Chapter Four
First Impressions

I returned to the corridor once again, and began looking for ways to the bottom floor. I came upon a staircase, a linear, descending staircase. This place was really giving me the creeps. I made my way downstairs, and I was beginning to get a feel for exactly how huge this castle really was. It was a lot of space to put all in one place. I felt another nasty headache coming on, trying to deal with all these stairs and walls and doors and windows that were just there and non-mobile. It felt like the world kept getting stuck and freezing that way.
While I wandered around trying to acclimate to the place, I stumbled into a downstairs (I think) room that seemed to be a seriously impressive library. I'll say this, these people are potentially well read. I think even Suhuy would approve of their study opportunities. What really caught my eye was a case made of glass, and containing several very old looking, beautiful decks of trump. I drooled. Looking at the case, I noticed it was locked, big surprise there, but also it made my scalp itch. Suspiciously, I called up the Sign and peered at it cautiously. The resulting headache I suuposed I deserved, but yes, the thing was lousy with magical forces, and gave me a severe ache behind my eyes. I could only assume it was some sort of Pattern-based sorcery. Not something I wished to mess around with. Serpent knows what sort of alarms or damage I'd trigger. Sighing, I left the library and resumed my random wanderings about the castle. Finally, I gave up wandering and found a servant to take me to the rooms I had tried to examine last night.
When we got there, the room was still destroyed, guess the cleaning crew didn't get here yet. I summoned up the Logrus again, noting again how difficult that was around here.Cautiously, I began scanning the room in small bits, trying not to overload again. By the door into the next room, I saw a swirling grey mist, with tendrils leaking out and down. The tendrils (hmmm, could this be related to the Fiona thing?) led into that bright hole in the floor. Shielding my vision and looking at it very gradually, I was finally able to see the hole. Bright light and rainbow color poured out. This wasn't like anything I'd ever seen before. Uncertain what to do, I stood for a moment and considered if I should try to contact Random about this. I also considered probing the hole with a Logrus tendril, but was hesitant because of last night's experience. I also wasn't sure what Raven thought of that idea, but before I could ask him, I was rudely interrupted.
From out of the hole, I saw a pair of hands emerge, followed by a tall, thin blond haired creature. Male or female, I wasn't sure. As I leaned in the doorway to watch this performance, several more climbed up through the hole. I noted that one of them was completely clad in platemail, something I regard as highly unwieldy and clumsy. I watched as they began excitedly discussing how they could now get here and there, and I decided these must be the suspects. The first, as I mentioned, was quite tall, with an impressive cascade of blond hair.
S/he was also androgynous to the point of complete anonymity. Behind her was a man, average height with a strong but wiry build, dark haired, in a robe-length tunic and colored vest. Then came a particularily strange being, clad head to toe in what appeared to be high-tech platemail, armored most likely, and dark in color. The last was a fairly non-descript guy with a scowling yet puzzled expression. Well, I always did hate wasting time.
"Who are you?" I asked. I assume this startled them, due to the fact that they spun around suddenly. I gathered they were not expecting company.
The willowy blond flounced happily up to me, "I'm Timtallagay, nice to meet you, and who are you?"
Um. I don't think it breathed. I decided to ignore the happy thing in my face, and turned to the one in the dress.
"What's your name?" I asked. He regarded me suspiciously.
"Injarda-o", he answered. Armor-boy piped up with the who-are-you-to-be-asking-us-questions routine, and finished with the infamous what are you doing in our room number. Now I know who thinks they're important. The non-descript guy just stood and glared around.
Fixing the armored suit with my favorite I hate politics stare, I told him "Random sent me to investigate this. What's your name?"
"Random sent you and you don't know our names?" he shot back.
Ack. Good point. Don't argue with this one. New tack.
"What is going on here?" I asked.
"Well, what's your name?" one of the other guys wanted to know. I hate these games.
"I'm investigating the murder of Prescott" I continued with a frown. "I'd like to hear your stories". Ah, that got a response from them.
"Oh that" Timtallagay said.
Injarda-o snorted "I'll bet you'd like to hear my story, everybody does. I'm not telling it again".
Mr. Armor suit was starting in again demanding who I was. I decided a new tack, maybe it would shut him up. Turning to face him, I answered, "I'm investigating the murder on Merlin's behalf, so I suggest you cooperate if you want your names cleared."
"I wasn't aware I'd been formally charged", he said, "I wasn't there. And I thought you said Random sent you."
By the Serpent's Eye, is HE annoying! "Merlin sent me to investigate, Random sent me to see you" I explained, very patiently I thought.
"Oh goody!" exclaimed Timtallagay, "We wanted to speak to Merlin about this. Can we see him?"
They must be joking. "I'm looking into this for him. Why don't you tell me what happened?" I repeated.
Remind me never to say that anywhere near Timtallagay again. He told me his version, in 13 million words or less, and I still have no idea how he was involved with Prescott, except that they were both at one point at the same table in a bar, discussing some lengthy test and theory of Timtallagay's about color and the distance of shadow from Amber. Whatever.
I spoke with these people at some length., but I have never met a more disagreeable, obnoxious, argumentive bunch as these outside of relatives! I couldn't get anything useful out of them, and they seemed even more distrustful then I would have credited Amberites being. I eventually learned that the armored suit was a semi-biological android creature named 01, and pronounced Owen. Cute. His belligerent buddy was called Tekvar, a random nuisance from a strange shadow that his explanations of made sound more confused than, pardon the term, chaos.
Finally, getting nowhere of any merit, I decided to borrow the library's edition of Brand's version of the Patternfall Saga (having already read Corwin's ramblings) and retire to my room to read for a while. I needed a break from this rampant stupidity.
I stopped one of the numerous servents on the way back to my rooms, asking for an audience with Random. He informed me that Random was not available, but I could see Queen Vialle. Why not? He bid me wait in my quarters until such audience was available, and escorted me there. Less than thrity minutes had passed when he knocked again, saying the Queen would see me now. Heh, now there's something much different than home.
I was led to Queen Vialle's rooms and ushed in. The rooms were lovely, decorated in taste and style. Even Mandor would have liked this, and that's saying something. The Queen sat on a divan, before a low table spread lavishly with crackers, cheeses, meats and fruits. Several goblets stood near a few open bottles. One classy lady, this.
She turned her head as I entered, 'looked' right at me and smiled.
"You are Merlin's sister Corvina? Please, come in." Ah, Merlin's sister. The identity marker of my life. Sigh. But she was most courteous. Habit found me starting to kneel, when I remembered in confusion she would not see it. I had almost forgotten she was blind, she certainly hid it well.
"Your Majestey" I answered politely.
"Please, sit Corvina" she offered graciously. Her voice was soft and lilting. "What can I help you with?"
"Queen Vialle, I camd to ask for assistance with my investigative efforts" I told her. She frowned slightly, but on her it was pleasant. "You are referring to the murder of Prescott."
"Yes Ma'am" I answered. "I find it is difficult to inquire into this matter without the ability to reach certain parties for information. I would like permission, if it is possible, to borrow from the library certain Trumps that would facilitate the process."
She shook her head slowly "I'm sorry, but that would have to be approved drectly by Random, and I'm afraid he isn't here right now. You may try asking some of the others, Flora is around and Julian should be here soon"
I grimaced. "I don't believe I've gotten off on very good footing with Julian, he doesn't seem to like me much."
"Oh" she said, surprised, "you've already met?"
"I ran across his hunting party in forest Arden on my way here" I explained.
She nodded sagely. "He's like that in the forest, very authoritative. Don't take it personally. But" she continued, "Flora is about somewhere, perhaps she would be able to help you."
I nodded slowly, that might be an option. Vialle seemed to study my general area for a moment.
She smiled slightly to me. "Did not Merlin provide you with sufficient resources?" she asked delicately.
Great. I has no wish to be ungracious in return to this Lady, but I hate looking stupid. Sigh.
"I'm afraid not fully" I muttered. "When would I be able to speak with the King?"
She shrugged lightly, but did not manage to hide faint worry lines about her mouth. "I cannot say. He is our of contact, and no-one knows where he went. He did not leave a message before he vanished. In fact, you're the last person he saw before he did dissapear." I almost choked. I hope that ring wasn't the cause. This, however, was not welcome news, and looked very bad for me.
"Oh?" I managed to comment.
"I'm afraid so" she replied politely. There was a bit of silence, until she gestured at the table before her. "Would you care for some refreshment?"
"Thank you your Majesty" I said kindly, "but I fear I must decline your gracious hospitality. I should continue my inventigations as soon as possible."
"Of course" she smiled at me as if this were somewhat amusing, "if I can be of any assistance, please let me know."
I gritted my teeth. First I was Merlin's little sister, now I was ever so vaguely cute as I tried so hard to do this stupid job. Heh.
"Thank you" I told her, bowing politely, and left.

Out in the hallway, I questioned servants as to Flora's whereabouts. I was led to the top floor of the castle, where a great deal of construction seemed to be going on. Towards the middle of the clatter stood a drop-dead gorgeous woman, hands critically posed on her hips, that could only be the Princess Flora. Wow, the pictures were not an exaggeration, she was amazingly lovely. I wandered up fairly close so she would hear me over the din, but not close enough to startle or be invasive.
"Excuse me, Flora?" I called.
She turned slightly, and regarded me appraisingly. A slightly annoyed look passed across her features. "What? I'm busy."
"Queen Vialle told me you may be able to assist me" I said, hoping the name dropping would have some positive effect. "I'm Corvina, Merlin's sister."
"Yes?" She didn't look very impressed. Ah well.
"Well" I plunged on, now that I was here "I've been investigating the death of Merlin's son, Prescott, and I had inquired of Queen Vialle the possibility of obtaining from the library certain trumps to assist me?"
"So what do you want from me?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at me.
"Well, only Random can approve that, and he's not available, so the Queen thought you might be able to assist...." It trailed off under that haughty gaze.
"What, you want mine?" Her laugh was like the peels of a silver bell, much nicer than the expression on her face. "No. Now leave me alone" she concluded.
With that she turned back to supervising the construction work. Face burning, I left. Nice family, this.
I wandered back downstairs, looking about distractedly, when I had the great fortune to once again run into Julian. I decided bringing up trumps was out of the question.
"So, you weren't lying, I guess" he opened up a dialogue with a sneer.
I glared at him "I guess not."
He shrugged, as if the subject bored him.
"Julian" I said on an impulse, "I ran into something bizarre between Arden and here I thought might interest you."
He looked at me as if I was a vague nuisance. "And what would that be?"
I related to him the odd version of Fiona, and what had occured between us.
If possible, he got more bored. "So, why should I care?"
"Thought you might be interested in wierd things near the forest, or if something was going on with Fiona or whatever" I tried.
He snorted. "No. Is that all?"
"Yeah" I mumbled. Julian turned and wandered away, and I found myself disliking this whole situation more and more. Rounding up yet another servant, I got directions back to my quarters.

Sitting back in my room, I started thinking about this whole trip. I was so mad I could spit. Not to mention, I hated it here. A lot. I don't know why I thought Amber would be different. It definately isn't. Oh sure, I got the minimal expected amount of courtesy - oh look, Merlin's little sister, isn't that cute. The only reason I even got the time of day is because my brother is somebody important. That's been my whole damn life. Someone I happen to be related to is too important to ignore, so I get noticed as an incidental consequence of their value.
Random barely even spoke to me. Julian first called me a liar and tried to kill me, now he's just mocking me, big improvement there. Flora looked at me like I was a rather uninteresting bug, right before she totally brushed me off. Vialle even acted like I was ever so vaguely humerous. I'd go home, if I had any idea how. Not that it's so much better there, but at least I can get FAKE courtesy from the kiss-ups!
And I've gotten stuck out here investigating the death of nephew Prescott, whom I barely even knew well in the first place. I found the murder suspects, who are idiots, and 2 of them didn't even know who Prescott was. Out of the 4, only ONE, Timtallagay, is Pattern attuned. I think Timtallagay is female, but don't quote me on that one. The other 3 seem to be here vaguely incidentally. Injarda-o got trumped in by a teacher who's name he doesn't know, Tekvar Carn, who doesn't make any sense whatsoever, followed a knight on a horse (accidently through Shadow, I'm guessing), and the third one, 01, is a belligerant android that doesn't know who his creator is. This "highly competant" bunch of misfits supposedly murdered my nephew in an obscure shadow, and then fingered Corwin, Benedict and Lord Damarian for it. Yeah. Right.
And then there's my brother. After some 20-odd years, he FINALLY got around to mentioning that I bear a strong identical resemblance to my rumored father. Brand, he tells me. He could have picked Bleys. Nothing wrong with Bleys. But no. And so I can't even try to get help on this one. What do I do, walk up to a random (pardon the pun) member of the court of Amber and say, "Hey, you think I look like Brand? Gee, I don't know who my daddy is, any bets? What do you think, huh? huh? Oh yeah, by the way, I'd like to walk the Pattern...wanna teach me?" Oh yeah, that would go over real big.
So I looked through Brand's rooms at the castle. What did I find? Animated rope. And I read through Brand's chronicles of the period between Oberon's disappearance and the Patternfall Wars. What did I find? My potential closest relation was a psychotic meglomaniac.
Well no WONDER, if he grew up here, with relatives like these, anywhere HALF as ignored and laughed at as I am. If these miserable people ever treated him like they've been treating me, I really don't blame him. I can certainly understand wanting to blow up all your relatives. I feel that way at least once a day. Geesh!
All I really ever wanted was a family that gave a shit about where I was, or what I was doing, or even how I felt. Guess I was dreaming, thinking I'd find it out here. Poor Prescott. But at least someone cared that he was gone. Wow, if I got killed, I wonder if anyone would even bother to ask what happened?
And that stupid rope...I knew something like that from somewhere...damned if I could remember it right then, though.

Go on to Chapter Five

Return to Corvina's Journals Table of Contents

Return to Corvina's Court

Send a message to:
Lady Corvina I of the Courts of Chaos