Sorry for the delay in updating. I hope you like it. Also thanks to my reviewers for the constant encouragement.
Disclaimer: I'm sick of doing these so lets just say that the one at Chapter 1 is enough.
Chapter 5
The Ball
Later that evening, after several hours of shopping, Myra departed her chambers in a blue, low cut evening gown with silver accents. She met Jade outside her rooms.
Jade was in a purple and green gown. Personally Myra thought it was ugly, but to each her own. She wouldn't like it if someone said the same about her chosen colors.
They made their way to the main ballroom in silent anticipation. Outside the doors Jade stopped Myra.
"Do you remember the day of the reunion?" She asked.
"Yeah, of course I do. Why?"
"Well, I saw the letter that Drake handed you. I've been wondering what was in it. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, I'm just curious."
"To tell you the truth, I don't know. I've never opened it. I guess I just wanted something to hang on to."
"I think it's been far too long, you should open it. Besides, you'll always have me for a reminder, and you can go back anytime."
"I guess you're right," Myra sighed. She reached into her top and pulled out the slightly disheveled envelope.
"You keep it in there?" Jade asked, trying to hold back her laughter.
"I usually have pockets." Myra growled, sending her a glare that could singe the hair right off of a lesser being. Jade, however, stood unfazed with a huge smirk on her face. Myra sighed again and opened the envelope. Inside was a beautiful silver necklace set with sapphires and onyx and a short letter, written on parchment. It read:
Dear Myra,
I'm sorry, but I must leave now. I don't know when I'll be able to return, but I will try if I am able. I give this necklace to you as a reminder of me until I return.
Drake
Neither girl said anything; they just stood in contemplative silence. After a moment Myra took the necklace and placed it around her neck.
"He always knew what I liked," She said.
After that they finally entered the ballroom. Myra was immediately roused from any distracting thoughts by the sight of two very familiar faces on the other side of the room.
"What the..." She stated in shock.
"Oh yeah!" Jade said, "I knew there was something I forgot to tell you!"
"How could you 'forget' something like that?" Myra growled. Then she put on her happy face and waved to Tristan and Roland.
"Remember how I told you about their disappearance? Well, this is where were. They came on Bennedict's trump, I'm told."
"Really?" Myra replied, "Well, let's go and talk to them."
They began making their way to the place where their old friends stood chatting. Before they'd gone too far something else caught her eye. A man dressed all in black and silver stood, not more than six feet away, with his back to them.
"Wait! Never mind, I see someone else I always wanted to meet," she said, directed Jade's attention in his direction.
"I heard that he just got back this morning. Funny, I didn't think he'd want to show up here though," Jade responded in a whisper.
He must've sensed their eyes on him, for he turned around abruptly. Upon catching sight of them, he almost dropped his glass of wine. Recovering quickly, he strode across the difference that separated them. "My God!" he exclaimed, "You two look so much like Deirdre!"
"Really?" They asked in unison.
"Well, my names Myra and this is Jade." Myra said, "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise," Corwin replied, "But, I already know Jade."
"Really?" Myra asked, arching an eyebrow at Jade.
"Huh? How's that possible? I've never met you before." Jade asked.
"Well, it's a fairly long story, which I may go into later." Was his reply, "But It will suffice to say that you are my daughter."
"I see," She replied, her usually dormant temper was beginning to rise, "So you knew all about me and just abandoned me?"
"I said it was a long story." He replied, "Calm down and maybe we can go through it before the night is over."
She seemed to settle a bit, maybe even letting her shoulders sag a trifle. 'Probably counting backwards,' Myra thought.
"Hey, at least I was able to get you here safely, eventually." He added, then, "Pardon me, but I've got an incoming call." With that he moved a few paces away and began talking to himself.
"I can't believe he just abandoned me!" Jade whispered to Myra.
"Well, at least you know how you fit in here," She replied, slightly jealous, "I've yet to find out."
"Oh, don't worry." Jade said, "I'll find out for you eventually. I'm not a geneticist for nothing, you know. I've already been doing some experimentations to find working chemicals around here."
Two men suddenly appeared facing Corwin. One shook his hand, and then they all turned and approached the two girls. All three men were very alike in appearance. Corwin was taller than the other two, but all had the same green eyes and jet black hair. One kept his hair slightly long, not fully succeeding in his efforts to hide his mutilated ear.
"Jade," Corwin said, "I'd like you to meet Merlin, your brother, and his brother, Jurt. Jurt, Merle, this is my daughter, Jade and the other is Myra."
They all exchanged polite greetings, then Corwin began a long conversation about various family affairs. Myra soon grew bored and was about to see if she could find the boys, when Jurt addressed her.
"Would you care to dance?" He asked.
Myra accepted and for a time she politely ignored his clumsiness. Eventually she decided it would be best if she led and he didn't object.
"So what made a lord of Chaos decide to come here?" She queried, curiosity getting the better of her tact.
"Well, it was Merlin's suggestion." He replied. When Myra said nothing he elaborated, "He has a strange theory that I'd be able to walk the pattern."
"Really? And he's willing to stake your life on it?"
"Yes, well, he says that our mother did it so I have a good chance of survival."
"Maybe so," She shrugged indifferently," You know, it's strange how you two look so much alike. It seems like you're full brothers."
"Yes, I have a theory on that one. The truth is that I think we really are. That's what made me accept Merlin's Pattern idea. Maybe I have more of a chance than he thinks."
Their conversation ended as the song did and they made their way back to the others. After only a brief time of chatting Myra took her leave saying only to Jade, "You know what I have to do. I'll see you eventually."
First she went to her rooms and changed into some traveling clothes, remembering to strap on her sword. Second she made her way to the library and grabbed herself a deck of trumps. Then finally she made her way down to the chamber of the pattern.
She won her way through the veils, ignoring sparks that came, then the final three steps. It took every ounce of her strength just to move her feet, but she made it and stood in the center, exhausted, but triumphant. Only when she had finished did she notice the three sets of green eyes watching her. She gave them a smile and a slight nod then was gone.
