Benedict lowered Gerard's card. I should probably get updated from Llewella first...see if any others have returned yet...before I start calling. He hated to look like a fool, and it would look silly if he Trumped someone already in Amber, asking them to come back to Amber. He shuffled out Llewella's Trump and concentrated.

The Trump contact was established shortly, and Llewella came into view. Benedict smiled slightly, "Evening, Llewella...I trust things are going well?"

"As well as can be expected. How is it with you, Benedict?"

"Not bad, but then I just woke a little while ago." He was still wearing the same clothes Llewella saw him in, rumpled and in general just looking slept in. "Is there any news I should know about?"

She looked tired herself, but also worried, and irritated. "Bleys and I had an interesting conversation with a...distasteful personality."

Benedict raised a brow, curious.

"The individual known as Slade contacted us--rather insistently, I might add," she said, frowning. "..to tell us of some disturbing news regarding Eric."

Benedict scowled at the mention of Eric's name, and surpressed the urge to tell her to let him find his own way out of whatever mess Eric had gotten himself into. No, instead he listened to what she had to say, wishing all the while that he could get past one day without Eric's name being mentioned.

"And what did Slade say?" Llewella sighed slightly, "He's been captured, and is likely not to live much longer."

Benedict couldn't repress the savage joy at the news. Maybe I won't have to bloody my hands with him then... However, he realized that he couldn't let Llewella onto his feelings. She wouldn't understand...or maybe she would, but was too forgiving of Eric anyway. He cleared his throat, "And what are your plans concerning that? Rescuing him?"

Llewella's expression of worry did nothing but deepen, "I had no chance to make any plans. Bleys made a deal with Slade, who is going to attempt to get him out."

"What was Bleys' part of the deal?" he asked, curious and wary at the same time.

Llewella shook her head, her green tresses bobbing on her shoulders, "A complicated arrangement of favors and counterfavors. His service to Slade, for a specicifed amount of time, with carefully defined exemptions. It got rather confusing as they bartered back and forth. He insists he knows what he's doing but...I do not trust that man at all."

He nodded, "Quite reasonable to have doubts. I wouldn't trust him either." He frowned a touch, then asks, "Anything else?" He paused for a second, then apologized, as if it were an afterthought, "Forgive me my questions, but I spent the day trying to regain my strength from the Hellride to Gamellon. Have you spoken to Khara yet?"

"Not yet. That was next on my agenda."

"Excellent. I would join you if I may?"

Llew hesitated, but a slight smile crept onto her face. "Well, if you like..."

He nodded, giving a brief smile himself, "It would be handy to know what she knows of the records, if I am to prepare defenses for these things..." He extended his hand out, which Llewella took and pulled him through to a study somewhere in the castle. Ben shuffled her Trump back into his deck, then tucked the cards away. "Thank you." He paced for a moment, before finding a comfortable seat.

"Not at all."

Llewella watched him as he got settled. "You don't happen to know where the girl is at the moment, do you?"

He shook his head, "I would try the Gamellon house. If not, she'd probably be hanging out with the guards, perhaps. Seems to be her kind of crowd." When it came to Khara, Benedict schooled his features very carefully, and was cautious to pick the right words describing her. He didn't know what it was about Khara, but she evoked a kind of feeling in him that he hadn't felt in a long while. She made him uncomfortable while he was admiring her recklessness. Course, there was always Jess to think about...and Benedict refused to 'cheat' on her until he knew for sure she was dead. Shoving all that away for another day of contemplation, he focused again on his sister.

"...uld try the second option."

He nodded absently, "Perhaps sending out some servants to go find and fetch her? She can't be hard to miss. Trust me on that."

"I would think not. Yes, that should do."

After servants have been dispatched, Benedict turned back to Llewella, "Any other news?" He hoped not. He couldn't stand much more bad news than he already had received this week. It had been a couple of bad days, one right after the other. He took a seat, rather than pacing about.

Llew also sat, staring at her folded hands on the table before her. "Apart from the fact that House Gamellon collectively estimates our chances against these things to be somewhere in the negatives? Not that I can think of."

Benedict nodded, sighing a touch, "I've heard stories from Khyron about how nasty they were. Don't worry, we'll get 'em." He smiled a bit, trying to be reassuring to his sister. It was an awkward position for him. Sure, he was good at comforting Dee in times past when she banged her head or standing up for the smaller kids in school...but since he'd grown, he had hardly any contact with the family, and none with Llewella. He simply didn't know how to act around her, and felt uncomfortable. Still, she was regent, and had more worries than he, so he at least tried to be supportive.

She nodded, looking a bit reassured. "Well, I've finally found something that can scare a Gamellonia, anyway...never thought I'd see that day..."

He smiled a bit more, "They're just too cocky, that's all." He shrugged, glancing towards the door for a moment, "I Trumped Flora, by the way, and pulled her to Amber. Have you heard from any of our other siblings, other than Bleys?"

"No. But I did hear that Corwin is probably somewhere in the city." She sighed. "Gerard is...somewhere, not in a healthy state of mind at all. And Random's.." she shrugged, "not here."

He nodded a bit, frowning. Gerard's not in a healthy state of mind? What happened? "Have you tried to get ahold of those who are in Shadow?"

"Not as yet. That was next after Khara."

He nodded again, "I'll take care of it, if you'll allow me the priviledge." Since he was doing that anyway, he figured he should take the burden off of Llewella.

"I'd be grateful. Be warned that Gerard is going to be a handful, if his condition has not changed since Bleys last saw him,"

"When did Bleys last see him? How many days ago?"

"Yesterday, I believe."

"Ok." He fell silent for the moment, brooding. Llewella did the same. After a few minutes of the siblings sitting in silence, Llewella stood and went to the window. She faced outside, her fingers tracing patterns on the window's sill. "Benedict..."

He glanced up at his sister, "Yes?"

"Do you think..." she paused for a long moment, then very softly, "do you think Father was ever...afraid...when things like this would happen?"

Benedict blinked, frowning slightly. The question threw him offguard. Fear...was a tricky emotion, one he hadn't personally felt for himself in a long while. Sure, he felt afraid for his troops when battle came, but that both was and was not a part of him. He knew it was there, but ignored it, as a good general did. Was he afraid for Father and grandfather? Yes, but in that offhand detached way. The last time I really felt afraid was for Jess...when I walked in on her accidentally Trumping the castle... He was good and afraid then, of having his new life taken away from him. Irrational fear, but very real. All this went through his mind in the long moments it took him to answer Llewella. "I think that he was, yes." He gave Llewella a long, hard look, "Most rulers or generals are...as it's not just their welfare to think about anymore, but the people they govern." He hoped that would be good enough to comfort her.

"So it's all right, then? To be frightened?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, and he had to strain to hear it. Her tone of voice made him uncomfortable...leaders were infallible, at least in front of their troops. He shook off that feeling and scolded himself. This is my sister...and she's younger than I. I've got to remember that. He softened up his voice a little bit, nodding, "Yes. It's alright." He paused again, considering, "I get frightened too, you know, everyone does." He cracked a smile, "Except maybe Grandfather. I doubt anything could shake him." Ha-ha, always leave them laughing, right?

She laughed, a bit shakily. "No. No, I do not suppose anything could scare Granfather Dworkin."

He almost started laughing with her, then Oberon's words surged forward in his mind: He's worried about the Pattern, son...all of this...gone... The warmth he was feeling towards his sister was wiped out in a second with those words, sending a chill throughout him. He thought erratically, Don't worry Llew, I'm afraid too. And he knew this to be true...what Father had said to him scared him deeply and only now he let himself remember that awful feeling. He looked to the door. "No. I'm sure they're ok, Llewella."

Llew looked that way, passing a hand rapidly across her eyes. "What?"

He shook his head, turning back to his sister, "Ah, nothing. Just thinking." He wondered if he should tell his sister his father's parting words to him. Oberon had sworn him to secrecy, but that meant nothing, right? Now that Oberon was gone? If the Pattern was in danger...and that meant everything was in danger...didn't the current ruler deserve to know this? He wrestled with the dilemma, not liking his options.

Llew turned and gave Benedict a measured stare. "Whatever it is you're choosing not to share, I will trust that you have a good reason not to."

Benedict felt acutely uncomfortable when she said that, really really uncomfortable. "I can't, Llewella. If I could, I would, as it'd be a burden off of me, but I can't." He sighed, then glanced to the door again, "Everyone has their secrets you know. I wish we knew all the ones that Dad and Dworkin kept from us." And damn you both for doing so.

It was Llewella's turn to look uncomfortable, and she turned away from him.

Benedict looked up, frowning. "Dad and Dworkin talked to you the night before they vanished, didn't they?"

She nodded, and told him about it. (to be edited later) He nodded, leaning back in his chair. She is the regent now...wouldn't she have the power to absolve me of my former vows? He almost started fidgeting there, feeling uncomfortable with the thought. It's not like I'd be telling her everything, just what she needed to know...about the Pattern... He decided to tell her, feeling that he was betraying Dad's last wishes when he did so. "Say, Llewella...could you do me a favor?"

"I can try."

"Absolve me of all former vows I may have swore to the old King..." he said quietly. Forgive me Dad. It's necessary he thought before finishing, "if you would please."

She seemed surprised, "I...I don't think I have the authority to do that. Uh...if you don't mind my asking, what exactly have you sworn to him, anyway?"

He almost snapped at her, but kept his cool, "Just absolve me and find out." He paused and added, "You're the ruler of Amber now, titles aside."

She sighed heavily, "This really isn't fair on my first day you know..."

He did snap at her then, "Would I ask if it weren't important?"

"...oh, very well. But if Dad comes back and finds out, it's on your head." She seemed distressed over this, but he couldn't really blame her.

"I can deal with that," he grunted.

She sighed again, "I absolve you of all former oaths and vows to the former King." He got the feeling from her that she wanted to add 'are you happy now?'.

He just nodded at that. "Father swore me to secrecy all that we talked about, the night before. I don't think it was coincidence--they knew something was going to happen to them, at least I believe so. Or that something could." He frowned, waving a hand absently, trying to express how much this upset him. "The ... Pattern's in danger. I don't know how, but Dworkin expressed worry, even fear, over it. And if that's in danger, he surmised that the way things are..." He shook his head as he didn't have the words for the magnitude of it, "is in danger of being wiped out." He blinked slowly, fixing Llewella with a gaze, "Wouldn't be good letting that out, but I had to tell you, as regent."

She nodded, "I suspect Dad's plans probably didn't include everyone in authority getting snatched all at once." She sighed again, "Thanks, though none of that really comes as a surprise..." Benedict deepened his frown. Not a surprise? How could that not be? He let the comment go though, adding, "It unnerves me. Nothing is coincidence here. All of it was planned." He shook his head and glanced down to his feet, a habit from childhood.

"Mmm-hmm," she replied. "But planned by who, exactly?" She didn't exactly look all with it either when he glanced at her. He rubbed his jaw, straightening in his chair. "Who know? Everyone has their suspicions, but..." He struggled to repress his fear and anxiety, and didn't do too bad of a job. Llewella seemd too wrapped up in her own anxiety to notice him.

"Can you believe all this started just a few days ago?"

He ran a hand through his hair, "I know. It's hard to believe." He stood up, starting to pace around the room slowly, "I thought Dad was invincible...that nothing'd ever happen to him."

Llewella nodded slowly. "I think," she remarked, looking off into the empty air, "that that it exactly what Dad wanted us to think." She paused for a moment, then added, "Do you know, or have you wondered, why the Lords picked me as Regent?"

He shook his head, "Politics isn't my strong suit."

She chuckled. "I suppose politics may have something to do with it, but I suspect that it had more to do with the fact that I didn't threaten to kill any of them for asking impudent questions.. And that I was here. And that I didn't want the job."

He nodded, "Possibly." He smiled a touch, "I must be frank; better you than me."

"I should have bloody lied."

Ah, I should have made more of an effort to get to know you, Llewella. You're more like me than all the others, including Dee. He started to grin now, "Probably wouldnt' have done any good. No sense in looking back now." He paused, adding, "I'm sure you'll do a good job." "Well, if I don't, nobody will be arounbd to moan about it, at any rate." She shook off her gloomy air with an effort. "I suppose we shall see."

He grunts noncommittally, acknowledging her morbid point.

A knock was heard at this point, disrupting the conversation between the two of them. Benedict looked over to Llewella, waiting for her to acknowledge the knock.

She called out, "Yes?"

A muffled voice answered, "We have found her, Regent."

"Bring her in, please."

The door opened, and in a flourish of sweat and smiles, Khara rushed in, bowing and then dropping to one knee before Llewella. Benedict took the time to admire her while they talked of pleasantries and introductions. He liked Khara a whole lot more than he thought he did...she was so lively in whatever she did. In contrast, Ben felt like he had a sword hanging over his head, dampening any pleasure he might have felt from anything. I envy her, he thought to himself suddenly, ...and wish I could be as carefree. 'Innocent' was the word he wanted to use, but knew better than to apply it to any Gamellonian...odds are they've had their hands bloodied too. He started paying attention to the two ladies before his mind wandered much more.

"...to stand," Khara was saying. "It's a custom of the family, at times. And, if I may, allow me ton congratulate you, Prince Benedict, on assuming my cousin's former occupation. Khyron would be proud." She threw a smile his way and he snorted, "Khyron would be happy--I'm getting a does of he faced day to day."

Llewella said quietly, "I require your assistance with a matter of some pressing interest to Amber." Down to business, so to speak. Benedict gave Khara his full attention, his mind turning to the problem at hand.

Khara's grin was wiped off her face in a hurry. "I have been briefed by Captain Benedict already, Regent. You wish to learn about your darker foes. The unbeatable."

"I am told they go by that name, yes. Please tell me anything you might know of them."

"That will take some time, Regent. I took the liberty of memorizing the records before I came."

"Then whatever you consider pertinent. I have been told many grim rumors of their malevolence and savagery, but little of substance about the things themselves. If, indeed, anything is known."

"Starting from the beginning. They attack in mass numbers, as I'm sure you've heard."

Llewella nodded, giving Khara her full attention as well.

"Many of their servant races are virtually unkilleable, possessing no vital organs of any kind. Weapons of mass destruction are needed. Other races do possess vital organs, but not the proper sensory nerves to feel pain, or to understand they're dying till they are already dead." Llewella nodded again. Benedict stood there stoically, soaking in every word just...thinking. Planning.

"There are beasts that look bairly more than winged skeletal beasts, but can fly through the empty depths of space, and pass through dimensions like it is nothing. Aquatic monstrosities, who are slightly larger than a human, and incredibly more unkilleable. And the list goes on and on. I shall write them all down, once I have adequate pen and paper provided, but for now, the high lights."

Khara paused, as if hesistant to bring up the next, "Worst of all, is their ability to twist, and destroy, your allies. To take their bodies, their hearts, their very souls, and twist them against you. Armed with powerful magiks and magiked armor, these beings are the hardest to kill. Often needing one of blood kin to commit the slaying.

"Next are the Cthulhoids. Large, bloated, demon shaped beings dripping with tentacles. Truly horrid creatures, virtually impossible to kill, resistant to the strongest particle beams weaponry.

"Next is a race of beings who call themselves the avatars. Pale, danged teeth, garbed in black, weilding the weapons of those whose souls have been stolen, weilding strange powers to warp reality. Bald, with horrid eyes of blackness." Benedict frowned here, thinking of Dad's servitors. The thought chilled him, but it would have given ample opportunity to the enemy to scout out the castle, if viewed through their eyes.

"There was one in particular, slightly larger than the rest, who slaughtered many of our leaders and strongest warriors. sometimes assassinations, sometimes in one on one combat. A terrible creature, who did almost as much damage as all the monsters that fell from the sky and rose from the sea.

"And they do fall from the sky....some flying, some literally falling till they hit, and then rising up. And they do come from the sea, deep from cracks in the core of the planet."

"Do any of them," Llewella asked, "have individual names that are known?"

Benedict heard a faint sound of scorn in Khara's voice when she answered, but Llewella didn't seem to notice it, "We did not take the time to learn their names. Many of the racial names we gleamed from translators of the dead's brain, and from our own corrupted warriors, before they died."

"I see. And what," I ask, watching the girl closely, "of their enemies?" She waited a moment, then added, "Surely creatures of such hideousness and malevolent nature muct have enemies of their own?"

"They invaded our realm. We were pressed to fight them back, for years. We did not take time to search for possible allies. In the times since, several realms have been found...burned out wastelands once occupied by these beings, but no enemies of them.

Llewella nodded again.

"Now, I can go on for a time, but I feel writing all this down, for copying by your own scribes, would work best."

"I agree. I shall see to it that you are supplied with whatever materials you require for the task, directly."

"Excellent. Though I could use a meal also. The guards aren't all master level blades, but enough are to work up an appetite."

"By all means, Lady Khara. I'll see to it. Thank you for your assistance."

"Thank you for listening, Regent. Before I depart, may I say something?"

"You may."

"The Gamellonians live a long time. Even the greatly injured can have their bodies cloned, and the highest of us can even have our minds and bodies re-grown. The last is a privilege reserved only a few, to prevent over=population. However, most of the warriors who survived that war still live today. It was a harsh time, and there was much panic during those days. We have always served you faithfully, and hopefully we always shall, but the Gamellonians, the elder ones, may very well prove unable to fight on the front lines in all of the battles. Not that I'd ever speak of this, with any of the elders around, and most of the younger generations, such as I, arne't gripped by the same terror and nightmares, and are quite ready. But, the elders shall not be as sharp as usual. Not all of them, not without....some form of sign of strength from the ruling class. From your famly."

Benedict started pacing again, thinking about what Khara just related to them. He stopped and looked up again as Khara mentions those warriors. "And what are you suggesting then, Khara? What sort of strength would satisfy them?"

"I do not know. It is an odd conecpt, having to motivate a race who lives for the thrill of combat. I am ready for the battle, but for some, they no longer are. Some way to re-lite the fire, when you will need it." Benedict inwardly shook his head, thinking, Great, just great. All the guard are depressed, and now we'll have to worry about some of the realm's best warriors breaking as well. I can see why Khyron quit.

Llewella looked very thoughtful at that. "I see. Thank you for the advice, Khara. I will think on it, you may be sure."

"Be well Regent, and you Captain." The lovely green skinned woman bowed to Llewella and winked to Benedict in a single smooth move.

Llew nodded, responding, "Sweet water and light laughter." His sister then laughed a small, embarassed and delightful laugh, "That is, good day, lady Khara."

Khara simply returned the smile and left the room, with one final look at Ben. He stiffly ignored her, until she left. Then he turned to his sister, "Ah, I'll see to getting ahold of the other siblings..."

"You do that." She was smiling again, regarding him with a curious look, one he couldn't figure. "And consider also, while you're about it, that the Gamellonians are a proud race, not inclined to go looking for help. The fact that they have found no enemies of our enemies does not mean they do not exist."

He nodded, "I've thought of that too." He paused, "I told Flora to request an audience with you, to get updated. AT least she's back...not that that will do much good, but it beats trying to track her down in Shadow somewhere."

Llew grimaced. "Well, at least we know we'll go to our possible doom in the proper style."

He stifled a laugh, covering his smile by bowing deeply to his sister. Without a further word, he turned and left, intent on his rooms.

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