Unfortunately, Diomedes is not sure that pushing the car any harder is such a good idea, especially on this road...

"He knows that we're here. And I am disinclined to believe that we can outrace him." Diomedes says. "The car is close to its limit, given that we're no longer on flattop."

"Random. I have an idea, if you trust me." Diomedes says. He spares looking at the road as much as Random.

"If and when hear the horn or definitive signs of pursuit and chase." Diomedes begins. "We should stop. Just stop. We've been chased by humanoids, fractal Octohedronal constructs, and the ghosts of our past. I tire of being prey, and I do not wish to give Julian and his own sport. So when he sounds that horn of his, I say that we stop and let him come."

"If HE is truly on our scent, and makes sure sign of it, we're unlikely to escape a pursuit anyway, and we might cause collateral damage to his forest or his minions that will just make him unhappy. So we simply stop, let him reach us, and dicker."

Diomedes regards Random speculatively.

"I can't fault your reasoning," Random grunts. "And I'm getting sick of being pushed around myself." He gestures towards the road ahead. "Okay, if that's how the play goes down.. lets do it."

They drive another five minutes before the first horn sounds. Stormhounds can be seen running off the side, so fast as to seem to be leaping. When Diomedes brakes the car to a halt, they come out of the woodwork to surround the car.

"Aw hell," Random sighs. "Well, if I have to, I can drop a few of the puppies before we become chow."

"These look like they might be capable of devouring the car." Diomedes responds doubtfully. He rests his hands against the wheel and waits, expectantly.

A minute later, the Prince of the Forest, comes stepping of the trees onto the road a ways ahead of them, riding that thing that looks like a horse. A handful of mounted foresters are with him. They nudge their steeds to come closer slowly, and the hounds will break their circle to let them pass.

"Step out of the car," Julian orders calmly. "Hands at your sides."

"There is no need for hostility, good Uncle Julian." Diomedes says calmly, moving to unlatch the car door and step out as directed. "It has been too long since we have last met, and I regret not having the wherewithal to do what I did with Aunt Deirdre and others, and invite you to Epirus before our meeting here and now."

"Oh really?" Julian replies dryly, but not raising his voice at all and sounding nonchalant.

"I recall a very different scenario only a few weeks ago. I expressed my condolences to Corradina in Eric's office for that tawdry and blatant maneuver in the Library; only to have her cackling in my face, and at my expense, the very next morning. While I don't hold you responsible for Corradina's bi-polar disregard for social mores, some of your cousins managed to remain pleasant to me in spite of her scene. But you? You sat in your saddle and stared off into space. I suppose it was just easier." Julian is blase in tone, but the sarcasm however is undisguised.

Diomedes does not say anything, and forces down as much as he can the glare which is probably still in his eyes regardless.

"Now you find yourself back in Arden under very different circumstances." He gestures to Storm Hounds, panting with their teeth of steel, and to his Rangers, silent and at the ready. "And you're my long lost nephew, mourning that you've never had the opportunity to get to know your dear old uncle. Oh! But you have, haven't you?"

"Quit being a prick, Julian," Random grumbles. "He's just a kid."

"Oh. You're feeling ignored aren't you?" replies Julian to Random. "You heard Father is gone and its safe to crawl out from your rock. Tell me, how is your son doing?"

In the blink of an eye, Random's pistol is out and leveled at Julian's face.

Diomedes gives a start, his eyes rapidly moving from uncle to uncle.

Julian doesn't blink. "You'll miss," he snorts dismissively. Only then do all of the Rangers and the Storm Hounds catch up with the Amberites in terms of reaction. Julian's men draw back their bows. The monstrous Hounds raise their hackles and begin to growl in unison. Morganstern's nostrils flare as its ears pin back and pupils shrink, those polished steel hooves pawing once at the ground. Diomedes knows without question that they're on the edge of certain death.

"Goodbye." Diomedes whispers, to no one at all.

"Maybe not," Random says coolly.

"If I'm wrong," Julian answers without a seconds hesitation, "I'll only precede you in Hell by a few seconds. At that time you'll have the opportunity to tell me 'I told you so'."

Slowly Random lowers his gun. Julian narrows his eyes, and then with a disgusted sigh Random drops it on the ground in front of his feet. The rangers and the Hounds begin to stand down as well.

Turning back to Diomedes, Julian continues as if nothing had happened. "While I appreciate civility, I despise when it only comes when convenient."

"You've created quite a stir, young man. Tales of what passes for dinner conversation at Flora's table has reached me all the way up here in Arden. Now that you've gotten everyone's attention by the figurative pubic hairs.. I'm curious, what you're going to do with this little power vacuum you've created. In fact, we've all been waiting for your next trick." Julian pauses to give his next statement more emphasis.

"Where are you two going and what are you doing?"

"I'll answer your question in a moment, Uncle Julian." Diomedes replies, half closing his eyes. Sweat has beaded on his forehead from the nearness of the end of his Odyssey, his life...and his heart still beats like a triphammer within his chest, threatening to break free of his rib cage.

"I've been manipulated, lied to, baffled, and pushed around by my Elders the last few days" He now opens his eyes and looks at Julian. "If you decide to now use me as lordly fodder for your legendary hounds, it would be cleaner and almost a kindness."

"I never intended or desired to create a stir or grab anyone by the short hairs by my revelation." Diomedes said. "My only intention, my only intention, was a kindness to a cousin I feel close to, to give a bit of explanation to the fact that she, without known trump, was being trumped by parties unknown."

Julian's expression loses some of it's sharpness at this admission. As if he realizes that Diomedes is referring to Miho, and knowing that, he is forced to come off his (figurative) high horse somewhat.

"And now to tell you where we going and what we are doing, I am going to tell you where we've been, because its important. If you want to consider this my 'next trick', so be it." Diomedes doesn't stare at Julian's face, rather looking at a point just beyond the Lord of Arden's shoulder.

"Random and I were most recently engaged in trying to free my imprisoned father from a well guarded Tower deep in shadow. Ever since the failure of Random and I to affect his release, we have been pursued in shadow by forces from that Tower. We head now to Rebma, to deal with personal issues that frankly are none of your business, ere returning to Amber at Eric's implied invitation and to raise aid in trying to free my father."

His uncle's eyes become alert at this comment, but the rest of Julian's face is almost glum. Tormenting Diomedes no longer seems very fun.

"I do not know if those forces pursue us still, but if you or yours soon see strange misshapen men, or a octohedral construct of metal, consider the power needed to both imprison my father...and to send forces across the shadows against those who dared and failed to free him, all the way to here."

"And if you think me a liar...then, since I have done the lying, let Random go on, to Rebma, and deal with me as you see fit."

Julian rolls his eyes. "Don't be absurd Diomedes. If I decided that one of you had to die right here and now, you know it wouldn't be *you*."

"Oh bite me!" Random snaps angrily, but this only solicits a bemused look from Julian. That bemused look doesn't last however, and Julian regards them both, looking unsure of what he wants to do.

"I don't profess to have any idea of what you're talking about, freaks and metal.. constructs you said?" Julian shakes his head, and appears to relax a little.

Diomedes nods in all seriousness.

"Alright," he continues after a moment of considering what he's heard. "Let us just assume that your errand to Rebma really is just some personal business of your own. With Brother Random back after twenty years, my imagination can fill in the empty spaces."

"Your father is missing, and you intend on going to Eric to ask for help with Brand's.. rescue? In return for your support. Do I understand you both correctly?" He looks between Diomedes and Random.

"I don't anticipate leaving Rebma for some time," Random mutters directly. For his part, Julian nods and accepts that answer at face value. Then he turns at looks at Diomedes.. and so does Random.

"To Eric then?"

"After Rebma." Diomedes agrees with a nod and then continues.

Julian nods solemnly.

"I believe that negotiation will be necessary before anything formal is worked out between Eric and I." Diomedes responds. "After all, I have a problem." He looks at Julian levelly.

"I only know for absolute certain that out of our Family, Random is not involved in the imprisonment of my father." Diomedes straightens himself out and stands as tall as he can as he faces the Lord of Arden.

And now, Diomedes will realize, he has Julian's frank and candid attention. The air of mockery is gone.

"While an encounter I had in Shadow suggests that it wouldn't necessarily have to be Family, Uncle Julian, if you were a betting man, would you bet on a power besides our Family having the motive, method and opportunity to imprison my Father and ring him with guardians such as I have described?"

"Just to give an example, and I mean it as compliment to your skills and not as offense or accusation." Diomedes continues. "You, for example. Your arcane animal husbandry with your hounds and your mounts might give you the knowledge necessary to create the misshapen humanoids that pursued Random and I."

"Do you begin to see the depth of my problem, Uncle?"

"Yes," Julian replies almost sympathetically, "perhaps more than you realize."

There is a moment of silence. Julian adjusts his grip on Morganstern's reigns.

"I have an appreciation for honesty. I've always shared that with your aunt Fiona. We've both acquired a reputation for intolerance, in this, a family known for its dishonesty. I believe what you say Diomedes."

"You mentioned the depth of your problem. It has a hidden dimension. I'm sympathetic to your loyalty to your father, even though he and I are not friends. And I'm sure that there could be something done to help him. Perhaps if I spoke to some your Aunts and Uncles, when time allowed, we could help you? To help him...?"

"However, I can't allow you to continue on your affairs. Not now," Julian says gravely. "Bleys and I can't allow Eric another ally."

Random groans," Aw hell..."

"You might say certain recent events have caused Eric to suffer a reversal of fortune."

Diomedes looks stunned and star-struck by Julian's admission." He looks at Random and then looks at Julian again. He regards his forest-loving uncle for a moment. He then turns back to Random, spreads his hands and his tone takes on one of apology.

"I am sorry, Uncle. This is entirely all of my fault. You could have been recreating on a beach right now, save for me. And I've delivered you here to more trouble than you deserve."

Random shakes his head. "That's life kid, you can't run from it."

Diomedes turns back to Julian.

"Uncle Bleys and Aunt Fiona are furious with me right now." Diomedes says. "After all, I gave away a Secret. I'm the one they want, and I am the one who they will put into a Tower of mine own. Random is innocent of that. It was pure chance that we wound up together."

"If you give me your word that you will allow Random, by escorting if necessary, free passage to Rebma to face Moire's Justice and thereby remove any chance of aiding Eric or injuring Bleys' chances, then I will peaceably surrender to you here and now. Theia and Bleys want me, and as soon as you tell them that you have me, will have you hand me over them so that they can deal with me as they see fit. Random, though, should not have to pay for the sins of me being callow and naive."

"What do you say, Uncle?"

"Fairly spoken," Julian replies. "I'll consider it. However, I might have a counter-offer for Random."

Dio turns his gaze from Julian to Random.

"Cut Diomedes a break brother," interjects Random in a reasoning tone. "Eric left him nowhere to go. And for all you know, he only said that because he expected you to be on Eric's side. Hell, I did myself. You have us at a disadvantage, it's only reasonable that he'd tell you what you want to hear."

"True," Julian agrees, "but how am I to take that risk now?"

Diomedes makes a slight graze of the head in admission.

"However," the Forest Prince says to Diomedes, "I think you might be taking this too dramatically. Miho told me of the dinner conversation, and of your intentions. For that alone, I'll try to mitigate on your behalf. It's not flattering, but I believe that Bleys and Fiona will take that you were used by Eric into consideration. There may yet be opportunities to regain their trust." Julian pauses. "I tried to provoke you earlier, hoping that you would talk. Diomedes, this isn't personal between us."

"Not between us" Diomedes agrees in a murmur.

"Now," Julian says to Random, "Since I know how you feel about Eric, and you didn't declare yourself his intended ally.. I suspect that he, Caine, or Drake have made you an offer?" He gestures to Diomedes. "Since Diomedes was willing to go to him?"

"I declined," Random replies.

"I can only imagine the spiel that they gave you," Julian says with a nod. "I don't have one much better. Except that you're needed right now, so you can hope to feel the benefit of being well favored just that quick. Also," Julian adds carefully, "you're a Prince, Random. You're a law unto yourself, you don't need to answer to a lesser Court. Whatever difficulties you're having with Rebma, you will have allies that can help you. Namely the King of Amber."

"Why do you need me right now?" asks Random, in a mixture of interest and suspicion.

"We need to remove 'him' from the castle while we can, and locate the King's Regalia. For that we need numbers, and his are divided. He has only Deirdre now, if she can be counted on for anything besides.." Julian glances at Diomedes and makes a dismissive gesture, apparently not wishing to finish the obviously unkind remark about Dio's aunt.

Diomedes keeps his face a neutral mask at Julian's dismissal of Deirdre.

"The other kids-" Random starts to say

but Julian just shakes his head. "Accounted for and suitably distracted."

Diomedes raises his eyebrows.

Random looks to Diomedes to comment, uncertain. However Dio can tell Random is considering it.

Does Diomedes have an opinion? A protest? Or even a deal of his own to offer?

"Locating the King's Regalia implies that the King is not expected to be found, or return, or that he does not have them on his person." Diomedes says calmly.

"Yes," Julian agrees. "It's come to that."

"I suppose that a meeting with Theia and Uncle Bleys is inevitable in any event." Diomedes continues. "I don't doubt that you might put a good word in for me, Uncle Julian, and that it is not very personal between us. However, still, you shouldn't be surprised if they consider my neutralization more important than using me to tilt the numbers in their favor. And I do want to spread the word about what I've discovered. Everyone, really, should know. And perhaps its best that everyone *does* know."

"Agreed," Julian says. "I am grateful that you take up that burden for the rest of us, though I am sure everyone does know now, or will soon."

"But to repay a debt I owe to my Uncle." Diomedes gestures to Random. "His safety and disposition is what I am concerned about presently." He then looks firmly at Uncle. "The board has shifted again. So, what do you want? I've dragged you here to Julian's hand...but seem to have some small say in what will happen."

"So what will it be Uncle Random?"

"There's no better time Random," Julian adds. "You've never been so popular as right now."

Random takes a long moment to think about it. Then he glances at Diomedes and then Julian. "I don't like the idea of selling the kid out, he's been square with me."

Diomedes starts to shake his head in protest, but Julian's words interrupt his gesture.

"Consider it protective custody," Julian replies. "Till his dispute with Bleys and Fi is straightened out. Besides, they're not going to do anything serious to him because we'd all know about it. He's done the rest of us a favor by keeping them honest."

"And Drake," Random starts, but Julian cuts him off.

"Drake works for Eric, and can't be trusted. Why do you think I went to Bleys in the first place. The little bastard thought he was going to blackmail me with respect to my relationship with Miho."

Random looks up surprised.

Diomedes looks surprised, too and his eyes widen slightly.

"No, nothing like that," Julian waves. "I've always been fond of the girl, and Drake found a way to drive a wedge between us and thought I would submit to extortion. The specifics can wait, but the days of Drake's teen rebellion against his father are over. He's declared himself a 'big boy' now. But this isn't about personal likes and dislikes, brother, this is about who can best manage Amber.. and secure a place in its future for you and I. Am I clear on that?"

"Yeah," Random sighs. He shakes his head, but then looks back up at Julian. "Count me in."

Diomedes gives a small nod to Random and murmurs, to no one at all, and in a low voice.

"At least I gave him the opportunity to make a choice of his own."

"Excellent, smart move," Julian replies crisply. Turning to Diomedes. "We'll take you to base camp where you can be reasonably comfortable until Bleys has the opportunity to talk to you."

"I accept." Diomedes says with a grave tone of voice. "I suppose our car, Uncle Random, is going to now sit here and slowly decompose and rust. We might have set a record with it, between you and I."

Diomedes then looks at Julian. "We walk? How far away is your base camp? My knowledge of Arden is painfully, fatally thin."

"I won't be walking in either case," Julian corrects him. "If you don't object to your hands being bound, I'll put you on a horse. If you'd rather not, I'm afraid you will be walking."

Random protests this treatment, but Julian reminds him. "He's a magician, Random. It's not personal, but don't ask me to be stupid. On foot, I feel more comfortable that we can keep track of him."

Whether Diomedes rides or walks, its a good four to five miles. Random is afforded a horse ride, but is unhappy if Diomedes is made to walk, Nevertheless, Random doesn't protest it a second time.

Diomedes submits to his hands being bound, so that he might ride, too. Inwardly, he expects that his hands would not allow to be remained free even if he did walk.

They arrive at a garrison in the woods, with tall stockade fences, stables, barracks, and better living quarters for commanders and Princes alike. Diomedes is taken aside, patted down, and then given a hot meal and some wine and water to satisfy his needs. Random is taken elsewhere for his refreshment. Diomedes is not left alone during this time.

Diomedes mostly stares at his plate, eating enough for bare sustenance.

Shortly Dio is taken to a room with no windows and sparse furniture. Julian enters with a few additional Rangers. "I regret that we're going to be restraining you. This place really wasn't built with a mind to the need of securing prisoners. It won't be for too long, then we can make arrangements to transport you to somewhere more comfortable."

"You must do what you must, Uncle Julian." Diomedes says softly. "I will not resist."

He is allowed to sit in a chair, but his arms are tied behind his back. The ropes are secure, but the Rangers are not sadistic, there is enough room for blood to flow without constriction. Diomedes is left then, to wait.

Diomedes remains seated, doing mental exercises in his head to pass the time.

A half an hour to an hour later, Random creeps quietly into the room, with his finger pressed to his lips. "Gotchya a little present," he whispers. "Odds are they won't search you twice, and I haven't given them cause to mistrust me." He holds up a trump of Llewella, and then tucks it inside of Diomedes shirt. "I'd give you the Castle, but.. I'm really going through with this. Can't risk you blowing it if you happened to be p!ssed at Julian. I just figured you deserved better than this." He claps Diomedes on the shoulder once. "I can't have them thinking I betrayed them though, so you're going to have to wait for an opportunity to use it. At least until we're gone."

"You're a smart kid," he grins. "You'll figure something out." But then the grin fades. "Bleys is here. He'll becoming for a brief chat. No time for him to do anything though, we've got to move soon. Just don't sweat it, okay?" Random gives him a casual salute. "Thanks for everything Doc."

"Goodbye and good luck, Uncle Random." Diomedes says.

Random slips out.

"At least I gave him the opportunity to make a choice of his own." Diomedes says, repeating what he said earlier.

Approximately twenty minutes later, Bleys enters and closes the door behind him, and remains leaning against the door across the small room. He does not smile, but nor does he look particularly wrathful. "Its a terrible thing that has happened to your father," he says gravely and by way of introduction. "And the phantom call to Miho?" He shakes his head. "I can't account for that."

Bleys crosses his arms. "I'm told you've had an attack of conscience concerning the trumps. Is that why you chose to betray us?"

Diomedes puts on as neutral a demeanor as he can manage. He doesn't look directly at his uncle, rather focusing at a spot near his feet, in penitence.

"The attempted psychic attack on Miho by means of a trump connection is the reason why I made the revelation that Trumps could be made by someone other than Master Dworkin." Diomedes replies.