Chapter Fifty-five: "Can I get my lunch before you're dead?"

	Felix visits Tir-na Nog'th.  Ariana attempts to do the same.  Just
as she reaches the stairs, Felix is pulled through by Ahab, who was
spotting for him.  A large cloud bank drifts over the moon and the city
disappears.  Ariana asks if Felix learned anything useful about Sand.  He
claims what he saw involved Sand but it's not about her.  He won't say
anything further and joins Gerard in digging.

	Ariana stands on the stairs for a moment admiring the long drop to
the ocean.  Ahab is a wee bit concerned by this and asks if she's OK.  She
changes the subject to how to track down Sand.  She thinks that locating
the power source for the Spikards is a good place to start, since there's
a chance Sand might be in the same place.  Even if she isn't, if they can
shut down the power source, that will even the odds.  Ahab says he was
under the impression that there was more than one source.  Ariana tells
him she has it on good authority that there's only one.  Ahab figures it's
a good idea.  They to talk to Benedict, to see what he's planning with
regard to Sand.

	Caine sits down next to Usires at the bar and joins him in
drinking.  He gives Usires some tips on his relatives in the simple sort
of language that Usires can understand.  Things like: Fiona is bad,
Llewella is good, etc.  He also tells Usires a little more about Amber and
how the family is related to one another.

	Alex is off in Shadow with Delwin and Mary, having left the castle
before it exploded.  Delwin reveals that anytime someone uses one of the
Spikards, it drains some of his life force.  Unfortunately, Sand has
arranged things so that he can't control the access.  He gives Alex and
Mary information for a spell to change this.  He also warns them that
Bleys and Fiona probably won't be too happy, since it will dampen the
Spikards' power.

	Laughter is in the middle of her weekly state-of-the-alliance
meeting when a cloaked woman walks in.  She is carrying a tall, thin,
rather battered man in irons with a sack over his head.  Laughter stands
up and bows.  The woman says she has a prisoner that Laughter will find
interesting.  She then unhoods the man, who is a na siogai.  He stands
unsteadily and looks around.  He is, of course, Vetch.  Laughter asks the
woman who she is.  She says she is looking out for Laughter and claims
this na siogai is important.  Laughter doubts this, since she's killed the
seven wizards who lead the na siogai.  Sand tells her the na siogai are
ruled by a king, and this man has his ear.  Vetch gives Sand a look of
hatred.  Sand kicks him so that he falls to his knees and tells him to
remain that way in the presence of his betters.  Laughter advises Sand not
to abuse her prisoners at dinner.  Sand says he's Laughter's prisoner now,
and makes to leave.  Laughter asks for the woman's name.  She claims she's
Florimel of Amber and leaves.

	Laughter asks Vetch if that woman was really Florimel.  He shakes
his head.  She asks what he did to incur the wrath of an Amberite.  He
indicates that he'd like some writing utensils.  Laughter asks if the
woman cut out his tongue.  Vetch nods.  She fetches him pen and paper.  He
writes her a note offering information about Amber in trade for his life. 
She comments that he must not value his life very much and calls a
physician to treat his injuries.  She asks why he thinks he'd know more
about Amber than she's learned from her mother.  He replies that he knows
her mother.  She says she does too.  He points out that there's a lot she
doesn't know about Amber then.  She asks how he knows about Amber.  He
replies that he's been there before.  She asks how.  He tells her it was
by the na siogai method.  She asks if there's an equivalent of Trumps for
the non-Pattern endowed.  He says no.  She asks how he knows about Amber. 
He tells her he discovered it long ago.  It's one of the poles of reality,
and one eventually drifts towards one or the other.

	Ahab and Ariana find a light on in Benedict's tent and pause
outside of the flap.  Benedict asks if they're going to stand out there
all night and invites them in.  Ahab mentions Felix's trip to Tir-na
Nog'th, and his opinion that things need to be put in hand.  Benedict says
his near future plans don't extend beyond Amber.  Ahab says that Felix's
future vision showed Sand returning within a year.  Benedict states that
it's only his near future plans that don't include Sand.  He wants to make
sure Amber is stable again before going after her.  Ariana asks if he
knows where Sand is.  Benedict admits that he does.  He also says he
doesn't think Ariana should remain in her current form.  She asks if
Pattern is necessary to reach Sand.  He says there are other ways.  Ahab
notices that Benedict is studying Ariana.  She asks Benedict if he knows
where the power source for the Spikards is.  He does and says blocking it
is being worked on.  Ariana asks how Sand could be reached.  Benedict asks
if she wants his advice.  She says she does.  He tells her not to try at
the moment, since it would be a waste of life.  She still wants to know
how to reach Sand.  He says it could be done through magic or Trump. 
Ariana thanks him and leaves.  Benedict warns Ahab to keep an eye on
Ariana, saying she's too emotional right now.

	Lacking any other options, Ariana Trumps Riftvan again.  This time
the contact actually goes through.  She reaches for Riftvan, but his
bindings prevent him from reaching out far enough for her to grab him. 
She observes through the Trump, trying to figure out where he is.  Ahab
spots her staring at a Trump and uses the Pattern to trace the call.

	Laughter asks Riftvan how long he can last while bound with cold
iron.  He says, with luck, about a month.  She tells him that she will
give him his life in exchange for two weeks of service.  But she won't
unbind him.  She asks what his involvement was in the last conflict.  He
waits for clarification.  She asks about his involvement in Patternfall. 
He admits he was a spy.  She asks for which side.  He says his own.  She
asks if he was working with Fiona.  He replies not really.  She asks what
his name is.  He tells her it's Riftvan Vetch.  She ignores him while she
continues with the rest of the counsel meeting.  Riftvan watches Laugher
so Ariana can get a good look at her.

	Usires figures he should meet this king that Caine has been
talking about.  Caine tells him that would be difficult, since Oberon is
dead.  There's a new king now.  Usires asks if he's one of Caine's
brothers.  Caine says his name is Random.  Usires observes that Caine
doesn't seem to think much of this king.  Caine says he's an idiot. 
Usires asks who the idiot with the missing arm is.  Caine says that's
Benedict, and tells Usires to show him respect, always.  He suggests that
if Usires is respectful, explains the situation, and promises never to do
it again, Benedict might give Usires his ax back.  Usires and Caine spend
the rest of the evening getting drunk and wenching.

	Alex and Mary finish their preparations and cast the spell.  It
succeeds in dampening the Spikards' power.  Mary figures she's done her
part and leaves.  Alex hangs around to see if they were successful. 
Delwin begins laughing maniacally, and continues long enough for Alex to
get concerned.  Then he smiles at Alex and tells him it worked.

	A servant tells Laughter that the Lady Fiona has arrived and is
not in good shape.  Laughter has Fiona taken to her quarters and calls for
the physician to attend to her injuries.  When the meeting is done, she
goes to look in on Fiona, taking Riftvan with her.  She finds Fiona
looking a bit singed and cursing the physician.  Fiona advises her not to
play with fire.  Laughter updates Fiona on the hooded woman who claimed to
be Florimel.  Fiona says that, last she knew, Flora was working on the
soup line.  Laughter tells her that the elf claims the woman wasn't
Florimel.  She also mentions that the woman cut the elf's tongue out. 
Fiona finds this amusing.  She advises Laughter not to trust Riftvan and
to keep an eye on him.  Sequence, Laughter's sword, starts urging Laughter
to kill the elf.  Laughter points out that wouldn't be proper, since he's
now her servant.  Sequence is disappointed.  Fiona is much amused. 
Laughter wonders if Fiona would tell the truth if she was held in cold
iron.  Fiona gives her a startled look.  Laughter says it was a random
thought.  Fiona observes that she has many of those.  She asks if Laughter
really wants to keep Riftvan and suggests asking who he's in Trump contact
with.  Laughter does so.  Ariana breaks the contact.  Riftvan indicates
that he needs writing utensils.  Fiona figures it was his lover.  Laughter
asks if she's a na siogai.  Fiona says she is at the moment.  Laughter is
confused by this.  She spends the rest of the night in her study.  Riftvan
asks for something to drink and then goes to sleep on her coach.

	Ariana tells Ahab that she's found Fiona and Riftvan.  Ahab says
he knows where they are.  Ariana asks if he can get Riftvan out of there. 
Ahab says he can take them there.  He attempts to do so but they hit a
barrier and fall unconscious.

	Alex asks Delwin if Theresa is his full sister.  Delwin admits she
is.  Alex asks why Delwin would want to be the power source for the
Spikards if their use drains his life force.  Delwin says he didn't know
that would be the case at the time.  Alex asks what circumstances Delwin
left Lucretia in.  Delwin observes that Sand didn't leave him much time to
pack.  Alex asks what he's planning to do next.  Keeping Sand from killing
him is a high priority.  He's not real keen on going back to Amber, since
Caine and Julian are still mad, and he doesn't even want to think of how
Gerard feels.  He notes that Sand did something that drained the Spikards
enormously, which is the only reason he was able to regain control over
their use.

	Alex opts to head back to Amber and bids Delwin farewell.  He uses
the Logrus to pull himself along.  When he reaches Ygg, his Logrus starts
looking sort of strange.  The part that is pointing towards Amber is no
longer as flexible as the others.  He continues onward.  The closer he
gets to Amber, the more inflexible this arm gets, and the weaker the other
arms get.  When he gets to the outskirts of Amber, the Logrus fades
completely.

	Usires sleeps off the affects of his night out with Caine then
cleans his armor while Caine belches and picks his teeth.  Usires says
he'd like to go back to Amber and talk to Benedict.  Caine asks if he's
ready for that, then asks how good an ass kisser he is.  He advises Usires
to tell Benedict that he was duped.  This doesn't sit well with Usires. 
Caine tells him to say he was a warrior following orders.  Usires asks if
Caine is coming with him.  Caine figures he should come along, since
Julian has been getting rather paranoid lately.  Before they leave, he
shows Usires his Trumps and gives him a rundown on his aunts, uncles and a
few of his cousins.

	Felix takes a break from digging and checks to see if Foster and
Rinaldo are up yet.  They're gone, but there's a note on the bed addressed
to "Father."  It's from Foster and it starts off telling Felix not to
panic, but he's gone to help Eris find Driscoll.  Apparently he was needed
to provide the transportation.  He warns that he's whipped up a spell to
make his Trump inactive and ends by telling Felix not to worry. 
Naturally, Felix ignores this advice and runs back to the ruins.  He finds
Isabeux and hands her the note.  She reads it and asks if Ahab could find
Foster.  Felix says he hasn't seen Ahab since last night.  Isabeux tells
him that she saw Rinaldo earlier this morning.  Felix takes off yelling
his name.  Rinaldo observes that he got the note.  Felix glares at him. 
Rinaldo claims that Foster chose not to take him along.  He adds that he
found the note when he checked in at 1:00 in the morning.  Felix asks what
he was doing.  Rinaldo points out that there's a bit of excitement right
now, and he's unsupervised...  Felix says there'll be plenty of time for
that later.  Rinaldo looks surprised and says he wasn't doing what Felix
implied.

	Molly is well pleased by her night with Bart and offers to be his
guide around the city.  Bart looks nonplused.  She asks if he's one of
those love 'em and leave 'em types.  He denies it, but she doesn't buy it. 
She asks him to at least buy her breakfast.  Bart is revolted by the fact
that she wants to order lobster for breakfast.  She asks if he has money. 
He says he can come up with something.  She tells him she's going to get
even by giving his name to her friends.  Bart doesn't find that a horrible
prospect.  He suggests they bathe before eating.  Molly asks for a sponge
bath.  He doesn't know what she means.  She leads him naked down the hall
to the baths and demonstrates.

	Ahab wakes up in a pastoral Shadow with a sheep staring at him. 
Ariana is still unconscious.  Ahab orients himself and finds he's a Shadow
away from where he wanted to be.  He brings up a Pattern lens and looks
into the adjacent Shadow.  He glimpses a rather Shakespearean looking
place before he's slapped down.  He Trumps Fiona, but she doesn't answer. 
Ahab says she's not helping.  Ariana wakes up with a splitting headache
and asks what happened.  Ahab figures Fiona is blocking them from getting
into the Shadow and there's not much he can do about it.  He shapes his
psyche into the words "Can we talk?" and then "We mean no harm to your
planet."  Ariana checks Riftvan's Trump and finds it's still cold.  She
Trumps him, waking him up, and tells him that Fiona is blocking her access
to the Shadow.  Ahab notices his view into the next Shadow is starting be
blacked out.  Fiona tells him to go away.  Ahab decides this is a good
idea.  He grabs Ariana and teleports back to Amber, breaking her contact
with Riftvan.

	Laugher notices that Riftvan is awake and figures it's time for
breakfast.  She takes him with her into the nursery to get Beauty.  She
notices his interest in Beauty and asks if it's true that they eat
children.  Riftvan frowns.  She says that it must be propaganda and takes
him down to breakfast.  She asks if the chains are necessary to bind him. 
He tells her that even one clasp is sufficient.  She suggests a trip to
the blacksmith might be in order and asks a servant if Fiona is up.  The
servant tells her that Fiona appears to be painting on an invisible
canvas.  She sends the servant to invite Fiona to breakfast.  They return
and tell her Fiona declined, mumbling something about keeping busybodies
out.  Laughter chalks it up to her mother's erratic habits.  Riftvan looks
interested in this bit of information.  She takes him down to get cleaned
up while she bathes Beauty.

	Felix asks Rinaldo when Foster left.  He's hoping to catch up to
the boy.  Rinaldo thinks that's unlikely, since once Foster gets beyond
Arden's barrier, Logrus is faster than Pattern.  Felix mumbles that Foster
really shouldn't have left.  Ahab and Ariana appear.  Felix runs over to
them and shows them the note.  Ahab asks if Felix is sure Foster is his
son.  Ariana asks if Vialle has been notified, since she was watching
Eris.  Felix says she hasn't.  Julian Trumps Felix and says he'd
appreciate Felix's efforts in keeping litter out of the forest.  He hands
a game sack containing Foster through.  Foster looks rather displeased. 
Felix asks where Eris is.  Foster says she's with her father, someplace
safe.  Ariana asks if Random was with Driscoll, but Foster says he wasn't. 
Ariana leaves to update Vialle, leaving Foster to the tender mercies of
Ahab and Felix.

	Ahab asks if Foster has any idea what sort of trouble he could
have gotten into.  Foster asks if Ahab could have said no to Eris.  Ahab
tries to use the problems he had when he went after Rygat as an example of
why Foster shouldn't have left.  Of course, the fact that Ahab continued
to go after Rygat despite the injuries he received pretty much nullifies
his point.  Foster argues that nothing actually happened.  Ahab says that
something could have.  He argues that when Foster is older, he can decide
his life means nothing to him.  Foster asks when he comes of age.  Ahab
says that's up to Felix.  Felix tells Foster that he really should have
asked.  Foster repeats that he couldn't say no to Eris.  Ahab observes
that Foster chooses the oddest times to tell the truth and lie.  Lying to
a ten-year old girl is out of the question, but lying about the fact that
he fed Felix to Vetch is OK.  Foster glares at Ahab.  Felix looks upset
and asks what Ahab is talking about.  Foster says Ahab is just being evil
to make his life uncomfortable.  He adds that it's just water under the
bridge and doesn't matter anymore.  Felix asks again what Ahab meant by
"fed Felix to Vetch."  Foster asks Ahab to explain.  Ahab says he won't
help Foster continue to weasel his way around Felix.  Foster claims it
didn't happen quite like Ahab said.  Ahab tells Felix the whole sordid
story.  Foster screams at Ahab that he's no better than those in Chaos and
starts to run off, but Felix grabs him before he can get away.  Felix says
he's been so worried about Foster and Gerard that he took a trip to Tir-na
Nog'th last night.  Foster says that's dangerous.  Ahab says he was
watching.  Foster tells him the fall isn't what's dangerous.  Felix tells
Foster that he has too much power for a child his age.  He adds that if
Sand ever shows up or Foster gets another Spikard...  Foster asks if Felix
saw a future for him when he was in Tir-na Nog'th.  Ahab tells Foster that
he made out like a bandit, cosmic power and all that.  Felix says he's
going to be hard on Foster in the coming months and that Foster is never
to leave without telling him.  He asks if there's anything else about
Driscoll that Foster can tell them.  Foster says that Driscoll is under
Heather's care, but he's injured and has amnesia.  Apparently he zigged
when he should have zagged when the castle blew up.  Felix suggests that
taking Eris to a man who doesn't remember that he's her father wasn't very
smart.  Foster says he already got this lecture from Heather.

	Bart Trumps Llewella (or she Trumps him, my notes are unclear). 
He complains that he doesn't like Amber much.  It's too dry.  He also
complains about Martin's method of providing him with water.  Namely
making him beg for it.  He asks if he has to stay much longer.  She says
it will be a few days more.  In that case, he'd like some money.  He also
asks what he should be looking for.  She tells him to think of it as an
opportunity to practice his gossiping skills and tells him to charge
everything to Rebma.  He tells her he's acquired an escort.  She tells him
not to ill-use her.  Bart says she didn't understand.  Llewella warns him
that the concept of free love hasn't spread to the surface yet.  She says
that repeat visits are suggested.  Two or three a month.  Bart isn't
pleased.  She says he can come back when it's safe and breaks the contact.

	Laughter asks Riftvan what he prefers to be called.  He replies
that he's been called many things, and he's sure she can settle on
something.  She says na siogai scum has a certain ring to it.  Riftvan
bows slightly.  Laughter figures Vetch will do.  She tells him she was
christened Lavender, but they call her Laughter, and she can't get a new
name.  He smiles and writes that he likes Lavender.  Sequence prefers Mom. 
Laughter asks if it called its maker, Father.  It says that was a
different sort of relationship.  Laughter asks Riftvan to delineate the
process of shifting Shadow.  He tells her one needs to expand one's
imagination.  She asks if this can be done in Foil.  He tells her that not
being of the blood, he doubts a shift would take her far.  She mentions
that she's better at it than the na siogai.  He tells her the ones here
are of poor quality.  They are merely commoners.  She asks how he
accomplishes it.  He tells her that he merely pictures where he wants to
go and recites the proper rhyme.

	Fiona enters the room and asks if Laughter is still playing with
that Faerie.  Laughter admits that she is.  Fiona warns her that if she
asks him any undue questions, she'll have to get rid of him.  Laughter
asks what undue questions Fiona is referring to.  Fiona says Laughter
knows what she means.  Sequence asks "Mom" why Fiona's like that.  Fiona
wonders how Sequence would look as cufflinks.  Sequence opts to leave in a
huff.  Fiona observes that it's totally sick the way that thing refers to
Laughter as Mother.  Laughter thinks it's some sick joke of Cal's. 
Riftvan's ears perk up at the mention of Cal.  Laughter says she hates it
when he does that.  Fiona suggests getting rid of him.  Laughter says she
still has questions for him.  Fiona decides to sit in and Laughter is
unsuccessful at getting her to leave.  She asks Fiona what she was doing
earlier in the infirmary.  Fiona will only say that it was for her own
good.  Laughter opts to go and practice sword fighting.  She takes Riftvan
with her, so Fiona is forced to come along and watch.

	Alex encounters Julian in Arden and manages to finagle safe
passage.  He continues towards Amber.  After a while he hears something
growling behind him.  He turns and sees Battlestar.  Alex asks what he's
done and swears he doesn't know where he is.  He also says he's been given
passage by Julian.  Battlestar says he doesn't work for Julian and
mentions that it's been a long time since he's tasted Chaosite blood. 
Alex asks under who's orders he is to die.  Battlestar asks who he usually
hangs around with and prepares to leap.  Alex jumps to safety in a tree,
getting his leg mangled in the process.  Battlestar licks his chops, says
later, and trots off.  Alex replies that he hopes not.

	Caine and Usires return to Amber.  Ahab notices their arrival but
opts to ignore it.  Felix rolls his eyes.  Usires looks around and spots
Ahab and Felix talking to Foster.  He goes looking for Benedict.  Caine
hangs back.  Usires tells Benedict that there's been a misunderstanding. 
He claims he was unaware of his relationship to this house and the true
nature of the elves he was set to guard.  He adds that Caine suggested
that if he promised not to interfere with the family anymore, he might get
his ax back.  Benedict notes that Usires is a Norseman and asks if he
intends to help Sand in the future.  Usires says he doesn't think so. 
Benedict doesn't find this reassuring.  Usires says he won't help her
intentionally.  Benedict warns that if Usires does so, he will take it as
a personal affront.  Usires nods.  With this understood, Benedict says
Usires will start with a clean slate with him and takes him to get his ax.

	Foster asks if Ahab and Felix are done yelling at him.  Ahab says
the deal was he'd keep his mouth shut if Foster squared things with his
dad and didn't do it again.  Since he didn't...  Foster says that so far
Heather, Julian and the two of them have made him feel like an idiot and
he'd like a break.  They decide to go get breakfast.

	Ariana finds Murine, who tells her that Vialle Trumped out in the
middle of the night.  Since she appeared to go willingly, Ariana figures
Vialle probably went to join Eris.  It occurs to her that she might be
able to push something through her Trump contact with Riftvan and use that
to grab him.  She asks if Murine knows where she can find a staff or pole
with a hook on one end.  Murine finds one for her.  Ariana gets some
medical supplies and Trumps Riftvan again.  Riftvan sees the hook and
reaches out towards her, pretending to stretch.  Ariana tries to push the
hook through, but Fiona cuts off the contact before she succeeds.  Fiona
suggests that Laughter make Riftvan promise not to escape.  Laughter tells
Riftvan that if he's offered escape, she'd prefer he didn't leave.  She
also tells Sequence to guard him.  It buzzes around him a few times before
landing right between his legs.  Laughter tells it that's not going to
help.  Riftvan isn't real pleased.  Sequence argues with Laughter and
Fiona for a while.  Ariana tries to reach Riftvan again and is cut off
once more.

	Bart annoys the Hell out of Foster on the food line.  Felix,
Foster and Ahab have a very silly conversation, which I am not going to
dignify by recording it here.

	Alex changes into a bird and flies clear of Arden, then walks the
rest of the way into town.  He is surprised to find that the castle is
gone and figures that must be why Sand drained the Spikards.  He joins
Felix, Foster and Ahab at breakfast and tells them of his encounter with
Battlestar.  They speculate as what exactly is going on in Arden.

	Ariana tells Benedict that Fiona appears to be alive and well. 
Benedict is not surprised.  She asks him for advice on how to keep a Trump
contact open when someone else is interfering.  He suggests speaking with
someone who's more skilled in Trump.  He mentions that Bleys might be
willing to help, since he likes tormenting Fiona.  She thanks him, leaves,
and Trumps Bleys.  She says she has a favor to ask, but she doesn't want
to discuss it over Trump.  He pulls her through to him.  She explains that
Fiona is keeping something she wants in one of her Shadows.  She describes
the Shadow and Laughter and asks if he can help.  Bleys advises her not to
mention Laughter to Fiona and says he'll talk to his sister.  He leaves
the room.  A short while later, he returns and tells her to go ahead.

	Ariana Trumps Riftvan and tries to hook his chains.  He gives her
an apologetic look and tries to move his hands away, but she succeeds and
pulls him close enough to drop the pole and grab him.  Sequence tries to
cut her hand off, but she blocks it with Alastor.  It flies through the
contact and is engaged by Bleys.  Laughter leaps forward and grabs
Riftvan's leg.  She is dragged through the contact and lands on top of
him.  Ariana points Alastor at Laughter and tells her to get off of
Riftvan.  She refuses.  Ariana Process Snuffs Laughter and pushes her off. 
Sequence is most upset by this and engages Ariana.  Ariana manages to hold
it off.  Bleys Trumps Fiona and winces in pain.  He assures her that he's
working on returning Laughter.  He picks Laughter up, which causes her to
wake up.  She orders Sequence to her.  Sequence reluctantly disengages. 
Ariana frees Riftvan.  Laughter says she trusts Ariana has a reason for
this attack.  Ariana says she does.

	Fiona arrives and orders Laughter to return to Foil.  Laughter
asks Riftvan how he stands.  Riftvan tells Ariana psychically that he must
stay with Laughter for two weeks.  Laughter says Ariana may come if she
wishes.  Ariana asks if Laughter will bind Riftvan with iron again. 
Laughter promises not to.  Fiona insists that Laughter return.  Laughter
doesn't want to and asks why she must.  Fiona admits Laughter isn't in
danger but says it will be terribly inconvenient for her if Laughter
doesn't go back.  Laughter reluctantly agrees to return.  Ariana decides
to go with Riftvan.  Fiona makes Laughter promise not to ask about Amber,
her father, or Shadow shifting.  Then Fiona picks up one of the iron bands
and uses it to catch Riftvan's eye.  Once she has eye contact, she forces
him to approach her.  Ariana breaks their eye contact, but it doesn't seem
to help.  Fiona puts the iron band on Riftvan's wrist.  While he must tell
the truth, she makes him swear not to tell Laughter of Amber, Chaos or
Shadow.  He swears to this and she removes the band.  Laughter is upset
with Fiona, since she had just promised not to do that.  Fiona brings them
back to Foil.

	Foster and Felix go back to moving rubble.  Foster drops a rock on
his foot when he sees Usires with his ax.  Ahab tells Foster that Usires
has been "cained," which earns him a rock in the back of the head.  When
Ahab turns around, Caine is innocently watching him.  Felix suggests that
Foster work over by Gerard.  He approaches Usires and says he's surprised
to see him again.  He asks if Usires' will be using that ax on Foster. 
Usires says he won't, now that he knows who Foster is.

	Alex checks the dead but Lucretia is not among them.  He
approaches Benedict, who notes that he seems to be popular today.  Alex
asks if Chaos has been notified about the destruction of the castle. 
Benedict observes that would be unwise.  Alex mentions that he was
attacked in Arden.  Benedict notes there are some elements in Arden beyond
Julian's control.  Alex tells him it was Battlestar who attacked him. 
Benedict says Julian left that little detail out.  He Trumps Julian and
asks if he needs help.  Julian says it hasn't reached that stage yet. 
Alex joins the others in the rubble.

	Riftvan puts his arms around Ariana and hugs her.  Laughter shows
them to a room.  Sequence tells Laughter it wants to go out, but won't say
where.  Laughter tells it to go ahead.  It goes back to the room where
Laughter left Ariana and Riftvan and knocks.  Ariana asks who it is, and
is surprised to hear it's Sequence.  She draws Alastor and lets it in.  It
asks if it can spar with her later.  She agrees.  It also asks her about
Shadow.  She won't answer.  Riftvan tells her Sequence might be able to
move through Shadow, which means it might be able to lead Laughter out. 
He asks to examine Sequence magically.  Sequence allows this and finds
that it tickles.  Riftvan determines that it can't move through Shadow on
its own.  Sequence continues to try and get information on Shadow from
Ariana.  It starts to remind her of Ahab in some ways and the idea of them
meeting appeals to her, partly because of the inherent Faerie sense of
mischief.  She comments to Sequence that there's someone she'd really like
it to meet.  It likes the idea, so she tells it to leave and closes the
door.  She then proceeds to Trump Ahab.  Or tries.  It's blocked. 
Sequence flies through the door (literally) and is disappointed that it
didn't work.  Fiona walks in a short time later and she doesn't look
happy.  Sequence leaves in a hurry.  Fiona starts casting a spell.  When
she directs the final lynchpin at Ariana, Ariana disrupts it.  Fiona looks
annoyed and says Ariana will return to Amber, it's just a question of
doing it the easy way or the hard way.  Ariana insists on knowing why. 
Fiona won't say.  Laughter walks by and asks what's going on.  Fiona says
Ariana must leave.  Laughter says that Ariana is her guest.  Fiona
insists.  Laughter tells Fiona that she can leave.  She points out she
promised Ariana could stay, and Fiona has Riftvan's bond as well as her
own.  Ariana offers to swear to the same conditions.  Fiona asks if she's
willing to do so under iron.  Ariana says she is.  Fiona tells her it's a
dark hole she's fallen down and she hopes she can claw her way out of it. 
She leaves in a huff, followed by Laughter.  Laughter tells Fiona she
doesn't have to go, but Fiona leaves anyway.

	Riftvan tells Ariana not to make an enemy of Fiona.  Ariana says
she's trying not to, and comments that being a Faerie can be annoying. 
Riftvan offers to change her back.  She doesn't want him to, since then
she can't go back to Tir-na Nog'th.  She asks what set Sand off.  He says
she needed a new power source, since Delwin was fading, and she thought
the Jewel would work.  Ariana asks how Sand caught him.  He says she
nailed him with magic when he was trying to do something nasty to her.  He
warns Ariana that he's been locked in this form by Sand, which is why he
couldn't shapeshift to escape his bonds.  He doesn't know how to undo it. 
Given that one of his other forms is dying, this is not necessarily a bad
thing.  Laughter chooses the moment after this little bombshell has been
dropped to knock on the door.  Ariana asks her to wait a moment and asks
Riftvan what happened.  He tells her that he was infected with Chaos
cancer in the process of saving Morgan.  There's no one he trusts who can
reverse it.  She asks why he wished her luck before Sand attacked her.  He
says had a hunch Sand was probably going to try something.  He didn't warn
her explicitly because Sand would have noticed that she was prepared and
done something worse to her.  This would tend to go against his goal of
keeping her breathing.

	Bart and Felix get into an argument in the soup line.  Bart claims
he's a member of the royal family.  Ahab asks who his parents are.  He
won't say who his mother is, but claims that Felix is his father.  Felix
is most upset by this.  Bart brings up the naked visit to Rebma that
Felix, Foster, Ahab and Ariana made six months ago.  Ahab isn't bothered
by this.  He points out that Bart had better be sure he's telling the
truth, because if he's not a member of the royal family, Felix can take
his head off and no one can do anything about it.  Bart asks if this is
true.  Molly confirms it.  Alex checks to see if Bart has Pattern and is
surprised to find that he does.  He shares this information with the
others.  Ahab runs his own check and confirms this.  The conversation gets
rather silly again.

	Ariana tells Laughter to come in.  Laughter tells Riftvan that he
can go, since she can't ask him what she wants to know and he can't tell
her.  Riftvan says he'll stay anyway.  He tells Laughter that he'll do
what he can, within the bounds of his promise, to help her leave Foil. 
Ariana asks Riftvan psychically if there's any other reason why he's
staying.  He tells her that since he agreed to stay while bound by iron,
he can only be released the same way, and he's had quite enough of cold
iron recently.  Ariana asks Riftvan if he thinks the twins are OK.  He
says they were when he left them.  She asks what the time differential is
between Foil and Tir-na Nog'th and learns there's about a twelve hour
difference.  Riftvan asks if she wants to bring the twins to Foil.  She
does, as long as it's safe.  Riftvan asks Laughter if he can bring his
children to Foil, since their mother hasn't been able to spend much time
with them since they were born.  Laughter has no problem with this. 
Riftvan is still able to cast spells despite the loss of his tongue, so he
opens a gate back to Tir-na Nog'th and sends Ariana through.  Ariana
gathers up the twins and some essentials, and then Trumps Riftvan.  He
pulls her through and she fusses over the twins for a while.  Laughter
takes them up to the nursery and asks if they're married.  Riftvan says
they aren't in the eyes of the law.  Laughter says she could marry them. 
Riftvan declines.  Laughter notes that Ariana and Riftvan attract quite a
bit of unfriendly attention in their current forms and offers to disguise
them with a glamour.  Ariana winds up with blond hair and blue eyes while
Riftvan looks like a handsomer version of Corwin.  Ariana asks Laughter
about her background.  Laughter explains that she was brought to Foil when
she was around three moths old by Julian, who subsequently forgot where he
left her.  She was swapped with another baby, who was raised by another
family.  Riftvan asks if Shakespeare's plays are still performed here. 
Laughter looks unhappy and says that she is dead.  That's one of the
things that set off the war with the na siogai.  Ariana asks how Laughter
came to be the Queen, since that's usually a hereditary position. 
Laughter explains that her mother's children were half na siogai, and
there was a prophecy that a half-breed would rule.  She's the only one of
her mother's children left, and it's not commonly known that she's not her
mother's natural child.  Ariana asks if Laughter will teach her Faerie
magic, in exchange for some weapons training.  Laughter agrees to consider
it.

	Ahab Trumps Fiona, who looks upset.  He asks if she really needs
Vetch.  She says that's been taken care of.  Ahab notes that Ariana can be
a spoilsport.  He asks what's troubling her.  She looks innocent and asks
why he called.  He tells her that Kimdyl discovered Fiona's signature.  He
figures she left it there when she was patching him up after Mirelle shot
him.  She asks what he'd do if Julian was really angry at him.  Apparently
she's been holding something over Julian for decades and forgot to tell
him she'd rectified it.  He advises her to tell Julian that things are
moving under their own power and that it might be conceivable that she's
sorry.  He points out that she's cute and female, which will help.  Fiona
finds the concept of Ahab giving her advice amusing.  She tells him that
she won't be answering Trumps for a while and asks him to tell Bleys that
he's an asshole.  Ahab asks if there's anything else he can do for her. 
She asks him to stay away from that Shadow and keep everyone else away
from it too.  He asks what she's keeping there.  She says it's a hideous
creature.  He asks if it's her husband.  She says no, but tells him it's
playing with Vetch right now.  She asks him to try and get Ariana to leave
there.  Ahab asks if he should tell Ariana that she's an asshole too. 
Fiona figures she already knows.


Quotables:

"Well it has to do with Sand, but it's not about Sand" -- Felix

"I didn't bring your penis into this." -- Felix

"Can I get my lunch before you're dead?" -- Alex to Bart