Just a Trump, is Edan's first thought when he passes through the huge painted Trump Ossian made and arrives at Xanadu. Then again, it felt different. Is it because of the size, or because of the artist? He ponders, and switches a wrapped package to his other arm. Or perhaps it is that the perspective was different trying to concentrate on the destination.
He glances around, then sets a path up to the castle and Random.
The trump exits into a cave that was probably specifically furnished to allow Ossian to make a trump. The light is constant, the contrast between the wall and floor is somehow crisper than most rooms. From out of the trump's perspective, a guard asks him to hurry, so the next party can come through.
Beyond the cave, Edan can take a path towards the steep switchback to the castle. The town seems more packed than it was before, and busier.
Edan walks up the trail in the warm evening air and finds himself at the castle in less than a half-watch. He finds himself let into the library where Random is working.
"Hello, Edan. I didn't know you were back," says the diminutive King.
"Just came through the big Trump," Edan says, and hands the package over. "Passing through, again. But guess what I found in Amber. I did mention something last time about bringing a nargile, yes?"
Random looks puzzled, but only for a second. "One of those loud scottish things? Can't say as I recall that, but whatever floats your boat..."
"No, a nargile," Edan says. "A... hookah. Yes. That is the word. A water pipe."
Random looks somewhat confused for a moment. "A water pipe? That, I've got. Sometime I'll tell you about making one out of an old saxophone. It wasn't a great pipe, but it was really easy to play..."
"And so very hard to get the water to smoke," Edan says. His head tilts. "But not impossible...I came by for something else, too. You no doubt have noticed I often head out rather far afield, and at least once or twice I could have used a quick exit. Sorcery doesn't always solve my problems. I wanted to know if there were extra Trump decks, and if there were, how I might go about borrowing one."
"Not so hard if you can use the pattern, but I digress. I gave the last extra here to Ossian a while back. I'll ask around and see if there's another. You might want to ask your sister or one of your trump-drawing cousins to give you a 'get-out-of-shadow-free' card. Or you can go find where I dropped mine when I was running away from those spikey-elbow dudes. Somebody ought to find that. I'd hate to have one of them trying to get into my head."
"Spiky... do you mean grackleflints?" Edan's eyebrows climb. "I had not heard this story. What happened?"
Random brightens. "Really? Maybe your father hasn't heard it. Anyway, there I was, and your Uncle Brand trumped me and asked for help. This was back in the day, of course. Before I knew what he was up to." Random settles back in his chair and takes a sip of his wine.
"Anyway, he trumped me and I could see where he was, and I picked up my sword and stuff, and gave Soren my drums. I didn't tell Folly becaus-- well for a lot of reasons that turned out to be mostly stupid and based on some really incorrect assumptions."
He shakes his head, then continues.
"I got to where your Dad and Fiona had Brand in the Dark Tower. A dark tower, at least, and I tried to get past the guardians. Failing that, I started trying to get away. Sometime during the attempted escape I lost my trumps. I ended up getting chased to Flora's shadow by Gracklethingys, and finding Corwin in her living room. Naturally, shortly after that I ended up arrested in Rebma, forced to marry against my will, and spending some time in Eric's dungeon. " He pauses. "I think you know the rest. I waited in marriage and jail for a few years, went to war, and came back King.
"Anyway, that trump deck is a missing loose end I'd like back. If you were to find it, that'd be keen."
Edan's expression shifts from suprise to confusion to discomfort (as mental processes digest the Folly part), and finally around to a smile.
"Maybe my father did hear it. He delights in not telling me everything, and it's hard to tell whether that is to encourage my independence, or because he likes to watch me fight my way out of scrapes. But keen! Yes. To be keen is good. Perhaps I can keep an eye out for your wayward Trumps while I am tweaking the noses of the Moonriders. Or robbing them. Or setting them on fire. Yes. Er, the shadow where this dark tower sits. What did it look like, again?"
Random shrugs. "Oh, you know. Rocks sailing around the sky in geometric patterns, a stone tower with tiny windows, funky sky, jets of flame from the ground. The usual."
A page walks in a hands Random a note. He reads it and says "Bring 'em here."
He looks over at Edan. "Some of your cousins just arrived. We'll see them in a moment. Do you need anything to eat? Conferences make me hungry."
Lines Edan didn't even know were on his forehead smooth out as the look of relief takes over. "Yes, please. I am always hungry." He pauses. "I wonder, sometimes, why I try so hard working my muscles with dance. And watch what I eat, and so on. My body will always be the same, neh? But I do seem to have more control over my movements when I do."
Random pulls aside a curtain and calls to a page. "Your King needs sandwich materials for four. Four of us." He drops the curtain as the page scrambles away on his mission.
"I've always wondered about that. I mean, The Little Furry Guys from the war. Did they see us as Big Furry Guys? When we say the Shadows Lie for Us, how much are they doing so? If I go to a shadow where the Kings of All Things must be redheaded, do I look more like you to a native?" The king opens a drawer and sweeps the top of his desk into it.
"I think some of it is that they shadows lie in the way we expect them to, just like they lie when I find the right kind of money in my wallet. I know I'm handsome, athletic, and have a stamina that can only be matched by my kinfolks. I have mastery over shadow, so it's true.
"It may be that the cause of failure on the pattern is being insufficiently narcissistic."
There is a knock on the outer door, and it opens a moment later. Vere bows, "Your Majesty," he says. He holds the door for Merlin and Signy to precede him.
Edan looks like he was going to say something in response to Random, but he smiles and bows instead. "Cousins," he says. "And cousin Vere. You know, other than that big family meeting, I don't remember us having formally met."
Signy gives Vere a grateful smile as she moves into the room.
"Your Majesty," she murmurs, before remembering the last time she used that term around Random and blushing slightly.
Random waves them all in, then sits back in his chair. "Hey, all, come in. It's Casual Freeday here in my office, so don't worry to much about my Majesty and all that. Food's on the way.
"What's the news on the Rialto, or whatever bridge you've crossed?"
"Before we deal with any other business, Uncle," Vere says, "I need to bring something to your attention. There was a ... situation ... involving Saeth, and Madoc and I came to an understanding that involved me carrying out a mission for him. As part of that, he gave me a way to contact him, but I wish to ensure that it was not a subtle way to sneak a spy or weapon into your realm." He pulls up a sleeve and shows Random the bird mark on his left arm.
Edan doesn't say anything, and checks himself mid-movement from taking a step back in suprise, but he does reflexively bring up his Third Eye.
To Edan's third eye, it looks to be a separate creature, of similar intensity but different from Vere. It is a real thing, and magically imbued.
Random stares at it. "That seems both clever and icky, which I think sums up our cousins from Chaos pretty well. Who is Saeth and why does he care?"
"Ah," Vere says. "My apologies, I would have thought you would have been informed by someone by now. Saeth is what remains of Aisling, and is Madoc's... child?" He tilts his head slightly. "I assume that is a valid term to use. In any case, she spoke with me about her desire to leave Chaos, against Madoc's desire. I advised against it, but she decided that my arguments were in some way an excellent reason for her to do exactly what she wished." He shrugs. "Madoc did not exactly hold me to blame, but it was clear that he would be less angered if I were to offer to report to him if I came across her in any of our family's holdings, once I returned to this side of the tree." He looks down at his arm. "Hence this mark."
Signy takes a quick peek at the mark with her Third Sight before dropping it quickly, uncertain how polite it would be to give the thing a longer study.
She gives Edan a quick glance, but decides to let the current topic run its course before diverting everyone's attention with the Chain.
"And what is our Family's relationship with Madoc? Is he friend, or foe, or something else?" she asks the King.
Edan speaks up. "I warned Merlin. Madoc translocated Lilly to Uxmal when she and Martin visited him. It. I thought he was still angry with us over Aisling. He seems to have mellowed somewhat." He gestures towards Vere's arm. "That sort of looks like a Chaosian version of a bird of desire. Aunt Fiona offered to show me the trick with Pattern, but we haven't had the time to do it yet. I need to find the time, really. I think I know how it's done with Sorcery, but mine wouldn't be very good for messages. Sometimes my blood catches fire. Except where it doesn't."
"So, imagine that one of your brothers got really drunk and hooked up with a hot chick, but that it ended badly, and then twelve hundred years later, you found out that he had a kid, and that kid squirted out a few kids, too. Now your Dad may or may not have known it when he married one of his great-grandkids, but he certainly didn't tell anyone else. Their kids are sorta wild, but not that much more rambunctious than the rest, really. Mostly. We are the eff-ed up family of which all others are but shadows, and Madoc is probably the best of his generation in the part of the family that We Don't Talk About In Our Nice Ordered Castles. Given that the next generation produced Ambrose and the Estimable Merlin, I think we can just check the 'It's Complicated' box on the form."
Merlin is conspicuously Not Saying Anything.
He turns to Edan. "Try not to get cut with a Pattern Blade. Who knows what would happen?"
Signy looks at the King.
"One of my brothers...?" One of her eyebrows raises slightly.
Random replies almost immediately. "No, you're just supposed to imagine that. It's really one of my brothers. Chap named Benedict. Tall, kinda brownish in demeanor. Anyway..."
Edan doesn't interrupt, but his expression clearly states that he thinks the volatility of afrit blood doesn't equate to Chaos blood. Much less has any intention of letting someone swing a Pattern blade at him. Especially after all those times Bleys beat the snot out of him with Werewyndle and other weapons on those sadistic outings he called "sparring"...
Oh. That. Edan's expression changes to 'not too terribly worried.' He knows he just gave too much away to wager on it.
Vere lowers his arm and allows his sleeve to cover the mark once again. "The only other matters I have to report are that Madoc mentioned that Moonriders had been moving through Chaos near to his domain, and that Weyland Smith was a guest of Madoc when I arrived, but left some time before I did. I did not learn the purpose of his visit."
Random looks annoyed. "I really don't think I want a pattern sword, but I may end up bringing this Smith fellow in to craft something just so we can keep him out of trouble. Maybe we'll get lucky and Corwin will want to engage him."
Vere smiles slightly and nods.
[Random] turns to Edan. "Does Madoc's intelligence match what Bleys was looking into?"
Edan nods. "Aye. Father and I found a sort of forward expedition of Moonriders, and proceeded to raid and pillage them in the finest traditions of Amber. They were using an item of power to triangulate natural shadowpaths towards... somewhere. Unknown. Probably Tir. I stole their item. We probably would have found out more, but the Queen herself chose to visit and we had to retreat. How close are they to their goal? Unknown, but I heard they're ready to advance in force once they find the right path. How many devices do they have? Also unknown. Maybe none. I want to find out these answers and have some... contingencies... in place before they track down their toy again. I can keep an eye out for other keen things on the way."
Random sighs.. "Damn. I wanted to find out that we had more time. Anyone else have good news?"
Vere smiles his small half smile once again, and looks at Signy.
Signy self-consciously clears her throat.
"Well, maybe the knight that we rescued from the chain would be able to help with the Moonriders? He appears to have come from Tir, from a time long before the Moonriders. Sir Firumbras was his name, I think?"
She pauses, before adding in an off-hand tone "Though I have some questions about his history -- he said he was betrayed and imprisoned, but something about the story didn't seem quite right?.."
"We probably should have someone talk to that man. Someone who knows something about Moonriders, probably. Ca-- We'll figure it out. Where is he now?"
He pauses, "if there's no more new business before the committee, I'm going to throw the floor open for question time and snacks."
At that moment, three members of the castle staff wheel in trays covered in food. "Perfect timing," says the King.
Vere immediately asks, "If I may ask, Uncle, how were matters between Robin and Venesch resolved?"
Edan raises an eyebrow at this, but heads onward to the food carts. Not having heard any "King eats first" rules, he goes on to select food for himself. More food, actually, than anyone has seen him eat before now.
Signy answers the King's question before following Edan's cue and heading towards the food.
"[Firumbras] went back to Paris with Prince Garrett, while Brita and I went back to Aunt Fiona's."
Random turns to Vere and looks slightly put out. "Poorly. They deprived us of our sport, but at least Venesch isn't still moping around. Robin's still her, somewhere. Maybe she went to town for some entertainment."
Random takes a plate and a knife and begins spearing foodstuff and piling it up. He seems to favor breads, meats, and cheeses.
Vere laughs, and begins to pile food on a plate for himself as well. His choices mirror the king's, with the addition of fruit. "I am pleased to hear that things turned out so boringly, actually, Uncle." He tilts his head to one side, then adds, "Oh, one other thing. I have begun a study of Sorcery. Nothing very advanced as of yet, but some basic lessons from Merlin and Madoc." He nods at Signy and Edan. "If either of you are interested, I would be delighted to compare knowledge and styles at your leisure."
Edan's right hand stops between plate and mouth; he raises an eyebrow and smiles. "To be sure. Ahh, Sorcery, my second favorite of the fine arts. Tell me, cousins, what is the universe? And how do you know it?"
Merlin, who has been quiet through most of this and is now filling his own plate, laughs.
Vere chuckles as well. "The universe is the place where more experienced sorcerers haze their juniors by asking them that question," he says.
Edan's sly little smile becomes a grin. "I cannot speak for cousin Signy, but I think we all get asked this. Ask a hundred initiates, and you'll get a hundred answers. How many are wrong? None of them. Each answer is crafted by the experiences of the initiate. The point is for someone to eventually say, 'there's this system of rules, and I stand outside the system and cheat the rules and make changes as I will'. I don't use the word 'art' lightly here. We're artists. Mad, temperamental artists who paint with Paradox. And each one of us uses a different brush and a different canvas."
Signy nods as Edan speaks. "Cousin Edan has the truth of it," she notes, the casual tone of her voice in contrast to the earnestness of her reply. "And yet, not the whole, I think. When I Look at metal as I work on it, I'm not cheating, just that I understand it well enough to tell it what I want it to do."
Random looks up from his meat, meat, meat, cheese and meat sandwich. "All I know is that it's harder to do Pattern stuff when you guys are choking your chakra chickens, or whatever it is you do. Try not to do it in the castle."
Vere smiles. "That is understood, Uncle." He looks at Signy and Edan and says, "Let us save any talk of sorcery for later. There is no need to bore the King with it."
Signy shrugs good-naturedly, before seizing the opening left by the end of the current thread of conversation.
"I was wondering if you knew where my brother was. I haven't seen him in a few days, and would like to maybe catch up some."
Edan looks surprised. "I have not seen him. But, then, I just got back."
Random doesn't look surprised. "He's in Amber, and he's sorta itchy to get back into things. Caine was going to use him to fix some problems that Sir Archer is having with the trump gate, so if you go there, check down at the harbor, probably at the Naval Gazing Club."
Vere chews thoughtfully, then swallows. "Has Marquis Maritime come to Xanadu, Uncle? Or does he remain in Amber?" He smiles at Signy. "The Marquis was in charge of gathering intelligence for King Oberon, and had remained in that position through Eric and Corwin's reigns, and the Regency. It was the sort of work that your brother was very good at, from what I have heard."
"M." Edan smiles, thinly. "I met him. He didn't seem to like me much. Not dislike, exactly, but I got the impression he thought me just another Royal running underfoot. Perhaps I am."
Merlin makes an expression that on anyone who was not Merlin, would be described as a knowing smirk.
Random nods his agreement, "Me, too. M remains in Amber, which suits him, Caine, Gilt, and Me."
Signy chews some food thoughtfully for a second. "I don't believe I've met the Marquis."
She pauses to take another mouthful, before looking back to the King. "Now that we're done with the Chain, is there something else that you would like me to do?"
Random waves a long stick of cheese in the air, as if it were a musical instrument. "Didn't we have a tremendous list of 'things that needed to be done' just a bit ago? What can you do that you aren't already doing, limited to the set of things that I would like that would not get me arrested?"
"I need to speak to my parents before I can answer that question," Vere replies. "My obligation remains. But my understanding of the situation..." he frowns slightly. "That might have altered."
Edan opens his mouth, hesitates, thinks, then says, "My focus will be on that sextant. Once I get into shadow, I am thinking that there will be something of a chase, until I relinquish it. It will be dangerous."
Vere eats a bit more, then says, "Unless there is something else, Uncle, I am eager to see my parents and Robin. By your leave...?" He will wait until given permission to depart.
Random waves his cheese at him in a way that almost certainly indicates permission for them to go.
Before leaving the room [Vere] says to Edan and Signy, "I would very much like to have that conversation with you two about Sorcery. Let me know when it would be convenient."
"Sure," Edan says. "I'll be around for at least a day or two. I would enjoy it."
Signy gives Vere a grin. "I'll be here for a couple of days as well."
[As the conversation ends,] Edan's for checking to see if Aramsham has made it in from shadow.
Aramsham is in the stables, with an empty stall between him and other horses. He's happy to see Edan.
Edan, greatly relieved, spends some time grooming his horse. This despite the fact that someone's already probably done it. He'll take the time to do this until he returns to his rooms.
After leaving Random Vere finds a servant, and asks them to find out where his parents are at the moment. Additionally, he repeats his earlier request that word be spread to let Lady Robin know that he has returned, as soon as she returns to the palace. And he asks if Hannah is currently in Xanadu, and asks that a message be sent to her asking when it would be convenient for her to meet with him.
Then he is heading to wherever he has been told that his parents are, whether their chambers or somewhere else.
Vere is advised that Lady Robin is in the environs of the city and a message will be arranged. Hannah has recently returned and a message can be sent to her as well.
Lady Corvis is walking with the Queen and Gerard is in his chambers.
Which of his parents does Vere wish to speak with first?
Vere instructs a page to inform his mother that he has returned, and that he is currently with his father.
Then he goes to his father's chambers and knocks on the door.
There's a moment of silence and then the noise that Vere has learned to recognize as his father's wheelchair rumbling across the floor. The door opens and Gerard is looking up at his son. "Welcome back," Gerard says, and if he were standing he might offer Vere a paternal embrace, but instead he settles for a clasp before maneuvering back so Vere can enter the room.
"Come in, and tell me all about your wanderings. Your mother is walking with Vialle. Have you broken your travel fast?"
"I have, Father. I reported to the King as soon as I arrived, and he brought food. But I would not say no to more to eat; we have travelled from Ygg with few stops on the way." Vere looks around the room, judging what he can of his parents' current lives from their surroundings. "I ended up not studying Shapeshifting after all. There were a number of reasons for that decision, your concerns not least among them. I have learned the beginnings of Sorcery instead. I hope that will not displease you."
Gerard makes what Vere can only describe as a boggled face. "I amna displeased, but I'm not sure I follow why you've done it."
Vere smiles and shakes his head ruefully. "That you are so surprised shows how little I spoke of my dreams," he says. He pulls a chair out from a wall and moves it close to his father, then sits. "As a child I longed to learn magic, from the time I was old enough to sneak into forbidden rooms to spy up the priestesses and sorceresses. Mother and the Spider made it very clear to me that such studies were improper for a boy, and I early learned that it was most unmasculine of me to desire such things. So I learned to hide my desires, but I never truly lost them. Shortly after Merlin and I began to travel together, and we were discussing my coming study of Shapeshifting, the possibility of learning Sorcery came up, and I found that my dream of learning magic burned as strongly as ever."
He falls silent, perhaps a bit pensively.
Gerard shakes his head. "Oh, I know ye fancied magic always; yer ma told me so. I don't know how it's meant to tie into what ye want from me, though. Hae ye found some magic that will make me walk, do ye think?" He doesn't sound particularly hopeful.
Vere looks at his father silently for several long minutes, before finally saying, "Why have you decided that you will not walk again, Father? I have been so determined that you shall, that I have not allowed myself to listen to your thoughts upon this matter. That was wrong of me. You still speak of 'what I want from you,' as though my determination that you will one day be healed is a favour that I am seeking."
"I havena determined that I will not walk again. I havena yet heard a plan I think will suffice for it, which is not the same thing," Gerard explains. "Not from you, nor from Hannah. And yer ma is ill, and I'd spend time on her, but when I do, I keep you from your Robin, through no choice of my own. I canna follow one of you wi'out turnin' my back on the other."
Vere nods, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I went to Madoc," he said, "And I spoke with Saeth, who is the .... child ... remnant ... heir of Aisling?" he shrugs, "Whatever term is appropriate for Chaos. And I watched how she wanted to have her own way, despite the will of Madoc, and would not consider whether he might have more wisdom than she, being older and more experienced. And I thought her foolish and arrogant." He smiles, thinly. "And then I wondered why I had not sat down with you to discuss these matters, instead of simply insisting that I knew best, and trying to force you to do what I wanted you to do."
He leans forward. "Robin and I have all our lives in front of us, Father, and we will make our way. I should be aiding you, and doing what I can to assist you. Not putting more stress upon you, and drawing you from taking care of Mother when she needs you. I have been selfish and arrogant, and I hope it is not too late to mend things."
"While there's life, there's hope of mending. But still, you've sworn an oath, not one ye should have sworn, mind--" and here Vere's father seems more sad than stern "--and bound Robin to it. Have ye asked her of this?"
Vere shakes his head. "The staff tells me that she is not in the palace right now, and they are not sure where she is. I have the impression that is not an unusual situation." He smiles. "I will speak of my thoughts on this to her, Father, be assured of that. The past is as it was, the future will be as we make it." He laughs quietly. "That sounds sufficiently profound, does it not, as though I had gained some wisdom in my journeys?"
Gerard nods to the comment about Robin. "Aye, she's not much one for city or castle. But ye must speak to her before ye make any more promises. Do ye ken?"
Vere nods. "Aye, Father, I do. Shall I swear to it on my blood?" His face is completely serious as he asks this question.
"Oaths are how ye got yerself in this fix." Gerard reaches out and cuffs Vere lightly upside the head. "Now tell me the rest of what ye have to tell and then go find yer ma and Robin."
Vere grins at his father's reaction. "Why, I do think you are right," he says. "I must remember that." He pauses for a moment, considering, and then says, "I am not sure what is important to tell you, and what merely interesting. Merlin taught me more of shifting shadow, including how to Hellride. I lost my temper in a world of dark fae and summoned up a Chaos-tinted liche to wreak vengeance upon them. I met Madoc, as I said, and learned the beginnings of Sorcery. I also met Weyland Smith, who was visiting Madoc. Aisling's daughter Saeth somehow took my cautions that she should be more respectful of her grandsire's wish that she not travel to our side of Ygg on her own to mean that she should do exactly that. I offered," he smiles slightly, "Although I did not swear, to notify Lord Madoc if I should encounter Saeth in the Ordered realms."
Vere holds up his arm and rolls down his sleeve to show the mark. "Madoc marked me with this, which Edan says is similar to a 'bird of desire.' King Random knows of it."
"I have seen such before," Gerard says after examining the mark. "Although not from Madoc. Good for not swearing this time; you're learning, if slowly. Hard-headed as you are, nobody could mistake you for any but my getting. What happened to the liche? And to Weyland Smith?"
Vere smiles at his father's words and pulls his sleeve back down. "I do have a certain ... fixity of purpose, I suppose," he says. He leans back in his chair. "I set the liche loose on the inhabitants of the shadow, and left it. They had been corrupted by the Black Road during the War, and slain all the humans of their shadow. Some priestesses of the Isles came through, lost from the Exodus, and also died in that land, and they then proved less than hospitable to Prince Merlin and myself. I should explain that I called up the liche not primarily for vengeance, but because there were things I wished in its grave, and I thought it impolite to take them without speaking with it first. When it proved somewhat violent I thought setting it loose upon them served several purposes at once."
This explanation doesn't seem to require further elaboration as far as Gerard is concerned.
"As for Weyland," he pauses, and frowns slightly. "I had but brief converse with him, before going into my studies on Sorcery. The studies were quite absorbing, and by the time I took a break from them he had already departed. We did, very briefly, discuss the possibility of his making legs for you." He meets his father's eyes. "It was a brief mention of a distant possibility, nothing more, Father. He indicated that he might be willing to undertake such a commission in the future, should you decide to follow up on it. But nothing specific was discussed, either of your condition, or of payment."
"I mislike the legends of Weyland Smith," Gerard says heavily. "Not all his forgings turn out as the wielder wishes, and I'm not convinced the prices aren't higher than his buyers intend. Yer Aunt Deirdre seems to have found it so. Hae ye spoken to Signy about this idea?"
Vere shakes his head. "It was fairly clear that Signy does not get on well with her father," he answers. "But I agree, putting ourselves in his debt would not be my first choice." He smiles. "See, Father," he says gently, "I am thinking more clearly now, and not grasping at straws. I still intend to see you walk again, but we will do it in your time, and in whatever way you decide is best."
Gerard nods. "And the Unicorn willing, I shall. But Amber wasna built in a day and neither will my legs be. If ye've no more to tell me now, go find yer ma, and then Robin, and we'll talk again at dinner."
Vere nods, and stands. He doesn't leave immediately, however. "Tell me how Mother is doing, if you would," he asks. "I would know that before I seek her out."
Gerard shrugs. "She has better days and she has worse days. Today is a good day; she's walking with Vialle. If it were a very bad day, she might not rise from her bed for long."
Vere hesitates, and then asks, "Is she getting any better, Father? Or any worse? And has Hannah examined her?"
"She has spoken with Hannah. I don't know what examining Hannah did; I wasna in the room. Women's matters." He waves his hand, which Vere can interpret as either a dismissal of the subject or an admission of ignorance. "I dinna think she's getting much worse, but it's hard to say over time."
Vere nods gravely. "Thank you," he says. He lays a hand on his father's shoulder and says, "I am happy to be back. We can discuss things further after I have spoken to Robin."
He will leave his parents' room then, and begin the search for his mother.
According to the pages, she is walking on the shore with Vialle. From the way the guard says this, Vere intuits that this is not a usual thing. Members of the royal guard are with them. It will take him some time to walk down to the shore.
Vere takes a leisurely walk down the cliff to the shoreline in the direction he was told they have gone. He is in no hurry, and enjoys the scenery, and getting more of a feel for the reality of Xanadu.
If Vere attempts to perform any shadow manipulation or Sorcery, of course it doesn't work. His long, leisurely walk down to the shore takes him takes him closer to an hour than the usual forty-five minutes.
[Random would like to remind Vere it's a lot quicker if he jumps, but the Queen frowns on it.]
The Queen and Corvis are walking by the shore with the guards maintaining a respectful distance. They appear to be talking, but Corvis stops when she sees Vere and waves. She touches Vialle on the arm and says something to her, and Vialle brightens and waves as well.
Vere responds to his mother's wave with a restrained wave of his own. He gives the guards a brief nod as he passes them, his eyes automatically scanning them to judge their watchfulness, competence, and potential for treachery. He bows to the queen and says, "Your Majesty," awaiting an acknowledgement from her before he turns to his mother and takes her into his arms for a gentle hug.
Vialle says, "Vere. We're so glad you've come home," which releases him to embrace Corvis.
Corvis feels frail in his arms. Perhaps she has been this frail since she left the Isles, but now Vere feels it and sees it. He's been away long enough that perhaps he'd forgotten the difference between the now and the way she used to be. "Vere," she says. "Welcome back. We've missed you. How are you? Have you seen your father?"
Vere releases her and steps back. With a smile he says, "Aye, Mother, I have. I reported to the King immediately upon arriving," he nods to the queen when he mentions her husband, "And immediately upon being dismissed by him I found Father and spoke with him. I came here immediately thereafter." In a teasing voice he adds, "Mind you, had the Lady Robin been in the palace the order might have been different."
"Then it's a good thing Robin haunts the forest and occasionally the roofs of the city," Vialle says, with good humor. Compared to his mother, she looks quite energetic. "We will send for her."
"But first tell us about your travels," Corvis says, and offers her arm in a way that will put him between her and the Queen, so Vialle can hear him clearly while they walk.
Vere takes his mother's arm, and matches his pace to hers. "We travelled to Madoc's demesne, which is to say that we travelled to Madoc," he begins. "Along the way Prince Merlin and I spoke at some length of Chaos, and of the nature of Chaosians and their abilities. We spoke of my reasons for travelling, and my plans." With a courteous nod to the Queen Vere explains, "You see, Your Majesty, my principal reason for this pilgrimage was to learn the art of Shapechanging, with an eye to seeing whether it might be possible to use it to heal Father's injuries."
Vere looks at his mother then, as they walk along the shore. "What I learned from Merlin did not encourage me. While Shapechanging might still be a possible way to heal Father, it will take a level of skill that would take long and long indeed for me to master. Indeed, a level of skill that may not even be possible for one born to Order, as I was. Therefore, after a great deal of thought, I decided to give over those plans. Instead, I asked that Merlin teach me the art of Sorcery. It was for that reason that we went to Madoc, whom Merlin felt would be a better teacher than himself, should he be willing. Which, in the event, he proved to be."
Corvis listens carefully to the explanation as they walk, at a slow pace that accommodates both her health and Vialle's blindness. Occasionally she warns Vialle of some potential danger in her path. "I take it that you are pleased with Madoc teaching you magic." In this, Vere hears that they may have further discussions later, out of the presence of the Queen, regarding sorcery. "Does your teaching mean you think you have some prospect of healing for him in the near term?" she asks.
Vere frowns thoughtfully. "I hoped that it would prove so," he answers her second question, ignoring the implied first one for the moment. "But as is so often the case with knowledge, what I have truly learned is how little I know, and how much there is still to learn. In addition, some conversations with Saeth, who is the ... child ... of Aisling, and with Signy, concerning their respective relationships with their elders, have led me to reevaluate my own position." He smiles slightly. "Tell me, Mother, in my demands that Father drop everything else to concentrate upon his healing, has it seemed to you that I am placing my own opinions ahead of his own? Am I denigrating his right to make decisions for himself, because those decisions are not the ones that I want him to make?"
Corvis hesitates, and before she says anything, Vialle speaks up. "There's no easy answer to that question. We all know about the smashing of the teacups. Anyone in their right mind would want your father well, and does, but you can't make it happen and you can't force someone deal with their troubles your way. Nor should you ask your mother to interfere between you and your father. She loves you both. It's not fair to make her choose."
"Quite right, Your Majesty," Vere says, turning his head to face the queen. "I believe that I have been unfair in just his matter." Turning back to his mother he says, "I have not and will not give up on seeing him hale and whole again, Mother. But I would know what you think. Should I be less demanding in how I approach this goal?"
"I do not wish to gainsay whatever your father has said," Corvis says after a moment, "and so I would keep my own counsel until he and I have spoken." Which is an answer of its own.
Vialle reaches across Vere to pat the arm that Vere is holding.
"Well enough," Vere answers. He walks in silence for a short time, then asks, "Tell me, how has Robin been? Has Castor been any aid to her in understanding Court and Society?"
"She has not spent much time in court, as I understand things," Corvis says. "She has been hunting in the city or in the woods."
Vere nods, then blinks, and in a bemused tone asks, "Hunting in the city? Dare I ask what prey she finds there?"
"A basilisk, for one," Vialle reports.
"I think," Corvis says, "the rest of her hunts may have been at the King's pleasure, for errant subjects."
"Ah," Vere says. "I can see how she would be well suited for that. I am pleased the King has found her useful." He smiles, then changes the subject.
"Your Majesty," he says, "Have you any news of how things fare in Rebma? It was undergoing great changes when I departed for Chaos, and I have heard nothing yet of how those have fallen out."
"I do not know what your last news was," Vialle says, looking in the direction of Vere's voice with unseeing eyes. "Do you know that Celina is Queen?"
"Ah," Vere says. He walks quietly for a few moments, then says. "I grieve for Celina in that case. Do we know any of the details of what occurred?"
Vialle hesitates, and Corvis steps in gracefully. "The King said it was a royal matter and one not meet to discuss in public." Her eyes flash in the direction of the guards. "Perhaps you should ask him for details, or your father, or one of your close kin."
"Indeed," Vere says. "Has anything else been heard of Moire?"
Vialle says, "She has not been found."
Vere shakes his head. "Unfortunate," he says. "This must make things difficult for Queen Celina."
He walks with them silently for a few minutes before changing the subject. "Xanandu is lovely, and appears to be growing. Tell me of it."
Last modified: 15 September 2012