To Westchester

And don't Spare the Horses

The morning after Corwin's rescue, in WestChester on ShadowEarth

LadyMiho
LordDiomedes
LordObi
PrincessFlorimel
PrinceEric

---

Obi will make his way out the passenger side rear door and use their current vehicle to shield himself from view before waving Dina around with Corwin. Once his uncle is loaded safely, he'll hand the folder to Miho. "I'm going to look into what Evelyn knows and see if she's family or Shadow."

He nods to Dina, "You have my word, Dina. I answer to no masters and will not speak of this to anyone that isn't present here. But I expect the same promise of you."

Miho looks up at Obi. "You did not think we should travel alone. I will acompany you, if that works for both of you." She looks to Dina as well as Obi for the response.

"I don't have any objection to that, so long as you're going to give me your word verbally," Dina says.

"I will not speak of this to those outside of who is here," Miho says. "I would ask that you keep in touch and let us know how he does. I would have him well for you, Dina."

Obi nods acceptance.

Obi heads back to the car and climbs into the drivers seat, adjusting it from it's last setting for Random's form. He's sure that once he gets a few miles down the road he'll find a New York map in the glove box and be able to find Westchester easily enough.

Miho gathers weaponry - the small pistol that she can palm, and two larger - and joins Obi in the car.

He finds a map in the glove compartment and the drive is easy, especially with Miho's help because she can navigate. It's a pretty decent drive to get there through the autumn colored, bright and cold landscape.

As he drives, Miho asks if she can look at the folder. If he agrees, she will take it and read when she is not needed for navigation (that lovely long strip down the thruway sounds like a good time for it).

Obi cruises the car up to the grand old place at Westchester. They can tell it has a big long gravel driveway lined with dark old oaks and bright maples. At the far end of the drive, they catch sight of the mansion house and gardens that are beautifully landscaped and immaculately kept as...only Flora can. This is it, alright.

What do Obi and Miho propose next?

"Your guess may be correct," Miho says. "And if it is her, what excuse do we present that still leaves our word to Dina covered?"

"The truth of course," Obi answers as he stows the folder under the driver's seat. "We're questing for Prince Corwin as our elders asked and your father's dossier led us to this Shadow. You can just feel that this location was more REAL, so we've decided to investigate."

Miho nods, accepting the answer. She tucks the tiny pistol into a pocket, and the regular one goes at the small of her back, tucked into her waistband, covered by her denim jacket.

Obi gets out of the car and unconsciously straightens his collar. He's left the white coat folded on the floor in the backseat. "Shall we?" he asks as he begins toward the door.

"Let's go." Miho lets him lead, and it is obvious she will let him lead the way in the talking as well. Nothing untoward happens when they climb out of the car, the only thing that disturbs this peaceful place is the muted slams of the car doors.

Assuming they make it as far as the door, he rings and waits with a smile. When the door is answered he asks, "Is the lady of the house home?"

There is absolutely nothing that would deter them from making it to the door, unless they would be halted by a cold autumn wind and the occasional oak and maple leaves that dance across their paths. Out of the corner of his eye, Obi spies a moment's glimmer of shadow in the wrong place, like before, and like before, as soon he spots it from out the corner of his eye, it's gone.

Obi is however stymied by the lack of an actual doorbell. Assuming that he or Miho step forward and actually knock, they'll faintly hear an echo. The air is heavily scented by the heavy odor from the ropes of ivy that crowd all over the walls of this old, brick place.

After a few moments the door opens. A mole-flecked maid with a swarthy complexion, and an accent that does not sound local, answers.

"Yes?" she says.

"Yes, is Ms. Flaumel available?" Obi prompts.

"Who shall I say is calling?" she asks.

"Mr. Abidemi of the Amber Messenger Service," he answers, producing a card from his pocket. His demeanor seems to suggest that intorducing his young associate isn't necessary.

And Miho simply stands quietly, just to his left and behind him.

"Oh come in, please," she tells the both of them.

They enter in a hallway, the floor is a mosaic of tiny salmon and turquoise tiles, the walls mahogany, with a trough of big-leafed green plants occupying a room divider just to the left. From overhead, a cube of glass and enamel throws down yellow light.

After a moment the maid returns, smiles and nods. "Please follow me. She will see you in the library."

The two of them follow up three stairs and down a corridor past two closed doors. The third one to the left is open, and the maid indicates that they should enter.

As Obi and Miho cross the threshold they will notice that it is full of books, like all libraries. It also holds three paintings, two indicating quiet landscapes and one a peaceful seascape. The floor is heavily carpeted in green. There is a big globe beside the big desk with a major continent facing them and a wall-to-wall window behind it, eight step ladders of glass.

The both of them pause.

Florimel stands behind the desk wearing a wide-collared, V-necked dress of blue-green. She is wearing her hair long with low bangs, all of a cross between sunset clouds and the outer edge of a candle flame in an otherwise dark room. She wears glasses, but they can't hide those eyes that are as blue as Lake Erie at three o'clock on a cloudless summer afternoon; and the color of her compressed smile matches her hair.

But none of these were the reasons for why they pause...

"I'm probably not what you expected," says Eric from over by the sideboard. "Miho," he says to her specifically, "always a delight to see you." He gestures nonchalantly to the both of them. "Don't hover in the doorway, come in." His bright blue eyes study them thoughtfully. He is as handsome as ever, in a dark tailored jacket over a red shirt. His perfectly neat and trimmed beard glistening as if it was wet.

"No, but it does explain why this place seems so real," Obi admits. He sighs and shakes his head as he crosses the room and slouches into a chair. "But it doesn't lead me any closer than I've been to completing the task you set before us a few days ago."

Flora moves around from behind the desk. "You look tired Obi. Sit," says she, indicating a high-backed, big-armed chair that bulges, of the kind that tilts at an angle that is well suited to loafing.

He sighs and shakes his head as he crosses the room and slouches into the chair. "But it doesn't lead me any closer than I've been to completing the task you set before us a few days ago."

"Not I," Eric reminds him lightly and with a smile.

Obi offers his uncle the sort of nod that used to acknowledge a point scored when they once sparred.

"Forgive me, Aunt Flora. It's just been a frustrating few days," he offers. "It's been too long. Shadow seems to agree with you."

This earns Obi a pleased look from Flora. "Thank you."

Obi returns it in kind, always happy to see family and beautiful women, even if the combination of the two in one person makes for less than optimum circumstances.

Miho is most certainly startled to see both of them there. She nods to Eric's greeting, then sighs at Obi's words. She follows Obi, standing just behind his chair, both hands resting upon the back of it.

Flora studies Miho, while Eric has turned to the sideboard to start pouring another drink "Our brother's daughter has bloomed in my absence," she remarks to Eric. She smiles at Miho, not unkindly. Eric nods absently.

Miho smiles and murmurs, "Thank you."

"If this Shadow Earth has acquired any special reality, it must be from the presence of Flora," Eric murmurs. "I only just arrived a little before you." He crosses the room a few steps to hand Obi whatever is his favorite drink. "Miho," he asks, "can I get you anything?"

Obi accepts the glass and raises it in thanks.

Miho looks at Eric from her place by Obi. "No, thank you." A slight smile. "I am fine."

"At the risk of drawing an odd look," Eric continues. "Obi- my former squire, I'm sorry you didn't find Corwin. Alive and well, and enjoying a long life without me in it." He looks to Miho. "I don't know if your cousin has ever mentioned, but he and I used to close until your other uncle vanished."

"I know," she says. Her hands slide forward, tips of her fingers touching Obi's shoulders. "He has told me stories of his youth." She smiles. "Some of those stories included you."

"That's a long time ago, Your Highness," Obi added.

Eric gets that 'put upon' expression that suggests that he's aware that his nephew addressing him as 'His Highness' is deliberate, but smooths it out immediately. "And so it would be a comfort to put your doubts of me to rest," he replies. The line lacks the sting that he could add to the delivery if he wished, leaving it to sound like an objective observation. "I have no doubts," Obi answers with a nod of apology, "Uncle." The last is offered warmly in acceptance of the unspoken detente.

Miho cocks her head in a faint nod.

"Have you heard from any of our cousins?" he asked. "We split up early in the quest and I haven't heard from well... the redheads in a day at least."

"No," Eric shakes his head, "I haven't heard from any of them."

"And my own search for Father has been unproductive," he admits. He registers no reaction whatsoever to Obi's remark concerning the Reds. For that matter, neither does Flora, who perches herself on the edge of a nearby sofa- setting her unnecessary eye glasses aside. Eric's demeanor is relaxed, and conversational, as if this was just a chance meeting in some study in Amber- and they are sharing the events of their respective days.

"I plan on contacting Dina shortly though," Eric says. "When was the last time you saw her?" He raises his eyes to take both them into account with this question.

As Eric pauses, Obi gets an incoming trump call. What does he do with it? Obi realizes he's got to act fast with Eric watching him so closely.

"I am uncertain of the timing," Miho says. "Dina and I argued early when I wished to continue straight through. That is how I work. I suspect she is angry with me yet." Her slight smile indicates that she realizes how like her father she is straightforward to a fault. "I have slept at least once since then, but shadow plays with time."

Obi raises a hand to forestall further questioning as his eyes get that far away look. "Yes? Who calls." He shifts in the chair so that Flora's library is arranged behind him, but that none of his family is visible.

Eric's brows rise in polite but undisguised curiousity when Obi announces that he has a call coming in. He's not too eager however, and observes the basic courtesy of not crowding too closely.

"I won't ask about B, C and D for the moment," Obi replies. "Who else have you tried?"

Eric turns his attention to Miho and Florimel now, though Obi would know that could only be for show.. and that Eric would hardly be remarkable for keeping an ear open in this family.

Flora however, gives Miho a warm smile. She pats the sofa seat next to her, and beckons Miho to come over, where she'll be out of range of Obi's call. "Join me and we'll leave these two to their sparring. I've never had the pleasure of having you as a visitor before. What brought about this unexpected surprise?"

Miho makes her way to where Flora sits, her movement an economy of grace. She smooths her jeans as if they were a skirt as she takes a seat, then looks to Flora. "We sought one uncle and found an aunt instead," she smiles. "I would say what in shadow drew us here, but Obi has driven and I was only passenger on this trip. This place is beautiful; perhaps I should have visited you long since. Are you near the water?"

"Not here," she replies a little wistfully. "I have in times past, and may yet again. I never enjoyed the high seas like my brothers, but I used to enjoy sail racing. I've a mind to get back into yachting, but this really isn't the area for it."

Florimel wrinkles her nose. "I'm surprised you could tolerate to be a passive passenger Miho," she observes. "Every time I take to the Roads, I always have to step around something peculiar and unpleasant." She glances at Eric, who shrugs slightly. Flora frowns to herself, and Miho can tell that she finds something about her experiences disconcerting rather than merely disagreeable. Miho doesn't say a word, but dark eyes might show some light at Flora's words.

"Things have been disjointed since we lacked a King," Eric opines.

Just then the maid slips into the room and approaches Flora. She leans towards her mistress, but Miho can hear her plainly. Her aunt has a telephone call. "I better take this," Flora sighs. "Eric, will you play host for a few moments please?"

"Certainly," he replies, emptying his glass.

"Its been ringing all morning," Flora drops casually as she sashays out of the room with her maid following in her wake.

Eric cocks his head and regards Miho thoughtfully. Obi listens intently for a moment and answers, "I'm at Aunt Flora's residence in Shadow. Apparently looking for family in Shadow, while it works, isn't a precise science." He offers the family on the other side a smile. "Uncle Eric is here as well, as is Miho, who's been traveling with me recently."

Miho glances to Obi, then back to Eric. "Are you recently arrived to visit Aunt Flora? It sounds as if she has had a busy morning. I am sorry that we interrupted on so busy a day. I hope, at least, that her interruptions have been pleasant news. Perhaps it would be best if we let our own interruption be small, and be on our quest again."

"She only trumped me a short while ago," Eric answers, setting down his glass. "You're not interrupting at all, I assure you."

She stands and makes her way back to Obi's side, settling light fingers on his shoulder.

Eric's body language shifts slightly to an alert stance, but Miho's training and instincts will tell her that its not necessarily an aggressive move.

"You play the game well, Miho," Eric compliments her, but those blue eyes, deep and powerful, are locked on her every move. "No shame in that, but if you're thinking about leaving then let us set the game aside. If I had a hand in half of what you think might be going on, things would be entirely different. You were just saying that some particular family members have been unaccounted for since you left..."

"Let me ask, cousin," Obi answers. Obviously projecting for other than the Trump, the messenger asks, "Aunt Flora? Diomedes offers news. Might he join us?" He doesn't seem to exclude the others, but hospitality suggests he ask his hostess.

Miho's fingers tighten on Obi's shoulders. "It seems Dio is no longer unheard from," she says quietly to Eric. She looks down then, her thumbs pressing lightly into Obi's shoulders with a constant pressure. "Aunt Florimel has gone to take a phone call. She has had a busy day, it seems, with several phone calls before she brought Uncle Eric to visit, and then our arrival." Her thumbs press harder as she speaks of the phone calls.

After Eric accepts on Flora's behalf...

Obi smiles reassuingly at Miho, a smile of confidence that he offered her when she first met Osebo and learned the ways of the jaguar.

He stands, providing room of his cousin's entry and offers a hand. "Aunt Flora is unavailable, but Uncle Eric offers hospitality in her stead."

Obi draws his cousin through to the comfortable library in Flora's Shadow home.

Diomedes steps through the contact and into the room, stepping free, and letting go of Obi's hand before turning to see the other occupants of the room.

"Uncle Eric." Diomedes begins with nod, but it is his cousin Miho that he saves his smile for when he turns in her direction.

"Dio," Miho says quietly, and nods.

---

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