The next few days brought much tragedy to my family and people of Amber city. It's a disservice to them really, how easily I can write about this. These are my people; I should be able to feel their pain more acutely, but I am still a stranger to them in many ways, and they are strangers to me, fewer though they may be.
My first task upon returning to Amber was to prepare for Nicholas' coronation. I visited with Marta in the city, and I was able to get her help in custom fitting the dress I conjured. In return I offered her a boon, that she might request from any cloth her mind could imagine, and my magic would make it real. She seemed startled by the offer, but wisely accepted it, and more wisely still, chose to wait and think on exactly what she wanted. My respect for these people grows.
On the way back I passed by Alexandra and we made polite chit-chat before going our respective ways. I had not realized that she was back in Amber, though I suppose it shouldn't surprise me. I can't imagine her missing the coronation. I also ran across Ishmael and his blushing bride Maddy. Upon meeting me she curtseyed, for which I gently admonished her, stating that it wasn't really necessary with family. Ishmael saw fit to add that I should curtsey to her. As if.
It saddens me. I had hoped that finding a wife would perhaps civilize him somewhat. I suppose that was too much to ask. Ah well. She's mortal; she'll die. And perhaps in despair he will find some measure of nobility yet. I gave him a brief glare and went on my way. He had nothing useful to say...no big surprise there.
After lunch, I went to meet with Nicholas, seeing Gavin on the way out of the King's office. I met with Nicholas briefly to discuss my recent concerns about the legal issues that had been troubling me as of late. Unfortunately, his current situation did not allow for too much discussion, and so I offered to work with Caine to help him with the problem of his rebellious nobles...and to do it in such a way that caused no harm and no grief. I think it surprised him that I might use something other than negative reinforcement to have my way. Sad to realize how little faith my King has in me.
The dress taken care of, I still had one major concern for the ball...my lack of an escort. My luck being what it is, I could only assume that my ex-husband would be there, and so it would not do for me to be unescorted. The more impressive and intimidating the escort, the better. Shard would do nicely. Unfortunately, he wasn't answering any trump calls. I knew better to inquire with Ariana about him. Her wagging tongue would tell the world that he and I were engaged if I so much as asked after him. And so instead I chose to visit with the only woman in all of Amber could be described as more flakey than dear Ariana, my sister Alexandra.
Alexandra was in her quarters, and looking in good spirits. We chatted; I asked after Shard. She knew nothing. Quel surprise. She offered to help, but I graciously declined her offer. No doubt she'd have had Jack teleport him to my side in the middle of the Coronation.
With nothing else to do, I spent the rest of the day relaxing...took a bath...had Elaine help me with my hair...and prepared for the night's festivities.
I arrived at the ball shortly after mother did, and I greeted her warmly, thanking her for rescuing Alexandra. (And thus saving me the hassle.) As I went to get some punch, I noted that Edwin had arrived. My luck held true, you see. With little else to do, I went to chat with Elspeth, whom I have found to be a charming young woman, and a good conversationalist. I chatted with her, breaking off only when I noticed that Shard had arrived.
I noted his tense conversation with Julian, his father, and his little staring match with Eric, which left our former regent somewhat discomfited, and then Shard retired to the balcony where I joined him. We chatted briefly and I asked if he would consent to be my escort that evening. With a slight smile, he offered his arm. I noted that Edwin seemed less than pleased, and then I failed to note his presence again that evening.
Across the room, a wonderful seen had begun, played out for my eyes alone, though I was kind enough to narrate the events to Shard. Mother and my lovely sister in deep conversation, my ability to read lips made quite useful. Near to tears she told that Kiril was none other than Jack. Which explained a lot actually. And mother, bless her heart, refused to lift that cup from her brow. Keep him out of mischief, she replied, and unspoken threat if Alexandra failed.
I must give my sister credit, though. As Jack mingled with the nobles, she so carefully contrived to fake an abdominal pain...which immediately brought the proud father of her unborn children to her side. Gently he escorted her to a seat, and she asked him to promise not to cause trouble. He refused, and she uninvited him. The look on his face was darling. And he sunk through the stone floor, much to the surprise of the gathered nobles.
And I thought she'd inherited nothing from mother.
I giggled at the thought, and loudly applauded my sister, though I doubt she heard it over the commotion. And all too soon, the laughter died.
Dinner began, and Nicholas his toast. We all drank deeply, and then the nobles began to collapse. It hit my stomach like lead...I had been poisoned. I asked Shard to carry to my room immediately. He did and then he left me alone, per my request. I needed to clean the poison from my system, and so indelicately I caused myself to expel the wine. In that puddle lay my ring, which I quickly cleaned off and swallowed again...that it might begin cleaning my blood of the last vestiges of the poison. It took me a bit to steady myself, but soon I was able to stand and move about, though my head hurt terribly.
I went to find mother...offering to help...but she didn't know what to do with me, and so I went to Vetch, who mentally showed me how to make the antidote for this poison. I spent the rest of the evening conjuring curative for the nobles and the family. It helped the family greatly, and helped some of the nobles. Sadly, even my curative couldn't save most of them. It was just too late.
A great many people died that evening...but most terribly...Beauty...Nicholas' beloved wife...died as well.
By the time the sun rose, I had done all I could with providing antidote, and so I sought out Benedict for advice on how I might help further. He had little to offer me. I talked to one my friends, who has also been at the dinner and survived the poison, and learned that the poisoning was attributed to Nicholas of all people. I set my people to countering that rumor, and went to talk to Bartholomew, to enlist the aid of the Church in countering these rumors. I didn't realize, though, that all but one priestess had died because of the poison. The church would be unable to help in this time of loss. He said he would try...I could ask no more of him.
Exhausted, I wandered back to my room and slept until just past suppertime. I awoke with no appetite...and a burning desire to learn who had done this. Thus I stayed alone in my room, perched in a comfortable chair near the fireplace, and used the Pattern to send my mind aloft. So much to see....
The first sight was less than happy. Gavin tied to my mother's bed, with Ishmael watching him attentively. I didn't even want to know, so I moved on. I saw the dead being carted out of the main hall...and the sick being tended to. So much tragedy. The child remnants of two houses being lead by family members...it did not bode well. And in the basement, Benedict questioning some noblewoman who defied my sight somehow. Looking more closely, I found the source of it in a ring she wore, and trumped Benedict to inform him of the problem. He had her remove it, and I continued watching and advised him when she had at last been stripped of all her magical regalia. And then I left him to finish the interrogation.
I kept scanning and noted mother fighting with Dierdre...whom I had thought long dead. I suppose this family has more surprises than necessary. It has been a week for resurrections, and not all of them have been pleasant. Returning to myself, I noted that Gavin was alone now and that the door had been left open. Rather than allow my mother's reputation to be completely sullied, I sent Elaine to close the door.
She returned in quite a state, and I couldn't help but giggle. And then patiently I explained to her that Gavin was bound thusly because he was subject to fits. That she understood. Given the recent stresses, I saw that it might be better to give her the day off. There had been so much death in the Castle; she needed to be away from it for awhile. She left, and I continued my scrying, but there was really little more to see.
I went to supper eventually, though my appetite was still slight. I ate but little. Gavin was there...but different. They had shapeshift him somehow...I don't quite understand why, but I don't see fit to ask at this time. One thing that gave me concern was that I hadn't seen Alexandra after the dinner...it hadn't even occurred to me to inquire about her health.... She's quite far along in her pregnancy.... On that depressing thought, I left for my rooms to track her down.
Not wishing to disturb mother, I instead elected to trump her...and found that she was doing just fine. In fact, she was happily bouncing on Jack at the time, the only sexual position probably allowed by her pregnancy. It took me a moment to realize...and to feel her amusement at having played so vile a joke on me...and then I took control and slapped him with all the strength in her arms...and then I broke the contact.
In a state bordering on rage, I went to mother to inform her of her daughter's latest wickedness...but at her door, I reconsidered. No. I knew a better person to tell...in time. Nicholas, I'm certain, would be interested in knowing how my sister chose to console herself after the tragedy.
And so mother and I drank bourbon, and chatted, and did needlepoint...which was unlike any interaction we'd ever had.