The Battle of the Abyssal Plain

A personal report to Julian from his daughter, Constance

Whereupon the family become more than images on cardboard; the truth is confirmed in the form of 4 legs and a horn and many an ADC is more than they seem; Constance makes herself the unwelcome centre of attention and the guest of colourful hosts in a place where a demon walks and we follow; ADCs become cousins and we all become guests sheltering from a storm outside the Chaotic Courts; Our part in these affairs is debated…

My Lord Warden,

We parted quickly. You may be literally inches from me or a day’s march away but whichever it feels wrong not to be able to bid you good night as is our custom. I have sent you a note but maybe writing would clear my head and keep you somehow closer. My cousin, Sorashi lost her mother today. You have lost a sister and a brother. I’ve said prayers for my cousin’s loss but at the back of my mind is relief that you had not been taken. I now realise how close I was to death myself. Pattern is such a way of life to us and my world is currently upside down - literally as well as figuratively. There are constants. You are one and our horned lady more so than ever. I have seen the Unicorn. She looked so deeply into me and I love her more than ever. I thank you for my faith and upbringing Warden.

I felt more anxious during skirmishes over the last few months than I did during the battle. I am pleased that the Rangers fulfilled their potential and that the Marshal’s army performed so very well – well mostly. Poor Princess Flora, I hope she and her people are safe. The cavalry looked very capable indeed and I now have a much better understanding of the line up of a full scale battle. The far wing of cavalry looked superb in the execution of their duties.

Princess Deirdre’s death was beyond my sight. I saw the knight in green shoot two arrows directly into your group and I heard a woman’s scream. I learned that the two were related. I missed much of these actions and was distracted by the needs of the Rangers, the funeral procession and the approaching Pattern Storm. I marvelled at the parade of beings and creatures most of which were beyond my limited understanding. Creatures of legend, creatures of light, creatures resembling those we’d recently fought, men all grouped in matching costume carrying weapons, instruments, banners appropriate to their race, place and position. The hunchbacked man who drove the carriage carrying your father’s body. Most importantly on this day I saw the unicorn run towards the Storm completely fearlessly. Amber stands under her protection my Lord and I will not believe otherwise. A portentous day, my Lord.

I waited in that great cavern with the other ADC’s and realised that we seemed to be sealed in there with the denizen’s of Chaos surrounding us and a massive Pattern Storm raging outside. I sought Pattern to give me a better sense of reality. I realise now that up is no longer necessarily up any more and here and there meaningless terms. I grieve that I caused such a scene – brought all of us into danger and cause you so much worry on my behalf when you really need all of your wits to concentrate on other matters.

You met Lady Sorashi and a man called Lord William. She is the daughter of Princess Deirdre, poor woman for her loss, and he is Prince Finndo’s son, who’d accompanied Queen Cymnea back to Chaos. He was sent by his Grandmother to warn me not to try to use Pattern again. William seems just a bit gauche but not unkind and quite straightforward when he spoke of my folly, and it seems that he let loose with Pattern not long after his arrival at the Courts causing the destruction of House Diptera! He was cast into the Abyss but rescued by his grandmother’s demons. He says he has been gone from Amber for some 150 years yet can remember Prince Eric only as a lad, knew of none born later than Eric and spoke in recent terms of his father, Uncle Osric and his Aunt Rhiannon, the first Warden of Arden. He seems a little older than the rest of us but by rather less than thousands of years. So – he has experienced time at a different pace than others of us (as one does in Faerie), or is time completely meaningless in this place or perhaps the time he spent falling down the Abyss was greatly longer than he thought? How can time be measured in a place where there is no time?

Sorashi and William stayed with me for a short while after you left. We have all been offered hospitality by the various Houses of Chaos. Your generation are the guests of the Rimlord Houses and we are with the connected cadet houses. So as you are with House Karm, I am with House Spectral. House Karm does not like Amber – and nor does its cadet House! My guide demon, who answers to the name Mudboy, took me firmly by the arm and through a variety of interesting byways, each more unlikely than the one before. I confess I cannot find my way through these halls by natural means – and I lack the particular skills to use unnatural means. Mudboy knew his business and we came to a halt outside an aperture of deliberate swirling colours. Dizzying to both eye and mind. Mad colours of some spectrum that has little business to exist as it swirled in front of us. Before I had a chance to adjust I was taken through the ‘door’ into House Spectral.

I nearly lost my last meal, my balance, consciousness and remaining dignity and was glad of a demon’s claw to support my arm. There was nothing to give context to my mind and my senses. I was within and surrounded by a sea of green. There was a voice, and a being calling itself Celadon made anxious sounds about my well being. Language failed me – how could I explain what was amiss when the concept of surface simply does not exist in this place. No physics and nothing for my mind to clutch onto and an increasing feeling of discomfort.

Celadon approached me and now I could see that it was an asexual creature composed entirely of one colour and it addressed me with measured concern regarding my inability to cope with their environment. He wanted access to my mind to make my surroundings more comfortable – I refused. Three times I refused and then he had Mudboy hold me more firmly and simply removed what he wanted from my mind. For my own wellbeing, but without my consent. Kindness with brutality. I am torn between fear and fury.

House Spectral is entirely divorced from that which is natural and familiar to me. Sterile and cruel and as far away from Arden as you could get. William tells me that they continue to pursue a vendetta against Amber over the matter of a judicial dual involving those of their House that travelled with House Barimen to Amber and Prince Osric. They hate us. Oh Warden, take great care. I was taken to where Celadon decided I would be more comfortable. He had taken a picture of Arden from my mind, (complete with a mock Fey Portal) and formed it from the nature of stuff that may hold this entire place together. It looked like a painting of Arden lit through the canopy of her leaves above – it had neither the smell of the leaf mould about it, nor of the trees themselves. Nor had it sounds – of the branches high in the canopies, of the branches as they creak and talk amongst themselves and of the birds and beasts that live within the forest. You could not taste Arden – and I’m sure you know what I mean.

Celadon instructed me to call for Mudboy if I desired anything and they both seemed to leave me alone in this reflection of a place. It was created in some way – different from a Glamour, for a decent Glamour would have reflected the sounds, smell and taste of Arden - the feeling of stones under your feet and the sound of twigs breaking under the feet of the clumsy. Maybe it was Magic or conjuration or maybe they could do better if Celadon went deeper into my mind? As it was, I checked the Trilithon for activity, walked for a little distance and found a stream where I expected to find it – searched and found soapwort and bathed the sweat, blood and fear from my body. I found a towel near by and after I dried I called Mudboy for a change of clothing. A clean version of my filthy costume was produced and after I dressed I was taken to the refectory to join the House for a meal.

The refectory was white rather than green. But this time there was a table with a number of creatures sat, waiting on me. They were all composed of a single colour Celadon introduced me to Imperial Indigo (whom I gathered was the head of this House). One thing that struck me immediately (beyond the colour issue) was how they all seemed to be mostly human and – strangely a little like me. One of them wore a costume that exposed a breast and I could almost swear that I was looking at one of my own breasts in reflection. So a compliment of sorts to the guest where the household imitates the guest – and just how long had they been watching me whilst I bathed and changed?

I was placed between Imperial Indigo and Celadon. Food was placed in front of each of us and they stared at me until I realised I was required to start first. Numerous of my hosts watched me pick up my eating tools and followed as if not entirely sure of what to do with them. It occurred to me later that they probably didn’t have the need to use eating irons – and later still, the need to eat or drink. I was engaged in small talk during the meal. Indigo asked me about you and I informed him that you are a Prince of high principles and honour. Indigo translated that to mean that you weren’t colour prejudiced – I assume in reference to your armour. There was slight shock that I wore more than one colour and I began to feel like a specimen under close examination.

I’m too well trained to dwell on the food – but frankly it was evidence that they don’t know about what we eat, let alone how we eat. It looked like and had the texture of mashed cardboard and tasted frankly worse. They asked about why I needed to eat – and then I began to realise that they didn’t eat in the same way we do, or, perhaps didn’t need to eat at all. I started to feel queasy all over again. Like a bad Glamour the food didn’t taste of anything because it lacked sufficient substance to be anything. I can look after myself Warden and warn you off the food in the spirit of information rather than a self-pitying whine J

More comments were made about my colours. I pointed out that I was composed of even more colours. My hair is black, my nails pink, my skin creamy and my blood runs red. There was a misunderstanding and as I led them to believe that the colour of my blood was also green, violet and copper. This was an invitation to Indigo to investigate my claim at first hand. I do indeed have red blood. They were amused at my apparent but I assure you, inadvertent lie! Indigo invited me to stab it in return. I declined, not wishing to assault it, but this refusal was also taken as an affront to the authority of the House. So I ran a knife through it. Literally through it – Indigo was as solid as a Flimsy and the entire scene collapsed in a riot of swirling colours. I came to in ‘Not’ Arden. Here I loosened my clothing and settled down to sleep in a bough –and lay there as I realised that my mind was groping for all the stones, twigs, insects and general detritus that are normally discovered in a bough. So I slept as well as I could, knowing that I was sleeping without the benefit of anything of real substance.

Some ‘time’ later I had a message from Mudboy that I had visitors. It was Sorashi and William. We met, both seemed well, (particularly Sorashi in her circumstances) and discussed our respective experiences and decided collectively that we should locate and meet with all of our cousins – once we worked out their names and/or tracked them via the Cadet House that was offering hospitality to their parent. I asked if either of my cousins had food about them – I explained and William was keen for me to move somewhere else. I declined.

We left House Spectral with our demons (William’s is a very useful one to have about) and went in search of Caine’s son (the only cousin William’s demon knew of). After traipsing through a variety of entrances, deserts, seas and corridors we came to a cave with a large fanged snake. It demanded the name of Caine’s son. Of course we didn’t know it and it sent us packing – William assuring us that he could have had it. I hope not in the same way that he had House Diptera! We decided to return to House Ascaris so William could speak with his Grandmother.

We were welcomed into a very busy room. Prince Caine was involved in discussions that were still in their opening stages. He didn’t look displeased to see us but may have seen us as a way into deeper negotiations. I was looked at as the girl who’d started to wield Pattern – and they expressed a collective hope that I wouldn’t do so again. Caine gave me a knowing look (he must have noticed me after King Eric’s death at Kolvir) and addressed me as ‘Julian’s secret in the Woods’ – which I took some delight in and I confirmed that I was your Ward with my brightest smile. He assured me that you and he generally see eye to eye. He was introduced to my cousins and made suitable remarks to both of them – he had noted Sorashi at the end of the recent battle and seemed very interested in William. Cymnea made delighted noises (a bit over done I suspect) at seeing William again and that he’d brought some friends with him. I tried to reflect her ‘kindness’ and addressed her as she prefers and fawned as best I could. We were introduced to the others at the table. Ascaris is powerful indeed! We were fed! Yes. Food, Warden. It was a House speciality and looked like pasta – except that it moved about a bit!

Caine told us that his son’s name was Dirk and mentioned, very much in passing, that his son had been a little disappointed with the day. During the meal I’d suggested that if Swayvil had himself been promoted from a Cadet House, could we not be supporting the interests of the remnants of House Barimen? Cymnea laughed politely and suggested that if we sought them we might find Barimen a disappointment - the remains of a once great House. But she could arrange for we cousins, as a group to visit Barimen. We were ushered out when the adults wanted to get back to their adult discussions.

So, we set off again with our demon guides. Sorashi with William’s, and set out to find our cousins. We started with Bley’s son. He was in House Malastar – which is (I am assured) a space station. His name is Lord Havelock, an artist and explorer (there is much to be explored here) and presented a fair reflection of his father’s image. We sought the Red Lancer next. Well, rather we blundered about seeking for a military centred cadet house. With help from William we narrowed down the choices to House Petrus and after enquiring after him waited for a while before he was brought to us.

This was Benedict’s outstanding military commander who had led the other wing on the battlefield with such spectacular success. He is Lord Darig. He is Corwin’s son but looks very little like his father’s Trump image but then possibly this is because he has very blonde hair whereas his father is very dark. More perplexing was the fact that William thought he knew him from somewhere. Given the general problems of time and place he is proving hard to place. William could only place it to Amber (but how if it’s been several thousand years since Cymnea returned to the Courts?); en route to the Courts; within the Courts. Now, Darig says he does not recognise William, was not a contemporary of his in any way in Amber and has never been to the Courts before this time. So, curiouser and curiouser. William also spoke lovingly of Princess Rhiannon –the first Warden of Arden.

We then travelled to House Sumi wherein we found our cousin Lord Margrath, Aunt Sand’s son who is indeed a sorcerer, and is a quite unknown quantity. He wears robes and has a staff – he seems as though he is missing something – I wonder what? We begin our discussions, without Dirk (which may be unwise). Why are we here – our objective must be to assist our elders in achieving our release, in the negotiation of terms of the Courts submission to Amber and finally, the protection of Amber’s future interests. The political state of the Courts is uncertain – perhaps more fluid than uncertain. Or more fluid than general. Or just fluid to us because we don’t know what is normal - whatever ‘normal’ means? Houses have the right to vote for a new leader of the Courts for Swayvil is old and quietly haemorrhaging the support of some of the Rimlord Houses. The Rimlords have the support of Cadet Houses and offer them tidbits and their patronage to further their own aims. There are, to William’s knowledge some 72 Houses in the Courts. Some of our parents have instructed their children to negotiate with their blessing but to bargain with no more than they are prepared to loose. We discuss strategies as discreetly as we may.

We all agree to reconvene after a rest. Sorashi, William and I (with my pockets filled with food, a day’s rations courtesy of Darig, and a flask of pilfered wine) are guided somewhere that gets us near our guest House. I expressed a certain desire to say goodnight to you in person and both Sorashi and William’s demon are very dubious on visiting House Karm to achieve this. William is very keen however but again, I subsume my own selfish desire to see that you are safe and decline William’s offer to take to see you. They left me at the Spectral whirl of ghastliness and Mudboy guided me to my painting.

After musing over the events of the day and in particular the elation of seeing our Goddess. I thank Her for bestowing Her Grace upon us and lie still praying for your safety, strength and insight and Amber’s continued deliverance from this current danger.

Good night my Lord Warden. May Our Lady guard you well.