KinglyCommandsIIKingly Commands II(Continued from Kingly Commands) He manages - just - to not wince at the reminder that another long conversation is in the offing. "Yes," he says, turns to Noys, and offers her his arm once more. Noys takes his arm, and so armed, with Lorius behind them, the trip to Aunt Flora's tea proceeds without further preamble. Tea turns out to be in one of the sitting rooms on the second floor, in one of the external rooms, with a surprising amount of windows. The sun, now out from behind clouds, provides strong shafts of light against shadows in the green and gold decorated room. A table, circular, has been set up with high back chairs. No long sitting at one of these, having risen once Asteria opens the door is Princess Florimel of Amber. (Casting call: Grace Kelly) "Thank you Asteria" Flora says, moving smoothly forward toward the entrance. "Noys. Pleasant of you to come. And greetings to you, nephew." she says to Lorius. "It has been some time since you have accepted one of my invitations." "Yes, Aunt Florimel" Lorius says. Flora nods to Lorius and then fastens her attention on Ederyn. "And you must be Ederyn, of whom I have heard much in an exceeding short time." She offers Ederyn her hands. He takes the offered hands - very much following her lead - and says, "I'm glad to meet you, Aunt." She offers Ederyn a smile and releases the hand after a gentle squeeze. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I was a great friend to your father, as your sister may have told you. While I knew of her, and even introduced her mother to Eric, you are something of a surprise. And perhaps not just to me." Florimel soon sits down at one of the chairs and indicates everyone to do the same. An unobtrusive servant appears from somewhere and works at a sideboard pouring cups of tea which are set before everyone. "Thank you, Clarise" Florimel says. "See to the other preparations, will you?" Clarise finished her preparations by setting the silver tea service on the center of the table. Florimel takes a slice of a yellow peeled fruit, a lemon perhaps, and gently puts it in her tea. Asteria does not copy her mother, instead gently adding cream and sugar to her own. Noys and Lorius follow suit. Ederyn adds as much cream as the cup will hold, but no sugar. The delicate porcelain looks surprisingly safe in his work-hardened hand as he takes a sip. "Doubtless my dear nephew has told you this will be excruciatingly dull, long, and tedious." Floimel says to Ederyn. "Oh, mother" Asteria says. Since this is true, Ederyn gives her a confirming nod. Florimel shakes her head. "We must be honest, dear daughter. High Tea is not a common practice in Norwend." "Well, I would not dream of boring a maker of objects mundane and arcane both." Florimel replies. She takes a sip of lemon tea. "And I think the reputation of these affairs has been inflated out of proportion." "If we were to proceed in that spirit and that vein, we might spend the next thirty minutes with such minutae as the state of the weather, the health of the King, the state of disrepair in the Castle, before getting to subjects you might find interesting, if that ever occurs. This is something you have agreed to and thus must be endured, rather than learned from." "Is that what you've imagined, Ederyn?" Florimel adds, sipping her tea again. Without turning his head, Ederyn can make out the puzzlement on Lorius' face, Noys' countenance. Even Asteria appears slightly confused. He blinks at Florimel, then says, "After my second 'tea' in Montenegro, I always had some other place to be." "You speak plainly" Florimel says. "Perhaps with too much of a lack of adornment. Inherited from your father, no doubt. Your sister has learned some small arts to counterbalance the natural tendency of Faiella's descendants to be bloody minded and not engage in discourse. But there is always room to learn." She glances at Noys. Ederyn settles back a little in his seat, disappointed. It would have been nice to be pleasantly surprised, instead of unpleasantly. "Yes, Aunt Florimel" Noys says politely. "So tell me, on the subject of the Faiellans, Ederyn," Florimel continues. "What do you think of your father?" "It's too soon to know." Florimel takes a sip of her tea. "A fair answer, I suppose. You only know him by reputation and by those who have interacted with him, grown up with him. Your sister. The three Weir clan leaders who follow you like loyal hounds. I know something of that last, I mean no insult to them. Merely that I suspect they would face any of the Family lest harm come to you." "Such loyalty" she continues. "is something not always found in this family. So tell me, as someone who has come to us from far away, and not with the brutish matters of some others who have recently come to Amber, how do you find your new family. Surely some you have interacted with." she gives a clearly less-than-approving look at Lorius "have already made an impression. Our King, for instance." "The family is been ..." He stops, his brow furrowing. "The family *has been* very generous." Flora smiles faintly and takes a sip of tea. "One thing, dear." she says to Noys "is that you will have to teach your brother that speaking like he is reading from Ernest Hemingway or Marilin Chiao is somewhat offputting." Ederyn glances among them uncertainly. Lorius resists the urge to laugh, clenching his top teeth against his bottom lip in mirth. "Yes, Aunt Flora." Noys says. "The people of Norwend, save the skalds, are not a garrulous people." "Oh, no," Ederyn corrects her. "It's just my way." "When are you going to walk the Pattern, Ederyn?" Asteria puts in. "I assume you've already asked Lorius to anchor you, in addition to me and probably your sister being there?" "Now?" he suggests hopefully. This time, Lorius cannot contain his mirth, and does not cease it even with the venomous look from Flora and Asteria both. Ederyn's sister is far more schooled and polite in her reaction. Ederyn grins, pleased that his joke was successful with one person, at least. "It is my belief." Flora says after a moment "That we must have gotten off on the wrong foot, if you are more inclined to seek possible death and immolation on the Pattern than sit and enjoy tea here, Ederyn." He sighs a little, resisting an urge to slouch in his seat. It's impossible, he thinks, that she doesn't understand how jokes work; that she chooses to pretend so is tedious. "Begin again, Serenade. Mother?" Asteria suggests. "Quite" Flora says. From nowhere, the sounds of music can be heard. A harpsichord, playing an unfamiliar, light tune. Ederyn has heard the instrument before, in Montenegro. "Now, then." Flora says, fixing her gaze on Ederyn. "Why don't you tell us of yourself, nephew. What interests you?" "Learning to make things," he says, more than willing to try for a more congenial conversation. "Learning how to change things, and how to put beauty and power into things. What interests you, Aunt?" "Ah, a creator of things. Of artifacts, even." Florimel says, pleased. She takes a sip of her tea. "I see why you have fallen in with Lorius, although I would be surprised to see him soil his hands with a hammer." Lorius says nothing, taking a sip of tea. "But to answer your question." Florimel continues. "People interest me. Bloodlines and heritages, those who choose to follow their parents footsteps, and those who do all to not do as their parents did. From our Family here, to the Noble families of Amber, and the Golden Circle." "Sometimes." the tone verges on something like an apology "I like to find out the measure of a man, or a woman. It makes it easier to find out where they are on the board. Especially if they are new, like yourself." Ederyn nods, acknowledging the near-apology, and wondering what 'on the board' means. "You are going to teach him Chess, I trust?" Florimel says to Noys. "Or must I gift him with a set for you to do so?" "I think my brother would prefer to make his own and use it, after such a gift." Noys says. "Ederyn may have seen Tamerlane while in Montenegro, which is similar." "Yes," Ederyn says. "It's an interesting game." There's a trace of reservation in his voice; if he's understanding the conversation correctly, Florimel was drawing an analogy between people's behavior and games like Tamerlane, a position he's not sure he agrees with. "Good" Flora says. She looks at Lorius. "We do not need to extend the analogy further and discuss the minutiae of the game or your favorite positions I think Ederyn sees the point, even if he does not yet see the wisdom of it." "Yes, Aunt Florimel." Lorius says. "Aunt Florimel, if you are here to take Ederyn's measure, why bother inviting both his sister and myself. Noys might get the occasional invitation, but I've not been here in, um, months. Maybe a year." "A fair question to ask us." Flora says. She takes a sip of tea and glances at Asteria. "A few reasons come to mind." Asteria pipes up. "I think Ederyn feels more comfortable with friendly, or at least known faces nearby. Noys is his sister and, even if he does not regard you with brotherly kindness, he knows your name and can rely on you." "Is it not true?" she says to Ederyn. "We have some 'interests' the same," the smith replies. "And I like his - your - enthusiasm?" His tone says he is not sure that is the right word. "I'll take the word enthusiasm." Lorius grins. "It is a kind thing," Ederyn goes on, "to think of my comfort. So much is new and strange ..." He hesitates, not wanting to seem ungrateful. "I get tired, sometimes." "The newness and strangeness and novelty is enervating, not exhilarating for you." Flora says. "Or perhaps" Asteria says kindly. "There has just been so much that has been new for my cousin." Asteria looks at Ederyn. "You now have a sister..." she nods to Noys, who nods back in return. "and a new family of cousins, aunts, and uncles. And have become a leader of men." She pauses a beat. "Well, Weir. It is all too much, too fast, isn't it, cousin?" "Sometimes," Ederyn repeats, her sympathy having a perceptible softening effect on his mood. "I want to be here, but I also want it to be more like home. I'll get used to it." Asteria nods sympathetically. Lorius steeples his fingers and grins. Then [Ederyn] chuckles wryly and puts his empty teacup down. "Except, it seems I must go to other new places very soon, and try to be a leader of Weir. I guess what I really need to get used to is change." "Our worlds are change." Noys murmurs "Even in an eternal city." "Go to new places, and be a leader of Weir?" Flora says, after a sip of tea. "Please do go on. I had not heard this." She pauses a beat. "You're not engaged in some sort of civil war or insurrection amongst their brutish clans, are you, Ederyn?" Ederyn gives her a wary look, but he's not sure enough of the meaning of "brutish" to actually take offense. "No," he replies. "While we spoke with the King about the battle with the Omphalos, he received a letter from Benedict. This letter asks for me, and some others, to join him in fighting the Omphalos. Whether the king decides that I go, or not go, to Benedict, I think we must carry the war to this enemy, and soon. Some of the Weir will come with me, which ever choice the king makes." "Ah, yes" Flora says. "My elder brother's letter, rapidly gaining in fame by the moment. And he knew enough to include you though he has not been in Amber for your arrival." She pauses, the cup of tea held to her lips. "I take it the both of you were included as well." she says to Noys and Lorius. "Yes, Aunt Flora." Noys says. "With bells on, he expects me." Lorius says. "I guess he remembers some of the work I did in the Patternfall War. I'll just bet that Martin is going to be his adjutant again, too." "It is a pity" Flora responds, turning back to Ederyn "that my brother did not think to invite myself, or my daughter. I do wonder if he has considered my son William, though." She sets down the tea cup and makes a dismissive motion of her hand. "If I know your sister, she has already told you of the entire family tree. But now I understand why you are going to Weirmonken and taking control of the Weir." "Just like your father." Flora adds. Ederyn's face stills at the reference to his father, but with an effort he moves past his gut-level resistance to the 'just like' idea. "We have not decided how to get them, or if I am going there," he says instead of protesting. "I see" Flora says. She continues to listen to Ederyn. "Before today, I walked where I needed to go. Or rode a boat. Now, I have seen three different ways to travel very far in one step. There may be some way besides going on feet that will work best, but it needs talking about." "You have been showing off, haven't you?" Flora says to Lorius. "Some rapid arcane transport was necessary to deal with the Omphalos incursion." Lorius replies. "Three?" Asteria says. "Lorius' magic, trumps, and what else?" she asks Ederyn. "No, four," he corrects himself, and counts on his fingers. "Trumps, Aura's magic, Brienne's thing, and Lorius' magic." "Technically three, since Aura is one of my pupils." Lorius says. "It was different from how you moved us," Ederyn counters. "A different paradigm, true." Lorius admits. "I am sure this is fascinating." Flora says. "However, in the speaking of relatives, Ederyn I am curious if you were one of the people who had a nocturnal visitation from our distant cousin the dream master," Flora interrupts. "I don't think cousin Val would consider himself a master, Aunt Flora." Noys puts in. "Perhaps not." Flora says. "Have you met Valerian, Ederyn? He does seem to have a preternatural ability to find family members, including ones hiding that fact or unaware of it." "I never saw him before today," Ederyn answers both of her questions. "He may not be as skilled as we thought." Asteria muses. "The family IS large to keep track of." Lorius counters. "Especially for someone outside of it. Besides I have my suspicions..." "Which are?" Flora prompts. "I prefer not to reveal them at this time." Lorius says smugly. Flora only briefly looks crestfallen. "Do tell us about Brieanne's Gate" Asteria says. "We only have the barest of information. You rescued Uncle Julian, right?" Ederyn looks from one cousin to the other. "Carl, two Rangers, the three Weir, and me," he clarifies. "The Gate opened to the Omphalos Capital - Lorius thinks so -" "Evidence and Ederyn's testimony suggest it." Lorius says. "There was the biggest room I've ever seen, but all made of metal," Ederyn goes on. "There were some Omphalos soldiers carrying swords and 'guns.' We all fought, and we got Julian free of the chains and carried him out, before they could kill us all. That is the last order I heard, to kill us, when we couldn't be stopped." Before anyone can ask for more detail, he turns to Lorius. "What I can't understand," he says to him, "is that there seemed to be very little magic there. I could feel the elements only a little. But the Omphalos soldiers had their translating magic, and seemed to expect strong magic. How can that be?" Noys, Flora and Asteria look at Lorius, too, at Ederyn's question. Lorius grins at Ederyn. "A good observation, cousin. Another reason why I like you." he smiles. "Valerian told us, well me for one, and my sister and Percy confirmed that their home city, their city of Capital, is on a fault line of shadow metaphysics. Roughly half of it is a high mana region, probably where their primal power source is located if its not in the dead middle. "The other half of the city is in a relatively low mana region, and to compensate, they have a high tech level there. Much higher than most of our shadows in fact. It's my thought this is where they took Julian and to where Brieanne broke through with her Gate. That's why they knew all about magic and used it in Arden themselves, but weren't prepared to use it themselves in defending their prisoner. I'll bet that big metal room was an aerodrome." "It would be a deadly combination for them to discover Uncle Corwin's dread secret." Noys says "And bring their guns to Amber along with their sorcery. And aircraft too." "Then we must stop them from doing so." Flora says briskly. Ederyn nods in agreement, but says, "What is an aerodrome, and aircraft? And meta-physics and primal power?" "Do try not to bore us, nephew, in the explanation." Flora says to Lorius. It's not a sharp rebuke, but the blue eyes look piercingly at Lorius. Lorius looks at Noys. "Why don't we split the job?" "All right." Noys says good naturedly. She turns to Ederyn. "Aeroplanes are heavier than air vehicles that can fly. This is accomplished by means of the design of the wings, and engines that produce lift. They don't work in Amber without magic, the physics here don't allow engines that can produce the lift. Random and Martin have long since tried it." "An aerodrome, brother, is a big metal building that stores and houses aeroplanes, keeps them out of the elements, lets people work on them. People often embark and disembark from aeroplanes in the aerodrome, too.¹" "Clear as rain, cousin." Lorius says. "Metaphysics is the study of the rules of a shadow, especially in terms of the magic and technological quotients. Different places allow for different rules to work. You've probably encountered this in traveling from Norwend to Montenegro to Weirmonken to Amber and all the places in between. He pauses a beat for Ederyn's acknowledgement and continues. Think of their Capital city spanning two very different worlds, right up next to each other. In our universe, thats pretty rare, and every place it happens, its the source of some serious shadow potential. The Keep of Four Worlds, for example." "Anyway, a Primal Power is something bigger than magic, a fundamental Power of the universe that can affect reality. The Pattern, which you are going to walk, is one. The Logrus is the other major one. There are a few smaller ones. The Omphalos have one,too, on the level of the Pattern. They'd have to, to get those Doors to work well." Lorius looks at Noys. "We should get Ederyn some education, and fast. A fast time shadow with some serious educational gear." "Yes!" Noys says excitedly. "Perhaps that could wait until after tea?" Asteria suggests. Ederyn listens attentively, able to parse most of the explanations without too much trouble. He smiles slightly at Asteria's remark and decides most of his many other questions can probably wait for this education. "Tell me about the Pattern, then," he says, glancing around at the group. Noys, Lorius, Asteria and Flora look at each other. Finally, Flora's daughter clears her throat and sets down her tea up. "The Pattern is the most beautiful thing in the universe, Ederyn." Asteria says. "It is also the most important thing. Our ancestor Dworkin drew the Pattern, and so changed the universe forever, imposing order on what was once formless void, or at the best, fragments of stability." "It's a rough spiral line, about the size of a foot..." Asteria stops. "Its a rough spiral several hundred paces across. If you are of Dworkin's bloodline, you can walk the Pattern and try to finish it. If you are not of the blood, you will die. If you are of the blood, you may still die. To walk the Pattern is to have it unlock the power within you and engrave itself within you. This is a process that taxes all that you are." "Reach the center, and all of shadow will be open to you." she says, changing her tone to a lighter one. "If there was any doubt about you being family, they will be gone. The limitless potential of the universe is yours for the taking." "Oh, and the act of walking to its center, whether or not its your firs time, provides magical energy to transport yourself anywhere, Ederyn. Any place you can imagine." Asteria says. As she speaks, Ederyn has to work to keep most of his attention on her. Actively thinking about the Pattern makes its presence - never far from his awareness since he first perceived it - more difficult to ignore. And then there's the diamond. Much closer than the actual Pattern, and wholly his. Showing it to Lorius and Flora would be a fine excuse to touch it, to look into it again ... Its not so much that the diamond calls to him, but its in his thoughts and its almost as if it were silently burning on the borders of his waking mind. "Your home in Norwend. The top of Mount Kolvir. The Throne Room of Emperor Merlin on the other side of reality." Noys says. "Anywhere. We suspect that one of our cousins used it to briefly visit the Omphalos reality that you did with Brieanne's gate." "Some have merely teleported themselves to their bed bed to sleep" Lorius says. "Taxing, as Asteria said." "Oh, and there are four Patterns." Lorius continues. "The one in the basement here. One in Rebma. One in the ghostly city in the sky, Tir Na Nogth." He pauses dramatically. "And then there is the *real* one." Lorius adds. "But walking any of them is enough to unlock your potential." "Is the 'real' one linked to Fire?" Ederyn asks curiously. That doesn't feel right, somehow, yet symmetry seems to require a Fire Pattern. "Linked to Fire...?" Flora asks. She looks at Lorius. "Oh!" Lorius shakes his head. "You're thinking a classical Greco-Roman elemental paradigm where..." he stops in midstream, takes a sip of tea, and starts again. "The four Patterns we know of don't map to Earth, Air, Fire and Water, although my mother, my siblings and I have thought long and hard about it. We do think its potentially theoretically possible that there is a fifth Pattern, four reflections to match the elements, all under the Primal. Dworkin hasn't said yes or no to its existence." "With your skills, you might be a good person to help us find it, Ederyn if it does exist." Lorius says brightly. "I am not sure I want my brother delving into volcanoes with you, Lorius." Noys says. "Volcanoes are not the only possibility for a Fire Pattern." Lorius counters. Ederyn's distraction makes it hard to follow this exchange, but he manages it, despite the confusion it also causes. He looks uncertainly between them again. "But *this* Pattern is certainly linked to Earth," he protests, gesturing toward its underground location. "They are together, like - like the color is in my shirt. And you say there is another under water, and another in the air ..." "Well, yes." Lorius says. He leans in and puts his hand to his cheek and whispers in an exaggerated volume. "We're about to bore Aunt Flora and cousin Asteria" He then resumes his normal volume of voice. "That's all true. The Primal Pattern, the fourth one, is actually the one the other three Patterns are reflections of, Ederyn. It's at ground level in the 'real' Amber that this one is only a shadow of. So its not really a Pattern of Fire." "But you think that maybe there is a fourth reflection of the Primal to follow my brother's idea?" Noys says. "Tir for Air, Rebma for water, the one in the basement for Earth, and a Fire one we haven't found?" "You shouldn't encourage them, dear." Aunt Flora admonishes Noys lightly. "It's possible." Lorius says. "Us redheads haven't found it yet. That doesn't mean its not there though. I have...theories. Theories, Ederyn, I would love to investigate with you, once you DO have a Pattern Imprint." Lorius finishes. "But enough about such subjects. Have you heard about Lord Montrose's wayward daughter? And what House Feldane is up to lately?" Asteria rolls her eyes. Flora just takes another sip of her tea. Noys stifles a laugh. Ederyn sighs a little, then gamely says, "What is House Feldane?" "One of the major noble Houses of Amber." Asteria says. "We have the Royal family and that is separate. Below us we have a number of non-Royal Noble families who are our feudal vassals. Feldane is one of these..." The next ten minutes is a tangled story of Noble Houses that would make a suitable Edda, if a real bard decided to take it up. Flora and Asteria do try and manage to flavor the material as much as they can. Ederyn takes away that Karm is the oldest and the proudest of this fact, but all of the noble Houses jockey for power and attention. Asteria explains that the Houses have tried to dangle marriagable daughters in front of Amberite Princes since time immemorial... For once during the conversation, Flora looks pleased and gives her daughter beatific looks. By contrast, Lorius looks a bit bored. Noys remains neutral, nodding at some parts, getting more animated as Asteria mentions that one of the Noble Houses, Chandris , has a cadet branch named Benes. "As you may know" Asteria says. "This is the noble family that your sister's mother comes from..." "I think that's quite enough for now." Flora finally says. "We might spend a week's worth of teas explaining the politics of Amber's nobility to Ederyn." For his part, Ederyn has listened with dutiful attention, drinking more milky tea and continuing to ignore the sugary tea cakes and so forth that are also on the table. Now he just shrugs a little, hoping this particular tea is almost over. "I do think we have all learned something today." Asteria says after a minute of quiet tea drinking. "I suppose" Lorius says with a touch of diplomacy. Flora rises and walks over to Ederyn. "Well, nephew, let me wish you luck and success with your Patternwalk, for we will likely not see each other until that is done. I am sure with help, guidance and support, you will succeed and take your rightful place. As your father would want." Ederyn gets to his feet to meet her. "Thank you, Aunt," is all he has to say. "Until we meet again." Flora says. "You will let me know when you are ready, of course?" Asteria says to Ederyn. "Of course," he says, trusting that he will find (or be told of) a way to do that. Not long later, once words of departure trail away, Lorius, Noys and Ederyn are in the hallway, safely away, if that is the phrase, from Flora and her tea party. "It's almost a rite of passage in Amber." Lorius breaks the silence. "Having tea with Aunt Florimel." "One that I must say that my brother handled better than many." Noys says. "I don't think he is looking to any repeat invitations anytime soon." "For all of the fractiousness of our Family, Ederyn.." Noys continues. "We *are* a social sort. We like to take the measure of people on familiar ground. Aunt Flora just did that, but she will not be the only one seeking to do so." "Not just elders, too." Lorius agrees. "Although our parents and elder relatives are more practiced at it. But I'm glad we escaped without Flora managing to set up any matchmaking." "And she said nothing about hats. Or lace. Or ribbons," Ederyn remarks. "Thank the Unicorn." Lorius says. "It might be somewhat unfair to think that Aunt Flora is capable of only thinking on such banal subjects." "She is, officially, the royal architect." Noys says. "Although I think she likes to downplay that. And just about everything else. Outward signs of feigned helplessness. Like when our father was in power here." she adds. "And then when Corwin made his comeback." Ederyn files this information away. Lorius shakes his head. "Half of what Corwin had written down were lies created by some hack writer at his request, and the other half was partial truths at best." "Speaking of truth..." Lorius says. "Did you want us to give you a look at the Pattern? See what you're up against?" "I've already seen it, thank you," Ederyn says, sure that this bald statement will agitate Lorius. Lorius takes less than a second to get the agitation Ederyn expects, perhaps even desires: "Wait, what?" Lorius says. "When did *that* happen?" He swings his gaze over to Noys. Ederyn smiles, just a little. "Look at me not, cousin" comes the reply from Ederyn's half-sister. "This is news to me." She pauses a beat. "The only way I figure it is Aura's doing, perhaps." She turns and glances at Ederyn. Ederyn has spent enough time with Noys to read the look in her eyes: 'This is your call' He stares at her, his amusement quite evaporated. "So will you enlighten us, brother?" Noys says to Ederyn, the message gone. "Having Lorius be hospitalized in a fit of apoplexy not knowing the truth might be amusing but ultimately counter-productive." "Umm," Ederyn says, and with an effort moves his gaze to Lorius. "It's because of the link between it and Earth," he says. "On the way up to here, I slept a while, and the Pattern invited me to walk on it. And I talked to it." He pauses to give Lorius a chance to voice his reaction. Lorius worries his lip for a moment, studying brother and sister. His eyes have been studying Ederyn and Noys both the last few moments and finally he speaks. He spreads his hands wide. "Look, I didn't want to cause a rift between the two of you by bringing this up. This family is bloody dysfunctional enough already, thank you. If I have caused grief on that, I am...regretful." Noys gives a curt nod to Lorius. The pace of her walk slows slightly and her body language turns more closed. Her smile turns into a not-quite-frown. For his part, Ederyn looks apologetic, an expression that seems directed both at Noys and Lorius. "Now that I've gotten that off of my chest." Lorius says. "Now to the matter of you and the Pattern, cousin. I am surprised by the manner and locale of when and where you talked to the Pattern, more than the fact itself. Hiding the fact that the Pattern is sentient and aware from you is foolish,;you know the truth that would belie such a deception on my part. Its not something discussed openly, but neither is it a high state secret. Giving directions to the Primal Pattern is a different story." "Your thoughts on an elemental paradigm for the Pattern now carry some more weight." Lorius says to Ederyn. "if you are suggesting that the Pattern sought to speak to you at a distance because it is a Pattern of Earth and your connection to that element." "I know that I had no thought of reaching it," Ederyn replies. "I only wanted to rest and to enjoy being on land again. And the Earth here feels ... very good. When I fell asleep I was feeling about it like a cat lying in the sun. And then I was dreaming of the cave and the Pattern." The tension seems to have dissipated from Lorius and Noys. The latter's body language has started to relax. "Ahh, from your sea trip." The redhead sorcerer nods his head. "You were reconnecting to the land, establishing your connection to it, connecting to the local flavor of esoteric Lithomantic energies and powers. And the Pattern felt this and inserted itself into your dreams. If you had a dream with an abstract image of the Pattern, I'd say it was your dormant and latent Pattern manifesting in your mind, but the cave suggests a more active visitation on its part. "Did the Pattern *speak* to you, Ederyn, in this dream?" Lorius says to Ederyn. "First it invited me to walk on it, without words," Ederyn answers. "Afterward, I spoke to it. Tell me, will it look through my memories each time?" "Do you think this conversation should be behind closed doors?" Noys says to Lorius. Lorius bites his lip. "Nah. If we had an eavesdropper, we'd know it. We should pick a destination rather than his aimless wandering." "Library." Noys says. The walk continues. "You walked the Pattern in this visitation." Lorius says. "I've heard of people seeing fragments of the Pattern. Talking to the Pattern and walking it in your mind before walking the Pattern in the flesh are far rarer occurrences." "Minh claims it." Noys says. "True." Lorius says. "And now, Ederyn." "But to answer your question, Ederyn." Lorius continues. "The Pattern, to use a metaphor you will understand, forges the walker anew. In so doing, yes, memories get dredged up, sifted, catalogued. Used." Ederyn sighs, but is not really surprised. He's quiet for a few moments, thinking that over. He ought to take some time to examine himself a little more closely, and see if he can detect any subtle changes from his first 're-forging.' Returning to the conversation, he offers, "The threat of the Omphalos may have something to do with its action." "That's not an unreasonable theory." Lorius says. "The Pattern also got talkative and active during the Chaosian Succession that put our cousin Merlin in the throne." "Would access to a Fire Pattern be helpful?" Ederyn continues. "I could ask this Pattern to send me to where it is." "Unicorn's blood, don't do that!" Lorius blurts out. "Look, asking the Pattern to send you somewhere that is not a place you already know is just asking for all sorts of trouble, Ederyn." he adds. "I am going to side with my brother." Noys says. "If he's right, Lorius, he'll unlock something that you, your Mother and everyone else hasn't been able to find. And we could use another Pattern. I support your idea, Ederyn." "And you could lose your new brother in record time if the Pattern sends him there or somewhere else and its inimical to life. Or Ederyn can't get *back*" Lorius counters. "Can't you teleport from one Pattern center to another like Corwin did?" Noys says. "Yes" Lorius says. "But he knew that there was another Pattern to teleport to, and knew where it was. We don't know that for certain that this one exists, and only theories on *where* it is." "Ederyn takes a trump card of me or you and uses it at the first sign of trouble, like the inability to transport away. Or to bring one of us *through* and join him there." "And if trump is also blocked wherever he winds up?" Lorius says. "Now you're making excuses, dear cousin, because Ederyn has the will to try something you never considered." Noys says, shaking her head. She looks at Ederyn. "I think our cousin is put out because you've beaten him to a punch with the idea and are the best person to do it." Ederyn smiles. "And I think he's used to knowing what it is ahead of him, before he jumps." "I prefer preparation whenever possible, that is all." Lorius replies. "It is not a straitjacket, it is instead a scaffold for success." "You should see him play chess." Noys says. "Its like playing with a Glacier Dragon." "You've played chess with a Draconis Glacia?" Lorius says to Noys skeptically. "Where? When?" "Later, cousin." Noys says, amused. "Before I decide what to do, can you explain to me *why* the Fire Pattern would be useful?" Ederyn asks. "Because the less studious amongst our family think that while the experience of walking the Pattern of Amber, the Primal Pattern, the Pattern of Rebma and the Pattern in Tir are different, the end result is the same. You get a Pattern Imprint and that's the end of it." "The different Patterns are subtly but significantly different in their aspects and conveyed abilities." Lorius says. "A Fire Pattern would give us hitherto unknown advantages. And against the Omphalos, we can take any one we can get." Lorius holds up his hand at this point as Noys leads Ederyn and Lorius into the library where she had gotten him his trump deck not so long ago. And there is a familiar face here, too, sitting at one of the tables studying a large book open in front of him. Daniel Poole. The Ambassador rises and bows. "Prince, Princess." he says to Lorius and Noys in turn. He gives a smile to Ederyn. "Ederyn." "Hello, Daniel," Ederyn says. Then, with his usual understated amusement, "Can you not find someone to talk to in this place?" Daniel smiles. "I've talked off the ears of several Ambassadors the last few hours." he says. "I've quickly come to realize that acquainting myself with some of the history they've assumed would be wise. They seemed less than pleased I did not know things widely accepted as fact." "One must, milady Princess." he says looking at Noys "have a common basis of understanding to conduct true diplomacy." "This is true, Ambassador Poole." Noys says. "And so I am reading Amber history since our realms...lost contact with each other." Daniel says diplomatically. "A volume of history of what has happened in Montenegro would be appreciated by a number of the members of the Royal Family." Noys says to Daniel. "I should arrange that." Daniel says. He then turns to Ederyn. "I have heard that you, and the Prince." he nods to Lorius "were engaged in the altercation that occurred in Arden. The lady Weir, when I asked her what occurred, deferred to you, their Jarl, to tell me the facts. She seems intent on composing a skald instead. She tells me that what she intends to immortalize is myth and story, not fact." A more demonstrative man would probably roll his eyes at this point. Ederyn only looks a bit wry. "Weir myth, I expect," he says. "That should be interesting to hear." He goes on, "It seems that Amber has been attacked by some people called 'Omphalos' before and they tried again today. Aura and Noys and the Weir and I helped the Rangers slow them down until more help came, and Aura could close their way in. They seem persistent, but clumsy." He's not going to say anything about Julian's capture; he knows that he, himself, would rather not have something so embarrassing generally discussed. "Persistent but clumsy. Let's hope they stay the latter."Lorius comments. "I am pleased that our arrival was timely enough that you were able to aid your Amber relations in this fashion." Pride fills Daniel's voice. "May their efforts continue to be ineffective and you aid in blunting said efforts." "One can hope." Noys says. "Hey, did you steal a trump deck for Ederyn yet?" Lorius says as he walks over to the glass case where Ederyn received his deck thanks to Noys. "Already taken care of, cousin." "Good." Lorius replies. "There is much history to learn here before I can be an effective Ambassador." Daniel says to Ederyn. "So much to read. A lifetime's work crammed into as short a time as possible." "That's it!" Lorius says to Noys. He practically dances back over to Ederyn. "Look, cousin, if you're serious about trying this Fire Pattern gambit, we should do this before you walk the Pattern. As in right now. Otherwise, we'll take you to Locus Minerva as soon as you recover from your successful Patternwalk." Noys puts a hand on Ederyn's arm. "What our cousin is trying to say, if you think the Fire Pattern is real and a good idea, we should get you up to speed on matters before you walk the Pattern, or else we do it afterwards. Either way, we'll take you to a shadow where we can get you the education you need. I'll be there with you the entire time. Promise." Daniel has stopped reading his history text and is watching and listening in rapt attention. "This is the place where time runs faster than here?" Ederyn says. "Yes" Noys says. Ederyn crosses his arms over his chest and frowns thoughtfully, staring at the end of a nearby bookcase. He has to admit to himself that his resistance to the idea stems mainly from already feeling rushed and overwhelmed - a situation that isn't likely to be much improved by walking the Pattern. Or even by waiting until tomorrow morning. "I suppose there's no reason not to go now," he says slowly. "Then we go now." Noys says without hesitation. She looks at Lorius expectantly. "Fine by me." he shrugs. "Mom made me a trump, so no nauseating teleportation spells." He reaches into a pocket and starts looking through a trump deck. "If I understand, Ederyn." Daniel says, looking over at Ederyn. "I will see you soon, but you will not see me for days, weeks, months? There will not even be time to tell the Weir before you return?" "Here we are. Locus Minerva." Lorius says. He holds up a card of a city of a landscape with a massive greywracke mountain wall behind a large, expansive building of glass and stone. He then concentrates on the card, and extends his hand out. "Come, brother." Noys says gently. (Continued in The Education of Ederyn Smith) |
