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A Tearful Reunion
(the Lexington-Galahad Connection revealed)
A portly man hurried through the busy streets of Deeptown, his face bearing a mark of great sadness. Other folk moved out of the man's way not wanting to be exposed to whatever calamity may have befallen him. He
hadn't slept since he had first heard the news.... His beloved nephew, Lexington was dead!
Cardelle wondered what this "Galahad" had to say to him about his nephew. Sister Elijah had been very vague,
but that was Sister Elijah, Cardelle had disliked her ever since his childhood, back then she was a Nun teaching at the school sponsored by the Church of The Creator back in Cathedral City. She had somehow
wound up way out here, and now acted like she was IN Charge!? Imagine that a Woman running a temple of the Creator! Well when Cassius recovered he'd put that Heifer in her place. Cardelle walked towards The
White Horse Inn a large man bumped into him.... Cardelle looked up...the large man spoke, "Sorry, didn't mean to bump you." Another slimmer man spoke," C'mon Brennar you clumsy oaf, we're gonna be
late for our meeting!" ...The large man sheepishly looked about then said.."Sorry ..Bro...er I mean, Coming Yakov...." and walked away. Cardelle shook his head and entered the Inn. There at a corner
table set this Galahad the most curious Gnoll Cardelle had ever seen. Of course it had been over twenty years since he had even seen a Gnoll.
Breathing a tired sigh, Cardelle walked over to the Gnoll and cleared
his throat...."You Galahad?, I'm Cardelle Cheshire, Sister Elijah said you had something to talk to me about???"
The man in the body of a gnoll sat in the corner table, wrapped up in thoughts.
Thoughts about a second chance now turned to a third, but at a price that had been far too high. Thoughts about enemies. Thoughts about the god and his wishes for his newest called. These thoughts had been
commanding his attention for more than a day. Galahad had barely been seen on the streets since the afternoon of Father Cassius' funeral. He had barely seen his companions. They were about town on business, readying
for the next venture, but Galahad didn't know where. He had lost track of their whereabouts more than a day ago and had been so wrapped up in his thoughts and plans and prayers that he had barely noticed. Just as he
had barely noticed the man who'd just entered. He'd been so used to everyone in town giving him wide berth he wouldn't have expected the newcomer to walk up to him regardless. So it was that the question the man
asked took the man in the gnoll body by complete surprise. In that moment he forgot everything. In the surprised voice of bungled memory, Galahad blurted, "Uncle Cardelle!? What are..."
He stopped.
Memory came flooding back. But it was too late. The speech so carefully crafted weeks ago was suddenly useless. Galahad looked into Cardelle Chashire's eyes, the very same color as his own.
Cardelle felt as if a
Giant's Maul had smashed him in the face! Lexie was DEAD, he'd seen the body, and yet this furry thing had just called him UNCLE! In LEXINGTON'S Voice!! And those eyes, those deep purple eyes matched his own!
mumbling to himself..."What...in the name of The Creator is going on here?? Has grief driven me from my senses?"...Then louder,"WHAT FouL TRicKery is THIS!"... "Who ARE YOU?And WHAT are you
About?!!""....his face was now a deep red, shoulders leaning forward in a challenging stance, hand at his sword hilt!
The few patrons near the pair noticed the exchange and gave the two a wide berth....
Lexington cursed himself for a fool. This had started bad and was already worse. He held his furred hands, padded palms to his delirious uncle. In his "Galahad" voice he softly said, "Peace,
Cheshire. I have the Creator's gospel I am charged to share with you." Slowly, Lexington edged his right hand/paw to the pair of chains around his neck. Hooking the gold tinted one with his thumb he drew it
out, carefully, so the silver one and its prize remained under his tunic and out of sight. In a moment the unmistakable (cross?), the Holy symbol of the Creator, was dangling between the man-become-gnoll and his
uncle.
"Will you sit? Will you hear?"
Cardelle was confused, surely his grief was affecting his senses and his judgement... Sister Elijah, a priestess of The Creator had sent him to talk to this
GNOLL, who was also an apparent priest of The Creator...he needed answers about Lexington and apparently this Galahad had them...Calming himself, trying to be rational, Cardelle eased away from his sword and nodded
slowly,"Alright Mr. Gnoll Priest, I'll sit..and I'll listen...for now." With that he pulled up a chair, and positioned himself opposite of the large Gnoll. He knew Duncan Thane would be just outside
the Inn by now, Cardelle had told the Houndsman to stay with the others, but Duncan never listened, he'd probably have half his pack with him, ready to pounce at their master's merest nod. This Gnoll had better be
the godly being he portrayed himself to be, or the White Horse Inn would be closing very early tonight...
Galahad spoke, "I know you know the Creator and have faith in His works. You know also the great
miracles His chosen may perform," the gnoll said. "Chosen such as the late Father Cassius." Cardelle scowled. "Aye - Cassius. A great man laid to his reward after bringing YOUR hide back, I've
heard." "To my ever shame," the gnoll said quietly, accidently slipping out of his more bestial voice, He recovered and continued, hoping the slip hadn't registered with his uncle. But not hoping too
hard. "You know the Creator has allowed those who are close to his wild nature such miracles as well. But at a price. As when a druid mends the bones of a young page who is tossed from a horse too wise to jump
the gorge he is ridden toward." Lexington had been just 10 when that happened. A back broken in several places and the right leg twisted in ways a leg should never go. If the druid Whitefern, the same one Mort
left the estate to follow, hadn't have witnessed it and healed the foolish boy, the gnoll would not be here now. Such out of Church healing, however did come with a price. Lexington's body recovered completely the
day after the druid carried him to the family house, but his corpse still bore the scars across his back and calf. The gnoll drew a breath at the memory, and readied to continue.
In spite of his reservations, Cardelle felt himself relaxing a bit, there was indeed something calming about this Gnoll, this "beast" was indeed a priest of the Creator, he only vaguely heard the
remarks about a druid, then caught himself...there was something about the story...something waay too familiar...Cardelle leaned forward a bit more, and looked directly into the Gnoll's purple eyes...
The purple eyes locked to each other and the gnoll continued, "And the druids can do more than heal. The Creator's chosen can bring back the soul to the body. The druids can not, though they may bring a soul
back to the world. The price paid is a body that differs from the original." He paused. "When Lexington was felled in battle, his companions returned his body to Deeptown only to find that Father Cassius
was away. They were pressed for time, evil was being loosed upon the world. They made a fateful decision."
Cardelle swallowed hard, he was hearing what the Gnoll was saying but his mind did not want to go in
the direction that this priest was taking him...surely not! surely not...but....putting his best face forward Cardelle told the Gnoll to, "continue.....tell me what it is that you are trying to
say..."
Hoping his uncle wouldn't break into the violence threatened moments ago, Lexington's gnoll snout took in a deep breath. "They decided on life. And after almost getting myself and
innocent companions killed by a purple haired bounty hunter hired by House Morlock, it seemed there would be no better way to escape the fat ones' assassins than a false death and new body." He
reached to the other chain around his neck. "You recall what was missing from the body you saw. I couldn't bear to part with the House tunic, or this."
And then he pulled out the signet ring he'd worn
since reaching his majority, but that was now too small for his fingers.
Shock clearly registered on Cardelle's face...he sucked in a deep breath of air suddenly realizing that for the past few moments he had been holding his breath..."Lexie?!.....is that really you?!....In the
name of The Creator....IS THAT really You?!.".... Something like a smile appeared on the gnoll face of Lexington. "This will make an interesting stanza to Nightsong's epics, don't you think?" He
glanced about the White Horse common room. Looking for who might be paying too close attention to this exchange. Cardelle was speechless, he didn't know whether to hug Lexie or belt him, as if in compromise the
elder Cheshire firmly grasped "Galahad's" hand/paw..."I don't understand all of this, but I thank The Creator for it nonetheless.." Sensing his nephews concern Cardelle also scanned about the
room. "Perhaps we should go somewhere more private and catch up?" Again Lexington's eyes scanned the room. He nodded and stood. "I have it in my room," he said with a wink at his uncle. Cardelle
forced his game face to remain the minutes it took to climb the stairs to the little room his transformed nephew led him to. Inside, Lexington closed the door. When the latch clicked, he embraced his uncle
with tears streaming from those purple eyes. Nothing was said for several long minutes. At last the two released. The tears were drying. Every pent up emotion Lexington had hidden under the fur of his form had come
out. The tension was released.
Whatever his appearence, he knew his uncle knew the truth, and knew him as his nephew. And soon his family would too.
Lexington directed his uncle to a seat, and then took one
himself. "Let me explain how I became this way...."
Cardelle listens intently to Lexington's tale, at times he laughs, other times he seems on the verge of tears. But nothing shakes his
intense joy at having found his dear nephew still alive! The tale goes on well into the night.
Then Cardelle takes his turn..."It is indeed a blessing of The Creator that you still walk this world...no
matter what form you are currently in. Though I don't know how I am going to tell your dear mother that her son now has a permanent winter coat! LOL" ...somber pause..."as much as I'd like to
maintain the jovial spirit of this evening, I feel I must tell you of news back home...Things are not well...the rumors of King St'vaan's death are growing stronger...and while the Church of The Creator maintains he
lives....I'm beginning to wonder if they don't know more than they are telling...The various noble houses are fighting amongst themselves, more now than ever before. I don't think that they realize that the real
enemy is not one another but the Power hungry zealots that now run things from Cathedral City. House Morlok has written you off as dead, since technically you are..word spreads fast..and Morlok now has it's sights
on bigger things....House Sinclair still offers a reward for any information as to the whereabouts of their lost member, Ambrose. Fewer and fewer non-humans are seen in Cathedral City and I fear that may
eventually become the norm for all of Avalon, only the political power of House Villani and some of the others has kept the Church in check so far. No word about the Prince has been heard, The Covenant of the Shield
has apparently been unsuccessful in its endeavors..I pray for us all...Lexington shook his furred head. "Indeed it sounds dark. I pray our House has stayed above the fray. No good can come at such a
clash. It only opens the door for the eastern powers to come through.
"Please tell the Sinclair House gently what happened to Ambrose, however foolish he was." He smiled. "But there's no
need to volunteer the full story to anyone outside our House. Especially the fat ones. A fine surprise it will be when they do find out!" Now he frowned. Lexington was torn. He had little reason to not
return home with his uncle. Avalon certainly sounded in need of help. The church sounded more and more ungodly. In fighting amongst Houses. No success in finding the prince, and after more than a year now. But
the monks! The Celestial Sai. They had much to answer for. With their smug assurance in their false image of goodliness. The truth of their manner had to be exposed. If Deeptown chose to keep company with them after
that, well enough. They would be dealing with truth as they wished and the city would reap what they sowed. But they clearly did not know the truth of that temple. Yes, Lexington silently decided. He would stay at
least until the evil nature of the monks of the Celestial Sai was exposed, however long it took, by whatever means it took. "Uncle," he said. "I would return with you, but there is a truth that must
be exposed before I may leave this place." Cardelle, placed his hand on Lexington's shoulder and spoke somberly, "I trust in your judgement nephew, you have changed a great deal, and not just in
appearance"...*faint smirk*..."I wish you all the best in your endeavors and do be careful of not taking on more than you can handle, Worry not for House Cheshire we will be fine. I will discreetly
inform House Sinclair of their lost son's fate. May the Creator continue to bless and protect you from the evils of this world.."
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