EtTristisAnimiLeuareCurasA solemn line of four people made their way through the hushed passages of Castle Amber. The casual observer might have mistaken them for a funeral procession, the duo of guardsmen carrying a young woman in their arms, her limp and face slacken. Upon closer examination, however, the subtle rise and fall of her chest could be detected. The tears shed for her by the tiny woman at the procession's rear, however, may as well have been meant for the dead. With the castle's attention focused elsewhere, the group encountered only a few stray servants on their way through the extensive keep. The elegant woman leading them knew her way instinctively and led them to their final destination with unerring skill; a distant corner of the third floor. Princess Flora opened an unassuming door at the end of the hall and beckoned the group inside. The sitting room beyond possessed all the amenities of private home, fashionable without bordering on pretentiousness. One door led to the darkened balcony while another opened to the master bedroom. It was through the latter door the princess led them. The bedroom, comfortable and well-tended, had a complete bath, fireplace, and bed large enough for three occupants, if one were so inclined. The guards lay the fallen ranger upon the goose-down quilt and departed without a word. Solitaire climbed into bed with Sparrow and then made sure she was resting more comfortably, placing a pillow beneath her sleeping head. She brushed an errant strand of hair from Sparrow's face before looking away, tears threatening once more. "I couldn't…help her." The words felt like broken glass in her throat. "One minute. We were talking about her life. And the Arden. And then next, Lady Tasha showed up with my uncle. And he just. Just." Solitaire balled her fists and shivered with rage. "How could someone do that? Without so much as a thought. And I could do nothing to stop him. Or he would have. Killed Sparrow. Maybe killed us both. I've never felt so helpless in my life." "Perhaps," said Flora, "that was why he did it, Baroness. To show you how powerless you are. Or perhaps he wanted you to aspire to his level of power - to bind you to him, rather than to Lord Mandor." She hesitated and then said, "I believe Lord Mandor has his own reasons for being hard on you, Solitaire. But your uncle will, without compunction, be hard on other people to ensure you learn your lessons." "Oh, I'm certain Mandor has his reasons, Princess," Solitaire said coldly. "He knows what I am. What I can become. But frankly, the man can rot for all I care. And as for my uncle…" She realized her voice had begun to rise, taking on an angered tone, so she fell silent before disturbing Sparrow's slumber. She crawled out of the bed and gestured for Flora to follow her into the sitting room. "We should let her rest in peace. She's suffered enough for one night." Flora frowned at this high-handed treatment. She remained for a moment, checking Sparrow's signs, and then followed Solitaire to the sitting room. Closing the door behind them, Solitaire turned to the angelic woman. She chewed her lip, unable to speak for a moment. Finally, she crossed the room and sat down at the chess set beside the small fireplace. "Princess? What will the King do to me? He was so angered at Sparrow's condition. And this revolution. Which I know nothing about. They're calling my name. Will he? Kill me?" "I don't know," said Flora. "I haven't seen anything like this before - or Merlin's response to it. The King." She was frowning again. "It is difficult to know what he will do, now he is out from Mandor's shadow." She looked thoughtfully at Solitaire. "What is certain is that you've given him very little reason to trust you." "And he, in turn, has given very little reason for me to trust him," Solitaire replied in a frank tone. "I very much doubt his saving me from the mob. Was an altruistic gesture." She sighed and turned her head to consider the chess board. Liquid shadows stained the corners of her violet eyes. A white pawn slowly moved from D2 to D4 under its own power. "I'm to be used as bait, aren't I? For my uncle." "At the moment," said Flora, "I think the last thing Merlin wants is the Duke on his doorstep. No, child, you're not bait. Not this time. I think you should perhaps realise that Merlin has, if it were possible, increased the danger to us all by bringing you here. And I suspect the reason you're here at all is because he wanted you safe." Her gaze travelled back towards the bedroom. "That was before he saw the girl, of course. Solitaire ... how did you meet one of Julian's rangers?" Solitaire nodded lightly to Flora's words. On the chess board, a black pawn moved to D5, shortly followed by a white moving to C4. As the young woman spoke, another black pawn slid over the polished board to C5. "It was obvious that bringing me here posed a threat. And Amber has enough of those. But I guess I should be grateful. I think the Duke. Wanted me to hurt. Those people." She followed Flora's gaze and then smiled sadly. "Sparrow is here as a punishment. For a mistake I made. But that's not what you asked, is it?" Solitaire knitted her fingers together. "Prince Julian sent her to accompany me after our. Negotiations. Earlier this evening." Flora started to speak, and then stopped. There was a strange expression on her face: not confusion, for Flora was never confused. But there was certainly a touch of amusement. Finally, she spoke. "Solitaire - just whose side are you on, exactly?" Solitaire glanced up, sheepish and pensive. The chess game continued in silence, apparently moving into the Symmetrical Defense, fallen pieces plucked from the board by invisible fingers. The arcane, nervous tic didn't pause when she finally answered Flora's question. "Amber, Princess. I'm on Amber's side. And I do not mean the Amber of yesteryear. Not the one they call for in the streets. Nor the Amber Prince Julian and his ilk covet so fiercely. I mean the Amber of my generation. The Amber where the Blood have reunited once more. One where the Unicorn and Serpent are finally in balance. Where Chaos and Order are united. That's the Amber to which I was born and the one in which I shall die. It lives here in me…" She touched her heart and then lifted her head, unable to contain her pride. "I am an Amberite. Just like you or your brothers and sisters. And your family, in turn, are also Chaosians. Just as your grandfather was. His blood is in you. My blood is in him. We are the same people. And that is what Amber is, what it represents. Our reunification and our future." Solitaire sank into the chair, folding her arms around her, the passion of her voice ebbing away as quickly as it came. She shrugged, "That's whose side I'm on. But. After tonight. I don't think it's a very popular side." "No," said Flora thoughtfully. "And your position is hardly strengthened by the fact the the person who has fought hardest for the Amber of this generation is the one you claim to hate above all others." "Damien?" Solitaire said without thinking. A blush then colored her cheeks, "Oh. You mean the Master." She shrugged her shoulders and hugged herself. "The Master fights for Amber because. He believes it belongs to him. But it doesn't. It belongs to the people. Without them. Amber is nothing." The young woman gazed up at her peer, the pain of innocence etched upon her brow. "I don't know how to feel about him. He. He betrayed me. I loved him like a daughter. And he…" She sniffled, "I'm just a pet to him. A curio for his collection. Everything I am. Everything I was. Is just a falsehood he built. And when I questioned him. He let his Dog threaten my family. As if they were nothing." She gulped down the tears, dismissing them angrily. "How could I trust someone like that with Amber's future?" "You have other candidates in mind for the position?" asked Flora dryly. Solitaire stiffened at this. She'd been considering this very question since leaving the Arden. Now she had an impartial audience for her thoughts. Perhaps Flora could understand her intentions or at the very least help guide them into the realm of possibility. She brushed the wetness on her cheek away, infuriated at her weakness. She lifted her head to meet Flora's gaze. Her voice took on a calmness that betrayed the regality lurking beneath the woman's mousy exterior. "In Antiquity of Shadow Earth, the Roman Empire grew so large that it became unmanageable, leading to political strife and civil wars. As such, they split it into two Empires, the Eastern and Western. This allowed the rulers to administer their territories more effectively and without the problems associated with an overly centralized government. "Amber and Chaos are much like this, a singular Emperor governing a world at the furthest reaches of its territories. It creates strife and resentment. How can a Chaosian understand the plights of an Amberite in a city he will never see? The last hundred years have proved that this form of governing cannot hold. And Amber cannot survive another war. Even if it obtains victory, the Emperor will simply invade again. And this time, he will cull ever man, woman, and child of Amber blood. The Duke's presence here is proof of that. "But if we offered him a choice. A self-governed Amber truly at peace with Chaos. Maybe then he would change his views and stay his hand of execution. Rather than expending valuable resources to crush out the resistance. The Empire could use them to rebuild and prosper. And Amber, in turn, could move forward into a new era, benefiting from the influence of Chaos. An Amber where Chaosian and Amberite live in peace." While she spoke, the ghostly chess game resumed. By the time she'd finished, it had entered the end game. The white queen slid to F2, directly in the path of the black queen, which in turn was protecting its king. To an untrained eye, it appeared a pointless sacrifice of a powerful piece. Upon closer examination, however, the truth behind the move could be seen. The white queen now acted as a desperado piece; if black queen did not capture it, white would obtain checkmate. But if it did so then the game would end in stalemate. Solitaire picked up the white queen, gently rolling it in her tiny fingers. "Prince Julian said those who loved Amber did not make demands. Only sacrifices." Her violet eyes flickered as she looked up at Flora. "What Amber needs is an Empress. One of both bloodlines. One that can speak to and for both peoples." "As opposed to a King of both bloodlines?" said Flora, sounding a little skeptical. "I'm not sure the Emperor would see that as much of a change. Besides which, neither Mandor or Fiona stand much higher in respect than Corwin and Dara. "And which of them would you choose - Helena or Clytemnestra?" Solitaire sighed with genuine relief, "I'd meant someone else. But. Better them than me, right?" She laughed humorlessly. "I think," said Flora, a little dryly, "that an Empress who would die as soon as she set her foot on the Pattern might be seen as a disadvantage in Amber, don't you?" "Precisely my point," Solitaire replied. "I would not be considered tainted. Or a threat. And since. I may be an Avatar of the Logrus. It would be even more appealing to the Chaosian mindset." Her smile thinned, "However, such thoughts would not extend to a consort who could walk the Pattern. Thus, his influence could appeal to the Amberites. "But that's neither here nor there. I just want to return to my research. So I can heal Sparrow." The last she said with true honesty. "Good," said Flora. "Both because she needs it, and because it would be dangerous in the extreme for a woman without Pattern to rule in Amber. Listen to me Tear - if Merlin, who has one of the very best claims to the throne under Amber's laws, is still seen in Amber as too closely allied with Chaos, what would Amberites make of a Chaosian girl who has no royal Amberite blood at all?" Solitaire opened her mouth to say something and then thought better of it, lest they get too far off track. Besides, she had more important matters to consider than throwing her hat into the ring. A ring she wanted no part of. She brushed an errant lock from her cheek. "Well then, if I had to choose. Helena would be the better of the two. She has stronger ties to Chaos, which will be favored by the Emperor. And she's had less time to be corrupted by Amber politics. As Clytemnestra has. But her pedigree is strong. "The only problem I see. Is her association to a House currently involved in a Vendetta War. That could carry over to these lands. That's the other reason Mandor and Merlin need to step aside. House Ishtar could attack Amber in 'retaliation.' Thus weakening the House's power-base. At least. That's how they'll justify it. And the Emperor is unlikely to stop them from doing so. Killing two birds with one stone. So to speak." She set the white queen down on the table. "But if Amber had a female line, the Emperor would consider it non-threatening. Women are weak, after all. At least. In the eyes of men like him. And they could be married to an heir, if need be. if we replace the thorn with a rose. He will be more amicable to us." Solitaire hugged herself and gave Flora a sad smile. "Anyway. That's what I think." "House Ishtar lacks the strength to attack Amber," said Flora. "And ...in the past ... the will. Even now, I think there are unlikely to have the resources to pursue their Vendetta to Amber. "No - the only effect of the Vendetta as far as we are concerned is to weaken us - and leave us vulnerable to those who would destroy us - such as your Uncle. And Tear, make no mistake. Even if you were on the throne of Amber, crowned and in glory, he would not hesitate to obliterate Amber if he could." Solitaire nodded at this. "I think. He's already started. In Tir. And Rebma is probably next. He's so strange though. It's as if he's trying to decide one way or another. Destroy us or allow us to survive. And this man. Well. I suspect he is certain of everything he does. So why the hesitation? Hubris, maybe?" She began to tug on her ear, thoughtful. "Princess? If my ties to Amber are as weak as you say. Then why are there Amberites burning the city in my name? I thought it might be. Damien. Trying to hurt me. Well. More than he already has, anyway. "But why? Isn't that counter-productive? I had to hold the Duke back from destroying the crowd. But it has reinforced his belief that Amberites are just. Barbarians." "I don't know why the riot has started now," said Flora. "Merlin said ... Well. I suspect that he will have little time for speculation. But Solitaire ... always ask yourself this question ... Who gains? And learning to answer that will help you see where the winning side is." Solitaire tilted her head, "Merlin said what?" She bit her lip, reaching up to tug on her ear. "I've. Never been good at the politics. Or figuring people out. Damien could gain because he's well. Damien. And that whole thing with Johann smells fishy. And we all know what that guy is like. "The Duke could benefit too. By maybe forcing me into doing something. To the crowd. And then he'd have me. For his own." Her hand fell to her arm, rubbing it in search of warmth. "And the Ambassador," she added. "There's something with the ambassador. She told me my prestige and power has increased. But. That's the first I've heard of it. I don't know if that has anything to do with my sudden. Fame." Another shiver passed through her delicate form. "And then there was. That person. In the Arden. I never saw him. But he. Knew things about me. Things he shouldn't. Like my time inside the Logrus as a baby." Her violet eyes shot upward, holding Flora's gaze. "Princess. Can you teach me. To be more like you? To be. Stronger?" But Flora ignored this last request. "A person in Arden?" she said sharply. "Not Julian?" Solitaire flinched at Flora's sudden change. She gave a shy nod. "Uh-huh. You see. I'd originally thought that maybe Mandor had sent an assassin after Prince Julian. It's why I went to warn him. It seems I was wrong. But when I arrived initially, someone spoke to me from the trees. I thought they were a Ranger. But…" She knitted and reknitted her fingers nervously, struggling between her willingness to please Flora and the need to keep her secrets. In the end, the former won out; much as it usually did. "But he knew things about me. Like how I'd commanded Lord Suhuy and Ishtar to teach me about my connection to the Logrus. I thought he might be a demon in Suhuy's employ. He was very. Annoying. But didn't get the chance to find out. Because Sparrow showed up. And I then I was too busy preventing her from shooting me. To really find out more." The young girl smoothed her dress, picking off a blade of grass she'd somehow missed. "Prince Julian didn't appear concerned when I mentioned it to him. He has some form of detection system for Logrus intrusions. So. Maybe it wasn't a demon." Flora sighed. "Tear," she said, "if you truly want to learn from me, one of the first things I'm going to have to teach you is to be clear and precise in the telling of a tale. Perhaps you should start by telling me what you learned in Chaos of your connection to the Logrus." Solitaire tilted her head, eyes flickering with violet scrutiny. Doubt darkened her gaze for a moment, but eventually her need for a mother-figure won out. "Do you recall my far past," she asked. "That my parents were struck down by assassins. Well. That wasn't entirely the truth. My father died from the attack. My mother didn't Instead, she took my father and I to the Logrus chamber in Chaos. She loved my father so much that…" A greenish hue began to color her cheeks as her stomach curdled. "That she tried to resurrect him. She thought—erroneously—that the Logrus could return her husband to her, if she provided it a sacrifice. Namely me. So, she preformed a ritual and gave me over to the Logrus. The results were… unfortunate. And private." She absently wiped away a tear; a whisper escaping her trembling lips. It sounded a little like, "I'm sorry, father." Solitaire shook her head, narrowing her eyes with spiteful resolve. "They found my parent's bodies sometime after that. Mandor and Lord Torren soon realized that something was in the Logrus. A baby. The Logrus playing nursemaid to me. I was happy and perfectly content. When I should have been consumed by the forces in there." She lifted her head with unrestrained pride. "They eventually freed me of the Logrus and brought me to Amber to be raised by my uncle. It wasn't until I was ten that my experience. Truly resurfaced. And you then know the rest." "No," said Flora, with commendable patience. "No, Tear, I don't. That was why I asked you - what you learned in Chaos of your connection to the Logrus? Because, upsetting though it must have been to learn of your mother's behavior, I suspect that the connection does not end with your rescue, does it?" Solitaire frowned. "I thought all the Royals knew. Huh." She tugged her ear and then gave an inward shrug. She provided Flora a humble smile. She tried not to sound condescending as she spoke, now unsure of how much the princess actually knew. "Well. When I was ten, I entered the Dark Sleep. And did so without conscious thought. That's unheard of, I'm told. Most Chaosians don't dare try it until much older. It's just too dangerous." "The Dark Sleep takes place when we assay the Logrus," she explained. "Amberites walk the Pattern physically. We walk the Logrus in our minds. And usually we have to have at least witnessed it. I'd always wondered how that was possible for me, never having been to Chaos. Apparently I was wrong. Mandor hid my past from me. All of it. "I think it's because he and Lord Suhuy don't entirely understand why the Logrus allowed me to live. For all we know. I assayed the Logrus as a baby. And now it wants me back. But to what end, we do not understand. Lord Torren believes it wants my flesh. So it might manifest physically." A shiver passed through her body, although if it was from fear or pleasure… one could not be entirely certain. "And what happened to you this time in Chaos, Tear? When you visited the Logrus?" Solitaire found it all too easy to tell her elder, Flora's honey-sweet tones dulling her fears. "It called to me," she admitted. "Tasha and I had snuck out to see the Logrus. We weren't supposed to. Lady Minobee was most upset by the prospect. Fearful might be more accurate. And when arrived, I could hear it crying out for me." She lowered her head, ashamed. "I lost my sense of decorum. I just ran toward it. It needed my help. Like some wounded pup calling for its mother. And I ran and ran. But before I could reach it. The others. Stopped me. At risk to themselves. I could have hurt them very badly." Solitaire shrugged. "I was taken from that place. And then Lord Torren and Suhuy revealed my past to me. That's it." She gazed up at Flora, perhaps for understanding, perhaps approval. Flora smiled. "That sounds very brave of them," she said. "But it must have hurt you not to be able to reach the Logrus ... if it was in pain and calling you." Solitaire nodded sadly. "I think. I understand what it must feel like to. Fail a loved one who is suffering." She turned in her chair, violet eyes focusing on the sleeping figure in the room beyond. "I don't understand," she said in a pained voice. "Four days ago. I was just me. A nothing. A no one. And now everywhere I go. People suffer." She turned her gaze on Flora, "Is that what it means to. Grow up? To hurt people you love?" "And to learn how to forgive them for hurting you," said Flora. "Unfortunately, as you will find, despite their longevity, most of my family have never grown up at all." Solitaire pursed her lips and then sighed. "I think my family is much like that too," she said. "My uncle. Is blinded by his hate of Order. I don't think he will ever forgive Amber for ever being borne into existence." She shook her head and sat up, her feet touching the floor. "I find you very calming, Princess Flora. Thank you. Now, I think I see why King Eric trusted you so. Your beauty is only exceeded by your wisdom. I wish... "I wish we'd met sooner." "Teenagers have never been my chosen companions," said Flora. "Even when they were extraordinarily pretty which you, Solitaire, are not. But you will grow into beauty with maturity - just as you are now of an age to be teachable as opposed to trainable." Solitaire blushed brightly at the offhanded remark, touching her face embarrassedly. She knew she lacked beauty, but having it confirmed didn't lessen the sting. She gave a polite nod and adjusted her dress for the umpteenth time. "Thank you," she said. "I'm willing to learn from you. If you are willing to teach me. "But first. I'd better check on Sparrow's condition." "There will be no change, Tear," said Flora almost gently. "There can be none." Solitaire lifted her head defiantly, "Maybe not now. But there will be. All magics can be undone." She did not press the issue further, however. She hesitated for a moment. "Could someone please go check on. The others? Goran and Tasha and Princess Islain? They were supposed to follow me through the King's Trump. But. Well. Things got confusing. And I worry for their safety." "Why don't you go and see?" said Flora, nodding towards a guard. "If they followed you, they should be in the throne room. I'll see a room is prepared for you, close to Sparrow." "Thank you, Princess," she said. "I appreciate your kindness." Solitaire glanced up at the guard and nodded for him to proceed. She paused only once at the doorway, gazing back at Sparrow. Her pale cheeks stained with disgrace, sadness filling her eyes with grey clouds. The clouds darkened, boiled with a growing fury, before violet lightning flashed deep, deep within them. She spun on her heel and stalked out into the corridor, leaving the symbol of her weakness to languish in a restless sleep. <EOT> |
