Escape from Spectrum

A personal report to Julian from his daughter, Constance

Whereupon tolerability becomes debatable and Arden becomes a prison. A ranger is sprung and Caine’s son is at last met. The cousins visit the family holding and William discovers their security has assassin shaped holes. Constance receives an invitation to a dinner dance and ball and another to discuss poetry with kinfolk. The cousins attend Lord Mandor in convivial splendour and discuss an offer and the nature of power in the Courts. Constance remains behind whilst accommodation needs are considered and is assumed a paramour to one and may have a favour owed by another.

My Lord Warden,

A second waking in Celadon's Arden after a dream in which I walked Arden seeking Amber but when I think I’m there at the edge of the forest, the vista is not correct. An impossible view. The Sun is placed high to my left but this would only be possible if the scene was viewed from the Sea. The same Sea that I can dimly make out to my right. I know that this City is not Amber.

I awake discomforted in mind and body. I seek Amber – that is foremost in my mind. I am housed in this Arden and will never find Amber here and already I feel the effects of imbalances on my mind. Or has Amber changed so radically since Oberon’s death and the Pattern Storm? Am I stretching to find a place that is an ideal rather than a place of substance? But Amber is the one true place.

I consider these thoughts as I stretch and then reach into my tunic for Prince Julian’s Trump – and it is cold to my touch. I reached him quickly, easily and felt relieved just to see his face again. He said his conditions were tolerable but our mutual concern was expressed in our eyes alone. He was matter of fact as always, and believed himself safe until Swayvil’s final decision.

We briefly discussed my situation and inability to deal with Spectral’s hospitality.  He advised me to seek Caine’s advice, but to count to ten before taking it. I smiled at this and then told him what I had experienced. The Warden asked why I hadn't run him through? Why I let him get away with mind-rape? I explained that it may have made a bad situation worse - and that when I had stabbed the Head of the Household - the knife had gone straight through him as if they had no physical form at all.  So without the right weapon or Magic, nothing could have been achieved. We agreed that I should leave immediately.

I cut the contact but thought further and attempted to contact him again to pass a bottle of wine through to him. My safety and a bottle of wine may have offered him some small comfort. I reached him but the contact was scrambled as if partially blocked and I ceased my effort. I gathered my few possessions, summoned Mudboy and asked to be escorted to House Ascaris to meet my cousins. Celadon’s immediate appearance told me I was in difficulty.

Celadon, as always, was solicitous. Where was I going? I hadn’t breakfasted yet, and so on. I replied calmly, that I had eaten and that I was due at House Ascaris. I also enquired after the quarters of the Fey Envoys. Celadon gave me the name of House Winter and then dismissed Mudboy (although like everything else in this place he was still there, just not visible to my senses), and brought up the subject of my accommodation again. Celadon explained that they’d done their best to make me comfortable and with further access to my mind they could make it far more so. So he’s offered to assault me again for my own good! I refused this and then hit the granite surface that was my need and their understanding of it. Beds – even a bed. How can you describe the comfort of a bed when you don’t have the language and they don’t have the understanding?

Celadon told me that without this created Arden I would go quite mad in short order and retreat into an internalised Arden, one from which I may never be extracted. While I did not doubt the truth of his statement I explained that their Arden would in time send me just as mad – my Arden was more than a painting with sensory additions but a place of memories and personal geography – a real place.

Celadon changed the discussion to the relationship between the Rimlord Houses and the Lesser Houses of Chaos. The food chain that begins with the King and ends with the lesser of the Lesser Houses. I was clearly about to embarrass one of the Lesser Houses. I repeated that I was due to meet with my cousins at House Ascaris and he informed me that I was safe here until the time of Swayvil’s decision. I gave him a hard look as our understanding of what was ‘safe’ were clearly quite different and he exchanged a look with Mudboy who was now very much present – as if he’d been there all along.

I asked Mudboy to take me to Ascaris via Morningstar so I might retrieve my cloak. Morningstar, if it was Morningstar, was instead brought to me. He was dozing but I still rubbed my hand down his neck, loosened off his girth strap and retrieved my cloak from its bindings. He seemed comfortable and he smelt right. My cloak felt right. Such familiar things gave me great comfort.

We walked, Mudboy and me. We walked for an inordinate period of time and then we walked some more. Finally, I asked Mudboy why it was taking so long. If demons can look shifty I’m sure he attempted it. Whichever way I pointed to go he set off willingly but I now knew pointlessly. Mudboy confirmed that he had to do as I asked but then when questioned admitted that we were still within, and would be staying for the foreseeable future, a copy of Arden in House Spectral. He then handed me a highly elaborate card inviting me to the King’s dinner, dance and ball. I knew not whether to laugh or weep. When my cousins suddenly appeared I knew the entire farce was up and suspected that House Spectral had been watching me walk around and round in small circles.

Celadon accompanied them. Keen to demonstrate that my wellbeing was his concern. He produced a bed with a flourish and, having looked at it, Havelock explained using pictures what a bed looked like. After an attempt to persuade me to stay – and oh the sound of William’s raised voice was pleasing to my ears, I left Spectral in the Company of Mudboy and my cousins and this time we sought the Ways of Barimen. I was introduced to Caine’s son, Dirk, who struck me as a fair copy of his father. He reiterated the party line regarding the working relationship of Caine and Julian, kissed my hand, and informed me that my parentage was now an open secret – I was a Ward no longer. Actually Dirk, in public I am still the Ward of the Warden of Arden. You, Dirk, are so definitely, your father’s son. Testosterone pours out of your very being. Are you as clever as your father, I wonder?

Cymnea had said we would be disappointed by Barimen. I did not find the structure itself a disappointment – a little peculiar perhaps but these are the Courts. The monoliths surrounding the thatched structure were its protectors and after William was assertive, we were granted entry – our arrival announced by a heavy fist being pounded onto a large metal gong. The demons remained behind us. I faintly heard voices ahead of us –even through the sounds of my cousin’s elephantine trampling and rattling armour and weapons.

I scouted ahead and found myself accompanied by Sorashi who certainly can move quietly. I heard bits of a conversation in Thari - I judged between an older grumpy sounding man and a younger whining boy. A hand held light was approaching us so we retreated back to our cousins and were soon joined by a fox-faced demon carrying a torch, who asked our lineage and announced himself as Loeg.

We accompanied Loeg and met the last sad, overwhelmed remnant of the House Barimen. Melvyn, who was being soundly berated by the older man in an attempt to grow him a spine. Telling him frankly that the House was going to lose its influence and think what might happen if he should succeed in attaining his Lordship.

This older man was introduced to us as Lord Suhuy and we found out later was both the Keeper of ‘a power’ and a magician. Melvyn was the last of the line of Barimen. What a position to be in where your relatives have been virtually wiped out in the blink of an eye. Poor boy! My Lady he seems very young and ill-suited to this task. He also has a death wish as he feels he must challenge Darig over the death of the last Barimen Lord in the battle on the edge of the Abyss.

William had moved away from the rest of us in quiet conversation with the fox headed demon when the assassin shaped hole became apparent. My cousins rushed to his rescue whilst I remained to protect Margrath, Lord Suhuy (well that wasn’t terribly likely) and Melvyn, who seemed terrified. Suhuy presently cast a spell of some sort which gave my cousins some light to work with.

We all went over to see William on his feet, Darig’s weapons bound up with some sort of a creature and various cousins with a range of weapons at the ready. The creature dispatched itself rather than give us any information but the name of Spandrel was suggested as the likely sender – and it seemed probable that William was the planned target. But we had no idea who'd offered the contract. The heir of Barimen was beside himself that William had been attacked in his Hall and I suspect more worried by the knowledge that he now owed Lord William an unspecified favour.

Suhuy informed us that Lord Mandor sought us in the sort of way that suggested it should happen sooner rather than later. I asked him about House Winter and the name of the Faerie Envoy quartered there and he looked at me again and said that the envoy was Alvis Lord Torc and that he’d like to meet Lady Constance to discuss some poetry or doggerel. Well, he has my attention. Maybe I can find out more about my grooming episode and about my mother without directly asking the Warden of the circumstances. I’ve never asked him. I wouldn’t want to hurt him and I'd risk one of his cold stares that tells me that it is none of my business. Perhaps, if I meet Alvis, Lord Torc, I can have a fine faerie gown for a Ball once more (though perhaps not given Grandfather’s upcoming funeral). Maybe Alvis Lord Torc will dance with me at the Ball, that swirling embrace of flowing movement and Grace remains one of my few memories of Faerie – though the irony that I am in similar caged circumstances does not escape me.

Melvyn produced a Trump of Mandor which Havelock used to make contact. Mandor answered but seemed lacking in knowledge on how Trumps can be used to transport so we bade goodbye to Melvyn and our demons led us to Woodstock, the private residence of Lord Mandor. We were politely challenged by Mandor’s guards and greeted by him in person.

This Chaos Lord with the flowing white locks has the manner of someone with a very keen mind indeed. Quite the politician and a rarity in that he has travelled beyond the Courts. We were asked to make ourselves comfortable and to help ourselves to the bar. There were drinks there far beyond my knowledge but the sophisticated Havelock brought me a glass of red wine, one that would have interested the Warden’s fine palate.

Mandor talked about our current predicament and then more interestingly about The King of Chaos and, he alleges, the decreasing support for his position. He says that despite Swayvil having been in power a very long time his person, his position and his policy of following a hatred of Amber is to some extent in decline. Five of the Rimlord Houses are now re-evaluating their support for Swayvil. So there is, potentially, room for a new coalition. Swayvil’s physical decline in itself is interesting given the age and apparent agelessness of William’s mother. There must be a specific cause. I don’t know about Magic but I wonder if an Amberite - Oberon or perhaps King Eric, has Blood Cursed the King of Chaos?

Swayvil has no direct heir – so who, other than our interests, might profit from his death? Mandor obviously, though he intimates that he would sooner be the power behind the throne he is clear that it would suit Sawall’s interests if a member of their house replaced Swayvil. Mandor says he wants us released (so we share at least one common goal) but what he proposes is interesting. We want to leave the Courts of Chaos intact. We want a new King who is better disposed towards Amber. Mandor wants a new King under his influence. Swayvil’s death may take quite a long while and Mandor suggests we could act directly against him with extreme prejudice. He includes Darig, William and Havelock in his gaze, not Dirk, but I wonder if Sorashi feels excluded? I could take him down with a bow and an opportunity but lacking the appropriate genitalia I am obviously incapable of anything. I am a little shocked at this suggestion – which just doesn’t sound like a good idea.

William mentioned that despite the King's order that we were not to be harmed someone had ordered his death and clearly wasn’t following the King’s order that we were to remain unharmed until he made a final decision. Actually House Spectral weren’t acting under his orders when they took what wanted from my head. An assault, for whatever reason, is an assault. Mandor suggested Spandrel the most likely suspects – and that they were infamous for their techniques, approach and ability to do it. The question remains - which House has defied the King’s order?

The obstacles are discussed. The attack would have to overcome the King’s inner guard of demons but the outer guard would be representatives from the Rimlord Houses on a strict rota and might be looking in the wrong direction at the right time. It sings out as being altogether a bad idea! I feel a little patronised that Mandor would even suggest it to us. So, we need to find out what else is going on. Mandor says he will contact us presently for our response.

Mandor enquired as to our general wellbeing. I informed him that I was urgently seeking new accommodation and after considering my statement he replied that me leaving Spectral was one in the eye for House Karm. I asked if I could not stay here and he said that the rooms were required for Princess Fiona on her arrival and did I know when she might be expected? I was not able (and would not have) to give him an estimate of her arrival time. William gave me a look, as I’d said that I would speak with his Grandmother first, but this is an opportunity to take our interests a little beyond our current bounds. I replied to William that I could not leave Spectral until I spoke with the Warden as I supposed his accommodation was even more problematic than mine. I also asked Mandor how the Nobles of Amber had been bid for – in effect how Prince Julian had ended up with Karm. He was apparently cheaper to bid for than the other nobles. My poor Warden! Mandor suggested I remain whilst he considered my new domicile and he escorted my cousins from this reception room together with a promise to William to keep him informed of my new residence and to me that he would simply tell Mudboy to go away.

I relaxed back into a comfortable couch with a glass of fine wine at hand marvelling at the very different accommodation within the Courts. I then heard a young woman’s voice from behind me asking if they had gone yet. I sat up, saying Lord Mandor was still seeing his guests out and she looked at me again and asked if I were Mandor’s paramour? I stopped, slightly surprised and then replied with a polite negative and introduced myself as the Constance of Amber, the Ward of the Warden of Arden. She introduced herself as Dara. She certainly looked young enough to be his daughter rather than his step mother (but I am sure looks are relative in the Courts) and then went on to say that she was the mother of Corwin’s son, Merlin. She confided that she was presently in hiding.

We talked. She had no high opinion of Corwin and felt used and abused by him – and by circumstance. I replied that I’d never really met Prince Corwin but that I’d heard he had a reputation as a womaniser and I was sorry she’d experienced it. She talked about how she was to have been Queen of Amber with Corwin as the King in a hugely long and convoluted breeding plot conceived by Oberon. But it had all turned to dust in front of her. I nodded. I’d observed the Unicorn’s decision. Her immediate upset was that Corwin had so casually slaughtered Duke Borel, her fencing master, so ignobly and that the Duke had died in her arms. I empathised with her in her loss despite the fact that she admitted openly that she had accompanied Corwin during his assault on Amber and she was well aware of the weapons used by Corwin during the assault. Most interestingly she, on Oberon’s orders, had walked the Pattern (and survived to tell the tale) and, most worryingly for her, she was worried about the wellbeing of their son, Merlin. I said that there may be ways to locate Corwin – and that may be possible to trace Merlin from there, and that I would make enquiries for her. I was happy to do a favour for her and I hoped she’d be able to repay it in the future. A member of the House of Chaos who has walked the Pattern!

Mandor re-joined us, introducing Dara as his step-mother. I heard her say to him (was I supposed to have heard this and his reply?) ‘What does it mean, Mandor?’ and his reply ‘All may not be lost, my dear’. Had I met the future Queen of Chaos or the mother of the King of Chaos? Just how much was I supposed to have heard? Or how unsubtly would they manipulate me? I sighed inwardly as more of Mandor’s splendid wine slid across my tongue and down my throat as Mandor turned to speak with me again. There is no such thing as a free meal.