Travellers Converge


Ossian finds a stool in one corner of the room. He is restless. Normally he would like to explore the lab, but he thinks things are moving a bit to fast for that right now. He starts to check the few belongings that survived the swim.

Ossian shrugs at his ruined sketch book, and opens his Trump sketch. Did the Merlin sketch survive?

The Merlin sketch is ruined.

Fiona deals with Ambrose's injuries after a moment. As she murmurs a few words of power, Ambrose's hands heal beneath her touch. After about a minute, she stops. "You can heal the rest," she tells Ambrose, and he nods soberly.

Fiona turns to Ossian. "Show me your injuries, Ossian."

"It's really most bruises. Especially compared to what Ambrose got." Ossian does however show a gash in his right leg.

"Do you have any means to contact Merlin? I'd like to ask him about his mother."

"I don't have a Trump of him, but there may be other ways to reach him. He is a sorcerer," Fiona replies. Her hands are moving lightly over his injuries. "The bruises will keep, but let me heal this cut."

Ossian nods "Let's see what Brita finds out before we contact Merlin. I suspect Trumps are safer? Depending on how much time we think we have, I can try to make a sketch of Merlin. Or we can go to Amber and contact him from the Trump booth."

She takes a moment to begin, and Ossian feels the wound knitting together. A minute later, she stops, and the injury is merely a scar.

Ossian grins. "Marvelous!"

Ambrose has observed the process as an interested student.

"Do you want to call Brennan, or shall I?" he asks Ossian once Fiona has finished the healing.

"I have no Trump of my father, and I don't know sorcery. But I can do the talking if you want me to."

"I can make the contact," says Ambrose, resigned. "It'll be easiest for me, anyhow. But he'll want to know about this sooner rather than later, trust me."

Fiona smiles.

Ambrose says a sorcerous Word, and a connection opens to Brennan. "Brennan, it's Ambrose and Ossian. We need to talk. It's about Dara."

[What does Ossian see and hear?]

[He can hear the conversation on the other side, but he can't see anything.]

There are voices speaking on the other side of the connection. Brennan, a murmur that might be familiar, and a man and a woman whose voices Ossian doesn't know.

At about this point, there's a trump shimmer at the other end of the room and Martin appears. Before relinquishing Brita's hand, Martin says, over his shoulder, "Let my wife know where I've gone, please, and keep an eye on her until I get back."

Martin gives Fiona a neck-bow and Ossian a somewhat more friendly wave. His eyes narrow a bit as he recognizes Ossian's companion.

Ossian waves back. He smiles tiredly.

Ambrose says, ""Ossian and Brita and I are in a place belonging to our Aunt Fiona." Ambrose notices Martin and amends, "And someone else has just joined us. I'm afraid I don't know him."

"Martin," says Martin.

"Martin," says Ambrose.

"Your Majesty," Brita bows again over the card as she says "Goodbye for Now. We will Report as Things Change." And then she closes the connection. [Yes, without waiting for a response.]

She then turns back to the group. "Mother, Cousin Ossian, Cousin Ambrose, Prince Martin will Help us Investigate the Situations with Uncle Huon and Cousin Meg." As she moves back to stand next to Cousin Ambrose, she turns back towards Martin, "Your Highness, _our_ Cousin Ambrose is Speaking with Cousin Brennan, I believe."

Ambrose moves to do something that Brita recognizes as Parting the Veil. From Martin's expression, he recognizes it too. After a moment, he repeats the gesture, and then there is an opening to somewhere else. Through it, the company can see Brennan, Lilly, Marius, and a woman none of them know.

Fiona has stepped aside and is not visible.

"Come through," Ambrose suggests, and Brennan and Lilly do.

Martin nods once at the two of them. He does not look happy.

Neither does Brennan, once he lets the mask of impassivity drop from his features. "Did Trumps not work either?" he asks, in a muttering tone that nevertheless carries quite well. It might be rhetorical. It might not. Brennan nods back at Martin, at Fiona, and all assembled.

Lilly returns the nod, her expression one of curiosity. As much as she wishes for more time with the Smith, this is of equal importance.

[Ossian]
"Hi."

Adressing both Martin and Brennan "The short version is: We think Dara has Meg."

Ambrose turns and has his hand out, palm to the rift. "Brennan, someone's trying to follow you through the Parted Veil."

Martin straightens and is obviously ready to move.

Brennan has already pinched the bridge of his nose and was about to say something to Ossian, when Ambrose speaks. Surprised, he turns to look over his shoulder, then his eyes narrow and he scowls, making a shrewd guess at who is trying to follow him. Muttering something filthy in Uxmali about children of ritually unclean scorpions, he gestures Ambrose to let the person through.

Then he turns fully around and stands, arms crossed over his chest, right in front of where the person will materialize. Scowling.

The smile that appeared on Ossian's face when he saw Lilly arrive is wiped away. He looks curiously (not scowling like his father) at the rift, one hand on his belt knife.

Brita does not move from Ambrose's side but the steam tendrils above several of the nearby beakers start to undulate in interesting patterns. She waits.

"We have another cousin," Lilly says in a quiet voice that manages to carry across the room. "Deirdre's daughter." Her tone indicates mild dislike but nothing more. The newcomer is more annoying then threatening as far as Lilly is concerned.

Martin nods once at Lilly.

Fiona listens, but says nothing.

A lithe woman of barely average height steps through the Veil, stopping short in front of Brennan. Dressed in serviceable black leathers, a plain sword is belted to her hip, its hilt worn as if from regular use, and her frame, although slender, does not seem to speak of weakness, dark hair falling down just to the shoulders to outline a face set with a determined cast. Dark green eyes flick around the room, taking in everyone standing there, before settling on Brennan. She does not lose the determined look, though her eyes show a brief flash of embarassment or remorse that is quickly gone.

A nondescript blond man in robes follows Signy, and Marius follows him through the narrowing rift.

Drawing herself up slightly, she addresses Brennan in a quiet voice. "Given the circumstances, I thought that the unknown was a better gamble then staying there."

Brennan's eyes narrow. The scowl does not lessen. "Later."

As Signy speaks to Brennan, Ambrose bows to the dark man his cousins left behind.

Martin relaxes again, and lets everyone settle for a couple of seconds before speaking. "All right. I can see it's time for a family news and gossip session. Brita and Ossian, tell me about this business with Dara and Meg; Brennan and Lilly and Marius, tell me about Signy and her friend--" he gestures at Tomat "--and what you've been up to. Fiona, you can tell me whatever you need to tell me. And then I'll tell you all about Jovian and other news from Xanadu."

Brennan listens to Martin, whose speech does not surprise him very much. Then Brennan, being Brennan, decides to go first. He practices brevity in phrase, tone, and gesture. "This is Signy, daughter of Deirdre, who has been extremely sheltered, and her associate Tomat."

Tomat bows from the neck.

[Brennan] locks eyes with Martin, on Tomat's name. Let Martin deal with it.

Martin nods, once, to Brennan, and again to Signy. "Martin," he says to the two of them by way of introduction.

Fiona watches the interaction, but says nothing.

Then his eyes flick briefly to Signy, and goes around the room, pointing out each person he names. He doesn't dawdle-- now that she's here, he expects her to keep up. "Aunt Fiona. Prince Martin. Cousin Brita. My brother Ambrose. My son Ossian."

Back to Martin. "I sought Lilly and Marius to bring them up to speed on Huon. I found them both at Weyland's doorstep with Signy. Marius was there, having found his sister and his father. Lilly was there for her own reasons, detail of which I do not have."

Ossian is short and slender and wears damp traveling clothes.

Ossian looks at Marius, raising an eyebrow, as Brennan mentions Marius father and sister. "As for us. Well, we don't have the time to tell the story in a fashion I would like...

"It started with me and Marius searching for Abford, the place where I grew up. We found it, and a woman we suspected was a relative, Meg." Ossian smiles a little "About then, Huon started an assault on the little town, and we snatched away Meg to Amber."

Ossian looks at Martin "Your father confirmed that Meg really is a relative. She insisted that we should go back and rescue her adopted family. So I, Brita, Meg and Ambrose did. We found that Huon had already left Abford a few months earlier with some of Meg's boys, probably heading for Rebma. The time difference..."

Martin nods again.

"So we tried to follow Huon in Brita's fancy ship. After a few days at sea this guy Cleph appeared through one of those rifts." Ossian draws a finger through the air making a sound that quite well imitates the sorcerous opening of a rift. "We tried to fight him.

"Brita, will you take it from here? I think you had a better view of things?"

Brita's sigh shifts the water vapors in the air and her intake of breath seems to draw in the steam from around Signy. Brita is rather tall (6'2") with long, red hair worn in two braids. One strand of blond twined through the red catches the light as she glances briefly at Ossian and Ambrose. She is dressed in a red jacket with white fur trim at the cuffs and collar. Her clothes are dry. She turns to Martin and continues the story.

"Cousin Ambrose and Cousin Ossian Fought cleph as I attempted to Maneuver Ship Skidbladnir Away from the Rift. Once Clear, I was Starting to Move Forward to Aid when Another Rift Opened and Someone Reached Through and Grabbed Our Cousin from Behind. I Heard Cousin Meg's Cry and Turning, could only Discern that the Unknown Assailant was Likely Female or, at least, Slight. My Thought was to get Our Cousin Away from the Rift Quickly, so I Folded Ship Skidbladnir thinking the Suddenly Addition of Cousin Meg's Full Weight would Pull her Free of the Unknown Assailant or, Possibly, pull Both of them to Our Side of the Rift. It did Not Work as Planned." Brita shrugs.

"cleph and the Rest of Us," she nods to Ossian and Ambrose, "Dropped into the Sea. cleph Summoned a Filmy. I Attempted to Attack Again, but was _Again_ Unsuccessful." Brita sounds Extremely Frustrated at this point. "As cleph Left he Noted that he need Not Continue the Fight as They had Successfully Retrieved His Sister's Daughter." She cocks her head to the side slightly as if reviewing her story and then nods and adds, "cleph 2, Brita zero."

Martin's jaw tightens as Brita recites Cleph's words.

As Brennan introduces the others in the room, Signy glances at each of them, a cautious look in her eyes. She gives each of them a diffident nod, but other then that remains quiet for the moment.

Lilly remains quiet but hiding her irration is now impossible. She looks ready to strike. Now. "We need to deal with her," and by her Lilly clearly means Dara. "Waiting. Playing the defensive game she has backed us into... It is not working. I am not going to sit around and wait for more attacks. We need to move. If anyone has ideas on how we go about doing that, I am ready to listen."

"We'll get to that in a minute, Lilly, but rest assured there will be at least a recon expedition to get to Ygg before Dara. Dara could be back there by Parting the Veil already--that's how we'll go--but she's got to think about how to accommodate Meg. Borel isn't exactly hospitable to people from this side of Ygg. And Dad didn't say Meg took the walk, so she's not protected." Martin's eyes stray to Tomat for a moment.

"I can send you to Ygg," Ambrose offers.

"I may take you up on that," Martin replies. "But first I've got family news of my own--and I haven't forgotten about yours, either, Marius. And Signy."

He takes a breath in and lets it out. "I don't know an easy way to tell this story. You all know Jovian went to the Isles--Gerard's home--to help out with the war effort there. Huon seems to have gone through there with cannon. Somehow in the fighting, Canareth was killed. It's driven Jovian mad."

"Huon did that," Brennan says, in a flat voice. "I see." Then he visibly puts that train of thought to one side.

Brita's eyes close and her head dips at the news. Her stance becomes tense for a moment as if she is holding something back. The internal battle appears to be won quickly, however. Her eyes open and they are like hard, glittering emeralds.

Marius glances at Brennan and Lilly. "Three to go," is all he says.

Lilly nods. Exactly her thought. The Ruby Order seems to have something of a curse. Too bad she does not believe in that sort of thing. Not yet, anyway.

One single tear forms in Ossian's left eye. He stays quiet, but picks out a simple sketch book and a pen from his pocket, and starts sketching.

"Lilly," he says, "You never explained your comments about Dara and your foster mother. I think now is the time. Whatever this business is, let's not get blindsided by it later."

She nods but allows him to continue. Now might be the appropriate time but she needs to decide what should be said. There are too many unknowns in this group.

Turning to Martin, Brennan also says, "This was a pre-planned operation, sounds like. They knew who they were looking for, and unless they were luckier than they had any right to be, they had a sound tactical plan-- Cleph as initial distraction, Dara coming from behind to the real target. Would you put that much effort into a snatch-and-grab, against four Family members, without also having planned for success? What am I missing?" He widens his attention to the whole group, then, "Naively, it seems as though they should already have been able to be at the Tree and past it. In any other company, this would sound like a stupid question, but since there are multiple Sorcerers in the room, I'll ask it anyway: Can we get the Tree before they do?" He considers asking another question, directly to Martin, but decides he doesn't want the answer just yet, and remains silent.

Ossian waits. He feels a bit out of his element.

Brita thinks on the matter, but does not voice an opinion yet, waiting for more knowledgeable voices to speak first.

Signy waits quietly next to Brother Tomat. She curiously scans the surroundings, and tries to follow the conversations as best she can.

Marius pauses. "If they're so well organized, we need to have more than simply a response. I think Lilly has a point in pursuing this. We need to act."

Again, Lilly nods. Sooner is better then later. Meg's life could depend upon their speed. Still, best to not rush. Mistakes must not be made.

He tilts his head, curiously. "What would they be doing to... Meg? I have a horrendous imagination but little experience to validate any of the scenarios."

Lilly visibly shudders. "If she is Dara's daughter, it might not be awful," she offers but does not sound at all convinced. "It depends upon what they want from her I suppose. If they want allegiance and to turn her against the Ordered side of the family, they may try gentler methods of persuasion first."

She takes a deep breath. "As Brennan alluded to earlier, I believe Dara has taken steps to poison my foster mother. She left a trail that was perhaps a bit too easy to follow. Now, this may be construed as a set-up. Someone could be trying to simply make it look as if Dara had a hand in this but I have no way of proving that. I do know the substances used have no known cure in the shadows near my home. I also know a women who gave me nothing but love and kindness when I scarcely deserved such is dying a long, extremely painful death. I really need little more reason then that to seek revenge," Lilly rarely fills with emotion but she seems on the verge of tears. "And yes, I do realize this could be a trap. Especially now. Remember I am of Dara's line as well. For that reason, I need to turn the tables as much as possible and put at least part of this situation within my control."

Martin puts up a hand. "Let's hold horses, everybody. We have a lot of questions here, and not enough answers."

With a certain amount of impatience, Martin reminds the group, "We can get to the Tree fast because we have access to sorcery. Since we have at least two sorcerers who've been on the other side in the room, we can simply have someone Part the Veil to get there."

This reminder seems to relieve Lilly a bit. She knows it would be near suicide to go after Dara alone. Knowing she will or at least should have the company of one or more cousins is somehow comforting (in spite of her usual desire for solitude). Having someone who compliments her, whose strengths make up for her weaknesses, that would be ideal. As the thought crosses her mind, she finds herself looking towards Ossian.

Turning back to Marius, Martin continues, "We don't know what she's doing to Meg. I'm sure we've all got worst-case scenarios. Mine involve things we need to warn Dad and Corwin about, just in case. But if Dara's got some use for her, either she has to keep Meg on this side of the tree or set up a protected environment in Borel for her. The easiest way for Dara to protect Meg is to stay with her all the time, and I can't see Dara doing that. So she may still be on this side. Probably is, in fact. But that doesn't mean a recon mission to Borel is a bad thing--especially not with Lilly's news." He glances sympathetically at Lilly.

Brennan looks dubious about something in Martin's statements-- some will recognize his expression as one he wears when he knows someone is operating off incomplete information, he's just not sure who-- but he chooses not to press ti at this time.

"The other option I see is some sorcerous method of tracking Meg down. We've got the resources here to try that--" Martin gestures at Ambrose and Fiona "--but I think that's a separate matter from immediate recon. Someone needs to take Signy and Tomat to see Dad so he can figure out what to do about them. And then there's all that other business that people were taking care of before we all got sidetracked by this."

As Martin trails off, Signy focuses on him. "Who is 'Dad'? And will I have any say in 'what to do' about me?" Her voice is quiet as she asks Martin this, though her gaze is direct and unflinching. "I don't know who this 'Dara' is, or much about the things you've discussed, but if you have a need of sorcerors, Lilly and Marius can attest that I am not unskilled there."

Ossian looks up from his sketching. "Random is the king. He has a history of being nice to most new arrivals." Then he shrugs, looking at Ambrose "We are still know very little about Huon's role. Remember we do have his Trump."

Ambrose nods and touches his vest, which is probably where his Trumps are.

"What more do we know about Huon? Anything?" Lilly asks. "Even minute details might be important." Patience, she reminds herself. Answers first. Actions later.

At the same time, Brennan says, "...Which he'd probably be extremely surprised about, if anyone used it. It's a surprise that only works once, so I tend to favor keeping it in our back pocket, for the moment. What about you?" That's a plural 'you,' as Brennan focusses on the set of all Redheads younger than himself present in the room. "His guns? His plans? His motives? His direction? Other than 'Straight through the Isles.'"

"I was able to Find a Broken Weapon and the Samples of the Rifle Powder which I Passed to My Mother. Of Uncle Huon's Intentions, I know Little. Cousin Meg and Cousin Ossian Spoke with My Brother and Cousin Merlin before We Left Shadow Abford. Cousin Meg Mentioned that Uncle Huon had Collected a Dark Pearl Bracelet and Given it to Cousin Celina. It had something to do with Cousin Meg's Family."

Martin nods once, but doesn't interrupt. Instead he waits for the answers from Ambrose and Ossian.

Fiona says to Brennan, "I have the samples here," and gestures to the youngsters to continue.

Ambrose says, "I can only speculate beyond what's already been said. And of course, I didn't speak to Merlin."

Ossian closes his shetch book for a moment, and starts ticking off facts on his fingers. "Let's see what we know. Huon presumably does not like Bleys. On the other hand he was seemingly nice to Merlin and Celina. The bracelet he purchased for Celina, was given to the orphanage by whoever placed Meg there.

"He has guns, and conciously left some of them around Abford, tipping the local power balance. He's probably heading for Rebma in 'personal business'.

"And my grandfather kept a Trump of him. Maybe he thought the picture was pretty." The last is said with a slight tone of sarcasm.

Signy frowns at the lack of reply from Martin, but otherwise doesn't comment.

"Bits and pieces. Fragments of a man. Certainly there is knowledge to be gained from all of that, but not nearly enough," Lilly says. He is not much different from us, she decides but keeps that conclusion to herself. "We need a plan. They are organized and I think it is time for us to mimic that approach. I had thought to go after Dara alone but thinking on it, that is incredibly foolish." She shrugs and a vague smile comes to her lips. Lilly can accept her youth... sometimes. "It's also clear that targeting just Dara is not enough. We need to keep the larger picture in mind."

If the samples that Fiona mentions are present, Brennan ambles over and inspects them. If they're remotely familiar-- and Brennan, unsurprisingly, is familiar with a frightening array of military hardware-- he inspects the rifle as a whole, field strips it with eerie precision, inspects the individual parts, practically turns the device inside out, then reassembles it while everyone else is talking. What conclusions can he draw about what he sees?

[They are not present. This is a high-tech medical/biological lab, as mentioned previously in the thread. Fiona doesn't keep powder weapons in the same lab.]

Looking up from the rifle, turning back to the group, he says, "Lilly is right. We have two big issues under discussion right here, Dara and Huon, and a third-- the Dragon-- to keep in mind." He stands as if expecting to be the nucleus of a separate conversation. "On the subject of Dara, I'm still not clear on why we think Dara has not prepared Borel in advance for Meg. Anyone?"

Marius frowns. "Are we so certain these three issues are unconnected? If Huon was the Horn that sounded in Mistress' Carper's world, could it not have been related to Dara then?"

This time Martin wears the look that says someone missed something. "Dara and Borel couldn't manage that for Merlin, not over time. We have no reason to think that Dara has significantly advanced her skills with Order since then. In fact, every time we've seen or heard of her doing something, she's used sorcery."

Brennan listens, fits that piece of information together with a few others, and nods. "Interesting. Understood."

"But be that as it may, we have four choices for Dara: Try to figure out where on this side she's taken Meg." He looks at Ambrose and Brita, and adds, "You have some special insight on that, I think." Continuing, "Try to get to the Tree before they do, if that's a well-formed plan." He looks at Fiona, specifically, for guidance, "Can the Tree be used as Ambush?" Continuing again, "Exploit Dara's absence from Borel to scout there in force," he nods to Martin. "Which seems rather impetuous, if she is already back there at the seat of her power. Or, fourth, do nothing. Before we even worry about pinpointing her location, can we say with confidence that she is on this side of the Tree?" The question is addressed to everyone who is still listening to him, but is pitched directly to the Sorcerers in the group.

"World-Hub Yggdrasil - Ygg - is Large enough to be Home to Dragon Nidgogg, so an Ambush is Always Possible." Brita glances at Ambrose and her Mother, then back to Brennan. "I have been Able to Search One Shadow for one who was of Reality and Briefly Scent the Trail of Amber's Blood through Multiple Shadows. I was Not Able to See Much through the Rift Dara used to Snatch Cousin Meg. I am Unsure if I Know Where to Begin." She holds out her hands and her jaw clenches so that her next words are rather clipped. "The Blood from our Cousin was Washed Away in the waters. Cousin Meg did not Have Much with her; but when Ship Skidbladnir was Folded, Anything she Left Behind would have been Contained in the Ship." She takes a small, wooden box out of one pocket and holds it up.

[1. I just reread the post when Meg got snatched and realized Brita did know who snatched her. "unknown assailant" in previous posts would be Dara. 2. Can the GMs clarify if Brita was able to see anything through the Rift cleph came through or that Dara hauled Meg through?]

[Not clearly enough to know where they went. Probably it wasn't Chaos, because that would take a lot of power.]

Ossian stays quiet, again scratching in his sketch book.

Lilly has fallen silent as well. In fact, though she is definitely listening, her eyes have settled on Ossian. His activities have apparently captured her interest.

Signy glances at Tomat briefly, to see if he's following the conversation any, before continuing to look at the new members of her extended family and follow the conversation as best she can.

Marius says in an undertone to Signy, "Two of the three are family, at least one from The Other Side. The Dragon is something disturbing that we locked away, but in destroying the lock we've stirred it up again." He smiles. "The family tree is entwined upon itself, and some portions of it, if not pruned, will choke the life of the main. Tomat and yourself may follow Brennan's needs better. I may be the only one without access or knowledge save theory of the manipulator's arts."

Fiona has been considering the answer to Brennan's question. "If Dara is planning to pass by Ygg, I believe she will have to pass by anyone who is there. Ambushing her may be another story. She may understand enough of the metaphysics to realize that she's being drawn to a particular Ygg instead of the general Ygg. Or she may not. Mother never thought much of her capacity to learn such things."

"She's not that bright," Martin opines. "But she's vicious, like a snake. If we've got a way to locate her, we should do that next. Brita, can you manage that, you think?" He gestures to Signy and Ambrose. "What about you two?" To Fiona, Martin gives a glance that says he knows very well she can, and isn't about to waste his breath asking.

"Unless somebody else has a better idea," he concludes.

Brennan's idea is already on the table; its advantages and disadvantages are easy for anyone to figure out. He watches the group with genuine curiosity to see what the other ideas are, and what they have going for them... while silently teasing out the various inferences of what Fiona just told him.

Signy mulls over Martin's implied question for a moment, before giving a shake of her head. "My talents are not in that area, I'm afraid."

Brita says, "I can Attempt a Location Spell, but I will Need Water - to Open Ship Skidbladnir," Brita glances at Fiona and then Ambrose, "And Assistance."

Ambrose moves a little closer to Brita.

"Heh. I don't think I'm of much help. Unless I can draw a sketch of Meg." Ossian muses. If Lilly manages to look on his sketch pad he's currently drawing a dragon in full flight, much resembling Canareth, but subtly more fragile and graceful.

Marius shrugs. "I am brawn, not brain on this one," he says. "I only suspect the possibilities, not predict. If Mistress Carper was intended to be harmed, she would be dead rather than kidnapped. Therefore, she is either a hostage, in which point someone will be contacted on it, giving us an ambush point, food, at which point she may be as good as dead as she'll have been made affine, or convert of another form. We seem to be going with hostage: I would wonder who will be contacted for her."

Martin shakes his head. "Dara has few virtues, but one of them is that, in her own twisted way, she loves Merlin. It's _how_ she loves him that's always been the problem, and that's what scares me for Meg.

"I think we've taken theoretical discussion as far as we can. I'm following Dara one way or the other--that's my warrant--and, Lilly, I'm guessing you're with me. Brita, if we can set this up, I'd like you, too. I'll need to contact Dad--" he takes a moment to look at Signy, and adds for her benefit, "--King Random, and let him know what's going on. If somebody wants to try Merlin and fill him in and get more about this Huon thing while I do that, I've got his trump."

Brita nods in response to Martin's invitation.

Upon mention of her name, Lilly nods. It would be nice to have time to discuss certain matters with the King. A fancy new sword would be an advantage, no doubt. Unfortunately, time must be a consideration. At the moment, Lilly feels the need to act promptly. Martin's company should make up for lack of a new toy.

He looks over at Marius. "If you want to take Signy to Xanadu, I can send you through. Or anybody else who needs a quick ride back." He turns to Fiona and adds, "I appreciate the loan of your laboratory for this impromptu family meeting."

Marius' smile twitches, but he'll nod briefly. He glances at Fiona as well, following Martin's look, then back to his sister. He then moves away from Signy to give her space with Tomat, covering it by looking to see if Martin has pulled out a trump of Random (he gave his to Signy) or if there's a new Trump of Xanadu happening, or just what Martin's got available.

Tomat catches Signy's eye and gestures slightly with his head, as if to suggest they move off and speak privately.

"Oh, there is one more piece of family news," Martin says, as if it's an afterthought. "Some of you may not have heard yet. Folly and I are expecting. And Dad's throwing a wedding for us."

It's the last sentence that makes Marius chuckle aloud. Otherwise, he's trying hard not to offer anything but his usual sardonic expression.

"Then We will Ensure Your Safe Return for Cousin Folly," Brita notes. "Congratulations." [Brita is prepared to leave the laboratory after ensuring with her mother that there is a body of water to open Skidbladnir.]

Signy makes no outward sign, but shifts over close to Tomat. "Yes?" she murmurs, barely audible.

"We need to talk privately," Tomat murmurs, at about the same volume.

Ossian's face twists between several expressions when he hears about the wedding. In the end he grins and exclaims "That's splendid news!

"I'll talk to Merlin." he adds.

Brennan raises an eyebrow at Martin's last piece of news and, matching his tone nicely, says, "Congratulations. Don't get killed, now." But, for a rarity, he wears a small smile when he says it.

Lilly's smile matches Brennan's. She says, "Congratulations" but it sounds much more like, "Better you then me."

"Martin has a knack for not getting killed," Fiona says pleasantly. "Congratulations, nephew. I'm sure Random is pleased to have secured his line so quickly and thoroughly."

There's a flash of something that looks like Martin bit into an apple and found a worm in it, but he says only, "Thanks. I appreciate the good wishes, all of you." He's already shuffling out Merlin's card, which he hands to Ossian.

"If you'd like privacy for your calls, I can arrange it," Fiona offers.


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Last modified: 7 July 2007