Trumps, Notes and Dinners

When Lilly returns to her chambers after talking to Venesch, she finds the following note:

Cousin Lilly,

My father's business will absent me from Amber between tomorrow morning and the coronation. If you are available after dinner, I would still enjoy the honor of sparring with you.

If you are agreeable, my rooms have a small garden off them that is suitable for practice duels. I have an engagement in the city, but will be back to the Castle by a bit after Compline.

If you have other plans, I look forward to seeing you at the coronation.

Yours,
Martin

After dinner, Ossian, Reid and Merlin meet to try out some Trump tricks. Ossian is as usual in a good mood. "So, gentlemen. Do we feel ready?"

Reid does a nice one handed shuffle with his deck... "Certainly."

Merlin looks as if he'd like to figure out how to do that. "I am also ready."

Ossian laughs. "The idea now is that we find some way to establish a fast two-way communication without a full set of Trumps in everyone's hands. If we fail I'll probably be painting Trumps of our cousins continously for the next century or so."

"And the King will probably want you two to help me with that too." Ossian adds with a grin, handing Reid and Merlin a Trump of Ossian each.

"I want one of you to contact me through the Trump, and then I will try to contact the other while keeping the first contact open, and see if I can merge two Trump calls. That way we would only need a lot of Trumps of me, and one full Trump deck to be able to communicate."

Reid nods, takes the card and goes into contact mode with Ossian...

"For being so old you are surprisingly eager, Reid" Ossian says as he accepts the contact.

"Merlin? Could you lend me that Trump of yourself I know you have?"

Merlin hands him the requested card.

"Thank you. Now Reid, try hard to keep the contact open." Ossian tries to contact Merlin through Merlins Trump, while keeping up the contact with Reid.

Ossian tries this several times, and discovers that he cannot maintain the contact with Reid while making his own contact with Merlin.

If Ossian can concentrate enough on Merlin to make that contact work, he loses the contact with Reid. If he keeps enough of his mind on the contact with Reid, he cannot make contact with Merlin.

Ossian shakes his head: "This doesn't work. And I obviously have missed one of the simpler solutions to our Trump problem. Have you tried to pass another Trump through a Trump contact, Reid?" Ossian tries to hand Reid a Trump pf a beach with palm trees through the Trump connections.

This works just fine.

(It occurs to both Reid and Ossian that it might not be wise to try transferring an impermanent sketch through a Trump connection.)

Reid accepts the card from Ossian's outstretched hand, via a trump.

"Anyways, just for the sake of it we should still try to set up a three-part connection. Merlin, could you try to contact me, while I am in contact with Reid?" Ossian concentrates hard to feel Merlin's contact, and open up to it, but without losing the contact with Reid.

"Sure, and I'll try one as the bridge as well." Reid offers.

Merlin and Reid are able to contact Ossian, and Merlin and Ossian are able to contact Reid.

Ossian has a little difficulty concentrating on holding both connections at once. Reid, however, finds it much easier to do so than Ossian. Neither of them are convinced they could do much else while holding both connections. (If an invisible ninja assassin attacks, you're hosed.)

One connection is distracting enough; Ossian knows he would be overwhelmed by three, and Reid thinks it would be difficult to hold an additional connection.

[Heh. This says something about the scores of Reid and Ossian. I draw my conclusions... Questions: when the double connction is open, do the two people on the "ends" have contact with each other, thus making it a full three-part conversation? Is it hard to get through to the "bridge"?]

"So seeking a new connection seems to be the difficult aspect. Being an open recipient for additional connections appears to be easier. If something needed to be relayed quickly, a 'quick, call me back' chain could be established, but would probably take a lot out of those involved." Reid surmises.

"Yes."Ossian answers "The easiest solution to our problems seem to be to get one full set of Trumps, or sketches, if they can be handed through a Trump connection without difficulty. Then we give everyone a Trump of, say, me, and they will have to call me when they want to make Trump connection, and I'll hand them the right Trump."

Merlin says "There are a number of partial decks about, as I understand it, but not so many Trumps of our cousins about. I have heard that it was not possible to make Trumps for a long time here in Amber. It will be a long time before we can make the number needed even to have a full deck of our cousins."

"We can find a shadow were time moves faster and paint the Trumps there. That will help somewhat. If sketches survive Trump transportation that also helps a lot. Still it will take time as you say. If we could find a better solution I would be very happy."

Merlin frowns. "My experience is that sketches do not survive multiple transits. It would be wiser to make permanent Trumps."

"Ok. Then we know that. Seems I'm going to spend a lot of time painting.

"If sketches don't survive transit, our double connections will become more important. I, or Reid can use sketches to tell people to call back.

"I wonder why it is easier to receive than to call?"

Merlin shrugs. "Does it take more concentration to speak or to listen?"

"That depends on who you are." Ossian replys quickly. "Oh. Yes, that is exactly what you said."

"Are there other experiments you wish to attempt? If you want to try the three-person connect, I could Trump Paige and she could join us in the attempt," Merlin suggests.

"I'm not very well prepared for that." Ossian says "I have only two Trumps of myself here. But you might want to try, Reid? Otherwise I'm out of ideas for now. Maybe you want to try the double conection, Merlin?"

[GM's! If Ossian has Trump contact with Reid and Merlin at the same time, can Merlin and Reid talk to each other through that connection?]

[No, but if Ossian speaks, they both hear him.]

After some other brief experiments and note-taking, and perhaps comparison of technique, the trio breaks up, and its members wander off into other threads.

Brennan, Aisling, and Marius, each receive an identical hand written note from Lilly during the day. It reads as follows:

"It has become imperative that we meet as soon as possible to discuss the Order of the Ruby. As was previously discussed I would like to meet this evening. My suggestion is for a gathering in the library after the dinner hour. If there are no objections I shall see you then. - Lilly"

It will no doubt take Brennan most of a busy morning to see to the status of all the various sub-armies that make up the Army as it currently stands. Some time in all that, he receives Lilly's message, reads it, and raises an eyebrow. He's a bit curious as to what would rate 'imperative' but not 'emergent' but assumes that if Lilly needed to talk to him immediately, she would have been more forceful.

So it is that when her message arrives, Brennan retires briefly to the tent he's going to begin using as his staff tent, sits down at a temporary desk and pens a response. His script is smooth, precise, and flowing after the fashion of someone who has economized unneeded motions out of it. A mathematician might admire it.

"Lilly,"

he writes,

"Barring extraordinary circumstances, I shall be at your service and meet you and Aisling in the Library at Vespers. I have some good news-- Cousin Marius has risen, been appraised of the status of the Order, and is even now reviewing his command. I hope he shall join us this evening. I have troubling news, as well-- Jovian has not yet returned, nor is Daeon in the camp. I continue to keep an eye out for signs of their arrival."

And puts the quill to rest for a moment, then notices the hunger of early afternoon upon his belly. He had been going to send a messenger, but since no answer has come down for the pay situation, perhaps he should eat lunch among the Family. He debates over the close of the letter, then continues,

"I look forward to the discussion this evening. --Brennan"

If they meet during the lunch period, they meet. If not, they'll meet at Vespers.

With that, he closes and seal the letter, then takes the Trump of Amber and steps through.

Brita, on her way to Brennan's tent to determine if he needs anything for lunch, pauses a few steps away. She cocks her head to one side, takes a small sniff, then shrugs and turns away.

Er, if there was something Brita really wanted with Brennan, I'm sure that could be worked into the flow somehow-- Brennan has a pretty high situational awareness after all, and it would be easy to get his attention before he left.

When there and into the Castle proper, he flags a page down to deliver his response to Lilly, then sets out in search of relatives, food, or relatives bearing food.

Jerod might be high on his list; if the issue isn't resolved, perhaps Brennan, Random, Jerod, and other interested parties can discuss it over lunch.

On the afternoon of the second day of the Return, Solange receives the following note:

S--

Got a special run before the coronation. I'll be back for the main show, but do me a favor and keep an eye on things, will you?

I'm going to try to pick up some good coffee while I'm out. That Land of Peace stuff is nice, but I'm ready for some variety.

Also, butt heads with your brother and let me know what I can do for your dad. I'm going to be wearing out a lot of shoe leather and horseshoes for the next little while. If I can get anything or do anything, have Paige call me.

If Vialle passes out dance cards, pencil me in for one. Remember, I asked early.

Yours,
M

Following what can only be considered as a good afternoon amongst the nobles, Jerod heads back to the castle to catch-up on any messages that are awaiting him while having a page track down Lady Sommers. Once he returns with the location of the Lady, Jerod heads off to her new quarters, remembering not to get confused given the changes that Vialle has been up to in accomodating everyone and shortly thereafter knocks on Paige's door.

The door is slightly ajar, and Paige's voice invites whoever might be knocking to, "Enter."

It's like walking into a trailer park after Hurricane Paige has danced through. Clothing and books and most anything else are piled here and there, filling most any flat surface in the noticibly smaller sitting room.

"I'm over here!" Paige calls from the other side of the couch. Seated cross legged on the floor, she's dressed in a pair of hip hugging jeans with a wide flare at the calf, with embroidery down the seams. The thin gauze poet's shirt has leather laces and Paige has her hair pulled up into a ponytail, the bottom of the tail looped back up into the first tie.

"I've only got a little time until I've got to get back to town for Dinner, so unless you're Jerod come to talk about paying the troops," she says placing the last of a series of books on the bottom shelf of a bookcase, "It'll have to be..."

Turning to see him, "Oh, it is you." She smiles and offers a hand, asking for a hand up.

Jerod is dressed in his traditional court clothes, though sporting the black and silver colouring that he has recently taken to wearing all the time instead of only on certain occasions. He sizes up the room as he enters, remembering her previous quarters before the move and making a mental note concerning the location and proximity to other rooms.

"Busy day and it doesn't seem to be lessening anytime soon, eh?" she begins busing herself with uncovering a chair for him. She herself perches on the edge of a end table, her bare feet pulled up under her.

Jerod provides the lift up for Paige, but motions a little with his hand, declining the chair that she begins to dig out, seeming to prefer to stand for the time being. "I suspect busy days will become very fashionable in the next couple of months." Jerod replies, looking over the room more deliberately. "I'm grateful I didn't get moved...I doubt I'd have the time to unpack. And I don't relish the idea of living out of a suitcase for the next couple of months I think."

Paige flips an escaping wisp of hair from her face, smudging dust on her cheek in the proccess. "Ah, it's not as bad as all that. The bed chamber's done already and Liam did alot in his off time."

She shrugs, "I'm just fussing."

He pauses for a moment, picking up an old leather bound book to examine the title on the spine.

[Philosophy in the Bedroom - M. de Sade]

"Brennan and your father need a decision on the pay situation. Your father indicated he will be leaving shortly to ferry our furry friends back home so I got the duty of selling the King on whatever ideas we come up with. I just got finished finagling the nobles and you're the last on the list before I sit down with Random." he says, flipping the book open, scanning a few pages very rapidly as he speaks before nodding and putting the book back.

["What does one want when one is engaged in the sexual act? That everything around you give you its utter attention, think only of you, care only for you... every man wants to be a tyrant when he fornicates."]

Jerod chuckles a little as he reads the passage, amused, thinking on how well this would go over in Rebma. He considers it as a gift for Druscilla the next time he's required to attend one of her eternally boring parties.

"Any opinions on areas we need to worry about?" Jerod asks, picking up another book, also fairly old looking.

[A folio of magazines, The Pearl]

"Well, what seem the best options? I haven't heard of any prescendents for us to hang our hats on. Personally I'd like to base anything we do off the Navy's procedures," Paige explains. "They're the 'premier' service, but as I'm sure you know, they pay per voyage, not time period. Can we pay the men like mercenaries, per engagement, and leave the time period out of it?"

"It'd save the hassles I see in paying two weeks and screwing morale or paying five years and screwing the Treasury. If it's one of those two, I'd personally go with a few money making trips, and force the merchants to deal with the changing economy. It'll devalue the soverign, but I think the city can survive it." She still sits, twirling the stray lock of red.

"I guess the other question is, with imminent threats brewing, do we try to develop or keep a standing Army? If so, I think the passage of time here is the standard toward retirement or pension. But that's moot right now."

"We lack the economic infrastructure necessary for a standing army." Jerod replies, putting the magazines back in their place before turning back to Paige. "There's a reason why Oberon or Benedict never got around to having it. No industrial base. A professional standing army requires a massive support base to make it work. With the non-use of technology here, we can't really try to build the infrastructure, though now that the pattern is not as strong here, I've considered that maybe that might change."

"But even if it did, we'd have a massive undertaking. And that's assuming we only touched the physical side of building up society to handle it. The social reforms would be even worse." and he smiles. "I could handle not being Prince Jerod anymore - I can go wherever I want. But I dare say few of the nobles would suffer disfranchisement willingly in the shift of power to the common masses. I've thought about seeing whether it could be done - even talked to dad about it idly. But that's a long term project."

"Anyway, back to the pay topic. There are a few suggestions on the table. Vere had a good one about paying for time served, which benefits those who get put out during long term operations. This eliminates the mercenary aspect at least. We can use it as a carrot if Brennan decides to push for his idea of posting troops at Ygg and the time differential proves to be out of sync. The more common concensus appears to be pay a month wages for two weeks work. Also, the crown will cover outstanding debts while in crown service. That may necessitate the buying back of property and the like for losses suffered during the Sundering but we can deal with that. As well, those with families who died in service and the like can receive one time cash grants and rewards. There will be the usual need for medals and honours to be passed out for those with distinguished service, and positions can be found for other wishing to remain in Crown service."

"I've also been doing a little digging and come up with some nobles that are willing to help foot the bill of paying the troops...in exchange for preferential treatment in future trade operations when the new paths get laid down. We can treat it like an investment - the more they pay, the greater the access they get in order to recoup their costs. We can also use it as a way to exert some control over the remaining army units and the navy if they get snarky about helping with the rebuilding of trade routes. After all, if they don't want to help with rebuilding the trade routes, the nobles shouldn't have to worry about paying them too much."

"It's going to be a delicate little balancing act." Jerod says. "I suspect some feathers will get ruffled but overall it should work out. At least, for now."

"A month's pay with allowances for outstanding debt, works for me. It's still going to wreak havoc on the courts, but it shouldn't alienate anyone," Paige agrees.

"I like the idea of the nobles footing much of the bill, but it's got to be into a central fund and then doled equally out from there. We can't have any men feeling loyalty to one of the nobles directly more than they already do after fighting under them," she suggests.

"Oh no...nobody gets to buy their troops." Jerod replies. "All the money goes to the Crown. We use it as we see fit, which while that might theoretically means we could blow it on Random's coronation, but I suspect that won't happen."

Paige nods agreement.

"On the honors and such, I'm compiling the list for Royal perusal of suggestions for peerages and such. If you've got names, pony them up or send them in the next day or so?"

"I'll talk to Kemel and see where that list of accomplishments he's been keeping track of is." Jerod says. "Gotta talk to Venesch as well tomorrow. He'll probably have a few names that I can put on. How many are we figuring to add on? Most of the ones I'm considering would be more along the line of grants or maybe abandoned property in town, as opposed to peerages."

"I'm not sure. They're talking of trying to match the numbers that they're planning on inducting into the Order of the Ruby, I believe. Both events planned for the coronation day, also." Paige shrugs. "I'm just a secretary in this one," she chuckles.

"Ah yes, the need to maintain morale and offer equal representation." Jerod says. "Can't have the home folk feeling neglected. What is this Order of the Ruby anyway? I haven't been able to speak to Random yet, and all the current inductees seem to be busy."

"Best I've come up with is a battlefield commission for some of our cousins, who didn't exactly need it, and license to reward those that deserve it from the forces that are remaining," Paige shrugs. "A few visible heros to rest on their laurels as the Council keeps on at the job we've been doing... Saving this unanchored Shadow from falling apart long enough for the new King to use the pretty bauble and find a new anchor."

Jerod nods, staring out into space for a moment as he thinks. "I've been thinking about that. The new home idea. I've had enough free time over the last day or two to assimilate all that's happened since I've been gone and it's got me wondering." as he looks back at her with a wolfish smile. "Yeah...I know...a few days rest and Jerod's thinking again...dangerous huh?"

"Don't do that," Paige teases. "I'll get some idea that you've altruistic motivations and you're not cut of the same cloth as your father, or worse yet that I let my love for my father cloud my thoughts of him and you," she matches his wolfish smile, tooth for tooth. "And we can't have that, can we?"

"Then people would start wondering what shadows had wandered into Amber...and whether to keep them or not." Jerod replies.

"I'm wondering if you can do me a favor. If you see your father before he departs to drop off the little red furries, could you inquire into his opinion on the unanchored situation?"

"I can't promise it'll be at the top of the agenda, but I will ask," Paige answers, hopping from her perch.

"You know it's dangerous for you and I to work together on anything," she says with a smile. "Not as much for you and I, but for whoever we're set against.

"I'll make you a deal. I'll find what I can about the anchor issues from the experts," _Dad and Fiona_, "and you keep an eye on the Heir Presumptive. You've been there and he trusts you." She takes his arm and leads him back toward the door, if she senses he doesn't have anything else.

"Not that I need to ask it. You've always been his friend, and even when I wasn't a very good one I was glad to know that he had you," she shrugs. "Heck, maybe I even resented that he could talk to you like he couldn't with me. I want to say... well...

"I'm sorry. I know it can't change the past, but this all seems like a new beginning, no?" She kisses him on the cheek.

"You need any help with putting out your payment plan, let me know."

"I'll do that." Jerod says. "As for the past, I will offer you a little of my infamous wisdom, as to how I handled the last five years. Consider for a moment that everyone has an agenda. Just because they do, that doesn't mean that it is automatically in opposition to anyone else's. It is why I do not consider you to be like your father, or hold you accountable for his actions or the past."

Paige nods agreement.

"It is also why I have never considered not dealing with you. We might not always agree, but I would never argue with someone I did not respect. They are not worth the effort." he replies with a smile.

"What's the saying? If you're stupid surround yourself with smart people, if you're smart surround yourself with smart people who disagree with you. Do that and you can always go far."

"If someone has not the courage to disagree with you, you will never know the truth. The truth is never polite, but you can always make good decisions with the truth. Even if you don't like them." Jerod says, remembering what his father taught him.

"You're invited to a dinner if you have time." Jerod says, once at the door before he departs. "I'm looking to keep the evening conferences going, for as long as we can before they become impractical. Shall we see you?"

"Perhaps tomorrow," Paige says. "I'm already commited to dinner with Conner this evening."

"Convey to him my good wishes. And advise him that I will be speaking to our mutual acquaintance from back home hopefully soon." Jerod says.

I'd like to get an idea of who would like to attend [cousinly dinners].

Martin will send regrets due to a prior engagement the first evening, and afterwards will be out of Amber and unavailable.

Merlin will attend the first night, if invited, but will miss afterwards because he and his father are leaving Amber. They plan to return for the coronation, though.

Cambina will attend as her duties permit, but Jerod suspects that's as much for his sake as anything else.

Vere will attend whenever he can, although he will usually bring paperwork or research materials and work while eating and during conversation. He shows an astounding ability to focus intently on his work without missing a word or gesture that occurs at the table, and can reply instantly whenever addressed, although he'll seldom initiate conversation.

Paige will attend as duties permit, which probably means not the first night due to other obligations (dinner with Conner) and then definitely the next few nights (mostly to solicit peerage suggestions from the Council) and then spotty attendance depending on Court, court, and coronation plans.

Ossian will be there, when he is in Amber.

Folly will attend as her schedule permits.

As will Conner.

Lucas will attend.

Brita will attend as time permits. Assuming it is once a week, she will make a point to try to be there 3 out of every 4 weeks assuming no emergencies come up.

On her first trip back to Amber (probably through Conner's trump sketch), she will take the opportunity to draw a new sketch of Conner and will request some time from Jerod to sketch him as well.

Lilly will try to make dinners as time permits. She's quiet though. Even if she's present some might question whether or not she's there. Of course if she's directly addressed she'll respond pleasantly enough. Just don't count on her to start conversations.

Until the troop situation is resolved, or he's given a direct order otherwise, Marius will be eating with his men.

Aisling will attend almost every evening, though will take other invitations, too, should such arrive.

I'm sure Brennan would attend at least one or two. Depends on how they go.

And of course there's always the KoR meeting coming up, which I had envisioned as a dinnertime thing.

[Madeline]
I'd envisioned it as an after-dinner thing. Also, as another continuing thing, likely not every night, but certainly several a week. Quite aside from the company, there's a bunch of stuff to work out.

[Novak]
I was figuring on maybe once a week, but probably more in the beginning anyway. At any rate, negotiable.

I reckon the first order of business, then, will be commandeering a more permanent meeting place than, "The Library" or "Wherever is free."

[Madeline]
I'd always pictured the castle of Amber as a place with tons of parlors. I'd imagine we could nail down one of these, if they haven't been converted to bedrooms...

[Tara]
It would be nice to think we could get everything solved in one nice after dinner library session but realistically that's not going to happen. <g> I imagine it will take several meetings to organize everything in time for the Knighting ceremony. We may even have to include Paige in on some of these meetings. Or Lilly would be willing to meet with Paige separately to co-ordinate our activities.

Marius will admit in a fit of absolute honesty (not that you'd expect anything else from him. He's a bit of a brick that way...) that he's not really interested in any kind of ceremony, so he doesn't have anything to offer except that he doesn't want any mystical oaths or anything that requires standing and looking cute forever. "The more movement, the better. Hire a choreographer," he recommends, and it's hard to tell if he's joking, hoping Lilly will be one of the dancing girls, or just tired of standing and looking cute.

And yes, I think we do need a KOR headquarters. I'm sure someplace can be found within the castle. If nothing else we take charge of the room Benedict used for his debriefing. The sand tables could prove to be useful. <g>

Marius is not as confident about this, but he hasn't felt the Knightly Camaraderie as of yet...at least in that he doesn't quite understand why another title makes any real difference.

Since Martin kind of bailed out on Lucas the night before, he sends a note in the afternoon inquiring where Lucas wishes to dine (e.g., Red Mill or the Castle).

Return reply:

M-

Red Mill, definitely. I'm certain I'll see enough of the castle in the near future.

-L

Martin has a private room set aside at Red Mill when Lucas arrives. He's waiting there, chatting with Violet, who is rubbing his shoulders.

Lucas is, of course, well acquainted with Violet, probably better acquainted with her than most of Martin's other cousins. In addition to the many poker parties at Red Mill at which Violet has played hostess for Martin, she has been around the club when he has visited alone or with Martin on other occasions. She is a tall, elegant, and very clever woman, musically accomplished--which Lucas knows that Martin appreciates--and a deadly gambler, at least for someone not a member of the family.

Although she kept some of her other clients after Martin took up with her, she has since given them up, Lucas knows. Although she would never admit such a thing, and it would be ungentlemanly of Martin to admit it if he suspected, Lucas has heard enough talk from Silken to suspect that Violet has fallen at least a little in love with Martin. Probably more than a little.

"Hello, Lucas," Violet says, and Martin waves, slightly indolently, his shoulder moving beneath Violet's hand. Violet's accent, Lucas has always thought, is a variant on that of one of the Golden Circle shadows now lost to Amber. It's unclear whether the accent is originally hers, or whether she adopted it long enough ago that she has acquired it permanently.

"And how is the Heir Presumptive, your highness?" Lucas says with mocking formality.

"Presumptively hairy. I'm leaving in the morning on another procurement mission for my father, and I think this one will involve enough late nights that I'll have a nice growth of beard by the time I get back for the coronation," Martin says.

He picks up a mandolin and some scattered papers and hands them to Violet. "Sweetheart, take these upstairs, and tell the kitchen that Lord Lucas is here so they'll put dinner on." Violet leans over, kisses Martin, says, "Of course," and departs with her charges, closing the door behind her.

In response to Lucas' inquiring look, or even if there isn't one, Martin says, "I'm keeping my bohemian musical credentials up to date. Cambina had Nestor dig up this violin serenade for Jerod a while back, and he doesn't care much for it--not being the serenading sort--but I liked it, so I'm arranging it as a duet for guitar and mandolin. Trivial, but useful to be seen doing that sort of thing."

"What the deuce are you procuring for his nibs?"

Martin offers Lucas a mocking grin of his own. "Confidential. A number of things, actually; nothing that's so hard to acquire, save that I hardly have time to do it all and get home before the coronation. And it would be Bad Form for the King's son to miss that, especially after he managed to avoid the Official Unveiling to the Nobility."

Changing the subject: "Have you heard the news about army pay?"

"Something about stiffing deserters?"

"I don't doubt it," says Martin. "It's an incentive to keep them down on the farm until we can get the hatches battened down in the city."

Martin lowers his voice. "The more exciting news is that the Crown is paying the army for the full five years of service, even though they only served for about two weeks. It'll be interesting to watch the reintegration." He says 'interesting' in the way that the Chinese might curse someone to live in interesting times.

"Well, that's amazingly generous. Still, I guess they don't have many options on that. Who are they sending out with a boat and a shovel to get the gold for the army?"

"If I knew that," says Martin, deadpan, "then I'm sure it would be confidential as well." He laughs. "Lucas, you're a terrible old card."

At about this point, the door opens and the waiter brings in the first course of the meal, with appropriate wines. Martin's portion is large, as befits a fellow known to have the appetite of three men; Lucas' portions are appropriate for his known appetites.

After the waiter has departed, Martin comments: "One does get tired of lobster bisque, even bisque as exquisitely prepared as Bitter's." (Bitter is the excellent chef at Red Mill.) "I can only hope that whatever the coronation brings, it will include somebody finding a trade shadow with good steak. I could almost eat one of Folly's llama's; I'm sure Bitter could do something tasty with one of them."

"Really, how many could she have? I doubt she knows them all by sight, nor would she likely miss one being missing. I've heard that it's somewhere between beef and mutton in terms of taste, and very lean."

"I'm not sure she ever actually found any to bring back," says Martin, "but I know it was a goal of hers. Supposedly they're immune to whatever lost us all those sheep a couple of years ago."

"A shame. And here you had me pining to smuggle llamas out from under Folly's nose. Guess it's lobster bisque for us until we're able get into shadow again."

"If I can find some flash-frozen steak, I'll be sure to bring some back with me. By the time the vacuum sealing goes south, it should be safely in someone's stomach. Or maybe you can convince whoever's in charge of catering for the feast that steak is a Necessary Component and wrangle the job of fetching it for yourself," Martin suggests.

[Martin is capable of making small talk throughout the meal. Is there any particular topic Lucas wants to discuss with him, or is this all small talk?]

Lucas will be mostly small talk, but he wants to get an honest opinion of Martin's views of his standing with the new monarchy, his attitudes towards Vialle in this light, etc.

Martin is hard to pin down on those issues. He never outright says "I'm deep in my father's confidence" but he says several things about duties before and after the coronation that lead Lucas to believe he's as much in Random's confidence as anyone. He alludes to Random's future plans in ways that could mean he's had an inside preview, or could mean he just knows Random has them.

As for Vialle, he tends to divert from any topic that lingers on her for too long. Lucas has always been aware, from the first day, that Martin detests Vialle, but he's diplomatic about it, especially to people whom he knows are her friends, and Lucas is also aware that Martin has a habit--probably Rebman in origin--of not badmouthing ladies.

It's hard to tell when Martin's being dishonest. Lucas suspects Martin has long since developed the ability to make the truth sound like a lie, and vice versa, mostly by mixing truth and not-truth in ways that make his answers appear to be what he wants them to be. He's also long since mastered the diplomatic languages of allusion and elision, which only makes him harder to read.

It's obvious to Lucas that Martin is very compartmentalized, and whatever box his father's secret plans are in isn't one of the boxes Lucas doesn't get to peek in. Neither are his honest feelings about his father's wife.

If there are any specific topics (e.g., succession) that Lucas wants to bring up, broach them, and we'll play them out.

Will do:

Without a lot of jest, Lucas says, "Gossip has it that Vialle may try to squeeze out a legitimate heir to put you aside. Comments?"

Martin laughs. "Put me aside as what? My father's firstborn son? She'll have a hard time doing that. And the role of Heir Presumptive is one I'd be just as glad to shed. Look at what an excess of presumption about his role bought Corwin, and what an excess of his own presumption bought Eric. Not to mention Osric and Finndo. If I planned to model my career after one of my uncles, I'd rather it were their brother's, thanks."

He continues, "My father, long may he reign, isn't a monk. It's just as well I like the idea of siblings, because I'm sure to end up with some." He pauses and something occurs to him that both annoys and pleases him, but he puts it in whatever box it belongs in and closes the lid. "You have two children, Lucas. Have you ever changed a diaper?"

"Of course I've changed a diaper. It's good for the image of benevolent father and husband to change a diaper on occasion. There are many things worse than baby shit, and many of them involve my mother."

"Speaking of whom, I ran into her this afternoon. Do I correctly infer that you neglected to tell her about your charming mother-in-law?" Something about that amuses Martin quite a bit, Lucas thinks. "I'd dodge her for the next few days if I were you. I think she has a piece of her mind set aside for you, special delivery."

"My mother was already aware of the unfortunate connection. She wasn't aware she was going to be jumped by the woman at Vialle's little tea party. There's a reason I was 'busy' elsewhere."

Lucas stuffs some food in his mouth, and says while chewing, "And yes, you are your father's first-born. But unless my Rebman history is rusty, it was out of wedlock. Eric was born before Corwin, but that didn't stop Corwin from pressing his right to the throne. You may find yourself with a younger brother with a good deal of presumption."

Martin, whose own table manners are fastidious (as are Llewella's, and those of most Rebmans), frowns. "Lucas, normally you're not so obtuse. Corwin and Eric presumed a lot about each other, but neither of them messed with Benedict. His mother's marriage to Grandfather was dissolved ab initio, which makes him no more legitimate than I am. But nobody takes it up with him."

He continues: "You're right that there are a lot of things worse than baby shit. One of them is having little brothers and sisters who hate you. Some of our uncles found this out the hard way; I intend to profit from their example. I've changed enough diapers to know I don't mind it, and I've spent enough time around children to know that I don't mind the role of older brother. My younger sibs won't know anything else."

Martin takes a bite of his own dinner, chews, swallows, and washes it down with a sip of wine. "As for the title of Heir Presumptive, let my father's secondborn have it if he wishes. Dad may live another two or three millennia, the way Grandfather did. I intend to have a life that consists of more than waiting for him to die."

Martin pauses for a moment, then, and says, "Of course, all that assumes Vialle can actually give him a child. The tide of her youth has ebbed, our Vialle, and it may be that she's barren. And if she is, none of it will be an issue until she dies and he remarries, by which time my position--whatever it's going to be--will be quite secure."

"Ah, the joys of being an only child. So do you have designs on the throne in the long run? I'm sorry if I'm obtuse, but you're so difficult to read, and I'm very curious about how this affects your opinions." Lucas sips his wine as he waits for Martin to answer, eyes regarding the prince over the rim of the cup.

Martin smiles at the phrase 'difficult to read' as if Lucas has paid him a compliment.

"I suppose that depends on how you define 'have designs'. I'd like to get to know my father; I'd be rather annoyed if something untoward happened to him before I could do that."

There's a certain tightness in Martin's jawline for a moment, but it flees and he's his usual genial self. "If something unfortunate were to happen to Dad, assuming that I survive avenging him, I might make a good compromise candidate. Or I might not, depending on whom I had to kill afterwards. And if Dad lives to a ripe old age, it may be a moot point or it may not."

Martin grins. "My father's not stupid. He saw what happened to Oberon's apparent favorite; he won't make the mistake of letting anyone know to whom he might give his crown. I won't turn it down if he gives it to me. But I won't put my other interests on hold to get him to do it. There are plenty of other things a man of my talents can do with the next couple of millennia."

[Does Lucas get the feeling that's an honest opinion? Either way:]

[Yes. Especially the part about killing anyone who kills his father.]

"Fair enough. It must be novel getting along with your father."

Martin laughs again. "By which you mean 'it must be novel meeting him after a couple of centuries of adulthood', of course. It's definitely been interesting, finding out where we're alike and where we're different. My grandmother used to tell me I was just like Dad whenever I'd done something that particularly annoyed her. Did your mother say the same thing about your father?"

"Quite the opposite. She often claimed a desire to be more like my father. The fact that he'd been executed in a political uprising may have had something to do with it."

Martin says, "I'm sorry, Lucas; I didn't know. Here, let me pour you a little more wine, and we'll talk of more pleasant things."

[Lucas has a chance to steer the conversation somewhere else he wants it to go, or let it dissolve into pleasantries, on which we'll end the thread.]

[Sounds fine.]