The Unicorn leaps onto the top stone of the stair and leaps up, her hooves sparking on the bare rock. A moment later she disappears upwards into the fog.
The fog, moments ago pervasive, is starting to dissipate.
In the remnants of the dueling circle, First to the Fray and Conner/Protects the Stairs rise, each with their own blade.
First to the Fray salutes the Unicorn, or at least the direction she departed, and then Conner. She reaches up with her dagger and cuts off a lock of her own hair, and hands it to Conner. "You are Victorious," she says.
Conner gives her a crooked smile. "No," he says simply, "but I am told that it is impolite to refuse a gift." Conner accepts the lock of hair.
"Did she just... surrender?" says Regenlief. She sounds disgusted.
Ossian looks up from his sketch book. He has turned pages several times to capture different parts. He might want to combine them to a nice full painting some time in the future. "I believe so. I think they worship her even more than we do. Although I'm no expert on Moonriders.
"But why she appeared? Be watchful. There could be worse enemies approaching."
Happy to have a familiar task, Regenlief watches for enemies.
"Sadly, I think this means that fighting stops and politics begin. " Ossian says. "Let's join them, but keep your eyes open."
Folly finishes her softly hummed song, blows out the rest of her breath, and then resumes breathing normally again. She stands, turns to Martin and offers him a hand up and an affectionate squeeze on his arm.
Martin rises, smoothly taking her arm. "Looks like they're bailing out. Fletcher, can you make sure they're leaving and not doubling back toward Hannah? Recruit some Rangers if you need them. I've got to figure out how we ended up with a duel instead of a pitched battle." He does not say 'like your Dad' but he's pretty obviously thinking that.
Folly makes a wordless gesture toward the spot where the Unicorn stood with the duelers -- Martin and perhaps also Fletcher gets the idea that she's a bit too choked up for proper words just yet -- and then begins walking in that direction.
Vere remains aware of the interaction of First to the Fray and Conner, and the actions of everyone else around them, but the majority of his attention is focused on the stairway, watching to see if it is present or not when the fog lifts.
Vere is aware that First seems to be surrendering to Conner, but he focuses back on the three rocks. The moon has risen, but is not visible through the clouds of fog (it's still quite low). It is less than a ten-day to the end of the month, which is the end of the year as well. Since the night of the first is the night of the new moon, it is several days past full and waning. The fog is dissipating and it's soon possible to see what the moonlight has wrought.
There is no stair.
Vere nods thoughtfully, then begins quietly moving among the rangers, making certain they have all recovered from unicorn-shock and are ready for whatever may happen next.
The Rangers stop gawking and resume defensive positions.
The Rangers in the field seem steadied by his presence, and watch carefully as the moon riders withdraw. "We have a few people in the woods, Ranger Vere. They'll let us know if they attempt to circle back."
Vere nods. "I will report to the prince. Keep me informed of any changes."
When the Unicorn passes, Brennan stands and is again in front of the stairs, where he said he would be. Hopefully, if the Unicorn decides to charge back down, someone will warn him.
The rest of the Moonrider force is still out there and approaching, under their Marshal, if Benedict is correct. Brennan sets about quietly getting any of the Ranger forces that may have been with them at the base of the stairs back into a position where they can set spears against a charge if need be.
Raven also resumes her post in front of the stairs once the coast seems to be clear. As soon as she catches on to what Brennan's up to, she starts doing the same on her side of the stairs.
Edan is still looking at the dissipating fog, trying to figure out its source.
It's the sound of a fading song, the thrum of a strong Pattern and the crispness of a Crown Prince's orders that breaks through Robin's Unicorn-dazzle and she turns her eyes toward the three new arrivals. Getting to her feet, she nods towards Prince Martin - just once, 'cause it's kind of like his salute.
Conner takes out a handkerchief, places the lock of hair on it, and wraps the hair safely before returning the handkerchief to his pocket. "Now then, as I have only counted four impossible things before breakfast we are below quota. So I will ask, why are you here First to the Fray?"
Brita is now scowling slightly at her Brother. She does not want to interrupt, however. Her gaze lingers on where the lock of hair went and then, if she can catch her brother's eye, she looks pointedly at his own hair and gives a little nod back at First to the Fray.
If Conner notices Brita's gestures, he does not show it.
First holds up her hand, "A moment. Bladedancer, you must withdraw. As agreed."
Bladedancer looks confused. "As you order, your highness." He sighs, gives a short bow to Brita, and says, "We withdraw, and none of us will return in arms while you hold the stair. Honor was satisfied."
The Moonriders seem to be withdrawing. Or all of them except First to the Fray.
Fletcher watches the Moonriders, still ready to use the Pattern to cut-off any of their tricks. He strides to rangers. He instructs a detail of rangers to shadow the retreating Moonriders, to make sure they're not circling around. He himself monitors the Moonriders progress and wonders what just happened.
First turns back to Conner holds out her sword. "I surrender. You can hold this, but you know only I can keep it, while I live. Now, how does the saying go? 'Take me to your leader...'"
Conner accepts the sword and holds it in his off hand. At her request Conner laughs.
"Were things less dire, I would take you to Rebma for an audience with the Queen." Conner explains. "But I don't think we have time for semantics and wordplay. If you want to see the King, you have much convincing to do in a short amount of time."
Conner notes Folly and Martin approaching. "Unless you wish to tell your story multiple times, I suggest biding a moment until others reach us."
Folly, walking arm in arm with Martin, holds up her free hand in greeting as they join the group. "Hullo, cousins," she says in a tone that seems to acknowledge First, too, as at least distant kin. "I confess this was not the scene I expected to find, but I am pleasantly surprised." She looks to Conner and Brita for the beginnings of an explanation, or perhaps for introductions.
"Sorry you missed the concert." Conner gestures with First's blade towards his own. "Allow me to introduce First to the Fray. She arrived with a vanguard of the Moonriders and challenged me to single combat for the right to approach the way to Tir. I accepted and our seconds set the terms of a lock of hair cut from the opponents head without drawing blood. The contest was most unusual." Conner shakes his head. "Before the contest could be decided, the Unicorn appeared." Conner cannot help but smile at the memory. "She laid Her horn on our crossed swords and made it clear they were not to fight with each other again. After the Unicorn left via the stairs to Tir," Conner shrugs at the impossibility of that true statement, "First to The Fray conceded the duel, bid those with her to withdraw, surrendered her sword to me, and requested to see the King. What I am waiting to hear is why she's gone to all this trouble." Conner turns back to First.
Brita has given her own confused bow to Bladedancer and watched him withdraw with the rest of the moon riders. She turns back to the group as Conner finishes his summary and waits expectantly for an explanation from First to the Fray.
"Martin FitzRandom," Martin says by way of introduction. He offers First a clasp, which she takes. "I'm here to find out why the Moonriders came in force here, and to Avalon."
"I am First-to-the-Fray, daughter of the High Marshall, Grandchild of the Queen of Air and Darkness. My father pursues his fight against Prince Benedict, which he could not pursue while your Grandfather lived. My motives are my own." She takes a deep breath and says, "I came here to meet with your King and end the war."
Martin nods, but asks her more. "And why in arms?"
"Because I was not free to come here without my escort, whom I have contrived to prevent from threatening you."
Vere quietly moves closer, watching the interactions with interest but remaining silent for the moment.
"Well I'll say this First-To-The-Fray, you certainly think big." Conner chuckles. "What do you bring that can end a war held in abeyance for millennia?"
She shrugs. "If not me, then whom? Your King will discuss my proposals with me, or he'll entertain ambassadors to bargain for my release. Dialog will be started either way."
Martin is too disciplined to actually pinch the bridge his nose, but Folly can tell he's got the urge to. "Be that as it may, we can't disturb my father at the moment and we've got to keep you close at hand." He glances at the cousins who are close to hand. "Who's got a suitable place to keep First to the Fray?" There's a beat and he adds, "Not with Caine."
"How close at hand do you want?" Conner asks. "I think Edan is the only one with real estate around here though I'm sure Ashe would put up an extra guest." Conner looks over to Brita. "Any shadow options to offer, Sister?"
"Master Nguyen's Dojo in the Bamboo Forest is Isolated. I Have a Trump. Shadow Jutenheim is Too Close to Uncle Loki's Realm, I think," Brita notes with a glance at First. She shrugs, "Mother is Too Busy and I would Not Want to Impose on Grandmother Clarissa."
Vere shakes his head slightly. "I have nothing to suggest, your highness," he says quietly.
"There's the caves under the castle." Robin pipes up from where she's holding the forest's edge. "They're primitive, but not boring. And there's a giant aquatic reptile," she adds eagerly as though it's a feature.
Martin looks at each of them in turn as they speak -- Conner, Brita, Vere, and Robin -- and takes a moment to come to a decision. "The Knights may be turned out to fight, still, so I don't want to prevail on Edan without consulting him; I don't think the caves are good for this." he looks apologetically at Robin "--and I think all the grandmothers are probably out for hostessing on this one. Will one of you ask Edan if he can host her?" Martin looks at Vere, and adds for Brita's benefit, "and if not, we can check out the dojo."
Robin lifts a shoulder in an amiable shrug to Martin. Bonding through mayhem is not for everyone.
Vere nods. "I will ask him, your highness," he says, and heads for Edan.
Ossian also comes to the group. Sadly he has no safe place to stash Moonriders.
While they wait, Conner takes the time to examine Tizon. He examines the fine traceries within the blade and compares them to the Pattens and Pattern Blades that he knows. In truth, he wants to divine what Pattern this sword is linked too. Taking a cue from Folly, he stills himself and simply listens.
Folly intuits what Conner is doing and, with slow grace that telegraphs her own intentions and gives others the chance to stop her if they object, she reaches out and gently taps the blade with a fingernail to set it quietly ringing. She listens herself for a moment,
It's difficult, with the wind which seems to always blow atop the cliff and the sea far below to reach a state of stillness, but it can be done.
The only thing that is clear is that the sword is not a time-lost or duplicate of a known blade. It's not Tir's Greyswandir, nor Amber's Werewindle, nor Rebma's Halosdyne.
It's interesting, because none of the known swords contain this section of the pattern. The first veil is clearly the center of the tracery on this sword.
"Interesting." Conner murmurs to Folly. "I wonder if this being the First Veil has any significance. More to point though, I wonder what Pattern this is linked to. Think First would tell us if we asked?"
Folly turns her outstretched hand palm-up, a gesture Conner reads as 'it couldn't hurt to ask'. However, her own questions run in a different direction. She turns to address First-to-the-Fray.
"You've mentioned something of your own intentions, and those of your father the High Marshall," Folly says mildly, as if just making polite conversation. "What of your grandmother?"
First looks troubled. "She comes and goes, as always. When she is with us, she is amazing. When she is not, it can be... quite challenging."
Folly looks thoughtful. "And when was she last with you... if 'when' even the right metric in these circumstances?"
"It was only briefly, when the storm was approaching to the doom of us all. She protected us, and then had to leave.
"I could see why the ones who had attended her court were desperate for her return."
She looks around briefly. "So many cousins, and I don't know of all of you. Who amongst you is interested in peace, or are you all as warlike as my ex-fiance?"
"If I wasn't interested in avoiding large scale bloodshed, I'd have never accepted your challenge." Conner replies. "Who is this ex-fiance you speak of?"
Folly nods; she seems to be agreeing both with the interest in peace and with Connor's question.
"Did he never mention it? I am not surprised. Death's Dancing Master over there and I exchanged gifts. He gave me a dagger, and I gave him an affine."
Conner knows that if the Gheneshi are anything like the Altamareans, giving a woman a blade is a big deal, and feuds have started over less.
Martin may not know the protocol exactly but he's clear enough on the meaning. "I'm sure any possible insult given was made in ignorance. The customs of Ghenesh were forgotten in Amber, to my sorrow. And I am interested in peace, and would hear all proposals for how we achieve it in the present circumstances." Which last is mostly directed at his cousins on this side of things, who collectively know what those circumstances are.
Robin nods her understanding as she turns her eyes back around the glade. While negotiations are going on with First-to-the-Fray and two separate plotting-cum-Trump calls are going on, Robin is keeping her eyes and ears on the overall picture; noting where her cousins are, listening for any alarms from the direction Fletcher and the Rangers went, keeping a weather eye out (since the weather's been a little... unique lately), keeping aware of Bonedancer or any other Moonriders still in the immediate area, etc. Basically keeping an overwatch.
"Well let's entertain the notion that a negotiated truce is possible." Conner begins. "The High Marshall is taking the opportunity to pursue Vendetta and the few interactions we have had with the Queen of Air and Darkness or her projections have in no way been positive." Conner turns to address First more fully. "So if we were to try to open negotiations, who among your people would respect and respond to such overtures as opposed to killing the messenger?"
Brita, her task as second complete, is standing by listening to the exchange. He gaze is on Conner and First but she has shifted slightly to be upwind of Conner (in case she needs to detect any threat from that direction before it reaches her brother).
Robin and Brita detect no threats in the immediate area, and the Rangers, while on high alert, are not feeling immediately threatened in the woods.
First looks Conner in the eye. "As long as I am here, they will listen to your envoys. They will expect, if nothing else, a ransom demand. Instead we can plot peace terms and methods. If the terms allow all sides to prosper, my father will give up his vendetta."
Martin nods, once. "That's what I'd expect if I'd been the one captured." He looks around at the rest of the group; Folly at least can tell he doesn't like his options, and it wouldn't be a surprise to the Amberside cousins.
"First-to-the-Fray, these are my terms: I grant you limited parole with these three conditions. First, you're under house arrest and will remain in a location of my choosing so long as I require, without attempting to leave. Second, you don't attempt to contact any of your people during your stay with us. Third, you and I will negotiate to end the war that your father and my father's entire generation seems intent on having with us on the front lines. And these terms are changeable only by me, if and when I choose, Your Highness."
She bows, hyperextending her legs in a way that makes normal humans ache to consider. "I accept your terms of parole, Prince of Amber, Xanadu, and Rebma."
It takes a short while to organize all the rangers in the forest and to assure himself and them that the Moonriders are, in fact, withdrawing. "Should we follow 'em, my Lord? See where they think retreating goes to?"
Fletcher looks at this ranger (hereafter thought of as 'the straight man'), and raises an eyebrow making sarcastic 'thinking' face, and immediately says, "Yes, but only if you can. Stay between them and Xanadu."
Fletcher himself follows for at least a bit, still focusing and readying the Pattern, to see how exactly the Moonriders go about retreating. He figures it can't be any harder than getting to the Primal Pattern, and he's pretty sure he's figured that out. For that matter, once he figured out how to access the congruent overlapping Shadow used by Santa Claus, most other travel has seemed easy by comparison.
They travel back along the ridgeline through the forest, keeping to the highest points. When they reach a low water crossing one of the Rangers stops Fletcher. "That's towards the heart of Brocéliande proper. You can go there, but we can't follow. If we get out of sight of that stream, we won't find our way back."
Another ranger says "They're not doubling back this way, My Lord. If you wish we can station a few pickets here."
"Very well. You know your business. Station pickets and send word back to Prince Martin and myself in Xanadu if anything comes of it. It looks like Xanadu is safe for now." Fletcher salutes the rangers and lets them get about their work while he ponders what to do next. The Unicorn has acted and Xanadu is safe. His sword was not needed in its defense. His cousins have probably sorted out what exactly had happened, and he should get back to them. He shuffles out his trumps, such as they are, flipping past Oberon and Eric to Corwin and Caine. He winces as responsibility for Avalon nags at him. On some level he knows he isn't needed, but he doesn't absolutely know that. He put his trumps away and pulls our a small hard-backed journal. Opening it to the back cover reveals a concealed pocket.
Fletcher reaches in and slides out the trump he said he'd lost. With a last glance around to ensure the area is secure, Fletcher focus on Benedict's trump and reaches out with his will.
"I'm thinking maybe Benedict might want an update from here, and maybe we find out if something has changed there." Jerod says, loud enough that those in his immediate proximity can hear but specifically so that Brennan knows. "I think there's way too much high level stuff happening that we don't know about here."
He pulls out his Trumps, quickly sifting out Benedict's to concentrate.
Edan frowns, glancing between First and Conner. "This wasn't high-level anything. This was a feint. Flashy, public, with a quick surrender. They never meant to go up the Stair, or else that was a bonus objective. What did they really want?" He looks around. "Where was the unicorn headed?"
Brennan was reaching for his own abbreviated pack of Trumps when Jerod and then Edan spoke. To Edan, Brennan says, "Tir, I guess, whither none may easily follow, at least for now." Brennan doesn't sound too broken up at that last part. "I'm going to join Jerod, but if she's surrendering herself to Conner, I think we just added a new mission parameter: Keep her the Hell away from Random. And Vialle, for that matter. Warn Bleys and Fiona?"
Brennan then goes to join Jerod and, if allowed, joins any contact that occurs.
"No cards," Raven says to Edan, "so that's probably on you? I've got an eye on things - I'll speak up if something changes down there before the calls are done."
She goes back to watching the field for now - but she's got a careful watch on Martin as well as what's happening around the area, because if there's anybody that's likely to call off the defenders on the stairs, she figures it's him.
Edan thinks it through. "I'll be staying here. Lend me Father's Trump, if you would." As he waits, he also looks around to see how the situation is resolving.
After a few moments, Benedict's trump turns from a pasteboard imitation of the eldest Prince of Amber to an actual vision of him. He is on horseback, overlooking a battlefield. "Bide," he says, and Jerod watches as he quickly dispatches 3 foes and pulls back behind his own lines. "Who calls?"
"Jerod, with Brennan and others." Jerod says, motioning Brennan to tap in if he wants. "Moonriders are here, led by one named First-To-The-Fray, wielding a Pattern sword.
"She dueled Conner, but it was cancelled by the Unicorn. First is our guest, the Unicorn appears to have ascended the stairs. Martin has arrived.
"Do you need aid or shall we stay here? Others are handling the guests."
Brennan passes his Bleys trump to Edan and then does tap in on Jerod's call to Benedict. "The Stairs haven't manifested." This is a clarification, not a contradiction. "Moonrider images made one attack from where the Stairs would manifest, but their vanguard approached from the tree line. Edan is calling Bleys."
Benedict's eyes flash to the new entrant in the call.
"What's the tactical assessment of the danger at the stair? And in Xanadu?"
"All yours." Jerod says to Brennan.
"Here: Tactical assessment is contingent on the location of the main force. As it stands, estimate on the order of two to three dozen Moonriders, half that visible in the clearing or at the edge, the rest hanging back. Rough parity of numbers on our side, but lopsided: Fourteen cousins, by my count, almost all experienced fighters. The rest of the numbers made up mostly of Rangers and Edan's new Order. We would have the advantage of defense. Tensions are low, all things considered: First-to-the-Fray surrendered her Pattern Blade to Conner and Martin is on scene at that parley; the rest now quit the field at her direction, shadowed by Rangers. Another skirmish is not imminent, and would be pitched but, I think winnable. Contingency is the location of the Marshall's main force. We have no knowledge of that beyond Ossian's relayed warning. They would not be bound by First's surrender, even in principle.
"Xanadu: Our information is stale, but Corwin manages the defense with whatever of your brothers and sisters are also there. Marius is there with the bulk of the Ruby. I have no reports of an attack on Xanadu, as of the time of Ossian's last report to you." Brennan glances at Edan, sees he's made contact with Bleys, and adds. "Hope to know more very shortly."
Benedict nods and has no questions back, nor does he volunteer any information on his battles. "I can take up to two of you to supervise holding a line against the Moonriders. It would be good practice countering their tactics for whoever comes. This has been an attempt to tie me up, so I would be returning to my other tasks. Did you say my daughter was present?"
Brennan needs no time to consider that: "I volunteer. Yes, Lilly is present."
If Benedict indicates he wants her to join the contact, Brennan either motions to get her attention or sends a runner.
Jerod holds volunteer to wait to see if Benedict prefers Lilly.
Lilly does join the contact. "Lilly, I have a mission for you. Do you have duties in Xanadu?"
"No, Father, I can come to you."
Lilly disappears in a rainbow flash.
"Which two shall it be?" repeats Benedict.
"I'm up." Jerod says.
Benedict nods. "Very well. Let the Prince know and then come to me."
Brennan nods and drops out of the Trump contact. He gives Jerod time to do so as well, but either way says, "We'll want Trump contact between this group and us, too, I think. There's going to be a meeting with or without us. I have an increasingly well-worn sketch of Folly and Brita might have a card of me. Merlin might have more-- you?"
Jerod drops the link, but shakes his head. "I've got no one from our crew I'm afraid. Been too busy to sit or to try to finagle Trumps or sketches from anyone. Someone might have done one up of me that is still usable, but whether they'll admit it...that's another matter." to which he smiles slightly.
"Merlin's probably our best bet. You brief Martin, I'll talk to Merlin? I need someone's expert opinion on how much longer this sketch of Folly is going to last, anyway, and she's occupied."
Brennan doesn't care that much, from the tone of his voice-- if Jerod wants to reverse that or has a different idea, he'll be fine with it.
Bleys smiles as he sees Edan's warlike face. "How festive you look! I presume that no one is swinging swords at you at the moment?"
"That fight didn't last long," Edan says. "First -- the Marshall's daughter -- had a duel with Conner. The unicorn came and stopped the fight, then left in the direction of Tir. I just saw First surrender her sword to Conner and the Riders are retreating. I have not seen the Marshall. Are you in Xanadu?"
Bleys grins. He usually does when being needlessly mysterious. "Didn't anyone tell you, my lad? I am mysteriously unavailable and unfindable while I work on what may or may not be some light treason. Talk to your cousins about it, a bunch of them were at the treason planning workshop."
Vere approaches and stands within Edan's line of vision, not so close that he is intruding, but close enough that Edan can tell he is waiting to speak with him.
"I'm sure," Edan says. Being young and callow, he doesn't say it with the same flair Bleys would. "The hammer must be falling somewhere else, and i wanted to see if I am needed in the city. Ah, Vere, I am speaking with Father," and he extends his arm if Vere wants to join the conversation.
"Invite Vere in, please. He was at the workshop, although he ran late." Before Vere joins, Bleys continues. "The consensus was that Random is in trouble and needs our help, because he is ensorcelled. No one told you because you were quite busy before your demonstration. Now you are here. Don't promise anything you can't unpromise. Most importantly don't use your troops against our friends."
Vere accepts Edan's hand, and nods to Bleys. "Uncle."
"Let's reiterate for the sake of clarity," Edan says. "Who are our friends, right now? Do you mean the different troops gathered around Xanadu, or these Moonriders that are retreating? Or someone else?"
Bleys nods to Vere. "It's complex, and Vere will be able to explain it when we're not in a Trump conversation. Well, let us assume that the King may not be able to tell friend from foe at this point. The top priority is not to do something he'll regret ordering when he is back to his normal self. Your goal is to obey the spirt of the King's wishes in the long term, rather than any particular request to do battle that might pit you against the wrong people."
Vere nods once again.
Edan glances at Vere, then back to his father. "I understand, then. And so, it is only a matter of days before the shiny new vows to king and country are tainted with furtive corruption and moral relativism." Something strikes him then, and he adds, "You worry this is going to go long-term. And with the Order of the Lamp in the city, my men and I are going to be stuck in the middle of it. Trapped at the edges of the Queen's web."
Vere looks as though he is about to say something, then decides not to do so.
Bleys smiles. "A Prince is never more loyal than when he chooses to disobey the King for the sake of the Kingdom. Just be careful how you are caught.
"And speak to Prince Martin if you want absolution. As a man who led a rebellion against the legal rulers of the Dar Es Salaam, you have in the past been willing to break oaths and to incite others to break theirs when it was a worse thing to keep them than to break them."
He pauses. "Perhaps you can find a reason to take your men on a mission for the Prince. It might be better. Or join Julian or your sister in the forest. I'm sure there will be something that you can do."
Vere listens, and nods once more, but remains silent.
"I had sent word to move them to the forest already," Edan says. "Another day and we would have been there. As long as there isn't a delay, that will be my plan." He looks back in the direction of the Grove. "Safety must be arranged first. When you can, you must visit your newest grandchild."
Bleys frowns. "Do you have adequate protections for the babe? We can send it to Altamar, with adequate security, if there is any doubt."
Edan looks unhappy. "There are adequate protections, and then there are adequate protections. I don't know what's in play here. I will discuss it with Hannah when I see her. Hopefully, almost immediately."
Vere says, "When Martin was discussing matters just now he spoke of Hannah as though he had left her but moments before."
Bleys nods at Vere. "Is the babe a girl or boy? It matters for the protections she might need from the Queen of Air and Darkness. You could end up with a cuckoo's egg in your nest. I recommend distance and difficulty as first lines of defense in that case."
"It's a boy. The birthing room, it has been....attended to, with sage. My son is not getting anywhere near the Queen, not if I can help it. I imagine Hannah has made plans already where to go, but I will make sure," Edan says.
"I should make my congratulations," Vere says to Edan with a slight smile. "Although the timing could have been better."
Bleys smiles and looks less worried. "Men of our family have never paid much attention to other people's timetables. I don't think the Queen of Air and Darkness will have any interest in him for some years." Bleys leans back. It's likely that wherever he is, he's sitting. "Between you and me, Martin was smart to keep his daughter away from the mix of things while she developed. I hope he hasn't returned too soon."
"I don't think Lark will be returning to Xanadu- or Amber- any time soon. If they're smart, everyone who can will put some distance between themselves and here." He pauses. "Paige and Merlin should have my Trump by now."
Bleys nods at this. "Let us hope it all works out for the best."
"Although I do not think everyone should abandon Xanadu," Vere interjects. "That leaves the Queen of Air and Darkness completely free to carry out her schemes, whatever they may be."
Bleys shrugs. "We have Caine if we need someone handy who can be forsworn in the name of righteousness. If you are concerned, look to your father for advice. I suspect he'll be happy to have you safely away and not making any more injudicious oaths. Your Isles may be gone, but they used to be unpleasantly literal about such things."
"Let me cover something else important," Edan says, and he describes what he saw as he came up to the Stair- the duel, the Unicorn, and the aftermath. "I don't understand any of this. First To The Fray had a Pattern blade. It looks real. I assume that means she had access to a Pattern. Why waste time searching through natural shadow paths? Where did this sword come from? What Pattern do they control? The questions, they multiply."
Bleys bites his lip in thought. "While Corwin had access to Tir na Nog, he definitely did not have the consent and approval of the Queen of Air and Darkness for his use of her pattern sword. She clearly did not control my brother's destiny. Or if she did, she wasn't very good at it. Still, father was cross when he took it up.
"But the Pattern does not give us access to shadow travel, it gives us control over our travels in shadow. The power is inherently ours, but the ability to control our perambulations is imparted by passing the final veil. Even with the ability, the practice is not easy. They may be less attuned to the thing than we are.
"I suspect we'll need to ask her about her sword, and then determine if she answers truthfully. Like the Trumps, there may be other hands that have made such blades. The math of the 5th fundamental equation suggests that some sort of reinforcing tool will be part of the ecology of a pattern, but it doesn't say anything about how they can get made, just that they can exist."
"I would suggest asking Weyland's opinion," Vere observes, "Save that the consensus seems to be that he always demands a high price for everything, even information."
Bleys smiles. "Weyland isn't as clever as he tells you he is. He can often be led to reveal things as part of a negotiation about a different thing. I'll be most interested to know what First has to say about it. Oh, and you may want to tell the Prince that he can't really keep the pattern-sword from her, by the nature of the fifth equation's second-order derivative, it will return to her if she needs it."
"We will tell him," Edan says. His ears were still ringing from, 'there may be other hands that have made such blades.' "First-to-the-Fray may not be entirely happy with the idea of answering questions from me; also, I'll be looking for an excuse to get troops and babies out of town for a while."
Vere nods thoughtfully, but has nothing to say.
Bleys doesn't seem perturbed at either comment. "As she is our prisoner, I suspect that the entire happiness of First-to-the-Fray is not the Prince's first concern. I think you are wise to become hard to find."
Edan sighs. "Martin is at the center of a knot of cousins. Let me see if plans have been made that involve me." He pauses. "After tomorrow, after this exercise in fealty, they're going to be angry at those not present. Be careful. And if you have an Altamarean contact for Hannah, please tell me."
"That was my reason for coming over here," Vere interjects. "Prince Martin is determining where to keep his prisoner, and one suggestion was your order's headquarters. I came to ask your opinion on that possibility." He smiles slightly. "I think your conversation with your father has answered that."
Bleys nods. "Yes, I rather think it does. I would not recommend that level of proximity. If you do want to a good hidey-hole, I recommend Madinat al-Nahas. Your Mother's people are quite resilient. Finding the City of Brass is not easy for those not of the blood."
"I almost suggested the afriti world to Hannah before," Edan says. "But it is not...safe...there. Even if I were there with them." He smiles, just a little. "Keep in touch." And he moves to stop the connection, unless Vere has something.
Bleys smiles back, the same amount. "You always did take them at face value, but not us. Your cousin and her son would be perfectly safe there, and Madinat al-Nahas would be more at risk than they were." He sighs, "Consider it, if you need a defensible place."
Reading Edan's intention to end the trump contact Vere nods to Bleys, says "Uncle," in farewell, breaks away from the connection and steps away from Edan, to give Bleys a last chance to convey any private communication to his son if he so desires.
Bleys nods and allows the contact to break.
"Shall we report to the Prince?" Vere inquires of Edan. Whether it was really a question is rendered in doubt when he walks in Martin's direction without waiting for a reply.
Edan follows, looking pensive, no doubt remembering his time in the Land of Fire.
Last modified: 27 October 2018