Summary
It is evening, the same day as Escaping. Matthias joins his friends at the Deaf Mule, who begin discussing rumors about Fox Cutter's mysterious past, particularly that he was once a hired killer. Chris suddenly comes up and orders them to stop, prompting Nahum and Tallis, the most gossipy of the group, to quickly take their leave.
Disgusted by these rumors, Matthias visits the library to put them to rest. Fox becomes somber when Matthias brings up the rumor, and offers to tell him the truth of his past in exchange for the truth of what happened in the cellar with Saulius. Matthias agrees.
Five years ago, Fox arrived in the Midlands as a total stranger, gradually learning the language and building his street skills as a bodyguard, then as an assassin. Matthias is shocked to hear Fox casually claim how easy it was to be evil. Two years ago, he received his last target, a well-admired knight who had gotten away with many injustices. After his kill, he made a month-long journey to Metamor Keep and stabbed himself five times so that he could never be found and taken back. He promises that he is a changed man, who would never kill for money again.
Fox then asks Matthias for his story. Matthias admits that, where he comes from, even further south than the Midlands, there are different kinds of magic. The magic he possesses can produce more physical force than by his muscles alone. He fears all forms of combat now, as he knows his power could easily kill someone, and that is what he almost did to Saulius. Fox asks for the reason of his coming to Metamor, and Matthias refuses to give it.
Fox and Matthias part, and Matthias hopes for another summer with no killing.
Characters
Main Characters:
- Charles Matthias: A headmaster of the Writer's Guild, a pacifist rat morph, and secretly a former Sondecki. He learns what Fox did before coming to the Keep, and in return tells him what happened in the cellar with Saulius.
- After his encounter with Hector, he read 3 stories for the festival.
- Fox Cutter: The Keep librarian, also known as Foxeris. He reveals his story to Matthias, mostly so that it doesn't burden him forever.
- He has a reputation for being aloof, staring into space, and not talking about himself. Some, like Nahum, feel insulted by this behavior.
- He comes from an unknown land; he sometimes sings songs in an unknown language.
- Fox rarely leaves the library, and sleeps under a table at night.
- Fox mentions leaving his assassination money behind, and still knows where he hid it.
Supporting:
- Nahum: A fox morph and Writer's Guild member who hangs out with Zhypar. He got into a fight sometime earlier, and is in a bad mood. He doesn't like Fox, and encourages the nasty rumors about him.
- He has an expectation that fox morphs, and by extension other morphs of the same species, should be able to trust each other.
Minor characters:
- Zhypar: A kangaroo morph and Writer's guild member. Although he thinks Fox to be odd, he does not believe the rumors that Fox is a killer. He does offer the rumor that he was exiled from the Midlands.
- Habakkuk has been regularly researching "cranial operations" for unknown reasons.
- Tallis: A normally quiet rat morph who is part of Zhypar's group. He heard a rumor a few months ago that Fox was a hired killer, and shares it with the group.
- He has a curly patch of fur on the top of his head.
- Michael: A new arrival to the Keep. He hangs out with Zhypar's group.
- His form continues to shift since Evening Stroll: his face has gotten a bit longer, his ears have gotten higher, and his fur is changing to a grayish white color. He is shifting in his seat; the reason why is explained in The Effects of Rising Too Early.
- Chris: A friend of Fox's, who gets angry at the rumors about Fox being a hired killer, and tells the group to stop.
Cameo:
- Donny: The bartender for the Deaf Mule.
Important Mention:
- Wanderer: A friend of Matthias, the court bard, a wolf morph. Few can outmatch his wit and showmanship. He will be reciting something for the Spring Festival.
- Saulius: A knight friend of Matthias and a rat morph. He was injured recently in the cellars. Charles hopes he can heal in time to participate in the swordsmanship contest.
- He is just over 4 feet tall.
- Gregor: The Keep baker, a capybara morph.
Referenced:
- Copernicus: A lizard morph whom Charles can never beat at pool.
- Magus, Pascal: Two Keep mages, who know a different kind of magic than Matthias.
- Phil: A friend of Matthias, who told Fox about the petrified wood that he had given to Matthias, who bit right through it.
- Kimberly: Matthias's beloved, whom Matthias would like to see invited to the dinner on Saturday.
Locations
- The Deaf Mule has a single chandelier in its ceiling. Its candles have recently been replaced.
- The top shelves of the Metamor Keep library are at least 12 feet tall.
- The Southlands, where Charles hails from, has a warm climate. There are many different customs there, with many different customs.
Society
- According to Charles, the traditions for the Ecclesian Easter and Lothanasi Spring Festival have been combined into a holiday that, for most Keepers, is mostly removed from its religious connotations, and treated as a secular festival. A similar thing has happened for many independent traditions at the Keep.
- The tents for the festival are being set up in a lawn "outside the Keep"
- There will be no jousting at the Spring Festival, as has been the case for a while. There will be a swordsmanship contest.
- The Sondeck is a more rudimentary magic than that of the Midlands' or the Keep's. It multiplies the amount of force that a Sondeckis gives off by their muscles.
- To reveal the secrets of the Sondeckis means death.
Chronology
- 5 years ago (701 CR), Cutter arrived in the Midlands from an unknown place, knowing nothing about the people or the language. He began learning how to survive on the streets as a thief, and in time found jobs as a guard.
- Over 3 years ago, almost 2 years after he arrived (circa 703 CR), Cutter found himself in the middle of a bunch of "problems, accidents, and murders". His friends assumed he was behind it all, but Cutter discovered a talented well-connected assassin was behind it, someone who wanted to train Cutter to be an assassin like him.
- 3 years ago (703 CR):
- The Metamor Keep baker died. Gregor was already a talented cook then, working for a minor lord in the Midlands. Thomas directly offered the position to Gregor; Gregor accepted, taking a high salary in exchange.
- Zhypar Habakkuk began writing his story.
- 2 years ago (704 CR):
- By this point, Cutter had killed about a dozen men. He was asked to kill a highly respected knight who, in his past, had committed several atrocities. Cutter killed him, but fled, knowing that others would seek to avenge the knight's death.
- 1 month after fleeing, Cutter arrived at Metamor Keep and stabbed himself five times in order to ensure he would not be released. It was weeks before he recovered from his injuries.
- Nahum arrived at Metamor Keep around this time. Zhypar, Charles, and Tallis were all at the Keep by this point.
- This story takes place 3 days before Good Friday (March 20, 706 CR); see Equinox Arriveth.
- Charles references the events of Escaping; this story takes place on the same day.
Story Connections
- Zhypar and his group, as well as Cutter, have all heard about Charles injuring Saulius, which happened in Facing Knight.
- Charles mentions biting through a chunk of petrified wood, mentioned first in Support Group.
