Road to Amber: Players

rta_fiona: IC Journal
flora_r2a: On relationships
benedict_rta: Sol ahs and smiles, "Yes, that may be wise." she agrees, "I will let you enjoy your...kip."
erika_rta: The Long Awaited Update

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Written in an elegant hand

There are days when I think that none of my children learned any of the lessons I tried to teach them, even the eldest.

I am having difficulty in writing this, after the conversation I had last night. I had the servants corner Celeste in the Palace and bring her to me, politely of course. We talked mostly about her relationship with Dominic. I adore my nephew, and I've come to adore Celeste as well. But between that MEDIEVAL Pathi custom of marriage contracts and the very competitive nature of their relationship, she is resigned to maintaining the status quo rather than taking things to the next step.

I killed a bottle of whiskey after she left and cried myself to sleep for her. Do dragons even cry, I wonder? Sometimes I feel like a social worker in Harlem.

( Sol investigates why the troops of the Black Road might be burning mistletoe. )

( The journal entry )

benedict_rta: "Yes. I *know*, Sol." Viktor replies, looking not at all happy. "The tree on the island."
celeste_rta: Last week's Theme

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( Kitezh sees someone who has not ridden through it in many years... )

Linkin Park - In between

Let me Apologize to begin with, let me apologize for what I'm about to say
( Read more... )

flora_r2a: A job interview
flora_r2a: A place for a Lady?
flora_r2a: Tea with a Dragon
morgaine_rta: The Death of a Sibyl
maereina_rta: Musings on John
flora_r2a: A meeting in the barracks
flora_r2a: Breakfast with the King
flora_r2a: Tea with Dominic

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I met Lady Veronica of Chantris for tea after dinner today. While the primary purpuse was to get to know her better, I'm quite certain that her cousin Liam told her I am seeking a social secretary. Having been raised in Montevalno, she was practically bred to be a noble lady's aide, where such things include bodyguard training as well as courtly manners.

She owns a dress shop in Amber, what was it called again? Ah yes. Pelle e Pizzo... Leather and Lace, in Montevalnan. Her unique combination of skills will make her quite useful to me. However, she first asked to discuss the matter with Duke Cyrus.

I had drinks with Lady Quina de Mandrake after dinner today. She is a quiet, modest, and very capable woman. My son Gareth invited himself to join us, and the Lady deflected his subtle advances with but a casual remark. The conversation turned to the present Mandrake - Feldane dispute, and Lady Quina showed herself to be quite well-versed in Amber's political landscape, dispite an expressed preference for life in the wild. Having left Julian's service, at least temporarily, to be closer to Amber, she offered her assistance to help me settle back into Amber's affairs.

I am not entirely certain whether the Lady would find service as my aide to be utterly stifling, with the emphasis on social affairs rather than the affairs of state that she was previously accustomed to. I am going to ask Beatrice whether she could find a more proper use for Lady Quina.

I had tea with Lady Celeste d'Mandrake today, who was only limping a little following the battle at the Lyonesse tournament. Apparently Dragons are very hearty creatures. While the invitation was pre-arranged it was quite timely. Mandake is going to sponsor a cultural festival that will last a week, depending upon participation and interest. I'm greatly looking forward to it.

She also cautioned me quite strongly about the Diji of Penglai. Apparently Celeste has had occasion to visit the Penglai court, and likened it to a maze filled with booby traps, serpents, and trap doors. In the end, we agreed that her place is on the battlefield, while mine is at Court.

I did have the opportunity to lightly grill her about her relationship with Dominic. To even the most casual observer, theirs has not been a relationship without conflict. And in the end, she indicated that there should be an announcement coming soon. Beatrice will be negotiating the contract on Celeste's behalf (why the Pathi insist on such a medieval approach to marriage is still beyond me), and she politely declined my offer to thrash Dominic in the name of marital bliss.

Feeling the fear slowly subsiding from her mind, Morgaine grips the pen and flings it across the chamber. The black ink leaves a lazy sprawl over pristine white marbles. She folds the letter and passes it to an acolyte. Scream continues to echo within the holy ground.

“Get that to Bleys, and copy one for Brand, I’ll sign it. Then make the necessary summons, starting from the list I prepared yesterday.” Morgaine grips her sceptre and hurries towards the ritual chamber.

“Nicely decided,” murmurs a priestess by Morgaine’s ear. “Nicely-”

Morgaine’s patience wears out. She rounds on the poor priestess with a withering glare. “I have no need of your constant-”

“Grand Mistress-” It is another priestess’ piping voice.

“How dare you-“ Morgaine spins around to find the Second Mistress Julia. But the Second Sister should not be here. She should be with her, maintaining the link, keeping the link alive. “What is wrong-”

Morgaine’s tirade is cut off. She jerks around to see the light springing up from the floor below, a light that permeates everything solid. She hears the sound of the bell in the distance. There is no need to say those dreaded words any more.

“It is too late.” Julia says. “She is dead. The ritual is broken.”

In the back of her mind, Morgaine registers that the damned screaming has finally stopped.

John finally came back from his business. Briefed him on everything he'd missed while he was away.

Just glad to see him back aboard the ship.

benedict_rta: Dear Diary
rian_r2a: Burning Ships, Official Visits and... OMG Flirting
maereina_rta: Musings on Caine

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Bastard sons: 2

Hands: 1

Beatrice knows about the hand already. Maybe I should open with that.

( Rian's thoughts about events on the Starchaser over the past few days )

So Caine's visit to the ship turned out not to be anything to worry about. Rian and I explained how the ship had belonged to a vicious pirate who had kidnapped me and that made everything better from Caine's perspective. He was going to leave but then I offered him rum so he stayed for a while to chat with Rian and I in John's cabin.

Well later that night I left to get some food because I was awake and hungry but the galley was closed and some crazy notion made me bring some food to Caine at the admiralty office. It was a good conversation in which he noted he was serious about helping me find my mother so I started to tell him what I could remember. He asked a question or two and I actually remembered something else. The storm cannons were firing which means the ship was under attack.

Caine's going to look for signs of my mother when he's out with the Navy and somehow I left with an invitation to dinner.

benedict_rta: Arkless says, "If I don't make it... Find the A.E.F. Tell them they got me."
maereina_rta: Musings on Caine

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( Sol meets a member of the Amber Expeditionary Force scout group, and saves his life. The Black Road is waking in Kitezh. )