Book One -- A Gathering of Dreams

Chapter One:  The Summoning

            Saphir and Singh both were attending  the Annual Wyvern jousts on Blecaine, a shadow about 1½ days hellride from Amber.  Saphir was there for one of his many sporting contests, this was one of his favorites. He went to these events in open identity, proud to be a part of it.  Singh was there incognito, still getting used to who and what she was and not ready to be that to everyone at large.
            Their contest was single elimination round, an intense competition, a great test of various skills and acumen.  Saphir took the contest.  Singh was incredible with the beast, took second and went to the last round against Saphir. She certainly was superior in handling the beast, none had seen any better with one.  But Saphir was uncanny with the air and the weapon, despite being ok/little clumsy on the wyvern.
             Saphir took notice of this young baby-faced engenue warrior who wielded
prowess and an air of aged wisdom.  There was no mistaking the other worldliness and newness of her shadow savvy.  Saphir knocked her off her mount, yet she recovered quickly enough to have the wyvern catch her in its talon, before she hit the ground.
            Singh stood 5’5, was unimposing but inspiringly statuesque, olive skin and black hair to the shoulders marked her firm stature. A round north Asian face  misspoke naive youth of this adept and clever young woman. The cunning reflected in her hazel jade sparkling eyes. She was a firecracker, constant hyper motion.
            Saphir dined with her in the victory cavern -- talking of everything from his
world to Chaos -- surrounded by onlookers, but noticing only each other.  Under
the crimson sky, when he mentioned Shadow, she seemed startled. A festival of great expression commenced around them, contrasting this typically restrained world. They talked on highest tier of the many leveled cavern, delighting in the spicy meats of the loosing Wyvern.
            Saphir was summoned by CreAn and they bade goodnight, with plans to go riding on the air ways and Dragons of my world on the morrow.  Never happened.  Singh had to raincheck, and in the deep of night, Saphir was summoned home.
              Ekin was summoned by his Uncle Caine (Admiral) to go find “Dworkin” the
Trump maker, supposedly hidden somewhere deep in Chaos. Aunt Fiona was there adding her perspective. Ekin demanded better ship and crew for such a task. Caine agreed to look into it and the process began…
              The introvert remains secluded in his castle going about his hidings.  His cook had been slowly torturing him (unintentionally??) for years with undercooked raw bad food.  He was just realizing it now, but it had been going on for years!
            He decided to have his stable boy Edso carry out the punishments and so
instructed his Sir Fiaro to have her beaten.  But Edso didn’t want to, and the cook started whining and complaining and saying she should go work for her sister's employer, some lesser lord!!
            Nero noticed when dealing with the stable boy, how his temples and pulse
points were a pounding!!
            Nero scolded the Sir Fiaro saying, "Next time I say he should beat someone, it will be done.  He is old enough and needs to grow up."
            Nero decided to plan a cook-off between his bad cook and her sister.
She had better win or that beating looms…
              At home, the festival of the new moon.  A big drunkfest, Singh's mother -- the Khan -- especially is plastered.  Standing under the night sky with mom looking up at the moon, Singh has an attack of tunnel vision and then blacks out! Later she wakes briefly only to pass out again. Wakes 2 days later in her tent and is greeted by Mom and Fiona.
            Mom says you are going to Amber to be treated.  But mom says, we don’t
believe Amber caused this problem, or we wouldn’t be sending you.  The ride
through shadow passes in delirium.
             She wakes in guest room, is cold but the weird pressure is gone.  Singh gets up and tells the servant to fetch her clothes. Fiona is summoned and says that her parentage is causing the problem -- informing her that she is sensitive to the Jewel of Judgement.  And that something is happening to the Jewel of Judgement. Fiona tells her they are bringing in a repairman.  Singh asks what she can do. Fiona tells her to go to Ekin who seeks Dworkin the repairman.  In talking Fiona referred to Caine as Uncle Caine. The servant returned with her clothes.
               Toeval was on one of his extended jaunts near Calberia seeing what is around.  Was going through a series of earthlike shadows with very lush and forest like -- shadow after shadow is like this. Finally however, the sixth one is totally different.  It seems as if it was hit by some blight -- dead, no animal, no veg, no insects, the sky seems seared.  There is a hint of red dust in the air, an eerily silent wind. There are remains of things such as vegetation from the likes of the previous shadows but all red and crystallized -- turned into red glass type stuff, broken down from there.  Shattered. This seemed to have happened to all living stuff here.  Only mountains, gullies etc. remain.
            Toeval sensed a tug -- a call from deep in the shadow.  It didn’t feel like a trump.  It's an elusive scent, like a partially heard conversation.  Toeval could tell that the world used to be an animus magic world, but no more.
            Toeval decide to test the world as magic tech natural etc… he pulled a gun and shot it.  It made a super loud noise which shattered a crystallized tree remnant.  He followed the call for about 2 miles…
            The call was reinforced by a sound, a male tenor voice calling out, a hoarse voice weary with panic and desperation. Toeval found a guy encased in crystal up to one side of his face.
            'Help' ,he yelped.
            'How did you get encased?'
            'I don’t know.!'
            'I will make you a  deal.  I will get you free if you then tell me your story.'
            'OK.'
            Toeval tried pounding the chips with his pistol and then tried shooting but got cut.  So Toeval said, 'Hold tight.  I will be back.'
            Toeval left, shifted shadow to back home.  He notices his hands are scabbed over and gets on his armor.  After wrapping his hands, he gets sword, mace, food and water ala Jeeves. Gets a special torch-blowtorch.  And goes back through all the shadows.
            Eight hrs later back in the shadow, another 7 hrs later gets to him.  The crystal has grown back over him and he has fallen asleep.  Toeval wakes him.
            'What's your name?'
            'Martin.'
            'Ok, this might hurt a little.'
            Toeval starts hitting away at it and starts chipping him free
            Toeval set the picnic basket down, it crystallizes and he accidentally shatters it.  Martin is barefoot and the crystal is getting unbalanced/unstable, so Toeval starts chipping higher.  Martin is getting free, piece by piece, gets hit a few times but doesn’t complain.
            Martin, once free, starts to sit.  Toeval yells, 'NO!  You will get stuck.' Toeval lifts him up.  Through his gauntlet, Toeval feels a jolt when he touches his skin.  Toeval's mace looks rosy.  Toeval grabs martin and shifts shadow..
              Saphir returning home to Shar-da-Kor and reunites with friend and lover Keera.  They dine in a Heights restaurant, have a great time on the town, she has done well, has much power and respect.  They stroll the rift, reminisce with wine, cigars & deep questions, just enjoying the now.
            Later, in bed, she sleeps.  Saph stirs -- there is a presence in the corner.  Saph, slowly levitates his sword and bola to him, sensing the person.  Power and hidden. He gets up to be greeted by Princess Karambi of Burgami -- ally from the Golden Circle.  She says 'You have been called home to your family.'
            Together they ride on steeds as she sifts through shadow with uncanny grace and ability.
            At home he greets his mother, Llewella, who tells him that something is wrong with the fabric of Amber.  And it is reflecting in Rebma.  She wants him to go find out what it is to save Rebma, not necessarily Amber.  She says that Fiona and Caine aren't saying anything but that the king is probably very ill from this problem.
            Saphir talks with Moire and then is on his way.  He ascends the stairs up to Amber.  Goes to the port, looking for Ekin, and/or any variance in Amber or any info.  Not finding any, he goes to the palace and leaves word for the Queen that he is here and heads to sleep.
            But he can't sleep so he goes to the library.  There he runs into Fiona who
is none to happy to see him.
            He says, 'Look, I don’t want to do anything but help both our causes.  Any
advice for me?'
            She says sarcastically,  "You should go see how your friend Singh is."
            Saph says, "She is here?"
            'Yes.  Resting.'
            'Very well.  I will find her.  Thanks Fiona.'
              Julian came to tell Nero that he was summoned by King Random.
            Nero asked,  'Was anyone else summoned?'
            'Yes,' said Julian, 'Ekin, Flora's son, as well.’
            There Caine greeted Nero in a side room.
            Caine said 'You are a sorcerer, no?'
            'No I am not.'
            'But you have been deep into shadow, have you not?'
            'No I haven't.'
            Caine seemed surprised.
            Nero said,  'I guess I am the wrong man for the job.'
            'Ok.'  Caine bid him goodbye -- strangely.
            Nero left, hearing them talk loudly after he left.
            Nero, once home packed for a trip.
             Ekin got the Wake Angel, a steel lined ship with 76 guns and a crew of 350.  Vendretti was the captain.  Caine introduced the 2 captains and split their lead roles.  Vendretti looked pissed
            Ekin said the Wolverine should follow.  And he asked Captain Vendretti, 'You have some ideas on the mission?'
            V answered,  'I don’t know yet what the mission is.'
            Ekin asked Caine to disclose.
            Caine told him mission is to sail to Chaos to get Dworkin, your granddad!!
            They decide to seek a guide in the family's resources.
              Singh looks for a servant and makes her take her to servant HQ.  Where she asks where find Ekin.  She ends up at the Pilot's Guildhall via a stern horse that she rides oh so well.  There she makes a ruckus of an entrance.
            Inside Ekin is seeking 2 references for guides and hears the commotion. He goes outside and sees Singh -wow!  She dismounts and ties up Crystal. Comes over to front door and asks Ekin, 'Do you know where I can find Ekin?'
            'Yes, I am he.'
            They talk of the mission, and she says she will help on the way.  He says we need guide.
            'Where are we going?' she asks.
            'To Chaos! Know anyone who can help?'
            She remembers Saph mention Chaos, knowing he is a Prince, and says 'I
think I do…'
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