Preparations


Early in the evening, the day before Jerod is to set off for Rebma, Corwin will hear the strains of a violin coming from the castle conservatory. There is enough uniqueness to the quality of the music to make it distinctive, though some elements of the one who trained the musician can still be detected.

Jerod will have a focussed expression on his face when Corwin enters. If he notices Corwin, he chooses not to acknowledge him, intent on playing. The work is a favorite of his, modified from the original to allow it to be done without accompaniment (Tchaikovsky's violin concerto in D major). He smiles as he finishes with a flourish, pleased to have mastered the final component at long last.

Corwin claps with more enthusiasm than mere politeness dictates. "Bravo!" he says, smiling widely.

"I didn't know you played, or I'd have asked for a recital before now."

"Family life seems to preclude learning about one another." Jerod says, setting the violin into its cradle before wiping at his brow. He is not winded by any stretch, but the concerto is very fast.

"I learned from Barenthkov after dad brought me up above the waves. Barenthkov never liked the violin but since I was the prince and he wasn't, I got to pick what I played." he says, settling down into a comfortable chair. "I even played some of Rein's stuff, in private of course. Don't tell him I said that though. He'll have an aneurysm or something trying to assimilate it.

"This is going to be my last opportunity to play for awhile. The violin never works well underwater."

Corwin offers him a wry grin. "I've heard the same thing is true of crossbows. Personally," he adds, "I prefer the lute. Perhaps in my spare time, I'll get to take it back up." His tone suggests he doesn't think that's likely.

"The requirements of kinghood will keep you quite busy I'm sure, Uncle." Jerod says. "The one advantage is that you get to do things your way most of the time. I wonder if Uncle Random has considered that wherever he's off to."

The expression on Jerod's face would seem to indicate that he has had some deliberation in where his uncle, the King of Amber, might be going. For some reason, having come to Paris and learned what he's learned, he doesn't think it's going to be back to Amber anytime soon.

"Unfortunately it is upon the topic of King and Queens and Patterns that I must speak to you tonight Uncle. I leave tomorrow for home. Assuming you've heard half of what I've heard, and you've probably heard more, the situation does not seem all that steady. I need to find out why. Which leads me to my first question. Since you walked the Pattern there, you can answer it. Is it identical to the one that was in the basement in Amber? Identical but reversed? I need to know. Did Oberon draw it? Or did someone else?"

Corwin frowns and thinks about this. It seems to take some effort. Perhaps that was a very long time ago to him. "Reversed," he says, "but otherwise identical. I don't know who drew it; that was long before my time. And, foolishly, something I never inquired about when Moins was alive."

"Which still begs the question of who drew it." Jerod replies. "If Oberon did, why is it still around? From what I gather, shadow tricks still don't work there, just like here. That makes me think it's still in existence, though it is by no means conclusive proof."

Jerod pauses to assemble another thought that has occurred to him. "I recently came up with a wild idea about Pattern creation, after viewing yours. One that leads me to wonder about the number of veils in regards to the generation of the drawer from the originating bloodline. Having speculated upon that, the one way to prove it as more than a theory is to find another pattern that has been created by someone of the same approximate generation as yourself, to see if it also has Four Veils.

"So I'll ask you. What's Uncle Random going to do with the Jewel? He's not going to fix Amber's Pattern. There's nothing to fix. And if he draws another Pattern, it will be his representation of Order, just as Paris is yours. So his acceptance of the crown in Amber would be a convenient stalling tactic." He frowns momentarily. "Which means I probably win that bet because I'll be right again." he mutters to himself. "Crap.

"Assuming he has gone and drawn his own, can you contact him? I'd do it, but unfortunately dad's trump deck disappeared and no one seems to know where it is. And the King didn't have any spares when I hit him up for one. At least, none he was willing to part with."

Corwin looks at Jerod. He does not seem pleased. "I think," he says after a moment, "that we should both have a drink. And that will involve going inside."

He turns to do so, gesturing for Jerod to join him. "You're right," he adds, "at least in part, but there's more to it than you know."

Jerod rises, settling his court jacket on his shoulders. "Then I look forward to a moment of enlightenment."

Another idea comes to Jerod at this moment while they move inside. "Grandfather never mentioned anything about having any brothers or sisters, did he?" Jerod asks. "If what Martin has told me, plus what I could glean is true, then he had to have a parent somewhere. Even if it was rather unusual type that Chaosians seem to have."

Corwin frowns. "My father didn't talk much about where he came from. I didn't know for the longest time that the old wizard Dworkin was his father. He never did tell me who his mother was, but Dworkin said something that suggested--well--" He looks sidewise at Jerod as they walk along together.

"If what he said was literal and not figurative, my grandmother was a Unicorn."

"Which with everything that has happened recently comes as a surprise not at all." Jerod says drily. "Six years ago I would have said you were nuts. However, it does fit with everything. The wife watching over her husband's offspring and endeavours. A pity we can't get ahold of Dworkin."

Then he looks at Corwin more closely. "Dworkin drew the original Pattern, right? Oberon drew Amber's, right? So who drew Tir? And you said the Unicorn brought the Jewel back from Brand when he fell and gave it to Random. Did the Unicorn draw a Pattern I wonder? Did the Unicorn create a counterpart to Dworkin's?" Jerod is suddenly thinking in many directions at once. Too much speculation.

"Dworkin never told us anything--not even about his own Pattern. That Dad drew the Amber Pattern is speculation, but it's a speculation I favor. I couldn't even begin to speculate how the others came to be with what little I know."

Corwin takes Jerod down a side passage, and then they're cutting through some servants' halls. After a couple of turns, Corwin opens a door, and they're back in the room where they had after-dinner drinks the first night in Paris. Corwin goes to the cabinet and opens it, then looks disgruntled.

"I'm afraid someone's borrowed my best scotch, Jerod. You'll have to make do with second-best." Corwin pours a glass for the younger man, then one for himself. After he hands the whiskey to Jerod, Corwin raises his glass. "To mysteries, and those many things our fathers didn't bother to tell us."

Jerod raises the proferred glass from Corwin and raises it in reply. "Here's to finding the answers." he says, taking a good slug and enjoying the burn.

Then the King takes his seat by the fire.

Jerod collects the next best comfortable chair, reasonably certain that Corwin has grabbed the most comfortable one, because why else be King if you can't enjoy it. "Your best scotch was pretty good." he says with a slight smile. "Merlin has the remainder of the bottle. We were experimenting with sorcery. He offered to explain some of it to me and I was curious to find out if I could detect it. One of the experiments involved movement of items. Turns out to be your scotch. You won't have to worry about him doing it too often though. He doesn't like the stuff."

"It's an acquired taste," Corwin says, "and he'll eventually acquire it." He turns back to the subject at hand. "What Random told me is that Unicorn told him he had to make a Pattern."

Jerod looks over at Corwin for a moment, flashes of questions assembling themselves, colliding with bits of information to create new speculation, his curiousity reaching outwards, as always threatening the court exterior in the desire to learn, to grow. In the end as the tumult subsides, Jerod nods and settles for the one question he feels is most appropriate.

"Why? Wasn't yours enough? Or did she not know of it?"

"I wish I could answer to that question," Corwin says. "I don't think there are any easy answers to these questions, unfortunately."

He takes another swallow of the scotch. "You understand why it would be a bad idea to contact Random right now, of course." It's not really a question.

"I'm afraid I can't say that I do." Jerod says. "I'm sure there might be a good reason but not having all the facts of what's happening, that reason eludes me."

"I don't know exactly what he's doing when," Corwin says. "I wouldn't like to be Trumped when I was merely walking the Pattern. It would be very bad to disturb him while he was actually scribing one."

"That would certainly make sense." Jerod says, taking a belt of his scotch. "I'd be seriously pissed too if that happened. Of course knowing my uncles the way that I do, I'm sure he won't be telling anyone anytime soon when he's done. And given the unpredictability of Shadow right now combined with the unknown time flow of wherever he might be, that leaves us in a situation of waiting patiently until he calls or calling him ourselves.

"Or rather, you calling him, Uncle." he says, pausing with a smile for a moment before continuing.

Corwin nods and takes a sip of his scotch.

"In any event, I doubt that call will happen before I depart in the morning. So when you get in touch with him, you can advise Uncle Random that I'll be digging into his past in Rebma. And Martin's. For some reason I get the impression it's all connected somehow with what's happening down there. Which leads me to a request for a favor Uncle. I've got official status as an advisor of the King of Amber to the Court of Rebma, signed by Random himself. That's pretty much a useless position though and Random knew it when Vialle handed me the document. I wondered why he agreed so easily to my request and now I know why.

"Moire knows that Amber is dead. She'll recognize the status granted to me as being useless. It will be detriment to me in my investigation. Easy to recognize, easy to ignore because there is no consequence to ignoring me. So instead, I'm looking to be your advisor Uncle. If you maintain relations with Moire, there would be a consequence to ignoring me - it would re-balance my investigation. Assuming you're going to have any contact with Rebma, you'll need someone to let you know what's going on with the Tritons. You can't investigate to find out why your daughter is in danger without leaving here and I doubt that's an option for you. Nor can you send anyone else who's currently here. It's not safe for your daughter. Vere's got his own agenda. Your own son is also at risk and would be unfamiliar with Rebma's culture and politics. And with due respect to your friend Bill, he might be good at watching people but he wouldn't stand two seconds against a Triton out to kill him.

"Whereas the son of your dead brother turns out to be conveniently available. A useful and expendable resource it would seem. And we both know that Princes of Amber never ignore a useful resource." Jerod says, his voice clinically detached throughout his monologue.

Throughout there is the hand of Rilsa and Eric in the background, the focussed intellect carefully evaluating all the options, recognizing and discarding options, selecting what works, ignoring what doesn't, without ego or satisfaction. Some might think Eric would have been proud of his son, always working to stay up on the Game.

Jerod would know things differently. Part of him is grateful his father is dead, to not see his son embrace the Game.

Corwin takes a moment to consider Jerod's words, and another swallow of his drink.

"You're right that I'll want someone to investigate the business of the Tritons and Celina, and that someone who has a slight chance of standing up to a Triton is better than someone who has no chance. And certainly my warrant will be worth more than Random's in Rebma, even with a Pattern to back him up. So."

He pauses again. "I accept your offer. What exactly do you want in this warrant I'm going to write for you?"

"Oh, something polite and relatively vague." Jerod says. "Make it too precise and that's just as having nothing at all. I'd think you'd want to make sure that the Tritons are mentioned, as well as Celina. Random charged me with seeing what happened in regards to Harga'rel's death. That would let me dig into the mystery of the break-in at Llewella's quarters as well and find out what's up with Conner, Gateway and the Tritons.

"If Celina's father, King of Paris, sends the son of his rival to act on his behalf to see to the safety of his daughter, there would be many messages sent. The Queen knows well the animosity that existed between you and Dad. You might not be afraid of me personally but you'd never send me on anything involving your own children if you weren't certain that I wasn't a threat. She'll see that. So will my mother. They will realize a re-alignment of power has occurred. They will need time to evaluate the implications. That gives me time to look around, see what's up."

Jerod pauses to think for a moment. "Officially I'd suggest some type of diplomatic contact. Enough that I can do things like go through the motions of establishing an embassy, arranging lines of communication, being invited to dinner parties, all the important tasks." and he smiles a little, the sarcasm just barely detectable in his voice.

"A more permanent establishment would be done later and I'm sure you'd send someone to do it right and according to your own specifications. But in the interim, I can use that as bait to lure out those who have information and are greedy enough to use it. We both know the values of titles and positions in Rebma. The fighting to become involved with your embassy will be fierce indeed. And with the Queen's primary trouble-shooters in Amber, I will have some slightly less professional individuals watching me.

"Unofficially, a private letter to Moire of your desire to see the situation with your daughter resolved and your evident concern as to the nature of the threat against her. It's certainly not a lie so it will be easy to say. And you can make mention that since the good King of Amber saw fit to send your nephew to the Queen as a representative to investigate Harga'rel's death, you saw an opportunity to have me take a look for you as well. After all, with both of you being Kings, indeed being good friends throughout these recent difficult times, you feel it is important that such matters be well and truly resolved."

"You sound like a brother, Jerod." It's unclear whether that's any more of a compliment coming from Corwin than it would be from Jerod himself.

Jerod smiles an "Eric" smile. He knows a compliment when he hears one, and the room is deafeningly silent in that regard.

"Bill's already laid out some of the preliminaries for the Embassy we'll have in Rebma, but there's more work to be done, certainly. And it would be very convenient to have a man of the blood in Rebma, as Fiona figured out. Are you willing to swear an oath to Paris? To me?"

Corwin leans forward in his seat slightly as he asks the last question.

"An oath like the one I swore to Random?" Jerod asks in a neutral tone. "The oath that now lies dead and rotting on the floor because Random knew Amber was dead and didn't bother warning me of this when I warned him what I was up to for Rebma?"

Jerod shakes his head. "I'm not offering any oaths today Uncle. I'm tired of them. And I'm tired of watching them being broken when it's convenient for those above me to do so. Dad taught me well enough to know they're irrelevant for family in any event. They didn't do anything to stop you or dad. Or the redheads. You didn't swear an oath to me when you offered my sister and myself a place here and I didn't ask for one either. Should I now conclude because of that there is no offer anymore?"

Jerod finishes his drink, settling the glass down carefully on a side table. "I'm going to go to Rebma regardless of what happens in this room tonight. We can help each other if we're smart. Or not. I'm doing what I think is the smart thing. Maybe my uncles would think I'm being naive and stupid, but I think I've got an advantage over them. I'm only forty years old. I don't have all your baggage uncle. All the suspicions and concerns are yours, not mine. I'm grateful for not having all that. It means I didn't have to do any stupid s**t when you and Random returned. That might have been different if I had been two or three hundred.

"As I told Brennan after meeting him, I don't have to like someone to work with them. But I do have to trust them. So I'll let you decide uncle. Which do you want? An oath, or trust?" and Jerod leans forward himself, the slight questioning in his voice carrying so many messages. So many voices to hear. Eric, Rilsa...family and courtiers and nobles...and one more voice that Corwin would not have heard five years ago had they spoken thusly. One to banish the ghosts...

Corwin takes another swallow of whiskey.

"I took that oath to Random too, Jerod. I understand its value, to me and to Random, and to what's left of Amber. I didn't ask you to swear an oath, Jerod. I asked you if you were willing to. I have my answer, and I'm satisfied."

"Good." Jerod says, settling further into his seat. "Then I can skip the nitty-gritty about what your intentions are concerning Rebma now that you're King of Paris. You'll either tell me or you won't. Telling me has the advantage of me not stepping on toes or screwing up your plans because I didn't know something." and he smiles slightly. "I have an unfortunate habit of doing that sometimes. Like Uncle Bleys' pirate buddies. Of course, it also means there's the faintest possibility I might use it to advance my own position in Court there. I am half-Rebman after all. One must keep up appearances."

"I'd like to know whether you think Vere's got a hope in hell of acquiring anyone below. I've seen the Coldsteam and the active duty crew won't touch him with a ten foot pole. It's not worth the risk and he's not offering anything substantial beyond a change of scenery and a new commander in chief. The retired ones or the screw-ups might go but they're problematic. There are always mercenaries from the Seaward but they're just that...mercenaries. Loyalty to the highest bidder. I'm concerned about this because of the nature of the threat in his home shadow. This Chancellor he mentioned sounds very dangerous. Vere wants to promote relations between Rebma and Dannan. All well and good so long as this threat doesn't take umbrance to the foreign troops coming in to supplant her and decides to pay their home some retribution. Magic apparently works in Dannan pretty well. It works well in Rebma too." Jerod says, trusting Corwin's to recognize where he's going with his train of thought.

"I take your point," says Corwin. "I wouldn't underestimate Moire's abilities against the magicians of shadow, but it wouldn't be a good thing if she had to exercise them, especially with her own troubles. I can't imagine she'd release any of the home guard with Rebma under a threat so serious she has to send her own daughter away."

Another swallow of the scotch. "But you're the expert on matters Rebman, Jerod. I defer to your judgement there."

"I've been away for eighteen years, barring month long visits." Jerod says. "I have no clue what's going on right now. All I can guess is that their Pattern still works because no one has been crushed into grisly bits yet. And I've never been in the Queen's good graces enough to be considered worthy to serve as an advisor. Whether it was because of dad I'm not sure."

Corwin nods. Whether it's in acknowledgement of his comments about Moire and Eric or at his estimation of the Rebman Pattern's survival is unclear.

"What I suspect is that Vere might be able to find some, but not many. And not as reliable as he might want. Seaward crew are the most probable. If the Queen did release any of the guard, I'd wager there'd be some serious payback from Dannan expected."

"Given those conditions, that might throw a kink into his plans. I'm wondering if you might be able to throw a bone his way. I know you can't leave here, but you know more about digging up troops from Shadow than he does. I could probably help him but I think once I'm home, I'll be there for a while. If he doesn't find what he needs, I'd like to be able to nudge him back here. He's just enough of his father's son to be stubborn and head home without proper support. He's got some of his cousins helping him I think and while I'm sure they're quite comfortable with the power of their dragons, I can think of ten ways to neatly kill them without working up a sweat. So if I can do it, the enemy can do it. That lack of support just might get Vere killed. I don't think that's something Uncle Gerard would want to hear."

"That's difficult. I can't leave Paris for very long right now. Even going to Amber for the Coronation was a bit of a risk. But I will do what I can for Vere and Gerard."

Corwin thinks for a minute and adds, "He'd have done better to recruit in Amber. There will be more people leaving as time passes. The Isles would make a good home for some of them."

"You can still plant that seed there. By his nature he'll accept the advice of anyone in a position of authority, even if he analyzes the hell out of it." Jerod says. "He's got to return to pick up his friends back in Amber however. If he hasn't got what he needs, you and Gerard can make sure he picks up some crew from Amber. Then at least he'll have a chance. And a few more people may have a decent home again."

Something about Jerod's last comment would make Corwin think of bitterness, or maybe regret. Jerod doesn't seem to like the idea of the people being without a home.

"I'll tell him and see what he makes of it. There will be good men who'll want go with him. It'll change the Isles, of course, which he doesn't want, but that's the nature of things now: change is in the air."

Corwin shakes his head. "A painful business." He leans forward in his chair. "Have you thought any more about what might be done for Gerard? Besides arranging things to go as well as possible for his son."

"Cutting through the hopeful dreams to determine if anything actually can be done for him?" Jerod offers. "I was willing to take off once because I had an idea. Information recently revealed indicates it would not have worked."

Corwin nods, as if this outcome were not totally unexpected to him.

"Whatever we do has to be something that will survive Pattern though. So magic or anything of Shadow will not work, regardless of how powerful it might be. Pattern will tear it apart. I'm wondering if we might try looking closer to home. Our original home. Dara was a shape-shifter, and apparently still is, even after walking the Pattern. And apparently Grandfather was a very good shifter. If it's in the bloodline, I'm wondering, could uncle Gerard be taught to be one?"

"Maybe. I'll talk to Merlin about that. He's a shapeshifter. I know he suspects sorcery is more easily learned before one takes the Pattern, but I don't know what he thinks about shapeshifting." Corwin finishes his whiskey, but makes no move to refresh himself.

"You're right, whatever it is has to make it through a Patternwalk. It bothers me that he hasn't started to recover at all. I'm amazed he survived."

"I had speculated after about a year on his lack of progress, though I did not inform any of my cousins of my speculations. We had enough problems to deal with." Jerod says. "I'm wondering if it might be because we had no Pattern. If my speculations are true, that part of what we are is energized by the Pattern, then what makes us strong enough to survive this sort of thing is dependant on it as well. It might explain as well why Benedict's arm hasn't shown any recent signs of coming back. I understand after his loss he spent most of his time in shadow, away from the Pattern. You may wish to consider bringing uncle Gerard here. I don't know how long a Pattern takes to form so Random's might be out of the question. It's a long shot for sure."

Jerod notices the empty glass and looks towards a window, noting the darkness. "Time enough for that later." he says, climbing to his feet. "If Gerard decides not to cooperate, just tell Vere to bring him here. He'll figure out a way to do it."

And assuming there is nothing more, Jerod bids a good night and preps for the morning with a long sleep.


After his talk with Gerard Vere will send a castle servant to find Jerod and to tell him that Vere will be spending most of the evening before they depart in the castle library, and asking Jerod, if it is convenient for him, to stop by to speak with him at some point.

Since there will be nothing happening following his meeting with Corwin (unless the GMs decide that to be otherwise), Jerod will arrive a short time after that meeting is concluded. Jerod would seem somewhat preoccupied, but the reason for this is not readily apparent.

Vere glances up from the book he is currently reading, one of several dozen spread out over the table he is sitting at. "Jerod," he says by way of greeting. "Thank you for coming. Would you care to sit?" He gestures to a chair across the table from his place.

"What's up?" Jerod asks, settling comfortably into the chair.

"I spoke with my father earlier today," Vere replies. "No great crises are currently threatening the city, and none of the missing have yet returned. However, if you have not had a chance to contact anyone in Amber in the past couple of days there is a matter of certain interest. Dame Aisling is reported missing."

Jerod's expression narrows at the sound of the name. "Missing? That implies that she disappeared not of her own free will. Is that confirmed, or is there reason to believe that she took off under her own power?

"Have you told Corwin yet?"

Vere shakes his head. "I have only recently learned of the matter. I have no doubt King Corwin's siblings will pass on whatever information they consider it important for him to have. As to the exact nature of her disappearance..." he pauses for a second before continuing, with no expression, "As father explained it to me, she spoke with him and Prince Caine regarding her activities in Amber during your father's reign. The implication was that she did so on her own initiative, most probably in an effort to show that she was doing all she could to aid Amber against its foes. However, somehow it was decided that there were omissions in what she reported. Who made that decision, and when, is unclear. Prince Caine took her into custody. Later, he reported that she was missing, and could not have escaped on her own." Vere falls silent, and watches Jerod impassively.

"Crap." Jerod says in a monotone that speaks volumes.

"Either she took off on her own or someone decided to abscond with her. The latter is more probable if Caine took her into custody. He's more paranoid than anyone so I'd be really surprised if she got out on her own. But whether it's Chaos and company, or one of us is up for grabs. For all we know she's got something on of our illustrious uncles or aunts and they want it kept quiet."

Jerod thinks for a second and shrugs. "Or maybe Martin decided to eliminate an old thorn finally. Either way, it's not good. She's got information she can revise. And from what I gather Chaosians are excellent shapeshifters once they've got a good bit of intel. They don't seem to know much about Rebma, but they know about me. I'll have to keep my ears open in case I suddenly start doing things I don't realize I've done."

"Mmmm." Vere responds. He raises an eyebrow and adds, quietly, "This all assumes Prince Caine is reporting with complete accuracy, of course. Which I am inclined to accept as probable, although by no means definite."

"Assume nothing with Uncle Caine." Jerod says. "He makes Machiavelli look like an amateur. He plotted his own death and from what I gather got my sister involved in it somehow. Dad used to call him the pirate's pirate. If he likes you, he'll help you...in his own way. Unicorn help you if he's displeased with you.

"You can be sure he won't have told your father everything. Even if they did get along pretty well. Any word on what her fellow knights might be up to given this situation?"

"Father did not offer details, and I did not press for information. One hopes that this will not further exacerbate the perceived factionalism that some were worried about." Vere shrugs slightly. "Alas, there are too many delicate and dangerous situations occurring simultaneously. I must focus on just those that I can do something about. I thought you should be informed of this latest development, however."

"Thanks." Jerod says, pondering. "I'm kinda glad I'm here and not having to watch this unfold. It's certainly not going to make things easier for our knights. I wouldn't be surprised if some mudslinging starts soon, followed shortly thereafter by the dueling. Probably explains why Random dragged Martin off so quickly." Jerod does not immediately elaborate on the last comment.

"But factionalism is going to be the least of their concerns pretty soon. I've just come from speaking with Corwin. I speculated to him that Random probably created his own Pattern and dear uncle did not dissuade me from that line of thought. We discussed it at some length. With Amber's Pattern gone, some of the people will gravitate from Amber to the various Patterns that now exist. It's a point I must investigate when we arrive in Rebma, to see if the theory holds. The balances of reality are shifting. Before there was only three Patterns, all apparently related. By my calculations there would be at least five now. How they are now related is questionnable."

"Four originally, surely," Vere answers. "To quote Prince Martin on the day following the Sundering," he closes his eyes and recites, "'What you may not know is that there's another Pattern of which the Amber Pattern is apparently a close shadow. That one was the original'." He opens his eyes. "Assuming that original Pattern was destroyed, it explains why Amber's Pattern ceased to function. But does not explain why the Rebman Pattern did not, unless Martin was incorrect is certain basic assumptions." Vere's eyes abruptly go distant, "However, if King Random is creating his own Pattern somewhere else, rather than seeking to salvage Amber...."

"I assumed the Primal unit to be responsible to allow the creation of others, such as Amber's or Rebma's by virtue of reflection. So I didn't count it. We cannot hold that theory to be accurate though now because of Rebma and Tir." Jerod says. "That's why I'm saying five. I must assume that the Primal unit is still intact somehow. If not, then we're back to four. And that would mean that somehow the Tir and Rebma Patterns can somehow survive on their own without the Primal unit, or they try to lock on to the next Primal one. But then why do they exist in the first place anymore.

"As for Random, there is no way he could salvage Amber. Corwin's comments indicate he created Paris through the Jewel, but it was his interpretation of the Pattern. Amber was Oberon's. Random couldn't recreate Amber even if he wanted to. And I seriously doubt he would. He would create his own vision.

"Then uncle Corwin dropped a little bomb when he said that Random had told him after receiving the Jewel that the Unicorn had told him to create a Pattern. I started wondering what kind of power struggle we just bought with that."

Vere nods. "I am still unclear as to what the Unicorn actually is. It seems to travel through realms of Order and Chaos with equal ease."

"I'd be willing to argue that the Unicorn is simply another Chaosian. After all, that's where we're supposed to be from originally." Jerod says. "Maybe she's just another Chaosian fighting it out amongst her peers."

Jerod pauses for a moment. "The universe seems to have a strange inclination lately to throw female opponents at us. I had been considering that as well. I wonder if the Unicorn would fit into that category as well."

Vere regards Jerod thoughtfully. "From the way our elders speak of it, I doubt they would be willing to classify it among opponents. Other than possibly sowing dissension by having King Random create his own Pattern, have you any other reason to be wary of it?"

Jerod smiles. "I'm wary of family members with lots of power who ask me to do something when it might benefit them. My concern comes not from the Unicorn but who we might be pissing off by doing her will. This whole bit started because of the Pattern. Now we've got another one? And regardless of its appearance, it would seem that the Unicorn is family. A pity Dworkin wasn't here. We might be able to talk to him about it."

"I have my own questions I should like to ask Dworkin," Vere agrees. "Did you know him?"

"No. Only stories from dad." Jerod replies. "A few from the others. Most of what I've learned comes most recently. I suspect if he had been around while I was growing up, I might have bugged him more."

Vere smiles. "And no doubt if he were available now, there would be no end of people wishing to 'bug' him. Perhaps a reason we have not seen him."

"Maybe. Either way I'd prefer we knew what the hell's going on with all these damn Patterns. And what Dara was doing in Amber. She went down to the Pattern room before she came looking for Random. Why?"

"Indeed." Vere pauses before continuing, "You think the assault on Random's authority was a secondary motive, and that the Pattern was her true target?"

"If you're going into your enemy's stronghold, where do you put your resources?" Jerod asks. "I'm not the brilliant tactician that our uncle Benedict is, but even I'm smart enough to realize you don't make side trips. You focus everything on the main objective or you run the risk of defeat. Dara got away because we were off balance and unprepared. Even then, she got a knife in her back from uncle Caine."

Jerod thinks for a moment. "Which reminds me, I must remember to send him a bottle of really decent booze soon by way of thank you."

"If we had been alerted, she'd have stood no chance against us. And whatever grabbed Brita would have gotten its butt kicked between Caine, Julian, Benedict, Corwin and Bleys all being armed and within running distance. So why would she do it? I'm not discounting that she wanted Merlin back, but there are other ways to go about acquiring him that require less obvious risk. It's been bugging me of late. So I decided to speculate."

"And have your speculations led to any tentative conclusions?" Vere asks with interest.

"Let's ask a question. Why would you have done it?" Jerod asks.

Vere shakes his head sightly. "Too many possibilities," he replies. "A probe to determine the extent of Amber's current defenses, an attempt to anger King Random into an over-hasty return strike, an attack on the faith of his subjects in his ability to protect them. A combination of all of these. The operation seems ill-thought out, but it is not wise to assume that our enemies are insane and given to imprudent acts."

"All options which could be considered, if Dara had gone to the coronation first." Jerod says.

"She didn't. She went to the Pattern first. What does that tell you?"

"You have clearly thought this through already," Vere replies. "Where are you attempting to lead me?"

"To a point where you'll be thinking like family." Jerod says. He smiles when he says this, though Vere would suspect it is not meant to be pleasant.

"Remember that she had someone with her? He had the red-headed look about him. Enough to remind those of us who remember of dear not- soon-enough-departed uncle Brand.

"It made me wonder if Dara might have been trying to get someone walking it. Someone allied to her or her cause. But that plan fell apart. No Pattern to receive an imprint from. And she wouldn't be able to find Tir or Rebma. Tir would have been the logical choice initially. Brand had a lot of connection to it. He even tried to use it during the crisis prior to the war. But Corwin indicates that Tir just appeared recently in Paris. So it appears to set its link here, at least for now."

"That would lead me to suspect there's a redhead out there with Dara who's looking for a Pattern to use. They won't try using Paris, even if they know about it. Tir would be equally dangerous. Even on a stable night you have to be very careful. I don't know how long it'll take for Random to finish one but I think we both know the odds of a redhead getting anywhere near that Pattern. At least while still breathing. That leaves Rebma. It makes me think that we might have an uninvited guest while we're there."

"Logical," Vere replies. "Will you warn the Queen of this potential threat? And explain that this unknown redhead is almost certainly either a son or a grandson of Prince Brand?"

"I will be informing the Queen of a number of potential threats." Jerod says. "What she does with the information of course will be up to her. I'm telling you this because I've been required to make a decision. So long as Amber was still salvageable, or rather, so long as I could delude myself into believing it could be salvaged, I could always delay the decision. That is no longer an option.

"Barring some wacky miracle, which I do not believe in, Amber is dead. I have one home left now. I intend to make sure it does not come to harm, from any avenue. If a threat from outside comes while you're there, I need to know if I can count on you to help. I can't afford to be questioning whether I can rely on you when things are going to hell."

Vere meets Jerod's eyes and says, slowly and seriously, "I cannot afford to be delayed, I fear my mother's throne, and possibly the existence of her entire world, lies in peril. So I wish to stay in Rebma a very short time, determining if it is possible to raise troops or not, raising them if possible, and then leaving as quickly as may be. But if, in that time I am there, you feel that there is any way in which I can assist you against any threat to the realm, I am yours to command." He smiles. "I will not even pause for question or debate if you tell me that time does not allow discussion, although I reserve the right to question you on the reason for your decisions after any crisis has passed."

"Agreed." Jerod replies, equally seriously.

"Done, then," Vere says. He relaxes and settles back in his seat. "Was there aught else we needed to discuss ere travelling to Rebma?"

"Not that I can think of. Although you may wish to get extra studying in here." Jerod says, motioning to the books. "You won't find many below the waves."

"So you have said," Vere answers. "However, meeting your historian should make up for that lack."

Jerod smiles, and Vere gets the impression he's not thinking of books either.

"With luck you'll get a chance to talk to her shortly after we arrive." Jerod says.

Vere smiles silently in reply, then cocks his head slightly to one side and waits to see if Jerod has any other topics he wishes to discuss.

There is nothing further unless Vere has something he wishes to pursue.


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Last modified: 7 February 2004