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AuraTheGirlTheTourAndEverythingII

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Aura the Girl the Tour and Everything II

(Continued from The Girl the Tour and Everything)

Standing, she straightens her skirts and smiles brightly at her cousin. "Shall we go carry on the fine family tradition of re-appropriation?"

"Absolutely" Dulcinea says enthusiastically, leading Aura out of Selene's office and back into the corridors of Amber. She steps briskly, navigating Aura and Nick past a sudden and unexpected gaggle of servants, up a staircase and through the second floor of the Castle with unerring steps.

"I would have expected Prince Lorius, given his connection to you, to have long since shown you the library" Dulcinea says, as they approach the entrance. "But it is a gorgeous room. He told me that its larger than its physical dimensions, but I suspect that he was teasing me. The bit about the trump decks appearing out of nowhere in the library, though, is something Father said was real."

"He may very well be telling the truth," notes Aura with a hint of amusement lacing her voice. Who knew Dulcinea would be so enthusiastic about pilfering artifacts from the library - even though it was an expected pilfering. "How else would it be enlarged over time without gutting the place and knocking out walls?"

"I just thought they took out old books." Dulcinea says. "but maybe they keep them all here or just move them around."

"And I will never get used to Lorius having Prince in front of his name. I know he is one, but he's been so very un-Prince like the whole time I've known him."

Dulcinea suppresses a giggle, leading Aura toward the back of the library.

"Isn't it just true." she agrees. "He doesn't seem to take his position and role seriously. As if it were all a game he was playing. And expecting us to play our roles along with him." Dulcinea adds.

The display case with about a dozen and a half cases and three open decks of trumps is made of some dark wood, and is glass paned on the top to show off its contents.

"He did get serious when he thought you and Atlantis were in danger." Nick points out. "Remember that demon, Aura."

"I hadn't heard about that" Dulcinea says. She pulls out a hairpin and starts working on the keyhole on the glass-paned display case.

"Oh, he'll get serious when the situation calls for it, and he won't let it stay that way for any longer than it needs to," notes Aura while peering through the top of the case at the card decks.

"Are all the decks the same?"

"The story goes that the decks in the case have changed over time." Dulcinea says, finishing the lockpicking and gently lifting the cover, giving access to the decks at last.

"Adding people to the deck, the story goes. The original cards are our Great-Grandfather's handiwork. But over time, other people have shown up in the deck. All of the cards have the same Unicorn on green background, so they are from the same artist. But, there are people who did not explicitly pose for Dworkin. Really, these cases are the only thing to distinguish them from each other. Their contents, even if they have changed over time, are identical."

The cases do vary from a simple leather pouch to an elaborate inlaid one suitable for presentation as an object d'art in Atlantis or anywhere else, really.

"I wasn't in the deck, and I don't think you were, either, Aura, at least when I took one for myself.  I am sure I would have remembered you." Dulcinea says.

Looking up from her perusal, Aura winks at her lockpicking accomplice.  "It would have ruined the surprise if I had been."

"Nai" Dulcinea replies.

Aura being Aura, she takes the pretty one.  If for no other reason than to convince Kovikin Amber isn't a savage wilderness bereft of beautiful things (not counting herself, of course). Opening the case, she removes the deck and starts looking through it and asking Dulcinea for the identities of the ones she doesn't recognize.

The Deck appears to be arranged chronologically from the earliest days of Amber first. Names and people Lorius has long since told her about, and that she has seen in other media are here. Benedict. Osric. Finndo. Eric, Corwin. Deirdre. And down the line to Coral.

There are a few people who don't immediately come to mind from Lorius' lessons or come to mind when Dulcinea connects the picture with the name. Most of the names are familiar to Aura, and correlate to Lorius' run down when he was with the Healers. Aura connects faces to names. Minh. Larissa. Bhangbadea. Krysta. Rinaldo. Merlin. Others.

There is no sign of Aura or Dulcinea. There is, however, now a trump of Hadrian, to Dulcinea's surprise.

"Hadrian told me that a bunch of relatives have come to Amber the last few weeks thanks to Valerian stirring the pot. Dulcinea says once Aura has made a complete pass. "Looks like most of us have not been found worthy yet. "Maybe they have to spend time in the library or meet Dworkin or come to his attention.

"There is something like forty five or fifty members of the family at this point." Dulcinea says. "Don't ask me" she says breathlessly "to try and recite them all from memory!"

"This last one, though" Dulcinea taps the card. " I don't know who she is. Not a clue. Never saw her or heard of her."

The young athletic blond haired woman, a little older older than Dulcinea, is standing on a rooftop, left foot resting on a raised edge as if contemplating stepping up and to the viewer.

"She's a doll" Nick observes.

"You say that about every female until they prove to be scarey," Aura scoffs.  "Such as Fiona."

"She IS Scary" Nick says.

"Well," continues Aura cheerfully as she begins squaring the deck to return it to its case.  "No Trump means no unfortunate interruptions during Aura Fun Time.  Except Lorius; he always seems to be able to track me down."

"I'm sure that people will eventually start making public trumps of you and me both. Although I already have one." Dulcinea says. "Maybe Hadrian will make one of you, cousin. Maybe even Lorius will make..." She stops.

"Speaking of whom..." Dulcinea says, turning her head.

Striding through the library toward the trump display case, with the ease and confidence of unerringly heading toward his intended destination, is Lorius.

"Oh good, here you both are." he says with a grin. "I see Random's daughter has already taught you one of the fine family traditions. Like father, like daughter."

"I hadn't realized looting was a fine family tradition," remarked Aura.  "But she is certainly enthusiastic about it.  Which will make properly corrupting her much easier."

"Does your father know Aura is going to corrupt you?" Lorius asks Dulcinea.

"Ummm" Dulcinea temporizes. "I think he suspects it."

Aura tosses her hair.  "Pfft.  I told him."

"[Aura] Now, I would like to know if it's possible to limit who has my Trump."

"Limit your Trump?" Lorius says. "Who has been trumping you? Glacier Boy?"

The look that Dulcinea gives Lorius is not withering, but rather a disapproving look of disappointment. She holds the look on Lorius with undiminished persistence.

"Gah" Lorius says. "Okay, *Hadrian*" he says. He looks at Aura. "I see she is already taking lessons from you in trying to wrap me around her finger."

Aura gives him a totally unrepentant grin.

"So, who's been trumping you?" he asks Aura.

"Relax. Nobody, obviously," she says while waving her new deck at him.

Lorius grins.

"I'm not in here yet.  I just don't know that I like the idea that anyone who can jimmy a common lock can contact me without so much as an introduction. There are kidnappers and assassins trying to get at me and my mother, in case you've forgotten. What is to stop those upstarts from Chaos doing what Dulcinea just did? They can use these things too, can't they?"

"In theory, anyone can use a trump with training." Lorius says. "And sometimes even without that training, by accident." He looks at Dulcinea. "Hadrian would tell this better than I. He's like taken a class in this stuff. But he's not here, so I will have to do."

He turns to Aura. "The key is, no one can force you to take a trump call. Not really. It's sort of like a telephone. You can call and call and call all you like. And maybe annoy someone into opening their mind to the contact. Cajole them, browbeat them. But you can't actually make it certain they will respond. Not even Mom can do that, not with a Trump."

"That agrees with what I know." Dulcinea says. "From Hadrian."

"No" Lorius picks up the conversation. "Mom would use other methods if she wants access to your mind. You've seen some of them at work, even. Direct Brain Whisper Projection. In Brain Puppet Strings. Unnatural Lust Transfixion. And others."

"I don't like the sound of any of those" Nick says, trembling on Aura's shoulder.

"As far as keeping someone from making a trump of you, the best advice is to tell the trump artists extant not to. Make it clear you will be wrathful if they do it. As far as these." he gestures to the cases. "that's a trickier problem. Like figuring who or what really makes these trump decks."

Aura reaches up and runs a comforting finger over Nick's head.

Frowning, Aura huffs.  "So I can't really stop one from popping up and into a strange person's hand at some point. The problem with ignoring all calls is that there are actually a few people I wouldn't mind calling. Is there a way to tell who is on the other end without answering?  And who are the Trump artists I need to threaten with life in a snow globe?"

"Hadrian is a Trump Artist." Dulcinea says. "Besides that..." she looks at Lorius.

"My sister, Brandeigh. My mother, of course. Uncle Bleys. Martin." Lorius clears his throat. "King Rinaldo and Emperor Merlin too."

"There are likely others, too, aren't there? Secret artists." Dulcinea says.

"That's what I was going to say." Lorius says.

"As far as learning to divine the identity of people trying to reach you by trump." Dulcinea says, looking at Aura. "That's one of the early steps in learning to draw trumps yourself. Its an exercise in understanding trump energies and trump connections. It works best if you have a trump of the person handy to compare the resonance, or baring that and even easier, having had a trump connection with them before."

"That's what I was going to say" Lorius says.

"I was going to add that Hadrian has taught this to me." Dulcinea responds.

"That's what..." Lorius stops, and looks surprised. "Oh."

Aura looks from one to the other and sighs.  "So, I would need to get one of the artists to teach me at least the basics of drawing Trumps?  I shall pencil it in my list somewhere around kicking some Chaosian butt.  Which would probably make approaching Merlin for lessons a bit problematic."

"Hadrian would teach you." Dulcinea says. "I am sure I could sweet talk my brother into it, too."

"So," continues Aura while smoothing her skirt.  "Are we ready to return to Atlantis and take care of that errand?"

"Yes" Lorius says. "That's why I am here, before another disaster strikes. If your tour de force is done, Dulcinea, Aura and I have some business to get done in her shadow."

"Oh!" Dulcinea says. "Not quite the time or place for a tour and a discussion of trade, then, is it?"

"What HAVE you two been getting up to?" Lorius wonders aloud.

Nick snickers.

Aura fluffs her hair and smiles innocently before dropping the act and turning back to Dulcinea.

"I would not be much of a tour, I'm afraid," she explains.  "It doesn't seem right to just go and see three hallways and a conference room or two.  Not that the hallways aren't works of art, mind you. I should probably give the Trade Council a heads up about your world and Amber as future trade partners before I bring you for an official visit.  It will give you time to come up with some sample goods to present as examples of what your world can offer.  I'll work with you on that if you like.  I'm sure we can come up with something suitable to have a world of hedonistic artists or the scholars eager to meet with you."

"And in turn, in addition to what I can offer in trade from Maeonis" Dulcinea responds " it would be poor of me not to offer the full hospitality of my home. The Queen my Mother would be delighted to meet you, and I am eager to show it to you."

"Thusly, then" Dulcinea offers Aura her hands. "We shall part, here, cousin, with the hopes and promise of mutual visits in happier and more peaceable times. Agreed?"

"I think, Nick, the proverb about the original inspiration for the ideogram for trouble in High Khitan still holds." Lorius smirks.

Aura takes a moment to look down her nose at Lorius before taking Dulcinea's hands.  "Agreed.  I look forward to it. Although I begin to think that peacable times may be quite a ways off.  Perhaps just in between crises"

"Perhaps that is what is most likely to wish for." Dulcinea says, releasing Aura's hands. "Between crises then. Khaire, Aura!"

"Prince Lorius" she says courteously to Lorius but with a noticeably less amount of obvious warmth.

"Princess" Lorius says "Say hi to G...Hadrian for me."

"Let's go outside for this" Lorius says to Aura. "Mom's wards are agitated enough without me punching a hole through them."

"That is probably best," agreed Aura dryly.  "And I hope this is the last trip of this sort we have to make; if I bring anymore trouble down on Her Kingdom, the Empress is not going to be happy with me at all."

"No kidding." Nick says.

Lorius doesn't say anything, humming in thought.

As Aura walks beside Lorius down to the courtyard, she sighs then suddenly brightens. "Although... it was you that said it was time for me to go to Amber, so really... this is all your fault!"

"I did crash land into Atlantis and drag you into this entire mess." Lorius says, his tone light. "Atlantis was one of the few places I trusted to land after what happened in Paris, and I couldn't just thank you and waltz out of Atlantis. Although, if I hadn't been around, the mess with the Chaosians might have still happened anyway, and without me there to help. More lives could have been lost before you all put them down."

At this point, Lorius, Aura and Nick have walked out of the gate and into the late afternoon.

"And, we wouldn't have altered the fundamentals of your shadow. Of course a certain High Priestess might prefer that. But Atlantis as a pole, even a minor one, will be interesting to see unfold."

He stops about 20 feet away from the Gate and rubs his hands.

"Right, any specific spot in the palace?" Lorius says. "Except Kovikin's quarters" he adds hastily, with a grin.

Aura gave an outrageous pout before waving her hand.  "Well, if you're going to be that way, the garden.  The topiary garden to be exact.  It's far enough away from the main so we won't pop in and give someone a scare. After everything that's happened, I don't want any twitchy guards surprised.""

"Why do you think I specified somewhere other than your boyfriend's quarters?" Lorius says. "Speaking of twitchy."

"Can we transport without the whirlwind?" Nick pipes up. "It makes me green."

Lorius looks at Aura. "I suppose that goes double for the likes of you." He starts casting even before Aura answers, but the next two minutes are a surge of magical energy in and around Aura, Lorius and Nick.

There isn't the blurring, dizzying whirlwind around the three of them this time when the spell goes off. There IS a howl of a wind, more of a typhoon or a hurricane that comes out of nowhere. There is a blur of motion, but it is linear, rather than circular.

This continues for, as far as Aura can tell, ten minutes before the blurring stops.

They are next to the topiary manticore that dominates the southeastern quadrant of the garden. As opposed to the late afternoon, it is just after sunrise in Atlantis, the long rays of the sun painting the manticore, the giraffe, the dolphin and all of the other leafy animals with golden morning light.

"As that awakened Tetra gets more active." Lorius says, dusting off his hands. "this is going to be a little trickier to do without causing all sorts of other problems having nothing to do with human guards."

"This time zone shift is going to be unpleasant." Lorius adds. "A siesta may be in order for both of us today. No telling what you'd get up to instead of sleeping." he grins.

"We should sic Mischa's fraternal twin daughters on him for that." Nick whispers in Aura's ear, amused.

"I'll find a Page to deliver the message," she mutters quietly. Aura turns from her bemused study of the Persan giraffe and pokes her tongue out of Lorius.

"Excellent" Nick says excitedly.

Lorius blinks, outwardly at least unaware of Aura and Nick's conversation and plans.

"I don't know about you, but I plan on getting breakfast before anything. I haven't eaten since we were last here. Then a nap, I suppose. Which you will just have to trust me on since I am taking it in my own bed which you will not be in."

Lorius gives Aura a wounded look.

With that she tosses her hair over her shoulder and heads for the palace. "I shall send a message to the Empress requesting a meeting for a situational update. Over lunch, I think. If she's available. It will give them something to focus on besides all the mess piling up at their door."

Lorius, returning to his levitating mode of transport, pulls up alongside as they make their way through the topiary.

"I'm going to have to buy or rent a bungalow or room in this palace at this rate." he says. "Some sort of permanent Pied-a-terre for when I visit."

"I thought that was the infirmary." Nick says.

Lorius coughs.

"Not that I think the Empress would be entirely thrilled with me renting real estate here. The problem with your rich, hedonistic culture is that they are difficult to bribe or throw money at to solve that particular issue. And I suspect raising islands will get me into serious trouble. No, scratch that, I know that it would." he grins.

"At least one kraken would be involved," Aura nods sagely.

"I thought so." Lorius replies.

"You are welcome to take over a wing of my villa, you know," she points out as they walk. Well, she walks. Lorius' shoes must last ages snice he never actually uses them. "I am not going to be there often as it is. Although we will be needing an Embassy for Amber. No doubt you could claim suites there after it's built."

"I *could* borrow rooms in your villa." Lorius says with a smile. "That would solve the problem, and once Amber does have a real embassy here, I would be out of sight and out of mind to the Atlanteans. I wouldn't be *in* Atlantis, technically. So let's do the one until the other."

"Politics and the art of diplomacy is really a magic all of its own, you know." Lorius continues on, letting his voice fill the walk through the gardens and into the palace. "I've discussed this with Pollux. He doesn't quite agree, but its obvious to me. Convincing people that have no logical reason in the world to agree to something to sit and play nice is a form of High magic, and so our cousin is a pretty fair magician with it."

"'Course" Lorius continues "His father Gerard proved his penchant for, ah, diplomacy by somewhat other means when he went to negotiate the treaty with Antioch." He grins. "You'd appreciate that, Aura, he got a treaty and a wife out of the deal. Portia can be a harridan, remind me *not* to introduce you, and Gerard's infidelities don't help matters, but Antioch is one of the strongest friends Amber has in the Golden Circle, bar none."

Aura doesn't comment. Though she does smirk at firebird preening on the bench of a bench as she passes.

"My guess is you don't want another cousin running around Atlantis just yet, even a well behaved one, so Random will have to find someone in the diplomatic corps not named William, Asteria, Pollux or Noys" Lorius says. "Though I suspect he'll be grooming his daughter to serve in it too, if I don't miss my guess."

"It has to be someone who isn't all hung up on clothes and wanting to inflict their moral code on Atlantis." She pauses to pick what looks like a yellow strawberry from a purple tree. "That would go over about as well as a ship load of Jesuits during the Festival of Light."

Lorius stops and grabs one at Aura's instigation, and then picks another and hands it to Nick before he can even start pouting at either of them.

"Right, so that eliminates Asteria, for certain. Too much of a clothes horse and too hung up on her own sense of propriety. Her brother might suit, although he might be bored without some action to keep him interested. So that might mean Dulce, Pollux or Noys." Lorius says. "Random will figure it out in due course."

"Have you not seen my closets?" asks Aura, amused. "Being a clothes horse is not a problem. Being a ...conservative clothes horse is the problem. You know perfectly well that there are days when the only reason people wear fabric at all is to support jewelry. Which we tend to wear more of than fabric."

"I have seen your closets." Lorius says "You haven't seen Asteria's. She outdoes you." Lorius grins. "And sometimes, I think she bathes with clothes on. She would never, ever consider skinny-dipping."

Aura snorts."Then she's definitely out."

"How would you have seen Princess Asteria's closets?" Nick asks.

"Trade secret" Lorius replies.

The Palace looms as they approach it. "'Course, Atlantis is going to need an Embassy in Amber. Their personal room in the Castle won't be a problem, but they'll want a place in the city, too. And of course, you will have to help the Empress pick an Atlantean who can handle Amber's weather and mores in turn."

"Highness." the guards, noticeably more armed and less ceremonial in demeanor than the last time Aura was here, say as one. One of the guards, a short fireplug of a woman looks at Lorius. "Lorius of Amber, cousin to Aura." she names him. "Welcome." Lorius doesn't hide his surprise at all.

"Secret admirer?" Nick whispers in Aura's ear, amused.

Aura smiles widely. She'll tease him later when they're out of earshot of the guard.

"Bright mornings to you. We are just here for another quick visit to pass news on to Her Glory. If someone could see she gets the message we need to see her today? Perhaps at the noon meal.We'll be in my suite until then."

"Very well, Highness. A messenger will be sent to her Glory, the response to be sent to your quarters. Welcome back to the Palace." The guard says.

"Atlantis has gone on a bit more of a war footing." Lorius notes once they are out of earshot and into the palace. "Your lot doesn't take long to respond to attack."

"We do have a standing army," Aura reminds him. "And naval fleets always ready to defend Atlantis and our allies. Atlantis has always been the center of things here among these worlds. We have invested time, energy and lives into building this kingdom and will defend it without mercy or hesitation. You have read our histories; you should know this."

Aura diverts to a nearby maid and requests a large breakfast be sent up to her suites for her cousin and herself.

"As you wish." the maid agrees.

"I have" Lorius says. "And my sister is going to love to read this stuff once our relations are formalized, you know. She'll pick out all the details you and I have missed." he pauses a beat, stopping their progress to regard and study a large Etruscan vase,painted in black and orange. "If we didn't already find that nascent Primal Power, I'm sure she'd deduce its existence within a week of reading the histories and finding the holes. Lucky for us, then, we found it first. Even if she would share." Lorius grins. "I am sure you don't really want to share what we found. Best we try and not share it with my mother as long as possible, either. Not unless you want her as an initiate."

"I'm not sure your mother could hold any more power," chuckles Aura. "She's smaller than I am." Pausing, she turns to look at Lorius. "Could she even try it? Wouldn't that be like Kovikin walking the Pattern?"

"I don't think we know enough about it to be sure." Lorius says with a grin. "But Mother would subject it to intense study to find out the answer to that question." he looks seriously at Aura. "You're either the Dworkin or the Oberon of it, but the rules of blood may or may not apply to it. You don't need blood to walk a broken Pattern, or the Logrus, or any other number of shadow powers. And some you do."

"I'd rather not yet be a guinea pig." he adds."Although I will be extremely interested in how it changes and develops within and around *you*. I wasn't around Amber after Grandfather rewrote the Pattern, and certainly not around when Dworkin created it. This is a unique opportunity."

Aura stops right in the middle of the floor mosaic depicting the Royal Seal of Atlantis and looks at Lorius. "I hadn't even thought o that. I have Pattern and an Atlantian imprint. Hopefully I won't just go mad."

Lorius looks down at the seal and studies it assiduously for a few moments instead of immediately answering Aura's question. He looks up at her.

"We have precious little data" Lorius admits. "However, Corwin managed to create a second Pattern and keep his sanity. As sane as Corwin generally is, anyway." he adds. "And you were born to Tetra. If you weren't, then we might start worrying about how to unspool one of those powers out of you. And both of these powers appear to be order-definers, rather than something like opposing paradigms, like Logrus and Pattern."

"Again, within reason, Merlin and his mother both seem sane." Lorius says. "But I will keep a watch on you. Deal?"

"But how will you recognize my blooming insanity? What if I've been insane all along?" she asks. Aura stills for a long a beat as if hearing something no one else can. Just as suddenly she pivots on the ball of her right foot and continues on towards the grand staircase.

"Aura..." Lorius says, turning to match her. "What's going on. What am I missing." He seems to direct this as much at Nick as he does at Aura.

"Beats me." Nick says, craning his neck to the side to regard Lorius as Aura and Lorius reach the staircase.

"Don't tell me about insanity and the family." Lorius says. "I don't want to consider that you're like my not so favorite manic-depressive Uncle. That's not even worth joking about. Talk to me. What is it?"

She laughs and waves a hand dismissively. "Me? Manic Depressive? That can never happen. I don't think anyone in Atlantis could ever be Manic Depressive. Have you ever met a depressed Atlantean?"

"And it's nothing. I'm sure you don't wish to know what Mister Tall, Dark and Magic is up to at this hour."

Lorius sounds relieved. "No, not depressed, but I've seen Atlantean storminess. First hand, if you will recall." Lorius says. "On multiple occasions. I just thought the bit about me monitoring your mental state was a bad trigger."

"Whatever happens, I'm your cousin, and your friend and ally. But now, I think breakfast and a nap are probably what we should focus on. Before the multiverse tries to throw another knuckleball our way."

"Does anyone use a knuckleball anymore?" Nick challenges.

"Yes!" Lorius says. "On Flora's Earth, no less, not a random variant, either."

"How do you even know what a knuxkleball is?" Aura demands of her familiar. "Isn't that a baseball term? There is no baseball around here. Did Lorius sneak you off for one of the ridiculous field trips?"

"I once took him to a baseball game on Earth." Lorius speaks up before Nick does. "This is that time when you and the Heir took that long boat ride together to get out of the city during the spring rains, and pointedly wanted me elsewhere."

"I was bored." Nick says. "I begged Lorius to take me someplace fun. Everyone is touchy in the palace during the rainy season."

"He's as persuasive as you are." Lorius says. "I was going to go back to Amber and do some work for Mom, but decided this was a better idea."

"It was hilarious" Lorius adds. "I gave him a crash course and then we went out to a few games. The locals all thought he was some sort of spokesman for a company selling policies to insure against automobile accidents. And Nick had a great time. Didn't you ever wonder how and where he learned what a hot dog was?"

Aura huffs. "No, because *I* still don't know what a hot dog is and I don't think you do either. It's like that Coke stuff; only two people in the entire shadow know what's in it."

Lorius snorts. "I admit that the composition of a hot dog is a mystery. Still haven't managed to conjure one that tastes right."

Aura just gives him a look. How can they be more wrong?

She eyes Nick sideways. "A spokeslizard? Really? I didn't think reptiles talked in that world."

"Most of them don't!" Nick pipes up. "But Lorius showed it to me on the television. He wasn't quite as handsome as me of course, or as possessed of good breeding, taste and manners. All he wanted to do was sell insurance to people."

He whispers. "Don't tell Lorius, but I think the talking lizard was a fake. Like a puppet or something."

"Your secret is safe with me," she assures him with an amused smirk. Nick doesn't have manners so much as fear that someone will turn him into something unpleasant if he gets too far out of line.

Aura takes the last few steps of the wide sweeping stairway at a skip before proceeding regally down the silent corridor to her suite. They would eat breakfast then she is sending Lorius to his room, setting Nick on his favorite sunny spot and then hiding behind her own doors and summoning her favorite mage. Her cousin can be forgiven for thinking she and Kovikin would immediately jump each others bones, but she has more serious issues to discuss with the Prince of Atlantis.

Breakfast comes with efficiency, and hunger overwhelms the need for Lorius to engage in chatter. Once again, even if his size belies his Amberian ancestry, his appetite does not. With a yawn, he's happy to crash in another room and leave Aura and Nick to their own devices.

"Mother is unhappy." Kovikin says, once he arrives. "Agitated and irritated. If Duty did not impede it, I would ask you to take me on a long vacation to Amber. Even if that cousin of yours was in tow."

Pausing in removing her jewelry, Aura grimaces and shuts the door behind him with a gesture from across the bedroom. "I dare say what we have to tell her is not going to make her any happier. What has Her Glory in such a high snit at the moment? Other than the growning pains of two new elemental powers coming into being, I thought she would be pleased with Atlantis' status as a Primal Power. It will make dealing with those weaselly little bastards from Chaos easier. I already have at least two new trading partners and allies lined up - including Amber. Which reminds me; she's going to need to appoint an Ambassador pretty quick so they can begin gathering a staff."

Kovikin shrugs out of the light shirt he is wearing, the colorful dyed cotton just about as much as propriety as the Heir to Atlantis should be wearing for day to day work around the Palace.

"It's turned out to be a mixed blessing. Atlantis' politics are usually placid, but this bombshell, combined with the Chaosian incursion, is causing restlessness and conflict. Mother will keep them in line, but it may be a rather messy process."

"Mother did want your input on an Ambassador to Amber." Kovikin says. "How much does experience in being ambassador, to say, Etrusca, help in dealing with your grandfather?"

"I know that might bore you, Aura. But its that, or kidnap your cousin and force him to help make the decision." He gives a grin. "Make him earn his privileges here."

"Ah, but it's not Grandfather we have to deal with anymore," replies Aura cheerfully. "It's Random, and he's much easier to deal with. I've bribed him shamelessly already and everything. He doesn't much enjoy being King and could really use a vacation. But there's too much going on right now for him to skip off."

"Oh. That changes matters." Kovikin says. "Your mother has told stories about your grandfather. Not so much about this Random."

Aura dispenses with the rest of her costume with a wave of her hand. "So, not Thera. I hate to see the swath of broken bodies she would leave in her wake when someone tried to flirt with her or look at her too long in that way. Not that she should be leaving her temple anytime soon anyway; what with two new ones popping up any day now that will need priestesses and guardians. Which eliminates all of the Temple folk right off. A strong female, though. One that won't take any guff, but won't start a war when she's dispensing a lesson in manners and won't complain bitterly at the climate. They'll get enough of that from me."

"Then someone who has served in one of the cooler worlds around Atlantis, then." Kovikin says. Just about the remainder of his clothes are gone, too, although by more mundane methods. "Someone who has seen..." he swallows "snow. Or perhaps even *likes* it."

"Kovikin, the closest thing around Atlantis to a cool world are the mountains of Etrusca and Persa. If I recall, your brother is one who liked tromping through the snow. The weirdo."

Kovikin chuckles. "But that is not a reason to choose Barrin as Ambassador, either. He'll cut a swath, or try to, through the Princesses and Princes alike, and his wife will be miserable."

"I suggest Lorius be consulted about our Ambassador too," she admits. "He has a better understanding of the politics in Amber. He should have some input into the Amber Embassy we build here too, since it's supposed to be a piece of Amber in Atlantis."

"We have to have an Amber Embassy here, I suppose." Kovikin says thoughtfully, closing the distance between him and Aura, and thence into his embrace. "I hope, if we're going to have Lorius help pick our Ambassador, that you can help pick the someone from Amber to serve here. They can't all be like *him*. Your mother, for instance, proves that isn't true."

"They aren't," she laughs. Arms draped over his shoulders, she beings to play with the ends of his hair with one hand. "I am sure some are worse. Between Lorius and I, I am sure we can pick good candidates for both positions. We may as well start thinking of who we can send to Rebma eventually. Atlantis and Rebma seem to have a lot in common - once you get past that whole 'living under water' thing they have."

"Under water" Kovikin shakes his head and moves to lift Aura so that her head is level with his.

"Now, enough talking about diplomats." HE kisses her, fully. "For now." he adds, after the kiss.

Aura smirks and wraps her legs around his hips. "If you insist. But before we meet with your mother at lunch, I want to brief you on the real reason we're here again already."

"Afterwards" Kovikin says, carrying her along. "Much after." Kovikin takes his sweet time making sure that it is much after for him, and Aura.

In the aftermath, with both lying on the bed (finally back *on* the bed), Kovikin props himself on an elbow and looks at her. "All right" he exhales. "you wanted to tell me why you were back so soon. I can't imagine you were merely aroused, unless you spent a year or so away. I know that time can

be different when you leave here. And that wouldn't explain Lorius being with you, unless you're setting him up with someone. And I didn't hear anyone screaming." "So why are you back so soon, Aura?" he asks. "What has changed?"

"Ah, well, I recorded it all for you in a Memory Pearl," Aura says shiftily.

Kovikin raises an an interrogatory eyebrow.

"But let's go with Chaos isn't the only threat out there. I was involved with their attempt at attacking Amber - they tried kidnapping Julian, but his daughter went and promptly brought him home after the rescue party delivered a butt kicking. I captured one of their mages - Random has her in a specially warded dungeon at the moment. It would probably behoove you to send some one back with me to question her."

"Lorius can explain more about what their issues are; apparently Primal Powers offend them in some way. We can adjust the wards around Atlantis to alert you if they come in. You'll have to see to it that Persa and the rest are also aware." She smiles and taps his chest playfully. "An excuse to wake the Kraken."

Kovikin grins. "If they are offended by Primal Powers, they are going to be offended by Atlantis now. As if these Chaosians were not enough. For a decade we've not had to worry about outsiders other than your cousin, now it seems everyone and their brother wants a piece of Atlantis."

"If it's trouble they want, the Kraken will give it to them." Kovikin says. "If these attackers of Amber could threaten Atlantis, Mother will want to send someone to talk to this prisoner. Make him or her part of the Ambassadorial staff. Which gets us back to *that* question."

Kovikin sighs. "Things were much simpler when it was just you, your mother and your cousin. The rest of the universe beyond Persa, Etrusca and the Coral Circle might as well have not existed."

She gives his chest a pat with the flat of her palm before shifting around until she is propped up on one elbow to face him. "Yes, but it threatened to start becoming dull for people who aren't you or me," Aura teases lightly.

Kovikin cocks his head in mild agreement.

"Now, as for the Ambassador issue; Atlantis' Ambassador really should be a woman. I think one of the women who has diplomatic experience that happens to be a powerful mage in her own right would be perfect to lead it. Goddess knows anyone who has had to deal with the hard headed Lemurians or the very male Persans would find Amber a walk in the park. I also think the support staff should include at least one member of the Royal family. I wish you could go, but I understand that you probably won't be able to, being as you're the one who summon's the Kraken and all."

"I am also going to need a staff for when I go play diplomat in Rebma - some very Atlantean types, if you know what I mean. There will be lots of new experiences to explore and Random assures me that they will get plenty of offers and opportunities. I think I would like to take a few Water initiates; they always have such interesting alternate forms from their imprint that would do well in Rebma."

"So we need a whole host of diplomats and staff." Kovikin says. "We use your cousin to help pick the lead, but fill out staff as needed. We can promote some up and use the cream of the crop to go build relations with Amber and this other treaty place you mentioned, and of course your staff for Rebma"

"But would those alternate forms of Water users work in this Rebma?" Kovikin says. "I actually paid attention to Lorius' blather once--he says there is a Pattern underwater there, which makes no sense to me, because the Pattern is fiery. Unless the Pattern is made out of that metal that burns underwater or something. But won't that make Tetra not work there?"

"Or would the new Tetra make it more powerful and let it work there. This is making my head hurt." he complains.

Aura frowns. "Huh. I haven't even tried using my Imprint in Amber, so I don't know how the Pattern will react with it yet. But the shape changing isn't really Tetra -" she sighs - "I'm never going to get used to the name change. From what I was given to understand it's just something that happens when the Imprint boosts your power. My Tetra mentors called it a gift from Celestra - as opposed to the Elemental abilities of the Crystals that are considered gifts from the appropriate goddesses. It's something we'll have to try when we go back."

"I'm surprised you haven't before now." Kovikin admits. "Or at least, out of sight of the Royal Family. Hmmm." He massages a temple with a free hand. "And if we have a real Primal Power here, does that mean that your cousin can't use his powers so much here now? I can bet the Priestesses would pay good money for *that* side effect."

"It sounds like you have years of experiments and diplomacy to work through with all this." Kovikin says. "I'll just be happy to stay here and deal with all of the diplomacy of being the Heir, which is bad enough." He lowers his eyes. "Mother is likely to send me to Amber at some point, for diplomatic purposes. Luckily King Random has a son, not a daughter, not that I think Mother would be interested in a marriage alliance."

"And how do we work out travel and stuff between here and there for people who aren't you, or Lorius?"

"You're silly," notes Aura with a smile. "Imprinted Atlantians have always been able to move between the Worlds; we've just chosen not to for a very long, if you recall. Not very far anyway. But I assume you mean something quicker. When I get back, I will try and open a Gateway to you and see if they work from there. If you haven't heard from me within a day after I leave this time, try opening one to me. Otherwise I will speak with a Trump artist about getting some cards made for the diplomatic staff to bring them to Amber."

"I meant something faster than walking. I've gotten the impression that Amber is far more than just a walk to the far side of the Coral Circle." Kovikin says. "Much further."

"And just so you know, Random does have a daughter. Her Maenois is the other potential trading partner I spoke of. But Dulcinea has her own home Throne to worry about." Aura looks over his shoulder out the high arched windows at the sapphire Atlantean sky a moment. "I think a marriage alliance would have to be a last resort sort of thing. The mores of Amber are quiet a bit different than ours, you know. Atlantis didn't even have words for monogamy and adultery until they started interacting with Etrusca. Those are big deals with Amber and most of the rest of the multi-verse that I've seen so far outside of the Coral Circle. But that's not something to worry about now anyway. We're years away from that stage of the game, and I would think it would almost need to be one of the younger siblings; not you or your elder sister."

"Someone less likely to inherit." he says, cocking her head. "Perhaps on both sides."

He pauses a moment. "Dulcinea of Maeonis. So he has a doubly royal daughter. Hunh." He scratches his chin. "There are going to be a lot of mores and customs for us to get used to, especially if there is regular passage from Atlantis to Amber. But that's got to be years off. Ambassadors first. More regular visits second. We could do with a lot less crash landings."

"I suppose we're going to go have to go talk to Mother now." Kovikin says. "With or without your cousin?"

"Being the resident expert on this meeting's issues, we do rather have to take my cousin with us," says Aura dryly. "Don't think I didn't see that hopeful look in your eye. All things considered, he's behaved rather well recently."

Kovikin exhales. "That won't last, unless someone finds a permanent domesticating influence for him. I can't imagine his mother hasn't tried that already, and failed. Might be up to us." He rolls off of the bed and starts dressing quickly. "But that's hardly on the list of priorities."

"I personally don't think he can be domesticated. It will be an epic shock if and when it happens." Aura rolls out of bed at a more leisurely pace. She is, after all, going to cheat when she gets dressed. A couple of spells and a wave of her hand and *poof*! Cleaned, coiffed and clothed. She does love the magic.

When Aura and Kovikin do get out of her quarters, Nick is still snoozing on the sunny spot where Aura had deposited him. As far as Lorius, he is lounging on a chair in the quarters Aura had deposited him. He closes the book he is reading and sets it down, rising and stretching like a cat.

"Hello cousin." Lorius says to Aura. "Hello Prince." Lorius adds mildly to Kovikin. He looks back at Aura. "I could have used another full day, but I'll take what we get, and thank you for the loan of the room. We're off to talk to the Empress now, I take it?"

"I see what you mean." Kovikin says to Aura.

"See what?" Lorius says.

Aura laughs and nudges Kovikin with her elbow. "Nothing important. We're just a bit punch drunk. We spent too much time discussing the situation with Amber - and that's without discussing our little invading friends. Getting diplomats and staffs organized will be a chore."

"True enough. And instead of someone like Asteria or Pollux to do it or William to fob it off on lackeys in an expert manner, we have you and I." Lorius says. "Well, no help for it. We're going to see the Empress and make some recommendations, I take it."

"Am I a rubber stamp for what you two decide, or are my opinions really expected?" he asks. He regards Kovikin and Aura for a moment. "Wait, you DO want my input, don't you. And so won't your mother." Lorius sighs.

"The sooner we get to work on this, the better, I suppose." Lorius said. "No rest for the wicked." After a appraising look, he adds. "Well, no more rest for now anyway."

"Yes, we do want your input," Aura explains. "Who else are we going to consult who has a working knowledge of Amber and Atlantis? My mother is a bit out of touch, I would imagine."

"Nick!" Calls Aura to her familiar. "Are you joining us or becoming one with that table?"

Nick comes, reluctantly, sleepily, scampering up to Aura with a lassitude that suggests that he was planning on just that.

"Sorry" Nick says. "First decent sleep in days. I could have slept a full day, if you'd let me."

"If I am really unlucky, Uncle Random is going to ask me the converse to this question in short order." Lorius says. "But one problem before the other."

"Good" Kovikin says. "We wouldn't want you to be overtaxed, Prince Lorius."

Lorius ignores the gambit.

"So, let's go." He pauses a beat. "Where do we find the Empress at this time of day, anyway? I get the impression she likes holding formal Court as much as Random does. But that's more of an Atlantean thing, I take it."

"We're meeting them for lunch," Aura reminds him. "And formal Atlantean Court is a huge production. In fact there's a person on staff whose sole responsibility is planning formal Court. They're part of the Herald's detail."

"She doesn't get the work load that people expect." Kovikin says. "Large scale, but infrequent."

"Ah, sort of like Amber's quarterly Festivals." Lorius says. "I am not surprised that I've never been allowed to be around when Court has been on."

Aura puts Nick into her palm. "If you're that sleepy, shift and you can sleep in the safety of a scabbard until we need you."

"And miss the chance to see if Lorius can be diplomatic for the Empress?" Nick says. "I'd stay awake for that." He does have a sleepy look, though.

"Lunch. I can do lunch." Lorius says confidently.

The walk to the Royal quarters, through the palace, goes without much incident, although the sight of the Heir of Atlantis, his girlfriend, and the notorious cousin of hers DOES get more than a look or two, even if Lorius is NOT floating. There is remarkably little sign of any lingering damage from the earlier hostilities.

The Empress, it emerges from asking one of the staff and some go betweening in the midst of their progress, is about to take lunch in the Variscite Atrium , and would be delighted to have her son, Aura and Lorius join her there. In point of fact, as they approach the greenish blue room, some lesser functionaries who clearly had been previously invited to lunch with her Highness are scrambling out of the room. Neither the Heir nor Aura get any recrimination, but one of them glares at Lorius balefully at the threshold.

While she had more or less ignored all the others, she stops in front of this one and draws herself up to all her, admittedly,less than impressive height.

The functionary, one of the endless number in the palace and whose name does not immediately come to mind, draws himself short.

She smiles charmingly and purrs. "Is there a problem?"

"Princess" he says, focusing his gaze on Aura. His avoidance of looking anywhere near Kovikin, who has taken a step to the side, and gently coaxed Lorius to do the same, is obvious.

"With all due respect, highness, your outlander cousin is not worthy of respect. He is a destroyer of property, is a menace and dangerous to Atlantis, and shows no suitable fashion sense. I do not understand why a working lunch I've scheduled with her Majesty for three months should suddenly be halted because of his arrival on the scene."

"My outlander cousin is a Prince in his own right," Aura informs him with deceptive casualness. "From the same line as my mother and myself, which makes me question the respect you profess to have for me. I must admit, I fail to see how his desire to be comfortable in the fashions of his home should have any bearing on how he is treated in a place that has always welcomed the new and different. If you are referring to his crash on the beach, perhaps you should know that had to fight to land there instead of the middle of the city. One does not crash land from a great height on purpose, you know."

"But, to crash in Atlantis at all..." he starts and then stops. Aura can feel Nick shift, and appears to be adding a stare to the mix.

"It might also interest you to know," she continued with a thread of anger starting to lace her increasing frosty words. "That you are lacking a few facts. He nearly *died* protecting the Palace and everyone in it earlier this week and has been instrumental in helping me set new protections around Atlantis." She takes a step closer, getting into his personal space.

He backs up, a little.

"Additionally, you should bear in mind that while I am a notable Sorceress, my outlander cousin taught *me* and he is better than I am. And lastly, this meeting with Her Glory is at *my* request, as is Prince Lorius' attendance at it."

She finished with an arched eyebrow, clearly expecting him to apologize to her cousin.

He casts a look at Lorius, back at Aura and then Aura again. He clears his throat.

"Perhaps I was mistaken in my opinions about Prince Lorius of Amber. If offense is given, I withdraw all such words and ask for pardon."

"Apology accepted." Lorius says with a nod. Kovikin gives Aura a pleased look.

The man doesn't quite hop from foot to foot, but he is sweating and looking nervously at Aura.

Aura let him squirm a moment longer before her sweet smile returned. "You may go. Have a lovely day."

He doesn't quite beat his feet away from Aura, Kovikin and Lorius, but he does as close of an impression to not doing so, while getting out of the way and down the hall as fast as he can.

Nick laughs, first.

"Thanks, Aura." Lorius says. "It occurred to me that he might just get away with the insult, but that would be a bad precedent."

"You can be a right pain," Aura says with a smile. She patted his shoulder fondly. "But you are *my* right pain. I'm the only one who gets to nag your atrociousness fashion sense."

"So that was the final straw!" Nick blurts.

"Quite." Kovikin says. "I think you handled that quite well." Kovikin says. "Shall we go see Mother now?"

"Yes. Let us not keep Her waiting." Aura loops her arms through Kovikin's and gestures grandly. "Lead on."

Kovikin does, leading Aura, with Lorius just off line, into the Atrium. Its a relatively small and un-decorated room--at least by Atlantean standards. The Hermitage, or St. Peter's, or the Court at Constantinople might consider the room suitable.

The Empress of Atlantis is sitting at the center of a large circular table, made of jade, with reliefs of dolphins along the four legs. There are a few servants preparing to serve food, and a couple of scribes as well.

[Casting call: Jodie Foster ]

"My son" she says, rising from the table.. "Princess Aura. Prince Lorius. Nicholas." That gets an exhalation of breath from Nick in surprise. "Thank you for coming." She glances around. "Lunch." she declares.

Lorius' courtly bow is deep.

"Mother" Kovikin says.

Aura quirks an eyebrow at Kovikin before bowing to his mother. "Your Glory. We apologize for the last minute meeting request. But I felt you should be made aware of developments that might affect your realm."

"Indeed" she says.

Straightening, Aura smiles and moves to the seat Kovikin is holding out for her. "And I am pleased to see you less stressed than you understandably were in our last encounter."

Which, frankly, Aura finds slightly suspicious. They had upset things rather seriously and it was odd she was already apparently 'going with the flow'. Especially after what Kovikin told her earlier about his mother's mood. She catches Lorius' eye and glances to the Empress briefly.

Lorius gives a worried nod to Aura, and sits down across from Aura and Kovikin. The Empress has him on the right, and Aura and her son on the left.

"Part of the reason why I agreed to this lunch was to discuss those matters with you, in turn." the Empress says. "You have your own agenda of items, and I, as you might expect, have mine. I'm certain." and the edge of steel comes into her voice. "we can all discuss what needs to be discussed in an equitable fashion."

Plates of shrimp, crab legs, and sliced grilled vegetables are placed in front of everyone, and glasses are filled with a white wine of some sort.

The Empress says nothing for five minutes, instead taking up the time to eat. Her eyes keep watching and studying her guests for all three hundred seconds.

"The damage to the Palace may be cosmetically repaired, but between that and this revelation, Aura." The Empress begins. "if not for my son, and the immediate threats and problems facing Atlantis, I would be ordering you to stay away from Atlantis for a while. A long while."

"Threats and problems that are your fault, partly, Prince Lorius." she adds, and then returns her attention to Aura and Kovikin.

"Aside from your cousin's crash landing." she says "this business began with agents invading Atlantis, seeking to revenge themselves on your Mother." the Empress says. "Did it not?"

Aura grimaces, for it is truth. But now that she's seen Herself's temper, she feels better. "Yes. But I have spoken with King Random in Amber about the situation. It seems they -the Chasosians -do not learn from their recent ...beat down at the hands of Amber and may need a refresher. Lorius and I did add to Atlantis' wards to keep them out, so that brand of trouble shouldn't bother you again. Atlantis is my home. No matter where else I may live, Atlantis will always be dearest in my heart and a part of me. As long as I draw breath I will do everything in my power to protect it." She glances sidelong at her cousin. "And as long as I do, Lorius will come if I call."

Lorius gives a nod of confirmation as Aura speaks.

"Despite his unfortunate crash and anything he may have done that you found annoying in the past, he *is* a very powerful mage, Having his help is worth a few irritations - even the large ones. I am not at all sure I could have defeated that demon on my own."

The lips of the Empress purse slightly at this.

"And Your Glory," Aura says carefully. "I am confessing to this because I hold you in very high esteem. Not only as the ruler of Atlantis, but because you are Kovikin's mother and he is most dear to me and always has been. You could order me to stay away, yes. But as I am the one that has awoken Atlantis' true Power and its sentience, I very much doubt you could keep me out. I don't know what it's going to mean in the long run that I am the one that has done that. There is no one around I can ask. Even if there was another Founder around, they won't be in my unique situation; being a Pattern and Crystal initiate. We are going to monitor it and see what comes of it. I will, of course, pass on anything we learn."

"Indeed." The Empress says. "And you are Atlantean by blood."

"She is." Kovikin says, piping up. "Aura is a loyal daughter of Atlantis."

"So" The Empress says.

She looks at her son, looks at Aura and then focuses on Lorius.

"Perhaps I should post the question of cost to the Prince of Amber." she says, looking at Lorius. "A powerful mage you may be, and the cousin of Aura, but your presence shows a distinct lack of appreciation for all of the citizens of Atlantis, with a few exceptions. It is as if you vacation here at your whim, and do not think fully on what it means to come here for those who make it their home."

"I shall have to think on this" the Empress says. "However, a more permanent association and stake in Atlantis is clearly mandated if you are going to be allowed to return to Atlantis, Prince Lorius."

Lorius winces.

Aura doesn't know whether to wince or laugh, so she bites her tongue and gives the fire gem on her ring an intense study.

"But enough of that for the moment." The Empress says. She turns back to Aura. "You came to me with news and information. Beyond the status of Atlantis' evolving power, I imagine. Let's hear it."

"There are a couple of things, actually," Aura says while toying with her wineglass. "First, His Majesty Amber is interested in establishing formal relations with Atlantis. I am sure once Her Majesty Rebma hears about us, she will want the same. Random has asked me to go there for awhile - sort of an ambassador, I suppose." She glances at Lorius for confirmation.

"An envoy" Lorius says. "Since Amber has no official Ambassador to Amber."

"Why not?" the Empress says

"They used to be our vassal" Lorius says.

"I'll be able to tell you more after I've visited. But from what I hear so far, I gather they will mesh well with Atlantis' views, societal structure, and mores. But they are not the powerhouse Amber is, keep in mind. That and they live underwater."

"Underwater?" The Empress blinks in confusion.

"I believe Lorius will be very helpful on both the Amber and Atlantis ends

for picking the diplomats and staff if you agree. He knows -" Aura raises her hand against the scoff she knows is coming "-honestly, he does - enough about both world's cultures and people to know who will be able to do the required jobs happily and won't be a danger to Atlantis or be more interested in ferreting out our secrets than doing their job. I have only met a handful of the Amber Royals and none of their officials and nobles; I would not be a good choice on that end beyond letting them know what we do *not* want. Just as he can tell us what type of person won't work well in Amber. A male convinced of his own superiority is right out as a diplomat to Atlantis, for instance. He can answer your questions about Amber and what would make a successful Ambassador from Atlantis better than I can. My mother could as well, of course, but she is not sufficiently recovered from her recent ...trauma."

"Still not" Lorius says gravely.

"Well, then." the Empress says. "So we need to decide on diplomats." She affixes her eyes on Lorius. "Your opinion will be requested imminently." she says to him.

"Yes, your Glory." Lorius says.

This seems to satisfy The Empress and returns her attention to Aura.

"You mentioned there were a couple of topics, besides diplomacy." The Queen says to Aura. "We may as well set an agenda before we get into the weeds of any particular one." She picks at her plate and waits for Aura to continue.

Aura sets a memory pearl in the center of the table. "Amber has issues of its own right now. Unfortunately, as soon as word gets out on our status as a Primal Power, they will be ours as well. This is a memory of an attack on Amber and the response from the group I was in. Please watch, Yourself and Kovikin, before we explain the details. Lorius knows more than I on this."

Kovikin and the Empress gravely watch the events in Arden wordlessly as the scene there unfolds. You can see questioning looks from the Empress, and calculating looks from Kovikin, but both hold off their words until the memory replay is dune.

"Do you have anything further to add before we ask our questions?" The Empress says to Lorius.

"Perhaps a preamble to answer the obvious ones you have." Lorius says. "Your Glory."

"The Omphalos are an extradimensional threat from a realm where they control the single Primal Power. They appear to find, attack and destroy other realms with Primal Powers, erasing the Primal Power, enslaving or killing the inhabitants. Why they do this, we don't precisely know. We do know they have practice. A distant relation of mine, and Aura's, is from one of these other universes, and bears witness to what they do. He escaped to their world, and blended in, and eventually contacted us when he discovered they look to do to Amber, Chaos, and yes ,Atlantis, what they did to his realm and others."

"Their military capacity appears to be not extremely capable, they rely on high magic and their mobility with using their Doors to place forces. That's their true strength. They placed another two Doors at the same time as this one. I helped unravel one, the other was in Rebma. That appears to have been an accident on their part. Some sort of targeting error. They appear to target Primal Powers and use them as beacons."

"So they could find Atlantis due to the awakening of the Power here?" The Empress says. "And place a door somewhere in Atlantis and do this?"

"Yes" Lorius says. "They could, can and unless checked, will. So, the Omphalos need to be countered."

"How do we do that?" Kovikin says. "How do we reach them?"

"Uncle Benedict is gathering forces and relations to respond, decisively. Aura and I, among others, have been requested to render our presence and aid. Which is about as much a request as, say, a request from you to one of the nobles of the Court or one of your subjects."

"I see" the Empress says. She looks at Aura expectantly.

Aura looks helplessly at Kovikin before answering the unasked question.

Kovikin gives Aura a sympathetic look but does not intervene and lets Aura speak.

"I am not a military type, so I am not sure what to say. They were not expecting a high caliber sorceress, which is why I was as effective as I was on my own. However, I cannot see that they are all that since I overcame my fair share of their mages and captured one for interrogation. But as Lorius *has* unraveled a Door, I am hopeful that we can work out some sort of ward or at least an alarm for Atlantis. If nothing else, he can teach some of Battle Mages of Ashura how to do what he did. I believe you should alert Atlantis' allies. They could be used as a backdoor into Atlantis."

Lorius cranes his neck as if to wanting to interject but holds his fire.

She wrinkles her nose. "If it were me, I would see about slipping some more Battle Mages into the embassy in Lemuria on the sly. They would be the weak spot if the Omphalos were try and find an easy in through a backdoor. You know how they are and they have no magic to speak of anymore. Etrusca would need some on hand as well. High Magic is not their forte."

Folding her hands on the table, Aura adds carefully. "And I believe it would be helpful if I had a few Atlantean Mages with me when I present myself to Benedict. They would have first hand experience with combating this threat and it would be a singular experience to fight under Benedict of Amber. I have it on good authority that there is no warrior like him anywhere. Considering who my parents are, I think that is saying something. High Priestess Thera would be an excellent choice, but I know this is not really a good time for her to be absent from Atlantis."

She wasn't really thrilled with the idea of Thera and her taciturn self being with her in Amber. That woman had long forgotten how to have fun. With her luck, Thera and Benedict would get along swimmingly.

"That was the heart of what I was asking" The Empress says quietly. "Whether you think I need to commit forces beyond Atlantis' borders, or merely see to our own defense and concerns. Justifying a foreign expeditionary force is a very high bar, Aura." she says.

"If I might interject" Lorius says.

"Yes?" she says coldly

"The Omphalos' methods show some randomness in where they come out rather than pinpoint accuracy every time. Aura is right. They could have their door manifest in the middle of the Great Forum in Etrusca, the high cathedral in Lemuria, as easily as somewhere in Atlantis. A reaction force to aid Atlantis' friends, allies and client states would be wise, your Glory. I am sure your son is up to the challenge."

"Client states?" The Empress says.

"Client states." Lorius says. "I do know some shadows around Atlantis are much more dependent on Atlantis than the reverse."

"And sending an Atlantean Mage or three with you and Aura?"

"It would help seal the budding relationship with Amber, and Uncle Benedict wants a mix of forces. The Omphalos can't counter what they don't see coming. They don't know about Atlantean sorcery save through Aura. But I agree, the High Priestess is a bad idea. Too much on the stove here."

"Fine" the Empress says. She looks at Aura. "You will work with Thera to pick three of her most promising sorceresses to accompany you."

Mentally sighing, Aura nods. She could work with the woman that long. "Yes, Ma'am. While we're here, do you suppose it would be possible to arrange to bring Caliph Nasir up to speed? They're Atlantis' strongest ally in the Coral Circle and Persan magic is sufficiently different from Amber's and Atlantis' to provide more variety to our forces when we go against the Omphalos. Many of the same arguments apply for them as much as for Atlantis' mages."

The Empress looks at Kovikin. "What do our military treaties have to say on the matter, son?" she asks with the intent of someone who already knows the answer.

"Mutual military support in cases where threat to one or both worlds is great enough that the other is potentially threatened." Kovikin says, in a textbook like recitation. "Such support is intended to be both arcane as well as military, both naval as well as foot and horse soldiers. At the very least, the Caliph would be obligated to send a few Yatuvah as sorcerous aid. Perhaps even the high fire sorceress. I forget her name. They may want to send some Anausa heavy infantry as well."

"Very well" the Empress says. "Kovikin, you will speak to the Persan Ambassador and have him contact the Caliph, and tell him of all this. I doubt he will refuse the request, he may very well offer it unsolicited."

"Yes, mother." Kovikin says.

"Would you like us to meet with a group of mages first so Lorius can explain what to do in case one of these pops up?" Aura asks the Empress. "Or would you like to meet with the High Priestesses first before we let anyone else know about them?"

Aura looks at Lorius in that 'I'm sure I'm forgetting something....' kind of way.

Lorius gives a nod to Aura, clears his throat, and looks at the Empress.

"Your glory. It may be useful to distribute the image of the bronze door widely in Atlantis and its neighboring polities. The key to defeating their incursions is to limit their ability to reinforce a beachhead. Therefore the faster a Door is spotted and recognized, it can be reacted to."

Kovikin gives a grudging grunt of respect.

The Empress gives a nod, and Lorius continues.

"I think the mages are the first to tell. Aura and I can't be everywhere, and we may be well leading a cadre over to Uncle Benedict when the Omphalos drop a Door in and cause havoc. So, if I have them trained in the basics of dispelling the blasted things, so much the better."

"Very well. See to both." she says to Lorius and Aura. "Create and share images of the Door for the Mages, the Priestesses, the military and the diplomats here. Speak to the Mages about the threat and how to counter it."

Aura sees many hours with a chest of Memory Pearls in their futures. It's the best way.

"There is only the matter of the diplomats now, yes?" she says, tapping the side of her glass for a refill from a nearby servant.

"Yes," Aura nods agreeably. "Perhaps we should start with what you would and would not like to see in Amber's representative to Atlantis? We can make our recommendations to Random from that."

"Let me ask the Prince a question first, Aura" her eyes fixate on Lorius.

"Yes, your Glory" Lorius responds.

"I see the first diplomat as an important milestone in our relationship. A way to set the relationship on a positive footing. Are there members of your family you deem capable and able to hold down a role in Atlantis for a year or two?"

Lorius blinks his eyes for a moment. "Yes, your Grace"

"Good." She looks at Aura for confirmation.

"So, We begin there." The Empress says. "If Amber is willing to commit to this diplomatic relationship, it should be willing to have someone of high rank and status as the diplomat, as a way to show the strength of that bond. Preferably someone who does not have a modesty taboo. I would rather..." she looks at Lorius "rather not have an extremely powerful sorcerer. The idea of the High Priestess and a sorcerer cum diplomat from Amber getting into conflict would not be appreciated."

"Not I, then." Lorius says.

"No" the Empress says. "As I have said, I have other plans for you."

"A member of the royal family. Not a High sorcerer, and someone who isn't a conservative prude." Lorius says with a swallow.

"Given your Atlantean viewpoint, there is at least one member of the Royal Family of Amber that would suit those conditions, is there not, Aura?" she asks Aura.

Aura blinks at her and Lorius. "I'm sure there is. But as you've heard, I haven't actually *met* that many of them. Much less spent any quality time with anyone other than Lorius and Dulcinea. Well, Ederyn. But I think Atlantis would make his head explode." She looks again at Lorius. "Are you thinking of Noys?"

"Pollux or Noys would be the way I'd counsel the King." Lorius says. "Both have done plenty of diplomatic duty and would understand the importance of this assignment."

"Noise?" Kovikin says, confused.

"She's heard all the jokes." Lorius says to Kovikin.

"Tell me of Noys" The Empress commands.

"Noys is the daughter of the previous King of Amber, Eric, your Grace." Lorius says. "She has experience in diplomacy and administration, helping Uncle Gerard run Amber's diplomatic department while most of the family were off in Chaos. I've also collaborated on projects with her."

"Of course" Lorius says, turning her head to Aura. "If Random picks Noys, Ederyn's obligatory visit would get the head explosion visual. But its also probably 20 degrees centigrade too warm for him here anyway."

"Who is Pollux?" the Empress says.

"Admiral Gerard's son. He runs the diplomatic corps right now for Random, although he does prefer to be a field man rather than stuck in the Castle doing paperwork. We share a love of astronomy, actually. Castor, too, but he's not a diplomat. Unless you like the kind of diplomacy resulting from maneuvering fleets around."

"Either Noys or Pollux would suit and be satisfactory, then." she says with a smile. "Very well."

"Pollux would love the night skies of Atlantis," Aura smirked. "Especially in the Spring. I didn't spent a lot of time with Noys, but I believe her to be a strong woman. One with a sword. Thera would like her."

"That's scarily true." Lorius says.

"And who would Your Glory like to send to Amber?"

"I have been giving this thought" the Empress says. "I was thinking Io,

actually. Given her good work in working with Sagraine during the resettlement of refugees after what happened during the Rodinian Exodus, she would have the patience and no-nonsense to deal with your Amberite kin."

"That, or Kyra, but I suspect she might be a little too tempestuous, yes?" The Empress says.

"Oh, Io would be excellent," Aura agrees without a moment's thought. While not close, she'd known Io for some time and admired her greatly "She's very down to earth and won't be swayed by pretty speeches and meaningless compliments or find insult where none is meant. I believe Kyra needs a bit more experience before she's given a task of this importance. Perhaps she could be part of Io's embassy staff."

Lorius bobs his head in agreement. "I've heard of both, although I don't think I've met either at long length, except at one of the Festivals, maybe."

"The fire behind the mountain." Kovikin says. "You will need someone like that behind Io to deal with Aura's relatives, in a junior capacity."

The Empress nods to her son indulgently, and looks to Aura. "Done." she says with a clap of her hands. "There is still one matter to be settled, but I think a little time to consider it would be wise." She gives Lorius a glance and then settles her gaze on Aura.

"Now, is there anything else that you need, Aura, at this time? I believe your course of actions" she sweeps her gaze to include her son and Lorius. "are all clear at this time?"

"That is all for now," Aura agrees. "Lorius and I will create some memory pearls of the Portal and that battle for the appropriate people before we meet with them."

Lorius nods his head in agreement.

She rises and steps back from the table. "Thank you for lunch and your time, Your Glory."

"We have matters to speak of still, we will speak of them soon, Aura." The Empress says, waiting a moment enough for her son and Lorius to get up as well before rising. "Until then." she says, in a tone suggesting that the lunch is indeed over.

"Well, that could have gone worse." Kovikin says. "Much worse."

"Very true," Aura agrees cheerfully. But she waits until they are well away from the Royal Presence and on the way back to her rooms for pearls before she smirks mischievously.

"Is it just me," Aura asks Kovikin airily; "Or does it seem your mother might be considering marrying Lorius off to an Atlantean?"

Nick snickers.

"Wait, what?" Lorius says. "Is that what Her Glory was suggesting? That I be married to an Atlantean? I thought she was asking me to be a landowner or maintain residence here for a defined period or something."

Aura winks slyly at Kovikin. Sure, it was one of several options the Empress could have been alluding to. But it was by far the most entertaining.

"Yes, I do think that Mother is looking to marry off your cousin to an Atlantean. I do think so indeed." Kovikin has a pleased look on his face and concentrates on Aura and Nick. "We will, mostly you, of course, have to offer suggestions for a suitable candidate for Lorius. Someone who would be both good for him, and be able to handle him."

"Why are you speaking as if I was furniture or not present?" Lorius says.

"Because it amusing me, my darling godfather," Aura drawls playfully. "Do I have a godmother? Because your wife would be like a step-godmother, wouldn't she? I shall have to pick carefully."

Lorius is struck speechless. Nick laughs and Kovikin is grinning widely.

She turns back to Kovikin. "One of Misha's twins, do you think? Perhaps Pelagia. Though I'm not sure how much Lorius could contribute to running the tavern. Sarra might be better."

Aura offers a follow up to Lorius. "She's a descendent of the line of Nerissa, the first Priestess of Water."

"You've mentioned Misha before, but you're right, I am not sure I would be useful to running a gesthaus of any stripe. Not even if you put me in a harlequin and made me juggle." Lorius says. "Sarra sounds more promising, if this is what the Empress has in mind. One of the healers of the temple?"

"The Vorpal Blonde!" Nick pipes up.

"Misha is the Dock Master," Aura reminds her cousin and ignores Nick. "His twins are copper headed and, I think, taller than you. Enyo and Erato. You've met them. Actually, I'm not sure they would consent to being split up by marriage." She pauses before adding cheerfully. "You might have to take them both!"

"Sarra," she continues, "is not one of the Healers. Not at the moment, at least. She is preparing to take her Air imprint. She already has Water, naturally."

"Naturally." Lorius says. "She sounds, err, promising. Not sure what a Vorpal Blonde is."

"I think arrangements would be possible if the Queen decides on the Twins. You're not in Amber, you're in Atlantis." Kovikin reminds Lorius.

"Aura, you do know Oberon got in trouble because of bigamy, right?" Lorius says.

"And?" Aura retorts. "Did you know that pure Atlantean has no word for bigamy? Nor do Persa or Etrusca. It isn't our fault you grew up in an up-tight corner of the multi-verse."

"I had forgotten about that aspect of Atlantean." Lorius says. "Or Atlantean culture."

"We've talked about Erato and Enyo and you before." Nick says.

"You have?" Lorius says, furrowing his eyebrows in thought. "Anyway" he says. "The Queen hasn't even yet decided on this. We do have other problems >> before putting a ring on my finger, don't we? Or, Unicorn preserve me, two rings."

"We have business to do." Kovikin says. "However, the idea of domesticating you is an appealing concept. You'd get guards and nobles glaring at you less, for one thing."

"Certainly," agrees Aura as they make it to her floor. "The twins would thrash them and Sarra might just turn them into tadpoles if they dared."

"But you are correct; we have much to do." Aura smirks at Lorius. "That doesn't mean we can't take the walk up here to tease and harass you."

"Something you said earlier, Aura" Kovikin says. "Is Lorius really your godfather?". He stares at Lorius for a long moment. "That is the sort of responsibility delegation that I find somewhat difficult to believe." He pauses and smiles wickedly. "We should also tell Mother this."

"So he says," says Aura with a playfully suspicious look at Lorius. "I have yet to ask Mother about that."

"But," she continues on to Kovikin. "You must admit he hasn't done too bad a job at it. I'm still alive, I understand enough about the Pattern to be getting on with and use it to support my sorcery in quite delightful ways and he doesn't hover over my shoulder trying to imprint Amber's sensibilities on me. Although I sometimes despair just what exactly he has imprinted upon Nick."

"Only the best, baby." Nick says. "Only the best."

"That is what worries me." Kovikin says dryly.

She looks to Lorius. "I somehow feel finding out the truth behind your interest in me should change the relationship. But I've thought of you as a tutor and such too long to bother." She grins again. "And a sometimes my annoying but lovable cousin. Rather like a puppy."

"A puppy? You sound like I need to be housebroken or something, cousin." Lorius says. "Like I have messes you need to clean up."

"Well..." Nick says. "You must admit..." He stops and snickers.

Aura just gives her cousin a pointed look.

"As we said, the Queen will seek to domesticate you." Kovikin says. "I do think, Aura, that the domestication option is the way to go with your cousin. I don't think even the twins can completely change his nature. As incorrigible as it is. But perhaps enough to suit."

Lorius breathes in and out and finally speaks. "Right, we were going to talk to the magicians about how to spot Doors, right? Memory Pearls and all that?"

Aura reaches over and pats his cheek gently. "Calm yourself. We're teasing you. You must not get that very often. We couldn't start them until we get back to my rooms, could we?"

"The subject is new." Lorius admits. "Certainly Mother has never expressed any plans or wishes to marry me off. Not even Oberon has. There aren't even that many successful marriages and relationships in Amber's royal family. You can count 'em on one hand."

Aura gestures with one hand towards her rooms causing the doors to open silently before them. "Now, how many do we need, do you think? One for each group? Not forgetting the Coral Circle groups."

A small jewelry chest is summoned from her bedroom and settles on a low table in the center of the seating area. "I may not have enough. Kovikin, you may need to liberate some from the Treasury."

"By Liberate, you mean that I am going to have to impel them by the force of my rank and personality." Kovikin says. "Stooping to common theft should not be necessary. But I think." he smiles. "That is my cue to allow the two of you to work on the first batch while I go do that."

He gives Aura a kiss, a very surprised Lorius a quick punch on the shoulder, and heads out.

Lorius stares at his back as he departs, and shakes his head.

"Right." Lorius says, turning back to his cousin. "If we are providing information, we make as many of these as we can stand." Lorius says. "As high magic as Atlantis is, my impression of the Oompas is that they rely on getting their foothold. We've stopped them to date because they haven't had the chance to establish zones of control and permanent beachheads. The more pearls we distribute, the less likely they will be able to do that in and around Atlantis before they can be countered." Lorius pauses. "Unicorn, I'm starting to sound like your Mother, or Uncle Benedict."

"That's not such a terrible thing," Aura remarks dryly while plucking out the appropriate pearls. She pauses and looks up at him.

"I know you didn't especially enjoy being teased as much as we enjoyed doing it, but I appreciate you not getting all huffy, offended and indignant. For a moment there Kovikin had a chance to see you when you aren't being all conscious about your dignity and carrying on with that arrogance inherent to the Royal Family of Amber. That's part of why you've rubbed so many people the wrong way, you know. You've always moved as if you were above all this here, had an air about you that just seemed to broadcast "I am Amber and you are to me but fleeting peasants." You never said any such thing, of course, but that was how you made people feel. You were even too good to walk the same earth as the rest of us, floating along over it as you usually do. So thank you for being a person today and not an arrogant burk."

Lorius looks thoughtful for a long moment, which stretches to a half minute, before Nick pipes up.

"Cat got his tongue." Nick says.

"Thank you." Lorius says. "I suppose, if I were to put myself on the psychiatric couch, that mortal threats to the universe cause growth and change in my personality. I was, I suppose, completely insufferable before Patternfall. Assuming the Omphalos don't get us all killed, perhaps I will grow some more. With or without the machinations and efforts of Her Glory."

"Or my favorite pupil." he adds with a grin.

She responds with a look of wide-eyed innocence. "But Lorius, I only want you to be happy."

Nick snickers.

Aura ignores Nick's expected snicker and smiles genuinely. "I'm sure she won't come up with anything terrible. She will have to live with the results, after all."

"We'll see how similar Her Glory is to Moire." Lorius says. "Moire has a cruel streak to her that the Empress doesn't quite have, though. That is at least comforting. Her Glory wouldn't marry me to a blind Atlantean for laughs."

"Funny how that backfired on Moire." Lorius muses.

Aura shares a look with her familiar She was fair certain there was no such thing as a blind Atlantean. Though he did have a point; Her Glory was not cruel, though she could be utterly ruthless when pushed. Hopefully she didn't feel Lorius' previous behavior had pushed her that far.

Holding out a pearl Aura rolls it in her palm. "Do you remember how to do this?"

Lorius takes another pearl, and holds it up to his eye as if appraising it. "Perhaps you best refresh my memory. Or, more accurately, refresh me on the Atlantean way of doing this, cousin. I've impressed recordings on precious objects before, but those are usually keyed just to me. And that would be entirely counter-productive."

"Well, these particular pearls are predisposed to memory impressions," Aura explains as she tosses him one. "It's actually very easy. Just bring up the memory to the forefront of your mind with as much detail as possible. Then close your fist around it and will the imprint." She pauses and frowns slightly. "That may be too simple an explanation for most people, now that I think on it. But I've been doing this since I was five so it's second nature and you are more than capable of this."

"Oh certainly." Lorius says, taking a pearl. "I was mostly seeing how you would describe the procedure. Knowing something is one thing, describing and elucidating it is another thing entirely. Even a simple thing as this, or even simpler things."

"Our cousin Ederyn, for instance." Lorius says. "Did you know he can't read? Or couldn't when he came to Amber? Even if that's simple for us and simple to describe? I doubt he can't reckon that well, either. But Noys and I are fixing that, even now. Mostly Noys."

"Here's a thought." Lorius says, rubbing the pearl in his palm, imprinting it. "The pearls each of us make are going to be slightly different, even if we impress the same events and knowledge. Do you think that's a problem?"

Aura picks out another pearl and rolls it between her palms. "Of course they'll be different. We were in different places during the encounter. Our experiences - and the way we experience things - are going to be different even if we had fought side-by-side. As long as the vital information is in the memory that's all that matters. We will review each others memories after we've done a few. That way we'll know if anything important was missed from our points of view. It may be that we'll need to give each group one of each. That might be a good idea anyway. I did have that conversation with their mage that you missed."

"Och, yeah." Lorius says. "I missed that bit entirely."

She summons a pair of golden bowls from a display shelf across the room. One settles in front of Lorius. Delicate blue enameled firebird feathers adorn the rim. Aura's is similarly decorated with pink lotus petals.

"You know, on the subject, Aura, here's a question before I finish this one." Lorius says, still rubbing the memory pearl in his palm. "You think the mages will be interested in my doings with Cas and Pol? I know *you* would, but would it be too much information? I also worry about the side effects of showing them how I unraveled the Door. Without a primal power..." Lorius stops, and grins. "Without the Pattern, Atlantean sorcery might not suit to do that, or might react in an unpredictable manner with a Door in a conflagration."

"Big Bada Boom?" Nick says.

"Big Bada Boom." Lorius says. "I'd rather not be responsible for more property damage in Atlantis, even if it gets rid of the Door in the process."

"Hmmm," she responds with a frown. "Perhaps you should end it before that and then we'll explain why. Since I can actually draw on both kinds of magic, if you teach me how to do it with Pattern then we should be able to reverse engineer the process for Atlantean sorcery. To avoid any Big Bada Booms."

Aura scowls at both of the males in the room. "Seriously? Bada Boom?"

Lorius looks at Nick. "She doesn't get the intonation of her voice right."

Nick snickers.

"Yet another movie night." Lorius says to Aura. "I suspect at this rate. you might declare a moratorium on them. But seriously, it would be easier to have a Door to practice on, so we can do live fire testing. But I can show you how and what I did with Pattern; A high mana shadow like Atlantis should allow for Atlantean sorcery to work, once you adapt it. A tad slower, without the Primal Power backing it though."

He stops rubbing the pearl after a few moments. and sets it to one side.

"Now, this is what I did." he explains, sketching some forms in the air. Fifteen minutes later, Aura has it down. A matter of undoing the knot of energies that hold the Door in place is the key, from Lorius' technique, to undoing the Door. The potential energies of the Door are high, and severing, rather than untying, would, to use Lorius' phrase. cause a big bada boom. Undoing in a graduated process allows for the energies to bleed out safely. Atlantean sorcery might use a somewhat different technique, absorbing the energy and depowering the knot before severing it, Earth based Hexad users might have an advantage, in "grounding the circuit", and water might dissipate the energies faster. Air users would be neutral, but a Fire user would have to be careful not to cause a conflagration.

Aura hums thoughtfully and picks up a pearl to store the process in. "The Fire Mages will be disappointed, no doubt. But it isn't like there won't be anything for them to set on fire while the rest work on the Door."

"Correct" Lorius says. "They will have their own fun without any unnecessary explosions. Not that I am hoping for a Door to manifest to test my theories and Atlantean Sorcery and power on, but I would like the confirmation of my theories, or new evidence to amend them."

He gives a grin to Aura. "This is similar to the Patternfall War, dealing with Chaosian sorcerers of all stripes, magic types we'd not seen before, developing stuff on the fly to keep Chaosian Warmains from teleporting right in the Castle and assassinating Eric, or turning half of Arden into a Blackwood, or dropping depth charges on Rebma." He glances at Nick. "Queen Moire is not a fan of booms, either. And neither is Moire's pet sorcerer and his daughter."

"Pet sorcerers are a must have accessory," Aura declares knowingly. "Who is hers?"

"The sorcerer's name is Minos. You've met his daughter, Priya." Lorius says. "I'm more than half convinced Minos has some sort of odd non-Rebman ancestry in his background,but his daughter is a much more straightforward Rebman shapeshifter and student of magic. Mom likes her."

Aura frowns and mouths silently at Nick. "I did?"

"I think i would have remembered that." Nick chuckles.

"Och" Lorius clucks. "No, you two didn't, although I am sure you will in due course. She seems more reasonable and stable than the last Rebman they had in the post."

Lorius picks up another pearl and starts imprinting it. If Lorius truly didn't remember how it was done, he picked it up awfully quickly. "This is like the magical equivalent of needlepoint."

She waits until she is done with her current memory store before responding to him. "You know I do not do needlepoint, so you will have to explain."

"A type of sewing" he explains. "Its a way to embroider designs and patterns into a canvas to form a stiff design. Its a repetitive task that noblewomen from Amber to Earth do. You get the hang and pattern of it and you can zone out and produce designs in good time."

He drops the second pearl into the bowl and takes a third. "But we probably will get this done sooner if I stop babbling."

Smirking, Aura drops one and picks up one in each hand. "Some of us can handle two at a time." Pausing a beat she adds with a grin: "Make of that what you will."

"I could take that entirely the wrong way." Lorius says with a grin. "Several varieties of the wrong way, but I'd rather not get in trouble with your boyfriend by saying them aloud. He doesn't seem the terribly jealous type, to be honest, though."

"There isn't much of that at all around here," Aura says with a shrug and a hint of superiority. "What is there to be jealous of, after all? I've never met an ugly Atlantean - or even a plain one. It has to have been built into the Powers of Atlantis somehow. Even when someone marries outside of Atlantis their children are beautiful. Everyone here is talented in some way in some art or science, magic is free to all, every one is educated, people aren't possessive of each other, there's no poverty, we're long lived, we tend to see the land itself as as the largest citizen of Atlantis - which is why that crash on the beach caused such an uproar."

Lorius winces visibly.

Aura waves a hand around to indicate her elegantly appointed rooms. "Sure, not everyone lives in a palace. But every home is beautiful in its own way. And we learn from our mistakes. The ruins of Atla remain even after all this time as a reminder of the what the pursuit of power without wisdom can lead to."

She stops and gives him a lopsided smile. "And now from my soapbox I will descend."

"Indeed" Lorius says. "Heritable factors and the magic of the shadow. Anyway, since her highness might be looking at a diplomatic marriage to moderate me, if she doesn't expect me to dedicate a temple or start a Lorius' Bulgogi Tacos franchise chain in Atlantis instead, I should put the shoe on the other foot, while he is out still gathering pearls."

Aura looks at him warily.

"Have you and Kovikin discussed, well, a permanent relationship, Aura?" Lorius concentrates on a pearl. "I get the feeling you two are very casual about it, in typical Atlantean fashion. But you know, if Atlantis and Amber are going to have stronger ties, marriage alliances are a traditional method of doing that, although Oberon mostly did the marrying. Gerard a big exception, though."

"Meh," she shrugs. "I don't imagine it would change much between us. Atlanteans don't really choose to settle into monogamy until they're very old and looking to spend their remaining years with someone they're comfortable with and want only them. But that doesn't necessarily mean marriage. Plus, we differentiate between emotional monogamy and physical. Physical is not important; it's where the heart goes that matters. Whoever I am with will need to understand that and accept it. Kovikin's parents are both married and monogamous but the marriage was many years prior to them deciding they only wanted to be with each other.

"We've talked about it, yes. He and my Father have discussed it. Not a lot, but it has come up. We've all known I would leave for Amber one day and it might be something that would forge a bond between Amber and Atlantis. Who better for a Prince of Atlantis than a Princess of Amber who also carries Atlantean blood and sensibilities?"

"Well, there is that. There's a whole crop of cousins with ties to various shadows and polities. Atlantis, and thus you, are in a particularly interesting place and role, given that Atlantis is a Primal Shadow, and a Power-in-the-Making. Hadrian might be in the DuMarque Royal Family, Dulce might be the daughter of her realm's Queen, but neither of those shadows are quite as potentially important as Atlantis from an esoteric point of view."

"Very true," she Aura says matter of factly. "But keep in mind that while Kovikin is the Prince, his sister is the next in line and she has a daughter. Only something catastrophic will ever see him as Emperor. He has sat as Regent and will likely fill the same role should his sister have need of it after she ascends, but it's the mother's line that's important here."

His voice sombers. "It would be similar to what we'd get if we ever got Alais back from Corwin's Realm, that level of potential political importance."

"I have no idea who that is," she responds. "Is she stuck with Corwin?"

"Alais is Corwin's daughter, and is currently stuck in Corwin's realm, yes." Lorius says. "Corwin himself is not actually stuck there, though he's been keeping a low profile before and since. We kept him far away from that mess because we were afraid he'd get contaminated by Jayson and Apollo. Correctly, judging from what we found in Paris and Germany. No, its a bunch of our generation trapped there instead. Alais. Oliver. Bhangbadea. Cyllene. Leigh. A few of us managed to get out before the connection was severed, including me."

"But you know how my part of the story ended" he adds briskly,"with the crash on a beach not far away from here. And once again, I have to thank you, and Atlantis for existing, and taking the shot as it were. I could have crashed in some random place in shadow, with unpredictable consequences, including death."

"You're welcome" comes the voice of Kovikin, striding into the room, with a small basket full of pearls. "Although what my mother is going to do with you is still a matter of debate."

Aura drops the last pearl into her bowl and smiles brightly at Kovikin. "I think she should make him the Minister of Environmental Affairs. After she marries him off and makes him a proper Atlantean, of course."

Kovikin claps his hands, the basket on his arm bouncing with the force of the hand clap. Several of the pearls in the basket is ejected into the air, falling in a rain near Aura and Lorius

"That's it. Perfect!" Kovikin says, beaming and ignoring the ejected pearls. "Mother will go for that. I know she would. That would be fitting, o Prince of Amber." he says to Lorius. "All of it." He returns to Aura. "You are as always, brilliant."

"No bulgogi taco stand." Nick snickers.

"Bulgogi?...wait, I am not going to ask what that is." Kovikin says.

"I thought you learned the last time," Aura tsks. She wiggles her fingers at the pearls on the floor and soon has them bouncing up to the table and into the basket.

"Beef is less popular here than seafood, anyway." Lorius puts in, grabbing another pearl.

"Most of our prime grazing land is taken up by horses," Aura reminds him. "We tend to only keep enough bovines to provide for the Bull Dances. Which is why we import beef from Persa and Etrusca." She smirks at Lorius. "Which you will well know once you are Minister of Environmental Affairs."

"Rrright." Lorius says, holding a pearl up and concentrating on it. "Uncle Julian will likely want to talk about crossbreeding potentials, as far as horses are concerned."

Aura gives him a saucy grin. "Well, if all he's interested in is breeding *horses* I'm not sure when I will have the time."

Lorius chuckles.

"He doesn't think we're serious." Kovikin says. "Mother is quite serious. And she will love this idea to tears." He walks over to Lorius and claps him on the shoulder and grins.

"It'll be good for you."

"Like broccoli." Lorius replies.

Aura kicks him under the table and scolds firmly. "You are not allowed to compare *anything* about Atlantis to *broccoli*. Ever."

"Ow!" Lorius says, clearly in an exaggerated manner. "You are lucky you didn't have a mother who made you eat it."

Kovikin takes one of Lorius' pearls, and starts concentrating on it. He frowns and eventually puts it back in his growing pile.

"Clearly, these Omphalos have to be dealt with extreme prejudice." Kovikin says soberly. He looks at Aura. "I don't think you we will lack for volunteers once its made clear they intend no good for Atlantis. Even if we weren't allying with Amber."

She winces and nods. "I was rather hoping for a calm introductory period so I could learn my way around and meet everyone. But instead I get fireworks and Atlantis gets a speed course on Amber all while dealing with newly emerging Power Crystals."

"Calm" Lorius says with a cluck of the tongue. "Uncle Random would pay good money for a nice calm period. Cousin Merlin would match it. Speaking of which, at some point we should talk to Merle about that little Chaosian operation here. After we deal with the Oompas, and after this minor House that has decided to vendetta Deirdre gets dealt with, the Chaosian bureaucracy will want to send an Ambassador here."

"Don't have to take the offer of embassy, of course, and I wouldn't blame Her Glory if she told Merlin to go fish." Lorius says. "But its something for us to think about, in a couple of years most likely."

Kovikin gives a grin to Aura of sudden satisfaction.

Aura winks up at him and leans across the table to Lorius. "You said 'us'. You're already thinking of yourself as one of Atlantis."

Nick, from his perch on Aura's shoulder, shifts slightly and grins.

Lorius' eyes widen, blinking silently in surprised self-revelation.

She smiles and settles back in her chair. "And I would pay real gold to see Her Glory tell Merlin to go fish. Depending on how he handles this thing with the vendetta, I may tell him much the same in a decidedly more colorful fashion."

"You can't fault him TOO much if he can't do diddly about the Vendetta." Lorius says. "Wait, you can, but it might not be fair. The Empire of the Courts of Chaos is a mess of politics and factions and power centers. It's when they are all aligned that things get scary."

"Even in the Patternfall War, the Chaosians were not united in attacking Amber." Lorius says. "Thankfully."

"So who do we talk to?" Kovikin says.

"The House in question." Lorius says, glancing at Kovikin. "By talk, of course, meaning giving them a bloody nose, and then letting them talk terms for the cessation of Vendetta." He looks back to Aura. "One step at a time of course."

Aura frowns. "I'm all for going straight for the bloody nose. How do you propose we smack them hard enough for them to notice? Surely by now they must see that they're assassins/kidnappers aren't coming back. Much less succeeding at doing anything but really irritating me."

"They've written off their agents as a loss." Lorius says, picking up another pearl. "So far, so good. But House Ledaal is going to expect casualties from such an operation, and it would take a lot more expended effort on their part before they stop doing it, and even if they did, Aura, they wouldn't sue for peace."

"We need to hurt them directly." Lorius says. "Give them a counter-punch, enough of one that they will contemplate ending this feud. Of course, they have to know we are the ones who are doing it."

"Every Chaosian House, even the minor ones, has holdings in the Black Zone, their version of the Golden Circle. I can get some intel on where Ledaal has theirs. Some creative destruction of their possessions, Aura, is what we need to do to them."

"Creative destruction?" Kovikin enquires.

"They're a water-focused House." Lorius says. "So we engage in a little desertification of their lands."

"Ha!" Aura exclaims. "I knew spending all that time with Nasir's wizards and D'Jinn studying desert magics would pay off eventually! And there's at least one handy little joint Earth and Water ritual that is intended to dry out flooded land."

Lorius nods enthusiastically. "That's exactly the sort of bloody nose that will get them to come to terms. Mix your magic and mine with some Pattern, and..."

"Bada boom?" Nick suggests.

"Bada boom." Lorius says. "Use of pronouns or not." Lorius says. "If I help you do this, by Chaosian laws of Vendetta, I will be considered an Atlantean, by their lights."

"So will you do it?" Kovikin says.

"Yes" Lorius says. "I'd ideally want to get to recruit one of the family as muscle for this, though, as I mentioned to Aura when I was recuperating. But they'd get wrapped up in the Vendetta, too. I'm sure anyone I pick, Aura can charm into getting that on their permanent record."

Aura appears puzzled. "Who from that side of my family would turn down the chance at wanton -yet creative-destruction? Surely it's part of our genetic makeup. Especially Black Zone creative destruction." She frown thoughtfully at Lorius. "Who on earth named that place? The Black Zone. That's just asking for trouble to come calling."

"Some of our crazy family isn't keen on the idea of making Chaosians mad." Lorius says with a shrug. "Strange and mad, but true. But we'll find some volunteers, never fear."

He picks up another pearl. "As far as the Black Zone, that's really a translation and shortening of the Chaosian phrase for it."

"Which is?" Kovikin says.

"The Trans-Abyssal semi autonomous stable zone of Empire control." Lorius says. "Which is in itself a bit of a lie, since the Chaosians best friends in the whole wide universe, the Lessimans, have a chunk of the Black Zone under their control."

"The Chaosians politely try to ignore their existence, when they aren't trading with them, or trying to start another war with 'em." Lorius says. "But I don't trust the Lessima, which is a pity, because they would make excellent allies for dealing with the Ledaal. But they don't have any love for us creatures of Order, either."

Aura blinks through the explanation then shakes her head before taking up a pearl in each hand again.

"Who needs them anyway? We of Atlantis and Amber can and maybe a desert witch or two can handle these upstarts. But knowing I have to wait until we deal with the Omphalos before we can get to Ledaal just makes me want to get an army together and take the fight to them now."

"And the advantage of Uncle Benedict's little summons." Lorius says "is that it will be the best possible recruiting ground for finding the right cousin or two to go with us to pay Ledaal in kind. We've got Atlantis locked down, the only thing we have to worry about is Ledaal messing with Atlantis' neighbors.

"Could you do the same for them?" Kovikin asks.

"In the abstract, yes." Lorius says, dropping a pearl in the basket. "But taking control of barriers and aspects of a shadow is really laying claim to it in a real and unmistakable way." He grabs another. "It would smack of Atlantean and/or Amberian Imperialism for us to do it. Especially if we say its for their own good."

"My sister told me that a few wars broke out in the Golden Circle, back when Oberon was a King, over this sort of thing."

Aura looks between the two. "Is there a reason why we cannot just let them do it themselves? We will have to explain and show them what to do, perhaps. But there is no reason they cannot weave their own protections. Most of them anyway. Someone will have to assist the Lemurians, but everyone else is fully capable."

"They are and they aren't capable." Lorius says briskly. "Any shadow can set up some basic barriers and protectors if you get a good enough sorcerer, but for something that is going to stand up to a few knocks, you want something stronger. That is to say, you want a primal power backing your ward efforts."

"It doesn't have to be the Pattern." Lorius says "Which is going to give Atlantis an advantage of not being dependent on Amber anymore for this sort of thing. However, without that primal power being used to alter the shadow, someone else using a primal power, like, say, The Logrus, will run roughshod over any defenses the lot of them put up."

"If Atlantis did not have a Primal Power, and did not have you and Aura, the Chaosians could invade and alter Atlantis to their whim?" Kovikin asks.

"It would certainly be easier for them. Local sorcerers are nothing to sneeze at and should not be ignored, but if you steer clear of them, you can pretty easily mess with a shadow if you have the Pattern backing you. Or the Logrus. Or, now, Atlantis' power aborning."

Aura frowns. "It's always something. We'll need to meet with the Crowns in addition to the mages and military types. I imagine the only ones who will get all huffy will be the Lemurians. Like it's our fault the race lost their magic when their egos exceeded their actual capabilities."

"They are going to be the weak link," she adds to Kovikin. "Unless they can be convinced to accept some patrolling battle mages."

"Then we convince them" Kovikin says. "I'll be damned if Atlantis gets invaded because of overweening and overbearing Lemurian pride and delusions of self importance even in the light of their denatured magical status."

"That's something I haven't done yet." Lorius muses. "See just how and why their magical talent is for naught now. Atlantean mages work in Lemuria fine. You and I have cast spells there just fine. So what happened to their race? Mom would find it interesting."

"I wouldn't wish that on the Lemurians." Nick observes.

"The legends say they are bring punished by the Gods for their arrogance," Aura explains while sending a pearl into her bowl and summoning another. "Since I am not quite sure who these Gods are, I'm staying out of it. They aren't completely magic dead. Not anymore. They managed to get their weather crystals to work again about a generation ago. But that's all they've managed so far. They are a long way from regaining the telepathic abilities they once had, for instance. And they're still unbelievably arrogant when it is least helpful."

"Gods" Lorius says, shaking his head. "Let's let them be, after the last one to get woken up and cause problems. Let's let them be."

"Any way." Kovikin says. "Yes, we'll have to talk to the various potentates, then. We add that to the list. The more magically sensitive are going to find out when Atlantis' power goes fully capable, won't they?" he asks Aura and Lorius.

"Aura knows more about what we're going to get, on a personal level." Lorius says. "But when Uncle Corwin created his Pattern, it affected the area around it. When Granddad rebooted the Pattern, it changed a whole chunk of reality. Heck, when Jayson caused an explosion in the Logrus, it affected the entire Cosmos. So yeah, not sure what form it will take, but the Coral Circle will be affected by this. Possibly retroactively."

Aura stops in mid imprinting and discards the pearl by tossing it over her shoulder. Her expression is mildly horrified as her mind works through the implications of the new powers soon to be erupting and who might just get the strongest impart outside Atlantis.

"We need to talk to Nasir; like yesterday."

"The Caliph?" Kovikin says. "We finish up these pearls, get them to the Mages and then go and get an audience with him. Simple, thank the Gods. He wouldn't refuse the two of you. Otherwise, his tangled Court would take a month processing your request."

"Trip to Persa" Lorius agrees, dropping a pearl into the basket. "Far worse places to start with Atlantis' allies."

Nick starts humming a song.

Aura ignores him. Gods only know what Lorius taught song he's chosen this time. She does a quick count in her head before counting the pearls in the bowls.

It does look like the amount of pearls promised has been, even with distraction, been reached. Lorius stops and waves a finger at Nick, who stops his singing.

"No more animated movies for you for a while." Lorius says. Nick pouts in response.

"Can you call him and let him know to expect us?" she says to Kovikin. "We'd like to speak to his chief D'Jinn too and he'll need a little time to summon him from whatever lofty perch he's currently communing from. Obsidian will want to know about the new powers coming into being. He may get new D'jinn out of it.".

"He may, and may get other things besides, correct?" Kovikin says. Lorius gives a nod, and Kovikin continues. "I will contact him while you are talking with the Mages and delivering your presentation. Even if Lorius doesn't spend hours lecturing them to death, by the time you are done, the Caliph will be likely ready to receive the two of you. Promise."

Aura frowns again. "Have him summon his chief mages too. We will get the whole Persa thing done at once." She looks hopefully up at Kovikin.

"He has to draw them from across the land. And they are a fickle lot, but I will ask him." Kovikin says.

"But first... could you let Thera know we're coming? I shall snag my father on the way to the Temple of Ashura. Pity we can't meet with Etrusca's people at the same time as Nasir, but he is always trying to get one of them in his harem and that never ends well."

"No, we don't need to start a Coral Circle incident between the Persans and Etruscans. Not when we have other problems to worry about. Omphalos and Chaosians and Goddess knows what else."

"Oh, yeah, Lorius' future here." Kovikin grins as he stretches his arms. "I'll be off to talk to Thera now, he says to Aura. "Perhaps I should prepare a sherbet for you all for the aftermath?"

"Something for the headache" Lorius agrees.

Aura pokes her tongue out at Kovikin. "I am just trying to save time. I am supposed to be in Amber, you know and we still have tons to do." She stands and gives him a kiss on the cheek before looking to Lorius.

And with that Kovikin exits the room, presumably to quickly transport himself to the Priestesses.

"Why are you still lounging around? Grab the pearls and we will get my father."

"I was enjoying the weather." Lorius says, getting to his feet and scooping up the created pearls. "Its cold and early spring back in Amber, remember."

Taking her own pearls and letting Nick decide to hitch a ride or stay in the sunny spot, Aura focuses on a crystal she pulled from somewhere and opens a portal to her father... and hopes he isn't in the middle of a meeting.

Father doesn't turn out to be in a sit-down meeting, thankfully. Instead, father appears to be walking through the Palace gardens with one of his military officers. One of the Admirals, Aura thinks, based on her uniform.

"Aura" he says. He holds up a hand. "Hold up a moment, Admiral. This may be important." Admiral Sola looks through the portal, with a look of recognition at Aura and a more quizzical look at Lorius. In the meantime, Father looks squarely at Aura.

"News?"

"Yes. We are on our way to a meeting with Thera and the battle mages of Ashura." Aura gives him a significant look. "You should be there. It's very important and falls under your remit as the Sword of Atlantis."

Father doesn't quite sigh, although his displeasure is clear on his lips. Sola picks up on this and furrows her eyebrows as she looks through the portal. Whether this is rudeness more than curiosity is a matter of interpretation.

"A meeting with Thera and the battle mages." Father repeats, dully. "Goddesses, girl, you don't let my life be peaceful and boring, do you? I suppose this is partly Her Glory's wishes?"

He turns to look at the Admiral. "We'll continue to discuss the matter of the eastern fleet, later, Admiral."

"Of course." the Admiral says smoothly. "Princess" she adds to Aura before walking down the path.

He turns to look at Aura, Lorius and Nick again. "I'll see you there." he says with obvious reluctance.

"Or we can go together," Aura points out and offers her hand. Teleporting around Atlantis even with a group was one of the easiest things she ever learned. "After this meeting Lorius and I are headed for Persa for the same sort of meeting. It is going to be a very long day. I am sorry though. I feel at fault for this ... issue. If I hadn't awoken Atlantis' True Power we would only have to worry about shapeshifting annoyances."

He turns to look at the Admiral. "We'll continue to discuss the matter of the eastern fleet, later, Admiral."

"Of course." the Admiral says smoothly. "Princess" she adds to Aura before walking down the path.

He turns to look at Aura, Lorius and Nick again. "I'll see you there." he says with obvious reluctance.

"Or we can go together," Aura points out and offers her hand. Teleporting around Atlantis even with a group was one of the easiest things she ever learned. "After this meeting Lorius and I are headed for Persa for the same sort of meeting. It is going to be a very long day. I am sorry though. I feel at fault for this ... issue. If I hadn't awoken Atlantis' True Power we would only have to worry about shapeshifting annoyances."

The reluctance her father has at the whole affair is obvious, but he does take Aura's hand, to transport himself from the gardens to her quarters. The portal behind him closes neatly.

"We did let our curiosity outrun us a little, sir." Lorius admits.

"As if that is ever a surprise." Nick observes. "Wait, sir?" he stares at Lorius

"Is that an apology?" Atreus says to Lorius

"Nothing quite so gauche. Regret, Lord Atreus" Lorius says. "And we probably should save our energies for Thera."

Atreus shakes his head and looks at Aura.

"Is there anything in particular you wanted me to know, first?" Atreus says to his daughter.

Aura sighs. "A possible invasion by a race apparently under the impression they can wipe out all Primal Powers. How they think they'll continue after that is anyone's guess."

"We have recorded memories of one such attempt in Amber that we both took part in. We're confident that we can make sure the mages can sense their portals and swiftly counter the little bastards. Honestly, I think they're more irritating than anything. But I've only had the one encounter."

"They've had a couple of other attempts." Lorius says. "I know of one other extant Door, somewhere in Begma. My sister is dealing with that one, with William. I don't expect that to go anything other than well."

"However" Lorius says "Awakening a Primal Power, here, means that they might try for Atlantis. My *other* sister learned they have magical technology to detect Primal Powers. So, they might try the same game in Atlantis. So, we train up Thera and her friends, get them up to speed, and let the Omphalos get Atlantean hospitality if they show up."

"Sounds too easy." Atreus says. "An irritant, as my daughter says. What's the catch?"

"They can show up near Primal Power shadows, too. They could drop into Persa, Etrusca or anywhere in the Coral Circle, in their attempts to reach us." Lorius replies. "Even by accident if not by design. That's why, as Aura said, we're headed to Persa next to let the Caliph know about this problem, so they can watch for it."

"Thera is just going to love this." Atreus says to Aura. "We might as well get this over with. I do want to know what the long-term strategy for dealing with this is, though."

"Thera's been getting bored lately," Aura responds as she readies a portal to the Temple of Ashura. "It's why she's more short tempered than usual. That, and she really needs a lover that offers her some sort of challenge

"Introduce her to Bleys. See if she can outdo a Fire Elemental." Lorius snickers.

"Wait, what?" He immediately adds. "No, never mind." Atreus says.

Aura's portal shimmers into being with a view of the courtyard of the temple. "And we will know more of the long term plans after we hear from Uncle Benedict. Random has him in charge of dealing with this. We're looking to take a few Atlantean mages with us; it will be magic they are unprepared for."

"Your mother has spoken of Prince Benedict" Atreus says. "She called him the greatest General and strategist in the entire of reality." He sniffs. "Luckily, this was after our relationship started, so I did not take it *too* personally."

Aura's transport of the group of them to the Temple of Fire and War brings attention, one of the Fire Priestesses in robes of red and gold. Her appearance and mien go from cordial and respectful (Atreus) to respectful (Aura) to frankly icy and condescending (Lorius). She takes a moment, looking in calculation, and then turns to Aura. "Welcome to Ashura's Temple. I am Danae. How may I serve, Princess?"

Aura bows in greeting. "We request a meeting with High Priestess Thera. It is urgent." She gestures to her father. "He is here in his official capacity."

Her eyes widen at Aura's words. "Indeed?" She pauses a beat. "Then you should come with me, directly, then."

A quarter of an hour later, and Danae talking with her superior, and then her superior above that, Aura, Nick, Atreus and Lorius are conducted to a large pillared room with enormous braziers in the cardinal directions. Thera is here, with her firebird again on her left shoulder.

"I had not thought to speak to you again so soon, Princess." Thera says. "Although I see." she gives a nod of the head to Atreus. "that the matter is of sufficient severity to bring both your father, and your outlander cousin to the temple."

"Proceed." she says. Not quite an imitation or variation of Her Glory, but the voice of command within her bailiwick all the same.

"There is a threat of imminent attempts at invasion," Aura says baldly and straight to business. The Temple of Ashura was not as soothing as the others; being the home of War and all and it was not among Aura's favorite places to be. Plus, Thera. "And Her Glory has sent us to pass the details to you. After that is done, we also have a request which the Empresses' approval."

She gives an inclination of the head.

"Prince Lorius and I have both imprinted memories of a recent encounter with the beings when they attempted an assault on Amber. They think they can destroy the Primal Powers of the multi-verse without repercussion, it seems. I ask that you please summon your war leaders so they may view this encounter at the same time. We will be meeting with others of the Coral Circle after this to warn them as well and they will likely require Atlantean assistance until this threat is dealt with."

Thera looks at Aura for a long moment, distaste on her lips. Her features soften when she gives a glance at Atreus, but it returns when her gaze finishes with Lorius. She returns to Aura. After a long moment she seems to come to a decision.

"Some of the war leaders are not here at the temple, and it will take an hour or so to assemble them." Thera says. "We'll meet in the Chandris Room, in an hour.I'm sure in the meantime, our hospitality will more than suit you. Danae, see to it."

Thera turns her back, and opens a portal to a tiled room of some sort, She steps through it with a fluid motion, and a wave of heat, her firebird's wings fluttering in her wake.

"How might I best make you and yours comfortable, Highness? Danae says to Aura.

Aura is so very tempted to decline anything but a place to wait. She was perfectly capable of conjuring whatever the hell they wanted. But to decline hospitality was an insult and while Kovikin might find the continuing friction between Aura and Thera amusing, his mother would not. Thera was just so.... un-Atlantean sometimes. Aura is hardly the first (or last) Atlantean to embrace hedonism; but Thera always acted like Aura doing it was offensive somehow. Kovikin thinks she's jealous; Thera had thrown herself so completely into preparing for all four imprints she hadn't time for anything else. Aura, on the other hand, didn't seem to be in any hurry at all and had shown little interest in imprinting when it competed with her art or more pleasant diversions.

Scowling mentally as Thera's portal collapses, Aura smiles at Danae. "If you would show us where we can wait, I am sure none of us would mind wine and perhaps a light repast if it is quickly arranged. I am sure you are aware how draining imprinting dozens of pearls can be and I would not want to be anything but alert for this meeting.."

"Certainly" Danae says. "It would not do for you to be hungry or exhausted when talking to the High Priestess. Please follow me."

Twenty minutes later, Aura, Kovikin. Nick and Lorius are installed on a balcony overlooking a formal garden, far more austere and regimented than anything Aura has seen in Atlantis. The checkerboard of greens, red and yellow form a visual backdrop to the reclining couches, and the table bedecked with wine, and nibbles, mostly of the vegetable variety, although there is some sliced cold smoked meats. Nick chews on a leaf of Napa cabbage bigger than he is.

Aura and the group have about a half hour to relax and enjoy this repast before Danae appears again.

"The High Priestess and the War Council are ready for your presentation now." she says.

"She reminds me of the administrative assistant to a domineering CEO." Lorius observes.

"That's because she is," Aura mutters lowly to him as the rise to follow.

"I am going to show the memories we have imprinted in presentation," she informs Danae. "So I shall be required to cast spells. "Please make sure Thera is aware of this. Unless she wishes to cast them herself."

Danae regards Aura, Nick, Atreus, and Lorius for a long moment. Lorius folds his arms and smiles. Aura's father, on the other hand, just raises an eyebrow. Between the two of these, Danae turns to look back at Aura.

"I will inform the High Priestess of the need for you to cast spells for the purposes of the presentation." she finally concedes. "Please follow me."

Danae leads the group away from the balcony to a long rectangular room. Perched in the chairs, the war leaders of the Temple sit, all of them with their firebirds. The expressions range from the frankly bored and dismissive, to mild hostility, to varying degrees of curiosity.

Thera stands at the far end of the room.

"Welcome, Princess Aura, Warlord Atreus." A pause and a beat and only a slight amount of condescension. "Prince Lorius of the Kingdom of Amber."

"It's like Atlantis' version of a middle manager's meeting room." Lorius mutters.

"We are ready for your presentation." Thera adds. Danae breaks away, goes up to her and whispers something. Thera nods and gives another nod to Aura.

Aura inclines her head to the woman and moves to the front of the room. From the folds of her gown she produces a small tripod - only six inches tall - though each gold leg has been painstakingly decorated and each curling leaf hides a rune that powers the thing once spelled to start.

Setting it on the table, she eyes the assembly until everyone is settled. Arrogant tossers that most of them are.

"Thank you for making time for this. What we are about to show you is an attempted invasion of Amber. While I am well aware most of you couldn't give a toss about Amber's problems, this one will eventually affect us here. They seek to destroy the Primal Powers of the universe; which now includes Atlantis."

"We will start with my memory then proceed with Lorius'. Please hold questions until the second one ends." Aura settles a pearl into place on the tripod and taps it with her finger. The memory projects above the table for all to see.

There is murmuring, but the council remains remarkably polite through Aura's pearl, and then Lorius'. As soon as the last images from Lorius' pearl are done,

"Well, first." Thera says. "We want to thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. As the Temple of War, it is our duty to support Atlantis' protection and defense."

"I open up the floor to questions." Thera says, with the smiling satisfaction of releasing wolves upon prey. "Please address the Princess, the Warlord or the, ah, Prince of Amber with your questions." she says. Thera steps back, as if to better watch.

There is quiet and murmuring for a few moments. The jockeying and political calculations are clear to Aura. Whether to ask anything or let the High Priestess do it. To go first, boldly, if to ask at all.

Finally A dark haired priestess, whose firebird has a smoky cast to her reddish wings, speaks first.

"I am Meroe." She continues. " Princess, we recently had an invasion of extradimensional beings attack the Palace, one that seemed aimed at if not yourself, then at your cousin." says. "Is this related to that incursion? Is your or his presence here the real reason this Omphalos would ever trouble Atlantis? Have you two brought this on our heads, too? The Reputation of the Prince of Amber is tarnished and mixed, you must admit. Your record is impeccable, of course, save by its association."

Aura is growing ever so weary of this already. It is a hard won internal battle not to pinch the bridge of her nose, sign or curse aloud. Instead she regards the woman for a moment long enough to border upon the uncomfortable.

"The Omphalos do not care one whit about Lorius or I," she calmly says finally. These people are not going to get her to lose her temper. She is too much her father's daughter to start railing at them. "Assuming they even knew who we were. It is the Primal Powers they seek to destroy - not any individual save those that would stand in their way. I don't know *why* they do what they do. I suppose it's a bit of 'if I can't have it, no one can'. Atlantis *is* a Primal Power. One that will be fully awakened in a few days time. Which is why we have time to prepare before they get around to finding us."

"As for the earlier incursion, yes; they were after me. Or rather they are after my Mother and seek to get to her through me. It is a leftover issue from the Patternfall War. There was another attempt in Amber on my person that was swiftly shut down with extreme prejudice. It was during Princess Fiona's rather creative interrogation that we learned of the reasons and the individuals behind it all. Neither is important right now, as they are not connected to the Omphalos at all Chaos is as much at risk as the rest of us from them. Now that Amber's King and Mother is aware of the situation it is being addressed. I would like to state for the record, that Prince Lorius very nearly did himself in while helping me in defending Atlantis and the Palace. He is as upset at that incursion as I am. We had hoped that with my leaving Atlantis and very visibly taking my place in Amber they would cease their attempts in Atlantis. I suppose they didn't get the memo in time to stop the last attempt. But I, with my cousin's assistance, have erected new protections around Atlantis that we believe will keep further attempts from occurring."

Aura lets her gaze travel the room. "Are there any more questions?"

Aura's monologue turns the hostility and skepticism to a more smouldering sort of dull distaste for her.

"Well, yes, thank you Princess for your explanation." Thera says briskly, before another of the War council speaks up.

"I would like to add, that I agree with my daughter's assessment of the situation." Atreus says. The look in his eyes breaks down that dull disdain further. "Preparation of Atlantis' defenses is crucial to countering this threat. As you no doubt already realize from the presentations." Father is in lecture mode now "Prince Lorius and my daughter both countered the threats by countering them quickly." He looks at Lorius.

"Um, right." Lorius says, spreading his hands. "The Omphalos are a glass cannon. They hit hard, but hit them back, quickly" He jabs with his right fist. "and their advantages are neutralized. We need you on board with an early warning and reaction for when they decide to come knocking here in Atlantis. And that's a real threat, until my uncle, the Greatest General in the universe, gets our forces together to terminate this threat with extreme prejudice."

"In fact" Lorius adds. "Above and beyond asking your help to prepare Atlantis and the Coral Circle against Omphalos incursion, we will be recruiting help in joining us when Aura and I go to join General Benedict. The Omphalos know little of your sorcery and I think its a case of criminal neglect on their part. We'd love for you to help us introduce them to it."

"Hmmm" Thera says. "I am not convinced that Atlantis needs to expend resources beyond our borders, or our neighbors and allies, except in extreme circumstances. Is their consensus on the main proposal before us?" She looks at the council assembled.

There are murmurs, but no outright words against it.

"Very well" Thera says, looking at Aura. "There is another matter I wish to discuss with you in private, Princess, but we are agreed to aid Atlantis in defending her against this threat. What would you have done?"

"Amber is one of our allies," Aura says while managing not to scowl. Such insular thinking was no longer going to be workable now that Atlantis was part of the bigger things in the multiverse. "It is a recent development, of course. Just this morning, in fact. Her Glory agrees that working under General Benedict would only benefit any of us who join him when he is ready to deal with the Omphalos. Discussions of who will represent Atlantis in Amber in the diplomatic corps are already under way."

"We will of course obey Her Glory and follow her direction in this matter." Thera says, with all of the joy of someone told that their diet was going to be mealworms henceforth.

Aura merely inclines her head to Thera while reminding herself to enjoy a smirk later.

She turns away and replaces the pearl in the tripod with another. "The same spells used in Amber to collapse the gate cannot be used safely in Atlantis or her environs. Prince Lorius and I have broken his spells down and adjusted them. We believe this will do what you want them to. Of course, it cannot be tested until it's actually used on one of the gateways."

Aura lets the memory play before handing one of each of the pearls to Thera. "We will be meeting with this council's counterparts in our ally worlds of the Coral Circle over the next few hours. We believe that best results will be obtained by stationing a few Atlantian battle mages with each of our allies. The Omphalos will certainly try to attack through one of the Coral Circle worlds. Special attention will need to be paid to Lemuria, of course; they have no way to defend themselves against this and they are going to be the weakest link."

"And the Lemurians are by far the most problematic, of course." Thera says taking the pearls and looking at them thoughtfully, almost as if replaying them then and there. "Lemurian history." She looks at Lorius. "I don't expect *you *to understand."

"Remind me to roll my eyes later," Aura murmurs for Nick's ears only.

"Oh but I am a quick study, High Priestess." Lorius says with a grin. "I know enough that we should see about taking a page from the old playbook and larding up the Lemurian Embassy with a few of your Battle Mages posing as diplomats. They wouldn't appreciate Aura, me and a few of your finest trooping around openly, but if we have people in place, we can react all the faster with someone to gate reinforcements in."

"A force multiplier of a strategy, High Priestess" Atreus puts in. Lorius gives him a grateful look.

"Very well. Three Battle mages each. The Lemurian ones hidden in the Embassy as diplomats or functionaries. I will have to find candidates with the requisite skills." Thera says.

"I believe that is all our business before the Council," Aura announces to those at the table. "We thank you for your time." She inclines her head respectfully and then ignores them as she turns to face Thera.

There is murmuring, but the council does not move, instead looking to Thera.

"I half expected Her Glory to assign me to your expedition, Princess." Thera replies, with undisguised relief. "Or to take half of my Priestesses with you on this errand against the Omphalos."

"I am pleased that the requests of Her Glory are so relatively light" she continues. "If there is anything further, please do not hesitate to contact me. The priestesses chosen will be at the Palace by the end of day tomorrow."

"Thank you, High Priestess." Aura's father says in a respectful tone of voice. "Your time and efforts will aid us immensely."

"The Warlord speaks for me." Lorius says.

"Indeed." Thera says, looking at Aura with her severe look again. "Is there anything we need to discuss in private?"

Aura lifts a quizzical eyebrow. It was Thera who had mentioned wishing to speak to her in private earlier. However pointing that out in the middle of the Council would hardly be appropriate - even if her father was at her back.

"If you have a few moments," Aura finally answers.

Thera dismisses the council, who leave with varying levels of curiosity as the room empties.

"Be right outside." Atreus says.

"You have me on speed dial." Lorius says, following her father out.

"Now, then." Thera says. "Call that a face saving gesture for both of us." she says. She indicates a seat for Aura, and sits down in the chair opposite. She waits for Aura to sit, or not.

Aura sits and bites the inside of her cheek to not say the first thing that pops into her head. It isn't like she needed a face saving moment. Veils! But the woman was maddening.

"I am going to come straight to the point." Thera says. "Since you will, I hope, appreciate something less than a half hour of evasions and veiled words."

Her eyes fix on Aura. Thera's firebird's wings flutter with the force of the words.

"What precisely are your intentions toward Atlantis, Princess?" she says. "Did that cousin of yours teach you how to mold Atlantis and its power to your whim and your control?"

Aura's jaw drops and for a moment she is breathless at the accusation. Her eyes narrow at the statuesque beauty across from her.

"Very well," Aura replies coolly. "Straight to the point then. I cannot decide if I ever ever been more insulted or if I should be honored you believe I wield that kind of power as effortlessly as a paintbrush. That cousin of mine did teach indeed me to mold the stuff of Shadow to my whim. Doing so, I can find *anything*, *anyone* and *anyplace* I ever desire or can imagine if I but seek it. That you would even entertain the notion that *I* would do such a thing to my homeland beggars belief. Clearly you do not know me at all. But then you have never bothered to look beyond your initial impression of me you made within sixty seconds of our first meeting when I was a teenager."

It is Thera's turn to bite her lip.

"I love Atlantis; it is my home and will always be the place I think of as Home - the quaint charm and allure of Amber have nothing on the home of my heart. Despite any imperfections, Atlantis is a near perfect Utopia in my mind. I wouldn't change a thing unless the situation was dire and the survival of Atlantis was at stake. I have done nothing *to* Atlantis at all until recently when we shored up the defenses. Aside from the fact that doing anything to a Primal Power with the power Amber's Pattern gives me is difficult if not impossible, does it not occur to you that one of the first things I would have molded to my desire would have been *you*? Your attitude toward me has infected even your Council. I have never met some of these people and in spite of the fact that I am the daughter of the Sword of Atlantis, companion to Prince Kovikin and a respected Artist, their dislike and disdain was palatable. Do you not think I would change *that* first? That Lorius would?"

She leans towards Thera and adds darkly: "And because I wouldn't want them to, no one would even notice if I did."

Thera stares back, digesting this.

After a moment, she leans back in her chair and smoothes the silk of her skirt over her knees. "Obviously, I have not done any such thing. Neither has Lorius. I made it abundantly clear in our earliest lessons that Atlantis was not to be touched, tweaked or manipulated in any way. If we had been playing with the fabric of Atlantis so casually, that crash of his would never have happened."

"The matter of his impact and disruption is another matter entirely." Thera says after a long moment. "And it is possible there are limits to what you and your cousin can and cannot do."

"However, your love of Atlantis is not the question, here." she says. "What I am talking about is the change in Tetra. It's changing. I do not yet know how. But I can feel it here at the node. My assumption was that *you* did it. You have altered Tetra. You intend to alter Atlantis."

"Or should I blame *him*?" Thera says. She studies Aura very carefully.

Aura stares at the woman for a long and silent moment. Her eyes narrow again as she looks closely at the Priestess. "Are you not getting enough sleep again?" she demands.

Aura is rewarded with a disdainful stare.

"You were there with Their Glories, Father and the

other High Priestesses when Lorius, Kovikin and I went to Sacsayhuaman. We left Kovikin in the palace courtyard to make the report on what happened to you all. He even had the memories to share with you."

Sighing, Aura looks up at one of the murals depicting the founding of the Temple of Ashura across from her. Either Thera hadn't been told, she is testing her or Thera had left before Kovikin returned from their jaunt and he hadn't had time. Or something about the new nodes birthing had affected Thera already. "What happened at Sacsayhuaman is a State Secret, which is why I didn't discuss it at Council. But Kovikin and I agreed before we went our separate ways that day that you among a small handful should be told. If you have not, I will need to make inquiries."

"I was told" Thera says with a drip drip drip of her words, using them carefully, like arrows in her quiver. "I was told what you and your cousin did, by the Heir. At least you have not had the lack of grace to lie about it to my face."

It is Aura's turn to give the woman her own disdainful stare.

"What he did not tell me, however, was what the birthing of these new nodes, and the change in Tetra would mean and feel." she says. "Let me demonstrate."

She holds out her palm and calls upon the node of fire, creating a small fire burning in her palm. Aura can see that the pure fire now has swirling elements of light and shadow, as if one had stirred squirts of hot sauce and yogurt into hummus.

Looking intently at the flames, Aura hums thoughtfully. She wonders if the others are experiencing something similar. She would find out soon enough.

"I have no doubt" Thera says, in a tone of voice suggesting anything but "that this...side effect will fade in time. However, it is the whispers and dreams that most concern me." Thera says.

"You are being named as the Creatrix of this new power. The implication that this is retroactive is a " she dismisses the fire "threat to the long standing sovereignty of the Temples."

Aura holds up both hands, palms out. "Pax. I have no interest in doing anything to Temple Sovereignty. I'm the one that woke the sleeping elements. The intelligence behind them named me Creatrix - with no input from me. In time they will have their own Temples, Priestesses and students. I won't get involved unless it is absolutely necessary and even then I will only deal with center from which they all sprung. There may be times when I must act as the voice for Hexiary. But I imagine that will only occur in times of dire need."

Thera's gives Aura a skeptical look, but her hostility has moderated.

"None of us were aware of these dreams and whispers. Though I can't say I am terribly surprised. I do understand it may be unsettling. But I swear on the Veil of Celestra that I haven't the slightest intention of usurping Temple power. I won't even *be here* a lot of the time."

"As far as I am aware, I am the only one at this Temple to manifest these dreams." Thera says. "However, you can no doubt imagine and deduce, as I have, that my counterparts in the other three temples will have seen the same side effects and heard the same whispers."

"Better that you know in advance, hmmm?" she says. "And you truly are not seeking to gain one of these new temples for yourself, or create a position over them all?"

Aura just looks at the other woman for a moment. Seriously, who would have expected Thera's ego to be threatened by all this? Nothing ever seemed to dent it at all.

"High Priestess. Thera. I have duties in Amber now that I have made myself known there. There will be large swatches of time when I will be in Amber dealing with those duties. I would make a pretty poor High Priestess or whatever when I won't be here to attend to those responsibilities that come with the position. Even if I *did* want it - which I do not - I simply couldn't. It would hardly be in the best interest of Atlantis for a High Priestess to not attend to her Temple and I always have Atlantis' best interest at heart."

Thera gives this a moment's thought, pushes back from the table and rises, looking at Aura all the while. Her hostility and demeanor moderate to her more cool indifference.

"Very well. As you say." she says. "My concerns have been expressed and addressed, and you have answered them. I consider my questions answered and for the nonce, our business is complete." She pauses a beat. "Thank you." she adds.

Aura flows to her feet and inclines her head. “Of course.” She starts to leave but then pauses.

“I will be back for when the new nodes appear with their guardians. I have not the slightest idea what when need to be done at that time. I would imagine some additional guards would be a good idea until the housing for the new crystals are built.”

"Eventually, Temples will be needed." Thera says. "In the absence of such temples, having the nodes watched and guarded would be wise, especially given the dangers you have pointed out today." she says. "It would be unfortunate for a new node to be captured by these invaders, or by the Chaosians, for that matter."

Thera exits the room by a rear door, leaving and allowing Aura to rejoin Kovikin, Nick and Lorius.

"I didn't hear any broken crockery, which I suppose is a good thing." Kovikin says, sweeping up to her. Nick, on his shoulder, resumes his place on Aura's.

"You ok? I know she is not your favorite, and vice versa." Kovikin says.

"She wanted to be reassured," Aura says drily. "She was concerned I was going to try to take over since the intelligence behind the Power names me Creatrix; either one of the new nodes or assume a position over the Temples. Why she would even need to think twice about that, I cannot see. Have I ever given anyone the idea I wanted that kind of responsibility? I certainly don't need to take an administrative position for power."

"But," she continues with a note of worry. "The power of Ashura is ... being affected by the new powers. She showed me. And she said she has been having dreams. We're going to need to see the other three High Priestesses before we go to Persa. Preferably in one place. We may as well include Celestra's Priestess in that meeting; she doesn't oversee a node, but I am rather curious to see if the new Powers are affecting her domain. Intensely curious."

"We have few good models for this." Lorius says. "Its not every day that you get a primal power erupting,or a sub-primal power rise up to that level. This is a good learning experience, but I can see how and why the High Priestess would freak out."

"Why?" Kovikin asks.

"These temples, bless their heart, are fundamentally conservative, stable institutions. Adding two nodes is bad enough, but having it affect Ashura, and probably the others, would worry anyone, even stoic Thera. Temple of War, right? She's seeing this as a military threat, a challenge to the status quo."

"The other priestesses should be consulted." Lorius adds. "and reassured. All four of them." he adds with a nod to Aura.

"All right," Aura say after a brief moment. "I still have rooms at the Temple of Nerissa. We can meet there the easiest and the atmosphere is the calmest. Once there we can speak to the High Priestess and explain the need for the meeting before we summon the others."

She rubs the bridge of her nose quickly. "And waiting for them all will give me time to have a drink or four."

Aura frowns and looks around the area. "Where did Father go?"

Atreus, is indeed, absent.

"He went to talk with some of Thera's Council while you were in Chambers." Kovikin says. "He knows and has connections to half of them, of course." He looks toward Lorius "What did you call it? Cross-channel?"

"Back channel negotiations." Lorius says. "Hey, I've learned a thing or two from Pollux. Yeah, he decided mollifying them and talking to them personally might be a good idea, especially if you and Thera really got into each other's face in there and caused a conflagration."

"That wasn't going to happen." Kovikin says.

"Maybe" Nick says.

Aura doesn't look terribly convinced either really. She had been hard pressed not to laugh at more than one point in the conversation.

"Any way." Kovikin says. "He's probably over in one of the Gardens. Let's go collect him, shall we?"

"Yes," she agrees. "The sooner we do the sooner I can have a bottle of something."

"I think we're all in favor of that, and you *deserve* that." Kovikin says.

Good as her lover's prediction, Father turns out to be in one of the formal gardens, talking with two of Thera's Battlemages. The red-orange wings of the firebird of the tall redhead flutter as Aura and company approach. Although Aura cannot hear it, the priestesses clearly give their goodbyes to Atreus and walk away, leaving father standing next to a unusually abstract bronze statue. The abstraction from the female form is because its right side appears half melted.

"There" Atreus says "Large egos mollified. Somewhat, anyway." Father says. "I am glad you went here, first. Any of the other temples are going to be easy by comparison to Thera and her lot."

"We need to talk to the other temples." Kovikin says.

"I thought you were going to Persa, and then Etrusca." Atreus puts in. "Do you need me to glare some more mages into respecting you, Aura?"

Aura scrunches her nose. "I only have the problem here," she says tartly. "And I am beginning to think she's just jealous."

"But," she continues more moderately and after checking the vicinity for eavesdroppers, "Thera has discovered something and we need to speak with the others about it. With the creation of the new elements, the old ones are ... I don't want to say evolving because we have no idea if it's just a temporary effect while the four become six and re-establish their equilibrium. But we do need to know." Aura sighs. "and I may need to soothe more ruffled feathers than just Thera's."

"High Priestesses of Nerissa, Air, and Earth, possibly" Kovikin says.

"We may get lucky and Thera is just That Good and has noticed the changes first." Lorius says. "Doesn't mean the rest won't, or even ordinary users won't." He adds.

Atreus lets out a breath. "I already cleared my schedule for this. I might as well aid in this. Her Glory would appreciate more amity and comity and less dissension, I am sure."

"Right, then."Kovikin says."Nerissa's place? Someplace *you* are well familiar with. Lorius." he adds jovially.

"Yes" Father says, giving Lorius a serious look. "Quite."

"They like him there," Aura says staunchly. "In fact, I am fair certain that at least one of them has their eye on him for more than just health reasons."

"That's funny" Atreus says. "I would never have guessed."

"Wait until we tell you what Aura, the Queen and I are thinking." Kovikin adds with a grin at Atreus and then at Lorius.

"Um. Right. Perhaps we should get going?" Lorius says, flushing. "Temples to see and Priestesses to mollify and all that?"

Aura grins and pats him on the head. "Chin up."

"The temple of Nerissa, Kovikin. If you would be so kind as to open a gate."

"At least we're not having Lorius teleport us there." Nick pipes up.

"Why?" Atreus asks.

"Dizzy up the boy." Nick says. "Weird wind teleport spells."

"Best I do the gate then." Kovikin agrees, opening a gate into the main entrance chamber of the Temple of Water, the Healers. As it so happens, Sagraine and one of her major healers, Claudas, happen to be in the hall when the group steps through. The latter looks at Lorius, then at Aura and back at Lorius

"Back for more healing, Prince Lorius of Amber?" Sagraine raises an eyebrow

"No, not this time. We bring news." Lorius says

"Indeed, you don't look unhealthy." she says.

"Perhaps he is here to corrupt the Priestesses." Claudas posits. "He is certainly here often enough."

Lorius holds up his hands. "Umm, Aura, a little help?"

Aura just smiles serenely.

"I think you are doing fine on your own." Kovikin says. Atreus seems bemused as well.

Sagraine finally shows mercy and looks to Aura. "How can I help you today, Princess? Warlord?"

"We request a meeting at your earliest convenience," the Princess replies solemnly. "We will need a large room, for we will also need to bring in Polymnia, Kybele and Kalysto and their appropriate temple warriors - yours as well. There is the very good chance of a security breach and threat to the realm."

Sagraine keeps calm and placid. Her expression goes slightly quizzical, rather than alarmed.

"A security breach to the realm. That is serious." Sagraine says. "You want to bring in the other temples...except the Temple of War?"

"That's where we just came from." Atreus jumps in.

"We decided to avoid trying to mix oil and water and talk to her first, alone." Lorius says.

"Now I see why you wanted to come *here* next." Claudas says, amused. "Scorched you, did she, Prince of Amber?"

"Claudas" Sagraine says, shaking her head. She turns to Aura. "Very well, Princess. It will take some time to get my opposite numbers here." Sagraine says. "Perhaps a brace of hours, no less. You can be shown to a place to wait and relax in the meantime, of course."

Aura smiles easily. Just being in this temple was erasing tension. "If you do not mind, we will just wait in my rooms here. I so miss the the balcony, you see. Just send a messenger bird when it's close to time for the meeting."

"And some wine." Lorius says. "We need it."

Sagraine looks at Lorius as if he said the sky was blue. "Of course there will be wine." She shakes her head at Aura. "Your cousin the Prince has lots to learn. Or is he being deliberately slow today?"

"It's been a rather trying couple of days," Aura offers.

Nick chuckles.

"Don't add to that." Kovikin says to Atreus.

"A messenger will be sent when the priestesses and warriors are all here." Sagraine continues. "And anything else you need, you know where to find it. Relax, you're on safe ground. Come, Claudas, we have much to do."

Sagraine sails out of the main room, her protege in her wake.

"Come along," says Aura cheerfully as she heads for the stairs leading up to her suite. The temple is more open than Ashura's; wide arching entries are in every outside wall and lead out onto wide balconies that are just as large as the rooms inside in many instances. Sheer curtains pulled back to allow the free entry of scented breezes add blues and greens to the pale walls. Flowering plants decorate nearly everywhere so that the temple resembles the fabled Hanging Gardens of Babylon from shadow legend.

Aura's rooms are on the third level and look out over the back gardens and the famous water wall fountain. The greens of the common area are carried over into her space; highlighted by touches of silver and pink. The walls are decorated to within an inch of too much with mosaics and murals that she did herself many years ago when she first came to study here; before Lorius' arrival into her life.

Kovikin seems to almost telepathically pick up on Aura's thoughts and musings as he pokes around the rich floral world that were her rooms once upon a time. He walks toward the balcony, and turns back, letting himself be framed by it. "This is where you were, once upon a time, before...." he looks at Lorius, who has found a bottle of wine.

"Before wine?" Lorius says, collecting glasses from a disused shelf carved into the wall.

"No. Before you showed up." Atreus says. "You never did explain the story of you finding Atlantis and coming here to my satisfaction. Deirdre said we were protected, by the Goddess."

"I'm still curious." Lorius looks at Aura. "What you first thought when I landed on that balcony out there."

"Rock paper scissors for who goes first?" Nick suggests. He looks at his hands. "I can't play"

Aura smirks at him. "I was wondering who that strange, pale man was for you were certainly not from around here. You are fortunate I am a friendly sort. I have a mean lightning strike."

"I remember the lightning strike when we were visiting Etrusca, and that idiot necromancer decided to use the local city of the dead for recruits...."

"That wasn't the subject of the moment, Prince Lorius." Atreus says.

"Right." Lorius says. "Well, in addition to Aura not being a Han Solo type and shooting first, I had an advantage. I knew the password that Deirdre had given you, sir, and you had given your daughter in case she needed to send someone here. I gave the password, started explaining myself. Explained who *Aura* was. Didn't get electrocuted."

"But you've been to this temple many times since." Kovikin says, amused, letting the wine do its work.

"Oh, now be fair," Aura smiles. "I was actually living here for several years. Of course, that has nothing to do about every time he has shown up in need of a healer."

"Every time" Nick adds for emphasis.

Aura winks at Kovikin and the tilts her head to look to Lorius. "Nor does it explain the times you showed up actually asking for a healer. Whether I thought you needed one or not."

Lorius, sipping his wine, grins.

"Oh I could certainly retreat to a Bashir class medical pod and recuperate." Lorius says. "Before I started to visit Atlantis, that IS what I did. But you have to admit, Atlantis is a far less stark place to do that."

"And far as the times that I was not *badly* injured" Lorius sips his wine. "well, there is no sense in taking chances, is there?" he says.

"I think the chance you were taking involved is something different." Kovikin observes.. "Enyo and Erato, definitely. We have a few hours before the priestesses are all assembled." He gives a grin at Lorius as he looks past him at Aura.

Aura grins and offers helpfully; "I could try and give them a call... The sooner we get him properly married to an Atlantean - or two - we can stop having to work around these irritating obstructionist functionaries."

"Is that a real issue?" Lorius says. "Am I really that much of a disruption?"

"Yes" Aura's father puts in, amused. Nick chuckles in concert.

"Having you domesticated would obviate problems, placate the Empress, and make our lives easier." Kovikin says, deadpan. "Besides, with the edge off, Lorius, you might be bearable for long periods of time."

Lorius looks at his glass of wine. "Either I have drunk too much wine, or your boyfriend is making too much sense." Lorius says to Aura.

"Make the call, Aura." Atreus says. "Your cousin turned down a notch or two would be a good thing. And we've time to kill."

Aura grins. After draining her wineglass, she walks out to the balcony and creates a pair of messenger birds. They both bear the same message:

“I have an interesting proposition for you and your sister. Pop over to my rooms at the Temple of Nerissa in the next half hour if you’re interested. Aura.” Borne on the air, it will only take the birds a handful of minutes to find their targets.

Humming a jaunty tune, Aura saunters smugly back inside.

Nick is just sitting and watching.

"Say that again" Atreus says. "There are copies of me out there?"

"Simple. People and Shadows who are tied to Primal Powers generate reflections of themselves throughout shadow. Copies of Atlantis and users of your new Primal Power are going to crop up. Like you. Or, especially like any of the High Priestesses. Thera, for instance."

"Perish the thought" Kovikin says.

“Thera’s copies are probably cheerful and smiley,” Aura smirks. “And very sexy.”

"Well, I didn't tell them about Empress Aura and the Bore Worms" Lorius says.

"Empress Aura and the *what*?" Atreus asks.

“Hush,” Aura chides Lorius with a certain look in her eyes.

Lorius ignores him and keeps on his explanation "The thing is, Atlantis is going to have this influence. Or might/will do so. The unbound dimension of time means that the copies I've seen of Atlantis might be there because of the primal power that is not yet here but will be here. I should have seen this. Atlantis HAS to become a pole of the universe, and will. We've already seen some of the effects of it. Predestination Paradox." Lorius sips some wine.

"This is what lessons from him are like, aren't they?" Kovikin says to Aura. "Did you..."

"Don't be silly." Lorius says. "Aura is not going to cold call them on a whim. What are the odds..."

Two audible pops on the balcony outside, a second or two apart.

Aura grins and spreads her arms. “Ta-da.”

"Then again" Kovikin says.

"That is probably not pizza delivery" Lorius says.

“We’re in here!” Aura calls over her shoulder. She then proceeds to the bar to pour two more glasses of wine for the new guests.

Two copper haired women, twins, swing into the room from the balcony. With smiles, they look around the room, assessing the guests before fixating on their host.

"Aura!"

"Warlord. Prince." they say in unison with bobbing heads to Atreus and Kovikin. "Lorius" they add, with musical laughs.

"What about me?" Nick demands.

"We would never neglect Aura's familiar." Enyo says consolingly.

"This is quite a set you've collected here, Aura. We're going to need that wine, aren't we?" Erato says to Aura. as both move up to take their glasses.

“Don’t be such a drama queen,” says Aura to Nick.

“And ladies, I called you here today to discuss what we can do to properly integrate my cousin into Atlantis. Frankly, I grow weary of half the people around here referring to him as my outlander cousin.”

"Well" Erato says. "He IS your outlander cousin. Even if he visits her several times a year."

"Especially this very temple" Enyo says. "Almost as if he liked coming here."

"Why am I being discussed as if I wasn't here?" Lorius asks.

"This is women's work" Enyo and Erato says. "No offense" the latter says with a tilt of her head to Atreus and Kovikin.

Both then turn toward Aura. "The choices are pretty basic. We get the Empress to give him a position and a responsibility, we have him undergo an initiation, or..." Their eyes brighten "Or we make him an Atlantean by marriage."

”Kovikin and I had the very same ideas!” Aura exclaims with unabashed delight.

Kovikin beams.

She looks sly from one to the other. “Although we were considering a position and a marriage. We even had some ideas about possible wives.”

"Aha!" Enyo says. "You're looking for our advice on who to domesticate him?" She gives a grin to Lorius and looks back at her Aura.

Her twin picks this up. "Sister, I suspect that Aura has a more specific idea in mind." She takes a sip of wine. "Don't you, Aura?"

Aura just continues smiling brightly.

"He is not uncomely." Enyo says. "And possibly trainable."

"I am not a stallion or a hellhound." Lorius says.

"Hush" Atreus commands.

Biting her lip, Aura turns to wink at Kovikin.

"Aura." Erato says. "You do know that my sister and I have pledged to be married on the same day, don't you?"

“I really do not see a problem with that,” says Aura cheerfully. She is probably enjoying this far too much. “Especially if you marry on the same day to the same man!”

Erato looks at Enyo. Something passes between them, as if an hour of communication could be contained within a moment's gaze at each other. When they turn back to look at Aura and the rest, their expression has changed to a mixture of humor and seriousness.

Looking well pleased, Aura remains silent. She’s known the twins their whole lives. This form of communication is not new to her.

"Warlord." Erato says to Atreus. "If you and Kovikin could take the Prince of Amber for a walk, my sister and I would be grateful."

"Very well." Atreus says. "Lorius, time for some exercise."

"I feel like I am being exorcised." Lorius says, but he doesn't argue.

"You know my position on the matter." Kovikin says quietly to Aura. "You are empowered to negotiate."

Exeunt Kovikin, Atreus and Lorius. Nick returns to Aura's shoulder

"Now, then" Erato says once they are gone, finishing her glass. "You were thinking of marrying the two of us to marry Prince Lorius."

"You probably thought that just one of us would be unsatisfactory to the other. Or making us choose." Enyo says. "And you would be right."

"If Her Glory is willing to give him some position at Court, we accept the offer." her sister puts in. "We have our reputation to uphold."

"He has to share SOME of your good traits" Enyo says.

"And as we said before, he's probably trainable." Erato adds.

"I look forward to his training." Enyo grins.

"And as his closest female relative in Atlantis, under the Hymenaeos Law, you would have the authority to decide a wife for him. Or wives. But you knew that, didn't you?" Erato finishes.

Aura smiles. She spins the stem of her wineglass between thumb and forefinger. “Of course. I am not sure he knew that, but I expect he will by the time he returns.” She perches on the arm of a chair and regards them. “Her Glory is most interested in Lorius being more invested in Atlantis, so Kovikin and I are sure there is a Court appointment in his future. Kovikin will, of course, see that it happens. If nothing else, he has the power to make his own appointments to his personal Court.”

"Good" Erato says. "That will suit. My sister and I have standards."

“I enjoy giving my cousin a hard time,” she admits. “I snark and tease him at least once an hour and complained loudly about his popping in and out randomly for my lessons for years. But do not let the fact that he lets me do it make him seem at all weak willed. He isn’t. He is a powerful sorcerer of Amber and a Prince. I have seen him do magic off the cuff with an ease that will take your breath away. His mother is one of the most impressive wielders of magic I have ever met – which is saying something- so he comes by it honestly. He has a strange sense of humor, as Nick can attest, and he has that whole floating thing that I still don’t quite understand the need for. But he is also a decent man with an insatiable curiosity and a fine sense of right and wrong. He can take you places, show you things you haven’t even imagined. So do not think, for even a minute, that you will in any way be ‘stuck’ with Lorius.”

Aura summons the open bottle to herself and refills all their glasses. “Now, that being said, he won’t be here all the time. He can’t be. He has responsibilities in Amber, as do I. Currently there is even a bit of a crisis we have to deal with. But time is fluid between worlds and there’s no reason at all you can’t go back and forth with him if you wish.”

“Amber is ... strange. They actually have a winter and all the trees appear to be the same color.” Aura smiles “You’ll need a whole new wardrobe for it.”

Enyo laughs. "You mean we might have to obtain new clothes? What a hardship that would be!" she says, tears coming out of her eyes as she laughs. She calms herself and sips her wine.

"I'll bet Amber is going to find a marriage to both of us odd." Erato, wiping her eyes and recovering, too, adds. "That's okay. You go there and come back without incident. We'll manage just fine."

"Never thought he wasn't powerful or strong willed." Erato says. "We've seen him at work and heard what he can do. Stories circulate." Enyo and Erato look at Nick, who tries, and fails to put on an innocent expression. "He just needs a little female sense if he's going to spend more time here, that's all. That's where we come in. We won't wear him out *too* badly, Aura."

"We should ask about the rest of his family." Enyo says. "Even if we don't visit Amber that often. He has a sorceress for a mother." Enyo says. "Father? Siblings? We knew you two have a slew of cousins, but they aren't likely to gatecrash that often." Aura makes a face. “Ugh. I’ll be honest; there was such an information dump when we decided it was time to go to Amber and then when I arrived – on top of the two kidnapping attempts – that I am afraid I am not the person to fill you on Lorius’ siblings. I do remember he has a sister who is something of a historian. I only remember that because he said she would bury herself in our library should she be invited to visit.”

“Speaking of invitations,” Aura sighs. “You do know you’ll likely need to have two weddings unless we want Amber family inundating us. Which I would rather avoid.”

"Limit the family that comes here. Right." Erato says.

"Probably can't avoid his mother or the sister." Enyo says. "They'd be certain to have to be invited to this wedding."

"We could make it a fait accompli." Erato says. "Marry here, first, sooner than later, and then we do the second in Amber. No hordes of Amberite cousins for the wedding."

"I think that's what Aura has been thinking all along." Enyo replies.

"The sister and the mother will want to visit, though." Erato says. "No help for that. But if Atlantis can manage him, and you and your mother, two more Amberites will not break us." She pauses. "Eventually, we're going to have to have some sort of diplomatic ties with Amber, Aura." she adds. "Intermarriage will make it inevitable. But Her Glory is likely thinking in that direction already, I'll bet."

“Oh, I know,” Aura says with a dismissive wave of her hand. “We have already discussed it with Herself and His Majesty Amber. I believe she is well settled on who she wants to send and who she would like to be sent from Amber.”

The twins nod in perfect symmetry and synchronicity.

“But I still do not like the idea of a bunch of people I don’t know or have any reason to trust poking around Atlantis,” explains Aura with a frown. “They’ll want to know everything and they’ll be sniffing around the Crystals wanting to get in on the Power they bestow. I don’t like the idea of anyone not born to them knowing the intimate details of Atlantis’ Power. My mother doesn’t even know much more than, say, Nasir’s Court and she lived here. Lorius knows more, but that was a necessity and he’s sworn to keep the big stuff to himself. Lorius’ mother is going to want to study the Crystals; that’s just the way she is. I should recommend Thera be assigned to her when she visits.”

Both twins laugh musically. "That would keep anyone on their behavior." Erato says, once the two stop their laughter. "Thera would not appreciate if Lorius' mother started poking around her temple. Or any of the others, like this one." Enyo says, gesturing around.

"*I* think this is going to be fun, myself." Erato says, sipping her wine. "We haven't heard shouting or screaming elsewhere in the temple." Enyo says. "He must be taking the news that you are empowered to negotiate for his marriage well."

"Speaking of which." Erato says. "Is there any other terms we should discuss?

Aura ponders the mosaic on the ceiling. “I can’t think of anything at the moment, really. I know you both and don’t think we need anything telling everyone how to behave. I honestly haven’t given it a lot of thought. This just sort of sprang up at lunch. We have been discussing it since.”

Enyo grins.

[Aura] eyes the twins. “Lorius should have *some* input, I think. His mother may have my head otherwise. You’ll need your own household so give that some thought and we’ll get Lorius’ thoughts on that. Let us just agree that we are in continuing negotiations at the moment. But I suspect that won’t last long.”

"The point is to do this sooner rather than later." Enyo says with a smile. "Hash out the concerns and get matters settled." She rubs her hands together. "Thank *you*, Aura, for the opportunity."

"A shotgun wedding!" Nick says enthusiastically.

"Exactly" Erato says. She stops a moment. "Wait, what is a shotgun, precisely? Never mind." She shakes her head.

"Clearly I need to listen to my cousin's advice." comes the voice of Lorius, and the footsteps of Lorius, Kovikin and Atreus. Lorius leads them all, stops, faces the twins, smiles, and then looks at Aura and puts his hands on his hips.

"Your boyfriend and your father have told me." Lorius says "that some cockamamie law in Atlantis means you, as my only female relative here, have the legal right to make marriage contracts for me?" He snorts. "How many head of cattle are you getting for me anyway?"

”Pish,” says Aura dismissively. “What need have I for cattle? Pearls, now... I can always use more pearls. Perhaps you are worth a Tear or two as well. Another horse would be lovely.” A finger gets pointed at him playfully. “And watch your tone, mister.” Aura cups her hands together and grins at him. “Your future; right in the palms of my hands. So keep in mind there are no cockamamie laws in Atlantis and I am allowing you to have a say in the negotiations. Which I do not have to.”

“Everyone needs to have a seat at the table, please.” Aura rises and hooks an arm through Lorius’ to march him over.

“Kovikin, Lorius needs an appointment. Either to your mother’s court or to your own. The twins have standards, after all.”

"Of course we do." Erato says.

"Can't speak for mother." Kovikin says. "But I can certainly do something."

“As the resident family of the prospective groom, I have offered to provide their new house, as part of the, er.. dowry.” Aura cheerfully pushes Lorius down into a chair and takes her own seat beside him.

Lorius gives Aura a look but, pointedly, does not protest or resist any of the manhandling.

“The three of you need to decide what you require. Also, there will be a Joining ceremony here in Atlantis before we go to Amber and have an official Amber wedding. This way there won’t be two dozen people I don’t know poking around in Atlantean corners they don’t need to be in before we are ready for them. Although we already expect Fiona will want to be here for this, but I think I can trust her to not poke too hard at too much.”

Aura turns to Lorius and smiles. “Also, as an Atlantean mage – even by marriage – you will have access to study the Power of Atlantis that no other Amberite will. Except me, of course. But as Celestra is my witness; if you make me look bad or damage anything, I will feed you to the kraken myself.” She gives him a quick, bright smile before turning to the others.

“Questions so far?”

"Can I get some wine?" Lorius says. "Wait, that's *not* a question." With nary a gesture, the bottle of wine and glasses arrive at the table, and wine is poured. He takes a long drink.

"Right. He looks at the twins, at Atreus and Kovikin and then to Aura. "There is clearly a lot I don't know about Atlantean law. I almost feel I should drag Pol here to look over any marriage contract. Right, contracts. I've got to believe there are such things, even if there aren't pre-nups per se. What's a contract look like? Who is qualified to do a ceremony and on what time frame can we get that?"

Aura just stares at him a moment before folding her hands in front of and taking a deep breath. “There are no written contracts for marriage in Atlantis. You will recall that most people aren’t married at all and those who are chose to do so later in life. Contracts imply a lack of trust and that is no way to start off a marriage of any kind. Besides, magical vows are taken. The High Priestess of Celestra oversees them. The ceremony is overseen by the High Priestesses. All four of them will give the traditional blessings. The actual officiant will be the High Priestess of Celestra. As for a time frame, well, I’m sure we could get it scheduled as soon as two nights from now if we rushed. The moons are in portentous phases so it would be a good time. Most people wait for the Festival of Lights for this type of thing, but it’s not required.”

"Months away, though, Atlantean time." Lorius says. "Besides, we can have another ceremony, then. Spread some largesse into the community. Portentous moons..." He rubs his chin.

"We definitely want some time with our husband after the ceremony here before you we go to Amber or deal with what the Empress desires." Erato says. "Alone time." Enyo adds.

"I can handle *that*." Lorius says. "Trust me." The twins reward him with a smile.

"I'd want your mother here, if possible. Can you arrange that?" Atreus says to Aura. "Being one of the few other Amberites welcome at any time, she should be here. Come to think of it, the Empress should be given an invitation, even if she then delegates it to Kovikin to attend."

“Of course,” Aura replies sounding slightly affronted that she wouldn’t invite both Their Glories. “And I can but try to get Mother here for this. She may not feel up to it yet. Though I think some time here in this Temple would do her a world of good.”

"I actually agree." Lorius says. "Maybe the Priestesses can get a good look at her and see what she needs to fully recover. Under the cover of attending her daughter's godfather's wedding." He brightens at this.

Aura bites her lip thoughtfully then shrugs. “I will try and get her to come. But we will have to be very discreet, you understand. someone is after her and I and both of us together would be a tempting target.”

"A fair point." Lorius concedes. "Bring your brother here, too, which I am not suggesting" He waves his hand, neatly avoiding knocking over his glass by millimeters. "and then they'd HAVE to strike."

"*Our* main gift to this union is Atlantean legitimacy and standing for the Prince? Correct?" Enyo says, clearing her throat.

Aura shrugs. “Yes. But we don’t necessarily want everyone to KNOW that. Which is why the forms must be followed. I will post the banns this afternoon with the Court official and they will be announced in the morning. We also must actually decide on dowries to exchange. They don’t mean as much as they used to and are largely symbolic, but traditions should be upheld.”

"If the Festival wasn't too far off." Erato says. "We should wait until then, unless you think." she looks at Aura. "that the banns would be enough to solve the problem at hand--our future groom's outsider status."

"To an extent." Atreus says. "It would alleviate some matters." He looks at Aura. "A contribution will have to be made from me to Lorius' side of the dowry, as your father."

"We're not even related." Lorius says.

"Regardless, I am related to Aura, and she is your agent." Atreus says.

“Horses,” Aura offers. “Matched horses.”

"Splendid thought, Daughter. Done." Atreus says.

"Definitely should have gotten Pollux in here." Lorius says. He looks at the Twins. "Cousins. One of a pair of not identical, identical Twins. Pollux is the diplomat and law expert."

Aura makes a dismissive gesture and accompanying noise. “Pfft.”

Erato bobs her head, and looks to Aura. "If the house is your main contribution to your side of the dowry, then..." she looks at her sister. A silent communication passes between them. They then speak in concert. "We'll have to talk to Father and talk him into it, of course, but what about The Green Flare? Would that be suitable?"

"His new ship." Kovikin says, whistling. He looks at Aura and Lorius. "That certainly would suggest they were *serious* about this marriage."

The copper headed daughters of Misha smile and look smug.

Aura looks from Kovikin to the twins and back again. “His new ship?” she doesn’t ask so much as demands. “This isn’t the one he’s been talking about and planning for years and years and then spent quite a few more building it, is it? His baby? Because I so do not want to be near that conversation if it is. Although it will certainly do what Kovikin suggests.” She eyes the twins again. “But it’s your call. If anyone can handle Misha, it’s certainly you two.”

"Father is going to have kittens that we're getting married as it is." Enyo says. "Doubly so that we are getting married at the same time." Erato says. "To a Prince no less." Enyo puts in. Nick keeps craning his head back and forth as they continue alternating lines "But if Father has to provide dowry for both of us." Erato says "And indeed in this case he does." Enyo responds "Then he needs a gift worth of both of us, and worthy of a match to a Prince." they say together. "We'll tell him all of this news...in the morning." Both of them give Lorius a look.

"Um, how long until the Priestesses arrive, Aura?" Lorius says, wiping sweat from his brow.

Both twins laugh.

"Oh, being married to your cousin is going to be fun." Erato says.

”It is sure to be very entertaining,” Aura says dryly. “But, look; I agree the boat is an excellent dowry. But Misha’s been planning that thing as long as I’ve known him. I suspect the blow will need to be softened. Tell him that I or Lorius can find him any type of wood he can imagine or desire to build his replacement. Even if it’s, I don’t know, polka doted or sparkly or smells like chocolate. Whatever.”

"Any wood, anywhere, or anywhen." Lorius agrees.

"We'll tell him." Erato promises.

At this point a messenger, one of the junior acolytes of the Temple (junior enough to post-date Aura's tenure here) arrives.

"Princess? The priestesses and dignitaries you have requested have begun to arrive. The High Priestess begs me to ask you to be ready within the hour."

“Inform them that we will be ready,” Aura says kindly. “Please let us know when to appear.”

"I shall" the acolyte promises, and zips out.

"I think that's *our* cue to wrap this up soon so we can go tell father the good news." Erato says.

"And soften the blow" Enyo adds. "What's next?"

”You take care of informing your father,” Aura says. “Lorius should ideally go with you. But please explain that we have a very important series of meetings to get through today that concern the security of Atlantis. Misha will understand. I will take care of the banns after this meeting.”

"An early trip to the In-laws." Lorius say, nodding.. "Well, if you two eventually have to meet Mom, let's have me meet your Cirdan-like father first."

"We'll have him back within an hour, Aura.." Erato says.

"Aw, I was hoping we could keep him a little longer." Enyo pouts slightly.

"No, Atlantis' security first." Erato clarifies. They rise, walk around the table and stand by either side of Lorius' chair.

Aura gives Lorius a little wave and a smile before they leave.

"This was either the greatest idea you've had yet, or we'll never forget it." Kovikin says, once the twins and Lorius have ported out.

Aura grins unrepentantly. “It will do him good,” she says loftily. “And the twins as well. Plus, it will be the first such arrangement between Amber and Atlantis *and* I can have Lorius’ assistance with all this new Power business. Which I really think I am going to need to muddle through it.”

"Nonsense." Atreus says. "This was half the Empress' idea." He looks at Aura. "Perhaps talk to Deirdre while we wait for the meetings?"

Aura sighs and reaches for her pilfered Trump deck.

"Or tell the Queen." Kovikin says.

“*You* tell the Queen,” Aura retorts with good humor. “You need to discuss that Court appointment anyway. Or at least get the idea in her head to think about. I’ll try calling my mother. Though she may not answer. I’m not sure how secure these things are.”

"All right, I'll go and talk to Mother, now, while you talk to yours." Kovikin says. "I'll be back shortly."

"Now departing, track two, Grand Central Station" Nick says sonorously, or as sonorously as a small lizard can manage.

"Never mind." Kovikin shakes his head. He ports out, leaving Aura, Kovikin and Nick.

When Aura does activate the trump,it takes a few moments

What Aura gets is not Deirdre, or to be precise, not just Deirdre. Sitting in a room, somewhere,is Aura's mother, and, unexpectedly, Lorius' sister, Brandeigh. The latter grins.

"Hello Aura" Deirdre says with a smile. "Forgive my daughter-in-law, I was concerned who might be calling me and she came into the call as backup."

"Pleased to meet you" Brandeigh says to Aura. Aura’s eyebrow twitches. Daughter in law? Still, she smiles. “And you. I apologize in advance should your name completely elude me when next we meet. There’s been a lot of them in the last day or so.”

"You have my brother to blame for that." Brandeigh says. "I completely understand."

Aura grins. “Ah! Right. The family tree is still unraveling for me.” She shifts in her chair so that the background is unmistakably Atlantean for her mother’s benefit.

Aura can sense Brandeigh's frank curiosity, and Mother's clear sense of recognition. “Mother, Lorius and I were wondering if you would care to do us a favor.”

"A favor?" Brandeigh says doubtfully, furrowing her eyebrows.

"Things have settled down here for the moment, thankfully." Deirdre says. And, your mother returned to Amber" Deirdre says. She turns her attention fully on Aura.

"I suspect that you and Lorius want me to come to Atlantis." She furrows her eyebrows. "What exactly for?"

“I am in the Temple of Healing,” Aura says by way of an answer. “And we all believe a visit here would be beneficial to you.” She smirks “Lorius recommends the Healers here very highly." And he would know. He’s been a patient here more than I ever have been.”

Brandeigh quirks an "oh, really?" eyebrow at this. Deirdre resists the urge to snort in laughter.

The Atlantean born Amberite suddenly smiles innocently. “Lorius also has an announcement to make. Maybe you should both come! He should have a representative of his immediate family beside his scheming god-daughter.”

Brandeigh considers this, clearly torn.

"You could come, Brandeigh." Deirdre offers again. "My daughter does not make invitations to Atlantis that often. She keeps it as private as you now do Keltia."

"No" the disappointment in Brandeigh's voice is palpable. "Besides, if my dear brother is up to no good, the less I know, the less Mother will know." She looks at Aura. "And, someone is trying to make a mess of my shadow and I should not let that pot go unwatched." She turns to Deirdre. "You go, and we'll compare notes, later on my dear brother's latest doings. I'll tell Percy."

"Very well." Deirdre says. "We'll talk later." She turns to face Aura, to go through the trump and into Atlantis.

Deirdre steps through the trump, making up for Aura's relative inexperience with them. Its not as elegant as a Deirdre steps through the trump, making up for Aura's relative inexperience with them. Its not as elegant as a magical portal for her, but Deirdre makes the transition into Atlantis well enough. She looks down at her black and silver blouse and jeans. "I may be somewhat overdressed." she says.

"I think you look stunning." Atreus says, stepping up next to Aura, and capturing Deirdre with a smile. "As you always have, and always will."

After this moment of tenderness, Deirdre sits down, her eyes darting around. "Temple of Nerissa", as you said. she says with a smile to Aura. "Where *is* Lorius, anyhow?" she asks. "You promised me, and teased Brandeigh, with the promise of some sort of announcement from him."

Being the thoughtful daughter that she is, Aura pours her mother a glass of wine. She might need a drink. for this Aura grins mischievously at her father before answering her mother.

She glances at the wine and taps the edge of the glass.

"Drink, first" Atreus counsels. Deirdre does take a sip, and then a longer one before Aura speaks.

“Lorius,” she announces grandly. “Is currently meeting his future father in law, Misha. You remember Misha? The harbor master? He has twin girls.”

"Future father in law." Deirdre says, nodding. "Unicorn's horn." She sips the wine again after a long, long thought. "I remember Misha. Harbor Master, shipwright. So one of the twins snagged Lorius. I wonder." she smiles. "if the old bet I have with Flora still stands."

Aura smirks but remains silent.

"Fiona was remarkably calm when Brandeigh married my son." Deirdre adds. "Even so, Atlantis' defenses might require some work, if she doesn't take well to her future daughter in law."

"Well, there is the additional facet." Atreus says. He looks at Aura.

"What additional facet?" Deirdre asks. "Lorius doesn't have a child with the girl, does he? Is that why he's suddenly getting married?"

“This is an Atlantean bonding, Mother,” supplies Aura cheerfully. “Which, you will recall, are pretty open. The twins do everything together. They informed me that included getting married.”

Deirdre takes another sip of that wine before speaking.

"Unicorn's horn." She blinks and then smiles. "Well, the two of them together should be a match, even for Lorius. Fiona is going to be positively shocked." She schools her humor and then cocks her head. "Dual ceremony, I take it, here and there." She pauses a beat and continues.

"So why the sudden rush to get Lorius married? What's happened? This isn't some sort of weird bride-before-war impulse on his part?" Deirdre asks.

“Well, it started out as a joke, really,” Aura stage whispers. “But once everyone started warming up to the idea, all that was left was the bartering. Her Glory was musing this morning on how to make Lorius more ... Atlantean to appreciate it all more. That was after I had to put some pompous functionary in his place for his disrespect towards Lorius. But he was just one of many. People are barely tolerating my ‘Outlander Cousin’ when he’s in my presence. Not much more when Kovikin is with him. It’s his own fault. He’s always projected this air of being somehow better than everyone else and that floating thing he does has been taken entirely the wrong way.”

Deirdre snorts. "He's sensitive about his height in a way his mother doesn't care about. I've never figured out why its a sore point. I think I was off in shadow when whatever happened, happened."

“Lorius marrying the twins will very neatly make him Atlantean, doing away with his Outlander status. It will mean he can have greater access to the Power of Atlantis while we study it. There is no way on Celestra’s purple couch that anyone was going to approve his access at that level before. It is also a good political move on Atlantis’ part.”

"Study the Power of Atlantis? Why would Lorius care about..." Deirdre puts down the glass of wine, holds up a hand and stops speaking. Aura feels the rise of the Pattern. Not quite as elegant or powerful as Lorius, but with a vigorous response all the same. Deirdre blinks and drops it after a few moments.

Aura tenses when it starts. No one has done that since the other aspects awoke. She’s not sure what to expect. She feels tremors, distantly, but no major reactions from the power formerly known as Tetra. It's clear the two powers met ... but nothing else came of it.

"Something has changed." Deirdre says. "I may not be Lorius, or his Mother, but I can feel it. There is a Power here, now. Primal." she says. "Did you and Lorius awaken or put a Primal Power here?" Deirdre asks. "I thought there was just a minor, although powerful, shadow power here."

“I woke it up,” her daughter admits. “I only meant to strengthen the barriers around to Atlantis to try and keep out anymore shape shifting assassins. But there were two aspects of the Power sleeping and the best way to defend Atlantis was to see Her fully empowered.”

Deirdre doesn't say anything for a minute or so. She takes to walking, not quite pacing, around the room. Finally she stops, and gets a look in her eyes as she turns to look at Aura and her father.

"What are you thinking?" Atreus prompts.

"I think that your godfather is clever." Deirdre says. "A new Primal Power is something Random is going to have kittens about. As will the Courts. And will attract an enormous amount of interest. Not just from his mother, either." Deirdre says. "This crazy impromptu double marriage will give him access to the Power, yes? Allow him to be an initiate?"

"A most clever boy." Deirdre says. "You might get brushed aside if you were the only Amberite initiated, Aura. You *and* Lorius, both, initiated, make for a far better defense, and claim. One had to wonder otherwise, how, even with twins, you'd get him to put on a marriage ring so easily." She looks at Aura. "That said, you probably should forbid anyone else accessing the Primal Power. Not Fiona. Not Random. Not a smooth talking cousin. Not even me. Not until the two of you study it, know what you have."

“Oh, that’s not even on the table,” Aura says firmly. “And Lorius won’t be skipping into any of the initiations either; assuming he even can since he wasn’t born here. He still has to do them one at a time just like the rest of us. I suspect I do get a say in that; it sees me as its Creator, this power. But there is a lot I don’t know about it and Lorius knows much more about these sorts of things than I do. I *need* him to help me make sense of it and do this right. That’s without him ever being initiated in any level of it. Tetra was already complicated enough, more complicated than the Pattern, being broken into four Aspects with three levels of mastery. Now it’s five aspects and none of us have any idea what initiation into the new Aspects are is going to grant. Lorius is the *only* capable ‘outlander’ I trust with Atlantis’ heart other than you and I suspect he’ll be more help unless there’s something you’ve kept to yourself.”

Deirdre shakes her head. "You got your magical talent from your father, not from me." Deirdre says. "I've not much aptitude for such things. One reason." she says. "I made Lorius your godfather, instead of, say, Castor or Pollux."

“And Random already knows. I told him shortly after I managed to awaken it.” Aura shrugs. “He was going to feel it eventually, I imagined. Best to get in on the ground floor, so to speak. We’re already discussing Ambassadors and Embassies and alliances.”

I am glad." her tone turns delighted. "You've thought already to bind Amber here. It will make land grabbing and legal problems much easier. Legal status and recognition and relations for Atlantis, especially given its a Primal Power, will be important."

Her daughter nods. “It was always going to be important to me. I had planned on enticing Random into some sort of diplomatic arrangement any way. The upgrade just gave me more to bargain with.”

"I might." Deirdre muses. "have to stay around to help whoever Random picks as Ambassador to get used to the place. Whoever Atlantis picks for Amber is going to have even more of a culture shock."

"No kidding." Atreus says. "That's a real puzzle. Amber is too cold for one thing." he says.

"You just need the right method of keeping warm." Deirdre says to Atreus.

"This explains a lot." Nick says.

"Hush" Atreus comments.

Aura smiles and rolls her eyes. “At least Sorcha will finally be able to get rid of all those Etruscan furs she’s been holding for ages. The temperature is easier to deal with than the landscape. All the trees are green!”

"They'll get used to it." Deirdre says. "It's not as if they are going to the Courts of Chaos, after all." She pauses and looks serious. "Merlin is going to send someone snooping around here, or snoop himself, once your Primal Power is fully operational. He won't be able to help himself, from what I have been told. Your Empress will have to decide on a foreign policy with regard to the Courts. They will come."

Aura wrinkles her nose and gives a resigned sigh. That could get really ugly really fast.

"Wait" she adds. "You've had trouble with them, already, haven't you, Aura?" she asks.

“Yes,” her daughter nods with a scowl. “From the attempted kidnapping and then the demon infiltration; that got some Atlantean guards killed in the Palace and hasn’t helped my reputation – or Amber’s- here any since it’s clear they were after me because of who my mother is. That’s why I had to strengthen the wards and ended up awakening the Primal. Merlin is going to have to really work to get Her Glory to even read a letter from him, much less let him set one toe on her shores so he can speak to her. I’m not even sure he could get in; we warded against non Atlantean shape shifters after I awoke the Power.”

Aura turns to her familiar. “Make a note to remind me to inform Random in no uncertain terms that NO one – I don’t care who they are – is getting access to any part of Atlantis’ Power for the foreseeable future. The only studying going on will be Atlantean. Also remind me that Lorius is also going to have to swear an oath to keep his mouth shut about what he knows about it until released.”

"A Non-Disclosure agreement" Deirdre says. "Get him to sign a contract while you're at it. Not that I don't trust Lorius." Deirdre says. "But it would make sure that his mother doesn't find some sort of loophole in an oath and get the knowledge out of him, even if he doesn't want to."

Aura considers this. “Could I impose on you and father to put that together? Father has that strict military angle and you have that sneaky Amberite angle. Between the two of you – with Kovikin looking it over – it should be airtight.”

"We can do that" Atreus says. He looks at Deirdre. "If we have it before Lorius is married, even the better."

She takes another sip of wine. "This may all be of a piece, though." Deirdre adds. "There has been trouble in your..." she wrinkles her nose "nephew's shadow. and your sister in law's shadow. Those meddlesome Chaosians forces trying to injure or get to me through my descendants have struck there too. I didn't imagine that the incident that happened to you in Amber would happen here, too." She pauses a beat. "House Ledaal needs a lesson taught to it."

Aura blinks. She has a nephew? But she lets it slide for now. She smiles a nasty little smile when her mother is done. “Oh. we are already plotting that. We’re thinking of increasing the deserts of the Black Zone to mess with their water based livelihood for starters.”

"Oh good. I should have expected neither of you would stand for such things. As well you shouldn't. Even if Atlantis wasn't on its way to taking a spot on the world stage, allowing Chaos to push its weight around here requires a response. Before House Hendrake decides Atlantis would make a good training ground."

Aura snorts. “As if Thera would let them get away with even looking at her funny.”

"It saves on the attempt anyway." Mother replies. "No need for conflict..." She stops her thought in mid-train.

"Ah" Deirdre says. "I believe either your boyfriend or Lorius is about to arrive."

A few seconds later, Kovikin appears, and walks in from the balcony.

"Princess" he says to Deirdre pleasantly. "I'm not interrupting." he looks from Aura to Deirdre and then to Atreus.

"Naw" Nick says. "Just discussing how best to make House Ledaal wish they never crawled out of the Pit."

"Ah, that." Kovikin says. He turns toward Aura. "The groom is not back yet? Well, Mother has agreed to the match, thinks its a fine idea for the reasons we discussed." He grins. "She loves the idea of giving him a title and saddling him with a job. Nothing fake, either."

"He's not to be Master of the Fecal Reclamation of the Stables?" Nick asks.

"No" Kovikin says. "That wouldn't be fair to the twins. No, she wants to name him Anthypatos of the Leeward Isles, the islands she has a Imperial Holding, but rarely ever visits the palace there because she will not take a holiday. Said she expected him as part of his overseeing mandate to use one of the islands for experiments for the betterment of Atlantis."

Deirdre snorts. Aura grins.

"Experiments safely away from the city, I note." Atreus says, amused. "There aren't many Anthypatos ever named but no one is going to dispute the provenance of the title, will they, daughter?" he looks at Aura.

“No,” Aura chuckles. “This is great. Even if his immediate family visits, they can’t cause or get into too much trouble out there and it’s just a small thing for the girls to move between there and here if they need to. Lorius can do his thing and not have to deal with officious little toadies trying to get snippy or blowing something important up and it’s really lovely out there. It’s not Atlantis proper, but it’s still part of it.”

"I think he'll find that most eminently suitable. All we need is to get him to sign the NDA, accept the title and we can move forward." Atreus says with satisfaction.

"Assuming Misha hasn't eaten him for dinner." Kovikin says.

"Or the Twins!" Nick pipes up helpfully.

"NDA?" Kovikin asks.

"A contract to allow Lorius an airtight excuse to keep his mother from being able to come and meddle with the Primal Power here." Deirdre says briskly.

A messenger at this point arrives to tell Aura she has fifteen minutes before the requested meeting with the priestesses.

"Good. Enough time to work on this. Count on Lorius to make a last minute appearance." Deirdre says. She requests paper and pen and commandeers a table, Atreus, Kovikin and some wine. They are soon writing, discussing, and good naturedly discussing matters.

This leaves Aura and her familiar at loose ends for a short while.

"We do need to make sure your mother stays here awhile." Nick says. "She looks so relaxed and healthy here."

Aura turns back to him after glancing at the timepiece on the bookshelf. “She does, doesn’t she? And she will be always in the company of people who can defend her. My father is certainly not going to have any but the best with her when he is not. The healers here can help her, I believe and so can my father’s love.”

"That's the elephant in the room of course." Nick says. "Seeing that she is loved and cared for, by you, by your Dad. There's something we don't know about what happened to her, something Lorius either doesn't know or didn't tell us. And your mother hasn't either. Something dreadful." Nick says. His tone is serious and has lost all jocularity. "If we can't find out what it is, we can still fight it anyway." he says, crossing his arms.

Aura grimaces into her wine glass. “I know. Just based on watching her. She needs more psychological healing than anything.”

There is the sound of a sudden, unseasonable, gust of wind outside, a howl like the herald of a tropical storm. It stops, and Lorius walks into the room, alone. He looks a little flushed, a bit pale, but otherwise not worse for wear.

Aura rolls her eyes. “He is incapable of subtlety, I swear.”

Lorius ignores the jibe, but grins at Aura. "Hullo Aunt Deirdre." he says, with a wave to Deirdre. He walks to Aura and Nick.

"Erato and Enyo are still talking with their father. My, uh future father in law." Lorius adds. "He thinks they're too good for me, that I'm a lackabout noble from a foreign land that has a title and not much else. Took all three on a short jaunt to change his mind." Lorius grins. "Let's just say that he is now pleased to welcome me into the family, as it were. He does want to talk to you, though, at some point. And still wants me to have a job so I can support his daughters. A very practical man."

He stops, cocks his ear in the direction of Deirdre, Kovikin and Atreus and then looks at Aura again.

"You're having your mother write an Atlantean legal contract? And I'm not late for the meeting, am I?"

“It’s a non-disclosure agreement, and not yet,” answers Aura. “It will help you keep your ... naturally curious mother and siblings from being able to pester you about Atlantis’ Power. At least, that’s what we’re going in with. And you’ll be happy to know that you now have an official position in Atlantis: Anthypatos of the Leeward Isles. There’s a palace for you and the twins to call home and you can conduct your experiments on one of the other islands in the chain without worrying about blowing something important up while you research ways to better Atlantis. It’s part of your overseeing mandate.”

"Leeward Isles. Leeward Isles." He taps his skull. "I swear, I am going to need external memory at this rate. Oh, right, islands to the east, mostly an imperial holding." He sits down. "So, basically she wants me to administer a royal preserve.Well, at least that will keep my..." he pauses but does not quite swallow. " father-in-law to be satisfied that I am not a layabout."

Aura smirks smugly. “Misha is a very interesting and fun man. Once he gets used to the idea of his daughters be married so young –and sees that you all are good for each other – he’ll come around. Plus, keep in mind that this is Atlantis; they girls will never betray you, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be just having sex with you and won’t expect you to have them as your only lovers. Just don’t sneak around. Sneaking implies you have something to hide or be ashamed of.”

"Different taboos, right." Lorius says.

"As far as the NDA." Lorius nods over to Deirdre, who is furiously copying what seems to be a completed document. "I'm glad for it. As it is, I ignored an insistent trump call from her, just as I was talking to Misha about Uncle Gerard and ships. No doubt I will regret the splitting headache later when she tries again."

“I shall enjoy the freedom of no Trump calls for as long as I can,” Aura declares. She drains her glass and moves to collect their pearl collection. “We should start down to the meeting. It will give us enough time to get the lay of the land before it starts. We won’t have near the attitudes here as we did with Ashura, so there’s that.”

"A more diverse group this time." Kovikin comments, rising from his place.

“Who is going to the meeting and who is staying put until we get back?” Aura inquires of the room at large.

"Well, I am going, obviously" Lorius says.

"You would have to bring me up to speed first." Deirdre says, bemused, setting down her pen. "So, no..." she looks at Atreus. "I'll remain here and make this look legal from Amberian law."

"Mom's not likely to care about Amberian law though, Aunt Deirdre." Lorius says.

"You'd be surprised." Deirdre says. She looks at Atreus. "Staying or going?"

"I think Kovikin can handle any overlapping matters as the Heir." Atreus says. Kovikin shoots Aura a smile and moves to stand on the opposite side of her from Lorius.

"I think we have a quorum." Kovikin says.

Aura smiles at her parents and nods slightly to her father when Deirdre’s attention is not on her. She had not wanted to leave her alone.

As Aura hoped for and predicted, the largest room in the Temple of Healing, the Cerulean, is where the multi-temple meeting is being held, according to a priestess Aura and company flags down. Full contingents have arrived, and the staff is jumping. The messenger, in fact, was being sent to check on the status of Aura's attendance.

"Polymnia, Kybele, Kalysto, and of course Sagraine." Lorius says.

"Who you know best." Nick says with a laugh.

"None of them are quite as scary as Thera, though, right? But anything I should know?" Lorius says. "I have tried to steer clear of the temples for the most part, after all."

"No, none of them are as cranky as Thera,” Aura allows. “Frankly, no one in all of Atlantis is as cranky as Thera. She seriously needs a lover. Not just the “You. My chambers tonight” kind either."

"Had a thought about that" Lorius says.

"Oh boy" Nick says. "Here it comes, Aura."

"No, no." Lorius says. "Now, any of the Family would be a terrible idea. Even Benedict." Lorius says. "But, when you get yourself into Rebma, maybe Queen Moire might have ideas. Any Rebman man of quality knows from strong women. The fire and water thing might be a problem, or they could dampen the excesses of each other. And, if Rebma does do this independence thing, and seeks political relationships, even more so."

“As long as he knows he will be coming here and not the other way around,” Aura reminds him. “And Thera can do the water thing; she just prefers fire. She is one of the only people attuned to all four of the original elements. It’s one of the things that makes her so devastatingly effective in battle. The other, of course, is the fact that she enjoys it.”

Aura pauses to incline her head respectfully at a priestess before regarding Lorius. "I appreciate your hands off policy in regards to the Temples. Although you have spent an inordinate amount of time in this one."

"You've seen the Amber infirmary." Lorius says. "Can you blame my choice of primary care provider? I'm just glad the Temple's in my network."

"No, no, don't translate" Kovikin says. "I would hear more about this Rebma, though. And the many other places Atlantis is going to deal with. But we are here."

With that she swans towards Sagraine in the front of the room to explain her need for a memory projector set up. They have their own, of course, and won’t make it a production if she asks to use theirs instead of her own.

Lorius and Kovikin hang back, and the latter guides Lorius in the direction of Kalysto and her subordinates.

"I anticipated your use of memory pearls." Sagraine says warmly. "Especially since I couldn't imagine you trying to give a presentation without one, especially with your cousin in tow." A junior priestess, nearby, unprompted, hurries toward a side room. Also behind Aura, the other high priestesses and their subordinates are getting themselves sorted and seated. Lorius and Kovikin continue their round of introductions.

Aura laughs. “It is not Lorius’ fault this time. It’s the amount of data that will be new to everyone. This is just easier than trying to explain.”

"I noticed your mother has arrived." Sagraine adds. "After the presentation" she waves a hand. "I want to speak to you, and to her, at length about that."

“Thank you,” Aura says with sincere gratitude. “I am hoping she will stay and avail herself of the Temple. She’s been through something very bad. I don’t know the extent of it but she is still suffering. If you can assist her at all, I will be eternally grateful.”

"The psychic impression of her lingering distress is evident all the way to here, at least to me." Sagraine says gravely. "I do note that your father is here, as well, with her. That will help. I suspect he realizes that, too."

“Probably,” Aura agrees with a sigh. “I will meet you after and we can go up to my rooms.”

The priestesses, with their places set, await Aura and Lorius' presentation. Now having the first one under his belt, Lorius picks up the baton and engages with the audience and with Aura in a relaxed and easy manner, even given the serious subject of the security of Atlantis.

The questions from this much larger audience are similar to the ones at Thera's presentation. There is more interest here in the logistics and nuts and bolts of travel, transport and communication. Lorius winds up spilling his guts on what he knows about Doors and how to undo them at Kybele's insistence. She continues to quiz Lorius, she and her priestesses surrounding Lorius like a cloud, as Sagraine comes up to Aura.

"As far as the subject of volunteers, especially from this temple" Sagraine says, afterwards. "I think you will find no lack of them. War is a violent and dangerous thing. To injure members of an enemy army is worse than to kill them...for the care of such an individual takes time and resources away from combat."

"That sounds like Thera is rubbing off on you." Kovikin remarks.

"Gods forbid." Sagraine says. She looks over at Lorius. "Kybele seems to have cornered him." she says, bemused.

Aura glances over and smirks in amusement. “Of course. He’s arranged with Misha’s twins and will be taking up his post as one of Her Glory’s stewards soon. He’ll be around.”

She turns back to Sagraine. “Shall we go upstairs? It might give him a chance to make his escape.”

"One of Her Glory's stewards?" a voice comes. The tall high priestess of Celestra, along with a train of her junior priestesses arranged like a fall of flowers behind her. "It's good to see him settling down. I expect that Kybele is making sure he will make a good husband, as part of Ghia's domain. Both of the twins, did I hear correctly?"

"Kalysto" Sagraine says warmly. "From what I understand, yes."

"They could not bear to be separated by marriage." Kovikin comments.

"Well, then, that is a good start at domesticity on the Prince's part." Kalysto says. "Or should we rely on the Atlantean title he will adopt?"

“I suspect it will be a bit of both,” Aura says cheerfully.

"Well, perhaps we should go upstairs." Sagraine says to Aura.

“Yes,” Aura agrees. “Kovikin, be a dear and let Lorius know where we are vanishing to. Sagraine has business with my family.”

"I can make sure Kybele keeps him tied up for a bit longer if it helps with your mother." Kovikin offers

Sagraine raises an eyebrow. Kalysto just laughs.

"Aura, I will be in touch regarding volunteers." Come." she indicates her priestesses, who follow her out of a door.

Returning upstairs, with Sagraine, Aura finds her mother, and her father drinking wine and playing a game of Amber-style chess, her father playing White, and her mother, Black.

"You lost both Lorius and Kovikin, and gained the head of the Healing Temple" Deirdre observes, looking up from the board. "Was it that bad?"

Aura grins. “I didn’t so much lose them as shamelessly abandon one and ask the other to keep an eye on him.”

"Thera didn't make a surprise appearance, did she?" Atreus picks up the ball. "Greetings, Sagraine" he says warmly.

Aura shakes her head at her father’s question and offers her guest a chair before she takes on herself.

"Warlord. Princess." Sagraine says. She then looks at Aura expectantly.

“Mother,” Aura says without preamble. “I am going to be blunt. I would very much consider it a favor if you would agree to stay here, in the Temple, for a time. Sagraine and the others can do more for your mental health than whatever ‘resting’ you are doing in Amber. As far as I could see all they are doing is treating you like a delicate flower. I may not be with you as much as I would like, but Father is not going to stray far from your side, I would imagine.” She leans forward in her chair. “You need this. Attuned as she is to such things, Sagraine could feel it from downstairs."

Sagaine gives a grave nod, once, at this, from Aura.

"You have been gone from my life for what was, to me, a very long time. I would see you restored, whole and happy again now that you are back in it.”

"There is too much to do in Amber, even if I am not my full self." Deirdre begins.

"You and I already discussed and I dismembered that argument." Atreus says.

"A walk of the Pattern would probably be all I need to purge myself of any weakness." Deirdre says.

Atreus snorts. "Let's try something short of possibly killing you, first?"

“Seriously, Mother!” Aura protests. “That’s not really a good plan.”

"Yes" Sagraine takes a few steps toward Deirdre. "Your daughter, and her father is right. Let me help you. Let us help you. We can, better than anyone. Aura agrees with me."

"Lorius would agree with Aura." Atreus adds.

"That is not precisely a winning argument." Deirdre replies. A touch of weariness crosses her eyes. She stands and wanders over to the balcony and stands there for a moment, facing outside. Dramatically framed and posed, even as she regards the world of Atlantis outside.

"And I won't leave you. Her Glory will understand." Atreus says. "What is she going to do, replace me?"

Aura snorts softly in amusement. “I’ll be in and out, since I have to check on the emerging Power nodes and be here when they are fully awakened. They can’t replace me at this stage of the game.”

Deirdre softens slightly and turns around slowly, focusing her gaze on Sagraine. "How long?" she asks her.

"A fortnight minimum. Longer, preferably." the priestess replies. "We can begin the program in the morning."

"Two weeks" Deirdre says. "I can manage that." She turns to Aura. "Agreed?"

Aura considers it a moment before nodding. “All right. And it won’t even be that long in Amber so you won’t be missing much at all. So you really can afford to stay a few days past that if it’s necessary. We want you healed, Mother. Not just better.” She smiles. “Thank you.”

Deirdre nods. She doesn't quite sink back into the chair that she sits down in, but she does descend with a tad more need than a Princess of the Blood should need. Atreus refills her glass of wine.

"Well and good." Sagraine says. "I'll get a schedule put together and we'll get to brass tacks in short order. In addition to." she looks at Aura "finding recruits for *your* project and Atlantis' larger problem." She shoots Deirdre a look. "Which you, as an in-patient to the temple, are not allowed to protest that you want to end treatment early on those grounds. Two full weeks at the bare minimum."

"I see" Deirdre says, not quite submissive, but nodding her head in acquiescence

"I see why the priestesses here manage Lorius so well." Atreus says to Aura.

Aura smirks but doesn’t get a chance to respond beyond that before Sagraine is looking at her again.

Sagraine waves a hand and turns to Aura. "You're welcome to stay the night in your quarters, of course, before you head off to your next stop. I can use a priestess to spring him, if necessary. Although I suspect Kovikin is perfectly capable, when he finally gets bored. I assume the Twins are returning at some point?"

“Probably,” Aura shrugs. “I did not really get a chance to speak long with Lorius after he returned and before we came downstairs. I’m not sure were how long before or next meeting with Nasir in Persa; Kovikin is in charge of scheduling.”

“If Mother isn’t starting until the morning, she can Father are welcome to the spare room in this suite. Unless we end up not making it back until very late, in which case you can have mine.”

"Very well" Deirdre says with a smile. "I will not try to trash the place. Your dear uncle the King was a terror whenever he'd visit one of us in one of our domiciles. Flora positively hated it. Fiona once set an Unseen Servant on him, I have been told."

"Not true." Lorius says, walking in with Kovikin. "It was an invisibilium ámbulant, actually. Air elemental. I'd tell you what Random did in response, but Mom has sworn me to silence on the matter."

"It was darned funny, though." he adds with a grin.

"I thought I should stop the twenty questions and bring your cousin back." Kovikin says to Aura. "Tomorrow morning is our meeting with Nasir, and I wasn't certain how or where you wanted to handle sleeping arrangements."

"I sense at this point, I am intruding and will leave you all to the morning." Sagraine says "However, I do note there is only one guest bedroom here." she looks at Lorius intently. "I'm certain something can be arranged for you. Your usual room, perhaps?"

Lorius swallows. Nick snickers, and grins appear on Deirdre, Atreus and Kovikin.

Aura chuckles. “I’m sure we can accommodate him here. There’s plenty of room and a very comfortable couch. If the twins return, we can whip something together or they can always go stay at my villa for the night.”

“I’d rather you stay here though,” Aura informs him. “We need to strategize for tomorrow.”

"Yeah." Lorius says after a moment's thought. "We should plan on how we're going to tackle Nasir. Getting Atlantis on board with us," he looks around at the room, settling on Sagraine, "was part one of our plan. Getting the rest of this Coral Circle into our flotilla is another matter, entirely."

"Then I will leave on those grounds," Sagraine says, "and withdraw for the evening. Until the morning."

"Right. No time like the present." Lorius pours a glass of wine. He murmurs something, and in a moment the rich red color turns to a medium brown, and there now appears to be ice floating in it. He closes his eyes, gives this a sip, and nods in satisfaction once he opens them.

“Philistine,” Aura sneers at him.

"Waste of perfectly good wine," Deirdre comments. Atreus nods in her ear and she nods.

"Atreus tells me that you don't quite need your mother to give input on this. And you can probably spare your father, too," Deirdre says, bemused, turning to look at Aura. "We'll see you in the morning."

Goodbyes are soon made. Exeunt Sagraine, Deirdre and Atreus.

"I've got to wonder if Percy's father had half that ability Atreus does," Lorius says.

Aura turns from watching her parents retire with a smile that turns into a smirk as she regards Lorius. “I find it unlikely.”

"What did you have in mind, Aura?" Kovikin says, changing the subject.

“Toning it down.” She grins. Now that the day’s business has finished, she is free to shift her attire from the formal into a lightweight sarong (which is more for Lorius’ sense of modesty modesty than her own). Her jewelry even vanishes with whisper – all except her personal strand of Memory Pearls.

Now half dressed and much more comfortable, Aura leans against the arm of the chaise. “I actually expect Nasir to be much easier. We have always had a good relationship with him, Kovikin and I. And, as you know, as long as you treat him as an equal he won’t feel the need to posture. I suspect the Djinn would very much like to get their smoky mitts on a few Omphalos to experiment on. If it’s one of their mages, all the better. I am not at all fussed at the prospect.”

"Indeed, they are going to look for a cut, aren't they?" Lorius says, sipping his drink. He looks at it. "Should have added whipped cream, though," he says to no one in particular. Aura just gives him a mildly disgusted look.

"In return for joining our little confederation against the Omphalos, the Djinn will likely insist on it," Kovikin agrees with Aura. "He'll want it as part and parcel of the bargain. And it's not going to be that hard to facilitate that request, is it?" he asks Aura. "You and Lorius have caught Omphalos mages, before, I understand?"

She nods. “Yes. They weren’t expecting any Real mages to be there. Apparently they only worried about Fiona.”

Kovkin snorts. "More foolishness in our enemies is always appreciated."

"These are local djinn in Persa, right, Aura?" Lorius asks. "Not Greater Djinn?"

Aura frowns. “I have no idea what you are talking about. While we have a genial relationship with the Djinn in Persa, they are their own society with their own ways of doing things and their own secrets. Nasir will be the first to admit that no one living knows everything about the Djinn. We do know that each region has its own ... Boss Djinn, I suppose. They’re older and more powerful than the rest. They’re also the most fascinating to speak to, by the way. I don’t believe you ever met any of them. There are no better historians in all of Persa. What difference does it make?”

"Maybe nothing at all," Lorius says, "if there are none there. Lesser Djinn, although even I would not be such an idiot," he grins, "to actually name them in their presence as such, are local, shadow-bound Djinn, created and reflective of their shadow or shadows.

"Greater Djinn are another kettle of fish, and are much rarer," Lorius continues. "They predate the Pattern. Some predate even the Logrus. Trans-shadow power, reality benders. Dangerous, and rare. They usually are not found in well trafficked lands, but if a Greater Djinn was lurking around Persa, I'd like to know it."

"These do not sound entirely friendly by your tone, Lorius," Kovikin says.

"No," Lorius says. "Just keep in mind they, like all Elder Races, have strong interests of their own, and are no pushovers. They might sniff around Hexad, once it gets up and running, for example," Lorius adds. "They would be very interested in the emergence of a new Primal Power and be able to do something with their interest."

“Huh,” Aura muses, looking up at the ceiling mural. “Well, I suspect that no matter the reality, asking a Djinn if they are a 'Greater Djinn' will have them saying ‘Why, yes, of course I am’. Although considering just how old this neck of the woods has turned out to be I wouldn’t put it past them. But I honestly don’t believe they are. One or two will occasionally come here but they visit the Mage’s Tower almost exclusively unless Nasir is using them as messengers to one of us and we know the handful that do that. I haven’t seen them anywhere else and they refuse to go harass the Lemurians, no matter how often Nasir asks.”

"Then they sound local," Lorius says, sounding a bit relieved. "There aren't too many Greater beings around, you know, pre-Pattern or pre-Logrus entities that can really transcend shadow. The Djinn are among the younger of those races, and if there were going to be any in the vicinity, I'd like to know if we were likely to deal with him. Her. It. Gender is a fluid concept when it comes to them."

Aura laughs. “Well, the ones I know are very male. Always. The younger ones have filthy minds too.”

He sips his drink. "I understand that cultures like this are very big on the rules of hospitality," Lorius says. "You are old friends, but I probably should have a welcome-gift ready for his Highness, even if you have already told him all about me." He pauses. "What might you suggest?"

“A personal invitation to the wedding will go far,” Aura notes. “But that isn’t really a gift. He’s fond of honey mead; which is the only alcohol he can drink. It is not a religious thing; it just reacts rather spectacularly with his magic when he has fermented grapes or grains. He absolutely cannot ever have any of Atlantis’ Fire Wine or Grapes of Wrath. Ever again. He is also very taken with foreign cultures. He doesn’t want so much to get to know them as he is to collect their stuff. So if you lay your hands on something extraordinary from distant Shadow – that is very obviously not from around here – he will be quite pleased. Those jeans we picked up for Kovikin? He hated them."

Kovikin gives a grimace of agreement and memory.

"But Nasir thinks they are the best thing ever. Like the boots I gave him made from the skin of a rainbow snake.” She waves a hand towards the bookcase. “If you aren’t sure what would be unique, I have books on every Shadow within the Coral Circle and a few right outside that will narrow it down. Anything magic is going to have to be really unique and awesome to impress him though. He is right next door to here with magic and Djinn of his own.”

"Invitations." Lorius groans slightly. "Now, of all times, I wish I had cultivated a good relationship with H...Asteria. She'd be good at that sort of thing. So, nothing magical, but something exotic you aren't going to find in Persa, Atlantis or anything else. Something extraordinary."

Lorius sips his iced coffee and nearly drops it. "That's it! Right. Going to take some fixing to get together." He puts down his coffee and rubs his hands together. "As soon as we're done strategizing here, now, I've got some shopping to do. Need my blushing brides to help me with the invitations, or else I could take care of that. Okay, verbal invitation, and the gift."

Aura snorts at the very idea of the twins still knowing how to blush. Most Atlanteans don’t. Although she herself isn’t above faking it if the situation calls for it.

"What else do we need to do before morning and Persa?" Lorius says. "What's the terrain like anyhow? Flat city on a plateau, sea coast city, something more carved out of the walls of the canyon, or what?"

“The city where we are going is a port city,” Aura answers. “The port itself is the usual port type thing for this area. But then it is a bit of a climb up flight of stairs carved into the cliff face to get to the city itself. But that’s all right because the view is amazing and they’ve carved little nooks for statues and little recessed seats and clever little water features should a traveler not be able to trek the stairs without requiring water or rest.”

“We don’t actually have to go up that way,” she continues with a smile to Kovikin. “Nasir will send a carpet for us.”

Kovikin looks slightly relieved, and grins. "I should expect honored guests and friends of the Caliph to be so treated."

Aura throws a pillow at his head. “When has Nasir ever made us climb the stairs?” she demands with a laugh. “He’s far too enamored of showing off his flying carpets.”

"He might--for him." He jerks a thumb at Lorius after picking up the soft missile.

Lorius widens his eyes. "I promise," he says, "not to play any music for that journey. Although one song comes immediately to mind. I don't want to be tossed off the carpet in mid flight."

Aura gives him a narrow look and reaches for another small pillow to use as a weapon.

He waves a hand. "Never mind. We pop into the port city and go up to the main city on the cliff, meet Nasir, and dicker. Gift and invitation, get the help of him, his mages and his Djinn. Am I missing anything? I probably should start present hunting, and get some rest, and check in on the Twins. And probably sleep, too." He grins.

“While you are present hunting, you should probably pick up something suitable for an Amazon type race – that will be Etrusca,” Aura suggests. “Not for any one person, as they have no individual ruler and are ruled by a council. Something impressive for the council chambers, perhaps.” She wrinkles her nose. “And the blasted Lemurians.”

"Not even that Valesca that's been to Atlantis? I thought she was an Etruscan emissary or leader or something," Lorius says. "Never mind. Something for the Amazon council, and not bootleg tapes of Xena, either. As far as the Lemurians, good grief, I am going to have to ask for serious help on that one." He rubs his temples. "Dear Abby. What do you do get a kingdom of humorless nitwits who have an opinion of themselves taller than Fortinbras Falls?"

"I've no suggestions," Kovikin says. "Just something that won't have them starting a war, Lorius."

“Valesca is the emissary to Atlantis. That has nothing to do with taking a gift to the council,” says Aura. “Keep in mind that we are representing both Atlantis and Amber for these meetings. As for the Lemurians, I suggest chocolate. It isn’t native anywhere near here and their King has a sweet tooth the size of Atla. Perhaps a large crate with a wide assortment of chocolate things. That would normally work for Etrusca too, but you can’t give them both the same thing. Especially since both are convinced of their own superiority over the other’s culture. Etrusca is even more matriarchal than Atlantis is and the Lemurians are patriarchal to the extreme. It’s a wonder we don’t all come down with testosterone poisoning just being near them.”

She smiles sharply. Kovikin snorts. “It is one reason I so enjoy making official visits as a representative of Atlantis. They have to be polite, they have to defer. Not just to a woman and not just to an Atlantean, but to one who is a slip of a girl compared to them physically.”

"Reminds me of some of the Rebmans that way," Lorius says. "You know, Random might be choosing better than he knew, with you having to deal with the Etruscans as you do. Not that every Rebman woman is buff--their mirror witches certainly are not."

She arches an eyebrow at him. She doesn’t deal with the women of Etrusca out of duty or as a chore; she genuinely likes them, despite their differences of opinion on how the males of the species fit into society.

"But something for a Caliph, something sweet, something martial. That should cover all three shadows." Lorius takes one more sip of his iced coffee. "Right, I'll be back before dawn, and we'll proceed from there."

He gives a glance at the room where Atreus and Deirdre retired to, and then looks at Aura. "Good work with Dee."

Aura flashes a triumphant grin his way.

And then Lorius softly and silently vanishes away, his smile the last thing to go. Before it vanishes, it speaks. "See? I can be subtle."

Aura snorts and throws a pillow at the vanishing smile. “I am not sure that counts,” she mutters before rising to her feet. The smile just manages to vanish, and the pillow sails harmlessly across the room, landing against a chair with a soft thud.

“Activate the wards on the balconies, would you, Kovikin? I know we changed the defenses on the island’s wards, but I won’t have anything or anyone disturbing my mother’s rest.” Aura smirks at him as he goes to channel magic into the runes connected to all the balconies and windows of the suite. “Or whatever they’re doing in there.”

"That's their business and I value my health and well being enough not to disturb the Warlord of Atlantis--OR a Princess of Amber," Kovikin replies. Aura can then feel him starting to bring up his magic.

Kovikin’s magic is sufficiently different from Aura’s now that hers is marked by the Pattern that it will be like having two sets of ward nets. Or so has been their theories. She doesn’t worry about the doors; the Temples all had their own protections and security designed by the higher level initiates of their relevant Powers that had been designed and implemented centuries ago when Atlantis was still a fledgling power. Maintaining them was one of the responsibilities of those current Third Tiers.

In many ways, marked by the Pattern, her magic IS stronger, and there is the factor of the advanced Tetra to consider as well. But only a fool would consider his magic "weak."

“I wonder if Nasir is planning on offering Lorius one of his dancing girls?” she muses with a grin. “He always likes to spring that on people. Is the AEgypt’s Pharaoh joining Nasir or do we need to give him his own meeting?"

"The last I heard, the Pharaoh had been visiting his brother monarch for about a month now," Kovikin replies, releasing and finishing his wards. "That whole Brotherhood of Kings thing they got going there. I think they should just exchange sisters for marriage and be done with it, if their cultural mores won't permit more direct ... relations. 'Course, his father married his sister." Kovikin grins. "Anyway, we'll get Sneferu III in the bargain. We should have told Lorius." He grins with amusement.

“I already have something we can gift them with,” Aura replies then grins. “And surprises are good for him; keeps him from becoming complacent with us.”

"Don't think the twins will appreciate a dancing girl in Lorius' household..." he pauses a beat "Unless she's properly trained, of course."

Aura laughs. “He won’t be serious. He enjoys watching people’s reactions. Of course, if one of them wants to go with whomever, he won’t stop them. But they aren’t really his dancing girls; they’re palace staff, more or less. But Lorius is sure to sputter.”

"Which will be, what did he say that one time..." Kovikin furrows his eyebrows. "Kodiak moment. Right, that will be a Kodiak moment to look forward to tomorrow. Speaking of which," he looks at Aura, "we should stop talking about your cousin. We've much better things to do with our time before sleep."

“A Kodak moment, darling,” Aura chuckles. “A Kodiak is a very large bear.”

She pauses and runs a nail down Nick’s spine before gently tapping him on the head. “Goodnight, Nick. You can teleport into the bedroom if there is any trouble. Real trouble, mind you. Not that I expect any. This is probably the most dangerous set of rooms in Atlantis right now, considering who is occupying them.”

Nick executes a military salute. "Yes, ma'am," he says, and scoots off.

“And now, my Prince,” she says with a saucy smile at Kovikin. “You were saying?”

"And now, I was saying..." And at that point, Kovikin stops his babbling, good and proper, as he takes Aura into his arms.

Morning finds Aura out on her balcony wearing naught but a smile as she watches the sunrise. Dawn is an amazing time in Atlantis; the morning sun slowly embraces the city, reflecting off gilded domes and shining marbles, brightening the already vibrant landscape. Morning breezes from the sea dance over chimes and through archways, providing a counterpoint to the birdsong. It is singularly beautiful and no matter where she goes, Aura does no believe she will ever find anything approaching it.

Nick suns himself on the balcony rail while Aura turns back to the table already set up for everyone’s morning meal. Pouring a glass of chilled juice mixed with a light wine she then wanders back through an open archway into her sleeping chambers to rouse the Prince of Atlantis and hustle him into the bath. It will be as busy today as yesterday. Her parents will emerge when they feel like it; or not. She’s half tempted to send a bird in to peck Lorius awake. If he’s still abed after Kovikin is ready, she just might.

“I know you’re awake,” she addresses the dark haired man with his arm thrown over his eyes. “Make it official and you can have my drink.”

"That's the only offer on tap?" Kovikin says, in a low murmur that is a poor attempt at disguising how awake he is. His arm moves away from his face, and his eyes slowly blink awake. This is followed by Kovikin getting to a seated position, and then finally his eyes fully awake. "I begin to see the value of places with longer nights than Atlantis," he says, palms now facing downward on the bed and his eyes focused on Aura. "Of course you were up to watch the dawn. That Amberian constitution."

“Are you complaining?” she amusedly inquires. “I do not recall hearing any complaints before you fell asleep.”

"No, just observing, not complaining," Kovikin smiles. Hands on the bed and a seated position graduates to feet on floor, and standing thereafter.

"My guess is that you won't see your parents before breakfast is on the table, if that," Kovikin says. "As far as your cousin...?" Lorius was, Aura last saw, soundly sleeping on a couch. A large, narrow, rectangular shaped box stands at the head of the couch, but without any obvious methods of entry.

"And where's the drink?" he adds with a grin.

She hands over the promised glass and perches on the edge of the bed beside him. “Since breakfast is already on the table and they are not out yet, I suspect we may be well into it before they show up. Lorius is snoring on the couch in the great room. I may have to connect him to a coffee IV before he moves.”

"I heard that," comes a voice from the living room. "And it is not true."

"Are you ambulatory, Prince?" Kovikin retorts. "I think Aura meant move to mean that you move something more than your tongue." He sips the drink.

"I am," he says. "I am avoiding getting vivisected by not sitting down to eat before Princess Deirdre awakes," Lorius calls back. "Or at least before Aura and you come in."

Aura chuckles before leaning in to kiss Kovikin on the cheek. “Have your bath, my Prince. I would join you but then we would miss our meeting. Breakfast is already on the table on the balcony.

“I shall go roust my eavesdropping cousin.”

"I am smart enough not to come between you and those two other pleasures," Kovikin says. "I will be out soon."

Lorius is not only not horizontal, he is nearly on his feet by the time Aura finds him. He is leaning against the large box and looking bleary-eyed. "Good morning, Goddess of the Dawn. Wait, that's wrong," he says. "Goddess of excited magnetic field particles?

"Forgive me for being less than completely awake," Lorius adds. "You might say that I am completely jetlagged. I think I came back all the way around to morning again, but I am not sure. We'll see," he adds, still rubbing his eyes, "if your mother and the Warlord make it out before we leave, hmmm?"

Aura smirks, waiting for him to notice she’s as naked as the day she was born. He should be used to it by now but he’s just not. “I rather hope we don’t.”

"No, it would be nice..." Lorius blinks and looks at Aura. Realization finally hits him. And he turns red. "You didn't spontaneously combust your clothes again, did you?" he says, suddenly getting an interest in looking at his own feet.

She sniffs indignantly. “It was a great spell effect and you know it. Not even my clothes can handle my hotness.”

Fifteen minutes later, Aura, Kovikin, Nick and Lorius are together eating breakfast at various points in the timeline. Remnants of a grapefruit litter Lorius' plate like discarded crab shells. Nick still is eating a portion of yogurt. Kovikin's plate is replete with these and much more. Deirdre and Atreus have awoken, but the nature of certain muffled sounds has turned Lorius' face slightly red.

Aura grins at Kovikin before throwing a muffling ward. Even it gets truly loud, they would still hear them, but neither of them are nearly as vocal as their daughter so it should suffice.

“You should be used to such things by now,” Aura notes while stealing a piece of bacon type meat from Kovikin’s plate. “As a citizen, you will be expected to participate during the Rites of Celestra, so you had best get used to it in the coming months.”

"My future brides to be sort of brought that up when I was talking with their father." Lorius says. "But they didn't unpack what that means."

Nick snickers.

"This is a serious question!" Lorius squeaks, looking at Nick and then at Aura. "Trying to be a good upstanding citizen and stuff, right?"

Aura grins wickedly. “Let’s just say you need to leave any body issues at the border and if there is still some tiny part of your brain that believes sex is something embarrassing and meant to be done in the dark behind locked doors, in secret and maintaining control.... well, you will be in for a long and agonizing week.”

The sounds in the bedroom have stopped and there is murmuring and conversation.

"Oh good, they're awake." Kovikin says. "In time, too."

“Mother, you know, fit right in with the Rites,” she notes conversationally. “She didn’t even twitch.”

"You don't know all there is to know about your grandmother." Lorius replies "My grandmother has very particular notions of propriety, which got passed down to her children. Or reacted to, in the case of Uncle Bleys. Mom's more traditional about such matters and she made sure Shannon and I were raised that way."

His goddaughter gives him a pitying look over her glass of juice.

"I know" he looks at Aura, face serious. "the puritanical streak is highly illogical and weird and a weakness. Part of the reason why I'm agreeing to this marriage is to try and work at that. Call it shock therapy."

"Shock the monkey to life!" Nick chuckles.

"Never should have introduced you to Peter Gabriel's music." Lorius counters.

"Good morning." Deirdre says, coming into the room, Atreus behind her. Neither are wearing terribly much, but more than Aura at any rate. "We are not late for breakfast?"

“Not at all!” Aura exclaims grandly and with a beaming smile at seeing the two of them together. “Why, Nick has yet to even touch the grapes. We were just explaining the Rites of Celestra to my poor, repressed cousin here.”

"And here, I thought." Deirdre says amused, "that Lorius would have long since had to have to deal with them."

She sits herself down, Atreus next to her.

"Oh, the Prince's presence has been scattershot. Unpredictable and wild, but never during the Festival itself. Almost pointedly so."

"You" Deirdre takes a toast point and points it at Lorius. "Need to learn to be a hedonist when you are here. Or else." She then bites it theatrically, and turns to smile at her daughter.

"I suppose you all are leaving shortly for Persa, as I make it out?" she says, continuing to dig into her breakfast with gusto. "Last family breakfast for a while and all that."

Aura turns her smirk of amusement at Lorius’ predicament to her mother. She opens her mouth to deny any such thing but then concedes with a bare-shouldered shrug after considering things. “Possibly. But I shall be in and out of Atlantis and I will certainly come by to check in and see how you are doing and to keep you apprised of the situation.”

"I have no idea if the treatment allows that." Mother says.

"Don't be silly, dear." Atreus says. "This isn't a cage, however gilded. Of course your daughter, and your wayward nephew can and will visit. After all, he is here often enough, I understand, anyhow."

Kovikin and Nick laugh.

"Seriously, there'll be plenty of time for visits over the next couple of weeks." Atreus says.

"And no meddling relatives from Amber to bother your recovery, Aunt Deirdre" Lorius says. "I'd show Aura how to trump block Atlantis, but you can't make that selective very easily, and I'd hate to have it up in case of emergencies. Although..." he looks at Aura "once things are really moving forward with the Power, we WILL want to lock down Atlantis. Hard. But that's a problem for another day."

“One not too far off,” Aura reminds him with a frown. “After we finish up in Persa with our reasonable allies, we should pop off into Shadow or maybe even Amber and see if the Atlantean portal will work between the two places. If they do, I don’t have a problem cutting off Trump communication and teaching Random how to use the crystals to call us if he needs to. Those can be locked into communication only with no passage possible into Atlantis.”

"Our schedule, yeah." Lorius says. "There is no rest for the wicked. Uncle Benedict is going to want to see what we have for his project. And I found out last night from my sister that Amber is a mess too. I almost think we should put up the Great Firewall now."

"What has happened?" Deirdre asks. "Do I need to return?"

"NO" Lorius says sternly, getting a grateful look from Atreus in the process.

"We should stick to the plan." Lorius says to Aura. "And probably get going now, hmm?"

“Probably,” Aura nods her agreement before polishing off her juice. “And Mother, you will be more helpful to Amber *after* you are healed. Please keep in mind that the time differential between here and there is significant. You can afford to take more than two weeks if necessary. I’ll let Random know where you are so he won’t worry.”

Or call her, she determines to herself as she rises from the table. She walks around give both her parents kisses on the cheek before standing back. With a gesture she is again arrayed in the full formal court attire – this time in royal Atlantean blue with a sea theme to her adornments. “Kovikin, there is a wooden box carved with AEgyptian style battle scenes in my closet; will you get it?” Pretty much everyone at the table will recognize it as a presentation box for a sword based on the size and shape. So will its intended recipient, but he will admire the box as much as the sword within it.

"If necessary" Deirdre says after a long moment. "The temptation to strangle Lorius to give up what he is talking about is still there."

"And that's why I am not telling you, with all due respect, Aunt Deirdre." Lorius says. "And your daughter is right. Amber is weaker with you still injured and not at your best. We'll be in touch." Or call her, she determines to herself as she rises from the table. She walks around give both her parents kisses on the cheek before standing back. With a gesture she is again arrayed in the full formal court attire – this time in royal Atlantean blue with a sea theme to her adornments. “Kovikin, there is a wooden box carved with AEgyptian style battle scenes in my closet; will you get it?” Pretty much everyone at the table will recognize it as a presentation box for a sword based on the size and shape. So will its intended recipient, but he will admire the box as much as the sword within it.

While Kovikin goes and gets Aura's present, Lorius wanders over and taps the big black box standing next to where he was sleeping. It starts to hover, just like he would, several inches over the ground. More, it starts following him to an open space in the room.

"Are you going to tell us what's in the box?" Atreus asks. "Its not as if we can tell anyone."

"Well, obviously Aura is giving the Pharaoh a sword." Lorius says. "I've got larger items in mind. Hence..." he pats the box. "You can only squeeze multiple dimensions down so far, after all." He pauses. "Well, you can, but there are disadvantages. Passing things squeezed too tightly into multiple dimensions through a portal can be bad."

"Ready when you are, cousin." he says with a grin to Aura.

“You didn’t get him a dancing girl, did you? Neither of them need any more,” Aura says while waiting on Nick to make himself comfortable on her shoulder. Once he’s secure, she produces a glittering crystal in her palm.

"Nah. You said he liked novelty. So novelty it is."

“Now. We are going to gate down to the dock where we have Kovikin’s ship waiting for us.” She smiles brightly. “Maybe we’ll see your soon-to-be Father-in-Law.”

"Possibly." Lorius says. "He's a regular Cirdan. Building ships is his Kung Fu, and it is strong."

“I have no idea what all that means,” says Aura as she opens the sparkling arch of light. “But it sounds like I should agree.”

Thirty minutes later, Gate complete and with Aura, Nick, Kovikin and Lorius ready to cast off, the Dockmaster of Atlantis comes striding down. the boardwalk toward where Kovikin's Ship is at berth.

"I understand." he says as he reaches Aura and the rest. "I have you to thank, or blame, for recent events?" Misha grins.

Aura grins up at the tall man. The top of her head barely reaches his shoulder. Not a product of age, his shoulder length hair curls in a twist where it is pulled back into a low tail. Bare chested, broad shouldered, muscled and tanned, Misha is imposing until he smiles and eyes like sapphires sparkle.

“It was either a brilliant idea or a mistake of epic proportions. I prefer to believe the former. It will be good for all three of them.” She leans closer and lowers her voice. “And it will be for the good for your daughters to be joined with a Royal of Amber now that we’ve begun the first steps towards a formal alliance.”

"So I was informed." Misha gives a nod to Lorius. "I care little for politics, but it seems politics cares about me."

“It’ll be good for you, too,” she chides good-naturedly. “Now you don’t have to worry about what the children will think when you bring a woman home. Or the jokes they’ll come up with by the next morning.”

Misha looks at Kovikin. "Does she plant spies in my household?"

"Don't look at me" Kovikin says. "She knows your daughters well."

Aura laughs. “And they’re unrepentant gossips.”

"Indeed" Misha says. "At least you didn't toss them someone who gets seasick."

"No" Lorius says with grin. "My methods of transportation, I've been told, have made *others* nauseous." "Sir." he says, his tone turning formal. "Where *are* your daughters?"

"Off to see her Glory, as it so happens." Misha says. He divides his attention between Lorius and Aura. "More of those damned politics, again."

"And I DO want some materials to build another ship." he says, now focusing on Aura. "Since I am losing her as well as my daughters."

”Misha, my darling,” says Aura with a wide smile. “Anything you can dream up, anything you want, you ask and we will get it for you. Wood with special properties? Unique colors? The universe is vast and if I cannot find it, Lorius can. Your next project will only be limited by your imagination.”

"I'm going to hold you to it." Misha says, glancing to Lorius and back to Aura. "The both of you." He grins. "There's a lot to worry about before then and now. Like the wedding. And, your business in the Coral Circle." He glances at Kovikin's ship and back at him. "I still hold to my advice regarding The Blue Dolphin."

"No worries, Dockmaster." Kovikin says "Once things are settled, I will commission a new ship from you. You have your own to design and build first, after all. Until then, she'll do just fine."

Aura is suddenly taking more than a passing interest in Kovikin’s little transport. It looks all right ...

"Very well. I shan't have you miss your tide." he says, grabbing Aura and picking her up. "Take care of my future son-in-law, eh?" he says to her before setting her down again.

She laughs and gives him a brief and friendly kiss on her way down. “I shall try. But there is a reason I believed it would take both your daughters to handle this one.”

"I did wonder about that." Misha says. "Not quite something I expected, even if the two of them are as thick as thieves." He gives a grin to Lorius.

"Yes, I've noticed. "Lorius says.

"Good." Misha says. "Now, if you will excuse me, there is much to do." Whistling a song, the large man heads back down the dock the way he came.

Kovikin has been staring at his ship the entire time. "I suspect that the Dockmaster doesn't think this is worthy of me. Or something. Maybe he just wants to build another shop since he's losing his pride and joy." He looks at Lorius with false menace.

Nick chuckles.

"Hey, I'm just glad to get underway. Before something else happens." Lorius says. He looks at the ship. "The Blue Dolphin, eh? It looks like a fine ship. Kind of like the Atlantean answer to a carrack. I've seen Misha's pride and joy." he says. "That's even more 'anachronistically advanced. It may be he wants you to have something like that." Lorius offers."Heir to Atlantis and all."

"Hmm." Kovikin says, mollified.

Aura looks at her cousin askance before sauntering over to take Kovikin’s arm. “Are we ready? Nasir is expecting us for lunch, is he not? So he can show off what a magnificent feast he can produce is less than a day. And after we get underway, you can share what Misha’s concerns are about this boat. I know it’s not a matter of seaworthiness – he’d sooner cut off his own arm than let anything out of his dock in less than optimal sailing condition.”

"Quite" Kovikin replies.

As Noon approaches, the Blue Dolphin has been on the seas for some hours, steadily sailing away from the shadow barrier between the two realms. The journey away from Atlantis and to the border of Nasir's realm has been quiet and peaceful. Lorius stood at the rear of the ship for much of this, studying and looking at the city as it recedes into view behind them. Nick was with him, chatting about something outside of Aura's hearing.

Over some wine, Kovikin spoke further with Aura.

"I think we just awoke a sleeping giant, is all." Kovikin explains. "Before your gambit with Erato and Enyo, Misha might not have said a word about my ship, or particularly took notice of it, until, as you say, it lost seaworthiness. No, this is different, and this is new. The bride price of his pride and joy I think has planted all sorts of seeds into his thoughts. Seeds that, now that he has given thought to them, are germinating."

"Further more, I think that..." Kovikin doesn't finish his thought. The coastline of Persa, and the capital, are now coming into view as the border is crossed, the port not far away from the boundary between realms. Thusly, it appears in viiew suddenly as the boundary is crossed. "A sharply delineated shadow boundary" is how Lorius once described it in a shadowshifting lesson to show Aura how to similarly shift a radical change in terrain. Lorius had also suggested theories about why the boundary is so unusually sharped, something to do with shadow boundary tectonics that was a lot of magical technobabble.

The upshot is, the city and the coast suddenly appear into view, as well as the situation. Even from here, the tall humanoid figures striding both down at the port and up on the hill are impossibly visible. They must be huge, Giants of some kind. The smoke rising from many buildings in the city. The wave of craft fleeing the city on the water. The bow wave of that line of craft are ten minutes from The Blue Dolphin.

"Gods, what is going on?" Kovikin says. "Invasion?"

Aura moves so swiftly up the deck to get a closer look that it is almost as if she teleported. “There are no giants in this a region of Shadow,” says a puzzled and alarmed Aura.

“Kovikin, try and raise Nasir via a crystal. He’s linked.”

She hastens to Lorius’ side. “I have no idea what this is and don’t want to start hurling lightening until we have *some* idea. If this is what it looks like, I am worried that Nasir hasn’t tried to call for help.”

Lorius has already started casting a spell. By the time she reaches him, he's finished and unleashed it--a lens similar to the one he used on the ramparts of Castle Amber. It hangs in front of the Blue

Dolphin and he speaks a few commands to have it focus on the scene.

The 'Giants' are not humanoid beings at all, but immensely large,impressively articulated statues made of iron or some grey metal. Lorius furrows his eyebrows and continues to shift the view around,.

"Greffet." he says. The lens spell shows that one of the golems is standing next to a Door, with soldiers marching out. Also in the frame, one of the Djinns of Persa is trying to launch a spell at the Golem. What comes out, instead of one of their chromatic orb spells Aura has seen in action, looks more like a weak sparkler.

"I cannot reach Nasir." Kovikin says. "He does not answer."

"I think they are using a dampening field." Lorius says grimly. "Has to be tied through the Door, or else it would poof, too."

Aura has stiffened with indignant fury after looking through Lorius’ lens. “Door?” she barks “Is that who I think it is?"

"Who?" Kovikin interrupts.

"The Omphalos." Lorius answers "Back again for sweeps week."

"Oy" Nick comments.

“How are they already here?” Aura mutters angrily. Damn it. "How close do we need to be to shut that abomination down?” She peers narrow eyed at the shoreline and the giants and pale energies start to gather and spark at her fingertips. “And do you suppose they have a weakness with water?”

“Kovikin, were is the nearest kraken?”

"Let me see..." Kovikin closes his eyes.

"The dampening field keeps us from just teleporting in and undoing that Door. They're learning and adapting." Lorius says. "We need to clear the field of those golems"

"Five miles out. Shall I call it, then?" Kovikin asks Aura.

"The Omphalos are awfully fond of fire. Those Iron Golems are going to be weak to water, and to lightning." Lorius looks up at the clear blue sky. "What we need is a hurricane but we have to make it outside of the dampening field." He turns and looks at Aura. "We could combine our talents to summon one, and add in the Kraken. It won't do the city any favors but the Omphalos won't see it coming."

"A tsunami is another option." Lorius adds. "Although that might make Nasir even less happy."

Aura waves a hand towards the fleeing ships and smack him upside the head with the other. “Do you not see that?” she demands. “No tsunami!” She exhales and draws herself up, managing to look loftily down her nose at her slightly taller relative. “And you are forgetting that Kovikin and I are both carry Water imprints. He actually has a higher imprint than I do, which is how he can do this...” Well, it’s one reason, anyway.

"We'd wait for the refugees" Lorius says, rubbing the back of his head. "I need to get some altitude on all this."

She turns to her lover. “Summon your kraken to come in swiftness. Then see if you can’t move those escaping a little faster so they aren’t caught up in what I’m going to try.”

“And it’s how I can do this...hopefully. They’ve damped the local magics, based on the D’jinn’s failure. But Atlantean magic is different and mine is backed by a hefty dose of Pattern. They shouldn’t expect either.” She raises her hands, sparks and pale fire dancing across her fingertips as she points at the shoreline while chanting softly in High Atlantean. Water can be coaxed, commanded into all sorts of things with the right spells and the proper imprint; walls, bars, lassos. It’s why Water is almost always the first Power most of Atlantis imprint first, being an island nation. No tsunamis or hurricanes come anywhere near Atlantis or those under Her protection. Aura is seeing the giants as the first obstacle to contain and if she can manage to lasso them into the bay, contain them in a cage of water or or just dump large quantities of it on them, it might help. She isn’t just pulling water from the sea; she’s coaxing it out of the ground under their feet. If she needs more, the sea is limitless. But lowering the water table under them will be an added kick as the weight of the metal giants sinks them.

The water lassos look and act a little weaker than Aura expects. They form and start grasping two of the nearest Iron Golems but they are thinner than she intended them, weaker. They start pulling the two into toward the bay, but rather than a quick jerk, it takes effort.

In the meantime, Lorius has shot up into the air, a good hundred feet above the boat.

"You did say no Tsunami." Kovikin says. "I think he just wants to be out of the range of the Kraken." A gentle wave rises up in the harbor, pushing all of the ships out to sea with with force of a strong and insistent tide. There are precious few ships in what is going to be the killing ground.

Five minutes later, as predicted, tentacles rise next to the boat, a large inhuman eye looking unblinkingly at Aura and Kovikin.

"Creepy." Nick says.

The cloudless sky has darkened, the wind has picked up. It seems to be high winds, rather than at the level of the boat. There is chop, but the action seems to be higher in the sky.

"We stick with the plan?" Kovikin says. "Get the golems into the bay and kill them there?"

Focused on what she's trying to do, Aura grunts in the affirmative. But she shortly follows with "Tell him he can eat any of the attacking humans he wants. Perhaps save us a few to interrogate and experiment on."

"I think Perdiccas will be delighted by that offer." Kovikin says. The humanoid-like head of the beast emerges from the water entirely, showing its full form as a man headed sea monster with two arms, a pair of tentacles, and a piscine tail. It swims toward the bay with powerful strokes.

"It has a name?" Nick squeaks.

"Don't you have a name?" Kovikin challenges. This quiets Nick.

Aura's full concentration does make the lassoing of the golems a little easier. She is still encountering problems of holding them together, but is adapting to the issue as best she can.

The peal of thunder from a now completely dark sky punctuates these efforts and a rain begins to fall on the city. One of the iron golems Aura is pulling is struck, suddenly and without warning, by a lightning bolt. The electrification of the golem stiffens it, making it eminently possible for Aura to pull it into the bay, right in front of the Kraken. As the Kraken starts to grapple with it, the air feels charged with ozone again. This bolt hits the second golem Aura has lassoed, and again, this gives Aura the opening she needs to yank the golem into the bay.

Not content to play water polo with just one golem, the Kraken starts to drown this one as well. With those two out of action, Aura lets her concentration drop enough to cheer. “Those things are awesomely scary, Kovikin, but seriously impressive.”

"Now you know why Lorius is a hundred feet in the air." Kovikin says with satisfaction.

Four Golems, further away from the bay, remain in the city. Lorius' lens spell, still up (even if he is far away from it), shows the Omphalos soldiers trying to rally,some heading toward the bluff of the palace, others heading back to the ridge where the Door stands.

“Perdiccas needs to kick it,” Aura opines while assessing things through Lorius’ lens. “He’s going to have fleeing Omphalos snacks within arm’s reach shortly.”

She looks up at the sky where her cousin hovers. With a breath and a gesture she conjures a messenger bird. “Lorius, can you get the ones out of my reach? I’ll meet you on shore. I’m taking Kovikin and heading inland to deal with that gate.”

The response comes not as messenger bird, but as a whisper in Aura's ear. A subtle spell. "I'll tackle the four golems and keep them busy. You clean out the gate. Maybe a deluge through the gate would crash the system. Be careful of that field though."

Aura turns to look at the ship’s owner after her bird sets off. “Shift into our water forms and swim, sail really fast or try to fly in and hope the damping field doesn’t crash us?”

"Your lassos conjured outside are working." Kovikin says. "So are Lorius' lightning strikes. It doesn't stop everything dead, but it disrupts stuff inside of it, judging from the Djinn. If we fly, we might fall. So we sail for the dock as far as we can and act with speed. If this spell of Lorius' will hold, we can pick a spot to land as close to the gate as we can. Speed is of the essence."

“You have the con, mon capitaine,” says Aura with a cheeky grin before she moves to the bow and again raises her arms. She’s going with Lorius’ suggestion, as the kraken has the nearby golems well in hand. She sends the tendrils of her magic deep into the water well outside the field to create a fist of water to direct into the opening of the gate.

Aura can pile up a clench fist of water, a hammer blow to unleash on a target. By the time the Blue Dolphin reaches the edge of the field, she does have the fist in hand, as large as it can plausibly be made. This also puts Aura, Kovikin and Nick under the aegis of Lorius' storm. Now the waves are kicking up, the spray is fierce, the rain is driving. Lightning bolts fire again, and again, and again, providing photographic flashes of the city with each strike on a Golem. It has stopped the advance and movement of three of them. The fourth one, apparently Lorius' favorite target, has been melted into a gigantic pile of iron.

The bay looms ahead, the kraken having drowned one golem completely and nearly done the same with the second.

The Telescope spell from Lorius starts failing, though, as soon as the boundary is crossed. Aura can see the Door, see where to lob the fist. But a choice looms. The closer Aura and Kovikin can get to the docks, the more accurate her shot will be, the deeper it will go, the more damage it will do. However, the deeper she goes, the less water she will have. Aura can already see the fist starting to ablate under the heavy antimagic field. Worse, there is a psychic component to this field, a suggestion that Aura doesn't really want to cast a spell. That she shouldn't. That she can't.

That was, of course, their mistake; one did not tell Aura she couldn’t do anything. It was a sure fire way to get her riled and make her want nothing more than to prove them wrong. Whoever they may be. Sure she tempered it when it was the Empress and now Random. And no one but Nasir had the right to tell her not to do something here. She did respect that kind of authority. But these guys? Oh, hell no.

Aura squares her shoulders, grits her teeth and puts a substantial amount of the Powers and Will she has at her command into targeting the Gate with as much force as she can muster. With a scream of defiance, she juts her hands forward, forcefully sending the fist towards the arch of the open Gate.

There is a cost to paying the piper, for defiance, for standing athwart power and suggestion fighting against Aura. Skill might beat Will, but Will can be powerful nevertheless, especially if it is bottomless. The effort to fire everything she has at the Gate makes Aura's head swim. As the force of the Wave is launched at the wide open gate, her legs feel like gelatin. Her arms fall to her side as the spell overcomes the barriers, the resistance and the psychic suggestion.

Kovikin catches her in his arms. Her vision wavers, but Aura sees the backwash of the wave carrying out dozens, maybe more, of Omphalos soldiers down the Boulevard and into the harbor for a now unoccupied, eager, and very hungry Kraken. Drowning golems, after all, builds up an appetite. The psychic cry of distress from Nick at Aura's state feels less than a sharp shock and more like a distant, stolid, shout.

Slumping in Kovikin’s arms, Aura gives the mess on shore a bleary look. “Hah,” she mutters gleefully. “It’s what you get.”

She waves a languid hand in Nick’s direction. “...’m all right. Just tired.”

But then she looks up at Kovikin. “I hope you remember how to close the Gate, mon cher. I don’t know that I will be much use at this point. Not that I won’t do what I can. Summon me something highly caffeinated, please. I can rest when we get to Nasir.”

"Very well. I suspect your cousin will close the gate if we cannot." Kovikin says. Aura had to concentrate hard to make out the words. Nick says something, his laughter tinny as he makes a joke Aura does not quite make out.

The bulb of liquid that Kovikin, even with the anti magic field, manages to summon seems like coffee. Strong coffee, like found in Nasir's kingdom as it so happens. It's a temporary fix, and Aura is going to pay for it sooner rather than later. But it does let her see what's going on. and still act.

The rain is still driving, the lightning is still being pounded. Lorius' relentlessness knows no bounds. A second golem has been melted to slag, and the remaining two appear to be moving slowly The torrent of water ceased, the gate still stands, although many of the Omphalos soldiers are desperately trying to get themselves out of the harbor. There is still a contingent of soldiers on the bluff heading for the palace.

Aura figures she's got one more spell in her before she's absolutely out of the fight.

She lays against Kovikin’s shoulder with her eyes closed while trying to think things through. “Send a message to Lorius. Tell him I probably have one good casting left in me before I’m done. We need to get that gate closed. Once it’s taken care of, the damping field should go away and the D’Jinn can take care of the rest of the little bastards. I hope.”

"Are you sure you're up for it?" Kovikin asks. "You don't look up for it."

"Just make the call, baby." Nick says. "Let's finish these guys off."

Aura's weariness, even with the coffee, makes the next few minutes a blur of drowsiness interposed with bouts of sharp wakefulness. So how Aura, Kovikin and Nick found themselves in a transparent sphere hanging a decent height about the city, coast and the action.

"The idiots forgot to scale their field to the vertical dimension" Lorius says. "That gives me some ideas for the future, mind you. But I figure we drop down right in front of the gate. You and I disentangle the gate, it'll go faster..."

A wave of drowsiness, or Lorius blather, means some of his words don't come through clearly.

"So, are you ready? We drop, do a Mutual Disentanglement spell, blow up the Gate, end the field?"

"I still don't think Aura is in any shape to do it." Kovikin growls.

"I need her for the local shadow variables, she knows them better than I do." Lorius says. "Faster this way."

“I am going to need Kovikin’s assistance,” Aura insists slowly, being careful to annunciate. “To prop me up if nothing else. And cover me. I’m in no condition to keep one eye on the gate and keep an eye out for sneak attacks.”

She shakes her head to clear it of mental cobwebs. “Why the devil am I so exhausted? I have been slinging water spells since I was twelve, for Celestra’s sake.”

"I feel like I've been walking the Pattern." Lorius says. "This unicorn forsaken antimagic field is a nasty new trick from our Oompa Loompa friends.They are trying to adapt to our strengths, but we'll outlast them. Kovikin can cover us. Now, what I need from you..."

Two minutes later, Lorius, Aura and Kovikin are dropping like a rock toward the part of the plateau. Aura gets half of the unraveling spell to handle, the tuning of it to Persa. Lorius has the unraveling and Pattern tie-in. It feels, even with the fatiguing factors, as if Aura and Lorius are weaving a net together, tying strands from opposite ends to form a complete hole.

Kovikin has Aura upright (Lorius is half slumping at this point without such help) and also finds himself burning his own energies, firing bolts of accelerated water at a couple of fiery missiles rising up from the Door at the falling sorcerers.

Just as the capsule is about to land, the spell goes off. The subsonic thump can be felt from the Door to the Harbor as Aura and Lorius' spell unleashes, undoing the Door at one shot. This weariness finally gets the best of Aura, and Lorius as well. His eyes closing are the last thing Aura sees for the next sixteen hours.

"This is getting to be a horrible habit." Kovikin says as Aura awakens, refreshed and human at last. The sound of the birds suggests she is in guest quarters near the Garden of Birds in the Persan Palace. She is in bed, with Kovikin next to her. "Feeling better?"

“Oh, so waking up beside me is a horrible habit now?” Aura asks with mock outrage of the barely awake kind.

Aura DOES feel better, That fatigue is gone, and a quick check shows that doing a water spell (filling a nearby empty basin) works without the fatigue and enerveration that so plagued her during the Omphalos battle. Nick is sunning himself in the window, but jumps up and to Aura as she rouses.

"The city is a wreck, but the Caliph has his cells full of prisoners--except for those that wound up sating the Kraken." Kovikin says. "Pharaoh is still here, he's called for help from his realm."

"I suspect we are going to have most of the Coral Circle, even Etrusca, send people here post haste." Kovikin says. "The Omphalos may have done us a favor."

Aura sits up and stretches languidly. “Etrusca was going to be here anyway,” she reminds him over a yawn before giving Nick some attention by running her nail down his back. “Lorius had to go fetch their gift, remember. Lemuria was the one we were thinking would be needing a kick in the head to get them on board. If we don’t then this forced nap was worth it and we can get Nasir whatever help he needs for the clan up. Have you contacted your mother?”

"Lemuria, I meant." Kovikin rubs his temples. "I've been awake far longer than you have, after all. I'd *like* to take a nap, but there is no rest for the wicked."

She smiles and leans over to kiss his cheek. “And good morning to you. Thank you for having my back.”

"Well, people would hunt me down if I didn't." Kovikin says. "Mother included, for that matter. I did fill in Mother on what happened. Preparations for defense and for this expeditionary force are being accelerated. The Empress has spoken." Kovikin says. "She's of a mind to send them here, and we head toward where this Uncle of yours is waiting, with what we can gather. She doesn't want what happened here to happen in Atlantis. Especially given what's happened with Tetra."

"Bad scene." Nick agrees.

Aura blows out a breath and scrunches a handful of her hair. “There needs to be three of me.”

"Your cousin is two rooms over. Getting bed rest but awake last I checked.He burned himself out as much as you did." Kovikin says. "We can go roust him and go see the Caliph and the Pharaoh as soon as you are able." Kovikin grins. "The Caliph wants the Djinn to have that spell the two of you used."

“I do not see a problem with that,” Aura nods. “As long as they can handle it, there’s no reason not to. Nasir cannot be everywhere and defense is part of the Djinn’s responsibilities. Although they’ll be expecting them next time. We might want to suggest he have them patrolling with manticores.” She gives him a toothy grin. “Let us see what the upstarts make of *those*. They tend to torture their meals before finishing them off.”

She tosses the sheet aside and climbs over Kovikin instead of exiting the bed the easier way. “Bath first. I’m sure there’s seawater dried in my hair. Why don’t you grab a quick nap? I shall wake you in about an hour so we can fetch my cousin and get on with this.”


Page last modified on November 19, 2013, at 02:17 AM