Roland, Raevyn, Katarzyna, Arrotel Keep Battle

[Wired*Nun]

Starter

[Shutter]

"Sounds good Josh." Where the hell is he going to Trump us to?

Raevyn:As they leave, she turns back to Roland, speaking quietly. "I told you before, that my father wished to be informed of when we left for the Keep, so he could help, since he's convinced it was either Dunstan or Jasra, or maybe even Dalt, who killed my brother. I don't want to disobey him, Roland." Raevyn doesn't look too sure of herself.
"I have no more desire to disobey your father than you do Raevyn...Time presse on though, and Trump communication may not be safe right now. Did you make any explicit promises to your father?" I really don't want to make her rely on her deceptive abilities here...but I even less want Gerard to go charging in in the fullness of his grief.

[Pygysys]

Not long after Heldrik's departure, all 5 Orphans appear at the door to the study. Darius enters after knocking and speaks quietly to Kat, but can be overheard - It seems he and Ethan have been dismissed by Heldrik.

Kat turns to her cousins, "Interesting, Heldrik no longer requires the extra assistance. How do the rest of you feel about your guard going from three to five? I've assigned Quinn a different mission but will require your assistance in ensuring he gets to his destination. I want him to travel to Kashfa and keep a watch on proceedings there." She says it flat out and in monotone to show that this is not meant to be personal.

"However, we'll need to get him there. We can stop somewhere along the way to enable him to catch passage aboard a ship, or I can Trump the General and have Quinn travel through to him and then onwards from there. What say you all?"

[Wired*Nun]

"Someone raid the icebox, please, and set up some provisions?" Josh goes off to leave a note and to get the horses ready, since he gave the caretakers the day off.

[LynMars]

Raevyn recalls her conversation with Gerard, the night before they left Amber. "I...No, I never did. I said I'd let you know of his suggestions, and try to stay in touch...If you think we need to get moving, I'll leave that to your discretion. I'll, um, think of something. I can get the provisions taken care of, in the meantime."

She heads off to the kitchens, to get together enough food to get the group through a short trip; anything more, they can find along the way, if necessary. 'I can always tell Dad that circumstances didn't allow it; I'm worried about him being rash at the moment. And it's not as if Roland ordered me not to; just said we didn't have a lot of time...'

[Shutter]

Kat:"However, we'll need to get him there. We can stop somewhere along the way to enable him to catch passage aboard a ship, or I can Trump the General and have Quinn travel through to him and then onwards from there. What say you all?"
Roland pulls out one of his Trump decks and begins rifling through it. After a moment he produces the Trump for Castle Amber.

"We can send him through to Amber, from there it would be a simple thing to get to Kashfa I think...Seems the easiest way to me."

[Pygysys]

Kat smiles, "So it seems. Quinn." She turns and gestures towards the doorway, and a young man enters the room. "Quinn this is Prince Roland, Roland this is Quinn. Quinn, we're sending you back to Amber via Trump. From there you'll be able to book passage to Kashfa."

For his part, Quinn bows his head respectfully to Roland during the introductions and then looks to the Trump held in Roland's hand. "I'm ready Captain."

Kat then gestures to Roland to do that Trump thing he does so well... Quinn has his orders, so the last thing she says to Quinn is, "Luck in the Shadows, Quinn."

Once Quinn has been sent on his way, Kat looks to Roland, "Do you want an honor guard of five or three? If you only want the original three, including myself of course, then we still have two operatives to utilise. If you want to keep them in reserve, then I think Benedict may allow them to travel to Avalon and perhaps train there a while? We have been very secluded in our own Shadow till this point, I would like for them, if possible, to remain with us to get acclimatised to Shadow travelling along with myself for that matter."

[Shutter]

Roland smiles at Quinn, extending his hand to shake. "Good to meet you Quinn. Name's Roland, no Prince needed. I'm not about to be on a throne any time soon."

Roland focuses on the Trump, extending until it is fully real. He reaches a hand out to Quinn and encourages him, with body language, to step through. If it all works he covers and puts away the Trump, pondering Kat's last querry.

"I have no problem with your full compliment joining us for now at the least. The more familiar they are with the world, the better off we all are I think. Welcome aboard gentlemen." He says, bowing slightly to the assembled Orphans. It's a good thing I trust Kat...she has the manpower here to sieze us all I think. Excellent that it is on our side.

[Pygysys]

The Orphans as one return the bow to Roland, "Sir," they say as one. Kat grins, "Don't worry, they're not always like that, in unison." As if to confirm that, one of the men smirks and Roland will learn that one was Zane.

"Sir," says Darius, stepping forward, "The Captain has informed us of the role she and we are to play. We will serve to the best of our ability. Do you have orders for us now, Sir? We can assist in preparations to depart, we are skilled in such."

Kat looks to Roland and waits, he is the commanding officer after all.

[Shutter]

Roland seems a bit taken aback by all the "Sir"s being thrown around, and the sudden offer of help and obedience. Perhaps he was getting used to dealing with family?

"We need to prepare horses and provisions, hard rations for three lean days should suffice, in case of emergency..." Really though...what kind of emergency would you come accross that would be helped with only three days of rations? "Actualy, cancel that. We need food and water enough for today, and perhaps the next breakfast. We're travelling fairly light though, no wagon train, no pack animals. You're skilled men, you know the kind of things we might need on the trail, I'll trust to your judgement." Better to learn how good it is now, than in time of crisis...and I suspect they'll do just fine.

"I'm off to grab that painting and pack my things, I'll meet you all at the stables as soon as we're ready? Be quick, but do not rush the quality of your preparations." Roland takes off, walking briskly, clearly happy to be in motion once more.

After he gets the painting(which should still be sitting in the eisel) he'll double check the contents of his satchel, arm and armour himself in his quarters, and make for the stables. At the stables he'll brush and feed Bill. If the Kat and her men are singing a particularly repetetive song he might join in, more likely though he'll listen to them, enjoying the comraderie they exude.

[Pygysys]

Darius bows, "Yes Sir, at once Sir." He then turns and speaks to the men, who divide in half. Two go off to the kitchens and the other two head to the stables.

When they arrive in the kitchens, Darius and Zane introduce themselves to Raevyn if she is still there. They then proceed to assist with the packing of rations and Raevyn is quick to discover that they know what they're doing.

In the stables, Ethan and Marc do the same thing, assisting Josh with readying the horses.

Kat heads to her room and grabs her few belongings before heading down to the stables and preparing her own steed if he hasn't already been seen to. She, Ethan and Marc pass the time singing a song about travelling.

[LynMars]

Raevyn will greet the men warmly, then, when it becomes apparent they know more about this than she does, she'll leave them to it, returning to her room to collect her things; pack her few changes of clothes, double check her satchel of paint supplies, and head down to the stables when everything seems to be in order.

[Wired*Nun]

Josh welcomes the help in getting the horses ready, and brings them all into the courtyard to be packed with the food and gear. Leaving them in Orphan care, he walks over to the open courtyard gate and sets a Trump carefully on a ledge, just about at eye level.

When everyone is assembled in the courtyard and ready to go, he begins to concentrate on the Trump. A short time later, he makes motions with his hands, boxlike, stretching, and a glowing rectangle appears in the air before him. He expands the gate to a large size, so that mounted riders can pass through without difficulty. Through the gate can be seen snow-capped mountains reflected perfectly in a still alpine lake.

"Ready when you are, O fearless leader," he quips to Roland.

Presuming everyoe is ready and willing, the group rides through the gate. Josh is last, and grabs the Trump as he exits, the gate collapsing behind him.

Looking around, everyone can see for miles through pure sweet air, to the granite peaks. The small lake is set in a grassy meadow, and there is a large ash tree with a pair of ravens sitting in it nearby. One of the ravens flies off as the group arrives. "Go tell him, bird," Josh says quietly, seemingly unworried.

Beneath the tree, but not too close, is a fire ring, as if from camping, as well as a large pile of stacked firewood and what looks to be a steel box, anchored in cement, padlocked. "Bears," says Josh in response to queries. "They will find and eat anything, but they can't get though steel."

Josh takes a canteen and fills it carefully from a stream that runs near the tree, feeding the lake. "Best water anywhere, for my money. Snowmelt straight off the Sierras." He drinks deeply of the canteen, then refills and caps it.

[Shutter]

Roland watches Josh forming the Trump gate, trying to get a sense for how the hell he does that. "Impressive feat there Josh...Yet another thing I'll need to learn one of these days." When Josh gives the signal Bill is nudged forward and carries Roland through the gateway into the pristine mountain air.

When everyone is through Roland looks to Josh. "Shift from here then?"

[LynMars]

Raevyn pats Spindrift's shoulder, glad to have the familiar mare back. The other horse, Jemani, stays behind in Jorden's stable. 'Josh will slow the time down drastically before we leave, and he said I can go back there whenever I need to, so she'll be all right, I guess; feel kinda bad, taking her out of the Amber stables, though...'

As they go through the gate, Raevyn's reminded of all she still needs to learn when it comes to the powers of Trump. She takes in the scene they arrive in, trying to determine if it's one of the same she and Josh paused at before on their way to his mother's home in Shadow.

[Wired*Nun]

trying to determine if it's one of the same she and Josh paused at before on their way to his mother's home in Shadow.
It's not the same place, but the same shadow, for sure.

"Shift from here then?"
"In a bit."

"I have a confession to make." Seeing Orphans becoming alert and battle-ready, he smiles nervously and waves his empty palms. "Kidding, kidding, jeez! No, really, I do have someone to show you, that I've not shown many people. Even most of the elders don't know about this, I don't think. At least, it's not common knowledge. Will you keep my confidence? Especially since life and death can depend on it?"

[LynMars]

Raevyn is a little startled by the Orphans' sudden readiness. 'What could they think he'd do? Unless there were more men hiding in the trees, I don't think we're about to be overwhelmed--and Josh wouldn't attack us, anyway.'

She looks to the others briefly, but even before she's certain of what their answer is, she gives Josh a supportive smile, and a nod.

[Shutter]

Josh: "...Will you keep my confidence? Especially since life and death can depend on it?"
Roland looks curious, and replies with all solemnity. "Of course Josh." I wonder what this could be?...a child of his?...say...where did Lester get to?

[Pygysys]

Kat watches the Trump gate display and grins, "You have to admit, this is a lot quicker than sailing." She like everybody else passes through the gate to the other side.

"Seems peaceful here," she comments looking around, scanning the area. "So who does the box belong to then, Josh? This someone you have to show us? I can only state that you have my confidence unless it is to the detriment of any here or Amber."

She signals to the Orphans and though it appears all of them have relaxed somewhat, they all remain on alert and fan out around the cousins, protecting the flanks.

[Wired*Nun]

To Katarzyna, he says, "Umm...the box is mine, for bears, as I mentioned. So I can store my food when I come here and camp...but that has nothing to do with the other thing." He looks amused at the military preparations, but grows serious at her words.

"That's too broad a qualification. Almost anything anyone does could be to the detriment of Amber, including disclosing this information. Catch-22. I need you to give me your word that you will not discose my confidences unless there is some great and overriding reason. I'm willing to leave it up to your judgment what that might be, but I want to be clear. If you can't tell me that, we can go on, and it won't inhibit our mission in any substantive way."

[LynMars]

Raevyn looks at Kat, tilting her head. "I don't see why you'd think Josh meant Amber, or us, any intentional harm, or to impede us somehow. If he were going to, he's had plenty of opportunity before now. I trust his judgements, and you should, too, considering the amount of trust he's shown us thus far, allowing us to stay in his personal refuge, and wanting to divulge yet another secret, one that may help us, either now or later. If you don't want to be party to it, however, you and your men can remain behind, and Josh can just show Roland and me."

Her tone isn't harsh or accusatory at all; she's quiet, mostly matter-of-fact, and maybe slightly confused as to why this is an issue.

[Wired*Nun]

[Presuming Kat agrees]

Josh turns and takes Raevyn's wrist, gently, and draws her toward the ash tree. Placing her hand upon the tree, he says, "Teyawahnee, meet Raevyn, a good friend of mine. Raevyn, Teyawahnee, seed of Yggdrasil in this place. I planted him here, in one of my favorite of all locations."

Deep inside Raevyn's mind, a voice speaks. "Welcome, Raevyn, daughter of Gerard of Amber."

Josh does the same with Roland, and Katarzyna, and the Orphans together, letting them give their names. The Amberites receive a similar greeting, citing their lineage - Roland, son of Julian, and Katarzyna, daughter of Benedict. The Orphans' citation is "Bonded of Katarzyna."

Once they have touched the tree, Josh steps back and says, "Tey is a dear friend of mine, and a wise being. He brings me news carried by the ravens, from other of Ygg's seed. I bring him news as well, for it is a lonely thing to be a sentient tree, with only the birds for company. We have been discussing causing some aboriginals to settle here and worship and protect him, but he is undecided."

The voice sounds in all their minds. It seems to bypass any normal psychic defenses anyone attempts to raise, but seems in no way inimical. "Joshua is a good and dear friend, and I am happy to provide him with as much as I know that is not forbidden me to tell. What news of the wider world?"

Josh says, "Gentlemen," to the Orphans, "Would you mind watering the horses and let's get comfortable?" then gives Teyawahnee a very summarized version of their adventures since he got involved. "Tey will not reveal anything we do not wish him to, and the other trees, though they pass many tales, know the value of discretion. We may talk freely here."

[LynMars]

Raevyn's eyes get wide, and she looks up at the tree, studying it, smiling. "It's a pleasure and an honor to meet you, Teyawahnee." She looks around. "I can see how it would get lonely here, unable to move, with no one around..."

[Shutter]

Roland bows deeply to the tree, halfway through the motion wondering if it can see.

"Tis and honor Teyawahnee. I am glad you have such a good friend here in Josh, we too are luck to know him...Would you mind if I Sketch you?" Roland turns a questioning eye to Josh. If he approves Roland will pick a nice piece of ground to sit on and begin doing a Trump Sketch of the area in his sketchbook. He also does a Sketch of just Teyawahnee, though he has no idea if he can contact a tree that way, even a sentient tree. I wonder if he'd be interested in having a seed planted in Regan...Tibrone and the brothers would care for it well.

[Pygysys]

Kat agrees to what Josh and Raevyn say, "Tis fair enough. My men and I will keep your confidence Josh."

She is slightly taken aback by the whole introduction and idea of a sentinent tree. "An honour to meet you too, Teyawahnee." We're talking to a tree. This whole expedition just gets stranger by the day. "Strange I admit, but amazingly so."

Looking to the others, Kat shrugs, "I am really beginning to believe I led a very sheltered existance before coming to Amber." The Orphans tend to the horses as bid, one or two of them a little relieved they don't have to talk with the tree any more than necessary.

[LynMars]

Raevyn grins at Kat. "I know the feeling; I'm thinking our cousins here are much more widely travelled than myself, at least."

She sits down, not far from Roland, not wanting to disturb his concentration as he draws. When he's closer to being finished, she looks to the others. "So, how, exactly, are we approaching the Keep, and talking to Dunstan? We need to be cautious, and know what we're going to say, and how to say it."

[Pygysys]

"I believe I could number the realms I have visited on one hand," Kat then counts them off, "Avalon, Kashfa, Amber, Jorden and now here." She hands over the reins of her mount to Ethan before taking a seat near Raevyn.

"Why don't we just be simple about it? We approach from Shadow and explain we've come to investigate the possibility of Rinaldo's involvement with the whole escapade. That way we can tie in Dunstan's request with our investigation and give him the impression that we're killing two birds with one stone."

[Wired*Nun]

"I do want to approach from Shadow, over the mountains," Josh says. "It gives us the opportunity to observe before we get near, and I want to talk to one of Tey's brothers, who stands on that mountain." Josh sits down against the tree bole, giving its bark a pat above his head. The branches rustle a bit, without any wind. The lone raven above squawks and shuffles on his branch. Josh closes his eyes, seeming to rest for a while.

[Pygysys]

Kat looks to Roland, "Whatever you decide is best, you know I'll support that decision." Even if it isn't the best one made. I just want us united going in and preferably staying that way.

"It might also be best if you all develop the habit of addressing me as Captain. I intend to address you all formally from here on in as well. Sirs and Ma'am." Kat grins, "I trust it won't rub anyone the wrong way."

[Shutter]

Roland finds a good point to pause in his sketching and looks up for a moment. "Over the mountains sounds good. As for how we approach Dunstan, I'd thought a pretty direct approach would be best. Simply to ask him what he knows about the assasination. From there we can see where the conversation leads us. Given the nature of the bullet, he'll need to come up with something. Will he mislead us? Will he feign ignorance? All interesting things, and I don't see us improving the odds of learning anything by trying to be sneaky about it. I think he likely knows we're coming. There's even a good chance he's watching us right now, which is something we all need to keep in mind Captain." I do hope you've thought this through more deeply than you've explained to us Kat...If he knows about the assasination, he likely knows abou you...Relax man...it will be ok, she's a smart woman, she knows what she's doing. With a barely audible sigh Roland returns to his sketchbook.

[LynMars]

"I did speak to...the Captain about this, but I ended up talking to Asmundson yesterday before dinner. I asked him about Dunstan, and the Keep. He claimed to have never heard of Dunstan, but the Keep of the Four Worlds he knows of is the home of Nightmare and the Primal Maze. Now whether it's the same Keep or just another story--Asmundson's Shadows, including the one Landon found Gray in, seem to all be somehow related to stories--is something we couldn't tell. But with all the odd Powers of the Keep, and Fount within it...It's very possible, I think, that the tales from Shadow are somehow related, even if they are just reflections of what's going on there."

Raevyn looks over the mountains. "Weren't there tornadoes or something guarding the land route, though? Will they be a problem for us going in?"

[Shutter]

Roland mumbles up from his drawing, "Yeah, tornadoes...Dunstan'll let us through I think." He continues to work at his Skethes.

[Wired*Nun]

After sketches and other preparations, Josh opens his eyes.

"Teyawahnee says that all is quiet near the Keep. He also says that Benedict is well, as is Julian, but he has no news of Gerard."

He stands up, brushes off, and says to the Orphans, "Mount up, boys!"

Off into shadow go the questing Amberites, through high mountains, past breathtaking canyons. Wheeling eagles fly, vees of geese honk, grizzlies roar...the wind whips over them as they pass, clouds scudding through the heavens. The journey becomes several hours of the most beautiful mountain scenery they have ever seen, finally debouching upon a mountainside overlooking the Keep.

The view is excellent, and the Keep seems at peace. Tiny figures move slowly on its wall, and it seems a small caravan is parked in front of the Keep.

Josh walks up to a lonely ash tree nearby, and places his hand upon the bole.
Several ravens observe the group as they approach.

[Shutter]

Good country...I like Josh's taste. Someone who takes the time to make friends with a tree will always have my respect...I'll be more careful from now on what I use for archery practise I think.

"Well led Josh...Impressive sight isn't it?" Roland asks his cousins and the Orphans quietly, allowing them time to soak in the grandeur of four shadows converging on one point. Home of the Maze...Home of the Nightmare...Too little is known about this place.

Looking around he catches sight of the ravens in the tree. More ravens...probably coincidence. There's also more dirt but you're not suspicious of that are you?...true...but no one shapeshifts in to dirt. At least, not to my knowledge. Roland nods at the ravens. Might as well say hello.

[LynMars]

Josh: "Teyawahnee says that all is quiet near the Keep. He also says that Benedict is well, as is Julian, but he has no news of Gerard."
Raevyn nods. "Last I knew, he was to be maneuvering with the fleet. I doubt there are many trees on the open sea. I'm sure he's fine, but thanks to you both for checking for us."

Raevyn enjoys the ride through Shadow, recalling the last time she rode with Josh, appreciating his tastes. As they come to the range overlooking the Keep, she frowns, remembering the last time she'd been there.

'Joss, inadvertantly choking me; Siodmak being..his creepy self, I guess; meeting Roland...Dunstan...Was this all a ploy of his? Or was he right about Rinaldo? But...Rinaldo was near me, if Josh is right, and he didn't...I don't think...Too many unknowns. What will it be like this time?'

Raevyn points to the caravan at the gate. "I wonder who that is; supply train perhaps?"

[Wired*Nun]

"They have regular caravans come in to sell food and goods to them. Of course, they also trade among the four shadows, from what I've heard. Probably get rich just off that, power aside." He goes to his horse and pulls out a pair of binoculars. Looking down, he says, "Yeah...camels. In from the desert."

"Now's the moment of truth, ladies and gentlemen. We marching on in?"

[Shutter]

Josh:"Now's the moment of truth, ladies and gentlemen. We marching on in?"
Roland pulls his sketchbook back out, flipping through it to the Sketch of Dunstan. He focuses on it for a few moments, reimbuing it with power.

"Unless anyone strenuously objects I'm going to give Dunstan a call and have him shut down the tornadoes for us. Gives him a chance to show a willingness to be helpful, keeps us from getting blown out to sea, and lets us get the lay of the land on the way in. How does that sound?" He looks around at Raevyn, Kat and Josh, waiting for input. Good...now they all know precisely how tactless a person you are...brilliant.

[LynMars]

"Announcing ourselves seems like a good idea, actually; it keeps everything 'up front', and maybe makes him more receptive to what we have to say. He was wanting Amber's help, and he may still be looking for it--unless he's the one responsible for what happened, in some manner."

[Pygysys]

Roland finds a good point to pause in his sketching and looks up for a moment. "Over the mountains sounds good. As for how we approach Dunstan, I'd thought a pretty direct approach would be best. Simply to ask him what he knows about the assasination. From there we can see where the conversation leads us. Given the nature of the bullet, he'll need to come up with something. Will he mislead us? Will he feign ignorance? All interesting things, and I don't see us improving the odds of learning anything by trying to be sneaky about it. I think he likely knows we're coming. There's even a good chance he's watching us right now, which is something we all need to keep in mind Captain."
Kat's response is simple, "He can't be watching everything, Sir and as I've said before, there's only one real reason I'm doing this." I want to see how protected I really was from prying eyes.

When the call is given to mount up, Kat does so and rides along quietly lost in thought for most of the ride. Every now and then she and the Orphans converse, their topic of conversation mainly the landscape around them.

Upon reaching sight of the Keep, Kat pulls up slightly and just looks towards the final destination. "Hard to believe it took so long to get here." She grins at Roland, "No objections here, Sir."

[Shutter]

With two voices of support Roland clears his mind and focuses on the Sketch, extending for the contact with Dunstan.

[Pygysys]

Kat nudges her steed over towards Raevyn, her words spoken in hushed tones. "I know you're worried about your father and his reaction, but we'll do our best to keep you safe from harm." It's not much to offer but even Gerard in this time of grief and anger should be able to understand that some things aren't possible. Raevyn's a smart woman and our group is capable enough to keep us all safe from harm. If we were walking into a death trap, then it's not the Keep or who resides within we should be worried about, but those who sent us here to begin with.

[LynMars]

Raevyn smiles at Kat, and nods. "Thanks. He might be upset, but I think, if nothing goes too badly and we learn some things, I can handle it."

She watches Roland, trying not to worry.

[Pygysys]

"I know you can." Kat inclines her head to Raevyn and then nudges Bordase away towards the Orphans where she waits to see what develops.

[Wired*Nun]

Josh's eyes cross, then he says, "Ready." He takes a position near Roland. His hands are relaxed, but held in front of him.

The Trump contact comes easily, but is blacked out for a moment. A few seconds pass and Dunstan is visible, standing in a room of the Keep, the ocean visible out the French doors onto the balcony behind.

Dunstan looks wearier than before, his eyes more sunken and a little wild. "Roland," he says in a neutral tone. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" The undertone of bitterness in the last doesn't seem to be aimed at him, but is there nonetheless.

[Shutter]

Dunstan:"To what do I owe the pleasure."
"Hello again Dunstan." Roland is still sitting atop Bill, both hands holding the Sketchbook, both in clear view. "I've come from Amber...There's been trouble, and we were sent to find out what you can tell us about it. It might not be in keeping with family tradition, but I thought we'd ask permission to ride in, rather than sneak in, or storm the place. I have my own theories, but I think recent events likely tie in to the question you set me on...No resolution there yet, but we'd like to discuss that as well...So, what say you? Can we come in, can we talk?" Poor kid doesn't look so good, must be hard defending such a place, keeping constant vigilance.

[Wired*Nun]

Dunstan licks his lips, looks over Roland's shoulder. Who is 'we?' If Joss or Siodmak are with you, I'll be happy to have them as permanent guests."

[Shutter]

Roland nudges Bill, convincing him to turn around in a circle. Roland names people as they come into view. When he is done Bill once again faces in such a way that no one can be seen behind Roland.

"Josh, Raevyn, whom you've met. Captain Katarzyna, Darius, Ethan, Marc, Zane. As you can see we're very near the Keep." Damned this is a lot of armed people to be bringing on a peaceful mission. "We don't all need to come in if that would make you more comfortable. Is anything amiss Dunstan? You seem tired, and worried." The last is given with a note of genuine concern.

[Wired*Nun]

Dunstan runs his fingers through his hair, and puts on a smile. "Always something happening around here. Your bodyguards can bunk with the mercs. Come on through, and I'll join you shortly." Roland's viewpoint shifts, as if it is being moved for him, rapidly through the Keep, to come to rest in the courtyard. There it stays, open, as if he is holding a place trump to that location.

[Shutter]

"Thank you Dunstan. We're on our way."

Not exactly what we'd planned, but it will do. Impressive powers this fount gives...bodyguards...his word, not mine...possibly meaningless, possibly important.

"Captain, you and the guards will bunk with the mercenaries at the Keep." To the others, not addressing Kat now. "Dunstan has opened a gate for us, we might as well ride in. I think if you take my hand for a moment that will gain you access and you can ride through." Roland shifts the Sketchbook around to be held with one hand extending his left for Darius, on the theory that the guards should lead the way in this little act of theirs.

[Pygysys]

Kat nods to Roland, "Very well Sir." She then turns to the Orphans, "Let's look lively and stay alert." She flicks her wrist and gestures for Darius to lead the way and the other Orphans to follow. "I'll depart prior to yourself Sir, just in case."

She sits atop Bordase, watching as the 4 Orphans lead the way through the Trump and then she waits for Josh and Raevyn to go through. Looks like she isn't going to go through until Roland's the last.

[Wired*Nun]

[Presuming everyone does go through]

The Trump transfer is accomplished without incident, and the group find themselves in the Keep courtyard.

Roland feels a tugging on his stirrup, and the high-pitched voice attached to Aaron's body says, "Oh sir, welcome back! I am most happy to see you, sir. I was instructed to conduct your soldiers to their billets, after we see to the horses. The Master will see you straightaway in the ballroom. That's the one where you were, before...before...excuse me, the one where you met the Master that first time."

Aaron points to a door, where a house-servant is waiting, looking unwilling to dirty his shoes by leaving the flagstones. He then leads Katarzyna and the four Orphans to the stables, where they leave the horses, taking the personal gear with them. The next stop is the mercenary barracks area. A sergeant gives Katarzyna two keys, and Aaron shows them to two rooms. One is set up for eight, though only the four Orphans occupy it. The other one is an officer room nearby, rustic but comfortable, with a closet, desk, bed, chest of drawers, and its own bathroom.

Raevyn, Roland and Josh are led through the wide corridors of the Keep, up the remembered stairs and into the ballroom. The familiar tapestry hangs on the right wall. A servant is setting up drinks at the dry bar nearby. The houseman says, "The Master said for you to wait here for a few minutes while he freshens up. Will that be all, Lady, Gentlemen?"

[Pygysys]

At the merc barracks, she accepts the keys, thanking the Sergeant before she and the Orphans set their gear down. She asks Aaron before he and the 'nobles' depart, "Are we free to exercise and mingle with your soldiers? Or would your Lord prefer us to remain separated?"

When the other group eventually departs, she and the Orphans bow to their Lords and Lady, with Kat adding a verbal farewell of sorts, "Sirs, Ma'am, I will await your instruction."

[Wired*Nun]

Aaron responds gravely, "Milady, I do not know. Such things are far beyond my learning, me being but ten years old. Perhaps they would know? I was not told you were to be restricted."

[LynMars]

Raevyn takes a deep breath and goes through the Trump Gate when bidden, hoping they're not walking into a trap.

As they arive and Aaron greets them, she looks around, having not seen much of the Keep on her first visit. She follows Roland and Josh quietly to the ballroom, giving the tapestry a glance as they pass it. When the servant asks if there's anything else, she shakes her head and smiles, then finds a nearby seat and waits.

[Pygysys]

Aaron responds gravely, "Milady, I do not know. Such things are far beyond my learning, me being but ten years old. Perhaps they would know? I was not told you were to be restricted."
Kat smiles warmly at the boy, "That's fine, lad. I'll await further instruction from his Lordship Roland after he's spoken with your own Lordship. Thank you." She watches as the other group then leaves before turning to her men, "We'll stay confined to barracks until we hear from our Lord. No need for us to cause any friction."

She glances at Zane, "So do you still carry that deck of cards around? Who's up for a game or two?"

[Shutter]

"Good to see you again Aaron. How have things been?" Rolnd reaches down and offers a handshake to the little ten year old. Either something happened after I left, or he's still troubled by the attack he witnessed...poor kid.

Before departing he gives a nod to Katarzyna, "We will be in touch shortly Captain."

In the ballroom Roland thanks the servant for a glass of wine and takes up a position standing near the tapestry. "Initial impressions?" He asks his companions with a raised eyebrow.

[LynMars]

From her seat, Raevyn speaks very quietly. "Something may have happened, since we left here; I don't know the time differential. It's only been a few days for us, but who knows how long he's been trying to hold himself and everything else together here? Dalt's men are still around, I noticed."

'Has it really been so short a time, from our view? The "invitations" and our initial meeting here, returning to Amber and introductions to the family; the next day was our picnic, and the ceremony, and...all that came after that. The next day was painting, and research for us; Landon's team left for Shadow--a couple more days for them, I think. Then we left Amber, to spend about two days in Jorden--more like one and a half for Roland and Kat, with their side trip to Avalon--and I think it's still the same day in Amber, or was when we left Jorden, now that we've spent time walking in Shadow, and are here. Seems like so much longer sometimes...So much has happened...'

"I've been reviewing all we've learned and heard, recalling things people have said, or even just theorized. I wonder how much Dunstan will be willing to tell, and what his price will be. I doubt it's changed much."

[Wired*Nun]

"Can't tell right now," says Josh. He walks over to the tapestry and looks behind it, running his finger over the encased Trumps there.

As he drops the fabric, Dunstan walks in, his clothing immaculate, looking much fresher than he did a few minutes ago. "Greetings, cousins." Walking over to Josh, he holds out his hand. "Dunstan. Of House Hendrake. And you are?"

"Joshua, of Amber." Dunstan looks at Josh a moment, then snorts. Josh looks slightly uncomfotable. "I am the son of Caine, if you must know. My father -"

"Yes, slew Brand the traitor, la de da de dah. Old news. Mother was a fool for him, but that still made her a fool. And my brother is carrying on his work, though none believe me."

Dunstan turns back to Roland and Raevyn. "Last time you couldn't wait to leave. Now you come back to my laaaiiir again...why?" The last is said with obvious self-mockery.

[Wired*Nun]

Kat and the Orphans will spend about an hour playing cards in their little section of the Keep. If they have not heard from Roland during that time, which Kat does not expect to, they will pack up the game and head outside to get a better look of the Keep and those who occupy it.

If the soldiers/guards are willing to engage in conversation, Kat and the Orphans spend their time talking with the others. They will let it slide that they're rather bored as their journey to the Keep was without incident, so if the soldiers of the Keep have any sport or games which the Orphans can join in, they'd appreciate it. They're trying to separate themselves from the snooty 'Nobles' they've escorted here, trying to avoid the 'treatment' Roland received so to speak.
Zane pulls out his cards with zest, and sets up a poker game with a pile of copper chips he carries, parceling them out to everyone.

"Someone else deal," says Darius. Zane laughs, and hands the deck to Marc. The card game proceeds in friendly fashion for an hour or two. Zane still wins most of the chips by the end.

[Shutter]

Roland watches the exchange between Dunstan and Josh with a growing sense of distaste. Right...that's why we didn't like him...he's an ass. He tries to give Josh an encourging look. Stay calm...don't let him rattle you.

"Important things have happened in the, three, four days since we left Dunstan. Some of them we know about, some of them we do not. I was hoping you could tell us about the things of which we are still ignorant...Information exchange, a lot to ask, I know. I'll start, in good faith and I guess we'll see where that gets us?" He takes a deep breath, letting a touch of weariness show. Come on Dunstan, prove my small trust in you to be worthy.

Eyes fixed on Dunstan, watching for any hint of reaction Roland begins.

"Joss is dead, assasinated in Amber...Evidence points towards this place, but no effort was made to hide it, so scepticsism won over bloodlust. Thankfully..." A pause to order his thoughts. I hope it doesn't pain Raevyn to relive these details. "The bullet that killed him seems to have been enchanted here, others could have been killed, but Joss was chosen. We don't know why. We need answers Dunstan, we need to know more about this place. It looks like you're being set-up as the culprit here, but I don't buy it, and I need you to help me make your case to Amber." I hope that's enough to get him started talking for now.

[LynMars]

"Hello, Dunstan," Raevyn says, recalling some of the reasons they had been so anxious to leave before. She notes that this time, he introduces himself as being from a House of Chaos. 'I wonder how much he knows, and is just waiting to see what we tell him...' She glances over to Roland, listening. She does offer Josh a supportive look, though, after Dunstan's little rant.

[Pygysys]

Zane pulls out his cards with zest, and sets up a poker game with a pile of copper chips he carries, parceling them out to everyone.

"Someone else deal," says Darius. Zane laughs, and hands the deck to Marc. The card game proceeds in friendly fashion for an hour or two. Zane still wins most of the chips by the end.
"Remind me why we let him play again?" Kat says half-jokingly to the others as Zane counts his winnings.

"Cause I'm the only one who carries a deck of cards," comes the reply from Zane.

[Wired*Nun]

"They've already judged and convicted me," he says with that trace of bitterness. "Joss is dead, you say? Well, I can't say I am terribly sorry, considering our last meeting. But I could have killed him here, had I wished. I didn't want to take such a drastic step. I expected such displays." He sighs wearily, suddenly looking ten years older. "I just didn't expect everyone to want to go. Stupid Amberites, we don't know when to quit." There is a trace of humor in that statement.

He pulls up a chair and sits down on it, reverse-style, and waves at the others to do so if they like.

"A bullet - as from a firearm? Enchanted here? Nothing mystical happens here without my knowledge, and little else besides. I can guarantee you no one has enchanted any bullets here. At least, not since I have taken charge..."

He looks thoughtful. "Enchantments can be permanent, you know. Why do you think it was done here? Or recently?"

We need answers Dunstan, we need to know more about this place.
A wolfish grin breaks out on his face. "A lot of people would like to take this place apart, some to see what makes it tick, some to just get rid of it. I'm not inclined to full disclosure, so you'll have to be more specific about what you want to know, and I'll see if I can - or want to - tell you. One thing I need to know first - you as much as said it was a setup to point at me, but Amber doesn't necessarily believe it? So are you the envoy? Are you empowered to do anything, or is personal?"

[LynMars]

"My father believes it, Dunstan," Raevyn speaks up, with a quick, apologetic glance at Roland. "Though the others aren't quite as willing to jump the gun. I think you knew Joss was my brother, or at least suspected and hinted enough to make us believe it. Dad would very much like to tear this place apart and bury you in the rubble, but we don't want that. You wanted Random's attention, you got it, though maybe not how you intended; we're here to see if you can help us shed some light on the matter, maybe even help you with what you want, since it may be tied in somehow as well."

[Wired*Nun]

Dunstan stands up angrily, pointing at Raevyn. "I didn't kill him! That wasn't the kind of attention I wanted. If Mother were awake, she'd know what to do. I'm doing the goddamn best I can on my own, and I have a lot of shit to deal with right now. Why would I want to get Gerard pissed off at me? He was the only one who seemed to listen, to possibly believe when I tried to tell them before."

He pauses, browns wrinkling, bringing the pointed finger to the tip of his nose. "Now there's a thought...if someone wanted to ensure Gerard wouldn't be sympathetic..."

[LynMars]

Raevyn remains outwardly calm and very quietly replies. "I didn't say you did, Dunstan; I said Dad, in his giref and anger, is very willing to believe it...Perhaps so he wouldn't want to listen or help you. Getting angry isn't going to help; telling us what you can to help, so that we can help you in return, however, will maybe accomplish something. I know full well this isn't what you wanted, so I'm not quite willing to believe it yet, and am here to discuss, not fight."

In her lap, Rae's hands clench. 'Please don't yell at me...That will only set one or the both of them off, and while Roland may hold back, knowing a little of what you're capable of, Josh seems to have a temper under that calm demeanor, and he was drug into this mess for a favor, to protect me...'

[Shutter]

When Dunstan begins to get heated Rolan looks quickly to Josh, shooting him a look to stay calm and see where things go.

Dunstan:"Now there's a thought...if someone wanted to ensure Gerard wouldn't be sympathetic..."

There we go! That's what we came for...productive thought...Well done Raevyn, well done.

"That, is the kind of information we were talking about Dunstan. Gerard was most sympathetic to your concerns? We had no knowledge of this...You say that no one has enchanted a bullet here recently. How do you know? How would one enchant a bullet, when could it have last occured without your knowledge? I am skeptical about anyone who claims certainty that they have not been decieved. I'll make allowances for you and your abilities, but we need a bit more than blind faith here."

Deep breath, don't go off on him...

"Come on Dunstan, we're here in good faith, hold on to a few if you must but it's time for us to see a few more cards on the table."

[Wired*Nun]

Josh's jaw clenches, but he says nothing, as Dunstan's outburst doesn't really seemed to be aimed at Raevyn personally.

"Gerard, of them all, anyway. I contacted Random first, and when he didn't listen, as many others as I could. It doesn't surprise me that they didn't tell you enough."

You say that no one has enchanted a bullet here recently. How do you know? How would one enchant a bullet, when could it have last occured without your knowledge?
"I'm telling you that anything mystical that happens here, I can feel it. Mother engineered me" - this he almost spits out - "to control and defend this place. Ask Merlin how good a sorceress she was...is...in any case, take my word for this. Enchantments take time. Hours, days, more, depending on what it is. What was the enchantment on this bullet? Magic poison? Guidance, a certain hit? And what makes you think it was done here? You call this an information exchange, but I need context for your questions. Tell me everything you know about this killing, and I will tell you what I think about how it could be done - and maybe who." He makes a hand motion, and says, "Cold buffet, Ballroom," then sits back down, awaiting an answer.

[LynMars]

"The examination of the bullet revealed some form of 'Trump teflon', congruent with the energies employed here. It was able to get through defenses maintained by members of the family" 'Unless one of them just let it happen...No, I don't think any of them would...Not like that...' Raevyn pauses. "I think it has to do with the Maze you mentioned before. There are hints that this place has something to do with that power, and up until now it has been unknown enough."

[Wired*Nun]

"I don't know what 'teflon' might be, but there are lots of people that can employ Trump of many sorts. There is only one Fount of Power, as far as I know, but Maze...there are several Mazes. So you are saying there was indication that Maze power was used for 'Trump teflon?'"

[LynMars]

"Maybe not, but it keeps coming up. Maze and its patron have been mentioned in conjunction with the Keep--though that may have been Shadow rumor and hearsay. You indicated some sort of knowledge of it when you spoke to Siodmak, who also claimed that his Trumps worked here to a degree, when ours didn't.

"So it might be narrowing down our options as to who may be getting the finger pointed at you. Any ideas?"

[Wired*Nun]

He cocks his head a Raevyn and smiles. "Are you playing with me? Jerking me around? You already know I have been denied both Pattern and Logrus, for I have never been more than a short way from this damned Keep. You know I sent Maze rovers to invite you, and Roland, and Siodmak and Joss to meet with me. Okay, and I wanted to see how you would all react. So you should all pretty much have figured out that there is a Maze here. It's an alternative to the Pattern or Logrus, for some of us who for whatever reason can't use either of the others. I still don't see why any of this implicates me. What exactly made anyone think this bullet was enchanted here? I still don't hear anyone answering that question." He looks from one to the other of the three there.

At this point, a discreet knock heralds a servant coming in with a laden tray, which he places on the table, leaving quickly. The minute of silence allows time to think about the answers to his question.

[LynMars]

Raevyn sighs. "Of course I'm not playing. Using Maze energy is different from actually knowing if there's one here. I can use Pattern out in the middle of Shadow, and someone may notice; doesn't mean there's a Pattern there. For all I know, you may have been elsewhere before becoming warden for this place in your mother's enforced absence.

"So far, the only real connections to the bullet are the residual energies left behind on the thing, matching those here--I'm not a sorceror, I can't tell you all the details leading to that conclusion--and the fact that it occured right after we had all come from here, especially with the...altercation between you and Joss and Siodmak. It seemed too coincidental to pass up, so we were sent to talk to you. It may be that our problems are connected, or it may not."

[Wired*Nun]

He sits down again, looking pensive. "You're right, of course...you wouldn't know how Maze functions, how it differs from applications of Pattern. And Mother's not absent, she's right upstairs. She's just sick. In a coma. And I don't know why. Don't bother pitying me, just ask yourself how you might feel in my place."

"Energies...Maze energies? Or Fount energies? I have a pretty good knowledge of all those people who can use Maze, and all those who might have had access to the Fount in the past. Wouldn't happen to be able to get this bullet, would you?"

"And hey, I thought gunpower didn't work in Amber?"

[Wired*Nun]

"Remind me why we let him play again?" Kat says half-jokingly to the others as Zane counts his winnings.

"Cause I'm the only one who carries a deck of cards," comes the reply from Zane.
"Good thing it's not real money, but I tell you one thing, someone else has the next dirty detail!" Zane says.

Darius replies, "Well, since the Captain can't do details, and I'm the squad leader, that leaves you two...I guess you'll have to flip for it. Or duel, or something. Anyone want to go out to the pells and see how good these mercs are?" He raises an eyebrow for Katarzyna's approval.

[LynMars]

"Energies...Maze energies? Or Fount energies? I have a pretty good knowledge of all those people who can use Maze, and all those who might have had access to the Fount in the past. Wouldn't happen to be able to get this bullet, would you?"

"And hey, I thought gunpower didn't work in Amber?"
Raevyn glances at Roland. 'I really hope I'm not overstepping here...'

She looks at Dunstan, quizzical. "You provided a book that had the history of Patternfall and its events; you ought to know how it's possible to fire a gun in Amber, if you read it. The ability to obtain such, however, is very limited.

"So far, you've been asking a lot of questions. Necessary, to understand the context, I suppose. Let's see...The Keep was named in specific, so I think they meant Fount. Don't know about getting the bullet; it's being looked at in Amber, and it would require us Trumping, which you'd have to allow.

"So I think we're down to who has had access to the Fount in the past, that would want to wreck any possibility of a relationship between you and Amber, or even just want Joss dead and the finger pointed somewhere else, since you seemed to know so much about us. There's one obvious answer, of course, so let's skip that one for now."

[Pygysys]

"Good thing it's not real money, but I tell you one thing, someone else has the next dirty detail!" Zane says.

Darius replies, "Well, since the Captain can't do details, and I'm the squad leader, that leaves you two...I guess you'll have to flip for it. Or duel, or something. Anyone want to go out to the pells and see how good these mercs are?" He raises an eyebrow for Katarzyna's approval.
Kat grins and gets to her feet, "It beats sitting around here losing to Zane all day." She heads over to the door, "I have no idea of the skill level of those here, only that their leader is a man by the name of Dalt. I'd expect him to have a good measure of skill. His Lordship Roland wasn't made to feel all that welcome on his first visit here, so let's see if that measure of invitation applies to common soldiers as well. If so, then I'm certain we'll enjoy any small victories we can manage and maybe win some coin for Zane's purse whilst we're about it."

[Shutter]

"Teflon is a shadow technology...Fiona referenced it as a descriptive term, the essense being that Trump energies, apparently from this place, coated the bullet, and allowed it to slip past magical defenses."

Raevyn glances at Roland. 'I really hope I'm not overstepping here...'

Roland nods reasuringly when Raevyn glances his way. Good, Josh is controlling himself, and Raevyn is handling Dunstan well...he's coming around...did she leave out any pertinent facts?...no...I don't think so...

"After the assassination Siodmak was gone, off into Shadow with another cousin, Elress. Attempts to contact them have failed so far."

Anything else?...Wait a minute...

"Dunstan, how long has the Maze been here? And how long has your mother been ill?" If it was here ten years ago, why have Julie, or whoever she was, fool around with broken pattern?...And how long since Asmundson last saw his god I wonder...

[Wired*Nun]

"So I think we're down to who has had access to the Fount in the past, that would want to wreck any possibility of a relationship between you and Amber, or even just want Joss dead and the finger pointed somewhere else, since you seemed to know so much about us. There's one obvious answer, of course, so let's skip that one for now.""Why are we skipping the obvious answer? It's the one I tried to tell Random about more than a year ago. It's Rinaldo. He has that special ammunition. He had acess to the Fount. In fact, I think he had the basic treatment, despite what he may have told Merlin. He's a sorcerer, and he has done a lot of exploration in shadow to find useful resources. He tried to take control of Ghostwheel. He wants power."

"He and Mother had a falling-out and something he did put Mother into this coma. He wants the Keep for himself. He doesn't want me obtaining any allies. He probably suspected Joss was a link between me and Amber. From an observer's perspective, it might have seemed as if Joss and I had a relationship, that Joss was my way to Gerard and the rest of the family. The same would be true for Raevyn. It's lucky she wasn't targeted as well."

"I don't have any good ideas about anyone else. No one else had access to the Fount since Mother's illness, just me. I completed the process myself, after she was..."


"Dunstan, how long has the Maze been here? And how long has your mother been ill?" If it was here ten years ago, why have Julia, or whoever she was, fool around with broken pattern?...And how long since Asmundson last saw his god I wonder...
"The Maze...well, it's been since before Mother was stricken...about three years, I'd say. Subjective time. Why?

[LynMars]

'Obsessed, or right...Except Rinaldo, if that was him, had an opportunity to harm me. It wasn't needed though...The desired effect was all ready acheived, and without any real way to prove his involvement, if it exists. But I wouldn't discount some of the others who had access to the Fount at around the same time Rinaldo did...I have to finish reading that book, so I know a few more details rather than generalities...'

"So you're certain there could be no one else who had access and opportunity? What about Dalt? He's been here a long time, hasn't he? Or Merlin, if he was so familiar with this place? Didn't Jasra have an apprentice at one time, somone connected to Merlin?"

'Think outside the box you've put yourself in, Dunstan, I know you can...But it seems we shall have to deal with Rinaldo in some fashion, after all. And now he admits to the full treatment...No wonder he's so erratic, if the theories about it are true--and Jasra wouldn't know he did that, and maybe not like it much.'

"This Maze is very recent, and may be involved in what happened as well; it certainly involves Siodmak a great deal. What can you tell us about it, and Nightmare? We know they seem to have elements from both poles, and that there's one here at the Keep--but that's about it. Why and how did it get here, and what is it exactly?"

[Shutter]

"Rinaldo is being looked at by the Elders. He's not our concern. We are here to scour for other answers, other explanations...How about a brief chronology Dunstan? When did the Maze appear here, where is the primal maze, when did Jasra fall ill, where is Dalt in all this, is this the primal maze etc etc. Please, don't limit yourself to these specific questions...Rinaldo is being examined, by people more capable than I. If they find him a madman, he will be dealt with as such. If you are confident that he is a madman, then relax, your concern is now being addressed...If you were making it all up about Rinaldo being a madman, well, then I'd expect you to be nervous and stingy with information...This is your opportunity to further our faith in you Dunstan..." Use it.

[Wired*Nun]

"So you're certain there could be no one else who had access and opportunity? What about Dalt? He's been here a long time, hasn't he? Or Merlin, if he was so familiar with this place? Didn't Jasra have an apprentice at one time, somone connected to Merlin?""Dalt...maybe before. He hasn't had the full treatment, but the basic...sure, possible. The basic treatment just improves physical and mental strength. It takes some instruction and experience, to be able to manipulate the energy from the Fount. It's easier the more treatment you get. But Dalt's no sorcerer or conjurer, and it takes at least one of those, perhaps both, to make a bullet like you say. Rinaldo is both. Merlin is also both, for sure, but if he had something to do with this, then the problem is bigger than all of us. Mother never had an apprentice, other than Rinaldo and myself, I suppose you would say. She taught us both our sorcery other skills. Brand taught Rinaldo a lot more."

"Merlin's brother Jurt and that shadow-sorceress Julia l'Mask maybe who you are thinking of, and both are out there somewhere. I've never met them. Mother didn't want them near the Fount, didn't want them tapping into its energy, even with ol' Sharru Garrul to guard the thing."


"This Maze is very recent, and may be involved in what happened as well; it certainly involves Siodmak a great deal. What can you tell us about it, and Nightmare? We know they seem to have elements from both poles, and that there's one here at the Keep--but that's about it. Why and how did it get here, and what is it exactly?"
"My, I seem to be in the disclosure business today. Let's just say that it's Mother's answer to being frozen out of the Logrus and Pattern both - Pattern by lack of Blood, Logrus by that Hendrake bitch and all her get, and I'm including Merlin in that. None of them want her to be able to access Chaos powers. Hell, I wouldn't want her to if I were them, either. But mom is never satisfied. She's always scheming for the next leg up, and she's patient and willing to compromise, which makes her very dangerous to certain people."


When did the Maze appear here, where is the primal maze, when did Jasra fall ill, where is Dalt in all this, is this the primal maze etc etc. Please, don't limit yourself to these specific questions...If you were making it all up about Rinaldo being a madman, well, then I'd expect you to be nervous and stingy with information...This is your opportunity to further our faith in you Dunstan...
Dunstan claps sarcastically at Roland's words. "Oh, brah-vo Roland, well spoken! But you need to take some salesmanship lessons from my brother, he's much better at it. There are lots of other reasons to be nervous, one of which might be that people try to kill me regularly. Stingy with information? Information is power, and frankly, I'm flooding the room with it. Why don't you give me some value for money, tell me your guesses and I'll fill in the gaps as I see fit, and answer a couple of my questions. I hope you'll find it in your best interest to do so."

"Who is Siodmak working for and what is he up to? How do you figure in this, Joshua? You've always been a neutral before, why join this game all of a sudden, and work for Random? Ahhh....maybe it's personal? Maybe you'd still like to see Rinaldo burn for his crimes? I'd say that puts us on the same side for the time being."

Josh speaks clearly and distinctly, icy-calm. "Just because I've stayed out of family politics until now doesn't mean I won't play them if I have to...cousin. My personal feelings don't much matter right now. I'm here to help my friends. If it turns out we have the same goals, that's fine, but it takes a lot more than shared enemies to make me into an ally. If you want allies, be an ally. If you want a friend, be a friend. Roland's right. No matter how naive it sounds to you, we've put our lives in your hands. That's a gesture of good faith. You have enemies, I'm sure. We're not them."

[Shutter]

Enough of this bullshit...

"Flooding the room with information Dunstan? How do you figure? You've told us next to nothing. We told you of a murder which implicated you, we told you that the Maze has come to the attention of Amber, we told you Siodmak is missing, along with Elress. What have you told us? Nothing. The Maze is useful for your mother?...We knew this. Dalt is no sorcerer? We knew this. You've stonewalled and complained."

"It's time to talk Dunstan."

[GM insert for timing] Dunstan appears genuinely surprised by Roland's words, and perhaps for the first time, genuinely hurt and angry, proven by his even tone. "So. You come to me and want information. I answer your questions, as much as I safely can. I watch Raevyn making mental connections, I see Josh here matching up my secrets with his secrets, and then you call me a liar and a cheat. Well, you can go fuck yourself, Roland. You sound too much like my father for my taste. I'm not going to give you the satisfaction of proving to yourself and the others here that Dunstan is at fault, or Dunstan is the bad guy here, or the immature one. You are free to go, all of you, until you can value the help I am willing to give you. I've been on my own here for this long." He seems to be shaking with emotion.

[LynMars]

Raevyn sighs, letting a little exasperation out. 'I thought I was bad at subtlety...Roland's a good guy, but a diplomat he is not...'

She clears her throat. "Dunstan, please, I know you're under a great deal of strain here. We've had our own fair share of stress lately. The brother you introduced me to just a few days ago has been murdered, and we've been tasked to follow up on leads as to why, and how. Please, can we try again later, perhaps, when everyone's calmed down a little?"

She turns to look at Roland. "Dunstan's told us quite a bit, really, and I believe the common practice is to exchange on a point for point basis. It would be our turn to supply something new, if he'll allow and we haven't completely ruined our welcome in his home." 'Remember Jorden...I really hate this...Now Roland's probably going to be mad at me, too, especially if I screw it all up...First time Dunstan's mentioned his father; I wonder who exactly that is...What's gotten into me today?'

[Shutter]

Roland looks startled by Dunstan's outburst. Genuinely surprised and saddened. When he speaks, he does so slowly and quietly.

"I never called you a liar and a cheat Dunstan. I implied that you are being more tightlipped than I would have liked....Tit for tat. Like Raevyn said...If she's satisfied that it's our turn to share, then so be it...I value your help Dunstan, and I'd like to offer mine to you. Hell if I know how this meeting got so shitty so fast...I suspect that I'm a pretty poor player at this business...Too damned bad it's the family business." He takes his eyes off Dunstan and looks to Raevyn.

"Raevyn, I'm done screwing this up for now. I'll sit here and listen if it's alright with you, and with you Dunstan. I don't think I have anything more to share...If you can think of anything, let me know, and I'll gladly share it. It may be the death of me, but I don't go in much for secrets." Falling silent Roland adopts a receptive listening posture, doing a decent job at falling away into the background...Except for the fact that he's a large man, and heavily armed.

People....I'm not used to these people yet, maybe I won't ever be...What else can I tell him? My theories? Tell him I think his mother might be the Nightmare? Shit, it's either ridiculous, stupid, insulting, or dangerously accurate...Josh has secrets...Raevyn is smart...I'm just deadly, not much use in being deadly when there's no one around who needs protection...

[LynMars]

When Raevyn realizes she's been deferred to, her eyes get a little wide as she meets Roland's eyes for a moment. She glances at Josh, then back to Dunstan, regaining control of her expression.

'Um...Not what I meant...Oh dear...'

[Wired*Nun]

"I never called you a liar and a cheat Dunstan.""You've told us next to nothing. You've stonewalled and complained." says Dunstan in a fair imitation of Roland. "That's pretty clear. Extend some trust, get insulted for it. Thanks, for reminding me not to take you at your word. You may go, Roland. The others can stay, if they like, or not."

Josh walks over to Roland, and, turned away from Dunstan and putting a hand on his arm, says earnestly, "I think you pushed him too hard. He was starting to talk...maybe you should go look Katarzyna up while Raevyn sweet-talks him. I'll stay here." He raises an eyebrow, looking for assent. "Come on, you knew he was going to be a pain; let's try to salvage things."

[LynMars]

Raevyn waits, studying her hands, trying to loose a fleck of blue she finds under her left thumb nail.

[Shutter]

Roland winces a bit at the impression but says nothing. When Dunstan is done he nods and rises to leave. On the way out he puts a hand on Raevyn's shoulder and gives it a squeeze. Good luck cousin.

Once clear of the room Roland's purposeful stride slows to a stroll. Hands clasped behind his back while he wanders aimlessly and thinks. They're all right of course....he was talking, he probably would have made it to useful information eventually. I'm just so damned sick of having to get work so hard to get people to let me help them.

Calm down boy, you were doing the same thing to him. "Tell us everything," now how could you really expect him to respond to that? You wouldn't even honor his request to hear your theories?

He was still being a little shit.

Of course he was, but that's not the point now is it boy?... And so it goes, wandering the Keep, up and down stairs, lost in thought.

[Wired*Nun]

When Roland leaves, Dunstan puts his head down, heels of his hands in his eyes. "Argh. Gonna have a stroke before you're twenty if you keep doing that, boy." He seems to be talking to himself.

After a moment he looks up and smiles. The wet around his eyes is just from the wiping, for sure. "Sorry about that," he says softly to Raevyn. "I've been pushed around all my life, I guess I only know how to push back. That's what my Amber side taught me anyway. Mother always cautioned me about the indiscriminate use of power - equal and opposite reactions, and all that." He looks at her, then Josh, for a moment more.

"I need her back. I don't want her back. She's a pain in the ass, and that's not just an adolescent reaction. Ask anyone she's ever dealt with. But she's the only person I can trust. If there's anything you could do, I'd be very much in your debt."

Josh sits down beside Raevyn, and puts his hand on top of hers. Go ahead, you can do this, he seems to be saying.

[Wired*Nun]

Kat grins and gets to her feet, "It beats sitting around here losing to Zane all day." She heads over to the door, "I have no idea of the skill level of those here, only that their leader is a man by the name of Dalt. I'd expect him to have a good measure of skill. His Lordship Roland wasn't made to feel all that welcome on his first visit here, so let's see if that measure of invitation applies to common soldiers as well. If so, then I'm certain we'll enjoy any small victories we can manage and maybe win some coin for Zane's purse whilst we're about it."
Outside the door, Kat observes the mecs in green and gold coming and going, doing the mundane tasks of military life - laundry, gambling, talking about sex, weapons care, gambling, fixing armor, gambling, talking about sex. There do not seem to be any women in the merc forces.

[Wired*Nun]

And so it goes, wandering the Keep, up and down stairs, lost in thought.
A while later, Roland realizes that he truly has become lost, in fact as well as in thought. He looks up to find himself staring at an enormous mirror at the end of a corridor, reflecting him floor to ceiling. Reflecting is right. The corridor stretches into the distance behind the reflection-Roland.

Something stirs at the end of the corridor. Roland whirls and looks, but sees nothing. Back in the mirror...nothing there either. He was sure it was something...low on the floor.

[Shutter]

Hand on Smoke Roland turns back to the mirror briefly, examining it to see if it is a real mirror, grumbling to himself about sorcerers. If it looks to be reflecting himself and his surroundings then he begins to walk away from it, down the corridor to where he thought he saw something a moment before.

Probably just a cat you're stalking there toughguy... With a wry smile he forces himself to take his hand off of Smoke.

"Kitty?" He calls out quietly in the high voice reserved for small furry creatures and very young children.

Good good...that's the way to earn the respect of the guards...Do you even have any idea where you are?...No...not so much...

[Wired*Nun]

The mirror seems to be just a mirror, at least, for now.

As Roland calls out, he sees a whiskered nose pop out of a corner and a gray paw, index finger upraised in front of the muzzle. "Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Lester says in a high-pitched hiss. He waves Roland over, then points at the wall. Okay....

He emphatically points at the wall again, then turns and dives behind a heavy decorative table. A moment later, Roland hears a *click,* and a tiny separation appears in the panel in front of him.

[LynMars]

Raevyn watches Roland leave, then looks at Josh, giving him a thankful smile. She turns back at Dunstan. "I think I can understand that," she replies quietly. 'How do we get back on track here? I don't want to push him too hard, too soon.'

"I'm not sure how to help yet, but I'm sure we can think of something, eventually. We will need to know more, but we have time. Anything in particular you want to know, that I may be able to impart? If not, I may be able to volunteer something, relevant to our current situations." She shrugs. "I think 'the ball's in your court', is the proper phrase."

[Shutter]

I'd wondered where he'd gotten off to...How did he get here?... Roland follows Lester's pointing, eyes widening when the crack appears. He casts a questioning gaze in Lester's general direction. The hell?...

He steps forward and runs his fingers along the separation, applying light pressure to see if it is inclined to open further. He tosses a glance to either side, looking for any other observers.

Not for the first or last time he quietly mutters something rude about sorcerers.

[Wired*Nun]

Dunstan replies, "I think we were at, 'who is Siodmak working for and what is he up to?' I would have included Joss, too, before. Something is going on with that. Number two question. What do you know about a man named Asmundson, and his relationship to Siodmak?"

[Wired*Nun]

Roland's pressure opens the panel easily. It swings to reveal a narrow staircase, leading upwards and downwards. Lester is already inside, cleaning his face like a raccoon. He looks up at Roland, pleased with himself.

[Shutter]

Looking around in his pockets for a treat for Lester Roland leans down to whisper at his little coconspirator. "Nice job Lester...I'm impressed...So, what do you think my man? Up or down...Down? That's what I was thinking too." Roland ducks out of the secret door for a moment to try and locate a torch, then returns to the passageway. He checks the panel to see if it can be opened from the inside, if it can, he closes it, if not, he leaves it cracked open.

Torch in his left hand, right hand on Smoke, he begins to descend the staircase. Godsforbid I stay out of trouble for a few hours...

[Wired*Nun]

Lester snatches the proffered goodie - good thing it just happened to be there - and munches contentedly, eyes fixed on Roland's activities. There are no torches, but a wizard globe pops easily out of its holder and can be carried in the hand.

The panel can easily be opened from the inside, so he closes it.

Globe in his left hand, right hand on Smoke, he descends the staircase to the ground floor. A peephole shows what appears to be the main corridor running through the Keep, and the inside of a panel like the one above. The narrow stair continues down, presumably toward the basement. Lester is close behind.

[LynMars]

Dunstan replies, "I think we were at, 'who is Siodmak working for and what is he up to?' I would have included Joss, too, before. Something is going on with that. Number two question. What do you know about a man named Asmundson, and his relationship to Siodmak?"
"Siodmak disappeared sometime between dinner and breakfast before the presentation ceremony for Roland and Joss, along with another cousin, Elress. Whether or not she went along willingly was up in the air last I knew, but she was in his company most of that evening." Raevyn's face clearly indicates what she thinks of Elress' tastes. "Who he may be working for, other than himself, we have no idea, or if he and Elress are now working together, or if one is the other's captive. Another group managed to contact someone in Siodmak's home Shadow who works for him, when they investigated the Maze there, but if Siodmak has a master, we haven't seen any really substantive hints of it."

Raevyn debates for a moment if she wants to give anything away about Asmundson yet, wondering about Dunstan's implications about Joss. "All right...Asmundson Challenger is a Shadow sorceror. He's an initiate of the Maze, and knows something about Trump. He was the one who gave Siodmak basic instructions, put him in an idyllic Shadow, and acted as a mentor, trying to change him. It obviously didn't work, and now he believes Siodmak to be too dangerous and evil."

"He also speaks of a patron of the Maze, a feminine creature he calls Nightmare, described as part horse and part serpent, who initiated and instructed him. Know anything about her? Also, the way you spoke of Jasra and the Maze earlier...It seemed like you were implying that she had created it, as an answer to the other Powers? Or is it a higher initiation of the Broken Pattern? I really don't know much about that Power, so excuse me if I'm off there."

[Shutter]

After a quick peek to see if there's anything of interest going on in the main corridor Roland continues down the stair. Good to know...need to be careful with what I say here...I wonder how far down this goes?...artifacts of power in the basement....important invalids in towers...Is that how they run things around here I wonder?

[Pygysys]

Outside the door, Kat observes the mecs in green and gold coming and going, doing the mundane tasks of military life - laundry, gambling, talking about sex, weapons care, gambling, fixing armor, gambling, talking about sex. There do not seem to be any women in the merc forces.
Hmmm... Kat ponders that interesting fact, No women, that's not good then again I might be able to use that to my advantage though I'm loathe to resort to feminine wiles. Where's Aunt Florimel at a time like this? How are these men likely to react to a female soldier? Will they treat me as an equal or less? I suppose only one way to find out.

She turns to the Orphans, "Come on lads, I've had enough of sitting around cooped up." Her movements take her towards one of the groups of gambling mercs, "Got room for one more?" This should do it. Now I'll see how they'll react one way or another and go from there.

[Wired*Nun]

"Got room for one more?"

The group looks curiously at the Sentinels, and an elaborately-relaxed man, cards on his chest, looks up at Katarzyna. He is probably a senior segeant, by his insignia. "Only one? What about your...retinue?" His tone is not hostile, but in the manner of military men everywhere, he is testing for her reaction.

[Wired*Nun]

After a quick peek to see if there's anything of interest going on in the main corridor Roland continues down the stair.
Lester scurries past Roland on the way down, and disappears into the darkness.

The first basement level reveals another peephole, and a view of a corridor not much different than the one above, only of dressed stone rather than marble and wood. One more level down, and Lester is waiting at the bottom. The stairs do not continue further. This also has a peephole, but no light comes from it, and Roland quickly puts the globe under his tunic to hide the light. Still, nothing can be seen through the hole.

Lester makes opening motions at Roland, evidently wanting to get through the door.

[Pygysys]

The group looks curiously at the Sentinels, and an elaborately-relaxed man, cards on his chest, looks up at Katarzyna. He is probably a senior segeant, by his insignia. "Only one? What about your...retinue?" His tone is not hostile, but in the manner of military men everywhere, he is testing for her reaction.
Kat grins and shrugs her shoulders, "If you've got room for more than one, I don't mind losing coin to my own men. Besides, they've got their own tongues, they can ask for themselves, they don't need me to speak for them."

Sure enough, Zane seems only to eager to join the fun, "I'll play if you've got room for another."

The other three aren't interested and shake their heads. "Lost enough for one day already," states Darius, "Not in any hurry to lose more."

[Wired*Nun]

The top sergeant stands up and, with an elaborate bow, seats Katarzyna and Zane across from each other. It doesn't seem that the men have recognized her for an officer, though they do seem to realize she is in charge of her squad.

The man introduces himself as "Seph." The others don't bother, looking to Seph for cues. He explains the game, a variation on Tonk, it seems, and begins the play. Kat knows Zane will be able to spot any cheating - since he is an accomplished rounder and mechanic himself. Of course, he wouldn't cheat his fellows, but outsiders are fair game. Kat hopes he keeps it subtle.

The other three join two of the mercs at cleaning, sharpening and polishing their blades, watching from a little ways away.

"So...you in from where? What outfit?" Seph says casually around a toothpick.

[Pygysys]

Kat gets comfortable and her introduction is as simple as Seph's, "Kat." She doesn't introduce Zane, letting him speak for himself.

After glancing at her hand, Kat looks sideways at Seph and mutters, "Amber but Avalon originally. Heard of either? We're on a babysitting expedition you might say." She looks back down at her hand, weighing up her options and waiting on the response of the other players.

No point beating the bush about Amber, they know Roland. Let's just hope none of them have come from Avalon or at least not so recently. I wonder if Zane's already picked up the tells of these guys or not, probably not that quickly.

[Shutter]

Lester makes opening motions at Roland, evidently wanting to get through the door.

In the darkness Roland feels his way through opening the door. Easy does it...silent...don't want to knock anything over by accident.

[Wired*Nun]

Amber but Avalon originally. Heard of either? We're on a babysitting expedition you might say.
"Hmmm. Yeah, heard of 'em. Almost got to Amber, once, only got to see Arden Forest. I'm a plainsman myself...those trees were...big. Raise two and skip. Helped take this place a few years ago, more or less, been here ever since. You look like cav, eh?"

[Wired*Nun]

As soon as the door opens, Roland feels Lester slip past his feet. Probably has excellent night vision. Roland slips past the panel into complete darkness. Opening his tunic just a bit, the sliver of light shows a corridor running perpendicular to the ones above - that is, toward and away from the center of the keep, rather than along its square-shaped circumference. It is of rough stone, but is relatively clean - looks to have been swept at least monthly. The roof is also of stone, well-laid.

Lester looks questioningly at Roland, and points first one way, then the other, then raises his paws, palms up, in an inquiring gesture.

[Shutter]

With little hesitation, just working on instinct, Roland turns towards the center of the keep. "Lead on little buddy..." He mutters, probably too quietly for Lester to hear. So much to explore....so little time...if this whole place wasn't warded I'd Sketch it...

[Wired*Nun]

"All right...Asmundson Challenger is a Shadow sorceror. He's an initiate of the Maze, and knows something about Trump. He was the one who gave Siodmak basic instructions, put him in an idyllic Shadow, and acted as a mentor, trying to change him. It obviously didn't work, and now he believes Siodmak to be too dangerous and evil." "Curiouser and curiouser. How can he be the initiate of the Maze when...when there is only one Maze? And I've never...known of this man, or Siodmak either, before recently. I - well, mother did really - found Siodmak by carefully searching for reflections in groups of shadows, and backtracking and deducing which was the real one, then consulting other sources about his background...also that name, Mother knew the name, and other things I am sure, though she only told me he was an Amberite. I wonder, is this Asmundson only a shadow sorcerer? Might he have Amber or Chaos blood?"


"He also speaks of a patron of the Maze, a feminine creature he calls Nightmare, described as part horse and part serpent, who initiated and instructed him. Know anything about her? Also, the way you spoke of Jasra and the Maze earlier...It seemed like you were implying that she had created it, as an answer to the other Powers? Or is it a higher initiation of the Broken Pattern? I really don't know much about that Power, so excuse me if I'm off there."
"I believe the Nightmare, as you call it, to be a manifestation of the Maze, though it could be some power that attached itself to It, or it could actually be something or someone mother didn't tell me about before was made ill. It has manifested to me only once, and briefly, after I completed the Maze for the first time. It said just these words: 'Things fall apart: The center does not hold. You must hold things together.' I still don't know what that means, beyond the obvious. Maybe nothing."

"And yes, now you come to the heart of it. I hope you realize that this is something that could bring a full-scale assault by those of Amber OR Chaos. Roland spoke of trust, well, this is a demonstration."

"Mother - Jasra - is no more human than that thing that inhabits the body that consorts with my brother. She is of the race commonly called 'Demons' by those of Chaos or Order. Though an older race than the Chaos Lords, they are weaker, as they are forever denied the Logrus. What no one in Chaos thought, or believe possible, was that one of their servants would aspire to be greater than her masters. Denied Logrus and Pattern both, she has created an alternative - a third pole, if you will. She intended to be the power broker between the two, forever working both sides against the middle. I was the first and, until recently I believed, the only initiate."

[Wired*Nun]

With little hesitation, just working on instinct, Roland turns towards the center of the keep. "Lead on little buddy..." A long way down the passage - at least eighty yards - Roland finds a widening into a room, and door. There is absolutely nothing in the room except a dead wizard globe on the ceiling. Lester is waiting there. He shows Roland the shrug again - the door is sealed tight, and iron-bound. There is no keyhole, and only a fixed bar handle. It opens away from Roland, and the hinges are not visible. It is about ten feet high, and five wide. It seems to be locked.

[LynMars]

Raevyn frowns, leaning back in her chair, thinking on what Dunstan just told her. "But...According to the others, there are at least two other Mazes; one in Asmundson's Shadow, one in Siodmak's. Maybe it's started throwing reflections, like the Pattern.

"I've met Asmundson, but he didn't strike me as being a member of the family...Unless I missed something. I suppose it could be possible, though, that he's more than he lets on.

"Could creating the Maze have put your mother in her current state? Seems like a terribly risky venture, on any and all angles. Nightmare, though, seems to consult with some of her initiates quite often, almost forming a religion, but you only saw her once?"

Raevyn looks over at Dunstan again, quizzical. "Okay, I gotta ask, forgive me if I'm being too bold here...I think I know how you're connected to Hendrake through Jasra, but...How are you related to Amber? Are you...Full brother to Rinaldo?" She hurries to add, "If you want something else for that, I'll understand. If you don't want to share it all, I can understand that, too, but it has been a subject of speculation, you know."

[Pygysys]

"Hmmm. Yeah, heard of 'em. Almost got to Amber, once, only got to see Arden Forest. I'm a plainsman myself...those trees were...big. Raise two and skip. Helped take this place a few years ago, more or less, been here ever since. You look like cav, eh?"
Kat nods, "That they are and I served some time with the cav, enough to know I prefer the back of a horse to walking."

She folds her hand and looks around the area, "That must have been some deal, taking this place from what I saw of it coming in. How do you do it? I'd go crazy if I was holed up here for too long. Even if you get caravans through here, that's not enough life to keep me entertained."

Zane keeps his hand.

Either Zane's got something worth playing or he's drawing out the round to test the waters. I wonder if these mercs get leave from this Keep once in a while.

[Shutter]

A long way down the passage - at least eighty yards - Roland finds a widening into a room, and door. Theres is absolutely nothing in the room except a dead wizard globe on the ceiling. Lester is waiting there. He shows Roland the shrug again - the door is sealed tight, and iron-bound. There is no keyhole, and only a fixed bar handle. It opens away from Roland, and the hinges are not visible. It is about ten feet high, and five wide. It seems to be locked.

Well this certainly seems ominous...

Roland quickly and thoroughly scours the room, starting with the door. He checks it for air flow, leans in and listens, tests its strength, anything that comes to mind. The rest of the room he searches for any markings he may have missed. If he is satisfied that nothing more can be learned without assaulting the door physicaly then he backs away, heading down to see where the opposite end of the passage leads.

[Wired*Nun]

Raevyn frowns, leaning back in her chair, thinking on what Dunstan just told her. "But...According to the others, there are at least two other Mazes; one in Asmudson's Shadow, one in Siodmak's. Maybe it's started throwing reflections, like the Pattern. Dunstan looks thunderstruck. "Now that was worth the price of admission. It must be! That's the only way these people obtained access to Maze power! Could that relate to my mother's incapacity? Damn, we need to talk to her, awake."


"Could creating the Maze have put your mother in her current state? Seems like a terribly risky venture, on any and all angles. Nightmare, though, seems to consult with some of her intiates quite often, almost forming a religion, but you only saw her once?"

"The Maze was created a couple of years before she took ill...and she never said anything about the Nightmare. Frankly, I thought I had some kind of hallucination or vision. That means it, she, whatever, has taken on some kind of its own agenda..."

How are you related to Amber? Are you...Full brother to Rinaldo?" "Heh. Sorry, I think you're in information debt already. Let's just say you will owe me some. Rinaldo is Jasra's son by Brand. I'm not. Let Random figure that one out on his own, if he wants. Maybe if you bring me something important, I'll answer that one. But being as you - collectively, since you came together - owe me, as I figure it, I got one for Joshua."

"Why does mother hate you so much?"

Josh's hand tightens painfully on Raevyn's for an instant, then relaxes. "I'd have thought that was obvious...my father killed her husband."

Dunstan shrugs. "That doesn't figure. She never spoke about Caine with as much venom as she did about you...and - "

Raevyn feels Josh twitch - something out of the corner of her eye, but not sure what. Dunstan's mouth snaps shut, and something passes between them.

"All right," Dunstan says. "I'll just keep that chit for later." He pauses for a moment. "I have to digest all this. Aaron! Let's say, dinner? That's in about five hours, right here. Until then, make yourselves at home. Aaron here will show you to quarters."

[LynMars]

'I sorta figured we wouldn't have enough he didn't know to satisfy him...well, it's a start, and we know more than we did...and there are enough ideas about who he may be the son of, anyway, though I am curious...'

Raevyn nods to Dunstan, looking between him and Joshua as the tense exchange goes on. "Thank you, Dunstan," she says, after he calls for Aaron. "We'll see you at dinner, then."

Raevyn gives Aaron a friendly smile, but is quiet as he leads them to the assigned quarters. She occasionally glances at Josh, wondering if he's okay. 'Later; not here, where Dunstan can eavesdrop when he pleases...'

"We should try to find Roland, and discuss all this, and what to do next," she finally says. "I honestly don't know how I made it through that...You don't think I screwed anything up, do you?" She asks Josh.

[Wired*Nun]

Roland quickly and thoroughly scours the room, starting with the door. He checks it for air flow, leans in and listens, tests its strength, anything that comes to mind. The rest of the room he searches for any markings he may have missed. If he is satisfied that nothing more can be learned without assaulting the door physicaly then he backs away, heading down to see where the opposite end of the passage leads.
The room is utterly bare. There are no sounds coming from the other side that Roland can discern. It seems to be pretty strong and thick - nothing he could break down without an axe, at least.

Heading down the other way, the corridor goes on for, he estimates, almost a mile. There is no telling what direction this is from the Keep, though he can deduce it probably isn't into the sea shadow as it's not deep enough underground. The corridor dead-ends in another door, virtually identical to the other one. Lester checks all the walls along the floor, and shrugs again.

[Wired*Nun]

"We should try to find Roland, and discuss all this, and what to do next," she finally says. "I honestly don;t know how I made it through that...You don't think I screwed anything up, do you?" She asks Josh.
"No, I think you did very well," says Josh as Aaron hands them the keys.

"Will there be anything else, sir, ma'am?" Josh smiles, the first genuine smile in a while, and says warmly, "No, thank you Aaron, we'll see you later."

After he departs, Raevyn realizes that they are in the common room of the same suite of four rooms she was at before. Josh sits down in an overstuffed leather chair - in fact, the very same one Dunstan popped in to last time - and says, "I think he's a tough kid in a tough spot. If he didn't have the power of life and death here, I'd almost feel sorry for him - but we have to be careful not to really push him too far. I was worried there for a minute with that exchange with Roland...I don't think Roland has ever been hurt enough to believe he's not untouchable."

[LynMars]

After he departs, Raevyn realizes that they are in the common room of the same suite of four rooms she was at before. Josh sits down in an overstuffed leather chair - in fact, the very same one Dunstan popped in to last time - and says, "I think he's a tough kid in a tough spot. If he didn't have the power of life and death here, I'd almost feel sorry for him - but we have to be careful not to really push him too far. I was worried there for a minute with that exchange with Roland...I don't think Roland has ever been hurt enough to believe he's not untouchable.""Maybe not..." Raevyn says, gaze drawn to the balcony briefly. She looks back to Josh. "This is where we were last time; the only part of the Keep I saw. Those doors lead to private rooms. Dunstan just popped in out of nowhere then, not long after I arrived through that Trump." She sits on the edge of a nearby chair. "I wonder where Roland went off to, and it has me a little concerned; he apparently wasn't too well received last time by some of the people here. I hope he hasn't gotten himself into some kind of trouble."

'I hope Kat's okay, too, but I dare not say anything about her out loud...Never know when he's listening...'

[Wired*Nun]

She folds her hand and looks around the area, "That must have been some deal, taking this place from what I saw of it coming in. How do you do it?
"Flew. Paragliders. Opened the gate. Had some sorcerous help fending off the tornados, then after that, it was pretty easy. These garrison pukes aren't real keen on dying just to keep the current ruler in power. that's one reason we're here, to stiffen them up a bit. That, and keep them honest."

"We get rotated in and out. All the women are elsewhere, this is a combat tour. It's not that bad. Four and hold. Lead to the trey..." the game goes on, coins acumulating slowly in front of Zane, until Seph makes a brilliant play an take back half of them. Zane looks at the grizzled vet with new respect.

"How about you? You're not wearing Amber colors."

[Wired*Nun]

"Well, ahh, he can take care of himself, unless he goes and insults Dunstan again." Josh goes to the glass doors and opens them, letting in the sea breeze. It suddenly smells like home, to Raevyn. He steps up to the railing, and squints into the distance.

He says something quietly, indistinct into the wind...

[LynMars]

Raevyn nods, going over to the bar to get something to drink. "I suppose so."

"Did you say something? I didn't quite catch it, if you did."

[Wired*Nun]

"I said, 'I love the sea.' I guess I take after Dad that way, not surprising. He made a passable sailor out of me. You ever want to just get lost in shadow, for a while? Put all this aside...I used to do that, just take out my yacht and go traveling...heh. I'm a homebody, even when I'm away."

[LynMars]

Raevyn gets two glasses of wine, carrying them out to the balcony. She offers one to Josh. "I can understand that; I've thought about going out to the Shadow I grew up in, visiting my mother's family, when things have settled down some. I find sailing relaxing; nothing but sky, sea, and your ship..." She grins. "I even like storms, though there were a few times I did get really scared. Pulled through them okay, though. I haven't been shipwrecked yet, anyway."

[Wired*Nun]

He takes it, sipping. "Dunstan has a good cellar. I'd love to visit your home, if...if you'd like to show me. Storms...well, as long as it's shadow, storms can be moderated to the 'exciting' level if that's what you like." He grins. "Never figured you for the adrenaline-rush type. You ever fly?"

[LynMars]

"I normally do like to 'play it safe', but occasionally..." she shrugs, sipping from her glass. "I've never really understood it myself; I guess I haven't met a storm yet that worries me, or that I can't at least do something about if it does get a bit rough. As for flying...No, actually, I never have. I think that would scare me. Maybe. it would depend on a lot of things, I think, like the method of flight, and who was with me."

"I think you'd like Cyrian; very peaceful place, and most people are friendly. My grandfather has quite a bit of holding; in the summer, we'd live on our family's island, while in the winter, we'd stay on the big island and go to all the social functions. Noble classes aren't so stuffy there; maybe because many of them still work somehow, often with the common folks."

[Wired*Nun]

"Sounds nice...Ilike Jorden, but sometimes I think it's too nice. Nothing ever happens there, which is the way I like it, but I do have to get out sometimes. Get out and fly, which is why I asked. That's another thing I like to do from time to time. I got the idea from Random's little adventure he had, and I went to flight school on Shadow earth...anyway, it's somtheing we could...maybe...do together sometime? Maybe fly to visit Cyrian?" That blush starts creeping up his neck again.

[LynMars]

"Cyrian has it's share of adventure, at times; Mom used to tell me about the pirate raids on the outer islands--that's how she met my dad. I think he was looking for some naval combat at the time."

When Josh mentions flying to Cyrian, her eyes get a little wide. "You mean like in a plane? That would be...scary, but fun too. We should do that sometime! They'd be so surprised; they have nothing like that there!" She tilts her head a little, a small frown. "But where could you land a plane on any of the islands...?"

[Pygysys]

"Flew. Paragliders. Opened the gate. Had some sorcerous help fending off the tornados, then after that, it was pretty easy. These garrison pukes aren't real keen on dying just to keep the current ruler in power. that's one reason we're here, to stiffen them up a bit. That, and keep them honest."

"We get rotated in and out. All the women are elsewhere, this is a combat tour. It's not that bad. Four and hold. Lead to the trey..." the game goes on, coins acumulating slowly in front of Zane, until Seph makes a brilliant play an take back half of them. Zane looks at the grizzled vet with new respect.

"How about you? You're not wearing Amber colors."Kat seems impressed by the manner in which the Keep was taken. "If anyone ever told me I'd be flying on my next assault, I'd tell them to think again. It's one thing to be an obvious target when your feet are on the ground, but off... ?" Well I suppose that's one way to take this place but given that's how they took it, they're probably well guarded against a repeat performance.

"So you've no women in your actual unit or they get rotated in when you get rotated out? I've been on enough campaigns with mixed company where no trouble was had. Often I found it was a reflection of the commander if there was trouble or not. So why doesn't your boss just clear out the garrison mob and put you guys in place on a permanent rotation? You'd be able to have mixed company then, yeah?" Let's hope I don't actually insult them or their commander but I wonder if Dalt has any place for women with martial skill. Maybe he's the type to think women only have one place they belong.

Kat's been losing coin here, winning coin back there but mainly losing but she doesn't seem to mind that much. It's the conversation she's really playing for. "We got called in from Avalon to accompany a couple of Amberite nobles here. It's all politics, some big kafuffle that meant they had to visit your Lord here. As the General put it, they can't go alone but they can't take Royal troops either and I don't trust them not to get lost or distracted along the way." I doubt these guys have any loyalty to their Lord Dunstan or the Lady Jasra...

She shrugs and places a bet, "That's the way of it though, living from one set of orders to the next. Not that I'm complaining, I'm getting to see some interesting places along the way."

[Shutter]

After the second door proves a dead end Roland is ready to turn back to the stairs. "Guess that's the sum of that Lester my friend. I'm stumped."

Ah, hell with it. He turns and abruptly knocks three times on the door, nice and loudly. Never told me I couldn't wander around... If nothing happens, as he expects, then he returns to the stair and begins the long climb, stopping whenever something new should present itself. I hope Raevyn is learning something of value...so far I seem to have only verified that the Keep does in fact have passageways, which really isn't noteworthy.

[Wired*Nun]

"So you've no women in your actual unit or they get rotated in when you get rotated out? I've been on enough campaigns with mixed company where no trouble was had. Often I found it was a reflection of the commander if there was trouble or not. So why doesn't your boss just clear out the garrison mob and put you guys in place on a permanent rotation? You'd be able to have mixed company then, yeah?"

"Right, no women in the unit. Not sure why, it's not that uncommon. Just the boss' directive. Let the officers ask why, if they want. And maybe he wants us coming home to our wives and families. And if we cleared out the garrison, what happens when we need to get back on the trail? Recruit a whole new garrison? We'd have to expand the Lions - that's us - to have enough to cover both jobs. Naw, I think this is a good system."

[Pygysys]

"Right, no women in the unit. Not sure why, it's not that uncommon. Just the boss' directive. Let the officers ask why, if they want. And maybe he wants us coming home to our wives and families. And if we cleared out the garrison, what happens when we need to get back on the trail? Recruit a whole new garrison? We'd have to expand the Lions - that's us - to have enough to cover both jobs. Naw, I think this is a good system."
"The Lions? I think I've heard of your outfit... Commander by the name of Dale or something." Kat eyes the larger piles of coins, Seph's and Zane's, knowing she's about to add to one of the stockpiles. "Like an old instructor of mine used to say, if it ain't broke why poke holes in it. If your boss' directive works, power to him and your outfit."

She casts a look around the area, "I'd probably get sick of the dust too quickly to enjoy a rotation here. Hopefully this little visit won't take any longer than a week if we're lucky. Can't imagine what they'd all have to say to each other in there." Her gaze swings round to the main part of the Keep as she wonders what Roland, Raevyn and Co. are up to. If I know my cousins, I doubt they're playing cards. Maybe they're all playing nice.

[Wired*Nun]

"It's Dalt. It's no secret. You know nobility, more talk than walk, mostly. The Commander is an exception. Ha! Double Tonk! That'll teach you to be clever, my young mark." Zane looks stunned as his stash moves over in front of Seph. "Old age and treachery beat youth and energy, nine times out of ten. Now for a break, enjoy my winnings before they escape to one of the concubine's purses. Nice playing with you, miss, gentlemen." Somehow, Kat has a feeling they've been had, but damned if she knows how he did it. By Zane's expression, he doesn't either.

[Wired*Nun]

Ah, hell with it. He turns and abruptly knocks three times on the door, nice and loudly.
Nothing apparently happens at the knocking.

He soon arrives at the place he entered the passages. Lester runs halfway up the next flight, looking back to see if Roland is following.

[Wired*Nun]

" "But where could you land a plane on any of the islands...?"
"It doesn't take much room to land. Any beach should do. The trick might be taking off again, without a powered tow-plane. Do they have dragons where you live? Or tarns, or something else big and flying? I could always use a spell...that might be the best way, anyway. In any case, ummm, it's something to look forward to...umm, if you want." He looks out to sea again, clearly wishing he didn't have to be mixed up in this series of unfortunate events.

[LynMars]

"The entire world is made up of island chains; nowhere for the really large land creatures to live. Sea creatures are a different story. Flying home does sound like fun, though; I think I'll hold you to that, sometime." Raevyn smiles up at Josh, then leans on the railing, resting on her elbows. She watches the scenery for a little while, wondering idly if that fallen Trump is somewhere below the balcony. 'Not likely...To rest, or draw, while waiting for our cousin to join us...hrm...'

[Wired*Nun]

As if reading Raevyn's mind, Josh walks over, opens the cabinet-desk and pulls out pencil and parchment. He hands Raevyn some of the parchment. He then finds a large, flat book, and sits down on the balcony, feet up on the rail, to draw the sea scene.

[LynMars]

"Thank you," Raevyn says as she takes the paper, finding a comfortable place to start drawing. Nothing in particular; just kind of freestyle, seeing where the pencil goes across the paper, while they wait for Roland to appear.

[Shutter]

Nothing apparently happens at the knocking.

He soon arrives at the place he entered the passages. Lester runs halfway up the next flight, looking back to see if Roland is following.
Lester finds that Roland is indeed following. Moving slowly, like most of those ridiculous two-leggers, but he's coming.

[Pygysys]

"It's Dalt. It's no secret. You know nobility, more talk than walk, mostly. The Commander is an exception. Ha! Double Tonk! That'll teach you to be clever, my young mark." Zane looks stunned as his stash moves over in front of Seph. "Old age and treachery beat youth and energy, nine times out of ten. Now for a break, enjoy my winnings before they escape to one of the concubine's purses. Nice playing with you, miss, gentlemen." Somehow, Kat has a feeling they've been had, but damned if she knows how he did it. By Zane's expression, he doesn't either.
Kat seems more amused at Zane's expression than anything else. "I thought you knew how to play this game, Zane."

She looks to Seph, "Well earned, our thanks for letting us play. However, we'd like the chance to win something back." Rising to her feet, she takes another look at the mercs nearby.

"Any of your Lions' companions likely to wager on their skill with their arms or would they be too frightened of being beaten by a woman?" Her smile widens into a grin, "It could prove entertaining and I need the exercise. It was so uneventful getting here, I think my own blade's grown rusty."

[Wired*Nun]

Lester finds that Roland is indeed following. Moving slowly, like most of those ridiculous two-leggers, but he's coming.
Up the stairs to the third floor, there is another, similar door-and-peephole arrangement. Looking out, Roland can just see a guard far to to the right, which is north. The stair coninues upwards - must be to the roof and battlements. Lester is waiting at the door, ready to scout if it's opened.

[Wired*Nun]

Zane gives Kat a sour look, and puts on a false smile. "I'm just setting them up for next time, chief."

"Any of your Lions' companions likely to wager on their skill with their arms or would they be too frightened of being beaten by a woman?" Her smile widens into a grin, "It could prove entertaining and I need the exercise. It was so uneventful getting here, I think my own blade's grown rusty."

Seph gives Katarzyna an appraising look. "Well, I like living on my old age and treachery. I am sure one of thee young punks can give you a workout." Laughter rolls around the room, and a couple of prime specimens jump up to gather their armor. "Let's meet down at the pells in, say, half an hour? I'll get my staff." He gets up, and walks off with a slight but noticeable limp.

[Pygysys]

Kat nods to Zane, "Sure you are but I'll ask Seph to explain the rules of the game to me again if I were you. You might have missed something."

She then looks to Seph and smiles warmly, "Well you've already beaten us with the cards, don't think I could stomach losing to you twice." Flicking her gaze towards the likely candidates, she rubs her hands together eagerly, "There's nothing I like more than making grown men cry."

She winks at the specimens before voicing her agreement to time and place. "See you in half an hour then. C'mon lads," she says to her own men, noting Seph's limp without commenting on it, "Time to make sure we're ready for some fun." Kat and the Orphans return to their rooms to make ready. Kat seems more than pleased that she's going to get some actual use out of the armor she chose for this journey.

The Unicorn help me if Dalt happens to show up and pull an impromptu lesson ala Bleys. That would be all I'd need to sour what's turning out to be an acceptable day for a change.

"So who's going to volunteer to have a peek around whilst I entertain the troops? I don't need four attendants to sweep the floor with a few mercs." It's all said tongue-in-cheek but they know her well enough to know she's serious.

[Wired*Nun]

Darius gives Kat a nod, and after helping buckle her armor in the hard-to-reach places, draws off the Orphans for a stroll around campus.

Helm in hand, Kat heads down to the practice ground. Putting her live steel down on a rack of the same, she selects comparable practice weapons and begins warming up.

Seph is standing near his troops, leaning on a marshal's iron-shod staff of battered green and yellow. When she walks up, he says, "There you are. You see the circle; you step out, you lose. Standard rules, which for us are no follow-through pointwork to the face, no striking below the knee, call your own blows. All clear?" The man in front of Kat first is a likely lad, muscular and lean, and holds his sword and round shield with practiced ease. Well, they are seasoned men, can't expect any pushovers.

[Pygysys]

Kat nods to Seph to acknowledge the rules and then sizes up her opponent. She tosses the last few coins she has into the middle of the circle. "Way I figure," she tells the lad and anyone else who's listening, "Last one standing gets to keep what accumulates but they've got to add to the pile first."

She tightens her grip on her own sword and shield, touching the flat of the blade against the front of the shield to indicate she's ready whenever her opponent is. "Got a name? Just in case I need to add it to the short list." Smiling she moves forward to engage him, wanting to test the waters by attacking first and putting him on the defensive to see how he responds.

[Wired*Nun]

Tossing his coins down, her first mark takes his place. "Hansh," he says. Apparently expecting a more balanced approach, Kat's opponent is in hot water from the start, defending furiously, crabbing sideways to stay inside the circle. He's quick and strong - for a human - but a firm blow to his thigh after no more than thirty energetic seconds, and he salutes out with a grin. Seth shifts his posture on his staff, leaning his head against it speculatively.

The next man drops his coin in the circle, and steps in warily. With a short spear, he seems vulnerable, but Kat has to work inside his reach. He is an excellent spearman, landing a couple of ringing blows on her shield, and dancing back, so as soon as she can, she makes an opening and gets inside his reach. His reversal is too slow as she snaps him sharply on the helm. He seems quite surprised to have lost.

The next man to toss his coins in - in a small pouch this time - looks to be the best of the lot. His blade is blunted but his heater shield looks to be his own, steel-rimmed and painted with small birds partway around the lion in the center. He is older than the other two, but not old enough to have slowed. He has an angular, big-boned look to him, and has blonde hair over very dark skin. He keeps his sword up and over his shoulder, dangling down his back. Hard to see its initial movement. Better pay attention, Kat ol' girl...

The overhead snap is as fast as she had expected, perhaps faster, but what surprises her is his strength. The blow is far stronger than his looks would suggest, and slams her shield downward several inches. The reverse blow, using the energy of the rebound sideways and around from her right, she blocks with her sword. That impact is all she would expect from an Amberite, and she counters quickly with an overhead combination of her own, forcing him to defend for a moment. His shieldwork is superb. Wonder where this guy came from?

A couple more exchanges, and Kat decides she will have to up the ante a bit. Shifting to the attack, she opens up with her full strength, every blow driving in a bit harder than the last. Her opponent's counters and blocks are now accompanied by grunts, and his counters are slowing.

Just about the time she is ready to finish him off, he steps out of the circle, dropping his shield and saluting, then putting his hands on his knees. His chest is heaving with exertion. To her surprise, more than ten minutes have passed, and she is actually feeling it. Kat meets Seph's narrow gaze, and realizes that he's won something from her again. He knows I'm superhuman now...like this fellow here.

"Not many can beat Piet here in a straight-up fight, and even fewer hand-to-hand. I can see why you're leading your men, rather than vice versa."

[Wired*Nun]

"Thank you," Raevyn says as she takes the paper, finding a comfortable place to start drawing. Nothing in particular; just kind of freestyle, seeing where the pencil goes across the paper, while they wait for Roland to appear.
Josh finishes with the sea scene. There is unused space underneath it, and Raevyn can see him writing something there. He folds up the paper, then rolls it tightly. Rummaging through the desk, he finds a rubber band and some ribbon, and makes a small tube out of the parchment.

Going back to the balcony, he stands, waiting, for several minutes. Just as Raevyn is about to ask what he might be doing or thinking, an albatross lands on the railing with a rush of wings. Josh ties the parchment to the bird's leg, and sends it off with a gentle push. Using the height of the balcony, it flaps majestically out to sea, gaining altitude all the way.

"A message to my mother, just in case. I'd rather not use Trump, here."

[Shutter]

GM:Up the stairs to the third floor, there is another, similar door-and-peephole arrangement. Looking out, Roland can just see a guard far to to the right, which is north. The stair coninues upwards - must be to the roof and battlements. Lester is waiting at the door, ready to scout if it's opened.
Roland leans down to whisper to Lester, "Lester, can you scout the terrain and let me know if there's anything worth seeing? I'll crack the door for you."

If Lester agrees Roland opens the door just enough to let him out to explore. Just another hallway...Why have secret passageways when you don't even hide anything secretive within them?...Good for escape though I bet.

[Wired*Nun]

Lester scurries out and runs along the baseboards away from the guard. A few minutes pass, and he comes running back, slipping through the crack in the door. He pantomimes distracting the guard, and seems to indicate Roland should go the other direction, the way he scouted. Once it seems he understands, he heads out the door toward the guard and starts a ruckus. Cursing and yells of such like, "Gods, that's a big rat!" can be heard.

[LynMars]

"A message to my mother, just in case. I'd rather not use Trump, here."
Raevyn nods, wondering if she shouldn't try to contact her father--then thinks better of it. She looks down at the patterns she's been doodling.

"Think we should take a look around. He didn't say we couldn't, or that we shouldn't. I'd like to get a better idea of this place, maybe see what Katarzyna and her men are up to."

[Pygysys]

Just about the time she is ready to finish him off, he steps out of the circle, dropping his shield and saluting, then putting his hands on his knees. His chest is heaving with exertion. To her surprise, more than ten minutes have passed, and she is actually feeling it. Kat meets Seph's narrow gaze, and realizes that he's won something from her again. He knows I'm superhuman now...like this fellow here.

"Not many can beat Piet here in a straight-up fight, and even fewer hand-to-hand. I can see why you're leading your men, rather than vice versa."
Kat sucks in some air and waits to see if anyone else is going to challenge for the prize in the circle. When it appears she can collect, she bends down on one knee and deliberately picks up each coin separately. She meets Seph's gaze, "There's always someone else quicker, stronger or more skilled with a blade. So where's he from? I'll avoid the area in case he's got an older brother."

Picking up the small pouch last of all, she finally stands and dusts herself off. "I'm grateful for the exercise, I needed to rid myself of cobwebs. Why I get these lacklustre assignments is beyond me."

[Shutter]

Lester scurries out and runs along the baseboards away from the guard. A few minutes pass, and he comes running back, slipping through the crack in the door. He pantomimes distracting the guard, and seems to indicate Roland should go the other direction, the way he scouted. Once it seems he understands, he heads out the door toward the guard and starts a ruckus. Cursing and yells of such like, "Gods, that's a big rat!" can be heard.
Roland plays the role of dutiful human pawn well. He slips out of the doorway and down the hall, as quickly as stealth allows. The panel he closes behind him, after making sure to note how and where to open it again for re-entry.

Impressive rat...not many get their own Amberite to lead around by the nose... Misgivings about the general wisdom of this enterprise seem to be silent for now.

[Wired*Nun]

So where's he from? I'll avoid the area in case he's got an older brother.
"I'm from Fryystaat." Piet answers for himself between gasps. "My people are all very strong, and I am strong among even them. Our shadow has a higher gravity than most, I think that's why."

Seph goes on, drily, "That has some downsides. They only live to about fifty, most times, and they can't stand cold, and they eat like horses. Piet pulls his weight and more, though. So what's your story, chief? You're better than he, and maybe stronger too. You don't look a day over twenty-five. You wouldn't be slumming, now would you?"

[Pygysys]

Kat sets down the shield she used, "Never heard of Fryss ... your home shadow. No harsh winters there I take it?" This Fryss place could be an interesting Shadow to visit some time.

The practise sword follows suit to be returned to its place on the rack. "Slumming? Not sure I know what you mean by that exactly." She turns around to face Seph's direction, "I grew up near Avalon and got taken in as squire of sorts after my parents died about twelve years back now. I don't question why things are, I prefer to accept it as it is and make the most of it. The fact I'm stronger or better than others means more power to me and a longer lifespan." She offers a shrug, "I figure I have about another ten years to use to my advantage and if I'm still alive, maybe that will be the time to settle down and set up house some where."

She turns away then, her next words bitter, "Questions never seemed to get me answers any way, so I gave up asking." Slumming? This performance feels like slumming, not spending time with men like this. When did I sign up for the theatre? Still ever since my arrival in Amber, the questions have been accumulating. I've got to decipher that damned book once we're out of this place. I'll ask Roland to help me and hope there are no specific details about me in nappies in the first page or two.

[Wired*Nun]

Roland plays the role of dutiful human pawn well. He slips out of the doorway and down the hall, as quickly as stealth allows. The panel he closes behind him, after making sure to note how and where to open it again for re-entry.
Left out the door and down, and Roland sees in the far distance another guard. At the midpoint of the corridors, about an hundred yards from either end, the forms are indistinct. On the left wall, another corridor opens, leading directly in to the inner keep. Roland ducks into the corridor, now out of sight of both guards.

This corridor is narrow, only about five feet wide rather than the fifteen of the main corridor. At the end, there is a door, with a keyhole. No key is visible, but through the keyhole can be seen a flickering red light. The door is locked.

[Wired*Nun]

"Think we should take a look around. He didn't say we couldn't, or that we shouldn't. I'd like to get a better idea of this place, maybe see what Katarzyna and her men are up to."
"Sure, why not. I'd like to see to the horses, just on principle. Maybe we can spot them, and see what the attitudes of the people around here are."

Out the door, down the corridors and stairs, to the nearest inner entrance to the Keep's enormous courtyard they walk. Josh's eyes seem to take everything in.

Once out the door, they turn toward the stables. Across the courtyard, they see Katarzyna and her men, in armor, apparently having sparred or practiced with some of the mercs in yellow and green.

[Wired*Nun]

Kat sets down the shield she used, "Never heard of Fryss ... your home shadow. No harsh winters there I take it?"
"Id's quite hod, actually. Hellishly so, for someone nod used to id." At least, that's what it sounds like. Piet has an unusual accent, the consonants in his mouth rounded and softened. "You're an inderesding woman. Would you like to eat wit' me d'is evening?" His look is bold and open. Lots of confidence.

Seph turns and walks off, waving at his men, now that the conversation has turned personal. The other two, and the onlookers, go off also, and the Orphans withdraw a short distance to give her at least the illusion of privacy.

[LynMars]

Raevyn studies the scenery as they go, blinking a bit as they come out to the courtyard. She pauses a moment to watch the mercs and Kat's group, then hurries to catch up to Josh and continue onto the stables to check on the horses.

[Wired*Nun]

"Think they want company? Hmm, look...she's talking to that one fellow...best see them later, maybe she's getting some good information." He leads her into the stables, asking where their horses are lodged, setting about to check and curry.

[LynMars]

Raevyn only nods in reply, looking around the courtyard once more before following into the stables, letting Josh do the talking. When they find the horses, she checks Spindrift over thoroughly as she runs a curry brush over her. She'll glance in at Bill, too, while they're there; while Kat and the Orphans have likely had a chance to tend to their mounts, she has no idea what Roland's been up to since he left the ballroom--but he obviously isn't in the stable currently.

[Pygysys]

"Id's quite hod, actually. Hellishly so, for someone nod used to id." At least, that's what it sounds like. Piet has an unusual accent, the consonants in his mouth rounded and softened. "You're an inderesding woman. Would you like to eat wit' me d'is evening?" His look is bold and open. Lots of confidence.

Seph turns and walks off, waving at his men, now that the conversation has turned personal. The other two, and the onlookers, go off also, and the Orphans withdraw a short distance to give her at least the illusion of privacy.
The invitation is considered and agreed to with a nod of Kat's head, "Sure. Where and when?"

Once the time and place is given, Kat nods to confirm again and walks off in the direction of her men. If any of them are giving her amused looks or have smart comments, she gives an innocent look in return and says, "A girl's got to eat and this one is tired of your ugly mugs around the campfire."

[Shutter]

GM:This corridor is narrow, only about five feet wide rather than the fifteen of the main corridor. At the end, there is a door, with a keyhole. No key is visible, but through the keyhole can be seen a flickering red light. The door is locked.
Roland peers down at the lock, looking to see if faint hope he can perhaps open it quietly with his knife. After his inspection he peers through the keyhole, face right up against it, straining to see what he can see.

Hmm....could I Sketch the inside of the room? Probably. Would Dunstan notice...Probably...Would that be a bad thing? Almost certainly.

[Wired*Nun]

Roland can see very little of the room - a railing in front of the door, as if from a catwalk, and the far wall, with a balcony on it. It looks like the catwalk/balcony many run round the entire room, which looks to be about forty yards across. The glow is coming from below.

Fiddling with the lock, Roland finds that his knife and his expertise are insufficent to the task of opening it.

Lester waves to get Roland's attention, and using one sharp claw, traces a rathole in the lower right corner of the door, then gives that questioning look.

[Wired*Nun]

The invitation is considered and agreed to with a nod of Kat's head, "Sure. Where and when?"
"The bedouin caravan outside the walls has wonderful food for sale. As long as you can sit on rugs and eat with your hands, it's the best food around. My people use many spices, and so do these fellows, though different, of course. Let us meet at 18 o'clock at the gate?"

Presuming that is agreed, Piet gives Kat a big smile, teeth white in that dark face, and carries his gear off for repairs.

[Shutter]

This must be the famous inner courtyard with the Fount...how to get in...what? Oh...yeah that might work Lester.

Down on hand and knee Roland sets to the task of carving a rat hole through the lower corner of the door. If he's very lucky he'll be able to carve the hole open silently. More likely he'll be able to get it down to where it's weak enough to be easily kicked in. Should that occur, he'll really need to decide how much he's willing to risk poisoning the entire diplomatic proccess.

[Wired*Nun]

Once Roland has done the major hacking, being careful not to mar Smoke with such a plebian task, Lester pushes in toward the hole, waving Roland back. Lester shoves his head and body into the hole, and a sound like a miniature buzz saw comes from inside the fist-size hole. A moment later he is through, and comes back to chew and scratch on the edges of the hole, eliminating the cut marks from the blade. His claws and teeth tear the hard oak away like it was paper. Roland suddenly remembers Josh calling him an "Amberite among rats."

[Shutter]

Josh wasn't kidding...Damned impressive.

Leaning down to put his face against the hole (assuming Lester is inside) Roland again speaks quietly. "Lester, if you can figure out a way to get this door open quietly, I will be profoundly impressed...If not, could you maybe scout around and see what there is to see?"

[Wired*Nun]

"Oooooo Kaaaayyy" comes the answer from Lester. A moment later he comes back through the hole with a key as long as his arm, and hands it to Roland.

[Wired*Nun]

"A girl's got to eat and this one is tired of your ugly mugs around the campfire."
"Does that mean we get to find dates too?" Zane says disingenuously. He's looking across the yard at a trio of milkmaids heading for the dairy.

"You secure that crap, Zane, we're not off duty yet," says Darius good-naturedly. "However, milady, what are our instructions for this evening?"

[Shutter]

"Lester my friend, if there's ever a favor I can do for you, just let me know."

Roland takes a few moments to stare at the key, memorizing it with the intention of Sketching it later on. Might work...worth a try. Once satisfied he slides it into the lock and turns, hopefully opening the door and entering.

[Wired*Nun]

Lester snickers at this offer. Wonder what he's going to want? Do I want to know?

The door opens soundlessly. Roland is standing on a walkway that runs all the way around the inner side of the inner keep. There is a semicircular platform extension in front of him and the door, and there are three other doors at the cardinal points of the compass. Looking over the railing, he sees four stairways, each going down from a corner, left, along the walls.

In the center of the large room is what looks like a square stone well, of large size - perhaps twenty feet on a side. Three feet of rock make the interior of the well about fourteen feet across, and it is filled with a liquid-looking fire or lava, softly hissing and bubbling like a conjurer's cauldron.

[Shutter]

Roland has to stop himself from emitting a low whistle of appreciation. So, this is it...It's beautiful. He walks forward onto the semicircular platform, turning slowly taking in the room, looking for anything interesting when something occurs to him. Oh hell...Isn't that wizard Sharu something, supposed to be here, as the warden? Need to watch for that.

[Pygysys]

"I'll met you there and then," Kat tells Piet before joining the Orphans. She looks at Zane and then follows his gaze to the milkmaids, "I doubt they'd be interested in the likes of you, Zane."

Her attention switches to Darius, "Well until his Lordship Roland directs otherwise, we're free to interact and essentially enjoy ourselves." She smiles at Zane, "I'm sure you won't find that too difficult. Just remember to keep your wits about you of course, no need to treat this excursion like a holiday."

She lowers her voice as they return to their rooms, "Find out what you can, I'd be more comfortable knowing a little more about the ins and outs of this Keep."

[LynMars]

Once satisfied the horses are well cared for, Raevyn suggests just wandering around, perhaps checking out the activities in the courtyard, and exploring the interior of the Keep, as much as the guards will allow, until the appointed time to reconvene with Duncan for dinner. Not having had a chance to see the Keep before, she's curious now.

[Wired*Nun]

Leaning over the railing, Roland's examination of the room shows a stairway leading downward, starting at the ground floor below him, and heading back the direction he came. Logically, it should lead right to the door he was at before, in the long underground corridor.

[Wired*Nun]

"I doubt they'd be interested in the likes of you, Zane."
"They will after they've met me!" he retorts.

After they return to the rooms, Darius goes out into the barracks, and soon comes back with a plan of the Keep. It's pretty sketchy, but shows the main corridors and public rooms of the basements, ground and second floor. Darius passes it to Marc along with some parchment. "Make four copies, soon as you can. We'll go looking around. Don't add anything to them until you get back, in case you get questioned by someone, that way they will be the standard layout. Milady, once he's done, you can have this one."

The plan shows the inner keep and 3rd floor as "Off Limits."

Marc gets that done, and passes them out. Zane says, "I bet those milkmaids know quite a lot about this place..."

Darius replies, "Be careful, boy, they might be wives or daughters of jealous men."

The four break up and head in different directions, to stroll around.

[Wired*Nun]

Josh readily agrees to just wander around - there is plenty to see, all of it interesting in a mundane sort of way. The Keep is a small town in one enormous building - there might be as many as two thousand inhabitants. There is a bakery, a dairy, a mill, an armory, a market, a section of food stalls, some large enough to be called restaurannts - in fact, everything one would expect to sustain all the people here, except for farmland. All the food must be brought in from elsewhere. Raevyn remembers the ships she has seen moored in the harbor of the Keep on the ocean side, and the caravan camped outside the gate. Probably a very profitable trading crossroads, even without mystical power...

[Shutter]

Pretty bare room...I guess whatever the treatment entails it doesn't need much in the way of equipment...That should be the same door from earlier...interesting that I couldn't hear the fountain through it...warding of some sort...Not much else to see down there, no further need to risk tripping alarms... He lingers for a moment at the railing, gazing into the Fount. The temptation is there to a certain extent, but the threat of madness is more than enough to keep him from taking it too seriously. After a while he turns and tries to get Lester's attention, wherever the little guy has gotten off to.

"Time to head back I think. Mind scouting it out again?" He whispers once Lester is close enough.

[LynMars]

Raevyn enjoys the almost marketplace feel of the common areas of the Keep, chatting with people who are willing to talk; asking about life there, what they're up to, what they think of the Keep and its current lord (though if that proves to be an uncomfortable topic, she drops it quickly in favor of another), how the weather in such an odd place behaves, where the caravans and ships come from, how they feel about the foreign mercenaries and constant upheavals; mundane, normal things, playing tourist for all intents and purposes. If asked about herself and companions, she'll answer vaguely about a visiting diplomatic mission, then try to steer conversation elsewhere. She's as pleasant and well-spoken as she can be, polite and curteous.

[Wired*Nun]

It seems that life is pretty good here. Most people don't see or interact with Dunstan. Instead, the Constable of the Keep, Earnest Hammer, functions as mayor, garrison commander, and administrator of law and order. The people speak well of him; they are prosperous, even wealthy by many standards. They speak of Dunstan as if he is a figurehead, and a reagent at that, since his mother took ill.

The weather is always pleasant, with the occasional light rain or dusting of snow for variety. It may be that the weather is under some kind of control. There are sometimes storms in one of the shadows that nevertheless do not approach the Keep, but stay out at a distance of five miles or more. The caravans and ships come from places in their respective shadows, names familiar and unfamiliar - Zanzibar, Terrisop, Faelant, Elyrium, Journikopolus, too many to remember.

The mercenaries have been here so long - more than sixteen years - that they are a fixture of life now. The rotate in and out, and always have plenty of money to spend. They keep good discipline, and sometimes, the restless youth of the Keep join, or marry one of, the Lions. There are, therefore, no "constant upheavals." The older people tell of the Battles of the Sorcerers, but that's fading into memory as time goes on.

Throughout, Josh is watchful. He seems to be making mental notes of everything he can. Maybe for Trumps later...

[Wired*Nun]

Giving Roland the high sign, Lester slips back through the rathole, and comes back, indicating it's clear.

[Shutter]

As cautious as before Roland slips back out the doorway, very carefully keeping his sense of direction...hoping it will last long enough to figure out where the tunnel he was in earlier leads to. If they don't notice the hole in the door, they sure aren't going to notice a missing key...doubtful on both counts. He pockets the key for now, after locking the door behind him. Quietly and carefully he returns to the secret entrance, hopefully unseen.

[Wired*Nun]

Wending his way down the secret ways, Roland emerges on the ground floor, in the main corridor. Stepping out and closing the panel, Lester disappears along the baseboards, just one more rat in a big building. Roland tries to look nonchalant as two men with a whole smoked pig on a pole round the corner and almost collide with him. "Sorry, sir," one says as they pass.

A few more steps and Roland comes face to face with Darius, who seems to be strolling about. The two strollers step into a side corridor and converse casually. "Afternoon, sir. The Captain asked us to take a look around, familiarize ourselves with the place."

[Shutter]

Roland nods politely to the men with the pig. "Smells good."

"Darius, good good...find anything interesting? How was the reception you recieved from the mercs? They didn't like me last time I was here, don't know if that'd extend to our guards or not."

[Wired*Nun]

"They seemed receptive enough, sir. Maybe they had instructions this time. Or maybe they are just more easy around common soldiers than the nobility - there seemed a certain amount of disdain for their betters. I've just been mapping the layout of this place, for future reference. The third floor seems to be off-limits, as are the battlements except for the four corner bastions, which can be accessed by stairs there. It's a nice operation they have here, well set up for commerce or defense. They're not rigged for war right now, though - I don't think they are expecting anything. They seem quite settled and confident in their strength."

[LynMars]

Raevyn tries to get an idea of the general time flow of the Keep; she recalls how long it's been, Amber time, since Merlin's adventures in the Keep--the Battle of the Sorcerers the elders mention?--and current the time, trying to come up with a rough idea of the time flow here, wondering if it changes at all. As it gets closer to dinnertime, she suggests they head back to the suite to get ready.

[Shutter]

"Interesting good things to know. Thank you. I should probably be finding Raevyn and Josh soon....I'll see you later perhaps. Give my regards to the Captain." Nodding his goodbye Roland begins to wander around, laying a carefull map of the Keep in his head, noting exactly where the secret entrance is in relation to everything else.

[Wired*Nun]

Raevyn tries to get an idea of the general time flow of the Keep; she recalls how long it's been, Amber time, since Merlin's adventures in the Keep--the Battle of the Sorcerers the elders mention?--and current the time, trying to come up with a rough idea of the time flow here, wondering if it changes at all. As it gets closer to dinnertime, she suggests they head back to the suite to get ready.It's been about four Amber years since Merlin took the throne of Chaos.

"Though that might be misleading," Josh comments as they walk back to the rooms. "I suspect Jasra or Dunstan has control of time in the Keep, so average time may have little to do with the immediate situation. This might be an, ahh, reflection of the fact that, for immortals, it is usually more, umm, advantageous to speed up time for oneself, essentially gaining free time. It's kind of hard on those whose lives are shortened, but that's not usually a consideration - especially as from their point of view, nothing changes. In fact, it may be kinder, because it may slow down or delay the indicence of, shall we say, unpleasant events in their lives."

Arriving there, Josh immediately goes out on the balcony again, and holds out his arm, bar-straight. A moment later a ball of gray leaps from somewhere above, grabbing with prehensile agility onto the reinforced leather of Josh's shoulder. Lester waves hello to Raevyn and holds out his paws as if he wants to cross to her.

[Wired*Nun]

Aaron spots Roland in his wanderings and lets him know where their lodgings are - same place as last time, anyway.

[Shutter]

"Thank you Aaron, and you're welcome to ride Bill as much as you like while we're staying here...I meant to ask you before, has anything happened here since I left last time?" Roland motions for Aaron to talk to him as he walks leisurely to the quarters.

[LynMars]

Raevyn smiles and, looking to Josh to see if it's okay first, will take the rat and carefully hold him. "And what have you been up to, you little troublemaker?" She asks affectionately.

'Never thought I'd meet a likeable rat...'

[Wired*Nun]

Lester rolls over to have his tummy scratched, keeping his sharp claws carefully retracted. Retracted? How interesting... His shiny black eyes close and he gives a little trill of pleasure.

"Hedonist," says Josh. "Looks innocent, doesn't he?" Lester opens one eye at Josh and sticks his tongue out. "Don't worry, you couldn't hurt him with your bare hands even if you tried." Lester squeal-trills something incomprehensible and Josh abruptly turns red, neck up. "Cheeky little bugger."

[Wired*Nun]

Aaron answers Roland earnestly, "Nothing of any note, sir. At least, nothing I've been privy to, if you get my meaning. I would like to ride Bill, oh, thank you sir. I shall take ever such good care of him, you have my solemn vow." He opens the door to the quarters common room for Roland to enter. "Will there be anything else, sir?"

[LynMars]

Raevyn obliging scritches the rat's tummy, looking from Lester to Josh. "What? What did he say?" 'I can't understand him, but Josh knows every word he says...I wonder if Arrotel and Telloth, and Landon and Arthur, have the same sort of rapport?'

She looks up as the door opens and Aaron and Roland enter. "Oh, there you are."

[Pygysys]

Whilst the Orphans are taking the time to stroll around and mingle with the residents of the Keep, Kat takes the time to clean up. She sees to her armor first, patching it up if necessary where possible. Once that's done, Kat takes advantage of the quiet and solitude to clean herself up and change clothes.

With some time to go before she is required to meet Piet for dinner, she flicks through her book and comes to some kind of decision. She looks around the room till she finds parchment and ink, then copies the very first page of the book down. Rather than let Roland see the whole book, I can show him a page at a time till I understand the meaning of all these words.

She puts the book away, folds the parchment up and slips it into a pocket for later use. Nothing else comes to mind, so she heads out to the caravans.

[Wired*Nun]

Aaron politely closes himself out.

Josh takes the opportunity to neatly avoid Raevyn's question. "Roland! Good to see you. We were just wondering what you'd been up to. Tell us all about it..." Josh traces something in the air, and says something under his breath.

"All right, basic eavesdropping protection in place. It's not guaranteed, umm, not in a place like this, but it's all I've got."

[Wired*Nun]

Down and out to the caravan camped in the bivouc grounds outside the main gate goes Katarzyna. She is a little early, and takes the opportunity to stroll around, looking at the stands and the wares displayed. Exotic smells fill the air - spices, perfumes, herbs - along with the aromas of grilling meats and baking flatbread. No matter what else, it smells like a good meal is in the making...

Coming upon an open area with rugs and low tables, people sitting or reclining on the rugs, Katarzyna spots Piet, cross-legged and filling his glass with tea from a silver pot.

Seeing her, he rises without effort, not even putting a hand on the ground. Neat trick, that... "Masaa al-khair," he says to her with a smile. "That's 'good evening' in these bedouins' language, or as close as I can pronounce. I hope you're hungry, for these people know how to cook, and how to stuff you full." He makes a sweeping bow, smiles and says, "please, sit at my humble table."

[Pygysys]

Kat smiles warmly at Piet, "Good evening. I am hungry and whatever it is they're preparing smells wonderful." She responds to Piet's bow with another smile before moving to sit down at his humble table. "Thank you again, I'm looking forward to enjoying a real meal and new company."

[Wired*Nun]

Piet's grin is frank and open, and the white teeth in the dark face make an off contrast with his straight yellow hair, cut ear-length. He pours tea for Katarzyna and says, "A toast, to real meals and good companys." He puts an enormous amount of honey in his tea before he drinks it, and says, "They like it sweet, and so do I."

He waves at a boy of about twelve, who runs over and waits. Piet speaks to him in the bedouins' tongue, and the boy says, "Nam," and runs off. "I told him to bring one of everything, and you can try it all, see what you like. I can bring the extra back for my comrades, or for your men."

He looks sideways at Katarzyna, and grins. "I didn't think you would accept my invitation, actually. Most fighting women I've run across - aha, well, I suppose I have never lost to one, so I can't really say how they act. Forget I said anything, I'll try to make a fresh start."

"Other than trounce fellow warriors, what do you do for fun?"

[Shutter]

"No, thank you Aaron. See you." Roland closes the door behind him and smiles a weary greating to Raevyn and Josh. Can't be too fed up with me...they look like they're enjoying each other, Josh still hopefull, Raevyn still oblivious

"I just wandered the Keep, expanded my mental map. Lester gave me a small tour...Did I miss much?"

[LynMars]

Raevyn clears her throat and speaks up, still absently petting Lester. "Well, after you left, we talked a bit more. Dunstan knew of Asmundson, but nothing really pertinent, except he was somehow connected to Siodmak. He wonders if perhaps Asmundson isn't more than he seems, if maybe he has Amber or Chaos blood. He also claims he didn't know about there being more than one Maze, and seemed surprised at the thought of it casting reflections like the Pattern does. He says he knows nothing of Nightmare, only seeing her once, after he completed his initiation. He thought her a hallucination, brought on by the ordeal. He also thought himself, until he met Siodmak, the only Maze initiate.
"Of Jasra, he said that she is a demon, not a Chaos Lord, and that because of her birth, she was denied both Logrus and Pattern; so she created the Maze as her way of matching the Powers all ready in place. Even Dunstan agrees she is ambitious and dangerous, even though she fell into her coma a few years after the Maze was created, indicating fairly recently. I also tried to get him to say how he's related to Amber, exactly, but he wasn't too forthcoming about that.

"All the information he knew about us was Jasra's scrying; Dunstan only knows what she told him, and what notes or continued observances she may have left; I think his previous show of so much knowledge may have been just that; a bluff, to impress us."

Rae takes a deep breath. "We're to meet him for dinner again, fairly soon, and we did some exploring of our own. A lot more time has passed here than in Amber since Merlin was here; either Jasra or Dunstan has been keeping this place's time stream relatively swift. The people don't deal much with Dunstan, or the mercs. Their life is fairly peaceful, it seems. I think that's about it, unless Josh has something to add?"

She glances over at Josh. 'I think I'll wait until later to mention what Dunstan said about Jasra's dislike of him...I wonder what that's about?'

[Shutter]

Roland hangs his satchel on the corner of a chair and takes a seat accross from Raevyn, listening carefully.

"So, we learned that his mother is a chaos demon of some sort and that she created the Maze....That is interesting. He in turn learned about the existense of other Mazes, and of other initiates. He also learned of the murder, and the good chance that the elder's will be coming for his head soon...Fair enough, neither of us learned much. I still think he was being a fair deal stingier than he could have been..." His voice trails off, and his eyes close for a moment. Think boy, analyze...who wins, who loses...This assasination seems like a decoy, but I don't think that needs to be said to Raevyn quite yet. With a sigh of resignation he opens his eyes.

"Raevyn, I lack tact. I think we need to return to Amber with a reasonable accounting for the timeline of the Fount, who has had access when. That should at least shed some light on who could have been behind the assassin. Can you try to get Dunstan to give us that information? I'll stay quiet, speak when spoken to during dinner. It's your lead." And then the real investigation begins.

[LynMars]

Raevyn shifts uncomfortably. "I can try, but I think he's fairly convinced of Rinaldo's guilt. He also seems to think he has us in an information deficit, which or may not be true; honestly, we didn't come here with much to trade, just a lot of questions.

"If anything, we do need to know what's going on back home, what the other team has uncovered, if those missing have been found. We need to tell Random what we've learned. Dunstan thinks if Nightmare is manifesting to others, and leading them to become initiates, that she may have her own agenda, one he doesn't know of, though her cryptic warning to him admonished holding things together, which is all he's been doing. I don't know how much more information we can get from him at this time."

She thinks for a moment, then looks back at him. "I'd ask about your little tour, but we can save that for later, I think. We don't want to push our luck, even with some countermeasures in place," she says, nodding to Josh.

[Shutter]

"That can work for us I think. If he's convinced of Rinaldo's guilt, by all means, let's see his proof so we can bring it home to Amber...If he could give us a way of pinning down when the bullet was most likely enchanted that would be enough to put some questions to Rinaldo I think...Either way, it looks to me like we should head back after dinner perhaps?" Saying nothing about the tour might seem a little too quiet... As an apparent afterthought he adds, "The tour wasn't much, just poking around, getting the layout, in a place this large I like to get my bearings."

[LynMars]

Raevyn nods, frowning. "Okay; we'll see if he has any way of pointing the finger at Rinaldo, then. Heading out after dinner may seem a bit hasty, and would lead Dunstan to believe we still don't trust him a whit." 'Nevermind if we do or not, it's appearances that matter, right?' "Besides that, we'll be tired from our earlier trip, and our day here. Best to hit the road fresh and ready, unless you want to try and Trump us all back, providing we are permitted to do so. I also think it will be interesting to see what Katarzyna and her men turn up, that we wouldn't have seen or been told about.

"And...you're sure you want me to do all the talking? I mean, it seemed okay earlier, but I don't know if I can keep it up without somehow messing up and getting him angry."

[Shutter]

Raevyn nods, frowning. "Okay; we'll see if he has any way of pointing the finger at Rinaldo, then. Heading out after dinner may seem a bit hasty, and would lead Dunstan to believe we still don't trust him a whit." 'Nevermind if we do or not, it's appearances that matter, right?' "Besides that, we'll be tired from our earlier trip, and our day here. Best to hit the road fresh and ready, unless you want to try and Trump us all back, providing we are permitted to do so. I also think it will be interesting to see what Katarzyna and her men turn up, that we wouldn't have seen or been told about.Roland nods his agreement.

Raevyn:"And...you're sure you want me to do all the talking? I mean, it seemed okay earlier, but I don't know if I can keep it up without somehow messing up and getting him angry.""I don't think there's much chance you'd do any worse than me. I don't have a lot of tolerance for Dunstan's bullshit. Normaly this isn't a problem. However, I'm halfway convinced that Dunstan shouldn't be my enemy. A black and white worldview won't go over well here, not when he's so tempermental and pissy. I don't want to make him talk. What I'd like is to have him trust me, to stop trying to play me. I'd like to have a decent ally..." Given that I think we're up against his mother though that might get uncomfortable... "That's not going to happen though it would seem. I'll settle for giving him ample opportunity to remain on my good side so that this chapter at least can close peacefully."

[LynMars]

Raevyn nods. "Okay then. We'll see what happens. I don't think he should necessarily be our enemy, either, and could be a good ally, but seems pretty well convinced that the world's got a grudge against him. I don't know. I almost feel sorry for him." She shakes her head and straightens up a little. "In the meantime, guys, we should probably get cleaned up and ready for dinner."

[Shutter]

"Thank you Raevyn. You've been a great help with everything." He smiles at all three of his companions. "I think I'll get some rest and freshen up, like the lady said. See you all soon." With a slight bow he takes his leave, taking his satchel and returning to the qurter's he'd occupied on his previous visit.

In his quarters Roland showers, shaves and dresses for dinner. He selects black pants, dark gray shirt and dark green vest. The chainmail he removes, arming himself only with Smoke and the smallest dagger, the one in his boot. Both trump decks are on his belt, kept well clear of a quick draw. Once satisfied, and he's not fussy at all, Roland carefully lays down on the bed and naps until he is summoned to dinner. While he drifts off his mind churns, trying to come up with a plan for what to do next...

[LynMars]

Raevyn blushes slightly at the praise, then hands Lester back to Josh.

She gets cleaned up, showering, letting her hair air-dry while she picks an outfit out of the few she's had packed. She goes with a white blouse and long blue skirt, then brushes out her hair, pulling it away from her face, braiding part of it, while letting the majority hang loose down her back. Other than the Trumps on her belt, she doesn't carry much else.

Then she waits in the main room, reading from the book Kat gave her, since she hasn't had much time to do that yet.

[Pygysys]

Piet's grin is frank and open, and the white teeth in the dark face make an off contrast with his straight yellow hair, cut ear-length. He pours tea for Katarzyna and says, "A toast, to real meals and good companys." He puts an enormous amount of honey in his tea before he drinks it, and says, "They like it sweet, and so do I."

He waves at a boy of about twelve, who runs over and waits. Piet speaks to him in the bedouins' tongue, and the boy says, "Nam," and runs off. "I told him to bring one of everything, and you can try it all, see what you like. I can bring the extra back for my comrades, or for your men."

He looks sideways at Katarzyna, and grins. "I didn't think you would accept my invitation, actually. Most fighting women I've run across - aha, well, I suppose I have never lost to one, so I can't really say how they act. Forget I said anything, I'll try to make a fresh start."

"Other than trounce fellow warriors, what do you do for fun?"
Kat shares in Piet's toast but not his sweet tooth, preferring her tea as it is. "To real meals and good company."

She smiles at the though of all that food that Piet's ordered, "I think your comrades will be better served than mine with any excess food. It is thoughtful of you to let me try it all. I'm very curious to sample their wares, as I haven't really been subjected to that many other cultures. You'll have to tell me of your own culture in more detail, again I'm curious."

She sets down her cup and takes the time to look her dinner companion over. To think I once used to dine as a royal princess and now look at me. I think I know what I prefer.

"You don't have to worry about starting over. You haven't offended me and I suppose it's rare that a woman bests a man with a sword. I don't want to be like any other warrior women you might have met but I cannot even imagine the types you have met and I suppose again, culture plays a role in shaping them as it has shaped me." Kat smiles, "I talk too much perhaps? I don't try to trounce other warriors unless there's money to be won. We all like to spend coin, don't we? I like to be free, to ride, to swim, to forget about expectation at times. When you command a unit, no matter the size, there's pressure and sometimes I like to escape it."

She turns the conversation over to Piet, "And what about you, Piet? What do you like to do when you're not serving here at the Keep?"

[Wired*Nun]

Between sips, Piet replies, "I like the outdoors. I like to go out on my own and explore. I've found I like climbing, at least, in the lower-gravity worlds. In my home, no one of any sanity climbs on rocks and mountains. I like to put a pack on my back and just go walking, trusting to my sword and my bow to get me by. I'm not a big fan of horses, though I can ride well enough. I don't much like command either - at least, anything larger than a squad."

The food soon arrives, dishes large and small, set on a low portable table. Lamb and chicken, spiced rice, pastry with dates and nuts inside, dishes of yogurt and lentils and searing-hot vegetable mix, flat bread of several sorts, salty pickles and sweet fruit dishes...mouthful by mouthful, Piet starts working his way through them. It seems that musculature and metabolism require a lot of fuel.

"My world is hot but not arid. We are farmers and manufacturers mostly, very hardworking and industrious. The military is professionalized, and I didn't want to be a farmer or work in a factory. I also wanted to see other places."

"When I joined the Lions I thought I was going to provide security for some diamond merchants and transporters on the new rail line from the south. As it turned out, I joined a multi-world mercenary outfit. I don't care. Fighting is fighting, and the pay is very good. I will finish with it when my bones start creaking, settle down, take my savings and buy an inn, have children...that means I have to find a wife who won't break when I bed her. That limits my options, hey?"

[Wired*Nun]

If he could give us a way of pinning down when the bullet was most likely enchanted that would be enough to put some questions to Rinaldo I think

Josh comments, "It's pretty unlikely he could help you with that, beyond what he has, unless he knows and is lying. If Fiona couldn't determine it, a sixteen-year-old kid won't be able to, no matter what power he has been infused with. He just doesn't have the expertise."

Before the two go to clean up, Josh points out, "I don't think Dunstan is really apt at these power games. I think he is just imitating what he has seen growing up, what his mother and maybe his father do. That means he has a skewed view of things - an adolescent desperately trying to make it in a grownup world. And, as Corwin once pointed out, maybe us long-lived types take longer to grow up...take that and the loss of his mother and absence of his father into account...try to think the way he must...you might be able to figure out what approach to take. See past the childishness to what he is really trying to say."

Taking Lester back from Raevyn, Josh plops him into a soft chair, where he begins grooming his tail. When the two come back, neither are anywhere to be found.

[LynMars]

I don't think I know how to play these powergames; none of us do. We're all just children playing pretend, because we have to, or at least feel we have to.' Raevyn thinks about Josh's response as she cleans up, and a few times as she reads, especially at parts of intrigue and manuevering amongst her elders. She wonders, briefly, where he may have gone, figuring he's getting ready as well.

[Shutter]

While he rests Roland mulls over Josh's words, trying to see what it is that Dunstan wants in all this. Security, respect certainly...but what do we offer him? Realizing that he isn't going to get any sleep he returns to the common room to sketch and doodle for a bit. He smiles when he sees Raevyn already there.

"Well, you look lovely cousin. Any idea where Josh got off to?"

[LynMars]

Rae looks up from the book, blushes again. "Thank you, Roland. Um, no, though I'd guess he's getting ready, too. Or maybe Lester's giving him one of his famous tours." She smiles, then it fades a bit.

"Um, one thing I didn't mention earlier, about our chat with Dunstan...He mentioned something to Josh, about Jasra. He wanted to know why she seems to hate him so badly, and claimed that he didn't think it was because of Caine. Something...I don't know, there was something there, but..." She speaks very quietly, looking uncomfortable. "I'm worried about it, and maybe it means something, I don't know..." She trails off.

[Shutter]

There is a lot more to Josh than meets the eye...I still don't know how he did those things on the day Joss died, sure as hell looked like Logrus to me, but maybe it was just magic...

Roland pulls up a chair near Raevyn, leaning forward and matching her quiet tones while they talk.

"That's interesting...I don't know...There's quite a lot Josh isn't telling us about himself, that much is obvious I guess." His eyes look meaningfully around the room, lingering on the chair where Dunstan showed up last time. "I would guess that it falls back towards Lintra, towards Chaos and that book. He won't tell us, not now, maybe not ever. As I told him, while I accept that for now, I'm neither happy nor comfortable with it...I know he helped you, and I know he's got a crush on you, so that builds trust in my book. Right now, it's the main thing I'm working off of...Well, that and Random's trust, but that's more cerebral than gut..."

[LynMars]

Raevyn blinks at Roland. "He...um...oh..." She thinks about what he just said, the blush getting deeper. 'Well, that...explains a few things...I almost wish he hadn't said that...I like Josh, and don't want things to get awkward...'

[Shutter]

Roland raises an eyebrow and fails to restrain a smile at Raevyn's blushing.

"You hadn't noticed had you? My unsolicited advice? Don't worry too much about me and what I say or think on some things. Maybe I'm right, maybe I missed the mark, either way, don't sweat it, these things have a way of working themselves out." Poor thing, looks like a scared bunny over there...

"Has anything else come to mind from the talk with Dunstan?"

[LynMars]

"I...well, I mean...Sure. Thanks." She looks back down at the book, then shakes her head. "Um, just that right after you left, he asked if we had any idea of anyone Siodmak may be working for, and maybe Joss, if he hadn't been shot. And that he denies being Brand's son at all. That's about it. As for tonight, I think I'll just play it by ear and see what happens, taking Josh's advice into account."

[Shutter]

"Fair enough...I guess it's possible someone recruited Siodmak in the brief time he was out of our sights..." His voice trails off and he falls silent, no longer inclined to bother Raevyn. Hope I didn't just screw up the group dynamic irrevocably.

[LynMars]

Raevyn nods, going back to the book as Roland drifts off to his own thoughts, trying herself not to be too flustered or distracted.

[Wired*Nun]

The sound of Josh's door unlocking catches the attention of both. He steps out, changed, showered and seemingly refreshed. Lester is nowhere to be seen. "Oh, hullo, you two! Just had a wonderful nap." He stares back at them staring at him. "What?"

[Shutter]

Roland looks up and waves at Josh. "Hi Josh. Just waiting on dinner I guess. trying to practice keeping my foot out of my mouth."

[LynMars]

Raevyn looks up from the book and smiles, that blush that just will not go away today creeping back up over her face. She looks down again quickly. 'I could have sworn he wasn't here at all...I wonder if he heard any of that?'

[Wired*Nun]

Josh gives Roland an uncertain smile, which firms up when he looks at Reavyn. "You look lovely this evening, Rae. May I ask you to dinner? Oh, yeah, we already have an appointment, don't we? Just kidding! Hey, Lester filled me in, Roland, hope that whole thing worked out all right?" He seems to be quite chipper this evening...

"Shall we head down?"

[LynMars]

Raevyn sets the book down, smiling back. 'He's a lot more confident and talkative than usual...I wonder what's going on?' "Let's go, then," she replies, standing smoothly and following the men.

[Shutter]

"Worked out pretty well I think." Roland stands and stretches, bowing and indicating that they should lead. "After you both."

[LynMars]

Raevyn sees that she's noy going to get away with trailing behind, and steps up next to Josh, thinking. 'Looks like I'm the only one left in the dark about what's happened; probably a good thing, though, all things considered.'

[Pygysys]

The food soon arrives, dishes large and small, set on a low portable table. Lamb and chicken, spiced rice, pastry with dates and nuts inside, dishes of yogurt and lentils and searing-hot vegetable mix, flat bread of several sorts, salty pickles and sweet fruit dishes...mouthful by mouthful, Piet starts working his way through them. It seems that musculature and metabolism require a lot of fuel.

"When I joined the Lions I thought I was going to provide security for some diamond merchants and transporters on the new rail line from the south. As it turned out, I joined a multi-world mercenary outfit. I don't care. Fighting is fighting, and the pay is very good. I will finish with it when my bones start creaking, settle down, take my savings and buy an inn, have children...that means I have to find a wife who won't break when I bed her. That limits my options, hey?"
The arrival of the food reveals to Kat that Piet wasn't kidding when he told her about what he did order. Having already decided to enjoy the experience and sample the cuisine, she does her best to sample a little of each dish so she can settle upon favorites for another time. What she likes she readily points out to Piet so as to learn the name of the dish and likewise she shows him those dishes she isn't too keen on. Kat also watches to see which dishes Piet seems to prefer.

"I think I was eager to see other worlds when I found out they existed. So I didn't really mind that much when I started to travel once I had finished my indenture so to speak." She gestures to the food they're enjoying, "I like to be able to enjoy something different once in a while, just so that nothing seems the same or too bland."

Piet's comments about his future draw a chuckle from Kat. "Well I think it would be obvious that there would be plenty of candidates from your home. I can't believe that none of your womenfolk have never matched you in that regard. If I'm lucky enough to make it to an age where I can settle down, I'm not really sure what kind of man it will be with." She reaches for her drink to wash down some rice, "I don't think about it all that much, living from day to day keeps me occupied enough."

And I'm still too young for any serious thought on such things. There's still to much to sort through any way, Keeps to infilitrate, assassins to hunt down, cousins to find... what a wonderful list to tick our way through. I wonder if the others are dining with Dunstan tonight and if they're having some good luck.

[Wired*Nun]

Opening the door to the suites finds Aaron waiting patiently in the hall. "This way, Lady, Gentlemen," he says, and leads somewhat pompously down the hallways to the dining room.

The room is aglow with candles and lights, flickering by the hundreds. The effect is startling, creating a mood of wonder. Combined with the smells of food and wood, seabreeze and smoke, one would almost think oneself in a Viking common room...or Meduseld, the Great Hall of the Rohirrim on Middle Earth. It certainly was simpler there, thinks Roland.

"Lady Raevyn, Lord Roland, Lord Joshua," announces Aaron in ringing, if juvenile, tones. Dunstan smiles at Aaron like an older brother. Well, absent family, we make of it what we can...

Dunstan waits by the smaller table, the larger one having been converted into a sideboard. Waving them to seats, the servants fill the aperitif glasses. Taking his, he toasts.

"To better times," he says.

[Wired*Nun]

Peit tells Katarzyna the names of the dishes, but there are so many, it's hard to remember. Piet himself seems to prefer the spicy, firey ones. "My people's cooking runs to bland tastes. I suppose I have gone native, but once I tried other things, I couldn't go back. I like my life like this food - spicy, interesting. In fact, things are getting a bit boring around here, but this rotation is the price of membership in the Lions." Apparently the food isn't boring, as mountains more disappear from Piet's plate. Not an ounce of fat on him, he must burn calories like a furnace...

At her comments about his future, Piet grins. "As I said, I am strong even for my people. Some say I am a throwback to the time of legends. I laugh at that, but people love to talk. If they only knew what I have seen. They think me strong, but I have found stronger. You, for one. The Commander, for another. I have heard tell of others still...I am curious, what do you know of these things? You have served with Lord Benedict of Amber? He is one of the few Amberites the Commander does not spit upon. What is he like?"

[Shutter]

Ahh....This certainly smells more comfortable...Less constrictive and formal...

"Thank you." Roland quietly says to the servant filling his glass. He swirls the drink. wonder what this is...


Dunstan:"To better times," he says.
Roland raises his glass. "Amen." When it comes time to drink he watches Dunstan, drinking roughly the same amount. Never know if you're in one of those 'drain the whole glass' places or not...customs and courtesy are funny things...So much for speaking to Dunstan quietly...I feel like saying something to smooth the waters, but I don't think I know how to do that correctly...I might just insult him further...better to stay quiet, Raevyn is more than competent.

[LynMars]

Raevyn smiles at Aaron as he leads the way, trying to be so formal. As they enter the ballroom, she's impressed by the changes, and Dunstan's attempts at hospitality.'Maybe this won't be so bad, after all.'

As they're seated and Dunstan makes his toast, Raevyn delicately raises her own glass and takes one normal swallow from it. What to say, what to do next...'

[Wired*Nun]

Dunstan drains the small aperitif glass, and the wine steward pour more. Other servants begin serving soup, and preparing other courses. They eat in almost-companionable silence for a time, until Dunstan finally breaks it.

"I've been doing some thinking..." He stops. Looks down at his soup. Looks back up and Raevyn, then Josh. He's not being deliberately rude, doesn't seem to think Roland is germane to the subject at hand. "I need your help. I think you might benefit as well, so hear me out." He takes a deep breath, blows it out.

"A whole bunch of my..difficulties...and maybe some of yours, will be solved if we can just talk to Mother. If we can get her up long enough to tell us how to help her, or tell us what's she knows...or even cure her completely, of whatever Rinaldo did to her. She can clear up your mystery of the Nightmare, the other Mazes, perhaps...I have to believe extra Mazes were not in her original design. That's just not her style, to disperse her power and let others have access to it. We have to wake her up."

"Now I've got all the power, energy, you could ask for, from the Fount. But, it's not a matter of power. I can't figure out what's wrong with her. I just don't have the training some people do...like Joshua here. If I thought I could trust any of the heavy hitters in Amber or Chaos...but I can't...but Joshua, you've always been kind of an outsider, as far as I can tell. And Raevyn, you are a Trump artist...I can replicate certain Trump functions because of my connection to the Fount, but I still can't paint a Trump. Nothing I am able to do seems to be able to reach mother's...spirit, her mind, whatever you want to call it. She just seems to be a shell of a body there."

"I have an idea or two, but I need you both, probably, to do it. I am asking you, Raevyn, to make a new Trump of her, which we might be able to use to break through to her, wherever she is. The old one of her I have is a Broken one, doesn't seem to work properly. The other possibility is if Joshua can use his arts to detect what has been done to her, and undo it." Dunstan looks down at his soup, and eats it as if not even tasting it. Finishing it, he looks back up, to hear any answer.

[LynMars]

Raevyn fiddles with her food as Dunstan speaks, a little stunned by his request. As Dunstan eats, she does too, in a similar mechanical manner, pondering the request. She looks to Roland and Josh quite a bit, wondering how she's supposed to respond. As the meal comes to a close, she meets Dunstan's eye.

"Well...If Joshua and Roland have no objection, I don't see why we can't at least try. Can't promise anything, but we can at least make an attempt to help. Jasra may know what's going on, or at least be able to give us new ideas." 'And you obviously need her, don't you?'

[Wired*Nun]

Josh looks back at Raevyn, then back down. He shrugs, and smiles, then raises his eyes. "I think I'll do it just to see the look on her face when she knows I helped...if it works. Maybe it will put to rest whatever grudge she has against me. But Roland is as much a part of this as we are, and he's in charge anyway. I'm in favor of anything that sheds light on the situation...but it's his call." He looks at Dunstan, who looks uncomfortably at the three, eyes flicking back and forth at each of their expressions.

[Shutter]

Roland nods encouragingly to Raevyn when he catches her eye. Excellent!

"By all means, try. I'm eager to hear anything Jasra can tell us. This is beyond my scope, I'll help in any way I can, but I doubt there's much I can do. I lack the Art, and I can't compare with the power of the Fount of course..." Roland takes a bite of food a thinks.

"Dunstan, you said your position here is somewhat tenuous at times. Do you have any exceptionaly trusted guards I could train while you three work your magic? Not much I can accomplish in a day I suppose, but it's something..."

[Wired*Nun]

"Well...I wish I had. I appreciate what you're trying to do...the garrison here is loyal to whomever holds the Keep. The Lions are...well, I guess you'll be earning this one anyway...they're my father's men. Dalt. That's where I get my Amber blood, that's why they stay here, to guard mother and me. Heh, and maybe to keep her honest, most times, I don't know. So no, no one is really loyal to me, just to my mother and father. Except maybe Aaron, but I think he's a bit young to be absorbing Amber-level swordsmanship."

"I don't know if there's any task in line with your talents, but I think we might all feel better if you were around to handle...anything that might show up while we are poking around inside her head. Probably nothing, but...I just don't know, and it's best to be prepared."

[LynMars]

Raevyn smiles, relieved, as her two companions agree. 'Least I didn't screw that up too badly, then.' She looks back to Dunstan, her smile of relief turning to one of friendly support. "I guess that settles it, then. We'll do what we can, Dunstan."

As Dunstan continues to explain, she listens, nodding. 'The hunch was right, then...Wonder if we'll meet Dalt anytime soon, or if his men will try anything. Wonder what Kat's up to, and what she's found out?'

[Shutter]

Raevyn smiles, relieved, as her two companions agree. 'Least I didn't screw that up too badly, then.' She looks back to Dunstan, her smile of relief turning to one of friendly support. "I guess that settles it, then. We'll do what we can, Dunstan."
"Agreed." Roland intones with a smile, downing his glass as though to seal the deal. Going far better than I'd hoped for.

[Wired*Nun]

Dunstan looks at Roland curiously. "So you don't have any problem working with the son of a sworn enemy of Amber? What happens if my father shows up and decides you're targets of opportunity? He's not exactly the thinking type, you know. Kinda like your father, Raevyn, but not quite as...sensible. Guess mother was attracted to the bad boys, hey?"

[LynMars]

"It's your father who's the enemy of Amber, not you, correct? If he wants to cause problems, we can deal with them when they happen." Raevyn says, optimistic. She's already thinking of what she'll need for the Trump making. 'Better use oils...Best medium, even if they do take longer, but this needs to be done right...'

[Shutter]

GM:"So you don't have any problem working with the son of a sworn enemy of Amber?
"Correct." Roland interjects quietly.


What happens if my father shows up and decides you're targets of opportunity? He's not exactly the thinking type, you know. Kinda like your father, Raevyn, but not quite as...sensible. Guess mother was attracted to the bad boys, hey?"
Roland gives a resigned shrug. "If that happens, there will either be deadly trouble, or we'll talk it out reasonably. What about you? What would you do if your father appeared and demanded us? I can understand if you don't want to piss off your father, any requests on how we play it?"

[Pygysys]

At her comments about his future, Piet grins. "As I said, I am strong even for my people. Some say I am a throwback to the time of legends. I laugh at that, but people love to talk. If they only knew what I have seen. They think me strong, but I have found stronger. You, for one. The Commander, for another. I have heard tell of others still...I am curious, what do you know of these things? You have served with Lord Benedict of Amber? He is one of the few Amberites the Commander does not spit upon. What is he like?"
"The time of legends? Perhaps some day you can tell me of the legends held by your people. I'm imagining giants walking the lands." She smiles to show she means no offense. "Now I probably am going to insult you but I don't consider myself strong, perhaps because I've known many who are stronger than I. I hold my faith in my skill at arms more than my strength."

She samples another dish, pondering how best to answer Piet's questions. "The General, Lord Benedict, he's not an easy man to get to know. If I had to describe him, I would only say that he is fair and that I owe him allegiance of sorts. I suppose it is a reflection upon him that your own commander seems to hold him in respect. What of your own commander though? I have not heard that much about him and I wonder what manner of man he must be to send his Lions into combat via the air."

Kat chuckles and then grins at Piet, "Were you one to enter the fray with wings? It would be a frightening sight to see a man of your stature diving through the air, fully armed and ready to fight."

[Wired*Nun]

Roland gives a resigned shrug. "If that happens, there will either be deadly trouble, or we'll talk it out reasonably. What about you? What would you do if your father appeared and demanded us? I can understand if you don't want to piss off your father, any requests on how we play it?"

The next course comes, some kind of poultry flesh, cold and in a sweet sauce. "I'm not about to let him push me around. I'm not too worried about pissing him off, as long as it's not some kind of permanent thing. But if somehow he shows or something, you may have to deal with him, or at least slow him down. I'm just thinking ahead, here, I don't have any reason to think he will. Rinaldo, now...if whatever he did to mother signals him that we're messing around, we may get a visit from him...or something. I normally don't worry too much but I just don't know what might happen."

"So when do you want to start on this...experiment?"

[Wired*Nun]

Piet grins at her speculations. "Actually the tales were of trolls, powerful creatures that lived in the ground and ate unwary children. They were immensely strong, and ugly. I don't think I'm that ugly, actually. In any case...I think that all advantages are local. There's always someone around who is better than you, somewhere."

He chews some more, speculatively, at the question about Dalt. "He's a hard man to understand. Distant. We all respect him, but he's not...loved, like some might be. The dragenflegger were an unusual thing, I think. We had already tried several other tactics, that was just one of many. Actually, though I have trained on them, only Seph was actually in on the assault here, that I know of. Maybe one or two other fellows, I'm not sure." He stuffs a last mouthful in, and sits back with a sigh. "If you're from a culture that values belching, I can order some fermented mare's milk and demonstrate my technique..."

[Shutter]

Roland turns to Raevyn and Josh, as the brains of the operation, it's really up to them. Out of nowhere it occurs to him that Dunstan originaly might have found him in a storybook shadow. Huh. Wonder why that didn't occur to me until now?...I wonder if it means anything?