Jared uth Wistan

Gameplan

I began my day by heading once again down to the castle morgue, where Caspian was still doing an investigation of the corpse. I looked over Willard's torso -- someone had carved a very delicate yet prominent symbol into the flesh. Probing the wounds, I found them to be uniformly deep and carefully carved; most of the sigil seemed to be of one contiguous cut. Caspian filled me in as to what he knew -- precious little, I found. There was not much in the way of magical residue, and the symbol was unknown to him. It hadn't come up in research either. Unfortunately the only one from Amber who reportedly knew anything about the ritual blood magic was the sorceress Fiona, who had not been heard from in two thousand years. I asked Caspian if she had any living children or siblings -- there was Delauney, a daughter, and to my surprise, one Jenner Vaughn.

Since I was on my way to see him anyway, away I went (but not before a stop to pick up my pack.) On the way, who should I run into but Mythos -- and quite a sight she was; looking as if my mother had picked out an appropriate outfit for a formal gathering. She was on her way to an agreed meeting with the High Priestess. I decided not to ask at that time.

We parted company as Jenner met us on the way out, and then it was into our saddles and up along the mountainside. After a quiet ride, we entered a glen very much like that one on Arden Isle -- and then I realized that this was the original.

*****

"Many, many years ago," began Jenner, "there existed a group dedicated to preserving the status of this place, and indeed, the universe in which we exist. This group was called the Sentinels, and I... I was one of them. At that time, our leader," and he looked aside for a moment, before continuing, "had us promise that when the time came, and when he gave the call... we'd return."

I smoothed my moustaches out of habit. "Let me guess; he has called."

Jenner nodded. "Dark times are on the horizon. I have only known you a short time, Jared, but what I know of you is that you are a good and true man -- something not seen much here anymore. I ask your help, if we should need it -- and we most certainly will."

"I'm not a young man, and I like to think I'm a bit wiser for it," I began, looking at the serene glade around me. "If you should need my help you need only ask."

I watched a sigh escape his lips, and he looked a bit like he'd lost ten years of age. "I thank you, grandson." I looked around again for a moment, realizing that that was the first time any of my relatives here had acknowledged me by that familial of a name. Jenner looked at me again. "I think I will stay here for a while, to pray."

I left him in peace.

*****

Dinner came and went. Cordelia was not there; Fayne had said that someone else had said that Cordelia was gone. Checking on the children, I found that Merlin had told them to stay in the their quarters until he came back. I realize that I can't save everyone, so I left Merlin to his most capable devices.

Returning to dinner, I caught the tail end of Fayne describing his difficulties in returning to his home. "...if I had a Trump of Amber, I could go," is what I caught, and a Trump of Amber is what I had. His eyes lit up when I produced it from my pockets, and I lent it to him with the pledge that he'd return it. It would not do to give away Grandmother's gifts to me.

After dinner, I retired to quarters with Mythos and began to explain the things I was beginning to piece together. My theory was that the coming darkness that Jenner referenced may be existent in all worlds. I didn't think it was coincidence that the rising of the Dark Knights in my homeland occurred just as things started here, as well. I proposed we keep our eyes and ears open, and find out all we could; Mythos had been given an order to check out something with her sister, and invited me along. Exactly what this was about was dubious, but from what Mythos noted, Geraint said it bore checking on; thus, we will leave on the morrow.

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