With the Pattern active I looked around, the rocket team were lining up for another shot. We need more wind from the port side. If it were gusting it would make it harder to aim, and a freak gust just as they fired would ensure the next one missed entirely. I started manipulating probabilities and felt us start to slide across shadows. Now we needed more space and clearer water. I added a rigging problem to the other ship on our port side. Two junks were starting to put to sea, something told me they were not going to be friendly, especially as they bore cannon. I darkened the clouds and it began to rain, lightening crackled in the sky. Another rocket shot towards us, then caught by a gust of wind veered harmlessly off to starboard. I added more wind and darkened the sky futher. A bolt of lightening reached down splintering the mast of the closest junk, the other was going to cut us off though.
I reached into the bag, extracted the Veri Pistol from it's box, and loaded a starburst. I took aim and fired. There was a short delay, then an explosion, and the junk's sail and deck was showered in burning phosphorous.
I changed parameters again, increasing the size of the tidal surge behind and adding a storm surge ahead. Running up onto the stern castle, I directed the first mate to steer for the end of the starboard break water. He started to argue, so I took the simple expediant of knocking him out. The helmsman looked at me then altered course. The storm surge grew and the end of the breakwater began to crumble. This was going to be close. To our port there was an explosion and the junk exploded showering us in burning splinters. I added more rain. The sound of wood grinding on stone reached our ears as the keel scraped along the ruins of what had been the breakwater. The crew stopped moving everyone waiting for the cracking rending sound that indicated I'd miscalulated. Time dragged by, wood scraping on stone, then we were free. "Get a party below and check for damage, and I want full sail now, everything we've got.", I turned to the helsman, "Hard to port there's a bloody great storm coming and we need to get out of it's way". The ship started to turn and I started pushing shadow parameters.
Palrity appeared on deck and made her way up to me. She'd done what she could to make the Captain comfortable but wanted me to check him over. I said I'd do so as soon as I'd gotten us away from the storm I'd put us in the path of, and if she didn't want to get saturated she should go below.
It took me about three hours to get us out of the storm and into a less viscious version more suitable for hell riding. The first mate had come round after about half an hour, and set to organising a better configuration of the sails for the conditions we were beginning to endure.
Once out of the worst of the storm I'd gone below deck, and changed yet again, this time to get out of my saturated clothes. The Captain had appeared to be sleeping, at least he showed no reaction when I gave him a cursory check to ensure he had no major injuries.
I'd let the storm run for another 3 hours before calming it down to a dull roar. The Captain had briefly regained consciosness about an hour prior to that, but Palrity had put him back to sleep with a power word. I dug the RMK out of my trunk and coupled it up, following it's own directions as to how to do so. Having done so I used it's own abilities to sedate him, whilst it carried out it's work. It found several internal injuries that I'd completely missed that would have been life threatening if they'd been left for much longer. I left it to work and went to sleep in Palrity's hammock.
Another day, another room, another ball. Well in about half an hour, so with a few minutes to kill I thought I'd update my journal.
I woke about 7am, Amber Time, about 10:30 local time this morning. The RMK had done it's job so I disconnected it, leaving the Captain to come round from the sedation of his own accord. Palrity wasn't about so I assumed that she must be on deck and went to join her. Our enforced rapid departure from Hong Kong meant I'd not had time to do any of the shopping I wanted, nor sort out any additional cargo, so I decided that I aught to rectify the situation.
We docked shortly after a quarter to four Amber time. The port was huge, at least three times the size of the Port in Amber, and had a distinctly oriental feel to it. There the similarities with what the crew were used to ended. In the pale yellow sky a large planet reminiscent of Saturn hung in the sky, illuminated by a blue sun. Numerous brightly coloured insects reminiscent of dragon flies flitted about the unusual trees, a sort of cross between a tree fern and a delphinium. The insects were however not alone in the skies, being joined both by flying lizards at least as long as my arm and the inhabitants wearing some form of flying rig. Tall Pagoda style structures at least 50 stories ringed the port and jutted out of the ocean providing both mooring for the numerous ships and tenure for the tree flowers.
Apart from the fact that we were unlike the natives, our ship was unusual in that it had what in most places were conventional masts and sails, where as all the native ships had variable geometry helical coil sails. This alone had attracted a great deal of attention when we'd reached about a mile off shore, although the local port officials had been and gone by that point having arrived when we were about 10 miles away. This meant I'd managed to locate a cargo and make arrangements for shore leave, medical treatment, and resupply, as well as a line in credit secured against the ship before I'd needed to leave for Kashfa. All I had to do on my return was pay for it all, the interesting angle being the most valuable resource as far as they were concearned was timber.
Having reassured the crew, and Captain that they'd be perfectly safe there, for the five days or so I'd be gone. Palrity and I had gone ashore, and spent a couple of hours browsing through one of the market pagoda's. Laden with goods we'd then returned to my condo where we'd repacked those that I needed to take to Kashfa into more suitable packaging for transport. We'd then had time to take a shower, change, and sort out Sulin's things, before I'd called Bleys. He'd taken a couple of minutes to answer, before widening the gateway and allowing us to step through into the foyer of Amber's Embassy in Kashfa. He'd then given us a brief tour, show us to our rooms, and then left us to our own devices. He'd also made it clear that I was to meet him alone at 7:30 the following morning in the kitchen dressed in my normal travelling atire, as he had a number of things he wanted to show me. He also said that Random wanted to see me tomorrow, before I returned, but that he'd be returning to Amber directly after the ball.
It's been a busy day, Amber day that is, but as always I should start at the beginning and return to the events of last night.
Having put my journal away, organised Robert, and collected Palrity from her room we returned to the foyer, where drinks were being served prior to us leaving for the ball. Random and Vialle were now present, along with Fiona, Flora+2, Benedict, Julian, Gerrard, Martin, Isla, and Delwin. We'd barely reached the foyer when Bleys and Sulin came down completing the party. With everyone gathered we headed in the direction of the waiting coaches, Martin electing to join us rather than be forced to share with Flora.
The Royal palace in Kashfa was much larger than Amber's, and more ostentatious, although not as impressive. Being perched 2500 feet up the side of a volcanic plug has both advantages and disadvantages.
We were all duely announced, which signalled that Coral, Queen of Kashfa and our host for the evening could join the throng. There then followed an hour of introductions as Random introduced me to numerous people. Introductions over I was then free do much as I pleased for the rest of the evening. Free to do as she pleased Palrity did much as she'd done at the Amber ball and danced with most of the younger gentlemen in the early part of the evening before narrowing down her selection later on. By the time Robert and I chose to head back to the Embassy she'd already left. Sulin danced initially with Bleys then detached herself and danced with the more important members of the nobility, disappearing discretely twice during the evening, before returning once again to Bleys. Flora was again catty, with Sulin, Palrity, and myself all in different dresses to the one's we'd had on at the Amber ball, all of which drew attention away from her. She was still entertaining when Robert and I left, although she'd ditched the two gentlemen she'd arrived with.
As we hadn't returned that late, and Robert hadn't kept me awake for more than an hour after that, and I'd not been overdoing it, I managed to wake without difficulty shortly after 7. Robert stirred and rolled over but I told him to go back to sleep. I'd be back as soon as I could. I grabbed a quick shower, another difference from Amber, hot running showers, then dressed in my prefered jeans, T-Shirt, jacket, and boots, before collecting my sword and trump deck and making my way down to the kitchen. Bleys wasn't there but the cooks were all busy preparing for breakfast so I was able to grab a mug of fresh coffee, a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, and a hot roll straight from the oven. His late arrival allowed me to finish them in peace, whilst he had to grab a roll and juice on the run. Whilst he chose not to verbally confirm that Sulin had made him late his body language confirmed it for me.
As we left the kitchens he suggested that I observe carefully as we left the Embassy compound. I was about to ask why when he cut me off "Just learn to do as you're asked occassionally, or are you really after a spanking from Benedict?"
We crossed the kitchen courtyard and made our way out of the rear gate, turning left towards the main street. I wasn't sure until we turned on to the main street, but we were being followed, and not just by the pair of obvious tails. There were two others. When I said as much Bleys complimented me, then noted there were actually 3 of them. Even with him pointing the third tail out it actually took me a while to locate him. I asked if this was normal, and he said yes, their secret police operate all the time. The ones obviously following us were most likely new recruits. They knew we knew they were following us so why hide it. The game was to determine how long they could follow us for.
It took us about three quarters of an hour to completely lose all the tails. After we lost the first four they called up re-inforcements which made returning the Embassy a little trickier. This was the real reason for our excursion. There was a secret way in, but should I ever find it necessary to do so I was only to use it if I was sure I wasn't being followed. Having shown me where it was we back tracked, then returned via the mainstreet and the back gate, ensuring we were seen by the waiting observers.
On the way back through the foyer to my room I checked with the concierge if Palrity had returned yet. He checked the book and said she hadn't. I asked if I could be notified as soon as she did.
I was pleased to note the Robert was up and dressed when I reached the room, although he hadn't had breakfast yet. I suggested we go and eat whilst we waited for Palrity, who eventually turned up as we were finishing eating. I told her to go get a shower, and pack as we were leaving as soon as Robert and I were done.
It was a little under half an hour later, when I drew the courtyard trump for Amber and activated it. Rather than sort out a guest room for Palrity I just decided to ensconce them in my apartments whilst I found out what Random wanted. We were about three quarters of the way there when I was intercepted by Plesham. He said Random send his apologies but he's had to add a court session this morning due to unforseen circumstances, and now wouldn't be free until midday at the earliest, half past most likely. I thanked him and said we'd be in my apartments, so if he could send word when Random became free. He asked if I wanted any refreshments sent up, I was about to say no when Palrity said could she have breakfast sent up as she hadn't had any yet. Plesham looked at me, "Okay, and I suppose a jug of coffee wouldn't go amiss, if you wouldn't mind." He said he'd have it sent up right away.
Whilst Palrity ate her breakfast I considered the Caijing problem. I needed between 100 and 150 tons of timber to settle our current bills, assuming our stay wasn't overly long and the crew hadn't been too indulgant. A mixed batch of timber would be best say 20 tons each of Oak, Larch, Scotts or Norwegian Pine, Douglas Fir, Beech, Elm, Chestnut, and Ash or Hickory, ideally as cleaned trees - no bark, branches, and with most of the sap wood removed.. Where ever I got this I'd need to pay for it, preferably with a cargo of metal and gems from Caijing. Allowing for a relative exchange rate and hiring of ships at source to move it I was probably going to need double that so say 250-300 tons, which most likely meant 2 large ships. If I wanted them a few hours shadow walking from Caijing that would make life harder but not impossible. All of this was just part of a set of parameters for a teleport from the pattern along with humanoid, oxygen breathing, friendly, etc. Now I could walk the Pattern but neither Palrity nor Robert could, and even if I could get them to the middle how did I take them with me, assuming being in the middle of the pattern didn't kill them anyway. We'll getting them to the middle wouldn't be a problem if Palrity could use trump, she could just trump me when I got to the middle, form a doorway and then step through, but if she were going to do that then trumping me when I got to the right shadow to pick up the ships would make more sense.
"Palrity, how'd you like a crash course in using Trump?"
"I'd love..", a look of suspicion crossed her face, she was learning, "Why now?"
"Because to get a cargo to pay for the cargo in Caijing I'm going to have to use the Pattern, which means I'm going to have to leave you and Robert here. This means either another member of the family is going to have to call me or you're going to have to, otherwise you're both stuck here. Damn. I'm an idiot, I can get Robert home using my condo trump, that just means you'll be stuck here Palrity, at least until I get to Callderan"
So for the next hour Palrity learnt how to activate trumps, both to call me and to go to a place - in this case the castle courtyard. She was starting to tire mentally towards the end so I elected to leave creation of a doorway allowing others to travel before you or to you until we actually needed to do so. I suspected it would probably mean me having to take control of her temporarily just for this occassion. Hopefully later she'd be able to practice on her own.
Whilst Palrity recovered and with at least half an hour to kill before Random was likely to show up, although it did occur to me that if we all got in my pool he would show up within seconds, I decided to take Robert back to the condo, and check up on a few things. What I'd forgotten was the time differences and Robert arrived to an initially pitch dark condo, his arrival triggering the automatic activation of the lights. My embarrassment was further increased a couple of minutes later when Hou-Jin appeared on the stairs in his shorts a 44 Smith & Western Auto in hand. "Damn you Cordelia I thought you had intruders."
Matters were then futher complicated by a recognizable voice from the upstairs hallway "What's going on Hou-Jin it's only just bloody 6 o'clock?" followed by "Oh, your back" as she came down the stairs.
"Well seeing as your both up, would you like coffee, and whilst I'm at it are there any more guests staying at Hotel Chan."
"Hey that's not fair Li Feng. You said I could stay as long as I needed to, and whilst you're at it you said something about a job, one that wasn't connected with your step-father or his associates."
"Sorry Hou-Jin if I offended you and yes you're correct you can stay as long as you like, I'm rather taken with the idea of you as a house sitter just at present. However, I don't believe I extended the invitation to Miss Wong."
"You didn't I did. You're not the only one who needs company now and again, and I needed someone to talk to. And it's easier for Brad to nip round here for an hour than to have to spend half a day travelling upstate, even if it does sound like caribou during the rutting season."
Linda Wong turned scarlet, and I roared with laughter. Even Robert couldn't suppress a smile. "All right she can stay, at least for the time being. Speaking of Brad, where is he, or for that matter his sister, have you seen anything of her?"
"She was here Wednesday night. I helped her move her stuff to the apartment complex. She's got her self a lawyer and is filing for Ward of Court status."
"And Brad?"
"You'll need to ask Juan-Qiangwei. He was here for a while last night as usual though."
"I assume he's at home. It would complicate things further if he started spending the night here."
"And how's the article going?"
"I've redraughted about half of it. Hou-Jin has helped me fill in a number of the blanks, but this has just revealed a few holes, for example how did you get the lease for Wang's motorcycles, what happened to your father in 1987, and what happened during your time in Japan in 1993."
"Well the first and last are easy to answer. About a month after I started work at Wangs, he failed to show up for 3 days in a row, so I went to find out what happened. It turns out he'd had a major heart attack.When I left his apartment block the local Triad number two Mao Cheng Ying was waiting for me. I was taken to the Four Winds Bar where I was told to sit down and sign the lease, although at that point it was in my mothers name.
As to Japan, not a great deal, I stayed with a Yakuza family, looked after a Yakuza bosses neice, killed a couple of rival Yakuza who got in my way, graduated with honours, and returned with about half a million dollars in cash. I also fought in the Japanese Bujikan Championship - open class although I didn't win it that year."
"Ha Ha very funny. You know I can't use any of that so what really happened?"
I smiled. "I told you. What you do with the information is up to you, but you're quite correct you can't print any of what I just told you."
"Li Feng." I turned to face Hou-Jin. "Wang's motorcycles. You still hold the lease, and you draw a certain amount of income from it, yet the IRS hasn't managed to find any reason to question the legitimacy of the books for the last 10 years or so. We know it's a Triad front, the same as the Purple Dragon is, and you also own the lease to that. It may sound like a stupid question but how? They don't give anybody, let alone a half-chinese girl from New York, the power to autonomously run any of their businesses. They're all cloaked in shell companies and off shore accounts. Yet these two you run and draw an income from and they leave you alone and seem to do exactly as you say, and this has been the case since about the time you went to Japan, and it's got nothing to do with your relationship with Sato, nor with your recent disappearances, and whilst I think of it who exactly is Evelyn Flammel?"
"Well you've certainly done your home work, or have you been keeping tabs on me?"
"There's quite a considerable file on you, because of who you are, and because of who you are I've made a point of keeping a discrete eye on you, both officially and un-officially."
"Are you supposed to be telling me this?"
"If I still had my badge and were working, I wouldn't be but then I wouldn't be here either, so it doesn't matter either way. But I would appreciate an answer."
"To which question?"
"Both"
"Well how I achieved my preferential status I can't tell you except to say that if Wang's hadn't been in such a mess when they landed me with the lease, and if their people at the time had been a little more techno-savy, and if I hadn't had a certain amount of help by some very clever people, one of which I now believe works for the DOD on cyber security, I wouldn't be where I am today. It might also have something to do with the fact that both Wangs and the Purple Dragon are at least 5 times as profitable now as they were when I took them over."
"And Evelyn Flammel"
"She's my Aunt"
"Is that it?"
"What else is there?"
"I don't know I suppose I was expecting a little more, not that it's important any longer."
"Was that an official question or your pet project?"
"I told you it doesn't matter any longer. Now this job offer you made me what exactly is it and who's it with?"
"It's not a job offer exactly. I was going to talk to Mary Echart and see if she had or knew of any openings for an investigator."
"Well I suppose it's better than being a night watchman or a house sitter, not that I'm not grateful. And whilst we're on the subject I think I need to make amends to the young lady who was staying here and find some way of saying thankyou to your other friend. I take it she's not coming back."
"No she's not. She's doing a little healing of her own at the moment. Actually there is something else you can do. Krystina Hart, has taken over the running of the Mocking Bird Club, she's also in the process of locating some Illiarri who wouldn't mind moving to Sulin's home reality. Go talk to Marcie, ask her to introduce you to Krystina. You might find a job there, but it may also be useful if you liased over sorting out transport and accomodation until I can finalise transport arrangements. I'll keep you as upto date as I can. Now I need to write this email to Mary, then I must be going otherwise Random will be after my arse."
I arrived back in the Castle Courtyard to find the place in turnmoil. I was almost immediately intercepted by the Captain of the Guard, "Miss Chan, King Random asked me to give you this. He said to use it immediately." He handed me a folded piece of pachment about 6 inches by 4 inches. I turned it over. Where the four corners met on the back where they'd been folded over was a wax seal. It bore Random's signet inscription. As I broke the seal I felt a surge of trump power and found myself no longer standing in the same courtyard. This one was much newer, and was surrounded by a building site. Three men, dressed in peach jackets with silver flashes, black trousers with silver and peach stripes, and black caps with a peach and silver band, and a Rose Emblem, approached. All were armed with sabres, pistols, and carried rifles. "Welcome to Castle Carnelian Princess Cordelia. If you'd care to come with us well take you to King Random."
I considered my options. If this were a trap it was very elaborate, if it wasn't then what was going on. I could probably make it out of the courtyard but what then. I decide that I had no real choice but to play along. "You'd better lead on then."
They lead me across the courtyard, through a gatehouse, and into another courtyard. We crossed this and ascended a set of stone steps into a tower. Passing through another corridor and set of rooms we came to another staircase, which we asended. We crossed the landing at the top, passed through a tunnel and emerged into what appeared to be a vast space, although it was pretty much covered in scafolding, netting and tarpaulins. My senses now told me I was very close to a pattern.
We descened another staircase which spiraled around the wall of the chamber to the floor about 100 feet below. As we descended I caught glimpses of the pattern and just beyond it a tree. We exited the stairs and they turned back on themselves leading me into a building. In what appeared to be a canteen, stood by a large table, covered in layers of paper, that appeared to be constrction plans was Random. He excused himself as we entered and crossed towards me. "Sorry for the method of getting you here but we needed you out of Amber as fast as possible. There have been a few worrying developements in the last 24 hours and we can't risk you being in Amber just now.", He took me by the arm, "Let's go where there are a few less ears about and I'll bring you up to date."
He escorted me back outside and around the section of the wall until we reached the tree. I noticed my rucksack was sitting underneath it."If you haven't worked it out yet this is the Pattern your father created at the end of the war. The tree is called Hydrasil and is what grew from the staff your father planted. We decided to fortify the whole lot rather than leave either in the open."
"All very good but why the subterfuge to get me here?"
"Because we didn't want anyone to know where you'd gone. As I said things have gone rapidly down hill in the last 24 hours."
"What things and what have they to do with me?"
"All in good time. I need to go back to your father and his diary, in fact to something related. You know technology, beyond steam power doesn't work in Amber and neither do conventional explosives of any sort."
"Yes. Didn't he invent some form of powder that worked like gunpowder though."
"Yes. The Royal household guard are equipped with rifles that use it. There were only 2 people that knew the formula and exactly how to make it. Your father was one, I was the other."
"You said were."
"Until yesterday that was the case. When Caine was assinated about 6 weeks ago we thought that somebody may have just stolen a rifle, of a few rounds of ammunition, but a thorough search revealed nothing missing. Anyway this morning somebody tried to blow up Bleys - don't worry they didn't succeed, and before you ask your friend Sulin is perfectly okay. The problem is that, this coupled with certain information we gained yesterday during our visit to Kashfa, pretty much means that somebody else now has the formula and the means to make it."
"Okay apart from the obvious risks I can't see what that has to do with me being here rather than in Amber."
"It doesn't directly. There are a number of things I can't tell you because they're just supposition, however there is one thing that is relavent. Your half-brother has been missing for nearly 4 weeks now. Neither we nor certain parties at the Courts have been able to locate him, and we think the events are related. If they are we need you out of the way, which means staying away from both Amber and your home shadow, and while I think about it staying out of Kashfa, Begma, and Erignor wouldn't be a bad move either."
"I take it I'm not to go looking for him or my father either?"
"Look I can't really stop you if that's what you want to do, but I'd not recommend it. Even we're not sure what we're up against yet, so if you're intent on comitting suicide go ahead. However, keeping your head down, staying out of the way, and working on your trump abilities wouldn't be a bad move. On the upside it does mean that you got to come here sooner rather than later."
"Yes. How exactly did I get here?"
"I had Fiona place a spell on the envelope such that breaking the seal would activate the trump inside. The trump is for you by the way. It's one of only three that exist so I suggest you keep it's existance a secret."
"So what am I supposed to do now? I was going to walk the Pattern when I got back to Amber to sort out my cargo dilemas, things didn't go as planned in Hong Kong, and I've had to improvise. I'm likely to be a couple of days late getting to Tulbranich as a result."
"You could always walk your father's pattern, given it's just over there. It has much the same abilities as the one in Amber, so you can use it in the same way. I'll let Bleys know you're going to be late, not that I'm sure he'd mind too much. Call Vialle when you get back to your ship and she'll send Miss Dalaman through to you. I think we've managed to pack all you usually carry in that pack of your's although I couldn't actually find a kitchen sink that would fit in it. There are a couple of bonus items however. Again keeping your possession of those a secret wouldn't be a bad move either. Oh one last thing before I go, Bleys said to give you this." He handed me a ring, one that looked vaguely familiar.
"Where'd he get it? I lost it during.... during an excursion I made." Random looked at me suspeciously."Don't look at me like that. You're not the only one who does things you shouldn't, and gets screwed as a result."
"Alright, you needn't take my head off. I'll get in touch when we know more. What ever you do just be careful. I'd hate to have to explain to your father, assuming he ever show's up why both his children are dead on my watch." He hugged me then turned and walked back the way we'd come.
I put the ring back on my right hand, then pulled the parchment envelope from my pocket. I unfolded it and removed the trump, placing the trump into the middle of my deck. I bent down and started checking my rucksack. A second rifle case had been tied on in addition to my shotgun case. I took out the shoulder harness, took off my jacket, put it on then put the Gloch into it, then put my jacket back on. There was an additional revolver and two boxes of ammunition in the rucksack. I made a few alterations in the packing, then picked it up, and slung it onto my back.
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