Martin shuts the door behind Edan very firmly. It's not a slam but the message is clear: Do Not Disturb.
He turns back around to look at Folly, making an abortive gesture to cross his arms across his scarred midsection; it's a conscious choice not to do it on his part. "You want to go first or shall I?" he asks after a moment, and moves toward a chair to settle into it.
He's tired, beat up, needs a shower (stinks of smoke and sweat and who knows what else), but he's clearly not willing to put this off a moment longer.
"Oh, I think that would be me," Folly says in a singsong tone that sounds like an apology. She wets a clean cloth in the basin, wrings it out so it's cool and damp, and offers it to him.
She perches on one arm of his chair with her feet on the other -- not quite in his lap, but near enough. Her own attempts to clean up at the basin were hasty and imperfect; so if his sense of smell isn't too overwhelmed by his own smoke and stink, and he's paying the least bit of attention, he'll know which plan she used before she says anything.
What she says is: "So, I did the thing. And it worked, but there were some unexpected consequences. Like -- okay, let me start out by being very clear that I love you, which you know, and you are my husband, which I think you also know. But I think I also married Xanadu. The... the Jewel knows it, too."
She looks as though there might be more, but that's already kind of a lot, so she pauses to give Martin a chance to respond.
If Martin can tell what she's been up to, he's not giving it away. He takes the cool cloth and starts wiping himself down with it, buying himself a moment to consider what to say.
It turns out to be: "You did the right thing. I knew you were going to do it, and I knew you were going to mean it, and if you didn't mean it, the thing wasn't going to work. And if I hadn't known it, I got told that was going to be the outcome." Martin's smile doesn't even try to reach his eyes.
"So now you're Queen of Xanadu. And Edan says the ex is possessed by the Queen of Air and Darkness, which I one-hundred percent believe. Edan sealed her up in a bottle and we--I--flubbed the play with the Marshall. Edan Parted the Veil to where the Lamp is camping, and he and the Marshall went through and left me behind. The Marshall saw my plan coming, I guess; I went to Paige and she made a sketch as best she could from my description, and I used her Trump to get to Edan. But the Marshall was already gone and he took the bottle, with her in it, with him."
Folly thinks that over for a moment, then says, "Okay, I know we've all been very wary about reuniting the Queen with her people, but this isn't necessarily a pure lose for us. I mean, we wanted a way to separate the Queen from Vialle, and presumably that's what they're going to try next. And either Vialle comes through the process more-or-less okay, which was what we were trying to achieve, or she doesn't survive, which would spare her what comes next. And I still hold out hope that there's a diplomatic approach to peace with the Moonriders that we can work out with their volunteer hostage even if they do have their queen back. So. Not all bad, necessarily. It just speeds up our timeline a bit."
She processes a bit more of what Martin said before the story of the Marshall, and asks tentatively, "...'Got told' by whom? And did they tell you the other part?"
"Vialle. Or the Queen, depending on your point of view," Martin says. "Which other part should I know about or not?" Because clearly he has an idea, but he's not sure they're on the same page.
"Yeah. So." Folly stares at her hands in her lap without really seeing them. One at a time, the fingertips of one hand tap the other's in a complicated pattern, like she's doing sums, or keeping time, or casting a spell. "I mean, biologically there's no way to know at this point, but metaphysically...." She meets Martin's gaze, her expression difficult to read. "I think there's a really good chance I'll catch, you know?"
Martin may notice, if he hadn't before, that she's wearing one of her dresses from the very early days of her pregnancy with Lark, before they left for Lauderville. But that might just be because while they were away her mother raided her closet for all the non-maternity clothes.
Martin nods, once. "She didn't tell me that, but you don't have to be a redhead to know the outcome of the Great Rite."
"Yes, well, going into it I thought--- Well, never mind what I thought. We're here now, and what I think now is that I'm going to need to stay in Xanadu for a while. Which means we'll need to figure out whether Lark is also going to stay in Xanadu for a while." Folly frowns thoughtfully. "But not until after the meeting." She does not add '...so we have a better threat assessment,' but Martin can guess that's at least part of what she's thinking.
"I'm not staying in Xanadu," Martin says flatly. "I'm thinking of basing out of Rebma or Avalon, both of which are secure, and in Rebma, if Celina will have me, we'll also have the advantage of a Triton to watch her, which will be useful until she's old enough to walk the Pattern in a couple of decades."
"Yeah, I guess all my grand plans to nudge you to spend some more quality time with your dad are off the table for a while, huh?" Folly says with a wry smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes, which look a bit glisteny. She blinks and takes a deep breath to steady herself.
In a more even tone she continues, "You know I'd rather do this with you than without you" -- Martin gets the impression she means both him specifically and him and Lark together -- "but I'm aware the situation is... well, 'weird' is a gross understatement. So I understand; I'm not going to force you into a front-row seat, but I'd also rather I didn't completely lose my husband and daughter for the next 20 years, you know?"
"It's not like visiting is off the table, either way, and it's not like Lark won't need or want to know her sibling," Martin says. "But I've got a limit on how much I can do, and--" he shrugs slightly, making an accompanying gesture of helplessness with his hands "--this is it. I have done my duty twice over, and I give you my blessing to do what you need to do. I just can't stay here and watch it, and I need Lark for a while. And we'll figure the rest out from there."
Folly smiles, reassured, and leans over to kiss his forehead. "Just so you know, there will be times between visits that I need to abuse my trump privileges because it's all just a lot and I miss you. But we'll figure out a way to make it work."
She sits up again and says after a moment's musing, "My gut says Rebma. Even if Celina weren't so inclined for your own sake -- although I think she would be -- I feel certain she'd do it for Lark's. Just---" She hesitates, like she's figuring out how to say the next bit.
"Just don't give Lark any ideas about walking the Pattern until we know she can do it. Not just that she's old enough, but---" She frowns. "I think your dad will be able to sense it, when he meets her. I just don't want her to---"
She shakes her head gravely and takes Martin's hand. "You remember that night when you told me the story of how you got out of Rebma? I mean, there was a lot, but how your grandmother treated you--- I knew. About your mother. How she really died. I was hoping to confront your grandmother with it, to make sure I was right, but obviously that never--- But Celina confirmed it, last time I talked to her." She squeezes Martin's hand gently. "This isn't really how I wanted to tell you, but I wasn't sure I'd get another chance before you have to go."
There's no movement, exactly, but there's a flash in Martin's eyes like she punched him in the gut again. "You got any other bombshells you want to drop before we finish?"
He continues before Folly can say anything, "Regardless of what my mother did or didn't do, the whole point of keeping Lark out of court has been so she never got trapped like an octopus in a glass bubble. I've been trying to arrange a normal childhood for her -- as normal as any of us get -- and I will continue to do that."
Folly nods. "I know my heart will ache, not having her here, but it's the right thing to do. And she should be with her father." She says that last as if it's a foregone conclusion. "I know you'll do what's best for her, and I'm so glad I have you as a partner in this, even if it's at a distance for a while."
Martin works his hand gently out of hers. "I need to clean up as best I can and change clothes before we do this thing. You might want to---" He touches his nose with his free hand.
"Yeah, I know," she replies with a wry smile. "Let's see how quickly we can make ourselves more-or-less presentable. And if all we can manage is 'less', we can always try to sit downwind of everyone else...."
The servant's wing is a hive of activity, and some page or underbutler is directing people to move tables and chairs out towards the gardens. They are like a line of ants, and adjust to the four royals much like ants would (by getting out of the way but not slowing their march towards the gazebo). At the side stair Garrett leads a small pack of cousins towards the door where Brita has entered the castle.
As the group reaches the bottom of the stairs near a side entrance, they find the hall is extremely busy. There are servants carrying tables and chairs towards the garden (presumably for you) and coming in the side entrance are Brita, Vere, Robin, and the Moonrider Princess. She moves like water, and has a warrior's awareness of where every living or moving thing in the hall is at any given moment. She nods at the party by the stairs.
Brita gives a slight bow. "Your Majesty. Is it Time? We are Headed to Your Father."
Robin acknowledges her cousins with a nod and a wave but stays as out of the way as she can.
Vere nods. "Highness, Cousins," he says quietly. He is pushing a small cart with a chest on it.
"Highness," Edan adds to First, with a short bow to her and his cousins.
"That's gonna have to wait a bit," Garrett says, waving the group to join his own group on the path to the meeting point. He slows though as he looks darkly at the unfamiliar person in their group. "Who's this?" he asks intently. The question is directed to anyone who cares to answer in either group.
"The Moonrider called First-to-the-Fray," Brennan says, in a flat voice.
First bows back. She also bows to Garrett, and is ready to fall in with him. She speaks to Garrett. "Do you have an opinion on peace-through-royal marriage, your Highness?"
Ossian bows and smiles at this question. He looks quite happy actually.
Robin can't resist a small amused snort at First's question and her eyes are sparkling as she awaits the answer.
Had he not just returned from Rebma, Garrett might have been more flustered than he is. He simply replies with, "Er, not at this time. Highness." He adds the last with a slight head bow and a tight smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes.
Garrett pauses and looks to Brennan and Edan. "Can I have a word?" he asks, nodding to a point away from the group.
Edan says, "Of course, your Highness," and turns to add to the others, "Please excuse me for a moment." The awkwardness is there, but he does his best to move through it.
"Of course, my Prince," Brennan says. He'd never dropped his game face-- perhaps pointedly did not drop his game face-- when First made to join the group. He follows Garrett's lead.
The three of them move aside into an alcove further down the hall, away from the throne room.
Garrett mutters a curse, holds up a hand, and steps back into the hall, in sight of the rest of the party. "Hey! Can one of you call Celina or Jerod?" he calls back to the main group. "They might be waiting to come up."
Turning back to the two warriors, who he of course selected for that purpose, he gets right to the point. "So, First-to-the...First. Have I missed something? Because I thought we were just at war with them?" He doesn't sound angry. He sounds like a man trying to catch himself up.
"As far as I'm concerned, we still are," Brennan says. His voice is pitched not to carry, and since it's just Family he drops the game face. "Part of the reason I instigated this Optional Fun Meeting is to get us all on the same page, because I know things are happening fast enough that we're not. Which is potentially fatal when dealing with the Moonriders. But in a nutshell, from my view: First-to-the-Fray was with the group a bunch of us faced at the Xanadu Stair; she and Conner dueled and she was taken prisoner; and she was supposed to be held... somewhere. After that, Ossian, Jerod and I fought a small but pitched battle against a different group in Avalon. Technically I'm supposed to be escorting the losers back to Ghenesh right this very minute. I have no idea if First knows any of that, but if not, best to keep it that way."
Brennan glances at Edan at the mention of a pitched battle-- now they have notes to compare.
Edan closes his eyes and sighs. "First-to-the-Fray and I have a history. I met her during the Race to Madness. After some mutual interest and some communication and possibly a betrothal that was really a miscommunication, her family decided we should wed for some kind of alliance. Having no idea of this, I met Hannah. You know the rest of that. I'm pretty sure one reason the Moonriders came to the Stair was to formalize the offer with one of us."
Garrett's eyebrows rise in surprise at the mention of 'betrothal' but he doesn't interrupt.
"If she doesn't need to know about Avalon, she also doesn't need to know that Martin and I fought a pitched battle with Vialle and Fiona in the king's bedchamber. Or that we absconded with the possessed Queen while Folly tried to snap the king out of his funk. Or that we raced one step ahead of the Marshal and his posse through Shadow. Or that I sealed up Vialle and the Queen of Air and Darkness in a bottle while doing it, and lost them to the Marshal when he finally caught up with me. But hey, Folly got Random back to normal. So that's something."
Garrett winces and rubs a hand to his forehead as if he's developed a sudden headache around the time that Edan mentions losing the Queen in a bottle. After Edan finishes, he sighs heavily and says without emotion, "Yeah. I reckon that's something."
After a moment, the prince blows out a breath and gathers himself. "All right. We are where we are," he begins, looking between the two of them. "Right now, I don't want First at our meeting. But I do want all of US at our meeting. That means we need to find guards, but I don't want any more of our people getting time-fucked. Thoughts?"
"No, she can't be there-- we need to be able to speak as freely as possible, and she completely inhibits that. What's this I hear about the King? Is it safe to leave her with him?" Brennan asks. "It sounded like that's where they were going anyway."
"Folly said he was back to himself," Edan says. "The Queen of Air and Darkness left a magic circle in the king's rooms, something that can't easily be erased, and I mislike that. But the geas she had over Random and Fiona was broken after we got the two Queens out of Xanadu. Sort of a stalemate, then. First was nowhere around when this was going on, and I saw no evidence she was involved in this...inside effort. Maybe she knew about it, maybe not."
"Yeah, I saw him earlier. He did seem at least close to himself, though perhaps a bit more scattered than usual," Garrett says, frowning. "I reckon that's the best we can do at the moment," he decides. "Let Brita and Vere complete their mission and meet us after." He nods back toward the main group. "Let's go."
Brennan follows suit, and Edan nods and comes along. After talking, he looks slightly relieved.
Brita watches the three of them drift off out of hearing range. She glances at her near cousins and then First and says, "Well, That Went Well." She glances back at Garrett's group - looking at posture of the Prince. She cocks a head to the side, "Not a Bad Thought, though. He is a Good Prince."
First looks briefly at the retreating Prince and nods. "He is young, but he has presence. I am reserving judgement, but my father will eventually want a report."
She hesitates and leans in closer to Brita. "I have not been married before, Sister. Have you? I have seen it in many cultures, but it is not common amongst our peoples. It was never a consideration of mine until it became a part of a possible diplomatic solution to our war."
Brita gives a loud huff, "No, I Have Not Married. Most of the 'Eligible' Men in Shadow Asgard were More Prone to Carousing than Courting." The air quotes of sarcasm are obvious. "There are More Options Here. Cousin Garrett has a Strong Heart and Open Mind. A Merger with Him would be Easy on You. There Could be Other Options - Trade of Heirs for Fostering, for Example."
With all this talk of marriage, Robin's eyes drift wistfully to Vere. Her Love, her reason to live, beautiful, wise and loving. But not her husband.... A small sigh escapes her.
First clearly notices, but says nothing. She nods at Brita's suggestions.
Down the hall the eastern throne room door opens, revealing Hannah in a simple indigo linen dress. Her beaded belt matches her partially visible moccasins and the strap she's carrying the cradle board by. Her hair is loose and straight as ever. There is a corvid perched on the cradle board. When she sees the group down the hall she reverses course.
Hannah opens the second door for them, and motions to a servant in trading sign to bring more refreshments. She's clearly taking care in her movements so as not to over tilt the cradle board.
She steps to the side with an arm sweep, and grins encouragingly for them to come along. There is a welcoming smile for the one she doesn't know.
Anyone still looking toward the Prince's group sees Garrett step back into the hallway. "Hey!" he calls out to the main group. "Can one of you call Celina or Jerod? They might be waiting to come up." He does not wait for an answer and disappears back into the alcove.
Vere shakes his head slightly. "He has mastered the Princely art of expecting orders to be obeyed, whether possible or not," he observes mildly. "Have any of you cards for Queen Celina or Prince Jerod?"
Robin shakes her head in the negative.
Brita begins to dig in a pocket as she notes, "I Have Cousin Celina." Her motions angle her back towards the door where she spots Hannah standing in the open doorway. She nods to her cousin with a slight smile aimed at the cradle board, "Shall we Join Cousin Hannah?"
Ossian shakes his head. "I don't have either card. But I could run to the Trump Booth, I guess."
First speaks to her gaolers. "If you need to go with your Prince, I can show myself into the throne room. Or ask for directions from the kitchen." She looks towards Hannah. "I would like to meet Edan's baby and lover, but that can wait until after the King."
Vere frowns slightly. "The King did ask us to bring you to him, and I do prefer to follow orders to the letter when possible." He looks to Brita to judge her opinion.
Brita nods in agreement. "We Will Accompany You to The King for Introductions." She leads the way towards Hannah and the throne room door.
Robin smiles warmly to Hannah and the baby, but she's mostly concentrating on following Brita's lead and keeping herself and the firelizards quiet and out of the way.
Garrett leads Brennan and Edan out of the alcove, looks around, and sees the rest of the group heading toward the throne room. He also notices that he does not see Celina or Jerod and mutters yet another curse under his breath. "Can you two monitor what's happening with First? I gotta trump Celina," he says, taking a step back toward the alcove.
Brennan gives the situation a political assessment almost as fast as he'd assess a battlefield and comes to these conclusions: One, First doesn't need-- or, probably, deserve-- a Five Cousin escort for the few remaining paces it will take to get to the throne room. And that escort probably shouldn't include Edan or himself, anyway. Two, Robin, Brita and Vere don't need supervision or monitoring, while doing that. Three, so let's at least try to save everyone's face here.
Brennan's long strides carry him over to Vere, draws him aside if necessary and murmurs into his ear: "Prince Garrett wishes common sense to reign. Get her to the King, leave her there if it seems safe, and come join us when you're all reasonably able-- alone. He'll handle the Trump Call." That's about as much monitoring of the situation as Brennan thinks is warranted, much less possible without carrying an unintentional slight.
Vere nods shortly and murmurs, "Understood."
Brennan then withdraws and heads to the-- Unicorn help them all-- the gazebo, hopefully with Edan.
Not long after Brennan leaves, there are workers coming from the kitchen with more food, presumably for whoever is in there talking with Random. (Most of those in the hall will recognize Fletcher.) The servants' halls here aren't as narrow as they are in Castle Amber but it's still crowded, and moving into the alcoves next to doors is basically the option.
Hannah steps to the side of the doors to let the group enter, and says quietly to Heckle, "Here come the dragonets. If there needs be a 'display' please tell me now so I can step out and bring my sister with us."
Robin is just keeping track of servants, cousins, Moonrider, chest, firelizards... yep, back in the civilized lands.
Conner and Raven leave the Chancellery and walk through the town on their way to Conner's tower. He wants to see if they have made any progress clearing stuff away since they left.
"I am glad to be out of there. Even for me, that was rather a lot of diplomacy for one day." Conner chuckles. "So, I never did get a chance to ask, what was the Trump call about. Is there family news?"
"Aye, there was a bit," Raven agrees. "And I didn't figure any of it was worth letting Weyland hear about or I'd have said more." She pauses and snorts softly, shaking her head. "Sorry for taking so long - some of it was Signy warning us not to trust him, which I figured we had covered. You want the general stuff or the stuff we'll have to do something about soonest first?"
"Give me the general stuff first." Conner answers. "Might not get back to it if we start with the urgent."
Raven nods at that. "Fair enough." She lowers her voice. "Word from back in Xanadu is that the King is 'more himself.' Something happened last night - she didn't know what - and she said the feeling around the place is that some problem's been dealt with, but nobody's sure that's the last of it yet. And Martin and Edan took the Queen to somewhere not-Xanadu. Call got interrupted, actually, so Signy could pass over some sort of magic chain to be sent to them. She didn't say for certain, but with all that, I'm guessing that breakfast meeting we were too busy for ain't a thing anymore."
"Well that's to the good. Acting for the good of Xanadu is far easier when it isn't considered treason." Conner nods. "Was this chain a silver one obtained in Tir?"
Raven considers that for a moment and settles on, "Not sure. Just said that she'd got it on an expedition and that it might or might not help whatever Martin and Edan were up to. And I didn't press - the King part seemed a little more important. Ain't a fan of those in charge not being fit for duty."
"Nor I." Conner agrees. "But if this is the chain I know of, it was found in the shadows near Tir and once bound a knight from ancient times. If Edan and Martin wanted that, then they likely needed to bind the Queen or something within her. Disturbing."
"I didn't say it was all happy news," Raven says dryly. "Before the duel, Martin said there was someone else in her body. Maybe he was right and that's what they're after?" She shrugs. "I figured we could get the whole story when we get back, and I'm not sure if Signy knew the whole thing, anyway."
"That was the supposition I heard too. Edan must have confirmed it." Conner sighs. "I hope Vialle can be extracted from whatever holds her." He sighs again. "What is next on the agenda?"
"That's all the big news, I guess. Your sword-fighting buddy's people started talks to get her loose. King wanted to touch base with people." Raven thinks for a moment. "And we ain't recalled to home port yet. That said - seems Brennan floated the idea of a meeting of the younger folks. Tomorrow, Xanadu time."
"Hmmm." Conner mulls that over. "Probably wise to regroup and share news but I am not ready to return to Xanadu. Not until I see what the Dey of Longtides wants anyway. He is an information broker among other things and last seen in Edan's home the Land of Peace. He seemed established and comfortable where he was. I think he may have useful knowledge. Are you up for a trip beneath the waves?"
"Never been any closer than sailing over it," Raven answers, shrugging. "Not against it if you don't mind me tagging along. I told Signy we'd plan to be there, not that we definitely would be. Useful knowledge about what?"
Conner shrugs. "I don't know precisely. Reading between the lines I believe Bleys made use of the Dey's abilities during his time in the Land of Peace and the Dey looks upon us as allies or favored customers. If he wants to talk to me, then he has found out something he thinks we want to know. Likely about one of the many cross shadow problems we're dealing with at the moment." Conner stops walking and turns back towards the Gate. "I'm thinking now that the tower can wait. Best we tackle this while we still have the time. Let's go and see if Ebb has resurfaced and if not the way to the trading shell he mentioned."
Raven comes to a halt and turns as well, but she frowns as she looks towards the water - or rather, the harbor and the ship full of men she's responsible for. Still, she'd been expecting this trip to bother Weyland to take longer than it did... After a beat, she squares her shoulders and nods. "Aye," she agrees. "As I understood it, the point of getting together was sharing information, and don't know about you, but it kind of feels to me like we ain't got much."
"Agreed." Conner nods. "Weyland confirmed what I suspected. That whatever was done to Marius would be beyond the capabilities of the Triumvirate and Huon so there was yet another silent partner. No clues to who though and Huon keeps not bringing it up. I had hoped replenishing the Tower would help but it seems that is going to take time. Better to leave it to the Chancellor and her army of scholars and hope for the best. I think she is at the right intersection of grateful, loyal and scared to let us know what she finds."
Conner follows Raven's gaze to the harbor. "There should be time enough to check in on your men and the Weir for that matter before we go. Even if Ebb is waiting for us, I'll want to pack a bag and such before departing."
Raven gives him a wry sort of half-smile. "Thanks. I'm not used to this whole 'leave the ship waiting around while I go hare off somewhere' thing, and they ain't used to it either. Most of those men were on the Vale. After spending so long trying to get home with 'em, it feels weird to just wander off. I still want to make sure they get home."
"If any of them served with the Admirals or the other Royals they'll be used to the strange comings and goings." Conner remarks. "With the shadow paths laid down in the Golden Circle a Prince running off was less of an issue. From here, they would be obliged to wait. Still, as you saw, I can get us back here in the blink of an eye. So we shouldn't have to keep them waiting long."
"And once I get back here, I can get them home," Raven agrees. "But it doesn't matter if they're used to someone else doing it - they're not used to me doing it. It's new, and all of us have got to get used to it, I guess, but we're not there yet - habits and all that. Shouldn't take long to check in with them and the weir, though, unless something's gone bad while we were gone."
Conner nods. "Sounds good. See if they have any news and give them their non-marching orders. I'll check with the harbormaster's people for any sign of Ebb and directions to find him if he has not been around."
Ebb has not turned up. The Weir are ready for a new mission. Emuraptors are excellent prey, and they've made a tidy profit on some joyful hunting, but they are not merchants.
The crew await orders. They want some of the Emuraptor hide or meat for provisions and trade.
The water, and the Dey beckon...
Raven's pretty succinct about the whole thing. They're gathering information to figure out what the next mission is; if there turns out not to be one, they'll be getting everyone home. As for the emuraptor matter - if there's a willingness on both sides to share the bounty, she has no problem with an arrangement where the weir hunt and share the kills in exchange for the crew doing the trading and sharing the resulting wealth.
When they meet up later, Conner mentions to Raven that if any of the sailors or Weir would like a taste of life below water he would not be opposed to a small entourage.
Raven's willing to put that to the men and the weir, see who's interested. If there's a lot of interest, her inclination is not more than five or six, and a mix of sailors and weir rather than one or the other.
Conner agrees. He was thinking the same. Either way he seeks out directions to the trading Ebb said he could be found at and arranges travelling packs for all that are going. Ready to head out.
Reynart and his two friends volunteer, as well as two junior officers from the crew. The rest are working on getting rich from hunting Emuraptors.
The gate is a place of commerce, with waterbound and shorebound cargo moving freely between the two parts of the realm. It is effectively a customs border, and it is effectively not an issue for Conner and his retinue. The party is either expected or has a reputation.
Diplomats are all near the gate, because that is where they need to be to be effective.
The light, the way the currents move, and the breathable water remind Conner of Rebma. The sailors are aware of the nature of the trans-gate realm, but the weir are less comfortable than the humans.
The address is in an enclave off of a street named after Lir. It would be considered opulent in Rebma, except it's too close to the surface for Remban tastes.
Conner takes a deep draught of water and savors the salt on his tongue. It seems a lifetime ago that he stepped down into the Gate with Celina and Merlin. Conner's hand reaches down to touch Halosydne's hilt. In many ways, it was.
"The last time I was here, the merchants of the Gate were nervously trading rumors of war more than goods. Huon's army led to blockades and the closing of borders. Things seem more settled now." Conner remarks to Raven, sailors and Weir.
Conner motions for them all to cluster around. "A few things to remember about underwater life. Your lungs will take care of breathing for you. It will feel normal with time. You will find eating much the same but there is a knack to drinking from bulbs or cups underwater. Lessons will commence at luncheon. If you have to fight down here, remember that the water slows your movement. Favor stabbing over slashing or chopping," Conner instructs. "I am not expecting trouble here but it is good to be prepared. Any questions before we head out?" He invites.
Raven pauses in her looking around with clear curiosity - it's not quite gawking, but she's definitely sight-seeing a bit - to shake her head. "Pretty sure most of the questions I've got right now don't matter a bit for what we're here for," she says dryly.
The Weir seem to be adapting better than the sailors. They also seem to be swimming as much as walking The sailors seem to be spooked. "I always assumed I'd only go to visit Mother Carey once." says Becket.
"It's all we ever expected of you," replies Caulk.
Reynart sniffs, "It's interesting how things smell down here. What would you like us to do, in best and worst cases?"
"In the best case, look quietly strong and confident." Conner replies with a smile. "Project strength. In the worst case, follow my lead and fight like Hell." Conner smiles a little wider. Conner leads the group down the lane in search of the trading enclave they seek.
Reynart sniffs again, as if he's getting used to new smells. "We can manage that, can't we?" His friends nod, and make a point of not looking nervous. The sailors are less successful.
Conner nods in approval to the Weir and gives the sailors one of his most reassuring smiles.
Raven nods along with this, only adding, "Pretty sure you won't be finding Mother Carey anywhere there's paved streets," to her sailors.
Caulk laughs at this. "We picked up Mr. Bucket in a pretty far distant shadow, Captain. He's still getting the dirt off his boots."
"Anywhere I would have heard of, Mr Bucket?" Conner inquires.
"I don't think so, Lord. My Before I was pressed, no one had heard of Lotharingia. And after I was pressed, no one has still heard of Lotharingia," he says with a shrug.
"Better to be from nowhere and be going somewhere than the opposite way around, Mr. Bucket," says Caulk.
Conner stops and considers for a moment. "Well I've heard of a Lotharingia. It was one of the realms formed after the break up of..." Conner pauses for a moment as if rechecking something in a reference book. "Did your land trace the ancestry of its rulers back to a King Carol or Charlemagne by any chance?"
Raven listens with some curiosity; she's as unfamiliar with the place name as Caulk, though she's heard it discussed before.
"Carolus Magnus is legendary. I'm told he's the father of many shadow-lands. In the stories Lothar and his people fled the Fall of Paris. They survived many privations and could not return to Paris. At the south end of the Moselle River, it's called Lorraine."
Caulk nods. "Most places in the Golden Circle either trace back to Charlemagne or Oberon or Dido or Titania. Bucket's home is pretty far south for us, but it's no surprise the legends go further than we do."
"It is becoming clear that I need to pay more attention to local history and myth." Conner remarks. "Too many things consigned to the dustbin of history are becoming current events once more." Conner doesn't say anything more about it but seems to be mulling it over as he leads them to the address he was given.
"Wishing I'd paid a little more attention to history myself," Raven says dryly, but that's all she has to add for the moment.
As the group walks up to the veranda, Conner recognizes some of the plants from the Dey's water garden in the Land of Peace. The door opens as they approach, and a circular current moves cooly around them.
"Well, we've been sniffed," says Reynart.
The Dey of Longtides is in the entrance chamber.He seems happy to see Conner again. "Welcome! So nice to see you in a proper atmosphere again! Come in! I hear you've become a tower lord here." In his excitement, he's forgotten to keep his feet on the ground. This does not seem to slow him at all.
"My dear Dey!" Conner treats the Dey to his most brilliant smile. "It has been far too long since we shared stories and wine in the Land of Peace. Yes, I have recently been elevated to that status." Conner shrugs as if this is no great thing. "Allow me to introduce, Captain Raven of the Clarissan Bloodline. Raven, this is the Dey of Longtides, gentleman, scholar and purveyor of information."
Conner is treated to a little sideways glance from Raven, which under circumstances that weren't quite so public might have actually come with a surprised, 'Oh, we're going ahead with this now? Wasn't there a proving it's true part first?' But she doesn't actually say that out loud. She just smiles politely and says, "Pleasure to meet you, Dey."
The Dey bows, in a way Conner recognizes as appropriate for a Duke or Count to present to a Prince who is not the Crown Prince. "The pleasure is mine, Captain. The Flamehair Queen and her family have long been friends of the Longtides and our allies." His voice is very, very deep, and the underwater acoustics make it even more so.
"You will be pleased, my Smiling Lord, to know that your friend the Thalia is also visiting me at this time."
He waits for a reaction from Conner.
This time Raven gets the sideways glance that clearly asks, 'Did she come with you?'. Conner smiles wider at the Dey. "One starts to wonder if I will always find her whenever I visit you." Conner chuckles. "I am indeed pleased and look forward to seeing her once again. Unless you wish to speak of business first, I would have her join us."
Raven frowns a little, and then her expression clears. Right, that was an earlier plan... before Weyland decided to burn down the tower. And before most of the emuraptors. "Wouldn't mind saying hello myself," she offers.
The Dey grins. "There is time enough, I think for a light pear wine between friends. Captain, what can I get you?" The Marid is about to lead the group in when he stops and looks at the sailors and weir.
"Will your entourage be joining us or will they be more comfortable retiring to the sea gardens? I can send for entertainment for them as well..."
"Let them enjoy the gardens," Conner decides. "and get a taste of relaxation below the waves."
Raven nods agreement to that, and answers the Dey with a shrug and, "Not very familiar with what's good around here, so I'll be happy enough with whatever you'd like to pick for me."
"I shall endeavor to please, Captain, please come this way." He begins to depart. "Would your retainers like something as well? Amber sailors used to drink something called 'Grog' and I can send for some."
"Oh, that would be prefect, we'd all like grog," Reynard says, before the officers can speak up for their theoretically more refined palettes.
"It shall be done," says the Marid. He leads Conner and Raven into a lushly furnished interior room, lit with blue globes of flame, which also seem to slowly circulate the waters.
Thalia stands. "Conner!, I'm so glad you're here." Her smile could be one of Conner's own.
"My ever resourceful Thalia." Conner crosses to her, takes her hands in his own, and leans in to kiss her on the cheek. "Talked your way out of Caine's hospitality I see." He murmurs in her ear. "Well done."
She turns and kisses him more fully. "That's for saving Gateway from itself. Thank you. As for my Amber sojourn, it's a tale, but the Regent of Amber was eventually convinced there was nothing more to be gained by holding me prisoner. I'll want a guided tour of your tower when we both get airside."
"I will be wanting one myself." Conner admits. "The previous owners left it rather a mess and Marta and her squad of librarians are trying to restore order."
The Marid directs Raven towards a sideboard. "Now we have a variety of drinkables. The Smiling Lord takes Pear Wine by preference, a specialty of Shadow Summerless. This is from the estate of Lord Delora. There are also excellent Gatwegan ice-wines if you're inclined that way. Or a sailor's drink, perhaps?"
Raven considers the suggestions, and then shrugs a little. "Spent a long career as a sailor," she says. "Not against trying something new, but a sailor's drink is probably closer to what I know."
The Dey nods. He reaches down to a lower shelf and pulls out a very large, intricately carved mug, which reminds Raven of a small cask more than a drinking vessel. He wipes it down, fills it with the contents of several bottles, puts a bit of fruit in it, and an umbrella. It looks both appetizing and unlike any sailor's drink she's ever seen. "I learned this one from Admiral Gerard, the Prince himself."
Conner chuckles. "I can just see the Admiral in the Naval quietly daring anyone to comment on the little umbrella. When did you share drinks with Prince Gerard, Dey?" Conner asks.
"Oh, it wasn't a dare. He enjoyed the fights. And the looks in the eyes of drinking companions when he purchased two." The Marid smiles. "The Admiral and I were investigating a matter in one of your Golden Circle shadows, perhaps two centuries ago. A wizard had enslaved a family of Marids, without paying the price, and was using them to disrupt trade. From Amber's point of view, certain luxury goods were not flowing and from mine, the wizard needed to learn his manners." The Dey pauses. "This was before I was so heavily involved in diplomacy, you understand."
Thalia laughs at that.
"The Prince and I went drinking after we successfully resolved the matter."
Thalia smiles. "Just like you to tell that story as tantalizingly as you can, My dear Dey."
"Yes, it is, rather," replies the Marid. "Come, let us sit and drink to Gateway's resurgent normalcy."
"A wise merchant knows the value of showing off the merchandise." Conner chuckles. He crosses to whatever seats are nearby and selects a comfortable one. "I do hope things in Gateway will be boring for a time," he opines. "I think it has had enough excitement for the nonce."
"Hear, hear," interjects the Dey.
"How came you to be here, Dey? Is this a visit or have you moved from the Land of Peace?"
"Both, I have left the Land of Peace, some years ago. Some time after the Desert Conquest, the Ifrit found that their magic was fading. It took a few years, but they withdrew to the City of Brass. My magics were also becoming more difficult to maintain and my purpose for being in the Da'ar es Salaam was no longer pressing. I decided to leave for the Sea-City of the Atalans."
The Dey sits and gestures for his guests to join him. "I left a message for your Uncle the Shining Lord, or his agents, to deliver to the King of Amber. Do you know if it was delivered?"
"Not to my certain knowledge. It has been some time since our family has met in conclave to share news," Conner half-truths. "I know that Edan ibn Bleys visited there recently, as did two others of my cousins. If they passed on a message to the King though it did not filter back to me. I would be happy to convey the message if you wish to be sure it was received," he offers.
Raven takes a seat and - at least for the moment - is just kind of taking it all in.
Raven is somewhat skeptical about taking in all of an Admiral Gerard drink. In fact she's not really sure how one drinks underwater, but no one else seems perturbed.
As the Dey is speaking, Conner catches Raven's eye and then takes a sip of his drink very slowly so she can get a look at the technique.
The Dey nods at Conner and looks briefly at Thalia. He decides to give the gist of it in any case. "I came into information that the Klybesians, who were moving into The Dar Es Sal'aam, had gained a political power in Assiria, in the area around Asir Island. There was something about a natural catastrophe and they used charity as a wedge. It seems a risk to Amber, and Amber's successor states."
Thalia is, Conner suspects, making an effort not to seem alarmed.
"Interesting." Conner remarks. "I have visited Asir Island recently to conduct my Uncle Huon to face Rebman justice. There were quite a few cultist types in the crowd," he remarks. "This may put some things in a different light."
"There's way too many cultists out there for my liking," Raven says.
"There are too many cultists in here for my liking," the Dey replies, sweeping his arm in a broad, theatrical gesture. It probably encompasses all of Gateway above and below and perhaps a bit beyond. He somehow manages to seem too large for this objectively large chamber.
Thalia nods. "I was kidnapped by cultists. Wrapped up in a rug and carried away. Conner rescued me. Eventually I came home and it was cultists here, as well. I've got a hunch, based on what the estimable Dey has reported, that there are fewer groups of cultists than we think."
"The Paresh, the Klybesians, perhaps even the Cult of the Dark Mother as one connected if not coordinated group." Conner muses. "An unsettling thought." Conner looks to Thalia. "When you say cultists in Gateway do you refer to the Triumvirate and their lackeys or something else?" Conner asks.
"Unsettling's a word for it," Raven agrees.
Thalia sighs and drinks her beverage bulb. "I don't know which possibility I dislike more: that Amber's enemies are attacking via different fronts or that they are recruiting each other. Gateway is known as a friend of Amber," she pauses. "And despite this recent trouble, we are again. Dark Wizards, those affected by the blackness and others, were never a threat before, because they were unwilling to cooperate with each other. While Gatwegians of any nature don't cooperate well, we've always been able to come together to face a threat.
"Until now. And the difference seems to be the various cults."
"So what cults have we identified in Gateway?" Conner asks. "Do we have any ideas of goals and motives?"
"Weyland mentioned the Klybesians," Raven offers after a moment, frowning. "Them and Huon and making a bargain with Dexamene and her pals, I think it was."
"It's hard to imagine the Klybesians taking root here, at least not in the form they took in other shadows," says Thalia. "The whole of our society is based around magical prowess, so who would listen to them? Yes, the giftless, but they have little power or influence." She looks around. "Perhaps Seaside? The paths to the trading shells are easier to transit than the sea-routes to Amber."
The Dey smiles. "I can imagine a dual-pronged approach, Ambassador, where one branch establishes itself as a mission to the underclass. The Paresh do work like that in many places. They could have paved the way for The Triumvirate." Thalia raises an eyebrow and The Dey continues. "Do not assume that we are ignorant of human culture just because we are not human. Many are, but your kind are my hobby. And I have definite preferences about which of you should thrive."
"I was trying to read the tea leaves to determine what the Triumvirs were up to." Conner remarks. "And by tea leaves I mean book sleeves. The library was a complete jumble but a great number of the books within pertained to the slaying of Gods. A disturbing thought to be sure."
"They could have been not so much paving the way for those three," Raven says slowly, "as making sure the way stayed paved. You put three unpopular folks in charge, and folks will get restless. Unless there's some reason not to. And that gun still bothers me."
The Dey frowns. "It is odd to find a religious order dedicated to the destruction of their cause for existence, but not unprecedented. I wonder what the appeal is?"
Thalia grins. "They may consider the sons of Amber to be demons, given dominion over the realms of mortals as part of some sort of ineffable divine plan." She waves her hand, more talkative but no less anxious than before. "Or who knows? Perhaps they need to be asked, firmly. On Amber's terms, not their own." She looks over at Conner. "I'd love to help you explore those tea leaves, darling. You know how I like a good mystery in the library."
Raven looks at Thalia and then also turns to look at Connor at that 'darling.' That sounds like more of a relationship than she'd caught on to before. Still, there's someone in the room that's not part of that whole other discussion and doesn't need to be, so all she actually says is a dry, "Pretty sure asking them on Amber's terms is on the table."
"I believe Jerod was at the head of the last group sent to discuss with the Klybesians." Conner replies. "I understand he was far less gentle with them than with Gateway."
The Dey still looks troubled. "If they have been attacked, they will have forewarning. "Your uncle, the Shining Prince, is rumored to have removed entire shadows from existence when they were bothersome to the Eternal King. They must know these rumors and have some plan for the risk."
Conner turns back to Thalia. "As for mysteries in the library, I have left it to Chancellor Marta and her researchers for the moment. If I am not available for the grand tour, I am sure you can join her efforts."
"I'm just pleased you have a permanent base in Gateway to return to, and I hope that we're both here frequently enough to spend time together."
Thalia looks up, as if recalling something from above the water. "I haven't heard yet from Aunt Marta what her plans are for reviving the government, much less the diplomatic service. If I had to say, I'd think we need to start spreading the message that we're no longer a rogue shadow, but that necessarily our efforts will be focused at home for a while.
"When you all are through with mysteries and threats, I would be interested to know what Amber wants from Gateway, now that we're her ally again." She turns toward Raven. "Your traders seem to be discovering things that they would like to trade in, if I don't miss my guess."
Raven snorts in amusement. "Emuraptors," she says. "We didn't exactly come here to trade, but that ship's partly crewed by men that were lost with me. We learned pretty quick to trade where we could to make sure we keep our bellies full. Habit like that's hard to shake. It does sound like they've been turning a decent profit while we've been running around, though."
"Amber's fleets bring trade, war, or both to the many seas they ply. Gateway wants to focus on trade, and we have more to offer than the Emuraptors, although they are definitely available."
The Dey laughs and it's a deep, booming sound. It carries oddly underwater. "It's not a tale for the ages, is it? 'And what did the mighty and magical land of Gateway give to the Ambassadors of the Eternal Kingdom of the Ambers?' '...Chickens. Very large chickens.'"
Thalia rolls her eyes. "If Emuraptors encourage the peace and the normalization of relationships, they can have them all."
"I'm sure there's more to trade," Raven says dryly, "but the bloody great things keep popping up. Found some in a fighting pit, ended up riding a wild one, and now my crew's trading with their carcasses."
"Fashions are strange in Xanadu these days." Conner remarks. "Perhaps emaraptors will become the next big thing."
Thalia agrees. "It's one of those things where you want to see the fashionable wear the feathers of the bird, but you don't want to imagine how they'd deal with the feathers still attached to the bird.
"Like basilisks," she explains.
"Not all the fashionable are like basilisks, Ambassador," replies The Dey. "Birds are more a thing of our Djinn cousins, but I am always interested in recondite knowledge. I wonder if these emuraptos can swim...."
As the rest of the group heads off, Signy slows and lets them move on. Reaching into a pouch tucked discreetly into her belt and comes out with the Trump of Raven that she had used earlier. Stilling her mind, she continues to slowly follow after the other group as she reaches out with her mind.
"Raven? It's Signy, and I think it's time....."
"Hello, Signy," Raven answers. "Pretty sure we've got things squared away here, at least for now, so... Good timing." She looks to the side and adds, "Conner - looks like we've got a ride to the party."
Conner takes Raven's hand and joins the contact. "Hello Signy. Good to see you again."
Signy gives a wry grin, and offers her hand for them to come through. "It seems like a lot of people are here, as is the Daughter of the Marshal."
She's not sure if that's really a title or not, but figures the emphasis can't hurt.
Raven in turn takes Signy's hand so they can step through. "Was the daughter of the Marshal invited too?" she asks. "Or is she just around?"
Signy grasps Raven's hand in a solid grip as she pulls the two of them across. Once through, she releases the vise-like hold she had on her hand, and gives the two of them a warm smile. "Cousin," she responds to Conner with a brief nod of her head. "I don't know if the daughter will be at our little get-together, though I suspect not. Vere, Robin, and Brita brought her back in from an adventure where they found a ghost and a most interesting sword."
She starts to move in the general direction that everyone else had been going in before she dropped behind. "I think I may have mentioned that we haven't exactly told any of the elder generation that this is happening. We also haven't said it's not happening, if that makes sense?"
"In other words, they might know, but nobody's told them because they ain't invited?" Raven says.
"They will eventually find out of course." Conner remarks. "We should decide what we tell them afterward." Conner turns more towards Signy. "So a ghost and a sword? Sounds like story time will be quite interesting."
Signy winces slightly. "I can't think of an excuse that doesn't sound like we're hiding something much worse," she states truthfully.
"The story was interesting, and the blade was very impressive. It was not all that far below what my father crafts, though I didn't recognize the mark of the smith that made it." She hesitates only slightly. "How did things go with my father? Unless you'd rather wait to tell the story to the whole group, that is."
"The short version is that he was polite and cryptic and promised to leave Gateway alone if they don't bother him." Conner replies. "He also wants a reunion with Marius and I am not sure why."
Raven nods. "Seemed like he decided blowing up two of the Triumverate and turning the third into a statue was enough revenge, anyway."
Servants move through the doorway that Signy's cousins and First entered, carrying tables and chairs and dodging around royal children as necessary. They seem in a hurry. A second group is carrying food, and they are followed by Brennan and Edan.
Celina motions Merlin to join her and Jerod.
Celina looks at the men, "Well. Garrett calls in less than an hour if two Pattern realms are about the same time flow. The youngers are gathering to brainstorm. The King seems to be shrugging off an attempt by the Queen of Tir to insinuate to Xanadu. Moonriders are involved. Who goes to Xanadu with me and who stays?"
Florimel has moved on while Jerod and Celina were in their respective Trump conversations; the three of them are alone.
Merlin says, "I think they will need both our sorcery and Jerod's strong arm. And we can get help against the monks and your mother."
Jerod nods once. "I'd also like to get some catch-up on current events. Been out of the loop a little too long."
"The three of us then," Celina looks worried. "But let's avoid King Random for a while until the silt settles. Garrett is going to call. We have a little time to gather any accessories for our trip."
"What do we need? I am always ready to travel and Xanadu has most of what I need. If there is anything either of you need, I can ask for it, or Celina can," Merlin says.
Jerod is a real "have spear, will travel" kinda guy right now, so if he needs something when he's there, he asks for it, unless he's in Shadow, then he just makes it happen. So he just shakes his head slightly before replying. "Nothing at the moment."
Celina looks at Jerod and Merlin, "Let us leave behind a rumor that Florimel can manage. A story that fits the facts of the Opera capture and may slow down any moves the Monks think to make with their captive or Ava."
Celina sketches an option, "Bend was taken. Llewella came to Paris to retrieve her. Bend nearly escaped but Llewella killed her and was seriously injured in doing so. Witnesses at the opera may be able to say they saw a green skinned beauty there. My thought is that gathering blood from palace trash of someone the Monks know can walk shadow will be a higher priority than using up the Rebman they have. They won't move faster at any rate and we'll get back here as quick as we can. Also they won't think we have information from Bend."
"Is that credible?" Merlin looks at Jerod and Celina, as if he's pretty sure his ability to intuit what Ordered beings will believe is... low."
"Credibility with family is usually based on plausible deniability." Jerod says drily. "That usually comes from having a very simple story...one where the recipient fills in the blanks.
"I think perhaps a simpler one is that the Opera capture is completely left intact...and that Bend has been a guest of his majesty Corwin....but there are unexpected issues due to a number of competing factors wanting possession of her. Florimel because of her son, Random because of influences from Martin who really dislikes Bend and Montage, and Corwin because well it's Paris and he's displeased she's here, so he's not letting anyone near Bend until it's all sorted out.
"It fits enough of the narrative that if the Monks are watching they'll want to see how it plays out because whoever gets Bend would act on anything she might provide...so they'll be following what the higher-ups are doing...they're the ones who will make the important decisions after all. No one will be looking for what youngers are up to."
Celina frowns, "Will that not add haste to actions against Ava and this Unnamed Rebman? I think Bend's reputation would be we'd get no information from her. Still."
"If the Monks learn that we have Bend, then haste is already a possible factor. Nothing we do will prevent that," Jerod says. "We can however adjust how important that factor is to them. We want to dull that sense of haste with additional information... a possible conflict within our ranks over possession. If it is learned there are competing interests for Bend's information, and that she is likely to be difficult to break, that would give the Monks a sense of confidence that they have a bit of time. We are well known for our petty squabbles after all.
"The Monks have been studying us for how long? They are tied to the mindset of collecting data on us, storing and cataloguing and processing. A conflict between family is a prime opportunity for such activities.
"In any event, we should not tarry. Once the meeting is done, we will need to proceed onward."
"Agreed," Celina likes the clarity of Jerod's thinking and it shows in her expression.
Celina moves on to finding travel clothes that will work in Xanadu or here in Paris if things move very fast on the return. Something with blousy pants, boots of canvas that will allow her full agility and still deliver a sharp kick if things are to be hand to hand. Florimel or Alice will know everything about where to get what she needs. She grabs some meat and cheese to build the internal fires. Then she waits with Merlin and Jerod for Garrett to call back.
The group can move up to the actual Louvre again to get whatever they need. Merlin is just going as he is, but he's a shapeshifter. Though he will join Celina in eating, and asks for ginger water because this sounds like it might be a lot.
Back in the alcove, Garrett takes Celina's trump out of his back pocket and concentrates on it.
Celina adjusts her slung personal bag. "Jerod, Merlin, a Trump call. Could be Garrett."
Celina concentrates, "Who calls?"
Merlin is waiting with Celina. His hand is ready to take hers.
Jerod waits to hear confirmation on the trump originator.
"It's Garrett," says the Prince, looking like he's been really busy in the short time since he spoke with them last. "Merlin, glad you can join us. Are you all ready?" he asks, shifting his position as if to make more room and holding out his hand.
"Garrett," says Celina with a smile, "three of us coming through." Celina reaches for the young prince even as she puts her other arm straight out to be used by Jerod and Merlin as their passage with her.
Celina steps into the prismatic light as her companions take ahold of her.
Jerod drops a hand lightly on the arm just prior to transitioning through the trump.
Merlin follows suit and they all arrive in a hall in Xanadu.
Just a ways down is a large group containing a Moonrider (First) whom some of them recognize; the rest are cousins. There are some servants coming by with platters. Jerod and Celina certainly recognize that they are in the servants' corridors since they aren't wide enough to be the halls for royal use. Jerod thinks they're larger than the ones in Castle Amber, though.
Looking around, Merlin asks quietly, "Is this the meeting? I did not think anyone but our cousins would be present."
"No, it's not. This way," Garrett says, leading the group in the opposite direction, down the hall, and out a side door.
Celina follows. "Did you say Folly was nearby, Garrett?"
"Even nearer-by than you might think," comes a voice just a little behind them. Grinning, Folly jogs up to close the gap and slips her hand into Celina's. "Welcome, cousins -- I knew there was a reason to come this way. We have much to discuss, but to start I'd like the three-sentence summary of how my daughter is doing in Rebma. I hope she hasn't gotten into too much mischief, has she?"
Up ahead, by the gazebo, there are chairs and tables and a group of cousins: Edan (looking rough around the edges, still), Brennan, Signy, Raven, and Conner.
Jerod will yield any Rebma update comments to the Queen since he has been busy from home for quite awhile now.
Celina squeezes Folly's hand and leans into her shoulder as they walk with Garrett, Merlin, and Jerod.
"Well, Lark seems a natural investigator. Aunt Llewella has a Triton watching Lark's every adventure. Lark seems to be trying to memorize the palace. Is that a Martin survival skill?"
Garrett smirks at that, but does not interrupt.
"Nearest exit, five places to hide, three things in each room that could be used as a weapon," Folly says, nodding as if that were a standard part of the preschool curriculum. "Dare I ask how long it took her to find the armory? And... how did she react to being watched by a triton?"
"Oddly," Celina offers, "she seems to ignore it."
Random shakes his head, looking across the throne room at Hannah's retreating form. He's slouched on the throne and looks like a man who has just barely managed to shave after staying up all night.
"OK, Before we talk about your old man's attempt to cover the collective posteriors of you, your sister, and assorted favorite nieces and nephews who all found important reasons that Benedict needed them not to attend Vialle's mandatory band meeting, I want to make sure I understand his report.
"Benedict, while an island fortress was rising from the waves almost within sight of Avalon, decided that the real threat was from the Corsairs to the north, and that while the new island was being fought over by everyone else, he'd just nip to the mainland south, negotiate with them and encourage a surprise birthday party/war in the western ocean between his real enemies and his new buddies, but he's concerned that one or both or all three sides in this triangle-made-of-death may be under the influence of the Klybesians, who are using this an an opportunity to gain influence in Hamakaido, which, if I remember correctly, is a net exporter of violence and textiles.
"That's a lot to swallow, and even more to spit out. Did I get it nearly right?"
"That's the gist of it. There's a lot of details but the Klybesian influence seems to crop up in a lot of places. What's your top priority these days?"
Random rolls his head back, and shifts on the throne. "Top priority? Actually, keeping the whole damn thing from tearing itself apart, but that's not a very comfortable thing for a King to say to the people who depend on him not failing that one as a bedrock of their lives. And it's not actionable, until I break it down.
"Most immediately, somewhere some of your cousins are bringing a Moonrider princess up the hill to have a talk with me, and I'd definitely like that war to stay at best cold, if not resolve itself.
"While Moonriders can become top priority if they really press on the issues, Klybesians are really getting annoying and I'd like to get them rooted out or back into the shadows, and not doing things that make me need to retaliate in small measures. They still haven't had a full accounting for taking samples from Reid's body, as far as I'm concerned.
"There's a war in Arden that Julian seems to have in hand, and I want to make sure it stays in the forest, and not my forest."
He sighs. "So, pretty much business as usual. Xanadu was founded by refugees from a trading city, so they're getting on with building a trading empire for us. That seems to be going well enough. Pretty soon, I hope they find a good source for guitar strings, because Ash keeps breaking the ones I conjure for him.
"Oh, and there seems to be some sort of meeting that my sons are having with a bunch of your cousins. I'm officially unaware of it, because I don't want it to be my meeting, but you can find them somewhere around here and probably should. You can come back and ask what's on my plate if the group doesn't come up with something useful."
Fletcher salutes, bows, and exits to go in search of a Princely Party.
As Fletcher leaves the room he immediately runs into the crowd of cousins escorting the Moonrider Princess that Random had mentioned. Vere is bringing up the rear of the group, pushing a small handcart with an oddly high tech looking chest on it.
Hannah is in the doorway; Robin, Ossian, Brita, and Vere are with the Moonrider. Fletcher recalls her from the brangle and duel at the top of the mountain a couple of days ago: First to the Fray, who let Conner defeat her after the Unicorn arrived.
First inclines her head graciously to Fletcher and Hannah.
Heckle, on Hannah's shoulder, is sitting firmly and not moving. Robin's fair of firelizards are approaching Hannah and Heckle with curiosity. They don't seem to have identified Heckle as dinner just yet.
Hannah graciously inclines her head to First. Then her eyes flick not to the firelizards, but to Robin. "I think you should call your babes to land, sister," she says quietly.
Robin nods firmly, remembering the tangle with Edan's affine. With warm chirps, she calls her fair to her arms and shoulders and lets them know that the Hannah and her companion are friends, not food.
Hannah scoots a bit more to the side to give Fletcher room to leave, if he so chooses, and Robin room to come stand with her, if she'd like.
Robin shakes her head ruefully, at the offer of space. She's on duty with Brita, First and Vere.
Vere nods to Fletcher, and smiles at Hannah.
The audience chamber is exactly that: a large room, but not a great hall like the throne room. In addition to Random and a throne (but not the throne) on a small raised dias, there are sideboards full of food and small seating areas. In one such area, Corwin and Gerard and talking while Corvis sits nearby. She looks at Vere and smiles, lightly.
Random looks up from the throne, and makes a little "come here" gesture with his head. First walks towards him, allowing others to lead or follow or walk beside her as they choose. First bows before the King.
"Rise. We don't... do much of that here, at least not without an audience, and usually next door." He sighs. The King looks like he's had a chance to shave, but not much else. "Vere, Robin, and Brita, thank you for looking after our guest while I was otherwise detained. How fares Cabra?"
Fletcher hovers near the door, clearly curious about the goings on. Unless someone gestures for him to leave, he'll head over to the sideboard for a snack.
"King Random, I Present Kin First to the Fray," Brita says as she rises from her own bow. "Cabra Lighthouse has been Relit, Uncle, but We Found No evidence of The LightKeeper."
"There was blood in the cellar," Vere adds. "And a suggestion that he might have been killed by smugglers. But we were unable to locate the Keeper." He shrugs very slightly. "The naval captain sent to take command of Cabra seems to have it well in hand." He indicates the chest. "There was the wreck of a ship of Bellum which we searched, and where we found this chest, containing some items of interest." He leaves the chest and approaches Random, handing him one of the cartridges. "Including several of these. They might not be suspicious, but finding something like this close to Amber triggers concern."
Hannah makes no move to leave, staying in the back. She gives Fletcher a little smile.
Robin has nothing to add, so she just keeps up her situational awareness of the room and its peoples.
Random looks at his guest/prisoner. "Hello, Miss First, I heard about your affray. Hang on a second and we'll talk." Random stands and turns to the room. "Ger, I'd like you and Corwin to look at this exciting thing Vere has presented me with. Take it to your lab, and send word back with your findings. Vere, Robin, and Brita, thank you for attentiveness to the details of Cabra and your other task. You should go find Garrett and make sure he's up to speed. Take everyone with you. Miss First and I have matters to discuss."
Gerard wheels himself towards Vere and the box. "Haven't got a lab, just tell me to get out if that's what you mean..." Gerard mutters under his breath as he rolls towards his son. Random ignores him.
Vere smile. "Father." He lays a hand lightly on Gerard's shoulder for a moment. "It is good to see you." He turns back to the box and opens the lid. "We found this on a wrecked ship of Bellum, at Cabra. Evidence suggests that it might have belonged to Reid. It contained some Trumps by his hand, as well as a few by Dowrkin. Also the Trump tattoo he drew on the prisoner Turf. There was a journal, appearing to combine a merchant's notes with alchemical notations, which has been given to Brita. And these weapons." He indicates them. "As well as these cartridges," he hands them to his father, "and what appears to be an explosive device of some kind."
Gerard relaxes slightly when Vere's hand lands on his shoulder. "You, as well, lad. We'll catch up afore you get sent willy-nilly again." He nods at the inventory, and examines the cartridge. He hands it to Corwin who has come up beside him. Corwin looks at the bottom of the cartridge and sniffs it. Corwin nods. Gerard adds, "Let's take this to my 'lab'." Corwin doesn't quite laugh.
Hannah says quietly to Fletcher, "I guess we are, in fact, leaving the King alone with a moonrider." She offers him her arm.
Fletcher finishes his drink and nods to Hannah. "Shall we go find where all of our cousins have wandered off to?"
Brita bows again to Random, gives a quiet "Honest and Sincere" encouragement to First and then heads out to the Gazebo.
Vere smiles at his father, nods to Cowin, and then turns to take Robin's hand. "I am sure we can find things to do, my love," he says as he leads her after Brita.
Robin smiles and shoulder bumps Vere as she takes his hand, glad to be off-duty with her Beloved. "Only one more meeting to go," she chirps. And her step is lively as she follows Brita in Vere's company.
Corwin and Gerard also leave.
Last modified: 8 December 2020