It has been a strange day and an equally strange evening.
I was awoken by somebody climbing into bed with me and running their hand over my body. I'd grabbed the hand and rolled over, initially seeing Hinkin, but something didn't ring true. The figure had then tried to use it's other hand to feel my crotch at which point I'd been forced to arm lock him.
The problem with shapeshifters is that they can manipulate all parts of their body and he had simply adjusted his joints to negate the lock and sent his appendage on a journey of its own forcing me to release my hold and back off. He tried to come after me but I was just a little too quick for him so he tried a different approach and grew tentacles. I considered grabbing the sword and lopping them off but didn't want blood everywhere, at which point a voice had said hit him with the pattern. The problem was its difficult to walk the pattern whilst fending off tentacles so I had to let him grab me and carry me back to the bed. He was about to take what he wanted when he got it full in the head and collapsed in a pulsating heap.
At this point the doors to my apartment were flung open and Mandor and three household guards rushed in. Mandor took one look at me, as I hastily pulled a sheet about me, and then at the quivering heap. "Take that away and lock it up. Then fetch us some breakfast whilst I get to the bottom of what exactly happened here.". The guards picked up the heap and left just as Hinkin arrived. "You can stay. In fact you're partly responsible for this. If you hadn't made the bet this probably wouldn't have happened". Hinkin looked blank. "There isn't much that escapes me round here young Hinkin Barrimen, so just you remember that in future. Now Cordelia you'll tell me exactly what happened this morning, and then you'll tell me those parts of the story you left out last night."
"First you'll go wait in the ante-room, then I'll have a bath, then I'll dress, and then we'll talk. And you can stop looking at my crotch. You failed yesterday, and I'm not giving you a free shot today." He didn't move. I pulled the sheets tighter about me and glared at him.
"Ok but don't be too long. Hinkin you're with me"
"No Hinkin's with me, or I'll take all day."
He glared at me and walked into the ante room. I told Hinkin to shut the door.
We joined Mandor about 45 minutes later much to his annoyance. Whilst we ate breakfast he proceeded to interrogate me about the use of Pattern, and suggested in future that I use the sword and dispatch my attacker as it creates less fallout. He then turned his attention to the missing bits in my story relating to the night Brand released Rodian. I went through the details of what happened and then filled in some of the other bits I'd previously left out . He then asked if he could examine the sword and with reluctance I decided to agree. The sword had other ideas and put up a psychic barrier When Mandor tried to probe it I found my own barriers going up in response, as if we were coupled together. Eventually I managed to get it to lower the barrier enough for Mandor to make a cursory examination His opinion was that the psyche was not Brand's although it had similarities to it, but more interesting was that the sword was one that had belonged to one of the more minor Chanicut families that had disappeared in mysterious circumstances about 200 years ago. The original owner was now deceased so the chances of anyone recognizing or trying to reclaim it, although he doubted they could due to what appeared to be a trump bond, were pretty much negligible.
I was about to persue the subject further when Mandor received a summons from Merlin, and disapeared taking Hinkin with him. About two hours later Hinkin re-appeared requesting my presence in my brother''s private chambers. Merlin's first act was to try and lecture me on who I could and could not sleep with, which caused Mandor to collapse in fits of laughter. They'd obviously spoken and Merlin had misinterpreted what Mandor had told him. I told him it was none of his business who I slept with, and Hinkin was more likely to want to sleep with him than me - which caused both of them to turn red. This had the desired effect and he dropped the subject like a hot potatoe.
We covered the same ground as I had with Mandor this morning only in less detail but when it came to examine the sword he pulled a trump from his pocket, touched it and threw it into the air. It proceeded to spin at an increasing rate and then grow and become translucent, until a translucent bubble composed of what appeared to be layered translucent cogs appeared. When the bubble stabilized he said "Ghostwheel. Sorry to trouble you but can you examine my sisters sword please. Your trump abilities are better than mine and according to Mandor there is a connection between her and it, we'd like to know more about"
The bubble pulsated and I suddenly found myself standing in the middle of it, my sword hanging in space a few feet away. The sensation around me was similar to that of the Trump Trap of Llewella's I'd fallen into but this time it was significantly more intense. I also realized I could no longer sense the sword. I started to bring up the pattern when a voice spoke to me.
"Not a good idea Miss Chan. You are a long way from that power source and whilst not a simple matter for me to negate it I could if I so desired. However, it would be far easier to render you unconscious by removing all the O2 molecule from the stasis field you are in before you could complete the invocation. Alternatively I could just as easlily entomb your dog, a moving image of Mikato strolling through shadow appeared, in a trump prison. Alternatively for a little co-operation I could arrange for him to find his way either to here or to Ygg. Last time we spoke he had become disorientated after your collapse in the fount and was wandering aimlessly about."
"What have you done to him" I spat, the anger rising.
"Nothing. He did a few jobs for me for which he has been rewarded. If you bothered to stay in one place for long enough he'd actually be able to home in on you. Now are you going to behave or do I have to render you unconscious"
Still seething I aquiessed, and started to study my environment. Whilst primarily trump powered there was something else there as well. I couldn't be sure but it could be a Logrus shadow. I'd just about made this determination when I appeared back in the room, my sword back in its scabbard on my belt, and the bubble shimmering as the cogs spun within it. It then spoke to Merlin.
"The sword is a trump artifact that has been recently augmented, most likely by the Phoenix. I am inclined to believe that Brand felt the sword through her touching her trump deck as he neared his demise. This gave him an escape route but he didn't bargain on the presence of the Phoenix. At this point I can only speculate, but I am of the opinion that the Phoenix dismantled Brand's psyche and reassembled it into that of a developing child and implanted it in the sword. When he was reborn in the fount of worlds he coupled the trump essence of the sword to Cordelia's altered essence so that she would unconsciously educate the psyche as it developed and grew correcting the influences that had caused it to develop as Brand had. Until Cordelia dies or reaches a sufficicient level of attainment in trump manipulation to disentangle her essence of her own free will the two will remain coupled. In theory it means that she can draw directly on the power of trump from the sword to augment her own abilities, something she has yet to either recognize or achieve. My suppositions indicate that this is something she will need in the not to distant future as other events are already in motion that require it."
There was then a sort of low intensity thunder-clap and the trump card landed on the floor. I could now see it was a three dimensional image of a series of interlocking rings arranged as a sort of gyroscope frame. Merlin bent down and retrieved the card.
"Who/What was that?"
"Interesting question. A bit of a long story. In the simplest terms it was a trump computer construct, something I built as a University project, that has become self-aware, walked both the Pattern and Logrus, and has become involved in their political games. Exactly what it is any longer I'm not sure, but occasionally I can get it to do certain tasks for me Anyway I suspect after that you could do with a coffee, I know I could"
As if pre-ordained the doors opened and in came a couple of servants with trays of tea, coffee, and cakes. Over coffee we cleared up a few loose ends and then Merlin said he had another appointment so had to be going. He'd been gone less than 15 seconds when he reappeared at a hurry "Almost forgot - there's a state dinner tonight, all to do with the Minobes', your presence as my half Sister and an Amberite is required, so you'll need a dress. Mandor can sort you out something appropriate to go with it. I suggest you take Hinkin as your escort." and with that he was gone again. Men! Where was I going to get a dress in under 4 hours?
As if reading my mind, Hinkin said "You'll be needing a dress?. If its ok with Mandor I can get that sorted now if you'll come with me." He nodded "Come to my quarters about 7:30 and Dara will sort you out some appropriate danglies".
In respect of some of the dinners I've attended it was not a large affair, perhaps 80 guests . Considering the rush timescales my dress was acceptable. Hinkin's seamstress was quite marvelous. I managed to get a collared floor length backless Chinese style dress, in blue and gold, with matching silk shawl and slippers, and a sash for my sword, made up in under two hours. This time I also got a thong to go with it but chose not to wear it in the end which turned out to be a mistake. Dara completed the outfit by lending me a tiara, a pair of earrings, and a broach.
Dinner was a rather boring affair and I found myself watching Sintria Minobe, who was sitting on the other side of his parents on the other side of Merlin to me. As dinner progressed he'd look in my direction but then look away when he realized I'd noticed him. By the time dessert was served he was at least meeting my gaze although the young duchess to his left had also noticed his pre-occupation and would engage him in conversation as soon as his attention moved in my direction. As the dessert course progressed I noticed something else I was becoming heavily aroused, more so than could be attributed to the scenarios I'd been running through my head. Now I was aware of the fact I realized I was being artificially stimulated. After this morning I though it might be rogue tentacles but could see nothing. Who ever it was was very clever and had hit exactly the right spot making it very difficult for me to control myself and find the culprit. I looked around and caught Mandor's eye, who smiled and got out of his seat, came over behind me and whispered in my ear "Perhaps I can be of assistance. You seem to have got yourself into a bit of an embarressing situation. You wouldn't want that wet patch on your dress to be visible."
"Bastard" I muttered as I allowed him to help me out of my seat and escort me to the Ladies. He followed me in causing a couple of more mature ladies to exit rapidly. "What do you think you're doing in here?"
"Assisting you. I think I've proved my point and you do have a most interesting crotch. But unless you allow me to remove my little Logrus friend he'll keep going all night. Your choice"
I glared at him. Which didn't help much. "Ok you win".
"Hitch up your dress and spread you legs a little"
"Not on you're life"
"Then you're stuck. Normally I'd have to make love to you to stop it, but this one I programmed differently. After all you're sort of family."
When we returned the guests were moving from the dining hall to the ball room. Dara and Hinkin had hung back waiting for us. Dara gave me a dance card. "Your first dance is with Hinkin. You then have to dance with your brother, Mandor, and the Elder Minobe. I've managed to get the next 3 down with Sintria. You should be able to make your mark then. Dance half a dozen more with various lords, then another with Sintria. His parents will be busy gossiping by this point so won't notice him leave. I'll drop by in the morning to collect the trinkets." She took Mandor by the arm and turned to leave "Just so you know it wasn't who you thought it was. His tricks only work on impressionable young ladies and serving girls.". She smiled, and disappeared into the mass of guests.
I was about to go after after when Hinkin grabbed me "Don't! You have no idea who you're up against. This whole affair is her doing. She manouvred Merlin into it this morning. Now I know you fancy young Mr Sintria just don't use your's or his room. If you remember where you cornered me that day, the fourth panel in that corridor is a shadowveil. Its keyed to the Logrus but Sintria will be able to open it. You'll find the rooms through there comfortable enough and it's unlikely they'll look for you there."
I was about to argue when we heard the band striking up and Hinkin dragged me into the ballroom. After that things went pretty much to Dara's plan. Sintria was very nervous on the first dance and I had difficulty getting him to put his hands where they were supposed to be let alone where I wanted them. He also wouldn't relax and managed to keep free air between us during the whole dance. When the band struck up the second number I had to hand it to Dara. Sintria was forced to pull me close to him as required by the dance but he still didn't relax. The third number was a slow number and again he tried to back off. I was getting a little pissed and threatened to remove my dress unless he danced properly. He was about to turn away so I undid the top two buttons which had the desired effect. He complained when I moved his hand from my waist to my backside but a quick threat of undoing more buttons solved the problem. The dance over he hesitated before asking if he could dance with me again. I folded the card over and got him to sign the top position on the second side. Thst gave me seven spaces to fill.
Barely had he been taken away by the young lady who'd tried to monopolisze him over dinner than I had a mob of young lords ambush me for dances. One of them was going to be unlucky. The problem with all of these was keeping their hands where they were supposed to be, stopping them from adding additional appendages, and keeping an eye on Sintria. I needn't have worried. It seems Dara had taken care of that as well. Apart from the first dance after dancing with me all the others were with older married ladies so by the time I got around to dancing with him again he was far more relaxed. By this time the dance floor had also thinned and groups had drifted off into alcoves to discuss whatever pressing matters they had to discuss.
When I suggested halfway through the dance I needed some air there was a moments hesitation before he agreed to accompany me. I manouvred him to the edge of the floor and then deftly out the door. A couple of people looked round but nobody bothered us. We walked for a couple of minutes before he suggested we should be geting back. I asked if thats what he really wanted. He hesitated. I turned and ran down the corridor. Behind me I heard the plaintive shout of "Cordelia wait". I slowed down abit , mainly becasue I had to work out where I was and where I needed to be. After a couple of minutes he caught up and asked where we were going. I told him to wait and see.
After about 15 minutes I found the corridor. Convicing him to trust me and open the shadow veil took a little more effort and I was beginning to get impatient. I'd wanted to take the first room, but he insisted we take one 2 thirds the way down.. It was a little musty and cold, but a quick bit of sorcery fixed the fire - and surprised him in the bargin, turning him nervous again. There was only one thin for it. I moved in tripped onto his back and came down on top of him, pinning him to the ground with a full on kiss. When I felt him respond I allowed him to roll me onto my back He kissed me again, his clothes disappearing into his scaley skin. I broke the kiss. "Human form - I'm not a shifter". His form began to change.
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| Supporting Cast - Cordelia | The Keep of the Thirteenth Hour |