SorceressAtWorkIIIIndex Sorceress at Work III "This is Fire Wine. Wrap your hands around the bowl for a bit before drinking. You'll know when it's time." "I will know...?" Dulcinea asks quizzically. She cups the dark bowl of wine, and watches as the flaming red color blooms in the dark liquid. Dulcinea's eyes widen. She does not drop the glass. "Fire Wine, baby" Nick says. "Drink up." Dulcinea nods and slowly starts to sip it. "It's good" She says. "Oneology? Magic of wines?" she asks. "There is a shadow outward of Maeonis where all of the magic in that world comes from specially crafted wines by sorcerer-vintners." Aura seems to consider that sort of place while she takes her first sip. She wonders how that works exactly. Especially when one drinks to excess. "I don't know much about how the wines and other liquors are made. The Vintner's Guild is rather protective of their secrets." Aura smiles a tad sly. "And some things should remain a mystery." "Nai" Dulcinea says in an agreeing tone, nodding her head. She takes another long sip of the wine. "It is very good, Aura." she says once she is done. "It's a potent vintage." she adds. "I can see how too much of this can easily go to your head." "Random appreciates other sorts of alcohol, but gifts of this fire wine could help could make lots of friends with the nobles of Amber and the Family, too. Like me." "I will have to get you an amphora of ouzo in exchange." Dulcinea adds. "Amphorae design is something someone of your artistic bent might appreciate." "Oh, we have those," says Aura after a moment's consideration. She sketches the shape in the air with her hand Dulcinea's eyes follow and as Aura sketches the shape, she nods in recognition. "And when larger quantities of liquids or oils are being transported we use those. But such amounts of wine for a few people, bottles are enough. They have been making them smaller for some time now; for perfumes and bath oils. The makers can get more creative in those sizes in the use of precious stones and metals." "Maeonis tends toward large containers whenever possible, by contrast." Dulcinea replies. "In order to provide a canvas and room for potters and painters to ply their art. The smaller bottles you describe are not an area of art that my people have found favor with as yet." "Bigger is better?" Nick observes. Dulcinea takes another sip of wine. "Maeonis is not possessed of a large supply of precious stones and metals. We do some trading for those with shadows like DuMarque, and glass from Crie, they make glass bottles like you describe. I once saw a gift to my mother from their ambassador, a blown glass bottle in the shape of their beloved phoenix." "I shall have to bring back some examples," Aura says thoughtfully. "I have some with me, but I packed rather quickly for this trip and left behind quite a bit." "Are you in a position to discuss possible trade with Atlantis for Maeonis?" Dulcinea smiles widely "I am. Mother has empowered me to treat with sovereigns like my father and their representatives. She might not have had any notion that Atlantis exists. I didn't. But the plenipotentary powers I have been granted still hold just the same." She takes another sip of wine. "I think that she expected me to talk to Golden Circle Diplomats. But I am certainly inclined, if reliable connections can be made, to have Maeonis trade with your realm, Aura." "Hail to the Princesses, baby" Nick says. Aura smirks and sets her glass down where Nick can get at it for a drink. He starts lapping it up five seconds after Aura moves her hand away. Dulcinea looks at Nick in surprise and stops when Aura speaks. "Then tell me of Maeonis exports and I will share more that Atlantis can offer." "Some of what we offer is relatively useful only to places like DuMarque." Dulcinea begins. "Warm weather ports is not something that Atlantis needs, but the often frozen DuMarquean ones are another matter. They use their trump artists to move some of their goods to leased spaces in our cities, and trade that way." "We're a very urban land in some ways." Dulcinea continues. "We have a strong need for some raw materials, and new sources of culture. We have farms, of course, and plenty of sailors, but we're not a very rural society." "In turn, we thus turn out lots of finished goods." Dulcinea adds. "Spirits. Wines. Pottery. Metalcraft. Oils, although we are in strong competition with Antioch for that trade. They just may have olives as good as ours. We also have some of the best marble in the Golden Circle, both in raw form and shaped for columns and statuary." "I don't imagine we need marble," Aura remarks thoughtfully. "Unless it is something different than the colors we have already. Atlantis offers a variety of wood colors that I don't imagine you see Golden Circle. You saw the pearl varieties and an example of one of our textiles. It sounds like we can have an exchange of spirits and wines unique to our worlds. I'm sure we have food stuffs you do not and I know our horses are unique." Aura suddenly grins over to Dulcinea. "You need to visit to appreciate it properly. Until we can arrange that, I can give you a memory tour. "Yes. I would like that. Can we do that now? I wish I had something similar to show you my land." Dulcinea says. She pauses and then taps her nose. "I do have some trumps of places in Maeonis that Hadrian has done for me over the years. I could show you *those*." "That is a good start," Aura nods. "And I shall do this," the Atlantean Princess continues with a wave of her hand to repeat the image tour of Atlantis she gave Random earlier. Dulcinea takes a long drink of the fire wine after the image tour is over. "Atlantis is a beautiful place." Dulcinea says, once she has finished her drink. "I can see why its a primal shadow, and why Lorius keeps dropping in on you. And, why you want to keep it as reserved as possible from the muddy boots of the more uncouth of our family." "They paved Atlantis and put up a parking lot." Nick says, with a touch of inebriation. Aura makes a face at the lizard and removes her wine glass from his vicinity. "Anyway, fair is fair." Dulcinea says, producing a deck of Trumps. She shuffles out a half dozen of them. Maeonis does have some resemblances to Atlantis in the trumps of the city and the countryside, although Maeonis has a wilder, rockier sort of harsher beauty as compared to most of the more sybaritic Atlantis though. The architecture and general styles are similar to stuff she has seen in Atlantis and Etrusca but distinctly different. "I think you would likely have a rather short adjustment time for Atlantis," Aura observes as she looks at an image with a beach in the close background. Then she looks up with an amused smirk. "Except perhaps the shocking allergy we seem to have to clothing." "I'm fair enough to burn fairly easily." Dulcinea says. "Although I do have a mild enchantment for that." "I do not recall ever seeing anyone with a sunburn," Aura muses. "Not even Lorius. Though that is really no indication of a blanket protection." Handing the cards back, she adds: "If we can hammer out a trade agreement between our home worlds, I can get your foot in the door with some of our sister shadows. One has an almost ridiculous amount of precious metals while another provides an obscene amount of gems. Both their cultures are very different from ours. Lorius tells me they remind him of Arabian Nights and an Ancient Egypt at the height of its power." "This whole business of primal shadows and what's real and what's not and how they interact is curious." Dulcinea says, putting the cards away. "Dad used terms like the ones you did to describe some Golden Circle shadow area shadows. I don't particularly know what they mean, but I understand that your shadows and those are alike, then." "He also says that Maeonis is like Greece, and Antioch is like Rome. Not sure what those mean either." Dulcinea adds "But of course, the 'Ancient Egypt' shadow in the Golden Circle is inhabited by cat people." Dulcinea says with a smile. "I am going to guess that yours is not." "Meeoow" Nick comments. He does not try to move to get more wine, instead, propping himself up and regarding Aura plantively. Aura ignores him magnificently. She laughs at Dulcinea's comment. "No. Though they could appear so if they wished it. The priest and the line of the Pharoah can, at least." "Hereditary divinely infused ability." Dulcinea agrees. Lifting a hand, Aura summons a sketchbook to her and flips through until she finds what she wants. "This," she says as she turns it towards her guest. "Is the god-King Akenaton, First Son of the Great God Osirian, Protector of AEgypt, Lord of the Nile and All Life Giving Waters, Warlord of the Sun, 12th Pharoah of the Dynasty of Atum." Aura smiles fondly at the watercolor portrait of the well muscled, bare-chested man in his finery. "Bit of a smug bastard, but I like him." "I'm not gonna say nothin'." Nick explains. "Pharaoh." Dulcinea says, studying the drawing. "God-King, a God walking on the Earth, destined to rejoin his divine family once he is finished with his temporal duties with his children, his people." She nods her head in recognition. "Yes, yes I can see why you'd like him. And I admit, his people look more handsome without cat heads and tails." "I didn't know you drew, too." Dulcinea says. "Do you also do trump?" Seeing as they only just met, Aura is confident there is quite a lot about herself Dulcinea doesn't know. "No," Aura says in response to her question. "I have been focusing on other things and I did not need them in Atlantis. We have another method of long distance communication and travel that I'm told is actually a lot like Trump. I still have to test and see if it works here. I think it would be more secure than a Trump; from what I understand of Trump." Dulcinea cocks her head. "But I would like to learn," Aura continues as she flips through her sketches - some colored, some not. "It is certainly a pleasing art form to look upon." "It is." Dulcinea says. "I don't have a lot of talent for it, I've tried to learn, even with a good teacher." She beams. "I have a decent talent for magic, but I probably can't ever manage more than a trump sketch, if that." "And that's more than most people," Aura nods. "Good on you." "I think it takes a dedication and a talent that is relatively rare." she adds. She glances at the sketches animatedly as Aura flips through them. "I recognize some of these places from the tour-thing you just showed me. And do they really let bulls charge at them?" she asks at one of Aura's sketch of a bull dance. "Oh, yes," Aura assures her over the sketches of the most recent Bull Dances. "The Dances are a rite of passage older than Atlantis' written history. I even participated myself. It's the training for them that is nerve wracking. By the time of the Dances themselves it's become pretty routine - the doing handstands on, grabbing horns and flipping over great , short-tempered beasts. Although the ones used for training are not the same as the ones used for the Rites. If there was no element of danger, there would be no true bravery." "There is no heroism without danger" Dulcinea says, in clear quotation. "Heroes can get gored, though." Nick says. "Instead of bored." "I don't know of anything like this in Maeonis history. If Maeonis does have any influence from Atlantis, this didn't make it. I imagine that if the shadow is that old, there would be reflections of it, darker, lighter, different." "Have you gone wandering much in shadow, besides around Atlantis?" Dulcinea adds. "Some," Aura nods. "When I was learning about shadow from Lorius. He showed me several reflections of Atlantis. Some were interesting, some were abandoned, the great civilization in ruins and the people fled to elsewhere or dead. A few were in domes cities underwater and one or two were populated entirely by merpeople who never walked on land. Once I started to manipulate the stuff of shadow, after being told I could find anything I could imagine, I wandered in to some *very* odd places." "That's what I have been told." Dulcinea says. "You can go anywhere, imagine anything, and find whatever you desire." "Maybe, after all of these recent troubles simmer down, I'll have the chance to find out for myself too." she says wistfully. "It still seems to me though, that with all of the Family coming back to Amber again and again, and you with your Atlantis, that its the real places that matter, in the end." "I suppose," Aura admits. "But any place that's important to you has its own reality. I hear much talk of Shadow Earth; which is not Real, but it's important to several in the family. After a time of one of us being there, it becomes a little more Real than, say, the Earth-like Shadow four places to the right." "I suppose it does." Dulcinea says. "It seems that even Random references it in his speech. I guess I will have it "You should, doll." Nick says. "Plenty of the shadows Lorius has visited derive from it" "But that doesn't mean its as Real as other places." Dulcinea protests. "But I guess this is something I am going to learn for myself "Speaking of real, although you haven't been to this Earth, have you been to Chaos, Aura?" Dulcinea asks. "That is someplace I would like to see...in the company of knowledgeable people." "No," Aura replies with a disdainful sniff. "Although they keep trying to take me there without my permission. They're about to find out I am not as nice as I look." "Wait." Dulcinea "What is this?" "Chaos Kidnappers and miscreants, doll." Nick pipes up. "They grabbed me and tried to use me as bait to nab Aura. Invaded Atlantis with demons the two of us teamed up with Lorius to get rid of." Dulcinea looks at Aura with disbelief slowly melting like Etruscan mountain snow on a midsummer's day. Aura nods. "True. Some minor Chaos House of insignificance having a tantrum over something Mother did during the war that *they* started. They even tried to get at me here in Amber." Her lips curl into a little evil smirk of satisfaction. "We gave them to Fiona. Those two won't be trying that - or anything else - again." "No" Dulcinea says, her tone sobering. "I suppose giving them to Aunt Fiona would end their careers in kidnapping and mayhem, decisively." She doesn't have anything to say for a few moments. Dulcinea finally breaks the silence. "I'm sorry, I had no idea you had a House of Chaos seemingly engaged in vendetta with you and your mother. I had not heard they had caused trouble here in Amber. I assume you've told my father?" "He knows. Fiona was also going to give him a report on her findings." Aura tosses her sketchpad into an empty chair before refilling their glasses. "Thank you" Dulcinea says gratefully, watching the bloom of color in the wine before taking a sip. Nick looks from Dulcinea's glass to Aura's glass. His eyes widen hopefully, but he doesn't make an overt request. "If they had stopped after their first visit to Atlantis I still would have been very miffed. But they just keep at it. That they have lost minions every time doesn't seem to put them off at all. I'm tired of being nice about it. Especially when this insignificant house with delusions of adequacy have the gall to be in Amber under the guise of diplomatic visits while trying to harm me and mine. The next one I'm trapping in a snow globe and giving to ... whoever strikes me as brilliantly perverse enough to enjoy a hostage under glass." "Besides Aunt Fiona or cousin Lorius, I have no idea who that might be." Dulcinea says. "Although it is reputed that your mother is fearsome enough. Perhaps she might appreciate the gift, especially if the target of their ire is you and her." Dulcinea says. "You have a half-brother, Percival. Has this minor Chaos House gone after him, too?" Dulcinea asks. "I haven't seen him in a few days." "I don't know," Aura admitted. "Mother tried calling him when I informed her of it, but he was apparently out of range. I made her stop before she hurt herself. She was going to try to later, but I haven't had a chance to speak with her since." "I was trying to think like one of us." Dulcinea says. "Amberites think in families because I am told we came from there, and they think in terms of Houses and families. If these Chaosians were mad at your mother and seek to injure her through you, he would be the other obvious target. More so." Dulcinea says "You've been quiet and mostly around Atlantis. Percy's been in and around Amber and well known." "Bad Juju" Nick says. "But Percy would knock any uppity Chaosian into next Tuesday with that mace of his." "Well, something to think about." Dulcinea says. "If you do want to try calling him again at some point, I'll ask Hadrian for help. A trump artist should have the range your mother or you or I lack. He'd do it for me, or for a family member in possible trouble, I'm sure." "He doesn't know me from Celestra," Aura chuckled. "That would be a surprise call. But I will mention it to my mother in case she hasn't managed to raise him yet." Dulcinea nods. "I would handle any introductions, if needed. He has a familiar, too, of a sort." she says looking at Nick. "An intelligent miniature Wyvern." "One that has not learned anything from Lorius as yet." Dulcinea adds. "Oh, dear," Aura smiles wryly. "Though I'm sure Nick would be happy to try his hand at passing on Lorius' skewed wisdom." "You bet, doll." Nick says. "Oh, almost forgot." Aura sits forward and pulls her pad back to her while summoning a stylus. She began writing her note to Random and Vialle explaining their basket of Atlantean tidbits. "Percy is probably more used to having to defend himself than I am," Aura says while writing. "He likely *would* knock someone into next Tuesday if they came after him. I can *blast* them into next Tuesday, but spells take a beat longer to get off than a smash upside the head, I think." "So, you, we are going to bring your gifts to Vialle and Random now?" Dulcinea says. "Soon," Aura agrees while writing how exactly to use Atlantis' most sought after export to its maximum benefit. "Lorius and I are supposed to go back to Atlantis after he takes Ederyn to walk the Pattern, but I have no idea when they're going to be done with that. So I'll be at loose ends until time to go." Dulcinea nods. "The walk itself will take some time, even if they were doing it right now." Aura glances up at her guest. "If it isn't too much of a bother, perhaps you can show me around the important locations in the castle? I know where the kitchen is, the Throne Room, the dungeons, Random's office, Mother's rooms and the Pattern chamber. But that is the extent of it." "That IS most of a basic start." Dulcinea agrees. "But there is plenty more you should see and know where it is. A tour, Aura, a tour we can certainly do. Work our way up the floors of the Castle." She glances at Nick and then back at Aura. "Perhaps find who else you need to be introduced to in the process. Two Princesses taking a tour of the Castle does attract interest." "Smashing!" Aura proclaims cheerfully. She signs her note with a flourish. With an unvoiced spell it rolls itself up and floats over to drop into the basket. "Shall we be off?" inquires the half dressed woman. "Perhaps he'll have more time to go through it all if we get there before the next crisis. Assuming there hasn't been one while we were drinking." "It'll be telling." Dulcinea explains, letting Aura lead her out of her chambers and into the corridors of the castle. "if we find my father in his office, or somewhere else. If he's still in his chambers, odds are good there may be a new crisis brewing." "Mother" Dulcinea says primly "never said that Amber was a continual parade of crisis and trouble. But it seems that it has turned out not to be dull." "I thought Lorius exaggerated," replies Aura, the basket floating along beside her. She keeps her hand on it just in case they pass through another of Fi's cancelling wards. "If anything he under-reported." Aura's floating basket, or perhaps, as Dulcinea predicted, two princesses strolling through the Castle gets the pair lots of looks from servants and guards. Aura recognizes the route Dulcinea is leading them as being down toward the throne room and Random's office. "Speaking of curiosities." Dulcinea says "What's this new brother of Noys like? I understand you, Noys and Lorius have monopolized a fair chunk of his time since he's gotten here." "He's interesting," Aura says after a moment's thought. "He uses magic that is different from what I'm used to, though it has a slightly familiar undertone to it. He seems to be very sharp too." She flashes Dulcinea a mischievous smile. "He has problems looking at me when I am dressed like this though. I think the poor man is from one of those repressed cultures. And when I was threatening to turn the mage I captured in Arden into sentient statuary to get her to talk, I don't think he approved. Of course I was getting a bit creative in my threats, but still. I wasn't going to serve an enemy combatant tea and cakes." Nick laughs in agreement. "I should think not!" Dulcinea replies. "There are customs in honorable combat to a defeated foe, of course, one must respect the arete that they brought to the field of battle." She shakes her head. "However, Aura, I do not think that the Omphalos qualify as honorable opponents. They strike me as brutish ß??ßa???, barbarians in the Thari tongue. They are incapable of honor." "As far as Ederyn's prudishness, perhaps he is from a cold climate." Dulcinea says. "But it would be amusing diversion when I meet him to tell that my patron Goddess is ?f??d?t? Urania, with all that implies." "You have three brothers with the same name?" Aura asks curiously. Dulcinea blinks. "No. Just a younger one. Perhaps the Goddess' title doesn't translate well to Thari." Aura frowns slightly. "No, I think it is more that the Urania I am familiar with is different from yours and has nothing to do with Aphrodite. No matter." "But, we are here." Dulcinea adds, the course having brought them to Random's office. "His Majesty is still within, Princess." the guards, a new set from Aura's last visit. "Princesses." he adds after a moment's hesitation. Aura smiles brightly. "Merci. Is he in meetings still,. or does he have a moment?" "Unless he is speaking by trump, he is alone." The guard replies. He knocks the door, once. "Who wants to see me, Vargas?" comes Random's voice. "Your daughter, sire, and Princess Aura." A moment's pause. "Let them pass." The guard opens the door and in short order Aura, Nick and Dulcinea are back in the office. "Remind me never to play poker with my elder brother." Random says by way of introduction. He waves his hand toward chairs. "Should I be worried that the two of you have met, apparently have hit it off, and have come to see me together?" Random adds after a moment. "Oh, tosh," Aura says flippantly. "I have not begun to corrupt her. There wasn't time." Flashing a grin she continues: "But I shall have to have something to fill my time while waiting on Lorius." Gripping the handle of her basket, Aura cancels the spell and sets the gifts on his desk. "Your tidbits of Atlantis, as promised. With instructions." "Thank you" Random looks over the spread of items, letting his eyes rake over them for a few moments before returning his attention, fully, to Aura and Dulcinea. Sitting in the offered chair, she adjusts her pearls to lay correctly. "Which brother should you not play poker with? Not that I would play poker with any of you, mind you." "Benedict." Random says easily. "You'd not think he'd have any skill at the social aspects of the game, but he seems to enjoy playing members of the family like a harp. I never knew dear brother had it in him. And now that I do, I'd rely on games of chance more than skill if necessarily. Eric and Corwin I could and can beat like a drum. Benedict's crafty." "And to think your mother only sent *you*." Random says to Dulcinea. "Am I not gift enough, Father?" Dulcinea flashes a smile. "Fair enough." Random says. Random then returns to looking at the bottle of firewine, glasses, and the other gifts. "Wine, magical jewelry. exotic produce. If you're looking to make an impression on the monarch of Amber" Random says. "You're doing a good job, Aura." She grins in response. "That is good to hear. That is just some things I brought with me. I may have time to pick up a few more things when Lorius and I go back whenever he finishes what he's up to at the moment. I was thinking of bringing you back a matched pair of Atlantean horses. Working with your colors will make it a challenge." "No worries on that score" Random says. "I'm not that much of a horseman, to be honest. Flying contraptions and fast cars are more my speed than horses. You'd be better off buttering up your uncle Julian with horses." Nick snickers. "Daedalus' Wings?" Dulcinea inquires. "Better than that" Random says. "Hanggliders." "We've got those!" exclaims Aura cheerfully. "They look like the wings of great, colorful birds. Lorius informs me they're almost too beautiful to use, but we're nothing if not an artistic people. Anyone with a properly advanced Air imprint can fly without them, of course, but they're a small number. I'm sure I can find a suitable set for you." "The gift of a beautiful hangglider might make you friends with the Emperor of Chaos as well." Random says dryly. "Perhaps a bribe to have him deal with this rogue minor House." "As for the equines, I was thinking more of carriage horses," Aura continues. "Which was the reason for a matched pair for you. Having heard about Morgenstern, I cannot imagine Julian would be at all impressed with Atlantis' horses; pretty as they are. Though I could be wrong. There are a couple already in the stables." "You don't quite know Julian, then." Random says, picking up the bottle of wine and inspecting the label. "Yes, he has Morgenstern, which is suitable for him and him alone. He is an accomplished and enthusiastic breeder of horses, more so than even Benedict. The opportunity to add new lines and traits to his herd would be extremely appealing to him." "Would he try to breed them to Morgenstern?" Dulcinea asks. "Depends on if Aura brings stallions or mares." Random laughs. She shrugs and gestures expansively. “I have plenty of both. I think I even have one of each here already. I don’t recall which one Lorius rode back. I shall have to check; I should look in on them anyway to see how they’re settling in. In our little corner of the multi-verse, Atlantian equines are much coveted battle horses. Despite their comparatively dainty and colorful appearance, they’re fierce and wicked smart. Mine don’t generally see too much battle, obviously. But they keep in practice with the trainers. If Julian is interested, I’d be willing to take him to the Santori Plains and let him pick out what he wants.” "War horses." Random says. "That suggests a previously expansionistic or militaristic cycle for Atlantis." He scratches his chin with his free hand. . "Julian will like want to go, after this latest business with our friends has settled down, of course."" "Of course Atlantis had a need for war horses," explains Aura. "It was a long time ago, but there is a reason beyond their Power they are the dominant culture in their region. It hasn't always been sunshine and orchids." She grins. "Hedonism doesn't come cheap." "So you've earned it." Random nods. “I shall make a note to look for two hang-gliders for the Rulers of Reality,” she adds with a wide smile. “It will be fun.” "Now you are just trying to swell my head." Random says. "It will work, of course. Merlin is a bit of a different sort of fish. I thought I was going to be the most reluctant of the two Rulers of Reality. That has turned out not to be the case." "He doesn't like to be Emperor of Chaos." Dulcinea asks. "It's good to be the King." Nick counters. "Merlin is Emperor because the alternatives are worse." Random says. "Many days, I know how he feels." Aura wrinkles her nose. "It is a job I would never want. Though I am told that the best leaders are the ones who don't seek out the position. Clearly there was something about you that the Unicorn saw beyond even your perception. I have to say; so far I'm all right with Her decision. I cannot imagine sitting here having this conversation with Oberon, from what I've heard from Lorius." "Neither of you would." Random confirms. "His tastes for decorum, in public, are much more conservative. Me, I was corrupt before I had power. Hell, he'd probably just take a look at the two of you and say that you were joining the diplomatic corps and have done. Maybe even send you to a shadow like glacial DuMarque just to prove the point. You can see where Benedict gets some of that with his little summons." Aura shudders at the very idea. "You'd have to ask Shannon if there are any records about whether or not Oberon wanted to be King." Random says. "He was King before even Benedict was born. Thousands of years. Kind of hard to wrap your mind around. Don't know how much he changed over all that time. And I'd rather not become him." "I can't see Oberon hang gliding," Aura points out. "So don't forget how to have fun and cut loose and you'll be fine." She grins. "And I personally promise to do my best to put a little fun in your life once in awhile." "I'll hold you to it." Random says. He then he looks at Dulcinea and grins. "Don't worry, I'll give it a good couple of centuries before I abdicate and leave it to you or your half-brother. Not that I think either of you want it either." Dulcinea opens her mouth but no words come out. "Oh, wonderful!" exclaims Aura cheerfully. "Plenty of time to see her properly corrupted and for you all to make that most excellent line 'I was corrupt before I had power' into your family motto. Perhaps a t-shirt." "You wouldn't!" Dulcinea says. Her shock seems an affect at best. "She would, baby" Nick says. "I'll help." Random shakes his head. "Dad definitely didn't have to deal with this sort of thing." Random says. He gets a faraway look. "Aint no rest for the wicked." Random says. "Yes?" Random's casual look goes away, quickly. "Father?" Dulcinea asks. Random pays no attention to anything except the trump call for a minute. "Oh, wonderful." Random says aloud. "Just what we need. You're the man on the spot, Gerard. You know what to do. Get out there and see who it is. Keep me informed." The faraway look vanishes. Random exhales. "It appears that Amber has uninvited visitors." Random says, looking at Aura and Dulcinea. "Again?" a surprised Aura asks. "Is Amber surrounded by hooligans with no sense of propriety?" She flexes her fingers. "Are they going to be trouble, do you think?" "A fleet of ships, armed with arcane weapons." Random says. "So, yes, I think they definitely are trouble. Gerard is going to go meet them with Dagny and the emissary from Rebma. Hostile fleets running around these waters are not precisely something Moire likes much either." "I expect in due time he will call again, and we'll see what has to be done. I do wish that if Caine is pretending to be dead, he'd turn up. Amber is short an Admiral and I don't think Gerard's boy feels ready to take up that mantle." "And with that, I suppose if there is nothing else, I'll play with my presents later." He gestures to the items on the desk. "And I thank you for the bribes, Aura." He gives a grin. "You mean Presents, Majesty." Nick says. "I know what I meant." Random grins in response. Aura laughs. "As long as you and your lady wife enjoy them, I don't care what you call them. But you will find I am happy to hand around gifts of Atlantis' bounty. I am rather proud of the place of my birth. And protective." "I can understand those motivations." Random agrees. "I suppose we should leave you to your crisis of the hour. Dulcinea is giving me the Grand Tour and you were our first stop. I will assume you will call us if we are needed to teach our new visitors some manners?" "Your work in Arden has not gone unnoticed by the Crown." Random says. "And my daughter's work in the matter of Jayson was not unnoticed, either. I will keep the both of you in mind." "Until later, Father" Dulcinea curtsies. Random just waggles a hand in farewell. "Come." she says to Aura. "Let's continue." Backlinks |
