Into The Woods (Mint, the Kier)

Mint arches an eyebrow when Kierenne refers to the Unicorn as mythic.

"In my own small way I follow in the footsteps of Prince Benedict. He understands that one may not both serve the king and rule. By renouncing my claim to the throne, however slight, I have removed the conflict of interest in serving his Royal Highness, King Random. In the highly unlikely event of the death or disappearance of twenty or thirty powerful immortals I suspect that I will have more to worry about than sitting the throne."

Mint actually smirks at that thought.

"If I find myself the eldest someday then I will embrace the role Benedict has now. The realm will not founder for want of my posterior on the throne. In the nearly worst of scenarios, should none survive save me, then my children shall become kings and queens since I did not renounce their rights, only and always my own."

"Some would argue that there is no conflict. You all obey the throne itself. It bids the King to rule, and he does. It bids you to obey the King's rule, and you do. I do not doubt that if faced with the choice, Benedict would step forward to impose order on the kingdom rather than let the whole thing fall apart. He may call himself regent; he may later abdicate when your own children are of age, but he would do the throne's bidding."

"But I suggest we all take advantage of the peace offered by King Random's rule to begin work spawning our replacements."

"That requires a man. You would think with all the men in the army and the rangers that I would have to beat them off with a stick, but I don't have even one good candidate. Do you think men feel intimidated by a woman who can kill them with her pinky?"

"Never underestimate the value of a masquerade ball in facilitating anonymous encounters. As long as I treated the men delicately, they never knew the difference."

"However, if you're looking for a mate worthy of your time, I can guarantee that my brother finds women of our caliber to be the only ones worthy of his attention. You would find his fervor quite refreshing, if local males are intimidated by you."

Turning to gaze at Mint "All the others are so fragile. Mayhap one of Oberon's blood would prove more, resilient."

Mint scrunches her nose.

"Aunt Fi, would you explain the concept of incest to my cousins?"

Oh, not this nonsense again. "Yes, we're both curious what it is, but nobody will tell us."

Will no one speak their mind?

"From your intonation of the word, you find it unseemly, or worse."

Fiona's eyes glitter at Mint's words.

"It refers to intimate relations between those of very close blood. Many cultures consider it taboo, mostly because it restricts a family from expanding outward, bringing in new property and contacts. Still others forbid it because it sometimes leads to the sexual abuse of children." She smiles as if warming to a particular subject. "But of course many civilizations exempt the ruling class from such strictures, in full or in part. The most fascinating case I ever came across involved a ruling dynasty where marriage between siblings was the norm. As a result all traits, good and bad, were reinforced generation after generation. They even had a saying--each time one of the royal family was born, the gods would flip a coin, and wait in terror to see if landed heads or tails. Or in their case, crown or dragon. Made for some fascinating history books!"

Kierenne listens intently, then looks at Mint. "Oh, so... Kieran and I..." She looks at her brother, then turns to Fiona. "Wait, is this for husbandry purposes? Breeding nobles like prize animals? Hah. And I suppose this extends to dalliances where no offspring are achieved, even though the core reasoning is moot?" She sighs, and grips her brother's hand.

"So then, what does the culture of Amber consider 'too close blood'? Siblings? Half-cousins? Great-half uncle? Only people of other humanoid races, like the King and his mermaid bride?" Clearly, she's resisting having another fit, and she squeezes Kieran's hand even harder to stay in control.

"We grew up in very different cultures." Mint says gently. "Where I grew up, anyone who shared a grandparent was forbidden. That in and of itself doesn't make my world better or worse than yours, just different. I don't know where Amber draws the line. I heard that King Oberon forbade incest, but I don't even know that to a certainty."

Mint looks to Fiona for further clarification.

"Does any of that even apply to our family? There has never been a time before Oberon... are there concerns with recessive traits with the third generation from creation itself? The blood of Amber is strong and pure. And THAT only matters if you're trying to breed children."

In a much quieter voice, "I just want someone who won't break when I climax."

Fiona sighs, although exactly what she means by it is is anything but clear. "Father forbade marriage between any of his children. He never explained why. My own suspicion? He just didn't want that extra level of intrigue within the family." She give a particular look to the Kier. "He didn't exactly have a fine record when it came to his own forays into wedded bliss. Random hasn't changed those rules, but then no one ever asked him to. Hasn't come up. Were Deirdre still with us, and Corwin managed to get her to accept a marriage proposal, would Random have refused to sanction it?" She shrugs. "No idea."

By now the carriage has found its way to a familiar-looking courtyard. Liveried servants appear to open the carriage. A robed individual with graying hair, clad in blues and greens and with a heavy golden chain of office approaches. He bows to all four, frankly giving an extra look or two towards the masked newcommers. He introduces himself as Rodrigo, Chamberlain to Amber's King. The King and Queen are most anxious to meet their newly found kin and if all will kindly follow him?

Behind her mask, Kierenne makes a So THERE! face at Mint, before exiting the coach and following Rodrigo.

Oberon's children were forbidden. Nothing about the rest of us.

Exiting the carriage holding his twins hand, he continues the conversation.

"Aunt Fiona, the reasons for not breeding true would be due to defects and recessive genes."

Walking in sync with Kierenne looking at his twin still "Otherwise there would be stories of those who tried walking the pattern and were destroyed by it, even though they possess the blood of Oberon."

"It would seem that the bloodline is diluting. Oberon, begat your generation, which was half his true blood and half from Shadow. Our generation is a quarter of Oberon's blood and more mixed. Our prowess while still surpassing those of Shadow are still beneath those of your generation dear Aunt."

Stroking his twins hand as he warms to the subject, "Unless you reinforce the bloodline of Amber, soon one of your grandchildern or their spawn will try the pattern and fail due to dilution."

Glancing at Fi then back to his upset twin, "Unless those stories are hidden. In which case those who walk the pattern are left to chance."

"Although if even a drop of Oberon's blood is enough, what negative reinforcement would the blood of Oberon have due to breeding true? It would only make truer stronger Amberites."

"While our expanded life span may make such an idea seem trivial. Our father, and even Mint's it seems show that an eternity to live, isn't always forever."

Such sillyness they have. Love is never wrong.

That could have gone far worse. I'm more than happy to have the Kier think me an old fuddy-duddy as long as they stop propositioning me.

Mint exits the coach and follows Rodrigo.

"I have heard stories..." Mint says quietly.

Rodrigo makes his way through the hallways of Castle Amber, carefully keeping his pace in time with those he escorts. "Call me sentimental if you will," he says amiably, "but the thought of Prince Eric having children, and their coming here, pleases me in very many ways."

Soon enough, the part reaches a set of doors which Rodrigo opens. Mint of course recognizes this as a kind of minor throne room--one of a series of meeting chambers and apartments that surround the main throne room. Stained glass windows make up one side of the room, depicting the unicorn, the castle, Arden, ships at sea, a bearded warrior (Oberon) slaying some kind of monster.

At the far end of the room are two thrones. Each would look like straightforward (albeit very high quality) highback chairs were it not for the gold inlay. Seated there are two individuals. One is a blond man in autumnal colors. The other, a dark-haired woman in deep red whose eyes focus on nothing at all. They are holding hands, and rise as one.

"Welcome," says King Random, and laughs slightly. "We've never had twins in the family before! And clearly you like to play that for all it is worth!" If anything he sounds pleased. He looks between the two newcommers. "I can't tell you apart," he admits.

Queen Vialle smiles. "Welcome to Amber, children of Eric. May this place become your home."

"

Upon entering the presence of the King, Mint kneels and bows deeply, her forehead nearly touching the floor in deference to his rank. Then she stands once more in deference to his preference for informality.

Rodrigo wrote:"Call me sentimental if you will," he says amiably, "but the thought of Prince Eric having children, and their coming here, pleases me in very many ways."

Kierenne thinks to herself, That's KING Eric, cretin. but she has the... let's call it wisdom... to keep this to herself.

As she is introduced to the King, she bows low (never curtseys). "Perhaps this will make it easier, your Highness." She touches her mask, and the face on it changes to something entirely different from what Kieran is wearing.



"I am Kierenne, child of Eric. This is my brother Kieran."

"Should we take pains to be more dissimilar?"

KING Eric...

Bow with my sister, but retain my current look.

Playing? Is this another reference to this incest thing they are uptight about?

"Greetings, King Random, and to you, Queen Vialle."

OOC: While Mint is present, she will likely remain silent so feel free to let the conversation flow between the Kier, Random, Vialle, and Fiona without waiting for a contribution from me unless someone specifically addresses Mint.

King Random smiles. "That is quite sufficient, I should think." He rings a small bell next to his throne. A servant appears from behind a curtain. "Some chairs for our guests. After all, how often to we get to meet new family?" The servant leaves promptly.

"Rather more often than we thought possible, at least of late," says Vialle. "Kierenne, Kieran--two other cousins have come to our attention recently. One very recently. In fact, our plan was for a welcoming ball in several days, for both Winnow and Fergus. We hope you two will also agree to be guests of honor as well? Less pressure on everyone--and will give you a chance to visit Rebma as well, my homeland."

The name Fergus is entirely new as far as Mint is concerned.

"Oh dear," sighs Fiona, as servants bring enough chairs for everyone--almost identical to the thrones, but lacking the gold inlay. "Does that mean we'll have to endure Sister Insipid as well?"

"My sister," says Random to the Kier, "is a lady of great power and qualities. Her wisdom and self control, alas, only sometimes apply to her speech." He glances at Fiona. "Sister Mircalla is leaving for home before then."

Aunt Fiona has had better control than me. I wish I could be more like her... even her losses of control show her in a strong light.

"Oh, I'm almost as interested in Rebma as I am in Amber. I only heard about it just now from our Lady Aunt, but it seems like the Shadow Kier... a place where people have carved out a place to live from the inhospitable environment around them."

"Would you tell me about it, Majesty?", she asks sheepishly.

"Oh," says Vialle, "we did not carve Rebma out of anything. When my sea-dwelling ancestors found it, ages ago, it existed as it does now--a twin of Castle Amber under the waves. Indeed, we dwelt there generations before Amber even learned of our existence--followed not long after by the discovery of Rebma's inherent magic. Namely, that people such as yourself can breathe there as well as we naturally can. Physically, Rebma is an identical copy of this castle, down to every door and turret."

"And and exact duplicate of the Pattern, in precisely the same place as the one here," added Random.

"One I fear that claimed a rather large number of Rebman lives before finally convincing them only one bloodline dare touch it," said Fiona. "Sad, really."

"Very," agreed Vialle.

"The magic allowing airbreathers to survive is just a part of the place? Nobody keeps those enchantments active? Amazing. Does anybody know how?"

"Oh... they have their own Pattern? But not Oberon's blood to walk it. Why did they even try, then? The Golden Circle can be walked by foot, without any of Oberon's blood. Why send so many good sons and daughters to their death for a power like that?"