Aisling bows again to Jerod, though slightly less deep, "Jerod. I do not believe we have been introduced yet today, though I saw you at Ygg."
Jerod nods in reply, for him the equivalent of a bow in Court (if Aisling has done any spying during that time, she'd know this is consistent with his behaviour). "There were many passed through at Ygg...our Conga Line of Amber." and he smiles a little. "You would appear to have the better of me at the moment, since you recognize me but I not you." and he offers his hand.
She'll notice that he offers his own hand that is most suited to deal with her lack of a hand - there's nothing conscious about the gesture either - it would appear he doesn't register that she's missing a hand (either that or he doesn't seem to consider it important - this would also fit with any spying she might have done, as far as his behaviour goes - physical handicaps don't appear to bother him).
She shakes his left hand with hers, and he probably doesn't have the water to tell she's not too keen on the gesture. She smiles in answer to Solange and Jerod, and then steps back slightly, "Pardon me for just a moment..." She collects a nearby light chair, brings it back to the conversation, and sits.
She's not sure, but Jerod might just have enough Water to pick up on it...especially at close range and in physical contact. He waits politely while she obtains the chair and then asks. "You aided in the battle?" he asks curiously.
"Ah--" Aisling hesitates minutely, for what came after was perhaps more important, but answers the question, "yes, in various aspects. With your uncle Prince Caine and some men of Brennan's, I helped stop something very vile from getting through to Amber (her expression and a tilt of her hand give suggestion of some personal feeling about this vile thing)... And I may have salvaged the rest of the dragons from the ambush built around them." She's not a superstitious being; she saw Brennan moving before she mentioned his name. She concludes quietly as he arrives.
"I look forward to hearing more about that - if you'd be gracious enough to satisfy my curiousity of course." Jerod says. "Perhaps later?"
Aisling inclines her head with a "yes, I am agreeable to this proposal" smile, and devotes her attention to the meeting of Lilly etc. with the cousins there.
If Brennan heard any of it, he's not telling.
Once they arrive, Brennan says, "If I may, Prince Gerard, I'd like to introduce Dame Lilly, Benedict's daughter. Lilly, these are Solange and Vere, his son and daughter, and Jerod, Prince Eric's son." There's enough of a pacing in there to allow handshakes, comments, etc.
Solange, in her turn, says, "I'm very happy to meet you, Lilly. Welcome to Amber." If Lilly seems comfortable with handshakes, she'll give one, but will allow distance if Lilly seems to want it.
Jerod smiles at the latest of introductions with new family. "A pleasure Lilly. Welcome to Amber." he says, taking her hand (assuming it is offered).
Lilly offers a smile and a hand to each in turn. For such a slight woman, she has a strong grip. Not so strong as to cut off circulation but definitely stronger then should be expected. She is silent throughout but she seems to be simply a quiet person rather then shy, or etiquette challenged.
Jerod does not seem surprised at her grip. Perhaps his contact with other strong women has gotten him used to it...perhaps knowing she is the daughter of Benedict he would expect nothing less.
Or as Worf would say, perhaps he just appreciates strong women...:)
Vere nods, accepts her hand, and says quietly, "Dame Lilly." He then returns to silently watching the rest of the Family.
[Brennan]
"And of course you've met Dame Aisling."
Aisling smiles at Lilly, genuinely glad that she made it back.
The smile is returned. Lilly also seems relieved to see her... neice?
Then, "Aisling, I have a gift to present." [Brennan] reaches into a pocket and pulls out another pin.
She notes the pins he and Lilly wear, and stiffens a bit.
Again, if her body language implies that she doesn't mind, he'll pin it to her...
No, as he approaches, she holds out her left hand cupped to receive it, watching him the while. It would be awkward to pin it to her, sitting, anyway.
True. She might have stood, though, and I didn't want to make the assumption. He places it in her hand.
...saying, "We can make more and pass them out to the Knights, if they suit. I was saying to Lilly that we need to talk about the Order, we six, as soon as possible."
Jerod looks at the pin curiously as it is handed over, but does not comment.
Aisling looks it over to buy time, held out in front of her, moving it about with the tips of her fingers. "A gift with a point," she remarks with a tinge of sardonicism, meaning it on at least three levels, and looks up at Brennan, speaking with the truth she can muster. "It is beautiful. But the Unicorn is not to be trifled with." She closes the thing loosely in her hand and folds her arm in. "It seems we should speak about what we will do as soon as King Random properly formalizes the Order. We can no doubt enlist Jovian's opinion as soon as he returns." She's trying to let him down gently, but there is a hint of steel in her tone. It is returned to Brennan's attention that while he's only seen Aisling in polite mode, she has more faces than one.
Brennan catches the sardonicism, but doesn't appear to recognize the (heh) point of it. "Thank you. Hardly meant as a trifle with the Unicorn, but as a respect." He shrugs. He seems a bit disappointed that she doesn't appear to like it as much as the term 'beautiful' might otherwise imply, but nothing beyond that. His feelings aren't about to bruise that easily and it's nowhere near a suitable subject for an argument.
And, "Oddly enough, I had already wished to Lilly that Jovian were here, for just the same reason. It seems that Marius won't-- still in his coma. And Daeon has apparently gone for a forest walk."
One or both of those final statements bothers him, because he frowns. But it's only a momentary frown.
Aisling herself is not surprised by news of Marius, but she doesn't bother to hide her surprise at tales of Adonis on walkabout. Her brows arch.
"I'm sure the appropriate time will be here soon enough. Until then I myself shall consider a gift no more then a present." Lilly's eyes sparkle a bit as she looks at Brennan.
Aisling outright grins at Lilly, ascribing a point of social subtlty to her on the chart of her personality she is building. She nods in support to the two other knights, still smiling.
Conner then approaches Llewella in the corner. "Good evening, Highness." He greets her.
Conner suspects that reading has been something of an observatory pose from the speed with which Llewella switches her attention from the book to him. "Good evening, Conner. What a surprise it is to find you here. I had thought you were on duty in Rebma, and Gerard told me that you are in Amber -- and a relative. Are you the only member of the embassy staff to claim that honor, or should I look for Ambassador Droit at dinner as well?"
Conner chuckles. "While nothing would surprise me at this point, I think it is safe to say I am the only relative that will emerge from the embassy."
Llewella smiles. "Just as well. I like Droit better as a friend than a kinsman. How is he, and how are things in my sister's queendom?"
"He and Rebma were well when I last saw them a year ago." Conner replies. "I was forced to leave Rebma rather abruptly and at some point I must relate the whole tale to you. There are things you should know and others I hope you can shed some light on."
"That sounds rather ominous. Are they things I should hear now, or will it take too long to tell me about them before dinner?" Llewella asks, now appearing concerned.
"The short version still takes quite a bit of time." Conner says with a wry smile. "However, it all started with the Embassy being told that your townhouse had been broken into and vandalized. Lord Montage and Bend were assigned to investigate and I was allowed to accompany Lord Montage to look over the townhouse. Every glass and mirror had been smashed, silver was dented, and your files were scattered."
Llewella frowns at the mention of Bend and Montage. "It sounds as if I can look forward to as much trouble at home as I've found here," she says. "Do you have any idea who might have done it?"
"Someone that could send Tritons to try and discourage my investigation. Forcefully." Conner replies.
Bleys and Paige arrive at the library, fashionably late. They stand in the doorway, looking across the clusters of relatives known and unknown. "I've heard all the names, I hope. Help me attach them to faces, daughter."
Paige's lithe form glides into the room, her dress just high enough off the floor to hint at the green heels beneath. The dress? It's definitely not from the wardrobe she normally wears to Court or even Felicity's social occasions. Plush emerald velvet hugs her form tightly in the form of a backless gown. As she walks the slit in the back of the dress exposes her long legs and the nude colored stockings. Perhaps she was concerned for her father's reaction, because she seems to have remembered the matching wrap, lying loosely over her otherwise bare shoulders.
Her red hair is pulled back with gold combs, but the back hangs in loose coils that move with the toss of her head as she laughs. At her neck is a thin, simple golden-rope chain with a unicorn pendant, a present from after her Patternwalk. She wears a charm bracelet on her left wrist, adorned with charms from various Shadows her father's traveled to. Like him, she effects several rings on each hand. And if she's concealing a blade of any sort, you'd have to be on much more intimate terms with her to even speculate where it might be hidden.
She leans a little closer to her father, and begins with her full cousins, "The blonde in the crimson and furs is Brita, Aunt Fiona's daughter, and a descendant of Finndo also it seems. I've been called aggressively friendly... if that's true then Brita's almost violently friendly." Paige offers a small smile as she continues, "She came in the spring of the second year after the Sundering along with Reid, who seems not to be here yet. She's an Artist and has spent most of her time with the Rangers. Apparently they regard her well, if the rumor mill is correct. A good sword arm, too. Knocked Daeon out this afternoon with a haymaker after he reacted harshly to Aisling's attempt to heal him.
"[With Llewella] is Conner, formerly posted to the Amber Embassy in Rebma, also your sister's." Paige nods as Conner catches her eye, and says, "He's wonderful with the ambassadors and a former member of the Navy. Currently involved with Thalia from the Gatewegian Embassy to Rebma, very devoted. Quick tongue, and good perceptions. Shadow walked back from Rebma after being framed during an interesting series of events including a robbery at Llewella's and a run in with some militant Tritons."
She leads her father to the bar, pouring them both brandies. "The woman at Gerard's side is his daughter, Solange. Pattern initiate, business major on Shadow Earth, and the leader of the Women's Progressive Rights movement in Amber," Paige chuckles. "As good with a blade as she is with a tea service, she was fostered by Admiral Worth and schooled in society by Lady Hardwind. Watch mention of the siege of Kolvir, her foster brother died in it and it led to his mother's suicide." Paige hesitates before mentioning the next, but decides in her friend's favor, "I'd trust her with my life.
"The quiet one next to her is Vere, also son of Gerard. He's not a Pattern initiate, but is a sailor and a whiz with any sort of research or administrative tasks. Member of the Naval, he's our expert on the Paresh problem from early in the Interregum and also has a good relationship with Sir Archer.
"Lastly, Jerod, son of Eric. Rebman by birth and Martin's drinking buddy, he's skilled in Pattern travel, forged the only thing close to a Shadowpath we were able to lay." She nods at the dark haired cousin in the circle of Knights and Gerardelli. "He's done well in Court, perhaps better than I. We seldom see eye to eye on most matters.
"In the corner with Caine is Cambina, sister to Jerod. Amazing precognative abilities. Active via Trump scrying, but often passive and unknown to herself. Former candidate for marriage to Martin to strengthen Eric's ties with Rebma and now our current Family historian."
She sips at her brandy, waiting for his questions.
[Bleys]
"My turn. The handsome devil over there in the Black is Brennan. Brand's
son, but they weren't friendly. In the red is Lilly. Hopefully, we'll
find out why she sliced up your friend Adonis. She's Benedict's. Aisling,
also Benedict's, via the same line as Merlin. She lost part of her hand in
the fighting. I've no idea if she can get it back.
"That's enough to get us both started. We'll make first impressions and compare notes later. People will think we're talking about them."
A minute or so after Paige and Bleys enter the library, Ossian arrives. He enters quietly, as if hoping noone will notice him. (High water will notice this is some kind of game.)
Brennan notices him.
But then, Brennan is pretty observant (he notices Paige's pendant, too) and has been keeping an eye on the door.
A brief smile crosses Vere's face for no apparent reason. He continues standing quietly near Gerard with his back to the wall, paying attention to nothing in particular.
Ossian's clothes are rather like the ones he has used on formal occasions recently, a light blue , matching trousers, and a white shirt. The doublet and trousers are embroidered with an abstract pattern, seemingly consisting of one single line, in silver thread. (The pattern is not exactly the same as the ones he has worn before, as high Air? people will notice. The pattern carries over from trousers to doublet and back again, several times. No, its not _The_ Pattern.) He carries no visible weapon.
As for other appearance: Ossian is short and slender; slightly over 170 cm tall, with half-long, somewhat unruly auburn hair, and startingly blue, sincere and sad eyes. He is smiling, and his eyes wander among his realtives, taking it all in.
Ossian will get himself a glass of spring water, if that is possible.
He will then try to join the big group.
When Corwin and Merlin arrive, Brita drops her interest in the shelves and turns to watch the room, sipping at her drink. //I wonder if Random will participate in this...what did Solange say?... 'excruciating' cocktail hour? Hour? It seems a waste to just stand around waiting for dinner.... [Paige and Bleys enter] Wow. Between Paige, Solange, and Lilly, I feel like a horse. Even Ossian makes a spectacular showing....Wish the dragons had shown up...Could have made up an excuse to stay in Arden for them....//
And noticing that Brita has commenced the sipping part of the family ritual, possibly overwhelmed by the huge number of people (as well as total lack of trees and dragons in the room), Jerod nods to his uncles and cousins, excusing himself from that group to wander over to Brita. As he does, he gives Caine and his sister a nod, the kind that reads "I'll catch you later." (they're talking so he's not going to interrupt...yet).
"A bit much for a first meeting?" Jerod asks.
Brita smiles, "A bit much for _any_ meeting. I would just rather go in to eat.
"Actually, I am thrilled to have such a large family. Back in Asgard, I had several uncles and aunts and such, but we were not close and they never came to visit at Idayoll. I felt more at home with the giants!" She says with a wry grin and a brief laugh. She looks out at the room again, "To think, I have all these wonderful cousins and a brother and cousins that seem like brothers!" Brita lifts her glass slightly to Jerod.
Jerod pauses for a sip of his scotch, thinking on her remark. "Brother huh?" he says. "Well, that might not be too bad. Certainly wouldn't be bad having a sister who's a little closer to me in age." and he lifts his own glass in reply.
"Speaking of family, I presume you've met your mother. Will she be joining us this evening?" he asks.
"Yes. I have met Mother again." Brita pauses for a sip of her drink. She glances at Jerod, "It was...heart rending to see her again after so long, but good." Brita nods. "Yes, good to know that she is alive and well." //and hopefully not too disappointed in me// "I believe she will be joining us this evening." //at least, I hope so.//
"I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to see her." Jerod says. "I'll confess I've never fully understood why my uncles and aunts kept so many of their children hidden. I mean, I understand the technical reasons - protecting them while they were engaged in doing something. Or just keeping them safe from general harm. But it still mystifies me."
Corwin comes up, son Merlin in his wake, and stands looking at Gerard. Gerard speaks first. "I hear it's been a rough two weeks. I'm glad I was wrong about you, Corwin."
Corwin nods, as if he has too much to say to say anything. "I hear it's been a long five years. You did a better job hiding your children than Random or I."
"Hmf! Ye do know that Julian has twice my lot? I've no idea how he kept up. Have you met everyone?"
There is something about this almost contest of who can hide their children better that bothers Lilly on some level. What kind of family was this.
Corwin says, "About half, if that many." Merlin says nothing, but the sensitive among you think he finds the family gathering a little overwhelming, and is just as glad that good manners don't require him to answer.
Gerard says, "Well, then: this is my daughter Solange, and this is Aisling, and that lady in the red is Lilly, and that lady in red is Brita, and this is my son Vere, and I suppose you know Jerod and Brennan, and that's Conner, and coming up behind you is Ossian. And I suppose that lad behind you must be your son Merlin."
Vere nods silently to Ossian as he approaches.
Ossian nods back.
Merlin says, "I am pleased to meet all of you." Corwin offers a firm grip to all the men and bows to the ladies.
Aisling's attention is caught by her name, and she bows from the neck in greeting to Merlin and Corwin (and no doubt Jovian's trademark lawyers will be after my sorry carcass in seconds), smiling once more at Merlin... She can't really do anything to help him sort this out right now.
"Pleased to meet you, Prince Corwin, Lord Merlin. Or should it just be 'Uncle' and 'cousin'?" Solange says, still using Best Party Manners.
"Uncle is fine, Solange," Corwin says, and smiles at her. Merlin nods his agreement with his father.
"Greetings, I'm Ossian." he proceeds by shaking the hands of the men and kissing the hands of the women (if they don't mind, he's sensitive enough to get that even before he tries).
Lilly is not against the idea of having her hand kissed but Ossian realizes that she is not very experienced with that type of contact. "Well met Ossian, I am Lilly."
Then Ossian will kiss Lilly's hand, but in an entirely chaste way. "I'm entranced."
Solange is, as usual, perfectly willing to have Ossian kiss her hand, and graciously accepts whatever compliment he chooses to pay her (he IS going to do that, right? she didn't go to all this effort with the dress and the hair for nothing, did she? Usually one can always count on Ossian for a compliment).
She's still waiting for her father to get done bantering with Prince Corwin and actually introduce her.
"Ah, cousin. I feel a bit cross that you receive those new cousins with all your beauty and kindness, while you had nothing but anger for me when I arrived." Ossian is obviously teasing.
"Ah, but these cousins come already vouched for by our returning aunts and uncles," Solange says. "You lacked that advantage. And somebody had to play bad cop." She's grinning.
"You look magnificent today, Solange." he adds.
"Thank you, Ossian. You're very kind. And you look quite elegant, yourself," she responds. The formalities over, she allows him to turn his attention elsewhere.
Ossian learned in Heather Vale that Aisling's not keen on handkissing, and thus doesn't try it here. In greeting to him she offers a big welcoming smile, and turns a bit to include him in the group.
Ossian returns the smile and bows a little. "Nice to see you again, Aisling."
He sighs "I'm going to run out of work. Who needs a painter when we have all you ladies to adorn the city." Ossian gestures towards all the women in the group around Gerard.
Corwin offers Ossian a hand to shake. "I'm Corwin," he says.
Ossian takes Corwin's hand, and meets his gaze, studying the uncle closely. There is some kind of question on Ossian's face.
There is no answer on Corwin's.
"Welcome home, uncle. I hope we haven't trashed the place too much."
Corwin makes a sort of suppressed laugh at this, and Gerard says "Hmph!"
Vere nods as each of the new arrivals is introduced, shakes hands with Corwin and murmurs, "Prince Corwin," very quietly, and continues watching and listening to everything that's going on in the room without appearing to be paying any particular attention to anything other than a spot fairly high up on the opposite wall.
Ossian turns towards Merlin, stretching out his hand. "Are you Merlin?"
Merlin takes it and shakes, but it's a practiced gesture more than a natural one. "I am," he says. "It is a pleasure to meet you, cousin."
Corwin says, "If you will excuse me, I believe I'd like a drink. Merlin?"
"No thank you, father," Merlin replies.
Corwin bows to all and goes over to the sideboard, where he pours himself a whiskey.
Paige smiles warmly and takes another sip, smiling for the room perhaps at some jest her father had made. Her eyes are drawn to Lilly, a quick caught breath as Ossian kisses her hand.
Bleys is dressed in silk and leather, doublet, jerkin, hose. The doublet is slashed and dyed green and the red shirt shows through spectacularly. The outfit is flamboyant and yet perfectly suited to Amber. Those who know such things are aware that this is the typical outfit of an Altamarean Knight, a troop of whom Bleys led in the last battle.
When Brennan sees Bleys and Paige arrive, he waits discretely for Paige's hushed conversation to end, makes a good guess as to the contents, and gives him a moment to assimilate it.
After that, he nods, then waves to Bleys, hoping that will serve as a polite enough invitation to come join the growing party.
Bleys leads Paige over, and introduces her to him. "Paige, this is your cousin Brennan. He and I trounced a riding of grackleflints on the way back."
Brennan gives a bit of a shrug when Bleys mentions the trouncing, but hardly goes out of his way to offer an opposing viewpoint. After all, Brennan and Bleys are un-scratched, while the 'Flints on the other hand....
He does offer Paige the same hand he's offered everyone else.
Paige rests her hand in his lightly. "A pleasure, cousin," she says.
"Charmed. Bleys spoke quite fondly of you on the ride back home. In between trouncings, hissing contests with the Moonriders, and other such comparatively mundane passtimes."
"You'll have to tell me what lies he's offering today. He's a bit prejudiced, you know."
"He mentioned you as headstrong, and perhaps something of a trouble-maker," he says, with perfect innocence. "But he meant both of those as the highest forms of compliment...."
"Of course he did," she offers with a compressed smile. "Well, somethings are genetic."
[Brennan, to Paige]
"Have you met Aisling and Lilly?" he asks.
"Aisling, yes. She helped with the wounded in Heather Vale and inadvertantly created the flap with Daeon," Paige answers.
"Lilly?" Try as she might, there's a predatory tone that slips into her voice, "No, not yet."
Almost on cue, Lilly excuses herself from the main group and moves towards the trio. Her steps are very light. There is a catlike grace to her movements. Quietly she moves beside Brennan.
It's at the moment that Brennan is shooting Paige a mild glance implying that while the impending possible catfight might be interesting from a clinical standpoint-- because it's not as clearcut as Paige might think-- he'd prefer to defer that sort of thing until later. Maybe even to a point when he's not around.
Paige almost laughs out loud at her cousin, holding herself to a smile behind another sip of her brandy. "If I didn't know better, cousin, I'd think, well..." her comment is cut short by Lilly's arrival.
Bleys may get a piece of that look, too, looking for someone else to throw water on the whole thing. Oh. Wait. Bleys. What could Brennan have been thinking?
"Good evening." She says in a soft voice then falls silent assuming one of the two men will make the neccesary introduction.
"Ah, Lilly. If I may present our cousin Paige, Bley's daughter. Paige, this is Dame Lilly, of Benedict's line."
Bowing her head slightly in Paige's direction, Lilly says, "Well met cousin Page."
Paige returns the bow, a smile on her face, no trace of what ever seemed to bother Brennan spare moments ago. "It's wonderful to meet you too. I'm delighted to see another woman's face in this ever growing family of men," she answers.
Lilly smiles. There is a very small hint of a feminine superiority complex there.
She then turns to her Uncle. "It is good to see you again Uncle Bleys. I believe I still have something of yours. Unfourtunately it is back in my rooms. I am sure we can work something out for it's return though." There is nothing more to this statement then what is being said. All others present are quite sure that this is motivated by nothing more then a desire to return a trump card to it's rightful owner.
"Of course. I am at your service, Lilly," says Bleys.
A quirked eyebrow in Brennan's direction asks, _I must be misreading that, right?_
_Or I did._
Everything about Lilly's body language suggests that she really is that innocent. This was the woman who tensed over having a pin placed on her collar...
"Lilly, you don't seem to have a drink. Is there anything I can get you?" she asks, a sly smile on her face.
"Thank you but I am fine at the moment." Paige isn't being blown off nor is she being pulled it. As a matter of fact, if anything Lilly seems oblivious to her hidden meaning. If it's an act, it's a damn good one.
It might just be possible that this intelligent, confident, strong woman is absolutely clueless when it comes to sex and all that is associated with it.
And after the introductions, during which Brennan leaves enough time for Paige to greet Lilly as well, Brennan asks Paige, "I've been hearing a lot of less than pleasant rumors about the state of Amber after the war. What can you tell someone who's never visitted the City before and only has information filtered second-hand from relatives, to bring him up to speed?"
Paige considers for a moment, "Well, speaking specifically of the City, the hardest hit was the fleet. The black rain came first, and then the earthquake that the residents call the Sundering. We believe that the Sundering was accompanied by the earthquake, but that's metaphysics, something that the City's not concerned with.
"No more than a handlful of ships survived, and the crews to man what we did have were either foot troops with Caine or kids and old men. So we drafted the kids and taught them what the old men could and we drafted the old men to lead them," Paige says.
"Food was lean that first winter, but we made it." Paige turns more directly to Lilly and Brennan. "You see, the trading paths, the Shadow Lanes that were laid by Grandfather and our Uncles for millenia were gone. Once a center of trade and commerce, Amber was isolated, save for we Royals leading the merchants into Shadow ourselves. Even a few years after there were incidents of hoarding," _and we need to talk later on that, Father._
"The city adapted. The Regency coucil made adjustments to the property and usury laws to weather the worst of it. Some survived, those who could adapt, others we kept afloat personally, like the ambassadors, who had no support from their Shadows, anymore." Paige sips at her drink, thinking.
"What can I say about the City? It's more somber than once, but those who thrived, they're survivors, like us. There are issues that need to be looked into of some disappearances, but again, it's more of a metaphysical bent than light dinner conversation should be." She adds with a smile, "Unless you're sitting next to Aunt Fiona."
Paige seems willing to elaborate or answer any questions posed, but also doesn't wish to dominate the conversation and ramble on.
"Speaking of your Aunt Fiona," says Bleys, "I believe I hear a Trump with my name on it. If you will all excuse me?" He bows slightly to the ladies and nods at Brennan before retreating a bit to one of the library nooks.
"My best to her, Father," Paige offers with a small raise of her drink after releasing his arm.
Brennan catches Bleys' nod and returns it, obviously expecting him to come back with Fiona in a few minutes.
Lilly is an intense listener. It was as if one could see the information processing through her mind as they spoke. Occasionally she'd nod, or their would be a slight furrowing of the brow or twitch of the mouth but she remained silent content to absorb.
Brennan listens to the whole thing as well, but it's the comment about the missing Shadow Paths that particularly catches his interest. There's a flash somewhere behind those green eyes as he makes a connection he hadn't been able to, before.
It opens up more questions, though.
As Paige finished, Lilly realized that she did indeed have a question. "With all that has gone on, do you believe that this transitory period we are just now beginning will be a smooth one?"
Paige regards Lilly for a moment, obviously considering this a good question. "In my estimation, not smooth, Dame Lilly.. but not as rocky as the first years of the Regency either. King Random, well... no matter who's King, the City will be happy to know that the Unicorn Throne is again filled. While he may not have a reputation for leadership with the citizens, he's the consumate showman, and like it or not, the Queen gives him an air of respectability."
Brennan isn't going to voice or show an opinion on that, directly, because he hasn't known Random long enough or seen any of his governing style.
He does say, in a low enough voice that it won't carry outside the immediate grouping, "Don't forget that there are still external factors at play."
"Of course," Paige says, _To be discussed later and more privately._ The quick dart of her eyes to Lilly, she seems to be confused by sharing such confidences outside the family (read redheads), but recovers quickly. Perhaps Brennan trusts her well enough. Interesting. And it would lend credence to the idea that he became defensive when he thought I was being catty or jealous when he thought I was on the make.
Whatever of those emotions are playing out across Paige's face, Brennan observes them more or less impassively.
When Paige is done answering Lilly, Brennan says, "And I understand the paths to Tir and Rebma are gone, too. This is... suggestive, to say the least. I must remember to speak with Conner, later."
"Yes, the best analogy I can come up with is a tapestry," Paige says. "Imagine a great cloth with Tir at the top and Rebma at the bottom, in the center of the weave is the unicorn of Order. Every strand interwoven, many reaching to Shadows that Amber relied upon for sustenance."
Paige explains, more for Lilly, than Brennan under the idea that _Redheads should grok this._ "Grandfather's repair of the Pattern, which is evidenced by our ability to still weave the fabric of reality, cut the unicorn from the cloth and tossed it about on the tapestry. It still seems to lie upon the same plane as Rebma, as Conner was able to return from Rebma, but any thread you follow from what was once the center abruptly ends, placing you someplace else in the great weave.
"The true transition will be seeing if our elders are able enough seamstresses and tailors to return the unicorn to her place in the center."
Brennan groks, and more-- he groks with reservations. Many of those reservations are caused by incomplete information, though.
"Granted, cousin, you've been in the middle of the situation for much longer than I have, so I'm sure there are details and subtleties you've had time to observe and absorb, but: Is it the Unicorn that's been cut free? Or just Amber? Or are we just saying the same thing?
"Amber, cousin," Paige answers with an unseen weight to her voice.
Brennan nods, filing the description away under "Metaphor, comma, dubious."
Damn it all to hell.
She'd had such good intentions. She'd meant to get there early, and be friendly, and play the sort of happy, festive music that makes people completely forget about wanting to kill each other, and she'd meant to enjoy it, too.
But now she stands half-naked in an unfamiliar room, already ten minutes late, squinting at her reflection in the window as she tries to pin her hair up, because somehow, somebody forgot to get her a dresser with a mirror on it, and using the window is much easier than trying to do this one-handed while holding a hand-mirror -- and how much does it really matter how her hair looks, anyway? It's not like the host of the party is going to give a shit. He is, after all, a hold-my-hair-while-I-throw-up kind of friend. Or at least he used to be.
Folly repeats the words over and over to herself, like a mantra:
It's only Syd. It's only Syd. It's only Syd.
He'll understand. He has to. She has, after all, got a damn good excuse.
Screw Vialle. No, wait -- don't. Please.
Dammit.
Folly lets out a high-pitched squeak as she skewers her scalp with a hairpin. Fathom mews, questioningly, in response.
"I am not jealous," Folly says to the little fluffball. "I'm just...."
Scared.