Recovery from the rescues of family members continues. Enhanced by the multiple walks on the pattern for those who participated.
Mykal brings up the possibility of contacting the Chaosian House Crane for information on that end of reality. Queen Vialle takes it into advisement.
Sam meets with Flora about Bleys, she is curious about a trump effect she noticed while in contact. Flora and Sam discuss it, then trump in Mykal for additional perspective. Flora finally advises both to speak with Brand about it, and the notion to have Archie (brands son) to make the contact is brought up. Archie is contacted, and agrees.
Archie trumps Brand, who is exercising and begs off for 20 minutes. Returning the Trump call later Archie explains that all 3 would like to come and discuss Bleys and a trump effect. Brand accepts (after scrutinizing Sam and Mykal for possible threats) and brings all 3 through. Sam begins explaining what she'd been doing (trumping family members to find out if they were out of stasis or not), but begins with Fiona.
Brand is struck by news of the death of his sister, (has to take a few to go off to a balcony to mourn, the 3 wisely leave him alone). Returning Brand gets the rest of the story and admits that the effect is probably something he set up from before, each elder has a blocking trump made and Bleys has sensitives in rotation blocking each family member. (Sam was curious how Llewella was blocked but she was not, something Bleys wasn’t supposed to be able to do) Of course Bleys has no Trump of Brand, and the Juniors don’t either.
They decide to make an attempt at Bleys with Mykal and Archie defending Sam, who is point, and Brand in the background for support. The attempt is made and like the first time Bleys uses the Contact strengthening Power Word to force closeness in the contact, ready for him Mykal goes full defensive and attempts to block any attack at Sam, Bleys feints at Sam and attacks Archie, with a flurry of activity following before Brand gets an stunning spell or power word in, Bleys disarms one of Archie's knives, and wounds Mykal. Then reels away in reaction to Brands attack. Sam (with the encouragement of Mykal and Archie) attempts to strengthen the contact and Snatch Bleys...at which Brand takes over the contact and closes it down. Asks Sam if she's lost her mind, they couldn’t handle Bleys without at least two of them dying, and Brand believes one of them would have been himself, so is rather disinclined.
Discussion after provides the info that Bleys has memory loss, most likely after attempting to contact Fiona as Sam did, and thinks he's back in the Bad Old Days when he was preparing to Assault Amber. He may be preparing to do that again.
Brand extends an invitation to dinner, which all 3 accept. They visit with Jasra and Rinaldo and have a fine meal. Taking the opportunity to discuss the rescues and family matters. Brand brings up Mirelle and Sand, neither of which are on the list, and after prompting provides a trump of Mirelle, then one of Sand for Delwin. The 3 take their leave, carrying a letter from Rinaldo to Queen Vialle asking permission to visit Amber, and report back to Amber. They brief the rest of the family along with the Queen, and discussion ensues.
Mykal turns over Mirelles' Trump, then later takes aside Corwin to back him up in case he gets smacked he *borrows* it and does some spying on her. She is somewhere in shadow, doing a Punk band Gig as an entertainer, so Mykal doesn’t fully contact her, just watches for a few moments then drops it. Returning the card he *borrows* Margali Crane's and attempts to contact her, and is resisted, deciding to be sneaky he then attempts to spy on her and is successful, but notices a COUNTER SPY who is observing him. He watches Margali eat for a few then Nods to the observer, who seems a bit frustrated at being noticed, then drops the contact. Mykal thinks Chaosian...Trump Spying... House Bhariman, but keeps his opinion to himself. Asked about what he's been doing he admits to the Queen that he's been *observing* the two and briefs her on each.
Mykal turns over Sands trump to Delwin, and tells him about getting it from Brand. Discussing it, Delwin admits to knowing Sand is all right, but disinclined to be contacted or assist the family.
Final preparation for the sail to Chaos begins and the Juniors depart to rest. Mykal discusses with Eldre the chance on catching The Unicorn in Deep Arden before departure and is discouraged from trying; Grandma likes her privacy and can be irritated when contacted unless SHE initiates it, which he'd noticed already. So he desists and returns to enjoying the company of the lovely unicorn.
Preparations complete the sail begins, along are Archie, Sam, Mykal, and Martin (on the second ship). As well as the unicorns, Eldre and Tarn, Lady Saithryn of Rebma (sent by Queen Melisandre), and of course the House Roc representatives.
