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Index | Time Under Chaos | Game Logs | The Return of the Regent

"Lovely," said Morgan. "Right -- who wants to bring the Regent up to date? And what am I bid for my first private audience?"

He winked at the Ambassador -- and then at Tasha.

Goran gestured to the ladies graciously. "Ladies first," he acquiesced with a charming smile.

Claudio bit his lip, but bent his head in acquiescence to Tasha going first.

The Ambassadress waved her hand in negation.

"All right -- who needs a privy audience -- not necessarily, of course, held in the privy -- and who's happy to blurt it all out here?" said Morgan.

Tasha looked from one face to the next. This was all highly unusual and not at all what she had been led to expect from all the lectures her mother had given her on etiquette. She blushed ten shades of pink at the thought of holding an audience in a privy. "Oh, no. Here, please! But... what is it you think we ought to know?"

"It was more that I was hoping you'd all tell me what's going on," said Morgan breezily. "Bring me up to speed and all that. Not being so well-informed as the King -- let alone the Prime Minister."

He looked around at them all.

"Answers on the back of a postcard if necessary," he offered.

"I for one, Captain, would prefer to speak privately," Goran spoke up. "You might ultimately decide to announce everything to the populace, but you can't unannounce it if you decide later it should have been confidential."

Before Morgan could disappear into another private conference, Claudio said hurriedly, "I'll be glad to give you any help I can, Captain, but I would very much like to know what's happened to my friend, and who has been sent to find her."

The Ambassadress seemed to give this only cursory attention.

"Best possible care," said Morgan breezily. "Her twin sister's gone after her -- with another highly experienced member of the family. Which reminds me, Goran, it'll be a long swim to the Queen tonight. But not to worry -- we have plenty of rooms. Or so Flora is always saying."

Goran nodded once in acknowledgement.

"As for checking on Helena, Claud, old thing, that could be difficult. Best accounts have her well on the way to Tir before it went pear shape. Or, actually, no shape. But Ness reckons she's got a good lead on her..."

"Her twin. Also a daughter of the lady Fiona. That makes sense," said Claudio, a gleam of what might have been amusement showing through the worry in his eyes. Then he asked, "But what about Amba?"

"Amba?" Goran asked, brow furrowed. "There were only two people on the stair that we could see from the Queen. Helena, apparently, was one. We thought the Duke was the other, given the fact that Tir shouldn't have even been visible tonight."

Tasha nodded, "He was. He was... and Amba... was with you." Tasha turned and looked at Morgan with confusion, "Did she fly away...."

Paloma seemed to be paying close attention to this talk of Amba although she still said nothing.

"Fly away..." echoed Morgan. "Yes, that's right. She flew away -- straight after Helena. Suspect she'll be back here shortly, telling us all about it. Struck me as a young woman who could look after herself. Now -- if there's nothing more, I'd better talk to Goran here and then try to get the hang of this reigning thing."

Claudio waved him off in Goran's direction. It seemed to him now that Tasha might be the best person to ask about Helena and Amba both; she'd said something about meeting them in Chaos, presumably before coming to Amber. The notion of Amba flying away in pursuit of Helena had nothing particularly implausible about it -- Amba was an accomplished shifter and would have no trouble doing such a thing -- but to his ear it sounded as if Morgan was humoring Tasha rather than speaking from his own knowledge.

Tasha blushed at the implied rebuke at wasting Captain Morgan's valuable time. "Of course, don't let me detain you. I'm sure he must know many things being in the position he is in." She looked around the room again and spied the Ambassadress. "Madam, if I may? Since it seems that the Baroness is going to be staying here at the castle, and I was nominally her house guest and I have not been offered such accommodations, would it be possible to find lodging through the Embassy?" Tasha did look rather tired, it having been a very long "day".

Goran stepped away from the group in anticipation of leaving with Morgan. "Lady Tasha, it was a pleasure to meet you," he said, nodding graciously. "And Mister Barimen, I hope you won't hold the evening's events against us and will return to the Queen another time."

"Let us hope that circumstances will permit," Claudio responded.

It was as the Regent and Goran closed the door behind them that the Ambassadress said, "Of course, Lady Tasha. We'd be delighted to accommodate you at the Embassy. Mr Barimen -- would you care to join us? You might find it more comfortable tonight than your own lodgings. "

"At least until the streets quiet down," acknowledged Claudio. "Thank you, Ambassador."

Tasha looked much relieved. "Thank you. I'm sure my parents will be happy to know I am safe..." Her eyes widened. "Oh, what Turning-of-the-Sky do you think it is? I would have expected Mother to contact me."

The Ambassadress shook her head ruefully. "I'm too long in Amber to take note of such things. But we have a synchronised clock in the Embassy -- a rather fine one. That would certainly give you the information. The Princess Islain ... seems to have disappeared."

And indeed this was true. The Princess, who a little while before had been standing with a fixed look in her eyes as she clearly took a trump call, had disappeared.

Claudio looked around in some puzzlement. It was true he'd been distracted, but normally he'd expect to sense someone Trumping out ... if that was indeed what had happened. She might simply have left the room. Either way, he supposed it wasn't really his concern. He turned back to the remaining two women.

"I've been here for a few weeks," he told Tasha, "and I do know it's hard to keep synchronized with the family back in Chaos. Time runs much slower here. I expect your mother knows that, without knowing quite what the differential is." His mouth quirked wryly. "She may not think enough time has passed in Amber for anything interesting to have happened to you yet."

Tasha laughed. "Yes, one would hardly have expected such... chaos... in Amber!" She smiled at the Ambassadress. "Thank you again. You have both made me feel so much better." Indeed she did seem much more relaxed than she had appeared before Morgan had left them.

"Good," said the Ambassadress. "I think we've probably accomplished all that is possible here. Do either of you wish to await the King, or shall we leave now?"

"I don't see any reason to wait," said Claudio, "especially since we have no idea how long the King will be gone. If he or Captain Morgan wants us for anything, they can find us."

Tasha nodded and stifled another yawn in answer, "I am sorry madam Ambassadress. I fear I have nothing left in me tonight but the desire to rest."

Paloma laughed indulgently. "Then rest you shall. Come -- shall we find our carriage?"

Claudio offered his arm to Tasha. "Lead the way, my lady," he said to Paloma.

Tasha took the proffered arm, trying not to lean too heavily on a stranger. She was, however, extremely weary having had to deal with the Logrus and fighting her friend, traveling to Amber, meeting all these strangers, touring the city, dealing with a dinner party, then traveling to the barracks, and vaguely she recalled chasing someone... then meeting with the Duke and now all of this. She couldn't restrain herself from yawning.

The arm beneath her fingers, under the layers of cloth, was thin but wiry; strong enough to lend support at any rate. Grey eyes smiled into hers, though they were smudged underneath with worry and weariness. Claudio hadn't had as long a day as Tasha, but his had been stressful enough.