Not so long ago, the true realm of Amber faced a new challenge to its eternal power. While that adventure continues to play out, there are many stories still to be told about the early days of this era...
A young man, dark of hair and skin wearing loose fitting black clothing with red and turquoise patterns, sat cross-legged on the floor with hands on his knees breathing slowly. The room itself contains nothing more than small bed with a backpack at its foot. The mans eyes open revealing haunted jet black irises. He smoothly rises, and exits the room locking it behind him.
In short order, the man walks down the stairs into common room of The Viridian Rose. There are a few patrons already down for breakfast, so the staff is bustling about. After he sat with his back to the wall and near the kitchen door, the waitress goes and gets the innkeeper who reluctantly approaches the young man.
"Any messages for me?" asked the young man in a neutral tone.
For a moment the innkeeper is frozen in place by the younger mans dark gaze "Y-yes m'lord, you got a message from the castle." the innkeeper nervously answers.
"Just Eztil is fine..." he waves one of his hands in the air cutting off the frightened innkeeper "... no matter. My message?"
The innkeeper passes over a letter closed with wax bearing the Great Seal of the Realm. Eztil opens it and after reading a moment smiles then stands causing the innkeeper to step back a moment.
"I will be back later today." He turns and walks to the door, looks around outside, then exits the building somehow leaving the common room seeming brighter than before.
'Weeks since I got off that ship and finally my request was granted to look at the roll of the peerage to see if I can find the Drachenburg family.' He looks up at the castle looming over the city. 'The vision guided me true and you were right mother, all roads do lead to Amber. Some just take longer than others.'
After a bit of a walk, Eztil arrives at Castle Amber. The gate guards' grips on their weapons unconsciously tighten as he approached though the most dangerous thing on him is a simple dagger with a bone white hilt.
"I've been granted an audience with the chamberlain." He holds out the letter for one of the guards.
Eztil looks up at the castle while the guards look over the letter and recalls how he arrived in the city
...
Night shrouds the Amber port in darkness. The sound of the waves mixes with the laughter from nearby bars. A hand thrusts up from the water near a pylon and a naked man begins climbing up onto the dock. For a time he rests before climbing to his feet and shambling toward the distant lights.
"Well, well lads what do we have here?" men step out of an alley between warehouses to block the mans passage.
"Seems like someone had a bit too much to drink and went for a swim." there is rough laughter then one of them notices something around the sodden man's neck glinting in the light and mutters "a fine bit of sparkle around his neck though"
The leader looks back at his lads and smiles "Well me and the boys will be taking that necklace of yours ..." whatever he was going to say is cut off as the bedraggled man looks up through his hair.
"No I think not."
...
The town guard was near The Crusty Barnacle when he heard the screams and immediately he ran in their direction pulling out his truncheon. When he arrived at the warehouses, he heard boxes falling in an alley and slowly approached to investigate. In the shadows could be seen several bodies lying on the ground while someone crouched over them with a cloak billowing out behind them
"Alright now stand slowly and hands in the air!" The guard raises his lantern and nearly drops it with a gasp as it reveals the alley has been painted in blood.
A naked man stands up covered from head to toe in blood and drops a cloak he was pulling off of a corpse. He raises his hands slowly.
"They tried to rob me..." The man peers at the uniform "officer"
Eventually the guards let Eztil go as those that accosted him were a known gang of robbers.
-----
James checked in at the mirror, nodded at his reflection (thankfully back in the proper colors after a steady uniform of black), and left for the Palace. As was his habit, he Trumped directly to his rooms there and then stopped by the nearest stationed guard to let them know he was in. Family etiquette required each to announce their presence to the Guard if the regular doors were not used, to prevent any 'mistakes'.
Looking relieved, the guard said, "Sir, I'm glad you're here. We have a 'disturbance', a, a 'special guest', you could say, at the front gate that may require a Family member."
"Very well, I'll walk by. As back up, of course."
Turning back to the guard, "And let His Majesty know I've returned."
"We have seen him before sir, claimed to be a shipwreck survivor. Ran into a bit of trouble with one of the former gangs on the wharf."
"Former gang or former period?"
The guard nods twice.
"I see."
James walks quickly to where the visitor, dressed in his colors, waits with the guards at alert.
Hmm, There's something about this one, something either dark or, more likely, familiar.
"Pardon all, perhaps I can help?"
"Sir, you await entrance? Have you been summoned on this day?"
The senior guard shows the invitation bearing the Seal. Seeing only the Seal and making a quick assumption, James speaks, "Well, Cousin, if I may call you that, come with me."
He turns, with the expectation that the man will want to speak privately, and misses the guards' reaction to 'Cousin'.
Eztil gives a short bow to the new arrival and allows himself to be led inside. "I was summoned to speak to the chamberlain. My hope is I could be allowed to review the roll of peerage to find mention of the Drachenburg family." While the young mans voice is friendly enough, being near him makes one feel as if someone walked over your grave.
"You may call me cousin if you wish, but I know not why you would."
James turns in surprise, looking closely at the young man.
"You arrive today, at the time of the Great Council called by King Random, with invitation in hand.
And you ask why I call you cousin?
He reaches out his hand towards the vellum, saying "If I may?"
He passes the invitation over "This is just an invitation from the chamberlain."
The letter grants Eztil entrance to the castle with instructions to meet in Faiella's Garden at 11 bells. Odd place to meet a man who has his own office.
Looking carefully at James "Although if you are related to the Drachenburg family we could be cousins. I was told I'd be presented here as a peer one day. Of an allied shadow I could guess. But without reviewing the rolls or finding my parents alive, I have no proof."
The letter read as James expected it.
The 'meeting with the Chamberlain' was indeed the same meeting called by the king.
"Come then, I will guide you to the chambers.
Let me make myself known to you on the way.
I am James, son of Cullum Beowulf of Shadow and Deirdre, Princess of Amber, Duke of Faiella-bionin, made Knight of the Stair and Gentleman of her Court by Moire, Queen of Rebma, and Sheriff to the city of Amber; that is, if my Uncle the King has not removed that office from me during my absence.
Please call me James, if you would.
And so that we may be announced, what name shall you be known by?
And of what House and lineage?
I do not recall these 'Drachenburgs', though my ignorance means little.
I am often away from Court."
He leads the suspected Cousin (or perhaps other kin) to the hall outside the Great Council chamber where a line of others wait to be announced.
"The von der Drachenburg family was minor nobility in a distant shadow so it is no surprise you have not heard of them. But I was told when I was younger that I would be presented here as a peer so I thought that my parents had some interaction with this court. I was ..." he stops to think for a moment "lost for a time declared dead. So I have come here to find if any of my line still survive."
Shrugging off dark memories he continues "As for a title, they would have little meaning here but I'm known as Eztil-tlatia-teotl, Nahualli of the House of Razors, once Varick von der Drachenburg." he gives a short bow "Eztil is the use name I've gone by for some time. Pleased to meet you James."
The guard looks up. "You're here for the Council? Invitation, please."
"I'm afraid I don't have it.
"What delegation are you with. We can get someone to confirm ..." Now the guard sounds annoyed.
"I'm not with any delegation. I'm Family. Random's called us all in for this, as I'm sure you've heard.
The poor guard snaps to attention. "Beg your pardon, my lady. I didn't recognize you." He hesitates. "I'll still have to send someone to confirm this."
"Of course." And with just a hint of a smile, "No surpise you don't recognize me. I haven't been in Amber since before you were born, most likely."
It takes awhile, but eventually the page returns with a steward of some kind, judging by his dress and manner. "Lady Marjana, welcome to Amber. His Majesty sends his regrets. Had you arrived earlier, he would have greeted you personally, but he and the Princess Florimel are busy with last minute arrangements for the conference. I will have rooms prepared for you for afterwards. For now, I can escort you to where you can refresh yourself and relax until the conference is ready to begin. If you'll follow me?"