Summary
Wanderer has been asking Raven since the Summer Festival whether it would be possible for her to ask Akkala to heal Chris's legs, which he lost even earlier in a duel. Raven says that the price is up to the gods alone, and can only be done if Chris agrees to it. Finally seeing that he is serious, she offers to ask Christopher herself, but Wanderer insists he should be the one to ask.
Wanderer has not seen Christopher since the day he lost his legs, and is very nervous. He arrives at Chris's room to find Lurene sweeping the floors. He briefly talks with her about studying, when Chris appears suddenly from behind, speaking as if nothing were amiss. After a few more jokes, Wanderer suddenly embraces Chris, glad to see him.
Chris's face is momentarily darkened, before he asks Lurene to fetch some broth. When she leaves, Chris rebukes him for ignoring him for weeks because of his legs, and tells him not to speak until he no longer needs to take furtive glances at them. After a long silence, Wanderer apologizes, that he doesn't know how to deal with it. He finally is able to look him in the face, and joke about his first lover who was tall.
Wanderer finally gets the courage to ask if he can intercede to Akkala. Chris refuses, as this was part of his price he agreed to pay for Lurene's sake, along with a life of servitude to Akkala, and it is his responsibility alone to deal with. He mentions that he hopes there is a cure for his legs, possibly involving Akkala, but it won't involve Wanderer's intercession, and he won't hear any more of it.
A thought suddenly occurs to Wanderer, one that suddenly lifts his spirits, but he doesn't share with Christopher. They continue to talk, on lighter subjects now, for the rest of the evening, with Lurene. On evening, Wanderer returns to Raven, and tells her that Chris wishes to be healed, and nothing more needs to be said.
Raven then privately calls on Akkala, expressing her uncertainty over Wanderer's words. Akkala says she agrees to the bargain Wanderer has privately made with her, and asks that they return in 7 days to complete it.
Wanderer is unable to think of anything else for the next week. When Raven performs the ceremony, Akkala asks Wanderer what he wishes. He stammers out that he wants Chris's legs restored, and Akkala takes his spirit aside, to look down upon Chris and Lurene. She tells him that he is the center of a dispute between Artela and Velena; by avoiding his full wolf form and clinging to his voice, a gift from Velena, Artela has grown mad at him. Akkala cannot intervene without Chris's consent, but she can use Wanderer to progress Chris's own methods. She asks him to touch him. With his spirit reaching out, Akkala accepts the price Wanderer gave in his dreams: his hands, voice, humanity, and mind.
Wanderer feels his mind fill with light. He awakes in the temple, and recognizes Raven and Akkala, but only as "The Female" and "The Other". He no longer understands speech, only his name Wan'rer, and huddles when the Female shouts at him. The door opens, and Wanderer recognizes his packmate entering. He nuzzles him, ignoring the telepathic noises from him.
Characters
Main characters:
- Wanderer: The Keep's court bard, Raven's lover, and Christopher's best friend, a wolf morph. After Christopher lost his legs, Wanderer had been avoiding him, asking Raven to heal him. When he finally meets and makes up with Chris, he is told not to ask Akkala to heal him, but Wanderer twists his words so that it sounds like consent to Raven. For this, and so that Akkala can settle a debate, Wanderer is turned into a full wolf in mind and body.
- His voice was apparently a gift by Velena, hence the conflict between Artela and Velena over him.
- Wanderer claims that his first lover was tall, though this could be a joke.
- Christopher: A tutor of the Keep, a bear morph. He uses a wheelchair, as his legs are paralyzed from a duel he fought for Lurene. He tells Wanderer not to call on Akkala for his sake. He was just beginning to heal himself on his own, when Akkala accelerated it thanks to Wanderer's sacrifice. He is able to walk into the prayer chamber at the end (though see Hard Lessons).
Supporting:
- Raven: The Lothanasa of Metamor Keep, a wolf morph. For weeks, she refuses to ask Akkala to heal Chris, until Wanderer has talked to him himself. She is suspicious of Wanderer's affirmation, and Akkala's acceptance, but can do nothing but carry out the ceremony. She is distressed by what Akkala does.
- Akkala: The aedra of healing. She is happy to accept Wanderer's plea, not to heal Chris herself, but to use Wanderer's own energy to spread up Chris's healing, as a way to settle a dispute between .
Minor characters:
- Lurene: Chris's ward, a female gendermorph. She has been studying magic extensively under Chris, and also helps him with household tasks.
Important mention:
- Velena: The aedra of beauty and love.
- Velena has gifted Wanderer with a beautiful voice. Wanderer's choice not to shift into a wolf has put Velena at odds with Artela.
- Artela: The aedra of nature.
- Every Keeper who is an animal morph is, in part, a child of Artela. She seems to be a bit jealous
Referenced:
- Pascal: The Keep alchemist, known for her cluttered laboratory.
- Michael: A beaver morph, an acquaintance of Christopher's.
- Duke Thomas: The ruler of Metamor Keep.
- Matthias: The former Headmaster of the Writer's Guild. Neither Chris nor Wanderer know what he is up to nowadays.
Story Connections
- This story follows up from Ward, and can be read in conjunction with Hard Lessons.
Points of Interest
- To make the prayer to Akkala, Raven climbs the steps to the prayer chamber, lights the central candle, and prays to Akkala. The flame changes from yellow to red, and an area of light on the floor on the other side of the room expands, and Akkala emerges from below.
- To make the intervention to Akkala, Wanderer appears in a white linen surplice, and kneels in the prayer chamber. Raven repeats the above prayer, and the flame again changes to red, and Akkala again emerges from the light.