Conner watches the pair of them go with a minute shrug of his shoulders. He would dearly like to eavesdrop on the conversation since Jerod was no doubt asking Loreena about the Eye. Alas they are too close to Rebma for sorcerous listening to be reliable and Conner still keeps the Eye close to the vest.
"Well, we can on Jerod to do whatever he thinks is best." Conner comments to Khela. "He claims an alliance to Rebma and its people though I should like to hear his definition of that one of these days." Conner glances at the Tritons to imply that Jerod would not include them. "He also seems quite interested in the claim that Loreena was searching for the Eye of Rebma. Is that something to be concerned about?"
Khela smiles and looks at her advisors. "As far as I know it's a myth, dating back to Moins' days. It certainly helped to draw Loreena far away from Rebma and where she could be taken, so in a sense it is a fine tool for our side.
"I expected Jerod to be at least somewhat surprised when Halimedes discussed our plans. I think someone has been telling tales on our friends."
"He did come via Princess Llewella and Rebma." Conner pointed out. "I presumed he had gotten a briefing from that quarter. Of course, Duke Jerod has always been one to keep a straight face at any news. My concern is more on sending a diplomat of uncertain loyalty to negotiate for us all. He pledges much but binds himself to nothing. Still I suppose we must trust to his own self interest. He'd like to keep Rebma standing after all."
"True, however I was under the impression that she sent him to us almost immediately. In any case, one of the advantages a prince can take is to know more than he lets on. I shall keep in mind that he can be circumspect in his own interest.
"There are pros and cons to using a third party negotiator, including a certain amount of distance and a balanced amount of trust. He can't betray much, as he doesn't have much of ours. And he's absolutely right that something isn't right in all this. My hope is that he if he does not succeed, he will at least put Huon off-balance."
Conner nods in agreement. "Yes, the addition of an unknown factor does often lead to scrambling." Conner notes Jerod returning. "And he here he is now."
[Khela]
"Ah, your grace. I trust you found that your sister was being as well
cared for as circumstances permit?"
"For the moment." Jerod replies drily. "Now that I have taken care of that obligation of family, there is only one last thing to be discussed. A conversation with your mother on a subject was had prior to my arrival. She was not able to provide any answers to my questions but felt that you might be able to do so and that I should put my questions to you...", pausing for just a second.
"...privately."
Conner briefly considers voicing an objection out loud but sees little advantage to doing so. Similarly there is little advantage to Jerod acting as assassin and martyr at this time. Conner leaves the decision up to Her Majesty.
A person with a good water score could be reasonably confident in believing that Conner's reaction, spoken aloud of course, is exactly what Jerod is waiting for.
Then it is left to Jerod to determine if Conner has missed this cue or if he notices it and decides not to give Jerod what he wants. Conner remains silent.
[Blake let us know at any point if you need to roll this back and assassinate someone.]
In this case, Conner's probably going to realize that the reaction is what Jerod is looking for, but not from Conner. Jerod's attention remains on Khela, but he has positioned himself in such a way that a certain Triton is also in his viewing range.
Khela nods and rises. "Come this way." She leads Jerod to a tent with a guard outside and a closed flap. Lifting the flap reveals a tent lit by a Rebman light globe. There's a single cot and a table with maps and papers on it, and several trunks of gear.
"Mother said you'd want your sword back. I asked the Tritons to find it and amazingly, it was returned."
She walks to one of the chests and opens it. Pulling the blade from it, she offers it to him.
Merely reinforcing what he originally knew as to one of two individuals who might have acquired it, Jerod does not immediately take it however.
"Given that a Triton was the one who took it, I'd be circumspect with the praise." Jerod replies. "What have you been using it for? It was taken for a reason obviously."
She places the sword on the table and sits, gesturing to the second camp chair but not insisting.
"I've used it to keep my closet full in case you came onto the playing field. I'm not looking for praise, since it came to me for the asking. Given what you told my mother, returning it is in almost everyone's best interests. I'm also making sure you're aware of how things work with the Tritons, which may be new ground for you.
"The triton who went to ransack Mother's home was trying to disrupt our communications, which he failed to do. He was working for his ... Daiwah, which is similar to a gang leader, priest, and mentor, if I understand it correctly. He has no idea who his Daiwah worked for. It might be grandmother, your mother or one of your sisters. Or someone else who managed to influence the Daiwah, but that's less likely.
"You were an unwelcome surprise, but at least the Triton was seasoned enough to not kill you, even when a little panicked. You probably were surprisingly strong, for a person. He took it so that it could not be magically traced back to him. They're not like us--it would never occur to a triton that anyone would be attached to a tool."
Jerod will accept the other chair, leaning his spear to one side where it is available, but not a pain during the conversation. He listens patiently, nodding once or twice as the information is processed. He is silent once she is done, sifting a little more before he responds.
"If you know which Triton it was, ask him how his ear feels." Jerod says, with a slight, shark-like smile. "Two inches the other way and I'd still be wearing that", motioning to the sword.
"There were always two camps involved in whoever ran the Triton. I had leaned towards grandmother myself, especially given the treatment Conner and his associates received when he was conducting his own investigation of the break-in at your mother's apartment. There was the possibility that the Triton was one associated to your mother, or to you directly, based on my intelligence sources. Though after I woke up and searched, that was less likely. Things didn't look right. I suspect I interrupted him looking for your mother's little mirror contraption that I later found."
"Based on the information at hand, I made my little walk into the palace, to make a statement as it were."
Khela nods, not surprised by his information. "It can be an advantage to work through intermediaries, if you don't want to be associated with your choices. It also leads to unwanted surprises. I hope to be more direct. Did anyone respond to your statement?"
"Not that I would gather." Jerod says. "But then, I did not expect a response. It was a statement of fact, that injury and threat are insufficient to deter a Prince of Amber from their course. If anything, such actions only serve to ensure a much more unpleasant response on the part of the Prince when they finally select their target."
He looks over at the sword for a moment, studying it. "The Tritons are not spoken of, even in the most clandestine of circles. Myth and rumor abound concerning them. Tell me, if you would, about the Sons of the Dragon."
"That is what the Tritons who do not come from Rebma call themselves. It seems to be similar to the standard 'Children of God' mythologies that crops up. I found them, un-coincidentally, when I found this." She pats the thin sword at her side, which still manages to pick up enough light to show the pattern tracery upon it.
"And for what reason did you go about acquiring Cneve's blade?" Jerod asks. "I mean, beyond the obvious benefit of removing Moire's power base."
"For any number of reasons. Including scholarly curiosity. I was teaching magic in a seaward academy when I met Celina, you know. I found certain documents that led me to an insight into where the sword might lie. It was a challenge and an adventure to see if I was right."
She blows out a sigh. "And it became very serious when I came out of it with this, and with what I learned from the tomb and the guardians."
Jerod smiles slightly. Perhaps the dramatic effect of the sigh catches his attention, the prelude to the tale of what musters her attention for the difficult road ahead. Perhaps something else...
"And that would be?"
"The Triton's version of the story of how they came to be slaves in Rebma. If I can take the throne, that deal will be renegotiated, and we will change the relationship. They are not interested in resuming the war and would be pleased enough if their brethren became citizens. It's what Martin and Cassia and I wanted, after all."
Khela sits back. "It's a brutal story, but not an unbalanced one. They attacked Rebma, after all. Moins defended it, and sought help from her kinsmen to do so. Cneve was a grandson of Oberon, and had his death curse not been enough, his father and uncle came to avenge him. It was a short war, in the second part.
"Our tritons are hostages to the good behavior of the Sons of the Dragon.
She leans towards Jerod. "I also learned that they do not consider her Queen of Rebma and will follow someone they feel is proven to be the rightful heir to the throne. That's what changed the balance. Had I been forced to fight them, it would've been a bloody mess and Rebma would have suffered. With this and them, I had the ability to win quickly with overwhelming force.
"It was only luck that put an enemy of Rebma in the field at the same time, but I'm ready to take advantage of that luck."
Jerod's poker nights with Martin do occasionally come in handy, and he uses what he learned there, plus from Court, to maintain an expression just bland enough to indicate he hears everything that is said, but focussed enough to show absolutely no reaction.
That he has questionned Moire's background before and how she came to the throne is potentially known to others, so he must balance the credence of the words he has heard. The same with his theories concerning the continued existence of Rebma after the death of Moins, though if she was as Benedict had said, like Oberon in her relationship to Rebma's Pattern, then perhaps her Chaosian background allowed for fissioning to occur. An interesting speculation, though unprovable at present. He says nothing for the moment, deciding which line of thought to follow first, before proceeding.
"Interesting, but there are some gaps that I'm curious about." he says. "Though I'm eager to learn why the Sons of the Dragon, sent by Dido to destroy Rebma, would now be interested in seeing their brethren become citizens of this place. Rebma's Pattern is an energy that is hostile to the Dragon so why they would agree to its continued existence is questionnable.
"However, for the moment, let us put that aside. Should the Tritons prove hostile, I'm sure Prince Benedict will pick up where his brothers left off. I am more interested in the heir to Moins. Martin and I have discussed the situation of Rebma for sometime, so I will relate some information, though I would qualify it with a question.
"What do you know about Moins, Oberon and the Pattern?"
"Less than I thought I did a decade ago, apparently. In the shadows where I heard the 'Dido' myth, she and Carthage were a stand-in for Moins and Rebma, but shadows will twist many things.
"The tritons speak of the dragon as if it were some great god of myth from their olden times. I think they would be more surprised than I would if it were to show up to attempt to order them to battle, but again, there's much in shadows.
"Moire does not sit the throne as master of the pattern beneath it, as Moins did. I believe she cannot. I can and will."
Jerod thinks for a moment, sifting another piece of information to the forefront.
"Benedict told me once that Moins was to Rebma, as Oberon was to Amber. Oberon was the creator of Amber, the personification of his will if you will. So to would Rebma have been for Moins. They literally were their kingdoms. And with their background as coming from the Courts of Chaos, they would have been related to the Dragon that is bound by the Patterns that currently exist. The Dragon that now stirs because one of the Patterns lies broken, a Lord of Chaos that if free would view us as little more than raw materials for consumption."
"Only the individual who created the kingdom can ultimately rule it apparently. It is why my father's rule was doomed to failure, as was Corwin's should he have ever succeeded in supplanting my father from the throne. It was why Amber's pattern was broken when Oberon died.
"Though that rule provides us with an interesting conundrum, because Rebma's Pattern remains intact though Moins is dead. Or so it would seem.
"My sources tell me that you have not walked the Pattern." Jerod says. "Are they incorrect?"
He will wait to hear her response before proceeding.
"That's not what Oberon told my mother after her mother died. I know what I need to know to not just walk but master Rebma's pattern. I hope you will understand if I do not share that knowledge or its source, but your next destination is into the hands of my enemy. Perhaps we can talk again on it in Rebma."
"If you are capable of mastering it to the level of Moins, then your knowledge has no fear of my envy." Jerod smiles slightly, and there is a touch of sadness in his expression. "I think instead, that I would pity you."
His gaze remains upon her for a moment, a direct and measuring look that for anyone less than family would be an unsettling moment to experience. There are many questions to consider, lines of thought to pursue as tantalizing bits of speculation and as desirable as they may be, he realizes that the majority of his questions are now answered, as far as they are likely to be. And on that account, he is satisfied, though one question remains.
"Perhaps then, after Huon has been dealt with, we will speak in Rebma." he says. "This provides me with one additional piece of leverage, an element of surprise of a new ruler that Huon will not be prepared for, even if he has relatively current intelligence on our political situation. It may prove useful.
"I think then, I have only one more question. Let us return to the Tritons and your comment that they do not believe that Moire is the rightful queen. You had found the tomb and the guardians. You may consider that a subject for discussion upon my return, for I would be interested in going to see this place. Old history is a private fascination of mine. For the moment though, I am curious as to Moire's lack of authority."
Khela's lips quirk up at the corners. "You may need to ask them. They consider the sword to be a greater sign than the throne, at least when choosing between me and Moire. They told me that she had not walked the pattern, which I knew from other sources."
"That was common knowledge amongst family." Jerod replies. "Speculation remains rampant as to why she would have been upon the throne after Moins' death, especially since Moire never walked it. There were some comments concerning her interaction with Corwin, whether she was determined to acquire mastery of it by proxy through Celina. Given her offspring's behaviour, one is inclined to suspect she did not consider Corwin's personality in her schemes."
Khela nods at this, but doesn't interrupt.
"Did the Tritons indicate how much they knew of Weyland's blade?" he asks, pointing at it.
"They know little of it, I think, that they did not learn from Cneve. What the Sons of the Dragon know is of it as a foe's blade. If the Tritons know more of it, it will be knowledge that is held by their priesthood in the city. They have odd pockets of knowledge and many distorted reflections of our history. One of their scholars told me the tale of the secret pattern of my Uncle Artur which was hidden to keep his bastard son Modred from finding it."
She stands. "Do you know of an Uncle Artur?"
Jerod frowns, ticking at probabilities. "Not specifically. There are variations on that name throughout Shadow however. I have encountered them several times during my travels, along with variations on Modred. There are elements tying the Dragon to these names through stories of Celtic mythology. What did their scholar relate specifically?"
Khela shrugs. "It was much like a story of mythology, which means it has changed a bit every time it was told. In this version Modred was an illicit child of a forbidden union between Artur and his aunt, which makes it hard to reconcile with exact family history. We can find him and ask him when we have more time for scholarly pursuits, but given that I have only in the past few years discovered that uncles can have patterns, I find it an odd coincidence. I can't think of one who would have a pattern that was hidden. Do any of our known uncles seem likely to do such a thing?"
Jerod rises now. "None of the immediate ones I am aware of." he says. "Though given that we did not know until recently of the primal pattern that was first created, it would not be too difficult to hide a Pattern if you never thought to look for it. The story fits adequately with the mythology that I have read on one named Arthur. The aunt very possibly could be one of Oberon's relatives or wives from the Courts for all we know, though as for now it remains unprovable and thus an interesting speculation.
"I think to find a hidden pattern, one must speak to the master of all Patterns, and to my knowledge that would be Dworkin. And to speak to him, an introduction would probably be in order."
She nods. "Or the myth could be a distortion of the truth. I will be fascinated to hear of your adventures procuring and using that introduction. I hear he's almost a redheaded resource. My mother did not know of his role in the family until very recently."
"Very few of us did." Jerod says. "The redheads were not the only ones good at hiding the reality of family. As I've said many times, Oberon's habit of hiding the facts now comes back to bite us. Let us hope we can survive it's teeth."
At this point, he turns slowly and picks up the sword in its scabbard from the table, looking it over for a moment. He'll take the time to purge it with the Pattern in a short while, on the off chance someone decided to put a spell upon it for whatever reason.
"I think I have all the answers I require for now. Huon awaits and I would like to get some rest before meeting him. It would be so discourteous of me to yawn at him during our first meeting." he says with a smile.
Khela offers the use of her tent or another if that suits Jerod, and leaves him to sleep. A young human soldier is assigned to see if Jerod needs anything.
Beyond some basic toiletries (yes, they are still needed even underwater), Jerod has need for nothing else.
Prior to heading to sleep, he summons the Pattern to mind and spends several minutes focussing it on his father's sword that was retrieved, projecting it by touch and running over the entire sword by feel. He is careful enough not to cut himself in the process.
He's looking to ensure there's no tagging of the blade by sorcerous means.
Once that's done, he's off to sleep.
Khela has Jerod follow him to her nearby command tent. As he leaves, her Triton swim over to Conner.
"Is all well, General?"
"There is no immediate crisis, Teukros." Conner replies. A stream of bubbles demonstrates his frustration. "We need to double the guard patrols for the camp and institute a series of passwords for those that wish to see her Majesty." Conner informs him. "There is a possibility of a commando style raid to obtain the sword. Tighter patrol nets should reduce that risk enough. The true concern is a possibility of shape changers infiltrating." Conner frowns. If a Rebman or Triton was eaten then even the passwords would be known to them. Still, he had to work with what he had. "The password system should help expose those that try to swim in disguise. "In the meantime, I must speak to Merlin. He was quite spooked by Jerod's arrival and I have news for him." Once Conner has arranged some details with Teukros about the new security, Conner goes in search of his cousin.
One of the other Tritons is able to tell Conner where Merlin has gone: back to his own tent.
Conner finds him packing, as if to leave the camp. When Conner comes in, Merlin looks panicked for a moment, until he realizes Conner is alone. "What is it, cousin?"
"I saw how Jerod's arrival spooked you and wanted to be sure you had not fled in panic." Conner admits. "It seems my instincts were right." Conner smiles thinly. "I would never hear the end of it from Celina if I lost track of you. What's the problem? How can I help?" Conner says with as much sincerity as he can muster.
"I fear the message that Jerod brings from Benedict," Merlin explains. "Benedict tried to kill me once, when I was walking the Pattern."
"A Benedict with two arms as I recall." Conner nods. "When we spoke of this in Gateway, you seemed convinced that the one who attacked you was not actually Benedict for that reason. So why this fear now? Have you reached different conclusion since then?" Conner feels there is more beneath the surface and so watches Merlin carefully for any evasion in his answers.
Merlin seems relieved that Conner remembers the story. "I do not like it that I should receive such a message now from him, when Martin is away and Celina is in Paris. And if it is someone who wishes to kill me and wears my ancestor's face, perhaps he has learned better and only wears one arm now. I know Jerod is Martin's friend, but still---"
Conner doesn't sense any deceit in Merlin, but Merlin is alien and hard to read on a good day. On the other hand, nobody really seems to understand how Merlin thinks, so just because it doesn't make sense doesn't mean Merlin is lying.
Conner nods soberly at Merlin's concerns though inwardly he shakes his head at the young man. "Merlin, you are not obligated to act on any words that Jerod brings you. They are not words of power like sorcerers speak. They can do you no harm. Hear what he has to say. It may be better news than you fear." Conner smiles at Merlin. "Whatever happens here Merlin, you do not stand alone. You came to my aid in Gateway and tutored me in the ways of sorcery. You have ever been an ally and I will be the same for you. If after the message you still wish to flee, I'll help you pack and organize a safe route. I just don't want you acting in haste and making mistakes that you'll regret."
"If Benedict's message is in words, that is one thing. If his message comes with poison, or a knife--" Merlin shrugs. "Some messages are sent that way in the Courts. Or by their equivalences."
Conner nods in understanding. "I think you have little cause to fear that from Benedict. Knives and poison are more Caine's style of eloquent debate." Conner observes. "Besides, Jerod is a very unlikely courier for such things. He does not stab when the threat of stabbing is enough to get the point across." Conner remembers a breathless conversation during a fencing match and smiles thinly. "No, from my experience that is neither the way of Benedict or Jerod. Still if you wish a little little insurance against such things, I could ask a Triton to serve as your bodyguard." Conner offers.
"Jerod is of the royal blood of Rebma. He could suborn a Triton, or command it to kill me if he wished," Merlin points out. "But your offer is generous, nonetheless."
Conner's lips twitch as he fights back the laughter that threatens to come out. "Merlin, I don't know if you've noticed, but we are currently in the middle of army of Tritons fighting against the Royal blood of Rebma as it currently defined." Conner rejoins. "If royal blood was all you needed to command a Triton of this force, Loreena would be free. You even talked with her Triton, Eryx, that turned against her mistress. No, to command these Tritons the authority must come from Khela or more specifically the Paxblade." Conner's mind does turn over the possibility that Loreena is less of a prisoner than she seems. He makes a note to look into that.
Merlin mutters something under his breath about affines not being tied to blades that Conner can't quite pick out in the water. Had he less skill in lip reading, Conner wouldn't have gotten that much.
A little light bulb goes off in Conner's head at the word affine. Of course that is how Merlin would look at Tritons. Not being familiar with affination, Conner is not even sure Merlin is wrong to do so. Conner lets the moment pass. No point in letting Merlin know his private thoughts have been caught.
Conner waves that aside. "Well enough of trying to soothe your fears." He grins. "I had a piece of information to pass along to you from my conversation with Llewella. Brita and Ossian showed up in the city as we were talking and they joined the contact for a time. If you remember when last they spoke to us, they reported that Dara and Cleph had kidnapped our cousin Meg as they were following the path of Huon's army towards Abford. Though they have no evidence to support this, they worry that perhaps this means Dara has allied with Huon. You know your mother better than most. Do you think this likely?" Conner realizes that the mention of his mother could be enough to make Merlin bolt. He speaks softly and unconcernedly as though he is looking to confirm that the crazy idea had no merit.
Merlin stops to think about this for a moment, "She tried to ally with my father. But that was before my father killed Borel. If Huon hated my father enough, or would not care if she took vengeance on him ...." he thinks some more. "Perhaps," he finally says reluctantly. "I cannot rule it out."
"No real compelling reason for her to join with Huon but no reason to rule it out either." Conner nods in agreement. "That was my assessment as well. Huon certainly seems to have something up his sleeve for him to continue on his present course. Dara's sorcery would be greatly limited by proximity to the Pattern though. So that is one less thing to worry about. Nothing to do but be vigilant I suppose. Unless you wanted to use the Eye to try and suss out her whereabouts." Conner offered. "It would be the only method short of mirror work that would suit the environment."
"If you wish to try that, I am willing. Mirror work is less risky--my mother might spot this form of scrying--but I cannot use the Rebman mirrors to scry, of course." Merlin looks curiously at Conner. "Do you wish to try now or later?"
"If I were to watch her for a long time, I would put it off for fear we would be disturbed." Conner replies. "But for a simple glimpse of her location, I think there is no time like the present." Conner brings forth the Eye. "You have the stronger sense of Dara, Merlin. I'll need that to guide the Eye." Conner gestures for Merlin to place a hand on the handle. "Just concentrate upon Dara. The mirror does the rest." He quietly instructs. Summoning forth the image of Dara at the Coronation, Conner forces his will onto the mirror bidding it to show him Dara.
Merlin and Conner find Dara in a stone chamber, conversing with a dark-haired, dark-skinned woman that neither of them recognizes. The other woman suddenly looks around, and sends a gout of smoke and flame into the air as if aiming it at something.
Dara says something that Conner's lip reading suggests is what do you mean we're being watched and she, too, begins looking around.
Conner takes a moment to glance incredulously at Merlin. When Bleys deflected his scrying, Conner recalls that he looked straight at him. These women are still searching so they are either less adept or there is another fly on the wall. "No point in tempting fate I suppose." Conner releases his will and quiets the mirror. "Even if they didn't sense us, they are unlikely to speak of important matters without safeguards." Conner shrugs. "At least we know she is above ground. That would seem to alleviate the fear of Rebman involvement for the nonce." Conner turns to Merlin. "How skilled is Dara in things sorcerous? I find it interesting that the one she was with was the first to be aware of the scrying attempt."
"Dara is very skilled, although she arranged for others to have the teaching of me. I do not know whether this was because they were better, or had different skills she wished me to know." Merlin frowns. "I do not know who she was with, or where she was. That may make some difference."
His tone suggests to Conner that this is speculation.
"A person knowing their own home ground." Conner nods. "That could explain it. Still, the details are unimportant. Dara is above ground with a practitioner of sorcery and neither detected us right away. Useful if incomplete information. Did you see enough of the other woman to sketch her?" Conner asks. "Nothing Trump powered mind you. Just a picture to show around and see if anyone recognizes her. Know thy enemy as they say."
"If I had materials I could use, or I could do it sorcerously, yes, I think so." Merlin nods. "I do not know whether I could necessarily make a painting or a sketch underwater."
Conner nods. "Understood. I was more concerned that the image was in your mind as it was in mine. I did not expect you to overcome our current environmental disadvantages. Though I must make a note to see if underwater writing slates would remain stable within Rebma's reality." Conner shrugs. "I think I shall report what we learned to Khela. Unless you would wish to confront Jerod now and hear his message. It might suit you better to meet on your terms instead of his and with someone such as myself present or nearby in case of trouble?" Conner let the offer hang in the currents.
"If I must--I would be in debt to you, cousin. I do not wish to be eaten." Merlin bites his lip. Perhaps it's a trick of his shapeshifting, but he seems very young.
'Sometimes I wonder, dear cousin, how much you are what you appear.' Conner thinks. Out loud, Conner replies. "I don't wish you to be eaten." He says simply. "Nor would I want you to eat just yet if such is an option for you. I think the way you are now is a fine way to be." Conner opined. "Now let's get this message over with. The anticipation is often worse than the event, I find."
Off they go to seek out Jerod.
The morning (or the equivalent time frame thereof) finds Jerod quite active. Once risen from his sleep, he acquires a change of clothes more suitable to his travels ahead, discarding the uniform of the Guard in favour of his Amber colours once more.
To this, his father's blade is added though his spear also remains a part of his accoutrements, and he makes his way leisurely through the camp, stopping to watch and listen before moving on. For a time his attention is taken in by sparring practice amongst the troops that Khela has assembled and he watches for only a few moments before joining in, eager for the practice and the pleasure of energetic movement.
But that passes far too quickly for his liking, and a new desire takes hold. So it is as this point that the universe (and the GM's) will find him, working his way steadily through a morning repast that can only be said to be fit for a Prince.
Merlin appears at the breakfast table as well. He seems to have learned how to manage the trick of eating underwater from the way he chooses his foods. Either that, or he's learned subtle shapeshifting to adapt. Either seems possible with Merlin.
"Cousin, how are you this morning?"
Jerod greets Merlin with a smile and a nod, rising only slightly from the substantial meal that is before him, and that appears to have been replenished more than once.
"Hello Merlin. I am quite well this morning. What can I do for you?" he asks, in a manner that appears to occupy a space between confident, comfortable and genial.
Perhaps not what one might have been expecting from Jerod in the morning.
"I believe you mentioned a message you had for me yesterday. If you have time, I am free to receive it now," Merlin replies. He seems surprisingly free of trepidation for Merlin, which is to say he only seems nervous and not outright terrified.
Jerod motions to a chair and waits for Merlin to sit, using the time taken to add another morsel to his palate. Whether due to a liking for what is in front of him, or just a desire to stockpile on energy, Jerod does not seem to let the meal interfere with his conversation.
"While obtaining support for my plan to meet Huon, the topic of your mother came up while I was in trump contact with Benedict." Jerod says. "There were a number of back and forth points that came up at that time. Specifically relevant to that conversation is that when you were mentioned in relation to being in the same area as Dara, and that she may be going around collecting her offspring, Benedict grew concerned.
"Your mother appears to have recently acquired a new cousin of ours, someone named Meg, taken by force from Ossian and Brita. Benedict is concerned as to your mother's intentions. Therefore, he asked me to relay a message of sanctuary to you and to your sister Celina, if she should so choose to accept it. He seemed to feel that it would be detrimental to you if you should return to Borel."
Merlin blinks slowly, and says, "I have no desire to return to Borel. When I speak next to Celina, I will convey the message and take her counsel. Thank you, cousin." He seems to be relaxing a bit.
After a moment, he adds, "What about Meg?"
Before Jerod can answer, there is the pressure of the beginnings of a trump call forming in Jerod's mind.
Jerod raises a hand slightly to Merlin, motioning for a pause as he lets his thoughts vanish, giving no connection for the trump contact to take hold. He relies on an old mental exercise given to him by Venesch during his early martial training, plus the pointers Reid gave him awhile ago.
Given his proximity to Huon, Jerod has no intention of getting side- tracked.
The pressure of the trump contact fades.
Once the trump contact passes, Jerod will lower his hand.
"Apologies for that." Jerod says. "You were saying?"
"Do you know who that was?" Merlin asks, sounding concerned.
"No." Jerod replies. "Though the number of candidates is limited. Since you provided a trump of me, it's possible that it was Random, though the contact faded quickly. I would not have expected him to give up so easily."
"In any event, Huon is too close for me to become distracted. Now, you had a question about this Meg, I believe?"
Assuming Merlin nods, Jerod continues. "There is little to relate, though part of what I have learned comes from your father. Huon went through the home shadow where Meg was residing, or being hidden. Some place called Abford I believe. Ossian and Marius went looking for information about his past and that's how they encountered her. She came into contact with Ossian and Brita and was travelling with them when your mother made an appearance.
"One thing that did come up during my conversation with Brita was a mention that was made about you and Celina speaking to Huon." Jerod says, looking at Merlin. "He was apparently rather cordial in his meeting with you two, in the same shadow where your long lost relative was residing." and he smiles, ever so slightly.
"Care to add anything?"
"It is always wise to be polite to anything that can eat you," Merlin says, very seriously. "What do you want to know?"
"The secrets of the universe, and how to make a very good cup of tea." Jerod says, smiling as he chews on a scallop.
"Sorry, I forget sometimes Dad had me read some very unusual books when I was growing up." he says. "Basically, what did you learn from Huon? I doubt he would have been forthcoming with his plans, but he is still Family. There's surely the desire to gossip. Plus your opinion of him is always valuable."
"We learned little that he did not wish us to know. That he had raised a credible army was not hidden from us, nor was he concerned with our discovery of him. He was ... well in control of Abford. He knew that we knew things that he did not, but it did not affect his confidence. He has a philosophical nature and had more concern for his affines than many I know or have heard of.
"Something he said struck me. He explained his war on his brother thusly: 'We live in a world with limitless wealth. The only resource in scarce supply is ourselves, so we squabble over it endlessly.'" While Jerod has never spoken to Huon, Merlin is clearly imitating someone's voice.
"It was a near-ideal encapsulation of my understanding of the conditions before the patternfall."
"So a logical conclusion would be that Huon is indeed unaware of Patternfall, or the consequences that have arisen as a result?" Jerod offers.
"I believe that is a logical conclusion," Merlin says. He adds after a moment, "As I understand Ordered logic."
"Being as how disordered it can be." Jerod replies drily. "That conclusion, provided it pans out, may prove to be useful. Huon's focus might become less certain, if we prove his view of the universe is no longer what he suspected it to be."
He picks up another morsel from his plate and eyes it momentarily. "Or he might not." he says, popping it into his mouth.
"Did Celina have an open opinion of Huon?"
"She was wary of him, as any wise being would be of a Prince of Amber whose power and potential is unknown." After a moment, Merlin adds, "She was concerned that he might have placed some sort of tracking spell on us when we left him. But if he did, it was so subtle I could not detect it. I do not believe he was a sorcerer."
"Most of the early sorcerers would appear to be from the redhead side of the family." Jerod says. "The earlier histories seemed to indicate a disdain for sorcery amongst most of the uncles. That is not surprising given the lack of knowledge concerning Chaos, plus the general ordered effect of Pattern. It's always possible Huon could have learned it from another, though it would fit the initial assessments.
"Why would she have been concerned about him tracking you. It would seem to be a waste of effort, unless he thought that perhaps you were intent on learning about him and wanted to know who you were relaying the information to. Or you had information that he was curious about. Did he provide anything that would make him appear interested in you, beyond that you both were family that is?"
"He did not think we were redheads," Merlin notes somewhat absently, as if he's remembering random details of the conversation. "He was an enemy of the redheads. He was concerned at first that we were assassins sent by them. He was surprised when I told him I was Corwin's son. I believe he thinks my sister is Llewella's daughter. He would ally with my father against his enemies, I think." He looks up at Jerod, to see if somewhere in this recitation, he's hit whatever information Jerod desires.
It is the first time since they started talking that Jerod thinks Merlin may not be afraid of him.
An interesting assessment. With luck, the situation will continue.
"A pity then that your father has made his peace with the redheads." Jerod says drily. "Though I suppose an incident could always be engineered to cast them back into limbo."
Unless Merlin is really not listening, it's reasonably clear that Jerod is joking, drily for sure, but still joking.
For the next few moments, Jerod eats silently, sifting the information provided, which does not appear to have provided any impetus for a change in his demeanour.
"If the assessment is correct, then Huon is definitely working on old information. That may prove useful, assuming I can assess how far his desire for a fight with Bleys and the redheads go. Since the two kings and our errant war-master have all indicated a desire to speak with Huon about coming in from the cold, that might prove useful in negotiating his return. He might feel safe in garnering their attention. That, however, will require a face to face meeting." he says, popping a seaweed wrapped prawn into his mouth.
Still chewing, he points lazily to his spear. "On a more technical note, what do you make of that?"
Merlin looks at it. "What about it?" he asks, curious.
"It belonged to my grandfather, from my mother's side." Jerod says. "There is little about him in the old records or stories. I'm always curious as to anyone who might have been able to garner Moire's attention for more than a few moments and since you're not connected to Rebma, you might have a different viewpoint upon looking at it. I've had one other person do a simple look at view sorcerously, but I did not trust her to do a more detailed look at it."
"Who was the other sorcerer?" Merlin asks. He does not reach for the spear, although he is eyeing it with some interest.
"Thalia's Aunt, the Chancellor of the Collegia Arcanum of Gateway." Jerod replies simply.
"I do not know her. Is she family, or does she have a different magic?" Merlin starts to rise and go to the spear to take it up. "May I?"
Jerod nods an affirmative. "As far as I'm aware, she is Shadow. Gateway is a hub for sorcerers, a place where the redheads are seen to have a fair influence."
Merlin looks at it, holding it more as a sorcerer's staff than as a weapon of war. "Hm. I will be interested to hear what she concluded after I have performed my own examination. Do you understand the difference between sorcery and the magics of Shadow, cousin?"
"Only the barest of details." Jerod says. "Sorcery was not a subject that my father held much store in. Perhaps a bias of his dislike for the redheads. Since they were the main source for study at the time, I doubt he would have agreed to them teaching me. What little I know of Shadow magics is that they are inherent in the place itself. Dad taught me enough to know that I can circumvent those by adjusting the nature of the Shadow itself. It takes a lot of effort, but from a simple perspective, I simply shut the place down. I've done things like that in more technological shadows. It doesn't always work, but you can always try.
"The redheads see everything from a mathematical viewpoint. I'm curious as to what your explanation of Sorcery would be."
"True Sorcery consists of violations of universal principles. Space, time, entropy, and similar laws of nature. Only a being with an admixture of Order and Chaos can properly use it." Merlin looks up from his examination of the spear to meet Jerod's gaze. "Which is to say: our relatives."
"Can Sorcery be an innate ability?" Jerod asks. "Or does it require study? I'm curious given the need for Chaosian influence, whether those who are more oriented towards that spectrum might use it without the need for deliberation."
"I suspect there is a continuum between studied and unstudied use of sorcerous technique that correlates with the strength of the Ordered taint in the individual. I would not call direct manipulation of raw Chaos sorcery, although much of what I have learned as Sorcery can be used for that purpose as well. Technically, there is a difference, although I suspect to someone on the 'business end' of either, the effect is indistinguishable."
Merlin cannot quite manage to escape the airquotes around the words "business end". It may be one of the most slangy things Jerod has ever heard him say.
Is it something that one might expect from Martin then? It sounds more like Amber family sarcasm...
[Oh yes.]
"An interesting expression." Jerod says. "I would not have expected that from you."
"It is a thing i have heard Martin say." Merlin flushes slightly. "Did I use it properly?"
Jerod smiles. "You even got the inflection right. Do it again and I'll wonder if Martin might have picked up some shapeshifting from his time over there."
Merlin flushes even more deeply, then focuses for a moment and his skin clears to its normal color. Whether that's voluntary muscular control of some sort, explicit shapeshifting, or some combination of the two is not immediately clear to Jerod. "I can tell you that he did not. But thank you."
He looks down at the spear still in his hand. "May I take this with me? I would like to do some ritual examinations that I would feel more comfortable conducting in private. A few days would suffice."
"I must be off to Huon by the end of today, so I will trust you in this matter. So long as it is returned when I next encounter you, and that event being in a timely fashion." Jerod says. "It was given to me by my mother. You will understand that I would be very displeased were it to not returned in its current condition."
"I will take good care of it--although I cannot guarantee perfect safety as long as I travel with an army. I hope not to need to use it to its appointed end--the 'business end'--" and Merlin smiles a bit slyly "--but there is always that risk. I do not expect any difficulties in the examination, however; nor should it damage the spear. Good luck with Huon."
"And to you." Jerod says simply.
For the first time in a while, Conner finds himself with the time to think. The Tritons and Rebman magicians are seeing to the defense of the camp, the battle for which the army waited is still in the distance, and the negotiations are handed off to another because of history and the color of his hair. With Celina gone, Khela likely has time on her hands as well. It is time to talk.
"Please tell her Majesty that General Conner requests and audience." Conner instructs the Triton on guard at her tent. If she follows her usual routine this morning, Khela should still be within.
From inside the tent, Khela says "Send him in!". Inside, Khela is studying a scroll. She doesn't seem to be working on her war, but then her war seems to be working itself into the calm before the storm.
Conner enters the tent and floats slightly backward as he bows to her. "Good day to you, Majesty." Conner smiles at her. "I am pleased to report that all is quiet for the moment. The situation seems to be holding its breath waiting to see what happens next. How went the meeting with Duke Jerod? Have his concerns been allayed?" Conner asks.
Khela stretches, her lithe green body reaching for the top of the tent. "That one? He'll keep his own counsel as long as he can, and may be slower to seize the main chance than others. He reserves to himself a popular constituency and the right to act in the people's name, but makes it clear he will go along with fait accompli.
"He is practical and does not seem inclined to go against his own interests. Better he seems inclined to determine them before committing himself, which separates him from many, even in our family.
"He is dependable if not necessarily on our side. Why do you ask?"
"Because he is perfectly capable of being sharp thorn in the side just when one isn't needed." Conner replies. "I presumed that enlightened self-interest would carry the day but emotions and passion run strong in this family. You know never when one might trump the other." Conner smiles. "For example, I know he was none too pleased to see me among your advisers. The thought of a redhead having a permanent tie to Rebma will rankle." Conner opines. "I thought that you should know of this in making your future plans, Majesty."
"You are more valuable to me than he is, General Conner, and I would seem weak if I were to remove an advisor because the grandson of my rival wanted it. He knew this and did not have to test it, which means he makes certain assumptions about my level of competence that please me. Unlike the Castle, I do not underestimate him because of his sex, and he returns the favor.
She crosses to the table and points to a chair. "Have a seat, Conner." She sits herself and pulls out a small leather case that is rubbed to a sheen. It's probably waterproof.
"We did contest, slightly, our positions, or at least present them. He claimed to be backed by Benedict, Corwin, and Random. I suggested that my influence there via Merlin, Celina, and Martin might invalidate his claims. Neither of us will put that to the test, I suspect. He can't try that and fail because the entirety of his position is staked on those relationships, and I have no desire to bring him down while he and I are useful to each other."
She shakes her head. "In any case, if he's worried about your role as my advisor, then he's conceded to himself that I'll take the throne."
She pauses and looks across the table at him. "It pleases me that you are aware of and concerned for my safety. You've been quite a surprise."
"I have hitched my horse to your wagon as the drylander's say." Conner replies smoothly as he sits in the offered chair. "It is only right that I look out for our interests and your safety in particular." Conner waves that thought away as though it is no matter. "Besides, I cannot help but admire a woman that turned a belief and careful scholarship into the means to change the course of her world." Conner graces Khela with a genuine smile. "So if all that is a surprise, that I hope it was a pleasant one."
Khela sits across the camp table and smiles back. "Knowledge is power, but so is power. Without both, you can't change the world. I plan to leave Rebma better than I found it."
"Ah, better." Conner grins appreciating the humor. "Such a slippery word that. It means something different to each that hears it. That is its power and peril of course. So what does a better Rebma look like to you, cousin? What would you have your reign remembered for?"
"Hmm. Longevity is generally best, but it's not what I want. 'Progenitrix of our Modern Age' is what I'm aiming for, but 'She Freed the Tritons' would be a good enough, because I'm convinced the one leads to the other.
She leans back in her chair, still talking, "The truth is, I don't know what it will look like. I intend to smash the parts that are repugnant to human dignity, change the parts that I think can be improved, and encourage the parts that seem like they work, and see what happens."
"Will the Tritons choose to stay and become part of this new realm?" Conner wonders. "They are freed from their old fetters but clearly remain honor bound to promises over the Paxblade. What exactly did they promise all those many years ago? Are the exact words known?"
"They're welcome to stay, but freedom includes freedom to leave. As to their oath, I've a rough idea but Mabrahoring is not my strong suit and the language is, by definition, in flux. One of the elders would be the best to tell you of it. It's not out of the question that their understanding of it has changed as well, of course."
"I really must take up my uncle on the offer of tutoring in that language." Conner sighs. The way it keeps cropping up made his lack of knowledge rankle. "Besides, most of the elders shut up tighter than a clam when the subject of Tritons is brought up or refer me to another uncle that happens to be in deep shadow for the next several years. Much of your future reign will hinge on the various interpretations of the oath. I would hear yours." Conner repeats. He sits straighter in his chair and crosses his wrists in his lap.
"The way the oath was phrased was quite clever. The tritons were bound to the defense of the city and into the service of the queen, by the power of throne and jewel and the tokens of sword and scepter. They were bound to protect the ctiy from friend, foe, and family, as long as their line continued.
"It's a reasonably lawyerly oath, and it's written in verse. The upshot of it, I have the senior token and they somehow know that Moire doesn't really have the true power of the powers."
"Throne and jewel, sword and scepter." Conner murmurs. "Is it known who does have the true power of powers?" Conner asks at last. "Or is acquiring that the next item on the list after PaxBlade and Rebman Throne?" Conner grins.
Khela grins back. "What would you do if you were in my place?"
"Set my metaphysical adviser on that task." Conner grins wider. "Once Rebma is secure, I have many questions that examining the Pattern of Rebma might answer. Chief among them being why the Pattern of Rebma is still there to be examined. It will be nice to add some empirical data to all the theory that is being bandied about."
Conner's gaze drifts down to the sword at Khela's hip with a moment or two to admire the hip as well. "It is a curious thing that a sword designed to guard and strengthen the Pattern of Rebma should be hidden from that purpose." Conner comments idly. "Was there anything in the histories or the tomb itself to explain why it was buried with Cneve?"
Khela adjusts the pommel absently. "As near as I could tell, he did not believe that he would stay dead."
Conner's eyes widen. "Even for our family, that is incredible confidence in one's will to live." He smirks.
Khela nods.
"Was he to rise in a prophetic manner to meet Rebma's greatest need or some such? More to the point, was there a body in the tomb?" Conner asks.
"I didn't expect one, so I wasn't surprised when I didn't find one. He died a long time ago and Rebma is economical with corpses. I don't know about prophecies. That might be worth asking the Tritons about." She tilts her head towards the tent's entrance. "But that will need to wait until we're with the more philosophical ones."
Conner nods. His family does tend toward cenotaphs than tombs and even seeing the body would not be enough to prove a death as Caine so ably demonstrated.
"Forever questions and delayed answers. I suppose I wouldn't have it any other way really." Conner smiles thinly. "The answers are rarely the ones you want. Better to space them out." Conner concludes.
"Though on that subject, is there ought you would ask me, cousin?" Conner invites. "It was not my intention to dominate the conversation as I have but allow for a free flow of information and speculation." Conner leans back in his seat a bit.
"There are things I learn by what you ask," she replies, "so it is not as unbalanced as you may think."
Conner smiles widely. It is good to be with one that understands. This is why he invited her to ask questions after all.
"I do have questions for you. Let us start at the next step. When I have the throne and you have the sword, how do we proceed? You are not intending to stay by my side and help me establish the new Rebman Golden Age, I presume, at least not full time."
"As you say, not full time." Conner nods in agreement. "Accepting the sword is an agreement to protect Rebma and her Pattern and I take that seriously. Helping you in crafting a Rebma that will last and stay strong is key to that. You will have my aid." Conner assures her. "Ideally, I hope to tap the talents of my sister or Merlin to craft Trumps of myself and of Rebma to allow me the freedom to travel yet be only a few steps away."
Conner leans forward. "There are many forces stirring out there in Shadow that were constrained only by the Pattern of Amber or perhaps the will of Oberon. The Dragon I mentioned is but one of them and anything that is threat to one Pattern I fear will become a threat to all. It is for that reason that I think I would better serve Rebma's interests out among Shadow as much diplomat as scout."
Khela leans forward as well. "Yes, when things are secure in Rebma, you have leave to take on your personal battles with this Dragon. " She looks around. "Rebma will aide you where we can, of course, but we are not a forest people."
"Not even counting the kelp beds of Nedra." Conner concurs. "But there may still much knowledge to be gleaned before I go even so."
She sits back, but looks into his eyes. "How do you see your diplomatic role compared to Duke Jerod's? He seems bent on a similar current."
At this moment, the smile on Conner's face is reflected in his eyes. "We compliment each other." Conner explains. "When you wish to send the impression that the rest of the Universe has already concurred on a course of action, you send Jerod. He can take a straightforward proposal and do his damnedest to make it stick. This business with Huon is a case in point. There are not many options between yes and no and Jerod can make yes look very attractive. It is his father's influence I think. He likes to build a wide consensus before acting." Conner muses.
"I on the other hand bring the legacy of the Clarissans." Conner smiles. "Send me into situations where you wish to give the impression that we know something that they do not and more to the point that there is advantage there for Rebma. I'm the one to ferret out secrets and win concessions from competing factions and I do it with a smile." Conner demonstrates.
"Then that is how I shall consider your role."
Last modified: 10 October 2008