Metamor Keep: Divine Travails of Rats
by Charles Matthias and Ryx
Pars V: Ascensum
(c)
Wednesday, May 9, 708 CR
The children well knew that when the skunk came
by to visit their mother that it was a time that
the two were not to be disturbed. Even though the
lessons had usually taken place in the somewhat
confined environs of the tree house common room
the children knew that the studies were a time
they had best take their play up to their own rooms.
But not so this day for, upon arriving to visit
the young mage had requested a private audience
with his student on one of the balconies of the
Mountain's Hearth Inn. While they had from time
to time met in the cellars of the Brewery now
that Kozaithy had joined them, never before had
he asked her to meet him at the Inn and the
atypical request left the Lady Kimberly pensive
with worry. Charles was away for the day,
exploring the Narrows with James and Gibson that
they might settle on a plan of construction for
his envisioned Keep for their fief. Baerle was
with the children while they napped giving
Kimberly a couple of hours respite from their rambunctiousness.
Thus Kimberly found herself alone with the
unusually somber skunk for the first time since
the two had bumped into each other in a hallway
at Metamor Keep some years before. Only two, it
was, but it seemed like so many more at times. At
other times it seemed like only yesterday.
Leaning against the heavy door of stout oarwood
that opened onto the balcony perched astride the
peak of the Heaths steeply pitched shale and
thatch roof Kimberly pushed it open with a slight
struggle despite the oiled hinges. But, where she
had expected a flat, wind-swept platform she
found a complete room beyond that weighty door.
It was bright with sunshine and it stung her eyes
that had become accustomed to the gloom of
forest. Three of four walls were made up almost
entirely of hand poured glass heavy with waves
and warps that distorted the view beyond the
solar; or any view inside from without. The
ceiling, likewise, was mostly glass. It was
before the far windows that the mage Murikeer
stood, his hands laced behind his back above the
voluminous plume of his white slashed black tail.
His finery was simple; if well crafted; mere
trews of buttery soft leather and a light shirt
of deep gray broadcloth as a peasant might wear.
His lower legs and feet were unshod, as was his
wont, for his legs were shaped like those of a
dog rather than flat as a skunk's normally would be.
Such were the vagaries of Metamor's curse, but
none had thought much of it in the years she had known him.
I am here, Muri, the young magician's
apprentice intoned quietly at the back-turned
ears of the taller youth. What what is this
place? She craned her head to look around,
amazed at the incongruity of the ornate castle
room hidden atop the Inn. Murikeer turned around
and made a small motion with one hand. Behind the
lady rat a quiet whisper ending in a weighty thud
heralded the heavy door sweeping closed. His one
good eye gazed down upon her, his apprentice and
friend, without his customary smile but retaining
his usual warmth, though his expression was somber.
Kimberly tilted her head slightly, whiskers and
ears backing at the sudden sensation of feeling
trapped by the weight of that heavy portal. Muri?
Welcome, milady. He bowed his head slowly and
then let his gaze cast about the brightly lit
room. This is but an illusion. A recreation of
one of the many rooms I've found in my new
home... or, rather, what it may look like once
I've repaired it sufficiently. He shook his head
and chuffed a quiet, soft laugh. Lord Avery was
certainly generous, but the old house has been
sorely left to the elements the past few years.
Luckily it was overlooked by the invaders in the
winter and escaped complete destruction. No one
without will see aught but an empty balcony. His
gaze came in time back around to settle upon her.
It has been busy, of late. I am sorry to have
left you without tutelage in the nonce. He
churred warmly with a deeper bow of apology and
sweep of one arm toward one of the many large
chairs. You are well in your house?
Kimberly tittered softly and let out a deep sigh.
Well, yes, but like you, ever so frightfully
busy with so many energetic young rats running about getting into everything.
Such is the curse of the change, a new
lifestyle. Please, take your ease, milady. He
waited while Kimberly settled into one of the
massive chairs. For a moment she was timid about
the massive throne of age polished wood and
brocade, but when her hand touched the arm she
felt that it was real enough beneath the
illusion. To her surprise Murikeer approached and
settled onto the ottoman at its foot rather than
another chair nearby. She found her hands
clutching the long tail she swept around to drape across her lap.
What brings you with such a look of seriousness
about you today, Muri? she asked in her quiet, rodentine voice.
All is well, milady. He sat forward on the
ottoman, the long plume of his tail relaxed in an
arc behind him like some shadow of fur trying to
steal upon him unawares. But I come with
concerns, such as for your ears alone. You may be
the only shield standing before a darkness incomprehensible.
Kimberly blinked, her pulse quickening in alarm
and her fingers clutching her tail all the more
tightly, and then she scowled. Master Murikeer,
you are trying to frighten me?
The skunk shook his head slowly, raising one hand
and extending it, palm up, toward her. Kimberly
gazed down upon it, but found nothing amiss the
black pads and stark monochromatic fur. It was
not that she did not trust him; he was ever the
gentleman around her and never acted athwart her
or Charles in the years they had been friends.
Tentatively she raised one of her own small hands
reached out to her palm down upon his own. I am
most contrite, milady, but the weight of my words
must strike true, like the unquiet omens offered
by Nocturna, that they might be remembered upon
waking. No sooner had her palm come to rest upon
his own than his free hand raised and swiftly,
like a viper espying a mouse, darted down to tap
the back of her hand with the stout claw of his
middle finger. The sound of claw striking flesh
through fur was surprisingly sharp in the quietude of the solar.
Kimberly yelped in surprise at the painful prick
of that sharp claw and snatched her hand back,
clutching it defensively at her breast. He made
no attempt to restrain her paw, now capture it to
offer up another painful strike. Muri! she
snapped angrily, holding her assaulted paw close.
Murikeer bowed his head before her in contrition.
Again, my apologies, milday. Others may have
done so well with a light touch as that, had I
but known. Kayla, James, Jessica. Lindsey before
them. Each has been touched by the lingering
shadow of Marzac, a subtle and deep seeded taint
of evil. It is that against much I must warn, and gird you, milady; my friend.
You needn't strike me, Muri! She snapped at
him, raising her hand to press her thin lips
against the stricken back, tasting the blood that
welled through the short fur. What is this you
speak of with such frightful solemnity? I know
well what happened to them, but they were all saved!
By whom, milady? Murikeer raised his head and
gazed into her eyes with his own. Upon the
intricately tooled leather which covered the
gaping rent where his right eye had been small
gems winked in the spring sunshine through the
windows. Upon the end of his claw a single drop of dark red blood glistened.
By whom? she asked, confused. By you? You, and
Charles and that raccoon and others.
Murikeer shook his head slowly, dipping his free
hand into a pouch at his hip and drawing out a
small object. Kimberly's gaze twitched to it
distrustfully, her whiskers lying flat back along
her muzzle and her round rat ears flattering back
upon her hand. It turned out to be nothing more
sinister than a rather shapeless roundel of
amethyst worn to a smooth polish by time and
water. He held it in his palm and shook his head.
Nay, milady. T'were not us, alone, that brought
to bay and vanquished those whom were seduced by
Marzac's lingering evil. It was those who were
closer than we, those alone who could prize their
way beyond its power and wrest away those who they loved.
Loved? Kimberly found her gaze fixed upon the
unremarkable purple lump of stone. Murikeer's
claw descended to touch it, moving slowly to
trace a line of crimson across the smooth surface
as fine as a spider's thread. With surprising
finesse the skunk traced a complex pattern upon the stone with her own blood.
Rickkter, Baerle, Weyden, Habakkuk. To each of
those they came, their own love the only shield
between them and the darkness, but each suffered,
some more than others, in standing between Love
and Shadow when the shadow was so powerful. His
fingertip circled and slashed, dotted and
swirled, covering the stone in a filigree as fine
as any embroidery Kimberly had ever seen. But
here is one more over whom we fear the shadow
lurks, awaiting. And between that shadow and
victory, but one small, frail shield. And it is
the nature of a shield to take the strikes levied
against its bearer, and to that end the shield must be hardened.
Whom? Kimberly found herself both entranced by
the apocalyptic portent of his words and the work
of that one fingertip. How was it that her blood
went so far, and covered so much of that stone,
when all he had prized from her was but a single drop?
Charles.
Kimberly's eyes snapped up to find him gazing up
at her through the thick white of his brow, the
skunk's dark eye warm but alarmingly intense in
its regard. Charles? You're telling me that he
is touched by evil? He is not! I would know! He
has been naught but gentle and loving since that harrowing journey!
The skunk looked down once more and nodded. As
were all of the others. Jessica, herself, wrought
wondrous miracles with that shadow upon her. She
sought only to do good, but in the end it nearly
claimed her. It did claim Berchem, the archer,
for a time that was almost forever. She sought to
change the curse, milady. She turned me into a
child, as she did with Charles, as you well know.
But it was for the purpose of evil that she
performed saintly tasks, or so she thought. He
sat up slowly and leaned back, gazing down at the
stone in his hands. But only Weyden was able to
win through that darkness and its seductive touch
to reach her heart and open her eyes. He raised
his gaze. As it was Baerle convincing James to
surrender the song of the Bell, and Rickkter
wrest Kayla away from becoming a deadly dragon.
But what does this have to do with me, and Charles?
You, milady, are... in danger. The shadow
convinces those to whom it whispers that they do
good, though they do evil beneath the
beneficence. He raised his hand, bearing the
purple stone toward her, You, and your children,
are in the most danger. For Charles is mighty,
and in the grasp of darkness I fear for the
frailty of your flesh, though never your spirit.
Kimberly leaned back in the chair as if to
distance herself from the sorcerous stone
enwrapped in the complex filigree of her blood.
Breathe upon the stone, milady Kimberly. When
you release your breath, think of Charles, and your love for him.
Fearfully Kimberly gazed back down at the stone
not an arm's length away. Between the spider
thread fine lines of Murikeer's work she could
see her face gazing back at her in reflection,
undistorted despite the craze of occlusions and
cracks which rendered the crystal all but opaque.
Leaning forward slightly, timorously stretching
her neck toward it, Kimberly glanced up into
Murikeer's dark eye once before back down at her
reflection. Taking a slow breath, she pursed her lips.
She remembered. The first time she met Charles
was in his office at the Writer's Guild. She was
newly arrived at Metamor, fleeing from... it
didn't matter now. She had been mostly human but
for the fully grown rat tail. She feared she was
becoming a hideous thing. Vermin. A thing that
skulked in dark places and ate the foulest
leavings of man. A Rat. Charles called her beautiful.
He introduced her to other rodents. He brought
her food and bought her new clothes which fit her
new body. He took her to watch the sun set over
the mountains and for strolls through the castle
gardens. He held her in his strong arms and
comforted her when she felt she could never be
loved. At first she had thought it all a
chivalrous act to help a lady in distress, but
nothing more. But, the look in his eyes turned
day by day, some times hour by hour, from worry,
concern, and uncertainty, to gentleness, devotion, and love.
Charles, ever seeking her good, never failing to
compliment her on her appearance, offered himself
and all that was he to her. He sought her hand in
marriage. He endured the long cold nights on
patrol to provide for her. He went to Marzac
because he loved her and his family more than his
own life. That was her Charles Matthias, her rat,
her knight, and her husband. That was the man she loved with all her being.
Letting out a slow breath, she blew softly across
the stone. Eli, she offered in silent prayer
even as her breath left her lips, protect the
man I love, be he a rat as he is, from the evil
that hunts him! As her breath wafted across the
polished rock the fire lines drawn in her blood
faded, like breath fog on a window, until they
were gone. Only when she leaned back did
Murikeer's fingers curl about the stone.
What will that do? she asked softly.
Nothing and, I hope, everything. He extended
his hand and turned it over, holding it steady
until Kimberly raised her hand. Opening his
fingers he pressed the cool pebble into her palm.
It was small enough that even her own small hand
was able to fold over it utterly. Your blood and
his are now mixed upon the stone. Yours with your
breath, his.. by other means. It will allow you
to speak to him. No matter where he is, how far
away or how deeply enthralled, no matter how
deafened by the shadow, he will hear you. He
drew his hand back and touched his ear with one
long, stout claw. Not here, his touched moved
to his brow, nor here. His hand then dropped to
rest over his breast above his heart. But here;
heart to heart. Soul to soul. He leaned back and
rested his hands upon his knees. It was the
words of those whom loved the stricken that won
through, always. That is our most potent weapon.
But the shadow is sly, and may bring him to
deafen his ears to you, and harden his heart to
the words his ears might hear. He nodded toward
the stone she held. But not against the words
that pierce the heart and speak truly. But, that
is not the least it can do, but I hope that it will be all that is needed.
She opened her fingers and gazed down at the
stone, now appearing as nothing more than a
polished river pebble. What else does it do?
If he should take his hand up against you, if he
should turn his Sondeck upon you, it will
shatter. In so doing it will unleash the curse of
Metamor unalloyed upon him, reducing him to a rat
true, in mind and body. He held up a finger and
raised his gaze to meet hers. For a time, only,
as the magic will fade. But hopefully time enough
for you to escape, or restrain him for us to act
more directly against the dark touch. Also, if
you should take up a hammer and smash it, the
spell will be unleashed and take him no matter how far removed he is.
But what of my children!? she quailed
fearfully. She had seen the power of his Sondeck
unleashed in the past, as she had that of Charles' friend Jerome.
Murikeer smiled, though there was no joy in it,
I have giften them with baubles which they will
find themselves holding most dear and close to
them. If he should strike them the magic will be
unleashed. I did not prick them as I did you,
however, for the spell I placed therein is one
that was exhaustive in its creation. He will see
what he expects, should he strike them. An
illusion most detailed to his eyes of their fate
at his hands, but the baubles I have crafted will shield them from harm.
Kimberly dropped her gaze to the stone and
swallowed. You frighten me, Murikeer, but I
will keep this close, and hope that I should never find use for it.
Would that I could but hope the same, milady,
but I act in fear for you should these events
come full circle for him as they have for the
others who took up that terrible quest. I could
only hope to have been as strong as they. For
you, for him, and for your children I cannot
stand idly by and simply wait with watchful eyes.
I choose to act in preparation, though none of
the others who also watch have knowledge of what
I have done. I desire that none do, so tell not a
soul lest the shadow hear, and gird itself
against my wards. The others may also make their
precautions. If they bring such to you, accept, please.
Kimberly clutched the stone close and heaved an
unsteady sigh, I will, Murikeer. And thank
you, for all that you have done, and still do, for my family. For me.
Murikeer smiled warmly, and for once the pleasure
of his smile reached his good eye, lifting his
whiskers as the shadow of his tail swept slowly
from side to side behind him. You are my
student, milady, as well my tutor. As much a
mother as the one I lost so long ago. To speak
the love you have for him, merely hold the stone
close to your heart and speak of it. He will hear
though may not be aware of what it is he hears,
but he will feel that touch within his own heart.
----------
May He bless you and keep you in His grace and love,
Charles Matthias
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