In the Castle: Delluth and PalomaIndex | Time Under Chaos | Game Logs | In the Castle | In the Castle: Delluth and Paloma (An aside from In the Castle)
Absorbed in summoning the Sign of the Logrus, he did not notice. He reached a cushioned bench set against the wall at the same time as he finished the process - and found that the Sign slipped out of his mental grasp before it could properly form. "Bother," he muttered, turning to identify the nearest exit. This brought Paloma into his peripheral vision, but he did not immediately respond to her presence. The two nearest exits appeared to be the main, guarded one, and the door to the room were Morgan and Merlin were. There was another closed door next to the latter. He hesitated, but though he ached to do something other than stand around and talk, he had to admit that leaving the throne room right now was not likely to improve his position. Instead he noticed Paloma. "Ambassador?" he inquired, turning to face her properly. "You seem troubled, Doctor," she responded. "You are sure that these Amberites are not putting undue pressure on you?" "Pressure?" He shook his head, sighing. "I'd be hard put to decide what's distressing me most just now, your Excellency, but that's not it." "Then what is distressing you, Doctor?" she asked. "Perhaps I might be able to help." He looked astonished. "Riots in the streets?" he said, gesturing expressively. "Idiots thinking they're supposed to arrest me? A certain Duke bent on destroying a place I happen to like living in?" Paloma smiled, a little tightly. "I fear all of those things are beyond my control. Although I will say that, like you, I have developed a certain ... attachment to this assignment. A dangerous thing in an ambassador, perhaps." "Really?" Delluth looked at her; not a matter of moving his gaze, which was already on her face, but of giving her his full attention for once. "Of course, any attachment is potentially dangerous," he said thoughtfully. "There's always the possibility of somehow losing the thing to which one is attached. "As far as Amber is concerned," he went on, "for my own part, if I was not willing to endure such a risk, I could simply move away. It must, indeed, be difficult for a diplomat, such as yourself." "If one makes it a career," she agreed. Then she rose to her feet, shaking out her skirts. "I believe the King is returning." And the door to the inner chamber was indeed opening. "Ah," he said, also getting up. Now what was that about? I thought she *is* a careerist! But he had more urgent concerns than the Ambassador's career plans, and said nothing more as he turned expectantly toward the king's 'office'. (Go to The Return of the King)
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