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Post by Brian on May 25, 2021 1:59:03 GMT
Shelly is not at the inn. The master of the establishment says she took all her belongings and headed to the port. If they follow her down to the docks, they find her on a chartered ship, staring at Brian and Lorelei with a glare colder than the glaciers of Deiga. I give an audible sigh. "You know I already have a ship chartered and a crew ready to go in the morning. And You and Lor both needed to be at your best before we go." I fold my arms and look at her. "So any reason you jumped the gun?"
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Post by Admin on May 25, 2021 2:13:40 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/6cQWm9m/Shelly~jpg "Why rest in the inn when we could sleep on the ship? How could I know if or when you'd return to do your duty? I have this ship; it leaves when the tide turns. Join me or not, I don't care - it's a free world, I guess. I'm sick of how you have so little care for the job you willingly signed up for."She continues to radiate cold.
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Post by Brian on May 25, 2021 2:21:59 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/6cQWm9m/Shelly~jpg "Why rest in the inn when we could sleep on the ship? How could I know if or when you'd return to do your duty? I have this ship; it leaves when the tide turns. Join me or not, I don't care - it's a free world, I guess. I'm sick of how you have so little care for the job you willingly signed up for."She continues to radiate cold. "Because resting in the Inn is safer. Because I also have a ship setting off with the tide. Which you already know about. "
Brian cracks his neck.
"Shelly dear girl. I have care for my job. And every time something has gone wrong it's been because you have convinced me to go outside what I know to be the soundest of judgement's. Did you think I was going to abandon you? Why would you think so little of me? Lor healed you and wants to help as well why would you think so little of her? What's going on Shelly?"
I scowl a bit at her....
" Be out with it. If you are going to insult me again you should give me cause for your grievances. If you wish to insult your other companion she deserves the same. "
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Post by Admin on May 25, 2021 3:03:03 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/6cQWm9m/Shelly~jpg "I am waiting for the tide because I have no choice. You do have a choice, you could move us through Shadow any time you wish. I asked myself why are we waiting here for a ship when we had the cart and horses to pull us? And then the answer came to me. Slowly, I guess, because of the wounds, I imagine.
"Why are you here instead of ruling your kingdom? Oh, I've heard your story many times of how your wife really, really begged you to go off and have fun and ignore your duties. Frankly, the excuse is starting to wear thin and I think you are starting to believe it yourself. Lorelei, woman to woman, does it seem likely that any one of us would say that to our husbands'? No, it is this: you went looking for a good time in Amber, met me, put up with me and my story just to get a peek inside the castle, then once princess pretty knockers here showed up you forgot about me and began to follow her like a lovesick puppy. 'Sure we can stop in at Deiga for a few days', 'Sure you can destroy the city and I'll fight for you', 'Sure we can stop at this inn and go for little, secret walks in the woods'.
"That's enough for me. I may not be able to walk through Shadow but I sure as hell won't sit around anymore waiting for you to finish your dirty weekend."
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Post by Brian on May 25, 2021 3:17:00 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/6cQWm9m/Shelly~jpg "I am waiting for the tide because I have no choice. You do have a choice, you could move us through Shadow any time you wish. I asked myself why are we waiting here for a ship when we had the cart and horses to pull us? And then the answer came to me. Slowly, I guess, because of the wounds, I imagine.
"Why are you here instead of ruling your kingdom? Oh, I've heard your story many times of how your wife really, really begged you to go off and have fun and ignore your duties. Frankly, the excuse is starting to wear thin and I think you are starting to believe it yourself. Lorelei, woman to woman, does it seem likely that any one of us would say that to our husbands'? No, it is this: you went looking for a good time in Amber, met me, put up with me and my story just to get a peek inside the castle, then once princess pretty knockers here showed up you forgot about me and began to follow her like a lovesick puppy. 'Sure we can stop in at Deiga for a few days', 'Sure you can destroy the city and I'll fight for you', 'Sure we can stop at this inn and go for little, secret walks in the woods'.
"That's enough for me. I may not be able to walk through Shadow but I sure as hell won't sit around anymore waiting for you to finish your dirty weekend.""Really." Brian laughs a bit at that. "So I could explain it to you all I like. So your dear lad might be in Kasba...Or he might be some place on the way to it. So we could spend an infinite amount of time popping around places. Or we could be strategic. We could take a ship and try not drawing attention to ourselves. A ship is easier to move a crew in then a cart. A ship is also easier to bring in other resources we might need because of a war zone."
I roll my eyes at Shelly. " I'd no sooner lay a hand on Lor then I would you. I gave a shit about you. You lost your prince and the people who ruled the mountain of Kolvir wouldn't lay a hand to help you. And why do you want to insult me. Why do you want to distrust me." He groans a bit at that.
"If I wanted to do this expeditiously I'd have put you as guest in my home and drug your Lad out of whatever hell he's in. BUT you wanted this done that way. So come on dear....out with it. I've been forthcoming with you. You clearly haven't been with me"
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Post by Admin on May 25, 2021 3:51:00 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/6cQWm9m/Shelly~jpg "Do you really know so little about the powers you have or your ability to affect shadow? Wait for the tide? Why? You could easily just nudge this place to have the tide right this moment. A cart? You could change the conveyance to whatever form you wished as we moved? Material? Crew? You could easily create them out of shadow as we rode.
"Kasaba is a huge city so how could we draw attention to ourselves if we weren't foolish? Hell, I've traveled with my husband and know what you could do if you used your brain. We are going to a city - a coastal city, so we are already halfway there. Just get moving, doing laps around and through this place while changing things and before you know it we will be in Kasaba with no port authority or customs inspectors to hassle us.
"Isn't that a better plan, Princess?" she asks Lorelei.
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Post by Lorelei on May 25, 2021 11:38:04 GMT
Lorelei replies, "Assuming what Brian has been telling me is true, he is likely my cousin, potentially a brother. Even if that turned out to be untrue, I have no intimate interest in him... I have visited a few Shadows. While the types of mate-bond activities and encouragements he has described are not common behavior, they are not unheard of... different Shadows, different rules... I understand that you are distraught over your missing husband, and Rebma's Royal Family is effectively one big scandal with the collective Amber Royal Blood we carry outside any marriages, but have a care in how you speak. I have accepted you as part of my extended family and will let a lot slide. Others are not so liberal and understanding."
"As for the power to move through Shadow, I am still denied access to the True Patterns. I took a Lesser Pattern like a fair number Shadow practitioners do. As a result, my power usage lacks precision and safety... rarely do the benefits match the risks; a single careless usage could result in death - it's safer to user the established paths if we are moving under my power. Besides, Kasaba is only a best-guess starting point in our search for Dorian..."
"As I understand it, Brian has the greater initiation and the power to charge through without those worries... Now that the serious healing has been taken care of, the only thing holding us back is the habit of using established paths and conventional transports..." .
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Post by Brian on May 25, 2021 12:04:06 GMT
Brian looks between the two woman. He walks up to Shelly
" Is that what you want? Are you sure that is what you want? Me taking you to Kasba with the quickest speed? I dont know the place in shadow but have you been there? If you have we can dispense with using ships. Otherwise I can imagine a place near identical to it. We could lose infinite lifetimes trying to find the right grain of sand in the beach. So have you been there? If you have we can dispense with some of that."
I look at Shelly in the eyes. " if you are dissatisfied you can end this. I am doing my duty to keep you safe. You sent us to Deiga. You encouraged us into Danger that nearly killed you. And I acquiesced to your demands. This misadventure has been based on your choices and your being in charge. You can change that."
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Post by Lorelei on May 25, 2021 20:17:40 GMT
Lorelei knows she didn't exactly sugar-coat the reality of using Broken Pattern. Having met him during her one-time visit to Castle Amber (or at least been shown his portrait) she could lead them almost straight to Damian, probably. He is Real and not in close proximity to the True Patterns. The major problem lay in having to follow the flaws and survive long enough to reach him while having little control... The danger was not just to herself; a moments inattention, either her own or her companion's, and said companion could be lost on a side path potentially requiring days to locate again, and the greater the numbers* the greater the risk... assuming they aren't annihilated by falling into the Dark Veil. No. While an option, it is to be considered a last resort... and there is no way to make Shelly understand that short of showing her...
(* a crew on a ship [or cart/wagon/etc], especially if she is on it, is a single unit and thus relatively safe, no so a fleet [or individually mounted riders/ foot soldiers/etc]...)
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Post by Brian on May 25, 2021 20:44:11 GMT
Lorelei knows she didn't exactly sugar-coat the reality of using Broken Pattern. Having met him during her one-time visit to Castle Amber (or at least been shown his portrait) she could lead them almost straight to Damian, probably. He is Real and not in close proximity to the True Patterns. The major problem lay in having to follow the flaws and survive long enough to reach him while having little control... The danger was not just to herself; a moments inattention, either her own or her companion's, and said companion could be lost on a side path potentially requiring days to locate again, and the greater the numbers* the greater the risk... assuming they aren't annihilated by falling into the Dark Veil. No. While an option, it is to be considered a last resort... and there is no way to make Shelly understand that short of showing her... (* a crew on a ship [or cart/wagon/etc], especially if she is on it, is a single unit and thus relatively safe, no so a fleet [or individually mounted riders/ foot soldiers/etc]...) "Shelly. I like you. I'm sympathetic to you. But you've been holding out. And you've had schemes other then Dorian on your mind since we left Amber. You've sought to do Harm to my connections to Llewella who I dont know of beyond reputation and now Lor." I exhale and grit my teeth. " An oath founded on fraud or deception isn't binding. Nor an oath where one party brings in deception. " I look her firmly in the eyes. " I can walk away from my word. I could have left you for dead. I've let this play out as i desire to be kind to you. But kindness has its limits. If you want my help in a rapid and proper fashion I want the truth." He raises his voice. " All of it."
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Post by Admin on May 26, 2021 1:14:34 GMT
Shelly screams in frustration.
"What's wrong with you? Do I have to teach you everything? You think: 'Kasaba where Gerard died' and then get moving. That's all there is to it.
"And the ship had to make a stop in Deiga before continuing on to Kasaba, but I sure as hell had no intention of staying there longer than the few hours needed to dump off the others. It was Calvera who said you should stick around for a few days, and you dopes agreed to it, leaving the ship completely unguarded.
"My only scheme is to find Dorian, and I picked out a real lunkhead to try and help me with it. Do you think we have all the time in the world to lounge around and meander here and there while things are happening all around us? That everything stops so you can go for a walk in the forest? Gerard dies while fighting an invading army. Do you think they are doing nothing in Kasaba? Not increasing their defences? Not arming for an invasion on Ayalos or Rebma? Every day we are delayed just increases their power and lessens the chances we will survive our mission.
"I can't help you with your paranoid delusions except to tell you to stay focused on your goals."
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Post by Brian on May 26, 2021 1:32:59 GMT
Shelly screams in frustration. "What's wrong with you? Do I have to teach you everything? You think: 'Kasaba where Gerard died' and then get moving. That's all there is to it.
"And the ship had to make a stop in Deiga before continuing on to Kasaba, but I sure as hell had no intention of staying there longer than the few hours needed to dump off the others. It was Calvera who said you should stick around for a few days, and you dopes agreed to it, leaving the ship completely unguarded.
"My only scheme is to find Dorian, and I picked out a real lunkhead to try and help me with it. Do you think we have all the time in the world to lounge around and meander here and there while things are happening all around us? That everything stops so you can go for a walk in the forest? Gerard dies while fighting an invading army. Do you think they are doing nothing in Kasaba? Not increasing their defences? Not arming for an invasion on Ayalos or Rebma? Every day we are delayed just increases their power and lessens the chances we will survive our mission.
"I can't help you with your paranoid delusions except to tell you to stay focused on your goals.""And I told you we were only staying the night. Why is it you are lying again Shelly?" I say in a cold tone. "Just like I got a ship to leave at the same time as this ship you got right now. So again what is really going on." I stare at her coldly. "You wanted me to poke about the Antelope. And now you make slanderous comments again. If you want it to be quick I need to trust you. And again....I kept you alive. I carried you. I stitched you up." I crack my neck again. "And We didn't need to go on the Antelope which already had Eivor on it. Little things that make your conduct suspect when they all fall into place."
"Convince me of your honesty. No more games, no more insults. Because you knew I could do this the whole time. And you have only been fit to travel a day or two. You also could have asked me that in Deiga but instead it was your idea to dally about there when it was to cause trouble for the Rebman's. So no more games. I am done waiting for you to reveal the truth."
I exhale hard and look at her. "You keep pushing us to take more dangerous choices. Choice which I might add almost cost you your life. Choices that are counter productive to the expressed goal you have."
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Post by Admin on May 27, 2021 3:32:45 GMT
She glares at Brian.
"We were barely in Deiga for a day before everything went to shit. How was I supposed to find a ship out of that place when the docks were on fire? I had to stick with you until you found us a way out of that place. Well, now I am free of it and have a way forward with or without you.
"You keep asking me the same damn questions and I am tired of telling you the truth. Find Dorian. That's it. That's all there is to it. If your paranoid imagination can't conceive of anything else then that is not my fault."
She does seem to be telling the truth.
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Post by Brian on May 27, 2021 3:54:13 GMT
She glares at Brian. "We were barely in Deiga for a day before everything went to shit. How was I supposed to find a ship out of that place when the docks were on fire? I had to stick with you until you found us a way out of that place. Well, now I am free of it and have a way forward with or without you.
"You keep asking me the same damn questions and I am tired of telling you the truth. Find Dorian. That's it. That's all there is to it. If your paranoid imagination can't conceive of anything else then that is not my fault."She does seem to be telling the truth. "You had a way forward with me. You go with Lor and round up the rest of my crew."
I stand close to her looking in her eyes.
"And I ask you the same questions and you keep lying to me. I'm a man married to a shapeshifter. On a long enough line the deceiver runs out of gas. The boat we are taking is called the Phantom Queen. By the time you and Lor are back with the crew we will be ready to disembark. "
He walks off the boat and turns to face her again. "We are going on the boat straight and directly to Dorian. As you say that is what you wanted. You are going on the boat *I* already paid for. And we are taking the crew I already selected. I will need some time away from you before you return with the rest of the crew before we set off. Its ashame.looks like you proved me wrong. You are good enough for Dorian. Keep lying as you are doing and you might prove yourself not good enough for Dorian. Keep treating people in your service or in the service of others as shabily as you have been you will certainly make it known to all you aren't good enough for anyone.And you know better then what you are doing."
I fold my arms. "You hired me as a bodyguard. My job is to keep you safe on the mission you say you want. There is one way to do it on the boat I selected and with the crew i've already hired. By the letter of things I've done what I'm obliged to do. If you don't join me then you've made the choice to discontinue my services to you.You've used up any grace I have to humor you your foolishness. On the boat straight to Dorian wherever he is. And if you don't join me well....you would throw your life away and fail to save Dorian. Which proves again you've been lying this whole time."
I turn to Lor and then back to Shelly. "And if Dorian isn't in Kasba well my duty is done and Kasba become's Amber's problem. Since the clan of Kolvir has no desire for me I have no desire to help them beyond my own interests. Whatever plot of theirs set me on Earth then Ayalos and now drug me to here....I'm not interested in forging any ties with them at this point. I don't need those answers from them anymore" I turn back to Lor. "If you wish to help her and Dorian find Gerard that's your business. We can sort out matters in due time."
Brian gives them the dock where his ship will be berthed and walks towards it.The last words the girls hear him say before he makes his way to the dock. "If your blood denies taking you in amongst their people you are clearly better off without them."
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Post by Admin on May 27, 2021 4:24:45 GMT
"What about you, Princess? Do you think that I'm a liar too?" she asks Lorelei.
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