From the Log of Captain Archimedes Gray

May the 26th, in the Year of Our Lord 1792- Evening of. Had pleasant dinner ashore with Governor-General Feldane of Swanport, Fleet Captain Tanguin, and a raft of other naval types and political hangers-on. Swanport is nice little port, well laid out and very clean smelling. Portsmouth and Calais could learn a thing or three from these people. Capt. Tanguin is tall, fetching lass with green eyes and hair, apparently a natural trait among her people. These people say they trade with several hundred worlds, and certainly have a supply of liquid refreshments to support that. Will have to get the locations of several of the tastier varieties. Also talked of Amber’s fleets and royalty. Fleet seems a bit spread out, but is able to come in from literally anywhere to deal with a problem. Also has a higher number of female officers and crew than any fleet I’ve seen, with the exception of some pirate crews. Also talked of some of the worlds where the ships are made from metal, burn oil to move, and have guns that can strike a ship a mile or more away. Must carefully recconoiter such a place someday.

The royal family is, different, from any other as well. Tanguin says they can live for near forever, breed very slowly (good thing for any nobility), and are the ones responsible for creating and maintaining the inter-world doorways. Very curious, and must take care not to get a grudge taken by some immortal noble brat. The decade long ones are annoying enough. After dinner, the charming Fleet Capt. Invited me for a swim. Alas, others came along, as it is something of an after dinner recreation. Tanguin demonstrated some of the heathen magic powers her people have, by generating a glowing area where the party could swim and breathe underwater. Most disturbing, but fortunately my own gills did not appear. Also, it seems her people also can alter their forms to adapt to different situations. Must check self in mirror this evening to see if I have green roots. Set extra watches to make sure no one swam up under the Zephyr during the night. Swanport also set extra men to watching us. All slept well, except the poor bastards on watch.

May the 27th, in the Year of Our Lord 1792- Set to sea early in the morning with Capt. Tanguin in her own ship following close behind. She wished to see what me and lads on the Zephyr were capable of. So, I slid us back to my own world. Interestingly enough, Tanguin was able to keep up. She put some distance between us, though, as we slid out of a fog crossing the T on an Iberian frigate chasing some pirate schooner. As the Zephyr danced around we raked her with both broadsides, and she struck her colors quick enough. Tanguin in the meantime had used some strange sorcery to hide her ship from the sight of most, as would I, if I could, if I was in a ship with ballistae and me enemy were tossing cannonballs. We broke off the attack, and met up with Tanguin. She had a LARGE fellow aboard, and she signaled for us to follow. I set me own course to sail through the storm tunnel back to Swanport, but to no avail. We were in a storm tunnel alright, but not mine, and there was no pulling out of it. Very unsettling. Stopped in open ocean. Things very calm, but closed off. Rowed over to meet the Admiral. Admiral Gerard, one of the royal family of Amber. Big man. Strong grip. Lousy hat. We had a talk of things such as family. I mentioned mine was non-existent save for a visit from an “Uncle Brand” when I was 20. Adm. G. seems to think that Brand is actually my father, and I am a member of the royal house of Amber. Me. Royalty? A bigger load of bullshit I hadn’t heard since I talked our way past the harbormaster in Venezia, what with 80 ton of stolen spice in the holds. But it appears that the man can tow my ship across the sea with or without a rope, so politeness is called for. Then he says we WILL be going to Amber to talk to the king. Politeness is looking for a fast rowboat or a passing dolphin. We follow along in another storm tunnel, and it is a long trip. Getting back will be a goodly voyage. We sail into evening and a sea. It is a solid place, and shifting the winds is impossible. Shifting worlds out will take a LOT of sailing and effort. We pass a goodly number of ships similar to Tanguin’s, and sail into a place I could call home for a week or two every couple of months. Very nice port city. Takes a minute to spot the “castle” on the mountain above the city. Very small for a family that has ties on so many worlds. Uncle Admiral and I head on up the castle. Honestly, I have seen bigger manor houses on the Continent. Slipped put the back of a fair number of ‘em too when the lord of the manor returned early. But I digress. Uncle Adm. had a guard escort, but from looking at the man it is hard to say why. After a long, brisk, walk (damn, but the man has long legs) we arrived at the castle. On the way the moonlight revealed the steps into the sky and the castle in the air. Never thought I would see those things again. Should have the ship’s barber trim the hairs on the back of me head. From the look of things some festivities at the castle were just wrapping up. Must be sure to get invited next time. Met the king and was escorted into his office with just Uncle Adm. in attendance. Must have been some party as the king was only wearing shiny silken pants. Nice ones, though. Things not so pleasant once business was discussed, though. Apparently Amber has powerful enemy, and an unattended noble spawn, such as yrs. truly, is a choice target. Something with breeding the family lines into the others stock. It is dangerous enough a threat that my choices have come down to swearing fealty to the king, or spending a fair chunk of time (forever) in a hole in the ground somewhere. Seeing as it has been at least 40 years since I have had to practice me lockpicking skills, and the fact the Zephyr can’t fight so well without her guns, I decided to go the fealty route. Alas, the oath is a REAL oath, using some of the power of choice bit of jewelry the king has. Thought about borrowing it for a bit, but the thought of being beaten with a mast by Uncle Admiral stayed me hand. I did point out, though, that the Zephyr and the lads were mine, and King, Oath, and Family be damned, I wouldn’t permit them to be used up and thrown away in some stupid political game. I would see us all at the bottom of the sea first. Raiding enemies fine, but any suicide missions need to be agreed upon. King Random seemed unhappy with my less than total newfound devotion to the monarchy, but that is tough. I have yet to see more than a handful of nobility worth the skin they are taking up, and the only family I have had since age 10 has been me shipmates. I guess time will tell, and apparently I have a lot of that. Will have to see if a night’s rest on the Zephyr lightens me mood.