Robin can see Avid making preparations around the camp.  About the time she starts to wonder when Totter will get back with something to eat, she hears a measure of Cadence from the woods.
            Ranger...Trouble...Following...Ranger...Hide...Catch.

"Dung."  Robin says as she straightens from her watchpoint near the mouth of the cave.  "I hope that's edible trouble."
            "Levet?"  She calls the younger Ranger forward to take her position and gestures to Rain to accompany herself out.  The girl flashes a quick smile to Avid, indicating that the ornery guy is now in charge till she gets back.
            Setting out with Rain in tow, Robin extends her senses and relies on her experience and familiarity with Totter to see where he wants the ambush that she and Rain are going to arrange set-up.

The measure repeats slightly differently.
            Ranger ...Trouble ... Supper ...Following Ranger ...Hide...Catch
            And Totter comes bursting into the clearing where Robin and Rain are waiting.  Robin hears a sound in the underbrush and sees a large boar following Totter.  Rain has an arrow into it a moment later and is nocking another.

Robin grins and leaps forward to take over matador duty from Totter.  Drawing her sword in her off-hand, she whistles to the boar in a particularly annoying to porcine ears taunt.
            The Ranger begins her dance with the boar with a keen eye not only to avoid the shotlines of Rain and Totter, but also with a mind to keep the boar under their fire for as long as possible.

Robin thinks they can all eat for a week, even if Daeon comes back.  There's a lot of angry pork charging after Totter.  A spear would be handy, but she doesn't have one.
            The boar turns at her whistle and comes around.  It is moving quickly and can't turn too easily.  Totter jumps over a rock and comes up stringing his bow.  Robin can tell he'll be in the fight soon.  Rain hits it again. Robin wonders how thick the boar's hide is, because he doesn't seem to be bleeding very much from the arrows.  That's pretty normal; it may take an eye or mouth shot to do any serious damage to the boar.
            It's lined up on Robin and is charging at her with a remarkably high-pitched squeal.

A happy laugh lifts out of the girl.  Yep, waving a sword at nearly a ton of charging and pissed off pig is a *lot* better than thinking.  Robin's footwork is lightened by her heart as she waits for the boar to fully commit before dancing off to the side.  But despite her playfulness, the Ranger keeps herself out of tusk and hoof range.  It really wouldn't be cool to let herself be gored right now.  She's got a date to keep and pris-hk-hk-k-k-k... guests to watch over.
            Of course, out of tusk and hoof range also means out of sword range.  So she just has to hope that either Totter or Rain will pull the lucky shot.  Any time now.

Robin dances away, cleanly.  It's a fast beast, and somewhat bigger than she expected.  It comes close enough to her that she can smell it.  And it's turning quickly.  Robin dances out of harm's way again, and Totter and Rain hit the beast with arrows.
            It looks like it's going to be a long, slow fight, waiting for a lucky shot or a combination of small wounds and time.  And hoping the boar isn't the one who gets the lucky shot.
            That's what Robin thinks will happen.  It isn't what happens.
            After about two passes, when Robin is getting the boar lined up again with her irritating whistle, she hears another whistle off to one side.  The boar turns and charges towards a woman who is standing at the edge of the clearing.  She is wearing a white dress and carries a boar spear.  She gracefully kneels and sets her spear.
            The boar, by this point infuriated, charges up onto the spear and stops with his muzzle wrapped around the crosspiece.  The woman holds the spear as if it hadn't just been hit by a half a ton of angry bacon.

Green eyes watch the display, making very sure the boar is dead before ticking away in self-disgust.  *When* will she learn?!  Being cautious only means someone else gets to steal your supper.  Ah well...
            A supple hand gesture asks Totter and Rain to stay in position with arrows nocked.  With another freaky Arcadian on the scene, the Ranger feels it's best that she stays the only one exposed.
            The girl doesn't sheath her sword but she does lower it to a neutral position as she calls politely.  "Congratulations, Lady.  May I have permission to retrieve our arrows?"
            After all, there's other dinner in the woods and someone who handles a boar spear like that?  Most likely another 'Shadow God.'  And since Robin isn't trying to get her brother to back the fuck off, it's probably best to play nice.

"The meat is yours for the having.  I had my spear and thought to help you."  She pulls the spear from the corpse.  "I was expecting your brother."  She wears a white dress without a spot of blood on it.

Whereas Robin can get dirty in a white room.  Definitely a goddess, the girl thinks to herself, as she nods to the Huntress.
            "My thanks, Lady.  I can indeed make use of this creature's strength."  The Ranger tries very hard not to let her family-bred skepticism for gifts rise too far into her face.  Walking over, Robin lowers her sword and keeps it to her side... but she can't quite bring herself to sheathe it yet.
            "Alas.  I do not know the current whereabouts of my brother.  But..."  Robin's voice dribbles off as her brow furrows.  The Ranger's not really sure how anyone as woods savvy as the Lady seems to be could confuse her and Daeon's signatures.

"He told me he'd meet me.  If you see him, tell him our bargain is still good and I am waiting for him.  He should come to Jones Falls."  She hesitates.  "He didn't give you a message for me, did he?"

Jones Falls, Robin mouths to herself as her brow furrows.  Somehow the girl can't picture *anyone* using a proper place name as directions for Daeon.  Proper place names just don't feel... poetic or descriptive enough to be of use to her green brother.  Now her bronze one...
            "Uhhh."  The Ranger decides that she's feeling a little in the darkish.  "Lady," a slight bow, "I am Robin.  And, unfortunately, I carry no messages at this time.  But if you would like me to give my brother a message the next time I see him, I'll be glad to do so.  Buutttt.... I'm starting to think that I don't know from whom or to whom the message should go."

"Your brother, the one with the Dragon friend.  He was supposed to meet me some days ago, but he never returned."

A little perplexed popping noise emerges from the girl's lips as she thinks.  When she speaks it's in a low thoughtful drawl.
            "My brother and I.  We live in strange times.  I mean, sometimes the time changes on us and we are not aware of it."  Robin tries to avoid thinking about the change of season she's experienced and hopes once again that she hasn't missed her own 'three day' deadline with Daeon.
            "I truly doubt that my brother with the Dragon friend meant to miss meeting with you.  Perhaps he is still not aware that -- for you -- the appointment time has passed."  She purses her lips.  Time, Jovian... doesn't seem right for those two things to be out of whack.

The woman nods.  "Time can be odd here, but it is of the essence!  He was to investigate and discuss ways that we could stop the war in Arcadia."

A fond smile graces Robin's lips as her gaze turns inward.  "Good for him," she murmurs with an affectionate nod.
            Then her gaze snaps back to the woman.  "Uh... I'm maybe not the best choice for a stoppin' the war move," Robin rubs the back of her neck in embarrassment  "but is there anything I can do to help?"

She looks kindly at Robin.  "Your brother was to discuss what could be done by his father to prevent a bloody three-way free-for-all.  I wish to know with what favor or disdain the Prince of Arden looks upon my offer of aid.  My help is not without conditions, I wish to guarantee the survival of Arcadia and my mother.  I do not think that is inconsistent with the Prince's desires, at least as his expressed by his son."

"Hunh.  Okay, I'm not even going to try to guess the Prince's desires, but the next time I see him, I'll be glad to convey your message, Lady..." Robin drops it off to see if the Goddess will fill in the blank.

"I am called Britomartis by those who favor the use of names.  Thank you, my nephew's sister, I can ask no more of you than you have offered."  She turns to go.  "I shall look for your brother in the appointed place, or for other word from your father."
            Unless you stop her, she leaves you with a recently deceased boar and the stillness of the forest.

The Ranger watches Britomartis ghost off with a contemplative gaze.
            After a moment, she snaps her attention back to Totter and Rain.  A crisp hand gesture stands them down.
            "Rain?  Mind skipping back to give Avid and Levet some support?  Me an' Totter'll take care of draggin' dinner in shortly."
            The Ranger contemplates the carcass in front of her.  Dang, that's a lot of bacon.  "Totter?  Maybe you should go with her and bring back one of the horses and travois."
            Waste not, want not.

Robin can, with equine assistance, retire to her caverns with more pig than she can eat.

"Levet says one of the prisoners was a butcher, in town," Totter says, then voices a concern.  "I can't think of a way to use that much meat without a pretty big fire.  Will that be safe?"

"Hmmm."  Robin rubs her chin as she looks over the boar.
            "Think we smoke it?  Contained fire pit... oh!  Luau!"  A grin crosses the girl's face.  She doesn't Walk much, but she remembers what she sees when she does.

Food is made in great quantities.  There is no chance of anyone starving on this trip.

Robin makes sure to thank Totter for his excellent shopping skills.

Levet talks to her, after dinner.  "I'm not the most grizzled Ranger in the service, but I've been around, and I know that when you start seeing the forest folk, things are going mighty bad.  Does the lady you all saw mean trouble, and if so, what's next?  What can we prepare for?"

The Ranger stands from where she's been meditatively drawing little diagrams in the dirt floor of the cave.
            "Well, yep Levet.  Things are going pretty bad."  Not a big believer in sugar-coating, our Robin.
            Robin murmurs her next statement, still a little uncomfortable with it but what with the dress-wearin' and the coronation attendin' and oath-swearin' stuff, the girl knows that her tacit position within the Rangers is most likely to become... well, a little less tacit.
            "But the Warden and I are workin' on ways to shore that up.  Workin' hard."  She looks to Levet's eyes, her own burning with a warm confident green.
            Then a wry laugh ripples through the girl.  "As for what's coming next, I ain't even going to *try* to predict."  She shakes her head ruefully.
            "What to prepare for?  Keep your gear ready and to hand, keep your eyes open, stay smart and light on your feet.  When it goes down, it's going to go fast but we're," Robin gestures to all the Rangers, "the best guys for the job.  And after this all falls out, Arden will be ours."  A beautiful smile lines Robin's lips.  There is absolutely no doubt in her.

Levet nods, and Totter nudges Rain.  Robin seems to have set just the right tone with the troops.  Rain suggests a watch rotation and people prepare to bed down.

As the quiet yet homey sounds of Rangers moving around in the falling darkness wafts out around her, Robin takes herself and her full tummy to a concealed spot so near to the mouth of the cave as to be practically in it.
            Having had her fill of worrying and thinking and investigating and negotiating and, and, and... Robin quietly amuses herself for a while drawing in the dirt yet again.  Little square outlines fill in as the girl drifts into a pleasant reverie, happy thoughts and plans filling her mind along with filling her sketched floor plans.
            Occasionally a brow will furrow -- *what* for the bookshelf fronts instead of glass?  Robin just can't imagine herself in a room with that much glass in it but likewise Vere is not going to want the dogs shaking on his books and scrolls and thingies -- but even these little difficulties wash away as the girl is confident that, between her and Vere, they'll figure something out.
            A cool breeze brushes Robin's hair back from her forehead and she finds herself looking out into the starlight sky.  He can make the Walk.  She knows it.  He has to.  And for Vere, having to is as good as done.  But... a scowl flows across Robin's face.
            Dammit!  It seemed so wonderfully tragi-romantical, the two of them going off toward their separate destinies after having proclaimed their love.  But the reality of it?  Well, it sucked.  Plain and simple.  And she didn't like this not knowing.  Not at all!
            Missing Vere like a lost limb, Robin grumpily rolls a blanket around hers shoulders and prepares to spend the first of her sleepness nights alone.

Robin hears the comforting sound of the sentry setting up her post and knows that things are well under control and drifts quickly into a light sleep.
            She awakes what seems like mere moments later, under a silvery moon much larger and fuller than she expects.  The clearing leading to the hill where her cave-mouth sits practically glows.  It makes her recall the best of the deep green.
            Robin's eyes are drawn to the edge of the clearing where, as if her gaze had caused it, she sees two children standing in the shade of a tree.  A boy and a girl, they are both naked.  The girl is pointing out something to the boy, and as Robin follows her pointing finger, she sees the same image of a floating woman that she saw in The Isles.  The floating woman is looking to the north, as if waiting for some sign.
            There is not so much as a stirring from the cavern behind her.

Ah, no.  No, no, no, Robin thinks wearily to herself.  Just when she had gotten to sweeping the shattered pieces of her mind into something human-like, someone starts fucking with it again.  There's no rancor in the girl, just a sad tired weariness.
            Sighing, the Ranger raises herself to her feet, leaving the blanket to slip to the ground behind her.  No sense in putting it off.  Time to go and get visioned again.
            It's with a sad smile for the kids and wiping one liquid eye that Robin steps out into the glowing moonlight.  She moves slowly and carefully, not wanting to spook her... what?  Siblings?  Cousins?  Niece and nephew?  Future?  Past?

The children move towards the floating woman on the edge of clearing.  They remind Robin for all the world of stalking kittens.  The children, who look like a brother and sister, seem intent on their prey, who seems oblivious.  From Robin's vantage, she thinks the floating woman must know that they are there, if she is aware of anything.
            As the children move across the clearing, the girl turns her head in Robin's direction.  Her face looks sharp and cruel and her mouth seems to be full of sharp, predatory teeth.  It is not clear if she sees the Ranger or not.

At first Robin is put off by the girl's face.  But...  that was the mistake she made with Adonis -- assuming intimacy and affection based upon relation, instead of letting him be himself.
            These two, then, they get to be themselves; cruel sharp hunters.  After all, Robin has more than a little of the predator in herself and yet her father was able to tame her.  And wasn't it she who hucked a rock at the floaty woman the first time they 'met'?
            Despite the weariness of being fucked with, Robin can't help but grin back as she stalks toward what she thinks might be Callisto's kids.

The floating woman's vision lights on the children. Specifically, it seems, on the girl. She floats closer to the girl, drifting downward to get a better look at her. The girl turns back to the floating woman and comes further out, closer to her.
            The feral boy slinks away until Robin almost loses him in the semidarkness of the night. He is using his sister as a lure, Robin thinks, and will attack the floating woman from behind.

Huhn.  Robin grunts to herself.  No reaction from anyone.  The stalking kiddies should at least take the other predator, herself, into account.  But no, their patterns are still focused on one target without distraction.  And Robin's pride is a little nettled that Floaty Moon-type Woman still doesn't seem to even notice her.
            Okay, fine.  Maybe she's just audience for this one.  But that isn't going to stop her from at least attempting something stupid with far too little information or understanding of her action's impact.  That just wouldn't be Robin-like and no fun at all.
            Robin sets her stalk for Darkness Boy, lining up to cross pounce him when he makes his move for the woman's back.

The girl seems a bit dazed by the inspection of the floating woman. If she doesn't notice Robin, it's probably because she's otherwise occupied. And the floating woman seems rather preoccupied with the girl for now.
            Robin suspects the boy did, in fact, notice her before. When she begins moving toward him, she becomes sure of it, for he looks at her, his eyes catlike beacons in the darkness, and puts a finger to his lips. She notices the boy has fangs, like his sister.

By now, Robin is entirely convinced that she has *no* idea what's going on.  Still, it just isn't within her to not *do* something.  Anything.  Even if it's wrong.
            And while the Ranger's natural tendency is to find stalking fangy kitten/kids cute, even when they do have cruel faces, and to be extremely distrustful of floaty moon-women -- still Robin's thinking she'd like to bag one of the kids. Callisto's or not.
            Thus, she nods agreement to the boy's request for silence, yet creeps ever closer to him.  Here kitty, kitty.  In the back of her mind, Robin keeps an awareness that these are a hunting *pair* and doesn't let herself forget the presence of the girl.

The boy seems to accept her as a not-enemy, although Robin doubts he would consider her a companion. He continues to stalk the floating woman, shimmying up a tree inhumanly quickly to get above her.
   
Robin watches the youngster with a tactician's eye, making sure she's knows and has ready what's needed to snag him out of the air when he makes his move.
            And as an afterthought, the Ranger makes a quick visual sweep of the area to make sure that no one else has joined the drama of four.  'Cause it would be *rilly* embarrassing to be pounced on herself while on the stalk.

Robin doesn't see anything or anyone else stalking her, but when she turns back to her prey, the floating woman is no longer looking at the girl, and the girl has scampered off.
            In fact, the floating woman is now looking at her, and as Robin turns back around, she is caught in the other woman's--being's--gaze. Her eyes are big and luminous, and Robin feels as if she can see whole universes inside them. She is looking for someone, seeking her, and measuring Robin to find out if the Ranger is the one who will bring her journey to an end.

Damn!  Just like the Unicorn, is Robin's first thought.  The memory of that meeting flits through the Ranger's mind almost involuntarily.
            Second thought is Crap!  Now I'm all starry-eyed while the kids line up on *me!*  Or get away.
            Third thought is What the fuck?  Last time we met, Ms. Floaty Woman, I was invisible to you.  Why do you care now?
            Yep.  Robin typically doesn't respond to measuring with respect.  Or sometimes even with politeness.  Just ask Uncle Bleys.  Or Adonis.

Yet, even as she thinks this, the world is shaking apart around her from the force of the floating woman's gaze. If Robin could just concentrate, she'd figure out what the woman was looking for ...
            ... except the shaking doesn't stop and it's Rain's hand on her shoulder, calling her from her dream. Robin is back in the cave entrance, where she started.
            "Totter spotted something," Rain tells Robin quietly.

Silent and alert, Robin nods back to Rain.  Drawing her sword, she looks quickly around the cave to get a feel for any change in people's positions.  And then the Ranger takes up a concealed and ready crouch in the shadows of the cave mouth.  Time enough later to wonder if she actually fell asleep or not.

After a few minutes, they hear a whistle from Totter's direction. It announces the arrival of the Warden of Arden, and calls for a report.

Julian dismounts as Totter whistles a loud tune that Adonis recognizes and associates with his father. Morgenstern stands placidly by as the men await Robin's arrival.

A happy grin dances across Robin's face, though there is a flicker of concern in her green eyes.  Her father and herself in one place makes for a tempting target out here.  However, Robin is completely confident that the Warden has already taken that into account before he ever approached.
            Though still tired there is a spring in Robin's step as she makes her way from the cave to where her father and Totter await.  The sight of Adonis brings a confused furrow to her brow but doesn't lessen her smile.
            "Sir," she nods to Julian.

At the sound of her voice, with a barely audible wistful sigh, Adonis turns round and moves the few paces to stand near his father. His smile moves from wistful to sardonic. He looks fresh and relaxed as he regards the young woman approaching.

Julian nods in response. "Robin. I understand you have a report to make, but it should wait. Your brother Jovian will be joining us soon." He turns to Adonis.  "Perhaps this is the moment to discuss the memorial you mentioned."

A flicker of surprise runs through Robin's eyes.  All four of them?  In one place?
            Then a contemplative furrow crosses her brow.  Dad is up to something, Robin just doesn't understand what yet.  And now seems to be the time to talk of 'memorials' so Robin turns to Adonis.

A Julianic eyebrow rises as its owner clearly considers why his father should introduce the topic so abruptly, before Adonis and Robin have even greeted each other.    "Without Jovian?" comes the response after a few moments. The question appears to be rhetorical, though Adonis must know his father may choose not to treat it as such.
            But then his gaze returns to the girl before him. "Greetings, Robin! I trust you slept well?" There's something odd about this question; it's obvious she hasn't, but it really sounds as if he cares. Who'd have thought it?

"Uh, hi."  Robin seems a little unsettled by the sudden tack in conversation, though she answers politely enough.  The Ranger shrugs her shoulder, the one arm with still not responding as quickly as the other.  "Slept?  Maybe.  Well?  Nope."  A wry tick tugs at the corner of her mouth.
            "What memorial?"  She asks with worry growing behind her green eyes at the conjunction of this subject and the notable lack of Breeze's presence.

"Adonis plans a memorial for your sister Dione," Julian says, perhaps more impassively than usual.

Adonis nods once as confirmation.
            "You do look a little tired." He comments sympathetically. Robin feels the intensity usual in his stare. Then suddenly, as if sensing it might intimidate, he drops his gaze to around the level of her knees, half-cocks his head and continues invitationally, "Is there something on your mind?"

Robin's eyes are on her father.  And stay on her father throughout all of Adonis' speech.  Her green eyes sadden with sympathy and it is that expression that she turns on her brother.  "K.  Memorial.  Let me know what you'd like from me and I'll see what I can swing."
            Then a thought occurs to her.  "I mean, please let me know if there's anything I can do to help," she adds blushing a little from embarrassment.

Suddenly Julian says, "Bide a moment," to the two of them. Then, "Yes, Jovian. Come through." He extends his hand and then Jovian is there.
            "Welcome to Arden," Julian says to his younger son. "As you can see, I have located Robin."

"Jove!"  Robin's face lights up and she throws herself on her brother for a quick hug before playfully punching him in the upper arm.  "I needed to be located?  I thought you needed to be located."  The girl grins.

Adonis is startled by the girl's outburst. Some might think her joyfulness surprises him but surely Julian at least realizes it's the name she uses for Jovian that really gets to him. He looks her up and down quickly, as if re-appraising her.

"Locating me is easy," Jovian responds with a tight, lifting hug.  "Temporalizing me, now *that's* hard!"
            He turns then to his brother and becomes more serious, extending his hand. "I didn't know whether to expect to see you alive."

Adonis draws his gaze from Robin to look on his brother, matching his seriousness. "Disappointed, brother?" he asks dryly. Then before Jovian can answer, Adonis grins, seizes the proffered hand and uses it to pull Jovian into a forceful embrace. His laugh is pure joyfulness as he lets the clinch go. "If you see me, expect me to be alive," he teases, "How fares Canareth?"

Robin steps easily aside to let Jovian and Adonis greet.  An odd little half-smile lights her lips at the sight, but she doesn't add anything to the conversation between brothers.

"Canareth is well, thank you," Jovian responds, grinning. "Not a bit happy to be left behind while I'm here, but that can't be helped.  Heard anything from Paige?"

"A little of, but nothing from...I understand her father has spirited her away;" Adonis eyes Julian briefly, "I understand fathers are wont to do that, in such situations." He pauses to briefly consider the ramifications. "Tell me, Jovian, you would not happen to know whether Uncle Bleys would possess a crossbow?" There's the ghost of an impish grin somewhere; this is not a serious question.

"Paige does." Robin murmurs to herself quietly with an amused twinkle in her eye.  Men.

"A crossbow would clash with his favorite outfit," Jovian quips. "Just no style at all."

Adonis grins back at his brother before looking to their father.

Julian watches the byplay between his children without speaking. A slight quirk at the corner of his mouth suggests amusement at the current topic.

Still smiling, still with his eye on his father, Adonis' tone takes on a hint more seriousness. "I am so glad we are all here. There is a matter Pater has already touched upon with Robin that needs our joint attention but I feel there may be other matters long overdue for discussion that may bear on that same question." Adonis looks to his brother and sister to either side. "Matters concerning our mutual relationships."

"Mutual relationships?"  Robin asks blinking slightly, not understanding Adonis' idiom any more than he understands hers sometimes.

"'Relationships': how we relate and are related; 'mutual': to each other, commutatively." Adonis explains gravely, apparently oblivious to the tautology implicit in 'commutatively'.

Jovian holds back his first reply behind gritted teeth, but when he does speak his tone is even.

"Unexpectedly mutual," Jovian adds. "I had thought before that they were only relations on your distaff side, bror, but that theory's gone to hell."

Adonis' raised eyebrow betrays that he doesn't quite know what Jovian's talking about and he hesitates before replying, as if considering asking something. But then with a slight shake of the head he refuses to let himself be sidetracked from his (perhaps long) intended discourse.
            "I am not aware of a 'hell' for ideas, brother, but I feel our relationship may run more deeply than a mere blood connection." He pauses briefly before continuing, "I am sure you are well aware of the strange parallels between us, beyond merely sharing a father: you ride a dragon; you care passionately about certain people; you assume periodic changes of name to mark significant life stages; you recognize the necessity for occasional celebration involving strong drink and members of the opposite sex; you have a certain facility with time...need I continue?
            "I do not, by any means, understand the full nature of the connection but I feel you and I may be more closely linked than any other two in our family, on either side."

Because he is a son of Julian, and strong, Jovian does not roll his eyes heavenward. "I was unaware," he responds in a tone so dry it increases the forest fire index for the surrounding thousand acres, "of your relationship with time. Or with dragons of a sort not homicidal."

Because she is a not-daughter of Julian and not strong, Robin sniggers.     "Micro-focus," she whispers to Jovian, her voice gleeful that it's not just her.

Adonis ignores his sister for the moment, fixing his eyes exclusively on his brother. "Do you forget that I am responsible for the turning of the seasons in Arcadia? I do not work with time the way you do but nonetheless it is one of my attributes. And as for the rest..." His voice gains a rasping, venomous quality quite unlike his usual other-worldly tone. He grins unpleasantly, "...there's a little bit of dragon in all of us and...and..." He breaks off in a visible effort to control himself. After a few seconds...

By which time Jovian already has one hand on the hilt of his long knife and the other in the pocket of his jacket, but he remains so poised and waits.

Whereas Adonis' tone merely makes Robin cock her head and listen curiously, Jovian's posture brings a worried furrow to her brow and a fretful chew on her bottom lip.  These are followed by a little helpless glance to her father.

"I crave your forgiveness;" he says apologetically to brother, sister, father, "I have been under a little strain recently and this is not easy for me. If you will indulge me just a minute further...

The rider's grip relaxes but his hand does not drop entirely for that minute.

"You remain unconvinced, Jovian; I do not blame you. Can you tell me the meaning of your name?"

"My father is Julian. My mother is Rimona," Jovian explains tightly.  "Not very creative, but Calusa is that kind of place - survival oriented. The most valued poetry is the teaching ballad. But if you don't mean my *birth* name, *Daeon,* I am given to understand that juxtaposed with our father's, there's an obscure historical reference to be had. In some quarters it's viewed as evidence of his dry wit. It's one of those things that I mean to research further when you and your aunties stop creating emergencies in our backyard. Now," he presses on, bulling through before his brother can counter, "did you have a point, or are you idly delaying our father's news?"

Robin has given up trying to participate in this conversation, even as an observer.  She finds the grass very interesting, and the cloud shapes in the sky.  As her gaze skimmers over everything that is not family, Ranger or Morgenstern in the area, her lips are pressed into a flat unhappy line, her eyes have begun to shimmer slightly, and her hands flop in hapless aborted flutterings of uncertainty.

"Enough," says Julian, cutting off that line of conversation with the single word. "Robin, I believe you have news to report."

Adonis doesn't so much as blink at his father's interjection. As Robin begins her story his eyes move slowly from Jovian to their father, where they remain, but without expression.

"Yes sir."  She nods to the Warden, focusing in an instant.
             "We headed out at dawn but the trail wandered into Shadow pretty quickly.  Tracking was difficult, there was resistance.  I don't know what though.  Moonlight was just a little past full when we came to Reid's clearing.  Too many choices of trails to make a quick go, so we stopped to peek around a little."
            Unconsciously Robin switches tenses as her memories become more vivid to her.  Something Julian has heard before from one of his most... immediate Rangers.
            "A voice comes down from the trees carrying a warning.  Later I learn that it's Arianrhod.  Maenads coming.  Arianrhod says she'll meet us eastward and north, across the chasm and scoots. I hear flute music, so we scramble towards the sea.
            "After a bit, we come to the chasm.  Or maybe it's Chasm again."  Robin nods to her father.  "There's a single man rope and plank bridge slung across it.  As we're spec'ing, horns from the other side.  A single rider bursts into the far clearing.  Followed by a nice hail of arrows.  Rider goes down.  Rangers go across the bridge."  A grim smile lines the girl's lips at the thought of her and Avid's charge.
            "Hunters are a group of about eight to ten.  *Neither* of us stop for formal introductions before beginning to dance."  Robin grimaces a little ruefully.  "While we're mixing it up, Adonis here pops out of the bushes and takes up the fun on the Green side.  Hunters are no match and only a few get to retreat.  But they got friends nearby."
            "A horse is left behind, screaming.  I go to end it and... the thing Girth's me sir."  Robin looks up into her father's eyes.  "Long tongue coils around my arm.  Strong, living though broken, green teeth, green scales, green malice."  The Ranger shivers and rubs her injured arm.
            "Adonis and Avid get it off me.  Though Adonis doesn't have much experience with this kind of critter and takes the time to chat with it a little after he tears its head off.  Me, Avid and Adonis take huge splashes of blood.  Caustic.  Itches. Levet's marked too."
        "Torched it.  Burnt unnaturally.  Regrouped.  Adonis and I... start getting a little unfriendly.  Despite best intentions on both sides."  Robin serves it up straight to her father.

Adonis remains completely impassive; if he objects to his sister's version of events, he does not show it. To others in the vicinity, it looks like he's studying his father. To Julian, should he look that way, Adonis' eyes, though pointing at him, are focussed elsewhere.

Jovian raises a hand, though he's looking downward through slitted eyes. "Can I get a definition of the verb, *to Girth,* please?"

"Perhaps you remember Girth, who had a post named for him?" Julian asks Jovian. "He was injured by the dragon and the injury used to possess him.  He attacked me. Robin had to dismember him in the end."

The girl swallows audibly.  Her eyes travel from her father to Jovian.  She wets her lips.  "I... think I won't use his name that way again, Jove."  Robin's voice is quiet and sad.  "I guess I'd rather he was remembered for the way he lived.  Rather than the way he died."
            The Ranger's lips press together in an unhappy line as her eyes drift elsewhere.  The gurgles and thuds of a friend dying under her hand still haunting her, despite her best efforts.

Perhaps Adonis' lips set briefly in a harder line but it's barely noticeable and he otherwise remains as he was.

"I see. A sad loss for you and the Rangers," Jovian adds, resting a hand on Robin's shoulder.
            "A body infested by the Dragon has to be completely destroyed to disable it, is that what you're telling me?" Robin has seen the look creeping into Jovian's eyes before, when they were discussing temporal paradox and Chaos.

"Yep."  Robin replies with a sad smile and pats Jovian's hand on her shoulder gratefully.  "Infected things... they can be broken, Jove.  But the broken bits stay active and hostile.  They just don't work so well.  The horse's back was broken so it wasn't terribly mobile, but it was *extremely* active within a limited range."
            A thought occurs to the Ranger and she looks over at Julian.  "Sir?  The horse also showed traces of limited shapeshifting.  Its tongue was... not right for a horse." 
Those green eyes come back to Jovian.  "The infected things' pieces also have a lot more mobility than normal.  The horse's tail and mane were actively attacking as several differently directed strands."
            "If you cut the things up into enough little pieces, they don't have anymore attack vectors -- just a pile of squiggly shaking groping-toward-you icks.  Then you can torch them."
            "A couple of experts seem to agree that fire is the way to go, but you have to be careful when disposing of the ashes.  I... don't know if barbecuing destroys the infected things or only so seriously slows them down as to render them negligible."  Robin shrugs unhappily.  "And I have *no* idea regarding their healing or reintegration abilities.  Only that if they exist, they're too slow to be of use during actual combat."
            The girl smiles sadly to her brother.  She hates to be the one to bring up that kind of thing to him, but better he know than not.

Jovian rubs his eyes with one hand, a non-trivial headache coming on.  "Dad, what did your father tell you about his bargain with the Dragons? Anything?"

Julian shakes his head. "If my predecessor as Warden of Arden had any information about such matters, he neglected to enlighten me."

A snide comment ripples through Robin's mind but, wonder of wonders, stays sealed behind pressed lips.

"All right, we've got two fundamental problems dealing with these creatures, as I see it," Jovian says with a frown. "First is that the Dragon sounds more like a being or close relative of Chaos with every added detail. And second is that her Arcadian daughters are family on the distaff side. Through Finndo," he finishes, almost spitting the name in disgust.

Adonis gives no sign that this might be news. He continues to gaze at his father in a distant sort of way.

"Before you begin to address what you believe to be the problems we face, you may wish to let your sister complete her report," Julian says. He turns his attention to Robin, clearly waiting for her to do so.

"Sir."  Robin nods to her father and gets herself back on the subject.
            "Adonis and I both get struck with a sense of... urgency.  He's got a man down and I know we're in enemy territory.  Then we both notice that the world is acting a little unnaturally outside of the clearing.  Seems almost like the clearing was looped onto itself somehow.  So that the rest of the world wasn't connected anymore.  Tried to Trump you, Sir.  Didn't go through.  That... spooked  me more than it probably should've."  There is definite embarrassment in Robin's voice.
            "Adonis and I start to have... words."  A flat line presses the girl's lips together.  "Then he starts shoveling horse-ick-ash into the Chasm and we get a visitor.  One Arianrhod.  With Totter in tow."  Robin holds up her gauntleted right hand to show the woven grass bracelet looped around the wrist as she nods to the Ranger with them.  Those experienced with the girl's body language might notice that she's favoring the arm somewhat.
            "Arianrhod introduces herself to Adonis and indicates that she's protected the clearing from incoming.  Sez that Adonis' grandmother has changed to an aspect 'less favorable to the Artemisi' and that 'War comes to Arcadia.'  Kinda hinted that Artemis had been caught cheatin' in the Powers Game and that her family was a might peeved about it."  The words are light but the tone isn't.  "However Arianrhod said that she figured Callisto might have a little too much go in the vengeance department to be looking at an equitable settlin' of things."
            "Adonis gives a fancy sort of 'hunh?' so Arianrhod sets herself down to explaining things.  She says that in the olden days Arcadia was much hairier and that Adonis' grandmother and father 'warred incessantly.'  Says that Daeon and Dione coming into existence changed that.  Grandmother becomes less active.  Sisters are barred from Arcadia.  Not everybody happy about that.
            "And now that Dione doesn't exist anymore..."  Even with trying to give a professional report, Robin can't help the sympathetic glance to her father.  And then to Adonis.  "Balance is changing again."

Perhaps Robin's delicacy over Dione moves him, perhaps not, but Adonis inclines his head in minute acknowledgement.

Julian, by contrast, does not acknowledge the delicacy, although such is his way.

"Arianrhod says that she'd rather not see her sisters kill one another.  Says her other sisters are of a like mind.  Says she's going to think on how to slow that down.  And asks Adonis to see if he can bring Artemis and Callista back into sisterly love."
            Robin sighs.  "At this point, Arianrhod weaves a token.  Asks which one of us will bear it.  And Adonis and I get beyond words into... well, a significant discussion."  Yep.  No use denying it.

"We argued!" Clarifies Adonis, talking to a point a foot behind his father, "and it was of little significance. Anyone who observed it would think the less of both of us."

Julian merely looks at both Robin and Adonis, then says, "Pray continue, Robin."

"Arianrhod weaves two of these little bracelet-thingies -- one for each of us, since we can't seem to agree.  Then she says she can't hold the clearing separate for much longer and we should be ready to leave quickly when she drops the not-notice-me field.
            "Me and the guys are ready pronto.  Takes Adonis a little longer as he's building travois' for the former archers and their horses.  Finally we're all ready.  Arianrhod drops the barrier and lights out of there.  First thing I notice is that the season's turned while we were wherever we were.  Dunno if we were caught in a little time-slide or it's got something to do with a power rotation nearby.
            "Anyway, Adonis and his litter-train head one way.  Me?  I *start* to head up the Chasm to look for Breeze's neo-buddies' trail when...  Well, I just can't leave Adonis towing six enemies and one man -- wounded or not -- leaving a long slow blood trail from the So Interesting Clearing.  So I stamp after him and get real rude about it.  He politely tells me to keep my ass out of Arcadia.  So I say fine -- 'cause we're taking *way* too long standing around arguing -- how 'bout we trade agendas.
            "I take Adonis' prisoners and man and drag us this far.  All of 'em are present and in decent health yonder."  The Ranger cocks a thumb back over her shoulder to a cave in the hillside.
            "Sir?  While we were gettin' them settled, I noticed a... Shift in the Wind?  Seems like the Creeks of Reality are flowing a different way, if that makes any sense."  Robin's struggling to put something fairly intangible into words.

"The paths, marked and unmarked, have changed again. I am aware of it, and the reasons behind it," Julian says. "Is there anything else, or does that bring us to the present?"

"Not quite sir.  Though it brings us out of the embarrassing into the interesting.  After we got Adonis' crew settled, we got to talkin'.  Adonis' man, Luke, confirms that he was once part of the poaching ring through Arden before he got religion.  And he fingered the horn-blowers as more of the same.
            "Horn-blowers.  They don't deny it.  But say that there're folk out here lookin' for a Ranger assist out of the mess they've landed themselves in.  Seems they're stuck out here."  Robin's lips cock in a wry smile.  Imagine that.  Stuck.
            "One of the horn-blowers - Foresight - used to live in Garnath.  He states that the 'wild men' have been stealing folks from the raiders.  Seems like there's a thriving ecology out here in human lives, sir."  Robin tcchs her tongue in disgust.  "But they've asked for Ranger aid for them as wants to leave."
            "And later, when Totter here was fetching dinner.  We ran into one Britomartis.  She said that someone was late for their date at Jones' Falls.  But that since I was here, could I carry a message?  She wanted to know how the Warden of Arden might consider her offer of aid in preventing a bloody three-for-all.  She wants to guarantee the life of her mother and that of Arcadia, but otherwise she definitely seems willing to deal.  Called me her nephew's sister."
            "Aaaannnddd,"  Robin rubs the side of her jaw in thought.  "Caught sight of the floaty moon-woman again.  But I might have been asleep so I'm not sure if it counts or not."
            The Ranger gives Julian the little head bob with which she has ended Reports to the Warden for decades.

A miniscule twitch reveals Adonis' interest in the news of Britomartis but he keeps control of even his eyebrows. Nothing else changes.

"That someone would be me, but with the irregular time flow...." Jovian shakes his head, gazing into the middle distance through slitted eyes. "But this floaty moon-woman," he continues, clicking back into focus. "Same one from the Isles?"

"A-yep.  Saw some other... peoples too.  Two kids, M & F.  Feral.  Got the feeling they were related.  But since the credibility's real low on the conscious factor, I'm not sure how much to make out of it."  Robin shrugs.

"I am not aware of any way she connects to our present business," Julian says, cutting off that diversion for the moment. He glances about, whistles a staccato pattern, and waits a moment.

Cadence. Julian sent away the other Rangers.

"Let me see if I understand the situation. Robin, you went toward Arcadia with the intention of rescuing Breeze, met your brother, and quarreled with him. Adonis, you met your sister, quarreled with her, agreed to take on the task of finding Breeze in Arcadia, and yet were moving toward Amber when I encountered you. Jovian, you were to meet Britomartis, and due to your duties in Amber, have been unable to coordinate with me to discuss how she and her sisters and I might strike a new balance in Arcadia. Do I indeed understand all these things correctly?"

Robin nods confirmation of her bit.  A slight smile crosses her lips as her father's so succinct summation of what it takes her forever to say.

"Not quite," interjects Adonis, "but through no fault of your own. At no time have I seriously considered aiding Robin in finding Breeze. I am sure she believed that was my intent and I elected not to disabuse her illusions. I promised to bring at least one ranger with me; she mentioned 'Breeze' though not his significance. I made a point of not quoting a name; if I had, Pater, it would have been yours." Though the words might be taken as smug, his tone has no trace of this, more of a 'I did what I had to do'.

Julian turns to stare coldly at his elder son.

He smiles wryly, "You have, of course, already guessed this and I trust you are not surprised; I understand it is a common manner of operation for your side of the family. I am beginning to understand why." There's a faint hint of bitterness in this last.

Julian's eyes narrow slightly, but he says nothing.

Robin's breath whooshes out of her as though she were gut-punched.  And indeed, she clutches her arms across her mid-riff, bends slightly and pales.  Lied to... betrayed... by her father's son... the girl's eyes blink rapidly and her gaze skitters over nothing in blindly distracted flutterings.  She can't catch her breath, can't breathe
            Damn him.  Damn him!  Robin's gauntleted hands curl into fists.  Mantling fiercely, she takes a step toward Adonis.  Only to pull herself up short.
            No. NO!  War with Arcadia, enemy territory, Eric and Corwin with a ruined Amber between them.  She can't.  She mustn't fight Daeon.  The desire to cut seven human throats and six equine ones flashes through the girl in a laser red streak of retaliatory rage.  But the guys have earned their own credit with her, so no edge work.  And Breeze!  What is she going to tell Levet?!?
            The girl's wail of loss and frustration is screaming towards her lips when her wildly rolling eyes catch the tall white figure of her father.  And she knows his answer, the answer of Eric and Bleys and Corwin and Caine's little brother.
            And Jovian... Jovian, she can't put him between herself and Daeon.  It would be so... unfair to her straight flying hero of a brother.
            In the end, Robin elects to clamp down her scream, close her eyes tight, moisture leaking through her lashes and vibrate fiercely as she battles the demons inside her.

Without actually moving, Jovian palpably closes some measure of the distance between himself and Robin. *Strength,* his steady, even gaze says without a word. *You are never abandoned.*
            And then that gaze turns upon Daeon and goes colder than *between.*
            "Thank you for so ably demonstrating my earlier point." The bronze rider's words are eerily quiet, but Canareth might as well have roared them in a blood haze.

Adonis, standing a few feet away, must be well aware of Robin's paroxysms and his brother's comment but gives no indication. Instead, his gaze remains fixed on his father. He is not proud of what he has just admitted, but neither does he owe anyone any apologies. Julian can read that in his eyes.

Into the silence that follows Jovian's words, Julian drops four of his own:  "Robin has my Trump."

A little shudder ripples through Robin.  Her father's reassurance, her brother's strength... the girl takes a deep breath, her eyes still pressed closed.  Then another.  And a third. 
            Then one green eye peeks out under her lashes to seek out the men around her.

Adonis regards Julian as if there's no one else within a thousand miles.  His expression and stance are expectant.

"You must have everything explained to you," Julian says to Adonis, a certain contempt leaking into his voice.
            "Robin has my Trump and my confidence. She was acting under my orders. Had you asked her aid in finding me, she would have given it; instead you deceived her, and through her, me."
            Julian's gaze, which was cold before, has gone positively icy. "And now, I am sure, we will hear the sad tale of how cruel and unjust we all are, and how disrespectful of your divine dignity, and how our familial love of you is insufficient, heedless of the fact that you have offered dire insults to both Robin and Jovian in my hearing, and that your conduct to them and to me has been impertinent and offensive.
            "Let me be clear, then, on what we have done. Robin and I have both been working to remove your children and grandchildren from the war zone your mother has dragged them into. Robin offered to take your wounded men off your hands, leaving you free to pursue your own aims." Julian's eyes fall on the ring hanging from the lanyard Adonis has slung over his shoulder, and his expression darkens. "I gave you my signet to admit you to the castle and to gain the help of my rangers and our kinsmen.
            "When first I encountered you, you asked me, with metaphorical hand pressed to brow, to bar Robin from Arcadia and the task she had taken on--a task you could have undertaken, thereby removing the threat you feared. Robin is a woman grown, and she has taken the Pattern. Her mastery of it is such that I would have difficulty barring her from a place she truly wished to go, even if I had reason to do so, which I do not."
            Julian's gaze sweeps back to Adonis' eyes. "Robin has earned my trust by dealing faithfully with me; you have forfeited it by your lies. I shall continue to love you according to my bond, no more and no less, but the forked dragon's tongue with which you spoke to my daughter has no place in my counsels, nor in that of my children."
            With absolute finality, he says, "This parley is concluded. You are dismissed, Adonis."

Adonis nods once, as if acknowledging the expected. He reaches down and starts undoing the lanyard.

Julian turns his attention to Robin and places a gauntleted hand on her shoulder. The movement doesn't leave him with his back to Adonis, just his side, but the significance of the gesture is clear.

Adonis' eyes rise in momentary surprise before he looks back down to hide genuine alarm.

"Dad," Jovian says quietly, before Adonis can turn to leave. "Wait."
             He looks from father to brother and back, drawing a deep breath. 
            "Putting aside the question of whether I agree with your decision in principle," he begins in a tone that tells his father's experienced ear that he does agree, "I urge you to consider the question of whether dismissing Adonis so completely does not deprive him of his choice between the father who would prefer that he live and prosper, and the mother who would prefer that he be run down and murdered by his own children in furtherance of her war. And whether abridging the freedom of such choice is within or without your bond."
            The wingleader's voice remains level and as completely without an edge as can be hoped for, even managing to imply no set opinion on his second question. His eyes remain firmly focused on his father's, though Robin is well noted in his peripheral vision.

Julian turns his head slightly to look at Jovian, but doesn't say anything.

"Peace, brother!" Adonis speaks softly, almost a whisper, as he removes his father's signet. "I appreciate your intervention but Pater has spoken." He steps forward and offers the ring to its owner. His tone and manner are respectful but betray no emotional content. "Am I permitted to say farewell?"

Julian's gaze shifts to Adonis.

"Oh, Dad..." Robin whispers in a broken voice, rubbing her cheek against his hand on shoulder.  Her green eyes are filled with tears.  "I'm so sorry.  I didn't mean for this to happen.  Truly I didn't."  But she doesn't argue with him.  The parley is concluded.

"Adonis..."  Her eyes crinkle further as she watches her brother.  "I'm sorry..."

Adonis' brow furrows slightly for a moment and he almost asks a question before deciding not. It's clear to all that the question would have begun with the letter 'W', but then most of them do, in the final analysis. Instead he replies, very formally, "Accepted...sister. Perhaps we may both make more effort to accommodate each other if perchance we meet again?" He salutes with the slightest nod of the head before looking back to his father.

Julian waits for any reply that Adonis may make to Robin before replying, "Of course you are permitted to say farewell, Adonis." He takes his hand from Robin's shoulder and begins to doff his gauntlet.

Adonis waits patiently for his father's bare hand before placing the signet in his palm. Robin gains a clear view of the design but only Julian is likely to notice the briefest of pressures from his son's hand; a gesture of affection, perhaps? "I have never thought for one moment, my entire life, that your love for any of your children was insufficient. Believe me when I say we are alike in this."

Julian nods gravely.

He briefly regards the ring in his father's hand. "Pater, you are well aware of an urgent task regarding Paige. We are agreed that this task should be mine but since I am unable to fulfil the duty, perhaps you will convey my love to her, my blessing to my children by her, and whatever warning regarding the current situation you consider adequate? By all means advise her of the reasons for my failure to fulfil this duty in person in whatever terms you think fit."

Julian nods again. Adonis feels he might be considering an answer to this, but the moment passes and Adonis continues speaking.

Adonis steps back, shifting stance and gesture to encompass all. "If by anything I have said or done, or by anything I have not said or not done, I have caused any of you offence, understand this was not my intent, just as I am sure none of you have intended offence to me. It is clear to me now that it is not possible for us to understand each other so I will not inflict my presence upon you further.
            "I doubt we shall meet again. While I would like to say something profound for you to remember me by (assuming you would wish to) I have no great grasp of rhetoric by which to assume a profundity which is not natural to me. I therefore turn to another and bid you remember the last words of Oberon from the Sky. I do not delude myself that you would accept my blessing but know that my prayers go with you."

Robin starts vibrating again and a muffled wailing croon escapes her lips before she bites down on them.  Anything she does, anything she says, is going to be wrong, she knows it.  And yet, she's already used up her limited ability to not act.
            With a mighty ruffling of non-existent feathers, the girl throws herself toward Adonis.  Her intent is to catch him in a lightning fast and fierce hug.  A quick peck on the cheek of a kiss. 

Adonis' response to his sister's embrace is largely instinctual; his arms come around her, grappling her body to his in a real rib-bruiser.  He's frighteningly strong. But despite his experience of women, he's surprised, taken aback even. His mouth opens to speak and half turns toward her - which means her lips do not land on his cheek.
            But just as observers might think something outré is about to happen between brother and sister, his mouth clamps shut and he turns his face to the side, while forcing Robin's down in to his chest. He holds her close for a long count, hand slowly massaging her hair as his own fierceness is ameliorated by a trace of tenderness. She can smell him but a very sensitive person who knows him well might realize he's keeping his aspect as minimal as possible.

And then they part.  Robin to return to her position between Julian and Jovian and become intensely interested in her booted toes.

"We'll meet again, bror," Jovian says levelly. "Don't delude yourself into thinking the broader universe is quite done with you." He offers his hand.

Jovian's voice distracts Adonis from a thoughtful contemplation of his sister's down turned face. He stares at the proffered hand for a second as if not quite comprehending why it's there. Then he seizes his brother's forearm in an iron grip. [Presuming Jovian grasps Adonis the same way.] It almost looks like the two men are swearing a blood-brotherhood.

Julian says, "Your man is still in the camp, Adonis. Robin and I will fetch him. Jovian, if you have any further information about your brother's consort, I am sure he will find it useful. Adonis, your brother will have to return to the Castle soon, and I am sure he would be pleased to have you accompany him if your road lies that way."

"Thank you, Pater. I must bid farewell to Luke too, before I return to Arcadia."

The Warden offers Robin his arm, for all the world as if they were at a garden party in the castle.

Robin looks up at her father, blinking away the swell of heat, tears and emotion.  With a faltering smile, she puts her hand on his arm and processes away.
            Once the two of them are out of earshot of the boys, Robin pats her father's arm.  "Th-thank you, Sir."  The stutter reveals how rocky she still is.  And there is her father, once again appearing out of his own personal chaos to lead her away from hers.