Landon and Agraynel

[chalice]

The merriment dies out of Gray in a visible rush

he always did know how to take the ground out from under your feet

and she begins tidying the breakfast plates, movements carefully controlled, meeting no one's eyes...

[TreyKincaide]

Noticing the sudden twist in conversation, Landon leans back in his chair quietly. He pulls out a cigarette and lights it. He blows a few smoke rings, but says nothing.

An army if I need one without her objections. Good to know. Hmmm. Eric's comment was a bit uncalled for, but both him and Corwin were cruel bastards in their day.

Rather than break up the awkward silence, Landon continues smoking an after breakfast cigarette and absently scratches Arthur.

[chalice]

After a few moments of awkwardness, Gray makes a determind effort to throw off her mood.

"So - what shall we do today? I'm supposed to practise after breakfast - what do you think, Landon? Want to try out those new muscles and spar for a bit?"

[Wired*Nun]

"Ahh, sweetie, I'm sorry. That was...I never was good at being funny. Corwin was always the wit, and I could never stand him doing it, and...I'm sorry, that's all." He walks up behind her, taking her shoulders in his big hands. "I'm sorry."

A squeeze, and he turns away, shooting Landon a look, half apology, half...something else. "And I probably am something of a mysogynist, exceptions aside. I admit it. I pretty much either loved or despised the women in my life...sometimes both."

[chalice]

Gray smiles, more than ready to be friends again. "Mother always said you were the only man she knew who could be unbearable and adorable at the same time," she teases.

[TreyKincaide]

So - what shall we do today? I'm supposed to practise after breakfast - what do you think, Landon? Want to try out those new muscles and spar for a bit?

"If Eric didn't have anything else in mind, sure why not? I need excercise, and I guess I can stand getting my butt whipped by my younger sister." he winks.

Landon returns the look Eric gives him.

Hmm. Strange. Maybe he expected me to come to her defense? I'd prefer not to have to jump through hoops for a man dead and gone.

Landon studies Eric quietly as he speaks, "We are only what we are." He replies. "Some old habits are hard to break."

[Wired*Nun]

Eric snorts, at either or both comments from his children. "Yeah, speaking of habits, I haven't had a breakfast butt. Pass me one of those, will you? Nobody but Dworkin is likely to be able to come up with some, so better ration them." He takes the opportunity to go back to helping whip up breakfast, rummaging in the cool box to come up with some canned pears in a glass jar, and an enormous hunk of butter wrapped in thick paper. Other odds and ends round out the table, and they sit down with the whole smorgasbord. Eric digs in as if it was his last - or first - meal.

[chalice]

"Ah, don't worry, Landon - I'll go easy on you! Seeing as you're only a boy..." the tip of her tongue shows briefly between her teeth before she goes back to the serious business of eating and sneaking treats to the hounds.

Several mouthfuls later, she looks over at Eric enquiringly. "Did you have any chance to ask Dworkin whether he would teach me, yet, father?"

[TreyKincaide]

"Thank you. I'll remember that when I'm black and blue." he teases. He pretends to overlook Gray spoiling his dogs and concentrates on seeing that Helena and himself help themselves until they're sated. Occasionally, he'll take the oppurtunity to study Eric when he thinks he's not looking, but for the most part stays quiet and eats.

[Wired*Nun]

"Nope, haven't seen the man yet. He's probably off doing what mad sorcerers do." He settles back into eating, and when he's done, seems content to wash and put up the kitchen. That done, he settles back down with a pot of coffee. "Now what? I confess I have no particular plans or goals. I don't imagine Random wanting me back in Amber, what with me being dead and all...but there's all of shadow to kick around in, where no one knows us...or we can stay here."

[chalice]

"Oh! - could we go into Shadow?" Gray's face lights up at the thought.

And put some distance between us and the Primal...right now that's more important than taking lessons from Dworkin...whatever he did to my mind feels like it will hold a while yet...

"I've no wish to return to Amber-" her forehead creases slightly "-in fact, I imagine everyone there thinks I'm dead as well, so no one will be looking for me.

"I've hardly seen anywhere yet, or learned how to use my Pattern much...I'd love to go travelling...Landon, would you like to do that?"

[TreyKincaide]

"Well, I was considering dropping by Amber to talk to Flora under the auspices of finding out what happened to you, but that can wait. It takes awhile to find things out when you're in Shadow." he winks.

"Tell you what. If that's what Eric and you decide to do, then we'll come along and stick around until you get settled somewhere. I know you probably want to find your own place to call home, but the two of you are always welcome in Rome. Just thought I'd put the offer on the table."

[chalice]

"I'd love to see your home and Helena's. Maybe we could take a - well, a 'round-about' route in that direction and see what happens?"

She considers something for a moment. "Last time I spoke to Flora, she seemed sure you weren't in danger unless you chose to be. But before that - when she thought you were - oh, Landon, she was in such a fury!" Gray looks at her brother earnestly. "Truly, I think she really does care for you, you know."

[TreyKincaide]

"Could be interesting." he nods. "I've never realized how little Shadow walking you actually were able to do. There's a freedom in it. Providing of course our 'old man,'" he flicks his head in Eric's direction with a smile, "agrees."

He shrugs and runs his hand through his short black hair, "Maybe she does at that, but then again Flora was always possessive of her 'things.' That's something that I'll have to deal with eventually, but I'd rather work things out in here," he taps his temple with his index finger, "before I give her the chance to get her hooks back into me. All sentiment aside, she's a canny woman and I'll admit I'm out of my league."

[chalice]

Gray nods in silent agreement with Landon's comment regarding Flora.

"I can just about make my way through Shadow, I guess. I can't even play with probability the way you do - if I could learn to do that, I could stop borrowing other people's clothes!"

Haven't tried using Pattern at all since waking up - wonder if this 'resonance' I've picked up will make any difference?

"Father - may we head out into Shadow?"

[Wired*Nun]

"Sure! Great idea! I was never one for all of this chitchat anyway, right?" Eric stage-winks at them both, and bestirs himself, finishing off the coffee in his cup and pouring another. "Everyone coming? I think between the three of us we can pretty much handle anything that comes along. Let me root around for a few things, all right?"

[chalice]

He wants to get us away from here...maybe the Primal's influence over him might diminish with distance?

Resolutely, Gray hides the thought away at the back of her mind, focussing instead on images of all the places they might visit...

"I'll get my stuff!" She vanishes briefly, and returns with the small satchel she took with her on her disastrous Patternwalk, ready - even impatient - to set out.

[TreyKincaide]

Landon slides to his feet, his smooth motions a distinct contrast to yesterday's jarring stiff movement. "Looks like it's been decided," Landon says feigning a look of mock indignation before returning the wink.

He drapes his arm around his wife and with a whistle for the dogs to follow, leisurely returns to his room. He helps Helena pack their few belongings. "You know, I'm trying to be an optimist and turn over a new leaf, but I can't help having a bad feeling about this. Feh." he shrugs. "We've seen where my instincts have gotten me so far. I shouldn't listen to that part of myself as much." He smiles to his wife. "The things we do for family. Let's head back to the kitchen and grab some food. I'm not sure who's leading this expeditition, but let's make sure to keep our stomachs full."

On their way back he leans in with a smile, "I bet there has to be a joke that starts out with a man, his wife, his sister, the ghost of his estranged father, and their three dogs walk into Shadow..."

[Wired*Nun]

"Yeah," says Eric. "And it ends, 'there was blood dripping out of the ghost's eye', right? Or, 'that's not my wife'...never mind. No need to bring much, we can get it on the way." Waving them into the study, he banks the fire and leaves a hasty note for Dworkin. He then pulls out a Trump.

"I found this rooting around in this clutter...it's Garnath, painted before it was burned. I imagine it will take us there well enough, an' thence into Shadow. Everyone ready?"

[TreyKincaide]

Hmmm... Garnath. Julian tried to kill Corwin and Bleys there. Also a waypoint on the black road. Not the most ominous starting point of our little excursion, but not the least either.

Landon herds the dogs together and clasps his wife's hand in his own before nodding affirmatively. "Ready when you are."

[Wired*Nun]

Stepping through the tunnel of light, their feet fall onto green grass next to a river of clear water. Nothing remains of the influence of the Black Road it seems, and the hounds fan out happily, scouting the area, checking out the trees and smells.

Eric scrambles up a nearby oak tree, climbing higher than Landon would have thought possible. He looks around the whole circumference, probably seeing the whole valley without difficulty. A moment later, and he climbs back down.

"Looks a lot different from the last time...it looks like the Chaos influence is all healed. Come on." Walking across the meadow, he leads them to a tree laden with massive, ripe pears. Pulling down several, he hands them each one. "I remember these pears from long ago. They are the remains of an orchard that Ramuss Calahorn planted long ago, after he made a go of farming this place. He found out that fruit trees were better than grains, and was quite prosperous until he and his entire family were murdered when Chaos arrived. Not like they bothered to keep any control of their marauding creatures."

He leans over to pick up a rusted pruning saw, its handle broken off, stares at it a moment, then tosses it aside. "Just another little casualty of that traitors' war. If I didn't know that Corwin was a complete tool for them, I'd still hate him." He stares into the distance. "I'm not sure that I still don't."

[TreyKincaide]

Landon takes a loud bite out his pear, and chews it thoughtfully as he looks out over the valley.

"Must be strange to remember dying the day before yesterday, but having memories of what came after. Must almost be like falling asleep and to wake up finding the world's passed you by." he glances to Gray as he takes another bite and glancing back.

"I can't say that things will ever be right between you two." he shrugs. "I don't know if they should be. I've looked into Corwin's eyes and seen the shame and guilt he's carried since Patternfall. It never really ended, the war, I mean. The consequences of those struggles with Chaos plague us even today. Amber and Chaos--hell, our own family for that matter--have been picking at each other for so long that we'll never do better than uneasily coexist. I can say, though, that Shadow is a big place. Any ideas on where we want to go and who's driving for that matter?"

[Wired*Nun]

"I only have one idea. I think we should go back to my shadow Amber and put things right. The hero came, the princess got rescued, and then they abandoned their people. Well, now they can come back with the King, at least for a while. We can't just leave them waiting there. I can't..."

[chalice]

"Must be strange to remember dying the day before yesterday, but having memories of what came after. Must almost be like falling asleep and to wake up finding the world's passed you by."

"Passed you by and isn't thrilled to have you suddenly around, you mean," mutters his sister, a brooding look in her eyes, her former bright anticipation dulled - perhaps by her father's pensive turn of mood, perhaps by his choice of venue for the start of their journey.


"I only have one idea. I think we should go back to my shadow Amber and put things right. The hero came, the princess got rescued, and then they abandoned their people. Well, now they can come back with the King, at least for a while. We can't just leave them waiting there. I can't..."

Gray winces at the word 'abandoned' but refrains from making any of the excuses which spring to her lips. Her hurt feelings, and maybe shame, are evident in her brittle tone as she says

"They believe you are dead. What do you plan to tell them?"

Something wrong here. He's...changed. Hating Corwin again. Wanting to take us back there, when we were supposed to go where no one would know us. Back where the Jewel-matrix was. Back where I was most unstable. Back where he raised his elite guard. The one place besides Amber that I said I did not wish to go...not that that would carry any weight, if he thinks this is the right thing to do...what did he read in that book?

In the same hard little voice, she continues: "Of course, I don't know how or exactly when you died. No one in a Castle full of my so-called Family could be bothered to tell me." The bitterness turns to venom - directed not at Eric, but his brothers and sisters. "Though they did give me a book - written by the man who caused your death and mother's - so that I could find out for myself.

"I haven't got to that part yet, so maybe you could give me a summary some time. I'd like to know the truth before we start lying to what's left of mother's people."

[Wired*Nun]

"Maybe it was such old news that no one thought to tell you specifically. I don't think it was a conspiracy. And I don't intend to start lying to anyone. We'll tell them that I was dead, and my children brought me back - for a time. We are demigods to them, they will accept it." He looks at her for a long moment, as if evaluating her anger. "I'd be happy to tell you anything you want to know, though as Landon pointed out, I don't recall my own death."

Turning away, as if to defuse the confrontation, he continues. "I'm not sure what to do yet. I'm telling you what I want to do. I guess it's natural that you would fall into your old role as my ward, my, my subordinate...assuming I'm going to do what I want no matter what, trying to talk me out of it anyway. You're still very angry at me for what I did, and I don't blame you. But if you're going to really grow up," he says, turning to her with earnest eyes, "you're going to have to start letting go of that anger. I know that's not easy...believe me, I know."

"All I know for sure is I died fighting the enemies of Amber...other things I suspect. For example...why did the Jewel preserve Corwin from a fatal wound but not me? How much control did my father have over it? Or Dworkin? Was he just as much an intriguer as Oberon? Or was the Jewel, or the Pattern inside, really the puppeteer? Are the Patterns struggling with each other as much or more than with Chaos? These are huge questions and I don't even trust myself to answer them."

He sighs. "One thing I do know, is that the Weir deserve to be recognized for their dedication and sacrifice. They deserve to reap the benefits of their long vigil. That's all I'm saying. It wasn't a criticism of either of you. Hell, I used them badly myself, for expediency's sake. My loyal shock troops." A shake of his head scatters silent tears.

[chalice]

He sighs. "One thing I do know, is that the Weir deserve to be recognized for their dedication and sacrifice. They deserve to reap the benefits of their long vigil. That's all I'm saying. It wasn't a criticism of either of you. Hell, I used them badly myself, for expediency's sake. My loyal shock troops." A shake of his head scatters silent tears.

Gray steps quickly to his side, wrapping her arms around him.

"Small anger," she assures him, falling back into the simple speech patterns she used as a weirling. "Bigger love."

She pulls away and looks between Eric and Landon.

"But if we go there, you two must promise not to let me forget whom I am. I don't want to become what the Guard want me to be...Landon can tell you what I was like. If I pretend to be something, you know, there's a good chance I will turn into it..."

She shivers, hugging her arms around herself now.

"I don't want to be a demi-god..." she whispers. " I want to be a girl..."

[TreyKincaide]

Landon finishes his pear and tosses it over his shoulder into some brush. He takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. "Eric died protecting Amber on the day that Chaos invaded and Corwin and Oberon, who was disguised at the time using shapeshifting, returned to Amber with gunpowder that functioned. Eric held the creatures of Chaos off long enough that the Corwin's addition to the forces won the day. By all accounts the wounds that Eric sustained shouldn't have killed him, that it was the Jewel that syphoned his life away. It was theorized that Eric's inexpert control over the Jewel was the cause, but I don't believe that possible as he created the Pattern matrix. How could someone, you, not have control and yet be able to create his own Image? The Primal was mad, a hole in Dworkin's mind. All of Eric's questions are valid ones and equally likely. Oberon and the Pattern backed Corwin. It would have been expedient for Eric to be out of the way in a manner that the rest of the family would have no ability to call vendetta. Didn't stop Caine from stabbing Corwin in the back, though, for different reasons."

Landon fishes around for a wine skin and takes a drink to clear his palate. "I guess it's up to me to propose a compromise, then. I don't think we can safely stay in your Amber any more than we could stay in the real one. People know that's where Gray is from, and the story book shadows are connected to the family's current woes. It's only a matter of time before someone comes to investigate. There is reason to believe that your Pattern, as good as anything to describe the Matrix, is being exploited by outsiders. From what I understand, these individuals are more than Gray and I can stand against even with your help. You've got an Achilles heel--Primal Chaos. There's no stopping it for you. Leaving both of us in a position much worse for wear.

On the other hand," he turns to Gray, "for those very reasons we should return. I understand your reasons against it, but please hear me out. It's all too true that the sins of the father fall to his children. I dismissed his people out of turn before; my only thoughts were to turn a well-trained army tucked in Shadow to my benefit. I'd like to say that I'm not that man anymore, but as Eric said hatred runs deep and I'm not there yet. I'm getting better. I feel I owe some responsibility to his people, his Pattern, and most importantly you. I got you into this mess and left you to flounder," he rubs his eyes. "I should ap..." he shakes his head apparently angry at himself, "No, I do apologize for the way I treated you before; it was uncalled for. We both need to ensure that everything will be all right. How else are we going to save creation?" he grins wryly.

"So, with all of that said," he takes another swig, "I propose that we go to Weir Amber, but not to stay. We investigate Eric's Pattern, something that I didn't really take the time to do last visit. The Weir deserve leaders and some gratitude. Unless a better idea shows itself between now and then, we lead them away from that place upon our departure. However, I don't think that they will be good for Gray at the moment. She needs to get away; take time to come to terms with herself rather than losing herself in leadership. We don't have to be strong all the time, but I think there is more strength in knowing when not to lead than to hang the consequences." he pauses blinking at what he just said. "Thus we lead them to Rome where I'll raise them to the highest status, reward them for their loyalty, and safe guard over them while you two continue on out into Shadow to do what you need to do. What do you think?"

[chalice]

Gray follows Landon's words with careful attention, and something he isn't used to seeing - faint clouds of suspicion in her grey eyes.

If only...if only this new affection for me did not follow so closely on learning of the Pattern's interest in me...can I trust it? Can I trust him?

His theorising on why the Jewel 'arranged' for Eric's death clearly triggers some disturbing line of thought, reflected in her open young face before she can smooth it away.

By the time he is finished, though, her eyes are clear again, and warm.

"Seems you got the looks and the brains, my brother," she says, with one of her astonishingly sweet smiles.

"What you propose makes sense to me, and I would be happy to agree." The smile becomes a grin. "I'll trust you two not to let me turn into the bitch queen from hell.

"Father?" She turns to Eric, waiting for his response.

[TreyKincaide]

Landon grows quiet and clasps his wife by the hand as a stray thought, a possibility, crosses his mind. He forces a smile to Gray to cover as his mind whirls with possibilities.

What if? What if what Eric drew can be considered an independent Pattern in its own right? I've already walked it, but didn't notice it's Image subsuming my own which theoretically should happen when one assays for Greater Initiation. If so, does that mean that Dworkin's Pattern wishes to absorb it or her to grow stronger? Fuck all. I don't like the implications of this line of thinking. If that's the case, taking Eric there might be a dangerous mistake. I've already given my opinion so I can't backtrack now. All I can do is hope that I'm way off base and be prepared for the worst. I'm such an optimist.

[Wired*Nun]

"Thanks for the background...I keep hearing it from a different angle - sorry, that's what it feels like, these echoes of other peoples' memories IT gave me..."

"Ahhh...well, there are things about your ideas I like and agree with, son. There are things I don't. And there are also some things that I think you have wrong or missing information about, so let's tackle those first, see what that brings." He seems to be treading on verbal eggshells. "Let's walk a bit..."

Taking a bite out of his pear, he says around the mouthful, "I never drew any Pattern in my Amber. I caused that place to occur long ago, long before I was even partially initiated to the Jewel. Drawing a Pattern there would have created the same situation as we have now with Corwin's. To do so never even occurred to me." He pauses in thought, though not in stride. The hounds frolic and explore in wide circles around them, providing better security than a band of rangers.

"I also don't think - but I'm not certain - that there is a Broken Pattern there. From what I know now, that is an unlikely spot for one, just on the evidence. The wards I set around Gray were all from the Jewel, and powerful as they were, were probably clumsy and inept by some standards. I set them so only I or one of my descendants could open them, and then, only in certain ways. Apparently Landon identified himself sufficiently that they opened for him. That's my take on things. Of course, that was all a long time ago..."

"I like the idea about going there for just long enough to set things right, and to reestablish a practical religion of sorts for them, where we don't have to reign, simply visit from time to time, validate or correct things, bless them and leave them in peace and prosperity. I should still have the same control I used to have over that shadow's time flow, and many other properties. I can seal it up, protect it, teach you two how to do the same. I don't think moving it, or its population, to your Rome would be necessary or even wise." He looks sour, perhaps at his own cynicism. "I hate to say it, but I don't really want to put them under Corwin's thumb, no matter how I think he's changed."

[TreyKincaide]

Taking a bite out of his pear, he says around the mouthful, "I never drew any Pattern in my Amber. I caused that place to occur long ago, long before I was even partially initiated to the Jewel. Drawing a Pattern there would have created the same situation as we have now with Corwin's. To do so never even occurred to me." He pauses in thought, though not in stride. The hounds frolick and explore in wide circles around them, providing better security than a band of rangers.

Landon and Helena walk along as Landon listens to Eric. He smiles when Eric say that he caused that place to occur recognizing the theory popular with elders that Shadow's don't exist until you will them to be. He nods at Eric's explanation, "Corwin's was drawn under special circumstances. He feared that Oberon had failed at his task of repairing the Pattern and perhaps only succeeded because Order was weak and Chaos was strong as reality was resetting itself. I suppose it's ironic in some sense that Corwin achieved that which the traitor wished but fell short."

But it is an image inscribed from the jewel just the same. I'm treading awfully close to something that Dworkin didn't wish the Pattern to know, so I have to be careful.

"I also don't think - but I'm not certain - that there is a Broken Pattern there. From what I know now, that is an unlikely spot for one, just on the evidence. The wards I set around Gray were all from the Jewel, and powerful as they were, were probably clumsy and inept by some standards. I set them so only I or one of my descendants could open them, and then, only in certain ways. Apparently Landon identified himself sufficiently that they opened for him. That's my take on things. Of course, that was all a long time ago..."

"I walked it," Landon says simply. "At the Weir's request, I climbed the tower. The Weir fear the place, claim that it was haunted and a ghost stalked the tower at nightfall trying to get to the maiden, Grey. At the time I disregarded it as silly Shadow nonsense, but I didn't stick around long enough for night to fall nonetheless." he pauses as a thought strikes him. He shrugs it off and continues, "I devised a general all purpose unlocking spell when I saw that I couldn't open the door. I then shadow walked to a nearby shadow with no ward and walked back casting the spell in midstride to slip it past. The door opened and I saw Gray and the three dimensional Pattern ward inside. I walked the design." His eyes change direction and he blushes with a bit with embarrassment. "I had to kis..ahem, wake her up and willed the ward to teleport us across the room. Simple as that." he grins. "Gray's feelings to the contrary, it was a splendid piece of work if you'll take the compliment."

Sounds like a Pattern to me. It might not be a Primal, but I'm guessing that the circumstances of it's creation, it's attunement to the Jewel, and the intimate connection it has with Gray makes it awfully close to a real Pattern. It's possible that
it even has a bit of Gray's personality.

At the last Landon shrugs apparently not worried in the slightest or offended at the criticism. "If you think that is best. They're your people. Not mine. The last brings up a question of a metaphysical nature that I have. Are all shadows different when it comes to control? Are there differences in how you go about exerting your will on a certain place that vary from Shadow to Shadow? I only ask as I've some experience, but only in one place."

[chalice]

Gray wanders along silently, apparently happy to leave the discussion to Eric and Landon and unwilling to 'choose sides'. She looks a little distant, and occasionally frowns at her own thoughts.

[Wired*Nun]

"I think what you perceived as walking a Pattern was actually negotiating the ward...but we can check that out if we go there."

Are there differences in how you go about exerting your will on a certain place that vary from Shadow to Shadow?

"I think it's all basically the same principle, from the point of view of a Pattern user. Others using different paradigms might perceive things differently. I know that it was the same thing for me with the shadows I constructed. Find the foundation for what I wanted, warp it over time to my will. It's not easy, but it's simple. Time-consuming and effort-laden, mostly. Of course, those with more expertise would find better or easier ways...and being so long ago it may have reverted to its natural state, or the ward may have maintained things just as they were." Tossing the remains of the juicy pear, he licks his fingers. A few steps more and around a rock, and they come upon a cold clear stream, where he washes his hands and face, and drinks deeply.

Rolling over from his crouch, he leans back against a rock, closing his eyes and letting the sun drench his face. One of the bitches runs up and pushes her head into his chest, licking his face, and he laughs. Scratching the bristly fur on her back, he says, "And it's good to see you too."

"Well, no matter what, I don't have a Jewel this time, and I don't seem to have any more or less acess to extraordinary abilities than I did in my first life, so we'll just have to check it out hands-on."

[TreyKincaide]

Landon seeing Eric decide to sit for a spell shucks off his boots, rolls up his pants, and dips his feet into the water encouraging Helena to join him. He smiles enjoying the turn the conversation has taken.

"I suppose you could make more immediate changes with sorcery if the Shadow was receptive, but then you're trading walking for sitting and studying. I doubt it has reverted to it's natural state. Yours, Gray's, and the Jewel's presence has made the Shadow fairly Real like Shadow Earth."

"It looks like we're far enough through Arden to start easily shifting. What say we let Gray take over when we're ready to go; she said she wanted the experience." He turns to the quiet Gray and playfully splashes a bit to shake her from her reverie.

He grins, "If we take it slow and get some comfortable transportation, I might be able to work out a spell to allay your concerns about being around the Weir changing you by the time we got there. It'd only last at most the time you spend in one shadow, so you could end it whenever you wished. Just take a step elsewhere and back. It wouldn't work well in low magic shadows or Amber, but I'm pretty familiar with Weir Amber which saves a bit of effort." He shrugs, "It's not much, but I can try if you wish."

[chalice]

He grins, "If we take it slow and get some comfortable transportation, I might be able to work out a spell to allay your concerns about being around the Weir changing you by the time we got there. It'd only last at most the time you spend in one shadow, so you could end it whenever you wished. Just take a step elsewhere and back. It wouldn't work well in low magic shadows or Amber, but I'm pretty familiar with Weir Amber which saves a bit of effort." He shrugs, "It's not much, but I can try if you wish."

Gray shakes herself, much like one of the hounds, and grins. "Slow it will be, I'm afraid, whether I will it or no."


She considers Landon's suggestion of helpful sorcery and nods. "Yes, please."

I guess that settles it - it appears I do trust him. In which case, I can ask...

She trails her fingers in the water, breaking up her own reflection.

"Landon; Father - you're both sorcerers. If I had said to either of you 'I have a spell in my mind set by a Lord of Chaos and I'd like to walk the Pattern right now' - would you have been worried?

"Might you - maybe, if you liked me at all - have said 'you know, my dear, that might be fatally dangerous...?' the imitation of Flora's lilting tones is near-perfect.

"Or was it something no one would have considered?"

She shrugs, "Just not sure if Flora wanted to let me conveniently kill myself with my own stupidity or not." She bites her lip and looks between the two men for an answer. "It's...been preying on my mind a little."

[TreyKincaide]

Landon frowns and heaves a sigh, "That's a good question. As far as I understand, the spell should have worn off when you went to Amber regardless of whether or not he powered it with the Logrus. Amber by nature is magic-lite save for that woven by individuals like Fiona who can use the Pattern itself in their castings. Now, the Logrus's powers are greatly diminished in Amber necessitating the Black Road. Logrus initiates have their own means to travel through shadow, but the Black Road allowed them to do so quickly and perhaps draw strength from the Logrus even far from the Courts. Now that symbol of the wounded Pattern is long destroyed, Chaos powered magics don't function there. I would assume that a Pattern woven spell would likewise fizzle out if brought to the Courts."

"Incidentally, powering my own meager sorceries with Pattern is a bit beyond my reach, so this is 50% applied theory and 50% guess work. I'm what could be called a "lazy" sorceror. Rather than aspire to raise my castings to an art form as some do, I've always viewed it simply as a handy tool that requires more prep time than I usually care to bother with."

Landon pulls his feet out of the stream to air dry, "There remains a possibility that she thought that it would have faded. It's also possible that she was aware that the Pattern did not kill those who fell off and set up events that led us to this point. Random or any of his supporters could have decided to remove any future contentions his throne before it became an issue, or, yes, Flora could have used it as an oppurtunity to remove you from the Family Game to further her own machinations."

"What I'm getting at is that it's impossible to fathom her's, or anyone's in the family, intentions. Sometimes those that are your best friends treat you poorly so that others will not know their affection and exploit it. Allies become enemies one day and return as allies the next. Being wary is never a bad thing in all of our dealings," he pauses thoughtfully, "but being overly paranoid and cynic accomplishes nothing either. Expect the worst out of people and more often than not, you'll be proven right only to find out that you're the worst of all. Trust me, I know and I'm trying to find the right balance. It's not easy."

Landon slowly sets about putting his socks and then his boots on. "The only advice that I really can give you is to strive not to ever put yourself in a disadvantage, and deal with things as they come. Allow others to use you only if it's in your benefit to do so. If you suspect Flora of trying to be rid of you, never give her the oppurtunity to do so again. If it ever comes down to a confrontation, be ready and have allies in case. If someone imprisons you, never stop trying to be free."

Landon's voice drops to almost whisper at the last and his eyes sparkle strangely in what Gray might detect as a touch of madness before he blinks it away. He stands and stretches. "Sorry. Didn't mean to sound as if I'm lecturing. I think what I said was really as much for my own benefit as yours. Saying it aloud kind of reaffirms it, you know? It's too nice an afternoon to be brooding over familial treachery rather than enjoying the scenery. Oh, and I'm up for that light spar you asked about earlier if you're game. It'd be a good way to loosen up until Dad's ready to go." He pauses realizing that he called Eric, Dad, for the first time feeling a bit awkward in the doing so.

[chalice]

"I hope it was all just misunderstanding. It just seemed so...convenient. Random makes it clear I'm an annoyance, then while I'm still off-balance and desperate for a way out one of his closest advisors gets all sweet and sympathetic - and then suggests I walk the Pattern. Flora arranges it. How awfully tragic that I fell at the first Veil...sad accident and all that. Random's hands are clean, no one has sinned save by omission, and one silly little girl has taken herself out of the picture and is no longer an irritation." She shrugs. "As you say, I'll probably never know."

Oh, and I'm up for that light spar you asked about earlier if you're game. It'd be a good way to loosen up until Dad's ready to go." He pauses realizing that he called Eric, Dad, for the first time feeling a bit awkward in the doing so.

Gray bounces to her feet, eyes alight as she glances between father and brother. After the smallest of pauses, she beckons with both outstretched hands.

"Alright then - come get me! Dad - give us the rules!"

[Wired*Nun]

"Landon; Father - you're both sorcerers. If I had said to either of you 'I have a spell in my mind set by a Lord of Chaos and I'd like to walk the Pattern right now' - would you have been worried?

"Might you - maybe, if you liked me at all - have said 'you know, my dear, that might be fatally dangerous...?' the imitation of Flora's lilting tones is near-perfect.

"Ha!" Eric snorts. "Where did you get the idea I was a sorcerer? Is that what people think? I'm sure my use of the Jewel must have seemed that way to some people at the time, as it was so uncommon. But to answer your question...are you sure she didn't warn you at all? And, you may be right, but most of my brothers and sisters are so used to doing things their own way that they might just figure you are responsible for your own risks...I don't know for sure, of course."

After Landon's near-diatribe on the dangers of Amberite family, Eric chuckes again. "Truth - and some fiction. I never felt we were as bad as you make out. Well, Brand maybe...but my dear, in your former and perhaps even current state of suggestibility, you would be far too valuable a tool to throw away...unless you represented a dire threat to someone, or they thought you were firmly in some other player's thrall."

After Grey's response, he adds, "Coincidences happen. Someone once said, 'believe in coincidence, just don't trust coincidence.' And as you said, maybe she knew it wasn't a fatal risk. In fact, I don't know even secondhand of anyone - sorry, any Amberite - who died because they strayed from the Pattern. It was always something Oberon told us before we took it, and got passed around. Great motivation, I'll tell you."


"All right then - come get me! Dad - give us the rules!"


"Hmm, rules? Well, what's the point? I mean, what's the purpose? What weapons? You going hand to hand? I'd say, don't maim each other, and no tricks like shapechanging or sorcery - nothing mystical at all - good enough?"

[chalice]

"Good. What I really need to do is manage to stay human while fighting...my instinct is to shift...so it's my concentration I need to practise, I guess..I don't mind if weapons are involved or not...Landon?" Gray is, as most often, unarmed right now.

[TreyKincaide]

Truth - and some fiction. I never felt we were as bad as you make out.

There, I suppose we shall have to agree to disagree.

I don't mind if weapons are involved or not...Landon?

"Unarmed's fine with me," he says as he's stretching. He takes off his jacket and unbuttons his shirt, handing them both to Helena to save on the wear and tear. He gives Eric and Helena a bit of space before dropping into a stance.

[chalice]

Gray balances lightly on the balls of her feet, trying to focus on the way her body feels right now, and keep it that way. She stays out of reach initially, studying the way Landon moves, rather than her usual 'rush in and trust enhanced reflexes' approach, a little thrown by how vulnerable being 'normal' makes her feel.

[OOC: no idea how to work through this practice bout IC. Dave, Trey - any ideas? Dave, you know both characters' respective skills - can you describe or just summarise what's going on?]

[Wired*Nun]

In the middle of their practice bout, Gray she feels the telltale sensation of a Trump call.

[chalice]

[OOC: Trey and I are actually halfway through our brawl in PMs, so we'll add in the detail as far as we'd got later]

Gray frowns, and steps back smartly, holding up both hands.

"Trump call," she says, briefly, before opening up to the contact.