Amber: generation next

Jessica's tale: The Age of Redemption and Rebirth 2420-2493 d'L

Chapter 34: My Clone Wars

When I awoke it was sunset. I donned my dress, rolled up my tatami, and walked back inside my apartment. I put the tatami in my closet an picked out a pair of sandals. The pair I had worn in my infamous first photo-shoot for Playboy on Shadow Earth, under the name Elisa Bridges. The sole was gold, with a 3" silver spike heel. A jewel studded strap connected just in front of the heel and wrapped just below my ankle across the upper part of my foot. A similar strap crossed midway over my toes just above the first joint.

I went to my dressing table and took out a pair of diamond stud earrings and a ruby ring. I also put on a gold Celtic cross pendant. I finally took a gold chain bracelet and put it on my left wrist. I looked at myself in the full length mirror and shape-shifted my dress into something semiformal. I clipped my vambrace to my right arm, brushed my hair, and put on a black Jedi-style robe from my closet and proceeded to the family's favorite dining room.

All eyes turned my direction as I entered the room. Random, Vialle, Benedict, Corwin, Fiona, Gerard, Michael, Valian, Thangor, Owen, and even my parents, Brand and Dierdre were seated at the table. Thank the Force, Brand is still somewhat in control of himself since my companions and I helped him recover from his bipolar disorder. Although no one really trusted him, yet. I took a seat across from Owen, with Dierdre on my right and Brand to my left. The Jedi are the guardians of peace and justice, it seemed appropriate, besides it was an empty seat.

Over dinner, we discussed the present situation. Valian and the others described the two encounters with the 'Queens of Evil' and their armies. Valian made it a point to mention Sharda the Castrator of Hendrake, Queen of the Amazons, was dead. I've a feeling he sexually used her and then shape-shifted into something to devour her body.

Benedict and Owen seemed confident their ground forces would pose only a minor threat to Amber, but the supernatural forces might pose a problem. Brand and Fiona volunteered to study the materials in the library to find possible solutions to that problem. It still seems strange when you know Amber's history that after two-thousand years of fighting amongst themselves, seeing the elders working together.

Only Corwin seemed to remember Acasha's previous days in Amber before her demise. From his descriptions of her then, Brand's coup was tame. It was no wonder Oberon banished her from Amber.

After dinner, I talked with Brand and Dierdre in the sitting room about my life and my daughters their grandchildren, or as much as I knew about them. Brand retired to his apartment afterward, with the comment, "I truly regret the things I did to you, Jessica. And I regret that I wasn't there to be the father you deserved."

I felt through the Force that he meant every word. I smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. I believe he had a tear in his eye as he left, but of course he'll never admit it. Dierdre retired soon after. I gave her a hug and walked with her. I left her at the door of her apartment and proceeded to my own.

I sat at my desk an took out a piece of paper and a pencil and made a Trump Sketch of Master Skywalker. I stared into it until it grew cold, then came his response, "Hallo, Jessica."

"Hallo, Luke. How's Mara?" I asked.

"Better. What can I do for you?"

"I need to build a Holocron. I can tell you where to find the crystals I need and where Palpatine hid the details of that technology, but I need you to collect them for me."

"Sure. I could use that information myself, but how do I get in touch with you?" he asked. I extended a Trump of myself and made sure he understood its use, then I broke contact.

My late nap had left me wide awake and restless. I went down to the stables, saddled Goldenrod, and took a late night ride in Arden. I rode out the back way down the far side of Kolvir. I took a less-traveled trail into the heart of the forest. The moon was rising, casting an eerie light through the trees.

I was deep into the forest when I realized I was being stalked. It was a minimal tiger, fully grown, but half normal size an eighth of the weight. I had read about minimals, a contraction of 'miniature animals'-but had never encountered one. What this cat didn't know was it was being hunted as well by a pack of wolves or wild dogs. Unfortunately, if the canines caught the tiger, they would likely catch me as well.

I dismounted an spoke soothing words to Goldenrod, to make him stay put. The minimal tiger leaped out of a nearby bush. I threw up a Force Shield around it to trap it, as the wolves attacked simultaneously. I used Force Lights to illuminate the area . . . the wolves scattered. I remounted and rode back toward City Amber, once well away, I dropped the Force Shield and released the miniature tiger.

I entered the city through the main gate off Harbor Road. I continued up Carter Street, as its known it the city, to Plaza West. I turned left on Plaza West toward the most notorious marketplace in Amber, The Plaza of Timhaidh Soighne Dark Delights.

By day the plaza is an exotic market, the largest in the city. At night, however, it undergoes a startling transformation. In the moonlight, it's a quiet an whispery place. Diffused, muted red light illuminates the faces of patrons who are frequently veiled or otherwise hidden. Nobody runs; the clientele shuffles or scuttles from place to place. The wares sold at night are much more exotic and dangerous than those available during the day. Any form of drink or drug can be purchased here, from all over Shadow. Artifacts of strange gods can be found, many of which are forbidden within the city. No matter how strange a client's tastes in entertainment, there is always someone in the Plaza of Timhaidh Soighne who will accommodate them, for a fee.

Anyone venturing here at night has a high chance of being accosted by thieves or pickpockets, for the city guards generally give the plaza a wide berth. Because of the many and varied intoxicants available here, a wide range of strange behavior is tolerated and is no cause for alarm.

The plaza is a common meeting ground for Shadow wizards of Amber. These small, huddled groups of black-robed power are avoided by other visitors to the plaza. Magical items, though rare in Amber, are perhaps more common in the Plaza of Timhaidh Soighne than anywhere else.

When I reached the Fountain of Dark Abundance, which marks the plaza's entrance, I pulled up the hood of my robe. Legend says the fountain is cursed by a wizard that was pushed into it by the surge of a crowd. Some say those who drink the purple-black water fall ill and die. Others claim to see weird visions in its surface. I say its just an ugly fountain decorated with water spouts carved like demons and men in throes of wild emotion.

While I'm noting landmarks, located at the East end of Plaza Timhaidh Soighne, the Shrine of the Black Virgin stands directly opposite the Dark Fountain. The Shrine is a life-sized statue of a woman with her arms outstretched. The statue is carved from black stone. It sits on a pedestal in the center of the street Plaza East. During the day, the statue seems to become a peaceful gesture. At night, when the shadows fall upon the statue, she appears as a naked woman, inviting a man to share unthinkable pleasures.

I approached the site of the Bazaar of the Bizarre, a stall that has been vacant for sometime. The shop was open for one day, long ago. No shop has remained on the spot for more than a few days, since its hasty departure. Merchants who persist here usually go insane, collecting bits of trash and waste, trying to sell them for the price of a king's ransom. That was when Master Skywalker contacted me via Trump.

"Here's the items you wanted. I took the liberty of copying the instructions for myself," he said.

"Thanks, Luke," I responded taking the backpack full of Holocron materials.

"Want your card back?"

"No you keep it. You may need it someday."

"Thanks, Jessica. May the Force be with you."

"And you, Luke," I replied and broke contact. Turning back to the various shops and patrons of this dark market. I spied a very attractive male dancer. As he made his way round the plaza he stopped before me and took my hand. He kissed it then danced away. He disappeared into the crowd.

In my hand he'd slipped a note, written in a familiar hand . . . mine! It read:

Tell dearest Michael I'm alive and well. I'll be coming for him and you, Brandier. I'm coming with some surprise guests. Don't worry you don't have to leave the gates open. We'll make our own.

J. Damariis

Empress of the Sith

I crumpled the paper in my hand and Trumped back to the Castle. I know the news couldn't wait, so I Trumped Michael. Of course he was with a girl, which he tried to hide. Cute little red head . . . nice to know he hadn't forgotten me, haha. Passing him the note I said, "Sorry to disturb you, but I thought you'd want to see this immediately."

After he read it he handed it back and said, "Meet me in the dining room in twenty minutes."