Following Caine and Julian's introductions and the brief chat afterwards, everyone mounts up and they all proceed to the castle.

Vere falls in behind everyone else, observing the various interactions among his relatives with concealed interest.

Kourin gets one horse, Jovian takes the other, and Robin rides double with Julian.

Robin so does not have a problem riding double with Julian on Morgenstern and will take the opportunity to sneak the great beast the apple she's been holding and get in a few quick fond thumps and a brief hug.

While he isn't noticeably looking in her direction, a brief smile appears on Vere's face at about this time.

By the time Caine and Julian's party arrives at the castle, Aisling and Folly have also arrived, as has anyone else who got word of the arrival in the city. Servants take the horses and stable them (with the exception of Morgenstern), and other servants go to prepare rooms for Sir Jovian and the lady guest.

Julian excuses himself to speak with Gerard, and Caine excuses himself to speak with Random. The rest are in an outer courtyard, and may either have their discussion here or move on into the castle (or some of each, depending on the mood).

Vere looks off after Julian as he leaves to speak with Gerard, his face once again devoid of any emotion.

Once in the courtyard, Robin eases herself down from Morgenstern and stands beside the Wall of Grey as she looks around at the bustle of activity.  Her nostrils flare once or twice as though she were tasting the difference in the air that the return of the Family has wrought.

Jovian's grin bursts out broad and warm at the sight of the purple air-walker and its mounted companion. "Fledgling!" he hails joyously.

"Dragonman!"  Aisling booms back, with precisely the same tone.  Grinning, it quickly unloops its arm from Folly and offers a hand to help her dismount.  Then it approaches Robin (though halting at a greater distance than is usual in such situations, out of consideration for Julian's daughter's likely antipathy towards Chaosite things) and bows with its head and a graceful gesture of its arm.  "And you are Robin?  I am Aisling," it pauses, and then leaves that there.  "I am pleased to see that you have returned."

Jovian is still smiling, but the tension that draws up in him is imperfectly hidden as he watches his sister react. One might think he had some sort of emotional stake in those two getting along....

At the booming, friendly *beautiful* tones greeting her brother, a grin dashes across Robin's face.  To be replaced by an obvious 'what the hell?' look when she spots Aisling and Folly in the courtyard.  Which shifts rapidly to a 'don't that beat all' gaze as she takes in the purpleness of the two.
            With a step that's slow at first, but then gaining in confidence, Robin moves out of Morgenstern's shadow to greet Aisling and Folly with a smile and a nod to confirm her identity.  The Ranger extends her gauntlet to the purple air-walking multi-eyed lion thing in exactly the same way she did to Brennan.
            "Aisling.  Well met."

Mid-high water people catch its momentary hesitation (and can possibly guess the cause of this is unease with the custom and memory of Adonis), but mostly it looks relieved and pleased as it shakes her hand with its middle hand. 
           Its right hand has only a forlorn two tentacle-fingers, unlike the healthy brush of its other two hands; but this is a lot better than the bloody handless stump Jovian remembers.

The Shadowflyer relaxes, relief and fondness beaming the grin he shares with Robin and Aisling. He closes the scant distance between and reaches up to lightly scratch the back of the strong purple neck, where a mane would be on a more conventionally leonine beast. "How are you faring, Aisling?"

Jovian can feel it twitch, like it countermanded the orders for an enormous movement a millisecond after they were given.  Those watching can see just a very weird expression; and its whip-tail hisses a few feet across the cobbles of the courtyard...  But before that even dies, it's chuckling, apparently much amused.

Marius lets go of a deep breath that he didn't even know he had been holding.  It would never have occurred to him to _touch_ the beast.

"Oh, well enough at times," it answers, still laughing, picking up his hand and clasping it for a moment before releasing it.  "We should speak sometime before the coronation."

When Aisling twitches, Jovian startles for an instant, but it never quite gets past his eyes - and his hand freezing in place. Again, the soothing resonance of the chuckle relaxes him. "Yes, we definitely should. I'm sure we have enough to talk about. How much time does 'before the coronation' give us?"

"Two days," Aisling says.  "Tomorrow is the memorial for Oberon and Deirdre and the war dead.  The day after, in the morning is the coronation; around noon is the knighting ceremony; afternoon is a familial procession and the blessing of the fleet; evening is a masquerade ball.  Don't worry; we've (waving a hand to the assembled knights) got some suggestions about that."
            It grins, having set up the punchline for Folly.

Folly, looking a bit windblown after her flight, has taken a moment to tidy herself.  (This mostly involves shaking her head around really hard and then running her fingers through her hair a few times.  The end result is not significantly different from the starting point.)  Now she steps forward and greets Robin with a big smile.
            "Welcome back, cousin, it's good to see you again," she says warmly.  "Not that any of us missed you or anything, mind you."  Her eyes twinkle as she punches Robin playfully on the arm.

"Hey, Folly."  The ranger companionably nudges Folly with her shoulder. Her smile is a bit sheepish.  "Everyone okay?"

"More-or-less, yeah.  Everyone who's here, anyway."  Folly hesitates, like there's a lot more to say on the subject, but perhaps not 'til after all the introductions have been made.  She gives Robin an _I'll fill you in later_ look and then turns to the newcomers.

"And I suppose you'd be Jovian, then," Folly says, extending her hand to the dragonrider.  "I'm Folly.  Welcome to the party."  Her smile is warm and friendly.
            Folly is dressed in a simple, slightly rumpled dress the color of heather, which goes nicely with the purple streaks in her dark hair.  If Jovian was paying attention when she dismounted, he probably also noticed the jeans and boots she's wearing underneath.

Marius watches Folly carefully.  Some would say suspiciously.  He spends a few more moments seeing the dynamics of the conversation, and then sneaks away to Do Other Things.

Before he does, Jovian flags him down. "Marius, before you go - I need to get a message into the chain of command at the harbor. Who's best to tell?"

"Myself, of course," he says, with a bit of an exaggerated bow.  "I should be honoured to carry word for you, for that is my eventual destination."

"That'd be great," Jovian says with a relieved smile. "The dragons, twenty-eight of them, are encamped at Ruby Falls. They'll be fishing offshore sometime today. They should be far enough from the fleet not to cause alarm, but if the lookouts know they're on our side, that'll make things calmer all around."

Marius makes a visible pause at the word, "fleet," with a hint of a frown on his face.  He doesn't say anything, though, but nods.  "Alas, a dragon can be friend or foe from the distance," he agrees.  "I will certainly extend the message onto the appropriate personnel; I would not like to see injury to our largest friends." 
            He looks around, and with a shrug, smile, and a hint of a wave, runs off towards wherever the naval HQ is today to deliver such a message.

Turning back to Folly, "I suppose you'll be right, Folly," Jovian answers, smile still bright, taking Folly's hand in one of his, covering it with the other and bowing over it. "Glad I didn't miss all the festivities," he adds, with not so much a note as a hornpipe of irony.

"Folly of Amber, this is Kourin, gold Hoshith's rider and at least half the brains behind the King's First and Last Air Corps."

"Well met, Kourin," Folly says, extending a hand.  "Welcome to Amber."

"Thank you," she says, grasping the hand and squeezing it.  She looks down at the roofs of the Pearl of Cities.  "It's an amazing place.  We don't build in the open back home.  Does it go back into the mountain at all?"

"Not the city part, really, no," Folly replies, "although the castle itself is set partly into the mountain."

Vere, still standing a goodly distance from most of his relatives and merely watching and listening, lifts an eyebrow slightly and almost speaks at this point.  Then he decides not to do so after all.

"It's dangerous to build in the open where we're from," Jovian clarifies, aside to Vere.

"Here," Vere murmurs quietly, "It can be dangerous to dig too deeply."

"Kourin, you remember Aisling--" He squints at the Chaosite's battle form. "Though I don't remember if you saw her in this, uh...shape." His awkwardness is pretty clearly one of uncertain etiquette, not anything intrinsic to the parties involved.

"I do.  We were not overly encumbered with flying allies, so our one was quite memorable.  It's good to see you back safely where things are normal."

"For a broad range of values of 'normal,'" Jovian adds with a Julianic eyebrow and a twist at the corner of his mouth.

As the introductions get more and more, Robin steps back to allow everyone the room to talk with one another freely.  If that takes her away from the center of the conversations, the fond smile on the Ranger's face seems to indicate that she doesn't mind that at all.

As the introductions are winding down, Folly pipes up again.  "Shall we go in?  You must be hungry after your trip.  If you like, while you're waiting for your rooms to be readied, I can send for some sandwiches, and we'll give you the 'good parts' version of recent events."  She pauses; then, looking a bit grim, amends, "Well, the 'interesting parts' version, anyway.  Did Brennan fill you in about your brother's brief return to Arden?"

"Pistil did," says Robin, probably referring to one of the rangers.  "Though Brennan was kind enough to check that we knew right away.  He mentioned that Brita and... Conner? were involved too?"  The blonde heads nods toward Brennan in acknowledgment.

"No, but Ranger Pistil did. It's On My List," he pronounces with grim clarity. "But meantime, yeah, I could murder a meatroll or four.  Shall we?" His gesture includes Vere and Aisling, and Brennan and Ossian if they're still present.

Vere  nods a silent acceptance of the invitation.

Aisling smiles, "I am dancing with curiosity to hear of your trip back.  Did the dragons enjoy it?"
            What she's asking, oh ye high waters, is whether they're all still allright; but it would be rotten to refer to the memory of dragons not being allright, eh?  So she hasn't.

"Some less than others," Jovian admits, chagrined. "Did you meet M'corli, green Antrith's rider?" His tone gives the question unhappy, but not heartbreaking, weight.

Aisling frowns with foreboding.  "A little," it says.

"His eyes," Jovian says directly. "There were other injuries, fairly minor, his was the worst. We definitely *should* talk later." The entreaty in his eyes as they meet two of Aisling's does not spread to his tone or the rest of his face.

Aisling nods once, expressionless.

Lilly had been watching all of the introductions with interest. She did not have much to add so she remained suitably silent. For a brief moment after Folly mentioned food she had thought this a good time to politely excuse herself. That thought quickly faded however when the subject of Daeon came up. Jovian might know very little of what transpired between her and his brother. Certainly he would want to ask Lilly a few questions. Not that she blamed him. If the tables were turned she would want every fact she could get.
            There is a slightly imploring look on Lilly's face as she attempts to catch Brennan's eye. She wanted someone she trusted in the room with her in case this got ugly. After all she did not want to injure both of Julian's sons.

Some time during all this, Brennan catches Ossian's eye with an inquiring glance -- he wanted to talk about something the other day?

Ossian furrows his brow and walks over to Brennan.  "Brennan?"

"Ossian.  You looked like you wanted to talk after the Rebman delegation arrived in Court, but I had no time."

I'm sure Ossian is high enough water to realize that for some reason or other, Brennan doesn't particularly care for him.  However, he does seem to have resigned himself to Ossian's presence and adopted a somewhat distant neutrality.  Besides, he's not likely to misbehave in front of a large crowd.

"Oh, that. No I really hadn't anything special on my mind. But I guess you might have some suggestions on the safe-keeping of the Trumps I collect for the king." Ossian shrugs "Although that is not a subject fit for this open place."

Well, now he's got Brennan's interest.  "Hmm.  Actually, I don't, right now, because I don't know what Random is planning on doing with them or how he intends to use them.  But I could give it some thought, especially if I knew more details of the plan and the security concerns."

Ossian nods. "Let's have lunch with Jovian and the others, and we'll have a brief chat afterwards?"

"Works for me."

As people start talking about going inside, Robin looks around to see if Morgenstern is still within the courtyard.  Or if he's pulled one of his patented disappearing acts.

Morgenstern has indeed disappeared. There is no reason to do anything but go inside.

Sigh.  Except that she doesn't *want* to go inside.  As such, she'll wait until the others are firmly on their way and then trail in afterwards-if she can.

Folly, at least, seems to sense Robin's reluctance.  She looks a bit concerned by this, but she leaves Robin to her own devices.

Robin slides her hands into her pockets and tries to keep her grin chipper as she strolls toward the great stone archway that seems to loom over her, leering and chipped, like some senile behemoth.
            The girl is aware that she's in the company of some hefty observer-types so she does her best to repress the shudder that goes through her as the shadow of the doorway crosses her form.  But she's pretty sure that she doesn't completely succeed.

When they enter the castle, Folly directs those who are interested in continuing the conversation into a comfortable parlor.  She sends for refreshment and asks that the staff send word when the newcomers' quarters are ready.

Robin drifts into the parlor and proceeds immediately beside the windows - if there are any.  Once there, the girl roots herself, leaning against the wall, with her arms crossed as she smiles at the rest of the room.  She notes where Vere (if he enters) chooses to stand with a quick smile.  And watches with quiet curiosity to see how Aisling will accommodate itself to the furniture.

Vere has taken a position with his back to a wall, near a corner, that gives him a clear view of the entire room.  As Robin glances over at him a quick smile passes over his face, and he inclines his head the barest fraction in her direction.

She returns the nod, a ripple of green in the depths of her eyes.

Aisling pulls up a comfy spot in the air, settling down so that its eyes are on level with those of the seated folk.

Well, it must be a 'don't that beat all' expression day for Robin, because as she watches Aisling settle--there it is again.

Jovian grins at sister and comrade in turn, impish delight lighting his gaze.

When they're all settled, Folly, picking up on Aisling's question, asks, "So, yeah, how was your trip?  We hadn't figured it would take quite so long...."

"We and the army have been here eleven days, now; Random appeared a week or so before the army.  Did time pass similarly for you?"  Aisling adds information and new questions both.

This too was of interest to Lilly. She could not help but to vaguely wonder whether any of the Dragon riders were subject to strange dreams. So she settled in for the tale, content to let the deeds of Daeon fall to the side for the moment. Eventually the subject would return to him. It always did.

Oh.  Well, it's a time question.  That'd be Jovian's.  Robin looks over to her brother.

"Eleven days." For three seconds Jovian looks over the calculus equations written invisibly six inches below the ceiling and two points to starboard. "Given the differentials, yes, that'd be right. It was 38 hours and change less for us. It took so long because we couldn't be sure of keeping the wings together through a Hellflight. The possibility of leaving someone behind was unacceptable."
            He looks to his sister. "How long, personal time, since we last slept, Robin?"

The Ranger shrugs one shoulder casually and shakes her head.  She wasn't counting the hours.

Thinking again, he works it out himself: "Through the day the first time, back, forward again, long talk with Dad, ride home, Pistil's briefing. Only about 22 hours. The stress makes it feel longer, though."

When coffee comes, Jovian doses his more than liberally with cinnamon and a bit of chocolate. He blatantly does not like it bitter.

Robin takes a cup of coffee--black--but passes on the snackies.

"Most pressing matters first," he says with a sigh, and sips the brew tentatively. "Vere, I'm afraid your homeland may have become hostile territory. Your mother is free and unharmed, but her chancellor is leading an uprising against her. Vianis also had the fardling gall to take hostile action against Robin when she was passing through." This, too, is evidently On His List.

Aisling looks surprised, uncomfortable to be hearing this, and then emotionless.

Vere blinks, once.  After a brief pause he says, with no emotion in his voice, "The Chancellor has acted against the Lady?  That is most .... unexpected."

When Jovian decides to take the bull by the horn, Robin's gaze drops to the floor.  At Vere's lack of tone, the Ranger winces slightly and her eyes flicker Danu-ward.  Then, with her lips pressed together, her eyes return to admiring the carpet.

"A full briefing will have to wait for my father to be available, and I'm sure yours will want to hear it. For now, let me only say that I did my best to make life difficult for someone posing a threat to your mother, and if my aid is welcome in the future I will give it freely." There is a subtle emphasis on 'freely' that might even make Vere wonder if Jovian is pronouncing his intent to pay a debt. There  is certainly something to be explained later in the intense, but not challenging, directness of his eye contact.

Vere meets Jovian's gaze without expression.  After a moment he nods minutely, and says, "There is no need to bore our relatives with the affairs of the Isles.  I have no doubt your father has already given, or will shortly give, Prince Gerard whatever information he might have upon this matter.  I can wait for further details."  There is a brief pause, and Vere's eyes narrow slightly as he adds, "Although if you know of the current welfare of the Princess Avis, I would appreciate having that knowledge now, good or ill."

"Profoundly shaken, truly exhausted, slightly skewered, and kind of disappointed.  And home."  Robin looks up from the carpet to Vere.  "Siege says hi too."  A half-smile cocks her lips at some memory.

"Broken out of captivity, thanks to Robin," Jovian adds. He catches his sister's eye and something significant passes between them.

A green sparkle in the depths of Robin's eyes answers her brother.

Vere's attention moves from Jovian to Robin, and he considers her silently for a moment.  Then he raises an eyebrow and makes a slight bow towards her.  "I suspect your words touch the mere surface of a fascinating tale," he says.  "I look forward to hearing it." 

Robin looks a little surprised at Vere's slight bow and she nods at the mention of a tale.  But her eyes dart around to the rest of the room, and she firmly clamps her lips shut.  Obviously, the Ranger feels she's said too much as it is. 

Vere straightens and adds, "For now, I think we should concentrate on bringing you up to date on what has happened in Amber, and the plans for His Majesty's coronation."

"Yes, please do," Jovian nods. "Day after tomorrow, is it? I'm sure we have a lot to catch up on."

"We all do, Jovian, we all do.  Have you met my wife, Queen Vialle?"
            Random is standing in a doorway and the soon-to-be-crowned Queen is beside him.