Obi curses in fluent Uzoman, and if his companions don't get the
particulars, they can gauge his mood. "Eduard, ignore them. They're
beaters and hounds driving the prey to the hunters!"

Eduard rounds Geb back around to look in the direction that Obi
indicates. He nods once, curtly, in agreement.

Secondly, Terry and Graham have stopped to regard a curious thing
indeed. Its a sword, stuck upright and right into the middle of one of
Faiella-Bonin's marble steps. Terry instinctively grabs the hilt and
tries to draw it out of the stone, and releases it quickly. "Its like
its electric, or cold.. like dry ice," he complains massaging his
hand.

That doesn't surprise Obi. The Sword in the Stone has a name..
Pagono. Its a warlock's blade that he recognizes. Though how it has
come to be here is a mystery, unless perhaps it's master has allowed
it to roam Shadow on some errand of its own.

"Leave it," Obi demands. "Its master will be along presently I assume.
Focus forward. We've got to get through the first set and convince the
second to back us."

Terry and Graham look at each other for an instant and then leave off
trying to pull Pagono from the steps, and comply with Obi's orders.

"Swords down until they draw," he commands. "We're diplomats or at
worst refugees, NOT invaders."

Marie remains with Obi, but keeps an eye on what is happening behind
them, Eduard does likewise.

The five of them begin to advance down the steps, leaving Dina, Miho,
and Corwin behind.

Dina stops and turns to face the Rangers. She says to Miho. "It's all talking
or fighting now, princess."

On realizing that they cannot escape without being overrun, Miho stops
with Dina and turns as well. Her blade is in her hand, and she stands
as tall as her small stature allows.

The look Dina gives the Rangers says if they engage, two of them are
already dead by the daggers in her hands. In fact, she seems to pick
her targets out with her eyes, two that look middle ranked in
experience, and she makes sure the one who looks in charge has time to
see she's made that apparent decision.

Miho stands ready and makes eye contact with the one in charge. Her
expression is quiet and calm, and has no room for fondness nor
misinterpretation. If they attack, she will cut them down.

The three of horsemen start to reach for their swords, but the fourth-
the one most likely to be in charge, calls out to his compatriots.
"Halt..." He looks between Dina and Miho, but this one, he keeps his
cool.

"Steady now," he tells his men, as their horses shift their footing as
they hold their positions. There is enough distance between the
mounted Rangers and the Royals for the horsemen to still draw steel if
they need to. Looking to Dina, "We'll just wait for the reinforcements
your Ladyship," the leader points out. "You can't cut all of us down."
In this, he might well be correct. The steps of Faiella-Bonin are too
broad for them to hold them off one or two at a time.

"Sir, I like my water pure. I'd rather not breathe your blood today,
in this place between places. What are your orders?" Dina asks.

"I think that would be obvious milady," the leader replies without
managing to sound too smug. "But we are only soldiers." The faintest
of shrugs suggests that he wants to beg off being made to interpret
matters of High Court such as these.

On the other hand, this fellow does carry himself with an air of
competancy. Not that he might be a great swordsman, or excellent
bowman; merely that he is self-assured in what he's doing. That, in of
itself, may be interesting.

"If Prince Corwin would come with us peaceably, then I could give you
my word that these waters would remain pure. Otherwise..." He trails
off.

Corwin says nothing, but his eyes challenge the man to 'come, try and
arrest me'.

Dina says right back, giving no notice to what's happening behind her,
"That's not Corwin." She says it dead seriously, and she smiles, for
all the world like she's just pulled the best trick ever. "Corwin,
with some help from his redheaded, and I'm given to understand, now
criminal allies, will be in the sky castle when it next rises. Puts
you in a rather untenable position, doesn't it? I guess you'll have
to hope one of your men live to escape and report that, because if you
draw your sword against me and my retainers, I will feel obliged to
gut every one of you I can, sir." Dina raises her voice. "Gentlemen,
be careful you're not fighting for no good reason. Bunch of men
against a couple girls and a shadow of Corwin. Hardly seems fair,
really."

Despite Dina's superb acting and no small display of bravado, the
leader, a lieutenant perhaps, merely shakes his head. "Even if I
believed you for an instant, it doesn't place me an untenable position
at all. Its not upon me to interpret the situation and make decisions
based on my analysis."

Dina looks at this man as if he's completely insane. "Bl00dy
Fundamentalists," she mutters.

Corwin blinks once or twice, and never takes his hand off his sword
hilt. But rather than drawing his blade, he cocks his head instead.
"You never answered her question," he says indicating Dina.

The Ranger looks at Dina for half a second, and then returns Corwin's stare.

"Your orders," Corwin prompts. "She asked what your orders were, and
you never answered. You just pretended to answer by saying something
to lead her into drawing her own conclusion."

The lieutenant starts to open his mouth, but Corwin doesn't give him
the chance. "Don't even try it buddy," Dina's father says confidently.
"I've been doing this for hundreds of years," not realizing that it
has been even longer. "Not only that, I think if you were that eager
to arrest me, you would have done something by now." Corwin spreads
his arms as if saying 'come on with it'.

The lieutenant's eyes narrow a little. "With respect sir, I could say
the same of you three." He turns to look at his three companions, who
give him an undisguised 'what now?' look in return. Looking a little
disgusted, he returns his attention to Corwin. He clears his throat.
"May I approach to parlay?"

After a quick check with Dina and Miho....

Dina shrugs.

Corwin nods and waves him forward. The lieutenant never dismounts, but
he leans forward. "*Now* I'm in an untenable position. However, in a
few more wasted moments, you will be as well." He looks between all
three of them. "My orders are to chase you down to the bottom of these
stairs, and to make it look good, and never let it be known to you or
to the men in my command that those are our objectives." He frowns.
"Circumstances dictate that I now take those in order of priority."

The lieutenant thumbs back towards the three other horsemen. "You see,
I can deal with those three. But the horde coming down those steps?"
He shakes his head. "someone will talk. Someone looking for a quick
promotion. If they actually descend to where we are now- we're going
to fight." He turns pointedly to look at Dina. "Because you either
kill me, or I get hung as a traitor, either way I die. But one of you
might as well, and at the very least get clapped in irons and dragged
back to the Castle. So you can threaten to roast my privates for your
supper and play marbles with my eyeballs till you're blue in the face,
it changes nothing. We do it easy, or we do it hard." He says this
with an air of finality.

Dina smiles at him. There's a hint of something unsaid about it, but
it's genuine.

Miho just blinks.

"Now," he says sitting up in his saddle, "I'm going to back up to
where my men are. I'm going to say something convincing. Rattle my
sabre. I suggest you get down those steps as fast as you can." He
starts to just that, but pauses with one last look backwards. "And
please your Ladyships, your Highness, keep those bloodcurdling faces
and all that fury, for them who await you below. It looks better that
way."

For his part, Corwin looks baffled. He doesn't quite look behind him,
but his eyes move that way. "Maybe.. we should.. just go?"

Dina says quietly, "Just turn and run on two. One..."

Miho nods.

Obi pushes forward, staff under his arm for a moment as he draws his
mother's Trump from the case at his waist and tucks it in a pocket for
quick use should he need it once they've reached the bottom. He gets
out front of the EMTs, the better to identify the men on either side
of the gate.

Taking the lead, Obi blazes the trail downwards, with the retainers
and companions right behind him.

Dina says quietly, "Just turn and run on two. One..."

Miho nods.

"Two!" Dina turns and bolts down the stairs. She's pretty determined
to get even with her guys and push them to speed.

Likewise from Miho, making certain Corwin stays in front of them.

The lieutenant deliberately rears his horse and bellows. "Treachery!
We sought to parlay in good faith!" He draws his sword and brandishes
it above his head. Though none of the Amberites may see it, his three
companions draw their weapons too, and shout and curse at the
retreating party.

But they don't push their horses forward. Instead the lieutenant
wheels his horse around, and gestures impatiently at the large group
of footmen behind him. "Hurry! They're escaping! We have to catch them
before they reach the Arch!" There the four horsemen waste some time
waiting for reinforcements, when they could easily force Dina, Miho,
and Corwin to stop (and then be killed by them).

Dina, her father, and Miho race past Pagono. There is no time to
consider this anomaly, but the two of them can't help but recognize
it. The frozen sword in the marble step means nothing to Corwin, and
prudence is probably the only thing that prevents him from having a go
at pulling it out himself.

They push themselves hard to catch up with Obi and the retainers. Its
not long before they can feel the steps vibrate with a very realistic
horde on their heels. Dina can tell the lieutenant is cutting it
close, but is keeping his word.

Then, once they reach a few hundred yards of the Arch, they can hear a
halt being called.. and the sounds of pursuit die off.

The Arch comes into closer focus, and these pass one torch, and then
another, with the City come into vague detail in the greenness. Obi
can now make out something of the group outside of the Entrance. Amber
Guard, waiting. Waiting in dress uniform, but armed nonetheless.
Someone important must be in charge down there, but if so, then
they're not at the front.

Obi seems pleased at their appearance and as he gets within hailing
distance he holds his staff over his head in greeting, a smile playing
across his face.

"I am Lord Obi Abidemi, Son of Princess Deirdre, Herald of King Oberon
and the Amber Court. I request your aid in securing the safety of
these civilians who accompany me and the members of the Blood Royal
that follow," he says with the voice of one who is used to his
requests being considered commands. Whether the words are meant for
the Amberites or the Rebmans is an exercise in diplomacy.

The Amber Guard come swiftly to well-trained attention at Obi's hail.
There is approximately a dozen men.

"Hello again! Hail and well-met indeed..." the reply comes to Obi's
ears in a voice that he recognizes unmistakably. The guard make way
for their leader to come out front and center, "...cuz." A familiar
figure saunters out, but he's not quite as relaxed as the tone of the
reply might suggest. He's wearing full official dress of the Amber
Royal Navy with a heavy saber at his side. "I'd consider it a
privilege to secure the safety of your whole company and escort all of
you into the city.

"Amber City," Drake finishes. Obi can see that he's not only watching
Obi but his gaze is also narrowing on whatever is coming down in Obi's
wake. "Ahhhh..." he adds with a slightly bemused smile after a moment
of furrowed brows, "I detect the unmistakable approach of chaos and
mayhem, which surely bodes the arrival of Dina and Corwin in your
wake. Miho too, I'd guess, and others of your esteemed fellowship."

Dina, Miho, and Corwin hear most of this exchange, but reunite with
Obi's part of the group towards the back when Drake finishes.

On the other side of the Arch, a contingent of the Rebma City Guard
comes to attention, but do not move to intervene.

"What do you say Obi? It's the best offer you're gonna get
today."

The look Dina gives Drake is one of pure disappointment. She
grabs Corwin's arm and leans in to whisper in his ear. She cups her
hand between her cheek and his. "No heroics, highness. Once you're
through the arch, the only reason for them to keep on with the rest of us
is meanness, and we'll surrender. We'll have to wedge or something.
Just get through." She pulls her trump pack off the back of her
belt and stuffs them into his back pocket, trying to hide that from
everyone in front of them. "I'll want those back, soon. And
don't start a bl00dy civil war, damn it. My family is up there. I'll take my
duel later."

"Got it," Corwin mutters back to Dina. "But just remember; my family
is up there."

Obi hasn't spared a glance behind. "So you have guessed the odds
already, cuz." He gestures toward the dozen men. "Eight of us against
your thirteen, Drake?" A skeptical look enters his eye. "When three of
ours are Dina, Corwin and Miho and another mounted?"

Obi closes the distance a few more feet. "Several of your men must've
sparred against Lady Corradina, or perhaps even Prince Corwin
himself." He looks over the men and shakes his head. "No Marines or
Rangers, so I'll assume they've only heard rumors of Lady Miho's
prowess. Speaks well of them to stand here with you, knowing the odds
are against them."

The Honor Guard accompanying Drake remains impassive, ready.

He turns back to address Drake directly again. "A hundred sovereigns
says I don't need to lift a hand other than protect those two over
there," he says with a nod toward the two younger men with the swords
on their belts and chain gloves on their off hands. "Should it come to
that. I don't think either of us want that."

"And if you wanted to make more than a show, why aren't you here with
the numbers to win?" Obi mused, this time stepping close enough for
just Drake's hearing. "What's your play, cuz?"

"Dammitt, Obi," Drake looks truly pissed off. He speaks loud enough for
everyone to hear his reply. "Work with me here, will ya? What'd I do, forget
to send you a valentine?"

Obi doesn't respond in kind. His grin seems genuine, if perhaps a bit lopsided.

"I'm here to make an offer," he repeats. "Blood to blood," he includes
everyone in his glance. "This honor guard is for you, Prince Corwin. To
treat you as a rightful Prince of the Realm, and escort you to Amber. Walk
into Rebma and you'll be giving Eric all the evidence he needs to prove
you're making your own power play for the throne. And we all know how that's
going to go. A bl00dy civil war." Drake uses the same phrase as Dina did
earlier even though he couldn't possibly have heard it.

"By all accounts your bravery is legendary, highness. The bold moves are the
ones you make. Go to Amber with us by your side and you make Eric dance to
your tune for a change. He won't be able to move against you without moving
against all of us, and he won't dare do that, because... unless you hadn't
noticed, our parents are the very brothers and sister he can't afford to
alienate, right now. You get to make a public return and mobilize your own
support in Amber right under his nose.

"Walk into Rebma and you might as well hand the crown over to Bleys, right
now."

Dina rolls her eyes at this last. It's Corwin she whispers to again.
"Go parley, but don't agree to anything without your getting yourself
on the pattern here first. If I'm Eric, there's no way I let you on
Amber's pattern. Why would I do that?"

Corwin cocks his head as Dina whispers to him, then looks at her when
she poses the question of Eric's possible rationale. He's not
dismissive of what Dina says, but his expression suggests he has his
own thoughts on the matter.

Obi's been spoken to before on speaking for Corwin when he's around.
No point in angering his Uncle again, but he offers a nod of support,
suggesting that he's ready to help the man.

Miho shifts her stance slightly, making it obvious that it is Corwin
she is with, and Corwin she protects. She glances at him to see both
his reaction, and whether she will need to move with him.

Corwin reaches out to put an arm around Miho's shoulder and draw her
close to him and Dina, in a huddle so that he can whisper to them
both. "You can't play offensive linemen, ladies. This is something
about Amber that's coming back to me strongly. You always talk about
the deal. *Always*. Even if you don't plan on taking it. It's
expected, and it's how you gather intel." He's quiet enough that only
they can hear, but he doesn't hide the fact that he is whispering.

"Isn't that what I just said?" Dina whispers back, and shakes her head
at him, with a smile for Miho. "Though I still say we're ready to
wedge."

A sudden flash of a grin from Miho at that.

After that very brief interlude Corwin straightens up to regard
Drake through the group the separates the two of them. Then he smiles.
With a polite tap on the shoulder to Marie, who almost jumps, Corwin begs
her pardon. Then she and Terry part to either side to let the Prince
walk through the company so that he can talk face to face with
Drake, with Obi there as well.

"I appreciate the gesture," he says to Drake and taking in the men
behind him who have now come to attention. "I really do," and he
sounds sincere.

"Obi has tendered a similar offer, directly from Eric. Come back
home. We have a little detente. We work something out, man to man,
contingent of course on a few minor concessions." Corwin smirks.
"Nothing big I'm sure."

Corwin gestures to Drake. "Doesn't sound like you're bringing the
same deal to the table. Sound similar," he stresses, "but not because of
Eric's generosity, but in spite of it." Corwin smiles again. "I like
that. It has a nice feel to it."

He clears his throat then. "The thing is, son, I'm not overly
concerned with what Eric accuses me of doing. Be that plotting for
the throne, sleeping with his mistress, or just having the audacity to
be alive and well. As for public appearances," he shakes his head.
"what do I owe the world? You were there when they found me."

"But at the risk of sounding ungrateful, Drake is it? The one thing
I don't get, is something Obi touched on but didn't get to the heart
of. We were chased down here by a horde of armed men with swords intent
on capturing us dead or alive. Yet here you are with a very flattering
escort for yours truly."

Corwin rubs his chin before gesturing to his nephew. "Explain that."

Obi doesn't want to look, but he is surprised that the Rangers haven't
arrived, yet. He turns his attention to the Rebman guards, trying to
pick out the rank tattoo of the commander.

Obi doesn't puzzle everything out immediately, but having kept an eye
on the Rebman's for the last few moments, he does spot the Commanding
Officer. A few moments later, he realizes that the Commander is
conferring with a woman in a diaphanous slip of a dress, who a moment
earlier Obi might have taken as just a curious by-stander. Their body
language is that of peers. That is, he doesn't not seem subservient to
her, but she does have his ear as he watches what happens at the Gate.

Obi will realize then, that a few moments prior when she turned and
spoke to another nearby woman, that she was actually sending a runner.

The Commander and the short woman represent two sources of authority
to Obi. One authority he can identify (military or law enforcement),
and one he can not.

Lastly, Obi can guess the intent of the runner. She or him, or both of
them together, have called for someone of greater authority than
either of themselves.

"What?!" Drake looks surprised enough that it just might be
genuine. "You were chased down by..." he shakes his head, then the light of
understanding dawns.

"Oh crap! That conniving, back-stabbing, son-of-a-b1tch!" Drake
exclaims then follows it with a few other colorful metaphors.

"Julian..." Corwin can see that Drake is now comprehending the
total picture and it isn't pretty. Drake sees that just about any chance he
had of stopping them on the stairs and getting the bunch to Amber has just
been lost.

"I thought I had him in my pocket. Guess I was wrong. He was
supposed to give you a break, give you free passage through Arden to here.
Call it a gesture of good faith on my part to help persuade you this really
is an honor escort."

Drake peruses the whole crowd including his cousins. "But that
doesn't change my conviction that you going to Rebma will start a civil
war." He regards Corwin resolutely.

"I'm making a stand. There's been too damn much standing around,
watching and waiting to see which way the dice fall by certain parties. You
can call this foolhardy, or you can call it loyalty to Amber. Whichever way
you look at it, I'm pretty darn sure you can get past me. But don't expect
me to simply stand aside and let you pass."

Drake notices Obi looking at the Rebmans across the other side of
the gate and his expression hardens. He will not be so lightly dismissed as
his cousin seems to think. Dina notices the intensity that she once saw in
Drake has returned. This is a man willing to stand on his convictions, which
makes him dangerous despite the odds so vastly ranged against him. Dina can
tell that he's about to get stubborn, and then of course, whatever happens
next, Corwin is going to have to eventually end up explaining himself to
Caine.

Dina comes up front to stand next to Corwin. She's put her daggers
away. She looks at Drake, and she looks grim. "Drake, listen to me.
This isn't that simple. Prince Corwin going to talk to the Queen of
Rebma does not a civil war make. An armed group allied to Prince Eric
attacking Prince Corwin might. I will swear we are not here to gain
Rebma's allegiance against Amber. Besides, Obi is acting as Eric's
messenger here, so someone has their wires crossed."

Corwin watches her silently, inscrutably, and then looks over at Obi
after she draws the Messenger into the conversation

Dina looks
meaningfully at Obi, and steps back to walk over toward Eduard.

Obi's returned Drake's glare with a good natured smile. "She's got a
point, Drake. If Eric's willing to play this heavy handed, he's not
giving me the ability to negotiate like he offered." The Messenger
shrugs. "I don't claim to be part of some inner circle, but it's not
like he's even tried to contact me offering any such boundries like,
'Keep him out of Rebma,' or the like."

Corwin's brows raise for an instant, not out of surprise, but as if he
has thought of something but chooses not to say it.

"I hate to admit it, but Rebma won't make the difference as to whether
we all end up in a civil war, but if all goes well it might just avoid
it." Obi sounds hopeful.

At last Corwin looks back to Drake. He looks him up and down.

"I understand," he says to his nephew very seriously, and that is all
he says. Then Corwin very carefully reaches across his front with his
right hand to rest it on his sword hilt. Raising his left hand slowly,
palm forward, he calls out (never looking back) to the group behind
him. "Me and Drake are going to settle this Dina," he says calmly.
"You just wait your turn, and get everybody through the Arch."

Drake does likewise. "Sergeant, you and your men defend yourselves,
but no one gets through. No one." The dozen men break their 'at
attention' stance, and reach for their blades and draw them. They
stand their ground however.

The Rebman Commander frowns, and calls his company to attention. The
civilian woman whispers to him urgently, but this time he pays her
less notice.

Corwin and Drake draw their swords simultaneously. Corwin doesn't
wait, but Drake is already striking. If she's watching in that
instant, Dina can tell Corwin has forgotten to compensate for water
resistance- but that doesn't prevent him from parrying Drake neatly.

Back in the crowd, Marie draws her blade resolutely, unbidden by anyone.

The fight is on.

Dina picks up the pace to reach Eduard's side. "He's a d@mn fool,"
she curses. Quietly so the troops can't hear her she says, "Look, if
Corwin wins that fight with Drake, gallop over there, grab him, and
get he and you through that gate. Geb is a well trained beast, he
will do what you tell him too. He *should* jump, and I can't image he
won't kick out if commanded. I'll come back for you, if it goes that
way." She grabs his hand and lays a kiss on it and grins. "In the
mean time, try to look frail, would ya?"

"I thought I already did," Eduard replies with a touch of humor,
leaving her to hold his hand. "But I'll have to hope that he doesn't
strike me before he realizes who I am and what I'm doing."

"They're not going to to attack," he then adds to Dina. "Drake is
making us attack by just not letting us pass. And your father has
either fallen for it" Eduard hesitates, "or it doesn't concern him
either way."

Indeed, no Amber Guardsmen rush towards Dina and Eduard, and they
remain removed a little bit allowing for this quiet exchange.

Obi takes a step back closer to Terry and Graham, his staff
held in a defensive posture. He offers Marie a quick look that
suggests he'll be sore put out if she gets herself hurt.

No Guards approach them either. Terry and Graham are in no danger.
Amber's Own stand their ground, swords drawn, but remaining in a
defensive posture blocking the path through the Arch.

Without a word, Miho draws her sword, but walks very calmly forward

"Shouldn't we be doing what Corwin said?" Terry asks someone, but to
whom it is directed is unclear.

Marie starts to charge, raising her blade defiantly, but comes to as
close to a screeching halt as one can underwater. Not quite wishing to
take her eyes off of the defensive line in front of her, she ventures
a half look backwards- plainly startled and puzzled that she seems to
be in this all alone.

But Miho joins her then, but makes no move to attack. Instead she
stands fast where she is and at a ready position- prepared to join the
fight if anyone interferes with Corwin and Drake. Uncertain of what
the group is doing, Marie remains there with her, but less sure what
the 'rules' are.

Obi calls to the Commander of the Rebman Guard. "Just not your day is
it?" he asks rhetorically. "I know *I'd* hate it if a member of the
Amber Royal Family got skewered on the threshold of the city during my
watch."

The Commander's eyes widen in surprise, and he laughs then but only
briefly. "My apologies that I doubted you," he says to the lady next
to him. His voice carries barely, but his words are obviously not
intended for Obi's benefit.

For her part, the woman stares right at Obi from across the other side
of the Arch, looking a little bemused herself. "That's quite alright
Captain Soybek," she murmurs, and again, this is not said for any
Amberite's benefit and is barely audible.

Meanwhile Drake and Corwin have exchanged a handful of blows, slowly
testing the other. Then Drake feints to the shoulder, but Corwin
catches it and drives his blade down so that they're struggling face
to face.

A tight grin is stretched across Drake's face. "Gosh Unc, no one's
even going to offer to make me a deal. Doesn't anyone like me any
more?"

Corwin laughs roughly even as he's locked in a real struggle. "Not
today kid, maybe next time. 'Sides, I thought you had an aversion to
civil war?"

Drake rocks on the balls of his feet once, and then lightning fast he
jerks his head back and then drives it hard and fast into Corwin's
face. BAM!

Corwin reels back a few steps, blood from his nose mixing in the water
around his head. It's a hideous sight like a surrealists painting.
Snapping his blade back up to an en garde position, Drake smirks,
though his own head must be smarting as well. "I do, so it looks like
I'm going to have to cheat."

Corwin brings his sword up fast as well, and then shakes his head
once, like a dog that has accidentally tried to run through a closed
door. "You're going to pay for that one," he growls.

"Oh crap," Drake says, being one of the only one's who can see the
pissed off look in Corwin's eyes right now.

"Lord Abidemi!," the Rebman woman next to the Captain calls from
across the distance, but this time addressing him directly. "Don't be
afraid," she smiles. "Someone is coming to sort this out," she says
reassuringly, but somehow is not.

Captain Soybek grins at her side.

"And there's only one person who could possibly skewer someone," she
calls out explaining. "And you brought them here."

Dina moves during all this to gather up the guys, and Miho and Marie
too. She lets Obi keep up his talking, in the hope he'll figure something
out.

Drake stares hard at Corwin, who stops in mid-step. Both men are
frozen there for a few seconds, and those of the Amber family can
guess why. There's a battle of wills happening, and knowledge is
passing between them.. but it is not of the body.

Whatever the reason, Corwin wrenches back into motion and advances on
his nephew a few moments later..

"Here's the plan," she explains. "If Corwin wins this fight,
Eduard's gonna try to pull him on the horse and make for the gate. If he loses,
well, he said it would settle it and I'm tempted to let him go talk to
Eric, if Drake can get him past Julian's men. I think, unless we get
attacked, we in a position to surrender. Why not? If we get
attacked, though, let's try to pull a circle manuever to fight toward
the gate. Then, anyone who gets injured can have the center of the
circle. This is tight," she looks at the docs, "this is what
situational awareness is all about."

The EMT's and Marie quietly reply that they understand Dina's plan and
are ready.

Obi tries to puzzle out if he recognizes the woman from one of his
trips here, some junior minister or an aide to someone in the Palace,
but nothing comes to mind. "I beg your pardon, madame, but Captain
Soybeck allowed Amber's Own to take up position within Rebma's borders
well before we had even topped the stair."

Captain Soybek regards Obi impassively. "And that was no miscalculation
Sir."

Corwin falls on Drake with a rain of lightning fast blows, and Drake
is forced to go completely on the defensive, driven back step by step.

Soybek continues as if nothing untoward was happening. "Lord Drake's
been here for better part of a few hours," he calls out over the
ringing of blades. "Waiting for you and your companions I assume. Her
Majesty was made aware at once, and all else has been in accordance to
her wishes." Soybek gestures to company of soldiers with him, and
truthfully, a lack of armed uniformed men and women (as uniforms go
for Rebmans) has not been the reason for them not taking charge of
this situation. The entrance to Rebma has been well protected,

The discourse is interrupted when Corwin gets the opportunity to punch
Drake full in the face, sending him flying back towards the Honor
Guard. Careful not to impale him with their drawn swords, the Guards
catch Drake before he falls and bolster him up so that he doesn't land
flat on his back. Drake massages his jaw, takes on a determined look,
and bounds back into the sword fight with Corwin.

Still no offensive action toward the guards. Whispering back to the
group Obi says, "If Corwin disables Drake, we use him as a hostage for
passage
past the Guards."

Unfortunately for Drake, once he drew blood on Corwin, his uncle
fights with all seriousness. Feints and clever moves are tried, and
while Drake doesn't tire quickly, Corwin is fast and skillful. Within
a minute Drake has a nasty gash alongside one leg that pours blood
into the water. A half a minute later Drake tries a riposte, hoping to
possibly disarm Corwin- a desperation move that goes bad, and ends
with Corwin's sword pressed to Drake's chest just above the heart.
Drake freezes in place.

Simultaneously Eduard has urged Geb into motion towards Corwin, but
pulls the horse off to the side. With an apologetic look to Dina, he
explains, "Too risky. He might kill him unintentionally."

"I know. I trust your judgement," she says, and then grins with some
relief that Corwin didn't lose.

"I believe the fight is over," Corwin says.

"I believe you're correct," answers Drake with a completely straight
face.

Corwin keeps a half an eye on Drake but ventures a look over at Obi.
Perhaps having overheard the Messenger's idea, or maybe having the
same idea and thinking Obi might be the best to help execute such an
arrangement. "I'd consider terms for your parole," he says back to
Drake.

Drake considers it for a moment. "Safe passage for my men. Not to
Rebma's gaols, but up the Stairs." His eyes look over Corwin's
shoulder at his uncle's companions. "All the way up the Stairs."

"I can't make any promises about Arden, but up the Stairs I can give
you," Corwin agrees.

With a turn of his wrist, Drake reverses his hold on his sword hilt
and offers it to Corwin who accepts it. Corwin lowers his weapon a
little, and directs Drake to walk towards Dina, Obi, Miho, and the
others, with his sword lowered but still at his nephew's back. "You
can give your men their orders over there," he says, releasing Drake
to Obi. Corwin takes the next moment to check that his nose isn't
broken.

On arriving back with the others, Drake orders his men to stand down, then
leave the field. The captain salutes Drake and barks out his own command. As
one, the soldiers re-sheath their swords, turn smartly, and file up the
stairs and out of sight - provided no-one interferes.

Obi offers the men a nod of respect and once they've gone, adds a
small shake of his head.

Dina motions Eduard back over. To the group in general she says, "I
think the two injured parties should get the horse. I don't like the
way that leg looks. Corwin can drive."

"Neither do I," Drake adds, looking at the blood still flowing into the
water. "That's the trouble with Rebma. Ya never can feel it drawing blood
until it's too late. Thanks for the offer of the ride," he adds to Dina,
knowing full well it wasn't an offer at all, "I'll walk. But I'd really like
to stop bleeding anytime now..."

Obi steps up to Geb and draws a woman's scarf from the saddlebags. He
kneels at Drake's side and begins to bind the wound if he's allowed.
It's nothing pretty, the bandaging at least, being at odds with the
brightly colored scarf, but it should staunch the loss of blood.

The Messenger apologizes to Marie as he stands. "It was supposed to be
a present I picked up along the way, but I'll buy you something to
replace it, I promise."

"It seems we'll have to go shopping for new outfits presently," he
says with a nod toward the underwater city before them and the obvious
differences in fashion as evidenced by the Rebman guard and the lady
at their side.

"Captain, Lady?" he greets them again. "What were the Crowns wishes
once the issues here were resolved?"

Miho stands by Corwin, watching as he checks his nose. She cocks her
head, as if seeking instructions, then nods with a small smile.

She makes her way to where Obi has created the tourinquet from the
scarf, and places one hand on Drake's arm. Her touch is light, but
firm, and could easily become a grip should it be needed. "That looks
as if it might be difficult. Perhaps you would prefer a step up onto
the mount, and I will ride with you."