At midday, a party assembles in the outer courtyard for the departure to Paris. Some of the worthies in the party are:
            - Corwin
            - Merlin
            - Lord Rein
            - Kaia, the Rebman ambassador, and three members of her staff
 
There are also a number of riders who accompany them as guards.

Vere is there, dressed in durable travelling clothes of dark blue and grey.  He is unarmed, and wears two feathers braided into his hair.

Jerod arrives as the party is being assembled.  He is equipped for reasonable fast travel, including hellriding (meaning he's not loaded down with trunks).  Jerod makes note of which of Kaia's staff members are attending with her, as well as the apparent absence of Bend and Montage.  He also makes suitable greetings to the various individuals.

Shortly before the scheduled departure time, Robin comes pelting out of a side door.  The Ranger screeches to a halt upon seeing the bustle in the courtyard and discretely side-steps to an out-of-the-way spot.  She too is dressed for travel, trail gear and weapons, but it's obvious from the way she hangs back from the crowd that it isn't this trip she's going on.

After a quick glance at Corwin to ascertain that he isn't planning on leaving within the next few moments, Vere approaches Robin.  "My lady," he says, holding out his hands to her.

With her eyes alight, the girl skips forward.  Grasping both of Vere's hands in her own gauntleted ones, she leans into him, resting her forehead against his chin.  When she speaks, it is a quiet murmur, meant only for the two of them.  "I... I wasn't going to come."
            She looks up into his eyes.  "We've already said good-bye so much.  But... it's a Patternwalk, Vere.  And I *had* to come and see you off."  She smiles, putting a brave face on her worry.

Vere slips his arms around her and smiles down.  "I carry my father's strength," he says with conviction.  "There is no cause for concern.  The only difficulty I will face will be to not have the Pattern transport me instantly to your side once I have reached the center."

"I know." Robin slides her hands up behind Vere's shoulder-blades, pressing herself against him.  "I wish you could do that too."
            "And I know that you are certainly strong enough."  She hugs him fiercely.  "I... oh, I don't know.  I wish there was something I could do to help."

Vere reaches up and lightly touches the feathers in his hair.  "You already have, my love."

Thrill tingles through Robin's eyes as the Danu indicates her token.  "My Vere." She murmurs in wonder and love.  A wriggle of happiness runs through the girl, followed by a bright laugh.  "Oo!  I just love seeing that there."  And she kisses him brightly once.
            And since he always knows what to say, she kisses him again, lingeringly and deeply, wanting to etch the taste of him into her soul for all time.

Vere returns the kiss, holding her tightly for a long while before relaxing his grip.  "I will think of you every moment that we are apart," he says.  "Take care of yourself."

Robin nods, not trusting herself to speak as she slowly lets go of Vere.
            As she steps back from him, she squeezes one hand strongly in comfort and love.  And even though she knows the brave little smile is a cliche beyond all bearing, the girl still finds it on her lips as she watches Vere leave her.

More than a minute or two late, Marius rushes up to Corwin.  There is no luggage or anything with him.  He bows more deeply than he ought, and then addresses him as, "Uncle."
            "Uncle, I fear I cannot in all clear conscience make this journey with you.  My heart is still burdened with duty here," he says.  "I hope that the invitation remains open for when my responsibilities are met."

"Of course," says Corwin. He looks a touch disappointed. "If you have your mother's cards, you can contact me by trump. If not, ask any of my brothers and sisters who remain in Amber. I'll be glad to bring you through when your duties are done."

"I shall do so, with haste, when I have unburdened myself honorably," he says.  It's the kind of thing Jerod can pull off without even thinking about it, so it seems a little clunky in the fit for Marius, but he seems to be sincere, and *that's* worth something, even in the devalued Amber.  "Thank you, Uncle.  I hope your journey is a pleasant and safe one."

Out of the corner of his eye, Marius notices that Caine is passing through the courtyard. Surely it's just a coincidence.

Alas, Marius suspects on an intuitive level that Caine's 0-point flaw is "that it's never a coincidence."  Once he's finished with the pleasantries, he sees to following Caine in a blatant, "curious" fashion.

As Vere returns, he notices Jerod has been keeping an eye on his... endeavors.  It would appear he has a slight smile on his face as he secures a couple of packages to his horse's saddle.
            "Vere..." Jerod says, making a point of looking at him, then Robin, then back to Vere.  "So...how goes it?"

Robin meets Jerod's eye deliberately and raises one Julianic eyebrow.  A wry smile tugs one corner of her mouth.  Jerod... is definitely one of the hurdles that she and Vere will have to face if they want to continue in an open relationship.  And the Ranger is completely confident that her Vere can make the right impression with the son of Eric and Amber's junior spymaster.

Vere smiles without answering for a moment, checking his saddle once more before mounting.  He rides next to Jerod, and as the party begins to move out of the courtyard he says, "Very well, indeed."  He reaches up and lightly strokes the two feathers braided into his hair.

Behind them in a stone courtyard which sounds to the fading echo of hoofbeats, a thrill shivers through Robin as Vere brushes her token.  She smiles through vision suddenly blurry and wet and she stands frozen until the last whisking tail of the last horse is no longer visible.
            Then, with an enormous ruffling, the Ranger shakes her blonde head and practically stamps her way to the stables to see if there is any useful horse left for her journey to Arden.

Not long after midday, the train of riders sets out for Paris. They move down the north slope of Kolvir, away from the city, Corwin at the lead and Merlin beside him. Jerod and Vere are also welcome to join them.