A Brief Respite


Edan turns away from Lilly and Ambrose, so they don't get to see his smile slowly fade as he walks away. Nor do they see the thousand- yard stare he adopts when he sees the destruction he's wrought upon the battlefield.

I've lost my perspective, he thinks. So different than when on the ship. There, I cared about the lives of the men on board. Had these men not been stolen away, they would be dead. And Uxmal... where is the remorse? Everywhere I go now, I cause great harm.

Pushing the thought aside, he looks to make sure Kyauta is still here, and not stolen; first looking through the mind-link he knows they share, then a questioning thought if the first doesn't work. Once he knows the fate of his affine, Edan turns his attention to Aramsham, to see if his horse is still alive.

Kyauta responds at once. My Lord, I am here! Edan's affine comes to light on his master's shoulders.

Aramsham is nowhere to be found. Perhaps he was destroyed in the salt rain, or perhaps Coyote stole him away.

Edan feels a pang of sorrow, then reaches up to pet his affine. If Coyote took Aramsham, he had to know my horse would be a trail to him. Well.

Yes! Perhaps he will trade it for something of equal value, Great Lord!

Edan winces.

Edan produces a small flame in the palm of his hand, then claps his hands together; all the water soaking his clothing and body evaporate in a mist, leaving him dry.

Slowly, carefully, he scouts the battlefield with his affine. I barely drew my sword, and all the men were taken away, but it will be said someday that Lilly and I slew thousands. When he finds a suitable place with his Third Eye, he repeats the spell, drying off a hilltop.

Then, he dances. The ground scorches under his feet. He turns and steps and twists deliberately widdershins around the hilltop until he has a complex magic circle burned into the earth. Then, using the same process, he circumscribes the circle with a rough triangle and leaves nine points on the circle burning and smouldering. When he is finished, he steps outside the circle, raises his arms, and calls to the pride of fire-lions he knows that will use the gateway of this planet's molten core to come to him. He sings an ancient rhyme, promising food and strength and a hunt to the half-dozen or so creatures he wants in exchange for their service. He sings and dances until the lions step through the fiery doorway he's created.

A pride of fire lions steps into the circle, old, and canny, and burning.

They speak, in his head, "We have not been here in many a turning, mortal. What do you offer in exchange for our service?"

Kyauta looks at them. I think I could eat the smallest, if I were careful. Do not trade them all to Coyote if you do not have to, Great Lord.

Edan smiles, a little. They're not for trade, my affine. They're to help me find him.

To the lions, he says, "And I have not seen the likes of you since the wailings of the City of Brass echoed in my ears. You are the elder ones, the noble ones. The greater ones. I am pleased." He gestures out towards the half-destroyed battlefield. "I offer you a great hunt, noble ones. A god, the coyote god of Uxmal. The personification of ingenuity and craftiness. It has fled the field, and stolen something of value to me. I can give you great gifts, noble hunters. I can extend your senses to their maximum potential, gifts that will last far longer than this hunt. The Coyote will challenge you and your skills to the utmost. It will be a hunt that you will recount for generations to come. I wish only two things; I want my horse returned to me, and I want this Coyote to be reminded that nothing- nothing! will stop me from reaching him and punishing him if he displeases me again. Would you take this bargain?"

The largest female sniffs, and moves forward, sniffing around the battlefield, learning it with her nose.

The speaking continues in his head, and there is no identifiable speaker, but it all sounds of fire. Each sentence sounds slightly different, as well.

"Interesting. The Coyote is a trickster but not a fire-god. It is never wise to challenge a trickster, for even when you win, you do not win. Indeed, it is not our fight, but we are curious to know if we can defeat him. But we know that it might only be a seeming win. And the offer? Do we wish to pass on it? What else is there?"

The internal discussion is becomes silent. After a long moment, another voice is added to the mixture. "Very well, we will offer a counter-bargain. We shall hunt with you, as your pride, but it is your hunt, and yours the victory or defeat. We shall require a debt to be owed to our people by yours, and that it be a duty of yours to make sure that some day, when we need it, it is paid. Will that suffice?"

Edan thinks at length on this. In fact, he sits cross-legged outside his summoning circle and ponders it fiercely. Finally, he shakes his head.

"Let it not be said that the fire-lions do not have wit and wisdom to match their strength," he says. "Your words are strong, and I hear them. I cannot agree to such a bargain, and I will tell you why."

He stands in a lithe movement not unlike that of the great cats themselves. "As strong as such a pride would be, our hunt would be flawed. I do not have a Plan to match the cunning of the coyote, not yet. I will not run, hot-headed and heedless, into a trap of his making. And the debt... I am a Prince, and strong. I can speak for myself, and keep my word. But I am pledged to a King, and I will not obligate the children of Amber without his knowledge and agreement to such a debt.

"And finally, I have other tasks to complete. They are more important than my horse, whether or not I have a sentimental attachment to the beast. If the stick of punishment cannot be brought to bear against Coyote, perhaps a strategy of respect would." He pauses. "But I feel a kind of kinship with you, noble lions. You would let me direct you, and I am honored. May I call upon you again, if another opportunity for a bargain presents itself?"

The voices again crackle from the air, and from them all, without being clearly identifiable. "Very well. You are our flame-kin and we respect your choice and would honor your request. Your kind are known to us, for we do not die, but it has been many lifetimes of the mortals since you ventured here. If you pass this way again, you may call upon us if you wish to bargain further."

Edan bows. "So it shall be. Peace be with you, kindred, and good hunting." He cancels his spell, under the impression that the fire-lions will return through the closing gateway when he does so. If that is the case, when the gateway closes he calls Kyauta to him and walks away from the battlefield, beginning to shift Shadow as he does so.

Kyauta comes to him. Is there someone to eat, my Lord? The exertion has made me hungry.

When the rain was taken from you, I wondered if that would happen, Edan thinks. I do know of such a place, where you can Eat. We will walk in Shadow for a short while. We will find a mount, and then send a message, and then go to this place. There, we can both take a moment to rest and recover.

And so Edan walks from the field, and lets the Shadows lie for him; for the moment, he just wants to be away from the scene of desolation he's caused, wants not to be recognized, wants to find an unattended horse so that the process of shifting Shadow can go faster and easier. He lays his Will upon the path he takes to ensure that these things will take place.

Edan is ready to move, to begin his shift, when he hears a familiar snort. If it is not Aramsham, it is as close an approximation as could be made. It comes from behind him.

Edan smiles a little before he moves, but he still rests a hand on the hilt of his sabre before he turns. Perhaps I underestimated your stamina... Kyauta?

Great Lord? There is a being behind us.

Another voice happens in Edan's head, much like Kyauta's Many lives of men past, The Magician appeared, and defeated the ruler of heaven, and broke the moon. He was a firebringer, and a trickster. I abided, for it was not mine to defeat him, but his own kind's. I would have you leave our place, and never return. What is the price of that, man of Amber?

Edan checks the first angry retort that comes to his mind. Another response comes, and he checks that one, too. He settles on a safer subject from the Other's opening gambit.

"I understand your motivation," he says, turning fully around, fixing both eyes (and a Third, if necessary) on the creature who spoke in his mind.

It is a canine figure, a giant dog or coyote. It sits with its tongue hanging slightly out. It seems to mock Edan.

"As it turns out, the Magician's own kind did defeat him. He broke more than the moon in his mad grab for ultimate power." Edan deliberately takes his hand off the hilt of his sword and rests it on his belt. "I am not him. I am not like him. Who are you, that speaks for the welfare of this place?"

"I? I am a God of minor aspect. One of cunning and invention where my brothers and sisters cultivated their power and their spheres. I am the Coyote God, who calls in the night and who gave man gifts that they might flourish.

"Oh, and I am the new rain God, thanks to you."

Edan nods in response. "I have had a chance to think on this, just recently, and I suppose that is not the worst thing that could happen for Uxmal. You have made my affine very hungry and uncomfortable, but I shall address the problem myself, and overlook its cause."

He pauses. "To answer your other question, I never had designs upon Uxmal. I could leave now, and never come back, and it would not bother me in the slightest. But the situation is more complicated that you paint it, O Coyote-of-the-Rain. My allegiance is to Amber and Xanadu. I would not suffer to see one of my kindred, one who had taken the same oath, to be slain before me. Even if they are part of your pantheon. I would come back, and aid them, and be foresworn, and have no regrets. So."

Edan pauses again, hands at his belt, and regards Coyote. "I do not want to make an oath to you that I might have to break. I propose an... understanding, instead. Between you and I. I will stay away from Uxmal, and if I find myself there, for whatever reason, I will leave forthwith. In return, I expect you to do whatever is in your power to protect those who share my allegiance to Amber and Xanadu. That includes Feathered Serpent. If you prevent a repeat of what has happened today, you also prevent me wanting to come back.

"Oh, and I would appreciate the return of my horse, Aramsham. We've travelled far, and I'd hate to lose him."

Coyote's tongue lolls out of his mouth, this time on the other side. He speaks without words. "I accept your agreement; it is a fair price for a good horse. Tell me, Edan, is Borel one who shares your allegiance?"

Conner is the one with the dazzling smile, but Edan does manage a rough approximation. "Not at all."

"It is unfortunate for me that she does not have a horse. I want her to leave as well. Perhaps she will on her own now that Chantico no longer has Feathered Serpent and Smoking Mirror to oppose."

Aramsham walks out of a mist towards Edan.

Edan moves to Aramsham; knowing his horse probably better than anyone, he inspects things like Aramsham's stance, his attitude, his mannerisms... all under the guise of checking the stallion's health and hooves and tack... in order to be sure it is indeed Aramsham that has come to him.

Aramsham is himself, if perhaps calmer than he should be. He seems comforted by Edan's presence.

"Dara doesn't need a horse," Edan says as he works. "And I share your opinion. We thought she might be here... oh. One named cleph doesn't share Amber's allegiance, either. Clarissa would, by virtue of her marriage to Oberon, but I am thinking she might not notice if you were trying to aid her or not."

If all seems okay, Edan mounts up and calls Kyauta to him (if his affine isn't with him already).

"It may be that she will leave. It may be that she is already in more than one place at a time. It may be that she will Eat Chantico. I do not know." He pauses. "I try not to hold grudges over the events of war. If our paths cross again, if you see something that might be to our mutual benefit, I am always willing to talk."

The voice speaks again, more quietly. "Gods strive, Amberman, but we do not commit deicide. That is the sole preserve of mortals."

Edan feels the familiar stirring of a trump contact.

"Remind me to introduce you around sometime in Arcadia," Edan says. "You might change your mind. Fare thee well, Coyote." He holds up a hand as a goodbye, then flicks the reins to turn Aramsham away. He opens his mind to the contact as he leaves.


[Paige] makes her way toward the town after gathering some of her last bits of wardrobe from this fully-functional battle station... er... Castle. Her lack of personal staff at the Prince is lamentable, but the wine steward still knows her preferences and the baths are still divine. She sends Alain a letter informing him of her current lodgings and considers contacting the King, but thinks better of it. The note does suggest that tonight would be a poor night for him to visit the Prince, or at least her suite.

Now in even more familiar surroundings, materials at hand, reference sketches displayed, Paige begins something that will be a strong sketch, at least. She dedicates the night to building the Trump of her brother, expecting to bother him in the morning.

In a night, Paige can capture enough to get a working sketch, although she's not sure how long it will last.

Paige finishes her work and as she pays attention to more than her brother and his image, notices that the staff have provided her with breakfast. Paige had not even noticed them come in.

Paige checks her appearance in the ever-present mirror, and seeming satisfied, returns to the Sketch. She concentrates on the curve of her brother's blade, the hitch in his smile, the fire in his eyes.

Edan comes into focus. He's on his horse, and dressed in a long robe that is black and grey and shiny, like obsidian. He has two swords tucked in his belt, and what looks like a miniature white dragon perched on his shoulder. A few burned and blackened trees are in the background.

"Who?" he asks.

Paige is seated in a sitting room, rich warm colors on the walls, several bookshelves behind her. Her hair is cut short in a bob, and she's in a robe as well, long plush and green.

"You left her to find your horse?" Paige asks with a slightly incredulous tone. "I understand that Aramsham is a prince among horses, but really, brother..."

Edan has the half-expectant, amused look of someone waiting for the punch line. When it doesn't come, his jaw drops.

"I can't- wait, bide a moment." He kicks his horse, lightly, and lets Aramsham canter well away from the area they were sitting. Eventually, he slows to a walk. "Is that all they said? Honestly, Paige, doesn't anyone in this family appreciate being rescued? Remind me to stop trying... I suppose nothing was said about the Coyote?"

"No, just something about you and Chantico both cheating," Paige responds. "I suppose this was some sort of Shadow godling, or is that he on your shoulder?"

"No," Edan says, stroking the dragonet under its chin with a finger. "This is Kyauta, my affine. A creature of Chaos, like Cloudeater. Given to me by the daughter of the High Marshall of Ghenesh during the Race to Madness. Coyote is the Uxmali Trickster god, who stole an army and his brother gods and my horse and even the powers I tore from the rain god and fed to Kyauta. I decided to have words with him before anything else was taken." All this is said matter-of-factly, as if he would have said, the sun is shining today.

Paige nods and smiles. "Seems of minor import when set up against the capture and subsequent loss of an uncle bent on revenge and destruction that led an army into Rebma and well, I was only attacked by a windstorm from a jealous cousin-goddess who didn't feel like sharing the King's pledge of surety with the twins' grandmother.

"Unicorn's tits, I hope that doesn't mean that Robin's aquired three affines. For the wild-woman of the woods, she seemed too Ordered for that," his sister adds.

Edan scratches the back of his head as he tries to digest this. "I've been gone too long," he says, absently, "even if I've hardly been gone long at all. Now I know why everyone uses Trumps." His focus goes back to Paige. "I can relate my story, if you'll catch me up on the Family. And tell me how much danger you're in with these Artemi cousins."

"To be honest brother, I can relate not much more than a synopsis as Brennan offered," she apologizes. "As Warden of Broceliande, I've been preoccupied with plans for my recruiting Rangers and dealing with Lalal's Children of the Moon and their impending migration. Artemis wished to speak to me last I was in Arden, and Lalal wasn't willing to share. Random's offer is to any and all that swear his allegiance, so who am I to deny it to Artemis and her people?" she asks rhetorically. "Apparently Lalal has a geas against the sea, so I have to transport them via a land route. I plan on going carefully, so as to not lead Arcadian forces back to my magical forest before I've assembled her defenders. Brita will be leading the recruits via the sea route."

Edan nods. "You already know I spent some time near the Tree- Aramsham and I participated in the Race to Madness, a race to Ygg and back. Father raced in it, centuries ago. At the Tree, I encountered Chases-in-Madness, the daughter of the High Marshall of Ghenesh. Apparently, Madoc sponsors a similar race on the Chaosi side of Ygg at about the same time. It was she that gave me Kyauta, my affine."

Edan falls silent for a little time, and Paige can tell he's bending his will and concentration towards shifting Shadow. When his horse slows again, he says, "Also I encountered Lilly and Martin, but they were passing through. I'll get back to them in a moment.

"My first stop was to meet Clarissa, as she became aware of my existence. It was a pleasant visit, and she offered to take me to Ambrose in Uxmal to practice a little advanced Sorcery. While there, I arranged for agents to begin a search for my other major task, that to find paths in Chaos that might have been created through firelillies. It seems I charmed our father's mother somewhat in our meeting, and I am glad for it."

"Better you than I, brother. I'm still not sure that she wasn't responsible for the twins' accelerated prenatal growth," Paige chuckles quietly, not truly interrupting.

"We arrived in Uxmal, but Ambrose had already left with all his people. Clarissa and I looked for clues as to his whereabouts, but rapidly became ensnared in the magical traps Ambrose had left for his sister. Chantico managed to avoid the whole thing entirely. I became angry, and destroyed the upper third of the Magician's Pyramid and a few miles' radius of jungle to extricate us. Oh, and I took the service of the local rain god, and was rapidly betrayed by it; I tore it apart to feed my affine, thus giving it the rain god's powers."

His sister nods, encouraging him to continue.

"By this time, Lilly had arrived with my horse, who had run in the explosion. She had been sent to Uxmal, though I don't think I got the whole story, there- she wasn't happy about it, however. We all tracked Ambrose to another, more industrial Shadow, where Clarissa was caught and ejected by another of Ambrose's traps. Lilly and I finally found Ambrose and his army, about to be overrun by Chantico and a coalition of Uxmali gods and fighting men.

"I knew, even though we had no army of our own, that we could turn the tide. And I was not about to see Brennan's brother, and our new ally, cut down in front of us. We charged Chantico's army from the rear, using sorcery to overwhelm the minds of nearby troops and bring them to our side. We aimed for a weak point in the line, though that turned out to be a feint of Chantico's; our troops got us about that far. I made myself manifest, then, and challenged the heroes of the enemy to draw them out. We identified the gods and Chantico that way, and Lilly became my champion in a one-on-one fight with her... just to be with swords. I met Ambrose, who told me what sorceries Chantico was using to her advantage even as his sister was disarmed and then used those advantages to break Lilly's hip.

"Kyauta flooded the battlefield with a deluge of rain, then, and I used Multiplicity to turn the rain to saline and then Similarity to convert the salt to sodium. I charged Ambrose with giving us some protection while I did so. The resulting explosion cleared the field, took out almost all the gods, and stopped Chantico from levelling a death-blow at Lilly. Might have incinerated Chantico, too, but I doubt it. Coyote, the Uxmali trickster god, not only survived the explosion but proceeded to steal my horse, the army, the gods, and the powers of the rain god from Kyauta while Ambrose and I found Lilly. I resolved to stop him, then, fearing the creation of another Hob. Yes, I also wanted my horse back, but I also wanted to give Ambrose the opportunity to bring back Lilly and overcome some of the antipathy he's no doubt generated by his actions at the Coronation. I rarely do anything for just one reason... anyway, I summoned giant fire-lions to track Coyote while they Trumped out. I found Coyote, and we talked, and came to an understanding. I learned that Dara is in Uxmal right now, and no doubt has been aiding Chantico. Perhaps that is why she managed to avoid the traps, as I have enough pride in myself to believe that she would have been caught, too. I calculate that Chantico is back in Uxmal, licking her wounds, and that Dara is with her. I don't know where cleph is, but I have not seen him. Coyote has taken the mantle of the new rain god; he has agreed to aid and protect those who have allegience to Amber and/or Xanadu.

"So, in short: I came to Ambrose's rescue, charged an enemy army with Lilly, manipulated the enemy into a position where I wanted them, then nearly destroyed them while Lilly provided a distraction and Ambrose helped us with sorcerous protection. We won the day, and I guarantee you that Chantico will fear to face me again. And Ambrose's take on this is that Chantico and I cheated, then I left them to go find my horse. Brilliant."

"But have we given Dara too keen a read on your capabilities?" Paige muses. She shrugs, shaking her head.

Edan makes an expansive shrug. "If we had died, so much the better for her. If we won, she would have known that much more about us. She wins, either way."

"As Brennan reports, he was hunting the Hob who became the Eater. He tracked it through the Plain of Towers, Signy's home, eventually lead him to a long stone tunnel through Shadow, similar to the Faiella Bionin. It was through there that he ended up on the seafields outside Rebma, where Huon was leading his forces agains Llewella, Jerod, Conner, and the new Queen of Rebma, our cousin Khela. It still leads back to Hob it seems."

Edan narrows his eyes, but says nothing.

"Huon demanded what must be Rebma's Patternblade, or he would relase a blood-bomb in their Pattern chamber. Conner confirmed the threat as credible. Brennan Parted the Veil to the chamber and fought a blood-golem while being distracted by the Hob, apparently Huon's ally.He was able to force it back, away, but it may have had a sympathetic link to Huon, as it began bleeding, as if from a spear wound. Jerod tried to contain it, dragged it through a Trump and Laws of Contagion seem to have drawn Huon, Jerod and Khela along as well.

"Huon made a grab for the Green Blade, and made a break for it. Eventually he was caught, as he was temporarily imprisoned here at the Castle, but escaped by walking through Shadow in the dungeons. Without an anchor, they aren't suitable for securing those of our line."

"There are several names that you have mentioned that I do not know," Edan says. "I shall have to catch up when I return. It appears my theory on firelillies in Chaos is not correct, from what you have said. Intriguing, especially, this alternate path that leads to Rebma, like the one that leads from Rebma to Paris. It is as if they are all linked... perhaps Father knows something about it. Once I wrap up one or two more things, I shall return and ask him. Two questions: if the blood in Rebma was Huon's, does the Eater still possess Daeon's blood? And who holds Rebma's Pattern sword now?"

Paige chuckles again, some fatigue or weariness possibly showing in her smile. "I don't recall if Brennan made that point about Daeon's blood, and I was given the impression that Khela is once again in possession of the Green Blade.

"It seems like all my life will be concerned with the after effects of Daeon's... blood." She shrugs. "As to Paris's place in things, it was amusing enough to see Caine and Father wagering on Corwin's taint drawing him into the conflict between Moire and Khela."

"Your children are a blessing, and strong, and a proud addition to the tribe," Edan says automatically to Paige's first words. "They will grow to be great sultans of the land. As for the wager... I am known as an expert on probability, no matter what setting I find myself in. But I can't touch Father's gifts. Whatever the bet they made, Caine doesn't have a chance."

Paige smiles and nods. "I've long since learned not to bet against Father, too."

Edan looks at his surroundings, glances at the little dragon, and turns his full attention back to Paige. "I have a couple of things to wrap up, not the least of which the feeding of my affine. I must be about it. I gather from my manipulation of the Principles that time runs somewhat faster here than in Amber. I should return by late tomorrow, Amber time. If I am still missing after a couple of days, would you Trump me again?"

"Of course, brother," Paige says, almost tasting the word. "Do be careful, both of the affine and that you have no companion to dump you through to Amber. I've rangers to recruit, and will busy myself I would assume.

"Assalamu alaikum," she closes.

Edan smiles. "Walaikum as sala'am, my sister," he replies. "May your efforts be fruitful, and your burdens light. I will rest easier when I know that your forces are assembled, to help with the daunting task set before you. Be careful, and I will see you soon."

Once the connection closes, Edan looks troubled. "Would that I could aid in its defense," he says to Kyauta. "But it is her task to complete, and truly, not my place to interfere unless she asks."


Brita has requisitioned a horse from the Castle. She heads down into Amber City proper and gets a room at one of the quieter inns. She then seeks out the Rangers and asks after Vista's whereabouts.

There is a Ranger hostel in the city where Brita, as a Ranger herself, can stay. When she enquires there, she hears that Vista is in Arden, leading the Rangers on Julian's orders, but any important message can be sent to him by hawk.

Brita writes out her message to Vista:

Ranger Vista,

Cousin Robin warns of Attack from Arden. She, several Royals and other Cousins attacked the Dragon of Arcadia and there will Likely be Retaliation. Be Warry. I will Relay this to Regent Caine on the marrow and ensure Aid Will Come.

Cousin Robin travels on King Random's Realm as the Regent is Dispersing Family from the Castle. I stay at the Hostel until I go to help Lady Paige with an Exodus to Forest Broceliande.

Brita

Brita realizes Robin didn't really have that much to say to Vista, but she is sure the intent to warn him was there. She rolls it and takes it on to the mews to be sent to Arden. She makes herself useful in assisting with cleaning up the stables for a while, using the physical exertion to calm her mind.

The next morning, she waits until midmorning (in case there is any response from Vista) before heading to the Castle and Uncle Caine's office.

Shortly before Brita sets out for the Castle, a hawk arrives with a message in the quick, coded language of the Rangers. "Again? Care to front and flanks. Report post 6 when you can."

The next morning Caine is at the Castle gates, which are open, but manned by different men than the previous day. "Niece. You wished to see me?"

"Regent," Brita snaps into a reporting stance. "Ranger Robin Reported a Potential Threat to Forest Arden. She Believes the Place-being of Arcadia - the Dragon - Injured by Pattern and Sorcery, will Rise Up against Forest Arden and Soon. One of Strong Heritage should be Sent to Assist Kin Vista in Quelling the Rise." Brita pauses for the response.

Caine looks out towards the forest. "Hmmm. Is there a basis for her belief? Would you serve the crown by going to Vista and finding what underlies her statements?"

"I am Certain the Basis is First Hand Contact with the Arcadia Dragon," Brita notes. "As to Serving the Crown, I do So in Support of Warden Paige and will be Seaward Bound for the Near Future. Perhaps I May Relay your Directives to Another?"

"Of course it does. If you've got pressing business, I'll work through the Rangers in town, and I'll pass the warning along to the King." He nods. "Thank you Brita, I'll send word of your mission to the Admiralty. They'll be pleased to send another crew through.

"Oh, and Brita?" he adds. "Tell Couth and Paige to run their recruits past the Admiralty. To make sure we're not losing anyone we don't want to lose."

"Of Course, Regent," Brita nods in response and turns to leave. "Oh, and Uncle?" she adds over her shoulder as she leaves, "Stay Safe."

Caine had started to turn himself, and answers in kind. "I shall. Of course, I have a castle to protect me."

After leaving Caine at the gate, Brita makes her way back down into the town and searches out Couth to relay the first part of the Regent's directive.


After casing her Trumps in silk, Paige rolls her neck and heads for the wardrobe. Today she chooses a riding outfit of navy blue brocade wth creme doeskin pants and accents. After tugging on the boots, she scribbles herself a reminder to speak to Random, Robin, and her Father, in no particular order. The reminder, Trumps, and her sketchbook make it into a satchel.

Skipping any further refreshment for the moment, she aquires the horse she appropriated from the Castle the night before and heads off through town. The redhead's path brings her past Ossian's Sundering Memorial, looking for signs that Couth has begun recruiting.

The signs are clear for any to read, even those with no sight, for they involve shouting.

Paige finds Couth at a table set up in the harbor district, offering a bounty and a free and immediate trip to Xanadu for men who would sign with the King for a half-decade's service, plus regular pay.

It's a good offer and he has many takers lined up, both men and women.

Paige doesn't interrupt any more than the arrival of any Royal does. She looks over the current rolls for anything out of the ordinary and anyone she might recognize. To Couth she reminds, "The Regent has asked that any sailors' names be forwarded to the Admiralty.

"Do we have an idea on numbers, so I can secure a large enough transport for Lady Brita to lead back to Xanadu?"

Couth squints down at the papers before him. "Threescore as of this morning, and most of those have families they want to bring. I could get another score from Lord Archer Halfhand, he's offered. I'm not sure they're any good, though. Thought I'd leave that up to you."

"I'll take them, but tell Lord Halfhand that I want paper on them all. He can send it to the Prince's Retreat," Paige answers decisively.

"Accommodations would be up to you, depending on if you wanted them to train any before you set out."

The redhead nods and looks over his shoulder, reading his crabbed penmanship, looking for any sort of applicable experience.

"How many do you want?"

She is quieter, the words just pitched for him. "I'll be honest, Couth. You've likely a better idea than I do what it takes to mount the patrols. How many do I want?"

"Depends on how well trained they are and how much trouble you think they'll be finding," Couth says at about the same volume. He looks up. "Here comes Lady Brita, my Lady."

Paige turns and smiles, raising a hand in greeting. "Cousin, good morning."

Brita is just dismounting from her horse. She leads it forward, but to the side so it does not interfere with any approaching the table. "Cousin," she nods in greeting. "Ranger Couth, the Regent Wishes that the Recruits be Vetted by the Admiralty."

Couth looks a bit nonplussed by that comment and shifts his gaze to Paige. The slight shake of his head suggests he thinks this is a bad idea, for whatever reason.

"I have every intention of notifying the Admiralty of any sailors that take service," Paige agrees amiably.

Looking back to Couth, "I'd think poorly trained to begin with, with no defined borders yet, and emerging unmapped Paths. This will be the sort of on-the-job-training that seperates the wheat from the chaff. Those that aren't suited for the job will solve the problem for me, or will be delegated to some job that does suit. I've recruited a Quartermaster from one of the local merchant families. He'll need a berth as well, unless he's come to make his own mark."

Back to Brita, "Couth has sixty or so already, and another score from the Constable, plus families that we're going to have to look at transporting."

Brita nods. "Uncle Caine said the Admiralty would be Pleased to Send Another Crew through to Reality Xanadu when I Bring your Refugees Forward. When would you be Ready and would You Want the Admiralty's Assistance?"

Couth is doing mathematics in the border of his papers, perhaps to see how many men he'll need or perhaps for supply purposes. He looks up to Paige, and says, speculatively, "In another day or so, we'll be ready to sail, I think."

"That works for me," Paige agrees. "I'll make sure that Quartermaster leClaire is ready to travel with you or he'll accompany me by land."

The redhead bites her lip, considering for a moment. "As to the Admiralty's assistance, I'll be glad of it, as long as they're not blackmailing us with some sort of vetting-or-no-passage clause. Caine may be Regent and the Admiralty his strong right arm, but we are for Random, Xanadu, and Broceliande."

Brita nods in agreement. "I'm Certain the Admiralty will contact Us once the Regent Alerts them to our Mission. We will Ensure their Assistance then. Given that we have Time, I will Confer with the Rangers in Forest Arden tomorrow Before we Depart. I should Only be Gone for the Morning."

"Where are ya staying?" Couth asks Brita. "I may have messages to send down, and I'd rather send a rider with you."

"The Gar Wind," Brita names the Ranger hostel. "I will Likely Leave Two Bells past the Morning Watch." Brita turns back to Paige. "Is there Anything You Need me to Do Today?"

"Not that I can think of at the moment," her cousin answers, "Unless Couth can think of something that I've forgotten."

Couth shakes his head. "I'll send something over later for you to take down." He gives Brita a sort of avuncular leer. "Thank you, m'lady."

Brita raises a brow at the title and the leer. She blinks and then turns back to Paige. "I'll be Working on Trumps for the Rest of This Day. May Yours be Productive as Well." With that, she moves away, mounts her horse and returns to the Hostel.

"I'm quartered at the Prince's Retreat," Paige offers. "I'll go speak to Halfhand, and settle that today."

[For gloss purposes, Brita will be working on a Trump of the road leading out of Just Rise towards Xanadu from various sketches she has in her sketchbook.]

[For gloss purposes, Paige will do just that, go speak with the constable.]

[EOT here with some notes:
- Couth will have letters sent to the hostel for Vista and some other Rangers by sunset.
- The meeting with Halfhand will go fine; he has useful men to send along and there are no obvious problems with any of them
- Alain, if asked, would rather go overland than by sea.
- Anything else? Otherwise new thread(s) with Brita getting ready to go or at sea, and Paige preparing her caravan.]


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Last modified: 5 November 2009