Amber: generation next
Jessica's tale: The Age of Redemption and Rebirth 2420-2493 d'L
Chapter 36: Time to Relax
Amber Time: 2421.06 ogan
Valian, as the official title was Protector of City Amber, got the wanderlust and suggested Michael and I join him on a ride to explore the unknown regions of Amber.
We all hoped to avoid Julian's patrols, his storm hounds and himself. Valian was the son of Corwin; Julian all but hated Corwin. Since Kyle, Julian's son, having close friends with Valian and Owen, Julian hated Valian all the more. Julia tolerated Michael because of Eric, and I think he, almost, loved me because of my connection to the life of the Forest. Julian is a hard man to predict or understand.
With these thoughts in mind I wonder how far into our exploration we actually made before subconsciously shifted Shadow. We stopped for quick lunch, courtesy of Michael's magic, and rode on a couple more hours. As it started getting dark, we decided to make camp.
Michael dismounted his roan and a tremor began. A fissure opened up in he fell in. Valian assumed his Chaos form and dove after him. The fissure closed behind them. I shuffled out Michael's Trump...he was alive, but unresponsive. I tried Valian's, I made contact.
They were in an underground river or lake. Michael was being carried away by some large creature. I tucked the Trump carefully beneath my bodice maintaining mental contact with Valian through physical contact with the card. I took the reins of their horses and rode to find a cavern or well or another entrance to the underground waterway.
To keep from wearing the horses out, I switched between them until finally, I came across a well akin to those found on Mimban. I secured horses and began the slow descent into the dark depths. As with the wells of Mimban, halfway down was a ledge and tunnel to, but Michael and Valian were rapidly approaching far below. I took off my cloak and boots then telekinetically lowered a rope from one of the horses secured my items to it and sent them back up in suspended them across a saddle Ansteorra.
I then dove into the dark depths of the pit into the deep dark waters below. when I the water I used the Force to control my breathing and adapt my eyes to see in the depths. My dress became the body suit akin to a scuba suit.
Valian raced passed me and not far ahead him was a large creature resembling the legendary Loch Ness monster of Shadow Earth. Michael was unconscious inside the creature.
Valian allowed himself be swallowed by the creature to get Michael out. I reeled with the creature's pain as Valian toward his way out from the inside.
The blood attracted several shark like creatures. I dispatched a couple of my lightsabre and use the Force to draw the attention of the others toward their injured comrades.
The creature meanwhile had swallowed Valian and Michael again. Through the Trump I pleaded with Valian to use his shape shifting to heal the creature.
I used the Force to communicate with the creature that we would heal it if it would not bring us harm. With a bit of help, I convinced it we were not food and asked her to lead us at his watery grave.
She regurgitated Michael and Valian and began to swim away, almost too fast for us to keep up. Finally she broke the surface of the water and we followed. I gasped at the air then helped Valian get Michael to the shore of the cave floor.
The creature had a few young waiting for her. While I attended Michael, Valian went to find her food.
The chamber above open into another cave or well and thanks to the power of the Pattern our horses waited above. When Valian returned, he flew us up to the horses where we continued our venture.
Amber Time: 2421.23 d'L djaya
Things have been relatively quiet here in Amber. A couple of months ago, though, I felt a disturbance in the Force. A disturbance that seemed to ripple through Shadow, even through the Pattern itself. Somewhere among the many Shadows of Amber the Elders died. The Castle itself was gone. It was a vision of the future, but the future of my Amber or another?
While on the subject of Amber's Shadows, I would like to say with sadness, the queen of T'Amber, her general, and chief advisor perished from injuries received in the battle against the Queens of Evil. Namely Jesyca, Owan, and Mikael. Valon is missing and presumed dead. Bell now acts as regent, being the only blood relative of Jesyca alive. I have also heard my cousin and friend, Michael, has taken residence there.