The trees have turned gold and bloody when Martin returns to Amber at
last. He's spent some months scouring shadow for signs of the missing
Princes and Princesses, for shadows of shadows, any clue that they are
alive, or to the outcome of their war. Funnily enough, he's not looking
forward to telling Gerard he's found nothing. After a couple night's
sleep maybe. Soon as he puts his face through the door, however, he's
directed to see Gerard at once, who, wouldn't you just know it, is up on
the battlements. 

So Martin climbs the long stair up the King's Tower onto the
battlements, and steps out into the cool night. He lets the door fall
quietly shut behind him.

There's the Regent, a big, powerful man with a heavy jaw fringed by a
beard and a light mustache, dressed plainly in tunic and breeches.
Beside him, Wayland, tall, ruggedly handsome and also of obvious
strength. With his build, black hair and green eyes, the resemblance to
Oberon is more than passing.

Wayland's just said something to the Regent, but Martin arrives too late
to catch it.

Gerard doesn't answer and instead glances across at Martin, "Martin."

Wayland nods as Martin arrives, "Good Evening, Martin."

Martin nods, walking over towards the pair. "Prince Gerard, Prince
Wayland."

Gerard says "Find any?"

Martin considers, shakes his head, "Sorry."

A shadow passes across Gerard's already darkened face.

Martin adds, explains, "I didn't know a lot of them well. I might have
missed something."

Gerard shakes his head, "I made a detour after I left you to see if I
could find something around the shadow where Corwin and Florimel were."

Martin nods, "I went out as far as was possible, then brought the search
closer here. Nothing."

Gerard nods.

Wayland shakes his head and rests against the battlements.

Martin continues, "I'll head out again in a couple of days, try the
shadows near here again, work outwards."

Gerard glances at Wayland and then nods to Martin. "Take Antonio with
you. He knows most of them by sight."

Martin glances over at Wayland, cocks an eyebrow. "Antonio?"

"A cousin."

Wayland explains, "Caine's son."

Martin raises both eyebrows, "Yeah? Great."

Gerard says "Martin. Do you carry a crossbow?"

Martin says, after a heart's beat, "sometimes. Do you think I'll be
needing one?"

Gerard shrugs. "Couldn't hurt."

Martin tries to catch Wayland's eyes, wondering what he's missed.
"Sure," he says to Gerard. "Right."

Gerard glances across to Wayland, "Do you want to go with them?"

Martin says, a little too quickly, "I can do this."

Gerard glances between Martin and Wayland.

Martin points out "You don't need me for anything else around here
anyway."

"Very well."

Martin, frankly, looks beat. "Right." He looks round, shrugs, "guess
I'll turn in then."

"Night" Gerard turns back to watching the city again.

Martin says, "'night" and heads for the stairs.

He makes his way back down the stairs, out into the hall, across to the
Royal Wing in the opposite end of the palace. There, along one of the
main corridors, he spies a lean young man with blue-black hair engaged
in close relations with one of the prettier maids. Martin doesn't
recognise him, probably another idiot lordling newly come to court.

Martin's gaze takes in the scene happening to one side, and shrugs,
crossing the hall in long, weary strides.

Antonio glances around as he hears someone crossing through the hall. He
calls out, 'Hey boy.'

Martin yawns, nodding to a guard as he passes. He walks on, ignoring the
man's call to some servant.

Antonio frowns and comments to his lady friend, "It is so hard to find
good help these days."

Martin mutters, "They're all in bed, or should be."

Antonio peers at the boy. He says to his evening's entertainment, "Wait
here a moment," and rushes after Martin.

Martin seems to remember something, and pauses by a guard, "Hey,
Bertold," he starts to say to the guard. "..."

Antonio stops and watches a moment.

"..tell Henden I want to see him about something."

The guard nods, "yes, my lord."

Martin inclines his head, and moves on, apparently oblivious to the
curiosity of the amorous man in the hall.

Antonio wanders slowly up to the guard, his gaze on Martin.

Martin continues on up the hall, his shoulders hunched, hands in
pockets, except when stifling the odd yawn or two.

Antonio says to the guard, "Heya Bert. How's the wife?"

Martin's steps slow, as the conversation drifts towards him.

The guard answers, "She's good, sir."

Antonio nods, his eyes still on Martin, "And the kids? Little Charlie
still having a few problems?"

"He's stopped running into walls, sir, if that's what you mean, sir."

Martin pauses, apparently checking his pockets for something.

Antonio says slowly, "Good...good. It's amazing what a few roots and
berries will do these days, isn't it?"

Bertold the guard nods, "Yes, sir. The wife was 'gainst tying him to his
bed, as per your instructions, but at least he don't keep cracking his
skull open no more, sir."

Antonio says "And does he enjoy smoking the grass I gave you?"

Bertie nods, "oh, yes, sir. Calms him down no end, sir. The
father-in-law's been trying some, too." He looks worried, "that's
alright, though, isn't it, sir? I mean, it's alright to take medicine
even if you don't really need it, isn't it, sir?"

Antonio considers Bert for a moment. "I wouldn't do it myself but hey,
you only live once."

Martin's shoulders shake for a moment, as though he were having mild
convulsions, and he quickly hurries up the hall.

Bertie looks relieved, "right your are, sir. To be frank, sir, I think
the wife's been smoking a little of that grass on the side. That's why I
say she's been right good to me of late."

A solitary guard nods from the mouth of a corridor, walking his rounds.

Antonio smiles, "Good for you. Good for you."

Martin heads on up the hall and out of sight.

Antonio indicates Martin, "Who's the kid?"

Bertie straightens, clearly back on duty, "That was Lord Martin, sir,
the Bastard of Random, sir."

Antonio nods, "Thought so."

Bertie stands to attention, awaiting further queries or instructions.

Antonio sighs, "Oh, well. I'd best be getting back to my lady. Night,
Bert."

Bertie nods gruffly, "Night, sir."

Antonio wanders back to his lady friend and leads her towards his room.

--------------
10/5/97