Janessa shrugs. "I'm good to travel some more. Though I think we, or at least I, should stick around to get them set up with Mike, Cody, and my brothers."

The two of you agree to rest up, and to leave in a couple of days.

But...

...When the time comes... Jack decides to stay. It feels like someone's going to lose a finger if the new recruits aren't carefully watched with firearms, and Ralph's too busy making more money, hand over fist, to teach them properly, and Whitey and Petey aren't much help, and the construction crew needs supervision...

Jack says he wants to stay.

Janessa can't help but feel that the real reason is Jaranth...

But just when Jack says he wants to stay behind...

...A dove comes and lands on Janessa's shoulder.

"There's a dove on your shoulder," says Ralph, who was waiting to talk to Jack about a new investment opportunity.

Ralph lifts up his shades and squints. "...And it looks like it's got a note tied to its leg."

"Yes, it is." Janessa says, obviously confused. She pulls the paper from the leg.

Janessa unfolds it and reads it.

---

---

"Not really interested right now," says Jack. "How about you? Want to go meet more cousins?"

Janessa nods. "Yep. You're good here, and the family will be by to help if necessary." She smiles. "I'd like to spend more time with Uncle Random. Maybe get him to play me something on the drums." She looks the note over again. "Hmm. It doesn't say how to respond."

The dove coos, flaps vigorously a few times, and then takes off.

Less than half a minute later, a slightly larger dove appears... with a velvet rectangle tied to its leg.

The velvet turns out to contain... Ah-ha! A card!

The back of the card bears a white unicorn, rampant, on a green background.

The front of the card bears the image of a wily-looking little man, with a sharp nose and a laughing mouth and a shock of straw-colored hair. He wears orange, red and brown-- long hose, and a tight-fitting embroidered doublet.

https://pre00.deviantart.net/1...ry_proxy-d5ry27k.png

https://www.deviantart.com/cou...ber-Random-611698916

https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/...740_0d1932de2e_b.jpg

The card is a little cold to the touch.

It shouldn't be, but it is.

“Uncle Random.” Janessa says with a smile as she pulls the card out of the velvet. “Hmmm. Why is this cold?” She mutters. She sighs and steps into her house before attempting to make contact.

The contact is tenuous at first, but gets stronger the longer Janessa concentrates on it. "...Yes...?" she hears...

"Hello. This is Janessa. A Dove just dropped this off?" Janessa says to the voice.

"Ah. Yes. I wanted to see how you're getting along..."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:19, Mon 12 Apr 2021.

Janessa smiles. “I’m doing all right Uncle. No grey men attacking. Got things in motion to fortify my home.” As she talks she walks to her front porch and takes a seat. “So, aside from a check in, what do I owe the honor of a call from the King?” Janessa asks as she leans back in the rocking chair, a playful smirk on her face.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:19, Tue 13 Apr 2021.

"You have some new cousins here... and two (others) of them are from Earth, like you.

But they... often seem a little overwhelmed by Amber and the new perspective on themselves, their new extended family, and the universe that they've had to absorb. I thought that maybe meeting one more fellow Earth-raised cousin might help...?"

The corners of Janessa's mouth twitch as she fights to not smile, eventually loosing said battle. "More cousins and they're from here?" She smiles, brightly. "Of course I would love to meet them! Though, as I'm sure you remember, I didn't spend much time in Amber myself. Long enough to meet you and Aunt Vialle and wander around the castle a bit before walking the Pattern. Dad didn't want me out in the city, I think he was still trying to hide me from the other Aunts and Uncles." Janessa sighs, irritation about not seeing the city is clear in her voice. "But, now I can." She pushes a stray lock of copper hair out of her face. "So, if memory serves me correctly, I can just reach out and you can pull me through, right?"

"That's correct, if you're ready... if not, let me know, and you can contact me with the card when you are..."

Janessa stands. "I only need a few moments. Gotta text mom and let her know I'm goin off world." She steps inside. "I also need to make sure my backpack is packed. Is there anything in particular I should bring with me?" She asks as she moves around her house. She grabs her bag and takes it to the kitchen, tossing some snack food into it. She then walks back into the living room and opens the wall safe, removing a Japanese steel boot knife. She places it into the empty sheath in her boot. "Would you like any Earth snacks Uncle?" Janessa asks, refocusing on the card for a moment as she fishes her cellphone out of her pant pocket. Before he can answer, her focus shifts to her phone as she texts her mother.
 

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
"Heading to Amber. Not sure how long I'll be gone. Things are quite around here. Robert is using the barn loft and has permission to use my place."

---

She hits send and walks back to the kitchen. "Leaving a note for my brother and then I'm ready." Janessa writes on the white board: No Parties!!! I Will Know!!! She returns her focus. "Done."

"No, only what you want with you."



"Tempting, but no thank you."




Janessa focuses on the card, and Random becomes more clear, more three-dimensional, larger... He reaches out a hand... she takes it...

There is a shimmer, and then...

Janessa is still holding her uncle's hand, but they're outside a stable.

Janessa blinks a few times, willing her eyes to adjust to the new lighting before she pulls her Uncle in for a hug. "It's good to see you Uncle Random!" She takes a step back as she releases him and looks around. "How's Aunt Vialle?"

"Fine as always... And you-- any further signs of gray man trouble...?"

"Good, glad to hear!" She shakes her head. "No. Did meet some very large talking wolves when I was with the boys. They weren't very friendly. Shadow walking is still a work in progress, so that's lead to some interesting things." Janessa looks around the stables. "So, more cousins?"

Random arches an eyebrow. "Wolves, you say. ...Remind me-- have you met your uncle Julian yet...?"



"Yes... but now I'm torn about whether to have you talk to brother Julian about the wolves, or to go find him on my own while I have you meet a cousin or two..."

"I can't say I've met that one." Janessa says with a shrug. "I think meeting him and talking about the wolves would be important. One of them definitely has a vendetta against the family, she attacked me just for being related to the boys." She leans in and drops her voice to a whisper.  She steps back and gives her Uncle a moment to process.

"Mm. I see what you mean... Let me-- Ah, first, I forget, do you already have a guest room assigned to you, here...?"

Janessa nods. "Yep. You set on up for me the last time I was here. If my memory serves me correctly, it is near the Library."

"Ah, all right, good. Why don't you drop your stuff off there, and then meet me in the library in, ah, perhaps half an hour...?"

(Meet you in the library thread, UNLESS someone wants to run into you in the Halls of Amber thread first...?)

"Works for me! See you soon." Janessa says, giving him a quick hug before heading off to her room.

>>>>>>>>To her room and then the library