Duncan and Alex talk on Duty

Alexandra Dejana Mira
"Duncan, whats your relationship with Zach? Are you two okey or are there past tensions? In case we do run into him later?"
Vek et al
"Well, we're cousins...."
Alexandra Dejana Mira
Alex looks slightly sarcastic at Duncan... raised eyebrow and all. "Well that doesn't answer a thing. I know some of the family really like to hang ojt together... some of them really got together. " She points her finger between them with a quick brow wiggle. "And there are those who want to get together if it means hugging each other with blades between the ribs and such... " A slight chuckle.
"I was just thinking of before going to Hepplewhite's after we done our adventure trip. If we should give Zach a heads up we are coming over. Give him a chance to flee or be there. Whatever is his preference. " She looks up at Duncan taking his hand and wrapping his arm around her. "You kmow when the news came out that i was one of Brand's kids. He was the first to contact me and offer me a... well job is big word. He offered me a chance to explore and feel useful. On the other hand you knew of course. But your dad had broken us up. "
Vek et al
"Zachary and Vance and I spent some time together along time before Benedict discovered him. He had done his Star Trek world already but hadn't gone back to live it the way Benedict found him. We did a bridge between prop driven WW2 planes and early jets. An extended conflict that was fought mainly in the air. Sweet, maneuverable fighter plans. Vance was a natural at them. Zach and I got quite good at them."
Alexandra Dejana Mira
Alex chuckles "Ah men and planes... i know Asher is very much into that as well. Flew once with him in a fighter plane.
Do not know if i would make it my occupation for a while." Turning to Duncan she smiles "But also coild be that i have not been raised or brought in contact with any technology higher then steampowered stuff i guess.. might have to ask Vance for a ride on one of his... planes? Fighterjets? I don't know what its called within Vulsara. Though i doubt it could beat a dragonride." Laying her head agajnst his shoulder she shrugs. "But no time after this vacation duty calls again. Can't spend to much time away.
Vek et al
He agrees, "I know. Time is relative. In Amber doubly so. We haven't been gone too long. And..the trap Random set hasn't been sprung yet. So we are waiting a bit longer.."
Alexandra Dejana Mira
Alex looks up surprised.. "What??? Trap? What are you talking about." She then thinks and clearly an idea pops up. "Jaque.. his group. He'll try and assume power while we're out. He was clear in his disliking of my position and he kept complaining about the way yhings were done. But don't get me wrong. He has followers but not all. People can get hurt. Please tell me some measurements of defense have been workdd out. "
Vek et al
"Jaque? Maybe. But that's not who Random is fishing for. Benedict, me, Gerard, Caine all on vacation at the same time? Looks like Random is a king lazy on home defense, over confident of his position. An impression he is pushing on several Golden Circle realms to stir up the rebellious in nature. There are always a few shadows close to home just a hair away from treason. Its hard to seeit sometimes because of the nature of shadow. So we are faking an opening, see who swings for it."
Alexandra Dejana Mira
Alex looks at Duncan as if she sees water burning.. or perhaps anything stranger. "Thats insane. Why? So they make a hasty attempt. But what are the chances some actually have prepared a long time and this was perfect timing for them? " She steps out of his arms and looks quite stressed at this. "I know greater minds then i have thought about these things. But the people that could get hurt in such a foolish attempt? Have you thought about that? Those in the crossfires... Just to see who might be having a treasonous itch? " She bites her tongue to stop rambling. "Yeah nothing i can do.... just wait with the rest of you..."
Vek et al
"Have you heard of the Trabaline? A massive shadow system. Huge. Its tech level is equal to Ambers. Ships, troops. A form of aerial warfare using magically powered triplanes. They hated Amber. About a thousand years before patternfall this shadow gathered all its people into a religious war and came roaring into Amber with almost a million troops, horses, ships, planes, and legions. Have you heard of this great war Amber fought?"
Alexandra Dejana Mira
Alex frowns thinking hard if she had heard or read about it. She then shakes her head. "No i do not think i've heard of it. But might have missed it in the library. What does it have to do with this situation? Tactics?"
Vek et al
"Oh they hated Amber. They were Unicorn cultists too and felt the Amberites worshipped the Unicorn wrongly. And their shadow was extremely close to us too. They dedicated their whole shadow to destroying Amber, brought their forces in by sea east of Ober and east of the Green Waters. Came roaring in through Arden killing anything they could. They bombed Rebma from above with a flotilla of ten thousand ships. They had a history of hating Amber that lasted a thousand years in their realm. Care to guess why you never heard of them and why they are not in the history books or why their tactics are not taught at Rasak?"
Alexandra Dejana Mira
Looking in a mix of a bit annoyed and not yet convinced she shrugs. "I don't know. Did it even happen? Or were they diverted to a shade? Perhaps nothing is recorded to prevent repeating from others.. many reasons why it would not have been recorded... but i bet you are going to tell me." She says with a bjt of a smile
Vek et al
He frowns," We had never heard of them. The first we knew of the attack was when some children playing on the reef at the Green Water found the ships wrecked on the rocks and alerted the navy. Well, they told their dads who were in the navy. They went and found them and then passed it up the chain till Gerared and Caine went and looked. After that Julian and I went and found their land forces. Llewella found their forces that were attacking Rebma. "
Vek et al
He shakes his head. "The Trabaline were 2 centimeters tall and breathed an argon heavy air. Once they followed trails toward Amber they got to a shadow close to Amber they suffocated. Their ships were under a third of a meter tall.. The rocks on the Green Waste looked like a cargo ship full of toys had been dashed. In Arden the poor dead things had probably been there for months. Tiny, dehydrated dead soldiers and horses. Benedict came back from shadow to examine them. He said they were extremely well organized. Extremely well prepared. Lots of food animals and spare equipment. Lots of support troops. If they had been two meters tall and breathed our air they would have been formidable. Oberon wasn't sure if he was joking or not."
Alexandra Dejana Mira
Alex frowns and tilts her head "Okey that almost does sound like a joke. But then again all is possible within shadow. But what does it have to do with this situation? We know of many shadows around Amber and its people so they could form a threat. "
Vek et al
"Random believes that if there is an enemy we don't know about ready to make war it is better to let them think he is unready and get them to jump then to wait till they are able to fight us when we are at our best. How long do you think it would take Benedict, Gerard, Caine, you and I to get to Amber if we needed to? How long do you think troops trained by Ben and Gerard would take to mobilize if they are just at home with family, within running distance of horse and ship? Are the Rangers less prepared because we are here? Jaque is Jullian...He can manage a war in Arden for the 3 minutes it takes us to get there. Same in every other arm of the service. Benedict is on vacation fighting some war in shadow for fun. The Army is still there. Hell, Bleys is in the castle. He could lead the armies of Amber for the hour it took Ben to change uniforms and show up on the field." "Us being out of Amber does not make it less safe. It would take some big damn magic to put Amber in danger and that might happen even if we were all in the Royal Hall for court."
Vek et al
'By the way, this is Random's plan, not Benedict's. Ben is...annoyed...but a vacation is a vacation."
Alexandra Dejana Mira
"It didn't sound like a plan of Benedict. But okey i can see the point and the tactics. I just have to move my mindset more to the fact i can be there any second. Though inwould be a drop in the bucket compared to those you just named. When it comes to tactical support. But i csn help. And will damn well fight for Amber and her people. " She sighs and runs a ahnd through her red curls. "Okey okey i am not worried. As long as no call has gone out to head back we're good. And can enjoy free time."
Vek et al
He kisses her forehead, "I know. In the end its not the enemies we know that are a danger to us. Azcala is our main danger and even it isn't the enemy we expected years ago. They came out strong but when they sent Puma and Jaguar cultists to kill citizens of Amber in the allys of the city they really shoved a cactus up their own arses. Random saw the primal Eagle land at Cabra and between he, Ben, Julian, Bleys, Alro, Caine, and Delwin have been running a covert war in Azcala ever since. Random has a three front cold war going on against them and its all cardplaying and misdirection. He called in CHAD to be the face of the war and do all the killing and dying fighting Azcala. He had Delwin in Azcala practically from the day the Key was released learnign about the people and as it turns out, creating a couple kids to be part of their royal line. He has Finndo unlocking their magics and subverting thier sigil. In 50 years Tonacat's whole riegn is falling apart. Hell we have a son of his and several of his grandchildren working for us. And Delwin has been supplying the Azcalan rebels on one hand and seducing one of Tonacat's daughters on the other. As for our other enemies, Flora is wooing Maylon with grandmotherly kindness and Bleys and Brand are dealing with their mother. We have two Princes of Regor practically trying to hand us the whole kingdom if their Father retires. All of that is politics dear. You and I are the tip of the sword. When it comes to fighting we can get there in minutes."
Alexandra Dejana Mira
Smiling at the kiss she looks up at Duncan a slight smile "Plans within plans within plans. Politics and cardplay are so close to one and another. No wonder Random is so good at it." Alex sinks in thoughts then nods "And here i figured i could mean something for things like with Regor or Arden. But it is no matter that i am a guard an elite or a daughter of Brand. My function stays the same. Just more people will be watching my actions and moves. " She smiles bright at Duncan. "It is a soothing thought. It is what i know to do and what i can do. I am a trained soldier. And i live for duty and for Amber... so i'm good with it. I do not need to know all tactics. I should not step above my station and be curious."
Vek et al
He frowns, "You disregard yourself too much, dear. 'And here i figured i could mean something for things like with Regor or Arden' You are vitally important to Amber, to me, to Arden. I blame your mother for her cavalier treatment of you growing up making you think so little of yourself. It angers me when i hear her speaking through you. Our role in Arden is to protect the people of Arden as much as to protect Amber. IN those roles you are more important in many ways then I am. Almost no one would bring a complaint to me. Never to Julian. But you have a greater strength to see what is in the best interest of the people of Arden then I ever will. Maybe growing up in the warrior class of Amber makes you more approachable even now. Fres is a card player too.."
Alexandra Dejana Mira
On her turn Alex frowns to Duncan. "My mom has the best in mind for me. I am sure. And the way she raised me has been with the best interest. I am loyal to Amber. To Arden. To the royal family." She says that with such a stern look and rehearsed voice. It is clear she has said this alot in her life.
Shaking her head she sighs.
"I know mom is a cardplayer. I know she has more plans and ideas then that i am aware of." Again a hand through her hair. "Yeah i am more one of the people then one of the royals it seems. Or well it is how alot do approach me. Maybe you are right and that is my strength."
Vek et al
Desri moved Sadashi out of the apartment next to Donovans. Didn't talk to Sadashi and sadashi probably only used it one night anyway
Alexandra Dejana Mira
Aaah i see

Vek et al
Gonna see how Donovan likes being smothered.
Alexandra Dejana Mira
Whahahaha well Donovan choose for this
Alexandra Dejana Mira
Alex does laugh at something Duncan said. "And still not many see the worth of me or believe i can fulfill the function of Second Warden."
Vek et al
"I think you are mistaken. Deeply mistaken. I have said so and you don't believe me. Do you think I would allow anyone as Second warden unable to fulfil that role or to fulfil mine? Do you think Random would purposefully put someone in your role as a lark? You are young but there is great strength in you, great power. Great intellect. You think people do not see you as worthy? I tell you it is that many people who do not like you as second are afraid of what a position of authority like that might turn you into. A force to be reckoned with, politically, personally, physically, and ,magically. If you think people doubt your abilities i tell you they are afraid you can do what is required and much more. As I know you can. Now, a fixed wing has great maneuverability but an ultialight has more openness. Hang gliders or Sail planes are what Random likes so i suggest we start there. What say you, beloved?"
Vek et al
"Oh...Sail planes can be two seaters as well."
Alexandra Dejana Mira
Alex looks at Duncan wondering. She does hear his words and a slight smile appears with a firm nod. "I think i understand what you mean, dear. That what Random told me that people have been against me in this position might be indeed what you said. People who might see purely the past ambitions of my father. Or his insanity. My mothers wit and political actions. Some might purely see the Abyssal Mark which might in their minds one day corrupt me. " She inhales deep and exhales with a more relaxed face. "I know where my strengths are and i will always try and do the right thing. " A grin hearing their options. "Sail planes... is that anything with water. If yes then Hanggliders it is.. and to be honest feels more like a flight like dragons have."
Vek et al
"The procure shows sail planes off Desert mountains.. Atlas Ariel excursions it is.. We are spoiled by dragon flight of course, but its a differant feel"
Alexandra Dejana Mira
Alex laughs "Ah yes dragon flight. But might be fun for my pseudodragons to be able to fly along us. I am thinking of getting my white dragon. But a good chance he is just enjoying himself in our little reading nook in the library. Reading everything he can get his talons on. " She nods "Lets get flying!"