Lenore
After returning home from Sawallways, I decided to contact Sarah.
Shaenan had said she was pursuing the Magic Circle matter, after all, and
besides, I should formally let her know of my return...although I was
certain she knew of it already. Since she was not in residence in
Skeltland, I Trumped her. She came into focus relatively quickly, looking
quite vibrant and alive.
"Do you have a moment to talk?" I asked, not wanting to interrupt her
if she was busy.
"Of course," she replied.
She secured a familiar-looking chain to a bedpost, then held out her
hand for me. As I grasped it and pulled her through, I recalled why the
chain seemed so familiar. It looked very much like the chain Cerridwen
had placed on Meridian, back when she had...subdued him. So, it seemed
that Cerridwen had proved cooperative with Shaenan, after all.
I waited for Sarah to be seated before seating myself and observing,
"I see that being engaged agrees with you."
She smiled mischievously. "I found some very fun things in
Arcana."
"Arcana?" I had never heard of such a place.
"Oh, the realms of magic."
I hated to admit to my ignorance of a subject, but I saw no way to
avoid it in this case. "I did not know there were any realms of
magic."
"Did you not hear what happened to the Magic Circle?"
"No, our Emperor simply told me that it was missing, and he wished to
find it." Although I was beginning to suspect that I was not the only one
who had been withholding information in that meeting.
"I see that Shaenan is being coy. Gawain absconded with the Magic
Circle and set up a third pole of reality, which he calls Arcana, the
Realms of Magic."
"Did he now?" I felt my eyes narrow in irritation. Bad enough that
Gawain had stolen the Circle from us, but this? A third pole of reality?
It was unacceptable!
Sarah anticipated my next question. "It is as the Courts or Amber.
And I am in the process of, um...recovering it."
I expected no less. Still, I wished there was something I could do.
"Do you need any assistance?"
"Oh, I think I'm doing pretty well, so far."
"Yes, I would say you are. You seem quite pleased." Incredibly so,
given that she could hardly be less irritated by this turn of events than
I.
"I nearly blew him up last week. That was quite fun, and all the
distraction I needed to get in and assay the Circle myself."
Ah, that would explain her good mood. I had heard rumors that the new
Logrus had some Pattern in it, due to Shaenan's involvement in its
creation, and there had been speculation as to whether taking the Logrus
would imbue the assayer with any of it. Apparently it had, at least
enough to allow Sarah to survive walking the Circle. "I had wondered if
you had an opportunity to take advantage of that."
"The Logrus enabled me to go through it."
"How wonderful." Hmm, if it enabled her to survive taking the Circle,
did that mean...?
Again, Sarah anticipated the direction my thoughts were heading. "I
suppose someday, if I choose to, I could probably assay the Pattern as
well, but I'm going to wait until someone else tries that first."
"That would be wise. I have found it is always best to let someone
else take care of such things." Like that Chanicut Lord, for example.
"Things are going quite well," Sarah noted, switching her focus to
internal affairs. "Within a few days, the House will be meeting to elect
who is going to be the next Duchess after me. They will probably decide
upon Nessarose."
"That was my thinking, yes." She had been close to Sarah, after all.
As had I, but I had returned to the Courts only recently. Nor did I want
the job, truth be told. It was power, yes, but too visibly so, and I was
not well enough re-established in the Courts to safely take such a
position...yet.
"I would like you to be her advisor."
I smiled genuinely at that, for that was the position I had wanted all
along. "But of course."
"Nessarose will give in to me on this one, regardless of who she had
in mind, and I think she will recognize that you are the most...eligible
person to advise her in taking care of the House. I don't know that the
girl really has an understanding of caution yet, and I think someone needs
to impress that upon her."
I nodded. "Who does she have in mind?" I would need to deal with
that matter quickly, lest it become a bigger problem later on.
"I don't actually know." I quirked an eyebrow as Sarah paused, not
believing that for a minute. "She will do as I say," Sarah continued
firmly.
"I am more concerned about what the other one will do." I would
tolerate no rival for my authority. Sarah, of all people, should
understand that.
"The women of Chanicut...do not oppose one another, no?"
Which was Sarah's way of telling me that neither I nor Nessarose's
choice would be allowed to engage in any infighting. Nor would
Nessarose's choice be allowed to oppose me. I acquiesced with another
nod. "True. At least that much has not changed while I was gone."
"No. Some things remain constant. Chanicut being the primary."
"Quite. I shall do everything I can to ensure that it continues to be
that way."
Sarah seemed satisfied by this and got to her feet. "I must return
now, things are a little tentative in Arcana. I'm just about to let loose
something quite fun."
I rose as well. "Ah, I wish I could watch." Especially if it
involved punishing Gawain in some way.
"You'll find out, in time, don't worry."
I nodded. "Well, enjoy yourself."
"I will."
"And enjoy your lovely...present," I smiled, alluding to Meridian. I
well recalled her desire to punish him for his part in creating the
Circle.
To my surprise, she responded, "Actually, I do have a small favor to
ask of you."
"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow. If Sarah felt the need to ask, whatever
it was, it was not small.
"I have something I need taken care of. There's someone I picked up
along the way that I want to be watched over."
"Really?"
"Mm-hmm. A hostage, you could say. You may want to find a nanny for
her, I just want to ensure that she is kept out of the way. I don't know
that raising a child is exactly what you want to do right now, but at
least until she reaches...a marriageable age."
I forced smile to my face, but inside I was horrified. A child? She
wanted me to take care of a child for her? Was there no one else she
could saddle with this task? She knew how little I cared for
children.
I am sure Sarah noticed my lack of enthusiasm, but naturally, she did
not comment. "Let me just go back through the Trump, and I'll pass her
through."
"Thank you," I responded, unable to keep a touch of sarcasm from my
voice.
Sarah drew a Trump and vanished, then rejoined me a few minutes later.
To my horror, she passed me what appeared to be a six-month-old girl,
with dark hair and blue eyes. I held her at arm's length, not quite sure
what to do with her. This was even worse than I had suspected. The child
was no more than an infant! "It would be my pleasure to watch over her
for you," I stated rather woodenly.
"Her name is Lenore," Sarah informed me. As if I cared.
"Lenore. Very well."
"And this is not to be spoken of outside the House," Sarah
instructed.
"Of course not."
"If anyone asks, I would prefer you claim she to be your
daughter."
I could not prevent an expression of distaste from crossing my face at
that suggestion. My daughter? Did she honestly expect me to publicly
claim that I had borne a child out of wedlock? A small favor, indeed!
Sarah obviously realized how much this idea distressed me, for she
added, "Or, perhaps, a daughter of a friend, make up a suitable lie."
"I am sure I can come up with something." I was not sure what, just
yet, but I was confident that would change soon. Lenore squirmed a bit in
my hands at this point and made a mewling noise. I reluctantly held her
closer, trying to imitate the way that Sarah had been holding her. This
seemed to satisfy her, for she closed her eyes and was thankfully silent
again.
"Kill someone if you need," Sarah continued. "Just make sure that
there's an excuse for why she's in your protection."
I reluctantly admitted, "I have spent enough time in Shadow, she could
be the child of a marriage no one knew about."
Sarah considered that briefly, then rejected it. "No, keep your pure
image, it will help you later."
I did not bother to hide my relief. "Hmm, I am sure I can come up
with some excuse."
"A sister's child is good."
"That is true." Or a mother's child... "Well, have your fun, enjoy
yourself," I bid her, anxious to have her on her way before she asked any
additional "small" favors of me. Sarah was the only person in existence
who could have asked this much of me, but even I had my limits.
Sarah nodded and Trumped out, leaving me with the sleeping infant in
my arms.
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Last modified on November 27, 1999 by Kris Fazzari.