Summary
In the middle of the night, Christopher enters the empty unlit Ecclesian chapel of the Keep, with Wanderer in tow. Christopher wonders to himself why he mourns someone he barely knew. He wishes Wanderer had shown some sign of knowing him.
At his morning meal some time ago, Coe met Christopher to tell him a researcher of the Curse, "Apadares", is here, and particularly interested in Christopher's and Wanderer's unusual case. Christopher was at first suspicious and scornful, but finally relented, hoping this one would show some sense.
Apadares was waiting in a room with figures when Chris pawed open the door. Wanderer was far behind, distracted by a smell. Apadares apologized for putting him out, and asked to explain his case. Wanderer entered and suddenly stopped and stared at Apadares; Apadares claimed he has a way with animals. Christopher began by discussing his wheelchair, glad that Apadares was not some uncultured gawker.
Chris hesitated before he mentioned the bard and his foolish deceit against Raven and Akkala. He commented an aside that Wanderer had never sat still for so long. Apadares commented that the bard must've cared a lot for him. Chris asked if he was done, and Apadares said he was, and thanked him for it.
In the present, Chris notes aloud he never knew Apadares was actually the Patriarch. As he gets up for bed, Wanderer has a distant look in his eyes, opens his mouth, struggles, and says "seaborne". His moment of lucidity vanishes, but Chris realizes now why Wanderer is so confused; he still has his human nature inside, conflicting with his wolf nature. He sadly tells Wanderer to follow him from the empty chapel.
Characters
Main characters:
- Christopher: A bear morph, a mage tutor, and a Lothanasi, trapped in feral form but who can talk telepathically.
- He is unwilling to serve either Akkala or Eli for life.
- Wanderer: A wolf morph, the Keep's former bard, trapped in feral mind and body after lying to Akkala, now in Christopher and Lurene's care. Some part of his consciousness still remains, and it is discovered he retains some capacity to talk, though only very briefly.
- As a bard, he often got a distant look in his eyes as he began his rhymes. As a wolf, he gets the same look when his consciousenss briefly returns.
Supporting characters:
- Akabaieth: The Patriarch, head of the Ecclesian church. His birth name, rarely used, was Apadares.
Minor characters:
- Brian Coe: A raccoon morph, the Keep's physician, a friend of Christopher's. He gets Christopher to accept a visit from "Apadares", secretly the Patriarch.
Important mention:
- Lurene: A wolf morph, Chris's student, ward, and lover. Wanderer has been getting in her way lately, and Christopher is happy to get him away from her.
Referenced:
- Akkala: The Lothanasi goddess of healing.
- Eli: The one Follower god.
- Raven: A wolf morph, the Keep's Lothanasi priestess.
- Samekkh: The Lothanasi god of wisdom and knowledge. A wise intelligent person is said to be touched by his daughters.
Chronology / Story Connections
- The story Christopher tells here follows the events of Ward and Lessoned.
