The messenger comes from the Danaan camp by motorcycle, and requests to speak with Vere and King Corwin immediately. Corwin summons Merlin and Celina, and the group meets in his private receiving room, where, on Corwin's orders, food and drink have been brought for the guard. The lad has waited to deliver his message and for the King and the Prince to question him before eating.
"I bring news from Commander Siege of events in Camp. Queen Moire has appeared in camp by some magic unknown to us and some of the Children of Lir have rallied to her cause." The young man stops there, clearly waiting for questions.
Corwin doesn't bother to keep the disappointment from his expression. What's missing is any hint of surprise.
Vere's control slips for a moment, and a flash of anger crosses his face, then is quickly suppressed. "How many, and has she taken them from the encampement?" he asks, his face once more calm and his voice steady. "Or do she and they remain?"
Celina is surprised by this turn of events. She allows that to show, but waits on her father and Vere to have the say about this military stratagem of Moire's.
"Perhaps a third of them," the messenger says. It's clear he's reporting what he's been told and not as a witness with understanding.
Merlin looks to the others. "This is enough for a guard for her person, and perhaps Rilsa, but not for a military action against Rebma, correct?"
Vere nods. "An excellent size for a bodyguard during a time of trouble. A dozen on duty at any time, another dozen relaxing nearby, ready to be summoned at a moment's notice, and a third dozen sleeping. However, it is also an excellent size for a strike force for targeted action. Small enough to be moved quickly via arcane means. Well trained warriors who have fought both under the sea and on the surface. Men who have demonstrated their loyalty to her by violating their oaths of allegiance to me and their fellow warriors in the Children." He smiles grimly. "Though no doubt they would argue they are following a higher loyalty."
"And if there is the assumption of a vendetta," Celina asks, because really, she can't guess, "would such a small strike force move to deal with Aunt Florimel? There was an agenda here in Paris before Lucas was killed. It seems likely Moire would need to get to that and get out of here. So I am interested in the notion of a small force moving by arcane means...particularly here to the palace."
"I hope Moire's not that stupid," Corwin says flatly, "but she's not batting a thousand so far on smarts. Merlin, call for a page and tell them to have Alice summoned. I need to know how many mirrors we have left and how many are covered. I hope covering them is good enough and I don't have to break them."
Corwin turns to Vere. "Do you need to go back to Le Havre to resume command over the remainder of your men? I'll send Lance with you, or Merlin if you think you need a sorcerer."
[gms, you can answer here or in the OOC...but I think I understood that mirrors could be opened for non-initiates to pass through (I blame Zelazny) but how dangerous is it to move a dozen men at once? My guess is that it might be a trivial feat at Moire's skill level. What does Celina expect?]
[Celina thinks Moire and Rilsa could do it with a mirror of sufficient quality.]
Celina waits on Vere's response. At least in this moment, the fact that Moire, Florimel, Alice and Celina are all on the 'stupid plans' side of things seems morbidly amusing to her inner currents. For once, her face does not react. She does not offer that he has eleven mirrors that might transport five persons, only two of those that could transport fifteen. Celina knows the two are covered as she moved one of them into the palace recently herself and covered the other the day she left to search for Moire. Alice knows why these are covered, as she knows how Lucas died.
Better if Alice checks and shows the King she is dutiful.
Vere nods. "The men who remained true to their oaths need me there," he grimaces slightly, "Even if many of them remained true because their families are either opposed to Moire, or else sitting the fence before committing. Furthermore, my cousin the Lord Commander Siege may need my backing to maintain order over the warriors of three kingdoms, until recently at war with one another, in light of this defection. And, to add to the amusements, I also need to ensure that the various factions of sorceresses and witches are not being seduced by the promise of a new magic. In light of that, the assistance of Prince Merlin would be greatly appreciated."
"I will make ready to go at once," Merlin says. With Corwin's permission, he excuses himself to gather the materials he'll need to do whatever he thinks he'll need to do in Le Havre.
[Vere may also excuse himself and set up a new thread for himself and Merlin to .]
[Vere does so, with a murmured, "Send word if you need me," to Celina before departing.]
After Merlin's departure, Alice comes to report. Under questioning by Corwin, she counts the number of mirrors of appropriate dimension a bit higher than Celina. Since she doesn't instinctively know the quality of a mirror that is required for transport, her conservatism is understandable. She also reminds him that a lack of mirrors means that the planned reception following Lucas' funeral will need to be held by day or outside, since the Louvre doesn't have light switches.
This reminder makes Corwin frown, but he acknowledges it nonetheless, and tells her to do as she thinks best under the circumstances. Which means 'no mirrors'.
"Unless we're going to break them," he says to Celina.
Celina stares at the King. "They are your mirrors. You said Moire was being less than bright." She shifts her stance a bit to close the personal space between them.
"If I thought I was going to be attacked through mirrors, or through a mountain pass, I'd use it as an exercise in grooming my resources and powers to respond to such threats." Celina shrugs, "But I do not consider myself a warrior. If Moire wants to get to Florimel, or you, why not let her use the back door that you have left less guarded? I'm hoping she has other plans already and the Lucas event was an aberration.
"What is your will regards Moire killing in your kingdom? What is your punishment for me? I was in charge here when it happened."
"What's about to happen to Moire is probably worse than anything I could do to her. I don't and can't countenance the murder, but Lucas was also a fool for making a trump of her." Corwin's expression darkens somewhat. "What did Merlin have to say about that? Did Lucas ask you for permission, Celina, and did you countenance it?"
Celina wants Merlin little in this. "Merlin said making the Trump was a foul move without permission."
And here comes the rub. Celina lifts her chin and tucks her hands behind her back. "Lucas sent a note, asking for my authority to 'take all measures necessary to watch Rilsa'." Celina lets that idea linger only a beat. "Rilsa, not Moire. My response was that he could have that authority for a week if he would pledge a year's service to the throne of Paris. I did not think a scion of Amber would make that pledge. I thought it odd he would ask for such a written ward when family needs were most pressing. I did not know he was an artist. I do not much appreciate Trumps myself, but I did not know it was an assault."
She looks at him to see what he shall make of that. She's balanced and prepared for his full anger.
"So he lied to you too." Corwin's expression darkens. "I'll have to tell Random that being too stupid to live is a heritable condition," he adds as something of an aside.
Corwin purses his lips for a moment. "A year probably didn't seem that long to Lucas in exchange for cover against what he was doing, given what happened to your cousin Martin and how badly the rest of the family was likely to take it. What would you have done if he'd told you he was actually making a trump?"
"It would have made my skin crawl even so," Celina responds, as this is something she has often thought about. "I did not easily give my permission for Merlin to start a sketch of me. I don't like being watched through beauty contained in a compression of paint and ardor." She almost starts to tell him about her mirror doppelganger before she remembers she is still on trial and compressive psychosis is not a legal defense. "In glass you work without substance, working the compression of light and ardor strong enough to catch meaning from ordered image. Trumps have always felt like some sort of flat fishhook fastened to the nape of your neck. With glass I can be wary and watchful, with Trump you are a lock with the key resting in it vulnerable."
Celina thinks that makes it clear enough. "I would have asked a lot of questions. He would have lied to me. I would have given permission and been wrong."
"You'd be an accessory to an attempt on your mother's life," Corwin agrees. "As it is--merely an unwitting accessory, if that. You were badly advised. Merlin should have known Lucas was up to something, if not what. And so should you."
Celina doesn't quite relax, but this is the first actual discussion she's ever had with this man that made sense while it was happening. She balances her TaKhi. "I did know he was up to something," Celina nods, "and your comment that a year of service would not have been onerous is valuable. I expected my answer would tell him that I knew he was doing something he didn't want to take responsibility for and that I wasn't happy with the way he managed to ask or plan that. I also did not want to ask at that point, feeling the Realm's need more pressing than my honor. After all, you could always return and disparage my conduct and punish Lucas to seal the matter."
She stares at him and goes further. "You should not have me in positions of power. I am Unwitting to all this. I have no place to stand. My life is tattered and I know nothing of what I am to be. Why did you put me in charge with Merlin? How can I possibly fit into this family as anything other than a curious exhibit of Moire's devious use of you? The regrets I represent.... the uses I could be put to that would anger you." She sighs to cover her rising emotion and the controlled breath works to calm her. "I'm grown, but false to the values your family holds dear. What's to become of me... father?"
Corwin folds his arms. "Do you want me to turn you back to your mother? Or turn you over to Khela?"
Curious Celina studies him since he has asked such a stupid question. Handsome. A touch of cruelty to the mouth, or is that just his world view leaking through? Amazing eyes. So green and full of current. So treacherous and attractive. Killer eyes.
Should I just walk out? What to say after that? Look at that stance: he denies me in every inch.
Celina smiles at her sire. "I understand. I shall not speak of it again." She curtseys and stays down in the stance waiting. "What is about to happen to Moire? My duty is to be educated."
"And experience is a harder teacher than I am--but you've found that out already," Corwin says, shaking his head. "What I suspect will happen to your mother is that most of the family will conclude she's gone too far and let Flora complete her vendetta, if she so desires. Do you mean to stop her?"
My father's father must have been a teacher by cold absence. I can almost imagine the voice of King Oberon. How interesting that my mother favors cold absence as well. Celina considers what her Sire has asked.
"Moire has shown little interest in what I want, to include being amused at my analysis of the complexities I have inherited from the two of you," Celina speaks now easily and from the heart, as if she were talking to Merlin. The smooth balance in her voice mirrors her isolation...when you dance alone, you are never out of step. "There are reasons to think I should ally with Florimel but they are hardly wholesome reasons."
She smiles again at her Sire. "I should like to stop both of them, Moire and Florimel, and yet my remains would lie unknown somewhere as a marker to standing between such Agendas. Still, Moire should do a penance. Florimel should have her cup of blood. I see how inevitable that is. Of late, Solange has asked me to aid her in retrieving her Trump from Lucas' effects. This is something I need to work on. I do not think I can address that until after the funeral. Perhaps I shall trade a favor with Florimel. The trump card for helping her with my mother? Would this suit you? It might be that Moire does not need to die. Perhaps if I am Florimel's agent in Rebma...there is an influence to the good."
Celina asks for the point of Order. "How works the family justice? Does Moire need to die to satisfy Florimel?"
"I don't know. It depends on whether someone steps up to say she shouldn't die, or whether enough someones do. Flora isn't the only member of the family your mother's crossed. But some of my brothers and sisters won't want your mother dead on general principle." Corwin uncrosses his arms and picks up his drink.
"How badly do you want to save your mother and how much effort are you willing to put out to save her if Flora decides she wants to extract her pound of flesh from the heart? That's the way the family works."
Celina has an incredulous response to the question, but this time she claps it down before it escapes. She moves, pours herself a drink, sips and wrinkles her nose at the taste.
"General principle seems a bold reason," Celina says. "In particular, I have so much to learn about family principles, it could be worth being battered to find out how they work. However, Moire has not left me with the ambition of saving her heart. In the final measure, I am afraid I would not be very heroic.
"I suppose I should find out if there is any other support for leaving Moire alive before acting on my general principles. How about you, Father? Would you support Florimel's agenda or Moire's? Or neither?"
"I don't support either of their agendas," Corwin says flatly. "I have my own agenda and to the extent that their causes march with mine, I'll ally with them or not." His eyes narrow and he focuses in on Celina. "What was that about Solange and Lucas' trumps again?"
"Solange said that Lucas had a trump of her," Celina responds. "She wanted to negotiate for it to come to her hands."
Corwin's voice has lost none of its flatness. "Solange is under my royal displeasure for a number of reasons, not the least of which is her removal of your cousin Cambina's body from Xanadu against my wishes and the orders of the Regent Gerard. Lucas isn't the only cousin who likes to try to pull fast ones on you, Celina. If Solange wants that trump, she can come back here and get it herself."
Well, that certainly was that. Celina nods. "As you wish. If you want her to owe the throne a favor, you'll let me know I can help her and then I'll let her know she's been maneuvered."
Celina raises her glass in toast to her father. "Is there anything else you wanted to cover with me? I shall be speaking at the funeral unless you would rather I not."
Corwin shakes his head. "My sister is in charge of the funeral arrangements; if you want to speak, talk to her. I didn't know Lucas well enough to have an opinion.
"As for Solange--do as you like. If you're going to let her use you to get back in my good graces, make sure she repays you handsomely." His tone softens a little as he frowns, "But I keep thinking about what Deirdre would have said about this situation and not liking the answers I get."
He is thinking of a woman's mind, and one that he cares about. Celina nearly steps closer to him, so wanting to chase that thought and slip passage under the harsh face of her Father's will.
But she holds, balanced. "Solange seemed a bit bruised about the issue, she may contact me again soon. I'll consider your advice and she will pay dearly." She watches his pulse move through his neck, timing, counting and waiting to insert herself into his next action as if he were her dance partner. "What would she have shared? I would know some measure of that voice I shall never hear or dream."
Corwin's frown settles in, and his face and voice are distant for a moment. "Deirdre would have said that if Lucas made a trump of her, and they'd had a falling out, Solange had a motive too."
Then the moment is gone and Corwin focuses in on Celina. "A lot of people might have had reasons to kill a secret trump artist. I want that stash of trumps; it gives us a list of suspects beyond the obvious."
Her emerald eyes widen as she catches the implications. "Nothing was said yet to Solace. The trumps will be in Lucas' effects." Alice might be the person to easily speak to Solace about it, but that is out of her hands. She says nothing.
If he wants her to take a direct hand in that... well, she waits for his comment.
"It's a family matter. Solace--isn't. Even though she is." Corwin doesn't explain that remark, but continues, "Find the trumps, and if you can, discreetly, find out what he told her about them."
She nods. "As you say. I'll see to it."
After leaving the King's presence Vere finds his sister and informs her of what has happened back at the camp, along with an analysis of the politics involved. He lets her know that he's heading back to camp immediately to assume command, asks for any messages she has for the priestesses and sorceresses, and asks that she continue her investigation of whether the areas around Paris are a fit match for the refugees. It would be good to break camp, and get people settled, as soon as possible after resolving the issue of Moire and the Children.
Avis clearly understands this is bad news. She agrees that they need to move her people as soon as possible and, if they're to remain in the area of Paris, to settle them quickly.
There is no word for the priestesses and sorceresses at this time, save that they should support Vere as needed. Vere suspects that this is a political decision on her part.
Unless Avis has a very good reason for not doing so Vere wants that in writing, as a royal order from her to them.
She provides him with a scroll and a stick for the priestesses.
Then Vere meets with Merlin, commandeers a motorcycle, settles Merlin in the sidecar, and rides at maximum speed back to the encampment of the refugees.
While they are commandeering the motorcycle, Merlin asks Vere to describe a bit of the personnel and politics of the situation, supplementing the information Vere has mentioned in the past. He's aware that Vere doesn't perform magic but asks for any information Vere can provide from his perspective about the magics of the Isles and who uses them. If he's going to be walking into a minefield, Merlin seems to want to know as much as he can about the mines.
Vere will give Merlin as much detailed information as time allows on the politics and the individuals involved, and let him know the capabilities of the various magic using factions among the refugees. He'll stress that as far as he knows none of them had ever travelled away from their world, and he would expect them to have severe difficulties using magic now, but, as always, one should not disregard the possibility that some among them have adapted far faster than expected.
For Vere, the journey seems to take forever. The arrival is superficially similar: he is greeted by a sentry from the Brotherhood of the Stag, and once he has offered the password on his own and Merlin's behalf, he is ushered into a tent to see Siege and Hartwell, who have clearly taken command together.
Vere nods as he enters the tent, and says, "Prince Merlin, I present the Lord Commanders Siege and Hartwell. My brothers, this is Prince Merlin, son of King Corwin, who acts as his father's representative." Vere sits, and gestures for the rest to do the same. "Before we begin, a question. I sent Castor back to take over the Children. I trust he was not among the ones who defected?"
"He's still with us," Siege says, "for all that part of him wanted to go."
Hartwell nods.
Vere nods, and appears to relax slightly. "Excellent well. Let us bring him into this conversation, then. Hartwell, please have a runner summon him, and also deliver this message from my sister to the head of the Priestesses." He waits for Hartwell to speak to the guard outside, and return to the table, then says, "Report, my lords. What happened here?"
"We don't know how the Queen of the Rebmans came to be in the camp," Siege says, "but she was, and a few of her women with her. It must be that she had some magic we do not know. She did not spend much time here, and she did not wish to speak with the priestesses other than to assure them she meant no harm but was merely reclaiming her men for her own war for her homeland.
"She spoke in counsel with Castor briefly and he came away with a grave face. He said he was forsworn no matter what he did and that he would remain but would not lay hands on any of his own men who went. Creon asked to remain with him, saying that he feared Castor might try to reclaim his honor by suicide.
"As soon as Moire and her men left, we sent to Paris," Siege concludes. "We have not asked the priestesses for guidance. This is yours to deal with."
Vere nods. "Indeed," he says. "As to her appearance here, yes, she is a mistress of the Rebman witchcraft of mirror-working. The sorceresses of Rebma can scry through mirrors, to see through any reflective surface. As I understand it, most of the women of the Rebman royal family are skilled at this art. The more powerful can also travel through mirrors, and convey others through them. And Queen Moire, it appears, slew King Corwin's nephew by causing a mirror near him to shatter, sending a shard into his heart.
"Aside from the matter of Moire and the Children," Vere continues, "Is there anything else of which I should know?"
Hartwell and Siege both look unsurprised and not particularly pleased to think of the Rebmans using this strange mirror-magic to sneak into the compound. Siege, Vere reckons from his sour expression, is considering how to defend against it; Hartwell's shining eyes suggest more of an interest in controlling it.
"The Brotherhood and the priestesses are restless after all the troubles with the Children of Lir," Siege says. His tone suggests that he assumes Vere already knew this. "You'll need to talk to them sooner rather than later."
Vere nods. "The priestesses first, immediately after we finish this meeting," he says. "I can only put them off for so long before it ceases to be independence and becomes calculated insult. Have the Children gathered while I am meeting with the priestesses, and I will speak with them immediately thereafter." He shakes his head ruefully. "This assumes no fresh disasters occur, of course."
Not long afterwards, Castor arrives. As he approaches the tent, the guard announces both him and Creon, but only Castor enters the tent. Castor looks pale and drawn, but there are no marks on him to indicate he has attempted to harm himself.
"My lord," he says, on seeing Vere. "I have betrayed my oath to you. I submit myself for punishment."
Vere starts to rise when Castor enters the tent, but upon seeing him and hearing his words he settles back down and regards his second closely. He is silent for several minutes, then says, "Tell me what happened, Tanist. From the time you arrived here at camp."
"I assumed command of the Children as you had ordered, and all proceeded as expected until yesterday afternoon. It was at that time that Alcides came to me and told me that Queen Moire had come to the camp and conveyed her command to attend her."
Castor swallows. "I could not disobey that command, so I followed Alcides to the tent where the Queen and her daughter were waiting with an attendant. The Queen charged me on my oath to her to take charge of the Children on her behalf, that she would need us to help restore the rule of law in Rebma. I said that I had sworn to serve you and that I could not be false to that oath and asked her to leave off until I could speak with you. She would not.
"Some of the Captains had begun to arrive, also at Moire's bidding, and it seemed to me that Trajan and Octavius were ready to come to blows. So I said that while I would not go, but would remain to face your punishment, I would not lay hands on any man who felt his oath to Moire came before his oath to the Children. So the captains and their sergeants took word back to their men, and some chose to go and the rest to remain. And when those who would follow Moire had left, I sent for you."
This being the end of his tale, Castor falls silent.
"A pity she would not heed your request," Vere says quietly. "I would not have had my men come to blows one with the other, nor would I have had their consciences torn by conflicting oaths. Had she asked, I would have released the Children to follow their own consciences in this matter." he shrugs. "But Moire is not a trusting sort, and I confess I am not surprised that she would force men to such a choice, to serve her will."
He stands then, and approaches Castor. "You were in a difficult position, torn by competing duties, and seeing your men torn by those same conflicts. You did the best you could in such a situation. You kept the men from striving against each other, which would have been ill indeed not merely for the Children but for the rest of the refugees as well. The Lords Commander Hartwell and Siege would have been forced to intervene if conflict broke out in the encampment, and the Goddess alone can imagine what the priestesses and witch queens might have done. On the other hand, I note that you did not send word to me at once, but rather waited until Moire had departed with those who would leave. I understand your reasons for this, though I do not say that I fully approve."
Vere nods thoughtfully, "One result of what you have done is most pleasing, and that is by taking the full brunt of the decision upon yourself you have to some extent alleviated the sin of the deserters. Not so much that I may forgive them, but enough so that my honour does not demand vengeance against them for the breaking of their oaths. I am pleased by this, for truly I did not relish the task of seeking down and punishing men who had fought well and loyally for me and my home.
"You, however, have taken that onus upon yourself in their stead. Hear then, the punishment I decree. You shall remain in my service, in whatsoever capacity I choose, until such time as I release you. Your first duty shall be to disband the Children. You shall contact their female relatives in Rebma, and determine in each case whether it is better for them to go straight to the city, or to meet their relatives somewhere else, depending on the political situation of each individual family. Your first concern shall be the honour and welfare of the men, and how they can be most speedily reunited with their families. The pay and awards due to the deserters shall be divided amongst the men who remained loyal, in addition to their own pay, plus an award of an additional ten percent above what I promised them. Speak with King Corwin's men of business about the funds, with my name as a Lord of Amber as their surety. You will send messengers to the families of all the deserters, explaining why their relatives are not returning immediately, and why the funds promised will not be paid."
Vere sighs, and sits back down. "I will want to meet with the Children who remained faithful, to express my thankfulness and appreciation. I regret that I cannot do that immediately, but I must speak to the priestesses, and to the Brotherhood, first. You will return to the Children and explain what will occur, and assure them that I will speak with them soon. Be ready to have the remaining Captains join me so soon as I leave the Brotherhood, and the assembled men I will meet with thereafter."
He stops speaking them, and looks to Castor, awaiting his response.
Castor sags a little as Vere pronounces his sentence and again as Vere gives his orders.
"I hear, and will remember," he says, which is a formal Rebman oath-taking response. "Do you wish me to go directly to Rebma to bear any of these messages? And if not, how should I tell the Children that these messages will be sent? They will ask me these questions."
Vere looks at Merlin. "Your Highness," he says. "Might I ask that Castor be allowed to use messengers of King Corwin's, who know the way to Rebma and can be trusted to fulfil their task diligently and without fail?"
"I will arrange it," Merlin says, speaking for the first time since Castor entered the room. "I can trump my father to ask him for such men now, if you wish it."
"Unless there is anything else?" Vere asks Castor. Unless he answers affirmatively Vere nods to Merlin and says, "If you would be so good, cousin. And let the King know that Moire has taken her men and departed the camp, and what she said of her purpose in taking them."
Castor has nothing further and bows before making his way out. As the tent flap opens, Vere and the others can see that Creon was waiting for him. Merlin moves off into a corner and shuffles out Corwin's card to contact him.
On Vere's command, Hartwell and Siege will gather the Children and request the presence of the priestesses.
Vere instructs Siege and Hartwell to gather the Brotherhood of the Stag, whom he will speak to after his meeting with the priestesses. Then he asks them to inform the priestesses that he is ready to report to them at their convenience. "I have shown my independence sufficiently," he tells them with a smile. "It is time to show them that I can follow the forms, and give them at least the appearance that they retain authority."
Once Siege and Hartwell leave Vere turns to Merlin, waiting for him to finish his trump conversation with Corwin.
Assuming that Corwin doesn't wish to speak with Vere, and that Merlin finishes the conversation before the priestesses summon Vere, once Merlin has put away his father's card Vere says, "I wished to speak with you on a personal matter, Cousin, if that is acceptable." He smiles. "And assuming there is no message from your father the King that takes precedence over my concerns."
Merlin shakes his head once in the negative. "I suspect that my father will wait to deliver his comments to me in person. I suspect I am somewhat under his displeasure right now for my conduct in dealing with Lucas' murder and with the Regency he thrust upon me while he was in Tir." He shrugs slightly, a fluid gesture. "What do you wish to speak to me of, cousin?"
"You know of my father's injury," Vere answers. "His legs, his pelvis, they were crushed by the fall of Castle Amber, so badly damaged that his body cannot heal them on its own. And yet, it occurs to me, he is of the blood of Dworkin, and thus of Chaos. And I am led to think on the possibilities of healing that the heritage of Chaos might offer. I know no one who has mastered this talent, and am loathe to seek out Oberon's Chaosian queen, who has no reason to aid me. So I thought perhaps you might offer me some advice, some insight, into whether this is a possibility that is worth my time to pursue."
"But you do know someone who has mastered this talent, although he does not advertise it," Merlin replies easily, gesturing at himself to make his meaning completely clear.
"Indeed?" Vere lifts an eyebrow. "No, I did not know this."
"What are your questions? There are injuries that can be healed by a shapeshifter and injuries that cannot. I know some things about your father's troubles, but I am not a physician in the Ordered manner. There are none, not as you understand them, in the parts of Chaos where I was grown. If an injury is too severe to be survived, one does not."
Vere nods. "And this is my reason to think that it might be possible to use Chaosian healing. Father did survive the injury, although he has not recovered from it. It seems to me, then, that it should be possible to repair the damage. However, from what I am told there is no indication that he is healing. Rather the opposite, in fact." He frowns. "The bones in his pelvis and thighs were shattered, into thousands of tiny pieces. While there are magics and technologies in Shadow that could repair this damage, there is a great deal of doubt whether such repairs would last when one traveled through Shadow, and extreme concern that they would not survive a walk on the Pattern, should father ever need to do such again. I seek, then, a way to enable him to heal himself. Does this seem possible to you?"
"If your father were Chaosi, he would have healed or perished by now. A certain--adaptability--is needed to survive outside protected environs beyond Ygg," Merlin explains.
"It is possible to take the Pattern as one who can shift shape, and survive and shift afterwards. Apart from my own case, my mother has done so. So I do not believe the Pattern itself disrupts such healing. But--" Merlin frowns, and pauses to consider his words, or perhaps his concepts "--I do not know whether an Ordered being can accept the changes of its nature needed to adapt in that way after infusing himself with Order."
He stops and squints at Vere. "Does that make sense?"
Vere nods. "It does," he answers. "If a being were of an innately Ordered nature, and first took the Pattern while so Ordered, then perhaps the Pattern would lock her into that form in a way that would not be true for a being of a more Chaotic nature, who had already mastered shifting forms before walking the Pattern. We need a test case." He pauses, then asks, "Would you be willing to teach me, cousin? If I can learn to access the Chaotic portion of my heritage, and to shift my own shape, then that tells us that this is a least a valid possibility and worth continued research."
Merlin nods decisively at the last sentence. "It would have been easier if we had the Aisling to ask about this. It was not necessarily my superior in matters of shapeshifting, although I suspect it was. But it seemed to have mastered the art of externalizing the power on to others. It did so to Adonis. Do you remember?" The question seems to be rhetorical, because Merlin continues, "I would be willing to teach you, but the teaching will best be done beyond Ygg, I think."
"More travel," Vere says. "But at least in the cause of my father's health this time." He regards Merlin. "Will your father give his permission for this?"
The question seems to startle Merlin. "Permission for what? I have been travelling with my sister, but I suspect that she is about to go into Rebma, and I do not wish to return there. I have heard much of it from my father, and more from Martin. It would be a dangerous place for me. Other than that, my time is my own."
"Ah," Vere says. "Forgive me, Cousin, I was under the impression that King Corwin had in mind to keep you close, to train in the craft of rulership. I do not know where that impression originated." He nods his head. "If you are willing, then so soon as I have completed the matter of the disbanding of the Children, seen to at least the beginnings of settling my sister's people, and attended the funerals of our two cousins, I would be most grateful to learn from you, travelling wherever you think best to do so." He smiles slightly. "Shall we discuss the matter of payment for such training, and the time you would be spending upon it?"
"Is this where I assume a hard face and ask what you have to offer?" His tone is jesting, but Merlin does--something--with his face that colors it grey. Vere suspects that if he touched it with his fingertips, he would find it cool and unyielding.
Vere chuckles. "It is traditional,"" he replies. "The other option, of course, is that we both pretend it is being done for friendship alone, and at some future date you request a favour of me, being careful not to remind me that I am in your debt, knowing that I will remember that I am, and will be calculating whether your request will cancel out my obligation, or exceed it, thus putting you in my debt. This leaves open the possibility that we will value favours differently, of course, leading to misunderstandings over what we expect from each other. But it also avoids making our dealings seem merely mercenary. Our elders seem to enjoy a combination of these two approaches, leading to complex webs of mutual obligation alongside more straightforward dealings. I suspect it becomes a chief amusement of immortals after their first five centuries or so."
Merlin's face relaxes and regains its normal (or at least so Vere perceives it) color.
"I would not be surprised if you were correct on that last point. Our uncles, your father excepted, seem to pride themselves on playing a perpetual game in which the scoring system is unclear, but successes against one's rivals are well-marked by both participants and spectators." He presses his lips together slightly.
"To be fair, I should advise you that indebtedness to me is likely to involve pitting yourself against my mother at some point, especially if we travel together beyond Ygg. This is not a debt you should undertake lightly. I have in mind some ways to make this travel safer--I have allies of my own--but still, my mother is a formidable foe."
Vere nods. "I have no desire to make Dara a personal enemy," he observes, "But my mother's people have a strong tradition of mutual obligation between allies, and I have no hesitation in doing what is necessary to aid and protect a friend. I hope travelling together will lead us to think of each other as friends."
"I would like that as well. But I would not consider it a friendly act to fail to warn you against my mother," Merlin points out. "As for the rest of it--let us say that you and I must consider the quality of my teaching before we settle on favors owed."
"Fairly said," Vere answers. "Thank you, cousin."
Priestesses first. Vere waits to be summoned, and then goes to where they are. He's hoping that relations between the priestesses, the witch queens, and Bran's people have advanced to the point that the priestesses will have made a point of having representatives of the other factions attend his meeting. If not, he will hide his disappointment with them, and meet with the other two factions immediately after meeting with the priestesses, and tell them basically the same thing.
The priestesses invite the witch queens and (female) representatives of Bran's people to their meeting with Vere, but not Bran himself. So there's been some progress but not as much as Vere might have hoped.
Some progress is good.
King Bran and his chief magician had accompanied Vere and Avis to Paris, however (I remember Bran asking the magician if he could conjure a banner for the airship, and him failing at it), and as far as I know they're still there. Vere had wanted him to meet Corwin, he suspected that the two men would get along, and that would help the cause of settling the refugees here.
[I'd forgotten that, good point. The specific item here is that there are no men in the party from Bran's people.]
Vere notes that, but does not comment. It won't help anything to try pushing the priestesses to an openness of mind that they're not ready for, and anyway the long term plan is to let change come gradually through living among the Parisians, not to force it (and, not incidentally, to possibly induce a change away from the masculine dominated nature of Parisian society at the same time).
He tells the priestesses that Avis and the other leaders are favourably impressed with Paris, and are investigating whether it is an acceptable place to stay. He stresses the friendship of King Corwin for his fellow monarchs, and his concern over the refugees, in token of which he sent his son, Prince Merlin, to accompany Vere to speak with them. A decision on whether the Exodus will end in Paris is expected shortly.
He explains, briefly, the civil war in Rebman, and why that makes it inadvisable to continue on to that realm, and the reason for Moire's appearance at the camp. He also explains that Moire slew Corwin's nephew immediately before leaving Paris, and that this has caused understandable sorrow to the royal family, and is one of the reasons why a decision has not yet been reached.
Vere will patiently answer their questions, as long as they don't become repetitive or insulting, with an emphasis on the positive, and the likelihood that Paris will be their new home. He will strive to leave them all excited and eager to explore the possibilities of settling down in this realm.
There's quite a bit of consternation about the news about Moire and Corwin's nephew. Nobody is gauche enough to ask what horrible thing Corwin's nephew did to get himself killed by a queen.
Vere doesn't answer their unspoken question.
The biggest questions revolve around what consequences the apparent split between Rebma and Paris have for the Danu. Also, there's a lot of eyeing of Prince Merlin by the priestesses; he looks like a likely candidate for a marriage alliance. Merlin is well-mannered enough to disguise how unpleasant he finds this.
Vere is controlled enough not to reveal his amusement.
Then on to the Brotherhood of the Stag, whom Vere wants to thank for the task of shepherding the people safely through the Exodus, and overseeing security at the camp for the last few days. He'll explain the civil war to them in as much detail as they wish, and give them detailed information on Paris and the surrounding countryside, and let them know that while the final decision on whether they are to stay here is Avis', and she has not yet made up her mind, she is very favourably inclined towards settling down here, which Vere fully supports. He'll ask if they have any concerns or questions, and answer them as fully as he can, while remaining upbeat and positive.
The Brotherhood is probably easier to keep upbeat than the priestesses were. Also, none of them are interested in marrying Merlin.
If it has not occurred to him until now, it seems likely to Vere that the Brotherhood will make excellent Rangers if Corwin can spare someone to lead them. Also, they're clearly finding the shadows around Paris congenial, if only because men are more respected than they were in the Isles.
Oh, that's a great idea. Can we take it as read that he'll suggest it to Corwin, with all due respect?
Yes, or deal with it later.
Finally, he'll meet with the Children of Llyr, and thank them for having served so faithfully since the creation of the band. He'll wax poetic about the sacred bond of brotherhood between men who have fought together, and had their oaths tested, and emphasize how much he appreciates the loyalty they gave him. To show his thanks, before Castor officially disbands them Vere tells them that in addition to their well deserved payment he will have a smith of Paris create medallions for each of them, with their names and the words "verity" and "Honour" on one side, and an image of an Osprey on the other. They may use these, or pass them down to their children and their children's children, to obtain access to Vere's presence at any time in the future, where he will hear their request for aid or succor in their hour of need.
After that, he'll answer any questions they may have about the situation in Rebma, to the extent of his knowledge (obviously leaving out any family secrets).
The Children, even after having been prepared by Castor, were clearly anxious, but Vere's words and promises reassure them. Most of their questions revolve around politics of Rebma in ways that Vere simply doesn't have the knowledge to answer; once this becomes clear, they leave off.
Merlin is able to tell them that they can pass through Paris under peacebond to return to Rebma as needed; his father has given permission for this.
Vere is pretty sure Creon is going to stay with Castor even after the rest of the Children break up.
Once all those meetings are done Vere will want to meet privately with Castor to see how the plans for disbanding the Children and getting them back to Rebma are going, then meet with Siege and Hartwell again to see if there are any issues that require his decisions, and then back to his tent where he'll share ale with Merlin, and get his cousin's opinion of the people in the camp, and answer any questions Merlin may have after having attended all those meetings with him.
Castor has been preparing messages. Even with some help from Creon and others from the Children, getting all the messages ready is going to take a while, but this is to be expected.
Vere won't directly comment on the idea of Creon remaining with Castor, either approvingly or disapprovingly. He will tell Castor that he will have the medallions sent to him within the next few days (Vere has noted every one of the Children who remained loyal, and will seek out a smith in Paris and have the medallions made as soon as he's back in Paris). Obviously the Children should not be disbanded until they have been paid and the medallions passed out, but Vere is of the opinion that the quicker they are disbanded after that the better.
[This will take up most of the time from now to the funeral, so Vere will be busy with arranging that and dealing with it and Corwin and so on.]
Siege and Hartwell have some questions, mostly about the Rebmans, but they're dealt with easily or simply not answerable at this time. Hartwell in particular is anxious to make himself amenable to Merlin, but Merlin isn't impressed by him, or so he confesses afterwards.
Nor is Merlin interested in the priestesses. They'll have to look elsewhere for a husband for Avis.
Merlin seems to have a good sense of the politics of the camp just from Vere's comments and the exposure he's had this afternoon. His questions revolve around how well Vere thinks the priestesses and Bran's people will adapt to the more advanced technology of Paris.
Vere is cautiously optimistic about that. There's a strong streak of pragmatism in his people, and he thinks he's seen the same thing in Bran's folk. He thinks they'll all grow accustomed to, and learn to exploit, the technology fairly quickly.
And then he's going to get some much needed sleep in his tent, before hopping on a motorcycle and driving Merlin back to Paris.
Merlin suggests the motorcycle is hardly necessary since he has trumps. They can sleep here or in Paris as Vere prefers.
Vere confesses to a slight pang at not getting a change to drive the motorcycle once more, but agrees that Merlin is probably right, and they should save time. He'll also confess that his main reason for sleeping at camp was to put off getting involved in any more of the politics of Paris for one more night, but he agrees that is a selfish attitude, and asks Merlin to trump them back to the palace right away.
Merlin is amenable to remaining the night in camp but he doesn't care for riding in the motorcycle sidecar much. The wry grin he gives Vere at the comment about putting off involvement in Paris' politics conveys his own reluctance to involve himself further, his father's kingdom or no.
Per the King's mission, Celina will set a time to see Solace.
She'll also speak to Alice about what Solace seems to be doing and saying about funerals and arrangements. Celina also asks after the children... who are at an age to remember their father and be upset by his loss.
Celina will check with Alice, her assumption that Aunt Florimel is becoming the first respondent to all the Family needs Solace might have.
Florimel is handling the funeral, a matter that seems to be both a relief to Alice and a right pain in the rear for her. Solace has--some input--but the impression Celina has is that nobody wants to argue with Florimel and that Solace is a bit out of her depth in dealing with her formidable mother-in-law.
The children are a topic that Alice can address with more something. Ease, or perhaps certainty. Solace has taken charge of them personally, almost to the exclusion of the nanny. Alice, Celina intuits, approves of this; perhaps children are raised by their mothers in her native shadow. But Alice admits she's concerned for Solace. Perhaps someone closer to her own age might be able to do something for her.
At the appointed hour, Celina will present herself to the widow wearing sea depth greens and a black armband. Her hair will be firmly in the Parisian updo style. The dress will be mostly Paris but recall the classic lines of Amber.
"Thank you for seeing me, Lady Solace," Celina squeezes hands gently with the lady---watching the eyes for mirror to Solace's emotional state.
Solace is festooned in black, to the point of being overwhelmed with it. Parisian formal fashion involves a lot of gear by Celina's Rebman standards, and it's too much for Solace's slight form. Plus, the black makes her look washed-out and pale. Celina suspects Florimel would have pinched Solace's cheeks, and will, the day of the funeral.
A black premonition creeps upon Celina, that Solace will not long survive Lucas' untimely death. Her skin chills just seeing Solace in this funeral attire.
The room where Lucas was killed has been closed, but Solace hasn't moved out of the suite just yet. Perhaps the effects that Lucas arranged just so are a comfort to her.
"Thank you for coming to see me," Solace replies, and gestures to the love seat. "Please, sit down, Princess." And, to reinforce that permission herself, Solace sits carefully on her own chair, sweeping her heavy skirt aside in the fashion that makes it possible to move in the bustled thing.
Celina knows that Solace is originally from Amber and neither she nor Celina needs to respect the formal distance of Parisian adults. She moves a chair closer to Solace's side and sits so that they can hold hands easily if the conversation becomes emotional.
'Princess' registers belatedly. Pearls. Princess of two kingdoms. Even the intense schooling of her childhood shell didn't cover more than decorum in front of royalty. At least Moire managed to raise Celina's education regards courtly behaviours.
"Lady Solace, I'd be very honored if you would call me Celina when we are private," Celina offers. "Your husband was always very kind to me. I feel the need to return that kindness now."
"You're very kind, Celina. And you must call me Solace, of course." Solace offers Celina a faint smile, one clearly intended to be pleased and grateful. "I've sent for tea, both the surface kind and the Rebman salt tea. Dear Lucas mentioned that the Lady Vialle, well, the Queen of Amber now, was very fond of it." There's only the slightest quaver in Solace's voice at her husband's name.
"Lucas served well the court well," Celina offers. "In fact, I believe he kept some small royal paintings that will be important evidence in tracking down the persons responsible for his death. You and I will have a chance to find those and get the proper recognition of Lucas' amazing skills in art and family fervor.
"How are the children doing? Do they need a holiday? Are they going to be at the funeral?"
Solace chooses the easier question first. "The children will attend. I don't think Phillippe will remember anything, but I believe he should go so he can be told when he was older that he gave his father a proper farewell. I'm given to understand that dear Lucas was very affected by the death of his own father at an early age, and while there's very little I can do to shield Hope and Phillippe from the loss, I mean to be sure that they know they did all they could for him.
"But do tell me about these paintings. I'm anxious to help in any way that will bring Lucas' killers' to justice." As soon as she closes her mouth on the words, Solace flushes slightly, and brings a hand to her mouth.
Celina arches a brow. "I do not feel that you have spoken unwisely. I appreciate your help. What troubles you about what you just said?"
Solace hesitates for a moment. "I do not wish you to think--well, I understand it can be very awkward being judged on the merits of one's mother. Or," she adds, "one's mother's actions. My own mother is considered very difficult by the court of Amber. Dear Lucas tolerated her, but I think his mother would be happier if she never set foot in Paris."
Celina chews her lip for only a brief moment, savoring the words she's been given. "I am my mother's daughter with all the potentials to be monstrous or regal. Likewise my father is a legend with a reach greater than I can imagine. I do not think you unwise to judge me by the potentials for mayhem I represent. Some days I even think that my parents hope I turn out more dangerous than they are. This does not make for pleasant and quiet reflection." Celina shrugs and smiles at Solace. Impulsively, she leans over and kisses her on the cheek as a token of appreciation for the honesty and further explanations the lady has provided.
Celina lets irony edge into her expression. "The paintings Lucas was working up might tell my father much about who Lucas' enemies and allies really were." She'll describe the size and general appearance of a trump card by the work of Merlin's that she has seen. Solace listens to the descriptions of the cards, frowning slightly.
"Other than the one he was working on when he died. I haven't seen anything like that." Her frown grows. "Lucas kept a great deal of his business from me. We can go through his things. If it turns out these paintings aren't here, since we are being honest, I suggest you find his mistress in Amber. She knew more of his less savory dealings than he ever allowed me to find out."
"Oh," Celina responds. She considers the matter, recollecting how affairs are so different in Amber. "She has a name or she is a ....professional with a pseudonym?"
This is not a subject Solace is very comfortable speaking of. She shifts slightly in her seat and chews her lower lip for a moment. "She is called Silken and she works at the club in Amber known as the Red Mill. I assume one of Lucas' cousins--male cousins, it wouldn't be decent for you to go there--will have told her the news by now. I don't know what will become of her, but I gather she's a canny operator. Probably she'll come to Paris or go to Xanadu and get another of the young lords in her thrall."
Oh, a dominant provocateur. It must have intrigued Lucas to have such theater. He did not seem the type.
Celina nods. "Just to try and keep this in family, I suggest you and I explore Lucas' things with an eye towards demonstrating his cleverness in hiding the small within a cloud of fashion. I'll pull non-family into this as a last resort and buy off her silence so that there are no strange stories surfacing later. If she is clever, she knows that bragging rights is not part of what she earned."
She reaches and squeezes Solace's hand. "If that's fine with you."
Solace gives Celina a return squeeze. "That would be fine with me. I don't want anything to do with that woman if I don't have to have anything to do with her." Her lips press together and her expression darkens for a moment. Then she deliberately composes herself and the slight frown smooths away. "When would you like to go through Lucas' things? I am hardly dressed for such work and I can't imagine you want to dirty your things either."
"I'm sure tomorrow would be fine. I'll come round after the morning meal." Celina glances about the room. "Has anyone spoken about Lucas' will or anything like that? Bill Roth should be glad to help you."
"King Corwin and the Princess Florimel have said I'll be provided for. There are questions--I don't know how much of Lucas' business was his own, really. I mean, I was raised in a family of merchants but my mother had social pretensions--" Solace shrugs a bit helplessly, embarrassed by the admission. "She didn't want me to be low-class, or so she said."
"Then you will be fine. The King and Princess have given you surety. You probably have enough merchant in your blood to ask the right questions if it seems they are steering you places you do not understand." Celina lets that go. It is probable that Corwin and Florimel will work out the honors involved between them better than Celina ever could fathom. Or want to know.
[Think agenda is covered... and assume that sorting through the rooms looking for trumps can be summary. Lucas made every effort to speak with Celina and make her comfortable in Amber and Paris....so she'll have an eye for understanding him a bit better through his ....acquisitions. That's all, I think.]
There's a lot to be learned by going through Lucas' belongings. In addition to his fashionable clothes (which there was a prodigious amount of effort in maintaining, apparently), and his secret trump-making abilities, Lucas kept a lot of correspondence. Some of it was coded and this neither Celina nor Solace, nor, as it turns out if they approach her, Florimel, can make heads or tails of in the short term.
There are also account books. To the surprise of absolutely no one, Lucas was smuggling all through the Regency (probably everyone was a little, but not at the scale Lucas seems to have been) and the funds were used for a variety of purposes: some investments in Shadow, others in Amber, and now some in Paris. In addition, Lucas was maintaining what looks to all intents and purposes a spy network, and had three bastards in Amber whose support he was providing through his mistress, Silken.
Well...ohmy. We may have things to ask Silken some time.
It is no better or worse than what she's seen in Shadow and Rebma, but somehow it does disappoint that one of the nicest fellows was also laying down such a double life. If it is obvious that Solace is shaken or disappointed in this...Celina will make some off-hand comment about Lucas being involved in many high level decisions.... and just let it hint that he might have been following orders.
Celina doesn't really think so.
There's a half-day that Solace spends alone in her rooms after this discovery. When she comes out again, Solace is torn between a furious shame and wanting to do something for the children. The children, yes. The mothers, Celina suspects, not so much.
If it wasn't obvious to Celina before that Solace loved Lucas, it is now.
Yes. And the notion is not lost on Celina that she's in love with ...a stranger.
Celina will make it as easy as possible for Solace to get things moving along in Paris. Celina will definitely not trespass with Florimel. So she will be careful there if her Aunt has put a wing over Solace.
Last modified: 12 April 2010