WikiSysop: New page: 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. ...

2010-11-01T20:04:51Z

New page: 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. ...

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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."

Characters:RavenLogs/OX Martin - Revision history

WikiSysop: New page: 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. ...