Getting Duncan.

Amber Bronkhorst

Alex nods "I'll let you know, good luck to you!" With that Alex closes the contact. Looking at the rest she needs to speak to she decides its time to report to Duncan. Laying the trump card of Zachary back on the deck Alex then looks at Duncan his trump. Handsome strong Duncan. She can't help but smile a bit. As they got together again and where she was afraid he didn't want anything of her anymore actually the opposite was true. With a deep inhalen Alex focusses her mind. Pushing down any non helpful thoughts and keeping that eager sensation of the mark down she stares at Duncan his image trying to make contact.

Michael James Watson

After a few moments comes, "Who? Oh.. Excellent. Where are you and what have you found? I am in Castle Amber right now. The king is having a briefing on a nautical matter and it somewhat involves the Rangers. I had to argue about your promotion but i think he sees my reasoning.."

Amber Bronkhorst

Alex blinks. "Well hello, Where i am. " She gestures again behind her "At the source of the beasts it's called Beasthold and it is a shade of Amber. According to Zachary, Benedict Caine and Julian would know more of it. The spikes are placed in different shades to control this massive Twisted Way, as it is called, of Monsters. It seems some shades have removed their spikes and dropped them in other places like ours. I have joined forces with a shade version of myself and Random... quite odd experience... and ir seems having the spikes in the wrong spot can be a real threat though it has not yet been explained to me why and how." Alex then raises an eyebrow. "I thought you said it was King Random his idea for the promotion?" Hearing about the nautical part Alex involuntarily shivers "Right, well the point is now. What to do. Those spikes need to be returned to their own shades. And need to be figured out where it is. But my orders are complete found the source. Soooo what should i do next?"

Michael James Watson

Duncan sits back in the heavy chair. "The Twisted Way....I've heard it mentioned over the years but never got more the a shrug out of Julian about it. A place in shadow was about all he said. Alright. Do you think i should see this place before we start trying to fix parts of it others have messed with?"

Amber Bronkhorst

Alex stays silent for a moment and then smiles "It is quite a sight to behold. Perhaps it would be good to know where it is i feel this might have more strings attached then inly restoring the places of the spikes." Alex sinks deep in thought for a moment and with a dead serious look she continues. "Something seems very off... and the warning of Zachary has me worried as well. Something about a dangerous construct and beasts. If you wish i can pull you through. There has just been a festival here. So moods seem to be light and cheerful, Deirdre is Queen here." She holds out her hand in case he decides to join her on Beasthold.

Michael James Watson

"Random will be pissed but its only fair considering how pissed I am." HE stands, grabs the hand and steps through. Looking around he nods his head, "Something classical greece, Mid nines Thelusia.. Pegasus? Really...Hasn't been one of those in Amber in a thousand years."

Amber Bronkhorst

Alex frowns hearinf Duncan being pissed. But she first helps him through. Looking around she nods "Hmm yes pegasus, they just had a bunch that spawned from the cliff and their people bond with them and tame them and of course Dalt took it upon himself to bond with the one there was no rider for. " She says with a slight smirk. "So a pegasus might be seen soon enough. " She then stands straight before Duncan. "What is going on that Random is pissed and why are you pissed? Did things change?"

Michael James Watson

"Well, you'll hear soon enough as my second and its really not a huge problem. You know people arrive in Amber from time to time come to make war on Amber and lay waste to the domineering and crushing empire that is Amber and its ruthless murderous tyrant god emperor that is Random. A lot of times no one in Amber has ever heard of them. Right now we have a race of humans that are cold oriented, and naval. They have brought about 500 ships into Amber on boats designed to travel on hardpack ice sheets. So.. boats on skis. They came rushing in over the Ice shelf and have established a base at Handen's Keep. You may never have heard of it, its a fortification on the far north edge of the continent. The water is hard pack up to the dirt. So Gerard is pissed he can't get a navy up there. Benedict is pissed i don't have a standing Army up there. I'm pissed that I have to move warm weather troops through Arden to a base in the friggin arctic ring. Random is pissed that once again people have surprised us showing a weakness in our defenses. and Margot is pissed that Random keeps breaking dishware. Random is pissed that Bleys keeps laughing when he yells. He's pissed i didn't realize he was joking about making you my second. So, all in all, oh... people with drinks... " He waves and a servitor brings over tankards of ale.

Amber Bronkhorst

Alex listens to Duncan and her eyes grow wider as he continues. She waits till the servitor has brought the tankards and left again. Alex looks at the second warden braid and nods. "A joke. Right, of course someone so young as i shouldn't be jn the position. But we had already agreed it would not be for long right? If the King so wishes i can move away from this position." With tankard jn hand Alex stares out over the stream of monsters and sighs "Seems that no matter what, there is always trouble. That extra spike that Bleys got from Arlo needs to be taken away from the castle it might not be helpful in the current situation if Amber is also under attack. " Taking a large drink from her tankard she looks back at Duncan. "There are no troops trained in cold weather? Or people thatbcan stand cold weather better? If only those Regorians would be helpful." She chuckles a wry laugh. "What do you want now? What is priority for us? Do i need to report the situation about the spikes to the king as well or shall i not bother him with this? Do i still take care of the training of the new troops or is that best left for another?"

Michael James Watson

Duncan says, "Priority? Drinking... Of course Benedict has cold-weather troops and all the Rangers up there are used to the cold and can fight there. A lot of the rangers up there are retired. Elderly. Its just a logistics thing. I trumped a quarter of a legion up there and they have the situation in hand. But we can't have an army everywhere or we start looking like a military state and that reflects badly into shadow. " He sits and drinks again, "My priority.... For you to understand I wanted you as my Second for good reasons and I don't expect a century out of you. 10 years helping Arden develop some kind of standing army to offset our forest running rangers is what i had in mind. I am confident you can mange that. Can others? Sure. But if Dalt or Gerard, or Bleys, or anyone of a dozen highup in the army come to Arden to do the job they might as well replace me too. You are competant to do the job and don't outrank me by so much that i get pushed aside by the incoming troops. I need those troops loyal to me, Amber, Arden and you, in that order. Savvy?"

Amber Bronkhorst

Alex laughs and holds up her tankard "Drinking is always a good idea. And alright so that is not so much a worry for us now. " Sitting with Duncan she nods drinks and listens "I got it. And thank you for your confidence. I am sure i can do good by the rangers and the new troops to be trained. And no i know you do not expect a century out of me. And you also know that if you would ask me i would still give a century. And forming their loyalty will not be a problem." She smiles She takes the spike she had followed and twirls it between her fingers "So our biggest issue is getting at least the two spikes we have to their rightful spot in shadow. Perhaps help orhers as well. But more important getting our Arden in order again. " She points to where the rest were before she made the calls. "The Gerard here and an Adasck woman seem to know what the deal is with these spikes so i figure asking them for pointers where to send them would be a good start. "

After a long drink from her tankard Alex adds very carefully. "So things have happened here before. Like i said Oberon, Benedict, Eric, Caine and Julian were here and Zachary. Zach didn't want to say much about it other than that Oberon wanted a creature wrangled where the rest wanted it dead. And he warned me of some sort of Construct. I think before we proceed with anything wd kind of need to know what that means. Seeing Benedict is busy, Caine probably won't say a thing anyway our best bet is possibly Julian." She looks carefully up at Duncan "What do you think the chances are your father would share some information on this?"

Michael James Watson

"Father share information....We argued about the trickle of foes for centuries, Alex. Manticores mainly. But looking at the art around here...Snakes.. Drakes. Aligots. Danglers.. Not as frequent as Manticore but not unheard of... And the bastard knew.. He said it wasn't a threat. I said they were a clear and presnt danger. Oberon ignored my suggestions.. Benedict... Eric...Caine... All knew. I spoke to all of them about it at one point or another. Caine at least had the cynicism to laugh about it to me. The rest just lied or ignored me. I'd just as soon talk to this Deirdre...."

Amber Bronkhorst

Alex sighs and wraps some curls around her finger thinking. "For the love of the unicorn... one would say that a common goals would be to protect and keep safe Amber and Arden right? But seems the family is just to keen on keeping secrets. " Alex is patient and usually friendly but it is clear this is one of those things that can really tick her off... "I can talk to Arlo about it he seems to be an endless well of information. And perhaps if i give him the snippets of info i have now he could link some things together. And somehow dad usually knows alot of things.... but it depends on his mood how forthcoming he is."

Michael James Watson

Duncan laughs, "I'd rather not have Brand think i owe him a debt for his help! But you ....he might consider himself willing to help without strings." He ponders a moment.."How much freedom does he really have?"

Amber Bronkhorst

Alex lights a cigarette and realizes that since she became part of the family she started to smoke alot more. After a long pull she says. "He can't leave the castle grounds as i understand. He was allowed to go to the tombs, and he can wander a bit. What i understand is that he is not imprissoned at all anymore due to Laravella her deathcurse, but he respects the rules King Random had placed upon him. He was able to bring me to the primal pattern though that was per accident as i understand it. " Looking at the continuous stream of monsters she smiles "I am sure he would find this very interesting. And he might want to check on how my mark is doing."

Michael James Watson

Duncan frowns, "Its sad to think I would prefer Brand's help to Arlo's. But that's your call. I don't suppose you know what the time relation to Amber is here?"

Amber Bronkhorst

Alex shrugs "I have no clue what the time ratio is i only learned right before the beginning of this trip to shadow walk. Don't forget only recently family." She says with a slight grin. "Seems more people forget that as i have been around longer and some people already knew of mg parentage." Alex then inhales deep and nods "I'll contact my father lets see if he is in a helpfil mood and i can ask at the same time what the time ratio would be. " She takes out her deck and starts to flick through the cards till she finds her fathers image. Holding it before her she focusses on it. She does press her cigarette out and takes a sip of ale before fully focussing.