Celina paces along with dignity, but comes very close--within dagger tossing distance--of the paradoxical vehicle to get the best look. Ten meters off, she's even more impressed with its size and grandeur.
As far as Celina can tell, it always lands with a skidding bounce.
The Seaward cousin wears something vaguely Parisian (you would certainly not notice otherwise if you were 100m away in a dirigible) but there are too many strands of fine jewelry around her neck for proper Paris style. The dress seems to start at her waist and blossom outward in some faux-bustle arrangement. The top does not match the bottom, being neither high necked nor underlayered with corset and laces. Rather the dressy top looks to be shimmering silk in some sort of watercolored scaled pattern that does not respect the sober material of the skirts. The drapes of the extra blouse material soften to wavy folds that echo the neck jewels and display a generous amount of sea green skin.
When Vere alights from the vehicle cabin, she smiles aglow.
Solange pauses in the doorway of the dirigible and looks around, taking in the soldiers and the buildings. She's wearing an unremarkable leather brigandine over a white t-shirt with faded blue jeans and sneakers. What looks like a smallsword in sheath is belted around her waist. Her hair is in some disarray and her hands are dirty.
Her eyes alight on Celina, hard to miss with her green skin and her own incongruous clothing, and she smiles brightly as she steps down and approaches. "Celina. It's good to see you again."
Celina steps forward, reaches out to accept Solange's hands (and she wills it not, covers for that with upturned palms). "Welcome to Paris in the name of my father, the King. Solange, good to have such a startling arrival be a friend."
"Thank you for the welcome and I'm sorry for the startling part. I assumed airships would be common." It seems Solange wants to say more, but she stops there and shrugs, still smiling.
Vere follows behind her, his eyes sweeping the area and evaluating the mood of the crowd and the readiness of the guards. He smiles, a clearly relaxed and friendly smile, and follows Solange. He is wearing a military tunic in blue and white, with the stylized head of a bird of prey upon it. He wears sword and dagger, and an iron torc about his neck.
"Lady Celina," he says with warmth as he approaches her. "It is a pleasure indeed to see you well and here. May I introduce my sister, Avis, the Lady of the Isles and Mistress of the Exodus. Also, King Bran, and the Seeress of Ice and Wind, along with their advisors and aides. Captain Aurellius you may know, he is one of my captains in the Children of Llyr, as well as being a member of the Coldstream Guards."
Celina disengages from Solange and grins at Vere. "Well met, Lord Vere." She pauses and moves to squarely greet each of those in Vere's retinue that he has named. A nod from the Regent, their name repeated aloud, Celina commits first impressions of these stalwarts to her mind with small physical gestures.
This takes some time, as it should. Then she introduces Lance. "This is Lancelot du Lac, Commander of the Guard and Protector of Le Harve. He will be your first call if matters in Paris are not to your liking as he reports directly to me." Celina winks at Merlin, but for the benefit of the strangers she adds, "This is my brother, Merlin."
She gestures at the castle. "After your journey, your company may require some rest. We can accommodate. If your transport and men are able to tend a bit without you, Lady Solange, Lord Vere, I have matters I shall share with you." Celina looks at Solange and Vere for response. "Unless you are only passing through?"
Merlin has moved to greet Solange and Vere. He is dressed in black, in a garb not unlike that of the royal guard around them, but without chest decorations. Other than quiet hellos, he seems unwilling to interrupt the conversation, although he seems interested in the members of the party who have obvious magical aptitude.
Vere nods a greeting to Merlin.
Lance is waiting for orders from Celina, or perhaps Merlin.
Solange greets Merlin with interest, being a cousin she's met only briefly, notwithstanding also being a half-Chaosian. She looks over sharply at Celina's "matter I shall share with you" request.
"We do need to talk," Solange agrees. "There are family matters, and I know Vere has his own matters to discuss."
"We do have diplomatic matters to handle as speedily as possible," Vere says. "In reference to the Exodus. Perhaps Prince Merlin could see to the comfort of the rest of the embassy, and we three could have a brief private conference before an audence to deal with those matters?"
Celina nods at Vere. "Lance, please see Lord Vere's coterie welcomed to Paris with due flourish. Ask Lady Alice to attend as well and see them settled with utmost curtesy----," Celina gives a warning look to duLac, "in quarters with views of the great boulevard." Having named the opposite side of the palace from the Rebman embassy, Celina figures that will settle itself out even if she has to correct some parts later. She needs to talk to Vere and Solange but she wants Merlin to be there.
"Lord Vere, Lady Solange, please walk with me." And she motions Merlin to fall in as well. Vere will get the inference.
Merlin does as he is requested by the Regent of Paris.
Celina then heads for the formal gardens. No reflecting surfaces will likely be there at all. She waves off any guards that try to fall in. She doesn't make small talk as she guides her cousins past the high hedges and into paths between bright floral beds. She sees a fountain and changes directions to go between two hedge walls. Within a stone's throw of the course change, she stops. "What unfortunate thing to you bring with you? Whose army lurks outside Paris near Le Havre? What Exodus do you mean, is it something about Amber? Do you know that Rebma is under siege? Had you heard Cambina is dead?"
Vere blinks. "It would be difficult to answer all of those questions at once in a coherent manner," he says. "Yes, we have heard that Cambina died, and we know that King Corwin is seeking the Queen of Xanadu and Amber. I take it from the nature of your questions that when he left you as regent he did not tell you that he had agreed that I and my sister could bring the refugees from the shadow on my birth here, and that he had given permission for several thousands of them to remain while the rest continue to Rebma?"
Solange is quiet, listening to the conversation. She alternates between studying the architecture and studying Celina's face.
"He mentioned you were coming here. He did not say it would be so soon or that you would arrive in a flying fortress," Celina decides she resembles her father in how much she does not say about family. Too many energies to waste in that direction. "I thought it would be something we could react to with less urgency. Not that it is bad that you are here." Celina smiles and relaxes. "So it is your army and some of them will return to Rebma? Most of them stay in Paris? I accept that Father agreed to this with you. While I am glad to see you both, your arrival falls on a bad day."
Celina steps within a hand's distance of Solange and Vere and says softly, "We are still reacting to the murder of Lucas. I left the scene of that discovery to come meet the paradoxical vessel you arrived in."
"Wh-what?" Solange exclaims. She stumbles backward a step, her eyes focused on Celina's face. "Are you sure? I mean, it...it could just be a shadow of him he planted, and he's off elsewhere drinking brandy and laughing at us..."
Vere's face has gone expressionless. "Murdered?" he asks. "Details, please."
Celina thinks a moment about Lucas...seeing foremost her cousin's dead eyes and swearing to herself that she and Merlin will certainly find out more about his killer. Then she describes the room to Vere and Solange in an ever narrowing spiral of information, starting at the door to the room, taking in the surrounding furniture and walls, the easel, the arrangement of things upon the desk, finally arriving at Lucas at the center of it all. Lucas sitting so still, a shocked expression on his face, and the very large dagger of mirror glass in his chest.
If it is apparent to Celina that she has just made of the murder scene a Pattern walk, starting at the doorway and spiraling into the heart of a journey that defines Vere's question, she does not show any sign.
Instead, she finishes her answer with a gesture to Merlin because she knows his expertise will finish the setting with a different set of details. "My brother believes that Lucas was working a Trump of Moire. It would not be a stretch to see motive, means and opportunity for Moire or someone completely loyal to her to be the killer." Her body language leaves open to Merlin the moment for his perspective.
"Someone has also been attacking Solace," Merlin adds. "She was sent here from Amber to recover from these attacks. We do not know if it was connected, but I was investigating it on Lucas' behalf before they removed here. Sorcery is difficult in Paris, as it is a realm great with the family magic, but perhaps the magic of mirrors is not so debilitated. Also, there are complex matters afoot in Rebma, as you might imagine from the presence of Celina's mother in this place."
"Queen Moire is here?" Vere asks. "Not in Rebma?" He shakes his head. "Too much information, too quickly," he says. "The pattern is confused."
He goes silent for the moment, considering the scene painted by Celina, trying to make sense of it. His mind goes back to the murder scene of Demond Harga'rel, as well, looking for similarities.
Even with the description, it seems as though the data is insufficient. But the methods are very different, for all that the two events have a commonality in Rebman matters.
Solange sits down shakily on a nearby bench. "Lucas told me of Solace's attacks while he was still back in Amber, some time ago. Has she been attacked since coming to Paris?"
"Good question," Celina thinks she knows the answer, but expects Merlin is better informed than she. So she pauses to let her cousins absorb the shock of her news.
"Not that I am aware of," Merlin answers. "Solace discovered the body and she is unlikely to be of much use in answering questions. You might speak to the Princess Florimel if you would learn more. She is also in residence, and is with her son's body now." Merlin glances back at Celina; she may note that there are questions that Merlin simply did not answer.
Celina nods to Vere. Merlin's answer suits her.
"Very well," Vere says as he holds up a hand. "Let us deal with one matter at a time. Otherwise we shall never finish this discussion. First, the matter of the Exodus, and why we are here. As I mentioned to you when we last met, there was a civil war in the shadow of my birth, possibly a shadow of events in Rebma and Amber. I took warriors from Rebma to aid my mother's cause, as you will recall. During the war, Prince Huon passed through the shadow, on his way to Rebma, apparently wishing to recover a sword of power, to use in his war against Amber. The shadow was damaged during this, and the world is heading towards destruction. I determined to lead as many people as I could from there to a place of safety, preferably one with a Pattern or at least very near a Pattern, where they would never again face the destruction of their world. King Corwin gave me permission to march them through Paris, and for as many as wished, most especially the injured, young, and aged, to remain in Paris while the rest marched on to Rebma. My sister sent an Ambassador through trump to Corwin, to head on from here to Rebma and speak with Queen Moire, warning her of the coming of Huon. We have heard nothing of this ambassador nor her retinue since then. We are now here, and my sister and her fellow monarchs of my homeland would have audience with you, to confirm King Corwin's offer, and to find your will. I have not yet told them you are the daughter of Corwin and Moire, as I did not know if you had yet made that public knowledge, or if it were still privy information."
He nods, decisively. "Let us deal with that matter, before continuing to the more personal matter of Lucas' death, which matter I do indeed wish to give the greatest attention." He looks at Solange and repeats, with emphasis, "The greatest personal attention."
Solange looks up at him numbly.
Celina nods. "I am sorry things did not go so well for you Vere. The loss of a homeland is a hard blow. Huon is now at Rebma and threatens it in his effort to get the sword of power. He shall not have it and may find his death there. Those events already move. My mother decided her part was to leave the city and come here. A decision that leaves me uneasy yet, even as it may have cost Lucas dear."
The Seaward Cousin pauses. "I shall confirm the King's offer and welcome them to Paris, even should they decide not to march as yet for Rebma. Let us do this thing quickly and well, for there may be a dragon to kill."
Arrangements are made quickly for a brief formal audience and exchange of credentials as soon as Vere and Solange can shake the dust of the road off their feet.
Celina is genuinely kind and gracious to these strangers. She radiates welcome from every pore.
Alice Roth, who seems to be some sort of majordomo of ambiguous social status, takes Solange aside and offers to find her some appropriate clothing in the Parisian style. Alice is dressed in a style Solange finds more modern than Amber and significantly less modern that Lauderville. (turn of the century Paris, but middle-class more than wealthy Gibson Girl)
Solange accepts Alice's friendly overtures. Looking through dresses and trying on new clothing is a great distraction.
Celina will also have quarters prepared for Solange and Vere as near her own as possible.
Lancelot asks Celina for instructions regarding the army at Le Havre. Merlin suggests that Vere may have some useful instructions to offer his own men as well.
(Is Florimel summoned for the formal greeting? What about Rein? Who remains with Lucas' body? What about Moire/Rilsa/etc.?)
[ah, the Regent's life is merry and sweet and she shall dust her knuckles on the Father when he gets back....
-Note is sent to Florimel telling her of the arrivals and asking she and Lord Rein to stay with body. Evidence hunting and magical analysis are soon to take place. Lucas' killer is priority one.
Lord Rein sends back saying he has convinced the Princess to stay with her son.
-If it hasn't already been done, double the guard on the Rebman embassy and escort any Rebman wanderers in the city back to the Palace. The entire Embassy is confined for 'safety' since there is a glass wielding maniac loose in the city. Priority two.
Additional guard had already been set, but Lance increases them again.
-Lance needs to talk to Vere about troops. Paris needs to identify Very Specifically whose troops belong to whom. With several foreign forces about, Celina has no intention of seeing 'friendly Rebmans' (or whomever) slipping about causing mischief in Paris. So we need passcodes, banners with special tags, whatever the gentleman think will work and keep the bad folk guessing. Celina will glare emerald at them until they understand how serious she is about this. Yes, it sounds paranoid. Tough. Someone cannot be identified properly, hold them for a senior official. Someone doesn't like that, stab them. Priority three.
Vere will give Lance a full rundown of exactly where he left the Exodus, and the various military standards they are flying. He will also emphasize that there is the possibility of some of divided loyalties should Moire have a chance to appeal directly to any of the Children of Llyr. Vere would much prefer not to have that occur.
Lance and a couple of trusted senior officers take part in this discussion. It's senior people who are clearly trusted.
-Lance needs to appoint a Captain Crisis who will liaison with Celina so that Lance doesn't need to be at her side through the next few days. Lance should take a close look at Le Havre himself so he knows better the field if things go belly up. Priority four.
Lance suggests several names. All are men; that's what he has. Celina can pick by interview or by coin tosses.
-Celina also wants an elite troop of thieves (no gender distinction) gathered from Paris. She wants to know from Lance how she gets that done. She wants Paris' best Filches, Pickpockets, Burglars, young or old. She wants to review them before dinner. Fifty would be nice. She'll settle for twenty. Crown positions and monies will be offered for loyal service. The Regent is obviously eccentric. Priority five.
This is so far out of Lance's experience that he really has no idea what to do, which he confesses to Celina and Merlin.
-Celina agrees with Merlin about Vere needing to keep a close hand on his men. It also would not hurt if they were ready for battle, since Queen Khela might need them in the next few hours (hoping not.) Priority six.
Vere will want to borrow a horse to ride out and speak with his men, as soon as the audience is over and he has had a chance to investigate the scene of Lucas' murder.
Lance suggests one of his officers take Vere by motorcycle sidecar, which will be faster.
An excellent idea. We'll do that as soon as the Lucas matter is dealt with.
-Celina wants the royal physician summoned and ready to examine Lucas. If no physician exists, Celina will settle for Lance's best battle surgeon. Priority seven.
None has been appointed. Lance summons the Guard's physician.
-Nurses are summoned for Solace, who may not be up to taking care of children. Of course, Flora can vett these. Priority eight.
The children already have nannies vetted by Flora.
If there is room in all this for a power nap, she'll grab it. It's going to be a long week.
Solange requests to Celina to be present when Vere raises Lucas. She also requests permissions to retrieve the trump of herself that Lucas drew.
I do not believe that Celina knows of Vere's ability...so I expect that Vere will have to 'present that case' on stage.
As for going through Lucas' things looking for stuff (ie Trump card), I suppose it will become a matter of negotiation with Solace and Florimel---once the murder investigation is well along.
Merlin will also have comments about that.
Celina probably isn't the threshold to cross there. Player sees no problems with it, but many things come first.
While the secret of Vere's ability is no doubt slowly working its way through the Family grapevine, it should still be a pretty small group who know about it. Although it's getting larger all the time.
My apologies. Solange will make her wishes known to Vere and let him take things from there.
"Investigating" the crime scene is at the very top of Vere's list of things that need to be done, and he'll make sure Solange is there when that happens. He'll let her know, in privy, that he's going to try to talk to Lucas, if their cousin answers then he'll make the decision on the fly as to what to tell the people who are in the room, if he isn't able to talk everyone into leaving beforehand to allow the two of them to examine the room "without distractions."
Celina chooses the first name Lance offers her for aides, Commandant DeWicke. She trusts that Lance's mind seized him first for a good reason. As soon as that is settled, and Lance has sent for that worthy, she gets her other points taken care of in good time.
The power nap, alas, is only a notion.
Celina notes Vere and Solange with heads together several times while orders are flying, even after the formal welcoming ceremony. She senses some urgent issues will come to fore quickly. Privacy is probably the key. So they get it from her without asking.
So clearing issues up gracefully but quickly, she heads for Priority One. Lucas' quarters. "Please?" She motions for Vere and Solange to come along. Merlin seems to be more stoic than usual. She notes Merlin and she need some time to talk. When she gets some time, it will not be napping, but checking close with her brother, her lifeline to outsiderness.
Commandant DeWicke introduces himself during a small pause in the flow of instructions and official flurry. He looks rumpled, as if pulled from some place in a hurry. He is not so handsome and not so blonde as he might have been when younger, but the elements have graced him with a seasoning that intrigues the eye. Celina smiles. "Thank you for your service. This is sure to be more interesting and more thankless than many things you have done for France."
Celina walks the corridor to Lucas' room at brisk pace, a habit she has recently acquired at odds with her Rebman training. Her face is a set sculpt of sorrow as her thoughts gallop, but that transparency smoothes away when she arrives at the door. It would not do for Florimel or Solace to see her grieve and set off their own balance.
Celina knocks and opens in one motion. She steps within and gestures with one hand, in the same motion as the spiral she used to describe the scene earlier. This invites Vere and Solange to make their own observations. Celina only nods to Lord Rein and Florimel and takes their questions if they have any.
Lucas' eyes are still waiting for something from her.
Vere follows close behind Celina, and steps aside to make room for Solange to enter. His eyes immediately go to Lucas, then flick out to take in the area immediate around the body, and then he slowly turns his head, examining the entire room from his position near the door.
Solange pauses in the doorway, as if reluctant to enter. She inhales, puts on her game face, and walks in. Her eyes search out not Lucas, but his mother. "Aunt Flora, I am very sorry for your loss."
Florimel has not even had time to change out her clothes for mourning. "Thank you, Solange."
Lord Rein is with her. He might be holding Florimel up, except for her ramrod-stiff posture and the expression that bodes ill for someone.
"My deepest sympathies, Aunt Florimel," [Vere] says, his attention clearly still on his examination of the crime scene. With barely a pause, in which Florimel murmurs a polite thanks, he continues, "Has anything been moved or disturbed?"
Celina examines the room again and finds it looks as she first saw it. "I think not."
"Nothing has been disturbed," Lord Rein says, "by the order of the Regent."
"What are the next steps to be taken in this matter?" Florimel asks, her question clearly directed to Merlin and Celina. Merlin leaves it to Celina to answer.
Vere slowly begins to walk through the room, being very careful of where he puts his feet. He makes a circuit of the room first, looking for anything out of place, anything that doesn't match his expectations of what Lucas would have in his own private chambers. Only then does he turn his attention back to the body, examining it without touching anything, judging the angle from which the shard of glass entered Lucas, considering the source of the glass (was it from the main mirror in the room?), and carefully considering the pattern made by any other pieces of glass on the room's floor, to determine how much force and how carefully directed the blow from the other side of the mirror must have been to drive it so deeply into the victim.
Other than the half-completed Trump, it looks much as one of Lucas's chamber in Amber might have looked, except with Parisian furniture instead of Amberish furniture.
The glass was a shard from a large, essentially full-length, mirror in the large central door of an armoire in the room. It wasn't the main mirror, the one designed to reflect light into the room, but it was very large and closest to where Lucas was facing. It would also have reflected light, hence the choice to use this room as a painting studio.
To Vere's eyes, had the blow been made by a human hand, it would have had to be reasonably carefully directed. The shard embedded in his chest would have required a great deal of force to put there. If he was stabbed by hand, Vere would think it would require someone extraordinary, if not Family, to have done it.
Solange, careful not to touch anything, comes around from the doorway and stands near her aunt. She turns and faces Lucas, looking at his dead body for the first time since entering the room. Her mouth works, suppressing emotion.
"This has not been a good day," she growls, to no one in particular. "God, Lucas, you knew better than to do something like this within view of a mirror!"
And yet, to maintain secrecy about his art, Solange knows he couldn't have done it any other way.
Florimel's eyes settle on Solange for a moment before she returns her attention to the Regent.
Celina picks up Florimel's question and manages an answer that hints of no simmering anger or cold guilt despite feeling both. "Next steps would be providing a respectful treatment of Lucas as soon as we have the data available in hand. I've called for the best physician, so nothing is missed. If you know of one you prefer Aunt Florimel, that is certainly something to do now. I want to move quickly. The guilty party may still be caught between covering tracks and preparing an exit from Paris." Celina moves closer to Florimel. "I request permission to use magic to see if there is a link to the killer if all else fails to produce a lead."
"I'll speak with your physician, but we all know what the results will be and we all know who killed Lucas." Florimel looks at Celina, Merlin, Solange, and then Vere, each in turn. "What magics do you have in mind?"
"I never accept the obvious without confirmation, Princess Florimel," Vere says, still focused on the body. "Offhand, without applying myself, I can think of five individuals besides Moire who have the means to have done this, and who might have reason either to kill Lucas or to slay a member of the family without concern over the precise identity of the victim, merely to cast suspicion upon Moire. This in no way means that Moire is not a principal suspect, merely that I wish more information before we act. Unless you are so intent upon Moire's death that you do not care to wait for the surety that she is guilty. In which case my count of other suspects is six."
It's a most inappropriate time to smile for a number of reasons, which of course makes Solange want to smile all the more. She raises her eyebrows and bites the inside of her lip instead.
Celina gathers breath to counter her Aunt when Vere smoothly says it better than it would have sounded from her. She swallows her half-felt argument. "My brother and I have worked with the eye as a reflective surface for vision and sorcery. I think that combining our efforts...and the matter so recent...that we could see images off the surface of Lucas' eye. I think he saw his killer."
"Then do it," says Florimel. "Because I want all the evidence to be solid when the time comes to deal with the murderer." Vere has no trouble recognizing that falsely pleasant smile as very dangerous.
Merlin also catches it and says, very hastily, "Then let us do whatever magics are to be done."
"I would like to attempt something," Vere says. "But I request none but immediate family be here when I make the attempt." He looks at Celina.
There are several different ways that Celina might ask about what he plans, but then there are non-family here and he should not offer if it is something that will have Moire kill him outright. She decides that she doesn't need to question his method.
Celina asks for Lord Rein to clear the room and have the passage outside guarded. She also says, "I need to speak with you about the thieflings and rogues of Paris today. A man of music should know much of the lower classes I think." She smiles at him, even if he does not understand her line of thought.
When the room is cleared, she nods to Vere but does not ask the obvious.
Solange moves to stand near her foster brother. She says nothing, but her expression is grave and troubled. She crosses her arms and waits.
Merlin is standing by the door. Before Florimel can speak up, he says, "Now you will explain what you mean to do, please, cousin Vere."
"Perhaps the mirrors should be covered?" Vere suggests, as he lifts a cleaning rag from Lucas' painting supplies and delicately drapes it around the shard of mirror piercing his cousin.
Celina fetches a bed linen from the next room to drape the source of Lucas' demise. This is delicately done so as not to further disturb the pieces of that glass.
After waiting a moment for the mirrors in the room to be covered or turned to the wall (or for Celina and/or Flora to indicate that they aren't going to do that) Vere turns to Flora and bows his head, then raises it again and looks her directly in the eyes. "Princess Florimel," he says formally, "I request your permission to raise the shade of your son, to seek information in the manner of his death, and the identity of the person responsible."
Celina is inwardly shocked and outwardly pale.
Solange is unsurprised by Vere's proclamation. Her eyes glance around, taking in reactions.
Florimel, like Celina, is pale, and doesn't seem to have decided how to answer just yet.
Merlin merely seems interested in the idea. "How do you propose to accomplish this? Will you work the principle of Time, or do you have some other means?"
The question seems to snap Florimel out of her own shock. "If you think it has some use, and won't harm Lucas, do it." Then, as something of an afterthought, she turns to Celina. "Will this interfere with the other sorcery you spoke of?"
Celina says the most modest thing she can think of at the moment, "Not as far as I know. It certainly may make it moot. Please, Lord Vere, what preparation do you need from us?"
Vere moves a footstool to where he can sit at a level with Lucas. He stares into Lucas' eyes as he says, "Nothing is required, Celina. I do not know how much will be audible or visible to you. Cousin Merlin, I do not use Sorcery, so far as I know. It is, instead, an ability natural to me, something that came upon me unasked, not a power that I sought. If you wish to observe with sorcerous sight, I would be most interested in discussing with you later what you see.
"Do you recall," he continues conversationally, his eyes still looking into Lucas' eyes, "Our last conversation? When we discussed the strong possibility that Lord Hardwind had been involved with the Paresh, and you resolved to travel to Asir island to learn what had happened to the Paresh and the ship I had sent after them? And we discussed briefly the investigation of Demond Harga'rel'murder? I never told you how I had learned what information I had gained on his death. Now, at last, my friend, you know. I regret the circumstances, Lucas. Pray, tell me what you can of your death."
Celina holds her breath, for Vere surprises her again with how calmly and gently he casts his summoning. She admires the beauty and simplicity of what he's done and discards the awful shadows she had imagined.
Merlin, beside her, is raptly silent.
Solange and Celina see Lucas' ghostly form standing by his dead body, but they cannot hear anything he says. From the frustrated expression on her face, they suspect that Florimel can't hear anything either.
To Vere, Lucas says, "How tiresome to speak of one's death when one can speak of life. Death in general is rather tiresome, don't you think? It was unfortunate that I didn't have enough light in the chamber without the mirrors. I thought I might be seen but I must admit it didn't occur to me that they'd destroy the mirror to kill me." He makes a moue of disgust.
In Celina's ear, Merlin murmurs, softly enough that no one else can hear distinctly, "Fascinating."
"Even so," Celina breathes softly back.
Vere nods. "It does seem an overreaction," he says. "What happened, from your perspective?"
Solange exhales a small sigh as she watches Vere and the Lucas-shade interact. Arms still crossed, she shifts her weight.
Celina doesn't believe most religious comforts, even less now with Lucas' shade standing in the room. However, her interest in Vere, already high, goes up a notch. She rubs her wrists a bit to smooth out the tension that lingers there. She watches Lucas' mouth, his manner, looking for some discrepancy but moreso saying goodbye and fixing this all in her memory.
"I was working on the painting that ma cousine Celina had permitted me to begin when the subject herself appeared in my mirror. She told me I'd interfered for the last time, and then the mirror exploded, and my chest hurt. And then it did not." Lucas looks down at his own form. "It wasn't too badly done. At least she didn't fill me with glass shards like a pincushion. With proper preparation, the funeral could even be open-casket."
Florimel takes a step towards Lucas. "What's he saying?" she asks Vere.
"At Notre Dame, with full honours befitting one on my station," Lucas says, ignoring Florimel. "Tell them that."
"He wants a state funeral at Notre Dame," Vere replies with the faintest hint of a smile. "Full honours. He strongly suggests that with a small amount of careful preparation it can be an open-casket funeral. I rather think he would like to have Corwin institute a period of official mourning, as well." He doesn't take his eyes from Lucas'. "Is there anything you wished to say to him, Aunt Florimel?"
Florimel looks like she's straining to hear what Lucas is saying, to no avail.
"Ask him what happened to Solace. Who attacked her?"
"What of the attacks upon lady Solace, Lucas?" Vere asks. "Do you know who is responsible for those?"
Solange suddenly makes a small sound and her hand rises to touch her mouth. She looks startled.
"But has he said who killed him?" Celina whispers.
Lucas smiles at Vere. "I told Maman I would never tell. The mere fact of my demise makes me no less fixed in my determination."
"Ah," Vere says. "Princess Florimel did not mention that you had previously told her you would not answer that question. I will convery the information to her that you maintain that determination in death. May I take it, though, that this indicates that you are confidant your wife and children face no further danger from that source?" He holds a hand up to Celina as he speaks, palm out.
"I believe he'll say yes," Solange murmurs thoughtfully.
Celina holds herself still and listening. She watches Lucas closely.
Florimel's eyes have narrowed and she's wearing a smile that might be described as unpleasantly satisfied, as if a nasty suspicion she was reasonably certain of has been confirmed.
Merlin whispers to Celina, "But if he knew--" and lets that trail off. He sounds somewhat confused and somewhat disgruntled.
Lucas ignores the byplay between his cousins and the look of his mother. To Vere, he says only, "One does hope so, but there are no guarantees about these things. You should watch her."
"I will so inform your mother and Regent Celina," Vere says. "Let us turn back to the previous matter. You said that when Moire appeared in your mirror she said that you had interfered with her for the last time. That strikes me as curious phrasing. I was not aware that you had previously opposed her plans. Or is there another interpretation which can be put upon her words?"
"I have no idea what she meant," Lucas says dismissively. "Pallbearers--you'll serve, won't you, cousin? You and Martin, and Corwin's son--Merlin, I do believe--and Jerod, and Ossian, and Conner. The casket should only be opened if it can be done without terrifying Hope and Phillippe."
"Thank you, Lucas," Vere says. "I am honoured. Very well, I will convey that message. Your wish Prince Martin, Prince Merlin, Jerod, Ossian, Conner and myself as pallbearers. And the question of whether or not it is to be an open casket ceremony should be determined by whether you are presentable enough to avoid frightening the children. Your mother and wife, I am certain, will be gratified by your consideration."
He brings his hands together, and says, "Is there anything else that needs to be said, or asked?"
Celina fidgets a bit, "Were there accomplices involved? Was it only a single person?" She is stabbed into the unknown now.
"Goodbye, Lucas," Solange says softly, rather disappointed that after the trials and tribulations they'd gone through together, that he didn't even acknowledge she was there. She turns away.
Lucas sighs. "These is much more that needs to be said. I haven't described the clothes, the flowers, the disposition of my household, what you need to do for Phillippe now that he is Viscount St. Cyr. Really, there are many, many items to address. Are you ready for me to dictate my eulogy?"
Florimel shakes her head. "What I have left to say, Lucas has never wanted to hear." She looks away from Vere as well.
Merlin asks, "What does his murder have to do with the fight between Martin and the Rebman agents in Amber?"
"Alas, my friend," Vere says sadly, "I do not believe it is traditional for the deceased to dictate his eulogy. But I will check with experts on protocol about that after we finish our conversation. Prince Merlin wonders if there is a connection between your murder and a fight between Prince Martin and Rebman agents in Amber. Do you know aught of this?"
"I hardly paid any attention to that and in any case, I was done with it once I had to relocate Prudenter. What a distressing moment that was, sending away my tobacconist! The only redeeming feature of the matter was that he was here in Paris when I arrived. I was rather cross with Martin about that.
"But in any case, there are still more matters to be dealt with about the funeral. Matters of dress, and orders of precedence, and so on." Lucas seems to be prepared to go on at interminable length on this issue if Vere doesn't shut him up.
Vere breaks eye contact with Lucas and looks at Celina. "Martin relocated one of his, or Lucas', agents from Amber to Paris. A tobacconist named Prudenter. If he has not already been killed by Moire's people he might prove a useful source of information on whatever plots and counterplots they were running against each other. Lucas is fixated upon the arrangement of the funeral, and I do not believe any more useful information can be obtained." He turns to Flora and bows his head to her slightly. "Have I your permission to dismiss his spirit, Aunt?"
Celina holds onto the name, thinking that if no one else has time, she might make something of that.
"Wait. One more question, if I may," Solange interjects. "Please ask Lucas where his trumps are. I want the one he has of me."
Florimel seems to be about to reply to Vere when Solange interrupts.
But it is Merlin who speaks, brow furrowing. "How long ago did Lucas make this trump of you?"
"Not long ago," Solange replies, looking at him. "Why does it matter?"
Vere pauses before passing Solange's request on to Lucas, waiting to see where Merlin is going with his question.
Trump process being something a bit eerie and invasive, Celina just listens hoping to put knowledge in place of fears.
"I am trying to locate when in the temporal order Lucas became involved with making trumps. Making trumps is a hostile act," Merlin explains calmly. "Certainly it is when performed without the permission of the subject. When we find his trumps, until we know how Lucas intended to dispose of them, they are evidence of possible criminal behavior, and a potential motive for his murder, if we do not accept the theory that Moire murdered him because he was making a Trump of her."
Celina is startled to find her unvoiced apprehensions given form by her brother. Trump making hostile? She smothers a shiver in her lower back. Her impression of Lucas and the situation wavers a bit.
Merlin looks to Vere and Celina. "When Vere dismisses Lucas' spirit, I would like to perform some sorcery of my own."
Florimel has remained silent through this entire exchange, as if she is waiting for something.
Celina looks questioning at Vere and Solange. They have the floor.
Vere turns back to Lucas' shade. "Lucas," he says. "Solange sends her regards, and her deepest sorrow at this turn of events. She also wonders where your trump deck might be. Your trump of her would be a comfort and a memento mori to her."
"Thank you, Vere. You phrased that well," Solange says. Her eyes flick to Merlin. "I certainly do not want to hinder a potential criminal investigation. I only want to know where the trump of myself is, for my own safety and peace of mind."
Solange shrugs slightly. Surely her reasons are obvious and understandable.
"Assuming my trump is not the only trump Lucas has created, does it then need to be retained? I would like to take my trump and eventually give it to King Random, to put in the trump booth in Xanadu," she continues. Solange turns her gaze in appeal to Celina and Flora.
Celina waits on Vere's question to the shade of Lucas. She inclines her head in understanding of Solange's clarification.
Lucas shrugs. "As I am dead it is not mine to give. She shall have to wait until Phillippe is old enough that she can sleep with him to get it." He pauses. "Or Hope, perhaps. Now, as to the disposition of my body. I shall want lockets made with tufts of my hair to give to all the whores in Paris..." He seems likely to continue on in this vein for some time.
Vere's lips form a thin smile, and he looks at Solange. "I fear he has no interest in answering that question," he tells her. "Instead, he says you must bargain with Hope or Philippe when they are old enough, as the deck is now theirs. That would imply that it is where it may be found."
He turns to Florimel once more. "Princess?" he asks.
Solange appears about to pursue the point, but instead takes her brother's advice and lets it go. She looks at Flora as well.
Celina steps closer to Florimel, "Before this terrible event, Lucas had written to me asking permissions to 'pursue any means' to keep track of Rilsa in defense of Paris. I consider it possible despite whatever Trump he was working on, that she was the killer, perhaps in defense of her liege. I told him there were conditions to his request and never heard back from him." She nods then to Florimel, adding that information to the common good if Florimel has any further questions for her son.
Florimel shakes her head. "We'll want to question the tobacconist, but I think there's nothing more to be learned in this manner. Unless the other sorceries you mentioned earlier are likely to have a different result."
Lucas continues his recitation.
Celina says, "No, I'm sure we're done with this method. Merlin will explore next."
"Fare well, Lucas," Vere says. He waves a hand in a dismissive gesture, and turns his head away from Lucas, ending the summoning.
Merlin turns to Celina. "Do you wish to do the magic you discussed next? I am afraid I will disrupt whatever you intended, if you still mean to do it after our cousin's demonstration." He looks to Florimel. "With your permission, of course."
Florimel nods to Merlin. "Go ahead. Whatever's to be done, let's do it all at once. It wouldn't do to disrupt the funeral planning, after all." Her tone is edged with something that might be sarcasm.
Despite having dismissed Lucas' shade, Vere can still hear an almost buzzing sound, as if Lucas were standing nearby and whispering to him at a volume he can't quite make out.
Vere sees absolutely no reason to mention that fact to anyone, and he pays no attention to the sound whatsoever and gives no sign that he hears it. Instead, he watches with quiet interest to see what Celina and Merlin are going to do.
Solange hugs herself and looks down, retreating inward.
Celina looks at Florimel, then Merlin. "It would seem my earlier idea is completely redundant, having witness from our departed cousin that Moire was the agent of his demise. Magic is not easy here and I would like to keep those waters calm considering what may spring from the Rebman side given a chance. So if you have another notion, now would be the moment, Merlin."
"Magic is, as you say, not easy. I do not think it would be trivial to manipulate Time so far back as the moment of his death," Merlin replies. "If the company is satisfied with the report of the witness, I would prefer not to attempt the exercise." He looks to Celina first for an answer.
She nods firmly to him then turns to Florimel. "However, I am not satisfied unless you are, my Aunt. How say you? I am sure my Father would wish us to exercise every effort on your behalf."
Vere walks over to where Solange is standing and silently puts a hand on her shoulder.
She doesn't look up. "I need to leave soon," Solange tells him softly, "as soon as the trump matter is settled...go fix this thing with Father. Cambina dead, Vialle missing, then exiled, Kyril thrown in the dungeon, and now Lucas... Gods, how did we get into such a fucking bloody mess?"
Vere tightens his grip on her shoulder momentarily in response, but says nothing.
"I believed all along it was Moire. You don't need to prove it to me," Florimel says pointedly, looking across the room to Vere. "I'm ready for Lucas's body to be prepared for burial. What do you propose to do about Moire?" she asks Celina.
Celina stifles several inappropriate comments because Vere and Solange are present. She imagines herself a more dignified response. Pearls what a mess. She discards the dignified response. Celina glides slowly to Lucas. She reaches out slowly and carefully, allowing the courtesy space in which a lover could draw back if unwilling for a touch. "Goodbye, Lucas." Her fingertips touch his eyelids then and close them shuttering his surprise.
Celina turns back to Florimel. "I'm going to her rooms right now and arresting her for murder." She nods to the door and begins to move.
"Do you require anything from me, Princess Celina?" Vere asks. "I stand willing to aid if you request. If not, then I should travel to the People of the Isles and my army immediately, both to assure them that all goes well, and to inform the Children of Llyr that Queen Moire is deposed and accused of murder. I would not wish them to be drawn into dangerous political waters if they are contacted by any of her agents."
Celina's response is swift, "You may wish to bear witness to her response. Later you can speak from first-hand experience to the Children of Lyr. You may all wish to, this is a Family matter."
Solange looks up at Celina. "It may be a Family matter, true, but I don't see what help I can be to you in it. I have no magic, we're too close to the Paris pattern for any of my usual tricks to be of use, and even though I would gladly console you as I would a sister during this trying situation--hells bells, you're going to go arrest your mother--you do not know me well enough to allow or value it."
She spreads her hands. "If you have need of me then I'm happy to stay and help. Otherwise, I want only to settle my trump matter and leave. I've no idea when your father plans to return but I'd prefer not to be here when he does. Last time I saw him he wanted me thrown in the dungeon."
Celina reaches the door but does not touch the lever. She considers Solange. There are many things in these words that need an answer but this may be the wrong time. Solange is a princess of Amber. Would she take comfort from the Seaward Ways? There were hints that Solange was not like the older Amberites in her relationships. In this moment, Solange offers a sister's arms. This is certainly a day when such an offer should not be overlooked. What can be said in front of Merlin or the Others that will not bite back misconstrued?
Celina looks at Solange. "Thank you for telling me about that. You would have to settle your Trump business with Solace and that seems unlikely today. Even if she would speak to you, she is not coherent. I think you will have to slip back to Paris another day. You are welcome to leave ahead of my Father's return. He may be back very soon and I would not delay you in any way. Travel safe, Solange. I shall see what I can do for you while you are gone from here." Pearls. No way to leave Paris as fast as she wants now with that promise.
Florimel has drawn Merlin aside to allow Celina and Solange some privacy for their conversation. They are in some low-voiced discussion.
Vere can still hear the low noise that may be Lucas' ghost going on about the funeral. It's annoying.
Solange doesn't exactly look happy with the first half of Celina's reply but she doesn't push the issue. "Thank you for your hospitality," she says instead, and forces a smile. "Do you plan to stay in Paris long after Corwin returns? Perhaps we'll have an opportunity to meet again under less trying times."
Vere has plenty of experience in ignoring annoyances. He does so now, and instead says, "Sister, would you like me to contact King Random and request a royal safe conduct for you to Xanadu, to explain the situation directly to the king? While Father means well, he is stubborn, as we both know, and his explanation to the king of what happened is likely to be highly subjective."
Solange shakes her head. "You're sweet to offer, but no, I need to not hide behind my brother and take care of this myself. Give my regards to Avis and tell her I will send blessings her way--she'll like that." She smiles wryly.
"Goodbye." Solange hugs Vere hard, whispers "thank you" in his ear, and lets go.
"Victory to you, and death to your foes," he whispers back.
She turns to Celina and hugs her as well. "I wish you calm waters. Be careful."
Celina returns the hug with some strength and hands fully engaged to Solange's spine. "Thank you," she says softly. "I shall not be here a day longer than my promise to you about Solace. We shall hope to see each other soon."
Solange takes her leave of Flora and Merlin and leaves the room.
Celina watches her go with sadness. The door is open, more action is required. Now. Celina calls into the corridor for the Commandant. "DeWicke, attend, s'il vous plait."
Celina looks at Florimel and Merlin. "Is there more? I need to do this." Before I run screaming into the shadows.
Merlin shakes his head. Florimel says, "Only a suggestion that you consider how you'll bind her."
Such an elegantly practical notion. Capture, yes, but how to bind? Oddly, Celina sees an image in her mind immediately and starts a bit. She realizes that it is herself, not Moire, that is bound helpless in this flash vision. Celina swallows and slowly nods to her aunt. "I have no experience in such matters." Celina continues more slowly, "I've been led to believe that restraining family is a bit of a chore. Holding a clever determined woman capable of striking this way....."
Celina doesn't look at Merlin directly, keeping her stance more centered on her own apprehensions as a distraction. She keeps her consideration on Florimel. She really doesn't like the idea that Moire is probably two steps ahead of them all and Celina may be headed to the dungeon. There isn't time to fabricate elaborate measures or learn the strengths and weaknesses of Paris' holding cells.
Unless Celina is going to stay in them. Then there is plenty of time to consider mistakes.
"If Trump is a hostile art, then Moire is in the right from her point of view. Father will also have something ill to say if I hold Moire in Durance Vile. However, Moire had choices beyond taking her rage upon Lucas. She choose to kill. I do not think she will allow herself to be taken into custody. I think she will be gone or rebuff us or turn the tables somehow. She has taught me almost all I know and I cannot help but think this Dance is measured out against my experience and responses. Moire killed Lucas knowing I'm in charge here right now." Celina speaks unhurriedly, her ideas chasing far ahead of her explanations to Florimel. "My training says I must arrest her. What I'm going to do is go see what she has in store for me. I'm also going to try and surprise her with something I do not want to Do or Be. I just hope That's not what I'm supposed to do." Celina suppresses a frown. "Would you like to advise me given that twisted answer?"
"Moire cannot walk through shadows on her own, can she?" Vere asks. "Can she travel through mirrors, or merely see through and summon aid through them? One can understand the logic of Eric and Julian's treatment of Corwin when they had captured him."
"She cannot walk shadows that I know," Celina agrees. "But based on risk, she may move through Glass, summon aid or force magic through Mirrors." She does not admit that being only a young girl during most of the distant war in Amber, she has no idea what Eric and Julian made of Corwin when captured. Finally she voices something of the vision she just had. "Parisian Binding Tape of the anbaric kind. Over her eyes and mouth. Though I think my father will have my hide for it when he returns."
"I will summon someone to fetch the anbaric tape," Merlin says, and hastens to the bellpull to do exactly that, as if there's nothing abnormal about binding a foe up that way.
Florimel, who was there during the war in Amber, says, "Traditionally, my father the King either killed troublemakers or exiled them in Shadow."
Vere watches his aunt and cousins without expression or comment.
Celina does not take Vere's silence for censure or agreement with events, expecting from what she has seen of his character so far, that he is already in 'official witness' manner for later reporting to his Rebman troops. She is somewhat surprised that her Aunt says nothing about the suggested binding, but takes that for satisfaction. Florimel will no doubt make her feelings known if the arrest fails.
She nods to Merlin, hoping that it does not take long for the palace staff to find the anbaric tape. In the meantime, Celina moves to the hall.
Last modified: 25 July 2009