Damned late one night in the fall of the fifth year, Martin gets word that his
cousin, Antonio the Lord Marshal, has returned from Arden with an urgent report.
Hurrying downstairs, he finds them both in the main hallway, speaking quietly.
Antonio looks like he could do with several days sleep. Gerard doesn't look happy
with what Antonio's telling him.

Martin hails the two in the main hall as he hurries down the stairs towards them.

Antonio mutters to Gerard, "... trail out but I.."

Antonio stops as Martin nears. He waves to him tiredly.

"Antonio," Martin says as he draws close, looking over his cousin, concerned,
"you look like hell."

Gerard nods to Antonio before nodding to Martin, "Martin."

Antonio smiles wryly, "I've been a little preoccupied of late. Pity I missed the
game the other night."

Martin returns Antonio's smile, "Well, you owe me about fifteen dozen rounds at
the Crown now, but who's counting?"

Gerard grimly says to Antonio, "Continue."

Antonio flashes a tired smile at Martin before continuing with his report.

Martin nods to Gerard, hangs back to hear the rest of Antonio's report.

Antonio says "I found a trail heading out from near the Karm estates but it was
fairly ragged and we quickly lost it. My guess is that they're heading west, though
how many escaped I can't be sure. Perhaps as many as ten."

He shrugs, "They move well, whoever they are."

Gerard nods, his expression dark.

Martin frowns, not liking the thought either.

Antonio says "What gets me is that they were able to take the girl so easily. It
was several hours before they discovered that she was missing and only then
because she had failed to break her fast."

Gerard says "Magic?"

Antonio shrugs.

"Do you think she is still alive?"

Antonio says "I hope not."

Gerard nods knowingly.

Martin comments, "Karm's been making noises about that."

Antonio smiles wryly, "I know. The Seneschal had me bundled up for an hour
yesterday, telling me what he thought of me and my Rangers. I politely pointed
out that had his own guards been more watchful this would never have happened."

Gerard says "You shouldn't have done that."

Antonio shrugs, "Perhaps."

Gerard just watches Antonio, his expression muted.

Martin points out, "The Seneschal may have caused Antonio an hour on the chase."

Antonio shrugs. "She's not anywhere near Karm. The hounds would have found her.
That only leaves further out."

Gerard says "Or further in."

Antonio quirks his brow.

Martin turns a puzzled face to Gerard.

Antonio says "They're not the most attractive thing I've seen in shadow. They'd
have a hard time beyond the bounds of Arden."

Gerard says "It's something to consider though."

Antonio nods sagely, "True."

Martin asks, "What about the Bayle boys?"

Antonio says "I've spoken to them. They'll do nothing if Karm doesn't invade
their lands."

Gerard says "Bayle would be ill-advised to start something new with Karm."

Martin shakes his head, "you'd think they were trying to start a war in our own
backyard."

Antonio flashes a wry smile, "I think that's what's got Karm so riled. Having a
Bayle as the Lord Marshal has them a little out-flanked. I don't think that Karm
will start anything."

Martin flicks a glance over at his cousin, but doesn't ask. Instead, tapping on
his hilt, "not now maybe. But if this keeps on..." he lets the sentence hang.

Gerard says "It won't."

Antonio arches his brow at Gerard.

Gerard says "The crown will have to step in and that's the last thing they want.
They're just sabre rattling."

Martin says "and there's still the thing with these guys in Arden. Any idea what
they are, cousin?"

Antonio shrugs and looks to Gerard, "Shadow beasts. They're not from Chaos, that
much we're sure."

Gerard says "How?"

Antonio says "The Rangers confirmed it. They fought with the Chaos beasts quite a
lot during the war. The dogs too can smell the difference."

Gerard nods. "Almost back to normal, then." He glances at the image of Oberon in
the hall, "Almost."

Martin says "They couldn't be a different sort of Chaos beast, then? I mean,
aren't there a lot of different ones? From what I heard of the battle at the foot
of Kolvir, anyway."

"The Rangers say they can tell," Antonio shrugs.

Martin nods uncertainly, "okay, then, if they say so."

Gerard says "We've always had things coming out of shadow. That's why it took us
so long to catch on that the war was different."

Antonio says "Plus, you were all a little preoccupied, from what I've heard."

Martin nods, beginning to see.

Gerard shoots Antonio a dark look.

Martin turns to Antonio, saying quietly, "You must be tired."

Antonio nods to Martin, "Yeah", he turns to Gerard, "If there's nothing else I'll
go fresh up. Maybe catch some winks."

Martin looks to Gerard.

Gerard nods, "For now."

Antonio waves absently, "Later all."

Martin clasps his cousin on the shoulder, "Come on, I'll see you to your room."

Antonio nods and heads up the stairs.

Guards straighten up quickly, standing to attention.

Martin says "'later," to Gerard, follows Antonio up the stairs.

As they head up the next floor and on into the Royal Wing, they exchange quiet
words.

Antonio says "He didn't like what I had to tell him."

Martin says "none of it sounded like good news."

Antonio nods as he continues toward the Royal Wing, "It's not. Especially about
the girl."

"it's that bad, then?"

"Could be. They were nasty little fuckers. Saw one gut one of my
Rangers and steal his entrails before I could put an arrow in it. Left him just
lying there screaming in agony as it fled from the hounds, guzzling down the guts
like sausages at a picnic."

Martin winces, "Not nice. How's morale out there?"

Antonio nods, "Good. We beat them well. The Rangers have even stopped questioning
my orders now." He grins.

Martin grins back, "I'll trade you sometime, if you want."

"So the rumours are true?" Antonio says. "Gerard did lose his mind one day and put
you in charge of something?" He grins at Martin.

Martin sighs, "Have you any idea what it's like giving orders to men who've been
around since the castle was built?"

Antonio chuckles, "Indeed I do, cousin, indeed I do."

Martin pokes his cousin in the ribs, "yeah, well, you at least have the benefit
of a name."

"Not always a benefit."

Martin smiles thinly, "Beats being called the Bastard by the troops any day."

Antonio grins, "Eric was a bastard and he became King, even if it was a bastard
king. There's hope for you yet."

"Oh, yeah, sure. Like I'm going to topple Gerard from his seat. And
that's assuming I'm crazy enough to want the job in the first place."

"If the others return they will do so without a king. Oberon, is
from all accounts dead, as is Eric. Corwin may be too. That could mean we are all
in the running, doubly so for you if your father is somehow named king."

Antonio removes a key from his pocket as he nears his door.

Martin laughs, "Dad's got about as much chance as a fish in a desert, and no
offence to him."

Antonio smirks as he places his key in the lock, "I know of a shadow where fish
live in the desert."

Martin grins, "then, lucky me, I guess Dad still has a chance." He gives
Antonio's shoulder a squeeze, "it's good to see you back here."

Antonio smiles, "I shall see you later perhaps, cousin...or shall I say, m'lord?"

Martin punches Antonio friendly-like on the arm, "don't you M'Lord me, M'Lord
High Marshal."

Antonio says "Later, Martin. Later."

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November 16th 97