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SB: Brieanne/William: The Midnight Ride

Brieanne can tell, as well, this distresses Neil, his hopes for his plight to be recognized coming clear through the bond.

Brieanne gave Neil's arm another reassuring pat as she helped steer him along, with a wry smile and an eye roll to the staff for the drunk noble she aids.

William drives to the front and brings the carriage to a stop, then gets down and opens the door, bowing to the approaching nobles.

Exiting the Opera House, Brieanne sees the familiar carriage is maneuvering out to come up to a stop at the parking station from its position amongst the other parked carriages.

"An attentive driver is a blessing, would you not agree, Princess?" Emmet says. "I'm sure my brother noble here appreciates the prompt appearance of our carriage rather than suffering the shame of making a possible scene here outside with his drunkenness while waiting."

"Yes, so good to have the carriage at ready," She agrees, "though Neil is doing an admirable job of holding himself together." She held Neil steady while Emmet situated himself and helped Neil into his seat. If she noticed the change in driver, she gave no outward sign of it.

"Do be a dear and tell our Driver which way to be off." The comment was to both men as she fussed with Neil through the link, looking to coerce the information out of him and have him do the task, but perfectly willing to let Emmet answer instead.

"Milord Prince." Emmet says to William. "The Princess would have us deal with the, ah, situation now, tonight. You might take this street up to Wormwood Road, at the top of the hill, and turn left upon it. That will lead to the Northgate and the River Road out and along the river toward our destination."

"Shhh," Williams says in an exaggerated manner to Emmet, still bowing. "I'm in disguise!"

"As you say." Emmet says, dubiously.

Emmet then looks at Electra.

"Hello." The blond haired woman says to Emmet.

"You...are not Princess Shannon?" Emmet says.

"Not as far as I am aware. Were you expecting her?" Electra asks.

Emmet looks at William.

William blinks owlishly at him.

"I'm Electra" Electra says to Emmet.

"You are not a, um, prostitute, I take it." Emmet says, looking at her clothes.

"No." she says with a laugh.

"Pleased to meet you, Princess Brieanne." Electra then calls behind Emmet.

Brieanne leaned back enough to get a view of the woman speaking and arched a single dainty brow at the stranger, with a faint, uncertain smile that faded immediately as she went back to her task.

In the meantime, mesmerized, Neil remains slack jawed and drunken in appearance as Brieanne works on Neil's memories and knowledge. Although the barriers are down, fishing out knowledge Neil has tried to bury is a chore and a time consuming matter rather than a challenge. She is getting suppressed flashes of the Manse and its layout, and its clear proximity to the river.

A little longer, and she has it, or can have Neil vocalize the full directions himself, taking control of his speech center.

"Ah, there we go. Really, this is somewhat tedious work, it would have been so much grander if you had simply cooperated." She gave Neil a cross look, pout fitting with her complaint as she smoothed her skirt. "I do believe I would like to know more... so, I think, you and I are gong to have a wee bit of a walk about. Which should be a novel experience for you. You should thank me, it's the sort of thing they put in tall tales." She explained to Neil before calling up to her cousin. "William, darling, I shall be right back. I just want a bit of show and tell before we reach the Manse. I do so hate surprises."

"Rightey oh!" William answers. He mounts to the top of the carriage and starts the horses, following the directions Emmet had given him.

After some maneuvering through late evening crowding of the streets, once William gets the carriage moving north and away from the city center, progress clicks along rapidly.

Electra remains in the front seat for the nonce.

As [William] drives, he fishes out Shannon's card and concentrates on it. "We're on the move, love," he tells her as soon as she answers. "Let Random know, and take care of whatever you need to at the Alakazam- Alazkazar. Get everyone ready, and mounted, and I'll trump you and the horses through when we're getting close to the Manse." He grins, "And do see what Lieutenant Czeller wants for that spirited stallion of his. I think I'd like to be astride him tonight if it comes to riding."

"Alcazar" Shannon says patiently, once William's trump call goes through and reaches her (she appears to be in one of the rooms of the Lord Mayor's suite). "So you want your companions and I ready to move, Czeller's horse bought, and Random alerted. What about our dear Lord Mayor here? I'm still trying to divine just what our cousin managed with him, but its good work. Should we inform him of our impending raid as well?"

William purses his lips thoughtfully. "Perhaps it's best if you remain vague on exactly what we're doing, just in case. Let him know that we're continuing to investigate Lord Kowal's treachery." He nods his head decisively. "Yes, that is a good idea. Confirm with him that Lord Kowal is most definitely in league with the invaders. But let him know that Lord Walton was pulled into the conspiracy through deceit, and is now aiding us in the defense of Begma." He regards his cousin for a moment. "What about our poor diplomats. How much do you think we should tell them? Do you think Random has given any of them a way to contact him in an emergency?"

"Wheels within wheels, cousin." Shannon says. "Doubtless we all have orders independent of each other. Your mother, my mother, the King. And if we do not, in short order, we will at some point."

"Adam Henry, of course, is the most senior and is most likely to be in the King's Trump deck and have a card in return. Maybe Pollux's." She shakes her head. "Anyway, the principle applies. The fact that we might go off on a wild hare is something his Majesty would have prepared them for." Shannon says.

"I will tell the Lord Mayor about the two nobles as you ask." Shannon says. "The good lieutenant, in addition to lending his horse, may insist on accompanying us as partial price. You did make a connection with him."

"As long as he brings his own horse," William says with a laugh.

"I am sure that can be arranged, and he wouldn't miss it." Shannon replies humorously. "So, who's the person positively shining with a Pattern imprint down in the carriage? It's certainly not Brie, I can sense someone else that must be her."

"You didn't call Mother to attend this gatecrashing party, did you?" Shannon asks William. "Or my brother?" She pauses a beat. "Did you find Coral?"

"Not Coral," William says, "But you recall our earlier discussion of her 'special agent''? His attention is drawn away then, and he says, "Got to go, there are things to discuss here. See to your own end of things, I'll contact you soon." He flips her card over.

[Brieanne] leaned back against the wall of the carriage, settling in comfortably, and then took a step into Neil's mind, dragging him along with her so they could stroll arm in arm through his memories of the Manse. A bit of 'Christmas Past' for her entertainment and education.

Neil is an extremely reluctant participant in this sliding through his memories. Brieanne does find, distastefully, that she must will the eidolon of Neil along with her rather than him following of his own free will.

The memories start with a carriage ride, on a winter's day, judging from the snow, along the north road that William's driving will soon lead them toward. The Manse itself is surrounded by a low wall, not really a serious physical barrier, being just tall enough that Lorius could not look over it unless he levitated.

The memories Neil has of the Manse are layered and overlayered, Brieanne finds, memories of multiple visits folding over each other, details from one visit blending into another. The major details do not change much, however. Emmet is in only one, maybe two of the blended visits. Its difficult to tell, but its clear that Neil has been here much more frequently without him, and clearly both before and after Emmet's visits, judging from the seasonal changes.

The layout, as far as what Neil has seen, is straightforward enough. Three stories, ground, above and below. His mysterious benefactor 'Lord Unravel', in each of the times Neil has seen him, has artfully arranged himself to be mostly obscured from vision. One visit has him in semi darkness, another has the Omphalos artfully using sun glare to make him difficult to make out. A third visit, Brieanne is convinced some sort of visual distortion spell is at work.

She also does see this "Omphalos Door", a bronze construct of sorcery and Power, standing incongrously in the middle of a garden of violets. The memory is of Neil regarding the Door, with the distorted Lord Unravel by his side, explaining that this is but the first of many that will end Amber's yoke for good.

"oh Neil... You did set yourself up to be used..." Brieanne watched the scene play out, taking careful note of everything she saw and using Neil's senses and memories to gather as much information on their target as possible.

Lord Unravel is awfully cagey to Neil about how the Door precisely works, although Neil is fervently curious. Time and again, he asks if the sorcerers back in his city could learn the craft, and he is gently and skillfully distracted by other tidbits the Omphalos throws out, instead.

One key fact that she does discover, for example, is that Lord Unravel tells Neil at one point that he has successfully tormented and annoyed Princess Flora by means of his sorcery. 'A harridan of a Princess, and about as common as a dockside slattern.'

This does seem, from the emotions her unwilling companion unveils beside her, only further endeared the Omphalos to Lord Kowal.

Lord Unravel suggests to Neil that the Omphalos intend to come in a wave, and already have "footholds" from which they will launch raids and attacks until they reach Amber and Rebma. A pliant Lord Mayor would make Erkus a favored and special base for such operations, and would naturally be highly esteemed "in the new order to come".

"I seriously doubt that." Brieanne commented on the Omphalos Lord's promise. "He would most certainly betray you... in this situation, they always do, but they do sound convincing."

Neil remains unconvinced, both in the avatar Brieanne has dragging with her and the general mood of his mind.

"And now.. I think we should return." She stepped back out, taking a deep breath. glancing at the others in the carriage before focusing on the person she couldn't see, but who she trusted could still hear her.

"William, darling, the lord we are about to see has been playing a game with your beloved mother. I do not know what it is, but you may wish to attend her, and there is a Door in the garden that will need blocked as an avenue of escape."

"Indeed?" William calls out, ice in his voice. "That is interesting news. How far away is this place? I will need to know when to call Shannon and my companions."

"The Omphalos dare much, and much presumption to meddle with Princess Flora's affairs." comes the voice from the front of the carriage. "And rank foolishness to do so."

"From my experience, William, it would take an hour and a quarter by carriage in daylight to reach the Manse from the Colgate at the end of this street on the city wall." she adds. "Lord Walton." she says, pointedly. "Do you agree?"

Emmet swallows, gives a glance to Brieanne, and speaks. "Yes. The Manse is about 16 kilometers, 10 old miles, north of the city along the River Road. An hour and a half perhaps, in daylight."

"I do not have that sort of patience." Brieanne replied with a frown as she left her seat and calmly climbed up the side of the coach to where William was sitting. Balanced, she leaned forward, looking past the horses, and then glanced at William.

"Slow them to an easy walk, but do keep them moving." The direction was said softly, her tone making it a request, as she concentrated on the road in front of them and after a moment's work, teleported the entire ensemble must closer to their destination.

The carriage and its occupants softly and silently transitions from its position near the gate in Erkus, The only light to be had, at the destination, is a lantern hanging on a pole of the carriage. With this dim light, and the light of the stars and the moon, its clear they are on a road alongside the river.

Once successful, she climbed back down and returned to her lady-like seat within the safety of the carriage.

Emmet looks outside in wonder and amazement.

William pulls the team to a halt once they have teleported, and dismounts. He opens the door and asks Brieanne, "Before we go on I'd like to know a bit more about this matter of my Mother." He smiles grimly. "And whether Count Leonidas Taisson is in any way involved with these people."

"Eregnor" Electra murmurs knowingly.

"I do not know how much he knows." Brieanne gave a slight shake of her head. "It was only mentioned to him in passing... But we shall see if he ever investigated."

She turned to Neil, all pretense of friendliness dropped. "You will tell William everything he wishes to know, or I will take it by force. I suggest you act with humility and dignity."

Neil gasps, as if he had been holding his breath. He gives Brieanne a glare and then looks at William.

"Count Taisson?" he says. He concentrates on looking at William and not looking at Brieanne. "I don't know what this has to do with your mother, but he is one of us." he says. "I have not seen him at Lord Unravel's Court personally, but I have corresponded with him regarding matters of our mutual interest."

"Did you think I was the only noble in the Golden Circle to hate the hand of Amber?" he adds, finding enough strength to add a tone of contempt to his voice. "The hatred reaches beyond Begma and Eregnor as well."

"You were not paying attention to your lessers, brother noble, or you are unwilling to volunteer information." Emmet pipes up. "The last time we went there together, one of the Count's vassals, Knight Bachelor Eubec, was in attendance." He clears his throat and shifts his gaze between Brieanne and William. "I don't know if *he* has anything to do with your mother, Prince William, but I have seen people like the knight used to send messages to and from Eregnor. For safety's sake, given tensions with Kashfa, you see."

William regards Neil coldly, all pretense dropped. The eyes of a hunter are upon Neil, and death is in William's voice when he speaks. "Your hatred is immaterial, dead man," he says. "You have betrayed your nation, your world, and your universe. Seeking to increase your own power, you have helped to open the way for a plague of locusts the like of which you could never imagine. Fool," and now contempt drips from his voice. "Did you never think beyond your own desires to wonder who these people were?" Neil doesn't quite manage a sound. The glare of defiance is still there, although it is at best muted.

He looks at Brieanne, "I have heard enough of the voice of this imbecile to last me a millennium. Is his shell useful to get us into the Manse, do you think? Or shall we rip the knowledge we need from his mind now, and leave his empty body by the side of the road for the foxes and crows?"

"I can keep him silent and at heel until we are certain he has no further use." Brieanne replied, and with a glance at Neil once again asserted full control. Neil manages one syllable of a strangled sound before the control locks in firmly.

[Brieanne] "He will do nothing except what I require of him." And Neil gave a polite bow in proof.

"In-brain puppet strings." comments Electra, a chill of fear in her voice. "Neuromancy."

"Indeed," William agrees. "And a neat job of it, too."

Brieanne said nothing, but she looked pleased.

"It's hard for me to tell where we are on the road in the dark." Emmet says. "But I do not smell the salt of the sea anymore."

"How far did you transport us, dear cousin?" William asks Brieanne. "I assume we are very close to our destination."

"We are, it is just a bit further up this road. Unless something has been changed since his last visit," her head tilted toward Neil, "we cannot miss it."

"The darkness of the hour is both a blessing and a handicap." Electra comments. "Although the time I was there,I left before true night began." Let me go see if I can get a better look before we drive off." She exits out of the carriage and climbs up a nearby tree.

"I'm sure my fellow noble could tell you of any other defenses." Emmet says. "However, I do not recall any guards. In point of fact, the number of people inhabiting the estate, besides the sorcerer, were amazingly few. I remember." he laughs nervously. "thinking at the time that Lord Unravel was amazingly uncivilized for having such a small domestic staff on hand. I should think that even a Sorcerer needs servants."

Electra returns quickly, brushing herself off as she gets into the carriage. She is now carrying what both William and Brieanne recognize as a pair of high tech night vision binoculars. "I can make out the bulk of the estate from here." she explains. " I figure its less than a half kilometer to the turn off path that leads up to the estate itself. There are lights to be seen from here in the windows, bright ones. Burning the midnight oil, I'd say."

"There are probably magical defenses or alarms of some kind," William says. He glances at the binoculars Electra is carrying. "And if those work here, then they probably have high-tech defenses as well."

"I've never seen their like." Emmet says, looking at the binoculars.

"You probably wouldn't have." Electra replies. "My skill might belie what they have on tap, but we should be cautious anyway." she adds to William.

[William[ looks at Brieanne, "Find out what our puppet knows of the defenses, if you would be so kind," he asks. "I shall summon my companions."

He walks to the other side of the carriage, and draws Shannon's trump. "You're up, sweet cousin," he says as he stares at it.

"I am up?" Shannon blinks. "I didn't realize I was playing a game." she says with a smile. Behind her, Kiathas and Valric are talking with Lt. Czeller. Devaine swims into view behind Shannon and puts a hand on her shoulder, and inserts herself into the call.

"When I am involved?" William says with an answering smile. "There is always a game."

"We're ready, Guillaume." Devaine says. "We've got mounts, and an extra one for the lieutenant. He's agreed to give his own to you for the nonce. I sweet-talked him into it." she smiles.

"The Mayor has been fed a comforting story. Uncle Random wants a survivor, if possible, but wants an example made. We have sanction to do anything we need to break this sorcerer's powerbase. I'm loaded for the worst."

"Excellent news!" William says enthusiastically. "Come through!" And he reaches out his hand and begins to bring his cousin and companions through the link.

Shannon waits until William is outside of the carriage, and the process of ferrying his three companions, Lt. Czeller, several horses, and finally Shannon herself proceeds apace.

Brieanne gave William a nod and turned her attention back to Neil, poking around for information based on what he had been witness to before stepping up to the roof of the carriage to have a look in its direction with her own senses.

Neil's perception and knowledge of the defenses beyond the mundane (a few guards, scattered around) is abysmally small. Neil's conception is that Lord Unravel must have protective spells, but he either never cared or bothered to learn what they might be or how they might work. His ignorance is astounding.

From the roof of the carriage, Brieanne can make out the estate in the gloom. From here and with her senses, the fixed-place arcane shield is standard issue for a manse and would make a magical bombardment of the place difficult and time consuming. It would not restrict movement into the shield, however.

That low wall seems to be its boundary and there appears to be a secondary shield around the building itself. That one is clearly meant to shut out just about anything except air. On and around the building there are emplacements that glow brighter than the rest, suggesting defensive emplacement spells of some kind. Difficult to tell at range what they might be, the exact flavor of spell is hard to see even with magnification.

The road, at least beyond the wall is magically mined as well.

"And they have mined the road as well. How tedious." Brieanne muttered as she climbed down. "There are several layers to contend with, but this one never mustered any curiosity." She frowned at Neil in deep disapproval. "I would personally abandon the road and rough it to the wall."

"By mining the road, you mean trapped it?" Emmet says. "My brother noble always told me that I had to stay on the road and not step off of it. But it seems the road is the true danger?" he asks.

"Unless these acted as a key?" Brieanne frowned at the Door pin, mulling the possibility.

"Lord Walton told me I was to wear it,the real one that is, at all times for the duration of the visit." Emmet says.

In the meantime, Shannon, William's three companions, and a Begman Lieutenant have been brought through, along with six horses. The night gloom is immediately counteracted by a relatively low but wide casting light from Shannon, bathing the carriage and the area around in a white mercury vapor light.

"Well met again, cousin." Shannon says to Brieanne. "Your spellwork on the Mayor holds."

Brieanne blinked, coming out of her musings with another frown. "Of course it does." She stood up a little straighter, but then chose to ignore Shannon and walked to William.

"Ha, Valric." Kiathas says, grinning at Electra. "It appears that Guillaume's talents are undiminished. Even in the midst of an operation, he has found beauty."

"She is perhaps yet another family member we haven't met yet." Devaine says, looking at William.

"If true, there are an awful number of blond haired relations you have, Guillaume." Valric says.

"William, I need to see one of the original Door pins." She waited expectantly for the item.

William hands her one of the pins without hesitation. "Random would like prisoners to question, if possible," he tells her. Then he smiles with feral glee. "But he says it's more important that we make an example and send a message. We are authorized to use whatever means we deem necessary."

"Good to hear" Electra says to William. "Mother will be pleased. She may want me to participate in such interrogations as well. If we have anyone left to interrogate. Examples." She nods thoughtfully.

"I like examples." [Brieanne] answered with a broad, sly smile, her shoulders hunching in a gleeful gesture before her attention turned back to the pin to see which one she had. "Neil believed you had to stay on the road, but it is mined, so I want to see if his pin is designed to interact with the spell work, allowing him passage while alerting the manor that he is coming. It might be useful to send him alone in the carriage as a distraction while we rough it to meet at the gate."

The minor magic on the pin (The one swiped from Emmet, as it so happens) that Brieanne had seen before is much more active and full of resonance standing here than it was back in the city. The magic of the mines, and indeed the inner shield, matches the pin's magic's like a lock and a key. Its obvious that the pin allows for safe passage on the road, and entrance into the inner compound itself. It does not appear to have any connection to the outer defense shield at all.

In the meantime, Shannon has drawn a few feet away and is looking in the direction of the manor as well, scrutinizing it. Devaine has drawn up next to her, and the both speak in a low voice. Valric, Kiathas and Lt. Czeller are wrangling with the horses for the moment.

Neil still remains a puppet.

"It is a key." Brieanne murmured, handing the pin back to William quietly.

William looks at Emmet. "Were you supposed to bring me here once you had me safely drugged?" he asks.

Brieanne looked at Emmet, curious to know if that had been the plan.

Emmet shifts nervously before speaking, nodding as he does so.

"The plan was to bring you here once you were sedated." Emmet says. "By a roundabout route, through the city to confuse and throw off any mundane pursuers before heading out one of the gates and up the road to the Manse. Neil said we were to deliver you to Lord Unravel alive and, ah, unspoiled."

His eyes flicker over to where Shannon is still working on her spellcraft.

"I know that Lord Unravel had high hopes of capturing a mage like Princess Shannon, but would have settled for you, your Lordship." Emmet says. "That was before we knew, of course, you do have arcane skills."

"I think you can use that plan to your advantage. We could even give him a two-for-one since little ole me couldn't hardly give them any trouble once you were trundled..." Brieanne leaned in slightly toward William, batting her eyelashes hopefully.

William nods. "Indeed. How can I resist when you look at me in such a fashion?" He feigns a swoon, the straightens and considers Emmet carefully. "How much are you willing to risk to redeem yourself?" William asks him. "You stand confessed of treason against your own country, and conspiring with the enemies of Amber."

Brieanne inclined her head slightly, as if she gave half a nod, her gaze steady and almost encouraging

The conversation and William's words draw the attention of Electra, and from where they stand off, Kiathas, Valric, Devaine and Shannon. About the only person not looking at Emmet is the mind-puppeted Neil. Emmet gives the form of Neil a look, swallows, and then looks at William.

"I've no doubt at that the moment, the grace that Princess Brieanne has shown me is a fleeting and transitory thing." Emmet says, his eyes looking from William to Brieanne and back again. "And that my hands are nearly as unclean as Lord Walton. Enough treason to hang me...or worse."

"I could plead callowness, relative youth, foolishness or stupidity, but none of those four defenses would stand muster with the crimes I have been charged with." Emmet continues. "I have said that I am now the Princess' man and so I am. But, I must act further in deed, and not just in word. Even if the Princess." he glances at Brieanne "were to sift through my mind to confirm what I say, I must do as I say I am."

"For the sake of myself, and my House, I am willing to risk up to my life. For Her. Truth be told." he laughs a little wildly. "I've already thought that I might die before the night is out, at the hands of Lord Unravel."

William regards Emmet closely while he speaks, and nods decisively when he finishes. He looks a Shannon, and then Brieanne. "I am inclined to believe him," he says to them, "And to offer him this chance to regain his honour. Brieanne, he is your prisoner, and your man, so the choice is yours. But I think our best way in is to have him and the puppet bring us in as their prisoners." He frowns thoughtfully. "The Lieutenant can act as driver. Electra and my companions..." He thinks a minute. "They can either wait outside until they hear sounds of battle then swarm in as reinforcements, or make an attempt to enter the grounds by stealth while our arrival serves as a distraction. I think the deciding point on which is better would be what we can tell about the alarms and defenses.

"I believe he will do the best he can for us." Brieanne replied with a prim nod. "We need only find a way to explain him..." She gave Neil a calculating stare. "I control most of him, but it is not seamless and he will seem peculiar to anyone who knows him well. It may be that he was injured trussing up one of us... by you or one of yours before they escaped to the carriage with us. Their driver may have had to assist..." Her calculating gaze swept across the other men, obviously plotting out the story and how to craft the scene.

"Further the deception." Emmet says. "Bandage my brother noble's head, make it clear to any he was injured in the abduction of the lot of you Although he is the senior partner, my presence would allay concerns that this is anything but what it looks like. I'll do the talking. Until talking no longer matters."

Shannon remains silent, and thoughtful, and looks at William.

"I've gotten onto the grounds before." Electra says "As William knows."She smiles widely. "I can do it again."

Kiathas laughs. "We've broken into more secure places than this, and for far lighter matters. The Duchess' Jovovich's winter home, for instance."

"Just to keep your reputation intact" Devaine agrees. "I think this mage is going to be more dangerous than the Duchess' dogs. But I agree. We come across land, over the wall and find a way into the house separately."

"Easily." Valric says. "Or as easy as it ever gets for us, Guillaume." Czeller looks at the carriage thoughtfully. "I've never led a team of horses in a carriage, but it can't be more difficult than riding."

"You shan't have to race them," William replies absently. "Just a slow walk." He continues looking at Emmet thoughtfully. "Back in the first bar," he says, "After I had gotten the two of you drunk, you retired and used magic to sober yourselves up. How did you do that? Did you use the talismans to contact Unravel, to have him do it for you?" He glances at Brieanne, "We need to determine how much of a two-way connection those talismans are. I don't want them to serve as conduits for hostile magic during combat." He grins, "At least, not hostile magic coming our way."

Emmet gets ready to answer, but quiets as Brieanne speaks. "I didn't look at them specifically for that..." Brieanne admitted, "but I also didn't trip over anything in tweaking it, and I do not think such a use could slip past me." She gave the pin a cross look, double checking to see if she had somehow missed something. A quick check from Brieanne turns up no enchantments not seen earlier.

"I rather suspect they had a potion or talisman to do much a task and if they could use magic through the pin, they wouldn't have needed to get you drunk, just out away from the public."

"By alchemical means" Emmet says."If you search my brother noble, you will find that he likely still has a small amount of orange-white powder on him. "Added to water, the powder produces a counteragent to intoxication from drinking alcohol or smoking ghat."

Electra wrinkles her nose at the last. "Filthy habit." she mutters.

"Ah, yes." Shannon says. "There is a branch of alchemists in the Academy. This makes sense."

Emmet nods. "Just so, Princess." He looks at William. "It would likely have been used on you, milord, once you were safely in the hands of the Mage. The only side effect I know is a mild headache, easily ignored. I have never seen or used magic from the pins, only in connection with visiting the Manse."

"Well enough, then," William says. "Ladies, any last thoughts on how we do this before we hand me over?"

"We, or 'us'," Brieanne tilted her head. "I'd much rather work from inside and he already has a story for my unexpected arrival." She pointed out.

"On the other hand." Shannon says. "The original targets for their operation were the two members of the Royal Family they expected. That is to say, William and myself. You, cousin." she regards Brieanne "are much more an unexpected wildcard. You might tip our hand more prematurely than my presence would."

"Both of you together with William would strain credulity." Electra says. "Knocking out three Royal family members would not be believed."

"No, it wouldn't." Brieanne agreed with Electra, but didn't hide her annoyance quite as well as she might have liked to. "But they also don't know what I can do, and he doesn't have to lie about how I appeared, and the surprise can explain what threw things out of gear and poor Neil ended up in such sad shape."

"Hmm" Electra says. "You have a point, Princess Brieanne." she says.

William looks from Brianne to Shannon, and then back, a smile playing on his lips. "I can argue either way," he says. "But I think we need Neil's puppet master as close to him as possible."

"And that." Brieanne agreed with lofty air, gaze daring Shannon to argue with William's logic.

Shannon regards Brieanne for a few seconds, a regard that turns into a stare. Finally, she turns and looks at William. "Fine, then. Take Julian's daughter in stead. I will arrive with your companions." her eyes rake over Valric, Kiathas, Devaine and then ,as an added bonus, Electra.

Brieanne returned the regard with grace, not smiling, but not the least daunted or bothered by Shannon's hostility and attempted insult.

"Then I can trust that part of the operation will come off flawlessly," William says with a courtly bow and a sweep of his hat.

Without prompting, Lt. Czeller gets up to the coachman's position, testing the reins of the horses, trying it on for size.

"The cloak you borrowed from the driver." Emmet says to William. "would be useful if the Begman officer is doing the driving. And shall we then board and begin?"

"Let us be about it!" William cries, throwing the driver's cloak up to the lieutenant. He holds the door of the carriage for Brieanne and offers her a hand.

Brieanne accepted William's hand and bounced easily into the carriage, arranging herself comfortably on the seat next to Neil.

Quickly donning the cloak, Lt. Czeller urges the horses forward, propelling the carriage the short distance to the promised turn off lane that leads off to the right to the Manse. A large cross shaped sign made entirely of beaten copper has two words stenciled on the central rectangular portion: "The Manse". The letters faintly glow white.

Brieanne looked at Neil thoughtfully, and then, in a cat-quick reflex movement, slashed a handful of nails across his face.

Neil flinches slightly, welts and lines rising from the scratches already.

[Brieanne] dug around in his clothes for a hankerchief, dabbed at the scratches for a minute and shoved it roughly back into his pocket. Her dress suffered next, after she dug around in the men's clothes for a small knife to tear off two strips from the bottom of the dress. Content with the damage done, she settled back into her seat.

Neither Brieanne nor William sense any sorcery on the road until the road reaches the low wall that surrounds the Manse. As the carriage nears it, Emmet speaks.

"Now the pin will be needed." he says to Brieanne. The pin visibly does not give off any sign, but the esoteric signal it puts out is obvious to both William and Brieanne once the threshold is crossed. The mines remain thankfully quiescent, as expected. As the road approaches a courtyard in front of the manse, two large lights, like spotlights, focus their beams on the courtyard, washing it in a yellow sodium light.

Neil manages enough self control free of Brieanne for a moment to give a longing look to the two yellow light beams, as if they might provide salvation or safety. But then the brief moment of rebellion passes, and he firmly returns under her control.

A tall albino figure, 6 feet if an inch, steps out of the Manse and stands in the pool of light waiting patiently. A sword is at his hip.

William leans against the wall of the carriage, closing his eyes to slits, and letting his mouth hang open. He starts to snore.

"Here." Brieanne handed Emmet the two strips from her dress. "There is no earthly way I came peacefully." She commented, turning her back to him and presenting her hands joined at the wrist. "Not too tight, I will need them later, and don't worry about the hair, but I doubt Neil would have been willing to listen to me screech the whole way here, either." She favored Emmet with a wink and then waited patiently to be trussed up properly.

Emmet ties up Brieanne's wrists with a practice that suggests training or study of some kind. The knot is convincing, but as she feels it, its clearly a thief knot of some kind, and although outwardly tight and secure it is relatively easy to undo if Brieanne puts effort into it. The gag Emmet creates is somewhat simpler, tight enough that her sounds come out as muffled protests.

Emmet looks at William and gives off a nod and a smile.

Scratches still rising, Neil gives off a blank, passive air.

Czeller gives a rap of attention from the driver's seat as the carriage comes to a stop not far in front of the albino warrior. His light black armor looks like dragonscale, and a better look at his features shows his albino nature is belied slightly by slit pupils in the light blue iris, suggesting ancestry from the dragon-rich Golden Shadow of Menuis.

"Kowal?" the warrior/guard asks. He doesn't reach for his weapon, but his stance has turned a little more cautious, his fingers flexing in the direction of his sword hilt.

"Walton" Emmet calls out. "My brother noble has been injured, but the mission has been a success. We have managed to capture both Prince William and his companion as well."

"Bring them out, and we'll see to him as well." the albino says. "The Lord will want to see them immediately. You, help him." he adds, and Czeller starts climbing down off of the carriage.

Emmet flings open the door to urge Brieanne and William out.

"Wozza?" William says. He allows Emmet to pull him out of the door, then immediately half collapses, only keeping from falling to the ground by grabbing a wheel of the carriage. "Wherezat?" he demands, peering around blearily.

"Where you need to be lord Prince." Emmet says. He looks up at the albino. "Lord Kowal used a large dose on the Prince."

"I see" he replies. Czeller has finished dismounting and now stands next to William.

"You will see to bringing him inside, coachman." he commands, his tone icy.

Brieanne remained as she was, shoulders hunched, glaring furiously at the albino. She reached into Neil, pulling his strings so that he tried to take her arm, as if he were going to push her out, but she yanked away, the gag muffling her indignant reply. Neil sagged back against the inside of the carriage and Brieanne turned to watch the others warily.

"This one" Emmet reaches to grab Brieanne. "has been nothing but trouble. As beautiful as she is dangerous." He gives Brieanne a grin as he moves to grab her and bring her out of the carriage.

"Lord" the albino cranes his neck upward and speaks in an deep voice. "the prisoners are here." The response, apparently, only he can hear, although Brieanne does sense the obvious Correspondence and Communication spell.

"We are to bring them inside." the warrior says. "The Lord is most anxious to meet both of them. Now."

William lets the lieutenant take his arm and leans heavily on him. He half walks, half staggers along with Czeller toward the building.

Czeller is well practiced with this idea by now, supporting William's weight as gainly as he can. His stare at the Albino is an unmasked show of dislike and distain, or might be interpreted as a man who dislikes being ordered about.

Brieanne twisted ineffectually in Emmet's grasp at one point stomping her foot and trying to call to William through the gag as Emmet hauled her out of the carriage. She didn't make it easy for him and when he had her out and her feet touched the ground she pushed off hard enough to almost break free. She tossed the hair out of her face as best she could, planted her feet and glared defiantly, her muffled words might have been a threat, but it was hard to take it seriously through the gag.

Emmet takes a little coaxing to truly get into the spirit. A few shoves and gestures, and a growl from him have him in the spirit of it. "Oh, quiet." he snaps at one point, pushing and prodding Brieanne along.

"It seems you might prefer to use a lawn cart." the albino says dryly.

"Do not tempt me to such measures." Emmet replies. "I am glad that this is soon over."

The warrior steps to where the carriage and looks in at Neil. "What DID she do to him?" he says. "He looks drugged, and injured."

"Not far off of the mark." Emmet says, continuing to push Brieanne along behind William. "William was a piece of cake by comparison."

Brieanne rested in Emmet's grasp, letting him guide her as she angled her head to watch the albino, pulling on Neil so her puppet waved a hand lazily, as if he might dismiss the concern.

"Jus.. scra'ches." Neil slurred as he attempted to get out, all but falling in the albino's arms and clearly not able to fend for himself. As the group continued on, she concentrated on Neil. If it were poison, there would be additional consequences... so she poked and pulled inside, looking to trigger a fever, shaking, shivering, she wasn't sure what she could manage, but having extra symptoms refined control could be useful.

Shrugging, the man pulls the poisoned-looking Neil out and takes him so that he is carrying Neil across his arms. His step is quick, quick enough to beat Czeller and William to the large door. The door opens without a touch, opening and revealing a large foyer or indoor garden with a fountain in the center, bubbling water.

Standing on the opposite side of the fountain is a figure in a pool of shadows, although the room is well lit from a globe of light hanging directly above the fountain. His general shape is akin to what Brieanne has seen in Neil's mind.

"Walton." the figure says. "How good to finish the mission despite your difficulties." He nods for the albino to deposit Neil on a low couch against the nearest wall. "These are the Amberites?"

"Yes" Emmet says. "Prince William and his cousin."

"Good" the figure in shadow says. "Well done. Set them down."

William peers around, squinting, and mumbles, "Wherza girls? Y'said there'd be more girls."

"Later" Emmet says.

"Enough of the dissembling" the wizard snaps.

Brieanne yanked her arm away from Emmet, trying to step clear, as if she would confront her captors. She looked around, noting everyone's positions in relation to the fountain and the door, and even glancing up to see what exits might be available before her gaze locked onto the wizard in th shadow.

The atrium has the one entrance, and two doors flanked by a suit of armor on a stand as an object d'art. Above the fountain, there is a skylight. Other than those four, there appears to be no other entrances or exits to be had.

The wizard remains on the far side of the fountain, Neil has been deposited on a bench with the warrior standing nearby. Emmet, disentangled from her grasp, is closest to her.

"Enough" Lord Unravel says. He looks at Czeller, who has guided William to another bench, and then at Emmet. "We have no further need of the coachman. Deal with him outside and then return. I do not wish blood on the tiles."

Czeller's look of alarm is exquisitely genuine. Emmet hesitates a moment, caught in inaction."

"Deal with the coachman while I prepare these two, lordling." Lord Unravel repeats. "I have need of Isabei here. Consider it a test of loyalty."

"The coachman" Lord Unravel repeats.

Czeller plays at being surprised as Emmet grabs his arm and soon has him in a hammer lock. The fact that Czeller is faking it is obvious to William and Brieanne both as he is frogmarched out of the room, leaving the Omphalos mage, his warrior, William and Brieanne.

"Now" he says. "It's clear that you" he looks at Brieanne "are going to be the more interesting challenge. Isabei, keep her close at hand."

Brieanne regarded the mage with proud distain, looking as if she had every intention of living up to the challege.

He walks around the fountain toward William. "And I have had enough of your prattle, Amber princeling. So, we empty the contents of your head first."

At that moment, there is the sound of a distant explosion. Lord Unravel stops his progress toward William in midstride.

William is going to go into immediate action. His plan is to apparently fall drunkenly forward off the bench, converting the fall into a forward roll at the last minute, which should bring him within striking distance of Lord Unravel. The roll is intended to end in a leg sweep to bring Unravel to the ground. While doing this he's bringing the Pattern to mind, to solidify his reality and act as a shield against any magic that may go off.

Brieanne slipped her hands free of the bind, but kept them behind her as she stepped back to face Unravel's guardsman, putting herself between her opponent and William. Mentally she pulled two spells to mind, one defensive, the other preparing to send the swordman into the wall in short order. If his Lord was paranoid enough, he might have defenses, but with physical magic of the blunt sort, enough force might compensate. The cloth she held tightly in one hand, intending to use it to trap his sword as he advanced, swing the arm, and then the man.

Brieanne slips her bonds easily, but keeping her hands behind her for a few moments more is enough to cause the albino to hesitate. His sword is out, however, as soon as William is rolling off the bench toward his master. Brieanne has the two prepared spells in mind by the time he, at the long end of his sword, has it leveled at Brieanne.

William in the meantime, rolls toward Lord Unravel. His attempt is only partially successful at bringing him down, not because of any lack of effort on his part, but because Lord Unravel's physical location wasn't quite where William expected. He manages to hit one leg, and disrupts something he was activating, but the mage does not go down. William manages to get the Pattern to mind, as he finishes the maneuver.

Lord Unravel dances backward away from William and Brieanne. The shadowy effect around is now clearly something like a Coeurl Spell, making his exact physical location difficult to pinpoint.

"Treacherous parasite of a noble." he snarls, dropping a blue marble onto the ground at his feet and stepping on it.

"Parasite?" William laughs, as he launches himself from the ground. He shuts his eyes tightly; with a spell like this visual clues are only a distraction. He's blind-fighting now, going for sound and the feel of air displacement from movment. "Someone's got issues with nobility, it seems. Deep rooted insecurity, perhaps?"

He's throwing himself at where he feels the mage should be. His intent is to bring him down with the force of his leap. If he hits, and brings the man down, his next intent is to grab his throat and pound the mage's head into the ground, again and again and again. An unconscious magician is a good magician.

Brieanne's hand shot out, giving up any illusion of still being held as she reached out toward the marble, tossing her defensive spell with intent to trap whatever affect the marble might hold within tight confines so they could not be harmed, and the mage could not use them to escape. Then she pulled the gag from her mouth and smiled at the swordman, waiting for his response and gathering up the other end of the cloth that had bound her, still intending to use it when he came within reach.

Lord Unravel's spell marble goes off, backing away as a form coalesces into the form of a bronze automation. Brieanne's spell hits it, binding it in a pattern of energy lattices reminiscent of the webs of spiders in the darkest corners of Arden. As such, the Man of Bronze is unable to impede William.

Eyes can indeed deceive, and in the cast of someone under a Coeurl spell, not to be trusted. William is far too accomplished a soldier, more so than the magician expects. William hits Lord Unravel in the right shoulder, hard enough to carry them both to the ground.

The sorcerer reaches into his pockets for something as William, sure of the location of the mage's head, makes an attempt to grab it. The spell slows down William's attempts to dash the sorcerer's brains in, but he does get a hold of his head and shoulders. Lord Unravel is not as weak as one might expect, but William is relatively strong for his cousins. The sorcerer is trying to fend off William's attempts at head-cracking with his right hand even as his left hand is fumbling in his robes.

In the meantime, his sword preceding him, the albino swordsman advances wordlessly on Brieanne, He's fast, fast enough that Brieanne has to back away to avoid taking an early hit.

In the distance there is the sound of yet another explosion, and a scream.

William grabs Unravel's head in his hand and twists quickly, with his full Amberite strength. He's not concerned with keeping the man alive, he wants him dead, and quickly.

With the second explosion Brieanne slid forward, using the band of cloth like a whip, but one back by as much power as she could put into a punch. The physical swish of the cloth amplified many times to throw the sword man toward the wall, all the better if he swatted it aside, adding physical contact to the effort, but she was determined to push past him.

The swordsman unwisely moves to grab the cloth in his hand, seeking to turn the cloth whip into a tug of war, not quite realizing the spell Brieanne has on it. The physical force of the cloth on his non-dominant hand audibly breaks bones in his hand and fingers, and staggers the swordsman back. He manages to hold onto his sword, and is out of the way.

Lord Unravel's experience with someone with the strength of one of the more physically capable of the Amberites, to wit, William, is clearly limited. William's strength is more than what he expects or is ready to deal with. He starts a word of power, but the snapping of a neck with William's full strength is more than he knows how to deal with. The word dies in his throat, as, clearly, does the sorcerer.

The albino swordsman holds onto his sword in a defensive position, warily looking at Brieanne and William.

"What now?" he grunts.

Brieanne gathered the cloth in her hands again, ready to strike as needed as she stalked gracefully in an arc around the man toward the doorway.

"I leave you to William's tender mercies." She purred, casting the occasional backward glance as she made her exit and went to see what all the screaming was about.

The Albino swordman's eyes follow Brieanne as she stalks around him. His look is one of surprise and shock at her answer.

William rises from the body and smiles at the albino swordsman. "It depends," he says with a slight bow (not for a moment relaxing his guard). "How devoted are you to the cause of the Omphalos? If you wish to die for them, we can arrange that. If not, then there are options."

As punctuation, Neil gives off a groan.

"You have killed my employer and patron, Prince of Amber." he replies. Only now that Brieanne has left the room does he feel up to moving off of the wall. It's clear that the hand that attempted to grab the ensorceled cloth is sprained, possibly broken, and he is fighting some pain in the process.

"It is equally clear." he adds. "That you have little need for the services of an itinerant swordsman. Might we come to some arrangement of severance or pay in exchange for a truce?" he says. "Perhaps my knowledge of the Manse in exchange for the right to loot items of value, unmolested?" he suggests.

In the meantime, his sword preceding him, the albino swordsman advances wordlessly on Brieanne, He's fast, fast enough that Brieanne has to back away to avoid taking an early hit.

In the distance there is the sound of yet another explosion, and a scream.

William grabs Unravel's head in his hand and twists quickly, with his full Amberite strength. He's not concerned with keeping the man alive, he wants him dead, and quickly.

The albino swordsman holds onto his sword in a defensive position, warily looking at Brieanne and William.

"What now?" he grunts.

Brieanne gathered the cloth in her hands again, ready to strike as needed as she stalked gracefully in an arc around the man toward the doorway.

"I leave you to William's tender mercies." She purred, casting the occasional backward glance as she made her exit and went to see what all the screaming was about.

The Albino swordman's eyes follow Brieanne as she stalks around him. His look is one of surprise and shock at her answer.

As punctuation, Neil gives off a groan.

"Possible," William says thoughtfully. "Our war is with the invaders, and you do not look to be one of them."

"No, I'm from in Menuis." he says. "Isabei Hithilien is my name. One eighth White Dragon" he adds with a touch of pride. "That doesn't pay the barkeep, though." he adds.

William chuckles. "No, indeed," he says.

Keeping an eye on the injured swordsman he kneels back down by the dead wizard and begins to examine the corpse. As he does so he continues speaking. "Considering our relative positions, I think a gesture of good faith on your part would be wise to begin negotiations. Perhaps tell me what you know about Unravel here, and his masters?"

"I've been serving him for about a month and a half." Isabei explains. "I've been wandering through Eregnor for some time. Conflict between Begma and Kashfa does provide a target rich environment. He hired me through an intermediary, one of the associates of the Lord here." he head nods toward Neil.

"He spends long hours in his lab, in a sanctum at the top of this house and away from every thing else. There have been days I've not seen him at all. Three days ago, that strange bronze magic door, like a trump gate, opened, and a few men in military uniforms I've never seen before came through and talked with the Mage all day. I take it they were all from the same shadow. some shadow opposed to Amber."

On the high mage, besides his usual clothes, are about a dozen of those spell marbles similar to the one he tried to employ. Like marbles in the child's game, they are all of different colors, but around the same size. Further examination would be needed to tell what the spells precisely do, but its clear they are individual stored spells.

William produces a dagger from within his clothing and cuts strips of the man's robe, which he used to carefully wrap each of the spell spheres before slipping them into the pockets of his coat.

Inside of William's pocket, the spheres seem to have a tendency to gravitate toward each other, foiled somewhat by the wrappings of the robe.

While he does this he says, "Your knowledge might be useful to us, Isabei Hithilien. And another sword wouldn't go amiss if we run into any reinforcements. A Prince of Amber can pay exceedingly well, as I'm sure you know. If you are willing, we can negotiate terms after we've searched this place. First portion of your payment would be to get your hand seen to."

Isabei glances at his wound with a dispassionate look. "Given the isolation of the Manse, it would be a long, tough walk to anywhere were I not to accept your offer." He snorts ruefully. "And there is still the bar bills to be paid."

"I do not know the forms for declaring acceptance of an offer of service to a Prince of Amber." he continues. "But your generous terms are acceptable."

"I am not a stickler for forms," William says, standing. "I accept your service. I will defend you as a retainer for as long as you choose to remain in my service. If any of my commands offend your personal honour discuss it with me, and we can come to an accommodation. Do not betray me - a Prince of Amber has a long memory and never forgets nor forgives treachery." He waves a hand negligently. "That's the core of it, all else is but gilt."

"I believe I have understanding." he says. "Reasonable."

He looks around the room, then back over at Isabei.

Neil stirs slightly, and mumbles the word "Door" aloud.

"Does the hand pain you enough that you need to have it seen to at once? Or are you well enough to be able to fight if needs be?" he asks as he heads for the door that Brieanne had just gone through.

"I might be slightly inconvenienced by the wound if I am fighting someone of your caliber, Prince William." Isabei says. "Otherwise, it will not likely go septic so soon or so easily." He flexes his injured hand. "No, it still functions well enough."

"Shall we see to where the sorceresss has gone. And what of...?" he nods his head to Neil. "He under some sort of spell, yes?"

"Bring him along," William says. "Yes, he is under Princess Brieanne's control, but I would still prefer not to leave him on his own." As he reaches the door he pauses, and asks, "Is there anyone else in the building?"

"I do not *think* so." Isabei says, moving to get Neil standing and slung underneath his good arm and good shoulder . "There is a room that the Sorcerer went into on occasions, and one could hear voices, not only his own, but I assume that was some sort of communication spell. The housekeeping of the Manse is done by some sort of Invisus apparitor spell, so there are no servants as loose ends."

"We shall check that later, if there is time," William says, as he continues out the doorway, then heads towards the sounds of conversation.

In the meantime, Brieanne exits the Manse.

She first encounters Emmet and Lt. Czeller, and the body of something that looks like a reptile the size of one of the beefier hellhounds, with a strange sail fin on its back. Emmet looks up and bows his head with a smile, and the Begman officer adds a bow as well, and then a wince. He has a nasty gash on his shoulder that Emmet has been treating.

"After I took Lt. Czeller out to 'kill' him." Emmet explains to Brieanne, this thing decided to come after us. I wonder if Lord Unravel decided that I was supernumerary as well. I take it he is now dead, my Lady?" he asks.

"Quite." Brieanne replied, looking over the officer's injury.

It looks like a rather nasty bite wound from the large lizard.

"William had little use for him." She chose not to fuss with Emmet's efforts at care and looked past the men. "Do we know what the other sounds were? I do not wish to be away over long, or too far from Neil, and I still would very much like to see the Door." She glanced back, measuring how far she was, as she waited for their reply.

"My deduction was the screaming had to do with our allies. Emmet makes a head shake toward a garden near to the house, lit in moonlight. "It didn't sound like Prince William's friends who were doing the screaming. I would guess it was guards, servants or soldiers of this Omphalos Mage."

"Perhaps having." Lt. Czeller says, with a wincing smile. "to do with the Door."

"Perhaps..." Brieanne considered briefly. "Let us go have a look at this Door. The faster it is secured, the better, yes?" She gave them a sharp look, one eye brow raised, and then dug into Neil's pilfered memories to guide her to it.

As she accesses the link, and the information, Brieanne can feel Neil stir a bit, physically, but he is still well in hand and there is little danger of him running away. Not enough volition has bubbled up in him for that to be a threat. Patched up, Lt. Czeller trails behind Brieanne. Emmet, loyally, follows one pace behind Brieanne.

Through the gardens, lit by the night sky and the lights from the Manse isn't quite as perilous as wandering in pitch darkness, and the light at their destination provides some illumination as well. As Brieanne, Emmet and Czeller near the garden, a pair of figures, weapons drawn, comes to block their path.

William's two men, Valric and Kiathas. Both breathe a sigh of relief.

"You owe me that drink." Valric says to Kiathas. The latter ignores him, and looks to Brieanne.

"Princess" he says. "I was concerned you were reinforcements of guards from the Manse. We had a bit of conflict, here." Behind and beyond him, Brieanne can see the Door, closed, standing on a plinth. Devaine and Shannon are circling it, studying it. There are bodies lying on the ground, a half dozen in all. Electra is crouched over one of them.

"I don't expect there to be any reinforcements." Brieanne replied, continueing past the men toward the Door. "The mage is dealt with and his swordman as well."

"Swordsman?" Valric says.

"Bodyguard" Czeller says.

"Ah, Guillaume must have enjoyed that." Kiathas said. "These were more butchery than anything."

Brieanne said nothing, regarding the Door intensely, circling closer so that eventually her path would intersect the other women's.

The Door is full of sorcery, full of magic. There is an esoteric power here beyond sorcery, even if Brieanne has never encountered it before, she recognizes when a Greater Power is in play. And a Greater Power is in play. The sorcery appears to function like the knot or the pulley to the chains and cord that the Greater Power create: a matrix to harness and use the power to effect. Someone attuned to this Power without sorcery could not make much use of it. That's clear.

"Brieanne." Electra, first reached in Brieanne's spiral, looks up as she approaches. "I have been studying the effects on the soldiers we killed. Not from the Golden Circle. I've been looking at their equipment, trying to learn more about their land, while Shannon and Devaine study that Door."

Brieanne glanced at the bodies, gaze sweeping the scene attentively but without lingering. "I will have little to add, as I pay little attention to anything beyond the Circle or not from the Courts."

Electra nods. "Mother would want as much information as possible. I suspect William will, too." she says, holding up a small pin in the shape of a Door and staring at it.

Her tone lacked its usual sharpness, her attention already back on the matrix harnessing the Power, looking for the first thread in the strand that would allow her to unravel it for herself. She resumed her pacing until she found a spot that felt right to her, and then she began to dig deeper.

Its straightforward in the sense that a knot can be seen from the outside, even if its more difficult to actually unravel. However, given the nature of Brieanne's tutor and mentor, the knot of arcane energy is absurdly easy. Someone who had to unravel an arcane puzzle to get lunch is not particularly challenged by the likes of this. Brieanne is certain she can undo the Door if she pulls the string a little harder, and can probably calibrate how big of an explosion (yes, there would be an explosion) that results. Too small to detect. big enough to take out Shannon and Devaine a few feet away, or big enough to level the entire Manse grounds.

"Cousin?" Shannon asks enquiringly. "Are you looking to dissolve the Door?"

Brieanne's gaze, as it slid across to meet Shannon's, was sharp and wickedly amused. "Why Cousin, you say that as if you think I might not be able to...." Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly as a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. But then she looked away, once again giving the Door her attention. "I think it might be more valuable to own it."

"If you can manage it without killing all of us." Shannon says.

"Is that possible?" Devaine says. "I saw the tied energies to the Door, of course. Are they that potent?"

"Oh yes." Shannon says. "As my cousin should know."

"Indeed..." Brieanne purred, smiling to herself.

And [Brieanne] put her talents to determining the viability of that thought. Of being able to understand the nature of it's creation, the paradigm of the Power behind it, and just what it would take to open it.

Brieanne gets to work studying the power of the door. There is some fluff and chaff, in the form of the monitoring spell that Shannon has constructed. Its like a layer of gauze that makes it more difficult to study the Door. Brieanne can look past it or through it, of course, or rend it if she should so desire. The latter would make her own efforts at studying and taking control of the Door easier and faster.

Brieanne made a sound of disgust, shaking her head slightly in obvious annoyance, but her attention remained on the Door with no additional comment or movement.

At this point, William and Isabei, the latter lugging Neil along, arrive in the small garden where the Door stands on the plinth. Kiathas and Valric approach William.

"Guillaume." Kiathas says."Valric and I are of two minds. Is it a greater feat to slay the sorcerer, or to cut down his forces like wheat?"

Valric clears his throat. "My friend, it would seem that Guillaume has not only bested the sorcerer, but has taken one of his men into his service. I think the victory goes to him."

Electra walks up, holding an disc of beaten copper in the shape of a sunburst. "Unit insignia. They all have these sunbursts as well as the Door pins. So clearly this mage has been getting people from his homeland. The house is clear, I take it?"

"Most likely," William says with a laugh. "I thought it more important to see what was happening out here than to do a full search of the premises. Isabei," he indicates the man, "Believes that there is no one else in the building, although he is not certain of it." He looks around at the fallen men. "Did you leave some alive?" he asks idly. "Random was hoping for some prisoners to question. And I don't suppose anyone saw Count Taisson about?" he asks hopefully.

"Some of these are in haler states than others. We've never been butchers." Kiathas says. "And if this is the state of their soldiery, our troops back home could cut down this army easily, if not for their sorcerers, unless they bring large numbers."

"Count Taisson The sorcerer who plagues your mother?" Valric says. "Nay, these types were but soldiers, warriors. Not mages."

"Count Taisson?" Isabei says. "Count Leonidas Taisson?" he repeats. "I know that name." He sets Neil down on the ground. "Along with this one, and the one that follows the Princess Sorceress." he gives a nod in the direction of Emmet, standing near but not too near to Brieanne. "he is a visitor to the Mage, although nowhere near as often. He was last here several days ago."

"So he has flown the chicken coop?" Electra says. "Pity."

"He dared to seek to abduct my mother," William says, his voice suddenly cold. "He will pay for that."

"Indeed." Electra says. "An attempted abduction of a member of the Amber Royal family is not behavior to encourage by leniency."

Shannon goes to one knee, close to the door. Her own spellwork is obvious, as she still seeks how to undo and destroy the Door safely, using Devaine as aid.

In the meantime, Brieanne has learned a few interesting things in her work on the Door. She does think she can open and close it. Those are strictly arcane precepts, and even if she doesn't have the imprint of the power behind the Door, she can suborn this one to her will. Open it, close it, lock it. Undo the trap on the door.

Also, Brieanne notes that the resonances suggest the Door was last opened, from this side, about three days ago, but not by a Omphalos Mage. No, the style of magic suggests that the Door was opened by a mage from this universe.

"Hmm...." Brieanne stepped in close to the Door, almost touching it, and then twisted to look back at William and his newly acquired mercenary.

"Count Taisson was here three days ago, and he is a mage by trade... so... Did you actually see him leave the manse?" She regarded her former adversary very intently.

"He is a mage, and comes and goes with more facility and less fanfare than the nobles that come here." Isabei's head indicates Emmet and Neil. "He does not need a carriage and often does not use one. I did not witness his passing."

William regards the Door with increased interest. "Are you suggesting...." he asks.

"I am." Brieanne nodded, glancing at William with a flicker of a smile before turning back to the Door. "Answers will be easier when Shannon stops man-handling it, but looking past her mess, I can see signs that a mage of this universe used the Door. I assume his master showed him how, but it isn't really so difficult."

She appraised the Door once more, running a hand across the surface just a hair's breath away from touching. "So... Just how badly do you want to go hunting?" She gave William a sly, knowing smile and waited for his reply.

For William, although he might not have any active spells, the conflict, for lack of a better word, betweem the various spellcastings prickle in his mind like the tingle of electricity.

"Man-handling it?" Shannon says. "I mislike the new version of this cousin of ours more and more, William." she says, focusing on William and pointedly not looking at Brieanne at all.

Brieanne looked amused, and perhaps just a touch annoyed, but she was content to ignore Shannon.

Shannon raises her hands smoothly and then lowers them. With a nod to Devaine, she returns to looking at William. "My investigations are concluded." she says. The tingle of electricity vanishes.

The spells around the Door have softly and silently vanished, giving Brieanne no further barrier or difficulty in her goal to manipulate, or open, the Door.

"Let's not forget we have a mutual, and very dangerous, enemy," William says, looking from Brieanne to Shannon, then back again. "We can save the one-upswomanship for later, can't we?"

"Yes, cousin." Shannon says.

William fingers the hilt of his sword, "And to answer your question, I want this hunt very badly, indeed. Shall we take the fight to our foes?"

"Just say the word." Brieanne lifted a hand toward the Door. "I am ready when you are."

"We should be prepared for combat, Kiathas." Valric says to his compatriot. Both draw their swords. Similarly, Isabei looks alert.

Devaine moves to William's flank, and Electra remains where she is, but with an additional wariness.

Brieanne is, as she thought, able to open the Door. It does so silently, swinging open to reveal, in the manner if not the exact semblance of a Trump Gate, its destination. Beyond, there is a plinth similar to the one that this Door stands on. However, it is morning there, bright by comparison and requiring a moment or two for everyone's eyes to adjust.

The entrance to a long, low, ivy covered building beckons, a short walk away.

A high tech looking city is visible in the far distance.

There are no signs of guards or other alarm. The other world, be it the home of the Omphalos or somewhere else, is a step away.

"Someone should remain behind," William says, eyes scanning the terrain on the other side of the doorway. "Shannon, logic dictates that is you. Report the King Random as soon as we have gone through. Send the treasonous nobleman and the unconscious guards to him for imprisonment and interrogation. Keep the Door open and observe what happens."

He strides through the Door.

Brieanne gave Neil a sharp look and lifted a hand in his direction. Her fingers hooked into invisible threads as she tied off the bonds that held him.

"He should remain inert, but once I am through the Door I cannot say for certain. He will bear watching." She commented to Shannon as she passed and followed William through to the other side.

"I will keep Neil here, then, and send the others." Shannon says. "So that your spell does not break in sending him to Amber." Shannon says.

Behind William and Shannon, Kiathas, Valric, Devaine, Isabei and Emmet follow.

The passage across the Door is much akin to a teleport gate, stepping across appears to have no ill effects for anyone. The warm air that greets everyone is much more akin to a summer's morning than the crispness of the early Spring they left. The sun is a comforting and familiar yellow, perhaps a little dimmer than the sun of Amber. It's dim enough that a brilliant white point is visible in the opposite quarter from the sun.

A servant figure comes out of the ivy covered building, a flaxen haired man with crayon-yellow skin wearing what look like steel cuffs on his wrists, over the gray shift,

"Ladies and sirs, you are guests of the Prefect?" he asks uncertainly.

"Indeed," William says, giving him only the briefest of glances. He lets his gaze drift around with a bored, superior air, then says, "I was under the impression there would be a guide of some sort."

"Don't be too peevish da'ling." Brieanne purred, stroking William's arm in a soothing fashion and stepping closer. "You know how distracted Leonidas' gets. I'm sure he means no insult...even if we are left with no one to greet us." She gave the servent a thoughtful look. "Perhaps we can press this one into service until we find our Brother Noble?"

She gestured to the servant with her free hand, but her attention was fixed on William as if it were very, very important that the situation be corrected to his satisfaction.

William snarls slightly, one hand caressing the hilt of his sword, but he gives the impression that he is allowing himself to be mollified.

"Leonidas?" the servant says uncertainly.Slowly, his dark eyes widen in recognition.

"Oh, I was mistaken." he says, in a more animated tone. "You do not seek the Prefect at all, but rather his Shadowland Fara'ip ." He nods, seemingly to himself.

He pauses a moment. "We were not told to expect a visit from the new Shadowland today." he said. "On behalf of the household of the Prefect, please accept my apologies. I would be happy to conduct you within to a place of refreshment while I inform the Prefect and the Mage of your arrival. If you would follow me?" William glares at him. "Fara'ip?" he demands. "What kind of word is that?"

"I think I've heard our friend Lord Unravel use it." Emmet murmurs to Brieanne. "Not quite sure what it means though."

Brieanne's demeanor went from pleased with the apology to sharp and careful the moment William spoke. She lifted her chin slightly, watching the man closely... perhaps as closely as he should tend to his next words.

The servant shivers in his sandals at the imperious look from Brieanne, and the explosion of enmity from William. He casts his gaze, anywhere, everywhere, looking at Kiathas, Valric, and Emmet for some sort of safe harbor. Finally he doesn't quite meet William's gaze but appears to be studying William's navel.

"My apologies for the use of an unfamiliar word." he says submissively. "A Fara'ip is a chosen member of one's family and Clan, not related by ancestry. I think the shadowland phrase that closely matches it is 'blood brother'." He swallows. "I did not mean offense. Please do not submit me for punishment or Correction." The last word is clearly capitalized in his speech.

"Hmph." William stares at the man, then glances at Brieanne. "I suppose that is a sufficient apology," he says grudgingly.

"Yes, the word was odd, but there was no insult intended. It was even a rather nice word." She pointed out very gently, stroking his arm. "I shall have to spend some time learning their words. She gave the servant another close look.

"I am afraid my knowledge of your idioms and customs is limited." the servant says. "And, of course, once a Shadowland is conquered and dismembered, knowledge of such customs and practices and languages are forbidden to those of us who have been graced with the gift of servitude." He looks down at the ground for a moment, and then raises his head. William, Brieanne hear what has attracted his attention, at the same time, as do their companions.

The grayish iron looking object, coming from behind the building is,flying, with rapidly beating wing giving it a distinctive droning sound, and is about the size and shape of a basketball. Its single eye, looking like a large human eye set in the iron ball, peers at the group as it hovers about 15 feet above the ground, casting its eye at the assembled group.

"Some sort of spy device, Guillaume." Valric says.

"They know we are here now." Electra says.

"Indeed." Isabel adds.

"The Prefect will be displeased." the servant says, trembling in place. "He witnesses my lack of hospitality."

"Where are the Prefect and his Fara'ip now?" William demands. He watches the spy drone, then looks at Brieanne and lifts an eyebrow.

Brieanne's gaze slid sideways to the device, reaching for the energy that powered it. Magic or not, it needed power, and without what fueled it, it would malfunction. She just needed to be quiet about it... and if she could harness the energy, maybe she could make it send the information she wanted it to.

The servant swallows thickly. "At this hour, they are likely in the South Solarium playing chess. I would..." he looks up and looks at the drone. "I would bring you there, honored guests."

The drone stops its flight, hovering as Brieanne takes a look at it and reaches for it. Even as Brieanne looks at it, reaching for it, she can feel it is looking at her, and William, and the rest, and with more than ordinary sight.

Grasping its power (a self contained mana node within its shell) and taking hold of it, it stops functioning immediately, falling to the ground at Brieanne's feet.The fall does not appear to crack or damage the iron ball.

At this, the servant trembles and starts to shuffle backwards. "Perhaps it would be better served to have one of higher rank come and meet you immediately." he stammers. "If...if you would wait here?"

Brieanne made a quiet, almost lady-like sound of disgust. "Touchy, touchy." She frowned at the sensitive device now laying at her feet and then looked over it to the servant, scanning him curiously to see if they had a means of tracking him or monitoring what he said.

There is a tracking spell on the servant, centered on the cuffs he is wearing, to Priya's sight. There are no signs of a clairaudience or clairvoyance spell on the cuffs or on him, but tracking the servants movements seems to be off-the-shelf magical technology built right into the cuffs, here. Its rather unornamented and straightforward in its application.

William steps forward qickly and seizes the servant by the arm. "No," he says, "I think not. Lead us to the South Solarium. Now."

Brieanne moved quickly to line up with William, opposite from the servant, apparently in agreement that quicker was better.

"I barely touched it," Brieanne groused quietly, "and if all magic is so unstable, I may run into ...limitations." She sounded mildly worried.

The servant squeaks in fear as he gets manhandled. His strength is less than a normal human, much less William's tight grip, and he stops protesting after a moment.

"I'll..I'll take you to the Prefect and his fara'ip." he stammers. "Please, please do not hurt me or Correct me."

"I dislike such obvious servitude and slavery." Devaine comments.

"To reduce a man and make a man so craven." Kiathas grimaces. "Aye, Guillaume, let us have the poor fellow see us to the Prefect and his friend."

The servant, with William firmly gripping him, leads the group to the entrance, and into a wood-paneled and floored parlor/foreroom. The scent of something like orchids is in the air. Doorways lead out in several directions. Coming down from a small stepped, recessed staircase is a servant similar to the one that William has in tow, a maid of some kind based on her dress, looks at the group with open mouthed surprise and stops uncertainly at the bottom step. She has the same skin color, although her hair is more ochre than flaxen in color.

"Visitors for the fara'ip of the Prefect, Marthya." he says. "Best you go tell him unexpected visitors have come from the Shadowland. We'll be there directly behind you I think."

Marthya looks at the group dubiously. She steps off the step and turns toward one of the open doorways.

William gives quick hand signals for Devaine, Kiathis and Valric to spread out and follow, watching for possible attempts to flank or ambush them. He nods to his dragon-blooded mercenary to follow close behind, and still holding the servant's arm he follows closely behind the maid.

Brieanne moved briskly, needing no encouragement to stay with the group. She glanced up and around for other watchers.

The servant leads the group in the direction that Marthya hurried in, she moving at not-quite-a-run but with obvious haste. She does throw looks behind her at a couple of occasions, as the party moves through a hallway illuminated by the shimmering color of light through stained glass windows, a room with an impractical and ostentious number of small chandeliers, each with a softly glowing spelllight of some kind, and finally, a curving ramp up to a mezzanine or middle floor between the first and second floors. It is in this rectangular room, with a number of other entrances, that Brieanne sees the approach, from the east entrance of the room, several men and women in what appears to be some sort of light segmented armor, blades in scabbards on their belts.

"Another Five, a little further away, coming from the west." Kiathas says quietly to William. "Two more have been trailing us from our north to south run and are a room behind us."

"No obvious missile weapons," William murmurs back. "Let me know if that changes." He speeds up a little, so that he and the servant are now treading almost on the heels of the maidservant.

Brieanne trots along briskly, keeping pace with the others, and watching sharply to see how things developed.

"Right" Kiathas says quietly. "Its all blades for the moment."

With the maid speeding up in response to William's increased pace (and the manservant clearly stumbling a bit to keep up with William's grip, the maid heads up the ramp, and down a short corridor, and stops at a sliding door at the end of it.

A nearly flush door handle is pulled to the left, revealing a room with one, at least two walls of glass. Other furniture, features and denizens are difficult to see with her resolutely in the frame of the door. Her hand trembles on the door handle.

"Milord Prefect. The guests here to see the Shadowland Mage are here." she says as William, Brieanne and company arrive.

"I know Marthya." comes a voice

"Come in, scions of Amber." the voice adds. " You've come far, and you should be shown some hospitality for you to remember for the dark times to come."

"They've started pulling out what look like small pistols." Kiathas murmurs to William. "All of them on the ramp behind us now."

"Twelve in all on the ramp behind us." Emmet says quietly to Brieanne as she continues her arcane progress. "All armed. Swords and some sort of hammer shaped weapons."

William releases the terrified servant, pushing him gently back towards the ramp behind them. He pushes past Marthya and steps to one side, so as not to block the way for his companions.

She gets elbowed aside pretty easily and so William and company can enter the solarium.

"Your hospitality is appreciated," he says, "And we shall do our best to answer it in kind." He smiles as he lets his gaze sweep the room, gauging the occupants of the room, and the room itself as a potential battlefield.

Brieanne glided into the room parallel, but in the opposite direction so that the two of them framed the entrance. Her gaze was languid, matching the demure smile on her face, but her intentions were equally critical. Regarding the occupants and finding the best piece of metal to use as a magnet for the projectiles that might come from the guns behind them.

The solarium is a trapezoid shaped room, with the three outer walls and ceiling made of glass. The glass is reinforced with metal ribs that divide the glass into panes each about the size of a cutting board.

Inside of this layout are a number of low couches and wooden tables on a parquet floor which is covered in soft rugs. Small lamps and other bric a brac decorate the tables, and a tea set covers a long one.There are men formerly reclining on two of the half dozen or so scattered in the room. One of them is Count Leonidas Taisson of Eregnor. The second is a grey haired man, with a square jaw and dark eyes. He's dressed , casually, in black and grey.

A humanoid figure stands near Count Taisson's couch, a creature exceedingly familiar to William. The creature is completely grey, and naked, with a roughly triangular shaped body, its arms sharply coming off and down. Its legs are relatively short and close together. There is no head. Instead, eyes, a nose slit of some sort and a mouth slit are clustered around the top portion.

"As Prefect of this district." the grey and black clad man says. "the forms do dictate that I ask why you have come here, and onto my estate in an undocumented and illegal manner. I am certain you do not have the requisite papers."

William nods. "Alas, our invitation was verbal, rather than written. But your man in Begma did seem quite insistent on my presence." He casually moves a little further from the door, putting distance between himself and Brieanne, and giving his companions more room to come into the chamber.

Kiathas,and Valric move to flank William. Isabei stands behind William. Emmet moves to follow Brieanne, three steps behind. Electra moves to a similar distance from the door as William, but in the opposite direction, giving her freedom of movement and action as well.

Brieanne gave a soft laugh, "You were practically dragged!" She moved far enough into the room to perch her petite behind on the arm of a couch. "Fortune declared that I should arrive in time to be swooped up in affairs and, I have to confess, I am having a darling time of it." She twisted elegantly, one hand on the back of the couch as she smiled at her 'hosts'.

"I find the idea of my subordinate offering a verbal invitation to you to cross over to Capital to be an exceedingly unlikely story." the Prefect says. "Very unlikely." He raises a hand, the armed men behind the group moving to block the door but not yet entering the room itself.

"We should just deal with this situation now. Amberites are not to be trusted." Count Taisson says. "Which is why I am here, mind, my friend."

"Oh" the Prefect says. "Don't worry. I have matters in hand." he rebukes the Count mildly. His eyes run from Brieanne (the closest) through William to Electra at the farthest.

"So, since we are being amazingly conversational before sanguinary business comes to a heat, you killed my subordinate, I take it?" the Prefect says casually.

"I can assure you that I would have preferred to have a nice chat with him," William says. "But he was not a very conversational person." He appears relaxed, but he's keeping track of where everyone is, and he shifts ever so slightly, to be sure that Isabei remains in his peripheral vision. The man's loyalty is not being taken for granted.

"We're on Capital, then? I confess that your man did not invite us here in so many words, but he did insist on having me brought to him, and once he was unable to take charge of me it seemed only natural that I follow up his chain of command."

He glances over at Taisson. "And I also needed to have a talk to you, Count, regarding your impolite intrusion into my mother's personal quarters. Not the act of a gentleman, I must avow."

Brieanne remained where she was, posed on the arm of the couch as if she were sitting for a painting, on the verge of smiling while she watched the room, and ready to pounce.

"Well, my subordinate's gambits were his to conduct as he saw fit, as long as he got results." the Prefect says. He waggles his fingers. "Micromanaging is something I leave to my colleagues. It can lead to decision paralysis."

The Prefect turns his dark gaze on Taisson. "Is it true that you have been molesting an Amberite Princess' personal quarters?" The tone is gently mocking.

"For the reasons I told you, Gervon" Taisson says to the Prefect. "I confess I did not expect it to result in Prince William, and two of his..." squints at Brieanne and Electra "cousins showing up in Capital. Didn't the last Amberite to show up here just get guillotined?"

"I believe so, yes." The Prefect says brightly. "Pity the more recent one we captured got away, though. That's not for public consumption, though, Leonidas. The official line is a chemical explosion." He looks at Brieanne, William and company. "Given how your lot got here, I expect you will live a somewhat time before your eventual deaths. Unless you are foolish enough to resist, of course."

"Very kind of you, I'm sure," William says politely. "Might I ask who was guillotined? I need to know if they were on my naughty or nice list."

Brieanne rose from her perch, examined the tea set as if thinking she might pour herself a cup, and then continued past, as if to admire the rest of the room and she conducted a semi-circle around Taisson.

"I don't recall missing anyone I was fond of." She commented idly in William's direction. "But I have a much shorter nice list...." She picked up a small figurine to look at it in closer detail, set it down gently and took another seat on the arm of a different couch.

"Oh, he said his name was Kyle and that he was son of Prince Brand." the Prefect says casually. "We know enough about Amber to know that Prince Brand and his spawn and students are not precisely well regarded in Amber." he says smugly. "But one simply cannot have Amberite sorcerers running loose, especially those with over-exaggerated opinions of themselves."

"Then why do we still indulge this set?" Leonidas remarks.

"They still amuse me." The Prefect says. "I might not even..." he looks at William and grins "get another chance to see this charming rogue once our little drama here is done."

"You're not his type." Leonidas says. "You will note he has *two* blondes with him. Which is entirely in keeping with his reputation."

"Two blondes?" Kiathas looks at Brieanne, and then at Electra and then to the Prefect. "William calls that Lundi." he remarks.

"Be fair." Valric says. "More like Sabato."

William smiles at the byplay between his friends, but doesn't address them directly. Instead he looks the Prefect up and down and says, "You seem an intelligent and cultured gentleman, unlike the upstart there," he gives a negligent jerk of his chin towards Leonidas. "Whyever have your people started a feud with Amber?"

Brieanne listened quietly, watching Leonidas closely, the faint smile suddenly impish.... or malicious.

Leonidas watches Brieanne carefully, ignoring the Prefect entirely and his response, instead focusing exclusively on Julian's daughter. His eyebrows furrow, and his eyes widen slightly, the mildest of energies rising to his attention and command. Brieanne can feel the prickle of a very light scan and assessment of her as a magical being. Nothing obtrusive or directly challenging her defenses.

Brieanne's smile grew a notch wider, one brow arching suggestively before her expression settled into a mild, inscrutable mask. But her attention remained on Leonidas, only momentarily drifting to their collective host as he explained himself.

In the meantime, as this byplay continues, the Prefect regards William.

"The metaphysics in detail are beyond the purview of of a mere Prefect, Prince of Amber." he says. "However, I know enough to answer our question. You now know, no doubt, there are not only multiple universes, or shadows, but also multiple multiverses or collections of universes."

"The problem is." he smiles. "This is an inherently unstable state of affairs. The interactions of multiverses in the vector space matrix is consistently and invariably catastrophic. I don't." he waves a hand. "pretend to understand the mathematics but I have seen the results. What is a blessing, however, is that if a multiverse's primal powers are denatured, the multiverse melts away, and ceases to be a threat to other multiverses."

William nods thoughtfully.

"Having been blessed with a Power that allows us to reach these threats, wouldn't you do the same as we do in our place?" he says. "Self Preservation is the first Law."

"So true," Brieanne purred softly. "And so easily twisted and misled." Her hand lifted, still low, with a dainty almost dismissive gesture. "But now, how did you become so comfortable here Leonidas? I am always more interested in personal tales than cosmic schemes." She inclined her head toward him, as if she would hang on every word.

William smiles at Leonidas as the count becomes the focus of attention.

Leonidas rolls his shoulders as every eye in the Solarium turns to look at him.

"There is an expression in Eregnor." he says. "It is better to sit in the carriage of the Shaitan than be in its path. Amber has been an oppressing, meddling, colonial power for centuries. You even have one of your spawn on the throne of Kashfa now. So why would I not reach out to those who would not suffer Amber to survive. Especially when I was present for the appearance one of their early portals? Off course and not where they intended to put it, but I consider that providence for both sides."

There is a soft sound that rings in the air at this point, like a wind chime in C.

"Oh good." The Prefect says. "The gendarmes are here. I do regret to say." he says to William, Brieanne and company "that this conversation must now end. You will be so good, I hope, as to surrender now without violence." He starts chanting magical syllables, as does Leonidas, who points in the direction of the triangular shaped creature.

William launches into action without warning. He leaps for the Prefect, throwing a dagger at Leonidas in mid leap. His intent is to have the hilt of the dagger strike Leonidas in the head, knocking him out without killing him, and then to land on the Prefect with his full weight, interrupting his spell casting.

Brieanne lifted a hand in a sharp, dismissive gesture, striking at the spells to undo them before they are fully formed. She rose as she did, backing up to keep the soldiers in the doorway to one side, the strange creature to the other, both in view.

In the meantime, Valric and Kiathas, turn around to face the gun-toting soldiers, moving out of sight from William and Brieanne for the moment in the effort to break their ranks. There is the sound of three shots, and a lot of noise before and after.

Electra for her part slides to the side, facing the triangular bodied creature. The creature comes toward her, and winds up flying over and onto one of the lounging couches after a judo-like throw.

Brieanne's countermagic spell hits the Prefect's spell in midsyllable. Brieanne can feel that the Prefect is engaged with the creation of his spell, and so the there is a definite struggle between her magic and the sorcerer's. Like a rope, there is a tension of the forces between her and him. Thist manages to hold the spell in mid-completion, not yet fully materialized, but not yet undone. This tension breaks when William comes through to land on the Prefect.

Leonidas, for his part, manages to get the dagger throw in the shoulder and not the head. It stops his chanting. He decides instead to start backpedaling toward the glass wall, reaching inside of his clothing for a rather familiar looking sphere.

The expression in her eyes made Brieanne's small smile chilling as she matched Leonidas step for step, as if they were dancing. Her raised hand swept down, as if she stroked his body.

"Mutare Cerum." There was a lilt to her voice, as if she was very curious about what would happen next. Would he convulse? She expected it would be painful. It certainly wouldn't be comfortable. But this was an experiment, even if it wasn't her original subject. At the very least, she expected deforming hands to let the sphere slip away so it could roll harmlessly out of his reach. Under the nearest couch would likely be best for the moment.... assuming no one threw the triangle creature there next.

Emmet is outside the room fighting the guards with Kiathas and Valric. As such, he cannot and does not see that the legends and tale that he had heard does have a grain of truth.

Brieanne as a sorceress can shape the flesh. The transformation takes a few moments, moments of horror for Leonidas. The body elongating and becoming ungainly, unused to the idea that it is meant to be on arms and legs...no, four legs, with hooves. The head unused to the idea that it has the dark eyes of a herbivore. A mouth that no longer has a mix of teeth, but rather ones suited for eating grass and plants. A head that is unused to the weight of a small but very real rack of horns.

In short, Leonidas is completely surprised that he has been transformed into a stag.

In the transformation of his hands, the sphere he had does fall away.

He struggles to make his new legs work, tangled and bucking on the couch. The sphere goes spinning away in a random direction, giving off a soft chirping sound.

William bears the Prefect to the ground, striking his head repeatedly. No subtlety here, he's just trying to knock the man unconscious as quickly as possible.

William's blows connect even as he fights back with vigor. The Prefect is strong, stronger than William expects, but he gets shots in, even as he takes a ringing shot to the chin. Even that, though, is not enough to keep William from a realization.

Something is wrong, extremely wrong. What he is hitting is not flesh. There is no blood. The skin feels wrong. What he is hitting, as the form of the Prefect, is something far more akin to plastic.

"Did you really think I would risk my real self here when you trooped through my Door?" The Prefect taunts. "Stray bullets would be a risk I did not wish to take."

"I would have thought, since you are traveling with a Eidolon already, you would not be so surprised." he adds. His voice is slurring at this point, the force of William's punching deforming his head and throat.

"Don't flatter yourself that it's an Eidolon," William snarls. "You're nothing but a coward with a tourbot." He surges to his feet, lifting the body of the Prefect's remote, and throws it with his full strength through a window, concentrating on the likelihood, the certainty, that it would take enough damage from the impact to sever the connection between it and the Prefect.

"You are being dec..." the Prefect's remote stops speaking as he impacts the glass, shattering the window and out onto the lawn.

He glances quickly around, taking in what is going on, and what everyone is doing.

Kiathas, Valric and Emmet have retreated to the entrance to the room, holding the door against the surging guards.All three show wounds and blood on their clothes. Electra has pummeled the summoned creature from Leonidas, breaking a couple more pieces of furniture in the process, in a manner more akin to a daughter of Gerard than one of Coral.

"Out the window!" he shouts. "Fighting retreat to the Door!" He decides it is highly likely that the reinforcements are coming through the house, that no one is waiting outside the window he has just conveniently opened, and that no one has yet thought to surround the house or block their exit.

"There's a generous bonus if you get the deer back through the Door alive," he shouts at Isabei.

"I have the beast." Brieanne moved swiftly, grabbing the animal by an antler. Control the head, control the deer, same as a horse. She waited to see that the others were following Williams order, than she was astride the stag and compelling it out the gaping hole.

William gets out the window first, followed by Brieanne grabbing the stag. Isabel is next, followed by Electra, Kiathas, Valric and Emmet. On the lawn the plastic body of the false Prefect lies in a heap, inert. Leonidas' inexpert use of his legs means that Brieanne is doing a lot of dragging, not because of resistance, but sheer lack of instinct in how to run or walk on four hooves.

Guards and soldiers swarm out of the house, a few shots with guns firing over the head of William, and one just passes past Brieanne. Others armed with smooth-balled maces, maybe a dozen in all, are running to intercept, trying to envelop and cut off William, Brieanne and company from their escape. Like pseudopods of an amoeba, they are trying to get around the group before the plinth and the Door is reached.

"Run!" William shouts to his people. He swoops up the artificial Prefect and leads the way, concentrating on the likelihood that the gunshots will continue to miss, and watching to see whether his people will be able to outrun the mace-wielders.

If they are going to be able to stay ahead of their pursuers he will continue to lead the retreat. If not, then he will veer off to charge the pursuers, swinging the Prefect to take down the leaders, and hopefully tangling the ones behind them in a domino effect of falling minions.

Brieanne pauses, nearly sending her ward to his knobby ruminant knees as she lifts one hand to cast the spell to send the gun shots to the metal roof beams, before raining them back down on the shooters.

"You had best come to grips with your feet or I will be using you for a shield." She snarled at the traitor as she hurried him along, casting wary glances back toward the pursuers.

The pell-mell rush toward the door is a near-run thing. William judges that the group will just make the Door before the trap is closed and escape impossible. As far as Brieanne's prisoner, he does manage to get his feet, enough that Brieanne's threat does not need to manifest itself.

With William in the lead, and Brieanne closely after, the group hits the Door at a running pace, exiting out into the now mid-morning in Begma. Shannon and Devaine, look alert as William, Brieanne and company come pouring through.

"Hold Fire!" Shannon calls out, holding up a hand.

The Omphalos soldiers do NOT pursue beyond the Door themselves.

The other thing, beside the time change, that William and Brieanne notice is that a platoon of Amberian Marines has set up a position around the Door.

"The King insisted on sending backup when I sent him our prisoners and told him what you were up to." Shannon says, coming forward to William. "We were going to make an incursion in about another hour or so since you hadn't returned."

William nods in answer to Shannon, but turns to Brieanne and says, "What are the odds they can blow the Door from the other side, and how much damage could they do? And what are our options? Can we blow it from this side, and do damage to them?" From what Brieanne can figure, the Door is in a state of Mutually Possible Destruction.What she learned from it would allow her to undo it...destructively, too, possibly enough to take out the entire Manse or a good chunk of the gardens at the very least. In turn, they can definitely undo the Door, although in haste, they would cause damage on their side as well, likely wrecking the Prefect's House. There is a energetic tension that exists on both sides.

The Door can also be undone less destructively, but that would take longer than a "snap judgement" on their end. It would take a longer ritual for Brieanne, as well, with a combination of Pattern and sorcery.

There is no sign the soldiers in Capital have any appetite or desire to cross the Door, but they can be seen taking positions around their side of the Door, their firearms loaded and aimed.

In the meantime, Brieanne's deer-transformed prisoner has, for the moment, become more quiescent. Electra and Devaine have taken to looking over Kiathas, Valric, and Emmet, who apparently have minor to moderate wounds from their battles with the guards.

"They get a mage here, they can blow it, possibly hurting them as well as us. I can blow, or I can spend some time unkitting it quietly. I'd prefer, of course, to make it a spectacular send off. I might might be able to take out the Manse...entirely..." She pursed her lips, shifting slightly as she judges the angle considered the details it would take to make that so.

William nods, and turns to Shannon. "We need to keep the marines here as long as possible, to prevent their soldiers coming through. We won't have time to trump them through, can you gate them somewhere at the last minute?"

"I've already prepared a Gate spell for the possibility of needing to get away from this Door rapidly." Shannon replies."It drops us outside of the city walls. Its a faster spell if I don't cross shadow barriers with the spell, especially to take all of the soldier at once, and time could be of the essence."

He looks at Brieanne. "How long will we have to get out of here once you blow it? Is this going to be one of those amazing split-timing-required operations we love so much?"

Brieanne regarded William, her head tilted, mild confusion coloring an otherwise blank expression. Then her eyes brightened and she gave a sharp laugh like breaking glass with softer notes falling away.

"No da'ling, not that manse, that one." Her hand dropped sharply on her wrist to point through the door, to the scene of their most recent confrontation. "You can stand right there and wish you had popcorn." She smiled broadly, tense as if waiting for a go ahead and eager for the activity.

"It's a first fire situation, isn't it?." Devaine says to Brieanne, looking up from her ministring to Kiathas. "Whoever blows up the Door first gets the blowback on the far side."

Brieanne nodded once, her gaze still on William.

"They might not want to lose their link to us voluntarily." Shannon comments. "Even so, that might not stay their hand long."

"So we blow up their Door and call it good." Electra says. "I do not see why we'd hesitate to do it."

Brieanne's smile titched a notch wider, one hand still hovering, waiting.

William grins. "Tempting as it is to wait until they get their mage in place, to try to take him out as well, let's go ahead and blow it before they can finish evacuating important personnel and artifacts." He nods, decisively. "Do it!"

The release of the spell, from Brieanne's point of view, is like loosening an arrow. A single fluid motion, desire speeding toward a target. Simplicity.

From the viewpoint of everyone, the sound of the explosion from other side's conflagaration roars in the ears of all of those nearby only for a second and a half, before the connection is severed, the Door lost, and the window into what is happening in Capital no longer visible.

As Brieanne predicted and promised, there is only a popping of a bubble of air on this side, a gust of wind from the sudden closing and removing of the door. And aside from an indentation in the ground, there is nothing physically visible to note the Door was ever there. Oh, William and Brieanne (and no doubt Shannon and Devaine as well) can see that there is an afterglow of arcane energies in the spot of the Door, but those energies are rapidly decaying with a short half life. In a day, possibly less, it would tax any of them to precisely mark where the Door had been.

Brieanne brushed her hands together, clearly satisfied with herself.

William smiles. "Oh, well done, indeed," he says quietly.

The marines look alert, but relax slightly at the disappearance of their target.

"Mission accomplished, Guillaume." Kiathas says, wincing. He looks at the quiescent deer. "Your mother will be pleased."

"What DO you intend to do with the transformed prisoner you have?" Shannon says to Brieanne.

Brieanne shrugged. "I really haven't decided. He'd be very disappointing to hunt." She frowned at the animal, propping one hand on her hip.

"Did you want him back the way he was?" She looked over at William. "I'm not suer what the long term affect is on the mind, but he certainly can't talk this way." She bent over to gaze at the animal curiously, wondering just how much mind was left in there.

The look of terror and fear is still mostly human, or so Brieanne thinks. Mostly.

"I did promise him to my mother," William says, smiling down at the deer. "If you would be a love, and change him back and let me take possession, I should be ever so grateful." With a jaunty little dip of her head Brieanne turned her attention to her project, rubbing her hands together thoughtfully, before another thought interupted her.

"Oh," she straightened quickly and looked at Shannon. "How is Neil? Has he twitched much?"

"He's back at the Manse under guard." Shannon says. "Being kept far away from the Door." She looks at the spot where it used to be. "Not that is an issue any longer of course. But he had not been more than placid, as far as I have observed and been told." she says.

"Random does want an after action report, William." Shannon adds to William. "Mother will want a less formal one, too."

William nods. "The King needs to know what we have found, and his interrogators need to take charge of Neil and wring everything out of him that they can. And I want to get deer-boy to Mother. Could you stay here to serve as a trump anchor for me to come back, once I've made my reports? There is still quite a bit to do."

"All right." Shannon says agreeably. "We still do need to continue our journey. And the ambassadors will want to know what we've done. And the Begman Prime Minister."

"And *my* mother." Electra pipes up.

He turns to Brieanne. "And your plans now, my dear?"

"Hmmm..?" Brieanne looked up from the deer to William. She blinked and then waved a hand toward her handiwork. "First, I undo this. Preferably without breaking him... " She turned back to the animal at her feet, arms folded and chewing a fingernail. "With something new, working backwards can be very interesting. And it doesn't always go as planned.... Will your mother be too terribly disappointed if he's gibbering?" She tilted her head to regard William.

"No way to restore his mind easily, then?" Valric asks idly. "It would be useful to know all that he does, especially to know more of those strange creatures he likes to summon."

"Changing someone into the body of an animal has its risks." Emmet comments. "The mind follows the body, seems like."

"It just takes patience..." Brieanne replied quietly, her tone musing as she concentrated on constructing her spell in reverse, taking care to buffer the energy and block the pain centers so she didn't do too much more damage.

"Mother will be very disappointed if she isn't the one to reduce him to gibbering," William says. "He not only tried to abduct her, he invaded the sanctity of her boudoir. That really does require a ... personal response."

"Mhm... It does." Brieanne mused, sounded distracted, and she did not look up from the individual she was working to restore.

"Oh yes" Kiathas says. "It was quite the experience."

Brieanne nodded in understanding. "I shall do my best." Her reply was a murmur, her head bent toward her task.

The physical transformation from deer back to man (and a naked man at that) is relatively rapid, once Brieanne undoes her spell. The details of the undoing, to get most if not all of his mind back in working order is not as easy. The principle of fast, easy and good does apply here. Brieanne in the end is able to restore Count Leonidas Taisson completely, at the cost of her own energy and strength. The effort to make him more than a gibbering deer in the body of a man and have his mind be whole takes a lot out of her. She doesn't even realize Emmet catches her before half-fainting from the effort.

"Where...what?" The Count looks around in alarm, horror, shame and fear. In a slight holdover from his brief career as a deer, his head swivels about, his eyes wide, as if looking to bolt.

William is upon him instantly, grabbing his hands and tying them behind him quickly and efficiently with his cravat, gagging him with a handkerchief, and dropping his own hat over the Count's head and pulling it low and tight, so that he is blinded. He tosses the man over his right shoulder with a laugh, and with his left hand he pulls out and thumbs quickly through his Trump deck, finding his mother's card.

The packaged man struggles through the entire process, but its not even a contest from William's point of view.

He smiles at his three comrades and says, "Why don't you go ahead and toss this place, see if you can find anything interesting while I'm making my reports. Shannon, I shall report to your mother after I've reported to the King, and she can trump you. If you want to make your own report, we can change places at that point. Oh, and I'd suggest going ahead and passing Neil through to the King, so that interrogation can begin immediately." "All right. I'll go fetch him and send him along." Shannon says.

"Toss but not ransack." Kiathas says.

"Is there a difference?" Valric challenges.

"Yes, toss is far more civilized and sanctioned. We are not Lietuvan barbarians, after all." Devaine says. She turns to William. "We'll save the good stuff for you."

Kiathas, Valric and Devaine head back to the manor.

[William] looks at his dragon-blooded mercenary and says, "I would appreciate it if you would accompany me. I'd like you to give your story to King Random. You have my assurance of protection, and we can get you some better health care," he grins, "And a beginning of the payment I've promised you."

"I would appreciate the 'better health care', particularly" Isabei says agreeably. "If the King will hear my story, I will tell it to him, as we have agreed." Brieanne blinked owlishly at Emmet, as if surprised to find herself in his arms, or any arms at all, and made an effort to gather herself mentally. She watched William and the others silently, accepting Emmet's aid and resting.

"Some water for the Sorceress would be a very good thing." Emmet says. "I do think the arcane efforts have drained her."

There is a few seconds of pause before Shannon speaks. "Oh, go fetch some water for my cousin." Shannon says to one of the guards, who rushes to do so.

"As for I" Electra says to William. "I will report to my mother. Whether we will meet again...we'll see what happens. In any event, it has been most educational." She gives a look to Brieanne. "Are matters always this chaotically fun around him?"

Brieanne gave a very soft laugh and nodded, eyes rolling. "More often than not."

Still smiling, her gaze shifted from Electra to William, watching him organize the next steps. She didn't look inclined to do anything more than what she was already doing.

William finds his mother's card, nods to himself, and then looks around. His eyes find Brieanne, and he walks over to her, his prisoner still over his shoulder. "Do you wish to come to Amber now, to give your own report to the King?" he asks her quietly. "Or do you have to return to your own hunt, now that you have so ably assisted me in mine?"

"If I came upon my quarry now, it might be the last thing I do." She gave a wry smile and shrugged. "So I will nap first, hunt later." She tilted her head with a small smirk. "And, you're welcome." She winked and shooed him away. "Go give your mother the prize. We will meet again soon enough, I'm sure."

William bows to her, and says "I look forward to it, dear cousin."

Shannon heads off in the direction of Kiathas, Valric and Devaine, presumably to fetch and package off the Begman noble. She gives Brieanne one last backward look before moving away.

Brieanne concerned herself with her own matters and did not outwardly acknowledge Shannon's exit.

By this point, Brieanne thinks that standing is probably possible, although the lingering muscle weakness is a clear sign of overexertion, especially on the final spell.

Electra gives a curtsey. "Until we meet again, William. Brieanne." She turns and starts walking toward the walls of the estate. Somewhere en route, even in the mid-morning light, she manages to disappear.

William blows her a kiss.

"Is there anything else you wished?" the corporal who went to fetch offer says to Brieanne, offering her a silver cup of water, probably pilfered from the estate.

"Thank you." Brieanne accepted the cup with a nod. "Is there someone to drive the carriage back to the city?" She glanced from the officer to William. "I would rather the ride to staying here." She gave the manor a suspicious look, as if the building itself might be guilty of something. "Emmet would most likely prefer to return home as well. He can speak with [the lord mayor] tomorrow to report what he knows."

"The simplest option would be for me to drive the carriage, of course." Emmet says. "In that way, I can return to Erkus, speak with the Lord Mayor

"Alternatively." he says. "I suspect one of the Amberian Marines would be happy to assist a Princess of Amber."

"I would, if my commander bade it." the corporal, still hovering attentively over Brieanne, pipes up.

"Then let us have a word with your commander, for I would very much like to be on my way." The words were weary and she looked at the individuals around them, trying to pick out the responsible party.

Count Taisson continues to wriggle on William's shoulder, ineffectually.

William chuckles to himself, gestures for Isabei to join him. He looks at his mother's card.

"Mother," he says, "I have a present."

The trump goes through without incident.

"William" she says warmly. "A present?" she says, looking at the wriggling figure on William's shoulder. "I shudder to think whatever you could mean." Her smile, however, belies her feigned ignorance. "And you've managed this without unduly upsetting the coterie of diplomats Random sent with you? Or half of Begma?"

"I was taught diplomacy by the Mistress of the Art," he answers her with a smile. "I should end up a hero of Begma for this." He looks at Isobei and says, "Lay a hand on my shoulder," he instructs the man. He turns back to his mother and says, "Bring us through and I shall tell you all about it."

"Certainly." She offers her hand, and draws William, his quarry, and Isabei through the connection and into his mother's quarters in Amber. It is evening in Amber, judging from the darkening skies visible through the balcony.

(William's thread continues in Princely Gifts and Royal Mothers)

(Brienne's thread continues in Brienne: Carriage Return)

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