When last we met: Dalena was staying the night in the White Rose Inn in Amber. Ronan was at the Surf Shop. Kira is in the Castle, talking to Brand whilst painting in her studio. Erin is somewhere dry heaving (Thermalfyre).

Brand is being painted by Kira, as he is also painting. He wanted to see her technique… his flair is dramatic, high contrast. Kira considers it a little over zealous. Her own style is more refined, sophisticated. Brand is obviously trying to be friendly with Kira … and is doing so competently. He wants to make a good impression. They chat about Chaos, what it's like … the Ways, the Turnings, the way bits of shadows are stitched together, without much consistency. "It takes a lot of getting used to, but you manage." How is the politics? "Endless." They talk the differences between Amber and Chaos kingship, ruling, occupation, the Oleai, and how things all fit together. They chat, chat, chat.

NEXT DAY

Dalena and Bleys have breakfast down at the White Rose. They talk about the surprising situation which has cropped up, and what Bleys has by way of backing for the throne. He has the Castle Guard, his charm and a boat load of enemies. She tells him that one way he can get the Oleai army is if he can tie Brand to Daron. The Oleai would support him if he showed support for the Oleai. Bleys says that he'll try to make the evidence as "authentic" as possible. Helmwind would be a independent state. They have an agreement.

Ronan trumps Erin. They talk about Brand, and Bleys and the current political situation. Erin asks what Ronan's up to for the day, and Ronan thinks he'll go talk to Brand. Erin is going to talk to Llewella.

Kira goes down for breakfast. Sitting there, amongst a small army of attendants is Florimel. She's back for the funeral. During the conversation, Dalena is pronounced to be headstrong … the point and shoot variety (in context of dealing with the Sisterhood), whereas there are perhaps, other ways of working with the sisterhood. Flora is arranging the Funeral preparations. Kira says that she's going to go check on the Sisters situation … and Flora tells her that she probably doesn't have to worry about it for tomorrow. They no longer feel invulnerable, and there's too much going on. Kira then goes down to visit Benedict to see what she can do to help with tomorrow, and he suggests going down to the City to do talky things with the nobles and city officials.

Ronan goes to find Brand, who isn't difficult to find. Brand is finishing up breakfast, and they agree to meet in the War Room after Brand is done there.

Erin trumps Llewella, and gets pulled through to Rebma. Llewella's antechamber is somewhat messy … she's been busy since Amber's descent into mayhem and kinglessness. She's waiting to see how the whole Brand/Bleys thing works out … she figures Bleys will shiv Brand first, then Brand will retaliate, then armies will become involved and Amber will burn to the ground, but that's okay because it always comes back. Erin asks about the Pattern Blades … Llewella didn't make hers. Corwin BSd about his being made. That leaves Brand's sword Weirwindle. Llewella says it probably went into the Abyss with the rest of him. Then they talk dish … Who is Dalena backing? Blah blah blah.

Dalena goes back to Helmwind, changes her clothes and talks to the prisoners. They were all formatted by someone not using Pattern or Logrus. Erin comes through to check it out: They were minding their own business, then were trumped, then they were raving fanatics. Bing bang boom. Erin erases the compulsion and the last month from the five of the prisoners. Dalena plans on releasing them into Shadow.

Erin trumps Raphaella, and asks if she has time for a talk. They agree to meet in Thermalfyre.

Dalena receives a Trump from Bleys.

Kira receives a trump call from Ronan. They're going to try to Trump spy on one of the Sisters. Kira has the trump sketch of Sister Decay. They meet at the castle, and Ronan gives a brain-dump of Sister Desire, who may be dead. Kira is going to try to spy on Decay. They trump Dalena to provide Vitae back up … go out to Shadow where the waves arrive faster.

Kira sees a woman riding on her horse, and thinks it's Decay, riding through the countryside. She's dressed in normal riding clothes, not her ceremonial tatters. Decay goes though a village, looks at the well for a long time then rides on.

Erin trumps Raphaella now that she's in Thermalfyre and pulls her through. They talk about Brand's Logrus Blade … very rare. Only very powerful Houses. "Is Brand part of a powerful house?" Salath. Old house, not important so much. Top of medium house. Still great house, not big house. Raphaella says that the old house gave away the sword because it was more trouble than it was worth … everyone wants it., powerful. The sword has an agenda… whispering, guiding, suggesting. But a strong mind can withstand it. Raphaella takes Erin's shoe and opens a gate to who-know-where with it. Erin tosses away the matching pump - broken pair!

Ronan is meeting Brand at 4:00. They go over the info about the Sisters' stronghold to the North. Brand asks intelligent questions, and is genuinely interested. Ronan tells him about the trump spying on Decay, his assumption that the well was up north … Brand wants more intel and offers to Logrus shield anyone who goes up there.

Ronan trumps Dalena to ask if either she or Galen want to go up to the North during the funeral to spy on the Sisters. Both decline, but Marcus agrees to go.

Kira has dinner with Flora. She's delighted to have dinner with her daughter. General chit chat. Flora's take on the whole political situation. Benedict, Brand and Bleys will take care of the Sisters, that's what they do. Brand will try something subtle. Bleys would try something, but he doesn't have an army.

Dalena does skulking around Brand's room. He doesn't use servants, and no one brings him bathwater. His room is shielded.

NEXT MORNING

Ronan goes to Brand to get his Pattern Shield. He gets his gear and meets Marcus at the gate and they go riding north. This takes most of the day.

Erin heads to Amber to find out if Brand is going to wear his Logrus sword to the funeral. She goes to find Kira. They talk about Brand's sword and Erin's barf trigger and the sword's agenda. Kira says she'll talk to Brand about it but suggests that Erin go talk to Flora. Mum and daughter chat. Hug hug, kiss, kiss. They talk about the Bleys/Brand thing. Flora chastises Erin for random acts of experimentation.

Kira goes to talk to Brand about Erin's issue with the Logrus sword, and asks if he could either keep away from Erin with it, or store it somewhere safe. Brand feels that the funeral may be a lightening rod for the Sisters, and would like to keep it close by.

Erin goes to Church.

Dalena and Galen and the kids wear their Oleai armor and travel in a pack.

Funeral for Random and Vialle. Some sincerity from Fiona, Dalena, Gerard and Kira. Everyone else is a set pieces. Reception! The Oleai change from their armor into regular clothes. The kids agree to be good. Everyone else changes attire as well, and makes it down to the hall.

Ronan and Marcus make it to the hinterlands. Ronan does the "we're no one important" vibe to obscure their passing. The people are depressed but going about their business. There is a rough hewn altar in the center of the town. It's a dark horse. The villagers bow to it as they pass by, as do Ronan and Marcus, because it's what one does there.

Reception. Erin and Dalena and Galen stone wall the speculation about the kingship. The Pontifex talks to Erin … he's on a pharmacological cocktail. Dalena is called over and does a blood sample, then is stranded with him talking of heathens and horses.

Erin talks to Brand. She just wanted to say Hello. Then asks how long he was in Chaos. Three hundred years, Amber time. Chaos time runs much faster. She then asks if he feels he has his feet under him now … "Am I stable?" he replies. "Well, yes." Of course he gives a less than straight, though generally positive answer.

Then Erin talks to Bleys. Chat chat. Then she asks Gerard about his time with the Sisters.

The reception goes well enough then meanders down. Kira talks to Flora about the ghosts and the automobile, and the walking suit of armor.

Dalena says ta to her family, then explores the castle looking for the Hall of Mirrors. She sees shadowy faces behind her reflection. One of the Sisters appears saying "You're running out of time." Then the Dark Brother shows up, as Dworkin, then turns into himself and talks to Dalen about her potential… She's be made an offer to be the best Dalena she can be. After the talk, Dalena goes straight to Brand. Hi, Brand, can I borrow your sw….? Your sword? Because …. . Brand does a bit of (quite a bit of?) a mind ream, and reprograms her to have the sword "Take it down to Fiona and leave it on her doorstep. She'll know it's there." Dalen takes it and runs. Dominion finally shows up, takes the sword and makes Dalena stay put. Once the geas wears off, Dalena runs after her but can't catch her.

Up north, the citadel is totally destroyed, though the "dark and creepy" ick is still all over the area. They go to the next monastery in the north … and the dark creepy is there too. Ronan does his excorporeal thing and goes through the wall. He feels something trap or ward-like trip, then he tries to book out, but is caught. There is a force field/ward surrounding the room. Decay "listens" and tries to catch Ronan. She throws a soul shredding spell to weaken the bond between him and his body. Ronan distracts her by psychically pinging against the wall. He then tries to psychically dominate her doing damage. She finds his cord and weakens it … Marcus shadows in, envelopes Decay "Not today, Sister." until she releases Ronan and they flee. Marcus and Ronan talk.

NEXT MORNING

Ronan gets back and talks to Benedict about the issue up north, but doesn't mention Marcus.

Dalena gets back to Helmwind and sleeps with the promise of pancakes when she awakes.

Ronan talks to Erin about Marcus. Who to tell, when to tell them.

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