Session Nine
After walking the Pattern, Grayson and I stood there together in the center...both of us tired and basking in the power of it all. I reached over and placed one raised finger over Grayson's lips, indicating that he should remain silent, and quietly I called out to Nimue.
Eventually she answered.
I told her through thoughts...not words...and asked that she hide what had transpired...let no one see that Grayson was now of the Pattern. She agreed, and I cautioned him to remain mute, for it might make it easier to trick Jack, and thus revoke his invitation.
I gave him a light kiss on the forehead, and teleported to Nicholas' office. Unfortunately, he had already turned in. I didn't wish to wake him, but I felt that it was important we talk. I trumped him, and he responded soon...and so I came through to him.
With a touch, I verified that it was Nicholas, and with his hand in mine I explained the situation to him. We spoke on two planes. Mentally I told him that Grayson had walked the Pattern, and that we were trying to conceal the matter, in order to trick Jack. Verbally I pleaded with him to give Grayson more time...I had walked it with Grayson looking on...and though Nicholas was only slightly convinced, he did agree to give me six days to convince Ariana's son.
Removing my hand from his, I then spoke to him of my concerns for Ishmael. I fear that Ishmael is making a bad choice in going to Chaos without first walking the Pattern. It could provide him protection from the Logrus...could help him return home should he somehow become separated from the others, and so I pleaded with Nicholas in truth that he order Ishmael to walk the Pattern, and soon, that he might have time to learn how to use it effectively. Nicholas responded positively; we shall see what happens.
I bid him good evening and returned to my quarters. In the silence and darkness of my bedroom, I looked to my own memories, and discovered that my actions regarding Vixen weren't so innocent as I thought. And so I wiped those guilty thoughts away...purged those memories again. My nose bled...my head ached...and so I drifted off to troubled dreams.
I felt somewhat nauseated the next morning, and my head hurt a great deal...but I did attend breakfast. There was still much to be done. At breakfast, I had a long chat with Ariana, Lucien looking on but saying nothing. I did my best to convince her to abandon these foolish plans of hers to go to the war in Chaos. It truly rends my heart to see her abandon her children and husband for something as petty as vengeance on the man who hurt the child she never knew. Lord Eirig is for Grayson to slay; without that catharsis, how will ever grow past this ridiculous self-pitying posture he now assumes? We talked...I don't know that I persuaded her, but at least I introduced some doubts...and that will have to do. My parting words were to tell her that if she did not return, I would watch out for her children.
I saw Grayson at breakfast, looking disheveled and angry. I approached him, placed a hand on his shoulder, and we talked mentally. He had spent a long evening in the center of the Pattern, as he didn't know about the teleportation power of the Pattern. Ooops. I apologized, but I couldn't hide my amusement at this, which only irritated him. Still, he recognized that I was being honest in that I didn't know the extent of his ignorance. Silly boy.
After breakfast, I returned to my room and worked on a little magical project I had thought up. With the loss of my faerie magic, I now lack the ability to heal myself. And I can no longer rack my spells of conjuration. My headband contains twelve useful spells, each having only one more use. How distressing. I activated one of them...a ring which confers the power of regeneration. I then spent a little over an hour modifying it. I removed the stone and enhanced the enchantment, such that the stone could exist within my body and still confer its power. And then I swallowed the stone. Almost immediately I could feel its effects, and my headache began to fade. It's the only protection I can afford right now; I hope that it will help.
Afterwards I went and spoke with mother...for I have decided that I wish to learn the art of making trumps. I asked if I might take classes with Vincent, so as to save her time and trouble. She agreed, but cautioned that I shouldn't allow myself to be intimidated by him...his first trump was a trump trap that gave him nightmares. Somehow I doubt that Ariana's stripling, talented though he may be, will ever intimidate me.
Lunch was quiet, and no one bothered me. A very nice change of pace.
Afterwards, I went to town with Alexandra and Felix, as I needed to buy shoes. Alexandra is rather annoying, really. She is essentially a 17-year-old girl, raised to be royalty and possessing great reserves of power. Needless to say, she is rather arrogant and pedantic to the extreme. Sister or not, I feel I would be better off avoiding her. She'll just irritate me, and it would do mother no kindness to bring more strife into her personal life.
Returning to Amber, I talked with Ishmael and Ariana. Ishmael was annoying as ever; he's going to Chaos...is looking forward to it. He seemed to go out of his way to irritate me; I'm really growing tired of this. It seems that Ishmael needs to be taught a lesson about annoying a daughter of Fiona. When I spoke with Ariana later, she agreed. Apparently he sic-ed Jalana on her about going to Chaos. Rather cruel to use her children against her in that way. And so we resolved to play a bit of a prank against him...to arrange a woman for him in his quarters...after I had drugged his food to ensure that nothing would come of it. Such fun.
Unfortunately, neither Alexandra nor Ishmael showed up to supper. How strange. I wonder if something is going on between the two....
After supper, I visited with Flora for a time, just to make small talk and reassure her that I'm not a total monster, and then I retired to my chambers.
Breakfast the next day was quiet. I met with Grayson and spent the greater part of the morning teaching him the art of conjuration. He has quite a knack for it...and he's learning quickly. I'm glad, for I doubt I'd have the patience required for a slow learner.
After our lessons, I spent some time practicing the Pattern Lens, learning to scry in Amber city and castle...and one of the first things I saw was Gavin speaking with Jack. This would just not do. And so at lunch, I sought out Gavin and spoke with him about this. He has learned the lesson of caution, and is having nothing to do with Jack, though the avatar is definately trying to pull him into his schemes. Gavin's little demonic protector did not set off my warning device...apparently he has walked the Pattern, and this granted him more control over the creature. And so I spent the next hour reciting to him all that mother had taught me of the powers of the Pattern. Well...okay...not all...but enough that he might begin cautiously experimenting without causing too much trouble. I feel like such a mother today, giving my sons enough instruction to feed their hungry minds, watching out for their best interests. Still, I am a tad worried about Gavin's psychic enormity.... Perhaps I could arrange for him to be lobotomized. How angry would mother be over this, I wonder?
When I returned to my rooms, a bouquet of flowers awaited me. And with them, my engagement ring. The scent of the flowers was so overpoweringly lovely, it made me giddy. I hung the ring on a bit of blue ribbon, and set it on the mantle of my fireplace, and placed the flowers about the room. The sun was bright, and so I threw open the doors of my balcony and set up my easel...and began to work on a portrait of Jack.
As I painted, I remembered our times together with a growing sentimentality that is quite foreign to me. Nevertheless, I found myself terribly pleased that he had retrieved the ring and brought it to me again. I have to steel myself against him...but he's just so cute...and fun. I painted, and somehow the painting kept grinning at me. Frustrated I painted over his mouth entirely...the perfect man...though he could not kiss me. Now why did I think that? The flowers smell so sweet and the setting sun is so warm on my face. I worked on his eyes...and I just couldn't get rid of this twinkle there. I put down my brushes; I don't have the patience to paint things right now! And so I changed clothes, got into a more comfortable flowing gown that matched the flowers...and arranged a few into my hair.
Time for supper, and I was soooo hungry.
I sat down next to Ariana, who was looking morose as usual. She kept looking at me funny; she was obviously projecting...looking for an external source of concern 'cause she can't figure out what to about going to Chaos. But I was in such a good mood...it seemed a shame to spoil it by talking to 'the most depressing woman in all of Amber'...and so I changed my mind and went to sit with mother and Alexandra. I asked her where Ishmael was, but she claimed that she didn't know. Likely story! I also whispered to mom (psychically) that I suspect Jack was trying to get me into trouble. I nibbled at the appetizer, and suddenly it occurred to me that I really wasn't hungry at all...and so I left to wander the castle.
You know, I've never really had an opportunity to explore this big ole castle, before, and there's just so much that's fun here. From the battlements you can see all of Amber City...the houses look so little and the people are like ants...or is aunts...aunt Flora looks like a real cow not that she's so pregnant...I wonder if this means I could be pregnant again now that I've walked the Pattern...but who'd be the father...Jack maybe...but he's such a nuisance some times...but he is cute and he sent me these wonderful flowers...they're not Dahlias though...some other kind of flower...I wonder if I could make a garden in the castle...maybe I could gut one of the towers...install a glass roof...but I have to finish that painting first...and deal with that fink Eric...am so glad Vixen is gone...it's really too bad that Jack got rid of her...but I did get the Faerie Ward anyway...which is probably why Jack is avoiding me...which is a shame 'cause I'd really like him to kiss me some time....and then there's Grayson, who's awfully meek, but definately a real cutie....
And then Ariana joined me on the battlements, breaking up my revery. She started babbling something about the flowers being drugged, claiming that I was affected by them. Y'know...her mouth looks really funny when she speaks! I just sat there and watched it...and giggled. Too strange. But I could tell that she was going to be a bother, so I put up an invisible wall between us and headed off. And then she doused me.
At first I didn't know what it was...only that I was suddenly cold and wet and angry and IT WAS ALL HER FAULT! I turned on her, and in an instant she was soaked in oil...now for the match! But then he was there...tall...with long dark hair...pale skin...a sensual mouth...very attractive. I asked who he was, and he said Shard...and then he was gone...and so was she...and I continued on my way. I reached the south tower and climbed to the top...watching the colors spead on the side of Kolvir from the last rays of the sun. And then someone trumped me.
I ignored it...it kept coming...I kept ignoring...and then it hurt.
It had to be mom. So I opened contact, and she pulled me through. And suddenly I realized that I was still cold and wet, and she bundled me off into a warm bath, and when I was clean, dry, and warm, I was beginning to feel a little more clear-headed. I stayed there for an hour or two, and when I felt my senses return, I went back to my quarters.
I held my breath as I entered the rooms...threw out the flowers and opened all the windows and doors. I ushered Elaine out of her room and explained to her that both she and I had been drugged. She was terribly confused, and obviously hallucinating. I psychically caused her to fall asleep, and asked one of the castle servants to take her home to Amber City. I'll give her some vacation time to shrug off the effects of the drug.
Then I left my rooms...they need to air out...and journeyed to the battlements where I met up with Shard once again.