CardSharksIndex | Time Under Chaos | Game Logs | CardSharks Card SharksAs the lady and the Lieutenant moved off, Claudio invited, “Would you like to step inside, Counsellor, while we wait?” He smiled a little wryly. “There’s tea…” “Tea” Ingrey said doubtfully. “The offer of hospitality, however, Claudio, is accepted all the same…” Ingrey stepped inside the room, and looked around for Pavlo briefly. Ingrey did not speak until Claudio had closed the door and a semblance of privacy could be established. The Counselor from Wererathe turned to Claudio and smiled briefly. "We've played enough Tarocchi together, Claudio, to know when you want to try and grab a trick." Ingrey looked at him levelly. "You wanted to talk to me outside of the hearing of the Lieutenant from the barracks. And perhaps even out of the hearing of the Lady of Minobee." Ingrey found a seat, and perched upon it and cocked his head in Claudio's direction. "I'm all ears." Having ascertained that Pavlo was resting comfortably, Claudio chose a seat not far from Ingrey's. "I'm not really worried about Lady Tasha," he disclaimed. "If nothing else, she heard everything I did. But yes, while the Lieutenant was in earshot I was just as happy to concentrate on Prince Chadwick's situation ... and not on how Pavlo happened to turn up here with the warning for him." He cocked his head speculatively at Ingrey and asked, "Are you familiar with a Colonel Stravellen?" Ingrey looked thoughtful for a moment and then nodded. "Yes. There are three Colonels competing for power and influence in the wake of the General's death. Two of them are Hendrakes. Stravellen is the non Hendrake, and the one I left to manage the base for the time being until I return." "Unless his highness the Duke has seen fit to alter those arrangements," Ingrey continued. "Why do you ask?" Claudio's eyes hardened. "You saw what condition Pavlo was in when he turned up here," he said. "He was conscious only for a little while just now, and not very coherent. His main concern seemed to be to warn Prince Chadwick of something in the tea at the barracks. That's why I wanted to know if you shared it with him. "But when I asked him how he came to be injured, he said something about 'the mob outside, and Colonel Stravellen inside.' And he also thought there might be a price on his head right now." He looked up at Ingrey. "That's what I wanted you to hear, and not the Lieutenant." "A price on his head. For knowing too much, perhaps." Ingrey said. "Possibly," said Claudio, then in a lower voice added, "Or possibly for caring too much." Ingrey gave a nod and then his countenance was thoughtful as he looked away from the artist and to his more martial brother for a long moment. He then looked back at Claudio. "I am going to have to return to the Barracks at some point," Ingrey said. "Colonel Stravellen's ambitions may be his own; they may instead be the will of Duke Helgram. Either way, I will have to be more on my guard and make some inquiries. I suspect that my trip up the mountain may have saved me a dangerously flavored cup of tea, Claudio." Ingrey caged his fingers together. "Even in the honor bound halls of Hendrake martial might, it seems politics may be in play." A crafty smile crossed Ingrey's face briefly. "You'll be able to keep your brother out of sight for the time being, I trust?" "I should be able to do so, yes, one way or another. In any case I don't intend to leave him unprotected. But I'd appreciate knowing just how much danger he's in. If you do go back to the barracks, and somehow find that out... All I ask is that you let me know before you do anything about it. And in return, if I find out something relevant from Pavlo, I'll consult you before I do anything -- such as, for instance, heading over to the barracks to seek out the man who spilled my brother's blood." "Agreed," Ingrey said. "If you have a spare, Claudio, it would be prudent if you could give me one of your trumps," Ingrey said. "Even if a messenger can reach you quickly, such messengers can be subverted or intercepted." "Yes, of course," said Claudio. He reached into his inner coat pocket and withdrew his Trump case. From the back of the deck he took a card and extended it to Ingrey. [OOC: It will be the Trump described on Claudio's wiki page; it's a self-portrait.] Ingrey chuckled as he continued. "One of the things I was going to ask you about, that I alluded to earlier, Claudio, was a proposal of a commission for trump work. In these turbulent and tumultuous times, I find that multiple means and avenues of moving about and communication would be more than passingly useful." Claudio nodded. "For the matter of that, I was going to ask you if I might at least make a trump sketch of you right now, for communication purposes." Ingrey chuckled and took on a mock look of shock. "You've destroyed my expectations about the secrets of Artists. I half-believed the stories that Artists have secret drawings of acquaintances and locations, stored and kept against need or opportunity to make full portraits. I would have thought," Ingrey still kept his amused smile, "that I would have already entered your portfolio." "That," Claudio said dulcetly, "would be unethical." The barest flicker of amusement in his grey eyes matched that of Ingrey's smile. "I'll gladly sit for you here and now, Claudio," Ingrey said. "A glass of something other than tea would be welcome as well," Ingrey added. "I'm sure that can be arranged," said Claudio, getting up. He glanced around the room to see if there was a liquor cabinet in it already, before summoning a servant or guard. "If it comes to that, I'll probably want to absorb another pastry or two before I set to work. And the tea here is perfectly all right, as far as I can tell," he added. "Then I wholeheartedly accept the offer, perhaps with one of these pastries that you mention, even if the beverage is not going to be dragon tea as prepared the traditional way. I shall make do with the lesser," Ingrey responded. Claudio nodded and headed for the tea cart. "Oh, and you might consider making a sketch or two of other notables if you get the chance." Ingrey paused. "The lady from Minobee, for instance." "If she agrees, certainly," said Claudio. "I think it would be prudent for her to do so and I will counsel her to, if she does not think of it herself," Ingrey said. "She is new to Amber, and with few defined allies and associates. A trump sketch or two is an offering of the start of a relationship. I mean this in the general sense," Ingrey added. "Starting a firm foundation of a working relationship with her could be very mutually beneficial." "I would certainly agree with that. I already owe her thanks for healing my brother." Claudio had reached the tea cart by now and was pouring two cups of strong tea. "Milk? Sugar? Lemon?" he asked Ingrey. It was at this point that Ingrey felt the prickling of a trump call. "Milk, two lumps of sugar, no lemon, if you please," Ingrey said. "It appears that someone wishes to contact me." Claudio, who had looked up an instant before Ingrey spoke, nodded acknowledgement and implied permission as he continued preparing the tea. "You know, Claudio," Ingrey said with a smile, "there are fewer of my trumps in circulation then one might expect. One advantage to being 'only' Second to the Ambassadress." "So that you don't feel duty-bound to distribute them to every Chaosian tourist who comes to spend time in Amber," Claudio responded, with a twitch of a smile. "So that I don't feel duty-bound to harangue a trump artist to make endless numbers of trumps of me to pass out," Ingrey replied, responding to the smile. And then Ingrey took the Trump call. "I thought," said Paloma, a touch of ice in her voice, "that you were returning here to report." ^Yes, your Excellency,^ Ingrey sent, with a touch of apology in his voice in response to her icy demeanor. ^However, I thought it prudent not to leave before business and matters were concluded here in a satisfactory fashion. It is my full objective and intention to do that in as expeditious but comprehensive manner as possible. I did not wish to risk the greater displeasure of giving you incomplete information.^ "Admirable," said Paloma drily. "And how long do you anticipate this taking?" "I do not anticipate remaining much longer, your Excellency," Ingrey replied. "Claudio must need sketch me, and in the meantime I have asked the lady of Minobee to investigate an aspect of Chadwick's return that is uniquely suited to her senses and capabilities, more so than mine." "And am I to await an explanation of that, too?" asked Paloma. Claudio could see that Ingrey's face reddened at the rebuke. As he set down Ingrey's tea, and the plate of pastries, where the diplomat could reach them, he cocked an amused and interrogative eyebrow and mouthed, Girlfriend? "No, your Excellency, I can explain now and briefly," Ingrey replied in a tone of civil apology. "Upon reaching Chadwick, I overheard conversation between him and the Princess that someone had visited him in his quarters. The Princess did not wish me to linger and so I could not learn more in the usual manner. I sent the lady from Minobee to see if she could discover more about this visitor and how they might tie into what happened to Lt. Barimen...and Chadwick for that matter." "I judged that a pretty face, especially one with olfactory senses, might be able to learn more where I failed to do so. The results of what she learns, if anything, is what I await on before returning and debriefing you in a comprehensive manner." Ingrey finished. "Good," said Paloma, and cut the connection. Ingrey looked up at Claudio. "No, not a girlfriend," Ingrey said a bit ruefully. "Her Excellency. She is not pleased with my tardiness in returning to the Embassy. Your promised sketch of me, I think should be done with all haste. Not long after the lady of Minobee returns, I shall depart." "I'll lose no time, then," said Claudio. He set down his own tea and a couple of pastries by his chair, then made a dive for his artist's satchel. "How did you want to compose me?" Ingrey said, reaching for the tea. "And thank you, by the way," he added, gesturing toward Claudio's efforts on hospitality. Claudio nodded acknowledgement as he straightened up with sketchbook and pencil in hand. "Since this is just a sketch, I'm not going to worry too much about composition," he said. He grinned at Ingrey. "Just relax and look natural -- if that's possible, in our current situation." Ingrey chuckled wryly. He considered the cup of tea that Claudio had prepared for him, and took a sip. Claudio turned to a blank page in the sketchbook, then looked up at Ingrey again. This time his gaze seemed peculiarly intent, as if every atom of his attention was, for the moment, focused upon the Counsellor from Wererathe and looking not only at, but into and through him. He held his focus for two or three breaths before his pencil began making lines on the paper -- lines instinct with power. Ingrey continued to sip the tea thoughtfully. His eyes flickered up to Claudio now and again but he mostly held his position and pose, trying to remain calm and neutral. Now and again, he also flickered his eyes toward the door, with the hope of the soon and successful return of Tasha. Claudio, in the mean-time, was finding it extremely hard to draw Ingrey. He would see a way in which a vital detail could -- indeed, should -- be recorded. And yet, when he tried to convey that on the paper, his pencil seemed to skid off at an angle. He was producing an extremely fine picture of Ingrey -- but that was all it was -- a picture. He had never experienced anything like this before. After about ten minutes during which Claudio's frown had become deeper every time Ingrey glanced at him, the artist threw down his pencil and instead ran a hand through his hair. "Something's wrong," he stated. "I'm being blocked, somehow." He looked up at Ingrey. "You've had Trumps taken before, I have to assume?" Ingrey put down his cup of tea as Claudio's frowns of dissatisfaction overrode Ingrey's reticence in disturbing the artist at work. "You're being blocked from taking a trump of me?" Ingrey looked at Claudio with a surprised look on his face. "How is that even possible? And yes, I've had trumps of me taken before." "And no one's ever complained about your being a difficult subject?" It was more a rhetorical question than anything. "I don't know what's causing it. I've never known it to happen before. Let me think..." "Not to my knowledge," Ingrey said. He picked up the cup of tea and continued to sip it, his eyebrows furrowed in thought. Claudio shut his eyes, casting back in his mind for what he'd studied about Trump: Master Nikoly's lessons, Fiona's, the seven volumes of Trump Art, Its Practices, Pleasures and Problems. His knowledge of the subject suggested that the only way this could occur was if the person was an extremely skilled trump artist themselves, or a sorcerer with powerful wards ... or placed under wards by another. Quickly reviewing the situation, Claudio discarded the first two options, at least provisionally. It would make no sense for Ingrey to sit for him, having previously warded himself. He opened his eyes and leveled a thoughtful gaze at the diplomat. "Who do you know who might want to prevent you from having a new Trump made? Because all I can think of is that you've been warded, somehow. And I know you have at least one existing Trump working, because you just took that call from Her Excellency." Ingrey regarded Claudio quizzically as he considered the artist's question. He took a sip of the tea, and looked thoughtful again. "It's also a matter of someone having the ability to do that, isn't it?" Ingrey said. "I should imagine that it would be difficult to ward me in such a manner. Unless Her Excellency is a better sorceress than I have been led to believe..." Ingrey said. "I can think of only two people that would have the skill, ability and recent contact with me to ward me in such a fashion. As it so happens, they are both noble Helgrams." Ingrey paused and sipped his tea. "The Baroness, and the Duke." Claudio scowled. "I would almost rather it was the Baroness," he said. "We could at least talk to her about it. As it is, I'm at a loss to know why either of them would want to do that." Ingrey looked thoughtful for a moment and then smiled slightly. "Restricting the ability of a third party to make a trump of me can perhaps be considered as a form of protection depending on the context and motivation," Ingrey replied. "Consider this train of thought, Claudio. A Trump works to establish a mental link between the subjects, correct?" "That's right," said Claudio. Ingrey waited for confirmation and then continued. "Such a mental link, while useful for communication, can also be turned to nefarious purposes, as I am sure you are well aware. A ward such as the one you have detected might be laid upon me to help avoid such mental tampering or subversion." "Of course it might," said Claudio. "But what concerns me is that it was apparently done without your knowledge." "There are darker potential motivations than this, of course," Ingrey added, nodding at Claudio's observation. Claudio gestured in a way that invited Ingrey to continue. "You'd know better about what dark motivations might be aimed at you." "Well, such a step suggests a method of control," Ingrey said. "Such a ward can possibly be upgraded to further restrict the actions and movements on those upon who it has been laid." "Such as blocking Trump contact," Claudio suggested, with a grimace. "Or Trump travel." Ingrey nodded. "Castle walls built for the protection of those within can easily be turned into a prison." Ingrey regarded Claudio. "I think I've shown you the concept of a back rank mate on the chessboard, yes?" "Oh yes. Getting trapped behind one's own defenders," the younger man confirmed. "But what I'm asking is who would have a motive to do such things to you in particular." "Let's look at the suspects and their motives." Ingrey suggested. "Her Excellency, if she is a better sorceress than I have imagined, for the reason of keeping me on a tight leash. Sometimes," Ingrey smiled slightly, "my methods don't always please her." Claudio shared the wry smile. "Tear, for a sense of protection against her uncle, or others. The fact that you can't make a trump of me might be a side effect, rather than the main effect of the warding." "I hadn't thought of that," Claudio admitted. "There might be ways to test it..." "And the Duke..." Ingrey regarded Claudio. "If the Duke ensorceled me in this manner, its clearly an attempt at controlling me. Although I am hardly the most useful person he might waste such efforts on." Ingrey smiled in a self-deprecatory manner. "I suppose it depends on how much effort he had to expend to do it," Claudio observed dryly, "compared to how much power he has in toto. To someone who can change the moon's cycle at a whim, it might be the merest bagatelle." "Which makes him a prime candidate," Ingrey agreed. "No matter whoever warded me, now that I have a clue that its there, it should be visible to one with the Sight. I don't necessarily want to try and dispel it, or tamper with it, but perhaps taking a look at it will let us learn more." "Agreed," said Claudio. "Whom shall we ask?" Ingrey took a sip of tea. "Since Tasha isn't back..." Ingrey continued. "Would you have any objections finding out? Here and now?" "Not at all," replied Claudio. He looked curiously at Ingrey, wondering if the diplomat would answer his previous question. Ingrey smiled. "I have not the skill of his Highness the Duke, or our prodigy Tear, or even the skills of the Prime Minister or the King," Ingrey said. "My skill in sorcery is small. However, I think it should be sufficient to see a ward, now that I know one is to be found." "This would be easier with a mirror. However, I should be able to see the ward or wards with the Sight, and possibly even make them visible briefly to your eyes. That is the best outcome; you will be better able than me to see their play about me." Claudio nodded, but pointed out, "This is a bedroom suite; I'm sure there must be a mirror somewhere if it will make it easier for you." "No," Ingrey said, reconsidering. "I trust an artist's eye for detail more than mine." And then Ingrey brought up the Sight, with a bit of power, to see the wards upon him, and to make them briefly flare into the visible spectrum. Claudio watched intently as he did so. It came to him that the drawing of Ingrey he had before him might at least serve to record the visual memory of what he was seeing. There was a web wrapped around him, intricate and delicate ... a soft and yet remarkably strong protection ... and it seemed to bear the Wererathe mark. Claudio immediately began sketching. Before they could confirm that, the door opened and Tasha entered, trailed by two guards. "'ere," said one, alarmed, "you can't do any of that Chaosian stuff in 'ere. King don't allow it. Nor do the Prime Minister." Tasha paused in the doorway, drinking in the display before her and completely ignoring the guards, who had been nothing but an annoyance in her opinion. "They're not here," Claudio pointed out sweetly, his pencil still flying. His gaze did not shift from Ingrey, but he added, "Welcome back, Lady Tasha." Ingrey kept up the stimulation for a few more moments for Claudio to sketch before he let down the stimulation and revelation that it allowed. "My apologies," he said to the alarmed guard as he did so. "It was merely a small display of magic, nothing more." He then turned to Tasha and bowed his head. "Welcome back, Lady Tasha." A trace of a smile played upon his lips. Tasha smiled back and then addressing both Claudio and Ingrey, replied, "Thank you. I'm sorry that I was gone so long. I did go to Chadwick's rooms but he is no longer in them.... he did not pass me in the hall... but I am sure he is somewhere in the castle." Though she did not elaborate on how she could be certain. "There was a woman with him in his rooms... not his mother," she also stated with certainty. Claudio finished off his altered sketch from memory as the visible manifestation faded, then looked interestedly at Tasha. "But no one you could identify otherwise, I take it," he ventured. Ingrey reached for the cup of tea, but his head was cocked in Tasha's direction, clearly interested in the answer to Claudio's question. "No, I couldn't identify them now... but if I meet them... I'll know them -- the woman was clear. She was definitely recently there, and maybe... a man was there, too." She confirmed, "But... oddly enough, I can't confirm that Flora was there! I... met Flora... but..." She looked puzzled, "I can't... pull up a scent picture of her. Does that seem odd?" She looked at the two Chaosians a touch bewildered. "It reminds me of meeting Mandor. I expected a strong... scent... but there was nothing! Do you think they can hide their scents?" "I'm sure a sufficiently skilled shapeshifter could alter their physiology so as to give off no scent," offered Claudio. "An Amberite? I don't know... unless it was a projection, an illusion of some sort." Ingrey put down his cup of tea, allowing it to make a gentle clink sound against the saucer. "It would be an unexpected consequence if the Amberites in truth had enough skill in shaping to rival the best that the Courts have to offer," Ingrey said after a moment. "That said, it is possible that Princess Florimel's ability is uncommon amongst the remnants of the family, and may in fact be a secret." "From the rest of the family? Or only from outsiders like us?" Claudio wondered. "Possibly both," Ingrey posited. Tasha gave a small shrug, "I really don't know. But it is... odd now that I think about it. When I sat next to Bleys at dinner, I also don't recall catching a scent from him, either, now that I think about it." She looked increasingly disturbed by this. She wondered if her ability to smell was being affected here in Amber -- or in the castle. She inhaled sharply, just to reassure herself that her nose was still working. She could smell the tang of blood from Pavlo, as well as the heady male scents coming from Claudio and Ingrey. The combination made her feel hungry, and she went over to the supply of pastries and took up another one to eat. "It could be a family trait," Claudio hazarded. "How about the King? He's half and half." Tasha's mouth opened and she blinked once and then went wide-eyed, "No... no, I can't remember..." Then a flash of anger crossed her face as she concentrated on her meeting with Merlin and any lingering scent. "No! Nothing from Merlin either! In fact... I should be able to smell him in the castle, and I can't. Nothing. No smell of Merlin or Mandor, of Flora or Bleys." "Not Mandor either? That's odd," said Claudio, "since he isn't an Amberite at all. As far as I know, he's pure Chaosian." The diplomat smiled to Tasha. "Good work in divining that. Unfortunately, if there is nothing more..." Ingrey rose, with a clear reluctance. "...it is time that I return to the Embassy." Ingrey turned toward Claudio. "I thank you for the hospitality, Claudio. Do tell me, after you've looked at it, what you think of the drawing. I'm curious about what you saw." "Take a quick look at it yourself, before you go," Claudio invited, turning the sketchbook toward Ingrey. "It may tell you something." Ingrey stepped forward and glanced at the drawing, searching his mind for anything recognizable or unusual in the web of protection as depicted by Claudio. It seemed to be a rather strong Wererathe web of protection. But it did not bear Ingrey's imprint -- nor that of any Wererathe he knew. Tasha followed Ingrey over craning her neck to see what it was that they were studying so intently. She frowned, confused. "What is that? Is that a trump? It looks odd... Do you draw trumps?" She looked at Claudio, curiously. "Yes, and that was supposed to be one," Claudio replied a little ruefully. "As it is... those wards you see there--" His finger traced the delicate webbing of magic whose image Ingrey had brought up. "--apparently prevent the Counsellor's Trump image from being taken." "Very strange. It's not attuned or personalized for me, or my line, or any Wererathe that I know," Ingrey said with a puzzled expression to both Claudio and Tasha. "And while I have a minor talent for it, Sorcery is not my profession." "Yet that is the Wererathe mark," said Claudio. It was not a question -- his finger hovered over the pencilled sign. Ingrey looked at Claudio. "Keep this for me, if you would. At some point, I may wish to borrow it from you to show someone more proficient in the arcane arts. "Besides," he said with a smile. "It's a work of your art, is it not?" Claudio returned the smile wryly. "Does it count as a 'work' if it doesn't? I suppose it has its points of interest, though." Ingrey then turned toward Tasha. "Until we meet again, milady." Ingrey bowed his head. Tasha looked startled. "But, sir, aren't you taking me to the Embassy? The Lady Ambassadress promised that I could go there to... rest... and would be safe there. May I not come?" Then she turned to Claudio. "Oh, but I'm abandoning you here alone. I'm sure that Pavlo is out of the woods, and I've done all my skill can do for him...." She looked positively torn between the two. "That's all right," Claudio assured her. "I think I may move him out of here soon anyway... if he can be moved," he added, with an inquiring look at Tasha. Ingrey blinked his eyes, smiled and nodded to Tasha. "I did not wish to presume that you still wished to go after all. I would be happy to take you with me, as per her Excellency's offer of refuge, as you wish." Tasha again looked from one to the other, but answered Claudio first. "Yes, he should be waking soon, and I imagine he'd be hungry -- they usually are after such a 'healing'. We could all go to the Embassy." She smiled at Claudio hoping he'd accept. "I don't know that the Embassy would be the safest place for Pavlo right now," Claudio demurred. "Why do you say that?" Ingrey asked mildly. Claudio's gaze flickered briefly to the guards. "Too official," he answered in an equally bland tone. "They might want things of him that he's not ready for." "As you wish," Ingrey said with an inclination of the head. "It is clear that you have given serious thought on the matter." Claudio nodded and said, "I may join you later, though." "Whereever you bring him to convalesce, be safe, the both of you," Ingrey said. He looked at Tasha as he pulled out his trump of the Embassy. "Shall we?" Tasha looked now at the guards and frowned. "You can go. Really. I'll be going, too, now. And Pavlo needs his rest..." Tasha smiled warmly at Claudio. "I am sorry we met under such odd circumstances.... But I hope your brother improves quickly." Then she extended her hand to Ingrey. "Sir, I'm ready when you are." "I am," Ingrey said, concentrating on his trump of the Embassy to draw himself, and the lady from Minobee, through... The trump came to life almost immediately, revealing the Embassy looking calm and peaceful. A look of relief came across Ingrey's face as the Trump activated. Ingrey spared Claudio and Pavlo a last, smiling glance, and then, holding Tasha's hand, stepped through. |
