Story name: Ward
Author: Christopher Hughes
Date: late April - mid-May, 706 CR (about 17 days)
Location: Metamor Keep
Overview
The son of an enemy baron arrives at Metamor Keep, and Chris is obligated to protect him, despite the threat of war.
Summary
One night, Copernicus and Landon spot a teenaged rider rushing to the gates of Metamor, collapsing when he arrives, his back scarred and bleeding. Coe and Copernicus take him to the infirmary, where they quickly identify him as a member of Baron Grenier's court. Grenier has been responsible for at least a dozen Keepers' deaths since the Battle; Posti fears that tending to the boy for too long could lead to war.
As Posti and Copernicus are discussing the dilemma, Raven enters. She knows of the boy, and asks that Christopher be present when he awakes. Copernicus brings Christopher to the unconscious boy, and Chris feels a sudden warmth in his scar, the mark of Akkala. He waits until noon for the boy to awake, and tends to the stitches on the boy's back. The boy tells him that he is Paul Grenier, son of Baron Grenier. Christopher tells Coe that he intends to keep the boy at the Keep, and will explain to Posti.
Posti rejects the idea, even when Chris tells him of his geas to Akkala, but will consider it if the boy willingly chooses to stay. When he returns, Paul is quick to defend his father. When asked about the scars on his back, Paul calls it necessary, that his father must drive out the magic within him; he breaks down into tears. Chris leaves in anger and frustration, and sleeps poorly that night.
Rayce, Grenier's master-at-arms, arrives the next day, and demands to know of the boy's condition. Chris, who is there by Posti's request, tells him it will be two days before his leg can handle walking. While Rayce settles in, Chris brings Paul a meal, who is horrified to learn that Rayce has arrived. Paul tells Chris more about his magic, and his shame in performing it. He accepted his father's beatings, because it keeps him from performing magic for a while. Chris asks if he truly believes magic is evil, or if he just wants his father's love. Paul does not answer. After Coe tends to Paul, Chris swears to Coe that he will see to the boy's protection, no matter how Baron Grenier reacts.
The next day, Paul is able to walk with crutches, and Chris takes him to his quarters, where he finds it changed to provide a room for Paul. Chris asks Paul why he came to Metamor Keep in particular, as there is nothing further north than the Giantdowns. Paul does not respond, so Chris guesses that he was trying to hide from his father. Paul sighs, and explains that Lanton had entered a brief civil war between the Lightbringers and the Church; the Church won out, and selected his father as ruler. Since then, Paul's father has persecuted anyone who doesn't follow Church doctrine, including magic. Paul admits that he hoped he could stay long enough at the Keep to be changed, and unable to leave. He is afraid to stand up to Rayce, and he knows his father will come as soon as he is able.
After a restless sleep that night, Christopher shows Paul around the Keep. He and Paul pass the day setting up plans for his education. At night, Chris visits Pascal for a nocturnality potion, and spends the night in the lab creating a magic spell.
The next day, with Posti present, Chris presents Paul to Rayce, who commands him to follow. Paul steps forward, but after glancing at Chris, he declares his wish to stay. Rayce threatens him, and Chris releases his spell on Rayce, choking him with an invisible grip. Posti dissolves the spell and, despite Chris's protests, coldly tells him it must be done to avoid war. As Rayce recovers and Chris collapses in defeat, Posti whispers quietly, and Rayce shrieks when Paul's ears stretch and grow fur. Posti declares that Paul's curse has happened sooner than expected, and that Rayce should also leave before he too is effected. Rayce flees, and Paul's ears return to normal. Posti apologizes to Paul and Chris; he was against Chris forcing the boy to stay, but Paul independently declared his desire to stay, and he decided he couldn't let it happen on his conscience.
For the next 7 days, Christopher and Paul live comfortably at the Keep, carrying out the lesson plans they prepared earlier. Paul's curse takes hold the same day that Baron Etienne Grenier arrives. Chris leaves Paul on his room to rest while he, Misha, and Posti await the baron's arrival. Grenier coolly tells them that since his only heir is now dead to him, he has an ultimatum. Either they can send someone to face him in single combat to restore his honor, or he can slaughter as many people in the Keep as he can. He leaves before they can respond. Misha is ready to face him, but Christopher insists the responsibility is his. He gives some instructions to Posti in case of his death, and heads to the armoury.
A crowd has gathered in the courtyard, including Thomas, who ensures that Grenier keeps his word. Grenier also declares that there will be no magic, to Chris's dismay; Grenier easily outmatches him in combat. During their first exchange, Chris hears a woman calling out for her father; it is Paul, newly changed into a woman. Suddenly, Grenier strikes him along the back, paralyzing him from the waist down. He slips out of consciousness as Paul, now Lurene, calls him out for abandoning her, and caring only for his title and for the Church, and tells him to take his men and leave. Grenier is stunned, and slowly sheathes his sword and leads his men out the gate.
Christopher awakes a few days later in the infirmary. Coe is there to tell him that he will live, but the injury is beyond his ability to heal. According to Raven, Akkala could heal him, but only if he made a total pledge of servitude. Lurene enters, and the two share a tender moment together until Coe suggests they let him sleep.
Characters
Main characters:
- Christopher: A tutor of the Keep. He is under a geas to Akkala from the events of Fetish. Even without the geas, he empathizes with Paul's harsh upbringing, and wishes to protect him at all costs.
- His first exposure to combat was during the Battle of the Three Gates. He is still unused to combat since then.
- Christopher's spine is shattered during the duel, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.
- Paul Grenier / Lurene Grenier: A blond-haired teenage boy who changes into a blond-haired girl. When he arrived at the Keep, his back had several lashing, the freshest being less than a week old. His leg had been broken before, and mis-set. His family crest is of a silver greyhound in a blue enamel field. He can perform cantrips, summon fire, and create fae lights. He was formally taught history, politics, and rhetorical skills, but little beyond that.
- He is very afraid of Brian Coe, for reasons unknown.
Supporting characters:
- Copernicus: A lizard morph. He takes an interest in all newcomers to the Keep, and sometimes acts as both messenger and greeter. He carries a sword with him; although he is not the best fighter, Misha considers him better than Etienne.
- He considers himself quite passionate about astronomy, and thinks that Channing and Christopher treat it like a hobby.
- Brian Coe: Paul seems to know Brian, although he does not recognize Paul. Brian seems familiar with Etienne Grenier, and recognizes Rayce's name.
- Posti: A horse morph, the prime minister of Metamor Keep, and a powerful wizard. As representative of Thomas's interests, he tries to prevent Christopher from showing interest in Paul, and risk starting a conflict with Lanton. After Paul refuses, he intervenes with an illusion spell to make Rayce believe that Paul is cursed.
- Baron Etienne Grenier: The baron of Lanton. He is in his 40s, with graying hair. He had been a minor lord until he converted to the Ecclesia and called the previous baron a heretic. After a brief conflict, the King appointed Etienne as Lanton's rightful ruler. He has been a staunch supporter of the Patriarch and the Questioners since then. He hates magic, and is well-known at the University of Elvquellin for twice trying to shut it down. He has killed at least a dozen Keepers since the Battle of the Three Gates. He is persistent and prone to wild accusations, but he always keeps his word.
Minor characters:
- Landon: A grey fox morph. He is in command of the guardhouse when Paul arrives.
- Raven: The Lothanasi priest of the Keep. She has an air of authority that some people find irritating.
- Rayce: Master-of-arms to Grenier. He is as ardent an Ecclesian as his lord. His manner of speech is terse and to-the-point. afraid of curse, shocked by impertence.
- Duke Thomas: Ruler of Metamor Keep. He wishes only to avoid war with Lanton, and makes Etienne swear such an oath before the duel.
- Pascal: The Keep alchemist. She creates both sleeping draughts and awakeness draughts.
- Kee: The Keep messenger. Christopher sends him to fetch Coe as Paul is undergoing his change.
- Misha: A red fox morph, and scout. He delivers the news of Etienne's arrival, and is present for the duel in the courtyard.
Cameo:
- Fox Cutter: The Keep librarian.
- Donny: The bartender at the Deaf Mule.
- Bishop Simon: Baron Grenier's loyal Follower priest. He wears a black robe and hides his face with a long cowl.
Important mention:
- Akkala: The Lothanasi goddess of healing. Christopher is serving a geas to her, to take in Paul and raise him as his own.
- Hough: The itinerant priest of Metamor Keep. He does not yet reside in the Keep.
- Paul's elder brother was the Baron's only other son. He died when Paul was 11, leaving Paul as his only heir to the barony.
Referenced:
- Channing: Someone at the Keep who enjoys skygazing.
- Thalberg: A steward of the Keep, who is likely to know foreign heads of state.
- Michael: A recent newcomer to the Keep, whose changes took a month to complete.
- Kyia: The spirit over Metamor Keep.
- Magus: The most powerful wizard at the Keep.
- Jack deMule: The armorer.
- Jester: Christopher's friend in Ellcaran. Chris asks that he be notified in case of his death.
Locations
- Lanton: A barony outside the Metamor Valley. It belongs to a different kingdom from Metamor Keep. It is ruled by Etienne Grenier.
- Elarial: A city far from both Lanton and Metamor Keep.
- Sorin: A city over two days' ride from Metamor, though not in a direct route to Lanton. Paul chose to travel through this city to avoid attention.
- Midtown: A city that lies more directly on the route from Metamor to Lanton. Paul avoided it deliberately to avoid being seen.
- Christopher's room: The Keep changes it from an L-shaped room to a T-shaped room, with a curtain concealing a room with a bureau, a bed, and a full-length mirror.
Story Connections
- This story is a follow-up to Chris's side of events in Fetish.
Chronology
- Day 3 can be dated to late April and early May due to Hough not being at the Keep (or known to be at the Keep) at the time.
- This causes a continuity error later on, as Christopher is shown to be ambulant in A Place Where There Is No Darkness.
Points of Interest
- The Keep library contains a general-purpose laboratory open for any student, maintained by Posti and Magus.
| Pawns of the Gods | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stories | For Knowledge's Sake · Lightbringer · Tail of a Young Wolf · Fetish · Ward · En Lieu | |
| The Lessons Trilogy | Lessoned · Hard Lessons · Lessons of Solitude | |
| Lethe · For I Am Lost · Passing Notes · Clearing Away · The Winter Assault · Misericardia · Koinonia · A Pawn Advances · Lessons of Faith · Dances | ||
| Major Characters | Christopher · Wanderer · Raven · Lurene | |
