Summary - 5/20
It does not take long for Enya and Cathena's next visitor to appear. It is Bors MacAllister, one of Queen Elaine's knights. Again, Enya startles Cathena with the wide variety of people she knows. Enya and Bors speak about Eric and he tells Enya that he cannot interfere directly. She tells him that all she wants is for Cathena to see Queen Elaine today. When he hesitates, she gently reminds him of his debt to her and Bors agrees because he never forgets a debt.

After he leaves, food is brought and Enya encourages Cathena to eat since she barely ate at breakfast. When Cathena asks about the debt owed to her, Enya states that that tale is not only hers to tell but that it does involve her teaching Sir MacAllister a sword trick or two. While they eat, Enya coaches Cathena on how to act in the Queen's presence, cautioning her to not push the issue of Eric and to keep her answers concise. With Sir MacAllister patronizing her, Queen Elaine will already be aware of the situation.

Some minutes later, "Roger" enters, feigning relief that Enya and Cathena are still at the castle. He states that he has had a word with Queen Elaine and she would be delighted at the visit. He will escort them there. Enya graciously thanks the man, promising to remember all of his help in this matter. Her kind words are laced with steel, subtly turning the gratitude into a threat. One that Roger is astute enough to recognize.

As soon as Roger leads the women to the parlor to await Her Majesty's pleasure, along with the other petitioners, he disappears from their side. Enya is a little worried, knowing that he has gone to get his 'masters.' Just as Roger returns with an overstuffed man in overtly expensive clothes, Cathena's name is called by the page. Enya urges Cathena forward while she moves to intercept the two men headed towards Cathena with the intent of preventing her from entering the court!

However, Cathena's full name is called and she is presented to Queen Elaine who greets her with elegant grace and asks why she has come. Cathena, with as much eloquence as she can muster, greets Queen Elaine and explains that she and Eric Blake had recently arrived in Avalon and that it was Eric's wish that they inform Her Majesty of their encounters with the Graceful Frog. However, Eric has been detained, so it is Cathena's honor to tell the tale, if her Majesty does wish it.

The game is played out as expected. Queen Elaine asks what on Theah could detain a loyal subject from speaking with her. Not allowing Cathena to answer, the Queen calls for Eric Blake to be found and brought to her - immediately. Both Cathena and Eric will tell their tale at her pleasure in her private waiting room. Cathena is whisked off to a small room behind the throne, where, much to everyone's delight Eric and Sir MacAllister are already waiting.

Eric and Cathena have a passionate reunion, causing many chuckles from the large knight. When Enya enters, she is delighted to see her son and praises Cathena on her performance. She relates how Roger and his companion hastily departed in a flurry of feet. Bors smiles at the image, then tells all that it is best that his part in all this not be mentioned... ever. All agree.

Finally, Queen Elaine, finished with her petitioners, enters. Eric, Enya and Cathena stand as quickly as they can and reverence to her. The Queen waves her hand and takes an ornate seat. Without preamble she asks what is actually going on, what happened on the journey and who Cathena is. As Eric tells of his original mission and his journeys since, the Queen interrupts almost constantly, asking for this or that detail and involving Cathena in the story to get her side of things, as well. When they reach more recent events she pulls information from Enya, not missing a single detail of everyone's stories.

After listening to it all, the Queen seems mildly amused and annoyed. She agrees that while Eric's superior can question his motives, detaining him was unnecessary and everything that happened as a result was handled badly on the part of Eric's superiors. In particular, the Queen is most unhappy with one Henry Seymour, Eric's direct supervisor. In her thought, he is playing a very dangerous game.

Fortunately, Queen Elaine is clear that she is not unhappy with those in the room, just the situation. She requests that Eric return to Bucca with Cathena to either retrieve the book of bloodlines or to gain a copy of it for her. Much to her own surprise, Cathena quickly speaks up that the book is in the hands of Bucca's government and that Eric is not allowed to return to Bucca. She suggests that perhaps there is something, either over or covert, that Queen Elaine can offer as a gesture of good will between the two governments to smooth the way some. Privately, Cathena does not want to have to steal the book from her own home.

After a small consideration, Queen Elaine agrees, deciding to send Eric and Cathena to Bucca's Counsel with a hand written note personally requesting that the death sentence on Eric Blake be lifted and to request the book or a copy of it. In return, Queen Elaine will free several war captives in the dungeons who have identified themselves as from Bucca. Then, after a request to Enya to come to the castle and court more often, Queen Elaine dismisses everyone to go about their business.

Summary - 5/21
After leaving the presence of Queen Elaine and heading home, Cathena corners Eric and demands that he tell her everything that happened to him. Eric explains that he reported to Sir Henry Seymour as expected. There was another man in the room with Sir Seymour whom Eric was not introduced to. Then, he was told to report which he did - omitting only some of the more personal moments between he and Cathena.

When Eric was done, the unknown man whispered to Sir Seymour who nodded and began to ask some direct and pointed questions about the relationship between Eric and Cathena to which Eric was forced to answer honestly. Sir Seymour then told Eric his interpretation of Eric's report, twisting what had been told to him to make it look as if Eric had been in collusion with Cathena from the beginning and had specifically betrayed Queen and country with his actions. Sir Seymour informed Eric that it was HIS version of the tale that would reach Her Majesty's ears. Then, he had Eric taken into custody. Mid-day the next day, Sir Bors MacAllister had showed up and escorted him to Queen Elaine's private sitting room.

Cathena was very unhappy at hearing Eric's tale. Where did Sir Seymour get his information? Who was the unknown man? Why did Sir Seymour want to harm both Eric and Cathena? Too many questions and no answers. To her, it seemed that Duke Anjou had at least one ally within Avalon's government. A very odd thought, considering Duke Anjou was also working with the Vaticine church. It seemed that someone in Avalon's government had decided to make a deal with the devil in order to help topple the Sun King.

That evening, Enya and David had a sumptuous good-bye dinner for Eric and Cathena who were to leave the next morning on Queen Elaine's task. Cathena admits that she is going to miss Enya and considering the very short time that they have been in Avalon (just 5 days!), the next time, Cathena wants a few weeks to explore the country and spend time with Eric's family. Everyone agrees heartily.

The next morning, bags lightly packed, the couple heads back to the Lucky Dog. As Cathena gets within sight of the Lucky Dog, she notices some differences. Eric has apparently had some work done on it in the short time they have been in Avalon. It has a new coat of paint and varnish. The name has been professionally lettered on in bright letters. All of the sails are brand new and she now flies the colors of Avalon atop her mast. In addition, a small swivel cannon has been mounted discreetly on the prow and tarped over.

Stowing their gear onboard, Cathena examines the cabin. Everything has been painted, varnished or cleaned. There are all new bed linens and curtains. The cupboards are fully stocked and a new lock has been installed on the door. Cathena is clearly delighted at the changes, making the ship so much more comfortable and definitely theirs. She has not forgotten that they stole it in the first place. However, no one would recognize this boat as the same boat that was stolen just a few weeks prior.

After the boat has been inspected and the gear stowed, Eric and Cathena raise the sail, heading once more out to sea, towards Bucca with Queen Elaine's personal message safely packed away.

Summary - 5/22
Eric has stocked the small ship well with food and provisions as well as a few luxury items. With its new sails and fresh coat of paint it looks like a completely different ship. The two set sail and are soon on their way, sailing close to the shores to avoid the larger ships they take their time enjoying each others company and relaxing. Putting in at small coves and inlets when they stop for the night they both enjoy the long cruise to Bucca.

There are a few tense moments when their small craft is spotted and chased a short way by an unknown ship flying no colors, but their smaller faster ship eventually pulls away. They take to sleeping in the day and sailing by the stars at night as they near the dangerous waters around occupied Castille. However, with no need to pull into port for food and water easily found at rivers feeding into the sea, they manage to avoid danger by taking their time. During the trip, Eric admits to Cathena that he had asked Don Luis to have a copy of the book made, just in case he returned. He is a little worried about it, not knowing if Don Luis would have had it done in the state he was in when they left. Cathena tells Eric she is happy he did not steal from her family or government.

All too soon their idyllic journey comes to an end as Cathena spies the island of Bucca looming on the horizon. Cathena is very pleased to have made it home without running into the Graceful Frog, but she still wonders about that unknown ship that had chased them for a time. Now that she is home, she begins to worry on how the Buccaneer government will accept Queen Elaine's requests and gesture of good will. Most of all she is worried for Eric. Eric, on the other hand, is certain that all will be well as soon as she speaks to the counsel and shoos her to land while he anchors in the harbor off of Bucca's soil.

On her way home, Cathena pauses to look at the Just Rewards. She is in dry dock, receiving a full overhaul. Even to Cathena's untrained eye, she can see that the original damage was extensive. Feeling a bit too paranoid to tarry for long, she hurries home and is joyfully greeted by her father. To Cathena's dismay, her father seems much older, skinnier and frailer than he was just six weeks ago. He tells her that Javier is home but sleeping. Her brother was gravely injured and, to everyone's great sorrow, Jove was killed. Cathena and her father share a few private moments of grief over the loss of their friend.

Cathena tells Don Luis of her adventures in Avalon, leaving out Eric's detainment and the mysterious ship from the return trip, since she does not want to worry him further, but she does tell him of Queen Elaine's requests, showing the sealed letter address to Captain Allende and the counsel. He assures her that while Eric may have to spend the night on the boat, there is a counsel meeting in the morning and he is certain that Eric will be welcome in Bucca once more. Though, he is confused over this book that is wanted. He does not know what Cathena is talking about.

This strange lack of memory confuses and worries Cathena. She wants to know what is wrong with her father, who, in typical Castillian fashion, snaps at her that just because he cannot remember some accursed book does not mean he is sick. Seeing his daughter recoil in hurt, Don Luis relents, confessing his worry for his children and apologizes. Then, he goes to his room for a nap.

Immediately, Cathena finds Rosa and wants to know what is going on with Don Luis. Rosa tells Cathena about how her father has not been eating or sleeping right. That he naps at odd times during the day and ends up awake all night long. She is very worried for the Don and he will not listen to her. Also, when asked about the book, she does remember a man coming for the book to have it copied but that she has not seen it since.

Very surprised that the counsel has not asked about the book of bloodlines in the last six weeks, Cathena has a growing feeling of wrongness. She asks Rosa who the man was that came for the book. Also, she wants Rosa to try harder to get her father to eat and sleep right. Rosa, being Castillian as well, chooses this moment to take exception to the tone of the young Dona's voice, snaps back at her that she does not know which man it was, to ask her father and that if Cathena did not think she was doing her job, Cathena was very wrong. Then, Rosa stalks out, refusing to speak to Cathena again.

Summary - 5/23
Cathena is already too worried to deal with Rosa's mood. Instead, she goes upstairs to see if her father is already asleep. If not, she is going to ask him again about the archivist. Unfortunately, he is already asleep and clearly needs to remain that way. She checks in on Javier, who is still asleep and is reminded of Jove once more.

Needing to distract herself, she decides to go to the market. Cathena stops by the kitchen and offers unspoken apology to her friend and long time family servant by asking if Rosa needs anything for the kitchen, that she is going out. At first, it seems as if Rosa is going to reject it, but she relents and the two women make up again before Rosa shoos Cathena out the door.

After wandering for a while, Cathena stops by a small tavern for a drink and a bite to eat. Her thoughts wander aimlessly until she hears the name of the Lucky Dog mentioned by a couple of ruffian types who seem to have been paid to do -something- to her ship. The men catch her listening and quickly leave the tavern. She doggedly follows them. When she is seen again, the men split up, making it impossible to figure out where they were headed.

Not to be thwarted, Cathena immediately heads to docks and pays a visit to the dock master, Alfonso, another family friend. She tells him what she heard and asks him to keep an eye on her boat. He protests that he cannot do with it out in the harbor. When she tells Alfonso that Eric is on board and cannot step on Bucca, he starts calling the men to retrieve the Avalonian cur from the Lucky Dog to be arrested for stealing from the Counsel! Confused and incensed, Cathena has a few hard words with Alfonso, wanting to know he is talking about and how his actions could have much farther reaching consequences than he can imagine since Eric is here as an emissary of Queen Elaine.

During the ensuing tense discussion, Cathena discovers that Eric is charged with stealing the book of bloodlines from the Rivera household and is to be jailed immediately. Knowing that her father sent the book out to be copied, Cathena stops Alfonso from arresting Eric by explaining the reasons for their return and Queen Elaine's requests of a pardon for Eric and a copy of the book of bloodlines. When Cathena points out the fact that if Eric had the book, he would not be back here requesting a copy of it for his Queen. Also, she tells him of Don Luis' illness and loss of memory concerning the book but that Rosa remembers giving it to an unknown archivist for copying.

Reluctantly, after Cathena swears that all will be set right the next day at the Counsel meeting, the dock master agrees not to have Eric arrested. However, in the meantime, she is not allowed to make any contact with Eric at all. Not to warn him of this possible attack from unknown forces, that may or may not be connected to Duke Anjou, nor to tell him of the warrant for his arrest waiting for him on Bucca. Cathena agrees, telling Alfonso that all she wanted was for him to watch the Lucky Dog and make sure that no other ship goes near him.

After this, Cathena makes her way home, thinking of the impossible predicament she is in this time. She takes stock of the situation and is dismayed:

... Don Luis is ill and does not remember sending the book of bloodlines out to be copied;

... an unknown archivist came to the house six weeks before and took the book to be copied but has not been seen nor heard from since;

... her brother, Javier, lies weak and wounded still from the Just Rewards' last encounter with the Graceful Frog;

... her good friend, Jove, is dead;

... her lover is anchored in the harbor, waiting word from the Counsel and has no idea of the dangers awaiting him;

... finally, it seems that Duke Anjou does have men on Bucca now and means to do both Cathena and Eric harm.

Cathena prays that she is able to get the missive to the Counsel in the morning and that everything will be cleared up with no hard to either Eric or Don Luis.