{"sf1_id":780458,"sf2_id":"YnLOlkpm","title":"The Lead Crown: Ch 6a, A World Apart (Pt 3)","author":"comidacomida","words":1627,"posted_at":"2014-11-10T07:19:00.000Z","tags":["Bear","Betrayal","Ermine","Fox","Human","Reader contribution","Steam Punk","danger","martin","subterfuge"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/780458-the-lead-crown-ch-6a-a-world-apart-pt-3","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/YnLOlkpm","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/ac/b5/acb5c797-57b1-47e8-b47f-2b6b56160d3d","description":"#55 of The Lead Crown\n\nWelcome to part 3 of Chapter 6 for group A-- it's a DOOZIE.\nThe first part of this post is told from the viewpoint of Gift-of-the-Earth, who is feeling at-odds with what he's perceived as Julius' possible involvement with some wrongdoings. The second part is told from Professor Blackburn's point of view as he navigates a very uncomfortable situation with the group. Is there more going on here than meets the eye? Yes-- yes there is. Sadly, we also remove Enarork from the party after this post... I'm sure he'll be missed.\nKeep in mind that the main body of the story is quickly coming into presentation and that means not everything is exactly as it seems-- based on the choice the Readers made involving Sister Yvette and Gift-of-the-Earth these last two posts it should become increasingly apparent that certain decisions could have unforeseen consequences. And, whether expected or not, it's time for yet another one... ouch.\nContributing Readers will have to decide exactly what happens next:\na) The party brings Kesst to Noriene since she will be able to do the most good with him.\nb) The party thinks the safest place for Kesst will be with the University so they bring him there.\nc) The party set up a ruse for Marcelle and they have an ambush prepared for him on their way to the Princess!\nd) The party set up a ruse for Noriene and have a 'special surprise' for her when they arrive at her manor!\ne) To hell with this! It's GOTTA be some kind of a nightmare or something-- we're calling foul!\nVotes will be accepted through midnight on Thursday, November 20th. Thanks for reading!","content":"Tranquil Waters: The Lead Crown  \nCh 6.3a, A World Apart\n\n_Gift-of-the-Earth_ remained silent at the group made its way back to the inn.\u0026nbsp; _Roaring Flood_ carried both Sanmer and Kesst without trouble and _Metal-Eyes_ followed right along beside him.\u0026nbsp; Although the jeweler still had some concerns about the Shaman, there were too many unanswered questions for him to make up his mind about exactly what had happened between the Ewe and the supposed assassin.\u0026nbsp; Those questions, he realized, would have to be answered... and soon.\n\nThe time came when the group separated, heading to their individual rooms at the inn.\u0026nbsp; Although they arrived late evening, _Metal-Eyes_ reassured everyone that nothing needed to happen until the following morning; apparently runners was being dispatched to let Marcelle and Princess Noriene know that they had successfully found Kesst.\u0026nbsp; The group was optimistic that they would be able to help restore him, and Gift-of-the-Earth was no exception.\u0026nbsp; His concerns remained, however, and only intensified as the night passed.\n\nEarly in the morning while everyone else was still asleep the brown Bear made his way to the room where he knew Metal-Eyes would be.\u0026nbsp; Following the Stone Tribe custom, the Jeweler hit the portal lightly with his knuckles.\u0026nbsp; There was the sound of movement from within and then a pause before he heard the Shaman call out in the Stone Tribe language, \"Yes?\u0026nbsp; Who's there?\"\n\n_Gift-of-the-Earth_ announced himself in the People's Tongue, \"_It is I, Metal-Eyes.\u0026nbsp; Open please... I wish to speak with you_.\"\n\nThe older Bear opened the door after a few more moments; the Shaman was dressed in his Stone Tribe\u0026nbsp; britches though the chest covering called a 'tunic' was still resting on the back of a chair.\u0026nbsp; _Metal-Eyes_ glanced one day down the hall, then the other before addressing him. \"_It is still early, Gift-of-the-Earth.\u0026nbsp; It will be quite some time before we leave_.\"\n\nDespite the comment, _Metal-Eyes_ moving aside and motioned him in.\u0026nbsp; The brown Bear inclined his head and did so, stepping through the door before the Shaman closed it.\u0026nbsp; The older Bear returned to where he'd apparently been seated before and picked up a cloth, rubbing it along the corner of a square-shaped wooden box.\u0026nbsp; The contraption caught the jeweler's attention, \"_I have seen one of those before... the Stag I traveled with had one_.\"\n\n_Metal-Eyes_ glanced his way, \"Tobias Severna _the prong horn... yes... this is his in fact.\u0026nbsp; It is called a_ 'phonograph' _or, rather, a field version of one_.\"\n\n_Gift-of-the-Earth_ looked at the wood-and-metal contraption, \"_Why do YOU have it_?\"\n\nThe Shaman smiled, putting down the oiled rag, \"_I had taken possession of it so it could be returned to the_ University _for safe keeping.\u0026nbsp; It really IS a marvelous device... would you like to see how it works_?\"\n\nThe brown Bear shrugged, and listened with disinterest as the older Bear spoke about things that simply didn't make sense to _The People_.\u0026nbsp; _Gift-of-the-Earth_ figured he could probably manage to get it to save sounds and perhaps make it repeat them, but the finer points of what it was and how it worked were lost to him; he attributed it to yet another kind of magic and was happy to leave it at that.\u0026nbsp; Only once _Metal-Eyes_ fell silent did the jeweler speak up, \"_Why did you kill those people, Metal-Eyes at the hide away_?\"\n\nIn all honesty, _Gift-of-the-Earth_ had expected the Shaman to immediately attest his innocence and then address the question but, to his surprise, _Metal-Eyes_ simply let out a breath before looking up and offering him a hesitant smile, \"_You know... I am glad that this is in the open.\u0026nbsp; Thank you for coming and talking to me, Gift-of-the-Earth_.\"\n\nThe jeweler was stunned, \"_You... admit to killing them_?\"\n\nThe Shaman nodded, \"_Yes.\u0026nbsp; Sadly, it was necessary_.\"\n\n_Gift-of-the-Earth_ frowned, \"_Killing is never necessary_.\"\n\n_Metal-Eyes_ nodded sadly, \"_I know it is hard to understand, but the Ewe... she was a danger to the cause, and a danger to_ Kesst.\"\n\nThe jeweler shook his head.\u0026nbsp; \"_LIFE is a cause, Metal-Eyes... how could she even have been a danger to_ Kesst?\u0026nbsp; _She meant to help him_.\"\n\nThe Shaman opened up his box of Stone Tribe tools, letting out another sigh, \"_I am sorry, Gift-of-the-Earth... this isn't something I can expect you to understand.... I only want you to be able to trust me_.\"\n\n_Gift-of-the-Earth_ took a seat on the bed within arm's reach of his mentor and gingerly set a paw on the older Bear's shoulder, \"_Help me to understand, Metal-Eyes; help me to trust you_.\"  \n\u0026nbsp;  \nThe Shaman nodded quietly as he pulled out what looked like a small metal-and-glass twig, \"_I would like that very much... please, give me your arm_.\"\n\nThe jeweler did so, holding his paw out to the older bear, who took it.\u0026nbsp; _Gift-of-the-Earth_ jumped in surprise when the pointed tip of the metal-and-glass twig stuck into his forearm.\u0026nbsp; He barely had a chance to let out a single syllable, \"Wh--\"\n\nEverything became blurry as the world started spinning and he felt himself fall, but _Metal-Eyes_ caught him and slowly lowered him to the floor.\u0026nbsp; _Gift-of-the-Earth_ felt light headed, and sick to his stomach, going numb everywhere except where he'd been stabbed in his arm; it burned like fire.\u0026nbsp; Somewhere that sounded far off he heard _Metal-Eyes_ speak softly in a sorrowful tone, \"_I'm sorry, Gift-of-the-Earth... but I can't explain and I can't stop... I hope you will forgive me when we... when we meet again_.\"\n\n\\* \\* \\* \\* \\*\n\nIt was mid-morning by the time Professor Blackburn had his next visitor, but it still felt entirely too early.\u0026nbsp; The knock at the door interrupted the Bear's continuing attempts to fit the unmoving, brown-furred ursine form into the too-small stoage chest.\u0026nbsp; He looked up over his shoulder as he closed the lid most of the way, \"Just a minute!\"\n\nTheo's inquiring call came through the door, \"Professor?\u0026nbsp; It's almost time to go!\"\n\nJulius nodded to himself as he draped a few sheets and pillows across the uneven top of the container, \"I'm just... packing... something... almost ready!\"\n\nThere was no response from the other side of the door for almost a minute until a fresh knock sounded and another voice spoke up in the Tribal Tongue: Roaring-Flood, \"_Metal-Eyes... have you seen Gift-of-the-Earth?\u0026nbsp; He is not in his room_.\"\n\nThe Professor finished camoflaging his deed before replying in Lehsunian, \"Yes, Waka'Mine... he visited me earlier this morning.\"\n\nAfter that, Julius went to the door and opened it; he was surprised to see not only Theo and Roaring Flood, but also Marcelle.\u0026nbsp; Before anyone else could speak up, Roaring-Flood continued his questioning in the Tribal Tongue, \"_So... where is he?\u0026nbsp; We are getting ready to leave_.\"\n\nProfessor Blackburn stepped out into the hall and closed the door behind himself, \"This journey is getting more and more dangerous-- I... sent him home.\"\n\nThe large black Bear stared at him as if confused but, ultimately, he nodded and let Marcelle take over control of the discussion, \"According to the Fox you have found and recovered Kesst?\"\n\nJulius nodded, \"Yes.\"\n\nThe Marten tapped his foot expectantly, \"Well?\u0026nbsp; Where is he?\"\n\nConsidering the mistrust Sanmer had developed for the Order of Blades since the prior night it made sense that the Fox wouldn't have said a word.\u0026nbsp; The Professor was happy to play along, \"Safe.\u0026nbsp; Kesst is safe.\"\n\nMarcelle folded his arms across his chest, a displeased look very evident on his muzzle, \"I see... so we are going to return to the Princess and inform her that Kesst is 'safe', but not bother returning to her WITH him?\"\n\nSanmer stepped out into the hall from an open doorway, \"The Order of Blades never work against their own contracts, right?\"\n\nLetting out a sigh and rolling his eyes, the Marten turned to address the rogue, \"Yes.\u0026nbsp; That is true.\u0026nbsp; That doesn't answer my--\"\n\nThe Fox didn't let him finish.\u0026nbsp; \"So, if the Order of Blades destroyed The Temple of Ardor's Grace then it couldn't have conflicted with other jobs you have?\"\n\nMarcelle's scowl deepend, \"We don't discuss our contracts with outsiders... and we have already gone over this, Mr. Lemarre... we were unaware your sheep friend had Kesst.\"\n\nThe sides of Sanmer's muzzle lifted, hinting at a snarl, \"But you DON'T deny having them hunted down and killed?\"\n\nThe Marten shook his head, \"I cannot deny that because I do not know of what activities other cells of the Order of Blades may be undertaking.\"\n\nNicholas was also eager to add his voice to the too-loud conversation, \"So how do you know you're not dealing with conflicting contracts then?\"\n\nThe Blade frowned, \"Our contracts are accepted by a central administration...a 'business office' if you will.\u0026nbsp; They double check outstanding notes to make certain that kind of thing does not happen-- what is this all about?\"\n\nSanmer's entire attitude suddenly improved, \"Well... just fact checking.\u0026nbsp; You may want to know that someone out there is trying to frame your Order for a series of assassinations.\"\n\nThe Human sailor 'hmph'ed as he leaned back against a wall, \"Which doesn't make any sense since everyone's pretty sure it was the Blades who attacked the Temple anyway... what difference would it make if they did or didn't hunt down all the survivors?\"\n\nJulius rubbed his muzzle in thought, trying to figure out the best way to get the conversation over and done with, \"Perhaps there is more to this than we may first suspect.\u0026nbsp; We should continue this discussion at another time... for now, we must meet with the Princess.\"\n\nThankfully it was enough to get the objections to end and the Professor led them from the inn and further away from the site of Julius' most recent... offense.\n\n  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"The Lead Crown","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/780470-the-lead-crown-ch-6c-ghosts-of-the-past-pt-3.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/780460-the-lead-crown-ch-6b-the-brightest-blossom-pt-3.json"}}