I watched the stranger leave with a sigh, and pushed away from the table. "Now, where were we? Ah, yes. The favor." Was it truly a favor? Not especially, but once the seed had been planted in my mind, I simply had to go through with it. "I rather missed it if you said aye or nay?" I looked at them both, trying to clear my mind. It was a rough going.

After it was clear that no answer was forthcoming, except from the loquacious lobster, I stood. "I'll let you two think about it, then, and we'll have a talk later?" I turned to my right, and there she was. "Ah, could we have a few words alone, my lady?"

"Of course," the succubus said with a sultry smile. She gave her favored gaze to the other two as she stood. "I don't give out lightly, but since Nick trusts you, so shall I." I trust them? Well, Anne for a certainty, but the other...I didn't know. He said he was Flora's, but he looked so very...red. Selene laid a Trump on the table, "Call when you have made a decision."

She turned back to me then, and offered up her hand as a sacrifice. "Shall we?" I took the offering, and wrapped it securely around mine own. "We'll be back in a few moments," I offered the other two. And we left, back to the foyer, to talk in hushed voices.

She turned almost immediately, "You're upset I didn't tell them, aren't you?" She was pouting, I think. It was rather hard to tell.

I nodded, frowning at the pout, "Just so." I removed my hand from hers, looking at the designs on the floor for a few moments. "Just so. It's rather...awkward, shall we say? Saying that we're lovers, indeed." It was an appealing thought, but there was Juliana to think about. Oh, and that whole incestuous thing. It had started to become less of an issue the more I thought on it, so I discreetly declined to think on it. "But it's not just that. i was also considering if you had asked Rinaldo about this or not? I don't remember you saying as much, but I've been distracted." What an understatement.

"Can you imagine his reaction if I had walked up and said 'Hell, I'm your sister and I've liberated our brother from under Julian's nose. Will you help us retrieve our father?'...no," she replied, giving her head a shake. "He has his own kingdom to rule close to Amber...I couldn't trust him to not lock me away to better his position." She took a deep breath, and nearly let left and right pop out to say hello before expelling it. "As to what I said," she said, not meeting my eyes, "that cretin stepped on the wrong nerve, and I spoke too much to simply stop him without raising suspicions... If they truly knew our relation, we would never receive help from anyone on the Amber-end. At least this way we appear to have a reason for being together." She raised her eyes to stare into mine, and it was like a weird mirror then. I could see all the stars shine in her eyes. I flushed uncomfortably.

"Besides, would it be askign too much for you to kiss me occasionally," she asked, taking my hand in both of hers and raising it to lay a kiss on each fingertip. My heart nearly stopped. "...and to sleep near me when others are close..." She smiled again, losing her sultry look, for which my heart was grateful. "It's not like I'm askign you to father my child, as you did in my last visit to Tir..."

Asking too much to kiss her? Yes...at least the way she was made to be kissed. Entirely too much. And...father...children...?

"Father my child?" I stammered out, trying to correlate all of this while my mind was racing. "Ah, Tir...that's the place where things are different, right? I've never been, myself." And thank God (Father) for that, else I might have had some strange ideas.

"Yes," she agreed, "a realm of moonlight, ghosts, and visions, but otherwise identical to Amber, right down to having its own Pattern." Well, that I've seen before, of course, but not the rest of it.

I broke eye contact, giving me a chance to think. I was coming down now, and this was good. I saw more things, but was more easily able to distinguish them from reality...or as real as things got out here. I simply must remember not to visit home again. "Right. Anyhow, I can see your point, on both counts. However, it is slightly awkward for me (to say the least) to be in this position." I blinked, thinking that I heard her whisper to me What position would you like to be in then?, and shook my head again. "After all, you carry off this charade well, I might forget that we're related." I paused, thinking that she might like that very much indeed. I put my hand on her shoulder, where it met her lovely neck. Why is it that with women it's always about sex? Or most women, anyhow. "I've not been myself lately, so I'm afraid you're seeing me at my next-to-worst. I shall indeed try a bit harder to be more at ease."

Well, of course, if we were lovers, then I'd be more at ease...

To save myself from those thoughts, I changed the subject. "I wonder if they've discussed things yet? It would really be a frightful shame if they said no, though I can't see any reason why not. Kent's not used to the family quite yet, and I simply can't imagine he's heard any tales of Brand. And while Anne might have, I simply can't see her turning down a challenge, even if she recognizes the card." I smiled then, "Though it'd be just my luck if she did, and refused on general principle."

She then stepped up to me, and wrapped herself around me. I stood quite still, willing no portion of me to move. I think she was speaking then, but my head was swimming so much, I missed it. Instead, I disengaged myself from her, mumbling, "That's interesting.." and walked unsteadily to the dining room. "We should go back inside now."

As I approached, I heard Anne say, "Right. Be that way." There was a pause, and I entered as she commented, "No one loves me anymore."

I couldn't help but to smile, "Not so." I sat down quickly, "I still do, Anne, never fear." I looked around then, and noted the empty seat, "Say, wasn't there someone else here earlier? Kent, right?"

"That's what I meant. Kent left, and after all the fun we had together." She smirked, and stood up, smoothing out her clothing. "It doesn't matter, Nick. I'm for cousins, not uncles, right now, as long as you keep me in the loop completely." She nodded, putting her hand on the pommel of her sword.

I felt hand grasp my shoulders, and Selene said from behind me, "With Kent already gone, perhaps we should be moving on as well. We could make our call from the stables. And depending on how that goes, either on to see my side of the family, or we go elsewhere..." It was interesting, I suddenly thought, how neither of the two women were affected by the potency of my home Shadow. It...heightened perspectives. Interesting.

"Certainly," I commented. "It makes about as much sense as anything else." I sighed and stood. We moved into the stables, to be away from prying eyes again. I should say fare thee well to Mother, but it was too late now.

Selene sat herself and shuffled through her cards. "It looks like we're as ready as we're going to be under the circumstances... shall we?".

I nodded, growing nervous about this. "Let's try, ah..." I glanced at Anne for a moment. Surely, she would help. Wouldn't she? "Let's try Father's first."

"Sounds peachy to me," was Anne's cheerful reply.

Selene watched us with narrowed eyes, "I thought you might ask for that first...a test of sorts." She held out the Trump of Father, glistening wetly in the light.

"Why?" Anelizabet asked, looking at the Trump. "What's goin' on there?"

I shrugged, trying to be calm. "Just what I said before--we're trying to get ahold of someone." I sighed, "We probably won't, however; I don't think that one more person is going to make the difference. It could, but I doubt it." I frowned, taking hold of the card with Selene.

"Really," Anne said dryly. She was watching the card with a fascinated look on her face.

"Anne," I said, frowning. "If it wouldn't be too much of a bother, could we get on here?"

"Oh. Right. Sorry." She reached out her hand, and grasped the card wtih us. "I was a little distracted there, for a minute."

I scowled, "Hmm. Yes. Horses are distracting." I turned my attention to the card. It was Father, all right. In all his glory. He looked so...melancholy. I remembered that look from when I was growing up. The card came to life in slow and agonizing time. But, soon I felt the pleasure roll through me once again, and it occurred to me that Father was talking. But not to me.

"Well, my dear its your time to shine. Anelizabet may decide to disengage herself once she realizes what she's gotten into. Obviously, it will be in all of our best interests if you convince her to stay. Lamorak will return in force shortly. If you remain here and you are unprepared, things will most likely go badly." That was to Selene.

"Quite unfortunate that you stumbled into this particular bit of the families' nasty politics. But the die is cast. I would stongly suggest that you work with that fabulous machine of yours to cobble together some defences. The first wave of Amber's wrath will be arriving shortly." That was to Anne.

"Hey, Uncle B," Anne said, chipper as always. "You like Archie? You should see the improvements I'm making, if I live to see him again. Just tell me what you need until I get settled out and dig the situation on my own."

I grumbled to myself through the haze, about him not even deigning to talk to me. After what I had to for him, you would think that he would at least tell me hello. Or that he's proud. Or a thank you.

"As always, I shall do my best...," said Selene, reply to Father.. "But how did you know about Lamorak?"

The contact faded before she could get a reply, I think. I let go of the damned thing and stumbled back, seeing the Shadow for what it was, and feeling clear, and exhausted, but good. It was better than any high I had found so far.

"I know we have something of a time advantage, talking at the speed of thought inside this Trump call, but it has occurred to me that when Lamorak gets back to Amber and whines to the Ass of Arden, all hells will be coming down on our heads, and swiftly, even though we have done nothing to warrent such actions, and this being a slow-time Shadow..." Selene said, showing a bit of worry. I smiled to myself. Not anymore, but I'd get back to changing that soon enough, I'd suppose.

"Perhaps it would be in our best interests to move someplace better defended and continue our talk from there, now that we now we can get through..." the lovely lady added.

"Right-o," I said, sounding chipper even to my own ears. "Where to, then?"

She put away Father's Trump, and looked over to me as she drew out another. "Home..." She smiled, but she looked strained too, and pale. "Ready?"

I nodded, and put my hand on her shoulder.

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page