Peter’s Diary part 10: A School Visit, A Patternwalk & Groombridge

In The Doom that Came to Amber

25th Bull 3658

Alaric, Aylwin, Bathsheba, Morwaith and Peter woke up the sleeping guards and servants, hearing similar stories of strange dancing lights and mischievous winged girls with no clothes on. Morwaith made his excuses and departed, claiming pressing engagements. Alaric also departed in the woods but without so much as a by-your-leave or even ‘goodbye’; obviously he must have something on his mind.

Aylwin trumped through to Minjoninita to return his pavilions and personnel while Bathsheba brought you through to Amber. She immediately bustled the two of you through to Julian and informed him of the return, he arranged for all save Morwaith [he didn’t seem bothered about him] to debrief in a nearby ante-room with himself and Benedict. You are certain he noted the arrow but his reserve ensured Bathsheba didn’t notice him noticing.

Once in the room, Bathsheba bullied Aylwin into immediate attendance, though he clearly wasn’t happy at having to attend without a wash and change.

Julian and Benedict then entered while Bathsheba and Aylwin were talking and Benedict made an immediate beeline for you while Julian did his best to ignore your conversation and you reckon he deliberately distracted Bathsheba and Aylwin. You think he sees the arrow as phenomenally significant in some way and Julian was shocked to see it. Aylwin also eyed it from across the room.

Benedict asked to examine the arrow and asked where you got it. You told him the Fae gave it to you. Benedict examined it and listened to your few words without much comment – as you would expect.

Alaric was the last to turn up and then Julian called the meeting to order. Aylwin gave a rough synopsis of the Faerie summit but somehow overlooked the matter of the doggerel verses. However, Bathsheba did mention poetry and much of the rest of the meeting was an object lesson in how Julian can winkle the truth out of anyone who tries to hide it.

Bathsheba, clearly very embarrassed but never likely to admit it, gave her verse verbatim and mentioned the last to all. Julian then asked about other verses. Aylwin gave the final, general verse but tried to pass off the personal ones as unworthy of attention. Julian stated his experience of Faerie made him regard all such as significant and expressed consideration for the matters expressed in the final verse.

Alaric, Aylwin and Bathsheba all voiced concerns over who exactly may have been eclipsed by which ‘Tree’, but Julian said (as you well know) that Faerie verses are more complex than that with nested meanings and intents. Benedict commented ‘Fractals’ and Julian nodded though not everyone around the table seemed to know what he meant.

Julian pressed Aylwin further about personal verses. When Aylwin’s reluctance to speak his own became very obvious, Julian invited him to recount it in private later and he accepted with great relief. Alaric also refused to call out his verse but Julian just ventured some oblique barbs about people having things to hide.

Then it was your turn and Peter the Showman seized the opportunity to perform. Once finished, there was a pregnant pause while Julian and Benedict exchanged meaningful looks, then Benedict nodded once and Julian moved things on. You got the distinct impression that the two had discussed something connected with you and your verses beforehand – either that or they’re truly telepathic.

The rest of the meeting was essentially reviewing local hotspots. Julian clearly sees Aylwin as something of a reliable lieutenant and has given him the job of investigating Lyon Abbey, insisting he not go alone. Aylwin looked immediately to Bathsheba but Benedict intervened to say he must leave immediately and Bathsheba would be deputising for him as Captain of the Guard. Aylwin then looked to Alaric, of all people, and stated Asmark as 3rd reserve. Julian gave him carte blanche to plan things himself but insisted quite forcefully it should be sooner than later. Aylwin said he’d get started before the funeral of Archmage Clarence in Amethyst. This funeral seems to be a big event, scheduled for the 27th.

To close, Benedict said he wanted to meet with Bathsheba in the gym before he left. Peter got the distinct feeling that Alaric had ‘issues’ to discuss with his brother but Julian said he wanted to speak with you in private and left with you before you could earwig.