A walk in the garden (Raevyn and Josh)

[Wired*Nun]

When they reach the gardens, they continue towards the back. Since the grounds are quite extensive, there is plenty of space to wall without being seen. The ghostly shape of Tir-na Nog'th is already up with the rising moon, and the pair drink in its ghostly beauty as they go.

"Well, what are we talking about first?"

[LynMars]

"What do you think of all of this? And all of our cousins? I've had opportunity to spend time with Roland and Kat, and I rather like them." Her mood deflates a bit. 'I think I spent as much, maybe a little more time, with them than I did my brother...'

She shakes her head and smiles again. "Kat's very...forthright, I think the term would be. Roland learned a bit from your father as well, it seems, and would like to learn more I think. He didn't know, apparently, about Caine's death until recently. He's been in Shadow a long time. I'm not sure about the others yet, though Agraynel seems nice enough, if a bit sickly. Landon's...a lot like Aunt Flora, don't you think? Friendly, but...I don't know. Maybe it's just me. Heldrik strikes me as an honorable sort, and very curious about everything. I haven't ever met Arrotel, do you know anything about him?"

"I am glad you're here; your mother thought perhaps you wouldn't make it when I talked to her yestrday, she said you were busy checking out the wierdness with Dunstan and his attempts to grab younger Amberites..." Raevyn's eyes widen. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to chatter so much," she says apologetically.

[Wired*Nun]

"It's easy to romanticise someone when they're dead, Raevyn. I fight it all the time with Dad. I mean, he was great to me, but he could be mean and nasty, vindictive and cruel to anyone he didn't like or consider worth it. I think he was pretty good to us youngers for good and bad reasons...I think the more someone was an equal to him, the harder it was to deal fairly...he didn't like peers much. People clearly his superior in some ways, like Oberon or Benedict, he seemed to get along with, and those of us who he thought he could control, or at least presented no threat...I don't know, sorry to ramble. What I mean is, I dunno, I guess I want to say...I dunno. Damn, I was just trying to comfort you about Joss, it's probably too early to talk like this, but when you get some distance, it will be bearable."

"I think Kat is brittle..something deep there, something bad...but I think she has the right heart, and she'll eventually work through it. She seems to desperately want a leader to make the hard decisions for her. That's normal for someone who feels insecure. I mean, I'm that way too, deep down, I don't like to lead, I just...admit it to myself, I guess. Roland seems the leader type, and the kind of guy you want on your side."

"Agraynel...I've been watching her...if I didn't know better I would think she had Chaos blood. Heldrik, I don't know, too new. I don't like that many unknowns, Landon has his job cut out for him. I know Arrotel, he's solid, I think he'll be a good backup for Landon if Landon is smart enough to see it."

"I wasn't checking out the Keep thing as much as...well, I'm not supposed to tell you guys some things until we leave Amber. Not sure why. I promise I will as soon as we go, though, it has a bearing on things. Remind me if I get too involved in something else."

At this point Lester comes scampering up and whispers in Josh's ear. From what she can hear, the whispers wouldn't matter much, he's speaking some kind of animal speech. Josh gives him a pat and pulls out a cookie from his bag, which Lester grabs delightedly and starts munching.

"Looks like the games are continuing."

[LynMars]

Raevyn listens, considering, frowning only slightly. "I guess you're right; I don't think I ever saw Caine's darker sides, at least not enough to remember. And as for Joss...I think my biggest regret is going to be that I never even had the chance to know him well. He seemed like a decent guy, very straightforward, if hot tempered and rash. But now I'll never know if those assumptions were right on, or if he had a darker side that we hadn't seen yet that would leave me almost sorry for finding him." She shrugs, concentrating on the closed buds of a flowering bush.

"I don't know much about Landon, nothing of consequence. I hope he'll be able to lead his group on the task assigned. But Random wouldn't have placed him there if he couldn't, would he?"

She tilts her head and looks up at him when he mentions his orders of secrecy. "Random told you that? Why does it matter if we're in Amber or not when you tell us? Are they worried about spies listening in? Because you've had me curious about this, but it never seems the right time." She shakes her head and continues on, looking up now at the silvery city hanging in the air. "It's okay, though. I can wait. It's still nice just talking, and walking out here in the calm, after all that's happened. This morning's picnic with Kat and Roland seems a hundred years away now."

As Lester scampers up, she watches, bemused, as he chatters to Joshua and eats his reward. "Games?"

[Wired*Nun]

"I promise I'll fill everyone in when we get on the road. It may be part of the games; it doesn't make sense entirely, to me either, but orders are orders, and nothing is pressing enough to make me disregard them right now."

"Games, family games, political games. Lester listens to things for me. What's another rat in a castle, right? And sometimes people who try so hard to keep any extraordinary spying from success, forget about the ordinary kind. In this case, he tells me that Fiona and Bleys were arguing about Elress. Bleys wants to expend some effort helping the other team under the table, Fiona is arguing he would be neglecting his duties and besides, umm...well, 'screw her' might be a polite euphemism. Landon is also planning on leaving tonight to avoid notice. Not sure what that will accomplish, but maybe it will help. It's not inconceivable that some of the staff are passing information to someone; can't go around brainwashing everyone all the time, if only because it takes too much time. Begma is reputed to have a very effective espionage agency, which doubtlessly keeps an eye on things here, other Golden Circle kingdoms as well."

"Hey, since we're here and all, do you care to give me any hints on what you might be able to do in a tight spot? Umm, like me, for example, I guess I model myself on Merlin a bit. I mean, he was my hero growing up, I listened his stories that Mom read me from his chronicles. Not that Dad wasn't but you know how kids can be. Always the unknown over the known. I though of him as a fantasy brother I never had. Mom taught me sorcery, Dad about Trumps and Pattern, Bleys gave me my start in combining them...and I got to meet Merlin and hang out with him a bit when he visited here once, it was very cool."

"I've progressed a lot on my own, I've spent a lot of time just experimenting with strange combinations. I have this blade," he claps his short sword, "but I prefer the mystical to the physical."

[LynMars]

Raevyn nods, wondering about the arguement between Bleys and Fiona, and why Landon would feel it necessary to leave so quickly, under cover of darkness. The thought of spies in the castle makes sense, just something she never really considered before.

As Joshua explains what he's capable of, Raevyn frowns slightly, looking away. "I really don't know what use I could be, really, unless I have Trump abilities you and Roland lack. I'm no sorceror, though I've considered learning a little. Dad made sure I know how to defend myself if need be, but I'm no warrior like Kat. The only time I've held a sword really was fencing practice; the same with a bow. I know a bit about sailing, enough to stay together in a storm. I can walk through Shadow and summon the Pattern for defense if I must, but..." she shakes her head.

"I paint, and sing occasionally, and know less about what's going on here with all the internal politics than Roland and Kat seem to think I do. And like Roland, I've met Dunstan. That's the only reason I think they put me here with this group. I really do want to help, it was my brother who died, well-known or not, and we've all been involved in this, but...I fear I may just get in the way."

[Wired*Nun]

"Hmm well, you may be underestimating yourself. If Gerard taught you combat, I bet you'd be a match for most shadow-dwellers just because of your heritage. And it takes a lot of mental effort to do Trump, I bet you would be a big asset in any mental struggles. You can ride very well, I hear, and then there is just good counsel... ummm...and you're easy to talk to. For me. I mean, for anyone, I mean, I guess, umm...." Josh looks down at his feet, makes a blowing sigh with his lips. "Nevermind." He might be blushing.

[LynMars]

Raevyn reaches over and squeezes her cousin's arm. "Thanks. I just try to, I don't know, be curteous to most people." 'That sounded lame...' She clears her throat. "I'm really not very strong--I think I kinda disappointed Dad there--but I guess I do okay. And while I know Siodmak's stronger than me, psychically, I'm not sure about Dunstan. So I think on that front you and I are going to have help each other out, from what little I saw. You're no slouch yourself in that department."

[Wired*Nun]

He smiles under lowered eyes. "Well, I had some good teachers I guess...I also been through some shi- - umm, stuff, I guess. This isn't my first mission for the crown. One of the first things Random wanted done after he was crowned was to track down the location and status of that tower that he visited - you know, the one that Brand was imprisoned in? Anyway, he wanted a couple of us to track it down and take a look without Fi and Bleys knowing. I think it was partially just to season us up - Loric and Elress and I. Something not too hard, you know. I made a Trump of it for him, I guess that was insurance. I've done a few other things, too."

"So, ummm...it looks like it's kinda bedtime, big day tomorrow and all, head back?"

[LynMars]

Raevyn nods. "Yeah, long day tomorrow, either painting or traveling, however things get decided. This has been nice; I doubt we'll get too many chances to relax after this. You'll have to tell me about that trip sometime; I've never been on any sort of mission for the Crown or anything like that myself. I hope I don't disappoint."

As they walk back, she considers the time, chewing on her lower lip a bit. "I think I may check in on Dad before turning in. This has all hit him pretty hard. To find he had a son, then to lose him again so quickly...He's never really been one to hold back on his emotions, you know? And I may not see him before we leave, since he has his own assignment...Or do you think he left for that all ready?"

[Wired*Nun]

"Oh, I don't know. Would he leave without telling you? You have aTrump anyway..."

[Wired*Nun]

[sorry gotta run, rejoin the mains if you like...]

[LynMars]

"I don't think he would have left yet, no. And I do have a Trump, but it makes me feel somewhat lazy to use them when we're in the same building, unless it's urgent. Just me, I guess." She smiles, then impulsively gives him a quick hug. "Thanks; this was nice, just chatting. Helped a lot, after all that went on. See you in the morning!"

She then heads off, politely asking the next servant she sees about Gerard's whereabouts.

[np; either way works. if she can't find Gerard, or he's asleep, she may join the others...I need to go soon too...but for only an hour or so]

[Wired*Nun]

(((This is the first of the material I will be trying to find and post to public forums)))