The trump contact solidifies as Roland pulls his steed to a pause. Cold drifts to the contact to Brennus, while Roland can almost feel the warmth of the indoors upon his face. Roland's companion breathes slowly, obvious to the break in travel.
Brennus watches Roland carefully, fully aware of his reputation and of the truth that lies behind it.
"Cousin, greetings, my apologies for bothering you but could I be correct in thinking that you have recently seen... trouble?"
Brennus smiles as he speaks but his eyes hold no humour.
"Yes," responded Roland stoicly.
After a pause he continued.
"Would you be able to pull myself, my companion, and a horse to your location? My current situation is less than ideal for a discussion."
Brennus grins slightly, then looking serious he comments.
"I can bring you through but not here, I'm upstairs inside the Castle at Amber. I doubt her majesty would be pleased if I brought a couple of louts and their horse through here. Bide a moment."
Brennus quickly makes his way outside, bypassing anyone who gets in his way.
[Depending on whether he needs to reestablish the Trump link he'll either call Roland straight through or go for Trump contact first, I assume he can reestablish the link? Either way...]
Standing in the cold of the winters night in the courtyard of the castle, Brennus smiles and reaches out to take Roland's hand and bring him through.
Roland reaches out and clamps onto Brennus' fore-arm with his steel-like grip and comes through with the horse and his very bloodied companion. As soon as the are all through, Roland leaps to the side of the horse to ease his companion down.
"I believe he is in need of a healer or he will expire with-in the hour," stated Roland to Brennus as though he was discussing the weather or crop reports.
Rosy light fills the dawn sky as majestic statues look down into the courtyard. The ground is thick with snow, already being collected and carried out in wheel-barrows by a dozen servants. The center of the courtyard is dominated by a veiled sculpture, two stories in height. The structure is surrounded by partially broken scaffolding; broken shards of wood litter the area, clearly the result of a violent storm. A young boy, not older than fifteen years, dressed all in white frantically examines whatever work of art is concealed by the large tarp.
A unit of royal guards, dressed in Brennus's colors stands a short distance away, eyes on the surroundings and the royal Prince. With the sudden rainbow arrival of Roland and his companion upon his horse, the servants are briefly startled, but quickly resume their duties.
Brennus staggers lightly as Roland appears and looks with evident distaste toward the injured man.
"Welcome cousin, a fortuitous contact indeed."
Indicating the bloodied man Brennus asks.
"This one is important then?"
Without waiting for an answer to what is now a rhetorical question he continues.
"Come I will deal with his injuries... Will you carry him."
Brennus beckons to a guard and orders him to arrange for Roland's horse to be tended.
With a nod toward the castle Brennus leads on to a small sitting room near the main entrance hall. During the short walk Brennus intercepts a servant and sends him to inform his staff where he is should there be any emergencies.
When they arrive at the sitting room Brennus turns to Roland.
"Set him down, I will fetch medical supplies."
Roland picks up his man then follows Brennus with-out a word.
After watching Brennus and his interactions with other, Roland intones cryptically,
"I see the boy I once knew in the man before me now."
Brennus frowns slightly in response to Roland's comment.
"You are still given to speaking in riddles I see." he responds with a smile.
"I shall be back in a moment."
Brennus is as good as his word and returns several minutes later with the supplies. he sets things up quickly then asks casually.
"Can you help get his jacket off, I need a better look."
Meanwhile he positions a scalpel, several swabs and a bottle of medical alcohol so that they are to hand.
Roland removes the jacket with the help of his wicked hunting knife. He then preps the patient.
"Beyond the minor cuts and bruises, he has suffered a significant ax wound to his shoulder. His clavical is likely broken."
Brennus nods whilst carefully examining the shoulder wound.
"Very well, I'll check for any damage to major blood vessels other than that there's little more I can do right now than patch him up and pump some plasma into him. I should be able to keep him alive though."
Brennus grins, for a second he seems that younger man-child that Roland knew.
As he works Brennus comments.
"I contacted you to check on the Trumps more than anything else, but it seems that the disruption caused by the storm has reached you too."
"They shadows were odd. Hell-riding was unpleasent," he grimiced for a moment, "They seemed weak. I was well into Ardon and still able to Shift with little difficulty.That does not bode well."
Brennus continues his ministrations as he speaks.
"I am not happy about this Roland, not happy at all. Merlin seems to think this may simply be a shadow storm. I don't buy that for an instant. Whatever it is I think it's weakening the power of the Pattern somehow, did you feel how difficult it was for me to bring you through the trump. I've never heard of anything affecting Amber this way, other than the Black Road that is."
Brennus' face is set in concentration or perhaps a mixture of anger and fear.
"The Black Road was different," stated Roland evenly, "Tell me about the storm. I was cut off in Evermoor under about 7 feet of snow.. So I missed a few details."
Brennus frowns as he examines the wound in the man's shoulder.
"I think I'm going to have to lose this arm for him Roland."
Then he glances across at Roland.
"You have some blue substance on your clothes, there's some of the same in the man's wound, do you have any idea what it is?"
Without looking up Brennus responds almost distractedly to Roland's question.
"It was a big mother of a storm, and it was just wrong somehow. For one thing it was accompanied by Tir-na Nog'th's appearance in a moonless sky above Amber, and Tir was aflame Roland, that was too vivid an omen to ignore. I spoke with Benedict about it, he feels the storm may be a side-effect of what was happening in Tir-na Nog'th, and that there is some power directing the whole thing. I must say that I have to agree."
Brennus pauses as he continues with his tending to the man.
"Also when Benedict went to check the Pattern there was a reaction there, sparks erupting along the Pattern's length or some such, but you'll need to speak with Benedict for specifics..."
"For Benedict, those are specifics," he looked at the blue stuff, "Not sure. The battle was intense and the whole area was filled with magic of some type."
Brennus nods and raises an eyebrow as he glances at Roland.
"Still the loquacious sort I see. Get me a sample will you I'd like to task a look at it later.... Mmm, I think I'll try to save the arm, he'll probably lose a lot of feeling in it but some is better than none."
Brennus begins prepping for the surgery.
Roland simply nodded and brushed some of the substance into a torn piece of leather. Breaking off one of the many pieces of string on his cloak, he ties it into a tiny, neat puch. He slips it into Brennus' pouch as the young prince prepares for surgery.
Roland then removes his cloak, cleans himself, and joins Brennus easily slipping into the role of Med. assistant.
"I think he would prefer to keep the arm as well."
Brennus' preparations are completed in a businesslike manner. He quickly begins to perform the procedure, calling upon Roland's assistance as needed.
After about an hour's time the operation is completed. Brennus sets up a saline and glucose drip for his patient then turns to Roland.
"How about a drink? We can wash up in a while."
"Yes. We need some time to talk."
Said Roland as he grabbed his cloak.
Brennus gathers his belongings and after giving his patient one final check to ensure he's OK moves to the other side of the sitting room where there is a drink cabinet. He open the door of the cabinet and after a moments perusal takes out a brandy bottle and two glasses.
"This alright for you cousin, there's wine, scotch and lots of other stuff in here if you'd prefer?"
"A bottle of whatever's close," requested Roland as he eased himself into one of the chairs. He absently puts has finger through one of the many rips in his shirt, "Damn, that did come close."
Brennus nods unsmiling and pours two full measures of brandy. He fetches them over to a pair of armchairs and offers one to Roland as he sits.
"Care to tell me how your man there got his wound?"
"We were returning to Amber for Dara's arrival and I thought a horse was in order... so one appeared," he took a slug of brandy before continuing, "With it also appeared three dead men hanging by their throats, not what I had sought... But the horse was good so I went to claim it. That's when it struck."
He finished his glass and signaled for another.
"Some how it slowed me and my companion down... Magic... and began striking at me while fading in and out of reality. Slowed as I was, I could barely keep it at bay. Until it made it's first mistake... it let me get my hands on it. I was able to grab it and make it hurt," ended Roland with a growl.
"It tried to flee through my companion, either thinking I could not anticipate that move or that I would dare not strike for hitting Damien. It was wrong and Y'Geseth cleaved it in two. Unfortunatly, for Damien, I had to throw my ax to make the strike and it went through my advisary and pinned Damien to a tree."
He waved his hand saying, "And you know the rest. I was Hellriding to the city and you Trumped me in."
His shaggy brows furrowed.
"The Shadows close to Amber should not be so unstable... It is as if the have grown weak."
Brennus shakes his head and frowns.
"Damned unfair the proverbial malodourous package striking the rotating blades just now when I'm supposed to be in charge....I'm left to deal all of this whilst Merlin swans off to who knows where and my little brother Merek ignores my call!"
He sits pondering for a moment.
"We need to establish where everyone is, family I mean. I tried doing that earlier but everyone's so damn testy about having their lives remain private I didn't get very far. There is definitely something weird happening and I for one haven't got a clue what's causing it. We'll do better if we get everyone together."
Brennus takes a large slug from his brandy glass and sighs, then looks at Roland, his expression is set, resolute but he seems a little tired.
"I don't suppose you know anything about the army of the Black Lion? "
Roland's eyes went flat and a burning rage seemed to dance in their blue depths.
"I know of AN army," he said as he reached into his pack and removed some arrows and threw them onto the table, "A large force completely destroyed South Bend not more than a few week ago. Every man, every woman, every child..."
He his fist slammed into the side of the chair causing a sharp cracking sound. The deadly light continued to dance in his eyes.
"Now I have a name," he whispered harshly before continuing, "If this was the same force, I was tracking it from the ruins of South Bend when I decided to to return to Amber to report since I had to return anyway to celebrate the Anniversary of the Dara's reign."
Brennus frowns, and nods."
"I'm not sure whether to hope its the same force or not... I've just this morning received an intelligence report which makes for worrying reading, the Army of the Black Lion is by all accounts extremely well trained, armed and one assumes well led, and has lately attacked the city of Gofstan in shadow Begma. I believe a punitive strike against them may be in order. My main worry is that the said army may be led by someone of true ability, possibly with a familial connection."
Brennus pauses to take another sip of brandy.
"twould nae be the first time," responded Roland as he went to the cabinet and grabbed a bottle of whisky from the back. He tore off the cork and took a healthy swig.
"We need to know more."
Brennus nods and sits back, obviously enjoying the comfort of the chair and the drink.
"Indeed we do, that's pretty much what I told the intelligence staff I met with earlier... I've also begun preparations for gathering a strike force. I can let you have a look at the initial report if that'll help at all."
Roland nodded affirmativily.
Brennus sits quietly for several minutes, perhaps tired, his eyes are closed.
Without opening his eyes he comments.
"Once you've looked at the report you might want to speak to lady Anita Chantris, and perhaps Commander Farsh, both struck me as being eminently competent and knowledgeable."
With a sigh Brennus opens his eyes and placing his glass down nods toward Roland.
"I think we need to get moving cousin. Damien should be alright for now, I'll have a healer come look after him if that's alright with you, meanwhile I need to clean up, maybe change."
Brennus stands and looks to Roland.
"Fine," he replied as he returned the bottle to the chest, "I need to fetch my other cloak from my room before locating the Lady and Commander. Send the report there."
He paused, fingering his worn, tattered, and blood stained cloak.
"After I meet with the gentry, how long before we hunt?"
Brennus half turns to Roland as he asks his question, a grin appears.
"Soon Roland, but not today. There is a force in Eregnor which I have put on alert, they should be ready to launch a strike very soon, in the meantime let's do some information gathering shall we. I'll have the report delivered never fear. We can meet later if you wish to compare notes."
Brennus bows slightly and still grinning comments.
"After you cousin."
With-out a word he heads out. His great strides taking him quickly down the hall at the same pace as a normal man's jog.
Brennus follows more slowly and heads toward the ops room.
As soon as he leaves the room he literally grabs the nearest servant and issues a command.
"When Julian arrives tell him that his son wishes to speak with him," he growled softly.
He releases the person and continues stalking towards his chambers... looking very much like a caged animal.
As Roland and Brennus leave the room, one of Brennus's royal guards, an older solidier, who has clearly seen many years of service to the crown, pauses. "Your highness, what should be done with regard to the Duke's companion? Shall I have a watch assigned, or, um," the guard glances briefly into the room, "shall we transfer him, elsewhere?"
"The infirmary would be fine, Brennus," said Roland from down the hall. His sharp ears missing nothing as he continued towards his chambers with-out even a glance over his shoulder.
Brennus nods to Roland's comment and turning to the guard comments.
"As Lord Roland says, see to it will you, then come find me in the operations room."
Brennus then sets off once again.
The guard, who was evidently waiting for Brennus's reply, bows before the two sons of Amber. "As you wish." The guard remains to deal with Roland's companion, while the other members of the royal guard follow Brennus as he departs.
The servant, a young red haired girl, trembles slightly at Roland's instructions. "Yes, my lord." Her voice wavers as she speaks and she lowers her eyes so as to not look the Duke in the eyes. Her eyes flash briefly to the Queen's son, but fall back towards the ground.