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Index | Time Under Chaos | Game Logs | Waiting, Five Corners

A brief visit, then the carriage moved on and the city sped by. Vikund raised the blinds and dropped the window to let in the sights, sounds and smells of the city. Some were pleasant, some foul, but it was home. Whatever else happened, this was where he felt he belonged. "I know just the place," she had said, and he remembered it like it was yesterday. At least there he might find a moment's respite from the relentless press of crises. A small park soon came into view, ringed by different coloured lanterns atop wrought iron posts. Open-air cafes and shops created a circle around the park, and the carriage slowed as the cobbled lanes narrowed, crowded with chattering flâneurs. He had to smile, despite everything that had happened today to darken his mood. Around a corner was the tiny restaurant, Café Magnolia, one of the few to offer genuine Rebman cuisine. The carriage drew to a halt and Vikund stepped out, adjusting his jacket. It might have seemed like any other day, but he was wearing a rapier, and that was a rare thing. "Water Turtle tea," Vikund said to himself as he stood before the door, drawing curious glances from passers-by.

He went inside and selected a free table with a view of the street and settled down. He pulled out a notebook from his pocket and placed it to one side. He had not really expected her to be here, but it was still something of a disappointment she was not. Perhaps Madame E'lbram would favour him with a kind word or two. He felt he needed one. A young waitress with mottled hair and seal's whiskers waddled out a moment later, offering him a gentle smile as she set a glass of ice water on his table. "I am Ja'Han, sir," she explained, "And I will be your waitress for tonight. Is there anything I might get you before you order?"

"He'll have Water Turtle tea," a velvet voice said from nearby. Tall and elegantly curved, E'lbram moved like an otter around the tables. Her emerald hair had been tied back in the last Rebman fashion, and although dry, her sea green skin glimmer as if she'd just stepped out of the ocean. Her sheer, flowing dress like midnight waves accentuated this illusion. She bent down to kiss Vikund on the cheek and then sat across from him. "Forgive my presumptions, my dear. You simply appeared to be in desperate need of a warm cup of tea." "You would be correct, as always," Vikund answered, seemlessly rising from his chair, taking her hand and kissing it before she could take her seat. Once E'lbram was comfortable he resumed his own seat.

Ja'Han nodded, "Of course, mistress. Two cups and one pot coming right up." She hurried off as fast as her chubby feet could carry her.

E'lbram smiled, "She's such a darling. Hard worker and so polite. I'd always wanted a Selk on my staff and I fortunately encountered her during our trip to Rebma. So, in a fashion, I have you to thank for her." Vikund raised an eyebrow, but nodded at the thanks. "My pleasure."

She brushed a stray lock from her throat. "So, Master Vikund," she said, her voice suddenly as menacing as a hurricane. "Might I inquire as to where my god-daughter has disappeared to?" "I was rather hoping she'd disappeared to here," Vikund answered lightly. "I expect she'll be along sooner or later. She's been researching her family history, I understand."

E'lbram appeared to deflate, the storm within her eyes evaporating. "Well, that's a relief, I suppose. But I had hoped you know more, milord," she said. She folded her hands and offered him a worried smile. "That incorrigible furball of hers sent us word that she'd left on some diplomatic mission. To Chaos no less. But he remained rather obtuse and half the missive was covered in chocolate stains."

Vikund sighed. "Yes, I expect he would be."

The tea arrived at that moment; Ja'Han serving them both. As she did so, E'lbram raised her gaze to the young woman. "We'll both have a cup of today's soup, darling. And the tilapia poki and saimin for two this evening." Ja'Han curtsied politely and waddled off to tell the kitchen.

"Again, forgive my presumptions, Master Vikund," E'lbram said. "But you appear tired. And this meal will be light and flavorful, but most importantly, revitalizing."

"Then it sounds ideal," Vikund said with a smile. "So how are things with you? I hope my words of advice to Uncle Gloomy have not fallen entirely on deaf ears."

E'lbram's cheeks darkened to a forest green. "He proposed to me last night, actually," she admitted. "And I accepted, naturally. But only after a brief moment of 'doubt,' of course." A coy smile curls her lips. "After all, I needed to make him squirm for all the decades he's been postponing this. We shall have a public wedding in the park. I'll undoubtedly have to cater much of it myself. But I've always been a perfectionist when it comes to food."

Vikund beamed. "That's excellent news. Congratulations. If there's anything I can assist with, please don't hesitate to ask."

"My thanks. In so many regards. And, if you are at my goddaughter's arm that night, I think that shall suffice," E'lbram said.

She picked up her tea in both hands and held it while it cooled. The smile transformed into one of mischievous curiosity. "No chance that it could be a dual wedding, I suppose?"

Vikund sighed. "None at all I'm afraid."

He something curious suddenly caught his attention outside the window. "I think Tear may be going away for a while with her new friends from the other end of the cosmos. No doubt Tanstaafl will find them far more agreeable than me," he said.

E'lbram smiled faintly and shook her head. "Oh, I doubt she'll ever leave Amber," she said. "As inviting as her homelands might be, they lack one distinct and very unique thing."

Vikund raised an eyebrow.

She gestured at him with her cup. "That being you, of course. You pay no heed to that jealous furball. She loves you with all her heart, Master Vikund. I know you are having difficulties with that concept. I even suspect there something holding you back for feeling the same. But the fact remains, her greatest wish is to be your wife.

 To be the mother of your children.  That won't change over an

excursion to Chaos."

"I see Tear tells you everything," Vikund replied, "but I would not be so certain nothing has changed."

"Not everything, but enough," E'lbram said softly. "I am but a hollow shadow of her mother, yet I see her as the daughter I never had. And a mother knows her child's heart, even when they do not."

E'lbram set her cup down, "I would like to know. Do you feel anything for her? Outside of friendship? Honestly, now. And do not fret that I shall tell her if you inform me that you do not. But you have been sad of late. I can see that you need a friend. Someone not of the 'family.' And I am that, I assure you. The last year you have given my Solitaire provided you that distinction."

"There is no simple answer to that question," Vikund said evenly. "In some languages I believe have several words for love, but I would still find it had to find even one that was close. Let me put it this way; I care for her, and when she is gone I miss her. I also know I cannot give her the things she wants from me. If this trip has done one thing, it has hopefully opened her eyes to possibility."

"My sadness is nothing. There are places I can retreat to where the sun always shines," he continued. "Tear does not have that luxury. I fret that she will take a leap of faith and find there is on-one to catch her."

Ja'Han arrived at that moment, setting down two bowls of soup and refreshing the tea with skilled unobtrusiveness. She had gone before they hardly recognized she'd been there.

Vikund murmured his thanks nonetheless.

E'lbram stared at Vikund for a moment, as silent and secretive as the deepest oceans. And then she let out a cheerless laugh.

"Escaping into the light rarely dispels the inner darkness, Master Vikund," she said. "It simply blinds your senses its presence. So, yes, your unhappiness does mean something to me. Just as much as Tear's does to me. In truth, I find the two of you rather silly at times. But who am I to talk? I have been skirting the issue of love for the last twenty years."

"It makes fools of the wisest," Vikund conceded. "Isn't that the truth?" she grumbled with self-admonishment.

She took a sip of her soup and dabbed her emerald lips on a napkin. "Tear is stronger than you suspect. She is stronger than even she knows. So, yes, I believe this trip will open her eyes to other possibilities. She shall change, just as we all do. But that which makes her the woman you care for will remain."

E'lbram smiled, "And you love her, Master Vikund. Whatever word you seek to explain your feelings, that is the truth of it. You feel her absence. You desire what is best for her, even to your own detriment.

 It may not be the love she seeks.  But if you told her, it would be

enough, I suspect."

"Perhaps. Or it might make matters worse," Vikund said. "Selfish of me it may be, but I'd rather just enjoy her company than begin an introspective. If you can fly, why worry about what keeps you in the air?" He sip of the soup and nodded appreciatively.

E'lbram nodded in kind before taking another sip of soup. "It's not entirely selfish," she admitted. "And I certainly cannot comment without appearing the hypocrite. I didn't tell Gilliam until some fifteen years after we'd met. Although, by then, I suspect he knew I wasn't simply stopping by his shop with sweet rolls every day, out of the generosity of my heart.

"But as you say. Why complicate matters when you are soaring on borrowed wings?"

She warmed her tea. "But enough about her. Tell me more about yourself, Master Vikund. We have so few opportunities to chat. And it appears something other than my goddaughter is troubling you. Heavy matters of state?"

Vikund nodded. "There was an incident on the dockside this morning as the staff and clients of the Ramblin' Queen disembarked," he said. "Arson, betrayal and murder. A very serious business. There were members of the court present, which means there will be a full enquiry, if not an inquisition." He frowned some more, and sipped more soup.

"And I'm certain that the Prime Minister has you in the thick of it, yes?" E'lbram said compassionately.

Vikund just smiled.

"No wonder you look tired. I heard something had occurred, but the stories range from it being a small cooking fire to the destruction of Amber. Never underestimate the stupidity of gossips."

"Even the most outlandish gossip might contain a grain of truth," Vikund replied.

She spoke and ate at the same time; politely dabbing her lips in punctuation. "Will these events keep you away from us over the next while? And if so, what should I tell Solitaire?"

"I will see her, whether she chooses to stay or not," Vikund answered. "If she wants to talk me, she has the means to do so no matter where I might end up."

E'lbram nodded lightly, "Then I shall tell her to expect you. I'm certain she will wish to speak with you in private. She might be having a pout, for whatever reason, but she will need you." The meal had arrived by this time, the waitress replacing their soup bowls with elegantly prepared plates.

Vikund nodded his thanks to the waitress.

E'lbram took a sip of tea. "Is there anything else I can do for you, Master Vikund? I understand the difficult position you must be in at this point. And it would be my pleasure to be of assistance to you, however I might do so."

"That's very kind," Vikund said. "I truth, if you watch over Tear as you have always done, you will be providing all the assistance I could wish for. Now she has shrugged off the protection of her mentor, there will be other forces gathering to tempt her. I do not know these new friends of hers, and I must suspect their motives."

E'lbram blinked at that, setting her fork down before it fell out of her fingers. "She's forsaken Mandor's tutelage? As much as I detest the man, this comes as a shock to me." She dabbed her mouth with her napkin and then leaned forward.

"What exactly happened on this trip, Master Vikund? And who are her new friends? All of this is a surprise to me. And to have her give up on her second father so easily… something terrible must have occurred. Do you know anything?"

"She wouldn't tell me the specifics," Vikund replied, "but she talked as one betrayed. Now perhaps you understand how her attitude to me might have changed. I think the answer must lie in her past, but beyond that I can only speculate. She has travelled with people more associated with her mother's family than her fathers. I think her title as Baroness has suddenly taken on more significance."

E'lbram sighed faintly. "She must have learned more about the parents, I suppose," she said. "Gilliam has rarely spoken of Solitaire's mother or her barony. He and Prime Minister Mandor have had terse words over Tear's past, but Gilliam has never been forthcoming with me. But if it is a betrayal…"

The Rebman shrugged her elegant shoulders. "Tear has always been rather naive in that regard. Perhaps this is for the best. Although, I would prefer you seek her out. Put things in perspective for her. Or, at the very least, acquire more information regarding her new associates. She'll want to speak with you, Master Vikund. Or Goran."

"Goran," Vikund mused. "I hadn't thought of him. Do you know where he lives? I believe it's hereabouts...."

"A few blocks from here, actually," E'lbram said, gesturing down Erzulie Circle. It's a small affair with a pleasant stoop. I can draw you a small map if you wish. Or…"

"A map will be fine," Vikund said.

She set her fork down and dabbed her green lips again; hiding the frown. "He could also be at the Queen. He works there, as you probably know. A bodyguard or some such. I believe it is to supplement his income as a musician." He gave a faint sniff and resumed eating.

"A musician too? A man of many talents," Vikund commented. "I'm not going to interrupt his work on the Queen - his boss likes me little enough as it is. I will catch him at his apartment later."

E'lbram smiled and let out a faint chuckle. "Considering how charming you are, Master Vikund, I'm surprised that you are so disliked by so many people. Although perhaps it is best I do not ask why you are as closely associated with the owner of the Queen as to somehow gain her animosity."

"I meant his immediate boss- a man named Vincenzo. I like to think I get on quite well with the owner, though I know I have a knack of infuriating her at times," Vikund answered, a smile playing about his lips.

He pulled out his pocket watch, frowned slightly as he examined it, then went back to his meal. "It looks like I'm out of luck; you may have to tender apologies on my behalf," he said.

The Rebman woman sighed and gave him an appreciative nod. "Well, at least we had a little time together," she said. "If I encounter my goddaughter before you do, I shall express your deepest apologies. Although I think it best that you show up on her doorstep with flowers and a nice pastry when your schedule first allows."

She folded her napkin and smiled. "If you must depart immediately, I will not be offended. I know what it is like to be on a short leash."

"Soon, perhaps," Vikund smiled. "Still, I have a short while yet. Time enough for dessert."

E'lbram smiled pleasantly, "There is always time for dessert. At least you have your priorities in order, Master Vikund. I'll allow you to choose this time. After all, from the sounds of it, you may be bereft of desserts for some time to come."

Vikund laughed. "Not if I have anything to do with it."

When the waitress returned, she ordered a cappuccino.