13.   Rinaldo, King of Kashfa.

 

Rinaldo walked in, setting the bottle on a small coffee table of a cherry wood by the plush but elegant sofa – the place of Scarlett’s contemplation he had interrupted.  “But of course, cuz.  Got any glasses around?”  He smirked, “Not as I’d never drunk from the bottle.”

 

“Err...where are they kept in these suites?  I was only here long enough to dress.”

 

He took a seat in an armchair on the other side of the table and stretched his legs.  “Should be in one of the sideboards, I think.”

 

She quickly searched the sideboards and carried back two glasses of fine crystal.  Rinaldo poured dark red wine into the glasses.  “That dinner was a rather tedious affair, wasn’t it?”

 

“Yes, tedious, and it would seem rather... structured.”  She resumed her reclining position on the sofa studying her cousin curiously.  There was much of Jasra’s patrician elegance in his features, but there was Brand in this man too, and when he smiled in the way his lips stretched there was something ephemeral of Elektra.  That is of real Elektra of course, not one of those custom-made facades she used to practice for hours.

 

He was smiling now.  “I never wanted to be the King in the first place.  I feel more at home on Shadow Earth.  Try to spend as much time there as I can.  Things are much simpler there.  Especially for a Shadow King with a BS in Business Management, from University of California at Berkley.”  He gave her a wink and continued.  “Mom’s a regent of course, and her policies hmm... lack popularity.  There’re uprisings up north all over.  So with most of the regular army being occupied there, Begmans figured they could move into Eregnor.”

 

Scarlett nodded, her own smile much thinner than his.  “I’ve spent some time on Shadow Earth recently, and I can see why you like it.  Jasra does seem like she may be a bit stern, perhaps even as a mother, though I’ve noted some rather fine qualities.  As for the dispute over Eregnor, it’s as old as the Shadows themselves, yet I understand that you may now be in a position of advantage, thanks, as you mentioned when you entered, to my coincidental presence.”

 

“They didn’t expect Dalt to make it to here that fast.  And with his force in the field, if it came to fighting we would’ve most probably had the day anyway, but I’d rather do things peacefully, so when we had learned of your arrival, I asked for one more round of negotiations.  We didn’t know when their delegation would arrive, so…”  He took a swig from his glass.

 

She frowned. “So you left me in the dungeons and then let me sweat through a trial of sorts till it was time to display me at your table!”

 

He set his almost empty glass on the table.  “Mmm, good wine!  From Shadow Earth.  Don’t keep any Bayle’s piss around.  There was no other way.  We didn’t know how long the wait for Begmans would be, and we couldn’t let you on this little plot.  Wouldn’t be natural, not to mention you might’ve not agreed.”

 

She nodded.  “Yes, certainly better than what the House of Bayle markets.  Well, my stay as your guest was short and gentle compared to the one my family inflicted on my now missing Uncle Corwin.  I shall not worry about it.  After all, you lost several good warriors in your ill-advised ploy.  Try such not again.”

 

“As for the trial, we figured Krigon, your judge, was smart enough to handle things just right.  He used to be much higher before… hmm... your mother put a spell on him, so we just had to produce you for him at the right time, that’s upon Begmans arrival.  I do hope you aren’t cross, Scarlett.  You would’ve done the same thing in my place, wouldn’t you?”

 

“I rather liked Krigon, as evidently did my mother.  And you’re correct, it smacks of the types of ploys that Amber has a history of…  Yet, mother would’ve likely looked down on my playing the part that you wrote for me.  But I will worry no more about it.  It’s for King Random to sort out.”  She stared at her cousin neither smiling nor frowning.  “To think of it, how did you know I’d be in the Pattern room when I was?”

 

“Oh, don’t worry about Random.  He refused to take sides in this anyway, and to think of it, nothing really changed.  Begmans are moving troops out, we are moving troops in, so things simply return to what they were before, until the next round.  No one ever prevails in Eregnor dispute.  As for your arrival, Mom knew, but I don’t know how.”

 

“Yes, as you say, troops moving one way or another is a part of what Eregnor is.  Do you think your mother has spies within Amber?  Though for them to watch one such as I seems an unexpected level of attention.”

 

Rinaldo chuckled.  “Of course, we have spies in Amber, as Amber has at my court, no doubt.  But they report to our ambassador and he reports directly to me unless I’m absent which I was not.”

 

“Ahh, then perhaps something about my companion?”

 

“Your companion? You were not alone?”

 

“At my mother's command, I brought a stranger to walk your Pattern.  I think she’s testing him to see if he’s of the Blood of Amber.  If he followed my instructions he’s long back in Amber by now.”

 

“Hmm… this is new to me.  Mom never said there was someone else... but anyway, there’re some things I meant to ask you though.”  He paused, somewhat unexpectedly hesitant, picking up his glass, turning it in his hand thoughtfully then refilling it.  “I’ve never met my sister.  Dad wouldn’t let me, to keep her away from my Mom, he says.  But, as I mentioned, we do have agents in Amber...  Is it true what’s said about Elektra?”

 

“Elektra? Yes, your mother did react strangely at the mention of her name.  If it’s said that Elektra’s my beloved cousin, then yes it is.  As I told your mother, she let me journey with her on an adventure into Shadow!”

 

“I mean those rumors in the Death Alley...  There seems to be some sect worshiping a horrible thing they call Elektra.  That’s what they pass around.  Doesn’t work of course, but they believe it will when she comes.  I just pray she’s not like this!”  He took a piece of paper from his pocket, unfolded it and handed to Scarlett.  It looked like a crude Trump and depicted an appalling creature somewhat reminding Dworkin, but with large breasts.

 

She looked at it for a few moments without much comprehension, then burst into laughter.  “Whatever this is, it’s definitely not my Cousin Ele!”  She took a small sip to quell her laugh and sneered at the picture as she retrieved her deck.  “This is Ele!” 

 

His hand trembled when he took the trump, but then he breathed out relief.  “Thanks Unicorn!  Not as I would’ve been less of a brother even if it were true… but… I’m sure happy it isn’t.  She looks so much like your mother, even more than you do, except… such interesting eyes...  But thank you, my debt to you keeps growing it seems.  Are you two close?”

 

“She’s like a sister I never had to me… and a fellow adventurer.”

 

He leaned forward, his expression somber and his voice low.  “She’s in a lot of danger I think.  My Mom’s still in love with my Dad, and she seems to be the only thing between them.  Mom doesn’t like obstacles in her way.  She wouldn’t do anything openly of course, but she has means… to do things discretely.”

 

“Then I’ll endeavor not to get in your mother’s path, but worry not about your half sister!  Ele can take care of herself.  Of that I’m certain...”

 

He did not look very assured. “Do you know Mandor?”

 

“Mandor?  King of Chaos after Merlin’s abdication?  Not personally.”  She scowled.

 

“Mom and him used to be... hmm… close in the old times, and I think they still are, so just tell sis to take care.  Mom’s afraid of Elektra, I think, because she believes Elektra’s a daughter of the Pattern itself, but Mandor isn’t afraid.”

 

Scarlett blinked at this new revelation.  “Ele’s what?  Why… why would she think that?”

 

“The Unicorn, which is the Pattern manifestation, had no trouble in retrieving the Jewel of Judgement from the Abyss.  Mom says no one else could’ve gotten Brand and Deirdre out except for the Pattern.  But all this is so far-fetched...”

 

“And what does your father say?”

 

“I don’t really know him that well.  When I was growing up, he was always somewhere else, and then, after he unexpectedly returned from the Abyss, we only met a few times because of... hmm... other things.”  He sighed regretfully.  “He did tell me, he’d been unconscious most of the time because of Caine’s arrows.  When he came to, he was in Shadow.  Deirdre was gone and that… hmm... other woman was there.  Mom says she was the Pattern itself.”

 

“Your mother might have a point when it comes to the Unicorn fetching the Jewel from the Abyss, and perhaps Brand’s rescue as well, but I have no more answers than you do, Cousin.” Scarlett smiled politely.  If the Pattern had gotten Brand to realign with it, and actually produced offspring with him, then the Universe would be unbalanced indeed.  All this must be reported to Mom, of course, and sooner the better.  “Well, this line of conversation’s getting us nowhere, Cousin.  What do you wish me to tell in Amber of the Eregnor situation?”

 

Rinaldo shrugged.  “Returned to the status quo.  There’ll be more wars, but another day.  Unfortunately I’m not welcomed in Amber.  When I thought my Dad was killed, I sought revenge on Caine, and quite successfully, so Julian and Gerard haven’t forgotten.”

 

She smiled again.  “Gerard’s such a gentle soul, a teddy bear from your Shadow Earth!  But beware of Julian.”

 

He finished his wine in one gulp and poured some more.  “I wish I had the answers!  Mom knows a lot.  Perhaps she knows more of these matters than anyone does. She has that research facility in the Keep of the Four Worlds...”

 

“That place was mentioned to me sometime in the past, but I remember no details.  Is it a place of power, this Keep?”

 

“Yes, it’s a place of a tremendous raw power on the juncture of four shadows.  Mom assembled many sorcerers and scientists from Shadow in there – her little research institute as she calls it.  We, Amberites don’t think much of the theories underlining our powers, but Mom’s a Shadow girl.”

 

“I hope it’s merely research and not trouble for Amber!”

 

“Don’t know.  She doesn’t let me there.  But, I doubt she’s concerned with Amber though.  I think she originally tried to best your mom.  They aren’t on speaking terms, yanno.  But by now she must be far, far ahead.”

 

“Well, I must admit my mother tells me less of her thoughts than King Random himself.  Your mother and mine are at adverse terms?”

 

“Old rivalry.  Over Mandor.  I could never figure out what women find in him, but apparently...”  He snickered and shook his head,  “It’s rather odd though that Fiona would send you here in the first place.  My Mom’s been trying to get in touch with her for months now, but she wouldn’t answer.”

 

“Hmm… she didn’t exactly send me here… Kashfan broken pattern just seemed the easiest one to get to among the first nine.  The sea route is long indeed, but I took a shortcut I’ve been told of by Uncle Bleys.  Speaking of travels, why do you think your half-sister might’ve been interested in the Courts of Chaos?”

 

“Elektra?  Hhm... I’ve no idea.  Did she want to meet someone in there?”

 

“At first I was under impression she was searching for medicine for Uncle Brand.”  She looked into his eyes intently to see if there was a reaction.

 

”Medicine?  True, Dad’s somewhat aged unexpectedly, but he’s in good health as far as I know.  That can’t be the reason…  Unless, she was looking for that Place of Prior Existence...”  He cut himself in the mid-sentence.

 

“That’s what I’d think.  Brand looked healthy enough when I’ve last seen him.  The Place of Prior Existence?  What is that place?”

 

“Oh, just an old legend.  Most probably doesn’t even exist.  There’s nothing to it really.  You care for some more wine?”

 

She brought her hand to her mouth to cover a yawn.  “It’s been a long day for me, with trials, meeting new kin, official feasts, and wine with the King.  I think I’ve had enough and could use some sleep, once of course I’ve let Mom and the rest of Amber know I’m okay.  The Trumps will work here won’t they?”

 

He nodded.  “Mom and Dad discovered some crystalline stone, which blocks the Trump contact.  I put it to some use like in the dungeon, just in case.  But in here, should work just fine.”

 

He rose to his feet with a smile and bowed slightly.  “Guess I’ll wish you good night.  Stopping a major war is rather an accomplishment for one day.  Sleep well, Cousin.  You’re most welcomed in my realm, and if a need arises, I’m in your debt.”

 

“Thanks, I look forward to talking with you further, perhaps on the morrow.  Good night.”  She also rose and curtsied formally.  Rinaldo kissed her hand and departed closing the door quietly behind him.

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