Chadwick: Plot Begins to ThickenIndex | Time Under Chaos | Game Logs | PreGameLogs | Chadwick Plot Begins to Thicken The carriage rattled along down the long, winding road to the city. Not for the first time, Morgan loudly wondered why the Chaosians could not use some of their vaunted sorcery to improve the springs. "We shouldn't be able to feel a thing when we drive, Merl," he said. "I'm not asking for a grav field here to completely dampen inertia, but knowing exactly how many potholes there are between the castle and the restaurant is a bit much, if you ask me." He kept up the conversation going in a similar vein all the way to the restaurant, commenting on the lighting of the streets, (which he admitted was picturesque. "If you're more interested in setting the mood for seduction than in seeing what you're stepping in, then it's not bad,") the smell, ("I can't agree that the pollution from organic vehicles is any better than that from a good petroleum-powered one," he pointed out) and the lack of privacy ("Everyone can hear everything, Merl, with these flimsy wooden and plaster walls. The last affair I had with a merchant's wife, her servants might have well been in the room with us. Mind you, there was this one red-haired maid of hers...."). "I had her," said Merlin. "While I was waiting for you. You missed nothing. Really." By the time they reached the restaurant Morgan had worked up an appetite just from talking. He descended from the carriage first, instinctively glancing around to spot any potential threats, then gestured for the doorman to hold the carriage door for the king while he had a word with the driver. "Have it ready to leave at a moment's notice," Morgan told him. "You better stay with it, actually. I'll have the kitchen bring you out something." Then he was at the king's side, and they entered the restaurant together. Merlin had a way of walking into a room that seemed almost unassuming - and yet was, in its own way, the height of arrogance. You knew people would be noticing him - and his very manner of demonstrating that they didn't need to be overcome with awe in his presence actually rather drew attention to the fact that they were awestruck anyway. It was a trick that had, in the Shadows Morgan had known, divided the A-list celebrities from the C-list. Merlin had it off to perfection. "Can you see Larissa and Chadwick?" he asked Morgan. "Centrally located," Morgan answered. "Starboard, about 60 degrees. Table for two, nice location, there's at least one waiter keeping an eye on them, and I see someone else hovering nearby with a wine bottle. Already been served. Do we want to spot them now, and invite them to join us at a larger table, or be seated and then, aha!, notice that they're there?" "Oh I think we saunter," said Merlin, waving a dismissal to a waiter. He began to make a leisurely progress towards the table where Larissa and Chadwiock sat, pausing to greet people he knew - a couple of Chaosian gamblers, a prominent whore who was something of a rival to those of the Ramblin' Queen - and one respectable merchant, the father of three hopeful daughters. The man was torn between being flattered at the honour, and concern at attracting such notorious interest towards his daughters. Morgan followed just behind his cousin, interjecting amusing comments into the conversations Merlin had with the people he greeted. Nothing important, just enough to remind people that he was a friend of the king, not a hanger-on. He kept the table where Chadwick and Larissa sat in his peripheral vision, but didn't look directly at them as he and the king slowly neared it. "Chadwick!" said Merlin, his voice warm with pleasure. "Larissa! How wonderful to see you - and how unexpected! Morgan - this is turning out to be an excellent idea of yours." He smiled at them winningly. "Now - don't say that you're so far into your meal that we can't join you. Let's have a cosy family evening, all together. In fact, my treat." Merlin spoke with the easy confidence of one who knew that whoever would be picking up the ultimate bill - Amber taxpayers, fawning hangers-on or exasperated cousins - it wasn't going to be him. Chadwick was completely bulldozed by Merlin's tactic, stammering before finally shrugging and looking toward Larissa for a nod. Larissa gave every indication of surprised pleasure, and rose to greet Merlin and Morgan with pecks on the cheek. "How lovely to see you both." "We, ummm... we've already had appetizers, but your welcome to join us," he said, paying more attention to Merlin than to Morgan. He cleared a bit of space next to himself for any who wanted to sit there. He certainly wasn't going to require Larissa to have either of them sit next to her, unless it was what she wanted. "Oh, I'm certain they can find us a larger table," Larissa said, gesturing to one of the waitstaff, in whose ear she whispered briefly. Whether it was a degree of service provided to all the restaurant's clientele, or merely to kings, the group was soon resettled at a table for four in a corner that afforded both a degree of privacy and a commanding view of the dining room. "Chadwick and I were just discussing things to do in the City," said Larissa, amidst napkin-spreading and menu-scrutinizing. Chadwick was practically dizzy from the change. One moment he was having a pleasant, if somewhat challenging, discussion with his cousin, the next he was seated next to the King at an entirely different table. "I think I'll have the chicken," he mutters into his menu as he tries not to offend the king. He had seemed so annoyed earlier, and Chadwick didn't want to remind him of that. "The sauce sounds perfect for white meat, so it'll be breast for me." Chadwick smiled at this attempt at a pun and looked about for reactions. Morgan smiled fondly at Chadwick when he said this. Merlin looked as though he were ablout to make a certain response, and then looked at Larissa and decided to eschew it. His lips still twitched though, as he returned to peruse the menu. "You know, even after all this time, I still find some of these dishes sound less than inviting," he said. "Pigs' trotters - I bet they weren't grown in a vat, eh, Larissa?" "Precisely why I'm having the tortellini," Larissa gave Merlin a 'behave yourself' glare over the menu. Merlin gave her a singularly angelic smile in return. "Never liked vat-grown food myself," Morgan said, examining the menu. "Always put me in mind of the Empire's clone farms and secret labs, where they grew all sorts of things best not thought about. Whole slave species, grown to order. Think I'll have the beef and mushrooms, with a red wine sauce, I always like that. Whatever the herbs are that they use here, they give it a taste I've never had anywhere else. Rich and hearty, but with a certain delicacy. Delicious." He smiled at Chadwick again. "Heavier than the chicken, but still very good. If you'd like a taste of mine just ask." Chadwick looked sideways at Larissa before responding to Morgan. "Certainly. Thank you... very kind." There was a decided oddity of taking food off of someone else's plate, even when done correctly, Chadwick felt, but Morgan was one of those people that perhaps it was best to be polite to. Larissa smiled encouragingly back at her cousin. "Drink your wine before it warms up, Chadwick. You and I can split another bottle of white over the meal and leave the red for the interlopers. "And *do* relax. You're not going to offend anyone here. We're all far more practiced at the art than you are," she said with a laugh. "Oh, o-of course," he said as he lowered his menu and squared his shoulders more, giving less the suggestion of a frightened child. "More practised at a wide range of arts," murmured Merlin. He considered the menu and then tossed it to the hovering waiter. "A steak for me. Rare. Extremely rare. In fact, I'd prefer it moo-ing when it's placed before me. And a green peppercorn sauce. And salad. My usual wine." "And be sure food and drink are sent out to our driver," Morgan added. The business of ordering finished with he turned the full force of his smile of Chadwick. "So," he said. "What are our plans for this evening?" It seemed a general question. "I thought we were just going to have a pleasant dinner, but we could take in a museum... the artist's quarter has some lovely roving displays, even late into the night." Chadwick began to think. He knew so little of the city, but he'd heard of some things he'd wanted to visit, he was sure... nothing else seemed to come to mind... "u-unless there was something else that you might... find..." Merlin's smile was unnerving. "Lovely things in the artists' quarter," Morgan agreed. "It seems a good night for looking at lovely things in pleasant company." "Do we need to go as far as the artists' quarter for that?" asked Merlin thoughtfully. "Isn't there somewhere ... closer?" "Hmmm," Morgan replied. He tapped his fingers on the table in thought, then said, "Rissa? Can you think of anything?" Chadwick watched the others bounce this question around. He was rather fond of the Artists' Quarter and the idea that it was too far for enjoyment was not one that he felt was accurate. How could one stray too far for that kind of value? Merlin gave Larissa his best hopeful puppy look. Well, not quite his best - that would have required several physical shifts. But it was certainly his best while in human form. "Welllllll," she drawled, "there's always our cousin's establishment. We could introduce Chadwick and take in the sights. She's quite the artist herself, Chad. Does lovely portraiture." Larissa smiled happily as though the idea hadn't all along been to bring up this topic. "Does she? I think that'd be lovely! What are her landscapes like, I wonder? Do you think we should stop by the castle? I could get my portfolio and show her some of the things I've done of late..." Chadwick began to ramble on about art, and his love thereof. "That's a great idea!" Morgan exclaimed, cutting into Chadwick's ramblings. "And she's a collector, too. Why, I think some of the loveliest pieces I've ever seen have been at her place!" "Then we must certainly lose no time in taking Chadwick to inspect the collection," said Merlin with enthusiasm. "Who needs food when we can feast our finer instincts instead?" "We can eat there, anyway," Morgan agreed. "I always find something tasty laid before me when I visit." "She cooks as well? I'm stunned that I've never been there," Chadwick said, looking at all of them with curiosity. "Surely such an oversight should be rectified forthwith! Come... let us away!" Chadwick set his menu down firmly and prepared to leave the establishment. "Pay these people, Larissa my sweet," said Merlin, rising elegantly to his feet. "We don't want them to lose out from my cousin's impetuousity. Morgan, can you have the carriage driver dragged away from whatever viands he was about to wolf down? Promise him a tasty morsel at Petra's establishment - I'm sure he'll be eager to drive us there." "So, come along, Chad," he went on, "and you can share with us all the lovely stories you've been telling Larissa." And he tucked his arm through Chadwick's and steered him expeditiously towards the door. Chadwick went willingly, with a smile. He did look back to make sure Larissa was doing well before departing the establishment itself, regaling Morgan with the tale of Skald's appendectomy. Lariss made a gesture at Merlin's back which no one in the restaurant was likely to recognize as unfit for polite company--at least, not in the Draconis Cluster of her home Shadow. "They'll bill Fair Winds," she said, then threw back Chadwick's nearly untouched wine. "So much for getting him drunk," she whispered to Morgan. Morgan grinned at her. "We'll intoxicate him with love," he said. He blew her a kiss. "I'll meet you at the carriage, Rissa." Morgan stopped by the headwaiter's podium on the way out. "No point in wasting food. Have about a quarter portion of every dish separated out," he said, as he took a sheet of gold-edged paper and helped himself to a pen. He dipped it in the inkwell on the podium and began to write, as he continued to give instructions. "Add in one of every one of your deserts. Have one of your staff locate Baroness Solitaire Helgram, and deliver the food, and this note, to her companion."
To the handsomest fellow in all Amber, A token of friendship and respect, From the second handsomest. (signed) Captain Morgan PS - Feel free to share with the Baroness, if you are so inclined. He looked over what he had written, smiled, and then folded it and wrote TANSTAAFL on the outside, and handed it to the headwaiter.* "Our apologies for not being able to stay longer," he said. "No reflection upon the service or the food. Flora's son is rather rusticated, and perhaps this place was a little too sophisticated for him as of yet. We'll bring him back when he's a bit more ... mature." "Hurry up," said Merlin, when Morgan eventually emerged from the restaurant. "You took forever - what were you doing?" But it was clear this was a no more than a sulky complaint for he said, the next moment, "I've got an idea. Let's take two phaetons from here and race them down to the harbour. There's a rather nice nattty black high perch phaeton here - it'll go like the devil if I don't overturn it. What do you say? Larissa, do you want to take one as well? Chad, you can ride with me." Morgan eyed the phaeton Merlin had chosen appraisingly, and then begin to consider the other carriages. Chadwick looked wordlessly to Larissa, hoping for support in a situation that looked hopeless... good manners would dictate that he accept the request of his sovereign. That this race might not go down too well with the owner of the phaeton (or the owners of other vehicles they might be tempted to appropriate) didn't seem to worry Merlin at all. "The answer is, of course, 'no,'" Larissa said with the air of a patient parent explaining to a toddler why one musn't rub applesause into the upholstery. "Chadwick, don't feel obligated to indulge his bad behavior." She paused with a hand on the door of the royal carriage. "Merlin. You wouldn't want to upset Chadwick on a night when we're supposed to be showing him the City's delights. Would you." Her glare warned him not to let their cousin slip off the hook. Merlin frowned and looked speculatively at Chadwick. Chadwick sagged a little bit in relief and nodded with a smile to Larissa. "You know," Morgan said thoughtully, "It occurs to me that by now they've undoubtably put out to sea. They had no reason to hold for us, after all, since they weren't expecting us." He smiled at Merlin. "Maybe we should trump in, instead of wasting the time taking a boat and sailing around looking for them? You have a trump, don't you Merl?" "That would be perfect, I think," Chadwick said with a bit more perk than he felt, still trying to avoid a ride in the Phaetons. He did feel that it might be a bit much for him right now. Merlin was silent for a moment - it looked as though he was going to protest this attempt to overbear him ... and then he gave a short, decisive nod, before reaching inside his jacket. "You're right," he agreed. "We've already wasted enough time." He flipped open a card case and selected a trump - it was very near the top. Then he was concentrating on it ... "All right," he said. "Who wants to go through first? Rissa, I think - then Chad. Morgan and I will bring up the rear." Morgan nodded. "Sounds good," he said. He glanced around lazily, apparently at ease, doing a check for any potential danger or spies in the immediate vicinity. Occasionally someone decided to commit suicide in a spectacular fashion by attacking the king, and Morgan liked to make it a point of honour to be the one who managed to kill them. "That would be more convenient," Larissa agreed. She touched Merlin's shoulder lightly to bring herself into the contact and stepped through to the Ramblin' Queen. The trump was to the salon Petra had long ago designated as Merlin's. Decorated in shades of grey and with touches of black and silver, the room had a more masculine feel then the rest of the ship's public areas. Seated in one of the deep leather chairs with a book on her lap, Antonia looked up at the sound of Larissa's footstep into the salon and smirked slightly as she rose to meet them. "Ah, the game's afoot." "Shh. He's right behind me." Larissa stepped aside to leave the path open for the others, and tossed her cloak onto the back of a chair. True it was, for scant moments later Chadwick passed through the trump and into the parlor. He almost instantly felt like he was intruding on something that he aughtn't, and tried not to look directly at the others for the time being. Instead he looked at the room at large, "It's... it's very nicely decorated. I love the contrasts of grey and silver." As soon as Chadwick had gone through Morgan tossed a small purse of coins to the driver. "The royal carriage isn't wanted back at the castle until dawn," he told the man. "See to it that it's seen here and there around the city between now and then." He grinned. "I'd suggest finding a pair of pretty sisters who will be so impressed at being able to ride in the king's own carriage that they'd be willing and eager to show their gratitude in many imaginative ways." And then he and Merlin went through. "Very nice," agreed Merlin, with a cursory look round. "I could wish, though, that my late lamented father's taste in colour had been a bit more cheery. Or that Mandor hadn't been quite so insistent that I follow Dad's lead. "Now, Antonia, I'm famished. What can you give us by way of entertainment?" His expression suggested that he wasn't just looking for food. Antonia's smile grew into something sly yet playful. "Petra is indisposed at the moment, but she has made arrangements for Your Majesty's evening's entertainment. I'm sure we can accommodate all of you." "If you'll follow me..." she said and turned to lead them out of the salon and to the main lounge. Not that Merlin or Morgan needed leading. She paused to tug on a bell pull by the door before opening it to let them loose on their unsuspecting guests. Morgan clapped Chadwick on his back. "Best hospitality anywhere," he said. "I envy you the joy of experiencing it for the first time." "What a shame about Petra," Larissa said, gliding up to link arms with Morgan and Chadwick simultaneously. "We'll have to see her later. "Morgan, why don't you take Chadwick and introduce him around? You're a more familiar face here than I am." She smiled sweetly at Morgan and pulled him closer to Chadwick. "He should have good references, don't you think?" Chadwick had the faintest idea that he'd gotten into something... not right. Still, he was here. Morgan had not come across as the safest of people, but he'd not demonstrated any animosity... surely he was merely adventurous, and not unsavory. He looked nervously from Morgan to Larissa, but said nothing. "Come on then," said Merlin. "What are we waiting for?" And he strode out of the small private room and into the main lounge. Morgan smiled and took Chadwick's arm. "Come along, Chaddy," he said. "Let's see what trouble we can find." Business was going on as usual in the main lounge. Beautiful women mingled with powerful men. Talen was playing some slow jazz on the piano. Merlin had become such a fixture on the Ramblin' Queen over the years that hardly anyone even twitched when they noticed him there. Vikund and Ramon were just entering the main lounge area from a side hall. Ambassador Ingrey and the tall redheaded Sorcha were coming through from the dining room. At the top of the stairs, Antonia paused long enough to nod at a smiling Aura, who then gestured to someone on the other side of the room. Standing beside the petite powerhouse that was Aura was an equally petite, but delicate blonde who completely embodied the girl-next-door innocence. From opposite sides of the lounge, two women moved to meet them at the base of the stairs. Identical in looks, one dressed in white and draped elegantly in white pearls and emeralds, the other in a gown of black with emeralds and black pearls. Tall and very well put together, with dark hair and blue eyes, they both had their eyes on Merlin and wearing smiles full of the promise of interesting things. "Your Majesty," Antonia smiled. She glanced back at the innocent Chadwick briefly before continuing "I present Alexandra and Nereza. Your personal ... attendants for the evening. Your hostess believes they have much to offer to a man such as yourself." Morgan looked around the room with pleasure, his arm still linked in Chadwick's. Vikund stepped to the side as he entered the lounge, slipping along the wall and observing the exchanges. He had a calculating look as he headed towards the nearest bar, leaving Ramon to his own devices. "Mmmm," drawls Merlin appreciatively, regarding them both under heavily lidded eyes. "You've outdone yourselves ... I love having a pair in hand." Then he glances round a smiles. Chadwick was confused, and his expression said as much, but he felt it better to ask later, perhaps his mother, what these things meant. "Perhaps a drink first, Antonia. Some Atlantean fire wine ... I believe my cousin here has never tried it." In the meantime, Ingrey halted his and Sorcha's progress toward the deck, upon seeing Merlin, Morgan, and Chadwick. "Now that's a trio you don't often see together." Ingrey murmured. "And I'm surprised Chadwick is here at all." Ingrey looked at Sorcha. "Shall we go over?" Sorcha smiled. "If you wish to say hello, do not let me stop you." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "As you wish," replied Antonia Antonia's signal was accepted with a nod from Aura, who took it upon herself to collect and oversee the delivery of the heady wine from her homeland that Petra tended to horde for herself. The colors shimmered in the dark wine as Aura presented a tray of delicate glasses to Merlin first. The blonde with her carried the other tray around to Morgan and Chadwick, where she gave Chadwick a sweet smile. Chadwick's smile, the one he offered the blond, was nervous and confused. He took the glass, exceedingly careful not to come into contact with the woman offering it. Her voice was lyrical and light when she turned to Morgan. "Good evening, Captain. Who is your charming young friend?" Morgan smiled at her. "May I present Chadwick, son of Fiona, a nice young lad whom I've taken a great fondness to." He took a glass and sniffed it, then smiled. "Ah, sweet and lovely as the lady who offers it," he said. He tilted his head to one side, regarding the blond, then turned to Chadwick. "This is one of the awkward things about notoriety," he confided in a stage whisper. "I've seen the lady with her friend Aura, and she clearly knows my name, but I don't believe we've ever been properly introduced. Makes it very hard for me to introduce her to you. Do you think we should ask her name?" "Would it be proper," Chadwick asked, "is there no one here that could introduce us? Mother has been on about such things since I came here, and I'd hate to disappoint her were she to get word." As they moved in on the King's group, Sorcha leaned over and whispered to Ingrey. "Chadwick looks like he's never been around girls before." "Chadwick is the son of the Princess Florimel," Ingrey explained. "And as such, his mother has kept him in a state of innocence that could be accurately described as virginal. I am certain that his mother is not aware of his presence here." Ingrey whispered softly in Sorcha's ear, an intimate gesture as his gaze indicated the charming blond who was talking with Morgan and Chadwick. "You know, *she's* perfect for him, if Chadwick were willing. Not my type, but for Chadwick's initial foray, I think she'd be good for him, do you not agree?" Ingrey waited for the answer before finishing the crossing of distance to where the King's party were chatting with Aura, Antonia, and the blonde. Merlin's dark eyes watched their approach over the rim of his wine glass. "Your Majesty" Ingrey said politely, stopping with Sorcha at a requisite distance from Merlin. "It is a pleasure to see you in such congenial surroundings. I think you have met Sorcha, of course." Ingrey gave a playful, slightly proprietary squeeze of the arm he held. Merlin acknowledged the greeting with a formal inclination of his head. Then he slid an arm around one of the twins and drew her closer to him so that he could, with greater ease, begin to nuzzle her neck. Ingrey then gave nods to the rest of the staff gathered, and gave a nod to Chadwick and Morgan. "Good evening, Chadwick." he said. He then turned his eyes to Morgan. "Greetings, Morgan." Ingrey added with a bob of his head for Deirdre's son. Chadwick nodded, but didn't recognize Ingrey, and said nothing to him. Instead he focused his attention on the lady before him. "Ingrey!" Morgan said with evident pleasure. "You're just the man we needed." He turned back to Chadwick. "Ingrey is a diplomat," he explained, "And if anyone here knows the rules of propriety it's him. He. Whichever." Ingrey blinked his eyes and looked patiently at Morgan. He smiled at Ingrey. "Chadwick was wondering if it would be proper for him to ask the young lady's name," he explained, for all the world as though the young lady weren't standing right there in front of the three of them holding a tray of drinks. "She recognizes me, you see, but I'm afraid that I haven't had the pleasure of conversing with her as of yet, so I don't know her to introduce her to him. It's a sticky point of etiquette, you see. My mother never taught me these things the way his mother did, so I'm not the best person for him to ask. But you..." and his smile grew wider, and he took a sip of the drink. And winked at the blond. "Well, it would be pleasing for me to solve your conundrum, Morgan." Ingrey paused and then nodded to Chadwick. "Chadwick." "Decorum and the rules of the Queen not only allow, but positively mandate that, if you are not familiar with a Staff member that you are not acquainted with,and vice versa, to introduce yourself, and ask who they might be in exchange. Your mother would find anything else to be impolite, Chadwick." "Observe." Ingrey turned to regard the blond and bobbed his head toward her. "Good evening. My name is Ingrey. Who might you be?" He held up a finger before the blond could answer. "Now, you." he said to Chadwick. Chadwick felt chastised, and blushed for not knowing this trivial social rule. "I, uh... madam, I was... He stopped. "Pardon me," he said, "I really should introduce myself first. I am Chadwick Barimen, Son of Flora. I would appreciate deeply the honor of knowing your name." She gave him an absolutely brilliant smile. "It's very nice to meet you, Chadwick. My name is Lily. Is this your first visit to the Ramblin Queen? I could show you around if you'd like. There's all sorts of things to see... and do." A few yards away, Antonia looked to Merlin nuzzling a smiling brunette. Then her eyes tracked to Morgan and then back to Chadwick and Lily, then briefly to Ingrey and Sorcha. She looked around further and pursed her lips when she realized Larissa was not anywhere in sight. She turned to Aura and muttered darkly. "Sto andando strangolare Petra di mattina." Ingrey nearly smiled as his new student introduced himself to Lily and vice versa. He leaned in slightly and spoke in a stage whisper. "You should accept, Chadwick. If you need anything, Morgan will be around, as will I, or his Majesty, or the other staff members. I'm sure, though, Lily will be a wonderful guide." He looked at Morgan. "I would like to speak with you on your earliest convenience." "No time like the present!" Morgan answered. "Seize the day! Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we may be on the run from something really nasty. Chaddie, I'll leave you to Lily. Lily, very nice to meet you, I'm sure we'll talk later. Come along, Ingrey, diplomat-at-large, let us descend upon the food and talk of many things." Merlin made no attempt to excuse himself. He simply headed for the suite he made his own, (making sure, nonetheless, to circumvent Larissa in the library on his way to the master bedroom he reserved largely for his own use - with selected company). He also had an arm wrapped around one twin; clearly, he had no intention of letting such bounty escape. The other twin smirked at Antonia and grabbed the bottle of Fire Wine as she followed her sister and Merlin, and Antonia let out a breath as she watched the trio's exit. Ingrey held up the hand attached to the arm which was not wrapped about his own Favorite's. "Sorcha and I have already eaten, Morgan. We were looking to take some coffee on deck before engaging in a traditional chess match." Ingrey explained. Chadwick looked at Lily. "Hi," he said. "I hear the stars are absolutely marvelous out." "I'm sure they are the same ones you see from the castle," said Lily with a warm and friendly smile. "But we can stargaze if you like. Do you have an interest in Astronomy?" "No," he said, realizing that suddenly they were alone. "I... they're just very pretty, I hear. I've been told that things look differently over the water." He was twisting his fingers between each other... fidgeting. He tried to stop. "When I was invited they told me that there was an impressive collection of paintings?" He was asking, hoping perhaps to change subjects to something more comfortable. "Oh!" responded Lily brightly. "Certainly! Petra did most of them, but several of the employees have added to the collection, and we have some pieces from local and Shadow artists that have caught the boss' eye. There's a few pieces of Aura's sculpture around too." She paused and watched him fidget a moment. "How about we start on this level and work our way down?" she asked innocently. "That... sounds lovely," Chadwick said as he looked around, as if an escape hatch might magically appear and force him out of the situation beyond any semblence of his own control, and thus he might feel reasonably absolved of any blame. Not happening. "Do you have a favorite piece?" Lily tilted her head to one side and took a step closer to Chadwick. "It's all right, you know," she whispered for his ears only. "This is one of the safest places in Amber, else Merlin wouldn't be here so much. No one is going to bite you." She smiled playfully. "Unless you ask nicely." Chadwick was completely uncertain how to take this comment. "I see," he said with a little less truthfulness than he was used to. Then she stepped back, still smiling. "I'll show you one of my favorites." Then taking advantage of what she imagined his mother drilled into him about good manners, Lily took his arm and begin walking him back up the stairs to the upper levels. He readily allowed her to take his arm, and his bearing became more formal as she did so. One could almost hear trumpets blaring upon their approach. "I'm always fascinated with the techniques that others use." "Oh, so am I," she agreed readily. "What do you favor?" They were so not having the same conversation, though only Lily was aware of it. Chadwick gave some thought to this delicate subject. "In oil; which I prefer after pencil, charcoal and the like, I favor Cainite techniques. He practically pioneered improvisational strokes... though it's rumoured that he often had assistants. Brand was very good as well, of course. Dworkin has a very primal feel to his work that I find... disconcerting. Of course, I've only really been exposed to Amberite work, with some knowledge of Chaosian... Dworkin really does cover much of that in his book, ''Ars Tempus My Leg''. "You... you wouldn't be familiar, would you?" Lily paused and looked over her shoulder then down the hall to make sure they were alone. Then she rose on her tiptoes and whispered near his ear. Chadwick leans in to hear her, certain that whatever she whispers will be an important secret of the greatest kind. He has a look about him that says he will bear to his grave where the lollipops are stashed. "We have one of Caine's paintings, actually," she whispered. "Would you like to see it?" Chadwick's eyebrows rise, and with a barely concealed grin of exuberance he nods. "Oh, yes, please," he whispers in the manner of an excited child. The fresh faced blonde beamed up at him and changed their direction, weaving through hallways until they came to one in a seldom visited public area of the ship. She peeked in the door before opening it all the way for them to enter. The ship's library was decorated in warm earth tones and gleaming woods. Shelves lined the walls and comfortable chairs were set around the floor, each with a small table and light beside it. In one corner was a small desk, over which hung an painting of a city similar to Earth's Venice populated by people in elaborate costumes and masks. The masked couple in the foreground were executed in painstaking and breathing detail, while the background was executed with a dreamy quality. It was not by any painter he was familiar with. "I just need to grab a key." Lily slipped from his side and moved search the drawers of the desk. He drew his attention to the painting, while she searched for the key. "Certainly," he said as the couple in the foreground became more of a focus for him. They looked... familiar. Not people he knew well, but... something. He shook himself and backed away, paying attention again to Lily. "Is there... do you need help?" "No, I'm good," smiled Lily as she shut the drawer and looked up at the painting. "Striking, isn't it?" She held up a brass key and took his arm again. "Shall we?" "Hmmm?" He pulled himself away from the painting, which is entrancing. "We shall," he says, lifting his arm and smiling at her. "Really? Caine's work," he asked as he let her lead him out of the room. "Amazing." "Oh, this ship is just full of amazing things," Lily responded cheerfully. She paused at an intersection of hallway to get her bearings and moved them towards another flight of stairs. Along the way, she stops every so often to show him the few other paintings they pass. Some by the same hand as the one in the library, landscapes of places not Amber: the gleaming domes and sensual curves of Persa, the colorful marbles and woods of Atlantis' capitol city, the pristine white marble of a Cornaron temple to Venus. He pauses at each, and appreciates them by a comment on the positive aspects, (use of light, perhaps), before encouraging them to move on in anticipation of what awaits him. Finally they reach their destination. Once again she checks the hallway before unlocking the door and ushering him inside a sitting room of greens and pale cream. She turns up the lamps and motions him to the painting hanging over a settee. The panting was large. A good five feet from side to side. It was also quite obviously Caine's hand, even without his mark in the corner. The subject was a grove, a pattern of wood and leaves of incredible intricacy. The longer he looked, the more it seemed that there was something there, something more than first met the eye. Lily sat on the settee in front of him, watching his face expectantly. Chadwick closed distance with the painting, looking at the brushmarks which were only visible enough to mark it as a painting. "...breathtaking," Chadwick said as he admired the work before him. He almost touched it, looking at it so closely. "I think it's safe to say he knew his subject," he said with a smile. "Step back," Lily said after giving him a moment. She rose and moved to a position a few feet behind him. "Here. The painting holds a secret if you view it just right." He stepped back, watching the painting and adjusting his view as he did so. When he joined her, she moved behind him and slid her arms around his waist. She rested her chin on his shoulder so she could speak softly in his ear. "Let your eyes relax, almost cross, and look again. Do you see it?" It tickled, and he shook his head after she spoke, remaining silent long enough to hear what she had to say. When he does as she says, the patterns in the woods and the leaves, in the lights and the shadows, resolve themselves into a breathtaking sight. One hoof poised in mid-step, the head just starting to turn towards the viewer, was the Unicorn, and one just *knew* somehow on a very basic level, that it was The Unicorn, and not just a Unicorn. "Wow," Chadwick whispered in total awe. "I wonder how many layers it has? Would we see the Pattern if we looked another way... elsewhere?" "I don't know," Lily said softly. "Why don't we try?" She stepped back and to one side, her hands trailing slowly from him instead of dropping away. She smiled at him. "Do you know what the Pattern looked like?" He let her trail away from him, barely aware of the positions of her hands save that she was still present. He shook his head, "I've never seen it," he responded. "I just always thought I'd know it," he was looking at the painting, adjusting the way he looked at it. He became aware of the subtle lighting in the room. Lily shifted her position slightly and tilted her head to one side to study the painting from a different angle. She was standing very close to him and he could just catch the faint intoxicating scent of magnolias from her perfume. He wasn't at all familiar with the magnolia plant, but the sweet floral scent readily brought to mind sultry summer days when he would lay in the glade and listen to the atomies carry on business while Ilsyana talked about her travels within the world of trees. "Looks a bit like a great knot, doesn't it?" "That bit... right there? It leads into his hair, and... Ooooh," he smiles broadly, "I think we've found it." He began to trace it, whether it was the Pattern or no. It looked like what Chadwick thought the Pattern should be, and he was so very eager, and smiling. Lily watched him more then the painting and felt herself smiling. She moved over beside him and very carefully stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. As soon as her lips touched his cheek, before they indented his skin with the soft pressure of a kiss, blood rushed through his body and highlighted his cheeks, which became like beacons of confused embarrassment. "You should smile like that more. It's very becoming." "I... thank you," he said, looking away. He seemed to scrutinize the wallpaper in the same way that he had focused on the painting moments before. "It's a lovely ship. I don't get out to sea much, but it's really nice here." "We try," replied Lily. "We want our visitors to feel comfortable." A delicate hand squeezed his shoulder. "You seem a little tense, Chadwick," she said in a soft and soothing tone. "Why don't you relax, take off your jacket and sit down? I'll fix us a drink and you can tell me more about yourself." He fought the urge to run, to fly and maybe swim. There was a tremor in his hands as he removed his jacket, fighting with the left sleeve and eventually shaking it off. There was something... unsettling he'd found in the past few moments. Still, he wouldn't be seen as rude... mother wouldn't hear of it. He located a single chair with no room for her on it and sat down. He was till fidgeting when he began. "I'm from a shadow called 'Haraden'. It's most known for its trees, but I was protector of the Dunlins... giants. There's a dragon that sometimes kidnaps the maidens..." he went on to describe his roll as hero to the people of Haraden, pausing only to accept the drink when she offered it. "... and several years ago I was brought to Amber," he continued, "where my mother felt it best if I learn something of medicine and some martial skills... specifically throwing potatoes." Were it possible for him to be less nervous, he might have spoken less, but he did look up to ascertain whether he was boring his audience. "My cousins sought a good meal, and now I'm here," he finished. "How about you?" After handing him a glass of pale wine, Lily had seated herself on a footstool in front and and just to one side of Chadwick. By all appearances, she was quite entranced as she listened. Leaning forward to rest an elbow on her knee so she could rest her chin on her fist, she seemed completely oblivious to the captivating picture she presented as those wide, blue eyes watched him from a heart-shaped face framed by bright blonde curls. Nor did it seem to register with her just how that position at his knee showed off the creamy swell of her breasts, framed so perefectly by the gown she wore. "Potatoes, Chadwick?" she asked curiously when he stoppped his narrative. "I have never heard of the martial art of potatoe throwing. Are you very good at it?" "Oh yes," he responded, "probably the best." He seemed able enough to ignore the cut of her dress, and the exposure of usually alluring bodily features. It was as if he'd seen such things all his life and was used to it. However, when she swayed even a fraction of an inch closer his speech would accelerate. He sat further back in his chair, almost as if a knife were pointed at his throat. She smiled slightly and sat up slowly, making no sudden movements that might startle him more. "Chadwick," she said gently. "I am not going to bite you. Honest." Lily stood and walked to tall wooden cabinet carved with stylized roses and dragonflies. She stepped back, opening both doors and peering inside. "Can I interest you in a game?" she asked, looking back over to him. "Your companions will be some time yet. Or I suppose we could continue your tour of the ship." He perked up. "A game? I'm not very good at strategy games, but I do like to try..." He let this trail off as he rose to look at the games they had. Surely something would appeal. They had a whole cabinet! He looked over the boxes. Most were dull-looking, but one had bright dots and smiling faces along the side. "Twister?" Lily turned a puzzled frown from the game piece she was looking at to the boxy Chadwick indicated. The colors and the cardboard looked jarringly our of place in the elegant cabinet, as did the boxes that had been added by the same patron. Suddenly she remembered the game and giggled. "Merlin gave us that. It's fun with more people, but two can play." Lily sighed and gave him a faint smile. He really had no idea. "But you might want to look at it more closely before you decide, sweetie," she said with a hint of gentle regret in her voice. "Players get very ... close." He took a closer look at the box, which had additional labeling. The first was by the manufacturer. "Party Edition," Chadwick read aloud as he pulled the box out for the consideration that Lily had suggested. The second additional label was hand-written on tape. It was the single word, "naked." None of the people on the box were naked, but Chadwick put the box back where he'd found it without a word as to his opinion. "Checkers," he offered. Lily wrinkled her nose and pointed at a stack of boxes on the bottom shelf that obviously didn't get much use and were all stamped with the same manufacturer as the Twister box. "Clue," she counter offered. Then she paused to regard him again. "Or maybe Chutes and Ladders." "Clue," he said firmly after noting the look she gave him. He grabbed the box without a moments hesitation and looked at it with little scrutiny before casting about the room for a surface to play on. "We could," he offered, "play on the floor." "We could," she agreed. "Why don't you set the game up and I'll get some pillows?" She smiled and vanished through a previously closed door into a darkened room. He could hear rustling as she moved around. Chadwick set the board out excitedly. He'd never played the game before and the newness of the experience excited him. He read through the instructions as he set the pieces down. "There has been a murder in Castle Amber. As a member of the staff with nothing else to do, not only must you determine who did it, how, and where, but you must determine if the victim is really dead..." Chadwick readily set aside the cards, without peaking, and went to shuffling the rest and distributing them. Lily had kicked off her shoes in the other room and returned with four large pillows. She laid two beside Chadwick and arranged her own before laying on the floor on her stomach and propping up on one of them. "All right," she declared. "I've only played this once, and I always think the butler did it. I hope you read the instructions." "I have," he said, a little nervous at the idea of a murder at the Castle. True, it was just a game, but he couldn't help but wonder... oh, yes. Merlin had brought over a game. No doubt he'd played in this very room. Surely he'd notice anything inappropriate. Finally Chadwick smiled and offered her the dice. "Ladies first," he said. Lily gave him a winning smile as she plucked the dice from his hand. She rolled carefully and moved her piece. She turned to do an intent study of her cards. "Hm. Fiona .... in the broomcloset.... with a hammer." She wrinkled her nose. "Ew. Messy." Chad looked over his cards, slowly bringing his eyes over them to meet hers. With the flick of his wrist he produced the broomcloset card. "Nope," he said with a grin before sweeping up the dice and rolling in one smooth motion. He found himself occupying the boudoir. "In the... ummm, the sitting room, with the," he flipped through his cards and looked at the instructions, "the medicine kit. Uncle Gerard." Lily laughed. "Nu-uh." She flipped out the card bearing the medical kit. She scooped up the dice and took her turn. She referred to the chart and giggled. "I think Merlin made this game up when he was a little too relaxed. Bless him." "In the bath .... Llewella, with heh, a candlestick." Chadwick scanned his cards. He bit his lip and looked over them again. "Ah!" He presented her the bath card, accompanied with a smile. "This is fun," Chadwick said, responding to her statement about Merlin. "I knew he had it in him..." He used a stage whisper, "he's always so glum when mother and I drop in." He rolled, finding his piece occupying the ballroom. "Hmmmm... I think it's Caine," he started. He looked over his card listing, and gave a nod. "Caine, with the sceptre, in the Ballroom." Lily lowered her voice to a stage whisper. "Everyone *always* tries to pin it on Caine." Then she smiled brightly and flipped out Caine's card. "But not today." Chadwick chuckled cheerily at Lily's light revelation. "He only seems sneaky, but a man who plays the accordion that well can't be all bad," he said. He offered Lily the dice. "It's remarkable... the others, Morgan particularly, went on about this place," Chadwick said, "but I've never heard of it before." She rolled and replied while moving her piece to the Throne Room. "You don't get out much, do you, sweetie?" she asked lightly. "You should get Morgan or Merlin to being you more often. There's lots to do on the Ramblin' Queen." "Hmm.. Johann, the Courtyard ... with a ... pistol." It was definitely becoming difficult... eventually he shook his head. "Nothing here," he said. "Maybe I could make a trump. I could just pop in that way," he added with certainty. "It's more fun to do a trump of people, though," he confided. He picked up the dice delicately and rolled them, knowing he'd never make it to the courtyard in time to accuse Johann of anything. "I really don't get out much in Amber, but I could go anywhere in Haraden." "Kinda isolated though, weren't you?" Lily asked. She paused to consider. "Merlin has a Trump to here, and I think a couple of others do too, so I don't see why you couldn't. We just need to find you a good place to make yours for, and be sure and let her know you're making one. She'll probably want to talk to you about it." "Who? Oh! Petra," he exclaimed. "I should check with her, for a trump of the Queen. Maybe she has some spares!" He looked at the board. The tokens were quite ornate. Lily nodded and smiled. "Sorry. I should have been more clear." "Haraden wasn't bad. There were the Dunlins and the faeries... and Skar. We didn't talk much, of course, but he was... a good soul. Taken to kidnapping maidens, but only because he got so lonely." "But no *human* companionship," Lily pointed out kindly. "It sounds like a lovely place, Chadwick, but you have missed out on so much by not having human friends for so long. Have you ever even had a girlfriend? Not a friend that's a girl, but a girlfriend." He could sense, from the way she'd said it, that girlfriend was a title. Still, he wasn't certain what she meant by it. The obvious had been ruled out. His face creased. Whatever it was, he was sure he hadn't had it. "No," he said, hoping that he hadn't given away his ignorance. Lily scrunched her nose thoughtfully. "That explains a lot," was her frank reply, but he could tell she wasn't trying to be mean. She looked up from the board to him and asked carefully. "So ... you've never kissed a girl either, have you?" "Mother frowns on open displays of affection," he said, considering the many times he'd been in the presence of a girl. They'd often kissed him. He'd embraced a few, including Ilsyana on the one occassion. "No, I haven't," he said with the shake of his head. Lily made a note to herself to have a good, long talk with Antonia in the morning. She hummed. Do you ever wonder what you're missing?" "Not usually," he responded. "Morgan's kissed. Mother's done it. I could take a survey, if I felt the need." Lily giggled behind her hand. "I think you we may be talking about different kisses." She looked at the board, still smiling. "Whose turn is it?" He looked down at the board. The game seemed distant now. "Yours," he said with certainty. He filed away the comment about different kinds of kisses. Perhaps the castle library would enlighten. He pushed the dice in Lily's direction. She rattled the dice in her hands and threw them just as she offered: "I could show you the difference, if you like." "Between Morgan's kisses and my mom's," he laughed and wrinkled his nose. "You have pictures?" He hesitated, and part of his mind went on a rebellion against the very thought of a comparison. It was a very odd thing for her to say. "Well, yes," answered Lily. "But I meant I could show you. Personally. By kissing you. To show you the difference between those kisses and the kind of kisses a girlfriend would be giving you.." "Are you saying... that you'd like to be my girlfriend?" It was an earnest question, his eyes widening and a hopeful smile playing, dancing against uncertainty. Lily had plucked up the envelope to see if her last guess was correct, but she dropped it in favor of looking back to consider Chadwick with those wide blue eyes. "I would like that, sweetie," she said earnestly. "But... we may have to keep it secret from your mother, you know. For awhile. Until you can figure out a way to get her used to the idea." "Mother would be thrilled! A nice girl like you... we could attend dances and stroll the parapets!*" He stood up... and swept his hands wide. "It will be glorious!" He paused, "our clothes will have to match." "Hmm..." Lily started, then she sighed and stood up as well. "We'll talk about it before we dock, okay? But first ..." She left the game and sat on the couch. Then patted the space beside her. "You need to know how to *act* like a boyfriend." Chadwick eagerly joined Lily on the couch. "I'm well versed in dancing and style. I can cook!" He tried not to sit too close to her, just in case that wasn't proper. He felt certain that she already knew how girlfriends act. "Yes, sweetie," she smiled and scooted herself much closer to him. "I'm sure you know how to do all the socially expected things with great aplomb and impeccable style. Maybe next time we can stay downstairs awhile and dance." She shifted so she could face him and slowly curled her hand around the back of his neck. "I'm going to kiss you now, all right?" He was nervous, and it showed. "A..alright." He gave her a quirky smile, not quite sure what she was going to do. He was certain lips were involved, and he figured it wasn't going to be unpleasant. She smiled reassuring. "Just do what I do," she said and closed the distant to kiss him. Not to overwhelm him with too much sensory overload at once, Lily kept the first kiss gentle and sweet and only teased his mouth with the very tip of her tongue. Her effort not to overload the synapses of pleasure were well and appreciated. "You... you were right. I don't kiss mom like that!" He leaned forward, nervous about his effort to reciprocate. He placed his hand were she had done hers. He approached her lips. He withdrew. "I... this feels awkward. Could we... is there another way to do this? Standing up, maybe?" "We could..." responded the blonde with a smile. "Or I could sit in your lap." "N-no," he replied hastily. "Standing would be preferred, I think." He erected himself and offered her a hand. "This is... it's rather exciting," he gushed. She laughed lightly as he pulled her to her feet. "Oh, we're just beginning." Lily stepped close and wrapped her arms around him. "Ready?" Chadwick nodded, letting himself gravitate toward her lips. He closed his eyes as his cheek made contact with her skin, his hands placed gently: one wound round her middle, the other between her shoulder blades and finding itself entwined in her hair. For a flicker of a moment he looked at her, absorbing her beauty and the tantalizing energy of the moment. His lips met hers. It was mechanistic at first, so similar to hers as to be indistinguishable. Then it melted into something beautiful. He reached out to her with his soul, desperate to please her. He went no further than a kiss, but that kiss was all that he was.* He reluctantly withdrew, adding little kisses along her lips. Lily's eyes fluttered open and she looked up him with them opened wide. "Wow, Chadwick," she murmured breathlessly. "Are you sure you haven't done this before?" He smiled, taking it as a compliment. "Never," he said. He was a little breathless himself, and he hadn't let go. He had the feeling he would never completely let go. Her embrace was warm, inviting him to cling to her. She gave him a coy smile. "You may have a natural talent in this area. I think further investigation is order, don't you?" Chadwick snuggled against her cheek contentedly. "How much could we do it before your lips get chapped," he asked. One of his hands had migrated southward, putting it squarely between her shoulder blades. Lily chuckled. "Oh, I imagine quite a long time. I think we should see for ourselves, don't you?" Chadwick had to concur. "Oh, yes!" His eyes darted from side to side. "You won the game, I think." She batted her eyelashes and purred. "And you're my prize. Kiss me again, Chadwick." Chadwick hesitated, but only briefly. Thoughts of Mother started to surface and roll about. He shoved them aside... for the moment. This time would belong to him and his beloved. He kissed her. Where his innocence had fallen, experience picked up the slack. This time he knew more of what she wanted, and applied that knowledge as readily as he applied his lips to hers. Lily gave a happy, contented sigh when they finally broke apart for breath. She gave him a dazzling smile. "I feel a bit light headed. Why don't we make use of these pillows on the floor for a bit?" She walked her fingers up the front of his shirt. "Maybe see if your ready for the next part of being a boyfriend..." "I could get used to this," he said. "Do you think we should clean up the game first? I mean, we don't have to, but we could, while we're still up and all?" She waved a hand negligently. "It will be there later. I'd rather pay more attention to you then that. It won't be in the way." She stepped back and pulled him with her to the pillows. He tried to roll so that he didn't land on top of her, for fear that he'd hurt her on impact. His efforts weren't entirely successful, with the bonus that he smacked the side of his head against the floor. He held it and looked to her. "Are you alright?" "Oh, I'm fine!" she exclaimed and started fussing over him, moving his hand from his bumped noggin. "Are you alright? Stupid table." She leaned up and kissed his head where he bumped it. All better?" "I like your smile. It's very beautiful." He received a brilliant one in response. "I like yours," Lily said while smoothing a hand over his shoulders and down his back. "I like a lot of things about you." "Well, I should hope so... since we're a couple," he said with a smile.* The hand down the back was... it was interesting, and he wasn't sure what to make of it. It felt different from the kissing they'd done... closer. It wouldn't feel right to either back away or close the distance. "I'm not, uh... have you had dinner yet? We could, if you'd like." Lily's hand continued a lazy investigation of his back. "I'm not hungry. But I can have something brought up if you are." She leaned over and nuzzled his neck. "I don't really want to leave." Chadwick smiled as the tickling sensation where her breath caressed his neck, and he scrunched with it. "What do you want to do," he asked with a grin. He was still clutching at his pillow. "*I* think we should continue with your boyfriend lessons," replied Lily. "There's still so very much to show you." "More than kissing," he asked with his eyes widening, in such a way that one might wonder at his seriousness. Then the idea of lessons struck him. "Is there to be a test afterwards?" She smiled wickedly. "Possibly..." He looked as if he might scoot closer to her, instead leaning. "Should I get something to write with, then?" "No. This is all practical," Lily assured him. "Now, lay on your back, sweetie." He complied readily, popping the pillow out from under his chin and setting it underneath his head. It had the sensation of getting a physical exam. Lily propped herself up on her elbow and smiled at him. Then the fingers that had walked down his shirt earlier started unbuttoning his shirt. But she took her time, giving him time to get used to it. "You see, you can kiss your boyfriend-or girlfriend-places besides hands, and faces, and lips. In fact," she said brightly. "you can kiss them anywhere on their person." Chadwick looked uncomfortable as she undid the 2nd button. "But why would you want to," he asked in genuine confusion. "Is it more fun to kiss someone someplace other than the lips?" He hadn't stopped her hands, but he had risen slightly. She stopped with the buttons, but her fingers slipped under the shirt to trail along bare skin. "It certainly can be," she assured him softly. Her cool fingers against his skin caused him to pull away a little. Only a little. He wanted to trust her, to allow her unlimited access to him, but he didn't feel quite ready yet. "Really?" She leaned up and kissed him sweetly on the lips. "I would never harm you, Chadwick. But if you aren't ready for this part, I won't rush you. I'll be here when you are." He looked confused. He was confused. He hadn't been able to put his finger on what why he didn't want to go further, but she had... he wasn't ready. He embraced her fiercely. "Thank you," he whispered. He heard her soft chuckle and felt her kiss his cheek. "Anytime, sweetie." "If I'm not mistaken, we'll be docking in a little while. Why don't we go on deck and watch the sunrise?" "That would be lovely," he said over her shoulder. He gave her a slow release and looked deep into her eyes. "We should pick up the game first, I think," he said slowly as he took her in... "and the pillows. Wouldn't be right to leave a mess." "If you insist," she smiled. Lily pushed herself up and to her feet before offering him a hand up. While Chadwick put the game away, Lily returned the pillows to the other room and retrieved her shoes. Once he was ready, they left the room locked behind them and made their way to the deck, where they passed others who had also come to watch the fingers of colors paint the sky as they approached once again the docks of Amber City. Chadwick was light on his feet as he walked up the stairs with Lily. Whatever had happened, he was genuinely happy. "We'll have to do this again," he said. "I've had such fun!" "Me too," Lily assured him. "You know where to find me anytime."
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