| After the town meeting.....
"So," the fox with my son's voice says. "You actually lived up to the
Oath of Knighthood?"
I stare into the brown eyes of the were…..no, that's not the term. I
stare into the eyes of the manimal before me. The eyes no longer
glare back at me in hate, just curiosity. Yet, there's something…..decidedly
different about this Frederigo D'Honaire.
It's not the fact that he is not of the Norse Church. The OTHER Fred…..the
one who regained his humanity through a disturbingly similar trial that
my son (by Thor….WHICH of those Demi-foxes who call themselves Fred is
my son?!)….that Fred's Allaria succumbed to the blasted Church….as well
as the Amazonian descendants found in Allaria. In him…..the "difference"
isn't there like it is here. In fact, despite the religious differences…..he
and my boy are surprisingly similar! If this Synizn does finally get around
to curing him and Astra that is! He's having…..one of them is having a
blasted conversation with a DRAGONNESS of all things! I feel as if I missed
something….and I hate that feeling.
No, while my sons wear the forms of a boy with fox ears and tail….and
skin coloration that mimics a blasted fox, while the moons out I can look
into his eyes…..sigh…..I see the human inside. Now that I have TWO sons….apparently…..I
look into their eyes and see….some type of human in there.
I look into this manimal's human like eyes…..I see something LIKE a
human…..but……something about him is…..different. It's the way he carries
himself. It's the way he acts. It's not a human being under the curse of
lycanthropy….where the beastial urges of the curse FORCE their way to the
top. He's not a beast….but he's….not human. Not anymore.
But…..though he's been transformed by whatever has happened, he's a
person.
"Of course I did," Duke Dredrick finally says, a slight edge of anger
in his voice. "Why should I NOT? I am a D'Honaire, and……"
"…..and if I don't live by honor I don't live at all." The manfox says
with a foxy smile. "I believe you….it's just….even with my…..brothers from
beyond the veil of reality SAY that you live up to your word….."
The fox swallows, and then continues. Dred notices that there is a look
of sadness to his vulpine features. Even his orange red foxtail is drooping.
"You look so much like my father," he finally states. "My father….Duke
Drederigo D'Honaire was anything BUT honorable. He put on a great
show that fooled almost everyone……
The manfox pauses as his hackles raise at the memory.
"On the day I learned how he failed to lift a finger to help a dying
peasant sworn to him," this Fred says. "I looked up into my father's eyes
and saw….a monster hiding inside. I look in you, and I DON'T see a monster
inside."
The manfox then tells the me how his father was even more of a black
hearted fiend than even HE had known…… Duke Dregerigo was a lapdog
to the dragon Minestus! Luckly for my double his body is back in that drowns
Atlantian city! Else I'd drag out his body and PISS on it!! Damn HIM for
NOT remembering his OATH! Damn him...for it. Soon, I calm down and stop
seeing the red rage I feel at my "mirror" brother. The manfox looks over
and visably perks up at the sight of his wife smiling at him.
After this, I stare after the manimal walk off and join his vixen wife
in some discussion I'm not privy to.
My presence here is one of being tolerated more than anything
else. My doppleganger from this mirror world of my home has done much to
mar my good name…..intentional or not….Or perhaps it would be more accurate
to say that I bear an unfortunate resemblance to the evil man, and though
these strange people can find it in their hearts to give me shelter…..my
face is an all too painful reminder for some…..the one known as Loam ESPECIALLY.
Coupled with the fact that these manimals observe no Royal or Aristocratic
titles……
This town is a good haven, but I must leave. I can't call it home. I
hope eventually me and my loved ones can find a way to defeat this Phage
that holds us hostage……and then pray that the magic users can somehow find
my….plane of existence. They say that they will work on it, but…….
I will ask the Synizns who are heading out to Walants if I can come
along with them. They go to cure a man by the name of Natthias of his lycanthropic
curse. My son….sons are nearly hopping up and down in the thought of heading
back there to try to bring some type of order and justice to that fell
town. I….feel I can find purpose in that honorable endeavor. Perhaps I
can even make something of a home up there. This worlds Allaria is gone
by all accounts and even if it were not…..it would only be a hearbreaking
mirror of my true home.
I pray to the my gods and goddesses that I may return home…..for I miss
you, my wife and daughter. At least I can find comfort in the knowledge
that my dear Frederigo is alive and whole. I will even be able to enjoy
the grandchildren he and Astra will have latter on tonight….both my Freds
and both his Astra's…..
Methinks I am getting a headache from this "parallel world" business
and mirror people. Best I just wait with my nervous sons in the "waiting
room" as that strange golem called it
I wish to see the faces of my grandchildren….all fourteen of them!
-
 And so....we cut to the
scene of two demi-foxes pacing nervously back and forth......
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