The visitor arrives outside Althea's quarters, around which are stationed half-a-dozen uniformed guards. He knocks politely.

He is about 5'10", 150 lbs, brown hair and dark blue eyes. He is clearly conscious of his clothing and has a fondness for jewelry. He has a bracelet (heavy silver) on his right arm, and at least 3 rings at any given time. One silver ring which matches the bracelet, one gold and silver ring

that looks woven, and one rather garish gold ring with a blue gem inset into it. He has a pocket watch, earrings, and spectacles as well.

Althea opens the door. She has a face given to quiet drama. Her ice-blue eyes are intense, and her white-blonde hair is usually stacked high in elaborate curls. Her skin is very fair. Her jaw is long, and her chin strong, giving her an imperious manner. Her good posture is a bit of a

contradiction to her average height, but her poise is that of a woman who stands well above the crowd.

She looks a little surprised, and peers at the visitor intently as if trying to place him.

"I'm not expecting...that is to say...," she begins, a touch flustered. She stops...and looks at the guards with a hint of irritation, and takes a breath.

"How do you do. I am the...Princess Althea. Won't you please come in?" she says formally, gesturing to the interior of the room. You note that she seems to almost stumble over the word Princess, as if it's a title to which she is unaccustomed. After the door closes, she adds, "I'm afraid my serving maid is away, and I only just returned from a brief trip. Forgive me the lack of amenities. To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?"

Kendrick gives a slight bow. “My apologies, I should have sent word ahead, but I was anxious to make your acquaintance. I am Lord Kendrick, son of the Princess Florimel. I serve as the Director of Communications for his majesty, King Bleys.”

"Anxious?" she says with a chuckle. "Which implies I am the cause of anxiety."

"But please...do have a seat," she gestures to a chair. "Do forgive my distraction, but I do need to check on one small thing."

She heads into the adjacent room...is gone for perhaps a minute...and then comes back. Kendrick probably catches a slightly worried expression on her face as she enters the room, but she quickly hides it. She comes over and takes a seat as well.

"If I understand things correctly, we are cousins of a sort," she says simply. "Is this a family visit, or is this business?"

Kendrick waits as she seats herself, and then takes a seat directly across from her. “Sadly, I must mix business with family today. As Director of Communications, I was asked to speak with you in a formal capacity. As your cousin, I hoped to speak with you socially as well, and welcome you to the Jade Citadel. Would you prefer to speak formally or informally first?” He smiles as he says the last bit.

"Let's deal with business first," she says. "I'm curious to know how they define communications here. I was made to understand that Jade doesn't have telephones, telegraphs, or even radios."

“Very well. Communications refers to ‘Trump’. Trumps are cards, used to communicate over large distances, and even for some travel. In a way, they are a very specialized sort of magic. I was told that you arrived with some in your possession? That is why I was sent to meet with you.”

"Ah, of course. The magic cards you all esteem so. Yes, I was given a small pile of them before I arrived in Jade. I believe that Peredur has them now, though. He was concerned that some of them might be trapped or some such. He did provide me with a replacement deck, however."

“Yes, Peredur expressed concern to me as well. I was given my current position due to my ability with the cards. Can you tell me who gave them to you, and a listing of the cards and who the various cards represent? Also, if you know it, the name of the artist who created them.”

"The cards were given to me by Empress Yasmin of Thelbane, during my brief stopover there after my home world was destroyed by Brand's Telegraph Tower. I can't honestly say I know the artist; it didn't occur to me to ask."

"As for what the cards depict...that's rather tricky. I can't honestly say I studied them; I was a bit distracted at the time."

Her expression becomes intent...someone trying to remember something distant.

"There were a number of trump of the royal family of Jade...thirteen I believe. I remember it was a rather inauspicious number. There were a handful of place trumps, but I really only glanced at those enough to find one that looked hospitable."

"And then there were six trumps of rather fantastical beasts. They looked to be beasts, but were in fact Lords of Thelbane. I remember there was a boar...an ape...a horse...a tiger...a wolf...and the dragon, Lord Vanjia."

OOC: Does Kendrick have any racked spells on him? If so, what type? Just curious.

“You met with the Empress of Chaos? How fascinating. Sometime, I will have to ask you more about her, if you wouldn’t mind.”

"You're free to ask," she answers. "I'll answer what I can, within the limits of discretion."

Kendrick pauses a moment and consults his notes.

“Can you tell me the names of the other Lords, and if possible, their house affiliations?”

OOC: Yes, Kendrick has a few racked. I am assuming you have the ability to review what is racked, unless Alan tells me otherwise. So, here they are:

[Yes, Althea has this ability, though it is not invasive so Kendrick is not aware he is being scanned in this way.]

1. Teleportation (Specify Location)

2. Teleportation (Specify Location)

3. Teleportation to my room

4. Shield (both Physical and Magical - Trump still works through it)

5. Immobilization Spell

6. Heal Spell

7. Purify Spell

8. Slippery Surface Spell

9. Invisibility Spell

10. Clean Spell (Cleans up Kendrick of any 'mess')

11. Quiet (Keeps target from speaking in my presence)

12. Fiery Death (Calls down a miniature meteor storm on Target of choice)

"I only know the names of three of them...the three I met in person. The boar is Lord Pai-Chiai and the horse is Lord Scirocco. I was never told their house affiliations. The dragon is Vanjia, Lord of House Tyne. I believe he also referred to himself as first among Clan Yawara."

OOC: Alan told me the names of the trumps via email, but I never actually learned their names in character, so Althea doesn't know them.

OOC: Alan, given her powers, she thus sees this:

1. Transportation

2. Transportation

3. Transportation

4. Defense

5. Status Attack

6. Healing

7. Status Defense

8. ?

9. Status Defense

10. ?

11. Status Attack

12. Elemental Attack--Fire

"As far as the Empress, I really just want to know what she is like. I have never heard much of the lady."

"She's very young...and very sweet. She was friendly and open. To be quite honest, she treated me with a lot more respect and courtesy than I've received in Jade. Which is to say she didn't

poison me, assault me, gag and bind me, accuse me of murder, imprison me, and she also didn't insist I swear obedience to her within a day or two of meeting me."

Althea makes a tight little smile.

"All in all I found her quite charming, and a great deal more civilized than most I've encountered with Jade. Sorry to be snippy, but it's the truth."

Kendrick nods gravely. “That brings me to the personal side of this visit. While I can offer nothing in the way of a state apology, or do anything about the guards around your quarters, I can offer you my sincerest and humblest personal apology for the manner in which you have been treated. It offends my personal sense of honor and the dignity with which, I believe, all people should be treated.”

"I thank you for that," she answers with a sigh. "It helps. I've been so close to losing my temper since I arrived here, and no good will come of that. I find it hard to adapt to this place. Where I come from, people with bad manners don't attain any real positions of power...they seldom live to

majority, in fact." She shrugs.

Kendrick smiles. “I learned my manners at my mother’s side. I daresay I might not have reached the age of majority had I not been a fast learner in that area.” With that Kendrick smiles broadly. “It is something that mother feels strongly about.”

"A pity your mother does not rule here," Althea comments with a light laugh. "But that is neither here nor there. So you're good with these cards. Is it a type of sorcery? I must admit that I've never encountered anything like it back home."

“Trump could be considered a form of sorcery, though that really isn’t exactly true. It is as unique as Sorcery and the Matrix, Pattern and the Logrus. It is it’s own power. I would be happy to give you some lessons, and make arrangements for more. As my time is limited these days, I don’t have the time to take on a student myself.”

"That would be ideal," she says. "I still have yet to get a good grasp on sorcery here, but when I do, I'll more than happy to share knowledge on my area of expertise. Out of curiosity, why do you have only twelve spells racked? And why only one of each? Is it a limitation of this place? Back

home I was able to rack hundreds of spells...."

Kendrick has a somewhat shocked expression on his face, but quickly recovers and smiles. “I had heard you were a sorceress of some renown”, he shifts a little uncomfortably, “I had no idea you would be able to see spells I have racked though.” He pauses. “Twelve spells are all my ring will hold, I am not aware of a manner of changing it. If you are, I would be glad to learn. As far as the limitations, I would think that the Mage’s college may be better equipped to handle those questions. Perhaps Morvana? Perhaps we can arrange lessons for each other?”

She looks at him a moment.

"Well...it would be a disservice to you to be duplicitous. I in turn am surprised...the ability to perceive the quantity and nature of magic on a person or creature...well...it's not uncommon where I come from. I'll ask Duchess Morvana about it."

"But I'm practically interrogating you, and I'm sure you have other questions for me. What else did you want to know?"

Kendrick smiles nicely, though he hesitates. “I understand you brought your daughter with you? Would it be possible for me to make her acquaintance?”

"That would be fine...if I knew where she was," she answers simply. "She was here last...when I was taken from my rooms and imprisoned. Now I have no idea where she is. I was about to go and find her when you arrived."

“I would be happy to help you search.” He pauses, “I understand she is, shall I say, incorporeal?”

"Thank you, that would be wonderful," she says. "Yes...Iris has been dead for quite some time. The...people from the mages' guild referred to her as an Echo. I'm still looking into that matter. I suppose the first step is to simply ask."

Althea goes out to the guards at the door.

"My daughter doesn't seem to be in her rooms. Can you tell me where she is?" she asks them.

"I believe the Lord Chamberlain has just gone to fetch her, my lady," the guard replies courteously. "She will be along in a few moments."

"Ah, perfect," she says with obvious relief. She returns to the room and comments to Kendrick, "Apparently she will be along shortly."

A few moments later there is a knock on the door. A pretty blond woman about 5'6" tall walks in, dressed in flamboyant court clothes that enhance her girlish figure. She is wearing a pearl necklace and diamond earrings sparkle among her tumbling locks. She beams warmly at the occupants of the room, her brown doe eyes alighting on Kendrick last. "Hello," she says.

http://website.lineone.net/~lucretzia42/html/iris.html

Kendrick looks confused, but smiles politely, and stands as Lady Iris enters.

Althea is silent for a moment. "Iris?" she asks quietly. "Is that really you?"

Her grin broadens and she does a twirl. "Entirely me!" She says.

"Lord Kendrick," Althea says, "allow me to present my daughter, Iris."

"I think now would be a good time to explain precisely how you came back from the dead, Iris," Althea's voice sounds a little strained. "I...I don't understand what's going on here." She looks at Iris as if she doesn't quite believe it.

Iris' gaze lingers on Kendrick a moment before she answers her mother. "The Matrix says I was never really dead. It just created a ghostly being to replace me while I was brought up in Kiral y'Hida*. It was strange, because at night I dreamed I was with you. I'm glad of that, because I

didn't want you to be too sad." She says. "Please don't be angry, Mama." {*Pronounced K-EERal Yuh HEEdah}

"I...I'm not angry...just confused," she says. "Kendrick, what is this Matrix, precisely? I've heard it mentioned it. Is it like the Pattern?" She gives her daughter a warning look, as if to say, be careful what you say.

“I am afraid that other than saying that in theory it is similar to the Pattern of Amber, I cannot say.” He pauses, “I have never studied it, or assayed either of them. My interests have always lead to more artistic expressions such as Sorcery and Trump.” He turns to Iris, “Are you saying you spoke with the Matrix? And if it created this ghostly presence, then it surely knew of your mother’s existence, yet never acted upon it....” almost to himself, “very interesting.”

"Well, sir," Iris says bashfully, "it spoke to me...I didn't really say much back. I guess...what you say's true..."

Kendrick sits back down and looks rather pensive.

Althea gets a sudden thought and goes pale.

"What of the accident then? There was no fire? And what of Latimer?" she asks.

Kendrick looks up, “Latimer?”

"My husband," Althea says simply.

Kendrick nods and looks towards Iris.

"Well, there was a fire, but that was after me and Dad were taken away. I haven't seen him since, but I've been told he lives somewhere nearby." Iris replies quietly.

"I see," she replies simply. "Well...clearly we have much to talk about, but I'm certain that most of it can wait a bit. It's waited seventeen years, after all."

Just to add a point of clarification...Althea hasn't made a move to embrace or touch her daughter, which might seem odd to Kendrick and Iris. For the GM's knowledge, Althea isn't entirely certain that she believes this to be her daughter. ;)

"Iris, dear, do take a seat," she adds, gesturing to one of the tables.

She sits down silently, folding her hands in her lap.

"So Lord Kendrick, were you raised in Jade, or off in shadow somewhere?" Althea asks.

“I was raised here, in the castle.” Kendrick smiles. “I am afraid that I am a local, as the saying may be.”

"And why do you remain in Jade?" she asks. "If I understand it correctly, you could go pretty much anywhere...perhaps find a less stressful climate. What is there about Jade that makes you want to be here?"

Kendrick laughs politely. “I guess you could call it stressful here, but it has never seemed especially so. It is just home.”

"The impression I've been given is that the political situation here is far from stable. Bleys himself told me that he was unsure of his position and that a show of weakness on his part might result in a family member attempting to remove him from the throne. And of course, he ascends the

throne after my father was nearly murdered by his own son."

"And then there's the issue of Oberon's and Eric's deaths, resultant from Brand's...treachery, for lack of a better word."

"I'm not leveling criticisms; it just sounds rather dangerous to be a part of the royal family," she concludes with a slight shrug.

Kendrick looks somewhat grave. “I suppose when you put it in the light of a new arrival, it doesn’t sound very good at all, however, Bleys’ ascension to the throne is new. We shall see what will happen. He may just be overly cautious. He only received the throne as a result of Brand’s murder. As far as Oberon and Eric, I have heard of them, but am afraid they died before my time. As far as being a member of the royal family, yes, that does give you a bulls eye in some instances, but honestly, you are likely to have that in any land.”

She chuckles. "But in my homeland, I was only targeted because of my own actions, not those of my family."

She pauses and looks over at Iris. "Or so it seemed at the time."

“One can never know for certain.”

"No, I suppose not," she says. "Certainty seems in short supply here. When you deal with a group of people who can warp reality...well...it makes it difficult to be certain of anything."

Kendrick turns his attention to Iris, "Iris, where is Kiral y'Hida?"

"I believe you call it one of the String of Pearls," Iris answers.

[GM Note: At Iris's response, Kendrick recalls it is a peripheral Shadow rarely frequented by the royal family. It consists largely of inhospitable mountain peaks, but the valleys are fertile and cultivated. It can only be accessed through Mithrahar, Swn-Y-Mor and the Obsidian Empire. There's no notes on the website about it because it is so rarely discussed. It is an isolationist state that seems to have little interest in politics, though there is flourishing trade. Kendrick remembers seeing fine angora knitwear, which originated from here.]

"That's the Jade equivalent of the Golden Circle, correct?" Althea asks...to both Iris and Kendrick.

“Yes, it is rarely frequented by the royal family though. I only just barely remember it.” He turns toward Iris, “What did you do there? Who were you raised by?”

"I trained as a sorceress, though I found it very hard." Iris confesses. "I attended a boarding school run by a noble lady I never met. The teachers all called her 'the Headmistress', but I don't know her real name."

Kendrick nods but says nothing.

"And who was it that arranged for you to be brought here?" Althea asks.

"The king's diplomat, Dame Tatiyana." Iris replies.

Kendrick inhales sharply, but says nothing.

"I see," Althea says simply. "Then his majesty had some knowledge of the kidnapping of my daughter, if not a direct hand in it. How charming. Funny that he didn't bring the matter up in our interview."

“More likely, it was Brand. Bleys may have known, but Brand’s grandchild never would have been touched without his consent.”

"True...I shouldn't jump to conclusions," she agrees. "Let us be charitable and assume that his majesty didn't know when we first met. Afterwards, he was informed by his advisors, and had his people set about correcting the matter immediately."

"That does leave an interesting question, however. What kind of man is Brand, really? I have yet to hear anything good about him."

“Bleys or Fiona would be the people able to best speak of his majesty. They new him better than I.” He pauses for a moment, and says, “Perhaps even my mother.”

"Fiona is missing, and as for his majesty...I'm still uncertain of him. I think this might be a good opportunity to meet her highness, Princess Florimel. Would you be willing to arrange an introduction?"

Kendrick nods. “That would be easy. If you give me a moment.” Kendrick pulls out his Trump cards and begins to shuffle through them. He finds Flora’s card and begins to concentrate.

Flora answers, replacing a crystal glass on the sideboard. Its sides are beaded and wet from the wine that previously occupied it. "Yes, dear?" She says.

Kendrick smiles at her. “I am visiting with Princess Althea. She has expressed an interest in meeting with you. I was hoping you might be available?”

Flora frowns delicately at having this invitation sprung on her suddenly. "Give me a few moments to prepare, and I will contact you again," she says. The contact is cut.

[Flora's 'a few moments' is more like half an hour, btw ;) ]

“Mother will be joining us shortly.”

Althea seems a tad surprised. "Why...thank you. It wasn't necessary to interrupt her, but I do appreciate it."

"Are the people of Jade always so...hasty?" she asks with a smile.

Kendrick smiles, “I think you have been kept waiting quite enough already.”

She smiles at him. "If there are more people like yourself here, Kendrick, then perhaps I'll enjoy living in Jade after all."

Kendrick grins. “Don’t overstate too much.”

"Iris, is there anything more you can tell me of your stay here? I'm curious to hear a bit about what you've been up to in my absence. And I would like to hear more about their attempts to make you into a Sorceress."

"Absence? You haven't been gone *that* long, mother." Iris says surprised. "I just had a brief talk with Lord Peredur, who said you would be here. As for my study...well, you'd have to talk to my tutors about that. I'm not sure I have a flair for it."

"I'm a bit confused, Iris. Perhaps my understanding of the situation is flawed. To me, you died seventeen years ago. Twelve years later, your ghost appeared to me. You mentioned dreams earlier. Were you the ghost somehow? Or is that an entirely different creature? Have you been with me these years, or apart from me?"

"Both," Iris answers, as if it makes perfect sense. "Before I became whole, I could only see you in visions. Now, I have every memory the Echo had, as well as my own."

"What happened to your Echo after the Gorgon came into our quarters?"

"I think I was taken down a lot of steps, so I could meet the Matrix." Iris answers. "Everything was a bit blurry, like it was speeded up really fast."

"You talk about it as if it were intelligent, Iris," she comments. "Are you sure you spoke to the Matrix, or perhaps to its creator?"

"Yes, I have spoken to it," Iris replies, "but not its creator. I thought he was dead?"

Kendrick clears his throat. “The creator of the Matrix was Brand, and he is believed dead. So, if he had a part in this, I am afraid that would be untraceable.”

Althea looks at Kendrick with a slight smirk. She seems like she wants to tell him something, but changes her mind. "Believed dead? This hasn't been confirmed? Did the body vanish?"

"While it has not been confirmed, I can tell you that his Trump is no longer cool to the touch, while itself not proof, it does imply that Brand is either FAR from reach, or dead."

"And I suppose someone extremely skilled with Trump wouldn't be able to fake that in any fashion?" she asks with a smile. "I wonder how Caine was able to deceive so many of his family when he faked his own disappearance during the Patternfall War. Trumps should have made it easy to ascertain that it was a ruse."

Kendrick nods. "Yes, it is very possible.” He pauses, “What I am about to relay to you, was relayed to the family by Brand’s Gorgon. It was revealed shortly after we identified the Brand on the throne as an imposter. I will relay it as I heard/saw it...

Brand's voice can be heard crying: "Treachery!!" Werewindle shoots across the room.

Caitriona can be heard making a gutteral laugh, "Treachery..... who are you to speak of such......."

Caitriona is seen killing the guards with a sword. She moves incredibly quickly. Brand's bodyguard launches a lightning attack. The blow comes and goes quicker than she can react, and she is wounded. She looks oddly muscled, and her face is contorted into a snarl.

Meantime bolts of lighting are hurtling past. Brand is retreating before an advancing carpet of greenery and tendrils, and draws a long knife from his sleeve while throwing chairs, dropped weapons and ornaments at his opponent with telekinesis.

Brand is forced back down the Throne Room, and the bodyguard retreats with them, giving ground while Caitriona drives him onto the back foot with lunges, feints and thrusts. Finally Brand runs out of places to retreat to. He is surrounded by the advancing beast of holly and ivy, and dark tendrils of force. A woman's voice cackles from the foliage. "Call upon her! Call upon your former mistress to save you, and she will embrace you!" “No!" Brand shouts, expending the last of his stored magics in a burst of fireworks. "I will not yield!" "Then embrace your mother one last time," she says with malice, and steps so close they are almost touching.

In that moment, the bodyguard performs a reverse stroke, his blade shooting behind into the beast's ribs. Caitriona skewers the bodyguard, who staggers backwards. The green mass shifts into a pillar of flame, which consumes Brand whose hands are lifted to protect his face. There is a shriek like the snapping of metal under load, and all three vanish in a firestorm, leaving Cait alone with the Gorgon.

The Throne Room is suddenly quiet, but for the smoldering of furnishings. Cait sinks to her knees as her life-blood puddles on the stone floor... "Sinisalo," she is heard to say, before slumping forward.

There the vision ended. Kendrick looks at Althea. “Yes, it is possible that it is a ruse, but the evidence points to another solution.”

She frowns. "This vision...was presented to you by Brand's construct. How do you verify the truth of it? Were there any actual witnesses? Does this Caitriona admit her complicity in it?"

"I'm sorry if I seem such a skeptic, but it seems a bit much to believe. You have shapeshifters and sorcerers, and the only evidence of his death is a vision from a magical construct that Brand created. It could be telling the truth; it could be telling whatever he told it to tell."

She laughs. "It's all so murky, here, in this land of no absolutes. I don't know how you all manage."

Kendrick nods, “I understand you are confused, but perhaps you missed some of the facts.

1. Brand was King. He was unopposed.

2. There was an imposter on the throne. He is currently in our custody.

3. Caitriona has been exiled from Jade. She put up no defense.

4. The Gorgon’s relaying of events. His own construct.

5. Brand is unreachable by all known means.

6. If he is alive, he allowed his brother to be crowned King in his absence.

7. Why would someone in this situation fake his own death?

8. Bleys claims the unicorn gave him the crown of Jade.

All I can say for certain is that Brand is missing, and presumed dead. He may as yet be living, but we have absolutely no evidence of it. He has made no attempts to contact us.

Althea listens very carefully. "Actually, he has. He interrupted my trump trip when Peredur freed me from my shadow prison. I arrived at the Matrix and Brand and I talked briefly before I returned to Peredur. I didn't tell Peredur about this; Brand wanted to keep it a secret. But if there are

impostors running around, perhaps I shouldn't keep it to myself."

Kendrick looks stunned.

"By the way, he said that the reason he allowed Bleys to assume the throne is because it was the only way to get his brother to do something useful for once. His words, not mine."

"That's why I'm suspicious of the Gorgon's vision. Maybe he's dead, or maybe he just wants us to believe it. But the politics of Jade are a bit beyond my grasp; I only just got here." She smiles.

Kendrick sits quietly for a full minute, contemplating what he has just heard. He looks to Althea. “You do realize that I am bound by my oath to reveal this information to King Bleys?”

"Assuming he doesn't have someone else spying right now," she comments. "Lord Kendrick, I hardly expect you to betray your king for me after meeting me once. Perhaps next time," she adds with a mischievous smile.

"So...who was this former Mistress referred to by the attacking shrubbery? Any idea?" she asks.

"No, I am afraid I don't." Kendrick replies.

"There is still the mystery of my maternity, of course," she comments. "Brand said only that she was of no relevance, and the blood test indicated an unknown female of Chaosian origin. Can you tell me anything of the women in Brand's life?"

Kendrick shakes his head. “I am afraid I have nothing to offer you in the way of knowledge of Brand’s women. I never paid much attention.”

[GM Note: There were rumors that Brand staged a coup in each Pearls realm to ensure all the heads of state were women of a certain age and disposition. Only rumors, of course.]

"I suppose I shall just have to ask him myself. He said that if I wanted to speak to him, I had only to go to the basement. Rather vague directions, though."

"So Iris, would you like to meet your grandfather? Or at least an approximation thereof?" Althea asks.

"Yes, I would," Iris says nodding. "I'd like to know more about him."

"And Kendrick...could you assist us with ascertaining whether or not he is really Brand, or just some imposter?" Althea asks.

"I can try, but I cannot guarantee results which are 100% accurate. I will likely only be able to disprove possibilities, not prove with certainty. Mother may have some ideas when she arrives momentarily"...He pauses, "that is if you don't mind her joining us?"

"The more, the merrier," she replies. "Let's consider it a pleasant little family reunion. Of course, he may be rude and not show up."

Several minutes later there is a knock at the door. When Althea opens it, she finds a herald in gold and green livery (different to the others she has seen), who bows to her.

"Pardon me, my lady, the Princess Royal enquires if you are ready to receive her?" The Herald says formally.

"Yes, of course," she responds, rising to her feet. (She gives Iris a meaningful glance if she doesn't stand up as well.)

Kendrick stands and adjusts his tunic and arranges a smile on his face.

Iris misses her cue by a heartbeat, but a sudden fanfare brings her to her feet.

Flora glides in, wearing a white ball gown trimmed with lace. The light from the room reflects a thousand diamond and pearls, but the radiance only serves to compliment her glittering smile.

"Hello dear," she says to Kendrick, before nodding to Althea. "I hope you find your quarters acceptable, Sorceress."

Kendrick walks to her, kisses her hand, begins to make introductions. “Mother, may I present Lady Althea and her daughter Iris.”

Althea curtseys to Princess Florimel. "The quarters are ideal, your highness. I appreciate your taking time to speak with me. Please have a seat and make yourself comfortable."

Flora's gaze lingers on Iris.

"What a fine-looking young lady!" She exclaims. Iris colors.

Flora selects a large high-backed seat and gathers her skirts in front of her before perching in it.

"Thank you," she says. "Now what brings you and my son together today?"

"I believe Kendrick was asked to inquire about some rather unusual trumps I had in my possession, as part of his official duties," Althea answers. "This lead to discussions about my father, and he recommended I speak with you, as his information about Brand is rather limited."

"It's rather tricky, you see. Bleys wants me to swear fealty. And yet I am the daughter of the former King, and so swearing fealty to another puts me at odds with my father's claim to the throne. I wanted to learn a bit about Brand before making any firm decisions."

Flora makes a casual gesture with her hand. "You put too much store in words, my dear. The oath is purely symbolic. If you want to make a stand on a point of honor, it will only count against

you. A king expects loyalty from his soldiers, not necessarily his family, no matter what fancy words you may declare."

"That's very different from the world in which I was raised. Generally when we swear oaths there, they have actual meaning. And for a Sorceress to take an oath...well...that can be binding in ways that aren't immediately obvious," she replies.

"I see," Flora says nodding, "Well, I'll do what I can to make it easier for you," she adds with a smile.

Kendrick looks to Flora, “I am afraid it may even be more complicated, as Lady Althea believes Brand to be alive, and spending his time in the Matrix.”

Flora purses her lips briefly. "The Matrix is a tool of deception, created by the Prince of Lies. I do not consider it to be the keeper of hidden truths."

Kendrick looks a bit surprised by her vehemence, but continues, “We were discussing going down to the Matrix. Have you any idea how I may be able to prove to Lady Althea that the Brand in the Matrix is nothing more than something akin to a Pattern Ghost? I have already explained some of the history of Brand’s disappearance to her.”

"Sorry to interrupt, but he was *at* the Matrix...not *in* it, if I understand correctly," Althea comments. "The circle of stones was the Matrix...and he wasn't within that circle."

Flora shrugs, "at, in, on. These are words defined by dimension. In the Matrix there are no dimensions."

She turns to Kendrick. "In answer to your question proof positive is an impossibility, though I suppose we could always enter the Matrix and kill him again. Ah, but that would be treason, would it not?" Her tone is light-hearted, but the flash in her eye leaves room for doubt.

"Perhaps there is another way of looking at it - can a king who is caged truly be a king?"

"Why do you hate him so?" Althea asks. "I know next to nothing about him. The fact that he is my father warrants some consideration, but that only goes so far. I need to know what manner of man he is...."

Flora looks wounded. "Me, hate? No, my dear, you misunderstand me. In the context of this family, he is one of our brighter lights. A tortured genius, if you will. That said, I did not approve of many of his policies, and he forced me to make decisions I would come to regret. Serving a king is never an easy thing," she explains.

Althea gets an odd look. "Then perhaps my father and I are not so different. I...was not a good ruler in my own lands. Capable, yes. Compassionate, no."

"Why is Bleys now the king then?" she asks. "Perhaps I'm reading too much from our one meeting, but he didn't really strike me as all that capable. Certainly he made it clear that his hold on the throne was tenuous, and that's a rather foolish thing for a king to admit to anyone."

"The Unicorn anointed him, which makes him king. In any case, he was the only one fit to take the crown, in the eyes of the Pearls. Do not judge Bleys on one meeting, young lady, for there is far more to him than meets the eye. Anyone who takes the crown must fight to keep it, as I'm sure you're aware. His caution with you is understandable." Flora replies.

"I will endeavor to be more open-minded," Althea says. "I was not raised with the idea of infinite realities. There is a rigidity to me that is making it difficult to adapt to your world."

She chuckles.

"My world, too, I suppose."

"Then who might this imposter be, and why was he so anxious for me to believe him my father. Why did he have me assay the Matrix?" she asks bluntly.

"Not an imposter, exactly. It is a construct created by the Matrix. It truly believes it is Brand, and has all of his memories. I'm sure he wants you to walk the Matrix, as the more of the family that walk it, the stronger it becomes." Flora explains.

"Something doesn't make sense here," Althea comments aloud. "When did Brand create the Matrix? How many years ago? Does this ghost have his memories as acquires them, or only from the point of his creating the Matrix?"

“In theory, it would have all of his knowledge from the point he last assayed the Matrix. It may know more, if it was told more.”

"Very good, Kendrick." Flora says smiling proudly.

"It may have been programmed to check on you from your birth," Flora suggests. "Though it was created no more than five years ago, how that relates to your own time stream is impossible to tell. Brand would doubtless have put you in a fast time shadow so that you would grow up and

mature with relative speed."

Althea nods. "Iris has indicated as much," she says, looking to her daughter. "It was seventeen years ago that she died...disappeared, rather...and yet it appears that only half that time has passed for her in Jade."

Flora looks enquiringly at Iris, who nods her agreement.

"Anyway, interesting though your daughter's case is, you did ask me about Brand." Flora says. "Assessing him by his deeds alone is not enough. He understood more than anyone else the fundamentals of the universe and how Dworkin drew the first pattern, that of Amber. He was a brilliant scientist, and his construction of the Matrix held together what was left of reality after Amber's fall. In that, we are all in his debt. Yet there is a ruthlessness in him that none of his family could match. He had a clear sight of his goals and nothing and nobody would stand in his way. He would push for his objective no matter what the cost." Flora sighs. "When Corwin could not match Brand's achievements, he began to employ his methods, which has seen the Empire slip into darkness. With the end of the war, I thought all that pain would be over, and we would finally reap the reward. Perhaps now that opportunity is lost."

"I wonder how I fit into all of this. How does it know of me? Was I born before or after its creation? Did it contact me upon my father's orders, or based upon its own memories of me?" Althea shrugs. "Idle speculation, I suppose."

Althea is quiet a moment. "Why do you war with Thelbane?" she asks. "I've met the Empress Yasmin. She did not strike me as an unreasonable woman, though her lords were bizarre by human standards."

There is pregnant pause as Flora eyes Althea, glances at her son, twists the ring on her middle finger. "We fight because Thelbane seeks to destroy us. Chaos will always war upon Order." Flora says simply.

"Always," Althea asks, raising one eyebrow slightly. "Do you really believe that? Have I finally found an unalterable truth in the kingdom of infinite variety? But then, I barely know your history."

"Rarely are they strong enough to strike at the heart of order, but the Patternfall War which ended the realm of Amber was precipitated by Thelbane. A long truce had existed between the two great kings of creation - Oberon, my father and Swayville. With both kings gone, it may take years before a new peace is found." Flora explains. "Brand believed he had finally destroyed them, but evidently it takes more than blood and steel to defeat Chaos. I suppose the universe requires two poles of existence around which to rotate, and neither can truly be destroyed."

"If that is the case, then perhaps his majesty should attempt to work out the kind of agreement that served his father, and see about establishing formal diplomatic relations," she comments. "But I'm sure King Bleys knows the situation far better than I. But of course, such an overture might not be pleasing to Brand, who may or may not be alive still."

"Are you offering to be an Ambassador?" Flora asks.

"I doubt I know enough of either culture to be qualified for such a position," she answers.

"Ignorance is an excellent qualification," Flora notes, "it means you have no bias."

Althea nods slightly, considering the matter.

"Hmmm...shall we go talk with this thing in the basement that may or may not be my father? Or do you feel I would be better off avoiding the creature...either way?" she asks with a slight smile.

"I will have to confer with the king." Flora says. "It is not a subject to be taken lightly."

"Certainly there is no rush. I should catch up with my daughter, and look into the whereabouts of my husband," she says. "And if possible I'd like to make a brief journey to verify what happened to my homeland."

"All in due course," Flora says. "You should not rush to discover all the answers. Some will come to you of their own accord." She smiles at Iris, who cannot meet her gaze.

Althea notes this.

"Indeed. I have a friend I left behind, and there's a possibility she wasn't in my home shadow, but rather one adjacent to it. I'd like to find out if she survived. But, there's no reason it can't wait."

"Time may be lacking in the place your friend is, perhaps I can help. Tell me about her." Flora says.

"Easily enough done," Althea says. "Her name is Pyros, and she's what is called a guardian spirit...a being of pure magical energy...a spirit of sorts. She spent the better part of fifteen years residing in my mind, and so there's probably a bit of me that resonates with her. I can do a quick

sketch of her if that would help, or conjure an illusion that shows the image she wore when she chose to reveal herself."

Flora nods. "If you do a sketch I'm sure Kendrick can organize something, don't you think?" She asks, turning to her son.

"Yes, Of course I can." Kendrick smiles at finally being able to be helpful.

"Well, before you all go dashing off, is there anything else I can help you with, Althea?" Flora asks.

"No, I don't think so," she responds. "Thank you so much for meeting with me, your highness, and thanks to you too Kendrick. To be quite honest, meeting people such as yourselves...civilized people...gives me hope that living in Jade might work out." She laughs. "After my first week here...well...I was half tempted to move your sun out of position and let your planet die."

Flora chuckles and rises to her feet. "How quaint," she remarks. "I hope you will warn me before you attempt anything like that." "Good-bye, for now." She says and exits in a whirl of silk and lace.

Althea smiles.

Althea rises for her departure. After she leaves, she turns to Kendrick. "Thank you very much for bringing her Kendrick. I owe you one for that."

{OOC: I'm going to take the liberty of moving this forward as the pace seems to be dragging a bit.}

Kendrick and Althea travel to a part of the Citadel that seems particularly well guarded. The soldiers all salute Kendrick and their passage is not interrupted. Althea has the impression of dense stone walls on every side.

They enter a domed chamber, in the center of which is a bright white light. There is a cluster of pods held high above the light, which create a strobing pattern on the floor, which Althea recognizes as a pentagram.

Kendrick completes a sketch of Pyros as Althea describes her, assisted by several staff in dark robes that scuttle about on nameless missions. Althea is invited to activate the drawing by concentrating on it, and around her she can feel a build up of static. It feels as if her mind is somehow being focused, and that the sketch before her is becoming empowered as she

strives to remember every aspect of her lost spirit.

The white light is suddenly replaced by a crimson sunburst, illuminating the chamber. For the first time Althea realizes this place is huge – far bigger, she thinks, than it would be possible to fit in a dungeon under the Citadel. The scurrying staff cower to the ground as a pillar of flame forms

at the heart of the pentagram, twisting and spiraling as it emerges from the ether.

The being that rises from the dancing fire is lean, beautiful and dangerous-looking. It holds aloft a golden spear, poised to strike. It looks angry and hisses aggressively towards Kendrick.

(This takes place in the Ministry chamber.)

The trump contact, if you can call it that, has been done this way to protect Kendrick and Althea. The entity is assumed to be hostile, and a direct trump contact with such a strong psychic being could easily be fatal. That is why the pentagram is used, to prevent the entity harming

anyone while allowing communication with it. Of course, it's also a good way to upset the entity, as it has been bound against its will, and ultimately will be forced to take a humanoid form so

that verbal communication can be possible.

Althea recognizes the problem and steps forward into the pentagram addressing her old comrade.

(If the Pentagram blocks her entrance, she will scuff it with her foot, but she is trying to avoid doing that.)

[The pentagram seems to be composed entirely of light, so she simply passes through it.]

One of the cloaked figures calls out - "No!"

"Fear not, Pyros, it is I...Althea," she says. "I beg your forgiveness for summoning you from home in such a fashion, and humbly request your aid once more. I find that I need your teaching and your advice once more."

She inclines her head to Pyros as a measure of respect and looks up to her with affection.

The fires in Pyros' eyes subside somewhat, and she lowers her spear. She tilts her head slightly as she regards Althea. "There has been great change, Althea." Pyros says. "Have you changed too?"

"I have...in ways I do not myself understand, Pyros," she answers. "I...I need someone I can trust. I need guidance. Can you help me?"

Pyros' hand touches Althea's cheek gently. "Of course," she says.

Then, the entity is gone.

The room goes suddenly dark.

Althea conjures a floating flame that lights the room somewhat, and steps out of the pentagram. "Thank you, Kendrick," she says. "Thank you all," she adds to the assistants. Looking to Kendrick, she says, "Shall we be going?"

Kendrick nods.

"Kendrick, thanks you again for your assistance. Would be it boorish of me to go attend to my daughter? I fear she may get into mischief if left alone for too long," Althea asks.

Kendrick smiles at Althea. "Of course not. Go, and enjoy your reconciliation."