Ion continued his explanation of Shadow Walking to Taala, whilst Daida half listened. Sorcha stood on the sideline observing and musing, whilst Charity continued her covert experiments in operating the Courtyard Trump she was holding.
Ion finished his explanation of Shadow Walking to Taala and then started to explain all over again to Daida, but Taala took over, giving a more succinct explanation despite never actually done any walking. Sorcha continued to observe, paying more attention to Charity who seemed to be devoting more concentration to the card than previous, and seemed possessed of a vacant look.
Taala gets about halfway through her explanation of Shadow Walking when Charity suddenly vanishes. Sorcha puts two and two together, comes up with five, and decides Charity's been kidnapped by Brand. Ion announces that she's a traitor and if she every returns he'll cut her head off.

The group wait around for a couple of hours and when Charity fails to reappear, decide to head for a fast time stream so they can learn to use their powers better - there is no requirement to go to Amber as they were only going there so Charity could walk the pattern. After a discussion on how to measure time flow between Shadows they head off in what they hope is the "right" direction.

Ion is leading, and heads for a non-descript desert shadow as he hopes this will make manipulation easier. After three hours, they're in a nice representation of the Sahara, when Taala gets the feeling they're being followed. A short while later Sorcha confirms this.
By this time Ion is beginning to get tired so decides that a stop at an oasis is required and sets about moving to an appropriate shadow. The figure has closed considerably on them. Sorcha believes its Cordelia on something that looks like a camel. Ion smacks himself on the head, and wonders why he didn't think of that, although it doesn't do anything for his developing headache. He now wants an oasis with camels.

Cordelia catches up with the group at the oasis, which sure enough has camels, and they're there waiting for them - a little probability manipulation on Cordelia's part unknown to the party.
There is a short rest break whilst they determine what to do. Based on the information she has gleaned from the players, and from pieces she knows, finding Dworkin may provide some answers, so going to Amber is still the best bet - besides she needs to know what the real situation is especially with Charity missing.

Ion leads initially, Cordelia recons they all could use the practice, it also means she isn't exerting herself. He heads for Calbourn, seeking to pick up his war Drake. He manages about an hour before he's mentally exhausted. Daida takes over, heading for 'any medieval style' sea port rather than a specific one. He manages about six hours before he too becomes tired. Ion has recovered a bit and continues for just over an hour before they arrive at a seaport. Cordelia is forced to do a little probability manipulation as they do a few circuits of the town. They board a small flute, the captain of which is willing to accept payment when they reach their destination, which he thinks is an island about 18 hours sailing away. The ship, the Herrigburn, leaves on the tide and puts to sea. Cordelia goes below to get some rest, returning to the deck some 4 hours later. She now begins to Shaddow Shift, instigating a huge tempest to cover the hell riding she's effecting.

The storm lasts for over 12 hours before blowing itself out, but its a further 4 hours before they sight land, and another two before they make their way cautiously into Kashfa's harbour. By the time they dock, Cordelia has identified things are amis and briefed the others, including the ships captain. When the squad of troops board the ship, Cordelia handles the situation, disappearing for an hour with the guard Sergeant to confirm her status as a visiting merchant trader. After she returns the group make their way into the city, where Daida renders their tails incapable of following them further, prior to Cordelia leading the way into Amber's embassy via a secret back door. After a some refreshments and a short meeting with the Ambassador, where they learn of Rinaldo's death, Cordelia requisitions 1 Gold ingot and 10lbs of assorted gems and silver coins. They make their way back to the ship, departing ahead of a group of guards attempting to arrest them. The frigate that attempts to cut them off suffers a broken top spar, dissuading it from any further action. Once out at sea they settle in for the day and a half run into Amber.

They run into Amber waters is uneventful, Cordelia has the captain bring them up the southern cost of Garnath. About 5 miles south of the location of Rebma a fleet at anchor is sighted. They approach cautiously, determining that its a sizable portion of Amber's fleet.

As they close to hailing distance, they are attacked by a contingent of demons, from those arrayed along the foreshore. In the hand to hand battle that follows, 8 of the crew are killed and another 11 injured. The ship takes minor damage to rigging, deck, and one side - caused by claw punctures as the demons scale the side. Amongst the group, Sorcha and Taala suffer the worst, with Taala ending the battle in what's left of a suit of rags, which barely protects her modesty.
Once identities are established they transfer to the fleet flagship, Gerards ship-of-the-line The Bismark, to plan their next move.

Meanwhile - An Interlude with Brand

Charity has indeed been kidnapped by Brand, who detected her using the Amber Trump and decided to find out who and why as he didn't recognise the signature. Feigning innocence and requiring help, he gets her to accept a trump contact placing her under his control, and allowing him to yank her to his encampment, where he can read her mind at his leisure. Having obtained all the information he need he decides to make Charity an offer. The offer is not conducive so Charity decides to bluff it out in the hopes of gaining a better deal. Brand has other ideas, pick her up, and trumps to he ledge where he fell into the Abyss. Again he makes his offer. When Charity asks about pattern walking, yet again, Brand somehow suspends her over and touching the abyss. He repeats his offer.
To Charity being hung over the abyss is both painful and inviting. She considers the offer for a while before repeating her pattern walking request. In exasperation Brand lets her go.

An Abysmal Future?

Falling! Falling! Falling! Falling!..................... Not Falling! Time Passes. Charity's consciousness, recognizes its still self aware and alive in some sense of the word. What she thought was void appears to have form and things move beyond what she can sense. She appears to be being held by something. She extends her senses calling. Time Passes. Something almost tentacle like brushes past her, then stops. More time passes then something "speaks" to her. A discussion follows. Time passes again. The tentacle that brushed past whips away then drives itself deep within her. She "struggles" breaking off the "tip". The tentacle withdraws. The voice speaks again. He has agreed. If she can find her way out she is free to leave. As the voice starts to recede she mentions Rodian. The voice returns, much more forceful than before, and demands to know what she knows of Rodian. She tells what she knows. The voice exhibits agitation and worry. It retires to find its brother The Serpent. Falling! Falling! Falling!

Time passes. Charity realizes she's not actually falling, that she's never been falling. The sensation stops. She thinks. Time Passes. Eventually she works out how to move, and that her only possible movement is to the place where she entered. She exits and examines the scene before her. In the distance, across a great plain the Courts of Chaos, half in the Black Road, and besieged by legion. Not to distant the edge of the black road. She waits and watches. Every hour or so more legions appear from the void and either move down the road or towards the Courts. Flying high for better vantage she is spotted and forced to retreat once more into the void that is the Abyss!