It was nearly 11pm by the time Mikato and I set out down the tunnel. Unfortunately Charity and the others had taken all the spare horses so I was forced to leave on foot. Given they had left this way, Charity must have been leading at this point.
We'd covered about 4 miles, distance wise, and were just out of the tunnel into mountainous country when I heard the bell strike. The world shuddered with each strike of the bell and became less colourful, more grey, more silent, and more solid, until by the fifth strike it was completely frozen; even Mikato seemed affected.
Unlike a few nights ago in the condo nothing assailed me and after what I guesssed was several minutes I summoned the pattern and looked about me. I had expected to find the typical signs that depict a reflection of either Amber or Chaos, ie a shadow reality, but this place seems to have a signature all of its own, as if it somehow exists outside the reality defined by the Pattern and the Logrus. In some ways it is reminiscent of the dream reality of Tyr N'gth, but this reality is far harsher. One other thing of note, all the systems in my armour ceased to function. It is onw of the reasons I specifically like this model, it is perfectly usable without them; something to bear in mind when travelling in and out of Amber.
When the world returned to normal Mikato looked at me quizically, voicing the suspicion that something had occurred. He was unable to determine exactly what however. I explained as we walked. This shadow looked promising so we ventured off the path taken by the others to acquire me a horse. Travel is not necessarily quicker on horseback - just a little less tiring. With me riding and Mikato tracking, we were able to pick us the pace considerably.
This has left me with a quandry. From the shadow disruption they have left in their wake they are leaping all over the place. If I were to make an educated guess either one or both of Allagahn and/or Alfred are learning to Shadow Walk.
From my conversation with Fiona, I suspect they may be heading for Amber. It's a big risk but I think I'll head directly there and see if I can locate them. I think I'll take a minor detour and find out what's happening in Kashfa along the way.
Decisions made we set off again. Mikato was hungry, and I needed a fresh horse.It took an hour or so to locate a way station and exchange the horse, and get something to eat.
Another 10 hours of riding followed before Mikato needed a rest and I needed another horse. I located another inn, that would have what we needed and we stopped for about 5 hours, I can rest properly once we're under sail.
Mikato and I travelled for about 10 hours, collecting, several pounds of silver coins along the way - I find they're often easier to trade than gold, even if a little more bulky. I arranged to travel the last hour in this shadow and acquired a couple of low value promisary notes, some gold, silver, and a collection of weapons. I hadn't actually planned on acquiring these but the brigands who chose to cross me won't be needing them anymore.
The port of Granshulth is typical of late 17th Century ports. I booked passage on a small flute, The Herrigburn, for an island that, were I not going to userp the vessel, would normally take about 18 hours to reach. We sailed on the noon tide and I retired below decks to rest.
The storm that blew up about ten hours later took the captain by surprise, as the waters he thought we were in were not known for this sort of thing. Unfortunately for him, and the rest of the crew, we were not in his home waters by then, and the storm was a necessary cover for the hellride I was about to initiate.
The storm lasted a little over 44 hours, including another two intrusions of the other reality, before it blew itself out. By then we were in Kasfa, although it would be several hours more before we sighted land. That gave me plenty of time for me to recover from my exertions.
We sighted land about midday and sailed into Kasfa harbour shortly after 2pm local time. I chose not to fly my pennant, which proved to be a wise decision.
By the time we arrived I'd had ample time to placate the captain and assure him that he'd be suitably recompensed for this detour. What struck me as odd was the atmosphere as we sailed into the harbour. The captain was happy to follow my lead, which was just as well, as no sooner had we tied up along side, than we were boared by a party of the Royal Household Guard. Something was definately amiss.
The Captain and I were escorted to the Port Governors Office, where I was forced to perform a certain amount of memory adjustment so that we could be about our business. If it hadn't been for Mikato, I'd never have noticed the tails that we acquired after we left the office, but they didn't succeed in following us for long, and we slipped into Amber's Embassy via the back entrance, unnoticed and unmolested.
We didn't get to stay long. It seems Kasfa has closed its borders, especially to Amberites, as a result of Luke's death. It appears he died trying to relieve a siege instigated at the Keep of the Four Worlds. The rumour is that the siege was designed with a view to killing his mother. Wether that siege succeeded is unknown. His Queen, Coral, is also missing, apparently force to flee across Shadow by some demonic agent of Brands. It also appears that Nyadia has been seriously injured. Our arrival was therefore not well timed, and were we to stay we were likely to be detained.
In truth we barely made it back to the ship, ahead of the posse of Royal Guard and city militia. We were forced to cut mooring ropes rather than cast off and I was also forced to do a lot of very quick probability manipulation to stop them bringing the harbour defenses to bear and to prevent one of the Naval frigates from cutting us off. It found saling rather difficult with a broken top spit.
Once out at sea I started the manipulations necessary to bring us to Amber, normally three days sailing away. I was however in a hurry, and the best cover for a hellride was a storm - although not as severe as the one that got us here.
The storm was interupted as previously by the intrusion of the alternate reality. This is particularly significant this close to Amber as it means this alternate reality must somehow be part of the true reality of Amber, although why it's not occurred until recently I have yet ascertain. Perhaps it has something to do with Brand and this Rodian character mentioned by Charity and the others.
I still hadn't devised a plan for getting into Amber at this point, other than knowing that sailing directly into the harbour and saying 'Hi' was a bad idea. Rebma was also out, if it hadn't fallen then it would be under siege and we hadn't the manpower to withstand a boarding action. This left either the headland at Carba, an approach from the West, or coming in along the Eastern shore, and up the Great East Stair via the sea caves, really only practical at low tide. What ever the approach it'd best be made at night and undetected, so the Captain had agreed to total blackout above decks and minimal sail - I didn't know what phase the moons were in.
The lack of sail proved a blessing and a curse for it slowed us down considerably, but as night fell the Lighthouse at Cabra stood out as a beacon and allowed us to gauge our position with more clarity.
As we sailed North in the deepening gloom, a red glow sprang from the south west, until we could make out a fleet of buring masts against the night sky. My intuition told me that Amber's Great Fleet was no more and that Remba had either fallen or would fall that night. We altered course, now East of North rather than West of North, I wanted the ship further away from Amber even if it meant a longer trek back for me.
As we sailed up the coast looking for a suitable cove, I felt as if somebody was watching us. Casting my senses about I felt the presence of a pattern lens. Not having the time or inclination to find out who was watching us I constructed a pattern of my own a threw it as hard as I could at the lens. It offered very little resistance and shattered, leaving us free to continue unobserved.
Otherwise, fortune smiled on us that night. The cloud persisted allowing the moon the occasional peak, sufficient for us to judge our progress and locate a cove that was ideal for our purpose. It had deep water and steep cliffs allowing the ship close inshore and hiding it from observation by anyone other than those on the cliffs or directly out at sea. As I rowed ashore I wondered at the insanity of what I was about to do. If all went well I would return to the Herrigburn in 10 days time, not here but in Ashan, a port some two days sailing East of here.
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| Supporting Cast - Cordelia | The Keep of the Thirteenth Hour |