The new lighthouse crew is on the dock in the morning to see off their royal visitors. If they're quietly pleased they don't have to feed four Amber appetites out of their 3 man-year supplies, they try not to show it. They smell of lamp oil, but are clean and well-turned out. The crewmen, in particular, seem less thrilled with their isolated future. If the weather holds, Captain Stern is looking to repaint the lighthouse, so there's that ahead of them.
"If you're sailing around to look at the wrecks on the north side of the promontory, be careful, Captain," says Stern. "Some days it falls so fast that there's no safe passage, and there's where the wrecks come from. Five fathoms down at high tide, most days, too. I can see why they posted a light crew here."
First stands ready to board, her hair held up in a crown braid.
Vere nods an acknowledgement of Captain Stern's advice, but leaves conversation to Brita as their captain on this mission.
"Thank you, Captain Stern. We will Heed your Advice," Brita says as she gestures for First and Robin to board Skidbladnir. "We will Relay Your Good Arrival and Posting Here to The King and Regent."
Robin gives a cheery wave goodbye to the crew and hops aboard Skidbladnir.
Captain Stern nods. "Thank you, Ma'am."
Brita nods back and hops aboard her ship, following First And Robin. Then grins up at the dragons playing lookout atop the mast and sails. With a gentle nudge and a wave at the dock, she steers the boat towards the north. She is confident that this is Not one of those 'some days' Captain Stern was worried about. The tide should be mostly out and not about to rush back in on them anytime soon. Skidbladnir is built for shallow fjords and can get them fairly close to the main shore even at low tide.
Once they were away from the dock Vere remarks, "I did not want to make the good captain feel that his concerns and warnings were for naught, so I did not think there was any point to telling him that Skidbladnir, among all vessels, is the least likely to suffer from such troubles."
First brightens. "So is this where the treasure-galleon is supposed to be?"
Ahead, between the sharp rocks that might've doomed her, lies the same ship Vere and Robin saw earlier. It has the same rope ladder attached to the port side and lists about 10-15 degrees to port.
"That's well-preserved for being here as long as they've been telling that story," says First.
"There are oddities about it," Vere agrees. "Some higher tech materials that really should not have lasted as long as they apparently have." He looks at Robin. "And it most certainly felt as though we were about to be attacked by zombie crewmen at any moment when we were aboard. Did it not, my love?"
Robin nods vigorously. "There were strange bumpings and shiftings in the hold. Very ominous." She says with her eyes bright with anticipation. There's nothing like zombies in the morning to get one's blood moving.
First looks at the ship. "If there weren't strange bumping and shiftings of a ship like that, I'd consider that ominous in itself," she says skeptically. "What do you mean 'higher tech materials?'"
Vere points at the rope. "The rope ladder is made of synthetic materials, unlike the rest of the ship. There were medical supplies on board that required refrigeration. There is a high technology lock on a chest in the hold." He shrugs slightly. "There are other oddities, such as the fact that the wreck should not even be here any longer if it has truly been undergoing two extreme tides daily for as long as it appears to have been since it crashed. There are ..." he glances at First. "...possible temporal irregularities?"
First nods, all business. "I shall check for those, but it may take some time. My working theory is that someone would like you to keep away from this ship. Perhaps it is a drop spot that will otherwise be avoided."
Vere nods. "That fits in with what the spirit said regarding smuggling. It makes me even more interested to see what is inside that chest."
"I don't know..." Robin says, "Leaving a rope ladder down doesn't seem like concealing a drop spot. I was kind of thinking of the caves for that." Robin points toward the now exposed sea cave.
Brita notes, "A Ladder Does seem More Like an Invitation." Her main concentration is on guiding Skidbladnir close enough to the wreck for disembarking.
Brita can sail right up to the ladder, if she wants to. As long as the weather holds and the tide doesn't rise or fall too quickly, it will be easy for her.
First looks at the cave. "It looks as if the mouth is covered at high tide. If the water enters the cave, they'd need waterproof boxes, such as the technologically advanced ones you mentioned. This close to Amber, those wouldn't last well at all. Why would they bother?"
Vere nods. "The cave was tempting when we came here earlier, but the risk of being flooded was too great, and the wreck was more tempting." He gives a slight shrug. "There is never enough time for all the adventures one wishes to pursue, so one must make choices."
Robin turns to First. "Just because the cave mouth is covered by the tides, doesn't mean that there aren't places inside that are dry.
Then she smiles wistfully to Vere thinking of all the places that they hadn't gotten to explore, strung out behind them in time like missed trails.
First nods, and doesn't press the point.
Vere watches the ship as they draw closer, searching for any signs of change from when they were last here. "Cousin Brita, do you want to stay with the ship in case we need to make a fast escape, or shall we all go aboard and you can just carry it with you?"
Brita moves Skidbladnir right to the rope ladder and says, "I Would Like to Explore. It will take No Time to Deploy Skidbladnir if Needed.
Robin hops eagerly up the ladder. "Oo, Vere. We might be able to get the second pile of papers and books. The 'would like if possible' pile?"
Once everyone disembarks, Brita steps onto the ladder with one hand still on the ship railing. With a quick tug and a flip of her wrist, Skidbladnir rests in her hand as a small origami boat which she then ticks into an inner pocket before following the others.
Once on the deck, Robin gestures out a question, cabin first or hold first? Maybe split the party? ('Cause that's always a good idea.)
Brita asks, "Where is The Unopened Chest?"
"The chest is in the hold." Vere looks at the ship, his eyes going to the spot on the hull behind which the box in question awaits. "It was not unduly heavy, but it was too large to get an easy grasp on, which would have made climbing the ladder difficult. The firelizards were nervous in the hold, and we took warning from them and decided not to remain in the hold, which is breached somewhere, with a rising tide and an unknown cause to their disquietude." He smiles. "We wondered what was so valuable that it required such a lock, when all around lay unlocked chest filled with gold and treasure."
The shaft leading down to the hold is wide and looks well-poised for the loading and unloading of cargo, if only there was a winch or other suitable gear to lift it up the shaft. It's dark in the hold, and it smells of stale water. It sounds as if something is moving below, but it might just be lapping water. The ladder is really just rungs attached to the side of the shaft, and it doesn't seem like there is any way other than hauling to get bulk cargo out of the ship.
Without damaging it or being a child of Amber, of course.
"I'm willing to get down into the hold and hand the chest off to someone up here." Robin says with a smile. She checks in with the firelizards to see how they are feeling about the hold today.
"When we were here previously I used Sorcery to shine sunlight into the hold," Vere reminds her. "I could do that again. I mislike you there in the dark."
Brita does Not roll her eyes at the love birds. "That Will Work," she notes to Robin. "I can Lay over the edge and Accept the Chest to Pass Up to Cousin Vere If He can Maintain His Light While Receiving?" She raises a brow at Vere.
"If you need another person in the chain so that Prince Vere can maintain his sorcery, I could help," adds First.
"That should not be necessary," Vere answers absently. "The spell should last long enough." He reaches towards the sun with his left hand, and towards the ship with the other. Softly singing, "Thou art mine sunshine, mine only sunshine," he wields the Principal of Space, describing a large circle in the air with his left hand, linking it to a spot just inside the hold of the ship, using his Bump of Direction to ensure that it is directly facing the chest, letting sunlight pour through the linked Space and fill the hold.
From the side Vere is standing, he can look up and see the circle as a shimmering disc that slightly lessens the light shining on him on the deck. From the far side it's an opening to the hold of the ship, high up on the wall. It does an admirable job making a dark hold well lit. First says she can also see it by looking down the open shaft.
She looks at the disc gets edge on it to see how it appears, but keeps her observations to herself.
Robin beams at Vere. "Thanks for remembering the light, love."
Then she claps her hands together in anticipation. "Okay, sounds like we have a plan. Now let's see how it goes horribly wrong," Robin says cheerfully.
Robin's plan is to rely on speed. She will jump down into the hold and get the chest lifted toward Brita as fast as she can.
Vere stands ready, quietly preparing a spell to quickly remove most of the side of the ship if things suddenly go wrong and Robin needs a fast way out.
Brita follows Robin and drops to the deck beside the hold, most of her upper body dangling over the edge as she prepares to reach for the chest.
Robin drops like a rock and lands in knee-deep brackish water with a hearty *CHONGGGG* sound. Robin is unharmed, but wet. There is no other sound or movement as the reverberations clear.
The good news for those up top is that the splash doesn't reach them. The high-tech crate is exactly where they left it a day ago. It's just a little big for one person to carry without tools.
Vere awaits events, all senses on high alert, ready for instant action.
Brita sizes up the gap and quickly moves to a nearby pile of debris which she is convinced has a sturdy rope buried underneath. She throws off some wood from broken railings and mast spars to unearth the rope. She then winds the rope around a nearby mast stub, sending one loose end down the hole to Robin and preparing to haul on the other end when the rope is tied to the chest. She waves First over to help pull.
Robin muscles the chest over to where Brita's rope is coming down (hopefully.) Keeping her eyes on the surrounding hold, she ties the rope around the chest. (If that works,) she then calls up to the ladies on the upper deck. "Heave!"
First takes hold of the rope. "Queen Maeve she was the Queen of Tir, before the dissolution...."
The chest lifts up and spins a bit. It's lighter than it looks, just awkwardly large. It hits the wall of the shaft on the way up, but is soon rising out of the hold and into daylight. Moments later it's suspended above the hatch to the hold, which is not an ideal location for anything except lowering it back into the hold.
Robin feels something brush against her leg in the water.
Brita is braced and holding the chest dangling rope as if she expects it to suddenly gain water weight. When First does not continue, she looks at her and prompts, "What Of Queen Maeve...?"
"It is a sailors' song," Vere explains. "Though I have never heard the verse about Queen Maeve before."
"It's a Bellumite short-haul shanty, from shortly after the fall. It's for short quick rope-hauling tasks to allow groups to haul in unison. There's about a lot of verses, but this is the only one about Tir that I know.
"Queen Maeve was the Queen of Tir,
before the dissolution
Way, haul away, we'll haul away, Joe
Then the kingdom fell to Lir,
it spoiled her constitution
Way haul away, we'll haul away Joe.
"You haul on the 'Joe'. Don't they sing it in Amber anymore?"
"They do," Vere reples with a nod. "I have simply never heard that particular verse." He smiles slightly. "There are very many verses."
"I Cannot Say I have Heard it. I Wonder if Any verses have Hints of Reality." Brita glances around for a pole arm and spots one partially lashed to a broken rail. "Cousin Vere, can you Retrieve That Hook and Snag our Prize?"
First shrugs. It's the most amberite gesture she's ever made. "Most things are true, somewhere. I learned it as a passenger on one of their boats. They might've thought it would provoke me."
Robin does not squeal and jump out of the water and onto the ladder. Instead she tactically relocates to the ladder with her favorite knife out. Once there, she scans the water for anything that might need stabbing.
Robin clangs around on the ladder and finds her favorite stabber. There's definitely something in the water, but it's avoiding the light. She hears splashing towards the dark part of the hold.
"Well, there's definitely something in the water down here." Robin calls up to the deck. "But it or they don't seem to like the light. Good call Love!"
The tide may be rising, slightly. In any case, the ship seems to be settling.
Vere quickly unlashes the hook and snags the line, pulling the chest away from the hole and grabbing an end of it. He listens for sounds of movement below, but does not allow his attention to become distracted to the point that he risks losing his grip on the chest.
Vere pulls the chest over and deposits it on the deck, next to the hatch belowdecks.
There's a hinged cover over the lock mechanism, and the box is not any different than the last time he saw it. There are no obvious maker's marks on the outside, and it definitely looks like a product of a high-tech shadow.
Vere settles the chest, undoes the knot and loosens the line, then leaves the chest to return to the hold in case Robin needs assistance.
The hold lies below, with the one portal of light streaming in. The deck is swaying slightly, but it's not as if the ship could re-float. If the tide comes in fast, they may be getting wet soon.
"Are you ready to come up, my love, or are you planning on hunting whatever is down there?" Vere calls down to Robin, while keeping an eye on the water around her.
"Iiiiii can't decide," Robin drawls out while she continues to peer into the dark water beyond the light. "Oh, well." She sighs, "I guess I'm on duty." Robin clambers up out of the hold.
The Firelizards seem relieved that Robin is coming up. They fly in and out of the magic portal and around in circles at the opening of the hatch. First watches them with amusement. "They must make it hard to be stealthy."
Only those who know Vere well would notice the very slight signs of a release of tension as Robin emerges unscathed from the hold. He turns his attention back to the recovered box and does a more thorough examination of it, lifting the cover to the locking mechanism and examining it, and paying attention to how the lid is affixed to the rest of the box.
The box is, as previously described, flat, including the recessed hinges and the lock behind the lock plate. When the plate is lifted, it's clear that some sort of key or card could slide into the lock and presumably open it.
It's hard to say what it's made out of. It doesn't feel like stone or metal, and it's definitely not wood or bone.
There's a place on it where one could attach some sort of paper with a tag or note, but there's nothing in it anymore. Probably washed out.
Brita has restowed the rope and moved over to examine the box with Vere. She opens her third eye to look at it before touching it. "I Wonder at the Probability that the Access Tool for this Would Be In the Captain's Quarters," she muses.
Since it's not alive and doesn't have a pattern artifact in it, it doesn't exist. Brita does notice the amazing way in which the ocean is teeming with life, so much so that she can see waves, becuase they are full of fish and seaweed and plankton.
"We did a brief lookover of his quarters when we were here before," Vere says with a smile. "But we did not search closely for something like a key card, and I would think it very probable that it could be found there." He shrugs slightly. "Failing that, I believe that I could warp space so that the internal hinges become external and accessible to us."
First steps neatly over a loose spar on the deck, tied to a line that's firmly cleated to the deck railing. "We should hurry, and perhaps not dally here. This place looks like the tide comes up quickly, and that's a lot harder to interfere with." She smiles. "If we get separated, we should meet back at the dock on the other shore."
Robin nods her agreement with FIrst as she keeps an eye on the opening to the cargo hold and Vere's sunhole.
Vere looks to Brita for a decision. "Cousin, what do you think? A quick search of the Captain's quarters for the key, or shall we just take the box and leave the ship now? We can find a way to open it later."
Brita is still looking out at the waves, gauging their timing. "Try the Left, Top drawer in the Captain's Desk for a Secret Compartment in the Back. The Card is Likely There. I'll Deploy Trusty Skidbladnir while You and Cousin Robin Check."
Ooot lands on the box, and Chirrup is circling above First. Robin thinks he's deciding if he can land on her.
The water in the hold seems deeper now.
"Good plan." Robin says. "First? While we're checking, I think Chirrup would like to make your acquaintance. Is that alright with you?"
Vere nods his agreement to Brita's instruction and immediately heads to the Captain's cabin, leaving Robin to catch up with him after dealing with Chirrup and First.
"Of course," she says. "I didn't want to impose, but it's clear he's ready to land." First pulls out a pair of heavy gloves, raises her hand, and whistles for the fire lizard, exactly as Stoke would have, back at The Mews.
Chirrup lands on her hand. She makes appropriate noises to it, and speaks in a language that is not Thari. "There is a tribe near to the Gheneshi peninsula that hunts with eagles. It is an honor to be trained by them. They would love to meet your little dragons."
"And I would love to meet their eagles!" Robin chirps as she bounces on after Vere.
Vere opens the cabin door, reflecting on how useful it is to actually have sailing experience, since the deck is rocking in a way that it was not doing just moments ago.
The cabin is still in the same state as it was when Vere last viewed it. Except for the tilt of the deck.
Brita recollects the rope and moves to the side of the ship with the ladder. She ties off the rope and moves to open Skidbladnir.
The ladder is mostly underwater now. First is nearby, willing to lend a hand if asked. It's about 10 feed down to the waterline, but it's coming up fast.
Vere goes directly to the Captain's desk and opens the top left drawer, completely confident in his elder cousin's instructions that there would be a secret compartment with the key card inside.
Robin follows Vere into the Captain's cabin very carefully keeping her opinions to herself. She's curious to see how Brita and Vere do wielding the Family Heritage.
Vere pulls the drawer all the way out though, and holds it in his hands as he inspects its contents. One thing almost slips by him, but caught his attention at the last instant: the back of the lower right-hand drawer does not rise as high as the backs of the other drawers. This indicates something. When he kneels and looks inside the drawer space, Vere sees a little box-like affair fixed to the upper side. It's a small drawer itself, way in the back, and it's locked.
With a small laugh Vere grabs the drawer and, using the strength that is his birthright as the son of Gerard, attempts to pull it off the desk by force.
Vere rips the wood and comes away with a metal box. It's very light and the size of a cigar box, but didn't bend at all when Vere wrenched it from the desk. The lock on this is much lighter.
The deck is definitely moving, and a glance out the windows shows an alarming rise in the sea. Vere guesses it will be between two and five minutes before the deck is swamped.
Outside, Brita opens Skidbladnir and hops aboard with the rope. She ties it to a rail with an easy knot that can be quickly released. She gestures for First to join her. "Come Aboard With Your Fierce Companion," she notes.
First hops down as well, her hand steading the dragonette as if it were a hunting eagle and this a tricky horse maneuver. Chirrup wraps his tail around her neck. Chirrup makes a "chirruping" noise.
"Thank you Sister. Do you have any food for him? He seems hungry."
Vere quickly leaves the cabin and comes back out on deck holding the box. He glances around, taking in where everyone is at the current moment.
Robin meets Vere at the door. She smiles to Vere and then heads for Skidbladnir 'cause it looks like things are going to get wet shortly. And while monster baiting is fun, getting wet isn't.
Robin and Vere return to the open deck, Vere holding a box ripped from the inside of a now-damaged desk. Peep circles around Robin's head, scolding, as she returns to the deck. She leads her towards the rail and is clearly ready to go. Ooot is hopping from foot to foot and Chirrup has apparently temporarily adopted First.
First and Brita are no longer in sight, but there's a line over the side by the ladder. It's not hard to guess where they went.
It's blowing pretty hard, and the spray is loud.
Vere chirps an interrogative bird call to Robin and gestures over the side. He's prepared to follow her over immediately, or to wait if she has some reason to remain on the ship for the moment.
Robin chirps a confirmation back to Vere. Chuckling to Peep and Ooot, Robin takes hold of the line and scrambles down to the deck of Brita's magnificent boat/friend.
Ooot spreads his wings on his perch on the box and then leaps into the sky and slowly circles towards Skidbladnir. Peep lands on the far rail of Brita's ship and looks upward at Robin. Her 'peep' back is barely audible over the crashing of the rising waters. The ladder is now almost nominal, as the waves and the floating vessel rise up.
Vere follows Robin down the line and assists in pushing away from the wreck.
Robin cocks her head for a moment, then looks down at her hands. Then she looks at Vere's hands. Then she looks at Ooot. Then she breaks into peals of merry laughter.
"Beloved?" she says still chortling, "Would you be able to ensorcell that chest over to here?"
"I can Add My Power to Calm the Waters for a Short While," Brita notes. Skidbladnir is positioned side to side with the wreck. She turns and looks out to sea and calls upon her Goddess powers to convince the waters coming in that Skidbladnir, the waters below her, and the wreck beyond are a solid rock that the waves will divert around to either side.
Vere looks around the deck of Skidbladnir in confusion for a moment, then joins in Robin's laughter. "Oh, how clever we are!" he observes. He smiles at First to the Fray. "We continue to impress, do we not?"
First thinks "It seemed to be a lot of effort to get the key to a box you were leaving behind," but it comes out as "you seem to have it well in hand."
With a final chuckle he draws his dagger, closes his eyes as he imagines the exact position of the chest in relation to where he is right now (zero point power), and then walks widdershins around a space on the deck slightly larger than the chest using his dagger to cut a hole in space a half inch above the deck and simultaneously on the deck of the wreck, letting the chest drop through the hole from the wreck onto the deck of Skidbladnir.
The crate and a goodly amount of water appear half an inch above the deck and fall the rest of the short distance with a violent crack, although that may be the coincidental clap of thunder. The water on the deck splashes up, drenching the crew and passengers of Skidbladnir.
Somehow First managed to be standing in a spot where she didn't get drenched. She's pulling on rain gear at the moment, which seems like a good idea.
The fire-lizards leap into the sky, but quickly decide that the ship is better than the storm. Peep starts complaining to Robin about the weather. It is clear that Robin should solve this issue.
The deck of the former treasure galleon is now swamped and Skidbladnir is higher than the line tied to "The Flower of the Sea".
Brita, ignoring the wet, moves to the line and quickly releases it. She then directs Skidbladnir away from the wreck and back out to sea.
Vere revels in the sensation of sailing through a storm for a moment, something that he hasn't done since, well, not that long ago, actually, now that he thinks about it. He looks at Robin sympathetically for a moment, then turns his attention to assisting Brita with the business of sailing in heavy weather.
Robin settles herself near the chest with her firelizards safely tucked around her, keeping herself out of the way of the experienced sailors. She does not tamper with the weather despite Peep's objections, in case said experienced sailors want to do anything about it.
While the Ranger is still in good humor, her natural fluff and exuberance are definitely damped by the... well, the damp. Though she's bearing it like a trooper, Robin is reminiscent of a bedraggled owl. Some folks are just not meant to be bathed in salt water.
Brita notes the soggy pile that is Robin and her entourage. "The Dragon Prow Will Provide some Shelter," she notes to Robin as she heads to the rudder on the longship. She points toward the base of the carved masthead that arcs back over the deck slightly before rising to snarl into the waves.
Robin nods her thanks and moves her bedraggled self and friends into the shelter of the Dragon Prow.
Brita takes control of the rudder and sets Skidbadnir's sail for Xanadu, knowing that the ship will, as always, receive fair wind and quickly move them out of the storm. She uses the momentum of the storm to rapidly alter the sea lanes to their destination. The skies lighten as she tacks left and the clouds ease as she tacks right. The color of the water deepens to the sparkling blue as the near Xanadu's bay.
The bay is circular and perfectly frames the city and the falls. There is a cutter in the bay that doesn't move from anchor, perhaps because the crew recognizes Brita's boat. Random's Red Unicorn Banner is flying on the above castle and the city hall below. There seem to be a number of soldiers on the docksides, and less than the normal amount of civilians.
"It's a beautiful location," says First.
As the sea and sky begin to resemble that of Xanadu Vere frowns slightly and casts a glance at Brita. Then, with a barely perceptible shrug, he returns to seeing to the ship.
Once out of the storm, Robin perks up. Shaking the water off of herself, she proceeds to give each of the firelizards a very thorough cleaning and oiling. She still conscientiously keeps out of the way of the sailors but seems to enjoy the sailing much more.
The firelizards appreciate the oiling and attention. Afterwards, Ooot and Chirrup do a little deep sea fishing and wave diving, undoing most of Robin's good work.
First claps the first time Ooot dives into the water and appeasr above the boat with a fish in his claws.
Vere speaks up as they enter the bay. "I should like to see what we have in the chest before we debark. I see no point in carrying an unwieldy box through the streets. We also need to obtain cloaks."
Brita acknowledges her cousin with a nod and Skidbladnir comes to a halt in the bay waters not far from the docks. "You Found a Key," she states as she anchors the ship.
Robin takes careful position; she is not in the way of those who want to investigate the chest, but she is in a good place to deal with any surprises that might pop out of it.
Vere produces the small box. "A secret drawer within the desk," he explains. "I did not have time to pick the lock, so I simply removed the entire hidden drawer." He examines it with his Astral Vision, to see if there are any spells or traps upon it, before cracking it open.
Vere detects no spells or pattern influence. The box is a box.
The box still has the screws and some of the wood from the underside of the desk. There's a mechanism on this box as well, but it looks well within Vere's power to force open.
Vere overcomes his natural desire to painstakingly explore every little mystery he comes across, which is telling him to spend time analyzing the mechanism, using that to infer conclusions about the nature of the society and technological background of those who made it, and only then get around to actually opening it. Instead he simply rips the box open.
The little box yields to Vere's rough treatment like a pack of cigarettes being opened by an angry smoker. Inside there's a key card, which looks remarkably like it will fit in the lock mechanism on the crate. The box is otherwise empty.
Brita nods at the obvious result. "Now to See What Treasure your chest Reveals," she notes as she waves Vere to the chest.
Vere nods at Brita, glances at Robin and smiles to see her so obviously ready to go into action if something dangerous should exit the crate, and then slips the key card into the mechanism.
There is a satisfying 'click' and the top opens slowly, sliding back to reveal a silk-lined interior. Inside is a small book and a leather case. The case is open and inside it is at least part of a deck of cards. Brita recognizes them as Trumps by Master Reid.
Brita's heart stops briefly at the familiar brush strokes of her mentor's hand. "Master-Cousin Reid's Trumps," she says quietly.
"Those are clearly destined for you, Cousin," Vere says in a somber voice. "Is the book a journal, perhaps?"
Robin croons sadly at Reid's name. But holds her position.
First doesn't say anything, but makes a note to ask about Reid later.
Brita stutters into motion, reaching for the cards and pulling them to her chest. Her eyes are unfocused and a bit glossy initially and then she looks down to flip slowly through the deck, briefly examining what cards it contains.
Brita reaches in and takes out the cards. There are about a dozen of trumps--not a full deck by any means. A few are in Dworkin's hand, and look to be very old. There are newer ones as well, in Reid's style. Brita notes that every one is for someone who is no longer alive.
Vere respects the emotions Brita is feeling, and does not push her to hurry. He picks up the book and opens it to the first page, to see if it does appear to be a journal or diary. If so, he will close it again and hold it out to Brita.
The book looks like some sort of trader's day-log: full of columns of locations, quantities and prices for items bought and sold. If Vere had discovered this on a Captain in the Amber Merchant Fleet, he'd assume it was the correct accounting books, rather than the sanitized version to be reviewed by Customs. It's written in a kind of shorthand and Vere isn't convinced that anyone other than the author would know what is what. "D211: Flirp 1st wash. Alham. 487@20qua." is a typical entry.
There seems to be more stuff in the crate, including what looks like a wooden box, suitable for a painting or other flat work of art.
Brita smiles wistfully at a couple of the cards, then glances up at Vere and holds the short deck out to him. "You should Keep These, Cousin. They Be More Useful to You than Me."
Vere accepts the cards with a nod of his head. "I thank you, Cousin," he says, slipping the card case into his clothing.
"And this appears to be a merchant's private record book," he hands it to Brtita. "Cousin Reid was quite capable of using something like that as a cover for important records, of course. It may be what it seems, or it may be a private journal in code."
He turns his attention back to the crate. "Let us see what else we have." He will empty the contents onto the floor of the ship so that they can be examined in an orderly fashion.
Inside the box are an assortment of weapons, including a handful of brass cartridges for a small caliber gun, a crossbow with a fixed bayonet that seems impractical, a length of pipe with a cap on one end that smells of sulphur, and the framed painting in the box.
The painting looks like a trump, although larger than normal. It's not cold to the touch, and it depicts someplace in Arden. Vere doesn't recognize the paper it's on, but it's something exotic, perhaps some sort of animal hide.
As Vere arranges the contents in an orderly fashion, Brita flips through the little book - starting near the beginning and then glancing at entries near the end. Does she remember Master Reid carrying such a journal? Does it look like his hand? Do any of the codes seem familiar?
No to all of these questions. The hand is neat and petite. While it is not given over to any elaborate filigree, it is a thing of smooth arcs and curves, with no angles or sharp bends. The hand is the same throughout, and never seems hurried and has no corrections.
It might be a copy of something, or dictated notes. The only clear distinctions Brita can see are that some pages seem to be about some kind of commerce and others seem to be about alchemical experiments.
Robin croons and leans forward to examine the painting, curiosity glinting in her eyes.
Robin recognizes the work, except when she last saw it, it was tattooed on a prisoner named Turf. It doesn't look like the kind of thing that could be removed from a living prisoner.
Vere examines the cartridges curiously. Hand made or assembly line work? Any distinctive markings of any kind on them?
There are little numbers and some manufacturers mark embossed on the flat end. They look machine stamped rather than handmade. They all look alike.
Vere thinks the markings look like they're from Bellum. He's not sure which merchant house, but one of them.
Vere catches Brita's eye and says, "By your leave, Cousin, I shall hold onto these and pass them along to the king." Assuming no objections to that idea occur he will drop them in one of the several pouches he has in his clothing.
Brita acknowledges Vere's task with a nod.
Then he picks up the crossbow and raises an eyebrow. "What were they thinking?" he muses aloud.
The main thing Vere notices as he's inspecting the crossbow is that it has some symbols that indicate that it was made in an armory of the Klybesians. He's not sure if it's a shadow, or if it's recent, or if they used it or just manufactured it. But it has their marks on it.
"A Means of Clearing the Wall when an Intruder attempts to Breach the Parapet, perhaps?" She mimes poking outward. She looks towards the odd skin painting Robin is examining. "Do You Recognize the Region?" she asks her cousin.
"I do," Robin croons. "And I recognize the work. The image is of a clearing in Arden that led to the slaving routes into Arcadia. And the work is something that Reid tattooed onto a slaver he captured. I turned the prisoner over to the justice of Arden after interrogating him. I always meant to send word that, after he was hanged, I'd like the skin to make a drum with. Looks like someone beat me to it."
Brita snorts a quick laugh at Robin's inadvertent pun.
"Brita? May I have this please?" She asks earnestly.
"It is Yours," Brita responds. "You Will Entertain The King with That Drum, for Certain!"
First is more interested in the weapons than the painting, but she gives it a glance.
"This is of Klybesian make," Vere says. He looks from the crossbow to First. "Do your people know of them?"
"They inhabit the fringes of your Golden Circle. They are degenerate and should be rooted out like vermin wherever they take hold." First pauses. "They wish us ill. All of us."
"There is speculation that they envy our power and immortality, and think there is a secret to it that can be wrested from us." Vere frowns thoughtfully. "I am put in mind of a conversation I had some time ago regarding the Klybesians. Prince Garrett was going to speak to the Royal Librarian, Nestor, about it. I wonder if he did so?"
First has no idea about Nestor, but she's definitely glad to hear that the Monks are not well thought of in Xanadu. "We are taught that they are the example of a good cause brought to a fault by lack of balance. It is good to seek knowledge, but the Monks seek knowledge regardless of harm."
Robin cocks her head with curiosity. "First? When you say they wish all of us ill. Who is 'all of us'?"
Vere waits with interest to hear First's answer to that question.
"The people of the ordered realms," she explains. "You. Us. The Rebmans. They destroyed Paris, or their predecessors did. Salted the earth, so that no one could live there for a dozen generations."
Vere frowns slightly. "Is this legend, or known fact?" he asks. "And have you heard of a small sect called the Paresh? I have wondered if there was a connection between them and the Klybesians." He looks at Brita. "I have also seen a vision of the monks who appeared to serve Reid's mother in the distant past, and have wondered if they might have been related to the Klybesians."
First pauses for a moment. "Tell me what you think the difference is, and I'll try to answer that. The Queen of our people is supposed to date to the dawn of time, and I do not take that phrase lightly.
"Paris itself is a legend, in some places."
Vere smiles slightly. "I suppose that for the purposes of our family legendary means one of our elders says, 'I have heard,' rather than, 'I was there.'"
Robin snorts briefly. Though for the purpose of this conversation, she agrees with Vere's statements, however constant visions certainly confuse things.
"Legend, Myth, or Memory, These Groups and their Interwoven Ties to the Current Troubles are Additional Items to Discuss with The Family," Brita notes.
First nods. "I would say then that those stories are on the cusp of memory and legend. I know of no one who regards it as a memory, but I am once removed from those who do."
She takes a deep breath. "They are a tricky lot. And the trickiest thing can be to identify them and figure out what a particular group's agenda really is."
Vere nods thoughtfully, then looks at Brita and Robin. "Is there anything else we need to discuss before we head to the palace?"
"Let me Gather Red Cloaks," She Knows that she has several in her small cabin below Skidbladnir's deck because what other color would her cloaks be? She makes her way below to gather the garments and returns above decks. She is wearing one with a white fur trim around the hood. She hands the plainest to Vere, the one with leather and bone frog closures down the front to Robin, and the one with a satin lining to First.
First puts on the cloak, and raises the hood. "Thank you, my Sister of the Moon. I shall try to be inconspicuous as we pass."
Vere nods his thanks for the cloak as he dons it and pulls the hood over his face.
"Thanks, Brita," Robin says as she dons her cloak.
Brita smoothly brings Skidbladnir to a low pier and watches as the others disembark. She then follows, her hand trailing on the ship's rail so that at the last moment a gentle tug folds Skidbladnir into its portable form.
"Shall We use That Cart to take Our Bounty to The Castle?" she asks by way of forestalling any helpful sailors and points to a small porters hand cart nearby.
As they leave the ship Vere waves away any helpful workers and commandeers the cart. With Robin's aid the chest is put in the cart, and Vere nods to Brita that he is ready to head for the palace.
Robin smiles to Vere as she helps him lug the chest up into the cart. But from the side of her eyes, she's keeping track of King Corwin.
The cart is loaded, the four cloaked figures are ashore and the ship is folded away. At the end of the pier is the harbormaster and Corwin. He will certainly need to be dealt with.
As they walk up the pier towards Corwin and the harbormaster Vere says quietly, "My suggestion would be to walk to the castle, unless someone is in a hurry. It gives us a chance to show First the sights." Within the shadow of his hood he smiles slightly. "And I must admit to enjoying the feel of being in so solidly real a realm once again."
"Agreed," says Brita, eying the uncle at the end of the pier. "I Will Speak with Our Uncle as You Three Start. I Will Catch Up, as soon as I Break Free." With that, Brita nods and strides forward toward her uncle and the harbor master. Her hood is back and she gives a small bow to Corwin as she approaches. "Uncle-Majesty," she says when in range.
Corwin nods in greeting. "You do have an interesting way of ignoring the borders of family and rank, Brita. You can call me Corwin or Uncle and it's not only fine, it's good for the differentiation between us. You weren't expected this soon. Is all well?"
Brita nods as she watches the others move up the hill. "All is Well, Uncle Corwin. I found it Difficult to Judge the Full Time and Erred on the Side of Early rather than Late." She turns fully back to focusing on Corwin. "All is Well Here?" she asks.
"We're not fending off a Moonrider invasion. Or at least not one larger than your Moonrider. Random seems more himself and I'm sorry to say that the Queen has been accused of treason for her role in it all." Corwin watches carefully for her reaction.
"Is there anything Random or I should know, before you arrive at the top of the hill with a Princess of the Enemy at the gate?"
"We Found a Treasure on a Crashed Ship which included Master Reid's Cards. Cousin Robin Found a Sword. We did Not Find a Ghost," Brita summarizes.
"Ghosts can be problems, so that sounds good. I'm sure Random will want to hear about Reid. We may need to send more cataclysms to our enemies." He smiles. "I'm sure we can find cataclysmic volunteers to manifest our discontent upon them."
Corwin notices the others passing by but does no more than follow them with his eyes. First moves like water, a subject Brita knows quite well.
"Well, welcome home. I'll see you up at the castle. You should try to hurry out of town. There are those here who remember how a Moonrider walks. You don't want an incident or to start rumors."
Brita gives a short bow to her Uncle and then proceeds to jog to catch up with the rest.
As Brita pauses to converse with Corwin Vere silently pushes the cart containing the chest past him and continues off the pier into the docks of Xanadu. He scans the area around them as they proceed, sensitive to any evidence that they are being given any special scrutiny by anyone around them.
Robin assists with the pushing but leaves the scrutinizing to Vere; she feels that she is still not the expert for spotting unusual things in an urban environment. Instead, she will play tour-guide for First, Robin-style. She points out Scarlet's (if it's visible from here), any riot damage still evident, the way to the spicy chicken barbeque place, etc.
The Fire Lizards don't particularly want to be inconspicuous. They'll be a giveaway.
There are more armed men in the streets than Robin remembered, or perhaps there are just fewer people going about merchant type tasks. It's still very busy. This isn't a town that would be easy to defend, Robin thinks. Robin can see the docks, the places where Paige illegally gambles (she suspects it's only illegal for the thrill of it), Scarlet's, and many more of the sights of the city, including the mayor's house.
Robin feels like someone is watching them from there. First apparently notices as well.
Vere lets Robin play tour guide as they walk, unless First asks him a question directly. He's in no hurry, and walks at a leisurely pace, watching the people they pass, listening to snatches of conversation and the sounds of the city, getting a feel for what is going on. He's especially interested in any evidence of unease or concern among the populace, or whether everyone seems to feel that things are all normal.
The city reminds Vere of an island spared by an unexpected miracle from a hurricane or invasion. It hasn't yet reached manic glee, but it's definitely in the late phases of surprise and shock.
It's been two nights, and is only the far end of the holiday that started with Edan's presentation and the subsequent revelry.
He thinks it could be very different in the crowded areas to the northwest of town.
There is definitely someone taking note of them from the rooftops, but he's too far away for Vere to clearly identify him.
Brita comes jogging back up to the group as they meander along. She links arms with First and Vere and Robin can hear her stage whisper as she says "Blend" to the Moonrider.
First nods, and begins walking like Brita. Up close, it's disturbing how she manages to mimic every gesture of Brita's at the same time as Brita makes them. From a distance, it would blend, at least as well as Brita does.
"We are being watched," Vere says quietly.
"Mmm-hmmm," Robin nods in response. "In a way, I appreciate it. I wouldn't want a party as... interesting as ours to be able to just walk into Xanadu without notice." She smiles.
"This city is new, is it not?," asks First. "I see few signs of the stress of the seasons and the calendar upon the buildings. Or is this place without winter?"
"It is very new. So new that I don't know if there will be a winter or not," Robin answers.
"Knowing the King, maybe not? He likes hot places, doesn't he?" she asks her cousins.
"An interesting question." The hood of Vere's cloak nods slightly. "As Robin says, Xanadu is a new realm, created by the King when he took the throne. Eternal Amber, alas, has proven to be no more eternal than Oberon. It did not die as quickly as he, but it is sinking into twilight."
First's cloak also nods. "What does the name 'Xanadu' mean?"
The postern gate comes into sight, and the road to Xanadu Castle goes through them. There are guards at the gate, but they seem more prepared for external threats than internal ones.
Vere is sensitive to whether the watchers are following them, or merely watched them as they passed without action. "I was curious about the name myself, and did some little research in the Library of Amber after the King announced its existence," he answers as they walk. "It appears to be a name that echoes throughout Shadow as a realm of dream and mystery. Whether King Random took the name from those Shadows, or whether the name is an echo through Shadow cast into the past by the existence of his city, is an interesting question. I see no reason not to believe that both are true, that the name would not have existed in Shadow were it not that the King created the realm, and that the King named the realm such because of the echoes of it he had heard. He is a musician and a poet, and a man, I think, who takes a certain pleasure in paradox."
Brita has released First's arm and fallen a little behind. She keeps meandering a bit as if she's distracted, but she is following the conversation. "It is Like Valhalla -- the Culmination of All Striving."
"That sounds interesting. Many cultures have a rebirth cycle, and some have an end to striving as a goal. How is it in practical terms? These people do not look as I would imagine people who no longer need to strive looking...."
"I think of it as both," Robin answers. "It is a place of rebirth for those striving toward a place of permanence."
"It is, to my mind, still in the process of becoming," Vere muses aloud. "I do not believe it has yet settled into whatever its core essence shall eventually become."
"An End to a Beginning and a Beginning to an End," Brita notes. "It Can Be All of These Things.
First nods, but doesn't seem very sure of herself. "Quite a contrast to the eternal cities of legend, is it not? Or do you suspect that in a few generations all this will be gone and only the oldest or immortal will recall a time before Xanadu?"
Vere chuckles. "Perhaps so. And we shall be the wise but inscrutable elders who know everything but never give a direct answer to any of the questions of our juniors."
First seems amused. "Generations are a cyclical curse, and we all eventually play all the roles of it."
The gate guards do not seem inclined to stop or even acknowledge the red-cloaked party, and soon Brita, Robin, Vere, and First are heading up the switchback road to the castle.
"It looks like there's a path that cuts off most of these loops," observes First. It's more like a goat trail, but it would be faster, for four children of the blood.
"That Would be Faster," Brita notes as she angles for the steeper trail.
Vere shrugs slightly under his cloak. Deferring to his cousin's authority, he follows Brita.
Robin eyes the trail skeptically, wondering if they're going to wind up carrying the cart more than rolling it. But she follows gamely as well.
First follows, and will pick up the cart, if needed.
The trail looks like something a small but determined child might make, if he was late for lessons and needed to get to the castle. It would be nice and clear, for a four foot tall person. Everyone gets a faceful of leaves at one point or another.
Vere is in no special hurry, and will occasionally point out interesting views and sights to First as they head up the mountain, and answer any questions that she might have. Other than that, he has no special items to discuss or questions to ask.
Robin is just enjoying the hike; open moving air, the heights and views, the pleasant sound of her Beloved's voice. All of it combines to make her a happy ranger. Even the occasional face-full of leaves tastes good. Not quite as good as Arden, mind you, but good all the same.
A few minutes before they reach the top Vere announces, "We should be rejoining the main trail at the top of its ascent very shortly, after which there will be a very short walk along a flat road to the main gateway."
As Vere says, the trail which has intermittently crossed the roadway pops out of the brush where the road turns to begin snaking down the cliffside. The last bit was significantly steep, but nothing the four hikers have any problems with, even with a large crate on a cart. The trail downwards is now significantly wider.
There are stables to one side, and a giant lake fed by a waterfall above, with a short course of river which feeds the larger falls below them. The castle is built into the side of the cliff and looks as if it has always been there. There are people about, but no one is paying attention to the road.
"This is charming," says First. "How do you defend it from attack from above?"
"I don't know." Robin says, "But I'm sure the King has something in place. He flies, you know. On giant kites, I've heard." An envious tone enters Robin's voice.
"Robin and I are planning a house on the mountainside opposite the castle," Vere mentions. It isn't really a response to First's question.
Robin floophs with a happy burst of light at the thought of sharing a home with her Beloved. And a quick skip enters her steps.
"It's a lovely mountainside," says First. "What order will your house belong to?"
Vere laughs quietly. "A house as in a building for people to live in," he explains with a smile. "A home for Robin and myself, not the House of an organization. While we travel widely we are not nomadic, and would like to have a place to return to in between adventures." He shrugs slightly. "At the very least, it will be a place of our own when we are in Xanadu, where we can have a modicum of independence."
"And kennels, bookcases, mews and an office..." Robin chirps. Clearly she has not thought about this at aaalll. The grin she sends to Vere is pure glee.
Vere looks to Brita and asks, "Perhaps we should enter somewhat surreptitiously, Cousin? Through the kitchens, perhaps?" He smiles at First again and explains, "I am thinking of keeping your presence somewhat hidden from the courtiers and any visitors we may have until you have spoken with the King. There is no point in trying to keep such secrets from the servants and staff, they see and hear everything."
Robin waits for Brita's response as she doesn't have a preference.
Brita scans the activity in front of them. "Kitchens," she agrees. "I Could use a Snack after that Hike."
Last modified: 15 October 2020