Miranda's Page | Miranda's Logs
Miranda tells Maevyn that Brand doesn't know what walking the Pattern will do to the child, but it likely won't be anything good. There is one possibility, however. She tells him about the boon she was granted ten years ago by the goddess Solange. It's possible she can use this to learn how to reach the Primal Pattern without walking it. This assumes she can contact Solange, of course. She tries praying to Solange to accomplish this, but nothing happens.
Maevyn receives a Trump call from Brand, who says the undead armies have begun attacking, so they must go to Tir-na Nog'th as soon as possible. They Trump to Barimen's estates in the East, then ride to the Tir and wait for the steps to appear. There's still no sign of Solange. Miranda tries calling her more formally, saying, "Solange, I crave my boon of thee." No response. The stairs to Tir appear, and they begin climbing. It's a long climb, lasting 15 minutes or so. At the top, they find a castle that looks much like Fiona's, and Corwin's, for that matter. They enter and descend to the Pattern room. Miranda continues praying to Solange as they walk, explaining the situation and her question, which is to learn how she can accomplish her task without hurting her child. Still no answer. While Maevyn is removing his shoes, Miranda leaves the room to talk to her demons, who are hovering outside the Pattern room. She sends one to request an audience with Solange, then returns. Maevyn asks if her nose is all powdered now. She gives him a look, and says she's sent a message to Solange, but it may not succeed. There is a brief shudder, possibly from a cloud passing in front of the moon. Maevyn thinks he should be going. Miranda notes that if Una could send him back from the Primal Pattern, she might be able to bring Miranda there. Maevyn will ask her. Miranda says she will wait in the Tir for a bit, but if she doesn't hear from Una or Solange, she'll have to follow him.
Maevyn begins walking the Pattern. The Eye glows and surrounds him with energy. When he reaches the center, he vanishes, at which point Solange appears next to Miranda. She notes that she certainly wasn't going to appear while Maevyn was still around. She has no desire to meet Miranda's husband. Miranda notes that they have some uses. Yes, and Miranda is so enjoying the results of one of them right now, isn't she? My, my, my, what a choice she has, her world or her child. She'd like to learn a way to save both. That is her boon, then? Yes. Well, Una has protected her realm very well. It's possible that Logrus could do it, if there was a Logrus user who Una favored. Creatures of the Abyss should be able to do it, although they can't approach the Pattern very closely. There may be technological means that would work. Or any of the gods can do it. Including herself? Yes. Will she? She wants something in return. What? Her throne. Lilith's throne? Yes. Miranda accepts the deal.
Solange says she wants Miranda to appreciate the irony of the situation first, and brings up a scrying spell. Miranda sees Maevyn binding the wounds on his feet from his Pattern walk, then he suddenly jumps to his feet and gets hit in the back with a scimitar. Miranda shrieks. While Maevyn fends off the one Siren, the scene shifts to show the other two sirens loading crossbows. Solange says they are technological, and that Miranda should be concerned about where Llewella is. Miranda tries to think of a useful spell to help Maevyn, but nothing comes to mind. It occurs to her that in the past, the spells only came to her when she was ready to use them. Solange asks if she's ready. No, but she doesn't think Maevyn can wait. She draws her dagger. Solange asks if he's really worth it. Miranda says it will be the end of the world if he dies. Solange says all women think that, then Miranda finds herself at the Primal Pattern.
Having appeared behind the Sirens, Miranda thinks about casting lightning at them, since she recalls that machines don't handle electricity well. This works almost too well. The lighting jumps from one siren to the other, and then towards Maevyn's sword. He throws it away, at which point there's a huge explosion, and Miranda is knocked unconscious. She wakes up several feet from where she was standing. There are pieces of metal everywhere, and several trees have been burnt. She staggers over to Maevyn, who is lying sprawled on the ground, bleeding from the back and with one leg obviously broken. Miranda helps him set it, so he can begin to heal it. Then she tries to cast a spell to protect herself and Maevyn from physical attack, and succeeds. Maevyn asks when she learned sorcery. She says it just came to her. She's not sure why. She tells him that Llewella may be nearby, and suggests they move close to the Pattern, since Solange said that Abyssal creatures will not be able to approach it. Once there, she casts a spell that will protect them against magical attacks, but warns that once he starts walking the Pattern, the spells will no longer protect him.
Una appears on the scene at this point. Miranda curtseys, Maevyn bows from his position on the ground. Una notes dryly that this seems to be Miranda's day for powerful audiences. She tells Maevyn that because the Serpent broke the rules and interfered, they are each allowed to do the same, once. Maevyn asks if she can heal him. She waves a hand, and restores Maevyn to how he was when he first arrived. His feet start bleeding again. Maevyn asks if Miranda can heal that. Miranda tries, and casts a spell that heals the surface injuries. Una asks if they need anything else. Miranda asks where Llewella is, and how she can be killed. Una says she's on the other side of the universe right now. Maevyn says she can't get to the Primal Pattern anyway. Both Una and Miranda say she can. Una adds that Llewella brought the Sirens there. Miranda asks who else might attack Maevyn. Una cannot say. Miranda notices that when Una talks to her, her tone is sharper than when she talks to Maevyn. Doubtless because she's Brand's daughter. Maevyn says he'll need to rest for a while. He asks Una if all he needs to do is repair the breaks with the Eye. Yes. Miranda asks if there's anything she can do to help Maevyn. Protect him from whoever tries to stop him. Una says she'll see Maevyn on the other side, and vanishes.
Maevyn winds up resting for nearly eight hours while Miranda keeps watch. He wakes up and eats some food he brought along to fortify himself, then gives Miranda a sword that Belissa gave him in Thelbane. There is a shudder, and they realize that the sun is beginning to be eclipsed. Miranda gives Maevyn a kiss, and he moves towards the beginning of the Pattern. But before he can set foot on it, a bolt of energy goes past his head. They turn to see a blond man holding a gun. He has odd traceries of silver on part of his face, his right arm, etc. Miranda tries to hit him with lightning, but he reflects it. He shoots at her, and she dodges it. She motions for Maevyn to go, and he sets foot on the Pattern. The man asks who they are, and what they're doing. They're trying to fix the Pattern. He says it's fine the way it is. Who is he? Martin. Miranda tries to have the earth swallow him up, but can't effect the environs. He shoots at her again, but she puts up a spell to deflect light. He shoots at Maevyn, but Miranda blocks that as well. At this point, Miranda has managed to close with him and she attacks him with her sword. He blocks her awkwardly with his gun, which is cut in half by the blade. He throws the pieces at her. She tells him that fixing the Pattern might restore him. He doesn't want to be restored, he likes the way he is. He pulls something out of his pocket, prompting Miranda to try to cut off his hand. The sword hits the silver tracery on the hand, there's a flash, and the sword shatters. The object breaks as well. Martin says this won't do, and throws something at her. After it hits, her eyesight and hearing suddenly become sharper, more clear. More...precise. She can tell exact distances to things. She also notices that her skin has turned silvery. She attacks Martin again, stabbing him in the chest with her dagger, avoiding any silvery areas. He falls back a bit, and says she's exactly like her father. She tries to stab him in the eye, but he dodges. She tries to cast a spell, but the spells don't come to mind anymore. She tries to grow claws, but shapeshifting doesn't work either. She feels something else on her arm, though. It feels like a weapon of some kind, built-in. She points it at him and thinks of firing it, and bullets come flying out of it. Martin collapses in a bloody heap. When she goes to finish him off, shooting at his heart, everything shakes. She realizes she can't risk killing him, so she settles for making sure he won't be getting up any time soon.
Miranda feels herself return to normal and looks to see how Maevyn is doing. He appears to be about two-thirds through, but is faltering now. He seems to be running out of strength. Desperately, she casts about for a way to help him, and a spell comes to her that will allow her to feed her life energy into someone else. She casts the spell, and Maevyn perks up a bit. Unfortunately, it isn't long before Miranda begins to feel tired. She sits down and notices that her skin has gone pale. And then her arms begin to shrivel. She thinks of a spell that takes the energy from other things and uses it to sustain herself for a time. After killing several trees, she collapses to the ground and begins bleeding out of several orifices. She realizes that if she doesn't stop the spell, she's going to die very soon, and cuts it off. She lies there for a while, trying to heal herself, without even the strength to turn her head.
And then she's riding in a carriage. She feels fine. She has needlework on her lap, and Maevyn is sleeping across from her. She wakes him up and asks him what he did. Nothing. He seems as confused by their current location as she is. He asks the driver to stop, then asks how long until they get there. They're about an hour from the castle. Maevyn tells the man to drive on, then tries his Trumps of Brand and Jasra, but gets no answer. Miranda tries her Trumps of Brand and Jasra, and senses that they're being blocked by something. She tries Bleys next, who answers looking surprised. He wasn't sure if she would have hard feelings. Well, she wasn't sure what kind of reception to expect. He tells her she isn't being held responsible for her father's actions. They're still working on Jasra. He adds that King Corwin will expect her to swear fealty to him. Just a formality. Her aunt is looking forward to showing her around the Golden Circle. Which aunt? Flora, of course. She thanks him and ends the contact.
Miranda fills Maevyn in on the conversation. He wonders if they're even still married, but they both still have their wedding rings. Miranda can also tell that she is still pregnant. Maevyn checks his pockets and realizes that he still has the Eye. He tries to use Pattern to alter their course, and the carriage soon comes to a halt. Maevyn asks what's happening. The driver says that they appear to have lost their way. Maevyn tells them to ride on, he's sure it'll be fixed. When they start up again, Maevyn shifts them back. Miranda warns him to be careful about doing that, since it likely isn't known that he has Pattern.
Miranda Trumps Rinaldo, who looks surprised when he sees her. The contact is hard to establish and maintain because of the distance. He tells her she knows he shouldn't be talking to her. His position is tenuous enough as it is. She says she was concerned about him. He tells her to be strong, and the contact ends.
Miranda tries Driscoll next. Once again, the contact is hard to establish and maintain. He appears to remember her, though, and he remembers the old history. Thank God. Maseera remembers too. Miranda says she's on her way to Amber, and is very confused. Driscoll tells her that Belissa is the Empress, Brand is in the dungeon in Thelbane, and efforts are being made on Jasra's behalf. Brand is to be executed in one day. Miranda looks rather shell-shocked by this news. The contact becomes too much effort to maintain, so they end it. Miranda fills Maevyn in. Maevyn hugs her so she can cry.
Maevyn and Miranda arrive at Amber castle. They are greeted by Flora, who tells Miranda to smile. Miranda says she will be dignified, she will be polite, but under the circumstances she cannot smile. Flora goes on about first impressions. Miranda restrains the urge to strangle her. They are brought into the throne room and announced. They bow/curtsey to Corwin. He understands that they are here asking to be welcomed into the family? Yes. He has them swear fealty to him, then says Flora will show them their quarters. Sand intercepts them in the hall and says an ambassador is looking for Flora. Flora gives her a tight look, but leaves. Sand warns them not to piss Flora off. She holds a grudge for years. She tells them that they'll be a party later that evening in their honor. Miranda had been hoping they'd have time to rest up from the journey. They have the rest the day. Sand warns them that Amber is warmer than what they're used to, so they might have to have their clothing altered. Corwin doesn't believe in using sorcery to do that kind of thing. So sorcery is illegal in Amber? No, Corwin just doesn't use it casually. Oh, they shouldn't shapeshift in Amber, either. Which means no demon forms at the party. Miranda and Maevyn find this very confusing. Sand explains that people here don't shapeshift.
Sand leaves once they reach the rooms assigned to Maevyn and Miranda. They proceed to unpack and discuss their situation. Miranda says she can't just let her father die. What are their options? They could return the Eye to Belissa. Maevyn admits that this has certain advantages, but they'd never be able to return to Amber, and it's likely that even if the Empress pardons them, not all in Thelbane would feel the same. Miranda says they could try persuading Corwin to spare Brand's life. Maybe if they can get him to understand what happened, and that Brand isn't the same person anymore, Corwin at least might not want to see him dead. Of course, they'd have to admit that they both have a Pattern imprint to Corwin, and possibly reveal they have the Eye. And Corwin could just take the Eye back, leaving them with no bargaining power at all. Miranda can't think of anything else to do, though. She can't just let her father die. They decide to spend the afternoon trying to learn what the new history is. There may be books in the library, and Maevyn can also contact Lily to try and get a better idea of the situation in Chaos. Maevyn asks if the baby's all right. As far as Miranda can tell, it's fine.
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Miranda's Logs
All text on this page is © 2002 by Kris Fazzari.
Last modified on October 13, 2002 by Kris Fazzari.