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Jssra · Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Posts: 64 Location: Tempe, AZ, USA

Heidur sits a bit straighter at this description, "Interesting... Well, in my experience, Broken Patterns resemble the true Pattern as though seen in a funhouse mirror. They're distorted, and some parts can be missing altogether, but if you know what the real thing looks like then the source is obvious. In Atacchama, there's at least one person who can draw power from the Broken Pattern in their shadow. I'm told that the main danger in that kind of sorcery is the precise shape of the Pattern at any particular time not being able to produce the desired result, and indeed if you turn away the distortions may have changed when you look again. My source says that it's possible to perform divinations through the changes of that Pattern, but I didn't have time to check the accuracy of the claim. The areas adjacent to damage stay put, though, and correlate strongly with certain physical properties of the Shadows I've studied. The breaks in those Patterns don't appear to be simple erasures, but areas of significant resistance to its power."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 5:31 am Post subject:

"Fascinating," Caine says plainly. "How many of those Broken Patterns do you know of?"

He stands up deliberately slowly and goes for the liquor cabinet. "Can I get you anything, Heidur?"
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Jssra · Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Posts: 64 Location: Tempe, AZ, USA

"So far, one each in Atacchama and seven of its neighboring shadows."

Heidur smiles at the offer, "Scotch please." It had been a long time since she'd bothered to have a companionable drink with anyone, and the familiar ritual reminds her that she's home. Perhaps, too, Caine felt that discussion of the Black Road merited a symbolic steadying of nerves. She accepts the glass with thanks and takes a sip, "Delightful." Anything that made its way to the liquor cabinet in the King's office would be, of course. The idea that a drink might loosen her tongue doesn't even cross Heidur's mind. Alcohol was a toxin like any other, and it took active effort to suppress her liver function enough for more than a mild buzz.

"You know what I know about Broken Patterns now, less some math that's still highly speculative at this point. What can you tell me of the Black Road?"

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 7:43 pm Post subject:

"The Black Road is as much of an enigma to me now as it was when this whole mess started. It seems to cross most, if not all, of Shadow in one manner or another. As you may have experienced, shifting through Shadow will take you to the Black Road eventually, or force you to cross it. The more I study it, the more I realize it is a living thing, which suggests that in all probability, it can be killed... But it corrupts all that it touches, sometimes with subtlety, sometimes without," Caine explains.

"As I said, I don't suggest you go out there and study it until Eric returns and gives you the go-ahead... Wouldn't want anything to happen to you out there while I am stuck here managing the local troops."

...

"You say locals use the Broken Patterns? How many, would you say?"
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Jssra · Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Posts: 64 Location: Tempe, AZ, USA

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:42 pm Post subject:

Jssra · Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Posts: 64 Location: Tempe, AZ, USA

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 6:44 pm Post subject:

Caine smiles, "Good, I'm glad I can count on someone around here... To be perfectly honest, I'm glad you are back, Heidur. I've been feeling trapped here, as you can imagine... Who knew I wasn't cut out for this job, huh?" he adds somewhat jokingly.

"In any case, I have reason to believe that there is someone within the King's court that we must detect and subdue. A shapeshifter in our midst..." Caine explains. Knowing Heidur's scientific stance not to dismiss any possibility, he continues with, "I understand if you wish to dismiss such thoughts to general paranoia, especially based on the lack of evidence I can offer and since most of what I believe to have witnessed was subjective rather than objective, but the truth is that I have not had the time or opportunity to look into this, proving or disproving any theories I had..."
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Jssra · Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Posts: 64 Location: Tempe, AZ, USA

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 8:02 am Post subject:

"It originally stems from my last visit to Tir-na Nog'th, which, for your sake, I won't go into complete detail describing. In any case, I came across two of Eric's close advisors, one of them turned into an agent I've had the chance to work closely with. I've tried to keep a close eye on both people - I'll share their names in a minute - and I even considered having them arrested until I had time to sort things through, but I'm actually more curious about having them followed than exposed, though confirming that they are the same person - or not - would be handy."

Caine pauses to catch a sip and observe Heidur, "The name of Eric's advisor is Lord Perr Arsini, a rather influential man, if he turns out not to be Pierce Gerval, who has worked with me in the King's support for some time."

Another sip. "Anyway, the unhappy accidents of two other agents of the crown I used to have them watched are the only further proof at this time... If you could offer your help, I am certain we could all benefit from it, considering the situation."
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Jssra · Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Posts: 64 Location: Tempe, AZ, USA

Heidur listens intently, withholding judgement until she's heard everything. She knows neither Arsini nor Gerval, but that's hardly surprising given how long she's been gone. "That's enough to raise suspicion all right. Is there somewhere that I could observe either of them, sometime soon? Ideally I'm thinking of a situation where there's enough people around that I can hide in the crowd, but without too much chance of losing our suspected shapechanger in it." That would be a good start, but everything would be easier if they were routinely available...

"If they can be persuaded to accept our hospitality and stay over in the castle for a few days, you could have both Arsini's and Gerval's houses watched, and potentially prove whether the original of either is still walking around." She thinks silently for a moment then takes a drink from her scotch and continues aloud, "Advisors are in a tricky position. They're supposed to be experts, but there's guilds and such who want them to bias their advice.. And sometimes the people they disappoint end up feeling betrayed. If you could come up with an example or two of particularly nasty hate mail addressed to Arsini in his official capacity, we could invite him to stay for his own protection."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:39 pm Post subject:

Caine nods, "I'll see what I can do. I know that Gerval is supposedly staying here. What concerns me most is ensuring that they are unaware that we are onto them..."

"I'll ensure that you get to meet at least one of them. Gerval acts the part of lackey rather well at times so I can arrange for him to be somewhere at the right time. Since you have returned, I'll also arrange for you to be 'announced' at dinner, which Arsini will attend."
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Jssra · Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Posts: 64 Location: Tempe, AZ, USA

She nods agreement, "I'll be discreet." Heidur finishes the last of her drink and leans forwards in her chair a bit, as if to get up. "Since that only gives me until this evening to prepare, I should be about it." She had almost hoped to be able to skip the social function that was a royal dinner, but at least now she had something interesting to do there.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 4:38 pm Post subject:

"Oh yes, I don't doubt it, Heidur," Caine smiles. "As I said, it's good to have you back and to find someone I can count on is priceless in itself. Thank you."

He gets up and takes the four steps to open the door for her. The clerk walks back in once Heidur and Caine are out of the doorway.
"I will see you at dinner, then," he says a bit cheerfully.
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Jssra · Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Posts: 64 Location: Tempe, AZ, USA

Heidur smiles and takes her leave of Caine, "See you at dinner."

The walk to her suite, which overlooks the ocean on the far side of the castle, gives Heidur ample time to mull over the conversation. If Caine had stayed in Amber, it would've been almost eighteen years of subjective time since the incident where he'd set someone to watch her, and she'd caught the woman. That had hurt, and to this day she didn't buy the explanation that he'd been testing her. But was it possible that Caine respected her more, now? If he did, what in the world had changed his mind? When she at last sets hand to doorknob at her set of rooms, Heidur shakes her head and dismisses the line of inquiry. She might never know.

Pushing open the door, she expects to see things more or less the way she'd left them. Tanks and cages of test animal populations to the left, curtained bed to the right, desk and filing cabinets straight ahead, against the wall with the window. And a sturdy table in the center, hopefully now stocked with a light lunch of bread and cheese.