Bathsheba’s Diary part 15: Politics & Silver Horseshoes

In The Doom that Came to Amber

3^rd Snake (late morning)

Known casualties of note:

Lord Miskatone – died when house was ransacked

Lord Danesh (injury) – head injury, more serious than first thought. Being treated at the Castle, probably not going to survive.

Aylwin sent word that the Guildhall is up & trying to re-establish order – he will take a look at Danesh to see if there is anything he can do.

Supplies are a top priority – without ships docking, we starve. Which would make last night seem a half-hearted punch-up outside the tavern at closing time. There is a rough plan to take the docks back under Castle control and try to re-establish food supplies.

Bleys will go and try to persuade ships to dock; Flora to speak to nobles and brief them; Asmark will co-ordinate.

I have acquired a liaison – a friend of Asmark’s called Montford Ascarda , Garnath Light Horse, as well as Peter, who seems a self-appointed 2IC at the moment. I’ve had worse. With a small contingent, we move out to scout the docks.

Strange thing – around the Dials, the statue of the Unicorn was covered in greenery. Probably deeply significant. There were obvious Unicorn worshippers around, but gave us no trouble.

(Sign of our troubled times, that phrase – aren’t we all Unicorn worshippers, we Amberites? I mean, before Mira got her chance to break everything and the Unicorn was a bloodthirsty Beast from Beyond.)

The docks are not besieged – there are 200 marines in detachment. Typically, not enough to do anything with - all we can do is unload what we can and get ships out of dock ASAP. Fortified perimeter, put detachment in nearby warehouse in reserve in case of attack.

Also set up field kitchen – for us and any peaceful residents – ‘hearts and minds’ operation. It has to be tried, I may be dense but even I realise last night will have damaged relations between us and the locals. Knowing my luck all we’ll end up with is well-fed adversaries.

[1a.m]

No attack as yet, getting a few locals and vagrants at first, then a few more. There is a lot of talk on how the Unicorn is providing ‘plenty of food’ on Kolvir for her followers. More worrying are rumours of ‘several thousand’ Miran troops swaggering round the city. Peter decides to go scouting.

Comes back a few hours later with the news that MIRAN troops are restoring order in Amber. Flora’s son Rupert is commanding, suspect Dark is his CO. So Alaric’s not the only Amberite traitor. How many more will stab us in the back? Peter says he has agreed to talks with Rupert to see if he can get any more info – I mean, to explore the possibility of a peaceful settlement.

Decide to brief Julian on this – ask Peter if he wants to come and give the information personally, but he goes all shy and refuses. Julian, unsurprisingly, is asleep when I trump in to the castle. He is mostly awake when I tell him – wish it were better news.

He asks something about Tir-na Nog'th – about going there to get a hint about the future or something. For a fleeting second, I considered giving him the Moonstone but held back. Don’t know why he’d want to go there anyway – all it shows you is half-truths and obscurities, only what you think you want to see – any place Paulette hangs round in so much can’t be benevolent. I suppose he’s desperate.

Got back to docks – Peter asking what Julian had advised about the meeting. If he wanted to discuss it with Julian, why didn’t he go with me? Told Peter to get as much information as possible, and not to promise anything I can’t deliver.

If only I had time (and the populace on my side), we could start guerrilla warfare against the Mirans. Even the 200 marines might have been enough. If we had time – I suspect we don’t.