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Neville tries to consult with Verra, and ends up trying to schedule a formal court. Much hilarity and bureaucracy ensues. Verra decides not to found a temple to herself in Amber. Flora refuses to help out until King Eric the Second is coronated.
Cailin wakes up. Titania doesn't seem to be conscious. He yetis over to King Osric. Mandor points out to Osric that Cailin is currently holding more power than Amber, Chaos, and Shadow ever contained. People speculate at some length, including wondering if the power was intended for Toram. Mandor nods a lot. Cailin speculates that the power went to this body because Toram had puppeted his signature, and that this body was part of a contingency plan.
They wonder whether they should go to Darkover or the egg place.
Osric tries to gate to the egg place, but fails -- too far. Cailin offers to do it, if they go into shadow first. Someone points out that casting spells will give the former head of the Mages Guild a hook into them, and they consider taking the dragon express.
Decontamination discussion continues. Mandor points out that Cyndia, the current head of the Warriors' Guild, is currently out in shadow gathering an army to possibly attack Chaos.
Cailin runs off. Jean tells Osric that they just decontaminated the Spiral. They chat. Jean points out that Titania, Faythe, and Felice could use some power... Titania burst into flames, and now Felice is crispy.
As Cailin approaches his house, Ferethyn asks for some power. Cailin agrees, and Ferethyn coalesces a large gem out of him. Cailin doesn't notice - he's still pegged at 100%.
Cailin sets Zorro upon the task of abducting Cyndia from her army and bringing her to House Cara. He almost sets her upon Marial, but catches the mistake just in time.
Jean and Ilk are brought into the discussion. Cailin tries to give Amaranth some power, so Zorro abducts her with a few swirls of his cape. Marial is charging at them. Amaranth grabs power and puts up a shield around the group. Marial bounces. Amaranth tanks up and loads up on magic-storing jewelry. Cailin's still at 100%.
Amaranth claims that Cailin's signature looks like the former head of the Mages Guild. He panics briefly. He removes the mask. Amaranth still can't verify his identity. Cailin discusses snow and a new ice age.
[Serpent-Capades!]
Amaranth and Cailin discuss contamination. Beldin and Cailin change course again and head into shadow. Cailin tries to open a gate through himself to let Zorro and himself out of the shields. Amaranth blocks him. Finally, Cailin has Zorro just whack her over the head. An unconscious Amaranth is deposited back on Marial's shoulders, and Zorro and Cailin head out into shadow.
Cailin and Beldin go to House Moonlight to get a lift to the egg place. Sitting in the corner of his house is Darkstar. He hands her a Dworkin trump of Cyndia.
Darkstar asks Cailin if he is certain that the other body is the real him. Darkstar trumps Cailin, and only gets the local one. Don Serioli removes his mask, but still fails to receive a trump call.
Cailin leaves his house and bugs the blue dragon on his roof to take him to the egg place. It flies off and comes back with a larger, custard-yellow dragon. The larger dragon threatens to eat them -- Beldin has apparently touched dragon eggs.
The yellow dragon flies straight up to consult the "a higher authority" -- the Serpent. The dragon returns, and states that he can't eat them. They take off. Right before they reach the Sea, Cailin realizes that Beldin won't survive the Sea of Chance, and stops it. More dragon-related hilarity ensues.
Cailin rides on the back of the dragon across the Sea. His shape has changed, but only slightly -- he resembles the archivist some more.
The dragon spits out Beldin. Beldin thuds then splashes upon impact with the ground. Cailin argues with the dragon at some length.
Cailin and Jean consider healing techniques. Jean fishes Norton in. Norton taps Cailin for power, and spends several hours fixing Beldin. Norton fishes out.
[Lucas the Impaler!]
Jean and Ilk discuss the situation.
Jean fishes Norton to the Spiral. Serpent's Apprentice verifies that Norton is uncontaminated.
Cailin tries to talk to the yellowish dragon. It ignores him. He checks it out. It seems to be broken.
Jean fishes ecto-Ilk and the Serpent's Apprentice to the egg place.
Beldin is eating an orange. A roc is sitting on the dragon, with Cailin written all over it. The vast reserves of power have Toram's signature on it. No sentience or thought, but signature. Neither Cailin nor Beldin are contaminated, but upon further examination, Beldin seems dragonish. The Serpent's Apprentice talks with the dragon in Beldin, who seems somewhat resigned. "Payback is a bitch".
The group is whaled to the Spiral. Beldin tells children's fables about Fractal, until people notice that the two people who recently walked the Pattern were driving Dworkin insane and they are whaled to Chaos.
Dworkin is whaled to the decontamination place, experiments with shapeshifting for a bit, then returns.
Cailin yetis and runs until he finds Cailin.
[California is Faerie. Cailin set California on fire]
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