Celina opens the chamber to the Pattern looking first at the ceiling for movement or hints in that darkness.
She moves slowly in allowing Llewella to do her own examination of the center of all.
Llewella is looking over the pattern, but is careful not to swim over it. "We used to say it was bad luck to swim over it, but I suspect it's just dangerous."
Celina has been spending too much time thinking about the golem's assault here and Brennan tearing a hole to arrive. If her eyes yield nothing after a time, she'll swim upward and look for cracks in the reality of the cavern roof.
Celina inspects the room, the water, and the ceiling. The cavern seems untracked and unthreatened. All is reassuringly normal. Even unattuned, she can tell the massive energy of the sigil that dominates the giant room. That someone drew this, and deliberately made every curve and veil, seems like a daunting task.
When she finishes her inspection Llewella is waiting by the door.
"We could magically clear the chamber of water. Then we could really inspect the Pattern. Also, we could light it better that way."
Celina shows her surprise, "I thought so close to the Pattern, most magic did not function. What principles would you use?"
Llewella doesn't take notice of the Queen's surprise. "Neither of us are sorcerers, unlike your father and brother, but compared to what they do, this magic is a simple thing, and not that likely to be affected by something as big as a Pattern.
"I don't know much magic, but I can make air in a watery room."
"So is it Family has certain mettle that work with magic, or does the Pattern acknowledge a familiarity with our Blood?" Celina adds, "I enjoy the arcane arts."
Llewella looks up at the roof of the room, briefly. She has her own fondness for certain of arts as well, or at least their practitioners. "There's magic and magic. The kind that can only be done by a Lord of Chaos or a Child of Amber because otherwise it will rip you apart is fundamental magic. The kind that ranges from 'pretty good for a shadow magician' to 'pretty bad, even for a charlatan' is lesser magic."
Celina reconsiders the Pattern and clearing the room. She shakes her head, "Maybe later. But your idea that some marker in distant shadow would solve for Moins' puzzling death... That's only going to produce circular logic based on things you've said otherwise. However we are standing at the center looking outward into well lit shadows. I still think we need to understand what love holds the city safe. Particularly as the Air and Darkness may stand at the opposite pole. Fear. Hate. Let's see if any paths start here. That would be a discovery."
"I would be less sanguine about the possibility if we hadn't recently discovered Lir's last resting place, but yes. If patterns are tied to Kings and Queens, who is the Queen of this one?"
So saying, Celina puts her talents to the workings of shadow texture and intangible access points to this place.
Analogy, the rubber sheet of shadow and Pattern the steel sphere. Shadow paths are access to the center/Pattern. Pattern also 'casts/radiates/reflects' order out into shadow.
So there are sensory flags/deviations to these path/tunnels to the center that Family discerns. A path smells more of order. A stronger sense of Rebma/Xanadu exists on the path.
Still these are intangible unless you tune for them.
So the primary exercise is, are there old paths leading to this center? Did the blood golem force a new one or follow an old one? Does some living facet of Moins hold open a hidden path to the center from wherever that remnant is confined?
It would be particularly interesting if some value registered here at the room rather than vaguely at borders to the city.
Celina considers pattern the a line, a path, a thing embedded in the soil. It's like a plant, and like a plant, the part that is the strongest and deepest is the root that comes from the seed and spreads the outward order from the connection with the land. It pulls the strength of the land and creates the growth the pushes outwards, something small and powerful that can send energy outwards far beyond the small thing it grew from.
Like a plant, it has things which live on it. Some are benign, even helpful. Some are not. And as they approach, they may leave a path. And even if it is repaired, it may leave signs, just as a plant or a person may have scars that have healed from a wound or an illness.
Celina looks and it's unclear if she can find what she was looking for. It's unclear if it's there or if the pattern has healed itself. But some part of the wall near the entrance looks different than the rest, perhaps newer, perhaps of slightly different composition. Is it a scar from the recent invasion by the blood creature, or something older?
The pattern provides no clues.
Celina marvels a bit. How long ago was it that one of her plans for entering this locked room was to force a passage in the wall near the door.
She crosses to the section of wall. She taps into her principles to examine it more deeply. Could it be a scar from another shadow?
Celina calls Llewella near. "Do you mark this small section as different?"
Llewella comes over and focuses a light on the spot Celina indicates.
"If the rest of the stone wasn't so uniform, I'd say it was just a vein of something different. But that's not how I heard Patterns work. Why would there be different rock here? What's different about it?
"Is it like this in Amber's pattern chamber?" She shrugs. "You should probably ask your brother or a redhead. I'm not that great with either metaphysics or geography."
Celina feels ruffled by her Aunt's point of view. But there is virtue in being regularly jolted. Still, "This Pattern is no other Pattern. We don't know why Rebma is more tenacious. Yet I say it is love and not stone. On the other hand, this is peculiar and not Orderly unless an old scar. Conner would be eager to speculate. But I think we are stretched thin. I'll have to bide."
Celina forgets she's still talking, "What is a remembered love or spouse but an old scar. Am I merely the phantom limb here? How sad a story that would be. I prefer the role of understudy hoping for a chance to make old wounds fond."
Celina comes back from elsewhere and looks young and embarrassed. "Right. Merlin would have an opinion I should hear. If only we can wrestle this Random and Vialle tangle."
Llewella nods. "If he decides to put her away, make sure it's in a distant shell. An ex-queen in the capitol is not a good idea.
"I double that and double again," Celina says. "Time to visit the Airey Chamber. I hope something has moved in a good direction. If I cannot raise Merlin it's not a great omen."
Celina arrives in the Airey after a change of clothing and equipped to travel through the Trump if the situation requires it. Her weapons and travel bag can sustain a journey of a few days.
But mainly she is eager for news, "Merlin. It's Celina in Rebma calling. What news of other Courts?"
Merlin appears to be in Xanadu rather than Paris: Paris is more built up and formal than Xanadu. "I am still in the city below Random's castle with our Father. Reports say the Moonriders have moved on from the mountain, but there is no certain confirmation yet. How are you? Do you want to speak with Father?"
More to the point, does he want to speak to me? Celina lets the wash of regrets flow past the moment. "I actually was thinking you'd help me with questions about the Grand Design in Rebma. I've noticed a ...quirk. I'm still trying to bring myself closer to understanding how I fair as Queen here. Or if there are avenues I should be chasing with so much unrest in Realms.
"If I back up to a location while Trumping you, you could examine the area with your talents? Or would you have to come here?" Celina asks.
"It depends," Merlin says, but does not elaborate. "I can come through if I am needed. Father has a Trump of me. And the immediate danger here appears to be past."
"I'm in the Airey Chamber, within the palace, yes, I really would appreciate your perspective and to share news. Rebma is calm today." Celina offers her hand and doubles her willpower to make the connection stronger.
Merlin takes her hand and steps through. "Thank you, sister. Should I change my garb to go down to the Chamber or do we need to go immediately?" He is prepared for a fight, though not wearing armor that would rust in Rebma, and what he's wearing would probably hamper him somewhat in an emergency.
Celina offers the warning, "Rebma priorities, hug first. There's time to change."
Allowing for him to brace mentally, Celina moves carefully into a full hug. Which she keeps to a short length. "so good to see you. Any news that cannot wait?"
Merlin stiffens and then leans into the hug. He's still not used to human contact. "None that I know of, but I have been moving around rapidly. Conner and Raven are at the Gate, by the way. I was there before I returned to Father."
Merlin pauses. "Father thinks we should find a way not to attend the meeting in the morning."
"Yes, and it appears everyone agrees with him," Celina adds, "We're here and that's reason enough. If someone actually Trumps me with a request for attendance, we are working on a Rebman Project of some import. I'm still looking for clues to Moins death or entombment. There is a 'rock flaw' in the Pattern Room. May be interesting along the lines of why would that be there?"
"I believe a flaw of any sort in the Pattern chamber is worth investigation. Once I am prepared for Rebma proper, we should definitely look into it." If there are clothes present and ready for him, he will strip and don them on the spot; otherwise he will wait for Celina to send for them.
Celina shows him choices of attire and personal weapons. Then they head off and down to the Grand Design.
Once arrived, she explains her visit, her thoughts about the blood golem attack, the idea something here could still be shadow-linked to Moins. Celina runs her palms over the rock to create a tactile memory. "Llewella found it curious also."
"It is strange," Merlin says. "I do not like to think of my Patternwalk because of what happened during it, but I do not recall any such fixture in Paris, nor have I heard of any such thing in Amber before the Pattern there was broken."
"And so, you are more learned in the Arts. A strangeness should be examined. A sign of something subtle. Aunt Llewella had never noticed it. I think it less likely it has always been like this. If there is even a small flaw in the Order here I should know as much as I can."
Celina adds, "If it links to something subtle, better we know more than someone else."
"I an concerned about the prospect of opening my third eye in this place, which seems a good way to blind it. Permanently, even," Merlin says drily. "And I am not sure I should attempt it even through a mirror. But examine it we must. Do you know if anyone has tried any sorcery here and if so what it was?"
"As I recall, Conner and Brennan worked a sorcerous pursuit of Huon's Blood Golem to this chamber. Space was the major working principle. Brennan was actually present here in stopping the thing. Also Llewella suggested she could empty the waters here with the art. Again I assumed from her tone that space was her thought to path the water out." Celina feels that removing the water here is not a Rebma solution but she doesn't want to debate the point now. Merlin might have an opinion later. She'd ask.
She thinks harder about the debrief.
Merlin frowns thoughtfully "Perhaps it is natural to this particular cave in this particular place." His tone suggests he might not believe that. "Perhaps it is related to the damage to Amber's Pattern chamber. A resonant effect? I do not believe the Pattern chambers here or in Tir were affected, though I know the same buildings were damaged here as in Amber, including the one that collapsed on our uncle Gerard during the movements of the earth. It would be interesting to know whether this phenomenon is duplicated in the Pattern Chamber of Amber.
"Also I wish I had materials to sketch this. I will have to rely on memory to do so on the airy chamber. Not a Sketch, but a recollection for future comparative purposes."
"Memory will serve. I find tactile memory the most powerful. Take all the time you need. If the chamber in Amber has been surveyed, it hasn't been discussed with me." Celina steps close to the stone and again uses her hands to stroke the shape and material into her feel of the room. She's done this but she doesn't know the dances of the Courts. She slows the moment down as display for Merlin.
Merlin watches her carefully and then moves to repeat her actions. "Beyond Ygg, this would be a scar from a past battle that the lord had fought. Depending on the room and the vanity of the lord, it would be displayed as a warning or hidden as a weakness."
Celina nods, "I had similar thoughts. But you remind me. Extraordinary psychic residue can imprint ordered material upon death. I did not examine this mentally. If there is odd data here, why not someone's last moment?"
Celina cautiously probes at the strange material.
"Who has died in this chamber?" Merlin ponders the question and rephrases: "How many have died in this chamber? And who that was notable?"
Then he realizes what stupid thing he has said, and turns around. "I am sorry, Celina. I did not mean to be cruel. I was not thinking."
Celina nods slowly, "It isn't cruel, it is only true. How many have died is an Ordered Question. We should ask it. So I shall. Stand ready."
Celina feels the pain every night and some days. Feels the flaw in her heart all the time. But she owns it. Her pain. Rebma's pain. Khela. Moins. Who else?
Celina calls the Principle of Necessity to boost her will and sends her mind searching the oddly veined stone. What riches are there?
Probably a lot of people have died in this chamber even beyond the ones Celina knows of. Of the rush of figures that seem to pass before the mirrors of her gaze, many seem irrelevant. But two in particular stand out to her: a woman with a long face and long brown hair, who seems familiar to Celina though she cannot say why, and another woman, compact and pretty with a heart-shaped face and a clever grin. But the images pass and are gone.
Celina remains still for quite some time, then draws a breath of life-giving water, "Many deaths in this chamber. I'm surprised." Celina looks at Merlin, "I want to share the images of two faces that seem familiar, or family. Can I touch your mind to pass the psyche images?"
Merlin answers, "If you think it is safe to do so in this place, yes, please do."
And Celina places a fingertip on Merlin's palm, sharing out the two faces she saw. "One of these wouldn't happen to be a Chaosi relative?"
Merlin shakes his head in the negative. "Neither of them is known to me, alas."
Celina shows relief. "Leaving an impression in this chamber, they were important to Order. You're good with time magics, could you sketch those faces and then create a spell to trace family descendants based on the sketch?"
"I could try," Merlin says. "We could also sketch them and simply ask, though it is possible that other members of the family would lie to us. Not our father, not about this," Merlin hastens to add. "But I think some of our uncles and aunts might have reasons to keep certain family secrets. Would you trust Llewella to tell us the truth?"
Celina cannot conceal a certain amusing tilt to her expression, "Yes, unless that truth would get the Queen dead. It's a fine legal point as you may imagine." Celina gestures to the stone wall that holds such a subtle mystery. "Any other ideas before we quit the room and head back up into the palace? Llewella is a complex subject, worthy of drink and story while we ponder Family."
"No, and I am uncomfortable doing more magics than we have already done so close to this Pattern. It is weak somehow or we could not have managed. I would not have tried this in Amber of old, or in Paris. Though I think our father is more lenient about magic than his father was," Merlin muses.
"History suggests the Emerald Flames of Rebma are ancient," Celina locks up the room and leads Merlin upward to civilization. "The breathable water of life. The pressure limits of the city. In short, Rebma welcomes magic in its origins. The throne made a kind of peace with the Dragon Dame. Paris is not nearly as lenient. But we are no Chaos."
Celina looks at Merlin, "I'm so glad to see you. Lark, Garrett, and Silhouette are here. We need to be ready for a call to help Xanadu. But we should not pledge new promises to Random until we see some clarity with this Vialle business. If father has told you to stay out of Xanadu, Llewella will have time to answer questions about Pattern rooms, as you like. Her answers are always pretty dry, unless you get her emotional."
"I do not wish to make our Aunt excessively emotional." Merlin sounds wary of the idea. "Nor do I wish to return to Xanadu until and unless someone has given the all clear regarding our Uncle. There is nothing about this scenario that pleases me, including our father's involvement. He has Greyswandir and I fear this makes him vulnerable to the wiles of Tir."
Celina chews on that a long while. She takes Merlin through the Watch Gallery for fine tunics, then sends a runner page for four dinners of food to be delivered to the Queensown Coral Parlor. Merlin likes his privacy and so she leaves long enough to get word to the Tritons where she is and have Llewella informed Merlin is in Rebma.
Whereupon she returns expecting he's attired and freshened as he likes.
Celina starts with, "I see. So does Paris have its own sword? I'm not keen on the reveal that mother went to exile in a realm where the Wilesblade answers to a Queen. Frankly, our father would seem the last person to be left guard of the Temple Delta That Walks. Have you seen signs that he isn't sleeping or appears to shake off dreams in daylight conversation?"
"Our father was in Xanadu when last I saw him, before his return here. He was wary and worried, but himself, as best I could tell. I have heard enough stories from him to know that he is subject to--shall we say--undue influence? from women, but usually he would respect an enemy of the family, or his brother's wife enough to avoid making a scandal of his attentions." Merlin's expression shifts, though not entirely physically as he could make it do, and something like stormy waters rises behind his eyes. "But someone is with him who is quite enamoured of Vialle. Someone I had not considered until now."
He looks very seriously at Celina. "Sir Marius."
"I have heard of his affection for the Queen," Celina admits, "But I've not had any personal dealings with him. He was one of the Family injured in the War. We've walked past each other once or twice at funerals."
Celina pauses, "Do you feel strongly enough about this to Trump our Father?"
"I do not know," Merlin confesses. "After the business with Benedict when I walked the Pattern in Paris, I fear he thinks I am a coward. Or a lunatic. My judgement is poor."
Of a sudden, Celina bristles with emerald energies that leak from her eyes, "It is not!" She ups from her place and sits next to him, bumping him only enough to perch. "I'm damn tired of being young and making mistakes that are foolish tales for the old to repeat. There is no way to make us older and canny all at once. I won't have it from you, too! Bad enough I do it. Your judgment is yours. You give it with considerable generous intent. It has value beyond my Father's fussing ways. It means the world to me."
Celina realizes then, she's launched into one of her violent emotional traces. She pulls herself in. "As if he's the pinnacle of restraint and wisdom in this Family!" She puffs a rude almost-laugh. Underwater, it sounds like a chomp of prey going into a hunter's mouth. "Fine, leaving Father aside. We won't Trump him when so much is still amiss somewhere with King Random. Yet, a warning could be served." She ponders and looks sideways at her Merlin. "Sorry to be a bitch."
Merlin blinks owlishly at Celina, having stepped back a moment after she bumped him. "You do not need to apologize," he tells her. "But I am a young thing and I was not born from the experience of my parent in the Chaosian manner. I am inexperienced in the Ordered manner of bearning." He hangs his head a little. "It is natural that I am less experienced than my parent. But it is frustrating. What do you propose to do to warn him? Or do we let his judgement sort matters out?"
Celina pauses not long, "Father is a poet I have heard. I'd try to say something in the Trump that while outrageous might jog his mind to watch Marius. And now, in fact, I'm sending people to look into Vialle's rooms here in the palace. She hasn't been here for years but if there are love sonnets or letters from Marius I want to know."
So saying the Queen goes and arranges for Orseas and several of the snoop troop pages to find any old treasures from that time. Celina also sends a more subtle message off to her Lady of Intel regards the same line of thought.
Celina returns to Merlin. "Marius is family and even if compromised, a good question is who is close to him. Someone who knows him better than Corwin. That might keep a watch better than any you or I could hope for. He's a maritime person. Conner may be who we should call." She looks expectant at Merlin.
"Yes." Relief is clear in Merlin's voice. "Let us speak with Conner. Also this avoids the question of knightly orders that would accrue if we called directly on Brennan, and lets Conner be the judge of how to escalate among the redheads.
"If he does not answer, we can try Paige."
"I do not know Paige well, or any of her history," Celina admits. "If Conner is too busy to answer, I think we'll have to talk to Llewella next about our concerns. She's always good for another current of thought." Celina gathers her Trumps and escorts Merlin to the Airy Chamber where they will make the call.
Celina makes sure they both have weapons and food in case passing something wholesome through to Conner is a good idea. "Conner, it is Rebma calling. If I may have a moment of your time."
Celina tries for some time, and there is no response.
Just before she is ready to quit, Celina feels the stirrings of a contact.
The Trump contact stabilizes and Conner comes into view. He is standing in front of an architect's draft table which blocks the view beyond him. The table is covered in drawings, paintings, and sketches of one of the mage tower's of Gateway showing it from every angle and the floor plans of every room. Interspersed with those are notes in Conner's own hand, in a hash of Thari, Latin, and an alchemical script loosely based on Mabrahoring.
"Celina. Merlin." Conner sweeps his hair out of his eyes and finds a smile for his cousins. "Some new calamity or just checking in on me?" He asks.
Celina grins with joy. "Oh it's always a bit of this and that. Cousin Calamity hasn't visited yet and I'm glad she's not there either."
Celina outlines what she knows of recent news, concluding with Merlin's worries about Marius standing near to Corwin as Vialle is opposed.
Celina adds, "It seemed you would know Marius best. I see you are busy though."
Celina outlines what she knows of recent news, Lark, Silhouette, and Garrett are staying in Rebma to insulate bad reactions with Uncle Random and/or Vialle's Influence.
Huon is still absent with Rebman Archivists.
The Family still expects a called meeting with Random to turn ill due to Foggy Obsessions with Pregnant Queens. Anyone that can is stepping elsewhere.
Which brings Merlin to Rebma to look at a scar of stone material in the Pattern Chamber, which Aunt Llewella hasn't noticed before, but Celina finds curious. Celina found psychic impressions in the mineral of many deaths in the history of the chamber. Not much else to say but that Celina would like Connor's opinion when next he visits. Both Celina and Merlin think the oddity may say something unique about Rebma's chamber, as there's not apparent corresponding flaws in other pattern locales.
Where yet later Merlin voiced a concern that in all this focus on Vialle, and there is Marius lingering about with Corwin and near to the Tir Blade. Marius, who it is said bears a strong passion long-standing for Vialle. Vialle who is entangled in Tir magics. Marius who is still weak from mystic ravages.
She looks hopeful but knows Conner will have questions before comments.
"Never too busy for you, My Queen." Conner is saying nothing but the mental sigh comes through all the same. "As it happens what I am busy with concerns the mysterious Marius. The crisis in Gateway is over. Apparently Weyland got impatient, fixed things as he saw fit and left." Conner shrugs. "I pressed the current government for all information on what had been done to Marius and they claim that it was all destroyed when Weyland collapsed a tower they were using as a base of operations. I am preparing to use temporal magic to recreate it as it was pre-Weyland." Conner reaches out of the range of the Trump and it comes back with a sheaf of papers. "I am told this will have the side effect of me becoming King of Gateway and/or assassinated but one step at a time, eh?"
Celina stifles the protective response. In her heart, she's sure there is no trade of knowledge worth serious assassination odds on Conner. His choice, still.
Celina puts forward her concerns, "I don't know Marius of old. Trumping Corwin to say, please remember the Marius behind you may listen to the Queen of Air and Darkness doesn't strike me as accomplishing a positive result. Any thoughts on turning Merlin's intuition into a test for Marius' state of mind?"
"If he is directly ensorceled, you would see it through the Third Eye." Conner points out. "I saw no trace of such a thing when he returned from Gateway so if the Queen of Air and Darkness has suborned him it was since his return. I don't know anything of his recent movements. His fondness for Vialle is well known but I don't know if that led to frequent meetings in Xanadu. If you truly fear he has been programmed with some task and if the enchantments are at all alike, then his usual personality should deaden when not in pursuit of that goal. So if you think he is in place to wield influence over Corwin, I suggest contriving a reason to separate them and watch Marius's reaction."
" Oh, that's elegant. Yes. So for instance, you know him well enough that if you held an extended Trump call with him updating regards events in Gateway, he might show immediate personality shift." Celina nods, "If he would even take such a call. That's extremely useful and fits what we know about... our uncle."
Celina seems more than satisfied. She adds, "Is there anything you need?"
Merlin has been listening to the conversation but hasn't added anything; he seems to have nothing to say at this point.
"I wouldn't say no to sorcerous assistance with my current project," Conner admits, "but no I don't really need anything. I also wouldn't say no to some of that salt cured fish I see over your shoulder." Conner grins. "How goes the effort to track the movements of Random and Vialle in Rebma and the Seaward?" he asks.
Celina grins at Merlin and enjoys a moment where they coordinate the joint physical dance of backing up and sliding the entire dish platter to Conner without losing eye contact with the connection.
Conner selects a morsel and pops it into mouth as Celina speaks.
Celina answers the question, "No real updates. We have a watch on both sides of the equation. I'm still expecting trouble to arrive from the Kelp Beds or the Caverns. Aunt Llewella is assembling a strike force. Until this Uncle business resolves I don't expect to send scouts seaward."
"I would offer to join you but I am not convinced I wish to marry you, Cousin Conner. Or whatever the Ordered equivalent of manifesting a tower is. I like you, but not well enough to merge with you," Merlin says apologetically.
Conner pauses in chewing his mouthful of fish because a spit take would be undignified. After a moment, he swallows and then chuckles. "In all the years I was a diplomat, the secret meaning of tower raising was never brought up." Conner shakes his head. "I will add that to my list of things not to do casually right after, 'Don't give knives to Moonriders.'" Conner pauses in thought. "Actually Merlin, your perspective may prove useful. After this tower business here is complete, Raven and I will be journeying to see Weyland in his Tower. So what would be the etiquette to visit a Lord in his Tower in the Chaosian tradition?"
Oh, yes, Merlin. That's something to have in my lexicon. Celina cocks her head as her perspective thinks ahead to Conner in distant lands.
"I do not think of Weyland as a Lord of Chaos," Merlin says, cocking his head as his eyebrows crawl toward his hairline. "Did he not make the sword our father bears? So the etiquette of Chaos would not apply. Treat him instead as an uncle, on par with Benedict. If not older and more powerful. And be careful about asking him to make something, if the legends are true. He might make it and you might have to pay the cost, to your sorrow."
"That warning I have heard aplenty." Conner switches the Trump to his left hand and his right drops below the frame of the Trump to rest of Halosydne's hilt. "Makes you wonder what was paid for the blades our family bear and who ultimately paid the price. I would ask Weyland, but I suspect he charges for information at the same rate as his blades." Conner shrugs. "Still I will try to cozen from him what I can. Anything you would have me ask him?" He asks them both.
"There is nothing I would ask of Weyland, because I do not think he knows the answer to my questions. Having said that, I have heard little of her who bore me and I would welcome any news of her that comes to your ears. Or of Cleph or Meg," Merlin says.
Conner nods. "I have had no recent news of any of them but shall pass along anything I discover."
"If you think it wise, ask about the costs of Rebma's Blade," Celina says first. "In that this may be a question the wielder feels is better asked of the Blade, this is merely a suggestion."
Celina shrugs. "For my Kingdom, I ask nothing that is not freely given."
"That is the prerogative of the Queen." Conner nods. "It is also helpful that you have me to ask for those things on your behalf." Conner chuckles. "Well I really should get back to things. Raven is stuck waiting around while I indulge in this project so I mustn't delay it further. Good fortune to you both until we speak again."
Merlin nods. "Safe travels, and good fortune on making your Tower, cousin."
Celina gets a bit more personal, "Be well, guard your sleep. I leave it to you whether an invitation for Weyland to visit this Court may be a nice touch or a miserable excuse to irritate me." Celina laughs.
The contact with Conner having been closed, Merlin turns to Celina and says, "We still need to decide how to handle matters with our father."
"I still trust your instinct in this. Father does as well and has told me you could inherit his Pattern. In my opinion, danger to Corwin would speak to you." Celina takes out her card of Corwin.
"Let's see if we can move the danger away from King Corwin, even for a short time. Hide yourself now. I'm going to try and have Corwin send Marius to me through the Trumps. Between us we shall delay Marius here. My pretext will be Huon has not returned and I would like to send a sea expert to track him down. What do you think?"
"Can you lie credibly to our father through the Trumps?" Merlin asks. "This is my only concern."
Celina nods very sincerely, "While I'm certain that I'm very credible at all times, it isn't as if Corwin will send Marius anywhere at all if he himself doesn't have some doubts. I intend to use truth as far as I can and stop short of lies. I would like Huon back here and Marius would have expertise. " She shrugs Rebman style. But she values his input and delights in Merlin's observations of Ordered manipulation.
Merlin cocks his head. "All of this is true, and it is a matter of some concern that Huon is missing. And Marius has reason to see him returned to serve his sentence," he agrees.
So she sorts her deck. Corwin's card is near the top.
"Father, if you have a moment... "
"Bide," Corwin tells whoever it is he's talking to.
"Celina? What is it? Things are peaceful here for the moment but the threat isn't over." His attention is mostly on her but part of it is elsewhere.
Merlin reaches for her so he can join the connection, if Celina wishes.
For a heartbeat, Celina wonders if telling Merlin her strategy will allow Corwin to assess them through the Trump more clearly. She takes his hand bringing him into the call anyhow. It is a growth exercise. "Rebma is concerned that Huon is yet absent on journey here. We are prepping forces that we can send to you at call. But I'd feel better if someone who knows the shadow seas better than I could be sent to me to hunt for Huon. Is Marius still there?"
Corwin shakes his head, which is a more effective way to convey the negative in a Trump contact, where the intent is clearer than the gesture. "No, I'm afraid he's gone up to the castle."
Celina is no expert on Trump's, but since there's no indication that whoever is with her father can listen in, she tells Corwin her suspicions. "Marius may be susceptible to geas of the Queen of Air or through Vialle. He has a history with Vialle. Merlin thought there was something off about him. My call intended to guard your flank. Take the worth for what you see of the developments there."
Celina adds, "No need to split your attention then. Huon is missing, but then shadow is large. I'd like news when you have it."
Celina holds for his comment or sign of breaking off.
"Should I hold on to Marius if I see him? How strong is our suspicion he's been--" Corwin hesitates on a word but the sense of his concern, that Marius has been co-opted, is clear through the Trump.
Celina side eyes Merlin but keeps Corwin in focus. She wants to defer to her brother's unknown assessment but he does have the Chaosi taste for dominant hierarchy. It would be so easy to think father would believe a charming decorated war veteran over an untested suspicion from Merlin.
And Merlin would chew on that sour a long time.
So Celina uses her position to advantage Merlin some cover, "Marius can't surprise you after this warning. Maybe you'll spot something Vialle expects by attending to Marius' reactions. If he headed to the castle, and his perceptions are skewed, we might not like his reactions to Random's illness. He will not take well to those making accusations or menace to Vialle. Yet, the plan is still to give some distance to Random?"
Celina adds, "If that plan has changed, by all means, let's put the bag on him. I think I can count on Merlin's perceptions for the intangible."
"I'm staying away from Random, personally. And from Vialle. But I could send someone for Marius," Corwin offers.
Celina wonders if Corwin really wants her opinion on this, as he's been a commander longer than clams have birthed pearls. Still, this was probably the monarch game. She plays or stays home. "I cannot quite imagine who you have standing by that would be so effective against a Family veteran. Perhaps you'll introduce me on your next visit to Rebma?" Celina's raised eyebrow mildly suggests she has to consider heirs to the Throne.
"Send someone to shadow Marius. We need to know what team he's playing for."
"I'll do that," Corwin says decisively. "Anything else?"
Celina feels for Merlin's attitude within the Trump connection, seeing he's playing so quiet, she shakes her head no and adds, "We should talk again if you get information about Marius. Be well, father. We need you. Come visit when you can."
Perhaps Merlin feels the questioning touch in Celina because he speaks up then. "Yes, Father, be well. And call us if there is anything we can help with."
Celina looks thoughtful a moment. She smiles at Merlin then. "Would you like to talk about it before we brief Llewella on Corwin versus Marius? It seems you were right. Marius jaunting off to the castle when everyone is staying away with a purpose? Not at all good."
Merlin frees his hand as well, though more by reflex than anything else. "Father will be very worried about Marius. He will mislike the idea that anyone has attacked or endangered his sister's son more than an attack on his own person," Merlin explains. He is apparently quite placid but Celina, who has been paying attention to him in the Trump call, intuits that Merlin is concerned or bothered by that.
"We could contact someone at the castle. To warn them."
Celina considers...
But before Merlin can draw out a card to do so, he holds up his hand. "Yes," he says. "It is Edan," he tells Celina.
Edan. Conner liked him well enough. Celina put thoughts of the Xanadu castle on hold for the nonce.
Merlin listens to whatever is being said on the other end. Then: "I needs must ask Celina, but I believe we can arrange that. Celina, Marius has come upon our cousins in their business at the castle, and he is now unconscious. Can Edan send him through to ensure his safety?"
Celina barely hesitates.
"Yes. We will take that responsibility." Celina adds, "And business is good today?" she steps near enough to allow Merlin to hold the connection while she does most of the heavy work with a senseless cousin.
Merlin reaches out to touch her to bring her into the connection.
Celina joins the connection to ease the business of transferring a limp Amberite.
Merlin says, "Send him through and we will care for him. The business you are about goes well?"
Celina will wait and use her third eye to examine Marius when he comes into her arms. She does not speak to Edan unless he addresses her.
Having said their farewells, Edan and Merlin close the connection. They've brought Marius through. He's lying on a chaise in the air chamber. Nobody knows what's going on here for sure but them. Llewella is in the city, and Lark, Martin's daughter, is somewhere in the palace. And Merlin and Celina don't know for certain whether or not Marius is compromised.
"What do we do next?" asks Merlin, who is keeping an eye on Marius in case he wakes up suddenly.
"Our obligation to Rebma comes before Marius. But Marius may need our attention. I feel that even if he does not forgive, I want to look over his mind for magic or exotic Pattern influence. It would be easier with your help but this is not your obligation." Celina shows no urgency but Marius won't be unconscious long.
"I can look with my Third Eye," Merlin says, "but I am not wise enough in the use of Pattern to be able to discern much by those means. Can you make sure there are no mirrors left uncovered, so I am not blinded?"
Celina nods. She not only checks for any careless addition of reflections to the airy chamber, but then she looks deeply about Marius' person. She removes any gems, rings, necklaces she finds and sets them out of reach. Then she opens herself to Rebma's Pattern to see if Marius has been blessed with resonance beyond what her Amber cousins usually have.
Marius is glowing with the power of the Pattern, but Celina can't tell much more than that. Ouch.
About the same time that Celina is looking, Merlin also looks with his Third Eye. He covers his face with one hand as if to protect his eyes, crying out as if momentarily in pain. Once he's recovered, he says, "That was too bright. My Third Eye will need time to recover."
"Well, some thing's wrong as I've never had a reaction like that one. He's... oversaturated with Pattern. So my guess is he's being inundated with Tir energy to resonate partially to Her desires. How would we cleanse him?" Celina chews on it before starting a working brainstorm with Merlin.
"Ideas without bias, walk a Pattern, receive a blessing from a throne, find a mirror-state that reflects your health before inundation? What ideas do you have?"
Merlin is still blinking fiercely, as if his eyes were burning. "Our father said that walking the Pattern solved many of his ills when he was injured and had lost most of his memories after he was attacked, before the war. I do not know whether you have heard this tale. He never got all of the memories back because of an injury he took to the head and the electroshock therapy that was used on him. But he remembered all of his history prior to his arrival in that Shadow," Merlin says. "But he was not saturated with Pattern energy. I have never seen such a thing as this. Pattern is meant to be the surest cure for our kind for magical injuries. I think it is risky, but the best course to make his own nature reassert itself."
Celina is quiet. She runs her fingers through Marius' hair. She snorts. "Well, it's a bit pat then. He can't walk while laid low. He won't agree while influenced and conscious. I will not agree someone carries him through it. So I think we end up answering his questions when he wakes."
Celina sorts her cards and shows Merlin the Trump of Llewella. "I shall bring Auntie up to date."
Merlin is mostly trying to get his vision back so he is fine with summoning Llewella. Llewella comes through, but before they can get the whole story out, Marius begins to awaken.
Celina brings a platter of food and drink from the sideboard and sets it down near Marius. "Welcome to Rebma."
"How did I get here? What's happening?" Marius starts to sit up and winces. He's taken quite the love tap from someone.
Merlin starts to answer but looks to Celina, as does Llewella.
"Well, I wasn't there but Edan was concerned about you being on your own, unconscious." Celina moves closer and looks closely at his eyes. She picks up a phos light and waves it from Marius' ear to his nose and back, not being so close he can pop her in the eye or grab her hand easily. "You don't recall being in Xanadu with King Corwin?"
Celina saw enough head injuries in the war to be looking for symptoms.
Marius looks like he took a good hit but it takes more than what he's had to deal serious damage to an Amberite.
"I was going up to the castle and I found Prince Martin and Sir Edan in the stable. That's the last thing I recall," Marius says.
It's a good thing Merlin is behind Marius because his expression flickers a little at that news.
"Well I didn't pause for details when Edan asked by Trump if you might be passed here for safety. Later there will be questions but he was rushed. What news of my father then? Have some brandy." Celina moves over to the drink bulbs.
Using her torso as a shield from Marius, Celina reaches for a large brandy bulb. She mimes cuffing the head of the container slowly. She shares a look with Llewella before turning around to bring the drink to Sir Marius.
"He was in the city--Xanadu, not Paris--the last I saw him. Which was just before I came up to the castle. He wasn't willing to go and someone had to do it, so that was me." Marius frowns. "What were Edan and Martin doing? Did they say?"
Llewella is watching this whole thing carefully. It's pretty clear she mislikes whatever she thinks is going on.
"They did not tell me." Celina says. "But I'm glad they stopped long enough to get you to safety. Did you speak with anyone else while there? Did anyone follow you?"
"I don't think I was followed up from the city. It would have taken some effort not to be seen on the trail up to the palace. And in the castle I saw some of the servants, and the stableboys, but no one significant. No family other than Martin and Edan." Marius frowns. "And I don't know if that was a person they had with them."
Celina arches her eyebrow, "Pardon? A person they had with them? This is news to me."
"They had a big rolled up carpet. Martin was strapping it to the back of his horse. It was big enough to have someone in it, at least if they weren't very big. He asked me to help him bind it down for the road. That's the last thing I remember," Marius explains.
Out of the line of Marius's sight, Merlin slumps a little. Llewella frowns and says, "If they were ready to ride out, it'll be a while before you can get hold of either of them. Do we have trumps?"
"I have one of Martin, and I can sketch Edan if we need him," Merlin volunteers, "but that will take some time."
Celina keeps considerable attention on the body language of Llewella and Merlin as there is something going on here that she's worried about. They each seem to be on agitated but different agendas. But that's for later. Now she wants Marius a bit more.... engaged. "Really, I think there is something more bothersome than Edan or Martin. The sorcerous attack on Marius just makes it more urgent than a rolled up carpet. It's been too long since Huon started back to Rebma by ship. Marius, can you get into shadow, find a vessel and retrieve Uncle Huon?"
"Yes. I can do that," Marius says. "Should I go at once?"
It is, perhaps surprisingly, Merlin who suggests: "You should rest and eat something, with my sister the Queen's permission."
"We should let you rest," Celina pauses. "And restore yourself. As a sign Huon will see you come from me, let me find a bone spear from the armory for you to take along."
And she adds, "I can check you later for any aftereffects from whatever spell took you down."
"As will I," Llewella says.
Merlin adds, "I do not know what I can bring to bear that the Queen and the Princess cannot also show, but for what it is worth, I will also try to find any enchantments laid on you."
Marius looks round at all three of them and finally nods. "If you will, I'd appreciate it. Also finding out what happened with Martin and Edan."
Last modified: 20 April 2020