Entering inside the house, we spotted Fiona and Random leaving the drawing room. Fiona looked serene though her green eyes glittered like emeralds. Something that passed between them must have struck a nerve. Random looked cheerful and said brightly "Hiya kids, ready to travel on?"

I imagined Random in clown costume handing out lollipops to children in a circus.

With a quick glance and my elders I murmured "Semper Paratus" When in doubt, say it in Latin.

 "Give me a sec to grab my bag & sword." With that I took the stairs to my quarters. Soon returning with my bag. A quick rummage in the umbrella stand near the door and a sword was again at my side..

"I'm still ready," Kit grinned, putting her hands in her pockets. She seemed blissfully full of pastries and orange juice.  She asked, "Mind if I sit in the back?  I'm a bit sleepy," her grin widened at the request, though she did  appear a bit more wearied than she had when she first arrived.

Fiona nodded to her  and said, "A good idea to get some sleep before Amber. Once we arrive there, I will be giving you some basic instruction." Fiona then led the way out of the house, Random cheerfully strolled behind her.

As Random settled into the driver's seat, Fiona took the front passenger seat. Patiently, they waited for Kit and I to get settled in the back before heading off.

Taking an empty seat in the back,  I took a moment to make myself comfortable. I noticed that Random was behind the wheel, so I ensured my seatbelt was fully functional and well secured. Random's abilities as a driver could be summed up as getting you there early or not at all.  Don't get me wrong, he's a hell of a driver, but's it can be hell on the passengers.

Reaching into my shoulder bag I pulled out my latest read entitled, "Meditation for Dummies." A good book, and I've been interested in the affects of meditation on the physiological and psychological process.  Who knows, It might even relax me a bit.

While I busied myself finding my place in the book, Kit squirmed next to me trying to get comfortable.

Ignoring her predicament, I brought the book up to my face at tried to find where I had last left off.

"For if God is God, (S)He is everywhere, in everything. Then visualize your deity filling someone you know. Then see Him in everyone on earth. Then, in everything that lives on earth - within all things in the air, in the waters, on and in the-lap!?!" Momentarily confused I looked down and saw that Kit had balled up her lab coat and was using it as a pillow.  With her head and pillow now resting in my lap comfortably Slightly nonplused I  tried to get back to my reading.

"Now, see Kit filling the Earth, the Sun and the whole solar system. Now see Kit filling the Milky Way and then as big as all the galaxies. See and feel the unity of everything in the universe filled with Kit and realize that the same energy filling everything is filling every atom, every molecule, every cell that makes you up and Kit--"

After several minutes attempting to read I determined I was losing something in the translation, or possibly Kit was too distracting. Setting my book aside I discovered that my arms were over Kit and I didn't know where to rest them. 

We didn't cover this in courtly protocol Fiona!

After several moments of indecision I finally put my left arm across Kit's torso with my hand resting on her right arm.  My right arm I squeezed to my side and using my right hand...more indecision, I gently cupped the top of Kit's head.  The whole operation reminded me of exploratory surgery. Seeing that Kit hardly stirred I was able to gradually relax, though my thoughts were many

Thankfully, Random drove off smoothly, taking his time and being careful for a change. Within a few minutes, we had left the Shadow and were speeding our way to Amber.

Taking advantage of the relative quiet (no pun intended) I reviewed the events of the last 24 hours.   Fiona, my dear mother, had shown up at my doorstep unanounced worried about possible assination attempts on my generation.  Going to her place, she talked about the Cerdok theory, and shadow storms. Over dinner I discussed some of my thoughts on the nature of  universal properties.  The next day my Uncle Random shows up with his daughter Kit.  Leaving the elders to talk amongst themselves. Kit and I eat brunch.  I discover Kit is only hours into discovering her heritage.  Before I know it I've been talked into walking the pattern with her.  Now all of us are heading to Amber. I need more info on pattern lenses, shadow storms, the Cerdok theory.

An hour into my reverie I was interrupted by the sight of rocking-horse people eating marshmallow pies.   The sight was so bizarre and unexpected, even for shadow riding, that I didn't know what to think until I recalled the lyics of the song that plagued me when I travel shadow.  I glanced sharply at the driver's seat thinking it might be a joke of Random's but if it was I didn't see any indication from him.  Moments later people and pies disappeared into the distance as we continued our journey.

Interested in how Random shifted shadow,  I studied the scenery with an eye towards the additions and subtractions and at what pace they were being worked.   It's always a good idea to learn a new technique, and Random had been around a lot longer then me. An interminable time later the forest around us grew in size and majesty. Lowering my passenger window, the rich scents of pine and flowers Filled my nose. Sunlight speared through the canopy of trees formed a patternless mosaic on the road and nearby underbrush.  A horn sounded somewhere distant and in response Random honked the car horn in coded sequence. I realized then that the Arden Rangers must be watching.  Amazingly, Kit merely stirred and went back to sleep. 

An hour later, after negotiating mountain passes and a winding road, a range of mountains could be seen near the horizon.  We passed through a lush valley that reached to the ocean's edge.  I took  notice that I was once again wearing a cloak instead of my bomber jacket.  In the distance a lighthouse pulsed it's light across the waves.

The car coughed momentarily, but managed to stay running  The engine sounded rougher though. Twenty minutes later the engine died and Random pulled the car off the road.  The mountains appeared now to rise from the ocean's edge and pass through wisps of cloud.  A far peak could be seen that sparkled golden in the sun.  Amber. Near the car, I saw a group of saddled horses tethered to a clump of trees. 

I prodded Kit and said, "Rise and shine Kit."

In response, Kit sucked in a deep breath and, rolled onto her back and smiling sleepily up at me. "Thanks.  Your leg is a great pillow...hope I didn't put it to sleep."  Her eyes twinkled, and then she sat up and rubbed at her eye with the heel of her palm. Looking out the window she spied the tethered horses. Her face lit up and she said,   "I have *never* been on a horse before!  N'gha ha ha!"

Random grinned, and said, "Well, this is your chance then. C'mon, Kit." as he got out of the car. Fiona too exited the car, though I thought I she appeared somewhat distracted. For a brief moment, I thought she looked lost in sorrow.

Exiting the vehicle l stretched and rubbed the feeling back into my legs.  Catching Kit's eyes I said, "It's really easy to do.  Just watch what we do." And don't don't try any experiments. .

"Ummm..."  Kit looked at the horses, then back to the trunk of the car.  "How are we going to transport all of the stuff?"

I  walked over to the trunk of the car, and peered over Kit's shoulder to surmise the contents.  "What all do you have?", I asked.

She pointed to a stack of ten textbooks, along with two leather bags containing a few changes of clothes and other essentials.  A blue toothbrush handle pokes out from the edge of the zipper.  "I can't leave the books behind," she said sadly.

I was about to tell her just that but it seemed that wasn't an option. Finally I said, "We can divvy up the textbooks amongst the saddlebags on each of the horses.  There should be room for that.  As for the rest...you'll find most any mundane thing you need in Amber itself."

"I can hold one of these...and this one of clothes is soft enough to sit on!"  Kit looked pleased with herself. An image of Kit trying to ride a horse for the first time encumbered as she described came to me.

"I'll hold one, and Random can hold the other.  You'll be wanting to hold on to the horse and be sitting on the saddle, trust me."  With that I tossed one of the leather bags to Random.  But before I could  begin sorting books Fiona gently pushed me aside."I think I can render assistance." she said. 

Fiona closed the hood of the trunk on the books.  As she murmured an Incantation I saw whisps of smoke rise from around the car.  When she lifted the hood, a pile of books the size of matchboxes were all that remained.  "It might be easier to carry these texts in a more portable form."

Kit craned her head forward in disbelief.  "Wow..." she gulped, completely amazed.  "I want to learn how to do that," she murmured quietly as she picked up the tiny textbooks and cradled them in the palm of her hand.  She grinned at me then and said,  "Look!  Now I can do a 'little' reading, heh heh heh!"

I winced at Kit's pun and went over to help Random with adjusting  the saddle straps on the mounts.   I could just hear Fiona whisper to  Kit, "The spell will wear off in a couple days. So don't forget to unpack them or you might discover a real mess."

Kit  laughed at that and thanked Fiona heartily. I watched as Kit  put her labcoat back on, The miniature textbooks she slipped into a pocket. She wanderd over to the horses, and stared at them with awe.  "My laws, they're so much prettier in real life!"

A fragment of song came to me then from long ago.

"Hey and away we go,

Through the grass,

Cross the snow.

With you're your big, brown, misty face…

I'd rather be with you then flying through space!"

I'd always enjoyed a ride on a hay-burner when given the chance.  It reminded me of other times less complicated.  Finished with adjustments Random vaulted on to one of the stallions and had it rear-up in an inspired feat of equestrianism.

Kit stumbled back surprised, and was unable to tear her eyes away from the sight.  I turned to her before she could do something silly and said; "That is how NOT to mount a horse!"

She snapped her fingers, and looked vaguely disappointed.  Fiona gracefully, I was happy to see,  mounted her steed while chuckling at Random; "Show off."

I Provided a brief set of instruction on mounting her horse and helped Kit into the saddle all the while holding the reins.

Once in her seat, Kit looked around from her vantage point.  A slow, soft smile spread on her face, and then she looked down at me.  "Thanks!"

I Climbed into my own saddle and the four of us set off at a slow pace.  "Always a pleasure."   And I was glad my voice was slower then my heart.

After a few moments of trial and error, Kit finally found a way to get her horse to trot beside mine.  "How many times before have you been here?"

"I used to live here along time ago.  Not for long.  Was maybe two years all told.  Since then I've ventured back a 3 or 4 times.  The last was maybe twenty-five years ago."

"It's really amazing here," Kit turned her head at the sound of  a birdcall.  "Why don't you live here instead of in the other dim--Shadows, I mean?"

I Smiled at Kit, "You feel it to? Yeah, everything seems more vibrant.  The air richer, the sunlight finer.  It's the reality of the place impacting you.  After a bit you get used to it.  Like the smell of flowers that are always present. "

Ask Dante, was not he who said, "tis better to rule hell then serve in Heaven?"

And sometimes Heaven isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Kit glanced around, and spotted a bright blue one, she leaned forward in her saddle...and I sucked in my breath as she came close to toppling out of it...but she plucked the blossom and managesd to yank herself back up.  She inhaled deeply, and released her breath with a happy sigh.  "I want to move my lab here. This is really something else!"

Random looked back and laughed, "Well Kit it would certainly be safer!" 

Seeing Kit's puzzlement I said, "He's referring to the fact that chemical reactions in the true reality that is Amber are muted. Gunpowder for instance, does not work."

"You mean...this is the land where stuff doesn't blow up???"  Her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.

"And that", I pated my shortsword, "is why most of the family place a heavy reliance on naked steel, rather then traipsing around with flamethrowers.  Since each dimension can have different natural laws, you never know till you try if a gun will work."

Kit looked at my blade for a long moment.  "I did take a fencing class during one semester in college...it was kinda fun.  Are you good at swordplay?"

A wry grin crossed my face, "by our family's ranking I'm an amateur." 

I nice way of saying that compared to anyone in the family, I sucked.  It's not that I'm imcompetent with A blade, it's just the family is so incredibly war-like.  I remember Benedict giving me a disgusted look after a very brief spar.  I believe his comment was, "Reaction adequate, timing adequate, no killer instinct."

"Then what would I be in the same comparison?" she grinned.

I shrugged, "I have no idea, perhaps we can cross blades sometime.  I know I could certainly use the practice."

And it's always good for my ego to get trounced.

"Yeah, me too, it's been awhile.  Here," she passed me the flower.  "Matches your eye, you should wear it!" she grinned evilly.

"The lady is kind."  I accepted the flower, and as customary when a lord receives a gift from a lady I neatly clipped it onto my cloak as a talisman.  Kit seemed please with the gesture.

We traveled the rest of the day with frequent breaks and diversions.  The group of us made camp near the base of  the mountains toward late evening. Random busied himself taking care of the mounts while Fiona departed to gather some provisions.   Using flint and steel I began to build a fire.

Kit paced around to look for firewood.  She gathered what she could, and dumped it next to me.  Then she went off to search for more.  She seemed a little unsure of herself making camp. But I could tell she was trying hard to be useful.

After her second load of firewood I  mentioned, "Should be enough for now.  Now if I can ever get this fire to start."  After several minutes I finally got some tinder to smolder.  Minutes later I managed to coax a small fire.   "It's a lot easier with a butane lighter."

"They don't work here, or you don't have one?" she asked.  Crouching next to me she helped feed the flames with some dried moss. 

"Complex mechanisms, with tiny moving parts can be somewhat unreliable this close to the pattern."

Kit tipped back until she leaned on her hands, still staring at the fire.  "This place...are there any dangerous wild animals to study?"

Fiona returned with a picnic basket in each hand. Seating herself near the fire she began to dish up the evening meal.  I'm continuously amazed at my mother's abilities. If I went to forage, I might return with some berries, nuts and mushrooms.  She of course, finds a ready cooked meal with Plates and silverware.

Watching the deepening shadows I returned my thoughts to what Kit had asked, "At the edge of light there is always darkness."  Shaking my head I ventured a small grin, "That's to say, sometimes we get visited with a monster that falls out of shadow into Amber.  Usually the locals report it, and it makes great sport with many nobles vying to slay the beast."

Kit frowned.  "Why would they make a game out of it?"

Having finished grooming the horses and tethering them off, Random approached and hunkered down next to the fire and said, "Imagine living in Amber for hundreds of years.  Now imagine being called to hunt down some rampaging critter say twice a year.  After maybe the 300th time a person has to do this it get's kinda boring.  So to make it more interesting we start keeping score."

With a wide grin Random looked at Fiona, "Who's top the list in beast hunting Fi?"

Fiona glanced up at Random as she served out food, "Julian, who else?"

After the evening meal, Random volunteered to take first shift at guard duty.  Fiona mentioned to both Kit and me that we should get a good nights sleep as tomorrow would see us in Amber and could promise to be a very full day.

Kit nodded and  pushed herself to her feet.  As she rubbed at her neck and shoulders.  "This is pretty exciting," she ventured a  nervous smile in my direction,  "Still seems pretty unbelievable, it's all happening so quick."

"That's because everything that's been happening is new to you.  Trust me, in fifty years it will seem a lot more routine."

"Fifty years..." she shook her head, still kneading her neck with her fingers.  "I'm not even half that age yet."

I pulled a blanket up over my  shoulder and said, "Everyone has to be young sometime."

The morning arrived sooner then I expected.  It seemed Kit had discovered that riding a horse left one's person sore in the most interesting of places.  I noted that Random had not stirred from where he stood vigil.  Probably all night.

A groan escaped Kit. I could see she looked uncomfortable.  Getting to my feet I noted A few aches and pains from my own ride.  Damn if it hadn't been awhile. 

I mentioned this to Kit and  she chuckled.  "As much as I don't like seeing friends in pain, it's nice to know I'm not alone in this, heh, heh!"

Breakfast consisted of dried fruit and watered down wine.   With the morning chores taken care of the we broke camp and soon arrived at a narrow staircase that wound it's way sharply up a steep cliff.

Random dismounted with casual grace.  It was obvious he Didn't sufferi any ill effects from the previous day's journey.  Fiona got off her horse and she too seemed at ease. I wondered privately if Fiona was just masking any pain she felt. Her willpower was such that I think she could suffer an amputation without missing A beat in conversation.

Turning to Kit, I said, "The top of these stairs is our destination."

Kit looked dismayed as she stared up the long path. Though, I had to hand it to her, she didin't voice any doubts or complaints.  "Best get started then, huh?"

The stairs were narrow and zig-zagged up a sheer face of the mountain.  The steps were so narrow that we climbs single-file.  A false step would mean disaster so frequent rest breaks were maintained.  Halfway up a thought came to me.  Taking care that nobody could see my action, I drew my card from the deck of trumps I carried..

I  whispered over the wind to Kit, "Did anyone give you a deck of cards?"

"That's a funny thing to ask for," she replied, knitting her brow.  "Nope.  Why?  Are you a card player too?"

I passed my card to her then.  "Keep this and if you get separated from us or need help fast focus on the card.  This isn't the place to explain how it works.  And only use it if your in trouble.  It's like a magical telephone. 

Kit stared briefly at the card I had given her.  "Tuck it away and don't let anyone know you have it."

Kit nodded and slipped it into her pocket "Thanks...you've been really nice to me!" she positvely beamed at me and I felt my face warm inspite of the wind.

"If some elder ever does gift you with a set of cards, you can see fit to return my card.  Cards work best as a complete deck."

Alternating resting and climbing, we arrived at the top just after the mid-day meal.

The view at the top of Kolvir was, as usual,  beyond breathtaking. Immediately below Kolvir sat Amber City, a sprawling, brightly multi-coloured patchwork of roofs, gardens, streets and squares filled with people almost as diverse as the colours of the city. In the city's harbour sat a number of tall  ships, some with furled sails, others with sails unfurled making preparation to sail. Though most were clearly trading vessels, some were obviously warships; sleek, three decked frigates armed with a combination of cannon and other more arcane armament.

To the west of Kolvir and Amber City I saw the ocean so blue as be near the azure shade of the sky.  White surf broke gently against sandy beaches.

I could see the coastline extend to the edge of the dark and ancient forest of Arden at which point the sandy beaches were obscured behind the line of the forest, rich and green.

Between the city and the forest could be seen green fields with the occasional estate. All looked alive and well cared for, filled with life and growth.

Then turning, I saw Castle Amber itself. A building that seemed almost to have grown from the mountain on which it sat, strong and beautiful like a great eagle looking down on the lands below from its lofty perch. It looked like the sum of all dreams of castles and yet was beyond all such pale shadows of itself.  Random smiled, amd addressed me and Kit "Welcome to Amber."

Kit's gaze went dreamy she gazed out over the land of Amber.  Her hands, clasped tightly to her heart, trembled just slightly and she swayed a little.  "I'd say it was a dream, if it didn't feel more real than my whole life before this moment..."

My years as a trauma surgeon took in the classic syptoms of shock.

Her eyes rolled back and with a happy, contented sigh, she crumpled in a dead faint with a wide grin plastered on her face.

I managed to catch her head but the rest of her impacted on the ground.  A quick visual appraisal showed her breathing so I wasn't too worried. I turned to Fiona with a grin.  "I guess we can fore go the nickle tour for the moment."

Random nodded and took a Trump from his pocket, putting one hand on Kit, he nodded to me and Fiona.  "See you both later." and in a rainbow swirl, Random and Kit were gone.

I stared at the disappearing prismatic spray.

Why did we bother to drive, ride, and climb all this way if we could trust the use of trumps?

With a sigh I turned to Fiona.  "Is this part of the master plan or are we making this up as we go along?"

Fiona shrugged "We're improvising. Let's go get settled." and she turned and walked through the Castle Gate, nodding to the guards on the gate as they saluted.

As I walked beside Fiona  I said, "I'm all for getting settled.  Hopefully my old room is...still available."

It had been over twenty years.  I privately was wondering if they hadn't put my stuff in storage and let some other relative use it.

Fiona smiled back at me and said, "It is."

A person could do a lot worse then have Fiona as a mother.  Her ability to anticipate was priceless.

Pausing a moment I casually studied a new piece of artwork that I hadn't seen previously, "Am I scheduled for any activities this day, or do I have a chance to avail myself of Amber's library?"

Fiona replied quietly "Your day is your own, Flavel, though I would welcome your company later. I normally have some tea and light refreshments at five."

With a understated flourish of my cloak and left hand extended palm up, I bowed to my mother.  "I will try to be punctual."

Echos of boots down marble corridors polished to a mirror sheen.  The sounds fading long after I had stopped at a familiar wooden door.  A door different from all the others in that it has no lock.  Not that I'm alien to being security conscious.  It's just that I hadn't been able to find a lock that couldn't be picked by my elders.  At one point my training included having practical jokes played on me with amusing traps in my room. I finally foregoed locks entirely and relied on recalling how I left the room.  The jokes stopped and the habit has been with me ever since. It's even saved my life once or twice. At length I entered the chambers I once called my own.  Chambers that have laid vacant these past twenty odd years.  Pausing at the threshold my eyes drank in the room's contents.  Vision caressed the objects that lay within.  Recalling how I left it, I noticed a coaster on the desk a quarter inch off center.  A flute on the upper shelf was reversed. 

//But what would you expect?  The stewards must dust occasionally.//

Slowly I walked through the room, careful not to touch anything, I silently inventored my room.  Surgical Kit neatly arranged on the middle shelf, half finished sheet music on the coffee table, new blankets on the bed of a slightly different style then was previous.  At length, I was satisfied that nothing significant had been added or subtracted, so I again departed.

A wide column of stairs. Tapestries of Unicorn rampant.  Double doors of polished oak bound in gold. I stepped onto plush carpet that masked all sound, and into the halls of knowledge;  the Amber castle library. 

Beginning my research anew, I  looked for books on Cerdok's theory, Pattern Lenses, Shadow Storm reports, or any odd subject that might catch my eye. 

I  found references to Cerdok's Theory in an obscure work, penned by some dude named Delwin from some time ago. It proposed the interaction on Shadow of a Real realm known as Cerdok, accessed only at a few key points throughout Shadow.  Some stable.  Most not, the latter taking the form of vortex like storms. Delwin went on to propose in the small work the possibility of creating an artificial gateway to access the realm of Cerdok, possibly with the side effect of creating the vortex-like Shadow Storms.

Interesting.  Shadow storms as gateways.  I wondered privately how I could enter Into a shadow storm without getting toasted. Maybe by holding a vision of the pattern?

Pattern Lenses were mentioned in a concise treatise on the more advanced properties of Pattern. The author being my mother.  I wondered if she had placed the book in the library just so I could find it.  The book went on to say that the Pattern Lens was a way of looking at the universe through the filter of a raised Pattern.

Lastly I found some Shadow Storm reports that indicated a sharp rise about twenty years ago then an equally sharp reduction to the previous levels. Presently it seemed that, Shadow Storms were again appearing to be on the rise... I wondered privatetly why the big deal about investigating them now if it was some sort of natural cycle.  Maybe it wasn't.

I carefully put the books back where I found them.  I guess I could have dumped them or even better kept them on my person but I couldn't bring myself to steal the books.  Seemed too much a crime against too grand a library so I left Empty handed but not empty headed.  I descended the staircase all the while thinking, "Shadow storms, Cerdok, and pattern.  Two I cannot investigate currently.  One I can now."

I desparately needed to review the image of the pattern.