Ariadne looked like she wanted to defend her home, but she chuckled and shrugged
"Yeah, Earth has wonders, but it has some serious flaws as well.  I wonder,  sometimes,  if my mother could have made it a better place had she lived.   Maybe it's up to me know."

Jon nods his agreement. "You will have my support, because what they did to Lance, you and surely many others is terrible." he gives her a warm smile "Thank you Ari.  I appreciate you help with this.  So one problem at a time.  So let's think of the solution and not the problem itself.  What would resolve the conflict?  Small steps most likely."

Ariadne shrugged
"Well, he's convinced that you're holding a grudge,  so if i can assure him that you want friendship,  that would help.  We need to get you guys sitting down to talk, perhaps with me as a moderator "

*chuckles* "I am not happy with him, this is true. But I definitely don't hold any ill will towards him nor do I wish him to fail.  So definitely no grudge here.  Just disappointment, more than anything." as he is talking you can see his facial expression changing as he parses his feelings towards Lance. "I'll be honest, though, I am still not sure I want him at the pattern walk because he still gives off a vibe of negativity.  And I am concerned that it could impact our ability to successfully complete it safely.<\Yellow>" he pauses "<Yellow>And I'm not sure I trust him now." Jon sighs and he slumps back into the couch "I don't think he will overtly try anything, so it isn't that.  It is not something I put my finger on at the moment.  And it could just be the differences in where we each come from."

Ariadne sighed and frowned in thought
"It sounds like both of you are having issues trusting the other person,  and i want to see if that's genuine or just a cultural difference.   I mean,  I've had professional rivals and other haters who wanted to sabotage my career,  but never anyone i was actually worried about as a sworn enemy,  so this is all strange to me."

*smiles* "I don't see him as my sworn enemy, nor do I wish him harm nor failure.  I don't feel that he will purposely sabotage my walk or try to harm me." *nods* "But, I don't trust him enough to have him there for it.  I wish I could explain it better." he sighs with frustration.
"I don't know, I think this would been easier if it occurred after the walks." he looks at Ari and smiles warmly "Thank you and I am sorry that this fell into your lap." he is relaxed, but alert and there is a tenderness to his expression as he speaks.

Day 4 Location: Amber

Jade walks down the halls till she is before the library and flings the doors open, "Ah Ha think you can hide from me huh !?!" She looks around the room in merriment and amusement.

The door flings open and--!

But there (right there) is Ballad: poised and startled into deer-stillness, arrested with her hand out as if she were just about to open the door, pale hair a-shining and evening (elfland) blue eyes wide.

A beat, and she flashes Jade a grin.

"I do think so, but I wouldn't dream of actually doing it," says she. "Are you playing a game with Ari and Jon?"

"Ballad !"  Jade hugs her.

"There you are, so are you coming to the concert ? I sent my agents out to find you." She flashes a bright smile at her golden haired cousin.

Jade was all made up for a night of courtly graces.

Ballad returns the hug with enthusiastic affection, a good hugger even overladen with such things as: a crossbow, a large trident dagger, her travel bag, a roll of paper, her drinking-slash-hunting horn (well, she's always wearing that!). She is a lovely scrap of fairyland, black and green stones gleaming in her pale braided hair, but she's definitely not dressed for castle lounging.

"Did you? Your agents did not find me, alas! Tonight?" Ballad sounds deeply regretful-slash-sorry, and looks it, too, with her eloquent gaze being what it is. "And I'm called away this evening by an old friend. But you! Why, Jade. You look like the sort of melody that will stick in somebody's head and they'll find themselves humming in spite of themselves, though. What's this concert? I'll walk with you a while."

And if this is acceptable to Jade, Ballad shuts the door of the library behind them.

There is a sorrowful look for a moment in Jade's big expressive eyes.
"Oh, I was truly hoping you would be there. It is Lady Lorelay's event a performer from Begma named Akwaeke. An artist of some note apparently. I was invited by a nice young man named Sandwyn. He extended his invitation to Ariadne who I think he has a crush on, and Jon, Lance and You." Jade was beaming again.

"Of course let's walk." Her eyes moved to Ballad's full arms.

"Need any help carrying those things ?"

Ballad laughs, goodnaturedly, although she still seems so sorry. "But oh no, now I've disappointed you; I hate to be a disappointment. I do my level best to be at the next concert, even if I must fight through a wolf wood and Sir Pine's family to do so." Fairy tale nonsense. "Promise you'll tell me all about the concert later? Where did you meet this nice young man? Do you think his crush is destined to be unrequited, or will Ari like him?"

Then she gives Jade a little shake of her head, looking down at her things. "Oh, no, thank you." Crossbow gets clipped in place, roll of paper gets slipped into her bag, everything gets put away so her hands are entirely free, and she gives Jade a sparkle-eyed look.

...And here's Odile returning to tell Jade where her other cousins are. (Lance not returned yet from shadow, but Jon and Ari finishing lunch in the dining hall.)

"Oh I will, I am sure it will be nice. It is a chance for all of us to be out in public well in noble public and see how we are received. I also know now that I shall have to keep a closet full of presents for various occasions just in case." Jade nodded all sage like and moved out into the halls with Ballad.

"Oh Sandwyn, he was in the shrine of the unicorn here in the castle. He is apparently Lord Rondovel's second son. I don't see why she wouldn't like him. He has  a cute mustache and he even has a basic understanding of the language of flowers !" Jade says excitedly.

"Well, the only thing I worry about is this Shadow Earth, it seems to be a really weird place Ballad. Look at Lance and how he acts, Ariadne thinks the Unicorn is just some silly supernatural nonesense. So maybe she might not like him. I really don't understand Earthers." Jade sighed.

"Still there is always hope right ! Also there is ties of family and her father is well received among the Rondovels. Which is nice, Ariadne was worried about him. I am glad she still has her father, and Jon his mother."

"Oh could you do me a small favor ? It's for Ari she is AMAZING with axes, I was wondering if we might not get her some fancy throwing axes ? John is also INCREDIBLE with his swords and me Im just a goof with anything pointy or blunt."

"Thanks Agent Odile, you have done excellent !" Jade gives Odile a warm smile.

I'm going to take a page out of the GM's book here. >.>



They stroll. It’s not a very long stroll from the library to the dining hall. Ballad’s eyes dance when Jade explains how she doesn’t see why Ariadne wouldn’t like a man with a cute mustache and basic understanding of the language of flowers. “How did you find that out?”



"I don't understand the mass appeal of Earth myself," Ballad replies, shrugging, all insouciance. "I want to visit because it's a historical curiosity, and, why, I like to travel to all manner of places. But it does seem to leave a mark." She pauses, too, glancing at Jade sidelong as if she'd like to say something, but doesn't really think she has the time to potentially debate religion. "As far as the Unicorn goes... I don't think it's silly to not believe in her, especially if you're from out in shadow. You'll run into many people who've never even heard of a unicorn. We know the Unicorn is real, and what she means to Amber. But why should everybody else?"



At still there is always hope right, Ballad smiles, just a touch wistfully. The wistfulness fades slightly when Jade says she's glad Ari has her dad and Jon his mother, because, after all, Jade is a little orphan girl, and her mother is far away, and she never had a father, just a narwhal. Ballad doesn't choose to comment on her own family (does she still have a mother? has she said?), but instead Ballad bumps into Jade and links arms, resting her head on the taller girl's shoulder.

"I am glad you have this family, Jade. I would be sorry not to know you."



"Who hasn't accidentally flung a sword at somebody standing behind one or got it caught in a chandelier?" Ballad says, with an airy wave of her hand. Then, "But certainly, let's get some throwing axes. Should it be an additional gift for You-Know-When?"

There's the dining hall door. Ballad slows her pace so Jade can answer.

"Oh he sent me a box with the gift of a small onyx unicorn with a gold pen horn. It was in a box sealed with the blue flowers you like and rosemary. There was a knowledge that was most amazing for a non florist to know. He thanked me with that for arranging a meet between him and Ariadne. He really must like her, it must be her boldness." Jade smiles wistfully.

"Why Ballad, the excuse of being from shadow even shadow earth is one thing, but she is royalty now and such a blasphemy could you imagine if Oberon were King still ? I don't know how King Random will react. I am genuinely worried about her being killed or imprisoned I mean please talk to her." Jade looked at Ballad prettily part pleading part in friendship.

Jade just beams when Ballad links arms with her, "Me too when it comes to you Ballad. I just love you all so much ! I had so much fun at Bloody Mary's even with that drunkard there. I laughed at the different songs and Lance and Jon stood up for me."

She stops a moment, "Oh no I might cry, I can't I just put make up on but Im just so happy to have all my cousins around."

"Yes that would be a great idea, and for Jon, I learned he uses a shield so I might get him a shield for his too. What do you think ?" Jade was holding back tears and avoided rubbing her eyes.

“But he doesn’t know her yet, just you?” Ballad asks, the blue of her eyes very clear and innocent. "Perhaps he was hoping you'd use the pen to write him a note?"

Then she says: “As royalty, we can explore all manner of philosophies, as it pleases us. Really, Jade, I would perish of shock if Uncle Random killed or imprisoned anybody for that, much less Deirdre’s daughter. But if it will make you feel better, I'll certainly talk to her.”

Here's the strike-spark of a sudden grin at Jade's memory of singing at Bloody Mary's. "You've reminded me, I want to go back and have another drink. Don't cry! Are you ticklish?" Ballad makes 'claw' hands, and says, "Rar," quite solemnly. Then, "I'm sure Jon would love a shield, if you gave him one. Maybe you can get him one made with his new coat of arms? But shh, I hear voices."

A wink, and she opens the door to the dining hall, ushering Jade in first.

"Of course silly he just met me, and he really wants to meet her, and you too. Though he seems interested in Ariadne more then anyone. Hmmm maybe it's my green hair." She lifts some of her locks looking at them.

"It would make me feel better, I know King Random seems nice I guess I worry a lot. It comes from always needing make sure things were folded correctly, cleaned to perfection which is pretty hard under water if you have never tried. I just want things perfect besides what if the Unicorn herself took offense ?" A new look of shock for a moment.

Jade smiled, "Yes I think so, I think I am." The threat of tickling made Jade laugh.

"Oh, that is an excellent idea, I shall do so." She bobs her head then gets quiet perhaps one last stray laugh before she is in through the door.

Day 5 - A couple hours before lunch.
Jon arrives at the library and looks for a librarian for assistance.

Once he has someone's attention. "Thank you.  I would like a list of and where to find all of the books and records regarding Weirmonken. And if we know who besides King Eric and Master Rian who might have practical experience dealing with Weirmonken?" he smiles

The librarian gives Jon a stack of books (about seven), each of which deals, in whole or in part, with Weirmonken. "Well, the next people I would think who would count as experts on that subject would be Prince Benedict and Prince Julian. Especially Prince Benedict, being hundreds of years older... but then again, he's much harder to get ahold of in a hurry. ...Historically speaking, that is..."

Laurence pauses. It seems like there's someone else he's thinking of, but not saying, maybe? (Charming roll, if you want to push...)

OOC: 17:58, Today: Jon rolled 7 using 2d6+1 ((5,1)). Charisma - Thank God for the +1.

"Thank you." he looks at Laurence, "Uncle Julian, Uncle Benedict,..." and smiles "Anyone else?  I want to make sure I am thorough.  I'm trying to earn a spot with Queen Vialle." he says honestly.

"Er, well..." says Laurence. "I, er... I mean... since the history of Amber and its wars is pretty much always family history... Ah... therefore, the older the witness, the better, information-wise... So, I mean... In this case, family-wise... If you see what I mean...?"

*nods* "Indeed, thank you." he smiles. "Laurence, you have been a great help.  Thank you very much for your guidance." he says solemnly and sincerely.

"Certainly, milord. It's my job to help, milord," Laurence says, relieved that all involved were able to get through that little interlude without too much difficulty...

*Nods* Jon takes the books and heads to his room, luckily it is not far from the library.