Search and Rescue

Brita quickly makes it over the top, the cliff not being as treacherous as the ice cliffs of Jutenheim. She moves to stand near Benedict and awaits the King.

Random comes up after her, while Paige and Ossian are still at the edge. "OK, now can I get my story? What were you doing stuck in a whatever-it-was with the ghost of Huon's brother?"

Since Ossian is delayed, Brita begins, "Cousin Ossian and I were in Mirror Rebma in Search of Cousin Meg, Dara, or cleph. We were Allowed to Search and we Started in the Basement. I Scented the Blood of Amber and tobacco and we Traced it to Prince Huon, but he Seemed to be of the Past. He Said that his Brother Walked at that Time. We went to the Pattern Chamber and did Indeed See Prince Pinnabello Walking, but the Pattern was Rent. I Attempted to Seal the Gap with Ice and Uncle Pinnabello Slipped. We swam Over to Attempt to Rescue him and the Pattern Energy went Wild. Cousin Ossian Trumped Uncle Caine and, Connected, we Tried to Pull Through. We Ended up in what Appeared to be Uncle Caine's Office in Former Reality Amber with Cousins Paige and Signy as well as Uncles Caine and Pinnabello. On Examination, the Room Proved to be some kind of Trump itself and we could not Open any Obvious Way Out. Cousin Ossian and I Attempted a Place Sketch of an Open Door to no Effect. Cousin Paige began a Sketch of Yourself which Worked. I was Also Able to Create a Sketch of my Mother and had Made Contact with her as the Others Made Contact with You. I Attempted to Pass Uncle Pinnabello from the Trump Trap and he Burst into Silver Flame with the Contact. The Connection Broken, I and the Others Fled through Your Sketch Trump." Brita pauses and seems to be reviewing things in her head. Then she nods curtly and adds. "I Believe that is All from My Perspective."

"Have you ever considered a career abridging books? Don't answer that, I've got a better question. Was Pinabello real? Also, what made the trumps do that? Was it intentional or just freaky trump weirdness beyond the ken of unlearned Kings who don't have red hair, which suits you, by the way? Also also, since you're here, can you help me find Vialle?"

It is only after he finishes saying all that that Random breathes.

Brita responds, "He Smelled Real, Uncle. I would have to Ask Mother about the Trump Weirdness as I have Not Experienced a Full Trump Room like That before. There was Speculation that it was a Trap Designed to Capture Any that Aided Uncle Pinabello or Himself, if he Attempted Escape. Perhaps a Punishment from Grandfather Oberon?" Brita cocks her head sligntly as she pauses to consider that thought. She continues her responses, "Thank you and Yes, I will Help you Find Queen Vialle. Is she Missing?"

"Yes," says Random. "She went with Cambina to Tir, and didn't come back. We're hoping she's not in danger. " Random pulls off his trousers and starts wringing excess moisture out of them. They're dripping wet. "You've heard about Cambina, I take it?"

Brita nods curtly, "Uncle Caine Mentioned it while we were Trapped. Concentration was on Getting Free, However, and no Details were Supplied."

Turning sharply, Garrett gazes at Brita with surprise. Apparently he had not been paying attention to her story during the climb. "Trap? Were you in it too?" he asks Signy.

Signy nods. "Yes. It was weird -- I Looked at the walls, and they had changed. Stone and wood wasn't stone and wood any more. I couldn't do anything to affect them at all. And Pinobello Looked different from the rest of us."

She leans a little towards Garrett, and pitches her voice a little quieter. "Cambina -- she was the one that wrote that history book, right?"

Random looks at Signy, then at Caine, who is talking to Paige. "Right, some sort of trap, not a very repeatable experiment. Brita, when we're done with today's other crisis, I'd like you to figure out what you can about what happened and tell me, OK?" It doesn't sound like a command, but Random doesn't seem to expect her to say 'No'.

Brita nods in a half bow and says, "Of Course, Your Highness."

Benedict turns to Signy. "What do you mean 'he looked different'?"

Signy looks at Benedict briefly, as if trying to recall where she knows him from, before shaking her head and letting it pass.

"I Looked at him, with my Third Eye. He shone with power like us, but not as brightly." She lets out a sigh before continuing. "Unfortunately, I don't really know what to make of that."

Brita notes, "The Trail we Followed into Mirror Rebma's Basement Maze was Also Less. I Assumed that was from the Passage of Time, but Perhaps it was Something Else, Some Weakness in the Bearer's Scent."

Garrett listens intently, taking in everything these more experienced Pattern-users reveal about the power and its manifestations to someone with the ability to "see" them.

Random looks over. "Third eye? This is like Brita smelling people with her mythical Third Nostril, right?"

"Your Majesty," Caine says, "I find myself here and not in Amber. May I borrow a Castle Trump to return?"

Random nods, and pulls a card from behind his ear. "Sure, just take anyone along who needs to go with? Who all's out of here?"

Signy looks around at the surroundings. "Where is 'here'?" she asks the King.

She leans towards Garrett. "And what are we doing 'here'?" she asks quietly.

"First step in looking for the missing Queen," he answers Signy softly. He does not seem inclined to depart.

Random moves, sitting on a rocky outcrop as if it were a throne.

"This? This is the fabulous Island of Apples, famed for its famous apples. There aren't any here because they're ... nocturnal. Wait!, this may be important," he interrupts himself. A moment later he's looking at a point just past Brita's shoulder.

"Prince Jerod, of course it is. Is there something I can rescue you from or are you content to stay where you are?"

Brita pointedly does NOT look over her shoulder. She is waiting patiently for the King to send those wishing to go back to Amber. She also is not looking for the famed apples.

Signy looks around at the surroundings, a slightly bewildered look on her face.

"Nocturnal apples?" she asks no one in particular, before turning back to Garrett. "What will we learn here about the Queen? And who were all those other people that aren't here now?"

"Benedict, Caine, and Corwin are here, or were a moment ago. Bleys is always busy and Llewella has her war to run. Tell her that Brita and Ossian have come to Avalon, if you would. She shouldn't worry about them being lost beneath her castle.

He takes a deep breath. "Huon would get a better deal from us by being King of Rebma, but Moins' spirit would probably not allow that, unless his mother was of the Rebman royal line, which I bet she wasn't.

"Best if you bring him to me, in chains. We can resolve this fully if you manage that.

"Anything else? We're about to leave here."

Benedict looks at the remaining nieces and nephews. "When the King is available, we will go. There is a dwelling over the hills. My title here is "Protector".

Brita nods in response. She has been quietly re-braiding her hair into two neat braids down the sides of her head.

Random nods. "The queen is not in Xanadu, this I know. The most likely places will be searched by Corwin and Hannah and by myself with Brita and others to help. She'll turn up."

The King stands. "Call me if you need anything. Rescues are half-off for the rest of the day, should you need one." Random folds his hands together and looks at Brita.

"That was Jerod. It's wholly remarkable to look at you and see him. I don't recommend it at all. Now, assuming Benedict has told you everything, we should head to his dwelling place. I haven't seen it yet, but Corwin told me it was a Yurt."

"It is not a Yurt, your majesty."

"Then let us see what it is." He starts off in the direction of the hills and after one step turns back and says "Coming?"

"Yes, Father," Garrett nods and follows.

Brita has let Garret follow immediately behind the King, as is proper, but she is not far behind. "Of Course, Your Majesty," she says. "Lead On." She glances at Signy questioningly with an obvious 'coming?' look.

Signy shakes her head and follows along. "I promised Brother Tomat I'd go back for him."

Random looks over his shoulder. "If you need to be going back to Amber, Caine and Paige are about to leave. Caine!," shouts Random. "Take Signy, too."

Over the crest of the hill, a castle comes into view. It looks nondescript, but amazingly defensible. It is not overlarge, but it seems strong.

Benedict clears his throat, and squints up at the sun. "We shall be there in half a glass. A simple meal and then we'll ride out at moonrise. Those of you without local knowledge will have one of my knights as a guide. Or you can stick together."

Random nods. "That's fine, Ben. OK, we've got a bit more walking to do. If you all don't ask questions, I'll use the time to compose epic ballads of a scatalogical nature. Anyone?"

Garrett chuckles and begins whistling a well-known, and quite bawdy, song from the Docksides. As they continue to walk, he probes the surroundings a bit with his new pattern abilities, gently testing them, poking around to see how this new place feels different from the Plain of Towers.

Random sings along, substituting "Florimel" for every noun and most of the verbs.

This new place is totally different. As far as Garrett can tell, he has no pattern abilities here. Maybe they only work on the Plain of Towers.

Brita follows along in silence. She breathes deeply every now and again to accustom herself to the scents around her. She also probes around a bit, but using her Third Eye to see what she can see. Any traces of nocturnal apples?

This is a place of very little Chaos or magic and there are no magical apples in view. However, if they're nocturnal, that might be logical.

Signy shakes her head again, though more emphatically this time. "I'll stay here for now." She quickens her pace to catch up to the rear of the group. "I'd at least hear more of my home and Red Fox Claws."

Random nods. "Sounds like dinnertime conversation. Remember, chillens, we're guests of The Protector, so try not to commit any capital crimes, like piracy or iconoclasm."

"Thank you, Brother." Benedict leads the group into a walled keep and introduces Random and the youngers to one of his men at arms. "I shall see you for supper," he says. The man leads the group to a suite of connecting rooms. Random says "I'll be taking a bath," and leaves.

The rooms are small but neat and slightly spartan. There are clothes-presses.

"Supper is in two hours," the man at arms says. "Do you need anything, my Lords and Ladies?"

"Is there Arms Practice occurring in the Keep that I could Watch," Brita asks. "And would it be Acceptable to Sketch while Watching?"

"A change of clothes would be welcome before supper," Garrett says hopefully to the man at arms. To Brita he adds, looking up, "Care for company?"

"Certainly, ..." Brita pauses and cocks her head slightly before speaking again, "Cousin Garrett. We can Swap Tales."

Signy looks at the man-at-arms. "Is there a library in the keep anywhere?" she asks hopefully.

"Clothes are in the clothes-presses in each room. A tailor can be made available if need be. I can arrange for arms practice, my Lady, and you may observe or participate at your desire. And there are some books in the castle, which can be fetched to you. The steward will know where they are kept."

He points toward the inner rooms for the clothes, but makes no move towards them himself.

Brita nods in recognition that there are clothes in the inner room, but she does not move that way. "If there is no Arms Practice at Present, I can Wait until the Normal Time. Yet, I Would like to See the Practice Field at This Time."

"Yes, Lady. Come with me, please. And you, my Lord and Lady?"

"I'd like to see them as well," Garrett echoes. "I can only imagine what Prince Benedict's own practice fields must look like." He looks inquiringly back at Signy.

Brita nods and prepares to follow the gentleman.

Signy looks at Garrett, and then back at the man-at-arms. "Would you be able to pass that request on to the steward? I'd like to see the practice yard briefly as well."

The practice grounds are small and neat. There is a smithy and an armory next to it. "Most of our practice is against the enemy, on the mainland," explains the man at arms. "We use this for testing new gear and for items that don't fit easily in the salle." There is a young man firing arrows at a bale of hay. He's fast but inaccurate.

"Useful to have a Way to Experiment," Brita notes. She thanks the guardsman and moves off to a nearby bench. Sitting down she pulls out a sketch pad and pencils and begins to sketch a corner of the grounds that is currently in the shade from the smithy.

"Prince Garrett," she calls, "How did You Arrive Here?"

She spends about an hour working on this Sketch.

"By Trump," Garrett answers as he follows her to the bench. He remains standing, looking over her work with interest. "Solange trumped me from the Plain of Towers, then Father trumped me here. Or rather... there." He points across the channel.

"As for how I got to the Plain of Towers in the first place...," he grins mischievously at both Brita and Signy. "The Pattern took me there."

"Congratulations, Cousin," Brita says with a slight smile. Her concentration is still on the Sketch before her.

Brita will continue to sketch (and yes, it is a Trump Sketch) until approximately 30 minutes before the specified meal time. She then makes her way indoors to freshen up and contact Fiona - to whom she passes the Sketch with a "In Case You are Needed to Find Us, you will Have the Start of the Trail on our Search for Her Majesty."

Signy looks at Garrett. "Red Fox Claws didn't come back with you," she asks, disappointment tinging her voice.

"Not with me, no," Garrett says, stepping away from Brita so she can concentrate on her drawing. "But Sir Brennan said he would bring him back with him, if Red Fox Claws wanted to come. Given that he'd been looking for you for decades, I can't imagine he'd refuse," he smiles reassuringly.

Signy looks hopeful at that. "And once I get back to Amber, I can get Brother Tomat as well." She sighs quietly. "What happened with my Father? You were in his Tower?"

"I don't know," Garrett says, shrugging apologetically. "I reckon Red Fox Claws might know more. He said Weyland had been gone three score years or more. All I know is the place was a mess when I was there. Furniture turned over and broken and such. I don't think that was related to his disappearance though. Sir Brennan mentioned having just had a tussle with some Chaos lord. He called him 'the Eater.'" His voice rises, as if questioning whether the name is familiar to Signy.

A concerned look enters Signy's eyes. "Eater was...." She shifts her feet and thinks for a second before continuing. "Eater is a mix of some creature named 'Hob', who claimed to be a 'Pwca'. It was some sort of magical rock creature guarding my Father's Tower, and when Marius showed up he had his familiar attempt to kill it, and they somehow merged."

Signy rubs at the back of her neck. "After that, it became unmanageable, but Lily, Marus, Tomat and I managed to drive it away for a spell."

Something in that last sentence visibly piques Garrett's interest, but he remains silent.

She looks back up at Garrett curiously. "How did you end up at the Plain? Did you go to meet up with Sir Brennan?"

"I don't know how I ended up there, to be honest. I've never been there before," Garrett answers. "I walked the Pattern - I don't know if you know about the Pattern - but anyway, that was where it took me at the end. I saw a herd of horses and tried to follow them. It looked peaceful. Perhaps that's what my brain latched onto for comfort." He shrugs.

"I stepped, or rather fell, forward and there I was. I didn't know Sir Brennan was there until later. I met Red Fox Claws when I woke up with his blade pointed at my chest," he smiles.

"So you grew up on the Plain of Towers?"

Signy nods. "It was the only home I ever knew. After I escaped from my Father's Tower, I found Red Fox Claws and the rest of the Band, and they became my new home." Her mouth purses slightly in distaste. "Did you meet my Father while you were there?"

Garrett shakes his head. "No. He appeared to be long gone. Red Fox Claws told me he's been checking back every year for decades now and has seen no sign of him."

Signy frowns. "Maybe after this I should take Tomat back there," she mutters.

"Why did Sir Brennan stay behind?"

"Not sure, but he seemed busy," Garrett answers. It appears he could elaborate, except that something else catches his eye.

A liveried servant comes over to them. "Your pardon, nobles. We will be eating shortly. If you need any assistance to dress, help is available."

Brita has risen as the servant approached and appears finished with her sketch. (Is it adequate as a Trump Sketch?) She walks over to Garrett and Signy and notes to the latter, "Let us Go See what Dress is Available and Decide from There if we Need Additional Assistance." She appears to be drawing out her a small card-sized pack as she speaks, the Sketch still in hand.

Garrett grins at the servant. "I reckon I can scrounge up something," he says, seeming more pleased at the prospect than one should be under the circumstances. He prepares to walk back to their rooms, politely allowing the ladies to precede him if they wish.

Signy falls in next to Garrett, giving him an inquisitive glance. If he choses to not respond, she quietly walks alongside him, falling into a brooding silence.

The servant takes them back to the suite they originally occupied. There are clothes laid out on each bed, in what may be the nearest guess they have for each person's size. At first glance, they appear to be someone's finery.

Signy looks down at the clothes on her bed, and sighs resignedly before starting to pull off her clothes. She quickly dresses in the provided clothes, and runs her fingers quickly through her hair in a vain attempt to straighten it into place. She cranes her neck to her left and right, looking down in an attempt to find something to straighten to help the clothes fit slightly better on her, before rolling her shoulders as she steps out into the common area to meet the others.

Perhaps not too surprisingly, Brita is having a similar reaction. She picks up the dress from the bed, holds it out in front of her, and sighs. She takes off her jacket and blouse and folds them neatly. She stands for a minute with her hands on her hips staring down at the ornate gown. It has been a long while since she had to wear such elaborate clothing. While the dress is a bit of a challenge to get into, she manages to do so without tearing any seams. She twitches the skirt over her pants and glances down. The hem of the dress is about three inches too short. Brita sighs again and resigns herself to taking off the pants. She puts her boots back on, however, as the dainty shoes are a bit too small and the boots help transition across the gap from the hemline to the floor. She retrieves her pack of Trumps and her knife, slipping the first into the bodice of the dress and the second into her boot (after assuring herself that the top of the boot remains hidden when she is seated). She snorts softly at the stray thought of her Shadow Asgard cousins' reaction if they could see her now.

Finally, she moves out into the common area. Spotting Signy, she notes "Well, I hope This is not a Crime against the Protector," as she waves a hand to indicate her state of dress.

Random walks into the common area, wearing boots, pants, and a sleeveless vest. "If it's a crime, I'm a criminal, too. I had to inform my handler that whatever I wore was appropriate wear for the King of Xanadu. I never would have guessed that Benedict's court would be so... boring."

He looks out a high, narrow window. "We'll need to be ready to ride not long after sunset."

Brita mumbles something that sounds like, "I Should have left the Pants On."

Garrett, who had been at a window admiring the strategic layout of the lands surrounding Benedict's keep, comes to attention as his father enters the room. The young prince is wearing formal attire fit for his uncle's realm. Despite the fact that the clothing is exactly his size, he still looks uncomfortable, probably due to the itchy starchiness of the finery. It is definitely not the formalwear style that he is used to in Xanadu.

"Father," Garrett acknowledges with a formal nod, followed by a pull at the tight collar. "Do we know yet where we are riding?"

Signy looks at the King with consternation. "Could we not just put our old things back on and ride in them?"

"You'll get used to Brita, Signy. She's like that. Five forward gears and no reverse."

He turns to Garrett. "To find the Queen. If we knew where she was, we'd already be there."

Garrett looks a little dubious, but declines to press the question. His only reply is a simple nod.

Benedict steps in and a bell chimes in the main hall. He doesn't break his stride "Let us dine," he says. He looks at the youngers' clothing and seems slightly perplexed, but says nothing of it.

Garrett moves in the indicated direction, politely allowing Signy and Brita to precede him if they wish.

Brita follows her Uncle with a perplexed frown of her own. She really wishes that the Elders would Specify their expectations Up Front. Guessing just isn't in her nature.

Benedict waits at the table for Random and the others to join him. There are places for each at the high table and perhaps fifty more at tables lining the great hall. It does not seem to be a special occasion, at least not for most of the diners. They all wait for Benedict.

The Protector raises his glass, and his people follow suit. Belatedly, Random does as well.

"My friends, we are honored this evening by the presence of the King of Xanadu, his son the Prince Garrett, and Ladies Brita and Signy. They are strangers to our hold, and friends." He turns to Random. "The custom of the house is to eat in silence once the toast is given."

"I shan't be a custom bucker. Not right now, anyway." replies Random.

In a louder voice, Benedict says "To Tir na nOgth, Amber, Rebma, Avalon, Paris, and Xanadu!" His drinks, as do his retainers. Then they sit to eat. The food follows, in quantity and quality that indicates that the kitchen has fed Princes of Amber in the past.

Garrett carefully follows the customs, having been raised to adhere to formality around royals. When the food arrives, he eats heartily, tucking away far more than someone his size possibly could.

Signy eats quietly through the meal, alternating between looking around at the new surroundings and at her plate with a trace of a stubborn pout on her face.

Finally, Benedict puts a cloth over his dish and says "Red wine, please, Dillah." The servant steps away, and the retainers begin talking amongst themselves.

"We'll be travelling to a realm that is not far from here, and not yet quite in this shadow, along a well-known road to my people," begins Benedict without any preamble. "In the moonlight, it has a certain congruity with Tir Na nOg'th. You should go in groups, because it is a dangerous place for solitary travellers. I will be leading my men in a systematic search, but the King informs me that he intends to follow his intuition."

Garrett glances from his uncle to his father, his serious expression not revealing which path he deems the wisest. He turns back to his uncle as Benedict continues.

He looks at Garrett, Signy, and Brita. "We need to be there at moonrise and will be done, one way or another, when the moon sets. Any questions?"

As Benedict finishes, Signy speaks up. "What sorts of dangers are there at this place?"

"And will trumps work from there?" Garrett asks.

"Are there Insubstantial Inhabitants as there are In Floating Tir Na nOg'th or are they Solid and Prone to Interaction?" Brita asks as she ends her meal.

"Garrett, yes, if you are able to use them. All the things one needs are still needed: light, a clear head, a moment to concentrate. The issues are the same as they are on Kolvir, but the risks are different.

"Signy and Brita, your answer is the same. The place is more like Arden than Amber. It is safe for the knowledgeable, such as my retainers and also for the powerful. You may be jumped by a hungry creature of the woods, but I would expect each of you could vanquish such with ease.

"The real risk is that many of the creatures of that place use magic to deceive. It is a fragile thing and highly susceptible to disruption by application of the Great Pattern of Amber. If you give in to the logic of the spell, however, you effectively let the place define the rules of engagement and you are likely to lose.

Random laughs, a short barking noise. "So, it rewards us for being stubborn Amber gits. That'll work." He turns to the younger generation. "Just remember to ask yourself 'what would Corwin do?' and you'll be fine..."

Benedict nods. "Remember that your horses do not have your strength of personality. Are there any more questions?"

Signy looks at Benedict, before looking back down at her plate. "W...will we have time to change out of these before we go?"

Brita is obviously listening for the answer.

Random jumps in before Benedict can reply. "Yes, please do! 'Random the Magnificent died on the field, surrounded by his companions in their borrowed clothes' would be such a lousy epitaph."

Benedict nods. "Hurry, please."

"The horses, sir. I understand that they are not as strong as us, but have they been bred in this realm with a temperament to handle travel through Shadow?" Garrett asks. In Amber, only certain horses - the ones that were strong in both body and spirit - were ever saddled for the royals. Garrett now understands why.

"A few have. It's more a matter of training than breeding, although good temperament matters. There will be enough horses for you four and myself that are accustomed to shadow, but my troops will walk," Benedict says. "Anything more?"

"No, sir. Thank you. By your leave," Garrett says, rising and bowing politely to his host before departing for his room.

"Meet us in the stables", Benedict says.

Brita is already up and moving to go back to their rooms. She will change quickly and be back in only a few minutes.

Brita hasn't finished standing before Signy bolts upright and follows quickly on her heels back to their rooms, and returns in almost the exact same fashion.

And Garrett too returns shortly after, dressed for traveling.

When everyone returns, Benedict is on his famous striped horse and Random is on a more plain mount. There are three more horses, and a number of footmen waiting as well.

Garrett makes friends with his horse, deftly adjusts the stirrups to his preferred height, and mounts, taking up a place not far from Random.

Benedict waits for them to mount and rides for the gate, at a pace to keep up with the men at arms.

Random turns to the youngers. "My money's on us finding her, not them. Any takers?"

"S'pose they find us first?" Garrett banters, trying to cover his nervousness with humor. The fact that he's checked his sword and trumps two or three times since mounting gives him away.

"Then I am am accompanied by three children of the pattern and a horn's blow from Benedict of Amber and his forces. I myself am not unskilled with the blade, despite the enfeeblement of my ancient mein. In other words, you don't have to throw rocks at every barking dog, but don't hesitate to defend yourself, or me."

Garrett chuckes sheepishly, embarrassed at his own inexperience.

He grins at Garrett. "Nervous? It's unlikely to be any more dangerous to the four of us than Arden, and the last time I had a problem there, it was because Julian was unhappy with us. Oh, yeah, that reminds me. Is anyone's sword silvered? We ought to have one of those handy."

Brita follows Random and Garrett on her horse. Her eyes track the progression of the men at arms. "Uncle-King," she says to Random. "Is there Something that Draws your Search Here? Some Tie or Clue as to What Happened to the Queen?" As she waits for a response, she is testing the air, working to distinguish the Blood of Amber from Benedict's men, reminding herself of the various scents of Rebma she has recently encountered.

Signy easily mounts her horse and moves into place with Brita and Garrett. Her attention seems to be entirely focused on Benedict's horse, as she studies it with a puzzled intensity.

Benedict's horse seems to be well-muscled, quick, and strong. It should do well in most circumstances. It seems very well trained.

Random leads the group through the gates and follows Benedict. The trail runs quickly over low hills into a moonlit forest.

"Well, Goddess-Niece who gives everyone titles, here's the story. If Vialle was in Xanadu, I'd know, because I'd know. If she was in Tir, she'd be dead, like Cambina. So this is the other side of Tir. The Great Road, the Faiella-Bionin? It's a ring road."

Garrett rides along with the group, listening to the explanation. Being on horseback in the moonlight appears to be soothing his uneasiness. He scans his surroundings alertly, but not quite so nervously.

They're marvellous. The trees are huge and ancient, and deeper in the forest they seem to glitter as if they're hung with jewels.

Signy drags her attention away from Benedict's horse with a shake of her head.

"What does this...'Faiella-Bionin' connect? And what, exactly, is 'Tir'?"

"Faiella-Bionin - the Stair to Mirror Rebma; Ethereal Tir Na Nog'th - with its Own Stair from Reality's Realms," Brita cocks her head to the side. "So they are All Connected?"

"Yes, Faiella's gift." Benedict's voice is startling, not the least because he wasn't riding with them a moment ago. "Don't let Bleys tell you that it's mathematically required by his fancy equations. He wasn't there."

"Right, it's how we conduct trade and stay part of the same culture as Corwin and M-- Rebma and Avalon's built on it, too, isn't it Benedict?" Random raises his voice a bit.

"Yes," says Benedict. "I need to return to my men." He speeds up.

Random turns to Signy. "Tir na n'Ogth literally means "the land of eternal youth", and it's another city with a pattern, but it's not really like ours. It's not real, at least not all the time."

Brita is riding along silently assimilating the information provided by her uncles.

"When I was a lad, we'd look for it at the full moon, me mates and I," Garrett remembers. "If our mums would let us stay up or we could sneak out. I never realized all the paths were connected though. To Tirna N'Ogth and Rebma and... the others." It's obvious he never knew there were 'others' until this evening.

Signy gives Random a quizzical look. "Who was Faiella, and just how many places have Patterns?"

Random looks at her. "Faiella is your mother's mother, she died over a thousand years ago and her sons Corwin and Caine are your closest kin, except for Marius.

"Patterns. Patterns grow cities like cheese grows mold. Paris is Corwin's, Xanadu is mine. Amber used to have one. Rebma was its mirror. I don't know if any of the new ones will have mirrors. That may have been a special circumstance. They're all special, of course. Tir is only real when the full moon shines upon it, so it's periodic.

"There's a pattern we call 'The Primal Pattern', but it's really not. It doesn't have a city, so forget that cheese mold thing. It's the first one that was drawn.

"They're all different, but not completely. They protect themselves and connect themselves and are aspects of the same thing, like the same song sung by different singers.

"In a very real way, they're your relatives. Or some of them. And they're harder to draw than it is to walk the pattern in the first place. I hope we never need to draw another."

"So is it a different experience to walk different ones? I mean, was it easier for me to walk yours than it would be to walk the one Corwin created because I'm more closely related to you?" Garrett asks. His recent experience with the pattern seems to have made him something of a pattern-information sponge.

Random clears his throat. "About that. If I hadn't been really busy, I'd've stopped you. But you didn't die, so you were ready. I'm willing to let you off the hook if you never tell anyone how young you were when you walked it. I don't want to bury Leif and Brooke. Also, you're grounded. No dessert for a week."

Garrett gives a tight-lipped nod, quietly dropping the subject.

"I've Heard Each Pattern is Unique - Even to the Number of Veils to Pass," Brita notes.

Random reaches up and slicks back his hair. "No. Same number of veils. Who told you otherwise?"

"My Walk Passed Four Veils," Brita states. "The Implication was that there are - or Were - Patterns with Fewer Veils."

"Well, that's true, at least. I added one. If you ever walk the pattern and there aren't four veils? Then you start looking for the missing city, or the new one."

Garrett rides on in silence, but glances over to see how Signy is doing.

Shortly the party separates, Random and his lot from Benedict's troop. The silvery moonlight makes the trees look shiny, and they get taller and taller as the riders enter the forest proper. There is a glow, and the woods are wet. If the sun has recently set, it's likely there will be a fog this evening.

Random slows the procession, holding up a hand. "I saw someone move. There!" He points up onto a branch, where a slight person darts back behind the trunk of one of the great low trees.

Signy quickly spurs her horse several paces out to the side to allow for a view around the trunk, though still remaining roughly the same distance from whomever it is. As she moves into place, she quickly opens her Third Eye and scans the surroundings, dropping it as she gets into place if she doesn't see anything immediately threatening.

The main thing Signy notices is that they're surrounded by men in the trees.

Brita angles the other way, working to be downwind of the unknown creature.

Garrett watches the horses to determine if they see this situation as threatening. His hand moves to the hilt of his sword, but he does not draw.

A thin young man, or perhaps a well-muscled girl swings out onto a wide limb, perhaps 12 feet above the ground. His face is obscured by shadows, but he seems to have both a saber and a flintlock pistol.

"Hello, the tree!", shouts Random. "Who's there?"

The figure steps out of the shadow. "Why, it's me, your majesty and this time I have you." The pistol is pointed straight at Random and the light shines through for a moment. It is a woman in the tree.

Robin.

In the silence after Robin stops speaking, Signy's sword makes a rasping hiss as it clears the sheath. "Ware the trees!" she shouts back at the main party before using her knees to angle her horse back towards the would-be assassin. Her left hand flicks out quickly, and the forest fills with a muted, echoing murmer as a dark red flare forms around the barrel of Robin's flintlock pistol, dancing around the barrel and flaring up sporadically.

Sorcery is incredibly difficult here; and Signy gets a dull glow and the barrel doesn't seem to change at all. It's harder than in Xanadu and harder than when she was fighting that rock thing of her father's. If this works, it will take minutes. If that thing is a pocket crossbow, there's nothing that's going to stop her shot. At this range, the quarrel is probably poisoned.

Garrett draws his blade as well, silently cursing himself for not bringing something with a longer range. Like Signy, he controls his mount with his knees, leaving one hand free. His eyes remain fixed on Robin, but he listens for Brita, trying to keep track of her movements without tipping Robin off to her location.

Signy's warning was timely, as the trees are erupting with men, Arden Rangers by the look of them. All wearing badges on their jerkins with a crown pierced by a sword. Two of them charge at Garrett. They have knives at their belts, but it looks like their intent is to pull him off his horse. They're running towards him in near total silence.

Brita's horse has slowed and turned back somewhat so she is angled almost at Random. She appears to be ignoring the woman but is seeking for the slight breeze that brushes past this unknown. Is this one Robin? She has also brought the Pattern forward in her mind, calling on her Heritage to send outward and upward a sense of the calm, placid waters of the high mountain lakes, the still peace of the deep snow in winter.

Brita stills the forest creatures, the night air, their horses, even the fog seems to settle. Not Robin.

"No! Death to the Tyrant Brandom!" She fires and in the stillness of the moment the bang from the gun is deafening and the muzzle flash is like a flare. And Random is no longer on his horse.

Brita has launched herself off her horse and has a small dagger in hand. She is running to get in front of Random's horse and yelling - almost in full Goddess Voice - the Arden Ranger equivalent codes for 'Friend', 'Come in Peace', and 'Stand down'. She also manages to get out "King Random is Different from Tyrant Brandom, You Fool!"

Yanking upward on his mount's reins with his left hand, Garrett attempts to get his horse to rear, hoping that the flailing front hooves will take out the nearest attacker. At the same time, he slashes downward with his blade at the Ranger coming in on the other side. "Father!" he calls out, hoping to get an answer.

Garrett slices a Ranger, who falls to his blade. Several more have been trampled.

Signy snaps off a few quick curses as she drops her Sorcerous energies. She quickly grabs the reins in her free hand and sends the horse straight at a knot of Rangers moving towards the King's party, bowling them over with her horse. Her sword hisses out at a startled Ranger that managed to leap back from her horse, as she glances quickly towards the King before turning her attention back to Robin. She frowns, wondering what the odds are that the branch that Robin was standing on was weak enough to give way under her weight and the vibrations of whatever it was that she just did. Almost without conscious thought, Signy reaches out to reality and reaches out to the one shining path that leads to the branch cracking under the stresses, giving way and plunging her down to the ground.

The branch gives way, followed by a thud. Someone says "Ooof! Crud!", and there's a quick tapping on the tree. Those who know Ranger codes can translate it as "retreat/scatter, don't trust the unknown ranger, every one save yourself."

Signy blinks, a slightly awestruck look on her face as she sizes up what she looks to have just done.

"Garrett!", shouts Random, "rememberwhatItoldyou!" He must be pretty anxious, because he's talking awfully fast.

Brita runs to the front of Random's horse. A ranger who was coming toward Random sees Brita and hesitates, then turns and runs the other way.

Brita sees Random standing there with one hand in his pocket. He holds up the other hand, his index finger up. A moment later, there is a terrific lightning strike and some of the fog is literally burned away, the great tree that Robin was in is cracked in half.

Garrett wheels his horse around in the direction of his father's voice, coming to a stop between Random and the remaining attackers, his sword drawn defensively. The back of his neck tingles as it would in a summer storm, but not soon enough for him to avoid flinching when the lightning cracks nearby. Instinctively, he settles his horse, which settles himself as well, and maintains his defensive posture.

Brita has grabbed the reins of Random's horse and spun it sideways between the King and the tree that Robin was in to try to provide a shield. She is fighting to keep the horse calm while still searching the area around the split tree for Robin. The tips of her braids are crackling with the electricity arcing in the air as she says "Very Uncle Loki of you, Your Majesty."

As she hears Random's voice, Signy shakes her head to clear the cobwebs, and pushes her horse over to the tree, looking for the would-be assassin. Her sword flicks out at Rangers that stray too close, looking to encourage them to give her a wide berth.

The rangers have fled, as has Robin.

"Yeah, so using magic to get you to play their game, that's how they work," says Random, "and real enough that you can't really pretend that they don't have real guns." The King strolls over to a tree that had a single bullet lodged in it. He takes his knife and pries out the ball.

"Somebody doesn't like us," he adds.

"Or doesn't Like Somebody Like Us. She said 'Traitor Brandom'," Brita notes. She is gently trying to calm the horse after her rude handling as she scans the area for further signs of the rangers. "Do you Think They could Hold the Queen? Should we Follow?"

Garrett dismounts and wanders around the site of the incident, taking in the details now that the skirmish is done. He stares downward for a long moment at the man he sliced in two. Frowning, he gazes down at his bloody sword, then with a sigh, he pulls a handkerchief out of his pocket and begins to carefully wipe the blade clean.

Signy rides her horse slowly back to where the King is, reflexively glancing around with her Third Eye to see if there were any other surprises about.

"But who were 'they'," she wonders aloud before looking at King Random. "And what is it about here that made my magic so ineffective? Was it the presence of the rest of you, like when Marius and I fought the Eater?"

Random clears his throat. "No, here's sorta too close to lots of things, but the real problem is me. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, because the thing is fecking heavy, it just doesn't weigh that much. Also, the head needs not to lie down in the crown anyway, because how stupid is that? Not that I do, because it doesn't go with my suit.

"Garrett, well done. Your sword-dude teach you that?"

Garrett looks up. "Uh... yeah. Sort of, sir." He resumes cleaning his sword as Random continues to speak.

"Brita, you tell me. Do we follow them, or your nose?"

"Follow the Scent," Brita says definitively. Out of curiosity, what has Brita been able to smell? She tried to get scents from Robin, the Rangers, and now that the Rangers have gone.

They have no scent, not even the dead ones. Protector Benedict is in the area with his men, who are all about, although none are close. Brita smells a faint echo, from deeper in the forest, of the familiar tang of the sea that clings to Rebmans no matter how many years ago they climbed the stairs.. It is in all likelihood Queen Vialle.

"Lead on, then," Random says to her. Random re-mounts his horse. "You did good, kid," he says to Garrett. "It's probably time to graduate you to cavalry lessons, given that you're such a horseman."

Garrett looks up in surprise and a small smile of pride creeps across his face. "Yes sir!" he replies, sheathing his sword and mounting his horse.

Brita nods curtly, collects her own horse and begins to lead the way deeper into the forest, following the salty scent. He other senses are alert to any further movement in the forest beyond their own.

Garrett urges his horse along quietly with the rest of the group, alternately scanning the trees and watching Brita follow whatever it is that she smells. After this last encounter, he remains even more alert than before.

Signy sheathes her sword and falls in near King Random. "So who or what were those people -- they didn't seem to like you very much?"

"No idea," says Random. "Shadows of Robin and the Rangers, I suspect. I once had a nightmare about being hunted by her in Arden. Maybe here it was based on a true story."

Brita takes them further in. It becomes clear to her that their goal is the Grove of the Unicorn.

Random calls a halt some distance back. "Yeah, no subtlety, this place. OK, team, ride up or dismount and sneak?"

"I'd dismount," Garrett suggests quietly. "You can't count on the horses to be quiet. And Brita might smell more if they stay back."

Random nods. "Ahead my scouts! I'll stay here where notRobin can ambush me cleanly..."

Brita sits staring at Random for a few heartbeats as if trying to determine whether he is serious or not - sometimes a difficult distinction with this King. Finally, something clicks in her head and she dismounts. "Your Highness, You can Stay with His Majesty to Protect for a Back Attack as well, If you would Like." She'll wait for his response before continuing.

Garrett appears to have the same reaction to his father's comment. At Brita's decision, he nods once decisively, as if he had been considering something similar. He turns his mount around and retraces their path. He stops a few horse-lengths away, but stays within sight of the King.

[Brita] glances at Signy with a nod and gesture to the right. "Grandmare's Grove is Ahead, Assuming the Lay of the Land is the same. If you Go to the Right, I'll go Stright In."

Signy pauses for a moment and looks around, eyes narrowed, sweeping the surroundings quickly with her Third Eye.

To Signy's Third Eye, this place is overwhelmingly magical. She can see nothing here. It is like looking into an arc-light.

Assuming she doesn't see anything that bears further investigation, she meets Brita's eyes and nods once, before noiselessly dropping from her horse's back. She quickly wraps the reins around the trunk of a nearby sapling before angling off to the right. As she reaches position to head in with Brita, she looks back over at Brita, drawing her sword with barely a whisper and waiting for her signal to move in.

Brita's knife is already in hand and it glints in the moonlight as she waves it into the deeper forest before following her motion inward.

Brita and Signy move forward, silently disappearing into the bush. They're both quite talented scouts. After a moment, Random leans over to Garrett. "C'mon!" he stage-whispers, and begins moving forward, going off to the left.

Garrett follows silently, keeping an eye to the rear as they progress.

The four amberites approach in three groups. All see the same scene.

The ground basin is drained, and filled with corpses; a mix of rangers and something wearing Amber's colors, strange white-skinned men with spurs on their elbows. They look to have been tossed in haphazardly.

To the side of the empty basin is a large stone throne, where the stone once was that overlooked the pool. Four figures are there. In chains are King Random and the Robin lookalike. Beside the throne is a malevolent man, tall and wild-haired. He holds the other end of the thick chains around the captive's necks.

Sitting on the throne is Vialle. Her eyes are open.

Random reaches out to Garrett and whispers. "That guy? If he's really here, it's really bad. He's Edan's girlfriend's dad. He's a Moonrider."

Without taking his eyes off the scene, Garrett leans over and whispers back, "Is it really the Queen? Can you tell?"

"Maybe," says Random ambiguously. "Can't risk it being her when it might be."

Brita waits and watches for a bit. Are the four doing anything? Talking? Waiting expectantly? Does the Robin doppelganger look like the one they just encountered - does she look like she took a fall from a tree? Is she glaring daggers at the Random doppelganger? (I'm assuming the two in chains are conscious.) Does the Queen look aware of her surroundings or bespelled? Brita's breathing has sped up slightly as she tries to sort out the various smells in the area.

This is where the Rebman smell is coming from, but it's hard to pinpoint. Either they're all Rebmans who smell the same, or there's no discernable scent from most of them.

In terms of the area, I'm assuming the forest encircles the grove. How close is the forest's edge to the throne?

Yes, the forest is all around the grove. The throne is where the big rock is in Amber. It's closer to the woods than the basin, but not a lot.

While she takes all this in, Brita has crouched low to the ground, one hand flattened against the soil. Almost subconsciously, she is seeking the pure, clear water, like what she had seen in Grandmare's grove that long ago day with Master Reid and which must be present in this grove as well. It has surely lost its way due to the desecration she sees before her. She will try to guide it forward and out into the basin, strengthening it with her Will to purify what is there.

The effort is immense, and Brita realizes that she might consciously do it, but it would require a significant effort and might take some time. Does she do so?

Signy looks at the chained Random, frowning, before turning to look at the man holding the chains.

[More or less the same questions as Brita. Also, is there any sort of a concealed approach to the throne, or is it pretty much out in the open?]

The forms are still, as if they represent a diorama instead of a place. Both Robin and Random look as if they have recently lost a fight. If the queen could see, she'd be looking at them.

Noting the stillness of those in front of her, Brita does actively begin to Concentrate on bringing fresh water into the grove's basin. She imagines the Pattern emanating from herself, Signy to her right, and where she expects Random and Garrett to be to her left with all Patterns converging in the center of the grove, pushing and purifying the water before them into the basin. If it disrupts whatever has those four enthralled before her, so much the better.

It feels like it's starting to work, then something disturbs it. The water does not come.

Slowly, so as not to disturb the cover around them, Garrett reaches for his trump deck. "Now that we've found them, shall I trump Uncle Benedict?" he whispers. "If I set up a connection, perhaps we can pull her out through it if need be."

"Who else do you have? He's probably busy."

Signy thinks for a moment, wondering how the people and bodies fit with Random's earlier remarks, before attempting to reach out with the Pattern, trying to shift the universe so that the probability of a stiff breeze moving parallel to the figures at the throne and the woods where everyone crouches come to pass [I'm explicitly trying to angle it so that our scent doesn't get carried towards Vialle and company].

It's really difficult here, but it does seem to work, or at least start to work.

The transfigured moment pops like a soap bubble and then the people seem solid and living.

"What shall we do with them, majesty?," asks the Moonrider.

"Kill her," says Vialle. "Leave him, I will question him."

The Marshall turns to Robin and draws a sword.

"Now!" says Random, and draws his sword and rushes forward.

Brita has launched herself from the runners-start crouch she was already in and is aimed straight for the tall, gaunt sword wielder.

Hurriedly, Garrett skims off his trump of Gerard and shoves the rest of his deck back into its case at his belt. He draws his sword and charges in behind his father, trump in one fist, blade in the other. Depending on Random's actions, Garrett's intention is to either defend Random while he rescues the Queen, or rescue the Queen while Random attacks.

Signy's eyes roll in disbelief at the King's actions as she crashes out of the shrubbery she was using for cover, sword held in front of her at the ready. She angles towards the man holding the chains with Brita, though she eyes the captives quickly.

[yep!, not tightly enough, though!]

The scene takes on a red glow as the Amberites enter the clearing, a glow centered on Random.

Random and Brita reach the Marshall and he turns his sword with a grunt and brings it down at the real Random, who dodges the first blow and parries the second. The Marshall is very, very fast. The chained Random, meanwhile, stands and swings his bound wrists at the Robin-like girl, who dodges as far as her chains will allow.

Brita thinks the Marshall is quite good.

Vialle shouts "Halt, intruders! Guards!" When Garrett gets close, she looks at him, and blinks. It's clear to Garrett that this Queen can see. "Garrett?" She reaches out and touches his face, and then faints.

Brita swerves at the last moment, letting Random attack the wild-haired one as she aims to rip the chains from his grasp (or at least send him off balance) by tackling the stretched chain with her six foot plus self.

Signy heads over to the Marshall as she sees Brita heading over to keep Robin busy, maneuvering to keep some distance between her and Random. As Random parries the second blow she strikes out, aiming to open up his side.

Startled, Garrett catches the Queen as she faints. Scooping her up under the shoulders with one arm, he pulls her limp form away from the fray, lays her down on the ground and stands near her defensively. He still has the trump ready, but Vialle's unexpected sightedness has caused him to rethink his next move. If this is truly the Queen, then some miracle has allowed her to regain her sight. If it's a Dream-Shadow however, he does not want to bring her to Xanadu to cause trouble. He watches for the guards that she called.

It looks and feels like the Queen. After a moment she stirs. "Garrett? Random!" she sits up, now not seeing. She reaches out in front of her, trying to find... something.

"I'm here, Majesty," Garrett replies calmly without looking back, knowing she'll recognize his voice and be able to pinpoint his location. Her lack of sight is, strangely, a relief.

Brita lands on the chain, wrapping herself around it and hitting the ground with a roll. The Marshall is jerked, hard, towards her and overbalances. He stumbles and is totally open to Signy's attack, which lands exactly as planned, in a position to slice deeply into his left side.

Except it doesn't. Signy's sword goes through, and expecting resistance, she falters. The Marshall falls through her, and it's bizarrely unclear if he is insubstantial or she is.

A moment later it's clear. The Marshall and his two prisoners are gone, as is the the throne. The only things left in the clearing are the five Amberites and a delicately thin length of silver chain, wrapped around Brita.

Brita will stand up and unravel the chain from around her. She is careful not to break it, but is holding it like it is something live and not quite pleasant. She turns to the others with a questioning look for the King. "What should I Do with This, Your Majesty?" she queries.

As the Dream-Shadows fade out, Garrett wastes no more time. He stares at the trump of Gerard and concentrates.

Signy pivots quickly around on the balls of her feet, scanning the surroundings, before turning to address the King. "Any idea what we just disrupted? I assume that this means we've found the Queen, though?"

The trump clarifies quickly and Gerard's face appears. He says, "Who is it?"

Random runs over to the Queen. "I'm here, I'm here." He takes her in his arms, not replying to Signy and Brita, but waving them over to where he stands with Vialle and Garrett. "Get us out of here," he says to Garrett.

Garrett holds out his free hand to his father and the queen. To Gerard, he says, "It's Garrett. We've found the Queen. Bring us home?"

There's a pause, and then Gerard says, "Aye, pass them through." His hand reaches out to Garrett.

Brita moves towards the royal family, still bearing the silver chain. Signy moves over next to the King, sword out and looking around at the woods warily. "Should we let Benedict know that we've found the Queen?"

Random nods, the Queen's head buried in his hair. "Once we're in Xanadu, safely, we'll trump him." She has not taken her arms from around him since he came over.

Once Garrett passes the King and Queen through the contact, he holds his hand out to Brita and Signy and quirks an eyebrow, silently asking who wants to go first.

Brita gestures to Signy to go first as she carefully tucks the silver strand into one of the pockets on her red jacket.

After Signy has flared into a new realm, Brita steps forward and takes Garrett's hand. "On the Other Side, Your Highness," she states with a nod and then her gaze shifts beyond as she reaches out. "Uncle Gerard, it is Good to See You, Again."