Characters:RavenLogs/OX Martin

Several days past the first crossing, the weather is relatively calm, with enough of a wind going--perhaps encouraged by some of the royal gifts--to keep the Vale moving at a steady pace. The crew is managing the vessel and some of the repairs Raven had ordered made en route without her supervision. Scarlett is safely ensconced in her makeshift cabin and Folly has engaged herself in teaching young Max a bit of recorder technique.

Martin frees himself from his conversation with one of the junior officers she'd taken on in Amber--apparently he knew some of them--and comes over to join her. "Captain," he says, glancing around as if he expects someone to be watching them, "is there somewhere we can speak privately?"

"We can use my cabin, Highness," Raven answers readily. "It's a bit lived-in, but we ain't likely to be bothered."

He nods, once. It's kind of abrupt, but that seems like his way. Caine was like that, Raven had heard.

Martin lets Raven lead him to the cabin and waits until the door is shut behind them to speak. He draws in a breath, as if considering how to phrase his comments, before sucking it up and just starting to talk. "I'm sorry if this is a bothersome topic for you, but I've got a couple of things I need to talk to you about. About your family."

Raven's expression goes from polite curiosity straight through to exasperation as Martin talks. She crosses her arms and says tiredly, "I did tell her to behave herself, Highness, but she don't listen to me unless she thinks there might be money involved. What did the daft woman do now?"

Martin's brow furrows at the question. "Your mo--oh. Oh, no, it's not your mother. I can deal with _her_.' He waves a hand dismissively, as if women throwing themselves at him were an everyday thing for him. Maybe, being a prince, it is. "Except for this question, which I don't think she'd answer for me. Do you know who the boy's father is?"

Raven snorts a laugh. "I already asked, and I got told to mind my own business. It happened while I was gone, Highness." She shrugs. "Apparently it wasn't the same man as sired me, but that don't help much; she ain't ever given me a straight answer on that, either. Do you mind if I ask why?"

"Not because I think he's mine. Obviously," Martin says drily. His tone turns serious as he continues, "This next bit is royal business." He doesn't insult Raven by cautioning her further; instead he goes on to the actual point. "One of my cousins died recently. Rumor has it that he fathered several children in Amber during the recent Regency. It occurred to me that Max was of the right age, and he seems--well, I have my own reasons for thinking this, but he seems a likely candidate."

"Well. That's a new one." Raven smirks faintly. "For her, at least." She thinks back to the conversation she'd had with her mother, frowning a little. "But I can't say that it ain't possible. She's got some opinions that she didn't share before, about the R - er, your family, but begging your Highness's pardon, I'd be happier not saying exactly what they are. Knocking her up and not whisking her away, that could be one reason for them - but it could just as easily be that none of you lot ever showed up at the tavern and she don't see why not. I can try asking again, I guess, but I can't promise I'd get anywhere. We ain't exactly on the best of terms."

Martin nods, once. "There's another way you might find out. Are you familiar with the Red Mill?"

[The Red Mill is a notorious gentleman's club in the Victorian sense. In French: Moulin Rouge. Enough said.]

"Heard of it, but ain't ever been there." Raven shrugs. "I got simple tastes, and it's a bit rich for my blood, Highness."

That singular nod repeats itself. "Lucas kept a woman there--" which is somewhat surprising, but it would take the sort of money a royal had to keep the interest of a Red Mill girl full time "--whose name was Silken. Silken was in charge of funnelling certain payments to various people in the city. If your mother had come into unexpected money, and it was through Silken, it would be strong circumstantial evidence."

After a moment, Martin adds, "Lucas was my friend. I was the best man at his wedding. I'd rather investigate this quietly myself than drag his mother into it. Aunt Florimel's not quite herself since Lucas' death, you'll understand, but she wants to know her grandchildren, and to see them given the advantages they were born to."

"Begging your Highness's pardon, but I'd just as soon keep this quiet myself," Raven answers. "It wouldn't be fair to the boy to not look into it, but anything about 'advantages they were born to' gets back to my mother before it's proved one way or the other, and I wouldn't put it past her to go straight to the Princess with the story, true or not. I wouldn't know one way or the other without asking the girls," by which she means the girls at the tavern, although she doesn't qualify it, "whether she's had unexpected money while I was gone; she's terrible with the stuff. But she did say she had someone getting money together for her in the new place, and that she'd be well-off when she got there. Who that might be, I can't say I'd know; she said they were friends, and I don't know that I can think of any of her friends that would do that sort of thing for her."

"That's the sort of information I'm interested in." The nod this time is accompanied by a slow smile. "I'll doublecheck that against my sources when we get to Xanadu. And--if your mother does make the mistake of going straight to my aunt? And the boy's not Lucas' son?" Martin pauses significantly. "It'll end, sooner or later, with the boy dead and her under my Aunt's extreme displeasure, and, most likely, my father's."

Raven visibly bristles at the mention of death. "Well, I ain't interested in seeing that happen," she says, levelly. "His parentage ain't his fault."

"It wouldn't be his fault, but if he tried, believing he could, and couldn't, he'd end up just as dead. It's an ugly way to die." Martin isn't apologetic about it; he's just stating facts. "We're not like other people, Captain. There's a line between people like me and the rest of the worlds. I didn't make it and I'm not enforcing it, just trying to make sure it doesn't kill any more people."

"If you say so, Highness." Raven is clearly kind of dubious about this explanation, and still not entirely thrilled. "I ain't aiming to pidgeon-hole him in, just so's we're clear. I just know it can be miserable, being her son and that age and not knowing who your father is or was, and it wouldn't be fair of me not to look into this."

"It's not easy growing up knowing your father's a Prince of Amber either, but it seems to be easier than finding that out when you've already come to manhood," Martin says. His tone seems more phlegmatic than it probably ought to, given his own background. "Your concern speaks well for you. Having suddenly found myself with a younger brother of my own, I understand better than you may think. I'll do my best to see the boy isn't hurt, no matter who his father is."

Raven nods. "Thank you, Highness. You'll let me know if there's aught else I can do?"

"Just let me know if you find anything out from your mother, one way or another. And let me know what assignment you draw when you get to Xanadu. I am not," he says, a slight smile gracing his lips, "entirely without influence, and I do keep an eye on men in Royal service--including the Navy--who do me or the kingdom a good turn, Captain."

"Of course, Highness."