"Random is still King in Amber, yes, though he isn't here, in Cadiniagart... "

"No, it's his brother, Prince Corwin that's here."

"As I said... " the man continues, giving Jer an angry glower, "... Random still rules Amber, and his relatives are all well, as far as I know, though if it's palace gossip you want, you're asking the wrong people."

"As for the fastest route... " he glances at Jer, as if expecting another interruption, but the other man simply stares out across the harbour, and ignores him.  "I'd have to say, without a shadow of doubt, that the fastest way to go would be by ship."

Prince Corwin, Dorian thought. He knew little about the royal family of Amber, so he field the name away. Though he did consider others might find it useful. "Might we ask where we could find Prince Corwin?"

He noted that Random was still the King, and the other information.

He looked to the rest of the ships docked, studying the one with three large wheels with interest. "And do you perhaps know of a ship sailing to Amber soon?"

"We're here on a diplomatic matter, so I expect His Highness is meeting with the local ruler, just now."

"Steady, Will, you shouldn't say too much, in case there're spies about." Jer calls across from his post, proving that he is paying attention.

Will, as the other man is apparently named, sighs, "As for other ships, I wouldn't know.  Unicorn's Wrath will be heading back to Amber, just as soon as the current matter is resolved.  There's been a lot of trouble around the Circle lately, so a lot of captains aren't keeping regular schedules, for fear it would make them easy targets for pirates."

"Afraid you'd have to ask around, to get any firm idea."

Morgan tranlates a question from one of the pride with some heavy editing, "Its kind you are to help us. Would you happen to know if there is a cartographer in the city? I've not gone this route before, so I don't know the distances involved."

 

Clearly still fascinated by the ship and the ocean, Banglen-Yp appeared to not hear much of what was being said - or perhaps she did listen, even though the focus of her attention was elsewhere.

It was almost as if she was studying the ship in detail, tracing ever rope, tack, line and piece of wood with her eyes.

Then, she suddenly seemed to spot the two guards, and she waved and smiled at them happily.

•• Hi ••

A single syllable, sounding almost perfect compared to most of her speech thus far.

 

Inside her robes, Tahirah's eyes slowly close, as she sways gently in time with the tide.

"A cartographer?  I suppose there should be... "

"As a matter of fact, I have an interest in maps.  There's a cartographer a couple of minutes walk from here." Jer interrupts, moving closer again, and smiling happoly.  "If you go back up the street, about a hundred yards, and keep a sharp eye out, you'll see an archeway on the left.  Just a covered alleyway really, leads through to a courtyard behind the buildings on that side.  Just on your right, as you get into the courtyard, you'll see a store with the name Mayhew above the door."

"Ren Mayhew is probably the best mapmaker in this city."

Will, momentarily prepared to leave the talking to Jer, smiles at Banglen-Yp, and says, "Hello.", though he looks a little puzzled as he studies the woman.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:48, Thu 03 May 2007.

A smile and a short bow accompany Morgan's thanks.  "Thank you. That's clear enough for me, and helpful of you. Shall I take your greetings?"

Maps, Dorian pondered, as he looked back up the road that Jer indicated. Morgan might have use for maps, but Dorian did not. If the man had some use in mind, he hadn't shared it yet. "Very well," Dorian says. "See to your map, if you wish. I will go on ahead and see to passage to Amber. With any luck, we can find something leaving soon."

He didn't feel secure walking the docks mounted. Fine mounts, but any mount could be cumbersome on the narrow docks where sailors were moving up and down with heavy loads. He dismounted and strode towards the docks, unconcerned if any chose to follow him or not. He simply didn't want to lose any more time than was necessary, here.

"That'd be most kind of you, Sir." Jer replies to Morgan's question, with a broad smile, "Tell Mister Mayhew that Jer Garrick sent you.  And if you could see your way clear to telling him I'll be in to see him a little later, I'd be most grateful."

Will, meanwhile says nothing further, as he watches Dorian stride off across the docks, towards the nearest of the other ships.

Dorian studied the other ships on the dock critically. He didn't like the options presented. Many of the ships sat in repairs, or seemed somewhat abandoned. He could plausibly manipulate a few things, but he didn't like doing that so close to Amber, and he wasn't sure how welcome it would be in this particular city. A city new to the Golden Circle was likely to have others of power who frowned on manipulations. If he repaired one ship, he might upset fair competition or something like that--not that he cared, but it could stir up trouble and attention.

He turned back, looking at the Amberite ship. He wondered if perhaps they could get passage with Prince Corwin. James or Aaron might be able to do it. Technically, he believed himself to be a member of the family, but it was more difficult to trace his connection with certainty.

There was also another option: Fiona. He didn't want to do that, just yet. In fact, the less of the family that knew of their presence, the better. Politically, talking to one of them could be seen as an alliance by someone else.

No harm in a little more information, though.

He walked back towards Jer and Will, and the others.

"It appears to be a bad day for sea travel. Most of the ships are under repairs, today. We may have to speak to Uncle Corwin about passage with him, if he plans to return soon. James or Aaron, I think, has been closer to the family than I. I will consult with the others, as well."

Uncle Corwin, he thought with amusement. He wouldn't consider the man an uncle, normally, thought all indications said it was true. In fact, he may be able to give Dorian information about his family--or Dorian's mother. He let is slip for the sake of the guards, though, to see if it changed their reaction.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:16, Mon 07 May 2007.

"I'll do that." Morgan tips his head in farewell. He glances at his companions, and smilingly shakes his head.  "Would any care to accompany me there, or shall we meet back at the inn?"

"I'll stick with Dorian, thanks. I think we should definetly follow up on Corwin's whereabouts."

He hadn't met Corwin, and while he knew he was more than likely only distantly related via Amberite blood, what more could it hurt to have another Amberite nearby?

Aaron only hoped he wouldn't have to eat those thoughts in the coming hours.

"Well, as I said," interjects Will, "the prince is not here at the moment.  We're here on a diplomatic mission, and he is currently up in the city, engaged in negotiations with the ruler of Cadiniagart."

He leans forward a little, and smiles, somewhat conspiratorially, "If it's anything like last time, he'll probably not be back until they've fed him a good dinner of roasted peacock, truffles, and caviar, or the like.  So likely as not, he'll be a few hours yet."

"Meanwhile we get hard bread and salt pork."

Will rolls his eyes, and jerks one thumb in Jer's direction, "Do any of you want to buy him?  I'll probably get busted down a couple of ranks, or booted out, for selling Navy property, but it would definitely be worth it."

 

•• Me • me • me ••

Bouncing again, if not for as long as before, Banglen-Yp replied to Morgan and waved a hand at him in case he did not hear her, which was about as likely as a door opening the wrong way or a dog reading an encyclopaedia - and understanding it.

The Screen had spoken of maps and the very concept fascinated her as much as that of sailing ships.

 

Dorian is about to speak, but Banglen-Yp's enthusiasm cuts him off momentarily. He looks at her, pondering if he should explain that it was an attempt at humor--probably--but then thinks better of it.

"Patience runs in my family," says Dorian with a tiny tiny smirk. "We will have to speak to him when he is finished. In the mean time, I see no reason you should be left with cold, hard food.  Allow me a few moments to provide more suitable fair."

Dorian bends his will towards the act of conjuration, imagining up a picnic basket filled with the same items the man had described.

Will looks at the basket, then at Dorian, "I'd be grateful if you'd take that away, again, Sir.  You see, our Senior Sergeant has this nasty ability to have eyes in the back of his head.  He can see for a hundred miles in every direction, and hear a mouse passing wind, thirty leagues away."

"I'd rather not have to explain to him why I accepted a gift from a group of strangers who were asking a lot of questions on the dock."

Morgan fails to stifle a snort of laughter as the cats pad down the street, toward the cartographer.  "Glad to have you, B."

Dorian did not feel his questions were anything to arouse suspicion. They were no more than directions and local information--nothing any other traveler would ask. He did not look happy. "Suit yourself," he says. "Perhaps next time you won't make such an issue about what you lack in life. I shall find someone in need within the city to share my gift."

Basket in hand, he turned back towards the city, black cloak trailing behind him in the seaside breeze. He was Dorian, and his kindness was rare. He did not like having it rebuffed for what he counted as fruitless and suspicion. The men could have shown the gift to their superior of there were some concern and let that man deal with it as he saw fit.

For now, he planned to stay near the docks. They may need to contact Prince Corwin when he decided to leave, or perhaps earlier. He would wait to see what the others thought before he tried to contact the Amberite, though.

In the mean time, there had to be someone on the streets or docks who could use a good meal.

 

Banglen-Yp only laughed in reply to Morgan, once more enjoying the ride on the large cat, although she said something once the laughter died out.

•• My • lit•tle • friend • wants • to • be • a •big • cat • like • these • when • he • grows • up ••

Who it was aimed at was hard to tell, but the kitten on her shoulder let out a cute little meow after she had finished.

 

Will watches as Dorian stalks away, then rounds on Jer, "You and your stomach!  Thanks to your complaining, I've offended that gentleman!"

"But I'm hungry."

"Then you should have grabbed something earlier, when we were off duty."

The pair stand quietly for a while, as the visitors leave, and then Jer pipes up, "Seemed like nice enough people though."

"Well, of course they are.  Didn't you hear that one say they're related to the Family, but they've been travelling?" replies Will, somewhat calmer now.

"Yes...  I wonder where they've been?"

"No idea... but they surely breed some funny looking horses there."

They lapse back into the tedium of their duties, guarding a rowboat...

Time passes in the vicinity of the docks, just as it does elsewhere in the city.

Jer and Will continue their vigil.

A ship appears in the distance, far out from the bay which serves Cadiniagart as a harbour, and only dimly visible through the curtains of rain which sweep across the ocean.

Occasional flashes of lightning illuminate it more clearly as it makes its way in, towards shelter, across the churning waves.

Aaron was momentarilly confused, but decided against following Dorian, despite his prior comment. Glancing at Tahira, he raised his head.

"I'm going to see if I can't find a bit more information here by the dockside. You're welcome to come, if you wish."

With that, he proceeded further down the docks a ways, not looking for anything in particular. Perhaps he'd run across something that would catch his eye.

Dorian finds a spot where he can sit and watch the docks, the small rowboat in particular, so he can with hope see Corwin approach. He could watch the spot from afar, even seeking out Corwin from a distance, but he's content to sit and enjoy the solitude. His thoughts strayed to Cyan, obviously, and he thought of speaking to her but knew he had no idea what to say. Surely Berd was passing anything important to her, and he feared to laden her thoughts with his own further musings.

He still felt divided against himself, but at least he had come to accept that division. He thought he had the answer to his dilemma, but he felt no need to rush to a solution only to find it lacking later.

He had enough serious thoughts, of late. He let his mind wander to more relaxing things, conversations and memories--giving no thought, for once, to which were real or imagined.

Out across the ocean, beyond the harbour, the ship continues its approach.  From time to time it almost disappears from view, only to fully reappear moments later, as the rain sweeps aside, or some trough disgorges it onto the crest of the next wave...

The rain sweeps in over the docks with renewed force, and the two guards move back from their post, seeking the paltry shelter of the eaves of one of the buildings behind them.

Dorian, further away from the boat, already has reasonable shelter, in a narrow alleyway between two buildings, protected from the direct force of the rising wind and driving rain.

Still out on the dock, Aaron grits his teeth as the weather bears down on him.  The rain is ice cold now, blasting in from the ocean, and the wind carries salt and flecks of sea foam with it.

Back near the boat, Will and Jer watch Tahirah, wondering just how she can stand out in the teeth of the gathering storm, seemingly without the slightest concern for the elements.