|
Post by Hammett on Apr 21, 2020 1:40:01 GMT
"Benedict?" Hammett then remembers why he was rushing to see King Random in the first place, "Gerard! I all this I... Is he okay? Has he returned?"
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Apr 21, 2020 2:13:18 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/xqdCvzH/4d018a2f954cffa33f9daa13381ed638-roger-zelazny-ambre~jpg "Benedict and Flora are in Amber, Julian continues to guard Arden. Dorian has returned to Amber. You and I are here. There has been no word from anyone else." Hammett hears the sound of his sword being drawn. A sound strangely attenuated in the ocean depths. "So this is the sword I have heard stories about. Have you named it? That is the custom with these kinds of things, yes?"
|
|
|
Post by Hammett on Apr 21, 2020 3:15:52 GMT
Hammett forces himself to sit up with his legs over the side of the bed, "No word? Then I need to talk to Benedict right away! There might be great danger. I was bringing news to King random when the explosion happened."
He unsteadily looks around, "Where are my trumps?"
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Apr 21, 2020 3:49:01 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/xqdCvzH/4d018a2f954cffa33f9daa13381ed638-roger-zelazny-ambre~jpg Sword in one hand, Llewella picks up Hammett's deck in the other. "These? Also very interesting. I don't think that you will be wanting to leave here so soon - trust in Benedict to lead, yes?"
|
|
|
Post by Hammett on Apr 21, 2020 4:50:00 GMT
"Yes, of course. But he might not know what is going on in Kasaba and what happened to Gerard and his fleet."
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Apr 21, 2020 6:53:50 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/xqdCvzH/4d018a2f954cffa33f9daa13381ed638-roger-zelazny-ambre~jpg "He may not but Kasaba is probably the least of his worries right now.
"You seem to think that Leonil's actions were done out of incompetence rather than malice. Why do you think that? Wizards are subtle and act in mysterious ways towards mysterious ends."She strikes an en garde stance with the sword in hand then makes a few practice steps and swings. Hammett can see that her footwork is exquisite.
|
|
|
Post by Hammett on Apr 21, 2020 8:01:41 GMT
Hammett is puzzled by her seemingly lack of concern, but doesn't push her on it, not wanting to be a bad guest, especially after all she had done for him. Part of him was also wondering if this was some sort of test. Was she trying to figure out if I had something to do with the explosion? Or was it something more... He didn't even want to finish that thought.
"I don't know if it is the least of Benedict's worries right now. Two of King Random's agents were murdered there by shadow forces, aided by demon-like beings. I was arrested and while trying to escape two of my captors shape-shifted into monstrous forms and said they had a file on me and that they knew I was an Amberite and wondered how I would taste. They tried to kill and eat me and I only just escaped. Meanwhile Gerard knew something bad was happening there and tried to seal off the shadow for good, but the enemy force knew what he was trying to do and threw everything they had at him and his fleet. I was far away, but even from where I was I could see that Gerard was losing the battle. I tried to Trump him, but got no response. Then I had to flee and came here to tell King Random what was happening, but before I could tell him even that much, the scroll exploded. So yes, I think Benedict needs to know. Gerard could be hurt, captured or even dead right now. And those might be forces from the Courts of Chaos taking over Kasaba as a set-up to invading Amber."
Hammett falls silent after all that, worn out and slightly dizzy. But he does manage a bit more, "As for Leonil, I never got any impression that he meant any harm to the throne. He is just trying to gain favor and power. Showing off, even. Playing with things he doesn't fully understand or thinks should work the way they did in the shadow he is from, but they don't. But malice against King Random and Amber? No, and especially not enough to be some sort of crazy suicide bomber."
With that he lays back down to rest, "Oh, and no. I never gave it a name. It was a gift, and I do not know if it already has a name."
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Apr 22, 2020 2:37:47 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/xqdCvzH/4d018a2f954cffa33f9daa13381ed638-roger-zelazny-ambre~jpg "A sword like this you should name. Think back on the name of the largest thing you killed with it then stick a 'bane' on the end of it."Finished with her inspection of the sword she resheathes it. "Benedict saying that he has everything under control is good enough for me and should be good enough for you. Also if someone is in a battle you probably shouldn't be distracting them with a trump contact, yes?"She sits in a chair, takes his cards then casts a reading. "If anyone ever manages to scrape Leonil's parts back together I'm sure he will enjoy being called incompetent.
"So, tell me what you think about things since you first came to Amber. Coral, Merlin, Rinaldo and Dalt, all of that."
|
|
|
Post by Hammett on Apr 22, 2020 5:20:00 GMT
Hammett looks over at her, "I don't know much about them I'm afraid. I left Amber before Corwin's invasion or the war with the Courts of Chaos even started. I got... lost in shadow for a long time. By the time I found my way back the war was long over and I didn't stay long. I've never met any of them, heard stories, but never met them. I know Martin. We've hung out on and off a few times, he used to come by Wormwood's, my old nightclub, every now and then and play with the band. He's a good guy. He's how I've heard stories about most of the others. That and the usual scuttlebutt I pick up when I return to the castle from time to time."
Bit more recovered, he sits up again, "I know Merlin caused an explosion in the Castle that got Coral hurt and Dwarkin replaced her eye with the Jewel of Judgement." He touches his own face and near his now missing eye, "History repeats itself I guess. You think Dworkin has another jewel laying around?"
Now sitting up he casually tries to sneak a glimpse of what her reading is showing.
"Why? What do you think of all of them?"
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Apr 22, 2020 6:40:12 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/xqdCvzH/4d018a2f954cffa33f9daa13381ed638-roger-zelazny-ambre~jpg "Oh, you know, just the family gossip. It was so quiet around here until Corwin returned. Since then we've had the Black Road and war, madness, betrayal, loss of Oberon, a second Pattern, then two castle explosions, assassinations, Merlin casting his lot in with the Courts, the loss of the Jewel of Judgement, and on and on.
"As for Merlin and his band of merry fools, I think they will all come to ruin. They should have stayed here with us - the Courts of Chaos are unkind to those with the blood of Amber." She scoops up the cards and replaces them in the case before Hammett can see the spread.
|
|
|
Post by Hammett on Apr 22, 2020 8:34:12 GMT
Hammett nods, then regrets it as the pain hits, "Wasn't Merlin's mother from the Courts? If so it makes sense that he might side with them, but as for the others? I agree it is troubling that they would side with him against us. What do you know of Coral right now? And her sister? Any word on where they might be or what they would be up to?"
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Apr 22, 2020 23:51:58 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/xqdCvzH/4d018a2f954cffa33f9daa13381ed638-roger-zelazny-ambre~jpg "Lady Dara is from the Courts but is also Benedict's however-many-times granddaughter and from Merlin's telling of her, she is not the nicest of people - or mothers, for that matter. She killed a number of castle guards when she broke into the castle during the Battle of Kolvir. I can't say that she is one of my favourite people.
"Nayda is splitting time between Begma and Kashfa. Doing diplomatic work if our agents are correct. Coral has vanished taking the Jewel of Judgment with her and leaving us all in a mess."A servant enters bringing food and wine. "Eat and drink if you can; that neck wound is quite deep. Hasn't seemed to have stopped your tongue though. And rest. No naughty playing with the tarots while I'm away for the strain may kill you and then all my work would be for nought."She leaves Hammett alone in the room.
|
|
|
Post by Hammett on Apr 23, 2020 0:09:23 GMT
Hammett follows her advice. He eats as much as he is able without it hurting too much, then sleeps. When he wakes he will eat and drink a bit more and see how he is feeling.
Despite her warning he needs to find out what happened to Brennon and the others, plus if he strong enough it might be best to return to Carcosa and adjust he time flow, allowing him to heal much quicker, relative to Amber, then just waiting here would.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Apr 23, 2020 4:27:08 GMT
Eating is painful, Llewella didn't lie about he neck injury as he couldn't help but notice the bandages around his neck. Waking up after he still feels great pain and a slight dizziness.
|
|
|
Post by Hammett on Apr 23, 2020 6:31:09 GMT
The most effort he makes is to gather his sword and trump cards together and bring them up next to his bed.
Then he eats and sleeps again, hoping to be strong enough the next time he rises to maybe try and use trump.
|
|