Is There Anything I Should Know?

Featuring LadyMiho and PrinceGerard

aboard the WidowsWave

Miho finishes storing the last of the food she had brought down from the kitchens in the small cabin of her boat, then returns above to sit on top of the cabin, waiting for her father to arrive. When he does, she greets him with a fond hug.

He slips his arms around her easily, pulling her close for a moment before setting her free.

"Would you prefer to sail, if we remain close to harbor, or would you remain at dock?" she asks. "I still miss the motion of the waves, even after these years off ship."

"Oh.." her father muses, "Take her out Miho," he suggests. "Seems we never have time any more, and I could stand a bit of relaxation." He'll offer to help her, but if she'd rather do it herself he'll be a grateful passenger. It's a sign of trust in her abilities.

She asks him to untie the craft, but is so used to handling Widow's Wave on her own that she does it all on instinct, without asking for anything else, save a call to duck when the sail swings around so she can catch the wind.

Miho is finally settled back on the low bench, leaning back and looking over at her father. "Do you truly believe that we can find Corwin, where you have failed, Father? Or is there reason you believe Shadow will be safer than Amber has become?" She looks down for a moment, then back. "I will do as is asked, of course. I only wish to know if there is warning to impart before we leave, and ought you think we should watch for on our travels, other than our missing Uncle."

He considers her questions for a moment before answering and then finally stirs. "Yes, I believe that if he's alive, it's possible to locate him. I don't have a really good way to describe this conviction but.. ..the Pattern can be like a.." he struggles for the right words "..search engine of your desire- if you've been out 'there'," he gestures away from Amber, "enough to understand that reference. With only one variable, the odds are finding what you want on infinite waters is pretty damn slim. Yet, if you start adding other variables and cross-referencing, and then building on what you do find to further refine your search.."

Miho listens intently, a faint frown marring her forehead as she tries to absorb his description.

Gerard frowns at his own explanation and shakes his head. "Oh! That's a crap way of trying to get across a concept, but the long and the short of it is I do think it's possible."

She is nodding even as he speaks. "I believe I see the sense in what you say. The more of Corwin we add as we walk, and subtract that which is not Corwin, the more likely it is that we shall find your brother and my uncle. Perhaps by taking something which is a part of Corwin himself in Dina, we may yet have more success than you simply by blood calling to blood," she muses. "I see."

"Precisely," he affirms, "you have the right of it. "

That frown gives way to an affectionate smile then. "But to answer the other part of your question, no, other than to be careful and not to listen to any cousins ruminations on what they think is and is not possible, I wouldn't send you into Shadow if I didn't think you were ready. There have been strange things in Shadow lately, but they're drawn specifically to Amber. It's always been the case, Shadow bein' drawn to the True World."

"Miho, are you worried about leaving home?"

She shakes her head, smiling suddenly. "I have never been afraid of Shadow, although Amber has drawn me back often since taking the Pattern. I have been out on my own several times, and once a shallow trip with Dio, sailing, and a long trip with Obi just recently. I would be happier if we were to travel on water. The land is too still for my taste. But I grew up at your feet, seeing the worlds change around me. It seems strange to stay in one place. I simply wondered at the sending of us, and all together, now."

Gerard smiles at her and yet there is a quality of sadness about it. He reaches forward and brushes a bit of stray hair from her face. "Your Uncle Caine and I discussed this at great length."

He leans back in his seat and sighs. "It was long before you were born when your grandfather appeared to just give up and let Corwin be presumed dead. Prior to that, myself, and Brand had a good go at trying to locate him. After Dad let the cenotaph be erected, then Random, and your Uncle's Julian and Caine had another search in earnest." Miho's father studies her to see if she understands.

Miho only frowns, not quite understanding until he clarifies.

"That is, if Corwin was dead, then they wanted to be able to blackmail someone," he adds dryly. He makes a dismissive gesture to indicate that is in the past and he doesn't wish to belabor it.

Miho nods, as it makes more sense now.

"I'm aware that your Uncle Caine has a somewhat different opinion on the odds of our brother actually being alive than I do. However, he came up with an excellent point. If we send all of you kids, then if you do find Corwin, or even find a significant clue, then it's more likely that the information is going to get back to all of us."

"It pains me to say this to you Miho, but we want to make sure that no one gets to play Corwin as their private ace-in-the-hole... or worse.. make sure he really never does come back."

Miho is quiet for a long moment, looking out over the water as the wind blows fine strands of hair in her face. "Father, you know I would do anything you wish. Any other parent could ask of their child, if trusted, to carry out their own wishes. In truth, while being ourselves, we are only mirrors of all of you, sent to do the same thing. I will do my best to find my uncle, and to ensure that that information is returned to you. But I hate to think that one of my cousins might yet work against that goal, in the name of someone who might not wish him found."

Again, she looks out over the water. "Who liked him least, Father, and who likes him best yet."

Gerard is silent for a moment, his own gaze falling on the waves as well. "I hate that it's come to this," he grumbles. "Before we dredge all this up Miho, I want to say something to you. This is not how a normal family behaves. This is not the sort of life I wanted for my daughter." Miho can sense her father's pain and frustration.

"I know," she says quietly.

"We should be looking for him because he's our brother. Because we're a family. Our first reaction should not be 'why?' Or, 'what will we get out of this?' and 'What will the others think of it?'"

He sighs heavily. "This is what I would have you do." Her father turns and looks her in the eyes, and softens once their gaze meets. "Can't call you 'my little monkey' any more. You went and became a woman." He clears his throat. "If you find him, tell him that Dad is gone and we may need to name a Regent soon. If he says he doesn't care and he doesn't want to come back, then leave him be. If your cousins press some other agenda, as long as he gets that message I'll be satisfied."

Miho nods. "I will ensure that the message is delivered."

"If he's alive," he finally admits to Miho, here alone and in private. "He's not answered a trump since he vanished. That much willpower to avoid gossip is.. not a good sign."

"To answer your question, I'm going to limit it to those who are part of this search. Without a doubt, Eric loved his own brother least of anyone. While I never considered his concern for Dina anything other than.. what I would hope from our family; I have to admit that I was taken aback by her reaction. Not her anger at me, but something else."

"As for who liked him best? His own sister loved him, that I know. She's too canny to get caught up taking sides between him and Eric, but that doesn't mean that she didn't love him true. After that, well, he and Bleys always got on quite well."

Miho nods, taking that in. "Has Dina ever known him?" she asks. "You were a part of my life, even before you took me to your ship. I knew you, and I knew you loved me. Yet he walked away." She cocks her head and looks at him. "Family is important. Had you walked away, I am not certain I would have felt the need to find you. She must be angry. And she is passionate." She smiles slightly at what she considers an understatement.

"We will find him, Father," she says. "Is there aught else you would wish to say, before I depart?"