Roland, Kat, Raevyn, Josh in Amber

[LynMars]

Raeyvn opens the door at Roland's knock, smiling up at him. "Ready to go!" She says, grabbing the packed bags. After securing the room, she follows the men down to the stables.

[Shutter]

Carrying whatever he's allowed to carry (his own belongings in his satchel, or attached to his belt) Roland leads the way down to the stables where they make the final preparations. Seeing that bows that Katarzyna obtained from the armoury he smiles grimly and nods. Good, plannning well, even with Shadow at our disposal. Very good...Is that rope I see? Excellent...difficult to have too much rope.

"Whenever you say Josh..."

[LynMars]

Raevyn looks over the supplies Kat and the Orphans acquired as they make final preperations. 'Weapons...I wonder if I should have brought one...I don't really have anything besides practice blades, though...'

Rae looks through the stables, searching for the mare she rode the other morning during the picnic. She finally finds her, and her name this time, "Jemani". She gets the mare ready and stands near the others, ready and waiting to go.

[Wired*Nun]

Josh calls some servants to help transport the half-finished Trumps and bags. Once assembled outside the stables, he inquires if there is anything else of concern before they leave. On hearing of Raevyn's reminder about the horses, he snaps his fingers. "Ah, yes, Avalon. Let's get to my shadow first, then perhaps Roland and/or Kat can go retrieve the horses, while we finish with the Trumps."

He asks that most of the gear be temporarily secured to one of the others' horses, except for the easels, which he and Raevyn carefully hold. He holds out a place trump for all to see. It is a picture of an elegant chateau perched on a promotory overlooking the sea, white and green. "This is Castle Jorden. Please make ready."

As everyone makes contact with each other, they can feel him reaching, and the view takes on form and substance. There is a feeling of something like a tape or video or film starting - as if from a standstill, then accelerating to normal speed.

Josh pauses a moment, then steps forward, willing everyone else to do the same. A moment later, everyone is standing on the greensward within the castle's outer walls. Guards look, servants come running.

"Jamie here will arrange rooms, hello Jamie, and take your gear, stable the horses and so on. Roland, do you have a trump of Benedict? Maybe you can check to see if he is there and can bring you through to get Spindrift and Achilles. Trump one of us back when you need to." [Benedict is there in Avalon, feel free to RP that through yourself if I'm not here]

Josh has undergone a subtle change in manner now that he is arrived here. Perhaps it is that he is in his own place, where he is in charge, at least of the shadow dwellers. He has not become pushy, but rather, simply seems to display more confidence.

"Raevyn, let's get up and get these things done. I will bring up the timeflow in Jorden to much faster, so we will have lots of time to get things done."

He leads Raevyn up to a well-equipped studio on the north side of the castle, top floor. Its north-facing skylights provide perfect light for painting, and she finds herself much refeshed and more comfortable. The two are ready to begin working on the backs. "What would you like to put on them? Standard Unicorn, or something else? I use a griffin when I feel like signing them myself, but since these are being distributed widely, might be better to be more anonymous?"

[Pygysys]

Raevyn looks over the supplies Kat and the Orphans acquired as they make final preperations. 'Weapons...I wonder if I should have brought one...I don't really have anything besides practice blades, though...'
Noting Raevyn's interest, Kat is quick to point out the extra swords she brought along for Raevyn's choosing. "I couldn't recall you ever mentioning a preference and figured that either one of these would be suitable. If not, we can always find something along the way I suppose. It's my hope that we don't need to resort to violence at any time but at least if you need a weapon, there'll be one on hand."

Once all the packing is complete and Josh makes ready with the Trump, Kat follows along as do the Orphans. We're finally underway. I'm glad to be doing something constructive now. I wonder where we're going to end up and what we'll learn along the way, including what there is to learn about ourselves.

When they arrive at Josh's castle and he suggests trumping Benedict, Kat looks to Roland to see whether or not he'll follow up on that suggestion or not. "It wouldn't cost us too much time to visit there Roland, if you're not opposed to such and I honestly wouldn't mind seeing him before we set off in earnest."

[LynMars]

Rae nods to Kat, smiling sheepishly. "I'm not too sure; we'll have to practice at some point, though I think the rapier would be fine. Thank you."

As they arrive in Jorden, she looks over the chateau, taking in the aesthetics of the place. The view of the sea especially catches her attention. 'This place is lovely...Is he in charge of just this manor, or the whole place? The latter doesn't make sense, after our conversation last night, so likely just the former. Still, he seems a bit more sure of himself.'

The studio makes her eyes light up; the place is perfect. She's reminded a little of her own studio back at Neptune House, and almost feels slightly homesick, but keeps it away with exploration of the room, seeing how Josh has things set up. "This is a wonderful studio, Josh. Hm...I just usually use the green-and-white Unicorn backs; I don't have a particular signature symbol or color I would want to use instead. I think I just let my style be its own mark. They will be rather far-flung, so perhaps the regular backing will do better in this case."

She pulls on a smock to protect her clothes from stray paint and gets to work with Josh, finishing up the Trumps they have, wondering if there are any more they need at the moment.

[Shutter]

Josh:"Maybe you can check to see if he is there and can bring you through to get Spindrift and Achilles. Trump one of us back when you need to."
A smile begins to grow on Roland's face when he sees the castle, accelerating when he sees Josh more comfortable and enjoying himself at last.

"A beautiful home here Josh. Yes, I have a Trump of Benedict that we can use to get the horses. Spindrift and Achilles, does Benedict know they're there or will we need to hunt them down do you think?"

As he asks Roland gets out his Trumps, the Flora case, and shuffles out the card of Benedict.

"Kat, how long did you want to spend in Avalon? I would like to have as much time as possible to plan, and if the time-flow is about to rapidly increase here time spent in Avalon could cost us dearly."

[Pygysys]

"Kat, how long did you want to spend in Avalon? I would like to have as much time as possible to plan, and if the time-flow is about to rapidly increase here time spent in Avalon could cost us dearly.""As long as we need, Roland. If time is of the essence then we won't stay more than an hour or two, perhaps a night at most. Likewise once we've done what we need, we can return." Kat smiles, "I have no need to remain there longer than necessary, there is nothing pressing between he and I that it can't wait." Kat then waits for Roland to make the Trump call.

Even if time speeds up here, that doesn't mean we lose too much time elsewhere. They want the extra time to dry trumps, we can only lose that time in planning with them. For the moment it shouldn't make such an impression on our plans. At least I don't believe it will.

[Shutter]

Roland's face betrays a small flick of some emotion, irritation, confusion, or indecision, it's hard to tell.

"You're welcome to stay as long as you like Kat, I'll be coming back here as soon as we find the horses." He appears to nearly say something else but cuts it short, nodding to himself. He looks down at the Trump of Benedict, focusing.

"Hello Benedict, this is Roland. Josh left two horses in Avalon two days ago. Could Katarzyna and I come through and collect them quickly?"

He listens, nods. "Thanks." He extends his left hand for Kat to take.

[Wired*Nun]

Benedict brings the two through to what looks to be a den. Furnished in simple Old World fashion, martial artifacts of a western style are displayed prominently on the walls. All could be used without difficulty. It looks like he was writing something at a roll-top desk, now half-closed to hide any contents.

Benedict releases Roland's hand, grips Kat's shoulder briefly, and says, "Come." Leading the pair out of the room, down a short hallway and down a spiral staircase, they catch a glimpse of the castle through the windows, and realize they must be in one of the Silver Towers of Castle Avalon.

Debouching into a ground-floor fencing hall, he crosses the floor diagonally toward the front of the castle. Pointing across the front courtyard, he says, "There is the gate to the carriage-house and stables. Tell them who you are, there will be no difficulty." He looks both in the eyes for a moment, and smiles faintly. "Side still hurt, Katarzyna? When you have time, come learn, both of you. Perhaps you can surprise him sometime." With that, he turns and goes back along his path.

[Wired*Nun]

Josh appreciates Raevyn's delight, and rambles while they begin the work. "I always liked a well-equipped studio. Fortunately I have done a lot of work with this shadow, and made it home. I have a wharf in the cove below with Tigris, my yacht, there is a quaint town down the hill when I feel sociable, the island is about twelve miles across, so there is room to run or ride, lots of beach, one nice rocky hill to climb if you like...in short, most of the things I like in one place. It's near mom's place, and not terribly far from Earth, if I need the big city. It's also well out from Amber, and I have warped access for a number of energies so they can be controlled how I like." He seems to be like a kid showing off his favorite toy.

"So you...like it, then?" For the first time in an hour or so, he seems back to a bit of his usual hesitancy.

[Shutter]

Roland gives a slight bow to Benedict's offer of training. "Thank you. I will take you up on that some day." Surprise Bleys? That'd be a feat...You never know though... He begins to walk towards the stables, but pauses to wait for Kat, you never know, she may need a moment to have a word with The General.

[Pygysys]

The surprise in Kat's eyes is enough to indicate that yes, her side still hurts. "The pain is fleeting and the bruising is fading. Thank you. I will when time permits." She watches Benedict for a moment as he walks down the path before she turns and falls into step beside Roland. "I really do think that I like him," she says of Benedict before grinning at her cohort, "But surprise Bleys? We've got a lot to learn before then."

A whole lot to learn but I think I would like to learn from him and he has extended the invitation. Thank you, Benedict.

She gently nudges Roland with her arm, "What's the matter? You don't seem yourself today at all. Do you want to talk about it at all?"

[LynMars]

Rae smiles at Josh's obvious enthusiam. "Yes, I like it. It seems like a great place, this studio, and all the rest. I'd like to see more of it sometime; maybe if we have a little extra time while we're here, you can show us around a bit?" She works on the backs, thinking. "When they get back, we should definately take some time and discuss our next action, and your orders."

[Shutter]

Katarzyna: She gently nudges Roland with her arm, "What's the matter? You don't seem yourself today at all. Do you want to talk about it at all?""No, I think everything is ok. I'm concerned for our mission, and our lack of...focus. We have better ideas now, more direction than before the investigation began....It's been two days now since the assasination, I'm worried the trail may be getting cold. What will be will be though." He turns and flashes a small grin.

"We just have to make sure that we live in a world to our liking."

[Pygysys]

Kat chuckles and wonders aloud, "Is such even possible? Who knows? Once we return to Jorden though, we can arrest this lack of focus and begin planning our avenue of attack so to speak. Have you given much thought to how we're going to approach Dunstan?" I still feel as if something's not quite right, Roland. When you're ready, you'll tell me, so for now I'll wait, just like you waited for me.

She gestures backwards over her shoulder with her thumb, "Perhaps we might return here together sometime and accept that invitation at the same time. If nothing else, we'll have someone else to share our experiences with." Her hand goes to her side and the obvious seems unspoken. And our cuts and bruises...

[Shutter]

"Indeed. Jorden seemed like a good place. I don't know Josh yet nearly as well as I'd like, it will be good to get to know him on his home ground." He looks around, seeming to memorize the details of Avalon, the feel of the place. "This too looks like somewhere I would like to spend some time. I've always wanted to train with Benedict. My fencing masters were all very skillful, but at times they lacked the hardiness of our family." A small shadow filckers accross his easy going expression, gone before it's fully noticed. "I learned well, but it would be a wonderful opportunity to learn from The Master...Yes Katarzyna, we shall come back here when we're able."

When they arrive at the stables Roland introduces the two of them and requests that the horses be brought out, including any gear they were left with. When they're ready, he gets out his sketchbook and turns to Raevyn's Sketch, reimbuing it with power. When ready he'll look to Kat and ask, "I'm ready, would you like to stay longer? I can contact you before we have dinner perhaps?"

[Wired*Nun]

During the finishing of the Trump, Josh continues to chat happily about his personal shadow. The day passes pleasantly, as the backs and seals are much less taxing than are the faces.
[Whether or not Kat stays -]

Trump contact with Raevyn comes quickly, and after relocating herself to the vicinity of the stables, she brings the cousin(s) and the horses through. [This will happen after the trump backs are finished, since Jorden is on fast-time right now.]

[LynMars]

"Welcome back!" Rae exclaims. She pets Spindrift. "Hello, girl, missed you...Jemani's good, but I'm sure you could have beaten Bill and Bordase." She says, grinning as she slips her mare and Achilles some sugar cubes she swiped from the kitchen on her way out to the stable.

"We've finished the backs, sealed them--Roland, sometime, we're really going to have sit down and actually practice technique. And speaking of that race...I'm going to go see if I can commandeer the kitchens. I owe you guys a meal, after all." Rae leads the way back to the house.

[Pygysys]

"Indeed. Jorden seemed like a good place. I don't know Josh yet nearly as well as I'd like, it will be good to get to know him on his home ground." He looks around, seeming to memorize the details of Avalon, the feel of the place. "This too looks like somewhere I would like to spend some time. I've always wanted to train with Benedict. My fencing masters were all very skillful, but at times they lacked the hardiness of our family." A small shadow filckers accross his easy going expression, gone before it's fully noticed. "I learned well, but it would be a wonderful opportunity to learn from The Master...Yes Katarzyna, we shall come back here when we're able.""I learnt a lot from my father and my uncle, as well as those officers who held rank above me when I first entered into service of the Sentinels." Although it saddens her, Kat seems to find it easier to speak to Roland now that the two are alone and away from Amber. "The Royal Guard I spoke of once were the Sentinels and my father was commander of them. I miss him, I miss everything." Quickly she sucks in a deep breath or three and clears her head of emotion. "When we return here, I will tell you my story." I owe you at least that for becoming a constant that I can count upon.

When they arrive at the stables Roland introduces the two of them and requests that the horses be brought out, including any gear they were left with. When they're ready, he gets out his sketchbook and turns to Raevyn's Sketch, reimbuing it with power. When ready he'll look to Kat and ask, "I'm ready, would you like to stay longer? I can contact you before we have dinner perhaps?"She smiles but shakes her head, "As much as I'd like to, I'm ready to leave now as well. There will be a time to stay here longer but this isn't it." She grins now, "Besides, the way time might be flowing in Jorden, I'd have only been here a few moments before you were contacting me again. Let's go check in on those cousins of ours. They could need us for something."

When they return to Jorden and see Raevyn, Kat smiles and her smile broadens as she goes on to tease her cousin , "Ah good to be back. So you two have been keeping busy. Roland and I were betting on whether or not Josh was speeding up time to just teach Lester new tricks and lead you into corruption." She nudges Roland, "I hope I packed the right kind of medicine into the medical kit now that Raevyn's cooking for us."

[Shutter]

Roland simply looks Kat in the eyes and gives a slight grave smile to her offer to tell him the whole story later. She's been through more than the rest of us these last several days...More even than Raevyn I suspect.

Later...

"Thanks Raevyn, I'd like that. And another thanks to both you and Josh for putting in all this work on the Trumps. I know they're not easy, my attempts have shown me that much. If there's anything you need, let me know."

Roland chuckles at Kat's comment about the medecine as Raevyn runs off to get dinner started, hoping she hadn't heard. "No, I'm sure she'll do just fine. I wonder what she'll make though? Having lived with Gerard I'm sure she knows to make enough at least...So Kat, up for a workout before dinner?" He asks smiling.

[LynMars]

Kat: "Ah good to be back. So you two have been keeping busy. Roland and I were betting on whether or not Josh was speeding up time to just teach Lester new tricks and lead you into corruption." She nudges Roland, "I hope I packed the right kind of medicine into the medical kit now that Raevyn's cooking for us."Rae's eyes widen a bit, then she realizes Kat's teasing her. "Oh, I think Lester has enough tricks, thanks. Umm..." Unable to think of a good response to the rest, she turns to head toward the house.

"I heard that!" She calls back at the medical kit comment. "I haven't killed anyone with my cooking yet!"

And with that, Raevyn goes to try and see what she can do in the kitchen.

[Pygysys]

Laughter is Kat's response to Raevyn's call, "Thank the Unicorn!" She turns to Roland and nods, "A workout would be good. I know that Zane and Marc could also use the exercise. It will be good for the four of us to get accustomed to working together and being aware of each other's level of skill just in case we need to rely upon it at some stage." It will also be good to build a rapport of sorts between the Orphans and Roland as well. I want them to get to know Roland as I have a feeling he and I could be friends for quite some time to come.

[Shutter]

"Excellent, we'll see if Josh has a practice yard, hopefully some practice blades." Roland looks around the courtyard for Josh or a servant he can question.

[Wired*Nun]

Jamie, the maitre-d'chateau, is an energetic man, about 5'6", looking in his 40's. He seems to be everywhere at once, making sure everyone in the small staff and everything is working properly.

He tells Roland that there is no practice yard, as there are no guards and no need of any on this small island steading. There is, however, a well-equipped fencing salle with blades of all types, even those not normally used for fencing. [more later].

[Wired*Nun]

Jamie directs anyone interested to the salle, then bustles off somewhere. "Just use anything there, if you can't find something, let me know, I'll see what I can do." The salle is set below the main floor, what would be a basement except for the windows and balcony opening its west wall, overlooking the sea below. There is a wide array of weapons here, and the floor is a roughened granite that is well-suited to traction by boots.

Anyone who cares to look will see a cove beneath the cliff, with a sloop and a number of small boats. Two fisherman look to be mending nets.

The promotory faces north and west, and from a cupola of the chateau can be seen the coastlines going south, then bending east, and eastwards from the castle. The island's axis seems to be east-west, about twelve miles long someone will tell them, and about a mile across.

Down the shore to the east is the small town of Jorden, about a thousand people. Fishing boats and breakwater can be seen in that direction. The chateau, the town and the island all share the name. There are at least a dozen fishing villages scattered around the shoreline. Near the center of the island rises one low mountain or large hill, looking to be a dead volcano. Smaller hills run down the spine of the island, and into the sea at the promotory of the chateau. No land can be seen other than the island.

Although not overtly wealthy, all the buildings and facilities are exceedingly well-maintained and of uniformly high quality. There is an abundance of materials such as copper, tile, marble, fine woods, cast and wrought iron, indicating that no one wants for anything here, and there is ample technology for the simple comforts - hot and cold running water, wizard globes for light, gas ovens.

The kitchen is a wonder, overseen by a plump middle-aged woman named Colleen. Everything imaginable and some unimaginable things are available, and when Raevyn walks in, she is more than happy to assist in any way - almost too much, if she is allowed.

Josh comes down to work out with the other two. "I'm hungry, but I'll wait for Raevyn's handiwork." It's about mid-afternoon, so the timing is right for a workout, a shower and dinner.

[Shutter]

"Hello Josh. Thank you again for letting letting us stay here, it's a beautiful home." Roland is looking through the selection of practice weapons, gathering a small selection of swords to use, various sizes and styles ranging from rapiers and daggers to things more akin to a claymore. Starting with the lightest and working his way towards the heavier swords he begins going through a series of Kata, loosening his muscles and joints. Unnerving to be preparing for dinner so close to breakfast... "I think Katarzyna was rounding up her men, care to fence a bit until she returns?"

[Wired*Nun]

"Happy to, but I'm not that great, by family standards," he says. "Umm, I put my time into other things growing up, I'm afraid. Why don't you choose your weapon, and give me the advantage of choosing mine after, if you don't mind. Might give you a better workout." He starts warming up too, after carefully taking off his bag and what look to be three Trump cases off his belt. He also draws forth two fighting knives with their sheathes from his boots and tosses them up onto a shelf at the limit of his reach.

[Shutter]

"Sounds fair." Roland replies while he picks up a large sword, heavier and somewhat longer than Smoke. After taking off his scabbard and setting it near his satchel against one wall he warms up with a series of graceful arcing movements that keep the sword always in motion, always poised to change direction. When he's satisfied that he knows the sword's tempo he pauses and salutes Josh. "Ready when you are. No need to point out that since we're both unarmoured we'll be pulling our blows pretty substantialy?..."

[Wired*Nun]

Josh looks speculatively at the power and reach of the large blade, then picks up a buckler and shortsword, in the style of the gladiator. All the practice weapons are blunted. "I hope we pull our blows, since we are unarmored. Here, put on a mask." He tosses Roland a sabre basket. "Wounds are one thing, losing an eye is quite another." He dons his own.

Josh salutes and takes up high guard with the buckler. Feint and cut, attack and riposte, it's good to work out the muscles.

The shield definitely gives Josh benefit, as Roland is not allowing himself to power through it like he knows he could. It was a good choice for a fencing match against a hand-and-a-half sword. However, Roland quickly ascertains that Josh's strength, and particularly skill with the blade, is far inferior to his own.

Josh tries every trick in the book, and Roland handles it all with imperturbable ease. Unless he's holding back a lot, Josh was telling the truth. He'd probably beat one of the Orphans without too much difficulty, shadow-dwellers that they are, but not any martially-inclined Amberite.

[Shutter]

Roland allows himself to relax and enjoy the match, the feeling that exertion brings to the body. He focuses on his technique, on predicting Josh's movements accurately. If Josh makes any errors that Roland can correct, or give him tips on he'll try to explain while they spar, or possibly pause to explain if need be. He does so politely, with a courtesy and respect that is completely genuine and believable. Whenever Josh scores a hit (which he will if it won't be insultingly obvious) Roland congratulates him. Excellent choice cousin...Good, good catch there...

[Wired*Nun]

While Roland and Josh are sparring, Marc, Zane and Kat come in and watch. They warm up, select weapons, and the two Orphans go at it easy while Kat watches the two Amberites.

"Thanks a lot for your teaching, Roland, you're really good. Your father and Benedict and I didn't really get any time to do this before the, the balcony... I really need the practice, as you can see. How about if I fence with those guys so I can recover my wounded ego, while you experts tire yourselves out."

He then greets Zane and Marc and begins to do some exercises with them.

[Shutter]

Roland bows slightly to Josh's praise. "Thank you Josh, you learn quickly. I hope I was able to help a bit...I may ask you to return the favor soon. You paint far better than I." Before he leaves Roland offers his hand to shake. He trained with my father?... It doesn't show, but a sharp pang of jealousy shoots through Roland for a moment, quickly calmed by years of meditation. I'll have to watch out for things like that, there's sure to be more...Only fair though, his father taught me Trumps.

When Josh has left he turns to Katarzyna. "Shall we?" He asks as he slips his fencing mask back on and drops into a fighting stance.

[Pygysys]

When Josh has left he turns to Katarzyna. "Shall we?" He asks as he slips his fencing mask back on and drops into a fighting stance.
Kat settles on a sword much like the one Roland has chosen and then slips her own mask on. She smiles through the basket, salutes and even asks, "Ready?" Before Roland can reply or indicate that he is, Kat launches into attack mode with the blows coming thick and fast. Let's really give ourselves a workout.

[LynMars]

The kitchen is a wonder, overseen by a plump middle-aged woman named Colleen. Everything imaginable and some unimaginable things are available, and when Raevyn walks in, she is more than happy to assist in any way - almost too much, if she is allowed.

Raevyn enjoys herself in the kitchen, working with Colleen to make an Italian-style meal, more than enough for all four of them; she asks about the stock in the wine cellar, wanting something that will fit, and finally starts on a rich chocolate cake for dessert. Living with Gerard, she's gotten used to making excessive helpings, so there might be a bit much.

[Shutter]

Roland grins as Kat's flurry of attacks backs him up a couple of paces. This is more like it! His focus deepens and the ringing of swords fills the fencing salle, faster and faster...

[Pygysys]

As the pace picks up, Kat finds herself on the back foot and giving up ground as Roland ups the ante. I can't let you win back too much ground.

Turning Roland's blade aside, Kat tries to sneak her own beneath Roland's guard. It's close but he manages to backpedal in time and block the strike. Kat does manage to gain ground again and beat Roland back a few paces. He is good. I expected as much. I think his own skill surpasses mine.

Back and forth they go, each attempting to gain the upper hand and the other managing to wrest it away momentarily until Roland deceives Kat with a double feint and she finds the point of his blunted sword at her throat. He is better than I! "Well done, cousin! You certainly seem to have my measure and now I have incentive to improve." Kat lifts her mask and smiles broadly at Roland. "I might not be able to surprise that Uncle of ours but maybe some day I can surprise you a whole lot sooner."

[Shutter]

Roland gives Kat a slight bow, lifting his mask to smile at her. "You're good cousin. Very good. Care to continue?" He slips his mask back down, dropping into a fighting stance once more.

They go back and forth long enough that both lose track of time, blows are exchanged, bruises form but neither break skin or bone. They keep on like this until one tires, or until Josh gives them notice that it's an hour or so until dinner.

[LynMars]

When food is close to ready, Raevyn, knowing how people can get wrapped up in what they're doing, sends a servant to the salle to let everyone know the approximate time she intends to serve dinner, leaving plenty of time for people to get cleaned up--including herself, though she's not nearly as bad as the duelers.

[Wired*Nun]

After the latest exchange, Roland and Kat notice Josh, Marc and Zane have been watching them, and give a small round of applause when they stop. The smell of spices is wafting downstairs, and Pierre the valet follows closely, announcing dinner in a half hour.

Dinner is served in the castle's main hall, with the whole staff as well, eating at the same table, after bringing everything and setting it out, family-style. Jamie and Colleen, and their children, James and John, 14 and 17 or so, who look like they work outside in the stables and on the grounds, Pierre the valet, his wife Chantile the housekeeper, and their 10-year-old daughter Fabienne. That's the staff whole staff, no more than needed. They all act like one big happy family.

[Shutter]

When Josh and the Orphans applaud Roland looks up, blushing ever so slightly. He gives a small self-deprecating bow, before breaking out into a full grin and giving Kat an impromtu hug.

"Excellent match cousin! We have to do this more often."

Roland finds Jamie and asks directions to a shower, if possible he'll change out of the reeking clothing he was just wearing, setting it aside to wash later. In its place will go a spare set of black pants. After pulling on a white shot sleeved shirt he wishes he had something else to cover the bruises on his forearms, but no such luck. At the appointed time he arrives at the dinner table, inhaling deeply and smiling at everyone present. Home cooking, a large extended family...Almost like home...damn...been too long.

[Wired*Nun]

Jamie directs Roland to his room - not the grand apartments of Amber, but nicely appointed en suite in an eclectic style emphasizing woods and earth toned fabrics. His gear and clothes have all been deposited there.

[Pygysys]

When Josh and the Orphans applaud Roland looks up, blushing ever so slightly. He gives a small self-deprecating bow, before breaking out into a full grin and giving Kat an impromtu hug.

"Excellent match cousin! We have to do this more often."
Colour darkens Kat's cheeks as well and she looks embarrassed but that doesn't stop her hugging Roland back. "Thank you, and you, Roland." She grins as she mimics Bleys, "I see a great future for you." Looking to Josh and the Orphans, she smiles. I'm glad the Orphans appreciated the show, if nothing else, they know that Roland is a very competent swordsman and can hold his own.

She then follows Roland's example and asks about a place to bathe and change, not only for herself but for Marc and Zane as well. If directed in the same manner to rooms, the three take the directions and see to cleaning themselves up. During this time, Kat also takes the opportunity to inform the two (Marc and Zane) of Roland's knowledge about their situation, wrapping the conversation up with: "I like him and he's proving honorable and true. In Roland we have something that we have far too few of, an ally."

A little while later they join the others at dinner and all seem a lot more relaxed than usual and their manner of dress reflects it as well. For once the uniforms they wear have been ignored in favour of simple, loose white shirts. Black pants and boots haven't been forgotten though but the only weapons they seem to be armed with are daggers, their main weapons left behind in their rooms.

[Wired*Nun]

Josh seems to be enjoying the company, and discussion flows among the inhabitants of Jorden about mundane matters - the disposition and progress of work around the grounds, the childrens' schooling, planned improvements. The servants are respectful but friendly to Josh at all times; they seem to regard him as a benevolent and powerful patron, which he undoubtedly is to them. They seem to realize how fortunate they are to be living in the lord of the island's personal abode, but more than that, they genuinely like and respect Joshua, without a hint of fear.

Lester is an accepted friend to all, and has his own high-chair-like arrangement next to Joshua, where he eats daintily, seeming more like a raccoon than a rat.

Fabienne often gets up from the table and tries to hold conversations with the visitors; she seems especially fascinated by Katarzyna, and badgers her incessantly with a cornucopia of questions - where did you come from, what is your home like, do you have any pets, and so on. She proudly displays a picture of her pony, Strand, and says that she will be getting a real horse when she turns thirteen. James and John laugh good-naturedly at her childlike demeanor; they seem unaware of the probability that they will be vying for her attentions in just a few years.

The food turns out to be excellent; Raevyn certainly can cook, and any rough edges due to unfamiliar tools and conditions have been smoothed by Colleen's expertise. All in all, an enjoyable meal, without the bustling of servants and undertone of potential conspiracy always present back at Amber.

[Pygysys]

Fabienne's curiousity proves to be a gentle distraction for Kat and she indulges the young girl as much as she can. All answers reflect her life in Corrilaine but with obvious name changes so the charade can be maintained. She praises the pony, telling Fabienne he seems a very fine steed from his picture and is very much like the one that Kat learnt to ride on when she was the girl's age. Aside from her own pony, Kat did have a pet wolf once... okay she admits, Nyxar was only part-wolf but he looked like a real wolf!

She also tells Fabienne why Raevyn had to do the cooking, grinning across the table at her cousin. "I'm glad she lost otherwise I'd have had to cook. Do you know what that means, Fabienne? We'd all be going hungry."

[LynMars]

Rae blushes slightly, looking pleased with herself. "It is all right, isn't it? I mean, it's to everyone's liking? Not too much of one thing, too little of another? I think I may have made the servings a little large...good thing there are plenty of people here." She smiles sheepishly.

[Shutter]

Roland looks up at Raevyn and squints for a moment, trying to swallow his large mouthful of food hastily.

"Rae, it's delicious. That's all there is to it." He grabs his wine glass and hoists it. "To the chefs!" Bowing to Raevyn and Colleen before grinning and drinking deeply.

[LynMars]

Raevyn's blush deepens, but she smiles and raises her glass as well, sipping her wine. "Thanks."

[Pygysys]

Kat holds her glass aloft and echoes Roland's toast, "To the chefs." And to good times ahead and those long past.

Relaxing back in her chair she quietly watches the others gathered at the table, smiling at the enjoyment such a non-formal event can bring.

[Wired*Nun]

All good things must eventually end, and dinner winds down with the never-still Jamie announcing, "Sorry to be off, but me 'n the boys still have summat to do afore sundown, come on lads." The rest start clearing the table and cleaning up in the kitchen.

Once the necessaries are accomplished, Josh says, "Raevyn, Roland, Katarzyna, would you join me in the studio please? Pierre, see that we are not disturbed, will you?" A small bow from Pierre acknowledges Josh's instruction, and Josh heads on up, absentmindedly wiping his hands with an accidentally pilfered kitchen towel on the way.

[Pygysys]

I really need to clarify the pet name. I don't recall giving Josh the liberty of Kat. I also see where I stand in the scheme of things.

Kat rises to her feet and follows the others to the studio.

Perhaps we're finally going to sit down and discuss our tactics for this investigation. It certainly is about time but I'm still not exactly sure why we needed extra time for extra Trumps. Especially given the first part of this assignment regarding Dunstan. Having an extra Trump on hand isn't going to help us if Dunstan takes offense to our polite enquiry.

Once inside the studio, she looks for a good place to sit down and is apparently waiting to see what Roland and Josh might have to say, assuming this after-dinner conversation is about their task.

[Wired*Nun]

Presuming the Amberites come for conference: Josh finds a spot on a sturdy table, his feet dangling off the floor. He seems a bit nervous again, and takes out a coin of some sort and runs it across the backs of his fingers and around, again and again, as he talks.

"I know you all know I have something to tell you, that I wasn't allowed to before. Probably you think that I was entrusted with some sort of special information and you at least, Roland, I bet, are, umm, kinda insulted about this because you have been put more or less in charge. Like most things, you just don't know what you don't know." He looks at Katarzyna with a certain amount of pain in his eyes. He then looks - almost stares - at Roland as he goes on.

"This information I have isn't something that Random or Benedict or Julian told me and not you: it's something I told them, so it's only logical that I tell it to you."

"It's something that shocked me but did not surprise me. I mean, cousins have been popping out of the woodwork right and left lately, but this one was...kind of wierd."

"I've known about this manuscript for some years now." Joshua opens up a folder sitting on the table next to him, something no one really noticed until now among the scattered papers, drawings, and supplies. He takes out a slim leatherbound volume, so thin that the cover seems thicker than the text. The leather is a black, shiny, scale-marked sort, some kind of snakeskin perhaps. "I never really gave it much credence, and there was never any reason to show it to anyone else." He stares now at the floor, as if concentrating on what he will say.

"It purports to be the story of the end of the mortal life of one Lintra Hendrake, and I am now inclined to believe it in detail, because I have confirmed some of it. It is corroborated by Corwin's writings, and now, by your father," - nodding towards Katarzyna - "himself. It seems to be written in her own hand, in what is, as far as I can determine, ink of blood, on parchment of...of human skin. Benedict confirms the handwriting; in fact, he compared it to Lintra's truce dispatch."

"It names Siodmak as the son of Benedict and the hellmaid Lintra, a lost child if there ever was one...which makes him your brother, Katarzyna. Makes him Family, and of the direct blood of Chaos to boot. Might be why Dunstan called him 'brother' so pointedly. Jasra is a Hendrake, after all, even if she was of low caste." Here he pauses and slowly looks up, as if to gauge reactions, shoulders hunched, as if expecting fireworks.

[LynMars]

Raevyn blinks in surprise, looking at the book. She chews her lip, looking at her other two cousins, trying to gauge a response. Then she carefully clears her throat and speaks up. "Um, shouldn't Landon's group have this knowledge, since they're the ones searching for Siodmak? I mean, it's good information to have, I guess, and answers questions I, and I'm sure Roland, have had, and maybe will help, somehow, in any talks we have with Dunstan by having more than he thinks we do, but...Shouldn't Arrotell, at least, know about this as well?"

[Shutter]

Roland listens attentively to Josh's report. Why is he staring at me like that? When it's done he gathers his thoughts while Raevyn speaks.

"I agree. The other team needs to know this. Unless you have a compelling reason not to tell them, then I'd like to Trump Arotel and Landon soon and let them know. That being said, I don't know that it's particularly pressing. Siodmak likely doesn't know this. Dunstan though does, as we're dealing with Dunstan knowing what he knows could help us...He seemed to think that Siodmak being of the Blood was a vital piece of news. The fact that he knew this brings up something else. His powers of observation are impressive. He spied on my father effortlessly in Arden, he found the four of us in Shadow. It is not beyond reason that he can observe and hear most of what we say at any given moment, so I am hesitant to rely on deception too heavily....Back to Siodmak though....Josh, where did you find this manuscript, if you don't mind my asking?"

[Wired*Nun]

Josh looks uncomfortable at Roland's last question. "I knew you would ask me that, though I hoped you wouldn't. I - I can't tell you. Won't tell you, I guess, to be honest. It would start threads being pulled that would unravel too many things that are just now being knit up. If it makes you feel any better, I told Benedict the same thing, and Random as well. Random was pissed. Benedict I supposed figured he can wait and see, he's like that, you know. Either way, I can't, right now. I am sorry. It would be easier to lie, which is something I have had to do from time to time, as we all do, when we think the reasons are strong enough...but I don't like it, and I won't do it, except that there are lives at stake here. The answer doesn't really bear on the current questions, if that helps at all. It was a hard enough decision us bringing it up to the elders, don't make it worse by pushing me for more, right now, okay?"

"I can absolutely, umm, as far as is humanly possible anyway, guarantee you that Dunstan cannot scrye us in any way right now. I've worked long and hard on this shadow, and as far as I know, it should be proof against anything short of using something like the Jewel to alter or penetrate it. That was one reason that I wanted to tell you all this here, and any plans and discussions should be held here, because once we are in shadow, you are right, we could be spied upon, though I will do my best to make sure that doesn't happen."

"That leads backward to Raevyn's comment. Yes, Landon should know this, but there is some small risk in communicating it to him by Trump. I also do think Arrotel should know. The best thing would be to bring him - or them - here, and tell them, and then send them along. As I am not the leader of this mission, and neither am I the King's eyes and ears I hope you know, it's ultimately up to you, Roland, how you want to handle it. The fewer know about this, though the better, on general principles. What happens if Chaos finds out? They will likely recruit him, who knows what else. How are we going to treat another of Benedict's children? Katarzyna, are you willing to do whatever is necessary? I know, you swore the oath, but it's a hard thing to hurt, even kill, a brother..." Here Josh's eyes fill with pain, as if he knows personally what he is warning about.

[Pygysys]

Until Josh's direct question, it appears that Kat's been sitting in stunned silence absorbing the revelations one by one. Did they know or have any idea how much of a web would have to be spun when they paired me with Benedict? Roland knows but I can't break faith with Random again, it's as Josh says, the more who know a secret, the more chance it has to be revealed.

She looks up at Josh, taking her time in answering him. He's pained and it seems he's pained all the more for believing he might be the cause of more pain to myself and others. We are all flawed, aren't we cousin due to our heritage. How many of us would exchange it to be free of the blood? I think none.

"I think we need to keep all possibilities in mind but not act rashly and make too many assumptions just yet. Each group has directives and they must be followed and upheld. Should, and I do stress this, should there be no other alternative but to dispatch Siodmak, then that is what will be done."

She looks to Roland and then back to Josh, "I agree that Landon and Arrotel need to be informed, they should know of this. I also question Dunstan's use of the word brother. Was it simply figurative? Stated because of the Hendrake connection? Or perhaps there is something about Dunstan's parentage we are not aware of? I trust that those of the same house, simply use the term as we use Cousin." I can understand and accept if we must kill one, but I hope that is all. Should I need to stain my hands further, then so be it. I am more removed than any from these familial ties even though most believe otherwise.

[Wired*Nun]

Responding to Katarzyna, Josh says, oh so softly, "- for we were soldiers once, and young..."

[Shutter]

"We need to deliver a load of Trumps to the other team in any case, do we not? We should bring Landon and Arrotel through then and tell them...I can accept that you can't tell us about the origin of the manuscript Josh." No need to point out that it angers me though... "Thank you Katarzyna, I think we all know that Blood means little if someone proves that they need to be removed...Our Blood has caused a lot of trouble in the last several decades, the time of free forgiveness is long long gone. That being said, Siodmak has only proven himself unsavory, not an enemy of Amber."

[Wired*Nun]

Josh seems happy that a decision has been made. "All right. Okay, tomorrow, our time, we can bring them through, deliver the Trumps and fill them in, they will need to dry overnight anyway. Feel free to open the next topic of discussion, anyone? Our next move after that? We going to brace Dalt or probe the Keep, or something else? Or do you want to talk to them first before we decide? I've got time here dialed up really fast, which means we have all the time we need inside without losing much outside."

[Pygysys]

Glancing at Roland, Kat nods. I don't think the decision to kill Siodmak will really come down to me in the end but should it, perhaps it will spare someone else the pain and despair that weighs upon Josh. I'm still yet to meet Arrotel and tomorrow that will be rectified. Then I will learn if he will be able to make such a decision and if not, and they look to me, better I as Benedict's daughter in charade bear the weight.

"I would think it better if we approached Dunstan first. It is quite possible that other events related to what occurred in Amber have unfolded there if one of our suspects has any role to play in all of this. If nothing else, we can at least gauge how well Dunstan is holding up. Should it be the opposite of his stated case and he is perhaps the one gone mad, then it might be prudent for us to come to Jasra's aid. Afterall, none actually saw her during their time in the Keep. Did they? She might be his prisoner unbeknownst to us."

[LynMars]

Talk of speaking to Dunstan and going to the Keep make Raevyn frown and look out a window, her father's warning weighing heavily in her mind. 'But...If that is where this investigation leads, or if they decide it to be the first course of action, I won't have much choice. He'll be angry with me, maybe, but I will just have to deal with that later.'

"I don't know, Kat, perhaps trying to look at Dunstan from another angle would be better at first. If we could find a reason to speak with Dalt, or a way to approach him and ask a few questions, it would give us insight and another perspective. But that's just a thought; I really don't know how we would go about doing that. Whichever you decide is best; I am not the best strategist here, I'm sure."

[Shutter]

Roland looks off to one side for a moment, letting his mind wander ever so briefly. Raevyn wants to find Dalt, Katarzyna wants to speak with Dunstan, Josh's agenda or thoughts are unknown...What the hell do I want to do? I'd like a nice army to fight, or maybe some marauders to track down...A bridge to defend...something simple....the real world isn't as clear cut as Shadow life tends to be...they always warned me about that...

"Whatever we decide, I don't think we need to inform or seek guidance from the other team. Both paths have merit, and both have risks. I only know enough to know that what I decide will be based largely in ignorance...I say we go to the Keep, We should speak to Dunstan and see where he stands. How we should approach the Keep is then another matter that needs to be discussed. I suspect we can Trump in, but if there's a chance that we can infiltrate the Keep discretely, I'd like to consider it...I don't find that very likely though I must admit."

[LynMars]

"Trumping in is very difficult; I still believe we only managed it the first time because Dunstan chose for us to succeed. Inside the Keep, he is very strong, as demonstrated at least in part by that abortive combat Siodmak and Joss attempted. And...My father would really we rather not try the Keep as our first objective. I know, he's...He's worried, and angry, and fairly convinced Dunstan or Jasra was behind..." Raevyn pauses, biting her lip. Then her brow furrows, as if recalling something, and she reaches for a blank sheet of paper. "I keep meaning, now that...things have calmed down..." She starts drawing, trying recall the details of the tall man on the balcony with her and Josh.

[Pygysys]

"I don't think we need to infiltrate the Keep as such. For all Dunstan needs to know, we could be coming to truly consider his offer and follow that lead up. We'll certainly find out if he knows of what occurred and it's possible if he knows more he could slip up in revealing that. There's no reason we can't speak to him under the directive of King Random of Amber, who's finally become convinced that Dunstan does need the aid he's been requesting." Kat takes a moment to stretch her arms up over her head.

"If we pitch it well enough, there could be all kinds of things we can discover. If Dalt is as connected to the Keep as has been inferred, then we can easily speak to him under pretense of aiding Dunstan. I suppose it can come down to how much we're willing to bend circumstance to fit our own agenda here. Who was it that said the best lie was a half-truth or some such?" She shrugs and glances over at Raevyn, curious at her cousin's sketching.

"If we do go to the Keep, there is no reason anyone needs to be hostile. What is it you're putting together there?"

[LynMars]

"My father's worried about us going to the Keep at all, Kat, under any kind of circumstance. He's fairly convinced that whoever's responsible for my brother's death is there, and he wants...Well, I'm sure you can guess. This? I recalled something, and I keep meaning to ask Josh, and you two as well, about it. I think I mentioned something about it during the....When Roland pulled Heldrik and myself through the Trump, I tried to tell you what I saw. This gentleman was there, and it was one of those times where it seemed I should have known him. I could swear he Trumped away right after the...shot...But I could be wrong; I wasn't exactly paying attention at that point except to get to where everyone else was."

She continues working on it, chewing on the end of her pencil occasionally, trying to recall details.

[Pygysys]

"Yeah but why? What has him convinced? Because Trump was used with the projectile? And because Trump was used that's a clearcut sign that the Keep or someone involved with the Keep is behind it all? We have to go to the Keep, I can't see why we wouldn't go to the Keep. Random wants us to follow up on Dunstan and Dunstan's at the Keep." Good one Kat, just point out the obvious and what we already know. Kat sighs and sits back, her gaze drifting back to Raevyn watching her at work.

"I don't even want to hazard a guess as to who might actually be behind all of this. It wouldn't surprise me if it was someone back in Amber who wanted to steal themselves a little time by sending everyone else off in a completely different direction." That shuts Kat up. That would make Joss' death a lot more horrible than it already is, if it was essentially for nothing. Let's distract the Family with murder so foul, that nothing else has the same priority attached to finding the killer. How terrible of me to hope that there was some real purpose in Joss' death rather than to discover it was trivial.

[Wired*Nun]

Josh hops off the table and walks over to look over Raevyn's shoulder. After a moment, he frowns and pulls out one of his Trump cases. Shuffling through them, he slides one out and sticks it between the backs of two fingers, then flips it over, palm up. The card and the sketch Raevyn is making looks similar...very similar...

"That's Rinaldo."

Joshua goes on. "Did you tell anyone back in Amber about this guy you saw on the balcony, Rae? I'm guessing not, or someone would have wanted you to do a picture of him for identification. Curiouser and curiouser."

"If we do go to talk to Dunstan, I'd suggest we find some kind of neutral or middle ground. If he's fairly tied to the keep in some way, he won't want to go far...perhaps outside it, in one of those shadows that it borders. After all, he would be meeting with us four-to-one. It might show if he's serious about it or not. It might also show us the limits of his power."

[LynMars]

"Kat, I know. He's concerned about my--all of our--safety, and is angry. Dad's emotions can get the better of him sometimes. Yes, I think he is convinced that because Trump is involved, and due to the time frame and the circumstances, someone at the Keep is involved, and is afraid of what will happen if we go alone. And he wants to deal with Joss' killer very personally. I only brought it up due to my own reluctance to directly disobey him, but if we have to go, I'll go along with it."

As Joshua identifies the sketch: "No wonder he looked familiar. No, I think...I think Roland and Kat were the only ones I managed to tell, and then only briefly; everything else was too jumbled up. I'm pretty sure he noticed me noticing him, though."

[Wired*Nun]

Josh looks thoughtful. "You know, if I were a smart guy like I assume Rinaldo is, and I had something to do with it, I wouldn't get seen by anyone near the assassination, certainly not by family. Unless it's a double bluff...or he really has gone mad and just doesn't care...too many leads are just as bad as no leads. Too many shapeshifters in the courts, too. I wonder if Dunstan can shapeshift? In general, it's much harder, almost impossible, to learn once you've walked the Pattern, because of the stabilizing influence of the Pattern. Even if you do it before, it gets somewhat harder after walking the Pattern, I believe. I never heard anything about Rinaldo being able to..."

[Shutter]

Roland sidles over to Raevyn to get a look at the Trump Josh is holding, he wants to see if it's in the same style as the one he has in his case.

"So Rinaldo was there...Damn, I wish we'd brought this to the attention of the others. A fairly relevant point." Don't be angry with Raevyn...You failed to report it too... "We need to tell the elders about this...Josh, you mentioned that you have some experience with warding, and enough knowledge ot Trump evesdropping to worry about us being overheard. What if I simply wrote a note and passed it to someone through Trump? That would be safe, yes?" Why get complicated when you can get simple?

[Wired*Nun]

Josh's trump of Rinaldo is neither in the same style nor the same pose as Roland's. From a comparison of styles, he suspects that Josh's was painted himself, and the one he has, by one of the elders, but not Dworkin. Maybe Bleys.

In response to Roland's question, he replies, "Yes. One can catch surface thoughts, or see, but generally not both, unless you want the subject to become aware of you. Surface thoughts of humans while someone is speaking are almost always exactly congruent with the words, so it seems as if you are hearing one side of a conversation. So, passing a note should be very safe from spying. I can keep this end of the conversation safe anyway, as long as we are in Jorden."

[Shutter]

"Sounds good. Raevyn, I'd like you to write out a short description of Rinaldo's appearance. Write it on something flimsy, easily destroyed. I'll send it to Flora when you're done. Include something about how we're trying to avoid being overheard on Trumps."

Oh...should have told them before now probably...

"Josh, Flora gave me this ring before I left, said I could use it in an emergency. Could you find out how it works?" He asks, holding up his left pinky finger with the ring on it. "I worry about artifacts I don't understand."

[Wired*Nun]

Josh holds his hand out for the ring. Assuming he is given it, he says, "I have to take it to the lab to do this right - or do you just want a quick and dirty?" He brings up the Pattern and begins to look at it.

[Shutter]

Roland hesitates for just a moment before handing over the ring.

"I'll take both if they're not mutualy exclusive." He replies to Josh with a bit of a shrug.

[Wired*Nun]

"Well, right off I'd say, Pattern magic, and a better job than I could do myself. Something coiled in there, like a spring...energy under tension, and a fairly complex trigger sequence. That's all I can tell right now. If you guys want to watch me examine it, I don't mind." Anyone coming with him will see that he carries it down some stairs into the basements, and deeper into the mountainside to a magical laboratory filled with some of the usual bric-a-brac of the mystic arts.

[Shutter]

Roland follows, more than a little curious about how these magicians do their work. I seem to have derailed the meeting...Just how it goes sometimes I guess.

[Wired*Nun]

The laboratory has a number of workbenches and cabinets, and some obviously scientific and alchemical as well as magical items. Moving toward the back of the room Josh touches a globe overhead which brings up a bright light. Underneath it is a large optical microscope. He touches on a smaller glowglobe underneath it, and sets the ring into a small clamp, and swings it under the scope. "Sometimes it's useful to look at the purely physical, too," he says, as he focuses the lenses. "Ah, yeah, nice work actually, real ruby. Wonder if ruby works the best for Pattern bindings, being the Jewel seems to be a ruby." He brings up the Pattern again and looks back into the eyepiece.

"Hmmm...some complex stuff in here..." He takes out what look to be a set of crystal tuning forks, and taps them lightly against the ring, in sequence, but there is no sound. "Resonances...yeah, I think..."

He takes off the ring from the clamp, and casts some kind of small spell on the ring and sets it lightly under one inverse pan of a scale of some sort, which seems that it would weigh objects upside down. Opening a cabinet, he takes out a jar, and reaches under it to open the bottom. "Wyvern feathers...they fall upwards," he says by way of explanation. He sets them one by one under the other pan of the scale, until they are all in the pan, but it won't balance. "Powerful stuff..."

Putting it back in a clamp, he sets the ring in front of a powerful lamp of a magical sort, which casts an intense multihued light on the stone. Using a magnifiying glass and the Pattern, he examines it some more.

Finally he is done. "That's all the standard tests, anything more would involve actually tampering with the spell, and I don't want to do that. I'd say you got yourself a nice little Pattern-bomb there, triggered by the wearer's intense desire to do so. It would damage anything of Chaos quite severely, or worse. I'm pretty sure only one of the Blood, that bears the Image within himself, can wear it safely, it looks to have a booby-trap set to lop off the finger of anyone it doesn't like. Its signature is fairly unique, as well. Someone would feel that thing going off some distance away, even in shadow, and could probably track it down. Right now it's not doing anything that I can tell. Put it back on, please, and hold it here again...aha, yeah, see? Nothing. Sec...three, two, one, zero. Nothing. I opened Jorden up for a few seconds, it didn't do anything either. That's what it is. Is that what it's supposed to be?"

[Shutter]

Josh: "That's what it is. Is that what it's supposed to be?"
Roland nods, wearing the ring once more on his left hand.

"Yes, I think so. Flora mentioned two uses, then gave me a description matching up with what you just said. She never got back around to telling me the other use though, the conversation got sidetracked and I let it slip past me. I wonder if that was intentional...I'd assume so, Flora doesn't strike me as one to do anything by chance. Thanks for the analysis Josh, interesting things talents you have."

[Wired*Nun]

Josh looks at the floor, then back up, sheepishly. "Comes from having a lot of free time, I guess, on my own. Dad didn't spend all that much time with me, but when he did, it was good time, and he taught me a lot. Mom too. I don't blame him, he had a lot going on. Then, when he died, I hung out here for...years, I guess, just getting over it. Didn't want to deal, I guess. I'm older than I probably look...maybe, fifty? But it's mostly been doing research and stuff. Jamie was a a kid back then, his father Jarediah is retired now, lives down in the village, runs a nice inn. I feel guilty sometimes about burning up so much of their lives, taking care of a recluse. That's why I slow things down when I'm gone. I've done some preliminary research into life-extension, but that's pretty hard to apply to shadow-dwellers. The best I can do is import some good medical care from time to time and fix things so it works."

[LynMars]

Raevyn thinks about following along; she is a bit interested in what the ring may be and sorcery in general, but stays seated in the studio, adding a written description to her sketch of Rinaldo. Letting the others have a chance to talk to and get to know Josh, and he them, seems like a good idea at the moment.

[Shutter]

50? And still he seems so young...I can't tell if he wants me to talk with him more about this or drop it...

"You seem to have chosen your home with care, and I'm glad it suits you as well as it does...It's good to hear our family show concern for people of Shadow. I've heard too many stories about a lack of concern for Shadowdwellers, I'm glad not to be travelling in the company of those beliefs...People age, life happens. If they live good lives here, then you haven't wasted their time Josh. And to my eye, that seemed like a happy well lived family."

[Wired*Nun]

Josh stands up. "I was raised more by my mother, so maybe I didn't get infected with that particular hubris of the elder Amberites. Things around Mom's and here are more, umm, not sure what to call it. Respectful of life, maybe. Anyway, enough about me, let's get back to our conference?" Unless there is more, he and Roland go back to the studio.

[Shutter]

Roland nods and follows Josh back. "I think I had a similar experience, the monks who raised me were a relaxed, respectful order...Sometimes it seems at odds with the dedication they had to martial training, but really, the two go together quite well."

[Pygysys]

Kat wasn't interested in following along for the examination, certain if there's anything to know Roland will impart it later on. She makes her way to a window to indicate she has no intention of interupting Raevyn's note taking either. Right now she just wants to think. Rinaldo was there. Raevyn saw him but that doesn't mean he had any part to play. He could have been there to witness the introduction on the sly without having to observe any official capacity. Maybe it was someone else in disguise. I've seen that firsthand with Fiona and Flora, that I'm not even sure which is which.

Her thoughts then turn to something of a more personal nature. Why are they so afraid of a Shadow? He's dead, so if there was a feud of sorts, it's over. I can understand if they don't want to be involved in something like this, the family's games and the like, but what happened to drive them away all those years ago. Is it true that nobody really knows what happened? Or can I find out if I really want to know?

[LynMars]

Rae finishes up her description, right down to what he was wearing that day, and details out the sketch a little more, trying to make sure the details are right. Then she waits for Roland and Josh to return, occasionally glancing over at Kat, like she has something she wants to say, but isn't sure how to ask and unsure about disturbing her cousin's thoughts.

[Pygysys]

Turning away from the window, Kat checks on Rae's progress with the sketch and note. "All done? May I see?" If allowed, she takes the sketch and studies it, "Isn't it funny how we have so many cousins and uncles and aunts and what not, and most of the time we don't even know who they are or what they look like." She hands the sketch back, "Yet there always seems to be something that distinguishes us from others, something undeniably ... family, for lack of better word."

She sits down again and stretches her legs out before her. "I was harsh before, your father is right to be concerned about your welfare and that of us all, regardless of our reasons for travelling to the Keep. Even if we were travelling there just to visit a cousin for curiousity sake, there's so much we don't know about him, his mother, his brother, his father... the list goes on. I suppose I'm anxious to be doing something."

[Wired*Nun]

Unless there is more, he and Roland go back to the studio.

[They're baaack]

[LynMars]

"I know. I'm really more concerned for Dad right now. I'd almost rather, at this point, go to the Keep without telling him first, despite how angry it'll make him. Anyway, um..." Rae nods to Roland and Josh as they return. "Later, maybe," she finishes, looking slightly embarrassed.

[Wired*Nun]

Josh raises an eyebrow at the conversational ball bouncing on the floor, and shrugs. "Umm, so are we going to make some kind of plan?"

[Shutter]

Roland joins Josh in shrugging. "We certainly need a plan, even if it's a simple one. I am in favor of going to the Keep, via shadow, and seeing what there is to see from the outside. If all appears normal, not that we'll be the best judges of that, then we proceed to the Keep intself. We talk with Dunstan, I assume he already knows what happened. We'll talk with him, talk with the people of the Keep. We may have to to demand to see Jasra if he won't give us a good reason otherwise....I would ask that we treat him with courtesy, not as a suspect. He's young, and fairly twitchy. I don't think we'll be in serious danger from him, he'll know that if he harms us the crushing furry of the elders will reduce his Keep to rubble." While he's talking Roland wanders over to a windowsill and hops up to sit on it.

"I'm open to other suggestions, but if no one has any, then I recommend we depart tommorow." Absentmindedly he fiddles with the ring on his left pinky. There must be more to this ring...I don't like it...

[Wired*Nun]

"You sure you want to go into the Keep? After what you told me, I'd rather meet with him outside...at least first. I mean, if he will meet us on neutral ground, then there is a chance he might be dealing straight with us. Then we can see if we still want to enter his home ground. From what you said, he's not that long on self-control, between us we out to be able to figure out if he's on the level. I mean, if that's what you want to do, I'll back you up. I'm just the careful type, I guess."

[LynMars]

"It may be difficult to get him to leave; he was afraid of anyone else trying to take over, which is why he was trying to gather together younger family members to do what he was asking. He's especially afraid, I think, of Dalt and his men making an attempt, or Rinaldo getting the drop on him. And maybe Jasra, if she's under his control somehow, will get loose. We do seem to be almost coming around to the same arguements again, however; we should try to come up with some sort of decision." She glances over at Roland, since he is ostensibly in charge.

[Pygysys]

Kat gestures to Raevyn, "My thoughts as well. We also shouldn't lose sight of the resource and potential that Dunstan could provide should he have had no part to play in any of this drama." She smiles at Roland, "So I'm all for courtesy without a doubt. Now we just need you to tell us what you'd like for us to do." Saying that, she winks at him in a friendly fashion to show she has faith in him.

[Shutter]

Roland gives a small smile of appreciation for the support he's being given.

If only leading were always this easy...

"Very well then. Josh, while I would like to meet Dunstan outside the Keep, I don't think that's going to happen. And I don't think trying to make it happen will help us...No, we'll meet him in the Keep. We leave tommorow then, after we hand off the Trumps. I think I can lead us there through Shadow, I got a pretty good view of the area when I was touring the Keep. We'll scout the area, and if the coast looks clear, I'll Trump Dunstan and have him let us in. No need to try and dodge tornadoes to knock on the door."

"Any final questions then before we all turn in for the night?"

[Pygysys]

"None here," says Kat.

[LynMars]

Raeyvn nods in agreement with Roland's decision. "Sounds good. All the Trumps should be done by morning. We should try to get some rest."

[Pygysys]

[Posted now as I might not be around tonight.]

Once things appear to have finished up in the studio and individuals seem ready to take themselves away to their rooms, Kat makes her way over to Roland and speaks quietly to him. "I was wondering if you might be able to help me with something if you're not too tired or busy. It's a somewhat private matter so I didn't want to ask about it during the meeting."

[Shutter]

Roland nods to Kat. "Of course. Where would you like to go to discuss? A walk around the grounds?"

[LynMars]

Raevyn was going to talk to Kat, but seeing her approach Roland, she reconsiders. 'I'll just ask her tomorrow. No hurry.'

[Pygysys]

"A walk around the grounds would be nice." Kat bids the other two a good night before heading outside with Roland. Not being particularly fussed on which direction to begin, Kat lets Roland choose the path to walk as she fills him on the topic of conversation. "I was wondering if you might be able to help me in regards to enhancing my ability with the Pattern. As you can imagine, great pains were taken to ensure that I claimed my birthright like we all do at some point. However, I haven't really had much time nor chance to stretch my capabilities and to test them. All I've essentially done is shift my way to a port of call in Kashfa, so that I could book passage to Amber."

She seems a little embarrassed by the information she's giving up. "I haven't really had much in the way of instruction or tutelage, and I'm not even sure just what I or anyone for that matter is capable of. Do you think you might be able to help me?"

[Shutter]

Making his goodbyes Roland leads Kat out into the caste's courtyard, aiming towards anywhere that looks garden or orchard like. While he walks he listens.

"I would be happy to help you as much as I can Kat, but I'm affraid I don't know nearly as much as I would like. Now, Heldrik, odd fellow that he is, I suspect would be able to teach us both a thing or two. Scrying, teleportation, apparently these are possible if one knows the pattern well enough, if they've internalized it on an advanced level. I haven't gotten there yet. I know just enough to get myself around comfortably and slowly in Shadow." He pauses and pulls a small handful of coins from his pocket. He pauses near a clear patch of dirt and tosses them in the air, they tumble around chaoticaly and each one lands heads up on the ground. Roland squats next to them allowing Kat a chance to look before he picks them up one by one, dusts them off and puts them back in his pocket.

"Probability in Shadow is usualy up to my discretion. Not always, but if I focus a bit I can usualy make sure that things work to my liking. Things might be different here on Josh's turf though. I think most of the family can do that...You read the book, you have an idea of what hellriding is all about. I've never done it myself, I've never had a need to push it that hard, and I don't want to risk it for no particular reason...I'm still young, I give my ignorance quite a lot of respect still." He chuckles slightly as a voice from his past speaks up...Never underestimate your own ability to be wrong boy! Arrogance is a thing to avoid, for it blinds you to reality and makes you weak where you think you are strong.

"Perhaps I could tell you more if you had specific questions..." He stands again and gazes at Kat, hoping he can help in some way.

[Pygysys]

Kat listens and nods, smiling when Roland tosses the coins up and goes through the motions of collecting them again. "So the book is somewhat accurate in that regard? As to some of the things we can do and how to go about them? I just wasn't certain if I could take such things at face value." She slips her hands behind her back and smiles, "Can you do that coin thing again? Maybe explain how you go about it? It's one thing to read about it and to imagine it, but to have someone explain and watch as they do ... well that's different and easier to get a feel for."

[Wired*Nun]

After the other two have left, Josh fiddles with things for a few moments, then begins puttering around the studio. Finally he settles down and starts to paint a picture, but it is turned away from Raevyn.

[Shutter]

"The book seemed pretty accurate as far as my experiences have gone...Obviously I've never gone swimming around in the Jewel of Judgement, so I haven't tested it all out." He fishes the coins out of his pocket again, collecting them in his left hand, flipping them in the air one by one with his right while he continues. Each coin lands tails up on the dirt in a nice tight circle.

"It's tricky to explain, sort of a nuance thing. You have to reach out with your mind, extend your will. It's a lot like shifting Shadow. 'Up ahead the path turns left' and sure enough it does. 'The coin lands tails up' and sure enough," flip, flip, flip. "...it does."

"It took me a while to get it right. Caine mentioned it and I think used it to show off a few of his more inventive dagger tricks once. I took up a job as a chef at a casino on Shadow Earth, the one Corwin begins the book in, or one much like it I think. I worked in a pretty nice resteraunt, cooked and gambled, learned the language. I hadn't been gone from the Order long and I had a bit of a taste to try something different. Maybe some held over rebelliousness from my youth. Whatever the reason, I cooked and gambled, amassed a small fortune and got tired of it in less than a year. It's a pretty empty lifestyle really...So I moved on, left my fortune as the prize in a raffle, I tried to set it up so that the winning ticket would be held by the most deserving person. I'm not sure if I managed to get that little trick to work. I didn't stay around to find out...I hope it did though." While reminiscing he stopped flipping the coins, now he seems to remember them and resumes.

"Right...So...You just reach out, with your will, and make it happen. Here. Try." Roland extends his left hand to pass the remaining coins to Kat.

[LynMars]

Rae feels slightly at a loss, unsure what to do with herself now that the meeting's over. She realizes she's not too sure where to go, but figures she could probably ask Jamie. She doesn't want to disturb Josh, but not sensing any Trump energies, clears her throat. "Um, I think I'd like to get ready for tomorrow. You said Jamie had taken care of rooms, right? I think I'll go find mine, then." She looks at the back of whatever he's painting. "May I? Or do I have to wait until it's finished?"

[Pygysys]

"Right...So...You just reach out, with your will, and make it happen. Here. Try." Roland extends his left hand to pass the remaining coins to Kat.
Accepting the coins into her own hand, Kat seems a little nervous and chuckles. "So I just reach out, with my will and make it happen. If it's about nuances, then it's going to take a knack." She slips the coins from one hand to the other, "Practise makes perfect I suppose. No laughing now." It can't hurt to give this a go. If I want to learn I've got to try, one has to walk before they can run.

She really isn't expecting to be able to get it right but Roland has so far humoured her with explanation and demonstration so she feels it's only fair to give it a whirl. Pausing to take a breath, she takes the time to try and extend her will in having the coins land head's up. One by one she flips them up into the air, trying to attain the result she wants. The coins land in the dirt and it is soon apparent that she's not having much luck, unless she's chopping and changing the result she's after. It's fair to say it's not the latter by the mumbled curse that soon follows. Well that was expected and a little disappointing. I guess I'll have to keep practising when I have spare moments.

Crouching down, she retrieves the coins from the dirt and like Roland before her, she dusts them off. "I need to work on the nuance a little more I think." The coins get offered back, "How long did it take you before you were able to get it right?"

[Wired*Nun]

Josh smiles shyly and says, "If you want..." When she looks, she sees it is an emerging portrait of her, showing her as she was moment ago, sketching. It captures her quite well...

[Shutter]

When Kat offers the coins back Roland shakes his head.

"One more try. Look at each coin before you toss it. Try to understand it fully. See it flying through the air. See it land the way you want, focus on that vision throughout its flight."

[LynMars]

Blushing quite a bit, Raevyn appraises the portrait. "It...um...Ireallylikeit," she finally manages to say. She smiles shyly back. "Er...Want me to sit back down? Or think you've gotten enough to work with?" She asks, trying to joke. "You know, I don't think anything besides a couple of requisite family pictures and Trumps have been done of me before. Thank you."

[Wired*Nun]

"Well, yes, you could sit back down if you like. It helps." He continues with the picture, until the other two come back, then he will turn it to the wall and defer working on it when he hears them approach.

When they finally do come back, they will find Josh showing Raevyn some card tricks...

[Pygysys]

When Kat offers the coins back Roland shakes his head.

"One more try. Look at each coin before you toss it. Try to understand it fully. See it flying through the air. See it land the way you want, focus on that vision throughout its flight."
It's a dubious look that Kat gives Roland but she succumbs to his insistence and tries again. Again she takes her time, pausing for a breath before flipping a coin. I see heads, heads, heads... The coin lands tails. There's another mumbled curse from Kat and she flips another coin. It lands heads and so does the next but the following two land tails up. She flips the last couple of coins but it doesn't appear the results are what she was after. Retrieving them, she sighs and then laughs aloud. "Enough for one night, I don't want to get to discouraged because I can't alter a coin toss. Imagine the nightmares it would give me!"

The coins get offered back again, "I promise to practise each night and I'll keep you notified of any improvement. I really enjoyed today's workout, Roland. You're the best I've seen, aside from an Elder of course."

[Shutter]

Ah, that's too bad....She would have liked to have made it work...

"It took me a while to learn, and I had better teachers I'm affraid. You'll get it."

Kat: "I really enjoyed today's workout, Roland. You're the best I've seen, aside from an Elder of course."
Roland blushes a bit and smiles quietly.

"Thank you, that's quite a compliment. You're excellent, we'll keep each other sharp this way....When things calm down we should visit Benedict together. I could happily spend a few years there, studying, learning." He pockets the last of the coins and looks around the yard inhaling deeply.

"Anything else? Shall we continue to stroll, or return to the others?"

[Pygysys]

"I'd like that, not only to study with Benedict but to study alongside you. It would be nice to be able to forge a strong bond with someone I'm inclined to like." Kat grins at Roland, "Besides if all else fails, we'll be able to doubleteam Bleys and surprise him that way."

She turns and looks towards the building they left a little while ago and shrugs, "Wouldn't they have retired for the night by now? We could go back and see, if you want to." Turning back to Roland, she says, "I'm happy to keep strolling for a little while longer before turning in for the night."

[LynMars]

Smiling still, Rae sits back down, sketching a bit herself. Nothing important, just to unwind and pass the time. She half-subconsciously sings softly to herself, something from her home Shadow. If the others do come back up to the study, she looks curiosly as Josh puts away the picture--he's quite good, why hide it?--But doesn't mind being shown card tricks; sleight-of-hand isn't a skill she's picked up yet.

[Pygysys]

Roland smiles and the two of them find themselves enjoying a quiet stroll. Neither seems overly concerned in conversation, both of them quite happy to enjoy the easy silence between. It's almost the perfect way to end a long day, which they do as their circuit of the grounds returns them to their starting point.

Kat stifles a little yawn, "I think that does me for the evening. I'm finally looking forward to getting a good night's rest." She then bids Roland a good night after thanking him again for his help, even though he tries to dismiss such thanks as unnecessary.

"You'll get it," Roland tells her, "It's just a matter of getting a feel for it and then fine tuning almost. Goodnight Kat."

"Goodnight Roland." Kat smiles and makes her way to her room and after a moment Roland does the same.

[The character of Roland was puppeteered within this post and cannot be held responsible for making his cousin yawn.]

[Wired*Nun]

Josh pauses a moment, and listens. "Umm, doesn't look like they are coming back up to plan any more. I can finish this some other time, I think I've captured you." He stands, stretches, and says, "Might as well make it an early night and an early morning. Lester's probably out improving the local rat gene pool, let him have his fun. Good night, Raevyn, I shall see you in the morning." He makes a mock-courtly bow, and backs out of the room that way, as if she were royalty.

The next day finds Josh before breakfast in the salle, working out with a quarterstaff, stripped to the waist. If no one joins him, he will next be seen at breakfast, which will be made ready in the dining room. Unless someone gets up very early, all the staff have dined already.

[LynMars]

"Good night, Josh," Raevyn replies. She puts a few finishing lines on the quick drawings she was working on, then stands, looking around. She considers poking around the study some, curious about some of what she sees in the room, but clamps down on those feelings firmly; she was a guest, and guests should not pry and dig through their host's things.

Unless one of the others finds and stops her, Raevyn finds her way to her assigned room. In the morning, she'll try to find Kat before heading to breakfast.

[Pygysys]

The morning finds Kat inside her room and holding a discussion with her two men about the most likely schedule of events for the day. The door is open and unless Raevyn takes pains to be unnoticed in case she's concerned she may be interupting, Kat spots her approach. "Good morning cousin. Come in." She gestures for Raevyn to come in before turning to the men and dismissing them.

"I've been thinking about what we know of Dunstan and his knowledge of us. I hope the rest of you will indulge me somewhat in presenting myself as another of your escort as opposed to a member of the family. I'm interested in seeing if he knows of my existance without assistance. I think Roland will go along with it." She shrugs and smiles at Raevyn, "But that conversation can wait till breakfast. What brings you to my door at this hour?"

[Shutter]

Roland arrives in the fencing salle dressed for a workout, he nods a hello to Josh and begins on a series of warm up stretches, and slow kata.

"Care for a sparring partner there?" Ah, I shouldn't even have asked that...I should go...He probably wants solitude in the morning.

[Wired*Nun]

Josh grins, and says, "Show me your quarterstaff work. I spent some time in Sherwood Forest. It was quite instructive. Kind of wish I could have been alive back then, rather than recreating it out of my own ideas. Or would it have worked that way?" While he is talking, he has gone to pick up a staff, and tosses it to Roland. "Don't hurt me too much, if we have to do it for real later on I don't want to be aching."

The workout goes much as before, with Josh working at maximum effort and Roland hardly at half. Josh seems to take it all in stride, knowing full well he's not one of the martial gurus of the family.

After showers, Josh heads to breakfast, and stacks up an Amberite-sized platter of nut-laced pancakes, thick-sliced bacon, eggs, fruit. "Fresh milk and butter make everything taste better, don't you think?" he remarks to no one in particular.

[Shutter]

Even if it's not a match for the challenge Kat provided Roland still enjoys the workout. He seems utterly relaxed throughout, enjoying the purity of the excercise.

When he returns to breakfast he piles a plate very similar to Josh's, accompanying it with a pot of coffee if such can be had.

Josh: "Fresh milk and butter make everything taste better, don't you think?"
Roland half-grins and grunts past a swallow of coffee. Wise man this Josh...Hasn't lost himself completely in the lab...Excellent. For now he's content to pass breakfast quietly, reflecting on the day before and the day to come. I wonder if Josh's manuscript is the extent of the information I should be expecting from him, or if the Trumps forsaw something more...Bah, I'll likely never know until it's a settled issue. Handy but misleading things they are.

[Wired*Nun]

[BTW we can assume Lintra's tale was made available for everyone to read.]

[LynMars]

Raevyn shyly steps into Kat's room, nodding to the two men. She sits in a nearby chair, fiddling with the cuffs of her blouse while Kat speaks. "It seems like a good idea; I'm not sure how he gets his information, but he seemed to know quite a bit about everyone he had gathered. If we don't mention anything about your position, it could tell us more either way, depending upon his reaction. I don't think I would have thought of something like that," she admits.

Finally she gets up the nerve. "I came in because, well...You seem quite a bit more...Martial than me. I mean, I know enough to defend myself, I guess; Father tried to make sure of that. I'm not very strong, though, and my bladework is not the best; I've only ever really done a little fencing, and then it was more the type one learns for competitions, you know? And I will admit that lately, I have been more than a little lax with my exercises.

"I just...We may be getting ourselves into some hairy situations, and I...don't want to be a liability. I mean, the first time we all met in the Keep, and Joss and Siodmak attacked Dunstan, Roland's first reaction was to put himself between me and the combat. That's just the way Roland is, and that's fine, but...None of you should have to be worried about having to look out for me. I should be able to do so myself. I just...Need more practice. So I was wondering if maybe you and I could...I don't know...I all ready feel that I owe Josh for all the work we've done with the Trumps, and he freely admits to not being as martial as you two, and...I guess I just feel more comfortable asking you than Roland."

'And now that I have made a complete fool of myself she's going to laugh at me...'

[Pygysys]

Kat doesn't laugh at Raevyn but she does smile when her cousin manages to finish her request. "There's nothing wrong with wanting to be able to defend yourself should the need arise, but I hope you don't think of yourself any less because someone can swing a sword better than you. Regardless, I'll be happy to help you sharpen your skill, Raevyn."

Chuckling, Kat asks, "Did you want to keep this from the lads and train on the sly? And you do know our situations would be reversed if we found ourselves attacked via Trump or magic, so I hope you're not embarrassed by your request. When did you wish to begin? If we leave today as planned, we can probably get an hour to ourselves before we actually do depart. So perhaps then? Or now? We can keep the others waiting at breakfast."

[LynMars]

Raevyn looks relieved. "I was just worried you would think me silly, more than anything. And really, when it comes to magic specifically, Josh knows more than I. But anyway, um...Maybe, just for now, we can keep this between us? I'm bad enough to be embarrassing, and embarrassed." Raevyn looks at her clothing; she's not exactly dressed for practice. "Maybe after breakfast, if we have a chance? And...Thanks, Kat."

[Wired*Nun]

After most of his food has taken up residence inside him, Josh snags a stray coffee cup and pours himself a slug from Roland's pot, white, no sugar. He looks at it a little distastefully, and says, "I prefer tea, but no need to make anyone work for it. So, have you formulated what you will say to Landon? I can have the Trumps ready for them a half hour after we finish up here." He drinks half in one gulp. Good thing he put so much milk in it.

[Shutter]

In response Roland brings a small slip of paper out of his pocket and slides it to Josh.

Your target is likely Benedict's son. Dissemination is at your discretion.

He looks up at Josh to guage his reaction. "I think Landon will get the important facts from that."

[Pygysys]

Kat tries to reassure Raevyn, "Think you silly? Goodness no. It was a simple quirk of fate that has me better trained than you, Raevyn. Not everyone walks the same path and enters the same profession. I'm a soldier I suppose and you're more mystically inclined, that's nothing to be embarrassed about."

She grins, "But I'm happy to keep this between us. After breakfast we can change and go for a short ride that will disguise our true activity from Roland and Josh. Come on, we might as well get breakfast over with." Kat starts heading to the door, "Maybe you can teach me how to draw some day?"

[LynMars]

Raeyvn follows Kat down to the dining room. "Sure, I'd be glad to help you with techniques and such, though it's really all about practise. I suppose everything's like that, really."

When they enter the dining room, she greets the boys and gets herself a plate of pancakes, biscuits, bacon, eggs, and fruit, in moderate proportions. She'll also snag herself a glass of juice, saving coffee for later.

[Wired*Nun]

"That's all you want to say? That's pretty broad...but if you want...I'd favor bringing him here so you can converse freely. Up to you. He might hesitate at the wrong moment thinking Siodmak is somehow important to Benedict. 'Course, we can't be sure he's not..."

[Shutter]

"True...True..." Roland ponders for a moment, waving at Kat and Raevyn as they enter. He pulls the note back and quickly attacks it with a pencil. It now reads:

New Intel. Target is likely Benedict's son. Dissemination is at your discretion. Our team knows, along with Random and Benedict. Mission unchanged. Trump secrecy dubious.

Looking at it he frowns.

"You may be right. That's getting too wordy, and could still leave things in doubt...I'm hesitant to bring him through." He smiles suddenly and chuckles. "Not that I could put my finger on why." He shrugs and finishes off what little remains on his plate.

[Pygysys]

"I suppose it is, Raevyn." Kat smiles at both Josh and Roland as she enters the room. "Morning Roland, Josh. How are you both?" Kat's breakfast resembles Raevyn's including the juice. She sits down at the table and looks between her male cousins, "So what are you two up to, hmmm?"

[Shutter]

"Good morning ladies. I trust you both slept well?" He gestures at the slip of paper with a piece of fruit on the end of his fork. "I think that my attempts at subterfuge are being revealed as lacking," he says with a grin.

[LynMars]

Raevyn glances at the slip of paper. "Why not just bring him here long enough to explain, since he's sure to have questions? Josh says this place is safe from eavesdropping. The note could be somewhat confusing."

[Shutter]

Roland gives her a wry smile. "Yes, that was Josh's point as well...You're both right. We'll bring him through."

[Wired*Nun]

"Well, where do you want to set it up? Somewhere private...the studio is as good a place as any, unless you expect attack, in which case I would suggest the fencing salle, or an unused guest room...hey, I'm gonna go up and finish up the cards - don't get up, Rae, take your time - join me up there when you are ready." He hops to his feet, as if nervous and eager to be doing something, and strides out of the room toward the stairs.

[Pygysys]

"So is it only Landon that will be coming through or will my brother be coming through too?" Kat looks a little anxious, "He and I have yet to meet and I'm not sure how much he knows about me either. It could be a little too overwhelming to know his quarry is his brother and that I am his sister." Kat sips some juice, "By the way Roland, I've been thinking about our approach with Dunstan. I'd rather not clue him in to the fact that I'm family. The Orphans and I share the same uniform, so why not have myself masquerade as one of your escort? If he picks me for family, it might be able to tell us a little more about him. I'd be very intrigued and interested if he was to know about me, and of course what he might know at that."

[Shutter]

"Well, where do you want to set it up? Somewhere private...the studio is as good a place as any, unless you expect attack, in which case I would suggest the fencing salle, or an unused guest room...hey, I'm gonna go up and finish up the cards - don't get up, Rae, take your time - join me up there when you are ready." He hops to his feet, as if nervous and eager to be doing something, and strides out of the room toward the stairs.
"Umm, ok Josh. Anywhere will be fine, studio sounds good." Roland calls out after Josh as he rushes off. Turning back to Kat and Raevyn "That was odd? Did I say something offensive?...In any case, no problem Kat, feel free to go incognito. It will be an interesting test....As for your brother, I'll listen to your judgement there. I think it might be best to tell Landon only, and let him decide from what he knows of Arrotel if he should be told or not."

[LynMars]

"I didn't think you had said anything, unless it was before we entered," Raevyn replies to Roland's query about Josh's sudden departure. "I think he may just want to be sure everything's in order in the studio, and make sure those Trumps are ready, since we'll probably be giving a few to Landon to distribute among his group."

[Shutter]

Roland looks thoughtful for a moment before returning to his food. "Yes...That's probably it." Something is off about that guy...Wish I knew what it was...

[Wired*Nun]

When the rest have joined Josh in the studio, they see he has rearranged things with a table and some chairs. The fresh new trumps lay on the table in neat stacks. There are ten of Raevyn, eight of Roland and Katarzyna and Josh. [Let me know if I missed any?]

Josh offers himself to each of them that doesn't have it [can't remember who has what]. He takes one of each of them for himself, and suggests they take whatever else they need, leaving some for the other group.

[Shutter]

Roland picks up one of each (including himself), placing them with the other Trumps in his wooden case. He takes a moment to admire the artwork, and the power employed.

"Nicely done both of you. I am impressed but not surprised."

[Pygysys]

Kat glances at each pile of Trumps and then looks over at Raevyn and Josh. "You've done very well." She looks almost tentative but picks up her own Trump and studies it, "Never really seen a Trump of myself before. It's kind of strange."

Continuing to study the card, she asks, "So who are they all for? Did you make them for each cousin employed in this investigation or are they for us to distribute as we will? No offense, but there are some I'd rather not have one of these just yet especially if we're going ahead with our own little ploy."

[Shutter]

"Kat has a good point...In the hands of some people these are weapons. I'm ok with distributing mine to the other team. My existence is known, and anyone who sought to hurt me through Trumps could likely get one some other way. I agree though that everyone should be able to make that decision for themselves."

[Pygysys]

"I didn't create them, so they're not mine to claim. I would ask that for the time being that two be given to the other team, one to Heldrik and one to Darius. If one was to question their existance it is quite simple, Heldrik is the other groups leader of things martial and Darius most likely his second in command. It stands to reason that each of you possess one of course and I would like one of my own if that's allowed." I wouldn't actually mind giving one to my own two men here with me, but I won't push that just yet.

Kat looks to Raevyn and Josh, "Is this acceptable to you both?"

[Wired*Nun]

Josh replies, "It's fine by me; I have no worries about mental combat. Anything I couldn't win, I've always been able to break off. Anything not given to the other team, you can claim for yourselves, as far as I am concerned. I meant them to be used as you all wish."

[Pygysys]

Kat considers Josh's words and then knowing that Roland has already taken his selection, she picks up the pile of Trumps that reflect her image. She sets two back down upon the table, most likely for Raevyn and Josh, pocketing the rest for herself. Glancing up, she smiles warmly, "If anyone wants or needs any of these, just let me know. I'm assuming I'll be about when you speak to Landon and Arrotel, or do I get too far ahead of myself in such an assumption?"

Kat turns to Raevyn, "I don't suppose anyone has a Trump of Heldrik sorted out at all? There won't be any harm in me contacting him as previously discussed, will there?"

[LynMars]

"We weren't able to get enough of an impression of either Heldrik or Grey to make Trumps of them, unfortunately, something I would like to rectify sometime." Raevyn takes up a card of Roland, and a card of Kat, having one of herself and of Josh all ready. She also takes one of the Landon and Arrotell Trumps, putting all of them in her case with her other Trumps and her most basic art supplies.

[Wired*Nun]

She sets two back down upon the table, most likely for Raevyn and Josh, " [Josh already took one of each, see above. BTW, please keep track of all your own trump. Shutter, for example, has a list he maintains in his private forum. Ah yes, there are five of Landon and eight of Arrotel I believe.]

[Pygysys]

To the six she has of herself, Kat adds one of Raevyn, Roland and Josh. She grins and pats her little pile, "Starting to get a collection here." The grin broadens as she adds Landon and Arrotel's Trumps to her small deck. Stepping away from the table where the small piles were, she studies the last card she added to her pile. So this is my 'brother'. Interesting.

[Shutter]

Roland pulls out his sketch book and flips to through to the Sketch he made of Heldrik back in Amber. He stares at it for a few moments, tracing the lines with his eyes, willing it back into power. When he's satisfied he shows it to Katarzyna and the others.

"This should work I think for contacting Heldrick. Not as good as a proper Trump, but it gets things done."

[LynMars]

"So, shall we try to call Landon now? Perhaps Roland or Josh should handle that; Roland's been placed in charge, but it's Josh's information and home." Raevyn steps back from the desk, taking a seat by the window; if they're soon to have company, no use crowding, unless something odd happens.

[Pygysys]

Kat glances at the sketch of Heldrik and nods to Roland before glancing across at Raevyn. She looks back to Roland and nods again, "Now's as good a time as any. I can speak to Heldrik after the business with Landon's been conducted." Following Raevyn's lead, Kat moves out of the way and begins leaning against a far wall. She seems content to watch proceedings from there.

[Shutter]

Setting his sketchbook on the table Roland shuffles outhis newly acquired Landon Trump and looks at it, focusing and extending...The others wait. And wait....At last he lowers the card and looks up, brow furrowed from the exertion.

"I can't get through...Let me try Heldrik." Putting away Landon's trump he leans over the table and focuses on the Sketch of Heldrik. Maybe I've got a better chance with my own work....Now, come on....answer...

[Pygysys]

That doesn't sound good. I wonder what's preventing Roland from making contact? Kat remains where she is against the wall, still content to watch proceedings. She does try lightening the mood with some ill timed humour, "Perhaps Landon's somewhat preoccupied? It could be past his bedtime where they are."

[Wired*Nun]

Josh gives a short chortle, quickly smothered. "Looks like he got through..."

[Insert trump conversation here]

[LynMars]

Raevyn watches, a bit concerned, hoping everything's going all right and that Roland hasn't jumped into the middle of something nasty.