Dir02/Mae01 - Ride Like the Wind

"Those sorts of things aren't my specialty, Lady. I keep the library running and often have little time actually to read any of the materials in her. You could say I am only an expert on the covers of the books," he giggles at what must be some inside joke among librarians."But from what I hear, the crops are failing in Amber, and our attempts to get food from elsewhere are hampered by ships being lost at sea in the storms. I believe the Regent predicted tightening of belts this winter.

"Sadly our catalogue was also destroyed in the blast so we can't be sure how many volumes were in the navigation section. Sadly Princes Gerard and Caine could probably have told us all the titles and contents had they still been with us."

There doesn't seem to be any pattern to the weather now or storms in the past that would inform her about the current troubles.

"I suppose if you weren't too picky about how much truth is in the tales, you might be able to get some reports down at the docks. I'm sure the navy has its own records of phenomena. Unfortunately, that will involve dealing with Prince Calvera and I am certain that he doesn't read. A man of different temperament he."

Maeve is greeted warmly at the HQ. SH is let in through the main gate of the small castle and into the keep. The place is spotlessly clean and the soldiers on duty are cooly efficient in their duties. There is less of the piratical scoundrel feel from the days of Admiral Caine. Things now are similar to how Gerard ran the place.

The storeroom containing the logs is a massive vaulted cellar. Below ground, at the edge of the sea, the place has a cool humid feel and crystals of salt crunch beneath her boots. Shelves upon shelves stretch into the darkness, books piled usually in order but in other places, they are jumbled up haphazardly.

"It will take you years to read these musty old books and then collect all the data, cousin." Calvera says coming up behind her. His tread silent across the floor.

He is a tall man, with tanned skin, bald, wears silks of orange and black, and moves like a panther or other another of the great cats of the jungle. He is rumoured to be the strongest member of the family now that Gerard is gone. He usually walks and stands with his hands behind his back. He is holding them that way now.

"Welcome to the Sea Keep. As a fellow sailor, you will always be welcome in these halls while I command our fleet."

The library is organized by ship. Some shelves containing logs of the most storied vessels in Amber's history, The Sundancer, Dancer, Bunzi, and Gerard's flagship The Stormrider, and bowed by the weight of the many volumes, others less so, and some places have no books at all, just a brass nameplate commemorating ships lost at sea before they could complete even one logbook. Many boats from Caine's fleet when Corwin attacked Amber are among those with no saved logs.



"I will get to it in time. Gerard was overmatched trying to command the entire fleet after Caine's death; it might take years to reorganize and reorder what we already have before I can begin to take on new projects."



"Trouble has already started up in some places, and it is sure to spread. The only saving grace is the weather will probably limit the scope and duration of any hostilities. Don't forget the disease, which will begin to spread soon enough. I have sent orders to quarantine a few more historically diseased ports, but I can't be sure if the messages went through. This weather makes our deployment of naval resources complex; supply is an issue, so most ships are at permanent anchor.

"There are enough theories to go around: a death curse from Brand, Merlin's messing about with great powers unbalancing the cosmic order, interference from the Courts of Chaos, a new type of shadow storm. Ask around, and I'm sure you'll pick up a few more. Oberon is said to have taken most of his secrets to the grave; not much help for us these days if he would have known how to fix this," Calvera says.

He turns to leave and then says:

"These log books are not to leave this fortress. A room will be prepared for you by my staff since you may be here for years...or decades if you find the reading stimulating enough. Beware though: some of those captains were real scoundrels, and few wrote with poetry in their heart or spelling and grammar on their mind."

"You expect to be done so soon?" Calvera asks surprised.

"I will endeavor to make the scene at the castle tonight. I shall wear my colors in case Flora tries to make it an official affair.

"One more thing. Mellish-purbright must not learn of the extent of this library. He has been hounding all who'll listen about having them be incorporated in the castle library. I don't doubt he mentioned this place to you just for the intel you'll be able to give him when he sees you next."

"Family unity, that's rich" Calvera chuckles. No one has seen Cal laughing before. "Are you still so naive after all this time? We made a good show of it when Flora had her party, but the attendance wasn't so great. I'm surprised you didn't show; I'm sure you will get a talking-to once your mother can corral you."

He looks at the titles on the logs Maeve has taken.

"I doubt he is a spy. He is far too obvious and enjoys the sound of his voice too much to trust with secrets. He's just a little man trying to act important. Oberon or Random should have tossed him out by his ear ages ago."

The logs are incomplete as a large number of ships have not returned to Amber for many months or years. tell of the regular cycles of weather and seasons until almost a year ago when the skies grew overcast through all known shadow and the rains began. A few places away from Amber and the Golden Circle are reported to have days or occasionally a week of no rain and sometimes even sun - the Golden Sands beach resort has had the most days of sun - but overall things are gloomy, bad, and getting worse.

Though she has been away the timing of the storms does match up close to the first explosion in the castle and Merlin's supposed ascension to the throne of Chaos. This may be a coincidence since the are rumours through Shadow of other forces in play. Coincidence or elements of a greater conflict.

Back at the castle, she learns that her mother is away from Amber and Rebma and won't be joining the meal. Flora too is busy with governing so it is Maeve, Calvera, Fiona, a few lords and ladies of the city, and a pair of dour emissaries from Begma.