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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goddess FallenAngel" data-source="post: 1682740" data-attributes="member: 11434">As Flora sips the wine gracefully, letting the flavorful liquid roll around before swallowing, her face alights with a smile, but the expression is somewhat more bitter. She swallows and speaks. "You are a little new to the Castle and the Family - there has never been a time when we have not eyed each other with more suspicion than outsiders. It is hard to fear betrayal either from the insubstantial phantoms of Shadow, or from the sworn enemies of Chaos. Those two at least offer security, of a sort." She takes another quick sip."We have indeed tried Trumping as a group - before the War, it was used to try to reach Brand. I believe it may have been tried to reach Benedict, perhaps Bleys, Corwin and Gerard working together. As far as I know, it came to nothing - the same as all the efforts. I halfheartedly expect some disembodied voice to appear inside the contact - 'The person you are trying to reach is no longer in service. Please hang up, and try your call again.' " She speaks the words in a monotone that she apparently finds comical - I find myself unfamiliar with the reference, however."However, we are reluctant these days to commit to such collaborative operations as group calling, as it involves a lowering of defenses within the group, and we do not know who or what is responsible for our current troubles. So there is a general consensus that it would be... somewhat imprudent right now." She sighs. "Sometimes I think the conquest of Amber is such a trivial thing, so fragmented and disparate is its defense even in the best of times." She takes another sip, and then gazes directly at me."And on that regard, let me assure you that Bleys means well when he is somewhat anxious about someone as young as you possessing such a powerful artifact as Greyswandir. Do not mistake his comments for the chiding of a relative - it is the comment of a battle-tested commander, who fears to lose a powerful weapon because it may be poorly defended. He knows little of you or of Averdor - he knows only that if Benedict and Fiona both fell, nobody is safe." Her expression changes, briefly, and I cannot read it. But she sighs again, and visibly relaxes.I wave away Flora's comments about Bleys. I had my own theories, and it didn't matter much at this date anyway. I suppose she is somewhat correct - Bleys knows little of me, but for that matter the same goes for most of my relatives. Oh, that I could be ignorant of my true heritage once again…. The stab of loss that accompanies the thought banished the wish from my mind. Life simply would not be the same without Amber.…"I've noticed of recent that you generally seem to have avoided spending time with your younger relations residing here at the Castle. Being slightly suspicious of Shiro I can understand - he is of a different culture, and will take some time to acclimate himself to this society, this world. But what of Orion? He has lived here for a long time, and would make a good friend in these times, I believe."I stand and walk to the window, sweeping up my glass from the table as I do so. "Shiro didn't answer the door this morning - I had thought to invite him on a ride through Arden. Upon reflection, that was probably a fortunate coincidence, because of the outcome of that little ride. Orion I have spoken with on a few occasions, since we have both been here for a bit of time - but he is no doubt busy with the Rangers at the moment, and I hesitate to distract him in this crisis."Flora slowly rises, her glass empty and set on the desk. "Shiro is indeed quite the early riser. I don't know if it's just his own way of the world, or the Shadow equivalent of jet lag. But I believe he was speaking with Queen Vialle in the solarium earlier today. She's leaving, by the way. I'll miss her dearly, but I do believe it's for the best. Although I'm still hard-pressed to agree with Bleys on the definition of 'safe house'..." Her eyes roll upwards briefly. I raise a questioning eyebrow at the news. "I am saddened to hear of the Queen's departure. I had thought that Amber was supposed to be the safest place, which is why those of my generation were being recalled - I would be interested to know what could be considered a 'safe house' if not the castle.""I will agree that I believe Amber, and the very Castle, to be the safest place I know of. Unfortunately, even the treasure room did not provide Random adequate security. I won't say where the Queen is headed, as secrecy is the entire point of her departure. However, once the situation here returns to normal, there is someone on the staff who has special instructions that will allow her to be contacted." Flora turns and paces back to the sideboard, depositing her empty glass there.I continue to listen to Flora's thoughts and guesses while slowly draining the rest of my wine from the glass."And yes, Orion will be busy for some time. Ideally, though, he'll have enough sense to leave in place most of Julian's procedures and patrols. My brother has the delicacy of an ox, sometimes, but he has guarded Arden long enough, and fervently enough, that I do trust his judgment in that regard." She moves towards the window I am standing at, which overlooks one of the barer faces of Kolvir - but it is a wonderful view nonetheless. "But I had more meant why you hadn't introduced yourself to Orion in general, not just today. But never mind - I'm sure your generation will get to know each other soon enough."</blockquote>

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