Asmark’s Diary part 13: Julian Drops The Knife

In The Doom that Came to Amber

1st Snake 3658

Before leaving [Garland House] for breakfast at the castle, I made sure that Algar was presentable and ready to be trumped through.

Breakfast was very sparsely attended, only the Regent and myself. Julian seemed very uncommunicative and our conversion was limited strictly to business matters.

Firstly I broached the case of Algar Waterworth. When I told the Regent that Algar was under my protection, he replied initially that this was a problem as “a senior member of the family” claimed him as a prisoner. I was a little concerned that he failed to volunteer who this person was, but he did answer the direct question that it was Bathsheba.

I was relieved. Bathsheba is somewhat daunting at times, but she is someone I can do business with. The Regent expects Bathsheba and I to deal with the matter.

As the only family member present I was delegated to gather as many of the blood as possible for a meeting, probably late morning. The precise time was not specified.

The Regent specified that I should make arrangements about Algar with Bathsheba after Julian had seen Bathsheba himself but before the meeting. I found this precise specification of the order of events a little odd. Perhaps the Regent has greatly over-estimated the significance of Algar?

The only other matter was to report back on the funeral and the meeting with King Rinaldo. I had already mentioned all the salient points to Bathsheba while we were with the fleet and she had talked with the Regent on her return so I was not sure if any of this was going to be news. I gave an outline of events and the Regent’s impatience indicated that most of it was not news.

There was one exception only; when I told him that Rinaldo had confessed to killing Caine he dropped his knife!

I explained that Rinaldo nevertheless wished to be reconciled with the family and was willing to do business with Amber. I expressed the view that in the short term it would be valuable to engage him in negotiations even if we considered that a long-term accommodation was impossible.

Julian said Amber should negotiate in good faith and I understood that I was authorised to negotiate. He also said that no-one could be seen to get away with murdering a Prince of the Blood. At the time I assumed that this meant that Amber would negotiate with Kashfa but this would be no obstacle to the members of House of Amber taking personal revenge on the King of Kashfa.

However I did not adequately consider the significance of Julian’s mention of ‘being seen to’. It is possible the Regent would consider forgoing revenge if the matter remains secret. If so the Regent does not seem to be making any effort to keep the matter secret. It is already known to Aylwin, Bathsheba, Julian and myself. I do not think that I have mentioned it to anyone else. Nevertheless I do not know who else the other three may have told; it is entirely possible that it is already common knowledge within the family.

It seems that, for all practical purposes, I should assume that the state relations and private vendettas are being considered separately. This is probably the best outcome at this stage. I have a free hand for honest diplomacy. I would be uneasy about delivering a Crown sanctioned pardon promising forgiveness on behalf of the whole family as I rather doubt that the Crown is actually in a position to deliver on such a promise.

Julian clearly wished to discuss nothing else so the meal was otherwise silent and hence remarkably quick. As soon as I had eaten I retired to my room to starting trumping people.

Julian had already contacted Bleys and I assumed that this covered Fiona as well. I started with Benedict, and found that he was dreaming of a battle. I found I was physically unable to move to break the contact and I had to use all of my mental strength to disengage. I did notice that in his dreams Benedict has two arms.

After this ordeal I rested a little and then contacted Florimel. She replied promptly, seemed reluctant to attend but nevertheless agreed to.

Next I tried Llewella; she was initially masked by a mass of bubbles. However once I identified myself to her she allowed a normal contact. She agreed that she and Gerard would come and asked me to make arrangements for Gerard’s current incapacity. Neither of us mentioned Martin so I assumed he would not be coming. It had never seemed likely.

Next I tried Anya and the trump was completely dead; it seems Anya is in one of Amethyst’s trump proof areas.

Next I tried Nathan. I knew of old that Nathan is always reluctant to take trump calls so I was not surprised when it took a struggle to establish contact. When he finally allowed contact he was standing on a sunny beach with weapons drawn. When I delivered the message he decided that it would be simplest to return to Amber immediately and I brought him through.

Next was Aylwin. This again was likely to be a struggle so I limited myself to asking him to get someone to trump me back. There was a considerable delay when I started to worry that he might not have anyone with him but eventually Khitan contacted me.

Khitan relayed the news to both Aylwin and Morwaith, neither of whom will be attending. Aylwin does not think he will be able to make the journey due to his current problems with trump. Morwaith it seems does not wish to.

Finally I attempted to trump the King, and unsurprisingly failed.

Having done all of this I went to the OoGC to attend to routine business. I trumped Bathsheba to see if she was available to discuss Algar and found that she was dreaming about the recent fighting in Amber. Fortunately Bathsheba is rather easier to disengage from than Benedict. I sent a note to her asking if she would see me as soon as she awoke.

During the morning, a note from the Regent informed me that the meeting was postponed until two in the afternoon so it was not until after lunch that I again tried to contact Benedict. Again he was dreaming but this time I was ready for it and managed break off without much trouble. However I gained the impression that all such contacts run the risk that Benedict may notice and actively try to engage. It is unlikely that I could break off if it came to a mental duel.

As it was now close to the meeting and the Regent had instructed me to see Bathsheba before, so I went round to her room. I found the page with my message was still waiting outside. Accordingly I roused Bathsheba and explained the situation with Algar. She seemed to think I was expecting special treatment for my friend, whereas I had deliberately left him in harm’s way to provide me with information.

Bathsheba had explicitly asked me to get all the information that I could. I pointed out to Bathsheba that if I could not offer my friends my protection then I could not put them in harm’s way. Specifically I couldn’t ask one of them to sit in Wolfmorland to allow me to trump there. Without someone to leave there, any other urgent business could require me to leave, necessitating Bathsheba shadow-walking there again. She decided that it was too close to the Regent’s meeting to start talking to Algar and left it for later.

The meeting was attended by Julian, Bleys, Flora, Gerard, Llewella, Bathsheba, Nathan, myself and, arriving slightly late, Peter. Julian, wearing the Jewel of Judgment, greeted Bleys very warmly and Gerard even more so.

Julian remarked on Nathan’s burnt appearance. Nathan claimed this was due to a visit to the abyss! He gave more details later.

Julian announced that there has been insurrection in Amber. Cousin Alaric is guilty of high treason, is anathema and to be killed on sight. Bleys looked displeased but made no comment. He has already made his opinion of this clear to many of us. Nathan reported having recently seen him but was unaware of the anathema at the time.

Julian further announced that Princess Deirdre had also been a rebel but that she had already been dealt with by Bathsheba.

The Regent asked me, as herald for the meeting, about the non-attendees. I reported being unable to contact the King, Benedict or Anya; that Aylwin was unable to travel and that Morwaith was otherwise engaged. Julian asked if this was on High-Priestly business and I reported merely that I had not spoken directly with prophet so did not know. (It did not seem appropriate to repeat the impression Khitan gave that Morwaith was merely uninterested.)

Julian then summarised what he described as our ‘severe crisis’. He pointed out that Bathsheba is Captain of the Guard as well as acting Marshall, Sheriff (and effectively Constable). The Marshall and Constable will be responsible for trying the rebels so the roles cannot sensibly be combined. The roles of Sheriff and Constable require new incumbents.

The role of Magistra Templi also requires filling, at least until Fiona is fit enough to resume her duties. Julian also wanted to elect a permanent Admiral of the Fleet, as Bleys currently only has an acting appointment. The post of Receiver of Petitions is also vacant but in Julian’s opinion (and with general agreement) it should be filled from the nobility. Julian requested nominations for the four posts.

It was suggested quite strongly that only adepts of Pattern were suitable candidates for Regency posts. All the posts except Sheriff are Regency posts; the implication is that neither Peter nor myself were suitable candidates for these. Personally I think that I am very young and very junior to have a Privy Council post, and was not keen on taking on another. The Regent, while praising my stewardship of the Circle, suggested I should not be taking further responsibility.

However, before proceeding he announced some further news, by way of background. A source of doubtful reliability reports that Benedict is imprisoned in Faerie. He also summarised a number of other problems: the state of Zircon; the anathematised religion of Mira (which is the causing the problems with trumps); and a crisis of heresy in the Church of the Unicorn; all of this to be treated as confidential.

Nominations were then taken. Peter nominated Vialle for Constable but failed to find a seconder. Julian nominated Bleys for Admiral and Nathan nominated himself. Bathsheba nominated Florimel as Constable and Peter seconded. I nominated Aylwin for the same role. Nathan nominated, with Gerard’s enthusiastic seconding, Llewella as Magistra Templi.

I nominated, and Julian seconded, Peter as Sheriff. I am not sure if it is the ideal post for him but I do think that he should have some Privy Council post as one of few fit and available family members. I forget what the other nominations were but Julian managed to wring out two nominations for each post. We then voted appointing as follows:

Constable: Aylwin

Magistra Templi: Llewella

Admiral: Bleys (Nathan to act as deputy)

Sheriff: Peter

I voted for every winning candidate. The closest vote was that for Constable. Aylwin only won because Florimel, the other candidate, voted for him. I was suitably relieved that there was no suggestion that I should extend my responsibilities.

Nathan then reported that on the orders of the King he had gone looking for Corwin’s daughter, Sarah, in Babylon, and had travelled through a rent in the shadow into the abyss. There he had found Deirdre, who was insane; Sarah, who was not; and Brand’s mind (but apparently not his body).

I am not quite sure what to make of this fantastic story.

Some time after the meeting, Bathsheba contacted me and asked to see Algar. I trumped him through to the Office of Golden Circle where he was grilled by Bathsheba.

The end result is that Bathsheba is not demanding his return to custody, but it seems that she has posted men watching his estate with orders to arrest him. The implication being that he is being allowed to go into hiding. For the moment, he can stay at Garland House.

Whereas this is much preferable to his being imprisoned in the castle, it puts him in an awkward legal limbo. I am really not at all sure what the legal position is. As a matter of urgency, I shall be consulting Bill Roth and get him on the case.