Seeing Kit duck into the cave. I kicked my horse to renewed effort. With a

thunder of hooves I approached the cave. My slouch cap had gone missing and

my cloak flew behind me. Reaching the cave I dismounted and quickly led my

horse inside. Both my mount and I dripped sand and dust from our ride.

Turning to Kit I stated, "Good idea heading for a cave. The sandstorm should

not be an issue here."

I began inventorying my saddle bags. "Any chance you have a light source

available? We may need one if the sandstorm proves too intense and," I

glanced into the cave's darkness, "further in does not look well illuminated

either."

"I don't think so," she murmured, rifling through her own saddlebags. She

dumped some random things on the ground. "No... No, sorry, not a thing."

Examining the surroundings and alarmed at the continuing decrease in available

light, I pulled out my trumps. "Let's see Fiona, Benedict, Caine. Caine will

work. Oops, wait a minute, that's Corwin." Whoever that was. After a couple

of moments I had Random's card in hand.

Competing with the descending gloom I began to focus my awareness into the

card. Without sparing a glance at Kit I extended my hand in her general

direction and said, "Give me your hand Kit. This is going to be close."

Random image quickly took on depth almost immediately. The image changed from

the devil-may-care portrait of the rennisance courtier to the somber, and

stressed visage of a worried father. I could see a degree of relief in

Random's eyes as the little, blonde haired man said, "C'mon through quickly.

Everything is being battened down and shut up here."

I extended my hand, all the while holdng onto Kit's hand. In a rainbow

shimmer we disappear from the cave.

Kit and horses, and yours truly appeared in the middle of a hallway. Good

thing it wasn't a broom closet. Standing near us were Random and Daniel.

Servants lead off the horses immediately.

Random's eyes quickly scanned over us, checking for injuries. In a concerned

tone, he asked, "Everything alright?"

"Got a grain of sand in the eye...but it's gone now," Kit grinned.

Random then turned to Daniel, "How is Salome doing? I heard about the state

she came back in."

Releasing Kit's hand, I stepped closer to Random and Daniel and asked in a

voice roughened from the storm, "Did anything happen to Salome? Last I saw

she was diverting the Vortex's attention from the rest of us."

Random quietly replied, "As I heard it, Salome came back with some really bad

wounds, one open and the length of her arm, and envenomed with an unknown,

lethal, magic-resistant toxin. How is she doing now, Daniel?"

Kit folded her arms, her brow darkening slightly...but said nothing.

Daniel nodded, "That's true. She was...hurt...but she managed to fight off the

toxin. She'll be well. Our... She just needs to rest." He smiled wryly.

"Caine chased me out of her room - I'm supposed to be resting myself."

Random smiled, "Well, thanks for letting us know how Salome is. Maybe a rest

would do all of you some good. There's not that much to do while the storm's

going on anyway. The Efreeti reckon it will be a few hours anyway." With that,

he nodded to the small group and walked away, the look on his face thoughtful.

I watched Random walk away. The sand in my boots distracted me in a remote

fashion. I turned to Daniel, "Luckily, Kit and I suffered no injuries. I lost

my cap. Kit found a cave and we were able to take shelter there long enough

to manage a trump contact."

I paused to cough into a hankerchief. "Can you tell us what happened to the

Vortex and how Salome was injured?"

Kit shifted from side to side. Seemingly restless. "If you'll excuse me,

gentlemen, I have some things to attend to." She grinned wryly, dropped

almost a mock-curtsy as a joke, and headed off.

I began to doff my cap, only to remember I had lost it in the desert. So with

wry grin I bowed faintly in her direction. She seemed to be acting more like

an Amberite all the time. I decided there might be hope for her yet.

Daniel smiled at Kit. "We'll see you later, then."

Turning back to me Daniel shook his head. "I'm not entirely sure. I don't know

if you saw, but some...thing...reached out of the vortex and struck Salome

when she first passed it. I'm pretty sure that's what poisoned her. We didn't

really talk about the vortex itself, though. You'll have to ask her...later,

though. If any of us should be resting, it's her.

"I'm glad you and Kit are all right, though.", I responded.

Folding my arms, I closed my eyes briefly attempting to recall something. As

I again looked toward Daniel, I sighed, "Forgive me Daniel. I don't wish to

make this sound like an interogation but I have several questions and time may

become a factor." 

Unfolding my arms I transitionally stepped neither nearer nor further from

Daniel.  

"Who all knew we were journeying to the Ruins of Al-Ekalaban? It seemed like

it was laid on fast. I for one did not know we were heading there until our

journey had already begun. If something did reach out to attack Salome then I

strongly feel the Vortex or the power behind it was directed at us

specifically. It was no accident."

Daniel frowned as he took in my words. "I'm...not sure. Salome talked to me

early this morning about where we'd be going, but even I didn't know until we

were underway. She may have spoken with someone else, but if she did, she

didn't mention it to me." A look of fear crossed his face. "You don't think

she's still in danger, do you?"

I shrugged, "Hard to say. I don't think Kit knew until we were under way.

And even if she did have fore-knowledge, who would she tell? It's not like

she has a bunch of friends here."

In exasperation I crouched and removed my boots, dumping sand from my footwear

into a nearby trash receptacle.

"Sorry, I can't stand sand in my boots. Is there anyway you can ask Salome

how this was laid out? She seems to be the key here. I'd like to question

anyone she might have told her plans to. Or better yet, if somebody suggested

this expedition to her..." I threw my hands in the air. "I'm speculating.

Salome has the next piece to this puzzle."

As Daniel and I stood talking, I could see Caine leave a room in a nearby

corridor. He nodded to us, then turned and walked in the opposite direction,

heading deeper into the Palace.

"Well, perhaps we can ask her," Daniel suggested. "If she's awake. Follow me."

Turning, he headed back in the direction of the room where Salome was

recuperating.  

I hurriedly got my boots back on and followed Daniel.

On arrival, Daniel quickly poked his head around the door to check on Salome.

I heard Salome say, "Hello again. Not resting yet? Any word of Flavel and

Kit?" 

Stepping into the room, I glanced around the room with a surgeon's eye, I

noticed the nearby IV and solution. It looked to be a standard saline,

glucose solution. Basic trauma, anti-shock stuff. The empty antropine

autoinjectors that rested on the counter spoke more of the close call Salome

must have experienced. Whatever struck her, struck to kill. "Kit and I are

fine. Kit found a convenient cave and we managed to trump to Random."

I stopped exactly six feet from Salome's bed to maintain her security and said

"If your up to it, I have a couple questions I'd like to ask you."

Salome nodded, "Certainly. I have some things to tell you too, but you first."

Daniel moved to Salome's side and took her hand. "Gently, Flavel," he

cautioned.

I demurred with a brief nod in Daniel's direction, and returned my attention

to Salome, "You do look tired so I will be brief, did anyone outside our

immediate group know we were journeying to the Ruins of Al-Ekalaban?"

Salome shook her head, "No. I ordered the provisions made up, but that could

have been for a journey anywhere on the island."

I stared off into space, my mind awhirl. At length I whispered, "There's no

way this was coincidence. Yet nobody knew where we were going. It was

malevent, deadly, and set right in our path. A tear in reality right off

Amber's doorstep where the modification of shadow is slow and difficult...and

the presence of pattern is strong. Nothing has that kind of power unless..."

My voice trailed off as I recalled the sequence of events right before the

Vortex struck.

After several seconds I placed a hand to my forehead and with eyes closed and

murmured, "We were outside the city walls heading into the desert. Kit was

saying something about her horse wanting to run.

She was excited, Salome was smiling. Daniel was...being Daniel...and then the

vortex swirled into being."

Lost in concentration for several seconds, I danced through details. Abruptly

my eyes snapped open. "Did anyone else have trouble controlling their

mounts?"

Salome shook her head, "A little. And I agree it was no coincidence. It

caught up with me and tried to drag me in. There was a sense of Trump energy

and recognition on the other end. Not of me, I don't think, but of what I was,

an Amberite. I made out a face, a male human face at the other end of the

connection, and when I resisted, the claws struck me. It was a spell, not a

creature behind the claws. I got the distinct impression the man wanted an

Amberite, any Amberite. The vortex vanished after about ten minutes as if it

could simply not be sustained."

I tilted my head to the side, my eyes narrowing, "Trump energy, eh? I'm not a

trump artist. I don't pretend to understand it's inner workings, but I do

know you either have to initiate a trump contact or accept one. I can state

for a fact I did neither. Did anyone feel anything like a trump contact just

before the vortex hit?"

Salome shook her head, "No, I didn't feel anything like that. What worries me

is even with Trump, how something so chaotic could gain even a temporary

foothold here in the Golden Circle."

Daniel listens to the conversation going on around him, though he seemed a

little confused with the interchange.

I scratched my head, "I agree, It sounds impossible. But what if chaos had a

helping hand from an Amberite on this end? Someone pushing or maybe shifting

shadow to make the connection from here. That would make his job a lot easier

wouldn't it?"

Salome's eyes narrowed. She said quietly, "Let me get this straight. You're

suggesting one of us or one of our family helped that thing to come in? Why

would they?"

One of my few pleasures in life is leading people along a trail of thought

only to have them take a blind corner and walk into a solid wall of logic. So

I grinned, my hands gesturing. "I'm not talking about treason Salome. I'm

putting forward the scenarios that would have brought about this event. If no

known agency could penetrate this far into the realms of order, then it

required help from somebody who had the necessary capabilities at this end.

Since it seems that it knew where we were, wanted one of us, nobody else knew

where we were going, and we do indeed have the credentials for...inviting an

agency such as this..." I trailed off, having walked into my own wall of

logic, before continuing. "Who indeed would want to see a vortex?"

Daniel had seemed disenterested in our discourse, but he perked up at my

unspoken intent. "You're not suggesting...you think KIT summoned the vortex?"

Salome shrugged, "It does make sense, but if it was Kit, it's not been done

deliberately. Quite apart from the fact that she's too inexperienced to do

something like this conciously, she's too nice a kid to make deals with the

devil, so to speak. So I suppose the next question is what we do now?"

I threw my hands up, "I just seem to recall Kit was very much wanting to see a

Vortex. I also recall her saying something about her horse wanting to gallop

right before the Vortex touched down.

She looked like a 300 watt light bulb just crackling with excitement."

I affected a shrug, "Of course, with Kit that's par for the course. I don't

think we will ever know for certain it was her that invited the vortex here.

It's just something to bear in mind. We don't really know Kit's

capabilities."

"As to what do we do now?" I turned and started to leave, "We let you rest.

When your better we check out this gateway you found."

Salome nodded, "If you wish to make a small detour, Genni and Kyle should be

arriving in Amber too soon. Genni has also investigated this phenomenon and

Kyle is a highly skilled doctor amongst other things. Both would be useful in

such an investigation."

I paused at the doorway. A look of puzzlement on my face, "Are you saying

that the group will be forming up in Amber or that I should meet them and

bring them here?"

Salome shrugged, "I think we're forming up in Amber, but Oberon's the only one

holding all the cards here. Who knows what else he has planned."

"I'll will be in Amber then. Keep-"; Reconsidering what I was about to say, I

was going to say to "keep an eye on Kit." But that would have been gauche.

So I abridged, "Kit keeps my card if you need me."

With that I strolled out into the hallway and withdrew Fiona's card.

The Trump Contact took form and I heard Fiona's clear precise tones,

"Greetings, Flavel. I find myself a little preoccupied at the moment."

Briefly, I could see through Fiona's eyes. She was with a young woman with

brown hair and bicoloured eyes. In this case, blue and brown. The young woman

had the look of Brand in her features. Must be yet another cousin I didn't

know. Amber seemed to have turned into a virtual land-mine of relatives since

I had last visited. It was obvious I would have to step carefully when I made

my plans as many others would have agendas.

In keeping with my decision not to step on toes I demured and said, "No

problem, it's not an emergency," and closed the contact.

Pocketing the trump, I briefly considered the unknown lady. //Maybe this was

one of the cousins Salome mentioned to me.//

I shrugged the event off and headed towards the kitchens only now realizing it

had been a while since I last ate. Maybe I could wheedle the cooks out of

loaf of bread, cold-cuts, and beer.

When I reached the kitchen, I was dismayed to see it was a hive of activity.

However, one of the younger cooks walked over and asked, "How may we help you,

Prince Flavel?"

Taking in the rich smells of the food being cooked, I smiled and said, "If you

can spare a little of whatever's cooking and a beer to go with it, I would be

grateful."

The young cook nodded and looked around. With a smile, he turned back and

indicated an empty space at a table, "Please be seated. Refreshment will be

yours shortly."

The kitchen staff were as good as their word. Soon, I had my hands wrapped

around cold beer and a good selection of meats, fruits and the floury pancakes

used as bread here competed for my attention.

I nodded my thanks the young cook and seated myself. Remembering my last

experience with the spices I remembered to at least pretend to eat gingerly

while occasionally sipping the beer. Halfway through the meal, I decided to

make use of my time and took out some paper and stylus from my shoulder bag.

As I continued my meal I worked out a thank you letter to Caine and Erishanaya

for the hospitality shown to both Kit and myself, and the honor of being

included in the festivities and religous events that had come to pass. People

often forget to formalize their appreciation. I hadn't shown Kit the nuances

so I included her En Passant since we arrived together.

Draining the rest of my beer I wrote in some glowing praise about the kitchen

staff, and signed it simply "Flavel."

I pocketed the letter and left quietly so as not to disturb the kitchen staff

further, and began to wander over to my quarters.

The Palace seems strangely subdued as the winds howl outside its walls. I was

reminded of a great beast waiting out a storm, watchful and quiet, surviving

yet another disturbance to its world.

//I imagine they have had a lot of practice with sandstorms. Good thing too.

This one definitly sounds fierce-//

As I walked, I felt a tingle of Trump Contact...

I mentally flipped a coin between Kit, and Fiona trying to guess who it was.

I paused in mid-stride and accepted the contact. I would have lost either way

as Bleyss' smiling countenance came immediately into my mind. *Good day to

you, Flavel. Busy?*

If Random was a rogue's rogue then Bleys was the Errol Flynn el Grande of

swashbucklers.

The scary thing about trump contacts is surface thoughts can sometimes be read

unless your well trained. I held my thoughts to myself, and put on my best

act of nonchalance, "Hello Bleys. As it stands, I don't have any pressing

engagements." Letting my demeanor slide, I allowed myself to break into a

smile, "Why, you got a party laid out and need an even number for the

ladies?"

Bleys smiled in return, "Not as such, no. However, if that's what you're in

the mood for, I'm sure something can be arranged."

I had to laugh as my bluff was called, "Actually, I just finished a party over

where I'm at. The festivities were grand, but the follow up has gotten rather

stormy." Letting my smile fade, I asked, "How can I be of service?"

Bleys' look became serious and he replied, "I may be moving a large number of

people soon. There are ... complications which would be eased somewhat by the

presence of another Shadow Walker. Life promises to be fairly eventful soon.

Interested?"

"Yes, very."

Which is not the same thing as saying I'd help. I've always been somewhat

ambivalent about Uncle Bleys. The few times I'd had dealings with him I'd

always managed to come out about even, while Bleys cleaned house in grand

style. Still, it was always educational. In for a penny, in for a pound.

Reaching into my bag I withdrew my recently penned letter and set it on a

nearby window sill. Bleys wouldn't know what it was, but he'd probably

figure I was letting people know where I was going. Which would be all for

the best.

I extended my hand, "at your convenience then."

Bleys smiled and extended his hand. I found myself in the polished hallway of

a castle. It seemed a strange fusion of a feudal castle with a high level of

technology.

Standing near Bleys was a man who was both broadly muscular and tall. I

estimated him to be near 7' in height. Dark red hair, nearly brown, cut short,

framed face which was calm and composed, clean-shaven. His eyes were dark

grey, unblinking.

Bleys said, "Flavel, meet Matt. Matt, meet Flavel."

Given the simplicity of the introduction I decided to go informal in my

greetings.

I bowed briefly from the neck, "Well met Daniel." Ever had one of those days

when you brain get's cross-wired? I had met to say "Well met Matt."

Internally I shrugged it off. Chalk it up to the recent Trump travel.