At some point during their rounds, Vent the Steward encounters a decidedly confused -- if not mortified -- young page. In harried words, they explain that quote... 'a strangely garbed and oddly speaking Royal' was causing some commotion on the grounds. While details were sketchy, the Royal Daughter had unceremoniously raided the kitchen for noodles, beer, and pastries and then dashed off. She was currently dining atop a nearby roof-top and singing songs of dubious origins and taste.
Finally, she'd apparently claimed said roof-top -- if the page wasn't mistaken -- as 'her once and future rookery, claimed in the name of Corvid Kind and Finder's Keepers.'
Though this report seemed somewhat dubious, Vent soon discovers a young woman stretched out atop one of the palace roof-tops, surrounded by precariously perched bowls and bottles. She doesn't seem to notice Vent's approach, continuing to deny both gravity and propriety.
As he draws closer, Vent realizes that she's removed her footwear and socks, lifting her lanky legs high in the air, as if to catch the occasional hint of mist from the distant waterfall. Her painted toes wiggle in time to the rock-loud beat of her song:
"We can see your underwear from down here,
I'm not even gonna lie,
Baby, this I can't deny,
We can see your underwear from down here!"
She begins mimicking the song's wicked fast guitar solo, legs cartwheeling in time, lost to the music. How she doesn't plummet to injury and death is a question for the ages.
Vent has dealt with the King long enough that even though he's almost certainly infuriated by all this, he has his game face on. He comes out to a balcony below, which may or may not be the one from which Tricksey emerged and climbed onto the red-tiled roof, and clears his throat loudly, finally giving up and calling "YOUR LADYSHIP!" when he realizes that's what it's going to take to get her attention.
When she does finally stop, Vent, who looks like he might have been a soldier or at least a quartermaster in a previous life before he retired to stewarding, says, "I am Vent, the steward of this castle under King Random. I understand your ladyship is in need of a room, presumably one with roof access."
For a moment, Tricksey continues singing and air-dancing, lost in the rhythm. A voice cuts through her reverie, distracting her. She blinks. She pauses. She ponders. And then realizes, they're talking to me! How bizarre.
She deftly scoots down the tiles, twisting around, and draping herself over the roof's edge. Hair obscures much of her face, framing it in dark and colorful locks. Only her nose is visible, wrinkling in confusion. "Vent speak to Crow Girl? But she find nest. Nice breeze. Thank you. Very good. Tricksey happy. Carry on, Good Sir-Vent-Sir! Chip-chip-cheer-eo and eh what now!"
She begins to slowly retreat, believing the matter is resolved.
Vent clears his throat. "Your ladyship, King Random has asked that I assign you a room, not a roof. Also you will need a page or two to see to your needs and some new clothing. While we can in fact see your underclothes from here, you may prefer to replace them before they rot."
Tricksey return-scooches to the roof's edge, hanging over even further. Her eyebrow raises in an amagilation of dubiousness and curiosity. "Ladyship. You are talking to Crow Girl? Heh. Not need foxy titles. Am Tricksey. And so we is."
She grips the roof's edge, arches up, tensing like a spring, With cat-like speed and grave, she jumps, swinging her legs around and forward, letting gravity do the rest. She's parkoured off skyscrapers, so a narrow balcony is nothing to her. Still, for the casual observer, it's mildly heartstopping and most assuredly unladylike.
After rolling forward and up through the landing, she pauses to readjust her clothes. "King want Tricksey in different room? And have people? Servant people? Why Crow Girl need people? She fetch what she need. Taken shinies all her life. No pages needed eh-what-balderdash-my-the-cheek!"
"His Majesty has asked me to assign a room to you and pages to perform your errands. Or possibly to assist you in acclimating yourself to the ways things are done in Xanadu. You will certainly need clothes, Lady Trixie, because the sort of fabrics you're wearing will, after a certain period, wear out. And in Xanadu that will be faster than you expect. So if nothing else, you will need a room to keep clothing that is made for you in it, and someone to care for that clothing," Vent explains.
He's a big man, and pale with white hair, but a bit red around the cheeks and the tops of his ears, quite possibly from irritation.
Tricksey puts her fists on her hips, appearing decidedly put out. "Crow Girl is De'Marquette-Potentate-High-Faluttin' TRICK-sey, "Lady Tixie" is Drag Queen. Easy confuse. Same fashion sense."
She begins circling Vent, looking up at him over her nose, as if she's wearing invisible spectacles. A machine-gun chatter of questions is unleashed, "Where clothing come from? Who decide what wear? Crow Girl or Vent? Pages do things for me? Why? Not high-roller. Or maybe we are? Will room have more stabbies? And noodles? And pony?"
Pausing, Tricksey touches her chin, abruptly mindful. "People will serve Tricksey? But Crow Girl serve people. She not order pages or books or otherwise. Might feel guilty. Verklempt even." And then, with a shrug, she just walks off.
Only to stop and turn her head, giving Vent a flummoxed look, "Tricksey room now?"
"I have one available," Vent says, leaping on her momentary acquiescence. "I can show it to you right now." He starts to move off, back through the balcony doors and into the castle, watching to see if she follows.
[If she does not follow, he pauses in the doorway]
"Noodles can be arranged; weapons are usually kept in the salle or the armory, since few people have the honor of bearing arms before the King. I wasn't told you were a member of a martial order, Lady Trixie," and this time he emphasizes the R, "but if I am incorrect, I'll make the proper arrangements. And the pages are to fetch things, like noodles, and to assist you with anything you need, like finding your way around the castle or sending messages to the tailor.
"Clothes in Xanadu are individually tailored. Foreign wear is more stable here than it was in Amber, but certain materials, like polly-ester and spanned-eks, are prone to disintegrate over time. So local materials are preferred."
And in fact, now that Tricksey thinks about it, for all that a lot of furniture in this place has that Scan Design look to it, there's no plastic, no technical fabrics, and the wood doesn't look to be reprocessed pulp with grain finish. It's all wood, fiber from plants and animals, or leather and furs.
Also this place, for all that it seems New to Tricksey's senses, is also Deep, like a well. The scent of life, the undertone of Reality, it's all part of that.
Having fallen in behind him, Tricksey listens in uncharacteristic silence. Time to hear and learn. This new sense of Realism is drawing her attention. The naturalistic and organic design of items is definitely disconcerting. Something she's not experienced since childhood. The contrast between this and Tyrell is staggering. She's not sure if she likes it just yet. Time will tell.
"Use stabby," she says. "Edan train. May want more. Crow Girl also like books. And pillows. She choose furniture? Have computers here? Or all medieval? High up? Roof access? And spray paint. Need tagging."
She quickens her pace, "Did Father have room here? Or he before Xanadu?"
Having fallen in behind him, Tricksey listens in uncharacteristic silence. Time to hear and learn. This new sense of Realism is drawing her attention. The naturalistic and organic design of items is definitely disconcerting. Something she's not experienced since childhood. The contrast between this and Tyrell is staggering. She's not sure if she likes it just yet. Time will tell.
"Use stabby," she says. "Edan train. May want more. Crow Girl also like books. And pillows. She choose furniture? Have computers here? Or all medieval? High up? Roof access? And spray paint. Need tagging."
She quickens her pace, "Did Father have room here? Or he before Xanadu?"
Vent is relaxing a little now that Tricksey is following him.
"We don't have computers in Xanadu," he says, pronouncing the word as if he doesn't quite know what it means.
Which is a bit odd to Tricksey, now that she thinks about it, because they have lights that are either electric or some kind of equivalent technology.
"We'll arrange for a page with weapons expertise for you, and access to the salle and the armory. And the room will be furnished with basic furnishings like a bed, a chair, a desk, but just as with your clothes, you'll be able to choose or ask for things you want. If you have colors, as many of the family do, you can decorate with them, or you can show off things you've brought from Shadow."
At the mention of spray paint, Tricksey can hear Vent sniff. "We don't have spray paint either."
"Your father was Prince Julian's son Daeon, I believe? He was never resident here. He preferred to remain in Arden and its near Shadows, one of which was his home."
The room ahead is a portrait gallery and there are people in it, including cousins Brita and Jerod. Vent goes right in.
Jerod waits patiently for Brita to be available, motioning for Kimiko and Cordelia as well. Since Jerod has been absent from Xanadu while Misao has been around, he will rely on either Brita, or one of the "ubiquitous in Shadow" castle pages to guide the way.
As Brita follows Kimiko into the hall, she is talking to Conner. "Well, Brother, Should I Call Again once We Have Done the King's Bidding?"
Conner nods. "Just as well I was in the background. This saves the need to tell of all this later. Best of luck with our newest guest."
Brita gives him a quiet "Stay Safe, Brother" and then ends the connection, returning the card to her deck and stowing it back in an inner jacket pocket.
At the same time, Jerod also uses two other pages for additional work. One for the King's steward to arrange quarters for Cordelia, the other for Carina, assuming she is in Xanadu, that he has returned.
The pages arrange for the messages to be sent, and ask if they should wait for an answer from either?
For the page to Vent, Jerod will indicate that no response is required and the page can tell him that Jerod trusts him to make the appropriate arrangements and get back to them in due time.
The page to Carina is advised to wait for a response (as if anything else would be acceptable).
Kim waits patiently, pointedly not making smalltalk. A page is available to lead them to Misao's quarters.
The route leads through the family wing of the castle. With so many people of rank, the page is careful and deliberate. She takes the main routes and comments on the path they are taking. This is the family wing, this is where the younger Lords have quarters, etc.
Once they are in the family quarters, they enter a gallery that is lined with portraits, several rows tall.
Cordelia looks up at one that is near the top of the wall. "Is that Lady Kimiko?"
It is indeed. Younger, perhaps, but not much younger.
While they are looking at the painting, Stewart Vent enters from a different passage, with Tricksey right behind him.
"...we there yet?" Tricksey says, skipping along. "Are we there yet? Wait... are we there yet?" Her playful grin is in complete contrast to Stewart Vent's 'restrained' expression.
Fashionably, she appears to be the result of a roadside collision between The Cure's tour bus and a My Pretty Pony cosplayer. A slash of violet-pink hair drapes over her left eye, slowly being reclaimed by its natural raven-black. Vibrant make-up paints her lips and outlines her other eye, juxtaposed against her pale skin. Her fingerless-gloved hands are held behind her back, adding to her psychotic, school-girl chiche.
Jerod takes a quick glance at the portrait of Kimiko, scanning its position relative to others to determine her position, background and any other associated linkages based on it. He also checks to determine if he can tell the artist from the style, particularly if it is Lucas.
The arrival of Vent however will prevent a very detailed examination, which can be done later. His tag-along is clearly from Shadow based on her clothing and appearance and probably a technological one as well...Jerod doesn't need Pattern to figure that out. The fact that she has Vent as an escort, or guide, means she's not unimportant... if she were, the King's man would not be with her.
He looks over at Brita and motions. "Anyone we know?"
Brita glances away from her own perusal of the paintings to note the newcomers. "Our Cousin Tricksey of Shadow Tyrell, Daughter of Cousin Daeon," she says as a smile blooms across her face. She calls out to Tricksey, "Well Met, Cousin Tricksey! This is our Cousin Jerod, His Daughter Cordelia, and Lady Kimiko-san, Mother to Our Cousin Misao." Brita gestures to each in turn. Then her smile widens, "Did Cousin Edan Find a Suitable Sword for You?"
At Brita's voice, Tricksey's face brightens even more. "Edan of the Rugged Chin give stabby! Show Crow Girl how to use. Have bruises. Can show later." It is undetermined if she means the sword or the bruises. Or both.
She prances over, performing a flourishing curtsey-bow-thingie, "Greetings and salivations. Is Crow Girl. Princess-Damn-Exquisiteness-Tsarina Tricksey." With Brita's introductions, her gaze drifts between the faces, nodding in turn. At Jerod, she overtly shivers, "Oooo-serious." At Cordelia, she shuffles her feet shyly, "Ooooo-beautiful." And, finally, she pauses upon seeing Lady Kimiko. A long pause.
Tricksey steps forward, ignoring all sense of personal space. Her head cocks back and forth, birdlike, curious. Her nose wrinkles, as if confused. Disappointed, maybe?
"Why you no have feathers now, momma?"
Brita's reaction to this is an obvious inhale which she appears to hold. She doesn't seem shocked by the revelation, just contemplative like she is savoring a fine wine, trying to suss out the more subtle flavors. When she finally exhales, she says "More Family Found, Cousin Tricksey! Congratulations!"
Tricksey's "inspection" of Jerod is met by an amused look, one he would normally give to Lark when she is on a tear. The revelation of Kimiko and Tricksey however does get an eyebrow raise.
As he watches the interaction between Tricksey and Kimiko, he leans over slightly to Brita. "And here I thought having a half-vampyr daughter was going to make for a really weird intro." he says quietly, before chuckling. "Nope, not at all."
Kimiko looks at Tricksey for a long moment. "I look as I choose to look. Did you ever learn to shift? You are an adult now, and I am here for your sibling, who is still a child. I am pleased to see your father got you to his people. He was in an unstable state when we parted, as our home was being assaulted by my enemies."
She doesn't seem to be expressing any kind of emotions, positive or negative.
Beyond checking the portrait (as mentioned previously), Jerod has nothing to say until this plays out.
The painting isn't it Lucas' style. It looks to be a court painter from a few centuries back. The paint may have been around here since then.
Tricksey straightens up, "Misao Crow Girl's sibling? Must meet. Where at?" She twirls, almost childlike in her unrestrained joy. "No shift. But Bird Talk. And Stone Talk. Tricksey collect Memories, momma. And protect chicks like taught. Learn fight. And pew-pew. Kill many Foxes." The twirl halts abruptly; a ballerina frozen in space, as the music runs down. She hangs there for a moment. And then slowly deflates, curling in on herself, like burnt paper.
"Papa gone," she says. "Not see after Streets. Dragon took him. We honor soon? Good see you. Thought gone too."
Her gaze briefly shifts to Cordelia, to whom she waggles her fingers, smiling shyly... and then right back to her mother.
A page arrives and speaks to Vent. He gestures her towards the door, where she stands waiting. "Prince Jerod, the page has a request from your Cousin Hannah, when you have a second to attend her."
"Of course Vent." Jerod says.
Kimiko watches this impassively, waiting for Tricksey to wind down.
She turns to Brita and Jerod, frowning. "And where is Jethro, her father? Did he just abandon her to go running naked through the woods?"
Tricksey flinches. As she realizes her mother's misunderstanding, her hands begin to flutter like wounded sparrows. "Momma. He gone-gone. Papa died. Protecting people. As is the way. His way. Our... way."
She glances over at Brita, shrugging nervously. Her hands fall to her sides, still once more. "Why he left Crow Girl in Tyrell," she says, more to herself than anyone present.
Brita nods in agreement and support, "He Left You as A Protector."
Jerod recognizes the name but does not immediately respond to Kimiko. Given the request from the page, Hannah would most likely be looking for information on her new patient, something unrelated to general medical knowledge given her considerable skill in that field. That bears some attention then.
He turns to Brita. "Going to find out what Hannah needs. Probably about Chew." he says. "You need anything, let me know."
Brita nods in understanding. She turns to Kimiko, but still including Tricksey. "Would You Like to Continue to My Cousin Misao's Chambers? Cousin Jerod Must ensure our Captive Remains Captive."
Once that is settled, he turns and motions for Cordelia and he moves slightly of the range of Brita and company so they can continue their discussion uninterrupted while talks briefly to Vent. He introduces Cordelia as his daughter, advises that she'll need quarters and nods to Vent in a way that he'll recognize Vent is probably getting more requests for quarters for new family than he can shake a stick at. Jerod won't apologize for asking of course, but he is sympathetic to another request being loaded onto Vent.
After that, Jerod heads over to the page to find out what Hannah wants.
Kim notices the picture of herself for the first time and looks at it. "Jethro was, in his other aspects, a fertility god. While I do not doubt his sacrifice, I would not be surprised to see him again, despite dying;."
Kim bows towards Tricksey and Brita. "Ladies, if you will excuse, me, I was being shown to Misao's quarters."
Tricksey bows in kind, 'Of course, momma. Tricksey finding room. Not allowed on roof. Very odd. But respect King." She arches her back like a cat, "Then walk Pattern. After noodles. We talk more soon. Many stories to give."
And then, it is as if she forgets her mother is there. Instead, she looks over at Brita. "Crow Girl need favor. Trump-box-thingie. Where? Should tell grandpa we both here."
Brita gives Tricksey the appropriate directions and notes, "Any Castle Page could Guide you There. You should Request a Room on the Waterfall Side - Many have Balconies which will Give You Outside Access Even if it Is Not a Roof."
She then turns back to Kimiko, bows, and says, "We Can Continue to Cousin Misao's Rooms." She smiles at Tricksey and proceeds to lead the way.
Tricksey returns to the hall, wringing her hands together. "Momma alive," she says aloud. "Crow Girl have sibling too. Happy family." The last she says without conviction.
She turns to Vent, "Waterslide. Brita say there waterslide. Want room near that."
A deep sigh and then the bemused expression returns, as if nothing earth shattering happened in the past few moments. "Why no spray paint? What tronics you have? Will Crow Girl really be nakkid soon? What cloth no disappear?"
"Hmmm? I don't know what tronics are. Your clothes will rip and stress very quickly and will be difficult to wash without being damaged. But do not fear. We can provide clothes and a seamstress to take your measurements and provide you with something more likely to last.
He leads on, ignoring the waterslide comment.
"We do not wear woolen clothes here as we did in Amber, Lady, but we do have both those and linen cloths. Some even prefer cotton fibers for coolness, or silk. You can choose what suits you. Your Lady-Mother was wearing an exquisite silk robe, which if you prefer that style we can arrange to procure."
"Ewww...wool. Itchy sheeps. Glad change," she says.
Tricksey taps her chin, thoughtful. "Momma elegant. Tricksey is Crow Girl. So not enough buckles. Or pockets. Or skin." She shakes her head, "No. Crow Girl draw dress. Teach seamstress what like. And need." A pause. Then, in a serious tone, "Band shirts here? Need merch."
She resumes her prancing circle of Vent as he walks, "What Tricksey pay with, though? If no steal creds, how buy clothes? Tanstaafl."
Vent frowns, thinking about how to express a good answer. "The King pays, and you pay the king by working with him to serve the Kingdom. There is, I understand, usually a royal allowance associated here in Xanadu, or you get bills from the city sent to the castle. I don't know how it works outside Xanadu."
From his expression he has no idea what band merch is.
Tricksey stops dead in the hallway, as if running into an invisible wall. She gazes at Vent with perplexed wonderment. "King pay bills? Allowance? We work for him? So, he crime boss. Or CEO? You rub his back, he rub yours? Deal you can't refuse?"
She shrugs her shoulders, "Not understand royals. Live on street. Easier stealing from rich. Now work with rich. Tricksey confused. Morally verklempt."
With another shrug, she resumes her pace, "You family, Ventricle? Fourth cousin removed?"
"No," Vent says, sounding equally confused. "I was a citizen of Amber, and am now a citizen of Xanadu. I don't have any of the Royal gifts."
They climb up a stairway and Vent finally stops and opens a door. It's not locked, not even with an old-fashioned physical lock, and he shows her in. "This will be your suite."
It's two rooms plus a bathroom. The bathroom is super old-fashioned, with a shower and tub, all fixtures porcelain and metal, separate taps for hot and cold water. The bed is sized for two, made up with natural fabrics in sheet and blanket and the pillow looks funny to Tricksey, which she later realizes is, again, actual feather pillow. The bed, the nightstand, and the tables and chairs in the outer room are all made of light wood. Actual wood, when Tricksey touches it, not MDF or recycled particle board.
In Tyrell, you couldn't get a place like this. Not with virgin wood, no plastic, no recycled materials. This is the kind of luxury only the wealthiest have, but as far as Tricksey can tell from wandering around the castle, it's normal here.
Tricksey pauses at the doorway, shaking her head. "No, no," she says. "Must be wrong. Too big. Too much."
She looks at Vent for confirmation, shocked to find it there. This ~is~ the Crow Girl's room. Where has she found herself? Is she really a princess? A disbelieving laugh escapes her painted lips.
Hesitantly, she wanders through it, lightly touching items, exploring the shape and breadth of this space. She searches for traces lingering here, be it of former occupants, servants, or craftsmen, getting a taste of the room's memories. Does the space already have a story? Or has it been waiting for her to create one? Either way, she must make friends with this new... home.
Home. Such a fragile word. And, considering her mother's dismissal, even more so now.
Tricksey drifts towards the balcony, pulling back the curtains to reveal the grand open world beyond. The perfect roost from which to climb, to run, to fly. Already, a line of black birds has formed along the metal railing, silently staring. They cock their heads in unison, as if waiting for her to speak.
She turns, bowing to Vent. "Yes. Crow Girl accept. Domo arigato gozaimasu."
"Your ladyship is welcome," Vent says, which is a pattern he's clearly more familiar with and comfortable with. "If there is nothing else, I'll make the arrangements for the tailor to join you so you can be measured for new clothes."
This room is new. No one has lived here before. It's as if this place was made for someone and was waiting for them to complete it. Maybe it was magically conjured just like this! Or made by a replicator. But it has no story other than what Tricksey brings to it. Its story begins here, with her.
The balcony is to the side of the building, but Tricksey's room is near the front of the castle so that the side of the balcony sees the waters below.
Tricksey glances up from her tour of the room. The lack of memories is another oddity. Tyrell was built on concrete and memories, layers upon layers of lives stacked upon one another. Many times, it felt overwhelming. Even the house on Earth possessed more ghostly thoughts, lingering like an old scent. In contrast, this feels... sterile and disconcerting. The Crow Girl must change this soon.
She jerks a nod to Vent. "Crow Girl wait for tailor. Please send more noodles. And paint. Many colors. Paper. Water color. Vellum. Cardboard."
So saying she drifts away to the balcony to greet her new siblings. She pauses, turning her head. "And seed. Tricksey has guests."
"Of course," Vent says, and bows and leaves.
Tricksey will receive noodles and seeds in the near term. Noodles here are spiced differently to what they serve in Tyrell, but they're still good. Art supplies here will come later but they are very good quality and probably expensive, and not in small supply. Tricksey will figure out later that the castle has these supplies for manuscripts and for Trump creation.
Rowen, Hannah, and the perhaps-not-as-unconscious-as-all-that Chew head out, arriving in the hallway just as Jerod and Kim are leaving. The pages send a runner ahead to Doctor Suon to tell him to prepare for a patient. A knight, wearing a red cloak, offers to accompany Hannah and Rowen, to guard Dr. Chew. He offers to carry the body, but Rowen thinks she'll be better suited to the task. He doesn't seem weak or unskilled, she's just better.
And, she's already carrying the body, so it just seemed more efficient for her to keep going, rather than finagle the limp weight onto someone else. As she walks, she admires his cloak, taking note of the livery and any markings on it, as this looks new and possibly different from the pages she saw earlier, however briefly.
The knight is from the Land of Peace, and accompanied the Madhi from there to this cold place. He finds it fascinating.
"Thank you sir. Rowen, does he do verbal magic? Is that why he's gagged?" Hannah asks.
As much as she can while carrying the man, Rowen offers a shrug. "They said we were going to capture a wizard. They didn't say what his methods were and I didn't see him do any actual magic. I'm not taking any chances," she announces with the conviction of certain set of opinions about wizards. "Jerod or Vere might know more. They were the ones who brought us in."
The guard follows along in silence, opening doors where needed. There are surprisingly few, but the infirmary is also surprisingly deep into the basements. At the bottom of a stairway, there are three doors. One is open, and Kyril and his niece are inside. The woman is standing beside a bed on wheels. She gestures towards it for Rowen to put down Chew.
The body is placed on the rollable bed. While Rowen isn't deliberately rough with it, nor gentle, the prisoner is treated with efficiency, not comfort.
Kyril looks at Chew, then at the knight in the riding hood. He begins to examine the body, talking as he does so. His niece takes notes and seems to be apprenticing as a healer, at least as near as Rowen can tell.
Kyril looks up. "Do we need to keep him restrained?" He turns to Chew. "We all know you're conscious."
Chew continues to play possum.
"We do not yet know if he can verbally magic. He'd be daft to try to fight in his current condition... but some people can do signing magic so..." Hannah shrugs. "I think he has to stay that way for now. I'll send a page to run back to Jerod - hopefully they can find him quickly. He'd be easier to treat without them. We're going to fix him up, clean him up, feed him... and see if he's smart enough to communicate with us frankly before the rest of the people who'd like to kill him or worse get here. The King is a pragmatic soul. Dr. Chew might earn his protection. By the way, doctor - I met this man in Tyrell City."
Hannah gestures between Rowen, the Knight, and the physicians. "This is Rowen. I'll introduce you all as soon as I'm certain that won't be communicating information our guest might use later. He already knows who I am."
In acknowledgment, Rowen smiles the smile of a kid who has been offered unlimited cake.
Hannah slips back into the hall and motions over a page. "I need either Jerod, Vere or Martin to give me or you a quick run down of our prisoner's capabilities. Jerod is in the palace, was leaving the throne room, just moments ago. I hope the other two will be in the throne room shortly, so get some help and please find us this information. Can he do magic verbally or physically? Is he safe enough to untie under guard? Oh, and if one of them wants to ask the questions, I only know a dozen to start with." Hannah slips the girl a coin with thanks before stepping back into the infirmary.
The page nods, and takes the coin and departs.
When Hannah returns, she finds Chew with the bandages around his head undone, giving access to the doctor and his niece to assess his injuries. Predominantly, they look to be Amberite-flavored blunt force trauma. Circling around them, trying best to keep out of the way, Rowen peeks into what they are doing.
Hannah doesn't care about keeping out of the way, but there are already doctors at work. She leans against the wall by the door. "Rowen, are you interested in physicing? Are you a healer among your folk?"
Rowen straightens and shakes her head. "I am not, beyond battlefield basics. I'm curious. The things you have here seem so much more complex." Perhaps she meant modern, if that word were in her vocabulary.
The medical team is working on the prisoner. Allie is a competent nurse, but her bedside manner is still that of Sergeant Alakana Suon, of The Pacifican Joint Reconnaissance Group. "People who pretend to be unconscious can't take pain meds, Doctor Chew. Open your eyes and say hello if you want something before we stitch you up."
"We're not as technologically advanced as the last place I knew Doctor Chew in. It may be he thinks we have some technology here that doesn't require him to be responsive for pain meds - but if we did, Prince Gerard and I would have never visited that place to begin with." Hannah winks at Rowen. There are needles aplenty around, so probably this isn't exactly true.
The door to the infirmary opens at that point, Jerod entering with Cordelia close behind. He takes a moment to scan the room, noting who is there and Chew's location. He whispers to Cordelia to keep an eye on him just in case Chew tries something foolish before Jerod heads over to Hannah.
Keeping to the background as much as Cordelia, Rowen takes a moment to consider Jerod's companion. She smells different, for sure.
"Cousin," he says. "I understand there's a question concerning Chew and whether he's too dangerous to release from bonds?"
"Jerod," Hannah says warmly and with a little relief. "Yes please. He was so well wrapped I decided to be cautious." She gives Cordelia a nod.
Jerod is not wearing his regular colours that Hannah would expect, nor is he armed similarly. He is carrying a short blade on each hip in slightly curved scabbards. The blades are not visible but if the silvered handles are any indication they would be both old and of exceptional craftsmanship. His clothing, a full length priest coat with a hood, is equally distinctive - from a distance it appears uniformly black but up close there are subtle variances to the garment that break up the black. The stitching, a dark purple threading, is detailed and fine like one would expect from precision sewing equipment, though it has the feel of being hand made.
"He's got magic but it's Shadow. He won't be able to do anything here. If he can light a flame on a candle that would be impressive. Not sure about his physical capabilities. I'm thinking he's no match for any of us but I've not sparred with him. He was trying not to get eaten by a giant wolf when I tapped him so I kinda took advantage of the situation." he says, smiling slightly.
This makes Hannah smile big.
"He'll need guards at all times. Partially to ensure he doesn't hurt anyone or escape, but also because he's Chew... and a lot of people want him dead in real unpleasant ways. But he's the King's prisoner, so the King's justice must prevail... whatever Random may decide that will be."
"Very well then. I have questions for him based off research Dr. Suon and I have been engaged in - do you know who else has questions best asked in the short term?"
"I have some, but they are not for him, and rudimentary. I'll observe," Rowen adds. If the man remains unresponsive, she'll give him a poke somewhere sensitive.
Chew opens his eyes. "I am awake, and can answer questions. What would you like to know?"
Jerod turns back from Hannah to look at Chew for a moment before walking over to survey him and his injuries. His expression is rather clinical as he speaks, taking into account the work that has been done to Chew and the injuries that were sustained.
Chew looks worse for the wear, but his injuries are not life-threatening.
"There will be a lot of questions but that will be for the future. I'm not going to bother with the usual bits about don't escape, don't lie, etc, etc. You either know that, or you'll figure it out the hard way. I'm also not going to bother threatening you...we'll get our answers. The process of how that happens is entirely up to you.
"I have three questions at the moment. One is about your transit points, the place trumps you use to travel. I want them all. The second, very important, is your knowledge of unaccounted for offspring. Be sure to know that refusing to answer that question in full will not go well. And I won't be the one you'll have to worry about.
"My most important question however is this. How did you know about her?" Jerod says, motioning Cordelia to come over.
Rowen takes closer note of Cordelia as she comes over, now that things have settled down enough to engage her usual curiosity. Casually, she removes a deck of cards and dances them between her fingers. Though it could be a show, she's clearly doing it mindlessly to occupy her hands.
Rowen thinks Cordelia smells wrong, like a magician smells wrong, but more like how a necromancer smells wrong.
Hannah glances at Cordelia but her main focus stays on Chew.
Chew nods and immediately regrets it.
"First, I have a book with my transit points in it. I do not know all chapters and what resources they have, just the ones I've visited or heard of.
"The Second and Third questions have the same answer. We have a trade in information and it's known that we seek information about people who are extraordinary, immortal, or who seem not of this world, in whatever world we are in. We are known to pay generously for that, and parsimoniously for less-valuable information.
"That is intentional. We investigate mostly false leads, but there are many of us, and we find some answers. In the case of that one, we didn't know for sure, but we suspected and moved her to Paris to keep an eye on her. Before that, a young woman of indeterminate age appeared to rural peasants in an elaborate tomb that they could not have created and started acting as a local goddess.
"Of course we took a look."
Jerod makes a mental note to review the trap of godhood with Cordelia...it is not a path he wants her traveling given how many have died following it. He looks at her briefly when the comment about acting like a goddess comes up, but he does not say anything to her. He also glances at Hannah in case she has any comments...she's the one family member present who knows the family histories well enough about godhood.
Hannah's eyes move from Jerod's worriedly to Cordelia, but she doesn't interrupt.
By contrast, Rowen smiles with amusement.
"The location of this book, and the tomb." Jerod says to Chew, awaiting the response before continuing.
"Who else did you tell about her." he asks. "We know the information was passed to another outside of your group....it's how we found her. So who else knew, what did they trade for that information, and why were they looking for it in the first place?"
Chew thinks. "We're not as monolithic and you seem to think. I am Protosyngellos of the order, which means I am often called upon to inform abbots of the archimandrite's will, and to pass along such missives as they see fit. I am often sent to where I can provide scientific or technical assistance.
"It's not safe to speak of projects outside our circles, and I regret that I am here as evidence of the truth of that rule."
Chew's voice is becoming stronger. He does wince as Allie dabs something on his head wound, but he doesn't complain. He's not a bad patient.
Jerod makes note of the titles and their religious aspects from his training in history and politics, before circling back to one of his questions even as he moves around Chew, circling him and observing him slowly.
"The book, and the tomb. Where?" he asks, his tone clear that he expects an answer and lack of cooperation would be...not violent...but would not be conducive to future survival prospects.
As he moves he looks at Hannah and Rowen, waiting to see if they have questions as well.
Rowen appears to be listening more than watching, while her hands fiddle with her cards. If he watches long enough, though, he'll see her gaze wandering around, taking in details of everything in the room. Yet, where questions are concerned, she offers little more than a nonchalant shrug.
Hannah has decided to let Jerod finish before she begins.
Chew stretches his back and twists in pain. "My book is likely at the monastery, assuming it is still intact. It's not personal, just the one I had on me when I arrived. It was in my pack in the room you found me in.
"I only recently heard about the tomb project. That was run out of Paris, and it sounded like they paid for their mistakes. They have local connections and are the parent chapter for all the Frankish lands. I think the tomb was somewhere south, before they moved it. I could find out for you, if you sent me to ask."
Jerod smiles, the smile of a shark. "Mmm...a most gracious offer, but I've no doubt the Paris prisoners will yield suitable information to answer any of my immediate questions. They were quite useful in helping us deal with the Orleans transfer point."
He appears to have been expecting a comment like the one Chew provided, or something similar...his expression one that could be interpreted that Chew has made an unfortunate choice. "In any event, I'm sure we'll have lots of opportunity to speak in the future.." he says, pausing, "...subject to King's mood of course. I will leave you to your physician's care."
He turns to the guard who has been hovering nearby and motions him over, speaking in a very matter of fact tone. "If he tries to escape, pick a body part and break it. Just don't kill him or make it so he can't answer questions. The King will have other instructions no doubt for his long term custody."
The guard nods, and looks at Chew. He doesn't seem to be very sympathetic to him.
Cordelia leans in towards Hannah and Rowen and speaks softly. "I know the answers to Father's questions, of course, but I want to see what this serial kidnapper has to say."
Once the guard is done receiving instruction Jerod heads over to the group. "That went about as expected." he says very quietly, his back to Chew as he looks at Hannah. "We're not going to get anything immediately out of him. We just set the tone for future conversations. He's had time to study us in detail so he has an advantage...he may be able to plan for how we'll respond, so we'll need to counter it by studying him. But a good interrogation takes time."
He pauses a moment to think. "I'll leave him with you. We'll want to heal him up and stick him somewhere he can't run from. Give him boundaries to not cross, ding him when he does, and he'll try for sure. He's not Family so he can't hang a curse over our heads as blackmail. And if he's indicted in Reid's death, he's hooped.
"Need to talk to Random about some stuff as well, and talking to Folly would probably be a good idea." and he looks at Cordelia. "And get you settled. It's only going to get busier...though you may get some trump travelling to do." and he smiles a bit.
"I'm not sure where I should go from here, and I could use some guidance," Rowen says, looking very much like someone ready to do something new. Cheerily, "Happy to find my way around, if I had some kind of token that would prevent your staff from throwing me out."
Cordelia laughs, lightly. "There's about three of us that are new today, not counting any that showed up before us. You, me, the one that wants to be a crow. If I wanted to invade this castle, I'd just show up with 20 weird women and say we were cousins."
Jerod chuckles. "That would be three others I helped rescue before we met you, one of whom is Crow girl's sibling Misao. As for invasions, remind me later and I'll tell you about Merlin's mom Dara and her castle invasion.
"Hannah, if there is anything you need, let me know." he says, before he heads out, taking whomever wants to tag along with him.
Brightly, Rowen cants her head toward Jerod, offers Hannah a smile, and follows him and Cordelia out of the infirmary.
Allie looks at the door, then back at the prisoner. "OK, Charlie, the officers are gone. Do you need any more patching up or should we just let you have a lie-down to recuperate?"
Kyril looks on and takes notes.
"I suspect I am out of danger from injuries taken before I was brought here. I intend to cooperate, if you are wondering."
"Oh, good. Tell us about the genetic research," Hannah says, and takes a seat.
"We want to know how you become as gods, and the difference between those of us who can activate the powers you possess and the ones who cannot," Chew tells her serenely for a guy who is at the mercy of his enemies. "Do you know?"
Hannah ignores that he thinks he can ask questions. "Was any of that knowledge applied?"
Chew seems neither surprised nor bothered that Hannah didn't answer his question. "I don't know what specifically you mean by that, but whatever criteria you're using, the answer is probably yes. Do you have a specific application in mind that you'd like to talk about?"
"Let's being with Gerard Barimen's DNA profile. What did you learn from it?" she asks.
"It's part of the larger database. We don't have a full set of specimens from that generation of Amber descent, and definitely not from yours," Chew says. "I don't remember that there was anything specific to it that isolated it from other genotypes in your family line, if that's what you mean."
"So you learned nothing new from it. Is that what you are saying?" she asks.
Chew starts to shake his head but thinks better of it before he does much more than start, wincing with pain. He did, after all, take a blow to the head, and who knows how hard Jerod hit him? "Nothing specific, no; he appears to be genetically similar to other members of the family, with variances similar to what we expect from relations at the appropriate distance. Most of our work is forward-oriented at this point."
She moves across the room to get a notebook to write in, asks the Suons, "Could one of you have a page send for the Tiger for me? We need to be ready to grab The Raven though. I don't trust these monks haven't infuriated half of nature itself."
Kyril looks at Allie and heads for the door. He speaks to the page outside who is waiting on messages about. "Please tell Lady Corvis that Dr. LeCorbeau is sending for her offspring."
To Chew, she says, " "Who else is in your database? I will take a recollection currently."
Chew nods. "Most of the active people here, members of the Amber Regency Council. A large number of children from Arcadia, the orphans from Abford, and the ones who were in that hospital on Earth, and the descendants of Kimiko. We haven't been able to trace her lineage, if she is or isn't. All the active sorcerers we could find, even if we don't know their ancestry."
"Tell me about the people outside Oberon's bloodline in the database. Active Sorcerers and others. Lady Corvis, for example?" Hannah inquires.
"The Lady Corvis has, as far as we can tell, a normal genome. In her case, we have only partial samples, but we've incorporated what we know into our database. If you're asking about her health, we don't understand her illness. If we did, we would have leveraged it for more information. In exchange, though, we would have offered anything we learned to assist in her cure. We want to spread the gifts of Amber to everyone," Chew says firmly. "Lady Corvis should share in those blessings as well."
Hannah sighs. "I rather meant, give me a list of who else, and why? You also want to figure out if there is a genomic marker for sorcery? Have you found the code yet that makes someone like me decide it would be both unethical and bad for the universal future to gather this information, even just to use it for my own small agenda - and someone like you?" She's frustrated with him, that's obvious. She stands up and stretches her back.
"Oh." Hannah intuits that Chew is very smart at the things he's good at but maybe not so smart at anything else. He's not trying to be a pain, just not clear on what other people want, or used to having to speak to other people without them learning how to talk to him.
"Most of the ones who came from Amber, like the woman who bore the King's son. Not so many of the people who were drawn directly to Xanadu. I'd have to have access to my data files to give you a complete list. If you can do that, I'll print out a list for you. I'd be very interested in your thoughts on our work."
"Would you? I feel, Chew, that you are failing to grasp the situation you are now in, if you think we'll allow you access to your data files ever again. As to my thoughts on your work... obviously, it is a threat to my family. Too many of my cousins and even an uncle have ended up under the ungentle care of your cult. If you'd done all this and never hurt any of us, it's quite possible your life would not be in danger right now. But, you have. The work itself might be interesting and enlightening even, but it has no moral underpinning. You have not considered there are unknowable costs - or you have decided the risk is worth taking. I suspect you'll now find out if it was, personally." She's not being mean - this is all spoken with complete sincerity and quite a bit of disappointment.
She gives him a moment to sit with that while she gets out the research she and Kyril have been deciphering.
"We would have released your kinfolk if they did not want to stay with us, if they didn't want to worship the Unicorn as we do," Chew says. "If they didn't want to help us unlock the great secret of human potential. We take precautions because you're collectively powerful, frightening, and generally considered to be irrationally vengeful, starting with your ancestor Oberon.
"When you're angry, a lot of people die, and your family doesn't seem to care. We see this over and over again. We saw this in Tyrell, we saw this when Tomat betrayed our stronghold, we've seen this many other times in the past. I might die here, but I would die anyway at some point, and if not of a ripe old age it was likely to have been by the hand of one of your family more or less indirectly. I would rather try to talk to you about how we can work together to make the universe a better place and uplift all humanity, not just the select few."
Chew may be so full of it that his blue eyes are turning brown but he believes every word of his own BS.
Cordelia and Rowen follow Jerod out into the hallway. "I'm going to ask you about Merlin and his mother later. He's a strange one." She says this as if being a half-vampire is normal.
"He lives between two worlds, fitting into neither fully." Jerod says. "I have some empathy for that given my own background. His situation is just a bit more extreme....okay, maybe a bit more than a bit.
"It is something both of you will encounter as well," including Rowen in his comments. "Some of us who see you will see uniqueness in your heritage, some might see threats. I'm hoping for more of the former and less of the latter.
"I will also tell you about Rebma and its matriarchy and how that may have some opportunities and threats for both of you should you choose it. You especially," nodding to Cordelia.
"I'm not sure I caught it earlier," Rowen says to Cordelia, keeping pace with the others as they stride down the corridor. "How are you connected to the family?"
"In the meantime, we need to get you introduced to the King properly, plus quarters, plus questions on joining the Family. There is a particular ritual to undertake to be able to use our Family gifts...it is done with the King's permission but I have questions to him about whether your vampyr heritage might interfere with completing it."
For Jerod benefit, Rowen adds, "I was introduced to the king briefly, right before I was sent to assist you. Martin has been vague about the ritual."
Cordelia turns to Rowen and executes a full curtsey. "I am called Cordelia, which means 'Daughter of the Sea'. To my mother, that meant your brother Jerod. He is my father and connection to the family. I think that makes you my aunt. Father had a lot less family last week."
There's a brief moment where Rowen's eyes trace the flowchart in her mind. "Oh! I guess it does! Well met, Cordelia. What a romantic name." She acknowledges the curtsey with the hybrid bow-curtsey of her people. "The way Martin described it, there has been an incredible influx of new family for everyone. They found a handful in a prison, courtesy of the doctor we just captured, and there's a Tricksey, who has a thing for crows, and I got the impression that some of the others who've been around longer haven't been here for that long."
"There were three recovered from the hospital run by the monks." Jerod says. "Misao, Alex and Delta. All were brought back to Xanadu. Since Misao is out and about in the universe we can reasonably assume the others are busy, though where is another matter. We are anything if not impulsive.
"If you get the opprtunity to meet them, do so. Never hurts to meet Family."
Cordelia nods. "There wasn't much family in my life, other than Mother. It's strange to have relatives you don't know." She pauses. "I imagine it's not strange to you all, but I am a creature of habit."
Jerod smiles slightly. "I am one of the oddities of the Family. Most of my cousins were born in Shadow even if they knew their background and had minimal contact with Amber initially. I was one of the very few to be publicly acknowledged from birth and known to all the elders. I think my dad did that deliberately.
"That is a conversation for a later date." he says. "Along with more questions on you and your mother. For right now, let's get you settled...and show you the library. My sister Cambina's writings should be there....I think you'll find them of interest."
Rowen's ears perk a bit at the mention of her sister's name and makes a mental note.
With that, Jerod finds a page to have Cordelia guided to Vent with instructions to provide her with suitable quarters, preferably close to his. He explains his are away from the balconies so they have no natural lighting, but the advantage is they are much larger. Afterwards, the page is to ensure Cordelia is shown to the library, and to spread the word if it is not already out that she is his daughter.
Once the page is arranged, he takes his leave and heads over to find Random and obtain an audience, sending another page ahead with the request. Rowen is of course welcome to be part of that if it suits her.
With Cordelia heading in one direction and Jerod in another, Rowen takes the opportunity to shed supervision and go exploring on her own.
Vere opens up a connection with his father easily. "Vere, is that you?" Gerard asks, not waiting for an answer before saying, "Come through, we ha much to talk about. Yer ma is here with me."
Vere takes his father's hand and steps through the connection. Once through he glances around, orienting himself and nodding a greeting to both his parents.
They are in Gerard's suite, in the living room, with the windows open to the setting sun and waters. Corvis rises to embrace Vere, and once those greetings are done, says, "Your father and I have good news to share. We have found a lost brother of yours, on your father's side."
Vere returns Corvis' embrace, and takes the opportunity to surreptitiously look her over, checking both her health and her state of mind. After her statement he smiles and looks from her to his father. "Good news, indeed. Do tell me of him."
Corvis seems in a surprisingly good mood. A lot of women would have been angry that their husband had strayed, but Corvis is married to a god, and she has a daughter of her own. Healthwise, it's hard to tell, but she seems to have reached some kind of a plateau, at least on first look.
"His name," says Gerard, "is Harsh Majumdar." And he goes on to tell the story of his own exploration in the runup to the war that ended up with him in a shadow called Golconda, which he had considered recruiting from and purchasing ships from, and meeting and spending time with a woman called Titirsha, and his intention to return during the Regency, which had been foiled by his injury.
His opinion of Harsh is preliminary, since of course, he hardly knows the lad, but Harsh's naval career and the responsibility he has taken for his own men speaks well of him. Also he seems to have Martin's good opinion, which is a second mark in his favor.
Apparently Harsh's home shadow is one of those that believes in children only in marriage, because Harsh seems sensitive about that, so Corvis suggests care around that topic.
Vere nods his understanding. "Do you think he would like to meet me now, or should I wait until he is more acclimatized and a little less overwhelmed by everything?"
"Give the lad a day. He's found out there's a larger world and he's in the middle of it. Might be useful to help him get back to Golconda if you can be spared from other duties," Gerard suggests. "I think he thinks Corvis is going to think worse of him because he's got some ideas about marriage."
Corvis nods. "If you were to feel him out on that topic, it would be useful. I want to meet him but I'd rather not terrify him."
"I need to report to the King before anything else," Vere replies. "But I shall definitely do what I can to ease my newly discovered brother's concerns, should he have any. I also wish to contact Robin, simply to check in with her." He smiles fondly as he thinks of his beloved, then brings his attention back to his parents. "Is there anything else of dire import that we need to discuss?"
"Nothing that won't wait until you've talked with Robin," Corvis says, smiling, and Gerard gives her a knowing grin. "Aye, go talk to the lass and do whatever else you need to. We can talk more later."
Vere laughs and gives both of his parents a hug before taking his leave of them, and promising to return for a long conversation soon.
Last modified: 16 January 2024