Syrana and Greyson/Random began trying to piece together what knowledge they could of Amber and the other members of the family. Syrana mentioned a "Corwin," which I could only assume was my liege Korbin. Unfortunately there was no recognition of the name Carrick. I tired of the fighting and explanations, so with just a little bit of fanfare, I cloaked myself and made my way about the castle.
Gerda sat on the edge of the fountain, her forehead leaning against the pommel of her sword. I hated to interrupt, but I made my way to her slowly and sat down on the rim alongside. Her initial response was not promising. I began telling her of my journeys and my search for Carrick; and I could tell that my words were starting to just barely melt that icy exterior, so I turned on the charm full-bore.
Suffice it to say, she broke, and we began over the next hour to discuss what went into making the Trumps work. While a familiarity with the individual in question was useful, it was not absolute in the operation; the Trumps required a long period of concentration and staring upon the card, but there was a spark of something else which made it happen. Gerda tried to describe it as an understanding of the soul of the person or place in question. This was all take on faith by me, of course, until she pulled out a card of an older man --her father, Lord Feldane. "Do not speak while I do this," she warned, and she took my hand (and I learned that not only did she have an icy demeanor, but her hands were cold as snow as well) and we began to work.
I can't fully explain the sensation of communicating with the Trumps. Once, in one of the learning sessions amongst the Harpers, there was a Circle in which we had all met in perfect synchronicity in song -- and the magics woven allowed us to talk without speaking and to know without saying. This new feeling, in observing Gerda and her father, well... this overwhelmed that a hundredfold.
Finally, the sensation died, and I thanked her greatly, knowing the power of the knowledge she supplied me with. I left her to her own devices and Cloaked again, making my way back to my mates.
*****
When I got back, the clamoring and expectation of the others made me cringe, and I decided that the very lethal and real dangers of using these Trumps were great enough to keep me from telling everyone in earshot how these things worked. Thus, I was very careful in how I described the function. Stark so wanted to know and to get these things working, and it wasn't until Fletcher rejoined us that we remembered that we had the subject of one of the cards nearby -- Greyson.
I followed what I'd remembered from Greta's teaching, and stared for what seemed an eternity before I heard Greyson's voice calling to me. I had done it! Eventually, the image of him in the room upstairs came into view. I mentioned that I understood that these could also be used for travel; Greyson proved this by extending his hand to me. As I went to him, it dawned upon me that I should have told the others what I was up to.
Greyson's firm hand pulled me through. I told him that Greta had communicated that Benedict was a few days out, and his eyes narrowed a bit, and then he sighed what seemed a weary sigh. "Take the others out of the castle and away until I contact you again -- I need to talk with Benedict before any others." Before I could get into why, where, or what I'd tell the others, said others arrived, happy to see that I was still in existence.
Guess what? We were headed for the beach.
We were there for a couple of days. I entertained Cecily, Shen and Stark with stories and songs, and it seemed very idyllic for a time, until Fletcher (who had been working on the spell for the regeneration of the occulus with Harrison at another location) rode up with Harry and Syrana in tow. Seems Benedict had returned and ordered us out in a hurry. Oh well; not the first time I'd been thrown out of a territory. We rode, as Fletcher told of his brief talk with Lord Benedict. Of course, just as Gerda warned, he wished to speak nothing of it, but he did say that his sister Llewella might be able to point us in the right direction. Syrana, of course, was along for the ride.
I think I felt somewhere in the back of my mind that we already doomed, even before the demons attacked.
*****
Here's what I remember -- five demons materialized. I shouted for Syrana and the others to head for Gerda and her men, who were approaching. I must have yelled too loudly, as two of the beasts headed my way, and then a great force was on top of me.
Suddenly, my mind was nearly rent from me. Snippets of memories floated away as one great eye stared at me -- and then a great roar, and a flash of motion blew by as Shen tackled the demon. I got to my feet and pulled the horn from my cloak, hoping I could remember the song I'd learned so long ago in Skara Brae.
Shen was tossed, and the demon stood to face me again -- only to meet the blast of flame as my Fire Horn burst with light, heat, and sound.
The last thing I recalled was looking at one very upset, very burnt demon.
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