From Kris.Fazzari@um.cc.umich.edu Sat Mar 5 00:03:25 1994 Date: Fri, 4 Mar 94 18:33:04 EST From: Kris.Fazzari@um.cc.umich.edu To: thari@umich.edu Subject: Kris' Campaign Log Chapter Thirty-five Felix and Murine talk for a while in the infirmary. Mandor tells Heather he'll be back as soon as he can and Trumps out. Mebd says she isn't feeling well and asks if she can lie down. She adds that she doesn't want to do so in the other room where the thing is. Alex's ears perk up at this and he immediately checks out the other room, where he finds Isbtan. With this mystery solved, he leaves and disguises himself as a guard stationed outside the door. Ariana Trumps Benedict and asks how you tell if someone is a Chaosite. He tells her there are certain magical spells that will do this. She thanks him and Trumps first Fiona, then Bleys, but neither answers. She Trumps Random and asks if Ahab has talked to him about the half-breed plot. Random feigns ignorance so she fills him in. She claims this has her concerned and asks if he knows how to determine if someone is a Chaosite. Random says a resume true form spell would be best. She asks who would know such a spell. He suggests Alex. She explains that she's had trouble reaching Alex, since she doesn't have his Trump and he hasn't responded to the message she passed through Felix. Random tells her to call him back. Random Trumps Alex, who shapeshifts out of the guard's form before answering. Random says he'd like to see Alex in his quarters and promises to explain when he gets there. Ariana Trumps Random again. He says he's solved her problem and asks her to come through. She says she doesn't want to be gone from her shadow for too long, since time flows faster there. Random asks how long it will take to talk to Alex. She explains that it's the length of the return trip that concerns her. Random offers a hand to Alex to bring him into the conversation. Ariana asks him to come through. Alex does so, but with great reluctance. Ariana explains what she wants from him. Alex goes into the other room to get some more appropriate clothing. Ahab continues his attempts to charm Kimdyl while she labors. Kimdyl mentions they will be journeying to Chaos after the baby is born. Ahab is not overjoyed at the idea, especially since this is the first he's heard of it. Kimdyl insists the child must be presented to the High Priest of the Serpent. Ahab tries to convince her that they should raise the baby in a secular manner, but Kimdyl won't hear of it. Isbtan comes into the room where Mebd is sleeping. Heather wonders why he isn't guarding the baby. He keeps glancing from Mebd to Heather and then back again. Heather walks into the baby's room. He follows her to the doorway between the two rooms and stops there. Heather gets impression that he prefers this arrangement. Heather asks if he still sees Mebd as a threat. He tells her he feels Mebd has the potential to become one. Heather claims Mebd will never hurt Emer. Isbtan agrees that she won't as she is now. Heather asks if the change will affect Mebd's mind. He says there's no way to tell. Heather asks what could happen. He claims that depends on the type of demon, and he's never seen Mebd's type before. He figures that's because she's a half-breed. Felix makes his way down to the kitchen for a late-night snack. After satisfying his stomach, he goes back to the infirmary. He asks Murine why she chose New Orleans. She claims she picked it because it was so lively. She asks if he liked Mardi Gras. He admits he had a lot of fun. He tells her that one of his cousins is pregnant and is worried that she might be a victim of the plot. She says she wouldn't be surprised, given the circumstances. They notice that it's getting late. Murine tells Felix to pick up Foster, who has fallen asleep, and walks out of the infirmary. Felix picks up Foster and heads back to his quarters. As he is walking back, he remembers that his bedroom has a broken window. He tells Murine that he can find a guest room, which they do. Foster is relieved that the room has no windows and is right next to the guard room. Before they settle in for the night, Felix arranges to have the window in his bedroom repaired. Mark calls Ariana and says he's had the opportunity to do a late flight, so he won't be back until the next morning. Both Alex and Ariana find this somewhat suspicious. Ariana takes Alex to check out Mark's story at the airport. Kimdyl asks Ahab to get her some fruit and ice water. He finds a page and relays the request. The labor continues. Heather checks on Mebd who is deeply asleep. She decides to stay awake and watch Mebd. After sitting and worrying for a while, she begins to pace back and forth. Ariana learns that Mark does indeed have a plane checked out for the night. Alex proceeds to thoroughly embarrass Ariana at the airport, since he's concluded that wearing loud Hawaiian shirts must indicate a loud, obnoxious personality. Ariana drags him out of the airport and they head back to her place. She asks if Alex can locate other Logrus users in the shadow. He says he's in a hurry. She asks if he can at least search the area. He asks if she has a picture of Mark or other personal articles. She finds that all of her pictures of Mark are missing, so she gives Alex a mental image of Mark instead. He says that will be sufficient and starts searching for signs of Logrus. Kimdyl and Ahab discuss names but they still can't decide on one. Kimdyl tells Ahab to get some warm water. When he comes back with it, she tells him to hurry. Mebd gets up in the middle of the night and walks out of the door. Heather calls out to her, but gets no response. Heather runs over and grabs Mebd's arm, causing her to open her eyes in confusion. Heather tells her she was sleepwalking and brings her back to the room. Mebd lies back down and falls asleep within minutes. Heather continues to watch her. Kimdyl gives birth to a black-haired baby boy. Ahab catches his son as he comes out and dries him off. The baby begins to cry. Ahab hands the baby to Kimdyl and says he was thinking of naming him Nicholas. Surprisingly, Kimdyl agrees without an argument. The umbilical cord breaks off on it's own (oh the wonders of shapeshifting). Kimdyl hands Nicholas to Ahab and delivers the afterbirth. Alex detects some Logrus moving in the same area where Mark is supposed to be. Before he can trace it back to its source, it disappears. He locates Mark, but doesn't detect any Logrus in him. Alex tells Ariana his findings and he suggests she leave. She tells him she'll be back in Amber shortly. Alex returns to Amber, assumes a guard's form, and takes up position outside of Heather's door. Heather easily figures out his real identity, since no guard has been stationed outside of her door before tonight. She says "Hello, Alex.", which causes Mebd to wake up and look around. Alex pretends Heather is mistaken. Heather doesn't buy it but lets him stay. After a while, Alex changes to a different guard form (it wouldn't do to have the same guard on duty all night, after all). Heather tells Isbtan to wake her if anything happens and gets some sleep. In the wee hours of the morning, Mebd gets up again and walks out. Alex looks at her with the Logrus and sees that the demon is real close to the surface. He follows her. Heather is woken up by Isbtan and joins the parade. Mebd walks out of the Castle. Heather catches up to her and tries to wake her up. Mebd stops, but doesn't snap out of it. Alex suggests they let her continue so they can figure where she's going. Mebd jerks her arm out of Heather's grasp and continues. Heather says she's doesn't like her daughter becoming a demon. Alex points out that Mebd's already a demon. They follow Mebd into Arden. They realize she's heading for the drop to the sea, but before they can try and stop her, she collapses. Alex looks at Mebd with the Logrus and sees that the metamorphosis is complete. Mebd's eyes open and she asks if she did it again. She apologizes for frightening them and asks why they look so unhappy. Heather suggests they go back to the Castle. Mebd seems perfectly fine. Kimdyl asks if Ahab can do her one last favor. She wants some blue fabric, thread and a needle. When Ahab returns with supplies, Nicholas is enjoying his first breakfast. Kimdyl begins working on the fabric. Felix wakes up to find Foster that is already awake. Foster seems kind of dejected. Felix asks if his arm is feeling any better. Foster says it is. Felix tells him they'll go down to breakfast as soon as Murine wakes up. Foster asks what they'll do when she wakes up. Felix says not to tell her. Murine slaps him. He makes a face. Murine throws a pillow at him. He throws one back. A tickle fight ensues. Foster asks if he should leave. Felix tells him to join in. Foster looks uncertain. Felix says he's no fun. Foster looks dejected. He asks if Felix is still mad at him. Felix tries to reassure him that's not true. As Foster walks towards the door, Felix grabs him and tickles him, which causes Foster to shift to his Chaos form. He looks like a Tasmanian Devil crossed with a porcupine. Felix tells him that's a rather extreme reaction. Foster says Felix scared him and walks out. Murine rolls her eyes. Felix and Murine hear a yell from the hall. Felix runs into the hall and sees a page standing there looking rather startled as Foster disappears around the corner. Felix gives chase. Foster breaks down the door to Felix's quarters and hides under the bed. Felix tells him to lighten up. Foster chooses not to answer. Felix says that next time he'll warn Foster before he tickles him and smiles. Foster's eyes narrow. Felix pushes a bowl of water underneath the bed. Foster pushes it back. Murine walks into the outer room and says Foster's just throwing a fit. She changes and suggests they go down to breakfast, leaving Foster with the broken window. Felix adds that Eris was going to drop in later on. He decides to change before going to breakfast. Murine sits down to watch, licking her lips at one part. Felix tells her to keep it quiet because Foster is there. Murine says she figures he should know where he came from. There is a hiccup from under the bed. Felix pushes the dish under the bed and there is a slurping noise. Murine suggests putting Foster's name on the dish. They walk out of the room. Murine motions for Felix to wait on one side of the door while she waits on the other. When Foster sticks head out, she scares him, causing him to change back to Chaos form again. Murine starts laughing. Foster looks most displeased. Felix isn't happy either. Murine points out that they got him out from under the bed. Foster slowly changes back to his human form. Felix suggests he put some clothes on. When Foster has changed, they head down to breakfast. Nicholas wakes up and starts fussing. Ahab goes downstairs to get some breakfast. Mebd notices that Alex is standing outside of Heather's room in the morning. She asks if he's going to follow her around forever. Alex waits until she's out of sight, and then moves ten feet away from the door. Ariana Trumps Ahab and explains that she'd like him to Trump her back. She fills him in on what Alex learned. She's planning to bring Mark to Amber and wants someone to be able to pull her through if he attacks her when she explains this to Mark. Ahab agrees to help. Ahab grabs some coffee, fruit and toast and brings it up to Kimdyl. She asks where his food is. He says she's too weak to be fighting for her food. She kisses him. And then says claims that's all he'll be getting for a while, since Chaosites have a long recovery period. Ahab tells her he'll be talking to Ariana soon and explains why. Kimdyl decides she'd rather be down in the dining room. Ahab waits half an hour and Trumps Ariana. Mebd glares at Alex when she comes out of the shower and sees he's still there. Alex points out that he's moved from his previous position. She tells him that he should really get a life. When Mebd comes back into the room, Heather asks if she's feeling any different. Mebd asks what she means. Before Heather can come up with an answer, she gets a Trump call from Mandor. He tells her that he doesn't think they have to worry about Mebd anymore. Mebd's father wasn't a particularly nasty demon, and as long as Mebd doesn't go to Chaos, she won't come into many of her abilities. Apparently demons find it difficult to function near order. Noticing the brevity of Heather's answers, Mandor surmises that they should discuss this at a different time and breaks the contact. Mebd asks Heather to continue. Heather pretends she doesn't remember what she was talking about. Mebd asks if that was father calling. Heather can't figure out what Mebd is talking about, until Mebd points out that Mandor is her stepfather. Surprised that she's pulled something over on Heather, Mebd grabs Heather's arms and asks what she's done with her mother. Heather notices that Mebd's grip is now as strong as her own. At breakfast, Kimdyl introduces Nicholas to Random and then sits down next to Foster. She and Murine exchange plastic smiles. Felix offers his congratulations to Kimdyl. Foster spends much of breakfast shooting nervous glances at Eris. Felix comments that he's awfully quiet this morning. Foster insists he's fine. Felix calls Eris over and asks Foster if he didn't have something to say to her. Foster shoot Felix a glare and then apologizes to Eris for scaring her the other day, ending by saying he'll understand if she won't speak to him again. Eris says she guesses it's OK. Then she adds that he shouldn't worry about his size, since she's not old enough anyway. Foster looks confused then turns beet red. Eris finishes by saying that she thinks she won't speak to Foster for a while and skips off. Foster does not look happy. Felix tells him that at least it's over and with luck he won't have to do that again. Foster asks to be excused and leaves. Gerard looks like he shares Foster's pain. Isabeux carefully folds and unfolds her napkin. Driscoll is hiding a smile behind his napkin. As soon as Foster is gone, Murine bursts out laughing while Kimdyl begins snickering. Ariana takes Ahab's call just as Mark walks into the house with a bouquet of flowers in his hand. Ariana gives him a kiss. Ahab tells Ariana to lean into it and pulls them through. Ariana is not happy about this. Mark is very confused. Ariana introduces him to Ahab. Ahab goes down to breakfast. Ariana takes Mark to a sitting room, makes psychic contact with him, and tells him the truth about her background. As far as she can tell, he's exactly what he seems to be. She asks if he wants to meet her relatives. He says it's been rather overwhelming and asks if she can bring him home. She claim Alex might be able to help and sends a page to find him. The page finds him still standing outside of Heather's door and relays the message. Ahab walks in at the tail end of things in the dining room. He tells Felix that it was pretty funny, which doesn't help matters any. When Mebd and Heather go down to breakfast, Mebd is shocked to find that Alex isn't outside the door any longer. Heather notices the aftermath in the dining room and asks what happened. Eris tells her what she said. Heather finds this amusing. Driscoll tells Heather this is all her fault, and if Felix comes to him, he's sending him in her direction. Ahab finishes eating and leaves with Kimdyl. When they reach his room, he says he'd like to introduce Nicholas to Deirdre before they leave for Chaos. Kimdyl tells him the baby's not ready for travel yet. Ahab Trumps Deirdre and tells her he'd like to introduce her to his son. He asks if Corwin is interested. It turns out he is, so they both come through. Deirdre holds Nicholas at arms length to get a good look at him. When he starts fussing, she pulls him in closer and introduces herself. Corwin looks dazed. Ahab slaps him on the back and asks how he's doing. Deirdre hands Nicholas to Corwin, which makes him feel even more awkward. After holding Nicholas for a little while, he hands the baby back to Ahab and congratulates him. Kimdyl looks proud. Deirdre tells Ahab she'll be staying in Amber. Before Corwin leaves, Ahab takes him into the hall and asks if the ghosts have any news about what "they" are planning. Corwin doesn't know. He knows that what the Rose is planning has something to do with Merlin, but he doesn't know what. Corwin tells Ahab that he's really worried about Deirdre. He doesn't think she's in her right mind. Apparently she had a vision where the Unicorn told her that she was forgiven, and that there was a reason for what happened. He asks Ahab to keep an eye on her. Ahab tells Corwin that Fiona claims Dworkin hasn't killed Deirdre because the Unicorn wouldn't like it. Corwin frowns at the mention of Fiona's name. He tells Ahab to call him if he needs him. Ariana introduces Mark to Alex, who uses the Logrus to look at him and finds nothing unusual. Ariana asks if Alex can help get them home, but he can't. She tells Mark their other options are to have Ahab bring them back, or to ride back. Mark can't ride but he figures he can learn. Ariana tells him she wants to see the new baby before they leave and asks if he wants to come along. Mark opts to stay put. Alex goes down to breakfast. Ariana goes after him. Felix goes looking for Foster.