Lenore

After returning home from Sawallways, I decided to contact Sarah. Shaenan had said she was pursuing the Magic Circle matter, after all, and besides, I should formally let her know of my return...although I was certain she knew of it already. Since she was not in residence in Skeltland, I Trumped her. She came into focus relatively quickly, looking quite vibrant and alive.

"Do you have a moment to talk?" I asked, not wanting to interrupt her if she was busy.

"Of course," she replied.

She secured a familiar-looking chain to a bedpost, then held out her hand for me. As I grasped it and pulled her through, I recalled why the chain seemed so familiar. It looked very much like the chain Cerridwen had placed on Meridian, back when she had...subdued him. So, it seemed that Cerridwen had proved cooperative with Shaenan, after all.

I waited for Sarah to be seated before seating myself and observing, "I see that being engaged agrees with you."

She smiled mischievously. "I found some very fun things in Arcana."

"Arcana?" I had never heard of such a place.

"Oh, the realms of magic."

I hated to admit to my ignorance of a subject, but I saw no way to avoid it in this case. "I did not know there were any realms of magic."

"Did you not hear what happened to the Magic Circle?"

"No, our Emperor simply told me that it was missing, and he wished to find it." Although I was beginning to suspect that I was not the only one who had been withholding information in that meeting.

"I see that Shaenan is being coy. Gawain absconded with the Magic Circle and set up a third pole of reality, which he calls Arcana, the Realms of Magic."

"Did he now?" I felt my eyes narrow in irritation. Bad enough that Gawain had stolen the Circle from us, but this? A third pole of reality? It was unacceptable!

Sarah anticipated my next question. "It is as the Courts or Amber. And I am in the process of, um...recovering it."

I expected no less. Still, I wished there was something I could do. "Do you need any assistance?"

"Oh, I think I'm doing pretty well, so far."

"Yes, I would say you are. You seem quite pleased." Incredibly so, given that she could hardly be less irritated by this turn of events than I.

"I nearly blew him up last week. That was quite fun, and all the distraction I needed to get in and assay the Circle myself."

Ah, that would explain her good mood. I had heard rumors that the new Logrus had some Pattern in it, due to Shaenan's involvement in its creation, and there had been speculation as to whether taking the Logrus would imbue the assayer with any of it. Apparently it had, at least enough to allow Sarah to survive walking the Circle. "I had wondered if you had an opportunity to take advantage of that."

"The Logrus enabled me to go through it."

"How wonderful." Hmm, if it enabled her to survive taking the Circle, did that mean...?

Again, Sarah anticipated the direction my thoughts were heading. "I suppose someday, if I choose to, I could probably assay the Pattern as well, but I'm going to wait until someone else tries that first."

"That would be wise. I have found it is always best to let someone else take care of such things." Like that Chanicut Lord, for example.

"Things are going quite well," Sarah noted, switching her focus to internal affairs. "Within a few days, the House will be meeting to elect who is going to be the next Duchess after me. They will probably decide upon Nessarose."

"That was my thinking, yes." She had been close to Sarah, after all. As had I, but I had returned to the Courts only recently. Nor did I want the job, truth be told. It was power, yes, but too visibly so, and I was not well enough re-established in the Courts to safely take such a position...yet.

"I would like you to be her advisor."

I smiled genuinely at that, for that was the position I had wanted all along. "But of course."

"Nessarose will give in to me on this one, regardless of who she had in mind, and I think she will recognize that you are the most...eligible person to advise her in taking care of the House. I don't know that the girl really has an understanding of caution yet, and I think someone needs to impress that upon her."

I nodded. "Who does she have in mind?" I would need to deal with that matter quickly, lest it become a bigger problem later on.

"I don't actually know." I quirked an eyebrow as Sarah paused, not believing that for a minute. "She will do as I say," Sarah continued firmly.

"I am more concerned about what the other one will do." I would tolerate no rival for my authority. Sarah, of all people, should understand that.

"The women of Chanicut...do not oppose one another, no?"

Which was Sarah's way of telling me that neither I nor Nessarose's choice would be allowed to engage in any infighting. Nor would Nessarose's choice be allowed to oppose me. I acquiesced with another nod. "True. At least that much has not changed while I was gone."

"No. Some things remain constant. Chanicut being the primary."

"Quite. I shall do everything I can to ensure that it continues to be that way."

Sarah seemed satisfied by this and got to her feet. "I must return now, things are a little tentative in Arcana. I'm just about to let loose something quite fun."

I rose as well. "Ah, I wish I could watch." Especially if it involved punishing Gawain in some way.

"You'll find out, in time, don't worry."

I nodded. "Well, enjoy yourself."

"I will."

"And enjoy your lovely...present," I smiled, alluding to Meridian. I well recalled her desire to punish him for his part in creating the Circle.

To my surprise, she responded, "Actually, I do have a small favor to ask of you."

"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow. If Sarah felt the need to ask, whatever it was, it was not small.

"I have something I need taken care of. There's someone I picked up along the way that I want to be watched over."

"Really?"

"Mm-hmm. A hostage, you could say. You may want to find a nanny for her, I just want to ensure that she is kept out of the way. I don't know that raising a child is exactly what you want to do right now, but at least until she reaches...a marriageable age."

I forced smile to my face, but inside I was horrified. A child? She wanted me to take care of a child for her? Was there no one else she could saddle with this task? She knew how little I cared for children.

I am sure Sarah noticed my lack of enthusiasm, but naturally, she did not comment. "Let me just go back through the Trump, and I'll pass her through."

"Thank you," I responded, unable to keep a touch of sarcasm from my voice.

Sarah drew a Trump and vanished, then rejoined me a few minutes later. To my horror, she passed me what appeared to be a six-month-old girl, with dark hair and blue eyes. I held her at arm's length, not quite sure what to do with her. This was even worse than I had suspected. The child was no more than an infant! "It would be my pleasure to watch over her for you," I stated rather woodenly.

"Her name is Lenore," Sarah informed me. As if I cared.

"Lenore. Very well."

"And this is not to be spoken of outside the House," Sarah instructed.

"Of course not."

"If anyone asks, I would prefer you claim she to be your daughter."

I could not prevent an expression of distaste from crossing my face at that suggestion. My daughter? Did she honestly expect me to publicly claim that I had borne a child out of wedlock? A small favor, indeed!

Sarah obviously realized how much this idea distressed me, for she added, "Or, perhaps, a daughter of a friend, make up a suitable lie."

"I am sure I can come up with something." I was not sure what, just yet, but I was confident that would change soon. Lenore squirmed a bit in my hands at this point and made a mewling noise. I reluctantly held her closer, trying to imitate the way that Sarah had been holding her. This seemed to satisfy her, for she closed her eyes and was thankfully silent again.

"Kill someone if you need," Sarah continued. "Just make sure that there's an excuse for why she's in your protection."

I reluctantly admitted, "I have spent enough time in Shadow, she could be the child of a marriage no one knew about."

Sarah considered that briefly, then rejected it. "No, keep your pure image, it will help you later."

I did not bother to hide my relief. "Hmm, I am sure I can come up with some excuse."

"A sister's child is good."

"That is true." Or a mother's child... "Well, have your fun, enjoy yourself," I bid her, anxious to have her on her way before she asked any additional "small" favors of me. Sarah was the only person in existence who could have asked this much of me, but even I had my limits.

Sarah nodded and Trumped out, leaving me with the sleeping infant in my arms.

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Last modified on November 27, 1999 by Kris Fazzari.