It started as a reasonably nice winter evening. Martin gathered that the
rest of the available family was in the front dining room, and proceeded
to join them there.

As he walks in, he finds Prince Wayland rounding on Antonio, and Niara
on the side of the table, bouncing a tea-cup in a hand and wearing a
determined expression.

Wayland nods seriously, "Then laugh on your way, but without your title.
As is my right as a Prince of Amber, contradicted only by the King or
his Regent, you are stripped of all commands effective immediately and
confined to your quarters to await court marshall for disobeying a
direct order. Please place your weapons on the table."

Wayland is a tall man, ruggedly handsome and of obvious strength.  Long
black hair falls down to his shoulders, clasped at the nape of his next
with a leather wrap.  His eyes are a sparkling green and he has a nice
smile.

He is wearing a tunic of green and pants of brown, all held in place by
a brown belt.  His boots are black, highly polished and soft soled.  He
wears a saber on his left hip and a dagger on his right.  There is a
small case attached next to the dagger on his right as well. 

Antonio draws his weapon, "Them's fightin' words, sonny."

Antonio is a lean young man standing about 6 foot tall with blue-black
hair, a moustache, goatee, tanned skin and dark mocking eyes. He is well
muscled and his hands are covered with callouses of the sort you might
expect from a life aboard ship. He carries himself with an air of
confidence and his voice is deep and commanding with a broad Amber
accent. He is dressed in a long black-leather coat, red and white ornate
waistcoat, and a white frilled silken shirt. His trousers are black and
have been tucked into high leather boots. A silver cutlass hangs from a
leather belt on his left side, its pommel topped by a large ruby.

Martin strolls in through the door, pauses at the scene, and reconsiders
knocking.

Wayland glances at the door, "Lord of the Palace. Place this man under
house arrest, immeadiately."

Martin quirks a brow. "Whoa. Back up a minute here," he says. "What
exactly's going on here?"

Antonio flashes an amused glance at Martin, "Dickless here has declared
himself King."

Wayland's stern look does not fade, "All will be explained once this man
has been locked in his chambers, Lord Martin. Do so now, or you will
join him in his crime."

"Is that right?" Martin says, smiling faintly to Wayland. "And just what
is this crime that Antonio's supposed to have committed?"

Antonio comments, "Good taste."

Niara gives her teacup another bounce. And an overhand throw, a tidy
snap of her right wrist that sends the piece of porcelain hurling toward
the back of Wayland's head.

Take the Mona Lisa. Make her darker and elfin boned, and substitute her
straight brown-black hair for a wealth of ebon curls. Widen her
almondine eyes. Color them bronze, like those of some leopards. Re-draw
that famous smile onto a Dionysian mouth. Give her slender, fragile
hands, impossibly tiny feet, and indolent grace that is the stuff of
scientific treatise. Drape her in floor-length velvet, long-sleeved,
square-collared, gathered into soft folds at waist and shoulders, demure
but not quite docile, purple that verges on lapis. Float a lotus-riddled
round of real lapis against her collarbone from a delicate silver chain.
Beribbon her curls with amethyst (and tangerine and silver and gold).
Make her smell like unadulterated jasmine.

The teacup shatters on the back of Waylands skull, he lets out a grunt
and then replies to Martin, "Disobeying a direct order. If you have
further questions, they can wait. Unless you to have no understanding of
Chain of Command."

"Antonio's not a member of the navy that I've heard. Are you?" Martin
looks briefly to his cousin.

Antonio flashes a grin at Niara.

Martin glance flicks to Niara before returning to settle on Wayland.

Wayland growls at Martin, "I am a Prince of Amber, unlike either of you.
And as such I may dispense High and Low justice. Now ... You will obey
my order, Lord Martin."

Antonio chuckles, "Not any that would be desperate enough to put him in
charge."

Niara scratches her cheek with an index finger, a thoughtful little
curve to her lips. She picks up the saucer that lies on the table in
front of her, and gives it a light bounce.

Niara senses "Martin gives you a glare that suggests you'd better not do
what it looks like you're thinking of doing. At least, not yet."

"I accept orders from the Regent, and he only." Martin answers Wayland
levelly. "You have a problem with that, I suggest we talk about it
elsewhere."

Antonio makes eyes at Wayland, "You know, Wayland. You look absolutely
ravishing when you're angry. Why don't we adjourn to my quarters and
I'll make a man of you?"

To Antonio, Martin suggests, almost pleasantly, "Cousin, shut up."

Antonio smirks.

You sense Niara's gaze is not as thoughtful as her expression suggests.
Neither does it glitter with mirth. It is very dark, and not at all
warm, though her mouth does soften some when she catches the glare.

Niara lets the saucer perch on her fingertips, after another bounce.
Wayland considers his words, "Martin... I am a Prince of this Realm.
With the importance the Regent places on order, do you think you are
lining yourself up for anything more kind than what I recieved for
simply disagreeing on his policy regarding our guest?"

Wayland says "There would be no question were I Benedict. Now lock this
man in his chambers."

From the windows, there is a glimpse of a small firedrake playing in the
air currents over the castle's rooftops.

Antonio says "If you were Benedict you'd have more than drool to back up
your command."

Martin shrugs a shoulder to Wayland's words. "All I know is, the Regent
gave me a job to do, and I'm doing it. You two want to draw blades, go
right on ahead. If not, I suggest you both go to different corners of
the palace and stay there. But *neither* one of you tells *me* how to do
my job."

Niara turns her eyes ceilingwards. Her mouth compresses.

Wayland looks to Antonio, "Speak again and you shall not have a tounge
to speak to with." he looks to Martin for action.

Antonio shrugs and says to Wayland, "I'm ready when you are."

Wayland shakes his head at Martin, "You are no better than Brand for
Amber." he moves towards the door.

Antonio attempts to step in Wayland's path, cutlass ready. "That was
uncalled for. I believe you owe my cousin an apology."

Wayland says "Remove yourself from my path, Son of Caine. You will not
lure me into a fight with you this day."

Antonio says simply, "Apologise or die, then."

Wayland looks down a moment and back to Antonio, "Do not do this."

Antonio says "Apologize and you get to continue your pitiful existence."

Wayland says "IF you have qualm with me ... Summon the Regent to
officiate this."

Martin glances between Antonio and Wayland, and shrugs, his features
carefully neutral of expression. After a pause, he looks towards Niara.

"There is that word again," slips from Niara's tight lips. "/Lure/. As
in /lure/ used after ignoring negation, of initiating assault, in
mitigating one's role in said initiation. Very interesting."

Niara senses "Martin indicates a place by the door near him."
places

Antonio chuckles, "Why? Can't stand up for yourself? Need big brother
around to hold your hand?"

Niara looks down from the ceiling enough to note Martin's gaze. She
nods, once, and puts her saucer back down on the table.

Wayland says "I need him to be a witness if I intend to slay you."
Antonio snorts.

You sense Niara's slight shake of head after that suggests she feels a
little safer with the table between her and Antonio and Wayland, who are
obviously heading toward the door where Martin is.

Wayland looks to Antonio again, "Summon the Regent or wait until he can
be summoned. Besides, you have need of a second, and choice of venue and
weapons are mine, not yours, you ignorant ouff.

Antonio lifts his weapon. "I think not."

Wayland comments, "Martin? Is attempted murder enough to interest you in
this matter?"

Martin folds his arms, his eyes narrowing at both men. "I don't see any
attempts at murder yet."

Wayland says "If you wish to duel, we will. But as you issued the
challenge, weapons and ground are mine to choose. Strike me, and I
assure you, you WILL regret it."

The muted footfalls of a patrolling guard pass slowly by just outside
the door.

To both, Martin says, "The Regent is going to be pissed off by this.
Whatever the hell your quarrel is, it is not too late to resolve it
differently."

Wayland says "I offered this damned fool a card game Martin... he was
just to hot headed to accept."

"You have no more valor than a wild duck," Antonio says to Wayland. To
Martin, "Only after insisting that I tell him of private matters between
my sister and myself."

Wayland says "And you less intelligence than your mother for giving
birth to you. Now, step out of my way."

Wayland says "Not at all. If it is as I think ... Then what was involved
belongs to all our family. Unless it was you who have been between her
thighs."

Martin mutters something to himself, and heads away from the door,
towards the table.

Niara picks up her saucer again.

Antonio's sword flicks out at Wayland's belt.

Martin strides quickly to Niara's side, and whispers something urgently
to her.

Martin whispers to Niara "Are they fighting over you? Is this what you
want?"

Wayland's sword fall to the ground and he glares at Antonio, "Martin ...
I have now been attacked. Is this YET sufficent for you to act?"

A line stands out in Niara's jaw when she cants her head to return
Martin's whisper.

Niara whispers "Am I entitled to bury a dagger in that bastard's spine?"

Martin whispers "I don't know til someone tells me what the fuck is
going on here. Just give me the word: do you want this to continue? It's
your honor or something that's started this." to Niara.

Niara whispers "He wants to know what happened in Virga. I think he
believes Antonio did something untoward, all because I did not coo and
sink into his hand when he grabbed at my knee moments ago. Antonio
entered as I was setting up to soak his trews in scalding tea."

Niara's right wrist flicks out again as she gestures to Martin, but the
saucer does not fly.

Niara whispers "And he threw the first punch, at Antonio."

Niara senses "Martin shakes his head in disgust, "whatever. I'll say
that you don't want this to continue.""

Martin looks up sharply at Antonio and Wayland. "Hold it!"

Niara whispers "Bugger that. Turn your back a minute and I shall finish
it myself."

Martin whispers "No! I mean, not here." to Niara.

Antonio regards Martin.

"This started because of the Lady Niara, right?" Martin demands.

Niara smacks the little plate down on the table, cracking it, and sets
off, presumably toward the door, but at least around Martin.

"Antonio does not know," she growls.

Antonio half nods.

Wayland says "This started by Antonio's refusal to reveal what he had
done to her. Yes."

Martin reaches out a hand and grabs Niara by the arm as she passes.
"You, too. Nobody leaves yet."

Wayland says "Martin ... while you work this out, would you PLEASE
disarm the man who just attacked me?"

Niara bites out, "I wasn't intending to leave," not entirely in Thari.

Antonio turns toward Wayland and his sword snaps out again at the
tunic's buttons.

Martin turns to regard Antonio, "Cousin, hold!" Then Niara. "Did you
claim something of the sort to Wayland?" he asks her sternly.

Antonio's blade slashes Wayland's chest fiercely and Wayland drops to
the ground with a scream.

Niara says "No!"

Antonio pages to Martin, Niara, and Wayland: That was at the buttons not
the chest.

Niara jerks on her trapped arm.

"Shit." Martin lets Niara go, and draws his sabre as he comes round the
table. "Antonio, back off! NOW!"

Niara lands mostly on the chair she knocked out when Martin's release
coincided with her jerking back.

Antonio shrugs and takes a step back, "Hey, I slipped."

"Put your sword away," Martin states as he approaches, his own blade
drawn and its tip pointed towards his cousin.

Wayland clutches his chest, bleeding into his tunic, "DO SOMETHING!" he
exclaims.

"Niara!" Martin calls over his shoulder without taking his eyes off
Antonio. "Look to Wayland."

Niara announces, "He's bleeding," in a near perfect imitation of
Antonio's "Hey, I slipped." comment.

She then proceeds to get herself untangled from the chair with minimal
injury.

Martin rephrases to Niara, as he steps towards Antonio. "Go see how he
is, my lady."

Antonio suddenly steps forward towards Wayland delivering a kick aimed
at his head.

Wayland gets reeled backwards towards the far wall from the kick, and
lays there letting out a slight moan.

Niara utters something that a proper Amberite lady probably would not,
could she speak Virgan, and starts around the table, pulling up short
when Antonio perpetrates his kick.

She looks down at Wayland. "He continues to bleed," she tells Martin.
"And he likely now has a lump on his head."

Martin mutters another imprecation as he picks up his pace, and heads
for Antonio at a run.

Antonio sneers and says to Martin, "Best to make sure his hands are
incapable of roaming with my sister so near."

Antonio changes his weapon's line towards Martin.

Wayland begins to rise and looks to Niara, "When next I seek to help one
so Radiant ... I shall remember that there is little but Black roses and
Nightshade." he still seems to be in immense pain.

Martin pulls up short, intervening himself between Antonio and Wayland,
his blade out before him. "Leave off, cousin. NOW."

Antonio says "Perhaps you'll learn to mind your own business."

Wayland says "Perhaps you'll learn where your mother wenched."

Antonio brings his cigarette to his lips and draws on it as he regards
Martin.

Wayland moves towards the table.

You sense Antonio shakes his head at you.

Antonio senses "Martin hisses, "I don't care how much of an arsehole you
think he is, but here, you will not disregard my orders. Is that
understood?"

Antonio smirks at Martin.

"I did not ask for your mark on me," Niara says, as succinctly as a dead
leaf's cracking in a fire.

Antonio whispers "I'd avoid riding in Arden for a while."

"I suggest you lie there on the carpet and bleed for a time," Niara
adds, without moving a millimeter.

Martin keeps the tip of his blade lined on Antonio, smiling a thin
little smile, and he says something just under his breath to him.

"Perhaps you should return there for a time, cousin." to Antonio.

Antonio whispers "And leave my sister's honor unguarded?"

Antonio senses "Martin smiles, "She guards her honor well enough, at
least as far as our uncle's concerned. Wouldn't you say?""

Wayland continues towards the table, "When I think what I have done, to
make your life comfortable..." he shakes his head.

Antonio whispers "You arrived late. You missed the matinee."

Niara reaches behind her neck, into the back of her gown.

Martin whispers "We each fight our own battles, I seem to recall being
taught. Even she will have to learn that sometime." to Antonio.

Antonio whispers "When we are able. Until then we must rely on the good
will of others."

"When I consider what I have done," Niara murmurs, slipping something
out into her hand. "To make my life uncomfortable."

You whisper "Did she request this little demonstration?" to Antonio.

Bright green flashes between Niara's fingers as she rolls a silvery
dagger around in her hand.

Wayland takes another step, about to respond and falls like a tree
towards Niara. He lands with a solid crack.

Antonio mutters to Martin, "No, he took it upon himself to display his
bravado to her by striking at me."

Antonio's gaze darts towards Niara.

Martin steps back, out of Antonio's reach, flicking a glance round at
the noise.

Antonio whispers "The Lady doth speak for herself."

Niara looks down at Wayland's prone form, and at the hand that clutches
the hem of her gown. And by extension to the little flecks of blood that
now stain her skirt.

Martin whispers "As I said she would." to Antonio.

"This is becoming routine," she says, quietly, and not a little wryly.
Antonio mutters to Martin.

You sense Antonio smirks, "But she needed to be shown how first."

Aloud, Martin says as he takes a step back, out of Antonio's reach, and
flicks a glance at Wayland's body. "No, she already knew that. Cousin,
I'd suggest you take your sister elsewhere for a time."

Niara fishes her hem out of Wayland's faded grip, and tucks her dagger
away. She crouches, then, to roll him over onto his back.

Niara senses "Martin glances your way for a moment, and there is
something of disappointment, or regret, and something of anger, in his
gaze."

If Wayland is breathing, it is shallow. And there is slight bubbling to
his chest wound.

She shakes back some curls, and hooks a finger around the side of his
throat, while inspecting the chest wound with her other hand.

Antonio says to Niara, "Sister, shall we depart? The atmosphere in here
is just dead."

Niara shakes her head some. "His lung is perforated."

Martin nods absently to Niara's observation, watching Antonio. "I'll
take care of it. Please leave. Now."

Antonio says "It happens when you lean into a sword blow."

Niara mumbles a vaguely affirmative "Mmn" before getting up. "He
cherished his buttons. Ah, well." She steps over Wayland, and starts for
the door, wiping off her bloody hand on her hip.

"Cousin," Martin addresses Antonio. "You also."

The hangings stir, moved by a sweet-scented breeze from the windows.

Antonio says "Don't presume to have authority over me here, Martin. I
don't take orders from you any more than I take them from Wayland."

Martin regards Antonio with little expression. "It was not an order."

Antonio offers Martin a faint nod, and sheathes his cutlass.

Martin puts his sabre away. "So much for dinner and a drink," he
mutters.

Antonio says "Likewise."

Niara's head dips when she opens the door, but she says nothing.

Antonio turns on his toe and follows Niara.

Martin just nods, moving towards the door, keeping Antonio ahead of him.
Antonio goes out to the main corridor.

As Antonio goes out the door, Martin says, "Give your sister my regards,
and my regrets."

Antonio nods, and leaves.

---------------
February 1st 98