Strange Bedfelllows | StrangeBedfellows / PortsOfCall browse

SB: William: Ports of Call

And into shadow the expedition sails.

Begma is the closest Port of Call on William's Grand Tour, and while the sea journey is not long between Amber and its nearby neighbor, the few days of sailing work as a shakedown cruise for the Narcissus and Peryton.

The captains find time to coordinate maneuvers and communication between the two vessels. Kiathas, Valric and Devaine get a chance to learn how to live and work aboard an Amber Naval Vessel. Customs such as dining with the officers, shipboard cuisine (which is not as bad as the companions fear), and the general ebb and flow of life on the Peryton occupy the few days.

"Here is the question I have, cousin." Shannon says, the evening before the ship is due to dock in Erkus, the major port of Begma. "As I see it, we have two choices, as far as the problem of the Count is concerned." She sits in a chair in William's quarters. Kiathas, Devaine and Valric are arranged as well, the men leaning against the wall, Devaine also occupying another chair.

"We know the Count is holed up somewhere in Eregnor, and we have to go overland to get to the Capital. But we have to do that on the other side of Eregnor, in Kashfa, too. The question becomes, do we want to divert into Eregnor, now, while we are in Begma, or wait until we get to Kashfa and do it from there?"

"We would be leaving the diplomats behind in either case, I imagine" Kiathas puts in. "Although I suspect Guillaume would have a plan to allow us all to sneak away to deal with the Count."

"Let us say, the shadow of a plan," William answers with a smile. He tops off his glass with port and passed the bottle around, in the proper direction.

Everyone in turn refills or tops off their glass, as appropriate.While Kiathas and Valric need the most, Devaine has only drank a thimbleful, if that.

Begma and Kashfa are engaged in attempting to lance that perennial blister, Eregnor. They both continually look to Amber to aid their side, and now Eregnor itself is seeking to be recognized as an independent entity. This will be undoubtedly be the major point both kingdoms wish to discuss with us." He sighs, theatrically. "I just may find myself, much against my will, forced to agree to travel to Eregnor to have a personal look at the situation, as Uncle Random's representative."

"So we might wind up with a mandate both from the King of Begma..." Kiathas begins

"Prime Minister" Devaine corrects.

"Prime Minister of Begma, and the King of Kashfa, to go into this border region. Border country. Hmmm." Kiathas scratches his chin.

"You're thinking of the client states back home. Bagratuni. Artsrunim and the long one that starts with a V" Valric says. "This Eregnor sounds like that sort of piece of work."

"It is made more interesting by the fact that the King of Kashfa is a cousin," William adds. "One whose relationship with the rest of the royal family has been ... varied." He looks at Shannon. "I have been away for a while now. What has Luke, or Rinaldo, or whatever he's calling himself now been up to since he's settled down as a monarch?"

"A number of things." Shannon says with a slight look of mock surprise at being noticed amongst the ongoing conversation. This earns her a skeptical look from Valric.

"He divorced Coral a few years ago, and has not yet remarried, although there are plenty of rumors on that score." Shannon responds. "That's a side issue, and an interesting one that I will hold off unless you are really interested. Rinaldo's also been pretty chummy with his half brother Kyle and that mysterious one, Malachi. He keeps haranguing Random, mainly through Pol, for a trade treaty. Oh, and a daughter of his recently turned up, Dagny."

"Finally" Shannon adds. "Word has it there is a Pattern Ghost of him running around Corwin's Pattern and Chaos."

William makes a face.

Valric glances at William curiously. He then looks at Shannon, who puts on a sphinx-like mien to her countenance.

William doesn't explain at this time.

"How common is it for one of your family to rule a kingdom like this Rinaldo does?" Kiathas asks. "Life in Rinaldo's court seems as tangled as Amber's."

"Oh, it's not at all uncommon," William answers. "Ruling a kingdom so close to Amber is the unusual thing. Most often, when one of us decides to play king for a decade or five, we do it far away from the annoyances of other family members, let alone the King of all That Is." He leans back in his chair and stairs at the ceiling of the chamber for a moment. "And idea why Kashfa doesn't have a treaty with us, yet?" He asks. "Holding out the possibility of that is a sure way to get him interested, but I don't want to step on Random's toes if there's something going on there that I don't know about. And I'd be interested in the gossip on Coral," he adds. "Has she been seen recently? In Chaos, perhaps?"

"Pollux would be more of an expert on why Kashfa isn't in the Golden Circle Treaty." Shannon says. "One guess, and he might confirm it, is that the Begman Ambassador has lobbied hard against Kashfa's admission, and managed to carry the argument for the moment.". Shannon strikes a dubious tone in her voice.

"You don't sound like you believe that" Valric says.

"I am not sure. I can think of other reasons. Rinaldo's role in Caine's death and the actions surrounding that time period eight or nine years ago. As far as Coral, though, William, I thought you knew that she briefly visited the Castle, oh, not long before you came back. Disappeared not long after."

"To Chaos?" Devaine asks.

"Definitely not to Kashfa." Shannon replies. Shannon then smiles mischeviously. "Of course, we could always just call her. I happen to have her trump, not an easy thing to get."

"Hmmm," William frowns thoughtfully. "I might have been told she had been around, but if so I do not recall it." He looks at his companions. "She has a unique perspective on the relationship between Begma, Kashfa and Amber. She was believed to be the daughter of the Prime Minister of the Begma. I say 'believed' as it has since been proved that she was actually the natural daughter of Oberon. This isn't widely discussed in Begma, obviously. She also has a ... different view of Chaos than most." William grins, and it's clear to his companions that he's making a jest of some sort.

"Why, was she having relations with some Chaos dweller?" Valric says.

Devaine shakes her head. "William is subtler than that in his jests."

"He is" Shannon says. She turns toward William. "I have reason to think, cousin, though that the jest may no longer be accurate. If you see what I mean."

"She sees things differently now?" Williams asks. "She no longer has her uniquely Chaotic vision?"

"Wait. What?" Valric says.

Shannon ignores him, takes a tiny sip of her port, and continues.

"Her uniquely Chaotic vision has been exchanged for a less Chaotic one" Shannon confirms. She raises her pinky to her eye. "Whose idea it was, I am not entirely certain." she says. "I do know, now, that the youngest son of Oberon has it on a chain once more. And she has a gift from the Artist in exchange."

"Interesting," William says. "She's moving from a pawn to a Power, isn't she? What is the nature of the gift, do you know?"

"She is finally coming into her own. As all of us of her age are, if we will it so" Shannon replies. She taps the small glass and then continues. "I haven't seen the gift she was given in exchange, and, dear cousin, I would dearly love to do so. It keeps her from emulating Odysseus' nemesis, but is not of Chaotic or of overly Orderly nature. And yet it works spectacularly well, from what I have been told."

William nods, thoughtfully. "Ver interesting," he says. "I can think of both magical and techological ways to do that, and yet I suspect it is something else entirely." He grins then. "But," he says, "I think I have something even more interesting to speak of. Can you assure that we are not overheard? This is a matter of the utmost sensitivity."

"Oh I think I know what this is about" Valric says.

"Hush, Valric" Devaine admonishes. Kiathas,for his part, looks innocent.

"Privacy" Shannon says. She stops, produces a handbag (just exactly where that came from is a good question), and produces a small sphere, about two inches in diameter. It is painted black, with white spots.

"A gift from my brother" Shannon says. She places it on the table and whispers a single word. "Orion". The small ball spins on an axis parallel to the table, showing that the pattern of dots suggest sky constellations.

William can feel a small wash of esoteric energy. Given the reaction from Devaine, she apparently feels it too.

"There" Shannon says with satisfaction. "It would take someone extremely skilled to overhear us, in any sense of the word."

William watches it spin for a moment, then grins and addresses the sphere. "Lorius," he says, "I do not for an instant believe that you would give your sister a means of assuring her privacy, if it were not also either transmitting directly to you, or else recording for you to recover its memories later. I know you too well. Be sure your mother hears all of this. She needs to know it."

"Is that true?" Valric says, looking at Shannon.

Devaine rolls her eyes.

Shannon looks innocent and turns toward William.

He looks up at Shannon. "Have you heard of Cyneburh?" he asks. "It is not a name I had ever heard until yesterday, when her servant Theoris sought out myself and Princess Dulcinea. Although she expressed surprise at Dulcinea's presence, having apparently expected to find you, instead."

Shannon whistles in appreciation.

"Cyneburh is a name that is not commonly known of in Amber." Shannon replies. "You should understand, William, that for various reasons,by the direction of Grandfather, the early history of Amber has been modified, sanitized, altered. In particular more than one of our eldest relatives have been expunged from history."

"Mostly expunged." Shannon adds, with a smile.

"So who is this Cyneburh?" Devaine asks.

"One of the sisters of Benedict, Osric and Finndo." Shannon replies.

"Very, very old," William adds. He catches Shannon's gaze and watches her carefully as he says, "And why do you think Aunt Cyneburh has come out of her hinding at this late date? She wants our us to find and strengthen the protections on something she fears someone is going to make a try for. Something that she claimes she doesn't want herself, but very much wants to keep out of unfriendly hands."

Shannon levelly returns William's gaze. She certainly is trying to school her emotions and reactions. William can see, though, that Shannon's thoughts are roiling and churning, trying to solve William's puzzle before he announces it.

He pauses, watching his cousin, then says, "A Spikard."

Shannon's eyes widen in surprise and shock. Given how very quiet the room is, William can hear the catch in her breath, too. Fiona's daughter is trying to modulate her response, but she's not quite as good as her mother, yet.

She finishes her port, decisively.

"A Spikard" she says, once she has done so. "I didn't realize she had anything to do with THEM. None of what I've read and learned hinted at it. She's a sorceress, of course, and a very good one. She built the Palatinate Safehold in Begma. Bound Jacint, the Demon of Roads, to stop an attempt by Adorjan of House Helgram to forge what we might today call a Black Road. I came across this reference, too, to an Archipelago of Shadows she supposedly molded and linked together. But Spikards, William? No."

William nods agreement. "The impression I received was that she was concerned that its protections might be weakening, not necessarily that she had anything to do with it herself." He shrugs. "But I am not about to make any judgment at all about a previously unknown Aunt. There is simply too much I do not know."

"We don't know" Shannon clarifies.

"That goes for us as well" Devaine says. "Although I suspect we will learn more than we expected, by the time this business is done."

"Did she tell you which Spikard?" Shannon asks.

"Chromatic, the Spikard of Light," William answers her. "Have you heard of it?"

"Some" Shannon says. "Its one of the portable Spikards. Master of Light, Illusions, and Perceptions. A ferociously dangerous spell engine, William."

William nods grimly. "And like to find someone powerful enough to wield it, ambitious enough to want the power it promises, and fool enough to not realize that it is certain doom to anyone insane enough to use it."

"Mother has put some thought into trying to undo them." Shannon says. "Unfortunately, she has come to the conclusion that while it might be possible, it could be a cure worse than the disease."

"What does that mean?" Valric says.

"It means" Shannon says "The Spikards were made and constructed, in some part, to tame rogue and out-of-control Shadow Powers, Powers that were Old when the Pattern was drawn. And to undo a Spikard would be to unleash that Power upon the universe again, with *no* safeguards. The Spikards are a very imperfect way to bind those Powers...but unless someone comes up with a better binding, the alternative to it is worse. We must see to its binding."

"Now you know" Shannon says to William "what nightmares my mother, my brother, uncle and I sometime have. And why Sand and Delwin are so dangerous. Even Uncle Brand wasn't crazy enough to try and meddle with the Spikards, except for one."

"I think I need more port, please, cousin." Shannon adds.

William tops off his own port, then passes the bottle around. He nods thoughtfully. "The Spikards make sense to me now," he says, "I thank you for the explanation. A prison for the ancient Powers, and at the same time a way for them to try to influence the universe the Pattern has imposed."

"Yes" Shannon says, taking a sip. "Now don't ask me just how many there are, because Mother, Lorius, and I have different answers. And undoubtedly Delwin and Cassandra do as well."

[William] takes a drink and then gazes thoughtfully down into the thick, dark liquid. "Our long lost aunt is sending a cousin to aid in the binding, someone who has apparently spent most of his life studying for just such a task. It will apparently take him a couple of months to reach the place we are to rendezvous. I assume this indicates that there is not a fear that Chromatic will be freed of its bindings in the immediate future, or we would have been given more of a sense of urgency."

"What was that phrase they use up in Essex? Where they still use bows?" Valric says. "The best way to have a crop of archers today is to train their grandfathers two generations ago? Sounds like to me that this Cyneburh is just being cautious."

"What it sounds like to me is an excuse to get into contact with us." Shannon says. "She wants to re-establish ties with the family and working together on a project of mutual interest is a step toward doing that. Especially since its real problem and not a chimera."

Shannon pauses a moment and then continues.

"Who is this cousin that she mentioned, William? Child of hers, or one of the other Cymneans?"

"His name is Kenning," William answers, "And her retainer claimed not to know his exact relationship to Cyneburh. Which I take to mean that he's either her son or grandson, and she's being cautious, or else he's not and she's deliberately keeping the possibility that he is open as a way of controlling him." He grins. "You're welcome to try to narrow it down any further, if you know a way to do that."

"Not without meeting him at the least" Shannon says. "The name is patently unfamiliar. I suspect that if he is part of our family, he is probably a Cymnean of some sort. Our family DOES like to work within our Queenly groups."

"Trade of Queens" Valric mutters.

The smile fades. "And she warned us that there are a number of people already seeking it. Among them Osric, who apparently gave up mortal life to become a 'higher power.'" There's a definite sneer in William's voice when he uses that phrase.

"A higher power." Shannon briefly. "I think I know what the agent means. Something Mother taught me and Lorius about."

"I don't have one of mine own." she continues. "But I have seen Mother's Deck of Dragons." Now it is Shannon's turn to study William carefully.

"Indeed?" William say. He sits back in his chair, and produces his Trump deck. The top card isn't a Trump, and he lays it face down on the table, then looks at Shannon questioningly.

The card depicts an obelisk,half buried in a grassy knoll, like a knuckle protruded from the earth, past and future. The Obelisk is old, and worn and cracked.

Shannon looks at a long moment and nods.

"She recognizes it" Valric notes.

"Of course she does" Kiathas says. "I should have laid odds."

"The Obelisk" Shannon says. "You weren't told that this was your place in the deck were you, William?"

"Indeed?" William inquires coldly. "An ancient power has dared include me in its designs? I believe I am insulted."

"No, no." Shannon says. "You don't quite understand, or perhaps I have not made it clear, cousin. The Deck of Dragons is more of a system than a power of its own. Its a way of, for lack of a better term, ranking and slotting people of power within the multiverse."

"Sort of how sometimes we Amber Royals are compared and paralled with Tarot cards." Shannon says. "People and figures of power find themselves aligned within the Deck...even if they have no idea that the Deck exists. And then, of course, there are people who actively embody and strengthen their roles in the deck."

"I had thought" Shannon says "that this agent had given you the card as a way of telling you where you are within it."

"Ah," William says. "My misunderstanding. I thought you were saying that it *was* my place within the deck, not asking if I had been told that it was. No, it is more mundane. This is the place where we are to meet Kenning." He looks down at the card. "I should not be surprised, after my recent studies of the world of dreams, to know that it can be equally a metaphor and a real place."

"Yes" Shannon says. "I know little of dream study--I leave that to you and Valerian. But I follow what you are saying. The card then defines a location important, portent in the deck." She studies the card a moment. "Not familiar, though, but I figure between the two of us, we'll find it, and our mystery relation in the bargain."

"Have you ever heard of Lake Diaturna?" William asks her. "I confess the name is unknown to me. According to Theoris, it is in a shadow not far from Maeonis."

"No" Shannon shakes her head. "Obscure Shadow geography is not something I am acquainted with."

"I like her" Valric says "Most of your family, Guillaume, wouldn't admit to a weakness like that unless under torture."

"I suspect" Shannon says, ignoring Valric "that either Dulcinea, or Hadrian, would know it and could tell us. I suspect Bhangbadea , or Oliver, would, too, alas."

"I am not concerned," William says to Shannon, also ignoring Valric. "We can find good cause to add Maeonis to our itenerary, and from there we shall strike out in shadow, with this card firmly in mind. I find it highly probably that we shall find someone who can direct us to Lake Diaturna quickly."

"Maeonis is not part of the Golden Circle yet" Shannon says with an agreeing nod. "However, given the King's newest child, I daresay that status is going to be, what was the phrase that Merle used..." Shannon furrows her eyebrows.

Valric, Kiathas and Devaine look at her. Kiathas seems ready to speak but gets a look from Devaine.

"Fast-tracked. That's the phrase. It sounds better in Inglish." Shannon decides. "It would be a good idea for you and I to meet their queen, though, get a handle on her. Don't you agree, William?"

"Indeed, yes." William nods his agreement. "I'm sure I must have promised her daughter that I would stop by on my travels to tell of her warm welcome in her father's realm. Shall we say Begma and Kashfa first, with a side trip to Eregnor, and after that reward ourselves with a vist to Maeonis?"

"I am still unfamiliar with the geography of these shadows" Devaine puts in. "Are there maps?"

"In people's heads, and there are charts that show shadow relationships" Shannon says. "Its not a bad itinerary, after Maeonis we can assess where to go from there. Hadrian's shadow is not far away from there, and I know *they* want in on the Golden Circle, too. Or Menuis, although that puts us close to Corilaine. Not sure I want Queen Sand asking us pointed questions about Jayson."

"Although I must admit to a certain fascination with what is going on in Menuis," William muses. "But that can wait until after Maeonis. Events may overtake us and put an end to our jaunt, after all." He grins. "Now, as to whether we go to Kashfa or Begma first. I can argue either side with equally compelling reasons. What of you, cousin? Which do you think should be our first port of call?"

"We need to get into Eregnor either way" Shannon says. "And we are going to have to engage with one set of locals, and on one side, in addition, a cousin."

"I firmly believe" Shannon says "that we should keep our relations close. If we go into Eregnor from the Begma side, it will draw King Rinaldo, our dear cousin's, interest and attention. It will be difficult to counter him if he's at all subtle."

"If, however, we are open with him..." Shannon says "and proceed to Eregnor from his kingdom, it will easier to spot his efforts at spying on us."

William nods. "What is the current state of personal relations between Random and Lukenaldo?" he inquires. "How honest do you think we can be with him?"

"Lukenaldo?" Valric says.

"I think its funny" Kiathas says.

Devaine sighs. "More Amber royal family mess. Worse than the noble families down in Caerdicca back home."

Shannon regards William. "Our royal cousin wants that Golden Circle treaty bad. Can't say that I blame him, it would help Kashfa be much less of a backwater. Plus it would be a spit in his mother's eye, who would want no such thing."

"As far as honesty" Shannon says "we trust him just like anyone else in our family. We trust him only so far. He might be actually sympathetic to our cause. He likes your Mother, almost as much as he likes her Royal Majesty. But he wouldn't be Rinaldo if he didn't also try to take advantage of the situation to his advantage."

William nods. "I should be very suspicious indeed if he aided us without any obvious advantage. But I am inclined to take him into our confidence, at least to some extent. If we are facing a war, I want him on our side. And if he's already on the other side, talking to him might be the best way to learn that."

Shannon nods as William continues.

He grins. "Now, as to our diplomats. I propose that it's time we convene a meeting of them, and ask their opinions on where we should go first. That gives us a chance to take their measure, and see what they think important. Should they happen to come to an agreement that matches what we've already decided to do, we let them think they are in charge and we are going along with their suggestions. Should they come up with some other suggested destination, I will listen and then come up with some totally inane and inappropriate reason why we are not going to do that."

"Do we have to listen to them at all?' Kiathas says.

"Yes" Devaine says. "We do."

"I am sure you can talk circles around the diplomats." Shannon says "I'd almost wish for your sister, just to distract their little minds. Although I have it on good authority that more than one of the corps wouldn't mind a flirtatious smile from you, cousin."

"The feeling would not be reciprocated." Valric says dryly."And *I* refuse to be eye candy, myself. Not unless one of the diplomats looks like you, Princess Shannon."

Shannon dimples a smile.

"It's diplomacy, Kiathas," William says with a shrug. "Same as it was dealing with courtiers in the Imperial court. The big difference now is that instead of being a member of the Phoenix Guard who has to carefully manipulate them without them knowing it, I'm now a member of the royal family who has to manipulate them without them knowing it. Because if they decide I know what I'm doing they'll stop making decisions and doing the work themselves, and look to me to make up their minds for them on every little thing."

Valric makes a face

"Better to have them think I'm a royal wastrel who only has this position because I'm the king's nephew, and they have to talk me into following their advice. Gives them something to do, and helps keep us all amused."

"And in addition to being a royal wastrel" Kiathas says "a royal wastrel who is *out of favor* with the King because of uncouth dueling with other Princes of the Realm."

"Ah yes!" Shannon says brightly. "Triton. I guess that makes me in this scenario your..." Shannon regards William "your keeper? Or am I supposed to be the bookish type with her nose in a folio?"

"Maybe the sorceress' daughter who is here to turn someone into a toad if necessary?' Valric suggests.

William chuckles. "Any one of those would work," he replies. "Although my original thought was the somewhat exasperated minder sent along to make certain the wild cousin did not cause any diplomatic incidents."

"I can effect an exasperated tone and demeanor as necessary. I can maintain an internal fiction in my head that you have borrowed one of my books, only to have returned it in less than pristine condition."

Smoothly and swiftly, Shannon's pleasant and placid visage turns into an expression of mild but unmistakable and indelible disappointed exasperation.

"Perhaps we should put her on stage." Valric says,.

William leans forward and says earnestly, "Now, don't be upset cousin. The stains aren't all that bad. And, honestly, if I'd known we'd be having pasta with tomato sauce I'd of never been reading at table, so, really, it's the cook's fault, not mine..."

Shannon's expression of distaste melts away from her countenance like a sudden April nighttime snowfall under the noonday sun.

"You are forgiven, cousin." Shannon replies. "This time." Her expression remains casual as she continues. "Seriously, though your charms and skills are dangerous. All the charm of your mother, and the skill of Rinaldo,are a finely honed weapon. Especially to the fairer sex."

"Especially back in the Empire" Valric says. "Kiathas, Devaine and I could tell you stories, Princess."

"But we are *not* going to" Devaine puts in.

"We are all of us dangerous, Cousin," William answers casually. "You, not least of all." He rises from the table and stretches lazily, continuing to speak. "Have we resolved the near future to our own satisfaction? Is so, I am itching to be across to our sister ship to call a whimsically sudden and unexpected meeting of our diplomatic staff."

"I am satisfied with our course of action" Shannon says. She looks, knowingly at the spinning ball and reaches toward it. "Andromeda' Shannon says, a moment before grasping the ball, now stopped.

"And so Prince Lorius' eavesdropping ends" Valric comments.

"And our protections" Devaine says. "Yes, I suppose the two of you can go over to the other ship, while the three of us..."

"Learn from the crew here" Kiathas says, as if a rehearsed answer.

"Exactly so," William replies. "While I can be friendly with the crew, and cause them to think that I am not at all a bad sort, for a royal, they will never forget that I am of the king's blood, and we can never truly be friends. Take this time to become comfortable with shipboard life, and learn what you can."

"Is there anything, Guillaume" Devaine says "that you want us to steer our various conversations towards? This might be more of something my gentlemen counterparts..."

Valric snorts

"Our gentlemen counterparts" Devaine says, again "can accomplish, especially given that I am a woman and I've already noticed this lot is mildly superstitious."

"What she means" Kiathas says "What dirt do you want us to dig up when we are losing at cards or dice?"

"Any rumors they've heard about these reported strange magicians in the Golden Circle nations," William answers. "What they know about this lost ship we're looking for, but be subtle about that one, as we're not officially looking for it, and the crew shouldn't suspect you're asking about it. See if you can lead them to tell you about it somehow, ask them about storms and sea monsters, and perhaps that will lead naturally to it. If any of them have been in Begma or Kashfa recently see what they say of current conditions." He looks at Shannon. "I think that should do it. Cousing, am I missing aught?"

"Yes" Shannon says. "One more thing comes to mind out of that comprehensive, but satisfactory list. The three of you should also catalog any stories you can learn about what they have heard regarding the side effects of the great Storm that hit here. The shockwave, as Mother calls it. Certainly most of those stories will be exaggerated or just plain wrong, but it may provide leads for my investigations of such phenomena."

William nods agreement to Shannon's suggestions.

"We're going to be doing more jabbering than playing." Kiathas says, good naturedly.

"They're sailors," William says with a smile. "They love to gossip. Get them once started talking, and you won't be able to shut them up." He looks at Devaine. "You are right, they are somewhat superstitious, and will not be as forthcoming to you. Would you like to stay here and work your wiles on the junior officers, or would you prefer to accompany Shannon and myself?"

William barely finishes when Devaine's eyes go bright and she nods enthusiastically

"Yes, please." she says.

"Not fond of our company any more, are you?" Valric teases lightly.

"Certainly not me. Perhaps just of you, Valric" Kiathas counters, grinning.

"I think I would be more effective working with you, Guillaume." Devaine says. "The diplomats are going to be less superstitious than the sailors and officers, and thusly more susceptible to feminine wiles. They might consider the Princess too high of a station to approach. They would not be so disinclined when it comes to me."

"Perhaps" Shannon concedes.

"Should we have a wager on which of you is improperly propositioned first?" William asks, with a lifted eyebrow.

"I would like a piece of that wager" Valric says exuberantly. Kiathas, after a moment, giving a smiling nod in agreement.

"In all truth, Guillaume." Devaine says "never underestimate what a smile can do."

"Oh, that William can do" Shannon says confidently. "Where people make the mistake is to assume his skills end there, and wind up surprised at the speed of his blade, or the quality of his magic work."

"Life is so predictable so much of the time," William says thoughtfully, "And true surprises are so rare and so delightful. I do like to do my little part in spreading the joy of discovery, allowing people to learn something they did not know before hand. Even if it is the last thing they know in life, still, I like to think that they are grateful to me for it."

"Just ask the son of Prince Corwin" Devaine comments. "I don't think he quite understood how good you are, Guillaume. Or did he, knowing that he was going against a superior swordsman. Suicide by superior opponent?"

Shannon purses her lips and regards William.

William shakes his head with a rueful smile. "I did not quite realize that he was not fully sane, or I would not have handled the situation in quite the same way," he says. "I am not sure exactly why he threw himself upon my blade in that way. And right now I am still too angry at his behaviour to spend enough time with him to seek to understand it more fully. Enough to say that I am unhappy with how things went, I made it well as best I could, and as far as I am concerned it is behind me now."

"Fair enough" Shannon says "we will..." she looks at William's companions with the same eye she had given William when feigning disdain "consider the matter permanently closed."

"Now I think I see how she is Princess Fiona's daughter" Valric comments.

"I think, myself" Devaine says "its time we headed over to the Peryton and the diplomats."

"Agreed," William answers. And unless anyone has anything else they want to discuss before the meeting with the diplomats, William will give orders to the captain to signal the Peryton that they will be taking the captain's gig over, and to order the diplomats assembled.

"Are we taking one of the longboats over, or are you expecting me to be flashier?" Shannon says, as the three are assembled on deck. In the last thirty minutes, the Narcissus has signaled the Peryton the directive from William, received an acknowledgement that the diplomats will be turned out and made ready in the captain's room, and received another message that the Peryton awaits the pleasure of the Princess Shannon and the commander of the expedition, Prince William. In the meantime, Kiathas and Valric are already in the bowels of the ship, helping with one or more of the myriad routine chores and duties below deck..

"It was my thought," says William, looking across the intervening sea at the larger ship, "That we would get a better feel for who our diplomats are if we do not overawe them in the beginning. Let us not go out of our way to remind them of who we are. Let us seek their advice, and let us allow them to speak freely and without too much concern on whether they will end up pitched into the sea or turned into amphibians. At least to begin with. If we frighten them now, they will remain frightened. If we set them at their ease now, there is plenty of time to terrify them in the future."

"There is something to be said for them to be cowed at the beginning, though." Devaine says. "It keeps them from trying to be too assertive and requiring severe correction."

"That is true" Shannon says "But I am inclined to follow William's word in this manner. He wishes to show the velvet first, rather than the firmer steel. Besides" Shannon smiles. "My talents are not completely known to all and sundry. Reputation of my mother obscures my real abilities.As William can attest" And then Shannon smiles sweetly.

William smiles. "And so we show Devaine our similarities, Cousin, in our preference to being underestimated." He calls to one of the junior officers of the ship, "Have a boat prepared. We will go over now."

"Captain Metzger has already had me make preparations, milord" the officer replies. "You will be able to depart in short order."

In short order, William, Devaine, Shannon, and Curtis of Iocaine ,a midshipman assigned to do the rowing, make their away across the short stretch of water between the Narcissus and the Peryton.

Captain Jalava is waiting once the ladder is lowered and William, Shannon and Curtis, in that order climb their way to stand on the ship's deck.

"The diplomats have grumbled about being rousted from their ministrations and deliberations" the Captain says. "If you don't mind my frankness, milord Prince, and Princess. They have assembled as you have asked, however. I have also brought out some of the stores of coffee and tea.'

"Good, good," William answers pleasantly. "We're taking over your cabin for the meeting, Captain. Join us, please. And bring brandy, as well."

"Absolutely" Captain Jalava says. He issues orders to his first mate, and then follows behind William, Devaine and Shannon.

[William] offers an arm to Devaine and another to Shannon, and leads them to the captain's cabin with a determined stride, saying as they walk, "Now, ladies, we shall see what our diplomats have been discussing. I do hope Uncle gave them some good advice on the itinerary. I promised my sister I'd do some shopping for her. She kindly offered some of her own clothes to Meriel of Rebma, you know, for her presentation at court. It's the sort of selfless act she's known for, and I do so want to do something to thank her for it. It's a brother's duty. don't you think?"

"I had no idea that you would shop for your sister." Devaine says, doubtfully.

"There are no worries." Shannon says. "I am certain to make sure that William finds appropriate clothing for his sister."

"I feel like Kiathas would say something unsuitable here." Devaine replies. "Fortunately he is instead losing money and Gods know what else in a game of skill and chance right about now."

And at that point, William, Devaine and Shannon, with Captain Jalava behind, enter into the cabin. The diplomats, or at least the five senior ones of the expedition, are engaged in heated jabbering, so much so that it takes one of the junior ones present and clearly acting as busboy to notice the arrival.

Slowly, one by one, the four men and one women turn to regard William, Devaine, Shannon, and Captain Jalava (who has, indeed, managed to get the brandy while en-route). Stony-faced Virgil Ryder,dark haired and scowling Absalom Brownfield, plump and smiling Naomi Culver, pensive and fidgety Silas Price and bespectacled, grey haired Adam Henry, the most senior of them all. William has met them all before, of course.

"Good day, Prince William" the last, Adam Henry, says gravely.

"Well met, Adam," William replies with a smile. He holds chairs for Devaine and Shannon, then sits himself. "You all know Princess Shannon, of course.

There are a series of murmured greetings and bows of the head from the diplomats.

"This is my good friend, the Lady Devaine. Devaine, these," he waves a hand negligently at them, "Are the senior diplomats." He turns the wave in their direction into a patting motion in the air. "Sit, sit, let's not stand on ceremony. I'm not holding court here, after all." He chuckles.

Devaine and Shannon take seats to flank William.

"Tell me, gentleman and charming lady, have you settled on an itinerary for our diplomatic jaunt yet? Uncle didn't tell me exactly where we are going." He leans back and looks at Captain Jalava, "Don't hesitate to start pouring the brandy, Captain," he says. He looks back at the diplomats. "So," he says. "Exactly where are we going?"

Captain Jalava quickly has glasses of brandy set in front of each of the diplomats, William. and with a moment's quizzical hesitation, Devaine and Shannon as well.

"We were just discussing that, milord Prince and milady Princess." puffs up Absalom "There appears to be some disagreement as to the exact route of our itinerary."

"What he means." puts in Silas "is that he will not see the sense of going to Begma first and foremost, and putting away this idea of visiting that fetid desert King Rinaldo rules."

"And I have said." Naomi says. "Fine, we visit Begma AND Kashfa. But we are neglecting an opportunity here to visit shadows which aren't yet part of the circle, but should be. After all the King's own daughter is from Maeonis. Another new Prince is from DuMarque. Let us focus on the new as much as possible."

"Your desire for newness is repugnant." Virgil says. "We must reinforce traditional values, and that means staying to the shadows already and long part of our arrangement. Menusian grain is often what gets turned into flour here. We neglect our friends in chasing new shadows at our peril."

"Your input might be appreciated, milord Prince." Adam Henry says, clearing his throat after downing the ampoule of brandy in one go.

"I liked the princess from Maeonis," William says. "I wonder if there are any more like her back home?"

The four diplomats other than Adam give William veiled looks of disapproval, as if William were an underage boy who had failed an important question while standing for examination.

Adam Henry's response is more of a world-weary shake of the head. "Sadly and tragically from that perspective, milord Prince" he replies "Princess Dulcinea is an only child of their Queen, Latrice. I do understand that she is looking for a Prince-Consort. The current rumor is that she would prefer a candidate from another kingdom rather than from her own land, to strengthen ties of trade and commerce. The leading candidate, I understand, is the second son of the King of DuMarque. He's a widower, and young."

"Such speculation is unsavory." Naomi sniffs

"Such speculation is part of our profession." Silas counters.

"More brandy?" Captain Jalava prompts.

"Excellent idea, Captain!" William says. He holds out his glass to be filled, then gestures to the diplomats. "Fill them up, too, Captain, diplomacy goes much better with liquid refreshment."

All of the diplomats, and Devaine and Shannon besides, all take the offer.

He takes a long drink, sighs with pleasure, then says. "Well, that's settled then, we go to Maeonis after Begma and Kashfa. But which of those shall we visit first?" He looks from diplomat to diplomat, waiting for their answers.

"Begma." Silas says. "We're already here."

"Begma, as long as we go to Kashfa too." Naomi says. "I may be the strongest advocate for Maeonis, but we are on the doorstep here and should go to Begma first, Kashfa second, Maeonis third."

"Begma" Virgil says. "And Kashfa can go hang."

"Forget Begma. We want Kashfa." Absalom says. "If the Prime Minister really needs handholding, Prince Pollux can be dispatched on a fast horse from the Castle."

Adam looks at William speculatively. "Begma is our oldest partner, milord. I do not know, however, how your relations with King Rinaldo stand, given his relationship to the Royal Family of Amber, to warrant a visit to him first. But is not her Majesty the Queen very well disposed to him?"

"He's good at cards," William says, a trifle wistfully. "I so seldom get a good opponent. The queen didn't say anything to me about him one way or the other, but as long as we do get to visit him I don't care whether it's before or after Begma. I suppose it makes sense that we stop at Begma first, since we're already here, as Silas so cleverly points out. No point in retracing our steps, eh." He frowns. "Probably the wrong turn of phrase for a ship, 'retracing our steps.' You can't do that in water. Resailing our wake, maybe?" He looks at Captain Jalava expectantly, as though waiting for a lesson in proper seafaring idioms.

"Resailing our course, milord Prince." Captain Jalava says. "There are other, more colorful idioms usable, but there are ladies present.

Shannon blinks. Devaine seems completely unselfconscious, as if she did not consider herself the one addressed.

"Then the choice is made." Adam says. "We shall make port here, and take a carriage from Erkus up to Tyin. The journey will give a chance for messengers, esoteric and otherwise, the chance to warn the Prime Minister that a Prince and Princess of Amber are here, with a full diplomatic entourage in tow. So say we all?"

"So say we all." Silas replies eagerly. "So say we all." Naomi says quietly, her eyes studying William. "So say we all" Virgil says, punching the table. "So say we all" Absalom says sullenly "So say we all" Adam adds, in a pleased tone "So say we all" Shannon says demurely "So say we all" Devaine adds cheekily.

William grins. "I'll have you singing harmonies before this voyage is over," he tells the diplomats. "Very well, it's decided. Thank you for meeting with me. You're dismissed. Captain Jalava, could you remain, I'd like to ask you about some of the taverns in Tyin, it's been quite a while since I was there. Princess, Devaine, I think you two said you had some questions for our friends about local customs and..." he waves a dismissive hand, "...local politics and such?"

The diplomats, with the notable exception of Adam, look flabbergasted and aghast at William's statement.

"Now, that is not right. See here milord Pr..." Virgil begins. He stops at a glare from Adam Henry, who looks at William and Shannon.

"Let us alll together decamp to your quarters. I am sure that our further deliberations and discussions can be relayed to his Highness the Prince by his secretary." Shannon turns to look at Devaine.

"Um, yes." Devaine says after a moment. "Your Highness, I will fulfill that duty."

"Very well. Lady and gentleman, shall we depart?" Shannon suggests to the diplomats. In short order, the diplomats depart ahead of Shannon and Devaine. The latter has a mildly disguised cat-that-ate-the-canary smile on her face for William before closing the door behind her.

William winks at her behind the diplomats' back.

"Is this the way you normally act, milord Prince?" Captain Jalava says, pouring two ampules of brandy and sitting down. "Your reputation certainly suggests so."

William sits up straight in his chair once the diplomats have left. "That did go rather well, didn't it?" he says with a smile. "One has a certain reputation to maintain, after all." He raises his brandy in a toast to the captain. "What do you think of them, Captain? I know them from court, of course, but I'd appreciate another opinion."

"What strikes me the most, milord Prince." Captain Jalava begins, after a small sip of the brandy. "Is that it occurs to me that his Majesty has been careful in his choice. Unless, of course, he delegated the choice to someone else--Prince Pollux, perhaps?" Jalava regards William for his input.

"Interesting question," William replies. "I do not know the answer. If he did delegate it, then it was a test for Pollux. The King is still testing all of his younger relatives, good captain. He is good at that, and at playing the unconcerned monarch, while secretly keeping very close watch on everything that happens. I admire that style of kingship."

"A very different style than his Majesty King Oberon, or King Eric" Captain Jalava agrees.

"Regardless, His Majesty or whoever he chose to make the decisions chose a putative leader, Mister Henry, who could run herd on his fellows, but in general does not. No, it looks like the group was set up deliberately so that you not only could exert yourself, milord Prince--but you must. They might never come to agreement without your input, however impertinently given."

William nods. "And they give a wide variety of opinions and views on matters, which is valuable. And they are all very good at what they do. In day to day diplomatic matters they can be left to themselves, which frees me up to handle the matters that they do not know of. And speaking of which, let us turn our own attention to those. First, I'd like to know what you can tell me of the missing ship. And after that, I have heard rumors of strange magicians in the ports of the Golden Circle, asking after Amber and the Royal Family. What have you heard of these?"

"Yes, milord." The Captain takes a sip of brandy.

"I know that you are not a veteran of the Navy, milord." he begins. "You should know that shadow paths wax and wane depending on the frequency of their use. It is the contention of navigators and Captains that the use of shadow paths by members of your family, milord, strengthens paths as well."

"Paths that do not get used often can fade, or even change their routes, wandering across shadows." he continues "For example, the path to Montenegro, so out of use, might now run through Weirmonken now."

"The Blackhawk is the ship that has gone missing in the recent shadowstorms" Captain Jalava continues. "She patrols these less-well-traveled paths of which I spoke. The Admiral does not want a repeat of the Yingzhou Incursion, six centuries years ago, when their fleet used disused paths and made it to Cabra before it was caught, engaged, and destroyed."

William nods. "We're well aware of the possibilites of hostile intent to Amber, Captain. It's one of the things I'm on the lookout for." He leans forward. "Now that we're in privy, what are your honest thoughts about the possibility that Gavril Rostov might have turned coat?"

"I think I know what you are talking about." Captain Jalava replies. "There are rumors that he spends an awful amount of time in port in Felis. That IS on the Blackhawk's regular schedule, but the rumors of how long the ship is in dock are not exactly news."

"That is what you meant, isn't it, milord?" Jalava says. "That he's maybe being turned by a member of their nobility, maybe even Oberon's old Queen?"

William nods. "It's a possibility we have to keep in mind, especially considering what I was told about his resentment at not being promoted. But I do not know the man, which is why I asked you for your opinion."

Jalava nods.

[William] shrugs elegantly. "It is just as likely that he was approached, and his ship made to disappear when he refused to turn, or that he tried to string them along, hoping to learn something, to make himself a hero and earn his promotion through other means. We have many theories, but little real evidence. But Felis is definitely on our agenda."

"Since it is the Admiral's wish, and your own as well..." Captain Jalava says "We shall go there. I know routes both common and uncommon that will lead us to Per-Banebdjedet, or one of their lesser ports."

"I noticed" Captain Jalava says "that you said none of visiting Felis to the diplomats. Is that a deliberate decision, William? And when will you tell them--or are you leaving her highness the Princess that responsibility?"

William chuckles and holds out his glass for a refill of brandy.

Captain Jalava does so, refilling his own.

"No reason to let them know there is an actual itinerary," he says. "Let them be the ones to make suggestions, and then have the flighty and willful prince randomly pick the one that happens to match his own agenda. So we'll deal with the matters at hand, and 'debate' where to go next when these first few items have been dealt with. The Princess might make a few random comments to one or the other of our diplomatic friends in the next few weeks, leading them to independently come up with the suggestion that we go to Felis."

"So she is fully aware of this plan, then?" Captain Jalava says. "I have noticed that sometimes, milord Prince, that scions of the Realm are not always aware of the goals and plans of each other. And in point of fact, prefer it that way."

"What I am saying" he gulps a bit of the brandy "is what you wish me to conceal from the Princess, milord Prince."

William grins in response to this. "Don't be concerned over that, Captain," he says. "Anything I don't want you to tell her is something I haven't told you. Consider that anything that I tell either of the captains on this mission can be discussed with the Princess or any of my three companions. The same is not true, obviously, of any of the diplomats."

"I've already decided only to tell the diplomats what you wish." Captain Jalava says, looking visibly relieved. Too, the tension melts out of his voice.

"My counterpart and I might be masters of our vessels, but it is not wise to go against the wishes of a member of the Royal Family. There are stories, and more than stories, milord, which is why I was paddling in these dangerous waters."

"I've heard, milord." Captain Jalava says, after a moment "that there are many secret members of the Royal Family, in distant shadow. Ones that not even the King knows about, and ones that don't know who or what they are. Is this true?"

William purses his lips and considers Jalava for a few moments without saying anything. About the time that the captain begins to nervously wonder if he's overstepped the line William says, "We don't discuss the Family very freely, Captain, but it's not a secret that previously unknown members have been recently found, and we have no reason not to believe that there are others still undiscovered. With uncles such as the Princes Corwin and Bleys..." William shrugs and smiles.

"I have so wondered' Jalava's nervousness from William's long pause still creases his forehead like canyons across a desert plain. "Forgive my impertinence, milord. There are those in the fleet who blame all sorts of mysteries on lost and old Chaosians. You may have heard the stories yourself, of islands of Chaosian soldiers, unaware that the war is years older. I myself, milord, sometimes wonder if unexplained threats to Amber and the Golden Circle are instead due to unacknowledged, or even renegade members of the Royal Family."

"You remember the Brothers' War," William says, "So you know well that the Royal Family is its own worst enemy. There are other members out there, that much is true. The king would like to find them, and bring them back into the fold, but some of them have changed over the aeons, into something more like the Lords of Chaos than Princes of Amber."

Captain Jalava, nods his head, slowly, each rise and fall taking several seconds to complete.

William shakes his head. "I can tell you more, if you wish, Captain. But think carefully about whether you wish to know it. If you learn the things I could tell you, you cannot unlearn them, and you move into the realms of a trusted confidant of a Prince of Amber - and that is a position that has its own risks."

He smiles genially. "You do not have to make that decision immediately, my friend. If you would like to think about it, I grant you time to do so."

Jalava takes another sip of brandy, finishing his glass.

"We've only begun our relationship, professional or otherwise." Captain Jalava says. "Perhaps it is your lordship's ability at social interaction to have me wish to trust you so quickly, but as you say, it would have its own risks. It would be entirely too bold for me to accept such an offer now."

"I will remember this conversation, milord, and no matter what my ultimate choice, we shall revisit it again, yes?" he adds in an hopeful tone.

"Indeed, yes," William answers him with certainty. He throws back the last of his own brandy and stands, offering his hand to Jalava. "We will have time and opportunity aplenty to take better measure of each other on this voyage, or I miss my guess."

Jalava stands, takes William's hand, and bows as he takes William's hand in a firm grip.

"Yes, milord. A ship is like a small village that you cannot escape from. Even if we have two ships, there is little in the way of secrets, and not much privacy. You take the measure of all that are on board. Even the most squirrely cabin-bound scholar cannot help but be part of the small community."

"That is why shore leave is so important, milord. After weeks and even months at sea, seeing a face you have not seen every day or even every hour is a blessing of the Unicorn."

William smiles. "Point taken, Captain. Unless there is pressing need we'll make sure the crews get their leave."

The Captain nods.

He turns his head to look at the door to the cabin, the looks back at Jalava. "I think I've given the ladies enough time to charm the diplomats. Time for us to be leave them to brood over the feckless young prince they've been saddled with." He heads for the door.

"They are likely to be all crammed in Ambassador Henry's quarters. I set aside extra room in the hold for them to meet as they will, but they have not found favor with it." Jalava calls as William heads for the door.

Indeed, it emerges that a third mate confirms Captain Jalava's prediction, and tells William that the Ambassadors "along with the Princess and the Lady." have all retired to Adam Henry's room below decks.

The door to his quarters is open,and the dulcet tones of Shannon's voice carries far down the hold, adding an aural component to the preview William has of the room and discussion.

"..and it must be said, although his Highness my cousin's attitudes may seen unreasonable to many of you, may I gently point out that he has been named to this expedition by both his Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Gerard...?"

"Yoo hoo!" William calls out as he approaches the ambassador's cabin "Is anyone down there? We drank all the brandy. I want to get back to the other ship, we were going to play some cards."

The ambassadors are clever enough and diplomatic enough to not allow any audible sighs of exasperation once William calls out and comes into view. Indeed, although they are crammed into the open cabin of Ambassador Henry's, all of the men and women have their eyes turned toward William. Shannon's expression is schooled, too, of course. Devaine, on the other hand, is on the verge of outright laughter.

"Ah, very good milord Prince." Naomi says. "Her highness Princess Shannon and your secretary here were going over some matters with us. Certainly, if it is needful, you can return to the other ship. I believe our business is concluded.

"Agreed" Virgil says. "Milord" he adds, almost absent mindedly. The others, except for Adam, give nods. He just bows his head and regards William carefully.

William blinks lazily. "Excellent," he drawls.

"I think that I can take things from here and return his Highness to the other ship." Shannon says, making her way carefully through the crowded room, nearly stepping on Absalom's toes in the process. Devaine squeezes past Silas before she, too, reaches the entrance to the cabin.

William offers an arm to each of the ladies, and turns to make his way back to deck. Then, almost as an afterthought, he turns his head back towards the diplomats and gives them a regal nod. "Do carry on," he says. "And do not hesitate to send a message to me if you require any further advice or instruction."

"We would be most pleased to do so, milord." Virgil says. "Never fear"

Aside from the briefest of stifled laughs from Devaine (on his left arm), William, Shannon and Devaine are able to get away, and above deck before there is any break in composure from either of them.

"Its going to be a tough act to keep up for the entire voyage." Shannon says as the trio reach the narrow staircase between the hold and the upper deck. "I have no idea how you are going to manage this."

"He just has to imagine he's back in my home kingdom." Devaine replies with a smile. She looks at William as she starts to mount the staircase first. "Right?"

"Have faith in me, Shannon," William replies. "You shall not be disappointed." He bows Devaine up the staircase after Shannon, then mounts it himself. "A boat, a boat, haste to the ferry!" he calls out as they reach the deck.

Neither Devaine nor Shannon hesitate. While Devaine is clearly and indubitably the more physically adept of the pair to outside glances, Shannon is a Princess of Amber. Even a studious, sometimes bookish daughter of Fiona can be

Shannon proves that in spades, by reaching the rope ladder for the longboat to return to the Narcissus a fraction ahead of a very shocked Devaine.

"So" Devaine says to William once the trio is onboard, and the boat makes it way back to the smaller, nimbler flagship. "What can't your family do?"

"Humility and modesty are completely beyond our abilities," William answers soberly. "It is a lamentable failing."

"Is this true?" Devaine says, looking at both Shannon and William. The midshipman rowing the boat is remarkably and studiously silent.

"Well, the counterexamples are remarkably few." Shannon says. "Minh, perhaps. Uncle Gerard, of course."

"My brother, it must be said, however, is arrogant and self-centered enough for several of us." Shannon adds. "And here we are."

Indeed, the boat has reached the Narcissus and in short order, William, Shannon and Devaine can return to the ship.

"Should we even disturb Kiathas and Valric at their gameplay?" Devaine asks. "If we hear howls, we can come see if they've lost their shirts or worse this time."

"Well," William says judiciously, "If we hold a discussion now, they'll want to hear it all later. Do you feel like repeating it to them while I do something more interesting? If not, let's send a midshipman to roust them out. Thankless tasks such as that are the very reason for having middies, after all. Or so I am told by my naval cousins."

"I can believe that. There is no tradition of these sorts of ships back home." Devaine says. "Not that we lived anywhere really near the sea anyway."

"What more interesting project did you have in mind, cousin?" Shannon prompts. "Perhaps if we offer Devaine a taste of it, she will be happy to talk to Kiathas and Valric about what we have learned."

At the mention of this. Devaine turns her eyes toward William.

"I was merely thinking," William says innocently, "That if we're planning on showing Prime Minister Okruz the high esteem in which Begma is still held by Amber, a suitable gift might be appropriate. Do you not agree?"

"Since this Begma is a long and valued ally of Amber, then it would behoove Amber, as represented by us, to bring a welcome gift to this Prime Minister. I assume this

"Not precisely" Shannon says "In fact, the office of the Prime..."

Devaine shakes her head. Shannon stops her explanation, and Devaine speaks.

"I think I shall go debrief Kiathas and Valric then, and leave the two of you to do this, Guillaume. I will report what they have discovered. Or..." Devaine's eyes twinkle "send for funds to get them out debt,"

She nods her head to William and Shannon both, and heads for the hold, leaving William and his cousin alone on the deck.

"Now, what precisely were you thinking of us doing?" Shannon asks William.

William leans back against the rail. "First, tell me what you and Devaine learned from the diplomats after I dismissed them."

"Fair enough" Shannon says. "Being diplomats, once they were en suite, they had no inhibitions talking."

She starts drumming the railing with her fingers, moving a bit closer to William.

"I'll go from the personal to the professional." Shannon says. "Except for one or two cooler heads, their attitudes seemed to revolve around the idea that you were thrown on this expedition as a way of getting rid of an embarrassing problem for the King. They had heard several varieties of the story about your conflict with Triton." She shakes her head. "None of them were entirely correct on the details, by the way."

William chuckles.

"As such, they have told me that they consider me the real authority on this expedition. I think they have gotten it into their heads, somehow." Shannon smiles "that my mother pressed for me to be on the expedition, and as such, they are being very careful to show me the utmost courtesy and respect."

"So you can expect them to agree to anything you say at face value to your face, and then try and confirm with me what the real truth and marching orders are going to be." Shannon says.

William grins. "Perfect," he says. "I don't want our various enemies to think that we're looking at any kind of military action, and people do tend to think of me as the military cousin. Let's keep them from putting things together." He frowns then. "And there have been indications that we have some internal leaks somewhere. I don't know that there are enemy spies among the diplomats' staffs, but I'm not willing to bet against it."

"If there isn't at least one spy amongst their ranks, I would be shocked." Shannon says. "Someone like Pollux or even better yet your sister would know better, I imagine."

"Now to the meat of the situation." Shannon continues. "For all of their trouble, the diplomats do have contacts in Begma and Kashfa. I did tease out some details of the political situation in Begma. You might not have been back yet, William, but Coral briefly popped up again in Amber a little while ago, after her long absence anywhere in the Golden Circle following her divorce with Rinaldo. THAT has leaked out to Begma, and frankly, the diplomats suspect that our insistence in visiting Begma has to do with paving the way to establish her as the power there, as a blood-relative counterbalance to Rinaldo. Orkuz is getting on in years, after all."

"They don't know about this troublesome sorcerer bothering your mother, that's clear." Shannon says.

"Excellent," William says with a firm nod. "That's perfect. Now, as to Orkuz. His ages is something I was thinking about. How is his health, do you know?"

"Well, that mop of black hair he has has turned greyer and greyer every season." Shannon replies, now changing her fingers to a beat that suggests a piano solo. "I think the last ten years have been tough on him, especially in that position. I haven't heard of any concerns about his health, but I suspect we probably should talk to our Ambassador there, about such things. The Ambassador might likely give us some more fresh intelligence on the situation in Begma, too."

William leans his head back and stares up at the sky. "I was just wondering," he muses, "Whether in these unsettled times Amber might be better served by a stable Begma, under a Prime Minister with years of experience. Or whether the changes we might want to institute in regards to Eregnor might come easily in the face of the instability and uncertainty caused by a ruler losing his control. What is your opinion?"

Shannon gives a glance around, stopping her finger beat suddenly. After satisfying herself of something, probably having to do with the lack of people paying attention to their conversation, she turns back to look at William. She also resumes the piano solo with her fingers.

"There is something else in the calculations you didn't mention." Shannon says. "The role of King Rinaldo in Begma's future. If he and Coral had not divorced, this would be both easier and harder."

"What Begma needs is a Rinaldo." Shannon says firmly. "A young, dynamic and powerful ruler who can oppose Kashfa with the energies that the position deserves. Eregnor, even if it were made an independent state, is hardly the only zone of conflict between Begma and Kashfa, just the biggest of them. Orkuz is liable to go more and more conservative, and that would give Rinaldo an edge with his ambitious nature. It would lead to a Kashfa much more powerful than Begma,"

"It's not in Amber's interest for that to happen. William." Shannon says.

William nods. "I was thinking much the same thing. Coral on the throne of Begma, Rinaldo on the throne of Kashfa. That should keep both of their attentions closely focused, don't you think? "

"Coral." Shannon looks thoughtful for a few moments. "No wonder Mother likes you, William. You are bold and visionary. I don't think that idea even has occurred to Random. Not sure how he would quite feel about another member of the family on the throne. Pol, though, would be overjoyed since it would be a nice check on cousin Luke."

Shannon whistles again, in appreciation. "I like the idea, cousin. Now, we would need to convince Coral to supplant her father, is all."

"Well, now," William says. "Here is where I get much more theoretical. How does this sound to you? Let us say that we put it to the Prime Minister that we have heard rumors that King Rinaldo is beginning to move behind the scenes to arrange things so that an invasion and conquest of Begma would appear justified. But Amber cannot act against him openly - after all, he is family, and we have no evidence that would convince the Kashfans were we to act against him. And with the various problems we are facing right now, we do not want to get dragged into a war. However, should his daughter take the Prime Ministership, then Random would have no hesitation in opposing any actions against her."

"Blood is thicker than water." Shannon temporizes, nodding, and clearly looking thoughtful.

William smiles. "Now, while he is aging, I do not expect he is ready to step down. But suppose that we offer to support him as the king of an independent Eregnor, if he abdicates from Begma in favor of Coral?"

"That's even trickier, though." Shannon points out. "The Nine noble Houses of Eregnor would have to sign off on such a deal. I think the ones on the Begman side would jump on the offer with both feet, and quickly. King Orkuz I, would present no problems to them. Its the Houses closer to Kashfa that might object, William." Shannon says. "They would, without assurances, just consider it all a back-door way to get Eregnor to be annexed by Begma in all but name. Solve that riddle, cousin, and we would have a deal that all of the province can support."

William smiles. "We get Kashfa's support for him. We do that be offering Kashfa Golden Circle status in exchange for that support. And we suggest that they adopt a constitution for the newly independent state with a Rule of Succession that the Nine Houses have to ratify the king's choice of heir by a vote of at least seven Houses." He shrugs, his grin growing wider. "It leaves them a lot of room for political intrigue in the future, which they all love."

"So we would have to visit Rinaldo's court." Shannon says.

"Which we've already gotten the diplomats to agree to," William says with a nod, "And we'll have them thinking it's their own idea by the time we get there."

"So let me make the machinations clear. We offer Kashfa support to join the Golden Circle at last, which gives us leverage over the Kashfan Houses in Eregnor, to allow us to install Orkuz, who has abdicated the Prime Ministership of Begma in favor of his daughter, as Elective King of Eregnor. Amber gets an independent Eregnor, and Coral as ruler, as a counterweight in Begma to Kashfa. Which is a good thing, since you will be strengthening Rinaldo's hand by giving him GC status, but having Coral on the other side of Eregnor watching him, the net benefit rebounds to Amber."

"Did I miss a step?" Shannon says with a smile.

"Only the part where we trump Uncle Random and have him stare at us in horrified disbelief as we explain this plan," William replies with an answering grin. "I haven't actually cleared any of this with him, you see." Shannon presages Random's expected look of horrified disbelief by giving William one of her own. She shakes her head. steps back and looks over William again, more carefully this time.

"Now I understand, cousin" Shannon says "I had thought that you were given a large portfolio by Random, but now I see..." She blinks her eyes and then continues "now I see that you have less power, and more boldness than I would have guessed."

"Are you certain." she continues "that you weren't a changeling and really are Bleys' son?" she says, her horrified look turning to amusement.

William's grin grows wider. "Everyone always underestimates Mother," he says. "It's her most amazing talent." He rubs his hands together, and his smile grows even more gleeful. "As I see it, I'm in the perfect position to try to put this together. If everyone agrees to it, and it works out, then Random is a genius, and his kingship is made even more secure. If someone balks, or if it all falls apart, then it comes out that I had no authority to make these agreements at all, it was all without the King's knowledge, and really, what else could have been expected from the wastrel swordsman who came near killing his own cousin? The diplomats will fall all over themselves to verify that I had no real authority, and no diplomatic skill whatsoever. It's a risk for me, but I think I've arranged it so that the King isn't at risk himself. How does it seem to you?"

"There is no great genius without a mixture of madness¹" Shannon says. "And madness is almost half of this idea." She considers William for a moment. "The only thing that makes this plan problematic is, well, me." Shannon says.

"Either I have to hitch my wagon to your star, which puts my own reputation at risk whether it succeeds or fails, or I have to come up with an independent plan in reserve for the possibility that yours fails, so that I can rescue some face for Amber, and for myself. Your plan, cousin, is a very large bet at the poker table, and we have not yet seen the flop, much less the turn or the river."

"Give me the night to think about this." Shannon says. "And then I will give you your answer."

"By all means," William says. "My own suggestion would be that I speak to the various individuals involved privately, telling them that until all is arranged no one else is to know, especially the diplomats. You can then take care to never be alone with them, and drop a few cryptic remarks that seem to indicate you know what I am talking about, without actually saying so. That will support the idea that the royal family knows and supports this plan, while still giving you deniability if things go wrong."

"Plausible deniability" Shannon clarifies, with a nod.

He lifts a finger. "I have one more question for you to consider. I have not spent as much time in Random's court as you have. Would he prefer his own deniability to be total and true, or merely apparent? That is, should I wait until I have put this agreement together and then tell him about it, or should I tell him now? What is your opinion?"

"Random dislikes being a mushroom." Shannon says without hesitation. "He likes Pol, Noys, and your own sister, I have heard, to be autonomous when in doing diplomatic dealings. But he likes to have that secret smile inside when a deal is made that appears to have come out of nowhere, and ostensibly by their secret efforts, but Random has known about all along. He would prefer the details of how it is done be left to the diplomats, cousin, but he does want some idea of what the final hand is going to look like when the cards are all displayed."

"Until you revealed it, William" Shannon says "I had thought that you already had the framework clear and approved with Random. That is why I was...surprised."

William nods. "You forget how long I have been away from Amber," he says. "I needed the information you have been able to give me regarding the current situation to see how the pieces would fit. I have a tendency to improvisation, as you might have noticed."

Shannon smiles slightly in response.

He nods his head decisively. "Very well, then, here is what we shall do. You shall sleep on this plan, and tell me tomorrow morning if you want to be in on it or not. If you do, we shall trump Random together and lay it out for him, for his approval or veto. If you would rather not be involved I shall trump him alone, and unless he asks be directly I shall not mention even to him that you know anything of this plan. Does that meet with your approval, my dear cousin?"

"The latter is a corset that fits me better, cousin." Shannon says. "Even if I have given you my support, the optics would be better if I did not do so even with Random's knowledge."

"If I did publicly declare so." she adds "His Majesty would suspect that there was additional obfuscation involved that we were not telling him."

William chuckles. "Well enough," he says. "I am content to take the throw for myself, cousin. But you did give me valuable information, and were very useful as a sounding board. If the plan fails, you had naught to do with it. If it succeeds, then if you later wish to lay claim to being inspiration and a partial creator of the plan, I will not deny you that credit. Fair enough? If you've already made your decision there's no need to wait, I shall trump the king immediately."

Shannon steps back and seems to be framing the sight of William against the railing. "Sleeping on it will not be necessary after all." she says. "I have decided to support your audacious bid to rearrange the politics of three Golden Circle Kingdoms. Perhaps." she says, with a reflective tone in her voice "there will be some good from Jayson's lunacy, after all. Go and trump Random." she urges.

"Again, though, lest he asks directly, mention my name not." Shannon says.

William nods. "No need for hesitation, then," he says with a grin. He strides away from her towards the main mast, and with only a nod to the startled sailors working near it he swarms up the side, not pausing until he comes to the crow's nest far above the heaving deck.

Shannon just shakes her head as her eyes watch William ascend.

He scorns the lubber's hole and swings himself around the outside of the nest, grinning broadly at the startled lookout leaning against the side of it.

Brown eyes stare at William with disbelief. "Milord?" he says, uncertainly.

"You're relieved for a quarter watch," William tells him, flipping him a silver mark. "If the mate asks, you can tell him the crazy prince wanted some privacy. Down you go now, man."

He chivvies the bemused sailor out of the nest, and waits until he is nearly to the deck far below before relaxing, gazing around to be sure there are no sailors in the rigging anywhere nearby, and then leaning back against the side of the nest and rummaging in his clothing for this trump deck. He finds Random's card and holds it so that his face is framed by the ships' lines and the distant horizon of the sea behind him.

"Hear my, O my king," he intones sonorously as he stares into the card.

Random frowns, as the image on the card comes to life and is superseded by the current image of Random I, the King of Amber and Reality. He is in one of the sitting rooms of the Castle, rather than his private quarters.

"I don't like being addressed like some potentate out of a comic opera." Random says. "You can save that stuff for the Court functions, William, or when you are obviously with people that need to be impressed. You look like you've got a modicum of privacy, which shows me that you have as much sense as I hoped."

"So let me have it." Random adds.

William grins at his uncle. "I like to get in some practice from time to time, Uncle," he says. "I wouldn't want to forget how to address my dread sovereign in suitably hushed terms."

"Perhaps" Random allows.

" As for privacy, yes, I've got as much as it's possible to arrange on board a ship. So, to business. I've been bending my thoughts towards doing a bit of diplomacy, and I've come up with a rather darling little plan. I've also carefully built up my image as a loose cannon with no real diplomatic skill with the actual diplomats, so if this whole thing blows up they'll be more than ready to eagerly, and in the best of faith, back up your assertions that I was acting on my own, and you knew nothing about it. That William, everyone will say, there he goes again. Murdering cousins, getting in scrapes, pretending to be acting for his king on secret diplomatic efforts to settle the Eregnor situation for at least the next generation..."

"Wait a moment" Random holds up his hand. "What do you mean settle the Eregnor situation. I don't quite recall that was in your mandate. What are you doing, trying to install a puppet ruler over those Dukes? Or just split the territory and be done with it?"

"A little more complex than that," William allows. "I thought that we'd want to leave them with something that would keep them directed inwardly for a while, something with a lot of room for the sort of political maneuvering they all love so much. But that kept them tied to us closely enough that they won't be tempted to side with any of our potential enemies. So..."

"So..." Random says with a mild tone of encouragement.

[William] sweeps off his hat and gives the card a bow, before straightening and facing it again. "My plan for settling the Eregnor question; a treatise by William the Bold and Beautiful. Ahem." He clears his throat. "Stripped to its bare bones, I propose suggesting that the Prime Minister abdicate in favor of Coral. She takes over, and provides a youthful, vibrant ruler to offset Lukenaldo. Her father, meanwhile, become the king of a constitutional monarchy in an independent Eregnor, whose succession will be determined by the Dukes. They can squabble among themselves about whether a simple majority, a super majority, or a unanimous vote will be necessary, and just how the balance of constitution and monarchy works out. To sweeten the deal for Kashfa, they become a Golden Circle kingdom." He smiles at the king. "Obviously, my first task would be privately meeting with the three principals, and seeing if they agree in principle. If they do, then we can get them together, bring in the real diplomats, and I can go do something else amusing while they work out the details. If any of them balk, then..." he shrugs. "Then it turns out that you knew nothing about this plan, and it was all that wild William being a bad 'un again."

His smile grows wider. "How does this tickle the royal fancy?"

Random says nothing for a moment.

"I think this is the most surprising diplomatic gambit in these parts since Father sent Gerard to Antioch and came back not only with a treaty, but with a wife."

"So, you want to put a divorced husband and wife on opposite sides of Eregnor, with the father of one of them and former Prime Minister in the middle. If you got Jasra in as co-ruler with Orkuz, you might have the set up for a telenovela."

William nods. "I've been working on the theme song," he says.

"Seriously, though." Random says "the hard part is going to convince my nephew king that a Golden Circle treaty is worth the hassle of having Orkuz sitting on his border. I know he wants the treaty badly, William, bad enough perhaps that he will make the deal."

"If you are going to really go for this." Random says "you had be prepared to go all the way. You say that if this fails, it will be imagined as you being a loose cannon. Don't be so sure that Rinaldo will necessarily accept that."

"Have you told Shannon about this idea yet?" the king then adds.

"I must confess that it was hearing about the local state of affairs from her that gave me this idea in the first place," William says. "I've mentioned the outline of the idea to her, to see if she thought it was feasible. If you do approve it, she will remain unassociated with my conversations with the involved parties, and will instead work on keeping the diplomats out of my hair when I'm speaking with them."

"I am going to leave the logistics of such decisions to you." Random says magnanimously. "I have learned from your cousins that trying to micromanage diplomats is worse that herding cats. Cats in some rare circumstances can be trained."

"The egg is going to be on your face, primarily, if this fails. If you really want to try and do this, nephew, then we give our leave to do so. You will make Pollux, Noys and your sister jealous if you manage to actually do it."

William laughs. "I do like a challenge, Uncle, you know that. I may not even claim credit for it if it succeeds. It's the challenge I crave, not necessarily the acclaim. After all, there is so much else about me for people to admire."

Random laughs back. "Some might argue that. Your mother certainly would argue that is the case." He sobers up. "Very well, then. Continue to implement my wishes as previously agreed, but We give you leave to attempt to resolve the Begma-Eregnor-Kashfa situation as you have suggested."

"Good luck, William. You are going to need a fair amount of it. I just received a report from Brand's daughter Dagny that the Omphalos are stirring, this time near Corwin's Pattern. I don't doubt they might try to send agents here rather than try to drop a door. Keep an eye out."

"I will, Uncle," William answers, growing serious. "Do I have your leave to explain the Omphalos situation to the Prime Minister, Rinaldo, and Coral? They may be more amenable to reason if they understand that there's an extra-multiversal threat that wants to destroy us all."

"I would be highly surprised if Rinaldo does not already know about the Omphalos, either from Merlin, Dagny, or Malachi." Random says. "As a sign of good faith, you probably should tell him. I have no idea if Coral or her father know, and thusly you may definitely tell them. Its possible they know about it already, since when Hideo came through here, he went by way of Begma, but I don't know if he himself knew about the Omphalos at that point. He was more wrapped up with his cousin, Nella's other grandson, yet another problem that will eventually rear its head, I am sure."

"I sometimes wonder why Corwin or Eric wanted this job." Random mutters.

"It's the crown," William answer. "Chicks dig the crown."

"Maybe" Random concedes.

[William] smiles. "Anything else, your majesty, or am I dismissed?"

"Nothing at this time, William. You are dismissed." He pauses a moment, not yet ending the contact

"Although you may find it interesting that reports tell ms that your dueling partner apparently had an interesting encounter with the temporary Rebman Ambassador. I suspect your pinpricks may lead to something unexpected, and perhaps salutary, as a result."

"Oh, and if Rinaldo asks if you want to play cards, use your own."

"I will remember that," William assured the king. "Although there is a particular pleasure in cheating someone with their own marked cards...."

"If you can." Random says. "Good luck, William."

And thus the trump contact ends, with William alone with his thoughts, in the crowsnest.

William smiles, and takes a long look around to see if there are any ships, islands, storm clouds, monsters, or maelstroms that he should shout out about. Assuming there aren't, he'll call for the watch to return to his post and descend to the deck, to see if his companions have done anything he needs to know about.

There is a smudge off the port bow that is probably the leeward islands of Begma, but besides those, and the other ship, there is absolutely nothing of interest for William to spot. Certainly no monsters, maelstroms, mermaids or other miscellaneous threats.

Back down and back down in the hold, William encounters Devaine, Kiathas and Valric coming up to find him, in fact. William learns that the latter two managed to lose only a few coins while seeming to continue to be big spenders at gambling tables.

"And we even did enough work to keep the mates off of our back." Kiathas says.

"Excellent," William tells them. "Once we are in port, do not forget to take Gully and his friend to shop for clothes in exchange for not having made you disrobe after your first hand with them. Buy them whatever they want in the way of garb."

"Anything?" Valric counsels. "Everything?" Kiathas adds.

"Unless they are officers, sailors don't generally have that expensive of a taste in clothes." Devaine says.

"They'll want something flashy, as that impresses their friends," William says, nodding in agreement with Devaine, "But if they wore something too expensive they would be scorned by their fellows as getting above themselves."

"Or being labeled as dandies." Devaine says in agreement. "Flashy but not too expensive."

"The other thing of note" Devaine adds quietly "is that about the time you went up to the crowsnest, your cousin went to the bow. She seemed to be talking into those trump cards too, Guillaume' she says. "two of them in fact."

William nods. "We shall see how much of those conversations she shares with me," he says with a smile. "I trust her more than most of my cousins, but royal politics..." he shrugs. "You know how they are. We all have some matters that we do not discuss with each other, some designs that we do not share."

"Here is the burning question, then." Devaine says. "Although you trust her more than some of your other relations, perhaps with good cause, do you want me to keep an eye on her. Perhaps I cannot eavesdrop on these trump conversations, but I can tell you if they occur."

"Spymistress Devaine?" Valric quips.

"She would make a good one," William says seriously. He turns back to Devaine. "My cousin is subtle, Devaine, and has played the courtiers' game for longer than you have been alive. So do not think that you can spy upon her without her knowing. That being said, do keep me apprised of what you see and hear in the course of keeping her company."

"So she will inevitably know I am watching, and will be watching She almost certainly knows that I watched her already."

"Indubitably, Devaine." Kiathas says. "Count on it."

"Is it possible." Valric says "that your subtle cousin expected Devaine to spy on her, or arranged things to make it easier? After all, you went to lengths to avoid being spied upon. She could have done something similar if she really wanted to keep it private. And who would she talk to besides her mother? The King? Her brother? Some other relation?"

"I think quizzing Guillaume further about his cousin's habits as a courtier might be not very fruitful. He HAS been mucking about in our region of the universe lately." Devaine says.

"Exactly so," William agrees with a nod. "I am woefully behind the times in the current alliances and enmities of the family. Not that they are not always shrouded in some level of deception, in any case."

Devaine nods in understanding.

He shrugs. "It is unlikely she contacted the king, unless the two of them are playing a deep game indeed, as I was speaking to him, and she had wished not to be part of that conversation. I would be surprised if she did not contact her mother. The other might have been her brother, that seems most likely to me. While he can be annoying, he is an excellent source of information on matters arcane. If it was anyone other than those two, then she is keeping secrets." He smiles. "Even if she is, and is passing information on us on to some unnamed third party, that mere fact does not incline me to trust her any less. Despite everything I have said about family relations, Princess Shannon is one of the cousins I trust the most. It is why I was so quick to invite her along on this expedition."

"Then that is settled" Valric says agreeably.

"We trust her a little more than some of the rest of Guillaume's relatives." Kiathas agrees. "After all, she is going to be stuck on a ship with us for the duration. Keeping secrets is difficult enough. We don't want a repeat of the Tyrrhenian Ferry incident, with the Duke's servants and I trying to run interference while Guillaume..."

Valric coughs and interrupts Kiathas dead in his tracks.

"That is a tune that should not be reprised" Devaine agrees. "We should be soon in port in any event."

William nods. "Let me tell you what I know of the customs of the land, so that you need not get in any more trouble than you wish..."

And so the trio listen. Fortunately, Begma, thanks to the law of similarity, is not far removed from Amber in terms of customs and traditions, and so new material is at a minimum.

The remainder of the short journey to the harbor is relatively peaceful and uneventful. The incident with the bilgewater is best saved for another time, as well as the story of the ship cat which was accidentally catapulted overboard...

Backlinks

StrangeBedfellows.GameThreadsWinter2012