OfficeSpaceSB: Aura/Random: Office Space"Is his majesty indisposed?" Ser Leicht says. "This is Aura, daughter of Princess Deirdre. She needs to speak to him regarding matters in Arden and beyond." One of the two guards turns to knock on the door, but a voice comes. "Yes, yes, she can come in. Have Ser Leicht go find everyone else involved." Ser Leicht bows her head to Aura. "Princess" "Thank you, Ser Leicht," Aura says with a smile. "I am sure we will be crossing paths in the future." With that said, the Atlantean Princess sweeps grandly into the room. She waits to speak until she knows who is in the Hall and to see if a curtsey is required. The room beyond is not actually a hall, but rather a relatively sedate looking office. The King of Amber is sitting behind a desk. A blond haired woman, dressed in an elegant dress of blue, has risen from a chair at Aura's arrival. "Not sure if the two of you have met yet. Aura, this is your Aunt Florimel. Flora, this is Deirdre's daughter Aura." "We have not met officially, although I remember you at court, dear." Florimel says. "Are you from Rebma?" Flora says, looking up and down at Aura. "Atlantis," Aura replies smoothly, and wonders why - if the woman was in Court-she doesn't remember that. It wasn't whispered. "No, although you can see why I thought of her to send on Embassy to Rebma" Random says. "I think we can take up the rest of your business, later. Don't forget to tell William what we discovered." Florimel is far too cultured to give Random anything less than a pleasant look. "Quite, brother." She gives a nod to Aura and sweeps out of the room. Bemused, Aura watches her leave before turning back to Random. She gives him a bright smile and proceeds cheerfully. "The fire's out in Arden, the Door is closed, they were going to fetch Julian back when I left, and you have a new prisoner in the dungeons. One of their mages. I saved one for you, since I didn't think to bring an appropriate gift to Court. You don't want the others; they're in pieces." Aura looks at her nails briefly before continuing. "The prisoner's name is Tersa. I may have threatened her with Fiona and dire Atlantean punishments, by the way. She said that their intelligence indicated there would be no sign of any known High Magic Practitioners about, and she was quite put out with me for making liars of them. They're purpose to was to kidnap Julian. For a successful siege of Amber, they needed him out of the way." "Removing Julian would be a predicate for a successful land siege of the Castle and City" Random says. He stops speaking for a moment and looks off in space, his expression unreadable. "Keeping our people safe is of higher importance" he says. "How bad was the damage to Julian's home? And I assume he is being brought here or to the Infirmary?" "I would assume so if it was needed. They had just left when I Lorius and I closed that doorway and were not back when I came up here. Though if he is anything like many of my male .... friends in Atlantis, he will actually have to be unconscious or bleeding before he voluntarily sees a Healer." Aura wrinkles her nose. "Sadly, the fire on the house was pretty far along when we got there. I suffocated it, but it will take quite a bit of work to make the structure inhabitable. It may be best to just tear it down and start over." "None of Julian's brood will like that." Random says. "Having now met them, this does not surprise me," Aura responded dryly. Aura pauses and considers the man a moment. She can't put it off forever, and she would rather they not find out on their own and then get prickly because she never mentioned it. "I have an unrelated matter I would like to speak with you about. I can make an appointment for later if now is not a good time." Random sighs. "There aren't enough hours in the day for this job. Ever. I didn't even want it, don't really want it, but the alternatives are worse. All of them." He places his hands on his desk, palm down, and looks at Aura. "What is this unrelated matter?" "Sorry," Aura grimaces sympathetically. "But I did swear an oath to you and Amber, and so you should know this. I apologize if it takes even more time out of your already overbooked day, but I think this is important." Random gives a wistful glance at the bar and then back at Aura. Aura approaches closer to the desk in order to speak lowly. "After we ...ah...'interrogated' the creature captured while trying to kidnap me, Lorius and I popped back over to Atlantis to alert them and help set up some defenses against alien shape shifters. Which was a good thing too, since we managed to stop a rather nasty demon and an assortment of little ones. Which led to us going to what we decided was one of the best locations to access Atlantis' wards so it wouldn't happen again. I had never been there before, and we stumbled upon a rather startling discovery that has lain forgotten for untold millennium." Aura pauses for a moment, hesitating. As if saying it out loud may somehow cause some OTHER sort of fundamental change to the Universe. She shares a look with Nick before looking solemnly at Random. Nick gives a nod of agreement. "Atlantis is a Primal Power. It has now been fully awakened." Random's jaw opens and closes without a sound. "Right now, you, I, a friend in Atlantis, and Lorius know that," Aura continues carefully and making a point to be respectful in her tone. She has no real desire to witness an explosion at this range. "And the Empress' Council in Atlantis is probably hearing it right about now. You are going to need an ambassador there, and they will want to send one here. I am in no way trying to tell you how to do your job, but no one else outside my mother and Lorius know the first thing about Atlantis. Please pick who you send very carefully. They have been THE power in their part of the Multi-verse for longer than their written history, so someone swaggering in with a superiority complex thinking they are all that because they're from Amber will not go over well at all and may be given the opportunity to reflect on their errors by spending some time as a lawn ornament. I strongly suggest the ambassador be female, open-minded, and able to command some sort of sorcery so they don't stand out horribly in a nation of magic users." She pauses a beat. "Lorius can probably suggest someone who could fit in and not get on the Empress' nerves." Aura smiles and straightens. "A formal alliance between Amber and Atlantis could come in handy. Especially if it is determined that we have a common enemy. Atlantians are not a violent people, but they can be if provoked. Chaos has already made an enemy of Atlantis by their continued attempts at my person and their interrupted stealth attack on the Palace, all in an effort to get at my mother. Atlantis comes across as a nation of beautiful hedonists- and we are-but that is not nearly the extent of it. That lifestyle demands swift and harsh protections backed by a fierce and formidable military arm - and every one of us wields magic of some sort. The best part may be that the number of people who know anything about the might of Atlantis outside of their sphere of influence can be counted on the fingers of one hand." Random says nothing for a moment. He then rises, goes to the bar that he had glanced at earlier, and pours two glasses of an amber liquid. He downs one immediately, and pours another one. He walks back to the desk, sets one down in front of Aura and sits down. Aura eyes it then quirks an elegant eyebrow at the man. “Bourbon.” he says. "So, in addition to the Omphalos making a play for Amber and my brother, in the meantime, you and Lorius, directly or not, have managed to rearrange the balance of the universe. Congratulations, Aura. I think. Drink." he urges. Aura shrugs and sips it carefully. It is the middle of the day and judging by his reactions, this is something stronger than wine. Whatever bourbon is, its stronger than wine. It’s not grape, its something else. He pauses and taps the side of his glass. "So the alien shapeshifters you mentioned are Chaosians , who were using you to get at my sister your mother, who we just got *back* from wherever the hell Abyss leads to. I never quite understood where Jayson had gone. No matter." He taps the glass again. "We don't have a formal ambassador in Chaos, or vice versa, did you know that? If Atlantis contains an awakened Primal Power, now, and it pains me to say these words." Random closes his eyes "I trust Lorius' judgement in that matter." He pauses and then continues " Then you're right. Formal ties are necessary." Aura chuckles. His opinion of Lorius reminds her strongly of Kovikin's. "It goes both ways, though. Atlantis is going to have to send someone *here*. I'm sure you will be able to figure that out in due course. What worries me is that awakening Primal Powers always has side effects. Fiona had a freakout that Corwin drew a Pattern of his own. Thought the entirety of creation could've unraveled. Let's hope this doesn't do the same, right?" "Oh, dear," Aura murmurs and clutches her glass between both hands and beginning to look a little pale under her tan. “Now you know why I gave you the bourbon.” Random says. “and no branch.” "One last bit, that a formal alliance might be useful for, and something to warn your people." Random continues "The way Valerian explained it to me, the Omphalos use Primal Powers as targets and homing beacons to send their portals hither and yon and do their deeds. If Atlantis is now possessor of a Primal Power..." Random takes a sip of his glass. "Oh, boy" Nick says. "Merde," agrees Aura. "Lorius could have mentioned that to me while we were still there." She shifts her gaze to Nick. "Remind me to thump him when we see him next." “Reminded” Nick says. “Maybe Valerian didn’t tell him, though.” Nick doesn’t sound convinced by his own words. "Seeing as Atlantis is the first Power I have seen awakened, I do not know how these things work. It has always been there, it just wasn't all up and running." Aura shrugs apologetically. "Technically, it still as a few days before the remaining parts of it are up and running. The Power is sentient and she tells me she has to build the new nodes. I will speak to Fiona. Perhaps she will have a few hours free to check on it. We did mention she might be a visitor when we were discussing things with the Empress. She wasn't happy about it, but she accepts it." “I think that Fiona will make time to see a Primal Power’s genesis and growth.” Random says. “You should know, though, if she thinks its going to frak up the universe, she’ll try and drop Atlantis into the Abyss with no forewarning.” "I will need to make another quick trip with Lorius back to Atlantis," Aura frets. "Soon. We have to warn them about the portals and show them how to close them. It will be a few more days before I can speak to the sentience behind Atlantis. Blast and damn. But with an entire nation and a goodly portion of our allies as magic users, this shouldn't be too difficult for them to handle." She pauses and takes another sip before muttering darkly: "I hope." “The Omphalos are getting cleverer and learning from their mistakes.” Random says. “Trying to kidnap Julian, multiple portals at once? They are rapidly asking for a salt-the-earth response.” Aura straightens quickly, suddenly irritated all over again. "Speaking of Chaos - no, I didn't know there weren't ambassadors, by the way. One of the names on that petition you were given in Court is the house currently trying to get at Mother through me. Did Fiona tell you about the interrogation? The Empress will not take any more attempts on my person or on Atlantean soil kindly. I suspect the Ashuran battle mages and Father are chomping at the bit to take the fight to them as it is. The High Priestess of Ashura is really rather frighteningly powerful and forbearance is not Thera's strong suit. Mother may not be Atlantean by birth, but Thera likes her and in their eyes, they are threatening two of their people. I really don't know what to do. From what I understand of it, I would hate for anything like Patternfall to happen again. The last time someone threatened Atlantis, their entire civilization was reduced to rubble and stone knives and they lost half their land mass." “A House Vendetta against you and your mother and Atlantis is easier to manage.” Random says. “You’re not fighting the entire Courts, just a piece. There are supposedly detailed rules on how these work...you probably should talk to one of the family who knows diplomacy and has been to Chaos. That’d be Pollux, that’s Gerard’s son, or one of Flora’s children. William is doing stuff in the Golden Circle for me, but his sister should be around here. Hell, you could ask Flora herself for that matter.” “And I am more than half certain the redheads have a pied a terre somewhere in Chaos.” Random adds. "I shall try Flora after I leave here," Aura says after a thoughtful moment. Based on what she had been told, very little went on that Flora didn't know about. She was also unlikely to have a 'kill them all and feed them to the kracken' first response. Though that might be the end game. "It is good to know that Chaos is not a 'mess with one, you mess with us all' sort of place (unlike, say, Atlantis)." "No, the fractiousness of Chaos is something that is only rarely overcome." Random says. "Not even during the Patternfall War." Aura sips her drink quietly a moment before setting it down and moving a hand to finger one of the gold pearls around her neck. "Perhaps that is enough of the universe tilting discussion. Shall we get back to the incursion in Arden? If you give me a moment, I can put the whole thing in a pearl and you can see it for yourself. My memory of it at any rate." "Yes, yes I would like to see it through your eyes. This is something based on Atlantean sorcery, I take it, these memory pearls?" Random waits patiently for Aura to pull out and create the pearl with her memories, and accepts the completed pearl into his hand. "Now, what are the risks in using one of these?" he says, looking at the gem. "And how are they activated?" Aura blinks at him. "Risk? I have never heard that word associated with Memory Pearls. Except 'there is a risk of them being stolen'. They're rather valuable in Atlantis. I only have as many as I do because I learned to pearl dive when I was a child and have been hoarding them whenever I happened onto one ever since." She pauses and looks at her strand of unused Memory Pearls around her neck. "I suppose there is always the risk of getting lost in a memory. But those are very specific memories and a certain mindset. Neither of which apply to this situation. This is not the sort of memory one wishes to become lost in, and while being King is stressful you do not strike me as the kind of man whose most desperate desire is to shirk your responsibilities and escape it all alone." Random smirks. "Some days, I think I'd be happier out of the big chair. And then I consider the alternatives. 'Sides, Vi would kill me. I was just concerned these were like Trump artifacts, or worse, the mirror magic of Rebma." She waves a dismissive hand and gestures at the shimmering pearl in his palm. "Close your hand around it, close your eyes focus on the pearl. Open your mind to it. A bit like you would for a Trump call. But this is infinitely safer; there is no consciousness on the other end to try and catch you up.." "Now that I think on it, there may be a small risk to me," Aura says with a faint smile. "You will experience this as I did; right down to what I was feeling and a vague sense of my thought process. An experienced user can filter that out. I don't know that you will be able to this first time. But there is nothing harmful to you in that memory. I wasn't even vaguely threatened during the incident." [The memory starts from when they spotted the smoke and ends with her Aura's meeting with the guards when she brought back her prisoner] "So its not memory, but its a sharing of your mental input and state at the time of its creation. These would fascinate a number of people, not just the sorcery types." Random says. The next few moments are quiet as Random engages in the process of activating and using the pearl. "Maybe we can steal some more of this bourbon?" Nick suggests. "I can still hear you." Random says. A minute or so later, he releases the pearl and returns it to Aura. "Thanks." Random says. "I can fill in a bit of the gaps. Lorius did return here, warning about the Door. He did a scan and detected that there were two more doors, one in the Hills, and on in Rebma. I directed him to take Castor and Pollux to deal with the one in the hills, since he was sure you and Ederyn and Ederyn's Weir could handle matters on your own for a bit. Especially you." "I am apparently his star pupil." Aura plucks up the pearl and rolls it between her fingers. "If you need it again to let someone else view the battle, just let me know. It might be useful. I plan on showing it to the Empress's Council as well." "Prince Benedict amongst others will want to see it at some point." Random says. "This Atlantean invention is handy. It also might solve the battle of the sexes." Random adds dryly. "My dear uncle," Aura responds mischievously. "Atlanteans are very inventive - hedonists, remember. A good number of things in the arena of sex and the sexes - or can be applied there. Even these. In fact, I have something I think you and your lovely wife will greatly enjoy. I shall get one to you later. It's one of Atlantis' most sought after item." Random raises an eyebrow. "I approve of gifts." Aura grins. “That is good to know.” Sitting back, she tosses the pearl in the air where it vanishes in a sparkle of golden light. She feels the light presence of it now safely hidden in her cleavage. "Was there much damage from the other doors?" Aura asks as she settles back in her chair. "I should go back out to Arden later. Our Earth Mages have a few handy rites and spells for healing damage to forests and land. I could possibly fix his house, but that seems a bit personal to take on without him asking for my assistance." "Fortunately, the major damage in Amber appears confined to the loss of the Steading. Bad enough." He pauses a beat. "The Door in the Schafer Hills was less well placed, from a strategic point of view, although I am not my brother to really judge that. As far as the one in Rebma, I need to speak to people there. And..." he sighs "Talk with Queen Moire. Or have someone speak with my Voice to Queen Moire. Really, she only respects and listens people who have breasts. The reverse of my father." Aura laughs. “The Empress is not as bad as that, though she prefers dealing with women. Men are alright, as long as they are properly impressed by her Presence and remember that she is the one in charge. But she does not let such things as gender get in the way of her decisions. Who ever is best for the job is the one who gets it. My father is the Sword of Atlantis, after all. If you ever speak to her in person, she is not going to be dismissive because of your gender. She and the Caliph of Persa get along famously and do amazing things when they work together on a project, but she thinks the King of Lemuria is an idiot.” She snorts softly. “He rather is. I think it’s a racial thing.” “She is a bit unsettled about Amber though,” Aura admits after a moment. “And giving too many access to Atlantis. Mind, she has only ever met Mother and Lorius, but he has always spoken of people and things rather freely – or so he appeared. You know how he is. I have no idea what Mother may have told her; I was not around or was a bit too young to notice. But I rather doubt much she heard of Oberon was any way comforting.” "Persa. Lemuria. It sounds like Atlantis has its own sphere of influence of shadows, then. Or are all these within Atlantis' shadow?" Random asks. "And I wouldn't expect Dee to be untruthful about feelings about her father. As far as Lorius, as you say, you know how he is. Information is one of his magical abilities." “We never gave it name like the Golden Circle,” Aura says thoughtfully. “Perhaps we should now. The Coral Circle, perhaps. The worlds nearest to Atlantis are just neighbors and trading partners. There is a loose sort of trade federation group that keeps every one honest. It would be dreadfully boring if not for all the posturing that is apparently the opening act of every meeting.” Random chuckles. "You should talk to Pollux. He says the Golden Circle meetings that occur outside of Amber are similar. Less posturing here, we still manage to mostly overawe the members on home turf." [Random]"Anyway, Atlantis seems far enough away that trespassing sounds like an unlikely problem. And if it is, I am certain Lorius can coach you in protecting Atlantis and its region from unwanted intrusions, if you want to put in the time and effort. That's not proof, but you can make it more troublesome for unwanted cousins and Chaosians alike to stumble in." "So what is this Primal Power like, anyway?" Random asks. "Especially if Atlantis and Amber going to be allies against mutual threats." Aura hums thoughtfully before answering. “Atlantis does not have one node of Power like Amber’s Pattern. It is broken up into Elemental crystals scattered around the continent. We’ve been calling it Tetra all along, but that is no longer true – since awakening it gave it two new ones. Hexiary just doesn’t sound as ...elegant as Tetra. Perhaps once we get used to it.” Pausing in her story telling, Aura conjures up a three dimensional image of of the Crystal Chamber of Nerissa dominated by the floor to ceiling glittering blue crystal. Rotating slowly, the facets cast shifting shafts of ocean blue light into the darkness surrounding it. “We have six of those. All different and all granting unique powers and abilities.” “Long before they ever heard of Amber, Atlantians had the ability to move between worlds. Tetra granted that ability. Early explorers went far afield, but after a time, they seemed to give it up and preferred to stay closer to home unless they sought something in particular.” Aura chuckles. “One account I read went on for pages and pages about the distant barbarian wastelands and the savages that inhabited them. That was millennia ago, so for all I know, they were in Kashfa or something. ” "Lorius HAS been rubbing off on you." Random comments. "Now that this power has turned primal, Atlantis is going to *have* to look beyond its Coral Circle, Aura." She nods. “I know. I will talk to my father and the Empress’ son first. They will see why this is so and help to convince her. Pity there isn’t a book for this. Something like How to Run a Primal Power 101.” "Suhuy's in Chaos, Dworkin is, well, Grandfather. That leaves Corwin who is still dealing with the after effects of what happens when a being tries to take over your Primal Power." "You might talk to Hadrian, though, I understand that the Fount at the Keep of Four Worlds has gotten a boost in its level of reality and he accidentally got dipped in it." Dispelling the crystal image, Aura conjures another from memory. Starting at the great lighthouse, it moves through the port and into the colorful city itself; past the elegant columned temples, into a vibrant market square; down the paved roadway lined with lapis bulls, their gold horns gleaming in the sun, to the majesty of the coliseum and further across the Santori Plains where the herds of jewel hued horses run and then back, up the mountain and over the glittering domes of the palace high on the cliff overlooking the bay of Atla. The image moves down to the water where a pod of dolphins are gathered near the beach around a pair of Atlanteans; statuesque, tanned with hair like spun gold and burnished copper, wearing little more than jewelry. “If you ever visit, you will want to visit the native dolphins. They’re highly intelligent and can mentally communicate with those who seek to converse who cannot speak their language. They carry the oral history of Atlantis – and not just ours. All incarnations of worlds that call themselves Atlantis. They can commune across Shadows with others of their kind, no matter the distance. We have no idea how that is. They just say it has been that way since their beginning at the birth of Atlantis.” "That suggests your theory about Atlantis having a Primal Power but dormant all this time has merit." Random says. "Shadows generally don't cast shadows of themselves unless there is a Primal Power, or someone imbued with that Primal Power hanging around. For example, Texorami. Spent a bunch of time there when I was your age Last time I went back, found a small clutch of shadows centered around it, variations on it." "The Rebmans probably think that all of these Atlantises. Atlanti? are shadows of Rebma." Random continues. "Maybe not so much." Aura snorts and manages not to voice what she thinks of that idea. "But its going to put Altantis and Rebma competition." Random adds. "Now that Rebma thinks they are completely free and independent." Bemused, Aura cocks her head to one side. “Competition for what? Trade? It is not as if we have a lot of overlap on what our nations produce that would be viable exports. I am certain you have plenty of fish. Rebman’s live under water. We have the heavens above us in all their splendor and like it that way. Pearls? I already know Atlantis’ pearls have qualities the ones around here do not. Who can show the most skin as a matter of course? Who cares? I only wear this much as a concession to Amber’s sensibilities. Who controls the seas? The distance makes that a non-issue; their seas are not ours. I can tell you now, Rebma is nothing more than a curiosity to Atlantis and not much of one at that. One of our allies is a similar underwater kingdom.” She shrugs. “I do not see how we can be competing in any way that matters.” “But I don’t really understand this Rebman declaration of independence. Rebma exists at all because of Amber, doesn’t it?” Aura asks curiously. “How can they be truly independent?” Random squints an eye, touches it with his left forefinger at it and then points at Aura. "Now *that* is an excellent question" Random says. "And one reason why I want *you* to go to Rebma, instead of, say, Asteria or Noys. Lorius' favorite pupil might very well be able to find out such things, wouldn't you? And you don't have the reputation Lorius or Fiona has to have them on their guard." “Maybe,” Aura looks vaguely doubtful. “But I should warn you that I am not going to be very happy living underwater for long.” A few moments later, there is a knocking on the office door. And so come in Ser Leicht, Ederyn, and Lorius. (Entering from Infirmary Blues.) "Hello, Hello, your Majesty" Lorius says. "Hi Aura" he beams at Aura. “Because it has been so very long since I left you,” says an amused Aura. Ederyn just nods in greeting, his gaze skipping off Aura and settling on the King or Lorius. "Oh, before you dismiss the Valkyrie, if I might make a suggestion and have her fetch a couple of people from the Infirmary to join us, your Majesty?" Lorius says. "Dags and the Rebman emissary Priya." "Why?" Random says. "They chose what was behind Door Number Three, which was in Rebma. And were quite miffed that they weren't invited to talk to you." Lorius says. "Ederyn can confirm this." "The Rebman, I think would not like to be left out," Ederyn says matter-of-factly. "I knew nothing of this Door." Ser Leicht says. "Shall I fetch them, sire?" Random nods. "Yes, go ahead. Take a bit of time. Too many more people in here and I am going to have to move this to the Great Hall." Random says. Exit Ser Leicht. Aura shifts around in her chair to look more directly at Lorius. “We are going to need to make another quick trip back to Atlantis is you have the time. I wouldn’t drag you along, but I’ll need you to explain these Doors and those ... the people who make them.” With all the slang and nicknames Lorius throws about, Aura’s not surprised she can’t remember this one. Just mildly irritated. "The Omphalos." Lorius says. "I don't relish the idea of telling the Empress or your father, but we're working together on a bunch of projects in Atlantis anyway, so yes, I'll make the trip. But why do you need to tell them..." he stops and slaps his forehead. Kezia blinks in surprise. Aura just gives Lorius a bland loo. "Oh. THAT. She told you the whole truth, huh, your Majesty?" Lorius says. "Yes" Random says. "Who gets to tell Dworkin?" Lorius says. "Or did he know centuries in advance?" "Later" Random says. "we have more pressing matters, Lorius, such as the Omphalos deciding to try and kidnap Princes of Amber and drop portals in Amber and its environs. Something, I understand, you and your Weir have plenty of knowledge about, Ederyn. Including the details of the rescue." "There's also bourbon, if you want." Random adds, gesturing to the sideboard. "You'll want," mutters Aura before taking another sip from her own glass. Ederyn wordlessly declines the bourbon. When he launches into his account, Aura and Lorius must notice that his accent is suddenly much less severe, though he also speaks a little more slowly. "I know not how Brienne opened a way," he begins, "but it took us to a very large room - as large, it may be, as a cave I once saw. But it had walls and ceiling and even floor of metal, all very plain. I found that my feeling for the elements was less than it should be, much less. Lorius thinks the place was Capital, perhaps." "It sounded like an aircraft hangar in Capital, your Majesty." Lorius interjects. "Julian was in a chair in the middle of the room, and chained. Carl and one of the Rangers fought with soldiers near it. The other Ranger was breaking the chains. More soldiers were close to us. They wore black armor that I think was not metal, and some had shooting weapons that Noys says are called 'fire arms.'" "The fire arms knocked down Cyrus and Boaz." Ederyn indicates the two Weir, recalling that the king has not met them. They each bow as Ederyn names them. "Guns." Random mutters, unhappily. "Kezia and I fought the soldiers. I saw that Julian was free and the Ranger was helping him to walk, and I thought this was too slow. I sent Kezia to help, and used the Fire I had with me to make a curtain between all of us and the enemy. Then I found that there was too little magic in that place to do very much more or keep the curtain placed for very long." "But the soldiers thought it was a dangerous spell, something called 'flammenwerfer.' They kept away from it." Ederyn's expression lightens a bit. "That's good, because it wouldn't have hurt them very much. Then a man shouted to use the 'Vulcan' to kill us all, even the prince. I made my curtain into a ball of flame instead, and sent it to this 'Vulcan.' That was a larger kind of fire arm, standing on three legs, with two men behind it. They hit one of the Rangers with it, but then my fire made it give off more fire, very suddenly, all over the soldiers near it, and knocking others down." He seems troubled by this, but goes on without remarking further on it. "We all came back to Amber while they were confused. Julian rested for a while, and then he could walk, slowly, to the infirmary from the courtyard, where Lorius brought us all. Brienne has - had - not closed the way, when we left. That may be a thing to worry about." Aura sits chewing her bottom lip, digesting it all and trying to work out the implications to Atlantis. She hates firearms; they are loud and smell bad and there is no finesse in using them. Thug weaponry. They wouldn't work in Atlantis anyway, so that isn't an issue, but they had shown they are not adverse to abducting and relocating people to where they did. "Their guns don't work here, or else they would have used them in Arden, and earlier." Random says. "The fact that they know about them and use them is something Valerian never told me about. Then again, he might not have thought it remarkable. The black armor sounds like kevlar or something similar. The vulcan...a tripod armed machine gun. Yeah." Random says. "Let's be sure they don't figure out how to get their guns to work here." The King finally cracks a smile. as he looks at Ederyn. "With all that, good work on getting my brother out of there, son. I think I am offering you a job." "But what did Brieanne do to get access to that 'aircraft hangar'?" Random looks at Lorius. "And why is it still open? Any bright ideas?" "My first guess is some sort of idiosyncratic high powered trump gate." Lorius says. "It would be the only thing that would reach. But now that things are settled here, I was going to go back there and take a look. And call Mother, if needed." "Before you go back with Aura to tell them about the Omphalos, that's your job right now. You might want to take one of your friends here as backup, since they're both sorcerers." "Hey, Aura's a *sorceress*." the green lizard on her shoulder protests. "I am fairly certain they are all aware of that," Aura reminds Nick dryly before turning to Lorius. "If Random doesn't have other plans for me, I would like to go with you to look at that thing" "It seems to be the pressing problem at the moment." Lorius agrees. He looks at Ederyn and the Weir "What about..." There is a knock on the door at this point. Lorius stops his train of thought. "Come" Random says. Ser Leicht comes in, and bows. She does not have anyone with her. "Your Majesty, the Rebman sorceress, Dagny and Valerian are no longer in the Infirmary. I do not know where they are." Random chuckles. "Of course. Priya's a Rebman. She probably convinced them to all go talk to the Queen instead of me." He looks at Aura, Ederyn and Lorius. "So, we have Julian back, but his daughter opened up a strange portal to do it that might still be open. The Omphalos are now adding guns and kidnapping to their bag of tricks, but haven't scored any lasting successes, unless they managed to do something in Rebma. Have I missed anything?" "You have one of their mages prisoner down in the dungeons," Aura reminds him. "Who is convinced I can turn her into a sentient work of shattered statuary for eternity and Fiona is even more frightening, so I would think questioning her won't be too difficult. Other than that, I don't believe you have missed anything in your summary of this subject." "Right. Prisoner. You put her in the glass box?" Random says to Ser Leicht. "Yes, your majesty" the Valkyrie says. "Good. Let her cool her heels for a bit, and then we'll see what we can learn from her." Random says to Aura. "You can be bad cop to whoever I choose to be good cop." Aura looks over at Lorius and mouths 'good cop?'. Cop is not a word she is familiar with in that context. "Interrogation technique." Lorius says quietly. "Anything to add, Ederyn?" Random asks. "Opinions welcome." Ederyn stirs enough to gain their attention, hesitates, then says,"What else are the Omphalos doing?" His accent, with Ser Leicht in the room, has gone back to its previous strength, more or less. He also looks uncomfortable, but goes on, "I'm not a warleader, but I'vespent many winters listening to old warriors talk." "Noys says they have this thing tried before. How is three of the same thing that failed a real attack? Taking Julian was, was serious," he hastens to add. "But how did they know that? And setting a fire in Arden, a fire that must be seen from the castle?How is that sense, for an attack?" He spreads his hands, hoping they don't think he's criticizing, or that he's an idiot. "I worry about Chaosians in Weirmonken," he finishes. "Maybe I should worry about these Omphalos, also." "The entire universe has to worry about the Omphalos." Random says. "If they do what they seem to want to do, there won't be a universe for Weirmonken or Norwend to exist in. Or Atlantis, either." He gives a glance at Aura. "As far as their tactics, that's a real problem you've hit on the head, Ederyn." The tone from the King is serious, not patronizing. "Their previous efforts were single doors, some mages and soldiers, and easily batted down. This is a jump up in scale, numbers and showing some new tricks. You've got a good point--how would they have known to try and kidnap my brother. And the fire? Acts of terror, both" Random pours himself a drink, Aura a drink, and Lorius a drink. The Weir wrinkle their nose. "Terror tactics?" Lorius says, after a gulp of bourbon. "I don't like the sound of that, your Majesty. Sounds like an attempt at demoralizing us. Soften us up. Scare us." "Terror is used when one does not possess real strength." Boaz comments dismissively. Aura snorts. "Scare us and soften us up? What are they? New? Slept through Patternfall, did they? Julian's kids are so very far from scared or demoralized I was concerned for their sanity. They're righteously furious - or they were when I last saw them. If the Queen of Rebma is anything like Atlantis' she is as well. I know I am, and I am new!" Looking over at Lorius, Aura continues. "Thera is going to be bristling and calling for Father to put the armies on a war footing. She is going to want to take the fight to them and eradicate the problem. Salt the earth. Nasir will join her. Akenaton will likely throw his banner in, and it's been too long since they had a good fight for the warriors of Etrusca to not start beating their shields. Now that Lemuria has finally gotten their civilization back up, they aren't going to stand for anything that threatens it again." She pauses and furrows her brow briefly. "I can't say what Nerei will do. Though I imagine anyone foolish enough to try and attack them will find themselves sacrificed to the Silvering." "I didn't understand half of that, although I bet Lorius could explain each and every one of them of necessary." Random says wryly. "I could." Lorius says. "But suffice it to say, your majesty, the Coral Circle of Atlantis would just love a chance to see how tough the Oompa Loompas are." "Peace wears on warriors," Aura offers dryly. "Especially one that has lasted a long time." Ederyn lets all the strange names wash past him, and continues to avoid looking directly at Aura. "First, we have to know how to reach them," he points out prosaically. Aura notices his inability to look at her and remembers it from earlier, but decides it's too late now, and she's really not looking forward to trying to remember who is offended by what. She's already conceded to wear this much. "I think," Ederyn goes on, "I will stay and hear how it went in Rebma. And in the hills," he adds, with a look at Lorius. "I suspect the Rebman information will come via my wife." Random says. "But do tell us about the Hills, since Castor and Pollux are not here." he says to Lorius. Lorius takes another gulp of bourbon and then starts. "Easy enough, your majesty. After I spotted the Door placement, Cas, Pollux and I rode out there with a squad of soldiers Castor rounded up on short notice. They seemed to take the idea of them leading them more seriously than the idea of me doing it." "We got out there in jig time, thanks to a bit of spellwork. Shame about the horses, though." Lorius says. "Omphalos were already out and starting to throw up earthworks, trying to form an encampment around the Door. Fortify, bring in lots of troops, go forth and conquer. Less clever than what they were up to in Arden, but a thorny problem." "I got into a magical duel with their pet sorcerer and beat him, while the soldiers and the Twins gave me cover. We took a few casualties, but with their magical support gone, I took out the earthworks, and we overran their position. I undid the door, and then headed over to Arden to help Aura do the same, leaving the soldiers and the Twins there to mop up." "The soldiers, Cas and Pol, will be bringing what prisoners they get back. Nothing so fine as Aura's mage, but since they had not obviously done something like torching Julian's house and abducting him, the soldiers don't have an unslakable blood-lust either." "As far as reaching them." Lorius says. "We've a couple of methods we know work, besides capturing a Door and turning it to use. And that is before Brieanne's little trick." "I want a reliable way of moving a force in detail there, Lorius." Random says. "Turn the tables on these terror tactics and other bee-ess they are up to. Bonus points if if we can give it to putative allies and their friends." he looks at Aura. Aura just nods her agreement. "Yes, your Majesty" Lorius says. "The clans of the Weir would follow you to face these Omphalos in battle." Kezia says to Ederyn. The smith glances at her, then away. Since he's facing towards Random (and Aura), they can best see that his expression is more resigned than anything else. "If there is time to get them," he responds. Aura looks over at Kezia. "How much time would you need?" Kezia looks at Boaz and Cyrus. She speaks rapidly in a language unfamiliar to Aura. To Ederyn, the quick dialog sounds like they are conferring on a time frame. She nods to the other two Weir and faces everyone else, focusing on Aura. "To gather our three clans, Princess Aura, would require three weeks for them to assemble in one location. That would mean that some sort of transport could be arranged from there." "We might, milord Jarl." Kezia says. "leave your side to accomplish that task, while other forces are gathered from the lands of the Princess and elsewhere. If you wish it." "Mobilizing a Weir army. Unicorn." Random sighs. "That's your call, nephew." Random says to Ederyn. "You certainly have other talents in this, if you don't want to be a warleader." Aura taps her finger against her glass a moment while thinking through an idea. "I think we can manage transport," Aura says with a glance at Lorius. "I have access to an Atlantean teleport spell they once commonly used to transport large groups or freight. It hasn't been used in a long time because it hasn't been needed since they developed other more manageable methods, but I do know it. Three weeks would give me plenty of time to build it and store a few of them. I can't put the finishing touches on until after we get the location of the Omphalos' home world anyway. How many individuals would be in three clans?" "I can't see what other help I can be," Ederyn says frankly. "Magic is not used in battle in Norwend, except in weapons. It would be dishonorable. So, I know little about it." "If the Weir are needed for this war, I will lead them. I think they will follow no other." "Enchanting weapons for family and army members alone would be useful, Ederyn." Lorius says. "Not everyone has a sword like Eric's or Corwin's." "We would not go into battle for Amber without our Jarl." Boaz growls. "So it was in the days of Eric, and so it is now." "To answer your question, Princess." Kezia says in a softer tone of voice than her counterpart. "The clans that I, Boaz and Cyrus lead roughly have a score and a half of hundreds of warriors, each." "Two score of hundreds for my clan" Cyrus says. "Ten thousand Weir." Lorius says. "I can count too, Lorius." Random says wryly. Ederyn is staring at Kezia, plainly shocked. "We talked about how many clans," he says to her, "but not about how many the clans hold ..." "I thought you knew, my Jarl" Kezia says with just a trace of a smile. He turns back to Random. "Uncle - your majesty - I was wrong. I can't ... wars in Norwend have hundreds of men, at most, counting both sides!" Aura stares blankly at the Weir for a long moment before turning to Lorius. Ten thousand plus weapons and supplies by herself would be like trying to transport Kolvir. "Remind me to recruit some help," she says blandly. "We're going to need a bigger boat" Nick comments. "Hell, Lorius, why don't we have one of the war nerds here?" Random says to him. "Because none of them were on the scene." Lorius says. "Ten thousand is too many for the Jarl of the Weir? What about a smaller force. A few dozen of the best Weir. Use 'em as special ops. Let the Omphalos that run into them get afraid of being eaten." Random says. "And that would be more manageable for *you*" Random adds to Aura. Aura nods agreeably. "Much." "They'd taste bad." Cyrus says. "But if the Jarl wishes to lead us as a few score rather than the scores of hundreds, we can gather Weir in such numbers, if he so wishes." Cyrus, Boaz and Kezia regard Ederyn. "That would be better," Ederyn says, relieved. "The same number from each Clan, yes? And while we wait for them - however long it is - I can work with some weapons, also. Or armor." "Armor needs to be really fitted to individuals, way I understand it." Random says. "Weapons much less so." "I can use things made by others," Ederyn replies. "Though the work will not ... hold as well, or as long." "Please define a 'few score'," requests Aura. "It is a spell variable I will need in advance." The three Weir look at each other and rapidly talk again in their guttural language, with a lot of gesticulating and what sounds like heated argument. "They are arguing just how few they can honorably send." Lorius comments, as Ederyn can also tell. The argument actually reassures the smith, as a touch of what he considers normal. "Two score from each of our clans, milord Jarl. 120 of the Weir in total." Kezia finally says. "You were here more than I was. How many Weir were running around Amber when Eric was in charge?" Random says to Lorius. "Five, six hundred, tops." Lorius says. "Someone like William would know the exact number. Likely Noys, too. Julian. Carl." "A hundred and twenty is manageable by comparison if they need to be platooned 'round here, then." Random says. "Good, make this happen." he adds with satisfaction to Aura, Ederyn and the Weir. "Your word is law," Aura replies with a bit of a smirk. Ederyn nods. At this point, a knock at the door comes. "Come in." Random says. "Want to bet this is Dagny and the Rebmans?" It turns out not to be, but rather a servant. She comes in, curtseying to all and sundry, bobbing her black haired head like a rag doll, and offers a thick cream colored envelope to the King. "This came by means of a strange messenger bird, milord. Not one of our usual ones." "Oompa Loompas?" Nick asks aloud. Random takes the envelope and tears it open without preamble. He reads the first page of the documents quickly and drops it on the desk. "Well, my brother Benedict has a sense of timing." Random says. "He has asked, as General of the Armies of Amber, official permission to start a levy of troops and is asking to draft a bunch of the Family into the war effort against the Omphalos. Including, and I quote "the son of Eric, and the daughter of Deirdre." "He is extremely well informed." Lorius says. Aura just stares a moment before laughing. "Kovikin is going to laugh himself silly. I have been conscripted in the army. Father told me those Wind Blades were going to get me into trouble one day. When does he want us to report for duty? It will need to be after my trip to Atlantis, ideally." Actually, she needed to test her Atlantean method of communication. If that worked from Amber, it would cut down on all this back and forth. "My older brother should understand that he is might be the General, but he is not the King. He long since had the chance to be the King if he really wanted the job. He didn't, so I get to decide when I start sending family members his way. Going to have to dicker with older brother before anyone starts getting into fatigues." He looks at Aura, Ederyn, and Lorius "So, you have time before the troops march." He points at each in turn. "For you to get Atlantis on board and set to join in and help us interrogate that prisoner you got, for you to get your Weir forces and make us some weapons and armor, and for you to find out what's on with that rift, and oh, yes, you, Lorius, get us a way to do unto the Omphalos as they have done unto us. Oh, Lorius, you have permission to help Ederyn walk the Pattern." Ederyn brightens noticeably at that last. "Now, if all of you have nothing else, I now have a lot of work to do. And so do you." Random adds brightly. The smith nods, serious as ever, and prepares to withdraw. Aura drains her glass and sets it down before rising. "By your command." She turns to Lorius as she moves to leave. "Why don't you take Ederyn down and get him squared away first? I have some things to take care of before we head out to ruin the Empress' day again." "If we need your help with whatever Brieanne's rift is doing, I'll be sure to give you a call." Lorius says agreeably. "In the meantime, get your business squared away, Aura, and look me up when its time to tell the Empress the good news." He grins widely. "Come on, Ederyn. You, me, and your muscle have got work to do." (Continued in Kingly Commands (Ederyn) and Sorceress At Work (Aura)) |
