|
Post by Admin on Oct 14, 2020 5:56:41 GMT
There is a hint of a smile on one side of Benedict's mouth.
"Dorian was in the city at the time of the attack. Strange coincidence that since he preferred to remain in his shadow home. Moments ago, I learned of his reason to return to Amber." he nods his head towards Shelly.
"He came to the castle when he saw the explosion in an attempt to aid us. Somehow Dworkin intercepted him in the castle and -"
"Dworkin! You didn't mention this to me before." Fiona interrupts.
"And you didn't mention any interest in Dorian before today, so I considered it to be information of no use to you.
"Dorian told me this from the centre of the Pattern. He seemed to think that Dworkin wanted him to walk it. He told of following a woman through the path and how a man threatened him from the shadows of the cavern. I requested that he return to me in the castle, but he must have had other plans. I believe Shelly is correct in her supposition that he is in or headed to Kasaba."
|
|
|
Post by Brian on Oct 14, 2020 11:26:54 GMT
There is a hint of a smile on one side of Benedict's mouth. "Dorian was in the city at the time of the attack. Strange coincidence that since he preferred to remain in his shadow home. Moments ago, I learned of his reason to return to Amber." he nods his head towards Shelly. "He came to the castle when he saw the explosion in an attempt to aid us. Somehow Dworkin intercepted him in the castle and -""Dworkin! Do didn't mention this to me before." Fiona interrupts. "And you didn't mention any interest in Dorian before today, so I considered it to be information of no use to you.
"Dorian told me this from the centre of the Pattern. He seemed to think that Dworkin wanted him to walk it. He told of following a woman through the path and how a man threatened him from the shadows of the cavern. I requested that he return to me in the castle, but he must have had other plans. I believe Shelly is correct in her supposition that he is in or headed to Kasaba.""We have a very large chain of coincidences going around." Brian leaned back in the chair for a moment taking all of that in. "What do you know about the individuals he chased through the pattern? Is it possible they had a way out of the pattern and he was in pursuit of them?" He taps his finger on the Tea cup. "If they did Dorian could have made chase of them or they could have kidnapped him and we are back at square one. "
He frowns at all of that. "So it sounds like the explosion in the castle happened and a lot of wheels went into motion? I don't suppose you think this was intentional? Whatever the nature of this war is decapitation of senior leadership and causing general chaos in the seat of government seems like there are matters bigger then any one shadow that are at play."
He sizes Benedict up. "My wife has told me tales of this castle. Some of you have names that are watchwords beyond her tales to me. Yourself being one of them. Before I want to segway into my own business I want to talk about how my coincidences with my wife and what you've been dealing with are chained together. On my home....my home before Ayalos she was once worshiped as a Goddess. What she was a goddess of was a complex affair. Strife is one of those things, War another, death another still, Kingship another but most important was Sovereignty itself. Man by his own hand taking control and putting things to bare and changing the world."
He looks around the room and is silent for a bit "And so she sent me here. For some reason unknown to me and possibly unknown to her. Though at this point if I tell her the tale she will claim to have known all of it." He smiles at all of that. "And so I arrive at Amber. And as I arrive I find: a prince dead in a war in a foreign land, King and Queen dead in an act of terrorism, a placeholder on the throne, and chaos in the heart of Amber. As an old soldier I hope you can appreciate how uncomfortable I am with all of these coincidences at my feet. "
He speaks the next part louder "While in an interregnum I have no intention of being concerned about my personal place in how that crisis is resolved. If my personal questions are answered while we wait for the Interregnum to be resolved I will say this for the benefit of you and your sister." He coughs "I didn't want the title of kingship that I have now but Service and Duty demanded it of me. And assuming any kingship here would be complicated by the Ancient Laws of Ayalos. I like to avoid complications especially when such a miasma of coincidences surround the complications. Thats the sort of thing that puts a goose to slaughter." He shrugs "I can't swear to what Service and Duty would demand of me that would force me to take the headache on myself. But it would need to be rather Large. I ended up with Ayalos because there was a problem only I was able to solve and the only way for me to solve it was to become High King. So it would likely need to be something bigger then that."
Brian turns his head towards Shelly. And then back towards Benedict. "I asked your sister to aid me in pursuing my own mystery and chain of coincidences. As payment in trade I will help you out with all of these troubles connected to Dorian's disappearance." He offers his hand to Benedict "So Fiona and Benedict do I have your word that such matters stay between the three of us till we get this sorted out and I can decide what to do with the knowledge?" He then speaks to Shelly "Your lucky you have impressed yourself upon me enough that I am going to trust you. But you don't tell anyone any of this either. That's your price for getting to hear it. And I imagine as we are going to be on a journey together....it might be beneficial to have some one I can unburden myself to."
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Oct 15, 2020 4:19:48 GMT
Shelly looks at Brian with stunned, wide eyes.
Fiona looks at him nonplussed.
"'... assuming any kingship here would be complicated by the Ancient Laws of Ayalos.'" she says with some confusion.
"That answered one question; only someone from our family would have the blind arrogance to assert his fitness for the throne within minutes of entering the castle." Benedict deadpans.
"Issues of the throne and the other mysteries you can leave to us. You will assist Lady Shelly because you gave your word that you'd do so. There is no other deal or agreement involved. The people of Ayalos are a proud and honourable sort and will not approve of a king who breaks his oath."
|
|
|
Post by Brian on Oct 15, 2020 11:04:21 GMT
Shelly looks at Brian with stunned, wide eyes. Fiona looks at him nonplussed. "'... assuming any kingship here would be complicated by the Ancient Laws of Ayalos.'" she says with some confusion. "That answered one question; only someone from our family would have the blind arrogance to assert his fitness for the throne within minutes of entering the castle." Benedict deadpans. "Issues of the throne and the other mysteries you can leave to us. You will assist Lady Shelly because you gave your word that you'd do so. There is no other deal or agreement involved. The people of Ayalos are a proud and honourable sort and will not approve of a king who breaks his oath."He rolls his eyes at Fiona.
"You have a crisis of an empty throne." He points at her. "I was stating a matter that I wasn't seeking out your throne to mollify any concerns my requests would bring to you. Again....while your reputation is not as well known to me as Benedict's but being foolish isn't part of your reputation." He laughs a bit at Benedict's comment. "The situation that lead to me becoming High King wasn't one that I choose to do out of desire for the mantle of authority. But the mantle of Authority was my way to save the life of a princess from her being killed by an unjust act. I am not here to seek out your vacancy. I took the throne I have now because of a series of external circumstances. You should worry if you have circumstances that my filling your vacancy would be necessary and proper to do as a solution. I know that idea is particular a worry to me.But a throne being empty is like a sun being plucked from the sky. The vacancy in time will extract a cost."
He frowns at Benedict.
"You have problems that are adjacent to Lady Shelly's problems. To be frank my word to Lady Shelly is such I can aid her without aiding you with your problems. It will be an obnoxious trouble but I can do so. I am trying to secure an agreement with you so what I am about to say doesn't leave this room until I am ready choose for it to do so.By reputation the family doesn't believe in a free lunch." He laughed a bit. "I hold two men in esteem as my father. One of whom would tell me there is no such a thing as a free Lunch.So I would seek a compact to start things right." He smiles at Benedict. "Shelly helped me get here and have a conversation with you and your sister. She has more then paid me for my services to help her in finding Dorian. No need for unpleasant implications to make her think anything else."
He returns his attention to Fiona "I am sure you could find out the information with what I've already told you. But I'd like to not be annoyed by it taking you longer then it need be. And I'm sure you would like this matter to be simpler to attend to." He huffs a bit "So, we can continue to haggle back and forth or we can make a compact and save you both some frustration. And maybe just maybe I am trying to build trust with you so I can freely unburden myself. This is like a pebble thats been in my boot for a long march. It has been bothering me to the point I'd want to cut off my foot to be done with it." Brian has a moment of exasperated frustration visible on his face.
He turns to Shelly and gives her a smile. He is more the normal Brian she has seen."See when I told you that your getting me this meeting was your payment to me. Your payment works out well. Better then I expected it to."
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Oct 17, 2020 0:50:22 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/DRmPnR2/benedict~jpg "Such a strange tack to take for a sore-footed beggar to insult the lady of the house." Fiona says coldly. It seems that Brian is not gaining any allies in the castle today! "You do seem to be acting under some misapprehension," Benedict says, "Thinking that we have any interest in your history or questions regarding your past and in thinking that we require your assistance or opinion in matters of state. You'd have been best served having stayed in Ayalos and governing it with what wisdom you possess rather than make a spectacle of yourself here and causing who knows how many diplomatic troubles.
"Your ship leaves soon. We have provided you both with horses to bring you down to the docks as expediently as possible. Good day."Benedict rises and, with a nod to Shelly, strides from the room.
|
|
|
Post by Brian on Oct 17, 2020 0:58:15 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/DRmPnR2/benedict~jpg "Such a strange tack to take for a sore-footed beggar to insult the lady of the house." Fiona says coldly. It seems that Brian is not gaining any allies in the castle today! "You do seem to be acting under some misapprehension," Benedict says, "Thinking that we have any interest in your history or questions regarding your past and in thinking that we require your assistance or opinion in matters of state. You'd have been best served having stayed in Ayalos and governing it with what wisdom you possess rather than make a spectacle of yourself here and causing who knows how many diplomatic troubles.
"Your ship leaves soon. We have provided you both with horses to bring you down to the docks as expediently as possible. Good day."Benedict rises and, with a nod to Shelly, strides from the room. He rolls his eyes.....after he leaves. He gives proper courtesy to both of them as he leaves the castle with Shelly. He takes her at his arm and pulls out a flask.
"I suppose I know why you sent me here." He pulls out a flask and smiles after washing it down. "And after these matters are put to order my dear lady wife I will have such words with you when I get home."
"Lady Shelly you have compensated me well for the service I am about to perform." He says with a smile. "Now I wish to ask you. As your opinion matters to me on this matter do you want me to help those two fools with their problems, and help your Fiance's kinsmen with the mess he has likely put himself in?" He actually has a soft laughter as they ride their horses to the Dock's.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Oct 18, 2020 17:58:48 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/6cQWm9m/Shelly~jpg "They claim to have no interest in your assistance, so why would you care to provide them any? Once you help me as you have vowed to do, then you will be free to return to Ayalos or go anywhere else you wish. To tell the truth, I believe that being in your company harms my social standing, but you are necessary to my search for my husband. That is all that matters to me."They come to the docks and the hired ship. It is a rundown, damaged wreck that looks to be barely seaworthy. Yet for all that, four people wearing Llewella's colours are loading some crates onto the ship, and they can see Prince Calvera and Princess Lorelei on deck.
|
|
|
Post by Brian on Oct 19, 2020 11:13:50 GMT
He turns to her with a certain sadness and resignation in his eyes.
"I suppose you wouldn't understand. But don't worry if the norms of your nobility are set up the way that they are this will all be the colorful story you tell at parties.Everyone will have a good laugh at how ghastly I was and how brave or whatnot you were. We will have at least 3 or 4 more of those stories on this trip." Something switched in his head towards her from what she could see.
He looked up on the boat. He squints a bit. He thinks he knows of the man on that boat.
"Lets see how we thread this needle as it seems your trouble has become more complicated."
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Oct 19, 2020 15:34:50 GMT
"Lady Shelly, you have come just in time!" the ship's captain says waving Brian and Shelly onto the ship.
"Have your manservant take your things to your cabin while you stay with me on deck to take in the view of Amber while we sail."
|
|
|
Post by Brian on Oct 19, 2020 23:52:17 GMT
He looks at Shelly with a smirk before turning to the Captain. "That is not what the Lady is paying me for. Unless her ladyship wishes to change our arraignment of course?" He turns his attention to the Captain. "So I will be where ever I need be to do the job her ladyship is paying me to do. Which means I will be joining you with her."
|
|
|
Post by Brian on Oct 19, 2020 23:55:50 GMT
OOC: Also Brian has changed the appearance of his armor a few times now. I'd say he is back to his "Normal" attire at this point but you did seem to miss that previously
|
|
|
Post by Lorelei on Oct 20, 2020 10:08:00 GMT
[OOC - cross-posted because they are close enough they could start speaking to each other...]
The new arrivals, Brian and Lady Shelly, draws Lorelei's attention for a moment. Nuances in how you two carry yourselves tells her Lady Shelly is some kind of noble, but Brian... there is more to you than initially meets the eye. The bare torso-ed Rebman woman says something, to low for them to make out, to the equally bare torso-ed bald man at her side... both have a strong resemblance to Amber's royal family. .
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Oct 20, 2020 13:37:19 GMT
The ringing of a large bell sounds out over the harbour, signalling that the tide is optimal for the ships to sail. Across the bay, ships raise anchor, unfurl sails and set out across the sea. Behind them, the docked ships pull in their gangplank, unmoor their ropes, then sail of row out into the water.
Barrett yells at his crew good-naturedly and has them push off and race the other ships out of the bay.
"Pay or no pay, you'll want those items stored below deck," Barrett says between orders. "The seas be angry these days and they'll be washed o'er board once we reach the open water."
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Oct 20, 2020 13:55:57 GMT
|
|