Killing Time, by Charles Matthias

Story name: Killing Time
Author: Charles Matthias
Publication date: September 6, 1999 (on TSA-List)

Date: Late August, 706 CR (3 days); circa 692 CR (3 days)
Location: Metamor Keep (chapel, Long House), Metamor Valley, Sondeshara (Darkuendlicht Mountains), Stepping Rock

Overview

Charles joins the Stepping Rock raid, and finds himself fighting side-by-side with his enemy Rickkter.

+ Story info - Spoilers!

Summary

It is just past 4 in the morning. Charles stops by the Follower chapel and finds Hough cleaning the windows, unable to sleep after Craig's funeral. They talk about Misha's behavior at the funeral, especially the way that he cut his arms and laid his blood on Craig's coffin. Hough commends him for wishing to support Craig's widow and children, but thinks he does not know how to deal with death. Charles says that Misha is handling it as best he can, but that is not why he is here. He is on his way to the Long House for an expedition with Misha to avenge Craig and Caroline, and has come to ask for a blessing, and assurance that his mission is just. Hough asks who they plan to kill and why; Charles responds they seek justice against those whom Misha is convinced committed the act. Thus assured, Hough blesses him, and hopes to see him and Misha at Services.

Charles arrives as the other Longs are gearing up, and briefly talks with Will Hardy. Misha invites the two of them inside for his briefing. Charles is relieved that Rickkter is not present, a relief that is short-lived when he enters soon after. Misha explains that they are sending a message to the Giantdowns not to mess with Long Scouts, explains the layout of Stepping Rock, and assigns the assembly to their roles. Charles is unnerved throughout by Misha's coldness, and after the meeting, he follows Misha into the armory and confronts him about his motivations. He does not want Misha to do this for revenge, but he softens when he hears Misha describe the uncontrollable rage boiling inside. Rickkter arrives, and Charles quickly leaves to prepare himself.

In the afternoon, Charles travels with two other Longs in the rear, and are forced to wait in a natural crescent-shaped dip while the forward Longs clear a Lutin encampment. Rickkter, who approaches him from the other side of the hole, teases Charles in Southern for his involvement. Charles is riled up initially, but asks they put aside their differences and work together for Misha's sake, until they return to the Keep. Rickkter's seriousness returns, as he realizes Charles knows nothing about his fight with Misha, and offers a handshake. Though distrustful, Charles takes it, musing on the last time their clans worked together. Rickkter suggests he ask about Misha's bruise on his face, and withdraws to wait with the Longs in silence as a Lutin screams in the distance.

As they camp for the night underneath a cliff, Charles contemplates the upcoming battle, and recalls the first time he slept before a coming battle. Nearly 15 years ago, he and seven other red-ranked Sondeckis, including his three friends Krenek and Jerome and Ladero, had been on a training mission with two blacks. While traveling into the mountains, they noticed they were being followed. One of the blacks, Soud, volunteered to stay behind and confront them, and either return if it was safe, and delay them if it was not. He did not return; the Sondeckis heard distant fighting the next day. In the mountains, Krenek declared Totzesond, a pact of revenge, over Soud. Charles took it up immediately; the remaining black, Brothus, called it foolish, but only relented after every other red had declared it and left to set up the ambush. They managed to defeat the gang of five purple-ranked Kankorans, losing only one Sondecki. Krenek reclaimed Soud's stolen Sondeshike for himself, refusing to let Brothus have it; he was formally granted it after they returned to Sondeshara.

With these thoughts, Charles falls asleep. When he wakes up, he takes Misha aside and demands to hear about his bruise. Misha tries to put him off, but finally tells him when he heard about Caroline, he'd tried to sneak out of the Keep, but Rickkter stopped him and saved him from doing it alone, possibly saving his life. He tells him about the condition Caroline was found in, and asks if he is satisfied. Charles nods weakly, and as Misha leaves, Charles vomits into the alcove.

That night, they arrive at Stepping Rock castle. Charles and the Longs arm themselves with bows as Finbar and Lisa take out the wall guard and let down a rope to cross. Charles and Rickkter are the second-to-last pair to cross; they turn it into a race to cross first, receiving cold stares from the other Longs. When the last pair crosses, the groups split up. Charles follows Laura's team around the Lutin village as it starts to rain. A dog begins barking, but Arla tames it with a show of dominance and some friendly belly rubs. At the other side of the village, they come to a road bordered by a stone fence on both sides. All of the Longs before Charles cross it; just then, a group of Lutins appears and stops drunkenly in the middle of the road. Though it is dark, and Charles thinks he could cross if he waits long enough, he tells the others to go ahead. He walks alone along the stone fence towards the main hall of Stepping Rock.

There are already a few bodies outside by the time Charles reaches the hall. He searches through it, looking for anyone hiding inside. He enters a desecrated and neglected Lightbringer chapel; as he reflects on who might have worshipped here, a band of Lutins charges from behind the statues. Charles defends himself with his staff, but he has difficulty holding back his Sondeck, and eventually the staff breaks when it hits a club. Charles draws a short sword to keep the lutins away. Just then, Rickkter arrives and takes out a few lutins before his own staff breaks. He draws a katana, and throws his personal Sondeshike over to Charles. Together, back-to-back, they kill the entire lutin force. As Andre and a torchbearer arrive to look at the carnage, Charles tucks away Rickkter's Sondeshike for himself.

The next day, the Longs stop by a stream on their way to the Keep. While Charles is washing the blood from his arm, Rickkter joins him. He comments that when a Sondecki and a Kankoran work together, they are unstoppable. Charles talks instead about Misha, how he'd never seen Misha so consumed with rage. Rickkter comments that perhaps he just isn't as experienced yet with fighting unlike them. Charles asks why his attitude to him is so different now. Rickkter muses that he respects a fellow warrior. They get ready to leave again for Metamor.

Characters

Main characters:

• Charles: A rat morph, a Sondecki and a Long-in-training. He helps Misha on his mission to avenge Caroline and Craig, and proposes a truce to Rickkter as long as they are working together. He joins Laura's team on the way to the gatehouse, but is separated from them at a road to the Lutin village. He and Rickkter clear out a Lightbringer chapel of Lutins; he receives Rickkter's Sondeshike during the fight, and discreetly keeps it afterward.
  • Nearly 15 years ago, when Krenek invoked Totzesond for Soud, Charles was the first to give his support.
  • He wears a slight outfit in greens and browns. His fur is atypically uncombed, and after the briefing is dyed green and brown. For the battle itself, he wears a simple black robed ankle-length cloak, which is ruined from the bloodshed.
  • He carries a standard issue short sword and a hickory quarterstaff. His preferred weapon is the staff, with the sword only in emergencies. He also wields Finbar's bow while the latter makes his ascent over the Stepping Rock Wall.
  • He is sentimental as a young Sondeckis; his first thought when danger approached was to think of his home in Sondeshara.
  • He adopted his most of his faith from other Sondeckis, particularly Ladero.

Supporting characters:

• Rickkter: A raccoon morph, a Kankoran and a former mercenary. He and Charles are from enemy clans, and usually unfriendly to each other, but they finally agree to work together for the raid. He fights back-to-back with Charles in Stepping Rock's pagan chapel, giving him a war trophy of his, a Sondeshike. He does not comment on Charles not returning it.
  • He wears a tight black "holocaust cloak" for the mission.
  • He wields a double-hooked staff first seen in Cry Havoc. He also carries his katana, which he uses after his staff breaks.
  • If the Kankoran have a similar obligation to their clan, Rickkter does not feel it. He identifies more strongly as a mercenary, ending his obligation to others when they stop paying him.
• Krenek Zagrosek: A childhood friend of Charles Matthias and fellow Sondeckis. After Soud's death, he was the one to invoke Totzesond in Soud's name.
  • When danger came to him as a young Sondeckis, he was described as contemplative.

Minor characters:

• Misha: A fox morph, leader of the Long Scouts and of the expedition to Stepping Rock. Charles confronts him twice, first about the purpose of the mission, and second about the bruise on his face.
  • Rickkter struck him on the left side of his face.
  • Misha suggests that, had he not wanted to avoid discovery, he would have used the Long House armory instead of the Keep's.
• Hough: The Follower priest of Metamor Keep. The night after Craig's funeral, he was unable to sleep, and so he is chipping the dirt off the windows when Charles enters. He gives him his blessing to go on Stepping Rock.
  • He himself was raped prior to being cursed; his expression is unreadable when Charles tells him they plan to avenge Caroline's rape.
  • He wears an alb, grimy and dirty from his work. He is tired and haunted, his blond hair ruffled and hanging over his eyes. He has a contralto voice.
• Laura: A female gendermorph, leader of the unit of Long Scouts who attacks the gatehouse. Charles is on her team, but is seperated at a road. She is reluctant to split her team until Charles insists.
• Lisa: A child morph, one of the Long Scouts whom Charles travels with. Her apparent age is 14 years.
• Jerome: One of Charles's childhood friends, a Sondeckis. He fought in the mountain pass during Krenek's Tontzesand, which raised him to the purple. He is currently hiding in the Midlands.
  • He was bold and youthful as a young Sondeckis; when faced with danger as a young Sondeckis, he was eager to fight.
• Ladero: One of Charles's childhood friends, a Sondeckis. He fought in the mountain pass during Krenek's Tontzesand, which raised him to the purple. He is currently dead, according to Jerome.
  • He prayed regularly, especially when faced with danger as a young Sondeckis. He seems to have been one of Charles's key religious influences.
• Brothus: A Sondecki, one of Charles's mentors. When Soud died, he wanted to keep moving, but the reds all chose to stay and avenge Soud's death. He berated their decision but stayed to fight. He tried to reclaim Soud's Sondeshike, but Krenek rebuffed him and took it for himself. A few years later, he became the new White.
  • As white, according to Charles, he destroyed the Sondeckis' honor in the Southlands.
• Finbar: A ferret morph, a Long Scout.
  • He is one of the two Longs who first scales the Stepping Rock wall. Charles wields his bow while he does so.
• Arla: A collie morph, a Long Scout.

Cameo:

• Will Hardy: A badger morph, Caroline's father. Though not normally a fighter, he wishes to avenge Caroline's death.
  • He has green-yellow eyes.
• Andre: A wolverine morph, one of Misha's friends. He leads a unit of cavalry. After entering the castle, he searches the main hall for enemy survivors, and is aided by Charles and Rickkter.
• A tall weasel Long Scout who questions Misha about Stepping Rock.
  • Probably Finbar or Danielle.
• Soud: A black-ranked Sondeckis, one of Charles's mentors. When he and his Sondeckis pupils were being followed, he chose to stay behind to identify them. His Sondeshike was taken by them; together with sounds of fighting, it is probable that he died fighting them.
• Ralls, Meredith, Allart: The three members of Laura's team.

Important mention:

• Emily Latoner: Craig's widow. As a Follower, she asked Hough to give prayers for him on Sunday.
• Craig: A prairie dog morph, a Long Scout recently killed in action, a very good friend of Misha's. His death is partly the reason for Misha's move on Stepping Rock.
• Caroline: An otter morph, Misha's girlfriend. Her capture and rape partly motivate Misha to raid Stepping Rock.
  • She was confident and playful before; now, she is described as a whimpering weak shell in emotional agony.

Referenced:

• Kyia: The spirit of Metamor Keep. She made the chapel for Hough, though Hough is not sure what to make of her.
• Craig's two daughters.
• Nasoj: A sorcerer who controls the Lutin and human armies of the Giantdowns, the enemy of Metamor Keep.
• Hurd: Commander of the forces at Stepping Rock. Misha kills him offstage.
  • It is possible that his body is among those Charles crosses prior to entering the main hall.
• Kimberly: A rat morph, Charles's beloved, for whom he would do anything to protect.

Locations

• The Follower chapel has stained-glass windows in the clerestory, and a balcony beneath it for the triforium, with basalt stanchions by the windows. A marble staircase adjoining a colonnade leads up to it.
• The forest in the northwest part of the Valley is wet and mossy. Rock formations of mica are scattered around here.
  • The crescent-shaped depression is formed from granite, and shaded by elm trees on one side.
  • The Longs make camp for the night beneath a grove of willows, a steep cliff upwards to the north, and hills upwards on both sides. Rivulets along the cliff and mud slides on the hills provide a potential escape route. There is a shallow alcove in the cliff face.
• For their training, Charles's band of Sondeckis were traveling through the Darkündlicht Mountains from the hills east of Makor. When they were attacked, they were en route to Sondeshara.
• Stepping Rock:
  • The outer wall is old and mouldy, with open ground between the neighboring forest and the wall.
  • The main hall connects with the Lutin village via a dirt road, bordered on both sides by a short stone fence. There is apparently an intersection ahead with a path to the gatehouse, though it is most likely a lengthy path.
  • A small Lightbringer chapel inside has fallen into disrepair. It has pews, a two-tiered sanctuary with a vaulted ceiling and icons of each of the aedra along the walls. In its disrepaired state, its doorframe is moldy, its statues have been desecrated, and its pews have been overturned. There is a faint smell of Lutins.
    • Given the notorious odor of Lutins, and sheer number of Lutins who attack, it seems odd that there is only a faint smell, especially for Charles's sense of smell. Either the Lutins have been hiding behind the statues for a long time, or these are unusually clean Lutins.
• Charles remembers Arabarb as a smelly place, similar to the smell of the Lutin village.

Chronology

• The last time Sondeckis and Kankorans worked together was 500 years against an army of Shriekers.
• Krenek's Totzesond took place nearly 15 years ago (circa 692 - 693 CR).
• Charles's Long training started 2 months ago.
• The raid on Stepping Rock takes place in late August.

Society

• The power of the Sondeck compels a Sondecki to seek justice and enrages them when justice is not served. A Totzesond is a call for justice, from one Sondecki to another Sondecki whom they owe an obligation.
  • The Sondeshike is a long pole, tipped with ferrules, that extends with just a flick of the wrist. Although anyone trained in the staff can use it, it is especially designed to allow a Sondecki to use their Sondeck, forming a perfect blend of force and metal.
• When north of the Giant's Dike the Long Scouts only use hand signals.

Krenek's Totzesond in the Darkündlicht

• Nearly 15 years ago, Krenek Zagrosek, Charles Matthias, Ladero, Jerome, and four other Sondecki reds had been on a training mission with 2 Sondecki blacks, Soud and Brothus.
  • Charles and his 3 friends initially enjoyed their trip. They shared a low tent together, sleeping on their sandles and red robes.
  • These training missions always had the possibility of attack from Kankoran, though it was rare and unexpected.
• They realized, at some point, that they were being watched and followed by a group of 5 purple-ranked Kankoran a few leagues away, though at the time they did not know who or how many. They tried to evade them by walking long into the night, sleeping only for one or two hours at a time. When they were a day's ride from the mountains, Soud chose to wait by the rocks to confront them. The other Sondeckis heard a distant fight, and never saw him again.
• That night, Krenek announced the Totzesond for Soud. Brothus argued against it, and that they should continue north. Krenek continued to argue for it, and Charles added his support. The other six reds joined in, and they backtracked to a precipice to plan an ambush.
  • The particulars of their plans are not shown, other than finding hiding places and scattering ashes from their campfire on the ground.
• The Kankorans entered the pass early in the morning. The battle was brief, but fierce:
  • One of the Kankoran was killed immediately by a Sondecki.
  • Krenek went straight for the Kankoran holding Soud's Sondeshike, an impassive 6-foot tall man, killing him and taking the Sondeshike.
  • Charles was distracted by Krenek; another Kankoran nearly pushed him off the precipice with a series of quick strikes to his chest. Ladero came to his rescue, striking the Kankoran in the knee and landing a death strike in the neck.
  • In the battle, one of the unnamed Sondeckis dies. It is implied that all five of the Kankorans died.
• The dead Sondecki is given a burial.
• Brothus tries to take the Sondeshike from Krenek, but Krenek retorts that it is his, as he is the one who called Totzesand and claimed justice for Soud, while Brothus wanted to run away.
• A few weeks later, they arrived in Sondeshara. The 8 red Sondeckis were raised to the purple, and Krenek was formally given Soud's Sondeshike.

The Raid on Stepping Rock

• The story is said outright to take place in late August.
  • Charles receives his missive at around half past 3 in the morning of day 1.
  • Charles and the Long Scouts leave at noon on day 1. There is a gentle rain throughout the day and into tomorrow, day 2.
• Charles and the Long Scouts leave Metamor at noon on the main road north, but diverge into the woods while still within sight, towards the rocky hills.
  • The Long Scouts travel in a loose formation, far enough apart to hide their movements but close enough to relay messages. Misha is in the very front; Finbar, Lisa, and Charles are in the very rear; Rickkter is in the group just ahead of Charles's.
  • The last two groups step in a crescent-shaped depression as the groups in front take out a Lutin camp.
• The Longs traverse the outer wall in pairs. Lisa and Finbar, as the first pair, take out the guard. Charles and Rickkter are the second-to-last pair; despite the need for stealth, both turn it into a race to be first over the top.
• The two groups diverge at this point. Charles seperates from his group at a road, and departs alone towards the main hall.
• The bulk of the Long Scout fighting seen in Cry Havoc takes place here, before Charles arrives at the main hall.
• A group of Lutins hiding behind the statues attacks Charles. There are at least 29 in number, all of whom are killed by either Charles, or by Rickkter who joins him:
  • 2 have their necks broken by Charles's simple staff;
    • various other lutins are struck by Charles, but their injuries are not said to be fatal;
  • 2 are slashed through the back by Rick's hooked staff;
  • at least 4 are slashed through their throats and chests;
  • 1 is pierced through the skull by one of Rick's hooked staffs while leaping from an icon;
  • 1 is stabbed through the chest by Rick's other staff;
  • 1 is stabbed through the face by Charles's extending his Sondeshike;
  • at least 6 have their chests, skulls, or necks crushed by Charles's Sondeck;
  • 1 loses their arm by Charles's Sondeshike;
    • This 1 might be the last of the lutins to die; an armless lutin hides behind a pew and struggles towards the front door; Charles impales him, tears off his head by the eyes, and smashes it against a statue;
  • at least 2 of an advancing group lose their knees;
  • at least 2 were impaled by Charles;
  • at least 2 had their bellies sliced open or impaled by Rick's katana;
  • at least 2 are internally crushed by Charles' Sondeck;
  • 1 tries to escape, but is slashed through the throat by Rick;
  • 2 try to escape, but their skulls are crushed by Charles's Sondeshike.
• Charles breaks his hickory staff when it collides with a Lutin's club, forcing him to draw his sword merely to keep the Lutins away.
• Rickkter enters at this point with his double-hooked staff, startling the lutins who try to attack him back. Rickkter uses his staff to snatch away the Lutin weapons with one end and gut them with the other.
• With the sheer number, it is not long when his staff breaks, and Rick draws his trademark katana. He also tosses Charles the Sondeshike he'd arrived at the Keep with, the first time Charles has held it. Together, they finish off the lutins.
• Andre and a torchbearer arrive at this point; Charles and Rickkter join them to kill any other stragglers in the castle, though these are minor skirmishes at best.
• The Longs ensure that every resident in the castle is dead.

Story Connections

• Charles recalls the vow he'd abandoned, the food he'd eaten on the Arrow, and the streets of Arabarb from his adventures in Keeping the Lamp Lit.
• Charles mentions the first time he and Rickkter touched from A Place Where There Is No Darkness, which is also the first appearance of Rickkter's Sondeshike.
• The willow grove where Charles sleeps reminds him of the cloistered grove Charles and Misha scouted in Declarations of Allegiance.
• Rickkter and Misha refer to Misha's bruise, received in Casualties of War.
• Rickkter refers to talking with Misha after Craig's funeral in Remembrances.
• This story takes place at the same time as and borrows heavily from Cry Havoc.

Points of Interest

• This is the first time in many years that so many Longs were in a single mission together.
• The dog Arla tames does not cross the road with the other Longs, nor does it follow Charles.
• In the past 2 months, Charles has broken 4 staffs during his Long Scout training.

Battle of Stepping Rock
Main Stories	Casualties of War · Remembrances · Cry Havoc · Killing Time
Side Stories	Arrival at Metamor Keep · Clearing the Courtyard · Triumphant Return the Dogs of War · Cage
Places	Naven · Stepping Rock
Characters	Caroline · Craig · Misha · Rickkter · Will Hardy · Charles · Andre Laura · Allart · Arla · Baldwin · Meredith · Ralls · Lisa · Danielle · Finbar · Jotham · Kershaw Hurd

Matthias's Third Cycle
Stories	Stories in yellow are not part of the cycle proper, but give important context for other stories.
	False Winds · Stepping Up to Destiny · Fingers in the Weave · Four on the Floor · Fireside · Hunt · Intercessor · Intersecting Correspondence · Jormugand · The Three Sides of Truth · Lawbreakers · Casualties of War · Killing Time · Legacies · Libraries · Four by Four · Liturgy of Blood · Longing · Nuptials · Relic · Wandering the Keep · Winter's First Chill
Major Characters	Charles Matthias · Garigan · Kimberly · Misha Brightleaf · Rickkter Akabaieth · Caroline · Gornul · Father Hough · Jessica · Kashin · Phil · Saulius · Thalberg · Duke Thomas · Vinsah · Wessex · Yonson · Zagrosek · Zhypar Habakkuk