| Scene 1 | |
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Jessica tours Castle Amber adjusting security measures for the arrival of the delegation from Begma. She receives a report that it is Eric's body which was missing from the royal crypt. After finishing her security sweep she goes to the library and researches recent Amber-Chaos relations. The accounts of this are brief. She takes a book on Logrus up to her room. |
| Scene 2 | |
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Quinn and Gerard examine the room where Merlin's body was. Quinn
casts a spell which gives her a picture of what occurred. She sees
someone in guard clothing sling Merlin over their shoulder and walk
out of the room. She gets a vague description of the perpetrator, who
appears to be a woman. Gerard calls guards and notifies them to be on
the look-out for this person. Jessica is woken by guards. They inform her about the disappearance of Merlin's body. She finds Milton, who informs her that a guard by the name of Julianna is missing. Jessica has the guards set up a one mile security perimeter. She goes to the scene of the crime where she meets up with Quinn and Gerard. Jessica Trumps Simon and pulls him through to help track down the body snatcher. Gerard notifies the group that Merlin has about an our without life support. Simon decides to try to follow Merlin's body through shadow while Quinn and Jessica search within Amber. Simon goes to the stables and finds the stable keeper knocked out. He treats the young man 's injury and learns that the culprit stole a black horse. Simon mounts up and begins the chase. Jessica and Quinn discover a few drops of blood. Jessica uses detective theories to determine the body snatcher's approximate height, weight, and speed of travel. Following a combination of subtle physical evidence and magical cues Quinn and Jessica trace the trail out of the castle and into the city where they are met by Bradley. Bradley informs them of a break in at the stables and equips them with horses. They ride full tilt and catch up to Simon. Simon leads a hellride which takes them through Arden and back. Simon trumps Julian to appraise him of the situation I learns that Julian turned the suspect back towards Amber. Soon afterwards Locke Trumps Simon and asks for flowers to get him out of a trap. Simon gathers the flowers, gives them to Locke, who later joins the group. Bradley Trumps Jessica to tell her that the suspect is fleeing in her direction. Jessica, Quinn, and Locke concoct a plan to capture the rider. Quinn borrows Locke crossbow and scales a tree. Simon rides out into the fields at the edge of Arden. Jessica and Locke take up strategic points just inside Arden. As the rider appears on the horizon Simon casts a spell to hide himself fully. The rider speeds by and Simon follows unnoticed. Locke throws knives at the horse's hindquarters, which spooks, but does not cripple the horse. The rider ditches Merlin's body. Quinn shoots the rider in the shoulder. Jessica springs from her location and dismounts the rider with one swift blow which also knocks the rider out. Simon applies first aid and magic to revive the rider. He taps into her mind and discovers that she is Julia Barnes from shadow Earth, that she was working for someone, and that she was motivated by her feelings for Merlin. Locke Trumps Gerard who returns to Amber with Merlin's body. When Julia realizes that Someone is probing her mind she bites a poison capsule, but Simon, Quinn, and Locke notice this and act quickly. Simon sucks the poison from Julia's mouth as Quinn casts a cleansing spell to handle any poison which made it into her system. Locke, Jessica, and Quinn Trump back to Castle Amber and take Julia, unconscious, to the infirmary. Simon treats the injured horse's wounds and returns all the horses to the stables before returning to Castle Amber.
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