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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goddess FallenAngel" data-source="post: 1668135" data-attributes="member: 11434">I move rather furtively through the back corridors of the Castle, passing a few housekeeping staff and one or two guards, but they seem more interested in their own business than in mine. Of course, there is the possibility that the staff has learned to mind their own business for the most part, given the nature of the family that they serve. In addition, I am easily able to position myself between them and the object I carry. My suite is on the third floor, so it is quite the cross-castle trek, but I hurry and soon find myself at the door. Looking both ways down the hall to be sure nobody is present, I open the door quickly and back into the room, making sure I am unobserved. With a sigh of relief, a feeling just a bit silly, I close the door and bolt it."Good afternoon, Killashandra. I would like to speak with you a little, if you will permit me to do so."I turn, startled by both the suddenness and the sheer politeness of the voice behind me. Florimel sits on my desk chair, turned around to face the door. She has changed clothes since the last time I saw her - before, she was wearing a rather formal gown and elbow-length lace gloves. Now, she is garbed much more informally - for a princess of Amber, that is - in a dress of a light green material with few ornamentations. She sits relaxed, legs crossed, and a pleasant smile on her face that belies the seriousness in her eyes."You may rest assured that your possession goes unreported, and I have enough friends inside the Castle and outside that I would have heard of it by now if it were even a rumor. Please," she entreats, indicating my bed, "rest yourself, for your injury is not yet healed, although dear Hunt is quite a skilled practitioner. I mean you no harm, but am desirous of information only you possess. I would that you lie down while we speak together.""Aunt Flora." I bow slightly to her, and move toward another chair instead of my bed as she indicated, taking a deep breath to regain my composure. She adjusts her chair to face mine. "Very well - though I would rather not tax your health at this point, we can certainly speak this way for a while. Now, you've told Bleys and I that you'd found Corwin's blade, but in very general details. I have come to get a more specific description. Please, start from the beginning." She leans forward attentively. I sigh as I settle into my chair. As an afterthought, I unbuckle my swordbelt and lay Greyswandir, still sheathed, on my right-hand end table. I brush my fingertips across Sha'kar's hilt, but leave him sheathed at my hip."There's not much to tell, Aunt." I shrug and lean back in my chair. "I went for a ride and attempted to contact our missing relatives. I tried Benedict first, but my results were... expected. That is, I had none. I attempted Corwin's Trump next." I close my eyes in thought, but listen for any rustle of cloth that may signify Flora moving or another individual in the room. I don't believe that she is behind these disappearances, but... one can never be too paranoid with one's own family if one is a scion of Amber."I felt a... twinge, a different sensation than normal Trump contact. I focused and forced the contact - which is how I ended up with the massive headache that had me traipsing about Castle Amber oblivious to common sense." I open my eyes and wave a hand in dismissal. "I digress. As I was saying, I finally made contact with Corwin's mind." I describe his appearance and his words - as well as my unconsciousness. As I describe Corwin's moment of contact and his near-shouted expression, Flora’s eyes widen - briefly, but noticeably."When I awoke, I was on the ground - and Greyswandir was standing upright in the clearing, still radiating thermal waves. I came straight to the Castle from there. Oh, I did encounter one of the Rangers. I tried to hide the blade, but..." I shrug. "It was fairly obvious there was something unusual going on, especially with the blasted circle of ground. I told him it was a failed experiment."I lightly touched Greyswandir's hilt. "How I wish you could speak, old friend," I murmured, remembering the times I had seen Corwin with this blade. He had treated it very like an old friend, as I recall.I blinked and turned back to Flora. "Is there anything else you might wish to know, Aunt?" I know I was being slightly rude, at the very least for not offering her refreshment off of the nearby sideboard, but I rationalized it by recalling that she hadn't acted like an honored guest either. Most guests do not invite themselves in before their hosts are home. I debate asking her about the individual I had seen in the infirmary, but wait to hear her reactions on my story first. It is sometimes interesting to tell the truth and watch the confusion as people try to decide what you are hiding. Flora listened to my words intently, soaking up the detail of my inflection, expression, and tone. However, at my last remark, she flushes briefly and moves her legs as if to stand. "Oh, my word, I am terribly sorry. You're weakened by this experience, and you're understandably on edge and upset. We should probably arrange this meeting for some other time, when you're more centered and your injury has had a chance to heal. I could summon Doraine and request a hot milk toddy be brought to you - I've always found those to be soothing." Her face and eyes look helpful, but there is a shadow to them that is inscrutable.I watch her through lidded eyes, wondering at what she was hiding. Grief? Or guilt? "Please, Aunt, stay and ask whatever questions are necessary. My 'injury' is not as great as you seem to think it to be; I have suffered far worse in my time. I can answer a few questions before I rest. Indeed, I should have stayed in Bleys' study for further conversation; but I feel far better after Huntington's infusion for my headache. It would be best if you raise any questions Bleys - and yourself - may have on the events; as they say, 'Time fades even legend' - and this past day is not yet even a legend." I note her reaction (or lack of) to my words, and my hint that she may be here at Bleys' orders instead of her own initiative.I gesture at the sideboard. "Please forgive me for not offering you refreshments before; would you like something to drink?"Flora shifts back, and her reaction is one of quiet surprise and, perhaps, a mild sense of... respect. "Well, it's good to hear that you are feeling better. Huntington has steadfastly refused to give me his recipe for tea - he says he'd never see anyone without it." She laughs lightly. "But rest assured that I am here only for myself, for a deeper sense of what has happened to Corwin. Bleys, busy as he is, merely expressed a worry that such a possession as Corwin's blade would be safe in the hands of someone with, as he put it, 'such inexperience in the hazards of life'." She smirks. "I don't share his doubts - for I have been to Averdor several times. It is a peaceful land, and you carry its quiet resolve.” I incline my head in acknowledgement to her observation about Averdor. "I can inform Bleys when next we meet, that despite my 'inexperience in the hazards of life', I can, and will, hold Greyswandir until it can be returned to its rightful owner. If someone wishes to take Greyswandir from me, they are welcome to try. I doubt they will be successful." I flash a rather feral smile. "I may be dreadfully predictable and transparent to many of you, lacking your experience in intrigue and Shadow, but I am formidable in my own way."She nods and continues. “I was wondering if you'd notice what has been left for you on that sideboard." She slides out of her seat and walks over to the sideboard. She selects the bottle of sparkling white wine on the far right and holds it out to you. It reads, From the House of Viceroy Mackenzian, Attendant of the Far Shores - Mackenzian Silsillade, 2376 A.P.. I recognize the title - this was the personal label of a vassal of the King of Averdor, the lord of the lands across the Sea of the Twilight. And I know it to be a good year, as well. She pours two glasses into fine crystal flutes."I think you'll find this a good companion to Hunt's tea - the flavor is subtle and ephemeral." She offers you a glass. I accept, and nod my thanks to Flora as she reseats herself. "No,” she continues, “I didn't come here to interrogate you, for I am satisfied as to your character and your integrity. I merely sought as much information as I could know about the incident, as it is the only relief from the waves of terrible ignorance that crash over this house daily in this time of crisis." She takes a delicate sip of the wine, and smiles. I sip the wine myself and roll the flavor on my tongue, closing my eyes in bliss. It was indeed a very good year. "Bleys is even now trying to suppress the tide from spilling out into the city - he has taken a squadron of the Castle Guard and tours the streets, a strong champion and a presence of the Royal Family. If Julian were here, he would be a much better choice - the people know him as a trusted protector of the frontier. But, Bleys is doing what he can. Gerard is taking the situation far worse than most will admit - I think he is feeling the weight of uncertainty, and his strength can do nothing to lift it. But I believe we are expecting most of your generation to arrive tonight or tomorrow morning, and Gerard is asking that you assemble for a meeting in the Grand Hall tomorrow evening before dinner." She sighs heavily, and then takes a longer drink of the wine. "I only wish we knew more. I believe Caine is right - I believe Benedict and Fiona were first targeted in order to prevent their aid to us, as we grew more aware of the attacks. And the fact that both of them were taken is...." Her voice trails off, uncertain and fearful.I gaze into my glass, watching the light dance through it in shifting patterns as Flora trails off. "I, too, fear that those two were taken first to cripple us." I take another sip. "It was a very good tactic for our enemy - divide and conquer. Take the two individuals that would be the most threatening to an invasion, then take the Monarch - the glue that holds the rest of the family in place and prevents us from falling on each other. Now we are falling into disarray, eyeing each other with as much suspicion, if not more, then we watch outsiders." I sigh and set down my glass next to Greyswandir. "I am sorry, Aunt. I wish I could help you more, but I really have no further information on Corwin, though I wish I did. Have we as of yet tried a massive effort to get through to those missing? Perhaps by having most of the family concentrate on trying to contact one individual through their Trump? With many people trying, we may have better luck."</blockquote>

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