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Nihilistic Mind

Wet sand flies into the air with each of King Eric's great white steed's strides as he races on the beach to the stairway that leads to Rebma, Faiella-Bionin. In their wake, fifty mounted royal guards follow from a distance.

When Eric arrives at the top of the Stairway - or its bottom, depending on your point of view - he turns the steed around and plays with it, racing back and forth and jumping over rough boulders. Meanwhile, the standard-bearers and the royal guard place themselves in two neat rows in preparation to the diplomatic meeting to take place.

This morning, the King might see his sister Deirdre for the first time since... Well, let's just say things were tense. He knew she had to be restless by then, stuck in Rebma since her escape with Corwin and Random. Eric figured he'd pegged two out of three and it was only a matter of time until Deirdre showed up in Amber again.

Llewella had been kind enough, in that annoying diplomatic way, but still, she had held up her end of the bargain and created the trumps the King was requesting, in exchange for allowing Lady Vialle to spend time with her husband.

Llewella had promised something else to sweeten the new cooperative between Amber and Rebma. She had promised Deirdre would send her allegiance to the King and it was time for Eric to collect.

As the outlines of a shape rises from the waters, Eric goes back to the middle of the established perimeter.
Lances appear. Rebman warriors are accompanying her.

Eric's smile widens when he recognizes her. 'She cut her hair', he thinks. Then his smile fades quickly. This isn't Deirdre! It is... her daughter, April.

Eric looks at April sternly. "I was expecting your mother. What is the meaning of this? Is she not accompanying you up here?"
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TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 296

April's smile fades as well, at these questions. "You were expecting ... her," she says, crestfallen. "Of course."

Quickly, practically on the heels of her reaction, April pulls herself up and starts speaking. "Your majesty, my mother sends her ... uh ... she regrets that circumstances make it impossible for her to ... attend to you," she winces at the impolitic phrase, but soldiers on, "in person. I have been sent to show ... err ... through word and deed her willingness to ... align her actions with yours ... in pursuit of peace, in this our family's darkest hour."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:37 pm Post subject:

Eric's eyes narrow a bit but by the time April is done struggling his face softens. April notices that despite the pomp of his attire and entourage, the King has refrained from wearing both the Crown and the Jewel of Judgment.

Without looking away from April, Eric calls out his Captain and a horse is brought. "Lady April, if you would accompany us back to the castle... We can pursue diplomatic accessories to peace there." The Captain offers his hand to help April mount the horse.
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TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 296

"Thank you," April says. She opens her mouth, as if to speak, stands there for a moment, then sheepishly closes her mouth again.

Approaching the horse, April nervously tugs at the bands of her open-fingered gloves. She reaches out to caress the horse's neck gingerly. "Sorry, sweety," she whispers, then puts her foot in the stirrup and lets the captain assist her as she swings up into the saddle.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 6:08 pm Post subject:

The horse steps forward immediately and makes a funny sound as it adjusts its posture to accommodate April.

The Rebman warriors return to the depths of their land without a word.

They ride towards the castle, Eric riding alongside April and the Royal Guard following at a fair distance. The wind blows steadily from the sea and the waves are riding up. "How long have you been in Rebma?" he asks, apparently intent on making small talk.
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TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 296

"On and off, almost two years," April replies, obviously glad to have a safer topic of conversation. "Ever since you ... uh ... since shortly after your coronation, your Majesty."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 8:16 pm Post subject:

Eric gives April a quick sideways glimpse. "And Amber? Have you visited here before the coronation? If we have met, you must have been littler... I don't remember it, though I have heard of you."
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TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 296

April smiles shyly. "No, this will be my first time getting to see the city."

She looks down the shore, toward where the foothills start to rise. "For so long, Amber was just this name at the center of all of mom's stories. I almost can't quite believe that I'm finally going there."

"Is it ... " she begins, then hesitates. "I mean ... I know it's your kingdom, your Majesty, and I don't mean any disrespect, it's just ... mom was away for so long. I could never quite figure out how much of what she said was homesickness, and how much was real. Rebma is incredible, but in the end it's still just a place. The way mom talks about Amber, it's like heaven and first love and a lazy summer day all rolled into one."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 10:30 pm Post subject:

For a brief moment, Eric's visage lets a deep compassion transpire, then he quickly answers matter-of-factly: "Even now, as affected by ugly effects of the Black Road, it is what she has told, and much, much more..."

He grows quiet for a moment, concentrating on riding through a rocky passage and away from the beach, leading the way up and up, the Golden rays of the sun filtering through intensely green foliage and white flowers.

At the top of the cliff side, a hundred feet up he turns around and gives April a charming smile, "Come on, I'll show you!" He signals something to the Captain behind them and then darts between trees and over the green and red underbrush.
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TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 296

April hesitates only a moment, then drives her horse after his.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 6:32 pm Post subject:

Eric and his horse quickly become a blur and April and her own mount are barely keeping up. Although occupied with this strange chase through the forest, April experiences the scents and sounds and wonderful sights of the uncharted path that they are taking through this wooded area. They continue to go uphill for the most part and when April follows the King as he turns sharply right, they find themselves on another path.

A carriage is going by and Eric slows down to let them pass. The man driving the cart nudges the woman at his side and they recognize King Eric and bow lowly at him, their face beaming when they look upon the visage of the King and his traveling companion again. Then they bow lowly at April, giving her the same smile they gave their liege.

When they have passed, Eric continues up and around a bend, following the path. Here, the rock wall to their left is steep and around the bend, the sight of Amber City and the port is revealed as she approaches Eric. It is an amazing sight, an amalgam of various and yet quite fitting architecture, ornate and complex structures sprawling on the side of Mount Kolvir. April also notices that the City is fortified in sections and districts and high walls and guard towers pop up here and there, bearing standards and flags of white, red and gold, some bearing the Unicorn, others simply a Crown.

From this distance April can see the activity in some streets of the city and its docks as folks go about their daily business. On the horizon, the sea extends continually and somewhere it appears to meet with Amber's blue sky.

"Welcome to Amber, April," Eric says.
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TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 296

"Wow," she breathes. "The whole city looks ... alive."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 8:10 am Post subject:

Eric seems satisfied, "What do you wish to visit next? We can go through the city or... I could take you to the Grove of the Unicorn? We will probably only have time to visit but one. Well, today." April gets the sense that this might be a test, especially if Eric is anything like her mother. When Deirdre offers two choices exactly, she often wants something out of April.
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TonyLB · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 296

April sighs. "There is much I might wish, your Majesty," she says, "but I cannot so far forget my duty. I will confess that I don't know exactly what I should be doing to help, but I am quite sure that monopolizing you while I take in the sights ... well, that's a report I would not quickly live down in Rebma."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:39 pm Post subject:

"Bah, I never get a break," he says matter-of-factly, not a hint of disappointment or amusement in his voice. He turns his horse abruptly to go up the road near to here. April can see spires and towers poking through the nearby foliage. The castle seems like it is but a short way up, perhaps a half an hour or so.
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