Raven continues to keep an eye - and in the case of the closer ones, an ear - on the various conversations for the moment, but she's not standing down until there's a clear indication that she's needed elsewhere or that this... whatever this was... is truly over.
"What's the word?" Raven asks. "Since it looks like you two ain't sticking around for long."
"Benedict has spots for two at his location." Jerod says. "Heading to advise Martin that we'll be disappearing."
"You can infer from that, that Benedict's location is still under attack," Brennan says.
Raven nods. "Got it."
He approaches Merlin, saying, "Merlin, my thought is that the only reason we haven't had a big meeting amongst ourselves already is that the Moonrider vanguard pre-empted it-- and that Jerod and I would like to be part of it even at a distance if we can. If we can't, someone's going to have to bring us up to speed quickly. Which means Trumps." He fishes the sketch of herself that Folly made a very long time ago. "Expert opinion on how much use this sketch has left?" he asks. "Between the two of us, this is our only call back to anyone here. Do you have images of me or Jerod?"
Raven takes a look around and decides that she's probably not needed at the foot of the stair itself, at least not just now. Instead, she follows Brennan, keeping an eye on Edan and Vere's conversation, so they can be flagged over to be filled in when they're done.
For the moment, though, she's just a curious listener.
Merlin says, "I provided one of Jerod to the King for his archive, and I have seen Ossian's rendering of you there. I could make another in a day, given your presence, or a week if I had access only to the archive. If the King is ... indisposed, it might not be as easy.
"I could accompany you, if need be. Or give you a place trump by which to return. I have one of the waterfall. I made it because it reminds me of my mother's steading in Borel."
"Ah, the Trump Booth," Brennan says. "I spend so little time in Xanadu, I forget that it exists. And I've lost track of who else has images of me-- I think Ossian does, now that you mention it. I've been trying to make myself easier to get hold of for reasons like this, but Trump-making isn't the widest-spread skill in the Family. It takes time. Brennan mulls that over for a bit, quite evidently trying to push too few Trumps into too many slots. "Nothing for it, I guess. If there's no Trump of Jerod here, then there just isn't and we'll have to try to stay close.
"What about a call back card? I've got Folly, for as long as this sketch works, but I asked Jerod and he's got nothing. You wouldn't happen to have a card of yourself he can hold onto?
"Also, I would ordinarily extend Benedict's invitation but he was pretty specific on taking two of us, plus Lilly." That last comment extends to Raven, as well, which is as good a place as any to make the introduction. "I'm not sure if you've met: Captain Raven, this is Prince Merlin, son of Corwin and Dara. Prince Merlin, Captain Raven."
"The list of who I've met ain't long," Raven says wryly. "Pleased to meet you." She offers a handshake in greeting.
"Did it seem like all the action's over there? Can't see that there's much use for this much guard," and she indicates the stairs with a jerk of her head, "right now, so I was figuring that when Edan's done with his call, we might as well go join the party down the hill."
"The pleasure is mine," Merlin says, overly formally, perhaps. He has a well-practiced grip. Firm, but not too firm.
"I think the further I stay from First, the better for all concerned," Brennan says. "But the third thing I was going to ask Merlin about is contacting Xanadu, before we leave-- Corwin or Marius, preferably. They need to know what's going on here, and I'd like to take whatever fresh news they have back to Avalon."
"Might ask later if that's 'cause it's her or 'cause of who she is, since it sounds like there's some history there, but - " Raven shakes her head. "You're leaving, so now ain't the time." Instead, she looks to Merlin to let him deal with Brennan's request.
"Some of us have more bad blood with them than others," Brennan says, because Raven is right, there isn't time enough to go in to it.
"Of course I have a card of my father you may borrow," Merlin says, and unpacks it, passing it face down to Brennan.
Brennan takes the card in one hand still face down, holds out his other hand for Raven or Merlin or both to take hold of, then turns the card up and focuses on it.
Raven will take the offer.
Assuming Corwin answers, Brennan does not make him ask questions or wait for status, he just delivers it:
"Majesty, it's Brennan, calling from the Stairs with status. We have just north of a dozen cousins here including Martin, and about twice that number in Rangers and Edan's new order. There has been no battle or skirmish here to speak of, although we have met their vanguard force-- some two to three dozen Moonriders here in the clearing and just beyond out of sight-- under the command of one First-to-the-Fray. She challenged Conner to a duel, which commenced and was broken up by the appearance and intervention of the Unicorn, who then departed up the trajectory where the Stairs would be. First-to-the-Fray is taking this as a loss, is negotiating her personal surrender with Martin and several other cousins. The rest of her force withdraws, shadowed by Rangers. No sign or knowledge of a larger force, or the Marshal, or the Queen, in this area as yet.
"Salient details: First-to-the-Fray claims to be the Marshal's daughter and the Queen's grand-daughter. She also bears a Pattern blade she calls Tizon, which once bore the name Flamberge. I know nothing of its origin. We have just delivered this report to Benedict, who is under attack by the Moonriders in Avalon. Lilly has already gone to support him, and Jerod and I will follow shortly at his request."
Brennan pauses just long enough at some points-- mention of the Unicorn, mention of Tizon-- to acknowledge their import, but not long enough to invite a question until he is done.
"Basic guard on the stair for now," Raven adds. "No sign that it'll show, but doesn't hurt to be careful."
Corwin nods. "Nothing is happening here, except half the city is getting ready for a war that may not happen and half is recovering from an excellent party. 'First-to-the-Fray,' is that her name now? I don't remember what she called herself when I met her, but she was at Father's funeral. Lovely girl. If Martin needs a place to keep her, she'd be safe in Paris. If you need anything, including armed support, while you're with Benedict, do feel free to call.
"I don't know her sword, but I would be quite interested in examining it. I should know every pattern sword like I know every pattern. You're sure it's a pattern blade, like Greyswandir or Werewindle?"
"We'll convey that message," Brennan says. "And if you think the city can spare them, I had the Ruby divided into squads and ready to go. Call it a premonition. One of those squads would do well.
"As for the sword, that's a loaded question, so, 'As sure as I can be.' We already know a blade can outlive its Pattern, so my thoughts are in that direction-- history beyond even Benedict's horizon. One of the people I'd ask about that is in Avalon already. The other is Weyland. Here's a question in return: Received Wisdom is that Moonriders can't master the Pattern or command Shadow as we can. Should we be revising that certainty, in part or in whole? Either by inference from that blade, or by her heritage?"
Corwin frowns, thinking. "Received wisdom was that we were effectively infertile, and yet there are a bunch of you. You're going to need to chat with your uncle and aunt if you want to talk theory. I knew for all my life that I could walk the pattern as my heritage from Oberon, like my brothers and sisters. It would have been considered proof of infidelity on the part of the queen if one of his children could not, and yet there were those who died on the pattern, and those who everyone expected to die who made it.
"Now that I have my own realm, I don't know any more about the theory, even though I can tell you whether I think someone can walk my pattern or not."
He pauses. "This warrior-swordswoman, 'First'. When I met her I thought she was very young. Do you think she's old enough to be Oberon's child? She might be wielding a sword by virtue of being your aunt."
Melin doesn't feel very pleased by that thought.
Brennan sucks his teeth, thinking about that. "I don't know that I'd trust my impressions, given the anatomical subtleties and time tricks, but yes, it's possible. She claims to be the Marshal's daughter, though, letting us draw the inference that the Marshal is the Queen's son." Brennan pauses to let anyone interject with what they know of the Marshal's parentage. "She could be lying, lied to, adopted or variations, but let's assume it's true. That still leaves the possibility of a cousin, is what I was thinking."
Brennan does not volunteer to run that possibility down. At all.
Corwin nods. "I wouldn't be surprised if he were her son. That wasn't a place we were encouraged to investigate too closely, although many of us felt the pull. It was both too close and too alien, and until I had my blade, I couldn't interact with anyone in that place.
"Brand tried to talk to me about it, not long after Jones Falls. After he got back from Rebma. I think he was also trying to see what I knew, but he was the family expert on the place."
Corwin shifts, and Brennan sees candlelights behind him. Either Corwin is tired, or he doesn't care if Brennan sees where he is.
"First could be anyone's. Merlin was able to walk the pattern. What if she's his sister?"
Brennan notes Merlin's silence on that point. And he himself can't decide if Dara would be worse news on the Moonriders' side vs the rest of the Family, or on their side against the Moonriders anyway. "Then this all gets even more complicated," is what Brennan settles on. "We'll put all of this on the list of speculations to communicate to Martin."
"This might be a silly question," Raven says carefully, "but... She have to be able to walk the Pattern to be able to carry around that sword?"
Brennan also would like to hear an expert opinion on that question.
"Everything to do with the blades is an art, not a science. The sample size is too low for it to be anything else," Corwin says with what can only be a flash of wry humor in the connection. "Having said that, holding the sword is--suggestive--of her ancestry. Probably on the maternal side. Someone needs to find out about her mother. For obvious reasons that shouldn't be me."
While Merlin is pretty well keeping his lips zipped, his presence in the connection is like a bunch of giant unanswered question marks about so many things in this conversation.
"Most of the tools and techniques of Order, we tend to think of as exclusive to Oberon's line," Brennan says. (Mostly to Raven, because Merlin and Corwin already know that.) "But since I was informed that one need not be Family to make Trumps, I've tried to maintain a healthy, systematic skepticism to some of those notions. Our relationship with the Pattern has seemed pretty solid, but that was before someone came along the master of a sword whose Pattern we've never heard of and can't identify. For that matter, I don't even know Weyland's origin-- and not for lack of trying. I was hoping the King would know more certainly, but, yeah, 'suggestive' is a good word.
"Also agree it's on the list of important mysteries, because of all the other abilities inherent to her blood that would imply," Brennan says, darkly. "Someone sneaky, subtle, and who won't be called on for leading armies in the near future." Brennan says.
"Not it," Raven says dryly. "I got enough mystery to deal with when it comes to my own parents without volunteering for somebody else's, and if Jerod's going with you, somebody's still got to go back and deal with Gateway. I'll make sure Martin knows."
"We don't know enough about our own origins," Corwin says, "to be certain of anything except the Unicorn. And we're only sure of that because we saw her." His voice sounds normal, but everyone can feel his frustration and resignation through the trump.
"Is there anything else I can do for you before I get the guard to stand down, at least from expecting an immediate attack?"
Jerod can be seen to approach the group around Martin, after people have had a chance to respond. While he looks over the group, including First, with a critical eye, his focus is clearly on Martin.
Martin nods once, and turns to Folly. He runs his hand through his hair, not quite dislodging all the water droplets from the mist. "Folly, we can put Edan in charge, but there might be issues. Or we can bundle her up with Brij and send her to Texorami. Or someone can keep her company at the dojo Brita mentioned. Pros, cons? Thoughts?"
Folly frowns thoughtfully. "No choice is ideal, but... on balance I think it better to host her nearby than elsewhere. Though she is serving as our hostage, she is also our partner in negotiating a lasting peace. The first step in achieving that peace is trusting that the offer was made in good faith."
She pauses, thinking through the terms Martin imposed. "But... ah. Perhaps we need some conditions on what to do if her people try to contact her? And also some ideas of others who might host her safely who are... sufficiently removed from the situation to be free of both prior baggage and... outside influence. Which starts to rule out a lot of people."
Martin nods once. "Yeah," he says, "that's a concern." He may say more later, Folly thinks.
"If you want First to be easy to retrieve and you want to avoid any that might try to intercept, then a place that can be reached by Trump with a person can be reached by Trump is the best bet. I am tempted to volunteer to accompany First myself, but feel I might be needed elsewhere more." Conner shrugs. "Either way, I would ask what you want done with Tizon." Conner raises First's sword slightly. "I am willing to be its temporary caretaker if you do not wish it returned or taken to a place of safety."
Robin shrugs from her overwatch. "I can volunteer to be at least one to accompany First to wherever. Though I'm not reachable by Trumps as far as I know. But the advantages are I'm baggage light. I have some experience with and little prejudice against non-Oberon-prime beings. And I can be pretty tough and fast in a pinch." She shrugs one shoulder again. As ever it's the Prince's call.
Ossian nods. (And releases an internal sigh of relief.) He says calmly and quietly:
"I guess I could draw a sketch, if you let me."
"Or An Artist can go With Cousin Robin and Parolee-Kin First. Cousin Ossian or I Can Sketch a Return As Needed," Brita notes.
Martin runs a hand through his hair, to no obvious effect. "Sending a Trump artist seems like a good idea. Hmmm. Who has a boat?" he adds, deadpan, looking at Brita.
Brita responds dryly, "Skidbladnir and I are Always at Your Service, Your Majesty Martin."
Conner nods in approval of Martin's choice and flashes Brita a quick smile.
While looking away, Robin wrinkles her nose at the mention of a boat. On the other hand, Brita's boat is sure to be fun. And since she and Vere kinda busted up Martin's boat? and oh! Is the Psyche okay?
With a brief toss of her head, Robin drags her thoughts away from Family boats and back to overwatch.
Folly nods, and looks at Martin. "So, that's the 'who', more or less. And I feel better about the 'where' being not immediately here if we've got family we trust on it. Not compromised by outside influences, I mean." She smiles grimly. "I would've suggested our dear Lord Mayor could provide the 'where', but given his recent proximity to your father I'm not sure he'd pass that last test."
"I have an idea," Martin says to Folly, "but a cruise to get there wouldn't hurt. They're the Moon _riders_, not the Sailor Moons. No offense intended to Your Highness," he adds. "Conner is, I think, heading elsewhere with another artist, Ossian or Merlin, as you two work it out, with him. We're spreading kind of thin and we need to be able to get hold of each other. And Jerod has been waiting very patiently for me, so you're next, coz," he says, turning to Jerod.
Ossian sighs. He is not going to hunt Klybesians at this time. "I'll go with Conner" he says.
Conner nods in gratitude for the offer but doesn't say anything.
"Benedict is engaged with the Riders." Jerod says succinctly. "Lilly has already gone through. He's asked if people want to volunteer, two maximum. Brennan's one. I'm the other. Raven will be available here."
"I would ask him to take an artist as well--Ossian, if you want to go with your father, and don't mind being in the thick of battle, we can work it out for someone else to go with Brita---because we need to stay in touch," Martin says.
Martin turns to Brita, and beckons her close so he can tell her where he means her to go.
Brita moves closer to Martin and awaits his direction.
Martin steps into Brita's personal space and says a word in her ear, for her alone. "Cabra." He steps back and looks clearly at her to see if she's understood and can comply.
Ossian frowns for a short moment and then smiles "A battle sounds like fun. That would work fine for me. Sorry Conner."
Brita nods in acknowledgement of the Prince's direction. "Would you Wish Us to Leave from Here?" She asks glancing in the direction of the waterfall. "It Would Make for an Interesting Ride."
"Can you even do that?" Martin asks Brita, his eyebrows rising. "Never mind. Anyway, I trust you for this work but we always travel in pairs now. Find someone to go with you and the Princess, and head out. I'll make your excuses."
Brita looks around at the various cousins. "Perhaps Cousin Vere?" She queries.
While she's facing the forest, Robin smiles. And silently blesses her Cousin-Goddess of the Waters.
"If he's good to go, that works for me. Anybody else have anything they need to bring to Brita or Jerod before we start splitting up?" Martin asks.
Conner steps forward and looks to both Jerod and Brita. "Will the situation in Gateway hold while you both are about other business or should someone else step into the breach?"
"Weyland is in Gateway." Jerod says. "The Collegium will be re-taking control now that the Triumvirate is broken but the situation remains challenging. There is substantial damage to the city so there will be a lot of chaos. plus one of the Triumvirate is still active underground, with the aforementioned zombie army. A few of the Weir remain as observers but not in army strength and I do not have time to summon the remainder nor return to guide those few back home to keep them out of trouble. I would normally return if the Moonriders had not decided to stage an entrance and assume the position of greater threat. One of our number there would be good to have.
"I mention Weyland because another of the Triumvirate was petrified during the assault and was running for the Towers. She may be available for questioning if you can get to her. And because Weyland is nuts and we should never leave him alone in public without a chaperone."
Brita just gives a stoic nod to all of that.
"Greeeeeeeaaaaaat," says Martin. "Do we have any volunteers for that one?"
"I''ll go." Conner offers with a thin smile. "I would speak with the Smith and it sounds like Pattern defenses may be needed against the forces the last Triumvir is bringing to bear. I suggest that Merlin and Raven accompany me so we have an artist and someone who was there for Act One of the Gateway show on the team."
Martin nods, once. "If Merlin and Raven are agreeable, works for me. Anyone else?"
Ossian bows and places a hand on his mother's arm. "Looks like we're getting a battle anyway." They the proceed to Brennan's lot.
Jerod remains silent, waiting for any remaining comments.
Brita shakes her head at Martin's question. She is looking towards Vere to see if he is available and heard or agreed to his assignment.
Vere and Edan appear to have finished their trump conversation, and Vere is heading towards Martin's group.
Brita waves Vere over as he approaches and relays the suggestion that he join her as escort to Kin First-to-the-Fray on a journey to The Lighthouse, if he is Willing.
Vere nods to Brita. "If that is the Prince's desire, I shall be honoured to join you, Cousin."
Edan follows a few seconds later, his face tense. He's holding a Trump, now covered with his hand, and he's looking Brennan's way...but he goes to Martin first.
Ossian and Regenlief approach Brennan. He will come close enough for Brennan to notice, but will not intrude on the Trump call unless invited.
Brennan gestures (as best he can with one hand holding a Trump and the other out for Raven and Merlin) for Ossian and Regenlief to join the conversation.
To Corwin, he says, "How are you for bolstering us with some Knights of the Ruby? I don't want to strip Xanadu of its defenses as Marius rightly points out, but this is where those guys start earning their pay instead of telling old stories. I want those guys as experienced against Moonriders as they can get. I had a very bad feeling about tonight, so they're already kitted and split up into squads, or they're all fired. If you call for Brennan's Squad, a small group of them should literally run to where you are."
Ossian takes his mother's hand. He tries to make that not feel awkward. Then they join the conversation. "Uncle. " He says "This is my mother, the Valkyrie Regenlief" he does not expect a reply, just wanting to be polite.
Raven makes room for the newcomers, if needed, with a polite nod.
Regenlief has been through a Trump connection but her experience with Trumps is limited. Some of her surprise at the novelty of the experience filters into the contact. So does Corwin's interest. Though clearly this isn't the moment to explore that further.
"Hello," is all they get for a greeting, and then, "Brennan, I'll get your squad." Over his shoulder he says to someone not in the connection, "Get me Brennan's squad. I'll come outside to do the transit." And he's moving to where he can get the group. "Let me know when you're ready."
Brennan is ready now, but for the chain of people holding his hand to be part of the contact.
"Right," Raven says. "It's about to get crowded here. Unless anybody's got anything else for now, I'm heading down the hill."
If there are no objections/additional items, Raven will excuse herself from the call.
Regenlief drops out of the connection as well, but stays close. She is somehow carrying a small arsenal of weapons, but is focused on Brennan and Ossian.
Corwin hands the knights through to Brennan. They arrive and clear the way for the next arrival quickly. They've either had instructions or travelled by trump before.
Brennan greets each one very curtly as they come through and bids them, in the standard way of senior officers everywhere, to Stand Over There And Wait. Once done, the only thing he has left for Corwin is, "Since I'll see him shortly, I'll carry any message to Benedict you like." Since Corwin has Trumps, he doesn't expect to be carrying messages, but it's polite to offer and you never know.
Other than that, if neither Corwin nor anyone else on this side (Ossian, Merlin) have anything more, Brennan will drop the contact.
Regenlief is eyeing the knights. It's not clear if she approves, disapproves, or is waiting to see them in combat...
Since everyone seems to be done with everyone, Brennan bids Corwin strength and good luck and then closes the contact.
He glances over at the crowd in a holding pattern about Martin, then turns his attention to Ossian and Regenlief, who seems perilously close to volunteering to be the Knights' drill sergeant and weapons trainer. "What's the word? Anything useful out of First, over there?"
Ossian shakes his head.
"No. Brita is taking her somewhere for safekeeping. I and Regenlief are coming with you. Martin is trying to organise things so that no-one goes alone."
Brennan shakes his head. "He's got to get over that," Brennan says softly enough that it won't carry too far. "He's got to send us where we're most effective, not where we're most safe." Apparently, that's an argument for a later day, because: "You're good with this? There's no one better suited for the Klybesians than you two, so I assume that's on the backburner, for now."
Ossian shrugs and answers with a wry smile. "I doubt the Klybesians will go away. There is no use of hunting them down if there's nothing here left to come back to."
Martin nods, "So, that takes care of Team Weyland, which is Conner, assisted by Merlin and Raven and Team Snow White, which is Brita and Vere. Jerod, you're Team Whatever Ben Wants, with Brennan and Ossian, right? Edan, what's Team Babby doing? Are you two staying together or spilling up, and are you leaving?" He looks around, seeing who hasn't been tasked and trying to decide what's pressing enough to assign a cousin to. "Robin, what are you doing next? And where did Fletcher get to?"
"Fletcher went that way." Robin replies with a hand-wave toward Fletcher's trail. "He took half of the Rangers with him and is securing the Moonriders' retreat. Me? I thought I'd accompany Brita, Vere and First-to-the-Fray. But if Your Highness wants me somewhere else, I can do that."
Vere can't help smiling at Robin when Martin says her name.
Catching Vere's smile out of the corner of her eye, Robin smiles as well. Just a little; like say a small lighthouse.
"We are going to get the baby settled, or have a plan set to do so," Edan says. "Then I shall return, for there really is no other choice for me or for the Lamp." He looks over, then back. "First and I need to talk. But now is not the best time to do so. There will be other opportunity."
First is giving Edan a look that would be deadly to anything less than a son or daughter of Amber.
Raven makes her way down from the cluster near the stairs and joins the group. "Based on what we were just talking about up there and what she was carrying around, somebody ought to have a chat with her," she says. "Since she might be related somehow."
"Good thought. Brita, Vere, that discussion I leave to you," Martin says. "Edan, I'm in for the duration as well, and Folly will be too. So once you and Hannah are done, we need to meet up again."
Folly nods, grimly, confirming her plans.
Edan's expression is surprised and dismayed, but it is not Martin's words that bring this look to his face.
"I will return to the compound as soon as I can. Then I will be at the castle, the Order, or at the edges of Broceliande. Best chance to find me at the Order, I think." He gives Martin a curious glance, for if the Crown Prince is staying, that means he'll probably be at Random's... debacle. "I need you to witness this."
He marches, then, to their new prisoner. "First-to-the-Fray, who I have known as Chases-in-Madness, Daughter of the High Marshall of Ghenesh, I would have thought you would want to speak privately, as I did. But now that the fight is over, perhaps it is better to speak now, while we have the opportunity. The apology of a Lord of Amber and Xanadu and Chaos is no mean thing, and I would have my kin and even your peers as witness if you wish it so."
First blinks slowly, and manages to keep a cool demeanor. "If you wish to apologize, perhaps you should choose to do so to my father, who had hoped an alliance between our families would lead to an end to this long conflict.
"Or is there some other wrong for which you wish to atone? Your aura of death, perhaps? Your allies and enemies alike may hope you regret that."
Edan's mouth is a thin line; but he keeps his cool. He glances down to make sure the last vestiges of his Death spell is gone. "Ignorance is my crime," he says, when he looks back up. "It has spawned all the rest. When I met you, there at Ygg during the Race to Madness, we exchanged words and gifts. I did not know the gifting of a jambiyah would constitute a proposal in your culture. It means a much different thing in mine. I only questioned things later on, and never knew for sure. I regret that I misled you. I intended no offense. I also pledged to keep you in my thoughts. I certainly did -that-. Until, well, the next thing.
"The next thing being, the next time we talked. I contacted you in your camp. You say your father thought to put us together? That was a good plan. I even thought of it myself. You might have had my enthusiastic support, had either of you thought to clue me in. The last I heard, you were going to marry Madoc of Chaos. You yourself told me this." It felt like a miracle, that he had not raised his voice by now. "You said you didn't want that, but you never said it wasn't going to happen. I thought, then, that my earlier questions were answered.
"As for the last, I feel less inclined to apologize. The opportunity came to use a rare Principle, one for which I suspected your men were woefully unprepared. I command all the Principles, to some degree or other. For all we knew, you or the Marshall were launching a full-scale invasion while the Queen your- mother? Grandmother? Cousin? I don't know what she is to you- while she worked to corrupt us from within. She's still trying. If war is forced upon us, we're going to use what advantages we have to." He glances in Tizon's direction. "You did the same yourself."
Martin watches Edan march over to First and tries to catch Brita's eye to gesture to her to come toward him (possibly to get her out of the zone of the potential explosion). He leans into Folly and says, half under his breath, "No doubt he's his dad's kid."
Raven turns to watch the action, since there's a show - even if she's not sure this is any better a time for this than it is for Brennan's explanation of why he shouldn't be hanging out with First.
Conner suppresses his instinct to try and play mediator between First and Edan. Neither would appreciate it and if his Clarissan heritage has not taught him how to treat women of power, then it is too late for Conner to advise. Instead Conner walks quietly over to where Raven is. "Once the show is done, we have a mission to plan."
"Can't say I'm shocked," Raven answers, keeping her voice down. "Missed the part where things were handed out, though, so - who's got Gateway?"
"We do." Conner murmurs back. "Jerod is off to fight Moonriders in Avalon and Brita is taking our honored guest," Conner gestures towards First, "to a place of safety. So I volunteered to step in. We are to take Merlin if he will come. Martin instructs that any group leaving Xanadu should take a Trump artist to help with keeping in contact."
Raven nods. "Then we'd better track down the kid we brought back with us - he had a vision, which I think Jerod wanted to make sure he wasn't just making it up. And he belongs back that way, anyway. I'm guessing we ain't sticking around for the King's part of the party?"
"Not being here is the best defense against not having to follow orders given in questionable circumstances." Conner replies. "I had hoped to leave straight from here via one of Merlin's trumps but a quick jaunt to retrieve your visionary won't delay us overlong."
"If he's any of ours," Raven says with a snort of amusement, "it's Brita. She's the one that un-birded him. You know what's been going on out there and what we left?"
Last modified: 27 October 2018