--Winston Churchill
(OOC: Why Breyd and Zariya are anywhere near each other when they are not plotting against Scher I will never know, but, here goes... :)
(It's a new detante, ushering in an era of a kinder, gentler Amber, opening the doorways to new understandings and new vistas...=D Breyd=smartarse. Anybody else who hasn't figured that out needs help.)
Aura pulls up and looks over at the fishwives and the Cat of Unusual Size and just shakes her head. "Never a dull moment," she chuckles.
At this point Rory comes upon the scene, riding his strange shadowy horse....
Rory is one of the family's redheads, with hair the color of fresh-ground cinnamon. He is slender almost to the point of delicacy, with a hint of exotic bloodlines in the bones of his face. He wears a gold-trimmed purple surcoat over black tunic and hose.
Whitley who is a much better looking guy and is blond, looks suspiciously at this evil omen approaching. Red heads in Amber are unlucky.
His dogs growl at this evil looking unhorse horse.
Rory reins in his steed and raises an eyebrow at Whitley’s antics. He sighs and asks, "Will you please put away that meat cleaver before you hurt someone with it? If I hear any more righteousness today, I think I'll puke."
"Without righteousness, a Paladin will have no ruler to hold those who do wrong accountable to a standard,"Whitley tells the evil redhead and his evil horse.
"Right, wrong…that's such an overrated and simplified way of looking at the world. I prefer 'them' and 'us'," Rory says. "It allows 'us' to get on with creative atrocities against 'them' without any unnecessary emotional baggage. Besides, who are you to judge what is 'wrong'?"
Aura smiles. "Ah, Rory. Is that horse more to your liking then?"
Rory's steed turns and regards Aura. Its coat is a strange purplish-grayish-black of thunderheads, and its eyesockets are empty black pits. It hisses, and the hiss sounds of malicious gossip and hanged men gasping their last.
"That is evil!" Whitley pronounces with his cape flapping behind him with the seabreeze.
Rory chuckles. "Yes. It suits me well."
Whitley scowls at Rory in shame.
Rory laughs, and his mount stamps a hoof on the stone of the street. A tiny curl of smoke rises from the the slab of paving stone. It steps back, and a cloven hoofprint is seared into the rock.
At that, Zariya frowns. "Rory," she says, turning her eyes up to him, "I hope that you are planning on repairing any damage to the streets that your steed might inflict."
Rory sighs. "Rest assured, there will be no permanent damage. It will disappear - even before the peasants get the nerve to try to do something about it." He looks a bit disappointed. "Having to explain that takes the fun out of it, though."
"Oh, I am sure you will think of something else to annoy me," Zariya comments dryly, with a hint of a smile. "Or cost me money."
"One does one's best," Rory says, mock-bowing from the saddle.
"Are you sure you could afford it though?" Breyd asks provocatively, her own smile full of pure devilish delight.
"One way or another, the price always gets paid," Zariya replies, glancing to Breyd.
Aura, on the other hand, actually looks a little impressed. "Nice touch," she says to Rory.
"The devil is in the details, so to speak," Rory says, smiling.
"Words to live by," Aura grins.
Zariya smiles a bit, "I think it is a fine steed, and truly fits it's master. If I could only be certain it would not eat the mares, I would trying breeding it to some...plainer...stock, to see what the result would be." Maybe it's a joke--she certainly seems to find something terribly amusing.
Rory looks rather struck by the notion.
"I'm not sure it would be even possible to cross-breed a spirit creature to something of flesh and blood," he says seriously. "But...the results might be interesting. Very interesting, indeed. I'll have to put that on the list of things to do."
"Just one more thing on the list of a busy monarch," Zariya comments dryly. "But you are welcome for the idea."
Aura's horse snorts at it and Aura chuckles. "Well, good. I think he would eat the glue factory."
Riding on one of her Atlantean horses, Aura's chestnut hair is pulled back with a platinum band trimmed with pearls and cascading down her back in waves. Her figure hugging bliaut is of emerald green watered silk trimmed in silver cord and tiny opal beads. Her horse is both tall and delicate looking, it's hide an almost irridescent pale silvery grey that shows faint rainbow colors only when the sun hits it just so, the mane and tail are darker in hue and have an almost metallic look to them.
Zariya is a tall dark-skinned lady, whom some might find attractive, especially if they are into 'severe' looking women. Her black hair is braided into a single braid that hangs about halfway down her back. She is dressed casually, but maybe overmuch for winter: thick brown cloak, a lighter brown jacket underneath that, black breeches, boots, and gloves; and her scimitar, of course. The hood of the cloak is up; not trying to hide, simply shelter against any wind and chill.
Nearby, Breyd just seems to materialise out of the crowds. It's the flash of flame-orange, copper bright hair from under the grey/green hood that first attracts attention. Small, slender, white hands draw it back to reveal high, sloping cheekbones and distinctively quick and expressive dark brown eyes. Her wiry, coppery hair seems to have a life and a fire of it's own as the sea breeze ruffles the rioting mane of spiralling curls into further chaos. Her skin has an translucent quality to it, like porcelain. She's skinny in a way that suggests you could count her ribs, her eyes looking too large for her face. She seems to be in her middle to late teenage years and short. She probably stands about 5'1-2". She glances sidelong up at Aura, chewing on her apple. Then the gaze shifts to the newcomer. When her eyes finally rest on Cher, she spits an apple pip out.
Aura just looks skyward intently for a moment, her hand shading her eyes. "You know," she says casually. "I still haven't figured out why His Majesty has two reception committes and one of them in the middle of the marketplace."
Whitley's got these two Princesses riding beside each side of him and he's a paladin looking type of guy with White Armor like Prince Julian has.
He's riding on a decent enough horse but looks like he should be on a full charger. He's got two really cute doggies following him. Lucky and Daisy.
Whitley is really tall, blond and great looking. He offers his hand to Zariya and Breys. "How's it going Girls." he says with a big wide grin of 32 perfect teeth. "Thanks for coming to meet me."
Breyd's eyebrows race for her hairline. "Girls?" she echoes incredulously and glances at Zariya as if to ask, 'Is he for real?' Her arms get folded across her meagre chest.
"Prince or not, you should watch your tongue, boy," Zariya replies, glancing at Whitley's hand and disregarding it.
"Sheesh, you have no manners for a Princess."Whitley rebukes the dark woman with a scolding index finger," Why don't you shake hands. Im trying to treat you as an equal not as a sex symbol, you know."
"As for the welcoming... Welcome to Amber," she says without any particular warmth or animosity.
"Thanks." Whitley says and holds out his hand for her to shake."Let's try it again, Zariya."
Zariya will shake the hand offered, firmly, but not excessively so. "Then perhaps, Whitley, when meeting someone new, you should use their title instead of something that can be mistaken as an insult."
He waves his sword in the air. Its a really good sword too if the women know about swords and weapons. Whitley calls out in a loud husky voice,"I Whitley, Paladin and Hero will try to return Amber's library and defeat the wicked plans of that evil usurper witch Jastra!"
Breyd starts to snigger. Not politely either.
Zariya sighs audibly, and shakes her head.
"It's JASRA," Breyd corrects mildly.
The black stallion that Scherazade is riding upon. Bows upon command of touch to the newcommers. Scherazade bows with them. "Your Highnesses." She says in respect.
Zariya acknowledges Scherazade with a small smile and a nod of her head. "It is well to see the both of you," she says to Aura and Scher.
"Better you than me," Breyd comments dryly to Aura before taking another bite out of her apple.
"It's rather like throwing oneself on the grenade to save your comrades," Aura sighs. Aura gives Zariya and Breyd a long suffering look from behind Whitely
At Aura's expression, Breyd starts to snigger. "Well, Whitey...it was like this. It was a toss between gargling razorblades or meeting you. You won by a narrow margin and Grandfather's insistance."
"Shahinshah can be very persuasive," Zariya agrees, stamping her feet to keep them warm.
"Who is this Shahinshah? Sounds like some foreign type." Whitley says,"Does he wear a scarf on his head?"
"That would be the title Zariya uses for His Majesty" Aura explains with a sigh.
"Well, it's not Whitey's fault that the timing is a bit bad..." Breyd amends and then dimples up at the squeaky clean young man. "Oh...my...what lovely doggies!" she coos and starts offering her hands to them to sniff. She'll get right in and pet and coddle them if they'll let her. "What are their names? They're brilliant!"
Whitley follows her,"This is Daisy, This is Lucky." he tells her,"I wish I would get Lucky some times," he says joking to her.
"They are the smartest dogs in all Amber." he assures her. The doggies sniff her hands and bunt her for attention.
Breyd giggles girlishly and goes down on her knees to play with the doggies. She seems to have an unerring knack for scratching at the itchy spots. "Who's a soppy doggie? Who's a soppy doggie?" she burbles with a distinct lack of shame or decorum.
Lucky licks her on the face. Whitley smiles and looks whistfully off towards the sea.
The glance that she casts Whitely is full of coy interest and the smile is quite deliberately one of her more winsome.
Whitley turns and smiles chastely back to her with his eyes filled with his heart's contents and he gives her a big full 32 tooth grin.
Breyd's milk-white skin flushes faintly and she veils her dark eyes behind her lashes as she clambers back to her feet, patting Daisy and Lucky. The breeze from the harbour tosses fiery orange curls into a wild nimbus around her head. "I suppose you'll have to go and find something," she bites her lower lip, "handsome...to go and dress for Court in. I'll be looking forward to seeing you there."
Aura looks askance at Breyd and then turns to Zariya.
"So, did your wines arrive intact?"
Zariya nods, giving Aura a smile, "Yes, they did. Thank you very much for the selection."
"Enjoy them in good health," Aura nods.
"Tell you what, Whitely," Rory says helpfully. "Jasra's a long way out of reach, but one of her allies is much closer to home. The Magician of Tantaruk is a stone's throw away, on the continent of Ardor, and he's a right bastard. His current project involves carving out a young lady's heart as part of a rather obscene ritual. I think he's definitely within reach of your sword."
"Then why are you not trying to rescue her instead of riding an evil black souled horse?" Whitley says to the red headed rogue before him.
"Who is this Magician of Tanturak and why does he plan to carry out this evil deed?"
Breyd quirks up an eyebrow. "He's protected by armies that he's bought with money and other gifts that he's cozened out of the Court of Haven. As for why...That's as good a guess as any. Who knows the inner workings of a psychopath's mind. However, I'm sure if *you* put your mind to it, you could do something about it. I'd be more than happy to help. I'm ambassadress to Haven," Breyd brags.
"Truly if you are right, we mustn't let them carry out this evil deeeeed."
"Well, Whitley, it's all a matter of timing. The Magician has an ally that I particularly despise, and I don’t want to move against him until I can think of a method to deal with her. I'm thinking along the lines of ripping her soul out, binding it to something fairly durable, and then binding a few demons to stand watch over it for the rest of eternity," Rory says. "I’m still working on the best way to accomplish that."
"True...there's that plot to destroy Amber's sun and moon," Breyd says thoughtfully, the dark eyes considering Whitely.
He looks at Breyd unbelievable, Whitley says shocked,"Why! That is Terrible! They must be STOPPED!"
"There you are, Whitley," Aura says. "Hero type quests. I told you that you were destined for excitement"
"Will you brave and beautiful ladies accompany me?" he says,"I am sure that Red over there with his evil horse has some city to rape and loot."
"And a people to enslave," Zariya interjects, glancing at Rory. It's said with no real heat, though. "I should be journeying to Koronande soon again, Whitley, if you would care to visit that fair land. I am sure you can hear more about Ardana there."
"Alas, my time is not my own," Aura laments. "I will, however, think happy thoughts about you."
"Unfortunately, looting season is over," Rory says. He drops the bantering and gives Whitley an icy look. "So far, I have had a total of five rape cases by my soldiers. They are very permanently dead."
Zariya nods at that, approvingly one might almost think.
Breyd looks temporarily fazed by the 'Red' comment. Her hair is a brighter shade of red than Rory's. Hers is an orangey copper, a few shades too carrot to be counted as strawberry blonde. "Ah. Well...As you've asked so nicely, I'll consider it; but how much free time I have depends on how Oberon's decided to reshuffle his cabinet this Court session."
Zariya laughs at that, "How true."
Aura's expression registers amazement and she looks at Zariya. "Did you feel that? I think the universe just tilted on its axis...."
Zariya is smiling, almost smirking, "Breyd is filled with many surprises. Not even a week ago I thought she and I could not be in the same room together without blood being drawn, and yet...here we are."
"Oh, yes," Breyd enthuses. "Whitey must have that effect on ALL the girls..." Breyd giggles in a spectacularly brainless fashion and clasps her hands together over her heart. She doesn't just walk...she SKIPS towards the castle like her heels are made out of springs.
"I think the whole univers inverted its self, or hell just froze over." Scherazade whipsers to them.
"I suppose it was just a matter of time before Breyd became...um.. smitten," Aura says with a shrug. .
Zariya bursts into laughter at the sight for a couple moments before she reigns it in.
"I didn't know she could that," Aura confesses with a smile. "She looks quitye pixie-ish, skipping along. One might even dare to say adorable."
It's probably just as well for all concerned that Breyd is out of earshot...
Aura watches her a moment without a trace of expression before she turns to Rory. "So. Anyone know where Julian is at the moment? I wish to extend my sympathies."
"Probably off killing things in what's left of Arden," Rory says. "It tends to be his favorite hobby, I've noticed. But why do you want to extend your sympathies to him?"
"I think he's going to need them," she says, glancing down at Whitley's outrageously named hellhounds.
Rory chuckles.
"Oh yes. I never even thought of that," he says. "I think 'mortified' is the word."
"I know," Aura chuckles. "Poor man. Maybe I should send flowers too."
Local Demon Lutterkin emerges from his booth with total joy on his face. He looks to Rory, thinks better of it and then runs over and hauls the Paladin Skippy, er, Whitley and then starts forcing Whitley to join Breyd's arm and Lutterkins as they skip.
Lutterkin starts leading the way to Amber Castle skipping in unison...
"We're off the see the Monarch. The Wonderful Monarch of Amber... because because because of all of the terrible things he does..."
Aura busts out in merry peals of laughter at the sight. If her horse weren't so well trained, she might have even fallen off.
It doesn't help when Breyd hooks the 300 lb cat for the Lion (herself as Dorothy, Whitley makes the perfect tin-man...and Lutty is the scarecrow, obviously), glances over her shoulder and winks outrageously at Aura as she joins in the chorus, adding an extra bounce to her skipping.
Aura is too dumbfounded at the new sight to laugh anymore. It draws her up short and she stares after the motley crew. "Oh. My... Great Goddess," she declares, having never heard of the Wizard of Oz. It's just too much to process properly. Especially with the totally unhellhound like hellhounds scampering along after them.
She finally turns to the others. "So. Shalll we then?"
Zariya nods, smiling at the sight. "Yes, I think we are ready."
Aura signals the horse Whitley was riding and urges her own forward. "Poor Julian," she says, shaking her head.
Zariya walks alongside Aura's horse, "Have you met his daughter, Jada?"
"Not formally," Aura says. "She was fishing when we nmet Whitley at the docks."
Aura chuckles. "I fear he did not make a good impression on her. Shocking, isn't it?"
Zariya replies with a smile, "Very shocking. I would think that they would embrace, like the long-lost siblings they are. However, I believe I may understand Jada's reluctance to take Whitley into her confidence. I too, have brothers." Her smile fades as she grimaces slightly, "They are not at all as I would have expected."
"Fortunately, I like mine," Aura smiles. "I was pleasantly surprised."
"Laszlo can be very pleasant at times," Zariya agrees, "and he is an excellent dancer."
"I have not had that privledge yet," she replies. Aura grins. "Though I have seen his etchings.. But he has been very helpful with other things."
"And everyone’s grateful that no siblings of mine have put in an appearance," Rory adds, "especially me."
"I am not sure the multiverse is big enough for more than one of you," Aura says agreably.
This text is copyright © Lana Gjovig, Beth Major, Betty Osthoff, Paul Schaefer, Theresa Thomas, and Whitley's player (lost his name somewhere); "Amber" is copyright © Roger Zelazny; "Amber" the diceless RPG is copyright © Phage Press. No copyright infringement is intended.
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