|
Post by Admin on May 4, 2020 7:28:49 GMT
Calvera dissolves in Jaxiam's home....and reappears on a city street apparently in the realm of some sort of duke or earl. The bright colourful flash then the buzz of neon lights going on and off adds garish colour to the nighttime scene. The shops which line both sides of the street are closed for the night but a malt shop a half block away plays the ode to the local ruler but the lyrics do not make any feudal sense. Automobiles drive up and down the street. From a deuce coupe passing by a teenager sticks his head out the window and yells:
"Nice outfit, weirdo!"
Then moons Calvera as the car speeds off.
Calvera feels the weariness of a day spent at war then followed by a battle in the ghost city. A head full of liquor doesn't help either.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 6, 2020 3:19:12 GMT
He walks toward the malt shop and spots a young hood smoking outside. He'll do. Alone no, one to impress. But he's out at night. A young man at loose ends perfect.
"Hey man can you spare a light?"
"Whoa! What's with the threads?"
"Yeah, I know my buddies decided to play a joke one me at costume party. Can you spare a light?"
"Yeah sure man."
Calvera takes the zippo and burns the Trump of this place down to ash. Then hands it back.
"I need another favor. Nothing crazy but I could use a bit of help."
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a fat gold coin with a square hole in the center and makes it dance across his knuckles. The locals eyes bug out at the sight of gold.
"I need a pawn shop and a news paper." He flipped him the coin.
"What's your name?"
"Larry. Larry Washington. Yeah there's a pawn shop over on 4th street."
"You got a car Larry? Can you give me a ride?" This is the trick, this is where I ask something of him. But he's primed, he's used to doing what I want. He gave me a light, his name. He's taken my money, just lean on him a little bit to make sure. psyche
He makes a second gold coin dance across the back of his good hand then flips that one over too. Larry catches it out of the air and shrugs, throws his cigarette on the ground and crushes it out. "Sure man, I'll give you a ride."
He walks over to a red Volkswagen beatle. "Hop in."
Calvera opens the door and sinks down into the little car which rocks on its springs as the get in.
"Larry. I don't want any more trouble tonight... And you don't either."
Calvera makes his big ugly hunting knife appear and dance through his fingers just as easily as the coin then disappear just as quickly. "I just don't want there to be any misunderstandings."
"Hey no problem man."
They drive for a short time listening to the radio. There's a lot of talk about going to the moon.
Then they pull up in front of a pawn shop.
"You said you don't want any trouble, but dressed like you are you might find some in a pawn shop open this time of night."
"I'm not worried about this place, they should know their business. Thanks for the ride."
Change some money over, get some rest then down to the marina to buy a boat. Corwin says he and Random drove from here to the forest Arden but I prefer to sail.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on May 6, 2020 7:59:20 GMT
Walking into the pawnshop the propietor says.
"Sheeee-it. I didn't know they was performin' the King and I in town. Didn't think this place was big enough for one of them fancy shows to be comin' through. What can I do ya for, mister?"
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 7, 2020 14:10:17 GMT
"Close, costume party not musical. I need some cash. My friends have a wicked sense of humor." His eyes quickly scan the display case, jewelry, watch, pen set, a few pistols. He notes all the prices. Gold's not as valuable here as the earth where he went to college, he'll have to part with all his coins. But guns are cheep.
He pulls out a string of those fat gold coins and lays them out on the counter.
"Test them please. They're 18 carat."
The proprietor lets out a low whistle. And takes a second look at him. "That's a lot of gold to take to a costume party. How did you hurt your hand?" He picks one up and looks at the raised markings in a foreign script. "Pretty detailed for a prop."
"This?" He wiggles his fingers in the makeshift sling. "Part of my friends sense of humor though I don't think they meant to hurt me. Needless to say alcohol was involved.
They're not a prop. My grandfather picked up a bunch of them, from Ceylon not Siam. I'm going to catch hell from Mom if she finds out I pawned them but I can't go around dressed like this.
Test them weigh them take your time. You got a paper I can read?"
The owner is still sizing him up trying figure him out.
"A guy named Larry Washington gave me a ride. I gave him one for the trouble he might be in later to change his as well."
Mention of a witness helps the owner decide that today at least honesty is the best policy. He pulls out a scale and a little chemistry set and starts to test the coins.
Calvera thumbs through a well mangled paper. Crossword half finished. He just scans the headlines quickly. Notes the price of gold in the financial section, gets the prices from all the advertisements then starts in on the classifieds. Random taught him to do this. The king wasn't his father but he made sure Calvera was prepared to be a Prince of Amber. Tutors could teach riding, sailing, fencing, Judo, guns any number of subjects. On top of a liberal arts degree Random insisted on for some reason. But only a shadow walker could teach the skills and the mind set to land on your feet in a strange shadow.
Before Calvera walked the pattern Random took him on a tour of Shadow. From Amber to Corwin's earth and a little beyond. It was supposed to be a month, they ended up Trumping back after a week. Affairs of state. Still he learned quite a lot and got to know the king. Random was a lot more fun away from the Castle. He came alive at the drums in the dive bars and river boats he found. He seemed to relish the fights they got into, purely for educational experience of course. Its hard to spot an ambush until you've been jumped a couple times.
"Yeah. 18 carat. I'll take them all."
They got down to negotiating. In the end he walked out with a little less cash than he wanted but a .38 and a box of shells and he didn't get jumped nor did he have to kill or even threaten anyone.
The owner called him a cab and he found a hotel, stopping on the way for ethnic food. 6 hamburgers 3 fires 2 milkshakes and a coke.
In a different shadow he would try to set wards or protection charms, maybe bind a sprite to guard his sleep. Here they had the law so he would have to trust it. Well that and the .38 under his pillow.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on May 7, 2020 18:10:46 GMT
Continue when you are ready.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 8, 2020 14:53:36 GMT
Calvera woke in the morning late from a deep and dreamless sleep. After his toilet he stood naked on the carpet beside his bed staring out the window. His mind jumbled with thoughts.
Why would Bleys be moving against Random now and who was his hidden ally?
Why was the Unicorn supporting them?
What power did those demon Crusaders have? Was it really a gift from tbe unicorn?
Why was I sent to the dream of Pairs? Did she want me to meet Deirdre's ghost? Or Corwin's daughter and her lover the Sorcerer? Nothing came of either meeting. Were they meant to kill me?
He slowed his breathing. Stretched to the ceiling and started a sun salutation.
...
After and hour his breathing was slow and regular his mind was calm and he felt prepared. By noon he was down at the marina dressed appropriately for the shadow. Shirt, leather jacket and new shoes. Always get shoes in a high tech shadow. He kept his pants. They didn't belong but he liked them and black goes with anything. His knife he kept in a hidden draw from behind his back and his glove he tucked into his belt. .38 in his jacket pocket. His arm was sore but strong he didn't need the sling and it hadn't made anyone underestimate him so he didn't warp his arm back up.
He was low on cash and didn't want to complications of getting more. That was part of the reason he always preferred to walk than trump. When you change the shadows you change yourself and its easy to arrive with a moderate amount of the proper currency. He would have to buy a scummier vessel.
His plans changed a the marina. He made a deal to buy a motorcycle instead and headed west on 66 toward Amber.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on May 10, 2020 6:22:05 GMT
Unlike the song's promise, Calvera does not find much by way of kicks on Route 66; the weather is bad, accidents and traffic jams block the road and slow his progress. These annoyances occur in every shadow and no matter how much he tries to shift them out of his path they reappear to bedevil him.
But in spite of that, the days pass and he gets closer and closer to Amber, eventually the road twists and turns through hills and tree-covered mountains bringing him to the fringes of one of Arden's many shadows.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 12, 2020 3:11:22 GMT
One more night before the forest Arden and then on to Amber. Well, if he could make it past Julian's rangers with out too much delay.
The Motorcycle had shifted and changed with each shadow but Calvera didn't have the skill to bring it much further. Tomorrow would be on foot.
Finally he spotted what he was looking for. The journey from earth to Amber could be made in a day in better times so Calvera was surprised to still be on the road the first night. He found welcome in a Karate school. He walked in off the street to work out the wooden man and ended up teaching a class. Not his normal style but it got him a meal and a place to sleep for the night. Since then he sought out schools Dojo's Academy's and Gymnasiums. He had gotten lax playing the Great Khan up in the mountains.
This last night he almost missed the Dojo. There had to be one. He put it there but it was far more rustic and smaller than he was expecting. A hut, with a father teaching his two children.
He traded a throw for a meal, and a round of push hands for news, of which there was little, bad weather and hard times.
He left the bike, even if it wouldn't run steel was useful. The .38 he traded for a simple spear. Julian was supposed to keep the forest clear of beasts and unclean things but Calvera always felt there were things lurking in the forest.
In the morning he set out on foot, if he could find his was through the forest he would be in Amber before nightfall.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on May 12, 2020 6:02:22 GMT
The poor weather continues during his walk. The road enters the outlying forests signalling that he is on the correct path to Amber. Traffic on the way becomes sparse then disappears altogether as the day advances. Soon Calvera is hiking up the foothills towards the first mountain pass into Arden.
Hot, weary, sweaty, and only partially cooled by the omnipresent drizzle he comes to the first guard station into Amber. Julian's rangers stand guard.
"Prince Calvera." the guard captain calls. "What transpired to bring you here on foot?"[/font]
He reaches into the guard box pulling out a carafe and pours a mug of coffee for Calvera.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 12, 2020 12:37:56 GMT
My motor cycle died a shadow or 2 back. I figured I would walk tbe rest of the way. But if you have a horse I'll gladly borrow it. I have News for Random.
He takes the coffee, happy to have something hot.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on May 13, 2020 5:59:27 GMT
The guards eye one another uneasily in silence. Finally the captain says:
"I regret to say that the word from Amber is that the King and Queen have perished. Protector Benedict has command for now until a new King is chosen."
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 13, 2020 14:57:35 GMT
Calvera goes still. He was not expecting that news and it hits him like a blow. Too many pieces are moving. The Center he thought would hold is gone.
His feeling of safety shattered he finds himself eyeing distances again.
"How?"
...
"I'll have to insist on that horse Captain."
|
|
|
Post by Admin on May 14, 2020 5:32:56 GMT
"A newcomer to the court. Mysterious son of someone in the family. Used some sort of magic to destroy half the castle, it is said. Luckily for him he destroyed himself in the process. Word is that Hammett person was with them at the time too. He was also destroyed."
One of the guards brings round a horse for Calvera.
"Here's Bolt, the fastest horse we have." the captain says while handing Calvera the reins.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 15, 2020 3:19:43 GMT
Calvera handed back the coffee mounted up and spurred the horse into a gallop. Just before he got out of sight he rained in.
"Captain" he shouted. "They say Corwin found a way to bring Guns to Amber. There is a Crusade heading this way, they have a power that will work here, it's not gunpowder but it might as well be. Don't be surprised like I was. Tell Julian."
There, a side has been picked. Not my first choice, but Julian is honest and loyal to Amber. He's cold and calculating and would sell me out, but he wouldn't pretend it was for my own good.
He might be an ally but not a backer, not unless I had more support. Benedict won't choose sides. Gerald won't know who to trust or which way to turn, Cain I don't trust at all. Brand, Eric and now Random dead. That leaves Corwin and Bleys for the Princes. Corwin will never sit on the Throne of Amber, and Bleys is invading.
...
Bleys did try to recruit me, as a patsy sure but the situation is changed now. Perhaps a different relationship. Unless he sent the bomber, yes that fits. He wore a mask when he came to me trying to get me to move against his brothers. He must have been successful recruiting a cousin.
Bleys would be a very dangerous ally.
Of the Princesses only Flora and Fi spend much time in Amber. Fi is likely Bleys ally. Flora would be helpful in a coalition but not enough to build one on.
What of my cousins, I don't know enough about them,
... ...
I don't even why I am gathering allies.
...
He slowed his horse to a walk. No point killing the it now, its too late for Random.
Sifu is right. I can only look so far into the future. First pay my respects to the king, then Benedict will interview me. I cannot plan beyond that point. Be here now, present in this moment.
For the rest of the ride he watched he landscape and the people.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on May 16, 2020 5:50:44 GMT
Cool and overcast is the ride through Arden. Everything looks as he remembers, if a bit more sombre after the King's death. Julian's soldiers salute him as he passes then quickly ride or march away on their secretive missions. Regular folk, the woodsmen, traders and farmers in their isolated orchards amid the wider forest all look scared and sad and quickly hide or shy away as he passes.
At sundown he is approaching the foot of Kolvir, under lantern light he rides through the city and to the castle where the white unicorn on greenfield flag flies at half-mast, Benedict's brown, orange, and yellow flag flies below it.
|
|