ConsultationsInACarriageIndex SB: William: Consultations in a Carriage After chuckling at William's reply, Lorius leans back and nods to Aura to follow him "Let's go find Aunt Deirdre." William offers Devaine his arm. "We shall take a royal coach to the docks," he says as they depart from Fiona's quarters. "Let us have some rest from the rigours of the day, and some time for conversation over what we have seen and done." Devaine takes William's arm and prepares to leave the room with him. "A royal coach" Devaine says, once they have preceded away from Fiona's lab and she and William are well on their way to the first floor and the stables. "Valric and Kiathas are going to be jealous of that part of our visit to the Castle in the aftermath of the lamp shop incident." she hypothesizes. "Do we have to see that Chamberlain fellow to get a *royal* carriage?" she asks "Or just requisition one like we did with the horses?" "Well," William answers judiciously, "There's 'royal' and then there's 'royal.' If I wanted to take one of the ceremonial coaches, with the gold and the jewels, and the enchanted footmen who were once rats, then I should have to either fill out all the proper requests, or else just steal it. Preferably the latter. But for a coach that belongs to the royal family, with the Seal of the Unicorn on the side and a well-set up driver, it's much more simple." "Good" Devaine says eagerly. "As for their jealousy," William continues with a smile, "I think mentioning crawling into the mind of a demon should alleviate any such feelings on the dear boys' part." "I think." Devaine declares "That we should make that an especial point of our debriefing to them. Although I suspect just what we tell them about what we did tonight might be a subject for our discussions in the carriage." And in short order, William and Devaine are at the stables. The light of arcane lamps gives the stables a soft glow in the night, a chiaroscuro of light and shadow. "Hallo, hallo, tally-ho lads, and off!" William calls as he enteres the stables. "A carriage for the most charming and beloved of the King's nephews, and his sorcerous companion, who has spent the night being instructed by Fiona herself, and is in no mood to be trifled with! Clap! Clap!" While the stablehands and grooms start to move at the sound of William's call, it is evident and clear that they really get themselves into motion at the mention of Fiona. One of the grooms stares frankly at Devaine for a moment, and then looks away, as if she were a medusa, or really might consider changing him into a newt. "Sorry, milord Prince." one of the older stablehands says with a bow, as the carriage, with four large horses, two black, one white and one gray, finally rolls out of the stables, ready and prepared. With the same arcane lights used in the Castle, even the darkness of the trip down the mountain and the close knit city streets should not pose a barrier to travel. One of the youngest of the grooms, Chen, makes an "ook" sound as he peers down at Devaine and William from his perch at the top of the carriage as two of the grooms nearly come to blows to hurry to open the door to allow Wiliam and Devaine entry. "Odd," William says to Devaine, "The way that young fellow 'ooks,' you'd think he was an orangutang, wouldn't you?" Devaine looks up at the groom suspiciously. Notwithstanding the ooking groom, William assists Devaine into the carriage, then mounts himself. "The docks," he tells the driver. "Make it stately, rather than quick." "Don't mind Chen, milord Prince." the driver says. "We who work the night shift find our humor in our own way. To the docks, milord, stately pace." William chuckles. "Not at all," he assures the driver. "Tedium is a great foe of mine." The ooking groom, has climbed down. Perhaps to the relief of William as well as Devaine, he does NOT do so in an especially simian manner. He tosses some coins to the grooms, then settles back and grins at his friend and companion. Coins gathered, William and Devaine settled, it is only a matter of a couple of minutes before the carriage is rolling, out of the Castle, and onto the switchback road that leads down toward the city, and, ultimately, to the docks. Devaine sits back with a sigh of relief. She looks out the window at the dark mountain slope and city, and then back at William. "I believe you mentioned conversation over the events of the day." she says. "Seeing as how the view is not particularly compelling at this hour." "It has been quite the day," William says. "Family intrique, politics, gauging a new enemy, ripping asunder the minds of demons. How are you coping?" "This all reminds me of Lady Placida's Conservatory back home" Devaine finally says, having given William's question a good half minute of thought. "Full of exotic plants, a humid atmosphere, and some of the plants, as I recall, potentially deadly without even trying. That's your family and world here, and my exposure to it today." She pauses and then continues "I think, Guillaume, I begin to understand why you spent so much time with us..." she judges him with her eyes "and perhaps elsewhere in shadows. Being here, sometimes, is too much, even for most of your family, isn't it?" It is William's turn to be silent for a while, as he turns his face and stares into the darkness outside the carriage. Finally he answers, "It is a heady atmosphere, dealing with Family. We are very competitive, and very stubborn. Forgiveness is alien to out natures." He turns his gaze back to her, and smiles. "So perhaps it is no surprise that we seek our dearest friends and companions elsewhere." Devaine smiles. "Such words might go to my head." she replies after a moment, her eyes almost glowing. "Or perhaps I had a little too much of that wine, Guillaume." Devaine regards William a moment more. "Surely not only without the family that you find the most boon of companions and friends. Even given the nature of your family. Or did I not mistake the affection and camaraderie or appearance thereof, you showed for Dulcinea, for Shannon, for Valerian?" William chuckles. "Indeed, you have caught me out," he replies. "I do care greatly for many of my relatives, though I most often shield it behind my carefree nature. But we are a calculating bunch, Devaine, even the best of us. Even I. And it is best that we have spaces between our visits with one another, lest we start thinking how we can make use of those that love us best, and lest we start fretting over whether those who seem to love us best are using us for their own ends." "I didn't" Devaine says "mention your mother, or your sister in that list for that very reason. Indeed, I envy you in some ways, since you know I am an only child. On the other hand, a century, or more in the presence of your mother and sister without stopping might have the three of you plotting how to manipulate the other two. And that doesn't include the wider family." Devaine looks out into the dark. "Perhaps this trip out into the Golden Circle will help serve as a space of at least a minor sort. Aside from our traveling companion and any we contact and meet along the way." Devaine does not see it, but behind her William responds with a feral grin. "I expect some enemies, as well," he says. "Enemies on the level of the family. It has been a while since I had a challenge on that scale, and I find that I am eager for it. Perhaps that is why I was so quick to challenge Triton." "And enemies." Devaine agrees "like whoever, whatever this personage is who threatens your mother. I don't know that I am up to a wizard's duel against such a foe..." she pauses and smiles. "However, you and I, however might be a very much more even match. Clearly he has some skill in order to penetrate, even briefly, the arcane defenses of the Castle. A worthy adversary." "And there's another trick I have," William says quietly. "Here, let me show you. You've been practicing at using your magic here, in the very presence of the Power of Order, yes? Do a minor casting, something with a visible component. A light, an illusion, something of that nature." "Its not been easy." Devaine says. "Its been harder to do it here than back home. But I've been practicing..." Devaine's sorcerous creation of choice is a small illusion, an image of William's Aunt Fiona. It's a mostly flat, simple image of Fiona, now sitting next to Devaine and studying William. Especially given Devaine's level of skill, its still a well-regarded feat for someone from out of shadow to manage within Amber. William watches her with a smile, waiting until she has her casting complete before bringing the Pattern to mind and ruthlessly smothering her magic with its power. The image of Fiona seems to cry out and scream as William's exercise of the Pattern overwhelms the interior of the carriage, and ruthlessly extirpates the spell. Like a soap bubble being popped, the spell dissipates. "The legacy of all of your family?" Devaine asks, reaching her hand out to where the image once sat. William can feel that Devaine is trying to feel out what he did, esoterically. "Or the legacy of those in your family who are also sorcerers?" William shakes his head. "It is an inherent power of our bloodline," he says, "But only manifests fully when we have been initiated." He smiles. "The initiation is somewhat risky, even for someone of our blood, and is inevitably fatal to someone not a direct blood relation. The imposition of fundamental Order, anathema to magic and the powers of Chaos. Mind you, the more powerful Chaos Lords can summon the powers of the Abyss, even as we can call upon fundamental Order. I have always been taught that Order is stronger than Chaos. But, then, that is what one would expect the Lords of Order to say, no? I look forward to testing this in the field." "So" Devaine says, looking at the spot where her conjured illusion for another moment before turning toward William. "Are their powers similar, but of Chaos in origin rather than Order? Could one of these Chaos Lords have done exactly what you did, but by the power of this Abyss, rather than the Pattern?" "And are the Abyss and the Pattern the only two such fundamentals?" she adds, quickly. William grins at her. "Which do you want answered first?" he teases. 'As for the first, their power is fundamentally different. Whereas we of Order walk through the multiverse and shape it to our will, those of Chaos can create tendrils of chaos-force to pull themselves through the worlds, or summon creatures or objects from other worlds. I've yet to face one of the great Lords of Chaos, but I've heard they can summon Chaos to their aid. What that means, I hope to learn. When I get the chance, I advise you to duck." He grins more widely. "More than just duck." Devaine says. "Perhaps even goose." "Growing up, I was taught these were the only two poles of power. But travelling through shadow, and talking with mages, mystics, and lunatics, I've come to think there are others. Older, older even that Chaos. And not, I think, as powerful. But still not to be trifled with lightly." William laughs then. "Not that I won't trifle with them, of course, first chance I have." "Older than Order and Chaos." Devaine says. "Its difficult to imagine that something could be *older* than those two forces. I would have thought, now that I have heard of them, that they started the universes,. Or Universes. But powers even older than...Chaos." She cocks her head. "It sounds like, from what you have said and others, that Chaos is older than Order? These Chaos Lords once had no rivals in your Family? Or perhaps they had these older powers as their rivals?" "I would say," William answers thoughtfully, "That before Order, the Universe, the Multiverse, as we know it did not exist. I am not sure that it is even meaningful to speak of 'before Order,' as time itself is different outside of the great bubble of Reality that Order imposes. My great-grandfather imposed that Order, and the Lords of Chaos has never forgotten or forgiven that one of their own did that." "So the Lords of Chaos originated and lived in an incomprehensible period that lies outside of the Reality we know." She shudders a bit. "That's a disquieting thought, Guillaume. Dark dreams of an incomprehensible reality." "Your great-grandfather must have been quite a man to change that." Devaine adds. "To change the world, forever." "Indeed he is," William answers. "I hope to introduce you to him some day." He looks out the window of the carriage for a moment, judging their progress, then turns back to her. "But let us turn to less esoteric matters. You've been with me today, and you have some sense of the various missions we're on. Seeking out my mother's attacker and leaving a lesson about the dangers of daring to attack us. Finding my uncle's missing ship. Investigating these mysterious figures who are asking about us in nearby shadows. Seeking the other enemies who may be sniffing around. Investigating the damage caused by this great shockwave of reality. And, finally, the public purpose of our meeting, diplomacy and reaffirming my royal uncle's ties with the various realms to which we travel." He taps his lip thoughtfully. "Have I left out anything?" Devaine looks pensive for a moment. "I think that just about covers our rather elaborate and extensive itinerary, William."" "Quite a lot even for one Prince of Amber, one Princess, one sorceress, two swordsmen, and associated support staff. However, no one, least of all King Random, will be able of accusing you of being idle." William smiles, thinking of the card tucked away in an inner pocket, and yet another task he didn't mention in his list. "What have I forgotten?" Devaine says, regarding William's smile "Nothing you would know about," William answers, "And nothing I wish to discuss until we are safely at sea and you, my cousin, and I can discuss some matters of sorcerous warding." Devaine nods. Devaine adds. "It will be good for Kiathas and Valric too, I should think. Not to be idle that is." Assuming a serious expression, William nods. "I worry about those two," he says piously. "Idleness is not good for them. They get into trouble." "Shall we lay a wager that we will arrive at the docks and discover that they have gotten themselves into one difficulty or another. Even though you did assign tasks to them, I still think they could have gotten themselves into trouble without much difficulty." "You want me to wager that they haven't gotten into trouble?" Williams asks incredulously. "You had better be offering good odds." Devaine returns the laugh. "Perhaps I could not lay odds large enough for you to accept. If we were on the road rather than a ship, I would say five turns of cooking dinner in place of you, in exchange for one turn on my part if I should win. But cuisine on a ship is not nearly so dicey, especially one from this kingdom." "I'd make it ten to one," William muses. "If you can think of a suitable exchange of forfeits at those odds, though..." Devaine's eyes light up like two stars. "Hmm." William thinks a moment, then says, "Have you a forfeit in mind, if they have found trouble? Tell me it, and I can scale it up properly if I win the wager." "I do" Devaine says, with a smile. Her eyes are still shining. "Based on some of the stuff that I've picked up from being in Amber, I've gathered that you have the ability to find stuff while doing your world traveling thing. Not just food for a horse, but other interesting things." "Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but having a new arcane focus object would be a most thoughtful gift you might find in shadow for me. Anything I might get for you, however on the other end of the bet would have to be purchased." "Is there anything *you* want? Something to look for in the markets and merchants on our journey. Or perhaps a series of surprises?" "Oh, something altogether different, I think," William answers with a wolfish smile. "I've been working on a new form of magic altogether. Dreamwalking. And I think I've progressed to the point where I can enter the dreams of specific individuals. But I need to practice this, preferably with someone with magical training, so that we can discuss in the waking world what they experienced in their dream. So then, their is your forfeit, to open your dreams to my experimentation." "Valric would have something choice to say about this, if he were here at this moment." Devaine says with a temporizing smile. "Fortunately, he is not here." "You are very good at wagering." Devaine continues. "Such a wager takes some of the sting out of losing, since I am curious as to what this magic of yours entails. Assuming I could even remember you purposefully entering my dream rather than being there naturally." Devaine reaches her hand toward William. "Wager accepted." William shakes her hand. "Done and done," he says. "I agree, a most excellent wager all around. Either outcome will prove beneficial to the group as a whole, and interesting in the achieving." "The best sort of wager." Devaine says as she releases William's hand. "I don't think we should tell the boys that we made the bet, no matter which of us actually wins. I don't think Valric and Kiathas' egos could handle it. Although whether it would deflate or explode them is a matter of academic debate." "We can wager on that later," Williams answers with a laugh. "The docks approach." Devaine says. "Its difficult to tell in the dark, but the smell of the ocean is at its strongest now." Backlinks |
