Vere and Robin cross from the beach to the lakeside where his mother's pavilion is placed.  She's inside, lying down.
            As Vere and Robin approach, she struggles up, wincing a bit.
            "Will they have peace?," she asks.

Vere kneels beside her.  "We have the basis for discussion," he answers.  "But I have a few questions first, Mother.  And perhaps Avis should be here, as well."  He smiles.  "Peace must be based on agreement, and I would not have my sister think I was trying to deny her rights in this."

Robin remains in the background, but very much there.

The Lady suggests they sit in the sunlight to wait for Avis, who is sent for.

Shortly she arrives.
            "Lady," she says.  "My Goddess," she says to Robin.

Robin nods back to Avis with a smile, but gestures the Princess' attention to her brother.

Vere rises to his feet as Avis arrives, and waits for Robin's gesture before he speaks.  "Mother," he says.  "And Princess Avis, my sister.  The meeting was most... instructive.  We have arranged a more important meeting for a few days hence, in the city of Altona, with the Chancellor and a ruler of the Witch Queens.  They seem inclined to peace, although there are, of course, issues to discuss."
            He regards them for a moment, expressionless, before continuing, "I would like to confirm something with the two of you, if I may.  My current understanding is that the entire reason for the Chancellor's rebellion is that she maintained the Goddess wished for peace between the Isles and the Witch Queens.  If there is more reason than that, I would wish to understand it fully."

"So she has said," replies the Lady, her voice heavy with regret.  "I have no reason to gainsay this.   I, perhaps foolishly, did not suppress this
heresy when it was small and manageable, and now we pay the price."
          "We did not act until her crime of thought and word became one of deed, and by then the poison had spread to half the isles."  Avis looks across the island at the gathering of warships in the harbor and the ranks of dragons.
            "We have and still do pay a heavy price for it."

Vere looks at Robin silently for a moment, then turns back to his mother and sister.  "And yet," he muses, "Here we have myself and the Lady Robin saying much the same, that the time has come for peace betwixt the Isles and the Mainland.  So one must wonder where the crime lies."

There is only sympathy for her beloved glimmering in Robin's eyes in this moment.  In the back of her mind, she hopes that it is not simple cowardice that holds her silent in this meeting, but the feeling that it's not her place to... get in between family.

Avis smiles.  "You have yet to bring back human sacrifice, and invite the witch-queens to celebrate it with our people."

Corvis nods.  "If you were to, we would have grave reservations."

Vere laughs.  "Aye," he says.  "I wasna planning on remaking us into their image."  He sounds very like his father as he says that.
            "But I do wish to being this war to an end, and that will involve making a treaty of peace with the Witch Queens.  Such a treaty should end the major difference between the loyalists and the rebels, and we can welcome them back.  While reserving the right to discipline their leaders.  Robin and I have arranged this meeting in Altona in six days.  Mother, I do not think you are well enough to travel.  Shall Avis speak for you, or Robin?"
            He glances at Robin as he says this, seeking her opinion as well.

A rueful smile tugs at the corner of Robin’s mouth.  Not that long ago, she called Vere out for being passive in face of the enemy.  And here she is being passive in the face of the family.
            "Avis can speak for me,” says the Goddess.  Not unkindly, but decisively.

"Then it is settled," says Corvis.  "Avis shall go."

"So it shall be," Vere says solemly, with the cadence of an invocation.  Then he smiles once more, and adds, "I have not had a chance to speak with you, sister, on anything save grave matters, since I returned.  It will be good to travel together, and remedy that."

He looks at Robin, then, thoughtfully.  "Altona sits upon a mountain lake, as I recall.  Is the fabric of this world strong enough for us to take Martin's boat from the sea onto that lake?  Or would such a warping of space and reality be too great a strain?"

“It’d be better to sail out then sail back in.”  Robin says, “Messing with the local landscape – even briefly – would probably not be a good idea.”
            The Goddess’ green eyes dart between son, daughter and mother.  A sigh ripples through her.  Unfortunately, she just doesn’t have any ‘diplomatic’ speeds.
            “Folks?  I’d like to discuss the Danu way of passing the baton if we could.”

"Of doing what?" asks Corvis, missing the metaphor.

Vere's eyes slit almost close at Robin's words, but then they open again, and he nods to her, a sad smile flitting across his face.  He turns back to his mother and sister.
            "My beloved wishes to know of the succession," he explains.  He eyes go to his mother's, and he reaches out a hand to her.

Robin nods her confirmation and her sympathy to both her man and his family.

Corvis nods and repeats as if she were a student.  "It is a simple but time-consuming affair, reflecting the will of the people of the Goddess.  Each congregation discusses the matter amongst the members, and the Priestess listens and interprets it.  She meets with her College and discusses the matter with her peers.  The College Masters gather in Conclave and discuss the will of their colleges.  Disputes are settled by the will of the Goddess as revealed by meditation of the Conclave.  There are additional details for members of religious orders and such, but the weight of the decision rests on the Masters."

"Most of them are here," adds Avis.

"Historically," Vere adds, "The final decision is most commonly for a close relative of the previous Lady.  Most often a daughter.  This is not invariably the case, but it is a rare enough occurance when it is otherwise that it is always remarkable."

"Hmmm...." Robin thinks on it.  Could get real 'remarkable' given a portion of the mediation/discussion blocks are in open revolt.
            "Is that the only way historically?  Short of a war?"

Avis nods.  "It is the only way historically, including war, which we no longer conduct against each other."

Robin lets that one go by without comment.

Corvis says, "It is done by Danu's will."

"Indeed," Vere says in response to his mother's statement.  He looks at Robin curiously, waiting to see if she is going to pursue the matter further.

Robin just barely manages not to wrinkle her nose at Danu's name.
            "Ooookkkkaaay."  The Goddess draws out as she looks from Corvis to Avis.  "How do you two feel about starting that process now-ish? Too much coup-risk?  Too unsettling for the flock?"

Corvis nods.  "I would prefer to live out my life, but if I am called to another plane, there is precedence."

"I would like to pass you from this world to wherever Father now travels," Vere observes mildly.  "But in the flesh, while you still live."

Robin nods once abruptly, and yes indeed she seems to have picked up that gesture from someone else.  But that's exactly what she was thinking.  Corvis out of her hair and into Gerard's lap – happiness all around.

Avis looks grim.  "I would not be the preferred candidate if one were to include the schismatics."

Vere considers this statement silently.

"Hunh."  Robin blows a breath off of her forehead.  "Weeelll, if the schismatics hate you less than your mother aaannnddd their lead candidate had her intestines wrapped around my fork..." the Goddess shrugs one shoulder non-chalantly, "let's just keep it in mind for the negotiation table, k?"
            A sigh ripples through Robin.  "Vere, love?  I'm just about talked out.  Would you mind checking on the public burnings?  I wanna go see if Kourin can arrange a very, very, very high flyby of Uncle Huon's old camp site, just to see what's up.  And then I think I wanna stroll around and lissen to this place for a while.  Would that be okay with you?"  Robin wrinkles her nose.  She knows that she promised *she* would check on the burnings but... if people keep expecting her to think her way through it.... sigh.

"Of course, my beloved," Vere replies.  He smiles at her, and reaches out to stroke her shoulder gently with one hand.

A happy croon thrums out of the girl and she rests her cheek against Vere's hand.  "Thank you.  Love you."  she murmurs as her eyes drift close for a moment, "Mmmmm, wonderful man."
            And despite her earlier words, skootches closer to Vere.

Avis looks amused, and Corvis just smiles.

Vere leans down and kisses her forehead.  "Away, now, temptress," he whispers.  "Let us to our tasks, the sooner to be done.  My love is with you always."

Robin chirps happily and bounces up to kiss Vere on the lips, trying to be quick enough not to get lost... oh.  Well.
            After a moment, she tears herself from him and with a sparkling-eyed wave to Avis and The Lady flits away from the pavilion.

They bow to Robin as she leaves.

Kourin is with her riders, on a hillock overlooking a beach covered with dragons.

Wow.  Once Robin has turned away, her eyes momentarily cross and she just barely prevents herself from reeling as she fle... leaves the political zone.  This is going to be harder than she thought.  Ah well, horrific consequences.  She and Vere will figure it out.  Somehow.
            Then the girl’s green eyes drift over the beach littered with saurian forms.  Oh yeah, much better!  She can’t help the smile that drifts over her face as she bounces up the hillock toward Kourin and her riders, though she will Listen for the mood of the group she’s approaching.

The feeling reminds her of Rangers, near the end of the war.  Tired of fighting and not convinced Eric was worth fighting for, but committed men and women.
            Kourin stands and turns towards Robin.  M'hall rises as well.  Both wait for her to speak.

Yep, yep, yep.  Robin sucks on her teeth.  Been here, done this.  Deep Green, how can she make it better for these guys as well?
            First thing she does is stoke up the fire.  “Hi, guys.  How’re you holding up?  Anything I can get for you?”  After all, these are the heroes who fought for and won for Amber off where the universes go wild.

M'hall answers.  "No, Lady Craftmaster.  We merely await your ability to transport us."

Kourin looks at Robin.  "Is there something we can do for you?"
            It all feels somewhat strained.

Robin smiles sympathetically.  Poor bastards.  "Believe me, M'hall, I'll get you guys out of here as soon as I can.  As for what you can do for me -- two things if you don't mind.
            "One... could you guys put together an emergency evacuation plan?  Just in case?  I don't think we'll need it, but I'd feel better knowing there was one somewhere.  If you've got room - The Lady, Siege, Avis and Lord Worth would be nice targets of opportunity to take as well."  Robin stays professional on that one, but she does see the need.

M'hall nods once.  "Yes, Lady Craftmaster."

"Second, Kourin?  You remember that map we saw in Bran's place? Very strictly idiot-volunteer only, I'd like to get a high, high fly-over of where my Uncle's forces were supposed to be.  I'm really wanting to know what his army is up to.  But that's totally optional. If you guys don't want to, I completely understand and will figure out something else."

Kourin looks at M'hall, who frowns.  "They shoot fire into the sky.  I'd rather send a green or a blue."

L'tarn stands.  "I'll take it, M'hall.  Maranth and I can keep to altitude."

M'hall looks at Robin.  "Wingleader L'tarn will take you, Lady, if that meets your needs."

"Thank you, Weyrleader.  That'll do just fine."  Just the idiot-volunteer she had in mind, Robin doesn't say, as it seems that titles and precendents are important to M'hall.  The sparkle in her eye, though, indicates how much she enjoys L'tarn and Maranth's company.
            "When would be a good time for you guys?" the Goddess asks politely.

L'tarn bows.  "We are at your orders, Lady.  Maranth will not need to eat for four or five more days and I am ready at any time."   His eyes lose focus momentarily and a great bronze dragon lifts itself from the sand and shakes.

"Soonest begun, soonest done so now is fine."  Robin says with a nod.  But despite the formal stilted awkwardness around her, she can't keep the smile off her lips or the delight out of her eyes as the sunlight ripples down Maranth's kick-ass bronze form.     She is still smiling fondly when she looks over to Kourin.  "If Vere comes looking, will you tell him what I'm up to?"

"We shall, Lady," says M'hall.

"C'mon," says L'tarn.  "Soonest and all that."  He offers her his arm.

A happy chirp burbles out of Robin and she puts her hand on L’tarn’s arm.  With  nod for Kourin and M’hall, she and the bronze rider head off.

The bronze is waiting for them a short distance away.  The bronze rider offers her a leg up onto the great beast.  Maranth twists his serpentine neck and looks at her as she climbs on, his eyes gently spinning.

Robin grins to Maranth.  "Hi there, gorgeous."

"Where are we going, Lady?" asks L'tarn.

"Well, Hoshith knows, if Maranth can get the coordinates from her.  Otherwise-"  Robin proceeds to give a fairly decent description of the aerial route she, Vere, Kourin and Hoshith flew earlier to Altona. After that, Robin describes the map she saw in Bran's office, particularly the mountain range where the scouts with rifles were captured.

"Maranth, please get your coordinates from Hoshith...  Thank you, tell her we are always careful."  He pumps a fist in the air and Maranth's great wings flap twice and lift him and his riders into the air.  The air rushes past Robin and Maranth's neck muscles settle into a long flying rhythm.

A quick smile dances across Robin’s face.  Careful.  Yep, that’s what leaps to mind right away when she thinks of L’tarn and Maranth.  Then the mild sarcasm is whisked away by the exuberance of flight  and a happy trill burst forth from Robin.

"The blackness will last for a 3 count, 1, 2, 3.  Hang on to the straps.  I don't know if we can get you back if you let go."  She can't see his face, but it sounds like he's smiling.

Robin snickers and bumps his back with her head.  “I’d come back just to get you.”

Black

Blacker

Blackest

And Maranth breaks out far above the mountain ridge, very high in the air and (they hope) above the range of rifles.

A garbled, happy chirp peeps out of Robin both at the return of sunlight and at the wonderful, wonderful height.  Immediately she is craning around in her seat looking over the situation with a rather obvious lack of fear of falling.
             “How’s Maranth eyesight?” she asks  “What can he see?”

"Maranth's eyesight is quite good, but he sees as a dragon sees and it's not always easy to tell what is important.  If you're looking for dragon-sized food animals from this altitude, nothing can beat him.   If you want to know about troop movements, you'll have to do some interpreting."
            There doesn't seem to be anyone on the ridge, certainly not anything like an organized military force.

Robin smiles and nods at L’tarn’s explanation.  Makes perfect sense to her, she has the same problem with words.
            “Got it.  Maranth?  Can you see any big herds of men who might have chased away all the dragon-sized food animals in these parts?”  While the question is serious, the tone of voice is definitely light.

L'tarn gets a far away look in his eyes.  "No obvious camps, no marching troops, no battlefields.  We'll fly a pattern across the area.   Don't worry, we'll stay pretty high up.  Let me know if you get cold."  He smiles.

“Great!”  Robin chirps back with a smile.  “If you guys notice any trampled army-sized paths, let me know too.”  The Ranger doesn’t seem too concerned about getting cold in a high wind.

(OOC – Robin’s got no heavy agenda here other than seeing if there’s any Unkie Huon army in these parts – both the mountain range and the other areas on Bran’s map that showed enemy forces.)

Maranth flies over the landscape and quarters his way back towards (?)
            It's hard to say from the air what happened here, but it looks like there was an army in these parts in the not too distant past.  It bypassed the city and seems to have gone on to Lady's Town.  The trail stops there.  There are smaller forces abroad, but no army.  There may be more to the North, but not that will plague the west any time immediately.
            It looks as if some factions of the remains may have fought, at least in one place as far east as Maranth flies.

Robin nods to herself.  “Okay, guys.  We’ll call that good.”
            Then her head cocks in thought.  “You boys got anywhere you need to be?”

"Why, no, Lady Robin.  Not until the whole Weyr does.  But we were told by M'hall not to travel backwards in time."  Robin thinks he'd break that rule if he felt like it.

“That’s actually a good plan, L’tarn.  At least existence-wise for right now.”  Robin’s lips cock wryly.  Agreeing with M’hall is not high on her list of must-do’s but it be kind of a shame if L’tarn and Maranth larked around a little and sucked all of Danu down a time hole behind them or something.
            “Listen, I’m trying to get a good Listen to this place and I have not had a chance to Hear it aaalllll.  Would you guys mind a grand aerial tour?  Just something to help me get a feel for this world?”

Maranth begins to circle upwards, gaining altitude.
            "We can only go so high, Lady, before it becomes difficult to fly and difficult to breathe.  In our home, it is rumored that one can fly from the eastmost known place and end up in the far west.  No one would risk such a precious thing as a dragon and a rider on it during wartime, but it was in my mind to try.  A straight flight across our continent was a journey of several days.  I can't tell you if this one is of the same size.  I can show you what we can see, of course, but I can't guarantee you we can easily encompass the whole of the world."

“I don’t want you guys to hurt yourselves, just lookin’ to look.  Whatever you’re up to.”  Robin smiles easily at L’tarn’s back, knowing that both he and Maranth can hear it in her voice.

As Maranth rises, the landmarks begin to become indistinct, to the point that Robin is only vaguely sure where there are cities, because of the lack of forests at river mouths.

Robin’s breath catches in her throat at the glory of the wind and the open sky, Maranth’s steady wingbeats, L’tarns steady breaths, the thrill of freedom in the air.
            After a moment though, she calms down and leans comfortably against L’tarn.  Closing her eyes, Robin lets herself begin to drift on the airs – Hearing.  There – that wonderful brassy florish... thing, that’s L’tarn.  And twined with him, a rumbling bass-line of delight, Maranth.  From those two, she turns her Hearing outward.

At such a height, there is little to hear that one hasn't brought with oneself. The world has a quiet to it, the quiet of a forest where a predator has passed. The birds that went to ground and stopped their singing are just thinking of flight and food and mates and life.
            Nothing sounds out of tune or out of place in the overall sounds that Robin can hear, either with her ears or with her Hearing. Of course, the farther away from a disturbance she is, the greater it would have to be to Hear it.

Robin nods to herself with her eyes closed and lets the quiet seep into her.
            “Thank you... good.  Now, if you could, slowly.  Down into the life...” when she’s Hearing it’s hard to speak, but she does her best.

L'tarn signals Maranth to drop lower, and the great dragon makes some lazy turns that bring him and his passengers closer to the ground. But even at the lower altitude, Robin cannot Hear the sort of disturbance she would expect from an army.

She may still be too far away, but if she drops lower, she may be putting herself and L'tarn and Maranth at risk.

(OOC - Robin's not really trying to tune into anything in particular - armies or disturbances, etc - she's just trying to get a feel for what this world Sounds like for her planned Heal the World fiasco.  ;)  )

"Mmmmm.... hmmmmm...." Robin hums quietly, trying notes and sounds out under her breath.  Eventually her eyes open and she pats L'tarn on the back and Maranth on the hide.
            “Okay, boys.  Thank you so much.  Let's head back."  She chirps.  Though it's obvious that she would really, really rather fly around forever than re-entrench herself with the politicians.

Maranth hovers for a moment, and L'tarn says "here we go."
            The blackness is complete, beyond feeling the cold.  It's a nothingness, not unlike the black road.  As that unpleasant thought crosses Robin's mind, the dragon returns to reality and begins to circle down to the beach. Dragons on the shore bugle their welcome to their brother.

Robin releases the clutch that unexpectedly tightened on L’tarn and leans out over Maranth’s shoulder to smile and wave to the dragons.  It’s all she can do to resist bugling back - but since she doesn’t want to interrupt Maranth’s welcome, she restrains herself.
            As it is, she contents herself to enjoy the flying as much more as she can squeak in before Maranth lands.

All too quickly, Maranth is on the ground and Robin and L'tarn are alighting.  Not much of the day has passed.  If Robin asks anyone, Vere is in a tent with his officers, not far away.

Robin thanks Maranth and L’tarn profusely – big hugs for both the fantasique boys – and then she sets her feet toward Vere’s tent.  As she walks a sigh ripples through her.  While she’s looking forward to seeing Vere again, it’s getting harder and harder for the Goddess to remain on task.  Robin knows that pretty soon she’s going to get up to something hair-raising whether she wants to or not.  Soooo best it be under controlled circumstances.   Robin makes no attempt to soften the sounds of she makes bounding up to the tent.  "Vere?  You busy?" she calls gently from outside.

"Never too busy for you, beloved," Vere calls back.  He rises and hurries to the tent entrance, pausing only briefly to lay a hand on Siege's shoulder in passing.

“Hi....” Robin shakes herself out of her bemused contemplation of her love’s face.  “I’m back from my fly-by.”
            The Goddess nods to Siege as she enters the tent.  “Quick and dirty overview from a sssaaaafe” - nose-wrinkle at that -  “distance says we are most likely Huon-free.  Army light as well.  We’ve got some stragglers deciding what to do in various pockets but nothing too nearby.”

"Excellent,"  Vere says.  He lightly strokes her arm with one hand.  "Then I say we leave immediately for our other errand.  And use Cousin Martin's boat as it is meant to be used.  That should cut our travel time from days to a matter of hours."

“Okay,” Robin looks up at Vere with trusting eyes, that have a hint of dread cirling in their depths.  Controlled circumstances, deep breath, doing this kind of thing with Vere helps; the mantras circle around in her head chasing after but perhaps never quite catching the fears.

He nods his head to Siege.  "My brother," he says.  "We will talk again ere all this is over."  He looks at Robin and nods his head towards the opening of the tent, but waits to see if she is ready to leave before he exits.

“Siege.”  Robin bounds over and hugs the man.  “Thank you again.  You take care, nice man.”  The Goddess gives him a fond shake before bouncing out of the tent once more.

Vere smiles at Siege once more before following Robin outside the tent.

"We can leave immediately," he tells her.  "And trump Father, to let..." he paused, leaving a space instead of mentioning a name, "... know that we will be doing the summoning soon, and she should prepare.   One thought occurred to me.  Do we want to tell Avis what we are doing, and invite her along?  She shall soon be the Lady of the Isles, and first servant of the Goddess.  One could argue that she has a right to hear what your mother would say."

“One could.  One could also ask how crazy-dangerous this and me is going to get and can Avis protect herself.  One could also ask if she should meet the company we’re planning on inviting.”  Robin chirps back to Vere as she hops along.
            “Oh.  Also, did we agree to do this where I think you’re planning on leaving to do this?  ‘Cause that’s really going to amp up the crazy-dangerous factor if that’s the case.  Or will it most likely not work in her grove or house or something?”  She asks the expert.

"Place is a factor," Vere answers as he walks.  "And if the water still retains its Rebman qualities, I am tempted to see if torches will burn, and we can walk at least partway down before undertaking the attempt."  He takes Robin's hand in his and squeezes it reassuringly.  "But not if you cannot bear it, my love.  We shall see what occurs once we return to the city."
            "As to the other matter.  Avis was raised in a court the heir-apparent to a monarch, among politicians, sorceresses and priestesses.  She can take care of herself."  He chuckled.  "She considers me a hopeless romantic and politically naive, you know.  My only question is the one you raise, about whether she should meet our other guest or not."  Vere purses his lips in thought.  "If the plan is to trump her once we're out at sea, then send her back before returning, I do not see that the mere knowledge of her existence will give the Isles any more claim on her than they already have.  What do you think, beloved?  Should we offer her the opportunity to accompany us?"

"Hmmmmm..." Robin thhhiiiinnnkks about it.  "If you're with me that will probably help cut down on the omen-echoes so let's give that a try and bail on it if I get tooooo crazy.  With regards to Avis and guest, my big concern is that your politically savvy sister will see an opportunity to upgrade her goddess options with a perhaps more manageable diety."
            Robin remembers that this wasn't a concern for Vere the last time she mentioned it, but it's still in the back of her mind.  Especially given Solange's earlier... curiosity regarding the Isles.

Vere simply smiles.  "If so, she will do it in absentia, as she would with you.  That other one is no more easily commanded that you, although she is more likely to simply walk away from attempts to coerce her than to attack."
            He stops walking for a moment and looks around, spotting a guard.  "Dives," he calls out.  "Carry a message to my sister, the Princess Avis, immediately.  Tell her that the Lady Robin and I are leaving the island on the boat we arrived in, and we request that she meet us there, if it is convenient."
            Vere waits for the guard to salute and depart at a run, then he begins to walk once more.  "There," he says.  "Let us say this.  If Avis arrives before we depart, we shall tell her what we are about, and ask her if she wishes to accompany us.  We do not mention our guest at that point.  If she declines, then that is an end to it.  If she accompanies us, then we leave it to our guest to reveal her nature or not, as her discretion."
            "Does this sound wise, my love?"

"Wokrs for me."  Robin saya while marvelling internally at how this diplomacy stuff works.  For a moment another worry crosses her mind and her lips part.  But then she just closes them and shakes her head.  When did she get so.... paranoid and controlling?!?
            With a smile she takes Vere's hand and heads for the dock.

"Then so it will be."  Vere walks with her in silence to the dock, then begins checking over the boat, preparing it for travel.  He deliberately does not bother checking the fuel level, convinced that Martin would have had it filled before leaving it in the Isles.

Robin hops aboard the boat and helps... nope, she just decides to stay out of the way.  Looking out over the water to the harbor, to the open sea... Robin Listens down here where there is more life.  (OOC - Again, she isn't Listening for anything in particular, but is Listening to get a feel for the general Song of this place.)

At many levels, especially those near the sea, the lives, loves, and wars of the surface people have not fundamentally changed this world.  Still, there is an odd echo from somewhere.

Vere continues his preparations.  He is not rushing, but neither is he dawdling, and if Avis has not arrived by the time he is ready to leave he will cast off without waiting for her.

If Vere looks like he needs help (or asks her) Robin will jump to, otherwise she Listens with a faint smile on her face, head cocked, to the song of the seas.   After getting a good feel for the Song, Robin's brow furrows as she attempts to trace and/or identify the odd echo.

Robin is pretty sure it comes from the hole near the flooded city.  She's felt it before, but not this strong.

As Vere finishes his preparations, he sees his sister approaching up the beach.  She has not reached the boat, but she is heading towards it and the two lovers.

Vere waves to his sister, and steps off the boat onto the wharf and waits for her.  He glances over at Robin and raises an eyebrow, quietly making an inquisitive trill.

Robin’s eyes roll over to her love in response to his trill.  And the faint smile on her face grows more real and personal.  “Hoollee....” she says in a soft almost-hoot.  “Grooowing?”

As her attention is caught by Avis’ moving figure, Robin looks back to Vere and shrugs.  She’s issued her warnings, after that it’s up to the adults to decide what to do for themselves.

Avis waves back and approaches her brother.  "Lady Robin, would you have me attend you in this matter?"  It seems a very formal request.

“I.... don’t understand.”  Robin drags herself a little further away from the Sounds and back to the words.  She shoots a questioning glance to Vere.

"Robin does not often have any use for attendants," Vere tells his sister.  He smiles at Robin, then looks back at his sister.  "However, she and I wondered if you would wish to join us on this particular trip, as our companion?  We mentioned to you, before we left to deal with Huon, that we were considering attempting to summon the spirit of Ysabeau.  We leave now to do this."  He gestured at the Bonne Chance.  "This vessel will travel the distance from here to Ladystown swiftly, far more quickly than the swiftest of the ships of the Isles could go.  I will seek to do the summoning in the temple of Robin's mother, in the presence of her daughter.  If her spirit can be summoned, then this should be sufficient to manage it."
            He tilted his head, looking at his sister.  "So then, do you wish to accompany us?  I can see many reasons why you might not, your duties here chief among them, but I can see many reasons why you would.  The choice is yours, my sister."

“Right.”  Robin confirms, but adds.  “Crazy dangerous time.  But... interesting.”

Avis pauses, thinking.  "I am not Lady yet, and so my duties are not such that they will preclude a voyage.  It will be some time before we need to negotiate with the Witch Queens."  She nods.  "Does The Lady know of your expedition?  If so, we may go, else we must inform her of our plans."

Must.  Robin’s brows raise.  That was probably an accident on Avis’ part.  Aaaannnnddd given that Vere’s working so very hard on his conspiracy, Robin’s willing to overlook it this time.  Just to see what Vere’s got going.

Vere smiles at his sister.  "As you will recall, my sister, the two of you were together when we told you we eventually intended to summon Ysabeau.  We have not mentioned to her that we are leaving now to do so."  He begins to untie the bow of the boat from the dock.  "Her health is delicate, as we have all seen.  It would not be safe for her to accompany us, and I fear she would feel it her duty to do so. Thus, I spare her the shock to her system of having the Lady Robin and I refuse to allow her to do so."
            He moves to the stern of the boat and begins to untie it as well.  "We leave now, sister.  Judge your duty as you will.  You may accompany us, or return to Mother to tell her of our expedition."

Avis looks up at her brother, thinking.  After a moment she looks back at the camp and nods.  "As the Lady has been informed, I am free to join you.  Are you ready for me to board?"

Robin moves to her out-of-the-way-when-Vere's-sailing place.  Since Vere's the captain of this particular vessel, that question's for him.  Though the girl can't keep a small smile of her lips as she settles.

"Welcome aboard, Sister," Vere says, holding out a hand to her.  He assists her aboard, and then pushes the vessel off from the dock.  Then he moves to the wheel and starts the engine.

Avis takes his hand and climbs aboard.  "How does this sail?"  she asks.

Vere waves one hand towards the reefed sails above them.  "There are sails, as you see, and they work perfectly well.  But there is also an engine."  As the water begins to churn behind them he carefully practices with the engines, remembering everything he had read and been told by Gerard about engine-powered boats and ships.  "It is cleverly constructed to provide power, which spins blades at the back of the craft.  These cause pressure differences on the front and rear surfaces, which result in movement.  It is really quite clever."
            Satisfied with his handling of the boat he turns it in a tight circle in the harbour and makes for the open sea.

Robin wrinkles her nose at the smell of the engine fumes and absentmindedly rubs her ears once or twice.  First rifles, now engines.  Much better equalizers than a breeding pair of nasty-tempered seabirds.  The Isles could face some interesting times ahead were some god of a mind to import such things.  She’ll have to check with some god about it later.  She smiles fondly in the direction of her man from her out-of-the-way perch.

The trip is smooth and uneventful.  Soon, the small boat enters the rain and ahead is the harbor of Ladytown.  The masts of wrecked ships poke from the inner harbor like early flowers in the spring.  Vere could choose to navigate the boat into the streets or he could tie her up on the outskirts.

Vere cuts the engine outside the harbor.  "I need to speak with my Father first," he tells Avis.  "A family matter."

He pulls Gerard's trump and regards it.  "Father," he says.  "It is Vere."

Pause.

"Ah," Vere says.  "And how does it seem to you, Father?  Is it a worthy successor to Amber?"

Short pause.

"Lack of a good harbourmaster, no doubt," Vere answers.  "Has the king  appointed someone yet?  If not, might I suggest that Lord Worth be considered for the position?  He should be returning soon, if all goes as I plan."
            Vere smiles at his father.  "Is Solange about?  We had more to discuss."

Pause.

"Indeed?" Vere says, a question in his voice.  His hand comes up.


A mixed sound emerges from Robin – part giddy laugh, part sad croon – at the blooming ruins of the harbor.  And the city beyond.  But she gets it quickly under control.
            Leaning forward from her perch, Robin closes her eyes to the distractions around her and Liiiissstttens to the world around her.

It hurts to listen here, as if the undertones and overtones were fighting.

Robin winces, but doesn't pull back.  Instead she tries to see if she can separate her understanding of the tones, Listening to the overones and undertones as each its own theme instead of a forced harmony. (OOC - Does this remind her of Heather Vale?)

Robin quickly realizes that if she tries to force herself to Listen for long, she could hurt her underhearing. What she hears initially is dissonant in a different way to Heather Vale, although the fact of the dissonance is similar.

As quickly as the realization comes, Robin stops Listening.  That's all she needs right now, to hurt her Hearing.  Green eyes blink a bit as the girl comes back to herself and her surroundings.  She sends a slight smile Avis' way.  Robin stands and stretches, shaking her limbs loose.  She casts a baleful glance at the water around them thinking of the upcoming swimming.  [OOC - is there any little dingy or inflatable raft on this boat?]

[OOC: There is now.]

Robin's explorations of the boat turn up a small inflatable raft.  Avis watches her quizzically. "Lady, how can I help you?" she asks.

Robin scratches the side of her nose as she considers the yellow bundle.  "We-elll let's see if this is too big for the boat or not."  The goddess wrestles the raft over to a place where she thinks it will do the least damage and be the easiest to push off the boat without disturbing Vere and any potential incoming.  Then, with a fine disregard for the reading of directions or anything like that, she attempts to inflate the raft.  Robin will accept any help that Avis is willing to give - as long as it doesn't slow her down too much.

It's operated by a foot pump, and it takes considerable strength to make it work.  It occurs to Robin that that might be purposeful.  Avis contents herself with laying it out on the deck and staying out of Robin's way.
            The boat looks large enough for three.  Avis asks if they should put it in the water.   It looks like it might blow there by itself soon.

Solange is speaking as she steps through. "Hard to keep track of relative time when you're shifting."

"Less than a day for us," Vere answers her.  Once she has stepped onto the boat he looks back to his father.  "We shall contact you soon, Father," he says.  He glances at Solange to see if she has anything to say to Gerard before ending the contact.

She nods back at Gerard, agreeing with Vere's statement, then drops the contact and looks around. Solange has a bright smile reserved for Robin, which falters slightly at the sight of an unknown woman also in the boat. She looks at Vere for an explanation.

Vere flips the card over in his hand, cutting the link with Gerard.  "My sister, Avis, of whom I have spoken," he says quietly.  "She knows nothing of you, however.  I leave it to you to decide what you wish her to know."

Solange shrugs marginally. "If she's half as sharp as her brother, she's gonna figure it out. Why else would I be here? And there is some family resemblance between Robin and myself--Brennan commented on it."

He raises his voice to a normal level then and continues, "Welcome to the Isles.  You are on the Bonne Chance III, a boat that belongs to Prince Martin."

That gets a raised eyebrow from Solange.

Robin grins and waves to Solange from where she's messing with a mostly inflated 3-man raft.  She's definitely applying some strength to the foot pump, moreso than would seem normal.
            "Yeah, you're right, Avis.  Let's tie this off and throw it over."  The girl nods to her companion and proceeds to do as she says.

Avis assists and soon the craft is sitting beside the Bonne Chance III, bobbing up and down in the harbor tides and the rain.  Avis looks at it. "That is a very useful material it is made of.  I would like a sample to take back to our sorceresses when we are done with it."

"It *is* a useful material.  Which makes it very seductive.  It is also nearly immortal, slightly toxic and - depending on how much of it one makes and how one goes about making it - capable of destroying entire continents."  Robin says with a wrinkled nose.
            "We'll see how Vere feels about importing it into his world," she adds casually but purposefully.
            "But for now..."  Robin grins with a wink to Avis, "we get to decide who rows and who swims."  The girl casts a glance over to where brother and sister are talking, checking to see if they're ready for company yet.

Solange is happy to ignore Avis for the moment. She turns to Vere.  "How far?" she asks.

Vere gestures to starboard, and the drowned harbour in the rain.  "That was Ladystown," he says, "And the temple of Ysabeau stood proudly overlooking the sea.  Now, its broken dome can be made out, there."  He points.  "I fear trying to navigate through the roofs and towers of the city, the currents are unpredictable.  And as I am using Prince Martin's boat without actually having asked permission, I am hesitant to risk damage to it.  Hence the inflatable raft that my sister and my beloved are preparing e'en now."

"Will she be able to see us and hear us? Or will the questions and responses need to go through you?" Solange continues.

Vere purses his lips thoughtfully.  "In the past, I am the only one who has been able to see or hear those with whom I speak," he answers.  "However, I have never summoned one of our blood before.  I do not know if that may make a difference.  My suspicion is that it will not, but I cannot state that with any certainty.  This is in the nature of an experiment."

"Why is your sister here?" Solange asks, her tone indicating that she thought this was a private affair.

"She is my mother's heir, and will be the next Lady of the Isles.  She serves the Goddess, and considers Ysabeau to have been an incarnation of the Goddess.  For that matter, she also considers Robin to be so, although you will find that doesn't mean she slavishly does as she is told.  She does not know of your existence, as I said.  I will leave that decision to you.  But I trust her, as much as any sister who is also the leader of her people can be trusted."  Vere smiles as he says this.  "Duty is in her blood.  And if things go as I expect, part of my arrangement with the rebels will involve my mother voluntarily relinquishing power and leaving the Isles.  To travel with Father, I hope.  So I am already beginning to treat Avis as the Priestess-Queen of the Isles, and as such she has a right to be here."

Solange eyes widen. "Your mother is coming back to Xanadu to be with Father? I...didn't know that was in the plans. Oh." An undefinable emotion passes over Solange's face, and then she squelches it and smiles. "It would be good for Father to have a companion again."

"She is dying," Vere says quietly.  He stares out over the drowned city in the rain.  "She was injured in the war, but that does not explain why she does not recover.  It is tied to the way that Rilga and Ysabeau died, I believe.  The Isles mirror the change in leadership of Reality, from Oberon to Random, and it is time for Corvis to give way to Avis.  If she does not do so voluntarily, the Isles will kill her."  His face is expressionless when he turns back to Solange.  "I hope, on no evidence at all, that leaving the Isles will restore her health.  And if not, then her last days should be with the man she loves."

"I'm sorry. Yes, they should be together. Maybe Father... Well, maybe Father can figure out a way to heal her." _Even though he can't figure out a way to heal himself._ Solange doesn't voice her thought, but it's apparent on her face.

"Avis calls me a hopeless romantic," Vere speaks softly, gazing at Robin.  "But I do believe in the power of love."

"Look," she continues, "they have the raft ready. Shall we go join them?"

"Aye," Vere answers decisively.  "Let us do so."

Solange nods and leads the way.

When they reach the two women, Solange introduces herself to Avis.  "I'm Vere's foster-sister," she says pleasantly, knowing it will be easier for herself to operate with a hidden truth rather than an outright lie.

Avis straightens from the launching.  "I am Avis, Priestess of the Goddess Danu.  Vere and I share a mother," replies the priestess.  "What is your name and lineage, honored sister of my brother?"

“Welcome!”  Robin pounces on Solange with a big smile and an even bigger hug.  Not inconsequentially giving her the out of dealing with Robin rather than Avis if she’d like.

"I'm Solange," she manages to reply to Avis before turning her full attention to the timely distraction that is her sister. "Robin! It's good to see you again! It's...been so long," she grins back.

That gets a nose scrunch from Robin.  “Yeah, well, you’re going to get mmmoooorrre than enough of me on this little trip.  I guarantee it.” The girl shrugs ruefully.

Vere glances down at the raft.  "Three can ride in that," he observes.  "I can swim alongside."

“Thank you, love.”  Robin smiles gratefully to her man.  After all, swimming he can do well where she would just slow everybody down.  And next animal that needs to be skinned, hung and bled?  Definitely her job.

Avis waits for the Goddess and Solange to get in the raft.

Solange settles herself in the raft with an oar in hand, ready to row.

Vere makes certain the Chance is firmly anchors, then slides into the water next to the raft.

For a moment, Robin’s brows furrow and her lips part.  But then she just shakes her head and climbs aboard.  Smiling, she leans over the side to blow a kiss to Vere.

Avis slides in; she clearly knows her way around boats.  She picks up an oar.  "Brother?  Where shall we row?"

"The temple," Vere answers.  "If any place here holds an affinity with the spirit of Ysabeau, it is where her body lay for so long."  He leads the way, moving easily through the water.  He swims quickly, but his passage leaves barely a ripple.

“Yippee.” Robin says flatly.  Then sighs.
            Those green eyes turn on her companions in the raft and a rueful twitch tugs at the corner of her mouth.  “Ladies?  I... uh, should warn you that I’ve been known to... become erratic in the temple.  Far worse than when you and I were in it last time, Avis.  Vere’s already dealt with one... episode.  Just... be careful.  Around me.  Okay?”
            Robin’s expression is a fine mix of embarrassment, concern for her companions and what high-waters might detect as fear.

Solange regards Robin with a "and what exactly does that mean?" look.  She grips the oar tighter, thinking it is probably a Good Thing that Robin doesn't have a large piece of wood in her hands right now, and starts rowing in the direction Vere took, hoping Avis will follow suite so they don't turn in circles.

Robin returns her sister's look with a flat smile and a one-shoulder shrug.  Just trying to be helpful ma'am.

Avis rows, although it's clear that she doesn't have the strength of a child of the house Oberon.    Solange has to alternate sides of the raft to keep it going straight.
            Soon the little boat goes from the harbor through the sunken ruins of the docks, to the flooded streets of the city.  Avis is a careful navigator and knows the streets well.  The goal is clear enough; the city was built around the temple ahead.
            Vere notes that the streets are under more water than the last time he was here.
            Shortly, the walls of the temple loom above the raft.  Robin spots a place they could climb in. It may be the same place that she and Vere climbed in before.

“There.”  Robin points up to the window.  “Avis?  I’ll need some private time with Vere and Solange before we go in there... again.”  The girl’s face is pale underneath her tan and the rain that falls everywhere.
            “Guys?  I... I think it’s storytime.  Could we perch somewhere for a minute or two?”  Though there is reluctance in every tone of Robin’s voice, it’s also clear that something is bubbling up inside of her with some force.

"Sure," Solange agrees, pulling up on her rowing. She looks over at Robin curiously...and not without some concern.

Vere slips up and onto the sill of the large window, noting but not commenting on the fact that the water, previously a couple of feet below the window, has now reached it.  He stands, looking into the great temple, where rain pours through the shattered dome.

Robin steps up out of the raft to stand beside Vere on the sill.  She looks back to Solange.  Almost unconsciously, the girl’s hand reaches out toward Vere’s.  And [OOC – Assuming Avis has made herself scarce] swallowing fitfully, forces herself onward.

[OOC:  You're in a rowboat in the rain next to the building.  The rain will make it hard to hear too much, but there's literally no place she can go without swimming away or going into the building first.  You all can get the length of the boat and into the window sill, but unless you order Avis to swim away, she'll stay at the far end of the boat.  Let us know if you want her to swim away.]

[OOC - Not necessary.  :)  But poor Avis is definitely in a hear-at-your-own-risk situation.]

“The first time I met this building I... had been on the Black Road for some... while... time... thingie...  I was already lost in time and space.  Memory and reason were... fragmented.  My identity was still... mostly intact but was starting to slough off.”
                Those green eyes drop as Robin murmurs her way onward.  “M-martin’s blood was on my hands.  And the fire I had started was destroying the empty City of Lights at my heels as I fled.  On an island surrounded by bridges was this place,” she gestures at the Temple, “becoming Realer by the moment.”
            “I... went in.”  Her lips twitch flatly.  “Candles, a broken altar thrown aside to reveal a stairway, fiery madness outside seen through stain glass.  I.... chose the stairs.  Descended... beneath the earth... I... lost much of myself on that stairway.  Descending... forever.... Veeerreee!”
            She clutches at her lifeline to this world, this life, this Reality.

Solange sits up in alarm. She looks questioningly at Vere. "Martin's blood...? Robin...are you all right?"

Vere takes Robin into his arms and makes a low crooning noise, soothing her with gentle strokes of her back.  He doesn't speak, waiting for her to recover before burdening her with words.

Robin nuzzles into Vere; smelling him, hearing him, feeling Him.  Struggling she matches her breath to her Love's and her heartbeat to His glorious rhythm.  Letting His croon wash into her soul and his touch define her form until she is once again here.  And Not There.
            Eventually, green eyes peep out at Solange.  "V-vere s-said it... could be a v-vision.  Not-t an ex... perience.  But, but, but... it's hard not to... not to.... And it... gets worse."  She moans.
            "At the bottom.  Of the s-stairs.  A guard.  Behind us - the world explodes, collapses.  Buried alive.  More blood."  Robin's voice drops to a very distressed whisper.  "And a key.   The Key."
            "Ahead of me.  Glowing red.  Moves a man."  Robin tilts her head and her eyes stare off into the past as she slips away again.  "I know these tunnels.  The doors!  Blasted open.  The Pattern!  He's on the Pattern!  Corwin!  Bastard!!!"  She hisses and mantles in pure venom. "That's not right!  He's making it wrong!"
            With an enormous shake, Robin pulls herself back to the present.  "I couldn't move.  Couldn't stop it.  He... disappeared.  And... and... then Random - who, who, who I knew was King - appears in his place.  The bolt."  Robin rubs a place over her heart.  "Passed through me."
            "Ah, Deep Green...." Robin's head falls against Vere's chest, her words are muffled but her tone of horror is clear.  "A-a-at my feet.  Starts the tear.  The chasm.  Cracking the floor, the... Pattern, the world.....  Random falls.  Darkness everywhere.  The sounds.... stone falling, everything ending.  My head!..... I d-d-die."  The girl buries her face and begins to sob.

"The Black Woods were a twisting of all that we know, Beloved," Vere speaks softly, weaving his words with the rain, letting a musical lilt carry his words past Robin's conscious mind and into her soul.  "Lies mixed with truth, nightmares with dreams.  And you were caught in the very midst of them, bound by duty, lost in madness.  Truly, the miracle is that you found your way out from them, cast off the shadows, to come forth and find me."  He holds her tightly, continuing to talk.  "I've never been to Tir, my love, but I wonder if what you found on the Black Road might not be a dark reflection of that city in the sky?  There's wisdom to be found, e'en in madness, but to tease the meaning from the dreams wi'out being swept away in the flood, ah, there's the trick.  But hold beloved, hold always to the one truth we two have found.  What e're you found on the road, what e're sought you in the woods, we two are now together, our souls united, and we fly as one.  We fly as one, my love, and ne'er shall I let you fall."

As Vere's music - his symphony - pours into Robin, the shaking of her shoulders slows, then stops.  The girl listens with growing warmth - reason twined with song, Her Vere.  Slowly, gradually, her clutch of desperation transforms into an embrace of devotion.
            When she lifts her face to Vere, her eyes are glowing with love.  A soft croon of adoration and affectation soars out of the girl and she kisses him soundly.  There is no madness His sanity can't cure, no darkness His light can't banish.  The best flight of her life in one beautiful wind - Vere.

There's acceptance and patience in Solange's demeanor - despite the strangeness of Robin's behavior, she is still her _sister_ - and she waits quietly while Vere talks Robin back down. When Robin is more-or-less calm and lucid again, Solange asks, "You're concerned now that you might slip back into your madness if you enter the temple? Did this happen this past time you entered?"

"Ye-ees."  Robin nods to her sister.  "Very concerned.  I'm... pretty strong to be... less than stable."  She bobs her head in embarrrassment.  "And... there are other forces at work too."
            "The second time I was... here.  Really here.  With Avis and others.  I was in charge, responsible, so I held it together.  But... the darkness under the altar was calling to me.  When, when, when, one of Jovian's glorious friends knocked down the wall.  Burying the hole.  And... I was on the *wrong side of the stones!!*"  Robin's face glows with delight.  "I wasn't under the earth."
            "Third time..." those green eye go to Vere and Robin blushes with mortification.  "I... became confused.  Dangerously so.  I still don't think I was wrong to throw a knife at an Uncle who was marching an army anywhere near Amber and who compared my brother to a Shadow being."  Her eyes narrow and her face twists with menace.
            "But..." the girl looks to Solange with astonishment, "I didn't throw to kill.  I threw to maim.  But the knife... something else happened.  And then.... water.  Darkness, drowning.  I knew... I couldn't leave Vere there.  Even to save myself.  I couldn't think. Panicked.  Drowning."  She looks back to Vere.  "I'm so sorry."

"We met Huon here," Vere translates for Solange.  "The meeting went less well than hoped.  He was using sorcery, or something similar, to hold the water up along the walls, while he stood upon the floor. When Robin attacked him it all crashed down upon us."  He smiles down at Robin.  "We survived it, beloved, and we survived it by instinctively struggling to protect one another.  Thus, I consider it a win for us, we proved just how much we mean one to another."
            He looks back at Solange.  "He left Robin's knife, with which he had written the word 'Rebma' for us to find.  Or else it was part of a spell, transporting him to Rebma from here.  I do not know which."

"My guess would be the former," Solange muses thoughtfully. "Any thoughts why he'd want you to follow? Perhaps looking to a daughter of a former ally as a possible ally herself?"

"A possibility," Vere acknowledges.  "But his motives remain mirky.  He was... quite arrogant.  More so than our other uncles with whom I have spoken."  He looks at Robin for her opinion.

“Dangerously so.”  Robin nods firmly.  Her jaw works a little as she struggles to come back to the word place.  “More than just the normal Uncle stuff.  He... what he said about Jovian.  One of Us who doesn’t diff... who treats Family like Shadow.  That’s bad.... bad in the Brand vs the Universe way.  Really Bad.”  Okay, maybe the words aren’t working quite so well yet.

"Noted, should I ever meet him," Solange replies. She pauses, then focuses on Robin again. "Are you ready?" she asks gently.

Vere pulls Robin more tightly against him, and gently kisses the top of her head.

A little wriggle of happiness goes through Robin at Vere's kiss.  "Guess so.  Let's do this thing."  She nods.  And her eyes go to Avis, summoning her back into the group.

Vere releases Robin and kneels on the window ledge.  He bends over, ducking his face  below the surface of the water inside the temple, and takes a tentative breath.

Vere finds it difficult but not impossible to do so.  It tastes like the water of Rebma, and slides down his lungs as if it were air.  From this odd position, he can tell that it is heavier than the air above.  It seems disturbing, but not dangerous.

Vere straightens up and coughs some water out of his lungs.  "It is breathable," he says.  "Much like Rebma.  We can swim down and stand upon the floor of the temple.  A flame should burn as well, should we want a torch."  He stands up and regards the water, his head tilted slightly to one side.  "When it comes time to lean the Children of Lyr back to Rebma, I believe I wish to do so from here.  It should prove faster."

"Let's go then," Solange replies. She slips into the water and dips below the surface.

Robin watches her sister dissappear into the water.  She shakes her head ruefully and mutters to herself  "Okay, okay.  Next time?  Haunted forest.  And *I* get to look competent and effective."  With a shiver and a grimace, the girl lowers herself into the water.  There's a brief squeeze of her eyes and a muffled curse as Robin dips her head under and takes her second breath of... whatever that water stuff is.

Vere smiles at Avis.  "Come, sister," he says, before stepping off the ledge and sinking into the water after Solange and Robin.

Avis reaches up and takes his hand.  "I assume this works for people as well as gods?" she asks, then slips into the warm waters.  The water feels odd in everyone's lungs, but refrains from drowning anyone.
            Avis swims downwards.