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Among the things that the local Serpent tells the foreign one is that Cataan was deliberately designed to catch him. The foreign Serpent determines that he should go look and leaves. The Serpent tells Ilk to start preparing an eulogy for his brother, as he does not believe that his brother will survive.
Osric goes to Darkover to talk to Darkstar about trumps. Dworkin volunteers, acquires a trump of Dara from Darkstar, and trumps her with Jean in the contact. He tells Osric to look for the person who just fell over.
Nobody in the Old Lord meeting just fell over.
Julian is brought up, and is determined to be behind a thoroughly [?]
Dworkin is told that Benedict thought that he killed Julian. Dworkin is pissed - his descendants aren't supposed to kill each other. Benedict is summoned to Dworkin's presence. Benedict sighs, gives Marial a "We who are about to die..." bow, and walks slowly off.
An Ilk is sent off to keep an eye on Benedict and try to keep him alive.
Dworkin asks for a list of his dead descendants.
Jean tells Dworkin that Osric and Finndo are dead, probably due to Oberon. Dworkin starts ranting at Jean, about how "his friend Finndo" is dead. Dworkin decides that he is going to erase the Pattern on Wednesday. Jean mentions that they brought Finndo back, kinda. Hamster Finndo is brought to Dworkin. Dworkin shifts into a giant hamster. Hamster Finndo makes a note to bring Dworkin tea and cakes. The whole hamster thing confuses Dworkin, so Jean tries to explain.
Various other Amberites are mentioned, along with Neville's claim to the crown. Dworkin approves of Neville, stating that he seems to be very well turned out. When his unconsciousness is mentioned, Dworkin says that it just won't do. Darkstar cuts his own deck and pulls out a trump of Neville. Dworkin takes it, says, "Hey - that's one of mine!", and trumps Neville.
Neville feels Dworkin in his mind, saying, "wakey, wakey!" They chat. Dworkin tells Neville to take good care of his kingdom, and asks for his Jewel of Judgment back. Neville tells Dworkin that Hamster Dworkin has his Jewel. Dworkin asks Jean for a Jewel. Jean hands his Jewel through the contact to Neville. For just a moment, Neville feels like cardboard.
Neville asks for instructions on using the Jewel, and is told to ask again later.
Dworkin asks after the frog in his safe, and is told that Boba Frog is exploring reality and having a good time.
The speed-bump on the Pattern in Amber is mentioned. Dworkin questions it, and reiterates that he is going to un-draw his Pattern on Wednesday.
Neville is advised to tell troublemakers who are family to knock it off, because it is bad for the family, and tell them while wearing the crown, carrying the sword, and wearing the Jewel. If they don't listen, then they're obviously not family.
Benedict pulls Jean aside. "I thought you said that he was sane." It is determined that it was a bad idea for Dworkin to be playing with Pattern-trumps.
Osric checks with Darkstar, and is told that if Dworkin couldn't get through Julian's trump block, he won't be able to -- Dworkin has a lot more raw power at his disposal.
The destroyed Chaos is brought up, and the probability of that Suhuy having been killed. Dworkin is not pleased at Caine having killed his brother. Dworkin reaches over, pulls a glass out of nowhere, spits in it, hands it to Jean, and asks Jean to dump it on Caine's corpse. The drop goes right through Osric's shields and starts sizzling.
Osric asks Ilk to look for Dara. He looks carefully, and finds her quickly. Dara is in a glass case at the top of one of the towers in the cat shadow. It's ordinary glass, and the caulk is still fresh. She's naked, and slightly wet. There are signs of an anti-Logrus amulet in her dresser -- she apparently wasn't wearing it in the shower.
Dara is brought to Darkover. People discuss having Norton, Jean, Faythe, and Titania give her a makeover. Titania reports that Dara is dreaming, and that she is now having a picnic. She might arrange for Dara to give her a gift of information in exchange for release from her thousand years of servitude.
Osric returns to the meeting in Chaos.
Princess Chandra returns to Cailin and the dragon. All of the eggs but one that were poisoned were unfertilized, so they only need to deal with one of them. She suggests that they flame the poisoned, unfertilized eggs from a safe distance with something cleansing like god-fire.
She suggests that he open a gate from the base of the flame and collimate it. Cailin is disturbed to learn that he needs to climb into the dragon's throat.
Cailin discovers that there is less room inside a dragon than inside the whale, but that it seems to be designed for a humanoid form -- there are ridges that look like steps, and protrusions at convenient handhold places. He realizes that it seems like it would match Princess Chandra's dimensions exactly.
The dragon breaths out, and the fire flows through Cailin's gate. He ends up with a nice, tight beam of god-flame. The target rock is no more. Cailin has a feeling of triumph.
He targets the first of the eggs indicated by Princess Chandra. The first egg turns a nasty brownish color, then a nasty greenish color similar to the god that they fought, and then the egg splits and a nasty cockatrice-like beast climbs out and is toasted. Unfortunately, the rest of the unfertilized eggs start to split at the same time.
Cailin asks Princess Chandra for advice. "This is bad." She tells him not to toast her, and runs off down the hill towards the cracking eggs.
Cailin sees Princess Chandra curdle a great sword out of Wyrm Power.
Princess Chandra starts fighting the two closest cockatrices, and Cailin is starting on his second. A beautiful golden glow has sprung up around the house down there.
Cailin couldn't even begin to tap this god fire. This is almost pure-grain stuff.
The fight continues. All of a sudden, there is a chime. From this end of the chime, which Cailin is certain came from within the dragon he is currently occupying, he can see fourteen or fifteen old huge dragons show up and demand an accounting. Cailin is spit out, and the young dragon starts talking to the elders. The dragon says that this intrepid individual was helping to ensure that only the contaminated eggs were destroyed. One of the new arrivals says, "I am eldest. He will guide me." and opens its mouth. Cailin climbs in -- although this dragon is much larger, the interior space is the same size. Cailin is horrified.
The other dragons land and assist Princess Chandra by baiting the other cockatrices away so that they aren't fighting between the eggs. Cailin tells the dragon that this poison might be viable to them. Cailin is spit out, the dragon says, "BE CAREFUL", and swallows Cailin again.
Cailin has the distinct pleasure of horror of seeing dragons run in apparent fear. There were eleven total cockatrices. This dragon has much, much more intense god-fire.
The cockatrices actually being toasted by the dragons. By the time that Cailin has finished his third, the other cockatrices are mostly scorched and immobile. Princess Chandra is wandering around delivering killing blows. Cailin is spit out, and the dragons begin toasting the spots where the cockatrices fell.
Princess Chandra sighs, walks over to the oldest dragon, and raises her arms. The dragon opens god fire upon her. She turns, and the dragon repeats the process. Her hair and clothing are singed off.
Princess Chandra turns to the dragons and announces, "We have a difficulty. One, which is viable, is tainted.".
The eldest dragon replies, "This is beyond me", and flies back into the sea.
Princess Chandra's hair is visibly growing back. Her clothing is not.
Cailin apologizes to the next most powerful dragon for not informing them sooner. The apology is accepted.
There is a disturbance in the Serpent's Antechambers. The dragon bows to both the Serpent and his apprentice with one bow, and in very few words, conveys that a viable dragon egg was infected.
The Serpent turns to his apprentice and says, "Assess the situation for me." Ilk bows to the Serpent and follows the dragon directly into the Sea of Chance. He switches into dragon form and follows the dragon for a long distance.
A large Chinese-style dragon emerges onto Dragonhome. Ilk can tell that the promontory is named Dragonhome. All of the other dragons present bow deeply to him. Princess Chandra bows to him as family; Ilk returns the bow.
Princess Chandra speaks to the Serpent's Apprentice in dragon-speak/true-speech.
"Oh great and all-powerful emissary, we seem to have a difficulty that only your master can solve. We have need of transporting this egg without allowing it to be touched by that which runs through our veins, and I know that you have other strings to your bow and would ask that you convey such to your master."
In Serpent speech, at the same time, she says directly to him and only to him, "Ilk, could you Logrus-this over to the Serpent, because, damn, it's infected and none of us should touch it."
Ilk hooks the egg with a Logrus tendril and heads back into the Sea, planning on mooring it to Chaos and telling the Serpent.
The egg disappears. The oldest dragon heads out.
"My family's descendants, I thank you, and wish you to go back to guarding your eggs." The dragons take up perches around the area. Princess Chandra turns to Cailin and says that he might want to tell Coral that it's safe.
Princess Chandra points at one of the dragons and says, "I need to get home. You are my ride."
Cailin replies, "Wait... I need to get home too. I have business to attend to here, and more to attend to with the dragons here."
"Pick one of the dragons for your ride. I have said so; they have heard me. Besides, I have a child to tend to."
Cailin opens a gate through the ward and fails. He burns a hole through it. "Coral - it's safe." Coral looks at the hole in her ward and complains, "That was the strongest ward that I could open... given the current state of magic."
Cailin mentions something indiscreet, and is told that she will hold him to his word to fix the magic problem.
They talk. Martin is one of the most ill; the poison is very closely tied to his being. Coral speculates that perhaps it was targeted at Cailin. Unfortunately, they can't really move Martin.
Jean calls out for and acquires Melk. He explains the situation and asks Melk to stasis the poisoned ones. Melk flows through Jean. All of Jean momentarily pause, and then resume and Melk is standing in front of Cailin. The Jeans that were slowly-regenerating Logrus-eating beasties are still stopped.
Melk asks why he should help Martin. That he was poisoned while rescuing Princess Chandra's son sways him -- he'll do it out of respect for the great Lady.
Melk says that he has been called upon quite a bit recently, and it is time for him to take an apprentice. If either of them see someone appropriate, they should bring that person to his attention.
Jean introduces Coral to Melk. There is a moment of no time, and then Melk looks at Cailin and says, "Debt paid." Melk and Coral go off.
Melk shows up in the Serpent's Antechamber after Ilk has returned and the egg has been towed in by the Serpent and tucked away somewhere safe. Melk bows very deeply to the Serpent, bows appropriately to the Serpent's Apprentice, and says, "I will have you know my new apprentice", and introduces Coral to both of them.
Most of those from Cobalt left in this piece of fruit are just kids. Cailin has Jean contact Vialle. Jean fills in Vialle and then finds Random, who is currently talking to Flora. Flora is very snide while Jean fills in Random, and tells him that Vialle is going off to keep an eye on the unattended kids. Random is snide back, and heads off with Vialle to Dragonhome via Jean's whale. Jean then whales in some yarn.
Sappy things happen. Cailin thrashes and flails.
Cailin goes to the small dragon with which he had been speaking. Cailin talks with the dragon about the poison in his House. The dragon states that he will do it merely and solely for the amusement factor -- few members of his species invite a dragon into their homes to flame them.
Cailin climbs inside the dragon for the trip across the Sea of Chance.
The dragon lets forth a belch of flame, and the house still stands. He repeats a few times, and the house is untouched. The dragon gets mad and turns up the intensity. The plants nearby are being scorched and vaporized, but the house still stands. The dragon takes up into the skies, and eight soar back down and try to burn the house. Cailin opens the front door. The window glass is starting to run. There are now thirty-five dragons trying to burn down the house. The little one is now sailing into and out of doors and window and burning things from the inside. One of the larger ones has settled down just in front of the door-post and is breathing directly through the door.
Jean notices the bonfire and tells Flora that she gets to redecorate Cailin's house -- it's being fumigated. Flora states that she'll have to replace a few things that she had inside the house.
The several hundred dragons packing the space above one of the Houses in Chaos has attracted the attention of the Serpent's Apprentice. Ilk sends a few tendrils down to the oldest dragon present, who is sitting at the doorstep, and informs him that the House they are currently attempting to destroy was built by Princess Chandra, and so it might be rather difficult to ignite. The flame goes out. The dragon's head turns towards the tendrils and bows, acknowledging both position (Serpent's Apprentice) and debt.
The largest dragon gives out a bellow, and the dragons stop flaming. Most of them land. The little dragon keeps darting in and out until the oldest dragon pins him to the ground with a clawed hand.
The large dragon turns towards the little dragon and speaks. "Bit of knowledge for you..." and explains. Cailin hears his progenitor referred to in quite glowing terms, as in why the House isn't glowing.
All of the dragons head off, except for the littlest one, which collapses into a heap, exhausted and battered about. The Serpent's Apprentice rearranges it into a more dignified position. There is a single scorch mark on one of the lintels of the door.
Cailin checks out his house. Most of the shelves and tables are intact, but empty. The box with the Frog of Judgment from another reality was vaporized. Zorro's laboratory and stables are untouched, and Cailin's horse is fine.
Cailin gets a trump call. It's Flora. She mentions that his House may need a feminine touch.
Ilk hears cheers from certain sections of Chaos as House Moonlight goes up in flames, and then sobbing when it becomes apparent that several hundred dragons couldn't destroy the House. Ilk creates a list of the regions and drops it off on a table just inside Cailin's front door.
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