The Darkest Hour | TheDarkestHour / SiftingThroughTheAshes browse

[continued from Storm Watchers]

Although the lab had been a war-zone the previous evening, by the time Cynwyd, Joao, and Temnal reached the sequestered room it had undergone a pleasant transformation. Everything had been straightened and set right - books, equipment, and furniture. Anything that had been damaged beyond repair had been removed or stacked by the fireplace to be burned. On the blackboard, a long list of equipment now lacking had been written out in a flowery print - several of which were imperative for the continued operation of the lab itself.

A tea pot had been set to boil.

"Thank you, Pamela," Joao said aloud. "It is true, we need to repair the lab. Mother would Not Approve if my grades suffered. And this is your..." Joao searched for the right word. Rebman words referring to reef dwellings just didn't seem to work. "This is your abode." he finally said.

Temnal arrived carrying a couple of books to be returned to Gillian. He laid them down on one of the lab tables and extracted a sheaf of notes from inside the cover of the top volume.

A few moments after they arrived, Seabhac knocked on the door - an exhausted Gillian in tow. After some lengthy discussion, he’d reluctantly agreed that the lab - with its wards and added protection – was a wiser choice for sanctuary during the Dark Hour. Fortunately, he’d also agreed to leave Yo-Yo at home.

"I do have important questions, Miss Talbot, and I and another need your help," Joao said, bowing upon greeting Seabhac and Gillian. "However, given your state, perhaps they can wait, da?"

"Gillian, Joao. Call me Gillian. I hate being called Miss Talbot."

She sat down on the nearest bench.

"I'm sorry," Gillian continued, "but I'm too tired to be tactful." She forced a smile. "Of course I want to help anyway I can. What are your questions?"

"My apologies," Joao replied. "Years of habit and ingrained culture are difficult to break. Any way," he continued, "I, and another need your help. You see, I discovered my father only partially completed the bonding process to a familiar while he attended the University. That familiar, stuck on the university grounds as a result, and myself, need your help in freeing him from that incomplete bonding, and instead, bind us together."

Joao paused a moment before continuing.

"He's a dragon."

Temnal straightened up from perusing his notes and frankly stared at Joao.

Gillian blinked. And then the questions came pouring out. "A dragon? I don't know of any dragon on university grounds. Where is he? Incomplete bond? Do you know for a fact your father is dead? That could be important. And he wants to join with you instead? Interesting. I wonder how the blood ties will affect things, if they will at all? If anything, I suspect it will make the process easier. Can I meet this dragon?"

Though Cynwyd had been innocuously leaning against the wall affecting a bored air, at Joao's words, he looked towards the Rebman, his attention almost razorlike it its intensity as he awaited the answers to Gillian's questions.

"The Dragon claims that my father is alive," Joao said, his tongue feeling thick. the attention of everyone in the room, from Temnal through Cynwyd to Seabhac to Gillian made his head swim. He needed some tea and moved slowly toward the teapot that Pamela had provided. "Or else he would not be caught in a net of broken sorcery, or so he said. He told me that the Three Cords had been forged but the enchantment was incomplete. He's stuck in the mountain on Wind's Corridor."

"The Dragon's name is Etrosk the Fanged, Last of the Nine," Joao continued, the words coming like a formula. "And he does want me to bring you to him, to see about the problem of the Bond, Gillian. And Bear Claws. He wants me to bring Bear Claws." Joao paused a beat and then added.

"What are Bear Claws?"

Temnal laughed a little shakily. "That at least I can tell you. They're a kind of pastry." He'd found this out during his explorations of the city. "I even know a bakery that makes good ones."

"Spaesba, Temnal "Joao replied. "I will need to go there to get some to sate his desire. You could show me where the bakery is, da?" he asked hopefully.

"Yes, of course," Temnal answered almost automatically.

Joao gave Temnal a nod and smile of thanks.

"That's a lot of bear claws," Gillian smiled at Joao. "Um...let me do a little research, maybe a couple of hours, and then we can go see him tomorrow?"

Seabhac coughed politely, fighting the urge to scream now that the 'R'-word had been used in Gillian's presence. “Uh, Gilly. No offense, but climbing to Wind’s Corridor is challenging at the best of times. In your weakened state, it could do you serious harm. And to meet a dragon?”

Gillian sighed.

Seabhac sighed as well, touching her shoulder, “We’ll figure something out, dearheart.”

He straightened his glasses, “Joao, are you quite sure he called himself ‘Etrosk?’ That was one of the Deepwalkers. They also called him ‘Fáfnir’ in some Chaosian legends. Not a pleasant creature from what I’ve read. Died in battle with Uncle Julian."

"That is the name he gave me," Joao said as he turned his head back toward Seabhac and Gillian. "Unless the Dragon lied to me, of course."

Joao looked away and then decided decisively to start making cups of tea. As he finished the first, he turned back to Gillian. "Wind's Corridor is a frightening place for a Deep Child, as he called me. He was surprised that I dared to try the climb."

"I was very apprehensive even before I knew there was a dragon there, but if my father could do the climb, I felt so could I," Joao added.

"If only there was another way for me to get there, an easier way," Gillian mused. "Something as simple as stepping through a card."

She paused and smiled at Seabhac winningly.

Joao resumed busying with the teapot and cups while waiting for Seabhac's answer.

Seabhac sighed, “You really are a pain, you know that?” He leaned down and kissed her softly, running his fingers through her hair. “But I can’t seem to resist that smile. Fine. I’ll Trump you there and back again tomorrow. Just promise me you won’t set the fool-thing loose on the city, okay?”

She rolled her eyes, then smiled at him and mouthed, "Thank you."

Outside the door, the clatter of small, running footsteps could be heard approaching, just before a hurried knock. The door opened just enough for Raina to poke her head in. "I'm sorry!" she gasped, "I'm not late again, am I?"

Temnal glanced over at Raina and gave her a slight smile of welcome. "If the Hour hasn't started yet, you're not late," he stated.

Seabhac turned and bowed his head, “Welcome Raina. You’re just in time, I believe. And Joao is just making tea.”

Gilliam smiled. "I'm glad you made it," she said to Raina. Then she turned to look at Joao. "And I'm glad there's tea."

"Raina!" Joao looked up from pouring tea cups, delight in his voice.

Without prompting, Joao had tea cups poured for everyone. He quickly poured one for Raina and started to distribute them.

Cynwyd's attention had been split; he'd not truly been here during the conversation as a whole- Joao's revelation being the only point that he'd really paid attention to. As the conversation continued, he migrated to the window, looking out into the deepening night.

"Has anyone seen Malachi? Or Cole?" he asked abruptly, looking back towards the others from the window.

Temnal shook his head. "Not since I got back from visiting Gillian," he stated.

"I saw Cole early this morning." Joao said. "Oh, I have to show you what he helped me make."

Seabhac also shook his head, “No. After visiting with the faculty, I spent most of my day in Chaos."

"Great," Cynwyd said. And his tone implied that it was anything but. "I know that Malachi was talking about being suicidally stupid tonight- and that's just Cole's form of entertainment, especially since he Joined."

"And I guess mine is following after him," he continued, shaking his head ruefully. "Either that, or its my fear of what I'd tell Kel tomorrow that's making me leave the relative safety of the lab for the night. But I get a bad feeling about their absence, and where they might be."

"Take care," Gillian called after him, watching his retreating back.

"Good luck, Cynwyd," Joao called.

"I'll try to get them back here before the Hour," he said, even as he headed toward the door.

After Cynwyd left, Gillian reached out for Seabhac's hand and took it in her own. "Midnight approaches," she whispered.

Seabhac kissed her hand, “Indeed. I can feel it now. How you put up with this every night, I’ll never know.” She felt his body shiver.

"Cole got a hold of some strange metal called Red Steel," Joao said. "With the help of a smith,Tyra, Delwin and I made some weapons for him," Joao explained. "There was enough left over that I was able to make this for myself."

Joao carefully pulled out a dagger that had a bead of something glistening at its tip.

"This is Veneni. She's jealous and she is dangerous," he said. "I don't know how I made it so, but she appears to be permanently envenomed, thus her name."

Seabhac whistled, “Impressive. That’s a Conjuration, isn’t it? I can sense its Realness. Where’d Cole come up with Red Steel? That stuff is a pretty penny.”

"The smith I worked with asked the same question," Joao said to Seabhac, sheathing the knife and taking a sip from one of the cups of tea he had prepared. "Cole was rather cagey about where and how he had gotten the material."

Joao then gestured toward the other tea cups prepared, in invitation.

Raina smiled and nodded at his invitation for tea.

A cold yawning breath passed through the room. the world trembled in silent anticipation as the clock crept ever closer to midnight.

Raina edged in closer to the group. Even after so long, there was no getting used to the Dark Hour. "Is everything warded?" she asked warily.

"I was holding off until everyone got here who was coming," said Temnal, "but I'd probably better set the wards now." He began to weave the necessary spells.

The room, already prepared and attuned to his will, accepted his arcane protections with little resistance. His Voice praised his efforts. <In time, you can shift the paradigms of this room until it becomes a Regio - a self-contained world outside of Amber’s restrictive nature. Not only would it allow your little band more privacy, but increased protection. I can teach you this. When you are ready.>

"It appears that without Cole or Cynwyd tonight, My bladedancing skills will be the more useful ones tonight, Delwin" Joao said, aloud for the benefit of all.

"I am going to be on point, if something does manage to get through Gospodin Temnal's wards," Joao announced. He drained the cup of tea and set about getting his trident set nearby as a backup weapon. He then stroked the sharkskin scabbard where the deadly dagger rested, waiting.

"Get through the wards?" Gillian repeated with a bit of alarm as she turned her teacup around in her hands. "Is stuff like this starting to happen on a regular basis?"

"We had to open the wards last night when Cole and Cynwyd arrived with a monster on their heels," Temnal explained. He grimaced. "I don't know whether or not to hope that doesn't happen tonight. Better than than their getting themselves killed..."

“They do have an uncanny knack for near death,” Seabhac sighed. “If it’s out there, they’ll undoubtedly find it.”

"Well, I suppose that's one way to pick off all the Greater Shadows one by one," Temnal noted wryly. "I don't really think they're baiting those things on purpose, but..."

He gave Gillian another kiss before joining Temnal in the preparation of wards. He paused only once to rummage through the shelves of spell components; eventually emerging with some crushed red coral. “Here, Temnal, this will strengthen yours wards. And don’t draw that second ring. Circular wards are tricky. In any area that has been warded at least once, the second ring actually dispels the first, regardless of its strength. A little thing they leave out of the textbooks.

“If we can survive until the next solstice, we can perform Aegis of the Hearth in here, I think. That should cut down on all this work.”

"A ritual?" Joao asked aloud.

Temnal nodded, both in acknowledgement of Seabhac's advice and in answer to Joao's question. Right at this moment he didn't want to distract himself any further than that.

"I hope they've found someplace safe," Raina fretted. She fumbled at a pendant at her neck as she looked around the room for some sort of weapon. <Do you see anything we can use, Sand?> she silently asked her other.

Raina felt herself guided toward the box-seat near the window. When she opened it, she discovered her golden armor and spear - their metallic surface glowing brightly. <Remember this, daughter. You are a Princess of Amber now. Space, Time, and Possibility are your play-things. If you believe a thing should be, it shall be.>

"Were you going to seek to unite with your voice, Temnal?" Joao asked, glancing back at Temnal and the mirror he had reformed.

Gillian looked at Temnal over her shoulder, curious as to his answer.

Temnal finished sealing the wards before answering.

Then he said, "It has to be done sometime. And since both your Other and Raina's said they could help ... perhaps this is our best chance." He looked at Raina. "We were talking this afternoon about the possibility of making contact through your pendant -- rather than using the mirror."

"Yes. We were," Raina replied somewhat distractedly as she rummaged in the window seat. Metal clanked as she gleefully pulled out a shiny golden suit of armor and a spear that seemed rather too large for the place she pulled it from.

Joao's eyes widened slightly in surprise.

"It worked!" she exclaimed as she began donning the armor. "All of you who have Joined - you can find whatever you need! Your Others have powers over Shadow. They can show you how to find something to defend yourselves if you haven't brought something with you!"

"And Temnal, yes. I think we should try to hold him through a Trump while you attempt the Joining. It might distract him enough for you to be successful. But remember - you have to BELIEVE you can do it. You HAVE to be the Strong One, not the Shadow, even if you have to pretend. Remember that, whatever you do," she encouraged.

"Miss Baronson is correct, Temnal." Joao chorused in. "The Shadow will try to overwhelm you otherwise."

"I shall remember," Temnal replied somberly. "I have been meditating on this very thing, and I believe I am ready."

Seabhac beamed at Raina, “That’s a brilliant idea. Finally, something I can do to help out in this crazed nightmare.” He sat down across from Gillian and grabbed some parchment and a quill from the lab equipment. He busied himself with do a sketch of Brand - the feather tip slashing the air like a hummingbird’s wing. His tongue boyishly poked out from the side of his mouth as he drew the Trump, his concentration intense.

By the time he’d completed his project, the group felt the Dark Hour descend upon the city; the corruptive wave of entropy washing over them. The fireplace flickered and sparked, turning sickly green. Shadows - some ethereal, others more substantial - pressed against the glass windows, obscuring the unholy moonlight.

The wards flared as the walls became tumorous, their blue light casting a soothing hue throughout the room. Indeed, after many nights in the lab, the group recognized a subtle ‘change’ to the room’s appearance. It was as if Dark Hour’s corruptive influence had lessened, its hold not as absolute as it had been the night before.

"Interesting," Gillian murmured. "I wonder if that's a function of our presence, or of the wards, or both."

“Done,” Seabhac chimed.

"It's certainly welcome, no matter the cause." Joao said.

Temnal peeped over Seabhac's shoulder at the drawing. "How do you know what he looks like?" he asked uneasily.

Seabhac shrugged, “I used to sneak into his bedroom in the castle. He has an amazing collection of books. And there were pictures of him. He was a tad. . . vain, in that regard. I’ve also seen his Trump in my father’s deck. I promise, this should suffice for what we intend.”

"Why does your father keep Brand's trump in his deck if he is dead?" Joao asked. "As some sort of memento mori?"

“Trumps are invulnerable and ageless, so you can’t destroy them,” Seabhac said. “I guess, like you said, the Elders keep them around as memento mori. I’m sure there are trumps of Oberon around somewhere. Although, I’ve never seen one.”

Gillian peered at the drawing as well. <Cybelle, can I learn to create trumps myself, or does an artist need to be of the Blood?>

Cybelle laughed so loud, it sounded like a gun-shot. <Kitten. I created the Trumps. Not these pale reflections your lover now draws. Not even the ones my siblings utilize. But the True Trumps. So, yes. I can help you draw your own. Indeed, that is how we created Seabhac’s sketch. However, I believe we will require this sacred time to create the permanent Trumps. Otherwise, the strain will be too great on you.>

Gillian straightened and stepped away from Temnal and Seabhac talking. She distractedly sat down on a bench and hugged her knees to her chest. <The realization just hit me as to what we could accomplish here, in the Dark Hour, when you're strongest. I mean just really started to sink in. I knew that you were powerful, and that you could work through me, but...but...Cybelle, the things we could do. The power...>

She swallowed and hugged her knees tighter.

Cybele chuckled like bubbling tar. <Finally, you begin to grasp your potential, girl. Now let us see if you possess the resolve to use it.>

<For the sake of stopping the forces of the Dark Hour, I will resolve to do anything> Gillian declared. This was a safe thing to say, giving her the latitude to rationalize delving into deeper, seductive mysteries. <It will be for the greater good.>

Meanwhile Temnal frowned slightly at the sketch, then turned to Raina. "I thought we'd discussed using your pendant, though ... so that the other ... presences ... would be right there, so to speak."

Joao idly glanced at Gillian, Temnal and Raina, and then glanced over at the Skorpion he built.

<<Now that I know what you can do, and we can do,>>Joao patted the sheath, <>

"One thing we might do," Joao now spoke aloud even though he was addressing Delwin, "is create some of the things we need to replenish the lab. What do we need to fill out Pamela's list, Delwin?"

Raina looked up, listening for an answer to Joao's question.

Delwin grumped loudly, as if he’d be caught diddling a relative. <Bloody hell, kid! What do you think I am? A KwikyMart? Reagents-R-Us? Ever think of just stealing the crap you need from another lab? I mean, tearing a hole in Creation to spruce up the place does seem a tad extreme, don’t you think? I mean sure, we could tweak this place up a bit. Hell, we could even make the room a Construct, if you want. But that’s serious magick.>

Raina, and anyone looking at him saw Joao flinch, visibly, as if he had been slapped in the face.

<Too right> he said, mentally, with a tone of self-reproach. <Consider what I said withdrawn. I suspect the others have ideas on changing the room that may supersede others.>

Joao looked glumly at the board of missing ingredients and then looked at Raina, Gillian and Temnal. "I have a lot to learn" he said finally, aloud.

Raina smiled at him sympathetically and silently nodded.

"I think we all do," Temnal responded, then added with a sigh, "and not a lot of time to do it in. Raina, Gillian ... I don't think there's any point in waiting longer, do you?"

"No," Gillian replied immediately, lowering her knees and sitting up. "If tonight follows the pattern of the last several nights, the others will appear in a little while with Hell itself on their heels."

At this, Joao arranged himself between the door and the others, his eyes focused on Raina as he squared his shoulders.

"Right then," Raina said, squaring her shoulders and freeing the locket from the collar of her blouse. With the chain still around her neck, she held the charm before her gingerly. With a look of intense concentration, she said to it, softly but with determination, "Find me Brand."

"Please," she added hastily, not wanting to be impolite.

Seabhac watched curiously, his eyes drifting from face to face, remaining silent. As the others watched, the gemstone on Raina’s neck began to emit a soft, silvered light.

Raina could ‘feel’ her mind flipping through an impressive stack of Trumps, faces flashing by in dizzying succession. It took her a moment to find the image she sought - the young, scarecrow of a boy barely recognizable as Brand. It was then she realized Sand must have died not longer after her sibling was born. Even so, she sensed the power the card possessed.

Temnal felt the icy tickle of a trump contact in his head. Brand began to stir like a ball of snakes, sensing the mental intrusion and resisting it. <You don’t want that woman in your head, my friend. You have no idea what she’s capable of.>

Temnal acknowledged, <but I trust Raina and their partnership. That is what I offer you, Prince: partnership.> He fixed his eyes on Seabhac's sketch.

<We have both stared into the Abyss. We have both passed through Death. Now, joined, we have an opportunity to turn from that darkness to battle a corruption that threatens all that is.

<You and I are the alchemical balance. I am nigredo and albedo; you are rubedo and viridis. Neither must subsume the other if we are to perform the transmutation and achieve perfection.

Joao quietly watched with an air of unmistakable vigilance.

For a moment, nothing. Raina could hear the words Temnal voiced, answered only by silence. Brand having apparently retreated after his brief comment.

And then he - it - returned from the darkness; a raging storm of malice and petty jealousies. And Power. Even Sand shirked at the psychic barrage that assailed her through the mental link.

A black flame erupted from Temnal’s skin, bathing him from head to foot in corpse-light. It possessed no heat - at least, not that the others could sense. But for Temnal, he could feel himself beginning to melt like a candle, his ‘self’ burning off into vapor.

His lips moved by themselves, emitting a throaty voice. “Power requires sacrifice. And you shall fuel my birth-cry. For I am the True Self.”

Joao's vigilance paid off. He could hear the furtive footsteps just outside the door, as soft as a kitten on wool. Something was listening on the other side.

The others were occupied and drawing undue attention was unwarranted, Joao thought. <<This is business for you and I to handle>> he mentally sent to Delwin.

Joao turned around quietly and stalked a few steps toward the door. He planted his feet and cocked his ear in the direction of the door, breathing shallow. Joao listened in turn, trying to learn more about their spy.

Joao sensed something very close; only to realize that Seabhac had joined without making a sound. The young man raised an eyebrow, questioning.

Then a low, childish giggle crept under the door frame. “Peek-a-boo. I see you.”

Raina winced against the barrage, but having gone through her Joining with Sand, she was not willing to back down in the slightest. She stood her ground, leaning into the mental effort like a mountaineer hiking through a blizzard. "Hold on, Temnal!" she shouted into the contact.

Temnal's anger, white and cold, rose up to battle the dark flame and recrystallize his self. <To that I say Serpent's turds, Prince Brand! If I didn't accept that 'sacrifice' poppycock from my own mother, I'm certainly not going to take it from you! Knowledge is power. Union is power. Power that feeds on destruction is nothing more than waste. I will be a disciple, I will be a friend, I will even be a servant, but I will not be a sacrifice!

Temnal could feel his limbs begin to stretch and reshape, his flesh splitting like a snake’s skin as Brand began to surface from beneath. Soon, that which was Temnal would be cast aside like a discarded shell.

Raina felt herself pushed back by this psychic maelstrom, but her Other was far older and wiser - leading her strength. Connected as she was to them, she could ‘see’ the actual magicks involved. Much to her dismay and surprise, they were necromantic in origin - weaving two spirits into one body, both animating the flesh.

She heard Sand whisper in her mind. <He draws Faith from his Lady. Provide him one, daughter, while I hold my sibling in place.>

"But I don't know who..." Raina began before cutting herself off. It didn't matter who his lady was. Play the role. A dancer is an actor, of sorts, she reminded herself. Become the role.

"I am here, Temnal," Raina intoned with force. "You are not alone. YOU are the True Self. Brand serves YOU, not the reverse.". Her voice grew more powerful as she immersed herself in the role of Temnal's mysterious Lady of Strength. "FIGHT...HIM!"

At the same time, she sent healing energy to preserve Temnal's body against the forces seeking to tear it in two. Spells of the body had always been Raina's forte and she used them now to bolster his reserves.

Temnal's golden eyes met Raina's and she could tell he wasn't fooled ... but that in a sense he didn't have to be. It wasn't important. She was there for him, and that meant she was his Lady in the only way that mattered. He reached out his hand for hers, drawing on her strength to fight the force that sought to subsume him. It was as he had told Brand moments before: true power lay in union, not dominion.

For Temnal, taking Raina’s felt like he’d touched pure magic - her skin like cool moonlight. The silvery glow filled him and her face shimmered and became untrue. He could see his Lady transposed over Raina, as if they were one being.

More importantly, the moonlight began to dampen the burning darkness, pushing Brand’s influence back. “No. It is not possible. I am the Shadow. The True… Self… “ But he no longer sounded so certain. As the wraith lost its mental grip, Temnal’s body returned to its original guise. Memories and emotions flooded his mind now. Despondency and manic energy, a man split in half. Tormented by ghosts and siblings. A woman of dangerous beauty, bodies entwined. Love. Hate. Betrayal. The Black Road cutting through Shadow like a knife. Blood staining hands and the Pattern burning.

The voice sounded almost. . . human.

"That's it," Raina soothed, though it was hard to tell if she was encouraging Temnal or his Other. Her next thoughts, however, were firmly directed at Brand. <You don't have to be weary any more. We can help you, but only if you join us. You NEED Temnal as he is. He is your strength. Subsume him and you both will die.>

<Again,> she tried not to think, but could not help herself. She squeezed Temnal's hand, continuing to send healing energy through the physical connection lest Brand think her words were an invitation to misbehave.

Temnal chimed in, his tone almost gentle. <You can rest when you need to, while I keep watch.>

<Too many betrayals. Too much pain. It is time to let go. Time to trust.> Brand whispered, his psyche flayed and raw. It took them little coaxing to soothe the Elder’s fractured mind. Temnal could almost feel the man’s weight settling beneath his skin and taking up residence. But this time, the sensation felt natural, noninvasive. As he lent his strength to Brand, he could feel Brand’s presence flood his mind with knowledge and power. As if blessed with an epiphany, he now could ‘see’ the Pattern and Trumps and all the possibilities they provided.

<We are one> Brand said. <And never shall we be apart.>

<One,> Temnal confirmed. <Whole.>

Raina smiled and released Temnal's hand.

Gillian stood, not knowing what she could do or how to help. Her attention flitted between Temnal's Joining and Seabhac and Joao by the door.

Joao considered the door for a moment. Silently, he turned slowly, first to Seabhac, and then to Gillian. He first put a finger to his lips, and then waved his had to Gillian to join him and she whom she had chosen.

A thought occurred to him. He spoke aloud. "I remember you from the pool, don't I? So, you decided to come play without your counterpart?"

Counter-wha? You talk funny. I don’t know you. Mister. And I don’t swim. Don’t know how. Is the scary one, okay? He promised he’d help me!>

Seabhac blinked, “That sounds like a young boy.” Indeed, Joao could now tell the speaker was male – maybe eight or nine years of age.

Gillian joined them. "A young boy? Joao, have you met a young boy before during This Time?"

"Nyet" Joao replied to Gillian and Seabhac, shaking his head. "I thought it was one of the two figures I met at the pool. I don't know who or what this is." He turned his head back toward the door.

"Who are you, Rybka?" he called out.

“I’m me, silly! And I’m tough. Rawr! Who are you, mister?” the boy replied. They heard him rap a little tune on the door, followed by a giggle.

"That's not creepy at all, is it?" Gillian murmured. "Temnal told us he met a young boy during the Dark Hour. Maybe that's who this is. But scary one? I don't think of Temnal as scary..." Her eyes drifted over to him, Joined with Brand. "...though now I'm not so sure."

Exhausted and spent, Raina collapsed into an ancient-looking chair in the corner. "No more than the rest of us, I suppose," she replied weakly, her eyes closed against the pounding headache she had developed.

"Da. We all could frighten the young now, if we so wished." Joao put in.

The mention of his name evidently served to rouse Temnal from the near-trance he'd been in since he and Brand joined ... though it had really been more absorption in the heightened awareness the union had brought him. Now he turned his attention toward the door--and

through* it, to the being on the other side. In the magelight his

golden eyes now had a greenish undersheen, like a cat's.

Noticing his stare, Joao stepped out of Temnal's line of sight, and moved to keep himself between the door and Rain and Gillian. Coincidentally, this allowed Temnab a better view of the door, or it allowed Joao and Delwin to escape the esoteric scrutiny that seemed to be Temnal's intent.

Even with the wards up, Temnal sensed the presence beyond the doorway.

 What stared back at him could not be called a child.  His magesight

burned from the radiating from the creature, the light blinding him to the creature’s true form. But his glimpse offered the impression of a squirming mass of brilliant and broken threads. A piercing migraine began to worm inside his skull.

“Eleven more,” the boy replied to no one in particular. “And then all shall be Free.”

They could hear his feet shuffling away.

Gillian stepped back from the door and shuddered. "Eleven more what?"

Joao did not shudder. Instead, anger shone in his eyes.

"Eleven nights, perhaps." he said. He turned to look at Gillian, Temnal, Seabhac and Raina. "Perhaps we should stop hiding in here like hermit crabs , go and ask the boy directly, da?" His hand strummed the sheath for his dagger.

Temnal shook his head. "He's gone. And I think I already know what he means. Eleven more Greater Shadows to destroy, like the one we killed last night."

“Great Shadows?” Seabhac coughed. “Are you telling me there is an actual distinction between these things?”

"Da" Joao said. "Even amongst sharks, there are those which are relatively harmless, and then those which one should take care in hunting." He paused a moment "Or binding to your will."

[Temnal] started to look around the lab, a smile twitching one corner of his mouth. "Joao ... what equipment did you say we needed in here, again?"

"I didn't," Joao said, and gestured toward the chalkboard. "Our friendly resident ghost, Miss Ibis, has helpfully provided a list of what we need."

Temnal turned to contemplate the list on the chalkboard. Then he said, "Actually, I think we'll find a few of these things in that cabinet over there." He walked over to the cabinet and opened it.

Raina perked up from her spot in the corner. "Oh! Of course!" she exclaimed. "Temnal, I'll look for the last two items over here," she said, heading for a nearby closet.

As she did so, she thought to her Other, <Are you alright, Sand? That was brilliant!>

Sand remained reserved for a moment. In time, Raina felt a twinge of pride – tempered with concern. <We work well together, daughter. And I learned much during the exchange. We must remain vigilant now that my sibling has recovered his powers. Other forces are at play.>

As predicted, both Temnal and Raina conveniently discovered the laboratory equipment they were ‘searching’ for. However, both of their Others reminded them that now this trick had been done, it could not be utilized from that point forward. Once Reality had conformed to their desires, it could not be reformed at a later time. This was the world they’d created and would remain such.

Temnal mentally filed away this information for future reference. For him it had been in the nature of a test, anyway -- just to see how it worked.

Joao stood where he was and watched Temnal and Raina's efforts with a stolid look on his face.

{That's what we should have done, instead of bickering about conjuration} Joao sent to Delwin. {We need to both improve our efforts to blend our skills together,}

<We’re surgeons, kid. We use a scalpel to get our work done. They just used a sledgehammer. Now that Reality is bent, where do they go from here? And what will the consequences be?> Delwin replied in a derisive tone. <It’s all about balance and timing, Joao.>

[Then we need to find time during these hours for me to learn how to wield that scalpel.] Joao conceded. [Time and Tide, More education] he added, reinforcing the thought.

Seabhac wrapped his arms around Gillian’s waist, hugging her from behind. “You still feeling okay, hun?”

Gillian nodded. "Just tired. Pensive. Glad that the Hour is almost over. Glad Temnal Joined successfully and got that over with. Wondering how the others are faring." She rested her head back against Seabhac's shoulder and lowered her voice. "This is a good time to talk, actually, without having to worry your uncle or Yo-yo. I brought some books back from the Athenaeum and Yo-yo found me researching and started asking questions. I...I'm sorry, but I don't really trust him. I mean, I trust him to have your best interests in mind--well, maybe your uncle's best interests in mind--but I don't know if that extends to protecting Amber. I don't know what Yo-yo would think if he knew about the Dark Hour. I don't know what your uncle would think.

"I know your uncle wants keeps the status quo in Chaos, which means making sure Bob's brother doesn't return to incite things. He specifically mentioned that.

"You know, we need a code name for Bob's brother--I don't feel comfortable saying his name aloud, especially not here. Umm...I'll call him Tom. Anyway, I think Tom is involved somehow. Which might make your uncle sympathetic to our Dark Hour cause. But I don't know.

Gillian sighed. "I guess what I'm trying to ask is how careful you think I need to be around them. I probably shouldn't have brought those books to your house."

Seabhac kissed Gillian’s forehead and nodded. “I understand. More than you think. Mandor is the power behind the throne. And the dagger at our backs. I have no illusions about that. Just avoid them when you can and I’ll handle the rest.”

Gillian smiled her relief. "Thanks."

"I know you have agreed not to mention his name," Joao said, remaining where he was, on dutiful guard, but turning his head toward Gillian and Seabhac. "But do I understand you correctly when you say that you know of Bob's brother and who he is? And that he is...from Chaos?"

Gillian nodded. "Professor Hobbs told me. It came up because of something Malachi said."

Seabhac rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly pensive. “Are we are talking about who I think we’re talking about? Tom. As in the Creator of the Logrus Tom?”

Gillian nodded again. "Malachi was asking Professor Hobbs questions about him. And Bob. And Mirelle."

“Bloody hell,” Seabhac sighed.

Raina, catching the last of this as she brought the equipment nearer the rest of the group, added, "Perhaps we should call her something else too. Say... 'Jane' or something."

Joao nodded at Raina's suggestion.

"It might discomfort the other members of the Royal Family of Amber that their dead members live on within us." Joao said in agreement. "And if we go to the castle, the reverse may also be true to an extent. Da, we already know that some of our other selves do not always trust the other dead ones. This might happen with the older members of the Royal Family, should we be so bold as to meet them."

"I'm sure that's true," Temnal agreed.

“And lest we forget the existence of old feuds,” Seabhac added. “The Elders have not been - and are not now - above fratricide. I suspect more than a few will react poorly to the reemergence of siblings they’d previously disposed of.”

He glanced over at Temnal, “You may not wish to discuss your Other with anyone outside this group. It may get back to the Red Heads.”

Temnal nodded ruefully. "I'd certainly rather avoid that particular confrontation."

Gillian sat down again. "All this talk about Bob and Tom and Jane and others.... the things they have in common are those Great Powers, and the Great Power here in Amber is the Pattern. We've mentioned before about wanting to go look at the state of the Pattern during this time, but there are some complications arranging it, not the least of is Cole's observation that the castle seems to be a...center? nexus?...for Dark Hour activity.

"Now that we're all Joined and everything, is there someway we can view the Pattern right now? Like through a mirror, or by some other arcane method that doesn't involve us physically being there?"

<What about it, Cybele? Any thoughts?> Gillian asked her Other.

Cybele considered this then replied sagely <There are several amongst us that can utilize the Trumps to open a link to the Pattern Chamber. And those with heightened skills in the Pattern might even remotely view the room through a Pattern Lens.> In that moment, Gillian’s mind /shifted/ and she instinctively knew how to project her senses through Shadow via the Pattern.

"Ooooo," Gillian said softly as she sat up straight and stared off into the distance, her head cocked. <Can we see into anywhere?!?>

<Everywhere but those places protected by the Logrus or Pattern> Cybelle replied. <You will have but to stretch out your consciousness and you shall view any location. Furthermore, if you walk the Pattern in your mind, it is possible to transport yourself to that location. Just as if you walked the Pattern physically. The latter is extremely tiring, but makes for an excellent escape technique.>

<But...isn't that what I tried to do with that illustration? And it almost killed me.> Gillian replied.

<Blast it, girl. Your mind is like a sponge. Soft and full of holes.> Cybelle growled impatiently. <You attempted to walk a broken Pattern in your mind. And you did so outside of the Dark Hour, when I could not assist you. If you attempted it now, I could lend you my experience and mental power. Honestly, have you not grasped that the world is not the only thing that changes? Your blood is my blood at this moment. In the Dark Hour, you may as well be my twin. A dumpy and slow one, but a twin nonetheless.>

Gillian flinched. And then she got angry at Cybele's tone. And then--despite a small part of her that worried who was actually going to be in control--she started considering possibilities.

"I have an idea," Raina offered quietly. "I've seen the Pattern Room.

 Sand and I went through a trump, shortly after I joined.  We were

coming from Shadow though, so it was impossible to tell whether it was the Dark Hour or not. But if we're starting from here..." She trailed off, leaving it open and looking around at the others. Finishing her thought, she continued, "From here, there would be no time distortion. We'd KNOW what time it is when we looked through the trump."

"How many of us could look through such trump?" Joao asked Raina. "Just you, or one of us at a time, or all of us? What one may not notice, another may see."

Sand informed Raina that opening a Trump into the Pattern Chamber would allow them all to view it through the ‘doorway.’ Indeed, as long as one Artist held the connection, they could pass through it, if they chose to do so. The group’s Others met with this general consensus.

"Spaesba, Delwin," Joao said aloud.

"Let's do it, then," Gillian suggested. "We don't have a lot of time left before the Hour is over."

"Da" he added, looking at Temnal, Raina, Gillian and Seabhac. "Let us see what the Pattern looks like in the Darkest Hour. Everything else we have seen seems to be difficult, twisted, alien and strange. But perhaps the Pattern will hold."

"And if it doesn't," Temnal added, "the sooner we know that, the better."

Raina drew out the locket and willed it to find the trump of the Pattern Room.

It came to Raina’s mind almost immediately, filling her with a comforting familiarity.

[Assuming she activates it]

Raina summoned the image into Reality – although this time, she felt a far greater exertion than her previous experience. In her head, Sand recoiled from the sensation; a growing anxiety shared between them. <Something is terribly wrong, my daughter. Prepare yourself.>

The shimmering mirror of a Trump Gate split the air - the lab suddenly gripped in the choking stench of the battlefield. Beyond the portal they viewed a horizon of coiling mist and flashes of purple lightning.

 Giant fragments of broken earth drifted through the air, caught in

some this rolling storm. The five spires of castle Amber - malformed and burned by acid - stretched up into the sky like broken fingers. From their limited vantagepoint, it appeared that they were viewing the roof of some incredible tower. Something glowed beneath the coating of stagnant fog - pulsing like a dying heart.

“Holy sheep $hit,” Seabhac muttered. “Where in the Unicorn’s Name is THAT?!”

"Castle Amber, presumably," Gillian replied rather matter-of-factly. That the structure had changed so drastically while under the influence of the Dark Hour didn't seem to surprise her. "Raina, I thought we were going to look at the Pattern? Isn't it inside somewhere? And are you able to get a better look at whatever is glowing down there?"

"That... that's... where it is," Raina stammered fearfully, trembling against the exertion and the dread that the vision provoked. She mentally leaned on her Other as she continued to stare into the card. "Or... that's... where it's supposed to be."

Joao felt visibly sick. A Deep Child did not like heights, and this view was definitely that. Before Delwin could rebuke him, he steeled himself as best he could.

Delwin shared Joao’s displeasure - but more for the corruption of the Pattern he held so dear.

Temnal peered through the link. "Interesting," he commented. "In the daylight world, the Pattern is deep, whereas here it appears to be high."

Brand added Temnal could almost feel his body moving forward, drawn to this other realm.

The pull was difficult to resist. Curiosity was definitely a trait he shared with his Other; if anything, the joining had deepened and widened it.

Raina could feel her Other’s arms wrap around her like a motherly embrace, filling her with an inner resolve. Seabhac moved closer to the opening, gazing through. “It’s definitely a roof of some kind. The glowing is coming from the floor, although I can’t make it out from here. But there’s definitely ground under the fog. I’d say it is about waist height.”

He turned to the others, “Of course, anything could be hiding under it, waiting for some dumb sap to stick his foot out.”

"A frog. What we need is a frog," Gillian murmured.

She looked over at Raina. "I'd like to try modifying a wind spell I know to blow away that fog--I think I can pretty easily with Cybele's help--but to do it through the trump I'll need to establish a psychic link with you. Do I have your permission?"

"Yes," Raina whispered, her concentration focused on maintaining the connection with the scene before her.

"We need something to go down first before us, Da" Joao said. "And then a ladder, or something, to allow us to get down without falling if it is safe" The thought of it raised the spectre of a fear of heights, again, in his head.

"Let's see what's down there first, before we 'stick our foot out'," Gillian suggested. She reached out to Raina, took her hand, and willed a rapport to establish between them.

Sand instinctively resisted, at first. But Raina’s acquiescence won out and allowed the mental connection to form.

<Cybele, would you help me modify this spell?> Gillian asked her Other as she brought up the components for Sylph's Blessing in her mind.

Gillian (and Raina, by proxy) felt the magick ignite within her - the formulaic construct shaping in her mind. And then Cybele embraced that seed and infused it with a new life, a new path. What should have taken almost an hour’s concentration was wiped away beneath the Other’s vast arcane potential. The spell formula came to Gillian in seconds and flowed out of her, altering Creation.

Gillian smiled.

A cyclonic wind rushed through the Trump portal and torn away the layer of fog from the tower. The roof had been formed from black ice and marble, its surface possessed of a bitter sheen. Several sections had crumbled into the abyss, leaving dangerous holes and narrow bridges. Walking on this surface in the fog would have been suicidal. Now, it was only mildly treacherous.

In the center of the roof, a golden dais glowed and pulsed. No, not a dais they now saw.

But an enormous golden lid, not unlike those utilized to cover a tomb.

"A sepulchure. A sarcophagus," Joao said, lessons of history and culture from the worlds of Rebma's burgeoning empire and beyond coming to mind, or perhaps Delwin's mind as well. "Perhaps even a prison."

"All of Castle Amber, turned into that in this hour," Joao continued to narrate. "Perhaps the Pattern is locked beneath that lid, like a yolk beneath the shell of an egg. Or..." Joao shuddered and did not complete the thought. Delwin's revulsion at what had happened to the Castle and Pattern bled into him like an expanding cloud of squid ink in a tidal pool, touching every drop of him.

"Locked in to protect it? Or to protect this blight from its power?" Temnal wondered aloud.

"Interesting question," Gillian said. "I don't think we have enough time to pursue the answer before this Dark Hour is over, do we? I don't really want to be caught in Amber's Pattern Room and have to explain to the king what we're doing there."

"You and Gospdin Seabhac might have an advantage in such an interrogation, Gillian," Joao said, trying for a bit of levity.

Gillian smiled and glanced sideways at Seabhac. "Perhaps."

"We should watch it through the transition," Raina stated without breaking her concentration. "It would be important to see how it changes when the Hour is over, I think."

“Are you certain sensible or safe, Raina?” Seabhac said, glancing back at her. “There’s no telling what might happen to you if and when the connection ends. Or what might happen when your powers are diminished. Have you used Trumps outside the Dark Hour before?”

"I think the benefits outweigh the risks," Gillian chimed in, still holding Raina's hand. "Unless we solve this Dark Hour riddle we all cease to exist, but to solve it we need information. Cybele and I are still in contact with her and Sand and can help soften the blow, if needed."

"Agreed," Raina said. Those in contact with her could tell she had not previously considered Seabhac's suggestion, however, because they could feel her physically and mentally bracing herself.

Closer to the portal, Joao and Temnal caught sight of something vast and winged cutting through the darkness beyond the tower, circling. The storm obscured its true shape, as did its translucent nature – a coiling mass of black smoke. They could not be entirely certain, but both men noticed that the cover’s pulsing light intensified whenever The Shape drifted too close.

"Temnal," Joao said, moving his head in the direction of the shape. "What do you make of that? The Golden Lid reacts to its passage, as if trying to attract it, or ward against it."

"Reacts to what?" Gillian asked.

"That flying thing," Temnal said, pointing. "And yes, I think you're right, Joao."

He concentrated on the flying creature, extending his senses to See it more closely.

Temnal could feel his senses stretch out – only to be immediately stopped by Raina’s psychic barriers. Without stepping through the portal, he would need to join in the connection before extending his powers into the beyond.

He stretched out a hand to Raina. "Lady, may I?"

"Yes," Raina breathed, still focused.

Joao decided not to try and overtax Sand and Raina, and merely watched from a mundane perspective, studying the shape, looking for weaknesses and patterns in its flight.

As The Shape passed again, Temnal's senses touched the creature discovering not a singular intellect, but a tempest of fractured minds. The Shape consisted of thousands upon thousands of Shadows, coalesced into a monad of suffering and insanity.

Pain and despair blistered every particle of his being, knocking him to the ground as surely as an axe blade striking his skull. He could see nothing, feel nothing but screams and blood and battle and endless torment. Were it not from Brand’s incredible psyche, this brief contact would have ripped the young man’s soul from its moorings and dragged it screaming into that consuming blackness.

"Temnal!" Gillian cried out.

The Shape turned in the portal’s direction and roared its displeasure – a minor sun burning deep within its cyclopean throat. Even behind the Trump's protective barrier, everyone in the room felt their body's grow numb with sorrow and despondency... the overwhelming urge to simply lie down and turn to dust. The storm clouds rolled as it arched its way around the Tower toward them.

"Another Greater Shadow," Temnal gasped. "It has to be!"

The wave of despondency gave Joao a vision of a dried up sea, Rebma's mightiness turned to nothing, and him along with it. He struggled to banish the vision, to move his limbs, to find meaning and hope again. Naked strength and force of will fought against sorrow and he finally nodded his head.

"Yes" Joao croaked. "A stronger one this time. He blinked. "Do we have the time and resources to fight it, now?"

"Let's find out." Gillian brought to mind the components of Prometheus’ Gift and the flame on a nearby lamp quivered, like a cat's hindquarters twitching before it jumped. <Cybele, can you help me juice up this spell and hit that Cloud with a badass fireball?>

She could feel Cybele give her a predatory smile. Power flooded through Gillian, her body beginning to radiate a ghostly light as the power swelled within her.

Gillian breathed deeply, enjoying the rush it brought. It felt good.

<We'll hold the connection,> Raina thought into the contact. To her Other, she urged, <Sand, I know it's not what you're used to, but we all have to work together. The danger is larger than we can deal with on our own. Stay with us. Please.>

Another wave of disapproval passed through Raina, but Sand did as she had been asked – maintaining the connection as Gillian summoned her true power.

"Wait!" urged Temnal. "We don't know what it's vulnerable to ... or what it eats." The previous Greater Shadow they'd faced had simply absorbed magic flung at it, and grown stronger.

"We should try and determine a strategy," Joao agreed. "Delwin—" he began to say.

Too late. Even if Gillian had wanted to, Cybele’s leash had been loosened and she had no intention of holding back now. The room’s temperature soared as the lamp simply melted into a bubbling pool of molten glass and metal; flames spreading across the table. The Shape disappeared as the clouds around it became an expanding conflagration of blue fire, expanding in a deafen whoosh. The windows brightened as the violent explosion lit up the night sky.

The shockwave raced toward the Trump gate and would have likely transformed the lab into a kiln, if Sand had not abruptly - and wisely - cut the connection.

Raina shrieked, reflexively spinning away from the fireball before Sand took over control.

Several seconds later, the windows shook with a dull roar as the sound descended over the city.

"Like a tsunami," Joao said, automatically.

A joyous laugh bubbled up from Gillian’s throat like phlegm, as the night became dark once more.

Gillian clapped her hands over her mouth and sat back down on the bench with a thump.

"Lir's bones," Joao said, fear running down his spine at the sound of Gillian's laugh. "If that explosion did not destroy that Greater Shadow, I do not know what would. It is not something to be done when we are standing close to one, though, da?" He tried to chuckle.

A very unladylike and un-Gillian-like exclamation came out of Gillian's mouth. "I'm so sorry," she continued. "I didn't know... I didn't think she'd... Oh Unicorn...last time Cybele let go like that she destroyed a city block and the damage carried over into normal time. You don't think the Pattern Room was damaged, do you?"

"The real one? I doubt it. Anything else..." Temnal rose a little shakily and went to look out the nearest window.

"Or anyone unlucky enough to be near..." Joao agreed. He blinked his eyes.

The shock of what had almost happened had frightened Raina into silence. she admitted to her Other. <Thank you. I need to learn my limits.>

Sand snorted. <At least you have enough sense to acknowledge the obvious. Let us pray your companion has not undone my father’s only good work. But you are welcome, child. >

Still trembling, she asked the rest of her companions, "Is everyone all right?"

Seabhac blinked in numb quiet, glancing between Gillian and where the gate had been a moment before. Finally, he gave a wan nod. “Aye.” He went to the window, gazing up at the night sky – his trembling hand pressed against the cold glass.

He and Temnal could see the clouds above the transformed Castle Amber churning with glowing rain and flickers of purple lightning. For the first time since witnessing the Dark Hour, the green moon remained completely obscured.

Gillian gave Raina a chagrined look before drawing her knees up to her chest and hugging them. <Dammit, Cybele, was that degree of force really necessary? You scared everyone here, including me.>

<As if their opinions mean anything to me> Cybele retorted. <But now they know you are powerful. Let that settle with them for awhile.>

Seabhac turned from the window, smiling faintly.

<With Cybele's gleeful talent for collateral destruction in mind, Delwin,> Joao sent to Delwin,

Delwin gave a barking laugh <Agreed. Although I suspect the greatest danger will be in here with us.> Joao’s mind became filled with a rapid succession of Pattern and spell formulae – many of which included blood magick. Effectively, he would create a manse, drawing off the essence of the local Wake. The project would take roughly a fortnight, but they could expand this room far beyond its current limits – in the Dark Hour and in Reality.

Gillian closed her eyes and covered her face. <Do you remember your oath to me, before we Joined? You swore to instruct me, you swore to taper your destructive impulses, and you swore that if I should slip, you'd catch me. You broke all three of those tonight.>

Cybelle sighed <You intend to hold me to that do you? That’s a bother.>

<Really? That was our Joining oath, Cybele.>

Gillian sighed, exasperated, and massaged the bridge of her nose.

<We will work on that starting tomorrow night,> Joao promised. His mind raced, trying to make sense of all that Delwin had just shown him. A Manse. Yes. It should and would be done. "We make this place a manse," he said, aloud.

<In addition to the business with the dragon,> he added. His eyes lit up.

<Ah yes. A most curious specimen.> Delwin replied. <Could do with a little dragon magic on the side. They have intimate knowledge of forging hearthstones. Plus the fire-breathing screams, 'Keep out' like no one's business.>

"Tomorrow will be a better day," Joao said, sliding over to Gillian. He did not dare touch her, of course, but he stood near, and protective, as he had on the journey he had taken with her and Raina through that weird series of gate worlds Seabhac introduced them to. "We are going to get bear claws and have you meet a dragon."

She opened her eyes and forced a smile for him. "Thank you, Joao. Yes, we'll do those things tomorrow. Seabhac said he'd help."

“That’s right,” Seabhac noted. “I have known a few dragons in my time.” He stepped back from the window and went to sit with Gillian.

Outside, the sky began to shimmer, marking the intrusive approach of Reality.

[Gillian and Joao continued in Truths Best Unspoken]