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Hannah walks into the infirmary making lists in her head. She looks around to confirm, as Conner told her, that everyone has already been taken care of.
Brita and the twins are not in the infirmary, suggesting that they weren't so injured that they needed continuing care. There's a dark-haired youth asleep on a gurney. He looks like he's been beaten up and then tended. Occasionally, he whimpers as if he's having nightmares. His forehead has beads of sweat on it.
Hannah grabs a cloth and stops to wipe away the moisture. She searches the infirmary for Gerard.
Gerard is a side room, which seems to be the medical office. There's a long stick that he could probably use as a fighting staff leaning against the wall, and a sword in its sheath leans against the desk. He's reading a book, but looks up when Hannah comes in.
"Hannah," he says by way of greeting. "How was court? I had to stay and keep an ear on the lad there, or I'd have been there myself." He gestures in the direction of the gurney with the sleeping youth as he speaks.
She comes over and leans against the doorframe, crossing her arms. "I missed most of the public court part, I think. The King announced Amber had been under attack and rallied the troops to be ready to deal with those who'll be movin' here. Nothing gets people motivated like an adversary and the chance to profit, you know. Seemed like people are still feeling out how things are goin' to be, here. And Dworkin dropped in," Hannah adds, with a smile.
"After court, court... just the family and the Regent? I don't know what to call it. Back home, that'd be council, but it's not quite the same thing. Anyhow, I went and got myself a... 'Administrator of Public Health' type of position, because I'm a nervous git who can't keep my hands out of things, even when I know better." She shrugs, and goes on more somberly. "Random told us about Daeon."
Hannah tilts her head quizzically to see if Gerard has heard this news yet.
"Aye. I was speaking to Solange when it happened," Gerard replies somberly. "I saw to Brita, to Conner and Paige, and her bairns--not that they're so wee any more--and this lad who's still resting here. When we talked to him, he couldn't remember what had happened to him. Conner tried some trick to make him remember, and it left him screaming."
Hannah scowls.
A moment later, Gerard gets a faraway look in his eyes, and he says to Hannah, "Bide a moment, lass, someone's calling me." Then, "Who is it?"
Another pause, "Aye, Cambina, send him through." And he reaches out forward.
Lucas comes through - and acknowledges Gerard's presence with a nod and a slightly tight smile - then a bow for Hannah.
Hannah curtsies back but is watching Lucas with concern.
Gerard acknowledges the nod with a return nod of his own.
"Do you know if anyone has seen Solace today?" he asks them both. "Does she know that the children are safe - or even if they were in danger? Was she at Court?"
His tone is a little urgent - and rather more concerned.
"She was not at Court, at least, not at the part I was there for. I haven't looked in on her today," she adds. She doesn't look particularly happy about that.
"Perhaps you could go look in on her now, or after Lucas has had a chance to talk to her. Is there more news from Amber?" Gerard asks. There are a lot of questions he's not asking, but the one he chooses leaves Lucas a lot of room to tell them whatever he feels like.
"How much do you know already?" asks Lucas, glancing at them both.
Hannah's brow furrows. "There was an attack by Daeon's grandmother and he was killed..." She trails off, and looks at Gerard.
"And Brita was burned trying to save his life, and whatever happened aged Paige's children into teenagers," Gerard concludes. "I saw to the wounded and heard their tale from them. Last word was that it seemed to be over, and I doubt they'd have let you come home if you were needed to man the barricades."
Lucas' dark eyebrows lift at the mention of Paige's children, although not in surprise, but he says nothing. As Gerard concludes, he nods.
"How is Brita now? And the others?"
Hannah looks to Gerard again.
"As for Amber, Martin's in charge, and seems to have things pretty well in hand. Fiona and Merlin were, I believe, dealing with any traces of magic or sorcery - but as Merlin's now moved into communicating the news, I think we can read that as completed. The physical side of the attack ... " He pauses for a moment, his face very still. "Targeted," he says at last. "Very violent, but utterly focused - or at least, that was the impression I gained from Solange - who is unhurt, by the way. Just shocked - as one would expect of someone who witnessed that. Have you been able to speak with her?"
"Aye, I was talking to her when Adonis died," Gerard answers, and lets Lucas continue.
"At all events, Caine, Cambina and Venesch dealt with the after-effects of that side of things. Again - I've seen Cambina susequently. We were trying to contact people - I've spoken to my mother, and Merlin to his father - but Cambina hasn't been able to reach Jerod - nor could I reach Ossian or Marius." He shrugs. "It seemed a good point at which to return for Solace. She will want to ascertain for herself that the children are safe."
"Of course, but I've got to ask, why didn't you just bring them with you? Is it not safe to bring small children through the... trumps?" Hannah asks.
"I expect to be returning to Amber shortly," says Lucas. "I'd rather not drag them to a strange place just to return with them a few hours later. Phillippe slept through the attack, but Hope was old enough - and acute enough - to be aware that something bad was happening. It will be best for her to be in a familiar place until her mother and I can come to her, I think. And if Solace has heard the news ... " Again a moment of stillness. A muscle under his left eye seems to quiver, and then is brought under control. "She has been hiding the seriousness of her condition. I would rather ascertain how she is for myself first without the children being present."
Hannah nods.
"With things being how they've been today, what with Brennan's injuries and then the business with Adonis, and court, it's not likely she's heard anything. There's a distinct lack of servants to fetch and carry, whether it's water or news that needs it," Gerard says drily.
"Then, if you'll excuse me, I'll go to her," says Lucas.
"Doctor Ardent should still be in Amber and he's been briefed, if you need someone while you're there. Otherwise, I'll stop by tonight, if you're back by then? I need to talk to Gerard right now," Hannah says.
Lucas' dark eyebrows lift in faint hauteur but he says nothing.
Gerard looks a touch surprised at the phrasing of Hannah's dismissal, but he turns back to Lucas and says, "Aye, go on, lad. Give Solace our best, and tell her we said not to worry."
"I shall," says Lucas with a nod. He leaves the Infirmary.
After leaving the Infirmary, Lucas makes his way swiftly to the room where he left Solace sleeping first thing in the morning. He is somewhat surprised that she did not attend Court, even in his absence. In fact, although he seems as urbane and relaxed as usual as he runs up the stairs, and is even humming to himself [La Mer by Charles Trenet, for those who are interested in such matters], it might be that he feels a certain anxiety about his delicate wife as he raps lightly on the door and enters.
Solace takes a few minutes to come to the door; she is dressed in morning clothes. She tells Lucas that she slept in, and when she got up, she ate the breakfast he'd sent for her. She thought that a servant would come to tell her when court was, but she realized later that this place doesn't have the staff that they have in Amber yet, and that she'd missed court.
She's been very worried about Lucas, since he didn't come back either.
Lucas sits down with her on the edge of their bed, and takes her slender hands between his. Gently he tells her that he has seen the children - that they are well, but Amber has been attacked; that Daeon is dead but that although others were injured, none of the Family are now, he believes, in danger from this attack (he does not express his opinion on causes, or the likelihood of further attacks).
He is careful to watch for her response to this news, but if she seems able to hear more, he tells her that he believes that it is now of the first importance to make sure that the children - and Solace herself - are as safe and protected as he can make them.
If she passes out or goes into hysterics at the first part of his news, he'll deal with that, of course.
She's quite upset that she has left the children alone and they were there without her during the attack, and she quite agrees with Lucas about the children's safety. She wants to know when they will be brought to Xanadu.
She wants to know how Paige is taking Daeon's death.
"I don't know," says Lucas. "I hope you'll feel well enough to pay her a visit of condolence later. But ... ah ... I believe the twins have grown somewhat since the Musical Concert two nights ago. Several feet, I understand - something to do with their paternal heritage. Best not to be surprised. And the exclamation, 'My, how you've grown!' will be somewhat more accurate than usual, although probably no less patronising."
She's surprised and concerned and plans to visit Paige as soon as she can.
He explains his plan for his own children - to send them to his mother for protection, until he has secured proper accommodation in Xanadu for his family. He wants Solace to be in a place of reality to protect her health - but he knows that she will want to be with the children. He was hoping that would be Paris - but as his mother is travelling, it means a sea voyage first. He explains he intends to send Nanny Starch with the children - and Gaston with Solace, if she accompanies them. The choice must be hers.
Solace has to think about this, but in the end decides she would rather travel with the children. They'll need someone to look after them, and that is Solace's job.
Shortly after Lucas returns to Xanadu and leaves rapidly again for Amber with Solace (i.e. two days before the funeral), a message is delivered to Garrett's rooms, written on rather humdrum Castle Xanadu notepaper.
When Garrett reads it, it runs as follows:
"Your Highness
I have seen the Master of Horse in Amber. He and his family are well. Indeed, the attack was so localised that I trust they were largely unaware of it until after the act.
Lucas"
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XLVIII: Counting Cards | Index | L: A Cousin's Funeral
