B I G Session 12: Prologue -- Cantriq Ponders the Future

"Nothing was ever as it is today." The oft-repeated words slithered around in Cantriq's head like some loosed trap-sphere intent on crushing everything in its circuitous path. It was doing a fine job too, she noted. She had been able to think of little else but Bosphor's favourite saying since revealing herself to her nephew and his rebel companion. Why had Osric had to voice his displeasure and make demands upon her sister, she had not been able to understand. Syrynx was the Queen of Chaos. She'd earned it. And within a few mortal weeks of her ascension, the foolish son of Oberon had felt the need to lay down terms of his fealty. Terms to a monarch. The insult was huge. Osric could not be sure that he spoke for his House but speak he had. He might well be the eldest survivor. No suggestion had been made otherwise. That didn't mean that it was so, however. A true son of Amber might make sure of such a thing before proclaiming the way he did... Osric was a certain case though. He had lived alone for a great while and that was before his lengthy stay at the fortress Gantu. Cantriq mused that it was almost possible that this might explain the Amberite's behaviour. Almost. Cantriq was no novice in the family traits of the Houses of the Courts. Osric's family members were famed for their robust resilience. He might claim he'd been unhinged from his incarceration but what is madness to one of the Courts of Chaos? Cantriq knew better than to allow for this to be an excuse. He had never shown the least trace of insanity. She knew, as she'd checked with the Gallowglass gaolers who spoke quite highly of Orsric. Definitely not mad as they said it, so that took care of that. Besides, she preferred the plausible over the improbable... No, Osric had meant every word. She had interviewed the minor Houses' courtiers who had witnessed his speech to her sister. They were all the same when it came to what they remembered. He was defiant, certain of his stance and acted as Syrynx's equal as he spoke.

Who of the Courts would dare so much? What could Osric know that would make him feel so confident? Perhaps she mulled, it was not what he might know but whom. The Anachaos creature had appeared mere hours after his speech. Might he have been previously in touch with the thing? He had taken to it -- thank the Depths, Maldon had not! -- this she knew. Would this association give him the courage if not the ill-manner, to speak to a ruler while sat on her throne in such fashion? Cantriq's head leant ever-so slightly from one shoulder to the other as she thought and rejected this. Whatever the Anachaos thing was up to, it was certain it wasn't known to anyone yet. Osric would not be traipsing about Miranse if he knew the thing's plans. Anachaos couldn't be involved in mainstay activities so specific then? No, she thought, it made no likely sense. Osric was up to his fine, chiseled cheekbones in it, whatever it was. Why had he had to drag Maldon into it though?

That wasn't really fair. Maldon had done nothing to stop Osric from finishing his speech. Any courtier would have at least put a hand on the man to still his voice before he'd got halfway through his words. Maldon did nothing. Not a thing. The other courtiers said he didn't so much as flinch at the tone Osric took. Since it had happened, Cantriq had been operating with the idea that Maldon had been replaced by some kind of lookalike. It made more sense than any other explanation. Whatever Maldon could be thought of as, he did dote on his mother. Strangely, at this audience he hadn't even looked as he usually did when in her presence. He typically became flustered and hopeful when near Syrynx. Cantriq caught herself smiling at the thought. She could not soften toward Maldon. He had made some sort of play, together with this rebel Barimen. They'd hatched it while they were awaiting the queen's pleasure in the cells of fortress Saxsyrynx. Cantriq's generous lips narrowed. She was missing something and she knew it.

She'd been told to slay them if she ever found them. Already then, she was sailing on frothing waters. She might say that the global events meant that she could not act appropriately. She knew that would be scoffed at. The other Houses would be monitoring this closely. The Courts could be cruel to those who showed weakness of the heart. If she did nothing to these two, the Houses would declare the Queen's sister soft and weak. This would reflect on all of Saxsyrynx. It could weaken their standing. It might sow the seeds of discontent and worse. Things were too closely run to let that happen. Deignghaul was moving on the planes and upon the foundations. Cantriq could not do 'nothing'... Take Osric's head and leave Maldon to 'escape'? Perhaps this might be enough. It could sooth any claims of weakness. Simply a choice made by her when both were running. Both spines offered, she chose the Barimen rebel rather than her relation. No House would likely see that as odd. Some might be well-pleased with Osric's death. So this could be made to work. That would leave Maldon isolated. Cantriq knew that there were others seeking rewards that were likely on the world hunting Maldon, even now. She'd already run into a pair of them on the way to Spansis. They were closing in on him. Cantriq considered it unlikely that Vu'Kosh and Indivod Bleackan of House Barraban could manage to kill Maldon. He was too careful in his studied casual protections around himself. She had seen the Saursan and the Beleaguered of the Serpicane Depths in Spansis. Scowline! Cantriq's lips parted slightly revealing her teeth as a cat might on seeing a rodent. Unlike a cat, Cantriq did not have to act from instinct. She could await a better time to deal with such a person. It would be more enjoyable for that wait. Cantriq was the mistress of patient retaliation. Her brother Bosphor could out-plot the most conniving of hearts of the Courts but she could out wait even him, when it came to serving revenge. He had frequently said as much to anyone who would listen, which displeased her -- all the more for it being true...

What were these two up to? Forgetting Anachaos for a moment, was there anything else that they might have been blinded by, allowing them to forget their place, even momentarily? It would have to be something immense. Cantriq realised that she might not have enough to go on. That wouldn't still her active mind's search for the answer. What was she not seeing? Cantriq used her gloved fingers to tick off each possibility:


There was the imminent war.

There was the increased Monstrous activity here and there.

The arrival of some players of the other Mainstay worlds. The Black Cav. The Weir. As well, the Cadavivva could not be unseen once acknowledged.

The Array was certainly heavily represented. There were ten she knew of on Miranse and probably some she did not know and some probably on their way as well.

The presence of Renaissance's, old Realm town could not be discounted. Foolish servant-man of the Cygnana. Would these people never learn? The Barimen had sought their aid, for all the good that created at the finish.

Word had reached her of an unexpected thought within the Greyplane. A thought that all in Saxsyrynx had known when it had spoken. As Anachaos was able to reach them, now Scafyre was letting itself be heard. How it had survived and where it was within the plane was still unclear.


There was Deignghaul. He was a curse and a paragon. Cantriq knew enough to still her mind when thinking on him. He was too close to her and the family. Had he not been, she might view him differently but he had chosen to interfere with the youngest ones of Sax. He would be made to pay for that temerity... Not temerity, she decided. He was her superior in all ways. Not of the Courts, as he was too ancient to be a part of the Houses, Deignghaul pre-dated the rise of the Courts by a large margin. He had only one equal, his brother. They'd had a falling out or a parting of minds. That was a long time before records of Chaos were kept. In the infancy of Chaos there were no scribes or braziers. In such a simple, forceful period, there were only few within Chaos. Deignghaul might well know things of Chaos that could serve to magnify its position. Cantriq considered that maybe this was Deignghaul's final plan -- once he had wrested control from his rivals. She didn't think that was going to happen. He was all about himself. As chaotic as that might be as a mindset, there was something to be said for aspects of the Realm beyond personal aggrandizement. Deignghaul wanted the throne, full stop. He'd never indicated any real reason for wanting it, however. Even his cohorts in the Confederacy were encouraged to try and destroy the Confederacy. Chaos. Cantriq could admire the nature of Deignghaul's organisation even as she denied its sway over her. For those more accepting, the Confederacy looked appealing.

For those more accepting of the idea of surviving and killing to survive and prospering under the watchful eyes of the master of isolation, Deignghaul, might have a great appeal.

For those younger and more impressionable, certainly he might...

Damnation, that might be it! Osric was bitterness and Maldon was ambition. What if they had been sent word by the Ithmakal, to join his cause? Would they roll the bones on such a mad plot? Canriq nodded. They would. She knew they could not begin to fathom the depths of Deignghaul's pernicious mind. His was the Serpents' coils made flesh -- that's what 'Ithmakal' meant after all...

Cantriq paced. She knew Maldon and Osric were at their safe-house in the city. If she went there she could at least find out, and if not be certain then at least warn them to reconsider. That would bring her to the attention of any of the Courts who might be spying on them. That would make her position with the Courts and with her sister untenable. There had to be a way to find out. She couldn't try her disguise again. That ruse wouldn't fool the minds of that pair so easily again. She also had promised to move Belringer's troops out from the city and down the Road to War. Kelud wouldn't keep. This move might bring the snake out of its hole. Should more than a few Spires have an interest in the events near Kelud's borders, Cantriq could see a scenario where the gathering might be too tempting for Deignghaul to ignore. He had been active recently, even going so far as to visit Conclave. His abruptness, once there, was obvious to all in the Wide Array. He'd chosen Blue... A 'being of the future'. Cantriq nodded to the idea. Let the future come, Ithmakal, and see what I bring you then. Destruction would be too easy. Cantriq knew of something different that would be worse for the ancient one.

She would have to leave the outchaos pair to their own devices. She would take the army to Kelud and batter upon the door and see if she could rouse the master of the house.