After getting everyone back towards town and situated, Edan sees that there is some free time left for the day. Perfect. Time to do something that's been gnawing at him since the fight with the Marshal.
He rides out to the stretch of beach where he made the mirror to contact Celina; not because it has magical significance, but because it is peaceful and meditative and he knows Sorcery will work here.
Again, he builds a bonfire. Again, he uses the local sand and salt and clay along with a complex mix of reagents from his pockets and pouches, but this time he fashions it into a water-filled glass globe, roughly two feet in diameter. It takes a while to make just the right shape, just the right thickness, altering the water inside just so to be the perfect lens and prism. And when the sunlight is broken into shards of color around him, he lets the globe hang in the air and spin while he begins to cast.
Waves of fire wash over the globe, inscribing letters and runes in the spinning glass. Broken color shards mix with the ruddy light of the flame, forming wheels of magical writing that turn and spin in relation to the globe itself. Edan feeds it his memories, his feelings, all he remembers of his affine, his will and the need that drives it, and the wheels change accordingly and the globe spins faster. One might almost grasp some kind of equation in there just beyond understanding. And when he thinks it is ready, Edan sends his thoughts into the globe, seeking Kyauta in Time and Space.
Edan sends his thoughts into the globe and is immediately glad he's given himself as many advantages as he could make. Searching across space and time increases the difficulty dramatically. Moreover, there is something keeping Edan from searching too far back in the past. Is it a year? A dozen? He does not know.
He does find Kyauta, he thinks, or traces of him. Deep under Xanadu, in the dark. In the passages and tunnels that do not lead to the pattern. Places Bleys warned him not to explore without great care.
Edan files that away, under the possibility that you might not be able to look back in time past your target's life span. If it's a deliberate block, that will have to be researched another time.
...What?
The irony is not lost on Edan, that the very thing Bleys warned him about might be his very own affine.
He has to go look. If Kyauta isn't rescued in the past, it'll have to be rescued now. But if it is rescued in both places, does that set up a paradox?
No matter. It needs to be followed up. So Edan mounts his horse and heads back, ready to deal with his obligations and make preparations.
The ride back is wet and cool, without being cold enough to snow. Aramsham endures it, but Edan can tell the stallion would rather be in a warm stable with a blanket and some dry hay.
The grooms are happy to oblige and Aramsham allows them to groom him.
Next is a note. Edan goes up to his room, and with the waterfall as background outside the balcony, pens a letter to Random.
Uncle,
I have returned from a preliminary scout of the forest on the other side of the mountain. I saw no overt threats towards Broceliande or along the border of the land gifted to cousins Robin and Vere. I did find a nature spirit who claimed to protect that part of the forest, Lar of the Grove. We engaged in diplomatic talk, and we agreed to share information we find about the area. I had an acorn that I could use for communication, so I gave my nut to her and she promised to take care of it until it was ready.
I have discovered that my affine/knight may have been thrown to the tunnels under the castle during my fight with the Marshal. I need to find out if that is true, and how long it has been trapped there. I would go explore, but it would be prudent if someone would try my Trump if I do not return in a timely manner. If you have any information about what is down there, I would be grateful.
Yours, (etc)
Edan
Some time later, a note comes back.
Groovy. Thank you for sacrificing your nut for the cause of good relations with our neighbors.
You can go into the tunnels, but not alone. It's dark down there.
-- R rex
Okay, then. Edan changes into what he considers a more 'working' style of clothes, trousers and high boots and a long over shirt with a lapel collar and lots of pockets. Two swords and a brace of throwing knives go on a sword belt, and he finds a good light source he trusts. There won't be any Sorcery here. He puts on a short turban and brushes his teeth. Finding no more excuses to delay, he looks for a page to find out which Royals are still in the castle.
"The King, Lady Folly, Lady Hannah, Lord Maximus [and the rest...]"
"Do you want me to send messages on your behalf, my Lord?"
Edan almost says no, but thinks about it and nods. It is the most expedient way, and the page would not offer if not willing. "I would be most grateful, if you would. Give me a little time to write something."
The note he writes for everyone is,
I find I must explore down in the basement under the castle. Not the important parts of the basement, the other parts. One could get lost down there, I hear. If you are interested in exploring with me, please meet with me in the front hall at (the beginning of the next watch).
Yours, Edan
A short time later another of the ubiquitous pages arrives with a note, written in Jerod's precise flowing script.
"Sounds like fun cousin. I'll be there."
A watch after the sent notes finds Edan at the front of the castle, dressed in boots and trousers and a long quilted tunic and short turban. He has long and short curved blades in his belt sash. If not dressed for climbing, he's certainly ready for a long walk. He's peering at various light sources around the entry chamber, clearly wondering if he should steal one of the more reliable-looking ones.
While Edan is reviewing his light sources, he will notice Jerod approach from within the castle. He is not dressed in his regular colors but in a priests coat with dark boots and a pair of silvered blades instead of the spear and the heavy blade he normally carried. The clothing has an odd stitching pattern to it that is colors with a deep, almost black violet coloration. It has the look of something custom made specifically for him.
Over his shoulder he has a pack that he carries with the usual ease of Family. It appears to carry a number of spelunking items within it (hammer, pitons, torches, flint/steel) along with a length of natural thin jute (manila) rope. All of the gear has the look of "use".
"Well met cousin." Jerod says with a simile. He seems oddly...happy.
"So...we're going where everyone's been told not to go huh?"
Edan turns and smiles. "Ah, cousin. Well met. I am glad you brought that, I hope it won't be needed, but it would have taken a long time for me to put one together. Yes, I actually have permission to search around, but the king warned me not to go alone. I think the Marshal threw my affine down there, through Space and Time. I'm not sure exactly how long it's been trapped. Years."
"You think the Marshall tossed you affine through Time and Space, to underneath a Pattern where order is paramount?" Jerod asks. "Okay, that right there would a really serious accomplishment. Yeah, I'd agree with Random...nobody goes alone.
"Anything I should know about how the Marshall might have done what he did, the circumstances that were underway when it happened, or how your affine works? Never been in the bowels of a Pattern location, so I'm not sure how reality is going to be operating."
"I know what won't work. My Sorcery. I'll just be a blade down there." Edan frowns. "I'm surprised Kyauta has survived. It must be, have been, in tremendous pain. It attacked the Marshal when he dodged Martin and came through to my camp. I couldn't stop it soon enough. Kyauta is a creature of Chaos, though, so at least able to change its form if nothing else."
"How much control do you believe you still exert over it?" Jerod asks, motioning that they should start heading down below. "Do you believe that if it was in a Pattern environment long enough, it might have solidified its identity enough to be more intelligent, or perhaps more assertive of itself?
Edan walks along. "In that, I place my hope. Not only of its time in Xanadu's tunnels, but the bulk of its formative experiences were with me. Grandmother Clarissa tells me that as a Lord of Chaos, I am 'tainted by Order'. I happily accept the description. I know that Kyauta has picked some of this up from me. Now, a creature of Chaos, raised on a diet of Order and trapped next to a Pattern- what will become of that mix? I hope it has not driven my affine insane.
"And, I don't care. Kyauta is a Knight of the Lamp. The investiture is well earned in battle against the Moonriders. We are sworn to each other. Whatever shape I find it in, I intend to bring my knight home."
"Let us hope then it is not a fallen knight." Jerod says. "Time to go cave diving."
Edan leads them down to the basement, at the least towards the huge staircase (is there one?), but aiming towards the other tunnels, not towards the Pattern.
The way to the basement is clear, and there is a guard near the door. He says the King has sent word to open it for Edan's party and they can knock if they don't exit another way.
"The King also had this sent." It is a picnic hamper with a red checked cloth in it and enough food for a light snack for two sons of Amber.
Jerod thanks the guard and collects the hamper. "Now all we need is the big bad wolf." he says jokingly.
Edan chuckles. "I know this story! It was surprisingly violent. Oh," he adds to the guard, "is there a map to areas down here? Before it becomes all tunnels and confusion."
"No, my Lord," replies the guard. It's not one of Edan's knights or even a soldier that Edan has met, but he seems competent if unimaginative. "We are here to discourage people from entering."
Edan doesn't skip a beat. “No worries there. If there isn't a map, there will be when we return.” He offers to take the basket since Jerod already has a pack, and nods to the guard to let them through.
Jerod finishes looking through the pack as Edan speaks to the guard before handing it over. "That'll last ten minutes." he says drily as they set off.
The path below the castle leads into darkness, although the floor and the openings seem to be relatively smooth and don't have much of a slope to them. At least here. The path towards the pattern chamber is remarkably similar to the tunnels under Amber, with a number of branching tunnels. It would be easy to get there, as both men know how to get to Amber's pattern chamber.
It's not clear what else makes sense. There are the first six passageways on one side and a number on the other as well. There doesn't seem to be an immediate sign of occupancy.
Jerod does an initial sweep of the area with a lantern in hand, letting Edan focus on anything that might lead to his affine. He makes note of anything that might seem out of sorts. It is not surprising that things would be similar here to Amber given the influence of Order. There would be limits to how much expression can be forced into existence by a creator here...and with Pattern and Sorcery equally suppressed they'll be looking for subtle variances...smells, odd air flows, signs of movement on the floor from dirt or dust.
Edan tries his best to triangulate where he is vs. where his spell might have given a more specific location. He doesn't bother trying the Third Eye yet because he'd like to be able to see after all this.
"I was fortunate to locate Kyauta here; I had to search both Time and Space over years, and as it turned out, next to a Pattern. It was well-played. I am hoping not to have to methodically search tunnel by tunnel."
"I'm curious as to the means by which you were able to conduct your search." Jerod says, bending down to check something he spotted before determining it is of no value. "Pattern doesn't lend itself to scrying. Was it some kind of deductive function?"
Edan head-shakes a negative. "If you follow the strip of beach south of the city, you eventually reach a sweet spot where complex Sorcery can happen. One might wonder if Random fashioned it that way on purpose. That was one bonus.
"Another is, well, myself. I have a talent for mixing and combining Principles. I hit just the right combination of Time and Space and Similarity to find traces of Kyauta, even in this place. It is the nature of Sorcery to work around the Order imposed by the Pattern."
"Interesting. So would you say that Sorcery might find Order to be porous...to a point?" Jerod asks.
"Or Order gets porous as it spreads outwards, and Sorcery fills in the cracks. And I am an Ordered being using Sorcery, which may throw in an additional iteration. I really should sit down sometime and do the math on that."
"Also interesting." Jerod replies. "Anything?"
All Edan knows is that Kyauta would try to be as far away from the Patterns as it could get. Deep and distant.
He also recalls it being wet, in the way that natural caves often are and this one is decidedly not.
Edan's expression visibly falls. "Down deep, I think, in a natural cavern. Where it's wet."
"Mmmm...okay. Let's hope we're just spelunking and not cave diving." Jerod says. "Didn't bring gear for that."
Having done a review of the tunnels, do any have the requisite characteristics for deep and wet, meaning the air is a bit moister, or the passage slopes down.
If not, and if Edan doesn't know which way, Jerod will just pick one at random (no pun intended).
The caves seem extensive, and as they move away from the known path to the pattern, the path becomes less regular, the floor becomes less even, and the slope becomes more pronounced.
The two prince's sons traverse the cave system and head deeper and further under the great cliffside.
There could be a link to the caves in the cliff face below, but it's far from obvious where that connection would be.
It's far too close to manipulate the pattern and sorcery is equally useless. Perhaps they can find another node where sorcery works.
There are few signs of life down here, but not no signs.
Jerod hears it first. There's water ahead, moving without rushing. Perhaps it's lapping against a shore. Perhaps something breached the surface of an underwater lake.
It's just ahead.
Jerod stops, his head tilting slightly as he listens for the sounds again. He sniffs at the air to get a feel for it, and for other smells that animals and such leave behind in that environment.
"Did you hear that?" he asks. "Water movement...it's not a river or stream though. Something else is causing it."
Edan tilts his head as he listens. "Kyauta can change its shape, though it usually adopts a dragonet form to ride with me. It also ate much of a rain-god...creature...in Uxmal, so water would be natural to it. I anticipated hitting water early...do you happen to know what kind of stone runs through this mountain?"
Jerod shakes his head. "Not this mountain." he says. "Though assuming Random wasn't going for really weird mountain building processes, and assuming when forming a Pattern he has to follow the rules of geological formations, then it would likely to be similar to Amber. You're probably looking at limestone or granite depending on how the mountain's origin was envisioned. Limestone for sedimentary origin, granite for igneous.
"It would also depend on if the geological rules followed a convention of mixtures, since mountains aren't uniform and contain varieties of origin materials. Here, given tunnels and possible water caverns, I'd hazard probably limestone. Cave formations are more common, especially with water flow removing softer materials. Granite is highly resistant to water degradation. You can get caves in granite, but they're erratic, not well formed."
Edan nods along. "I was kind of afraid of that. This much water, the bay out there, we might run into some truly huge caves. It's very interesting; usually if I had to overcome a lot of water or a wall, I would use Sorcery to build a boat or fly over. Now I'm down to climbing."
He frowns at the rock around them. "I would also agree with you, given that Random made a Pattern here, it's 'whatever he felt like.' But I heard a rumor that he found this place and dropped a Pattern on it, not the other way around. Had you heard anything like that?"
He smiles, and almost means it. "Let's go see how big this lake is."
"I have not heard such a rumor." Jerod says. "I'd be curious as to its origin. I will admit to not being party to much of Random's comments or conversations, though I am...hopefully...no longer on his bad side." and he chuckles slightly.
Edan smiles at that. "I need to stop trying to get there. The rumor, yes, I think it crossed over to Xanadu along with the citizens. I am awash with crazy rumors I hear from the Lamp, and it is very difficult to substantiate anything."
"As for the body of water, let us see. Under mountain water bodies are rare, typically small as well. They're more common when connected to ocean environments. I did a lot of exploring as a kid in Rebma...my tutors had very active ways of teaching."
"Most of my cave exploring... isn't. There are caves in the rocky areas around the deep desert, but they were long mapped out and used before I arrived to see them."
"Mmm...if you ever go to Rebma, let me know. There are some very nice ones there you would never see above the waves. And all the ones I explored were mapped too...my tutors just didn't tell me that part." Jerod says, smiling at the memory.
"I visited there a couple of days but definitely not caves. I would enjoy such a trip," Edan says. "I'm in."
He definitely dials his senses up as they move ahead to the sound of water.
Jerod follows a slight bit behind so Edan can be the first contact point for his affine when, and if, they come across it. He is also careful to check their circumstances as they approach, listening for wave and water movement, sniffing for odors that are not expected from a water environment or changes in humidity or temperature that would be of out sorts for where they are.
He also pushes back the priest coat to give free access to his swords. He does not draw them, but they are ready for use as a last resort.
It's not long before an opening appears to a large, open cavern. There is water here, and it smells brackish, although they haven't really progressed far enough down to reach the level of the sea.
The entrance opens at least 100 feet above the water, which fills the bottom. Edan thinks Kyauta is on the far side of the cave, but it's too large to see all the way across.
The water's surface below is occasionally disturbed. Perhaps by blind cave fish.
Or something else.
Jerod will be examining the cavern, checking for ledges, outcroppings and hand holds along the wall facing to the other side of the cavern, using the lantern to highlight elements that could be used for climbing points.
He waits to speak while Edan reviews the situation.
"How much free face climbing have you done?" he asks.
Edan is looking up at the walls and ceiling, gauging how wet and slippery it looks. He doesn't appear happy. "Some," he admits. "Strictly amateur, after my father showed me the basics. Mostly without equipment. On the plus side, my sense of balance is very good."
There's not much to distinguish left from right. To the left, the cave seems to curve around slightly more quickly, but that might not continue. It's a natural cavern and it doesn't look like the water regularly gets this high, although looking down it does seem as if this may be tidally influenced; there's a waterllne higher than the current water's surface. Or maybe it rises in the spring from run-off from the mountains.
The roof, equally far above the surface, seems to have a number of prominent stalactites (and many smaller ones. Water isn't seeping in from ground level (or the lake) at a rate that would make the sounds they heard before.
"I can...feel Kyauta over there." Edan points to the far end of the cave. "I guess we have no choice. Did you want to take point? I doubt I have as much experience as you placing pitons."
Jerod pulls off the pack and drops it, starting digging around. Edan will see it is very well packed and has the look of a "go-bag" as Jerod pulls out equipment, tossing him a harness.
"I'm sure our fathers would probably try to do this without gear just because of ego." he says with a chuckle. "The last time I did something like this was a 900' climb up a jagged face and only one chimney for channeling...and one rope. No gear, no backup.
"Needless to say, that's when I decided gear was the way to go."
Edan will note that everything in the pack is suitable to Xanadu. There are no high tech materials, no synthetics. Manila rope, reinforced leather for strapping and gloves, conventional steel or aluminum pieces. A pair of small satchels that will be revealed to contain powdered chalk. But the gear also includes things like cams as well as regular pitons. There is enough for two harnesses.
Jerod removes his jacket and folds it into the pack before getting his harness on, all the while continuing to review the wall face.
"Any idea how far you think we've got?" he asks, attaching gear to the harness.
Once he has his answer, Jerod picks his start point and begins the cross-over.
Edan looks fully appreciative of the effort put into this climbing gear. He points best he can where he thinks they're going. "There, in the back, far away as possible from the Pattern. Ah, we will avoid the ceiling, yes? Hanging off a stalactite seems a little too worm-on-a-hook for me."
Jerod laughs at that comment. "No, I think we'll be smart and wall crawl our way across. It's slow but safer."
The gear looks very effective and the wall looks like it will be slow but safe.
In any event if they fall, it will be into water, so at least there's that (or water after a bump or two. Nothing too worry too much about...)
Jerod blows out the lantern light to let it cool before putting it in the pack. He takes chalk from his pouch to rub on his hands, continuing to look at the rock face while his eyes adjust, listening to the background sounds.
Once the lantern is done, he puts it in the pack, handing it to Edan. "Do gear pick-ups as we pass them. Cams here, pitons here." pointing to pockets on the outside of the back that are reachable. "If we need to replenish we'll do it on the wall."
Once that is done, he places his first safety point and then reaches out for a climb point, setting his mind to the task. He knows from experience, it is not the wall that will challenge him...it will be his impatience, his drive to win. Power, the tool of Princes, is not what wins the day here. It is patience and technique... and more patience.
Jerod smiles to himself...and he accepts the challenge as he begins.
It's a tough climb, and it seems that the right choices are always up. It's a long time moving across the cave wall. Jerod occasionally feels as if he's being watched, but he never catches anyone doing so.
When they reach the point Edan thought, they are hundreds of feet above a small sandy beach. There are probably openings that go back from it.
Jerod stop at that point, taking a moment to watch and listen. That he might not have caught someone watching him does not mean they are not and he trusts his instincts. As he is looking, his hands begin working automatically to make a tumble hitch knot in preparation for rappelling to the beach below.
Jerod doesn't catch an observer, but that doesn't mean there isn't one.
"Anything new here?" he asks Edan.
Edan shakes his head, steps up with a drop knee on a protrusion to rest while he puts the last few cams back in the pack. "Kyauta should be here. Down there. I'd call to announce us if I thought it would help."
"Since we have something...or someone...watching us, I'm not sure it would." Jerod says, finishing up the knot. "I'll drop down first. Follow me down. If your Kyauta comes out when I'm down before you're down, see about trying to get his attention.
"Careful with the rope." holding up the double rope. "This side tightens it on the way down...this one releases the knot." and he smiles. "Don't want to use that one just yet."
With that Jerod heads downward. The means of his rappel will be determined by the rock facing. If it is relatively flat, an Australian crawl can be done. If there are variances that might impact the ability to "run down" the facing, then a lizard crawl would be done. Both are face down so you can see what is approaching.
Jerod heads down and finds himself on a small beach. The sand is uniform and it looks more like a picture of a beach in a cave than a beach in a cave should. The cave extends out of sight, in the direction that Edan previously pointed out.
Somewhere, in that direction, someone has a light. It's not much, but in all the darkness it's easy to pick out.
Edan follows down; it's obvious he's not used to rappelling down a rope, and it's equally obvious he could probably have made his way down without one. He'd be a heck of a rock climber with some experience.
He adopts a deep frown when he sees what's at the bottom. "This isn't right. This whole thing could be my affine.
"Kyauta?" he calls out anyway, moving forward, since they would have to do that eventually. And this way he confirms who he is, who he remembers his affine to be, and that Edan is at the end of a search. His voice has a tinge of distortion from stress, worry and hope.
Edan's comments about Kyauta being "the whole thing" does not give Jerod any comfort, though he declines to show it.
Approaching the light however, Jerod's focus will be on their surroundings. The light is obvious and therefore easy to occupy one's attention in a dark environment. It is the shadows that he watches now, looking for the subtle shifts of gray and black for things that move in the depths of darkness. But despite this, an outside observer might think that Jerod is quite comfortable with darkness. He remains quiet, letting Edan set the pace towards the light.
Great Lord?. Kyauta responds. Or something responds. It occurs to Edan that it might have changed since they were separated. I have been waiting, Great Lord!
Jerod thinks there's a light source down the tunnel, like a candle or a lantern. It can't be too for down the passageway, or it wouldn't be visible.
There's splash from the water, somewhere out of sight.
"That's close." Jerod says to Edan, motioning to the light. The splash from the water is noted for the direction and he tries to determine the amount of water (very generally) that might have been displaced and how it was done (a basic breaching or did something jump out)....since there is little other noise around to interfere with listening.
Jerod thinks it was as big as a turtle or a fish, but not the kind that win fishing competitions. Possibly eating something on the surface.
I have found you! Edan repeats that aloud for Jerod's benefit. He glances behind them, and speaks both verbally and mentally again when he asks, "Kyauta? What is in the water?"
Great Lord, you have found me! There are cave fish in the water. And things that cave fish eat and things that eat cave fish.
Great Lord, I am stuck.
Jerod remains in wait-mode, keeping watch as Edan communicates with his affine.
Edan passes along this last information, along with a significant look to note there's not a clear definition of "things that eat cave fish".
"We have found you. Now it is only a matter of time to get you out. I am here with my cousin Jerod. Let us have a look at you. We are coming in." Unless warned off, Edan starts moving towards the light.
Jerod follows along, keeping on eye on the shadows. "A definitive Chaosian perspective...I eat it, or it eats me." he deadpans.
The path is short, and the way becomes better lit. It's just a few steps until Jerod and Edan come to a chamber. It is not large, but it is surprisingly regular, as if it had been carved. It may be as large as 30 yards across.
Near the back of the chamber they see two things.
The first is Kyauta, or at least the top half of Kyauta, sticking out of what looks like some sort of stone or gem formation.
The second is a firelilly.
Jerod pauses at the chamber entrance to take in the view. The oddity of Edan's affine is outweighed by the firelilly in the middle of a Pattern realm.
"I want to try something." he says. "See if it is radiating any kind of effect."
With that, Jerod opens up his senses for Pattern influence, or specifically, for variances that may exist to it. This close to a Pattern, all of the reality around him should be uniform so he is focused on whether the lilly has any variance.
Edan closes his eyes for a long second, then opens them. He stands still a moment, letting Jerod do his thing; if nothing else, he provides a known quantity to compare and contrast against the background and the firelily.
Jerod opens himself to the Pattern and is slammed hard by it, as if he were having to walk it just to open his senses. He finds the uniformity he expected. It is the uniformity of staring at the sun.
In the burned out afterglow of his now useless pattern senses, Jerod sees things he doesn't recognize. An urban ocean of petroleum flames and neon rain. A six-day winning streak in Heaven's golden and velvet wonderland. The exquisite geography of pale skin and crimson smiles in the shadows of Skeleton Row.
All splintering and tearing and fading while he staggers, as if he'd been hit with a hammer by Gerard.
The expletives that Jerod unleashes would be worthy of dockside denizens at their most drunken and lecherous. He breathes deep to control the pain as he reasserts his will once more.
"Well, I know how Vere feels when he looks at me doing Pattern work." he says drily. "That's a dead-end."
Edan has a hand raised reflexively, but slowly drops it, realizing the futility of trying anything sorcerous in here.
"Sorry," he says. "I've only tried something like that once, I was using the Third Eye, and even with a filter up in between I was seeing stars." He falls silent, then, remembering it was seeing the Queen of Air and Darkness within Vialle.
"First the monks, then the Moonriders, and now the Dragon. Brilliant. Kyauta, tell me what this is, as you see it, and how you came to be in it. Especially that flower."
Great Lord, I was thrown here, by the one who fought you. I ended up here, and then a cave happened to me. Kayuta pauses, gathering their words. This is my friend, Lillith. They are also stuck, but not here. He seems pleased to have a friend.
"In Arden, I spoke with Julian regarding firelillies. I traced their influence back to the Dragon of Arcadia, Daeon's grandmother, a Lord of Chaos who was tragically trapped in Order when the Pattern was first formed. I threatened to Eat her. We had tea instead. It was very pleasant. Is this the very same? I would ask how she got here."
I do not know, Great Lord. Shall I ask them?
Edan sighs. "Kyauta, yes. Ask her how she got here." And while he waits for an answer, he examines the flower to see if it is trapped in stone like his affine has become.
The flower is attached to the top of a small stalagmite, perhaps 3 inches tall. Or perhaps not attached so much as 'not attached'. It seems to be on a bead of water. The kind that would've fallen from the ceiling to make a small stalagmite.
They say they are an affine, and like me were cast here at the beginning of time.
Edan relays that to Jerod. "It makes more sense," he adds, "if this were Amber. I think it was Clarissa that told me the Dragon was a Lord of Chaos trapped in the matrix of Order. Perhaps people are not the only things that migrated to Xanadu."
Jerod nods, kneeling down to get a look at the flower in detail. He does not open his senses up again to study it (he learns from prior situations) but he does try to collect as much as he can given he has never seen a firelilly before.
The firelilly is aptly named. The petals are in the shape of a lily and the center of it is on fire. The fire creates some heat, but perhaps not more than a candle's worth. It's bright, but not blinding. It doesn't seem to be burning through the pistils -- they are darkened but not being consumed. It would be a useful and decorative table light.
"We need a frame of reference to ask questions." he says. "Since I do not know the limitations of Kyauta we need to be clear what he means by things, like the beginning of time.
"Inscribing a pattern creates a world, which logically means it has a beginning. Does he mean the beginning of Xanadu, or the reality of which it was formed from. Because that will beg questions like how was Lilith thrown here from before time, by whom. And how could they be thrown into a Pattern realm at the point where its power is considered the strongest." he says, like ticking off points from a chart he could have been reading.
"Also, we should ask where Lilith is stuck, if she is not stuck here. It would imply this is a piece, an extension of her. Part of me wonders the connection between Lilith and this Dragon. And the name itself does not bode well." and he shakes his head slightly.
Edan smiles, a little. "Those are very good questions." He passes them along through Kyauta, starting with: "Who sent her here? And you're familiar with our concept of time, as you've spent it with us; how long ago did this happen?"
Kyauta nods, or bobs, but somehow physically indicates assent. They must be communicating with Lilith. I do not understand their answer. They say I sent them. I have no such recollection. Perhaps I have yet to do so.
It has been months, Great Lord! I have almost become hungry.
Jerod is studying the flower carefully, the intricacies of its form. He is vaguely reminded of a species of flower in Twilight that shone as if it were on fire, though it only appeared that way and only when the second moon was visible. He listens to Edan's translated message and shakes his head. "This is why I hate Moonriders and time-shifting. You never know which causational effect is actually the primary one."
He does not ask any questions at the moment, waiting to see what Edan has in mind.
"Maybe another you did it. We will worry about that part later. How exactly are you stuck, are you merged with the stone? Or is it something else and the stone is just forming around you?"
Lord, I cannot change my form, and I am surrounded by this rock. If I were more protean, I could make myself not be in the rock. This is not a place where it is easy to be.
"Let's have a look, then." Edan examines the stone, and Kyauta's position in it; is it limestone? Breakable?
And he spares a glance at the firelilly, wishing that he had any access to Sorcery. But still thankful, as this situation could have been much worse.
Without sorcery, it's a pretty, exotic flower that is burning in the middle and smokey in the petals. It's resting on a drop of water. It might be possible to pick it up and move it.
The stone definitely looks breakable. You'd just need to be very careful about Kyauta.
Jerod turns his attention to Kyauta's predicament, studying the rock to determine its type.
"How strong is Kyauta? How much injury can he sustain?" he asks, tracing over the rock material. "Since he can't shift, we have to split the material enough to let him come out as a whole. He can expect some compression bruising at the minimum. Be thankful this isn't volcanic rock...that takes a lot of effort to break."
"Kyauta's base form is like gelatin," Edan says. "This dragonet form is harder but more brittle. It reminds me of...oh, what is that stuff...hard plastic. So yes, the scales could crack or shatter. Kyauta, you understand what we are doing, yes? If you can pull away from the rock, try and do so.
"The good news is," he continues to Jerod, "if there is injury, and I can get them away from the Pattern, Sorcery would be very effective in healing."
My Lord, what happened with the Lord you were fighting?
Jerod will go over with Edan his idea for how to proceed. Since Kyauta is encased they need to figure out where his extremities are, so basically they are going to tap out points on the covering material to determine approximately where they are, and where there are gaps.
Once gaps are found, Jerod will punch in a series of holes into the material in a line to help create a fault line. Once they have enough he will use a pry to open it.
The only thing about this plan is that it will take a bit of time probably, so Jerod will be busy and listening as Edan talks to his affine.
Jerod taps out the holes and avoids Kyauta's extremities. The rock is hard, but Jerod is Eric's son and considers himself harder. The rock splits where Jerod had tapped out the fault. Aside from one grunt when Jerod uses his pry bar to split it, Kyauta merely watches with interest.
A large chunk of granite slides to the ground, leaving Kyauta nearly free. It's probably close enough that the affine can be chiseled out.
Thank the Great Lord Jerod for me, Great Lord!
Edan has a genuine grin. "Well done! Kyauta thanks you as well."
Jerod will continue to conducting the chiselling activity as Edan discusses with Kyauta. He will interject as needed.
Edan does his best to assist, but he also spares a glance at the firelilly. "If you invited Lilith here, whether you remember the specifics, she would be a guest. Perhaps even an emissary. But this place is...restricted. She cannot remain here. If there is a proper container in the pack, I will bring her out. I want to be in a place where I can converse with her directly."
Jerod shakes his head, tapping out a fracture line. "My climbing gear doesn't generally include bio-hazard containment tubes." he says. "Check the king's lunch basket. Maybe he was kind of enough to stuff a bunch of food into a metal container.
"Besides, I'm hungry and I'm trying to think about how to tell Random there's a fire lilly under his mountain. That'll be an interesting trump call."
The lunch basket contains a vacuum bottle with some soup in it, as well as bread, sliced meat, apples and cheese.
The last bit of granite slides free and Kyauta starts to fall over. It has not been supporting itself on legs for some time.
Help me, Great Lord!, it cries as it slumps towards the ground.
Edan has the vacuum bottle in hand, which he immediately grounds back into the basket, probably not doing an apple or two any good. He does his best to catch his affine.
"Sorry," he says to Jerod if he's successful. "I'll eat those."
Jerod, being Jerod, plus being very close to Kyauta would have been ready for him to collapse, not to mention being fast but since Edan moved to help his affine he simply acts as a backup in case Edan misses, which is unlikely.
Edan catches Kyauta. Kyauta collapses bonelessly into Edan, like a cat. He says Thank you, Great Lord! I think I should rest now
"They're still fresh." Jerod says in deadpan humor as he reaches in to collect the vacuum bottle and determine if it is suitable for the required transport, looking at the firelilly.
He taps the bottle with a fingernail as he studies the flower, processing data from past conversations, slotting elements into their boxes for reference. "It was mentioned this was like an affine....logically that means it has a connection to something. The other connection isn't immediately relevant to my next question which is...what about all the other firelillies we've seen." and he looks at Edan.
"How many of those have been found? Are they the same, as in they are affine? Are they the same affine, or are they all unique?
"More questions...and we'll want to ask them before we tell Random he's got an intrusion in his basement."
"When I visited Julian, he had one of these things on a table in his tent. I noticed that it was connected... networked. I offered to trace it back via the fire, and Julian came up with a workable map. It led straight to the heart of Arcadia. I was heading outward anyway, so I... cloaked myself in an illusion of a cockatrice and went to see for myself. I met a woman there who insisted the Dragon was sleeping. Slumbering. Barely aware. But this was after Daeon's possession and death, mind."
Jerod nods, apparently absently and yet without missing any of Edan's words. As he studies the firelilly from different angles, Edan will realize his expression is not what one might expect. The studied, neutral face of Court is replaced by intense curiousity The same drive and passion can still be seen, but the focus is divergent from what one would normally expect of him.
"Mmm....well, last time I ran into the Dragon, which as also the first time, was chasing Huon...and it was quite awake. Awake enough for me to have to use a Pattern blade." he says. "I'd have been curious to see this networked map of yours. That might prove highly useful. Especially if they are all affines. It's a very efficient way to project control from a Lord Chaos....not to mention surveillance."
He puts the vacuum bottle down and pulls out his trumps. As he riffles the cards without looking at them, seemingly knowing which he wants by feel, he looks at Kyauta. "How long is he likely to be out? We're going to want to let Random know, and if he's out for awhile we've got no way to talk to Lilith here. See about whether Random wants to bring it...her...back."
"I can recreate the map, but not here. I think Kyauta will be out quite a while; he reminds me of a cat, unwilling to show any vulnerability until there's no other choice. If we get to a place outside the palace where I have enough Sorcery to work with, I'll also be feeding him Sorcerous energy for healing. If we are not that fortunate in location, I'll draw the map out."
"That might be very interesting to observe." Jerod says, having sifted out Random's card. "The healing part...not the mapping. Though the map will definitely be of value."
After a moment, Jerod focuses on the card to form the connection. "Uncle...it is Jerod. Good news and bad news...which would you like first?"
"Hello, Jerod. Let me guess. You found a new shade of black but you'd like me to finance a new wardrobe for you. If that's it, sure, I'm all for fashion." He seems slightly distracted, but perhaps not more than usual. His face is lit with a pulsing red glow from below.
"Actually, no, though the thought of a line of royally approved fashion does sound like fun." Jerod says.
"Good news is Edan has his affine Kyauta back. He was trapped in the rock and had to be chiselled out.
"The bad news is you might have a basement infestation. Were you aware there is a firelilly down here? And that it's an affine and her name is Lilith?"
If Random is able to see past Jerod in the Trump contact, he sees Edan with a faint smile, amused by the delivery of news. Otherwise, he concentrates on supporting Kyauta and getting the firelilly transferred over to the thermos.
Random grunts. "Tell him 'congratulations' on one and 'that sounds bad' on two." He sighs. "Can you get it out? Because I want it out." He pauses. "Whose affine is it?"
"We have a vacuum bottle from the lunch pack we can use to secure it." Jerod says. "Kyauta indicated through Edan that according to Lilith...Kyauta is the one that sent her here, though how that is possible is unclear. My first guess would be some kind of temporal bleed over effect from Edan's conflict with the Marshall. As for whose affine, that is unknown. If this were Amber which is where we saw them before, then the initial guess would be the Dragon. But that's just a guess.
"Once we have it out, we can see if we can find some kind of secured environment to communicate with it. There's risk but the opportunity to garner information on it and other firelillies is something I don't think we want to ignore if we don't have to."
While Jerod talks, since Edan has done the prep work, he looks to see if the firelilly is really anchored in a drop of water. If it is, he will try to move it to the emptied and prepped vacuum bottle.
Edan picks up the firelilly and it seems to pulse a bit between his fingers. The drop of water stays firmly anchored at the bottom and the flame seems unaffected. It pops easily into the open mouth of the bottle, although it might be difficult to get it out through the narrow opening. Given that the inside of the bottle is polished, the firelight inside is magnified. It makes fascinating patterns on the petals and reflecting around the cylindrical bottle.
Random says "Yeah. I'm just not sure where I want one of those in my castle." He thinks. "Meet me at the front door with it, that way I can have decision paralysis on my doorstep instead of in my basement. Oh, and try to figure out where we'd want to put such a thing."
Jerod nods, looking briefly at Edan as the flower is placed into the bottle. "I have a trump of the booth, we will head there once we are done," he replies. "Maybe we can dump it in Tir," in an absent tone that is not serious.
Assuming Random has nothing further, Jerod will nod politely and sign off, sifting the trump back into his deck while finding Merlin's trump of the booth.
"We need to figure out where to store this thing, since his majesty isn't keen on having it around the kingdom. I'm in agreement on that one." he says to Edan, motioning to get a look at the flower in the bottle once Edan is done.
The flower sits in the thermos bottle, the flames playing merrily against the shiny, curved interior of it. It is both bright and warm.
"We're too close to the Pattern for me to get a reading on this thing. If we get further away I can try again. You mentioned something about a place close by where you could do Sorcery...what about there?"
"It is a good place. I might even find a way to hold it there if needed. We will have to ride out to it, though, at least part of a day down the coast. Going to need another picnic basket."
Jerod chuckles as he looks at the the flower. "Travelling rations for two young Princes? That's not a basket, it's a crate. Good thing the castle has a big kitchen."
As he looks at the flower, his thoughts filter on Pattern resistance and Chaos effects. The flower is beautiful, inspiring...and threatening. "Evil wears a pretty face." he muses before handing it back. "I've got an idea for containing it myself using Pattern influence but I am curious as to what your approach might be."
"Our friend isn't going anywhere physically. The problem would be the flame, of course, and how it can transmit and communicate. With Julian, I learned these firelillies have a certain...I shall not say frequency. Signature, perhaps. I would use Sorcery to make a zone or cage of fire, something portable, something to cancel out her signature. The we could travel nearly anywhere."
Jerod nods. "So basically a standing interference pattern, an opposition to cancel it out. Once isolated we could see about trying to communicate without it having any kind of outside support.
"What's your time frame for that do you think?"
"A watch, perhaps? I can cast quickly, of course, but my best art is in the form of ritual. Also, it depends on how long you want it to hold and who might come searching for her. Keeping her quiet is easy; hiding her from a dragon is a bit more complicated."
Jerod nods again. "If we have to hide it from its master or someone that can control it, then we can evaluate at that moment. If all else fails or circumstances are likely to outrun us in handling it, then we kill it." he says, his tone neither flippant or earnest in nature. It seems to reflect choices he has made before...many times.
"I'm wondering about this ritual and how you go about casting it. Would it be possible to..." and he stops for a second, re-directing his thoughts. "Okay, let me try again. Would you think it feasible..." and he stops again.
"Okay, screw this, that ain't working. Time for the direct approach." Jerod says. "I want to learn Sorcery. Can you teach me?"
It's usually so hard to get a genuine classic double-take, especially in this family, but Jerod gets one from Edan. "Wait, what?"
"Can you teach me Sorcery?" Jerod repeats. "I want to learn it."
"You're serious," Edan says. He ponders a moment. "Yes. Yes, I can set you on the path. In fact, I am honored. It takes no small amount of trust to ask such a thing. Let me grab a bag before we ride out, the spot we're heading to would work well for both this affine's working and also to teach."
Jerod nods, riffling out the Trump booth card from Merlin. "Do me a favor? If you tell your dad, make sure I'm there. I want to see his expression," he says with a wolfish grin.
Edan grins back. "If only there were a way to make a Trump of that."
That gets a hearty laugh out of Jerod. "Okay, time to blow this joint," he says, concentrating on the trump.
Last modified: 15 June 2025