A Knight at the Opera pt2

A personal prayer to the Unicorn from Constance, daughter of Julian, pt 6

My beloved Horned Lady

Once upon a time. Many, many, years ago. The Prince in white armour searched and searched for a young woman (truly, she was little more than a girl) who was missing in the Forest of Arden. The girl was lost in Summer’s Twilight. More lost than ever she knew – until she heard the commotion at the gates. The striking of mighty hooves. The effortless reduction of her gilded cage to scrap. The vision of the Prince in white armour upon the rearing horse and the sound of the Prince in white armour demanding in rare fury, her return.

He came for me. And I shall come for him.

I pray with all my being that you will keep him safe My Lady. Body and soul.

I awoke from dream. I was in Arden and came across an angry exchange between my Lord Warden with a fire arrow nocked and some Assarts villagers, intent on extending their farmland into the Forest. A half dozen or so men stood around a cart carrying a barrel and faggots.

I could smell and taste the vapour from the liquid they had in their barrel. So could My Lord Warden. This was a volatile situation and an extreme response on his part. If he loosed, he would have caused the death of us all. There was a terseness I knew well from my Lord Warden. They backed down. They left and we walked on together.

In explanation my Lord Warden said, “Hearts and minds – let them go home and tell their friends”. He added that there must be flexibility in our plans. We have none. We delay over the who in Plan B. We cannot resource Plan A and how many Houses have we actually won over in any case? We fall about in disarray dancing to Chaos’ tune. My Lord Warden proposes that we put a Plan C into action. I have never known him to be wrong.

We came to a low two-storied building cobbled from many styles. I could hear a commotion at the far end of it – neighing and frantic kicking. Morgenstern. I would know his voice anywhere.

I turned to my Lord Warden and he said very formally, “Alas Daughter, I am not free to assist in this matter”. Twice he used that phrase in the dream. My Lord Warden did not follow me into the stable.

On entering I could hear Morgenstern – frantic and insistent. I walked past many horses, safe in their boxes but unmoving and seemingly no longer of flesh. =

I stopped fleetingly at my own beloved Morning Star. Flesh no longer, though he had seemed as flesh when I was taken to him by Mud Boy. Is it a state they are held in or the nature of the place that they are held in that has caused this change in those of our steeds that are not of Morgenstern’s ilk?

Now, I know Morgenstern well – as well perhaps, as anyone other than his Master. I whistled to him in my familiar way and he stopped his commotion. Perhaps recognising something that was as real as him, and to him in this place and I think knowing me well enough to cease his protests. As my Lord Warden was not free to assist I opened the stable door, stepping to one side as I did. He reared and I awoke.

My subconscious is screaming at me. My Lord Warden needs my, our assistance. I don’t know if my release of Morgenstern (undoubtedly a weapon in this place) in a dream will have an effect in the waking world – certainly actions by Margrath have had such an effect.

I must investigate Morgenstern in this waking World. Release him as part of a wider strategy to aid my Lord Warden or, if he is already loosed, inform Prince Caine, just in case Morgenstern’s excitement is aimed at the scent of Prince Corwin rather than his discomfort in this place, or his desire to aid our Lord.

It occurs to me that my Lord intends for me to use him as a weapon when (as opposed to if) we storm House Karm and that Morgenstern will permit me to ride him if he discerns the purpose?

Later in the day Prince Caine, my Lord’s favourite brother illustrated his level of concern about my Lord’s condition. All charm dropped, he drew me through the meaning of my dream. My subconscious drew the allegory which I had not read upon waking. The fiery arrow was the Pattern ‘of course’. The interlopers, Chaosites.

He queried my claim to have met with his brother in House Karm. What was my evidence that it really was him and not some shape shifting Chaosite? I began to feel physically sick. Any attempt made to contact my Lord using Trump was met with an ‘unavailable response’ Perhaps indisposed would be more correct, given House Karm’s note to House Zigo. I am dwelling on thoughts of poison, or drugging or magical sleep.

Later I have thoughts that fall into nightmare – House Karm have an unconscious, mostly whole, body and Prince Brand seeks one. I listen and breathe and listen to my Lord’s favourite brother. Prince Bleys, stood with him, remained completely quiet.

I should not act without evidence – whether scrying through House Pheon, a direct request to House Karm for an explanation as to nature of my Lord’s indisposition, or a direct request for a further private audience, at what price I do not know. I will rescue him – the same way he rescued me. All those years ago. I am his child but I am also a Ranger. It is time to put all of his training in place and regain my footing.

These thoughts leave me preoccupied. But I am mindful of earlier events of the day.

I declined Havelock’s request to paint my portrait. He is a red head and I cannot help but mistrust him nor do I want him in my private thoughts. So much has been kept hidden for so, so many years.

I was told that Princess Deirdre is back among us. Margrath and a raven-headed shaman were responsible for the restoration of her spirit to her body and in truth I was glad for her return and especially glad for Sorashi for the return of her mother.

Princess Flora was true to her word and has sent me a red dress, which she has altered to fit my frame. It is the most beautiful dress I have ever seen. Ariel conjured a pair of matching shoes for me so I shall be shod should something unexpected happen.

Ariel congratulated me on my decision regarding the Order of the Deniable Moth and bade me follow him, there and then, to be formally inducted into the Order (of which he was also a member).

I followed him down through Stormguard into a vast chamber where about a dozen other members in their native forms waited. Ariel took his native form – he ignited! A humanoid form in flame! My concern about oaths crossing the wider interests of Amber were satisfied and I was sworn in.

The Order was founded to uphold justice; to avenge the Deniable Moth. She (the Deniable Moth) was a woman of great wisdom and power who sort to place her scion on the Throne of Chaos. The son, on attaining the throne, had to sacrifice his mother. Her existence was denied ever after. The Order dedicates themselves to lost causes.

Ariel asked if I wished to bring anything to their attention. I mentioned the case against Celadon of Spectral and that although I understood it was to be dealt with by legal means, that I also understood that I would be the executioner and that, as such, I did not believe I had a weapon capable of carrying out the execution. I asked the Order if such a weapon might be produced and they agreed to provide me with one.

We gathered, (I say gathered but my Lord Warden was absent and Havelock was excused as he was deep at work painting) to see Lady Zae of House Zigo attempt their equivalent of walking the Pattern.

If you are not of the blood, or if you fail to complete the walk, the Pattern will kill you. The matter, about to be undertaken by Lady Zae is dangerous, as even if successful, the aspirant will always in some way have changed – and the act may send them completely mad. We Amberites also change when we walk the Pattern. But not like this.

Prince Benedict stood isolated, standing and staring into the fire, still mulling over Plan A, his inability to carry it out and his unwillingness to issue the order to Darig. Princes Bleys and Caine stood in a corner, deep in conversation.

Princess Deirdre arrived, resplendent in a foreign costume and looking well for a recent corpse. I noticed that the physical impact of the Abyss on the visible parts of her skin was concealed with use of tinted lotions.

I introduced myself and said I was pleased she was back among the living. She looked me up and down and expressed surprise that Julian had a daughter, asking me if I could use a bow and ride saddled or bare backed? I replied yes and she then asked me what I thought of Darig, and whether he was like his father? I responded that I did not know Prince Corwin but that Darig did not closely resemble the image of him in my Lord Warden’s Trump deck.

Princess Deirdre commented on my dress, noting Flora’s work and commenting that Princess Flora never wore the same dress more than twice. She went on to name both the occasions that the Princess had worn this particular dress. Princess Deirdre may be unusually observant but it seemed odd that she should recall exactly when the red dress had been worn. There is obviously a degree of competition between these Princesses but I was slightly taken aback by her barbed comments. Poor Sorashi!

Both William and Margrath spoke to me of intelligence they had gathered from their respective Knightly Orders.

William had a quiet word with me regarding information from a Member of House Karm who belongs to William’s order. Rikard has told him that Prince Julian is held in the basement of the house and has not of late been seen by any but the senior members of the House. I told William of my dream.

I asked House Zigo if a response had been received to Prince Julian’s invitation. They replied that they’d had a note from Karm to say that Prince Julian was indisposed and that they had at first thought it a slight against their House, they now they realise otherwise. Prince Julian has been made indisposed.

Lord William is keen to assault House Karm. I am happy to consider this idea – but we need to plan, pick our time and have some more evidence support our actions. It is time for us to start pushing back.

I took both Margrath and William over to speak with princes Caine and Bleys. Margrath spoke first of the response the Order of the Loquacious Nettle. The question phrased was ‘Is Amber Under Threat?’ And the answers were: UnSeelie, Abaddon, Argent.

I learned later that Abaddon was a Lord or place in Hell. I know what the UnSeelie are and think that Argent is another name for silver. A metal, perhaps? I leapt to an assumption that it might be something an airship could be made of and something that could be made or Conjured in Faerie? Or is it simply a Shadow that I have never heard of? A new alliance against Amber? This needs further thought. I wonder what Lord Torc knows?

A second question was ‘What has happened to Amber? The answers were: Ragnarok, Return, Rebirth. Darig tells me that Ragnarok is a reference to an event in a mythology where the World ended in a fight between Gods and Giants. Return and Rebirth – not literal I think. The Return (ours perhaps) and the Rebirth of Amber herself – the changes as a result of the Chaos Storm? But I must think harder and further on this. Perhaps Havelock with his Trumps can read it?

The third question was ‘How can Oberon’s descendants leave Chaos safely?’ The answers were: Succession, Election, Funeral. So, Plan B again. But what do we know about the Succession options? How do elections work and how can a smooth transition and our safety be assured?

What pricks at my conscience this day were my answers to Prince Caine’s questions about my last meeting with My Lord Warden. I have not analysed either my meeting at House Karm or my dream. I must be sharper – more aware!

Was it actually the Lord Warden I was taken to? Prince Caine implied it may have been a Shapeshifter in the Lord Warden’s form. Can a Shapeshifter duplicate all of that which they seek to imitate? I know the smell of my own skin – surely I would have recognised that my Lord Warden didn’t, well, smell right?

But there is the question of the crease near the edge of his right eye. Perhaps it was the Lord Warden and he was in pain or under duress? My Lord had not been happy at the questions I asked. I had to declare them to Princes Caine and Bleys. In fairness I don’t imagine that there would be many single parents happy at the prospect of a conversation with their child on the circumstances of their birth. From my side, I was embarrassed. So under duress, and unhappy at the conversation topic, he would be short.

But Prince Caine pointed out that if he was not the Lord Warden but a shapeshifter then he would be unable to give me the answers and shortness of reply would be sufficient to drive me away. Yet my Lord blessed me. He gave me a warning which I failed to notice or act on and I left him in the hands of House Karm.

I noticed that Prince Bleys was silent throughout the exchange. I’ve not yet been the object of his charm but the lack of it from both princes illustrates both their irritation and concern.

I told the princes of my warning dreams of Arden. They were dismissed as they knew that Airships did not work in Amber. (It was only later, and too late to remind them without sounding more foolish, that until very recently guns hadn’t worked in Amber either.)

I then spoke to them of my conversation with Prince Brand. Prince Caine asked me what I thought Prince Brand’s skills were? I replied dissembling, and he said that they all did that and to look for another.

Finally Prince Caine said that Prince Brand is good at picking his mark.

So why would the man my Lord Warden trusts less than a wyvern single me out? If he were looking for a source of blood then I might be a good pick – but not the only pick. He may make me an offer of something that I think I really want – in exchange for something he really, really wants. The fact that I look upon him with pity – but I have seen his actions and my pity is tempered with the belief that his (and indeed any other spirit) should not be walking about.

Alternatively, Delwin’s warnings come into play – we must be aware of our prejudices and Brand falls under this category. He was not acknowledged by any of his siblings when he appeared later at dinner.

I discount my other bloodline for the moment and consider my maidenhood. It has always been my way of being. The Lord Warden was never direct about it in that sense but I grew up with a strong moral code and above all things sought to avoid his sharp disapproval. So, although in my distant past there may have been flirtations they never went further. I would not want to disappoint the Lord Warden and I would not want to be the young man who had taken his Ward. I also retained my maidenhood in the hope that one day, in Arden, the Unicorn would allow me to see her because everyone knew about maidens and the Unicorn. Didn’t they? But now we have all seen and been measured by Her – so it is no longer a matter for consideration. The use of a maiden to attract a Unicorn has not escaped me.

Then the killer point came through. If you want someone for a sacrifice then surely a willingly sacrifice (like the woman in the Duomo) or a maiden sacrifice or a willing maiden sacrifice would be your ultimate dish. Prince Brand would be intuitive enough to guess my standing. Was my maiden status the answer to why I was his mark? I certainly do not disclose these thoughts to the Princes of Amber!

Princess Flora entered in style and nodded approval in my direction. She was the centre of attention of our hosts. Her sisters commented on it! There does seem to be a certain degree of jealousy between some of the Princesses of Amber. It is probably a reflection of the poor attitude of the Amber Court towards women. I wonder if any women there are given formal roles with responsibilities. I thank my fate to be raised in Arden and not at Court.

We were taken through and seated around a long oblong table. The food and drink were most probably excellent. I was not giving it the attention it deserved. Margrath sat next to me on one side. I half listened to conversations around me.

There were, curiously, a number of unoccupied chairs around the table. They became occupied early on by the spirits of the dead – somehow able to attend this event. Lord Lantari, Prince Delwin (to his sister’s delight) and Prince Brand, all becoming more solid as the meal progressed. But not, and I greatly feared for this – my Lord Warden’s spirit.

I overheard several things that Prince Delwin said – that they walked as ghosts and could overhear but not intervene. Again – not dissimilar to my Lord Warden ‘Alas daughter, I am not free to be of assistance’.

My desire to eat died completely with Prince Brand’s appearance. His siblings pointedly ignored him. Yet he was there. Undeniably so. I took part in little conversation. My nightmare thoughts began here.

House Karm has a reputation as a house of necromancers. I had heard from Sorashi that they had been disappointed in the condition of Prince Brand’s body when it had been retrieved. I am sure that they would be keen to strike a deal with the spirit of Prince Brand. Prince Delwin’s body is probably beyond their use but they already have another Prince potentially available to them. One, bar a broken arm, which is intact. One who we cannot currently reach. Described as indisposed by House Karm in their note to House Zigo. Indisposed in what way? Because he is on a slab deep in the bowels of their House? Because they can separate the spirit from the body? I stop myself from reaching for his Trump immediately.

The worst thing of all is the guilt that I have caused this harm. I left House Spectral. I accepted Mandor’s assistance where maybe I should have just coped. But I also know my Lord Warden. This may be a reversal of roles where the Maiden rescues the Prince in white armour.

The final arrival was of the Lady Zae of Zigo, whose task it was this night to take up her lordship. She was tense but seemed also in a state of meditated calmness. She explained the dangers of what it was she was going to attempt. I prefer the Pattern and that was challenging enough!

Immediately after the meal Lady Zae folded back the table top where she was seated at one end of the oval table. This allowed her to enter the vacant space in the middle of the table.

She stopped in front of Princess Flora and asked formally for her blessing in what felt like some sort of quasi-religious ceremony. This seemed a little strange – exactly what standng does Princess Flora have in House Zigo? And is there a relationship between Lady Zae and the Amberite Princess? It all seemed a little odd.

As I looked across I could see Princesses Deirdre and Llewella exchanging meaningful glances. I will remember to ask them about it later. Among the rest of our party no one else bar Margrath seemed to give the exchange much attention.

We left the table, were ushered through into a cathedral-sized chamber and told to sit in the pews and observe. Princess Flora had a place of honour and I sat on my own – aware of events but churning over thoughts.

There seemed to be other occupants seated among the dinner guests. The remnants of failed attempts? The feeling and scent of the long, and not so long, dead.

Eldritch music erupted from a music instrument above us in the stalls. A small figure was the instrumentalist and when he completed our musical introduction he was spoken to by Suhuy and revealed as Great Grandfather.

The Lady was blessed or the ceremony begun (I suppose it was such) by Suhuy and stepped forward to begin her challenge.

A dragon or snake like head appeared from the wall in front of her and as she screamed as it devoured her.

This was startling at best. Princess Flora swooned. Zae’s House will now have to wait and see.

We returned from the ceremony. I found myself thinking of Prince Brand and the Jewel of Judgement and wondering if by the simple removal of it from around his neck I might also remove his power source?

I brought myself physically closer to him. He looked at me knowingly and said that he knew that I knew the people who could place his spirit back into a body and that if I were to enable it to happen then he would give me the Jewel about his neck. I said no. That he was dead and he should return to that final state.

How galling it must be for him to see Princess Deirdre alive and apparently well. He knew that I was interested in the Jewel but not, I think, why. Besides which, is the Jewel with the King not the real Jewel? What of the Jewel around Prince Brand’s neck? Is it still what it was? Has it changed within this new existence, alongside its bearer? Is it still a mighty power in its own right?

Well at least we have confirmation of something that he wants. Yet, I also find myself remember Delwin’s warning about prejudice.

Is it time for a counterattack or, more properly, when is that time? The emotions driving me to take action are tempered with reason. William’s keenness – is just that. We need a plan.

We wait until the Opera unfolds. We wait until we can see the Warden in attendance – as he must attend by Royal Command. I will use whatever power I have to discern whether it is my Lord Warden who is present and not a Shapeshifter.

There are other actions to take before the Opera. I could ask Lord Havelock to check the Trump of one of his Commanders that he holds and then check that of the Warden and see if the response is the same of the Commander.

I could pay the price of Ariel (or ask the order to assist me in upholding justice) and scry again on my Lord Warden. I can also investigate the price of a private meeting with my Lord Warden or insist that I be appraised of what indisposes him as I am a concerned party. After all – House Karm did say another private visit was possible.

And then I can plan an action – perhaps with a cousin or 6 to assist and we will see what we will see?

My Horned Lady, I feel at odds with myself and away from your comfort that is Arden. If we are to return home than I must adapt to that which is new (the Courts and my extended family), search for the resources deeper within me and harden to the reality of our challenge. For the second time in my life I itch to hold the powers of Conjuration or Glamour from my other heritage. May my Lord Warden forgive me for it but I would happily Glamour and switch places with him.

My Horned Lady, I fervently beg of you to keep my Lord Warden safe and aid us in his safe return.