Raevyn, Neptune House until the Balcony

[Wired*Nun]

A stiff seabreeze ruffled Raevyn's hair as she leaned her hips against the railing overlooking the rocky cove. She would like to have set up the easel here, but the wind was a bit too much for good painting, so she remounted and guided Spindrift down toward the beach where the high rock walls sheltered. The mare knew the way, and so had little trouble with the steep trail.

Partway down she paused. Something coming round the southern headland caught her eye. It looked like a yacht, perhaps a sloop, about forty feet, lateen rigged. She paused. Perhaps she should retain the height, and her line of retreat. Father was always telling her how she should be wary, especially when alone. No one had ever proved him right...but she wasn't stupid. Father didn't get his scars from industrial accidents.

She dismounted, fished in her saddlebags, and sat down against the hillside. A spyglass would have been in keeping with her lifestyle. 8x50 Zeiss binoculars were more useful.

As the yacht came up from the south she could see a tall, athletic woman at the wheel. She looked familiar. She wasn't any more familiar as the boat turned in to the cove docked at the small pier. Raevyn could see two men on the boat, crewmen apparently, for they stayed aboard and began to make secure while the woman jumped off onto the dock and made her way up the path.

Well, she didn't look hostile, but Raevyn pulled out a trump of Dad anyway, and held it low and out of sight. Now she wished she had taken along the derringer that Dad insisted she learn how to use. It was nice to be a member of the royal family sometimes. Benedict had clamped an impenetrable cordon onto whatever shadows could produce the propellant that worked in Amber. It was a state secret, but Gerard had arranged for her to obtain a couple of dozen rounds. Not much good when she left it home. She resolved to carry it more often.

The woman climbed on up the trail, finally approaching with a smile and open hands. She was armed only with a dagger on her hip, still strapped into the sheath. She was also breathing deeply from the climb. Not of the blood, then. And still familiar...

"Vinta Bayle! How nice to see you again." It had taken this long to remember, but then, she hadn't seen Vinta in over a year, and before that, not more than a handful of times. She slid the trump into her pocket and extended her arms for a hug. It felt good. Raevyn didn't have many close friends. Well, Vinta wasn't that either but, anyway... She was a woman, and they shared a tragedy. Suddenly the thought of some girl talk was attractive.

"Mount up. Spin can carry us both." Vinta waited until Raevyn mounted, then swung up behind her. "Normally I wouldn't mind walking, but these boots aren't really broken in yet."

"So what brings you here?" Raevyn looked back over her shoulder at Vinta. "Let's wait till we get to your house, shall we? It's hard to talk to the back of your head." "Okay." They rode in companionable silence for the few minutes it took to reach their goal.

The stableboys took Spindrift, a bit surprised at her quick return. Raevyn grabbed the easel and art supplies, and headed in the back door. The staff called warm greetings as they headed inside and upstairs. "Tea on the veranda please, Colleen," Raevyn said to a woamn washing her hands in the kitchen sink.

They enjoyed the view until the tea arrived, along with an assortment of home-baked butter cookies. Raevyn was glad Father had made her learn hand-to-hand forms and practice every day, if only to keep the weight off.

Vinta shut the doors to the house and came back to sit down across from Raevyn. "Is this a social call, or is there something more?"

"You know, that's what I like about you, Rae, you haven't yet acquired your family's penchant for infuriating banter yet. I loved Caine in spite of that quality, not because of it. So, I'll get to the point." She leaned forward and put down her teacup. "I got a call today." Vinta looked steadily at Raevyn.

"You mean...a Trump call? You're not family, no offense. And who has a Trump for you? I mean, I never made one..."

"Well, Caine did. And I don't know whatever happened to his Trumps. They weren't on him when he was killed. Caine was the only one who ever called me before...but from my understanding, this seemed an unusual call." She paused again, looking worried.

"Okay, I'll bite. In what way?"

"Well, I don't know who - or what - called me. I felt the call, and soon I saw some kind of...glowing thing. I can't really describe it. It was made of squiggles and lines, so maybe it has something to do with that Pattern you royals are so fond of. On the other hand, Caine never told me about anything that looked like this. It was smoking, and spinning, and crackling like a pitch-fire." Vinta bit her lower lip, ran her fingertip around the rim of her teacup. "It gave me a message for you." Vinta looked up from under lowered brows. "It said your brother needs you."

(all yours)

[LynMars]

Raevyn frowned, tilting her head and studying Vinta carefully. "What do you mean? I have no brother--that I know of. Are you sure about this, Vinta? The whole thing seems rather odd." Raevyn flicked her eyes downward as she picked up a cookie, searching her memory for any reference of something like what Vinta had described. Not having gotten out much or being very experienced in many things beyond her arts, nothing was coming immediately to mind.

[Wired*Nun]

"I don't know either. That's all it really said. Well. What it said exactly was, let me see if I can quote it properly...'the son of Gerard the Amberite has need of his daughter,' I think. Something like that. Formal speech patterns, ghostly. I couldn't figure out why it called me, except perhaps that it had my Trump and knew that I knew you...you are the only daughter of Gerard I know of. And I didn't think you'd want anyone to know about this before you did yourself." She frowned to match Raevyn.

Raevyn had no memory or hint that Gerard ever had a son. Still, this is not conclusive.
Rae's impression is that Vinta is being honest and forthright in her story...but Father's words still echo through her better judgment: "Trust no one you do not have to."

"If you did have a brother, and he did need you, what do you think you would do?"

[LynMars]

"Well, I'd...I'd see if I could help him. I mean, I don't see why my family has such a double-dealing reputation; I know I haven't met many of them, but no one can be so bad, all the time. I just...I have no idea really how to start. If I have a brother, why wouldn't Father have told me about him? Do you think I should ask him about this? He's bound to know more about this sort of thing than either you or I.""

[Wired*Nun]

"No doubt that would be the best thing to do. Is he around? Can you Trump him? Maybe he has good reason not to tell you. Maybe he doesn't know himself. Your family has been surprised before by this type of thing."

[LynMars]

Raevyn thought for a moment, then went to the door. She quickly found a servant. "Excuse me, have you seen my father? Is he on the grounds?" The Trump was at the top of her deck, but she didn't want to resort to that yet if he was somewhere nearby.

[Wired*Nun]

The servant replies, "No milady, he took Colossus and went riding into the interior early this morning. He said he would be back by nightfall." The servant waits expectantly for more instructions.

[LynMars]

Raevyn nods. "Thank you." She returns to the veranda and Vinta. "He'll be back this evening, likely in time for dinner...Do you think it urgent enough that I try to Trump him, or should we wait? I really don't know what to do about this. He may not be very happy about it."

[Wired*Nun]

Suddenly Raevyn feels some kind of paranormal disturbance behind Vinta. There is a glowing of some sort, not Trump, beginning to form behind Vinta's left shoulder, near the veranda railing.

[LynMars]

Raevyn's obviously startled by the sudden odd sensation. "Vinta, behind you! Is that it?" She moves off to Vinta's left side, trying to get a better "look" at whatever the disturbance, both visually and with any of her other senses, including psychically. Just to be safe, since she doesn't imediately recognize the paranormal signature of whatever this is, she'll start working up the Pattern for defense; better safe than sorry, as Mother used to say.

[Wired*Nun]

"Crap!" Vinta jumps up from her chair and backs toward Raevyn. The disturbance grows to become a glowing ball of sparking, spitting energy. There seems something pattern-like about it, though she have never seen its like before. "That's the thing I saw...looks like it followed me." Vinta has her dagger out now, and reaches behind her to open the glass doors to the house.

Raevyn's other senses don't reveal much more than her eyes; the tile deck is not burning, there is no smell, and nothing looks different psychically.

Then something resolves itself inside the glow: a picture of a man. Large, he resembles your father a great deal. He is wearing something vaguely nautical, and seems to be struggling mightily, in slow-motion, with a smaller man with white hair. The white-haired man has a dagger aimed at the larger man's eye, and it looks as if he will be able to plunge it into him within a few seconds.

Though not a Trump contact, she feels this is an accurate representation of some reality, a real picture of some sort.

[LynMars]

Her curiosity getting the better of her, Raevyn steps a bit closer, biting her lip as she concentrates on the distressing image. She doesn't recognize either man, but it seems so real, so near."What are you?" She murmurs, only half-expecting any sort of response.

[Wired*Nun]

The big man turns and looks at Raevyn, making eye contact. "Help" he mouths.

This seems a damned obviously clumsy ploy, unless it's true. That's the problem with truth, you never know where you'll find it, even sometimes among the obvious.

Vinta grabs Raevyn's arm. "I'm really sorry I led it to you. Can we get out of here somehow? Get some distance, trump out to someone who knows about such things? Do you have a Trump of Merlin? I met him once, he is a sorcerer, isn't he?"

The thing is drifting closer. A long few seconds and it might enter her personal space. The door is open behind the pair.

[LynMars]

Raevyn's eyes widen as the man responds to her. When Vinta grabs her arm, it shakes her from her surprise. "Vinta, get out of here!" She backs away herself, hands fumbling for her Trumps. Instincts are conflicting; escape seems prudent, but what if it is real? If someone needed her help, could she just leave them like that? In any event, the doubt slows down her reaction time, but she does have her Trump of her Father out--the question being will she have the chance to use it?

[Wired*Nun]

It seems likely that she will not be able to do more than contact him before the thing contacts her, so to speak. She could probably escape or pull him throught, if nothing else delays the action. However, she could buy some time by moving backwards into the house. You do seem to remember that Father said something about the house having basic wards in place, renewed by Fiona every few months.

Vinta has backed into the house, and seems to be yelling something at the servants.

[LynMars]

Raevyn steps backwards into the house, still facing the glowing scene. She glances down at the card in her hands, trying to form contact with Gerard. She holds the card up, keeping the glowing pattern in her peripheral vision. Concentrating on the card means not being overly aware of whatever else is going on around her, however.

[Wired*Nun]

The thing bumps up against the doorway, and the outline of the door begins to glow. Raevyn feels heat, as something resists the passage of the construct. It seems to ramp up in energy, and the doorframe starts to smoke with physical heat. Good thing the walls are of stone. Vinta is yelling for water buckets from the servants.

Contact with Gerard comes clear. He is sitting, eating, shirtless, the background a forest scene. As the contact forms, he seems to sense Raevyn's distress, and grabs something outside of her view.

[LynMars]

"Father! Something followed Vinta here; it's trying to get in--we think it's after me! I don't know what to do!" The words tumble out, Raevyn trying to get as much information as possible in as little time as what she had. The scene the glow shows still distresses her, but so does the fact that this thing is so persistent, and she still has no idea what it is or why it's coming after them...

[Wired*Nun]

"Come through, girl, and bring your friend." He reaches for Raevyn's hand. "And tell the servants to clear out! Get to Arden or Amber, and let someone know!"

[LynMars]

"Vinta, grab on! Everyone else, get out of here! Get my uncles!" Raevyn calls out, reaching out for her father. She hopes Vinta complies before Gerard pulls her through--knowing Dad, he'd probably yank her out the instant he had physical contact.

[Wired*Nun]

Indeed, Vinta is too far, or too slow, for Raevyn is pulled irresistably through the Trump, and set lightly on her feet behind the living wall of her father's flesh. Hopefully she would get them all out and either down to her boat, or off to safety overland.

Gerard has a large wood-axe in his hand, and you notice a partially-built log cabin off to your left. Colossus is cropping grass peaceably a ways away, and fresh-cut logs and tools are stacked nearby. A partially-eaten picnic lunch is spread on a blanket.

The Trump contact fades somewhat slowly, as Raevyn feels the energies contesting in the doorway bleed over into the Trump contact. Gerard seems to have felt it too, for he says, "And what in the Unicorn's name was THAT?" He puts the axe down gently, and with a touch of embarrassment, pulls on his shirt.

[LynMars]

Raevyn rubs her forehead, brow furrowed. "I'm still not sure. It wasn't a Trump, but...it was something real. Vinta Bayle came to the house--you remember her, don't you? Uncle Caine's lady friend? She said...that that thing had shown up before, and gave her a message for me. She said...Dad, do I have a brother?"

Raevyn quickly spills the entire story, including the image she saw in the glow, finishing up with a deep breath. "...And that's about it. I think. Um, may I have some water, please?"

[Wired*Nun]

Gerard hands her a skin of water, then holds up a half-filled bottle of wine inquiringly. If she wants some, he will hand it to her after drawing the cork carefully, with his nails. If not, he sets it back down, and himself next to it, on a fresh-cut log, patting the spot next to him.

"I don't know...I thought I had been careful. I am not one to have abandoned a child...but it is possible. We have all been foolish when we were young. I can say for sure that I have not fathered anyone except you in the last...oh, hundred-ish years." He falters a bit, and reaches out tenderly to cup Raevyn's jaw in one huge paw. "I told you about Cora, so long ago, who died along with our girl in childbirth. So long ago. I didn't want to risk any more children for a long time. Still, I had a few companions, here and there. With shadows...who knows." He looks off into the middle distance for a time, lost in reverie.

He snaps out of it suddenly, asking, "Do you have a trump of Neptune House?" [OOC - Presumably the answer is yes] "I think we should look in on what is happening there. Can you observe without too much risk?"

[GM- please put a list of all your trumps in your character concept forum. Anything odd, please justify.]

[LynMars]

Raevyn drinks the water, and takes a sip of wine, as she sits next to her father. She doesn't disturb him in his reverie; memories like that often came unbidden to one who had done as much as he had, and it was best just to let him think. When he asks about the house, she pulls out her Trumps again, biting her lip as she looks at her careful painting of their home. "I think I can just take a look, without attracting too much attention. Give me a moment..." She concentrates on the image now, trusting her father to protect her from anything that might happen.

[Wired*Nun]

The view of the main hall comes quickly. Unfortunately, she has not the skill to see anything else than this one view. She can see nothing amiss, but nothing is happening either.

[LynMars]

After a time of trying unsuccessfully to sense anything wrong, Raevyn breaks the connection and shakes her head. "I can't tell if there's anything going on; I just see the front hall. It may have left when I Trumped away. I hope so, anyway. I wouldn't want Vinta and the servants to be hurt."

[Wired*Nun]

Gerard looks around at his unfinished work, and sighs. "I really wanted this cabin finished by the end of the week. Why do I get the feeling it won't be? I guess we'd better report in. Whatever this is, we need some advice." He reaches for his saddlebags thrown over his log seat, and pulls out a mother-of-pearl inlaid card case. He shuffles through the cards, which look tiny in his hands. "I sure wish Caine were here. I hate involving Fi, she always has too many balls in the air, and I'm no juggler. Random trusts her, but I can't keep track." He looks at her card a moment, then shuffles it away. He draws out another, that of the great hall at the Palace Amber. He makes to send Raevyn through first after observing briefly, saying, "I want to set things in order here, and you can get a groom with a broom and pan. Probably best to get Colossus out of there and into the stables as soon as possible."

[LynMars]

Raevyn eyes her father's horse; he earns the name Colossus; she can't even see over his back. She nods, and prepares to step through. She's only been to Amber a few times, and never alone. But Dad would be coming through right behind her, and she should be fairly safe in the castle itself.

[Wired*Nun]

[Sorry, somehow missed your post till now - feel free to prompt me with a PM]

Stepping through to the Main Hall, Raevyn sees Flora, apparently engaged in giving a private tour for a couple of formally clad dignitaries. Not sure from what shadow or country they might be. They glance her way, trying not to stare as the rainbow effect fades. Flora pauses in mid-sentence and cocks an eyebrow in Raevyn's direction, noting with her usual near-telepathic sense for emotional states that she seems a bit out of sorts. Flora murmurs something to the couple and leaves them admiring Dworkin's famous "Unicorn Rising" above the Great Mantel. She takes Raevyn's hands in her own, drawing her smoothly aside and seats them both on a divan. Hands still holding, she says softly, "Tell me all about it. Is it some man?"

[Let's move this out to "Great Halls of Amber," give the others somethine else to read in their spare time.]

[Wired*Nun]

Stepping through to the Main Hall, Raevyn sees Flora, apparently engaged in giving a private tour for a couple of formally clad dignitaries. Not sure from what shadow or country they might be. They glance her way, trying not to stare as the rainbow effect fades. Flora pauses in mid-sentence and cocks an eyebrow in Raevyn's direction, noting with her usual near-telepathic sense for emotional states that she seems a bit out of sorts. Flora murmurs something to the couple and leaves them admiring Dworkin's famous "Unicorn Rising" above the Great Mantel. She takes Raevyn's hands in her own, drawing her smoothly aside and seats them both on a divan. Hands still holding, she says softly, "Tell me all about it. Is it some man?"

[LynMars]

Raevyn sighs; Flora always asked her that. One would think she'd know better by now; Rae loved her father, and didn't usually mind him being protective...but sometimes, he could be a little too overprotective. "No, Aunt Flora, it's not a man. It's...actually, is Fiona about? Father and I will need to speak with her. And we'll have to get the stables ready; he's bringing his horse through with him. And I suppose the rooms will have to be prepared...Tell me, has anyone heard anything from Vinta Bayle yet--oh, wait, she'd still be up near the house..." Raevyn sighs. "I'm sorry. It's been a long, strange afternoon."

[LynMars]

Raevyn sighs; Flora always asked her that. One would think she'd know better by now; Rae loved her father, and didn't usually mind him being protective...but sometimes, he could be a little too overprotective. Raevyn wasn't too young, though she still appeared to be in her late teens/early twenties. "No, Aunt Flora, it's not a man. It's...actually, is Fiona about? Father and I will need to speak with her. And we'll have to get a stall in the stables ready; he's bringing his horse through with him. And I suppose the rooms will have to be prepared...Tell me, has anyone heard anything from Vinta Bayle yet--oh, wait, she'd still be up near the house..." Raevyn sighs. "I'm sorry. It's been a long, strange afternoon."

[Wired*Nun]

Flora draw back and smiles. "Oh, good, gossip. Lets get the necessaries out of the way." Calling for a servant, she dispatches him for a groom. Flora pulls Rae off in the direction of a private parlor, makes herself comfortable, and says, "Now before we go running off after redheads, perhaps you should give Aunt Flora a crack at it. I DO have something of a sense for who needs to be told what, you know." She looks at her expectantly.

[LynMars]

Raevyn sighs. Not going to get off easy this time, it looks like. "Okay, Aunt Flora. Let me see...it started earlier when Vinta came out to Neptune House and said she'd felt something like a Trump. Which is odd because only Caine ever had a Trump of her. It became a glowing image, with a message for me. So she went to our home, and we talked, and it seemed to have followed her there. It showed two men I didn't know, fighting, and one of them asked for my help. It didn't feel like a normal Trump. Vinta was startled, and it followed us into the house. It didn't get along with the wards at all, and I Trumped Father, who of course pulled me away. I hope Vinta got all the servants out, and that the thing left when I did."

[Wired*Nun]

Flora digs for more detail.

[Will Rae fill her in as well as she can? Will she leave anything out? My intention is not to make you retype everything, but rather, to let me know what spin she will put on things.]

[LynMars]

Knowing Flora, she'll eventually get all the details out of Rae, who will tell everything as straightforward and as honestly as she can, without really thinking about it. While she tries to keep the little detail about a supposed brother out of the conversation, it will likely slip out, anyway.

She does get up and go to the door, checking the hall occasionally to see if Gerard has arrived yet.

[Wired*Nun]

About the time Raevyn finishes up, she hears the clopping of Percheron hooves, on and off carpets, receding. Flora stretches a bit, catlike, and says, "Be a dear and fetch your father, will you?" She stretches behind her for a bell cord, which tinkles somewhere in the distance. When a servant appears, she orders a light repast with all the trimmings.

Raevyn waves at Gerard, who is looking around for some cue. He tips an imaginary hat at the couple still admiring the painting. Since it looks like they have been forgotten, they are soaking up the novelty of Really Being Inside The Great Hall Of Amber. Gerard comes quickly over as Raevyn waves to him, ducks under the doorframe and into the room.

Flora stands on tiptoe and kisses her brother on a lowered cheek, favoring him with a smile to melt glaciers. Gerard smiles too, and makes hugging motions, then realizes that he - really - needs a shower. "Sorry," he mutters. "Oh, think nothing of it, Raevyn's been filling me in on her little...encounter."

"So how serious is this, you think? It wasn't exactly an assault. It could have been a clumsy invitation, or an attempt to impress her. Certainly got our attention. I don't want to involve Fi or Dworkin if we don't need to. Who would be a good next choice?"

Flora frowns at Gerard's question. "It occurs to me that all she can do is describe this phenomenon, and not very well. As I understand it, these things have to be experienced to be understood, at least in some form. So we should be talking to someone who has some time to investigate, and who can perhaps hang about with Rae in expectation of it coming to visit her again. After all, she can't hide in the palace forever. A few days or weeks, sure, but I doubt she fancies living as a prisoner. All we have is some evidence that it came to her, for her, in some way."

"So she's bait? I don't like that idea."

"Not bait, Gerard. I am just suggesting that we find a trustworthy bodyguard, or bodyguards, that might have some capability in these matters. You two can't walk around with the Pattern called to mind every moment. The first thing we need is information, while maintaining her safety. And I have an idea for someone she probably won't really mind keeping company with..." She starts shuffling through her trumps.

Flora is possibly the only person Rae knows of who could smoothly combine handling a situation such as this with matchmaking...

[LynMars]

Rae bites her lip. She knew it would come down to that. Trust Flora...It might be somebody to talk to, though; she hadn't noticed until Vinta had shown up that morning how lonely she'd been out at the house. She quietly sips on her drink and keeps an eye on her dad, wondering what Flora's up to and how he'd react. She really doesn't want to spend the next several weeks stuck in the palace.

[Wired*Nun]

Gerard holds out a hand. "Before you do that, do you have a Trump of Vinta Bayle? She's probably shepherding my household staff and I'd like to make sure they are safe." Flora gives him a smug look and says, "If there's a Trump of her, believe me, I have it." She stands up and pulls a curtain aside, revealing a door. She pulls out a key from somewhere and opens the door, going through. The door clicks shut on a spring. A moment later she comes back with a Trump of Vinta, which she hands to Gerard.

As Gerard is making the call to Vinta, Flora pulls out another and looks to be making one of her own. Rae looks over her shoulder and sees an unfamiliar man on the card. He has short, brown hair, with some premature grey thrown in, kind of a crew cut, and wears a sheepish expression, as if somewhat embarrassed. He's dressed in clothes of a modern cut, black jeans and a button-down shirt of lilac, with rolled-up sleeves and open collar. Some kind of rope or cord trails from a leather bag thrown over one shoulder. He does have something of the family look. Rae doesn't recognize the Trump artist who drew the card.

As it's a bit rude to eavesdrop without permission, Rae sits back down, watching both elders like a tennis match. Gerard's end of the conversation seems to indicate that all's well. The thing left almost as soon as Raevyn did, and after evacuating to the stables for a few minutes, Vinta led everyone back in and decided to wait for a call. Now that she has reported in, she says she will head on back to Baylesport on her boat.

As Gerard concludes his call, Raevyn sees Flora extend her hand and freeze. The man on the card steps through, only this time he is wearing blue jeans and a courderoy shirt. He's about 6' 1". Something heavy is in the leather bag slung around him, something living perhaps, as it wiggles a bit. "Raevyn, meet your cousin Joshua. I think you're about the same age, and I'm sure you have some common experiences and friends."

[LynMars]

Relieved that everything back home is okay, Raevyn nods, eyeing the leather bag before her eyes flick back up to Joshua's face. "Hello, Joshua," she says, extending her hand.

[Wired*Nun]

The artist on the card caught the man's self-effacing quality admirably. He casts his eyes down for a moment before taking her hand and gives it a gentle glasp. The other hand pushes a poking whiskered nose back into the bag and he says in its direction, "Lester, just hang tight for a bit, OK?" The bag emits a kind of soft squeal-growl and settles down. Again the sheepish smile. "Sorry. Nice to meet you. Call me Josh. Lester hates the bag, I only make him stay in it when meeting new people."

"Flora tells me you've been having some trouble of what may be a sorcerous nature. I've had a little experience with such things - care to tell me about it?" Raevyn launches into yet another explanation of the events of the day, and Josh listens intently.

"Do you mind 'hanging out,' as they say, with your cousin, Josh? She's not so hard on the eyes, and two Amberites are better than one any day." Before waiting for an answer, Flora turns to Gerard. "Is that all right with you, brother? I have some other things to talk to you about later..."

Gerard looks from Raevyn to Flora and back, and rumbles, "All right, if it's all right with Rae. I've known Josh for a while, I was meaning for you two to meet soon anyway, seeing as you share a teacher of your Art." Raevyn suddenly realizes that Josh bears a strong resemblance to Caine.

[LynMars]

"Oh...you, um, learned from Caine as well? I don't recall him mentioning you. And if I may ask, who or what is Lester?" She eyes the bag again, watching it move.

[Wired*Nun]

Flora stands up suddenly and takes Gerard by the arm, saying, "Why don't we all delay intoductions to rodents until we are somewhere more...rodent-friendly." She looks faintly disgusted. She leads all four out through the main hall. The couple are now gone, who knows where. Down through some corridors, out the back hallway and into the rear gardens, she is walking fast. "Nice day for a stroll, isn't it?" she says brightly. "They just put in some new snapdragons back by the Japanese gardens." She motions the younger two that direction, shoo-shoo. "Be careful you don't get bit." Not sure if that was serious. Hastily she steers Gerard off in another direction, around the nearest corner, leaving the two alone.

"She doesn't much like Lester, I'm afraid. Comes from Lester liking her, I guess." A rodent-head pokes its way insistently out of the bag, then the rest climbs up the courderoy shirt to sit on Josh's shoulder. Lester is a...rat. A big rat. Probably twenty pounds. Kind of a fatty. Hmm. Gray fur, black eyes sparkling with intelligence. Lester stands up on two legs and holds out his paws toward Raevyn, like a baby wishing to be picked up.

[LynMars]

Raeyvn blinks at the rat. "Oh. Nice to meet you, Lester." She's not so sure about holding the rat yet, the admonition about getting bit still fresh in her mind. She starts walking for the Japanese gardens. "So, are you a sorceror, then? And Flora said we're cousins, but I don't believe you're her son."

[Wired*Nun]

"Hmmph, yeah, I guess I am. My mom taught me. She still lives out in Shadow, near where Dad found her. Umm, that was your uncle Caine. They split up a while back, but it wasn't bitter or anything. I guess you know he's gone now." Josh looks down again, and his eyes might be tearing. He looks up at Raevyn. "I understand he taught you of the Trumps. Me too. They were kind of a specialty of his, in a wierd sort of way. He knew more about using them than most Trump artists, but he...didn't really have much talent for execution, in a sense. It would take him days to make one, sometimes longer, and he said some of them failed to function. Very mechanical. He had no feel for it, for the creation process."

"He kept me out of things, off with Mom or in shadow for a long while. I know about his reputation. I guess he didn't want me to learn my lessons as hard as he had to. Maybe he wanted me to be better, or at least, better liked. I dunno. I guess I'm lucky. Except that he's gone. That's karma for you. I was supposed to get introduced to everyone the week he died. Mom convinced me to stay out of things then, even to attend the funeral in disguise. Damned bomber almost got me too."

They have come upon the snapdragons now, the Torii gate of the Japanese gardens beyond. Lester leans toward one and grabs at it. It promptly snaps at his paw, drawn back lightning-quick. A squeal of indignation follows. "Serves you right, you little booger. Auntie Flora warned you not to get bit."

"So is there anything you'd like to do now? I guess I'm bodyguarding you, or whatever. I'm not that familiar with things around here myself, so maybe we can play tour guide for each other? And later on, I'll need to arrange for rooms or something, and retrieve some of my stuff from Mom's house."

[LynMars]

Raevyn listens quietly, nodding, remembering her own lessons with her Uncle Caine. She nods. "I was at the funeral, too. Wasn't near the bomb, though. I'm sorry, by the way."


She looks at the flowers for a bit, appreciating the layout. "I haven't been to the castle often myself, so we'll just have to go exploring, I guess. And I'm sorry you got stuck babysitting me. I'm not even really sure if it was hostile or not. As for rooms, I'm pretty sure we can get something arranged, and maybe wander out to your mother's for your things. I'm sure Dad won't mind too much."

[Wired*Nun]

"It's really no trouble. I was just doing some blade work with Loric. You know Loric?" Raevyn realizes she's heard the name. "Benedict's son?"

"Yes. They are living together in Avalon now. He's really devoted to his old man. Kind of over-earnest sometimes, but a real straight guy." He gives another of those sheepish grins. "Guess the younger generation just isn't shaping up, eh? Dad used to say he hoped we'd learn to stab each other in the back as a last resort instead of a reflex. But really, I don't mind. I'm taking a little break from work right now."

"OK, let's get the mundane things out of the way" The two head back inside, and arrange for a small apartments, next to each other. The majordomo produces two envelopes, each labelled with their names. "They are back out of the way a bit, in a less-used section," he says. The envelopes contain keys, a password, instructions for how to change the password, and directions to find the rooms. "I hope they are to your liking."

In fact, their balconies overlook the new snapdragons, and the sand patterns and rocks of the Japanese garden. The balconies abut one another, and it would be child's play to hop over from one to the other. The rooms have been recently cleaned, and there are fresh flowers in a vase in each. Josh rolls his eyes. "Flora. And Random think's he runs this place."

"OK, well, which direction shall we go first? Back to your place for your things, or back to mom's for mine?"

[LynMars]

Rae smiles and nods in agreement to his comment about Flora. "Well, our house is just up the coast. I have a Trump, of course, so it wouldn't take long to get home for me. I am kind of curious as to how everyone fared, and maybe whatever that was left some residual psychic imprint behind that you can take a look at." She pulls out her Trumps, fanning the small stack. 'I'll have to make one for Josh, too when I get a moment,' she thinks.

[Wired*Nun]

"Well, let's go there first. I'd like to take a look at the scene of the crime." He waits for Raevyn to ready the trump, then holds out his hand for contact.

[LynMars]

Raevyn stares at the card of Neptune House, waiting for the image of the main hall to focus again, reaching out and taking Josh's hand to bring him with her, wondering if the glowing image will return when she does.

[Wired*Nun]

They arrive without incident. Camilla, the cook, sees Raevyn first and gives a little shriek, running over to fuss over her. The rest of the staff makes welcoming noises, obviously relieved to see her, and safe. "Miss Bayle left already, ma'am, back on her boat. She said to say thanks for an interesting day, drop by sometime."

Raevyn introduces Josh to the staff, then heads upstairs to her suite. She would do the packing herself normally, but since she isn't sure when or if the thing will show up again, she decides it's better to keep him nearby. Sending for a couple of bags, she packs up..." [What to pack?]

[LynMars]

Raevyn greets the staff warmly, glad everyone's all right. She worries briefly over what Josh, another family member, thinks of her concern for "normal" people, but she doesn't really care; she spends all of her time with these people.

The first things she pack up are her paints and related supplies, along with a few sheets of music, all going into one bag. She then moves onto clothing, going for a few practical blouses and pants and a couple of decent dresses (anything else she may need...well, Flora's always up for a shopping trip). A few accessories and toiletries, and she's finished.

"I think that should about do it for now; I can get just about anything else at the castle. Shall we go to your mother's home now, or did you want to get something to eat first?"

[Wired*Nun]

Josh's reaction to the staff is cordial, bowing and shaking hands, introducing himself as Josh, a friend. Lester is back safely in his bag for the nonce, but not for long.

"To mom's, I think. She might have some insight anyway. I think it's a hazard of being Oberon's grandson that we're always hungry. Must be the metabolism. However, I'd rather take it and eat on the way. If someone can pack us up something, I'll look around in the meantime. Oh, shall we be riding, or do you want to walk? I find horses are useful companions on a shadowwalk, or a hellride if necessary."

He proceeds to examine the place where the construct impacted the wards. "Quite a deft touch on these wards. Lots of power, too. Do you know who did them?" He continues his examination of the house, humming occasionally, little "ah-ha" and "hmm hmmm" noises coming from him now and then.

"Well, I found out a few interesting things. Nothing earth-shattering or conclusive. I think we need to talk to mom even more, now. The wards still look solid, no problems there."

[LynMars]

Raevyn asks Camilla to make them something along the way, then sends another servant to prepare Spindrift and another horse for Josh. "If we hellride, you'll have to lead; I've never really done that before, just a little bit of normal shadowshifting, usually with Dad around. I don't really go out much; this place is comfortable and has plenty of material for me to practice my arts with." She shrugs. "I think Father said Fiona was the one who put the wards up, which would explain why they held so well." She examines the veranda, wondering again if the vision of the two men had been real, if she really had left someone who needed help.

[Wired*Nun]

"Well, I hope we won't need to hellride. It's a lot easier to hellride than hellwalk, for the simple reason that an animal has good self-preservation and can pay attention while you do the shifting. Of course, two in a vehicle can do just as well, except they have to stick to shadows where some form of internal combustion functions."

The traveling rations are prepared, and packed onto the horses. The stablemaster has saddled up a steady fellow named Achilles, pronounced in the French manner, ah-jheel.

With mounts and well-provisioned, Josh leads his horse up close to Raevyn and holds out a trump for her to see. It shows a wood-hedged meadow, sunlight pouring down.

"I'd like to take a little jump away from Amber, first. It's easier to shadowwalk from there and may make us more difficult to track or follow." He holds out the trump for your touch, then breathes on it and taps it with a fingernail. The scene shifts subtly, and Josh observes for a moment before saying, "Looks okay. Ready?"

[LynMars]

Rae looks curiously at the Trump; she's never seen one work quite like that before. "Sure, I'm ready to go; but you'll have to show me that trick sometime, it was kinda neat." She examines the scene the Trump shows, searching for contact.

[Wired*Nun]

It comes immediately, and they lead the horses through. "It's a way of observing a place without actually opening the mind to the contact. Essentially it connects the location to the trump and displays it visually, rather than connecting to the viewer's mind. Works for people, too. It's quite useful, as it's hard to detect from the other end." They look around, seeing nothing untoward, and mount up. Josh begins shifting shadow.

Deciduous trees give way to sweeping vaults of cedar. Following a path down through a draw, they emerge in a forest of grass, where the insects grow big as dogs and eat mice. Lester squeals and hisses from his shoulder perch, staring with apparent anger at the carnivorous chitinous critters. Josh calms him, and soon the bugs fade to normal size, as the path leads under an archway of bamboo. Along the edge of the wood now, rice paddies with people in conical hats wading, planting and weeding. Plunging back in to the woods, up granite hillsides, a half-hour brings the pathway to the edge of an enormous canyon, made of granite. Lightning plays along the opposite rim, and there is an electricity in the air that shows the storm is very near. Here he pauses, looking down.

"I love this view. I try to shift by it every time I pass this way. It's Yosemite, without the people. We're very near to Corwin's Earth, right now." After about ten minutes, he turns the horse back down and just a minute brings the travelers to a crystal-clear mountain pool. A bit of snow lingers on the rocks, and it's quite cold now. He dismounts, helps Raevyn down, and lets the horses drink. He gathers some wood, and throws it together. A few moments and some muttered words, and a roaring fire is going. "Actually, that's one of the most useful spells I have, most times. Small fire lights a cigar; big fire discomfits enemies. Break out the chow, will you, I want to reconnoiter a bit." He sets Lester on the ground and says, "You go that way, I'll go the other. Report back in ten." Lester sketches a salute with his right forepaw and scampers off. Josh walks off the other direction.

[LynMars]

Raevyn nods as he explains his trick. 'I'll have to practice that one later,' she thinks to herself as they begin shifting through Shadow. When they come to the Shadow of Corwin's Earth, she's left breathless by the view, the realization that she really ought to go out into Shadow to see what she can find growing a bit in the back of her mind. She resolves to sometime come back to the Shadow to paint the ladscape and do some exploring.

As Josh sees about a fire she pulls out a heavier shirt to throw on for the time being. She smiles at the rat's salute and gets out the meal Camilla prepared as Josh walks off. In such a peaceful setting, she felt much more at ease, returning to the mood of the morning, before the oddity had occurred.

[Wired*Nun]

In about ten minutes, they both come back. Lester chitters for a moment, making sweeping gestures with his front paws, as if describing something. "Go gettem, buddy," says Josh. Lester scampers off. "He found some hedghogs he's going to show what for. He's rather like an Amberite in that way; loves a challenge." A minute later the snarling sounds of an animal fight are heard, then a triumphant squeal from Lester. "He comes from a tough shadow, and he's a tough little bas- um, booger. I took him through the Pattern with me. Wasn't sure what would happen. Seemed to come out all right. I was able to enhance his intelligence some after that, as well as...some other things."

"Well, let's eat." He then proceeds in silence to demolish a goodly portion of the provisions.

[LynMars]

Raevyn only nods, watching the direction the animal sounds are coming from. She quietly eats. "How much longer until we reach your mother's home?" She asks as she finishes her meal, looking around at the scene, contemplating bringing out a page and a pencil and doing some sketches if they stay much longer.

[Wired*Nun]

"Should be a few hours. I'll make sure we have daylight along the way." He finishes up and douses the fire, remounting Achilles.

Down a cliff face of breathtaking views, following into a marshy path under enormous leaves rain dripping down for a moment. Ten more paces and the marsh becomes a swamp, then a moving flood, drying to a river that the horses wade in without difficulty. Back onto dry land, and onto a dusty road across a scrubby plain, it becomes a verdant pasture filled with herd beasts of a bovine nature. They graze about the travelers in a vast sea, the land vibrating beneath the horses' hooves. Dust in the distance approaches; Josh shifts away before whatever comes. The ride continues, across increasingly rich pastureland, rolling hills, and houses with pastoral farmers. The decor becomes Tyrolian in nature, with carved wood, fieldstone, cows with bells.

An hour later, and they enter a small village where the townspeople turn out to greet Josh and Raevyn, calling in some unknown language. They seem happy to see both; children cluster around, grabbing onto Achilles' tack, Josh's stirrup. Josh turns uphill and left; a half mile up you see a small but elegant chateau or manor house. Riding into the courtyard, Josh smiles and greets the staff in the same, unknown tongue. "It's nice to be home."

Standing in the doorway is a motherly-looking woman, in pleasant but unassuming dress, a bit overweight, capable hands with short fingernails and a straw bonnet. She holds gloves in one hand, and has dirt and stains on her knees. Gardening, perhaps. Josh dismounts, helps Raevyn down, and hugs her warmly. "Mother, this is a friend and cousin by Uncle Gerard, Raevyn. Raevyn, Vela Burnstubble." Vela hugs Raevyn as well, dropping her hands to hold Raevyns in a "look at you" gesture.

"Well, little Raevyn, all grown up now. You know, Gerard let me look at you through one of those cards when you were a baby, back before the troubles. Such a solemn child, you were, but big! Ohhh, we thought you were going to grow up with Gerard's size, you were such a little pudge! Oh, now look, I've embarrassed her, I am sorry."

"Mo-ther, please," Josh pleads. "Mom think's she's everyone's mother, especially those whom she thinks needs one. Sorry."

Going inside, the house is decorated in a homey style - mother geese, cows, dogs, hunting and farming scenes. She bustles about in the kitchen, coming up with fresh-baked muffins and cold milk. "That'll have to hold you until supper. Estelle, can you tell the cook to get started on dinner please?" She leans in confidentially. "Got to make that man earn his keep, I end up cooking for fun so often myself he doesn't have enough to do! Except drink my beer, of course. Would you like some?"

"Mother!!"

Sitting in the comfortable living room, Rae almost feels like she has a mother again, and a brother. It's been just her father and her for so long...her throughts drift until she realizes Josh is describing what he knows of your encounter with the glowing thing. The discussion turns technical, some sort of sorcerous gibberish, of which you can parse out a few things you might understand..."traces of Pattern-like energy, but broken...lots of power pumped from out in shadow somewhere...created kind of a doorway, using inverse sgkjhlkf somethingerother fleeble glup, but without much finesse..." They turn to Rae together.

"Dearie, do you have any...enemies? Or anyone that might wnat to see you badly? A jilted lover, an obsessed stalker? Anything like that?"

[LynMars]

Raevyn blinks and thinks. Doesn't take long, since she can count former suitors on one hand, hasn't been to Amber very often, and hasn't really done much out in Shadow, generally just wandering and observing without trying to step on too many toes, always escorted by someone more experienced. "No one I can think of, ma'am. It was all rather out of nowhere. It was Vinta Bayle who brought it to my attention; she was...a friend of Uncle Caine's. It had a message that my brother--Father has no idea if that could be true or not--needed my help. I didn't recognize either man I saw in the vision, which could have been fake, but felt fairly real. I just don't know what it could have been about."

[Wired*Nun]

"Oh, call me Vela, or whatever else you like, just not ma'am. This Vinta Bayle...how well do you know her? Are you certain that she was not complicit in its appearance?"

She ponders a moment. "Can you make one of those cards for the man you saw? We could test and see who it might be. Josh tells me that it was probably a powerful Broken-Pattern shadow-sorcerer that created the construct. Do you know anyone like that? How about your father, could someone be wanting to get to him through you?"

[LynMars]

"I...never considered Vinta as complicit in this. I don't think she would do such a thing...one of the reasons Caine liked her, I thought, was because she wasn't a sneaky person." Raevyn looks genuinely disturbed by the thought of one of her few friends being proven to wish her or her father harm.

"I don't know much about this Broken Pattern, or any initiates of such a thing. I don't know about my father's enemies; my existence is no secret, but I'm not involved with court at all. I had considered trying a Trump of either man I saw, but I'm not sure how well it would work..." She reaches into the bag she kept with her, the one with her paint supplies. "A proper Trump, rather than a sketch, may work better.." she considers, breaking out a card and pencil and thinking on the psychic impression she had gotten, and what the larger man had looked like. She'll begin drawing preliminary lines as she concentrates.

[Wired*Nun]

"Perhaps you are involved precisely because you are not part of the royal court circles. Don't get too worked up, dear, I was only asking questions. These things can get quite convoluted."

The other two wait patiently for Raevyn to draw her Trump/sketch. If she wants to make a full Trump, which will take her a couple of hours, they will find her a nice quiet spot to work on it. In either case, both make what Raevyn assumes to be some magical preparations when she completes it, but before anyone tries to use it. Josh has found a short, heavy blade from somewhere.

[LynMars]

Raevyn spends a few hours making a Trump. The scene she draws has only the supposed brother in it, but as close to what she saw as possible, concentrating on what psychic impressions she may have gotten, wondering still if it was real enough to make this work. She's a little wary as she finishes and realizes all the protections placed by the other two, and the sword Josh now has...and realizes once again, she forgot her derringer. 'Well, we're far enough away that it probably wouldn't work here, anyway. And it's not as if I'm completely helpless, or alone.'

[Wired*Nun]

Vela and Josh lead Raevyn trump in hand, to a large room in the back of one wing of the house. It is a full two stories of high ceiling, and oddly, has no windows. It would be situated at the left rear of the mansion, she thinks.

It looks to be a room set up specifically for sorcery or magic. There are lots of unknown apparatus and racks of ingredients of all sorts, interspersed with the ubiquitous cows, pigs, cowbells, mother geese, etc. The floor is gray slate, and a hexagram is fresh-drawn onto it, inside a circle, about 15 feet across. "If things get out of hand, dearie, throw the card into the circle, or if we have to, we can always get in it. It will pass us, but will not pass most magical creatures or forces."

Josh stand slightly behind Raevyn and to her right, Vela, to her left. Josh does his trick to observe through the card; it grows colder and seems to be reaching for something or someone, before it is abruptly cut off. "Shall we push this contact, all together? It's a bit dangerous, but I am willing to do it," Joss says. Vela looks at Raevyn as well.

"Your trump, your problem, your call," they seem to be saying.

[LynMars]

Raevyn nods and focuses on the Trump, trying to initiate and keep contact.

[Wired*Nun]

Immediately Raevyn feels a powerful blocking response of some sort. She feels Josh's mental push, about the same as her own; Vela's, however, feels a much defter, if not more powerful, touch, a steadying and control that gives her the impression of age and maturity.

Pushing hard, the three bore a hole into the blocking. It doesn't seem to be the receiver of the call blocking, but rather, some kind of Trump ward.

With extreme abruptness, the block disappears (withdrawn?) and the three slam bodily, as it were, into full contact with a large man similar to the one on the card. He is standing on some kind of balcony, and his eyes blaze with an emotional reaction, felt through the trump contact - part fear, startlement, and fight response.

[Will have to wait for Joss's reaction to his very first Trump call]

[Wired*Nun]

[Move to Joss in the Keep]