scales. Beneath them specks of dirt, bits <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">of tree bark, and the occasional leaf floated <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">with the current. And deeper within she could see <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">fronds of some plant growing up from the bottom <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">around each pylon. As she drew her eyes back to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the surface, she noticed the little insects <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">darting about the surface until they were snatched by a minnow from below.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Her gaze returned to the Steward who was <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">shimmying out of his trousers. “Milord? You really mean for us to... swim?”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“I do, Miriam, I do.” He stepped out of the pants <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and folded them in his arms. Her eyes noted the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">dark-green of his scales along his legs, the bent <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">knees, and the lighter, almost yellow scales <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">along his inner thighs. Self-conscious and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">ashamed, she turned back to the water and then <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">glanced down at her own garments. She had seen <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">him before in the baths, but... outside where so many eyes could be watching?<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“There is nothing to fear, good woman.” He set <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the folded pants aside and then removed his <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">bandoleer. Only his tunic remained over his <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">chest. She could tell from the subtle slow creep <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">of his slit black pupil he was admiring her tail. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Go ahead and remove your garments. We will be <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">swimming in our beastly forms this day.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“But the cold?”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“I have something to keep us warm.” He patted one <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">of the pouches on his bandoleer now resting atop <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">his folded trousers. “I believe I have it sized <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">for you, but you'll need to change first for me <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">to be sure. It would not do to lose it in these <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">waters. We alligators can survive even if the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">river should freeze, so long as we can keep our <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">snouts above the ice. We do not need to fear such <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">a fate this day, but still, I would rather not <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">take any risks. With you, good woman.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Miriam closed her jaws and took a deep breath. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">She could see out of the corner of her eyes her <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">nostrils swell and retract at the end of her <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">snout. “Will not the fishermen see if I undress here?”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Thalberg's reply was almost a growl, but from his <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">throat it seemed gentle, merely the Steward's <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">uncomfortable attempt to whisper. “Perhaps, and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">if they do, they will think me the most fortunate of men.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">A rush of heat filled her chest and her arms <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">tightened about her waist. Thalberg turned away <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and undid the lacing of his tunic with his thick <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">but nimble claws. A few seconds later he slipped <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">it over his shoulders and folded it in his hands. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The scutes along his back shifted ever so <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">slightly back and forth as he moved. Her eyes <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">followed the ridges of scutes down to his tail <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><font size="2">>>>> Scutes?</font><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">where they blended into two ridges at each side.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Miriam closed her eyes and did as the Steward <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">bade her. She loosened the strings at her waist <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and chest, before wriggling free from her blouse <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and gown. Both fell to her feet and tail in a <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">rumpled pile. She bent low and did her best to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">fold them presentably. The warm air and sun felt <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">exhilarating to her bare scales. For a few <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">seconds she remained with narrowed eyes and hands <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">spread across the wooden slats of the dock, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">exposing her back and tail to the sun to savor <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the warmth filling her reptilian body.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Miriam,” Thalberg's voice woke her from reverie. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">She opened her eyes and looked at him also <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">crouched next to her, one hand spread upon the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">docks, the other holding a locket with pewter <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">chain. His legs already appeared shorter and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">splayed to the side of his hips so his back and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">tail ran in a single angle down like a wedge. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“When you are ready, change into your full animal <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">form. I want to make sure this will not slip off in the water.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Only a few times before had Miriam used the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">latent magic bestowed on her by the Curses to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">change into a full alligator. Apart from once in <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">her quarters where she had done it out of pure <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">curiosity, she had only ever done it in the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">heated baths where the steam made it difficult <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">for other Keepers to see her. As a beast her arms <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and legs were short, and her tail swung side to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">side with each step, knocking things over. Foxes <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and cats were graceful, wolves possessed a wild <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">beauty. Alligators were frightening and primal, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">scraping their bellies across the earth like <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">monsters. None had seen her as a beast before <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">save Thalberg in the safety of the steaming baths.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">But out in the open here, any who turned would <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">see. Thalberg had been an alligator far longer <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">than she. If he assured her it would be safe, the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">guards would not look nor the fishermen, and they <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">would remain warm as a good reptile should, then <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">she would trust him. She closed her eyes and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">pictured herself with the short arms and legs, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the long body, the forward facing head with its <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">broad, rounded jaws. She felt the warmth increase <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">for a moment as a massaging sensation rippled <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">through her muscles. Her hands had to reach <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">forward more as her changing proportions dragged <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">them across the wooden planks. She felt her chest <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">bounce atop the wood, her legs push to the sides, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and her center of mass settle down low in her belly. She was an alligator true.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Her eyes opened and looked upward at the half-man <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">crouching above her. She felt a faint urge to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">lunge forward but made herself keep still. He <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">slipped the locket beneath her throat bulge and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">draped the pewter chain across the back of her <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">neck, tangling it in the scutes for a moment to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">keep it from falling back down. He shifted on <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">both feet and one hand so he could lean closer <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">over her. Her nostrils swelled and she swung her <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">wide tail across the dock hitting one of the stone pylons.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“A moment more,” he rumbled as he crouched on his <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">belly, both hands reaching behind her head to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">secure the chain. She could see a similar charm <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">dangling from his neck. It appeared to be brass <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">with a bit of red glass or cheap gem inside. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Behind the glass was a sigil in the shape of a <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">flame; it seemed like a campfire; not too close <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">to burn, but not so far away they could not feel <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">its warmth. Miriam wondered if the image were <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">magic or merely a trick of the glass lens.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The chain tightened about her neck for a moment <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">before relaxing. The locket was pressed against <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">her scales, but not so tight she couldn't breath <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">or move her jaws. “There,” Thalberg announced. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“You should be protected now. It is safe to swim. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">I will change now; mine is already sized.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Miriam pushed herself forward, tail slapping back <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and forth. She could not see below herself with <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">her eyes perched atop her broad snout, but she <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">could sense where her nose passed beyond the edge <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">of the dock. Her back tensed as she put her front <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">paws on the edge of the last plank. The rippling <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">water was a good six to seven hand drop, and with <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">a shove from her hind legs, she thrust herself <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">into the air. The wood scrapped against her belly <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">for a moment before she splashed into the cool <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">river water. She could feel the minnows darting <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">away from her form as the water sloshed up over <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">her scutes and down her tail as it slapped from <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the deck to the water. She swung her tail from <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">side to side, all four legs pawing at the water <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">on either side, and glided easily into the eddying current.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Warmth radiated from the locket at the nape of <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">her neck. The water was cold as she'd expected, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">but she did not feel any lethargy. Instead, she <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">almost felt more energy than when swimming in the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">heated baths of Metamor. She shot like an arrow <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">further into the river current, the rippling <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">bearing her southward past the docks for several <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">seconds before she swung her tail again, guiding <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">herself effortlessly back into the small lake carved out for the fishermen.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">As she started back toward the docks she heard a <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">heavy splash and glimpsed another alligator in <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the water. He swam in a lazy semi-circle near the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">current for a moment, his snout submerged but for <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">his nostrils and eyes. She found a small eddy <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">which kept her steady and watched, swimming <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">higher in the water so her whole head was <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">visible. Thalberg slowly neared her in the water, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">never rising higher. There was something <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">comforting in his approach and so Miriam merely watched.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">When Thalberg reached her he slid alongside so <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">their legs brushed across each other. The scutes <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">on his back breached the surface as he passed, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and she nosed at his tail once. He slipped <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">further away out into the river. Like she had <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">done a moment before Thalberg had to swing his <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">tail more firmly to fight against the river. He <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">pushed upstream for a few minutes and Miriam tentatively followed.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">All around them little schools of fish parted at <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">their approach. Miriam turned away from the other <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">alligator to venture back into the calmer waters <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">near the shore. She lowered her jaw and pushed <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">her tongue against the back of her mouth. The <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">water drifted across her teeth and tongue, cool, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">with a taste of dirt and plant. The occasional <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">flexing of her legs was all it took to keep <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">still. Little ripples danced across her back and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">tail. Fluttering motions brushed against her <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">tongue. She could not see anything but knew the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">fish had returned. Did Thalberg expect her to eat <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">some like a wild animal? Did she dare? Would the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">beast the Curses made her do so on instinct?<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Miriam was so afraid to find out she closed her <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">jaws slow enough for the minnows to escape.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">A sudden splash from upriver startled her and she <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">thrashed with her tail until she was turned <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">toward the sound. Thalberg was at the northern <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">end of the small lake carved from the river <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">shore. Tall trees dominated the short cliff from <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">which the lake had been carved in ages past, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">their boughs stretching out over the water. A <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">broken branch thrust up from the surface and lay <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">wedged between granite boulders peeking above the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">water. In front of this glided Thalberg amid a fast rippling ring.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">His body was sleek as an arrow, dark and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">glistening in the sunlight. His eyes, no longer <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the yellow she was accustomed to, but now a dark <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">yellowish brown, met her own, nostrils flaring <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">with a basso rumble as he emptied his lungs. The <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">sound shimmered in the water and made her hide tremble.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">And then, Thalberg lifted his head out of the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">water at an angle, before dropping first his <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">lower jaw into the water, followed by his upper <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">jaw in a sharp snap. It made a loud clapping <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">sound against the water, and a new set of waves <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">rushed away from him before mixing with the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">river. Miriam swung her tail behind her once, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">drawing herself closer. She watched him, finding <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">a part of herself deeply impressed with his display.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Thalberg performed his head slap again and this <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">time the waves brushed across her snout before <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">dissipating. She swam toward him, and he swam in <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">a long arc until he came in beside her. It was <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">strange not being able to say anything, and yet <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">she found in his few motions more words than he could normally ever say.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The Steward of Metamor was master of Duke <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Thomas's household. There was none save the Duke <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and his daughter who had more authority inside <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the Keep. He commanded a staff of at least a <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">hundred servants or more, as well as managing the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">ducal guard. He had earned the respect of all of <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the ducal advisers and had a stern reputation <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">among the people. Few would dare cross him and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">his word was often the last heard in a room.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Yet with Miriam he was often strangely reticent. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">He who rarely had difficulty making himself heard <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">was suddenly speechless. Miriam wondered at the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">war between duty to his lord and friend and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">whatever feelings he had discovered on finally <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">meeting a woman who had become as he had, a woman <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">who also understood the rigors of serving and keeping a noble house.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">She admired his devotion to the Duke and his firm <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">but understanding dominion over the servants in <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the Duke's house. When illness struck those who <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">served the Duke, Thalberg saw to it they had what <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">they needed to make a full recovery. He was <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">always one of the first to arrive at the kitchens <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">each morning and the last to leave it each night. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Miriam could not imagine the Duke himself with a <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">more commanding bearing than Steward Thalberg.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">He was handsome and noble even without the title. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Her heart yearned for more from him.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">And now they swam as two alligators in the water, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">side by side, tails and snouts brushing as they <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">glided. How like Thalberg to say as an alligator what he could not as a man.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">For what seemed an hour they swam and did nothing <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">more. Sometimes they swam side by side, brushing <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">snouts and tails as they went. Other times they <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">would turn and face each other. Thalberg would <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">rub his snout atop her own, often across the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">middle of her snout and sometimes just beneath <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">either of her eyes. She would push upward at each <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">touch even as he pushed down. The water rippled <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">about them, and for a time she completely forgot <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the fish swimming around them, the guards at the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">landward side of the dock, and the fishermen at <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the storehouse still cleaning their nets and counting their catch.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">After pushing away from Thalberg for what must <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">have been the tenth time, he swam up to her side, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and pushed atop her back, legs and chest pressing <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">her down into the water. Miriam rolled beneath <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">him, spinning through the water to back away. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Thalberg let her slip away but a moment later <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">chased after her. She spun around in a wide <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">circle as he followed before launching herself <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">atop his back. Her tail curled around beneath his <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">as he lifted his back against her. She nudged the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">end of her snout behind his eyes.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">It was Thalberg's turn to roll beneath her, and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">he swam a short distance away, only to return to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">her, face to face, tails swaying on opposite <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">sides. They circled each other, snouts staying <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">close together, first his atop hers and then hers <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">atop his. They took turns rubbing their snouts <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">against each other along the top of the snout and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">everywhere along the sides near the fangs. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Sometimes Thalberg would also nuzzle at her neck <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and shoulders. Sometimes he would submerge <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">beneath the waters only to emerge with his snout <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">beneath hers to rub at her throat.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Miriam realized she was not even thinking about <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">her actions, only responding as her body knew to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">do. Sudden uncertainty filled her and she swam <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">away from him out into the river proper. Thalberg <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">circled in the estuary for a minute, paddling <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">idly with his paws, eyes and snout lifted out of <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the water to regard her. After staring for <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">several seconds he swung his tail and darted out <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">toward her. She swung her tail and pushed further <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">into the flow. The current in the middle of the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">river was strong and after only a few seconds <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">knew she would be carried beyond the docks. She <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">pushed toward the far bank with powerful swipes <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">of her tail. She even paddled with her legs.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The current was still stronger than she'd <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">thought, and by the time she was within reach of <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the other bank – a collection of roots and rocks <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">making it difficult to find any place to beach <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">herself – she had been swept beyond the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">storehouse and the extent of the fishing lake <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">carved in ancient times. Miriam turned herself <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">around and swam upstream in the gentler eddies <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">near the rocks. Thalberg paddled a few dozen <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">paces ahead of her, gliding with only his head and scutes above the water.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Miriam felt foolish and blew a fluttering sound <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">from her nostrils as she swam toward him. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Thalberg paddled more to keep himself from <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">slipping downstream as he waited for her to catch <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">up. Her tail swung side to side in a sinuous arc <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and she forged upstream, sliding past the other <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">alligator, before she swung her right legs to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">turn back into the current. A few moments more <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and she returned to the gentler lake. She felt <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Thalberg brush up beside her. He nuzzled her but did not press.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Together they swam for several more minutes, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">touching and nuzzling with their snouts. Thalberg <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">put his snout atop her back at one point, but she <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">submerged and swam out from underneath him. He <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">chased after, clearly wanting and hoping. She <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">always let him catch her. It both frightened her <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and comforted her, what she understood. Thalberg <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">wanted her, but he listened to her too. How she <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">hoped to hear it with his voice.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Their swim continued until the sun was high in <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">the sky. Miriam did not see the bird arrive and <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">greet the soldiers, but Thalberg did. His head <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">lifted up from the water and he swam toward the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">dock, breaking away from Miriam who had put one <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">of her legs atop his back. She followed, sensing <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">a change in his manner immediately.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The anole soldier rushed to the end of the dock, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">waving his arms in the air to get their <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">attention. Thalberg swam to the dock and then <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">shimmered in the water. Miriam could see his body <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">changing shape. Humanish arms hoisted the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">alligator onto the dock while water streamed down <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">his body and tail back into the river. “Darach, what is it?”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">The anole gestured to the magpie who was still in <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">his beast form perched on the anole's shoulder. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Messenger from the Duke for you, milord <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Steward.” The magpie hopped off the anole's <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">shoulder and glided down to the dock. He swelled <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">in size as he did until he was large enough to <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">form words, about half the anole's height. He <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">waved with a wing for Thalberg to lean closer.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Miriam paddled in the water, uncertain what she <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">should do. Her alligator's yellow eyes were <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">curious at first as he leaned down. The magpie <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">made some cawing noise close to his head, but <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Miriam could not make out the words. But those <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">yellow eyes widened and his head swung toward her <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">faster than she'd ever seen him move.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">His voice thundered and made the water tremble. <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“Miriam! We must return to the Keep now. Darach, <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">fetch the towels and tell the fishermen to return <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">to Euper. Everyone on high alert. Now!”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Miriam moved faster than she knew she could. She <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">transformed and huddled next to the Steward. He <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">put his arm around her shoulders and covered her <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">nakedness with his body while they waited for the <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">anole to return with the towels. The magpie <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">bobbed his head sadly and flew back toward the Keep.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">Miriam slid her snout beneath his neck. He <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">pressed down atop hers. The locket and sun warmed <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">her as the water rushed from her scales. The fear <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">in Thalberg's voice chilled her. She huddled in <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">his arms, tails pressed close together. Her voice <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">was low, but she managed to ask before the anole <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">returned, “What's wrong, milord?”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“We're not safe here; none of us are. I will tell <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">you more when we return.” The anole reached them <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">and tossed the towels. Thalberg helped Miriam dry <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">off and then rubbed himself down. A minute later <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">they were dressed and rushing as fast as they <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">dared back toward the gates of Euper. His arms <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">were still around her, and her snout tucked beneath his.<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“I will keep you safe... my love.”<br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">“I know, my love.” She pressed close against his <br>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">scaly hide, grateful the Curses had made her an alligator too.<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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