Have We Got Contact?Index | Time Under Chaos | Game Logs | Have We Got Contact? After saying goodbye to Helena, Amba pulled out her own card case- rather thinner than Helena's- and shuffled through to find the trump of her own domicile, and concentrated on the image, stepping through as the image became real. Though ostensibly she had returned to grab a few things, that would only have taken a few moments if it was really her primary aim. She had actually returned because she saw a pattern developing that she hadn't wanted to entertain, but knew she must. Making sure that she would be ready to meet Helena when she returned, she shuffled through the deck again, touching the top card. She exhaled, willing her face to form an inscrutable mask as she concentrated on the image, awaiting the perfectly captured features of the Baroness to begin to become real. The Baronness's face came to life almost immediattely under her hand - and the older woman's expression was grave. "Amba," she said, without preamble. "Come through." Somewhat surprised at the speed of the contact, and Tatjana's expression, Amba stepped through. "Baroness," she said rather formally, even as she bowed slightly. After acknowledging the woman who had been her only bastion of stability besides Helena, she waited for the other woman to speak- she had a feeling that more was going on that she knew. "How soon can you be ready to leave for Amber?" said the Baroness. "We seem to be on the verge of ... some interesting times. I would rather you were well clear of Chaos for a while." Amba crossed her arms, her expression still stony as she shivered against a chill that had nothing to do with the frigid climes the Baroness favoured. "So," she replied. "You knew. Why didn't you tell me?" "That depends on what you think I know," the Baroinness responded. "My concerns at the moment pertain to the recent past and the probable future. It becomes imperative that we get you out of Chaos. "However, you have time enough to explain what occasioned your last remark." As the Baroness spoke, Amba's concerns seemed more and more petty, and her demeanor changed as she clasped her hands behind her back, looking downward instead of at her sponsor. "I... I mean.... the dinner last night was no dinner at all- they expected us to go back to Amber. Only some quick thinking by Helena got us a reprieve. I had planned to come back to talk to you about it, but there was an emergency this morning, so I didn't get back until now." She looked up. "From what we've been able to figure out, they want us to meet the King- which leads to... other conclusions." "I've been ... studying the situation in Amber. Through official and ... not so official channels," she admitted somewhat abashedly. "And being presented to the King seems to be a ... well ... a good way to get involved in something potentially explosive. Personally, I don't think his 'rule' is going to end in a good way. And what comes next is anyone's guess." "What comes next depends on what happens in Amber now," said the Baronness. "Amba - when it comes to politial machinations on the part of our House, we have kept you somewhat in the background. But the factions here are regrouping. It is a time when it will become more than dangerous to have Amberite blood in Chaos - and it's coming soon." Neatly derailed from her original train of thought, Amba said, "Why? What's spurred this sudden change?" "Some of those political matters that I have been so careful to avoid entangling you in," said the Baronness. "The Helgram faction are rising into the ascendacy. Those of us who have ... other views ... might find ourselves a little constrained for a whille. And those possessed of blood of Amber could be in even greater danger." She looked levelly at Amba. "My dear, over the last few years you have become as dear to me as my own spawn. Over and above the plans that were made for you, I would not see you in any unnecessary danger. That is why you must go to Amber - now." Amba frowned, but nodded. The Baroness' image wavered in her eyes a bit as she fought to keep a rush of emotion from her voice. After a moment's silence, she continued, "I've already packed- I'll trump to Helena once I've picked up my things." After another pause she looked down a bit. "I hope I'll see you soon- you've been ... more to me than you can know. And if you need me, I'll be back no matter what the danger is," she said, her voice grim but determined. The Baroness smiled. "And for us, Amba ... you will always have the support of our House. Not a large or powerful one. But there may be times when it will be helpful to know you do not stand alone. "Now ... whatever help you need in preparation, feel free to command the demons." Amba inclined her head- a movement that turned into a full bow. Then standing again, she took out a trump, and with a last look around- and towards the Baroness- she willed it to life and stepped through. Having done most of her packing already, Amba only had to gather a few more things- she had the discomforting feeling that she would be gone longer than she initially thought. There were a few others she would like to say farewell to, but the urgency in the Baroness' voice forestalled that. She did, however, take the time to freshen up. She didn't feel the pressure that she had felt before going to Despil's as far as what she was to wear. This wasn't really a trip that she wanted- but the Baroness had been pretty scary in her insistence. She threw on a red sleeveless top and black leather pants and boots. Deciding not to worry about her hair, she left it free, grabbing a short black leather coat as she left the house. With greensky fading, she realized that she had only a little while before she needed to trump Helena. Even after the additional packing, she had only a couple of bags, and a sling that held some of her paintings, an easel, and certain other things that she hoped that she wouldn't need. For the bags, she summoned a demon- a small, unoffensive thing, spawned for such work and to be relatively unobtrusive while doing it. It was of a gray coloration, long and relatively low to the ground, flat on top to better carry bags along on it's six scurrying legs. An eye adorned each side, black as pitch, bulging slightly so that the creature had full vision all around it, to better facilitate its movement in any direction. After the demon was settled, she looked around again, both to make sure that she had forgotten nothing, and to say goodbye to the place. Other than Helena's quarters at Istharways and the dancegrounds, this had been the center of her life for quite a while. Sighing, she pulled out Helena's card, and began to will it to life. |
