Heldrik

[Thanos]

With that Heldrik speaks with Gray for a while making wedding plans as it were. After he has retreaved his blade he will be back for the festivities. After that he speaks with Eric concerning the shadow and its controlls and that it might be a good idea to slow things down a little bit as it could take him some time to find what he is looking for considering who ended up with it. He would not want to be late for his own wedding.

With that he heads out into shadow...at first the trees change having more and more moss. Then the undergrowth comes in more flush, full, and with many more colors. The sky takes on a more greenish hue and the clouds seem to come with a purple underlining. Soon Heldrik will be in a shadow where what is lost can be found, because the only things in the shadow are those that have been lost.
Pulling the Grand Design up fully in his mind Heldrik rounds a stack of rusted out trunks from some ship lost at sea and wills that Umbryselir be there in its scabbard.

[Wired*Nun]

Heldrik opens the chest to be disappointed. He felt the resistance, but...he had hoped. Perhaps he should take the suggestion about distracting the holder of the weapon whilst he tries to retrieve it...

[Thanos]

Heldrik tries another short trip into a nearby shadow changing a few things quickly and finding himself in a room displaying famous weapons.
North to Amber, South to Chaos, East to home, West to the KOFW. Whomever is resisting me has to be somewhere and all I need to do is figure out from where they are resisting me. If I can get a direction from here, I can move to a far different shadow and get a direction from there. Then its just a mental exercise to figure out where those two meet out in shadow and I can be there.As he scans the wall he wills Umbryselir to be there once again, but this time he is concentrating more on the resistance and which direction it is coming from.

[Wired*Nun]

Clearly, it is in the "direction" of the Keep...considering who claimed it, Heldrik woudld expect it to be in a Hendrake armory, display case, or even on someone's body...it wouldn't be too comfortable with one of pure Chaos...perhaps a mixed-blood? Or just mystically protected, like that Crystal Cave of Luke's...well, it makes a worthy quest, anyway...

[Thanos]

Without delay Heldrik calls forth the Grand Design and proceeds to walk it in his mind. With effort he finishes it and sooner than later finds himself standing just outside the Teleport protected zone of Castle Amber. Waving at the guards politely until they look a little less frazzled he heads into the castle to find Fiona and ask permission to essay the Grand Design at the bottom of the mountain.

[Wired*Nun]

Finding Fiona in her lab, she says, "Give me ten minutes," and meets him outside in the hallway in nine. Ducking into an unused antechamber, and after hearing his request, she stares at Heldrik, as if considering.

"What's the need? You can mindwalk the Pattern, can't you?" One slim finger scratches a nail idly across a canine for a moment, looking disconcertingly like a cat cleaning itself...

[Thanos]

Heldrik smiles and almost consideres lying to Fi, but its only for a fraction of a second.
"If you did not notice, I seem to have left something behind at the Keep. I would like to have it back. I am hoping that by traveling physically to the center of the Grand Design, resting, and then mind walking it I can scry through the shielding at the keep. This would assumably use the energy of the one shot 'teleport where ever you want' feature that walking the Grand Design allows for, but I can leave through my teleport, I hope. "
Pause for a breath.
"Once I find out what is guarding my blade I can prepair for it. Then its a matter of gathering what I need, walking the Pattern again, and then porting myself to my sword defeating the defenders and porting back out again. I am assuming that no shielding other than perhaps directly by the Power of Chaos can prevent or redirect the Pattern itself from porting somebody where it is commanded."

"I have already tried editing it into shadow as I walk and even used shadows of luck to make it harder to hold on to, but to no avail. If you have a better plan or suggestiosn I am certainly open to them."

[Wired*Nun]

"That's an interesting idea, one which I don't think has been tried before...and what with the emergence of the sentience of the Pattern itself, one which may be hindered or helped by its desires. Still, it is...negotiable, at times...but working with it directly, rather just its resonant effects, is quite unpredictable." The fingernail scratches at the enamel on that tooth, idly, and her eyes look into the middle distance.

"Actually, I'd be interested in what happens as well, and I might be able to help you...quite a lot, in fact." Her mouth turns up into a smile, but it somehow doesn't reach her eyes. "And I might need to save your ass if something goes wrong."

"Have you ever thought about the effects of your snatching something from the Hendrakes, presumably, would have on any future dealings with them? They're not very understanding about people circumventing their narrow ethics. Maybe it would be better to just see what they want in exchange? At least doing so would give you and idea of what value they put on it. I could even inquire myself...and maybe they would be more receptive to an inquiry from the Crown...they are going to need good relations with Amber if they're on the outs in Chaos. Who would you rather owe a favor? Them? Me? Random? Or risk their wrath? I guess that's what it boils down to."

[Thanos]

"Since they took the blade in a coup and attacked Rebis and myself while we were attempting to retrieve the others. If they were treating me as the others then I should have been given my weapon back, but I was not. This leads me to believe that they are either going to use it to assassinate someone in chaos, due to its imbued nature, and blame it on Amber...or...use it in the future to compel myself into an set of actions that I would not normally be willing to perform for them. Either way its stolen property and I mean to have it back before my wedding."

"As to whom would I rather owe a favor...my favorite Aunt, of course!"

[Wired*Nun]

"Well, I'm not going to disagree with you, but I bet they have some rationale further than just expediency. They're funny that way...mostly. That's one reason Dara is on the outs. As much as she professes to hate Amber, she's just like us, rather than them."

She cocks her head to the other side. "You will walk the Pattern, then bring me through my Trump. Hell if I'm going to put myself through that again for nothing." Her dimples show for a moment. "Together, in the center, I will be able to help you in what you are trying. Between us, and the Pattern, we should be in no grave danger...doesn't mean we will meet with much success. I suggest we make a survey of their defenses, then see whether negotiation or a retrieval is in order. How's that?"

[Thanos]

Heldrik nods at her assessment of Hendrake policy and notes it as he knows little if anything of Chaos or their politics. Also noted is this Dara lady, who perhaps might be an avenue of gaining information about Chaos and perhaps even Hendrak. Playing with any of the those people could give them more about me and Amber than I could even gain concerning Choas, but a man has to get his feet wet somehow...

"I will take you up on your suggestion then. Be expecting a Trump call as soon as I am done with my nap down there." Heldrik gives his favorite Aunt a big hug, careful not to mash anything that shouldn't get mashed, and a kiss on the cheek. "I am off to make preperations then."

With that Heldrik moves off with the stride of a man on a mission. He acquires some roast beef and bread along with some fruit. Making sure that he has Aunty Fi's trump in his collection he heads down stairs to the Grand Design. He greets the guards and learns who they are being friendly, but not overly inquisitive. Down the right hall and in through the seventh door he finds the blue symbol of Order.

"Today I say hello you ancient one for today I go to retrieve something of yourself. Whether it is made of you or you of it concerns me not. What I do know is that it is the last connection I have to my father."

With that he walks the grand design and if he survives has dinner and then takes a nap to refresh himself before calling in Fi.

[Wired*Nun]

Fi seems unmashable, all steel cables and sticks. She pats his cheek in the embrace, as one would a boy or good dog, and Heldrik suppresses a not wholly irrational burst of irritation. She doesn't think of me as two hundred, rather, identifies me with my younger cousins. Best not to throw away that underestimation yet...

The walk downstairs is routine, the mood of the guards, relaxed. Soon, he is looking at the door, and turns the key.


"Today I say hello you ancient one for today I go to retrieve something of yourself. Whether it is made of you or you of it concerns me not. What I do know is that it is the last connection I have to my father."


A pulse ripples through the cool blue design, and a kind of sigh, briefly. With nothing else forthcoming, Heldrik sets his mind, then his feet, upon the Grand Design, recalling standing before a similar, but different kind of thing, all green and flowing. Those thoughts are banished soon as his concentration turns to the ordeal before him.

He has complete confidence in his ability to finish the test. Hells, he has done it a thousand times in his mind. His body is another thing, and protests at the strain. Still, unless whatever mind inhabits the thing on which he treads objects, the result is certain.

Somewhere around the Third Veil, an insight comes to him. As the sparks rise and his legs feel as if afire, a corresponding Veil clears from his mind, and he seems to see across a vast plain, marked in all directions by infinite radii from where he stands. Along each line are circles, squares, many-sided figures of all sorts, and other lines connect these figures in infinite array. Tiny lights move along the lines, and waves of energy surge in different directions, some going out, some coming back, and some slashing sideways across the shapes. Far off, in the distance, over the horizon, he can feel something; a joining, a center point. It is a mirror, or a slope, or a black hole, a deflector and absorber, a refractor of the energies, an opposer. It is all of these things, and more, tying together a vast web, where he stands upon the center.

Then it is gone, and he must make a choice, his concentration or his memory. Memory fails as he wills himself through the last Veil, and stands gasping at the center, grasping at his epiphany like dreams in the morning's light.

Sitting down, he rummages slowly in his bag, taking out and setting down the food and drink he had prepared. Full but not refreshed, he sags back, to lie staring up at the ceiling, trying to recall. Memory fades to dream for a time, then passes a time again.

Awakening, he lies a moment, then sits up, shaking his head and rubbing at numb spots where his bones rested on the floor. Standing, he takes out the Trump of Fiona, calling her, hoping it's not the middle of the night.

Apparently, it's not, though she does rather pointedly look at her wristwatch after the contact firms. "Feeling better, sleeping beauty? I was starting to wonder. Well, I'm ready if you are." Interestingly, she is arrayed in an outfit most properly described as Early Renaissance Sorceress. Red robes, big sleeves, high stiff collar...

[Thanos]

Heldrik puts out his hand, grasping hers, he pulls her through to the center of energies, so much like a dream now. Smiling at her when the rainbow effect is complete he says, "Sorry about that, I guess I didn't know how long I spent in shadow trying to get the blade to be around a tree. How would you like to go about this?"

[Wired*Nun]

"The best way to learn is by doing. You just do what you were going to do anyway, while I back you up, any way you need. If I have an observation or suggestion, I'll give it to you. If you actually want formal instruction from me...well, you'll have to give me your soul, of course." She folds her arms and smirks up at him, all five foot two of her, and he shivers nonetheless. Get over it, boy; she's as human as you are...which is to say, not at all...

[Thanos]

Heldrik then proceeds at an unhurried pace to pull up the Sign of the Design and then Walk it. Once that has been accomplished he uses it to start scrying through shadow, destination: Keep of the Four Worlds. Getting to the outer edge of the shadow just before the resistance starts he has an interesting idea...

...the fleet was on its way and with luck they would make it to the castle in a week. Unfortunately the winds were not on their side. The entire fleet had to line up and tack against the wind to make any progress on the third day out. Heldrik began to worry. They had only brought enough provisions for the trip there and back having crammed as many men on each ship as possible...

...Instead of charging bold faced into the shadow with the full front of the Sign in front of my perceptions, I could cross into the resistance at an angle. Most of it will flow past me and hopefully like tacking against the wind it might even well up behind me and aid me going forward.

Heldrik decides to impliment this idea and use the force that being at the center of reality affords him to gain enterence into the Keep of the Four Worlds and find his blade.

[Wired*Nun]

Heldrik feels a tweak from beside him, and the angle of his pattern-disk changes, rotates. "Think four-dimensionally, Heldrik," Fiona murmurs beside him. He slides the disk around in a tightening spiral, swooping across the landscape, slicing across surges of force like a surfer across an ocean wave. In short order he is looking at the castle from above, hovering at a balance point of the shadows, feeling the flow of the Fount below him and the tension of the four shadows around him.

"They haven't detected us so far, but from here it gets harder. I suggest you try to locate your blade through Pattern resonance rather than just go poking around."

[Thanos]

Heldrik does just as his Aunt suggests, opening himself to the Blood of the Grand Design, its pulse as it were. He feels it as a strong thrumming from multiple directions, which he tries to ignore, and tries to feel for a weaker pulse down in the shadow below.

[Wired*Nun]

The sharp purity of Order stands out amid a jumble of Chaotic and more neutral power sources - thousands of them. Strangely, they all seem to be overlaid with a shell of some sort, a defensive construct that blocks and dims his ability to see, or to penetrate.

Thousands...the metaphysical variety of it is startling. There were shadow sorcerers in my shadows...but if any one had even one object of real power they kept it close...these things are scattered all over the place. Some of the sources he recognizes as part of the construction of the place, or things he saw before. Many of them resonate with cracked bits of the Design...but nothing like his father's blade -and where is he after all these years?-.

-Where the hell did that thought come from?

"Heldrik, stay focused. They have a massive ward in place. Try to slip in and slip it out, I'm starting to get some attention here."

-And why is this one helping that one in this thing?-

Shit. Keep it together, Hel, it's just

-Haled about while our fathers raged on all sides-

Transcendance.

Heldrik finds himself on a flat plain of no color

and every color,

standing

naked

in the stillness. A voice, soft, genderless, gentle, wavering, toneless, asks, "What is Man, that I am mindful of him?"

[Thanos]

Heldrik pauses for only a moment dismissing the first thought that comes to him that his Aunt has somehow done this. Instead he seriously considers the question that is put to him as he takes in his surroundings or the lack of them and who he might be talking to…God, The Design, Infinity?
“A being of reasonably independent will and thought, which allows for a relationship that would not otherwise be possible.”

[Wired*Nun]

"A suitably boring answer. I noticed you looking around the Source...and thought to offer you a bargain." Perhaps not God after all...and am I not standing in the center of the Design? It most be something - someone - else.

The question is partially answered as a woman comes into view - from where, it cannot be told. No, perhaps not a woman...or perhaps...Heldrik shakes his head. This...person...seemes genderless, or of both perhaps, wrapped in a gauzy wisp of something that conceals its sex. Her - his - skin is the color of chocolate cream, the hair, an unnatural red, as crimson blood.

[Thanos]

Not exactly what I anticipated it saying...a bargain means that each side has something that the other wants, could 'it' have my blade, and what could it possibly want from me. It seems that I am going to be owing a lot for attempting to help out my cousins and allowing them to be in charge. Not going to be doing that again any time soon

"What would you have then in this bargain and what am I bargaining for?"

[Wired*Nun]

"One hand washes the other, as they often say. I will help you retrieve that which connects to you, and you may help me. You have no love for those which have occupied this place; simply leave this object somewhere innocuous, the closer to the Inner Keep, the better." She places a figurine, about six inches high, on the ground at her feet, and steps back.

[Thanos]

Heldrik tries to remember where in the Keep he felt his sword, if he did get a feeling for it before things went all white. If he does not know with relative exactness where it is he will have to accept the deal it seems...
"I would have your name as well to seal the bargain..."

[If he does remember and thinks he can get to it himself he will likely decline unless the pot is sweetened somehow. Bringing more fury from the Hendrakes would just not be a good idea.]

[Wired*Nun]

I believe I might be able to get it myself, with Fiona's help, of course. Still, I have been snatched away - physically or psychically, truly or merely experientially, I don't know yet - by this person...so she obviously has some superior ability to manipulate metaphysical things, but is not able to get into the Keep herself, which may mean any number of things including it's tougher than I think.

"I will give you a name when you have agreed. Pick up the statue; it is harmless to you. Come now, if I wanted to hurt you, I could do it here and now, without your protectress' interference. If you are caught, this will incriminate you no more - and if you are not, with my help, they will not connect you to it."

[Thanos]

Heldrik, lacking no more hesitation, picks up the statue with his off hand and waits for the mystery being woman? The Maze and/or Nightmare? to offer her name sealing the pact. With this he readies himself to do whatever must be done.

[Wired*Nun]

"Well, I'll take that as your pledge. You may call me Nightmare, as apt a name as Unicorn or Serpent may be, though those have true names as well. Those who have blocked the Source from me know I am here, and searching for a way in; therefore I will create as much of a distraction as possible, about one minute from when your consciousness returns to its preternity. Use it to do what you must. Good luck, Pattern Lord."

With that, Heldrik finds himself back looking through his lens, at the Keep. No time seems to have passed.

[Thanos]

Before Nightmare leaves Heldrik says, "We shall have to speak again in the future." and is back...

"Aunt. I have arranged for a major distraction and hopeful weakening of the barrier. It will last but a short time and I hope to slide in, get a fix on the blade, and be there. Do you suggest that I port out spending the time to concentrate first or try and trump you first? It will start in about 30 seconds."

[Wired*Nun]

"I suggest you don't go in at all, but rather, just reach in and take it if possible. If you have to step through, Trump me, it's less likely to be blocked outgoing. What is that thing you now carry?"

[Thanos]

"Reach and take..." the tone of his voice easily recognized as a question.
"The price for the distraction is that I must place this in the Keep for Nightmare."

Heldrik, ready as ever, counts down the remaining seconds...

[Wired*Nun]

A sudden disturbance near the glacier side indicates the distraction is started. Enormous balls of light arc from over the horizon to impact the wards near the walls, leaving a sticky-seeming aurora-borealis smear against the fitted stone. Alarums and excursions from within the keep herald their reaction, as people begin to scurry about like ants.

Angling in a spiral, Heldrik slides past the wards, using the Pattern Lens like a snow-disk, riding it inward without breaking anything but the thinnest of fields. "You've tripped alarms, but they are probably worried about bigger things," says the red voice from his elbow. Heldrik grunts, and works how way deeper. He is having to pry wards apart now, like working a butter knife between rib meat off the grill. Almost there...

His viewpoint arrives within the space where his blade should be - back in the Inner Keep itself. It stands vertically and alone in a glass case, held upright on a stand. A place of honor...or pride, perhaps. Well, one can't fault their taste. A stirring starts in a corner, a movement of a mountain of flesh...not that thing again...

[Thanos]

Must do this fast... Shaping a shadow pocket can take some time if one has to start from scratch. Fortunatelly Heldrik already has a shadow pocket that his blade normally resides in and it is on his person. Its but a simple matter to open the back end of this space, connect it to where his minds eye is, and slide it over the glass case and the blade. At almost the speed of thought the blade and glass case disappear into nothingness and metaphysically Heldrik zips up the bottom disconnecting the shadow pocket from the shadow of the Keep. This makes it appear as if nothing happened, but the blade and case are still gone.

Leaving the center of the Inner Keep with his Pattern sight he finds the little out of the way nook he remembered from his first trip here. He sends the statue there by reversing the trick he used to get his sword, but with the statue instead.

[Wired*Nun]

"Very nice," he hears from his elbow. "Looks like an easy in and out. At least, in and almost out. Keep going."

Withdrawing his point of view from the keep is much easier than going in was, especially with the commotion going on. Soon his eye in the sky is hovering over the Keep, watching the display.

"Wait," says Fiona. "I want to see this...for technical reasons, you understand." Glancing down at her, half his eye seeing the glowing of the Grand Design around him, he notices the intense, fascinated look on her face, as she piggybacks on his efforts. Light as a butterfly, he realizes that she hasn't been a burden in any way, but rather, just a ghostly presence.

[Thanos]

If she wants to see for technical reasons, then I should be watching as well.

Heldrik refocuses his attention on what it happening at the keep, tucking away the fact that his Aunt should owe him a favor...

[Wired*Nun]

After a moment of watching, the scene begins to fade, dimming like twilight on a pasture. I'm not doing this... Heldrik comes to his senses in the center of the Pattern somewhat suddenly, with a start. His sword rests at his feet, and as he looks around, he meets Fiona's eyes, which narrow in irritation.

"Dammit, we've been yanked back...by the family heirloom, it seems." She stamps a small foot on the polished stone, and the Pattern flares as if in response. "Something it didn't want us to see, or do..." Another surge of Power crawls cross the floor, this one like a wavy line of fire from side to side. "Playing coy again, are we? See, Heldrik, it can speak, but it seldom deigns to. It enjoys the demigod role too much to stoop to our level. That it is prey to the same foibles as fair-fleshed immortals is an inference impossible to avoid. Let's get out of here, there's not much more to be gained now. You got your tool back."

[Thanos]

Heldrik is confused for a moment, but is completely back to his facilities at the tone that Fiona takes. "Dearest Aunt, my gratitude of course," he says as he sees his sword at his feet and picks it up in his right hand letting the point stay towards the floor. "Of course it plays Aunt, the very nature of power is that it ebs and flows, yes? Anyways, I think it feels that the Hendrakes are a powerful tool against its ancient foe. You know, together they stand, divided they fall. Then again, it might be what it wants to keep the Nightmare under control? If you wish, we could continue this discussion in the Library?Perhaps his Grand Eminance would be so kind as to pop us up there?"

[Wired*Nun]

"You will have to will it, dear boy. You were the one that ran the gauntlet. I'm just a passenger." She shrugs and bats her eyelashes in a fair imitation of a helpless female, then her pinky goes back in her mouth for more nail-chewing.

[Thanos]

Heldrik grins and barely stiffles a laugh at her immitation before taking her other hand and willing the two of them up to the Library. Once their he says, "What kind of poison will you take Auntie Fi?" as he walks over to the bottles that always seem to be there.

[Wired*Nun]

The librarian glances up at their arrival, then looks back down at her bookkeeping.

"Amaretto, neat," responds Fiona, and clinks her glass to his as she takes it, looking into his eyes. Her voice is low and breathy as she says, "So sad you're my nephew, Heldrik...and married, too..." The deliberate wink she gives him makes him wonder what game she is playing. Probably just toying with me, keeping me off balance, amusing herself...playing with her power. Immunity is its own kind of power, isn't it? "But those things can be worked around..." The insouciant smirk as she turns away might be irritating if it weren't flattering.

Turning back and leaning on a table, in a more normal tone she continues, "A moment." Several odd words and a couple of gestures later, a silence falls on Heldrik. "We are safe from prying ears, for the moment...and what better place to talk than in plain sight? What do you see as your next move?"

[Thanos]

Heldrik wishes to no end that he had some means of knowing what she just did, which distracted him only a moment from the real thoughts underneath that silky red hair so fair.
For the moment Aunt, I will let you distract me with your wit and charm...

"Well, my actual wedding would be nice to attend, and the honeymoon seems well deserved now. I felt it necessary to be there appropriatetely attired with my father's blade," he says as he lifts its familiar weight in his left hand. "After that I was going see to some details concerning the 'Kingdom of Ember', Agraynel's place of birth, and set some things up to allow for possible long absences. I should also leave His Majesty a note concerning any possible Hendrake reprisal for my reclamation of my stolen blade."

For a moment Heldrik really does think beyond the momentary obvious issues facing him and in honesty says, "I think that I will contact my cousins and ascertain the situation that they find themselves in. If they are in desperate need of my talents then I might help them. However, what I am much more interested in is furthering my studies and knowledge of our patron demigod's bistowed gifts upon his fair-fleshed children. Which you seem already talented and knowledgable in," he says the last with a smile reserved for lovers and small children.

[Wired*Nun]

"Dear man, you shall never know...but that is as it should be. Of course you should go and enjoy your oat-sowing. It's a fair match, I must admit, bringing with it a kingdom and all. Perhaps you could even petition for Golden Circle status after it is more developed - or restored, as the case may be." I suppose it shouldn't surprise me that she knows a lot about Ember and the rest of the situation...

"I doubt Hendrake is in any position to make reprisals, however, even if they were inclined. They normally regard capture of spoils as the normal course of warfare - but that works both ways. If they were not strong or well-enough prepared to guard and keep their treasures...well, that's fortunes of war as well. They are philosophical on that point, and expect others to be as well."

Stepping forward, elbow in palm, drink aside her face, the pressing of arms emphasising small but firm decollette, she concludes, "So go on about your business, Heldrik. Keep my Trump close at hand...and remember that any good relationship requires maintenance." With that, she turns away, leaving her glass hanging in midair.

"Grab it while you can..."

[Thanos]

Heldrik does so in the blink of an eye coming up from underneath the glass and not putting any upward pressure on it, holding it in place. After a moment he draws it to his mouth, if he can, and quaffs the drink down. Putting it down on a table he comes up behind Fiona and gently puts his hands on her shoulders. Putting a little pressure into his fingers he applies his skills at massage, which he learned during his 30 years in Perack where such was a necessity to kneed in pasty herbal medicines.

"Given the correct ingredients I can create an ointment that can help calm you? Of course, it needs to be rubbed in over ones whole body, which has a calming effect in and of itself..." Heldrik's voice trails off as he unsuccessfully fights off the images of helping his Aunt in such a way. Shaking his head once to clear his thoughts, "It tends to last for about a week, with no side effect other than a scent of Lavander."

[Wired*Nun]

A snort comes from the woman under his fingers. "Teach your grandmother, Heldrik. I can have potions and poultices by the barrel. What I need..." she says as she ducks out from under, turning back to face him, "is someone I can trust. Someone powerful enough to be a player, but not powerful enough to want to cross me. The center can not hold. This reign of relative peace might last a year, or an hundred, but it won't last forever. All of the elders are lining up their allies in the next generations, if they are wise - either by birth, adoption, or co-option. In this, a woman is at something of a disadvantage, since the men of the family can sow their seeds like...well, like seeds. We have to carry them, even with time and shadow manipulation...that takes something out of you."

A brief, fair imitation of chagrin comes over her for a moment as some thought passes behind her eyes, then she goes on as if nothing happened. "I will, of course, be as forthright with you as I can be. Allow me to demonstrate now. I hope that your...wife will eventually be an asset as well, with her shadow and connections. I also am interested in this Eric-thing of hers...purely as an academic matter, of course." Her arch tone conveys that they both know this is a thinly veiled fiction. If she can use it - him - it? she will...if not, she will study it...

[Thanos]

Heldrik's hands stay in the air about half a second longer than they should, his appearant thoughts at her words distracting. As they come down to his sides he pays her full attention catching every inflection and tone. This is the important stuff, finally to the matters at hand.

"Trust. More valuable than power, wealth, or influence. We have both been taking the tentative steps towards trusting one another, yes I have noticed and been willing to move forward. However, a question does I guess need to be answered in the safety you have provided..." he says this with a jesture around the room. "Is the crown wanting an ally and your the messanger or do you yourself want an ally and you are making the tentative offer. Yes...your interests are flowing the same direction as the crown at the time being, but perhaps not as closely in the future?"

Holding up his hand in a request to let him finish Heldrik finishes by saying, "I see an alliance as a good thing, but I will not be spent as a pawn or even a knight. I wish to be useful in the end game as a bishop or a rook, if you get my meaning?"

The Eric replica seems more than academic...given enough joice I wonder if something like it could also be made by a knowledgable initiate or if it is just a power that the Grand Design can produce?

[Wired*Nun]

"Every true Amberite believes his or her own interests and the interests of Amber are one and the same, else we are traitors. Brand was such a one, who put his interests above those of Amber, even if he started out believing they were congruent. It was exactly for this reason that Bleys and I turned against him before Patternfall, which should be proof enough of my own loyalty. The Unicorn then chose Random as King, ending all speculation as for who was most fit, and incidentally demonstrating that She was willing to take a role on our affairs, if the stakes were high enough. I am many things, but I am not fool. I support Random's rule completely."

Fanning her fingers in front of Heldrik, she goes on. "I am neither so naive nor humble as to believe that I am unneccessary, nor that there are not still grave threats to Amber, nor that his rule is assured against all enemies. The Serpent still seeks to bring Amber down, no matter what others believe. I," she hisses with gravitas, "have seen it. It still hates us, and so those of Chaos will always be influenced to hate us, Merlin's relative sensibility notwithstanding. As Random needs allies and support, so do I, for as my personal attention is on maintaining the Crown and Amber, so my allies' attentions are needed to maintain my own interests. Since I have failed in other attempts to generate a worthy protege, it appears I need to acquire one. I expect to invest a great deal in you, Heldrik, and never fear, I will not expend you except in the most extreme of circumstances...and even then..."

[Thanos]

Heldrik mulls over her words for a few moments, makes another drink for himself, and takes a seat.

So, like myself, her interests lay in perserving Amber and thus the Grand Design which for all intents and purposes 'powers' the family. As I suspected, there is something outside the direct interests of the Crown that she needs someone to look into. However, it either is complimentory or in no direct way goes against the Crown. The Grand Design obviously thinks that Random is the best choice, out of its limited options, to represent Her mortal interests and schemes. Fiona, Bleys, and Benedict seem to be the inner circle so to speak and Flora is optional. Being within hands reach of the inner circle making the decisions and moving things around seems like a very good idea for both my sake and my beloved's. Keeping the center strong allows for everything connected to the center to have a firm foundation.

"The center must hold and thus for both Amber and myself I find that any positive relationship with you is well worth my efforts to persue."

With that he stands and stretches out a hand offering himself as an ally and perhaps even more.

[Wired*Nun]

"You do your teachers credit with your ambiguity. That's all right, keep it tucked away safe there in your breast. One perquisite of power is that of choosing my own interpretations and enforcing them...you may be wise to remember that." This last sounds like something of a threat, if well-veiled.

Stepping closed to him, laying a slim arm and hand along Heldrik's own, palm to elbow, an almost-caress sends shivers up his shoulder, recalling to him his promisedness to Agraynel despite his body's betrayal. "I am a generous mistress, Heldrik, when I know those upon whom my favor rests are acting in good faith. You are free to ask favors of me. I expect to ask many of you in return, and to keep everything between us confidential as well. This will be the foundation of our future relationship. More could come later, as circumstances dictate." She smiles that sad, secret smile, and bares her teeth, shaking her head in mock sadness. "But even I cannot see the future...only create it in the present."

"To start with, then, I'd like for you to focus your attention on bringing your cousin Joss' killer to the Crown's justice. For various and sundry reasons, I have come to believe it is Rinaldo that engineered it. If you can implicate him by turning up evidence, this would be an excellent outcome. If not, at least track down the actors to be interrogated and punished. I have dropped certain words in certain ears to get others moving toward this goal as well; you should find some of your cousins amenable to helping."

Drawing Heldrik over to the window, she points out over the grounds toward the Japanese garden. "Even now, Gerard's daughter seeks information from my brother Bleys. Perhaps you should liaise with her...and also, report back to me on their activities, if anything unusual happens, especially with your cousin Josh..." At his raised eyebrow, she flutters her hand. "Oh, just professional interest in another sorcerer, I like to keep tabs on all of them in the family, and he is so...secretive."

[Thanos]

Heldrik smiles and very quickly relates Josh's control and possible powers based on his time in his shadow first. Then says, "I will converse with Raevyn as you request now. If you see no reason for me not to, I would return to Ember and get married and have a nice little honeymoon after quickening the relative flow of time in the shadow. With my betrothed satisfied, as it were, I will reduce the rate of flow and seek out my cousins."

"As to implicating Rinaldo as Joss's killer, it might require another trip to the Keep, which I am loath to do given the current situation. If possible I will attempt to complete your request without doing so. It would also be very helpful to know something more about Rinaldo, like where he is from, who is relatives are, and other such little details that you might now and can share with me." All this with a smile and a willing eagerness in his eyes to have purpose.

[Wired*Nun]

Fiona runs down Rinaldo's background - all the things that can be garnered from the GBOA, along with the perceived good relations between him and Queen Vialle, his somewhat-friendship with Merlin, his parentage, his kingdom, his temporary marriage to Coral and now Nayda, the implication that Nayda is inhabited by a Chaos entity, etc.

[some reference info] http://www.thekeep.org/cgi/amber?TEB/GoldenCircle

"There exists the possibility that the Nayda-thing is behind it, either complicit or independent of Rinaldo's desires. He seems too smart to be a pawn, but many a better man than he has been distracted by a woman. Or perhaps he is keeping his innocent facade in case anyone gets too close, and he can dump off the blame on his 'wife.' And perhaps..." she pauses, "...perhaps there is someone nearer Amber that is complicit in whatever games they are playing. If you run across anything suspicious, run it by me. I have suspicions of my own, but I don't want to prejudice you with them right now. Let my say, though that though no one is completely above suspicion, I consider Flora to be too invested in Random and too weak to believe she could run things herself - she will always be a supporter, never a leader. Gerard...perhaps the only one of us that will always be true...and Benedict, though capable of great subtlety and ruthlessness, will always act within the bounds of his ethics and the good of Amber. As will I...at least about that last part. Everyone else you may consider suspect, in some form or another."

[Thanos]

Hrmmm, that leaves of the Elders only Uncles Bleys, Julien and Aunt Llewella. None of them seem the type to want to screw things over. Then again Bleys certainly could have the throne in sight as he has before...

"I will keep your broad implications in mind and hope that no one on our end was behind this. More puzzles pieces are what I need and I have a feeling that I know a way to get some."

Those little blue stones and the home crystal that forms a cave. Definitely worth checking that resonence pattern and seeing if I can't track it through shadows with my Pattern Lens. That would be give me a good picture of who, carrying the stones is in Luke's little network of influence.

"It seems that I am off to go to a wedding, my own in fact. I would invite you, but I think that having a goddess of beauty show up would have odd consequences..."

With a smile he gives her a short bow and only holds a brief moment for her to give him any parting information.

[Wired*Nun]

"It seems that I am off to go to a wedding, my own in fact. I would invite you, but I think that having a goddess of beauty show up would have odd consequences..."



"Whaaah, mistah Hayldrick, you'll tuhrn mah hayahd," she responds in passable Miss Scarlett. "I'm not so striking that I would spoil your event just by showing up...But I do admit I have other qualities..." she smiles that little secret smile. "Sometime I will tell you of a dalliance I had with a cousin of yours...but I fear to scandalize you so close to your nuptials. Enjoy yourself, Heldrik...as much as you are able." With that parting shot, the sound falls again upon his ears and the feeling of isolation vanishes, just in time to see her velvet-skirted backside recede out the library door.

[Thanos]

Heldrik stays standing for just a few moments more as Fiona leaves before crumbling into his chair. His left hand shakes a little bit as his right clentches and unclentches.

I see why my father protected me from his siblings, even if it was unintentional in the recent past. My two centuries in shadow are barely enough to keep my metal from melting under these kinds of circumstances. The costs and benefits are much higher here...almost like moving from the $5 a hand table to the $500,000 a hand table. It would seem that my meager bets before allowed me to have one chance at the table with the big dogs. So far so good.

After a good half hour of feeling exhausted Heldrik makes his move back to Shadow Ember to engage in marital merryment and bliss for a time.

[Wired*Nun]

Merryment and bliss must eventually end, as with all good things...

One morning in the spring, Agraynel looks across the breakfast table, servants banished but faintly heard rummaging about the rebuilding Castle, and says, "All right, you. You've got that look in your eye, like you've had enough or peace and quiet. Restless to get back to Infinite Shadow?" Her half-serious lopsided grin ill-conceals the real concern beneath her words. Still insecure...well, why should I be surprised? She's had mere months to get used to what should be a lovely life...and I can't help wondering when the other boot will hit the floor...

[Thanos]

"Yes my love, I am needed back on the outside. I have made certain arrangements that require my time and efforts. I will slow down time here, as it were, so that my absenses will not seem so extreme."

After some more passionate merital bliss and a good meal he makes the changes necessary and does leave with a long kiss good-bye.

[Wired*Nun]

[and?]

[Thanos]

[and]

Heldrik finds himself on Mount Kolvir walking towards a certain tomb in which he hopes to find a small number of blue stones. If they are there he will carefully construct a shadow pocket pouch in which to store them, not wanting to become infected by their properties and still able to carry them about for study and use.

[Wired*Nun]

Unfortunately, either the book spoke false, or someone has removed the stones from Corwin's cenotaph. Considering that this would fall into the "common knowledge" category, he suspects they have been removed.

[Thanos]

Heldrik uses his considerable powers to see if he can't detect the residual effects of the stones in the cenotaph, hoping to get a scent that he can try to track out in shadow.

[Wired*Nun]

Heldrik follows a faint shadow trail of sorts, until it peters out on a steep stairway down the side of a cliff. Just as it disappears, he hears a rumbling above him and looks up to see the mountain sliding down upon him.

[Thanos]

Taking just a moment to assess the situation above, below, and to each side Heldrik is already reaching into his breast pocket to pull out the trump of Fiona which on the top of his small deck.

[Wired*Nun]

Pulling out the Trump, he reaches out to her with desperation, as the leading edges of the rockslide are already pattering down on him. At the moment of contact, he is snatched through with great force, and finds himself, coughing, being led through a doorway away from a roomful of strange smells and feelings.

He feels small but strong hands dusting him off, and turns, shaking his head, to see Fiona dressed in a very practical-looking outfit out of Banana Republic. This and that protrude from pockets, and her hair is less than perfect, especially now that it is full of rock dust.

"So, our little arrangement pays off already - for you," she says with a grin. "What have you gotten yourself into so soon?"

[Thanos]

Cough, cough, sputter....

"...well I went looking for three blue stones that were suppose to be in Corwin's tomb, but were not. Instead I followed their trail down a staircase and found myself under a land side. I should have expected it to be a trap of some kind. I was just about to throw myself off the cliff face, like your brother, when you pulled me through."

[Wired*Nun]

"Well, then I am glad we didn't dally too much with chitchat. If you need a tragolith, I think I have one somewhere about - detuned, of course. Here..." She rummages in a drawer, pulling out a chip of blue glassy stone about the size of a walnut. "And, sorry to say, I'm in the middle of something - so unless there's anything critical right now, I'll send you on your way." After any last converses, she appears to summon the Pattern to mind and Heldrik feels himself being transported, to stand once again on that high place next to Corwin's empty mause.

[Thanos]

Heldrik seems beside himself, with adrenalin seeping out of his system, then he realizes that Aunti just ported him instead of himself which leads to all kinds of interesting possibilities. Being much more warry of his surroundings he goes off to the Castle to his rooms. Once there he constructs two new shadow pockets. The first is a series of shallow pouches with one long opening, but many seperated bottoms. The second is room sized, with an opening big enough for a man to dive into. The first is attached to his belt while the second is attached to his cloak and ment for a quick escape should rocks decide to pour on his head again.
In his room sized shadow pocket, which he refers to as Haven, he puts supplies of food, water, wine, and medical things. In addition it boasts a cot and a few loaded crossbows of the heavy kind. After getting a decent lunch Heldrik pulls up his Lens and desides to take a look around the mountain and discover where the rock slide originated and if there are possible other such traps laying around.

[Wired*Nun]

In looking around the site of the rockslide, it becomes clear that the trap was set some time ago - on the order of months or years - and there is no indication of who did it, nor are there any others. It was probably some kind of spell, though not being a sorcerer himself, he can't be sure. Simple logic would indicate that setting a spell then manipulating shadow slightly to create an imminent slide, held back by the spell with some kind of trigger, would be sufficient. There is no trail to follow, no matter how much he tries to find one - it's either too cold, or the perpetrator walked away by ordinary means long ago, or perhaps used a Trump or other means to depart directly.

[Thanos]

It could have been Fi for all I know waiting for somebody to look for the stones. Then again, it could have been somebody looking to kill Merlin in case he ever came back for the stones. Either way, I have one now, which I hope will allow me to find its parent out in shadow.

More resting is involved and some dinner after which Heldrik pulls up the Lens again and sees if he can't find the big cyrstal cave now that he has a piece of it to ride off of. Then agian, Fi did say something about it being detuned...which doesn't exactly explain anything, but kind of does. I will try anyways.

[Thanos]

[If Heldrik can't use the blue stone to find the big cave then he will start trying to trump his cousins starting with Kat, then Roland, Landon, Rae, and finally Arrotel.]

[Wired*Nun]

Using the tragolith, it is but the work of hours to find the location of a complex of blue crystal caves. They actually permeate an area of shadow, variations throughout one region. It becomes clear that he could search for days or weeks and not be certain exactly which place this "detuned" stone came from. I'll have to come up with some approach that determines which cave is the one I am looking for - but they all block Pattern scrying. Maybe follow someone I know if I can get them to go there...

[Thanos]

...or following somebody who does know that might be going there in the next little while.

Heldrik starts scanning through the immediate shadows near the various caves looking for anybody going in their general direction, or any activity near any of the caves.

[Wired*Nun]

There are many many people doing various things in the area of the caves - some shadows seem to have whole communities living in them, some where hunters or animals use them, and some that seem rather uninhabited. The uninhabited ones would seem to be the best bets, but perversely, those are the ones where he has no idea which among the miles and miles of subterranean structures might be the correct one.

[Thanos]

That is a huge section of shadow that is immune to my scrying attempts. No wonder someone discovered them and put them to good use. That the stone has other properties is amazing. Ancient magics that are waiting to be unfolded. Well I know where these are now and which ones have company. If I give it some time I can check again later and find out which unoccupied ones have had visitors. I should check up on my cousins and see how they are doing.

Heldrik pulls out Rolands trump and tries him first.

[Wired*Nun]

See Roland thread...

[Thanos]

Seeing that Roland is busy Heldrik moves on to Katarzyna and if she is not available then Arrotel.

[Wired*Nun]

It seems like Heldrik is having trouble getting through to Katarzyna. He tries Arrotel next, and experiences some resistance of some sort.

[Thanos]

My cousins, most likely like my elders, are a busy lot...I just hope that they haven't been put upon during my short absense.

Somewhat perturbed, but not disuaded he tries to get ahold of Rae next and Landon last.