It has been seven days since Random returned to Amber, and Folly suddenly has much bigger questions on her mind than "Do you think we'll be getting the band back together?"
Syd, her former lover and the love of her life, is now Random, King of the Universe. His wife, a bride not of his own choosing, may want Folly dead, or at least very far away. And his son, with whom she has cultivated a tender friendship in these last few years... the details of her relationship with him suddenly seem more important - and more complicated - than ever....
Let's see how the Fortune Deck answers the three biggest questions on Folly's mind right now:
She'd had it all figured out: He'd come home, and either the rumors would prove true - he really would turn out to be a changed man, deeply in love with the woman he was forced to marry - and she'd wish him well and at least try to stay friends with him, or....
Well, she had her doubts about the rumors. He was supposed to have been so miserable before Vialle... but she knew better. She was there.
"I spent a little over two years in Texorami, happy. Really."
- Random to Corwin, Sign of the Unicorn
Perhaps they would work something out. No-one would pay any heed to the discreet dalliances of an ill-regarded prince, the least of his brothers....
But then he had to go and get himself made King. Now everyone is paying attention, all believing his wife responsible for his newfound nobleness. Interfering with that could tarnish the people's goodwill toward him - and Folly desperately wants him to succeed, both for his own sake and for the sake of Amber. But what is the best way to support him? Stay close to him, a trusted friend in a sea of hangers-on? Or back off so as not to risk soiling his newly-clean reputation?
The cards suggest:
Past: The Eagle (Reversed) - Thoughtlessness
Present: Autumn (Upright) - Plenty
Future: Death (Reversed) - Stasis
Virtue: War (Reversed) - Effort Misspent
Fault: Spring (Upright) - New Growth
Fate: The Hermit - Wisdom/Isolation
The Past card, "The Eagle Reversed (Thoughtlessness)," could easily represent Random and Folly's carefree shared past. The description of the card, in which "an eagle can be carried away by the strong winds found on high," might refer specifically to Random's departure from Texorami - riding the air currents in his sail plane - which he undertook, as is his wont, without knowledge or heed of the consequences.
The Present card, "Autumn (Plenty)" might refer to the impending Coronation festivities and the spirit of abundance the Royal Family is trying to instill in Amber's people. More abstractly, for Folly, it could indicate the abundance of love and goodwill directed toward her at the moment from her other family members as well as from Random, who obviously still trusts and values her.
The Future card, "Death Reversed (Stasis)" seems entirely appropriate for beings who are supposed to live forever. But does the lack of change indicate that Random will need to remain a good, upstanding King, loyal to his queen, for a very long time? Or is it merely another indication among many that he hasn't changed nearly as much as everyone says he has?
The Virtue ("War Reversed (Effort Misspent)") and Fault ("Spring (New Growth)") cards in some ways suggest the temptation Folly offers her former lover: to turn away from those new duties that are keeping him from her and return to the ways of their "misspent" youth.
The Fate card - "The Hermit (Wisdom/Isolation)" - can either be taken literally ("Will Folly indeed end up alone?") or figuratively. Perhaps her true place in the new regime is as a trusted advisor to the King, an unlikely voice of wisdom in the guise of youth.
"...I've gotta ask you to stay for a while and help me fix this mess. I feel like shit, asking that, but being King isn't about doing what you want."
- Random, to Folly, the morning of his return to Amber
The "Misspent Effort" (Virtue) working in her favor might then be others' foolhardy plans, making her look positively level-headed in contrast. The "New Growth" (Fault) working against her could be her progressive proposals, inspiring resistance in powerful adversaries - something she has already faced. It could also, of course, represent Vialle, the new relationship in Random's life and the biggest impediment to Folly's continued relationship with him.
It seems clear that Folly needs to stay close to Syd - whatever form that closeness might take - rejecting Isolation and working toward Wisdom.
Vialle is generally believed to be good and sweet and noble - and responsible for Random's amazing transformation from reckless youth to worthy monarch. Some evidence suggests, though, that her motives are far from noble, that she will put her own needs in front of the needs of others. If Random is to be accepted as King by the Amber nobility, he almost certainly needs her as his queen. But will the price be too high?
The cards suggest:
Past: The Fool (Reversed) - Lack of Connection
Present: Fertility (Reversed) - Decline
Future: The Defender (Upright) - Safety
Virtue: The Lion (Reversed) - Weakness
Fault: The Cockatrice (Upright) - Corruption
Fate: The Eagle - The Mind Prevails/Thoughtlessness
The Past card, "The Fool Reversed (Lack of Connection)" could represent Vialle's status as an outsider who married into the family. Her lack of connection to Amber combined with her strong ties to Moire and Rebma lead to questions of loyalty.
One can only hope that the Present card - "Fertility Reversed" - might be taken literally: Folly is not certain she'd be strong enough to endure nine months watching someone else be smugly pregnant with Random's child. It might also indicate Vialle's recent decline in status among some of the grandchildren of Oberon, who believe she might not be as innocent as she lets on.
It is not clear whether the Future card ("The Defender") refers to Vialle's own safety or that of Amber while she is queen. Perhaps it merely reiterates that Random's position as King is strengthened with Vialle by his side, making him look good for the stuffy nobles.
Normally, the Virtue and Fault cards represent those forces working for and against the questioner. In this case, though, the Virtue card, "The Lion Reversed (Weakness)," seems a direct reference to Vialle. According to the description, "reversed, this card means illness, weakness, or physical failings" - as, for example, Vialle's blindness.
"...Vialle is very good at making a man feel like he's king of the universe, like she wants to nurture him and care for him. And she's good at making men want to protect her in turn."
- Martin, to Jerod
Vialle uses her blindness, her weakness, to get others to protect her, thus turning her weakness into a strength. But if the Virtue represents Vialle, perhaps the Fault and Fate cards do, too....
...and what a doozy of a Fault: The Cockatrice. Corruption. Well, she has just been handed a tremendous amount of power, which may well corrupt her, even if her actions heretofore have remained well-intentioned if ill-advised. If one believes this interpretation, then yes, letting Vialle take the throne is dangerous. The Fate card, "The Eagle," offers some hope, though: perhaps if Vialle can resist the temptation to abuse power, the mind will prevail and she can be a good and just queen rather than a petty, thoughtless tyrant.
Taken as a whole, this reading seems to indicate that Vialle as queen does present some dangers, but possibly some safety as well.
Folly has been attracted to Martin since they met - and the attraction has only grown with time. Over the last five years, the two of them have become close friends, trusted confidants, constant companions; but, not knowing how Martin's father would react, they have not yet acted on their mutual feelings for one another.
Under different circumstances, Folly wouldn't hesitate to get involved with Martin. She loves him deeply. However, she also still loves his father. Getting romantically involved with Martin could jeopardize not only her friendships with him and his father, but also Martin and Random's nascent relationship with each other.
The cards suggest:
Past: The Defender (Reversed) - Peril
Present: Striking The Dragon's Tail (Upright) - Underestimating The
Challenge
Future: Drowning In Armor (Upright) - Protective Measures Turn
Dangerous
Virtue: The Cockatrice (Reversed) - Recovery
Fault: Spring (Upright) - New Growth
Fate: Knowledge - Truth/Falsehood
The Past card, "The Defender Reversed (Peril)," may well refer to Martin and Folly's first meeting, during which he (the defender) rescued her from an impending apocalypse (peril). It could also, however, refer to Martin's participation in Oberon's efforts against Chaos, the White Knight doing harmful things for the greater good:
"I feel like almost all I've done for a long time is hurt people, Folly. That's something I'm trying to change. It was necessary to, to do things I wouldn't have wanted to, because it was that or the universe would come to an end."
- Martin
As the card depicts, "When people war, one family's protector is another's marauder." Martin was himself, in some ways, The Defender Reversed.
The Present card, "Striking the Dragon's Tail (Underestimating the Challenge)" seems entirely appropriate to the delicate tangle of interwoven relationships Folly now finds herself in. According to the description, "this card indicates a failure to understand the scope of a challenge or the seriousness of a danger." And it is followed by...
...the Future card, "Drowning in Armor (Protective Measures Turn Dangerous)." Martin has until now been Folly's protector - rescuing her from an apocalypse, watching out for her as she settled into her new home, trying to keep her safe from others' schemes. But Martin himself is a complex and dangerous man, prone to recklessness, paranoia, and unexpected violence despite his honorable and dutiful spirit. Although Martin would probably never intentionally harm Folly under any but the strangest of circumstances, his well-meaning protective measures - for example, mistrusting Vialle and encouraging Folly to do the same - could have dangerous consequences.
The Virtue card, "The Cockatrice Reversed (Recovery)," could
refer to Martin's own recovery from the pain of his past, a recovery
aided by his relationship with Folly:
"This is the first time I've been happy since Grandfather died, I think."
- Martin, to Folly
It seems reasonable to think that the more Martin heals, the more he is able to let go of his anger and paranoia, the better the chance that he and Folly will find happiness together.
The Fault card, "Spring (New Growth)," might refer to the growth of some other relationship, either in Folly's life or Martin's. In particular, it may refer to the new King: Folly doesn't want to add the freakout of knowing his ex-lover is dating his son to Random's already-complicated life.
The Fate card, "Knowledge (Truth/Falsehood)," may simply be a reminder that honesty is the best policy in matters of the heart. It could also signify Martin's and Folly's desire for closeness, for being able to lay bare their souls to one another, to know each other in every sense of the word.
"I don't think I know what I need. What I know is that I can't lie to you, and if you ask me, I'll tell you anything."
- Martin, to Folly
The reading, taken as a whole, suggests that if Folly does decide to pursue a relationship with Martin, she should do so with her eyes open, mindful of the dangers and always looking for - and expressing - the truth.
The Elders have returned from war -- and yet no one has yet come forward to claim Folly as his get. Is it because her real father is no longer among the living? Or perhaps he lives, but does not recognize her as his own; perhaps he never knew she existed.
Or perhaps he does know -- but his plans, or other circumstances, require him to keep the truth a secret. And so Folly asks the cards....
The cards reply:
Past: Death (Upright) - Change
Present: Fertility (Reversed) - Decline
Future: The Phoenix (Reversed) - Destruction
Virtue: War (Reversed) - Effort Misspent
Fault: Winter (Reversed) - Inexperience
Fate: The Soldier - Duty/Blind Obedience
Just before Folly took Random's newly-created Pattern, she had a long talk with Random during which she finally confessed that she's fallen in love with his son. Random replied that he wouldn't stand in the way of their relationship, but that it would be Bad (in the sense of being metaphysically detrimental) for Folly and Martin (or any of the descendents of Oberon, for that matter) to have a child together. When pressed for how he knew, and exactly how it would be bad, he said he "just knew" that he had to forbid it to "prevent tragedy".
When Folly passed this news on to Martin, Martin seemed pretty dubious. After all, Folly is Random's former lover.
The cards suggest:
Past: The Soldier (Upright) - Duty
Present: Winter (Upright) - Maturity
Future: The Smith (Reversed) - Evil Effort
Virtue: Nature (Upright) - Life Energy
Fault: The Lion (Upright) - The Body Prevails
Fate: The Fool - Freedom/Lack of Connection
One possible interpretation:
Past: Easy. Folly and Martin declared their love to each other years ago, while the Army was still away fighting the war in Chaos. But they agreed not to consummate the relationship 'til they'd cleared it with Random, who might have other ideas about whose bed Folly oughtta be sleeping in.
Present: Folly's Patternwalk was a huge turning-point for her. She has just come into her own not only as a member of the family and an heir to Oberon's legacy, but also as a key player in Random's newly-created realm of Xanadu. Her Patternwalk marked her symbolic transition from Maiden to Mother, made evident by one of the things she encountered as she approached the Fourth Veil: a child who addressed her as "Mama".
Future: Random is not lying. If Folly has Martin's baby, there will be terrible consequences. I find it chilling to note that the Smith Reversed has come up so frequently, always with the result that one of the Youngers injures another either accidentally or on purpose, that in this game it has been nicknamed the "stab your cousin card." This is bad.
But unfortunately....
Virtue and Fault: Does anyone else see what I see here? It scarcely matters what Folly decides: All the forces of the Universe, whether they're working for or against her, obviously really want that baby to be born. And go back and look at the Fault card in the reading asking whether Folly should get involved with Martin: New Growth.
Fate: I can see a couple of interpretations for this. The one that makes the most sense is that choosing to go through with having a child ("freedom" from Random's strictures) will in some way disrupt Folly's connection to her loved ones or other things that are important to her. Perhaps she'll be forced away from Xanadu as a result. Another interpretation is that freeing herself from the threat of this tragedy can only be accomplished by breaking her connection to Martin.
Last modified: 9 June 2004