Roland in the Keep Again

[Wired*Nun]

Roland turns away to find Aaron peering openmouthed from behind the sofa, where he apparently ducked when all the action started. He seems to be dumbfounded.

A moment later, Dunstan reappears with a slight pop and thump, back in the chair. He is wearing a high-collared shirt this time - to hide the bruises? - and there is that too-bright look to his eyes again.

"Well, that will teach me to trust honor among thieves. I'd have thought Siodmak would go with the power. After all, I have a surfeit of power, without enough competent agents. Amber, on the other hand, has a surfeit of competent agents, and frankly, not enough power to go around. He won't find much joy there..."

"So why have you stayed? I had pegged you as a stabilizing factor, you know, the one guy on the team who might be able to talk sense into the others whatever their wackiness. Or did you have some genuine concern for my predicament? Just bored, maybe?"

[Shutter]

"Grown ups do strange things some times Aaron. Sometimes very stupid things, sometimes very mean things. But, sometimes they also do things which surprise you with their kindness...It's ok now. They're gone, and there won't be any more fighting today." Gods man, might as well hang a sign on the boy's back saying Leverage: In case of emergency break boy to hurt Roland...when will I ever learn caution?

Roland nods to Dunstan when he enters. He takes a seat accross the room and watches Dunstan while he speaks.

"Perhaps its acomination of those factors. The survivor in me wanted to speak to you again to see if I can expect to be hunted down for witnessing that. The rescuer within me is moved by a tale of a boy and his sick mother. I also had a few more questions for you before I'm on my way." A rueful smile. "If I'd known we were about to get violent I would have kept asking questions....No, your story compelled me. I want to learn how much of that book is fact, and how much fiction. If Rinaldo has begun down the path of his father, and for some reason I need to be the one to help stop it, then I would take that task as well. I would like to know why you can't attend to this yourself."

[Wired*Nun]

Dunstan stands back up and begins pacing, as if he can't contain his energy. "Good questions, fair questions, and I will answer them as best I may, even the unasked ones. Let me take the last one first, the one I would have thought was obvious. Perhaps you are just asking for confirmation. With Mother incapacitated, Dalt an uneasy ally and his men both serving me here and making me nervous, and Rinaldo planning his next try, I can't leave. I have to be ever-vigilant. I sleep when I can, stay away twenty hours a day, make preparations as best I can. This is a place of power, but that's part of the problem with such things; they have to be defended, because there is always someone that wants what you have."

"And while putting those fellows in their places might be immensely satisfying, I will not let personal desires get in the way of what is important to me. Humbling them can wait. I let them go, you know. I let them think they broke through my Trump block. Believe me, they couldn't have, not here, where I can draw almost limitless power from the Fount. I wondered whether what they did was in the nature of a test, to see if I was a worthy employer, but in observing their speech and actions, I decided that no, at least in Siodmak's case, I had...misjudged his attitude. Better to let them go. It will help get what I need done, done, anyway."

" I suspect that their stories will make their way throughout the royal family and reach the ears of the King or whomever else is controlling things there. Maybe Siodmak and Joss will investigate things on their own, shake things up a bit, give Rinaldo something else to think about. Maybe they will kill him, and my problems diminish. Maybe he will kill them, and my problems diminish, as that would probably get Amber interested. Maybe something unforseen will happen, but that is also to the good, as I regard any change that does not harm my status quo here as a positive change. So you see, letting them go was a good backup plan, anyway. And no, I don't have anything against you at all."

[Shutter]

"Yes, much what I suspected. Still it's good to hear it in person. I would ask you why you want all this power, but I've never met anyone who can answer that question to their satisfaction, so I'll let it slide. It may be something you want to look into though, simply for your own peace of mind. From my perspective though it seems that a reasonable answer might well be Because if I lose this power, I will lose my life and my mother's with it. nevertheless, it is something to consider." Before Dunstan can reply to this Roland stands and picks up his satchel once more, continuing to talk while he does so.

"I can use the sketch of Raevyn that Siodmak made for me, but I'd just as soon have one of my own design...besides, drawing her would be a pleasant distraction right now. Within a couple of hours I'd like to saddle up Bill and Trump out of here. If you have anything else to provide me or tell me before I'm on my way, this would seem to be as good a time as any. Otherwise, we can shake hands, and let that be that."

[Wired*Nun]

"Would you give up your power over shadow, or the Trumps, just because they caused you pain? Something for you to consider, as well. You have my leave to do what you need to. Make one of me, sometime, and give me a call, if you think it wise. Good day." He then vanishes.

[Shutter]

"Good day Dunstan." Roland shoulders his satchel and makes sure he has everything he came with. After a moments thought he retrieves a bottle of wine and a corkscrew from the bar.

"Aaron, are there any good places around the keep to sit and think? Somewhere out of the way where I won't disturb the gaurds, but where I could have my horse nearby?"

If there is, Roland will ask Aaron to lead the way. En route he'll saddle up Bill, arrange the saddlebags and set Aaron on top of him. Might as well let the kid ride a bit before the horse leaves. From there they can proceed to the quiet spot where Roland will set to sketching a Trump for Raevyn, focsing on his brief memories of her, and calling upon his powers to empower the Trump.

[Wired*Nun]

After retrieving Bill, Aaron leads them to the feed barn. He shows Roland the way up the ladder to the second floor, and opens the hoist door and sits down, feet swinging twenty feet above the ground. "See, here is where I like to sit and watch what's going on, when I can...Ride Bill! Sure!" He scampers down and soon is atop Bill, guiding him around in placid circles. Living in the keep itself here wouldn't be so bad...as they say, it's all about who your boss is...

Soon the trump of Raevyn is finished.

[Shutter]

Just for the heck of it Roland makes a Trump sketch of Aaron too. You never know. When the Trumps are done Roland waits until Aaron has had either a)his fill of riding Bill, or b)at least an hour to ride and enjoy himself. I hope the guards and his family don't treat him poorly for befriending me...Seems like a good kid. When the time comes to go he puts Aaron back on the ground and climbs easily atop Bill.

"I'm going to go now Aaron. You take care of yourself. It's been good to meet you, I hope to come back some day." Leaning down to give him a handshake. Damn, meant to shake Dunstan's hand too...Magicians...

He holds his sketchbook in front of him, focusing on Raevyn, calling the details into focus, extending his mind...

[Wired*Nun]

Back to Amber...