Clearing Away, by Wanderer and Christopher Hughes and Raven Blackmane

Story name: Clearing Away
Author: Wanderer & Christopher Hughes & Raven Blackmane

Date: Autumn or winter, 706 CR
Location: Metamor Keep (Wanderer's quarters)

Overview

Christopher and Raven clean up Wanderer's apartment.

+ Story info (Spoilers!)

Summary

Christopher has gotten leave from Thomas, via Thalberg, for he and Raven to go through Wanderer's quarters. Raven is not ready for it, but finally relents.

The room is a mess, covered in clothes, books, and undiscarded papers. Raven pulls up a sheet containing a recent commission of Wanderer's: a hymn for the Ecclesia titled "Turn Your Gaze Upon Us". She demonstrates the tune on the lute; Christopher didn't know she played, and as Raven recalls working with him on music, she starts to break down.

When she recovers, they begin sorting the rest of the mess. One of the open books is full of family trees. Christopher tells her about Wanderer's lineage; despite his noble connections, his family was too distant for anything. The other books are on religion, long overdue from the library.

Having gathered up everything to clean or throw away, Raven pauses. It feels like they are burying Wanderer. Christopher assures her there is still hope; she half-heartedly agrees.

Characters

Main Characters:

• Christopher: A bear morph, a tutor of magic, trapped in feral form but capable of speaking via telepathy. As a close friend of Wanderer and Raven, he assists in cleaning Wanderer's quarters and helping Raven to cope with his absence.
• Raven: A wolf morph, the Keep's Lothanasi high priestess. She had been in love with Wanderer,
  • She is able to play the lute, as it was a useful skill for an acolyte. While Wanderer was working, she would help him by playing the lute for him. Christopher had never known she could play.

Prominent Mention:

• Wanderer: A wolf morph, the Keep's former bard. He has been trapped in feral form, both mind and body, for several months. His recovery is uncertain.
  • In his room, he was very messy, leaving clothes and discarded papyrus all over the floor.
    • Most of the papers were notes to himself, some dating back to his arrival — Wanderer never threw away paper.
  • His handwriting was messy.
  • Christopher thought him a traditionalist, but Wanderer was not above making money from them (see Society).
  • The most recent work of his was a hymn called "Turn Your Gaze Upon Us". He had written 5 verses and figured out the chords for the lute, though he was unhappy with the last verse, as evidenced by the blotted margins and question marks.
  • He had few living relatives; though he is from the House of Calfherd, he is too distant to inherit anything.

Important Mention:

• Kyia: The spirit of Metamor Keep. She lengthens Christopher's and Raven's journey to Wanderer's quarters, for which Raven is grateful.

Referenced:

• Lurene: A female gendermorph and a wolf morph.
• Thomas: A horse morph, the Duke of Metamor Keep.
• Thalberg: An alligator morph, Thomas's steward.
• Charles Matthias: A rat morph, known for having several friends who are rat morphs.
• Eli: The Follower god.
• Wanderer's father: A wagonwright.
• Wanderer's paternal grandfather: A chicken farmer.
• Wanderer's mother's stepfather: An animal driver who loved music. He was the one who encouraged Wanderer to be a bard.
• Wanderer's maternal grandfather: A runaway soldier.
• Fox Cutter: A fox morph, the Keep's librarian.

Locations

• As part of the royal court, Wanderer's quarters are medium-sized, big enough for two bears Christopher's size. There are no windows, so that Wanderer does not get distracted. Along the far wall against a desk is his lute. At the foot of his bed is a chest that won't open.
  • On his unmade bed are various books: one on his family tree, one an empty jouranl, and three books from the Keep Library: one a study on the Ecclesia, one a book of legends, one on the history of the Lightbringer Order.

Society

• From context, a traditionalist Lothanasi is someone who refuses to work with the Ecclesia.

Chronology

• One recent work of Wanderer's was a hymn called "Turn Your Gaze Upon Us", apparently on commission.

Story Connections

• Wanderer went feral in Lessoned. His whole room has apparently been untouched since that time.
• Christopher's mention of hope suggests that this story takes place after For I Am Lost.

Points of Interest

• Most of the papers are discarded, being long out of date. Wanderer's clothing is taken away to be laundered. The library books are to be returned, and the other books probably kept. The rest of the trash, including broken quills, are discarded.

Pawns of the Gods
Stories	For Knowledge's Sake · Lightbringer · Tail of a Young Wolf · Fetish · Ward · En Lieu
	The Lessons Trilogy	Lessoned · Hard Lessons · Lessons of Solitude
	Lethe · For I Am Lost · Passing Notes · Clearing Away · The Winter Assault · Misericardia · Koinonia · A Pawn Advances · Lessons of Faith · Dances
Major Characters	Christopher · Wanderer · Raven · Lurene