Monkey Business

The personal diary of Darig, son of Lorraine, pt 13

The morning starts with the arrival of the post, becoming a surprisingly steady routine for Chaos. Today there is an invitation to a ‘Passage of Arms between Julian and Constance’ and a ‘meeting of the Proto-Royal Alliance at Vanguard’. I note the actual home of House Sawall rather than Mandor’s den at Woodstock. Attached to the latter note is a request from Mandor to arrive in good time.

At the morning training session I chat with Kalavryta and Nico about the problem of Elektra’s attitude. I can see that she does not want to be separated from her brother, despite the rivalry, and that she envies him what seems the more exciting deal. As to what compensation I can give I will take her to the duel, but explain carefully to Rhodri why she gets this treat. I am made well aware that Elektra is under my protection on this trip.

More post, a message to attend upon Isis at House Ptah – lots of visits to make. My desire to meet the Ixtamurini is politically difficult; meetings between the houses and such lowlife is banned by royal fiat and, though the king is gone, must still make it clear that any such trip is nothing to do with House Petrus.

Our first stop is the Garden of Delight, and the Torso Pavilion where the duel is to be held. Melvyn is there, his eyes now like pools of pitch, we chat briefly. Elektra is horrified and fascinated by the eyes and visibly unsettled by the fact that they were an accident whilst he was ‘assaying his heritage’.

On the arena the seconds are meeting, they agree on a pass of arms till first blood, no armour or magic. Julian is using Caine’s blade, a beautifully chased scimitar, Constance uses her own. They salute and fence, Constance is an athletic and agile fighter, Julian formal and defensive. The battle dancer style is a delight to watch but Julian’s style is chosen to wear it down, building up the offence as Constance tires. The moment comes when, with a twist of his blade, Julian disarms Constance and cuts her face.

They bow and go through the formal end of the duel. I have Elektra explain what lesson can be drawn by comparing the styles of fighting. She knows her stuff, I am proud of her.

When we descend, Bleys introduces to my Aunt Fiona, she has just finished patching up Constance and, before she shakes my hand, in a disturbingly casual manner washes hers in the Void. She greets me and I introduce Elektra, she makes comment about the number of children.

On the other side of the crowd William suddenly punches Melvyn in the gut, hard. The crowd freeze for a moment but then their conversation continues and the crowd talk again. I chat with Cymnea, introducing Elektra again; we discuss the Hall of Memories, whilst it is often revealing it is not a place to go to often, sooner or later you will not ‘get away with it’. She says that Benedict is still being unreasonable but that she has a plan.

As the crowd breaks up, Coprolith leads us to Yaru, the Ways of Ptah, a temple made of the huge stone pylons. I am greeted politely, almost reverentially when I say I have been invited by Isis. She dwells in a space that is redolent with incense. She greets me warmly but seems unwelcoming to Elektra, it seems strange of a mother goddess, one would expect her to like children.

Apparently when I slew Gus I revenged his mother, Psychmorpha, her haunt is now free. Isis also wants a favour of me, when we leave she wants to come too – if people keep joining we are going to empty the Courts. Since she is a Goddess of mothers I ask to learn my own mother’s name, she leads me to an altar, tells Elektra to stay where she is.

The ritual reveals that my mother’s name is Lorraine, her face that of the picture I saw in the Hall of Memories. To me Lorraine is just a Shadow near to Avalon. I promise Isis that I will ask the elders about her accompanying us, thank her and we carry on to Vanguard.

We are met by Mandor: all the King Slayer titles are permanent and will be kept in perpetuity, whether I want them or not. He seems delighted to make Elektra’s acquaintance, and she seems a little charmed. He quietly asks me if I require Benedict eliminating, I refuse the offer so forcibly he takes a step back, ‘Just an offer my dear boy, I like people of principal, though rarely emulate them.’ When he is out of hearing I warn Elektra that this is how he manipulates people, a valuable ally but always to be treated with caution!

We enter the main hall where everyone is gathered for the unveiling of his candidate for King. All the Amberites are there, even Corwin, looking travel worn and restless. All of House Sawall are there except for Dara and so are the others of Mandor’s faction: Duchess Belissa of Hendrake, Queen Cymnea of Ascaris, Kronprinz Hector of Zigo, Chief Executive Rikard of Karm, Prince Sigebert of Lanfranc and Herrinvolk Sigrid of Zephyra.

I go to join conversation with the group that includes Corwin with Dirk, Deirdre, Julian and Margrath. Corwin is just explaining that he has been telling his story to Merlin and that Random has gone back to Amber. He says that he has not eaten in ages and wonders why there are no refreshments. Julian says that not all those at the Courts are very hospitable, giving a dark look to where Rikard is standing. He explains to Corwin about his imprisonment.

Cautiously I introduce myself to Corwin and he asks my parentage, I answer cautiously that I had always been lead to believe that he was my father. He asks who was my mother and comments that Dethine and ‘that Lorraine’ had always resisted his advances. The rose I wear is a copy of his made with Faerie skill but still fake.

Well here I am, no idea of my parentage other than I am indeed of Amber blood. Julian, Eric and Caine were, to my knowledge, in that area of shadow, the living ones both might have their reasons not to acknowledge me but Eric seems more likely, his appearance was much like Corwin’s. A grim memory of troops in his colours massacring infants crosses my mind, though I had thought that an attempt to end Corwin’s line, why would he destroy his own offspring? Or Lorraine, could my Amber blood come from mother? Perhaps another by-blow of Oberon or even Osric or Finndo?

I ask Julian about the requests of Dara and Isis to accompany us when we leave and he is fine with that.

I move to the next group, where Benedict is, but with a curt nod he moves away. This leaves Bleys, Caine, Constance and Cymnea. They are discussing attacks on or from Amblerash, Chanicut and possibly Torquemada.

On the balcony Merlin appears, he is presented by Gauri of Sawall. Before there is time for us to react to him the door crashes open and large robotic beings pile in, four in the first wave, two more rows behind, other creatures further back. Each robot is equipped with blade and cattle prod, Rikard is hit and falls backwards, twitching. Process Disrupt takes care of the prod. I call ‘Gae Bolg’ as both battle-cry and summons.

The first robot that has taken down Rikard is hit by a spell even as Hector of Zigo and I hack into it – one down. The next beat attack to its prod and through the throat, Belissa finishes it – two down. With Benedict, Corwin, Bleys, William and Havelock in the fight as well, the robots are down. Ben has fallen to the prod but the one that hit him is bowled clean over by a pouncing tiger! Our spell casters have formed on the balcony and stairs and are adding their fire power.

Behind comes a tight formation of eight sea creatures, and another packed around a Serpent Priest whose robes flame with some sort of protection spell. Whilst these are better tactics than I expect of Chaos, in this room are truly great warriors. Gae Bolg comes to my hand and I loft her high to take the largest triton right through the head. Their line wavers and Amber crashes through in triumph. William captures their high priest – Pandit of Amblerash, I later learn. The remainder flee.

As the healing and reorganising start I compliment Elektra on staying out of the way as instructed. Mandor comes down from the balcony and looks round at his family. The attack must have had help to enter the Way. Jurt confesses that he was responsible as he hates Merlin, but even on brief acquaintance it is clear he lacks the skill. Mandor asks us to leave him with his family. Dirk calls demons to take away the prisoners, three of the tritons and Pandit. There seems to be some special interest in Delambre.

We go through to the next room where food awaits. Corwin almost pounces on it, he has not apparently eaten in days but we all tuck in.

Mandor returns: the Archduke is ‘incommunicado’ but still the head of the house apparently. Mandor’s day gets even worse when Merlin says he will not be king. There is further discussion of those with the ‘streak of yellow’, a surprising amount around Melvyn.