The Dragonriders Arrive


The day after speaking to Montage and Valeria, but before speaking to Conner, Reid gets a message...

Cousin...

I have a few questions that require answers, but without official investigation. Your friends in the city's underside might prove useful in this vein.

Can you provide me with information on who might have been involved in smuggling operations to Rebma before the Sundering, especially anyone who was paid in gold or pearls in exchange for dry goods, especially whiskey and cigarettes, though other items might be involved?

Assuming all works out well, Conner will owe you a favor.

Jerod.

Jerod receives the following reply:

I don't have any firsthand knowledge, since I didn't make it back to Amber until after the Sundering, myself, but I will make the appropriate inquiries and keep you apprised of their results.

Reid


The day after the meeting with the Embassy, Conner gets a note from Jerod.

Cousin...

Matters need to be discussed concerning the Embassy. I'm sure you wish to deal with this unfortunate situation as quickly as possible. I have several items that require my time on other business during the day. Morning sparring is available. I will see you then.

Jerod.

[Conner responds]

J,

Morning sparring it is.

C


It is on the twelfth day of the Return, the day after the arrival of the Rebmans, that word spreads through the castle of the two giant dragons that are flying towards the castle. Veterans of the Return identify them as two of the dragons that fought at the great battle.

(Incidentally...when approaching a friendly habitation like this, Canareth will announce his name and Hoshith's, as is his wont. This will, of course, sound like any other bugling roar a dragon might make to human ears. :-))

Random sends Caine out with a party of riders to meet Julian's son. Caine will round up any stray nephews and nieces who are at the castle to accompany him.

[Who joins Caine?]

Brennan! (Who immediately suggests sending pages to find Aisling, Marius, and Lilly, if they are not in tow already.)

Whoo-hoo! An excuse! (I was one of those thinking, "You'd have to drag Marius away with wild horses the size of Morgenstern, but wait...he's probably already 'away,' as he doesn't spend much time at the castle." So the excuse is fabulous!)

Marius is _so_ there.

Lilly gladly accompanies her Uncle. She is glad for the ride out. As usual her sword is at her side.

Despite his desire to attend, Jerod will be busy dealing with other matters. He will send a message with Caine bidding return greetings to Julian and company however.

[GMs]
Reminder: nobody knows Julian and Robin are with Jovian.

[Jerod]
Then consider it as no message sent.

Vere is in the library, going through the personal records of past librarians in a so-far vain search for any information on serious injuries to members of Oberon's family that they might not have mentioned to their kin, but that the librarian might have heard of. It's a long shot, but Vere is nothing if not thorough.

When he hears that the two dragons, and therefore presumably Lord Jovian as well, are coming, Vere carefully marks his place in the journal he was reading, thanks Nestor for his assistance, and joins Caine and his party.

Ossian will not miss the chance of seeing the dragons. He'll drop whatever he's doing.

Julian chooses a ridge near the castle as a landing area for the dragons. Jovian, Robin, and Kourin will have a chance to speak briefly before the arrival of the castle party.

Robin slides down from Hoshith with great and obvious reluctance, practically wincing when her boots hit stone. "Thank you, Hoshith. Thank you, Kourin." She smiles to both of them, even though her eyes... seem to be growing distant.

Kourin smiles encouragingly at Robin as she dismounts from Hoshith. "Our pleasure."

As the girl joins her father and brother, her head is cocked almost as if she was listening to, or perhaps smelling, something. Once there, Robin is merely present. Her hereto exuberant antics and passions are noticeably absent and she waits for Julian and Jovian to speak.

As Jovian slings to the ground from Canareth's neck, he has a good look at his sister - and his broad grin fades like a breath of steam on an early spring morning. His eyes become distant for a moment, and when they return their light is clouded with concern.

//Canareth, did Hoshith notice exactly when the glow basket closed on my sister?//

//Hoshith says no.//

Jovian lets this percolate for a time, but behind the cool, confident mask it does trouble him.

He looks a deep, concerned question at the young Ranger as they meet between the dragons.

Robin looks over to Jovian with a plucky smile on her face. But having been with Robin full out in the Isles, there's something small and buried about that smile. As a candle to a bonfire -- if one had never seen the bonfire, the candle is a pretty enough flame. Such is Robin's smile and demeanor when she stands the stones on hallowed Kolvir.

Julian looks at Robin for a moment, but his attention, and that of the others, is drawn by the arrival of a large, grey stallion with the build of a freight engine.

//J'lin's creation arrives.// Canareth notes, unnecessarily. //How does it know where to follow him?//

//I think they are connected in some similar way - like a firelizard, but meaner. I have never been quite certain how much smarter than the average horse Morgenstern really is.//

Robin's smile widens and a sparkle reluctantly creeps into her eyes. "Morgie!" she whispers to herself in delight. One hand reaches into a pocket. There's a quick vibration through the girl as she holds herself back from dancing on her toe tips, while she waits for the stallion to greet his master first.

Her brother does not miss this reaction, and the glimmer of a smile lights his eyes - though he is not quite relieved of all care.

Julian moves to meet his steed, inspecting the great grey stallion. It's almost as if the horse is speaking to him and he is listening.

"Jove?" she murmurs quietly. "They're coming. I don't have much time so here's the couple of breaths version -- my bias. Don't trust Jerod -- not for an instant, don't buy anything Conner is trying to sell and, for Green's sake, don't get yourself tangled in whatever Paige's latest cause or trauma de jour is. Watch out for Folly and Martin -- they're the herd-dogs on this little pack.

"So far as I can tell Lucas, Ossian and Brita are just what they seem. Which is a scheming socialite, an ah-teeste and a sweet kid who'll do whatever she is told, respectively. Be nice to Solange or I'll personally kick your ass." There's a quick flicker of fond humor in eyes that are quickly becoming shaded and hooded.

"And if you can figure out what Vere is paying attention to -- check it out. It's bound to be interesting. I stayed clear of Cambina and Reid so you'll have to prejudice yourself about them yourself. And that Robin chick? She's kind of quiet and is never around when you're looking for her.

"Your turn." Robin's voice is flat as she marshals resources for a situation she obviously feels is much more serious than just being thrown in some stranger's dungeon or planning an assault against an unknown number of opponents with unknown abilities.

"The redhead, Brennan, is as no-bullshit as they come," Jovian responds in low, staccato tones. "Brand's estranged son, hates everything his father stood or slunk for. Efficient, brusque but not hostile. Black-haired sailor's Marius, he was Deirdre's. Driven. Got blinders on, you might say. Brand nearly put him down for good, just before killing his mother - don't know how that might have changed him. The almond-eyed swordmaid is Lilly. Every inch Benedict's kid; demon on the battlefield, hopelessly naive socially."

It is not so much that he stops there, but that he pauses and doesn't start again. He looks past, around and above the approaching group, and seems disappointed by whatever he doesn't see.

"Aisling's not with them," he adds, disappointed. "Chaosite, of Benedict's lineage. I trusted her at my back in battle," he says firmly, with almost more warmth than necessary, all in all a tone that brooks no question.

Robin's gaze flickers to Jovian momentarily and she nods her understanding. With that a quick breath is taken, and a different person is standing next to Jovian. This Robin is quiet, awkward -- perhaps naive -- and just taking the world in with a smile and curious eyes as she looks toward the approaching party.

A few moments later, Caine and his party (including Vere, Ossian, Lilly, Brennan, and Marius, plus anyone else I missed) and two spare horses ride up. As they approach, Caine calls out, "Hail the dragonriders! And, unless I miss my guess, hail brother Julian as well."

"Remember, we agreed," Jovian admonishes his sister in a jailhouse whisper. "Not a word about the noodle incident." Mischief is dancing in his eyes behind the cool commander's mask that guards his expression.

"I'll take it to my grave." There's a flicker at the side of Robin's mouth and a hint of twinkle in her eye. The Ranger shoots Jovian a grateful glance.

You'd have to be Jovian's father or sibling to see how inordinately pleased with this he is, behind the facade.

As the riders approached the dragons Vere leans forward, soothing his steed with his hands and voice, alert for any sign that it's about to spook around the large predators they're approaching. His eyes flick over the dragons quickly, admiration mixed with calculation as he seeks to analyze their strengths and weaknesses. Just how would one knock one of these creatures out of the sky quickly, if it became necessary....?

Brennan is on the same steed that bore him home from Chaos, not to mention carried him toward an irate Artemis and a screaming Morganstern. Supernatural it's definitely not, but long past the point of being uncontrollably spooked by peaceful enough dragons? One would hope.

As the group approaches to a speaking distance, Caine says, "Welcome home, Julian. We hardly expected to see you here."

Julian looks up at Caine and says, "It appears that showing up unexpectedly is a talent that runs in the family."

Vere's attention has switched from the dragons to the humans, he gives a brief nod to Robin, and watches Prince Julian and the other strangers with a friendly but slightly distant expression.

Robin returns Vere's nod politely, a small smile of anticipation lining her lips at all the bustle building around the group. (Very high waters might find that smile a little nervous.)

Caine is appraising the two members of Jovian's party that he doesn't recognize. "Kourin, Robin: this is my brother, Prince Caine of Amber. Caine, this is my daughter Robin."

"Highness." Robin bows, having just now decided that curtseying in trousers is too... silly to do anymore.

"And this is Kourin, rider of gold Hoshith and the leader of the Calusan riders who accompanied Jovian to the battle. And this is my daughter. You already know my son Jovian, of course."

Caine nods at each of the ladies and then Jovian as Julian introduces them. In turn, he introduces those who have accompanied him to Julian and his party.

Vere nods as he is introduced, but says nothing.

Brennan looked over the entire group at least once while everyone saw him, and probably at least once before they saw him. He's paying most attention, though, to the new family member (Robin) even before she's introduced.

The Ranger stands in a comfortable yet attentive pose beside her brother, a curious half-smile cocking her lips as she watches the approaching group.

(Assuming she had time to re-equip at Ruby Falls-) She's wearing obvious ranger attire -- soft brown boots that fold under the knee, leggings of a supple fawn-colored leather with a matching jerkin, and a pine green shirt with a high collar, and long sleeves just loose enough to allow freedom of movement and just tight enough to not snag in close quarters. Her hands are gauntleted in supple leather as well.

A sheathed saber with a plain leather-wrapped hilt hangs from a belt at Robin's waist. A matching knife is strapped to one thigh. And upon her back hangs a strong-pull bow and a quiver of some dozen or so arrows. The weapons quality is high as is their serviceability.

"It's good to see you again, Admiral," Jovian returns the nod. "I trust your trip home was a smooth one?"

He looks around the group accompanying Caine, and the mask drops just a little in response to each gaze that meets his. Brennan and Lilly he regards with comradely welcome, Marius with a sense of imperfect relief. He seems to work for a moment at placing Ossian, but Vere he regards with a friendly but thoughtful moment of study. (One as perceptive as Vere would think the dragonman was looking for something particular in his face.)

Still, in each case, he waits for the other to speak first.

Vere returns Jovian's gaze, and after a moment lifts an inquisitive eyebrow.

Jovian's smile in response is as reassuring as he can manage, which isn't bad under the circumstances, with a slightly tilted nod that clearly says _Later_.

Robin smiles to the newcomers and nods a polite hello to Ossian.

Ossian seems distracted by the dragons, but returns the nod, his eyes twinkling.

Brennan looks at Jovian, then looks at Vere, judges the duelling eyebrows and adopts an, "Oh, screw it!" expression. He nudges his mount forward to within easy distance of a handclasp and offers his arm, unless the setting makes such physically impossible.

"Jovian!" he says, with evident pleasure, "It's good you've finally made it back."

"It's good to be back," Jovian answers with an honest grin and a firm, friendly grip, "and damn glad I am to see you all. Have I missed all the fun yet?" His tone is almost hopeful, in a teasing sort of way.

The exuberant greeting causes a grin to cross Robin's face as well, though she stays out of the way of both men and horse.

"Not all of it. You missed your brother's exceptionally brief return," [Brennan] says, with a dark twist to his mouth. "It's a long enough story on this end that we probably don't need to tell it here and now."

"I've been briefed," the dragonrider nods grimly. "It's on my list."

[Brennan]
"Hurmph. No doubt, then, you know parts of the story I don't. I can name two other cousins who are going to be very interested in whatever you can tell them, since they were on the sharper end of the bearclaws than I was.

"I don't know about the others, though, but I thought four was a skimpy quorum, so we've saved all the fun organizational wrangling for you."

[Jovian]
"Gee, and I didn't bring you anything."

Brennan shrugs the shrug of perfect magnanimity. "It was the least we could do."

[Jovian]
"Remind me not to ask about the most." He glances good-naturedly about the rest of the group.

[Brennan]
"Paperwork!" he says, with all the enthusiasm of someone giving away that which he had no intention of keeping.

[Jovian]
"Shall we head down to the castle? I imagine Himself will be wanting a report before we're allowed a proper meal and rest. How's the God of Luck settling into the job, anyway?" He eyes the spare horses thoughtfully for a moment, then shrugs and approaches them.

[Brennan]
"Well enough. Two weeks back and only two minor crises that I know of. I think your sister is the first new relative I've gained since I came back. Speaking of which...." he waves at Robin, as an obvious invitation to the conversation.

"Brennan." Robin says, confirming name to face even though she's pretty sure she got it right. "Well met." The girl holds up her gauntleted hand for a hand clasp (and in such a way as no hand-kissie thing could happen without some effort.)

(Oh, it's going to be that way, is it?)

:-P Believe it! <laugh>

Brennan looks her up and down, noting her posture and bearing. If she's perceptive, she'll guess that he evaluates everyone like that.

Robin's posture is loose and fluid, though respectful given that Prince Caine is in the group. Her bearing is - perhaps - a little tired. She still has fuel in the furnace but she's been burning for a while. The ranger is clean, but her short blonde hair is tousled and her cheeks are rosy, most likely from the dragon flight.

Her own appraising look answers Brennan's.

As he grets her, he kisses his own palm briefly then quickly reaches out to clasp hers. "Robin," he says. "Charmed."

The Ranger's emerald eyes flicker in surprise, then a quiet chuckle riffles through the girl. There's a spark of amusement in her eyes, and a brief quirk to her lips indicates that something in her is rising to what looks like a fun challenge.

Under Robin's gauntlet, Brennan can feel light bandaging around the girl's hand. But she doesn't seem to be in any pain. Her grip is strong and sure, but not crushing - a falconer's grip.

(Who said Brennan didn't have a mischeivous side?)

(Oh, man -- that was great! <laugh>)

As Brennan and Jovian exchange their greetings, Ossian will admire the dragons. (He seems much more interested in them than in his new cousin.)

Marius smirks, but has been as quiet as usual.

Lilly remains mostly silent throughout the meeting. She does manage to smile and nod appropriately as introductions are made though. Mostly she is spending time making mental notes and looking confident.

When Brennan turns to Robin, Marius catches Jovian's eye with a bit of a gesture. "Frankly," he says, glancing at Vere and Ossian, "if you were about to introduce me to one of the dragons as a long-lost relative, I would fail to be surprised. We're hip-deep and elbow-thick in them, and no one's smarter for it." He looks up at the dragons and smiles, a smile partially for Jovian that says, "I'm healthy, I'm well," and partially for the dragons that says, "Hope you guys have a sense of humour."

Ossian laughs.

[Marius is] actually seeming a little nervous. It isn't the magnificent reptiles as much as it is all the people.

Jovian gets a middle-distance look for a moment, of the sort one often sees in trump contact...then snaps back to focus suppressing a snort of laughter. Yards above and behind, a great bronze head cocks sideways for a moment in what probably passes for a sardonic smirk among saurians. "Canareth says he has news for you, but I'm pretty sure he's kidding," he explains.

Marius resists the urge to snort his laughter, managing to sublimate it into merely a broad grin.

Then, mildly abashed: "Where are my manners? The bronze is Canareth, the queen is Hoshith."

Marius bows deeply to Hoshith. It's an ingrained response to the term Queen, no doubt. That and because convinced of their sentience, it's what Marius would do for almost any lady

[Jovian]
"Canareth, Hoshith, meet Caine, Marius, Brennan, Lilly, Ossian and Vere - more of J'lin's family. Trust them as far as any one of them can throw you," he adds, in a tone that even a dragon could tell is teasing.

//Ha ha, only serious,// he amends silently.

Marius may hear the teasing, but his eyes clearly warn that he believes it.

Ossian bows politely to Jovian and the dragons, but stays quiet.

[Marius]
His smile turns a little shy. "Welcome ...home." There's too many shades of meaning in that last word for it to sound natural.

"Thanks," Jovian responds, good-natured but just a little bit skeptical, with a glance toward the castle. "I'm sure we'll get used to it in time." The 'we' is meant with comradely inclusion.

"I'm glad to see you up and around."

"`Up' is due to the efforts of many, `around' is due to my inability to keep my feet rooted to any one place, provided it is not the deck of my ship. Alas, I don't have one I'm calling my own anymore, or, at least, yet." His eyes sparkle. He's looking forward to _that._

Then his eyes move from Jovian's up to Canareth, and for a moment, his heart is in the clouds, not across the waters, and he shakes his head, suddenly solemn. His grin appears again, and he nods at Jovian. "Enough of monopolizing your time; we will have a chance to talk at the Knightly meetings." He gives it enough emphasis to avoid any confusion.


I imagine that Aisling would be in the city, and that word also spreads there, people speaking of dragons sighted, someone IDing the dragons... Can she find Folly? Go ahead and stop me if you'd rather do this some other way, I don't mind:

Folly and the folks around her may be surprised/alarmed when the big purple Aisling comes bounding down out of the sky to meet them, with a great cheerful expression. When they parted about a half hour ago, Aisling wasn't big and purple, but you know how things are... "Folly! Word is that Jovian is back, with one of his queens!"

[GMs]
[OK: rewind the tape to right here. Aisling, are you sure you want to fly down to the docksides full of people who have no idea what you are, many of whom are likely to be hostile to Chaosites, some of whom are likely to be armed, in a form nobody recognizes?]

Well..... Allright, good point. :) She does naturally fall in to the tone of the person she's dealing with, but she'd never forget herself that much. (And I wasn't thinking "crowded." :) ) Thanks for the option of changing:

This ok with Folly and GMs?

A large crow drops down to where Folly is, announcing itself with a typical careless "Awraak!" It bates and drops the scrap of paper it was carrying in its left talon at her feet, and then lands in front of her. There's something wrong with its right foot, and the right side of its beak has an elliptical hole covered by something like a chitinous spiderweb.

"Well, hello, little one," Folly says, for she has a habit of talking to animals whether they understand her language or not. She regards the bird curiously for a moment; but upon notice of the injured talon, the lightbulb goes off, as it were. She grins and takes up the paper scrap.

The note on the paper reads:

Lady Folly, there are reports that two of Jovian's dragons have returned. If you would like a lift to go meet them, follow the bird. ---Aisling.

The crow winks at her.

Folly laughs in delight and bounces a bit on her toes, barely able to contain her excitement. "Lead on!"

The crow glances at each of the other people around, in that swift abrupt way birds have, and then hops twice forwards and launches back into the air, flying slowly, but still circling a bit so Folly can keep up.

It leads her into an empty alley and lands again, speaking in a voice crow-like, "This is Aisling, Folly, as I'd wager you know," wheezy crow-laugh. "I'm going to shift now, so please stay back a bit..." she hops a few feet further away, and then smoothly changes, taking her time about it, like the golden dust and pollen swirling in the strange slanty morning light of the alley, and look, there she is, all big and purple.

Folly watches, wide-eyed and intent with interest. When she sees the end result, she smiles broadly, as if it's the obvious solution that nevertheless took her by surprise.

It regards Folly, and it speaks in a deep three-toned voice, "There. Care to mount?" it waves a brush hand at its shoulders. It's clearly chuckling on some level.

Folly hesitates for an instant, perhaps concerned about invading Aisling's personal space despite the invitation. But then she grabs the skirt of her dress and hikes it up above her knees.

She is, conveniently, wearing jeans underneath.

Carefully, and with a great deal of attention to Aisling's comfort, both physical and otherwise, she mounts up.

Aisling is somewhat baffled by the care, but accepts it with grace. "You do not mind if I hold you on?" it asks after Folly has made herself comfortable, getting some form of positive acknowledgement from Folly before it loops an arm securely around her waist; enough so that if it suddenly did a backflip Folly would remain seated.

"Now, I shall climb rather rapidly to get above bowshot range..." Aisling regards Folly with its rear eyes to see if she's still ok with this.

Folly is grinning widely. "Thanks for the warning," she says, but it comes out mixed with laughter so that it almost sounding more like _Wheeeee!!!!_

Aisling smiles, warmed by the enthusiasm of its passenger. Then it starts forwards, increasing both speed and angle quickly; it makes a turn at the top of the alley so its course is above warehouses instead of streets, and begins bounding upwards like it's being chased up a steep mountain. Except there's nothing under its paws but air, and a rapidly-increasing amount of it. Folly can feel the strength of the thing's muscles, and the enormity of its laboring lungs.

When it's far enough above the city that to people looking up it would appear to be no more than a dot, it levels out and begins coursing more comfortably through the sky towards the castle, sighing out its breath in a musical "Hoooo."

Folly laughs with delight at the sound, at the view, at the rush of the wind in her hair. "Y'know, if all of us could do this, we probably wouldn't use Trumps so much," she says, grinning.

She rides in silence for a few minutes, relishing the sensation of flight -- it's been so long! -- and contemplating the wonder of her cousin's great purple form. But then her thoughts turn to the purpose of the trip.

"So, tell me about this Jovian character," Folly says. "All I really know so far is that he's one of Julian's kids and he rides a dragon. What are your impressions of him?"

Aisling thinks for a bit. "He's sharp enough," it says in its beautiful deep voice. "He's constantly able to talk to his dragon, Canareth, mentally. I think the dragons are almost always given to slow gentle humor." Aisling chuckles, then frowns. "He lost a third of the ones he brought to Chaos, in extremely nasty ways. I think it hurts them all a lot more than normal deaths, since the dragons are in mental contact with each other... The dragons forget, but the people are human.

"Jovian has a lot invested in his command..." Aisling pauses again, thinking. "He doesn't subscribe to the philosophy that Shadow beings are of less importance than people of Amber, or Amberites."

Folly nods thoughtfully. She seems to consider that last point a mark in Jovian's favor. And the bit about the dragons is utterly fascinating, of course.

It closes its left rear eye in thought, and then waggles its left hand in the gesticulatory equivalent of a shrug, "I don't know him very well. I think he'll like you, because you'll adore the dragons." It's chuckling subvocally again.

Folly grins broadly. "Well, you know what they say -- The way to a man's heart is through his lizard...."

Aisling looks amused-over-faintly-appalled.


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Last modified: 1 March 2003