Alexander's Chronicle: Chapter 4

I was more than a little surprised when, one day after I returned from patrol, Father handed me a sealed letter, "This for you. Came in today's post." I looked back at him, a little surprised, but he'd turned back to his meal, as if nothing at all were out of the ordinary. Who would send me a letter? My brothers would simply contact me by Trump, and I doubted that anyone at court in Amber knew or cared of my existence. The seal on the letter was of a dolphin. I opened the letter carefully and was both surprised and delighted to learn that it came from Nimue. I was amazed that she would ever have anything to do with me again, after I'd been used as a pawn to invite her on a hunt some three months ago, which turned out to be an assasination attempt. We'd killed the would-be assasins, but when Father had been called in, he claimed to have no idea what was going on and ordered her and our other cousin, Alistair, to return to Rebma. He hadn't been terribly tactful about it, although, given the situation, it was hard to blame him.

Not only had she written to me, but she'd actually invited me to visit her in Rebma for a day, a week from that evening. Excitedly, I told Father about the invitation and announced that I planned to accept it. He seemed more amused than annoyed with my determination. "Have a good time," he told me. "I'll take care of your duties here until you return. There's no need to hurry back, son." I thanked him, finished dinner as quickly as I could, and rushed back to my room to answer her letter and accept the invitation.

A week later, I stood on the beach, at the top of the staircase leading down into the sea. The stairs were called Faiella-bionen (and I haven't the slightest idea why, though Faiella was a queen of Amber for a while). I had dressed in town clothes instead of my usual regulation buckskins. I had a couple of carefully wrapped (waterproof) packages (it hadn't occurred to me that Nimue would be unwrapping them underwater in Rebma). Two Rebman guards with green skin and hair, holding tridents, climbed up the stairs. They must have been waiting for me just under the water. They wore only scaled trunks and swordbelts. They greeted me and gestured towards the stairs.

I walked into the water and started climbing down the stairs. Strangely enough, I didn't bob up to the surface as I would in ordinary water. After a few seconds, I remembered to stop holding my breath and found I could breathe easily, as accounts had said I could. I looked back at the guards who were following me. They seemed completely unperturbed, as one would expect, unless one were fairly perturbed oneself. The stairs themselves were huge, almost fifty feet across, and very beautiful. In the depths, they were lit by huge, weird flames atop columns.

At the end of the descent, I came due for another shock. Nimue was waiting at the Gates of Rebma, surrounded by four more guards and Reia. And she wore little more than the guards did: scaled trunks, a mostly transparent silver cloak and some jewellery. Nothing more. I had never realized before that her skin also looks green, though much paler than other Rebmans'.

I caught myself before I let my mouth fall open and walked more quickly towards her, telling myself I should have remembered that part of the accounts, that Rebman women traditionally went about bare-breasted. I looked at her face so that I would not be inclined to stare at the rest of her. Admittedly, the rest of her was awfully nice, but I did not trust myself to behave in as... non-chalent a manner as the Rebmans around us, who found this all very normal.

Nimue smiled, and walked up to meet me, holding out both her hands. I took her hands in mine, feeling myself going red. I *was* glad to see her, but felt more than a little distracted...

"Welcome to Rebma, Prince Alexander" she said, kissing me on both cheeks and unsettling me even further.

I attempted to return the greeting, "Th-thank you, Princess Nimue. I'm glad to see you too." I probably couldn't get any redder than I was at that moment, and for that I was grateful.

Back to her usual, cheerful self, she went on, "I'm very glad you came. I hope you are recovered now? What would you like to do first? We'll be joining my mother for lunch, but that gives us some time to ourselves. Refreshments? See something of Rebma? More comfortable clothing?"

"Hello, Reia." I nodded to Nimue's bodyguard, then turned back to the princess herself, "I-I'm much better, thanks. Father says Marcel's hand should be grow in a few years; Uncle Benedict had the same thing happen. Hopefully, it will remind him to stop and think next time... I brought you some things from the Forest." I offered her my packages.

Nimue smiled up at me, almost shyly. "That was very kind. I have a gift for you, too, but it is waiting for us in the palace."

She took my arm and we walked to her mother's very impressive palace. Once we entered, she dismissed all the guards except Reia, who reached to take the packages from me. We walked into a maze of corridors heavily lined with mirrors and mosaics.

Nimue said to me, a little apologetically, "I had hoped to take you diving, or perhaps spear hunting. But I promised your father that we would confine ourselves to the palace and public areas of the city. I hope you will still find something to interest you."

After he'd been so reasonable about letting me out of the Forest on my own in the first place! And he hadn't even bothered to tell, as if I were still a child...

"When did he do this?!!" I almost shouted. "I could just..." Good sense got the better of me in a hurry. After all, this was *Father* I was talking about... "I guess not. D-did he at least apologize for what happened after the hunt and tell you what really happened?"

Nimue seemed a little taken aback by my outburst, for which I felt quite ashamed. She glanced around the corridor, shook her head slightly and said softly. "Not here. Wait until we are somewhere more private." She gave me an anxious smile, which just mad me feel guiltier and pointed out some particular piece of mosaic work in a louder voice.

Eventually, we arrived in an antechamber with walls decorated with coral and mother-of-pearl. Some sort of refreshments have been laid out on a carved white table and Reia set the packages down on another. Nimue picked up a silvery cloak like her own from across one of the chairs. She held it out to me across her arms and bowed slightly. "I would be honored if you accepted and wore this. It is a very traditional part of our dress. If you would be more comfortable in something less... restricting... than you are wearing, then you will find alternative clothing laid out for you through there." She gestured towards an archway leading off the room. "But do remain as you are if it is comfortable for you; a good many of our people are adopting landstyle now."

"Th-thank you," I managed, accepting the cloak and blushing again.

She looked over at the packages on the other table. "May I open these now?"

I nodded and smiled, grateful that I had thought to bring her something nice.

She opened the packages very carefully, running her fingers over the wrapping before doing so, apparently enjoying the feel of its texture. It was just oilskin, but I realized that they wouldn't have much of that in Rebma, unless they traded for it.

The package that she opened first was also a cloak, made of rich brown fur. "Giant weasels," I explained, "I trap them if they get too close to the human homes near our castle, because they're dangerous. And they have nice fur. I th-thought since you don't have seasons underwater, you might want something for when you go up above and it's cold."

Nimue smiled delightedly, stroking it, then rubbing her face in it, and then wrapping it around her, which looked decidedly odd, given how little else she was wearing. "It's beautiful!" she said. "What are these animals like? How do you catch them?"

"They're weasels, you know, long and thin with short little legs like their brothers," Alex gestures animatedly, "but they're about five feet long. They catch deer the way their little brothers do rabbits and they love nothing more than a tethered horse. They'll attack a man alone, if they can ambush him. You can't really hunt them because they'll hide from dogs and large groups. When one's been sighted nearby, I bait a big mechanical trap, mask my scent and hide nearby. When they go for the bait," I made a motion of the trap's jaws closing, "the trap snaps shut, usually on their heads. Sometimes, though, it will grab a paw and I have to finish them off." I winced at the memory of this. "And once, one had a leg chomped right off and ran away and I had to chase it..." Nimue grimaced and shivered at this and I broke off, a little embarrassed.

The other package was a full bottle. "What is this?" Nimue unwrapped herself from the fur cloak, and set it aside. She looked curiously at the bottle.

"It's from Gran Maddy's special store of mead. She won't trade it to the outsiders, so I'm not sure you've had any of her kind. She has some sort of fancy flowers her bees eat from, so it tastes very good."

"Mead? Isn't that made from honey? I have never tasted it. Should we drink some?"

I nodded, "If you wish."

Nimue smiled at Reia, who set to opening the bottle and pouring two glasses. Nimue gestured towards another glass. "Please join us." she said to Reia. Reia just took enough to taste, and looked at it suspiciously.

I swallowed my glass of mead, then went to change. There was a smaller room beyond the archway. Nimue had both a tunic and trunks set out for me, although the tunic was almost transparent. I gritted my teeth and tried not to think about it too hard. When in Rebma... I tried to recall the axiom I was abusing but failed.

Nimue simply smiled at me when I came back into the antechamber. I didn't say anything about it either. She looked over at the refreshment tray, which was covered by strange fruit and shellfish (something I had never eaten before). I waited for her to to start eating, then dug in. I'm one of those who is always hungry, and they were tasty, if a little odd.

After a few moments, Nimue began, cautiously, "I am sorry if I startled you by referring to your father earlier. I didn't realise it would come as a surprise to you. Prince Julian did come to talk to me, perhaps two weeks after my visit to Arden." She paused, looking at me. "There was no need at all for him to make any apologies, though I did, of course, apologize to him for my rudeness and loss of control. I ... understand a little more clearly now why he acted as he did." Her voice was calm, but her eyes unhappy. "Marcel also visited, unexpectedly, perhaps a week after your father did."

I raised an eyebrow at this, but didn't say anything.

Nimue continued, "Your father also told me something of what he and Prince Benedict had concluded about the affair. But I would be very interested if you would tell me what you make of it all. I... well, I would feel much easier asking you questions about anything. There's no one here I can really talk to about it. If you wouldn't mind, that is?"

I nodded, feeling vaguely flattered, "Wha-what did my father tell you?"

Nimue tilted her head, for a moment, thinking, then said, "Well, to summarize, that he and Prince Benedict had concluded that the affair had been set up and carried out by a group of young nobles from the Courts of Chaos, in particular one from House Chanicut, the one who," she paused again, "Who died. He told me that the two of them had concluded the group was acting without the knowledge of their elders, and that this explained the amateurish aspects of the whole affair. He also theorized that Prince Alistair was intended to witness the event, for reasons he did not share with me. And that I was not the target of the attack, which I have reason to believe is the truth. The group's motive, according to what your father told me, was to gain prestige and embarass Amber."

I was relieved that Father had pretty much come clean with her.

Nimue was looking at me with a troubled expression. She put one hand on my arm and said softly, "Alex, you should know that it is being said in the Courts, by Duchess Belissa, that Prince Julian's sons murdered Prince Chanicut while he was helpless and a prisoner. I have had no opportunity yet to tell your father of this, though perhaps he is already aware of it. If not, could you tell him for me? And also that I spoke of the matter to Alistair, as I said I would? I did tell Marcel, but he said he wasn't on terribly good terms with his father just then, so I don't know if he would have told him or not."

Rage burned in me again, then this time I suppressed it before I spoke. "H-how do you know what they're saying at the Courts? C-can you t-tell them that that bastard was trying to murder my brother, who hadn't even drawn his sword?" I shook my head and took a deep breath. "Th-thank you, Princess, I'll tell Father..." Father had other sources, but I wanted to make sure he knew...

Nimue nodded slightly at that last. "I know because Alastair told me. As a warning, not because he believed it. And perhaps put himself at risk to do so, in spite of your father's suspicions." She looked angry briefly, then sad.

"I'm pretty sure it c-couldn't have been Alistair's fault, anyway. He's g-going to lose if Chaos and Amber go to war, c-cause he'll get stuck choosing sides." I felt more than a little uncomfortable discussing this; Alistair's predicament might well have been my own, under slightly different circumstances.

Nimue nodded and looked at me sympathetically. I wondered what she might know or suspect of my origins, but she didn't say anything.

I changed the subject back to that of the attack itself. "I-it wasn't quite so amateurish. The person...who told me to send you the invitation wasn't my father; it was a shapeshifter. While we were pursuing the stag, he was pursuing a monster from Chaos that had been set loose in another part of the Forest." I found myself clenching and unclenching my hands. "A-amateurs from Chaos seem pretty well equipped. I'm not sure they didn't have help."

"I agree with you. A number of points remain unanswered, though please understand, no disrespect is intended to your father or Prince Benedict. I had wondered how anyone could have predicted Julian's absence. I am also curious as to who would have known I would be allowed to accept an invitation from your father, when mother guards me so closely from the family otherwise. Or that I would invite Alastair, if he really was intended to witness events. The 'amateurs' seem to have been particularly well informed, don't you think? Even though some of their actions (that ridiculous message, for example) seem to bear out the theory, the fact remains that they were in *Arden*, Alex. Don't ask me to believe that's so easy. And if they had wanted to bring servitors who could actually hit something with a crossbow, I rather think they could have done so. While it seems to me that this thing was probably aimed somehow at you, your brothers and father, and I was just bait to put you in the right place, it also disturbs me that it was timed just before King Random's first official visit to Rebma."

I was rather impressed at the savvy Nimue had just shown. She would one day make an excellent ruler for Rebma. "Uncle Benedict did say something about the possibility that the young nobles were put up to their tricks by actual warmongers. There was just no way out... or I just couldn't see it."

"How could any of them want another war, so soon?" Nimue murmured, dismayed.

"Maybe they think that they just didn't have enough time to win the last one." I hunched my shoulders. That was the last thing I wanted, especially if it were, in part, my fault.

"Forgive me for asking, but, the man who died, the one named as Prince Chanicut? There were... flames... weren't there?" She shuddered. "Was he... recognisable?" She looked distant for a moment, then added, "I can't explain this very well, but I... well, I have the strangest feeling that somehow it... he... had achieved whatever he wanted, when he cried out like that."

"He was shapeshifted, had covered himself in shiny armor. You saw him all burnt up. The only reason Uncle Benedict recognized him was his sword. I think he'd have died even happier if he could have taken one of us with him." I grimaced at the memory.

"That's another thing I don't understand. The ambush wasn't supposed to do us any real damage. At least, I believe not. Yet you say this shapeshifter was definitely trying to kill Marcel, even though Marcel was not attacking him. The two don't seem to fit very well, unless the intention was always to hurt one of you. But how could anyone have known Marcel would have done something so utterly stupid as to run off alone like that?" She stopped suddenly, clapping one hand over her mouth, and blushed, a very odd effect given her skin color and the fact that the blush went all the way down her chest... "Oh, Alex, I'm so sorry. I really shouldn't have said that." She looked horrified at herself.

A gruesome realization came to me. "*I* should've known. Marcel has no sense at all, that was obvious the first time I met him. I guess he just presented too much of a temptation for a guy who really hated Amberites. All the princeling had to do was provoke us, but here was a sitting duck he could simply kill...

"We didn't exactly follow their plan either. When the kasu-kerai, the servant-things, started shooting us, we cut and ran. Before that, even. We weren't interested in a pitched battle. Even Marcel only wanted to run away. And when I tried to take the princeling out the first time, I did it with my hands. He had a hell of a time getting us to kill him."

Nimue sat and mulled that over for a bit, then asked, "What do *you* make of it Alex? You personally, I mean?"

I hunched my shoulders again, "I-I don't know. If there's a war, it's my fault, but there was nothing else I could have done or would have done any differently..."

Nimue looks at me in astonishment, then in anger (but not directed at me). She growled, "*Your* fault? What about the people who set it up? What about Marcel? What were you supposed to do, let him die? What... You could just as easily blame me, say if I hadn't come none of it would have happened..." She reached out and gripped one of my wrists hard, although not hard enough to hurt. "Alex, you had no choice. And you were *right*. Any one of us would have done the same as you. Even me." She smiled at me shakily and released my wrist, "Except I would probably have missed."

I looked down and said softly, "The reasons will not matter. The outcome won't change if the people in the Courts insist on believing that Shiny was murdered."

Much to my relief, Nimue decided that it was time to change the subject and asked if there was anything in particular I would like to do in Rebma. Perhaps a walk before lunch to explore some of the palace galleries and gardens?

I admitted, "Um, I've always lived in the forest. I left once to go to where Aunt Fiona lives, but never saw anything but her studio. I've never been in a city or palace before."

"Well, before I, um, visited you and your brothers, I had never really left here before either. Just occasionally, under heavy guard, to train in archery, things like that. To really secluded places. I couldn't believe how beautiful the Forest was. And all those colors, and scents... You're lucky. I spend a lot of my time out of the palace when I can, out with the dolphin schools, or diving. Just, you know, being by myself. The only other place I can really get any peace is in the Pattern Room." She sighed. "I'd love to show you some of the places outside. I know this isn't much fun."

She brightened abruptly, "Maybe you could ask your father to change his mind for next time. Um... I mean, if you would like to come back, or anything?" She looks up at me hopefully, then away. I was surprised and touched

I swallowed, hard, "I'd love to return, Princess. Your city is wonderful in its own way It's hard for me to believe that people could make all of this instead of it simply haven grown here here. If you would like to come back to the Forest, I would love to show you around, and this time, hopefully, you won't be shot at by idiots from Chaos."

She smiled as she got up from her seat and took my hand to lead me through the palace and its gardens. It really was very impressive. I had never seen so many buildings and people all crowded into one place, let alone such strange ones. The palace was highly decorated with mosaics and mirrors, like the halls we had entered through, and some structures had been constructed purely for decorative purposes. One of these was a huge wind- chime, that moved with water-currents instead of wind, made of glass or crystal that refracted light.

Passing Rebmans did stare at me, as one would expect given how different I look from them. I neither stared back nor looked away, but set my face and looked straight in front of me. Nimue must have seen my nervousness, for she led me away from the populated areas of the city into emptier areas, large gardens, after a bit.

As we toured, Nimue told me of Rebma's history and culture. She insisted that Rebman clothing (what there was of it) was comfortable and practical in this watery environment (which I had to admit was true). I refrained from saying anything about its possible effects on people's mental states. I found the sight of other bare-breasted Rebman women less distracting than that of Nimue. I tried to remind myself that she was only fourteen, but she certainly didn't look it... Nimue went on to explain that Rebman dress is so minimal because Rebman society used to place great value on physical perfection. This idea survived until relatively recently, as can be seen by the fact that no Rebman would marry Vialle because she was blind. Thankfully, contact with the outside world, particularly with Amber, she remarked, was helping to foster more tolerant attitudes. In addition, she pointed out, it's very hard to carry a concealed weapon wearing only trunks.

Nimue said that Oberon of Amber never made a single official visit to Rebma throughout his long reign. In his power, and his arrogance, he never considered Amber's undersea reflection, or its Eternal Queen, to be of any import. Partly as a consequence of this, a general mutual dislike grew up between the two cities. Amber's sailors, for example, considered it unlucky to see a Rebman whilst out at sea, and all the traditional superstitious stories about sirens and the like had free rein. The first Royal visits were made by Eric, in his few short years as King of Amber. He tried hard to heal the rift between Amber and Rebma, beginning negotiations and an official "courtship" with Queen Moire. He was at least partly successful in his attempts. Now, with Vialle as Queen of Amber, relations between the two cities are good. Rebma is becoming less insular and its people, especially the young, have begun to follow "Amberite" fashions and to look outside Rebma for role-models. Many have become involved in trade in the "upper world", or signed on with explorers' ships.

She added that there are still Rebman Houses which hold old grudges, and there are still those who say they can never forgive Random of Amber for the death of the beautiful and beloved Morganthe. Dissension tends to be muted, however, since Moire herself has taken a leading part in encouraging the new outlook. Court life is formal and *extremely* courteous: the legacy of a distant past when the formality was necessary to calm tensions between rival Houses and prevent violence. Courtesy is seen almost as an art form here, or an elaborate game in its own right. To refuse to play this Court game is seen as churlish, either offence or amusement might be caused by such 'immature' behaviour. I decided to stay as far away from such stuff as possible.

As we looked around one of the last gardens, Nimue asked, "Would you do something else for me? Please stop calling me 'Princess'. It makes me sound like one of those dogs... hounds, I mean," she smiled again. "My name is Nimue."

I had to blush again and nod, then added, in the hounds' defense, "Ah, Father would never name a hound 'Princess'. He gives them all real, people-type names."

Nimue grinned mischievously at me. "Oh, exactly" she teased. "A *real* person would never be called 'Princess'..."

I decided not to give in so easily, "You aren't *named* Princess, at least."

Nimue gave in with a rueful little grimace and a shrug. "You win" she said, cheerfully. She tugged at my arm. "Come and meet some friends of mine." She led me further out into the gardens, then stopped and listened for a moment. She pursed her lips and made a soft whistling-chirruping sound, paused, and repeated it. She motioned for me to stay where I was while she stepped a few yards away. A minute later, she was surrounded by six dolphins, who nuzzled her affectionately, then began a swift-moving swimming game in which she got thoroughly tangled up. I just stared in amazement. I'd heard of these beasts before, but never seen one.

After a few moments, one of them circled out wider, then swam up to me, fearlessly nudging me with its snout. I stares at it, fascinated, and reached over to stroke it. It was quite smooth. It tried to take my wrist in its jaws and tow me towards the game the others were playing. I eventually let myself be drawn in. These creatures are bright and social, like the Storm Hounds, but apparently not as dangerous to humans. Their sharp peg-like teeth reminded me that these, too are pack hunters. I was diappointed and almost surprised when Nimue disentangled herself from the dolphins and announced that it was time for us to make our way to lunch. The dolphin that had taken an interest in me initially circled around us as we headed back to the garden entrance, occasionally nuzzling at me, or playfully tugging at my new cloak.

Nimue regarded it with mild surprise. "Why, I believe he likes you!" she said. "It usually takes them far longer to even approach a stranger." She made another of the whistling-chirrup sounds, at the same time making "go back" motions with her hands. "Go catch fish, beast! Your friend will be back. Go on, *go*!" I found myself staring mournfully after the departing dolphin. Eventually, we left the garden without it.

Nimue regarded me rather thoughtfully. "I could teach you to call to them, if you like" she offered, seriously. Then she smiled. "Of course, most of them only answer if they feel like it."

I nodded, ecstatic at the opportunity to learn these creatures' language quickly. "Yes, please. These are wild, then?"

"Wild?" Nimue looked nonplussed for a few seconds, then her expression cleared. "Oh, I see. They are... independent, yes. They are our friends because they choose to be, not because anyone has forced them. The dolphins know they will not be harmed by anyone here, they are loved and respected. Our earliest stories and songs call them 'the Beloved of Lir'; to harm one would be like harming another Rebman. Maybe worse, few men are as innocent as they are. Many of them seem to enjoy our company, they love to learn, and some of our pilots and hunters work very closely with them. The choice is always theirs, though. Once they do choose a friend, the link lasts a lifetime - unless the human is foolish." That made sense. If they weren't prone to attack humans, one didn't have to keep them from running free, and if they were too stubborn, one couldn't train them, but had to coax their cooperation.

"Alright, listen carefully. It may take a lot of practice. This is an invitation to play... or hunt..." There was small difference to them if they were like Storm Hounds. "This means danger..." Nimue made a series of the whistling-chirrup sounds I heard her use before, as well as some which are interspersed with rapid clicking sounds made with the tongue. I listened intently and tried to repeat them. Nimue seemed to have endless patience for this, and added, "Don't worry, it took me ages to get them right. I could swear the dolphins used to laugh at me, too."

I looked back in the direction the dolphins went. Nimue squeezed my arm. "Come on. They'll be back. We can come back out after lunch, see if you can call them then. We could bring fish for them, too."

"Yes, please," I turned reluctantly back towards the palace.

On the way back, Nimue explained that the traditional silver cloak she had given me is quite a formal part of Rebman dress, worn for special occasions, but very often given as a guest gift. I didn't have to wear it all the time if I didn't want to, because future visits should be less formal. She planned to find other clothing for me. I just got the ultra-traditional gear at first because it was what she could most easily find in roughly the correct size. I was rather amused that formal wear here consisted mostly of skin. I did point out that if I was supposed to meet a queen today, formal garb was quite appropriate.

We arrived at the appointed dining room and were met by Queen Moire, who was dressed as traditionally as her daughter, with rather a bit more jewelry, and a short, thin man with greying green hair and a broken nose set between dark, unreflective eyes. "It is a pleasure to meet you Prince Alexander." Queen Moire said.

I bowed to her, "Um, likewise, Your Majesty." I was surprised that my voice held, but it did.

"And may I introduce you to Duke Halmic Chasen. The duke is the Head of House Chasen, one of Rebma's oldest houses, and also my private secretary."

"An honor, your highness" says Chasen to Alex with a bow.

I nodded to him. "Pleasure to meet you, sir."

Duke Halmic holds Moire's chair for her when she sat, so I remembered to do the same for Nimue. Throughout the meal, although he called her "Your majesty" and she called him "Duke Halmic", there was clearly an easy familiarity and friendship between them.

After the pleasantries were done with and the first course served, Chasen said: "Her majesty tells me that you have had some troubles on the surface recently, Prince Alexander. How are you and your father dealing with them?"

"Er, my father... and my uncle, Prince Benedict have dealt with the matter. I'm just doing regular patrols and there have not been any more problems."

"So the incursions of shapeshifters in Arden, Kolvir and Finndelaine have ceased?" Chasen asked.

His choice of words took me by surprise. I looked up sharply and swallowed my last bite hard. "Shapeshifters...I don't know about. There have been no signs of hostile Courts-of-Chaos activity in Arden and if there have been any more around Kolvir or in Finndelaine, I have not heard."

Nimue's eyes had widened at Chasen's question, then she brought her expression back to normal.

"Ah. Well perhaps I have been misinformed," said Chasen with a smile. "It is a shame, is it not, that communications between Rebma and Arden are sometimes so poor given that we share such a large border?"

I felt faintly annoyed. He was politicking with the wrong man. I shrugged. "We are not an independent kingdom, simply an outpost of Amber. Father reports to the king there."

"Of course." replied Chasen, and apparently decided to lay off.

"Are you enjoying your visit to Rebma, Alexander?" Moire asked.

Here I nodded enthusiastically, relieved to talk about something pleasant. "It's lovely. There is an awful lot here that I have never seen in my life."

"Well do come and visit us regularly, dear," Moire continued.

"Thank you, ma'am," I responded.

Nimue brightened. "One of the dolphins came to him *straight away*" she told Moire. From the tone of her voice, this seemed to be the highest character reference she can give someone. Again, I felt flattered.

After lunch, Moire and Halmic remained in the dining room while we took our leave.

"Back to the gardens?" inquired Nimue. I nodded rather excitedly. She led me there by a slightly different route which allowed us to pick up a net and catch some small, brightly-coloured fish to offer the dolphins.

Back in almost the last place we saw the dolphins, Nimue said encouragingly, "Go on. Call to them if you would like."

I tried the calls Nimue taught him before lunch. I asked, "How do I say: 'and we brought fish this time'?"

"You don't really. If they come, they'll find out. If they don't want to come, fish won't persuade them. Well... most of them." Then she added, "But you could try this for 'eat-good-fish-here-now'" and she demonstrated. Then she smiled, and pointed away across the gardens. "Some of them don't seem to have gone far anyway" she said, chirrupping the call which you know is effectively "welcome", an expression of pleasure.

In fact, three dolphins seemed to be converging on us. One of them seems to be my friend of earlier, who bypassed Nimue (who was being greeted by his companions) completely, to swim up to and around me, trying to knock the net out of my hand. It made an excited stream of sounds, all indicating pleasure, excitement and invitation. I tried the new phrase and offered the dolphin some fish, while setting the net down. It was more than happy to gulp some of these down before demanding that I play with it and its friends.

Nimue came back up the Stairs with me at the end of the day, to say goodbye. As I left, she called softly after me: "Take care, Alex." When I turned around, she had already disappeared beneath the waves. Much to my surprise, my clothes were dry when I emerged from the water.

It was late when I got home. I made myself some dinner in the kitchen, then braced myself to face reality.

There was light coming from under the door in Father's study. I knocked on the door and could hear him reply, "Come in." He looked at me expectently. "Did you have a good visit?"

"Ah... yes, but I did here something fairly unpleasant and I-I guess you'll want to know." I repeated what Nimue had told me about the rumors circulating around the Courts that Marcel and I had murdered that stupid git, Prince Chanicut, in cold blood.

Father raised his eyebrows and said, "A blatant lie, but only to be expected from the *Courts*. Did you get this from Nimue or Lord Alistair?"

"Nimue asked me to pass this on to you, sir." I added: "and Nimue also spoke to Alistair about the whole thing, as she said she would."

"Good. Thank her for me." I nodded and beat a retreat.

Go to the next chapter