Metamor Keep -- Snips and Snails
By Christian O'kane

Part 9

"SILIENCE!" The Duke said in a loud voice. The arguing and bickering stopped immediately, and the throne room fell silent. With peace restored Thomas returned his gaze to the six people standing in front of him. "Continue with your explanation Misha," he said.

Misha looked at his companions. Jon looked nervous, but Smithson was calm. Madog seemed more interested the petting he was receiving from Lady Kimberly than in the goings on around him. Father Hough touched Misha on the shoulder and smiled.

The fox took a deep breath continued, "Lord Thomas, we had no way of knowing what Madog really was. We all thought he was just a very advanced, mechanical toy," he explained.

"It never occurred to any of you that to check for magic?" Wessex interrupted.

"Why? There weren't any clues that magic had been used. He looked

completely normal," Smithson countered.

"Normal? You ever see a mechanical animal that could walk and move

that didn't have magic at its heart?" Wessex queried.

"Yes!" all three keepers answered in unison.

"I find that hard to believe," Wessex commented out loud. Misha noticed many people in the room nod in agreement, including the Duke himself.

"My Lord, when I was twenty I was able to view the great swan of Maldan Hall," Misha said. "This swan was crafted life size from pure silver, and floated on a small pond of mercury. When a button was pushed it would seemingly come to life. It would flap its wings, and wiggle its tail feathers. Then it would scan the pond and then stick it's head under the surface for a moment. When the swan's head came back up a small silver fish could be seen wiggling in the beak. Then that silver head would tilt back and the fish would disappear down its throat.

"With that meal gone the silver bird would go back to searching the pond for another meal. Sometimes it would bring up a fish, other times a frog or a plant. It was spectacular to watch and it was all done with gears and springs like those in Madog. There was no magic involved," Misha finished.

"Three hundred years ago automatons were all the rage. It made sense that someone might try to curry favor with such an expensive gift," Jon said. Smithson and Misha nodded in agreement.

"What about the person who made it, have you found out anything?" Thomas asked.

"A little. He was a petty nobleman who had dreams of becoming the Duke himself. It seems he created Madog specifically to kill Duke Brian and pave the way for his own coup d'etat," came Smithson's reply.

"This mechanical contrivance is too dangerous. It has to be destroyed," a voice called out from behind Misha. He turned to locate the source, it was Rickkter.

By the look on his face the raccoon was not in the most pleasant of moods. He'd found the time to fully equip himself with weapons and armor. He was currently wearing a leather cape and cowl over his tunic and on his wrists were his magic bracers. The warrior mage was loaded down with many weapons. He had his mini-crossbow, a matching pair of very large throwing knives and of course his trusted wakinzashi and katana.

The katana was unsheathed and his arms were folded across his chest as he glared malevolently at the automaton. Evidently he really didn't trust this thing and he wasn't about to let it get another chance to surprise him.

He wasn't alone in that fear. There were forty guards in the chamber, all of them dressed in plate mail armor and a great shield. Long swords were gripped in their hands and maces hung from their belts. They were ready for war. Also present besides Wessex were five lesser mages. All the Long Scouts not out on patrol were there too, fully equipped for battle. All told it was an impressive show of force. Unfortunately it's intended audience didn't seemed to be impressed. Madog didn't look frightened in the least.

"Thomas, look at this," Rickkter said and held at arms length his war staff, or what was left of it. "Take a good look. The shaft of this was ironwood and heavily enchanted to prevent breakage and add strength." The raccoon held up the staff for all to see. The end had been completely shattered and was nothing more than splinters. "That thing did this with it's teeth. One bite, quick as lightening." He lowered the staff. "I don't think I have to go and remind anyone what it did to an entire marble statue in the space of a few seconds."

Rickkter pointed to Madog, "that killing machine has to be destroyed before it can cause any more harm."

"Having been repaired by someone who was ignorant of the truth, there is no telling just how stable the spells in it are. There's no way to judge what it will do next," Wessex said out loud.

Misha bristled at that remark. It made him look like a stupid oaf meddling in things he didn't understand. "I don't like your choice of words Mage," he said in a low tone. "No one could have suspected what he really was, not even a mage. The magic was too well hidden."

"Oh now you're an expert on magic," Wessex replied sarcastically. "The facts are that your creation attacked seven people and tried to kill the Duke."

Hough stepped forward. "He had no choice, he was acting under control of a spell cast by Vernosa," the boy said loudly. "Now he's free of that and his true soul is in control."

"SOUL?" Wessex said incredulous, "that's just a complex machine full of gears and wheels, powered by magic. Nothing else. That thing no more has a soul then my shoes."

Hough's face turned red as an apple, and he exploded in anger, "HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU! WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT SOULS!" he screamed, his whole body shaking with rage.

"My whole life is dedicated to saving souls," the priest said in a slightly calmer tone of voice. "Madog is one of Eli's creations just as we all are and deserves a second chance at life."

Misha looked down at the metal fox and found him staring at Hough in fascination. The metal creature must have sensed the scrutiny because he looked up at Misha with those blue eyes. "I wonder what you're thinking," Misha said to himself.

"Lord Thomas, such magic compulsion and control is too common an occurrence for Wessex and Rickkter to ignore. If Madog was truly acting under control of a spell, then he can't be held responsible for what happened," Matthias said. Misha noticed that unlike everyone else, the rat carried neither weapon nor armor.

"But how can he have a soul? Madog was built by a person in a workshop, not by a god," Posti injected.

Hough shrugged, "Who knows what magic Vernosa used to create Madog? My feeling is that the soul of a real fox resides in that metal body."

"Is that possible?" Thomas asked.

"It is," Rickkter said in a quiet voice.

Duke Thomas looked at Raven the Lightbringer. "You've been quiet so far, what do you have to say on this whole business?"

The wolf morph stared at Madog for a moment before answering. "He does have a soul, but whether it is good or evil I cannot tell. Much about him is hidden from me by potent magic."

"How do we know that Madog isn't evil? Just because the magic binding has been removed doesn't mean he has to good," commented Rickkter. "He could have the soul of a raving madman."

"Madog has the soul of an innocent animal," Hough insisted.

"He may have been innocent to start with," retorted Rickkter, "but that was before Vernosa corrupted him for his own uses."

"And who would know more about being a remorseless killer than you?" Matthias asked. Rickkter glared at the rat but didn't reply.

Misha paid no attention to the argument going on. He knelt down and placed his axe on the floor. Taking off his gauntlets he patted Madog on the head softly with his bare hand. The creature felt warm and alive to his touch. Madog leaned onto Misha's leg, and was obviously enjoying the attention. "I don't care what Rickkter or Wessex say. You have a soul, and it's not some madman's," Misha thought to himself.

"What are you Madog," he said in a whisper. "You certainly are more than just a collection of metal parts, but you're not a fox either. You're too smart for that. Maybe you're a little bit of everything, bits of animal, mechanical, and magic all mixed together."

He laughed a little as something from childhood came to him. "What are little boys made of? Why snips & snails and puppy dog tails. That's what good little boys are made of," Misha said reciting an old nursery rhyme. "I wonder what you're made of my metal friend?" After a moment of thought he reached a decision.

Misha grasped his axe and stood up. The fox rapped on the pavement three times with his weapon and the room fell silent instantly. "Lord Thomas, I will insure the good behavior of the person known as Madog. I swear that I will guide and protect him, and show him how to lead a long and productive life. This I swear with my own life," he said solemnly.

"Do you realize what you are saying?" Thomas asked.

"Yes my lord. I brought Madog back into this world so I feel responsible for him. But more so I believe that Father Hough is right, Madog is a good soul, who need protection and guidance."

"Lord Thomas, the fox doesn't seem to realize what that thing really is," Wessex said. "It's a homicidal, killer, and it can't be trusted."

Misha gave a little yip of laughter, "I seem to remember you saying the same thing about me some six years ago, Wessex. You were wrong then, and you're wrong now."

The mage stiffened and his eyes narrowed. "You broke my right arm in two places, all because I asked a simple little question."

Misha flattened his ears and pulled his lip back in a snarl, "I warned you three times, but you wouldn't listen. I don't like mages poking into my private business."

Wessex started to say something but the Duke hushed him with a wave of the hand. "I won't see that old argument brought back," he said. "This subject is more complicated than it first appears. Both sides have made good arguments, but Hough and Misha are right. If there is a chance that this creature," Thomas said pointing at Madog, "is innocent, and just a

victim of magic we must give him the benefit of the doubt."

Thomas nodded, "All right Misha, I grant your request, but only for one week. He is to be kept under constant, heavy guard the whole time and I want Madog examined thoroughly. At the end of that period I want a full report. Then I will decide if it is to be allowed to live or not."

Misha bowed deeply, "Yes Lord Thomas,"

Thomas surveyed the audience. "Does anyone have wish to dispute my decision?" he asked in a cold, no nonsense tone.

No one spoke up. Wessex reluctantly shook his head. Rickkter wore a seething expression on his face and had to bite his lip to keep quiet. Both were clearly unhappy with the Dukes decision but had the wisdom not to argue the point.

The Duke stood up ,"Good, this session is now dismissed."

End Snips & Snails

Back to Part 8

Return to Metamor Page