Opposite Numbers

My red-haired opponent and relative pushed a pawn forward, and took a sip of tea. I stared at the move, wondering what she was up to. Nothing good for the White King, that was for sure. I studied the board and looked at the pawn move she had made.
"I didn't enchant that piece, if that is what you are thinking" the magically talented person sitting across from me said, with her usual hint of sarcasm, plus an echo of an incident long ago. With sudden decision and clarity of vision, I slid my bishop out from its home and into the center of the board. "Very funny, Aunt Fi" I said by way of response to her comment. Now, that aforementioned pawn was under assault, and she would have to respond.
"So, Scipio" she said, taking a sip of tea and looking over my move, "What shall we talk about today? I think it is my turn for a topic. Hmmm." Her green eyes studied both me and the fine board given to me by my dear sister Raven. Immortalized in a Trump of me she did, as well.
While she sipped, I decided to ask her a question about the party several nights back. In my amusing quest to find her another boyfriend, I had hit upon, ironically enough, the uncle of the lady I myself was seen squiring around. I wondered if they had hit it off well, and so decided to find out. "So, getting along well with Herr Reynolds?"
Fiona shook her head no. Before she could say more, I decided to give a compliment. Scipio Rule #1 of Women. Always give compliments.
"His loss, then." That, at least, brought the hint of a smile to her face, and she spoke. "Speaking of which, that's what you can tell me today, Scipio. You never told me the whole story of that Chaosian you met during the war. What's her name?" Fiona seemed to be searching her mind for the answer.
Anyone who knows Fiona well knows that she generally doesn't ask a question unless she herself has a good idea of the answer. Almost like the lawyer Bill Roth, in that way. "Laila of Hendrake. You want me to tell you about her." She just nodded, and moved her knight to defend the disputed pawn. "I understand that the Hendrakes occasionally call you with invitations to visit to this day, but I never understood why. So, yes, why don't you tell me of her?"

I sighed. It could be worse. She could have asked about Delphina, but not even Fiona has the malice to do that. Besides, our relationship isn't adversarial. What is it, we ourselves don't know. Despite a rocky beginning, it has evolved to this point. Weekly games of chess, and tea, and talk. Like clockwork, of course. We are both punctual in many ways.

I began the tale. "This was about, oh, 5 months after we had learned Corwin had escaped." If Fiona showed the implication that I knew more about that incident, she wasn't reacting. My role, as it were, in the events surrounding Corwin's escape are another story. Oh, I didn't spring him or anything, but still, that writer left it out. "One of the misconceptions of Corwin's view of the War" I caught a faint smile from my aunt "is how the war was conducted. There is no mention of battles besides Garnath and the end at Patternfall. I, of course, having fought at Faiella-Bionin, and other places, could tell a much different tale."
"Anyway, my Legion and I were out on picket duty. I was increasingly annoyed at Eric. His occasional snide comments--did I ever tell you he once referred to me in a conversation with Caine as `Flora with a Penis'" ? Fiona, thankfully, made a grimace of disgust at Eric's crudity. I continued. "and the way he had bungled the handling of Kaitlyn had let me to take my force on extended duty. We are in this nice enough shadow, somewhere down the black road. A bifurcated vale separated our base from the Black Road, and an equal size force of Chaosians. We had spent a couple of months in the shadow. Occasional skirmishes, but mostly, as I said, picket duty. Except, it seemed, that recently, at the same time I launched a strike against their base, they launched against ours. "
"The long and short of it, thanks to those twin valleys, our major forces engaged and captured smaller forces of each other. So, both sides had missed the main force of the other, and in addition, the both of our forces had netted a fair number of prisoners. The question was, what to do about this. Neither of our forces, I was sure, could control a large number of prisoners. So, something had to be done to resolve the situation."
"A couple of days after the mishap, I was sitting in my tent, when my Lieutenant and Magic Officer, Gerald Goldson of Begma, came in. He bowed to me, and sat down in front of me. He knows that I have a dislike for excessive formality in the field.
"'Sir, I think the Chaosians are secure for the moment, but there are so many of them, we must do something.'"
"The passion in his voice was evident. A raid into Begma not too long ago caused serious devastation, and of course, the recruitment of more than a couple of Begmans into the Amberite military. I was lucky to get the magician, since Kaitlyn was still too young and upset at Eric to join me. She did wind up later, toward the end, after Gerald died, however." I paused for a moment in memory of the officer who had fallen on the field of battle.
After a second, and after pushing a pawn to attack Fiona's Knight, I continued. "Anyway, I just looked coolly at him. Clearly, even without speaking it, he was of the opinion that we should launch an all out attack against our foe. I, was of different mind.
"You mean a full scale attack against their camp abutting the dark Road." I didn't feel bad for anticipating what he was going to ask. " I don't know if that is the wisest course here. That would give our prisoners a free shot at escape. Plus, our own prisoners there would be effective hostages. There must be another solution."
"You are the Captain. I just think an assault is what is called for. Use our strength against them."
With those words, I stood up. The light had shone into my skull."
"Lieutenant, I should reward you for original thinking. We are going to use our strength. MY strength, I corrected. I am going to parley with them. Now." I stood up. Gerald realized what I had in mind, and of course, was in shock.
"Sir, you CAN'T. They'll kill you on sight. Send a messager, or something. Don't go there yourself!"

I paused a second, and then shook my head.
"No, Gerald. If they killed a messenger, it would be as if I had murdered him myself. I couldn't live in good conscience with a murder on my mind. It would haunt my dreams eternally. I will have to go, and alone." I paused a moment. "Not quite alone, but I think riding defenseless would insult them more than if I took Arc along."
I looked up at the wall past Fiona, at my gleaming scimitar. A bit out of place in my room of Escher, and chessboards, and the documents a Diplomat needs, but she was special to me. She may not have fancy powers, or sentience like, say, Marianne's Kalbruin, but I like her. After a nod to my weapon, I continued the story, Fiona listening intently, and still pondering her next move.

"I took Arc from a weapons rack and executed a stroke. Although I had only had her for 5 years, she was a part of me. She felt good in my hand. I buckled on some light armor, and I was ready to ride into the valley, and to the enemy camp. As I was preparing my horse, Sergeant Blake hailed me. I am sure that Gerald put her up to it. Cara and I had broken up a couple of months ago, and hadn't really spoken together since."
The look of dissapproval on Fiona's face was evident. "Camp followers, despite their convenience, are tiresome in their own way after a while" I explained. I continued. "Anyway, the good sergeant had come to beg me to reconsider."
"Scip, oh Scip. Please don't go through this. I could nae think of those murderous...things harming the man whose bed I once shared. Please give up yer foolishness. There must be another way to deal with their likes."
"Pretty dirty pool, Aunt" I said by way of commentary. I was upset at Gerald for quite a while for using her like this. To her, like any woman, of course, I was more kind.


"Cara."I stroked her cheek gently, as a reminder of our time together, as I mounted my horse. "I will be all right. In a way, I am using my greatest weapon against the enemy. I will be all right, never fear."
" I then rode off, into the valley, and the noonday sun beating on me. I heard her sobs, but I didn't look back. The only direction to go, was forward. After a good ten minutes passing through the misty, tree lined vale where our forces had fought several times, I came upon the outskirts of the camp."
"Unlike the standard pentagonal tents of the Amberian military, there was a riot of styles and shapes, and colors. Although at the time I dismissed it as a product of a sloppy war machine, I was to learn later that the various Houses of Chaos had their own distinctive styles. I reached a cleft in the rocks. From experience, and what Benedict taught me, the Chaosians, if they had any skill at war, could not fail to have a guard posted. I was, of course, right. A large creature, about 7 feet tall, accosted me. Green warty skin, and black, slimy hair. Classic depiction of a troll. His voice was equally ferocious.
"What buisness do you have here?" he bellowed.
"This started a bit of a commotion, as several more Chaosians quickly showed up. Most were armed, except those with the obvious proportions of Mr. Verdant here. So, I decided to tell the truth."
"I have come to parley with your commander, if I might."
"Commander sounded like a good enough title. I myself had the rank of Captain, I assumed that their commander, with an equally sized force, might have the equivalent rank. I seemed to perplex the guard with my statement. It didn't seem to be on his list of responses he might get. A full 10 seconds passed. I serenely looked at him, wondering what my backup plan was, if things got ugly."
Fiona finally moved, swinging the knight away from the offending pawn. "You didn't have an alternative course of action?" she asked, incredulously. She knew I usually have a backup plan in case things go snafu. This time, however, I didn't.
"No, I was so eager to resolve the problem that I went a bit half-assed." I smiled, and looked the board over. I had gained a tempo in Fiona's retreat of the knight, and I had a couple of options in my attack.
"The situation resolved itself, fortunately. Another Chaosian, an obvious officer, strode up. He was nearly as tall as the Troll, but much thinner. White hair, red eyes, white skin. An albino, I think, is the term. He wore this pointed black armor, and a rune engraved broadsword. He, in his own way, was as impressive as the raw power of the guard. He was more garrulous, though.
"Ah, Scipio of House Barimen. Commander of the Amber forces in this Shadow."
"He actually bowed to me out of respect. Apparently, Fi, I had a lot to learn about the enemy. I wasn't familiar with the appelation he gave me, but I let it pass. He continued his politeness, introducing himself."
"I am Melior, of the House Helgram."
"Just to be polite, and since I am of the opinion that if the natives rub blue mud in their bellybutton, then you better too, I bowed back, with equal angle and duration".
" I am second to the commander, and will conduct you to our commander immediately. Your mount will be given refreshment and rest."
"He clapped his hands, and I took this as a cue to get off my high horse. With this statement, the onlookers began to part for him and us. I followed behind, still worried about the horse, but I figured that my life was the more pressing issue."
"I learned later, of course, that had my horse or I had been harmed, then the Hendrakes would likely declare vendetta against the person who so blatantly defied the rules of war. At the time, of course, I had no idea, and so I nervously approached the large square tent in the center of the camp. Naturally, being shapeshifters, a variety of forms lined our path. Some handsome, some hideous, and some which defied imagination. As a point of pride, I think my form was as curious to them, as well."
"Melior entered the tent, and I followed in behind him. A more or less standard army tent. Bed, table, a magical light, and of course their commander, whose back was to us. Before I could say anything, the commander spoke in a contralto.
" Leave us, Melior."
He bowed to both of us, and left, and as soon as he departed, the commander turned to face me. The commander was...female."
I saw the light shine in Fiona's eyes, and decided to correct her possible misconception. My voice grew strident. "I may be a tomcat, so to speak, Fi, but I am not a sexist. I treat the women I squire with respect and as equals. I never force myself on anyone. No means no. And I do not see them merely as unintelligent objects of my lust."
I continued. "I could hardly be a sexist, having grown up here in Amber. As surely as if I was Gorleis' brother, or Marianne's brother in blood as well as in spirit, being Flora's son is an education in the perils of sexism. The story about me, Mom, a mugger and a hand grenade IS true. Also, the strength and talents of my sisters, as further proof."
"Still, I was surprised that the commander was female, but not because I think women are incapable, but I just hadn't known. Poor intelligence work. Anyway, the commander. How to describe her? A full six feet tall. Skin as pale as Deirdre's. Eyes of a light blue, like ice. Hair of a snowy white, worn long down her back. Her lips were a bloody shade of red, and her teeth showed descent from a canine or perhaps a feline. She wore a light chainmail, and a short sword was at her belt. She was, at once, fearsome, and lovely. Yes, even then I thought she was attractive, Fi."
"She smiled at me with those canine teeth. I tried hard to not show my nervousness. She clearly knew who and what I was, and she decided to show that off.
"Scipio Aurelius, son of the Princess Florimel. Captain of the epynomously named Scipio's Legion. Formerly of the diplomatic service. You have two full sisters, and you are the eldest child."
"My reputation preceeds me, and, it would appear, you have me at a disadvantage" I replied.
Without reply, she moved toward a table. A basket, full of muffins, was her target. She chose one, and then made a gesture. Trying to show a lack of fear, I chose a likely specimen and impulsively bit into it.
"How did you know it was not poisoned, Captain" was her bemused reply to my action.
I decided to be truthful. "I have been in your power since I arrived in your camp. I doubt that you would have allowed me this far just to poison me. It would be uncivilized."
"Indeed."
She then produced an ice bucket, with a bottle in it.
"We had some difficulty in procuring this on short notice, but our power does have its advantages."
" She turned the label so that I could read it. A Bayle's Best. Bottled 14 years ago. A good year, and one of my favorites. She produced two goblets."
"Will you pour, and please, be seated."
"Now I was starting to get really suspicious, Fi. The Chaosian was demonstrating quite effectively that she knew all about me, and that I knew little of her. So, I put down the muffin, and took up the bottle. Sealed with the crest of Baron Bayle. It was real, and unopened. I took out my Swiss Army knife, and used the corkscrew. Pop! The cork smelled wonderful.
The commander, deliberately, I think, looked away as I poured. She turned back and focused those icy eyes at the glasses, and chose the glass closest to me, just as I was reaching for the glass closer to her. Our wrists met for a second, and we both felt...something. I managed to rattle her a bit, and put a bit of color on her pale features. She smiled those canines as she brought the glass to her lips and waited for me to drink mine first.
"Afraid that I am poisoning you? Perhaps your intelligence services aren't as effective as you think.". I then took a swallow. Bayles Best, all right. Personally, I allow it to breathe for 45 minutes, but it wasn't bad. It is hard to ruin it.
Upon seeing me drink, she, without hesitation, tried it. Those pearly whites showed again.
"A fine draught, Captain. I will have to take the Bayle estate as spoils for my House when we conquer Amber."
"I, on the other hand, was actually starting to get a little impatient. I still knew nothing about her, and the wrist contact convinced me that I very much wanted to, and that she had something stirred as well. It might seem little to you, Fi, but that psychic power you claim could make me a good sorcerer or Artist I use for more...personal magic."
"Now that we have drunk, Commander, will you tell me who you are? You have me at a disadvantage"
I know that I was repeating myself, but I was hoping her tongue would be looser this time.
"Disadvantage? Disadvantage? Scipio Florimel's son, I think as your opponent I should very want to have you at disadvantage."
"She then promptly switched gears."
"I am Laila, daughter of Lona, of the House Hendrake."
"Hendrake again, I, thought. I just nodded. Just to make it appear that I kenned all this talk of Houses, I decided to ask a geneological question."
"Out of curiosity, what relation is Melior to you?" I didn't see much of a resemblance beyond the skin, but who knows. It was also a way, perhaps, to help break the ice.
"Melior is the eldest son of my mother's sister Melanda. He is, as you would term it, my nephew."
"So, the Chaosians were up on geneology as much as we are, I thought. I continued to sip my wine, and she hers. When they had been drained, she wordlessly poured us another drink each. Before we had the opportunity to imbibe more of Bayle's masterwork, she broke the moment with buisness."
"So, what brings you here to our camp, Captain?"
"Those canines again. Unnerving and somehow erotic all at the same time. Reminded me of Mora."
Fiona looked at me with a lack of comprehension. In the meantime, I finally moved a piece. I decided to swing the other bishop out into play.
"Mora, lady wolf, is another story. Suffice it to say that she was the person who eventually helped me get over Delphina's death in a way only a woman could. She was one of Eric's Weirs'"
Fiona just looked thoughtful, both at me, and at the move. I decided to continue the story.
"I decided to tell the truth of my visit, cut to the chase, since it had gone on a tad too long, already, in my opinion."
"I have come here, Commander Laila, to discuss a possible exchange of Prisoners of War between our two respective forces."
"Interesting," she replied. "You did not slaughter your prisoners when you captured them."
"The implication was, of course, that they already had. My eyes showed alarm, but she just shook her head."
"No, we did not kill our captives. We did not know if you would kill yours, however. We considered it a possibility."
"I finally had an opening. She had anticipated everything about me up to this point. Almost as if she was...briefed on me by someone in Amber." I looked at Fiona, knowing now, after the fact, of course, that the redheads had a great deal of contact with Chaos, and it is likely from them that they learned of me. Fiona's face was too inscrutable, though. It was long past, anyway, so I didn't pursue it.
"It would appear that your source of information is not as reliable or accurate as you might think, Commander."
It was my turn to smile, and I took it with gusto, and I then continued.
"I have been many things, and done many things, as your information no doubt indicates. I am, however, not a murderer. I do not slaughter indiscriminately, and would consider myself a murderer if I did so, even in a state of war. It would be dishonorable to kill prisoners. So, rest assured, they are safe and sound."
"She seemed to drink in this information, as if it was completely unexpected, and she didn't know what to make of it. Finally, she replied, after a sip of the wine. I, too, took another opportunity to drink my own in the pause."
"It would appear that you have something in common with the people of my House, Amberite. Although some Houses of Chaos would not care, Hendrakes take war seriously. We are honorable during it, and after it, we bury the past afterward. If you had the misfortune of having an Kivain as your opposite number, it is likely that not only your captured personnel would be dead, but you would have been killed upon entering the camp."
"I just nodded and replied."
"Then I am glad that I have you for an...opposite number."
"An interesting term, but a descriptive one. She finished her draught, and stood up. Out of instinct, I rose immediately afterward. She looked me up and down, and then folded her arms akimbo and spoke."
"I propose a formal meeting to discuss the terms of the exchange. Three blueskies hence, at your camp, perhaps. After all, I have nothing to fear from visiting your camp, do I?" She gave a brief look of an innocent and then returned to seriousness. "Your hospitality is legendary, Scipio. I look forward to it."
"Three days hence it shall be, Commander. Until then."
"We formally bowed to each other, and I left the tent. Not surprisingly, my horse, along with Melior, were waiting outside. I mounted him, but, before I could depart, Melior decided to have words with me."
"You have a fine animal here, Barimen. Remind me after the war is over to have you point out for me where the best horses in Amber are raised."
"This confidence on the part of the Chaosians was getting annoying, so I decided to respond in kind."
"Remind me if we win, Melior, to have you point out to ME where the loveliest women are."
"He just smiled, and then I saw the same canines that Laila had."
"I believe my Aunt qualifies in that category, would you not agree?"
"With that cryptic statement, Fi, Melior waved me off, and I had no difficulty in exiting the Chaosian camp. I rode through the vale again, and was soon back in friendly territory. Gerald, and most of my senior staff were glad to see me. I had not returned with the prisoners, but I had returned, and they were more than happy that I had ridden into the camp of the enemy, and had returned, alive."
"I dismounted, and explained the situation. I impressed upon Gerald the importance of the upcoming meeting, and I then went into my tent, to think and plan. Also, for my weekly call to Mom." I caught the look in Fiona's eyes at the mention.
"Yeah, I often phoned home, so to speak. I may be her eldest, but I will always be her son. Even if she drove Raven away with her overbearing nature, and could easily have done the same to Katie, I do love her. Maybe not as much as my three sisters, but still, all the same, I do." Once again I had the delight of perplexing Fiona, until she realized who I meant by my third sister. The full story on that is a long one, and for another time.
"So, after a short hello and yes, I am eating my vegetables, and so forth, Mom asked a question she always does."
"So, my son, are you seeing anyone?...besides a camp follower, that is."
Fiona looked at me in shock, and even decided to make a comment on this. "She pries that far into your life, nephew? Even I don't bug Gorleis about who he is seeing... And I certainly would not ask him in the middle of a war, by the Unicorn." Perhaps Fiona was overreacting on purpose, because she then chose to move a pawn right into the line of the bishop. The pawn was unprotected. She was offering me a gambit.
I just smiled. "Mom and I do share an inordinate interest in pursuing the opposite sex, Aunt." Just as demonstration, I gave my full bedroom smile and the look. Nathan, when we went together to a singles bar on Earth a couple of times, said that I had practically a passport to a woman's bed when I used it. I certainly have found it so.
"I see" she said, perspiring a bit. I shook her, I really did. Damn, I am good! Surely she didn't think I was seriously flirting with her? Cousin relationships are one thing--after all I have been hoping for a match between Chance and my sister for more than a century. But, Merlin's little adventure aside, an aunt-nephew relationship is a little much, even for me. I decided to switch back to the story.
"My reply to her was hesitant."
"No, not really, Mom."
"O.K. I usually have a decent poker face, but sometimes I cannot lie. Mom knew that I was not exactly telling the truth. Perhaps she was seeing something that at that point, I was not admitting to myself. The expression on her face said to me that she knew differently, but was not willing to call me on it today."
"Well, perhaps when you take leave and return to Amber. Gyle's niece Tania has broken up with that imbecile in the navy..."
"I've got to go Mom. Take care."
"I then broke the contact. Had I let her ramble on, likely she would have listed the availability of every girl she would see me settle down with. Tania, believe me, would just have been the beginning of a very long list." Fiona just nodded, almost sympathetically.
"Anyway, I sat in my tent, alone, thinking about the meeting. And then I had an idea. While on Earth, I sometimes watch television programs. In fact..." I decided to reveal a deep dark secret. What the hell, I thought. Random already knows, so why not Fi? "Did you know that Benedict likes the Three Stooges? I keep some tapes in my place for when he drops by." The look of absolute shock on Fiona's face was worth it. I continued. "So, there was this old program called You'll Never Get Rich. About a certain sergeant, Sergeant Bilko, in their military forces, a real conniver. His amoral antics are funny."
"Anyway, I have learned, through the years, that EVERY army has it's Bilkos. You can't get rid of them, since someone will always take their place. You can only control them, like cockroaches. There was a Bilko in my Legion, a certain weasel named Sgt. Niles. I decided to use him to my advantage."
"I had Gerald drag him into my tent. A little guy, not even 5 and a half feet tall. He appeared to be terrified to be in my presence, but I knew an act when I saw one. This little runt had a lot of fire to him, inside. So, I decided to rock his world.
"Sergeant. I understand you have been rigging the fortune wheel again."
"Actually, I had not heard any complaints about anything in his little, not so secret, gambling den. But, it would shake him up for my bigger plan. It worked like a charm.
"I swear, captain, on my mother's soul that I am not fixing the fortune wheel, or any of the games. That was in our unwritten agreement. I swear..."
"You would sell your mother to a Port Said pimp, so swearing on her does not impress me, Niles. What disturbs me more is the fact that you have a clandestine commerce with the enemy camp!"
"I didn't actually know that he did, but I would have been dissappointed if he had at least not tried to set one up. Amoral, just like the television character. In fact I have wondered if there was a relationship. The look of guilty horror on my face indicated, however, that I had scored a bullseye!"
"Sir, I am sorry. I am at your mercy. I deserve any Justice you deliver..."
"He actually prostrated himself on the floor before me. The man had no shame, and, apparently, was willing to do anything to save his own skin. A fact I was more than willing to use."
"At ease, Niles." He got up, wondering what was next. "I have decided to...use this little venture you have set up. Consider me your new partner, unless, of course, you would be court marshalled before me, or perhaps before my Uncle."
"Of course sir, I will share the fruits of my labors with you, sir. Whatever you say, sir. I will get you whatever you wish, sir."

"Good. Your first mission. I want a bottle of the best potable the Chaosians drink. Not the cheap stuff reserved for their guards. I want something Melior or their commander imbibes. I want several bottles of it, and I want them in two days. Do you think you can handle it, or will I have to find someone else?"
"Oh, yes sir, bottles of their finest stuff. I will get it to you as soon as possible, sir. Am I dismissed, sir?"
"Very well. Do your duty."
"With that, he left. The wheels were in motion. Hopefully, I would have a surprise in store for Commander Laila when she came calling. The next morning, no less, Niles delivered three bottles of a thick, blue, syrupy beverage. Pheone, is what he said it was called. He claimed that it came from Melior himself...since he had him addicted to Deigan tobacco. I opened up one bottle, and sampled it. Not bad. I could drink it without retching, and, after a while, I even grew to like it. In fact, there are a few bottles of it in the wine cellar here. The Hendrakes occassionally send me some."
I decided to take the gambited pawn, and move the story forward a bit. "To skip over a couple of the intervening days, two days later, I anxiously awaited the arrival of the Chaosian commander, in a tent reserved for meetings. Gerald, of course, was at my right. At high noon, a herald entered the tent to inform me that she had arrived, along with a second, on a strange 6 legged steed. I bade the herald to conduct them to the meeting tent, and had the Pheone readied. All was perfect."
"As my opposite number entered the tent, I stood up. She looked as lovely as ever. She, of course, was armored and armed, as well as her second, who happened to be Melior. I bowed to them, formally."
"I bade you welcome to my humble camp"
"Melior bowed back wordlessly, but Laila bowed back, and replied.
"We are most pleased to be welcome in the Captain's meeting place."
"They seated themselves at the other end of the short rectangular table and placed their weapons on the table. It was time for me to make a move. I stood up and strode over to the chilled beverage. I produced a quartet of glasses, and placed them in front of where each of us were sitting."
"Would you care for some Pheone, perhaps?"
"Melior's face was a poker face, but Laila smiled. Almost as if she had expected no less of me."
"That would be...lovely, Captain. Please serve."
"I think she said that because she was confidently correct that I was not out to poison them. I poured four draughts of the liquid, and returned to my seat. Gerald, whom I had not told of this little extra hospitality, looked at the drink dubiously. I proposed a toast."
"To our meeting, in the hope of further and more productive joinings between us."
Fiona gave a look of surprise. "A Freudian slip, I know. The thing is, I was looking at Laila when I said it, and I think the expression on her face could be described as...anticipation. Weird, in any event. We soon got down to brass tacks."
I decided not to bore Fiona with the details of the negotiations per se. Some people like political jockeying, while others find it boring. I, of course, like nothing better. Take America on shadow Earth as an example. A democracy, with a two party system. Dull as dishwater in my book. A zero sum game--one party must lose for the other to gain. Now, if you have half a dozen or more parties, THEN things get interesting. Coalitions, factions, and all sorts of fun. In fact, one of the shadows I cut my political eyeteeth in was a modern, republican, Byzantine Empire, with a host of political factions, alliances and groups. I did manage to get elected as one of the Triumvirs. I skipped ahead for my Aunt.
"Anyway, after a couple of hours, we had a tentative agreement that just needed polish, and we all knew it. Prisoner exchange to take place in the vale, the exact numbers, the guards and all still unset. But, we were practically there. In fact, it would be good practice for our seconds to work on this without this, and so I stood up."
"Commander. I believe our seconds here can draft a final agreement. Would you care to take a walk with me to get some air?"
"Laila was delighted with the proposal. In fact, she told me later she was thinking along the same lines. She whispered something to Melior, and I took the opportunity to instruct Gerald. No need, really, on the part of either of us, since the compromise on the little unresolved details was easy to see, and reach. I walked to the tent flap, and held it out for her."
"Thank You."
"We stepped out into the night air. I think I had most of the people who saw us shocked. Walking with the commander of the enemy camp is a pretty interesting sight. We walked in respectful silence. It was an enchanted evening, and the chirps of the grassjumpers filled the air. Fortunately, few saw us, especially since my feet seemed to steer us toward my tent. She knew it, too, since she finally broke the quiet when we approached it.
"These are your quarters, are they not, Scipio?"
"She stopped as we were passing the threshold. The bored looking Rolf looked alarm at who my companion was. He looked at her, and then me, and then her and back to me. The poor kid had seen all manner of women come to my tent, but this was much, even for him. I decided to end the suspense."
"You are dismissed, Corporal."
"But sir, isn't she...you aren't..."
"No, Fiona, I was not, at that moment, quite expecting a liaison with her. I did, however, want privacy, and I meant to get it. I became more strident. My voice was still low, but it took on the edge that incoming Ambassadors never hope to hear." I smiled at my aunt.
"I said, you are DISMISSED, CORPORAL."
"I got a yes sir out of Rolf, and he retreated. Laila looked at me, with laughter in her eyes."
"I suppose if you order me into your tent, I'd better obey, shouldn't I?"
"She smiled that predatory smile again and placed her hand on my arm. I could feel the tension. I opened up the tent flap, and she went in ahead of me. I quickly lit a lantern. She just stood in the center of the tent, looking around with those blue eyes. My turn to play host again. I did have a bottle of Bayle's best, chilled, somewhere in the tent. I espyed it, and decided to offer her a drink."
"Would you care for a drink...Laila?"
"She shook her head, and smiled. I could see her think for a moment before her verbal reply."
"It provokes the desire but it takes away the performance. Therefore much drink may be said to be an equivocator with lechery: it makes him and it mars him; it sets him on and it takes him off. Macbeth, if I am not mistaken?"
"She moved closer to me. I was shocked, not only at her familiarity with Shakespeare, but at her bold implication. She stood very close to me. I could smell the phermones coming off of her. I am sure that her Chaosian senses could sense something similar in me. We teetered on the edge, like a high wire act."
"This...is dangerous, Laila. I think we better not..."
"She opened her mouth, and laughed."
"Better not stop. I agree!"
"I found myself putting my arms around her and she put hers around me. We drew close, and her armor pressed into my chest. I soon stopped noticing that. We kissed. Her fangs...tore into my lip. I could taste my own blood in her mouth, and I am sure she did as well. It was..erotic, and again, it reminded me of Mora. Laila drew back, and smiling with her canines bloody, titled her neck to look at the bed."
"Help me unbuckle my armor, please?"
"That I gladly did, and THAT, Fiona, is the last word on how I spent the night with Laila." I smiled, and finally took the pawn she had gambited.
"So, the next day, I awoke to not find her in my tent. On my table, however, was the final agreement on the prisoner exchange. Signed, sealed and ready. It was to take place later that day. Why prolong the prisoner's inconvenience any further? So, when I strolled out of my tent with a smile, at least I had a cover story. As she no doubt intended."
"I put a few inquiries through sources to find out how many people knew of the liaison. Besides Melior and Gerald, very few did. I was afraid of it getting back to the Castle. I misdoubt Eric would be very angry if he found out where my recreational activities had led. Any road, I soon found myself in the vale where we were to meet and make the exchange. A set group of 5 officers and the commanders were to oversee it from either side. Prisoners exchanged in pairs, simultaneously. A common setup. While we conducted it, Laila and I looked at each other, but did not have lasting eye contact."
"Guilt, shame, second thoughts? I didn't know. Soon, however, everybody was on the proper side, and our hosts could depart. And that, I thought, was the end. A nice one night stand with the enemy. I was wrong, though. I continued to use Niles to occassionally procure bottles of Pherone for me. As I said, I had grown to like the stuff."
"About a week and a half after the liaison, having drained a bottle of the blue beverage one late evening, I was intrigued to see a small pinky ring sitting at the bottom of the bottle. It looked nice enough, so I put it on. Wham! I suddenly felt a mental touch. Laila's."
[You found the ring, Scipio-yal. I was waiting for you to.]
[Laila? What is this? You planned this?]
[If we are going to carry on an affair, then we should be discreet. Will yourself to my quarters.]
"I tried, not knowing what to expect. What I got was sudden transport to her tent. There she stood, a vision of loveliness, in a fur to match her white hair."
"My skin is hungry for yours. My teeth hungry for your lip..."
"Her voice was low, and enthralling. I needed no further invitation to kiss her, and progress onward like before. Her bed was soft. Afterwards, she showed me a similar ring on her hand, and explained how she had linked them to our quarters, but they would only work if the other was there and actively wanted the others company. I don't understand magic, but she explained this had the advantage of making the spell very difficult to detect." Fiona just nodded, so I guess it was truth. I had believed her then, anyway. "So, I returned to my quarters, neither side really the wiser."
I sighed. "These Liaisons lasted a few weeks. And no, we did not simply spend all our time in bed, Fi. The Shakespeare quote made me wonder, and I was right. She had a literary mind. It is fortunate that the written and spoken language of the Courts is Thari, too. So, not only did we enjoy each other's sexual company, we read to each other, posed logic problems. She didn't like chess," I gave a wave to the chessboard, still awaiting Fiona's move. "but she loved GO. For Opposite Numbers, we had a lot in common and got along extraordinarily well. TOO well."
"We both smelled a rat, and soon, we saw we had been setup. On her side, she told me she had gotten a Trump call from her mother. The gist of the call was essentially, that Lona thought I was husband material, and strongly hinted that after the war, that I would be too good to pass up as a method of strengthening Hendrake's power in the Amber realms. But, Fi, Laila never told her of us! Suspicious, you think?" Fiona just nodded. "Well, mine was similar, almost."
"I was sitting in my tent, relaxing, when I got the familiar buzz of a Trump call. I accepted it, and who was it but the man who nearly everyone thought had died in the fall off Kolvir. Bleys." Fiona just nodded and smiled. Of course she knew her brother was not dead. "Even stranger was that this guy was with him, someone who I only had seen in pictures. Delwin." Again Fiona just smiled.
"I was guarded in my conversation, of course, since Bleys and Corwin HAD attacked Amber. In fact the main reason why I didn't shut down the call was the hope I could get some useful information out of him. Delwin said nothing more than it was finally a pleasure to meet Amber's diplomat.whom he had heard much of."
"The tag end of the conversation convinced me this was no ordinary call, as strange as it was. Bleys' said, by way of saying goodbye."
"I am sure you have, as a diplomat, the discretion to not mention this call to anyone. And, I hope that you are using the charm and looks you inherited from Flora to your advantage there. Goodbye nephew."
"I don't know if I did it of my free will, but I never mentioned the conversation until the War was over, and everyone knew he was alive. Any road, I caught the implication in that last phrase. It sure sounded to me like he knew all about the liaison, or even, I began to horribly consider, that it had been arranged. I had guessed and correctly, that you three had visited the Courts, and it was all of you who had told the Hendrakes of me, and so this little relationship between Laila and I was not only known, but it was...planned."
I looked daggers at Fiona. I wasn't angry, since it was long ago, but I looked for a sign. She gave me none. "I am not upset. Sure, it was a shitty thing to do, but I guess you found a new spin on the old phrase, and remade it into `Making Love is fair in War'." I chuckled at my joke, and finally broke the veneer on her face with a tiny smile. She further broke it by moving a rook from the back row.
"So, Laila and I had a long talk in my quarters. It lasted an entire night. We both liked each other, a lot. I think it is safe to say I had found Someone, with a capital S. She felt the same. Still, we had too much pride to have the relationship arranged, forced upon us, to be herded into it. So, we decided to end the relationship. I will never forget what she said to me, the day before she transferred to a different shadow:"
"Scipio-yal [the yal indicates endearment] I am not sure which of our sides will win this war. I am fairly positive that this is not a war of annilhilation. Amber and Chaos will both exist after the fighting is done. Our two sides will have to learn to live in peace, somehow. Stay alive, dearest. Whether my side wins, or yours, I will survive. I want to try `us' after the war is over--even if, due to circumstances, I have to take you as a spoils of war slave, or you take me as concubine. I hope, though, that we can be as equals, but to be near you in peacetime, in whatever fashion, is what I want. Good Journey."
"She kissed me, and left the blood in my mouth as a going away present. She was gone from my tent, and soon, my life. The war continued on, and as we soon found out, it nearly did become a war of annihilation. But, as promised, after the war, we found each other. And it was not the same."
I sighed again, and then moved my knight. "Mate in eight, I think." Fiona glanced at the board, realizing the rook move had undone her. She nodded and I finished the story. "Oh, we could have married, and the Hendrakes to this day really want me to. Lona calls, about once a month or so, with an invitation to a party, to watch a formal duel, or what have you. But, the danger was gone. The passion between us had cooled. Could it ever be rekindled? I don't know. Perhaps, someday. Until then, Laila and I are just friends, with a memory to last a lifetime, if nothing more ever comes of us."

"Thank you for an excellent game, nephew, and an interesting story." Fiona stood up, and I showed her out. She nodded to me from the corridor, and was gone with a spell. Maybe, one day, I will get over my phobia enough to find out if she is right, and I would make a good sorcerer. Someday...
I walked to a dresser. I opened it, and removed a black velvet box. I opened it, and placed the pinky ring on my finger. It still wore well. Of course, being outside that shadow, the spell on it was gone, but, lingering, I felt the magic that I, and Laila, had once created ourselves. I removed the ring, and replaced it in the drawers. I'd like, I think, to believe that Laila had placed her ring on at that moment, too. I am, like my mother, a romantic at heart.

The End