Vere waves a farewell to Victor then turns to Robin. "I like him," he says to her. "He says what he thinks, but with friendliness and grace." He smiles. "A good mean betwixt the two of us I think, the one who o'erthinks his every word, and the other..." he raises an eyebrow, then winks at his beloved.
She wrinkles her nose at him with a twinkle in her eyes. Words are stupid.
Robin takes a little time to breathe, stretch, dry-off and snuggle her way out of the adrenaline-fueled state that let her survive the -- brrrr -- caves. Wet caves!
After checking to make sure that Peep hasn't licked up any strangeness along with the paint, Robin sighs and mounts her horse.
"My love? If we run across any firelillies, can you just take one to investigate? I mean to destroy any others I find outside of Daeon's byre, okay"
Vere nods. "One for research. The rest we shall destroy if that is your preference." He considers for a few moments while they ride, then asks, "What do we know of these firelillies, in sooth? I have heard the story of how they were created, and have seen a few of them, but I have not yet had a chance to study them. Nor have I heard any theories of what they are and what they can do."
"Weeelllll," Robin drawls, knowing she's not the best person to answer a research question. "I don't like 'em 'cause they sound like Chaos; all buzzy and scrapey." She wrinkles her nose in distaste.
"And I don't like the way they grow in paths; like from Daeon's cairn, around the Grove of the Unicorn, then off into Broceliande. And every time I come across one off by itself in Shadow, it feels like a signpost." Pause.
"Since I'm dead set against Chaosian roads - I've set myself to smash 'em wherever I find 'em."
Vere nods his understanding of this viewpoint.
"On the plus side, they set things on fire and taste yummy to firelizards." She finishes with a grin.
Vere laughs. Then he looks up at the firelizards with a thoughtful glance. "I had not realized they could teleport and breathe fire like their larger cousins," he says. "It is impressive."
"It is." Robin nods with fondness to her lovelies. "And since I suspect that these little darlings are what Dad bred up the larger cousins from, I expect we'll see even more fantastic surprises from them."
She croons lovingly to the fair.
Vere leans over from his saddle to kiss his beloved as they ride side by side. "I look forward to it," he assures her. He straightens up again and looks around. "Now, what shall we? Straight on to Arden?"
"Yeeessss." Robin fluffs uncomfortably, but steals another kiss before settling down to business.
"When I came through here with Venesch, it was a day and a half ride. But I was pushing pretty hard. Could be longer going back."
Robin sets her horse's nose against the winds of Reality flowing toward Xanadu and starts pushing through Shadow toward Amber.
Vere follows. Robin is far more experienced than he is at travelling through Shadow and he takes this opportunity to watch what she does.
[OOC: Please note that it will take a week to travel from Xanadu to Amber unless you hellride. Converse/plot accordingly. It passes uneventfully, unless you make it eventful.]
Oh, let's take the week so Robin can teach and demostrate how she Shadowalks to Vere. Maybe brief spurts of hell-riding to demo that too. :) And lots of snuggling time.
Hmmmm.... things Vere might notice about Robin on the trail.
She catnaps at night, preferrably in trees, but she'll make the accomodation to ground sleeping to be with her Beloved. (And doesn't snore. ;)
She is very much a morning person, bounces up chipper and cheerful and ready to attack the day. But tends to wind down as it starts getting dark.
The longer she doesn't talk, the less need she has to. If Vere lets her get away with it, by day 3 or 4 she'll be completely non-verbal.
She's conscientious about the care of the horses but only bonds with them lightly. They go in and out of her life too rapidly for Robin to care much about horses.
She'll spend down time working with the firelizards. (Especially seeing if she can repeat the seeing through Peep's eyes stunt at the marketplace.)
[Nope, can't seem to repeat this.]
[Well, that's okay. Peep is magnificent regardless. :) ]
While Robin is definitely sanitary, she's not what you'd call neat or clean.
And, of course, she is massively competent on the trail. Fire, shelter, food, safety/security, kludges, tools, etc all come to her easily and naturaly. And she's definitely more happy and playful in the woods.
For her part Robin learns a number of things about Vere in the wild, as opposed to Vere in more civilized settings. While no Ranger he is clearly no stranger to living off the land, and is just as watchful and observant of the natural world as he is the doings of humans when he is among them.
He is comfortable sleeping in the trees, and he is skilled and quick in constructing a tree nest. He is always careful to disassemble it the next morning, leaving as little trace that it was ever there as possible.
He follows her lead in communications, and once words drop from her repertoire they also drop from his. He is very quick to pick up on her nonverbal communications, and he is an able mimic of bird calls and the calls of a variety of natural beasts of the woods through which they are travelling.
He avoids Sorcery during this time, although he begins a collection of seemingly random twigs, stones, feathers and such things that he picks up along the trail and stuffs into a variety of packs. He does this without paying much attenction to what he is doing. It seems as though he would just as soon not remember exactly what he has collected.
He is clearly much more fond of the horses than she is, and murmurs to them soothingly whenever something spooks or worries them.
He pays a lot of attention to her Shadow work, but asks no questions.
Robin feels as if she's reached the southern reaches of Arden, perhaps a a day's ride from Amber. It's not the deep green, but it's plenty green.
The firelizards warn Robin that there's something ahead on the trail. The wind is wrong for her to get a scent, but it may be that they are about to meet the first people on the trail all week.
Robin perks up in her saddle. She gestures to the firelizards, her own eyes and the trail ahead. She's obviously still non-verbal, but starts clearing her throat softly and reorganzing her thoughts toward wordiness. Her body language is that of curiosity, not wariness. She's not too concerned about anything she might meet on the trail. Whether that confidence is misplaced or not.
Vere instantly picks up on Robin's increased awareness and glances down the trail in the direction of her attention. A moment later he slowly turns in his saddle, scanning in all directions around and above them just in case whatever Robin and the firelizards have notices should prove to be a distraction.
Whatever it is, it's just around that rise there. The firelizards aren't sure what to make of it, and come in much closer over Robin.
Vere is following Robin's lead.
Robin's using her standard approach to the unknown - walk (or ride) right into it and then figure out what to do. She's much more confident in her ability to get out of trouble than her ability to avoid it.
As the firelizards gather in, Robin croons comfortingly to them, trying to convey that assurance without words.
Vere follows, alert and ready for anything.
Robin and Vere crest the rise and see a lone horseman on the trail ahead of them. He is not wearing significant armor, but seems to be travelling lightly. His red hair and ready smile, so like his father's, give him away as Edan.
He looks beleaguered, as if his attention is in three places at once. He's not riding his great stallion, and there is some sort of gargoyle creature sitting on his shoulder. He's on a new path, one that seems to run straight and unnaturally. Robin thinks it leads to the Deep Green.
[The gargoyle] turns to towards Robin and Vere and lets out a burst of flame and a raucus challenge.
The firelizards hate the other dragon-thing and are getting ready to attack it.
Edan leaves the center of the woods, sure that eyes are upon him the entire time.
He arrives back at his chosen location, where the gate is located.
[OOC: I assume Kyauta met up with him on the way out, yes?]
Very quickly. He also seems quiet.
First things first. If the law of congruences is right for Pattern maniuplation, this place is closer than where he's going. Edan finds a tiny scroll of paper in his pocket, and a pencil and some string, and writes the following:
Trump me. It's important.
-Edan.
Setting the items aside, he draws his knife and slashes his palm, setting his Will upon his blood as Fiona taught him, willing a bird of desire to come and perch upon his sleeve while he ties the message to the bird's leg. If all goes well, he launches the bird up and away and towards Paige.
After some [handwavy] time, Edan feels the subtle stirrings in his mind of a trump contact.
[Assuming he takes the contact]
Paige is wearing a low cut green dress, and is standing in a more-fashionable section of Xanadu. "Well, having your flying blood arrive certainly did in that party. " She turns her smile back on. "They were boring people anyway. How is my favorite brother?"
Edan smiles in return, but bows his head. "I am sorry," he says. "Actually, my bird reached you faster than I expected. I thought you would reach me as I traveled, and there was a good chance you would miss me. I have some news which I thought best to pass along before heading to my next task. Right now, I am on the border of Arden, but I will be heading... south. Far south. The firelily plants, I think I should mention first."
Paige chuckles; her signature throaty sound seems like a confidence shared. "Yo u saved me from bores, so I do forgive you. If you're in Arden, time has always been odd there, and it's very close to Broceliande, too.
"We've heard of the plants in the new forest, by the way, but no one has found one. Just rumors. What have you learned?"
She tucks her hair behind her ear, highlighting a glittery earring.
"I met with Julian," Edan says. "He had one of them on his table. I offered to examine it, and felt back along the flame to expose a huge sensory network. According to Julian's maps, they lead back to the Dragon of Arden. That makes a compelling argument that these firelillies are the eyes and ears of Arcadia. I...don't know how many of us have been taking these things, nor where they took them. But if I can think of a way to see through these across Shadow, you know She can. The rest of the Family needs to know that She could, and probably has, spied through them." He suddenly frowns. "I really should have thought to ask her about that."
Paige picks up on the latter, which shouldn't be a surprise to Edan at all. She's always been good at reading emotions. Still, she wants Edan to say it. "What do you mean, you should've asked her about that. Asked who about it? What did you do, Edan?"
"Merely followed the path that the device showed me," Edan says, holding up a hand, palm out. "Have you talked to Father lately? We raided one of the forward Moonrider camps, and I acquired a device that looks rather like a sextant. That is a story in itself. I followed the device's path, masking myself as a cockatrice to dissuade observers. I expected it to skirt past or go through Arden and head towards Tir. Instead, it led directly to the Dragon. Lady Arcadia." He pauses a breath. "Her avatar was present. The Dragon herself was asleep, or at least She was trying hard to make it appear so." He smiles slightly. "I threatened her. We had tea. She gave me a riddle to ponder. Several, actually."
Paige looks white. "The Dragon. Of Arcadia. The one who killed my children's father and stole their first decade of life from me. You had tea?"
Paige makes her question linger, one word dropping at a time. The air tastes like a forest, just before the lightning strikes.
"It was a temporary truce, of course. It took the form of a tea." Edan feels his jaw clench and unclench; he also sees the fight coming, but resolves to keep a cool head. The irony of him doing so nearly renders him speechless. "I was trying to avoid her in the first place, but it is better that I discovered this link existed. If we had fought, I would be dead, and she would be permanently injured, for I know what a death-curse is.
"Instead, she chose to talk. I chose to listen. I learned things. I gained new riddles to answer. And now I need you, for I have had a double earful of Arcadian god-politics today, things no one has bothered to explain to me up until now, things I don't think our aunts and uncles, even our father, think us important enough to know, and I don't know what to believe. I still can't prove the Gheneshi haven't made common cause with Arcadia, past or future, and if they do, you will be the second place where the hammer falls."
Paige may or may not have heard anything Edan says. "Just one question. Am I going to be an Aunt again? Are my children going to have more cousins?"
"Huh? Not from her. Is that what you mean? What do you take me for?" Edan's eyes narrow, and it does nothing to reduce the bright golden glare they emanate. "You know about Hannah, yes? I don't know what I am to her. Probably nothing. But whatever I am, I'm not about to ruin that with some chance encounter with a dragon. And that's putting aside all the possible ramifications of such a thing."
"You knocked up Hannah? What were you thinking? Nevermind that, does Father know?" On a streetcorner in Xanadu, people probably think Paige is a crazy woman, yelling into the air.
Kyauta wants Edan's attention.
"What is knock...oh. Sounds a little crude, my sister. To answer, yes, but it is not common knowledge. I have not told Father, but I always assume he knows. I've never been able to surprise him, even when I...never mind. What is it, Kyauta?"
Kyauta is aloft, concealed as a part of a tree. "My Lord! There are dragons to the south, and they are leading others towards you!"
If enemies are approaching, Edan is reasonably exposed.
Paige isn't done yet. "I'm not doing talking to you! Do you realize how young she is? She's just a baby, not even a hundred. She's Gerard's ward, he could drop you off a cliff for this, and we live on the edge of one. Didn't you think of the consequences? And if you think you're going to marry her and make it better, then you better at least know that the King has expressly forbidden it for cousins."
"Kyauta, to me," Edan says. "My sister is the best escape route, and we have the gate, right here, as a backup. Paige..." He hesitates. "Thank you. I would have walked into all that unknowing. I am a baby too, by your standards, not even thirty. Maybe a little more, if Father stretched Time during my grand tour. Random wants me to find his lost Trumps, and I may have to go as far as Clarissa to get them. Maybe he saw this coming and wants me out of town, I don't know. But I don't shirk responsibility...if you think it's best I come back and face an angry Gerard, I will do so. Or, if you have an alternate suggestion, I am prepared to hear it."
Kyauta lands on Edan's shoulder and starts to change forms. Edan senses more of the Uxmali god that he ate than he recalls. Kyauta may be better at picking what he'll change into.
"Escape? Are you in danger? Do you need a weapon?" Paige suddenly has a crossbow in her hand and is offering it through to Edan. "Take it, or come if you need to. I'm not dressed for a fight, but I can come if you need me."
The lead rider is Robin, and she has her own flying dragonettes with her. Kyauta apparently is spooked by them, and screams defiance at them and breathes a burst of flame.
It is only Edan's excellent horsemanship that keeps the animal under him from panicking, but between Paige, Kyauta, and the mare, it's kind of hard to maintain concentration on much of anything.
As well they should since it's so rude. But Robin knows and recognizes Edan and dueling Lords of Order is something to be avoided. So unless the punk gargoyle is a parasite, no showing it who's boss.
As an alternative, the emotions and feelings Robin sends winging to her lovely little vicious killers is 'let's out-style them.' It's not often that Robin and the firelizards get to be the self-controlled civilized ones. What a coup that would be!
The details of the message may be beyond her friends, but the 'hold back' part is clear enough, and they land on Robin's shoulders, except for Chirrup who lands on Vere.
Errrr? what would Vere say in a moment like this?
"Cousin Edan!" Vere calls out, holding up a hand. "Well met!" He whistles quietly to the firelizards, a calming melody that closely mirrors the cheeps they gives when they are in a more placid mood.
"Arg..." is all Edan gets out for a moment. Trying to keep one's attention on everything at once is a lousy tactical move, so Edan doesn't try. Maybe it's a credit to his training, or some kind of natural ability, but he immediately concentrates on keeping his horse in check and Kyauta close to him, the two variables he judges to be the most fragile. He leaves the Trump connection to Paige, who he assumes is much better at it than he is, and he leaves Robin to keep control over her own lizard fair, without using possibly-Trump-killing sorcery to interpose a barrier.
"It's Robin and Vere!" he yells out, if Paige is somehow still connected. "Kyauta...stay...here! Those are not dragons!"
Kyauta stays, but seems ready to fight on any provocation.
Paige sets down the crossbow. "I'll call you back in a bit. You've got your hands full." She closes the connection.
"Are we all settled now?" Vere asks in a calm and reassuring voice.
"Yes," Edan says after a moment. "No. Sort of. I was on a Trump call. Kyauta is a creature of Chaos, and he thinks the lizards are dragons."
"They are; just not affiliated with The Dragon." Robin chirps.
"Creature of Chaos, hunh? Can you tell him that the Firelizards are attached to me, Robin Lord of Order, and that I would take it harshly if he tampered with them?"
Robin's tone of voice is cheerful. She's not threatening, just stating a fact - like 'look, there's a cliff there.'"
Edan blinks in surprise, then matches Robin's smile. "I understand. Neither of you are from the Dar-es Salaam," he explains. "It is also my creature, dear cousin, and I am responsible for its actions." He says this slowly, almost deliberately, as if reciting something learned. "Were it ever to disobey me, I would most likely destroy it immediately, in a manner of my choosing. It has already seen me do something of the sort, so it knows this is no boast. If its misbehavior were to cause damage to you or your holdings, it would be up to me to show apology and find recompense for its misdeeds, up to and possibly including an offer for you to slay it in my stead. Being my creature, it is mine to kill, not yours, if I so choose." He inclines his head. "In the same manner, I would hold you responsible for your pets, and would expect the same response if they...misbehaved. But I do not worry; I have every confidence in your absolute control of your fire-lizards. My affine knows my wishes, and by now it should well know that those are your own affines. I will destroy it if it disobeys. I know you will extend me the same courtesy."
Robin grins and relaxes in her saddle. "Oh, good. You wouldn't believe what some of our cousin's consider responsibility." She rolls her green eyes.
"Though to be fair, I probably wouldn't destroy my firelizards. They're still babies and have a ways to go yet. But discipline, apology and recompense? Absolutely!
"Sooo, we meet in the Green once again, cousin." She looks behind Edan down the very straight road behind him.
"We are on our way to find Julian," Vere explains.
"Ah. Yes. I met him encamped as I was riding out of Amber, back that way," Edan points. "But he's not there now. I think he is probably going to confront Lady Arcadia. Perhaps I should relate recent events?"
Robin's eyes get round. "Oooo, yeah. Is this a saddle-story or should we settle a while?"
"Lady Arcadia?" Vere raises an eyebrow. "I would indeed hear this story. Cousin, I would bid you be our guest if you have time. Our provisions are meagre but what we have we gladly offer."
Edan thinks a second, but doesn't dismount. "You might be wanting to move onward after you hear the tale," he says. "I won't delay you with unpacking and all that entails, but I would be happy to share food with you."
He does twist around and starts to rummage in a saddlebag. "I had better preface this with some history. You know that I chose 'Moonriders' as my preferred project. Not too long ago, Father and I raided one of their forward camps. I stole a thing from them, a device of power that had the appearance of a sextant."
Robin's listening and nodding as she retrieves a couple of bota bags from her own saddle gear - water and wine. (Okay, wine-ish liquid. Robin's not a real fan of the grape.)
Vere fishes out some fruit and dried meat to hand around. "A sextant? Intriguing."
"And it works just as you would expect," Edan says. "With the caveat that one must use the Third Eye. I finally had the chance to start using it, at least once I left Amber, but I will come back to that. I passed through a Ranger camp on the way through Arden, and met Julian. We discussed what I was planning, but I was distracted by the firelilly he had in his tent. I had not had the chance to observe one up close, you see. Together, we determined that the flowers form a huge sensory network...one that led directly back in the direction of the Dragon."
"Ah," Vere says. "Now that is interesting indeed."
Robin's eyebrows go up, wheels turn in her head and she nods. But does not interrupt.
"So, I continue out here, outside the edge of Arden," Edan continues, "I take the opportunity to do an experiment I've been wanting to try with Space," he waves at the sputtering fire on the rock under his feet, "and then I try the sextant I took from the Moonriders. And lo and behold, instead of leading me in the direction of Tir, as I anticipated, it led directly back to the Dragon." He looks up. "Who is sleeping, or at least her avatar said so. That part of her was awake and aware of me, even though I had disguised my form as a cockatrice. I addressed her in the old way, as a Lord of Chaos. We had tea."
"You had tea," Vere repeats drily. He nods. "But of course."
Robin nods again. Yep, sounds like a Lord of Chaos alright.
Then her brow furrows, "But why would a Moonrider tool lead to the Dragon?"
Her eyes dart over to Vere, "Unless Solange was right and floaty moon-woman is only appearing to Rilgan children.... no, that doesn't work. Shoot, I wonder if Brita has seen the floaty moon-woman too. She's descended from the Dragon after all."
Edan taps the end of his nose in response to Robin's question about the sextant. But, then, his attention is diverted to the second question. "Do you mean the Queen of Air and Darkness? In an impressive display of bad fortune, She appeared at the Moonrider camp as we were raiding it. Father described it as 'achieving theosis', which brings up many questions about what will happen with them now. But She did appear to her subjects, and to us...we didn't stick around to see the aftermath. But that is another story."
Vere frowns. "There are also her appearances in the chamber between Paris and Rebma," he points out.
"Floaty moon-woman has been identified?" Robin looks exited. "Did you see her? Can you describe what you saw?"
Robin looks over to Vere. "The only reason she came to mind now is that the last time I 'saw' her, we were.... well, uhhh.. anyway, it was her, me and two of Dragon's newest scions all together. So, you know, floaty moon-woman in proximity to Dragonkin."
Edan frowns. "Newest scions?"
"You mean Paige's children, my love?" Vere asks Robin. "Or are there more?"
"No, not Br?" Robin stops as she remembers something Daeon said about names. "Not them. I mean my father's children by Daeon's mother's sister. I haven't been formally introduced. In fact, I'm not sure I've met them. But I call them Fur and Fang to myself.
"They're Daeon and Dione's replacements in the Cycle." She adds to Edan by way of explanation.
Vere nods thoughtfully.
Edan shakes his head, once. "My sister's children are still the...favorites, would be the best word, according to Arcadia. She said the other sisters, all of them, had candidates. She said the Warden slew one pair."
Robin makes a sad mewling sound. She'd hoped to spare her father that.
Vere reaches across and strokes Robin's arm without saying anything.
He pauses to take a drink and collect his thoughts. "The Dragon said other things. She didn't deny association with the Gheneshi outright, but offered alternate explanations for the sextant. She offered an alliance. Her terms were...inconvenient. We did not agree on anything, but I was invited to meet again. Not...likely. In any case, as I was leaving, I heard from her attendants that the White Rider was coming to her. I assume that was Julian, and further assume they are going to have words about the firelillies." He pauses again. "And that is why I am happy to have run across you."
"What did you have in mind?" Robin cocks her head.
Vere's eyes grow distant and thougtful as he considers possibilities.
"If you do run across Julian, you would be in a position to explain," Edan says. "He knew about the sextant, what I was about, but he didn't know I'd end up crossing Arden without his leave. Neither did I, but I considered the possibility. I would do it again, in the same circumstances. I hope he would realize the tactical necessity of my doing so without waiting for permission, but he still may be wroth with me. Especially if he's going to see Arcadia because he was following my trail - he must know by now where I've been, disguised or no. So I've gone against his wishes and may have caused him inconvenience. I do not shirk my responsibilities...if he wishes my apology or some manner of recompense, I will do so when I return. He needs to know that." Edan frowns. "I had eyes on me all the way back from the Dragon, not that I would do Julian the disservice of thinking he could not take care of himself...nor Arcadia, trying to spy on her in such a crude and obvious manner. If you go that way, know that the path is perilous. She is not fully asleep."
Robin nods her assurance that she will convey Edan's words to her father.
"Did you have any sense of how much of her the incarnation you spoke with represented?" Vere asks.
A brief smile flits across Robin's lips at Vere's question. But she keeps her thoughts to herself.
"Not really," Edan says. "But I was prepared for the worst. There's a woman who came out of a hill, and I declined to follow her back in. She used complex and nuanced Sorcery to make us both comfortable for a talk, which takes active thought and concentration. I was not set upon by a giant dragon who is also a Lord of Chaos. The rest is just her claims as to the Dragon being asleep."
Vere laughs. "Indeed," he says. "It is rude and unwise to openly doubt it when an obviously powerful being claims to be a Great Power."
Robin smiles fondly as she glances around the circle of baby Great Powers.
But there's concern in her eyes when she gets to Edan. "Is Arasham okay? Because, you know...." she gestures to the horse silly enough to siddle under Edan but not competent enough to throw him.
"Not the same, I agree," Edan says. "Aramsham is in Amber. Fiona borrowed us, Kyauta and I, to help fight a company of Moonriders about to descend upon her airship. Kyauta fought well, holding them off at the last as we moved the crew to safety. There will be a more formal ceremony later, but for its courage and ability I name Kyauta a Friend of the Desert and Mir Alem, the bearer of my standard. There will be land and a household in the Dar-es Salaam for it someday, if it wishes."
"Well done, Kyauta," Vere says, noding to the affine. "My congratulations upon your promotion."
"Indeed." Robin affirms. "Good work!"
A wistful frown crosses her face. ""Cause it'd be nice if someone? could, you know, work against the legacy of poor Ce'e"
With a glance to Edan to make sure it's okay to address the affine directly, Robin does so. "Kyauta, you ever find yourself in those kind of straights, look me up. Despite our earlier... kerfuffle, I wish you all the best. And totally understand how hard and weird it is to find the wind amongst the Ordered."
Then she bounces off to another subject. "Oo! I've been remiss. This is Peep, Chirrup and Ooot." Robin gestures to each of the firelizards in turn as her voice grow warm and her eyes begin to glow with fondness. And maybe a little mother's pride.
Edan glances at Kyauta, then peers at the fair. "Fascinating. You did not find them in Chaos, then?"
Kyauta seems less inclined to rip throats out. He still seems wary.
"They are quite Ordered," Vere says. "Although the extent of their abilities is still undetermined."
Robin nods in confirmation. "They're from an Order-weighted shadow named Calusa. And I suspect they're particularly sensitive to Ordered adaptation. Plus, they're being raised by me and Vere. So the possibilities - while not endless - are pretty expansive."
She smiles at both her Love and her little jewels. Gotta love those expansive possibilities.
"Calusa. Calusa. I have heard that word..." Edan suddenly looks uncomfortable. "Ah, yes, Jovian. I have not yet met him. Perhaps someday." It's what Edan doesn't say that sounds suddenly both hopeful and confident and classy. Very Bleysian. "The other riders of dragons, what happened to them? I have not heard the story of them past, well, the coronation."
"They came with me to fight in the Isles," Vere answers. "Perhaps, in retrospect, an unfair request of them. They fought nobly, and I owe them greatly. When peace was made Robin took them home." Vere smiles at his beloved. "I do not believe I ever heard the full story of their return. We had other things to discuss when we met after long absence."
Robin glances at Vere and for a moment hovers between a blush and a rapacious grin; before settling on a rapacious blush.
Then her eyes grow wistful. "Yeah. That went better than I had feared but not as well as I had hoped for.
"When we got back to Calusa -- or as near as I could figure -- it had been... reset is the best word I can come up with." She shrugs. "There were no Weyrs, no dragons, no large settlements. Just fishing villages and these little guys." The warmth returns to Robin's eyes as she scratches Peep's eyeridge.
"And the land felt... new, unformed. Kind of like Xanadu did and still does somewhat. Though I tell ya," she takes a swig from the wine flask before passing it on, "the geography in Calusa is weird.
"Anyway, the 'riders seemed to have had enough of gods and wars and were looking forward to fighting battles they understood and managing their own lives. So I didn't stay long."
She cocks her head as she thinks. "I don?t know why Danu didn't reset like that after the Change. And it took a while for the effects to be felt in Arden.... Have you been back to Dar-es Salaam since Random did his Thing?" She asks Edan.
"I have not," Edan says, and his troubled frown deepens a little. "It would not be a high priority for me right now, but even if it were, there would be ramifications upon my return. Even among the people I liberated, my presence caused...discomfort."
Vere nods sympathetically. "Those discomforts are liable to grow more severe as time passes. If you continue to care for and return to your homeland as the centuries pass you will at the very least become a figure of legend. It will be very easy for you to become a demon or a god in their mythology unless you take great care."
"My approach is different." Robin shrugs. "I find that the less I care, the less... significant my effect on Shadow and Shadowfolk is. The trick is balancing gentle disinterest against capriciousness." Her lips press together wryly. There's obviously been some mistakes in her past.
"That kind of balance is a difficult thing," Edan says, "if you were born and raised in that particular Shadow."
"Yes. Yes, it is." Robin acknowledges, looking around at the fading green of Arden.
Vere nods, sympathetically. "For the moment I am staying away from the refugees of the Isles so as not to complicate matters for my sister who now rules them. But if she called for my aid I would have to go. And I shall keep track of them over the long years and do what I can for them when they need assistance."
Robin looks over at Vere in surprise. And then nods. If he can help her raise firelizards, she can help... whatever with Danuuans.
Her green eyes turn back to Edan. "Have you tried expanding your... oh never mind."
A corner of Robin's mouth ticks. "Rangers tend to be self-reliant and private folk. I'm not sure I will ever truly understand the responsibility others feel toward... societies. But I do wish you the best with that.
"You too, Love. And I'll help. Or stay away. Or whatever is best." She smiles at her Prince.
"When I left, I was looking to secure a trade agreement between the Tribes and Amber," Edan says. "Then I arrived and learned of the Sundering, and of Xanadu, and I realized that such an arrangement would be difficult to secure, at best. The Land of Peace would ever be seen as a minor Shadow, far away from the center of things. When you stack that up with a desire not to stir things up upon my return, well, I realized that it would be better to let things progress naturally, without me."
"Aye," Vere nods. "I was thinking something similar when I first returned to the Isles. I thought it might be possible through clever and subtle manipulation of Shadow to shift them closer to a Pattern realm. But I learned the great danger of our meddling with shadows we care about. Our mere presence draws others of the Family. And that can lead to conflict and ruptures of the underlying reality of the shadow." His eyes grow distant." The Isles are unraveling and the best I could do was to lead an exodus of its people."
"Yeah." Robin nods, "I've had accidents like Danu before, but... usually more on purpose. That one was just... bad. He..." Robin stops herself and shakes her head sadly as her eyes wanter elsewhere. "Stupid heroes. Never good for the populace."
Edan feels a mental stirring as if someone is attempting to open a Trump or Sorcerous communication with him.
Edan looks slightly perplexed, digesting all this, then his expression clears. "Huon."
He holds up a hand, then. "Wait, Paige may be trying to get back in touch with me."
Robin looks over at Vere. "Yeah... Huon." She says, not too convincingly.
[Edan] opens his mind to the contact, and says, "Who calls?"
"It's Hannah. Paige gave me your trump. Can you talk, or no?" She's curled up in a plush chair.
"Hannah," Edan repeats, for the others' benefit. "I'm just outside Arden, with Robin and Vere."
"Give her my greetings," Vere says. He looks at Robin. "The Isles' fate was not your fault, my love. You were nearly one of many who had plucked at its foundations over a very long period."
"Yeah... and at least, I didn't set its atmosphere on fire. Still, I hate being involved in the destruction of your home, Love."
She smiles sadly at Vere and then is content to wait until Edan's off his Trump call.
Hannah, nods, then says, "Tell Robin when she's in Xanadu next to be in touch and I'll take her to meet my father."
Edan communicates both missives, then smiles and holds up a hand. "A few moments, please," he says to Vere and Robin, and starts off on a little walk.
Vere holds Robin's hand and smiles at her without saying anything.
Robin squeezes his hand in thanks and smiles back.
"Hey," Hannah smiles when Edan seems to stop moving. "Arden?" She shakes her head. "So, I was right. Things will get interesting in a little while. In between your traveling think about a list of traditions and assumptions you were raised with. It's not that I hate surprises, just surprises that lead to hurt feelings."
"For example, my people call a child a nickname until they're old enough for a name. You get to know a baby 3 or 4 days, and then pick a nickname. They don't get their name until they're 3 or 4 years old. There's a ceremony." This makes her smile again.
"I'm getting ahead of things. Are you alright?"
"I am...all right," Edan says. "My mission brought me directly to the Arcadian Dragon. We had a talk, under a temporary truce, which was not incredibly informative on either side." He suddenly looks serious. "Everything is all right, yes?"
"Everything was very well until you said you talked to the Dragon. Are you telling me the... thing... took you to the Dragon?" she asks.
"It did," Edan confirms. "I was hoping it was just cutting through Arden, but that was not to be. Fortunately, She was in the mood to talk and not to fight. She even offered an alliance, but as I told Vere and Robin, her terms are...inconvenient. And totally unacceptable." He looks suddenly downtrodden. "But that is not why you will be unhappy with me. I contacted Paige to pass along this rather significant find, and, well, she knows. About us. More specifically, she guessed, and I unwittingly confirmed it. Not that I would be able to hide anything from my sister, especially on a Trump connection... I trust her to keep quiet about it, but she's worried about Gerard calling me out. At the very least, I expect her to come to you."
"But she already asked me about my intentions toward you. She examined me, Edan. I think she's playing with you. She's the one who gave me your trump." Hannah sounds really amused. "Awhile ago."
"Now Gerard... frankly, you just tell him who was greener. If he wants to use old-fashioned standards, use it against him. And my uncle should take a deep breath before he assumes he has any precedence over my personal life before my own father. I understand how big-headed this family is and all, but I also understand how big-headed my father is. And that's who I'm off to talk to next. He's unpredictable. I can only predict... he'll do something I'd find hard to predict. I'm not being very helpful right now. I'll warn him off, but he's uncontrollable. Speaking of uncontrollable fathers, do I need to go have a conversation with your father?" she asks.
Edan's mouth goes into a silent O as Hannah speaks. If he's prepared to say anything further about Paige, he doesn't say it.
"I hope your father likes me, actually. I liked him. As to my father, whenever or however he does find out, what he will do is be friendly and gracious and within minutes you'll be under the impression he planned the whole thing." Edan smiles slightly.
"Your father is charming, but he's a little too charming. I like your kind of charm better." Hannah smiles.
"My father... does like you. But he's also a father and currently I'm the only child he's got in reach to interfere with. I don't expect him to be harmful. Perhaps difficult. I will attempt to explain to him the current circumstances in a way that... will leave him pleased and not upset." She shrugs. "We'll see.
"So, if I had to guess your guide there is going to lead you from one place or being of power to another. I'm a little concerned your taking it to all these places gives it more power."
"I understand," Edan says. "I completely agree with you, but I expected it to happen. For it is not just a guide, but an affine. I won't bore you with all the permutations that our complex relationship could lead, but I can say that for the moment, I expect its absolute loyalty and obedience...and that is what I receive. And someday, perhaps soon, it will be strong enough, experienced enough, that it will be able to stand on its own. On that day, my affine and I will part ways, with my blessing."
Hannah's brow furrows. "Oh, no, I meant the... the other thing you showed me. Not your affine. But, well, that too. I will try to consider the affine an... affine. I am more worried at this time about where the device leads you and for what purpose. What if you are just doing their work for them, only more quickly because of your skills?"
And then she cracks a smile again. "Because worrying about this lets me not worry about other things."
"Well, let me lay this worry to rest, and then perhaps I can help you tackle others," Edan says. "Now that I know where this goes, I'm going to bind it up so that it's undetectable, almost, and then I'm going to hide it. Knowing that the Riders will eventually find it anyway, I'm debating whether to make it a trap or outright render it non-functional. Right now all I have to do is find Random's Trumps and avoid annoying any more uncles. And think up names."
"Nicknames," she laughs. "My people tend to use those nicknames too - as adults. Saying someone's real name in public is considered rude. Because names have power, and are meant to be... intimate among the people. Every tribe has it's rules. That's why I'm wondering about what you're expecting that an outsider might not think of.
"I'm just worrying about war. Trying to prepare for one without saying that's what I'm doing. It's as good a thing to worry about as any. I hope you'll be a little careful at least."
"A war...is certainly possible," Edan says. "The Moonriders are certainly motivated, on their end. I think it is logistics, rather than the hand of their leaders, which are holding them back." He does manage a smile. "I will be careful, if you promise that you will, too."
Hannah smiles very slowly, like someone who has been caught out. "Well, I guess we're both just going to have to worry. I promise... not to put myself in harm's way unless I feel a compelling need. I will be thoughtful about it, and not just jump in until I've considered it. That's the best I can do. Can you match that?"
"It's a promise," Edan says. "I'll be back. In the meantime, you have my Trump, obviously. And I still have your three hairs."
Hannah nods with a smile. "Just keep those away from Dragons and Moonriders and Affines, and I won't send Gerard after you."
"Hah," Edan says. "And try to stay out of any wars. I'll see you soon."
"Sorry about that," Edan says, returning. "What were we talking about?"
"About our kind being bad for Shadow." Robin says, slooowwly drifting back from Vere's eyes.
"But I'm still curious about your mention of the Queen of Air & Darkness. Can you describe what you saw? And do you know what your father meant by 'achieving theosis'?"
Vere nods agreement with the questions.
"I was busy extracting myself, and I was looking through the Third Eye, but this is what I saw..." Edan describes the last moments at the Moonrider camp. "As to 'theosis', it is my understanding that the Queen of Air and Darkness is like a goddess to them. Imagine the power needed to change their entire race to their temporal state, he said once to me. Apparently, they had been separated until now. Whatever she wants, whatever her agenda, she'll get it."
Vere frowns and shakes his head. "This sounds a serious threat," he says. "Things move too rapidly for my liking." He looks at Robin. "We may not have the leisure to build our nest before being called upon to defend Amber." He smiles suddenly, "It is a good think that you are teaching me to be more active, and less reactive."
Robin grins back at Vere.
Then her eyes drift in thought. "Imagine the power... I wonder how she's related to us. Or maybe, she's just trying to be... Huhn.
"Anyway," she says shaking herself back to current topics, "the float moon-woman me and Solange met was definitely looking for something ... someone to help her. But she hadn't found them yet. Pretty sure it wasn't Fur or Fang. Don't think it's me but we've been interrupted every time we... met?" Robin shrugs. Words are hard.
"Fascinating. Did she actually talk to you, interact with you? What did she look like to you?" Edan blinks, thinking of something, and looks at Vere. "And speaking of Moonriders, how advanced are you with the Third Eye? Do you know how to see the isochronal substrate? If you have studied Time or Space as a Principle, perhaps I can show you a trick."
"I have studied Space with Lord Madoc," Vere answers. "Chaotic views of Space are quite interesting." He tilts his head to one side. "I should greatly appreciate anything you can teach me."
"We've interacted, yes/maybe. But there wasn't any talking. It's... hard to put into words, Edan. Teach Vere the trick." She says with warmth. She knows how much Her Man loves to learn. "And I'll try to wrestle my impressions into language."
Edan hesitates, then nods. "Very well." To Vere, he says, "Even if you have only worked with Space, the Third Eye sees much more. It is the primary method by which I observe the most common of the Principles around me. Bring up your Third Eye, please, and observe. In a moment, I will make a couple of insignificant ripples in Space-Time. Nothing fancy - we don't want to catch anyone's attention, neh? If you don't see them, I will make an illusion to show you what I see, what you should look for."
Vere nods, closes his eyes, opens his Third Eye, and watched Edan.
Edan opens his own Third Eye, and as soon as he sees Vere observing he sort of slaps at the air with an irregular rhythm. "Tell me when you can see this. The Moonriders use this as a weapon."
Edan learns that this is very difficult, or perhaps he already knew that. Vere, without the grounding in the fundamentals of Temporal Magic, sees this mostly as an effect in space of something having previously appeared and then disappearing instantaneously. Intellectually, he knows that description is wrong, perhaps because Thari doesn't have a tense for "actions that occurred in the past, but not in my past."
Robin finds the use of magic disturbing; she has to supress her fight-or-flight instinct. She sees nothing particular in Edan's air-drumming. The fire-lizards' eyes start to spin with agitation.
Robin converts the urge to hiss into crooning to and comforting the fire-lizards. She can't expect to like the things her cousins or her Love do anymore than she can ask them to like the things she does. But there's a scowl on Robin's face and her eyes are darting all round the clearing.
"Interesting," Vere says. "I do not think I can describe in words what I am seeing. It is somewhat as though I am seeing a quick memory of something that did not actually occur in the timeline that I inhabit."
"I may not be able to show you this, then," Edan says, frowning. "Perhaps if I showed you what I see, but then, I could not guarantee that you would be able to see it later on."
Vere frowns as well. "I think that showing me what you see would be counterproductive. The expectation of what I think I should see might well interfere with my ability to learn to manipulate Time.." His frown changes to a small smile, "... in the future." His lips quirk in what Robin recognizes as a quiet Vere laugh.
"At least now if I see something similar I will know that temporal magics are being used." Vere nods. "That may well be the best we can expect for the moment."
"So be it," Edan agrees. "Time... as a Principle, Time is more than just the complex interaction between probabilities and progression. It is a moody, dynamic thing, meddling in all the other Probabilities, having a nodding acquaintance with its cousin, Space. Someday, if you choose to follow its intricacies, perhaps I can be helpful to you."
"It's a medium." Robin mutters grumpily, mostly to herself. "An event medium. And if you keep shaking it like that, it's going to foam out of its container. Sorcerers." She finishes with a snort and a shake of her head.
Vere closes his Third Eye, opens his physical eyes, and smiles at Robin. "It is our version of poking dangerous beasts," he says to her. He looks at Edan. "But let us stop disturbing Reality for the moment. I thank you for explaining your views on Time. I shall remember them, although I shall not be bound by them. Sorcery is so very personal an Art."
"So it is." Edan grins, white teeth flashing in a cinnamon face. "It's all about bending the rules that are in place. So different than Pattern." He cancels his spell, and rubs his hands together; it almost looks as if he's wiping frost off his hands. "Any new news with the Family?"
Robin perks up at the poking dangerous beasts analogy. That's certainly something she can understand.
"Well, okay then," she tells Vere. "Just don't knock yourself out of Shadow like Jerod did. That's just ugly to watch and I don't know how to throw a rope." She chuffs a little in disgust.
"New news?" Those green eyes turn to Edan. "Ummm, Saeth's wandering around on it... her own, looking for fun adventures in Orderland. Her progeniture, Maddock, is not pleased about that. Otherwise..." she shrugs and looks over to Vere.
Vere nods. "Lord Madoc holds me partially to blame for Saeth's decision to flee Chaos." He rolls up his sleeve to show the mark on his arm. "Madoc marked me with this as a means to communicate with him should I learn anything about her whereabouts. I have shown it to the king and he appears not to be concerned that there might be anything more to it than a means of communication."
Edan nods. "I still think that's the Chaosi version of a Bird of Desire. I finally had the opportunity to use the Pattern version, the one Fiona showed me. It got where I wanted it to go, so I suppose it was successful, but I don't think it looked much like a bird by the time it got to where I wanted."
Robin laughs. "Well, it's not the bird part that's important anyway.
"Okay, so... floaty moon-woman." The girl settles herself.
"The first time I saw her, I have full corroboration for. It was on Danu and Jovian saw her as well. As did Siege, Carina and others. Pretty much the full spectrum of Oberonesque life forms present saw her. Interestingly, the saurian life forms did not perceive her at all. And were quite upset about it."
Robin frowns. "Something that just now occurs to me: the dragon-rider pair is one of most stable time-travelers I know. Most time-travelers are... you know, really wacko." Robin rolls her eyes.
"Anyway, though no one had any interaction with floaty moon-woman, all the observers agreed that there was a palpable sense of searching about her.
"Since then I've heard of two more instances similar to that; one from Solange and one from Vere." She smiles at her beloved. "But since neither Solange or Vere had dragons with them -- I don't know if that affect has been repeated."
"When I saw here it was in a dream," Vere says. "There was no one else with me in the dream. I have heard nothing of any other connection, either positive or negative, between her appearances and dragons of any sort."
Edan looks like he's still trying to get his head around what Robin said. "Dragons and riders," he says. "The riders saw her. Everyone else saw her. The dragons did not. Why?"
Robin shrugs. "No one there at the time could figure it out. And honestly, we were hunting other prey and decided that floaty moon-woman was a distraction. So we tabled the issue for later.
"The next time I saw floaty moon-woman was less... collaboratable. It could have been a vision or a dream, I suppose. It just... didn't seem that way.
"This was in the mutable lands between Arden and Arcadia: more on the Arcadian side than not. I was standing watch alone when I noticed that the clearing in front of me had filled with the bright light of an unseasonable full moon. In the clearing was floaty moon-woman doing her searching-from-a-distance thing." Robin shades her eyes with one hand and peers off into the forest in demonstration.
"Padding around her were two feral children on the hunt: a boy and a girl, juveniles with a ways to go before adolescence; clawed, tufted, fierce and... just cute as buttons." Robin smiles with an odd combination of fondness and Wild. "I think of them strongly as Fur and Fang - my father's children by Daeon's aunt. But I have no proof of that.
"As I watched, floaty moon-woman lured out the stalking girl, and while she doesn't touch her, their gazes lock and the girl seems... stunned or something. Both me and her brother used the distraction to circle in on floaty moon-woman. I checked my flank quickly and when I looked back?" Robin's eyes become soft, wide, full of wonder and very green.
"Her gaze. Luminous. With universes. Searching, searching. For the one who will bring her journey to an end. Am you she?" Robin closes her eyes and shakes it off.
She looks back to her companions with a wry smile. "I'm still thinking me thoughts the whole time, but... Anyway, just then the world starts shaking. That changes to my relief shaking my shoulder and I 'wake up.' And then it's another damn thing to store in the Robin mess." She taps the side of her head with a rueful grin.
"So," Vere says in summation, "There really is little more on her than was discussed at the family meeting," He reaches out and briefly strokes Robin's arm without saying anything, in a gesture intended to calm any distress she might feel at the reminder of Random's comments on the fact that she didn't attend said meeting. "I would wager that there will be no more such visitations now that the Moonriders have apparently rescued or restored her from whatever time, place, or state she was in."
"Ooo, you told them? Thank you, Vere." Robin says with sincerity. Now she knows that she was just being rude - not witholding important information. That's better - not great, but better.
Vere tilts his head to one side. "Other Family news that you would not know..." he says thoughtfully, then nods decisively. "Ah, yes. Robin and I were tracking down a murderous half-Troll who had been offered leniency on condition of joining Xanadu's navy, and then deserted. He is dead, but we discovered an underground city that is clearly far more ancient than it has any right to be on the outskirts of Xanadu, an underground lake with a reptilian monster that my beloved did not have the leisure to slay, to her displeasure, and a camp where it appears that our cousin Reid might have been attacked. Although evidence on exactly what happened is ambiguous. If you meet one of our Elders soon you might mention that camp to them, as they might be interested in learning if something ill has befallen Cousin Reid. So far as I know, he is by far the oldest of our generation, and is older than some of our Uncles and Aunts."
"I don't think I've met him," Edan says. "He wasn't at the big meeting. I will remember." He shakes his head. "I wonder if Random knows about this thing that has sprung into being on his doorstep. It makes you wonder what else is out there. In Paris, say. Or what other secrets may be slowly falling apart around Amber. As to the Queen of Air and Darkness...who knows? She will have to be dealt with, at some point. I am confident that I am not her match."
Robin chuckles. "Stored in the Edan mess, hunh? Yep. Dad didn't know what to do with it either.
"If you do run into other word of Reid, could you maybe get me a message? I'm really worried about him. He's been very stuck in shadow before and I don't want him to think that we would let that happen to him again." A frown of concern drifts across Robin's face.
"And of course," Vere adds, "If there was something this close to Xanadu that was able to overpower one of us, that is important to investigate."
"The next time I see Random, I will mention it. Or you might, if you see him first," Edan says. "Robin, how do you wish me to contact you? I can use the Trump booth, eventually when I get there. I could also send a bird of desire. Or, even some kind of sorcerous missive, but I kind of doubt either you or your fair would wish that."
Robin smiles at her little friends. "Thank you for the consideration, cousin. A bird of desire would be fine. I'm not... portrayed in the Trump Booth to the best of my knowledge." She wrinkles her nose in distaste.
Vere smiles fondly at Robin then turns to Edan. "There is a trump of myself in the Trump Booth," he says. "Please feel free to use that."
Last modified: 4 January 2014