LongLostSisterOfMineLong Lost Sister of Mine(Continued from Five Sides to Castle Amber) Startled by the speed of the transition, Ederyn takes a moment to remember to release the king's hand and stand up. His expression softens in response to her smile. "Noys," he says, his accent putting a soft 'ess' sound in her name. "I learned only today that I have a sister." He steps a little closer to her and holds out both hands. Noys takes both hands, eagerly, and squeezes them. "Our branch of the family tree, is something we should discuss at length." She turns her head toward Random, not yet releasing Ederyn's hands. "May we be excused, your Majesty?" "Yes, yes. Just see to it he is returned to his Weir and pet Montenegran in good order. Show him where to get a deck; tell the librarian I've given you permission to hand him one. Introduce him around. If possible, get him ready for Court, which is likely tomorrow. Perhaps the next day." Random regards Ederyn. "Don't worry, your sister is modest but I am leaving you in capable hands, son. She helped Gerard run the kingdom for ten years." Noys' face dimples and she curtsies. Ederyn isn't sure what to make of this information, so he attempts another bow toward the king, instead. "Thank you. Your majesty," he says. "Thank you, your Majesty" Noys says. She releases Ederyn's hands, but leads him toward the door, and out into the corridors of the Castle. Noys slowly begins making a progress through the Castle, only pausing enough to put a finger against her lips, and a return of that smile. In short order, Noys has led Ederyn down several corridors, remaining silent for the entire journey. Even hails from a guard or two (and Ederyn notices that the guards here are of both genders) only gets a wave rather than a spoken response from Noys. Ederyn notes their route automatically; most of his attention goes toward using this interlude to sort and settle his feelings. The satisfactory meeting with Random means, he reflects, that he can relax and, perhaps, believe that he will stay here. Stay, and learn to call the place 'home.' The earth of Amber has been in the back of his consciousness all along, deep and quiet, while he attended to other things. And learned whether he would be permitted to stay. Now, reassured, he paces beside and half a step behind Noys, and savors the 'taste' of Amber, and the presence of his sister, and the idea of becoming less alone instead of more. A door that Noys unlocks with a silver key opens into a sitting room, with at least one other room beyond. A soft spoken word from Noys produces a soft yellow light from the sphere. Noys waits for Ederyn to enter and find a chair (there are several), and then she closes the door behind him, back resting against the closed door for a long moment. "There." she says, regarding Ederyn. "You must have many questions, brother." Noys says, pronouncing the last word with a definite suffusion of warmth. Ederyn has glanced around the room, noting the existence of yet another distinct style of furniture, and moved to a seat nearer the fireplace than the rest. When Noys speaks he is standing beside it, looking back towards her. "Enough for years of asking," he answers her remark. "Sister." Saying the word makes his breath catch, but he goes on as if his eyes weren't almost tearing, and with the questions uppermost in his mind. "How came you to know of me? What are 'other means'?" Noys nods. "It was, Ederyn, recently, and quite by accident." she begins. "One of our cousins, Malachi, came visiting with a Chaosian named Rheaine, of House Ishtar. She claimed to be my...our sister." The thought of yet another alleged sister raises Ederyn's brows. "I found it unlikely, and resolved, Ederyn, to discover the truth. The City in the Sky, Tir Na Nogth, is a realm of oracles, dreams, prophecies and hidden knowledge. It is dangerous to traverse without aid, but I decided to do so anyway. Not the wisest course I might have tried." "Any way, when I entered into the ghostly city, I tried to find the image of Rheaine, to question her and confirm that she was indeed of the same blood. So I searched the city in search of my sibling. Tir would not bring me to my sister. Instead, it brought me to the ghostly image of my real sibling, Ederyn. It brought me...to you." "That is a ... unnerving thing to think of," Ederyn admits. To give himself a moment to assimilate the idea, he settles himself in the chair he picked out. "These images can speak? This one of me, it spoke with you?" "The Ghosts of Tir usually *don't* speak" Noys says. "They are usually just seen, and not heard. However..." Noys says. "It is a little known fact that the descendants of Faiella have more affinity than most with the City in the Sky." "So, yes, I spoke with your ghost at length, Ederyn." Noys says. "I am not sure I should repeat what the image said." Noys lowers her voice. "The walls sometimes have ears." Ederyn blinks at this. Presumably she doesn't mean the entity he spoke with earlier. After a moment's brow-furrowing thought to unravel the implications of her turn of phrase, he says, "I refuse to worry about that. Please tell me what the image said, Noys. You've made me very curious." Noys looks pensively at Ederyn. She then looks at the fireplace, staring at the flames. "You must understand that the ghosts in Tir often speak of things that might have been, or might be, or would never be but could have been now, if things were different. It makes Tir's use as an oracle somewhat risky. Even more so, for the likes of us. Our Uncle Corwin, for example, saw a world where his daughter ruled Amber, with her other ancestor, General Benedict, as her guardian. Unlikely, even if she did conquer Amber as she sought to do back then." Noys' eyes and then her head turn toward Ederyn. She exhales and then speaks more. "Your ghost said that you had come to Amber for one purpose only. You sought to return the throne of Amber to the line of our father, by force. You wanted to make me Queen." "The five ghosts of Weir behind you seemed to support your Ghost's wishes." Noys adds. "Huh!" Ederyn says, caught between amusement and distaste. "Are you sure this thing is *ever* right?" "Metaphor is a strong component to Tir Na Nogth, brother." Noys replies. "Literal interpretations of the visions can often be fruitless, or even counterproductive. Or, similarly, it is the small elements that are the ones to pay attention to. For example, in the vision of our Uncle, he did not know at the time how Dara was related to Benedict and the remainder of the family." "You have allied with the Weir, have you not?" Noys says. "That much I intuited from my vision as being likely true." Ederyn nods in easy concession of her points. "I'm not sure 'allied' is the right word," he notes. "But three of them are with me - not five. And of course *I* exist, which was to you news, yes?" "I was looking for information on Rheaine, not a brother" Noys says in agreement. He drops the subject of her vision as exhausted of interest, leaning one elbow on the arm of his chair and regarding her seriously, unaware of how intense his gaze really is. "I first learned that *you* exist today, Noys. Sister. Will you tell me about you?" Noys blinks a moment, and doesn't quite meet Ederyn's intense gaze, as one might eschew staring directly at the sun. "I should begin at the beginning, and start where I came from.' Noys says. "I am the daughter of Eric, Regent in all but name, then, and Lady Lora Benes . She was a scion of the minor noble House here in the city." "Father was very protective about my existence" Noys continues. "Mother, too. I lived with Mother for many years in the city, only seeing my father on the rarest of occasions. I think father was afraid of something befalling me, or her." "It was not until the Interregnum" Noys says "that I became anything more than the daughter of a local noblewoman who had been slightly scandalized for having a child out of wedlock. There were rumors that Eric, or Julian, or Caine, or Gerard was my father, but there was no proof. Mother, and Eric's cabal were extremely careful to tamp down even the rumors, for fear of someone trying to do harm to me. I studied history, politics and law. On occasion, my uncles taught me a bit of swordplay and other things." "Once Gerard started ruling as Regent" Noys continues. "I was asked to put my skills to work and help Uncle run the kingdom. I got to meet those members of the family who were still here, and I walked the Pattern. I could have asked the Pattern to take me anywhere, brother. That is how it works when you walk it. A ticket to anywhere. I could have roamed shadow, explore...Uncle Gerard expected me to do so." "I did not" Noys says "I plunged back into work. I couldn't let him down, could I, Ederyn?" Noys pauses here , clearly expecting Ederyn's reaction and questions. "No," Ederyn agrees quietly, suspecting the 'him' she refers to might be Eric as much as Gerard. Apparently he has no questions; instead he sits back a little and says, "My turn, I think." But it's still a moment before he starts talking, and when he does, it's with deliberation, yet with little of the facility with words that he's sometimes capable of. Noys has folded her hands and turned her eyes to study Ederyn as he speaks. “I was born in the town of Drengrheim in Norwend. My mother was Maeva Gunnolfsdatter, sister of King Hromund. They never heard of Amber before Eric Oberonson said he was a king’s son from that place. They ... had no way to pursue him, when he left. No one there ever saw him again. I was about six years old when my mother married Osten, the smith. They had three children. Only the first lived very long – Truda, my little sister. She had eight years when she died.” Noys bites her lip, and nods. “Osten taught me smithing. My uncle and his men taught me to use sword and axe. When I was nineteen I married Halldir. She wasn’t the most beautiful of the girls I knew, but she was the best of them.” He takes a steadying breath, his gaze turned inward. “I’ve hated him for not warning me – our father. If he knew about me. But, over the years she was growing old ... that’s when I learned to feel the earth and the fire. Asteria says you call this ‘affinity.’ It’s useful.” "An arcane elemental affinity." Noys agrees. He continues, “After she died I wandered for a time. I met a man who taught me the nafnr, the names – another kind of magic. Later I went back to Drengrheim, and worked as a smith, and learned to use the magics for that work. One day I was told of a strange ship in the harbor, and that was the Montenegrans. They’ve brought me here, because the king of Norwend wished me to go, and I suppose they expect to get something from it, too. There was a ship-wreck in Weirmonken on the journey, and that’s how I met the Weir.” "Montenegro, if they have spoken to you of those matters, has been diplomatically isolated from Amber for over a century." Noys says. "A matter between King Oberon and...a woman. With the routes to Amber no longer viable, I am not surprised they would seek other opportunities, and find you." "That's what they told me," he confirms. "Norwend is not a very technologically advanced world, is it?" Noys enquires. "I heard one of the Montengrans say it is 'een koude, primitieve gat van een plaats,'" Ederyn says, relieved that Noys asked something relatively painless. "From what I've learned, 'cold' is certainly right, compared to their home. And ... I think 'primitieve' means 'poor.' I never thought we were poor until I saw Montenegro. And Amber. It's all hard to get used to." "You know..." Noys says. "I think you might be the first member of our family to be raised in a place distinctly less advanced than Amber. Most of us were raised in places at least on a par with Amber. Or..." she pauses "There are many shadows, brother, which, technologically speaking, are more advanced than Amber. Much, much more advanced. I should introduce you to Dagny, who is used to gadgets and technology that seem like magic to people from Amber. Our Aunt Flora's shadow, Earth, is a central point in shadow for such things, and is commonly visited by the family." Ederyn winces. "No more new worlds," he protests, layering a humorous tone over a trace of real distress. "Tell me about this one. Tell me about -- the Pattern. Well, I know a little already." His adventure of earlier this morning needs to be explained again, he realizes. "All right" Noys says in an encouraging tone of voice. He takes a breath and begins, "I was tired when we got here, so I slept in the carriage taking us through the city. And I dreamed of the Pattern. Or of the power I felt in the Earth and under the mountain, I was sure of at least that. It was a dark space, with the design glowing on the floor. And it *invited* me to step upon it. I know better," he protests once more. "But ..." He shrugs helplessly. Noys parts her lips. The expression is something of shock and surprise. "I knew not that to begin was to finish, even in this dream, or so I felt after I began," Ederyn goes on. "It was .. an unsettling thing." He prefers to let that understatement stand. "At the end I found I had this great amount of power to use. I felt it expected travel, as you said, but I'd already reached where I wished to go. So instead I made something. I dislike waste." "Made something?" Noys shakes her shocked look and recovers her composure. He reaches into his belt pouch and draws out the diamond, showing it to her. "It has an image of the Pattern in it," he says, looking at it himself, a little dubiously, and keeping his mind well away. "I haven't looked at it closely yet. Anyway, I've started in the middle - all I know is by my experience, and there must be more I need to know." "You fell asleep in the carriage, and dreamed of the Pattern." Noys says. "But it was something more than a dream or it was a potent one, for you made an object of power by it." She seems a little unwilling to touch the diamond, but her fingers point in its direction as it sits on Ederyn's palm. "The Pattern of Amber is where you dreamed it, so I do not doubt that the dream is true." Noys says. "But to engage the Pattern in this way...a rare gift, Ederyn. A very rare gift." "The Pattern, at least the Primal, is responsible for the shape of at least half of the universe." Noys says. "It was created by our great-grandfather, and it defines reality for Amber and the shadows all the way to Ygg. Only those of the blood of our great-grandfather can walk it, live, and untap their hidden potential." Ederyn doesn't know what he was expecting to hear, but it is not that his own ancestor *made* the Pattern. Or that its connection (if he understands her correctly) with reality itself is that intimate. He looks almost as shocked as Noys just did. "You, brother, seem to have tapped some of that potential before walking it." Noys says. "There are family members more skilled than I in these matters we should talk to. The problem becomes, of who to confide this to." She looks at Ederyn. "This is not something to be spread without discretion." Her brother is distracted, examining his impressions and assumptions in light of this new information. "I told Asteria," he says absently. "And the king, of course." "You have to be extremely clever to try and withhold information or deceive his Majesty." Noys replies. "As far as Asteria, well, her mother will know in short order, but we can use that. Princess Flora is a good ally to have, and a very bad enemy to make around here. But in the meantime..." Noys reaches and gingerly closes Ederyn's hand over the diamond. "Keep that close, and out of sight." "You wanted to know more about this one, and judging from how you reacted, I should begin at the beginning." Noys says. "The History of this half, at least, of the Universe started some thousands of years ago when Dworkin drew it. We should ask an expert about the state of affairs before then. Suffice it to say, Dworkin, and his son, our grandfather King Oberon, were refugees from an old culture who disliked what Dworkin did intensely. They warred with Amber to try and destroy the Pattern and all that it created." "Once the wars ended, Dworkin retired out of sight and out of mind and his son ruled Amber." Noys continues. "He built this kingdom stone by stone. He helped Rebma to be founded. He sired many sons and daughters, our father amongst them. One branch of our family grew ambitious, and one amongst that set mad. Their actions led Chaos to find a way to lead an army toward Amber." She pauses and looks at Ederyn. "Are there legends in Norwend, or memories, of strange invaders. Demons, perhaps? A black Road, perhaps?" The smith shakes his head. "But there was a great storm, a few years ago," he said. "It ... seemed like it might break the world." "It seems you were spared the deprivations of the war. The Shockwave Storm--that was a much more recent development, here. I'll get to that shortly." Noys replies. "As I was saying, the minions of Chaos sought to conquer or destroy Amber. Our father sacrificed his life in order to help repel the high-water mark of their attack on us and made peace with his brother just before he died." "The family mostly united, Chaos was fought to a standstill, and then defeated. Our grandfather died in the repair of the Pattern, which had proven to be damaged by that mad family member." "The Kingship, improbably, had fallen to the youngest son, whom you met, Random. It was a number of years before he returned, though, and so our uncle Gerard ruled here as Regent. It was during that time that I was acknowledged as a member of the family and walked the Pattern. I am probably the second person to have walked the Pattern after its repair, brother." "When Random and the rest of the family returned, and his reign began, the last fifteen years have had its share of strivings and changes. Many members of our generation appeared and were acknowledged as Family. Amber reconnected its trade routes with the Golden Circle, and beyond." "Only a few days ago..." Noys says "things started changing rapidly, and not at all for the better. But perhaps I should answer any questions before I get to our current time of troubles." Ederyn shakes his head, indecisively, consulting his sense of how much time has passed. "I shouldn't leave the Weir waiting too long," he says. But he goes on, "You called it a 'shockwave storm'?" "Yes" Noys replies. "I am not sure which of us invented the term, but its being used to describe a storm that spanned not only multiple worlds, but as near as we can tell, washed over a swath of shadow running from the far pole of the universe, all the way to Amber Castle. The effects of what this storm has done will take months if not years to assess." "One of our cousins made a poor choice of bargains, brother." Noys says "and the Shockwave Storm was a result of him trying to unwind that bargain." Ederyn's brow furrows in perplexity at this obscure remark, and he waits for her to go on. The diamond has warmed to his hand's temperature, and its presence is a distraction, making him more aware of the threads of Pattern woven through the Earth. He should probably put it away, but Noys' obvious concern about it has, perversely, made him more interested in finding out what its properties are. Delighted though he is to meet his sister - urgently though he needs to know more about this place and its people - his long habit of ignoring everything in favor of solitary work and study keeps drawing his thoughts toward the object in his hand. Noys continues to speak, even as Ederyn's attention is split between her words and the thing she has fashioned. Ederyn can feel the connection between this diamond and the design that forged it. Its not a permanent strand or link, it is too ephemeral for that. Instead, it is as if this was the design captured in a Montenegran glass, and as the real thing might move and act, this image within the diamond might in unison. "I do not know your religious beliefs, so forgive me if I tread poorly, Ederyn." Noys says. "It turns out that, dating from the time before the Pattern was forged, or even before the Logrus, there were elder races, old beings, and entities that might be thought of today as gods. After the Logrus and Pattern were created, most of these faded into obscurity. "Jayson, our cousin, found and forged a bargain with one of these beings, bringing him back from a long senescence into vitality. This god, awakened thusly, attempted to imprint himself upon the universe at large and make himself essential." "The God's name was Apollo." The diamond gives off a sudden, mild, electrical charge as soon as Noys says the name. Ederyn glances down at it, speculating that the connection might work both ways. But he is interested in what Noys has said and looks back at her. "What is it he wanted, this cousin, that he'd try such a thing?" he asks. "There is an expression" Noys says "Translated, it says that the path to ruin can start with the best of intentions. Jayson had good intentions in forming this pact, although there are others who know more of the events than I. Briefly, he discovered that one of our Aunts, thought dead, was in fact a prisoner of an Uncle of ours, a villain in all senses of the word, also thought dead." "He sought help from Apollo to check Uncle Brand's plans and rescue Aunt Deirdre. He did fight Brand to a standstill and help Deirdre escape, even if she still suffers from the experience." "In getting that help, Apollo led him to undertake a series of actions that increased Apollo's presence and power. You might say that Apollo decided to take advantage of Jayson's hospitality, as it were." Ederyn scratches his bearded chin with his free hand, frowning a little. "This is a large family," he observes. "And powerful. Why turn to a god, and not even his own god?" "The way I understand it, brother." Noys replies "is that our Brand was holding Deirdre in a place where he could contact the god. As far as why, Brand's reputation was fearsome. He was thought to be dead, and yet before his death, managed to hold much of the family at bay at the edge of the Abyss." "I also think this has something to do with the King's daughter." Noys adds. "Jayson met her not long before the encounter with Brand, and Apollo, or a version of him, is one of *her* gods. So perhaps she inspired him to make the fateful choice." Ederyn looks uncertain, even doubtful; none of this explains why Jayson would not turn first to his family, especially as Brand was a known and dangerous enemy. But of course, he reflects, Noys isn't Jayson, so there's no reason to expect she would know what the man was really thinking. Perhaps one day Ederyn will have a chance to ask him. So he shrugs and turns back to his first question. "And the result of all this, besides Deirdre's escape, was the 'Shockwave Storm,'" he notes. "I doubt I can understand, yet, exactly what that was, but I saw it myself, in Norwend." And also, based on what she's said, he doubts whether Noys can explain it adequately, but he won't say that. "I should leave what it all was to our relatives who can describe it. I think some of the surveying some of our cousins are doing are geared toward doing just that." "In general, though, purging Apollo from Jayson, his connection to the universe caused a severe backlash that started in the Courts, and ran through the worlds, including Norwend to here. It might have been a dying gasp of Apollo, it might have been like how a thunderstorm works. It just seemed to cause damage and crisis in many worlds. Severe weather, unexplained phenomena, unusual events." Ederyn turns the diamond in his fingers a few times, decides that his mind is settled enough now, and meets his sister's gaze again. Gently, he says, "I'd like to hear about our father, as you knew him." "Dad" Noys says. She pauses, nibbling her lip. "I really haven't had many people besides, say, Gerard or the Twins to talk to about him." Noys says, a tone of apology in his voice. "Its hard to put it all into words." "He had to be distant, because he was protecting me, you know? He didn't trust our aunts and uncles not to use me, and Mother, against him. So he kept me a secret. Its not like one of those fairy tales where the secret Princess lives as a scullery maid in a hovel, Ederyn. I had a comfortable life in the city. Father did see me sometimes. He was driven, brother. He instilled that in me, and so that is what I remember of him. He showed me his love for this city, this kingdom, and inculcated me with that same belief." "He was also one of the best swordsmen I have ever known." Noys continues. "Not as good as Uncle Benedict, and just as good as Uncle Corwin, or Uncle Bleys. He wanted to be better than Corwin. I think that speaks a lot about him. Although he never talked to me about him directly, the times that Gerard, Caine and Julian visited me, his name was always said in conjunction with Dad's." "And." Noys adds. "I consider him a hero. A personal hero, and a hero to Amber. He's...he's my role model, Ederyn." Her brother nods, slowly, as he sifts the meaning of what she says from among the words and concepts that are unfamiliar to him. With regret, he says, "I can't feel that about him. He was never there. When they told me he is dead ... I felt disappointed. I thought about not trying to come here." Noys regards Ederyn intently, blue eyes watching with an intensity indicative of her interest in his words. At this point his expression brightens. "But I came. And I am glad, though it is not easy, and wakes memories I'd rather let sleep. I have new things to learn, to study - and a sister." He holds his free hand out to Noys. The fact that he *is* glad can't be mistaken. With a bright smile, Noys takes the free hand with her own and squeezes it. Its not a knuckle-busting grip, but its possibly the strongest grip he has ever felt from a woman. Noys is clearly deceptively strong. He squeezes back, no harder, as an answering gesture. "I would have tried to track you down, once this time of troubles settled down." Noys replies. "It was without doubt, once I knew you existed. I am glad that you did put away your reservations, and come, brother." "Not for the sake of Amber. Not for the sake of the King. Not even for Dad's sake. For our sakes." Noys says, still holding Ederyn's hand. "Thank you," he says, his smile less intense but no less deeply felt. "I hope - I intend - to call Amber my home. Such welcome makes that seem closer." "I am certain you will not forget your roots." Noys says. "It seems that those of our family who were born in shadow often return to their homeland, sometimes applying what they know to protect and strengthen their homeworlds." Ederyn takes in this last notion as something he hadn't thought of before, but finds very interesting. "But, in the end, unless we are estranged from the family, Amber IS home." Noys says. "There is a saying, Ederyn. All roads lead to Amber." He nods thoughtfully. "Still, it is my homeland that I best know," he says. "I must see more of Amber. The castle, at least, so I can feel less lost." He looks amused. "Also reassure the Weir, find if my luggage has found the room, see about getting my other clothes washed, talk with Lord Henden again, talk with someone skilled about Pattern, study this stone more, and go to afternoon tea with Aunt Florimel. And this day has been busy already." "And this is but the beginning." Noys says. "I will forgive you, brother, if you do not have time to spare for your sister in the next few days. in this whirlwind of activity that you have set for yourself. But I do think that dinner, in the city or here, in the near future would allow us to speak freely to one another, and perhaps give you perspective on what you see, do, and learn." She rises and offers Ederyn both hands. "But I will not tarry you further." Startled, he scrambles to his feet, putting the diamond away as he does so. "Oh!" he says in dismay, taking her hands. "I hoped you would help me. If you have time. I need a guide through all this, and there is no one I'd like better for that." Coming from him, this is obviously more than a pretty (if somewhat awkwardly phrased) compliment. "Oh!" Noys says, almost a squeak of surprise as she regards Ederyn with unforced, naked surprise. "I thought that you only wanted..." she shakes her head in self-reproach. "I thought you just wanted to meet me as part of your grand tour, and you were casting me back until you needed me again." She sits back down, gently letting go of Ederyn's hands. "Why don't we begin, brother, with introducing me to the Weir. They should meet the sister of their Jarl, don't you think?" Ederyn is surprised and a little hurt that she would think that - though of course, she hardly knows him at all yet, really. He returns to his seat as she does, a little more slowly. Her self-correction and suggestion cause him to nod with a return of enthusiasm. "Yes," he agrees. "I wish to spend time just talking with you also, sister, but I feel I should learn some things sooner, not later. This way we can also talk as we go along, yes?" "Of course." Noys says, easily. "And I expect you can help me about what to expect servants here to do. And how to find them. And we all need to know the important places of the Castle. Whatever those are." He shrugs, ruefully admitting his deep ignorance. "And who should I turn to, with more questions about the Pattern? Maybe some of this will fit into going around the Castle," he adds hopefully. "Well, let's get started. We will not see the Castle sitting here in my quarters, and seeing is, as some say, believing." Noys rises, and waits for Ederyn to follow her to the door, and out into the corridor outside. She locks the door with the same silver key that Ederyn saw earlier. "The King did mention me getting you a trump deck, and to show you around. I just expected you didn't..." Noys stops and shakes her head, flashes of silver from her earrings catching the light and glinting briefly. "I may have to be careful around your Weir. I do favor silver ornamentation." "Important places in the Castle." Noys says, starting to walk, expecting Ederyn to follow her. "Besides your own quarters of course, there is the library. That's where we will get you a deck. The kitchens. Meals here aside from state dinners are rarely formal, so arranging for your meals with the kitchen is the usual habit, but you should be shown the dining rooms, too. Henden's office is important if you have to deal with something that goes beyond simply asking for a servant to do a common task. And of course the Great Hall, which doubles as the Throne Room." " Someone should likely show you the Pattern room, although that might be best combined with your request about questions." "We are actually closest to the library, if you want to deal with that before we meet the Weir." Noys offers. "All right," Ederyn says agreeably. Then he slows down and, copying a gesture he saw many times in Montenegro, offers his sister his arm. Noys stops, and loops her arm through Ederyn's. "You're learning the customs of other shadows already, I see." Noys says with a pleased tone. She lets Ederyn set the pace, even as she proves adept at steering the pair of them down a hallway lined with paintings. "Being oriented with the diplomatic core of Amber, I find this important. Respecting the customs, beliefs and cultures of shadows is the best way to establish relationships with them." "And here we are" Ederyn has found himself at the entrance to a room full of shelves of books. Lots of books. Oh, there are plenty of large tables on the first floor of this room, but the bookcases on both levels seem to stretch almost endlessly. Ederyn stares. The sheer size of the room and the number of volumes in it make him think, for the first time, that perhaps he should have taken that reading thing more seriously. "There were libraries in Montenegro and the other shadows you visited on the way here, weren't there?" Noys says. And then, gently ,and softly she adds. "Ederyn, are you literate?" "You mean, can I read?" he replies, completely unembarrassed. "No." He glances between her and the shelves and adds, "To learn two languages - three, now - seemed work enough. And needed more." Noys lets go of Ederyn's arm and smoothly slides forward. She turns around and faces him, placing both hands on his shoulders. "I strongly suggest, brother." Noys says "that you keep the secret to your illiteracy as closely bound as you can. And we get that corrected, quickly. Words are power, especially written ones, and an inability to read and write is a potentially fatal flaw." Ederyn looks baffled. "I know what Lorius would do in my shoes." Noys muses, a thoughtful and amused look on her face as she continues to face Ederyn. "Drag you off to shadow to a fast-time world, and set you to learning how to read and write, and then bring you back here with little time having elapsed here." Her eyes study Ederyn intently. He's intrigued by this concept, but returns to her main point, still displaying absence of comprehension. "Fatal?" he says. "I'm told even little children can learn this skill. How hard can it be?" Noys chuckles slightly. "I see that I misspoke, Ederyn. I meant the lack of literacy is a fatal thing, in a Court like this." "I have been told that children learn more easily than adults do." Noys says. 'I do not know the truth of this. Fortunately, most of our family shows an ability to learn much more easily than those without our blood. And..." Noys' voice is full of pride. "we are Eric's children. That counts for much." "But I promised you a trump deck, even before we were thinking of a swift course in learning your letters." Noys says, letting go of Ederyn's shoulders and pivoting around. Ederyn follows as she starts to move away, but he is still unenlightened and now a little frustrated. "Why 'fatal'?" he asks. "How? I thought that word means 'leading to death.' I hope you are not meaning literal death." "Not a literal death." Ederyn's sister says in a reassuring tone. "Perhaps fatal was the wrong word. "Noys temporizes. "My apologizes, Ederyn. Let me be clear. Without being able to read and write, many of our family, or even the diplomats and nobles which swarm around here like bees around a flower, will take advantage of you. Given the harsh politics, this could be a severe taking advantage of you, making you seem stupid, slow, and unlettered. Or worse, manipulating you into courses of action that will do you no credit." "Does that clarify matters?" Noys asks. Ederyn doesn't respond for a moment, as he wrestles with her description of the politics of Amber. If he's going to stay, he tells himself sternly, he has to take the annoying with the good. And there are ways to discourage annoying people. "Not really," he answers Noys. "I can have someone read and write things for me. Has *talking* gone out of fashion here?" "Hardly" Noys says. "Aren't we speaking now?" she says in a teasing smile. "Well, perhaps your lack of literacy might be useful to you in the short term, if it causes your wits and intelligence to be underestimated, as it will likely do." Noys says. "Forgive me for pressing on the matter, brother." Ederyn shrugs, still not seeing the supposed connection between 'literacy' and intelligence, but willing to drop the issue if his sister can't explain it. Noys shakes her head in self-reproach. "Shall we go and get your trump deck now? Especially since the delights of the library are not a temptation to you. Not yet anyway." she adds She starts their progress again toward the rear of the large library hall. "Of course," he answers the question. He keeps pace with her, letting a few moments pass while he works out how to present his problem. "Noys," he finally says, "I have no interest in politics and would rather stay out of it." Noys grasps Ederyn's wrist suddenly. "That is something you should not do, and cannot do." Noys replies, sharply. She then speaks, in a recitation that might remind Ederyn of someone quoting one of the Eddas. "Hence it is evident that the state is a creation of nature, and that man is by nature a political animal. And he who by nature and not by mere accident is without a state, is either a bad man or above humanity; he is like the tribeless, lawless, hearthless one, whom Homer denounces -- the natural outcast is forthwith a lover of war; he may be compared to an isolated piece on a chessboard." He blinks at her, his attention sharpening as he strains to follow this speech. She stops the recitation and lets go of Ederyn's wrist. "You cannot escape politics, especially at the center of the universe. Ederyn." Noys says. "Our father taught me that. Even if you decided to return to your farm and hearth in Norwend, you would not escape politics. By trying to stay out of it, as you say, you are either making a play, will be perceived as doing so, or inviting others to play you, brother." Ederyn is ready to argue with her - his mouth actually opens - but then he stops, folds his arms, and frowns thoughtfully at the end of the bookshelf opposite. Eventually he says, "You are right, of course. I arranged my life in Norwend to suit me, and that was a thing of politics. It kept me out of the little things and let me work in peace, and that's what I prefer. But here ..." He meets Noys' gaze again, his expression as trenchant as their father's ever was. "Perhaps I will hold up my ignorance like a flag, to find out who are my honest friends here." Noys regards Ederyn's harsh expression. Her face is a mask, but her blue eyes stare at Ederyn for long moments. The library itself seems to have gone quiet. After a moment of this, his demeanor loses some of its sharpness, as he perceives that he's made a stronger impression than he really intended. Noys finally exhales. "If one of our cousins captured your likeness just then, there would be no question you are my brother." she says. "But perhaps we will try it your way. If Dalt's daughter can carve herself a place here, despite all of her disadvantages, then you, Ederyn, can." "I'm sorry," he murmurs. "Apology accepted." Noys says. "Now, Trumps." She slides over to a case. The bottom is made of a light colored wood; the top half is made of glass. Inside, visible, are over a dozen small brown pouches. In one of the spots, where a pouch should be, is a stack of tarot cards.¹ From nowhere, Noys produces a tiny brass key and fits it into a lock, and opens the case. Deftly, she plucks one of the brown cases and tosses it in Ederyn's direction. "I don't think Uncle Random remembered that I had a key." Noys says. "No librarian necessary." Ederyn catches the pouch easily, hesitates a moment, then pulls out the cards to look through them. Ederyn has never seen tarot cards before. He has seen playing cards on his trip to Amber, and some of these cards look like the face cards from that playing card deck. But these cards, oversized, are all of people. Lots of people, dressed in ways similar to Noys. A few of the faces match the artwork of paintings and sculpture he has already seen in the Castle. And the cards are cold. Not bone-numbing cold, but the cold of briefly holding a piece of ice. A lingering look at one of the cards seems to cause the image to move, at least in Ederyn's imagination. The blond haired woman seems to be stirring as Ederyn looks at her. As if she were far away, Ederyn can hear Noys' voice, telling him to stop staring, even as the woman in the card seems to be trying to draw Ederyn's attention all the more, to stare and stare at the card. He blinks, deliberately interrupting his view of the card, and tries to pull his attention away - or turn the card's face away, or both. The blink comes slowly, the fall of his eyelids an agonizing process that seems to take seconds to happen. In that time period, Ederyn can sense the presence of a mind reaching to contact and meet with his, whether he will or not. But Ederyn's will is enough to blink and break that connection. "Greffet!" Noys says, slapping her palm firmly on the card. She looks at her brother with concern in her eyes. "No aftereffects, looks like.". "Your timesense probably had that feel like a long period. It was but a few momenst for me but I recognized what was happening." "I thought these were harder to, to open," Ederyn says, frowning at the side of the handful of Trumps. "I'm sorry about that, Ederyn." Noys says. "They usually are indeed. It takes a really adept and alert person to become aware of contact so quickly, and try to take control like that." She lifts her hand cautiously, glancing at the card beneath the shadow. "Cassandra, better known as Sand." Noys says, closing her hand again. "Until about 5 years ago, one of the rarely seen members of the family. Things have changed with the Twins more than I thought." Noys looks pensive. "I wouldn't look at Delwin's either, for the nonce." Ederyn gently moves the cards out from under Noys' hand, and shifts Sand's card to the bottom of the pack without looking at it. "Which is Delwin?" he asks, inexpertly trying to fan the rest of the cards to make them more visible. "And, besides Sand's rudeness, why should I be wary of them?" Noys looks over the fanned cards and plucks one with a blond haired man. "This one is Delwin." she says, placing the card beneath Sand's. She gives a glance at the fanned cards. "There are a number of reasons to be wary of them." Noys says. "One, they never really settled in Amber, and aside from a brief visit, neither has set foot in Amber since before Corwin and Eric fought, decades ago. They have their own realm, a Primal shadow called Corilaine. Second, they might be curious or upset as to the fate of Jayson, and seek to use you as a stalking horse, source of information or conduit into the Court in regards to that, or just in general. Third, they are the keepers, wielders and possessors of some of the most powerful artifacts in existence. Fourthly, they are partially of the blood of the Fae, and their their goals and desires are NOT those of Amber." Ederyn tidies the cards and puts them away while she speaks, having decided that learning all those faces will have to wait. Jayson, he recalls, is Sand's child, according to Asteria. But Noys' last point gains more of his attention, even as he turns back toward the library's entrance, ready to go on with his more immediate agenda. "The Fae," he repeats, starting to walk onward. "Opposed to Amber, or just different?" In the next moment he stops, having espied something of interest to him: a tortoiseshell cat perched on a shelf, watching the visitors through one half-open eye. Smiling a little, he offers to pet the creature. The cat regards Ederyn for a moment, and then rubs his head against the offered hand. A soft purr soon is the result of Ederyn's ministrations. The smith continues petting, demonstrating considerable skill at cat-skritching. "Well, that is a debatable question. About the Fae that is. Borte appears to have decided in your favor." Noys says, stopping her progress when Ederyn stops and giving a glance at the cat. "They certainly have decided their own destinies for a long time on their own, with little interest in the doings of Amber. Whether or not they act against Amber might depend on your point of view. I think they are resolutely neutral, but their possession of Spikards complicates that neutrality." "I do know various factions tried to court the Twins in the succession, to no avail. Not even the redheads, to whom they were most alike." Noys says. "Where shall I shall you next, now that you have some trumps. The kitchens, perhaps? The throne room? Some of the salons? Perhaps even the Pattern Room, although I did say that you might want someone more esoterically inclined before we do that." "The Ruby Suite," Ederyn says, reluctantly disengaging from the cat, and starting back on their way. "To reassure the Weir and speak to Daniel. Then, I am very tempted to find out why Sand - so uninvolved and uninterested in this family's business, as you say - would suddenly try the forcing of a Trump contact." "The Ruby suite." Noys says. "Well, that is not inappropriate." she says. "One might even say that it is extremely fitting. And I can lead you back to it without difficulty." She walks along Ederyn, leading him to the entrance of the Library and back into its corridors. "As far as the matter of the Queen of Corilaine, we should proceed with caution." Noys says, picking up the conversation. "Which is not to say that we shouldn't investigate this. Sudden and unexpected bursts of activity do merit study, and perhaps response." Noys says. "Study?" Ederyn replies. "I thought to just ask her." "Are you certain that's entirely wise?" Noys says. "A letter would take a long time, unless you are intending to take the risk of another trump contact." "You believe she is a threat?" Ederyn asks. "I know that, like everyone else in this family, she is dangerous." Noys says. "Treat with her carefully, brother, if you decide to do so." "Ah. Of course." The route that Noys leads Ederyn threads its way through some corridors, and down a small staircase clearly more designed for staff than anything else, narrow enough that Noys leads him down rather than walking alongside her brother. In short order, once the staircase is navigated, Noys brings Ederyn to the Ambassadorial wing, and thence, to the Ruby Suite. "Is there anything you want to tell me about the Weir before I meet them?" Noys says, glancing at the door. "I admit to a slight nervousness at the thought." "They're very devoted to their Jarl," Ederyn says uncertainly. "They've gotten that from Dad." Noys says. "They don't give it lightly and don't take it lightly. I'll be careful." "One thing, sister," Ederyn says, moving not to open the door, but to tap the symbol painted on it. "What meaning has this?" "Oh, this." Noys traces her fingers over the black circle and presses her index finger against the red mote swimming in it. "This is father's symbol, in his colors of black and red." "The black circle is a shield, and the red dot represents his blood." Noys says. "It's meant to represent his loyalty to Amber." "Which is proved," her brother says softly, staring at it. "Under the Unicorn's gaze, it is so." Noys says softly. After a moment, Ederyn finally seizes the door's handle and pulls it wide. Inside, Kezia and Daniel are in the background, standing next to the table that they have been recently sitting at. Closer to the door, and in their bipedal wolf forms, are Boaz and Cyrus. Their tense posture softens slightly when they see Ederyn and Noys in the doorway. "Forgive us, my Jarl" Boaz says. In this form, his accent is halting and thick. "We thought there was danger when we smelled you at the door but you did not immediately enter." Cyrus sniffs in the direction of Noys and speaks, also somewhat accented. "She smells of your blood. Has High King Random given you to her as concubine?" Clearly surprised, Noys clears her throat and looks at Ederyn. "This is my *sister* Noys," the smith manages to say, his voice sounding a little strangled. "Eric's daughter." Ederyn continues talking while he ushers her into the room and pulls the door closed behind them, hoping to head off extravagant apologies. "Noys, the foolish one here" (this is accompanied by a short glare at the offending Weir) "is Cyrus of Clan Shahruz." Cyrus bows his head, and the shame seems to keep his head bowed long past the time that propriety would have it rise again. "The other is Boaz of Clan Farrokh. The third is the skald Kezia of Clan Mirza. And here is Mijnheer Daniel Poole, who is almost the Ambassador from Montenegro." "Almost" Daniel says, amused. "A pleasure to meet you, Royal Princess Noys." Noys nods to Daniel. "I am sure your ambassadorship will soon be confirmed and I can use the title properly." Boaz bows his head and in his thick accent says a few words difficult to make out. "It's a pleasure to meet, Royal Princess " Kezia puts in at this point. "We have only heard of stories that the Jarl had a daughter." At this point, Cyrus finally lifts his head. Kezia looks at Ederyn. "The sister of the Jarl, and daughter of the prior Jarl. would naturally be named Marchioness of the Clans, if you wish it so." "Marchioness," Ederyn repeats with careful pronunciation. "This means what? -- Is this something you want, Noys?" "I don't even know what it means, to be honest." Noys says "My education and lore are, regrettably, insufficient." Kezia nods her head and looks toward Ederyn. "The Marchioness is a position not of outright authority, but it is one of respect. The Marchioness is the highest ranking female amongst all of the septs and clans. The alpha female. It is not always the mate of the Jarl but is almost always within his bloodline. The Jarl's mother, or his daughter, sister or niece is usually the one named the Marchioness." Noys studies Kezia, and looks at the two shapeshifted Weir. Daniel is listening and watching, quietly but with keen interest. "The offer is appreciated, Kezia of Clan Mriza." Noys replies. "I reserve that right to my brother the Jarl to decide, as is right and proper within the Clans." Noys says, dipping her head. Ederyn would have preferred some clearer direction from Noys, but gamely considers the question on his own for a moment or two. "I think," he finally says, "it would be best for you, and me as well, to learn more about the Weir before choosing." He smiles wryly at some thought he doesn't share. "I do need to learn more about the Weir. And, perhaps, the Weir need to learn about me, and you, in turn." Noys says. "The Jarl's sister is wise." Kezia says. "And not unpracticed in arts diplomatic, evidently." Daniel says. The smith gives a decisive nod and moves on. "My meeting with the king went well," he announces. "I will swear fealty to him tomorrow or the next day. Also, he told me something ... unsettling. About me." He hesitates, then looks to his sister. "Noys, can you show them?" Noys takes a half moment and then nods. "Of course I have one, brother. I should have shown it to you in the library" Noys says decisively. She produces a trump case and walks forward to the table that Daniel and Kezia stand next to. She lays a card down, on the table. The Weir gather around Daniel, Kezia and the table to look at the card. Boaz says something in Weir and swipes his paw down his nose. Kezia says something softly under her breath. Cyrus has a look of wonder and fear on his face The image of Eric on the card is not the same one that Ederyn saw thanks to Random. This one is a more intimate, personal portrait of his father. He's standing on a wooden staircase, hand on sword hilt, gazing at the viewer. The black circle and red dot symbol is branded on the side of the staircase Still, like the other card, Eric is regal, powerful and inescapably the spitting image of Ederyn. "It is said that it is difficult for a son to live in the shadow of his father." Daniel says. "But, Ederyn, you look like your father reborn." Ederyn winces. "Please!" he says. "Keep such thoughts to yourself. Or better, try to not have them." The smith - no, the Jarl - looks at the Trump, frowning, then around at the group. "I'm not a diplomat," he says, nodding to Daniel. "And my politics have always been ... very small in goals." He shares a brief glance with Noys. "But even I can see this alikeness could plant whole fields of trouble. Which is not what I want." "Random saw this and told you so, I will wager." Noys says. He pauses a moment, making sure that they understand, his left thumb absently rubbing the pommel of his sword. The circumstances call for Fire, he reflects (in his native tongue): swift, bright, and cleansing. "It is my thought," he tells them, "to bring out -- call out? -- some of those who might like such trouble, and then correct them with much noise and light. So, Daniel, if you will, you might help by forgetting to mention to others things like my skills in magic, while not failing to speak of less positive things." "You want me...us to shade the true extent of your abilities and skills" Daniel says, in not quite a questioning tone. Ederyn nods, eying him and wondering if he's misjudged the Montenegran's sense of humor. A sudden twinkle in Daniel's eyes might suggest a subtle humor in his last words. "My brother wants to be seen in a certain light." Noys says. "So as to discourage lines of thought that he does not wish to be expressed. Such as the idea that he is Eric in heir and body." "To speak ill of the Jarl would be wrong." Kezia says, firmly. "However, my Jarl, if you wish it,I will not speak of you in glowing terms at all, if that is what you wish." "Well, for you three," Ederyn says easily, "I imagine no one would think you would speak ill of me. But you should refuse to talk about me; that's what I prefer." "Silence" Boaz growls. "We shall be silent about the Jarl. Let the diplomats and those versed in the barding arts speak." "True, Boaz" Cyrus says. "I am sure the Jarl would allow us to hunt and eat those who would press us too strongly on asking about him." Both of the male Weir laugh. Kezia smiles widely, showing her feral nature even in human form. Daniel looks a little surprised, and Noys looks mildly shocked. Ederyn has spent enough time talking with the Weir that he isn't shocked, or even surprised any more, though he does sigh and favor Cyrus with a quelling look. "No eating of people," he says firmly. "Remember, it is *not* the Weir who rule here, and not me. So no hunting, either, without asking me first. But," he concludes, "a good frightening of any persistent ones would be all right, I think." "To frighten and dismay, but not to injure or kill." Kezia says, lowering her head to Ederyn. She looks at her shapechanged counterparts. "Are the words of the Jarl clear?" "Ja" Boaz and Cyrus say in that order, bowing their heads. "I'd like these to try and intimidate Uncle Julian or Uncle Gerard. I think it would be the reverse." Noys says, softening to an amused tone in her voice. Ederyn's expression suggests that he hadn't been thinking about older relatives. "I hope they know better than to try," he says, looking from Noys to Kezia. "We will respect the Royal Princes and Princesses of Amber." Kezia says. That settled (hopefully), he glances around to see if there's any sign of his luggage. Ederyn's luggage, intact, and unopened, sits next to what invariably will be his bed. "Our items have been delivered safe and sound." Daniel says. "Mine are in my own quarters, and of course the Weir have brought few possessions. Something you might wish to rectify at an early opportunity." Daniel says. "I certainly need to visit the city for the purpose myself." Ederyn gives him a disbelieving look, recalling the number of trunks the diplomat brought, and then just shakes his head. "Uniforms, or something with Ederyn's symbol would be a good way to reduce misunderstandings." Noys says. "Not that many people are going to mistake three Weir as being anything but yours, brother." "I'd need to *have* a symbol," Ederyn says. "I should get clothing for myself also," he adds thoughtfully, then shrugs. "Tomorrow." "I'll take you myself." his sister promises. "Now," the smith continues, "the question we were talking about, Noys." He brings out his own pack of Trumps and looks around again, picking out a stretch of wall that he can stand against while he tries this. "What does Ederyn intend?" Daniel asks Noys. "Are those Amber tarot cards?" "Yes." Noys says. "Before you begin, brother" Noys says, stepping next to where he stands and regarding him carefully. "If you wish, I could be present in the contact, and lend you mental strength. It would spread the risk and dangers to me, but it would make it less likely that if she is hostile that she will attempt malfeasance." danger to the Jarl,.." Cyrus gives a growl of agreement. "No." Noys says "Ideally, you want someone who is an artist, or at the very least is familiar with trump contacts." Ederyn nods in agreement, and by way of reassurance adds, "If I had reason to really believe there is danger, I would make my curiosity go unfed." To Noys, the smith says, "I have an idea for caution. It's easier to show you ... just wait a moment." "But you aren't..." Noys says and then quiets down, eyebrows furrowed. First, he carefully sorts out the card he wants, quickly tucking it into his belt (face in), and puts the rest away again for the moment. Then, with his left hand, he touches the stone wall behind him - unnecessary, yet helpful. And he opens his other sense, his affinity, to the Earth. Fully, not the partial attention he's given it before; he seeks and finds the close awareness he needs for deep work with the land. Once again his heart lightens at the feel of Amber's Earth, but he still has no time to savor it. It seems wise to him to leave the Castle out of it, even though it's made of stone, and the unfamiliar Pattern as well. But the Castle sits on the knee of a deep-rooted mountain. It is in those roots that he anchors his awareness, and from which he draws - not strength, exactly, but presence. Instead of putting most of his thought into the Earth, he brings its nature into his own thought, his own self. In this way, he believes, any attack on himself will be partly absorbed by the Earth itself, but he hopes the effect is sufficiently daunting that attacks will not be attempted. All this done - it takes very little time - he opens his eyes again and holds out his left hand to Noys, smiling a little. Kolvir is the Omphalos. The Center Stone. Although Ederyn has channeled it through himself, grounded himself, it is when Noys takes his hand that he can see it from an exterior perspective, from someone who hasn't done this. For, in taking her hand, he grounds his sister as much as he grounds himself in the stone and the Earth. And he can feel her feel it for the first time, the rooting in stone and ground and earth and mountain. Ederyn takes on the mien and aspect of the mountain itself, its imperturbability. And, while Noys is connected to him, she too takes on this Aspect. He is pleased; this seems to work even better than he expected. "Like standing on rubber." Noys says. "And protecting yourself against lightning." "Your voice has changed. Are you unwell?" Daniel says .Her voice HAS slowed down, and dropped a half octave in the bargain. The three Weir watch brother and sister carefully, with concern. Noys nods to Daniel and the Weir and looks back at Ederyn. "I believe you brother." she says, still speaking slowly and carefully. "I believe you have channeled the very nature of stone and rock into you, and I. If you showed this to Castor and Pollux, they would nickname you Antaeus, after the Giant unbeatable while standing on the ground. Merlin might call you the Juggernaut." She can feel his amusement, like a rattle of scree on a slope. "But I like my own name," he says, his own voice also gone a bit slower and deeper, and his accent much stronger than usual. Then, "Will you stay?" "I am not going anywhere." Noys says firmly and protectively. Ederyn nods, and pauses to review his more standard mental defenses, now reinforced or augmented (or perhaps made inconsequential) by the mountain. Satisfied, he takes out Sand's Trump and looks at it, immediately forming the needed, slight opening of those defenses and starting to feel his way through the still-new process of trying to make a Trump contact. This time the Trump Contact does not jump out at Ederyn as in the previous, unexpected attempt in the Library. Be it a matter of those carefully designed defenses augmented by his state of Stone, or the augmenting of his mind by his more trump-trained sister, or a simple choice on Sand's part, it is a more gradual contact. The image swirls to life, showing her sitting in some chamber in some stone building. Given his state, Ederyn can feel a little bit the stone that Sand's feet stands upon, a stone clearly touched by some sort of Faerie magic or construction. Its not the same as the Alfar, but its close enough to be a cousin. Ederyn can feel Noys mind, warded and wary, beside his own. "Ederyn Ericsen Smith." Sand responds. "A pleasure to meet you at long last. I see that my sudden desire to speak to you earlier has not startled you unduly." Her attention focuses slightly. "Royal Princess Noys. It is a pleasure to speak to you as well." "Greetings, your Majesty." Noys says. "It must be said, however, I would prefer to speak to your brother in private, if possible." Sand continues. "I am sure he can tell you what he will of the matters we will discuss."
whisper from Noys.
To Sand, he speaks with respect but without deference. "I first heard of you today," he says with a hint of suspicion. "How is it you know my name, and suggest it isn't new to you?" "This is indeed our first meeting, and your name is not new to me* she replies. *As to answer the mystery of this, the answer is simple.* "We have a mutual friend who told me of you. She wished to ensure that you would find an ally within the Family if not within Amber." Sand says. Ederyn can feel the tension come from his sister. After a moment's pause, Sand continues.
Since this only confirms one of the possibilities he'd thought of, Ederyn just presses his lips together, his hand tightening somewhat on Noys'. "Not necessary," he says to Sand, "but thoughtful." Then he tells Noys, *I must learn what she wants,* and gently nudges her mind away, letting go of her hand a moment later. The tone of his thought is tense and unhappy, but not at all fearful. Noys' reluctance to let go of Ederyn's hand is obvious but she does not force the issue. Instead as soon as she steps away, she gestures toward Daniel and Kezia. Ederyn's attention returns to Sand.
last.* Sand continues. *I can sense that you are the type of man to come straight to the point, unlike your half-sister.*
health and journey, as your Patron asked me to do so. I see, for one thing, that you and I have a taste for allies Canis. That is something she failed to mention.* Ederyn relaxes fractionally - not enough to really matter, but a little. *Because it isn't so,* he replies cordially. *The Weir are ....* Sand looks at Ederyn expectantly. His guarded thought hesitates over his mixed feelings about the wolf people. *Not something I would have chosen,* he finishes.
force.* Sand replies. "Certainly Amber has not seen their like in years, as well as the face of Eric. You have been told, surely, several times, that you resemble him strongly by now?* He twitches, just detectably. *Yes,* he says. *King Random showed me his Trump.* After a slight hesitation, he adds, *It is very unsettling. And my kin seem to be very good at hiding their feelings about it.* His tone manages to not exclude Sand from the category 'my kin.' Also, the ordinary scope of the conversation continues to soothe him a little. "My siblings and your counterparts have had decades of practice in keeping feelings and true thoughts hidden." Sand says. "What do you think they really feel about you and your presence there, Ederyn?" He nods slightly in acknowledgment of her point, and gives her question serious consideration.
After another reflective pause, he says, *It seems their experience does not lean them towards trust.* His attention flicks toward Noys, then back to Sand, wordlessly linking the two. *I think most will keep judgment for some time.* Noys looks up from her conversation with Daniel and Kezia, a look of sisterly concern on her face. As Ederyn's face turns back to the call, she gives him a nod and resumes her own deliberations. "The experience of many in the Family, including myself and my brother, discourages trust." Sand says. "Outwardly and to all purposes, there may be warm welcomes and protestations that you are a friend, but inwardly, you upset their calculations, calculations that have taken years. When my son." Although she is shielded, Ederyn can sense a note of pain at the mention "went to Amber, much the same happened. So will it be for you. Like him, you do not go to Amber as a slip of a youth, but as a fully formed man with thoughts, dreams and ambitions, and most importantly, experience. Trust in yourself, nephew, so as not to become just another pawn." "Not even one of mine." she adds with a slight smile. Ederyn's expression also warms towards a smile. *That's nearly what King Random said,* he observes. *If I had any idea of who might be upset about what calculations, it might even be helpful.* There is a fugitive glint of mischief in his eyes as he finishes. "A primer on Amber politics would be better delivered by your sister than I." Sand replies. "After all, I have only been to the realm once in several centuries. But some things never do change. Perhaps, though, you will help them change." Ederyn seems bemused by the idea of him changing anything here. "And there is the last thing I will say before returning you to your sister's tender care, Ederyn." Sand adds "You have a standing invitation to visit my brother and I here in Corilaine."
Lady's interest?* "Partly" Sand admits. "And partly for reasons that I will not reveal until and when you take me up on that offer. It can bide until then" she adds, a smile upon her lips.
curiosity satisfied right now. *I've seen more new things ...* His thought trails off, unable to describe the feeling of over-stimulation that sometimes assails him. *And I have much still to learn,* he finishes more firmly, his full attention returning to Sand. "Of course you do" she agrees. He regards her for a moment, then says a little abruptly, *Noys told me what she's heard about your son. I'm sorry for your pain.* The awkwardly offered sympathy is plainly genuine, though not profound - as it should be, considering how recently acquainted he is with her. "Your compassion is appreciated, Ederyn." Sand replies.There is a slight note of surprise in her mental voice, and her eyes study Ederyn through the contact. My son acted too boldly." Sand says, her emotions barely concerned within the context of the trump call. In a sense, Ederyn can feel that they aren't concealed, really, but really held in check, managed, tempered and massaged. The rage, sorrow, anger and fury are simmering there, like liquid, white-hot metal that has not yet been poured into a mold. "The business of my son and his legacy, however, is not yet complete." Sand adds. "That is certain." Ederyn observes her state of mind with an increase in sympathy - and with evident recognition and sadness. Apparently, despite the deep calm he presently displays (no doubt augmented by the Earth), he has been in a similar state of mind himself, at some point. But he says nothing, unless holding her gaze for the space of several breaths can be called a statement of some kind. Then at last, *We will speak again, Aunt Sand.* It is as firm a commitment as any swearing of oaths might be, when he says it. "We shall" Sand replies. "Fare thee well, Ederyn Ericsen Smith." Ederyn closes the Trump connection, and turns the card over to stare at the back of it for a moment. Then, letting out a deep breath like a sigh, he also lets go of the mountain, returning reluctantly to simple mundane sensations. He looks around at the others, thinking that he'd probably better sit down for a bit. "Is he...all right?" Kezia says immediately, once Ederyn starts turning his head around. "Ita vero" Noys says. She is immediately at Ederyn's side, and guides him to a chair at the table where she, Kezia and Daniel are sitting. "What did she do to him?" Daniel asks. Cyrus growls. "Trump calls, especially to strong personalities, and without long practice, can be arduous. And Ederyn was protecting himself." Noys explains. "He needs some water. Maybe some food." Kezia produces a waterskin. Noys looks at it in surprise as Kezia passes it to Ederyn. The smith takes it with a nod and a near-smile, and demonstrates that he knows very well how to drink from one. After several swallows, he lowers the skin but does not yet give it back. "Noys," he says, "is Brand alive or dead? And also Jayson." "Those are complicated questions, both of them." Noys says. "I think you need to swear your friends to silence on these matters before I say anything. That, or even better and simpler, they should leave the room. This is Family Business." Ederyn blinks uncertainly at her, not being in the habit of thinking this way. "I have no objection in leaving. I know that some things must remain secret." Daniel says. He makes a motion to rise. "Milord Jarl?" Kezia says inquiringly, looking at Ederyn. "Simpler, já," he says. He really doesn't want to have to figure out what to keep or not keep from the Weir. "It's best that you all wait outside, for this time." He starts to give back the waterskin, but then changes his mind and holds on to it. Cyrus looks at Ederyn and then looks at Kezia. "I mislike this. I only do this for the Jarl and his sister, the daughter of the previous Jarl." Boaz seems more resigned, already moving to follow Kezia. In short order, all three Weir, preceded by Daniel, leave the room. Ederyn takes advantage of the short wait to take another drink of water. As the door shuts behind them, he asks Noys, "How can 'alive or dead' be complicated?" "Because, dear brother, in this Family of ours, such questions are always complicated, and fraught with peril. I won't bore you with asides about Corwin, or Caine, and stick to the point for the moment" "Brand first. The official story, outside the immediate Family, is that Brand died at Patternfall, falling into the Abyss, dragging Deirdre with him in his eternal fall. Given his desire to rewrite the universe, it is good that nearly everyone believes that he is gone forever and the King wants to keep it that way." The phrase 'rewrite the universe' makes him raise his brows. "Unfortunately" Noys says, putting a hand on Ederyn's shoulder. "The truth is, Brand is not.gone but very much alive. Deirdre, too, survived. As a matter of fact, Jayson was the one who discovered these facts." Having no experience of any of these people or the events Noys refers to, Ederyn simply takes all this as new facts. "So, Brand survived Deirdre's rescue," he says. "What about Jayson?" "That's a complicated question in the other direction." Noys replies. "We don't know if he is still alive." "Remember how I told you about Jayson and his pact with Apollo?" Noys says. "It turns out, he discovered that the final remnant of Apollo was dominating a distant portion of the universe--Uncle Corwin's universe, as it so happens." "So, Jayson, trying to atone for unleashing Apollo out in the first place, set off with a number of our cousins to finish Apollo for good." "I know this, brother, for I was one of those cousins." Noys says. "However, Martin, Krysta and I were sundered from Corwin's realm at the climax of events, and wound up falling back into this universe. Oddly enough, we fell into the same shadow as an old friend of Martin's, but that is not material to your question." "What is material, Ederyn, is that several of the people who accompanied us did not and have not returned. Alais, Corwin's daughter. Cyllene, Caine's daughter. Leigh, of House Helgram of Chaos. Oliver, Delwin's son and Sand's nephew. And Jayson himself." "What's worse, Ederyn, is that even trump contact to Corwin's universe seems not to work, although I haven't had a real artist make a serious attempt at it. So what happened to Jayson, and if he is alive remains unknown." It takes an effort for Ederyn to listen past his astonishment at the idea of one of his uncles apparently owning another universe, but he manages it. "So," he says, hanging on to the main point of his questions, "Jayson was alive and well when you last saw him. But I can tell you that Sand seems to believe he is dead. Or lost." He frowns. "I asked her no questions, Noys, but her mind was full of grief and rage when I mentioned him. If she may be wrong - she needs to be told. If she has proof of his end, then you -- we need to know, for the sake of the others." "I would not say he was well." Noys says "He was planning on walking the Pattern to try and destroy an ancient God running amok. What that was going to do to Jayson is unfortunately a very good question that I don't know the answer to. And wish I did." She looks at Ederyn. "It's possible Jayson told Sand what he was going to do before he finished, and before things collapsed, and she assumes he is dead. Or perhaps Random told her a simple version of the story." "Certainly" Noys says "She has heard something from someone. She didn't ask you to investigate Jayson's fate, did she, brother?" "No," he says. "She just warned me to be wary of the others here. And of herself. And invited me to visit her and Delwin, that I might learn more of her reasons for that. I promised only to speak with her again." "That is a fair and reasonable promise." Noys says. "Even if you are not the political sort, brother, cultivating contacts in the family, even if they are not allies, will serve you in the years ahead. In turn, she may ask you, sometime down the line, to learn more about her son's fate." Noys says. Ederyn regards her for a moment. "This isn't about me," he says. "This is about whether Sand's rage about this will fall on someone we won't miss, like Brand, or on someone we will need to defend. "You haven't spoken with her," he adds. "I can't guess how long she'll wait, Noys, but I tell you she will act. It would be good to have some idea of what she will do." Noys studies her brother's mien. Finally, she reluctantly nods, as if an unpleasant truth is no longer avoidable. "Greffet" Noys says. "I don't know what she would do, although I have an idea of what she is capable of. We really should talk to an expert on her, Ederyn. Those are unfortunately in extremely short supply. We might talk to the King, although he might prefer we work the way up to him, or better, have a solution in hand before he knows about it." She pauses a moment, in thought. "Bleys" Noys says suddenly. "We should talk to Uncle Bleys." Ederyn nods, satisfied. "This evening, maybe? I think Sand won't act immediately, and I still have all those other things to do." He looks toward his lately-arrived backpack. "Starting with getting the ocean smell washed from my clothes, I hope." "I am uncertain where Uncle Bleys is at present, but I can certainly find out and broach the possibility of a meeting." Noys offers. Ederyn nods once again, approvingly. "We should see to allowing your companions back into the room." Noys adds, glancing toward the door. I do not wish to make the Weir unduly suspicious of me. Father found them welcome allies, I would not enjoy a power struggle for your time with them." "Speaking of which, since it would be wise to tread carefully around her if you are, and given the Marchioness buisness..." She pauses. "I do want to know. Are you engaging in rishathra with the female Weir?" "In what?" Ederyn says blankly. But he's gotten a lot of practice at working out the meaning of unfamiliar words, and this one doesn't seem all that difficult. "Oh," he continues a moment later. "No, not yet." Noys looks visibly relieved. "Well to know." she says. She glances toward the door. "Let us see about getting your companions in, and getting on with the rest of your day." She looks around. "If you have a change of clothes to escape the scent of the sea, we can see about furthering your introduction to the Castle. I did have a list of options I suggested you of which you chose here, and all of this business with Queen Sand." Ederyn levers himself to his feet, leaving the waterskin on the table, and gestures at his current outfit. "These will do. My best clothes, so the less often worn on this journey." Moving to another table, he picks up the gold torc he left there earlier, saying, "Let's go on seeing the castle, and bring the Weir. They need to know it too." He crosses to his belongings and crouches beside the trunk, opening the lock with a touch and a thought. "We'll see Lord Henden first, please, then the kitchen, and ... wherever else you think we should." He fits the torc onto the wooden form that keeps it from getting bent out of shape, briskly wraps it in the undyed linen that protects it from scratches, and settles it back into its place between a carved wooden box and the hammer 'lent' him by yet another lady of the Fae. Looking at the hammer, he remembers that it once crossed his mind that leaving home would take him away from any more involvement with the alfár. Somewhere, Loki is probably convulsed with laughter over that. "We should see to you, the Weir and the Ambassador getting a meal." Noys says. "it is approaching noontime in the Castle. One disadvantage to these quarters is the lack of windows. She gestures to the one small window the room has. "The upper floors are more well endowed with windows, but the first floor has relatively few, since these portions were built when the Castle was under constant threat of destruction." Ederyn pauses to consult his stomach and realizes that it must, indeed, be getting toward a mealtime; and he's pleased to notice that he has a real appetite for it. Then he lifts his pack onto the bed and starts taking things out. His clothing - about four changes of everything, and extra socks - is all fairly heavy and bulky, inevitably taking up most of the space in the pack. "I should see to getting you a clock, brother. The fancy stuff Martin likes doesn't work here, but the escapement and pendulum based clock does work here, even if they are not yet popular or common in the city. Aunt Flora has a beautiful one in her quarters." "All right," Ederyn says, to humor her rather than out of any real interest in keeping such close track of time. "This is everything," he adds, gesturing at the pile of clothing he's made on the bed. "No one will accuse you of being a clothes horse." Noys says. She brushes her hand against the clothes. Despite the smell of the ocean and other things, she does not wrinkle her nose. "Definitely gear for a traveler, rather than a scion of a Royal Family. Regardless, I suspect silk shirts are not going to be your usual fare anytime soon." "Still, until we get you into the city to get some Amberian wear, these will have to do. So, I will summon a servant, we can have these sent to be cleaned and returned, while we take the Ambassador and the Weir to a meal." "Before we both starve" she adds with a smile. Ederyn accepts this plan with a nod and a slight, answering smile; Lord Henden can wait until after lunch, and is probably having his own meal, anyway. Thirty minutes later, Ederyn, Noys, Daniel, Kezia, Boaz and Cyrus are standing in the entryway to the kitchen, meeting with a balding man dressed in white, with shoe colors of an odd orange hue. In those thirty minutes, Noys has summoned a servant (by means of an inconspicuous bell pull), sent off Ederyn's clothes to be cleaned and taken care of, rejoined his companions and headed off to the kitchens. (Casting call: Mario Batali) "I must admit, your highness." Michael, the head chef of the kitchens says to Noys, scratching his chin. "That you have set me to a task that I have not had to deal with in decades. Feeding Weir." He calmly looks over the human-formed Kezia and the still shapechanged Boaz and Cyrus. "It might take a little work, but I do recall some things that King Eric's guards liked." Kezia bows her head. "Thank you. Your hospitality is appreciated, lord of the kitchen." "And of you, son of Eric." Michael says, turning to look at Ederyn. "Tell me of the food of your land. If I can cook risotto mixed with Chaosian chactidaes for Merlin, I can manage the foods you eat." Nonplussed by the request, Ederyn has to take a moment to think about how to respond to it - and also to remember that he's in public, and should play the role he's decided on. When he finally speaks, his accent has gotten much stronger, to the point where it takes real attention to understand him, especially as he's abandoned his former painstaking effort to include sounds his native language doesn't use. "I think it won't be difficult," he says slowly. "The Montenegran food seems complicated to me." He pauses, doubting this is enough for the cook to go on, and offers, "I like new bread - but not the thin white stuff the Montengrans have - with honey, and spring fruit. For myself, I cooked soups of meat and vegetables. And we had fish - cheese - things like that." It's clear to Ederyn that it took a few words for the chef to follow Ederyn's accent, but he does see Michael nodding to himself by the end of Ederyn's answer. "Very well, I can work with that." "You have answered for yourself, and for your Montenegran friend in the bargain." Michael adds. "What the son of Eric says is accurate, is it not?" he says, looking at Daniel. "This is true, lord of the kitchen." Daniel says with a dip of his head. "Very well." Michael says. "Recompose where you will, you will have your meal where you will in a half hour." He looks at Noys. "I believe the Nook would be best." Noys says. "We will return in a half hour." Satisfied, the chef turns and starts barking out orders like a military officer, the staff hurrying to comply. "He clearly wants you to have something more than a cold sandwich for your first meal here, Ederyn." Noys says. "We could just wait around here for the food, or continue your tour?" Ederyn is peering curiously through the door into the kitchen, taking in the array of tables, ovens, and mostly unfamiliar utensils - as well as the aromas of many kinds of food cooking. Now he's not just hungry, he's ravenous. Full recovery from the ordeal of ocean travel must be at hand. "The tour, please," he says, turning back to Noys and offering her his arm again. "Hunger is a common reaction to being near Michael's kitchen." Noys responds, taking Ederyn's arm and leading him away from the entrance. The Weir, and Daniel follow. "Especially if you make him your friend and ally. It pays dividends, when you need a midnight snack, or want a special meal to impress someone, or just long for a childhood favorite." she adds. Noys leads the group away from the kitchen and into the main body of the Castle. It is partially some of the same area that Ederyn saw when he first arrived, but Noys takes a different direction and leads Ederyn deeper into the Castle. "The Castle was built in increments." Noys explains. "Parts date back to as old as Uncle Benedict, a couple of thousands years old. Aside from the repairs done after an incident involving Merlin, the youngest portions date from around the King's birth, a few hundred years old. The Castle is overdue for a make-over, especially with this generation being so fecund." As they move along, Ederyn can feel slight differences in the stone around him, in much the way that anyone might feel changes in a faint breeze. Without more detailed information, or stopping to study things more closely, however, he can't be sure if that is due to differing ages of the stonework or something else. The stone feel remains on the borders of Ederyn's perceptions as they progress. He would have to stop to really understand the lore of the stone, but right now it is like an occasional whisper in his ear, almost begging for him to stop and listen. "I have it on good authority that Aunt Florimel is lobbying hard to be chief architect for the renovation and expansion." Noys adds. She pauses a moment and stops her progress suddenly, nearly causing Kezia to run into Ederyn. "Shall I show you the way to the main staircase, or would you like a peek at the Great Hall, the Throne Room?" He debates the options for a moment, then decides, "The Throne Room." "Throne Room it is" Noys replies. She turns a corner and leads Ederyn, the Weir, and Daniel through a short set of corridors. All of these, now that Ederyn is aware and can feel it, is from a moderately old section of the Castle. Not the oldest, but certainly the stonework done after that oldest core. Noys turns a corner, leads Ederyn through a large square forechamber, and thorough a pair of open doors at its rear, that lead nto the Throne Room itself. The Throne Room, the Great Hall of Castle Amber is a large and long room. The width of the room is considerable, and the room only looks narrow because of the great length of the hall. A green and gold rug runs from where the visitors enter, all the way to a point several feet from the dais. Hanging on the walls are flags and banners, hanging from the walls on both sides. Ederyn does not immediately recognize any of them, although he can hear Daniel murmuring to himself as his eyes look over the standards. Ederyn takes a few additional steps forward and turns to look at the whole thing, wryly estimating that the King of Norwend's hall could probably fit crosswise in the end of this one, and not come close to touching its ceiling. And once, that was the largest building he'd ever seen. He finishes his turn facing the far end, and the throne. The thing Eric wanted and worked toward, if he understood the iron door's memories correctly. For a moment Ederyn peers into his own soul, wondering if all this new knowledge about his lost parent has somehow changed his own desires, and is reassured. Turning his attention back outward, he again feels the nearby stone on the edges of his consciousness, and decides to take a little time to listen to what it has to say. The three Weir form a tight knot around Ederyn as he takes the time to listen to the stone. Dimly, Ederyn can notice Daniel moving forward, in interest and examination. Noys seems a little uncertain at first, but her presence registers a little closer than Daniel, but not the protective closeness of Kezia, Cyrus and Boaz. The stone WILL speak to Ederyn, and gladly. The stone is old, and so registers things on a level far different than how the human occupants of the Castle might talk about the throne room. Ederyn can hear the stone speak of three kings and one not-King having been crowned here, three of them not long ago (as the stone mark time) and the first, when the stone was young. Ederyn gets a frisson of memory from the old stones at that first crowning. He who was crowned long ago, helped shape the stones that make up the Great Hall, by means arcane. Not the earth magic that Ederyn knows, but a wilder, more chaotic sort of sorcery that the stones have rarely, very rarely, ever felt since. He automatically takes note of what that sorcery feels like (or at least felt like to the stone), for future reference. The stones of the throne room, bizarrely enough, misses the rain and elements, from a time long ago when the Castle was much smaller in size, and the wind and rain touched stones that are safely encased inside of others now. Even though such elements wear away at stone, such elements do allow the stone a greater connection to the air and water long since denied, or transferred to their younger brethren. He sympathizes with that feeling, recalling the little valley and windswept hillside that he preferred above all other places, back in Norwend. But Ederyn's main interest is, as ever, his father. He indicates his desire to know more about the crowning of, not the most recent King, but the one before. Stone is not a medium that is normally associated with strong emotion. A heart of flint, the emotional capacity of a rock. Stone-faced. The metaphors come across in many languages and cultures, for there is a kernel of truth to it. And yet the emotions of the crowning of Eric come through in tall, implacable, staggering waves. These emotions are difficult to sort through to hear and feel what happened at the crowning, but Ederyn does manage. Somewhere in it, Ederyn vaguely feels a feminine hand on his arm, bringing him to a seat somewhere. There are many people in the room. Eric being the foremost among them. And a man, bound by iron. A prisoner: Corwin, Eric's brother. One of the men in the room says triumphantly ""Behold the crowning of a new king in Amber!" He is given the crown and told to crown Eric king. Corwin lifts the crown and crowns himself. Corwin is beaten, and given the crown in a second attempt. This time, Corwin hurls the crown, of silver, at Eric. Eric then speaks as he holds the crown. Corwin is beaten. "Now hear me, all you present, and those of you who listen in Shadow. I assume the crown and throne this day. I take into my hand the scepter of the kingdom of Amber. I have won the throne fairly, and I take it and hold it by the right of my blood." "I crown myself Eric the First, King of Amber." "Long live the King!" cries everyone, save Corwin. His anger and hatred blaze into the stones. And then cold clear words from Eric. "Guards! Take Corwin away to the smithy, and let his eyes be burnt from out his head! Let him remember the sights of this day as the last he might ever see! Then cast him into the darkness of the deepest dungeon beneath Amber, and let his name be forgotten!" Ederyn shudders at the grim commands, and at the implacable will and purpose behind them. Worse, he recognizes that kind of pure certainty and dedication in himself, though directed to different ends. The recollection then concludes, leaving Ederyn in a cold sweat. He tears his thought away from the stone, rudely. As he covers his face with his hands, gasping and pulling himself together, a vivid memory comes to him: The Lady of the Oak, very serious, saying, "Questions are dangerous." He doesn't realize he's muttered that aloud, albeit in his native language. Finally collected enough to manage speaking Thari, Ederyn turns his strained face to Noys. "I thought - I thought to know what the stone remembers a-about his crowning." "What did you see, milord Jarl?" Kezia says. "None of the Weir guards have told the story to any that I know." "I have only heard the story" Noys says, a protective tone in her voice. "But you must understand, Ederyn, that what our father did to Corwin, although harsh, was a quality of mercy." "We can talk about, though, later." she says. "If you have seen it all as I have had it described to me, I can't imagine experiencing it as you did." "I would like to know what happened." Daniel prompts. "Not here and now." Noys says, the impatience a mild undercurrent in her voice. "Walls have ears." Listening to all this, Ederyn has taken several deep breaths and straightened his back. At Noys' last remark, his lips twitch briefly into a frown. "It was ugly," he tells the others. "Not fitting for this hall, or for gossip." Noys nods slowly, biting her lower lip in thought. "A Jarl must do what a Jarl must do" Boaz comments. "His shoulders must bear a strong weight." Cyrus nods his head up and down, with a growling cough that suggests agreement with his counterpart. Ederyn also nods, very slightly, his demeanor gone remote and unreadable. "What now?" Kezia says. "Lunch" Noys says, decisively. "I think food will do us all good right about now." Her eyes focus on Ederyn. "Suits, brother?" "Yes," he says, his expression softening perceptibly as his attention comes back to the present and to Noys. "Then that is what we will do." Noys leads the group out of the throne room, and to retrace their steps for the most part, the ages of the Castle changing and shimmering again, in reverse order. With a spring in her step, the progression back to the kitchen is much more fluid and quicker than the tour outward. A shortcut through the kitchen, and Noys presents Ederyn, Daniel, and the Weir with a small room with a long table with chairs. It looks surprisingly informal and rustic. "This is the Nook, where many of the younger of the family prefer to break their fast." Noys explains. She turns her head and gives a nod in the direction of the kitchen, where one of the staff waits patiently. "Let's be seated." Noys offers, taking one of the corner seats. A moment after everyone is arranged, servants come in with a rush, placing food in front of everyone. Daniel's food is Montenegran, as Ederyn expected. It is in fact a stew that Ederyn saw and tried while there, although this is made with chicken and vegetables rather than river fish. It is served with thin white bread. His sister has a plate of rice covered with shredded meat (pork, from the look and smell of it) and pickled vegetables. The Weir all have identical dishes. Large chops of mutton, almost bloody in their rareness, along with long, pale root vegetables. The avaricious hunger is evident in the eyes of Kezia, Boaz and Cyrus. And Ederyn himself? A large bowl of what appears to be a thick soup from home, served with several pieces of thick new black bread, lightly buttered. With chunks of beef, barley, carrots, potatoes, mushrooms and onion, it smells almost like he is back in Norwend. There are two pitchers set in the center of the table, and an open bottle of wine. At the back of all this, standing at the entrance to the kitchen, is Michael, watching the proceedings as a smith might watch someone test the weight of a newly forged sword. Ederyn, seated beside Noys, studies his meal for a long moment - not in order to trouble the cook, but because he'd so successfully suppressed any expectations for this that he's caught by surprise. Finally he looks over at Michael and speaks in a light, casual tone; one that the others present have rarely, if ever, heard him use. "I *know* it takes longer than that to bake bread," he says. "It takes longer than 30 minutes to bake bread from scratch." Michael replies mildly, with a smile creeping around the edges of his mouth. The Weir are, as Ederyn might expect, waiting for Ederyn to start eating first. Daniel seems to be holding his gaze on Michael. Ederyn doesn't know what the phrase "from scratch" means, but he can recognize when he's not going to be let in on a secret. So he smiles a little and says, "Thank you." Then he takes up a piece of the bread of question and bites into it. It isn't exactly like bread from home, but it's much, much closer than anything he's had in a long time. His eyes half-close and he gives a bit of a sigh as he starts chewing. "Enjoy your meal, milord Prince. Princess. Guests" Michael gives a satisfied nod, and starts to turn to leave. "One of the mysteries of Castle Amber." Noys says quietly to Michael's back. "In many cases, he can be seen to cook things that take hours for hours, and in some cases, he seemingly pulls things out of nowhere. Like your bread. Black bread is not one of the staple breads here, it wouldn't have been on hand. I think every Prince and Princess has a private theory on just how he manages the seemingly impossible." "Probably only grandfather, who brought him to Amber from somewhere unknown, knows all of Michael's secrets." Noys adds. "Magical cooking?" Ederyn remarks, investigating the contents of the pitchers. One of the pitchers contains water, plain and pristine. The other picture contains a dark brown liquid. The other contains a brownish liquid topped by a layer of foam. It does *not* smell like beer, though. Its sweet smelling. "No one is sure, Ederyn. Could be he Gates the stuff in from somewhere, or conjures it all." Noys admits. "I don't even think Lorius knows for sure. And the last time he tried to investigate the kitchen to find out, all the bread at his meals for a month afterward tasted like cardboard." "Pass that pitcher over, would, you brother? He put that out mainly for me." Noys adds. Ederyn hands over the indicated pitcher, choosing water for himself. "What is it?" Kezia asks "It smells like the oils of a tree." "Allen and Wright's famous root beer." Noys says. "Aunt Flora and cousin Asteria bring me some from their shadow from time to time." Ederyn eyes the foaming beverage askance - sweet beer? - but doesn't comment on it. He tastes the excellent soup, and decides that the taste of pepper in it is an acceptable variation. For a while he concentrates on eating, mindful of some of the table manners he learned in Montenegro. The Weir manage at least a modicum of table manners, after some glances from Cyrus and Boaz to Kezia, who watches Ederyn as he eats. Daniel takes it all in with a glass of wine and quiet, studied observation. With a good, solid, and above all, familiar meal inside him, everything else begins to seem easier to take. Even the unwelcome revelations about his father's history, and the knowledge that yet more unfamiliar and unwanted things await him in the future. When the edge is quite taken off his hunger, he even feels up to asking questions again. "Noys," he says, "will you tell me what you meant by 'Gates' and 'conjures'? And what is 'cardboard'?" Noys sets down her glass, with just a small pool of the sweet beer left in it. "Conjures are a form of magic which creates items out of the ambient arcane energy." Noys explains. "It looks like you make something out of nothing, and almost instantly. From what I have been told, making something of high quality, be it a dagger or a very tasty piece of bread, is difficult." "Gates are Trump Gates. You know about trump cards. Experts in trump can do more than just talk with people via the cards, they can open up a portal to another place that many people can use at one time. Or, bring many things through from a place." "Is cardboard wood made out of these trump cards, then?" Kezia asks. "And the people of Amber...eat it?" A look of distaste comes across her face. Noys laughs slightly. "No, its a very heavy kind of paper, strong enough to be used for more than just writing. It would be flavorless and tough to eat." Ederyn, sitting back in his seat and finishing the last of his bread, looks briefly amused. "Thank you," he tells Noys. "You're welcome, brother" Noys responds. Looking over, it seems that the Weir have devoured their food down to the bones, and Daniel's bowl is empty as well. "He'll ask me at some point" Noys says. "What did you think of the meal?" "Oh, and although we were going to discuss what you saw elsewhere, now is as good as a time as any to ask you about that ability you have been using." Noys adds "Just what *can* you do with your magecraft? Should we get Random to give you forge access?" Something about her last question seems to surprise Ederyn, by his expression, but the look is quickly gone. "I *need* a forge," he says. "I have things to do, and also I have missed my work very much. "As to what I can do with magic ... all I know how to say is, whatever I can think of. So far," he adds. "Some things are hard ... it took months to find how to make a statue walk. Years to really understand how 'energy' - I think that's the right word - how it works, what it is, what can be done with it. But talking to stone or metal or fire is easy. Patching the ship was a new thing, but not very hard." He pauses, unsure of what, if anything, he's managing to communicate with all this. No doubt his accent (since they're still in public) isn't making it any clearer. Noys tries to hide her bewilderment, but is not managing it. "Your brother works with things of the Earth" Daniel says. "As far as I have seen it, and understand it, which is not very accomplished, I am afraid." "The bones of the earth" Kezia says. "The elements speak to our Jarl. Fire, Earth, Metal all listen to him, as they should. I have never seen him do the same to Air, or Water." "Five elements" Noys says. "The redheads would know more..." she looks at Ederyn. "Building you a forge of your own would take time and space. But getting you to share time on the Castle forge, that's easy. Especially once Random officially recognizes you. I confess I don't know the Smith Master well..I've never needed anything more than a new horseshoe for Incitatus now and again." Ederyn nods acknowledgment of this, then returns to the problem of trying to describe his magic. Perhaps returning to the basics will help. "I see the magic as two elements, Earth and Fire," he says. "And then also I know the nafnr, the names. Like this." Casually, he sketches the rune for 'light' in the air, infusing it with just enough power to shine like an oil lamp before it fades after a breath or two. The Weir and Daniel stare at the rune, rapt. Noys doesn't stare at hard but she looks at it carefully. Her eyes start to widen. "I was long at learning how to do that," he remarks. "I think it's more common to write them with something ... hard? No, solid. "So, those are the three parts of magic I know," he says. "For many things, I use two, sometimes three, for what I want. Is that more clear, sister?" Noys takes a moment and then nods. "I seem to have misunderstood completely what you do and how you do it. I've heard of your kind of magic in legends and myths in shadow. The magic of Odin, Wotan and the Aesir. Runic Magic." "You didn't have to hang yourself on a tree for nine days, or go to a well at the World's End, did you, Ederyn?" "You certainly seem to still have both eyes." Noys adds. The smith looks astonished for a moment, then half-smiles. "No," he says. "Though it was Óðinn who told me how to find the man who gave me the Names." "Ah, so Odin exists in your home shadow." Noys says. "Or at least a version of him does." She looks thoughful. "So you went to this shaman, or magician, and he taught you the runic magic you use now. Were you a smith before this journey, or did you have to learn metal craft as well, Ederyn?" His expression goes impassive again. "I started smithing when I was a boy," he reminds her. "This was after I left home. The first time." "Left home, the first time?" Kezia interrupts. "Did you flee the family you were fostered with, milord Jarl? Or driven out, somehow?" Ederyn shakes his head at her, but his sister speaks before he can decide what to say. "Actually, I want to know some more things, too, about our father and your homeworld." Noys says. "Perhaps we might continue this discussion with a walk outside the walls? We can use the kitchen exit, and stretching our legs after our meal will do us all good." "All right," Ederyn says. He doesn't really feel like talking more, but maybe he can get it all out of the way more quickly if he goes along with his sister. "The Jarl is reluctant to speak further" Boaz observes, as the Weir, Daniel, and Noys all stand up in turn. Ederyn glances at him, and shrugs slightly. "Come, we'll go out through the kitchen exit to the area outside of the keep." Noys says. Waiting until Ederyn is ready, she leads the group into the kitchen. As if expecting the gambit, Michael moves to intercept the group at the Castle exit. A guard is here, too, sporting a Van Dyke beard, and gives Noys, Ederyn, Daniel, and the Weir a relatively mild nod. He has both a turkey leg, and a bound book on a table next to where he sits. "Hello, Ottinger." Noys says to the guard. "Milady Princess." he responds. "Thank you for the recommendation of the book." "You're welcome" Noys nods. \she then turns to Michael. "Your food was excellent enough that I thought I would take my brother on a constitutional." "The meat suited" Kezia says, the two Weir nodding in agreement. "I could not tell if the Castle was out of practice in cooking Montenegran cuisine." Daniel says politely. Michael's gaze turns toward Ederyn. "It was very good," Ederyn says. Michael looks pleased. "And I ask if you can find some mead, for later." "Mead!" A look of comprehension dawns across his face and he looks slightly crestfallen. "Si! I did not think too bring you some mead. I am sorry, milord Prince. Do you have any particular preference? There are likely several varieties in the cellars." Ederyn makes a brushing-off gesture. "I've never liked it with food. A cup while sitting by the fire in evening --" He breaks off, unexpectedly remembering places where he's done just that, and perhaps never will again. After a moment he recovers and goes on. "That is good. I'll have to try the kinds you have, to know which I like." "It will be arranged." Michael says."This evening, I will see to it, milord Prince." "Thank you, Michael." Noys says. "Come." Noys adds, looking at Ederyn, the Weir, and Daniel. "Let's take that constitutional." "Rain has held off, and the sun is shining and warming things up, your Highnesses." Ottinger puts in, unprompted. Noys gestures for Ederyn to follow her through the door that Ottinger watches, and out into under the partly cloudy skies. The door out leads past plots that Ederyn can see are a small garden of some kind. "These are just for herbs and spices" Noys says. "There is a garden for produce, further along. Most of the gardens for the Castle are on this side of the walls. Its not the right season. However..." Noys doesn't finish her sentence, as there is, then and there, a blinding light through which two horse riders emerge... (Continued in A Meeting of the Faiellans) |
