Watching the last of the guests depart, I considered Fiona's Plans or rather, my lack of understanding any of them. Why spring a dinner party? Was Brand's arrival unplanned like it appeared to be, or was it staged that way? The barest jerk of my chin betrayed my thoughts in motion. Turning to Fiona I stated, "Was an interesting dinner party. I had no idea the guest list would be so auspicious."

Fiona smiled wryly, "What began as a simple supper with Winter escalated."

I rubbed an eyebrow absently, "Yes, it would appear so. I am impressed with Brand's children. On the surface they appear quite civilized and well educated. My first impression being that they will do well here."

Fiona remained quiet for a moment then replied, "And your second impression?"

Keeping the amusement out of my face I replied, "Training is one thing. Breeding and natural inclinations are another. I walked away with a distinct impression that many of them are capable of doing nearly anything. The looks that passed from face to face were alternatingly savage, and kind. With no transition. Winter's half finished sentences were suggestive towards...violence. In short, they bring much in the way of style to the castle..." He shrugged, "Another part of me thinks; there goes the neighborhood."

Fiona smiled and answered, "They are certainly a mixed group, I agree. Though their pasts share some common elements."

I nodded in return. "Richard is obviously the senior of those that were present. He seemed mature. He has Farve's, excuse me, Brand's temperment, but such traits seem tempered. Hard to say given just one meeting."

Fiona nodded, "You are correct in your summation. Richard is Brand's eldest son and indeed, one of the oldest of your generation. He strives to avoid the worst of the traits he has inherited from his father, for whom he bears little affection."

"Yes, it did seem that way."

Fiona nodded, "What do you know of how Duncan came to Amber?"

I looked up at the ceiling briefly as I recalled what little I knew of a Cousin I had never met. "I've been away from Amber for a bit so what I know is either completely accurate and very little, or suggestive and unreliable. Duncan was sired by Brand, but Julian raised him as his step-son. This seems a little extreme even for Brand so I can only guess that Father and Son had a falling out that was an order of magnitude worse

then the current relationship between Richard and Brand. How Julian figures into this I have no idea."

Fiona gestured for me to take one of the fireside seats as she poured some brandy for us both. "First things first. What did you wish to discuss with me?"

Accepting the drink I swirled liquour in the sniffer and briefly inhaled it's fragrance. Glancing at Fiona I murmered, "French Martell? Yes, the question that I've been holding all this evening. Please forgive my loquaciosness. It's a technical question really.

Is there a way to hide the property that identifies us as Pattern initiates?"

Fiona took her seat, smiling a little. "Yes, there is. It's part of advanced training in the Pattern. Why do you ask?"

/How did I know that question was coming?/ I sighed. "I might find myself soon in a situation where the fact that I am a pattern initiate could be detected by people who may not care for our kind."

Fiona nodded, "So I am given to understand. Why do you think though the emnity is there?"

"It may be there. It may not. The possibility remains till dispelled one way or another. I would preferr my bases covered. Obviously I cannot acquire advanced training as a weekend activity. Let's look at it another way. How is it people can detect use of

Pattern accross shadows. Speculate that the people who are detecting and tracking are themselves not a pattern initiate."

Fiona replied, "All powers of sufficient reality have, at advanced levels of use, the potential to detect use of other powers across Shadow. This is known as using the Lens of whichever power one happens to be aligned to."

"So in affect reality can easily perceive reality. Interesting..." I casually seated myself and took a sip of the brandy. Fiona sipped her brandy and said, "Under the Pattern Lens for example, objects of reality stand out like blips on a radar screen. With

sufficient skill, one can examine these objects from afar."

I smiled, "I was afraid it would be something like that. But if it's like radar and I cannot jam it with my level of skill perhaps there is a way to...saturate the radar screen. Is there a way to charge objects with pattern for a short period of time?"

Fiona nodded, "It is indeed possible to release a short burst of Pattern that would obscure. However, the effect is usually localised."

I chuckled, "The effect is for it to be detected for a period of time to those who are actively looking for flotsam bits of reality in a sea of shadow. Assuming enough of them were created ahead of time and suddenly dispersed throughout a shadow would this prove sufficent to slow a person from being found?"

Fiona considered the question, "Possibly. It would be greatly dependant upon the skills involved." She looks at him for a moment "There are more immediate matters at hand."

"By all means, please speak of matters important."

Fiona shrugged, "Immediacy, not necessarily importance. After the funeral, Oberon would like you to be a neutral observer at a conference between representatives of Amber and Chaos."

I went still at my mother’s implications. "I've sworn fealty to Amber. What does Oberon mean by a neutral observer? I don't believe I've done anything to merit my allegiance being dismissed."

Fiona smiled, "Nobody is dismissing your allegiance, Flavel. Each side is bringing their own observer. It simply means that your duty is to report to your liege of what you see without bias and if need be, confirm or deny doubts of due process."

I shook my head, "I see what your getting at. I report the proceedings directly to the king of what transpires. Accountable to nobody present, and thus unbiased in what I observe and what I report. That neutral observer statement threw me."

Fiona nodded, "Now, why do you think we need the conference?"

"Bleys explained some of this in passing. He had said that Duncan was part of a treaty. His death has caused the treaty to fall into disarray. As I haven't read the treaty yet, I don't know who the agrieved party may be. I was planning on doing some research on this latter on."

Fiona was about to reply when there came a knock at the door. A brief flash of irritation crossed her face and she answered "Enter." The door opened and Benedict entered the room. He seemed as calm as ever, but I spotted a brief flicker of... something in my mother's eyes.

As propiety demanded I rested my brandy on the nearby coffee table and rose adroitly

to my feet. In the presence of an elder and all that. Not that I minded. I both

like and respected Benedict. Mostly because he was didn’t play political games, and

partly because he and I stayed out of each other’s way. He was a paladin and I was

a poet. A crude analogy but close enough to be accurate.

Benedict nodded and said, "Stay, Flavel. This also concerns you."

I held myself poker faced. I wasn’t planning to leave. But it didn’t seem appropriate

To correct Benedict. Something was up. I decided though to remain standing. I turned

my head to better judge Fiona's expression.

Fiona seemed tense and was watching Benedict intently. Very strange indeed. I didn’t care for the idea of being between the sorcerous supreme, and the master of arms with them both being as tense as they appeared. I figured if hostilities broke out my chances of survival would not be awesome. Time maybe to be polite.

Turning to face Benedict once again, I smiled and said, "It's a rare pleasure for us to see you...your highness."

Benedict nodded in my direction and then turned to Fiona, "I have brought Faile."

Fiona paled, "Why? She's safe where she is. She has no knowledge."

I racked my brains for a moment. Who was Faile? I was blessed with a memory both Eidetic and photographic. If the name was ever dropped I would have recalled it…and yet…nothing. I decided if the conversation was to include me, as Benedict had mentioned, I should mention this up front. So I shruged and said, "Who's Faile?"

Fiona was quiet for a long moment, then answered "She's your younger sister."

Stunned, I flopped back in my chair and took a long swig of brandy, "Well yes, that would explain why I don't know her. Are you certain this concerns me Benedict? It never has before."

Okay, so I was reacting without thinking but at least I didn’t explode. The revelation was pure Fiona, and I’d been hit with one or two others in my time. Nothing quite this significant so my reactions weren’t too bad all things considered. Benedict on the other hand…

Benedict was stiller than I had ever seen him and I began to realize that my dear uncle was angry. Quietly, he answered "Your mother has seen fit to keep secrets from all of us and yet place others of your generation in danger by playing on emotive parents."

He took a step forward. "Now, Random is undergoing surgery, Kit is at best unbalanced, Bleys is nursing his own wounds and a Golden Circle Shadow has seen hostile action from an enemy force. Your experiments, Fiona, have upped the stakes. There may be a chance if

we actually work with the Courts. Do whatever you have to do to enlist your husband's aid. I would suggest beginning with his children. You will also be solely responsible for Kit's recovery. I have placed her under guard to which you alone will have entry. Do I

make myself sufficiently clear?"

Fiona nodded once, sharply. Benedict then turned to face my direction. "Despite what you may have heard to the contrary, you have two heritages to be proud of. If you have any further questions after this night, seek me out." With that, he left the room in long strides.

I blinked once...twice. After a moment's look at the door from which Benedict departed I took another sip of brandy. The mind is a curious device. I’ve trained mine in a particular way that when flooded with enough information that shocks me sufficently that I can wall it off temporarily. It’s a voluntary reaction and I flowed with it. So it was that I could act somewhat normally and turn to Fiona and say, "You know, I think that's the most I've ever heard Benedict say at one time. We were discussing my role as a neutral observor at the negotiations..." I had no desire to go into a discussion of what had been revealed, whatever that was. The room was compromised with so many people having been so recently through it.

Fiona took a seat, sipping her own brandy. After a long moment, she replied, "How unstable was Kit to begin with in your opinion?"

"Kit is spontaneous, infectiously zany, fun loving, free wheeling, and generally a pleasure and a pain to be around. Unstable? Maybe by our definition. But I wouldn't attempt to diagnose her as mentally ill until you get an idea of where she's coming from. If you do, let me in on it will you? I'm still wondering."

Fiona replies "I will need to assess her state now certainly."

I hadn’t thought her to be that nutty, but maybe she was showing indications of being truly out of control. I guess being new to the Royal Family could do that to a person. She had felt out of her league, and given that she’d fainted at the sight of our castle it wasn’t improbable. I should visit her soon. As soon as my ever growing laundry list of things to do could be set aside. Speaking of which I needed time to think, there was stuff said here recently that needed review. I wondered why I had walled it off.

I stood, "She's a puzzle alright. I must take my leave of you. I feel the need to be alone. Events today have certainly been a series of revelation."

Fiona nodded, "Certainly." For a moment, Fiona almost looks vulnerable and she adds "Seek me out later, Flavel. There is much we need to discuss." She smiled and the polite control was back "Until then."

The funny thing about discussions is that both parties need to have information in order to discuss something. Otherwise it’s just a briefing. No, I would need to get some facts by myself before meeting with her again. What was it that Benedict had said that set her, and probably myself, off so badly?

I smiled back at Fiona as I opened the door to let myself out, "I know you too well to think your subterfuges are nefarious. Benedict may have learned some things that are indicative. But he does not see everything and he is operating as if he does. Take care

mother."

A half-truth, but in Fiona’s state of agitation I doubt she noticed.

She smiled a farewell as I left.