Jerod remains in Paris, at Corwin's pleasure of course and barring extreme interruptions of the Aracadian class, for around two days. He wants to do a bit of exploring around the city, to learn about the people and sights, visit cafes and sample what the local populace has to offer.
Partly this is to just enjoy himself, given the newness of the city and the feeling that is in the air for those of Oberon's blood - blessed enough to be able to tell the difference between Reality and Shadow. And partly to get a good handle on Paris for when Jerod tries to forge a path from Gateway, or anywhere else for that matter. To that end, he spends the first day just walking, meeting and greeting, drinking wine and sampling food, watching merchants haggle, and listening to middle-aged couples sitting in cafes. His clothing is adjusted to fit a surfacer style as well though still in his colours.
The city is a hive of activity. There seems to be some sort of scandal involving artists who are experimenting with bizarre styles. A society matron fainted at an art show last week, prompting calls to ban the new Savage School of art.
Jerod smiles as he listens to the comments...they are just so Parisian...
On the second day, he wants to get a bit of practice with the new spear. To that end he makes the rounds of the castle guard and the sparring grounds. With luck, Lance will be there and Jerod can get some real practice. If not, then others less skilled will have to suffice.
Lance will practice with Jerod, as will Corwin. Lance is very good, but can't keep up with Jerod. He lasts longer than most, though. Corwin is a different story. Jerod hasn't faced anyone of his caliber since his father last sparred with him.
Which no doubts explain why dad had such a tough time beating Corwin...(yeah, I know...bias... :)
Regardless, Jerod enjoys the opportunity to practice and learn - they are rare as one gets more skilled so you take them where you can get them.
How does Corwin compare to Random, based on Jerod opportunity to work against him at the castle. Jerod remembers vaguely that Random might have been a bit tired...if such a thing is possible for Random.
Jerod recalls stories of Random and Corwin fencing more than round-the-clock, just to test their endurance. He knows he'd never make that. He's good enough to know they're each his better, but he can't tell which is "mo' better".
In the evening there is music, and with luck Corwin hasn't hidden that violin in the conservatory. Jerod looks to make good use of that for an hour or so, to play and compose, and think of a few things that have been gnawing at him without realizing it.
He also checks the contents of the pouches that he carries, looking to see how many messages are there and to whom they are addressed. He's reasonably curious but unless there's a very easy way of cracking open a sealed message and re-sealing it without being detected, he's not going to try. (besides, if it was me doing the sending, the message would be encoded as well as sealed).
He doesn't see an easy way of cracking open and re-sealing the messages.
Not surprising, and he doesn't try...:) You only go looking for trouble when you're not in any already and you're really, *really* bored.
And finally, on the evening of the second day, after finishing with the music, Jerod acquires a bit of the aforementioned privacy and pulls out his trump deck, drawing two cards. He lays them down side by side, looking first at Random's card, then Llewella's. While studying them for a moment, he draws out the package from Droit, as well as the small pouch containing Llewella's mirror (etc) and places them on the table to one side. Then he picks up Llewella's card.
"Who are you I wonder?" he asks of the card to himself. Despite having seen her at Court periodically and being related, Jerod knew little more about Llewella than he did Moire. Having Eric as a father was not a factor in favor of familial closeness either.
"Amitae..." Jerod says, concentrating on the image. He uses the older formal term, one perhaps more suited for Court though always acceptable as a sign of respect. That and he knows he'll really piss her off if he calls her auntie.
"Who calls?" says Llewella. She sounds more curious than cautious.
"Your nephew Jerod." he says. "My apologies for not seeing you on your arrival to Rebma. Regrettably my travel plans were already made and I could not adjust them. I had hoped to speak to you but I'm afraid this will have to suffice. Do you have a few moments?"
She smiles. "For you, certainly. You have my full attention for the nonce, nephew."
"First, I would like to offer my regrets concerning the state of a certain piece of glass in your townhouse which I understand was commissioned by Droit. I have no doubt it will give him an excuse to replace it with something better. During the initial part of an investigation concerning Harga'rel for the King, I took a look to see what was so interesting to get Conner attacked by Tritons. Turns out one was there while I was looking around. Odd too, either it or whoever sent it was courteous enough to clean up the broken glass, along with dad's sword. You didn't happen to have a Triton left behind on guard duty, did you?" Jerod asks, allowing enough time for Llewella to respond before continuing.
"Second, I found this during a follow-up search while looking for dad's sword. Unfortunately in the follow-up of recovering from my injuries as well as other events it completely slipped my mind and only recent returned to my attention. It has some magical properties though exactly what it does I am uncertain. Magic was never a subject mother was eager to have taught." he says, pulling the mirror out of the bag and showing it to her. "Would it happen to belong to you?"
"Yes. Did you call me to return it? It's not the only Magical thing of mine that went missing during my absence. Was there anything else with it when you found it?" She is very still, except for her hair, which is unbound and moves slightly in the water. Jerod might expect to sense some emotion through the trump contact, but there is nothing.
"There was another item located close to where the mirror was found." Jerod replies, taking a sense of whether there is anything sorcerous in the call. He pulls out the gong from the pouch. "There was nothing else however. Odd too. The attack site was rendered immaculately clean afterwards. A non-magical weapon disappears but this stuff gets left behind. If I wasn't displeased enough to want to kill this triton outright, I would almost be willing to try to acquire his services. It's so hard to get people to clean up after themselves."
Jerod does not immediately offer the items though he also does not try to push them aside or otherwise indicate he intends to keep them. Instead he asks, "Is there something wrong? You seem...pre-occupied?"
She ignores his question. "Where did you find those things, Jerod? I thought they were reasonably well secured. And by 'secured' I mean 'they could be gotten to, by someone who was looking for trouble.'" Her hair floats around her head like rays from a stylized sun.
"As I previously explained, " Jerod says. "...I found them while looking for my father's sword in your townhouse, where while acting on the King's behalf looking into the very first point of a long trail of clues that hooked Conner and Harga'rel together I got four of my ribs broken by a masked Triton. A triton I might add who was very neat about cleaning up all the blood, glass and assorted messiness, except for what's sitting in front of me."
She doesn't exhibit any signs of surprise.
Then Jerod leans forward a bit, some of the politeness in his voice fading, though his tone does not become aggressive or defensive. "As for looking for trouble, that comes with taking a job from the King. These were the only things of note in the area and I took them to determine if they were your property, or someone else's. Regrettably they belonged to you. I had been hoping that would not be the case. If I was going to steal them for gain Auntie, I don't think I'd be dumb enough to call you to hand them back. I could very easily have taken a trip to the Seaward. I understand the Alaquon Massif is very nice about now, and of course it's hard to find anything at the bottom of the 3000 fathom trench to its south."
"Hmm. While you can often learn by poking things with a stick, it's also a good way to find out more than you wanted about eels. Not everything you disturb may be harmless."
"The kelp hides both shark and scorpion fish equally." Jerod says.
Jerod leans back then, picking up the two pieces in his free hand. "Thank you for verifying for me that these are your property. That was the last bit I needed to know before I could make my report to the King." and he offers them to her if she wishes to take them.
"Thank you for helping me solve the vexing problem of where those things were. I'll try to keep better tabs on them, going forward. Good luck with your report to the King." She will take the things as offered.
Jerod passes them through as indicated. "First we'll see about getting ahold of him." he says. "Before you go perhaps you might be able to answer a question for me. It is separate to the King's investigation, something I came across while I was back home. It's unusual enough to make it stand out for me."
"What can you tell me about a particular individual...Khela of Khrop?"
Llewella's face is like chiseled stone.
"Officially? She's under the Queen's displeasure. Unofficially? She's at the other end of that mirror. Why? What do you know of her?"
Jerod notes Llewella's expression, recognizing some of it within himself from Court and wondering as to the reason why a fixed expression would be needed now. But Llewella's comments about the mirror make him pause. Why a mirror for a scholar of a Seaward house? Scholars are plentiful, not the kind of thing that one builds a mirror for. Why a mirror?
"Perhaps more than I had realized." Jerod says, letting his thoughts filter. A sneaking feeling has arisen once more, the kind that he never really wants to have confirmed. "The tones I heard when her name was brought up were not the kind associated with...displeasure. Something nastier perhaps.
"As for Khela, her name has come up enough times in association with Corwin and Moire's daughter that an investigation of her is warranted. Corwin asked me if I thought she might be a threat to his daughter. No doubt he will take steps to deal with anything that he might consider a danger to his offspring. I informed him that I would ask around and gather additional information before providing him with a response to his query."
"It is certain the Queen does not see Khela as a suitable...influence...for her daughter. I am uncertain as to what my other contacts will provide though I now suspect that there will be something to be had. Is there anything you might like to offer, so that I can make a balanced report to Corwin." Jerod offers, neither smiling nor dour, merely making sure the offer of...honesty, is understood. "One finds that when you have only side of the story, impressions become very...narrow. You always hope that those with power make decisions with a broader perspective, don't you agree?"
"Hmm? Perhaps. So many of the worst tales in history have come about when people have used intermediaries when they should have just spoken directly. I will deal with Corwin myself.
"As to Khela, my familial advice to you is that you should discount neither her power, her influence, nor her importance. As I am sure you have surmised, she is of the royal line and can command tritons."
"As suspected." Jerod replies. "I will be sure to inform Random of that situation."
In the next moment however, Jerod's expression hardens ever so slightly. "And just so you know...if that Triton who broke my ribs is connected to her, she would be advised to return my father's sword. It would most certainly mollify my perception of her in the future. And she would be advised not to discount my power, my limited influence, or my inherent disregard of potential threats as a way of trying to direct my actions."
Llewella interrupts Jerod at this point. Perhaps there is a flash of--anger? annoyance? something in her eyes.
"Your influence is limited Jerod. Let me be perfectly clear. Khela is under my protection and if you act against her, you act against me. Keep out of it, nephew. There's enough risk of an explosion down here without you playing the loose cannon."
"If I was a loose cannon Auntie, I'd have cut this call and started moving to go after her." Jerod replies tersely. "Because since she is family, and if she sent a Triton after me, I'd be in my rights to do more than complain about it. I'm being more than reasonable in laying out the warning you just heard. If it's not her, then no harm done. If it is her, then she knows what line not to cross.
"So if another Triton does come my way, or anything else for that matter - and she's confirmed as being connected to it, you know full well what will happen. Or do you seriously expect me to turn tail and run?" The last sentence is not so much a question as a foregone answer to the contrary. It's pretty clear he's not expecting a reply.
He gets one, though. "No, Jerod. I certainly don't expect you to be able to tell when you're blundering through a mine-field, even if it's clearly marked and I'm standing on the side telling you about it. Why would I expect you to be smart now when being pigheaded has served you so well?"
"Again Amitae...may you have a good day. I also hope there are no explosions down there. I have just as much to lose down there as you do."
If Llewella has a reply to this, she keeps it to herself.
Then Jerod smiles. "But one always hopes it does not come to those kind of circumstances. I trust you will have a good day Amitae." and Jerod ends the contact.
She's fading before he finishes, and it's unclear to Jerod if she even heard the last.
Jerod does not put the card away after the contact fades, letting his heart slow down as he breathes slowly. "Perhaps Amitae, the question is not whether I can tell if the minefield is there...but rather how much of it you might have laid yourself." he says quietly. "And whether you think I'll step into it."
That was stupid. Eric says.
"Was it?" Jerod replies, shuffling the card back into his deck as he hears his father's voice, crystal clear even after all this time.
She's a lot older than you are. And a lot tougher. She's prospered against both sides of the family. The voice carries Eric's old tone, the stern note of disapproval wrapped up in a lesson. Antagonizing her is not a smart idea.
"How else do you get information is no one is prepared to tell you anything?" Jerod asks. "The universe abhors stupidity. Act dumb enough and sometimes the universe decides to try to fill in the gaps. You get lucky."
Or the universe decides to kill you because it considers you a mistake. Eric counters. And then where does that leave you.
"Dead. But I don't have the option of relying on someone else, remember?" Jerod says, the flatness of his voice an accusing tone. "Khela has the luxury of having someone there to protect her if her schemes backfire and someone tougher comes along. It might make her more likely to take chances, stupid chances. That happens if you think you've got a net under you."
It's still a dangerous gambit.
"Care to tell me who's going to come to my aid if I'm in trouble?" Jerod asks, listening for a moment to the silence. "My point exactly." and he sifts out another card from the deck, ignoring Random's card for the moment, sitting on the desk.
What are you going to do? the voice asks.
Jerod does not answer immediately, looking at the card in his hand. It was one he had only barely glanced at, and never had he thought he would have willingly drawn it. "Not what Llewella expects I hope. I'm going to drop some information on someone. Someone who will protect their own offspring. Someone who will be suspicious of my motives for offering this information. But who will also know that the information will have to be investigated even if they distrust it, because to disregard it might not be wise. That will put a new piece on the playing field, even if only for a few moments."
Risky Eric says, his tone neutral now.
"What isn't these days?" Jerod asks, looking over the trump of Fiona before taking a breath and reaching out to try to make contact.
"Hello Auntie...it's Jerod."
There is no response.
[Jerod can try later with better odds, but he can't get her tonight. Does he wait or do something else?]
Jerod will try later but for now, having decided on a course of action, he will replace Fiona's card into his deck as the top card.
He then composes a short note to be delivered to Corwin via a page and not wanting to bother him as the evening has been progressing. The note will read...
Uncle...
Auntie Llew has indicated that Khela belongs to her, as it were. She indicates she will speak to you concerning Khela's relative threat level. It is as I indicated previously - things below do not progress well. Try not to laugh too hard when Llewella describes how obstinate I am.
Jerod.
Jerod seals it and once the message is sent on he proceeds with the trump call to Random. It's getting to be a busy night and Jerod's hoping to get it done reasonably quickly. Tomorrow will be a busy day.
Random isn't answering either.
[OOC: All the people currently involved in the Adonis clusterf**k on both the Amber and Xanadu ends are busy. If Jerod wants to try them again tomorrow afternoon/evening, he will have more success.]
*smile*...I was figuring that but Jerod lacks my exceptional intelligence gathering capability (or as I like to say, "What do you mean you've got a bug on God's teletype?") so he can't adjust going through the motions.
Having finished for the evening, Jerod decides for a last bit of relaxation before prepping for his trip tomorrow. All he needs to do is see if Corwin still has that violin where Jerod saw it last. It will help him to relax, as well as give him a chance to let his mind focus on the trip ahead and how he wants to get there.
Assuming there are no other issues or wake up calls, another message will go out for a new thread.
The advent of dawn finds Jerod sitting cross-legged in a garden on the castle grounds, shaded from the early morning sun, a large basket off to one side containing the few crumbled remains of a breakfast heavily laden with eggs, fruit and buttered breads for which Paris can be relied upon to produce her best.
Before him in a square formation, Jerod has prepared the boundaries for a game of Go, two small piles of white and black stones to one side as he lays the groundwork pieces before beginning to play. All the while, gardeners and staff pass by, noting with curiousity the King's nephew and his actions this morning though none bother him beyond a few glances.
The first opening moves proceed smoothly as Jerod begins to play, using a centering exercise Venesch taught him to adjust his perception, letting him play two sides of a game with a minimum of interference between them as he listens to the voices inside.
"What next?" Eric asks as Jerod positions a black stone near a corner point.
"Gateway." Jerod says simply.
Eric nods. "What are you hoping to find there?"
"I'm not sure. Something about my grandfather maybe. Gateway is tied up tighter in things than previously noted." Jerod says. "Plus it's a good point to try the path from."
Another nod. "What will Random think of that?"
"Don't know. Might not like it but it gives me a chance to try it. If the path blows up, Corwin's the one that loses out. If I succeed, I get more experience when I try laying one from Xanadu. Random gets better paths." Jerod says. "Assuming Random wants some to be done."
"Why wouldn't he?" Venesch asks.
"There's no reason he shouldn't want shadow paths, but you don't assume he does either. He's juggling between two kingdoms right now. He's going to need people in Xanadu and he's got to get them from Amber. Best concentration of ready made king-serving folks."
"What makes you say that?" as Venesch motions to a white stone which Jerod obliges and places in position.
"Something Corwin mentioned. During his conversations with me, he mentioned the timing of when he drew Paris. It was before he arrived for the battle in Chaos. The time flow would have been messed up but I'd wager that a good chunk of time passed here, enough for people to arrive from Shadow, or even Amber perhaps. Random just drew his. He has to play catch up or else he'll be vulnerable to outside threats."
"Dara?" Julian offers.
Jerod nods. "And Moire. And whoever else that no one has bothered to mention from our little family of secrets. That's assuming these are active threats and not something passive that's the result of our actions."
Julian is impassive as always in his questioning. "Such as?"
"Creating Patterns." Jerod says simply. "I keep wondering why Dworkin created one in the first place. What for? He's from Chaos. I would presume he's like this Borel that I've heard about. He could create his own little kingdom, focus his will and make whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. So why create the Pattern?"
"Any answers come up?" Rilsa asks curiously.
"A few. Most of them revolve around permanency. That's what a Pattern does. It makes things real, fixes them in their place and environment. Martin told me a little about when he lived with Merlin, how the environment itself could be totally hostile, changing moment to moment. Here things follow orderly progressions, as far as we can tell. But that would tend to be of value only if you were looking for something to remain consistent while you were focussed on other tasks, or else you didn't have a great ability to retain control over a lot of things at once."
Rilsa frowns momentarily. "What else?"
"Children." Jerod says, drawing out a curious look from his mother. "Think about it. Chaosians have kids by fission, cutting off a piece of themselves and forming it into something similar, with whatever powers and memories and drives that the original creator chooses. It probably consumes a great deal of energy too. We create our offspring from our genetic material, using it as a seed from which it gathers energy from the external environment. We don't lose the same amount of energy or mental faculties that our counterparts would."
"You don't think raising you wasn't mentally draining?" Rilsa teases.
"Ha, ha. Very funny. Don't quit your day-job mom." Jerod replies dryly. "Point being if you were Chaosian, you'd have lost a chunk of your personality."
"Speaking of children, why do you think there are there so few?" Martin asks.
"No clue. Maybe the Pattern is self-regulating. This whole thing has the feeling of energy management about it. Controlling and concentrating power. Maybe too many kids strains the system." Jerod says with a head shake, placing a black stone and turning a number of white stones accordingly. "Or maybe Dworkin didn't want too many kids. Permanent Chaosian offspring might be a threat. They feed off the energy of their environment. Get too many and they'll start fighting over what's available. That's usually a finite amount. In any event, it's one of those many questions that are likely to remain unanswered for a time yet."
"Why not ask Dworkin?" Martin offers.
"Easier said than done." Jerod says. "No trump and no way to reach him. Besides, I'd barely even recognize him if I ever saw him. I only saw one sketch of him once and that was awhile ago. He could walk right by me and I'd probably not even know it."
"Fiona might be able to help." Brita says.
"I'm dropping a suspicious piece of data on Fiona in a short while, not the secrets of the universe." Jerod notes, "I doubt if she'll be in the mood for anything more than questioning what I'm up to."
"Why do it then?" Brita continues.
Jerod shrugs. "Gotta try. It might not go anywhere but if I don't try it, then it definitely will go nowhere. This way I can keep things going. Something might turn up, a clue or a piece of data to continue the investigation."
"You mean to keeping moving." Carina says.
Jerod pauses to look at her. "What makes you say that?"
Carina smiles. "You know why. You're afraid of what one of them might start asking for."
Jerod is silent for several moments, seeing her image in his mind, listening to the sound of her breath. "Wouldn't you be?"
"You can't run forever."
"I'm not running."
"Aren't you?"
"No. I won't make that choice."
"You made it with Random."
"That was different."
"Is it?"
"Yes. Amber is dead." Jerod says, looking up at her. "I swore to the King of Amber before that was clear. But that place is gone now. Even if the people from Amber go to Xanadu, it won't be the same."
Carina sighs. "You're afraid that he'll start demanding his due as King. Just as Moire might one day start demanding it, the duty of a son of Rebma. So you use Corwin as the middle point. That's why you declined his opening offer of allegiance the last time."
"I can't choose that way." Jerod says firmly.
"Everyone must choose at some point." she counters.
"No! It doesn't have to be that way." Jerod thunders, momentarily grateful that the garden is empty. "That's what we did before. Choose, choose, choose your side. Pick one because once you're on *this* side, everyone else who is different is on *that* side. And we all know that the other side is different. After all, they're not *us*."
"The moment everyone has picked their side, then we'll be back to where we were before. And we'll have learned nothing. There have to be some people who don't choose the old way. At least one, or else we'll just keep repeating the past."
"You think there are others who will do the same?" Carina asks
Jerod nods. "I have to hope that is the case because I don't think I can do it myself."
"You don't have to do it yourself. Let someone else do it." Carina offers.
"You have no idea how appealing that is. To let someone else make the decisions all the time. No responsibility beyond what gets dribbled out. And all the apparent benefits." he says as he looks at her, wishing so much that she was really there, but knowing better.
She is silent, beautiful and patient as his thoughts settle, an image of all his hopes and dreams, of what he would hope for in reality. "It's never what you wish for. Reality always gives you something different." she says.
"Then we deal with what reality has handed us." Jerod says, a certain finality in his tone.
"Do not need what you want..." she says.
"...want what you've got." Jerod finishes, picking up the final black stone, looking over the pattern before him as he contemplates it's position.
"So...what do you do?" Jerod asks himself, rolling the stone in his fingers as he ponders the situation. "Choose your own side...the side that is no side...and hope for the best." and he places the stone down onto the play field, then nodding as the pattern is completed.
With that, Jerod collects the basket and departs from the garden, making his way to his rooms to collect his stuff before finding Corwin to advise him he will be departing shortly and to get any last information that Corwin might be wanting passed along to anyone in Gateway or elsewhere along the way.
Jerod will also query Corwin on the preferred path via land or water that he would prefer to have coming from Gateway, whether he would like it to pass through any particular kinds of regions (ie: for land routes, going through sparsely populated areas or maybe areas with regular stopping points, etc).
Corwin presents Jerod with ambassadorial credentials and gifts for the local rulers, plus a substantial sum in coin to burden his horse. He suggests a sea and/or river route for the permanent path, on the grounds that it's much cheaper to transport goods in quantity by water.
Jerod examines the credentials carefully to become aware of their markings and message, letting his knowledge of protocol and Court function filter into the equation. He also takes a moment to check the coinage, its denomination as well as the emblem that is on it. He's always curious to see how far an uncle's ego will go.
The coinage is mostly silver, like Amber's. Its obverse is a rose.
The documents, again, are very similar to Amber's. He's got both an official document to the council of mages that runs Gateway and a general ambassadorial document that will serve him if he has to present himself somewhere unknown to Corwin.
He has no messages, other than the general offer of exchange of embassies. He does ask Jerod if there's anyone he would like as a travelling companion.
Jerod will accept any companion that Corwin might wish to offer, on the grounds that depending on the Gateway circumstances, Corwin would have a much better idea as to what Paris might want and who might be able to facilitate this need with a solution, and whoever Corwin picks is likely to be more trustworthy than Jerod's selection. Jerod does not mention the last part of course...:)
Of course, given the option, Jerod would pick someone with a decent skill with a blade. You can never have too many swordhands along. Lance wouldn't be around, would he? A suitable bodyguard is never bad when acting as an ambassador and with the right pennant markers, Jerod's spear can be made to look more ornamental than functional...with luck not too many people will think he can use it.
(yeah, big stretch we know, but it *could* happen)
Corwin suggests Lance or Rein. Lance is a good fighter but not so well-trained in court. Rein is decent with a blade, but he knows more about court protocol and has more familiarity with Gateway and its magic.
Hmm...Lance would be the safe one as far as personality and lack of emotional conflict goes...Rein would be the snarky "I hated your dad" one.
He takes Rein...:)
(safe is so boring).
Once that information is acquired, he asks after a decent horse from the King's stables and moves to make haste in his travels and hellriding to Gateway.
Once Jerod's travelling companion has been acquired, as well as a naval flag for the new kingdom of Paris, Jerod will proceed to make his way out of the city, travelling a day along the river to get a better feel for when he returns from Gateway, looking over the local landmarks and physical conditions and committing them to his memory.
This presents Jerod with an opportunity to catch up on the general happenings of the city with whoever he is travelling with, as well as learning more about them personally. He will answer any questions that might be put to him, subject to the usual prohibitions on things like "No pattern discussion, personal family politics or feuds, etc" and appears more interested in his companions opinions on general topics when they are discussed rather than whether they agree with whatever Jerod's opinion might be.
With Rein as a companion, Jerod is a bit more circumspect but mostly on staying away from topics of past conflict. He will instead concentrate on the present, curious as to how Paris is developing, asking as to how much Rein is involved with setting Paris' cultural standards (given his position with Corwin), that sort of thing, plus things he should know when dealing with Gateway.
Rein is a pleasant companion, and is willing to refrain from discussing recent history such as the last couple of decades. The matter of Paris is more to his taste, and he's more than willing to talk about the people he's met and the things he's doing.
On the matter of culture, he mentions that Princess Florimel has arrived in Paris and will be taking a lead in setting those standards, although undoubtedly the King will have ideas of his own. He plans to concentrate on being himself, and letting fashion go where it will.
Jerod nods at the mention of Flora. "Fashion will never the same after she gets through with it." he says drily.
He's sent messages to Maunder and some of his other friends in Amber to suggest they join him in Paris. He thinks they'll fare better here than they will in Amber.
He will also tell Rein, in what would appear to be an afterthought that he is going to Gateway to find out more about his grandfather, on the Rebman side.
Rein is surprised and interested, although he doesn't inquire more deeply unless Jerod seems inclined to talk about it.
Jerod knows little but does mention his grandfather's Rebman name (Gaius Drusus of Scipio) but also mentions that he was adopted into a Rebman family and there appears to be no mention of where he came from in Gateway.
If Jerod were curious, is there any place that is best suited for finding out about people's identities in Gateway, he wonders to Rein.
There are people who might be well-disposed toward Amber, Rein says. He might be acquainted with some of them, from years gone by, Rein allows. But it might involve opening old wounds that Prince Jerod might not wish to open. Gateway was out of favor during his late father's reign, unfortunately, and many of those who were involved with Amber had other political interests.
Rein is very roundabout and gentle about saying all this, but he does seem to think it's his duty to explain the facts to Jerod.
It will also give Jerod an opportunity later in the evening to make his two outstanding trump calls, starting with Fiona. He wants to be sure those are out of the way before arriving in Gateway.
This time, Fiona answers. "Jerod. What is it? There's been an attack on Amber . Adonis is dead and Brita is injured. Are you all right?"
She instantly has Jerod's attention with those words. "I am well. I am one day out from Paris on the road to Gateway. Some unofficial court duties for Corwin and Moire. I am glad to hear that Brita is well. I had not heard she had returned from wherever she had disappeared to. Do you know who attacked? Do you require assistance?"
Fiona shakes her head. "Not at this time. The attack is over and we're securing the Castle and examining the remains of some of the servants who were killed. Martin is acting as Regent."
He waits to hear her reply before continuing. "You mentioned someone I am unfamiliar with, Auntie. Who is Adonis?"
(Jerod's never heard the name used before as far as I recollect - only Daeon).
"Julian's son. He has several names. Some people call him Daeon," Fiona explains. "We think it was something out of Arden coming for his children by Paige."
Jerod nods at hearing the news, making a mental note that Martin is in Amber and therefore probably not with his dad (since if he's Regent, you can't be one with a King around, unless it's a coup). He also makes a note, a slightly bit more noticeable on his brow when Fiona mentions Paige's children. Time has been passing quickly it would seem. He has a lot to catch up on.
Julian's name however is what catches the majority of his attention. "Crap." is all he says for a long moment. "Does he know?" Jerod asks, pausing to listen to her response. Part of him wants to go through to see what else is happening, but there is much to do and he can offer little there at this time.
"I don't think so. Solange tried to contact him to no avail. We'll keep trying until we get him," Fiona says.
"I have some information for Conner. I would ask if you would be willing to forward it the next chance to get." He waits to see if she will refuse, but assuming she does not he continues.
"Go ahead," Fiona says.
"Conner's original attackers were Tritons. Llewella has a daughter by the name of Khela, in the Seaward House of Khrop. Llewella has confirmed that Khela has access to Tritons. I would recommend that whoever is investigating Harga'rel's murder re-consider Llewella's position on the murder suspect list, at least from the perspective of accessory. Might not go anywhere, but it changes things a bit."
He looks around for a moment, watching as Rein collects something from his saddlebag. "Tell Conner to be careful. And not to come down to Rebma or to have anything to do with Rebma for the near future. Things are not good there."
"I'll warn him. Thank you, Jerod."
"If you see Uncle Julian before I do, extend to him my condolescences. I will do so properly when I see him again." Jerod says. "Until later."
And unless Fiona decides to maintain the contact (which would be an interesting learning experience), Jerod closes the call and shuffles her card back into the deck before pulling out Random's.
"Uncle..."
"Who?"
"Jerod, your majesty."
Random is standing in an unfamiliar room, his arm around Vialle. "Are you all right?" he asks. Vialle's unseeing eyes seem to home in on Jerod.
"Your majesties...I am well." Jerod replies, not mentioning that he knows about Amber. "I am with Rein, one day out from Paris on the way to Gateway. I have a package from Droit for you that I'd like to drop off before I get there."
Jerod will provide the pouch, assuming Random is willing to take it.
"I'm trying an experiment. If it works, Corwin gets a path from Paris to Gateway. He gave me a hint on how to keep my head from exploding this time. Assuming it works, I would presume you would like a couple? Unless there is something more pressing."
"Well, we're having the aftermath of a crisis in Amber and if you're not in danger, I can't really chat now. I think I have to trump Julian and tell him that his son Adonis is dead. Why don't you trump me in a day or so? That'd be more convenient."
The contact closes.
Jerod shrugs to himself. Random knows what's being offered so if he wants it, he can tell Jerod. Meanwhile, Jerod has more pressing matters to attend to, like sleep.
"Rein...time to get some rest." Jerod calls as he puts away the card. "We make for Gateway at first light."
Last modified: 3 July 2005