Homeward Bound
"So, Tabitha. Do you have any questions that I may answer?" she inquired, getting right to the point. That was all the invitation I needed as I began to speak all in a rush--or what one breath would allow.
"I almost don't know where to begin. I'm just so excited! I'm sure you've got reason, Aunt Evelynn, but if my father lives, why was it necessary to leave me with Grampa and Gran? And why did it take so long for someone to come and get me? And why didn't he come and get me? And of course you'll have to tell me all about Amber, because that's all I know of it--it's called Amber. And if you don't mind my saying so, you seem like you have questions of your own, don't you? Do I have any siblings? Will it take long to get there? What other family is there? I think I need to catch my breath here." [breath] "Oh, I would have said a lot more back there, but I had to mind my manners--Grampa James was such a stickler about that kind of thing and I didn't want to cause a scene. Sorry, but is there anything to drink?--don't worry, 'cause if you don't have anything, I can take care of that." I was looking at her apologetically at that point, but then, it felt SO good to get that all out--and I hadn't even scratched the surface--of that I was sure!
"I should have known," she mused, her brow doing that twitch-thingy again. She took a deep breath before continuing, managing to answer thus far.
"Your father wanted you to be well cared for. His instructions were to let you grow and mature so would be able to handle it when it was time to reveal your heritage. Your father is currently finishing up business associated with a war. Amber is a beautiful place. You'll have to ask more specific questions because there is so much to tell. I do have questions but we'll have time for that later. I am not aware of any brothers or sisters but you have many cousins. It should take us a couple of days before we arrive. You will have opportunity to meet many more relatives once we get there. Not to worry it's always good to mind your manners, very important are manners. Yes. Under your seat there is a drawer with bottles of water. Could you pass one to me please." Of course I did as asked and was asking more questions as soon as I had taken a sip.
"So, does that mean my father is in the military? What's his name? Was the war over Amber? What's it like?--is it like where I've been this whole time? And just how big is this family, anyway? Got any pictures?" I took another long swig on the bottle, ready to listen to her tell me a long story.
Aunt Evelynn nodded and patiently answered my questions. "Yes the war was over Amber. Your father's name is Eric and he's not so much "in" the military. More like he leads a part of it. There are some similarities I'm sure, but there will be many interesting differences as well."
"Well," she sighed. "You have several cousins that you'll meet soon enough. But there are pictures." She came to sit next to me and pulled out what looked like a Tarot deck of some sort and began carefully shuffling through them.
She held up the first card of an older man with white, thinning hair. "This is your great grandpa, Dworkin. He built Amber." She put his card to the back of the deck and lifted off the next one.
This card held another older man. An imposing figure, though his hair was white with age, his face was strong, his features commanding. "This is your grandpa, my dad, Oberon. He's been gone for a while now. But, he used to be in charge of Amber." She also returned his card to the back of the deck.
"Any questions so far?" she asked. I was about to shake my head "No," to indicate that she should continue, but I couldn't contain myself. I was on pins and needles--I wanted to see what Dad looked like.
"Actually, to get specific, what about my dad? I don't even know what the man looks like--heck, he probably doesn't even know what I look like!" My foot was twitching in anticipation. "What's he like?"
Aunt Evelynn chuckled. "Patience Tabitha, patience. Your father is coming up soon, now pay attention to this next set," she instructed and held up the next card. I had to bite back a whimper of impatience. Me and my big mouth. I asked for an introductory course and I was getting it.
The next card showed a man comfortable in his position. "This is your uncle Finndo. He's the oldest and a pretty serious man, but he hasn't been around much." She tucked his card away and I found myself holding my breath as she revealed the next one.
The man on this card had premature grey hair and somewhat of a 'devil may care' look to him. "This was your uncle Osric, just recently deceased. He was the second oldest." She also tucked this card away.
Okay, so far, relatives were either just not around--much, or dead. Lovely start.
"This is your uncle Benedict, the greatest warrior to ever live. He is the third oldest." The card showed a man with a look so intense, so measured, it almost appeared as if he were studying me through the card. That was kind of creepy. Enough to give me the heebie-jeebies. I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck begin to stand on end.
"Those three are full brothers." she commented as she tucked the card into its place and got ready to show me the next one.
"Now, any questions about those I just showed you?" Evelynn asked with a wry grin.
"Is there going to be a test on this later?" I wanted to crack but thought better of it. I shook my head "no" to indicate that she should continue. This would have been going a lot easier if there had been something to smell. I can identify just about anything if you give me a scent to go with it.
Evelynn revealed the next card. It was of a dark haired man, dressed in silver-studded black leather with a very intimidating sword at his side. I could tell at first glance by the way he held himself that he exuded confidence and commanded respect.
"Tabitha, this is your father, Eric. He is the oldest of his set of full siblings." She held this card up longer than the previous to allow me to get a real good look.
I was floored. My insides were flip-flopping, or full of butterflies, or whatever you want to call it. I stared hard at the card, committing it to memory.
"Tell me about him. What's he like?" I asked again, my eyes never leaving the card.
"Well, " Evelynn began as she started to put the card away. "He's a noble man. He is dedicated and strong willed. He's also excited about you coming home." She had a large grin that made her eyes sparkle. I returned that grin. I felt a tingle wash over me. I just so couldn't wait to meet him!
Okay, I might have been getting my hopes up, or putting my expectations too high, but I wasn't caring at this point. Besides that, Aunt Evelynn was continuing with the next card in her stack.
"This is your father's younger brother, Corwin. They don't get along too well." she said of the card that revealed a handsome man with eyes a deeper green than I have ever seen. It made me think of my own golden eyes. She tucked that card away and revealed another--the first girl of the bunch. Very beautiful, with raven hair and dark eyes that I was sure men had easily gotten lost in.
"This is your aunt Dierdre. She is the oldest of us girls, but the youngest of this trio. Any other questions at this point?" she asked as she slid the card back into the deck.
"Cool. So Grampa had more than one wife? All at the same time, or, one right after the other? How many times was he married?" I asked, trying to keep it all straight.
Evelynn wrinkled her nose slightly. "Indeed. He was married at least five times that we know of, and had many consorts." Her face didn't show it but she seemed a bit uncomfortable with the topic. She moved on to the next set of cards.
The first one held the image of a red headed man. He appeared to be of average build. What stood out was how his image portrayed a sense of humor, a degree of playfulness not seen in the others.
"This is your uncle Bleys, oldest of the red headed group. He's an all around decent guy," she stated as she put his card away. Next was a petite red headed woman; where the previous card relayed a fun loving personality, this one imparted one of seriousness.
"This is your aunt Fiona. Don't upset her and keep your distance and you'll get along with her just fine." Evelynn commented as she slipped the card back into the deck.
Avoid Fiona. Check.
Picking up the third card to show yet another redhead, Evelynn seemed sad as she told me about that one.
"Your uncle Brand." she said. "He has a great mind and is terribly misunderstood. But he doesn't help his cause much with some of the stunts he's pulled." She held this card just a little longer than the others, looking at this thin, almost frail man. She quietly tucked the card into the deck.
"Questions?" she inquired. I only paused long enough to ponder if there was one.
"Nope," I replied, ready for the next set.
Evelynn nodded and held out the next card which held a handsome dark haired man.
He stood against a backdrop of waves crashing onto a
shore with a lighthouse in the distant background.
"This is your uncle Caine." she stated. "He is a sailor so he is rarely around." She tucked the card away. The next card also showed a dark haired man, his locks tied back in a pony-tail. He was pictured against a background of trees--lots of trees. And he looked very comfortable there.
"This is your uncle Julian. He's pretty reclusive, we don't see him much." Evelynn explained as she put that card away.
"This is your uncle Gerard." she said and lifted the next card. "He's a big teddy bear--unless you get him angry." She smiled. I could just tell by looking at his picture that he was a gentle giant.
"Ready for the next?" she asked.
"Yes!" I replied enthusiastically. She nodded and held up the next card. The man on this card was stocky of build and had a very serious demeanor.
"This is your uncle Delwin. He took off quite a while ago and hasn't been heard from since." she commented. "Same with his sister, your aunt Sand." She slipped one card into, and took another card out of the deck to indicate Sand. The woman on that card looked sad.
"That's it for that set. Any questions" Evelynn asked. I shook my head "no" to let her go on.
Evelynn lifted the next card to reveal another stunningly beautiful woman, but her beauty was more of the exotic type as she has long, flowing, green hair and a kind of olive green tint to her skin.
"This is your aunt Llewella. She is kind of solitary, preferring to spend her time alone." Evelynn explained.
Aunt Llewella liked to be alone. Check.
Replacing that card and pulling out the next revealed a younger looking man with sandy colored hair.
"And last but not least, the baby of the bunch, your uncle Random." she stated. Evelynn put the card away then turned slightly to face me.
"Thank you for restraining yourself." she commended. "I know you must be about to burst with questions. So go ahead, but try to keep it to a couple at a time." Evelynn said with a smile and a twinkle in her eyes.
"Wow. Our family is huge! Are they ever all in one place at one time? I'd really like to know more about Amber. What should I expect?" I asked, feeling slightly overwhelmed.
"It's very rare that everyone is ever all together at the same time." she replied with a genuine musical laugh. She paused with a sigh before answering the next question.
"You should expect the unexpected. Expect to be surprised. Expect drama." she paused. "Most importantly, expect to be under intense scrutiny."
"Scrutiny?" I felt my eyebrow shoot up in alarm and fought to cover it, shifting in my seat. "What are they looking for?"
"Mistakes," she replied. "They watch for your weakness and then try to exploit it for their own gain."
"Oh," was all I said about that. So trust no one, eh? I downed some more water and was looking out the window at nothing in particular, trying to think of something that would change the subject.
"So what is there to do for fun around there?" I asked. I was certain that there would be plenty to do now that the sport of Tabby Hunting would no longer exist. Such a lovely, delicious thought. Evelynn seemed to welcome the change in subject.
"Oh, dear Tabitha!" she began. "There is all manner of shopping. For example, there are four markets for the basics, and then there's Merchant Row with a shop for everything. And of course there are the exclusive shops for those of our station." She was nearly bubbling over with excitement as she paused to take a breath.
"Oh and the parties! There's always a party in Amber!" she actually giggled.
Intriguing. I had never been to a party before.
"And you'll be able to show me, I hope? You may have noticed, but I haven't a decent thing to wear! All I've got is the clothes on my back," I replied with a smile of my own. Evelynn turned serious again and her eyebrow arched dramatically this time as she looked me over again.
"Oh my. We may have to stop on the way." Evelynn nodded, apparently coming to some kind of decision. I just couldn't help it. I got that "burst" of excitement again and started talking all in a rush again.
"Cool! A real shopping trip! Really? Oh, I can't wait! Oh, I so want to look nice for my father. Of course I probably don't really have to mention that I've never really been shopping for real before--our lives were so simple--you know, farm living and all. I think it would be nice to splurge, just once! So can we start soon? can we get there any faster? Can we do lunch while we're at it? I haven't eaten in a while!" I caught myself--too late--and clammed up again.
"Of course dear," Aunt Evelynn smiled with a wink and returned to her seat. She sat sideways in nit and knocked on the wall of the coach. I was surprised to see a little door open up where she knocked.
"Yes, M'Lady?" a young man answered.
"Side trip, Gerald. Lunch and shopping," she stated.
"Yes, M'Lady," Gerald confirmed and closed the little door.
"We'll be stopping soon. Any other questions?" she looked at me.
I was practically speechless with excitement. A real shopping trip. Oh, this smile wouldn't be coming off my face anytime soon. I think I vaguely shook my head "no", but it didn't matter. My imagination was about to go nuts. I was headed into my own little world. Shopping. An adventure I could not wait to experience.