Chapter Sixty-eight: "Welcome to the club of sleeping with a Vetch."

	Ahab goes looking for Ariana, to discuss the Nicholas problem. 
She is having sex with Riftvan and tells Ahab to go away when he knocks on
her door.  He finds Laughter next, who is with Beauty, and notes are
compared on Nicholas' behavior.  Things learned:  Nicholas continues to
insist that Beauty will be his.  He seems to be trying to control
Vivienne, by always turning around things she says, etc.  He also tends to
use Ariana's sons in the following manner: he suggests something, Shannon
and Vincent plan how to accomplish it, and Morgan takes the credit/blame
for it.  They discuss methods of dealing with the problem, while Ahab
tries to figure out where he went wrong.

	Driscoll knocks on Alex's door to draft him as the posse engine. 
Alex is filled in on the minimal events of the last mission, then Driscoll
leaves to find more victims.

	Bart finds Fiona on the battlements, playing with a sphere.  He
waits for her to notice him, since interrupting Fiona under such
circumstances is generally bad.  After about ten minutes, she deigns to
acknowledge him.  He fills her in on Martin's situation, and asks for her
help (along with a generous amount of ass-kissing).  She is agreeable, so
he brings her to the poor sap.  Martin slams the door when he sees Fiona,
so Bart sends the door to the lava pool (his repository for all things
which get in his way).  Martin is not happy about the situation at all,
and is rather uncooperative.  Bart holds him down and tells Fiona to go
ahead and pick what she needs out of his brain.  She does so, then leaves
Bart alone with Martin, saying he owes her a favor.

	Martin says that Fiona will ask for that favor from Bart, not him. 
Bart thinks this is unfair, since Martin is the one being helped.  Martin
points out that Bart is the one who brought her into it, and continues to
be rather snotty.  Bart asks what pulling Martin's personality chip out
will do.  Martin says Moire will try Bart for murder, then foolishly
admits that it will simply remove his personality from the body.  Bart
figures this will shut Martin up for a while and pulls the chip out. 
There's a crackling sound and the bum slumps over.  Bart looks nervous,
ties Martin to a chair, and reinserts the chip, but nothing happens.  He
panics spectacularly and Trumps Laughter.  When she answers, he's rather
incoherent, and asks her to help him hide the body.  Surprisingly, she
decides to come through and help.  Bart demonstrates what he did, and she
checks the bum psychically.  No sign of Martin's mind, although the bum's
mind is present.  Laughter thinks they'll have to bring Driscoll and
Ariana in on this.  Bart isn't keen about this idea, given that Martin is
Driscoll's brother, but Laughter Trumps Driscoll anyway.  After a confused
explanation, of which the only thing that can be said is that it was
slightly more coherent than Bart's, she pulls Driscoll through.  Any
spying Trump artists are no doubt having a field day at this point.  Bart
demonstrates what he did, by removing and replacing the chip again. 
Driscoll examines Martin, pushes the chip back in a little further, and
says that Bart didn't break Martin after all.

	Laughter decides to Trump Ariana anyway, for reasons known only to
her.  Ariana, still being rather... preoccupied doesn't take the call. 
Laughter takes this as a personal challenge and persists, varying the
duration and timing of her attempts.  Eventually this proves distracting
enough that Ariana takes the call.  Laughter tells her that Bart killed
Martin, so she comes through, only to find that Martin is fine after all. 
Actually, Martin is not there at all, but there's this bum...  Ariana is
not pleased at being bothered for nothing, and points out that dead bodies
usually don't breathe.  Bart runs out of the room as Driscoll begins
untying Martin.  Ariana asks why people keep referring to the bum as
Martin, and is filled in on the personality chip and Martin's missing
body.  Laughter notices that Bart is missing and Trumps him, but he
resists.  Ariana assists, much to Bart's dismay, since he was busy getting
drunk with Shard and Usires.  Laughter pulls him through.  Driscoll
returns Laughter's Trump to Ariana.

	Felix finds Foster and asks if he's told Murine that she's going
to be a grandmother.  Nope.  Foster figures she doesn't have any
attachment to him anymore.  He also claims to finally understand why Felix
turned out the way he did.  Apparently his conversation with Gerard was
very enlightening.  Felix suggests that it may be useful to talk to Merlin
about his mother, the "Queen-bitch," seeing as how she's the source of
most of the problems Amber is dealing with.

	Shortly after pulling Bart through, Laughter Trumps Foster, who
answers as she's telling Bart that she's leaving.  A comedy of errors
ensues, in which Foster first thinks she's leaving him, then thinks she's
having an affair with Bart, and finally thinks Bart's having an affair
with Driscoll.  It was too funny.  Felix Trumps Laughter to yell at her
for leaving his son.  She tells him to go away, so she can Trump Foster
and go through.  This happens, and things are cleared up (as much as they
ever are with those two).  They decide they should see about joining the
Jewel posse again, since it has to be less stressful than this.  Felix
leaves.

	Back in Martin's quarters, Bart looks rather confused as to why
Laughter brought him through in the first place.  Ariana just looks
exasperated, Trumps Riftvan, and goes through, leaving Bart alone with
Driscoll.  Riftvan gets a look at the expression on Ariana's face and
laughs.  Ariana begins explaining the whole, sad story.

	Finally noticing the absence of their drinking partner, Shard and
Usires go looking for Bart in his quarters, ale in hand.

	Laughter asks Foster how the conversation with Gerard went, then
reveals that she talked to Mandor.  Foster correctly deduces that she sent
him to talk with Gerard to ensure he wouldn't come with her when she spoke
with Mandor, and is annoyed that she didn't tell him.  He compares it to
his not telling Laughter that he was going to walk the Pattern.  She
doesn't think that talking to Mandor is nearly as bad as walking the
Pattern, and fills him in on the details of her conversation.  Foster
tells her he's going to ask Vetch to let him leave the House.  She wants
to know if he really wants to leave.  He points out that, seeing as how
anyone with Logrus can see him coming a mile away, due to his Pattern
imprint, he doesn't make a very affective assassin.  Laughter doesn't want
him to leave his house just because of her.  Foster figures that not being
an assassin is fine with him, especially since he won't have to hide
things from Felix anymore.  Now, all he has to do to leave the House is
defeat Vetch in combat.  Admittedly, Vetch has killed more people than
he's let live under those circumstances, but never mind.  Laughter is not
pleased about this at all.  Foster figures he has an advantage, since
Vetch likes him and Vetch trained him, so he knows Vetch's moves. 
Laughter asks how long it's been since he left training.  Foster reveals
that he's actually a little bit older than Ahab.  Laughter is most upset
to learn this and leaves to find Vetch.

	Ahab knocks on Ariana's door while she's filling Riftvan in on the
Martin mishap, and tells her that he's seen the light about Nicholas. 
Laughter arrives at this point and asks how old Foster really is.  Riftvan
reveals he's about 70 or so, and Laughter storms out again.  Ahab asks
what things Nicholas has done to their children, and hears pretty much the
same story that he heard from Laughter and Beauty.  Essentially, Nicholas
uses the children's words to control them.  They decide to point out what
Nicholas is doing to the other children at a meeting after dinner, so they
can leave when he tries manipulating them in the future.  Ahab also plans
to speak with the boy.  He leaves to let Gerard know what's going on.

	Laughter gets a Trump call, but it fades when she tries to answer
it.  She lines up some dummies and beheads them, which makes her feel a
little better.

	Bart gets a Trump call and asks Driscoll to avenge him, but the
call fades before he gets around to taking it.  Driscoll asks Bart to come
with the Jewel posse.  Bart wants to find Martin's body first.  Driscoll
thinks the next shard and Martin's body are close to each other, so Bart
agrees to help.  He heads back to his quarters.

	Driscoll Trumps Usires, who is still standing outside of Bart's
door, and recruits him as well.  Then he Trumps Laughter, who is rather
short with him and asks if Foster is going.  He's not sure.  She asks if
he knows how old Foster is, and harumphs when he figures that Foster's in
his mid-twenties.  She tells him to forget everything she told him during
their earlier conversation.  While Driscoll is digesting this, Bart Trumps
him and mentions that Fiona is making a Trump of the Shadow where Martin's
body is, which could prove useful if the shard is there as well.  Laughter
tells Driscoll of her latest problem with Foster.  She decides she should
head back to her quarters, and asks if there are baby name books in the
library.  Driscoll suggests that Ariana probably has some, but Laughter
doesn't want to speak with her, since Ariana is a Vetch.  Well, married to
one, at any rate.  Driscoll offers to take Laughter's mind off of her
problems, and takes her riding on Clytemnestra.  So much for putting
together the next posse.  Hormones win again.

	Felix tries to Trump Merlin, but he's out of range.  He finds
Random and asks if anyone's talked to Merlin since the Jewel shattered. 
Random tells him that Merlin is in a place where Trump can't reach him,
but Corwin left to look into it.  Felix goes to the infirmary and asks
Lyss if she's located the next shard yet.  She says it's very far away,
but she hasn't been able to pinpoint the specifics.  There does seem to be
an Amberite presence near the shard, though.  Felix notices that her feet
are disappearing, but she asks him not to tell anyone.  There's not much
anyone can do to stop it, after all, other than restore the Pattern.

	Alex goes to the library and does some light reading, in an effort
to escape the plot.

	Shard, Bart and Usires go drinking.  Quite a few drinks later,
Bart goes down to see Barnabas, who is still rotting in jail.  As the
guards are letting him into Barnabas' cell, he mentions that he killed
someone.  One of the guards quickly leaves.  Barnabas berates Bart for not
getting him out of there yet.  Bart tells him psychically that it's time
for him to leave, but he's not sure how.  He's slightly drunk, you see. 
Or maybe he should talk to the King before attempting a jail break. 
Barnabas sobers him up, at which point Bart decides that the latter idea
is the wisest one.  As he is leaving, he runs into Benedict, who says they
need to have a chat.  He brings Bart to a guard room and inquires about
the killing remark.  Bart says it was a joke.  Benedict doesn't find it
funny and indicates he'd like more details.  Bart eventually explains
about the Martin mess.  Benedict is satisfied and lets him go.  Bart
decides to pester Random next.

	Ahab finds Gerard and explains to him what's been going on with
the children, and his plan for dealing with it.  Gerard figures it's a
good idea, and asks how much restraint Vivienne should use in dealing with
Nicholas.  Ahab says that Vivienne should walk away if Nicholas talks to
her, but if he pursues, she can do what she needs to to get him to go
away.  Then Ahab looks for Kimdyl, who he finds in their quarters.  He
asks if she wants him to stay, or go with the Jewel posse.  She has mixed
feelings about it, so he decides to look for Nicholas while she's making
up her mind.

	Felix suggests to Eris and Vivienne that they should spend some
time with Lyss, because she's getting lonely.

	Ariana asks Riftvan if the handfasting ceremony in Laughter's
Shadow counts as marriage in Chaos, and learns that it does not.  She also
learns that he's not planning to tell Foster that he's letting him leave
the House, since Foster is going to try to leave anyway.  She asks what
Foster has to do to leave.  He asks how she'd react to a surprise attack. 
She says she'd try to kill the attacker, which he figures would probably
be a bad idea, since Foster has to ambush Riftvan and fight him in order
to leave the House.  He figures Foster will probably attack when they're
making love, since that's what he would do.  Ariana is not thrilled about
this, and says it will be difficult to overcome her instinctive reaction
to such an attack.  Riftvan points out that if she kills Foster, they'll
have to spend the rest of their lives in Chaos.  Ariana says she has
little interest in living there.  Riftvan asks her to keep that in mind
when Foster attacks, and reminds her that she knows what Foster's Chaos
form looks like, so she'll be able to tell when it's him.  Apparently the
fight is done in Chaos form, without any other weapons, so Ariana will get
to see what Riftvan's Chaos form looks like.  Of course, he has several of
them.  They check on how many children she's carrying, and she's relieved
to find that it's just one this time.  Riftvan asks if this means that she
forgives him.  She kisses him, and they decide to pick up where they left
off when Laughter interrupted.

	Driscoll and Laughter return to the castle after an hour.  She
thanks him, shakes his hand, and goes looking for Foster.  He answers his
Trump call, and she brings up the age thing.  He pulls her through and
looks miserable.  He blames the whole thing on Vetch, of course, and says
that once he's out of the House, he won't have to keep anything from her
anymore.  Sure he won't.  Laughter says their whole time together has been
a lie, since he was somebody else, somebody older.  He claims it wasn't a
problem until he started having feelings for her, but if he'd shown up as
his true age, Felix wouldn't have handled it well.  If it makes her feel
any better, she was only his second lover as well, the first being the
woman he met at Ahab's bachelor party.  Laughter is aghast that he didn't
have sex until he was 60 years old.  He explains that he spent all of his
time before that training, and asks if hitting him will make her feel
better.  She considers it.  He tells her that he's not getting much
encouragement from her to be honest.  She punches him in the jaw.  When he
admits that it didn't hurt all that much, she delivers a second punch to
his nose.  He offers to leave, but she says that's not necessary.  She
asks how many people he's killed.  He tells her it's around 100 or so, all
threats to the Crown.  Five years working under Swayvill, the rest under
Sawall, her grandfather.  Laughter figures she really doesn't have grounds
to argue with him.  He catches both of her hands in his and promises to
change for her.  She says she wants him to be what she thought he was, but
he can't go back.  He asks if she really feels that way.  She does, so he
makes to leave, but she hangs onto his hand.  When he looks back at her,
she tells him that maybe they can go forward.  He asks what's next, since
it's hard for him to stay around while she's mad at him.  She has no
sympathy for him and figures he can deal with it.  Foster decides he'll
tell Felix the truth about his age and stay in Amber, until she's ready to
talk to him.  She asks him to come see her later that evening.

	Bart asks Random about Barnabas, who Random had forgotten all
about.  He agrees to let him go, if Benedict is through with him.  Mission
accomplished, Bart goes to dinner, and sits next to Llewella.  Shard,
Usires and Alex are also present.  Alex sits next to Bart and smiles a
lot, making sure to show his elongated canines.  This makes Bart
distinctly nervous.  Usires slides a drink to Alex, in an effort to
distract him, but Alex catches it without looking away from Bart.  Bart
comments to Llewella that the Chaosites he met weren't like this. 
Llewella reveals that this one isn't technically a Chaosite, since his
mother slept around.  This fails to stop Alex from smiling, or to make
Bart feel any better.

	Foster enters the dining hall looking like someone just ran over
his puppy.  He takes Felix into one of the sitting rooms and asks if Felix
will hold his sword while he throws himself on it.  Felix asks if that's
what he has to do to leave House Vetch.  No, he just has to fight Lord
Vetch.  Felix likes this not at all.  Figuring he's already alienated one
person that's dear to him, Foster goes for two and tells Felix how old he
really is.  Felix handles it surprisingly well, all things considered.  He
asks if he had any influence at all, given that Foster was 60 when he came
to Amber.  Foster says he wouldn't be telling Felix this otherwise.  He
never really had a childhood before he came to Amber.  He comments that
Felix is taking this better than Laughter.  Felix points out that he'd
hurt Foster if he hit him, and then he couldn't fight Lord Vetch.  Foster
figures his kid wins no matter what the fight's outcome, since he'll
either leave House Vetch or be dead.  Felix inquires as to why Foster came
to Amber at 60.  It seems that he and Murine were to be information
sources.  Someone found out about Murine and took care of her, but for
some mysterious reason they left Foster alone.  Felix asks what Vetch's
plot with the half-breeds was all about.  All will Foster say is that he
was Vetch's star pupil, and proved most of his theories.  Felix goes
upstairs to think about all of this, but assures Foster that he still
cares about him.

	Laughter knocks on Ariana's door, interrupting her once again. 
She and Riftvan decide they're just not going to get any peace tonight. 
Laughter asks Riftvan how she can ambush Foster.  Riftvan and Ariana don't
think this is a good idea, given what Foster is trying to do right now. 
Riftvan also doesn't think much of Laughter's chances, given her limited
shapeshifting abilities.  Laughter denies that she has any shapeshifting
ability at all.  Riftvan suggests that if she insists on doing this, she
use Faerie magic, since he never trained Foster in that.  An out for
himself, you see.  Ariana asks if Laughter wants to talk, but she'd rather
prepare her ambush.  After she leaves, Ariana asks if Laughter at least
has enough shapeshifting ability to survive the attack.  Riftvan isn't
sure.

	The meeting with the children takes place, and Ahab explains how
Nicholas has been using them.  Ariana's boys look like they want to beat
Nicholas up, and Vivienne keeps smacking her hands together forcefully. 
Ahab cautions them not to go too far, and Riftvan backs this up with a few
private words to his sons that seem to get through to them.  Odds are
taken among the adults as to how long it will be before Vivienne breaks
Nicholas' nose.

	Ahab checks on Lyss and notices that she's a little shorter,
mainly because her feet are gone, and is quite upset with her for not
letting anyone know about it.  She tells him that she's located the next
shard, and Driscoll will be gathering everyone together to find it
tomorrow.  Ahab suggests that maybe the shards they've found so far would
help strengthen her.  She admits they might, so he brings them to her,
along with some guards.  Ariana also drops by, but by then Lyss has better
concealed her condition.  Ariana asks if there's anything that can be
done, but Lyss figures they're already doing the only thing that will
help.

	Foster comes by Laughter's quarters and knocks, but she doesn't
answer, so he goes back to his own quarters.  At about two in the morning,
Laughter sets up a trip wire just outside of Foster's quarters, uses a
dampening spell to render herself invisible, and has a glamour of herself
knock on the door.  When Foster answers, the glamour beckons him into the
hallway.  He follows it and trips on the wire, but manages to land on his
feet.  Laughter tackles him, but he rolls to his feet and shifts to his
Chaos form.  His nose elongates, and he starts scanning the hallway with
it, trying to locate his attacker.  Laughter puts Sequence to his throat. 
He recognizes the blade and shifts back to his human form.  She dispels
her glamours and mentions that she wanted something more rough and tumble. 
He obliges by snaking a foot out and tripping her.  She casts her
dampening spell again, so he can't see her.  He fades into the wall.  She
sends ball lightning ricocheting off the walls and down the corridor,
which wakes everyone up.  Several guards and various Amberites arrive on
the scene.  They are not pleased, Ahab especially.  Laughter retreats into
Foster's quarters.  Ahab throws open the door, and gets a knife thrown at
him for his troubles, but fortunately it bounces off of his armor. 
Laughter sends Sequence bouncing around the walls in the room, since she
figures Foster followed her in there.  Ahab notices that Foster is on the
ceiling and tells him to get down.  Ariana suggests Ahab get Laughter to
stand down first.  Ahab yells at Foster again, who drops to the floor in a
defensive posture.  Felix orders Foster to stand down.  He complies, at
which point Laughter tackles him.  Ahab yells at both of them for waking
everyone up at such a ridiculous hour and leaves.  Ariana tells Foster
that he's in big trouble if he pulls this kind of stunt in her quarters
and follows Ahab out.  Foster and Laughter are left alone.  Foster looks
very unhappy and figures this means that Laughter has decided to end their
relationship.  Nothing so simple.  He's confused (as is everyone else). 
He eventually manages to determine that she's mostly not mad at him
anymore, and explains that he was afraid that someone had taken over her
mind and sent her to kill him.  Laughter doesn't think that's possible,
then recalls what Sand did to Ariana.  She decides she's forgiven Foster
enough to sleep with him and they go to bed.

	Ahab knocks on Foster's door early the next morning and hears
Laughter throwing up.  He gets a Trump call, but resists it successfully. 
Foster answers the door and Ahab asks him to explain what happened last
night.  Foster says it was an elaborate object lesson for his benefit. 
Ahab asks if they need another lesson as to the proper times for that sort
of thing.  Uh, nope.

	There is a commotion in the infirmary shortly before breakfast. 
Ariana and Bart arrive first, and are told by the guards that Lyss was
absorbed by the Jewel.  Ahab arrives on the scene at this point, and they
notice that the shards are fused together into a larger piece.  Ariana
touches it, and Lyss assures her that she's fine.  Ariana relays this and
Ahab joins in.  Lyss points out that she's not fading anymore, and she
doesn't feel so weak.  She can also contact several people at once, as she
demonstrates by placing Ariana, Ahab, Bart and Alex in contact with her
(and each other).

	Breakfast is attended by most of the younger generation, with the
exception of the two pregnant women.  Felix asks Foster if he wanted to
come to Amber.  He claims he did, since he wanted to meet his father. 
Driscoll explains to everyone that due to Lyss' fusing of the shards,
they've been able to pinpoint the next one's location, which is in the
same Shadow where Martin was found.  It's near the Courts, high-tech, and
they don't know if magic will work.  The Pattern person that Lyss sensed
is probably guarding the Shadow, so they will be Trumping there.  Bart,
Usires, Alex, Felix and Ahab volunteer to go.  Driscoll says he'll contact
the absent parties, and they will leave in two hours.

	Driscoll Trumps Laughter, who brings him through to Foster's
quarters.  He notices how sick she looks and conjures some more of the
fizzy drink he gave her earlier, which he calls Alka-seltzer.  He asks if
she's up to coming with them to find the next shard.  She figures she is,
as long as he keeps supplying her with that drink.  She mentions that
Ariana will need some also.  Foster returns from breakfast, and also
agrees to come along.

	Driscoll Trumps Ariana and asks her the same question that he did
Laughter.  Ariana agrees to join them, since they're not using the Logrus
to get to the shard, and Riftvan can watch the children.  Shortly after
Driscoll breaks the contact, Ariana Trumps him and asks where they're
going.  He fills her in on the details.  She breaks the contact and asks
Riftvan if he knows of anything she hasn't tried that can help her with
her morning sickness.  Unfortunately, the answer is no.  It seems that
none of his wives have ever gotten sick when they were pregnant before. 
She asks what happened to them.  He points out that being married to him
tends to be rather hazardous to one's health, although she's more capable
than most of them were.  They were all from Chaos, but from a time when
women weren't allowed to take the Logrus.  The last one died 500 years
ago.  Ariana observes that she learns something new about him every day. 
He points out that she married him, so it's too late now.  She says it was
too late long before that.

	Laughter and Foster discuss baby names.  He likes Forrest or
Fletcher.  Laughter does not.  She wants to name the child Beatrice if
it's a girl.  Foster isn't particularly found of that name.  She suggests
Robert as a boy's name.  He doesn't like that one, either.  Laughter
Trumps Caitt through to Amber to watch Beauty while she's gone, and asks
what they think of the name Beatrice.  Caitt doesn't like it, but she
doesn't like Forrest, either, so Laughter is mollified.  Beauty suggests
Lillian if the baby's a girl.

	Felix is quizzed by Vivienne about where best to hit a boy to hurt
him.  Felix hems and haws, eventually giving her several suggestions, none
of them the most obvious one.

	Ahab tells Kimdyl that he's going with the Jewel posse, since she
voiced no opinion on the matter.  Then he finds Nicholas and tells him to
be good while he's gone, so as not to hurt Kimdyl.  Nicholas wonders why
Ahab's stating something so obvious, but agrees.

	Driscoll, Felix, Foster, Laughter, Shard, Rinaldo, Bart, Usires,
Alex, Ahab and Ariana gather in the main hall.  Rinaldo has three extra
Trumps of their destination.  He keeps one for himself and gives the other
two to Ahab and Ariana.  Driscoll has the original.  Everyone prepares
themselves, and they all go through the Trump.


Quotables:

"I sneak back and leave a lethal package outside of (Ariana's) door." -- Ahab
"And what would that be?" -- GM
"Nicholas, in a box with a bow." -- Liam

"If you're going to sit around and only say nice things about my son, I'm
going to ask you to leave." -- Ahab to Beauty

"When Bartholomew's around, there are many clean asses and boots." -- Sean
to the group at large

"There's no longer any need to kill the King's son.  Can you help me hide
the body?" -- Bart to Laughter

"There, it did it again.  That can't be good." -- Bart to Laughter, about
the noise Martin's personality chip makes when he removes and reinserts it

"Not Driscoll.  I killed his brother, I really don't want him in on this."
-- Bart
"Well, you're fucked, I can't help you." -- Laughter

"Are you going to be buried (in Amber)?" -- Laughter
"Well, they won't take me in Rebma, given that I killed the Crown Prince. 
Mother will be mad." -- Bart

"(Martin) appears to be breathing." -- Ariana
"Yes." -- Laughter
"Was he breathing before?" -- Ariana
"Well, yes." -- Laughter
"A small hint.  When people are breathing, they are not dead." -- Ariana

"I'm leaving you." -- Laughter to Bart
"What?" -- Foster
"No, I'm leaving Bartholomew." -- Laughter
"You've been having an affair with Bartholomew?" -- Foster

"Walking the Pattern is not like talking to Mandor." -- Laughter to Foster

"Gee, I no longer want to be a trained assassin, and my fiancee is trying
to talk me out of it?" -- Foster
"Well, what are you going to do if you're not an assassin?" -- Laughter

"Now, I just have to defeat Vetch in combat, and I'm free (of the House)."
-- Foster
"Foster, if you're dead, I won't marry you." -- Laughter

"Foster Vetch, you've misled me in everything since we've met." --
Laughter to Foster
"Welcome to the club of sleeping with a Vetch." -- Kris

"I thought I had killed Martin.  I was mistaken." -- Bart to Benedict
"You feel the need to explain further." -- GM

"I did not kill your son.  Nor did I mean to." -- Bart to Random

"I have my four-point armor on, so (Foster) can only behead me." --
Laughter to GM

"Once I've beaten the snot out of (Foster), I'll make up with him." --
Laughter to GM

"Oh, (the cause) was not Ahab and Kimdyl?" -- Alex to everyone
investigating Laughter's ball-lightning

"When are you going to learn to think?" -- Ahab
"I wasn't aware that you found it that necessary a skill." -- Laughter

"Laughter, puke twice if you understand." -- Ahab
"Ahab, fuck you!" -- Laughter

"(Foster's) my son.  (Laughter's) just this woman who wakes me up in the
middle of the night." -- Felix to GM

"I don't want to hurt (Nicholas), I just want to cause him pain." --
Vivienne to Felix