Decisions, Decisions

After he closes the trump call, Jerod finds himself alone in his tent.

[OOC: What next? If it's a trump call, start it; if he wants to talk to Lamell or another NPC, let us know and either send for him or we'll have whoever it is show up, within reason.]

Trump calls first, orders afterwards.

He starts with Benedict, given that his eldest uncle is likely to be the most impossible to get ahold of and so decides to try him first. If it fails, then he moves on to Random.

There is a long moment before the connection seems to be accepted, then Benedict's voice says, "Who?"

Jerod is not often surprised. This moment is one of the few.

"Jerod." he replies. "Corwin directed me to you, about Cneve. Huon seeks his blade."

The contact solidifies around Benedict. He's in a castle or something like it, and Jerod doesn't recognize the part of it he can see. "I doubt he can master if even if he manages to find it."

"Corwin thinks he wants it to take on Bleys." Jerod says. "Even if he doesn't find it Huon has marched an army into Rebma's territory looking for it, bringing firearms with him. And I believe he is not alone in his search, that others not allied to him seek it. It is like the old days of legend, when foreigners come to Rebma and the war was upon them. I need to know uncle, why would someone seek the blade and who was Cneve to carry it?"

But Benedict is looking at Jerod incredulously. "Huon is taking firearms to Rebma? Are you certain of that? It makes no sense."

Jerod maintains a remarkable composure for having made his uncle appear incredulous, especially one with Benedict's legendary focus. He's probably heard Benedict say more words in one sentence than at any other point in Jerod's life.

"He has not reached Rebma but would be in the environs." Jerod says. "We are still some distance away from Rebma, in an area that is conducive to reality manipulation. We are not yet certain that Rebma is his ultimate destination, only that he seeks Cneve's blade. It is possible that Amber remains his destination, though I am uncertain how he would have stumbled across the same formulation that Corwin did for bullet propellant. It seems a stretch.

"Regardless, Cneve is the reason Huon is here. And that's why I'm asking uncle. You are the only one who can tell me anything of those times."

"Cneve is long dead and should be left that way. And if Moire has not chosen a champion of her own for the blade, I doubt Huon will serve her that way. Although," he allows, "she probably wouldn't object if he tried to kill Bleys as a side project."

Jerod frowns, making note of his comment but not diverting just yet. "The history says that Cneve was killed during a Triton ambush. Beyond that there is nothing, just the timing of his arrival which puts him in the same period of Osric and Finndo, way before Dad and company. Based on what I've heard, I'd hazard a guess that the blade was made by Weyland, which means bearing it comes with a heavy price. Do you know anything about it? It's important uncle, because whoever gets ahold of that blade could do a lot of damage down here." he says, pausing for a moment. "And I don't have enough family left to lose if the wrong person finds it."

"All of Weyland's great blades place bindings on their wielders. Properly invoke the binding to neutralize the wielder," Benedict explains. "Bleys probably can't be bound now, but his continued existence, and that of his blade, are an anomaly. And there is no way to master Corwin's blade. But Rebma remains intact, at least for now, and if Huon takes the blade, he can be dealt with."

"Do you know what binding is upon Cneve's blade?" Jerod asks. "And what would be required for Huon to take the blade? Is it just simple possession or something more?"

"I've never wielded such a blade myself, so I cannot answer that question. If it requires more than simple possession--and I imagine it does--I doubt Huon knows what it is. If he could have accomplished it easily, surely he would have taken Bleys' sword." A thin smile curls Benedict's lips upward slightly.

"One could only hope." Jerod replies drily. "And I must assume if as you say knowledge of the binding can neutralize the wielder, this would not be information to be written down in ones private journal. Given that, I'd have to guess the only person who would know the binding would be Weyland himself. And I doubt he's available, even if Uncle Corwin could get me to see him.

"In any event, though the information doesn't yet help, it is useful to know and for that I would thank you Uncle. Should I run into Huon in the near future, it might be a valuable card to play.

"Which brings me to one more point. Corwin made me a general ambassador recently and that gives me a bit of leeway when meeting people to expound on the policies of Paris. Corwin has made his position concerning Huon clear, especially on how he would view a private vendetta. Random sent me to Rebma as his emissary and I'm going to be speaking to him to get his position on Huon, though I've got a good idea what he'll say. But I am curious as to what your position would be, if Huon decided to either follow the old ways of the feud, or was motivated to change since the family is not as it once was. Your opinion carries considerable weight."

The smile vanishes. "I am not in favor of killing needlessly. That has always been my position. If Huon becomes a threat to the family at large, or he kills someone himself, I'll reconsider that position."

"And what if we consider another position Uncle? If Huon could be brought in from the cold?" Jerod asks. "Grandfather is dead and my understanding is that Bleys acted on his orders concerning Huon. I don't believe for an instant that circumstances between them can be made to be happy and nice, but he might be deflected from his course. This hinges on Random agreeing, but if the offer were put forward and Huon made noises to accept, would you believe him? Would you be willing to meet him to ascertain the truth of those noises?"

Benedict considers the question for a moment. "If I can leave my other duties, I would be willing to consider it."

Jerod smiles. "That you would consider it is more than sufficient. I will speak to Random and get his majesty's official position. If he agrees, then we see if we can get into speaking range of Huon. With luck, and with three of the major players apparently all leaning in the same directions, the choice to change or remain fixed in the old ways will be up to Huon.

"There is one more thing uncle. Your comment about Moire having no problem with Huon going after Bleys makes me curious, but first I would tell you that there is news that Dara is approaching Rebma. She has someone named Meg in her possession, a new family member it seems. I suspect that if Dara is coming here, she is looking for Merlin."

"I've met Meg. How curious that Dara has taken an interest in her." Benedict pauses and considers for a moment. "I would prefer that Dara not take Merlin back to Borel. I will give him sanctuary here if he wishes it. His sister as well."

Jerod nods, musing to himself at a turn of fate. "If you have a trump of Merlin, I'd ask that you communicate that option to him. I know Corwin has a trump. There is the possibility that Merlin and Celina are in league with forces that seek to overthrow Moire even now. If I should encounter said forces, as temporary commander of the Guard I may not have luxury of turning a blind eye to their activities if it is proven they are complicit in treason. Sanctuary is a much more preferable option to a death warrant from Moire should she be successful in repelling a coup."

Benedict nods slowly. "I'll speak with Corwin."

"I will, of course, be willing to make mention of your offer to Merlin should I encounter him, regardless of the circumstances of that meeting."

"I appreciate it. Is there aught else?"

"You mentioned that Moire would not be averse to Huon deciding to take on Bleys." Jerod says. "I mostly get the impression that her Majesty just dislikes Family in general. Is there a reason why Bleys would garner special attention. I mean, beyond the fact that he's Bleys."

"And Clarissa's son? That would be enough," Benedict replies.

Jerod frowns. "I'm afraid I don't see the connection. All I know is that Clarissa is Chaosian. She's not Moins so why would she have history with Clarissa?"

"She's Moins' daughter. The enmity didn't die with her mother, and she's fond of Llewella, who was ill-treated for Brand's sake as much as for your father's," Benedict explains.

Jerod rubs his skull for a moment as he parses the information. "You know, if this family history gets any more convoluted, I'm going to definitely start building a program to keep track of it all. This will give me a headache."

"So Moire has a dislike for Clarissa because of Clarissa liking Llewella, jealousy and all that assorted nastiness. Llewella's daughter Khela has a serious tear on for Moire for various things that happened in the past and I'm wondering how much of a hand Llewella might have in all this." Jerod says, then parses some more.

"Okay, Moins and Oberon had Llewella. Clarissa came from Moins, but I'm guessing not from Oberon because I don't think even he'd go siring children off his own daughter." Jerod's expression however indicates he would not be surprised if this were in fact the case.

"Where does Moire fit into this?"

Benedict shakes his head. "No, the other way around. The Rebmans all dislike the redheads because of Moins and Clarissa. And Llewella counts as a Rebman for this. But Llewella is--unpredictable in her allegiance to Moire--because of Khela."

"That's to be expected. We kids really mess up our parents, make them do stuff they wouldn't seriously consider under other circumstances." Jerod says. "So where did Moire come from?"

"I don't know who her father was. Moins didn't see fit to enlighten anyone about that, nor about Mera's paternity."

Mera is a name Jerod recalls from the lessons of his youth; she perished on the Pattern, and served as an object lesson to all who might attempt it.

"I remember hearing about her. Mom mentioned her." Jerod says. "It would seem that out of all of Moins' children, only Llewella was able to complete the Pattern. Even Khela is rumored not to be able to walk it. I wonder..."

At this point, he stops, not wanting to get too distracted, which is quite easy when you have an Uncle readily at hand.

"A considerable amount of information to digest Uncle. With luck, some of it will come in handy soon enough. I think it is time to time to speak to the King. Again, assuming I meet Merlin I will offer your message to him. Though I doubt you would ever have the need, should you have need of me...well, there aren't exactly any trumps of me that I'm aware of, but I'll say give me a call."

"I'll keep that in mind, nephew," Benedict says. "Farewell, until we speak again."

Jerod nods and turns down the card to sever the link before putting the card back into the deck and shuffling out Random's, concentrating on the image.

"Knock, knock?"

"OK, since you asked so nicely. 'Man, that Knock isn't very impressive, is he?' Anything else I can do for you, oh mystery caller, or did you just call to tell knock-knock jokes?"

"It's Jerod uncle." he says. "I could continue in this vein for sometime but somehow I think you've probably heard all my jokes already. How about this one?

"Did you hear the one about Moire, Huon and the impending civil war?" Jerod asks, his expression not reflecting any humor at the moment.

"Is it really a civil war? I thought you had to have two sets of people from the same place for a civil war. Or is Huon a spoiler in the fight?"

Behind Random, the background clarifies. He's in the pattern chamber.

"The forces of Amber and Xanadu are not interested in intervening, if that's a consideration. We can, at best, send flowers to one or more sides, encouraging them. Is there a particular side or sides you wish us to encourage thusly?"

"There are additional forces that are at work in the civil war aspect, though I have determined them only indirectly. And I know better than to ask for intervention from Amber, your majesty." Jerod says. "Unless I'm looking for aid in overthrowing Moire that is, which while occasionally appealing can't be justified by the body count that will occur."

Random looks nonplussed at this analysis.

"Assuming Llewella's daughter is working to remove Moire, as I'm expecting, she'll have a vested interest in keep the casualties to a minimum if she actually wants to rule. She'll need internal support from the Court and the Shells to function, unless she intends to rule solely by Triton military power. In that case she's on a short lifeline given the questionnable success rate of dictatorships.

"Huon is another matter. There is reason to believe he is after Cneve's blade to aid him in taking on Bleys. If that is the case, he will have no interest in reducing casualties to secure his goal. Also, he's playing by the old rules and I'm not looking for a return to that gameplan. So, what I would like to know is what is Amber's official policy towards Huon? If he continues on his current path or if he can be persuaded to give up his feud? Will he be allowed a return or is he chum? If I can find him, I intend to communicate the new reality to him, so to speak."

"Hmm. Well, so far Huon hasn't done anything except alarm a lot of people, so there's nothing unforgivable. I'd probably give him a chance to explain himself and submit to the crown if he wanted to. It's so hard to unkill people that I'd rather not need to. If you can bring him in, I'll listen to him. I can't say that Bleys will take him to the bosom of his heart, though. He'll have to negotiate that one himself."

"Such is the price of dealing with Bleys." Jerod says, a mirthless smile evident. "I will put your message to him when I meet him.

"Also, a quick note. There are rumors that Dara may be in the vicinity of Rebma. She may have someone named Meg with her and it's possible she's looking for Merlin, who is in the area also."

Random looks annoyed. "Every bad penny we have is turning up there, aren't they? I can't decide if that's a bad sign for Amber or an echo of Amber's prior troubles... Why would Meg be with Dara? Last time I talked to Meg, she was looking to get all knifey on Huon. Meg's your cousin, by the way."

"My sources indicated as much." Jerod says. "Apparently Meg was with Ossian and Brita when Dara showed up and grabbed her. Cleph was also with Dara at the time. From what I gather, Dara is Meg's mother. I wonder if Mother Borel is collecting her offspring."

"Hmm. Could be," says the King. Behind him the red glow diminishes. "That's what she tried at the ball, when she was pretending to be your sister. You don't think this Khela chica is really Dara in disguise, do you?"

"I'd rather hope not." Jerod says. "I'm out here with the Guard looking for one of my other sisters who has gone missing. Circumstances would lead me to believe that Khela may also be looking for the blade, plus she'd have Celina and Merlin with her, given comments received from Merlin previously. If Khela is being impersonated by Dara, then that's a very big problem, one that I'm not suited to deal with.

"Is there a way to identify the impersonator? Short of killing everyone that is?" Jerod expression indicates this is not an altogether unacceptable proposal.

"Cut her with a pattern blade, if you've got one handy. Beyond that, you'd want to ask an expert, like Martin or Merlin. Dara fooled a number of people when she was pretending to be Cambina, but it should be harder if we're on our guard."

"I've already informed Corwin I have no desire for one of Weyland's blades, so that's out." Jerod says. "And it's about as expected.

"I'll be going. Just wanted to warn people, in case others missed out. Things to do, armies to find, the usual family stuff." he says, preparing to depart, before something comes to mind.

"Oh, one question. Have you ever heard of someone named Dido? Or Mera?"

"Dido, no, not anyone important. A dancer I met at Flora's once was named Dido. Mera, yes." He doesn't say any more, and his look does not seem to invite further questions.

"Just checking." Jerod says. "Until later then your majesty."

And Jerod's done.

The contact closes and Jerod is once more alone.

Jerod puts away the trumps and summons Drusus, Lamell and the senior officers for changes to the route march, specifically for an increase in the range and number of scouts to be used to cover the Guard's approach flanks. The scouts are to be especially vigilant for both human and Triton observation. Where unknown elements are encountered, warning is to be provided and then intelligence is to be gathered for reporting back. Lamell is to be concerned with sorcerous observation from external forces, to keep the Guard concealed as best he can and to deal with sorcerous intruders in a very direct manner (ie: the release of nuclear weapons is hereby authorized...:)

Jerod then provides a general briefing concerning Huon and his assumed intentions while under the waves. He does not go into family related details concerning rivalries, etc, only that Huon is a potential threat and his relative forces are unknown.

Questions are then invited.

There are a few questions regarding minor details of supply and speed of march and such, then one of the minor officers speaks up. "Excuse me sir, what can we expect from Tritons? I thought they were all bound to the Queen." The man seems nervous.

How much of the truth do you give to your men, Jerod remembers asking his father.

As much as they need to know they face a challenge, but not so much as to cripple them. They are your men, your children and when you spend their lives, do so knowing that each life lost will hurt you. And make sure they know it too so when you order them to die, they'll know it's for something worthy.

"There are ways around any binding, given the right pressures." Jerod replies. "Remember the histories, that the Tritons were bound to servitude for their actions during the old conflict. But how many of us know from the histories the exact nature of this binding?" and he looks at the men for a moment. "Centuries can change the meaning of a word, but the exact terms will never change. An option that was not originally conceived during the binding may have arisen."

"The Queen has directed me to retire the Guard from action against the Tritons should they be encountered. Though they are not to be automatically considered enemies, they are not to be permitted close access to this formation."

He looks at the younger officers for the moment and deliberately takes a breath.

The reaction of the officers is about what Jerod expected.

"Some of you have just had your world turned upside down. You are now considering the possibility that you may have to face Tritons in battle, or worse. That this is suddenly not the cake- walk that you had previously thought when you joined, an easy road to advancement and status. Well, you've now learned your first lesson. Things change, and not always for the better.

"No matter how much things change, there is always an option. You just have to push until you find it." he says, walking a few steps as he speaks. "I've watched men die in the field, because when things got tough they chose not to push against what was thrown at them and their lives were wasted. And I've seen others die, and they fought against everything that came their way but they were victorious because they found or made new options when none appeared to be there. My father taught me that lesson on Kolvir, the day I watched him die.

"You can take what life throws at you and fail to learn from it. In which case, life is probably not going to be pleasant. Or you can accept whatever bitter pill life throws at you and learn from it. Find the options that lie within, take the best one and make it yours. That choice is up to you though."

Jerod finally stops walking as his speech is finished, ending up in front of the young man who asked the question. He looks at him directly, the rest of the officers not seeming to be there. It is the look that one soldier gives to another, when the truth is demanded and nothing else is acceptable. "You are an officer of the Guard, sworn to the defense of the kingdom of Rebma, and life has just tossed you a bitter pill. What are you going to do?"

"I..." He breathes in and out and stands straighter. "I will do my duty to the throne. Sir?", he adds, "I will follow you because I have no idea how to do what you say, and you do."

The tension eases, generally, although Lamell looks disturbed.

Jerod nods, a bare smile on his lips. "The beginnings of wisdom are to recognize that you don't know it all, but that you can learn. It is a start, for it is what I learned from my parents and my teachers."

He looks now at Lamell. "Speak up, my old teacher. Yours is a perspective these men may not have and we have little time to waste before we move out."

Lamell raises an eyebrow and looks at Jerod. "How shall we determine what the Queen wants us to do with her army, my Prince?" Lamell has not been in the habit of using Jerod's Amber title before this.

"We continue on our current path to our Shell destination, to get into range for a message." Jerod says. "With luck, an increase in speed and the discipline of good scouts, we can make it there without interference. If we run into something prior to that, we deal with it.

"If that does not work, or if other things prevail, there are other options that I have considered though they are not as reliable as I would hope. Others also know of the current predicament but they are outside of the kingdom and I do not place my trust in outsiders to warn the Queen. That is our task."

The officers nod. "Is there any of this you do not wish to be shared, Your Grace?" Drusus is most likely asking for the benefit of the junior officers.

"The men need to be aware that we are potential facing a new threat. The old story about chasing pirates is over. However, that does not mean they need to know tactical details or our objectives. No details on our messaging plan, Triton withdrawal or other such elements. Those are need to know, not want to know. If the rumors start flying, quash them but do not fill in the gaps." Jerod says. "Address legitimate concerns, but do not pacify the men. They need that nervous edge to keep them sharp and wary for the march ahead."

"Anything else?" asks Drusus. When no officer replies, he looks at Jerod. "Dismissed." The officers file out, quietly.

After they leave, Lamell says "I wouldn't take even odds that that stays private."

Jerod nods, though he says nothing. Rumors in armies are impossible to suppress. It is more important that the correct information be available to disseminate, so that there is a counterpoint to the rumor and the men know it exists. The men of a fighting force will always seek to know what they will face. They must know that command has a firm plan for dealing with possible threats plus the determination to carry those plans forward.

Drusus ignores the wizard. "If it's a real war, we're too few to really affect the outcome. If we recruit on our way back, we'll dull our rather newly won fighting edge."

"I do not believe that we were ever intended to change the outcome. I think the Queen used us for bait, to keep the attention of others occupied on our movements while other forces were marshalled." Jerod says. "That does not mean we cannot do some damage should the opportunity present itself.

"Ensure the officers continue the training regimen with the men that they were taught before we departed Rebma. It should give some options against Tritons should they be encountered. The emphasis on communications and tactical control of the formations is essential.

"Comments?"

Drusus says "No comments."

Lamell says "There's far too much politics in this war. So much of it is tied to Amber. Is this finally the reflection of the passing of King Oberon? If so, how do we avoid being the sacrifice?"

"All war is politics." Jerod says. "It's foreign policy extended through military means. How we avoid being sent off to suit someone else's agenda? Well, we see what's good for the kingdom and deal with that. If someone is looking to sacrifice a lot of people just for the sake of proving to someone else that they are ruthless, well, that's another matter.

"Either way, we deal with it when it comes up."

Jerod does not comment on the passing of Oberon, given that he has expressed similar concerns in the past. There is little use in repeating them.

Lamell nods, wearily. "The problem with your men is that they're 'your' men. Your men grasp at straws to see themselves safely through a situation they're not trained or equipped to imagine. It the kind of thing that has led some seaward kingdoms to have barracks emperors. In a power vacuum, they could put you on the throne or someone else could decide that that was a threatening possibility, and decide to act to prevent it."

"For such a situation to occur, that would require both the current monarch, plus the main contender to both be out of action or in the running to be out of action." Jerod says. "Should such a situation arise, we are all in deep in squige and survival is going to be the top priority, not worrying about who's going to get the throne.

"Make it clear gentlemen to everyone we encounter. The first person who decides to fragment this situation further for their own profit is going to be on the end of my spear before their next breath is taken regardless of rank or title." Jerod says, the thin smile that paints his expression reminiscent of his father, more Prince-like than pleasant. "And for your ears only. Keep in mind that our position gives us a voice in who sits on the throne should the situation degenerate to that point. Those who accept the oath to die for the kingdom also have a say in why they die, and not for stupid reasons."

Lamell nods. "Just remember that it's one thing to jump astride a triton, but quite another to safely dismount."

"Make sure the NCO's have the men ready to move out shortly." Jerod says to Drusus. "We'll need to be sure we maintain a steady pace." then nods a dismissal to him, but not to Lamell.

Once Drusus has departed, he continues.

"What makes you think there's the possibility that a power vacuum might open up to include me? If you've heard something, now's not the time to be holding back."

"Perhaps what I've heard is you talking like your father, and your men responding. You're a double-edged sword, Prince Jerod, not in the least because you don't seem to want what the other Princes of Amber would want in this circumstance.

Lamell shrugs.

"I like Rebma as it is, and I'm not sure it's going to stay that way."

"I like Rebma as it is as well." Jerod says. "With someone else as the target instead of me.

"My father wanted what all his brothers wanted, and he actually managed to get it. We both know the reward he received for his achievements." and his expression darkens. "A carefully chiselled grave soon to be forgotten by family who couldn't give a rat's ass about the price they didn't have to pay for their survival.

"I have no intention of following in my father's footsteps. But I'm also not letting the old ways carry on if I can help it. Those men out there are my men, until I give up that commission. So if I'm going to spend their lives for something, it's going to damn well be worth something. And those men are going to know it."

"You're in a better position to aim at the throne than you might think, Prince Jerod. Or to be kingmaker. Or to break Rebma as we know it in order to save it." He pauses. "I've had disturbing dreams, and I'm not convinced they weren't sent."

Jerod frowns. "I have little experience in the way of prophetic dreams. They seem to me to be a cheat, an easy way to pass off the challenges that the future hold for you. It's so convenient to be able to look to the future and think it is pre-ordained so there is no reason to fight, but rather just to go with what is handed to you. However, despite my own preferences I know enough not discount them out of hand." and he shows a slight mirthless smile. "I'm not yet at the stage where I know it all. What are these dreams of which you speak?"

Lamell closes his eyes and concentrates on the memories.

"Two nights ago, was the first, and I thought it merely a warning from my unconscious mind. A burning wheel was in the seas above the castle, spinning slowly. Each spoke was one of your cousins, sheathed in flames, but not burning. Each was reaching for the castle as the wheel spun by, trying to grab it. A woman did but could not hold and fell and was extinguished. You and another were reaching for it when I awakened." He purses his lips.

"Last night, the dream came again, and more with it. The same sequence as before, but then it changed. I saw the queen alone before a silvery version of the Sapphire Throne. She sat, and a ghostly figure came in and sat as well. They merged into one and I could tell the one was no longer my queen."

He opens his eyes to look at Jerod.

"That's a sending, not a dream. Someone is warning me that she will die."

Jerod listens carefully, excluding nothing and drawing no conclusions. He sifts through Lamell's comments for a moment, highlighting elements, deliberately excluding any preconceived elements that try to force their way through.

"The first dream. Describe my cousins, without name, as you remember them. Their appearance, their action, their numbers. Do not try to name them. And describe the woman that fell, and the one who was opposite me when I reached." Jerod says, again waiting once more, patient, attentive.

"Dreams, Prince Jerod, dreams. Some things are known with no reason to know them. I saw Prince Vere, who had a small army with him. And Prince Martin, as he is remembered from his youth. Their sections of the wheel were small. The others were the sons of princes and princesses all. I felt as if any section I concentrated on would gain detail and resolve, but I wanted to see the whole picture. " He pauses. "Perhaps that is a message to me to commit. If I knew who was sending, I would know if it is advice I should listen to."

Once Lamell has finished the first description, Jerod nods before speaking. "Now, the second dream. Describe all the elements again, even if they existed in the first dream. Place the queen in the sequence of events, whether or not my cousins and I were reaching, and describe the figure that comes into the sequence. Every detail, no matter how niggling. Then tell me how you felt when they merged. How did things feel?"

"The elements were the same, but at some point before you reached out, I looked above the wheel and saw the throne room. The queen's foot came down and it was the exuberant glory of the destructive urge. The slate was clear to build again, but I also was afraid of the destruction."

Jerod's expression darkens a moment. "You said the slate was clear to build again. That reminds me of Brand. It does not bode well."

"Could you recreate this image visually? Show it to me?"

"I can sketch it. I would do better if the sending comes again. I was not expecting it the second time. And it could all still be 'not enough cheese before bedtime', but I trust the instinct that tells me it's more."

Lamell pulls a cigarette from his pouch, a very soggy dog-end, they'd call it in Amber, and nurses it to a glowing ember. The magic he uses makes the water sizzle near him. He holds it close to the flame out of necessity and, in a moment, begins to draw.

The old wizard describes each element as he places it. The castle, the wheel above it, the figures on it. The throne room he draws above all in smoke rather than embers, and the boot above the wheel seems to have elements of both.

It may have artistic merit, but little for adding elements to the tale.

"I am prepared to capture more if the dream comes again in the next few nights." says Lamell.

Jerod remains silent throughout the drawing, watching as the image takes shape, committing it to memory as a thing of reality even if only to himself. He is focussed as he absorbs the details, like when he summons a thing from Shadow, every impression no matter how miniscule is recorded, even down to the tonal qualities of how Lamell describes the elements. For a Prince, reality is what your memory makes of it, and Jerod knows this rule well.

"Let us hope old friend it is just too little cheese before bed." Jerod replies with a slight smile. "This will do, though I would have hoped to see this one." as he points to the boot.

"I have suspicions about the past, though so far that is all they are. And sometimes I hate being right."