The Diary of Nerine, daughter of Llewella of Rebma, Part 22

in Home from the Hill

Dinner and Desert

24th Leviathan 3658 – evening

I make the arrangements to get all of the visitors settled in suitable accommodation in the guest quarters. One of them, Constance, asks if she or another (William) can have a room next to Fiona.

Constance also asks about clothes for the dinner that is being arranged, and the servants provide appropriate attire. The guests are offered more fully covering clothing if they want it (they are Amberites, after all).

Once that duty is dealt with I go and see Mother, who is resting. She wants to know what has happened here in Rebma, and is worried about Moiré’s ageing. I tell her that the talk among some members of court is that Oberon’s passing may have triggered it, and that there are concerns about the succession.

Mother tells me of the war with Chaos, how the army was transported to the gates of Chaos by Fiona using a trump gate. Amber won the war but there was a shadow storm, caused by something King Oberon was doing, something about a Primal Pattern? I’m not sure I completely understand. But this threatened the army, which took shelter in Chaos. She talks a lot about politics, an assassination, names I don’t recognise, including House Chanicut, which apparently has some connection to House Batrachus in Rebma. Then they left Chaos and began the march home.

I ask her how long she was there, and she can’t be sure – she says time in Chaos flows very strangely – but she thinks it was days or weeks, not years, as it has been for me.

She says Random was at the battle but did not come into Chaos with them. When Corwin arrived he told them that Random trumped through to Gerard in Amber, and was now king.

I share what has happened here since she left. Here in Rebma we knew that Gerard was regent but had not received the news that Random was king. Around 5 months ago the seaquake caused significant damage, although thankfully not many were killed here in the city. The navy, up on the surface, fared less well – almost the entire fleet was lost except the flagship.

But afterwards, when someone went up the stairway to investigate, they found a stretch of silver sand, and black cliffs, not Amber. Even the shoreline is wrong, running east to west, not north to south. It is as though Rebma has moved. Of course, there are those who think that Rebma being sundered from Amber is a good thing. I doubt Mother agrees.

Then she tells me a little of our guests – most are relations! Constance is the daughter of Julian, and Sorashi is daughter of Deirdre. One of the others is Sorashi’s adopted daughter, from House Minobi of Chaos. Mother expresses some uncertainties about all three of them.

Margrath, the one who stood out to me on first meeting, is the son of Sand. Apparently he is a competent sorcerer and seems quite spiritual. The other male is William, long lost son of Finndo – a name I have never heard before. He was married to Ophelia of Rebma, daughter of the first queen, Danu. When Oberon divorced Cymnea, William left to escort her back to Chaos and was never seen again. Mother was surprised to find him there. She thinks he has walked the Pattern, but describes him as a thug. He is married to Rachael of House Seraph, the last member of the party.

The servants come to call us to dinner. I see that most of the guests are wearing Rebman style clothing, apart from Rachael, who has chosen a dress with weighted hem.

We start with drinks. Many of the Rebman court are here to meet our visitors. I see Sorashi talking to Oswald, Constance speaking with Cirein Croin, and William in conversation with Admiral Vaughn.

Silkie and Dayle immediately want to know who everyone is so I tell them what I know.

They think it is strange that Amberites have arrived, given we have lost contact with Amber, but I explain that these Amberites weren’t in Amber, they were in Chaos. I also share the news about Random.

The bell rings, and we are seated for dinner. I am between Constance and Tajal, Sorashi’s adopted daughter.

Tajal talks to Silkie, sharing experiences of Rebma and Chaos. On my other side, Constance has a quiet conversation with Mother, speaking too low for me to hear, which is irritating.

Constance then turns and asks me about the kelp forests – I tell her what I know. She tells me about the forest of Arden. I have seen its edges but she tells me much more, touching on its dangers. We move on to discuss walking the Pattern, mirror sorcery, and a desire to visit Amber.

She asks me if the Queen will grant Fiona’s request. I don’t want to say too much; Moiré is supposed to be politically neutral but clearly has a soft spot for some Amberites (though not others). However I expect she will want to know what has happened to Amber. I tell Constance that I am certain she will give it due consideration and do whatever she can to help within reason, but of course I don’t know the Queen’s thoughts.

Constance promises to show me around Arden, if we get there. I would like to see it, and to see Amber.

Further up the table I see Sorashi talking to Scylla, and Jasconius looking sulky; I suspect he has been told to be here.

Queen Moiré is watching all of us, up and down the table. She does speak quietly with Mother and Fiona, and also with Scylla. I know Scylla will not be happy about the news that Random is king.

Scylla calls for our attention, and the Queen says we can allow Fiona access to the Pattern, but not for the Amber army to be brought to Rebma. Fiona retires soon afterwards to prepare for what she must do tomorrow.

I spend some more time speaking to Sorashi and Tajal – they are enjoying their time in Rebma. I ask about where Sorashi comes from, hoping to encourage friendship between us.

When I get some time with Mother I ask if she is going to Amber with Fiona, but she says no, she thinks she’s needed here (looking at Moiré). I tell her I would like to go, and she asks if I need her permission. She instructs me to stay in contact, using our mirrors, or she could give me her trump, and suggests I would need a maid or companion, possibly Dayle. She tells me to take some days to think about it and get to know these new relatives, but I already know what my decision will be.