I checked in on Argannel and found traces of Red Who Needs To Be Dead. Ayla vaguely remembered meeting someone fitting that description at a party. I asked her and Mom to be careful.
Worked out identification rituals with Dar Brennin. ‘He’ was troubled again. I found some odd chemicals around his roots and had them analyzed in Shadow Drexler. Herbicides. Shit. DB was puzzled that anyone would want to harm ‘him’. He helped me set up a local quirk: within ten miles of DB all herbicides turn to harmless ash.
Back in Amber. David left a note at the house saying he got to Shadow Earth and back fine. Visitors waiting, two of Dad’s best men. Veterans named Smythe and Jones. They had a note from Dad.
Son –
There’s liable to be some excitement in town this afternoon. I suggest you sit tight & not make a target of yourself. Smythe and Jones here will assist in your protection.
Dad
Oh Shit, Dad was making his move. Yeah, he’s the best man for the job, with the widest array of necessary talents. Also the most diplomatic and charismatic of the Princes, the likeliest to con the rest into going along. Tight with Fiona, usually. But I’M ON VACATION DAMMIT.
I scanned around with my new Lens trick. Yep. Dad’s troops all over the place, half of them Avernans. Not in direct conflict with Benedict’s men, thank Fortune. None of Gerard’s or Caine’s men on the docks.
Ancarath, Robin, David and Tashy were out in this. Priorities: ‘Cara and Robin, Rob being most at risk. I Trumped him. He was chained in a closed wagon, being taken in by Dad’s troops. He talked to the air in generalities to answer my questions. I pulled him through with, dammit, Smythe and Jones watching. I gave them a serious look and indicated Robin, "My friend." I got the chains off while the staff brought a medical kit. Robin said he thought he’d spend some time in the country, possibly taking care of his father. I thought about getting Gerard out of the castle. Not a bad idea if done with witnesses. No one could arrange a fatal accident and blame it on Dad.
First things first. I got some of ‘Cara’s hair from a brush and did a finding spell. She was beat to hell and unconscious. No surprise that she resisted arrest. Hope she didn’t kill too many soldiers. Teleported her to me and cleaned her up. Laid a healing spell on her though she was healing fast on her own.
Trump call. I answered, blocking ring at ready. It was Dad.
"Son! I have some good news for you."
"I believe I know most of it, Dad. Congratulations."
The conversation went less well than I hoped. He didn’t agree that Robin should go free. Robin’s little political ditties were not something he wanted to listen to as the New Management. I didn’t tell him that I’d already set Robin free. He said he wanted to see to Gerard’s treatment himself, having been concerned that he wasn’t getting better on his own. Probably true: everyone likes Gerard, so far as I know. I agreed to help though more as an aide and general assistant than as Royal Heir. Amber had never had a Crown Prince before and we both knew damned well that, for the foreseeable future the heir would be whichever sibling could pull it off. We arranged to meet later.
Easier to be forgiven than to get permission.
I asked Robin to knock off the songs for a while. Dad would kick my ass enough as it was. He agreed to give him some time. He Trumped out.
Hell, it’s not like Dad could expect doglike obedience to come out of his genes. If he’d wanted that, he’d have adopted.
I’ll need some troops of my own. Half my personal guard from Argannel, maybe. Some at the Castle, some at the house. Hire some extra staff. I’ve got the room.
HRH DOLON MASK OF CHAOS 10
Seeing as how my happy days of coming and going as I pleased without an entourage are over, I brought in some of my own people from Argannel. My own will do just fine – Bleys’ men are probably tougher but they’re his, not mine.
Need more security for the mansion. Note: look into Oberon’s measures for assuring the safety and identity of his staff. I’m sure Dad’s people – Royal Security, now -- will help.
Dinner was dismal. Benedict and Gerard were the only family members present besides me and Bleys. The Amber nobles and notables seemed to be cautiously optimistic. I livened and lightened things a bit by organizing music and dancing.
Dad laid things out for me privately. Once I was In, I was In for the duration. No second thoughts and rebellion later – he’d hate to have to kill me. King Bleys had imperatives that Dad did not. A not-so-subtle hint that doing things behind his back (like freeing Robin) would not be tolerated. I understand perfectly. I don’t put up with much shit in Argannel, and while establishing my rule I didn’t put up with any shit at all.
Then came the notion that I should make a political marriage. Ancarath of Hendrake would be an excellent choice. Shit. I told him that it was far more important for the King to get married than me. Or maybe a double wedding – ha, that would put it off. No dice. And Ancarath Trumped me later acting mysterious – I think Dad’s already tested the waters in Hendrake and found them, and her, willing.
I is nearly a null concept for me. My mother never married, her mother never married, and so on back into the dim and misty. Hardly anyone gets married in Argannel, and when they do they’re considered eccentric.
All things considered, I’d better go along with marrying Ancarath. Who knows what I’d get stuck with otherwise.
My Princely duties begin tomorrow with a tour of the Golden Circle. I’m to spread the good news about Amber, the new management and the wonderful, prosperous future. Not a problem. Parties and schmoozing I can do in my sleep.
Derek Trumped me to ask if it was safe and allowed for him to show his face in Amber. He was worried that Dad still thought Derek had a hand in Carrol’s murder. Checked with Bleys, it’s OK. Derek asked me (and Réné Trumped Dad to ask him at the same time) about someone named Maugrim, some hostile Chaosian sorcerer. I knew nothing and Dad knew little.
Réné Trumped me a little later to say that Caine appeared to be in some sort of trouble. Could I find out if the trouble was Dad? If it wasn’t Dad it might be something for the family to worry about. Said I’d get back to him. I was going to ask for a list of who was in captivity anyway.
HRH DOLON MASK OF CHAOS 11
Derek Trumped me as I was ready for bed. He, Tyndall and Réné wanted some sorcerous expertise in their search of the offices of the Amber ambassador to Kashfa, who was missing. I belted a sword and a wand on the pjs, told the guard I’d be gone a while and went through.
Magical protections on the desk. Managed to open the desk safe with only 10% damage to the contents. We all missed the significance of the memo ball for far too long. Finally watched the recording of Joff and some henchmen abducting he ambassador. The henchmen were not humans. Looked rather like some of Fiona’s mooks, not that that means anything. Couldn’t get a bead on the ambassador with Pattern. No luck with a finding spell.
Some indications that the ambassador, Deléan, might be some sort of protegee of Benedict’s. Or even a lover. Derek and Réné think Dad had her snatched as leverage. Doubt it. Either the hostage is released or the hostage dies, and then there’d be hell to pay.
Explained my position to the three. And of course there are situations in which they cannot trust me, of me them. Derek acted indignant about the kidnapping. The man’s from the Courts of Chaos! Why he put on the show I cannot imagine.
Learned something of this Maugrim, his two (used to be three) sons, Fiona’s disappearance (maybe held by Abyss magic), Corwin’s loss of Greyswandir, Abyss magic, Morrigan and her connection to Maugrim, that Dara was somehow involved, lavender irises left about as calling cards (probably Maugrim’s).
Lovely.
They set off to do their things and I went back to Amber (with the damaged documents) to try to get an hour or so of sleep.
HRH DOLON OF AMBER, ARD-RI NA ARGANNEL 12
Dad says Caine is the only family member he put in the dungeons. Now, would he lie to me about, say, Tashy or David? Possibly, if he thinks I’m disloyal enough to try to break them out. Not that I would. I would try to talk them out. Don’t think he’d lie to me to avoid the annoyance… So – 3: 1 Caine really is the only one.
His pressing me to take Réné, Derek and Tyndall along with me as bodyguards indicates that they’re sniffing around some things he’d rather were left alone OR that I really am in a lot of danger. Or we’re all in danger and stand a better chance together. Maugrim? Mr. Herbicide? Tyndall I could work with, she’s a pro, but the others would stink as drafted bodyguards.
The whole notion that Delenn was kidnapped to control Benedict seems rather tenuous and, hm, debatably effective. Still, Dad does know Ben one hell of a lot better than I do. Maybe he would get over it. If it is the case, I hope Delenn is kept safe. Healthy.
Chaosian – or Hendrake – engagement customs are annoying. I certainly hope that the old saw that women turn into their mothers is not true. Eldarath is not my type.
‘Cara is off cramming on etiquette and ceremony. Heh. She’s going to be in a mood. Maybe she can join me on the tour. Assassins would cheer her right up.
Toric, my father in law to be, is more affable. Moreover he has information concerning Maugrim and Abyss Magic. Maugrim and Suhuy (Suhuy) are the only ones known to have studied ancient, Pre-Logrus (!!?), Forbidden Abyss Magic. Forbidden because it is ultimately uncontrollable. Wonder if I can wrangle an appointment with Suhuy, and if it would be a good idea.
If Abyss Magic is so uncontrollable (Unstable? Willful? Incomprehensible?) it should be possible to encourage that basic tendency, send such spells awry. Probably dangerous, but if its manifestations can ignore Corwin’s efforts it’s likely to be necessary. Definitely more dangerous as juggling basilisks if it’s outlawed in the Courts. They don’t scare easily.
HRH DOLON OF AMBER, ARD-RI NA ARGANNEL MASK OF CHAOS 13
Remembered Eric’s Weir and mentioned them to Dad. Might be worth picking them up or preventing anyone else from doing so.
Asked Toric to contact me later.
My diplomatic cavalcade consisted of twelve diplomats, three party consultants (all actors), my fifty guardsmen and a hundred of Dad’s troops, about half and half Ambermen and Avernans. I vetoed the wagons. Too encumbering. We set off through Arden and eventually ran into Julian, alone (ha), blocking the path on Morgenstern. I had a polite chat with him, mentioned Maugrim. Tyndall, Réné and Derek had already quizzed him. I agreed to pass on a message to Derek about having staked out some location. He let us by.
Stopped to camp two hours out from Begma City, sent messengers to King Darren to make arrangements for out entry procession. Trumped Ancarath before bed. She’s slogging through her studies. Might pop in some evening. I mentioned the possibility (no guarantee) of assassins; for ‘Cara, that’s an enticement.
Tyndall woke me with a Trump call. Had a message for Dad from David: he’s willing to swear fealty. Dave had been in the dungeons for a time. I passed Julian’s message along. She told me about meeting a ‘Mr. B’ and his child companion. They matched the bastard & kid from the Hall of Mirrors. He wanted Tyndall to help him kill me to thin out the new dynasty. I thanked her for the warning and invited her to kill him should the opportunity arise. Warned her about Dad’s idea to make her, R. and D. my bodyguards. Said I’d fight it.
The diplomacy went fine. Met King Darren, his children, his half brother and principal advisor Dathan and a horde of others. Lobbied for less tedium in the events and won without, I hope, looking too frivolous. I do my best politicking at parties anyway. Big hunt tomorrow. Hm, better assign some of my best to guard Darren & Co. Have to ask Kargan, Smith and Jones their opinions of Begman royal security.
HRH DOLON OF AMBER, ARD-RI NA ARGANNEL MASK OF CHAOS 14
The mission to Begma went reasonably well before all hell broke loose.
Princess Fanwen slipped me a note saying that she had important information for me. She left the soirée early, pleading minor illness. I disappeared myself after the event was well into the partying stage – Bleys’ son is expected to cat around after all. Fanwen was actually more interested in my matrimonial prospects. I explained that Dad had made his own decisions in that regard and did my very best to drown her disappointment with pleasure. Not an innocent, Fanwen. Innocents are usually boring. She eventually told me that she had seen her uncle Dathan talking with Mr B (judging by the description) about getting rid of me; Dathan had been noncommittal.
The fighting began about the time I left Fanwen’s suite. I heard it when I neared my rooms – just as Réné showed up -- and rushed to the banquet area, all my available guards falling in about me, to investigate. My escorts were fighting the Begmans, King Darren was down wounded in a mass of his men with a determined group of ‘my’ men closing in. My Argannelans were mainly trying to extricate themselves from the melée. I tossed a thunderbolt at the opposite wall (low power but still quite an attention magnet) and yelled out for them to cease. Actually, it was something like Stop this shit now! They didn’t. I Summoned tens of thousands of steel half-inch ball bearings to near the ceiling over the center of the struggle and most of them went down or slowed down a great deal. The Begman captain wanted us to surrender. I sympathized but was not going to let myself be disarmed and locked up with whomever was responsible for this (Mr B?)loose and in full possession of all his extremities. Réné made his way to the king by sheer fearlessness and arrogance and was allowed to start treating Darrin. The captain and I achieved a breaking-off though he probably went along with it to take advantage of the reinforcements pouring in. I asked after their Prince. They went off looking for him. I attempted to Trump Dad but someone had a block up. I drew on Dar Brennin to break it. Unobtrusively – the Begmans looked worried. It started to creak. Shouts rang out The Prince! The Prince is dead! Shit. And what about Fanwen? Damn. Secure our line of retreat first. Was Dathan involved? Was Fanwen involved? Had she deliberately distracted me? Could I trace the source of the block while maintaining the contact with Dad? And did I have time? They could be butchering the girl right now.
I knew that being Crown Prince of Amber would suck.