At the sharp tap on the wooden panel outside, Shado rose and opened

the door.

With a warm smile, she said in Thari "Clovis, how nice to see you

again. Please, come in and join us."

"Thank you," said Clovis, he entered. "You left without your goodbye

gift ... "

He shot me a sardonic look - and then glanced around the lodge. A crease formed between his brows.

"Shado," he said, "where's Julia?"

Shado smiled, "Upstairs, asleep. She normally has a nap this time of day. If you will both excuse me, I'll just go and check on her." With

a nod to both Clovis and I, Shado headed up the polished wooden stairs to the upper level of the lodge leaving us alone for the moment.

I sat and relaxed by the fire. I wasn’t sure what Cloviss’ problem was but I was certain to find out. As if the danger to the realm wasn’t enough, it seemed I had picked up the antipathy of a cousin.

/Might as well get this over with./

My bicolored eyes loosley appraised Clovis. With a touch of amusement I said, "How have you been Clovis?"

"Refreshed," says Clovis. "Nothing like a good hard gallop in the open air to refresh you. Especially if followed by a good brisk woodland walk."

He eyed me with disfavour. "I yake it you Mama has been rather more generous in her provision of trumps. No, don't tell me. It would only make me want to lie down on the ground and pummel it with my little deet and fists. And, delightful though this place is, I don't wholly trust the floors to be perfectly clean."

He sighed, reached inside his jacket and abstracted his battered gold

cigarette case.

"Will I place myself myself beyond the pale if I smoke? And will you

join me? If you're lucky, you might get the one I laced with opium. My own version of Russian roulette."

"So," he added, "will you tell me the import of your conversation? Or

shall I demand it from the lady's lips myself?"

I looked at the floor of the hunting lodge, I considered briefly telling him that the floor was clean and if he wanted to throw a tantrum he wouldn’t get dirty from his efforts but Count Anthony’s words about anger drifted back to me.

I bit back my anger, and instead replied. "If the lady wishes to divulge the contents of our conversation I have no issues; nor do I care if you smoke as long as you don't send your... miasma in my direction."

"Lovely," said Clovis. "I think I'll check her views on my having or

lacking a miasma first."

He slide the cigarette case away.

"I trust she'll be rejoining us," he added, a little plaintively. "If

she's skipped again, I shall have to see about changing my linen more

frequently."

Shado saved me from having to respond to his caustic airs by coming back down the stairs, Julia beside her looked more awake and held her mother's hand.

Julia grinned, "Hello Uncle Clovis and Uncle Flavel." Shado smiled and

Said, "You need have no fear, Clovis. Julia, you and Flavel have dissuaded me from this course of action."

/And now all we have to do is see to it you and yours don't regret it./ I thought.

Getting up from my crouch by the fire, I smiled. "Hello Julia. It's good to see you again."

Glancing from Julia and Shado to Clovis, I added, "But now I'm afraid I must be elsewhere. It would not do to be missed."

I bowed to Julia and Shado, "Ladies," turning to Clovis I nodded my

farewell, "Clovis," and departed from the lodge.

Outside the lodge I wandered around the grounds for a bit. Discounting the road trip I’d recently made, it had been a long time since I’d hiked in this place. The cool air felt refreshing. Soon enough I’d have to be back at the party. I could see Julian’s rangers discretely maintaining security. If I could spot three of them there was probably twenty. Shado and Julian looked to be safe. Nothing much more I could do here. My gaze fell upon the Card of a certain young Chaos Lord...

The contact came quickly. Andrew looked to be in a corridor "Flavel?

How may I help?"

I grined, "It's a long story, I was hoping you might be able to pull me through."

Andrew smiled, "Of course." and extended his hand to me, pulling me through again into Tintagel.

The scent of pines and woodland forest briefly accompanied me as I released Andrew's hand. "Thank you Andrew. It's been so devilishly busy of late. How's the party doing?"

Andrew smiled, "Busy enough. Most people are through with the food now, or in the gardens."

I nodded, "Yes, I was in the gardens not too long ago. Ran across a full moon, a jewelled snake, and a strange dream. By the way, thanks for introducing me to Antonia and Danius. I didn't get a chance to chat with Danius but Antonia struck me as very, very sharp. It was good to...to state our positions."

Andrew smiled, "Yes, Antonia is one of the sharpest in the Courts. Did

you get a chance to see much of the Ways when you were in the Courts?"

I returned Andrew's smile, "I think so. I had a chance to walk with Count Anthony through what I believe was a ways when we went to visit Suhuy, and the Anti-Pattern. Excuse me, the Logrus. I can't say I'm entirely comfortable with the navigations required. Hopefully it's something that will improve with practice."

Andrew nodded, "I guess it would take a little getting used to. I find

this place a bit strange, static."

I thought about what Andrew has just said and chuckled, "To tell the truth, I'd never thought about how all this would look from the other side." I looked up and down the corridor, "I can see where it would be disconcerting. Something like being imprisoned or entombed. Rigid and unbending. No sense of flow...interesting."

Shaking myself from the bizarre train of thought I ventured another smile, "Speaking of being imprisoned, I hope I'm not keeping you from

whatever business you were about. If you are otherwise engaged I'll

certainly understand."

Andrew shook his head "I'm not." He looked at me intently, "Have you ever thought of taking the Logrus? You should be able to, if you're of

mixed blood like me."

I nodded, "The thought has crossed my mind that it should be possible, at least in theory. However, I am somewhat reluctant to expose my flesh to such machinations. Frankly, I don't see how it's possible for anyone to be able to traverse it. It looked like it would tear a person apart, or warp them into taffy."

Andrew nodded, "It does. That's why you need shape shifting to traverse

the Logrus successfully. Even then, not everyone makes it."

I laughed, "I think I see a complication. The only time I shapeshifted was when I wrestled Gerard, and it wasn't pretty I assure you. Before you ask, yes, I'm mostly recovered now."

Andrew chuckled then became more serious, "Have you ever tried shape

shifting?"

A wild picture of throwing myself off a cliff and trying to sprout wings flickered through my imagination, "No, I can't say I've ever attempted such a stunt. How would a person go about it?"

Andrew thought for a moment then answered, "The best thing I can imagine is to find an experienced shape-shifter and get them to guide you through it. Mandor's good in shape shifting, though not as good as your father I've heard."

"They probably have miles of experience I'm sure. Unfortunately we

have all been somewhat busy. Perhaps, when there's a break I'll pose

the question to one of our elders."

Andrew nodded, "Good call. I'd help you, but I'm still a bit edgy after

recently traversing the Logrus, myself."

I frowned briefly, "I didn't recall having problems recovering from the pattern. Are there side affects from negotiating the Logrus?"

Andrew nodded, "To walk the Logrus is to know madness for a time. People recover most of the time, though not always. It does tend to loosen any inhibitions though, pull suppressions out, that kind of thing."

/That would probably explain Ryoden./

"Hmmm...doesn't sound altogether like a pleasant experience. I kinda

like my inhibitions. I'm working on adding some more. Still, I know

in my heart it's something I must do. If for no other reason then to

find a balance within my soul."

I chuckled at my own posey, "...and you, Chaos Lord, will you be essaying the pattern?"

Andrew replied honestly "I don't know. What is it like to walk the

Pattern?"

I looked over Andrew's head as I recalled my ordeal, "Sort of like running a marathon in slow motion. I wouldn't recommend it unless you have excellent endurance and a rock solid sense of who you are. There's a feeling of being judged or somebody scriving a set of laws into your totality. Not like what you must or can't do. More like a merging of your entire being into the multiverse's continuum. Not just a player but actually a part of that which is. My desires and actions warp the very fabric of reality around me because I AM REALITY."

I shrugged, "I'm explaining this badly. But not even Thari is well

adapted to explaining an experience like this, or it's ramifications. I would recommend you speak with Princess Fiona, who I imagine would be your Aunt. She is something of an expert on the subject."

Andrew nodded, "Thank you, Flavel. I'll remember that. Shall we go get

some food now?"

I nodded, "Good idea. I am starting to feel famished."

With that we headed to the buffet. With my remarking with a laugh that I hoped there was food still remaining.

As we entered the room, I could see the buffet table still well stocked. Obviously Tintagel had some experience of feeding a number of Amberites.

I muttered something about being in the mood for some comfort food And proceeded to load my plate with what I could find of olives, feta cheese, flat bread, leeks, romana lettuce, oysters, and a thimble of honey. A glass of watered down wine completed my selection.

As we found a vacant table and got seated, I added the honey to my wine as another would flavor their tea.

Sitting, I had the chance to observe others I had not yet met and the actions of those I was already familiar with.

Richard and Kathy talked in low voices, their looks suggested a long

acquaintance. Mandor stood near Onora, Eleanor Chanicut with Matholim

near them.

As Andrew gathered his own food, I noticed one of the two guardian demons watching Andrew. Discretely true, but definitely watching him. The demon's employer, Ishmaela, reminded me of someone. Black hair, green eyes, strong features. I knew I had seen that face before, but with a more defined, masculine cast to it...

Closing my eyes, I held the afterimage of Ishmaela in my mind and began recalling royalty I’d met. "Green eyes, black hair..." I murmured. Only two people could I recall with that combination. Corwin obviously. The other royal I'd only met once before and that was a long time ago. He sat on a throne.

Opening my eyes I discretely pointed my fork down range at Ishmaela

and asked Andrew, "What do you know of that person with the green eyes

and black hair?"

Andrew said, "Not much. Rumour mostly. Some call her the Queen of Thieves. Others call her Queen of Demons and say she's behind a lot of the runaway demons. Hendrake honour her though I'm not sure why. Nobody knows where she came from. She does own a nightclub called 'The Edge' near to the Abyss where demons and Chaosians mix on a fairly equal basis. She plays poker with Grimble sometimes. There's less known than there is known about her. She's also reputed to be really good with that black blade she wears. Some people in the Courts think she's wonderful. Others despise her. Why do you ask?"

My eyes narrowed as I stared at Ishmaela. /Could it be? Bone structure is there given the differences in gender. The old goat certainly was known to get around./

Glancing away before I could be thought rude I shook my head, "If I was a betting man I'd say she favours her father."

Andrew glanced at me, his expression one of curiosity, "Who do you think her father is?"

My blue and green eyes appraised Andrew briefly as my right hand dropped below the table. "Okay, since we are family I guess I should make an antee in the direction of House Sawall. But don't pass this around as I'm not sure what kind of impact would ensue if it turned out to be true...or false."

The thought crossed my mind that this would be an interesting way to

determine how far I could trust Andrew on other things. /Assuming I

survived the repercussions./

Bringing my right hand into Andrew's view I held a trump card in my hand of a man with green eyes and black hair wearing a crown and holding a scepter.

Andrew raised an eyebrow slightly, "I see what you mean about the resemblance. So how do you want to go about checking this out?"

I took a sip of wine and pondered the question. At length I said, "Why would getting confirmation on such a thing be important to our realm?"

Andrew shrugged, "It's not. I'd be interested in finding out, so I

assumed you would be too." He grinned, "My curiosity normally gets the

better of me. Still, it's your call."

"Here's my call. If I'm right it could be a private thing that they

don't want to have known, and they could resent the intrusion immensely. Having Oberon resent you isn't healthy."

"Or consider if she doesn't know who her father is...well, she might

appreciate our thoughts on the matter. But assuming we tell her our

speculations and she runs over to Amber and it turns out to be true. It could change the social pecking order in Amber. We don't need that kind of destabilizing events at this time. Plus we'd end up making as many friends as enemies, with the downside being our not known who the enemies were."

"I agree though, I'm curious too. If an opportunity presents itself I might look into it, but it's too incidinerary to do anything with."

/At least at the moment. Could be a hell of an Ace in the hole though./

Andrew nodded, "You want another mystery to get your teeth into?"

I smiled, I was really starting to enjoy Andrew’s company, "Sure, what do you have?"

Andrew quietly said, "Later." as Judas approached us.

"Greetings.” Judas offered, “I hope I'm not interrupting a private conversation of great political significance?" he said with a smile. "I'm Judas, at your service."

Andrew nodded, "Andrew Sawall. I believe we're cousins."

I looked up at Judas from where I was sitting, "Flavel Abastillas. A pleasure to meet you."

Judas laughed merrily. "Why not? I just found my sister a hand's span

of days ago and got a new father, after all. Cousins are easy after that."

Judas nodded at me, a small grin still on face. "Pleasure to meet you

as well. You're not my long lost grand-uncle in disguise or anything,

I trust?"

"Not today, but I make no promises on the morrow," I quipped.

Judas took a seat, then took a long pull from his glass full of wine.

He sighed softly, looking at nothing in particular. In a soft, idle

voice, he said, "But really, I hope I didn't interrupt anything important. Truth be told, I was avoiding family." His grin returned

momentarily. "Obviously not meant to be."

I laughed sardonically, "I'm afraid your in the wrong room for avoiding family, but honestly I wouldn't take it personally Judas. There's been a lot of undiscovered brother, sister, nephew, neiece, great aunt twice removed crap going on. It's gotten so common that it stinks to high heaven of an endgame proceedings to something that happened long ago. Interesting how we all came out of the woodwork right around these negotiations, eh? Almost like it was a case of speak now or forever hold your game pieces."

Judas sipped lightly of his wine. Softly, idly, he said, "You never

notice the strings that make you dance a certain way until the dance

is done and you see you were but a marionette." A low chuckle, then

he continued, "Ah well, at least they feed us well." He begins to dig

into his plate of food.

I nodded, "Eloquently said, Judas. Though I'm not terribly worried about what has recently transpired. As you said, the food is good. And really what's happened was an exposure of the strings that have bound us. With the only result being many of us looking like deer caught in the headlights of an onrushing motor vehicle."

I smiled and took a moment to toss a couple of olives into my mouth.

Judas smiled in return. "A vehicle powered by motors? That's a good idea in theory, but what does one do when crossing Shadows? Combustion never works quite the same from one to the next."

I chuckled, "I was speaking metaphorically of course. Motor vehicles are excellent high speed transportation when moving geographically. Dimensionally, your correct, they do have issues."

Spying Ryoden looking across in my direction I raised my cup to her briefly before taking a swig of wine and continuing to talk with Andrew and Judas, "I do appreciate your frustrations about family. I myself have recently discovered both a sister and a father, along with the attendant collections of aunts, uncles, and cousins. It's a source of some embarassement when everybody knows your name and you have no idea who your talking to. Still, it's only a short term difficulty."

"Speaking of which I should probably go over and speak with Mandor

sometime. I can only imagine the Margrave would love to size up Sawall's latest..." I glanced at Andrew with a grin and raised a questioning eyebrow, "what?...acquisistion? Security being what it is."

Andrew smiled slightly "I believe the phrase our elders use is 'asset'. As the Margrave, he tends to ensure the smooth diplomacy of the House."

I stared off thinking about the wildcard I would soon be bringing, "Liability or asset we'll know soon enough." I closed my eyes briefly as I contemplated the possibilities that could ensue.

Snapping my eyes open I said, "Speaking of which, I need to speak to Prince Corwin about adding an agenda item to the conference."

Half-rising from my seat, I again sank back down into my chair. My eyes followed the purposeful and determined approach of Zeta towards Corwin. "On second thought, maybe it can wait." I chuckled darkly, "Corwin looks busier then a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs."

Andrew smiled, "If you think this is busy, you should see Chaos during

one of the festivals."

I made a mental note to research his remark about Chaos festivals later.

Ryoden approached our table after a few moments of quiet observation.

"Um-- Flavel. You didn't happen to get a message or anything, did you? Because if you did, you can ignore it."

I smiled, "Can't say I've received any dispatches lately. I've been in and out of the party so it probably missed me. Pull up a chair, Ryoden, if have time. I assume everyone has met?"

Ryoden conjured a chair and sat in it. A stool. Red. Plasticy. With

little tennis shoes on the legs. Something that would be at home in a 50’s diner.

"I think I know everyone already. But if anyone asks you to bleed on

anything, you tell them never mind. I don't need it anymore."

I briefly furrowed my brows, then shrugged, I didn’t want to know. "Fine by me. I was curious though, do you specialize in bombs or was the flash grenades your only trick?"

"I have many tricks!" Ryoden laughed. "Is your only trick grabbing

thumbs and falling?"

She dug in her pockets, and pulled out another butterfly bomb. She

handed it to me. "Here. Have fun."

I gingerly took it and set it on the table. "Thank you...I'll treasure it forever."

I paused as somewhat unsure how to broach the subject. "I thought of a grenade you might consider making that might prove useful...if your interested."

Ryoden cocked her head to the side, intrigued. "Yes? I like ideas... I

should have some time to tinker..."

"Do you tinker?"

I grinned, "Of course! Doesn't everyone? You need to see my room

sometime. I've got plans for a cross shadow derigible that I wan't

to put together sometime. I occasionally do some robotics and computer engineering work as well."

I paused, and took another quaff of wine. "The idea I had for a bomb is quite simple though it's not at all destructive or harmful to anyone if that's okay with you. Look around this room. What kind of bomb would cause the most panic do you think? Imagine tossing out a grenade that looked really nefarious. Full of sizzling smoke and sparks and looked all lethal looking. Now imagine when you pulled the pin it started to squawk in a very loud voice. I'm a thirty second time bomb! I'm a thirty second time bomb! 29, 28, 24, 20, 15, 12...I think you get the idea. It doesn't even have to explode. Just have it run up a little flag with the word boom! written on it."

She clapped her hands and laughed. "Oh! I like that idea! We must try

that right now!" She immeadiatly set to conjuring the parts and

separating them on the table. "Now-- we need a voice to use..."

Judas listened quietly, a raised eyebrow betraying his amusement at the conversation. When Ryoden began summoning parts, however, he finally spoke.

"Isn't it cumbersome to summon the parts one by one? Why don't you just get all the basic parts at once?"

"Oh, but I like to make then like this. My minis don't use screws or

anything...

"The more parts you have, the more chance things will fall apart. And

when you're talking bombs, that's a bad thing. A very bad thing."

Absentmindedly she conjured a couple of feathers and gave them to the plutonium to keep it occupied.

Andrew quietly said, "Lady Ryoden, may I suggest we continue this

construction and discussion in a side room. There's less chance of

people catching on as to what is coming that way."

Her head snapped up from her pile of parts. "Oh... Why, that's a good

idea." She smiled brightly. "You Sawalls are so smart!" She conjures

a plastic baggie (one of the ones that zips, with the yellow and blue

make green seal) and collects her parts. She deposits her element on

her shoulder, feathers, ball, string and all, and goes to seek a side

room.

"Anyone want to help? It's been a long time since I've been in a work

group."

Andrew rose from his chair, "Count me in. It's been a while since I got to work on anything practical."

I followed suit, at least we could be seen as working together. Perhaps now I was only down by 1. "Same here, I like the idea of constructing something."

Ryoden led the way, whistling some odd song from years ago, and found us a side alcove.

Andrew found a door in the back of the alcove that led into a small, plain room. Obviously for quieter talks. He turned to Ryoden, "Would you like a better table to work on?"

"Oh no-- floor is fine." She laid down her peices and placed the element on the floor.

"You know, I'd like to appologize. For leaving, earlier."

Andrew smiled and replied, "No apology necessary. It gave me a chance

to check my room out. It's still weird being in a room that doesn't

change at will."

"I never really had a room. A lab, and a cot. I had to crash near my

experiments sometimes." Ryoden started to assemble the pieces to her

bomb.

Not looking up, she said as cheerily as she could, "And I'm sorry for

thinking you were going to take me hostage. I know you're not now."

Andrew chuckled, "I'm glad you know that now. There really is no need to apologise though. I never took offence."

I noted that Andrew played the apologizing game as well. I liked him even more. House Sawall looked to be a good house.

"I don't think you can take offense to anything," chuckled Ryoden, but then her face grows serious.

"You know, the more people are nice to me, the more worried and suspicious I get."

Andrew nodded, "Sensible. I fear I'm like this with most everyone though. There's enough nastiness as there is without me adding to it."

I hunkered down next to Ryoden and looked over the parts. Hmmm...micro amps, transformers, speakers, spring release relays, sparklers, smoke ampules..." I looked up and over at Ryoden. "You think we should include a language translator component, or just go with a dial-a-language before arming sort of thing?"

"Maybe it could just beep a bunch of times in a countdown. Or just use Thari. When something says something in a regular beat, people usually assume it's a countdown.

"What if we add some lights and flashing things? For the hearing impared. Wouldn't want them to miss out."

I considered the idea with my hand on my chin. "As long as it looks incredibly dangerous and evil looking."

"OOO! I know. I could give it eyes and make it _glare_ at everyone.

And sharp pointy teeth. And maybe it can play forboding music. Like 'The Ride of the Valkyries.' DododoDOdo dododoDOdo DododoDOOdo dododoDO!" She continued humming for a minute. "Why are we making this again? Do you need the room clear?"

I chuckled, "I forsee a time where it may become desirous to affect a quick evacuation. Hopefully it won't be necessary. Think of it as an excercise in the psychology of crowd-control."

I looked at the device being rapidly shaped by Ryoden's clever hands. "Can make it arc electricity over it's surface? Nothing lethal to touch, but seriously nasty looking?"

Looking over at Andrew I said, "I take it she's the engineer in the Chaos delegation?"

Andrew smiled, "Lady Ryoden is one of the best engineers the Courts

have to offer, trust me."

Ryoden heared this an blushed. "News to me..." she whispered.

"And it must be BLACK and nefarious looking. I like the electiricty

idea-- maybe give it a nice little arua and crackling so it's very

noticable. Oh, I can't forget the safeties-- this would be messy to

go off in one's pocket."

She looks at me. "Do you want to keep this? Once it's all set up I can make another in short order."

I smiled and nodded. "I'd be delighted to hang onto one of your prototypes. Hopefully I won't ever have to use it, but if I do I'll

take satisfaction in knowing it won't injure anyone."

I leaned slightly closer to watch her work. "Don't forget the pop-up

flag that says 'boom!' I can't stand a joke without a punch-line." I

paused and then said, "and it should have the Acme manufacturing logo

on it."

Andrew grinned, "Give me a moment." His eyes lost focus and, standing nearest, I felt the same sort of queasiness I had in the presence of the Logrus. In Andrew's young eyes, there was a hint of madness.

I stood and took a couple steps back. My eyes grew wide with that which men call alarm. There was shimmering to the air that wasn't there. A sense of formulas breaking down, and glass shattering. The smell of a stock market crash, and winning the sweepstake. In the presence of personified chaos, I reached into my mind’s eye for the pattern as a gunfighter would grab for his pistol in a firefight.

I reached, but didn’t complete the gesture.

/If I'm not amongst friends, I might as well know it now./

With rigid control I forced the pattern from my reach and watched the young Chaos Lord perform his working.

Ryoden looked up from her construction and eyed me with curiosity.

"It's just Logrus," she said carefully. "He's not going to eat you or

anything. He's just getting something." She looked to Andrew with interest, while conjuring a bottle of black shiney paint, almost absentmindedly.

Belatedly I realized I must look rather silly with my back to the wall. Stepping closer I said, "I'm unfamiliar with the workings of the Logrus. It uh, looks to be much more active in it's affects then pattern."

While Andrew concentrates, Ryoden explained. "Oh, it's different, to be sure. From what I know about the pattern, they're about as opposite as it gets.

"Right now Andrew is reaching through shadow and finding something,

then he's going to pull it back. We don't have to walk to go anywhere, we just sit, and then zip! Off we go. Very neat.”

"You really haven't seen Logrus? I was sure Count Anthony had it... I

mean, he didn't use it or anything, but most everyone has it down there."

A metal label suddenly appeared in Andrew's hands which he gave to Ryoden. In bright lettering, it said 'Acme'. He smiled and said, "Here

you go. One Acme label."

I nodded, "Most impressive. I have to walk around to find things. For instance..."

I walked over to the closet door and opened it. Inside could be seen

literally hundreds of small flags labeled 'boom!'. I selected one at

random and closed the door. Okay, so I was showing off. There was a part of me that wanted to demonstrate that the pattern wasn’t a second rate power. It almost felt like a sense of competition. Strange that I hadn’t ever came across this feeling before. Then I recalled the pattern’s sentience. Hopefully being a part of something like that wouldn’t influence my actions. Another thing to monitor, I realized.

"Hopefuly this will suffice." I handed the flag to Ryoden.

Ryoden nearly glowed as she took the parts from her new necessities

producing companions.

She put the finishing touches on the bomb, then handed it to me. "Remember, you can't use it for evil. I'll sic my plutonium on you." She looked at Andrew. "Do you want something? I'm feeling creative."

Andrew shook his head, "No, but I have some ideas for projects that we can talk about later if you like."

I tossed the bluff bomb into my shoulder bag along with the other bomb Ryoden had given me. "Thanks Ryoden. If we have time later on maybe we can work up a silly-string-super-glue grenade I was thinking of. Sort of the opposite of a crowd dispersal weapon."

I smiled at Andrew and Ryoden a smile that encompassed a thousand ideas before breakfast. "Anyways. I'm thinking we should head back to the main hall before people start wondering about our absence."

She nodded. "Okay. I have _no_ clue who's watching us, though-- by the

way, I overheard one of you talking about a cross shadow transport--

was that you, Flavel? Because if you don't mind being in peril, I have another prototype. Not here though. At my lab."

Ryoden looked at Andrew. "And what kind of ideas?"

She picked up her plutonium, and a thought seemed to occur to her. She started clucking her touch at it and making random noises, apparently trying to see if it could hear.

It made its chattering sound back, answering her question. Andrew opened the door for us all. "Mostly just some ongoing projects I have. I'll explain more later. Let's get back now." and he indicated for us to precede him.

Walking with Ryoden and Andrew to the main hall, I said, "It sounds like we might all have some intriguing ideas. Maybe after all this negotiation business is taken care of we can formalize a regular exchange of ideas. Something like a Monday morning conference call

between the various houses...Barimen included."

Andrew, about to say something, coughed slightly on his words and said

Instead, "Houses sharing secrets? That would be... different."

I glanced at Andrew with an amused expression. "It doesn't have to be a trade in secrets like different kinds of bombs, or the latest in cross travel propulsion techniques. What about coordination of inter-house activities? Something like joint explorations, joint research & development, joint trade agreements, or maybe something as mundane as joint parties?"

I paused in a moment's reflection and grew serious, "I guess I'm

thinking out loud and shooting from the hip. I don't have a clue how

the houses are set up and I'm doing a good job of spouting opinions,

eh?"

Andrew smiled slightly, "You never know. Might happen yet." To me, he said, "The Houses do co-operate, but joint anythings are relatively

rare."

Ryoden skipped a bit, humming 'The Ride of the Valkyries.' "I'd like

meeting. I'm not sure I can go back to my house anyway, so maybe I'll

just build up a lab somewhere and stay there for a bit. House Ryoden.

I like that. Then I'd be Ryoden of Ryoden. With Lord Plutonium of Ryoden."

I laughed, "nium is latin for 'being of'. He would be called correctly Lord Pluto of Ryodenium or -"

I swallowed looking somewhat embarassed, "Listen to me. I've spent to

much time around instructors. Call him whatever you want."

Ryoden stuck out her tounge at the mention of 'Pluto.' "No... I don't think Pluto would work. That would be like me naming you 'human' for 'humanoid.'

"And what if he met another Plutonim? The new one would laugh at him!

And what if it was a-- well, one of the opposite sex that it met? Oh,

the self-esteem issues.... Poor little guy." She patted it on its head. "And plus, I don't even know what the sex is..."

Grinning, I shook my head and muttered, "Quiduid id eset timeo puellas et oscula dantes."

[Whatever it is, I fear the girls, even when they kiss.]