Following Dinner family members and friends in the castle disperse to dress and take one of the many carriages or other conveyances to the main town square of Xanadu, just outside the Mayor's Office/House.
By the time Brennan emerges from the balcony, done with the various impromptu conferences of the day, he sees that the pre-gathering gathering is in the early stages of winding down. Since he may have more to take care of than most, he fixes himself a quick plate of food that can be eaten on the run and departs early. Most of his extra work includes looking through the various responses-- or lack-- from the Knights of the Ruby. The only expected response, of course, is, "Yes, Commander, I will be there." Replies otherwise, or lack of reply unless someone is not presently in Xanadu, merits another message or if feasible a personal visit from Brennan.
This is not an optional gathering. They don't all have to show up at the same time, but they do all have to show up in their finest and assemble around Brennan and the other Knights Commander.
It's probably only Monsun... and maybe Crescent, if the two have been spending time together... who might creatively misinterpret any of that. But Brennan leaves nothing to chance.
When those tasks (if necessary) are complete, Brennan quickly dresses in his own finest, although still befitting his personal taste. He will likely be on the lower end of the radiance scale in his traditional black and burgundy colors-- five hundred years of reaction against the feathered flamboyance of Uxmal is hard to break. The cut is conservative as well, and could obviously be the pattern of a uniform without actually BEING a uniform. He is armed, as befits a commander of an order militant celebrating the creation of another.
The square is brightly lit with lamps everywhere and the weather could not be nicer. The warmth of the afternoon has lost its bite and cool breezes from the harbor bring a smell of salt and the occasional hungry seabird. The square is prepared for Edan's display, but until then, it is being used by the citizens of Xanadu for dancing. The dance band is playing fast songs, and the dancers seem young and willing to exert themselves. The many benches and side areas are filled with older and less energetic folks all in their best clothes. It's clear that the business of Xanadu is not stopped for Edan's event.
Opposite the dance area is a slightly raised dais. While many of the tables have people sitting at them, or the signs that they have been claimed, the main table is empty, where the King and Queen will eventually be.
There is ample food and drink, and members of the upper and military classes of both Xanadu and Amber are abundantly present.
A tall woman stands near the Dais. She is dressed in a long black skirt that is hemmed in embroidered in red, blue and yellow flowers. Another row of flowered embroidery traces a simple apron shape on the front and extend up a similarly embroidered short vest like straps over a white peasants blouse. Her red hair is braided and coiled atop her head and woven with yellow and blue ribbons. A plate of small nibbles rests on the edge of the dais as she claps along with the beat of a jaunty tune. (Is that really Brita? In a dress?)
Among others in the crowd, she can see her mother, her Uncle Julian, and of course her cousin Ambrose, who waves in a way that suggests he'll join her in a bit.
Brita waves back at Ambrose. She nods at her Mother and does a little twirl in place to show off the dress with a raised eyebrow to see if it meets with maternal approval.
Ossian arrives on foot, watching all the people gather. He stands quiet close to a wall for several minutes before moving towards the food. This seems so awkward he thinks.
Having slipped out of dinner, Fletcher is pleased to find that the staff have been doing not just an excellent job of maintaining his room in Xanadu during his months away, but also a very good job of arranging to have its wardrobe stocked per his specifications.
Sticking with his black and green motif, Fletcher opts for a formal suit of a more martial cut. He's not sure what's on the agenda for this party, so he wants to be ready to move if occasion demands, He examines what he has been told is a more modern version of the insignia for a Knight Commander of the Order of the Unicorn, and it joins his usual lapel pin on his outfit.
With his sword slung over his shoulder, he commandeers a carriage to the grand event. He scans the ever-improving marvels of Xanadu as his carriage rolls along. Disembarking near the square, he cuts his way through the crowd, greeting a handful of people he remembers from previous visits to Xanadu. He never did get around to finding out how many Knights of the Unicorn had already made the move from Amber to Xanadu, but he imagines he'll find out soon. He pauses out in the square, looking around. He should find out if his Order has a delegation here, but spots Lilly and Brennan first. He'd been meaning to speak with them at dinner. He starts heading toward them.
When Brennan arrives, he spends the socially required amount of time mingling, hob-nobbing, renewing old acquaintances and the like. But eventually, he will gravitate to the area that he directed the Knights of the Ruby to assemble.
Lilly changes quickly upon leaving dinner, having opted to run out rather than deal with an awkward conversation with Garrett. Despite the party atmosphere, she decides on a more martial look. There is no denying her position among the Ruby Knights. She keeps her color palette to dark reds, mixed with the dark oranges and browns of her family line.
Seeing Brennan arrive, she smiles. It is always good to see a friendly face in the crowd. "Brennan, it is good to see you. I see you have the Knights well under control."
Brennan nods and smiles greeting, knowing that Lilly would gravitate to the general area of Knights on her own.
"Likewise," he says. "They've had it too easy since the war, but I think that's coming to an end." Brennan is smiling as he says it, and it's said in a tone that demonstrates comfort for his men and women, not antagonism. "Edan has asked for our help-- for a cadre of our people to help him train his. I thought it was a good idea so I made some arrangements. That was before I knew you'd be back for all of this, or I'd've coordinated it."
Lilly smiles again. "I trust you." She takes a moment to survey their surroundings. "How did all of this come about? This increase in trained troops really does speak of impending war."
"I'm glad," Brennan says, "because I slated one of yours-- Sir Cropbringer-- for Edan's cadre. The rest were raised by others of us. It's my thought that they should be thinking of themselves primarily as Knights of the Ruby, rather than Knights Raised by Brennan or Lilly or Jovian or whoever.
"As for our increased militancy," he says, "I believe it is a sign that the Klybesians have gone well past too far. You've heard about Reid's death, yes? So there's that, along with more details that Ossian dug up while trying to retrieve his remains. There's this business with Marius, too-- they had some as-yet-unavenged part in his trials. And," his affect goes dead flat, "the orphanage in which Ossian was found, we now know, had ties to the Klybesians. The monks stole him from his mother, Regenlief, at birth. I don't doubt we'll hear more at the conclave tomorrow, but none of those can go unanswered. The real question is whether we're called to arms in support, or called to a different battle, or left mostly to our own pursuits mostly in Avalon. I don't really expect the latter, except insofar as we might already be pursuing goals that the King deems important, though."
Lilly nods. "I really have been out of the loop. My father barely shared news of the family while we were traveling. I think he likes to limit distractions. One task at a time and all that. Would you say danger is imminent? Should I be prepared to draw? Or do you think I have some time to research and prepare?"
"Imminent as in, this very gathering?" Brennan asks. "No," he says slowly, "but none of us expected Dara and cleph at the coronation, either. But I've got a bad feeling, so this sword isn't ceremonial." That might be a joke-- Brennan doesn't wear ceremonial weapons. Ever. "I'd expect tomorrow's Mandatory Fun to be everyone throwing their latest information into the pot and seeing what floats to the top. That'll be the time to pick a research topic, if we aren't just handed assignments.
"And your father compartmentalizes, I think," Brennan says, switching topics. "So do I, although it's a habit I'm trying to bring under control. He caught up with me in Avalon outside of Montparnasse a few months back, and he didn't mention you or Fletcher, either. I figured if I needed to know something, he'd tell me. Which is by way of saying, it's not just you, it's all of us. He mention the new island off his coast?"
Fletcher approaches Brennan and Lilly. If he's overheard any of their conversation, it's not apparent. Addressing them as he walks up, he says, "Good evening! This is quite the celebration. It's been some time. How fares Avalon? I hear Dad has expanded its real estate. And what are the Knights of the Ruby up to this fine evening?"
"Ah, Fletcher," Brennan says, "We were just talking about that, actually. I had some advance warning of it from the Maghee, who were resolved to sail for it directly before anyone had even set eyes on it. Putting myself in your father's position, I thought that I might want to be informed of a new and unexpected fleet setting sail for my coasts-- not to mention the possibility of a new island-- so I sent him a messenger with a briefing before we set sail. I've put my own feet on the new island, so I can attest that's true. Any idea if my man Sessile was ale to deliver that message?" Brennan asks.
Lilly shakes her head. "This is all new to me, though I will say that something did pull his focus at the end of our trip. I suppose it could be that news. There is far too much going on right now. It makes me uneasy." She shakes her head again, smiling a little. Uneasy or not, Lilly did enjoy the idea of a good fight. Peace is too simple.
"I don't know. I haven't spoken to Dad in a few months. My news of the island is second hand. It seems an odd thing to suddenly acquire. I understand there's more military movement around Avalon these days. I wonder what exactly people want to fight Avalon for. It didn't seem to be much of a center or trade or industry when last I was there. And those are the most mundane motives for war typically. Do you have more recent news on that front? I didn't get a chance to ask Corwin about the island either." Fletcher looks at Lilly significantly at that topic. "Bleys seems to think Paris might have a legitimate claim on the island."
"Well, put yourself in his position," Brennan says to Lilly. "Real estate is the one thing they're not making any more of, to borrow a phrase. Now someone's gone and done just that, and it's a natural invasion platform, and it sits athwart major naval lanes. Hell, it's even got buildings on it and a legendary history. Everyone will want a piece of it. It can't not get his attention. It's almost physically painful that I have to be here even for a day rather than there, because it afford a chance at one of the greatest acts of naval misdirection in history to the one other force in theater that just doesn't give a damn about it.
"As for motives, superficially, the usual: Honor, culture, pride, past slights, future advantage, land, money, fear, and good clean fun. Fundamentally... it's the natural state of the place, I think. They fight because that's what Benedict needs them to do," Brennan says.
Fletcher needs a moment to ponder the notion that Benedict needs people to fight him and whether or not that changes his perception of his parents' marriage, so he comments on another topic. "Lilly, don't be jealous of the island for hogging Dad's attention. Bleys seems to think Corwin may have a claim on the island too. Or possibly the island might have a claim on Corwin. There's apparently a lot of math I don't understand. Brennan, how does a whole island just pop up suddenly? And why now? And why did it sink? And if it was Corwin's before, was the tomb there in Corwin's time? How far off of Avalon is it exactly? You mentioned it astride shipping lanes. Has shipping increased? I didn't recall Avalon being much of a trade center when last I was there."
"The only easy question you asked is, 'how far?'" Brennan says, "and the answer to that is, 'We haven't made the trip and measured it, but it's pretty close. Close enough that your father's new strategic imperative now includes occupying that island or seeing sure that it's occupied by a strong allied group. It hasn't been there long enough to affect shipping, but it will. It must, really.
"Why did it sink in the first place? Well, here we tread on royal egos: Tracing back through the eras of Avalon, we have the current Protectorate system, preceded by an interregnum, preceded by the rule of the Witch-King and several eras before that. The Witch-King ruled, so legend has it, from the Silver Towers and when they fell his reign ended. It turns out that by 'fell' what is meant is 'sunk beneath the sea along with the island they stood on.' I have it from someone almost first-hand that this was done by the original inhabitants of the island, the Maghee, as an act of rebellion against the Witch-King. Where the royal ego comes in is here: Do you believe that that island is the actual one we've all heard about Corwin ruling in his salad days, or do you believe it's just a Shadow?
"Anyway, if the why is bad governance, the how is basically Magic," and the way Brennan says it, he isn't talking about some one-off parlor trick, "for both the sinking and the rising. I didn't see it rise with my own eyes, but we arrived there very shortly after, shortly enough that no occupying force other than Bleys was there. It reminded me of the deluge after the battle at the Courts of Chaos. Why now? That's a great question. Ask the Maghee, and they'll say it was in fulfillment of prophecy, and happened the moment their Ard-Righ took the torc of his people back into his own hand." Brennan offers no opinion on that, as yet.
Fletcher shrugs. "Bleys seems to think that the island is genuine. I'm not sure which is the greater strategic threat to Avalon: the island itself or the level of power that must have been employed to be able to cause it to rise again in the vicinity of Dad's headquarters. This 'Ard-Righ' sounds like a current player in the area. Do we know his ambitions and loyalties?"
By his expression, Brennan obviously shares Fletcher's concern about the levels of power implied in that little stunt.
"Short term-- he's got a score to settle with Moire, who has used his people and his forebears pretty badly. I made sure he knew as much of that score as possible, and to be honest we still haven't hit bottom on it. And since I'm the one who put the torc in his hand, it's not unreasonable to say he owes me a favor," Brennan says. "Long term, probably re-occupation of the Silver Towers, and since he was first to make landfall he's got a step up on that. And probably the establishment of a safe realm for his people, who have been scattered and abused since the Silver Towers fell. I will be strongly encouraging him," he says with a smile, "to make that realm as a protected realm under your father, or to just lead his people out of Avalon all together. I have no intention of causing Benedict more problems than I solve."
"Has anyone looked under the island," Lilly asks breaking her silence. "Perhaps it is not a land mass at all but something differently entirely. And if it is something different, say an extremely large craft of sorts, we are looking at an entirely different problem all together. Islands are typically tops of mountains. Mountains don't tend to move large distances. Also, just because this is a copy of an island of legend does not mean it is an island of legend. It in itself could be a shadow of another place, another time. More than likely, based strictly on locale, it is probably either a distraction or a major strike, either of which is probably meant to keep Benedict busy. I don't like it. I don't like it at all."
Fletcher smiles at the news his sister has not taken a vow of silence. "A reasonable thought. It could have been carefully prepared well enough to fool Bleys, at least initially. Have you heard about the tomb too? Whoever recreated that had access to information that they really shouldn't have. That could be bad. Terrible even. Does Avalon allow a means to look under the island? I must confess I didn't test the physical laws too greatly during my visit. Bleys expressed a theory that the island, being associated strongly with Corwin, might ultimately move away from Avalon in the direct of Paris. The math is beyond me but if this is a feint, whoever engineered it might have a scary command of the math involved. Plus a lot of power. I should have asked Connor about that tomb at dinner. If it is not truly an island, what might it be? A sleeping dragon?" Fletcher looks to Brennan. An insightful person might conclude that Fletcher is having difficulty in deciding whether to crush his sister's theory or entertain the possibility that the other who have visited that place might have missed something so significant.
Brennan shrugs, "That island could be built on the top of the head of a five hundred foot giant made of chalk that just decided to stand up out of the muck, and it wouldn't be the weirdest thing I've seen this year. But even if it is, we got there when the rains were still falling on it, washing the coral from the towers and clearing the silt from the boulevards. It was being restored, somehow, and it wasn't Sorcery as I practice it or as I've ever seen it practiced. Frankly, I don't doubt its legitimacy. I'm not clear on every detail of the place's history from Lir to Corwin to Benedict, or exactly why it happened when it happened, but that doesn't change the basics for me.
"The important things to me are, how does it affect what I believe to be Moire's Gambit and, more academically, what exactly is its history with Lir, and why do so many of us keep settling the place?" Brennan turns to Fletcher, "So, yeah, I heard about the tomb. Saw it with my own eyes, even." He turns back to Lilly, "He means Lir's tomb, which was sitting in the throne room. Which is probably where Khela got Conner's sword from. We weren't there quite long enough to figure out why a coffin was in a throne room.
"Which brings me to my own question for curiosity's sake: What do you know about Lir?" Brennan asks.
Lilly shakes her head. "Painfully little, I suppose. And even less about sorcery. I am afraid that this mystery might be out of my depths." She offers the hint of a smile. "I'm the martial one, remember?"
Fletcher concentrates. "I've been pondering the notion of Lir since I heard Robin's story yesterday. I'm sure Celina's archivists have the most information on the topic. It had been some time since I've given that name serious thought. As you know, Rebmans swear by him as some sort of semi-divine/titanic founder or champion. There are various songs and poems about him, but who knows how much truth there is in that? Didn't they say the tomb was empty? Regardless if the sword Conner carries was Lir's, I think it must have passed through Cneve's hands at some point. What sort of information are you looking for?"
"Robin's tale is not mine to tell, but yeah, seems like that would play in. What am I looking for?" Brennan smiles broadly. "Anything I don't already know, of course. Whether it was the historical Lir or his Shadow that played a part in Avalon's deep past, knowing more about him could provide a lot of leverage with the Maghee. One of my nefarious sources puts him pretty reliably as a Knight in Rebma's court, and probably Moins' son, but I haven't been able to turn up a father or a particular order.
"I will be talking with Celina, too, but it occurred to me at some point that my knowledge is so lacking I could walk past a lead and not even recognize it. For instance: So he was a Knight of an ancient order. Great. And the great historical Orders of the past are...?" Brennan shrugs. "And their responsibilities and spheres of influence were...?" Brennan shrugs again, clearly annoyed at this gap in his historical knowledge.
"To my knowledge he was not a Knight of the Unicorn or Knight of the Compass. I think his story goes back to a time before the stair, when there was significantly less direct cultural contact between Rebma and Amber."
"Our father might know something of other ancient orders," Lilly shrugs. "I think Celina may be a good source of information as well. I don't know her very well. Is she trustworthy?"
Fletcher grins. "Of course she is. She's a queen gathering allies."
"I am a sworn member of her court, since her accession to the throne and coronation," Brennan says. He seems to consider that a sufficient statement on the issue of trustworthiness.
Lilly nods. That is all the information she needs of the matter.
Then he turns to Fletcher. "What of the Order of the Unicorn?" he asks. "Do you plan to revive it or re-conceive it?"
"There can never be too many Orders," Lilly adds with a smile. "We need to keep one another in check."
Fletcher grins again. "Lir's status was legendary even in my youth, so I doubt there's any non-Rebman records of any particular orders he might have joined, or founded. In the case of the Knights of the Unicorn, they still exist and remain Amber's most senior order of knights. I do not know if they have worked to replenish their ranks since the war. Random asked that I sort of my allegiance to father before pursuing other loyalties. I'm not sure what to make of that, and when he's available Dad seems hesitant to exactly explain whether Avalon is a separate Court to which I owe fealty. And I don't know if Random will distinguish between the Courts of Amber and Xanadu." It is clear that Fletcher takes formal distinctions and responsibility seriously. "How do you handle being a Knight of Amber (and or Xanadu) and sworn to Celina? And Lilly, I don't suppose father said anything to you about such things?"
"Gingerly," Brennan says. "I'm not privy to the details of their conversations on the matter, but the Queen considers the King to be the head of the Family. As a practical matter, there have been no conflicts to manage, and I've found transparency to be the best policy: King Random knows of my position in Rebma and Queen Celina knows of my Knighthood and my oath to Random. For the moment I consider myself to give good service to both in advising Celina as best I can.
"It's not so different to my time in Avalon," he continues. "I swore no oath to your father, nor did he ask. But I made clear what it was that I sought to do on Celina's behalf in his realm, and as much as possible I chose actions I thought would benefit both Benedict and Celina while I was in Benedict's realm. I would do no less for Corwin. My oaths are as they are, but with the exception of the Queen of Air and Darkness I try to defend and further Order itself."
Lilly nods along as Brendan speaks. "Father has never asked more of me then to be his daughter. But with the upbringing I had, that is actually quite the task. My foster family raised me to be loyal to him, and to myself, and even to Amber. Father choose them well. He speaks little of oaths and I never really believed he thought of himself as a monarch. He's always been more of a General, if you know what I mean. The Order of the Ruby was more my choice. A way to separate myself from Benedict while continuing to bring Honor to the family. I hope that the two never come into conflict because that would create a very difficult choice."
"If anyone knows the true relationship between Oberon, Moins, and the Other One, they haven't told me. But for the present, there are three brothers and a niece or a daughter depending on the brother. Since the brothers don't include both Corwin and Eric, here's hoping we're safe from all internal conflicts except the Other One." Brennan doesn't sound too hopeful about that, though. "I don't know that anyone much considers Amber to a court of consequence any longer. It's Avalon, Rebma, and Paris that can't be ignored, especially since everyone understands their status in the scheme of things. Whether they are courts in the social and political sense according to their members is less important than the facts of their separate existences."
Fletcher stiffens a bit at the mention of Amber. "The courts cannot avoid becoming political entities as they grow in population and power. Random's position as head of the family seems to stem from more than simply the fact that he... fashioned this place. He is the King of Amber, chosen by the Unicorn with the tacit approval of Oberon. Dad kept Avalon a secret for a long time, presumably for a reason, possibly to forestall the inevitable politics. While the the bastions of Order build their defenses, our enemies seem to be seeking alternate routes to our undoing. How well equipped are we to mount a serious offensive against any one of them? The Klybesians in particular have a number of hard points that will be costly to take."
"I assume that there is much more to Avalon's defenses than meets the eye," Lilly responds thoughtfully. "Our father would not leave such things to chance. Still, with multiple Kingdoms to protect, we are not only divided by belief but also by distance. We need to determine our weaknesses and move to protect them."
"All the realms are connected, whether they want to be or not, by the Faiella-Bionin: Tir-na Nog'th to Avalon to Rebma to Paris to Xanadu to Tir-na Nog'th," Brennan says. "No tower along the wall, so to speak, is more than two towers away from any other. Whether that's a point of strength or weakness may be a matter of some discussion tomorrow, though. None of us actually need it to move to or from Avalon, Paris or Xanadu, and I'm leaving out Rebma and Tir-na Nog'th only because I haven't made the effort. But it can be used by anyone who's reached it."
"I'm not certain anyone has used it to travel between Paris and Xanadu yet. Do you know? I've made the trip myself, doing what I could to help reinforce it. Convential transport and communication between cities could be of great use given that we are still limited by the number of family members and trumps. Do you see that as more of an asset or liability?" Fletcher asks, his tone indicating he is clearly coming down in the 'asset' side.
"I have never traveled it," Lilly admits. "I think I shall have to add that to my list of things I need to accomplish while here. I can't even truly form an opinion regarding its use until I have experienced it for myself."
"I thought you had," Brennan says. "Aside from that, I'm not sure. I haven't walked that link myself. But I know how to find it if I need it, and my understanding is that the Faiella-Bionin doesn't actually need us to reinforce it. No one forged the path from Paris to Rebma, that I know of-- it's just there. By the way," he says to Lilly, "I don't recommend the Avalon to Rebma link as your first trip. The Rebma end is guarded by Tritons."
"Noted," Lilly responds with a smile.
Then, to answer Fletcher's question, "We have, what, twenty-five, thirty of us capable of moving troops about? I begin to lose count. To the degree that it gives our adversaries mobility they would not ordinarily have, I'd count it a liability. To the degree that it channels them, I'd count it an asset-- if the Moonriders have to move through Avalon or Xanadu first, say, or if we can use it to set up a hammer and anvil situation," he gives Lilly a sly grin, there, recalling the Patternfal Battle. "All of which depends on the degree to which we really understand it. It's a bit of a blindspot precisely because we don't need it, and therefore rarely consider it."
Lilly returns the grin remembering the battle fondly. "Valid point."
The pre-game festivities clearly winding down, Signy takes an opportunity to top up her stolen glass of scotch and to pour her brother another one, before tossing various hors d'oevres on a plate that can be eaten along the way.
Pausing for any stops for her brother along the way, she manages to polish off the plate quickly while nursing the drink along so that she shows up with most of it intact.
She looks around at everyone assembled, noting Brennan and the growing assembling of the Knights of the Ruby before turning back to her brother. "Are you required to be with the Knights for this?"
"I should be," Marius says reluctantly. "Showing the flag and all that. But I can keep you company for a while and make any introductions to the locals. I've met a lot of people." He starts pointing out various notables, with some attention to friends and family of the various royals: Tjaden, the mayor's consort, and Scarlett, Raven's mother, Ash, the mayor, Valeria, not quite the Rebman ambassador but sister to Jerod, and various business people, most of whom are only interesting to Signy as potential suppliers of exotic materials.
Signy nods knowingly at all the people that he points out, hoping that the fact that for all she knows he's naming exotic dishes from some restaurant in Shadow.
She notes Brita, and remembers that it might be good to talk to her again since they last had their little adventure rescuing the Queen.
"Actually, I do see Brita, and I haven't actually talked with her in a while...."
She pauses to see if Marius wants to continue evading his Knightly responsibilities or continue to stay with her.
Brita gives a little half wave from her spot near the dais.
"Go ahead. We'll catch up more later." Marius gives her hand a pleasant squeeze and goes off toward the Knights.
Robin and Vere linger on the outskirts of the square, standing arm in arm and observing the festivities quietly for a while. Vere hums quietly along with the band as he notes good sites for snipers and potential choke points in case of a panicked exodus, and amuses himself by trying to analyze what security measures are in place.
It's always good to stay in practice.
Robin's bright eyes dance over the crowd as her toe taps in time to the music. She’' still wearing what she wore to dinner as Castor has not managed to convince her to change her clothes more than once a day yet. But her outfit is as suitable for dancing as it was for climbing down the outside of a castle after a Family Gathering.
Overhead, the occasional hungry seabird has some friendly competition and Robin glances upward with a laugh for her fair.
"My Love?" she says to Vere, fondness filling her voice with gold (or perhaps bronze.) "I have been informed in no uncertain terms, that the spicy chicken barbeque is here and that some should be procured post haste if one does not wish someone to procure it themselves."
She grins and tips her head toward one of the serving tables near the dais.
Vere glances upwards at the hovering fair and smiles. "We cannot have that," he agrees. "Let us provide for the greedy children." Still arm in arm he walks with Robin into the crowd, nodding greetings to people as they pass.
Many of the city folks seem pleased to nod, especially those who know Vere from the Amber Regency. No one really seems inclined to interrupt them on their mission, though.
As Vere and Robin approach the food table, they see some familiar faces. Scarlett is in conversation with Tjaden, which probably means Ash is somewhere nearby, and Maximus and Victor are talking to one of the castle staff. Vere thinks it's the young man who was Prince Garrett's swords master. They are, to Max’s delight, discussing methods of killing demons.
Tjaden and Scarlet bow when Robin and Vere approach, but Victor and his party are too absorbed in their own discussion to notice them.
Robin's friends would like some chicken, now.
Vere nods to Tjaden and Scarlet, and silently points out Victor if Robin hasn't already seen him.
Robin nods back to Vere with her own grin. Now that is a conversation Robin can get her teeth into. But first -- chicken. Definitely spicy chicken.
Robin approaches the table, chooses a large plate and stacks it with discrete chicken parts. (I'm thinking of the stuff from the barbecue place that Silhouette and Robin went to a while ago.) If there is additional hot sauce, Robin uses that liberally too. All the while, she's got her 'wait for it, wait for it' mood on though she is working quickly and efficiently.
Once done, Robin indicates the demon-killing conversation with a jerk of her head and heads that way. Vere is totally welcome to accompany her or talk to more civilized folk if he'd like.
Robin's plan is to act like a normal person while simultaneously underhanding bits of chicken up into the air for fly-by snatches. It's not a good plan, but it's hers....
Vere follows, There is nowhere he wants to be more than with Robin.
Robin's trio react as expected to this, which is to say the female lands on Victor, and both males on Vere's shoulders. At least Robin doesn’t have far to throw.
Victor continues his story, describing a flaw in the circle left by the late Lord Rodrigo of Diaz and the sad consequences to the man known as "The Captain"...
Max is entranced by the fire lizards.
Conner arrives a little past fashionably late to the square dressed in his usual greens with the Paxblade on his hip. Conner idly surveys the crowd and finds he doesn't have a great desire to interact with anyone. The idea of tweaking Valeria's nose in public gives him a brief smile and the sight of Brita in a dress does make the grin wider. Still, the same old, same old of court fun is just stale.
Then the fire lizards swoop down and land. Conner's hand is on Halosydne's hilt before he notes the complete lack of reaction from the party goers. These are known entities and Conner has clearly missed something. Conner watches them land and sees Vere and Robin and clearly some friends of theirs. Curiosity briefly wars with anger and a desire not to discomfit and then with a shrug Conner shifts himself and approaches their group. He approaches them openly and greets people along the way in perhaps a slightly louder voice than needed. If Robin and Vere wish to avoid him or wave him off, Conner is giving them plenty of opportunity to do so.
Vere nods a greeting as Conner approaches, but leaves it to Robin to make the introductions to her friend and his family.
Robin looks up from the not-so-subtle plan that has her tossing food in Vere and Victor's general direction.
"Conner," she smiles and nods. There's a brief pause, but Robin picks up what Vere is laying down pretty quickly.
"Oh, have you met everyone?". Robin asks, mostly rhetorically.
"This is Victor - demon-hunter and my ex, Max - Scarlett's son," Robin gestures to the nearby red-handed diva, "by way of Lucas. Annnndd, feel like I should know you sir...". She finishes as she comes to "Prince Garrett's arms instructor."
He bows. "I am no one, my lady. A servant of The Merciful One and his highness, Prince Garrett. I am called Abd-Allah."
"Servus Dei," replies Victor. "I once knew a man named that."
Robin nods a greeting to Abd-Allah, and while Victor's comment seems to go by Robin without notice, her eyes are sparkling and her lips are pressed against a smile. She's obviously still fond of the great goof.
Conner offers Victor a hand clasp and as nod of his. Max is also offered a hand clasp. "Your mother and brother both mentioned you today. A pleasure to meet you finally." Abd-Allah gets his bow returned with a slight bow as befits their relative rank. "Peace be upon you, Abd-Allah."
"May the Merciful One grant you peace," he replies.
Conner then turns back to Robin. "You haven't finished the introductions, Cousin." Conner gestures towards the fire lizards. "Who are these marvelous creatures?"
Robin grins at her little darlings. "These are Peep, Chirrup and Ooot." Robin nods to the little queen on Victor and the two bronze on Vere, respectively. "They joined up with me when I took the dragonriders back to Calusa. And while they are still pretty young, they are growing up nicely." Robin's voice fills with warm pride.
"I guess, one could call them my... familiars? Affine isn't right. And Friend is too small a word." She looks back to Conner. "Would you like to meet Chirrup? He likes new people.... Especially since Silhouette got him hooked on the spicy chicken, didn't she?" She says, teasing her little gallant one.
"They are remarkable creatures," Vere adds with a small smile. "And they are quite aware of it."
Not as remarkable as the one commenting on them, Robin smiles with open joy at Vere and his two companions.
"Aren't we all?" Conner observes.
Robin can't help the little 'heh' of amusement that escapes her.
Victor holds out his wrist and a miniature bronze dragon hops onto it, to be presented to Conner. Victor says, "They're smarter than cats, or at least they're as smart as cats and more interested in pleasing people. And by people, I mean Robin."
Chirrup makes a noise very like his name.
Conner holds up his own wrist for Chirrup to perch on should he wish. "Good day, Chirrup." Conner tries to put the bird call inflections that Robin does into the name. "Aren't you a fine looking flier?" Conner pauses a moment and opens his Third Eye to have a closer look at the dragonling. "Is there anywhere he likes or doesn't like to be touched?" Conner asks.
"Don't like -- the usual: eyes, mouth, genitals. Like -- eyeridges are good for scritchings, between the wings for kneeding, down the spine for stroking. Here..." Robin holds a bit of chicken out to Conner. "Like many young things, they are mighty keen on food."
Vere catches Robin's eye and gives a subtle nod towards Max, who is watching the fire lizards with wide eyes.
Chirrup steps up onto Connor's wrist. He smells vaguely of spices, which seem to cover up a tinge of sulphur. After eating the chicken, he turns his head to get scratched behind the ear.
Victor catches Robin's eye and gives a subtle nod towards Max, who is watching the fire lizards with wide eyes.
Conner watches Chirrup eat the chicken with gusto and commences scratching behind the ear when prompted. "It is a nice change of pace to find something draconic that isn't an existential threat to the cosmos." Conner smiles. "Are they going to grow as large as Calusan dragons?"
"Nope," Robin says. While still talking to Conner, she smiles to Vere and holds out a bit of chicken toward Max. Raising her eyebrows and ticking her head toward Ooot, asking if he wants a go.
"These little darlings are only going to grow to about as long as a forearm. Though something Dad let slip; I think he used guys like this as the seeds for the Calusan dragons, as a kind of response to the existential threat..." She shrugs, "I'm not certain, but it certainly seems possible."
"Dragon seeds." Conner muses then chuckles. "What a garden that would be." Chirrup gets an extra skritch for that thought.
Vere goes down on one knee so that Ooot is at Max's level.
Max starts feeding Ooot, and petting him. "He's like a kitty!" the boy says.
Robin grins, taking delight in Max’s delight.
Victor nods. "More useful, really. These beauties can fly, hunt, and breathe tiny dragon fire." He turns to Robin. "Robin, my bird, have you considered breeding these lovelies? I know a demon-hunter or two who could use such a companion."
"A demon-hunter or two, huhn?" She's still grinning but answers the question. "I've thought about it but the darlings are a little young to talk it over with and I'm not doing anything without their full knowledge and consent."
Max looks up at Robin. "I saw him in the sky, the day I met my brother."
"Really? When was that?" Robin asks. Brother? Robin's pretty sure he doesn't mean Phillippe. But asking directly might spook the boy, so she'll trail roundabouts. But she does shoot an inquiring look to Vere and Conner to see if they know anything.
Conner catches Robin's look and decides to broach the direct question. "Do you mean Raven or another sibling?" He asks.
Vere continues quietly holding Ooot while Max pets him.
Max is perfectly happy talk as long as Ooot is still there for the petting. "Yeah, Raven. She was chasing me down and I was looking to escape, and I saw your little dragons flying over.
"I haven't met my other brothers and sisters, but I hear they've arrived from Paris. I haven't met my grandmother, either..."
"Oh, yeah... I remember...." Robin grins with fond memories, "Wasn't that a day. I'll let you in on a secret, Max. Ooot here was looking out for you. If you're ever in trouble and you see one of my little beauties in the sky, you let 'em know and either I or Raven or Victor or someone will come right quickly." She smiles again. Raven and riots - good times.
"I've only met Hope and Phillippe once," says Robin. "But I thought they were nice." Totally skipping over grandmother, yessir.
Vere continues to listen silently, while carefully watching the reactions of everyone in their vicinity.
Garrett arrives as the edge of the crowd in the square and looks around. Apparently spotting what he's looking for, he moves toward the nearest bar quickly, deftly dodging other drink-bearing patrons in his quest for a good Xanadu beer. He talks to the barkeep genially about brews and business while ordering a dark stout. Once he has beer in hand, he turns to survey the crowd, looking to catch up with people he didn't get to talk with at dinner.
A whirring in the air attracts his attention and he turns toward a large group of people in lots of shapes and sizes - tall, short, young, old. He spots the fire-lizards, the source of the sound that he heard, and grins as he realizes Robin must be in the pack there somewhere. As he makes his way over, his grin grows wider as he sees another VERY familiar face - one that he remembers fondly. Abd-allah.
"Hope and Phillippe? I know them well," he says as he approaches, smiling, with a dark beer in hand. "I was one of their riding instructors back in Amber, and saw them in Paris recently too."
"Hope you don't mind if I join you all. I saw Abd-allah here and decided this was the best place to be," Garrett says, with a clap on the back of his former weapons master.
Abd-allah bows. He doesn't smile; he never does, but he doesn't seem displeased to see Prince Garrett. "My best pupil, now a budding master. I have been assigned to train the young Lord, Highness."
"Keepin' em both out of trouble," Victor says, mostly towards Robin. Robin thinks he really means "all three of us".
From his kneeling position Vere smiles and nods his head in greeting to Garrett.
"Highness." Robin smiles to Garrett and Abd-allah as he joins the group. Anything that will get the Prince to voluntarily approach the fire-lizards after that first disastrous meeting is good.
"Soooo, you are both training Max here?" she asks Victor and Abd-allah. "That makes sense. I assume you are a specialist in man-type opponents, then Abd-allah? 'Cause I know Victor here can handle several of the alternatives." Though Robin's tone of voice teasingly implies that Vic can't handle as many of the alternatives as herself but enough.
Abd-allah nods. "It is said that a man with two tutors learns either twice or much or nothing, Lady."
Victor agrees. "Yep, all or nuthin." We can demonstrate at speed with each other." He puts his hand on his nephew"s head. "Maximus is a quick learner, not like I was."
Garrett nods to return the greetings of Robin and Vere. "Well, congratulations, Maximus," he says to Max. "You're learning from the best if you're working with Abd-allah. And I'm sure your skills are fine as well, sir," he adds to Victor, "I just haven't seen them in person."
Conner looks up from scratching behind Chirrup's ear to nod a greeting to Garrett when he joins them. "Robin, could I pick your brain about a question of animal husbandry? I have some plans for Rebma I could use advice on." Conner gestures to a quieter spot away from the bigger group.
Vere looks at Robin and raises a questioning eyebrow.
"Sure, Conner, though I don't know how much help I'll be for wet husbandry as opposed to dry..." she shrugs.
As she catches Vere's glance, Robin nods calmly. This is probably one of those "let's demonstrate that Robin is not dependent on Vere" moments. Besides she'll just be over there.
"If you gentlemen will pardon us a moment." Robin turns back to the crowd, and indicates with a wave that Ooot can stay with Max and Vere, and Beauty can stay with Victor while she, Chirrup and Conner step aside. On another level, she promises her little trio that Chirrup is not going to get extra chicken just 'cause he's with her. Everybody will keep getting the same amount -- dependent on good behavior, of course.
Last modified: 14 August 2017