SetTheSeasOnFireIndex Set the Seas on Fire (Continued from Omnes Viae Electrutn Ducunt) In the end, it takes less than a day and a night to complete the repairs. It is a day and night where the crew remain in rooming houses near to the harbor, and with few exceptions, remain in the nearby district and do not wander the city. Captain Edwall's orders are severe in this regard, although passengers and guests like Daniel, Ederyn and his companions are not subject to them. The smith, at least, seems content to stay close by. In fact, he takes advantage of being on solid ground and digs deep into his pack to retrieve some items that he acquired in Montenegro but has not tried to use since taking ship: a number of pencils, a book, and a pad of drawing paper, all carefully wrapped in waterproof coverings. The book, the curious may discover, is a history of the engraver's art as practiced in Montenegro, containing many example images in a variety of styles. Ederyn settles himself in the best light he can find and works at trying, inexpertly, to copy one of the first few pictures in pencil. He is able to spend a number of hours at this pastime. A highly observant person might notice that his pencil never seems to need sharpening. Ederyn's interest in the engraving gets polite looks from the Weir (who are all too submissive to actually ask the Jarl what he is doing). Yason doesn't ask either. Daniel, however, stops a moment as Ederyn is copying a picture of a column, a simple subject. His shadow crosses Ederyn, his book and pad, a dark swath across the sunlit ground. The Diplomat watches for a few moments, gives Ederyn a nod, and then moves to get out of Ederyn's sunlight. Part of the delay, in the end, in getting the ship ready for travel is just waiting for the right tide, to allow the Vrijheid an opportunity to be easily refloated back into the harbor from the shallows from which it was previously lifted. The platform holding the ship is returned to the high-tide harbor, and with a patient and gradual process of pulleys and manpower, the ship is returned to the rising water. Having kept a very low profile for the last few days, the three Weir, Kezia, Cyrus and Boaz, come up from the depths of the ship with obvious relief. Yason, too, seems to take the opportunity to get onto the deck of the ship, gladly. "If there is anything else you wanted from Turku." Edwall says, taking a tour of the deck where Ederyn, Daniel, the three Weir and Yason stand. "You have less than an hour to get it. Then the tide will be at its apogee and we will set sail." Ederyn shakes his head. In unison, the three Weir bow their heads in agreement. "Well, then." Edwall says with satisfaction. "That makes things somewhat simpler." Indeed, an hour later, with no further delays, the Vrijheid is sailing out of Turku, and not long later, is making its way up the coast of Weirmonken. "I was speaking with the Captain earlier about our route." Daniel says conversationally to Daniel, as pine tree lined coast starts to dwindle in sight. "He seems to be of two minds, depending on the weather. The warmer weather route will take longer unless we get the trade winds. The cold weather route is more reliably shorter, but is rougher because of storms." "Since His Lordship the Duke is sponsoring this expedition, I suspect that while the good Captain will make up his own mind, he wants at least the impression that he is asking our opinion on the matter." "So what do you think?" Daniel says. Ederyn scratches his chin, considering. "I think I would rather avoid any more storms," he says. "I think the Captain is trying to weigh that versus the advantage of just getting *to* Amber." Daniel replies. "There is also the matter of trying to figure out the paths again. This voyage is also a test of our ability to navigate them efficiently. Captain Edwall hopes to get rich from the rutters." "I will tell him your preference." Daniel continues. "We have a few days before he has to decide one way or the other." Three days later, Captain Edwall's decision is made known when the ship, at long last, leaves the waters of Weirmonken. Cool weather is replaced by considerably warmer weather, and a strong breeze helps propel the ship along what seems to be an endless sea... . As Ederyn learned, the strange storms that swept Norwend, and Montenegro mandated a circuitous route through the Golden Circle. A conversation with the Captain confirms that in the past, much more direct routes to Amber were favored and feasible, but for this voyage, a different route is called for. As a result, the ship often does come in sight of land: islands of various sizes, a mountainous continent, past the delta of what must be a gargantuan river. The ship stops at a couple of ports, mainly to obtain potable water. These stops are short, always at relatively small towns and cities, but are very welcome to the Weir, who take every opportunity to get off the ship that they can. And so it goes, for a month. And then there is the lighthouse. On an island just off the coast of land, one fine afternoon, a tall lighthouse slowly looms into view. Tall and massive, larger than any Ederyn has seen in Montenegro or any of the other ports the ship has stopped in, this beacon stands tall. "If I am right, Ederyn." Captain Edwall, coming up to Ederyn, Kezia, and Daniel and pointing at the lighthouse. "that, there, is the lighthouse of the bay of Cabra, in the Kingdom of Amber." Ederyn shades his eyes to try to see it better. "How could you mistake it for another?" "A good question." Captain Edwall. "No doubt, Ederyn, you noticed the duchy had a number of lighthouses on the coast. You probably noticed that all of them were unique in design, color and the shape and strobing of its light. One can find where they are on the coast in Montenegro if they are lost if they come in sight of the lighthouse and match it up with a quarto volume of lighthouse designs." "Knowledge and the appearance of lighthouses outside of Montenegro is not well known. It was tightly held knowledge back when trade was open, and even now, the information that the Duke obtained for us may not be accurate. However, according to what I did receive." he points at the lighthouse. "that IS the Lighthouse of Cabra." Ederyn can see now that it is a great gray structure, massive and cylindrical in shape. There is a quay of some sort on the island, but little other sign of anything else on the small island the structure rises upon. Edwall pauses and then continues "It is also said that like a looking glass, Amber has false reflections near it, places that look like Amber, but are not. Some of these undoubtedly have lighthouses as well." Ederyn considers that for a moment. "Is that a purposeful thing, or an accident?" he asks, watching the structure appear to grow larger. "It is said." Daniel says. "or at least those of Amber claim that it is an accident, that things of Amber or similar to Amber are to be found everywhere. Tall mountains, like their Kolvir. Great Cities are said to be alike their Amber. Lighthouses." "It is said that even some shadow rulers and princes are shadows of their royal family. I don't know how true the stories are, Ederyn, but the stories persist, even through a century of isolation. Such is their power." Ederyn seems intrigued by this, but keeps his gaze on the view. The lighthouse grows into view as the ship approaches. Its rate of apparent size increase does slow as the ship starts to tack slightly against the wind. "I'm satisfied, however, that this is the correct one." Captain Edwall puts in. "Mark the forest visible behind that. That is the Vale of Garnath, one of the overland routes to and from Amber. The great forest looms to the North. We will soon be at our destination." Beside Ederyn, Kezia murmurs what sounds like a prayer of thanks. He shoots her a sympathetic glance and a smile, then peers forward again. Hardly glancing down, he finds a strip of leather in his belt-purse and ties back his hair with it, so it will stop being blown across his face. As the minutes pass, Ederyn leans toward the shore a little, his gaze fixed upon the slowly unfolding prospect; to those who know him well enough, the intensity of his attention may seem to give the lie to all his appearance of calm determination about this journey. The lighthouse gives way, under Ederyn's (and Daniel's and Kezia's to be sure) gaze and discernment to forested coastline. It doesn't quite have the wildness of Weirmonken, to Ederyn's gaze. Certainly, the forest seems to be primal, inexhaustable, and vast. But there are villages here and there. Hints of bits of civilization, points of light in an arboreal sea that is a counterpart to the aquatic one upon which Ederyn sails. Time passes, and evening falls upon the sea, and the coast. Its getting darker, and the progress of the ship has slowed. And yet there is a palpable excitement and enthusiasm amongst the sailors. "Now, Smith." Captain Edwall says, strolling up to Ederyn. "Not everything in Amber is reflected in shadow. At least as far as I am aware, unless there is something like it in your shadow. There aren't any undersea cities in your world...are there?" "No," Ederyn says. "Not that I have heard of." He can't help but glance down into the water. Ederyn doesn't see anything except the depths of the sea. At first. The excitement and anxiety of the sailors, however, does merit a longer gaze from Ederyn. And then it starts to loom into view. Oh, shapes are difficult to make out, given the depth and the dispersal of light through so much water, but as Ederyn looks and watches, he can see, in miniature,towers and domes lit by what must be some sort of arcane lights, in green. An underwater city. And, Ederyn cannot help but notice, swimming shapes, silhouetted against the city are heading upward, on a vector that will put them into the path of the ship. "Are visitors expected?" he asks. One of the sailors repeats the question to Captain Edwall. He looks at the sailor and then looks at Ederyn and Daniel. "Our records do not indicate this as a common occurrence. To reach the city beneath the sea, Rebma, usually requires a diversion to a staircase that leads down to the gates. Having visitors swim up to us..." The dwellers of Rebma do surface in front of the ship, but they part ways and watch the ship as it sails through the water. Three of them watch from the port and starboard sides. On the side Ederyn is watching is two women and one men. Their hair ranges from green to dark blue and their skins are a light shade of blue in the dim light. Although their tines are underwater, its clear to Ederyn they are all armed with tridents, and absolutely fascinated by those on board the ship, Ederyn, Daniel and Captain Edwall particularly. "They live in the water all the time?" Kezia says with disgust. "So the legends say." Captain Edwall replies. Ederyn only half-listens to this exchange, staring back at the three in view with great curiosity tempered by dismay at the entire notion of living underwater, and a little wariness. With the evening-colored light above and the gleaming city below, the trio makes an interesting picture, he thinks, though not a dramatic one. Ederyn's greater intent on the trio of Rebmans earns him the unblinking curious gaze and interest of the three in return. As Ederyn comes abreast of the middle figure, female, she raises a hand, holding a trident, in some sort of silent gesture directed at Ederyn. Surprised, the smith raises one hand in reply, a belated gesture that is not quite a wave and not exactly a salute. The two figures on either side watch during the exchange of gestures with passive and placid expressions in the deepening shadow and darkness. It does not appear hostile; she's not pointing the trident *at* Ederyn, and her two companions just simply watch Ederyn without any such gesture. Kezia, however, does take a small pace closer to Ederyn during the entire exchange. "A friend of yours?" Captain Edwall asks. "Not likely," Ederyn says, lowering his hand and turning an amused look on the captain. And the ship is past and the gestures are gone, just like that, as the ship continues to sail north. "*She* seemed to imply it." Kezia growls. She still looks back at where the figures were treading water. "There are many legends of the people of the city under the sea." Captain Edwall. "The rutters I had made available to me only said that the shortest route passed near to their city; it was a landmark during the evening, night and early morning, as it was now." "If there any of these Rebma Dwellers in Amber that you will happen to meet, perhaps you can put in a good wood about Montenegran wares with them, ja?" Edwall says with a laugh. "It is said." Daniel puts in, looking at Ederyn "that one or more of the Royal Family of Amber DO have ancestry there. Perhaps there will be other emissaries in the Court as a result." The smith shrugs. "So long as I need not go *down there*," he answers, glancing toward the city again, "I'll be happy to talk to them." "No" Daniel says, looking at the water with Ederyn. "I should say that the art of diplomacy would be most difficult to perform under water. How does one bow? Do they even bow or do they gesture in another way? How does one do a lot of things?" "How does one *eat*?" Kezia growls. "Perhaps we'll have a chance to ask these questions," Ederyn says, and turns his attention back to the darkening shoreline. "Ja" Daniel laughs. "Perhaps I should let you ask some of the more impertinent questions, Ederyn. Your natural charm might be useful in asking..." The diplomat doesn't finish the sentence. Instead, suddenly, there is the sound of a muffled explosion, and the ship comes to an immediate, jarring halt that sends people reeling and knocks Daniel to the deck. Ederyn and Kezia are able to maintain their balance. Many of the sailors are not so lucky, including Captain Edwall. And from the direction of the bow there comes a smell very familiar to Ederyn, more so because of his profession, and less so because while he smells the scent in relation to wood, the scent is also overlayed with something else as well that he doesn't know. It's the smell of fire. Already close to the bow, Ederyn hastens forward even more. Even as he peers over the side of the ship, he is extending his thought into the fire, working to direct it away from the wood, and intending to clear a patch of it out of the way so he can see what they've hit. The omnipresence of the water all around, in the ocean, is a retarding factor on Ederyn's abilities. Its a most oppressive element when it wants to be, to Ederyn's skills. In many circumstances his abilities would be absolutely useless surrounded by such a medium. And indeed, in the first few moments, it seems that this is precisely the case again, that the ocean has thwarted his plans and abilities. But when the break comes, and the fire begins to respond to his influence, Ederyn can feel that whatever was the retardation of his abilities, it was not entirely the water responsible for the reticence. As the fire starts to manage under his control (and heavy doses of sand from those sailors alert enough to start getting buckets of from the fire put), Ederyn can see just what the ship hit. Or, at least he can see other, probably similar obstacles. Floating in the water, bobbing mostly below the surface are large, spiked metal balls. The knocked down members of the crew, and the Captain are slowly rousing themselves and getting themselves sorted out. Ederyn looks over his shoulder at the others. "Captain - there are things in the water! Made things," he adds. "Good work, Smith." Captain Edwall calls. Then he turns his attention back to the fire, touching his sword's hilt to help reinforce his affinity with the element. He works to draw the flames together and away from the ship, allowing them to swirl and dance but not to feed on the wood, shedding even brighter light as they spiral over the water. As soon as he feels has that in hand, he leans out over the rail to try to see what the damage to the ship might be and why it has stopped. Ederyn is aware of commands being issued by the Captain that seem to involve not only damage control and management, but something to do with the sails. Too, he is dimly aware of Kezia watching the water with a keen and hostile eye at the floating objects. Daniel is doing something as well. However, Ederyn's main focus and attention is on fire. With the sword to back him up, the fire is much more responsive than previously, and the fire is drawn out of the ship and, compacted, drawn over the water, where it can be held in the open sky above the waves near the ship for Ederyn's subsequent use, like a illuminating fireball or a fount to draw the fire from for other purposes.. Such is the power of Fire sorcery. Anyone willing to squint at the bright mass of fire can see that far from being motionless, it seems to be divided into a number of flows that weave around each other in a consistent, intricate pattern. Once that is done, Ederyn's attentions can turn to the why. There is already a couple of sailors in the water, on harnesses, checking the damage. The hole is not as large as the hole that had caused such trouble in Weirmonken. This hole shows the hallmarks of the charring from fire, however, as does the adjacent areas of the hull. Given how heavily these things sit in the water, Ederyn can make a reasonable supposition that the ship struck one of these things, and that collision ended the forward momentum of the ship, holing the hull. How that sparked the fire is still unclear. Naturally, he looks for a sorcerous explanation. With the fire under control, he invokes his ability to see magic, and studies the floating objects for clues to their nature. He also 'looks' (with this sight that doesn't depend on visible light) to see how far and in what directions the line of objects seems to extend. The invocation of Mage Sight provides immediate results. Like blazing beacons, the floating objects pop up to his esoterically enhanced senses. There is a fire element to the sorcery inside of them, even if its not quite fire sorcery of the type that Ederyn is used to and used to employing. Along the surface they bob, a field of these floating objects three ship lengths wide, and about four times that width long. All of them are strictly on the surface. The ship seems to be at the start of the field, at about dead center. In the meantime, the sails are down and amongst the din, Ederyn can hear the sound of the force pumps. "What news, Ederyn?" the Captain asks, disengaging from giving commands to the third mate and coming up to him. "There are many of these things," Ederyn reports, gesturing ahead of the ship. "But we can go around. If we are not sinking. And I think to wonder - who put them here, and will he come to see what he has caught?" Captain Edwall steps forward and stares, hard at the water. "They are difficult to see." "Aye, even for I." Kezia puts in. "If the moon were not waning, we would be better off. I think, that my lord can see them by the strength of his arcane crafts." She looks at Ederyn. Edwall looks from the Weir to Ederyn. "Its true, is it not? Can you guide us past this trap? The ship will continue to sail, although we'll need repairs, again, once we reach Amber harbor." "Better to wait for the trapper and spill his blood upon the waters." comes the growling voice of Boaz, coming up with Cyrus. Thanks to Daniel and Ederyn both of their Thari have improved considerably on the long expedition. "I can guide us," Ederyn affirms. "And I think protect us, if we cannot go straight back." He looks at Boaz. "And if the trap belongs to one of Amber, where we are going?" The Weir considers this for a moment. And then he grins, widely. In his human form, he has the same number of teeth as a human, but it *seems* like he has an inhuman number and form to his dentition. A nearby sailor swears something in the Montengran's dialect, and turns away at the sight. Kezia, Cyrus, Daniel and Edwall are made of sterner stuff. Ederyn just shakes his head with a sort of tolerant amusement. "Good. We can give ourselves some room and head backward by an old captain's trick for becalmed ships. It will be slow but it will work." Edwall says. "Is there anything else you need, Ederyn, to help get us around this trap?" the Captain asks. "No," the smith says. "I will keep that," he gestures toward his tamed mass of fire, "in case someone not friendly arrives. And I will mark where the things are, so you can see them." "Such power, milord Jarl, to manipulate fire thusly." Kezia says, with pride and respect. He focuses his gaze on the area ahead of the ship, and after a moment, multiple wisps of fire detach themselves from the larger mass and waft down toward the water. He positions them over the objects nearest to the ship, a couple of feet above the waves. They won't last very long, of course, but he can replace them if it seems needful. The fire heats the metal of the objects, causing them to eventually glow a dull red along with the illumination provided by the fire wisp marking the objects position. Ederyn can hear the Captain confer with the first and second mate as the objects are marked, and the ship slowly heads backward. This is done, Ederyn notes, by means of a rowboat attached to the stern, and a pair of rowers owing the rowboat backwards, thusly pulling back the ship from the brink of the field of objects. Once this is accomplished, the Captain then proceeds normally, tacking the ship so that it stays well clear of Ederyn's illuminations of the objects. Progress is slow and careful, and Ederyn does find himself replacing some of the wisp now and again on the leading objects so that they remain illuminated along the passage. When the ship rounds the far edge of the field, there is a cheer given up by the sailors. Ederyn still finds it necessary to illuminate the field as it floats to port of the ship's passage. However, this part of the trip goes much easier, if not much faster due to the damage to the ship. In told, several hours after the collision with the object, the ship is past the field and is in open waters. "With our slow progress, we'll make Amber at dawn, perhaps a bit later." Captain Edwall says. "Once again, however, our progress is only possible with your help, Ederyn. Go, get some sleep. Surely your arcane exertions require rest on your part?" "I am well enough," Ederyn replies. "I wish to keep watch, in case of other surprises. I can rest after we're ashore." "Very well." Captain Edwall replies. "Your continued help in these matters only does you credit in my rutter." The three Weir fold their arms with pride. And so comes the remainder of the long night for Ederyn. After the field of floating objects, standing near the prow of the ship, Ederyn gets a good view of the dark sky, waters, and the looming coastline. The ship crawls slowly over the coast. There is little to bother Ederyn and few to keep him company save the Weir. Daniel has turned in, as has the Chaosian Yason. Every so often he hears and sees the crew at work, pumping excess water out, going about other tasks. Ederyn can see the eyes of the Weir look longingly at an increasingly beautiful, forested coastline. Even in the dark, there is something primal, extraordinary and singular about the forest the Vrijheid passes. Ederyn's eyes are a bit bleary and most definitely red, but his patience is finally rewarded. As light on the eastern horizon finally wins its daily duel with the darkness, and the sun starts to rise, after the ship rounds a headland, something new is in sight. A city, and a mountain. And what a city, larger than any city Ederyn has ever seen, in Norwend, Montenegro, or Weirmonken. The massive city sits on the seaward slope of a mountain that might be just under a mile high. About two thirds up the slope, on the same side as the city is a large structure, a castle of some sort. Both City and Castle are taking on a golden gleam in the early morning sunlight. One might even say that its an amber colored gleam. Having let the mass of fire disperse as soon as the the light waxed strong enough, Ederyn has nothing to distract him from drinking in the sight. He still isn't sure how he feels about cities, but he must admit it is magnificent. Aside from the sheer number of people who must live there - far more than he has ever seen in his entire life, he is sure, even if he added them all up - the amount of work involved in building it astounds him. (As a man who has built his own house by hand, and helped others do the same, he has a deep appreciation for that kind of effort.) He wonders how long it would take to see all of it, and what kind of people such a place might breed. Then he remembers to scan the ocean ahead of the ship once more, first with normal sight and then (with an effort) with mage's sight, before lookign up at the city again. There is more stirring and activity on the ship as the sun continues to rise and the city slowly looms more and more into view. That said, there is still plenty of opportunity for Ederyn to leisurely study the waters ahead, and the city itself, for trouble or anything out of the ordinary. While the waters do not reveal any fields of dangerous objects or anything that might impede the wounded ship's travel, using his mage sight on the tableau above the waters is revealing. There are pinpricks, here and there, revealing magics and sorceries here and there, showing like small points of light in the dawning day. But what he doesn't see implicitly as a light or a field is what draws his attention, irresistibly. Something, with his mage sight, tugs at him from within the mountain, below the Castle. He can't see it, or even divine it, but with his arcane senses extended, he knows its there and it holds his attention. It is, as if, it was calling out to him somehow. For a moment he tries to extend his thought towards it - then stops himself, knowing how foolish that is. Still, he can't resist staying open to it for a little longer. And a little longer. Then, regretfully, he dismisses the mage sight and turns his attention back to whatever is going on around him. When Ederyn breaks his attention, he realizes, first, and immediately, someone has been calling him, and for a little while, too. "Ederyn! Are you all right?" comes the voice that Ederyn finally remembers, for lack of a better word, is the voice of Daniel. While Ederyn has been concentrating on the city, and more especially on the point below the castle in the mountain, the diplomat has, unseen by Ederyn until now, strode up beside him. "I was trying to call you." Daniel explains, putting a hand on Ederyn's shoulder. "You got a look there for a few minutes that must have been like when we journeyed beneath the hill into that Faerie Court. It was as if you were hypnotized by something, Ederyn, or drawn like a moth to a flame." "There is," Ederyn says slowly, focusing on his companion, "a lot going on there. In power, I mean." This hardly seems like an adequate explanation, but he doesn't want to go into detail. He glances back toward the dawn-limned city. "I'm not sure I like it, but it is a remarkable thing." "Well, neither of us have taken the full measure of the city, or even a dram of it." Daniel says. "All we have is an image in our eyes of the city as we bob on the waves here. It does seem rather big and crowded, doesn't it?" Daniel adds. "Even more so than the cities and towns of Montenegro..." "Ship ahoy!" calls one of the sailors to Daniel and Ederyn. Looking at the quadrant opposite the city, out of nowhere, a small vessel has appeared, much smaller than the Vrijheid. This ship, too, appears to be sailing toward Amber, although at this range, its difficult to determine how she is crewed. Ederyn shades his eyes with one hand and peers towards the other ship, thinking the changing light must have obscured its arrival - though in truth he had been giving more attention to the way ahead than to anything that might be coming up behind them. The small ship appears to furl its sails and start to push toward and past the Galleon at speed, as if trying to be the first ship into the harbor at dawn. As it approaches. Ederyn can see that the vessel has three passengers, two men and a woman. All three work in harmony and clear practice in getting the ship to and past the Montengrean ship. Ederyn also notes that the woman takes especial note and attention of the damage to the Vrijheid. "They appear to want a race." the first mate, Brinkirk says in an incredulous tone as he comes up next to Ederyn. Ederyn half-turns toward him. "To a man with a fast horse - or ship - everything is a race," he remarks lightly. Then he goes back to studying the strange ship's design. He might not be fond of ocean travel or an expert on ships, but he suspects this one has as much in common with the _Vrijheid_ as a racing horse has with a plow pony. Indeed, so. Ederyn has seen a number of ships in his career. The Knarves, Knarrs and Cogs of his home shadow. The sloops, caravels, carracks and galleons of Montenegro. He has seen the slightly more primitive galleys and ships in Turku. And then there is this ship. Now as it passes by and provides a full profile for Ederyn, it is unlike any of these. The design is radically different, with a body that is divided into three parts, with a large middle, and two side sections providing support. "I have never seen such a ship, Smith." Brinkirk says. "Nor heard of its design before. It must be from a distant, strange shadow. Or, perhaps, it is from the Royal Family." At this comment, Ederyn gives the strange ship's occupants a closer look, even if they are already moving out of easy viewing range. Are they members of the Royal Family? It's hard for Ederyn to see it, especially since there is not much resemblance between the three individuals. But, then...Ederyn does have an eye for detail. A good eye for detail. For memory. The second man Ederyn can dismiss immediately. He can get a good look at the first man, and the woman. Yes. It's subtle. Their level of descent from each other is pretty thin--second cousins, at the most. But there are definite resemblances in the spacing of the eyes. Some resemblances on the build. The curl in the hair (even if the woman is red and the man is auburn). Yes. They are related to each other. And somewhat more distantly, Ederyn realizes, to himself. "I have never heard of such a ship design." Daniel puts in. "The Captain might know, though he deserves his rest.." Brinkirk adds. "It will still take some time to work our way into the harbor." In addition to working on getting the ship past the Vrijheid, the trio seems most interested, if not concerned, about the damage to the ship. The two relatives of Ederyn, and the other man, watch Ederyn and the other people on the boat as they precede Ederyn's ship into the harbor. "I wonder" Kezia muses as she joins the group watching the strange vessel "if I could smell if they were related to you, my Jarl." "I'm sure we will have the chance to find out," Ederyn replies, lifting his gaze once more to the city, and especially the Castle, above them. "Ja" Daniel agrees. After a moment he sighs, turns away, and takes a turn around the deck, stretching his legs after his long vigil. Then he goes below to pack the few belongings that he's kept out in the cabin he and Daniel share. Daniel follows Ederyn into the depths of the ship to do the same. Ederyn can hear a commotion from the deck while he is finishing the last of his packing. Daniel furrows his eyebrows. As he has considerably more possessions, Daniel is still packing. "I wonder if the strange ship turned around and hailed us after all." Daniel speculates. Before Ederyn can respond, Kezia comes in and bows her head. "My Jarl. Captain Edwall begs me to tell you that we're being assisted into the harbor by a ship from the Amber Royal Navy. Although the Captain seemed too proud to accept, the Navy insisted, citing some blather of laws I could not follow." "Did you want to reveal yourself to them at this time?" she asks earnestly. "No," he says, and more gently, "The Montenegrans have gone to the trouble of bringing me here - the least I can do is let them have their chance to introduce me. Eh, Daniel?" "The grand Duchy has invested much in bringing you here." Daniel says. "And I admit to the pleasure of announcing who and what you are for the first time in the halls of Amber, rather than you revealing it to some jumped-up Commander in the Navy and spoiling it all." Ederyn leaves his pack (with the hammer once more tucked out of sight inside it) lying on his bunk for the time being, and returns to the deck to see what's what. On deck, Ederyn, Daniel and Kezia find that a small, squat boat has arranged itself in front of the galleon, and ropes of what look like metal are being attached to the prow of the Vrijeid. "There's no sail. There are no oars" the first mate Brinkirk whispers to Ederyn as if confessing a dread secret. "and yet the ship travels through the water. I saw it approach us as if it were pushed by some sort of magic." He draws away at a look from Edwall. "Good, you're here." The Captain says walks over to Ederyn. "These things must be new, none of our records have anything about..." he gestures to the ship. "tugboats. At least, that's what Commander Asari calls it. They intend to pull us to dock, and save us hours of floundering around the bay and harbor." "Saving us hours sounds good," Ederyn says, with an apologetic expression. The sorceror-smith leans over the rail a bit to get a better look at the "tugboat" and the lines being attached to the _Vrijheid_. The cables are definitely not wool, hemp or any plant material. Ederyn is a worker of metal. He does not have to touch the cables to be convinced that, as he draws his hand near them, the cables are made of something else . Steel, of some sort. Steel of some unusual sort that has the ductility to be made into fiber. After a moment, promising himself to pay no attention whatsoever to the thing under the mountain, he takes an even better look at the boat, trying to discern the magic that must allow it to move around. The thing under the mountain does provide some interference to Ederyn's vision but after a few minutes he manages to make a workaound, standing at the right place to take a look at the tugboat's sorcery. There is a room in the tugboat, he sees. A confined room where he sees that steam is the power that the tugboat uses to drive some sort of device that propels a turning set of blades that rotates like a turnspit. After a moment's study, he deduces that the turning blades must act like oars, pushing against the water and moving the boat. The steam, Ederyn realizes with his arcane sight, is created by the interaction of two elemental forces--an elemental of fire, and an elemental of water. The magic spells, and there are several, that hold them in twain looks extremely complicated and ornately created. Both the idea of using steam this way (it obviously must be workable, since the boat has been moving), and the complex spells, fascinate him. He resolves to find out who did the work and talk to him at length. And to look into the cables, too. In the meantime, he starts trying to gain a better understanding of the spells just by looking - then realizes that Daniel will probably start worrying again if he keeps staring silently off into space. None of Ederyn's companions, dare to disturb him during his intense, singular study. Straightening, and closing off the other sight, he says, "Definitely magic." His face is alive with interest in a way the others (not being mages) have never seen before. "Is it a magic that you understand?" Daniel enquires. "As the captain has said, ships without obvious oars or sails are unknown in Montenegro, and it is not in our records of our last visit to Amber, over a century ago. It's new, perhaps as new to the Amberites as it is to us." "There is talk of one, milord Jarl." Kezia clears her throat. "We know a little of family of your father, only a little. But it is said that a large man, a man capable of wrestling a Weir with his bare hands, a brother to your father, loved the seas as much as the Jarl loved the land. Perhaps he, milord Jarl, knows more of this magic that makes boats move without sails and oars." "And steel ropes for ships." Boaz growls. "Only someone nearly equal to the Jarl, and devoted to the sea,conceive of such things." The way Boaz assumes nobody could equal (or surpass) his own skills appears to rob Ederyn of speech for a moment. Unable to think of a way to respond to that, he turns his attention back to Daniel's question. "It is clever, very clever," he says eagerly. "The ship is moved as oars work to move a boat, and it is the moving of the oars that uses the magic. To put it simply." (OOC: Boaz is not as clever as Kezia, of course. More loyal than reasoned :) ) [OOC: Heh. Yeah. Ederyn will have to deal with this hero-worship stuff (or learn to cope better) at some point, but the time isn't yet ripe.] "By all the Gods I've heard of." Daniel says. "Magic to move oars. I suspect." he laughs slightly "if too many of these ships were built, any guilds of seamen would complain it would rob the right of oarsmen to perform their job. And yet, for all of that, that small ship pulls our ship surely toward port." He points toward the approaching dock. "The Weir is right, though." Daniel adds, giving a nod to Kezia. "This clearly is interesting, and something that you might learn of, Ederyn." the diplomat says. "Seeking out this uncle might not be a bad thing, once we get through the more mundane aspects of your introduction." "As long as he's willing to talk on land," Ederyn says with a smile. He, too, watches the dock for a moment, then glances around the deck for any sign of Yason. Yason finally comes into view, carrying his possessions in one of the cloth sacks common on the ship. He walks toward Edeyrn and the rest of the group around him as Ederyn glances at him. He gives a nod of the head to Ederyn first, and then Kezia, Boaz, Cyrus and finally the diplomat, Daniel before looking again at Ederyn and speaking. "It would seem that our journey together is nearly at an end, Ederyn Smith." Yason says. "Indeed," Ederyn replies, still in good cheer. "I hope you can find your Ambassador in all that." He nods toward the city, which now looms above them in pile upon pile of buildings, streets, vehicles, and uncountable people. "Our message to him has not changed." "Your message in regards that the Houses of the Courts of Chaos are not welcome in the veil of Weirmonken." Yason says, with a serious tone in his voice. Although they seem to be not prying too much, its clear to Ederyn that the Weir are very interested in this part of the exchange. "Since we have spoken of much, since then..." Yason continues "let me confirm with you that this unwelcoming also applies to Norwend as well?" "Yes," Ederyn says, exerting the vague authority given him by Norwend's king. He flicks a glance up towards the castle. "I would be very displeased to find myself in conflict with my home." Yason flickers an eye toward the approaching docks and then back at Ederyn. Ederyn can also see that he is looking at Kezia, Cyrus and Boaz from the corner of his eye. "Then I agree, here and now, to tell the emissaries of the Courts of Chaos that their presence and visitations to the veils of Weirmonken and Norwend are not welcome." "A pity." Yason says, and then shrugs. "I will find little difficulty in finding the Emissary. Perhaps not quite as easily as you will find the Castle, perhaps." He looks up again, past Ederyn to the Castle looming over the massive city. Apparently Ederyn has exhausted his store of idle remarks for the day; he only shrugs slightly in return, and goes back to contemplating their approach to the docks. Yason regards Ederyn for a moment, and finally decides not to try and engage the Smith any further. He moves further down the ship, and bothers Ederyn no more. Ederyn's quiet is amplified by the Weir, who, in the departure of Yason, move to form almost a defensive cordon around their Jarl. None of them, not even Kezia, decide to break the silence as the docks near and near, and finally are reached. There is a ballet of movement as the tugboat releases the Montenegran ship from the steel cables that have served to tug it all of this distance. Instead of immediately abandoning its charge, however, the tugboat circles around to the ship's aft and strikes against it, gently, with the nose of the arcane powered craft. In this way, the tugboat pushes the Vrijheid the last few meters down the dock, to where men wait with ropes and anchors to tie up the ship. Now, it can be said, that Ederyn has reached the end of his sea journey. "Good" Kezia says, breaking the cordon of silence around Ederyn. "it may be a city, but it will be dry land." Ederyn turns his head to smile at her, in full agreement. Elsewhere, the sailors on the ship are a beehive of activity, and the Captain and Daniel are exchanging words nearby. The smith moves toward them, hoping to find out whether they are going to have to wait for Daniel's extensive luggage to be unloaded. "Ah, here he is now." Captain Edwall says warmly, turning toward Ederyn and gesturing with his left hand. "I was speaking with the Ambassador here about arrangements now that we are here." "I told the captain" Daniel says "that you will likely want to travel with me to the Castle immediately. We were trying to figure out the logistics of your coterie, and how much stuff to bring with us now, and have brought later." "Thoughts, Ederyn?" Captain Edwall prompts. "I have no idea what to expect," Ederyn replies. "Will we stay there, or somewhere else? And the four of us together have less 'stuff' than you," he adds wryly. Daniel bites his lip, and then decides to take it good humoredly and smiles wryly. "That is true, but an Ambassador needs to be prepared. Especially, Ederyn, in the re-establishment of an Embassy. Perhaps a small portion of what I need might be brought this time." Daniel looks at the Captain. "I suspect you and the crew can rent a house or domicile based on the petty cash given by the Duke. As for myself, I think that a new Ambassador can obtain at least temporary quarters within the Castle. Although just what the customs of Amber are in this regard under this new monarchy will be interesting to discover. We will eventually want to build or buy a place to reestablish the Embassy. I wonder who owns the old building." Daniel muses "As for you, Ederyn." Daniel continues "I suspect your fate will quickly be determined once you have a conversation with his Majesty." He looks at the three Weir. "And since they are bound to you, under you, they would fall under whatever rights you can acquire for them." The smith sobers a bit at the mention of 'fate,' but nods. "I'll bring both of my luggage," he says. His brow knits briefly, as he recognizes something wrong with his grammar, and then he continues. "Now I think of it, that I should change into my formal clothes." This is obvious, on reflection, since after months mostly at sea, those are by far the cleanest and most respectable clothes he owns. "It might be wise." Daniel says. In the meantime, now that the ship has come to a halt and the tugboat moved away, the gangplank is lowered and the first mate, Brinkirk, is already heading down the gangplank to talk with the stevedores. Ederyn keeps half an eye on the gangplank, wanting to see Yason leave, and perhaps have a last word with him. Being watchful of the gangplank gives Ederyn (and to be fair, the Weir as well) opportunity to see Yason moving toward it with intent to leave. The crew has not interacted with him much during the journey, leaving him under the aegis of Ederyn and the three Weir. And since he is carrying no real baggage, he is unmolested as he looks to disembark. Yason turns to regard Ederyn, with an unreadable, perfectly neutral expression on his face. Ederyn can hear the subvocalized sound of a growl from Boaz or Cyrus. Ederyn steps a little closer to Yason, gesturing to the Weir to stay where they are. He studies the Chaosian quizzically for a moment, as if he still finds the man fundamentally incomprehensible. Then he says, "It has been educational to know you, Yason. So I will wish you good fortune. Even though I probably should not," he adds, with a slight, wry smile. "Were our dealings, save its beginning, so unpleasant as to merit such a remark?" Yason replies, regarding Ederyn. "And forget not that you have relations, however distant, within the Courts. There would be a place, even if not in my House." "Until the turning that brings us together, if such a turning comes before the Maw eats all, I wish you success in your endeavors, Ederyn Weirleader." Only fractionally, the Weir seem to relax enough to accept the last neologic title of address. Through this speech, Ederyn looks both mildly enlightened and pleased. "Thank you," he says. "I will remember, and in turn I wish you all good fortune, smooth paths, and success." He watches the Chaosian go down the gangplank and move out of sight, then shrugs and shakes his head slightly before going below to rearrange himself and his things. Reasoning that the King of Amber hardly deserves less display than the Sea Lord of Turku, and loads himself with the full getup. He also opens the locked chest, tucks the Fae Queen's hammer into it, and arranges things so that the gifts are near the top. Lugging both pack and chest, he returns to the deck and settles himself to watch the activity on the docks while waiting for Daniel to catch up. Daniel is not as slow in getting to the deck with a smaller selection of his items as Ederyn might have feared. Only one large chest, and Daniel is already dressed relatively well (in good traveling clothes) even if not immediately perfect for Court. Brinkirk comes to the base of the gangplank and looks up at Ederyn and Daniel. "With the promise of Montenegran Gold, I've secured a carriage to come and take the two of you...and your friends." he gives a glance at the three Weir "to the Castle." "I assumed." he says amused "that you didn't want to walk." "Another time, perhaps," Ederyn smiles. "Thank you." Looking around for Captain Edwall, Ederyn approaches him and offers to shake hands. "It's been a pleasure to know you, Captain," he says. "And I hope if you find out what those things were doing in the water, you'll let Daniel and me know." The Captain preternaturally comes up to Ederyn even as he looks around for him. His handshake is strong, almost pumping in its physical enthusiasm as he speaks. "Ederyn Smith, I thank you again for bringing this old girl safely to port. It would have been a much more difficult voyage without your talents to help see us through the difficulties. I have no doubt that once the Ambassador establishes a permanent presence here, I'll get the change to make more runs back and forth." "Then I'll hope to see you again," Ederyn puts in. "Ja." [Edwall] continues. "I'd think that I'll be sure to let you know what I find out about what was in the waters. He gestures with his hand toward the dock. "Sailors are a gabby lot, as well you have heard on this voyage. If they've heard something, I'll learn it. And then you will learn it." "Goede reis!" he finishes, turning away with a grin. With that, Ederyn, Daniel and the Weir can actually make it down the gangplank, past Brinkirk (who gives both Daniel and Ederyn a salute), and onto the dock. Its a short walk up the dock to what an Earth-aspected smith seeks. Solid ground. Ederyn needs a few yards of distance from the edge of the water to make a proper test of it, given how powerful the sea is here (and it is powerful). However, when Ederyn does manage it, the Earth of Amber is a very different beast than Weirmonken. The wildness of Weirmonken is not present, locally, where he stands on the cobblestones of the harbor road. The sense that Ederyn gets, though, is something similar to he felt near his King's Castle in Norwend, at the base of Mount Glittertind. Permanence. strength. Stability. Maybe even Eternity. And, infused in that Earth, an undercurrent of what he saw in the midst of the Mountain as he sailed in. Its there, inside of the cobblestone, soil and rock beneath. Dimly set in his perceptions, Ederyn can hear Daniel whispering something quietly to Kezia. He had intended to take only a moment, and only a taste, but his step falters and he struggles to find his mental balance. A new balance. He wonders, as he wrenches his perceptions around toward the outer world, what this feeling of lightness, almost of breathlessness, might be. It is not new, yet it seems almost unfamiliar; and strong. It is ... Joy. He snaps back into focus on his companions' concerned faces, reluctantly pushing his awareness of the Earth toward the back of his mind. "You nearly stumbled there, milord Jarl." Kezia says, grasping Ederyn's arm for balance. She doesn't quite prop up Ederyn, but clearly could. Although she is slighter than Boaz and Cyrus, Ederyn can feel that she does have a grip to her, hidden strength. Boaz and Cyrus scan the area, looking alert. On Ederyn's opposite side, Daniel steps up, smartly. "Are you all right?" Daniel says. "It looks like you had a spell there for a moment. Is there any danger to you here?" "No, no," he says, his habitually calm demeanor hiding most, but not all, of what's going on in his mind. "I was surprised. It is ... good to be here." Boaz folds his arms across his chest in satisfaction at Ederyn's comment. He glances around, at a dockside area that does not, after all, appear much different from the ones he saw in Montenegro and Turku. But he looks at it differently now, believing for the first time that this might his home. Or part of it, at any rate. Preferably a part that he won't have to visit often, given its proximity to the water and the sheer amount of noise and bustle. "Which is our carriage?" the resolutely practical side of his nature wants to know. "That is a good question." Daniel says. "I don't think I..." At that moment, moving with somewhat reckless speed down toward the dock is a carriage, done in red and gold. The driver, a brown and gray haired man wearing a dark red tunic that matches the carriage laughs as the pair of chestnut horses stop a few feet short of Ederyn, Daniel and the Weir. The horses look, to Ederyn to be quite used to such treatment, and possibly even enjoy it. Daniel looks at the carriage uncertainly, and all three of the Weir look alert. The Driver looks over the group and focuses on Ederyn. "Are you the party from Montenegro and" he furrows his eyebrows but keeps his jocular tone "Norwand? Headed to the Castle?" "Yes," Ederyn replies, eyeing man and vehicle with a little misgiving. "Good!" he says, laughing. "Then you are my fare!" He climbs down off of the front of the carriage and gestures to the group. Its not quite a bow, but more of a bird like bob of the head. "My name is Henrik, carriage driver for hire." He opens the door to the vehicle and gestures to Ederyn, Daniel and the Weir. "One of the Princesses in the Castle says that this is really a coach, but I don't know what's the difference. I just drive and get my passengers to their destination." Daniel rolls his shoulders, and gives a bow of the head. "I am Daniel Poole." he says. "Ederyn Smith," his companion adds. Henrik next looks at the luggage but his smile only dims slightly. "I usually have one of me sons to help with baggage, but I didn't expect to have so much." "Any questions before we get going?" Henrik adds. "Can we go not very fast?" Ederyn asks. "You want to see the city at something less than a blur, yes?" he asks. Daniel studies Ederyn for a moment and then turns to look at Henrik. "Something like that." "I have been paid well enough, so you shall receive what you wish!" he says. Ederyn climbs aboard and lodges himself in the opposite corner, collapsing onto the cushioned seat with a sigh that turns into a huge yawn. Then he leans back and closes his eyes; even this bit of relaxation seems to help with the vise of tension-headache clamped around his skull. Not long after Ederyn has lodged himself in, Kezia and Boaz enter, and take positions to Ederyn's right in the case of the female Weir, and across from him in the case of Boaz. Ederyn can hear Cyrus and Daniel aiding Henrik with the luggage. Cyrus enters before the diplomat, taking a position near the door, leaving the diplomat to squeeze between him and Boaz. "My Jarl?" Kezia asks with a tone of concern as the snap of a whip presages the movement of the carriage. Daniel cages four of his fingers on his left hand and presses them against his right temple. Kezia regards this and then looks at Ederyn, voice low. "My apologies, milord." Kezia says. Ederyn tries to look reassuring. "I'll be all right," he says, in an almost normal tone. "It is just ... 'catching up with' me. I should have rested on the ship," he concludes regretfully. "I'll try to rest now." "Yes, Milord Jarl" Kezia says. "Rest, and we will keep watch." Boaz and Cyrus give little more than soft grunts. Daniel nods, quickly, three times. Assuming their compliance with this plan, he closes his eyes and leans back again, bracing himself against the carriage's movement and trying to compose himself for a nap. He is tired enough, now that the excitement of actually reaching Amber has passed, that it is not difficult, despite the rattling of the wheels over cobblestones. Being on land, especially this land, is a comfort. Drowsily, he wishes he had the time to examine and explore this Earth more completely right now, but he'll need his wits in good order for the Castle. And his kinfolk. At least it is there, as present to his senses as his own heartbeat, as he drifts off into a shallow phase of sleep. Previous strong exertions have taken their toll on Ederyn. Being disconnected from the land for so long and so often on this journey has removed what is, at the very least, a comfort and anchor for Ederyn. Thus, when Ederyn closes his eyes and tries to relax, it is no wonder that his shallow phase of sleep deepens, rapidly. The rocking of the slow progress of the carriage only helps make this happen. And yes, Ederyn can and does fall into dream or mirage. An oval shaped labryinth of blue fire, the size of a small crofter's field, appears, first on the borders of his sleeping mind, and then, in front of him, laid out before him.. And although it is a design of blue fire, this is no working of Fire, to Ederyn's senses. No, if any Element could be named for this design, it definitely would be Ederyn's Earth. The cavernous ceiling above and around the design, and Ederyn, are proof positive of that. It beckons him to step upon it. He thinks bemusedly of phosphorescence, and moves a little closer. Probably it is only his experiences with the alfár, who can make anything seem like a good idea, that keeps him from taking up the offer immediately. Instead he contemplates the design, perceiving that it is not made of the spaces between the lines, but of a single line wandering across the floor of the cavern. It is the same power that he sensed in the Earth, which was the same power he noticed under the mountain. Therefore, this scene represents the place under the mountain where that power is located. And is that a pulsing, a living, breathing component to the glow of the lines? Or is a function of this dream that Ederyn senses it? Nothing in this threatens to disturb his slumber; he cannot believe there is any will to harm him, here. But still he hesitates, wondering. Places of power are usually closely guarded, their visitors carefully chosen. Will even this dreamer's approach to this thing be seen as trespass? Ederyn's approach does cause a reaction. The brightness of the single winding line flares up. It doesn't feel like a warning, or a ward, or a defense on the part of the strange design. No, to Ederyn, in this dream jungle of symbols and thoughts, it is a signal of a different sort. Recognition. The design, as Ederyn approaches, clearly recognizes Ederyn in some primal, fundamental manner. The part of the line closest to Ederyn, the start of the line in fact, glows just a tiny bit brighter than the rest, as if a signal, or marker. Perhaps an invitation. He edges closer still, contemplating this clear evidence of awareness. An invitation from the Power itself is another matter entirely, dream logic suggests. And surely he has as much right as any of his father's kin to communicate with it. And of course, he is terribly curious. He hesitates a moment longer, unsure of how to proceed; but given the design's position on the floor, it seems to make sense for him to place his right foot decisively on the bright-glowing end (or beginning) of the line. Ederyn's foot on the start (or is it the end) of the line raises sparks, outlying the entirety of his foot as it is placed firmly on the line. What's more, there is a current of energy, esoteric energy of some sort, that courses through this design. And beyond this design, even this dream. With only one foot on the design, the energies cannot flow into and through Ederyn, the process of the energies contacting Ederyn only half complete. The urge to place his left foot forward of his right one on the line and begin to work is sudden, and strong to Ederyn, as if a shouted idea from Daniel. And to not do so, Ederyn can feel, might disrupt the energies seeking to course through his body. Even in the context of a dream or vision, that might be dangerous. But its the horns of a decision. To place his second foot is to mean to walk the entirety of this line, without stopping. To remove his foot is to abrogate that choice and decision, at risk. There appears to be no other choice, as the sparks continue to glitter around Ederyn's right foot. He is very surprised, but already committed to this action - though he feels a little annoyed. Satisfying his curiosity is one thing; being swept into whatever this is, is clearly something else. "You might have warned me," he remarks aloud, in his native language. As if in response, the sparks around his foot briefly rise up and extend down the line ahead of where his foot rests. This additional level of sparks quickly settles to the corona of sparks around his foot. And his left foot comes around and settles into place on the line. And it is then that Ederyn feels the full effect of the current of power. Ederyn completes the circuit by having both feet on the line. Like a magical ritual back in Norwend, the Pattern and Ederyn himself, even in this vision and dream, are two necessary halves for the ritual, the initiation, the imprinting to take place. Sparks rise around both feet now, and slightly higher on his feet. Ederyn hears a crackle, and his hair rises slightly, as if after touching an amber rod which has been rubbed with fur. His annoyance is quite swept away by the sensation. Like the touch of the Earth of which it is a part (or is this Earth part of *it*?) it feels gloriously right. It feels like both. That this Pattern is part of Earth, and that the Earth of Amber is a child of this design. It tastes of Earth, and more than Earth. But he can't stop to revel in it - that much is clear. Eagerly, he starts to walk onward in earnest, his dreaming gaze fixed on the line, though he believes he doesn't need to "see" it in order to follow it. The walk starts easy enough, the first few paces just resulting in the sparks, the feel of current, the lore of Earth. Nothing too difficult for a practitioner of Earth Magic to handle. As Ederyn starts the first curve in the design, though, the experience ramps up. A barrier, of sorts, or an increase in resistance that he faces and feels. It takes an expenditure and effort of will to pass through this barrier and continue. And the sparks, always the sparks around his feet. And once he does, images slide through Ederyn's mind. Even as his steps carry him forward, images and memories wash over his mind. They appear to be in chronological order, ranging from early childhood to adulthood. His first working of magic. Meeting the King of Norwend for the first time. One of his encounters with the Oak Lady. Being selected for the embassy to Montenegro and beyond. More recent memories, too. The Fae court in Weirmonken and meeting the Weir. The luncheon in Turku. A mild storm three days before spotting the lighthouse. Through this, Ederyn has gone through another barrier. Veil, the word somehow comes to him, where the resistance was significantly higher. But it is as Ederyn approaches the end of this mental journey that he faces a third, final Veil before he reaches the center. A veil that, even as he advances toward it, he knows that will be an even greater test than the previous two and the entirety of this initiation. Only a few steps past this veil would be the center and the end. If he can get through the veil. He presses onward, determined to get through and hopefully understand what this is all about. And the memory waiting for him at the third veil is one of the last he wants to revisit: his parting from the Lady of the Oak. They stand beneath the tree, his things piled nearby on the grass. "Give me one more kiss, Ederyn," she commands, and he feels the pride and resentment that drove him away, and the love and desire that nearly kept him there. She knits her hands behind his neck and holds his face close to hers. "Here is a gift, Ederyn: you have only to wait, and a way to Amber will open for you. Wait, and hone your skills, and you will find your place." In the memory, he finally turns his back on her, still aboil with internal conflict. Yet he is also standing on this dream Pattern thing, struggling to bring his foot down onto the glowing line; and that is perhaps why he suddenly perceives things about that parting that he never guessed at before. And he is through that third and final veil. If this was all a vision, illusion, dream and fantasia, it still feels like, as Ederyn totters the last few steps and to the center of the design, that he has done a remarkable, important, powerful thing. Even more so that it was in this context. There is a potential energy as Ederyn stands in the center. Like a rock which can be thought of having energy because it is at the top of a cliff and can from there fall to the ground, standing, in this vision, at the center of this Pattern, has provided Ederyn with the potential energy for transit, travel. A chance to go, to will himself somewhere. Anywhere.Back to the start, or to somewhere else, the walking of the Pattern has charged up that potential energy, and it might now be released. Even as the final vision resonates in blood and fire in his mind, in the vision, that potential energy waits. For the moment, he just drops to the floor, to sit crosslegged and contemplate the vision with a mix of outrage and chagrin. One thing is small, in a way: along with her last words, she put an enchantment on him, to keep him waiting. It was subtle, a gossamer thread of suggestion that, he suspects - no, he is certain, though he's not sure where the certainty comes from - kept him from trying to cross between worlds on his own, which he could have done. It was so fragile that it would have broken if anyone had ever asked him why he didn't try such crossings. But no one ever did. The other is a tangle, and unlike the suggestion to wait, did not dissolve in the light cast by the Pattern. Or not entirely. He glimpsed a connection between those conflicted feelings and the Lady - and not all between her and the positive ones. No, it seems that she worked to drive him away, while pretending otherwise. Why? he wonders, uneasily. He's labored over years to put all of it behind him and leave it there. What purposes did she have? There is no answer in the bare facts. He sighs and pushes his hair back from his face. Worry about it later, he tells himself. Other things are more immediately important. Getting back to his feet, he directs his attention toward the Power that brought him to this specific place. "I thank you for your generosity," he says formally. There is a pause, a silence in this mental vision, this constructed landscape. And then, the lines pulse, and there is a voice. Neither of man or woman is the tone, but there is a sort of musical tone to the voice. "Few are those who think to talk to me, Ederyn Smith." the voice says. "Be it in the flesh, or in spirit, as we converse now. Your thanks are unnecessary, but accepted nevertheless." Astonished, Ederyn hastily discards a couple of potentially intrusive questions* in favor of the more cautious, "If by speaking to you I am intruding, I beg your pardon. But - I am concerned that my kinsmen will not like that I have done this."
"You are hardly intruding." the design sends. "It is rare to communicate directly with me in any fashion, although it has become more common since I was repaired. In truth, not all who attempt the design in any fashion give the matter of communicating me any thought. This method of telepresence, however, makes such communication much easier than if you were standing in the room where I am drawn." "As far as the matter of your kinsmen, if you were concerned only with doing what would please them best, I suspect that your only course of action would be to awaken from this reverie, order the carriage back to the docks, and sail for Weirmonken, Montenegro, or Norwend, and never set foot in Amber for the rest of your days." "I wish I could believe otherwise," Ederyn sighs. "I would speak with you again, if I may," he continues. "But now I should return to my rest and to meeting these kinsmen." "It might be easier for us to speak again when you attempt the physical design." comes the response. "Your virtual initiation in this regard will hold you in good stead, and in the meantime will provide a small door into your full birthright." Then he turns his attention back to the mass of potential energy that waits for him. He has no need to travel anywhere, but it seems a waste to just let it dissipate. Perhaps he can turn it to another purpose, such as restoring his body's strength. Or, his creator's instincts suggest, make something with it? Aside from transit,or replenishment, this mass of potential energy is like a stone. A block of uncarved stone. Stone that might be carved, shaped... It does occurs to Ederyn that he does know that a mass of energy in such a mass might be converted directly into matter. Or the energy might infuse something, transmorgify it to be more alike this design, or attuned to its power and nature, the power of Earth. He regards these insights with rapt attention. Unsure of what the effect might be, he sets aside for now the idea of infusing some object with the energy - and it's not as if he has any real objects with him, in any case. Even making something presents an obstacle: normally he would take many hours to plan an important design, honing it in his imagination until he can give it the exact form he desires. That's out of the question at the moment. It will have to be something simple, something he knows well, and that is also worthy of this effort. Put that way, the best choice is obvious. First he takes in a little of the energy for himself, not wanting to try this while he's so tired. Then, reserving enough (he estimates) to make up for this new effort, he concentrates on turning energy into an object. Simple, he has noticed, does not mean easy. It takes all his concentration and a lot of effort to imagine and carry out the transformation. It works better in the end for Ederyn's transformation of the energy to be thought of as a forging. In terms of that, the energies from the design are, by Ederyn's skill and just as importantly, will, are transformed into shape. Just as a warmed beaten piece of iron can be bent into shape, or even more appropriately, liquid gold and silver can be cast into a mold, Ederyn's transformation of the energy is a casting of that energy into a mold. The energy pours into his conception of the mold, the idealized imagining of the desired object, filling it, completing it, making it something real. Not only real in the sense of this dream, but real within the borders of the waking world as well. Finally he pours the remaining energy into re-replenishing himself, letting any left over dissipate, and deliberately steps away from the dream-state and toward wakefulness. The design, the image recedes away. Slowly at first, as if Ederyn were watching a ship crawl away toward the horizon. Moment by moment, the recession of the image grows faster and faster as this dream state changes state, just as liquid metal cools and takes a more permanent, formed, real shape... He opens his eyes in the carriage, then sits up and opens his clenched right hand to regard what lies there: a diamond about the size and shape of his thumb, with one flat surface and an elaborately faceted back and edges that scatter shards of the light coming in the carriage window. "Ederyn!" The shaking of his shoulder by the diplomat as he speaks is almost enough for Ederyn to drop his creation. "My lord Jarl." Kezia says . "It seemed to us that your spirit was not here. Your breathing was shallow, shallower than when you sleep. Even more so than the time that you slept for days aboard the ship." It is then that Daniel looks at Ederyn's hand, and the diamond in his palm. "I don't recall you having that before." he says in an understated tone. He blinks at them, much more disoriented by their alarm than by his waking. "For how long?" he asks Kezia. "We've been taking a long tour of the city." Kezia says. "And only now are we making the climb toward the Castle. You've been out for more than...an hour?" she looks at Daniel. "A little more than an hour. Call it a ship's watch." Daniel agrees. Ederyn nods. "I am sorry to worry you," he says. "My spirit did wander." He pauses, turning the diamond in his fingers, but looking at the people who have shared his journey with him. "It was not a thing that I expected," he finally goes on, "but I am not unpleased by it." Another pause. "I think I should keep the - details - to myself, for now." "Strange states of sleep. Unusual creations." Daniel looks at the diamond as Ederyn turns it in his fingers."I should expect nothing less from you by now." he says, in a not displeased tone. "Milord Jarl." Kezia puts in. "It is of course your business what you do or do not share with me, with us. We were only worried for your safety and health." "You did miss a rather nice tour of the city, though." Daniel says. "The records and stories don't quite do this city justice, and we've only seen a slice of it thus far." "I'll see some of it now," Ederyn replies, pulling aside the curtain over the nearest window and looking out. The diamond stays in his other hand, which he rests on his knee. He leaves his background awareness of the earth in that background, for now, in order to get a clear look at this part of the city's surface. "Ja." Daniel says. "The shadows of the buildings against the rising sun from the sea should make a fine portrait of the city as we climb this mountain. Doubtless we will find paintings and tapestries in the Castle and behind capturing the view we are going to see." Inded The switchbacking nature of the road gives Ederyn ever higher views of the city, with the sun casting light and morning shadows across the city, giving a good high perspective of the city, a view of a city equal to or even better than Montenegro's tall Astronomy Tower. And this city puts the port of Daniel's home to shame. Larger than it, much larger than Turku, the City of Amber is a bustling, sprawling, well defined city. Landmarks noticeable by their size if not their nature are easily picked out to Ederyn's eye. In the medium distance at the docks, Ederyn is pretty sure he can pick out the Vrijheid amongst the armada of other ships in port. Soon, however, these views end, as the carriage makes a turn, and now Ederyn can see the outer walls of the Castle with the pentagonal center keep known as Castle Amber... (Continued in Five Sides to Castle Amber) |
