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Fit for a King

Jurt carried a laquered box, inlayed with fine gold filigree, under his arm as he walked briskly though the castle halls. The steward had suggested that he would be in one of these sitting rooms. Just then he noticed the diplomat at a seaward window in that so aptly named Ocean Room.

Ingrey indeed was cooling his heels in a sitting room. He was the most junior officer of the Embassy but Ingrey was beginning to suspect that being the diplomat sent up to see Mandor for a meeting was not a reward for the service performed in Aegypt. Quite the contrary. It was a frustrating experience.

"Ah, there you are, Secretary," Jurt greeted him with more energy than he seemed to normally carry about himself. "I've heard that you are teaching yourself the game of chess. I thought perhaps you might get some use out of this."

"I am, Lord Jurt. Greetings" Ingrey had risen and bowed before Jurt had managed to deliver the gift to him.

He thrust the box into the other man's hands and waited expectantly until the man opened it.

Ingrey hesitated a moment, memories of the Courts making him cautious. But the look that the brother of both the King and the Prime Minister was intense enough that Ingrey decided to throw caution to the wind and open it anyway.

Within, set in crushed burgundy velvet were chessmen of exquisite, most likely sorcerous, quality. One set was a carved of an iridescent quartzlike gem veined with fine golden threads, the other of a stone so black it seemed to drink in the light except where it was reflected by the silver marbling that enriched the pieces. Instead of traditional poses, each were a representation of the same man, perhaps Jurt himself... or not. The ranks seemed to be denoted by the stance that the figure carried his blade. They were Karin Dance Forms, the pawns in the wide and low defensive "Draw the Harvest" scything movement, the knights in an agressive lunge called "Catching the Tears". The craftsmanship alone must've cost the King's brother a fortune, let alone the materials themselves.

"I'm sure you'll put it to good use," he says after a moment of looking upon the pieces himself. Jurt's shoulders relax a bit, but there's still something behind his eyes.

"You seem troubled, milord." Ingrey said. "And I thank you most profusely for what is a gift that, if it would not be insulting to your generosity to do so, I would be compelled to refuse. As it is, Her Excellency will be bemused that she did not come to the Castle today herself and receive the benefit of your largesse."

He paused and nodded his head. "If you have the time, we might play. I am waiting upon your brother the Lord Mandor the Prime Minister, but I suspect I will be here for some time waiting upon him to allow me to visit his august presence."

"Better you than I," Jurt offered with a dismissing wave of his hand.

"Its even possible that the staff here might bring a carafe of some libation, if that would encourage you to play." Ingrey added.

Jurt nodded and called one of the servants. Even after a few decades it surprised him that the servant daemon wore a human form or perhaps was truely human. Unflustered he dispatched them for a subtle white wine from those vineyards north along the coast, and some ice, as it was too sweet for his palate unless well chilled. It almost seemed an afterthought when he suggested that they bring him the chessboard, "No, not the chessmen, just the board," from his own sitting room.

He indicated a table near the window that might be suitable and took a seat. Idle chit-chat seemed in order while waiting on the board. "So, something important bring you today, Secretary? A merchant's claim over goods taken under marque or some boring trade concern in the Golden Cesspool?"

Ingrey chuckled. "Golden Cesspool. That is an appellation I have not yet heard applied to the Golden Circle, although I am certain that some shadows within it do fit that description."

"Under officers, like myself, specialize and rotate specialties in a number of Diplomatic functions." Ingrey explained. "Right now, as you have either rightly guessed or have done your homework." Ingrey looked at him speculatively "I am learning the economic functions and duties of the Embassy. I've been asked by Her Excellency to discuss with the Prime Minister a change in the ratio of exports that the Mahilik allocate for Amber versus Chaos."

"There are those in Chaos who have gained an appreciation for some goods from there." Ingrey explained.

"Remind me, it's Ingrey, correct... remind me of what Mahilik is exporting to home. Are they the ghizka farmers?" Jurt asked, without seeming to actually care about the answer.

Ingrey was slightly bemused by Jurt's appearance of boredom. "No, milord Jurt, they are not the ghizka farmers. Mahilik's claim to fame, and now a delicacy in certain quarters of Chaos."

Ingrey smiled and lowered his voice as if it were a secret. "Chocolate." he said in a whisper.

"Ah, the ever elusive cocoa bean," Jurt nodded as the dossier came to mind. "While neither of the Powers, such as they are, might claim dominion over the whole of Shadow, chocolate seems to rule. Interesting. I do seem to remember one of the ladies my brother was spending time with commenting on it."

He was distracted by the arrival of the ice chips and wine. A quick twist and a sharp tug removed the cork and Jurt poured glasses for them both while they still waited on the chessboard. "So, you're King's candyman. What a dubious honor." He raised his glass in mock salute.

Ingrey did not raise his glass in turn and in fact did not touch the glass at all, hovering a finger above the rim as he considered Jurt's barb.

"Whether you intended to be purely descriptive or you intended an insult." Ingrey finally said. "You should be more precise with your words, Lord Jurt. I am not the King's candyman, By your formulation, I am the candyman of certain mercantile factors of Chaos."

Jurt smiled back, a slight edge to his tone, obviously in response to the functionary's . "I stand corrected, Secretary." Before he could continue another servant entered with the chessboard and placed it before Jurt. He gestured to Ingrey, suggesting he produce the pieces again.

"If you please?"

"Certainly." Ingrey said with a smile, producing the lacquered box that he had been given by the brother of the King. He set it on the side and opened it, giving a long look at the beautiful pieces. Finally, he drew out the kings, first the black accented with the silver, and then its counterpart in crystal accented with gold.

Ingrey nodded to Jurt and cupped the two pieces in his fists and drew his hands behind his back. He held them there for a couple of moments, and then produced the fists once more.

"And now you can choose your color." Ingrey said proffering his hands toward Jurt.

"I understand its most traditional to do it this way, especially with players who have never played against each other previously."

Jurt pointed to indicate Ingrey's left hand and then extended it to take the black piece, itself. He began to arrange the matching pieces on his side of the board, quietly naming the sword forms that matched all pieces save the King he had already placed.

Ingrey did the same, starting with the King that his other hand held, and the rest of the exquisitely carved forms. He began with the rear rank, arranging rooks, bishops, knights and the queen, before placing the pawns.

"Do you play often, Ingrey? I hear there are tables about the city, salons that offer intellectual pleasures as well as those more physical," Jurt chuckles

"Not that often yet." Ingrey conceded. "I have found a number of establishments and erstwhile partners, it is true."

Ingrey paused and then continued. "I even have managed to get a few books from shadow on the game, thanks to the offices of one of the Amberites. The literature on this game is varied, complex and comprehensive."

Ingrey slid into the seat behind the white pieces and waited for Jurt to be similarly seated.

"This set, though, is almost metaphorically chosen for my benefit." Ingrey observed as his fingers picked up the king's pawn and toyed with it. "A game from the lands of Order, but done in a Chaosian mode."

Jurt sat and nodded, an indication that the Secretary might begin the game. "Are you a fan of the Karin Dances, Ingrey?"

Ingrey began, placing his king's pawn two steps ahead, keeping his opening standard for the moment, a gentle easing into the game itself.

"The Karin Dances aren't really practiced in Wererathe." Ingrey explained after one of Jurt's own moves. "My House has its own Martial art which, unlike other Houses' contributions, have never really caught on outside the Shadowmasters."

"However." Ingrey continued. "Since my profession has allowed me ample opportunity to visit and interact with other Houses, I have attended a match now and again of the Dances. I do enjoy them." He looked at Jurt. "I hope to, one day, get an occasional match to happen here, in Amber at the Embassy."

"What about you?" Ingrey prompted as he moved a knight to defend the center.

Jurt chuckled as he responded without thought almost, matching the move. "Perhaps at the Embassy, but I doubt you'll see such stances at the Palace other than those beneath your fingers."

"But, I've Danced in my day," he admitted

"So, tell me this, if you would." Ingrey said, studying the forms of the pieces, and, perhaps, the position on the board at the same time. "I have not had the opportunity to speak with a Dancer at length about their Art. As I said, Wererathe has other practices they call theirs."

"Do the Dances, you feel, make you a better warrior?" Ingrey asked as he pushed a bishop a single square, opening up a new line of advancement or attack. "It's said in Sawall that even death may be an Art," Jurt commented, drawing a knight forward and suggesting a hedgehog sort of defensive structure already. "Do they make me a better warrior? Only if I've seen battle and recognize them as more than forms, realize that the prefection that the dance asks for might be the difference between life and death on the battlefield." He appeared more focused on his defenses than Ingrey's moves.

He cocked his head at the Secretary and drained his glass before continuing. "Have you seen combat, Ingrey?" Ingrey took a long few moments, including taking the opportunity to refill Jurt's glass and his own, before responding. In the meantime, he pushed a pawn cautiously to tempt Jurt's forces out of the thicket his defenses presented to the Wererathe's attack.

"What do you mean precisely by combat?" Ingrey enquired. "A clash of arms in a deadly setting, or an actual war or conflict of which you are but one participant?"

Jurt pushed one of his own pawns, not reactive to Ingrey's game, but focused it seemed on his own. "Either I suppose, the former perhaps being part of the latter, but not neccessarily."

He added with a little grin, "While I understand the dangers of politics and the pen and word as arms, I was thinking of something a bit sharper, something that divides flesh from bone." The King's brother ran his finger over the queen's bishop's raised sword, Parting the Curtains, thoughtfully.

"Wererathe hasn't gone to War since before I was born." Ingrey replied after a moment. He leaned forward slightly to regard where Jurt had pushed his pawn, his eyes hovering over the position once he had seemingly dissected it. He did not yet move, although the fingers of his hand drummed the table, once.

"I have been in life and death situations." Ingrey continued. "I am not an accomplished warrior, only being an novice in the martial arts. However, I've even had to draw a blade here, on this side of the universe."

He smiled slightly. "The first time I met Larissa Rohl, for example, was a day which was capped off by a combat against necromantic legions of a former vizier of Aegypt."

"I think, though, with her superior skills, that she considered it little more than exercise." Ingrey added. Jurt nodded. He had read a report of the action, and tried to recall it as he finally emerged from his defenses, a bishop threatening one of Ingrey's knights. "What was it for you?"

Ingrey moved his other forces to threaten the hedgehog defense, leaving the knight underprotected. It was clear that if Jurt took the threatened knight, he would lose time and space to the rest of Ingrey's attack. The diplomat was offering a gambit, willing to sacrifice material for less tangible rewards. "An Education." Ingrey replied with a nod. "Preconceived notions about Amber and its scions were reconsidered in the wake of the encounter. It brought home to me that although I may not be a warrior, sometimes, here, I am going to have to don the uniform of one in order to accomplish my goals. And that, perhaps, the politics here were not what I thought."

Jurt took the knight, casually secure in his defenses. "If they're not politics, what are they?" He seemed more interested in the conversation than he had anything save the wine, of which he poured himself another glass.

Ingrey pressed forward with the opportunity provided, using the space provided by the bishop and his tempo to continue to work patiently at those defenses Jurt was confident behind.

And then he poured himself a glass as well as he spoke over Jurt's opportunity to study his latest move.

"A web of personal relationships that transcends politics." Ingrey replied. "I was under the misimpression that the categories of people here, among the top tier, were sharply delineated. I was wrong in that. You, yourself, milord, are more complex than I would have expected, prior to coming here. I know this even though we have only the slimmest of acquaintanceships."

"So too, the remainder of those gathered in and around the halls of power here. I received my first glimpse that even now I have much to learn about the entanglements here."

"I would never have expected such a gift from you, for example." Ingrey admitted.

"We all have our quirks, Ingrey, and more than any title I might attempt to hang on you, joking or otherwise, your job is to discern them and... well..." Jurt's speech hesitates as he pushes his queen's rook's pawn forward, his finger lingering longer than he had for any move previously. As he released it, he continued. "Your job is to exploit them. And from what I've heard, you do a good day's work."

"I like to think so." Ingrey replied in an amused tone, regarding Jurt from across the board, taking in the move, the position, the board, and the opponent. He didn't yet move a piece, but he finally took a sip of the wine.

"Its not solely an explotative role, though." Ingrey said. "I admit that taking advantage of the opposition is, how do they put it here." Ingrey furrowed his eyebrows. "Bread and butter. Yes. Its my bread and butter." "As a diplomat, I do other things. For instance, I facilitate communications between realms, peoples, governments. There are strange realms where certain governments refuse to talk to their enemies, in the mistaken belief that such a lack of communication is a good thing." The dark haired scion of Wererathe rolled his eyes slightly.

Jurt used the momentary pause to futher examine the board as well, almost as if he was just taking note of Ingrey's moves, having been absorbed in his own game. "As opposed to Amber, where we break bread with our enemies, invite them into our home, that was once theirs, and host suitable entertainments," he agreed.

"Now that leads to a perhaps impertinent question." Ingrey said after a few moments thought. "When you speak of Amber with that pronoun, do you refer to Amber the Kingdom, Amber the populace, or Amber the ruling family as the antecedent?"

"Just how native have gone King Merlin and the Chaosians in his coterie and family, including yourself in that number, is a matter of debate back in the Courts." Ingrey explained, looking at Jurt with unchanging blue eyes.

Jurt gave Ingrey a look that suggested little to no interest in the topic. "I spoke of the them all. The Kingdom that we now possess, the people that we've assimilated, and through my brother's lineage, the Royal line we now hold."

"As to how native any of us might have gone, is it not Chaos's way to adapt, to overcome? Our very forms are a testament to such," he said as scales rippled across the back of his hand, flowing away like quicksilver before showing the pale "human" flesh again.

Ingrey chuckled at this. "Indeed so. The only risk comes, from the viewpoint of the body politic of Chaos, is when such changes and adaptations are extreme enough that it is difficult to recognize the core of what it means to be a Chaosian amongst those changes."

"However, I do not speak for myself." he added in reassuring tones. "There are those in the Courts, however, who feel far differently. You must admit, Jurt, that Amber is not an ordinary fiefdom in the Black Zone."

Returning his attention seemingly to the board, he nodded. "Far from it, in distance and degree. But a threat to to Chaos? Doesn't its very occupation prove the fallacy of such an arguement?"

Ingrey gave a nod and looked at the board, and, in a thicket of pawns and a bishop, slid a rook to oppose Jurt's Queen. He took a sip of the wine and gave a nod again. "You see the sort of thing I deal with everyday." Ingrey said. "Things are not always what they appear, explicit and outward situations are often more complicated than delineated. Certainly, on its face, Chaos occupies Amber and it is defanged, contained."

"On its surface, you would be right." Ingrey continued. "On the other hand, one need only visit the spartan barracks in the Scar, with its numerous troops. Or, if I were truly foolish, to visit Arden, to show that beneath the veneer of pacification, Amber remains dangerous."

"However." Ingrey smiled slightly. "A completely and utterly pacified Amber would just be a long distance branch of Sawall Ways. And I would be in another, likely less pleasant posting."

Jurt chuckled and pushed a knight to support the Queen, giving the impression that he was willing to sacrifice her to take Ingrey's bishop. "I can see father's expression now. Thrilled I'm sure, even more so than he might be now."

"So where did you post before this, Secretary?" The question is definitely more genial than some of his earlier comments, like he was genuinely interested, or at least relaxing.

Ingrey rubbed the top of the rook, considering the sacrifice once more. With his free hand, he took the glass and took a sip of wine.

"A shadow outside the Black Zone you probably never heard of." Ingrey said sheepishly. "Mankato."

Jurt shook his head, agreeing that the name didn't seem to ring any bells.

"An interlocking network of competing empires. Some collateral Chaos blood, but no firm House claims. Plenty of potential, though, and it borders a number of the Black Zone shadows that various Houses DO have possession of."

"Ah, a potential eel pit. I'm sure that honed your survival skills for Amber," he chuckled. "It did." Ingrey agreed. "As much as anything can prepare you for a post here."

"I've had a number of other relatively minor posts in rotation before this one." Ingrey added. "In a sense, my House prefers that I stay at arms length. The Diplomatic Corps is not even quite my first choice of career." he confided, and then moved the rook to take the Queen.

"Do tell," Jurt encouraged. "Your first choice that is," he qualified. "I'd never think of asking you to air your House's problems in my brother's palace."

"It's not such a contretemps that I could consider it House Problems." Ingrey said. "I am not from that high of a family within the House. Just one of the males."

"Anyway, I have a minor talent for sorcery and esoteric knowledge. Probably, in another life, I would be ranging shadows beyond the Black Zone, binding and bringing in and controlling magical creatures for the benefit of Wererathe. Or perhaps remaining close to home and In House, as a Binder."

"Given my low rank at the time, I had to wait to come to Amber for when a few new Wyverns were being added to the Garrison here. While waiting for favorable conditions and during the journey, I managed to learn how to ride one."

"Haven't had many opportunities to go visit the garrison to practice." Ingrey added, in a tone of slight disappointment. "Instead, I've learned to deal with the combat and poisons of words, rather than Wyvern stings."

"We've a stable of a few at home in Sawall, and while I've some skill, Despil always took the honors there. He always begrudged Merle and I our time dancing, thus threw himself into that, to father's pleasure," Jurt explained, sipping from his glass again.

Ingrey nodded.

"I think you might've made wonderful aerial cavalry, Ingrey," he complimented. "Quick wit, no lack of courage, but cautious. Perhaps the General has missed an opportunity."

With a sudden, swift motion, Ingrey pushed the rook to start the series of exchanges in the offered gambit of Jurt's Queen.

"Aerial Cavalry." Ingrey looked wistful for a moment. "I like the sound of that, Jurt. I think I might be too independent, though. That independence can be my undoing sometimes. Quick-witted, courageous or cautious aside." Ingrey added.

"But if it comes to dogfighting, the independence would be an asset, not a hinderance," Jurt answered, responding to the proffered rook as Ingrey had anticipated. "Unless you were expected to support someone's wing, and then I think you understand the discipline necessary." "Independent action, save when discipline and leadership are needed." Ingrey gave a nod of the head. I've never been in a real armed conflict, save for a duel or three. Even someone as diplomatic as I can rub people the wrong way." "Sometimes I wonder if a lack of duel challenges in Chaos is a sign of strength...or of weakness." Ingrey mused.

"Like anything else in Chaos, it's a sign of politics," Jurt chuckled as he poured himself another drink.

"Everything is politics, or so it is said." Ingrey agreed. A refill please." Ingrey then asked, offering Jurt his glass.

The King's younger brother obliged.

"In any event, I am bound to my career firmly now." Ingrey continued. "Despite what-ifs and what-might-have-beens, I think that my track is settled on the political for the foreseeable future. I raise the Honor of my House, I do well by Chaos, and I get to post now in a fascinating..." Ingrey furrowed his eyebrows. "Microcosm."

"Besides, what else would you expect from a scion of the House of the Weavers?" Ingrey asked with a grin. "A direct and simple career path?"

"Of course not," Jurt chuckled. "Else I might discern the thrust of your attack," he added with a nod toward the board.

"Of course it beg to be asked, what would then be expected of the House of Sawall?"

"Sawall is decidedly more complex." Ingrey allowed after a few moment's thought. "The symbol of Sawall is a silver and black wall, which suggests solidity, even stolidity. However, such an analysis would be as flawed as a weak pawn structure. After all, it was Sawall's boldness that we are even here at all. It must also be said that Sawall has strong connections to the caverns of the Logrus."

"Sawall is solid and strong, and yet lurking behind that wall, may be secrets and abilities only revealed at choice moments." Ingrey finished.

Jurt smiled. "So we cheat. Fair enough," he laughed. "Attack your enemy's heart, without it, the center cannot hold."

"Much like the opening moves of this game." Ingrey agreed. "To hold the center, be it by pawns, or fianchettoed bishops, or knights, is an important goal in dominating the board in full, and taking the battle to the enemy successfully. Collapse his ability to fight."

"Its your move, I believe, Lord Jurt" Ingrey added, with a sip of the wine and a small smile.

Jurt smiled. "And the diplomat's code, Power preceived is power achieved, proves itself true." He advanced his queen's rook's pawn and then stood, walking to the window.

"I think I've decided to like you, Weaver," he stated.

Ingrey pursed his lips and changed it into a smile as he considered Jurt's words for a moment. "Was there a doubt?" he said after a moment, keeping his tone light.

"There always is," Jurt replied. "Other than in Court, where it's known that I love everyone, even that harridan Flora."

"Harridan?" Ingrey furrowed his eyebrows as he bent over to examine the board after Jurt's move "I may be relatively new to Amber to know the principals in detail. I haven't the experience to label any of the principals in such a..." Ingrey's blue eyes looked up to regard Jurt at the window. "vivid manner."

"Language, my friend Weaver," Jurt chuckled. "While in Chaos it might only mean a scolding, vicious hag or shrew, Dworkin's line mangled the language as much as they did the universe. In this case for the better I feel. I found a book in the Castle library that suggested definitions of 'one that is half whore, half bawd; a poore tit, or leane ill-favored jade'. The latter seems to fit, no matter what pretenses she might offer."

"Ah, a substantial vocabulary and word usage difference." Ingrey replied. "One might even say that Amber and Chaos are divided by a common language." "It sounds like she is of the Luminary Caste, Entertainer and Diplomat, with a strong emphasis on her primary virtue." (cf. http://exalted.xi.co.nz/wiki/wiki.pl?FairFolk, the twelve Castes) Ingrey moved a knight into the space allowed by the pawn move from Jurt. "Check." Ingrey said.

Jurt stepped back to the board and, without looking at the rest of the board, takes the knight with his rook. "Luminary, eh? Well, I'm sure there are several young men around the City that would love to be enlightened by her. I will give her that. For a creature of Order, she is a beautiful creation. I wonder if Oberon or Dworkin shaped her to such effect."

Ingrey hesitated his hand for a moment, and cocked his head at Jurt's answer. "I was given to understand that the scions of Amber did not shape their children, or themselves in that manner. But, then, Oberon and Dworkinn may have kept olsd habits from their homeland." "I wonder." Ingrey said as a he moved a bishop to threaten both the moved rook and other, unmoved one in a fork. "if the other scions of Amber were similarly sculpted. Benedict, certainly." Ingrey suggested.

"It would explain their almost comical archetypical natures. Gerard, the kindly giant. Corwin, the misunderstood black sheep. Flora, the paragon of beauty. Fiona, the arcanatrix. Julian, the unflappable woodsman." Jurt moved the mobile rook center, threatening a pawn, accepting the possible loss of the other.

Ingrey calmly took the umoved rook, letting the pieces make a gentle clicking sound as the bishop took the the castle.

"One also wonders then." Ingrey mused aloud "if several more thousand years of unmolested development and breeding would have resulted in a set of sub-Houses based on those traits."

"Chaos may have been saved from an future, greater threat by Sawall's boldness." Ingrey speculated.

Jurt shifted the king's knight to threaten the bishop. "Weavers indeed. Weft and warp of speculation and flattery." He sat again after pouring another drink.

Ingrey regarded the move and waited for Jurt to sit down again before speaking again. "My apologies. I've been accused of being as smooth as glass, sometimes. Sometimes too much so."

"No apology needed. Either you play the game to the fullest and never let your secrets out, or it's genuine," Jurt complimented him. "I'll hazard that it's genuine."

"Wererathe may be the House of Weavers, but we're not as common in the civil bureaucracy as, say, the Baccarans." Ingrey replied. "Hence we are not quite as good at the Game." he said with an apologetic smile.

"Or at least not as well recognized, which suggests perhaps you're House is better," Jurt countered.

"However, when we do climb into the bureaucracy, Spiders climb well." Ingrey said with a brief smile, maneuvering a pawn to protect the bishop.

Jurt considered the board, "And feel the vibrations of the webs they've laid, waiting for someone to fall into their trap." He frowned momentarily and then nodded as he saw the web. Tipping his king over he offered Ingrey his hand in congratulations. "Mate in ten, yes?"

"It wasn't until you moved the knight, but now, yes." Ingrey said with a smile, taking the offered hand. His gaze and head briefly looked past Jurt to the man in livery, waiting patiently.

He looked back to Jurt and released his hand.

"And It would appear that our timing is well planned, for now it seems time for me to speak to your brothers at last. He began taking the pieces and putting them in the box. "And I thank you for the game and conversation,milord."