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All Together in Sanctuary

...BEGINNING OF THREAD GOES HERE...

Amon nodded. "Let Jenever go to collect her sword," he said. "And while she is gone - we will ask for answers." He looked at Gerard. "We may have to compel them. You will doubtless have more experience with this than do those who have made their home in Sanctuary."

Delphine nodded, eyes focused on Gerard. She did not ask if he would help them against his brother, but her eyes did.

Gerard looked between the two of them. "It is one thing to ask me to help defend your Sanctuary from those who would destroy it. It is quite another to ask me to intimidate, outmaneuver, and browbeat my brother for your own ends."

There was a long pause. Gerard slowly smiled. "You might get that for free."

Alys had to suppress her reaction to that offer. For right now she would love nothing more than to see the Carouser pay for what he had done to her and her family. And she felt no gratitude toward him for creating her, either.

"Perhaps..." she said to Gerard, "your brother might be more forthcoming to you about what he is running from?" she suggested.

Amon smiled. "I think it most likely," he said.

Some distance away from them, the Carouser was rather moodily scanning the horizon, the Neverking's sword still in his hands.

"I will wait, while you ask him," Delphine said, smiling shyly at Gerard. "And monseigneur - thank you."

Gerard's head inclined slightly, in response. "Often I have been called to mediate between my siblings," he said. "But never before for others." Then he turned and made his way towards the Carouser.

He stopped outside sword-distance, but not outside that of a lunge.

"It would be safe to say that they do not exactly trust you," he said.

"Yes," said the Carouser. "And I'm shocked, shocked I tell you by this unprecedented state of affairs." He eyed Gerard uneasily. "Have they sent you to dangle me over the nearest cliff?"

That brought a chuckle from Gerard. "It would hardly be considered Sanctuary, then, would it?" he said. "Not to mention that the lesson isn't exactly the same. And I doubt that you'd happily lay down that toy for a bout of wrestling." He moved a little closer, dropped his voice. "But I would warn you, brother. Sanctuary is not all that safe a place, even from what little I have seen. Things are in motion, everywhere. This place is weak. If the danger that follows you is strong, it will crumble like dust."

The Carouser nodded. "Danger lies all around us, Brother. But Amon has held out against the forces of Karadon for a long time - I believe he will do it still. And that will give Fi the time she needs ... "

Gerard made a low rumbling noise in his throat. "And does Karadon know that you have come here? If they concentrate upon this place..."

"Yes," said the Carouser irritably. "They know. But Karadon is without Caine - or it was last time I looked. You and me, with Fi's help - we can make something worth defending. I know these monsters - I made a good many of them - and they'll be a dam' good fighting force, with your support."

A little way away, with Amon and Alys, Delphine continued to watch quietly, trying to read by body language what was being said.

Gerard was silent for a long moment. Then he chuckled. When he spoke again, he did not sound at all like the Gerard of old.

"So you'd have me buy a pig in a poke, would you?" he asked. "Call upon old familial loyalties and defend the homeland and the children- though it's hard to make the progeny plea when you're talking about genetic constructs, isn't it? Nevertheless- keep me in the dark, bring me up as a shield against the others while you and Fiona maneuver some magic behind the scenes." He nodded thoughtfully, tapped a finger against his lips.

"Except that we both know what's in that poke, don't we? I might just keep Julian and Flora off your back. We'll have enough time to draw a breath before a wall of plantaxy mows us down. It's already enroached far into this place, brother. If you're here, then Sanctuary means more to you than just protection from Karadon. You think it will protect you from the plantaxy, as well. Somewhere in the back of your mind, you have the feverish dream of turning everything around and saving the whollllle universe." He spread his arms, grinned, and waggled his fingers for effect.

"Something's here that you want, and you need time to get it. This shouldn't shock you- I'd prefer a more direct answer. Tell me what you and Fi are up to. Tell me what you need to make it happen. Tell me what's in it for me."

The Carouser shot a sidelong look at him, a look that almost, but not quite, hide the degree of calculation in his eyes.

"Tell me what you want, Gerard."

"A few things," he answered. "But I'm sure you'll agree they're straightforward. However, we must first wax poetic... and metaphysical..." He smiled. "How much do you know of a little town called Nexus?"

"It's some fleapit out in the Wastelands, centre of the warring tribes," said the Carouser. "Not much poetry there. Fi's done some experiments on the fringes of the Wastes, but it's a dustbowl. Rumour has it there's some sort of power struggle going on out there. Warlord and ... I don't know. Some religious fanatic. Why? Do you have an interest?"

"You might say that," Gerard said dryly. "I've spent some time out there, you might say. Nexus is a seat of power- not only is it a waystation between this place," he waved a hand, indicating the Enclaves, "and places beyond, but it roughly corresponds to the Courts... before the unpleasantness. You must not have visited- I love the poetry. You can't truly appreciate Hamlet until you've read it in the original Chaosian."

"Now I'm hurt," said the Carouser. "I wrote the translation."

Gerard's gaze hardened. "I want to know what you and Fiona are trying to do. Too many plans around me have failed because people have left out essential details. I want Llewella's legs restored- no more lies or stupid excuses. And when your plans come off, I want your elite-trained assortment of monsters, as you call them, in Nexus- to consolidate the power I have lost by wasting my time here."

"Llewella's legs ... go bug Caine," said the Carouser. "That was one of his twisted little japes, and he locked the code up somewhere we've never found. As for rousing the monsters and getting them to Nexus for you ... I fancy I have just the plan to achieve that. And what you can do for me, brother, in return for vast armies, is just to ensure I get one single, solitary girl from the heart of Sanctuary."

"While hiding the intention from all those who would oppose that act, I suppose," Gerard finished for him.

The Carouser simply smiled.

"In the middle of a war, if Karadon is bringing the weight of its forces against Sanctuary- and you. Do I have it right? What has prompted them to make such a desperate attempt?"

"They're running scared," said the Carouser. "Plantaxy is coming creeping to their door - and they don't know what to do. Caine has gone renegade; plantaxy is creeping ever closer to their door. They're losing - and they're striking out at the enemy they know. It seems they've already tried a strike against Gramerye - I suspect because they guessed it was the source of plantaxy. They know Sanctuary has been under my somewhat cavalier protection - I think they want to draw my attention.

"Unfortunately, things being as they are ... they've succeeded."

"And if you get this girl?" Gerard asked. "What then? What does Fiona have planned?"

The Carouser smiled.

"Fi has never let me into all her little secrets - but it doesn't take much to guess this one. What would you do with Corwin's daughter, brother?"

"Dangle her off a cliff," Gerard said. "Perhaps not in quite such a literal sense. But what do you want from Corwin?"

"Nothing," said the Carouser. "I do sometimes act for reasons other than blackmail, brother. The girl is valuable in herself. Shall we join the others?"

He smiled pleasantly at Gerard.

"Aye," Gerard said. "And... aye. After you, brother." He gestured towards the others.

Alys was frowning as she watched the two brothers turn toward them.

"We should have the Carouser swear to uphold the laws of Sanctuary while he is here," she said quietly to Amon and Delphine.

The Carouser moved back with Gerard to where the others stood.

"But of course," the Carouser said. "And what are these laws, my Lady?"

Delphine continued to wait quietly. She could not discern anything untoward from the two men's body language, but Alys still seemed uneasy.

She kept a close eye on Amon as the two Amberites returned, prepared to attempt to defend him if need be.

"Will you swear to defend and protect Sanctuary and those it protects?" Alys answered Bleys. "To do no harm to any here? And to respect all within its boundaries?"

"Certainly," said the Carouser. "No problems there. Can you think of anything I can swear upon that would render me trustworthy thereafter?"

His face was quite grave - if he was laughing, it was on some deeper level.

"Only your own blood," Alys answered gravely. "I understand there are consequences to breaking such an oath," she added.

The Carouser laughed. "If you say so," he agreed, amused.

Her green eyes moved to look at Gerard, seeking some assurance Bleys was indeed worth trusting.

She got none; Gerard's face was impassive as ever. But he didn't look concerned, rather more like a witness or a judge.

Delphine bit her lip. This was taking a good deal of time, and she couldn't help wondering what was happening in the heart of Sanctuary as they spoke. She quelled her impatience, however, and remained still, another witness to the oath.

"Very well," said the Carouser. "I swear ... on my blood .. to defend and protect Sanctuary and its monsters - and to do no harm here beyond what might prove absolutely essential and which meets with the agreement of its Guardian. As for respecting all within its boundaries ... are you quite sure you want to bind me to that? What if we encounter another manifestation of my dear not-so departed brother? Do you want me to fold my arms and watch his antics with a politely encouraging smile? Or would you like me to terminate him with extreme prejudice?"

"Actually... I do not wish to exempt you from that clause," Alys said coldly. "Because then you will have to stay with us in case there is a problem in Sanctuary. And I do not wish to have you out of our sight. You will have to rely on us for protection."

Gerard shifted his feet a little at this, but did not speak.

"Wait... brother?" Delphine said suddenly, as what the Carouser had said sank in. She glanced at Gerard. "What is - of what do you speak?"

"Not I," Gerard said. "I do not have any other... manifestations. There are a plethora of brothers and sisters and all their permutations, however... some right here in Sanctuary."

"He speaks of Brand," said Amon. "Brand the Betrayer, who wished to destroy all things and remake them in his image. For which he was killed - at least ... it was believed he was killed by Caine."

"Not nearly enough," said Bleys. "Not nearly enough."

"I have heard the story," Delphine replied. "But our guest's earlier comment suggests that... Brand... was here. That is a story I have not heard."

"Nor have I," Alys also said, moving to stand next to Delphine.

"I am not sure I know the full tale," said Amon slowly. He glanced at Gerard and Alys.

"Nor I," said Bleys. "I thought him well dead. Then suddenly he attacks me. One has to admire his persistence in holding a grudge. But some context would be nice."

"Does this have any bearing on why you request Sanctuary?" Alys asked Bleys.

"The fact that my homicidal brother is hot on my trail? What do you think?" he replied. "Look - will Jenever need for us to wait here, or can she find us? I would really like to journey on."

Amon glanced at the others as though seeking their views.

"Can she enter Sanctuary on her own initiative?" Delphine asked the Guardian.

"She has done so already," said Amon a little grimly. "I will leave people in place to escort her."

Delphine nodded.

"I suggest we leave my other daughter here to wait too," the Carouser said. "Wait here - I'll tell her as much."

He started up the hill to where Genna still waited with the horses and her followers.

Amon's gold mask was impassive but those who knew him best saw that he was troubled.

"Is this the right decision?" he said softly.

"I do not believe so," Alys answered in kind.

Delphine looked uncertain. "But is there another we could have made?" she said quietly, almost too quietly to be heard.

Alys looked up to Amon as the Carouser moved away from them. "Tell us now... what was the agreement you have with Bleys? What was the promise the creation of Sanctuary was bought with?" she asked. "How are you two bound?"

The mask regarded them steadily for a moment - Amon's expression hidden behind it.

"I will tell you - when we are in the heart of Sanctuary."

Gerard's eyes were a more figurative mask. "There may not be much time," he said. "Karadon is on the move, according to Bleys. I will tell you about it on the way."

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