Leutnant  Arryl der Gottswache  (Baronin die Eisesgard) Quiz

            “Oi!  What’s all dis?”  Looking around.
            “Oooohh.  I am having der dream, ja?  Dat explains der silver walls und die mist all over de ground.  Dis big couch too.  Hmmmm... dis reminds me auf somet’ing.  I can’t remember what.  I t’ink I should know dis room...”

Who are you?

            *Whuf!*  “Woooahh.  Dat ist some spooky voice you got dere, kerl.  I... uh.  Well, ja.  Since dis ist der dream, I suppose I can answer you.  I am Leutnant Arryl der Gottswache.  Auf der First Division, Weir.  Serving der Prinz Erik von Amber.”  Comes to attention with a clicking of heels.

            ....

            “You know, der Weir.  Der Last Great Foe.”
            “Noooo, dat was die Moonriders.  But let me tell you, kerl, dose guys are pretty damn serious -- even mit us.  But no, we was die ones who invaded *before* dat.  Und did a good chob auf it too.  Until der Prinz Erik showed us a new way.   Und brought some auf us to Amber to serve as his personal forces.”
            “Verdammt straight, I’m proud auf it!  I’ve been serving der Prinz for 400 years und I intend to keep serving him until I am die corpse on der battlefield.”
            “Well, ja.  If you look at it dat way.  Ja, Leutnant ist not waaay up die food chain.  But, I tell you, kerl -- I been die Hauptmann.  Und once even die Oberst -- und I make verdammt sure dat dose Kommandieren cannot keep me up in die chain auf commund for long.  I belong here.  Der Leutnant.  Where I can keep my hands in die mix, hang mit die new kids und generally raise Holle.  Leave all dat t’inking stuff to dose what like it und are good at it.  Me?  I’m a paws-on type auf girl.”  Grin.
            “Welllll, ja.  Back in Weirmonken...  not dat I go dere *dat* often.  Only every leave I get...”  Sighs.  “Ja.  Back in Weirmonken, I am one auf die many, many Baronenin Eisesgard.  But I am not anywhere near die main Eisesgard Abkunft after all dese years.  Und centuries.  Und...
            “You know.  Ist hard.  To go home.  Your blood calls you.  You can’t stay away from die mountains dat claw die sky, die wind dat howls t'rough your lungs, die land that... well, I’m no poet.  But all der Weir feel it.  We are Weirmonken und Weirmonken ist us.  No matter where we serve.
            “But die time... die time runs away from you.  You are young.  Und *old* at der same time.  On die leaves, I watch my family... flicker in und out auf existence.  Like spring flowers.  Born one visit.  Jungen men und women der next.  Next visit cubs auf dere own.  Den in empty Hoehle’s.  Growing old.  Poof -- dead.  In chust a few visits...
            “But still der land calls us und we return.
            “Nein, nein.  Now I am getting all sloppy.  Let’s move along, ja?”

What do you want?

            “Ooooo.  You’re tricky one, kerl.  You trying to get my soul or somet'ing.  In dis place auf mists und silver... und black.  Why does dis seem so...”
            “Ja.  Ja.  Alright.  I answer.  What do I want?
            “Good bier.  Dry boots.  Fine-assed men bringing both.  Good cigars too.  Oh, enough sleep.  Ja, dat’d be reeeall good.”  Grin.
            “Woooah!  Okay, okay.  Enough mit die lightning!”
            “I want... I want to serve my Prinz mit die honor und in der glory.”  Ducks a little.
            “What?  No lightning.  Okay.  You see?  Ist trite but true.  But you can’t say scheibe like dat in Amber.  Pooorrrttt Amber -- who’s seen it all.  Who’s as chaded as die whores who walk her docks und die happy-chacks who live in her fine houses.  Ruled by die... well, even in der dream I’m not going to be talking about my Prinz’s family.  But... dey certainly would not tell you to live mit honor und glory, now would dey?  You talk about dat kind auf stuff around Amber und you get laughed at.  Soooo.  Like most Weir,  I officially stick mit die bier.  Und die boots.  Und die fine-asses.”  Grin.

Why are you here?

                “Hah!  Now *dat* ist a good question!
                “Four hundred years ago -- in Weirmonken -- Der Second Reich had been proclaimed.  Die Himmelkrieg was over.  Der Gott -- Erik von Amber --had united die Abkunftzen und established die Universitatzen.  It was a time auf great change -- und... unnerving to some auf us.
                “I was chust a kid myself -- 16 summers old -- a big strong girl, large-pawed, good wind.  Ready for der reaving.  But mit Der Second Reich, dere was no reaving to be done.  Und it seemed dat Der Gott preferred Weir who were quicker in dere t’oughts den on dere feet.  *Dat* ist not me.”  Laughing.
            “Die future was looking mighty bleak for Arryl.”
            “When der announcement made it to Der Gard, Der Gott was recruiting for personal guards.  Now *dere* was a reaving to try for.  Oi!  I wanted it so bad I could taste in my teeth like fresh blud.  It seems Der Gott would be picking his guard from die survivors auf a grand melee called Der Feuerkrieg.  Nu!  Did dose words light me up!”
            “So dis girl gathers her gear und hauls her hairy butt some 600 miles down Die Klaue to Festung Voldstadt where der Krieg would be held.  I had never seen so many fighting Weir in one place before.  Veterans auf Der Himmelkrieg, kids like myself, second sons, glory hounds, oathbreakers looking to redeem demselves -- everybody.  It was wunderbar!
            “What Der Feuerkrieg was, was dis giant arena -- bordered mit die enormous bonfires.  At die beginning auf der Krieg, two t'ousand auf us shouted our oaths to Der Gott und filed our way between die last two unlit bonfires.  Den dey were lit behind us.”
            “For two solid days I fought claw und fang, broadsword und brand.  Und at die end?  *I* was one auf 115 still standing.”
            “Oh, not very well, I tell you.  I had lost half my left hindpaw, broken t'ree ribs und my ear never healed exactly straight after dat.  Not to mention all die burnt fur, blood und gashes.  Scheibe!  It was glorious.”  Laughing.
            “Und so, I was sworn into Der Gottwache as a Weir auf Der Gott.  You could not find a prouder, happier Weir in der whole auf Shadow.  Later, Der Gott -- in Amber, Der Prinz -- arranged for us to stand duty in Port Amber.”
            “Und I got to see... I’m not sure I can explain it.  Weirmonken has us by die t'roat, we never really leave it.  But it’s... black und white.  Der ist so much *color* to die other worlds.  Und scents.  Und die *ocean*!  In Weirmonken, die ocean ist not sparkling, rippling, vibrant blue -- it ist grey.
            “Dis place for all its tawdriness ist *great*!  All die wonders auf Shadow end up here sooner or later.”  A big lupine grin.  “So do all die terrors.  Perfect for a reaving girl like me.”
            “But mostly, I”m here because auf Der Prinz und Der Gottswache und my oath.  Somet'ing I have never, *never* forgotten or regretted.  I am here, because *I* *am* Erik’s.  Dat ist de way it ist und will always be.  Und I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

What do you have that is worth living for?

            "Rrrarr?  Oh, Entschuldigung ich, I was distracted.  I know you're too impressive
for my attention to be wander...  But, shouldn't die fireplace be on *dat* wall? Und das door over dere?  Und die windows... it seems like der should be der mountain out dem, not die stars..."
            "Woahh.  Okay, what do you have dat ist worth living for.  Ja, ja.  I will answer.  Bitte, put away die lightnings."
            "Hmmm.  Again -- chust officially -- die bier, und boots, und asses.  Buuttt, on der inside, I live for my duty.  My Prinz und Gott.  My Kameraden.  Der honor I bring my family mit my service in Himmel...  I am a soldier, Herr.  I don't t'ink much beyond die moment, ja?"
        "Dough sometimes... I wander down to das harbour.  To see what's new und dangerous dat has sailed into der Port.  On leaves back to Weirmonken, I visit die Werkstatzen, see what's new und fast.  I guess... despite I dat have become so old, I still like to see what die young und die new are up to.  Keeps *me* young enough to keep going."

Who do you serve?

            A raised eyebrow.
            "Erik von Amber -- mit all my soul.  Und Seine Majestät, Oberon, ruler auf
de known universe, vater auf us all."
            "I know.  I know.  My oath to der King *should* come first... but, you mit die lightnings would know it ist not true.  So I tell you.  I serve Der Prinz first und Der King second.  If you are going to turn me in for das treason in die dreams, go ahead und do it.  But dat ist die way my heart leads me."
            "After dat -- General Hugh Destante, head auf der Prinz's armed forces.  Oberst Giarrert der Gottswache, der head auf Der Weir auf Amber.  Hauptmann Eiggrin, my commanding officer.  Und, auf course, all die petty bureaucrats und lordlings who t'ink dey can get me to chump for dem.  Whuf!  It's a living."
            Sniff, sniff.  "Dis room, it doesn't smell auf die furniture or die stone..." sniff "Smells like... cold?  Like high on die mountain?  Maybe?"

Who do you trust?

            "Not you, dat's for sure."
            "Ouch!  Okay, okay.  Nu, you're a grumpy one."
            "You know, kerl, I'm a lucky weir.  Because my liegelord actually *does* have die best interests auf Amber und her people in his heart.  I trust dat he will do whatever's in his power for der right und die glory auf Amber.  I know dat Weirmonken has left her mark on him as well.  So dat he would not sacrifice myself or my land for some petty squabble or sadistic game."
            "When I look at dose poor bastards auf Prinz Ca... ooop, I should not go dere.  Even in die dream."
            "Herr Destante... I don't t'ink he likes der Weir.  He will use us -- und use us well, he ist no dummkopf by any means -- but I don't know.  Chust a scent, I guess.  Even after 450 years, I t'ink he'd be happier if we were gone."
            "Herr Giarrert, hah!, he's craft old wolf.  He ist very, very gut.  Chust don't ever cross him.  Ever.  He didn't get where he ist by being friendly or nice or even dat understanding.  He got where he ist by being der Alpha's Alpha.  Und if he ever t'inks die world be better off mitout you -- boom! You don't wake up dat morning."  Big grin.
            "How dose two work it out, I will never know.  But, hey, dat's why I die *chunior* officer."
            "Hauptmann Eiggrin ist a gut sort.  As long as you don't get too complicated around him.  But sometimes... you know, a lot auf t'ings go right for der Hauptmann.  Dat can't be all luck, can it?"
            "Auf die kerls, Rolf over in der mottor pool ist trustworthy.  Dough he's got it really rough in dis town."  Shaking her head.  "Auber in supplies has never screwed me.  Not even once.  Jerrierl ist good for a traded watch.  Holle, dere all great guys.  You chust have to watch your gear around some auf dem."  Laugh.
            "Anyone outside der Gottswache?.... Vielander, who runs Der AmberHoehle, he keeps a good tab und doesn't water down die bier too much.  But den he's retired from Der Wache, so I don't know if he counts."
            "None Weir, none Wache?  Hah!  Are you kidding, kerl?!  In dis town you don't trust your mutter mit your maiden name.  Und we Weir don't exactly have die best reputation.  Holle, die Himmelkrieg was 450 years ago, but dese people got memories easily dat long und dere ist still some bad blud.  Kerls still getting chumped occasionally on die way home und such.  But hey, dat's chust die way it ist."
            "You're right.  Der King was not on dat list."
            "No.  De oversight was not accidental."
            "Hey.  Whuf!  I recognize dis room.  It's das Burgundy Salon.  From die East Wing.  Except it's all silver und black.  Und smells auf mountain air, instead auf dat Scheibe cleaning stuff.  Und... it's all turned around, like in das mirror."
            "Oh Scheibe.  Scheibe!  Dis ist Tir-na Nog'th, isn't it?  What die Holle am I doing in der Tir!?!?  Dat's chust for royals!  Scheibe!  Put me back!  Put me b..."