AN: I feel anxious sending this in. This story is more post-modern in structure. BirthTo My Friend in the North My mind is bent to tell of bodies changed into new forms. May Eli bless this venture. All of my thoughts will appear within single mark quotations, as by the request of your last letter. And yes I will give my reflections on the events from how I see them now. I was planning on doing so anyway. Some set up is required. There’s not much to say about what brought me to that valley, beyond my Father was meeting with someone. When your father is a perpetual opportunist and probably short sighted, you regularly end up dragged across the land. Sometimes going off on one of these excursions is not short sighted, but imbecilic. But I digress; let’s focus on the day in question. 707-March 2nd In Isenport if you go down to the docks you will smell the tide as it rolls in and see the ships as they unload their wears and sailors. If you go up the road, you will find yourself among the stews and the gambling houses. From there you may find the markets, the bear gardens, the inns and the town houses. Far above it all are the manors. The grandest of them is the manor of Lord Leontes of Isenport, House of Dorothea, representative of Emperor Prætextatus Aegidius, loyal to the Sathmore Empire—as long as people are watching. It’s a wonderful city, where the Imperial Navy and merchants coalesce and where there is a brothel for every man. Stories of this place you also will not be hearing. Instead I ask you turn your mind to the Midlands, near the Great Barrier Range and a small train of people traveling towards Metamor Keep. I was wet that morning. Shaking too, though from the thought of what was coming. The area of Midlands we marched through was hazy with mist hanging in the air. “Stop shaking.” My father said to me. “I can’t help it.” I said. “I’m on a horse, I hate being on horses. I want to be walking.” “Walking is slow. Think of the impression you give. You must look dignified.” “I don’t care if I look dignified.” “Is it just the horse that bothers you?” I shook my head. “It’s many things.” The horse in question was a magnificent white stallion named Holofernes, a creature who I had grown to despise. Oh he was a wonderful animal; I just loathe riding on horses and always have. “I have plenty of dignity…” “You must command respect to be a modern man.” My father said. “What we are doing is securing my legacy, you will be that legacy.” “Yes sir.” My father was Lord Leontes of Isenport, servant of the Sathmore Empire. We didn't actually have to say we are servants of the Empire, my father believed it to be a good idea. When you aren't loyal, constantly tell people you are. If there was only one thing in life my father could have, it was to be a modern man. Okay no, if he could have one thing it would be the title of Emperor, but second to that it was to be a modern man. A modern man placed more emphasis on personal goals instead of loyalty to your Emperor. A modern man had secret meetings with people from other countries. Modern men dragged their sons across the continent without telling them who they were meeting. As a future tip, if you’re going to meet with people in secret, you should send a representative. My father, though, said he had to go himself; why was beyond me. We weren't even going in secret, we still had a small retainer of people with us and my wardrobe betrayed me as the son of nobility. “I need to project an air of power.” My father said. “Whelps from the Sathmore Empire will not be able to negotiate. I want them to see me as strong.” “I guess it’s good to be out of Isenport.” I mumbled. No it wasn't good, it was wonderful. Or it would have been, had my father not been there as well. “James what do you think of the changing landscape?” My grip on Holofernes’ reigns tightened.“What do you mean?”“I mean…James tell me what you think of where we are going, what do you know of it?” “It’s cursed.” I said. “I believe it’s more than that.” “I don’t want to be near a cursed valley! It’s called cursed for a reason!” I swallowed. “You know everything, what’s it like? Metamor Keep and the cursed place?” My father ignored my disrespect and thought about it. With every great event in your life, there are two things you remember. The first is what you hear before the event. Moments like this are so insignificant until you look at them in hindsight. Then you realize, this was the first time I heard about Metamor Keep “It’s a land of freaks and monsters” My father said. “You’ve been there?” “You don’t need to be there to know they’re all monsters.” He said. “Everyone knows it’s true. They’re not human anymore.”“Why don’t they remove the curse?” “Obviously not smart enough to do it. But they’re still of note. In fact, I believe there may be something for us to learn from the savages and freaks.” “If we step foot in there will we be cursed too?” I asked. “Don’t you care about what we can learn?” “I care about not being cursed!” I said. My father rolled his eyes.“You again disappoint me James. You should concern yourself with learning how to be a modern man.” I resisted the urge to wince. 'I don’t want to be a modern man.' I didn’t vocalize those thoughts. I rode in silence, enjoying being free of Isenport and holding desperately to the horse. Evening fell and we camped in a clearing in the shadow of the Great Barrier Range. Then again, as large as those mountains are many things are in their shadow. Living in a coastal city, I rarely saw the mountains so anytime I got the chance I appreciated it. However I was having trouble appreciating them right now. It’s hard to do so when someone is pointing a blade at your face. “And now you’re dead.” Nemo said. The silver blade of Qual gleamed against its ebony handle. “I wasn’t ready.” My dirty blond hair was streaked with dirt and my eyes stung with sweat. “Which is why I killed you. You wanted to try fighting with a glaive in close quarters, I agreed. I never said I’d wait for you to be ready.” Nemo looked almost bored. His green eyes were half shut, like fighting an opponent wasn’t worth his attention. “What’s the point of learning if you just kill me?” I asked. “You might learn not to die.” Nemo helped me back up to my feet. My glaive lay in my puddle. “You shouldn’t use your weapon like this.” “You told me it could be done.” “It can be for someone with experience. I have that, you don’t. You will die.” I pointed mine at him. Nemo sighed and we began again. While my physical form was…generous in proportion, Nemo had a military build. He was tall, solidly muscular with short black hair and gray temples. Unlike others he was always clean shaven. When Nemo moved he seemed to glide. I thrust only to pierce the air. He would appear and send my glaive flying. I cursed and we began again. I’ve never been good with swords. Or axes. Or arrows. Or really any weapon, they tend to fly out of my hands. Naturally father was upset by this; a good Lord knows how to wield a sword. Even if you never lead anyone into combat, it’s important that you look competent. And a modern man cares very much how he looks with a weapon. The only way I was going to wield a sword was if the sword was grafted onto my arm. Axes were even worse and my last attempt to fire an arrow ended with it in my foot. Best not to dwell on how. The only weapons I was not dreadful with were spears and polearms; hence why I was instructed by Nemo, my man and glaive fighter.His weapon of choice Qual was a beautiful thing. The shaft as solid ebony black and the blade a gleaming silver. Beyond that, there was something about this weapon, something that drew your attention and held it. Nemo claimed it was a runic weapon; I had yet to get a good look.The only time I did was when it was pointed at my face. “You need to stop attacking the hands and start attacking the legs.” Nemo said. “You also need to remember if your enemy comes at you with a shield, get away.” “Why? What’s the worst thing that could happen?” “You’d be killed. That’s bad.” Nemo said. I rolled my eyes. My man started his career as a mercenary but my father took him into his full employ pretty quickly. Nemo demanded though that if he worked for us, he be allowed to speak his mind without fear. My father agreed. That was a bad idea. The next match ended the same way, my weapon knocked away and my rear in the mud. I mumbled all the profanities I could think of as Nemo helped me to my feet. “That’s enough for today.” Nemo said. “I would have beaten you.” “No. These matches are monuments to your ineptitude.” 'Ass.' We started back to the main campsite. Around knights and soldiers I felt nervous, a problem I had with being in Isenport. Not a problem around my man, though. “Why are you nervous?” “I’m not nervous. Making deals with people is an important skill for Lords or other nobles.” “If you say so.” Nemo said. “I’ve been in Metamor Keep. When I visited the people were more uniform.” He smiled. “It’s quite nice. “I’ve heard the people are monsters.” “Absolute drivel. Those people are not monsters, no matter their appearance.” That was all he said. Nemo was a man of few words and always big words. “Whatever.” I mumbled. “Have you been there since they were cursed?” Nemo smiled. “No. Wished too. Just never…been occupied.” “Your entire life?” “As you grow older you find plenty of things to keep you occupied.” Nemo said. “Come on, let’s acquire sustenance.” AN: I took inspiration from a variety of sources,the first I will mention was the lives of Fredrick William I and his son Fredrick II. Everything done here is planned.
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