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Begman Rhapsody

Begma.

Shadow: Golden Circle. Treaty Status: Full Member Inhabitants: Human Technology: Medieval Magic: Sorcery, Conjuration, T. Artistry. The Academy, in the coastal city of Erkus, is a major center of magical learning. Culture and government: Office of Prime Minister, inherited, the highest position in government. Current PM is Domineo Okruz. The Minister's Residence, as well as the Chamber of the Council is in the capital city, Tyin. Biome: Temperate Coastal to Piedmont. The disputed region of Eregnor is Piedmont to Low Mountain. Import/Exports: Begman fabrics are prized throughout the Golden Circle. The Begmans themselves import metals such as Iron and Lead, of which the country is surprisingly short, except for Eregnor.

It is to the port of Erkus, on the morning tide, that the Narcissus and Peryton sail and come into port. Although Erkus is much larger and more prosperous than the capital, it is only a port town, with a consulate of Amber and some other Golden Circle consulates rather than any real seat of government. The Lord Mayor is a local hereditary position, and William knows from prior knowledge that he values his relative independence and distance (several days overland by riverboat) from Tyin. Also given that trips by sea from Begma to Amber are preferred to the dark of Julian's Arden, Lord Mayor Sebastian Drake is a powerful man not to be ignored or discounted.

The river does go up from Erkus past Tyin and into the border mountains in Eregnor and is navigable by some ships as well as the many rivercraft used for the purpose. William can confirm with the two captains while the Narcissus could make the journey without difficulty, the Peryton could not make it up the river safely.

And so as the grandeur of the Academy, as impressive as the Lord Mayor's Alcazar , both look down on twin hills as the ships sail in, William has his first decisions.

William gives orders that both ships make port in Erkus, and gathers his companions and Princess Shannon together while they are entering the harbour. "Lord Mayor Drake in an important man," he tells them, "And can be touchy about being given the proper degree of respect. It's necessary to stop and meet with him before we continue towards Tyrin." He smiles. "Once we're at anchor, I will meet with the diplomats, tell them I want to go directly to Tyrin, and allow them to explain to me why it's important to stop here first. They will probably send a delegation ahead to make things ready for us. I expect we'll only spend one, maybe two, days here. While we're here I'd like you two...," he nods to Kiathas and Valric, "...to take your sailors shopping for clothes, and then hit the taverns. Keep your ears open for any tales of strangers asking about Amber, anything about foreign magicians, ghost ships, or demonic creatures." He shrugs, "For that matter, anything out of the ordinary."

"Besides" Valric says dryly "Two Princes of the Blood showing up with a large entourage."

"Their standards for out of the ordinary may have changed." Kiathas says "However, there has been enough unusual activity that they will remember it, I should think."

He looks at Shannon. "Cousin, did you have pressing business at the Academy, or do you wish to accompany the diplomatic staff to the Alcazar." He grins. "Once I'm talked into going there, that is."

"I *do* have business on behalf of myself, my mother and even my brother at the Academy." Shannon says demurely. "I might be persuaded to rescue you from the worst of dealing with the Lord Mayor and his Court. Unlike the Mayor of Amber, he does not owe his position to Orkuz, and so thinks of himself as nearly autonomous. In some circumstances he may nearly be right."

"Civil War?" Kiathas asks.

"No" Shannon says. "Just certain Prime Ministers have sometimes let Erkus be almost a Free City. Lord Mayor Drake has dreams of such times coming again, as Orkuz ages."

"Let us play the time here by ear," William answers. He calls out to the first officer to prepare the captain's gig to take them over to the other ship, then turns back to his companions.

In short order, a midshipman has been summoned to ferry William across, and two more are participating in preparing the vessel.

"We will go meet the diplomats, and tell them that I have decided to go directly to the capitol, then allow them to talk me into meeting the Lord Mayor. As for Coral, let us keep our ears open and find out where she is currently. That will be crucial in determining when in all this we plan on speaking with her."

"I will make gentle inquiries at the Academy, then." Shannon says. "Given that she is of the Amber Blood, her doings are a subject of interest there, just as the rest of us in the Faily are."

"They try to keep track of you all?" Valric says.

"Why, yes, of course." She says. "Wouldn't you try and keep track of people with large amounts of arcane ability, perceived and otherwise?"

"It's not all academic either." Shannon adds. "Those shadows that have broadsheets and the like find the Royal Family of Amber an endless source of gossip. How do you think William has gotten half of the notoriety he enjoys?"

William nods seriously. "Is it not perfectly understandable that everyone would want to know as much as they can about moi?" he asks with a straight face.

"What trouble you have gotten in with which duel or which bedroom." Valric says.

"Except for this last one with his cousin, that trouble seems to go hand in hand with Guillaume." Kiathas says. "Although I would not have been surprised if there was someone for you and Prince Triton to have contested over."

"The boat is ready, milord Prince" one of the midshipmen says, nervously during a pause in the conversation.

"Excellent, lad," Williams says. "Shall we, me friends?"

Devaine, Valric and Kiathas nod. Shannon smiles slightly in acquiesence.

And he leads them to the boat, and spends the trip pointing out interesting architectural features in the harbour and city to his companions.

"...And only two lighthouses in Amber, and one in Deiga are older?" Valric says, repeating a point of order as William points out Stepson Lighthouse, with its black and red coloration. Its not particularly tall, but with its position on a spit, it gives a good range and angle from which its light can be seen.

"Records of just how Amber first contacted the Golden Circle nations are somewhat sketchy, since it happened so long ago." Shannon puts in. "And my cousin and I could argue for hours on how old shadows outside Amber really are. But let me put it this way, this Lighthouse was here when our eldest brethren, the children of Cymnea, first started exploring beyond Amber. The city was much smaller then but the importance of having a lighthouse at the river mouth and its treacherous currents came first."

"That makes it at least a thousand years old" Devaine says, impressed. "If what Guillaume tells us is true."

In short order, William is back in the company of Adam Henry and the rest of the diplomats. They appear to have smoothed over their earlier disagreement about whether to visit Begma, Kashfa or somewhere else first, and have found new topics to wrangle over. This time, they are divided on the issue of just where to go within Begma. Absolom, in particular, is a firm advocate of skipping Erkus entirely and just sailing with the Narcissus straight to Tyin and be done with it. Virgil, on the other hand, points out that the Lord Mayor is the second most important person in Begma and would be a useful ally to cultivate, especially against Kashfa.

Sometimes, William only has to stand and watch the diplomats wrangle. But in the end, with Shannon's suggestions, a junior party is going to head to the capitol on a ferry to prepare the Prime Minister for the Royal Party, and in the meantime, the Prince will go and visit the Lord Mayor, with the diplomats to follow. The fact that it is heavily implied that William should not engage in any real diplomacy is obvious. Shannon's desire to visit the Academy, rather than "accompany and escort the Prince William" does not go over well, but the diplomats finally acquiesce.

So, in short order, William is back in the captain's gig, this time headed toward the city, giving William and Shannon more time to talk about the city and Begma.

"I am surprised." Devaine say, once she, Valric and Kiathas are apprised of the situation "they didn't insist on an escort of one or more of their number to accompany you to the Lord Mayor."

"Probably because they would have had to draw lots to decide who was going to get that duty, and it would have been gauche to do that in front of William." Shannon answers.

"Or possibly because if I said something undiplomatic in front of them they'd have to either correct me, which would be an inexcusable affront to a member of the royal family, or remain quiet, which would imply agreement by the diplomatic staff, and thus by implication the King. Better that they let me make my own gaffes, and then struggle to correct them later," William answers. He purses his lips. "I wonder if they'll be disappointed if I don't leave them any messes to clean up? Perhaps I should make an effort to deliberately insult someone, for the diplomats' peace of mind?"

"Here is what you should do." Shannon says. "Find a small but noticeable faux pas to make. Something that keeps with your cultivated reputation for being unpolished in such matters. Something that the diplomats can focus their efforts upon, and feel justified in cleaning up 'your mess'"

"If Guillaume is too flawless in his diplomatic outing, the diplomats will begin to suspect duplicity on his part?" Devaine suggests.

"Yes" Shannon says. "Now, cousin, later in the voyage, you can do this gambit less often, and thank Adam Henry and the other diplomats for helping polish your abilities, and that would allow them to feel good about this entire affair."

As it turns out, by the time the gig reaches the docks, there is a carriage waiting for them, and men in the livery of the Mayor. Oh, there are a few Begman-styled guards, but the majority of these men wear the Black and gold of the Lord Mayor rather the red and gold of Begma.

""Milord and Milady Princes of the Realm of Amber." the guard says, in a stilted and clearly rehearsed speech. "Lord Drake, Lord Mayor of the city, would like to welcome you to Begma, and in particular to the city of Erkus. He begs leave for us to transport you to the Alcazar so that he can meet such august dignitaries. Too long has it been since two Princes of the Realm of Amber have come at one time to our land."

"I think the diplomats tipped them off somehow" Valric says sotto voce to William.

William nods his head in acknowledgement. "Thank you," he glances briefly at the symbol of the guard's rank. "...Major. For myself, I accept most happily. The hospitality of Lord Drake is justly famed, and I look forward to some relaxation after the rigours of a sea voyage. Alas, my cousin has duties to attend to at the Academy, on behalf of herself an her mother, the Princess Fiona. Please have her escorted in the carriage, as befits her rank. If her affairs go speedily, I live in hope that she will join us later at the Alcazar."

"I was given to understand that both of you would be accompanying us to see the Lord Mayor." the Major protests, but it comes out feebly. The battle seems to be already won by William's charm offensive.

[William] smiles winningly at the officer. "For myself, if you can loan me a steed, I should prefer to ride, and you can tell me of your city while we make our way. It has been many and many a year since last I visited the Gem of the Coast, and I would renew my acquaintance with her beauties."

"And of your companions?" The Major gestures to Valric, Kiathas and Devaine.

"The sorceress Devaine will be accompanying me to the Academy, as my Mother desires." Shannon says. "These two liegemen of the Prince are at liberty to explore the City as they will."

"Any final words, Prince my cousin?" Shannon says to William.

William takes her hand. "I know these provincial magicians can sometimes be trying, cousin," he says, in a stage whisper pitched just loudly enough to be sure the major can hear him. "But please make allowances, and don't turn anyone into something you can't change them back from. We don't want a repeat of the incident of the annoying ambassador and his cat, now do we?"

Her hand clasps over William's. "The cat was not permanently harmed" Shannon says, with a polished, innocent tone of voice, but with a pitch and volume that matches William. It occurs to William, hearing her voice mirror his, that Shannon has had musical training at some point.

"The carriage will be redirected to the Academy" the Major says, his voice sounding like his tongue has thickened. "And his highness the Prince would be most welcome to accompany me and my men on a ride to the Alcazar."

"Thank you, Major," William says. He nods to his three companions, "Have fun, everyone, and don't do anyone I wouldn't do." He looks over the horses of the men in the Major's entourage with the air of a desert bandit sizing up potential spoils.

The desert and steppe of Kashfa is a much more fertile place for finding Horses than Begma is, as a general rule. On the other hand, for that very reason, in order to compete with their eternal rival, Begmans have sought horses from other areas of the Golden Circle to trade in order to keep at least a semblance of parity with Kashfa.

Thus, as William looks over the equine possibilities, he sees a wide crosssection of steeds. The horses rangr from the large stout horses of Amberian descent hrough the more Arabian horses that might hail from Asherah.

The best of these are one or two of the piebald Amberian ones, including the Major's horse himself. Also, one of the Arabians looks distinctly different than its brethren, a roan larger and clearly more temperamental than its brothers and sister Arabians. This horse appears to belong to a tall blond fellow, one of the Major's Lieutenants.

William eyes the horse, and then smiles up at its rider. "Very nice," he says. "I wager he's pure Hell on the battlefield."

"Alghul is a most tempermental, steed, milord Prince." the Lieutenant replies. "I am told his name means creature from the dark world."

[William] turns to the Major then, and waits with that same smile, leaving the diplomatic minefield of deciding what steed to offer to a Prince of Amber to the officer.

"Milord Prince, honored guest." The Major says. He looks over the horses himself. "Forgive my ignorance on how skilled you are as an equestrian. I am...unaware of your skill with horses." A bead of sweat rolls down his forehead.

"Perhaps" The Major finally says, after what must seem like a lifetime to him but in reality was only a few seconds. "Your Highness would find favor with Ferox here, one of the horses from Amber?" He gestures toward one of the piebald stallions.

William looks the horse over and smiles. "He is quite a pleasant animal indeed, Major." He pauses just a tad too long for the major's comfort before continuing, "I recall my mother giving me one very similar for my thirteenth birthday. He is long dead, now, of course."

The Major's anxiety abates even if it does not melt away completely.

"Of course, milord. The longevity of the Royal Family of Amber is very well known." The Major clears his throat. "I think you will find Ferox much to your liking." He motions for one of the men to bring the stallion over and instructs the rider to double up.

William takes the reins when the rider dismounts and strokes the steed's neck, making soothing sounds and speaking to him in a low murmur, in words the men around him can't quite make out.

William's previous familiarity with Amberian horses serves him in good stead, as Ferox calms and seems to respond to him. Whether or not this is breeding, or something that was introduced into his line long ago by horse breeders like Julian, horses of Amberian stock generally are receptive to Princes and Princesses of the blood. Ferox does not violate that rule.

"Would you prefer a guided tour to the Alcazar, milord Prince?"

William mounts in a single smooth motion, and says, "Indeed, I do, Major. Try to keep up, and tell me what we're passing as we pass it." And he slaps the reins on the horse's flanks, and encourages him into an all out gallop through the city streets and up towards the Alcazar.

William can hear, over the gallop of his horse, the shouts and grumbles over the unexpected departure of the Prince. William has almost caught up to the carriage containing Shannon and Devaine before the Major's men and the major manage to use their superior knowledge of city geography to catch up.

Once they are at least within earshot, William can get some frenetic and frantic explanations from the Major. It is rather atomized, as dodging carts, other riders, pedestrians, stalls, and even a large lumbering beast that looks like a small rhino take up most of the ride.

So let us speak in generalities as William perceives them.

The port city is, aside from the two hills William has seen, relatively flat, following the estuary of the river on both sides. Several bridges cross the river, knitting together the two halves of the city into a seamless whole. The bridges are clearly old, as Wiliam discovers that the best, or perhaps *a* way to get to the hill topped by the Alcazar involves two river crossings.

Tyin is nowhere near as large as Amber, its markets and districts are smaller. Like Amber, though, the wealthy districts are on higher elevations, in this case along the hills. As William turns onto the spiraling road that runs up Swordsforth Hill (the name of which is one of the things the Major manages to make clear), he can see the houses getting progressively larger and fewer as they approach the Alcazar itself.

"Perhaps, milord, we might slow our progress a little?" shouts the Major as the hill increases it grade toward the imposing fortified edifice on top. The hill is nowhere near the grade of, say, Kolvir, and Ferox is equal to the ride, if William should continue to proceed with abandon.

"No need!" William shouts back. "They should be sending it up from the ship. Good thought, thought!" He eyes the gate of the Alcazar and its guards consideringly as he urges Ferox to increase his pace.

The growls of exasperation are unmistakable even over the sound of multiple hoofbeats, cries of distress as William maneuvers past a litter carrying some nobleman's wife, a small procession of monks, and, finally, a large cart carrying supplies to the Alcazar itself. It's not that William has any real difficulty in managing these obstacles--far from it. Its the sort of thing that, if they were not carousing by the docks, Valric and Kiathas might enjoy, too. Its that it exasperates his would-be charges in the Lord Mayor's guards. And they fall behind with each obstacle William effortlessly passes.

William and Ferox's pell mell ride, however, finally makes the last turn near the top of the hill, leading to a straight path, a hundred yards or so long, before the walls around the Alcazar. The black iron gates stand open, but the sight of a lone rider, now well ahead of the guards following him, is causing the guards to start to close the gates. It seems that William's wild ride will have to slow to a stop.

Unless, of course, William tries to make it through the closing entrance.

William pounds towards the gates at breakneck speed for fifty yards or so, and then pulls back on the reins, bringing Ferox to a gradual stop. He smiles in a friendly fashion at the guards from just outside the gateway. "Well met," he calls to them. "Nice gate you have here."

The breakneck speeding of William toward the gates just redoubles their efforts to try and close the gates before he arrives. A couple of the additional guards start to prepare to level pikes, held at a skewed angle to discourage William's ride but not yet commit themselves fully to impaling him and his horse on their points.

While the gates remain closed, the pikes are pointed toward the ground as William comes to a stop. Ferox is not a racing car that starts and stops on a dime, however he is responsible and agile and he brings William to within a couple of feet of his target stopping position without any difficulty whatsoever.

"Who are you?" a balding man, clearly a senior officer, captain by his uniform, says in a stentorian tone. Unlike his pike and spear wielding charges, he has a baton of office, which he has produced and dangles from his left hand.

The Major and his men are still giving chase to William. having now only made the turn for the last 100 yard dash to the gates.

"I believe I am expected," William answers with a smile. "Do tell the Lord Mayor that Prince William has arrived, if you would be so kind." He leans forward and strokes Ferox's neck. "Good fellow," he murmurs. "I may just have to carry you away with me."

Ferox whinnies gently, as if intelligent enough to both understand and approve of William's comment.

"Prince William." The officer to his credit takes only a moment to process this. The next three moments are engaged in a frank appraisal of William, as someone on Flora's shadow Earth might study someone on the streets of the city to see if they truly are the movie star they appear to be. By the fifth moment, with the Major drawing ever closer, the officer appears to make a decision on William's idenity. He starts with a head bow, and then turns this in mid motion to a full bow at the waist. The remainder of the guards copy the motion.

"Captain Tidalis at your service, Lord Prince of Amber." the man says. "Forgive me, your arrival is slightly premature, and I did not recognize you without the company of the Princess."

William inclines his head. "A pleasure, Captain."

Captain Tidalis starts issuing a small flurry of orders to open the gates. The last order is to a runner standing nearby

"Arcen, quick, fool, go tell the Master of the Castle that Prince William is here already, wanting to see the Lord Mayor."

The young lad runs off.

"Please, come inside and to a place of rest." The Captain pauses and looks behind William. "is that Major Stewart chasing you? Captain Tidalis asks William.

William turns in his saddle and looks at the major and his men, then looks back at the Captain. "He's my escort," he says blandly.

"Is it the practice of scions of Amber to outrun their escorts?" Captain Tidalis asks, with a touch of amusement in his voice. "Or perhaps the word has a different meaning in the Eternal Kingdom."

"I thought I detected a certain ... concern ... on the part of the Major on whether I could handle this fine steed he had loaned me," William confides to the Captain. "So I thought, for his peace of mind, that I should set his worries on that matter to rest."

"It would appear that the Major's fears of a lack of equestrian ability on your part were foolish." Captain Tidalis replies, amusement threatening to bust out with every word.

The Major, or Major Stewart as Captain Tidalis has named him, does eventually make it to the gates and stops himself and his men.

"Milord" Major Stewart says, flushed and panting as much as his horse. "Forgive me for not being as---daring as you were in our ride through the city. I see that you have already met Captain Tidalis, who, as my subordinate, commands this contingent of the guards." The word subordinate is particularly emphasized in his voice. Even given this touch,for his part, Captain Tidalis is still amused by his superior's state.

"Oh, indeed, Major Stewart," William replies. "The Captain and I are fast becoming old friends." He pats Ferox's neck. "Nearly as much as this fine horse and I. Who does he belong to, Major? I must congratulate the owner."

Major Stewart looks back at the group and waves at a figure to the rear.

"That would belong to me, sir." One of the men, doubled up on the rearmost of the Major's contigent dismounts and approaches. He's a young man, relatively green looking in his age and his meticulous attention to detail, as if trying to impress.

"Junior Lieutenant Horace Czeller, milord Prince." he says, a comma of brown hair threatening but not quite covering his eye as he bows his head. "Ferox is a horse from my family farm, sir. We've breed horses from Amberian stock since before the Moonrider War."

William dismounts as well and offers the junior lieutenant his hand.

His grip is not retiring, for all that he is shaking the hand of an Amberian prince.

"We must talk of horses," he says. "Ferox here is most impressive." He pats the horse's neck one last time, then holds the reins out, waiting for someone to take them, without bothering to look around to see who that may be. "You must join us, Lieutenant Czeller," he instructs the young officer. "Come along, let's not keep the Lord Mayor waiting." He turns and heads into the Alcazar.

"Yes, milord." Lt. Czeller says. "I would be most delighted to speak to you further about my family's trade and breeding of horses."

He does not follow William immediately, stopping to make sure that Ferox is properly handed off to one of his counterparts. This accomplished, Lt. Czeller does soon hurry to catch up and keep up with William. With him, having recovered from his experience chasing William, is Major Stewart and an honor guard composed almost entirely of the guards that met William at the dock.

"Do be careful not to overtax the visiting Prince overmuch with questions and idle chatter." Major Stewart says. "Consider the privilege of being requested to Progress along with the Prince for the honor of what it is."

William catches Czeller's eye and winks.

Czeller gives the slightest fraction of a nod of agreement, below the level of detectability on the Major's part.

Inside of the Alcazar, William can definitely get a martial sense to the layout and design of the rooms and passageways. It feels much like the oldest parts of Castle Amber, rooms designed for practicality rather than grandeur, the size of rooms are limited, and there are galleries from the second floor that might serve both to view the proceedings and to allow soldiers the opportunity to fire upon intruders. There are touches of grandeur and opulence, but they are strictly limited, as if there was a quota as to the number of objects d'art in a room, or an area of the Alcazar.

"The Lord Mayor will be informed of your arrival, of course." Major Stewart says, slowing his pace in expectation (or perhaps vain hope) that William will do the same. "I do believe that Court will begin soon. Shall I bring you to a room to rest, and perhaps obtain refreshments?" he asks William.

"I have been on shipboard, and enforced rest, for some little time now," William answers. "Show me about the place while we wait for Court to be called, won't you?" He heads for one of the stairways leading to the upper floor. "Good defensive design, I approve of that. How long since there's been a need to shoot anyone down in here?"

Major Stewart nods his head, eschewing any visible reaction to William going off-script, and takes a position alongside him as they mount the staircase.

The corridors are narrow and constructed here in the upper floor gallery, with a lack of ornamentation and design. This area, with its overlooking galleries, appears to have been designed and is still tasked with a martial sort of cast.

"Ah, while I am not a historian of the history of the Alcazar." Major Stewart says "The last time that comes to mind is the contested succession of Lord Mayor Ghardelli, 160 years ago. His older sister Theca claimed their father had left the office to her to hold with her husband. She hired mercenaries to press her case."

"As I recall, the fall out from the conflict between Ghardelli and his sister lead to a period of a relative lack of autonomy on the Lord Mayor's part with respect to the Prime Minister." he adds. "A historian of the court here would know more, milord. Although it is said that the knowledge of the Princess Shannon extends to having read hundreds of volumes, perhaps one or more on the subject."

"Oh, indeed," William says with a nod. "Dear Shannon is a veritable font of information on almost any topic." He kneels down behind a gallery wall and peers over it, drawing an imaginary bow and taking aim at one of the courtiers walking across the hall below them. "Excellent lines of fire here. My compliments to the architect."

Major Stewart coughs politely at William's antics, as the courtier looks up at the attention with something shading from amusement to concern.

William waves at the courtier, then blows him a kiss.

"Indeed, milord. Perhaps a volume from our library on the subject might be lent to you and the Princess." He coughs again. "Might milord prefer to see more of the Alcazar rather than, ah, linger here?"

The amusement on Lt. Czeller's face is of one who has long practiced a stolid mien to his commanding officer. It takes William's level of discernment to see the amusement on the Lieutenant's face.

"Oh, indeed, Major!" William exclaims enthusiastically. "Do lead on! I am eager to see what you have in mind!"

"Very good, milord." Major Strewart says. "Please follow me".

Major Stewart's idea of the rest of the Alcazar stands out to William as an attempt to move William to the less populated and used parts of the structure at present. Down the staircase and through corridors, Major Stewart leads William through one room after another, a section of the Castle designed in the days when rooms opened into each other, rather than passages.

These rooms are a contrast to the confined and militaristic portion of the Alcazar William has already seen, with objects of art ranging from a room of busts to some spectacularly large paintings (as large as any in Castle Amber). The latter are of scenes of people, the most ornate and wrought of these shows a man on what appears to be his deathbed as a group of courtiers argue and conflict with each other, the main figure of the piece preparing to draw steel.

William pauses in front of this painting and regards it with narrowed eyes. "A former Lord Mayor," he asks?

"Lord Mayor Hamline, milord Prince. Four centuries ago, his death was long and agonizing, and he did not have any direct heirs. Those of his court argued long and strenuously what should be done. A long dying Lord Mayor was as bad as none."

"This is Lord Mayor Dael, who eventually succeeded him." Major Stewart says, pointing to one of the courtiers, dressed in red. "He gained the support of key people, despite the strength of others and the rashness of others." his eyes look unfavorably on the man drawing steel.

William nods. "Very bad style, drawing steel in a sick room," he murmurs.

"He did not live out the summer." Major Stewart says solemnly. "He lost his carefully hoarded support amongst the other courtiers with his actions."

William nods and makes vague approving murmuring noises.

The last one in the long series of rooms, though, shows promise in having a number of games, including a large dartboard, several circular tables with chairs set around them. and a four legged rectangular table, with a green felt depressed surface, six pockets at the corners and long sides, and a number of balls arranged in a triangular arrangement. It's definitely a pool table, something definitely not common in the Golden Circle whatsoever.

"Perhaps milord would prefer some diversement before Court?" Major Stewart says, with a hopeful tone in his voice.

William regards the table. "Now wherever did that come from?" he asks in bemusement. "It is not a native game, surely?"

"No milord." Major Stewart says "That was a gift to the Lord Mayor from Coral, daughter of the Prime Minister, former Queen of Kashfa, and as it is said, descended from the line of Amber. I do not understand where she fits in your genealogy, milord, save that it is said she has the blood of your line in her veins and the power therein."

"Well, let us put her gift to some use," William says, racking the balls and selecting a cue off the wall. "What do people say of Coral?" he asks carelessly as he considers the cue in his hand, then tosses it to Czeller before selecting another one for himself.

Czeller catches it easily and trots toward the table.

"She has come and gone from the Kingdom since the dissolution of her marriage to the King of Kashfa." Major Stewart says. "Many wish that she would remain for longer periods in the Kingdom, and there are those." he lowers his voice as if telling a dread secret " that call her Princess of Begma."

Major Stewart then clears his throat and abruptly turns toward Czeller. "Do you know how to play this game correctly, Lieutenant?" "Yes, sir, I watched the Prime Minister's daughter demonstrate it with her husband when they came to visit the Alcazar." the lieutenant says. "I may not be as practiced as the Prince of Amber but I believe I can play correctly."

William flips a coin and catches it without looking, slapping his hand down on his arm and holding it. "Call it for the break," he tells Czeller. "King Random of the Unicorn."

"Unicorn" Czeller says without hesitation.

[William] looks at the Major. "It is a game of precision, steady nerves, and tactical sense," he explains.

"That may explain its appeal" Major Stewart says. "I confess that unless someone narrates the action, it will all be lost on me. I don't even know what this thing is." He holds up a chalk.

William removes his hand and reveals the coin. "Unicorn it is," he says. "The break is yours."

Lt. Czeller gives a nod in response to William. and scoops up another and begins applying it to his cue stick. "It is for the tip of the stick, Major." he says.

"Wagers are placed on this game, isn't it?" one of the soldiers pipes up.

"It would be unfair to bet against your fellow officer, Sgt. Mithcell " Major Stewart says. "Unless one was offering long odds." He looks at William. "Extremely long odds."

"Is there any game upon which one does not wager?" William asks in surprise. "If so, I have never heard of it." He thinks for a moment, then says, "I do know the game, and have played it frequently, although that was many years ago, when I still lived in one of my mother's homes. And the Lieutenant is new to it. It would not be fair of me to place the stakes too high..."

"Well if we are going to place stakes, we should do so quickly, before the game begins." Major Stewart says. In the meantime, cautiously, Lt. Czeller has set himself and the cue stick in position, rocking it back and forth, as if waiting for some signal to make the break. He is about to make the break when his motion is interrupted.

"A Begman Stater to you if you win, Five to me if the Lieutenant wins." Sgt. Mitchell blurts out. "Milord" he adds, hastily/

"Five to one?" William muses. "Very well. I accept. Any other wagers before we begin?"

The remainder of the guards look at each other nervously.  William can hear one or two mumur, one of the murmurs rising to the level of audibility "five to get one" but none of the guards actually makes a bid.

William smiles at the major. "I think we can charitably take this reticence as unfamiliarity with the game," he says, "And not a reflection upon the betting spirit of your men."

"Perhaps" Major Stewart says. He gives a disappointed look in the direction of the knot of soldiers and then turns his attention back to the pool table.

Finally, Lt. Czeller acts, making his break with a resounding and satisfying thump.  The table sounds good to William's ears.  Certainly the winner is not going to be because of table conditions.

The balls scatter and a couple are sunk.  Lt. Czeller hesitates and looks toward William.

"Do I need to tell you what ball and where it will be sunk, milord?" he says as he stalks around the table to line up a shot with the cue ball toward the 7, near the center left pocket.

"Let us keep it simple, Lieutenant," William answers. "Called shot for the 8 ball only." He looks at the major and explains, "As with many games, there are various ways in which it can be played, adding complexity. Different ways to score, as well. I like a clean, simple game, myself. Same as I like my cards."

"Yes, milord."

There are murmurs amongst the soldiers as the game starts in earnest.

Czeller sinks the 7 ball, and then the 11 before failing a bank shot on the 1. William has been set up in a good position

 William quickly will realize that while Czeller is certainly game enough based on his early play, by taking a couple of harder shots, he can see coming he could possibly run the table, or at the very least, sink the majority of the balls without any difficulty whatsoever. If he plays more conservatively, Czeller will definitely have a chance to keep the score very close if his play is good.

William plays conservatively for the most part, taking easy shots when they present themselves, otherwise using shots to set up a future shot without sinking a ball. However, he never lets a turn go past without sinking at least one ball, and if an easy shot doesn't present itself he will take a difficult and showy one first, before turning to his practice of setting up his balls for future easy shots.

William's mostly conservative strategy does allow the match to be a game of it for Lt. Czeller. He doesn't seem too intimidated or put off by the idea of playing William, and even manages to make a difficult shot, setting up for a run that helps make the final score close.

In the end, though, William takes the last two balls, including the 8 ball, for the victory.

Sgt. Mitchell looks at his silver Begman coin with the tragic sadness of one being separated from his lover.

"I would enjoy a rematch, milord, if you return to Begma." Lt. Czeller says, bowing his head to William.

"I shall look forward to that, Lieutenant," William says. He looks at Sgt Mitchell, and says, "Sergeant, hold onto that, and use it to buy us all the first round when we go out on the town tonight after my dinner with the Lord Mayor. Surprised, it takes a moment for the sergeant to register William's command. He does pick up the coin with a smile and a nod.

"Czeller, you can direct us to some..." he winks, "...interesting places to visit, yes?"

"Yes milord!"" Czeller pipes up. "I know a few places in Little Jidrash where...

Czeller stops himself in mid sentence as a musical instrument, some sort of set of bells, can now be heard. It isn't particularly loud and overbearing, but the changing ranges on the tones makes it difficult to miss.

Lieutenant Czeller stops and nods to William.

"I would be pleased to conduct you to the room now, milord" Major Stewart puts in. "The bells are the signal for Court. The Oldfield family has been playing them for generations."

"Excellent," William says. He hands the pool cue to Czeller to return to the wall. "Let us not keep the Lord Mayor waiting."

"Indeed" the Major says.

William is led, by Major Stewart, Lt. Czeller and Stewart's men to a room very reminiscent of the Great Hall/Throne Room of Castle Amber. High windows near the ceiling allow natural light to accentuate the more mundane lighting sources in  the long rectangular room.There are flags hanging on the wall, too, reminiscent of the banners of Golden Circle Nations in the Great Hall. These banners, though, are not from other Golden Circle kingdoms. Courtiers, clumped into small conversations, line both sides of the hall, most not paying real attention to William's entrance.

At the far end of the hall is a two step dais. The magnificent pair of thrones on the top dais are unoccupied. A smaller, more humble chair a step below it is occupied, or it was. A figure has risen from the chair. With a voice amplified by magic or something else, his call is clear and loud where William stands.

"Greetings to the Prince William, scion of the Royal Family of our good friend and neighbor, the Kingdom of Amber. Please, come and be welcome!"

The courtiers lining the hall clap in approval, although not quite in a sycophantic manner. William can see more than one or two who are clapping in a desultory fashion at best.

William strides forward, eyeing the man with interest. He holds out a hand in greeting as he reaches him, "Amber sends Her greetings to our good friend, and may I personally add my pleasure at once again returning to the Pearl of Ports. It has been far too long since I was last here."

"Indeed, so" he temporizes. Lord Mayor Sebastian Drake, Lord of the nearly free city of Erkus has the greying, balding hair of a man who has passed middle age but has not yet met old age head on. Given the heightened longevity sometimes seen as far away as Begma, William would put his real age probably around 70. Whatever his age, the man holds himself upright with his arms gripping the sides of the chair.

"The Drake family has not had the recent honor of hosting a scion of the line of Queen Dybele" The Lord Mayor continues. "I can see the charm of that queen, and the comeliness of her daughter the Royal Princess Florimel, has both passed down to you."

"We shall have to lock up our daughters!" he ladds in a laugh.  On cue, the courtiers one by one add titters and laughs to the Lord Mayor's jest.

(Casting call the late Pete Postlethwaite)

William chuckles as well, and says, "The daughters of Erkus are a lovely temptation, indeed, and it would take a stronger man than I to resist them. Alas, it seems my time here will be short, as I am travelling through many lands for my uncle, the King. But he wished that I should begin my tour with our dear friend and ally, Begma, and no official visit to Begma can begin without first paying due honour to the House of Drake."

"It is true that we consider ourselves a jewel that our inland cousins can only dream of matching." the Lord Mayor replies smugly. "Why, we encourage the Prime Minister to come here and minister to us." the lord Mayor holds his left hand tightly on the throne as he frees his right hand to indicate the thrones above and beyond him. As soon as he finishes the gesture, he returns the hand to the throne. "However, it seems that it is the work of the House of Drake to hold the coast and take the sea air.  But too often have the scions of Amber gone overland through that frightening forest of yours, and never come through here."

"And yet" he adds. "I have heard tell that at least one more of the House of Oberon has come here, but is not present?" he asks William.

"My cousin, the Princess Shannon," William says with a nod. "She hopes to be able to meet with you, but business of a mystical nature took precedence." He shrugs. "Sorceresses, you know?"

"I am a good member of the Church and do not employ or know much of such arts. I leave that to the scions of the other Hill." the Lord Mayor says piously.

He looks at the two higher thrones and steps closer to them, incidentally brushing against the Lord Mayor's throne as he does so, and casually running his fingers along it, seeking any sense of mystical or esoteric energy. "Very nice thrones," he says. "Have neither the Prime Minister nor his daughter found the time to grace them with their presence?"

"Not in many years." The Lord Mayor responds. "And yet they remain, polished and ready. Perhaps it is the nobles of his court that fear that he might grow too attached to our port city were he to visit it..."

The lord Mayor continues his complaint as William casually examines the chair. His words have the consistency and nutritional value of word salad, its easy for William to listen to his blather without having to concentrate on each and every word.

It's a pretty subtle enchantment on the Lord Mayor's throne, oh but it is there. It would take time and effort to really analyze it but a casual look shows that the enchantment is definitely hooked into the Lord Mayor. Whether it is beneficial or not is unknown without a longer and more serious study.

"...and so that is why we are doubly happy to have you and your cousin the Princess here." the Lord Mayor finishes.

"I thank you, for myself and for her," William answers. He steps back from the throne and smiles at the seated Lord Mayor. "It is good for the House of Oberon and the House of Drake to have personal dealings from time to time, do you not agree?"

"Indeed so." he says agreeably. "I have never considered, milord Prince, that the foreign policy and agreements of the city of Erkus to be bound to those of the Prime Minister or those around him." The Mayor agrees. He looks like he is contemplating standing again, but instead drums the fingers of his left hand on the arm of his chair.

"If there is nothing further" the Mayor adds. "I will see you, and perhaps your cousin the Princess, at dinner?"

"Indeed," William says."I look forward to it, my Lord Mayor." He gives a courtly bow, then turns and walks away from the Mayor's throne.

"Next" calls the voice of the Lord Mayor, as William strides away. Like a bloodhound, Major Stewart soon falls in line with him.

"Would you like to have someone bring you to your quarters, milord Prince?" the Major asks. "Or perhaps see more of the Alcazar? Or..." His voice trails off, a little uncertain, and trying to clearly gauge William.. A few of the other guards have started trailing William as well.

"That is dependent, Major, upon how long it shall be before it is time for the feast His Excellency is giving in our honour," William answers as he leaves the audience chamber. "Do you know how much time we have before that?"

"Court is nearly over" the Major temporizes, stopping and looking backward toward the Lord Mayor and his throne for a moment . He eventually swings his gaze back to William.

"Two candle-hours after Court is done, the Lord Mayor typically dines. So I would estimate, milord Prince, you have slightly more than that length of time before being summoned to dinner."

"Not quite enough time to explore the city beforehand, I am afraid." Lt. Czeller, who has rejoined the group, puts in.

"That business is after dinner, and any private business between the Prince and the Lord Mayor." Major Stewart says. He then returns his attention back to William.

"Did you wish a message sent to your cousin the Princess about the feast?"

William shakes his head. "Disturbing mages is a tricky matter. She will be here if she is able, but I would not send an innocent messenger into the citadel of the arcane. Two candles,eh?" William appears to think. "Perhaps a restful bath, to wash some of the sea away, would be a pleasant way to pass the time?"

"The quarters that have been set aside for you and for the Princess have baths" the Major says. "Let us be about seeing your needs, milord. Lieutenant." He looks at Czeller. "Go and find a likely servant or two and tell them that the visiting Prince wants a bath in his quarters, five minutes ago. You lot.." he looks at the other guards. "Get back to your posts."

Conspicuously, in short order, the only guard left is Major Stewart himself.

"There are matters I would talk to you about,. milord Prince." Major Stewart says. "on the way to your quarters."

"Indeed?" William says. "Say on, Major."

"We should walk very briskly as we speak. It will be more difficult for eavesdroppers." he continues in a low voice and then raises it. "Let me conduct you to your quarters."

Once he, and William are in motion, the Major speaks again, in a low tone.

"No matter what others think of me here, I am a loyal subject of the Lord Mayor, and of the Prime Minister." the Major says. "I know that you may not have the arcane skills of your cousin her highness, but perhaps you may have noticed that the Lord Mayor was not completely, ah, hale?"

William laughs loudly and says, with a boisterous elbow to the ribs for the Major, "A good hot bath and a pretty chambermaid to scrub my back, that's what I'm for, eh?"

Major Stewart laughs.

In a far quieter voice [William] continues, without losing his huge grin, "I noted the enchantment on the throne. Subtle work, that."

"It is a mystery that no one will speak of openly." Major Stewart says, continuing the brisk pace.

"No one knows if it is something the Lord Mayor has requested be done to strengthen him, or he is fettered to and bound magically to it. Worse, milord, it seems to be difficult to discuss with others, as if that was part of the spell. I was pleasantly surprised that I found myself able to have this conversation with you."

William nods, shortly. "Tell me quickly everything you know. I can make no promises, but I mislike the situation, and I will most certainly look into it."

"Yes, milord Prince." Major Stewart says, loudly. "Bath girls are a Kashfan custom, I am afraid, not a Begman one. The brief marriage of King Rinaldo to the Prime Minister's daughter did not change that."

The verbal chaff scattered, Major Stewart lowers his voice once more as he continues to lead William at the brisk pace set.

"The Lord Mayor has been in somewhat failing health for the last two years." Major Stewart says. "Talk of how to handle the succession was openly debated. Then, six months ago, he started showing unexpected health and strength again. We have him, hale and hearty, again, with his strength and verve that he had ten years ago, but he seems bound and tied to that throne, somehow. He spends much more time in Court than he ever has done and his energy seems to slowly ebb when he is away from the throne."

"Perhaps your cousin the Princess will learn more from the Mages at the Academy, but we here at the Alcazar know not what to make of it, especially since the effect ties our tongues."

"I understand that some of the courtiers pass notes to each other about the matter." Major Stewart adds. "Whatever this odd effect is, it is limited only to speech."

"Ah, well," William says with a loud sigh. "Perhaps it is for the best. I would not want to be late for the Mayor's dinner, after all." Then, quietly, "I have heard rumors of strange outland mages. Have you heard of any such in the city?"

"Outland mages?" Major Stewart repeats, thoughtfully. "Begma, milord, is close to Amber but not in Amber, and thus it draws many mages and would be mages, seeking to study Amber from a distance, or convinced that such proximity will awaken their powers. That is why our Academy never lacks for funds, thanks to the tuition it charges."

"In the specific." he continues. The Major scratches his chin. "There are always rumors, milord Prince. Perhaps your lordship is thinking perhaps of the rumor that a mage from some nameless shadow has taken residence in the old Abrizonde Manse, a day's ride away from here upriver, shorter by ship of course. If the rumors are true, no one has seen much of this mystery mage. Perhaps a leftover deodand in the Manse ate him."

"And here we are, milord." Major Stewart adds, stopping at a door painted in green and gold.

"Thank you, Major," William says. He waits for the door to be opened before stepping through.

Inside of the green and gold door, William finds a spacious suite, with four bedrooms, one bathing room, and a large tapestry depicting the Unicorn dominating the center room.. The tapestry is done in a neo-urban style, showing the Unicorn rampant in front of an urban church, not the Cathedral, but a fairly large one. The furniture style, too, is rococo Amberian, the overall effect of the quarters strikes William like a remembered visit to Castle Amber. Its not the "bed and breakfast" comfort level of quarters designed and decorated by his mother or sister, but it is more than enough for himself, Shannon and even his companions, if he wished.

A serving girl, with a bandana around her hair, has the presence of mind not to be surprised when she emerges from the bathroom.

"Your bath is ready, milord Prince" the dark haired woman says. "Will there be anything else, milord?" the servant asks.

"Thank you, my dear, that will be all," William replies with a smile.

"Yes milord Prince" the serving girl quickly vacates the room.

Too, at the threshold, Major Stewart waits. He doesn't give the girl more than a glance as she passes him and away.

"I trust I shall see you at dinner, Major," William says. "Unless there was anything else....?" 

 "No, milord Prince" Major Stewart. "Unless there was ought more to say, I shall leave you to your bath and rest."  He pauses a beat. "Of course, I shall inform you if and when your cousin the Princess arrives. And your sworn vassals."

"Thank you, Major," William says with a lazily dismissive wave of one hand. He waits until the Major has left and closed the door, then begins a quick, but thorough, search of the quarters he has been given.

In the privacy of the quarters, as the promised bath cools, William's search of the quarters turns up some more comforts of home. His initial impression of the suite does not change, in terms of its quality, although the beds are very well done.

Oh, and, more importantly, and perhaps more to what William is looking for, there are three spyholes, one each in two of the bedrooms, and one in the main room. All of them are relatively well disguised, behind paintings (in two cases), and through a tiny hole in an empty shelf of the bookshelf in the main room, unexpectedly.

No signs of doors or any other secret entrances, however.

William doesn't let on that he has spotted the spyholes, but once he has determined to his own satisfaction that there is not one in the room where a bath has been drawn he disrobes and settles in to the hot bath with a contented sigh. Then he smiles, reaches over to his discarded clothes, and finds his trump deck. He thumbs through it to the trump of Shannon. Settling back in the bath he holds it up and stares at it. "Cousin," he says. "Are you decent?"

"It would appear that you are possibly not." comes the voice of Shannon, as the moving image of the daughter of Fiona resolves from the painted image to show her standing with her back to a window. She appears to be sitting on a sill, or leaning against it.

"It's William, of course." she says, and then turns her attention back to William.

"We were making ready to soon take our leave and travel with a couple of the luminaries here to dinner there at the Mayor's Palace" Shannon says.

"Since you are not waiting for me and Devaine to come up to the Alcazar to talk to me..." Shannon says. "I deduce that this is of some timely importance." She smiles slightly. "Or you wish to speak in privacy?" 

 "Let us call it both," William says with an answering smile. "Have any of the magicians you have spoken to said anything of the Lord Mayor's health, or of an enchantment upon his throne?"

Shannon's expression goes serious.

"Yes" she says, with a nod. "As a matter of fact, that was confided to Devaine and I by one of the senior Thaumaturges." Shannon explains. "Whether its sustaining him, or sapping his health, is not clear. It's clear that he is dependent on that spell at the moment, cousin."

"Here is something else odd about the enchantment, William. Whatever it really is, and no one here claims that they created it, this enchantment has a perception and communication filter on it. It is difficult for the Begmans of the city to speak of it amongst themselves. They get aphasia when trying to do so. I suspect that if we remain here overlong, we might be affected as well, unless our imprints protect us from the effect."

William's smile thins a bit. "Whoever cast the spell would find the results far from pretty if I found it beginning to affect my freedom," he says. He waves that aside. "But for now, let us concentrate on the matter at hand. Do you think you will be able to tell more about the spell, and the caster, when you are here? I could sense the enchantment upon the throne, but it is more complicated than I can easily unravel. But I would very much like to know the details of it. And whether there are comparable spells lying in wait on the thrones waiting for the day that the Prime Minister or his daughter ever venture here."

"A relatively straightforward exercise." Shannon says. "It may not be simple or quick to do, but the parameters of doing so are well known. You will see for yourself. If it is truly a recalcitrant spell, I'll call my brother."

"It has occurred to me." Shannon adds "And perhaps, you too, William that this spell may be related to the mage who has foolishly decided to plague your mother."

"Count Leonidas Taisson," William says,drawing out the name with almost sensuous delight, as though it were the name of a special dessert he was looking forward to with great anticipation. "I should dearly love to be able to link him with this, as part of some nefarious plot. I may just do that, whether it is true or not. There is also rumor of an outworld mage who has taken residence at Abrizonde Manse, upriver a day's ride. I want to look into that, as well. First, we need to determine just what this enchantment is. There is always the possibility, small though I believe it to be, that it truly is beneficent in nature, intended to preserve the Lord Mayor against some disease or the infirmity of age. I don't believe it, but we should make certain that it isn't the case. And determine exactly what it is doing, and how to stop it. Assuming we want to do so."

"Random did give us, you a broad mandate, no matter what the popinjays that we have along with us might think."Shannon says. "We'll take a look at that throne, decide, and let them come to that desired conclusion. If they even need to know."

"As far as the Count and this Manse, I'll throw a few bon mots at the sorcerers here and see if those names come up with anything new before you see me at dinner."

William stretches luxuriously in his bath, but holds the trump completely steady. "So many mysteries. Isn't it wonderful?"

Shannon laughs musically "Careful, cousin. With talk like that, your sister is going to start to think Mother is trying to recruit you. Again."

William laughs in turn. "I should never want anyone to be in any doubt about my plans," he says. "Most especially not family. I look forward to unraveling this particular mystery with you, Cousin."

"I will hasten dear cousin, I will hasten." Shannon says. "I assume you've arranged some clever way to have Devaine's two partners in crime rendezvous with us. They aren't going to, say, try to storm the gates of the Alcazar at a full gallop, seeking entry, are they?" Shannon asks innocently.

"Who would do such a thing?" William inquires with equal innocence. "No one I would associate with, surely."

"Surely" Shannon replies. "I would not seek to impugn you so. Consider it a baseless and improvised speculation on my part."

He smiles. "Is there aught else we should speak of now, dear coz? Or may I return to my bath?"

"I would not dream of disturbing your bath further, dear cousin." Shannon says. "Devaine and I will see you at dinner."

And the trump call ends.

William tosses the card with an expert flick of the wrist, sending it to land on top of his discarded clothes. He leans back in the still-hot water of his bath and begins to whistle a jaunty toon about the joys of a young man who delights in stroking his girlfriend's cat.

William gets the full relaxation of his bath, and more than a few moments of peace. It is as the cooling water and other concerns finally are proving to be prods to having William exit the bath and prepare for the evening's events that his reverie finally comes to an end. There is an urgent knocking on the suite's outer door.

"Prince William?" comes the voice from outside the suite--from a young high-strung page from the sound of it. "Prince William?" he adds again, for emphasis.

"Ah, good," William says aloud. "It's about time someone came to help me dress." He leans over so that he can look out into the main room, and shout directly at the outer door. "Enter!" he calls out.

The door to the suite opens.

"Milord?" He can hear the creeping of the page looking about the room. "I was sent here on behalf of the gate guards..." his words trail off as he walks about the room. It takes him a few moments to see the bathroom door ajar and head toward it. Said page is the usual specimen of the type, typical sandy hair and pale complexion of a Begman lowlander, dressed in city livery. "Milord?" he says again, at the threshold of the ajar door, now filling the view with a view from his head to his waist.

"Come on in, lad," William calls out. He stands and reaches for a towel. "See if my things have been brought from the ship, would you? I ordered several trunks to be delivered. There should be clothes suitable for a court dinner, lay them out for me, there's a good lad."

"But...but...Milord." The page blubbers but his feet obey William's command, even as he sputters his protest and his words. The conflict between command, duty and the errand that brought him here result in a herky-jerky set of movements. Similarly, the page's words and message are atomized.

"Milord...there are two men..."

"...they are declaring fealty to you."

Through the crack in the door, the page IS opening trunks and choosing clothes...

"...hold of a pair of Kashfan..."

"...rode the camels here to..."

"...at the gate awaiting entry."

The clothes laid out, the competing requests resolved, the page turns to look at William.

"What message shall I bring back, milord?"

William comes out of the bath chamber with a towel wrapped around his waist and looks over the clothes the page has lad out, then nods approvingly. "That should do well, lad." He produces a silver coin (better not to wonder from where) and tosses it to him.

The page doesn't seem to give the matter thought (or enough thought) and catches the coin easily.

"I do hope the Lords Kiathas and Valric have not been delayed, they are my most trusted companions and confidants. Do run along and see to there welcome and welfare, there's a good lad."

"Should they, err, be brought here milord, or given quarters of their own?" the page asks, studiously studying the Begman coin rather than William. "They have not been, delayed, sir." he adds. "Merely to where they might go needed to be determined."

"Here, first," William answers.

"Yes, milord." the page replies. He remains in place.

[William] drops the towel and begins to dress. "Is a chamber adjoining this one free? If so, they can be housed there. If not, then my goods can be moved to a larger chamber while we dine."

"I believe the chambers adjoining yours were reserved for the Princess." the page says. "However, there are quarters adjoining hers that are unoccupied. I believe that they are nearly as large as these quarters, but they lack a full bath like yours and the quarters reserved for the Princess. An extra bed can be brought in if it is required. Will those arrangements suit?"

"Most excellent well," William says with a nod. He makes a shooing gesture with one hand as he continues to dress. "Have them shown here first."

"Yes, milord" the page departs, with rapidity. 

 By the time William has finished with getting dressed, the door bursts open, with Kiathas following closely behind Valric. Helplessly behind them is the same page, who seemed to wrangle them to his rooms while laden down with a large collection of packages and clothing bags burying him.

"Guillaume! Kiathas says with a laugh. "Would you believe that this friend of ours nearly got the both of us put into a prison, rather than the fine quarters here?"

"As usual, Kiathas is only telling part of the story" Valric says, making a motion so that the page then shuffles off down the hall. "You seem to have done well, here, although I see the ladies have not yet arrived?"

"Sorceresses," William answers with a shrug. "Who can tell what they will do, and they set their own hours. Much like cats. Or any women at all, for that matter." He makes certain both of them are looking at him, then casually brushes his hair away from his face with his left hand twice in quick succession, a Phoenix Guard signal for 'We are under observation.'

Kiathas responds with a similar casual brush of the hair, indicating that the message was received correctly.

He turns to a mirror, adjusting the lace at his throat and cuffs and admiring the effect. "But tell me of this near arrest. What occurred?"

"'Twas not truly our fault, Guillaume." Valric says. "Neither Kiathas nor myself. We shopped for clothes, as you requested, and then explored the watering holes of the city."

"As you asked us to" Kiathas interrupts.

"Yes, yes." Valric says. "We asked around about unusual things heard and seen. We got a few bravos to talking about ghost ships and other unusual sights in the sky. Said fellows said bluntly that it was the fault of the "Witches and Wizards in Amber, and if they were all drowned,not only would the strange sights and sounds be gone, but the world would be a better place for it."

"We couldn't allow the honor of you and your family to be impunged, now could we?" Kiathas says. "Of course such words had to be responded to by Valric, although I think he went too far when he compared the ancestry of the men to unmarried slatterns. "No blades were ever drawn, although challenge to do so was made. The constabulary was not amused by the brawl that happened instead, however."

"Valric!" William says sharply. "I am shocked and disappointed in you!" He shakes his head. "I have knows some slatterns with excellent qualities. It was most insensitive of you to say such things about them!"

Kiathas laughs.

Valric puffs up his chest. "I was not referring to any that you might know, Guillaume, of course. And it was the handiest insult at hand.  I considered comparing their mother's ancestry to female dogs, but we've all know too many well bred hounds to make that comparison.  I felt forced to make do as necessary."

"In any event" he adds. "I am loath to admit this but one of those diplomats creeping about our ships arrived,. I don't remember which one." He pauses for breath. "He produced credentials, spoke of our character and who we were, and thus we were released.  We then rode up here to find you." Valric continues.

"Before we could cause any more trouble." Kiathas interjects.

"Do not be concerned about it," William says, laying a brotherly hand on Kiathas' shoulder. "We shall have plenty more opportunities or causing trouble, I am certain." He drops his hand and laughs. "We'll be dining with the Lord Mayor soon. You two rascals should do a quick cleanup and make yourselves presentable."

"Absolutely." Kiathas says.

Valric nods, and makes a hand sign again, reinforcing that he realizes that they are under observation.

"We do need, though, to decide what we are going to do with the camels." Kiathas says. "Valric didn't tell you about that part. But we can talk about that later. We need to make ourselves presentable..."

In short order, the pair leave the room, allowing William time to finish his own preparations to make himself ready for dinner. 

 Halfway through the remaining hour before dinner, William's final preparations and quest for perfection are interrupted by the return of his companions, looking much less the worse for their wear.

 In that time, William learned from the page that the diplomats had arrived, been given quarters and, in a message conveyed by the page were looking forward to "seeing the Prince and the Princess at the dinner hosted by our esteemed host".

William sends back an acknowledgement of the diplomats' message, and slightly patronizing instructions to the "do the Lord Mayor all due honour and courtesy due to a staunch friend and ally of Amber."

Once his friends are back they debate the serious matter of the merits of various ways of tying neckwear, and different possible ways of viewing proper colour complementation in fashion.

Time ticks away, and the time needed to make a proper entrance approaches. Finally, as Kiathas has scored a point over Valric about the merits (or lack thereof) of Begman fashion as opposed to their homeland, a loud rapping on the door proves to be Shannon and Devaine.

Even though they have been traveling and spending time at the Collegium all day, both of them, in a bit of what is likely eldritch wizardry, look primped and ready for the state dinner, as if they had spent hours doing so. In fact, their outfits and colors are complimentary, and the gold dress of Devaine, with green accents, is an inverse of Shannon's vision of green, with accents of purple and gold.

"Dear cousin." Shannon says with a smile. "We had thought you would have left for the dinner without us."

"You look like something out of a faerie tale book." Valric says to Devaine.

"Don't strangle him." Kiathas says.  "William and I have been arguing with him for a half hour about ties."

"And you are just in time to save him from a humiliating defeat," William adds. "I have no doubt he will be properly grateful." He examines the two ladies carefully, then nods, "Absolutely exquisite," he says. "Let us go and show our host how greatly we respect him, and how much we wish to do him honour."

"Amongst other things." Shannon says.

Shannon accepts William's arm, and the pair can thus lead a procession of William's three companions behind them through the Alcazar. Shannon walks like she was a seasoned diplomat rather than the supposedly bookish daughter of Fiona, hitting cues with nods and smiles for various people she, William. Devaine, Kiathas and Valric pass on their journey.

The great hall where William met the Mayor has been transformed and rearranged to suit the needs of dinner, with a high table for the Mayor and the distinguished amongst the elite of the city's finest present, and lower tables, a slow descent of rank, title and status.  The tables and the number of people rival state dinners in Begma's actual capital, or any other capital city that William has visited. At the center of the high table is the Mayor.  Off of his throne and in an ordinary chair, he looks at least ten years older, if not more, although he has a brave face on.

"You two are definitely bound for the high table." Devaine whispers. "But what about the three of us?"

William gestures to the two table just to the sides of the high table. "There, and there," he says, making his gesture obvious enough that the major domo and upper servants cannot help but notice it, and make appropriate arrangements if they have not already done so. "You are the companions of a Prince of Amber. Were the high table larger you would sit on the ends of it, but make do with sitting on the high end of the second tier." In a lower voice, he adds, "And that way you can speak with important officials that we two shall be too far away to speak with."

"We shall endeavor to do so." Valric says. "What should we talk about?"

"Valric is only joking" Kiathas says. "Or so I believe..."

Devaine shakes her head slightly. She winds up leading the trio toward the tables. The Majordomo, as a matter of fact, does need to do some last minute rearrangement to accommodate them, leading to a domino like effect down the tables. It pleases few people in the end, but it does not apparent pccur to anyone to try and challenge the unspoken request from William. Kiathas and Valric take one table, and Devaine, by herself, takes the opposite one.

He lets them decide between themselves how they shall split the three of them among two tables, and continues with Shannon to the high table. "Princess Shannon," he says. "May I present Sebastian Drake, Lord Mayor of Erkus?"

"Ah, yes, the Princess." Mayor Drake says. "It is a pleasure to meet you." His speech is not exactly halting, but it has a patient, glacial cadence and rhythm to it, as if it took Drake extra time for each word to be enunciated. For all of its slowness, his diction is clear and exact,.

"Its a pleasure to meet you, Highness." Shannon says. "The Prince has told me of the grace and splendor of your Court."

"Please be seated, the both of you. I wish to hear of the realm of King Random." he continues, again, slowly and carefully. The high chairs besides the Mayor are being filled mostly by the higher ranked city nobles that William saw earlier at Court.

Below, Kiathas, Valric and Devaine are already conversing with their counterparts as, waiting in the wings, servants have large tureens of soup and accouterments ready.

One other thing William notices--two of these nobles have, in addition to their symbols, colors and the symbols of the city and the nation of Begma, sport small lapel pins that jump out at William because of their shape and material.

They are in the shape of doors...bronze doors.

William nods a friendly greeting to the nobles at the high table, reacting not in the slightest to the emblem of the bronze doors. After her and Shannon have been seated he answers the Mayor. "His Majesty is eager to learn of how things go with our friends and neighbours," he says. "We want to learn how badly you were affected by the Recent Unpleasantness, and what Amber can do to offer aid and support."

"We've had a fair amount of Unpleasantness." the Lord Mayor says.  "Not to discount the stories we have heard from our brethren across the worlds. Surely, the good Prime Minister would confirm what I have said.  Strange visions of Gods and Demons in the sky, other strange phenomena.  A rain of Rebman ammonites, falling upon the docks, a creature not native to our waters."

By this point, William has noticed the gaggle of Ambassadors that have accompanied the expedition have been seated as well, mostly on the third row of tables.  William gets a thoughtful glance from Adam Henry.  Shannon, for her part, keeps a watch on the diplomats, giving her a faux distracted look on her face as William speaks with the Lord Mayor.

"Commerce has been disrupted with Amber, our very lifeblood here in our Port of Erkus." The Lord Mayor says.  "We need a resumption of trade with Amber and the rest of the Golden Circle, but traders appear to fear more strange calamities.  Can you do nothing to aid us in that matter, Prince William?"

"That is why I am here, my friend," William replies. "King Random wants to end impediments to trade, and find and decisively deal with any threats to order and peace. Tell me, what do you need most, right now?"

There is a flash of a guarded look from the Mayor's face. "This may be a matter best discussed in a less merry setting. Perhaps in my chambers, after this excellent meal?"

"Your Highness" one of the Nobles (and yes, wearing the Door emblem) interjects. "It would not do to over-exert you. We care about the fragility of your health. Surely such matters might be handled during the next session of Court?"

The Mayor looks at the Baron and then back to William.  "I suspect, Lord Walton, that the good Prince and his companions are soon bound for the capital and the company of the Prime Minister." he says.  He draws his head and shoulders backward and blinks, as if suddenly dizzy. This spell soon ends and he looks at William.

"Is this not true, lord Prince?"

"Eh?" William asks, his attention having apparently been diverted while Lord Walton was speaking by a lovely woman in a low-cut bodice a couple of tables away. He looks back at the Lord Mayor. "Oh, yes, most definitely," he says. "All sorts of..." he waves a hand, "...diplomaticky things to see to, what?"

"Our itinerary is broad." Shannon puts in, dropping most of her act. "The Prince my cousin does not wish to abuse the hospitality of the Lord Mayor, and the Prime Minister is expecting us."

"I see" Lord Walton says. He stares at William for a brief moment more.  "I merely wish to make sure the Lord Mayor's health is not unduly taxed."

"Don't worry, Emmet" the mayor says to Lord Walton.  "We Drakes have the blood of dragons in our line. I'll do just fine. Besides, I am sure the coterie of diplomats the Prince has brought will want to speak at Court tomorrow.  So we will have the hospitality of the Prince and the Princess one day more, at the very least. We are no mere Kashfan caravanserai to be left as soon as possible even if their visit will be short."

Lord Walton gives a nod, but the brief look on his face suggests to William that he is not at all happy about this.

"That's right, Emmie," William affirms, with a nod of his head. "And I won't keep his Excellency up late tonight. Got to do the town right tonight, don't y'know? I haven't been here in a very long time, and I'm sure most of the local talent has changed, if you take my meaning." He winks broadly at Walton.

"I..." The Baron seems a little out of depth and blinks uncertainly. "I've..." he stammers

 Then a thought seems to occur to [William]. "Say," he says. "Perhaps you and some of the other likely lads would like to tag along? Show me some of the sights that the soldiers might not know of. The more exclusive ones, what?"

Walton looks slightly put out and chews on this for a moment.  The conversation at the table has quieted to watch and listen to the exchange between William and Walton. Shannon is still feigning a distracted air, but William is more cognizant of this now.

"Surely, your Highness is not suggesting that I am well acquainted with such establishments." He looks at William further.  William can practically see the wheels turning in his mind. He speaks again.

"It must be said, however, that before he was safely married, that a man of quality and discretion and good taste, which I am sure you are all three, milord Prince, would visit The Lily Garden.  Mistress Amoli would be able to show you the entertainment you might come to expect, milord."

There are murmurs of agreement that William can hear from the other nobles and high people at the table, muted, but it is there. Even the Lord Mayor gives the briefest of nods of agreement before returning attention to the food in front of him.

"Ah," William nods knowingly. "Short leading strings from the better half, eh, what? I understand. Many a man has fallen to that fate, my friend, you have my sympathy." 

 There is a cough here, and a a murmur of agreement there, and the conversation remains fascinating to all.

 [William] leans forward and lowers his voice, although everyone at the table can still hear him easily. "Don't suppose you could claim a business meeting and sneak out, eh?"

Walton considers William for a long moment. He gives the briefest of glances at the Lord Mayor, and then looks back at William.

"That may be possible, milord." he finally says, his own voice in a quasi sotto voce just like William.  "It would be my pleasure to take you there personally."

"Oh. most excellently said, my lord!" William exclaims. "Exploring the pleasures of a city is so much more pleasant in the company of a man of quality!" He slaps his hands together delightedly and says, "We shall plan on meeting shortly after I see the Lord Mayor to his chambers, after this excellent dinner." He turns to Shannon and says, "Alas, dear cousin, this adventure is perhaps rather too ... manly in nature for you. I do hope you do not feel that I am neglecting you? No doubt the diplomats have some dreary matters that they feel the need to prattle on about. You could take care of that for me, perhaps?"

"I lack the skills, wit, grace and experience that you do dear cousin." Shannon can't quite play a coquette, but reserved librarian shyness is definitely a forte. "However, in your absence, I shall endeavor and try to fill your shoes in dealing with our brethren diplomats and any other matters that cannot await your return, Prince my cousin."

"I lack the skills, wit, grace and experience that you do dear cousin." Shannon can't quite play a coquette, but  reserved librarian shyness is definitely a forte.  "However, in your absence, I shall endeavor and try to fill your shoes in dealing with our brethren diplomats and any other matters that cannot await your return, Prince my cousin."

"Excellent" Walton says.  "It is settled, then.  Shall we now return to more topical and less salacious matters. I do not want us to descend to the coarseness one might find in, say, a common tavern such as the Hairy Mango. We are in the Court of the Lord Mayor after all."

"One should Beware the Hairy Mango." one of the other nobles says agreeably.

"We should eschew vulgarity, by all means," William agrees. "Let us move to topics of a genteel and instructive nature. Tell me of yourself and your family, Lord Walton. I confess that I do not immediately place your family."

One of the nobles titters at William's question. 

 "It emerges, milord." Lord Walton says, his face taking a reddish hue.  "That my barony is not as old and as established as some of the other nobles here in Begma. In point of fact, it was established for my late father only 15 years ago. The Prime Minister gave the barony to my father, a merchantman, for his service during the  Time of Troubles."

Walton swallows. "My father helped get supplies in and out of Begma when the ah, succession of Amber was being disputed and your uncles battled each other and the seas first grew perilous. Those were dangerous and difficult times, milord Prince. They grew worse after the Long Winter and the paths to other realms broke."

Now the pride starts to come into his voice.  "Few merchants dared those broken paths, and fewer of them survived it.  With a pair of crop failures meaning that Begma might starve, my father, and I accompanied him, milord Prince, made a daring trip to Menuis and back, with two ships, and returned with both, laden with grain.  He saved many lives. He was given the patent of nobility for it."

The disdain that the other nobles, save the other one wearing the Door lapel pin, have for Walton  as he told his story is obvious.

William smiles and catches the eyes of the disdainful nobles one at a time, as though sharing a joke with them regarding Walton's nouveau status. Then he says, "Quite a few people, my lord, are of the opinion that blood matters much more than mere actions, and that true nobility is not something that can be gained in less than a dozen generations." He lets the smile slip, and for just a second the edge shows behind the facade. Then it is back, so quickly that most think they imagined it.

There are murmurs of approval at William's words from most of the table.

He stands then, and raises his glass, crying out in a voice that carries to the far ends of the great hall. "A toast! Ladies and lord, gentles all, I propose a toast."

The announcing of a toast by a visiting Prince of Amber understandably gets everyone's attention, across the hall. Everyone, from Shannon and her faux distracted look, to a merchant's son at a low table, turn to pay attention.

He waits for the noise to die down before he continues.

"True nobility is not granted, my lords and ladies. It is merely recognized. I give you true nobles, who risked themselves to save their people. I give you the Lords Walton, father and son! May they serve as examples to us all!" He drowns the glass with a single toss, then turns it upside down and laughs, slamming it down on the table. Then he leaps up onto the table, strides down past startled lords and ladies to where Walton sits, and reaches down, grabbing the man's arm in his own and heaving him up out of his chair with a single motion, then hugs him in a brotherly embrace amongst the platters and table decorations.

There is absolute stunned silence through the hall for a few moments. The look of gratitude, surprise, and shock on Walton's face after the embrace

"Drunk" comes a quiet murmur from one of the lords of the table, louder than he possibly expects with the silence. William only catches it, because the Lord Mayor, with a use of carefully husbanded energy, stands up.

"Well said, milord Prince." he says, bringing his hands together and begins clapping. "Well said!" he adds.

The social pressure of William's toast, and the Lord Mayor's applause is a combination too potent to resist. The clapping actually comes forward in a wave, from the back of the room to the front. The scornful nobles clap reluctantly, but they do clap.

It takes a minute or two for the applause to finally die down and the Lord Mayor to re-seat himself.

"Well done" Shannon whispers. "I think we found our pigeon."

William doesn't look at her, but whispers back, "You noticed his emblem, I assume. And the other man who wears one as well? Find out who the other fellow is, and whatever you can about him."

"My turn, and my pleasure." Shannon says quietly.

Over the next hour of dinner, Shannon has changed seats, and started chatting up the other noble with the distinctive emblem. From William's perspective, and William's seat, the dinner has settled down to more ordinary chat, banal discussions of the weather, taxes from the Prime Minister, the fecklessness and perfidy of King Rinaldo and Kashfans in general, and other bon mots.

William lets the conversation flow naturally, paying attention to the reactions of those around him to the subjects being discussed, without appearing to be doing so.

This is not to say that there is nothing to be gained for William while Shannon plies the other marked noble. He picks more bits of information useful for his efforts. As the dinner progresses and more people relax and let their guard down, he learns some bits of gossip about Begma.

For instance, William hears that a group of what sound like Moonriders made a brief passage through Begma not too long back. Their passage was attributed to the volatile nature of shadow that has resulted in the odd signs and portents already described. One of the barons states, smugly, that he heard the barbarous Kashfans did everyone a favor and slew the Moonriders when they passed into Kashfa.

"Barbarians do have their uses," William agrees with a nod.

Too, there are rumors that Coral is back in Begma, which is immediately shot down as a rumor that always comes up nearly every spring, "as if she were like that pagan goddess imprisoned by Lord Winter every year, escaping at the spring equinox"

Again, without allowing his interest to show, William pays a great deal of attention to the reactions of the nobles, and the servants around them, to the mentions of Coral. Not just what is said, but people's unspoken reactions, as well.

There is definitely an unspoken Restoration sort of wistfulness to the tone and body language whenever Coral gets mentioned by a fair number of the speakers. Few if any seem actively dismissive of her, the majority are mostly neutral to positively inclined to the thought of her, and a few might be accurately be described as partisans for her.

And the rumors of an outland mage having taken up residence in an abandoned manse upriver, as Major Stewart mentioned to William, come up again and are casually dismissed by one of the high mages from the Academy. He's apparently from a noble family as well, and thus rates sitting at the high table. 

 "It's patent nonsense, all magic-wielders in Begma are carefully registered, as the Prime Minister's laws mandate." he says, perhaps a bit too stridently in his tone of voice.

William nods.  "A very wise law," he says. "I have been places where those who wield great powers are not so registered, and it always leads to conflict. Why, in some cases civil war breaks out amongst the wielders of such power when their government belatedly attempts to impose some order upon them. Such a civil war is a frightful thing, and no one should have to see it."

"Is it not true that you speak from experience, milord Prince, less than two decades ago?  And that factions within the family of the late King Oberon scheme and desire still to supplant young King Random?" a grizzly-bearded Baron responds.

"Charles!" one of the other Barons, younger and with a mop of black hair says sharply. "The Prince is the Lord Mayor's guest."

"I've a right to ask such a question." Charles, whose Barony William has already learned is called Trier, and lies a little upriver of Erkus.  "The Prince and no doubt the emissaries he has brought with him have quizzed and poked at us.  A response is only fair."

William chuckles. "Chuck is quite right, his question is a fair one, if somewhat inelegantly phrased. The Royal Family of Amber is prone to bickering amongst ourselves. But the succession was decided, in a way that cannot be denied. And while we may still have our little differences within the Family, I can assure you that King Random is secure in his throne, and any threat to his Realm will be met with the Family's full might."

"You're speaking to adults here." Charles persists.  "Certainly, in the abstract, the idea that the Unicorn created the universe is well and accepted. I understand our friends at the Academy." he looks at the mage who spoke earlier. "use that as a baseline for their esoteric experiments and speculations."

"But the idea that the Unicorn physically  came out of the Pit of Chaos, and named Random the King...truly, this was some sort of patent explanation to explain how King Random bested his older brothers and sisters to get the crown. It could not be an actual event in fact, could it?"

"You must forgive Baron Charles van Trier." the black haired Baron who spoke earlier says to William.  "His notions are often radical.  Its a consequence of the open inquiry and exploration of ideas within the city of Erkus."

"Indeed so." Lord Walton comments.

"Oh, I quite understand," William says with a nod and a friendly smile. "I'd have the same trouble believing it myself, you know. It does sound like the kind of metaphor priests and wizards are so fond of, don't you know. And really, who would ever believe that such a thing could really happen?"

The look on Baron Van Trier's face is smug and satisfied.

"Told you, Corin" he says softly to the black haired Baron.

His eyes focus somewhere far beyond the great hall then, and his voice drops, not quite to a whisper, but low enough that people have to lean forward to hear him. "I would have trouble believing it ...only ... I was there. I saw Her rise from the very Abyss of Chaos. I saw Her Choose Random. And I tell you, my lords and ladies, that once you have seen Her manifest, doubt and cynicism are no longer so attractive as they seemed before." William shakes his head then, his eyes snapping back into focus. He laughs quietly, and speaks in a more normal tone. "I do not claim to be a good man, only the son of a Royal Princess of Amber, and a loyal knight of the Eternal City, with all the foibles and follies of any man. But I tell you this truly, for the Unicorn I would lay down my life without a thought, and ride alone against all the hordes of Chaos."

The smug look on Baron Van Trier's face is gone, just gone.  He looks at William for a long moment, and the area around William, having gone quiet to hear his words, remains silent.

"As you say, milord." Van Trier says, rising from his seat.  "Excuse me." he says, with a nod to William, and another to the Lord Mayor.  He heads toward an exit from the room, hurrying as best he can. 

 "Having one's cherished and trumpeted beliefs shattered is difficult." Corin observes. "There were a number of Amber nobles at the final battle, we understand." the Baron says.  "However, the incident you described so poetically was ,as far as anyone knows, strictly an affair of the Amber Royal Family. We've heard only second-hand accounts, until now."

"Surely" he adds. "one of the Amber Royal Family who was there might capture the moment you described so beautifully  in a poem, or perhaps a play?"

"There is a painting of the Moment," William answers, "And I have made a few attempts to compose a song capturing it." He shakes his head. "So far, I have been unhappy with all my efforts. I assume my relatives find the same with their attempts, as I have not yet heard anything from any of them."

"As have none of us." Corin replies. "We have only heard the tales and stories, but if there is a copy of this painting, no copies of it have made it to our land. And thus, the good Baron of Erkus has ammunition for his rather agnostic opinions on the matter, and is not alone."

"I am more vocal than most, however." Baron Von Trier puts in.  "But the eloquence of the speech of the Prince is most convincing.  I begin to see why you, Highness, were selected to accompany the,ah, more traditional diplomats.  And the Princess."

Shannon, for her part, is still in close conversation with Walton's counterpart, talking quietly and urgently with him and monopolizing his attention with the skill, if not the tactics, that William's sister might show.

"Praise the muse, gentlemen, rather than the messengers. What eloquence I may have in speaking of the Unicorn comes from Her, I assure you." He smiles, then adds, "Not to say that I do not have my own artistic talents. But I tend more towards the sorts of romantic ballads that appeal to the ladies."

"So we have heard, milord." one of the Nobles says.

"Yes, we've already agreed that the ladies of the Lily Gardenis going to be in a treat for tonight." another of the Barons says. "Thanks to Lord Walton's suggestion..."

The mood in the room has broken and the seriousness for the moment has given way firmly and completely to frivolity and a return to the meal.

Whatever Shannon is doing, she's still in deep with Walton's counterpart.

And the Mayor still looks frail, uncertain, but gamely attempting to hold court during the meal.

[William's learned what he wanted to and planted the ideas that he wanted to plant, so let's move on his private meeting with the Lord Mayor.]

TThe remainder of the meal goes without much incident. It is at times raucous, poignant, engaging and diverting.  There is a mid-meal fantasia, which consists of a couple of mages from the Academy putting on a show with relatively unsophisticated but effective illusion magic, depicting one of the battles of the Patternfall War, as a unit of Begman troops defeated, at cost and sacrifice, a wandering band of Chaosians who had gone a pillaging into Begma.  With the sound and vision of ghostly riders crashing into a line of Chaosian hellmaids and defeating them, the story is one of the highlights of the meal.

Things finally do wind down, and a bit of judicious and careful planning leads William to accompany the Mayor as he ends the dinner with his departure from the room. Defanged, apparently, Lord Walton makes no attempt to intervene, and his counterpart is skillfully distracted by Shannon, who has kept his attentions firmly distracted for the entire balance of the meal.

The pained look the lord Mayor has, and his slow progress are clues enough for William.  It is when they are in the receiving room of the Lord Mayor's quarters, with a dismissed aide as the only witness, that matters come down to brass tacks.

"The magicians of the Academy assure me that this room is proof against listening." the Mayor says, having eased himself carefully into a chair.  "You may wish to verify this for yourself, if you like." he says to William in slow enunciation.  "We have perhaps twenty minutes before this interview will be decisively interrupted, I think."

William nods, but before saying anything he turns his attention to the wards. He is not taking the Mayor's word for it that they are secure, and wants to verify it for himself.

By the standards of Princess Fiona? Of course the wards would be somewhat lacking.  There is only a rude elegancy to the design, more of a brute force approach of layers to prevent eavesdropping. There is a ward sandwiched in to stop clairvoyance spells as well.  William could improve them with a couple of hours work (and Shannon certainly could) but they will suffice for a short conversation.

If he is satisfied with them, he'll turn to the Mayor and ask, "Very well, sir. What exactly is going on, here?" His mask of feckless young man has been completely dropped, the Lord Mayor sees a young Prince of Amber, nothing less.

"I'm somewhat old and infirm, Prince William." The Mayor says.  "And as you might know, despite your appearances to the contrary, Begma is in a delicate political spot.  Rarely have both the Mayor of its greatest city and the Prime Minister been both at the end of their tenure."

"I accepted an offer to extend my health and well being.  There is just too much to do, and Erkus and Begma both with uncertain future leadership would make those bloody Kashfans tempted to do more than try and conquer Eregnor, that's for certain. I wouldn't be surprised if the Prime Minister was trying to hold onto life for the same reason." 

 "You've no doubt deduced the mystery of the chair in the Great Hall?" Mayor Drake asks.

"A poisoned gift, I fear," William says. "Have your mages warned you that it's designed to addict you? And have your benefactors yet demanded their price?" He smiles grimly, "Or, I should say, their first price? For a gift like this is one that will always have 'just one more' price to it, until they have bloodlessly conquered Begma themselves."

"I purposefully did not tell the Mages of the bargain until it was a done deal." Mayor Drake begins.  "They have told me that I am slowly killing myself with the chair, but I counter that a prolonged death is what Begma needs, rather than a slide into senescence.  I have, I fear"  He closes his eyes. "been having second thoughts as of late."

"As far as the price, I am not the only person taking the coin of those who provided the chair.  And given your actions with Lord Walton, I suspect that you have noticed that, too, Prince William.  All they have asked for to date is the deed to some land up the river from the city, and nothing more. As it was on the boundaries of my suzerainty, I granted it as a cheap cost at the time."

They are good at that," William says grimly. "We are gathering information about these outlanders, and preparing our response. They have staged a number of assaults in different places, slowly drawing closer to Amber. This is the first time we've seen them use subterfuge rather than a straightforward invasion. But they are a very dangerous threat. Does it tell you something when I say that I would be willing to ally with Chaos against these foes?"

The Mayor seems to sink even further into his chair. He says nothing for a few moments, his eyes half closed. Finally, as if it were surmounting a mountain, he opens his eyes and speaks again.

"Yes. Even if I have heard that one of the sons of Prince Corwin is demonspawn, and that there have been other dalliances, it would take a grave threat to cause the Princes of Amber to ally with the Courts of Chaos and their denizens."

"Unicorn's blood." Mayor Drake runs his left hand through his hair. "And I feel the pull of lethargy for the night even now."

William lays a hand on his shoulder. "My cousin and I might be able to provide a temporary relief for that, but you must understand that while it may give you your energy back it will consume you, and you will die all the sooner." The Mayor looks crestfallen

"But it might give you enough strength to wean yourself away from these invaders for long enough for us to put paid to their plans, and for us to ensure a strong succession." He pauses then, eyeing the Mayor, and then continues, "Amber wants a strong friend and ally here, Lord Mayor, and we are willing to do what we can to assist. Without putting any more strings on you, or putting a puppet of ours in power."

"You *don't* wish a puppet?" Drake says, in a slight disbelieving tone. "Would that not make it easier for the Kingdom of Amber, especially given the machinations of the Kashfans?"

William looks to the door, then back at Mayor Drake. "But first, I need to know everything you can tell me about our common foes."

"And quickly" Drake nods.

"They call themselves the Omphalos. They are, if they can be believed, from no shadow in this universe, and seek to bring the universe under their suzerainty and to stop threats to their realm. One of them used the metaphor of snipping a flower before it had bloomed."

"They consider the Pattern to be such a threat, Prince William." Drake says. "They were disappointed that they could not find the Prime Minister's daughter and that I know little of her whereabouts. They believe, if you can imagine it, that she possesses something that might allow them to more easily destroy the Pattern. It's utter paprikash, of course, yes?"

"I can believe they want to do that," William says. "Although they certainly underestimate the Pattern and the Unicorn. They are indeed from outside our own universe, and their ultimate goal is to ensure that no Power in any universe can rival them."

"Truly?" Drake regards William.

[William] nods. "And the importance of the Prime Minster's Daughter, it fits in with other things I have learned. But whatever it is about her that they wish to use, I believe is something that can be used against them." He pauses for a moment, apparently considering matters, before continuing, "Have you met any of them personally, or do they only work through intermediaries?"

"Not yet" Sebastian Drake says. "They have moved in shadows and through intermediaries, not yet daring to walk publically. Not until the stars are right, or so one of their intermediaries told me. They have promised that time is coming, and soon."

And at that moment, there is a knocking on the door. "Lord Mayor" comes the voice of someone, presumably a functionary. "Are you well? May we enter?"

William drops into a chair and swings his feet up onto a table, loosening his cravat with one hand while producing a flask with the other. He flips open the lid and takes a sip of brandy, letting some spill onto his collar, as he gestures for the Mayor to answer the door. The Mayor raises his eyebrows and widens his eyes slightly at William's gesture, but he nods and turns toward the door a moment later.

The door opens, the man entering it starts rambling even before he is completely through the door. "Lord Mayor. I just wanted to make sure you were well before bed. And that the Amber.." the man stops short, and regards William. He stops speaking. suddenly

"I was just entertaining the Prince." Lord Mayor says.

"Ah, I thought the Prince was off with Lord Walton." The functionary swallows. "You are well?"

"Well enough." the Mayor says. "I have want for nothing for now. You may go."

The man coughs, bows and starts to back up.

"Tell Emmie I'll be along soon," William tells him lazily. "And find Lt Czeller and Sgt Mitchell, and be certain they know they're still invited along as well." He smiles at the Lord Mayor, "We'll do your town up right, Drake." "Go ahead, " the Mayor says to the young man, who bows and exits out. "I should not keep you much longer." Drake says. "People less easily put off than functionaries will soon come to call and that one will almost certainly inadvertently reveal your presence here. The game, as they say, has concluded."

"Unless you had one or two more questions?" Sebastian Drake adds. "I've enough energy for that, too."

William stands and clasps Drake by the shoulders. "Courage, my friend," he says. He releases him and smiles. "We shall send these outsiders back to their mothers in pieces. For now, just stand firm. I'm off to see what I can learn, and my cousin and I shall speak with you again ere we depart."

"I would welcome to discover what you and your cousin learn. It would not surprise me that she is aiding your effort in her own way, even if she puts on a demeanor suited to a scholar from the Academy. I have been in politics too long not to know an act, even well played, for what it is."

"Good luck, Prince William." Mayor Drake adds "And watch your back amongst them."

William chuckles. "This is my meat and drink, Sebastian. Stand firm, I need you to hold firm until we have sorted them out." He sweeps the Lord Mayor a bow and departs from his chamber.

Assuming that someone is not outside awaiting him immediately, he will sweep through the Mayor's palace, creating a stir as he searches for his friends and cousin. Fortunately, for William, he is not immediately accosted by anyone, giving him time and opprortunity to barnstorm through the Alcazar. Although the layout is not alike to Castle Amber or a double dozen Castles and places of power, the lessons learned in sweeping through those edifices apply here as well.

The fact that he is recognized, presumably from the antics he has already caused, ranging from his arrival to his dealings with the guards and at dinner help keep people out of his way, or quick, stammering answers when he accosts them.

[William] finds Shannon, Devaine, Kiathas and Valric in the game room where he had his pool match with the young guard Lt. Czeller. He is not here himself, but Valric and Kiathas are engaged in a heated discussion with a couple of the guards, as Shannon is gesturing and pointing out the features of the pool table to Devaine. It is Shannon who turns and sees William first.

Shannon gives a glance toward the guards. "Do you we need to speak in private, cousin?" she says. "I was just explaining the pool table to Devaine. I would guess this is Rinaldo or Coral's doing., it being here."

"A simple silence spell should be sufficient," William answers quietly. "Something that will alert you if anyone attempts to pierce it." "Fair enough." Shannon says. "There were days that no one in Amber knew for sure I could even do this. They thought I just lived in the library and was the less studious of my mother's children.

The casting of the magic was subtle enough that William doesn't realize the silence spell is in effect until Kiathas and Valric, with the guards on the far end of the room give quizzical looks in Shannon, William and Devaine's direction.

"You left out the men, Princess." Devaine notes dryly. "But they'll adapt, manage and distract the guards at the same time."

William nods. "No way to include them and leave out the guards, without it being obvious. Right, then. I have a great deal of information, all of it bad. What did you learn?"

Indeed, so, Kiathas appears to have started telling some sort of ancedote or story that has the guards in stitches within a few moments. Valric looks laconically bemused, and continues the misdirection.

In the meantime, Shannon nods.

"My information is not positive, either." she replies. "The Omphalos appear to have been paying off members of the lower nobility here in Erkus. That we already figured. It goes a little further though, than that."

Shannon artfully turns so that her back is to the guards, distracted as they are. A smile plays upon her lips as she pulls out one of the "Door pins"

"Devaine and I were analyzing this, once I borrowed it from my new friend." Shannon says. "You've been training Devaine well enough in esoteric analysis, cousin, although she has things to learn. It emerges these pins have a couple of small spells tied to them."

"The pins are a way to allow their allies to be influenced, we think." Devaine says. "Not full mental puppetry or control, but nudging in the 'right' direction."

William nods. "The throne is theirs, as well. Did you hear about it from the Mages? I received the impression that they don't approve, so they may serve us as an ally against the Omphalos. The Lord Mayor was given the throne as 'gift,' to halt his decline due to age. In return he gave them some land up the river. Our next stop, I think. You may want to take a careful look at it tonight, it may give you some information on the way their magic works. And examine the thrones set up for the Prime Minister and his daughter as well, I suspect that they have similar spells on them."

"The Mages definitely talked my ear off about the Throne and 'foreign' influences" Shannon replies. "I thought at first it was a Kashfan thing, and that this was just shadow rivalry, but after the events at dinner, its clearly the Omphalos trying new tactics."

She pouts slightly. "They're learning."

The pout fades away and is replaced by a more bookish expression.

"It wouldn't surprise me if they were going to try this trick on the Prime Minister. Not so sure about Aunt Coral, though, I think she'll be more wary of such gifts. We do need to pay a visit to this plot of land, and we need to get a hold of Coral more than ever. This little infestation has to be weeded out."

"Completely" Devaine agrees. "This reminds me of the events in the Marches , Guillaume, where half the court in the city state of Laurentia was paid by our Empire, and the other half was paid by the Orlesians. It was a mess all around."

"*That*'s easy." Shannon says. "They must think she still has the Jewel of Judgement in her eye socket. Or they think that when it got removed, she still has some special resonance with the Pattern afterwards. It's not the worst theory out there." Shannon admits.

"Probably that fool Triton gave them the idea when he visited their realm with Moire's Jewel." Shannon says. "I'm still surprised you didn't kill him when you had the chance." The passion in Shannon's tone is unusual, and unmistakable.

"Guillaume showed mercy." Devaine says. "Can you blame him?"

"No, I blame Triton." Shannon says. "If the Omphalos have their hooks in other Golden Circle shadows, this will be our dry run for finding them and rooting them out. Of course, if they have intershadow communication, they might go underground, or run."

" I have told the Lord Mayor that we should be able to put together magic of some kind, to wean him away from his addiction to the Omphalos' throne," William says. "If we can keep him going until we have solved this problem, and gotten his support for putting Coral on her father's seat, that should be enough." He thinks a moment then continues, "We also need to let Random know about this right away. Little though I like to be the responsible one, I think we need to let the King know what is going on before we start stirring things up." He sighs. "A lamentable lapse in my normal carefree attitude, I must say."

"Curing his addiction permanently may be more difficult than the two of us can manage together." Shannon says. "It might even require my brother's talents, or even Mother's, to fully get him safely free of it. Or were you looking for something cheap and quick, William?" Shannon says.

She pauses. "As far as telling Random, I can handle that, if you prefer that your mien and personality not be sullied by undue and uncharacteristically unfeigned responsibility."

"Duty successfully shifted," William says with a smile. "Let the king know once you have some privacy. Other things for you to do tonight include getting a look at those thrones and figuring out what's going on, and tracking down any stray magics that may indicate the presence of the Omphalos here.”

"While you go out on the town with that suborned confederate and try to get him to spill the beans on what he knows." Devaine puts in.  "Are you taking Valric and Kiathas on that?"

William nods. "Make it a 'boys night out,' as it were. If things go well, we may be able to turn our little friend. I have the impression a lot of his motivation is anger at having been shut out by the local aristos. The friendship of a Prince of Amber is a nice prize to dangle in front of him. If I play it correctly, I won't have to pump him at all. Just drop a few hints about the dangerous invaders I'm looking for, who are known to infiltrate kingdoms and betray their allies, and he may fall all over himself to confess his part in it."

"Especially since its you, and not say, Carl, doing the diplomacy" Shannon says.

"As for the Lord Mayor..." William considers, then says, "I was thinking something in the nature of a charm or talisman that he could wear, that could feed him enough energy to temporarily overcome his dependency on the Omphalos spells. You'll have a better idea if that's possible once you have a look at the throne.  I can picture a couple of ways to do it, but they'd either need to feed of someone else's life force, or else work by slowly burning out the Lord Mayor's own life force." He looks at Shannon seriously. "I consider both of those viable methods in this situation, by the way."

"I want to reserve judgement until I study the thing, and maybe try and get a second opinion."  Shannon says.  "Family opinion, it should go without saying." she adds.  "I guess punting the thing into the Abyss right now is out of the question. That would certainly end any lines of control, even if the Omphalos are using more than sorcery in that thing."

"I assume I can borrow Devaine to run interference while I study it?" Shannon says.

"I was counting on it," William answers. "For one thing, I am trying to give her a crash course in True Sorcery, and the vagaries of cross-Shadow magic. And this is going to be a bit of a stag event, so I think it best she not come with us." He smiles at Devaine. "Not trying to shut you out of the boys' club, dearest, but our aristo will be a lot more manageable if he isn't being distracted by a beautiful and dangerous Lady of Amber, which is how he will regard you, even knowing you are originally from elsewhere."

William glances back at Valric and Kiathis then, and frowns slightly. "Actually, now that I think of it, if the two of you become entwined in mystical research, you might both become distracted from more mundane threats. Perhaps I should leave one of the lads with you?"

"A bodyguard. I think one of the boys would be put out if they were stuck playing guard at the Castle. And it might not even stick. Need I remind you, Guillaume, about the incident with the Viscount De Laurentis' party. The guard captain put Valric on door duty, but by the end..." 

 "Wait" Shannon interrupts.  "Someone's coming.  Enchanter.  The spells hung are somewhat familiar..." she wrinkles her nose and turns toward the entrance.

There are no overt signs of anyone. Valric, Kiathas and the guards are still occupied.

"Aww... you ruined my surprise...." The woman that rolled around the corner was immediately familiar, from the bare toes that peeked from beneath her long green gown, to the blue eyes the same hue as an Amber summer sky. Long ringlets of blond hair hung in perfect spirals down her back, little gold bands clipped into place to keep it out of her face. The teasing pout she wore seemed as carefully crafted as the hair and she dismissed it as she sashayed fully into the room.

"Are we having fun yet?" She paced in between the men, looking them up and down as she approached William.

Oddly, Kiathas, Valric, and the guards do *not* notice her arrival. It is as if she wasn't there at all.

William blinks in startlement, then immediately recovers and sweeps a deep bow, doffing his hat. "Well met, and most surprisingly, as well," he says. "What in the name of the blessed Unicorn brings you here? And at a most fortuitous time, too, I might add." 

 "Fortuitous? I had a moment of luck? That would be surprising... a bit like finding you here with her..." She slid an hand up William's back so that  her arm hooked on his shoulder and the rest of her draped along his side as she looked over at Shannon.    She smelt faintly like the outdoors and spice, like cinnamon or nutmeg on an autumn breeze.

William slides an arm around her and rests a hand on her hip. The dark haired woman gives a quizzical look at the new entrant at her body language with William. She mouths one word at him "lover?"

William arches an eyebrow and smiles, but doesn't directly answer Devaine's unspoken question.

If Brieanne noticed Devaine's question, she ignored it and to all appearances, his hand on her hip was exactly where it belonged.

Shannon takes a moment and then blurts aloud.

"Oh! Devaine, this is Prince Julian's daughter, Brieanne." Shannon says. "Brieanne, William has been away in shadow for a long while, as you know. This is Devaine, William's apprentice, and that's Kiathas and Valric" she points to the two men laughing and talking with the guards. "They are from the main region of shadow he was in."

"I had not realized you were an enchantress." Devaine looks at Brieanne. Her eyes trace how Brieanne has draped around William with a wry smile. "I thought you were a leader of Rangers."

"But what are you doing *here*, cousin?" Shannon adds. "And why?"

Brieanne gazed at Shannon quizzically, one delicate brow arching. Her gaze slid across to Devaine with a similar expression, one perhaps tinged with annoyance. But it broke apart and she smiled, almost laughed, at Shannon's question.

"What am I ever doing?" She peeled herself off of William, hand trailing down his arm until she was too far away. "And what fun would it be simply to tell you if you aren't already guessing?" She seemed genuinely amused as she looked around the room.

"Hunting." William says. It is a statement, not a question. "What else are you ever doing, dear cousin? And I dearly hope you are hunting the same prey that we are after."

Brieanne glanced back at William with a sly, pleased smile. "Aren't I always?" Both brows drew in and up, her tone teasing, but then it her expression and attention drifted, lips pursing in a brief pout. "At least lately... and I am so glad to have you on my side." Her shallow circle took her past the other women, though she ignored them, and clearly found little in the room to rouse her curiosity, though she took the time to look around carefully. When she looped back to William, she stopped immediately next to him, one hand lifted as if she was going to put her hand on his arm, but her gaze and attention had not yet caught up and returned to him.

"For you, to come out this far from Amber and Arden suggests big game." Shannon says. "Are you hunting the Omphalos, as we are? Or something stirred up by the Shockwave?"

"We could help each other if it is either." Devaine says. "Especially since you're very, ah, familiar with Guillaume here."

"Curiouser... and curiouser...." Brieanne seemed to be far away one last moment, but then she swung back, looking thoughtful before turning to look up at William. "What say you? Shall I help you with your hunt while I look to pick up the trail for mine?" She didn't step in closer, but her hand fell to his arm and she leaned close enough that she could keep her voice low, as if the conversation were for the two of them alone.

William winks at her, leaning closer to her as well, one hand lightly resting on his sword hilt as he asks quietly, "Speaking of curious, there seems to be a startling scarcity of barking...?"

Brieanne and William catch that Devaine and Shannon give brief glances at William’s body language.

She looked up at him, her expression still a blend of amusement and curiosity. "I could change that if you wanted me to. Or, we could invite my brother..." she paused, expression dampening as her gaze dropped, "no, that would be growling..."

“Barking? Growling?” Devaine wonders aloud.

“Julian’s Hellhounds.” Shannon says. “Where Brieanne goes, they are always in her wake. Lord Henden fears Brieanne’s trips to the Castle for that reason.”

Brieanne turned her head sharply at the sound of her father's name, listening to Shannon's answer. She drew back from William to stand straight, gaze wandering thoughtfully as she replied. "Oh... he has many reasons to fear my trips..." She sounded proud of the fact.

William looks over at Shannon. "Your shields are still up?" he asks her. "We are confidant we aren't being overheard?"

Shannon nods to William. "Certain."

"That's why I was surprised Brieanne sashayed past the boys and into our tete a tete so esoterically easily" Shannon adds "She entered into our silence field with barely a ripple."

"Guillaume, what is the matter?" Devaine says. She looks at Brieanne carefully as she speaks.

Brieanne, in turn, was looking at William. Like a little bird, her head was tilted so that she didn't face him directly, her chin dropped rather than lifted, a pose a doll might strike if she were sat on a shelf. She seemed concerned for him, waiting for him to explain himself.

"Such shields mean little to one of the Blood," William answers easily. "It's not surprising that Brieanne could so easily pass them. Just as Lorius could easily counter any Shadow mage he encountered, or Shannon could easily see through illusions."

Brieanne's arched brows hovered between perplexed and annoyed. "The obvious doesn't get either of us closer to our quarry." She planted a hand on her hip, her body angled so Shannon and Devaine were to one side, William at her other. She still looked to William, with only a brief glance at the other women... just to see if he was making more sense to them.

"Clearly Guillaume knows much more than we do." Devaine say

"That's disconcerting." Shannon says, and looks between Brieanne and William, nibbling her lower lip.

William laughs as one hand comes up to catch the one she had raised to his face, and he moves forward in a waltz step, twirling her under his arm then releasing her hand and stepping back from her as the two of them spin. His back in now to the guards and his male companions, and the door through which Brieanne had entered the room, effectively blocking exit from the room.

"A large part of not being just a pretty face is being suspicious," he says, still smiling. "Suspicious when a dear friend shows up unexpectedly, without her constant companions, when we are investigating extradimensional mages of unknown power, and when shapeshifting Chaosions have recently been around. So I know you shall not take it ill when Shannon scans you to relieve my totally unwarranted suspicions."

Brieanne twirled easily, the skirt of her dress twisting around her legs.

"She can try." She giggled, twirling back on the balls of her feet. "But I doubt she's up to the task. Her effort will mostly likely fry on my imprint, though I promise not to do anything that gives her too much of a headache. Well.. unless she gets too pushy about things. She's not the sort I share secrets with after all." She winked at William, her hand once again planted on her hip.

"How I'm always getting tangled up with Chaosians I really don't know. I don't actually like them. Most of them." She amended. "Some of them have entirely too many hands." She wrinkled her nose as if something smelled badly and then stepped away, and back, as if she were dancing in place for 3 beats of music only she could hear.

Shannon shakes her head and briefly narrows her eyes at Brieanne. Nothing untoward happens for a few seconds, until there is an audible pop and Shannon's face turns red, as if the redhead had unwisely decided to go sunbathing without precautions.

"Horn of the Unicorn..." Shannon says, a grimace on her face. She steps back a pace, the grimace slowly changing to a calculated look.

"Princess?" Devaine says, stepping toward Shannon.

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Page last modified on October 25, 2011, at 12:07 AM