Long distance to Melina: Cale  is watching the construction of the new arborium and greenhouse, undertaken at the behest of Baroness Lorana as a wedding gift for Ascian, her husband and, as it just so happens, Cale's own friend as well. Certainly there does seem to be a lot going on in House Chantris nowadays, with Solaris being, perhaps, the focal point of all of that. Cale is perched upon the nearby fencing, watching all of the proceedings. The comings, the goings, and the bustle of activity that's House Solaris' lot these days...

From afar, Melina emerges from house Solaris with a thoughtful gaze which turns into a small smile when she sees her friend "Hello" she says joining him on the fence and looking at the construction with a sigh "So much to fight for, but I am already tired of speaking into the wind. I went to Dierdre about the shadow situation. So much wasted breath"

page melina = Cale nods, slowly.  "I didn't try!  I've talked with Dee before, and, well, that didn't seem like it would be the place to start?  Anything useful come of it, if not from her, perhaps from an idea or suggestion that either you or she had, during?"  Cale kicks his feet idly against the fence, dispersing his own nervous energy, much as you might well expect a child to be doing.  Cale watches as the enormous panes of glass are stacked and cleaned and mounted.  Such delicate work, with potential for catastrophic failures.  Shatteringly so ...

From afar, Melina shakes her head "I went to her precisely because I wanted preemptive action to be diplomatic in nature and not made of the aggressive tactics she suggested spying and capturing a singer. I want to forestall violence not light the damned tinder. She doesn't realize the mistake she might of made both dismissing me and shuffling me off to Eric if i was of a slightly different bent and chose to give anger and pain its due

page Melina = Cale grimaces a bit in sympathy, showing his bottom teeth and inhaling a long slow breath of air between them.  Cale then mouths a soundless: "Ouch." as well, and then exhales, slowly, puffing out his cheeks with it.  Cale looks down at his shoes for a while, thinking silently.  "Yes, that is a danger: counting on those who have *established* these patterns, for thousands of years, to be creative and diplomatic in addressing them.  Or even recognizing them.  Let alone solving them.  I'm totally with you on this issue.  I think if we made an honest effort to show the Shadowfolk that their concerns were *heard* and *dealt with* ....  well, then, I think the instigators would then have a harder time.  A little listening early on can prevent a lot of bloodshed, later..... and, at least then we'd *know* their grievances?"  Cale shakes his head, slowly.  "So how could I help you with the diplomatic ways of things?"  Cale wonders.

From afar, Melina sighs "I spoke to those men from Sukho, said there were those in amber who would listen to their grievances. i shared them with deidre she wasn't even hearing me until i said shadow was behaving oddly. when i mentioned shadow itself fighting back she was almost mocking in her dismissal saying shadow was not sentient but that someone sentient could be manipulating them which is when she mentioned covert tactics and said eric was more practiced in matters of intelligence. she did say she would work on diplomacy in the circle but the way she dismised the message from the sukhoti because they were'nt here in an official capacity doesn't give me hope that she'll here what she needs to. i cannot change opinion of amber simply through my own actions. Do you think I'm the only person with good intentions or ideas in amber. there are many such but when we try to speak...I will keep trying. keep listening but someone must help...must hear me. i've sent a message to chantris and plan to meet with duke

page melina = Cale listens carefully, and makes not of particulars.  "What exactly did the men from Sukho say was their worst need?  I, also, have the Pattern's power.  What ills befell them, I can change.  What's been stolen could be replaced.  What' been injured, can be healed.  And if it's possible ... I'll do it."  Cale nods, once, having simply said what ought be said.

From afar, Melina sighs again "it sound like a matter of civil unrest. they said that war was coming between the people of harvest and plenty and those of war of rain. that war was coming and could not be prevented. that the harvest would wither and the agricultural excess that sukho provides amber will cease and they fear Amber's response would be when it happened. they were of the war clan, would not consider that it could be prevented 'war must be fought when it comes they said

page melina = Cale shrugs: "Perhaps it must, I do not know.  But I can go there and can see if I can prevent catastrophe.  And maybe the Harvest People and the Rain Folk might feel differently, who knows?"  Cale shrugs again.  The only way that he knows how to find out, for sure, is to go there.  Eyes don't lie.  "But what were they afraid that Amber might then do to them, if this War were to take place and the Harvest interrupted?" Cale asks.

From afar, Melina shrugs " I think they feared they would cease to exist in Amber's eyes once they were not of use. they said Amber is deaf to the cries of those in need. They are right my friend and there own eyes and ears tell them of it

page Melina = Cale nods.  Well, historically, Amber has been the one expressing the needs, and taking what Amber needed from the Shadows that are near and far.  It's how, essentially, the Golden Circle *became* the Golden Circle, in one way of looking at it, certainly.  Most Shadows that are Golden now were selected to become so because of their seagoing trade with Amber.  And trade has always been in Amber's favor, and at Amber's convenience, behest, and initiative.  Amber, herself, has seen to that.  Perhaps their fears are thus well founded?"  Cale offers.

From afar, Melina nods and says with a touch of annoyance "I just said they were right did I not. The Circle, the houses we must regain what was lost

Cale points out: "Quite right, and yes, ... of course you did.  And I was, in fact, coming into *agreement * with you and with the point you're making.  The trouble is, of course, that what the Circle and the Houses have been losing ...... has been lost *to* other players.  It's not been lost, say, ... to some 'vacuum.'  And 'They' don't want to give it back.  Now do they?" Cale grimaces, sadly.  It is the way of power, everywhere, is it not: to grasp and bind, to seize and hold?

From afar, Melina hms "That's not entirely true, Some was lost because we let go but you are right and so is dierdre "one land at a time. one heart a time is how we must do it and we need more information about the singers. i am not at all suited for subterfuge...that must go to some other but that is something of a problem. there are few that possess the skill which the singers evince that which i do

You paged Melina with 'Cale nods. "Not entirely, no -- you're right -- but anything that's been let go... there's nothing to say that somone else won't be picking all that right back up, sooner or later, if not you. That's just how it is. That's just how the world works, I guess.  But let me know what I can do, to help you in Diplomacy!" Cale finishes'.