Summary
Misha begins his training of Charles by taking him up a moutain trail to the east of Metamor. As Charles gawks at a fallen tree, Misha tries to grab him by surprise, but Charles quickly and easily sends him flying forwards. Misha reminds him the importance of noticing everything about his environment, particularly signs of enemy activity or lack of signs. He points out the tree as an example; Charles deduces it fell naturally, as opposed to being cut down.
The two continue onward for hours, travelling out of the forest and along a crest into a breath-taking ravine. Misha points out a copse of trees a few hours away to make camp.
After setting up camp, Misha casually asks about that throw earlier, and which order taught him that. Charles tries to evade the questions, but Misha continues to press him, that he needs to trust him to be able to teach him, that he is friends with both him and Rickkter, who are from enemy orders and know the other is, and that he ought to know what's going on between them. Charles finally says that he is honor-bound not to reveal his allegiance to those who don't know, and Misha confirms for him that he does know Charles is a member of the Sondeckis. Charles tells him not to tell anyone, for the safety of the Keep. He learns that Phil also knows, but most importantly Yonson does not.
The two eat a meal, and Charles does some writing. Misha asks Charles to take the first watch, and to alert him if he hears anything unusual, or no sounds at all. Charles is surprised by the latter; he grew up in the desert, where only the winds made noise. He mentions the Darkündlicht mountains, which few people have crossed, and of which legends abound. Misha tells him about the Binoq, a legendary race said to live within the Great Barrier Range. He himself has only caught a glimpse; they are quick and elusive. They were once a formidable race; despite being chased out of the Midlands, they successfully defended themselves against a king and his army, destroying his kingdom in the process.
Misha trails off and looks into the forest, which has suddenly gone silent. A face flashes briefly in the forest. The fire crackles as they both sit tensely, listening for a sound, readying themselves for an attack. An owl swoops down and grabs a mouse; once it begins hooting a few minutes later, they both relax. Charles lets Misha go to sleep while he begins his watch. Despite the dangers, he is excited for the adventures of a Long Scout.
Characters
Main characters:
- Charles Matthias: A writer, a former Sondeckis, and a new recruit to the Long Scouts.
- He carries a backpack with an ink bottle from his room, and food.
- While in the Sondeckis, he used a tent. He had not used one since fleeing the Sondeckis, sleeping under the stars during his escape.
- Misha: Head of the Long Scouts. He is training Charles Matthias.
- He grew up near the mountains, though not in Metamor.
Important mention:
- Yonson: The ambassador to Metamor from Marzac. Charles wants him to avoid learning that he is a Sondeckis at all costs.
- After being at the Keep for just over a week, he now has copper eyes.
- King Herouc: An ancient king, one of the last of a united Midlands. He tried to subjugate the Binoq, but they knew the terrain better than him and were able to surround him. They killed him and his whole line.
- After his death, the Midlands was fractured for several years. Many of the present day noble lines originated from this conflict.
- The remaining soldiers fled to the mountains, and the Binoq either continued to kill them, or captured them as prisoners. Some of the soldiers managed to return to the plains.
- Herouc's enemies memorialized his defeat as a bard's tale, which in turn became a children's tale.
Referenced:
- Michael: A member of the Timber Crews, a beaver morph. Misha recommends that he tell Matthias about manmade activity on trees.
- Note that he is the newest member of the Timber Crews, only there for a few months, and had been a farmer before. He has apparently learned quickly about trees.
- Chris: A tutor of the Keep. He went on a patrol three months ago with Charles.
- Channing: He lived in one of the tallest towers in the Keep.
- Rickkter: A Kankoran, an enemy of Charles and a friend of Misha, a raccoon morph.
- Garigan: Charles's Sondecki student, a ferret morph.
- Phil: The Keep's Head of Intelligence. Misha already told him about Charles's involvement in the Sondeckis.
Locations
- The trail Matthias and Misha take is a deer trail, leading eastward from a stream into an inaccessible section of the foothills of the Great Barrier Range. There are cliffs to the north, and the forest becomes barren to the south to the Iron Mine. They are surrounded by hardwood trees and the occasional birch. The occasional clearing gives them a view of a prominent mountain.
- The trail eventually leads them to a ravine surrounded by four peaks, beyond which lay icy glaciers. Within the ravine, there is a clear mountain lake surrounded by conifers. At the northern edge of the lake is a long-used campground between two large boulders and over an unusual earthen indentation with a stone circle and a pine needle floor.
- There are rumored to be Binoq still living in the mountains, though Misha has only ever glimpsed shadows.
- The Darkündlicht Mountains are a small mountain range in the Southlands, south of the Sondeshara desert. They are about as long as the Dragon Mountains near Metamor. Its inner depths are considered impassible even to the Sondeckis, who have only crossed it via ravines. There are rumors of strange things in their upper ranges.
- Misha mentions galumphs that live in the Giantdowns. They are gigantic, and can step on people who are not careful.
Binoq
- The Binoq are rarely seen people who live deep within the Great Barrier Range, possibly within the glacier. They have been described as short nimble men.
- Thousands of years ago, they lived in the plains and mountains of the eastern Midlands. They were driven from the plains by human kingdoms. Legend says they even lived in Metamor.
- They are apparently little known at Metamor, as none of the writers have included them in their stories.
Story Connections
Points of Interest
- "Sondecki" means "Seeker of Justice"; according to Charles, they always strive to do what is right and best for all. However, the Keep would be in danger if it were revealed he were here, either from the other Sondeckis or by Yonson, whom Charles distrusts.
- The passage that Charles writes matches a passage elsewhere in the story, implying that this story, and possibly all of Charles Matthias's stories, were personally written by him.
- There is a children's rhyme that describes King Herouc's fall by the Binoq, which Misha grew up with:
White top, sky drop,
Mountains make the people stop.
No yolk, from Herouc,
Let's hide from the Little Folk!
