Though somewhat dubious circumstances, there I was in the stable. I had just caused a great hole in the sky, spilling in water and cousins. I was drenched. I was also rather high at the moment, so if this monologue is a bit off base, please forgive me, gentle reader. It's hard to remember what was said when one isn't quite all there.

"Bother and rot," I said loudly, frowning and brushing myself off. "Mother'll have kittens if I look like this for a lunch." I sniffed, then sighed, giving the others a bit of a smile. "Uh, introductions, I think?" I glanced askance to the only one I didn't know, a red-haired fellow that reminded me of Fiona and Bleys. "I'm Nick, ah, Nick Calloway."

After that, I looked at the not-so-lovely Anne, "I couldn't find the big green fellow, sorry about that and all." I looked down at myself again, spattered with seawater and mud. "Dammit, I never make good first impressions..." I muttered quietly to myself. I ran my hands through my hair, trying to straighten it, but the end effect, I'm sure, was to only make it stand up in spikes. After a few moments of this, I searched around for my violin, sure that it had been lost. But, no. It was safe where I left it, and I patted the case in reassurance.

While I was doing this, the other scrambled to their feet. "My name is Kent," the gent said, extending his hand to me. However, I didn't even look up from the violin until Selene breathed, "Much better." When I looked over at her, she was as clean and dry as when we first met. Bother. Wish I knew that trick.

"Hello," she said breathlessly to the others, "I'm Selene. Some of you have undoubtedly seen me around the castle in Amber...Benedict is my forebearer." I frowned then, trying to figure that out. I suppose technically she was, or rather, Benedict was, but her father wasn't Benedict, as she was implying, leaving me to carry the stain of being Brand's progeny by myself.

"Damn and double damn," Annelizabet swore. "Don't think I'm not grateful, there, cuz, but my crew is still out there. Didn't get a fix on'm, did you?" What did people think I was? A taxi service? However, she soon turned her attention on Selene. "Anna. Corwin's brat. The big green guy was, er, Mal-baby. Didn't figure out whose kid he was before he disappeared with his puppy."

Finally, I turned back to the small gathering here and grasped Kent's hand wetly. "Pleased to meet you," I said, avoiding his eyes. I let go of the man's hand and sat where I was, in the muck and mud. I was exhausted, and needed another hit, something badly. "Well, I wasn't going to do that at all, and I don't know where your crew is, Anne," I said to my cousin, frowning. "But I might suggest we use this time to, er, clean up, and get something to eat. I'm sure the green fellow can take care of himself...and we can get caught up." I looked about, "And speaking of which, none of you have seen Benedict lately? Chopping up relatives or anything?"

Something in what I said must have made Kent realize he was an unkempt as I. He did something with his hands, and there was a poof..and he was clean and dry like Selene. I wish I knew that trick. "That's better," he said sounding satisfied as he turned to Selene, "I've never been to Amber, but my mother, Flora, has told me much of it, and of your father. I am quite pleased to meet you."

As an afterthought, he said, "And you as well, Nick. Food sounds wonderful. I have an almost unbearable urge for fried calamari." He never took his eyes off of Selene. Not that I could blame him in that.

"I fear you did not comprehend my words," she replied to him with a sad smile. "Benedict is not my father...Lady Dara's mother is my mother's sister, thus Benedict is my Forebearer...my great-grandfather..." Well, at least she wasn't lying, not truly. Just leaving things out.

"I see," Kent replied, having been rebuffed, "Please, forgive my assumptions. I'm a little new at the family tree thing."

"Little time 'round the Chaos-ish end of things, and you'll get used to it, kiddo," Anne said cheerfully, nudging Kent with her elbow. "Being the only one that seriously looks like a drowned rat, here, I wouldn't mind time to clean up. And see what the hell was wrong with my Trump connection during that storm."

And that was my cue. I stood up slowly, smearing mud on my slacks. "Right this way then. I'm sure Mother will love to have guests..." I took my violin case carefully off the table and gestured to the doorway. "If you would follow me?" They did so, and I led them to the house proper, a monstrously huge thing. It was well-taken care of (as always), and indicated how much Mother was worth in this Shadow. Not that that matters in the long run, mind you, or in Amber, but it was still nice to show people that yes, I did have a good upbringing. Instead of opening the front door, however, I rang the bell.

"It's been a little while sicne I've been home and all," I explained, turning a bit red. And the last time Mother saw me, I was insane. That, too.

One of the butlers opened the door. I forget which one. "Master Calloway! What a...pleasure to have you back." Thank you. How could I have forgotten such...warmth? "If you would be so kind as to wait in the foyer while I see that rooms are prepared for you and your...guests." Was his name Jeeves or Wesley? "I'll also have towels brought and tell your Mother that you've arrived." The butler then scurried off like a rat, and left me to let the others in to the foyer. I stood there, dripping of seawater and cradling my violin.

The others entered as well, looking about hither and yon. "The entertainment value of my cousins never ceases," Anne declared loudly, "Nice digs, baby. Nice." She preoccupied herself with her dagger and the rest of us stood in silence save for the drip-drip-drip.

A few moments later, a woman I had never seen before arrived wearing a French maid's outfit. She handed us towels--well, Anne and I at least--and said in a faintful whisper that Mrs. Calloway was in a 'mood'.

I thanked her and shooed her off, trying to towel off as best I could. After a moment, I replied to Anne, "Thank you. It's adequate. Nothing like Castle Amber, of course, but adequate." I sighed. Questions now or later? Might as well be now. "What were you doing out there, if I might ask?"

"Getting caught in a pinpoint Shadow storm mid-amber. I'll be damned." She whistled slightly. "I started out just going to take Mal-baby for a ride in my boat. Smash, frag it, down goes Silver Mary." She wrestled the towel over her hair as I watched, frowning. "I'm trying to get ahold of Arcanus. He'll have a better idea than I will about what happened. He's the brains of the operation." She smirked while I grimaced. I didn't know much about Arcanus, and was rather uncertain if she should contact him while with Selene and I. I suppose it couldn't be helped, though.

"Ah, I see," I murmured, looking around at the room absently. "The Shadow Storms...Fiona doesn't know what caused them. I hardly think Arcanus will, unless he caused them. But I doubt that." My frown deepened, "It was in the papers, after all, and since they're still around...I'm assuming then that Random (wherever he is) and Fiona haven't found the cause."

Kent perked up a bit at that. "Where has Random ran off ot? Forgive my ignorance of recent family events, but I have had little contact with the family at large." He paused, then added more slowly, "And, if I might be so bold, where are we now? It's a lvoely setting to be sure, but I don't believe I've been in this area before."

I wondered what his reaction would be if I told him that this house was where the great devil (God) Brand lived for many years? "Who knows?" I replied to his earlier question. "He keeps most state secrets secret. At least, I'm not privvy to that information. I believe it was to do about investigating the Shadow Storms, however. That's the last bit of information I had."

I paused here, contemplating what to say next. "This is the place where I grew up," I said slowly. "The Shadow is called Mordeth, and this is my mother's home." I sighed, turning my full attention to Kent. "She doesn't know anything about Amber, so I would please like it if everyone would just say they're from Europe or something. I would like it if someone in my family could keep their sanity." I glanced around at this, looking for Mother. It was certainly taking her long enough.

"Aye, Europe it'll be then," Kent replied in a ridiculously Scottish brogue. "But I cannae stand thsi taste of seawater on m' palette enna longer. Could I impose upon your hospitality a wee bit more for a sip of ale or perhaps some tea?"

I blinked at him. Like I would know where that was. "When the butler comes back, ask him." I remembered to be polite then, and smiled an apology. "I don't live here anymore."

"Yet at least you deign to drop by unannounced every blue moon."

Ah. That would be Mother.

I looked up and saw her sweep elegantly into the room, dressed in black. "Be a dear and introduce me to your little friends." I held my tongue for a moment so that my scathing replies could be swallowed. I can't say they went down well, though, and I fear that my smile was a bit sickly looking.

"I'm sorry, Mother," I said contritely. I gestured to each as I said their names, "This is, ah, Kent, Selene, and Anelizabet." I frowned, knowing that this wasn't a proper introduction, but having nothing better to say about each of them. It would have to do.

She swept gracefully down the stairs, stopping on the last step. She took in my companions at a glance, and exclaimed, "Oh, you're wounded. If you poor dears can walk, I'll take you to your rooms right now, ready or not, so that the autodocs can look at you. Otherwise, I can have them service you right here."

My face grew pale as the blood drained from my face. I missed what the others were saying while I stood there in shock. Doctors? No, wait. She had said autodoc...automated doctors. The thought nauseated me, and I nearly vomited on Mother's neat black shoes. I started shaking at the thought of machines gleefully doing surgery...severing limbs, injecting you with who knew what...

The next words I heard were Mother's, "...coat their blades with quite...unpleasant...bacteriological agents."

"No!" I nearly shouted, swooning where I stood. "No doctors!" I paused, feeling everyone stare at me as I gripped my violin case harder. I licked my lips, wondering why my mouth had suddenly run dry, "We'll be fine, Mother. We just need to groom ourselves."

Selene reached an elegrant hand over and touched my face. I jerked away as she murmured to me, "Relax, Nick. I won't let them do that again...I promise..." I stared at her in some horror while Mother chastised me with the sharp side of her tongue. Of course Mother would never understand. She wouldn't know...doctors were friendly sots to her. Bastards. Rending, savage bastards is all they were.

I could only stare for a few long moments.

"I'll just go lie down now..." I heard someone...wait, that was myself. I heard myself talk, but I was disconnnected from what was being said. "I'll see you three in a few hours. We've something to talk about..." All I could think of as my body moved of it's own will was that I needed another hit, and badly. I was shaking, head to toe, and I believe my violin case cracked slightly under my grip.

Bloody doctors.

Bloody, damned doctors. It just figured they would have found some way into a person's private house, to leave them at the mercy of some so-called healing machines.

Someday...someday, maybe I'll have to come back here, and change a few things...see how they like it as the victim, instead of the cutter.

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