Exthian is led to a darkhaired lady with tan skin who has a natural grace,"This is Princess Zairya of Amber. She is Lord Mayor of the City." as Ferris introduces the two.

Zariya turns towards Exthian and Ferris, giving a pleasant smile to both of them. "Welcome to Amber, Exthian," she says, giving the barest suggestion of a curtsey. "I am pleased to meet you."

Exthian nodds back towards Zariya, taking the moment to take in the woman. Stunning, exotic, cold...magnificient. Exthian pushed the thoughts away and straightened back to his full heighth. "Do you never get tired of always being adressed and defined by your titles?"

Zariya blinks, and then smiles. "I am, in part, defined by those titles which His Majesty has graced me with," she replies after a moment. "Just as we both are defined by our parents, through what looks, allies, and enemies we inherit from them. My titles are not the whole of who I am, but they serve to define my role in Amber."

"Good response," Exthian admits to the lady before him. "But I am not so sure about being defined by my parents. So far I have yet to meet mine or even see a picture of him. The only thing I know of him is fairy tales and legends." Exthian stops for a moment as his mind turns. "And which elder is it that defines you?"

"My father is Caine; I believe you have met him already," Zariya replies. "As for your father, he is an enigma. From what I know--which is little enough--he keeps to himself and rarely, if ever, makes an appearance in Amber. I do, however, have a picture of him." From a fairly small handbag, she pulls out her set of Trumps, shuffles through until she finds Corwin's, then offers it to Exthian.

Exthian's face turns rigid at the mention of Caine, but he forces his feelings away. Taking the card, Exthian examines it for a moment, turning it in the light, then hands it back. "What is it about him that makes him such a riddle and a stranger to this place?"

Zariya takes the Trump back, and shuffles it into her deck. She then replaces the deck back into the hangbag, and the handbag back into the folds of her skirts, evidentally hiding a pocket somewhere there.

"He has not visited Amber while I have been here," Zariya says, "unlike many of His Majesty's other sons and daughters. And, while I am not certain on this, I believe he was the first to create a Greater Power, other than the Pattern and the Logrus. That is all I am able to tell you--I do not know much more." She gives a slight apologetic shrug and smile.

"Well thanks for telling me what you know. It seems the ones that know the most are the ones less willing to talk. I was kind of hoping to meet him, however." Exthians shakes his head sadly. "One day, perhaps."

Zariya gives him another smile, an almost fond smile, "Knowledge is power here, and many are reluctant to share it." A slight pause, and she nods slightly, "Perhaps you will meet him one day. I cannot imagine many people ignoring their progeny for very long."

"Perhaps," Exthian agrees reluctantly, "But I don't think that Corwin is the same as most people, is he?" It was a rhetorical question, not meant to be answered and leaving Exthian time to ponder his fate.

"Well Princess Zariya," Exthian says at last, "I appreciate your words and your time. I have much ahead of me to learn and do and I hope that our paths cross often...on the best of terms. M'lady," Exthian ends, taking and kissing Zariya's hand, "I bid thy farewell."

Zariya nods, allowing him the gallant action of kissing her hand, "It was truly a pleasure."

This text is copyright © Lana Gjovig and Josh Redmon; "Amber" is copyright © Roger Zelazny; "Amber" the diceless RPG is copyright © Phage Press. No copyright infringement is intended.

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