Homecomings


[Robin's arrival in Amber]
Martin and Robin make small talk the rest of the way back to Castle Amber. On their arrival, Martin requests that a message be sent to the Regent that he has returned, and he has urgent business to discuss. He also asks that a message be sent to Lady Folly that he has returned, and he would like to speak with her once the Regent dismisses him.

Robin and Martin only have to wait a few minutes before a page returns with word that the Regent will see them at once. They are escorted up to Gerard's study, where Gerard is waiting for them.

Robin has seen Gerard many times from a distance, although Julian never formally introduced them. He's a huge bear of a man and there is something spatially bizarre about him being stuck in that little wheeled chair. There's a blanket across his lap that hides his ruined legs, but not so completely that Robin can't tell the wrongness of the shattered mass under the blanket. If Robin has a shred of compassion, she probably hopes that he never regrows any of the nerves because of the pain he'd almost certainly be in.

"Since ye couldn't wait long enough to wash the dust of the road from yer feet, I ordered some refreshments brought up. Sit down and make yerselves comfortable." Gerard looks at Robin. "I don't believe we've met, lass."

Martin says: "Your Highness, this is Lady Robin, a senior member of the Rangers. She was with the missing patrol when Brita and I found it, and she has an interesting story to tell. I thought you'd want to hear it at once."

Robin notices that Martin hasn't bowed. But she drops to one knee.

Belatedly, Martin thinks of it. Gerard waves him off.

"Greetings, Uncle. You wouldn't remember me. Martin is right: I've been gone these years from the rangers on a mission for my father. I don't think I accomplished anything, but I want to help here if I can."

"Get up, niece. I don't hold much with bowing and scraping among our kin." And he rolls the chair over and takes her hand to raise her up.

"Your father must be my brother Julian, then." He looks at Robin's face for a long moment, perhaps seeking a reminiscence of Julian, or trying to puzzle out why she looks vaguely familiar. It seems to be too much trouble, though, so he abandons the effort.

"We'll take all the help we can get. But what was your mission? And what kept you out of Amber these ... " he stops and counts "four years and more?"

"Father sent me to explore the Black Road as far as possible. He said you and he had already done so, but I think he thought our enemies may have known you in a way they didn't know me, so I might get farther. He also feared a new invasion. This was all just after Corwin...returned.

"What kept me out of Amber was...being wherever I was. I encountered allies and enemies on the road. In fighting them I ended up - somewhere else. A city where they made a tower of giant sabres and streets of poured stone. It sounds clever at first, but the stuff burns like magician's paper. Some kind of temple that seemed short on gods. Catacombs beneath it and a Pattern. Someone there shot me with a crossbow. He looked just like my cousin here" gestures to Martin "but I met a lot of doppelgangers on my trip.

"Or else I slept the last four years away. It did seem rather dreamlike. You know how you almost think there's a plot but then it isn't, quite? It was like that."

Gerard chews on that for a moment. "The Black Road is a strange place," he agrees. "I met things there that came out of nightmare, but some of them at least were real enough to break my bones." He looks down at his lap for a moment, then changes the subject. "Martin, did you tell her about the Pattern?"

Martin shakes his head negatively. "I filled her in on the basics, but I thought I should leave that part of the story until we were within walls."

Gerard turns his attention to Robin: "Martin told you about the earthquake. What he didn't tell you is that the earthquake broke the floor of the Pattern chamber in two. No one has walked the Pattern in these four years, at least not that got any good of it. You can manipulate Shadow in Amber now, so we believe at least one other Pattern survived. But we've no stair to Tir and the magic of Rebma no longer holds sway on the stair, so we don't know what's happened to them. And Martin says he's seen another Pattern, but he doesn't think he can get back to that one to look at it."

[Remember the temporal order: Conner is not back yet]

"Did Martin tell you about the shadowpaths?" At a nod from either Robin or Martin, Gerard says, "Good. If nothing else, we can use you to help with the trade routes, to move the fleets through Shadow. But I'm also concerned about the Rangers. Brita's worked wonders with them, but she's a young girl and I worry that some people try to take advantage of her inexperience. You have some connections there even beyond your father, or so I've heard. Would it suit you to go back there? Would you like to go to sea for a while? Or would you rather do something else entirely?"

He is sincerely interested in what Robin wants to do.

Anyone with any sensitivity notes that Robin reacts to the prospect of going to sea the way a cat might.

The Admiral is, of course, somewhat disappointed.

"I'd like to find my father - if he's alive."

"Lass, we'd all like to find your father and the rest of the family. But we've about as much chance of finding him now as a little baby would have of leaving this room and finding the Pickled Grouse down in the docksides without any help." Gerard frowns. "If the Trumps were working, it would all be different. As it is, we just have to wait for them to come home."

After that gets shot down:

"I can help with the Rangers, Uncle. To an extent..."

Gerard perks up.

If Gerard shows any interest, she explains.

"The rangers have always been pretty rough and ready, Uncle. It seems like people have been trying to make them less so. That means resentment among the best veterans. It also means an awful lot of new recruits who are just...hopeless."

"We could certainly use more help there. Perhaps you'll want to take a turn at helping with the fleets later," Gerard says forlornly. "The Rangers, though, we need them more settled. You'll have to talk to Martin and Brita and Lucas about the Wind Grove business as well. If Solange were here, I'd tell you to talk to her, but she's travelling with her cousin Jerod and we don't quite know when she'll be back." Gerard looks slightly more forlorn.

"I'm sure you'll be wanting to go down and look at the Pattern chamber at some point, but you needn't do that tonight. You'll want a hot meal, a bath, and somewhere to rest tonight, I think. Are there any other questions you want answered, niece?"

"I hardly know where to start with questions, Uncle. But I'd rather know where to start with a hot meal, as you say."

Robin will take appropriate leave once she someone proves willing to see that she gets fed.

Martin takes Robin to meet Vialle, Prince Random's wife, who is acting as chatelaine in the absence of Gerard's daughter. Vialle arranges for Robin to have a late dinner while someone prepares a guest room for her for the night.

As soon as he's sure Robin is settled with Vialle, Martin excuses himself. Vialle is happy to chat for a long time if Robin is interested. She can pick up any of the standard family gossip she likes here. Vialle will also ask Robin what provisions she needs -- clothing and such -- as well as what she would like in her permanent chambers. (Vialle is the blind Martha Stewart of Amber.)

This point is as good as any to mention something I forgot to mention on the way in. The tower which had formerly housed the family wing of the castle is partially collapsed and is in the process of being rebuilt. The family now lives in the former guest wing, and guests such as Robin and Conner are housed in rooms that were apparently closed before the Sundering but have since been reopened.


While Martin and Robin are travelling back to the city, Brita has a number of tasks to take care of amongst the Rangers, such as debriefing Thorn, Bay, and Sticks, and possibly also Avid and Rain. [Let me know how Brita intends to handle that.]

Brita will ask Needle to join her and the five found Rangers when they return to the post. With a scribe present to record the official account, Brita will have the "lost patrol" (Bay, Sticks, and Thorn) recount their adventures to Needle. She will ask Avid and Rain to provide their separate accounts as well. [ What is the story with Avid and Rain? I don't remember hearing it...]

[GMs]
The story with Avid and Rain is that Robin wanted to meet Avid after hearing the stories of how things were in Arden and Amber. Avid and Rain were on patrol, and Robin just found them. Robin does things like that.

When Bay, Sticks, and Thorn talk about Avid, they are clearly uncomfortable, but trying to disguise their discomfort. Brita cannot tell what over or why, though.

"There is something you are not telling me." Brita notes, cocking her head to one side. She looks at each Ranger in turn finally settling her gaze on Bay. "I will assume, Bay, that whatever it is has no potential impact on the safety and well being of the Rangers...or of Amber. If it does and you still do not wish to tell me, I would request..." and the 'command' is obvious "... that you tell someone, preferably Robin. I will even make a messenger available to you, if needed." Brita has her arms crossed. As she turns from the group towards Needle, he can see that the hand under her arm is clenched in a tight fist. "Needle, if they need a messenger, you will see to it. I do not need to be ... bothered." It should be fairly obvious to the group that she is already bothered and greatly dissapointed.

Bay and Thorn look at each other like two kids who have just been asked about the school bully by the teacher: either they're rats or they're helping the bully. Neither option seems to appeal to them.

[Brita]
Brita hates bullies. I think they'ld know that after associating with her for a couple of years. If they don't tell someone and it turns out bad for the Rangers and/or Amber, they would probably have a good idea of how hard Brita will come down on them. Brita does not care if they tell her, just that they tell someone.

[Brita]
Brita is most concerned with finding out how seasoned Rangers became "lost" - are the marked areas changing?

[GMs]
In at least this one case, yes. Brita, who has had theoretical information in these matters that surpasses her ability to apply it practically, thinks that, just as the made shadowpaths have changes, some of the natural ones in Arden may have as well. If the shift in this path is not an isolated case, the markers may all be suspect.

[Brita]
- and whether they encountered anything else odd in their adventures.

[GMs]
No. It's obvious to Brita that Bay and Thorn honestly thought they were lost and a few days overdue, but that's it.

[Brita]
She will recommend disseminating the information of any changes as quickly as possible to the outlying patrols.

[GMs]
What does she want to tell the outlying patrols? Does Brita want to consult with the Council first?

[Brita]
Is the new zone near an old marked region or in a completely new area? Are the markers physical?

[GMs]
The trees are scored in a way that marks them without hurting the trees. The path is new, but there are other marked paths in the area.

The marked paths are not so much zones as actual paths. They're the equivalent of the hobo marks that say "friendly lady at this house", except they mean things like "go under this hill here and spend seven years in a single night" and the like. Or "dangerous monsters come from here".

"We need to pass the word that the marker for this region has changed." Brita has turned to the map on the table. "Until we get a better handle on how the rest of the markers have changed, the patrols should be drawn in more and should keep in closer contact with the posts. We will still work to establish more posts farther afield so that we can keep watch over as much of Arden as possible. I want to be notified as soon as possible if any more patrols go missing." She turns back to the formerly lost patrol, obviously calmer now. "Bay, you and your patrol can rest for a day or two and then I want you to determine where it woudl be best to place markers for the region you stumbled into and go place them. I don't want you to get lost again, though, so be careful" Brita is obviously sincere.

"Yes, Lady Brita." The Rangers look like kids who have been scolded by the principal.

[Brita]
Good.

[Brita]
Once the other Rangers have left the tent and assuming there are changes in the marked areas, Brita will note to Needle "Having not been in Amber long, I have not learned how to spot these danger zones in Arden. I assume that Robin will be much better at it with her experience. I will have to ask the Regent to allow Robin to return to Arden. With so many of the council members scattered about, however, he might have more pressing need of her abilities elsewhere. Until Robin can return, we will need to mark the new danger zones from the accounts of Bay's patrol, Avid, and Rain."

"You'll want Robin to come back, then?" Needle says, half relieved and half surprised. "Do you think the Regent will let her?"

"I don't see why not. She has the knowledge and experience necessary to lead the Rangers. It also seemed that Robin, like me, would not be as comfortable in court." Brita flashes a grin at a picture this thought invoked. "I need to go to Amber to discuss the changes in Arden with the Regent. He will be able to direct resources to assist us in marking the changed danger zones. Hopefully, Robin will be able to return with me."

"I think people will be happy to hear that, Lady Brita. It's not that they don't like you, it's that Robin, well, she knows all the Ranger traditions." He looks a little angry. "There are still some people who are pretty unhappy about Wind Grove and Badger, Lady Brita, and you'll never be able to fix that alone. If you make them shut up and behave, they'll say it's an attack on Ranger tradition. If Robin does it, well, nobody's got a leg to stand on. Do you see what I mean?"

"I understand and have no problem with that. Change is always easier to accept from insiders rather than outsiders - or newcomers." Brita ends up with "I will head back to Amber tomorrow to discuss everything with the Regent and Robin. Keep me informed of the efforts to mark the new path and any changes in old paths that may have been noted."

"Yes, Lady Brita."

"You really have to stop calling me 'Lady', Needle. It makes me feel old. Brita is fine."

It occurs to Brita as she deals with the other Rangers that the return of Robin has pleased them, but they're also concerned. Perhaps they wonder who will lead them now that Robin is back. Needle obviously wants to ask some questions, but is holding his tongue, at least for the nonce.

Brita is also pleased with the return of Robin. She recalls discussions with Solange about how Robin would probably be the best means to unite the Rangers and end the dissention that plagued the group in past years. Brita knows that her efforts have helped somewhat, but that there are also still pockets of dissention. After the scribe departs the tent, Brita notes Needle's obvious need for some discussion (assuming the conversation above doesn't shake loose any questions from him). "So, Needle." Brita says as she leans against a table in the tent, "what is bothering you?"

[GMs]
[I think this is going to be addressed in the conversation starter we have above]

[Brita]
[That is what I figured. The conversation has been subsumed in the above.]

Brita will ride to Amber the next day and will send a message to the Regent informing him of her arrival and requesting an audience. Is the council still meeting for dinners?

Gerard will gladly see Brita. The Council meets for dinner when members are here; Brita's presence certainly warrants a meeting.

What would Brita like to tell Gerard? (warning: answer may have to wait on the outcome of the Robin interview, which I imagine is winding down)

"Lord Gerard," Brita bows briefly as she enters the room. "I assume Martin and Robin have already met with you and told you of the changes in Arden. I do not feel qualified to map out the changes in the Shadow paths and would like to request that Robin return to Arden to lead the effort in re-mapping. I can't protect the Rangers from getting lost in Shadow, but she can. If her absence from Amber creates some hole that you need filled, I can stay behind to help." [can Gerard get a word in edge-wise here? :)] Brita obviously does not want to stay, but she'll bite the bullet if she has to....

[Gerard]
"Robin wants to return to Arden, and I'm of a mind to send her there. She has some ideas of things that need to be done amongst the Rangers, and I think you and she will work well together. Does that suit you?"

"Yes, my lord. I believe Robin will be a great help in getting the Rangers settled into this brave new world."

Brita would have also searched for Master Reid and presumably found out that he, Paige, and Cambina went off to waterfall. "The sneak!" Brita fumes to herself - although with affection. "How could he go back there without me!"

What would Brita like to talk about at dinner council meeting? She's only a day behind Robin.

Brita would tag up with Robin after her audience with Gerard. Assuming no council meeting was held the night Robin and Martin arrived, Brita would mention to Robin "We need to introduce you to the rest of our cousins - at least those that are here. The council normally meets at dinner since everyone has to eat anyways. I figure we can alert them to these changes in Arden and see if anyone has any thoughts on what it means. With all the weird things happening to Amber, one would think that there is some kind of a pattern to be found - pardon the pun." [or divine intervention from the all powerful GMs would shed some light on the situation :)]

"I certainly want to meet my cousins," Robin says. "And I do get hungry."


[Connor's arrival]
Note: After the meal, Thalia opts to go to the Gateway embassy.

Vere and Worth escort Conner and Demon Harga'rel up to the Castle, as mentioned elsewhere. (Ossian may rejoin them if he chooses when his player gets back from his holiday).

Of course Ossian will follow. He would not want to miss the interrogation of another cousin.

At the Castle, everyone is escorted up to see the Regent in his study. Harga'rel is shocked to see Prince Gerard in a wheelchair, even after having been warned by Vere. Gerard welcomes Conner and Harga'rel as befits former members of the Navy and merchant marine, offering a little whiskey if they wish it, and asks for news of Rebma.

He also describes the situation in Amber, which is essentially a recapitulation of the information Conner and Harga'rel got from Vere.

After these preliminary pleasantries, he sends Worth off with Harga'rel, with instructions to escort him to his family. Vere (and Ossian) are permitted to remain.

Gerard says: "So, Secretary Conner, we've had nary a word from Rebma since the Sundering, and here you are. I remember your services to Amber as a captain or I'd be a sight more suspicious than I am. Tell us how ye really left Rebma, and why."

"Well it started out like any other day in Rebma." Conner smiles. "I was called in by Ambassador Droit to investigate a break in at the Princess Llewella's townhouse. I toured the area with Sir Montage and found the place a complete mess. Almost every piece of glass was shattered. So Sir Montage told me to butt out and let them handle it which of course meant I had to get involved." Conner grins. "I toured the local diplomat and political hangouts and found out nothing but picked up a tail. I followed him into a darkened alley. This will henceforth be known as mistake number one." Conner smiles wryly taking a sip of his whiskey. "I was set upon by two Tritons and barely held my own before Sir Montage and his guards arrvied. The Tritons were wearing masks. I manages to grab one and saw a flash of a tattoo before he backhanded me. I don't know what it meant but Montage was severely rattled by it."

"I spent the day resting and and then met Thalia for dinner. Her contacts in the castle, which I now know included Harga'rel, indicated a smear campaign was already started to imply I was involved with smugglers. We decided it would be best I not return to the embassy and Thalia placed me in a safe house while she returned to the embassy to confer with Harga'rel. He knew of a possbile escape route and had the contacts to know if I would need to use them. On their way back to get me they were ambushed by two masked Tritons. They knocked Harga'rel out and kidnapped Thalia. They apparently planned to kill her and frame me for her murder." Conner's hand tightens on his glass and he puts it down before he breaks it.

"When they didn't return I went looking and came upon Harga'rel just as he was coming to." Conner continues. "We gathered two soliders from the Gateway embassy and went off in hot pursuit. Using some short cuts, we caught up with them and attacked. We left the Triton's severely wounded, possibly fatally so. Thalia was fortunately unharmed and we rushed to the escape route, a tunnel hidden in the Triton area of the city. It led after a long way to an air filled cavern and a stairway leading up and out. It led us to the top of a sea cliff in a place I did not recognize as Amber or the lands above Rebma. There was a village along the beach that knew the language of Thari and hated it, and a castle on an island that no one could reach. Apparently Thari speaking forces fought off a black corruption in that place and then went off to fight in a great battle. Anyway, we then borrowed the good ship Sprite moored in a hidden cove and set sail for Amber."

"And here I am." Conner smiles.

While Conner speaks Vere sits quietly in a corner, showing no reactions to anything Conner says, and remaining silent. He never takes his eyes off Conner's face while Conner is speaking, and Conner most likely has the impression that every word he says is being carefully weighed and judged.

Conner smiles at him at one point, and Vere is sure that not only did Conner understand that from the beginning, but that Conner is doing the same to everyone in the room without keeping his eyes fixed on anyone.

Vere smiles quietly to himself.....

Gerard listens to the story quietly, and if he notices the Watering contest between his son and the diplomat, he doesn't show it.

"So, then, I have questions. Who's this Sir Montage, and what's his role in Rebma? Government or something else? What's between you and the girl that she'd offer you a safehouse and you'd help her flee Rebma? And how did you manage to get to Amber harbor when all the old paths are closed? We'll start with those, and any my son has to add to them." And he looks at Vere to see what Vere has to say.

"Those were the first to occur to me, Father," says Vere. "Without wishing to appear overly suspicious, Captain Conner, I might ask why you chose to follow up Thalia's connection with Haga'rel rather than trying to contact Ambassador Droit when you first discovered you were in trouble? Also, were there previous incidents between you and Sir Montage that might have led you to expect his reaction to you at Princess Llewella's, or was it surprising to you? Did you see enough of this tattoo to be able to describe it to us for further research? And did Sir Montage see the tattoo himself, or was it your description of it which upset him? In which case might it have been the fact that you saw it which he found most disturbing?"

"Returning to the matter of Thalia and Haga'rel, their relationship smacks of an interesting bit of diplomatic side dealing - do you believe that he is actively in the employ of the Gateway Embassy in Rebma? That is certainly the implication you gave, but I might be misreading the situation. In addition, while I do not understand the politics of Rebma, I find it hard to believe that a major member of the diplomatic staff of the Embassy of Amber would seriously be believed to be involved in mere smuggling - or did this smuggling involve some form of exotica that would lead more credence to the tale?"

"And finally," Vere pauses and smiles slightly at Conner, "Since the Regent has already asked you about the most fascinating factor in your tale, how you managed to 'set sail for Amber,' I will ask about an interesting related matter, the manner in which you discovered the Sprite. Was she simply moored unwatched and unguarded in this cove, with no indication of whom she belongs to? Truly fortunate."

Conner smiles. "Well let's take those questions in subject order. Sir Montage is a retired Coldstream Guard and with his sister Bend act as royal troubleshooters. The very fact they were assigned to a simple break-in showed there was more to this than met the eye. This was my first meeting with him. I only saw a flash of tattooed skin not enough to recognize a pattern. It was not the fact that I saw the tattoo that disturbed him. It was the fact tattooed Triton's were acting that disturbed him. That had significance to him."

Gerard frowns.

"As for Thalia, I do not discuss my personal relationships." Conner replies. "Suffice it to say she is one I trust and that trust is returned. I accepted her offer of a safehouse because we had reason to believe it would not be safe for me to return to the Embassy. The story of smuggling sprung up from nowhere. It was as if the nobility was getting straight the story that would be agreed upon irregardless of the actual facts. I was being set up to take the fall, and Droit could not protect me from that. Claiming diplomatic immunity for a country people were starting to doubt the continued existence of would not serve. I accepted Harga'rel's help because he had a way of escape and I decided to secure it. Harga'rel was able to command the servants in Gateway's Embassy so they definitely had come to an arrangment."

Gerard looks mildly sour at all of this. Conner and Vere both have the impression that he's not particularly impressed by the masculine chivalry, nor is he pleased by the information that Harga'rel is working for the Gatewegians.

Conner pauses and muses for a moment then smiles. "As for finding the Sprite and my ability to pilot it here, well I think you have your suspicions how I did that, do you not?" He chuckles. "Much as I would like to play games and see how long I could dodge the issue, Amber seems to need all the help it can get. I am of the Blood and I shadow shifted here."

Gerard nods; Conner has clearly confirmed his suspicion. "Which of my brothers or sisters claims ye, then?"

"I am Fiona's son," Conner replies.

"Well enough. I expect ye'll be pleased to see yer baby sister," Gerard says.

Vere raises an eyebrow fractionally at his father's response, but remains silent.

Ossian, who has been sitting quiet, drawing something in his sketch book, throws a questioning glance at Vere, then seems to remember something, and chuckles.

Conner just blinks for a moment then smiles. "I have a sister? Well, well, Mother has been keeping secrets."

Gerard looks mildly surprised that Conner didn't know, then shrugs. "She's not the only one. Vere, remind me to tell Venesch to send someone to Arden for Brita when we're done, will ye?"

[Ossian]
"I'm not very familiar with the geography of Rebma. But as I understand things it should be a reflection of Amber. What place here would correspond to the place where you found the tunnel?"

"That's just it. The tunnel did not lead to a place in Amber. I had to shadow shift here remember?" Conner replies.

"I believe," says Vere, "that what Cousin Ossian is asking is where in Amber might we find a spot corresponding with the place in Rebma where you entered the tunnel. If the tunnel led out of Rebma, its corresponding location might lead out of Amber. As importantly, it might allow others in."

Conner shrugs. "Find me a map of Amber and a map of Rebma and I'll let you know. Oh and something you will find most interesting. I couldn't shadow shift while in Rebma. I noticed you can here. Most disturbing."

"Ah," says Vere. "Indeed." He pauses for a few seconds before continuing. "Now this is something that will certainly amuse the members of the Council."

"That'll definitely put the cat amongst the pigeons," Gerard replies. "If ye know so much, Conner, surely yer mother has told you of the Pattern in Rebma. Have ye seen it in these last years?"

"No I haven't." Conner replies. "But not for lack of trying."

Gerard frowns. "Too bad, that. Have ye anything else ye think might be of use to tell us?"

"Only that the Tritons being active in Rebma scares those in charge. I get the feeling something major has been set in motion." Conner replies.

Ossian looks up from his sketch-book: "Hm, I sense an unfinished part of my education. Who are the tritons?"

"Beings with the torso and arms of a man and the body of a fish, about twelve foot long and very strong." Conner replies "They are relatively new additions to Rebma. Supposedly Amber had something to do with them being brought there. They are very insular and clannish so I don't know more than that."

Gerard says, "Legends of the Tritons are nothing new, though few men have dealt with them directly and fewer still lived to tell the tale. I saw one once when I was scarce more than a lad, in the remnants of a ship that went down for no cause we knew. He swam there in the bobbing flotsam and jetsam, as if he were looking for the thing he'd hulled her for." He frowns. "Caine hated them. Hearing of them again is not good news."

"Great. We're likely to encounter something like them here too then. Or maybe we have already done that; could your religious fanatics be Amber's mirror of the Tritons?" Ossian asks Vere.

Gerard gestures to Ossian. "Lad, I'll need you to find a good map of the city and country hereabouts in the morning and work with Conner to find out where this back door out of Rebma would be in Amber. When the two of you have a reasonable idea of where the spot is, I'll want to know. We'll need to inspect the place. Also, ask Lady Vialle to find a room for your cousin." Gerard looks at Conner. "She's from Rebma and would welcome any news of her home."

"Sure" Ossian smiles.

Conner's smile becomes blinding. "The Lady Vialle is here?" He says warmly. "I have not spoken to her in many a year and would gladly renew our friendship."

[Gerard]
And to Vere, "Son, if you're not busy, I'd like you to stay for a glass of port with me."

Vere nods. "Certainly, Father," he answers.


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Last modified: 5 Feb 2002