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And so, with only three turnings to go before the weddings, there was much rushing about.
I spoke to mother and Martin about revealing my Amberite heritage to everyone (mother seemed happy with the idea, and my renouncing any claims I might have to the Amber and Rebman thrones). Spoke to mother about her attitude to Martin and Taranis attending the wedding; she let Martin decide; he let mother decide, so now Taranis is coming, but with Bleys as his guest rather than as a guest in her own right. Oh well, not ideal, but better than her not coming at all, and at least this way mother won't be embarrassed. Asked Despil to be best man. Discovered that Helibore were using some kind of Logrus barrier to stop Lillith and I making physical contact over the Trump, to my displeasure - though I suppose it's partly my fault for taking her off previously. Arranged a pre-wedding bash in the Harlequin Caverns, where I had my pre-Logrus party; I can't help thinking this one will be a much bigger affair.
I hope mother, Martin and Taranis can deal with these things which are between them. I can't help thinking I wasn't much use. But mother and Martin, at least, I would have hoped would be able to sort this sort of thing out.
I couldn't believe when, during the course of our discussions, Nicobrus suggested we forcibly (with the aid of Benedict and Julian) putting Michael on the throne of Chaos. I most definitely did not approve; not that killing Valor would be any better a solution. I was surprised, too, when Random said no to anything like that. "Amber cannot interfere with the Chaos succession" ! What does he think our manipulating the death of Valdemar Fengyre was, then?
But before anything else, we went to find Tir-Na Nog'th so Taranis could use whatever strange power she has to find out more about what is going on. We found it out in shadow, over a beach. Dad waited below while up the rest of us went.
We saw several visions there, thanks to Taranis. One from before Valor came to Amber as ambassador; Prosek offering to expedite Valor's ambitions in return for information on Amber. And a mutual acquaintance - Brand - helping them. Valor was involved in the death of Gramble, too, it seems. Or perhaps not. In fact it seems there were at least two overlaid conversations happening simultaneously - Brand was earlier, before Patternfall, Valor later and after Patternfall.
Taranis questioned them. Valor is the son of the late Duke Gwydor Jesby (head of house) and Lady Pernall Imbrex. Prosek (the son of Xavier Barimen and Cymnea Fengyre) can apparently walk through the homes of the old order as he chooses, and has many names - Petris Helgram, a Fengyre, Eris Usherbal (which is rather worrying, as she taught me my medical skills, but it does at least imply that all of House Usherbal are not blood creatures of Duke Dirac), a retainer of Malrax, and many others, about one third female, two thirds male. This was not encouraging to hear. Especially as the ghost-Prosek claimed to be working more for Valor than Cymnea. And Valor and Prosek are bothers, perhaps in the Knights of the Eclipse.
These powers of Taranis's are quite worrying as well as very useful - is there anything she can't find out by going up to Tir-Na Nog'th? I'm glad she's on our side...
Oh yes, and according to Caine, Valor is a worthy opponent, in his top three in fact, who helped Amber and worked against Cymnea too when he had his own interests first. Worrying!
Against my better judgement I was persuaded to let Ishmael bring Yalia (or rather, a guest of his choice, of course!) to the pre-wedding bash and the wedding itself. And, rather to my surprise, nothing happened to make me regret having done so.
I could have lived without dressing in the stripy jumpers and domino masks to go and 'spring' Lillith from Helibore for the pre-wedding bash, but there was little choice in the end. Mother was eventually persuaded to go along with it.
Then driving through Chaos, in these costumes, at full tilt, to Helibore. I didn't realise mother was such an ... enthusiastic driver. At least there were lots of other costumed revellers there, it being Serpentalia. And it was certainly an impressive one-wheeled turn Nicobrus performed, as I'm sure those guards will able to confirm, once they get over their shock.
Mandor reacted surprisingly well to my revealing my part-Amberite ancestry at the party. I got the most human-seeming smile I think I've had from him, then. I wonder how much my costume for the party irritated him? Mandors hunchbacked assistant, Igor, with "Property of Mandor" on the breast pocket of the lab coat. Oh well, it seemed amusing at the time!
I considered asking Mandor for the Truth as a wedding present. Not that it is a gift I feel I have any great chance of actually receiving...
I really hope that whatever it was that upset Taranis and which presumably Adam and Cuchlainn were talking to Chess about, is not something too serious. I could have asked for more information, I suppose. But is it selfish of me to think, at the moment, that my wedding is more important?
If something is happening I hope it can at least wait until the end of our honeymoon before kicking down the doors and demanding we pay attention to it.
It was good to see Karlin Praxithea there too. It had been far too long.
There was some speculation and consultation about what Taranis's Tir-Na Nog'th visions meant. Merlin said Petris is the drawer of the Trump of Prosek. Ishmael repeated Taranis' theory that Prosek time-shares in people's bodies like some kind of super-Dybbuk. Will we ever know, is the question, and if so, how do we stop him?
Mother said that apparently Petris had a twin (very rare) who died or to whom something happened in childbirth - Prosek, perhaps? Delivered by Pavel Usherbal. And his mother was Cymnea, not the woman who is officially his mother. But Despil then ordered her not to say more on this topic, looking scarily like Mandor when he did so. She did not look happy, but acquiesced.
And I do wonder why Nicobrus had those handcuffs with him...
And it seems someone certainly objects to the wedding, judging by the explosion on the roof of the old annex of the College of Arms as I drove back to Sawall from Helibore having delivered Lillith safely home. Apparently the (un)timely end of an assassin aimed at me.
So I did it. Married Lillith. Don't think I've ever been so nervous, not even when we went into Cymnea's citadel. Even putting on the traditional blue wedding garb was a problem. Of course, I needn't have worried. With Mandor, Despil and Dara's hands at the helm, nothing went amiss. Lillith was so beautiful there in the cathedral, I thought my heart might explode, or simply stop. The traditional screeching-of-the-damned wedding music began.
But even though bits of me were gibbering, I did it. Nodded and smiled at all the guests. Said the words. Said "I do." And so did she. Rings were exchanged. Much kissing took place. Despil clapped me on the back. And so we were married by High Priest Bances. I hope its occurring on a good-omened day like the Serpentalia bodes well for the future.
I've never been so happy. Or excited. Can anyone have felt like this, ever!? Well, probably. But none of them were me!
And Lillith was happy too, for which I am profoundly grateful. She was accepted into Sawall, giving up her old position (except where she hasn't by agreement).
And Lord Bances put the Blessings of the Serpent upon us both,
Everyone who was anyone in Chaos was there. Including, it seems, large numbers of its assassins, who, it also seems, got short shrift. Sawalls, Amberites, Praxitheans, the one member of House T'thonis. Valor and Tmer.
The only slight fly in the ointment, which I had forgotten in the rush, was the wording of the oaths, in that they only apply until the birth of the first heir. I hope those are just words and have no bearing on our situation.
And then the music changed, out we marched in the middle of the 'honour guard', and it was off back to Sawall by carriage. A brief rest, and then we were introduced to so many people. At least Bartok took it like a man.
I got to say a few words at the reception. How happy I was. How grateful I was to the guests for their presence, and their wonderful gifts. How I was really the son of Prince Martin of Amber. And that being so, how I renounced any claims my fathers blood might be considered to give me to thrones of Amber and Rebma. Mandor reacted surprisingly well to my revealing of my ancestry and renouncing my claims - in fact I got the most human-seeming smile from him that I've ever had, even more so than his one at the fancy dress party.
And there were many other nice speeches from various of the great and good in Chaos. Plus an excellent wedding song from dad which seemed to amaze many of those present.
And my friends and family. So generous! Even some of the ones I know less well. A ship from Gerard (I wonder whether you can move ships with the Logrus?). Three estates, from Despil and Mandor (Fortress Manasa, a holding of Sawall), Nicobrus (one of the former holdings of Valdemar Fengyre), and Lillith's parents (Shadow Pireus in the Black Zone). From mother, the ornate key to a garden where I used to play as a boy, only now it's in Fortress Manasa rather than JuliaWays. Troops to guard Fortress Manasa from Dara. And so many other gifts - scrolls, Trump cameos, drink, furniture, animals, a cardboard box with Jasra's crown jewels in it from Luke, a big double bed from Random and Vialle ('the secret of a good marriage,' so they said), all kinds of things. The less physically impressive gifts were obviously still picked with care and thought.
I was pleased to be able to let Adam arrange our honeymoon as our wedding present. It was only later that I had a few second thoughts. Given the apparent callous disregard he has for shadow dwellers I wondered what means he might use to arrange the honeymoon. But then I concluded that Adam could not possibly be so blind as to use methods he knows I would find utterly repugnant to arrange my wedding gift, and relaxed. And the tropical seaside resort and villa with skiing he came up with were definitely worth it...
I'm not sure how useful, or thoughtful, some of the wedding gifts are. The swords from Hendrake, for example, for all their documented provenance, are not really things I fell I'll ever have much use for. I suppose they are the kind of gift that says more about the giver than the recipient. The ship Gerard gave - the Anaconda - is another. How am I, a Logrus user, supposed to move it through shadow? With the Pattern I might be able to do so, but not the Logrus alone...
And it was good of Random to let us be welcome to Amber at any time, with a suite set aside for us.
Do so many outside Sawall and Helibore really endorse our marriage? Or are they just being polite? Still it was impressive to see so many of the movers and shakers of the universe there. And a little disturbing!
The only slight flaw was Tulsha and Jago Chanicut being called away by a Chanicut servant just before the speeches began. This did not, it turned out, bode well.
Also, Taranis seemed much quieter and more stressed out than usual. Apparently, so Nicobrus tells me, something to do with Chess. Perhaps we should get him to talk to her.
And afterwards. Despil spoke to Lillith and I privately. Briefing us on the Sawall position on the Krailin-Malrax wedding. Telling us about the apparent civil war which has broken out in House Chanicut over the appearance of an apparently sane Yvaline Chanicut (the older sister of Tulsha who was declared unfit due to Logrus madness), wanting her 'rightful' position as head of house. We later learned that someone conveniently let her out of Fortress Abbadon in time to put Chanicut, one of Sawall's 'axis', out of the succession for the throne, leaving it now a competition between Sawall and Jesby alone. Despil pointed out how interesting it was that she got out at all - apparently not even the Apothecary General, Dirac Usherbal, can get people out of Fortress Abbadon. Perhaps, despite their apparent dislike of one another there is an alliance between Usherbal and Jesby.
Lillith rightly commented, once Despil was gone, that it seems we are now both fully accepted into House Sawall. Unfortunately, I think she's right...
I really hate this political stuff intruding into our wedding. Though this objection makes no sense really given that our whole wedding is based on politics, after all. I'm not sure I like this playing with the big boys that we're involved in now. But, I suppose, it's now far too late to back out...
Then it was off to the cathedral again for the joining of Krailin and Malrax. A different, longer ceremony this time, because of its being the union of two Houses, not one person marrying into another House.
And then it was off to Krailin for their reception. Which was quite hard work after ours. I wasn't up to the quality of ours, but it was certainly far more diverse, and interesting in its own right. And all in all a generally more relaxed affair then our reception. The very long sunset over the dance floor was especially good.
The speech of Jethris and Varia was well done, thanking we attendees, hoping their new joined house will be the best of the component Houses, and declaring their intention to adopt each others children. Which puts Nicobrus into the succession. I wonder how he feels about that!
I think mother might be quite lonely. Despil, Mandor and Dara certainly cut her out of their decision making, and now that Gramble is gone, I'm not sure who else she is close to. Perhaps she should get out more - she certainly seemed to enjoy our recent chariot ride (chariot race) to House Helibore. Perhaps she feels it would take her away from where things were happening too much?
I'd like mother and Lillith to be friends. I know mother didn't like the idea of my getting married, but that is a very different matter from Lillith herself. She was just as manipulated by her elders as I was by mine. Perhaps in time it will happen. I hope so.
Of course, this partly depends on what Lillith intends to do with her time now. It occurs that I don't actually know what daily life in Helibore is like, and with the wedding, it has become clear how little I still know about Lillith. What she likes and dislikes. What she did with her time back in Helibore. And what she wants to do now that she's a Sawall. I suppose I should ask her!
I didn't realise her mother was from House Rathrune, either, until I saw that Cordelia Rathrune was Lilliths bridesmaid. Or that she had friends among the Unhoused. Especially one as apparently notorious as this Giorgi (a reputation for "relocation of property on demand" apparently, and apparently by sheer skill alone). Still, I don't imagine Helibore is the only House with links to the Unhoused. Jurt, for example, in Sawall itself, springs to mind as an example. Let alone myself.
Apparently Giorgi saved Lillith when she was a child, looking after her while some inter-House altercation was resolved. For which I should be profoundly grateful to him!
The other Unhoused friend of Lilliths who was invited, Ormando, couldn't make it to the pre-wedding party. Apparently he had annoyed the wrong person, and had had his legs cut off by them! The mind boggles!
The other two friends of Lilliths who came to the pre-wedding bash were her cousins, Betan and Roberto. Neither of them looked much like assassins, but then I suppose they wouldn't...
I know she wants to go to Amber for longer than last time, after the honeymoon is over. I wonder if she would like to come with us when we go back to Meridian? I hope so!
Perhaps, when Lillith and I return to Amber, we should go to Rebma, too. See where my grandmother came from.