"I don't know if this is true but the old king Oberon was said to have ruled since the world was created. As Queen Moire of Rebma has her realm. Were legacy to that. I don't know if that is true but in the church of the Narwhal such is said. As the church of the Unicorn here says."

Jade nods, "It is something easier to believe coming from here I will admit. I am young myself. Though I am sure if you asked some of the male princes they would give you their age."

Ariadne smirked.
"So, 'Never ask a Lady her age', eh?  Yes, that's considered rude on my world as well, though less so between women, generally."
She shrugged.
"Since the world was formed??  Well...that certainly sounds made up, perhaps for propaganda purposes, but I can't discount that people here live a long time.  Looking back on it, my father never seemed that much older than when I was a kid, though I suppose every little girl sees her father like that, eh?"
Then she looked VERY skeptical.
"Wait....church of the what now???"

"Church of the Narwhal or Unicorn ? Those are the state churches of Rebma and Amber respectively." She shows a coin with the Narwhal on one side and Queen Moire on the other side.

Ariadne still looked like she was waiting for a punchline.

"We can go to the church after if you would like. It's one of the largest buildings in the city." She then said, "Oh you mentioned a card brought you here, wasn't there a unicorn on it ?"

Ariadne shrugged.
"With everything else going on, I wasn't really paying attention to those kind of details.  But, like, you people actually worship a unicorn and a narwhal??"

Jade nods, "Yes, they are our state religion. The window openers in the castle are little unicorn icons, and if you remember the artwork in the castle all the unicorn imagery. That is because it is the religion."

Ariadne shrugged, trying to look like she was trying not to offend Jade again.
"Look, don't get me wrong.  I was taught in a Catholic school in Boston, and they believed some REALLY weird things, but I grew out of that stuff.  Why do your people worship a unicorn and a narwhal?"

"They helped create all that you see. Oh I hoped I could explain it better. I wish Ballad was here she could explain it better from an Amber royal perspective."

Ariadne spoke slowly, as if trying to make sense of it all.
"So...according to your religion, your city was created by a narwhal, and this one was created by a...unicorn?"

Jade nods, "That's right."

"Though more then the cities. The priests could describe it better. Even seeing the Narwhal is considered good luck, an omen of good things to come. I imagine it the same for seeing the unicorn here."

Ariadne seemed to wait for a moment, mouth slightly open, eyes half closed, as if  still waiting for a punchline.
Then she pressed her lips shut, and sighed.
"You know what?  Sure, why not?  I'm just gonna roll with it."

Jade looked to Ariadne and wondered what horned or tusked animal they worshipped on this Shadow Earth. Though with Ariadne's reaction about religion she chose not to broach the topic more at this time.

Ariadne seemed lost in thought, as if realizing that she knew almost nothing about her family's ancestral home besides the fact that people were trying to kill her.
(Though, of course, that was a pretty significant fact)
She smiled at Jade, in a casual way
"So...what kinds of things do you and the other members of the royal family do around here, anyway?  I mean, what kind of jobs do you all have?
When we were coming here in the horse drawn carriage, i really felt like I was transported back in time.  Hundreds of years by ky standards.   But i suspect thatypur world here isn't necessarily hundreds of years behind mine.  What will i be expected to do if i choose to live here full time, or even when I visit?"

"I would say you would be allowed to do as you will. As this was told to me by another princess. Yet I believe we could all be called upon to defend Amber should the need arise. If you want a job, I suppose you could ask the King. He might be able to assign you something."

Ariadne chuckled
"So we're like the idle rich?  The people in my part of Earth don't have a royal government anymore, so we have a weird relationship with other countries that do.  The royal family in one of our closest allies seems like they just do busy work for a living.  It just feels like a strange way to live.
Though with the Grey Goons around, the 'called to defend the kingdom' bit sounds about right, though. "

"Especially now that we know they are moving as an army. That bit of news from Ballad worries me. If they tried to kill us, I don't think they would stop there."

Ariadne frowned in confusion
"Army?  i don't remember that part.    I thought they were just random goon squads "

Jade shook her head, "Oh, no Ballad said they were gathering and sieging a shadow she knows. We believed they may be turning shadow folk into other Grey Men. That is why Jon needs to train us. I can fight but certainly it is not my forte."

Ariadne nodded wincing
"Oh, you're right, i do remember that.   I giess it just didn't seem real at the time"

"I know this all seems a dream we might wake up from, save for our injuries."
Jade gets a far off look then returns to things getting a drink.

Ari laughed
"I've had those kind of dreams as well"

"Are you feeling better ? Your wounds I mean.  I have a feeling I might need to go out with Ballad when she plans to scout out these grey men. As we both have pattern in our blood."

Ariadne shrugged
"I was hoping that a good night's sleep might have done me some good, but as comfortable as the bed was, i guess sleeping in a strange place still makes me restless.   I was always a fast healer, though.   Usually most bruises vanish overnight and i once had a sprained ankle that was healed in less than a week. "
She smiled as she said it, as it expecting Jade to be impressed, then realization hit and she sighed with amused annoyance
"Unless, of course, that's also just a normal thing for our family?"

"Yes, but regrowing eyes can take years. So just be careful."

Jade dipped into the appetizer savoring the taste, "Not bad."