Dinner and Desert

Some notes from the campaign trail from Kaiser Lucanus of Diptera who is now known as DeLambre, companion of Prince William of Amber.

A diary. How quaint.

William seems to scribblescribble in his little book constantly, which I have never quite understood. But as he and the Lady Rachael are not in camp, it strikes me that he may wish to know what has occurred here, so scribblescribble will I.

I have been his companion for more years than can be expressed easily, and his friend for many of them. But his family I do not know, so when he went to Rebma, and I was left with the Amber army, I will admit to some discomfort. Not that I let that be seen, you understand. A Rimlord of Chaos does not show weakness willingly.

For similar reasons, when I was summoned by Lord Darig and told that we would be forming a strikeforce to attempt a different route to Amber, I did not show my relief, simply stating that it would be my pleasure to serve. We were to take a route, using magic, to the Golden Circle, and thence to Amber.

If it still exists.

So, we are gathered together in a tent and Hector summons power through sorcery to create a way through – I watch it curiously as an evil female face forms, then a split in the air in front of us. Darig is through first, and I follow, sword in hand and several spells to mind.

We appear on a blasted battlefield where both sides lost – none of the corpses are buried. There is a smell of brimstone in the air. Darig looks excitedly at the weapons the fallen are bearing. I watch to see that they do not rise. While I can see no sign of them being animated by magics, it is possible in this world so I keep my watch, as I would for William.

Hector rests, then continues a second enchantment, taking us through to somewhere called the Sea of Sands. Again, we step through with Darig in the lead.

Instantly we are aware of a threat – flying insects above us coming in to dive, and lizard like warriors in slate armour coming over the hill. We form up protecting Hector. Two of the chaots take to the skies and I move to flank with Darig and Ibemo – Hector at our centre. Timotei of the Rangers raises their bow. I spit a power word and raise my sword. Around me glamours are cast, spears are thrown and foes fall. So far, so like every other battlefield.

I adjust my stance as Darig moves differently to William (and swears less in combat) but a thousand years of daily combat cause good instincts and I throw a stab of pain into one’s brain and then follow it up with a sword. It dies.

I look around and see Ibemo with a wound in its side. I mutter a word and change into my Diptera form and then a second to thicken my carapace as I swing the sword into the one threatening Ibemo. It dies. He holds the wound in his side and I give such words of comfort as I can.

Hector gathers power again and we regroup. He is more confident and the process is quicker again – the power he is calling comes quicker and quicker.

We look through the gap and I step through, deliberately stepping through before Darig this time, for no reason other than to make a point.

We appear in a room, high in a tower where the city before us is a barrage of purple and blue lights. Hector starts to order food and Timotei involuntarily changes form into a faerie that Darig addresses as Lord Torc. We tend to Ibemo and then eat and drink and relax to an extent.