ArdenianRhapsodyArdenian RhapsodyExpecting Hadrian, Brieanne answered, surprised to find herself facing Asteria. "Oh. Hello." Expecting that it wasn't going to be good, she gave her cousin an opportunity to explain. The scene is in one of the sitting rooms in the Castle. Behind Asteria, Brieanne can see a figure, and two hounds swarming him, what looks like play. For the hounds at least. "Hadrian asked me to call you, since he is a bit...occupied." Asteria seems a combination of bemused and horrified. "He came back, and the hounds came after him like he was a favored chew toy." "I've seen hellhounds attack things they don't like. So they must be playing with him." Asteria pauses a beat. "I think." Brieanne chuckled. "There's no blood spraying. No screaming. No limbs being torn off, so yeah, they're playing." "This is useful knowledge for future encounters." Asteria says with a smile. She pushed the Trump open to a Gate as she stepped away from Gaz and whistled sharply to get the hounds' attention. With the Trump Gate fully active, a single, familiar whistle is enough to get Briarsting's and Smoketredder's attention, getting off of a very grateful Hadrian. When she had their attention, she gestured to summon them through the Gate, and ordered them both to the ground rather than let them continue their romp with her while she waited for Hadrian to gather himself. They race toward the gate, past a surprised Asteria, and into Arden. While Smoketredder loyally keeps to Brieanne, his younger sibling looks toward Hadrian, as if to coax and await the arrival of a new playmate. Hadrian in the meantime takes a few moments to get up and dust himself off. He gives a nod to Asteria. She whispers something that, through the Gate and reading her lips, sounds like something about "owing her" and Hadrian steps through the Gate and into Arden. "I felt guilty leaving them behind." Hadrian says to Brieanne, apologetically. "I had to try and get them back." "I think they would have found their way on their own. It's clear their favor and tastes follows Brieanne's." Gazalarnith observes once Hadrian is across. He looks a little warily at the rambunctious hounds, who are content in buzzing around Brieanne now that they are reunited with her, but their friendliness, relative as it is, is apparent. "They would have made their way to me," Brieanne agreed, "but you did save us further trouble with Lord Henden, who is always quite vexed by the boys, if only because they love to play with the staff... who never realize they're playing...." She seemed bemused by the last fact, scratching Smoketreader behind the ear, and then Briarsting with her other hand when he came to get his share of the attention. "I can't entirely fault them for their lack of distinction." Hadrian says wryly. "Off to Father and our unhappy guests?" She looked at Hadrian and Gaz as patted the hounds on the heads and then fished out her cards. She didn't expect anyone to disagree, so she didn't wait for an answer as she concentrated on the Trump. "Yes" Hadrian says to Brieanne's rhetorical question, a voice upon the wind as Brieanne's concentration is more focused on Julian's card than on her cousin. It takes only a few moments for the contact to complete. Father is at the edge of the clearing in Arden, flanked by a brace of Rangers, and nearby, she can see Noys. "I was." Julian says, bemused "just trying to reach you, dear daughter." "We were gathering together." Brieanne smiled, "bring us through?" Rather than reaching a hand, she made ready to open a Gate lest the hounds get left behind again. Julian starts to move a hand, but seems to recognize quickly what Brieanne intends to do. With Julian as an anchor, even if he isn't actively helping Brieanne to create it, the Gate (with Hadrian helping on Brieanne's end, especially given the effort she just used to put a Gate up not long before) erects itself in quick order, and Brieanne can send the Hounds, Hadrian, Gazalarnith, before she can step through and end the contact. Gazalarnith gives a full bow to Julian. Nonplussed, the Master of Arden nods his head to the Lord of Midnight. He gives a somewhat smaller nod to Hadrian, who mumbles something resembling the word "sir" On the far side, a set of tents very similar to the encampment that Brieanne infiltrated in Shadow has now sprung up in the clearing that so recently held festivities for the Festival of the Unicorn. Noys comes up to the group, smiling to Hadrian and Gazalarnith before regarding Brieanne. "Kennard is just about finished being debriefed by his superiors on what happened in the Castle." Noys explains. "I'm told that since we are not smelling the scent of aspic in the air, they aren't taking it too hard on him." In the meantime, in the sky, flying toward toward a now delighted Hadrian, is Dora. "Well, that's good. It's not his fault Random's an ass." Brieanne shook her head and then turned away, smiling as she watched Dora zoom in for her reunion with Hadrian. "At least someone's happy." She flashed a smile at Noys, watched the two another second and turned to her father. Dora lands on Hadrian's shoulder and he and Noys speak quietly together as Brieanne talks to her father. Gazalarnith walks over to the pair, giving Brieanne and her father a modicum of privavy. "We're going to try and move the Chaosians along a little more briskly than they'd managed on their own and get them well beyond our border without any chance of an issue slowing them down or complicating our lives." "As I have said before." Julian says. "the sooner the Chaosians are out of the forest and out of Amber, the better for all concerned." He looks from Brieanne to her two cousins and companion and then back at his daughter. "I suspect you have a Trump Gate in mind. Where did you intend to send them?" Julian enquires. "And do you intend to accompany them after the Gate?" "We will likely help them a short distance after we Gate them, if only because it seems an interesting place and I think I can help Dora accomplish something she wished to do the first time she and Hadrian were there. But after that... I am pointing them in the direction they wish to go and leaving them to their own devices. They should be far enough out that they won't be our problem anymore." And she seemed satisfied with that conclusion. Julian chuckles slightly. "You didn't quite answer my first question, but I was more concerned and curious." his voice turns serious "with the answer to the second." He regards his daughter. "Very well. Just be sure as to not get yourself entangled with the net that will likely enmesh our visitors once you send them off." "And" father adds. "be very sure that the powers of the shadow you are sending them toward do not get a scent of your involvement in this matter. Your Aunt and Uncle might feel compelled to respond in a less than salutary fashion." "They might," Brieanne pursed her lips,"but if things truly go south, tall-dark-and-handsome over there is going to pick me up and leave and there really won't be very much I can do about that." She shrugged, resigned to the fact, almost amused by it, and not interested in protesting. "Hopefully it'll all be as simple as I think it should be." She flashed a winsome smile, banking on the good luck that so often carried her. "I see." Father looks from Brieanne over to Gazalarnith, who is speaking quietly with Hadrian, and Dora. They seem to be having a quiet, if animated, little conversation. "If I was truly concerned about his inability to remove you at need, I would send your brother with you, but I have him handling other business at present." In the meantime, Noys breaks away from the group and comes up to Brieanne and Julian. "They are catching up as if they are old friends." Noys says, a waving hand in the direction of Hadrian, Dora and Gaz. "Did you want to go see if they've finally finished the debriefing?" she suggests to Brieanne. "Or do you have more debriefing with your father?" She looks at Brieanne and glances briefly at Julian before looking at Brieanne again. "Dora wants to meet dragons. We're going to make her day. I hope." Brieanne grinned, watching the trio a moment. "And I think we're through. Let's go see what they left of Kennard." She glanced at her father, and moved to follow Noys. "Go" Father says. "Carefully, Brieanne." he adds, but this is even as Brieanne and Noys have started to move out of earshot. There was no verbal reply, but Brieanne shot a quick glance back at her father with half a nod as she walked away. Moving into the Chaosian camp openly and without sneaking in is a somewhat different experience for Brieanne. She notes guards and pickets, but they only regard Brieanne curiously, and give Noys head dips in a gesture of respect. "I tried to make some friends here while you were sacked out." Noys says quietly. "Something you do very well." Brieanne leaned in close to reply just as quietly. Finally, Brieanne and Noys are shown to one of the tents much like any of the others. The inside is larger on the inside than the outside, revealing a complex of fabric-walled rooms that's several times the size of the outside appearance. "Kennard Chanicut will be ready to see you in a short fraction of the sky." a blue skinned, bald headed man just shorter than Brieanne says by way of greeting. He gestures around the room, a sitting room of some kind. "Is there anything that might be provided for your comfort, or any question that I might answer?" Brieanne stared at the man blankly, and then replied, "A short fraction of the sky...?" She sat on the edge of a chair, regarding him curiously. "I find that a rather parculiar way of asking someone to sit a moment, but I guess when they've told me the sky in Chaos changes quickly they have not been telling tales." Noys cocks her head at Brieanne's question, and turns to their host for the answer. "We find this business of orbs in the sky telling the time of day to be strange." the blue skinned man replies. "Especially since it seems that staring at the yellow orb is dangerous to the eyes, and the white orb only puts out a fraction of the light of the yellow one and changes shape to boot, reducing its usefulness as a light source" He shakes his head in disbelief. "In the Courts" he says with a lecturing tone "the sky is divided into four quarters. One tells time, and measures time, by the portion of the sky that is overhead at any given time. The sky changes from Redsky, to Whitesky, to Bluesky, to Purplesky, and then back to Red. You would call the periods of Purplesky and Redsky "night", since a majority of the denizens of the Courts choose a period during this time in order to sleep." "Well, the time of the white orb is sleeping time, so we don't need much light and some of us don't need much light, anyway. Which ... I'd expect to be true of people who can change their shape, as well..." Brieanne regarded the blue man curiously. "And our sky tells us lots of things, the weather, cuing people into the seasons and you can plan something for the future by setting the schedule to the white orb and how much of it you see. Lots of layers and meaning, but once you get the rhythm of it, it's easy." At least, it was for her. The blue man listens intently to Brieanne's explanation. A side glance on his part to Noys shows that she gives small nods of agreement at Brieanne's point. Finally, the blue skinned man shakes his head. "Weather." he says with a tone of derision. "Give me the fire storms and the black fogs of home. I confess, Ladies of Amber, that I find almost revolting the idea that not only does water regularly fall from the sky here, but from all accounts, it falls in more than one phase state." Brieanne giggled. "I'll take the rain, I can leave the sleet." She agreed. At this point, a familiar, sandy haired man appears at the edge of the room. Kennard. "And now." the Blue skinned man says, giving a nod to him before returning his gaze to Brieanne and Noys "I can tender the librarian to your interview and care. Unless you have anything else that you need for me?" "No, but you've been pleasant company." Brieanne smiled, bobbing a big before she turned to Kennard. The Blue skinned man bobs his head back at Brieanne and Noys and leaves as Brieanne continues to speak to Kennard. "So I see we've all survived Court." "Yes." Kennard says with a nod to Brieanne. "I was most surprised by events. It is fortunate that while they have not unfolded as expected, they have not unfolded in a completely unsatisfactory manner. After all, we three stand here, hale, and ready to work together." He nods again. "So what is your proposal for moving matters forward?" he asks Brieanne. "No, but you've been pleasant company." Brieanne smiled, bobbing a big before she turned to Kennard. The Blue skinned man bobs his head back at Brieanne and Noys and leaves as Brieanne continues to speak to Kennard. "So I see we've all survived Court." "Yes." Kennard says with a nod to Brieanne. "I was most surprised by events. It is fortunate that while they have not unfolded as expected, they have not unfolded in a completely unsatisfactory manner. After all, we three stand here, hale, and ready to work together." He nods again. "So what is your proposal for moving matters forward?" he asks Brieanne. "We're going to Gate you a large distance so you don't have the dreary task of slogging across all those shadows and deliver you more less safely near to the border of Sandramel's realm. After that, you're on your own and I don't know anything about you being there and I will marvel that you did it all without a single whiff of trouble from the Golden Circle." She beamed as she offered him this boon with just its one solitary string. Noys blinks uncertainly. Kennard stands there and listens and cocks his head in her direction once she has delivered her explanation. "By the gaze of the single eye of the Serpent." Kennard replies after a moment. "One such as you, Brieanne, is someone I thought only confined to a certain subclass of fictional narratives." Brieanne favored Kennard with a look that suggested she wasn't sure how to take that statement. But if she decided it was an insult, he was going to be in trouble. "So you are going to create a Gate of Trump Energy." Kennard continues. "You'll be able to sustain this yourself for the entire Chaosian Delegation? Or do you need aid and assistance to pull it off Although it is possible that a bad reaction with combining with one of us could occur. I'll have to report to my superiors, but the sense I get is that they want to get out of Arden and after Jayson as soon as possible. A Gate would make things easier." Noys looks at Brieanne. "We've got Hadrian, anyway." She points out "Do we need any more?" "Hadrian and I should be able to manage..." Brieanne still wore her perlexed expression, still not sure how to reply to Kennard's earlier statement. "And your folks might have to hustle. Anyone who dwadles is likely to have problems making their way alone and I'm not in a position to make any promises about safety." Well. She might be. But she still wasn't sure if she was insulted or not. Kennard bows as if unaware of the context of Brieanne's expression and mood. "I shall inform my superiors that we will be leaving with rapidity. If you will excuse me, Lady Brieanne, Lady Noys, I shall arrange that promptly while you make the final arrangements for the Gate." Kennard bows once more, and withdraws out the exit that the blue skinned man used, leaving Noys and Brieanne alone in the room. "Chaosians may sometimes look like us." Noys observes. "They certainly don't always think or act like us. Shall we go collect our cousin and set up a Trump Gate?" "Yes...." Brieanne watched Kennard depart, but then turned walk toward Hadrian beside Noys. "What did he mean about me being subclass of fictional narratives?" She paused after a step and looked around. "And what happened to Galen?" "Oh!" Noys says. "I forgot to mention that he was taking himself out of the sun. Apparently being up and about so much in daylight seems to have had detrimental effects on the Moonrider. Your father spotted him a place under the trees to take a nap, out of the sunlight." Noys looks a little apologetic. "We've unwittingly abused him badly by dragging him around creation in the broad light of day like this." Brieanne looked over, nodding. When it had just been the three of them, it had been easy enough to operate at night. Dealing with Court and the rest of the family had altered that, to Galen's disadvantage. Lying between a group of trees, the Moonrider remains lying, asleep. Father has, Brieanne notices, posted one of the Rangers to watch over Galen. "As far as the Librarian's odd comment." Noys looks backward briefly, even as their steps take them out of the tent, and in the direction of Hadrian and Dora "what I think Kennard was trying to say is that you are unique enough that he only thought he'd meet someone of your like in a novel." "I suppose." Noys makes a mock moue of disappointment "he finds me much less interesting and more commonplace." "Hmm.." Brieane mulled that over and slowly shook her head. "I'm still not sure it's a compliment." "Perhaps not." Noys temporizes. "Hello!" Hadrian says at this point, waving as Noys and Brieanne reach him. "I'm glad to see that a rescue was not necessary." "Yesss!" Dora agrees heartily. "That would have added a new level of interest..." Brieanne grinned and then turned at the odd sound behind her. There is a soft popping sound from behind Brieanne. Turning behind reveals that one of the tents of the encampment has disappeared with only a wisp of smoke left behind. In the next few seconds, a few more of the tents disappear in the same manner. In exchange of the leavetaking of the tents, a growing group of the Chaosians start to gather at the center of the festival grounds. "I want one of those." Brieanne watched the tents vanish with interest. "Not that I usually use one... but I want one of those." She watched another second and then turned her attention back to Hadrian. "How soon do we want to build this? They're gathering fast, but we don't want to hold it any longer than necessary since this is likely to give us both headaches. Again." She made a dissatisfied face but accepted the fact. "The last time we had to deal with the Castle Wards. I think that's part of what knocked us good and hard." Hadrian says. "But let's wait until nearly every tent is popped and then we'll build it, yes? To that spot in Menuis that I told you about." He shuffles out his deck and starts looking through it. In the meantime, as Hadrian looks through cards, the tents disappear one by one, popping as they do so, and emitting more Chaosians. The number of tents continues to decrease and the number of Chaosians increase. Gazalarnith comes up as the number of tents drops to four, and then three. Hadrian starts concentrating on his card, and then, otherwise engrossed in the contact, offers Brieanne his hand. Brieanne surveyed the growing crowd, took notice of Gazalarnith but her greeting was limited to a brief change of expression in her eyes before she settled again. Neutral. Stoic. Bare feet planted firmly against Arden's soil. When Hadrian reached for her, she mirrored the movement and clasped his hand firmly, following him into the link. In Power she stayed just a fraction of a step behind him. Shadowing his effort equally, not exceeding it. It was his Trump. His experience they drew from, and so, she followed his lead. Hadrian builds the connection moment by moment. The far side of the trump connection is, as Hadrian promised, an Obelisk standing on a cleared hill, with an emerald green forest surrounding it like a sea surrounds an island. The power and connection continue to run together, and soon, Brieanne cannot pay attention to Gazalarnith or the Chaosians any further, as the working erects itself into full prominence. The power of the trump is supreme, and not only is a connection established, but the full portal known as a Trump Gate. Hadrian looks upon it with satisfaction. "Stepping through." he says, and with a step walks through the connection. The energetic and arcane link are still there, Brieanne can still feel him (and Dora) and their power, pulsing through the connection. At the moment, there is no sign of a splitting headache, and Brieanne has enough cognizance at this point to realize that the last tent has popped.And she has enough wherewithal to speak and converse as needed. A soft smile graces Brieanne's face as she watches Hadrian step through their creation. It fades only slightly as she tilts in Noys' direction. "They need to start going through now." She gestures toward the Chaosian crowd with a nod of her head. "The sands are running through the glass." "Easy enough." Noys says. Gazalarnith remains stationary, and vigilant as Noys moves up to the nearest knot of Chaosians and speaks in a low voice. Brieanne can see a bow, some other gestures and gesticulations. Then, like a story Brandeigh once told her about a piper who led a group of children through a city, Noys leads the Chaosians in a slowly solidifying line up to the Gate. Noys smiles to her cousins, and then steps through. This, it seems, is the catalyst. Over the next ten minutes, over a hundred individuals pass through the Gate created by Brieanne and Hadrian. Every passage takes away a little bit extra of the sands in her glass, and undoubtedly, Hadrian's as well. By the time, the last few, with Kennard bringing up the rear, pass through, Brieanne feels woozy and disoriented. Its not the fade to black of the scene in the Throne Room/Great Hall, but Brieanne feels like a tree that has not had any rain to drink in a brace of months. Her mind and body desperately want to end the connection and rest, now. Gazalarnith is at Brieanne's side, a hand on her shoulder to keep her upright. Brieanne reached up for Gazalarnith's hand without daring to turn her head and look for him. "We need Galen...." It was almost a protest against her own waning strength, but she took a deep breath, pressed her feet into the ground and held firm until she had an answer. Gazalarnith nods, and turns to look at one of the nearest Rangers. "Get the Moonrider. Now." he growls. It's a tone of command that the Rangers usually only ever hear from exactly two people, both of whom very closely related to Brieanne. However, despite being neither of these people, the Ranger does not hesitate or argue, clarify or defy the order, and instead heads off in the direction where Noys indicated Galen was resting. Every moment for Brieanne is a slow drain of her resources. The fact that no one is stepping through, and that she can feel Hadrian pouring energy into the connection, are what keep the trump gate alive, and Brieanne awake. Still, a time period later that is probably short, but feels long, Galen stumbles with a slightly dazed look, escorted by the Ranger. "My apologies." Galen says as he reaches Brieanne, and Gazalarnith. "We have to go now." Brieanne replied weakly, waving the hounds ahead of her as she took a careful, unsteady step forward. Briarsting swoops through with a loping gait. Smoketredder gives Brieanne a quizzical look before trotting through behind his packmate. "We'll find a shady place to rest on the other side..." She concentrated on the Gate and moving her feet to get through it. Galen steps through. These three passages nearly finish Brieanne for the rest of the day. While still holding the Gate, Brieanne feels herself picked up, bodily by Gazalarnith, and he steps through. The Gate collapses immediately, with a final wave of backlash. In Gazalarnith's arms and freed for the need to stand up, Brieanne does not pass into unconsciousness. Instead, she can see that the Chaosian host and her friends have been transported to the hillock pictured in Hadrian's trump. The Obelisk stands tall, a curious artifact that speaks of age and glory past. Most of the Chaosians are looking at it, or at the pine trees surrounding the hillock. It's definitely cooler here than Amber, spring not quite as in evidence as it was in the Eternal City. This cool air helps revitalize Brieanne somewhat from the experience. Noys looks over Hadrian, leaning against a tree next to Galen, and somewhat peaked himself. Kennard looks toward Brieanne, the sight of Gazlarnith carrying her giving him a little bit of clear reluctance in approaching her. Everyone safely accounted for, Brieanne closed her eyes for a moment and rested her head on Gazalarnith's shoulder. But a minute was all she took and then she lifted her head, looking around again and wiggling a bit to indicate that she would like to be put down. Gazalarnith lets down Brieanne slowly and carefully, as if she were made of the most fragile crystal or glass imaginable. He says nothing but his stern discernment over her condition is disturbingly similar to her father or brother. If in a different context. The familiar mannerism was comfortable and Brie did not protest. Lingering near and indulging him even after her feet were again on the ground. Hadrian was her first concern, making sure he was okay... Hadrian looks a little peaked, but the color is coming back to his cheek. He might not have the advantage of having been carried across the threshold, but he is bouncing back with the constitution that is a small piece of his father's strength. ...and then she turned to address Kennard. "You can continue on from here?" Kennard smiles. "Although the Obelisk is interesting, I think we will be heading to the border now. It should be..." He turns in the direction of the one path that leads into this glen. "Down that way, and..." He looks at Hadrian. Hadrian nods as Kennard acknowledges him. "A left, and then its a straight run to the border. Hard to miss." "Good." Kennard says. He steps forward toward Brieanne. "Your help in these matters, and the help of those in your coterie will not be forgotten." "That's all I ask." She smiled. A debt, was a debt, and they were useful things. "Even if the culprit has shuffled off this mortal coil and the justice you seek cannot be had, safe journey." "Safe journeys to you, Brieanne of the Forest." Kennard says. He bows, smiles to Brieanne, Hadrian, Galen, Gaz and Noys, and then heads back to the company of the Chaosians milling around the artifact. As Brieanne watches, they start organizing themselves into a formal marching order, clearly preparing themselves to move out. Hadrian breathes a sigh of relief and comes forward to join the group. Things seem to be looking up. The lid of clouds in the sky, obscuring the sun, seems to give Galen obvious relief as well. "Its a pity, now that we have come all this way into shadow, that we have to turn around and go straight back to Amber." Hadrian says. "From what I've learned, the hardest shifting is getting out of Amber, and then it gets easier to go. Dad said that once you are outside of Amber's borders, you are halfway to anywhere." "Hmmm" Gaz says, with a nod. He looks over Brieanne again. Galen and Noys just turn and look at Brieanne. The latter smiles to Brieanne. "Hadrian DOES have a point, or was that your intention all along?" Noys asks. "Dora wanted to visit here again I believe," she glanced at the wyvern, "and since we're here..." Brieanne shrugged. "I've no business that can't find me by Trump, so no need to rush back on my account." She looked around, thinking a spot to rest and hear more about this place would be good before they journeyed off. It is early afternoon, in this shadow of Menuis, judging from the position of the occluded sun in the sky, assuming that the sun rises and sets as it does in Amber. "I did!" Dora says with pride and joy in being remembered in an enthusiastic, sibilant voice. "I wanted..." she stops and lands on Hadrian's shoulder but lets Hadrian finish for her. "She wants to meet one of the local residents." Hadrian says, giving a glance at Gaz. Gazalarnith shrugs and looks at Brieanne. "We could at least move a bit ways from the border." Noys suggests. "Just in case Aunt Sand and Uncle Delwin decide not to treat their guests politely." The terrain here is not unlike Arden. The trees are the same sort of deciduous that Brieanne knows all so well. There are no leaves on them yet of course, with a sprinkling of conifers here and there. "I know there is a river nearby we might relax near." Hadrian suggests. He looks at Galen. "With plenty of shade." "A shady rest before our journey would be good." Brieanne agreed. She cast one last look in the direction of the Chaosians and then followed Hadrian, waving the hounds on ahead of her and giving them their freedom to explore. The journey to the promised river consists of heading to the road that Hadrian directed the Chaosians to. He turns right, after a brief look to watch the Chaosians marching upcountry toward what must be the border with the realm of Sand and Delwin. Down the road, its a quarter mile before Hadrian turns and a side path leads down to the promised river. Brieanne could hear it long before the trees thin out. The river itself is not wide, and not very placid, with some differential erosion causing a small series of short cascades and a rocky mien to it. At the river, she settled in a less shady spot, content to spend some of the daylight hours relaxing and recooperating. There was no telling how things might go with the local residents and having everyone fresh was probably the best course. Galen takes a shady spot of course, but the rest of the group, Noys, Hadrian and Gazalarnith, take a position closer to Brieanne and her sun filled spot. The hounds take looping, circling paths around the river spot, exploring as they will. "The nearest one." Gazalarnith comes close and speaks only for Brieanne's benefit. "Is only a few miles away. A female. A Copper." "Very nice. Hopefully she's up for company." Brieanne smiled at Gaz and with a gesture invited him to sit beside her. "We should remain here at least a little while longer to let Galen rest. He'll be ready when the shadows get long enough, and we should still have a few hours light for those that need it." "It would not do to overly stress your companion, or companions." The Dragon agrees, sitting down. Over on the side, Brieanne can see Hadrian, Dora and Noys are engaged in a private, animated conversation. Galen is close to dosing. She scooted closer, curling her legs and leaning against him. "Have you been here before?" "Long ago." Gazalarnith says. "So long ago, the very fabric of the worlds was different. In those days." Gazalarnith continues "the Pattern did not exist, and the Logrus of the Serpent was new and freshly minted, pressing on the bounds of the worlds it tried to hold in its coils. It was in those days, Brieanne, that I roamed many shadows now held fast in the web that the Pattern weaves and the coils of the Logrus tries to break." "Would you go back to what it was like then? The Before time?" She thought about Apollo, the Moonriders, and the others from long ago and the conflicts erupting between what was and what had once been. Gaz takes a few moments to consider Brieanne's question. He looks past her to the river, and beyond the river to a nearby range of hills that front even taller bona-fide mountains. "No." He finally says. "I would not have the world go back to what it was before the Pattern, or before the Logrus." he finally says. "There were dangerous, treacherous Powers and races, then. Even as the Pattern and the Logrus have diminished the chaotic, wild, free nature of the world then, they have given it a sense of stability that I find appealing, Brieanne." "I do not like the idea of Jaghut Tyrants striding the worlds, or the Thari reaving across universes, or any of the Elder Races carving out Empires, squabbling with themselves and each other. Or the meddling of Gods in affairs of any they can reach. It was a savage and brutal time, little one." "And there are those who, if given access to the powers extant then, would surely misuse them." Gazalarnith adds. "No, the world as it is is better than it was." he adds, in a firm growl. "But such wonders I could show you, if times turned backward." Brieanne was quiet a moment and then tilted her head, as if she would look up at him, though she was too close to truly do so. "I would say I prefer things as they are, but since it is all I have known, I can't really say. But some are fragile and I do not know if we would all survive if things changed over much." She mused aloud, worry clouding her expression, but she shook it off and took his hand in hers, turning his palm up and then laying her hand palm down against his. "Not all would survive." Gazalarnith agrees with a rumble. "Some of the beauty and fragility of today would be lost, forever." "Show me?" Her voice was soft, her external defenses lowered, willing to go with him where ever memory took him, but her internal defenses heightened, bracing to hold herself against the contact. She trusted that he would not deliberately harm her, but when one was doing something most would strongly advise against, it was best to approach with caution. The Dragon looks past Brieanne for a moment, considering this. He looks at Hadrian and Noys, talking. Galen dozing. The hounds playing. Dora, soaring above her bonded companion. Finally, he regards Brieanne again. His hand reaches to her blond head, fingers stroking her blond hair as they seek her scalp, her skull, and her neck. His fingers have a preternatural chill to them, but nothing too onerous for Brieanne to suffer. Brieanne tilted her head, leaning into his hand, as if it were just a caress. And then all awareness of the outside world fades, as she sees, from a bird, or more properly, a dragon's eye's view... ...A world of wide, massive glaciers pushing down onto the plains from the mountains, and a floating city hovering above the leading edge, as if coaxing the glaciers on their path. At that leading edge, Brieanne can sense and hear the glacier groan as the river of ice pushes ahead. ...A world diametrically different, volcanic, fiery, and dangerous. Large rocks, comets from some unknown source streak from the heavens. Where they hit the black ground, red lava erupts in fountains of fire lit by a large red sun. ...A Great Wall. Taller than the walls of the Castle, this wall runs along hills and mountains for thousands of miles. Even more impressive than the wall itself, is the horde. As wide as the horizon and seemingly limitless in its depth, warriors run or ride toward the wall like a wave intending to break upon the rocks of the shore. ...A beautiful temple. Like a layer cake that Asteria and Flora might make, this temple rises up, as tall as the verdant hills that surround its golden, elegant beauty.A large blue skinned creature, with a single horn in its forehead, waves an oversized axe in one hand as it stomps toward the temple, a murderous intent clear in its red-rimmed eyes. ...Bark, and wood. As the view pulls back, Brieanne sees that this is a tree, and what a tree, As the view continues to pull backward, getting a sense of what and where this tree is remains elusive. Until, finally, the view is so pulled back that Brieanne sees that the tree, far larger than any she has ever seen, miles in length, certainly has a crown on its top and its bottom, where the roots would be. This double crowned s-shaped tree, attended by birds and dragons, floats in mid air, with no view of any land anywhere in this world. And then Brieanne's view returns to the riverside, and the Dragon, and her friends and companions. For a long moment Brieanne sat silently, thinking about what she'd seen. Finally she took a deeper breath and shook her head. "I wouldn't not wish to see some of those any closer than I did, but I would very much have liked to visit the tree. Perhaps the temple before the blue individual came to visit it ... though even the ruins might be interesting." "The Ushitora Oni, unfortunately, leave little of value after their depredations." Gazalarnith replies. "I do not find their loss from the universe an undue burden." "I do not think the Integral Tree survived." Gazalarnith adds. "Or if it survived, it was probably transformed beyond recognition. I knew that was a memory that you would most appreciate." "That's sad..." she briefly lamented the loss of something so wonderous as the Tre [Brieanne] glanced at the sky, tracking the sun and how much time they had left to linger before they should be moving, but she continued to rest, not in a rush to do so. Brieanne figures a little time remains to relax before returning might be a good idea. And it is in that moment that the peacefulness is broken by a loud sound familiar to Brieanne, but is clearly new or unfamiliar to her companions, given how startled they look. A Dragon's cry. Curious, Brieanne looked up, wondering if it was the Copper Gaz had noticed nearby. It takes a few moments, but a large dragon, dark against the sky, flies into view, far overhead. Brieanne can just make out its a dark metallic color. Certainly it could BE Copper. Hadrian, Noys, Galen and Dora look up in wonder. "I suspect." Gazlarnith says to Brieanne "She is more irritated by the large party of Chaosians than our presence. Still, it would not do to have our friends threatened. Shall we go and meet her, you and I?" Gazalarnith suggests. "Yes!" Brieanne answered enthusiastically, up on the tips of her toes at the thought. "We can reassure her, reassure them and get to stretch your wings. You just have to promise me you'll change back later." She switched gears abruptly, giving him a sharp look and quite ready to change her mind if she had to. "I will change back before we return to Amber." Gazalarnith says, in a sincerely severe and spartan reply, rumbling the last r of Amber. He steps back and away from Brieanne, and everyone else. Hadrian whispers something into Noys' ear, and she nods. Together everyone witnesses the transformation. Unlike a shapechanging, the transformation is nearly instantaneous, with no intermediate forms visible. The large, midnight colored dragon turns his head and eyes toward Brieanne expectantly. Behind her, Noys' grace is probably the only thing keeping her jaw from dropping. Hadrian is grinning widely. Galen has shifted to a distinctly more defensive and martial position. "Going for a ride to meet our visitor?" Noys asks mildly. "Or bring her down?" Dora asks hopefully, practically bouncing on Hadrian's shoulder. "We're going to go greet her." Brieanne agreed, cringing inwardly at 'bring her down' since that conjured a very different goal. "Why don't you come with me?" She extended an arm to Dora before turning to join Gazalarnith. Hadrian gives a nod as Dora flies off of his shoulder and alights on Brieanne's arm. The sensation is very similar to one of the Ranger's hawks, although a little heavier. "We'll be right back." She promised the land bound group as she settled into her space at the base of Gaz's neck and braced for take off. Take off is with a sound and fury of dragon wings. For all of his size, Gazalarnith is surprisingly nimble, as Brieanne well knows, and soon with his cargo of Princess of Amber and Dragonet, Gazalarnith rises into the sky toward the other dragon. Closer up, this dragon is a beautiful creature, with a set of neck spines and coloring in the red to yellow range, centering mostly on the metallic copper color. The two dragons start circling each other. "Aspera" Gazalarnith greets her. "I know you, Gazalarnith." the Copper roars, the language only familiar to Brieanne through long conversations with Gazalarnith. "Who dares to ride a dragon?" she says, her eyes flashing a challenge at Brieanne. Brieanne cradled Dora with one arm, the other hand resting lightly on Gaz's neck. She met the Copper's challenging gaze with an inquisitive look, not feeling any need to answer and certainly not feeling threatened.
"If you insist." Gazalarnith rumbles softly, amused. He circles around Aspera in a spiral fashion. "Aspera, this is Dora, bonded to Hadrian of DuMarque. And she who rides me is Brieanne of the same family as Hadrian, daughter of Prince Julian of Amber, as well as descended of the Fae." The Dragons circle for a while before the gleaming Copper Dragon responds. It gives Brieanne a chance to study her further. She's nowhere near as large as Gaz, although Brieanne might estimate that she is in the top quartile of Dragons that she has seen. "The tiny Wyvern is acceptable." Aspera responds. "I do not care to talk to you. I care not for your half-human friend." Gazalarnith rumbles. Brieanne can feel the tension in the dark dragon. "Brieanne is fated by prophecy to soon bear me a daughter." he responds. "That should be sufficient to assuage your pride. Let us land and converse more easily. Three more companions of my await introduction below." She did not turn to track the other dragon, interest losing ground to disdain, and her expression did not change, but both dragons connected to her felt the twitch of muscles as Brieanne reacted to the announcement. Without hesitation, the Copper responds. "Agreed" The Copper dragon starts spiraling downward. "Well, if she wished to make certain that I do not like her, she's succeeded." Brieanne commented aloud, but quietly, trusting Dora's proximity and Gazalarnith's hearing to pick up her words.
Aspera does finally land at this point, about as far away from Hadrian, Noys and Galen in the clearing as one can get and not hit a tree. Gazalarnith lands as well, in a somewhat protective stance, between Aspera and Brieanne. Once Gaz does land, the Regal Copper looks at Dora,and then at Brieanne before returning her gaze to Gazalarnith. "You do this with full knowledge of what will happen?" Aspera asks. Behind Gaz, Noys, Hadrian and Galen slowly approach along the river. Brieanne regards the copper suspiciously. *What will happen?* The question is directed silently to Gaz as she slides easily along his shoulder to the ground. Gaz does not answer. "Let me see she who will bear a new member of our family, uncle." Aspera says, looking at Brieanne again. The look Brieanne favored the copper was thinly veiled distain. The look a queen might give someone, not only beneath her, but someone who displeased her. She certainly didn't look daunted.
She very much wanted some alone time to have a nice long talk. Fortunately, that time would come and there was nothing wrong with her memory, even if her attention span was often rather short. "I would not wish to question the wisdom of an Elder" Aspera says. If she recognizes Brieanne's gaze, she makes little note of it. "It is good, Uncle, that you have warned me of the coming of the Time of the Sixth Sun. Soon?" "Not yet" Gazalarnith replies. He pauses a moment "In addition to Brieanne and Dora, meet Prince Hadrian of Amber and DuMarque, Princess Noys of Amber, and Galen of the Moonriders." Aspera looks especially alert at the last name. "Indeed, esteemed Uncle. I am pleased to meet all of your companions at this auspicious time." Her gaze looks at Brieanne, Dora, Hadrian, Noys and Galen in turn. "Hello" Dora finally squeaks. "Intriguing." Aspera says. "Those not of our kin can speak if they wish." As she says this, she looks at Brieanne again. "I had a lovely conversation with Albbernoth when I met him. Even Necromaths and I enjoy exchanging verbal jibes when we meet. But with you ... I may have said all I have to say." Brieanne seemed distracted, musing out loud in a fashion that barely disturbed the thin veil of distain that had seeped across her expression from the moment the copper dragon had started speaking. If a Dragon might be able to show a dropping jaw, it is Aspera who might have managed that feet. Her gaze, already pointed, gives slight surprise at Brieanne's name dropping, and she draws her head back at Brieanne's rebuke. "I suppose first impressions are that important." She was speaking more to Dora than anyone else, fingers curling to stroke the wyvern's neck in a reasurring fashion. "When opportunity presents," she told Dora quietly, "I will take you to the Court of the SilverDawn. It's quite a sight when the sun rises over crystal cliffs lined with basking dragons, and the upper peaks are covered with snow all year, so it should be to Hadrian's liking as well." Brieanne was smiling now, her mood improved by the memory, and she glanced up at Hadrian to include him. "Now that." Hadrian says with a grin. "Sounds like an offer that neither of us can do anything but accept. Right, Dora?" Like Hadrian, Dora has taken her cue from Brieanne on the matter of the dragon, and focuses on Brieanne entirely. "I definitely would like to ssee and visit that Court!" "I suppose." Gazalarnith rumbles dryly "that now that you have met us and taken our measure, Aspera, that our Moot is at an end." "I suppose so." the copper dragon responds. "Goodbye, Aspera." Noys says. Her tone is unfailingly polite. Galen remains absolutely silent, with a quiet, repressed hostility in his gaze at the dragon. With a whipping of her wings, the regal copper dragon rises into the air, with only a touch of unseemly haste. There was no parting comment from Brieanne, though she did watch the copper lift off before turning back to her group. Except for Gazalarnith, who has turned his back already, the others watch the dragon recede into the sky. [Brieanne] concentrated on the Albbernoth's court, but then limited her focus to the venerable dragon himself. She wasn't certain that she could reach him by Trump, but she was willing to try. He would be a much better match for her friends to meet and it seemed a shame to let Aspera set the tone for this adventure. Is Albbernoth even familiar with trump? Would he answer? Its an effort of will for Brieanne to construct a mental trump. It's doubly so to construct one of something that she has never drawn a real trump of. Triply so, if you count the nature of the creature. However, Brieanne has made serious efforts and acts of will recently, and this is yet another one of them. And, improbably, the image of the head of the old white dragon comes into view, the trump connection complete and active. Albbernoth.
Brieanne's body language and the squeak of surprise from Dora prompts attention from Noys, Gazalarnith and Galen. From the way he glances at Brieanne, though, she suspects Hadrian knows precisely what she's about.
Brieanne stood with her back to Gaz, the limited field of vision presented to Albbernoth filled to each corner with ebony scales.
Well, that was shame. She'd very much have liked to see that, but she was not going to argue.
The White Dragon lingers for a moment. Brieanne can see him studying the countenances of Hadrian, Dora, Noys, and Galen. The hounds as well after a moment.
Dora has taken pains to not insert herself into Brieanne's mind and discover the identity of her caller, but Brieanne's reactions and body language have provoked curiosity in the little Wyvernet that she holds. "They will not disappoint us." She promised, outloud and fervently. The words spoken aloud brings more attention from Brieanne's human companions. Gaz gives a soft growl, not as warning but to settle Noys, Galen, and Hadrian. The White Dragon, however, only takes a moment before he responds. *Then, as the Lord here, and under your Word, I invite you and your companions to my Court. His Lordship, Gazalarnith, of course, has every right of visit.*
"By your leave." Brieanne didn't bow, exactly, but her chin dipped, her eyes closed softly and her elbows lifted so she could reach over Dora and press her fingers to her heart. But then she took a half step back, chin lifting, eyes bright. Grinning, she opened a Gate pressing hard at the sides to expand it so that Gaz would be comfortable putting his head through it. "A Gate!" Dora chirps, sibilantly. Hadrian, Galen and Noys peer through curiously at the destination. On the other side, plainly visible now to Gaz, Dora and the others as they approached, was a smallish white dragon with bright gem stone blue eyes and a crystal canyon stretched out behind him. "I would like to introduce you to Albbernoth." She made the announcment with relish and followed it with a little shooing motion to get them going through. Dora needs no further encouragement. She lifts herself from her cradled position and wings through, first, before anyone else can move a muscle. Hadrian chuckles, tips a finger against his brow, and follows his companion. Galen is next, followed by Noys. Gazalarnith gives off a rumble of amusement. "I should have guessed what you were up to." he says. "You're not going to introduce them to Lolth if any of them admit an interest in spiders or dark Sidhe, are you?" Gazalarnith asks, before he starts pushing himself through the Gate. There was a pause as Brieanne actually considered that, the possibility did exist, but then she slowly shook her head. "I don't think so. I'd feel dreadful if someone got... eaten, or ....something." Because there were worse things. On the side, reunited, by the time Brieanne herself and the hounds make it through, the group, aside from Gaz, have made a semicircle around the White Dragon. Albbernoth looks at Brieanne expectantly when she comes across. Brieanne managed not to bounce, or pounce, and carried herself with slightly more dignity than she might otherwise, but she still approached the canyon's King at a brisk pace, with a beaming smile and a threw both arms around his neck. He didn't have large, hard scales the way Gaz did, which made him easier to snuggle into and she did, like she had with Caine or Gerard when she was very small. The sun might not have come over the wall yet, but he had her adoration to bask in. Although the dragon is used to such treatment, Brieanne's reaction gets stares of disbelief from Hadrian and Galen, although Noys' look is tempered by a knowing smile. [Brieanne] was still smiling when she stepped back just far enough to face her friends and family. "These are my cousins, Noys and Hadrian, with Dora, and this is Galen of the Moonriders, and these are Smoketreadder and Briarsting and why I always smell like dog." She gazed fondly, somewhat sympathetically, at the hounds who had chosen to shelter next to Noys as they gazed uncomfortably at the dragons, not just the one in front of them, but the ones looming on the walls around them. Noys dares to reach a hand down to touch the heads of each of the hounds. Familiar enough with her, Noys does not lose any fingers in the process, although they do become wet with the ministrations of the hellhound's tongues. With each naming, Albbernoth, turns his head to face his four unknown visitors. At the last, he regards Gazalarnith. "Lord of Midnight." Albbernoth says formally, but there is a distinct lack of the challenge and tone that marked Aspera's conversing with the dragon. "Prince of Dawn" Gazalarnith replies. Brieanne glanced back and forth between the two, only noticing that she had tensed when she let go of her breath and relaxed. She had forgone titles because they simply didn't have much meaning here. How they conducted themselves and the friendships forged between them struck her as being much more important. With Noys occupied with the hounds, Hadrian is the first of Brieanne's companions to manage to speak. He steps forward, Dora now on his shoulder, her head craned forward in wonder. He bows, and somehow, Dora dips her head in the same motion, in concert. "Pleased to meet you." he says. He steps backwards and looks up. The look in his eyes as he studies the Dragon is one that Brieanne recognizes as akin to hers when she finds a subject to draw or paint. Galen is next. His bow is far more formal. "Lord Dragon, I accept your hospitality." When he retreats back, he looks up at the Canyon wall, in the direction of the approaching sunrise, thoughtfully. Noys steps forward, the hounds still next to her. She curtsies. "A pleasure to meet another friend of my cousin." she says brightly. "I think." Albbernoth says to Brieanne. "the number of dragons is more than your friends and family have seen in one place and time. My Court is understandably curious." "I am certain it is. When I go to fill an interest, I spare no effort." She laughed quietly, grinning impishly up at the dragon, her words for his ears alone, though she half suspected Gaz could still hear her. "They're so lucky I like them, can you imagine what I might have gotten up to if I didn't?" She looked up now, scanning the walls for a familiar face, not certain if she would recognize anyone from her previous visit, or not. With tension relaxed, Brieanne's companions start looking around the canyon and at its inhabitants as well. Dora flies off of Hadrian's shoulder to hover at eye level with the White Dragon. After a moment of rolling the memory around, she finally had the name she was searching for. "T'chil Dahril?" She looked closer at the silvers, looking for Mar Tryline's older, larger sister. Curious to see if she was here, though she really had no idea what she would say if they were face to face. There is a murmuring amongst the Silver Dragons. T'Chil does not appear; however a smaller dragon, male, that Brieanne does not immediately recognize shoves his way forward and cranes his head over to look at Brieanne. "I am her cousin, Qudhi, dryadling" the dragon announces. "If you are seeking her, know that she is visiting her sister Mar Tryline and her mate Ganeleon in their new home, in a realm apart from this one. In a land of endless verdant green, it is said. The one that you have ties in." "Brieanne?" Noys asks questioningly. Hadrian looks at Brieanne too, questioningly. Brieanne returned Noys and Hadrian's look with a 'what' look of her own, but kept most of her attention on the dragon. "I have no specific reason to seek her, just curious to see if someone else I knew, at least by name, may be here." She explained herself, moving so that they faced each other comfortably. Qudhi shifts himself to face Brieanne more fully as well as Brieanne continues to speak. "I hope Mar Tryline and Ganeleon are settled in, they are on the edge of my father's realm, so there shouldn't be any conflicts, and it is a beautiful place." She stole a glance at the horizon, wondering how much time they had before the sun cleared the edge. "So the word has spread through my Court." Albbernoth puts in at this point. The other Silvers murmur in agreement. Gazalarnith gives off a gravelly laugh. Noys and Hadrian look at each other and then Noys clears her throat. "Brieanne." Noys says with a sepulchral tone. "Did you settle dragons in *Arden*?" From Brieanne's point of view, in 10 minutes, maybe less, the dazzling and, to Galen, incapacitating light of the sun will clear the ridge and shine fully into the canyon. Galen, too, seems to recognize this disquieting prospect. "Just two." Brieanne looked innocent. "It's not like there aren't others; I shot against one at the Festival." She shrugged. It really wasn't her fault no one recognized him for what he was. She gazed toward the horizon again and then scoured the rocks nearby, looking for an out of the way place for Galen to make himself comfortable. "It's not a huge valley, but it's a nice space and should suit them, even if they have hatchies." Her body language made it clear, at least to the hominids, that she found the prospect adorable. "But if too many of the little ones or others want to stay, and they cross over to where the Rangers patrol... well... that might make things tense," she admitted. Failing to spot anything immediately, she looked up at Albbernoth. Noys and Hadrian both digest Brieanne's response, giving her the chance to address the White Dragon. "We need a cozy dark spot for Galen to retire to before all this lights up." And, in the meantime, she nonchalantly guided him to a spot that would be firmly in Gazalarnith's shadow, even accounting for the inevitable glare. Galen gratefully takes a spot near the Black Dragon's flank. Even with the sun in the morning sky when it rises above the canyon walls, it should remain in the shade for the nonce. Gaz just tilts his head to regard Galen for a moment, and then resumes his languid review of the canyon. "When Lolth sends an envoy to my Court." Albbernoth says after a moment. "She usually stays in the Cavern of the Pearl. Perhaps he, and the remainder of your friends, might wish to see it now." "A cavern." Galen puts in, staying in the shadow of Gaz's flank and looking in the direction of the rising sun. "sounds like a very welcome place to retreat into." "That should work well." Brieanne was not enthusiastic, but she forced a smile. For Galen, at least. Galen accepts the smile. "Yes. Caverns!" Noys says, stepping up next to Brieanne and slipping an arm around Brieanne's. "And while you are there, you can tell us much more about this dragon settlement project in a valley in Amber." "Amber." Brieanne made a face. "You'd need the balance of a mountain goat to get in and no member of the family or any other human has been there in thousands of years. Father doesn't even patrol out that far and Arden is considerably bigger than Amber." She stated that last with a bit of pride. "Hardly in Amber. And, as I said," she added with an airy tone, "it's not as if there aren't already others. At least, these two, I can vouch for." "In the vicinity of Amber and Arden, then" Hadrian corrects. "You have to admit, Brieanne, that there are some in our family, who would consider dragons to be deliberately settled near Amber to be, in effect, to be settled within Amber and Arden." "Many" Noys suggests. "Still, the point is well taken, cousin. Not quite in Amber itself. Our forgiveness." "Some in our family are egotistical fools who act as if the sun rises and revolves around them." Brieanne made a face, clearly not worried. "It's in, and their concern, or not and not. In this case, Not." The sun continues to rise, the dazzling light a minute or two away. Albbernoth shifts and begins a conversation with Gazalarnith, and not coincidentally, putting him in best vantage for the approaching sunlight. "Not long, and then we'll head back to Arden and trees." Noys suggests quietly to Brieanne. "I know you don't like the idea much, but making Galen sick would be inhospitable." And then, louder. "Perhaps you might show us the way, Brieanne?" Brieanne led the way, threading between columns of crystal embedded stone that may, or may not have been natural, and around the occasional dragon with a polite, 'excuse us' as she went. Brieanne might take in in stride for the moment, but Hadrian (and Dora) are wide eyed as Brieanne conducts a wandering path around the Dragons. Galen is thoughtful, with an eye upward, and Noys just lets a smile play on her lips. The mouth of the cavern arched up, roughly worked to enhance the fact that it's silhouette resembled a flame. Inside was filled with heavy shadow, relieved only by the minute reflections of light off more crystal. It made the walls glow very faintly, as if the cavern were filled with star light. Brieanne stopped with her heels even with the outside. "It's called the Cavern of the Pearl for a pool inside that is round and milky. There are several, but one very big one....." She leaned slightly, gazing in, and she left plenty of room for everyone to go past her, but her feet didn't move. Noys says something, quiet, in Hadrian's ear. He nods, and with a wave toward Galen, the trio (including Dora), head deeper into the cave, looking up and around at the crystal lights, finding their way deeper into the relative darkness. Noys, on the other hand, looks around and finds a stumpy, worn stalagmite and sits down on it and regards Brieanne with a kind smile. "They don't know you quite as well as I do." Noys says. "I don't think either of them have a clue of your phobia." She pauses a beat. "Do you want to talk about it?" Brieanne stared at Noys for a moment and then back into the cavern. "I went in one once. It fell in on me." She looked up at the ceiling, and then turned to look at the horizon again. "It's time!" She sang the words, springing away to get a better vantage point as the first shafts of light struck the far rim of the valley. Noys turns to look for Hadrian, Galen and Dora. Not seeing them, she shrugs and turns to Brieanne. "I guess its you and I, cousin." she calls, scrambling to catch up to Brieanne. Its not easy for Noys, but when Brieanne pauses in her journey to find the best vantage point, Noys finally clambers up next to her. "What's going to happen?" Noys asks. "Besides a sunrise?" Albbernoth just rumbles with laughter. Even Gaz seems amused. "Ah... but it's GLORIOUS!" Brieanne gushed enthusiastically. "Dora!" She called back, hoping Hadrian and Dora would make it, but her eyes scanned the valley, already squinting in anticipation. The time inches moment by moment toward the sunrise. Brieanne can figure that the sunrise is about to hit the valley within seconds. Drawn by her call, though, or perhaps the very first moments of sunrise hitting the valley and lighting it up, Dora streaks out of the cavern at full wing, beating furiously. She lands right next to Brieanne and looks up at the canyon as the sunlight warms and illuminates the sides and the terraces. Noys watches breathlessly and the only thing that disturbs the sight is the brief crossing of a shadow in Brieanne's periphery as Hadrian, who has come at a run, finally reaches a spot next to Brie, Noys and Dora. Unlike Noys, Hadrian is capable of a single articulated word as the colors of the canyon amplify in the sunrise. "Amazing." Brieanne doesn't answer, regarding the canyon at an angle, soaking in the sight. Silver dragons gleam in amber and pink, gold dragons are burnished brighter, saturated. Amidst them all, Albernoth seems to glow, his white hide reflecting the colorful light in pastel hues so pale the light seems to radiate from him, while Gazalarnith is painted in irredicent stripes of hot pink and vivid gold along the edges of blackness that seems to soak in the light and hold it. Brieanne herself is rendered in rosey tones and crowned in strawberry blond as the early light filters through her curls. The white leathers painted as softly as Albernoth. The colors deepen, bolder as the sun lifts over the horizon and then slowly, but steadily pale as it climbs still higher, the magic of the birth passing into the fullness of day at a measurable pace. The shadows at the canyon's far side recede, and as much as they are full of light, the first hint of warmth also reaches them. It is still hours away and these first rays do little to dry the dew that shines on some of the stone, but already Brieanne can tell that the afternoon will be hot and unforgiving. When the last bit of pink fades from the canyon, and the only remnants linger in a few scattered clouds, Brieanne sighs heavily and looks to her human companions. "That is always worth the trip." And she turns to trot back down the rocks, pausing to look into the cavern again. The light cannot have reached him, but she wonders for a moment what Galen might have seen before she rejoins Gazalarnith and Albbernoth. "It was worth the trip" Noys says. "Another of your secrets I will have to keep under your hat, cousin." she says with a smile. "I can see you wouldn't want certain members of our family tromping around in here." Dora hisses in agreement. "I suppose, then, we should feel honored in a way. Sort of like the night of the Festival." Hadrian says. And then he blushes, just slightly. Brieanne laughed quietly as she stepped lightly along the rough stone path. "They would find it difficult to reach here, and without Albernoth's blessing, they would not be tromping around here for very long." "Probably not" Hadrian agrees. With a wink she passed Hadrian and approached the elder dragon who held court here. "Well" Albbernoth says, "As dawns go, that one was acceptable, don't you think, Lithathar?" "I do." Brieanne gushed happily, one hand trialing along Gazalarnith's arm. "If I were you, I would be reluctant to allow cloudy days to mar that view." "Ah, but sometimes, the clouds and rain must come." the dragon replies. "As well as one such as you must appreciate." Gazalarnith growls in laughter. "What does your name mean? The whole Lithathar Neu Ar Shel thing?" Hadrian asks as Noys steps forward to the cave and peers inside, looking for Galen. Brieanne paused silently, her head half turned but never facing Hadrian. "That would depend on who you asked." She answered quietly. "Galen would not translate the same as...Gyrdryssaw, for example." One hand lifted to indicate the sinewy gold she thought of as Albernoth's General. High on the cliff, the sleek gold turned his head in response, listening despite the distance. When he was certain nothing was required of him, he turned away again. "It's a matter of..." Hadrian begins in a questioning voice, but Brieanne is already moving. Julian's daughter, in the meantime, had stepped between Albbernoth and Gaz, effectively ending the conversation unless Hadrian chose to pursue her. And so it seem that Hadrian is not daring to pursue her. Gaz tilts his head in Brieanne's direction. "That was a piece of misdirection. Not that I fault you, little one." he rumbles. "I think the Wyvernet is counseling him now." Albbernoth observes. "She's very good at that." Brieanne answered, though she did not look to see. In the meantime, near the mouth of the cave, Galen has moved into view, holding a hand over his eyes as he gazes out into the bright, bright, valley next to Noys. He gives Brieanne a salute with the hand before returning it to cover his eyes. Brieanne lifted a hand in response and then turned to settle on a rock between the two Lords, invisible to any but those at the highest vantage points. There was nothing really green here, just a few tiny cactus plants eeking out an existence, their roots threading through cracks filled with only thin amounts of dust and a little sand. Most of them were near the caverns, at the bottom of the canyon, and for a brief moment, when the rainy season came, they would bloom in brilliant pink before going pale and quiet again. But for now, there were only the dragons. She opened up her senses and listened for them, sinking into the awareness where she could hear them the way they listened to gold. For several long minutes she reclined in reverie, eyes closed, face to the sun, listening to the symphony of their True Names. But then she heard other fainter songs, Noys, Hadrian, Dora, and Galen. They would be seeking her, and it really didn't do to leave them unattended. Reluctantly, she brought herself back, shaking off the sleepiness and warmth and sliding to the edge of the rock. The songs of the Dragons, and the songs of her friends and relatives resonate in and through Brieanne. For the most part, nearly all of the dragons, save Gazalarnith, are content to soak up the morning sun and allow themselves the luxury of basking in it before being roused to action at a later time in the morning. Later, as midmorning air heated and thermals began, would be the time for soaring on the breezes and winds. The song of even an Amberite in comparison to a true dragon can be, comparatively faint. Or perhaps its because there are so many dragons that the tones and qualities of draconic True Names seem and feel louder in the symphony than those of the children of Amber. "I suppose, I should go see what they're up to in there." She frowned at the thought of going into the cavern, but there wasn't much getting around that. Indeed, as Brieanne listens, it seems certain to her that the Amberites have retreated into the cavern, or are investigating something within it. To get to her cousins and friends, Brieanne might need to brave the dark. She walked to the entrance again, perching on a rock just inside the cavern.. She paused there, listening, letting her eyes adjust and in no hurry to go further. If she stayed, the noon sun would stream down just behind her, like a waterfall, but not quite touching her. An inch past its zenith, it would warm her back and the waning light would slowly creep in. But those events were hours away. For now she pet the hounds and lingered. From her vantage point at the edge of the cavern, its difficult to ascertain what is going on, at first. Certainly as her eyes adjust, turning away from the light, she can see deeper into the cavern. She can see the path that delves deeper into the earth, into the ground. Clearly all signs point to Noys and Hadrian and Dora and Galen having gone that way. Finally, though, 15 minutes later, they return, led by Noys. Galen stays to the rear, his eyes still shielded. Dora flies up and lands on Brieanne's shoulder. "You sshould have sseen it!" Dora exclaims. "A pool and a waterfall, in a cavern filled with those strange formations that grow out of the ceiling and the floor!" "I don't know what they are called." Hadrian admits sheepishly. "Stalactites and Stalagmites " Noys says with a grin. "It was worth the trip." Galen confirms. "It's pretty deep in there, and it looks like there is more to see, if you had a boat constructed or wanted to dare the waters." "The waters might not be entirely safe," Brieanne mused, glancing out toward the dragons, who might know the answer. "but I'm afraid boat building is beyond me," she grinned and shrugged, "although... I know for a fact that dragons can both swim and float when they want to." "I wouldn;t be surprised to find the waters dangerous." Galen agrees. "This is a dangerous land, and I would not expect the caverns to be entirely free of predators." Amusing as she found it, she made no move to actually ask any of them to do any such thing. There were limits. She lifted on hand from Briarsting to Dora in a silent greeting, still regarding her companions. "Shall we return to Amber?" "It has been a pleasure, Lithathar Neu Ar Shel." Albbernoth calls. Hadrian makes a slight moue of disappointment, but its brief. "I do think its time we returned." Noys says. "As interesting a trip as this has been, with an unexpected side trip here, its time to return home. "I take it that what we have seen here is to be kept quiet. Especially from certain parties." Noys adds. "Hadrian should pick the destination of our next expedition." Dora exclaims. "We have plenty of trumps of places." "Next expedition?" Galen says dryly "Brieanne." Gazalarnith stirs. "A word before you depart." "No... I wouldn't speak widely about where you've been.... the results might not be nice..." She flashed a bright smile at Galen, there should always be expeditions, but she was turning to trot back toward the dragons. "I wouldn't leave without a word to say good bye." She approached Albbernoth first, bidding farewell to their host with a quiet thank you, before returning to Gaz. The white dragon inclines his head in response. "Farewell." "You aren't coming with us?" She resisted the urge to pout, but only barely. "No, I have left matters here behind for too long and there are things I must see to." The dragon regards "However, little one, there may come a time, soon, where I will call upon *your* aid and assistance. Possibly aided by companions as you might choose." The dragon casts his gaze beyond Brieanne and in the direction of Hadrian, Dora, Noys and Galen "and trust." "That is why I must stay." Gazalarnith adds. "One of Albbernoth's court has told me something disturbing. I will not say more, until I have seen it for myself." "We could go now," Brieanne offered, "and see it with you. We might see it and take care of it all in the same visit." She doubted he would accept that, but she was disappointed at the prospect of returning to Amber without him. The Dragon seems to consider this for a few moments. Finally, with a growl, he shakes his head, firmly. "No, Brieanne." Gaz says warningly. "I think not. I would not risk your life in such a manner. Not until I have seen the situation for myself." "And indeed." he adds. "For the sake of your Moonrider, It would be better if this were done in less oppressively bright conditions. Fear not, little one. If I need your aid, it shall come, and soon." Her first impulse was to argue, and she stared the dragon down for a minute, but then the defiant set of her shoulders softened, her gaze dropped and her expression settled into a pout. "It would be unfair to drag Galen into yet another sun-filled place." She was willing to grant him that much, but he owed her. "Then, I suppose, I will see you later." She stepped back, lingering still, but finally gave Albernoth a polite bow and returned to where Noys and the others were waiting for her. "Of course you shall, little one. I look forward to it as I do few other things." The Dragon responds. And Brieanne is soon out of the gaze of the Lord of Midnight and back at the entrance to the cave, where Noys, Galen, Hadrian and Dora wait. "An amazing person." Hadrian says, nodding to Brieanne and directing his gaze in the direction of the Dragon. He holds up a trump by the lower left corner. Castle Amber. "Yes," Brieanne agreed, looking back, "he is." She smiled faintly and stepped into the shade of the cave. "Or did you have another destination in mind?" pipes up Noys. "Somewhere in Arden, maybe?" She cocks her head slightly in Galen's direction. "To avoid potential conflicts with certain family members, perhaps?" "I admit that, if possible, I would prefer not to see the dungeons of Castle Amber." Galen says, deadpan. "Oh, I wouldn't allow that.' She shook her head, looking genuinely perplexed by the notion. But the look she gave the card was briefly indecisive and then she shook her head again. "Arden might be more relaxing." "I agree." Galen says. "Although I still would prefer not to encounter your brother." "Hmm... he is probably still cranky..." she agreed. She waited to see what Hadrian might have squirreled away for that, and stared out at the dragons as she composed her own thoughts and created a gate deep in the heart of Arden; a place of cool shadows where the sun never reached the ground and the space between the trunks gave home to ferns, moss and other dark dwellers who would wilt as fast as Galen in the days full light. "Arden..." Hadrian looks at his trumps doubtfully. "I think we need to rely on you..." Noys begins. "The Ssketch." Dora hisses to Hadrian sibilantly, interrupting Noys. Hadrian gets a look of enlightenment. "I haven't drawn any full trumps in Arden." Hadrian pauses a beat. "Yet. But I do have a sketch of your father's house." he says. He pulls out a packet and looks through some leaves of paper. Hadrian produces "It should be good enough for all of us." Hadrian says. "If Gaz was coming along, we might have had a little difficulty using it." The sketch is a depiction of the home of Julian, and Brieanne, with a couple of nearby trees framed in the picture, making it look like an arboreal archway leading to the forest house. "That should work. I can put you in a guest room and we'll draw the shades, though the trees shade most of he house." She addressed Galen, briefly looking up at him before she looked around to make certain the hounds were close at hand before the Trump opened. "I suppose I am ready." She looked up at Hadrian, feeling a bit blue and not doing a good job of hiding that. "And he's not that difficult to fit through a trump." Hadrian seems ready to say something else, but Noys, striding up, taps him on the shoulder with three pulsing jabs of her right index finger. "Ja. Ledsen, Brieanne." Hadrian says. Gerard's son turns his attention to the trump sketch, and soon establishes a connection that he makes ready for transport of the group away from the fae shadow, and back to Amber. In short order, the group, hounds included (and Hadrian is very ginger in getting Smoketredder and Briarsting through his connection) is reassembled on the far side of the trump connection. As promised, Father's house stands in the clearing, surrounded by the forest still waking from winter's nap into the beginnings of spring. It's very early in the morning here. Dawn may have already occurred but that light has only started to filter into the forest primeval. Galen breathes an audible and noticeable sigh of relief. Catching the sigh, Brieanne turned to Galen with another faint smile. "Let's get you inside before the day begins in earnest." "Thank you." the Moonrider says quietly, with relief in his voice. Shooing the hounds out toward the kennels where they'd find breakfast, attention, playmates and a break from chasing their two-legged responsibility, she led the others into the house directing Noys and Hadrian to relax a moment while she took Galen upstairs and found an empty room for him.... it was already made up and she vaguely remembered having ask for it to be done for Hadrian. But that suddenly seemed like a very long time ago. The room might have been made up for Hadrian originally, but Galen does not seem dismayed by this. He gives Brieanne a smile and proceeds within the room. Now that he knew where to go, she left it for him to decide if he stayed there and relaxed or joined them downstairs. She went back down and into the kitchen to make tea and find treats. Brieanne can hear the snores from Galen even before she leaves the second floor. Fatigue and the time of day seem to have made the decision for him. "For breakfast? Really?!" Noys says to Hadrian and Dora when Brieanne comes back downstairs and into earshot. "We were discusssing comparative culinary practicess in regards to breakfast." Dora offers to Brieanne. "What Dora is saying." Hadrian says with a grin. "I think we're hungry." He pauses a beat and looks at Noys who gives a nod. "We'll help." "Oh..." Brieanne smiled, "there's food." She pointed toward the kitchen, but followed that action by walking that direction. And like a combat unit of Rangers, Noys, Hadrian and Dora follow Brieanne in short order to the kitchen. She helped rummage, finding fruit, bread and tea before she sat down. She did her best to answer questions about where everything else was ... though she really never paid much attention. In short order, Hadrian, Noys and Brieanne are ensconced in the kitchen, nibbling on fruits, breads, and sipping tea. Minutes pass by comfortably with nothing more than the sound of eating and small comments about the panoply of foods available. In this quiet pause, as fruit, bread, tea and cheese (Hadrian's idea) is devoured. Brieanne can hear familiar hoofbeats outside. Morgenstern. Brieanne finished what she was eating, chased it with a ladly-like sip of tea, wiped her fingers and her mouth and then hopped up to go greet her father with a smile. As Brieanne leaves the kitchen to head to the entrance, she can hear Hadrian speak softly to Noys. "Is that...?" Hadrian begins. "Yes" Noys replies, brightly. In the meantime, when Brieanne reaches the entrance, her father has dismounted. Even if she had not heard the hoofbeats of Morgenstern, the scent of the spring forest is upon him. "Good morning!" Julian says with a warmness that few other people ever get to see, as he strides toward his daughter. "Dare I ask what you have been and now are up to?" Backlinks |
