Alaric’s Diary part 8: A Funeral & a Duel

In The Doom that Came to Amber

19^th Bull 3658

This day, already destined to be interesting as the Chinese would have it, proved to be the case. It later became irritating but that has far more to do with the deteriorating relationship between myself and The Lord High Majesty Regent, or the Uncle formally referred to as Julian.

At around 5am, I went down to the kitchens but I had missed the King entirely. I collected some fresh food and coffee and took it back upstairs for our breakfast. I received Mira’s blessing for the day and went down to receive the King’s usual dull range of petitions, checked through them and left them ready for Julian’s rubber stamp and went back upstairs to change into my armour.

Paolo and I arose at dawn and took horses down to the Citadel to meet with Deirdre. She was ready but had not been kept waiting by us and we rode into the town accompanied by some 10 of her men as escort. We eventually arrived at what I imagined had been a former inn. We went inside and found the 30 or so Miran worshippers who had been sheltered by Deirdre and Corwin. They seemed pleased to see us and their matriarch greeted us. I watched Deirdre closely and, it must be said she watched me equally as closely.

I gave them an unplanned rousing speech and they responded with a religious fervour more unsettling and I asked Paolo to begin the service immediately. He did so and as he reached the climax of the service I called upon Mira to be present. She was – and the physical effect and sheer power that flowed through me as her conduit was impressive enough to have all on their knees.

Deirdre came forward towards me. I drew my sword and saluted her and she drew hers, I hoped in response. Tension was high but to my relief and consternation she and her men knelt and swore fealty to me as Mira’s prophet. My head spun repeatedly and hasn’t really stopped since. I immediately named her my Marshal in Amber, which seemed to please her. Paolo finished the service and we spent some time examining the dire art on display.

I can almost see why Mira intends the military option. I admit to retreating rapidly from this Inn and together with Paolo sought lunch at Amber’s finest eating establishment. I wanted noise, normal company and good food and to avoid difficult private conversations with the jubilant Paolo. We had barely sat down when Asmark came in with two companions and I invited them to join us; he looked equally as pleased to avoid private conversations.

His companions were Bonkers and Skitty, school friends of his who, I later discovered, were badgering him for jobs. Bonkers from his conversation struck me as being good junior officer fodder. I suggested that he see the Town Sheriff for a possible opening and made a mental note to inform Deirdre.

Skitty on the other hand is an ambitious young fellow who chose to stare down his nose at me when I suggested that he could rise in the Civil Service through good work and a bit of luck; after all, Asmark was noticed having been in the right place at the right time. Skitty chose to attempt to put me in my place as I was only the Receiver of Petitions and therefore of little value in his career schemes. He seemed very well informed on the family’s business and the bureaucracy that keeps Amber going.

Paolo returned to his new flock in great spirits and I returned to the Castle with Asmark. I dropped in to see Bill Roth to ask his confidential advice on the nature of my contract with Mira. He advised me that it was a Mystic Contract and that my best source of information would come from either Fiona or Bleys. That would be the Fiona who is either too busy to speak with me or is completely avoiding me and the Bleys who is the left hand of God, The Lord High Majesty Regent (or the Uncle formally referred to as Julian), and the Bleys who may or may not know what I’ve been up to of late. Hmmm.

Anyway, there are three basic ways out of a mystic contract and I cannot see either Mira or myself being agreeable to them. As to Auntie Deirdre’s passion for Mira well, never in my life have I felt quite so much like a sacrificial lamb. It is not a good feeling and I have no disposition to consume rosemary at present.

On the subject of the left hand of God, The Lord High Majesty Regent (or the Uncle formally referred to as Julian), I was summoned to his presence later in the day. He was dealing with my animosity towards Bathsheba and in the process managed to further alienate me even further. I was asked to explain my part in the release of the Cordoban Ambassador and I did. Mostly honestly but lacking in the finesse of detail I would normally give.

Amber was embarrassed on two accounts: firstly that the Ambassador had been imprisoned and secondly that one of its Lords had acted against the express commands of the then Warden of the Golden Circle. I judge that I got off that one lightly. She lied on several counts but I assume that Julian was equally aware of that fact. The upshot was that I am not to interrupt a Princess even when she is lying to the Regent; that I am to work with said Princess, specifically to maintain a watch over the Cordoban Ambassador whilst he is in Amber.

We had a long conversation about the Cordoban Ambassador to whom it must be said I am generally well disposed. But Julian and I differed on his motives for summoning a Manticore. Julian and granted, he is of Cordoba, said that a Manticore would usually be summoned by someone versed in foul magics whereas I had inferred that Khitan had acted in haste and had summoned something revolting to fight something revolting. I do not know where the truth lies but Julian, as I have said, knows Cordoba and knows its magics.

Julian asked about the woman Isabelle who had travelled with Khitan to Lyon Abbey. Bathsheba answered the question ineffectually as at least I’ve met the woman and could tell a little of the story by which she arrived in Begma if not Amber. But I’m not a Princess and if Julian chooses to take his intelligence from people who do not know what they are talking about then that is entirely his business.

So in principle I am a bad person who has failed in his duties as the receiver of Petitions and has too many other faults in his personality and conduct to be repeated. But you can’t paint, Uncle Julian (mustn’t call him that), and if you showed just a modicum of respect to me for my abilities as an artist than I would respect you a great deal more and would carry out the tedious activities that keep me from real work. He even threatened to speak to my Mother about my attitude. Grow up Julian; I love her and respect her but I’m not a twelve year old and she knows that.

Interestingly, Julian chose to bad-mouth Deirdre during the same meeting. There have been a lot of complaints about her conduct as Sheriff but as late he has no member of the blood to replace her with. I must check the petitions and maybe warn her of their contents.

The upshot of this meeting was that I must behave myself and be a hard working little bureaucrat and that I must respect and behave appropriately towards Bathsheba. Very well then I will try.

Given that my life was going so badly I decided that I might as well raise the subject of Begma, et al. Julian took on board my concerns about the nature of the forces summoned at Lyon Abbey and asked my opinion as to whom to send to investigate. I said me and then admitted that as I do not have Sorcery I was not the best person to send. I suggested Aylwin and Julian agreed. Julian then informed me that since I wasn’t doing anything of use (I paraphrase) I would be sent to attend and observe Moiré’s official funeral in Rebma to take place that night. Vialle was attending in a personal capacity.

I left and sought out Auntie Flora to inform her that I would be unable to take her dancing as I had promised. Fortunately she had the divine inspiration that I should take her as my escort; clever woman! That would also enable me to avoid the greater minefields of Rebma’s social customs of which I lack familiarity. She said wear white for the funeral and preferably a white surcoat over my new armour.

I sat down to do some divinations again concerning myself with the causation of Random’s illness and the nature of Corwin’s captivity. The same cards reveal themselves to me: a shallow woman (Flora reversed) was responsible for Random’s illness, I still suspect Paulette; and Corwin is held in Amber reversed – Rebma, I wondered?

I spent the early part of the afternoon meeting the Clerk of Petitions, Simon Appleby, and finding out how the petition system works and the general make-up and mood of petitioners. Julian was quite correct there have been an overwhelming number of complaints about Deirdre, 370 to be exact.

Appleby seemed a little surprised that I was taking an interest in the petitions work so it must have been obvious that Julian had chewed my ear off over my inactivity. I took a careful look at the petitions put aside for my attention and sampled some ten of the others to gauge whether I needed to be particularly aware of their contents. Some three hours later and I swear that my brain had begun to curdle with boredom. I began to feel that I had a basic grasp of the gripes and grizzles of the people of the City of Amber.

I met Aylwin on my way back to my rooms. So far I have not discussed Mira’s desires with him but, neither has he discussed them with me and he is closely tied to Julian at present. He is keen to be about the embassy to Faerie and I have offered him my Trump of Emeraldheart to expedite their travel. I am almost inclined to tag along with them if only to experience Faerie but I have so much to do and so little time to achieve it. Still I must bring up the subject of Mira with Aylwin.

I went back upstairs to steal a few hours of painting. I resumed work on my painting of my old 18th century home in Wiltshire building up the basic structure of the foreground before the more delicate work on the house structure could be begun. This was the beginning of what I hoped would be my first Trump Shadow.

Work was interrupted by a Trump call from Khitan whom it seemed was also attending Moiré’s funeral. He asked me to bring him through into Amber but I needed to stall him in order to get prior approval from Julian. Julian gave it but reminded me that I had to keep an eye on him and then informed me that I had no right to accept Aunt Flora as my escort without having first cleared it with him. I nearly snapped my brush in my irritation with him.

I brought Khitan through into my rooms and having greeted him and offered him refreshment he then repaid my hospitality by expressing his concern over my ambivalence towards the Unicorn Church and then attempting to convert me. I was annoyed and amused at the same time and swiftly bought the conversation to a close. He went off in the company of my cousins to discuss business elsewhere and I returned to my work for another stolen hour. I am seriously thinking on compiling a timetable to fit in Church, dullness and my work.

I located a white surcoat and dressed carefully, fully aware that if I were to be seen in Flora’s company then only the best would do. I arrived outside her rooms at the appointed time and remarked on her stunning appearance in a diaphanous white gown. She seemed happy at my costume and having located Khitan we trumped through to Rebma. Flora’s dress became even more interesting when wet but the Rebmans actively snubbed her and me.

Martin is furious that his father would not attend Moiré’s funeral but fortunately he stayed with the other special guests within the Royal enclosure for some private grieving. Nathan was within the enclosure accompanying Vialle.

Khitan was feted by the Rebmans as having been the victim of Amberite politics. I watched and, having been rebuffed when attempting to engage a Rebman Lady in conversation, maintained my silence. We accompanied Moiré’s casket to its final bestowal to the depths of the ocean and to the sleeping Gods and a place called R’lyeh. I shall find out more doubtless. We feasted and Martin excused himself, encouraging the party to continue.

To my great delight Uncle Gerard was there with Aunt Llewella, looking well enough but of course legless. He said that he would be staying in Rebma for some time. I repeated the fact that we miss him. Well I miss him at least. I asked if there was anything that he needed here and after some thought he replied ‘rum’. Uncle I shall arrange the shipment in the morning!

The great advantage of dancing in Rebma is that one can do so with a healing broken leg (or even no legs at all). The degree of Amberite snubbing was such that Aunt Flora stood the risk of becoming a wallflower so I arranged for Uncle Gerard, Nathan and Khitan to book dances with her and undertook the rest of them myself. That nephew duty discharged, I returned us all to Amber and saw Flora up to her room where I bade her good night with a chaste kiss to her cheek and walked soggily back to my rooms to get some well deserved sleep.