The Princess Bides (Reena)

Princess Valentine goes into a quick conference with Sister Nadia and with the Captain when returns. Meanwhile, the Trump message from cousin Mint is oddly distorted, with the equivalent of static. They can communicate, but with some difficulty.

If Reena answers the call, she sees Mint in some strange oddly lit Castle. A flash of red lightning appears out a Window behind her.

Mint says. "... and blast something's... this too. I'll... again later cousin. You can try... me if you... it will help."

Unless Reena responds quickly she will see another flash of red lightning and the contact will break from Mint's end at that point.

If Reena refuses the call it goes away fairly quickly and she hears and sees none of that.

With Valentine in conference with the sister Reena has the time to take Mint's Trump call.

"Mint, cousin where are you?" the distortion seems to be blocking communication through the contact. "Here's my hand come through if you will."

Mint seems unable to hear or unwilling to respond to Reena's offer to come through to Fjordheim.

Once the connection is broken Reena pulls out her Trump deck and shuffles through looking for Mint's card.

First Bleys falls and now Mint is under attack. Someone seems to be intent on thinning our ranks.

Reena wrote:"Mint, cousin where are you?" the distortion seems to be blocking communication through the contact. "Here's my hand come through if you will."

Mint does say a slight bit more in response before ending the contact. "I'm... Not safe to... you through."

Finding Mint's card Reena holds it forth and concentrates attempting to restore contact with her cousin. If the attempt is unsuccessful she will try to contact Aiden with his trump.

Now sitting in a darkened corner of the main room, Aiden opens himself to the contact........

"Reena!", Aiden says, perhaps a little louder than he meant to. Looking around to make sure he isn't the object of anyone's direct attention, he continues more softly.

"It has indeed been too long, love. I hope you've been causing your fair share of mischief and mayhem in the mean time." .... Aiden's eyes are smiling.

"Let me guess, nefarious strangers, unlooked for allies, ruined Shadows, mysterious occurances, all surrounding a family of Pattern intitates whose emblem is a crimson unicorn? I was wondering if you were involved somehow."

"Seems all the rest of the Family is too. Speaking of which, I've stumbled upon some new cousins, one of which is with me right now. I'm currently on my own investigation in a Shadow called Nexus. At the moment, weve stopped for the night at an inn not far from a city called Haven which is our destination."

"I can bring you through if you like. Might be good to exchange information. I could use a few more puzzle pieces."

"That's some good guessing. I didn't know that they had walked the Pattern but at least some of them can draw Trumps. It seems they have all the family secrets.

"I'm in a place called Uberwald and kind of tied up in something so I can't come through now. Maybe when things get sorted out here I'll call you. Or come on over when the Nexus job is done.

"It looks like Bleys arrived here just before me and has fallen so keep your guard up. And be careful around people with dual-colored eyes."

She gives her brother a smile and a wave then breaks the connection. If he gets all big brothery and protective he might have tried to pull me through to his side. Best to cut the link before he gets the chance.

As Reena finished her Trump conversation, she sees a carriage has arrived outside the tavern, surrounded by Guards. Valentine rises with Sister Nadia's help. "Reena of Amber," she says, "if you would please accompany me?" She then heads for the carriage.

"After you, Val." she says.

And once we are in the carriage I'll be able to question you about what's happening to the family. And you better have some good answers for me.

The carriage looks quite sturdy, if not large. Apart from the driver, there's really only room for two adults. However mounted Guardsmen ride on each side, behind and in front. Valentine sits across from Reena. The carriage takes off a steady clip.

The way Valentine looks at Reena reminds her of a chess master watching for her opponent's next move, or an excellent card player giving away nothing while incredibly aware of everything in the vicinity. Were she not so badly shaken and hurt, Reena realizes even that much might not have been so obvious. No surprise. This lady is a royal princess, as well as evidently a voyager through Shadow and won the affections of this Fernand person. What are the odds of her being a fool, or even only above average?

Suddenly, Reena notices something. The bruise above Princess Valentine's eye is smaller.

A fast healing bunch, aren't they? If I have to kill them then a stab in the heart should overcome any regenerating they can do.

Reena stretches her back and tries to settle into the carriage seat as best she can while still being in a position to act if they are attacked. She rests her scabbarded sword across her knees and flexes her hands around the grip trying to gain familiarity with the weapon.

"Valentine I have some questions for you. We are not the only ones under assault at this time; members of my family scattered about Shadow are also defending themselves from unknown forces. Your answers may give me the information I need to save us all. Will you answer my questions?"

Valentine looks directly at Reena and answers almost instantly. "If I may." It seems a very precise answer. And although clearly tired, the Princess remains very alert.

"Good. My first question: On a hill overlooking Fjordheim is the palace home of Fernand, a man who holds you in quite high regard, I might add, and in the tallest tower of that palace he keeps a deck of cards containing the images of many people. Are you one of the people whose likeness is shuffled into the deck?"

"No."

"I see. Sorry, but maybe I should have first asked if you know of this deck, or it's type, and if you know why the cards are backed with an image of a red unicorn?"

Princess Valentine doesn't blink. "Yes, yes, and yes."

Through the window of the carriage Reena recognizes the road they now turn upon. She herself walked down this same road over an hour ago. It lead from Fernand's stronghold. Sure enough, the carriage begins its ascent.

"Not to my knowledge," is her answer. "Although all the noble families of Uberwald live longer and heal faster than common folk. Some believe us descended from Oberon one way or another, but there's no evidence of it. And believe me, people have looked."

Princess Valentine nods. "There is nowhere nearby safer. Now, kindly answer a question or two in return. Under what precise circumstances did you come to know Prince Fernand?"