It was a long walk. Edan stops to look back and up to the castle and the waterfall. It was frustrating to learn that there wasn’t a Trump of Celina. Even more frustrating to realize just how long the trip would be if he tried to cross Shadow directly. Back to Paris, through Corwin, an unknown path to Rebma... it would take forever, time he doesn’t have. Who knows if Tomat or Signy would still be there? There was always Llewella, but... Llewella. He doesn’t know her. He doesn’t know Celina either, but... argh. Back and forth, over and over. It is a dilemma, all right. There was also Father or Fiona to facilitate things, but Edan didn’t need his hand held every time he needed to go somewhere or do something. There is a thing that needs to be done, and wringing his hands over the details won’t do it. Perhaps it would be better etiquette to let Llewella make the introductions, but then Celina might be more forgiving of the intrusion... argh, again.
Then Edan smiles, wryly, for he knows the decision has already been made. That’s why he is here, on the beach not far from the growing town, also far away from the castle. He holds a bottle of a silvery emulsion in his hand, which he pours out onto the wet sand in a rough circle. Then he builds a fire with driftwood and incense and begins to cast. It is a long spell, like and yet unlike to the spell he once made for Fiona. He would like to think he’s learned from that first time – this is not a megaphone blast into Shadow, but rather a tenuous binding from one glass to another.
Every few minutes he gestures, and a sheet of flame cascades from the fire to the spell circle he’s created. The sand dries, bleaches, melts, picks up a tinge of silver from the ‘frame’ he’s poured. Slowly, it becomes reflective, like glass or water. Each cascade of fire makes the reflective surface stronger. Finally, it is the way he wants it, and Edan grunts in satisfaction. He moves to the ocean, cups a palmful of salt water, and turns his hand to let it dribble into his sorcerous mirror. He squats down and uses his finger to trace Celina’s image onto the surface, just as he remembers her from the Family meeting. Water. Salt. Fire. Silver. Imagery. He feels along until he knows there’s a connection, a mirror near the Queen of Rebma, and he lets it chime softly. And if he still believed in a Merciful One, he would pray that she’s in a good mood.
Celina glides into her own chambers followed by the cold current of the two tritons she gathered on her way from the Archives. She points to the two corners of the room, bidding them take up watch.
Then she removes the soft chiming palm-mirror from the hidden sleeve in her tanga. The warmth of the thing is unusual and a bit forbidding. What kind of sending makes the glass throb with pleasant heat? She moves to a small table set for this purpose facing the narrow wall mirror that is her crafting. She opens the metal shutters on the wall mirror, now hearing the soft chime already in that glass as well. She sets the palm mirror on the fold out shelf in the wall frame. Now the palm mirror faces the larger mirror. She feels the two synch to the sending.
Now she settles herself. She breathes to deepen her calm. She reaches and touches the larger mirror and lets the light come up from the smaller mirror that first caught the sending.
Bright. Incredibly bright sky and clouds and a shadow centered in the middle. She hesitates at the immense light and stark contrasts. Eyes and a small crease of concern hover in the center dark face, those eyes like none she expected. She waves and steadies all of the image, squinting against the brilliant hard sky behind the face.
Edan. He must be using.... a heated pond facing skyward?
In any case Moire would not use this sort of trick. She hopes. She lightly touches the deepness of the large glass with her finger and feels Edan moreso. He is the source of the heat. And the image is too perfect for water. She is intrigued. "Cousin? Are you in trouble?"
'Cousin'. Well, that is much better than it could be. Edan smiles, a little, but it does nothing to erase the sheepish look on his face. "Well, I probably am now." Toe in the water, might as well jump in. "Cousin- Your Majesty- I regret to bother you with this method, and beg your pardon if I have interrupted your schedule. I will apologize more formally if you wish one. May I beg a few moments of your time?" A pause. "At your convenience, of course."
Celina decides he cannot mean what she thinks he might mean. So she takes a more direct meaning, "You have my attention and I have the time for you, of course. Where did you learn to make ....nevermind. What do you need of me?"
Edan neck-bows in response. "Random thought I should have a talk with- someone in Rebma. I was afraid they might not be there if I took the long way 'round, and I also needed to introduce myself. So, I decided upon a more direct approach, such as this sorcerous construct," he says, indicating the frame of his proto-mirror.
"Trumping was an option, of course, but I've never met Llewella, either. After much deliberation, I decided it might be best to contact you, simply because you do know Conner and Merlin, and I'm pretty sure they would vouch for me with you." The sheepish look returns. "After they told you I was being an idiot for trying this."
"Random wanted you to talk to Rebma?" Celina ponders that and examines this image again, comparing the man to what she remembers. His face is so mobile. His cultured manner appeals. "Is there some warning from Random? Or is it a personal matter you seek us for? There are dangers to this kind of messaging. Be circumspect now."
This surprises a genuine laugh out of Edan. "Believe me, I know," he says. "A sorcerous connection has its own problem with eavesdroppers. Let me see...let us say that an old minor annoyance of Amber has resurfaced. Like a bad actor in a play. This actor is fed up with forever being an understudy, and wants a lead role for himself. He knows how to act like he knows what he's doing, but doesn't have the skill to realize he'd flub his lines if he ever got to say them. That doesn't stop him from trying to steal the scripts from the other actors and generally make a nuisance of himself. Is he working another theater? I've only seen some minor playbills, and definitely, ah, 'off Broadway'. What I do know is that there's a visitor to your realm who knows more about this actor than I do. I should very much like to talk with them."
Celina taps her lower lip. "Are you planning travel to Rebma? Or was it your hope that this sorcery would suffice for the message? I'm not clear just how much dare there is in you today. Trump stepping is more practiced than mirror stepping in this family."
Edan nods again at that last. "You're very fast," he says admiringly. "It would solve a lot of problems. I was going to propose the idea, eventually. I've stepped through Space and Fire, but I've never tried a mirror before. If it is not possible, I can always walk back to the castle and try Llewella."
"That last might be best," Celina offers without any inflection of the choice being only hers. "Stepping through glass is not as protected as Trump. There is an otherplace you will pass through. It is of no time but may seem longer. There are sometimes Wights there. These Wights can impede your passage, or try to delay you, or even look like you. The advice I have is that you must remain focused to me while still defending yourself from whatever Teeth the Wight brings to bear. I can tell your mirror is solid and anchored. Here I must transfer your sending to a mirror large enough to bring you through. You first contacted me throught the nearest glass and it is very small." She pauses to give him a chance to consider.
Edan rubs his chin, looking for all the world like he calculating his chances of survival. "It pleases me to learn that my mirror looks adequate to you...that's not bad for a temporary construct of sand and silver, fire and water. I would try, but there are too many variables. What if this mish-mash of Sorcery and, er, mirror-magic, let one of my wights through? Or the transfer from one mirror to another introduced some other problem? It hardly seems worth it when we have an actual Trump to work with. Maybe someday, if you're willing, I could try stepping through a mirror under more controlled conditions.
"There are other possibilities, but they would take just as long. For instance, I could actually Part the Veil to some spot outside Rebma if you showed me an image of it, but that is akin to clawing my way through the chalkboard of Space with my fingernails. It's very disruptive. I'll just walk back and Trump Llewella," he looks back and gauges the sun, "in a few hours."
Celina nods once. "Then I will have a chance to prepare my Aunt for your Trump call. I do not like the manner of this Chaosi translocation unless it is a crisis solution. I judge this is not. Your mirror build has maturity and passion and purity, these are qualities that my teacher always hoped I would show. Perhaps you will tell me more about how you contrived it. It certainly has power. You must consider if you will leave it when you walk away. I'll expect you in Rebma sometime in the next day's time then? Walk in Peace, Elegant Cousin."
Edan bows, and touches his fingers to his forehead. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I hope to see you again soonest. No worries about this mirror; it would only last another hour or so anyway, but I will be dismantling it. Until we meet again."
Signy spends a few last hours at the smithy, making sure that everything is set to keep running in her absence. She double-checks that the smiths have a good grasp on the method for mixing the gems in with the metals, and that the apprentices are progressing towards their journeyman status.
She sits with both Tomat and Red Fox Claws briefly, passing along the Queen's invitation to train with the Archivists and Guard respectively.
Once those last loose ends are tied up, she makes her way back to the Castle to search out Ambrose for the next steps.
Ambrose has prepared the things he'll require and is ready to travel, at least the early parts of the way. "I considered Trumping Fiona as a shortcut and decided it was probably easier for us to just cross through Shadow. There's no reason we can't come out of the water at the far end of the Seawards, cross landward, and then just ride for Fiona's lab. She's likely to be distracted by us from whatever she's doing, or distract us from what we're doing, neither of which seems wise." He flashes a smile at Signy. "Unless you feel strongly otherwise?"
Signy returns Ambrose's smile and nudges at the pack that sits at her feet. "I'm pretty much ready for whatever." Her clothes are well worn, albeit in good repair, and a plain sword with a leather-wrapped hilt is belted to her hip.
"I'm fine with travelling through Shadow to the lab -- our Aunt won't be upset if we visit somewhat unannounced?"
"I have an invitation to return as needed to work with the code wheels," Ambrose says. "But I will send her a relatively non-intrusive message once we're out of Rebma so she knows we're both coming and why. I assume that even if we precede her that you'll treat her tower with respect, if only because of the potential consequences of angering our aunt." Ambrose grins to soften any sting Signy might feel from his jest.
Signy looks a little concerned. "I've already had a couple of episodes with Uncle Caine. Is she like him?"
She worries over that thought for a moment.
He starts to answer but....
"I did have one thing here I was hoping you might help me with, before we left. I attempted to craft something for the Queen. It didn't turn out the way I'd intended, but it's proven to be beyond my ability to unmake it."
She sighs deeply.
"It's sitting in the middle of a fire in one of my forges. I've got a couple of apprentices that are keeping the fires stoked as hot as they can be made to go, but at this point I don't have much hope that this will actually do anything."
She shifts slightly, the only outward sign of discomfort at this topic.
"Since it was made for Family, I've kept it fairly quiet from the other smiths, and was planning on going past there on our way out of town to take it and leave it with the Queen while we were out, but maybe you might have some thoughts....."
She trails off indecisively.
"I would be honored to examine it for you. If it was made for Family," and Ambrose says this in a way that suggests he means more than _made for_ there, "it may require certain additional efforts to destroy. If worst comes to worst, we can take it with us. Fiona will have something that can break it. And if she doesn't, Bleys will." That, at least, he is confident of.
Signy sighs, and seems to relax somewhat.
"Though the first order of business still should be the wheels, and I can attend to the gauntlet afterwards."
She stretches out her back slightly, and then shifts to the edge of her seat in preparation for rising. "Are there many craftsmen in our Family that would try to do things like this?"
Signy and Ambrose make their way to the smithy so Signy can show Ambrose the gauntlet. He takes it aside to examine it while Signy and her helpers (if she permits them) watch.
As Signy and Ambrose enters, she makes her way over to the smiths. She checks in briefly on their progress, and then sends them all home early with their coin for the day, plus a little extra. Once they're gone, she pulls the gauntlet out for Ambrose to inspect in the peace and quiet of the empty smithy.
There's movement at one of the entrances to the smithy; Edan appears, dressed in the same travel robes he wears on the surface. He looks...uncomfortable, at best. He obviously was looking for Signy, though, because he heads her direction once he sees her.
He enters to a mostly-deserted shop, and immediately sees Signy and Ambrose standing near a just-banked forge. In his hands, Ambrose holds a single chain gauntlet that shimmers and ripples like living water in his hands as he looks it over.
Signy looks up as Eden enters, a surprised look on her face.
"Edan?"
"Hello, Cousin," Edan says, moving up to them. "I can't tell you how relieved I am that you are here." He does give an interested glance at Ambrose and the gauntlet, but turns his attention back to Signy.
Ambrose is busy with the gauntlet for the moment. He gives Edan a glance of acknowledgement but then returns to what he’s doing.
Signy blinks in surprise.
"I...uh. Why?" is all she manages to get out initially.
"Is there something wrong?"
Somehow she manages to avoid a guilty look back at the gauntlet.
If Edan has any special interest in the gauntlet, he doesn't give the impression. "It's not you," he says, and looks around to insure the three of them are alone. "You have...a companion? A follower? Who used to be a monk, yes?"
Signy nods slowly, her eyes narrowing slightly in thought.
"Yesss.... Brother Tomat."
She puffs her cheeks out in a silent sigh.
"I assume that this is about the Order, and not him." From her tone, she seems fairly certain what the answer is and the question is more of a formality.
"Yes," Edan says. "The Klybesians, they are proving to be something of a real annoyance to Random. They have done amazing things, so quietly. And now, they have Trumps. And Reid's body." He tilts his head. "I know almost nothing about this Order. Their intent, their abilities. I would like to find out."
Signy listens quietly. At least Brother Tomat doesn't seem immediately in danger, though depending on how they like his answers that may change.
"He hasn't said much about the Order, though I have a feeling that his real assignment was to be around me. He left them with my brother Marius, and it sounds like it wasn't exactly under orders."
Her lips compress slightly in displeasure.
"I don't think I know much about Reid -- were they able to kill him? If they're not Family, they can't do anything with the Trumps, can they?"
She idly wonders about what they could do with the corpse to glean the Family secrets, or if it were somehow possible to use the Trumps in the presence of the body.
"Me, neither," Edan says. "We were never formally introduced. I don't know if the monks actually killed him, or if they just found his body. That's one thing I'll give them - they seem to be very good at finding things. They have a military arm, that's clear too."
"What would you be hoping to learn from Brother Tomat? The identity of Reid's killer? Or just more general about their plans?"
She stops for a second, holding very still, as a thought occurs to her.
"Given my Father's relationship to the Monks, does that mean that he is also someone that would be of interest?"
"I'm just looking for general information, and was looking to follow what path he stepped down," Edan says, then adds, "Your father has a relationship with the monks?"
Signy gives Edan a mirthless smile.
"How do you think I came to meet Brother Tomat? My father brought him in to be my tutor. I doubt that it was happenstance that the monks came to him, and there's no way he didn't know that they had ulterior motives in coming to him."
Edan looks as though he's about to ask one question, but decides upon another. "Is Tomat the only Klybesian monk that you've met?"
Signy nods her head. "Yes. He doesn't like to talk much about the Order, I have a feeling that he's lower in the hierarchy. When we've talked about the Order he's always talked about the Abbott more as if he's terrified of him than as a henchman or soldier talking about a superior."
Her lips purse slightly in distaste.
"It would be better to talk to him here than in the Castle, I think. The Family influence would be slightly less overt. He should be by tomorrow early in the morning, and we could talk to him them.
"Unless you need me to have him come by the forge sooner?"
Edan shakes his head. "It is at your convenience, cousin. Tomat is your man, you make the rules. I am just happy you agree to my asking him questions."
Sign shrugs.
"I trust him. He's broken with the Order, though he may know something of interest that he doesn't want to talk about because of old loyalties. I do wonder if he may know more about my father, and his plans and designs."
Edan bows. "Very well, then. Please let me know where and when I can meet you and Tomat. I would appreciate your presence there, of course."
"Tomorrow's a rest day, so the smithy should be empty. We can meet here mid-morning?"
Signy turns slightly towards Ambrose as he investigates the gauntlet.
"I apologize, but I'd asked Ambrose here to look at something I'd created that didn't turn out quite as I had planned. You're certainly welcome to stay, if such discussions interest you."
If Edan looks, he can see in Ambrose's hands a silvery blue gauntlet, that ripples and sparkles as he shifts it around in his hands.
Edan looks interestedly at the gauntlet, but then smiles and touches his fingers to his forehead. "Thank you, but I must go ahead and present myself to the Queen. Perhaps we could discuss it tomorrow?"
Ambrose appears to have come to some sort of stopping place in his work, but does not intervene in Edan and Signy's conversation just yet.
Signy gives Edan a brief smile.
"Certainly -- I'll see you tomorrow, then."
The trip back takes much less time than the trip down, mostly because Edan hurries. Once back to the castle, and more than a little breathless, he arrows back to the Trump booth and singles out Llewella's Trump. A few breaths to center himself, or as centered as he can get under the circumstances, and then he bends his will upon the card.
"Aunt Llewella? It is Edan."
Edan can't really see anything on the far end of the trump, as if the Princess is somewhere dark. Perhaps the trump is just confused by all her hair.
"Edan? How good to hear from you. Is this a social call or a rescue call?"
"Social, and more," Edan says. "I am honored to meet you, my Aunt. I regret that I must disturb you, but I would ask if you would be willing to bring me across to Rebma. At...your convenience, of course."
"Are you ready to come through? Do you have somewhere proof against water to put your Trump? If so, you may come through now." Llewella offers Edan her hand.
"I'm in the Trump Booth," Edan says. Having already gone through this with Fiona, he knows the Trump doesn't come across with him; but, then, did Fiona somehow do something special? Well, he has an oilskin wrap for Merlin's Trump, that should suffice for Llewella's if by some twist of fate it comes with him. He takes her hand and comes across.
There's a strange moment of what Edan suspects might be surface tension of the airy water between where he stands in the Trump Booth and the location in Rebma where Llewella is standing. Then Edan is through, and somewhere in the castle in Rebma, though not, Edan suspects, her private quarters.
There is a very large Triton swirling about the edges of Edan's vision. "Peace, Timaeos," Llewella says. "This is my nephew, and he is welcome. Edan, you should present yourself to Celina."
Edan doesn't quite choke with his first breath. It's also not clear whether the cause is his unfamiliarity with the environment or the sight of the beluga-sized bodyguard that just swam past him. "I...I...yes," he says, recovering. Sort of. After several slow, experimental breaths. "I-immediately, yes. Thank you, for your help. Celina said that she would ask."
"You're welcome. Timaeos can escort you to the more public areas of the castle, and you can find a page from there." The room Edan is in is dimmed, and Edan catches glints of some glass from what little lights are showing in the room.
Edan bows. "I will leave you, then. It was a pleasure to meet you, and I appreciate your efforts on my behalf. I hope to see you again."
"Oh, I am sure you will, nephew." Llewella smiles at him, but it's a bit perfunctory, as if her concentration is elsewhere.
Celina finishes her TaKhi morning routines and skips half of her usual breakfast. She emerges from cleanup and dresses lightly.
She gathers tablets that hold the drafted versions of the changes she might make to the gates and walls, and moves straight to the small audience room with the yellow veined jade walls. Celina sends away the usual staff on other tasks and settles down on the lounger. She sets her notes and drafting aside.
When Clarifee scratches at the door, it is already slightly ajar. Celina waves her inside and offers her a seat. Then she sets a mirror to dazzling above their heads in the waters, spinning in irregular orbit. "Good morning, Lady ap Ruadan. As you know I visited with Prince Huon yesterday. I understand he is disappointed with the bribes he's getting from the Families. Let's start your report with that. Are they afraid of him or underestimating him because he surrendered? How smitten are the young ladies watching him? We were not going to set senior spies on our guest, so how is that working out?"
Clarifee sits, primly. All her mannerisms are very precise. As is her spear and net work, but that's not on display this morning. "Your majesty, I was informed of your visit, naturally. My girls are all sure that they can handle things, and those of us who remember our previous royal guests from Amber are watching them with a certain sense of history. The girls in question are explicitly not skilled enough to hide any such ... wavering of loyalties from me. They don't know that, they are merely honored to get such a prime assignment. I have not discouraged them from being friendly with the Prince, but have certainly told them where their loyalties are expected to lie."
Celina nods with approval when 'certain sense of history' enters the conversation. This is all as previously discussed. She listens for the 'but'.
"That said, I would suspect a family interest before a personal one with these girls. They all come from families that wish to advance themselves, or they would not be in your employ." She lets that thought float in the water between them.
"As for the quality of the Prince's opportunities for graft, I suspect that is a function of the uncertainty of his position here. Investment must be commensurate with reward, and there is no guarantee that Huon can deliver. The desperate and the speculative can put out feelers, but a serious offer would need assurances.
"Would you like me to arrange for more lucrative offers to come his way?"
"No, I would not," Celina says simply. "He's let me know what he wants me to think he thinks. I'm not going to snap at the bright shiny by giving him a reaction. Let the young ladies learn some things. Let the families swim in uncertainty. I'm staying with our original focus." Celina smiles. "So then what do we know about Loreena and her quiet friends in the city. Any word on conspiracy against the untested queen?"
"Not as well. We watch a few, but it can be difficult to tell loyalty from compliance from patience. I am working on recruiting a member of the clique. She may provide valuable information, but first I have to convince her that she is working for her family's safety, not their downfall.
"It might even be true."
"Pearls, Clarifee, it -IS- true," Celina leans into that stern spare expression in her advisor's face. "I want to save us all. Does Loreena share a truth that is as clear? Did my mother leave the City to save it? I suppose the slinking patient ones are out there saying, 'just wait--the real plan will become clear' and that is so much whale crap!" Celina stops herself suddenly, her aunts' shocked expressions clearly in mind. Celina sighs. She does not back up or give way the personal space she claimed when her temper flared. She makes a small hand gesture that agrees that she has become overly dramatic. "Anyway, this is good. I like what I'm hearing. I suggest only that you think about a three dimensional recruitment. Sisters can protect each other, and also be stronger together than suffering alone. Also if your potential has an aunt she favors, someone older who might also be interested in the family safety. A two generation recruitment would be ideal to eventually turn the whole family to new ways. It is your decision."
"Thank you, your highness, I investigate that course and what we can--"
There is a scratching at the door, and Clarifee stands and faces it. When the page opens the door, Clarifee smiles at the girl. "Your pardon, your majesty, but you asked to be informed when Duke Conner and his sister returned. They are in the dining room having breakfast."
Celina stands now. She nods to the page. "Please tell Duke Conner I will be with him directly from here." She makes a gentle gesture of dismissal releasing the page to leave.
And turns to Clarifee. "Our work goes on. I appreciate how much of yourself you put into this. Let's regroup and meet again at the alternate cycle in three days. I want to discuss the rest. If I do not move to Conner now, some will question why this meeting is more important than it appears."
Celina shows Clarifee the way out. She whispers to her before the door---not even the Tritons in the passage can hear. "Please be careful, you are the best I have."
Clarifee nods and heads for a different exit.
A page returns while the siblings are having (or contemplating) breakfast. "The Queen will join them shortly," they are told.
Celina enters shortly. She is lightly attired as if coming straight from breaking her fast.
"It is good to see you both. Welcome back to the City. It feels too long since I've enjoyed your company." Celina moves to the side board and starts to fill a plate. "No rough waters for us since you've been gone. Do not stand on formality. What news?"
Brita, mouth full, waves at Conner to start the conversation.
"It is good to see you once again, Celina." Conner treats her to a non-diplomatic smile that lights up his face. "Well, to start with, the practice of marking the unknown places on a map "Here be Dragons" is not very far off the mark when it comes to Nedra." Conner pauses for a moment. "Rather than give you the chronological narrative, let's give you the high level summary. We met with the Hierophant of Nedra and learned some general information about the forest. At the core of Nedra is a place of Chaos where Mabrahoring is still the native language. Around it is a buffer zone where the Tritons live as insulation between Order and Chaos. Incidentally they have a very large, very Real and very magicked temple not very far from the border with Rebma. The fringes of the kelp bed are inhabited by various Rebman runaways who sought sanctuary in the forest and where granted leave to live there. Neither these refugees nor the Hierophant seem overly happy with the freer movement across the borders seen in recent days." Conner looks over the sideboard and selects a flask of salt tea.
"However, the real revelation came when I asked the Hierophant about the prophecy that was spoken to me by a Triton at Khela's camp. You might remember me asking Rebma's Hierophant about it and being told that he didn't exist and was a heresy anyway. The Hierophant of Nedra reacted even worse. He spoke of a cult of the Dark Mother, a sect of Tritons that believes that the current worship of the Mother is weak and corrupted and that weakness is why they lost the battle with Rebma. They also believe that blood sacrifice is the way to worship the Mother Dragon. This news so disturbed the Hierophant that he broke off our discussion and swam off in great agitation. We took that as our sign to go and Trumped out."
"You are whole and well, so I'm glad you left." Celina considers her full plate and looks to Conner. "How do we identify Blood cultists in the city?"
"Wait until they try to sacrifice someone?" Conner shrugs. "The only disturbing data point I have is that when Twice-Cursed pronounced his prophecy at Khela's camp, many of the Tritons around me seemed transfixed by the fellow. I like to think myself better able to pick out one Triton from another than many, but I wasn't really paying attention to the surrounding crowd at that moment to pick out any of them. I did get a good look at Amphiaraus though. Good enough to attempt a scrying. A soldier named Darius was the one that came to fetch me when Amphiaraus approached the camp. It is possible he might remember more though that's a long shot."
Celina studies Conner for a moment. She listens as he sketches possibilities. "Well, you've described a situation where Nedra seeks safety and a certain buffer from us. We approve of safety and a certain buffer from them. And then there are the cultists. The Cult seems to be able to move into either Rebma or Nedra and disturb both sides. Their aims suggest violence and history again. The past cycling around on us all." Celina eats a large helping of egg and chews thoughtfully. "And are we not seeing that neither Hierophant is happy that they have little power over this violent sect? Denial in Rebma. Anger in Nedra. Any thoughts as to what the Nedrans might do with the news you have given them?" Her look obviously includes Brita and Conner.
Brita looks at Conner. "It Seemed to Me that the Nedra Hierophant was Intent to Leave after this Revelation. He said a Temple Priest would Deal with Any Suspected Cultist. I Assumed he was Going to Relay the Concern to the Priests of His Temple."
"It sounds as if we should let our Hierophant know of these concerns and see if we can manage some sort of watch for such violence." Celina smiles at Conner. "Unless, Conner, you prefer a quieter opportunity to investigate on your own first?"
"Well that is the heart of my worry." Conner replies. "This tale of the prophecy was told to the Heirophant of Rebma and he told us nothing of any of this. At best this was simply the reflexive reaction of one accustomed to keeping Triton and Rebman things seperate. At worst, he is a part of it. I think if we have our Heirophant set a watch, then we should set others to watch the watchers."
Celina nods slowly once. "They want to handle their own laundry. I can understand that. However, if it turns out they are blind to the scale of the problem, we stand ready to help them solve it. Yes, I agree."
Brita notes, "Watching the Watchers is an Option, but would Alerting the Rebman Heirophant be the Best Route? If he is Part, This Alert would Change his Actions, Bring Up his Guard. Would it be Better to Put Watchers from the Queen's Human Guard for the Scent of Violence?" She leans her head back and watches swirls of water above her a moment before adding, "But Such Division and Lack of Trust Lead to Further Strife where You, Cousin, are Trying to Smooth the Waters. Speaking of Nedra's Reaction to the Rebman Heirophant may Still be Best - Can You Discern Truth in the Reaction from This Triton?" Brita cocks her head at Celina.
"The tritons practice silence as a lifestyle and are very hard to read. They communicate with us in a limited fashion using our language. They have their own tongue which I do not understand." Celina shrugs, "In my experience, it is the physical by which I read them best, and at times communicate most strongly. So 'no', I would not expect to Discern Truth from the Heirophant. I don't known him nearly well enough." Celina goes on, "Still as you say, I'm for holding us all together. Not assuming betrayal before evidence." She says the last as if fully understanding who pays the price if she is wrong in her trust.
"The Heirophant of Nedra seemed to trust the Heirophant of Rebma." Conner comments. "But it would seem that news does not flow between Nedra and Rebma if I had to bring news of the Dark Mother's cult here. His intelligence of the Tritons here may not be very current. Still, we must start somewhere and take our chances. Let's speak of this to the Heirophant of Rebma."
Brita nods her concurrence.
"Agreed," adds Celina. "Just in case we've totally misread the situation, I'll send Orseas with you." Celina smiles.
Edan arrives at this point, with a page leading him and sent ahead to announce. With his robes, reddish black hair, cinnamon skin and glowing eyes, he looks about as out of place as a sandstorm. He waits as the page goes ahead.
Celina puts down the plate in her hand and meets the page at the room entry. The page quietly heralds Lord Edan, but the waters carry the words across the room and back into the hallway.
"Send in our cousin," responds Celina.
The page retreats and gestures Edan to enter the room.
Edan enters, gliding along on the balls of his feet, as if he's finally realized the advantages of buoyancy to dancing movement. He gives a quick, surprised smile to Brita and Conner, and his eyes widen at the sword at Conner's hip.
Conner simply smiles wide at his cousin.
Celina is front and center wearing light fine netting as a shawl that waterfalls to her ankles in folds. Blue crystals the size of tears wink at all the thousand netted intersections of her transparent drape. She smiles and holds out her arms. "Welcome to the Pearl of Cities, Lord Edan."
"Your Majesty." Edan looks as if he were about to genuflect to the floor right then and there, but he switches gears when Celina holds out her arms; he takes her hands and kisses one instead. "I hope that I am not in too much trouble."
"Trouble? Conner chuckles. "You have been efficient with your time if you fear royal sanction so soon after arriving."
"Where did you find the trouble and how does it relate to Rebma, Lord Edan? Is it something you designed?" Celina asks, looking far more serious now.
Brita offers Edan a smile of encouragement with a twinge of sympathy.
"Not like that," Edan says to Celina, with a shake of his head for emphasis. "The trouble I was referring to was poking you with mirror magic, both unannounced and unintroduced. As for what we discussed, Random sent me to talk to a Tomat in cousin Signy's retinue...the Klybesians have become something more than a nuisance lately. They have Trumps," he pauses, "and according to Random, Reid's body."
Brita's response is immediate, her smile gone, her eyes ablaze, "Reid's BODY?" She is not using her inside Goddess voice.
Conner places a hand on Brita's shoulder in both condolence and as a reminder not to lunge forward and shake the rest of the story out of their cousin.
It is a near thing. Conner can feel the storm brewing in his sister.
Celina's face falls. She tries to say something but closes her mouth on only water. "Perhaps this Klybesian cult has some linkage to other cults that we are wary of. Perhaps, if you will, Edan, you can tell us what you know of Reid's fate and what King Random intends to do about it." She gestures all to the seats in the room and moves to them herself.
Conner squeezes Brita's shoulder and then moves to the sideboard to pass flasks of the strongest drinks they have to hand before settling in.
Brita is breathing hard, her entire focus on Edan. She accepts the drink from Conner automatically, but what passes her lips as she downs it in one gulp could very well have been water. She has a tight hold on the bulb afterwards.
Edan takes his drink/bulb/thing, and sniffs at it carefully. He doesn't go as far as to say he doesn't know how to use it. "Random said that he sent three of our cousins on a mission of rough diplomacy- I don't know which three. I took that to mean they were on a mission of retrieval. And, perhaps, punishment. I had just come back from tracking down some lost Trumps, and found that the monks likely had those, too. That's why I'm here- a Brother Tomat in Signy's retinue is an ex-Klybesian, and I am hopeful he will enlighten me on the monks' organization. I had to get here as fast as possible before they all possibly left Rebma."
"Signy was intending to leave Rebma, but Tomat may still be here." Celina stands to get a page. "We can try to call Family to us now. Any family death is a hard matter with hard questions to ask. A moment please."
"I found Signy and Ambrose in the smithy, on the way here," Edan says quickly. "I made arrangements to have a talk with Tomat tomorrow."
Celina moves to the hallway, instructs a page to send requests to attend Family business to Llewella, Ambrose, Signy, and Huon, if they are available.
Brita is starting to vibrate with anxiety. "REID's BODY?" she repeats before glancing at Conner, "I Have TO WAIT??"
Conner reaches out and takes one of Brita's hands in his. He braces himself for when she squeezes back. "Yes." He says simply. "No one will deny your claim to vengeance when and if you choose to take it but save your rage until you have a target. 'If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.' Is that not what Master Nguyen taught you?"
Celina glides back to stand near Conner and Brita, keeping arm's length in respect. She looks at Edan. "Family will come as they can. But there are enough of us here to begin. Edan, do we know who killed Reid?"
Edan sits, and draws his robes about himself. "I do not," he says. "This is all I know about Reid, and I got that from Random. I do not know who is going after him, or where they are going. Brita, I was unaware of any kind of connection you had with cousin Reid. I am sorry."
Celina nods once at this gracious gesture.
Based on the lack of color in Conner's fingers, Brita has a very firm grip on that life line. She was breathing rhythmically in and out as Master Nguyen taught her to try to calm the hurricane inside, but pauses to acknowledge Edan's apology with a nod and a brief wave of her hand clasped with Conner's. She starts at realizing the added weight and smiles ruefully at Conner as she releases her tight grip although she puts his hand on her knee and covers it again with her hand.
One last breath in and she says to Edan in a slightly calmer voice, "Master, Teacher, Cousin, Friend...," She looks back at Conner again, "Our Aunt can Reach Uncle Random, Right? We Need Answers. I Hope Cousin Jerod or Cousin Brennan are Seeking Those..." She can't finish the thought before she is clutching Conner's hand again.
Huon walks in with Llewella. She's holding his arm. He nods to Celina and leads Llewella to the bar. "There's news, cousins? Your page found us in the library."
Celina laces her fingers together. It's easier to remind herself that hugging Brita can come later if her hands are busy and poised. She's still hostess here. She moves to a friendlier position near to Edan to ease his isolation in this time.
Celina looks to Huon. "Yes, there is upsetting news but limited. Edan tells us that Random has learned Reid is dead and the Klybesians hold his corpse. The King sent out Family to retrieve Reid." She looks at Edan. "Edan hopes to question a former Klybesian in service to Signy tomorrow morning."
Brita notes plaintively to Conner, "I Cannot Be There - He Would Not Survive."
Conner nods in agreement. "Best to let Edan handle that line of inquiry. Bad blood between you and Signy should be avoided." He notes to her softly.
Edan glances at Huon, then at Celina, then back. If he's thinking anything about his uncle's presence here, he doesn't say it. "The monks have become more aggressive, lately. I do hope, for their sake, that they are not proven responsible. I had hoped to enjoy some little time between my own tasks, but this...this cannot stand. The culprits must be identified, and this must be answered."
Signy and Ambrose walk into the room as Edan finishes speaking. Signy slows slightly, taking in all the people in the room while she processes the little of Edan's words she was able to hear as they walked in.
She offers Brita a brief smile in greeting, before giving the Queen a passable if brief bow.
"Your Majesty," she says quietly. "Your page found us in my smithy, not long after Edan left us," she says, giving Edan a brief nod in greeting.
"I hope we aren't late."
“Your Majesty.” Ambrose bows slightly.
Celina gives a very small nod.
Ambrose had been escorting Signy, but once he’s greeted Celina, he breaks free of Signy and goes at once to Brita. He doesn't interfere with Conner's attempt to hold her back, as it were, but he does put a reassuring hand on her shoulder if she allows it. "What's wrong?" he asks Brita in a low voice not meant to interfere with any command of the queen’s.
Huon looks grim. “I hate being reminded that we are actually mortal.” He walks to the bar and prepares a drink for Llewella. He doesn’t make one for himself.
She takes the drink and looks at the group. “They’d be fools to kill him and then let us find out.”
Celina nods slightly, and it is clear she thinks this a very telling point. The Klybesians do not seem to be fools.
Brita turns to Ambrose and in a growled whisper between clenched teeth says "Master-Cousin Reid was ...Taken ... From Us." She is struggling and staring to breath rapidly again. "Cousin Signy's...friend?... May Know Something.....Ten. Nine. Eight...." Brita goes silent but her eyes are pleading with Ambrose as she mouths the rest of her count down, breathing in between each and exhaling on the number.
Signy slows her walk towards one of the open chairs and involuntarily glances at the Queen, trying to gauge her mood. She stops at a point where Brita can see her, aware that for the moment she is probably the center of the room no matter her physical location in it.
"Edan found Ambrose and me at the smithy on his way here, and told me about our Cousin," she says quietly to Brita. "Edan and I will be discussing this affair with Brother Tomat tomorrow morning, to see what he knows. In the past when I discussed the Order with him, I got the impression that he was not very deep in their councils, and if that's true he may not be any more aware of this than any of us are."
She glances at the bar, taking quick stock of what's there as a precautionary measure. "He left the Order in something of a hurry and against orders when he met up with my brother Marius. I wonder if the Order thought to make use of his ties with me somehow, and he took the chance to flee with Marius out of...loyalty.
"I also wonder if Marius may have information about them that may be useful."
She sighs deeply before ending simply. "I'm sorry for your loss."
“I am as well,” Ambrose adds, but says no more on the subject.
Celina summarizes Edan's statements again for those arriving now, in case the matter of what King Random may know or guess is less clear from any earlier conversation. Then she continues, "My father was believed dead for over a century, and here in Rebma, the archive held that Prince Benedict had been gone too long, and missed many opportunities to tend to affairs that were in his purview, thus many 'knew' he was also dead. Now the King sent Family to find the body and return Cousin Reid home, and that is what will happen. That will also prove pragmatic to understanding how he may have died. This will all be shared back to us soon enough, even as the news weighs heavy on us. When you question Brother Tomat, perhaps you could ask him to speculate as to why it would be necessary to ask for Reid's body when the Order might tender goodwill to offer the body instead. Certainly they would know how serious such a neglect might be held. It should be an interesting answer to learn more of the character of the Order."
Celina brings her hands up, appearing to embrace the room and everyone in it. "Having disturbed everyone here, including myself, in asking you to attend this news, do not feel obligated to remain if you would seek a moment of peace." And she goes to the sidebar to pour herself a strong drink. She takes off her circlet and sets it down on a silver platter before she picks up the drink and moves back to stand near Edan. She takes a hefty swallow and winces.
Edan nods at Llewella's words, as she echoes his own thoughts. He produces a slight smile, and inclines his head, to recognize Celina's efforts to make him feel more at home. "I will remain, by your leave. It is our first meeting, after all. Sort of."
Conner picks up the earlier floating thread. "So, the question then becomes, if we assume that the Klybesians are not fools, what did they gain or hope to gain by sharing this information about Reid? They are traders in secrets after all. They must have thought to gain something in exchange."
"Sometimes," Ambrose says, "the greatest value of a secret is in revealing it at the right moment."
Llewella looks at Ambrose, then back at Conner. "Sometimes the greatest value of a secret is not being caught with it."
Huon's gaze lands on Celina. "Your majesty, perhaps a note or conversation with our kinsmen the King of Xanadu requesting more details would help you determine the correct course of action."
"Yes, that is in order, but I do not know the time difference between Xanadu and here. Edan has just arrived having been sent for information. So it is likely that Random does not have all the details we would like. However," Celina looks at Llewella, "tomorrow once Tomat has answered a few questions, we may have things to share with King Random, and this then will be a chance for us to learn more as well by having that Trump conversation with the King. I really hope that the Family mission might be over by then and Random will give us some closure." She looks back to Huon. "If not, then we can offer assistance in rounding up more Klybesians who may know something."
Signy trails after the Queen to the bar and pours herself a stiff drink, but doesn't yet raise the glass to her lips.
"How did we first learn what they had done to Cousin Reid?"
Brita stands and walks to the bar, stares at it blankly for a second, and then turns back to her seat. "They are Trying to Get a Rise Out of Us," she says to no one in particular.
"Or trying to manipulate us." Ambrose comes with Brita when she moves and looks at the drinks with a sense of uncertainty. "The thing is, and if the Klybesians know much about us, they should know this much, we're very independent, collectively, but we do swarm when one of our own is attacked. They should have learned that from the late war. If they didn't, they're about to learn a lesson. If they did--I wonder what they're diverting us from."
"Someone or something very important to them, if they have been convinced to become such a diversion," Edan says. "Someone else pulling the strings? We have many enemies, now. Since Oberon's death, most have been external to us. And all too often, they have killed or attacked one of our generation. We are targets, as long as our enemies see us as such."
"Manipulation. Diversion. Where is the Main Stream of Events?" Brita says. "What is Important to Them?" She looks at Signy.
Signy looks at Brita, before looking away uncomfortably.
She turns slightly to face Huon and Llewella. "If we assume that a member of the Order showing up to be my tutor was no coincidence, do we know if there was any connection between them and either Dierdre or Wayland? Did either of them come into conflict with the Order?"
Llewella snorts. “They’ve been around further back than that. Rumor has it they were involved in whatever plot got Finndo and Osric on Dad’s bad side.”
Huon nods. “There’s no telling how much is myth making, how much is wishful thinking, and how much is true.”
Llewella lifts her drink in the direction of the Queen, and takes a long, slow sip from it. “There’s only a few people left from that time and they aren’t saying much about it."
"So then the main current of events past and future is Us," offers Celina still feeling the burn of the drink settling in her stomach. "And if the old matters involved all of the Family's safety and well-being, sufficient that even today it is not discussed, we can be sure that any activities where the Klybesians can hold unto a Family Body for a week or more of study really involves preparation to do further exploit." Celina frowns. Her expression reveals a slow anger building. "Keeping them around at all, may have been all about seeing all the gathering of intelligence about Us and our Status with the Universe in a single recognized pattern. If the Klybesians are so good at it, they compromise the lesser predators." Celina sighs. "If they are taking a higher profile now, I would suggest to Xanadu and Paris that they be trimmed back."
Celina looks around. "Anyone disagree?"
"If the monks are proved in any way culpable for either the death of our cousin Reid...or the use of his body for political, mercantile or scientific ends," Edan says, and his look turns much more predatory. "And if, by 'trimmed back' you mean the systematic dismantling and destruction of the Klybesians as individuals and as an organization, then I am on board. An example must be made, such that others would fear to take the same path. Even if the opportunity became available to them.
"However...in the unlikely event we were to learn they were innocent, I would argue differently. My desire to swing a sword in the right direction outweighs the desire to make some empty, useless gesture."
"From the little you have told us Cousin, I suspect the trimming has already begun. You said that Random sent three of our cousins to the monks and that implies more than diplomacy. If further answer is warranted then Rebma should offer their assistance in this matter to King Random." Conner replies. "However, I too have the desire for action. Perhaps this Tomat should be brought before us now to answer our questions as he is able."
Signy listens to Conner speak quietly. She pauses for a second or two after he finishes, before slowly shaking her head in the negative. "I think that having him come to the palace and answer questions in front of a Family gathering would only serve to frighten him to the point that we wouldn't get anything particularly useful out of it, now or in the future."
She turns to face Edan and the Queen a bit more. "I was going to have him come by the smithy in the morning to discuss matters with Edan. If we want I can certainly summon him there now, and we could question him then. I'd still recommend not having more than Edan and myself for this questioning, though.
"I will continue to vouch for him until he is no longer able to keep my trust. I'm confident that while he may or may not be able to provide Edan with information to help us answer some of these questions, he will at least be able to convince him that my trust in him is not misplaced."
Brita is sitting quietly now, listening to the discussions and still breathing rhythmically in and out.
Ambrose stays with Brita, taking her hand if it seems to be helpful, but not if it seems to upset her or make her anxious.
Brita allows it. Her grip is still hard.
Huon looks over his drink. “I think this one monk is probably not up to facing down any two of us, and that Edan has the King’s request well in hand. Do we have any kind of leverage on the man? What’s he doing here, anyway?"
Ambrose looks up at Huon. “He follows Lady Signy because he is in love with her."
'In love with her'. And the conjure of the word echoes with Khela's voice and a shiver passes through Celina. The soft surprise is, the shiver does not hurt the way it does in her nightly dreams. She looks at the bulb in her hand. "Let Signy and Edan carry on as they planned tomorrow. Conner, let us assume that there may be Klybesian efforts in Rebma already, perhaps even in the Archives. Uncover them please but do not trim them until we consider Random's news. I shall speak to Random tomorrow after we know more. Brita, if you would like to make a Trump of me, I think it is time I allowed that."
Brita's nod is slow in coming as if it took awhile to process the words flowing around her.
Celina moves back to the sideboard slowly and before she nears it, the circlet jiggers in place and bounces from where she set it and leaps to her open palm*. She sets down the bulb, still more than half full, with the others there. "Brita, Family, I am going to withdraw and spill my grief." No point in hiding she's reached her limit. She looks directly at Signy and then Brita. "Peace follow you all and sharpen your Truth. I am very sad at our loss. So sad."
Another nod of acceptance from Brita, this time a little faster in response. She looks as if she might say something or rise, but in the end does neither.
Celina nods to all and passes close to Llewella and Huon where she just touches her Aunt's shoulder in passing. She leaves them all quietly.
Once in the greater corridor, she uses her disciplines to put a hearty smile on her face and sweeps to her own chambers. She needs to bawl a while to clear her head.
Edan stands in respect as Celina moves to the exit. He tilts his head quizzically at the spot where she summoned her circlet, then back to the queen. After she leaves, he gives a short bow to Signy. "I will see you in the morning, then? And in the meantime...this is my first visit here." He hopes that's enough to state to everyone his needs for food, clothing, shelter, and lessons in underwater deportment without having to explain it all in detail.
"I shall arrange for your needs cousin." Conner offers. Before rising, he turns to Brita. "Find me if you need me, sister." He shares with her the tentative smile given to the grieving in the hope that it might be returned and bring a moment of lessened sadness.
Brita returns the smile automatically although it is not in her eyes.
Conner rises, floats to the door of the chamber, and steps out briefly to arrange with the servants for quarters for Edan near his own. Conner then steps back in. "Edan, would you care for a brief tour of the palace while your rooms are being prepared?"
"I would appreciate a tour, yes. Thank you, cousin," Edan says to Conner, and follows to the doorway.
Brita also rises. "I Have a Task," she says. "I will Be in The Air Chamber for Awhile... Sketching.”
“I’ll keep you company,” Ambrose says, “If that’s all right.” He glances at Signy to be sure he’s not leaving her in the lurch, or at least to apologize if he is.
Brita's nod is absent-minded, her thoughts elsewhere, but she moves to leave without letting go of Ambrose's hand.
Signy blinks, coming back to herself as the rest of the family starts to break up and head their ways. She notices Ambrose's glance, and briefly shakes her head in the negative to his implied offer before twisting open her bulb and downing the contents in one swift gulp.
She feels the warmth from the drink start to hit, before offering a sketchy half-bow to those left in the room before making her way out, not trusting herself to speak just yet.
Last modified: 28 June 2014