Knowing the king's proclivities, Folly told herself that she would be keeping a close eye on the crowds, and musicians, particularly in the vicinity of the drums, during the evening's festivities.
But then Edan's dance started, and suddenly it was impossible to pay attention to anything else. At its conclusion, she cheers wildly and enthusiastically...
...until the king's appearance and brief speech reminds her what she's supposed to be doing.
She bids a temporary farewell to Paige -- "I have to go run an errand, but I'll find you later for dancing if I can, okay?" -- and then turns to her mother and daughter.
"Are you two going to be all right if I leave you alone for a few more minutes?" she asks in a studiously neutral tone, and kisses her daughter's wet hair. It's difficult to tell in the play of torchlight and shadow, but her eyes might be twinkling.
Brij stretches her arms up and locks her fingers at the extremities, showing off her gymnast's figure and Folly's best spangly dress. "We were thinking of taking a swim, but I hear they've closed the pool," says Brij. "You do whatever you need. I'd offer to help Hannah, but I think you've given birth more recently."
Brij smiles. "Run along, we'll do fine."
Folly hesitates just an instant, wondering whom Hannah is midwiving that she would need assistance with, but decides other matters are more pressing. "Perhaps for now you can substitute dancing for swimming," she offers, mostly to Lark. To her mother she continues, "I shouldn't be gone too long."
Given her recent history, she could be using any time scale from minutes to days for that particular estimate. But probably minutes. Ten or twenty or... even two hundred minutes is still not very long in the grand scheme of things, right?
Brij nods. "Just don't leave me to explain things to Martin without you, is all I ask."
"Explain? What is there to explain?" Folly asks with a twinkle in her eye -- but more seriously, she adds, "I promise."
As Folly leaves, she hears her mother greeting someone. From her tone, it's someone she doesn't like. At all.
Then she slips into the crowd to look for Syd. She's headed to the Mayor's house by way of a circuit around the edge of the drum circle to see if he's managed to show up there yet. If not, she'll be on the lookout for him moving in that direction.
The crowd is excited and reasonably happy. Folly sees many people. Julian is talking to a young child wearing his cape. Gerard is wheeling through the crowd somewhat freely. Most of the notables of Amber society from the Regency are around, and several greet her. The show-drums are being removed, but there are a number of musicians on seaward side of the square, playing in a band shell. It's clearly an impromptu band, because they're playing typical session style, which is good for the dancers and friendly to inexperienced players. There are 4 drummers, none of whom is Syd. Eventually she gets to the Lord Mayor's house. There are two guards at the door, and they do not look like the fun kind of guards that are at the rest of the party.
Just in case they are the super-obstructive kind of guards, Folly whistles a little melody as she approaches, loudly enough and at the right pitches to cut through the crowd noise, but cheerful enough that she could reasonably just be whistling to herself out of joy. If Syd (or anyone else in the band, for that matter) is anywhere within earshot (and the house isn't too thoroughly soundproofed), he should recognize it -- as well as who is likely to be whistling it.
When she gets close enough to hail the guards, she greets them cheerfully in a voice that carries: "Hi, there! I'm looking for Haven and Tjaden. Could you tellthem Folly is here to see them?"
The door opens from the inside and a young man looks out at her and opens the door wide. Edan arrives at that moment and he is also admitted. The guards close rank on the door behind them.
The man who introduces himself to Folly. "Your Highness, my name is Viper, I work for The Lord Mayor. Apologies for the men not recognizing you. Your uncle is upstairs. I'd see you up, but I need to wait on further arrivals."
One of Michelle's assistants, a young man named Liam, stands unobtrusively behind Edan and tells him who each approaching person is. He either has some sort of telepathic powers or he has an amazing memory for faces.
The faces and names and greetings come very fast, including a number of boys who are interested in training (or else their fathers are in their names).
Edan needs no introduction to the one of the later well-wishers. From his walk, he is Altamarean and Liam confirms that he is "Rides in the Van", a warrior and confidant of his elder. "Greetings from your father," he says, hugging Edan. He whispers in Edan's ear. "All is not well. When you can discreetly escape, come to the Lord Mayor's house."
Even worse than he thought. Edan nods, covers up his dismay with a smile, and says, "Of course. So glad to meet you."
Hannah hasn't come through the line yet, either, and the odds are pointing at one likely answer for that, too. Silently wishing her the best, he stays as long as he can stand it and then turns to his lieutenant.
"Thank you for taking this duty with me. I must look for someone, and the reception line appears to be flagging- would you take over?"
If all is clear and he can be discreet, Edan heads onward to the Lord Mayor's residence.
Edan maneuvers through the crowd which somehow manages to part reasonably easily before him. He notices Viper and some of the other Lord Mayor's men are intercepting and moving people to help him through, still it takes a while to cross that many people in a square. Edan sees many people he knows, including Julian, Corwin, Florimel, and many people from the city who he only just met in line. Even with help, Edan is not making as much progress as he wants, and is only halfway across the square.
Kyauta finds that there are too many people and contents himself to fly over the crowd. He notes that Edan's cousin with the flying lizards is here. He finds them fascinating and puppy-like.
Edan is amused by this. There are several options here, all of them flashy, and most magical, but it's not worth drawing that kind of attention to himself here and now. He keeps his affine up in the air and uses their mental link to plot as best a path as he can through the crowd while he continues onward.
Edan fights he way to the door, where a guard is blocking Folly's path. A man inside opens the door, and waves them both inside. He introduces himself to Folly. "Your Highness, my name is Viper, I work for The Lord Mayor. Apologies for the men not recognizing you. Your uncle is upstairs. I'd see you up, but I need to wait on further arrivals."
"Thank you so much, Viper -- who else are we expecting?" she asks.
"Prince Bleys sent for his sons and nephews, Ma'am."
Edan nods to Folly. "Hello, Cousin. It's been quite a while since we last met. Would you like to go on up?"
"Hi, Edan -- your thing was fantastic!" Folly says brightly, though her expression betrays other emotions. She gestures toward the stairs and falls into step beside him to head up.
The stairs go up (as stairs do) to a landing. There are rooms off the long hall to the left and the right, and one at the end which is where the balcony that the King appeared on is.
Edan heads straight towards the door at the end and will eventually knock unless Folly stops him. "Thank you! It has been some little while since I have had the chance to dance in that way. I am glad that I still remembered it. Vere made things easy." There is a hint of tension in Edan's shoulders, and he can't help but spare a glance towards their destination.
At the mention of Vere, Folly puts a hand on Edan's arm to stay him, just for a moment. The pressure of her fingers betrays her own tension. "Have you his card if we need it?" she asks, her voice low and intense. "Or do you know enough of his news to relay it?"
Edan may intuit that she is carefully not saying that news out loud herself.
Edan quirks an eyebrow, then shakes his head a little for emphasis. "I do not have his Trump. I assume- hope- he saw the king and is headed this way. I made oath to Vere that I would not discuss anything before he spoke to Random himself. It is his story to tell."
Folly nods once, abruptly. "I fear this might turn out not to be the best time for it anyway," she says grimly, and gives his arm a gentle squeeze that feels not so much like reassurance as a signal of solidarity.
Then, with a quirk of one eyebrow to make sure he's ready for what comes next, she proceeds to the door and knocks.
The door opens to reveal Conner. "Folly. Edan." Conner nods to both of them and is speaking as if announcing them to whoever is behind him. "Come on in." Conner steps back and opens the door wider to allow them entry.
Edan smiles at Folly and turns his attention to Conner. "Conner. Haven't seen you in a while, either. It is good to see you." He almost makes it look like he isn't worriedly looking beyond into the room.
Beyond Conner, Edan can see Brennan and a tall, muscular woman, her dark hair matching the long cloak she has wrapped around herself that evokes raven's feathers. There may be others in the room, but the area around the door is quite crowded.
"Thank you, Conner -- what news?" Folly asks as she enters the room and looks around with purpose. She does not bother disguising the concern in her voice and body language. "Where's--- where's the king... and queen?"
Conner shrugs slightly. "Just got here myself. I think Uncle Bleys is waiting until all are assembled before what he knows." Conner sighs. "For all that he tells the same stories often, he claims to hate repeating himself." Conner smirks.
Having escorted Regenleif out, Brennan joins the group of cousins, but only long enough to say, "For that matter, where is Fiona?"
Brennan walks back over to Bleys and Ambrose.
"The Princess Fiona attends the Queen, at her majesty's request and the King's command. They, and the King, have returned to the castle." Bleys is not rushed, but his tone displays a certain urgent quality.
"Your Highness, your presence is an unexpected pleasure. It's good that someone outside our circle know of these matters."
"Brennan, you'll have to catch your son up on anything he may miss."
Bleys leans towards the youngsters.
"About an hour ago, Fiona called me in to consult on a problem she was having. She had accompanied the Queen to Rebma, at the King's request. While she was there to look after the safety of the Queen, what she found was that the King is enchanted. And in a way that his own tie to the Jewel and the pattern prevent us from removing it.
"We are concerned. There are very few who could do so, none of them could do it in Xanadu, they aren't here and we know them all." He pauses to let that sink in.
Folly, who has the advantage over some of her cousins that her most relevant applicable vow in this situation is to protect the king, nods as though this is all completely obvious and blurts out, "You have to get the King away from the Queen, if you haven't already." She's bouncing on her toes with nervous energy, like she's ready to jump through a trump right now to make that happen. "I think she's trying to use Vialle's pregnancy to recorporealize."
Distantly, Edan feels his jaw click back shut. "Maybe he'll be okay with just telling the Reader's Digest abridged version," he says.
Conner looks at them both as if they grew an extra head each. Conner examines his whirling thoughts and plucks out the most relevant question. "What is the nature of this enchantment?" He asks Bleys.
Brennan evidently would like to hear Bleys' response to Conner and especially Folly more than he would like to hear himself talk. With eloquent silence, he looks to Bleys.
Bleys takes a second to process all the replies. "Last things first. We don't know. It seems to sap his will and his initiative. He seems to have a few things he cares about, but they are all. We cannot actually look on the King with our Third Eyes, but by looking at reflections and shadows, we can see that something magical is affecting him. Fiona is working on answering 'what' and 'how do we break it'.
"And Folly, I am afraid you have raced ahead of us. What makes you think someone is using Vialle's pregnancy to recopoeralize? And, for the sake of fullness of understanding, who is and how did you discover this?"
Folly's reply comes out in a rush. "I knew something was wrong as soon as Martin told me about the pregnancy -- and then when I got home earlier this evening I could feel the wrongness in the family wing. My daughter did, too. The 'who-or-what' was only a very, very strong hunch until just now when you described the enchantment, immune to Pattern defenses. It's the Queen of Air and Darkness."
She gestures in Brennan's direction and says, "I'm glad Brennan's here, because he's the one that mentioned the Queen might be... I think he said 'looking for a new host'... when last we spoke. I was already concerned about Vialle's disappearance and re-appearance in the near vicinity of Tir. Then the pregnancy, the palpable wrongness, the enchantment...." She laces her fingers together to signify 'everything clicking into place'.
She carefully does not look at Edan, but she turns her laced fingers palms-upward in a way that seems to invite further evidence from any who might wish to provide it.
Having something to focus on and grapple with seems to have settled Brennan's mind considerably. This is no longer worrying, this is the start of planning.
"I got that from Benedict, the 'searching for a new host,' speculation" Brennan says. "And to my knowledge, the vast preponderance of her appearances have been to female Family members.
"But I have some questions of my own," Brennan continues. "Chiefly: Does the King know and understand he is under what I have to assume is an attack, or does the nature of the attack prevent him from seeing its effects? Is he in a position to discuss this or receive private and urgent news?" Brennan obviously has a long list of follow-up questions, but the answer to that one will inform just about everything else.
Edan sighs. "I assisted Vere on a visit to Tir last night, with the king's permission. I believe Vere can explain more- but he wanted to talk to Random first. This news complicates things."
Conner clearly has questions of his own but waits to hear the answer to those already asked.
The door opens, and Bleys pauses a moment, while Ossian comes in. Regenlief shuts the door behind him and returns to hall guarding duty.
"Well," says Bleys, having gathered his thoughts, "I certainly hope they are related phenomena we are severally chasing down, because it would be quite unfortunate if two different magical attacks were happening at the same time.
"To your first point, I am concerned about separating the King from the Queen. At this point it may be dangerous to him. When separated he seems to lose most of his drive, eventually ending up sitting down and waiting for her. He doesn't even drum, which is most unlike him. He will answer questions, but unless it's about Vialle or their unborn child, he is mostly indifferent. You heard his speech below. After that he was insistent that he needed to return to the palace and the Queen. The only other thing he talks about is getting all of us to swear allegiance to the unborn child as his new heir. I suspect that's what the meeting tomorrow is about.
"We had not been thinking of the Queen as the vector for the attack, but rather as somehow immunizing him, but that may not be the case. I'll have to tell Fiona what you shared with me, it will affect our investigations.
"Tomorrow, I'll be skipping the meeting, because I will be trying to avoid the magic he's under. Your highness, if you can keep your husband away, it will be bad for him in the short term, but probably good for him in the longer term. I won't advise you to stay or leave yourself, I know you're close to my brother and will have to make whatever decision is best. Whoever does attend should remind the King that he send any of us who do not on secret missions and expected us not to be there."
He pauses, perhaps dramatically, perhaps to see what else needed to be said. "My family, I can tell you I don't know how this ends, but there are some possibilities that are grim. I want you each to take care of yourselves and each other. And remain careful, alive, and loyal to the family, even if the path to do so seems fraught."
"What questions do you have?"
"You said that there are very few that could do this and we know them all." Conner asks. "Who are our suspects?"
Brennan nods. That was one of his own questions, that he'd like to hear the answer to as well.
"Vere needs to know this immediately," Brennan says. That's not even a question. And frankly, Robin and Jerod, but especially Vere since he was the primary witness. "With the obvious proviso of Family Only, who exactly are we planning on telling and not telling?" Brennan, by his expression, doesn't think there's any good answer to this question. All answers are seriously flawed at this point.
There is time to stop him, but unless that happens, Brennan crosses the room, sends for a senior page, and sends that page out with a simple directive: Bring Vere.
Edan says, "Even if you're not attending tomorrow, I will have to be there. Am I going to need to ward myself? Strongly?"
After a moment he adds, "Oh... and we should talk. Just a moment of your time."
Partly in answer to Brennan's question, Folly says, "Soren knows that something's not right -- that the king has been acting weird lately, especially around Vialle." She hesitates, then adds, "And I think Vere reached out to him about trying to set up a meeting with the king. He won't have the context to understand the metaphysical details, but he should be kept in the loop at least in broad strokes."
She looks at Bleys and adds, "And if there's any chance this enchantment can be weakened by reminding your brother of who he really is, Soren and I probably have the best chance of that. I think I'm going to need to get my daughter out of here for her own protection, and warn my husband away for the nonce, but I have to stay and help. Whatever it takes." She looks grim.
"So my questions are mostly about that, and mostly metaphysical -- things like, you've found Pattern won't work against this enchantment, but what about trying to reach his mind through Trump? Based on your observations, how dangerous would it be for me to try to talk to him that way -- assuming I could even get him to answer -- or face-to-face? What's the likelihood that our enchanter has enough power here that she'll be able to sense our movements against her? I recall at our last family meeting Benedict cautioned against even speaking her name because...." She wiggles her fingers to signify 'creepy juju heebie jeebies'.
Bleys holds a hand up. "Too many at once. Let me try to answer everyone and then see if there are still questions." He points at Conner. "Your Grandmother, for one. Some of her friends. Dara. The High Marshall of the Moonriders. The Dragon of Arcadia. We hadn't thought of the Queen of Air and Darkness, because she has been acting indirectly, but if she has a vector, then she's the latest one, and she's the most likely to have power to affect a pattern maker."
He moves on to Brennan. "I was planning on telling my son and nephews, and the distaff side if they needed to know. We are far too large to keep a proper secret, so I have no answer for you."
He points at Edan. "Yes, please. And watch with your third eye, as indirectly as you can, to see what is happening. And help and reinforce your family. And we can talk soon. I saw your cousin gathering her ladies, including your sister, for her birth."
He turns to Folly. "I am not worried about saying the Queen's name. If I knew how to break this spell, I wouldn't be here, I'd be there doing it. Now, is the castle unsafe for Hannah to give birth in?"
Folly, who never made it to dinner, hadn't realized that Hannah was quite so far along, and it shows on her face. What she says, though, is, "If it were me, I doubt I would risk it. But Hannah's child is perhaps a less obvious threat to that 'get everyone to swear fealty to Vialle's unborn child' plan." She grimaces, as if she'd just had an unpleasant thought, but shakes it off and adds, "I suppose the original threat that had Floaty Woman sizing up any female family member she ran across is greatly diminished now that she has seemingly found a host."
Ossian frowns. "I guess Trumping could be incredibly dangerous. Still, we could learn things from it. But, honestly, Folly, Martin would kill us all if we let you do it."
Folly smiles wryly. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, the most likely outcome is the same thing that happened the last several times I tried it -- namely, he won't pick up."
To Bleys, she asks, "How has Vialle's behavior been? Any new weirdness?"
Edan looks like he's running all the scenarios in his head regarding a newly-invested knight taking orders from a possessed and/or mad king. He looks more horrified with each one. "Hannah won't be leaving anywhere except by Trump, she's that close to time. And I doubt she would accept to do that, or accept any warding I might want to create. Not right now. Not to mention I'd have to be in there, causing disruption, and I will not be welcome until it is over."
"Then someone capable of observing with the Third Eye should be there," Brennan says. He does not volunteer. "Which probably means widening the circle.
"We should also consider that, 'not picking up the contact,' might mean either deciding to refuse it or ignore it, or it might mean it's not going through. I assume the card is still cold or Folly would have said something to that effect. Bleys, bearing all of us in mind that this situation is... highly fluid... how can we help?" Brennan asks.
Once more, Conner holds his questions so as to not overwhelm his uncle.
Bleys points at Folly. "I have no sextant or map by which to tell ordinary pregnant woman 'weirdness' from possessed by our worst nightmare 'weirdness'. Can you be more specific? I thought the most surprising thing in the whole affair was that Random slept with his wife again. He'd been catting around for months."
"Well, in case it helps," Folly says drily, "Peeing a lot and craving strange foods: normal. Trying to make a kingdom swear fealty: maybe not so much, unless that sort of thing is your normal MO. Failing to notice your spouse is acting aggressively weird, also not so normal."
On this Bleys corrects her. "I can tell you're not from a fundamentally monarchical society. Nothing is more normal than attempting to promote your offspring at the expense of all of the other lines or offspring."
The Prince catches his breath. "Be very careful. The Jewel, most of the Princes, some of the Princesses, will overwhelm your third eye. Do not look directly at the King.
"Thank you for asking how you can help. You can protect the family. Conner, get Celina out of here. Corwin and Benedict are safe--they have their own patterns. Celina is at risk. Edan, take your knights out of the city. Brennan, see to yours. They may be needed sooner than we want.
"We'll need to guard the approach to Tir, which means Paige's Rangers. Hmmm. Brita, Robin, and Solange are the obvious choices if Paige isn't available. Perhaps Vere. Ossian, do you think you can take the order to the Rangers 'protect the three steps at all costs'?
"Ambrose, can you protect your Cousin Folly and her child?
"Folly, I may have been exactly wrong. Edan, do you have the magical artifact we captured from the Moonriders? We need to know where it points right now."
Conner looks to Edan expectantly.
Folly gives a small nod; she doesn't know precisely what Bleys is asking Edan for, but she intuits what he's trying to accomplish.
Brennan looked about to make the same point about Corwin and Benedict, but settles for just giving Conner a side-nod when he beats him to it. Then he, too, waits to hear Edan's responses.
Edan holds out his arms, showing the empty sleeves of his dancing silks. "It is in my rooms, tonight," he says. "I can go get it, or we can go there." A second later, he adds easily, "I can send the knights out for exercises with the gathering army in Broceliande. But I will not leave here before Hannah and the baby get away, even with the best of excuses. Several rooms will need their auras cleansed as well- someone with Blood or Sex or Psyche Principles could use those rooms to affect the two for the next half-century."
To Edan, Brennan says, "Take the cadre of Ruby we arranged. They're ready and waiting. Conner, you and I can talk later, but we have an orphaned force in Avalon that was due for at least another cadre. Aside from that..." he closes his eyes and shakes his head, thinking of how this will sit with Marius and Lilly. "We're going to end up having a Midnight Family Council before the actual Family Council at this rate."
Ossian says, "I can take the order to the Rangers. Let's just hope they recognise my authority.
"I worry that this is the time when the Klybesian monks will strike." he blurts out.
Ambrose says, "I can certainly act as magical bodyguard to the family. But first, I will bring in Lord Vere," and goes out the door.
It's odd because there's no evidence that Vere is here.
Bleys says "thank you," as Ambrose leaves. "I see your point, but I think that Random had a particular weakness for magic from Vialle that not even Corwin shares. It also took a very long time to affect Random. Months, at least. I might worry more about people who've been in the castle and in daily contact with her. Her staff and confidants, anyone she's taken a special interest in. We might find them to be less loyal to the King than they should be."
He turns to Ossian. "It's a possibility, especially if they're colluding with the Queen of Air and Darkness. What we really need is a way to stomp on them, drive them into disarray, without depleting our forces or our reserves. I wonder if Benedict has any help he can give us. Or if anyone knows where their Turcopiler is.
"It would be jolly useful if Jerod and his little corps of fuzzy thugs gave them a distraction on his way home. We'll probably need Brita to help nudge that one along, once she's off Baby Duty."
Having slowly made his way through the crowd while ruminating on the incredible natural beauties of his native Isles, Vere approaches the door of the mayor's mansion.
As Vere is approaching the house, one of Mayor Ash's assistants comes out and spots him. "Ah, Lord Vere. Prince Bleys sent me to find you. Thank you for making my job easy." He opens the door and ushers Vere inside, to the consternation and annoyance of the guards.
The assistant walks Vere up the stairs and escorts him to the door, where there's a Valkyrie waiting in guard position, though she doesn't have an obvious weapon. To Vere, her nature is clear: she is a Chooser of the Slain. Her power is pooled around her like wings to Vere's senses.
"Thanks, Viper. I'll take it from here." To Vere, she adds, "I'm Regenlief. Prince Bleys and a number of your kin are talking inside." Her expression suggests to Vere that whatever they're talking about is probably not good.
"Chooser," Vere nods a respectful greeting.
She knocks on the door and after a moment, Ambrose opens it. "Ah, Vere. Come in. Edan and Brennan said you had some things to tell us." And to Regenlief, "Thank you."
Vere is ushered inside.
Vere nods to her once more as he passes through the doorway.
When Vere comes in, Brennan goes to greet him. He gives Vere a brief moment to take note of who is in the room before continuing.
"Vere, thank you for coming," Brennan says. He is filled with quiet intensity, moreso than usual. "There is news that I think is absolutely crucial for you to hear-- let me quickly summarize what's been said:
"First, and most importantly, Bleys tells us that he and Fiona have discovered that King Random is presently afflicted by a spell, what I might describe as a geas or something related. Its chief effect is a single-minded focus on a very few topics, and magical apathy when separated from the objects of his focus. Those being: Vialle, their unborn child, and having the Family swear allegiance to the child as heir. This prospective oath is the likely topic of tomorrow's meeting. Related, the enchantment seems to be leveraging the strength of his ties to Jewel and Pattern against removing the geas.
"Second, Folly has a separate report from Soren that the King has been acting strangely and especially so around Vialle. So it is noticeable. As one might expect from apathy so strong that when separated from Vialle, he simply sits and waits.
"Finally, the conversation has turned to making sense of this information and what exactly to do with it. The list of capable entities, per Bleys, includes the usual suspects: Dara, the Dragon of Arcadia, Clarissa and few associates, the High Marshall of the Moonriders, and the Queen of Air and Darkness. Most of the speculation has revolved around the later two on the strength of Folly's intuition, the warning I had from Benedict of her search for a new host, and her recent spate of appearances. I am of the opinion that more information is better.
"You can see why I thought it vital that you be part of this discussion," Brennan finishes. His focus remains accutely on Vere.
"I see," Vere says. "This is ... distressing news. Have you yet passed on any of the matter I had discussed with you and Jerod?"
"No," Brennan says. "It's best from you."
"I'll go get the device from my rooms in just a moment," Edan says, espying Vere. "I've waited to hear the other half of this tale."
Bleys nods. "Please start at the beginning. Why did you choose to ascend the stair? When you asked the king for permission, was Vialle present? Did the king seem quite himself?"
Vere nods. "I shall speak on the King and Vialle when I reach that point in my narrative. For background, my trip to Tir occurred due to a request from Caine. Robin has discovered two Ladies of Ancient Power, locked in a metaphysical knot as part of a Truce between their respective courts. They call themselves Lady Laudine of Lothian, Countess of Landuc, and Lady Morgne, Princess and Lady of the Lake. And their respective Champions. Robin cut the knot, resulting in a release of metaphysical tension that separated us. While Robin went with one of the Champions to Rebma, I undertook to guide the other three and ended up in Amber." He smiles thinly, "With interesting side trips that I would think vital to relate were the matter of principal interest not so pressing. Benedict was visiting with Caine, and I presented the Ladies to them. They were welcomed and made guests, and I assume they still wait in Amber. Caine later asked me to venture to Tir, with Random's permission, to see if I could gain a vision of the Ladies, to give some clue as to whether they were more than they seemed. I trumped through to Random, who was entertaining Edan upon the waters of the bay."
He nods to Edan. "My cousin had been speaking to Random for some time previous, and perhaps has more to say on his manner, but he seemed very much himself to me. Joking, inventing silly games, but with a deep understanding behind the facade of jester. He read the message from Caine and granted me the right to visit Tir, so long as I would give him the report of what I found as well. We then climbed the cliffside, and met with Vialle. She also seemed much herself. Random mentioned that we had a mission for Caine, but did not mention Tir to her. Whether she learned it later, I do not know."
Vere pauses for a moment, as though reviewing that conversation again in his head, and then with a slight shrug continues. "With Edan watching me through trump I ascended to Tir. There I did have a vision of the Ladies. In the interest of brevity I will pass over it unless you think it important. What is more vital is that I saw a masked woman who seemed to see me, interacting with me in way that no other Tir ghost did, and she led me to the Pattern chamber. There, she revealed herself as Cambina, and spoke with me. She told me that Vialle had requested that Cambina accompany her to Tir, and she had done so because she had forseen herself doing so, and because Vialle said she would attempt the ascent without aid if Cambina did not come with her. Once they were at Tir the Queen of Air and Darkness appeared and held Cambina in place while Vialle walked the Pattern. Vialle completed the Pattern walk as dawn came, and Cambina fell to her death."
Vere carefully does not look at Brennan as he tells this part again. "She then found herself trapped in Tir, in the form of a spirit of that place, but with awareness and apparent free will. She has been hiding from the Queen of Air and Darkness since then, believing it would go very bad for her if the Queen learned that she had not been completely removed from the board by her death."
Vere shrugs once more. "That is pretty much all she could tell me. Dawn was coming, so Edan trumped me back to the foot of the stairs. I asked him to tell no one of what he had heard until I had a chance to speak with the King in private. We returned to Xanadu to learn that the King had announce Vialle's pregnancy and departed, so at that point I turned my attention towards gaining a private audience with him as soon as possible, and informing a very small circle of individuals of what I had seen."
Vere stops then, and awaits comments and questions.
Brennan knows what's coming, and lifts his chin fractionally in defense, or perhaps in defiance. "Thank you Vere. I am able to speak more freely, now, without speaking for you.
"To forestall some obvious questions: Robin, Jerod, and myself," Brennan says, thus explaining also the grim conclave out on the balcony a few hours ago. "The plan emerged to do everything possible to get the King's attention until midnight, and failing that to regroup, find a mutually agreeable aunt or uncle and seek advice. The conundrum was how to get that information to him privately and before the greater Family meeting, which we judged might be.... embarrassing. That plan is now a bit overcome by events, but now Robin and Jerod are behind. I have other things to discuss with Robin-- I'll bring her up to speed as soon as possible.
"I have a number of observations and questions coming directly from that account, but I'll hold most of them while everyone digests that. Except this: My son is right-- neither the Klybesians, the Dragon, nor others will wait patiently while we assess and take action here," Brennan says.
Folly offers, "Although I can't say so with complete certainty, everything I've heard from those in a position to know suggests no prior suspicion that Vialle would be able to walk the Pattern. And anyone who has drawn a Pattern should be able to sense if she could."
She turns to Edan and asks, "What is this device you speak of, and how will it help? If you plan to take a fast way back to the castle to retrieve it, I may want to join you, if you're willing and able." To the rest she adds, "And does anyone here feel they know Vialle well enough to have an unbiased sense of whether she is acting strangely?" She looks particularly to Vere and Ossian, who were in Amber for the whole of the Regency, and Conner, who knew Vialle in Rebma.
Conner lets out the breath he did not realize he was holding. "I've made a point to visit the Queen when in Xanadu and I knew her rather well from her visits to the Embassy with the King. I would hope I would notice but..." Conner trails off and falls silent for a moment. "I took tea with her shortly after her rescue. Aside from being weak and tired, she was the Vialle I always knew. Staying locked away in her rooms was unlike her but after being abducted, it was an understandable break from habit." Conner shrugs. "Silhouette spent quite some time with the Queen then. She wouldn't notice any changes but I am now curious what their relationship was like. I also wonder what tales Vialle's servant Ember might tell."
Vere frowns thoughtfully. "Also, I was told the King and Vialle had gone to Rebma. Do we have independent confirmation of this, or is it possible she took him somewhere else? Somewhere that this spell might have been cast?"
"Yesterday was the second time I've met Vialle, so I cannot speak to her state of mind," Edan says, "but the king acted his normal self. Note that he officially endorsed the 'Order of the Red Lamp', and the joke is not lost on me. Cambina... looked like Cambina. I wasn't about to confirm it with Sorcery through a Trump. Folly, the item in question looks like a compass. We took it during a raid on a Moonrider camp. They were looking for natural shadow paths, so it was not a stretch to assume that was involved- though maybe it points to someone rather than somewhere. I'll have to ride; I have no Trump to the front gate and it's hard to fly here."
Bleys listens to Edan and then says "I have a Trump of your sister. It's been quite handy in the past. She can pass pull you through and then send you back, if she's not too busy." He reaches for his belt to pull out his deck. Fiona's card is on top, but Paige's is just below it. He hands it to Edan. "Don't lose it, I'm partial to my daughter's art style. Anyone going with Edan should go soon."
Folly holds up a hand to forestall him. "You needn't part with it -- I have one as well." She withdraws her own trump of Paige and offers it to Edan.
To Vere he looks as if he's considering things. "We were somewhere underwater. I came at Fiona's request, she had Trumped in at the request of the King. We should find out if the Royal Couple presented themselves to Queen Vialle. It would be quite a breach of etiquette if they hadn't. It's most likely that Fiona first detected problems with Random when she Trumped him. It may have been a call for help. Conner, can you ask them what they know?" If Bleys is unclear on who "they" are, it's likely that it's clear to him.
"Brennan, can you find your cousin Jerod and suggest a Klybesian target? It would be a feint, but we really should knock them off their guard if we expect other troubles at home in short order.
"It's too bad the moon won't be full tonight. I'd like to go to Tir myself now. Although I might need to bring Regenleif.
"I'll be nearby, working on determining the problem and trying to restore the King. If you need to get in touch with me, Paige will know how."
Brennan's teeth grind as he is reminded that Tir will not be accessible for nearly a month.
"Reme," Brennan says. "Regenlief stashed a rutter of Klybesian shadow paths there. I haven't been there in decades, but if Reme is a Klybesian stronghold these days, let Jerod be the obvious threat, the hammer, while someone," Brennan looks over at Ossian, questioningly, "escorts her to slip in and retrieve the rutter. Then let the hammer fall. If it's not, then that rutter will let us go for the jugular.
"Something else," Brennan continues. "For those who will attend tomorrow's Family conclave, you mentioned warding. It will not go well," he looks around the room, "if half the Family is using Sorcery and the other half is using Pattern. Before we scatter, we should know which approach is better."
"Is there anything you need me to do?" Vere asks Bleys. "Has anyone yet told Father any of this?"
Ossian nods. "I can't be in two places at once. Of course I could run to the Rangers first and go to Reme after that."
Conner parses Bleys's statement and responds. "I'll check with Queen Celina and Princess Llewella to see what they know of the Royals movements in Rebma. Is Mother still here? I would talk with her before I go."
Bleys nods. "Vere, can you see to the Rangers? We don't want Ossian to need to be in two places at once. Conner, your mother is with either the Queen or the King. Or most likely both."
Edan raises the Trump in salute to Bleys. "Folly, if you're ready, I hope to be there and back quickly. Brennan, it does not matter to me how we ward tomorrow, but I will be more effective with Sorcery."
Folly nods her readiness and offers, "I would guess Sorcery, since our presumed foe is not repelled by Pattern...? But that's not really my area."
Bleys frowns. "It's hard to do sorcery in a pattern realm, and twice as hard to manipulate the pattern. I think that is your best approach. Don't let the King notice you, because that in itself might be enough to disrupt your castings."
Vere nods at Bleys' comment, then says quietly, "I will, Uncle, but might I ask exactly what it is you wish me to do regarding the Rangers?"
"Guard the approach to Tir," Brennan explains. But he's puzzled himself and asks: "Why, though, if the stairs aren't there for close to a month? Are the Moonriders not subject to that constraint? And what about the Avalon side?"
"That was an excellent question and I'm sorry you asked because it made me think of the problems with the answer. Because of Time magic. If they take it during the dark of the moon and bubble it up for a tennight, then they waltz up it like two Rebmans passing court secrets.
"Or worse, they take it now and send themselves back at the spot by a tennight, or a year, and our problems begin to include time-decay effects. Anything else?"
Brennan doesn't need to do more than scratch the surface of that idea before he nods in understanding. "Now is not the time, but we're going to have to sit down and talk about these people and their tactics. But for now-- if you get to Ben before I do, tell him I offered to watch the Avalon side. Aside from that, good luck and remember that Fiona has my card."
Folly makes a small gesture to remind him that she also has his card, and she's not afraid to use it.
Vere nods as well. "I will try to find Paige as soon as I leave here," he says. "If she is not available, I should know most of her captains from the Regency."
"You'll want the captains; per our uncle, Paige has headed back to the castle already for a spot of midwifery," Folly says. "We'll fill her in on what's happening, once we get there."
"What a mess," Brennan says to Ossian, after everyone trickles out. "You're okay with staying on the Klybesians' trail and going to Reme?"
"Yeah. I have found a focus with the monks. And we should be able to get Jerod to help us too. " Ossian smiles wryly. "I had the strangest conversation with him. We agreed on something."
"Good," Brennan says. "I thought that's what you wanted, but I can get focused on the best person for the job without worrying about their plans." Brennan shrugs-- Ossian knows this.
"I'll ask about Jerod in a minute," Brennan says, "but we're going to have to call Regenlief back in shortly. So before that: are you going attend this grand meeting tomorrow in the light of... all this?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe it's better to start working on the monks. I guess the meeting is more dangerous the fewer of us are there. And some will surely be. You?"
"Stay and get strong-armed into swearing fealty to a... I'm not even sure how to describe it, a changeling host to the Queen that killed Cambina?" Brennan says. "Does this child have an existence independent of the Queen of Tir? There's no part of that I look myself in a mirror and live with. I don't know. Maybe I'll get lucky and Firumbras will be under attack when I check in on him."
He sighs. "For that matter, Jerod may or may not accept Bleys' suggestion on any of this, for any of a number of reasons. The whole Family is stretched thin-- you should have an alternate in mind."
"Jerod might be a problem in that regard. He will need quite hard proof. Or Martin to persuade him.
"As for the meeting with the king. If we don't show up, what will we be then. Traitors? That is not necessarily a bad thing, of course."
"Disobedient, at best," Brennan says, "especially since everyone knows we're here. At worst...." He shrugs again. "I haven't figured out what I'll do, either. At this rate, there will be a desperate conclave of cousins at midnight all trying to figure out what to do.
"There is one other thing I want to say before we talk to Regenlief. I was going to try to do this myself, but there are too many other things to do. Try to introduce her to Brita. There's a reason. If she ever mentioned if or how she's related to Odin, it's long forgotten. What I didn't know then was this: As far as I can tell, Bestla would have been my first cousin, which makes this Odin fellow your second cousin."
Ossian nods. "Let's see. So Bestla is Odin's mother? With Finndo, right?
"I do believe I have almost been in Asgard one time. I do at least speak their language.
"I will introduce her to Brita at the first opportunity. But the Rutter has higher priority, I believe. Do you want Brita to smell her?"
"Bestla was Finndo's daughter, is the way I heard it," Brennan says. "Who the mother was, I never heard. Fletcher might know. And, yes, for lack of a better term. Subtly, maybe. There's a reason beyond the obvious one. I've been wracking my brain for weeks trying to figure out how the Klybesians found me to take you. But they were founded around Finndo's and Osric's time. Maybe they know-- or think they know-- something we don't." He shrugs. "I don't know. It makes some things make more sense, but not others."
Ossian nods. "I wonder about our eldest relatives. Their memories seem so fuzzy. Sure, they are hiding things, but I also think they actually don't remember. Let's go get Regenlief."
"Stop wondering," Brennan says, with a wry smile. "Seven hundred years from now, someone's going to ask you who Daeon's various kids are like it's the most important thing in the world, and all you're going to remember is this conversation."
Brennan gets up and heads for the door, making just enough noise that anyone on the other side of the door can easily hear him coming, without making so much noise that it's obviously done on purpose.
[Assuming Regenlief is there]
"Thank you," Brennan says to her, and means it-- for not making a fuss when Bleys deftly put her outside, and for waiting. "I've got good news, bad news, and news I can't explain or say much about.
"The bad news is," Brennan continues, "that there's major trouble on the horizon, sufficient that it almost drew Ossian away from retaliation against the Klybesians. The good news is, we talked ourselves back to the position that we need to seize the initiative against the Klybesians at least far enough to set them back into some level of confusion so they don't take advantage of that trouble. You've been to Reme more recently than I have. Is there a major Klybesian presence there? We obviously want that rutter, it just matters for how it's done."
"There wasn't the last time I was in Reme, but it's been a while now. I believe they're taking advantage of the change of regime to spread from shadow to shadow like the plague they are. Either way I think it's a small job, for a handful of people at most. Not one we send an army for. Someone will notice an army and it doesn't have to be the Klybesians.
"I wasn't listening at the door," Regenlief adds drily, "but seeing who was going through and who wasn't allowed in made it pretty clear what kinds of things you can't talk about. You need me to sneak in, get it, and get back--where, here?--as soon as possible." She looks at Ossian. "Which of you is with me, or are we all going together?"
Ossian shakes his head. "I'll be going with you. Maybe, just maybe, we could get another cousin to help us distract them.
"I'm most worried about their sorceries. As you have seen my powers do not seem to suffice fighting that."
Brennan nods at Ossian. "You're is the right man for the job-- you already knows as much about Klybesian Shadow paths as any of us, and more than most. You know what to look for. Time permitting I can give you some advice on Sorcery, but still... I'd probably want a third if I were going myself."
Brennan turns to Regenlief, and adds, "It's impossible to come up with a hard plan until probably some time tomorrow. Too many fires in the air. But say we wanted an army to get noticed by the Klybesians, say because it was burning down something the Klybesians couldn't afford to lose. I'm not promising we send one, but if we did... where would you choose, and why?" Ossian may have some opinion on that as well.
"There's a place I have heard of where they keep their secrets," Regenlief says. "One attempt has been made against it but the strike wasn't complete. A place of glass towers, called Tyrell. I've never been there, but I know of it. They say it is so covered with smoke from their engines that you cannot tell day from night there."
"Doesn't sound familiar,' Brennan says. "I haven't been there. I'll see if I can find out more about it tonight and tomorrow morning-- there's no better time for it, with everyone gathered before the storm hits."
His posture changes. He's obviously getting ready to leave. "Speaking of which, there are a lot of people I need to get out and talk to, now more than ever. Regenlief, if you can tell Ossian everything you know about this place, that'll be helpful. And if you know, who made this previous strike you mentioned? Ossian, stay ready, stay safe."
Ossian simply nods. "You too."
Brennan waits to hear the answer to that, but unless Ossian or Regenlief have something pressing, he'll be departing.
Regenlief says, "I don't know for sure, but it was one of the sons of Amber because he destroyed one of the glass towers and it would take one of you to do that. Farewell, and I expect an accounting of your deeds when you return."
[Brennan departe.]
Ossian nods. "Do we know what the tower contained? I have a guess."
"It was a library of secret knowledge kept in vast machines," Regenlief says, "or so I am told."
Ossian nods. "My guess was a hospital. But a library makes sense. I hope they lost some knowledge in the process.
"So how many people do we need for the operation? Or will you and I be enough?"
"To get the rutter? I think few is better, but if you want a sellsword or two as backup, we can find some. Just not the poet. He didn't seem very useful for this sort of thing," Regenlief says with a not-entirely-apologetic shrug. "Do we supply here or find things along the way, given the situation?"
Ossian frowns. "We don't recruit sellswords here, I think. But if there are any supplies you know you need, I think we should get them here. We should still go by the castle, I think.
"I'd like to know if Brennan manages to recruit Jerod before we leave."
"Let's go, then." No gentle lady, Regenlief strides down the stairs and toward the exit without waiting for Ossian to offer an arm or anything like that.
Last modified: 8 April 2018