Edan smiles a little and hands the baby back to Hannah. "Well. I have a few moments," he says to her, and lets his voice carry. "Ambrose, I will help you with, ah, cleanup. If you will."
Garrett also starts to pick up the remnants of Folly's diagram and stacks things in a precarious pile on the food table, grabbing a stray pastry while he's at it. "I should join you when you report to the King. I'll need to find out how he wants THAT message delivered diplomatically," he says to Edan, shooting him a sympathetic smirk.
Hannah takes back the baby but rubs a hand lightly over Edan's back before he gets to work. She looks over and offers Folly a hand up.
Edan links fingers with her before she turns away. "Maybe we can talk after the worst of the craziness is over? And perhaps think of a name."
"You need him to have a name, do you? If you need it, you pick one. I'm unlikely to object to anything you choose." She smiles. "When the worst of the craziness is over may be too high a bar."
Solange moves to join Folly and Hannah, and by extension Edan. "That was excruciating," she says to them as Martin moves in to join Garrett in picking up the former universal diagram. "But I'm glad we did it anyway. How's my favorite nephew?" she asks the proud parents.
"Strong," Edan says without hesitation. "I wonder how much of the fire he has within him."
"If auntie Solange wants some time with her nephew he could probably use a change of swaddling," Hannah offers.
Folly has taken a half-step away from Edan and Hannah, probably to give them the opportunity for a little time together before their duties take them in different directions. She's staring a bit wistfully in the direction several other knots of cousins have wandered, though it is difficult to tell exactly where her focus lies.
At Hannah's words to Solange, though, she turns and smiles. "And if that business degree of yours somehow skipped over baby-swaddling, we can talk you through it," she says with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Diapers I know, but swaddling not so much," Solange confesses. "I'll take that help, Folly. But Hannah," she adds, "You and I definitely need to touch base before I go, all right?"
Edan turns to Hannah. "Can we talk for a moment?"
Folly gives Hannah a nod and a light touch on the arm. If Hannah happens to have an extra swaddling-cloth on her she will take it; otherwise she and Solange will track one down as they move off with the baby.
Hannah hands off the baby to poor Solange and steps aside with Edan.
Jerod places the long-empty glass onto a side table as he speaks to Ossian. "I'll need a moment." he says, heading over to Celina. He waits for an opportune moment to be recognized before he proceeds.
Celina sees him coming, she nods to Merlin and Conner and steps to meet Jerod.
"Do you have a moment? There is a small matter I would like to discuss, having involved Khela."
"Small matters and Khela don't seem to go together," Celina smiles. "Yes, let's just step over by those flowers. Family hearing is so so excellent. Khela is something of a tender spot for me."
So saying she moves so as not to draw too much attention to the flower bed of sunshine and amber buds. Celina turns back to Jerod. She nods once.
"The discussion today have brought up an increased focus on Patterns." Jerod says. "I think we can both agree that more knowledge on that front would be of vital use in the coming days. I had made a determination some time back to pursue that goal but of late have been diverted due to various calamities requiring attention. It is something I think we can all relate to.
"My original goal has been to complete Pattern walks on all primary Patterns, which is now to include Avalon as well. By doing so I believe an understanding of the mechanisms of Order can be obtained, plus perhaps an understanding of the Shadow upon which it acts. During my meeting with Khela prior to the engagement against Huon, I secured from her an agreement to gain access to Rebma's pattern for the purpose of traversing it. In exchange we came to an arrangement that saw me on her side of the battle. She did not have immediate access to the Pattern room, but we both agreed that should fortune favor the upcoming battle, we would tackle that issue when we reached it.
"After her death, there did not seem a reasonable time at which to broach the subject with you, so I allowed it to fall into the background. That is no longer a situation I feel can be allowed to continue. I must therefore ask of you the same request as I made of her."
Lightning and her love's face dissolving as Celina tries to pull her out of the blinding death. A sound. A sigh. And nothing. Gone. But the need to take another step. To keep moving even though everything is tears of pain.
Celina swallows and turns to look at the Xanadu castle. "Jerod." She begins again because her voice isn't quite right. "Jerod, I value you greatly. There's something I'll tell you, shared by Corwin with me, though it was totally the wrong moment and I hated him for it." She looks back over her shoulder at Jerod, her face composed now. "Corwin told me never to walk the Paris Pattern. Never to attune the realm to me. Now things I've learned about Moins, make me suspicious that something similar would happen to you if you tried Rebma. I think it would kill you. I'm not prepared to find out. How badly do you want to know this?"
Jerod's expression flickers slightly, his behaviour not regulated by the years of intense Court training owing to the lack of setting at the moment. He looks...puzzled...at what he perceives to be her concern.
"What I want is irrelevant, your majesty. What is needed for Family takes precedence." he says. That he says what he does with such ease does not alter the flat finality of his belief in those words. Like a fixed point of reality, unchanging and ever-present.
"If I did what I wanted, I'd have already been pushing to get out the door to find Huon, and a certain archivist." he says. "But there are greater needs to be addressed at the moment. So I will hope in the skills and efforts of my cousins...and that I do not over-estimate them.
"As for Rebma, I have already traversed two Patterns. If, as I believe, each Pattern imprints itself and attempts to shape or mold the reality of the one who walks it, there is both a benefit to having walked others in a defense against intrusion, and perhaps a risk...if all Patterns have an underlying essential nature that might be further reinforced by the walking of more than one."
He looks over at the others for a moment. "But until someone tries, we will not know. And the only other option of learning about true Pattern nature, by atunement to a Jewel, is a one way path leading nowhere."
The day is long. Celina half turns back to Jerod. There is a flicker of emerald in her green eyes. "Nowhere? Please elaborate about the Jewel."
"Attunement to the Jewel engages a compulsion to create a Pattern." Jerod says. "While I believe that drive comes from the attuning process, it's possible it's something else. My first guess is that it's from the Jewel, given we know so little of its true origin. While it is stated it came from the Unicorn, that provides us about as much factual data as a Sunday tabloid from a shadow I once spent time in.
"So, based on what we know, you attune and you create a Pattern. Every instance I've heard, from anyone who has done it has the same basic components...the kind and the land are one. Sounds like a niche cliche you'd hear in Shadow...about if the King dies the land dies...until we remember that what happens here reverberates through Shadow.
"Anyway, if that is the case, then it's an inherent filter, a natural bias to action in a specific direction that is towards your creation. You're going to be automatically biased against anything that might be a threat or a diversion from your reality, your creation. To review a situation requires you be as impartial as possible...and you can't if you're fighting a bias that is not just strong, but built-in.
"As for the investigation, every Pattern that we're seeing now appears to be created in various generations as was mentioned. Primal as the first, to the Four, to the next generation. Whether it is a refinement, an evolution...I don't know, don't have enough data...but each Pattern does something different...each orders and enforces reality similarly...but what it is defining as reality is my question because each output is different.
"I believe there is an underlying principle to all the Patterns and their imposition of Order concerning Shadow and the nature of reality itself. I believe it ties back to our origins, at the far end of reality that they call Chaos, raw reality. How that all came about, how the Jewel, or Jewels tie in, and how the Patterns do...I don't know. But they are there. So to unravel a mystery we need to study it, peel away the layers to expose the truth. For that we need interaction and observation. To do that, I need to walk Patterns."
He smiles for a moment. "And as a gentleman I met in Shadow once said, I will also need to use the little grey cells."
Celina nods even though she doesn't have references for many of the nuances that Jerod shares. "So you believe the Family needs this deeper Pattern information and that Truth is worth dying for. That's a bias also, isn't it? Maybe Chaos is more Truth than Order. It seems to have come first."
Celina clarifies, "I'm not playing word games. This has been on my mind waking or sleeping for months. What if I explained that your death on Rebma's Pattern would shatter my hope of holding that realm together? Is it still worth it?"
"Yes. And I guess I had better not die and cause her majesty's kingdom to fall." Jerod says, with only a slight bit of humor.
"And my death on Rebma's Pattern, were it to occur, would be far different from any other that has occurred before me. So I'm not sure I see why it would be such a catastrophic event. It's not like Moire's little efforts to gain power and you're certainly not going to garner enmity from Family for a choice I make of my own volition."
He pauses. "I mean, I suppose they could get a little displeased having to show up for another funeral, given how cumbersome the logistics of that can be but I suppose if it came down to it, Random could postpone it until another Family gathering and handle it then. It's not like I'll be going anywhere," he says, this time smiling a bit more.
Fletcher, who has been hovering nearby patiently waiting for a chance to speak with Celina, seem to have picked up on the word 'funeral'. He steps closer to Celina and Jerod. "Excuse me, did you say there was a funeral scheduled in Rebma? I had hoped to visit there sometime soon regarding.... Well, The Pattern actually. Is it not a good time to be visiting?"
Celina gestures Fletcher forward until he's as close as Jerod already is. She also answers Jerod's question, "It would be far different to ME. I'm the one who gives you leave to try it." Celina lets that go for the moment and squints at Fletcher. "The Pattern? Mmm. Are you asking to assay it or do you have something to say about its history? One would be a burden and the other a relief."
Fletcher looks around and steps closer, nodding to Jerod. "Actually I think one can lend insight into the other. I've walked three Patterns and now that I can reflect on the feeling of each experience I can definitely see elements of their creators in the overall feel of the Pattern. I think we might gain some insight into the personality or character of Moins if I were to walk Rebma's pattern. In addition (of course) the wider my own experience, the more insights I get into the larger relationship of the Patterns."
Celina nods, "Let us agree, as Jerod was saying before you arrived, that Family needs this additional insight into Patterns. Let's further say that I'm not opposed to that. Logic would say that the three of us are very close in our interest for shoring up this Familial bias for Order. So before I agree, Fletcher, I would ask that you share with Jerod and I, everything you say you have gained from these other walks. Likewise, Jerod may agree to the same condition. I'm willing to open my mind, have these impressions shared in the most vivid and intimate fashion. Then further, I will share my own walks on Rebma's Pattern with you two, mostly as a means to give you some advantage. This Pattern was conceived by a woman, very near to Chaos, scorned by parental authority, and yet harsh and cold with her own children. This Pattern beat the snot out of Tir. This Pattern may have killed more Family than any other. This Pattern is unlike anything else. It has survived the loss of its creator. Are you interested in my conditions?" She looks between Jerod and Fletcher.
"Sure." Jerod says. "Don't forget that both Corwin and Random walked it as well."
Celina makes a face. High water is not required to interpret that she thinks this is not persuasive. Yet she nods.
Fletcher says, "I agree. I'd like to understand more of the specific mechanism you're proposing for sharing, but in principle I think it sounds like the best way to convey such information. Words fail to do it justice. It would be interesting to gain such a perspective from another person's walk."
Celina relaxes. "Well, then we need to do this now before I go off to derring-do with Avis and monks. Under this agreement, yes, you both have permission to walk the Pattern with the queen's blessing." Celina looks around for a quiet solitary spot that's out of sight of the gazebo.
Jerod nods. "My comment concerning Corwin and Random was as an extra bit to consider. Both walked it...and then both create their own Patterns.
"If, as you have indicated, the Rebma Pattern has more... how shall we say... influence, be it positive or negative... then we will need to be mindful of other events that have occurred from individuals who interacted with it that might provide further insight."
Celina begins to move towards a promising circle of trees that appears very old. "Yes," she nods once, "I want you two to be very mindful that Rebma's Pattern will try to kill you. I respect both of you a great deal. My concerns are not that you are not worthy or thoughtful. Green is a bitter color. The flames of Rebma burn where others do not." Celina adds, "By way of interest, which Patterns have you two walked so far?"
Fletchers follows Celina into the circle of trees. His voice does not carry far. "Amber of course, long ago. More recently in Paris. And Avalon." He looks to Jerod.
"Amber and Paris." Jerod says. "Neither was hospitable."
Fletcher can't help but smile at Jerod's comment.
Celina stops centered in the circle. She stretches and reaches up to run fingers through her hair. This exercise appears to relax her posture. "Gentlemen. Cousins. Friends. From what I've heard, mental communication in the Family history is akin to kissing a cactus, no one wants a second experience. The cactus rages and writes a slanderous history of Amber afterward."
Celina holds her hands out, palm up. "I am more real than my Trump card, more here, and more willing. You are used to doing impossible things. I'm going to give you everything without words that I felt in my Rebma walk, but I'm sure that it will be fluid and messy and it is not improbable that you'll write a slanderous history of me afterward." Celina smiles shyly. "So here I am, your doorway into Rebma. Touch my hands. Trump me. Reach into me and find the beauty."
"Me in your head is not a path I'd recommend for anyone...even me." Jerod mutters. But he reaches out anyway to take a hand.
Fletcher makes eye contact with each of the others. "We will watch and learn what is shown, going no further." He takes Celina's extended hand.
Fletcher and Jerod reach into the trump of the woman in front of them.
Contact is easy, and is like long-ago first-lessons in trump use, when their respective fathers were in the room with them. While they can communicate, and Jerod in particular can comunicate wordlessly, what doesn't come clearly are Celina's impressions and memories of her own pattern walk with Khela. It's as if she's showing a painting of color and words and feelings and sights, all distorted by mirrors and with no sense of time or dimension.
After trying for some time, Celina reaches the conclusion that she's not going to be able to share her experience with them via trumps.
Celina sighs, she doesn't seem surprised, "Well, today is not an impossible day for me. I don't think I gave you much to work with. If you gents will wait until I'm back in Rebma, we can address this again. Please understand I'm convinced of your sincerity but I don't want you walking it without some sort of introduction or blessing. Good enough?"
Jerod relinquishes his connection to Celina as he leans over to Fletcher. "Why do I feel like that meeting is going to be like a debutante ball or something...and we're the debutantes?"
But he smiles a little when he looks at the Queen. "Good enough."
Fletcher smiles as he removes his hand from Celina's hand. "I can certainly wait until we can meet in Rebma." He nods to each and withdraws, leaving Celina to her other business and Jerod to ponder what shoes to wear to dance in Rebma.
Jerod nods at Fletcher as he departs, looking back at Celina.
"You may wish to obtain the assistance of another individual in this endevour of yours." Jerod says. "Regarding being able to provide... I suppose a living Trump connection. The potential is there... you just need someone a little more talented. If you're speaking to Folly, I'd suggest bringing up your idea with her."
Celina nods once. "It has merit. I do think Folly has made enough sacrifices for Duty. I risked myself. You both risked yourselves. I can ask her to risk as well." Jerod hears it in her voice; Celina does not like putting Folly in danger at all.
"In any case, we must move along," Celina lays a hand gently on Jerod's shoulder. "Be safe until we meet again, Sir Debutante. I must talk to Folly and gather Conner and Vere."
As their cousins begin various conversations Vere touches Robin's hand lightly and makes a quiet corvid assembly call. He nods towards a secluded corner of the garden and heads in that direction.
Robin replies with an affirmative chirp. She places her plate on her chair and, with a good-bye nod to Solange, follows her Beloved to what privacy the garden offers.
Vere smiles at Robin when they come to a stop. "I do not know how soon Celina will wish to depart," he tells her. "And I will want to go with her. I am concerned about Avis. My sister's determination to protect her people could lead her to imprudent action."
Robin nods her head in understanding, remembering some of the deals she almost made in Danu. "Avis certainly needs to know about the Klybesians," she says.
"I have to stay here at least long enough to talk to my Father and Corwin." She wrinkles her nose at that last bit.
Vere nods. "I would like to have a chance to speak with Father and Mother, but it depends on how quickly Celina wants to leave." He glances over to where Celina is speaking with Jerod and Fletcher. "Did you wish to speak with her as well, regarding Lady Morgne? Or do we need to make our final goodbyes now?" His eyes meet hers.
"I've already spoken to Celina about Lady Morgne. Sir Ophichus is currently in Rebma and preparing a place for her." Robin sighs, "But I suppose I should add talking about Laudine and Ywain to King Corwin to my list.
"As for saying goodbye," Robin tilts her head in thought, "I think it's a bit premature. But granted, I have jumped away from you pretty quickly in the past. So it's probably a good idea.
"What did you have in mind?" Robin croons quietly as she presses up against Vere, lifting her face up, and gazing into his eyes warmly.
"A quiet moment, no words, just us," he whispers back, folding her into his arms and holding her.
Robin croons softly in happiness as she is encircled in her Beloved's arms. She breathes deeply, finding joy in Vere's scent and his warmth. She lets her own arms slide around him memorizing every curve and plane of his figure. Her breath sighs out of her in pure bliss and she raises her face for a kiss.
For a long silent time the two just hold each other and shut the world out. Finally, with a regretful sigh, Vere loosens his hold on her. "I am most sorry that it did not occur to me while we travelled with Brita to ask her to make trumps for the two of us to exchange," he says to Robin. "It was a grievous oversight."
Robin nods in understanding as she oh so reluctantly lets go of Vere. "I will ask her to make one of me if we have time. That way we'll be at least halfway there." She smiles to Vere.
"And I shall remember the next time I spend time in the company of a Trump artist to make the request." Vere smiles, and takes her hand in his as they end their embrace. "Good hunting in Arden, my love."
"Good hunting in Paris, dearest," Robin answers. "Say hi to Avis and Siege for me."
Robin keeps her hand in Vere's as they (presumably) return to the main seating area.
"I was going to join Celina now," Vere says as they move back towards their cousins. "Your immediate plans?"
"I'm going to find Dad and get an update on the Arden situation. Especially since untying that Shadow knot seems to have had... much wider effects than I anticipated." Robin shrugs ruefully.
"Then let us part, to go our separate ways." Vere raises her hand to his lips for a light kiss, then holds it to his heart. "With luck we shall see each other again before we leave, but if not then know I am with you always."
Robin croons lovingly and her eyes are warm bonfires of affection. She doesn't have the words to tell Her Beloved all that he means to her, especially with so many people around. So she settles on kissing his cheek tamely knowing that Vere can hear the reciprocal feeling in her heart.
Conner watches the pairs of Robin and Vere and Jerod and Celina move away for privacy. At a loose end, Conner takes the opportunity to move over to Brita. "Back to the Green eh Sister?" Conner greets her. "Promise me to be most careful around giant bears, dragons, and anything that makes Robin trill with excitement." He mock chides.
Brita watches Robin and Vere depart then turns to her brother with a wide smile. "Lillies and Dragons and Bears -- Oh, My!" she quips back at him, then turns more serious. "I will Try, Brother, If You are Careful around the Klybesian Sect. I Will take the Honest Threat of the Deep Green over Them Any day. But First, I must See to Our Lost Uncle. Walk with me to See if The King has His Card?"
"Always happy to walk with you sister." Conner nods. "Hopefully the King will be free to see you ahead of the conversation the Prince must have." Conner waits until they have walked a bit before asking. "You don't happen to have a Trump or sketch of either of us handy do you? I mislike how spread out we are about to become."
"I Can Make a Sketch of me for You and Can have a Sketch of You as well," Brita notes. "I do Not have any sketches of Prince Jerod. I have a Trump of Cousin Ambrose."
"Celina seemed to want to leave immediately if not sooner so I may not have the time to sit." Conner remarks. "Still, I thank you for the offer." Conner smiles. "I rather envied your assignment. I would like to know First better after our duel."
Ambrose looks at the pair of them as they head out, but does not move to join them.
Brita has glanced back and nods slightly. "She Appears Honorable. I Tried to make a Sketch of Her and it was an Odd Result - Like she was Far Away. I have Several sketches of myself, You, and a few Others that I Maintain in Reserve. I can Quickly Covert one to a Sketch as Needed." She angles them towards where she last saw Random while pulling out her Sketch book.
Conner follows Brita into the castle in search of Random. "Far away?" Conner echoes. "Did she mention her parentage besides the Marshall?"
Brita shrugs, "She was Not Reachable, but I Could Sense she was There. I do Not Remember her Mentioning Other Parentage."
"So it is equally likely to be a factor of too tenuous a family connection or a factor of their nature." Conner shrugs. "Interesting experiment either way."
Brita nods in agreement as she shuffles through her notebook to several pages of Conner sketches. She finds on that is almost There and marks the page with an attached ribbon. "It was Also Interesting that She Felt Nothing, Unlike my Da who Felt Pain. The Combination of Distant Connection and No Pain could Lean towards Her Nature being the Cause versus Her Connections." The last is said as they enter the Throne Room (or Phone Booth - Throne Booth? - were Brita last saw First and Random.
Conner followers his sister into the castle in search of the King.
Merlin takes a look at the sibling and romantic groups forming, at his own sister and her [Pattern] suitors, and then decides he'd rather talk to Brennan. "Cousin. How do you fare with all that has happened here? I am sorry about Marius though I do not know what I can do to help you in a useful manner."
"Well, no one actually drew a weapon, and there were no death threats, so we're still ahead of our parents," Brennan says. He evidently doesn't think that's much to brag about, though. "Maybe in a hundred years he'll figure out that he can get more done by suffering through an unpleasant meeting than by being obnoxious and then storming out when it just makes everyone mad. It's not like-- agh!" he cuts off whatever he was about to say in an expression of generalized unhappiness about the state of the universe, and scrubs his hands over his face and back up over his hairline, giving himself a good stretch in the process.
"Thanks for asking, Merlin. Not much to be done about it, except him a few years to work it out of his system. The offer is meaningful, and welcome."
He takes his own look around at the various pairings, as the gathering breaks up. "You're going back to Rebma with your sister, I presume?"
"If I followed how all that shook out right, there's a lot of folks headed to Rebma," Raven comments as she joins the group. "Or headed to do things for Rebma."
"I do not know whether we are going to Rebma or Paris. I may suggest to my sister that I stand as witness to whatever happens to Edan and Martin and join her afterwards, if she does not wish to stay herself. She may not, as matters in Paris seemed urgent, and I am sure Vere wishes to hurry," Merlin explains.
To Raven, he adds, "Is there anything I can prepare for you, cousin, before you and Sir Brennan go? Nothing sorcerous, alas."
Brennan is careful not to look in Martin's direction, or anywhere that Martin will be able to lipread him, when he answers Merlin's question in a studiously low voice: "Best thing you can do is keep an eye on Martin and just... be there. Just between you and me," he emphasizes.
Merlin glances at Martin, brow furrowed, and nods, once, a gesture that he may have learned from Martin.
Then, to both Merlin and Raven: "So what do you think, did we accomplish anything here, today, or was this just an exercise in futility?"
Raven shrugs. "Got a list of what needs doing for the good of the realm, which ain't ever a bad thing," she points out. "And some info on all of those. As for the rest... Well."
She looks at Merlin. "Not sure I'd know what to ask you for."
"The traditional answer is a list of Trumps you'd like to have," Brennan says, although his tone is very dry. "But those are time and labor intensive, so it's really just a grievance expressed at the universe. Do you have any Trumps at all? You should probably have at least one to get you out of a tight spot."
"If you need a single Trump sketch, I could make one, given a few minutes. I would have to ask for art supplies. But a Trump sketch might be useful where you would go even if it fails after the first use," Merlin suggests to Raven.
To Brennan, Merlin adds, "I believe the exchange of information is a net positive, if nothing else. Marius' heart has not been with us for a long time. I worry about what he will do next, but if he is to leave, I am glad he did it early."
Raven nods in understanding. "I don't have any," she answers. Wouldn't turn something down, if there's time. How soon are we leaving?"
"Not until after this glorious meeting between the King and representatives of the various Orders," Brennan says. "And then depending on how long that takes, I might want to talk to my brother. So, soon, but not immediately."
Then, to Merlin, "Hunting Huon, is my first guess. Trying to do something about Vialle is my second, and second only because he has to realize that he'll be tripping over any number of us as we try to get a handle on all this and when he's had a chance to calm down he'll realize that he's already come close to burning a lot of bridges. Did I miss something with him and Vialle, for all the time I've been out away from things?"
Merlin blinks a few times and says, "I am not the correct person to ask for insight on that matter. I might ask my sister, though. She is much better than I am at knowing about relations between people."
Ossian has been standing by himself drawing something in his ever present sketch book, when he decides to join Raven, Brennan and Merlin.
"I think you did miss something with Marius and Vialle, father. Not that I have more than a hunch to support that."
Anyone looking at Ossian's sketch will see a half - finished self portrait.
Raven shrugs. "No idea, on the Marius and Vialle thing. Got shoved in a cell with him in Gateway, we escaped, we went back to Amber. He was making a point of not talking about himself for a while there, and then we had a difference of opinion, so not much talking got done after that."
"Not surprising," he says to Raven, "given what he'd been through. I would have been saving my breath and sharpening my knives, too.
"And your hunches are as good as a month of my solid observations," Brennan says to Ossian. "Even aside from whatever points he was making, that just felt... personal. It'd be useful to know if that was personal in a way that's going to cause complications later, either politically or with Marius doing something at cross-purposes to the rest of us." He shrugs. If the answer does not exist, there's no sense obsessing over it.
"How are you fixed for hunting the Klybesians?"
"Between me and Jerod we should be able to handle most things. We do lack sorcery, though. The Pattern is our main ally there. Do you have any advice? " Ossian says with a grin. "Especially on how we can protect my mother."
"Never too late to learn," Brennan says philosophically. "And your mother and I fought in the Summerless War along the Black Road. Ugly business, and I'm not sure we would have won without her. Leave me out of any discussions where you suggest she needs protection.
"As for advice, three things: First, I've seen your instincts in the field. They're good. Trust them. Second, show the Klybesians the full measure of Amber's wrath. Let them hate, so long as you cause them to fear. If that means taking the time to find this rutter and hit them from angles they didn't know existed, so be it. Take the time. Third, don't lose your soul in the fight."
Merlin looks at Brennan when he says not to lose your soul in a way that suggests he may have a more literal idea of what losing a soul means than Brennan does. "You will not have a sorcerer with you," Merlin says to Ossian. "Will that be a significant tactical weakness?"
Ossian nods: "They have at least one sorceror who has caused me trouble before. I guess the Pattern will protect me and Jerod somewhat, but Regenlief is another matter. I'm not worried for her in a fair fight."
"Gateway was pretty happy that we weren't trying to flatten them," Raven remarks. "Maybe not quite the same level of power, but you might be able to pick up a mage or two there to tag along. And the weir."
"I'd expect them to have Sorcerors, and not Pattern adepts," Brennan says. "And that being the case, I'd want Pattern adepts on my team to oppose them rather than more Sorcerers. Sorcery is very versatile, often very flashy, and if you're good at it, fast enough to use in a fight, which makes it suited to the attack. But Pattern is very disruptive against Sorcery. The other thing is, it gets very difficult to coordinate Sorcerors and Pattern adepts on the same team, as the two powers don't work well in proximity to each other.
"That's why I wanted to keep things Pattern-only in the fights with the Moonriders thus far, or keep any Sorcery minimal and passive. We basically all have skills with Pattern, and it was the right tool for the job. The Weir, though... yes, I'd like to see a pack of Weir tear through a Klybesian compound."
"I agree with Brennan's assessment," Merlin says. "You will do better with Pattern to protect Regenlief than you will with Sorcery. Pattern maintains; Sorcery in general breaks, and breaks down." He starts to say something else and then turns to look at Celina and Folly. "What are they doing?" He does not sound pleased.
Ossian nods and turns around. He grins.
At the same time, or at least until he turns his attention to Celina and Folly, Brennan sees that Martin and Garrett are ready to go.
Brennan also turns around. He does not grin. Or give any facial expression at all.
He shares a glance with Merlin, but takes the question to be rhetorical and does not answer it when he sees Folly put it back in her pants. "Merlin, Ossian, my best. Keep in touch if you can, but don't take a lack of response as an immediate sign of danger. I see Martin is ready, though, so for the moment, I'm with him."
Exit Brennan, stage throneroomward.
"I'll try and stay castle-ish," Raven says as Brennan moves away. "Or at least not hard to find when you're ready to go."
Then she turns back to Merlin and Ossian, shrugging. "Can't say I know what they were up to, other than looking at a pretty rock." She snorts. "Important pretty rock, I assume."
Martin comes to join Garrett in picking up the plate diagram and separating the piles into multiple groups so the sorcerers can distribute the work. In a low voice, he says, "I just want you to know that I'm probably going to be away from Xanadu for a while. I don't know when I'll be back. But when and if shit gets too weird, and it's going to get really weird, you're welcome to come wherever Lark and I are."
Garrett pauses and looks over at Martin, brows furrowed. "Weird how?" he asks quietly.
Martin lowers his voice again. "I don't know if you caught this but Folly's gonna have another baby. This one is Dad's."
Garrett looks at Martin for a beat before shaking his head slowly. "Whoa," he breathes. "I caught that it was something serious but not... I'm sorry, man."
Martin gives a kind of helpless shrug. It's not a gesture Garrett can remember seeing on him.
"And...there's something I need to tell you too. About Lark," Garrett begins quietly, hastening to add, "I don't think it's bad, but it's something you would know more about than me."
"Go on," Martin says. "Right now my focus is on keeping things as sane as I can keep them for Lark."
Garrett nods. "Yeah, I want that too. So. Shortly after we arrived in Rebma, we attended the Queen's court. Llewella was there too. A triton arrived and was... REALLY interested in Lark. It was a bit unnerving because it was so big and she's so small. The triton seemed... shocked, maybe? And there seemed to be sort of a... a recognition there. On both sides. Lark swam up to its eye level and somehow communicated with it, without words. The encounter seemed to strike Llewella and Celina as unusual, but I didn't get the feeling that the triton meant Lark any harm. Quite the opposite, actually. I felt like it would have taken out Rebma to keep her safe." He pauses, looking serious, then adds, "They said the triton's name was Atrios."
Martin relaxes a little. "OK, thanks. That's good to know. Atrios was my triton, and my mother's before me. Knowing for a certainty that he's caring for her is reassuring. There are a lot of people who might want to use her in Rebma, which is why I didn't want to go there with her, or send her, but--needs must." His expression grows flat again. "I really don't know what I'm going to do other than bail out of court for a while, which considering how badly I messed up with Vialle, shouldn't be hard. If I get exiled like Solange did, it's not going to be permanent. It'll just be for a while. So don't worry too much about it."
"I'd never considered that possibility, to be honest," Garrett frowns. "When I spoke with the king earlier, he certainly was not thinking of her with any sort of fondness. He sounded eager to pass judgment and be done with her. I doubt what happened with you and Edan would be considered an exileable offense, as long as it keeps her out of his way."
"I didn't know that when I was considering my options in the middle of things, though. Just--about Folly and Dad. Well, not that they had, more like that they were going to." Martin shrugs. "I'm more worried at this point about the Moonriders having an active queen and our part in that than I am about him being angry that we got Vialle out of the way. Anyway, Edan was acting under my orders, and I won't let him face any punishment without sharing it equally."
Martin looks at the several stacks of plates and implements. "I think we've got this as broken up as we can get it without sorcerers. Let's see if the others are ready and go do this thing." He comes to his feet and offers Garrett an unnecessary hand up.
Garrett takes the hand-up as a gesture of trust and rises to his feet. "If you need anything in your travels, or a quick out, call me. If you have my trump." Garrett offers sincerely.
"I will," Martin says.
Ambrose looks at Conner and Brita heading off, at Merlin talking to Brennan, and Martin and Garrett gathering plates, and comes over to Signy instead. "I haven't chosen an assignment yet, and nobody else seems to have volunteered to work on your part of the Moonriders. Is there aught I can aid you with?"
Signy gives Ambrose a warm, welcoming smile. "I think I'm going to be very much in need of an extra set of hands." She looks at Edan and Martin, and then Brennan, before turning her attention back to Ambrose. "My guess is that after Edan and Martin tell the King about what happened with the Queen, I may end up tasked with not just going back to discuss the terms of the Marshall's daughter, but also something to do with that as well."
Her eyes flick towards Brennan one last time. "I wonder if I end up travelling with Brennan to Ghenesh for all of this."
"I would expect that to happen, honestly, though I think whatever negotiations you are expected to make will have changed, as you say. I think it must be an exchange--if one is desired." The moment of hesitation before Ambrose chooses the passive voice is noticeable, as if he's trying not to say who might not want who back, or to go back themself. "I need to learn how to make Trumps, so I can help with Trump exchanges. My father could do it."
Signy nods slowly as Ambrose speaks. "If nothing else, I expect the starting negotiations to be the Queen for the First, though it's hard to know how many other layers to this there are."
She sighs, before glancing at Ambrose. "How well do you know my brother? Was this normal for him to respond this way?"
"I don't know him at all, I'm afraid," Ambrose says. "But I gather your mother's death and what was done to him in Rebma have changed him. If he wants to protect Vialle, I think he has his work cut out for him, but first he has to protect her from the Moonriders." He looks at Signy. "He may try to contact you."
Signy thinks this over for a second. "So, if we needed to communicate with someone in the Family and didn't have a Trump, how would you do it? I have the Trump he gave me, but I only ever heard of them as being useful to contact the person on the Trump, not that they could be used the other way."
"My father would have done it with a bird of desire, at least before he--" Ambrose stops there, reconsiders, and says, "That's a long story. I don't have the skills to do it with the Pattern and while there are sorcerous methods I could use to find and communicate with Brennan, I'm not sure I'd want to try them with Marius. He's probably understandably wary of unknown magics," Ambrose says with delicate understatement.
"As for the other, I know my father could use Trumps to spy on people. I haven't managed it myself because I don't have enough Trumps to try, and I have no desire to spy on the people whose Trumps I've had."
Signy sighs, and starts moving towards the throne room. "It seems like not having a Trump of me may be a hindrance. Who could create one of me that I could give to the King?"
"Brita, of course, and Ossian. Paige, Folly, Merlin. I'm not sure who else; none of our elders seem to have mastered the skill yet. At least as far as I know; Fiona might not tell us if she had." Ambrose shrugs. "I think the King has a gallery. Might there be a sketch of you already?"
"...And then you should be able to tuck that last section in behind the last bit... yeah, just like that." Folly smiles encouragingly at Solange's efforts to swaddle a baby. They're spread out on the floor of the gazebo, which seemed like the safest flat surface in the vicinity. "I learned when we were in Avalon, but honestly I didn't get a tremendous amount of practice. It didn't take Lark very long to decide she'd rather be mostly naked pretty much all the time." She grins, but there's a flicker of melancholy in her eyes.
"Have you got him, or do you want me to take him?"
"This guy is going to need a little while before he can run anywhere," Solange says confidently. "I think I have him." Seeing Celina hovering, she adds, "Come on over. We have him outnumbered so he can't get away, coz!"
Celina moves in cautiously, "I see. What are we calling this one? Does the wrapping protect him or us?"
"Right now we're calling him Pupa, but someday he'll be a beautiful butterfly," Folly says with a grin, and tickles the baby very gently under the chin. More seriously, she continues, "They haven't picked a name yet. The swaddling is mostly to help him feel comfortable while he gets used to being outside the womb, but also protects him from whacking himself in the face with limbs he doesn't know how to control yet. I don't think we know yet whether he has any exciting powers we need protection from, besides his total adorableness. And eventually, stinky stinky diapers."
Celina does not point out that a watery world does not limit stink inside a wrapper at all.
Vere approaches the ladies and infant and stands quietly and respectfully a short distance away.
"Vere," Folly says by way of greeting, and stands. "Did you need to talk to Solange?"
Vere nods to Folly, then to Solange. "Rather, I am reporting to Celina, as I have volunteered to aid her with her mission." His gaze turns to Celina. "I did not know how swiftly you might be planning to depart."
Celina responds with solemn voice and eyes of Mischief, "One must move swiftly to escape the Well of Family. But I think Folly meant to share something with me before I left. Is there a business in Order?" She aims the last at Folly.
"Ah. Yes. Please excuse us," Folly says to Vere and Solange. She casts a quick, subtle glance toward Martin and then leads Celina to a quiet spot in the other direction, well apart from their cousins.
"I don't know how much this will help, because I don't know how much Rebma's jewel is like ours, but it might give you some ideas," Folly says in a low voice. "How intimately would you say you know Rebma?"
"Enough that my heart and body are entangled, but my head has regrets," Celina sounds as if she is talking about a lover. Her voice is tinged with hope more than disappointment.
Folly quirks a smile, all sympathy and understanding. "Well. That sounds like a good start, actually."
Celina does not look relieved. But she listens closely.
She taps her fingertips against her bottom lip, gathering her thoughts. "So. You probably caught at least the broad outlines of what I did from my report to our little council. You have my leave to ask me anything, and I'll answer as best I can as long as I don't think it betrays any confidences."
Folly makes a gesture that encompasses the space around them. "The King is the Pattern is the Land. That's where I was starting. And I know the King, and I know the music he used to make the Pattern, because I can hear it in the Land, and some of it is music we made together. When I went to try to save him, my goal was to bring him back into himself by reminding him who he is with music, and with sex if that didn't work.
"Before I went, your father gave me the Jewel."
Celina is visibly startled by this.
Folly goes on, "He said it was Bleys's idea. And I had it in my pocket. I didn't attune to it, not in the regular way. But when we played the song that I knew would work, it... sang along. Like we were attuning to each other and the frequency of Xanadu, all vibrating together until we were the same thing.
"Your circumstances are rather different," Folly adds, "but if you feel in your bones and your heart how Rebma vibrates, and whether those frequencies are made of music or dance or sex or war or a little of each or something else entirely, I think you've got the start of your marriage ritual."
Celina stands looking at Folly for a long time. Too many thoughts to speak the first one. Celina's face finally comes out of neutral shock and falls into wryness. "So what is the 'regular way' attunement? I'm not sure I'm supposed to know that. It seems if Father had the Jewel, he never intended me to be a part of that. Damn him."
Folly holds up a hand to forestall, or at least soften, that line of thinking. "I'm not sure where it was before he brought it to me. I would have expected it to be here, since the Unicorn presented it to Random and he used it to draw the Xanadu Pattern. Maybe Fiona gave it to Bleys to get it out of the castle when she saw how things were going with the Queen...?" She gives a little shrug. "And anyway, Corwin isn't the theorist the redheads are. What I experienced is different to all the stories I've heard of how the Jewel of Judgment works -- so even if he had it, it may simply not have occurred to him that it would be useful in that way."
Celina gathers herself with a sigh, "I suppose what you are saying is something I have already felt. On the other hand, the more I have found out about Moins, the less I think Moire is but a shadow of her. Rebma is not as beautiful as I thought." Celina looks at Folly to see if that even makes sense to her.
Folly nods slowly as she mulls that over. "The Monarch is the Pattern is the Land," she says. "Which makes Rebma quite the mystery, if Moins drew its Pattern and now Moins is dead. I know very little of her, but I have wondered if the ice and steel and manipulation threaded through the stories I know of your mother are the price of holding a Pattern you did not draw. I hope not; the trick might be to hold it by mutual agreement and respect rather than by force. You want it, and it wants you. Harmonic resonance."
Celina fills back up with sass. She's taller now. "Yes. I do want it. And I need the resonance. Waiting is very hard."
"I know," Folly says with a wry smile.
Something else seems to occur to her suddenly. "Who's Lir?" she asks.
Celina answers, "Lir, the Beauty, was Mera's father. Each of the daughters had a different..." She stops and looks very strange. "Actually, I don't know, Folly, the Archives have been wrecked by Moire. I'm not sure what drek I was just saying."
"Interesting," Folly says, drawing the word out a bit. "I've heard the name come up in what sounds like Rebman ancient history or legend, maybe earlier than Moins? It makes me wonder if the Rebman Pattern pre-dates Moins, and either its original scribe is still alive somewhere or the current Rebma is a remake of a much older Rebma, like Paris and maybe Avalon." She frowns. "There's just so much we don't know.
"But the Jewel -- I had this story from Dworkin, told as family history and metaphysics: He says the Unicorn, who is a being of Order, made it and gave it to him so that he would make a Pattern to keep Order safe from Chaos. He described Patterns and Shadows as being like a pearl that protects Chaos from the irritant of Order. Also, it is the nature of being attuned to the Jewel that you will make a Pattern, or die. Then, from what I've pieced together from other sources: The regular way to attune to it is to go into it, somehow -- you might need someone who's already attuned to take you, but I'm not sure; I've been careful not to stare at it too long, just in case -- and... I get the sense there's something in there that you'd attune to." She fumbles in her pocket. "Here, I'll let you take a look, but... not too long, just in case." She pulls out a small leather pouch, reaches in, and pulls out a ruby dangling from a thick chain wrapped securely around her hand. She holds it up at eye level and takes a moment to regard Celina through the gem.
Celina eyes the Jewel and the many fractals of Folly she can see.
Celina sees Folly through the facets, and the castle behind her, and so many infinite variations that she can't quite grasp what she's seeing. It's like a infinite reflection between two mirrors, but each facet distorts the image slightly.
Celina can't tell why that's important, but she suspects that it is.
"Folly," Celina whispers in a steady voice, "you look delicious draped in variation. And I have to say that there is so much to Chaos that Order seems a shallow defensive maneuver. There is too much to do, this will have to wait until I get back. Sorry." Celina pulls her eyes away from the infinity. "Any other advice?"
Folly tucks the Jewel away into its pouch and puts it snugly into her pocket. "Listen to your head, your heart, and your gut, in whichever order you most trust them. And if you're still not sure what to do...." She gets a faraway look in her eyes for a moment, and then her lips quirk into a wry smile. "...Ask Lark. It's unlikely to be a straightforward answer, but she's... sensitive."
She glances over her shoulder and sees Martin moving toward the castle. "That reminds me.... Martin needs to be away from Xanadu for a while, with Lark, for perhaps obvious reasons. He hasn't decided where they're going yet, and they might be moving around a bit, but... I hope you'd give them shelter in Rebma if they want or need it."
Garrett remembers that he said he'd walk up to the castle with Folly, so having wrapped up his conversation with Martin, he walks back over in her direction. He is holding a card out to her, face down. "Folly, here's the trump you loaned me. Are you ready to go up?" he says, with a nod toward the castle.
Folly nods and gives Celina's hand a gentle squeeze of farewell before linking arms with Garrett to head into the castle.
"I see where we rank," Solange says, more to the baby than Vere, as Folly and Celina wander off. Having successfully re-swaddled the baby, she picks him up. "I'm glad I got a chance to talk to you for more than a moment, too. Are you going to get to talk to Dad before you have to go?" she asks.
"That depends on Celina," Vere replies, watching the Queen as she walks away with Folly. He closes his eyes briefly, then turns to face Solange. "If she plans to leave Xanadu immediately then I go with her. If she has plans to delay, I shall take the time to speak with Father and Mother. I did have a chance to exchange at least a few words with Father when I took the princess of the Moonriders to Random." He shrugs slightly. "I am concerned over the report that Avis might be involved in this matter Celina is investigating, and I think it is vital that there be someone there with her interests at heart, who will see her as more than a piece in the game."
"After everything, I think that's wise. Bend's always sounded like massive trouble and she wouldn't hesitate to hang Avis out to dry." Solange makes a face. "I wish I could come with you, but someone really needs to be working on Dad's case, and I still think advanced technological healing is the way to go."
Vere nods. "Avis would do anything to protect her people, and that gives someone like Bend a hook to use. As for Father," he sighs. "I keep thinking that as soon as whatever current crisis is going on is handled I will have time to devote to his healing. And a new crisis always arises. I am very glad that you are able to continue looking into it, Solange. It makes me feel less useless to know that someone is devoted to the matter." He shakes his head. "So far all the magical means I have researched have been..." he pauses, "...not dead ends, precisely, but 'you need to talk to someone far more experienced than I about this' has been the constant refrain. My current plan, when I have time to pursue it, is to try to track down Dworkin. For now, as I continue on missions for the crown, I keep my ears open for any hints on where he might be."
"I'll let you know if I hear anything, but I'm not the sort of family member Dworkin talks to," Solange points out. She doesn't do the traditional hair gesture, but her look into the group with Brennan and Merlin says much the same thing. "I still think if we can get Dad healed without implants, he'll be able to walk the Pattern afterwards. And I still think technological healing will do that and be compatible with the Pattern. I think the hardest part is going to be getting Dad to do it, and believe it."
Vere nods. "I have the feeling that Father's belief is the key to this, and that his stubborn disbelief will be the most difficult thing to overcome." He sighs. "My oath was intended to give him a reason to fight for his healing, and to believe that it is possible. Hannah suggests that instead it has put too much pressure on him."
Solange frees one arm from holding the baby and pats Vere's arm. "You did the best you could at the time. Sometimes we take risks and they have downsides," Solange reminds him. "We'll get Dad through this. We'll just have to find an approach that will convince him. And then he'll convince the Pattern and it'll all be okay."
Vere glances back towards Celine and nods when he sees her looking at him. He turns back to Solange and hugs her for a moment before saying. "Good luck, my sister."
"You too. Stay safe, and don't let Avis drag you into too much trouble. Sister's orders," Solange teases him.
After whatever words of farewell she has for him he heads for Celina.
And Solange goes to give their nephew back to his mother.
"I will have to think on names and come back to you," Edan says. "I didn't have something specific, just thought this is a good time to catch up if needed. You know what I've been up to. If Xanadu is anything like Amber, like the Land of Peace, Random's reaction will have a lot to do with the number of pro-Vialle Rebman factions he wants to appease. I think the chances of me, or the Lamp, being sent far afield is quite high."
Hannah gives him a measuring look. "I don't think Random will have much patience for pro-Vialle anything, but it might be safer for you if it's so. I've got nothing to add or offer. Just remember time gets away from us quickly, and in a year we have an appointment to plant an acorn. Also, someone will probably be walking by then." She gives a quick glance back at said child to make sure everything is ok. She smiles back at Edan and squeezes his hand. "I really have no idea if it's safe to have a developing brain in trump contacts, so I hate to risk it."
"I would discourage high-powered Sorcery for the same reason." He brightens. "I could send birds of desire. That sounds very appropriate."
"More talking birds. Why not? Just make sure they expire appropriately so Heckle isn't eating them. I have this fear in a thousand years our descendants are going to be cursing us for the path of acorn trees and talking birds. You know, like we do about the Arcadian situation." She's not even kidding about this. "Be thinking of a way to meet our oath the Heckle while still limiting the reach and power and ability of the trees. I know that's not what you want to do, but we should take an ounce of lesson from the past."
Edan gets a half-smile. "I don't have an answer for that one, either. If Heckle was right, it will take a long time for the oak to properly wake up. When I gave him, her, whichever, the spark, it was with a healthy dose of my own personality. I like to think that's a good thing."
"Hm," Hannah says, trying not to smile. "When the seventh generation meets Old Oak... " That thought seems to wander off in her head. She blinks it away. "I'm still mourning my home. I have always tried to stay as much within the joys of being present and the struggle to make the future, but it's not so easy anymore when parts of the past you loved have walked to places on the great path you can't go. It's not just my mothers. It's the smell of the spring wind and walking up on town, feeling the drums from in someone's house, that moment you can just start to hear the voices singing, the feet moving..." She looks away and breathes in. "I will carry that place within me all my days. It is the sacred space inside my mind." She looks back to him and smiles just a little. Hannah knows how to sit inside grief without the storm emerging. "Some of this, also, is my body doing what it must for this new phase of life. And it helps not at all to say that, which women have been telling me all my life. 'This is normal and good,' I would say, and they'd sniffle or push my shoulder in frustration or say 'what do you know about it Doctor?' or let me know in a thousand ways that it being normal and good didn't make it easier." That makes her smile.
"I hope he doesn't send you too far for too long," she says, and means it.
"You speak of a thing that I know nothing about," Edan says. "I've never been a father before, never seen this before. I don't like that I will miss it. Or maybe not, I don't know. I am with you there, I hope I can return soon. My own home, I know it is still there. I know the Klybesians are there, making changes, and not for the better. But that can wait. He...you...us, that's more important."
She nods. "We will find a way. He won't remember this year, Edan, but you will. So we will make a new path, with trumps and birds and letters, and maybe if we're lucky, you'll be around. I'm not going to have him at the breast after the first year, so once he's walking... we'll pass him around. I do have a question - I don't remember if I asked you. Your father - I had the occasion to trump him now and again since I arrived - and he was always in a different very elemental location. Like a really hot place, then a really frigid place and so on. Do you have any idea what he's been doing? I'm just curious, mostly."
Edan gives an expansive shrug. "Early on, I would have said he was practicing to act out Shakespeare plays. Always dressed up, never let you see where he was. Later, I helped him track the Moonriders that in turn were tracking Shadow paths. That's where we saw the Queen reveal herself to them. I don't know where he is right now, but he has an uncanny knack for finding me when I really need him. Almost as if I were being watched."
Hannah snorts and looks a bit incredulous. "Whatever constitutes 'really' needing him? Near death experiences?"
Martin comes over to stand close enough to Edan to get his attention, but not to interrupt. When he gets their attention, he tells Edan, "It's time to go do this thing. Hannah, will you be joining us?"
Edan stops what he was about to say, and smiles at Hannah. "Another time for that story, I think. It has to do with Clarissa and Uxmal." If Hannah looks like she wants to go to the throne room, he offers an arm and gets ready to pick up the baby from Solange.
Hannah glances back around to check the status of everyone else, nods and pats Edan's arm. "I'll grab him. He can go back in the cradle so Heckle has a perch that isn't me."
Hannah turns to recover her hopefully refreshed son from her sister. "Thank you," she says, regardless of the state of his swaddling. She straps said child onto the cradle board and slips her arms through the straps, then takes Edan's arm.
Solange hands over the baby (who is pretty well swaddled, perhaps because Folly helped) and helps with the cradleboard. "Do you need anything from me, or should I just pack up and head out?" she asks Hannah.
"Good luck, Edan. And if he exiles you too hard--" which Solange doesn't seem to think is likely from the tone of her voice "--you can always come explore space with me."
Celina nods to the departing Folly and Garrett. She palm brisks the skin on her arms, still able to taste the temptation of Order and Chaos warring inside the Jewel.
Celina focuses on Vere and Solange. She pauses, Solange doesn't much care for Rebma it seems. She'll wait to speak to Vere in a minute.
Celina notes Conner is absent. She looks at Jerod, then Merlin. Then Vere again.
Vere nods at Celina when he sees her looking at him, hugs his sister and exchanges a few words with her, then walks towards Celina.
"Just something if it should be said," Celina offers when he's close, "I don't know a reason that I've irritated Solange. I really do hope to help your sister in Paris. No strings attached."
Vere tilts his head slightly to the side. "I have not seen or heard anything to indicate the Solange is irritated with you," he says. "With Corwin and Paris, yes, but as far as I know she likes and admires you." He frowns slightly. "Unless I have missed something, or she has said something to you in private?"
"No, thank Lir," Celina relaxes. "I am glad to hear this. The meeting set my mind to so many things I am not comfortable to leave to others. Foolish of me. So I may have misunderstood. Thank you for your opinion. I think Merlin and Conner will join us and then we head off. Is there anything you need to get? Questions about Bend's information?"
"If you were going to take a while before leaving then I would want to speak with my parents in that time," Vere answers. "Mother could tell me if she has heard anything from Avis that might have a bearing on this matter. But if you are leaving quickly that is not of importance. More details on what information you have would be appreciated, you gave only broad outlines during the meeting."
"I will wait for Conner. Random rarely keeps cousins standing around, so I think you have time to talk to your family before Conner gets back. Frankly, I went to Paris chasing after the Jewel of Rebma," starts Celina. "My mother is the best chance of getting it back where it belongs. She either has it or has hidden it. Bend crossed our path because she thought to leverage information from an apprentice of Reid's, Papillon. Jerod was able to capture Bend at the Opera before Bend could act on Papillon. Bend claimed she was in Paris to start mirror tasks with artisans for Moire. Artisans do some fine work in Paris. Bend grudgingly began to cooperate with some answers. The monks have a young woman they've told Moire has Family descent from Moins. Bend felt they could not be allowed to hold this woman. Avis and her religious followers had been forming bonds with the monks as some common attraction? Perhaps? But the information Moire had changed Avis' views. Moire and Avis were in agreement that the woman should not be in their hands. The monks like taking things apart to find the center. I believe Bend believes these things." Celina continues to answer any small points Vere asks about this.
Vere will ask a few questions for clarification on what Bend told Celina. He nods thoughtfully at the possible connection between the monks in Paris and the Paresh. Once Celina has answered his questions he nods once more, and says, "Let me find out if my mother is currently in the palace, and if so I shall speak to her briefly before returning here. If you need me before I return, or if you wish me to meet you at another location, just send a page. I shall not be difficult to find." He bows to her slightly. "Is there anything else we should discuss before I leave?'
Celina smiles, "I shall also see if Merlin has a spare Trump of me while you tend elsewhere. My regards to your mother."
"Thank you." Vere nods once more, and is off.
Last modified: 4 March 2021