Up To Speed

The palace of the Louvre is very different to Castle Amber and Castle Xanadu. Solace, who always seemed a bit overwhelmed by the ancient, heavy structure of the building, seems more at home in the palace of Paris, where her children can play easily on the lawn while she and Garrett watch. She is still wearing black--it has not quite been two months since her husband's murder--but at least she no longer looks like she spends the majority of her days crying. Tending to the children seems to have given her some purpose to cling to.

"So you'll be going back to Xanadu soon, now that Ossian and Firumbras are gone to look for Reid?" Solace asks him, happy as always to turn the conversation on to anything but herself.

"Yes, it's about time, I suppose. Especially with Martin gone and all," Garrett replies, a bit reluctantly.

Without warning, he descends into a feral crouch and springs forward, sending the two small children who thought they were sneaking up on him unnoticed fleeing with gleeful squeals. He rolls through a graceful somersault and winds up on his feet, laughing, before returning to Solace's side.

"I'm gonna miss those two," he grins, brushing grass off his now-rumpled finery. "They've been doing so well lately."

"Having someone to play with helps, I think." Solace isn't that much older than Garrett; by Amberite standards they're the same age. Still, when she straightens his clothing about the shoulders, she seems quite a bit older. "I hope Martin and Folly will allow their child to play with Hope and Phillippe. Their child will be King--or Queen, mayhap--of something someday."

Garrett lets Solace do her straightening without complaint. Having spent time with her recently, he has noticed that taking care of others seems to make her feel better.

"Queen," he states definitively. "Folly is certain it's a girl. I don't know how she knows, but who am I to question?"

He shrugs. "Anyway, I'm sure she'll let them play together. Folly's not the type to stand on ceremony, and I know she'd want her child to grow up as normally as possible. She'd probably welcome the company of another mother too," he smiles gently.

"I don't think any of us know what normal is any more, Garrett," she says wistfully. "Lucas had so many ideas, and so does his mother, and so does my mother, and they all think they're normal but none of them are the same." Her smile is the sort of smile women put on when they think they might cry.

Garrett touches her arm lightly and smiles reassuringly. "I wouldn't worry too much about it. You're doing fine. See?" He nods toward the children playing happily in the grass. "All mothers are different. You should have heard mine!" he chuckles.

"Might I ask you some questions, Garrett? About your--our--family? And about some of the cousins?"

"Uh... sure," Garrett agrees, a little taken-aback by the question. "I don't reckon I can tell you anything you don't already know, but go ahead."

"Do you know about my fainting, and my headaches, and what happened behind them?" This seems to be more of an inquiry about how up to speed Garrett is on the story and not a request for an explanation, from the explanation and tone of the question. Solace already knows what happened to her, or thinks she does.

"I ...think I heard something about it," Garrett replies warily. His inflection at the end encourages her to continue.

Solace bites her lip. It takes her a moment to decide what to say. "The doctors and healers have all told me I couldn't bear any more children or I'd wear out and die young. And I thought the headaches and fainting spells had something to do with that. But before he left to find Reid, Ossian came to me and said that he and Lucas had attempted to speak to me by a trump, as the Princes of Amber do, and that that had been the cause of those problems."

Her cheeks colour slightly. "Do you believe this story, Garrett? Because I suspect that Ossian was carrying on an affair with Lucas, and I think he might have tried to get Lucas to put me aside."

Garrett opens his mouth to speak, then closes it with a grimace, reconsidering his words. He tries again. "I believe it. But not for the reasons you think," he begins tentatively.

He leads her to a nearby ornate wrought-iron bench and gestures for her to sit. Assuming she does, he sits down next to her.

"I heard the story about the trump," Garrett says, keeping his voice low so as not to carry to potential passers-by. "But... I also know that Lucas cared a great deal for you and the children. You remember back when the dragon attacked in Amber? He was ready to fight me for my trump in order to return to protect you. If he had wanted you gone, I don't believe he would have been so hot to come back.

"Now, I'm not sayin' he didn't have others. Lucas was something of a rover, as I reckon you know," Garrett continues, wincing a little squeamishly at the necessary turn of the conversation, "An' I'm not sayin' that some of 'em might not have been... male. Some folks get into that." From the scarlet blush and the squirm of discomfort, it's obvious that Garrett isn't one of them.

"But regardless, I never got the impression that Lucas wanted to put you aside. Quite the opposite, in fact," he concludes.

Solace's posture is as stuff as the wrought-iron bench. "Oh, I know he had lovers. I know he had a mistress at Red Mill; he left her some money in his will, and I know he gave her jewelry as well." Her chin decidedly does not quiver. "But, you know, a lover of his own kind is different from a--roving fancy, as you might say, or even a long-term mistress. I know everyone thought I was ignorant of Silken, but I wasn't. And I wasn't about Ossian, either."

"Oh, I don't reckon anyone thought you were ignorant. Just...tolerant," Garrett shrugs. "It wasn't like Lucas tried to hide anything."

Something about his last words causes Garrett to grow pensive. "Except when he did," he mutters under his breath.

Out loud, he continues, "Solace, I need to ask you a question now about Lucas's...activities. Besides Silken and Ossian, who I don't think you have anything to worry about, by the way, do you know of any others, women in particular, that he paid special attention to? Perhaps in places other than Red Mill?" Garrett adds that last bit as he remembers rumors from the servant circles that certain housemaids had been known to grace Lucas's bed back before the Sundering.

Solace thinks about this before she answers. "I know he had a woman in the city. The servants said he shared her with one of his cousins when they thought I wasn't listening. And he had a cheap woman down by the dockside paid off. And there was a rumor that he fathered a little girl, but I don't think her mother was from Amber."

Garrett cocks his head in interest. "No? What makes you think that? Any idea where she might be from?" he asks.

"I think he met her through one of the embassies. That was the rumor, anyhow. I don't know which one," Solace admits with a shake of her head.

Garrett nods and asks gently, "Where did you hear the rumor? Servants again? Or someone else?"

Solace nods. "Nobody wanted to tell me, but I think they didn't care that I knew." She sounds a bit defeated.

The servant gossip circles could be cruel, Garrett remembers. After all, royals don't have feelings. Not real ones, anyway.

Feeling that Solace needs comfort, he starts to reach out to hug her, but stops himself, remembering that blasted royal decorum. Hanging his head in disgust, he instead reaches for her hand, muttering "damn" under his breath.

"Solace," he begins quietly, "one of the reasons I have to go back is to find any... other children Lucas might have left behind. I know full well that those who don't know their heritage could be at some risk. People who do know could take advantage, could use them for... perceived powers that they themselves have no knowledge of."

He shifts uncomfortably. "That's why it's important that I ask you these questions. I'm not trying to be hurtful. If there are things you can't talk about, it's all right to say so, but I want you to know why I'm asking."

Solace lets Garrett take her hand, with little apparent regard for the propriety of it.

"There's nothing I can't talk about any more. I don't care what his mother says, or mine." Solace's eyes flash a little. "I don't want Lucas' children to be hurt. I don't mind telling you what I know. I just don't know very much." The last is said rather plaintively.

Solace's flash of spirit prompts a grin from Garrett. "That's all right," he assures her quickly when she finishes. "If anything comes to mind later, write it down and someone can get a message to me."

He releases her hand and sighs, staring wistfully out at the children playing in the grass. He hadn't meant to get attached, but there it was. The edict about not having children of his own suddenly weighs heavily around his neck.

"I reckon I've gotta go," he mutters reluctantly. He places his hands on his knees as if to rise, but moves no further.

"If you want to stay a little longer, you're welcome," Solace offers. "I know you can go back to Amber or Xanadu by a card. Surely a few minutes more won't delay you much."

Garrett smiles ruefully. "Thanks, but no. Best not to prolong things," he says as he rises. He says his goodbyes to Hope and Phillipe, with all the hugs and horseplay that they require, then turns back to Solace.

"Remember, if you need anything, call me," he reminds her, then adds with a smirk, "And don't let those other mothers push you around. You know what you're doing." With a last wave, he departs through a break in the hedge.

Garrett travels light. Anything he brought with him to Paris still fits into his traveling saddlebag or hangs off his belt. Anything he picked up while here, he leaves behind, except for a small pencil drawing of a horse that Hope created for him. The drawing is folded carefully into one of the pockets of the bag. Packed and ready, all goodbyes said, he draws out his father's trump and concentrates.

Random's image solidifies in front of Garrett. "Hey kiddo! What's up?" The King is somewhere bright, and it's hard to see what's behind him.

Garrett squints into the connection, resisting the urge to bring up a hand to shade his eyes. "I've done everything I need to here, Father. I'm ready to come home, if you've a moment to bring me through," he replies, offering his hand.

Random reaches out. "Are you waterproof?"

"Close enough," Garrett answers, takes his hand and steps through the rainbow.

[If Garrett answers in the affirmative, or if he takes a moment to get waterproof...] Random pulls him through. They are standing outside near the waterfall. Random looks like he's been swimming.

"Any news from Corwin?"

"Not a lot," Garrett replies, shifting his sword a little to protect it from the worst of the moisture. "Ossian came through a while back, but left again. He was looking for Reid, I heard. Have Signy or Brita been back?"

Random nods. "Brita was, and went to Rebma to see if she could replenish her dwindling supplies of capital letters. Signy is still here, unless she's not." He gestures towards the bar. "If the sun is over the yardarm in your current timeline, feel free to draw your grog ration. Any other news from your travels?"

"Thanks," Garrett says. He goes to the bar and selects a dark stout from the fridge below. He pulls out a second and with a quirk of the eyebrow, offers it to Random. Assuming he accepts, Garrett tosses it over as he continues to speak.

Random opens it smoothly against the edge of a desk that looks like it has stood in this room for a century, which isn't really possible.

"I don't know how much Signy and Brita told you about the trip, so stop me if you've heard this. We took that silver chain out to have Aunt Fiona look it over. We didn't get a whole lot of information out of it, not that I understood anyway, but Brita tried some kind of sorcerous thing on it and, um... dug up an old knight." He pauses here to give Random a chance to stop him if this is a repeat.

Random gestures towards Garrett with his beer bottle. "Heard about him. What was your impression of him and his story?"

"Very... what's the word... chivalrous," Garrett says, making the effort to improve his vocabulary. The effort appears to be physical as well as mental by the look on his face. "Also ancient. He said he was trapped for some unknown time by a sorceress of some sort. I can believe it. His dress, his tack, his speech patterns, everything seemed to indicate an age beyond his physical appearance, and he DID look old. After talking to him, I didn't feel like he was faking it.

"I decided to take him to Paris because some of the names he mentioned sounded similar to things I heard when I was there before," Garrett continues. "I thought perhaps Corwin might have known him from a shadow somewhere, but he didn't seem to. Still, he thought enough of his abilities to send him out to escort Ossian when he left."

Random nods. "Or he wanted to get rid of him fast enough and foisted him on the next outbound family member."

"Yeah, I considered that," Garrett nods and sips his beer.

Random finishes his beer. "I am really looking forward to the day when I can get someone to spend some time making better beer here. It should be beer of my desire, but it's never perfect." He frowns.

Random taps the table with his bottle, which he continues to use for gesturing. "Anyway, listen. Corwin tells me you've been spending time with Solace in Paris. Good for you both. You get to do whatever you want, but 'there's only one way to console a widow', and if you knock her up, make sure you take to a fast enough shadow that it's plausible that Lucas left her with child.

"I don't care if Flora hates me, but she's good at petty shite and would look on that as an affront. Which, by the way, is how Lucas ended up married. Also, I don't want to be related to Harmony Vesper. Anyone who would sleep with Eric is not right in the head. Here ends, the mandatory Father/Son bonding crapola, unless you have any questions. In which case get me another beer."

Random looks hopeful of the last, if not of his advice being taken.

Garrett looks a little flustered, though not surprised, at the sudden turn of the conversation. "Uh... no sir. I mean, there's nothin' goin' on, sir. Not that you have to worry about anyway," he tries to reassure his father awkwardly.

He reaches down for another beer, taking the moment to recover his composure before handing the bottle over. "I did have one question though. Any news on the Moonriders while I was gone? And how's the Queen doing?" he asks, then adds with a smirk, "I reckon that's two."

Random looks momentarily vexed. "The Queen is getting better, but slowly. As to the moonriders, Bleys went and poked them with a stick, and they are abuzz. I suspect they will try for Tir, and if they're smart they'll want to come through me and not Benedict."

There's a momentary flash of fire in Garrett's blue eyes and his jaw sets hard. He studies his father for signs of concern behind the casual statement and, seeing none, expresses his own. "So... is this something we should be worried about here?" he asks evenly.

Random nods. "Eventually, for sure. Soon? Dunno, that's what Bleys and Edan were looking into. This was my Dad's war, and I wasn't there to see it, but it was ugly, or so my elders told me. Incessantly. I'm not in any position to fail to prepare, but I am not looking for trouble, if that makes any sense."

Garrett nods. "It does. Perhaps I should be training for the cavalry sooner rather than later," he smirks, though Random can tell he's only partially joking. He tosses off the rest of his beer and disposes of the bottle. "I should be off. I'll be searching out Lucas's missing get if you need me."

Random raises an eyebrow. "Martin was working on that before he left, at least one of them. What do you want 'em for?"

"Same thing he did, I reckon," Garrett replies. "Keep 'em out of harm's way. Know who else knows about 'em." He pauses with a thoughtful grimace. "It's not lost on me, given Martin's experience, that unknown bairn can be used for ill purpose. I take that personally. With a war coming on, best to be safe."

Random lowers the one eyebrow and raises the other. "There was a significant minority who thought that what Lucas wanted from a bunch of kids was to raise an Army of loyal half-bloods to use against us in the future. Me, I assumed it wasn't aimed intentionally at us, just any targets of opportunity he came across. Also, he was one of Brand's students.

"So, don't tell anyone else that you want 'em for the same reason Lucas did. Not everyone holds him in as high regard as you do."

"I ..." Garrett begins, but clamps down tightly on whatever he was about to say as his father continues.

"Anyway, I hear from Corwin that Lucas' ghost haunts Versailles. Apparently he spends most of his time terrorizing the chambermaids." Random grins. "I suppose even ghosts need a hobby. If you really need more info, you just left the number one source of it."

"I doubt his ghost'd be wantin' to talk to me then," Garrett smirks. "Besides, there's likely chambermaids here that could tell me as much. If they would."

Random shrugs. "Live Princes frequently trump dead Lords. Lucas' friends are probably desperate for new friends. That's the way it is with that kind of friend. Anyway, ghosts. Very strange. There's not any meat to hang memories in," he says, tapping his forehead, "so they repeat themselves alot. Somebody told me once that they represented how a person perceived himself in life, so they aren't always like you'd expect, either. Stay away from them if you can."

Garrett opens the door to leave Random's office and is about to step into the outer clerk's room when he stops. The vestibule is crowded. Jerod, Raven, and Robin are all waiting for the King. It's entirely possible that they haven't slept recently.

Random spies them through the door. "Hey, it's my riot squad. Come in. Garrett, you can stay, this may have some bearing on your plans..."

Jerod's attire would be the only thing that might betray the signs that sleep had not been recently had, as his mannerisms remain the same, with a nod to the Prince as Garrett is entering the office. Once the King has indicated his permission to enter, Jerod waits for Garrett to either move back in or to one side before entering.

"Yes, sir," Garrett says with a single nod and steps aside to allow the group to enter. His shoulders straighten a bit as he goes into duty mode.

"Majesty..." Jerod offers with a polite royal nod, spying for the most comfortable chair not currently occupied by the King and sidling towards it as a means of claiming it, all the while waiting for permission to sit.

Raven likewise nods and says, "Your Majesty, Highness." She stakes a claim on a spot between two chairs, settling into a stance that probably looks a bit less stiff on the deck of a ship.

Robin, sans firelizards, makes her way into the office. With a careful stride, just short of wary, she makes her way to the nearest window and braces her backside against the sill. The observant might notice the occassional flash of gold or bronze outside.

Garrett waits for the rest of the crowd to enter the office before choosing his spot for the discussion. For the moment, he remains silent, but his expression is inquisitive.

Random indicates that Garrett should shut the door. "We're en famille folks, relax, sit, have some of Garrett's breakfest if there's any left." He looks around and smiles. "So, my night was sorta quiet. A little drumming, a little smoking, a little poker.

"How did the evening go for you all?"

Garrett closes the door as requested and quietly takes up a position, not at the front of the room, but close enough that he can see the faces of those speaking. He remains silent and attentive as the reports begin.

"Lawyerly, for myself." Jerod says after dropping into the appropriated chair. "Managed to avoid the riot..." and he looks over at Robin briefly before returning to Random, "...but got stuck dealing with Sir Octave and his most recent client Heap, at the end of a long chase to find out more about one of Lucas' offspring. Riot actually started looking good right about then. Martin had asked me to look into the matter of Max and his mother as he was busy with other things and had to depart. My trip started off with Raven and we eventually ran into everyone else along the way."

At Jerod's glance, Robin manages to not look put-out. She can see why if there was a riot and a Robin people might think they were connected. But since it really wasn't her riot, she doesn't engage in false protests. Instead she answers the King with half-shrug and a wrinkle to her nose. "Bad hunting tonight, sire. The herds were really skittish and the prey already gone."

Robin tips her head as she thinks about her statement and elaborates, "I ran into an old friend. He asked me to look into a family matter for him. Turned out I was coming at the same problem as Jerod & Raven but from a different trail. So he did the talking while Raven & I did the hunting. Glad at least half of it went well." She finishes with pursed lips.

Well, Raven certainly isn't going to volunteer anything about the riot if she isn't asked. "We laid hands on a part of the muscle that was Heap's, sir. The big, ugly part - he's gone missing. From the city and his impressment both, sounds like."

Paige nods. "I might've found a card game, when you've got a spare evening, but other than that, Jerod's the right of it."

Random nods, and looks around. "Noted," he says to Paige. He sits back and steeples his fingers. "Glad it was a peaceful evening for all of you. Anyone know anything about a riot? Because by an amazing coincidence, I hear there was one at exactly the place Ash sent you all to."

"Regretfully, no." Jerod says. "Paige and I were inside digging for details on Heap's flunkies, including one of his more colourful ones, a big half-troll that Raven mentioned has since disappeared. The others had the perimeter when something occurred outside, not sure what exactly. The option was to investigate that or continue with the pursuit of Heap's associates...I chose the latter."

"I saw it start." Robin confirms.

"When we got to the place Ash sent us, the atmosphere was tinder all around & people were skittish, so me and Raven didn't go in. 'Stead we took up positions out back to see what was flushed.

“Two amorous drunks joined us shortly. Just then, Kitten - flunky of interest - exits the nearby loo. Raven asks one of the drunks a polite question and said drunk decides to threaten a uniformed captain of Xanadu’s navy. There are more words and Kitten escalates to punching. Drunk #1 goes down, drunk #2 starts screaming. I shoot Kitten, (just a little bit - he’s fine) scoop him up and am back on the roof pretty darn quick. Raven moves to comfort Drunk #2. That’s when we’re hit with a mob from inside the tavern. They’re already well into torches-and-pitchforks mode, and all for attacking captain, my royal cousin.” she nods to Raven.

“Now our directive was ‘no bodies on the ground,’” Robin nods to Jerod, “and especially not ours.” She nods to the King. “But since folks aren’t even a little inclined to talk, me and Raven exit the scene by the fastest, more torturous route we can find and eventually we lose 'em.”

Robin shrugs. Humans and liquor, what can you say?

"The one what ended up in the gutter was drunk and disorderly, sir," Raven volunteers. "Thought I was of a mind to steal his girl. And she thought a flattened nose was murder, I guess."

Paige snorts a little under a covering hand. "I saw the mob start following upstairs, and was able to disperse a dozen or so from following over the roofs," she adds.

"It was a surprising, palpable tension," the redhead notes. "Supernaturally influenced here in Xanadu?" Paige asks rhetorically, obviously disbelieving it herself.

Random looks askance at Paige. "Maaaaaybe. Or else it was a bunch of drunken sailors who were pretty tightly wound up and a girl screaming murder in the alley. I'm just glad Gerard wasn't there. Who knows which side he'd've been on?

"Anyway, stay away from riots for a while. They're unhealthy. Maybe take care of the next investigation more smoothly, if you have a choice. Stuff like that.

"So, change of subject. What did Heap do, and what did you do about it?"

"A charge was made that Heap's minions made a threat to sell Scarlett's son Max to the Paresh if she didn't play ball with others of Lucas' minions who have been trying to keep the money and influence flowing even though he's dead." Jerod says. "It's safe to say everyone in the group took an immediate dislike to that idea."

He scales the copy of Octave's document to Random. "Officially Heap is claiming that he was deceived into supporting this action by Silken, Lucas' official high minion and that Heap's a loyal servant of the King. Unofficially he's guilty as sin. He knows it, I know it and he knows the document is for official use only. He knows he's going to be dragged through the streets of a city of my choosing, in a disembowelled state if he doesn't do as he's told, starting with putting his remaining minions on standby, not threatening kids, and taking a message to Silken to appear for an immediate meeting with me, with her own offspring in tow. He's also to advise her of the consequences of choosing to ignore a summons. After that, depending on how obsequious he is, he may be useful in keeping an eye on people here since he's trying to make a new name for himself. I wouldn't trust him as far as I can throw him but his basic nature is to collect data. It's instinctive and that can be useful for us so long as we don't rely on him to actually be loyal.

Random nods in the appropriate places. "That sounds fine. It's more than we get from most people. If you have to dump people in inconvenient-to-return-from shadows, let me know, otherwise this tentatively sounds like it's as under control as any riot-causing expedition can hope to be."

"It's been determined that Lucas had several children...Max and Silken's are the two I'm aware of. They should be able to provide details on the others assuming the right questions are put forward. Lucas' death is still not well advertised so that may be useful depending on how we approach it. He also kept his plans very close to the chest, which is not surprising. Why so many kids is open to speculation. He might have wanted to simply have his own private gang. Martin and I speculated it could have been for more sinister purposes and decided to see if we could put that to bed. It's not something either of us wanted to be right about."

"Martin mentioned such concerns to me as well, though not in detail. I reckon he told you more," Garrett says. "I'd like to be caught up on the particulars of that, if you would."

Raven listens in, but has nothing to add.

Robin listens carefully as well. Though she has trouble following the legal and political stuff, these are still her nephews and nieces being talked about. And Robin takes Family very seriously, even given her penchant for disaster.

Paige smiles at Garrett's enthusiasm.

Random nods. "I hear his ghost is reaching his spectral hands up skirts in Paris if you want to try to find out, but it may just remain a mystery. Flora assured me that he'd only been dragged to Amber recently, so he can't have raised any little time bombs to fruition. Garrett, if it wasn't before, your spawn-of-Lucas survey is now an official thing. Ask for help if you need it." He shakes his head. "Next Time I'll just name the place 'The Lucas Saint-Something Memorial orphanage' and be done with it..."

It takes Robin a moment but eventually she gets it and smiles. Though she's pretty sure that Xanadu was The Daeon God-Something Memorial Orphanage first. Poor Random...

After a brief pause to see if anyone cracked a smile at that, the King hits his desk, the King continues. "Anything else? I'm going to be out of pocket, so if any of you want to try to get in on the poker this evening, you just have to convince Gilt to let you have my seat."

Jerod does vaguely smirk at the thought of Lucas being himself even in ghost form but beyond that he is silent.

Robin shakes her head in the negative.

Raven, too, has nothing to add, other than a faint smirk of her own at the idea of a ghost feeling up the girls.

After seeing the total lack anything, Random lets them all escape the royal presence.

With Random's dismissal firmly established, Jerod takes his leave and exits to the outer office before stopping to await Garrett. He gives a good-bye nod and friendly word to Paige, and then lets Raven know he will be at the captain's ship in the morning so they can depart for Amber.

After that, he will turn to Garrett. "Highness..." he says in his patient, court ingrained mannerism.

Garrett nods with a formal air. "Cousin. Shall we walk?" Assuming Jerod agrees, Garrett ambles with the easy gait of a horseman toward corridors that will eventually lead to paths outside near the waterfall, the better to muffle conversation.

"So you sail with the Captain in the morning," Garrett says as they walk. It's a question though not stated so. Jerod probably also understands from long experience that it's meant more as small talk while they remain in the listening range of castle staff.

"Assuming a ship is procured, yes." Jerod replies, the cap end of his spear tapping against the stone floor as they walk, a precise and rhythmic sound. Some might find it a way to announce oneself, others to accept it as a warning to stay away from the musings of Princes.

"Your highness had questions concerning a conversation I had with your brother?" he asks.

"Yes," Garrett replies, glancing appreciatively at the spear, with its apparent servant-scattering properties. "Before he left with Folly, we spoke about the need to find Lucas's 'loose ends' and he mentioned Silken as a source of information. I wondered if he told you more."

"Not on that point." Jerod says. "He was concerned about the number of things occupying his attention while I was speaking to him concerning Folly, which is naturally his primary concern at the moment. He mentioned having met Scarlett and Max on the way here and that led to a discussion of Lucas and his possible activities. That Lucas was able to conceal his activities well is commendable from a Family perspective...it shows he was capable. It's also questionable from a Family perspective, given our past experience.

"We decided that an investigation of that side would be of benefit, especially to eliminate any worst case scenarios about why Lucas decided to sire so many children, when the family is normally warned not to produce any.

"As for Silken, consider her to be dangerous. Any that can attract the attention of Family, and hold it, are not to be treated lightly."

"Martin didn't mention that about Silken, but it stands to reason, I suppose," Garrett concedes. He purses his lips in thought, his hands clasped behind his back as he walks. "Go back a moment though. Tell me more about this Scarlett and Max? And how old is the lad?"

"Max is still young, certainly no more than a ten-year of age I would gather given the time frame." Jerod says. "His reaction to Lucas' death would indicate he knew his father at some level and probably idolized him. Also, his hearing is quite good.

"His mother Scarlett is an....interesting woman." Jerod says with a smile. "I can see why Lucas was interested in her. She is another of those who can attract and keep the attention of Family. That she spent much of her time at the docks should not be a sign of weakness, she is quite strong and dangerous in her own way. She is currently working to take advantage of the new opportunities that present themselves here."

Garrett snorts. "Never underestimate a Docksider," he mutters under his breath. It sounds like he has experience with this.

"Her background is Rebman, from a Shell that was displaced after being out of favor with Moire. She and her brother fled and have made their own ways in life. Her brother is named Victor and he has some very personal connections to Robin."

There is a lot to digest here and Garrett's expression grows more thoughtful as Jerod's comments progress. "Martin expected that most of the bairn would be fairly young, born since the Sundering," Garrett muses, "though I wonder as well what he might have been up to in Shadow before he returned. For one as calculating as Lucas, I find it hard to believe that whatever plan he had hasn't been in place for decades. Nor do I believe it was haphazard. Records exist. Somewhere." Given the detailed breeding records kept for centuries by the Masters of Horse at the Amber stables, Garrett is certain that Lucas, egotist that he was, kept at least as good a record of his own get.

Changing tack, Garrett asks, "Scarlett's from Rebma though? Any idea how long between when she left and when the lad was born?"

"Awhile." Jerod says. "I'm sure she can provide time frames that would be of benefit to you should the need arise. I was able to ascertain that Scarlett's interest in Lucas was...limited in scale. He liked her, and she liked that he liked her. It went from there but was not apparently as serious as Lucas' interactions with Silken."

"So it all comes back to Silken. Again," Garrett says, unsurprised and resigned.

He runs an uneasy hand through his dark brown hair. "I spoke with Solace too, back in Paris. She didn't know anything, not that I really expected she would. He wouldn't have confided in her. She was weak, at least in the ways that Lucas would value," Garrett frowns, the edge in his voice indicating his feelings on that point. "Still, I had hoped something might have slipped.

"What about Aunt Flora? I don't suppose she'd have known about his doings before the Sundering," Garrett suggests doubtfully.

"I am not certain." Jerod says. "I would be cautious in pursuing that line however. You have more to lose than to gain unless you are very careful. The Princess has already laid claim to Lucas' existing children and if the others are made publicly known there is no reason to believe she would not do the same. Until there is more information I do not believe that would be in everyone's best interests."

"Mmm. Agreed," Garrett nods thoughtfully. He walks on in silence for a moment, then asks, "You said you and Martin speculated on Lucas's motives for creating such a brood. What did you come up with?"

"Worst case?" Jerod muses. "That Lucas was following in Brand's footsteps. It was not a pleasant topic of conversation."

Garrett shudders visibly.

"Best case. That Lucas was a natural born father who loved children. I think we can both discount that option as being overly syrupy. The middle grey zone we could only guess at. Good speculation requires information and we have too little. That's why he wanted me to follow-up at the minimum with Max and Scarlett, get them under a protective view for the foreseeable future so we could learn more. Now that your majesty is involved, that can be continued while I pursue leads from Gateway."

"I'll do what I can," Garrett says with a nod. "Have you come up with anything besides the Silken-Heap connection so far?"

"Not at the moment. My investigation was not far advanced and the situation with Max required resolution first." Jerod says. "I would recommend giving at least some thought to Scarlett's Rebman background, in comparison to the backgrounds of the mothers for the other children. I am curious as to who the other women are, where they are from and whether there is anything that needs to be considered on that front."

"Do you reckon Silken would know anything about their backgrounds?" Garrett asks doubtfully, "Or are you thinking more along the lines of following where the money goes?"

"Both." Jerod replies. "The backgrounds of the mothers may be relevant, though that is a speculation on my part. Certainly, the power and the money would be the means by which to track them. And Silken would be aware of those two. Since Heap has been advised to provide Silken with my message concerning meeting with me, I would recommend that you use that to your advantage. I always prefer to have others realize that it is better to be cooperative with Princes and to be on our good sides, because we're generous to those who we like. But sometimes we also need to beat someone into the ground as an example that we also have bad sides. Silken would recognize this...whether she follows it...and how she follows it, is another matter."

He ponders Jerod's advice for a moment, running a hand slowly through his unruly hair in thought. "The Perogative of Princes," he mutters, and Jerod would certainly recognize this phrase as Martin's. "Of all the things I've learned so far, that's been the hardest one to get through my skull." His jaw sets firmly then, and a small shudder runs through his shoulders as they rise, as if he's physically shaking off the moment of insecurity. "But I'll get it. Practice makes perfect," he states firmly, then changes the subject.

"Does anyone have a way to reach you if questions arise?" he asks, sounding more confident, or at least trying to.

"Except for the trump booth, no." Jerod says. "Only the one trump of me currently exists, that I am aware of. I have not yet granted permission for others to be made nor has anyone asked to make more, so should one be floating around, it's owner would be advised to keep it hidden.

"Is his majesty requesting that others be made available?" he asks.

"No," Garrett replies without hesitation. "If a spare hasn't been needed so far, it's not likely to be.

"Is there anything else before you head out to meet the Captain?" Garrett asks. Though he suspects there's lots he forgot to ask, he can't think of anything that wasn't covered either here or in the meeting with the King.

"I would ask how your majesty is adapting to your position." Jerod says.

Garrett smiles, looking oddly relieved at the question. "As well as one might expect, I reckon, for starting a bit behind," he replies. "You and Martin were both brought up to be princes of Somewhere, so though I've tried to follow some of your examples, it's sometimes hard to know what you don't know. I've picked up advice in lots of places and it's a matter of deciding what to follow and what to toss out."

"Do you believe that you would have been better served by receiving an upbringing within a royal household?" Jerod asks.

"In some ways, perhaps, but I can't say honestly that I would have preferred it," Garrett admits. "I might have been better prepared for the formalities and responsibilities, but I think growing up on the outside allows me a different vision, perhaps, than those immersed in it." He shrugs. "I reckon we'll have to see if that's a help or a hind'rance in the long run.

"What about you, Cousin? Might I ask of your own experiences as the son of the King?" he asks, his boyish eyes alight with interest.

"Do you have a particular topic of interest?" Jerod asks. "Being the son of the King only applied to the last few years of my father's life."

"True, but he was still your father for all of your life, prior to his passing, of course," Garrett clarifies, his expression clouding a bit at the mention of the passing of the King. A shadow of doubt crosses his face a moment later though. "Or -- do I have that right? You were aware of your parentage all along, weren't you?"

"Of course." Jerod replies, neatly side-stepping Garrett's concern with a Court blitheness that would have made Eric proud. "My father made a very bold statement by announcing me at the time of my birth. His feud with Corwin was still fresh, though Corwin was considered to be dead to all. I was a liability, though my background in Rebma would provide some mitigation should any of his enemies choose to act against him. Killing or otherwise harming me would have also incurred Moire's wrath, though likely for different reasons.

"I have no doubt that my father could have persuaded my mother to have had me raised in Shadow, had he believed it absolutely necessary. I also have no doubt that such a concession from Mother would have cost him considerably.

"I have sometimes wondered at the freedoms that others had while being raised in Shadow. The structure of Court is demanding and has no tolerance for failure or regret. It is, and was, a harsh training environment. There was never a day that was not filled with lessons or tutors, demands of Court and household, policies of the kingdom and the infernal intricacies of egotism that permeate Court. There were times that I wished for things to have been...easier perhaps? But that same wish would exist for others I think raised in Shadow and not exposed to the opportunities of Court, and there are many. I may not have had the same freedoms that others possessed, but I also do not begrudge what I was able to accomplish. It may be harsh, but I have done things that others have never done in their lives and may never do. Given the chance to do things differently, I'm not sure I would."

The younger prince soaks this all in like a sponge, his eyes alight with interest. "My mother had it in her head that she was 'saving' me from some horrible fate by hiding me as she did, though I know there was more to it. She loved me, and in her mind, I was hers as much as his. She refused to be cut out," Garrett explains with a nostalgic smile. "Da was more practical. He knew it would come out one day and did his best to prepare me, as much as he could in his position.

"I reckon I got the best of both worlds, in a way," Garrett continues thoughtfully. "I'm glad I was raised in Amber, even without knowing my true lineage. At least I know history. You and the Family, most of you anyway, are not strangers to me. I was only a lad when King Eric died, but I remember it. I remember the battles. And the Sundering and all that came after. I might not have understood it at the time, but because I know, it makes sense when my own history is filled in." He shakes his head. "I can't imagine what it must've been like for those coming in from Shadow for the first time and having to deal with the Sundering AND learning to live in Amber too."

"I'm not sure that it would be as difficult as it might sound, your majesty." Jerod says. "I suspect it is more temperament that is the driving factor. Our most recent additions to the fold are examples I think of individuals who are likely to have some difficulty adjusting and yet each personifies the classic situation just described.

"Silhouette was isolated from Amber and has only recently come to know the idea of the One True City. Raven, however, was raised as a part of the city, even joining the Navy. I think both will have their own set of difficulties however in coming to terms with their heritage however."

"Mmm," Garrett intones, his eyes narrowing at the mention of Silhouette. "What do you make of that one? Silhouette?" His question has more of an information-gathering air than one of complete unfamiliarity. The young prince has obviously met the newcomer at some point.

"She is needy." Jerod says simply, letting the word hang for a moment before continuing.

"Silhouette has considerable strength of character, which she gains from her convictions. But she has not yet realized that for Family, the strength of conviction comes from within, by our realization not of who we are, but what WE choose to be. Her strength has been garnered from external influences. Her belief in what she calls the Grand Design, or her craft work are examples. They provide strength in how someone can use external forces to become stronger, but she has no belief in herself. She seems to believe only in herself in relation to other things, other influences, other powers. That is a danger to her, because those can be taken away. And if that happens, then what is she?

"Did she mention to you her upbringing? How she suffered at the hands of others?" he asks. "These are but a few of the influences...and they are important because she seems to give it too much prominence. I do not belittle her past, but it is necessary to learn from your experiences, not to be dominated by them. When that happens, your past rules you, instead of you learning from it.

"That she is needy is because of this external focus. She is Family, and when she walks the Pattern she will become eternal, a fact of the universe and all that she would interact with. But I do not think she realizes that yet, though our nature demands that she fulfill it. It is like a hole that one tries to fill. How she meets this demand will be a defining moment in her life. It will either damage her considerably, or it will make her stronger than she will realize."

"Thank you for your candor," Garrett says with an abrupt nod. "My meeting with her was brief and occurred shortly after she arrived. I've since heard lots of talk, but mostly of the 'stay away from her' variety." He narrows his eyes in thought. "You can be wary of a hawk or you can make it work for you, but only if you know how it works. Simply avoiding it isn't always helpful. Or possible, for that matter. This town isn't that big.

"As for Raven, I get that one a bit better. I knew a lot of seamen down on the Dockside when I was little, and, well... there's other things we have in common," Garrett muses.

"Such as?" Jerod asks politely.

"Stubborn, insufferable mothers," Garrett grins, then adds more seriously, "and a knowledge of Amber and her ways. We're cut from the same cloth, so to speak. I'll be interested to see how the Captain manages the new role."

"What issues would you see the good captain encountering, if I may ask?" Jerod asks.

"I'm not thinking of specific issues so much as the role in general," Garrett explains. "I mean, I know it took me a while to settle into it, and I don't think I truly accepted it until I Walked. In Raven's case, he's already proven himself a leader by holding his ship together for so long after things fell apart. He's got one up on me in that regard. Even so, his life will change now that he's Royal Captain Raven. Your life is not so much your own once it's out."

Garrett frowns as a new thought occurs to him. "Do you s'pose either of them knows about the Pattern yet?"

"Silhouette would have learned of it by now." Jerod says. "Her conversations with the King and others, plus her inquisitive nature make it unlikely that she would not be aware of it. She would not appreciate its function or depth however until she has walked it, as you indicated for the good Captain.

"As for Raven, I do not believe so. I will be providing some details on that note during my trip to Amber and Gateway to him. Bring him up to speed on some of the things he can expect...within reason of course."

"Well, tell the Captain I'd be happy to answer questions in that regard as well. For the Captain. For Silhouette, I reckon I'll misdirect as long as I possibly can," he amends with a shudder.

"Why do you need to believe that you should obstruct her?" Jerod asks. "Has the King directed this?"

"No, he hasn't," Garrett replies, "but I'm not thrilled about the idea of someone that unpredictable having that kind of power before we know more about her. Perhaps I'm being overcautious, but..." he shrugs, "that's just me."

"We are all unpredictable, your highness." Jerod says with a smile. "It's what makes us Family."

"That it does, Cousin," Garrett returns the smile. At a corner of the corridor, he turns and nods to Jerod. "Good luck on your voyage, Highness."

Jerod has a slightly bemused look on his face at Garrett's comment, noting the unintended promotion but choosing not to follow up on it. "And to your endeavours also, your Highness.