After a solid fourteen hours of sleep, Fletcher prepares to leave Paris by packing the few things he'd brought along for the funeral and consuming a brunch worthy of an Olympic athlete. He makes his farewells and mounts his borrowed steed. Needing to distance himself from the Pattern he heads east leaving the city and feeling for the beginnings of shadow. He begins shifting toward Xanadu as soon as it becomes feasible, and keeps his 'eye' out for signs of an established (or forming) path.
While the Parisians say that you can never cross the same river twice, Fletcher finds that the way east from Paris along the Marne requires him to cross that mighty river many times. It turns from north to south and back with distressing frequency.
The river looks to be navigable, but it isn't long before Fletcher leaves the populace of Paris behind. It's no more than 25 feet across in most places. His horse doesn't show any obvious fear of the water.
Fletcher rides along the Marne for a time enjoying the pastoral scenery. Prodding his borrowed steed to a canter he reaches for shadows of the Marne, and finds one leading in his chosen direction. He follows the road along the river through the woods of the French countryside. As he rides he subtracts a poplar here, adds another oak there. The road becomes less traveled, and the trees begin to seem older. Somewhere in the shadows he leaves a portion of his horse's fatigue behind and presses onward.
In France he might be approaching a village but the forest only seems lonelier. He spots a deer through the trees. A fox darts off the path in front of him. The color of the water changes slightly, and it becomes possible that it is no longer a shadow of the Marne, but a shadow of the sacred Alph. This probability increases as Fletcher rides along the bank until there can be no doubt that the forest is the deep primeval forest of Broceliande. Where once he was traveling up the Marne away from Paris, Fletcher now rides along down the Alph to Xanadu itself.
The proximity of Xanadu's Pattern ends his journey through Shadows, and he slows his horse to a trot as he continues onward toward the city. He eyes the signs of the city's growth and the ships in the harbor from a distance. He urges his steed on, to the palace and rest. Rest for the horse, perhaps. Fletcher though, must arrange an appointment with the King, check up on his sister's recovery, and see about dinner and a bath. And probably a drink.
The King's factotums take care of most arrangements. They show Fletcher to his rooms, point out the castle baths, offer him a drink, tell him when and where he should appear for dinner, and offer to carry any messages he has. The King's secretary has been informed of Fletcher's arrival, and likely the King himself will know soon.
Fletcher quickly pens the following missives...
To Random: Your Majesty, My apologies for being detained in Paris. I am returned to Xanadu now and ready to travel to Rebma on you behalf as promised. I await your pleasure. Fletcher, KCOU.
Fletcher recieves a note in return from the King.
"You came from Paris to here to go to Rebma? The route there is by way of Paris, unless you'd like to trump Llewella. Do you need anything from me before you go?"
It's signed with two small crossed drumsticks.
Fletcher wastes no time in penning a reply.
"If I am to go to Rebma on your behalf, I believe protocol would require some sort of letter of introduction or other credentials. If you have any last-minute instructions as to what sort of concessions may be required, now would also be a convenient time to inform me, as I do not have a trump of you, and I suspect the reverse is also true.
I was not sure whether you would want me to formally swear allegiance to you prior to my expedition, and so I am also available for that as you see fit.
Fletcher, KCOU"
To Paige: Greeting Cousin, Much has transpired since my still-recent arrival in Xanadu, but I still wish to discuss the situation involving a Dragon menacing Arden and elsewhere. If chance permits hopefully we can meet for a brief chat. Fletcher, KCOU.
Paige, the pages tell Fletcher, is decamped in the Forest Broceliande. Ranger messengers have informed his majesty that she is away from camp on a search for missing rangers.
Fletcher understands Paige's duties, and simply arranges for his note to be carried to her camp to await her return.
He chooses to employ the element of surprise, seeking his sister out in person for a perfunctory visit and examination of her recovery progress.
Lilly is not in residence either. She has returned to her father's castle to recuperate from her wounds.
Ah well, Fletcher resolves to catch up with her later.
The same page that took Fletcher's message to the King returns. "The King wishes to see you. Please come with me."
The boy leads Fletcher to a back room behind the audience chamber. Random is on a couch, a stack of papers over his head. He does not rise when Fletcher enters, nor does he remove the papers.
"Ah, Fletcher, " he says, his voice slightly muffled by the documents. "Let's get this settled before I die of writer's cramp from all these notes.
"So, basic mission, go get whatever advantage we can from our dear wet friends in exchange for recognition of their government. See what they'll offer. Oh, and if they need reconstruction assistance, see what they need."
He shoves the papers off his head. "Do you need more than that? I'm afraid I'm sending you to Rebma on a bit of a fishing expedition."
Fletcher bows. "I think I can work with that. I understand that this is a less than formal visit, but are there other representatives of Xanadu in Rebma I should be able to call on? I haven't quite gotten a straight answer about the current status of our Embassy. Other than that... are there any kind words of advice you'd specifically like me deliver to cousin Khela? Any tokens of friendship you'd care to send along? Any souvenirs I should bring back? Perhaps something for the Queen?"
Random drums on the desk, distractedly. "Hmm. Llewella is there, but she's in Khela's camp. Celina, ditto, ditto. Hannah went thataways, but she's probably tied up with an army. Silhouette is there, but she's Huon's creature, for the moment. Brennan and, I think Conner are there. Plus anyone who didn't tell me where they were going. I'd say chat 'em all up, but the lads are less likely to be directly working for someone other than me." Random grins. "Also, never tell anyone that I just said that the redheads were the trustworthy ones. I'd be deposed, so they could dissect me and see what had gone wrong with my head.
"Oh, yeah. Here's my present for Khela and also the souvenir. Tell her Droit is recalled to Amber."
Fletcher clings to ancient formalities in the face of modern reality. "Of course, your majesty. Will there be anything else?"
Random grins. "Nope. Do yourself a favor and try to tell Khela that last bit while her mom isn't in the room."
Signy makes her way over to the Trump Room, and closes the door behind her. She scans over the Trumps, committing quick snapshots to memory with names where possible, before zeroing in on the one of her brother.
She clears her mind, and focuses in his face, hunting for the congruences between herself and also with Weyland, trying to reach out to make contact with him.
"Who is there?" Marius' voice asks, and his face starts to come into focus.
Signy self-consciously refrains from clearing her throat.
"It's...um...Signy," she offers. "Are you able to talk?"
Not waiting for his answer, she plows on ahead. "We got the Chain, and hopefully will be heading out to examine it soon," she blurts out. "How...will you be able to travel soon?"
His image forms completely. Marius seems to be somewhere on the grounds of Corwin's palace, walking in the ornamental gardens. The fact of his presence outdoors, and his form of dress, which is strange to Signy but suggests he's capable of going about in the city, both indicate that his recovery from his injuries is progressing well.
"I think so," Marius says after a moment of consideration. "Is there a definite 'we', yet, or a travel plan?"
Signy pauses, and blinks in surprise. "Well, Edan and Garrett will be coming, though I haven't contacted them yet. And if they're willing, we could also bring Tomat and Red Fox Claws with us as well."
She thinks over the second half of his question for a minute. "I'm not sure where we're headed, though. Edan said that we would need to get away from the Pattern, but I'm not sure what that means. Is there somewhere that the Family usually goes for this sort of thing?"
It's clear that Signy's thinking more in terms of a structure than of Shadow.
"Nowhere in particular for the whole family," Marius replies, "although everyone has their favorite place. Corwin told me that our mother favored his Avalon when he lived there, although I don't believe she performed any magical experiments there." His face settles into what Signy is beginning to realize is his thoughtful expression. "Edan may have an opinion on the matter. He is, after all, the redhead among the four of us."
Signy gives Marius a curious look. "Just what does that phrase, 'the redhead' mean with this family? I've heards it used a few times now."
"Ah, the redheads." A smile forms on Marius' lips. "That's a piece of family history that requires more discussion than I am inclined to have standing up just now." He reaches for Signy's hand. "Would you prefer to come to Paris, or shall I come to you?" From Marius' tone, Signy gathers it makes no particular difference to him in which direction the transfer happens.
Signy stretches her hand towards Marius. "If you don't mind, I'd like to stay here. Three of the four people I need are here already, but I'm not sure about Edan."
"Very well. I'll have to Trump Corwin to let him know where I am, but I can do that later," Marius says, sounding a bit bored. He takes Signy's hand and steps through. There's an odd moment where he's both very far away and yet on top of Signy, almost, with their hands joined, and then he's standing next to her in the Trump Booth and she's touching the card that's attached to the wall.
"Shall we find somewhere else to talk, or will you call Edan now?"
Signy gives a quick glance at the Trumps, looking for the one of Edan. "Why don't we talk for a bit? I can bring you to where Brother Tomat is, if you'd like?"
Signy doesn't immediately spot one, but she's only taking a quick look around.
"If you wish. I'd be pleased to see him again," Marius says. He lets her lead him further into the castle. It's clear to Signy that he hasn't spent much time in Xanadu from the way he scrutinizes the architecture and the interior details of the building. "Clearly," he opines to Signy as they walk down a relatively bare hallway. "His Majesty didn't let any of the Florentine line do any of his decorations."
It would be easy to find a room for their use and have a page summon Brother Tomat.
Signy steers them into an available room, flagging a page and sending him to find Brother Tomat and bring him to the room they're in.
"So, who are the Florentine line? Aunt Flora? Is she one of the redheads?"
The room is full of furniture in light woods, with neutral colored fabric on the seating. It's in a style that Signy doesn't recognize, but is almost disturbingly plain to her. There is minimal art on the walls, if any. It's like the place hasn't been completely decorated yet.
"Aunt Florimel, yes. She's the daughter of our grandfather's--" Marius pauses here and seems to be doing some counting "--fourth wife. Only child. Her mother was supposedly a lady-in-waiting to the redheads' mother. We all take after our grandmothers, or so I'm told, which is to say our parents supposedly take after their mothers and we supposedly take after them." He gives Signy a smile that might be a bit cynical.
"Family gossip says Aunt Florimel and Uncle Random, don't get along at all. So he appears to be recognizing Huon's envoy, Silhouette, as her daughter, even though she apparently claimed Silhouette isn't hers. I don't think you met Lucas before he died, did you? He was a lot like his mother: interested in fashion and art and all manner of civilized things." Marius lays a stress on the penultimate word.
Signy glances around the room, taking in the decor before turning her attention back to her brother. "Uncle Corwin seems quite taken with her, though. If her mother held that role, is there any animosity between her and the redheads?" She gives Marius a quizzical look, prompting him for more details about who encompasses 'the redheads'.
"Not that I know of. Fiona seems to think she's a bit of a useless twit, but Bleys likes her well enough. Our mother, on the other hand, didn't care for her a single whit, so if anyone is supposed to have inherited the generational animosity, it is, I think, the two of us." Marius' eyes narrow for a moment and he gazes thoughtfully at Signy. "Speaking of our dear Uncle--what do you make of him?"
There is a knock on the door and Garrett peeks in around it. "Lady Signy? The page said I'd find you here." He nods to Marius. "Beg pardon, Lord Marius. I hope I'm not interrupting something important." Despite the apology, Garrett does not seem inclined to leave.
Signy starts to speak to Marius, but breaks off when the door opens. "Prince Garrett -- I was looking to track you and Edan down. Brita was willing to let us have the chain for a bit." Her hand comes to rest on a pouch on her belt.
Whatever Marius meant to say about Corwin goes unsaid with the arrival of Prince Garrett. Marius rises and makes a sweepingly elegant bow, the effect of which is somewhat diminished by the fact that his injury renders the movement slow, and, based on his facial expression, somewhat painful. "Your Highness," he says, but doesn't wait for permission to seat himself again before doing so.
"It's good to see you're up and about, Marius," Garrett answers, apparently not concerned about the lack of permission. "Last I saw you, things looked grim."
He turns to Signy and asks, "Was Brita able to find out anything?"
Signy shakes her head in the negative. "I don't think she really had much chance to look at this at all."
Signy glances at the doorway. "I've sent a page to get Brother Tomat, so he should be here shortly. Have you heard from Edan at all?"
"We were going to see if he was about the castle after we caught up on a few family matters. I don't suppose you have a card of him?" Marius asks hopefully. Apparently he prefers to forgo the walk back to the Trump booth if he can avoid it.
"No, sorry," Garrett replies. "I have an older deck. I haven't seen Edan for a while though. Maybe when the page comes back, he can try to track him down."
Garrett narrows his eyes, considering something. He decides to take the opportunity. "Marius? What do you know about the Moonriders? You were around Amber before the Sundering. Did any of the elders ever speak to you about the old battles?"
"I know the family stories, what our Uncle Caine did, and what--" Marius glances sideways at Signy "--our mother did. She was in Corwin's train at Jones Falls as a blank shield; Grandfather wouldn't give her a place of command, but she wouldn't be left behind, even so. Caine was at sea, of course. Someone had to evacuate the harbor and command the fleet."
Signy looks surprised. "Our mother had involvement with the Moonriders?"
Marius shrugs. "She fought against them, but everyone did, if they were old enough. Grandfather sent Florimel to Rebma for her own safety. All of the rest of our aunts and uncles--the ones who were born then, that is--were 'involved' in one way or another. I think Grandfather expected Mother to stay in Amber with Eric maintaining the defense of the city and the castle. Instead she met the Moonriders with her axe." He looks at the two of them to see whether that satisfies either of their questions.
"Interesting," Garrett muses. "Do you recall anything specific about the attacks? Or what defenses were used by those at Jones Falls? I've heard something about holding them until sunrise, but not much more.
"And Signy," Garrett continues, turning to her, "have you had a chance to tell Marius about our encounter with the Marshall in the Grove?"
Signy shakes her head negatively in response to Garrett's question.
"We ran across the Marshall, holding a shadow of King Random in chains along with a shadow of Robin. We attacked, and the Marshall and shadows all disappeared, leaving us with the Queen and the chain." She summarizes quickly, clearly reluctant to change the topic, though whether more interested in the Moonriders or Dierdre is unclear.
"I know our forces had to hold the pass there until the moon set, that Bleys called in his knights--the same ones he used at the battle in Chaos--and he was the hammer that smashed the Moonriders on the anvil of our uncles Benedict and Corwin. Mother said they slew those too badly wounded to live and took the better part of a week to burn all the bodies. It was close to a century before the forest recovered from the trees they took for the pyres. And while they were doing it, Grandfather and Benedict negotiated some truce with the Marshall. From what was said at the funeral, about not inviting them into Amber, I suspect that truce ended with our grandfather's death."
He pauses and frowns. "As to their--disruptive powers?--I know very little, but I am told they could scatter the common men like chaff before them, and that Mother was almost betrayed by standing against them. She said the Pattern was a defense, but that her axe served Amber better." Marius' grin is fierce and not particularly pleasant.
Garrett takes this information in like a sponge. From his expression, the other two can tell he's storing every word in some defensive library he's building in his head. When Marius finishes, he nods once and glances at Signy, inviting her to ask questions, particularly since her mother was mentioned prominently.
Signy sits, thinking over what Marius said briefly.
"Betrayed how? By whom?" She blinks, and follows up quickly. "And what happened to her axe?" she asks, thoughts clearly running down an avenue.
"I don't remember what happened to her axe," Marius says, struck by the question. "I think she must have had it when--when she died. Maybe someone else who was there will remember more clearly." He pauses for a moment to consider the other question, and it takes him a moment to answer. "Betrayed--oh. I meant that the people around her almost learned who she was, because she was the only 'man' in the ranks who could stand against Moonrider magic."
Signy blinks, looking confused. "But why would people around her finding out who she was have been a bad thing? Or were you referring to the Moonriders?"
"Someone would have told our Grandfather, who had ordered her to remain in Amber," Marius explains. "That was why she went as a blank shield, instead of under her own device."
She pauses while thinking of the Moonriders for a second. "Why did their bodies need to be burned?"
"I don't know whether there was a special reason to burn the Moonriders, or simply a need to dispose of the bodies before the field became a plague house as well as an abbatoir." Marius takes another moment to consider his memories. "Mother said something about Bleys and a sorcerous flame. Someone should ask him about that." He gives a significant look to Garrett as he speaks. "He'd be the one to know why it was needed."
Garrett nods. "One question of many," he agrees, "though I wonder if Edan might have some ideas about that as well. I've heard he's an accomplished sorceror in his own right. Bleys referred me to him when I showed an interest in sorcery a while back."
Signy looks back at Marius when Garrett finishes speaking. "Was it ever discussed what the Moonriders wanted with Tir?"
Marius gives Signy an odd look, as if she's said something else he doesn't understand, or had different starting assumptions for. "They had Tir then. They were coming out of Tir and down Kolvir. Our uncles didn't smash them on their way to the city, but on their way out into Arden and shadow."
Signy blinks in surprise. "I thought they were trying to get into Tir. Were they trying to invade Amber, then? Why would another place with a Pattern attack another?"
"Perhaps the Moonriders aren't from Tir itself but from someplace on the outskirts. Like how the dragons are from out beyond Arden," Garrett speculates. He purses his lips as he considers this analogy further. "Funny how they're all getting active at once, isn't it?" he ventures thoughtfully.
There is a knock at the door, three even raps on the heavy wooden door just loud enough to attract the attention of the occupants of the room. A moment passes before the door is pushed open, just enough to reveal Jerod leaning against the doorframe.
"Some might say we're not the only opportunists in the universe, your Highness." Jerod says, nodding a greeting suitable to a royal son as his gaze sweeps the room. A second nod goes to Signy even as his gaze focuses on Marius. "Marius." he says, offering a third nod.
"Prince Jerod," Marius replies with a pleasantly fierce grin. "Signy, have you met our kinsman Jerod? He's Eric's son, and thus full cousin to us, and I believe he was acquainted with our mother during his father's reign."
A lithe woman turns in her seat to regard the newcomer, green eyes lighting up with a muted interest.
"No, we haven't met formally, though we were both at the Family meeting," she observes to her brother. Focusing her attention back on the newcomer, she addresses him more directly. "A pleasure to meet you, Prince Jerod. I'm afraid you have a slight advantage over me, as I never really knew my mother. Were you well acquainted with her?"
"Not as well as I might have wished." Jerod replies, pushing off from the door jamb to enter the room. He is wearing a silver sabre on his belt, a red jewel upon the hilt, the scabbard blending with the grey of his colours. A silver ring keeps his flowing hair from moving overmuch as his gaze takes her in. "Your mother was more to be found in the camp of Corwin than my father and given my father's rivalry with his brother, I'm sure he did not see it as a suitable risk for me to become better acquainted with her. By the time the situation had changed sufficient to allow that to happen, we were getting ready to send the army to Chaos. That was the last time I saw her."
"That was about the only time I ever saw her myself," Garrett adds with a nod. "She remained outside of Amber for almost as long as I remember."
"And when she was in Amber those last few years, she spent much of her time alone, where our cousin would not have been likely to meet her." Marius gives Jerod a conspiratorial grin. "But as all things before the Black Road, that's ancient history now. What can this poor company do for you in the present, Your Highness? Or are you here to consult with His Highness, in which case my sister and I can be on our way for the nonce?"
From the way Marius has been moving, he seems to Jerod to be much more recovered from his injuries than when last they spoke, although there's still a slowness to him that Jerod does not recall from before.
"I was looking for you." Jerod says to Marius. "The King has tasked me to be...useful..." and he smiles slightly. "...and Corwin has come up with a solution to meet that end. I have some limited contacts with Gateway that Corwin wants investigated, specifically the old ambassador to Amber, plus a somewhat dated invitation from the Chancellor of the Collegia. I was officially a trade ambassador for him to Gateway, so I've got an in that can be exploited, without officially involving the King and having to bring an army with me to crush Gateway's defenses, though I'm holding out hope it may come to something like that. I was actually leaning more towards causing a tsunami, but I'm sure that would get vetoed."
He moves further into the room, collecting an apple from a bowl to one side, rolling it in his hand as he walks. "I need to find out more about what the lay of the land is with regards to Gateway, political factions, the usual rot. Your sister is welcome to remain if she wishes." Jerod says, looking at Signy, then Garrett. "And his highness is always welcome to remain. I might even request it, since he can drop off anything he hears to the King so he'll know what I'm up to."
Garrett, already taking this development in with obvious interest, nods once.
Signy glances Marius and Garrett, before relaxing muscles that had been tensing to stand up in preparation for leaving.
"Thank you, Prince Jerod," she says quietly.
"You understand, of course, that my last stay in Gateway was not in the good graces of the Collegia. My knowledge is mostly from the old days, before the Black Road. But I can tell you what I gleaned while I was a guest in Gateway of late." Marius inclines his head and smiles, a bit nastily.
There seem to be three members of the Thaumacracy now in charge of Gateway who were working closely with Huon: Klaya and Kranto, who claimed to be survivors of the Black Road, and Dexamene, whose history is unknown to Marius. As best as Marius could tell from what he learned from his jailers, and their gossip, Klaya and Kranto were believed dead in the Black Tides, but returned later. Dexamene seems to be a natural witch of some sort; the legends of her background varied widely. Marius can't confirm any of them.
Huon was working with them. He had some of his own magicians of various stripes, but his people seem to have been muscle, even if they were armed with magical weapons.
Also, Marius says, someone involved in the Thaumacracy was tied to the Klybesians--Tomat's order--in some way, because he saw the eye in the pyramid of their order. He says this regretfully, with a glance at Signy.
"... and Thalia, who is in Caine's custody in Amber, will know more, if you speak with her," Marius finishes his recital. "Unless you have spoken with her already, and you are, wisely, double-checking her veracity."
"I always like to double-check on what I hear, though in her case I'd prefer to be able to have something beforehand, so when she lies to me I can catch her out with it." Jerod says, noting Thalia's previous location for future reference.
"Let's follow-up first with the peripheral details. The Klybesians...is there anything on what they're up to?" he asks, this time making a note to look at Signy as well when the question is asked.
"The Klybesians. Are they the ones from the Plain of Towers or somewhere else?" Garrett asks Signy, apparently connecting Tomat through Red Fox Claws.
Signy frowns distractedly.
"No, they're not from the Plain," she answers the Prince. "I'm not really sure where they're from. When Brother Tomat was my tutor, it was always just 'The Order', and never really was spoken of much." If she considers this to now be a drawback, she hides it well.
She looks over at Prince Jerod as she continues. "He was a bit vague when I spoke briefly with him about what happened after he left. He was apparently ordered back by his Abbott, and then broke with them when Marius showed up, though I'm not entirely sure why."
She looks over at Marius for confirmation.
Marius presses his lips together for a moment. "I gather it was personal," he says drily, and by dint of sheer will manages not to roll his eyes. "Tomat was quite anxious to return to the Plain of Towers when he realized that was where I meant to go." He tilts his head in the direction of his sister. "I would say his break with the Order is decisive.
"And I don't know how they involved themselves with Huon, but they seem to be all over large parts of what I'd think of as civilized Shadow. They seem to have enough magic to take advantage of natural shadow paths, even though they don't seem to reveal their out-Shadow origins to those who don't understand the difference." Marius' explanation jibes with Jerod's knowledge of the Klybesians, although nothing Eric or Jerod's tutors ever said would have made them important enough to involve themselves in Huon's business. Then again, he was gathering his support from outside the old Golden Circle, and they had little to no open foothold in the shadows Amber kept a close eye on. Perhaps that was deliberate on someone's part.
"Then I would suggest that your Brother Tomat be so kind as to answer a few questions on the reasons for his break with the Order." Jerod says, looking at Signy. "This may shed some light on other areas. As for Huon, it would fit if he were looking for forces that were discrete and not well known to us at home, and I suspect eager to take advantage of the situation now that Amber is no more. I'm thinking the Klybesians may be on the same track as Gateway with regards to being taught an unpleasant lesson.
"With regards to Huon and the Klybesians, did you inform any of the Elders of your findings with regards to the Order?" he asks Marius.
"Uncle Caine and Uncle Corwin, the former by Trump," Marius replies. "They walked me through the entire business in detail while I was recuperating. Caine didn't seem surprised to hear it."
Signy nods slowly along with Marius's words, a distracted look on her face.
"Yes," she says to Prince Jerod. "Though I'd like at first to talk with him alone. He came...he's here as one of my men, and I'd like to do him that courtesy if I could."
"Of course." Jerod says. "I could do no less for a loyal subject of the King. I would expect such an individual to take their oath as seriously as I do."
"Agreed," Garrett states firmly. "Send for him or meet him as you desire and we can speak with him afterward," he says to Signy.
To Jerod, Garrett asks, "Besides Abford, Gateway and the Klybesians, has there been any sort of list compiled that traces Huon's route? Are the shadows such that a map or some such could be drawn up to figure out where he ultimately started?"
"Not officially." Jerod says. "I had planned to follow up on precisely that but the Abford trail requires dealing with Meg first, given her connection to that place and the possibility she may claim ownership of it. I've spoken with your brother and he's given me some ideas on that. As for other Shadows, we must include the Isles in Huon's meanderings.
"Once I've gotten finished with Gateway for Corwin, I was going to see about following a trail, assuming one of the uncles didn't get to it first."
Garrett nods again, smiling slightly as his hunch that such a task might be possible is confirmed. "I can't say I have the skills yet to help with that, but I want to hear about the results," he says. "I don't know if you are aware, but Brennan and Caine got hold of one of Huon's guns a while back, and I'm sure there must be more in Rebma. I wonder if the various types of weapons would provide clues to his route as well."
"Speak to Silhouette." Jerod says. "She was his artificer. He would not have told her where precisely he was going, but he would have needed to have provided specifications as to what was needed. That would assist us. It would also provide us with information on Silhouette's origins. There is more to her than simple abandonment I think."
Signy sighs quietly, still clearly going over the current conversation in her head.
"It seems like there's some familiarity with the Order in the Family already. I don't suppose that there's anyone that has had more extensive dealings with them, is there?" From her tone, she doesn't sound particularly hopeful.
"Caine, Corwin, or Bleys. Caine and Corwin seemed familiar with them, and Bleys was, I gather, our grandfather's agent. What I learned of them in my travels suggests that they are so old that they pre-date our grandfather's ban on the religious in Amber. Which suggests that Fletcher might know them of old. Ask him first, I think. It's better to look like you've done your homework before you bother Uncle Caine." Marius smiles wryly, as if he has some experience of this.
"You may add Conner to that list as well." Jerod says. "He has a connection to Gateway through a woman named Thalia, who once served in a diplomatic capacity. Conner has a relationship with Thalia, or rather did prior to this situation arising. I would assume that it will continue, though the boundary rules may be revised through... negotiation." He smiles when he says that.
"My last word indicated she was in Amber in the custody of Caine. That was a short while ago though so I would check first prior to seeking her out. Things move apace. I would speak to both of them, in either order, should the opportunity present itself."
"Thalia accompanied me back from Gateway. I think I mentioned that when I arrived in Paris," Marius says, "but I'll remind you again, in case it was lost in all the other business. She can be trusted to a point, which is: exactly as far as you can throw her."
"I'm not sure I'd trust her that far." Jerod says. "I could toss her pretty far."
Signy slowly rises to her feet and looks over at Marius.
"I think I'll go and talk with Brother Tomat now, while everyone's around," she announces to nobody in particular. "Marius, I'll catch up with you later?"
"Of course. If I have to leave on short notice, I'll have a message sent to you. But I understand I'm still on injured reserve," Marius says.
"And I have business as well. Carry on, gentlemen," Garrett says with a respectful nod toward Jerod. To Signy, he says, "Let me know if you hear fron Edan." With that, he departs.
Signy nods in acknowledgement of Garrett's words as she strides out of the room.
Marius rises, a bit slowly, for his sister's departure, and a few moments later, when it becomes obvious that Jerod is not yet leaving, seats himself again. "You've got more questions," he observes, and it is not one.
Jerod nods, rolling the apple in his hand still. "Still healing I take it?" he asks, his question more a verification rather than an outright question. "Going to Gateway may mean running into the crew that did you, so asking what happened is high on the list. But that's not something for ears that don't need to hear it."
Jerod may need to ask his questions, but he's always mindful that some may be more sensitive than others and he's not going to put another into a situation they may find embarrassing. Marius earned his stripes awhile ago and Jerod would not be so insulting as to embarrass him.
Marius returns the nod. "I've told our uncles my tale once already. I suppose once more won't hurt." That little smile of his, the one that could get quite irritating if someone let it, reappears, as he changes the subject.
While Marius' smile might be cause for irritation in some, Jerod either has a thicker skin than most, or recognizes it as a form of expression of which he would approve. In either event, it does not appear to phase him in the slightest.
"For what it's worth, my hesitation to speak of Tomat's motives isn't meant to impeach his integrity. It's more that it's obvious to the outside observer that he's enamored of my sister. If he wants her, he needs to make his own case. Signy is not our mother--" a fact that seems to bring Marius some measure of relief "--and she might return his affections honestly. But if he can't bring himself to speak of it, I'll hardly be the man to facilitate. Besides, I don't think any man who can't face up to telling Signy he wants her can keep her."
Maybe Marius isn't quite as ready to talk about himself as he thought he was.
"Your sister does appear to have the family quality of being her own person. Even if we might not agree with how some handle being themselves, it's at least good that they are themselves." Jerod says, collecting a drink for himself while offering a check of Marius' level of refreshment.
Jerod also recognizes that sometimes topics of interest need to be approached at a pace that another needs to set, and in this case one that Marius rightly needs to consider as his own.
"What was your mother like?" he says, collecting a seat to make himself comfortable. "As I said, the opportunity to meet her on different terms was very limited."
Marius seems to be almost dry but doesn't appear to be interested in having Jerod top his glass off.
"Do you want an honest answer?" Marius asks, leaning forward. "Oh, of course you do, you're Jerod." His smile has gone a little crooked. "My mother, you understand--and having been raised in Rebma and Amber, you really do understand--was not a nice woman. I mean, none of them are what anyone would call nice. Kind, perhaps, and even generous to passersby on occasion, but not nice. I gather that my father, assuming as we seem to that Weyland is my father, is more of the same. I hesitate to shatter Signy's illusion that Mother was any different."
He gives Jerod sort of a jerky shrug, a motion that might have been something else if he weren't suffering the aftereffects of his injuries.
"Mother was ambitious. I don't think she wanted to be Queen Regnant, even if Amber would have accepted such a thing. But she was content to push me forward to be Caine's heir, and Corwin's if he'd been around. I miss her, and I always will but--I am not to be King. I am content with this. She would not have been."
"That sounds like what I had heard." Jerod replies. "Explains certain with Dad as well, mostly with regards to how they got along. Dad never did play well with people who were too much like him in some ways.
"I take it that you never met Weyland."
"Until I went questing for Signy, I'd never even heard of Weyland." Marius shakes his head, the motion carrying something of bewilderment in it. "I suppose it sounds odd to you, not knowing who my father was. Mother never said and she let Uncle Caine serve in the paternal office; it's not as though I was lacking a role model. And perhaps I should have asked, but Mother always did love her secrets. And there was always the possibility of the answer being one I should be happier to remain ignorant of." Marius doesn't specify what he means by that, instead adding, "Weyland, even with what I've heard of him from Signy, comes as a relief, even if he and Mother sound well-matched."
"You think that she saw it as keeping a secret?" Jerod asks. "The time wasn't the best to be displaying kids around. Even Dad was circumspect with me and I was one of the few who was at least known. Did you ever wonder if perhaps it was for protection, hers as well as yours?"
"I assume it was for her protection, as well as mine. You and I were levers through which our parents could be moved. The fewer who knew of us, the safer it was for all involved. And it wasn't necessarily safe. Apart from what happened to Corwin--without intending any slight to your father, of course--it wasn't as if our grandfather was well known for offering forgiveness to wayward daughters." Marius meets Jerod's gaze. "I don't know if you knew the story of Ysabeau, but I grew up with it. The subtext that the same might happen to Mother if Grandfather thought her out of line was clear."
"My knowledge of Ysabeau is limited." Jerod says, returning the gaze. "Dad didn't go into it and neither did anyone else. My interactions with Grandfather Oberon were even more limited. And the concept of wayward daughters has a much different connotation is Rebma than it does here.
"On that note, I'm curious. Would you care to enlighten me on what it was like?"
"Which part? Having Grandfather know who I was, so I could take my place--my responsibility--in the Navy? That was, well, if you've met Grandfather you know. He was interested enough in my career that when I was in the castle he sometimes spoke to me of it, with the implication that he had me spied upon, or at least asked Uncle Caine after my welfare, clear. But he wasn't interested enough to further his acquaintance with me beyond that, or to speed my career beyond the aid that the favor of the Admiral already brought.
"I suspect sometimes that our cousins, the ones who were raised in shadow, have the impression that our Grandfather would somehow have softened in his age. That wasn't true, in my experience. And while I wouldn't say Mother or Uncle Caine lived in terror of him, Mother feared he'd exile her if he perceived her disobedient, whether or not he'd given her the command she'd disobeyed. And our uncle, when I asked him, said only that it was ill to be out of his father's favour.
"He was the one who told me Ysabeau had been exiled, once, when Mother was away. I think he meant it as a kindness. Then he took me to a whorehouse where we sampled the wares as a bonding experience."
"Caine's always good for cutting through some of the more delicate moments in life." Jerod replies. "Not always fun perhaps, but you always know where you stand with him.
"I would tend to agree concerning Oberon. I wonder how much of it was him and how much was the Pattern, the need to be the King. I wonder as well how much of that will translate to Random, whether he'll become more like Oberon than he might realize, or like.
"I was more curious as Ysabeau and her relationship with grandfather. Equally as much your mother with him. I recognize my own perception of women is colored by my background. It was an unknown thing to have a woman being subservient due to her sex. A woman could be subservient because of social position, or some lack of defined political power, but not sex. So a strong woman in a position where it was frowned upon to be strong is unusual. And before you ask, the parallel of men in Rebma is not the same, despite the mirror effects. Men may be in lesser positions socially, but they still do the fighting and heavier labours. The same cannot be said for women in Amber."
Marius nods his way through Jerod's explanations, not seeming particularly surprised at the remarks about Rebma. Jerod may recall that although she was not present at court much during his own youth (nor, to his recollection, was Marius), Deirdre did have some ties in Rebma of her own.
Jerod would have known of Deirdre's connections, and it would be logical to assume that Marius would have some knowledge of Rebma. But he's aware that assumptions are dangerous and repeating oneself is not always a bad idea, for sake of clarity.
"Ysabeau was exiled before I was born, so most of what I know is second-hand, or third-hand depending on the source." He shrugs at the unreliability of family stories, which by their nature come from biased tellers. "But as I understand it, she wanted to be a ranger, like Uncle Julian, or even the Warden of Arden. It's no secret that Julian's happy enough with the job but he might have welcomed someone to share it with. Grandfather wouldn't allow Ysabeau to work with the Rangers; she disobeyed him; he punished her; she cast defiance in his teeth at the family table. You can imagine how that went." Marius makes a tsking noise. "So he exiled her from Amber and Arden on pain of death.
"Mother was a fighter, but she knew better than to pick a fight with her liege lord and sovereign. Ysabeau probably knew better. She just didn't care."
"And why does that remind me of Robin." Jerod offers. "What about how she died? There's the whole Isle's connection going on there but the stories are limited, especially from Gerard."
Marius shakes his head. "She died in exile. For a long time I didn't even know she was dead. For the rest I only know what's been said in family council. I was in Caine's fleet, not Gerard's, so Gerard didn't confide in me either. I gather your father never got any answers out of him either, or perhaps didn't ask the right questions." The idea that Eric might not have cared what happened to one of his siblings remains discreetly unspoken, and not even particularly alluded to.
"Dad's priorities were more focused on his own personal agenda." Jerod says. "Anything which did not fit with that was not generally seen as being...of interest. It is something I've considered to be a weakness, not to have an interest in things outside your own sphere. It's essential, to help keep a connection to others."
"Whereas Mother was interested in many different things, but primarily because she considered her sphere so broad," Marius tsks. "It was hard for me to tell what she thought of you, really. Of course she was aware that at a certain point you were a stumbling block to her ambitions for me. And here we sit, with Uncle Caine in charge in Amber, and it all means so very little. It's funny how things turn out, isn't it?"
"After a fashion." Jerod says. "I'm not sure I would have preferred to have occurred differently. I'm not saying that I prefer that people died, but with the benefit of hind-sight, the old ways did not seem to have been all that successful. It's like...there needed to be an evolution of sorts, before we could get to the stage that we're at right now. Family and ourselves both.
"On one point I would disagree however. The past means a great deal still. It all depends on how you want to interpret it."
"When you're living in a family full of immortals, the past is never really over. 'Time whereof memory runneth not' isn't quite meaningless, but it does come close when you have someone the age of our Uncle Benedict in the family with all the memories he must have. Speaking of which--you wanted to delve into some of my memories, I think."
"Some of the more recent ones." Jerod says. "And perhaps somewhat unpleasant ones. I do not approach their dredging lightly."
Marius leans back in his seat, clearly looking to be comfortable when speaking of uncomfortable things. "Ask away, and I'll tell you."
"I'm looking for the signs to expect if Gateway's mages decide to try to do to me what they did to you." Jerod says. "Assuming I make it to Gateway to follow up for Corwin, I'll be taking a few precautions...to be sure that I can either escape or to smash the city into rubble if I can't. But for that I need to know the telltales for what's coming.
"I'm interested in who decided to mess with you, what and how they did it, and where."
"Assume the protocols for a hostile embassy. I didn't, and that was my mistake." Marius looks bitter. "Drink nothing you haven't tested, if you can at all avoid it. That was my mistake. As for which of them was responsible--Dexamene, Klaya, or Kranto--it wasn't clear. They worked as an alliance, and for all that there was some tension among the three of them, they all seemed to be willing to enjoy the fruits of their work. So let them all enjoy the next harvest."
[Those were the three Gatewegians on the council working with Huon.]
"I'm thinking any harvest they should receive should come from you." Jerod says. "First dibs and all that.
"I'm guessing they did not engage in any form of madman's exposition concerning their grand schemes? While it's always good in comic books, I've noticed that it's never good to explain your plans to those you're messing with."
Marius shakes his head. "Not in a useful way. Although they were quite hopeful that I'd survive their experiment. I gather their researchers, these monks, understand that the get of Oberon are somehow special, and they would very much like to find out how and why. And, I thank you for the offer, cousin, but if you feel a need to dispense due return on their investment before I get to Gateway, I shall forgo first outs in favor of last." He gives Jerod a fierce grin that shows white teeth and something of the Faiellan heritage he and Jerod share.
"These monks have their fingers in too many pies." Jerod replies, a slight smile on his face in response to Marius' grin, the kind of smile Eric would give to someone who had met his expectation of quality. "Things keep coming up that make me wonder how much Gateway was behind all this for real versus being a convenient pawn. Your sister's companion would be wise to be forthcoming on his past with her, if he does indeed care about her.
"As for dibs, let me be clear. For the record, the King will always dictate the policy of response for Gateway's actions. I'm sure we'd both agree on that. Off the record, should you ever decide that the time has come for payback and you need some help...call." Jerod says, leaning forward, his expression hardening, the face of the Prince passing over his visage momentarily before it fades, Jerod leaning back once more.
"The monks...beyond the Order that was mentioned, any other options, things they may have mentioned that they would be interested in or pursuing? We're always looking for where they came from, but I'm wondering maybe I should consider intercepting them further down their path, where they might least expect us to appear."
"They know we know how to find their chief abbey. I searched it out to have the inscription on my mother's ring translated. That," says Marius, "is how I met Tomat." He frowns. "I thought I'd told everyone about that, when I brought Signy home. Do I need to tell you that story as well?"
"I prefer to ensure that everything is as I had previously remembered it." Jerod says. "You never know when you might hear something, but interpret it the wrong way.
"Their abbey...is there value in its besiegement?"
At this moment there comes a knocking on the chamber door. From without, Fletcher's voice carries. "Hello? Marius?"
Marius looks to Jerod for a moment, and says, "Don't let me forget to tell you about the abbey, and Thalia and the Dey of Longtides and Gateway," before raising his voice. "Yes? We're in here, kinsman." Even if he doesn't recognize the voice, Marius knows only a relative would come looking for him.
Jerod nods, the neutral mask of Court that was previously missing throughout their conversion now slipping easily into place as he adjusts to attend to the new dynamic.
Fletcher opens the door and steps in. "Hello! Ah, Jerod, nice to see you again. I heard Marius was here and I wanted to see how he was doing. Sorry if I interrupted something." He stands just inside the door, waiting to see if Marius and Jerod require privacy urgently or if his intrusion will be tolerated.
Jerod's gaze shifts just enough to look at Marius. As the guest Jerod knows that deference is paid to the host on this, so he waits patiently.
"Please, come in." Perhaps realizing that he sounds more annoyed than resigned, Marius adds in a more conciliatory tone, "I appreciate your looking in on me, and I hope you'll pardon me for not standing."
Fletcher steps further into the room. "Of course. I was surprised to find you'd left Paris so soon. How're you feeling? When last I saw you we were worried about your recovery. I'm glad to see you're at least up and about."
"My sister requested that I join her. I was walking the grounds in Paris when she trumped me. I've only been here a few hours." Marius glances at Jerod, and seeing that Jerod doesn't seem to have any objections to voice, adds, "You're welcome to join us. I was just discussing some business to do with Gateway, and the Klybesians, with our cousin Jerod."
"Given Rebma's recent interactions with Huon and his Gatwegian alllies, this may be of use to you." Jerod says to Fletcher. "It may also be useful to keep an eye out for activity by the Klybesians in Rebma."
"Klybesians?" Fletcher asks, not sure he heard right. "Are they still a going concern in the Amber-now-Xanadu equation? I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Are they involved in Gateway as well?" Fletcher's expression turns darker at that thought.
"They are," Marius says. "They were working with Huon and the Gatwegians to make the--thing--" he makes a disgusted face that both Jerod and Fletcher imagine disguises remembered fear "--that Huon used to threaten Rebma."
"That they knew sufficient details to produce such a weapon is the disturbing part. It makes them a very significant threat." Jerod says. "While his majesty has indicated that there is no immediate crusade against Gateway for their actions, he has not provided such an injunction against the Order. If the opportunity were to present itself, I would be favorably inclined to deal with this threat, permanently."
Fletcher winces. "No doubt there is a debt owed. Action must be taken. However... attempted destruction of the Order will probably only fracture the group, driving the deepest parts underground for the next few hundred years." Fletcher marvels at the rate his to-do list seems to be growing since his return to court, and idly wonders if he remembers the secret handshake. "They have been a sprawling byzantine organization for hundreds of years. Complete elimination may not be the most effective course. Diplomacy, infiltration, subversion, heck, even outright bribery to root out the faction responsible might be better. Do you have any idea who from the Order was involved or where they operated from?"
"Dealing with a threat does not mean destroying the entire Order." Jerod replies with a smile. "Just the part that's dangerous. As for the faction in question, Marius might be able to provide additionals on that."
Marius repeats essentially the same story that he told Jerod before; the slight vagaries are well within Jerod's experience of normal memory, especially for someone who has undergone the sort of traumas that Marius has suffered.
Specifically, Marius describes Klaya and Kranto, survivors of the Black Road--the road that Chaos used to get to Amber through Shadow in the late war--who were thought lost until their return, and Dexamene, history unknown. Dexamene seems to have been a natural witch, and there are several incompatible stories about her background. Marius can't confirm any of them. The three of them were the members of the Thaumacracy, the Gatewegian governing council, who supported Huon most closely.
Huon's people included magicians of various sorts. Mostly his adherents were warriors, some with magical weapons of various sorts.
The Klybesians were involved with the Thaumacracy, and/or Huon. Marius had sought them out in the hopes of learning something about an inscription on his mother's ring; that was how he met Tomat, who led him to Signy. After finding their abbey, of course he recognized their device, the eye in pyramid, when he saw it in Gateway.
"There are elements to the behaviour of the Klybesians that Marius has described that would allow them to conceal themselves in Rebma." Jerod says, looking at Fletcher. "If their influence is so wide ranging, it would make sense they would have agents there."
"I'll keep an eye out for them in Rebma. In times past, dealing with monastic orders was one of my responsibilities as Defender of the Faith. Which Abbey did you visit?"
"Virtuary," Marius says. It is an ancient place, and in Fletcher's day was a key abbey of the Klybesians. Given how the shadows and the paths between them have changed in the war, it will not be trivial to get there without directions from Marius or some other soul who has been there.
"I've heard of it. If you're up to it and still focuses on the issue when I get back from Rebma I'll go there with you. We might be able to make a deal with them. They're smart people, mostly. They value knowledge. And we have an important piece of knowledge we know they don't have. I think that approach will at least give us more information on what they've been messing around in."
"Do we wish to make a deal with the Order?" Marius asks, eyeballing Jerod as if he expects his cousin to have something to add to that: perhaps further questions or an answer of his own. "Or are they past that point?"
"That's a question for investigation." Jerod replies. "One that Gateway might be able to shed some light on. Certainly getting into a fight with the entire Order is not something to be undertaken lightly. But like all things, and people, the Order may be riven with factions. The actions of the Order are a bit more clear, but their motivations are not yet confirmed, and that is what we need to know. If a single group is involved, it may be possible to excise that portion to allow things to return to the status quo. Or not, in which case more dire action is required. In the latter case, I'm guessing the King might not be pleased if we drag the kingdom into an all out war so he would have to make that decision. The former situation...is a bit more flexible."
Fletcher seems amused. "An excision isn't going to be clean. It's an organization of people. Factions don't have perfectly clean lines. And for the excision to do the job we want it would have to be visible. The most vital piece of knowledge they can acquire at this point is that they were in error to think they avoid severe consequences in moving against us. Best case scenario we go to them and they turn over the miscreants, apologize, and don't move against us for the next 600 years or so. The other options are all downhill from there."
"And upon what basis are we to expect they will turn over the miscreants?" Jerod asks. "Our stature as Princes of Amber? The Order would know that Amber has fallen, and if their agents are as skilled and resourceful as you have intimated that they are supposed to be, they would also know that Xanadu is not yet fully formed, nowhere near the power of Amber. And neither Random nor Corwin are Oberon. Unless the Order is stupid, they would have to know we would respond, yet they undertook the action anyway. That makes them confident and prepared to undertake a risk against us. What threat of consequence can be offered if they choose not to comply? That's the downhill part that we have to be prepared for, and prepared prior to going to make the demand. Anything less reinforces a weak position and invites a poor response."
Marius decides to let Fletcher field that question, or really the whole slate of them.
Fletcher shrugs. "Putting them on notice and giving them a chance to abandon whatever schemes they may have been drawn into is a low-risk proposition. Even if they have completely accurate information about the current capabilities of Paris and Xanadu, they don't know how quickly those capabilities can change if we put our minds to it. And they don't know that we know they were involved. And they don't know where responding to their involvement sits on our list of priorities." He pauses for a second. "It would be nice to know more about the relationship between Gateway and the Order though. Who's in the driver's seat at least. None of this precludes other preparations of course. How quickly could you put together a force to deal with the Order?"
"Magical, military or both?" Jerod asks.
"Whichever you think would do the job."
"That will depend on the information to be obtained from my investigations in Gateway." Jerod says. "If you are suitably inclined, you may wish to chase after the Rebman interrogation notes for Huon's troops to determine the composition of his forces, and if there are any traces of the Order amongst them. I will give you the name of an individual who may be able to assist you in that matter. He was my second during the battle against Huon."
"Virtuary is not a small monastery, and I'm not sure how much arcane power they can bring to bear in their own defense, but I suspect the answer is 'a lot'," Marius says drily. "You'd want to recruit from what's left of the Naval forces we took to Chaos. I still have some influence in those quarters, if it comes to that, as well as the Knights of the Ruby." He adds by way of explanation to Fletcher, "King Random doesn't seem inclined to keep a standing army."
"Interesting. Well I guess I'll look up Jerod's man in Rebma. I don't know how long this trip is going to take. I'll look you up when I get back."
"Trips to Rebma always seem to end up taking longer than one intends," Marius agrees.
Last modified: 12 June 2011