Grace - Session 1
The Swallow was under full sail heading
on a clear, cloudless day from Amber to Memphis moving at a comfortable
18 knots. The comfortable temperatures and steady breeze made handling
her an easy job for the experienced helmsman. While not the Swallow's
top
speed, it was faster than most other ships could manage. The Swallow
was
12 years old. Amber's oldest clipper, and it represented the culmination
of many years of effort and innovation in ship design. Top speed on a clipper
was twice that of frigate and while the Swallow lacked the heavy
armament of her slower colleagues, nothing could come close to catching
her, except, of course, Amber's other three clippers. While still viewed
as expensive toys with little military significance, Amber's clippers represented
an accomplishment unmatched anywhere within the Golden Circle.
Grace loved the Swallow and had made it her
flagship, but on this trip, Grace had little to do. Lady Diedre had requested
the specific itinerary to work on "maintaining the shadow paths" and providing
Grace more "instruction".
Grace found the instruction confusing. According
to Diedre, the only reality was Amber of which the rest of the universe
were mere shadows. Those of the royal house derived power from a "pattern"
by walking on it. Every few sentences, Lady Diedre would remark "Never
mind, you'll understand when you walk the pattern. You're almost ready."
Grace was not sure whether to be happy or apprehensive. Walking the pattern
appeared to be a rite of passage for the royal family, the legitimate royal
children having walked the pattern in their late teens. Grace was 80 while
appearing to be in her mid to late 20s.
Diedre wore a large crystal pendant which caught
the light every so often sending blinding flashes into Grace's eyes. Grace
found Diedre's theoretical discussion difficult to follow and the pendant
a welcome distraction. Grace was used to dealing with concrete objects,
ships, rigging, storms, etc. Abstract philosophy about the nature of reality
was far more difficult.
Grace finally interrupted the instruction at a suitable point to ask
about the pendant. The response was a vague reference to the pendant being
an heirloom before Diedre went back into the "theory of why the universe
is controlled from the basement of Amber castle" as Grace privately thought
of the instruction.
Suddenly, Diedre's pendant started to glow, and
Diedre paused contemplating the pendant for a few moments before announcing,
"I think we had better stop the lesson for today. Can you take the ship
around to a heading of 30 degrees N?"
The heading would take them off the path. The paths
between kingdoms were not marked though they were like the channels. Ships
on the correct path could get to their intended destination. Straying from
the path meant going into uncharted territory with all its inherent rewards
and considerable dangers. Getting back on the path often required a bit
of tricky navigation and, usually, some trial and error. Unless, of course,
there was a member of the royal family on board who could guide the ship
back or Lady Diedre.
Grace gave the commands to turn the ship from the path. Lady Diedre's
crystal alternately glowed and dimmed. Each time, she provided new headings
which Grace dutifully relayed to the helm. Whatever her inward thoughts
about the distance and complexity of the voyage from the path, Grace remained
outwardly very calm. Lady Diedre was a senior member of the royal household
and had the authority to take this Amber navy ship anywhere she chose.
After half a dozen course changes, a storm suddenly
appeared a few miles ahead. It did not appear on the horizon or sweep in
on strong winds. It just appeared sitting in one spot directly on the ships
current path.
Diedre next instruction was one that taxed Grace's professional calm,
"Can you take us into that and try to keep the ship as steady as possible?"
After taking a second look at the severity of the fast approaching waves,
winds and lashing rain, Diedre amended "Try to keep us afloat anyway."
Grace privately thought the best way "to keep us
afloat" was to stay out of that storm, but her job was to obey. Grace gave
the necessary orders which were relayed quickly. The crew was efficient
in furling sails until only three remained. These three strained at their
ropes, but the smaller number were easier to control in the lashing rain
and winds. The waves and winds appeared to be acting at cross purposes
at times as the ship was battered. Grace found herself lending a hand when
the rigging on one sail broke.
Grace was thankful that Diedre showed good sense in lashing herself
to a mast while holding out the crystal. "Quite a lot of work for an heirloom"
Grace thought as her attention was again diverted to the immediate need
of keeping the ship from foundering in the waves.
After what seemed to Grace an eternity in the storm,
Diedre called "Its no good. Take us back out of the storm."
Grace hastened to comply all the while keeping a professional expression.
The crew was professional about the exercise, but clearly relieved to be
turning away and leaving the storm behind. Though the very act of sailing
out of the stationary storm again highlighted the odd nature of this storm.
As the Swallow was almost clear of the storm,
Diedre freed herself from the mast and turned to peer intently back at
the storm. Suddenly, out of nowhere a huge wave came thundering out of
the storm and across the deck of the ship. Grace managed to catch a rail.
Lady Diedre and a half dozen sailors were not so lucky getting swept over
the side.
Grace first made sure that the Swallow was safely out of harm's
way before ordering the boats out and joining the one headed toward the
retreating wave. Grace was relieved when Diedre was found floundering in
the water. Grace was impressed at Diedre's swimming ability.
On the return to the Swallow, Diedre, wrapped
in a blanket, pulled out a stack of cards and began going through them
tossing some over the side as "ruined" while labeling others "salvageable."
Grace only caught some of this as she was focused on signals passing between
the boats. All six missing sailors had been retrieved alive. This was an
extremely lucky event.
Diedre looked over at Grace "It won't help my reputation if it becomes
known that I let myself get swept off the boat."
Grace responded in kind "It won't help mine if it becomes known that
I almost a senior member of the royal household almost drown."
Back on board, as the boats were being secured and
the ship returning to its course back to the shadow path, Diedre pulled
out a card and commented that she needed to contact King Martin to tell
him about this storm. Grace understood that the storm was odd, but was
still baffled by its significance to Diedre. The comment about contacting
Martin intrigued her though and she asked Diedre to explain.
Grace began to regret the request though as it led
to more theory than she was quite able to grasp. Grace did understand the
basic premise though that by concentrating on a specially drawn card, one
somehow was able to communicate with the person pictured. Diedre gave Grace
one of her own trump as Grace might need to contact her. The idea was certainly
useful and Grace could see a number of applications for coordinating ship
actions if the trump could be drawn of all the captains involved and if
the trump lasted though enough contacts.
Diedre did finally get to her call to King Martin
and the news was extremely troubling. There had been an assassination attempt
on Martin apparently from members of the Church of the Scarlet Flow of
Antioch. Grace turned the ship back toward Amber and put all efforts into
as fast a return as possible.