"Let me ask, cousin," Obi answers. Obviously projecting for other than the Trump, the messenger asks, "Aunt Flora? Diomedes offers news. Might he join us?" He doesn't seem to exclude the others, but hospitality suggests he ask his hostess.

Miho's fingers tighten on Obi's shoulders. "It seems Dio is no longer unheard from," she says quietly to Eric. She looks down then, her thumbs pressing lightly into Obi's shoulders with a constant pressure. "Aunt Florimel has gone to take a phone call. She has had a busy day, it seems, with several phone calls before she brought Uncle Eric to visit, and then our arrival." Her thumbs press harder as she speaks of the phone calls. Eric considers Obi's half of the conversation, and nodding slightly at his niece's explanation. If he notices Miho's indirect communication to Obi, he draws no attention to it. Instead his own body language seems to relax slightly.

"By all means," Eric suggests with a gesture, "he is welcome to join us here. I extend hospitality on Flora's behalf."

Obi smiles reassuingly at Miho, a smile of confidence that he offered her when she first met Osebo and learned the ways of the jaguar.

He stands, providing room of his cousin's entry and offers a hand. "Aunt Flora is unavailable, but Uncle Eric offers hospitality in her stead."

As Obi begins to stand, Miho steps back.

Obi draws his cousin through to the comfortable library in Flora's Shadow home.

Diomedes steps through the contact and into the room, stepping free, and letting go of Obi's hand before turning to see the other occupants of the room.

"Uncle Eric." Diomedes begins with nod, but it is his cousin Miho that he saves his smile for when he turns in her direction.

"Dio," Miho says quietly, and nods

It is Flora's classic library, described earlier, as well as in

the novels. Flora is absent, But Miho and Obi are here, and of course.. Eric. As described earlier, he dressed smartly in a dark tailored jacket and slacks, with red shirt- dress casual.

Eric looks Diomedes up and down quickly and automatically and then nods. "Diomedes," he says in greeting.

Miho and Obi will note that Eric is now 'standing down', though even with their superior instincts, neither were ever exactly sure what he may or may not have been intending, if anything.

Eric raises his glass as if offering evidence. "Obi and I were just having a drink when you called. Flora has a domestic matter to deal with and should be returning shortly. You care to join us?" He gestures towards the sideboard, never spilling a drop of the single malt whisky in his glass.

"After what I have been through, a glass of single malt whisky would be very welcome, Uncle." Diomedes replies with a nod.

Obi walks over to the sideboard and pours himself another as he fixes one for Diomedes. He offers Eric another with a gesture, anticipating the negative response as his uncle's glass isn't empty yet.

Eric declines with an appreciative shake of his head.

(Obi) reads Eric's response without words, the familairity of gestures seeming well practiced even if a century distant. The once squire offers a smile of appreciation for Eric's discretion in front of the redhead.

"We were exchanging notes about our respective searches when the interruptions came. You've been out in the field for awhile I gather." He doesn't ask how things are faring, but all three of them can hear the unspoken question anyway.

From Miho and Obi's point of view, it is as if Eric never made a comment about knowing what might or might not be happening- at least the way he's acting.

Obi crosses back to Diomedes and hands off the tumbler before returning to his chair.

"Thank you." Diomedes says.

The son of Brand's eyes flicker from Eric, to Obi and to Miho. A slight quirk in his eyebrow betrays his thought processes, but this soon passes. He takes a sip from the glass that Obi has given to him at this point, and nods.

"Miho and I, during our failed search for Uncle Corwin, came upon a shadow which seemed relatively innocuous save for the inexplicable presence of an...anachronistic vessel on the river we were travelling." Diomedes begins to explain. "Miho and I seperated ways, Miho continuing on her search, and I remaining behind to investigate the ship, and see if there was a link between it being in our path, and our own efforts to find Corwin. It felt like a purposeful barrier."

Miho nods slightly at this.

Eric glances at Miho, as soon as Diomedes begins his explanation. After a moment he gives Diomedes his full attention but noting Miho's affirmation.

He turns and faces Miho and speaks to her, as if speaking to her alone.

"I was proved more right than I wished to be."

Miho cocks her head at his words. She comes around in front of the chair Obi has recently regained and perches on the arm of it as she listens.

Diomedes also has Eric's attention. He takes a seat as well, waiting for his nephew to elaborate.

"Aboard the strange crystal vessel were a race of beings not native to that shadow. They reminded me of Faerie, in their inhuman beauty, in their disregard for human mores, in their cruelty, in their sense of suzerainty over those they considered inferior."

Obi chuckles, "Reminds me more of Family than Faerie, but I apologize. Please, continue."

Eric is thoughtful during the description, but raises his glass to drink during Obi's remark, possibly to conceal a bemused look of his own.

Diomedes gives a serious nod at Obi's comment, with something unreadable behind his look.

"I went to their ship to meet them, and had to reveal a portion of my strength to avoid being consumed by such as they. And their leader, once I met him, added yet another wrinkle to the mystery when I finally met him face to face.

"Although slightly different given his race and species, the face he wore...was mine own."

Diomedes pauses here for dramatic effect, questions, and reactions.

"Your own?" Miho echoes. "That could be what drew you in, that he was tied to you. Did you determine how?"

"Is it surprising that a shadow of Diomedes might be strong enough to cross Shadows? It seems likely that a close shadow would exhibit a reflection of his sorcerous skills as well and those might be enough to produce such a situation, no?" Obi muses.

"Or are you accusing your father of a dalliance with some nymph or faerie, Dio?" The messenger's tone is light and teasing.

"I think neither is the case." Diomedes says in a serious tone, but he pauses, and looks to Eric for his own reaction and questions before continuing.

Eric cradles his glass in his hands, staring into the colored liquid swirling within. He looks at Diomedes then, accepting that he's been asked to provide his opinion and experience. "When you go far enough away from Amber," he starts, "there are the places where you'll find the very unusual. Almost like its a given that if you look under rocks, eventually you'll find.. bugs." He gives a nonchalant shrug. "I think all the explorers among us have found things that have moved through Shadow. Not often, or even repeatedly, but its not unheard of either. You'll note that even before your grandfather disappeared there were times when things came to Amber for no apparent cause."

Diomedes looks thoughtful.

He looks as if he might say more, and a moment later he does. "What is unusual about the situation you're describing is the presence of your own Shadow. That doesn't seem to happen until you've frequented a place for a while." He gestures to the library around them. "For example, I wouldn't be surprised to find a double of Florimel in the adjacent Shadows. Depending on how long one resides in Amber, sometimes they crop of up in the Golden Circle more than anywhere else." Eric finishes his drink quickly. "What is interesting to me is that you stumbled across one out in what I presume was deeper Shadow while looking for Corwin. Not even Benedict has described, to me anyway, anything like that."

"Diomedes, you mentioned that you thought it was a deliberate obstacle in your path. Lets not dismiss your instincts, why did you think that?"

"They implied it." Diomedes responds."The White Lord, as he dubbed himself, and I played a game of three questions, before the conflict turned to a martial and esoteric one. It was also suggested by the talk of one of the townspeople. Touched and somewhat maddened, yes, but his perceptions were that of someone with dementia animus. Without any reason to suspect otherwise, he knew that I, for instance, was something other than human. The townspeople figured it out later, but at the time I had performed no sorcery, no feats of strength to suggest I was anything other than an ordinary resident of their shadow. So it became clear that they were expecting someone of power, although not precisely who, to come across them, and there they waited. They were 'bound for nowhere'. They were lying in wait, using the shadow's inhabitants in prey in the meantime."

"There's more, though, Uncle. I don't think he was really my Shadow, my double. I think." he looks from Eric to Obi, to Miho and back again to Eric. "I think that it was a semblance deliberately chosen, once they knew it was me that had fallen into the net. I think he wanted me to think him just as a shadow, he even had a copy of Pagono."

"Just like." Diomedes finishes. "he wanted me to think that he was the one really in charge of the crystal vessel and its crew, when I deduced by the end that he was not."

"So a disguise, glamour, metamorph or some nature, directed at you?" Obi summarises. "I've encountered no particular obstacles of that nature in my search so far."

"To what end?"

"And who was in charge, if he was not?" Miho asks quietly. She reaches across to where Obi holds his glass and takes it long enough for a small sip before she passes it back.

Diomedes seems ready to answer, but Eric's words halt Dio from responding immediately. He gives a quick nod to Miho, and turns to listen to Eric.

"Your story reminds me of a type of divination that can be done with the Pattern," Eric observes. "That often nets strange things in a Shadow. Coincidentally, it is a good way to bump into reflections of those who weigh heavy on your heart, even if the odds would otherwise be less than favorable."

"However, you don't do that on accident, unless you're walking the Shadows drunk." He shakes his head dismissing that possibility in this case.

Eric regards Diomedes thoughtfully. "I don't have any better questions than those already asked by your cousins. If this ship and these beings were set in your path to Corwin, I wonder why. That and, frankly, if these fae folk weren't family themselves, as Obi joked, then the most logical party to be responsible would still have to be family."

"No one expends that much energy without a reason." Eric's electric blue eyes rest heavily on him and the three younger Amberites can discern that Eric is not being particularly partisan at the moment. "You're an intelligent man. I'm sure you asked them what they were doing, or why they were there." He settles back in his chair. "With just a limited knowledge of what transpired, I can still tell you this- that was probably the most important part of your confrontation. That would be the question which they were the least honest and forthcoming about, I wager. You need to ask yourself, regardless of what they might have said, what was their real objective?"

Eric lets that question hang for a moment for either reply or consideration.

"A couple of good questions." Diomedes says. He turns to Miho first. "There was a woman...female on board." Diomedes corrects. "She tried to accost me first, on the ship, and had the semblance and mien, at first, of some one of low rank on board. However, by the end of the conflict, it was clear that she was the one truly pulling the strings on that vessel."

"And her objective, as leader of that ship, in my estimation..." Diomedes turns from Miho with a smile to a more somber look for his uncle. "Her objective was, I feel, information gathering for her superiors. There were intimations that a civilization, or a society, behind their reavings. The White Lord even briefly invited me to accompany them to their realm."

Eric's brows furrow, considering Diomedes' analysis.

"They were a scouting mission, Uncle. And, if they are backed by Family, or allied with Family, its cause for worry." Diomedes finishes. "Anything more that I can say at this point would be probably useless speculation."

Diomedes turns as Eric speaks again

"Not to change the subject, Diomedes, but may I ask the last time you heard any word of Drake or Dina?"

Diomedes shakes his head. "I had thought to contact Drake when I sent Saffron and her ship down the river,but I tried other individuals instead, all without success. Obi is the first person I successfully contacted." Diomedes explains.

"It's a pity I don't know the Art." he says, capitalizing the last word.

Eric looks at Diomedes curiously, but doesn't ask him to elaborate.

Obi sips thoughtfully at his drink again before handing it back to Miho with an amused smile. When he turns his head to speak with Eric, he's business. "And if their mission was reconnaissance, we need to know exactly what we've told them."

"Of course," Eric agrees, "if that is at all possible. Yet, at the risk of sounding reactionary like your Aunt Flora with all her talk of horrors, or making this a political conversation- these anomalies in Shadow may be indicative of the fact that Amber itself is in conflict. Dissension and discord reflecting back on itself until it gives rise to something like the Moonriders."

Diomedes furrows his eyebrows at Eric's analysis, and finally gives a nod of the head.

"What I'm saying is that this could be a sign that its time to put our House in order. That was the topic this family was grappling with a few weeks ago-"

"And aren't I disappointed to have missed that little soiree," Flora murmurs as she strolls back in the room. She raises her eyebrows at the presence of Diomedes, but its followed instantly by a smile that would stop traffic at rush hour. "My house is being overrun by handsome men," she exclaims to Miho with a soft chuckle. "Aren't Miho and I the fortunate ones?" Redheads are known to have the capacity blush, and Diomedes does blush as Flora continues to speak.

Miho smiles. She sips at the drink Obi handed her, almost draining the glass, then hands it back to Obi. She draws her other foot up, perched comfortably on the arm of the chair in simple balance.

"Be a dear, Diomedes, and pour me something to drink. Please." She doesn't pause crossing the room until she finds a cozy spot on the end of a couch, curling her feet partially underneath her.

"Of course, Aunt Flora. Thank you for your hospitality." Diomedes rises and walks over to the bar and pours a glass of the single malt whisky, and then proceeds to where the ensconced Flora now sits and extends his hand to offer her the glass.

"Everything well?" Eric inquires nonchalantly.

"Everything annoying," replies Flora, "but I am muddling through." She glances at the cousins. "Who is staying for dinner?"

Eric sets his glass aside now and rises to his feet. "Not sure at this point, but I'd like a word with Obi before anyone jaunts off." He inclines his head in the direction of the library exit, requesting the Messenger to join him in a stroll.

Miho glances at Obi, then shifts her weight to let her feet fall back to the ground once more as she stands before he does, so that the chair does not tip.

Obi agrees, and with a little help from Miho rises to join Eric. Together they exit the library.

Miho nods to Obi as they head out

"You two wouldn't object to keeping me company for a bit?" Flora asks Miho and Diomedes. "Its been so long since I've seen either of you."

"I am actually uncertain as to the status of our expedition and our future plans, I've only arrived from a disturbing encounter which I've just finished relating." Diomedes then glances at Miho for her answer.

"We've only just arrived ourselves," Miho says, still standing. "We sought one relative in shadow and found another." She nods to Florimel. "Since our paths have drawn us here, it would be rude to leave so quickly."

Florimel never looks away, all the while that Miho speaks. "Thank you Miho," she says softly. "I always appreciate being treated with respect in my own home. So few in this family are mindful of that simple courtesy." Flora's demeanor is sweet and kind, but there is a layered subtext to it. Disappointment perhaps.

She lowers her eyes before looking back up at Diomedes. "Shadow has been odd lately. Its a sign, you know."

Diomedes gives a slight inclination of the head but does not speak, so as not to be rude to his Lady Aunt and hostess.

Flora looks to both of them now. "Eric has told me about this meeting in Shadow. I'd like to be forthcoming with both of you. These expeditions for my father and Corwin, barring that my father is actually alive, are only a prelude to an inevitability. Amber needs a Regent or even a King- for the long term, not a committee."

She lowers her glass. "I know that Miho's father is committed to doing what is in the best interest of what is the true home to all of us." Flora's blue eyes settle on Miho for a moment. "Even though we haven't spent a great deal of time together, I believe his daughter would have to feel similarly."

Miho neither nods, nor says a word. She simply regards Florimel in turn and chooses that moment to settle into the chair that Obi has vacated. She sits cross-legged, her elbows lightly resting upon her knees.

But then Flora settles those deep and wonderful eyes on the son of Brand, leaning forward a little where she sits. "Diomedes, I'd like to make a case for your Uncle Eric. Straight forward and candidly, and he would do so himself, if his need to talk to Obi wasn't so pressing. Your Uncle has the ability to be exceedingly fair and generous to his supporters. There is no great glory in being King."

Diomedes attempts to hold the discerning gaze in turn as best as he can, slightly mesmerized by his beautiful Aunt putting on her charm.

Miho cocks her head and watches Diomedes and Florimel.

Their Aunt takes a moment to consider her next words carefully, and casually tucks a lock of her gorgeous hair behind one ear. "Its common knowledge that Brand has his own mind on a great many issues.. even when it comes to Fiona and Bleys. Your grandfather was infamous for pitting his children against each other, and while Brand and Eric were never fast friends" she makes a motion with her hand, "both of them have had harder relationships with others than with each other. If your father were willing to talk to Eric, I don't think he would find any doors closed to him. Eric would like to be able to tell him that."

She still holds Diomedes fixed with those deep liquid eyes. "And its common knowledge, even to me, that if your father is going to listen to anyone, he's going to listen to you."

"There's a problem with that idea, Aunt Florimel, at least at the present." His eyes flicker between Miho and Florimel, setting on an imaginary point midway between them as he talks.

"Dad is and has been unavailable for communication lately. His...relations with his siblings, Theia, and Uncle Bleys both, has been strained as of late. As a matter of fact, I tried to trump him in my attempts to leave the scene of my battle, and could not even get the glimmerings of a contact with him, as if he were completely and utterly unavailable." Diomedes pauses. "Like Corwin."

"And there was something else." Diomedes continues, and then looks to his aquaphilic cousin. "I had a waking vision of sorts whose meaning I do not know, involving my Dad." His eyes regard the two ladies, to gauge their reactions to his last point, to pursue it or pass it up. "A waking vision?" Miho asks.

"Something like that, yes." Diomedes explains. "When I went to board their ship for the duel, I used Pagono to freeze a path across the river to where the ship waited. As I walked across, I saw the face of the spirit of the River, underneath the ice. Her imprisonment beneath the ice was a metaphor for the damming of the river upstream."

Diomedes pauses. "And then, briefly, that face changed to another face in silent plea, in some imprisonment of its own. My father's."

Flora sits up on the sofa, setting her dainty feet back on the floor. She presses her lips together in a very thoughtful pose as she considers Diomedes' words carefully. Then she actually looks her nephew up and down once before speaking. "Your father was one of his favorites," she admits. "Along with Corwin." She sighs. "There's no point in denying that, Eric's feelings notwithstanding," she says half to herself in a dry tone.

She shakes her head once before looking up at Miho. "So, before I consider that a war of succession has already started without anyone having been given notice, exactly how bad was he? Did you notice anything.. unusual?"

"That is difficult to say, Aunt Florimel." Diomedes replies. "Consider he who watches the sea erode a rocky promotory day after day versus the woman who views it once every several years. He does not see the change, much, being used to the slow change, but the woman sees the change in a much clearer light."

"So I cannot say." Diomedes admits "if there are large changes in his behavior that anyone else, or anyone outside the Clarissan branch of the family, would even notice."

Flora does nods that at his offered response. "Brand has always been mecurial," she admits. "But hardly the only one, though few others care to admit it."

Miho regards Florimel as her Aunt regards her in turn, then her attention turns fully to Diomedes as he speaks. "If he is imprisoned, will you go to his aid?" Miho asks.

Diomedes turns and smiles to his deadly cousin. "Would you not go to Gerard's aid, if you had proof positive that he were imprisoned? Would you not seek the aid of family you could trust, too, if it were the case?"

"I would do all that I could to find my father, were he imprisoned," Miho says. She glances at Florimel, including her in the question.

"Your grandfather kept us all at arms length. If there was any way of possibly knowing where he went, I would be of course to his rescue," Flora offers as her response to the question. "But to my knowledge, I'm one of the few that actually tried to do what he wished. That is, go off and be happy, somewhere else." A rather genuine look of sadness passes her across her face. From what Miho and Diomedes know of Oberon from their own first hand experience with the King; Flora is not necessarily being biased or inaccurate. Absence or at least proximity in Amber's service usually did make Oberon's heart grow fonder.

"Another please Diomedes," Flora holds out her glass. "If you would be a gentleman? The Irish Mist this time."

"Certainly, Aunt Flora." Diomedes rises and retrieves the glass that Flora holds out. He turns as he reaches the alcohol to regard the two lovely ladies for a moment.

Miho glances at Diomedes, cocks her head in a silent request for a drink as well.

Diomedes gives a small nod that might be more suited to a Vegas carddealer, although the smile he offers his cousin in addition is not. Diomedes begins to pour a second glass of the Irish Mist when he finishes with Flora's.

"How was Corwin when you saw him, Miho?" Flora asks again but this time watching Diomedes closely for any reaction.

Diomedes stops pouring the drink in the glass in utter surprise. His widened eyes flicker from Flora, to Miho. After a moment, he finally finishes pouring the drink, and brings them both over, starting with Flora, and ending with Miho. He sits down and looks at his cousin intently.

Miho waits for the glass from Diomedes, then takes a small sip before she regards Florimel. She cocks her head again, expression solemn. "I had always thought my habit of being direct was considered gauche, something learned along with swearing, from the sailors aboard my father's ship, and something to be unlearned so I could make my way amongst the family." She smiles. "It is a pleasure to see I was wrong. The answer, on all fronts, is dead or dying."

Flora pales.

Her expression grows serious. "On my way through shadow I have met numerous men who looked to me like the card of Corwin, who felt like I expected this unknown uncle to feel. All were critically injured; all may now be dead. As you can see, I am no longer with any of them, and am not sure that any were the man we sought. In the end, the path led Obi and I here to you, a relative in truth and not mere shadow."

"A succession of shadow-Corwins, the chain ending with Uncle Eric and Aunt Flora in this shadow?" Diomedes asks. "I mislike the implications of that." Diomedes adds, and then turns green eyes intently upon Flora.

Whatever shock Flora might have been experiencing at Miho's answer goes away in a flush with Diomedes' accusatory tone. The fingers of one of her dainty hands find themselves coiled around a peculiar pendant hanging from a chain around her throat.

Miho's gaze slips to the pendant, noting the details she can see perhaps once Flora's hand moves again.

Nevertheless she never loses her poise. "Your appearance is distinctive, my dear," she answers Miho coolly. "As is Obi's, in the manner which he conducted himself. It wasn't difficult to assess Corradina presence afterwards. The telephone is the poor man's trump I'm afraid. I admire your subtlety but as with any classic look, like the little black dress for example, it becomes passe when you wear it day after day."

Miho does not respond, waiting politely for Florimel to finish.

"As for you," she turns to Diomedes, "I expect you to remain a gentleman in my home or leave it. The truth will come out now, but there's no blood on my hands."

Diomedes inclines his head a fraction, a clear sign of apology.

She stares at him curiously, and its a hard stare. "The thought crossed my mind that Miho was avoiding the subject because of you, and I dismissed it without further consideration. I wonder now if I hadn't been premature. You're awfully quick to point fingers at someone who isn't denying anything."

Diomedes shakes his head, rises, and walks and pours himself another drink and takes a sip. "Perhaps I have not specified every detail in my disturbing encounter, or specified all of the chain of assumptions that I am building based on what happened to me." Diomedes says. "But that is the only 'deception', if you can call it that, that I confess to."

"As for shadow Corwins, real Corwins, and how you and Eric are tied with it all, Aunt Flora, I am regretful if a finger of blame cast in your direction discomforts you." He takes a sip. "I apologize if there has been the intimation of casting you, our hostess, in the role of a villainess. I only have recently arrived from a distant shadow, and what is truly going on here, I cannot say. I only looked at the information that Miho just laid out."

"However." Diomedes continues. "It must be said that correlation does not necessarily imply causation, but such correlation does often suggest the need for an explanation. I would, and I think my lovely cousin here, too, would like to hear the truth that you say will come out now."

Diomedes pauses. "If you would, please, Aunt Flora."

At Diomedes soothing words, Florimel's hand relaxes off of the pendant long enough for Miho to catch a glimpse of it without staring at where it rests between her breasts. It is a whistle, and very small and slender one at that. Miho can only guess that its note would be high pitched. Furthermore, her own mastery of body language and poise tells Miho that all of Flora's righteousness notwithstanding, reaching for the whistle was a reflexive and defensive gesture.

Miho adds quietly, "I would hope that you forgive that I cannot speak without subtlety here; I have said nothing but truth, and in the end, the path did lead here. And Obi and I hoped to learn why. For all that you have said and all that you have not, there is a wealth of information for us still to understand."

Flora sighs, and then tilts back her glass to finish her drink. A rather stiff drink for so dainty a woman. "I discovered Corwin a century or two ago, as time passes locally. I was unsure at first, because he didn't seem to recognize me, but observing from a distance I've become convinced that it is really him."

Diomedes listens intently, with bright green eyes.

Miho simply listens, her expression reflecting neither surprise nor dismay.

"The real Corwin is the one Miho and the others extracted from the hospital, after someone tried to kill him," she explains to Diomedes.

Diomedes opens his mouth in obvious surprise and shoots Miho a look of complete shock.

Miho sits quietly, expression placid.

She lowers her eyes. "Eric has known all along, but Corwin has never been a prisoner. Our prisoner I should say. Corwin's been free to do whatever he's wanted, but he's never ranged away from this place. Something has happened to him, and he doesn't seem to know who he is. I suppose I've been cruel to keep Eric's secret, but Corwin was intent on killing him sooner or later. You can both ask your own father's if you don't believe me on that," she touches her chest just below her neck, her face grief stricken.

"This seemed like.. like an alternative to losing two brothers."

Diomedes continues to look at Miho, speechless.

"I will speak with my father," Miho says quietly. "How close are you to Corradina, Aunt?"

"Personally?" Flora replies, "not very. So very beautiful, but coarse. Not as sharp as Fiona but.." She pauses to smile apologetically at Diomedes. "..We all know that Corradina is her father's daughter."

"If you're trying to warn me that I may need to absent myself from public circles," she says tenatively, "it's nothing I haven't thought of myself."

"I wondered how you would tell her that you have known all along where her father is," Miho says, still quiet. "And that he is broken, and that he did not leave her behind but he forgot himself, and those who knew him did not bring him back." Her tone does not accuse, simply lays it out upon the table for her. "You should be the one to say, because if I do, she will only be more angry that you lied. And she does deserve to be able to yell at you directly."

She glances at Dio, then returns her gaze to Florimel.

Flora, for the moment, can not look Miho eye to eye.

"Miho brings up a point of order." Diomedes agreed. "Corradina should know the truth and directly from those who had him held here, no matter how holy the motives."

"I would want the same, were it to happen to my father." Diomedes finished.

"When I contacted Eric," she says quietly, "he said much the same. He asked that he be the one to contact her, because he didn't like how it would look when I said I was doing it for him." She sighs.

"She's not taking any trump calls. I know, because I tried to trump her myself after Eric said he couldn't get her to answer.." Flora hesitates, "Just in case."

Diomedes looks thoughtful, but turns to regard Miho, clearly the person who of the pair is leading the conversation with Flora.

"I will be certain to direct her back to you and Eric for the answer to all her questions," Miho murmurs. "While I would like to contact her, if she does not respond, I will have no more luck than you. It seems, then, that we will need to leave, soon, to find her and deliver your message. But before I go... why did you hurt him so badly?"

Flora gives her a pained look. "That's what I've been trying to tell you. I never laid a finger on him. There's never been any need. Corwin has been living in a happy little dreamworld with no chains or fetters to tie him down. Miho, I've had hundreds of years to do whatever I wished to him. You can condemn me all you wish, but I am no torturer."

Flora looks to Diomedes, "Someone else tried to kill him before you started looking for him."

"If you, and Uncle Eric too of course, have been keeping him safely neutralized in a lotos dream, Aunt Florimel." Diomedes responds. "Then who was it that would disturb it in trying to kill him?" Diomedes asks.

"Leave no details out," Miho says. "How was he hurt, and when, and to the best of your knowledge, by whom? And why did you not protect him yourself rather than dispose of him in a hospital so far away?"

Flora, so recently abashed, fixes Miho with an indignant look.

Miho remains calm, her head slightly cocked, regarding Florimel.

However, just as she is about to reply..

Obi wanders back in from the gardens, a thoughtful look on his face as he catches the tail part of the conversation. "Not to interrupt Aunt Flora's recollection of the incident, but I don't think they've been keeping him neutralized. I think he lost himself many years ago and they just never saw a reason to draw him back into the morass that Amber has become when he seemed so content." He offers his aunt an understanding nod of the head.

"Quite," Flora concurs with Obi, with a pronounced nod of her head to emphasize just how correct the Messenger is.

Miho glances at Obi, her expression mild, but also not smiling.

"Eric, who's gone to arrange dinner, says Corwin doesn't know who he is. That his mind is broken and that it wasn't from the accident that left him in Greenwood," he explains as he pours himself a drink and on further consideration makes it a double. "It would explain some things, if not others."

The messenger takes up his relaxed posture in the arm chair again, raising his glass in a little salute to his aunt, his smile broadening. "But, as I'm sure someone has pointed out, this is truely an issue for discussion between Eric, Flora and Corwin, and perhaps Dina. It's really not our place to be demanding details of our elders, now is it?"

"The more intriguing question is, where do we go from here?"

Miho simply watches Obi as he speaks, then sips of her drink. "I think you and I should speak," she says quietly. "If you wouldn't mind," she glances at Flora and Diomedes, then asks Flora. "Is there a place we might go, for just a moment?"

"There's a parlor down the hall and on the left," Flora replies to Miho dryly, with a gesture of her slender arm. "You'll forgive me if I ask that you not bring anyone else here without asking me first."

Diomedes suddenly starts studying his empty glass, but says nothing.

"My apologies if I overstepped my bounds, Aunt Flora, but Eric thought well of the idea earlier. I will be more thoughtful should anyone else contact me," Obi offered.

Miho sets her drink down neatly upon a coaster, then rises gracefully. "I did not intend to," she says, tone mild, but perhaps slightly reproachful. "As you have already said, the one person I might wish to speak to, and who would wish to speak with you should she know it, is not currently responding to contact. I assume you will continue to try, as you recognize the importance of being honest with her."

She turns to Obi, and a smile finally lifts her lips, just for a brief moment, before it fades back. They all might notice something tired in her eyes as she nods for Obi to follow, and then goes where Florimel has indicated a room will be available.

"No rest for the wicked, eh?" Obi chuckles as he unfolds from the seat he had just regained. "If you'll excuse us," he says as he takes Flora's hand and kisses the back of it ever so gently.

Diomedes remains sitting quietly, letting his head rise to give the briefest of smiles to Obi and Miho upon their departure.

Obi calls the smile an raises him a wink before following Miho down the hall.