We were prisoners in New Avalon. Grustive, the captain of the guard, escorted us down the short hall, then we turned down another hallway, until we finally reached a room. Grustive opened it and walked in, while the guards ushered me inside. It wasn't a cell, thankfully, but rather an unfinished guest room. There was a bed, and a table and chairs, but no rug or linens. I could see the rolling hills of the landscape through the windows, but not much else.

"Come in, miss." Grustive motioned me in. "Here you will be made comfortable until Lord Tyvin gets a chance to speak with you. I said that I would listen to you if you gave up your sword, and if you so desire, I will stay and converse with you. What is your wish?"

There were comfortable chairs, but I didn't want to sit. Couldn't sit, really. I kept thinking about handing my blade over to Grustive and watching it being taken away. I knew it was silly to be so attached to a blade, but I've had it ever since… since… I stopped my pacing a moment, scowling to myself. Don't get all caught up remembering the past. It won't help right now.

With that thought I turned back to Grustive. "All I wanted was to find this Prince Merlin and talk to him about Amber," I explained. "Saivu," I indicated my companion with a wave of my hand, "thought he'd be able to help me more than he could. If he's not around, I'll leave cheerfully enough. Hells, we wouldn't've even been fighting if we hadn't been attacked when we arrived."

"I see." Grustive looked sympathetic, turning to the men who held Saivu, still by the door. "Take him to Lord Tyvin. When he is through with him, come back for her." Saivu shot me a look of alarm, despite his dignified stance just before he was led away. Two guards came into the room to accompany myself and Grustive, and then two more looked as if they would stay outside.

Grustive sat down on the bed, looking tired, and began speaking. He was almost friendly, as if he hadn't just led away my charge. "Well, what I know about Amber you could probably fit into a thimble, but I will be pleased to speak of it while we wait. Would you care for some refreshment as well?"

"No." My gaze was still locked on the door, having watched Saivu be led away. I was stiff and on guard now. "I'm his bodyguard at the moment. Can you assure me he'll be unharmed?" I had to ask. A promise is a promise after all, and this worried me. I couldn't protect him from Tyvin if I weren't there.

"I've always known Lord Tyvin to be a reasonable man," Grustive assured me. "I'm sure he will sort through the whole mess and any misunderstandings will be cleared up. Are you sure you wouldn't care for some wine or food? The chef's specialty is duck and I've heard they just had a rather successful hunt," he asked pleasantly.

I had to drag my attention back to him, and away from my concerns over Saivu. "No, I'm certain. I'm not much in an eating mood right now." I smiled ruefully. "I'm sure you understand. Who is Lord Tyvin?" I was angry with Saivu still, but I couldn't help but continue to worry. Besides, he had grown on me these past few days.

"He is my direct superior and, I must say, a remarkable man. He only answers to King… excuse me, I mean Lord Protector Corwin," Grustive corrected himself with an embarassed smile. He stood, walking over to the windows. "If it weren't for him, I doubt very much that New Avalon would be as far along as it is. Here, look out over the grounds." He motioned for me to join him, and I did.

There were green rolling hills spotted with trees, a lovely countryside. Directly below I could see a vast castle under construction, seemingly thousands of workers crawling along the walls, stacking stones one on top of the other. There was one part that was finished, a high stone wall around it, with sentries walking along the top. Once it was completed it was going to be well defended -- a damnably hard place to siege. I could always appreciate a strategically good design.

"Hopefully it will be completed within the next year or so." Grustive continued speaking as I looked out. "I don't have much to do with the construction part of it, however, only the guarding of it." He chuckled. "So far I've had the easy part of the job." He sat down in one of the large wooden chairs by the window and looked over at me, smiling a touch ruefully. "Until today that is."

"Well, we aren't exactly an invasion force… nor did we attack first," I pointed out. "I was only looking for Merlin and didn't intend to invade. And…" with a wave of my hand I forstalled any correction he might have for my naming of Merlin again. It was hard to think of titles when I hadn't even met the guy. "…from what I've been told, we're relatives of a sort. I guess. I don't have all that straight, yet."

"Oh, so then both you and Mister Saivu are from the Courts of Chaos. No wonder you wish to know about Amber." Grustive's expression showed his realization, and I didn't bother to interrupt. I could correct him when he finished talking. "Well, if the two of you are related to Prince Merlin, I'm sure he would be pleased to see you. He is in the Courts now himself, but as soon as he returns he will be told that you are here."

From the Courts? Not me… "Saivu is. I'm not, but I've been there. Anyway, I'll call him," referring back to Merlin again, and Grustive's earlier corrections of my speech, "by a title if that's what he wants, but for now, it sounds weird and just reminds me that Saivu was babbling that I should have one too." I rolled my eyes, a flash of a grin sparking across my face for a moment. Damn but that sounded ridiculous -- me, a princess? It made me want to laugh out loud.

He smiled back. "From what I know of him, and that's quite little I'm afraid, I think that he doesn't much care for titles either. But he's popular with the men, and he is Lord Protector Corwin's son, so it wouldn't hurt to give the man the respect that people," he glanced at the four guards still near the door, letting me know that he meant them, "here believe he deserves."

I couldn't argue that point, not really, so I just sort of nodded as I sat down in the other wooden chair opposite him, crossing both my legs as I faced him with the window between us. "So as you can see, we really didn't intend to come here for a fight. We walked in and that blond guy recognized Saivu and was rather upset to see him. Being Saivu's bodyguard at the moment, I protected him. And that's it." It all sounded reasonable to me. Except…

Grustive's expression became rapidly concerned. "Blond man? You mean Lord Tyvin?"

I was out of my chair, standing before I even really thought about it. "That was Lord Tyvin?" I reconciled the image of the man who attacked us with the man who seemed to respond to the trump. If that was the way Trump were actually supposed to work… this was getting complicated. And possibly very bad.

"I'd like to speak with him. He is the one who attacked Saivu when we first arrived." My voice was firm, my expression concerned. "If that is who Saivu is with now… I'm not sure that's the best of places for him. Not if I'm to protect him."

Grustive stood as well, facing me. "You will have your chance to speak to Lord Tyvin, I assure you. It is all quite probably a misunderstanding that will be rectified in due time. When he is ready to speak to you he will send for you."

I didn't like the answer. It didn't satisfy me at all. I was horribly concerned about Saivu, and a restlessness was taking over. I started to pace again. There wasn't much I could do… I was a prisoner and without a blade and short of trying to carve my way out of here with my bare hands… still it bothered me and I couldn't sit still.

I heard Grustive sit again, and when I glanced over at him, he had a rather surprised expression on his face. "If you aren't of the Courts, but you are Prince Merlin's relative… are you saying that you are of the blood of Amber?"

"So I've been told. Which is why I'd like to find out more about the place."

He remained seated where he was, unruffled by my movements. "Well, as I said, I don't know much about the place, but one thing I do know is this…"

I tuned out for a moment, frowning at the strange feeling that had come over me. Like someone else hovered on the edge of my mind. It took me a moment to recognize it… it felt like when I had tried to use the Trump of Merlin, and felt him answer. Who could be doing this? I'd only barely heard of these cards… how could a picture of me exist somewhere?

Curiosity had the better of me, and I opened my mind, asking "What?" The question was both to whoever it was, and to Grustive, since I'd missed what he was saying.

"They are very very powerful, and always seem to have the upper hand," Grustive said, looking at me curiously. "Everything all right?"

I was barely paying attention to him again. I was seeing a petite young woman through the Trump contact, and she was staring back at me, hazel eyes wide in panic and horror. She had deep red hair that hung in long waves around a face made of almost translucently pale skin, made all the paler by her black and purple clothes. She held a sword in one hand, dripping green liquid, and she was reaching for me with her left hand, which was covered with blood.

"Get me out of here!" she screamed. I could see at least a half a dozen of those multi-eyed creatures from the casino clambering up the hill towards this waiflike stranger.

I didn't stop to think about it. "Yes," I said definitely, and only realized later that I'd answered Grustive's last question incorrectly. I instinctively reached forward with both hands, intending to clasp her about the wrist. I remembered that Saivu had said these things could be used for transportation, and it seemed this woman most definitely thought so as well.

I gripped her and pulled and she came through quickly to us. She lowered the crystal sword quickly to an unthreatening position. She looked around, still panicking, before her gaze settled on me. Grustive had stood behind me, drawing his sword, and the girl was obviously afraid of us. "Help, help, please don't hurt me," she gasped. Her curls were frizzy, like she'd just woken up and then fallen directly into a fight. Her clothes were torn and mussed.

"I don't intend to hurt you." I realized that my hand hovered near the hilt of a sword that wasn't there, and groaning inwardly, I moved it. This girl didn't seem to be any threat, and besides, I had no blade anyway.

Grustive lowered his sword, but still had it at the ready, just in case. He motioned for the guards by the door to back up and remain ready as well. "Sheathe your blade, if you please, miss, and sit down on the bed here."

At the first word of his order, the crystalline blade was already sliding back into its sheathe. It was a strange blade, and I wondered how functional it was -- a translucent crystal gleaming with a slightly purple incandescence. Two large orange jewels glittered from the ornate black hilt, almost looking like eyes watching us.

"We'll get someone to look after your wounds," Grustive assured her. Turning to one of the guards, he ordered, "Get a doctor." His manner was somehow caring and casual, but I noticed that his sword remained in his hand and he had never quite fallen away from the ready.

The girl's expression was one of clear relief and gratitude as she sat upon the bed, looking as if she were trying, rather unsuccessfully, not to bleed upon it. She had three of those cards in her hands, the unicorn rampant visible to me, and she tucked them into a pocket.

I turned to Grustive, knowing I owed him an explanation. "I would've said something, but that's the first time I've done something like that and well… there didn't appear to be time." Then frowning, I turned back to the newcomer. It *was* my first time, and I wanted to know just how she had caused it. "Who are you? And how did you do that?" I waved my hand at my head, indicating the Trump contact. My tone was sharp, I realized. It wasn't intentional, and I wasn't really angry. I just wanted answers. Expected them, really. Softening it a little, I added, "I've run into those things. They aren't fun."

"The nasties with too many eyes? I'd agree with you there," she nodded, rather shakily. "Well, what do you know about Trump cards? I can tell you a little bit in principle if you don't know already. Though as to why I wound up with yours, I'm really not sure. It just sort of happened." She shrugged, smiling, her eyes much calmer now, a rather muddy shade of hazel.

"You have a card of myself?" I didn't bother to hide my surprise. I mean, I'd guessed that'd have to be it, from what little I knew from Saivu, but actually *knowing* it was a different story. I felt my brows furrow as I looked at her. "How…? I've only just heard of them recently. *Seen* them recently." My frown deepened and I glanced away, talking more to myself than anyone else as I muttered a mental note to myself. "Well, Saivu didn't exactly say how they were made… just chalk it up to something else to figure out, I guess."

As I watched, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a couple of cards. She considered them for a moment, then tucked one back, keeping the other. She held it out between pale fingers, for me to see.

And I saw my own image there, sitting upon a rock, resting and staring back at myself. My sword, my armbands, my hair pulled back into a ponytail with wisps curling around my face.

"I don't know," she told me, her voice a bit wispy, dreamy. "The cards just seem to have tumbled in when all the trouble started happening.

"Really," I murmured, raising on eyebrow. It was a rather hard thing to swallow, if these things were as hard to find as I'd thought. But who knew… I certainly didn't. But things don't generally seem to just "tumble in" on one.

I made myself relax, and I was smiling when I turned back to her. "Who are you? I'll let Grustive handle explaning the where you are part… because I've only just arrived myself." It was partly a question, and partly an order, my stance shifting subtley as I expected a clear response.

"I'm Datura," she gave her name readily enough. "You, if I have any right to ask."

"Damara."

"A lot like my name." Datura nodded, then smiled hesitantly, before glancing at Grustive. "And yeah, as to where we are, I was just about to ask that too."

"You are in New Avalon, miss," he replied kindly, "and I am Grustive, Captain of the castle Guard. I'm afraid the castle is still under construction, so the accomodations are not as amenable as they could be, but you are welcome to stay and recuperate as long as you swear to do no harm." He smiled, adding, "But I think you've already done that."

"I'll do it again if you need clarification, sir," Datura responded almost eagerly. "I'm not going to hurt anyone. Or wreck this place." She looked like she was about to say something else, but she was interrupted by the arrival of the doctor.

"Ah, Doctor Hodds," Grustive noted him. "Come in, please."

The doctor stood at the door, an old bald man with a black bag in his hand. He came in silently to bend over Datura and bandage her wounds, murmuring softly to her. Then he stood up, just as silently, to leave. He bowed to everyone and took a few steps, then stopped abruptly, slapping his head lightly as if he had forgotten something utterly basic and important. He walked back over to Datura, pulling something out of his pocket. I had to smile as he carefully unwrapped, and handed to the petite woman a brilliant yellow lollipop.

Datura seemed caught somewhere between amusement and bemusement as she stared at the lollipop, then she chuckled gleefully, considering it.

With the doctor gone, Grustive returned to our conversation. "Prince Corwin of Amber rules in New Avalon as Lord Protector, along with his son Jolath, Princess Jrenrale, and Lord Tyvin. Is there anything else you wish to know?"

Datura hesitated, the lollipop near her lips but not quite getting to licking it yet. I wasn't sure what was in her expression, and I wasn't really paying attention anyway, my own attention turning to Grustive as Datura pocketed the candy instead of eating it.

"I'm still trying to get this part straight myself," I admitted, shaking my head. "Keep telling us more, and maybe I'll understand it." I smiled, and had to think before I replied, making sure I got the titles correct so Grustive wouldn't growl again. "Would your Prince Corwin be a better person to talk to than Prince Merlin about Amber?"

I could feel Datura's eyes upon me as I spoke, and when I glanced at her, those hazel eyes were wary once more. There was a small smile lingering about her lips, placid and not quite reaching her eyees. "Please do tell us more," she agreed, her tone neutral. There was something that bothered her here. But I didn't know what it was, and didn't spend much time thinking about it then.

Captain Grustive didn't seem to notice. He was caught in thought for a moment, before replying, "Lord Protector Corwin is Prince Merlin's father, so I imagine he would know more about Amber. After you've met with Lord Tyvin, we will see about getting you an interview with him if you like."

I nodded, "It might help. Since it doesn't look like I'll get to talk to Merlin any time soon, and hells, I'll take talking to anyone about Amber as long as I can to get this all straightened out." I made a face to express my frustration at not understanding my own life and how I fit in. And didn't say a word about how I figured it was all the same thing in the end. If the cards worked the way I though they did.

And then it was time to shift my attention back to Datura. I wanted to know more about the attack. "Now, tell me about the creatures." My tone shifted again, no less kind or curious, but fully expecting a response. "How did they come upon you? Where were you?"

Datura had no problem giving that response. "Well, I'm not quite sure where I was. I was starting to call the place Dreamland, in my head -- it was all alien and intertwined, with a weird and natural sort of architecture, all strange and alive." There was a hint of regret in her tone, as if she perhaps wished she had not had to leave. Her hands punctuate her words, in quick and almost flowery motions. "It'd only been there for about…" she frowned in thought, "less than eight hours when the things showed up and surrounded me."

I nodded again, her story sounding familiar in many ways. "That's almost similar to what happened to me. I had come upon a place I'd never seen before, very strange. A casino of sorts. I hadn't been there long when the creatures invaded and started killing everything in sight."

Datura frowned, sounding bothered. "Everything in sight, you say? I hope mine laid off when I left -- it seemed like such a peaceful shadow. How did you manage to exit the mess?"

"They were dead before I left." My voice was flat, simply exact. "I killed them, with the help of two allies." I glanced over at Datura, my expression meant to show that she shouldn't be that surprised by the revelation. For a moment, I was amused at her naivete, then I had to wonder… was it real? She had survived, after all, and I'd seen how deadly those creatures were. And she didn't seem badly injured. I felt my brows draw together in the faint furrow of a thoughtful frown.

Grustive's expression mirrored mine, but apparently for a different reason. "Is there any way these creatures could follow you here to New Avalon?"

"I don't know where they came from in the first place, or how they got there," I admitted.

Dature spoke nearly at the same time as me. "I hope not. I've never seen things quite like that before this, either. Now I'm wondering why they're after both of us… twice the mystery I suppose -- but you've got a guard here and all," she added, eyeing Grustive optimisitcally.

I couldn't help myself, and a snort of laughter escaped. "We're safe in numbers here, that's for certain, but those things can be dealt with. Kiwarr and I dealt with them handily enough with some help from Saivu." How could she think I needed a bodyguard? I felt my brows draw together in a frown as my gaze fell again on her crystalline blade and I wondered if she were really as helpless as she sounded, or if it were just an act to gain the trust of someone like Grustive. Which was probably working.

She sat as if she were used to wearing the blade at her side, the black hilt gleaming above a black and purple sheathe, something almost like orange eyes glittering at me from that hilt. "I took three of them," she said simply, not boasting as she shared her experience. "But they'd caught me dozing, and at least a dozen were coming after them -- more of them trying to crash through the roof. I'd already told them I came in peace. Since they weren't listening, well," she shrugged, "I didn't really feel like sticking around."

There wasn't much left for me to say. I simply put the information away in my mind, planning to go over it later. After all, we'd both been attacked by similar creatures, and she had one of those cards of myself. There had to be a link, if I could find it. But so far, the story made about as much sense as I could make of it. So I nodded, and she went on.

"If I didn't say it already," she added, "thanks for pulling me out. Now I'm starting to feel a touch of curiosity though. Who's Saivu?"

"My client," I told her, shrugging. "After the incident in the casino, he asked if I would be willing to act as his bodyguard for the time being." I glanced over at Grustive, frowning. "Something which I haven't been doing the best job at… since we walked into trouble here, and I'd still like confirmation that Saivu is alright with Lord Tyvin." He didn't answer right away, and I looked back to Datura, smiling.

"You're welcome," I told her finally. "Damned lucky for you I had any what that thing," I waved a hand at my head to indicate the Trump call, "was at all."

Datura frowned slightly, her brow furrowed in thought. She followed my glance to Grustive, then her gaze came back to me. "I suppose the next proper question -- or improper question, whatever you like, I don't know how proper my presence is anyway, and I don't know whether or not you like me to ask questions at all, but I'm asking them -- well, I guess because -- would be who is Lord Tyvin?"

Her sentence was tangled all around itself, but I followed enough of it to get the idea. Grustive, on the other hand, looked baffled for a moment before he replied, "Lord Tyvin serves Lord Protector Corwin, Prince Merlin, and Prince Jolath. He is, in effect, fourth in command here in New Avalon and is my direct superior. He is primarily involved with the construction of the castle, working side by side on the project with Prince Jolath. Prince Merlin is rarely here, as he has duties at the Courts of Chaos."

He paused a moment. "At the moment, Lord Tyvin is… ah… interviewing Miss Damara's… client," he finally said awkwardly. "To be blunt, there was some unpleasantness upon their arrival, and she and her companion are being held under guard pending Lord Tyvin's orders."

I could feel my temper rising, and I smiled sweetly. "We arrived and were attacked," I said bluntly. "In defending us, I determined that if I didn't want to leave a bloodbath in my wake, not to mention risking Saivu's neck, it was best to surrender."

Grustive's eyes widened in surprise at my explanation, then they narrowed in anger. He opened his mouth to speak, then shut it, jaw clenched tight.

It didn't stop my description, and I held my tone even and calm, as best I could. "I simply came here looking for Merlin. I don't think Saivu expected to run into someone who hated him."

Datura was sitting there quietly, watching us, her gaze moving between us as she seemed to grow more and more wary. For a moment she looked as if she was going to speak, but couldn't find a good time.

Grustive spoke now, through gritted teeth, and his own smile appeared to be pasted onto his face. "Well, as long as my men are so poorly trained that you could just walk right throughthem, there's no need for you to st…"

"Everything all right here, Captain?"

I was derailed by the sudden appearance at the doorway. Tall, with longish blond hair and a beard, I recognized the man at the door from earlier, although he looked more exhausted now than before. His eyes were bloodshot, but he stood straight, waiting for the reply.

Grustive was startled at the interruption. "Yes, Lord Tyvin. This young lady," he nodded to Datura, "just Trumped in. It seems she was attacked. Doctor Hodds has seen to her."

Datura looked to Tyvin as well, her gaze unrecognizing and merely watchful.

"Very good, Captain." He turned to me then, to report, "Count Saivu is resting comfortably in his quarters and does not wish to be disturbed this evening. He said to tell you that he would see you in the morning. You are free to go if you like, but I'd appreciate it if you stayed for dinner and allowed us to try to make up for everything. I know Lord Protector Corwin will want to meet you, if you are indeed a relative."

My gaze narrowed slightly. "I'm not going anywhere. I've obviously made a hash of my job as Saivu's bodyguard, so I'm not leaving until I know he's alright and going with me." Not to mention that the idea of meeting more people who could explain any of this to me was appealing. But right then… I was on a job, and until I felt more assured that Saivu was alright, and until he dismissed me in person, I was staying.

"I give you my word, Count Saivu is alive and told me he wants to be alone until morning, when he will rejoin you," Lord Tyvin spoke seriously. "If that's not good enough for you, I'm willing to take you to see him, but he asked me for some privacy and I'd like to see that he gets it." Tyvin paused then, before adding, "He will be leaving New Avalon in the morning and if you'd like to meet him at that time, that's quite alright."

I considered this a moment, uncertainty creasing my features. Saivu was my charge, after all, and I was duty bound to be certain of his safety. But I couldn't just keep barging around here insisting either. And if Saivu *had* asked for privacy, I had to respect his wishes. Finally I said slowly, "I'll talk to him in the morning, then." Agreeing, for now anyway.

And there were other things to deal with as well. "As for being a relative," I continued, "that's what I'm told, and I'd welcome the chance to meet Corwin and find out more about Amber. There's a lot I don't know, and Saivu had suggested Merlin could help." I couldn't resist, adding a slight emphasis to the name Merlin as I spoke it, my eyes on Lord Tyvin. After all, when I had tried that Trump card…

I was rewarded by a faint incline of his head, barely noticeable except to myself really. To anyone else he was just paying close attention to what I said, but his eyes caught mine and his return gaze was as intense as mine, confirming my suspicions. I hid a smile, hoping that he would catch my response but that it wouldn't be obvious to those others still in the room with us.

"You can meet the Lord Protector tonight at dinner," he told me, still continuing on with the innocuous conversation. And I nodded my response, thanking him for that.

When I looked back at the others, Grustive was just turning back from the door. In his hands was a familiar well-worn blade, and my eyes lit to see it. I affixed the worn scabbard to my belt, saying with serious relief, "My thanks for the return of my blade." I could feel myself easing, calming, just to feel its weight against my side.

"Thank you, Captain. That will be all." Grustive bowed as Tyvin dismissed him, and then left Tyvin alone with Datura and I.

Tyvin's attention turned to Datura and her blade, his gaze flickering over the weapon as he spoke. "If you are a friend of Damara's you are welcome to stay as well."

A friend of mine? It was interesting how simple ownership of the card of someone seemed to imply a relationship. But I didn't correct Tyvin, perhaps as amused as Datura expected me to be, as she said, "I'll stick around, if only to amuse you all with my cowardice." Her innocence was overdone on the statement, almost obviously on purpose. I didn't roll my eyes, although I was tempted.

And so we were given into Lord Tyvin's care for the moment, for a tour of the orchards. With him still operating under the assumption that Datura and I knew each other previously, despite explanations on our part. And with me still wondering when I would get to speak with Merlin, and knowing that as we left the castle, he walked beside me.