To make a rather long and dull story short, the lady Selene and I arrived at the place which I called home. Or formerly called home. It was a Shadow called Mordeth, and it held some unusual properties. I shan't go into details at the moment. Selene had some idea that we could contact father via Trump. I didn't think it was possible--after all, one can't Trump the dead.

I manuevered it so that we'd arrive in the stables. It was empty, devoid of any workers which is as I had hoped. I excused myself nervously, and headed into the small bathroom nearby. Small, and dirty, but adquate to my purposes. In short order, my senses were properly dulled for this experience. Must I go into detail, gentle reader? Alright, alright, I shot up. Happy? After all, I was extremely nervous and jittery, and was about to meet the devil of Amber (if this worked, which I was still certain it wouldn't). It brought up a lot of issues which I wasn't prepared to deal with, and I felt more in control when high. I was definitely more relaxed.

I returned to my lady with something akin to ease and grace. It was false, but she didn't know that.

"You're looking better," she sang out, patting a horse's nose. "Did you find everything to your liking?"

"Close enough," I replied favoring her with a smile. She really was quite lovely. The task at hand came to me again, and I sighed, sitting down. "Shall we get this over with, then? And maybe have some lunch too...I really should say hello to Mother while I'm here." I frowned. If we were successful, we most likely wouldn't be here long. "If we have time. Do you have Trumps of them both?"

"Of her, I only have a Dworkin-made Trump, but of father I have a specially made Trump," Selene said smoothly, "blood of his blood shifted into Trump form and empowered..." I blinked at those words and frowned as she showed the Trump to me. It was very smooth, and depicted father, surely enough. But...there was something wrong with it. Very wrong. I shook my head slightly as Selene went on, "If this doesn't work, then we can try again at the edge of the Abyss, and if needed again with more help..."

She took in a big breath to steady herself, then flashed those eyes at me again. I almost smiled and stepped forward but caught myself in time. Sister, remember? Ah, yes, sister. "Whenever you are ready, take hold of the Trump and we will both reach for him...together..."

Why did those words sound so final from her lips?

I shook my head again, "I'd rather try Dworkin's Trump first. If that works fro here, why access other powers?" I paused, considering that neither would work. It was a comforting thought. "Besides, if it works with Deirdre...first, then we can arrange to have her escorted back to Amber with none the wiser that Father will be up shortly. If they're both down there, and she spies him leaving, she'll tell other uncles and aunts first thing." Silently, I congratulated myself on this logic.

"I had been thinking that the medium would give our attempt an extra boost and then Father's power could help retrieve Deirdre... which could leave the Elder Amberites indebted to him..." she frowned slightly, then held up the other Trump. "But if you think we should try for her first, then that is what we'll do..."

"It would let my mind rest easier," I smiled, taking hold of Deirdre's Trump. We concentrated, and nothing happened. Just as I predicted. My smiled edged wider, and the thought 'one down' ran through my mind. Ah, relief. Then, I can return to Amber with a clear conscience. Mostly, anyhow.

"Shall we try Father's Trump now?" Selene asked, rubbing her temples. "The reception couldn't be any worse." I smiled at her, wondering how she could have a headache while I had such a nice buzz at the moment. With a heavy sigh, I nodded, and took the slick Trump in hand with her. One down, right? I frowned, and concentrated with my sister.

To my immediate shock, the card grew cold as we concentrated. By contrast, my fingers started sweating, and I almost lost grip with the damned thing. There wasn't any image, per se, however, but a feeling of darkness instead...of being lost in the dark, as I had been when I was a child. And suddenly, I relaxed. It was like...I was high, but much more so. It was intense, powerful. And then it ended.

Selene plucked the card from my nerveless fingers and started talking at me. It took a small bit before I could recognize what she was saying. "...for the tiniest of moments I almost felt as if there was another presence." She sat down quickly, and rubbed her temples. "Do you want to stay for a brief visit with your family or should we be moving on?"

"Bloody hell!" I exclaimed, starting violently at the whole business. I rubbed my hands on my slacks gazing at the card in her hand. He was alive. Alive. My father was alive, and she reduced this monumentous feat to a mere trace of a presence? I opened my mouth to say so, then shut it again. The buzz I had beforehand was gone, at least compared to what I had just experienced.

"We need someone else, I think," I said, frowning. Who could we get? "Something...." like another power source, but much too risky... "someplace..." but generally power types of places are uninhabitable, and we'd need a focus for the power anyway... "someone..." But who, dammit? There wasn't one person in Amber who didn't...but wait! Anelizabet. She didn't hate me. And, if I remembered correctly, they were in a tight situation the last I saw them. I blinked a few times. That might actually work. I smiled slowly, "I think I might know someone...yes, I think she'd help...hold on a moment..."

Now, bringing her here. I paced back and forth, oblivious to Selene. The Shadows weren't that far apart, not that distance mattered. Hmm. I did get a good look at it, though I wasn't there. Let's see...have a look first? Yes, yes. I saw them. By some trick of fate, they were still in dire straights. How convenient. For a moment, I recoiled at this act, this...reminder of how the royal family was. But, I can see now how things seem to snap into place for our ilk. It was too easy. As if it were all prearranged, somehow. Fate had finally turned a kind eye upon me. I watched for a few moments, then bored a hold through shadow as I stepped upon a crate, to avoid getting too wet.

Water crashed through the temporary gate I had made, depositing Anne and her friend into my stables. Dimly, I heard a small shriek as I cast my sight around for their green friend. I had to let it go, though. Doing such things is tiring, and nearly impossible to cover up. I snapped things back into place, and wavered on my feet, stumbling to the floor. At least, they were here.

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