21-Apr-96 So it begins again. The lines are not clear, the breaks not clean, so really there was not an end when last I finished. By that reason this is not a beginning, other than I start a new page.

It is a scant few days since Gareth was exiled and I have had no luck reaching him by Trump. I later learnt form Alain that Patricia and Helena had already left the game. This gives me hope that he is still alive. Thomas also is missing. He has not been seen since he was sent away by Randall. He does not answer his Trump and I have not heard of any who have searched for him. Perhaps it is possible he is Randall's pawn, or his captive.

I spoke with Mathias about the destruction of Kythara. I am interested in finding how it was destroyed and who was responsible. I offer what help I can to Mathias and his sister. Though there have been a few refugees from the destruction found in Delazny none of my agents have yet learned anything and there is no sign of Galt or Semian, two friends Mathias assumes perished with Kythara.

There is much to do in Delazny. It's repair makes heavy demands on my time but there is also opportunity. Many of the trade routes have been disrupted so if I move swiftly there are good prospects for new trade agreements. My merchants have the situation in hand and I oversee when time permits.

It took a few calls to his chamberlain, as is appropriate when dealing with the head of a house, but eventually I arranged an interview with uncle Tmer. I informed him of the details of some of my travels and we discussed the political implications of Uler's parentage. Uncle desires to see him, which shall be arranged if aunt Rebecca and I can entice him to our party. Though I do not like to remember it we also discussed Hergan. I know little more of him now than I did as a frightened child, but now we have met and perhaps that spells my death. I am used to looking over my shoulder but I will not dwell on the possibilities. It would not save me so I refuse to waste the effort, save for an occasional shudder.

Soon my affairs in Delazny must be put on hold. I Trump to Chaos to attend Uler's party. There are many Amberites but of Chaos there is only Mandor. I spend my time socialising. I take the opportunity to talk to King Random and manage to summon the courage to dance with both Flora and Fiona. Already planning aunt Rebecca's party I offer invitations to both of the princesses. I hope when things are formalised that they will accept. Arvada seems taken with Giberti, some local noble. He does not display proper respect and is oblivious to my thinly veiled threats. Perhaps the fool is in love. We dine. We dance. It was fun, especially the flying. Only Giberti and Arvada's foolishness and the boorishness of Calvin mar the festivities. In between dances with Madeleine and Reba I manage to talk to Harlequin. It seems that he and Mikal have been rebuilding the trump relay into the game. After the break ins they have decided to improve security. Mikal tells me that the altercation with Calvin was due to his insistence on talking with Anna. While I was ready to impale him it is probably best that no action was required. Attacking a prince of Amber is not to be done lightly, and when I die I would prefer it to be at the hand of a more respected foe than Calvin.

During the dancing there is some commotion. It appears that the nature of the shadow was subtly altered to permit psychic contact. Arvada thinks that Brand danced with her and did something. Fiona noticed something of the changes to shadow, or so she told me when we danced. It was probably Uler's repairs that she noticed. Because of this we are careful and expect trouble when the assemblage take wing and flies down to the plains below. Some of the children's attempts as flying are rather comical but aside from a few rough landings there are no more incidents.

After more dancing and music there comes the crystal rain, and with it little flying and the flying cats that prey on them. The crystals evidently absorb sound. They are valuable but fragile and difficult to transport across shadow. I sketch during the rain and afterward give Meloche a caricature of his crash.

As the evening winds down my travelling companions retire to an upper tower with our host. We try to relax, but with recent events, and now this strangeness during the dancing Randall is again the topic of our conversation.

30-Apr-96 I discuss possibilities with Meloche. We talk about those that have died, those that have come back to life. It is notable that one of the more unusual deaths, that of Eric, has not yet seen a resurrection. I suggest that he is probably still alive but with a son like Calvin he is too embarrassed to show his face. Mathias leaves, he obviously has important business to attend to. The rest retire for the evening, most by the stairs, I by wing.

It is far to early to sleep. I call my commanders in Delazny. A known double agent has escaped. The damage to the shadow trails is still extensive. It seems I too have much business to attend to. I then call aunt Rebecca and begin making arrangements for the party. I then spend a few hours making some sketches and mulling over a few intriguing ideas. Uler must be alert, and worried for I have barely begun before he come to investigate the ripples I cause. I assure him all is well and again say goodnight.

The next morning I rise late, shave and head down to breakfast. I would have preferred to eat in my room, but as I will be leaving shortly I decide to give my farewells at breakfast. Fiona, Julian, Gerard and the children are still here. Arvada is again sitting with Giberti. She obviously like to slum it. There is no accounting for taste. I farewell Fiona and Gerard who intends to stay a while and sample the wine. Uler leaves breakfast early so I am forced to interrupt his meditation to say goodbye. I ask if Giberti is a pet of his, as I intend to kill him. Uler has a sharper wit and more refined social graces and ant of the others. He offers to arrange the duel for me after he has moved Giberti out of favour with the local nobility. It is pleasant to see Uler's elegance in sharp contrast to Arvada's poor taste. I wonder if he has a sister. No. Perhaps not. His family is a little to formidable to associate with until my own position is stronger.

I return to my room to pack. While doing so I discover a small box in my coat pocket. This rocks me. I wrack my brain trying to recall who could have placed it there and when. Eventually I come to the decision that it is too large to have escaped my notice. I must have been place there after I remove the jacket, possibly while I slept. An examination of the room reveals a secret passage and some ventilation shafts that a small creature or a shifter could traverse. The box has no sign of magic, Pattern or Logrus so I open it. Inside is a sealed crystal. This is probably Uler's doing, but why. Unless it has already recorded a message it seems rather pointless. I leave it on the dresser with a do not disturb note. Later I may ask Uler about it.

Back in Delazny I investigate the escape. There are no clues, it must have been magic or some advanced power but I can detect no trace. I give orders to my agents to continue to investigate the Kythara refugees then aunty Trumps me to arrange some details for the party. I alter the shadow a little to aid my master at arms' recruiting efforts. With the more mundane business taken care of I begin to wander the nearby shadows. I have a few unusual ideas I want to investigate and I also want to see if there are any fragments or places of power left in the wake of the destruction. I note that several of the trails have moved. This could be a side effect of the destruction or a ploy to strengthen the trade of certain shadows. I begin to map the changes with a view to determining who would benefit the most.

Only a few days into my travels I receive a call from Anna. She was upset and insisted that I join her at Mikal's estate. She has not been able to reach him, or any others at the castle of a few days and is getting worried. I immediately Trump to Amber where I am greeted by a horde of crossbows. Benedict himself came to identify me. Something is definitely up. Something big. He took me to Fiona and she to Mikal. He is in the infirmary, looking terrible and, true to form, under the care of Alain. We spoke briefly before I left him to rest. I take the damage to be psychic because there are no signs of wounds, in which case the enemy must be formidable as my brother is no weakling in matters of the mind.

Fiona politely refused to answer any of my questions or accept my assistance save asking me to convey her apologies to Anna. The trouble obviously involved trump as Mikal was hardest hit and Fiona suggested I not use Trump in Amber. I rode out of the city before calling Anna. She is no doubt relieved that Mikal is recovering and swiftly resolved to go to Amber to get some more satisfying answers. It took her a little more deliberation before she decided to allow me to escort her. Give the warnings about Trump we decide to ride the trails to Amber.

5-May-96 Anna and I ride to Amber. Outside of the castle things appear normal, but inside there are still many guards. Again Benedict greets us at the gate to identify us. He has the stewards arrange rooms. On our way in we pass Arvada who asks Fiona it is possible to speak to Mikal. I arrange to speak privately with her later that evening.

At dinner Random, Bleys and Fiona. Dame Margot, Lord Hendin and a few others fill their places. Mathias discusses his problem with Harold, some misunderstanding over a girl. He is indecisive. I suggest he kill him, or just wound if he has enough rank. It really is that simple Mathias.

Corwin arrives exhausted, some mention of a Trump call. Again Vialle suggests such topics not be discussed at dinner. For some reason Mathias is convinced there is a Broken Pattern in Delazny. Foolishly I agree to help him investigate. Now I will have to find some way to deflect him.

Later Mathias and I interrogate Meloche about the disturbance. Meloche is not inclined to talk but eventually he confirms my suspicions that Mikal and the others had a Trump run in with Brand. Next I talk with Arvada. Given that we may all die shortly I am inclined to tidy up some loose ends. With all the questionable things I have done concerning Arvada I am very confused about her lack of curiosity. Is she too subtle for me or just plain stupid. I give her some history and explain that I was on earth watching over her and was very upset that she chose to steal from me. She is still suspicious but I suggest that she not judge me too swiftly. For my part I do not believe that she can be relied on, at least not until she proves otherwise.

I continue my evening of conversations by looking for some of the elders. Fiona, Random and Corwin are not to be disturbed, in the end I find Benedict reviewing the changing of the guard. When I ask he says that the Trump barrier is only around the castle. We talk a little more and I tell him that with the injury to Mikal the conflict with Brand has become personal. I offer my assistance. Benedict is taciturn as usual. He has Lord Danesh, the commander of the guard, assign me four guards when I ride out to make a Trump call to Uler. I Trump to the Rift. Uler denies that the crystal is his. I accept this and he sets some scribes to write down the contents. We then fly down to the city of fire where I duel with Giberti. He accepts his face with honour so I give him a quick death and a good burial. The transcription is not yet completed so I return to Amber via lord Danesh's Trump. I give it a few minutes, hours in the Rift, but the scribes are still at work so I arrange a call in the morning. At dawn I ride out again. There is still no response from Gareth or Thomas. Uler calls on time and the crystal does contain something important so I Trump to the Rift again and read the transcript which cost a group of scribes their lives. It is a discussion between a man and a woman, apparently agents of some third party who set them to take a blood sample of Arvada and one other, probably Meloche. I fill Uler in on the Trump conflict with Brand then return to Amber via Danesh again.

Many of the family are present, with the exception of Julian and Meloche. Over croissants I tell Fiona that Uler recommends that he examine Ricky to ensure that there have not been any complications. After a short visit with Mikal, who is looking much better, I ride out again. On my way I pass Mathias. I call Meloche but get no answer the first time, but on the second attempt he answers. He rides a fierce black horse and is accompanied by Uler. I Trump them trough but they arrive in confusion. Arvada was on the back of Uler's horse, but now she is gone. Uler searches the nearby shadows but cannot find her. I had seen Arvada just before I left so I suspect that this was an impostor. We hurry back to Amber and inquire after her. She has been in Amber all morning and has not left. My suspicions are confirmed. In the presence of Random, Fiona and Benedict I find that Uler had had another of these ubiquitous blank spots. Just like Arvada and Meloche. I tell of the agent's plan to take blood samples and on inspection Uler is found to have a mark on his back where the fake Arvada could have bled him. As usual the elders depart without contributing anything of their own. This is becoming a bit repetitious.

Mathias and I leave the castle to see if we can reach the fake Arvada by trump. I tie Starshine to Mathias' foot an wait ready to disrupt the contact if things go badly. He did not reach Arvada, fake or otherwise, but he did see a blue circular entity with tendrils floating in the blackness of Trump. This lends credence to the theory that Brand has a trump construct of some kind. Either it is more cautious or there is something special about Mathias but I get nothing when I try the card.

We return to Amber to attend the meeting the King set for one o'clock. Almost everyone is there on the edge of their seats, but they make us suffer through a long lunch. I has been a while since we last spoke so I catch Bleys' eye to arrange a meeting for later. Finally the food is finished. Random gives a brief run down of the situation which fails to add anything new except suggesting rather strongly that the castle is the safest place for the next week and we should all stay put. No explanation of what they intend to do in that week.

Later a group of us discuss theories of Brand's Trump construct with Mikal in the library. I also give Mikal a note about my Calvin theory. To kill time we go on a tour around the castle. I get to look in to but not enter the Pattern chamber. I have a request sent to the King to gain entry and view the Pattern more closely at a later date. After the tour I chance across Bleys who also suggests I not try to leave Amber. I tell him about the Calvin theory and my aunt's party. He is not inclined to chit chat so I take up my guitar and head down to the party. It is a pity the electric won't work in Amber, but you can't have everything. Dance. Play. Party. Not bad for prison. I doubt if Corwin is a fellow inmate. Perhaps a guard or maybe a visitor. We talk through the mesh, discussing events past and current. While I would prefer peace if the current trouble come to war it would please me to fight at Corwin's side again. I am glad to finally have it confirmed that he did know me on the occasion we first met. It is nice to know he does not have a rabid hate of chaos, or perhaps my situation amused him. At any rate my conversation bores him as he excuses himself to dance with a female officer. Am I being too sensitive? She may be an old friend or Corwin may be in the mood for an evenings entertainment. I am beginning to get sick of all these Amberites who are too busy to talk but have plenty of time to interfere with my freedom.

12-May-96 Corwin is still engaged with his paramour. I smile a little more easily as he seems quite involved in his company. The next dance is lady's choice. I am not exactly sure why, it has been too little time since she last expressed indifference toward me, but Arvada selects me as her partner. Flora takes no partner while Fiona dances with one of the multitude of officers. After I talk with Uler and then Dame Margot, who I arrange to see later about a point of etiquette. She suggests I dance with Florimel, which seems a capital idea. I do not, however, accept her request to similarly advise the others. I decline to share the honour.

Next I see Uler in a couple of uncomfortable situations, the second being the more serious. First Mathias questions him about his Logrus sword, then he has an argument with King Random. When others begin to pay attention to the raised voices they leave to continue the discussion in private. I follow, just in case my fellow Chaosite needs some backing. When I knock Random is rather impolite. Whatever Uler has said has annoyed him greatly. He almost slams the door in my face. Now things become difficult. I had planned to protest my confinement and this slight almost pushes me too far. If only it were not so totally insane to risk offending the King. I am sure that whatever I say it will not buy my freedom, but it may gain me a powerful enemy. That decides it. I will protest most politely so that I can then acquiesce gracefully and perhaps win some favour. I speak to a chancellor to arrange an appointment on the morrow. The party continues but not much later Vialle gets a note, presumably from Random, and departs.

I awake at dawn and fence until breakfast. Uler, Meloche and most of the elders are absent. I wonder what is afoot this fine morn? More fallout from last night's argument? I hope not, for Uler's sake. Upon returning to my room I find a letter regarding my request to visit the Pattern and my appointment with the King. I hurry word to the chancellor to arrange an escort so I may make my visit before speaking to Random. If I err and manage to offend him I could lose the chance, so it is best not to delay. I find Uler and ask about the argument - he also was chafing at his confinement and spoke a little too directly. I must be sure to choose my words carefully.

Downstairs I find that Bleys waiting to be my escort. He says he just happened to be free, which may be true, but I cannot help but think he arranged it that way. Friend or not the security is tight. After removing all my weapons and clothing and donning a stupid robe, probably chosen to test my resolve or embarrass me, we descend to the Pattern chamber. There are many guards, all armed with the same evilly enchanted crossbows as the guards in the courtyard. It is awesome. I can feel the power clear across the room, like the cold heat of an immense fire. I circle and regard the thing from all sides, sure that it also regards me. It is not dark, slimy or insane like the Logrus, but bright, intricate and stable. So exquisite and so far beyond reach. As I draw closer the guards steady their aim and Bleys forbids me to go further. He need not have spoken. I can feel it's charge push me away. That is all. I can endure no more. I leave, retrieve my gear and thank Bleys profusely for his time. With a little assistance from Bleys I straighten my attire and head off to see the king.

Again I must forgo my weapons. Random is in his office. Nothing excessively formal. I let Random know my frustration, with carefully chosen words. He politely refuses to tell me more and while he appreciates my co-operation I doubt if my offer of assistance will ever be taken up and I likewise doubt that he will ever take me into his confidence. Still I had to ask, if only for form's sake. I feel a little put out but there is nothing to gain by acting the spoilt brat so I retire quietly and go to visit Mikal. Not that this will improve my mood much. He is privy to much more than he will tell his troublesome kid brother. He does tell me about the nasty crossbow bolts. Some area of effect Trump thing, with other enchantment, possibly by Bleys or Fiona.

After lunch I fence with Lt. Duccio. He is very good but tires easily. Then Mathias arrives looking for a challenge. He is quite hopeless so I give him a few lessons before the real master arrives and shows us both what novices we are. Perhaps my stay in Amber will not be to tiresome if I get to learn from Benedict.

That evening at dinner I announce the party aunt Rebecca and I are putting on. As I do so I address a prayer to the Serpent, and the Unicorn and any other power that may be listening. If this party goes well and we get a few attendees from among the elders I will be well pleased. After dinner I pass up the movies to attend the poetry reading. Fiona and Llewella are kind enough to let me sit with them and I even manage to recite some haiku and a Wordsworth without embarrassing myself. I catch the end of The Rocky before having a quiet chat with Meloche about a possible venture when we manage to escape the watchful eyes of his kin.

In the morning I again rise early to practice. I find that Benedict has set out a training schedule for us. I practice with spear, scimitar and rapier. After lunch we are to run and practice hand to hand and knife fighting. The others cannot find Uler, I do some work on my painting while they conduct a cursory search. In a not Meloche informs me that he is worried, he thinks Uler may have gone to Tir-Na-Nogth. I think the hall of mirrors more likely. After ditching the twins Meloche and I go searching. A while later we find the hall of mirrors. I tie a cord to Meloche in case these mirrors can be trapped like Trump. As we walk the hallway we are shown several disturbing scenes : a blue circle with tendrils floating in space; an enormous eye watching us; a dark form shape changing into a unicorn; Merlin with his arm stripped to the bone, reaching up for aid. This last one I touch, attempting to teach Merlin but some enormous power smites me unconscious. Meloche saw Uler step through a mirror into Tir-Na-Nogth. When I recover we continue on and eventually find a small chapel, where I offer a prayer for our safety and Uler's return. There is a secret door partly ajar, with several of Uler's buttons lying on the floor. After much effort and the judicious use of a bit of leverage I manage to open the door a few inches wider so we can squeeze through.

Down a flight of stairs is a small room with yet more mirrors. There Meloche sees Random ripped apart by arms from the ground; himself sitting on the right hand of Janos of Hendrake, to whom Uler says Meloche is related. I see King Swayvill consumed by Chaos; myself shape change and sprout Logrus tendrils. In the last mirror we both see Uler sitting on a picnic rug reading a book. He disrobes and begins to change shape. Shifting, darkening, just like the vision Meloche saw, until he takes the form of a black unicorn. We reach through the mirror after him but the transition is sluggish. He turns to see us with a look of startlement then runs off. I give chase but he?, it?, swiftly disappears from sight, even the tracks fade quickly. He left behind books, one on Tir-Na-Nogth and the other on the Unicorn of Amber. As we walk, attempting to follow the unicorn's trail Meloche gets a Trump call. Again I tie him off as a precaution. A wise one for he has barely answered when something assaults him and his movements cease.

17-May-96 I try briefly applying the scarab to Meloche, I am not sure if it works. He falls over as I remove the device and set it back in it's accustomed place. He begins to recover but is sketchy about who the caller was. I think Fiona, but maybe another has messed with his thoughts. I am halfway through a sentence when something trumps me right through the screen. Even pushing the barrier to the max doesn't stop it. It is looking for something but rather than try to stop it or pry in turn I elect to cut it off with a power word. Given its strength I am a little surprised when I succeed. By the time I am back to myself I see Meloche aiming to kick me. I step back and draw. In retrospect it may have been a bad move. Meloche turns to flee and begins to fumble with his trump. I trip him and tap him lightly on the side of the head as I suggest he drop the call. He is controlled or it terrified that I am, as he continues with the trump and sets a snake creature from around his neck to attack me. I fend it off with the sharp edge, cutting it nicely and suggest he call the thing off. I step off him and let him Trump as I would rather not risk hurting him badly to stop his escape. I hope that he doesn't flee into a worse predicament.

I shift toward a trail to Delazny then fly to make better speed. I pass a bespectacled man on a grey horse who looks up at me with a smug expression. For some reason I wonder who he is who regards me thus and a temptation to shoot him comes over me. I choose to ignore the temptation and fly on, eventually reaching my home.

I find that Arvada has been waiting there for me and three days have passed in Amber since I went in search of Uler. Agents report that several Kythara survivors report having been rescued by Galt, consort to Idris and a friend of the twins. They have also recovered the remains of an item purported to have belonged to him. There is as yet no report from the cryptographers but the guards report shooting at a large bird which was probably Arvada and the sorcerers have noticed strange power fluctuations which may be after effects of the destruction. I set the arch sorcerer to erect communication barriers and have invitations and an apologetic letter to Random sent off to Amber.

I take an assistant sorcerer and head off to investigate the suspected Broken Pattern. It is very obvious. I know it is there even without completing the journey, but before I get very far there is a call informing me that Mathias has also arrived at the castle. I am sure that one of these two is a fake, perhaps both, but it shall be interesting to see them perform. I hurry back. Questioning the staff reveals that they both have appropriate magical items and lockets. I arrange to see them both at the same time so I can watch their reactions.

They are shown into the room. Perhaps I was wrong, or the enemy has employed skilled shifters. I, at least, cannot tell the difference. Mathias describes his journey into the blackness, the blue tendril thing, and his escape through a point of light into a cupboard containing a trump deck. They were sent by Random to find Meloche, Uler and I. Mathias again mentions the Broken Pattern. Evidently Fiona herself told him of it. I am not at all comfortable with the thought of Amberites nosing about my shadow looking for Broken Patterns.

Mathias identifies the cane as belonging to Galt, who must now be presumed dead. Our conversation is interrupted by another attack. Something assaults the wards, which I have lowered to avoid risking my sorcerer. It must be that Trump thing again. I can only guess that it is a curious, meddlesome child as it takes it's petty revenge by filling several rooms with bananas. The twins leave to search for Meloche. I decline to accompany them as I would rather investigate the Broken Pattern without their interference.

Cousin Kendall delivers me a message from Tmer - Hergan is looking for Uler and has asked the assistance of Jesby. I perform a Trump scry which indicates madness, perhaps that of the Logrus, is in store for me. I do not relish either kind of insanity. I pen a letter then call Tmer to deliver it so he and Hergan will be informed about Uler's condition. I also inform him of arrangements for the party. I try calling Meloche and get a faint contact, but the feel is alien and the contact does not last. Lastly I call Uler and get a brief, faint connection - fleeting images from the eyes of a unicorn.

24-May-95 I call Mikal and Corwin. It is important that they know of my suspicions about the danger to Merlin. I get no answer from them, nor from Anna so as a last resort I write another letter and have it delivered to Amber.

I collect the sorcerer and go to investigate the broken Pattern. I have the guards erect a barricade then set to studying the relationships between Delazny, broken Pattern, Pattern, Starshine, my sketch pad and I. This pattern is the same design as the Amber Pattern and the one I have already walked but the flaw is different. It's presence has had a discernible effect on Delazny. The shadow is more real.

I draw a sketch of the pattern on my pad and pencil in the flaw as I walk the Pattern. I feel distinctly uneasy as I do this, as if the Pattern is watching me and is angered by my actions. When I walk back out my drawing is changed, now it is a simple but accurate line sketch. I learnt little, but do feel a slightly stronger affinity with Delazny.

As I am preparing to leave the guards alert me to the arrival of a rider. It is Corwin. Mikal is still not up to travelling. I tell him of my vision of Merlin and my theories and suppositions. I also mention the implied threat to Amber and the Courts. He leaves in a great hurry to confer with Random and then depart on his search for his son. I wish him well. Another intruder has been spotted. After having the guard and a scribe collaborate on a picture I identify him as Alaric. To the best of my knowledge Alaric is still in Amber, and even were he not I would not expect him to be snooping around Delazny. I could be another shape shifter or a clone. The Alaric clone is not the only spy. Several groups of riders, some with magic, have also been seen in the vicinity.

I receive another message from Tmer through the ever reliable Kendall. I shall have to remember not to group him too closely with Bussar and Yattaf as he is obviously a useful servant of Jesby. Three houses have sent out search parties looking for the black unicorn. This is very serious. I immediately call Uncle Tmer and bring him to Delazny. He says that Helgram and Sawall are allied and search together. Garafiesto is the second and Kappo or Trentor the third. The latter two obviously mean Uler no good.

Once Uncle has departed I immediately set out in search of Uler. This is too important to risk answering the Trump call which I receive on the road. Returning to where I last saw Uler I begin to shift and mould shadow seeking a place that unicorns frequent. I search fruitlessly for a day before catching a glimpse of a unicorn. It is not black but is definitely not just a normal animal so I follow hoping it will lead me to Uler or provide some clue. I leads me a merry chase as I take a deer for so as not to startle it. It goes to a stream and then jumps down the bank. Following cautiously I find it's tracks leading into a cave in the stream bank. I resume my normal shape, take a light and venture into the darkness. There are no branches in the cave and no unicorn in its depths, even the tracks I have followed lead out not in. Some power is at work here. Following the tracks back out of the cave I find myself walking a ditch in a shadow very near to the courts. I follow the tracks out of the ditch and see an old ruined castle with the same unicorn prancing up the tumbled stairs. I follow swiftly and catch not further sight of it, but in a room at the top of the stairs I find what it meant me to see. A statue pierced by an arrow. On the table is a leather satchel containing a bible in ancient Latin. The passage where the wife is turned to a pillar of salt is marked. How apt. It scarcely reacts when I attempt to change it so I call my uncle's chamberlain to get expert help. He comes himself and determines that it is an Amberite. There are few enough female Amber shifters so it is likely that it is Arvada. Not who I set out to find, but a good catch none the less.

Returning to Delazny I find a package has been anonymously delivered. It contains a book on the dark side of the unicorn. The strangeness continues as I receive a call from Lady Dara. She removes and examines the arrow which has a nasty Chaos poison on it. She gives me a piece to deliver to Tmer, enquires after my efforts to find her son and departs.

I call King Random and tell him I have Arvada. Calling back a few moments later I Trump her to Amber. Fiona and Mikal are with the King, and Gerard who carries the statue down to Fiona's work room where she restores Arvada. Her story is short. She had another run in with the tendril thing. It hugged and drained her. She says it has a feel of Pattern, Logrus, Trump and something else as well. When she escaped back to normal shadow she was flying and got shot by an arrow. This is probably how I came to find her, although she had no recollection of a ruined castle.

Alaric is also back at the castle. He was captured by some white creatures who tortured him and drank his blood. Rather horrific but the timing seems to preclude his having been in Delazny so I inform the King that there is another shifter or clone on the loose. I ask if it is possible to search the primal Pattern. I give no real details but there is a good chance that they know what I am after. My words have probably set competition from the royal family of Amber against me. Random refuses to provide me access to the primal Pattern but assures me nothing has yet been sighted in the vicinity. He does however give me free reign to search Amber and it's surrounds.

Disappointed I go to speak with Mikal. We discuss Trump, Merlin and the blue tendril thing. I theorise that the fourth power may be Brand's advanced form of sorcery and suggest that Mikal speak to Alain about it. I wonder about why it is that only Mathias, Arvada and Meloche are able to see this thing. I can see nothing that connects just the three of them. If Mikal knows anything he is not telling. I tell him of my encounters with the tendril thing. There is a similarity in the attacks I have suffered so it is likely that the same entity is responsible for them both, and Mikal's as well.

I somewhat belatedly keep my appointment with Dame Margot. I thank her for her virtual advice and discuss the sensitive topic of courting and royal marriages. She wisely advises me to lower my sights, but as yet none of the younger princesses that I have met interests me much. Arvada has her good points but I dislike her brother and she has difficulty seeing me as anyone other than Celeste. Elaine is too near a relative and I have not met any of the others. Even so, just broaching the topic may be to my advantage even if there are no immediate prospects.

As I leave a messenger informs me of a meeting. Anonymous of course. Like everything else. In the library I find a glass of exquisite wine and a dictionary. I can find no annotation but there is a line pencilled inside the blank pages : "look behind you". I do and there is Bleys, who I have seen little of lately, sporting his usual infectious grin. He must have something important to say to risk meeting me thus. He does.

After I tell him that Mikal, Corwin and I all have tasks whose success or failure could greatly affect Amber he tells me I will not succeed without searching the primal pattern. He obviously knows much about my intentions, which means so do others. He suggests I get Meloche's help as he knows the way to the primal Pattern. Does this mean that Meloche is a Pattern Adept? I think so. I am loathe to involve him, but since Random will not assist me he is probably my best option. Bleys implies that he will be actively assisting me and says that others, some from Amber, will oppose us or try and beat us to the prize. This much I know, but if they have Amber allies then they too can search the primal Pattern. It would be disastrous if Uler were to fall into enemy hands. House Hendrake is arming for war. I cannot fathom the reason, unless it is that they are allied with Brand again, but if I find Uler then I can expect help from Helgram and Sawall in forestalling the conflict. As a final thought I ask Bleys if he knows of any connection between Meloche and the twins. He has nothing to add so I bid him good day and leave to find Arvada and Meloche.

29-May-96 Arvada does not recognise the book I found and Alaric has not seen the thing or used Trump for several days. It is imperative that he be tested immediately to narrow down the number of people who are and are not connected. Mathias does not have any episodes that could indicate that he was sampled. This does not negate my theory that the blood may have been involved in the thing's genesis as Mathias and Arvada are twins, so his sample may have been redundant. Or it could be that the connection is just Dierdre and Kythara. Mathias's continued interest in my Broken Pattern is annoying. I refuse to take him at this time, there are other more pressing concerns.

He is such an aggravating little jerk. I remember talking to Alain and Mikal about Calvin. They were reminiscing about the times they should have killed him and did not. I am beginning to feel the same way about Mathias. In the latest incident Mathias mentioned that Meloche was attacked by a Chaos Lord and then refused to name him. After much badgering, some of it from Gerard, he finally names Hergan and then goes on to name several possible extenuating circumstances. Gerard does not believe the story. On the subject Arvada names Thomas as her attacker. This I consider unlikely, but then again he hasn't been seen for some time and may be in Randall's thrall.

I leave to look for Benedict, trying Gareth's and Thomas's trumps along the way. No response as usual. Nor any luck finding Prince Benedict. I leave my apologies with Lord Danesh and go searching for Meloche. He does not answer his Trump but I find him in his room. He is still angry at me over the circumstances of our last parting. I can not quite understand why. My actions were no more unreasonable than his and I did him no real harm. To ensure he will actually be of use on my quest I inquire if he is an adept of Pattern. In usual Meloche fashion he does not deny it, but refuses to give an explicit answer either. Despite our differences we agree that Uler must be found. If Meloche is lucky our finding Uler will mollify Hergan, which would be an important consideration were I Meloche. Still a bit edgy around me Meloche insists on taking Alaric who is still unwell. Meloche uses Mathias's healing belt on him, a most disgusting procedure. Meanwhile I go to find Mikal so Alaric can be tested. Mikal says he is still mentally damaged but is well enough for there to be little risk. For some perverse reason Alaric calls Calvin for the test, which proceeds without trouble. So Alaric is not one of the chosen. Meloche and the twins look knowingly at each other and begin whispering about the big `D'. They most impolitely walk out to discuss the matter in private. Alaric and I also discuss the possibilities. He thinks they are all related, Dierdre being the logical choice. I concur. I have been searching for a connection and with Alaric excluded and this talk of the big `D' I think the matter is all but decided.

Half an hour later they return. Meloche is bare chested and Mathias is unconscious. Some accident with the Trump with the usual lack of details. I may be a devious Chaosite but I am a long standing friend of Amber and their continued distrust grates on me. At the very least they could lie artfully or dance around the truth, either of which is more socially acceptable. I must speak to Dame Margot about their lack of training. They send for Mikal and Meloche does some Pattern stuff. Mike says there is no damage and Arvada tells us he tried walking the pattern and then Trumping Dierdre. It sounds foolhardy to me. Mathias neither gained nor lost by his experiment, but perhaps he was lucky. In any case whatever his relationship to the thing, it does no protect him much and the thing was not deterred by the pattern.

We all retire to change for dinner. As I am rebuttoning my shirt I hear a scream from the hallway. Meloche has a ninja psychically locked, there is another dead in the room. The captive dies before Fiona can interrogate him. Poisoned by a snake bite. Meloche's little friend perhaps? Oh well. Too bad there was no great danger. I would have been useful had I been in a position to save Meloche's life. I continue dressing and then go down to an uneventful dinner. As Meloche, Alaric and I prepare to depart King Random starts suggesting that Mathias and Arvada come with us. I don't know what parts of my plans he is privy to or why he wants them to come, but his insistence makes it impossible to exclude them Damn! I crumple and toss the pass Random wrote for me in disgust. With all these hangers on it is useless anyway. I feel like the King is toying with me. Seeing how far he can go before I crack.

They manage to mess around for half an hour sorting out mounts, armour, weapons, even a carriage is considered. Even for them this is a ridiculous performance. Perhaps Random put them up to it. Despite their enthusiasm for the search it appears that they have no clue as to how to proceed. I direct them toward the glade of the unicorn then fall back to talk privately with Meloche. I let him know what the actual plan regarding Uler and the Primal Pattern is, and I even tell him a little of Hendrake and the affairs in Chaos. He agrees that we should split off to conduct our own search. Meloche begins to use Pattern. We have only been gone a few minutes, which I have spent debating calling Alaric or one of my guards, when I receive a Trump call.

9-June-96 It is Anna, at least it seems to be. A few moments later when the connection is solid a Chaos Lord whose identity I was unable to divine attacks me. Taken by surprise I have no chance to defend myself or break the contact. He calls me Bastard of Jesby and demands that I stop my search for Uler. I ask who orders me thus, but the craven hides behind my mother's face. I refuse to take orders from such scum. My defiance earns me a dagger in the chest. My power word slowed by his mental hold comes a fraction too late to save me. His weapon slices effortlessly through my armour piercing heart and lung. I can do little more than side ungracefully from my mount before darkness claims me.

My next waking moment finds me suspended in a regen tank under the watchful eye of my two closest kin. Anna checks my memory of the attack. My assailant was most impolite. It is the height of rudeness to take another's face. Despite days in the tank I am still rather ill, but time presses. I trump to the others and finally Meloche and I tell them of Uler and the black Unicorn. Mike gated us near to the Primal Pattern to begin our search. Even so it is still a few hours ride before we get to the Pattern itself. Everything is so real and vibrant, it is almost as if things cast multiple shadows, just fractions of a phase removed. We stop to watch the sunrise over the Pattern. It is brighter, more vivid than the Pattern I saw in the dungeons of Castle Amber, different even though the design is the same. I scan the area with binoculars but see nothing. I continue surveying from the ridge while the others go to investigate the cave.

I wait a short while before deciding to follow them. Just as I am about to spur my mount I see a small dark figure pause at the mouth then enter the cave. I ready a lantern then race down the hill. My charge has little more effect than to frighten Alaric. The figure was Dworkin and he says that Uler was captured in a net and is held two miles hence. Much disorganized rushing to his rescue. I have the fastest horse and am therefore the first to encounter the ambush. It is perhaps a good thing as the bowmen are well placed and could have seriously injured the others. I take cover behind my shield and return fire and slay them but not quickly enough to stop Keiko taking an arrow. They are serious, the arrow is enchanted and continues to burrow deeper. I remove it but Keiko is not fit to go further. I exchange mounts and leave Keiko with one of my guardsmen. At the stream we find signs of the Unicorn trap. No sign of Uler, just a trail which soon vanishes. I try the Trump and with Alaric's help get a faint vision from Uler. He is slung upside down beneath a pole with the sun to his right. I check the angle of the sun and correct our course. 20 minutes and another course check later we come across a battle. The green of Hendrake against the maroon and black of Garafiesto. One of the maroons kills his opponent, sees us and makes a charge for the captive unicorn. I also charge, sending a volley of bolts toward him. A bolt finally finds a fatal spot just as he plunges his blade into Uler's side.

I redirect my fire toward the maroon Logrus master as he battle his Hendrake opponent. Eventually he too suffers a suitable fate. Seeing his wounds Alaric attempts to Trump away with Uler but the unicorn stays behind. I would have loved to have seen the look on his face when he found his hands empty. Gilva is here, leading the Hendrake forces. She draws Trump at almost the same moment I do. I inform Dara that Uler has been found. She already knows, perhaps from Gilva, and is on her way. Shortly thereafter she arrives, then Mandor. They begin repairs on the stricken Uler. I stand aside, eat, rest and look on with wry amusement when Fiona arrives. Arvada talks to Gilva who makes some inane comments and asks some questions to which she probably already knows the answers. Fiona and Dara discuss how to restore Uler. I am sure Dara chafes at her presence. Mathias and Arvada ride to get Dworkin's help. Dara examines Uler with the Logrus. One of his unicorn buddies takes offense and leaps at Dara forcing her back. I take the opportunity to talk to Mandor and make favorable comments about Meloche's assistance in finding Uler. I hope this will relieve tensions between Meloche and Hergan. Mandor suggests I have the poison analyzed and ask Tmer about strange goings on in his quarter. Later I tell Meloche of my conversation with Mandor. I check with Mikal, he will have the poison data shortly.

The twins return with Dworkin on a flying carpet. How amusing. He examines Uler then pushes the horn back in to his head. Big Pattern, Logrus and lord knows what else accompanied by much screaming form Uler. Eventually he is restored and Mandor suggest we stay here for a while as it is a safe place. Then leaves, followed a short while later by Mikal. I cook while the others discuss etiquette with Alaric. Their ignorance is hilarious. Uler awakes and has a private conversation with Dara. I flash Uler's Unicorn book in their direction, just because. Uler says he saw himself as a unicorn in the hall of mirrors, and that someone used Pattern to destroy a shadow near his rift. Evidently he changed form of his own accord, which is consistent with what Meloche and I saw. Dara and Fiona speak privately before they both leave. After all this trouble it amuses me that we are so soon left to our own devices again. It seems our elders desire us to cause trouble. Uler experiments Logrusing the young Amberites as they are still unable to use trump for fear of the blue thing. We ride to Amber. I Trump Uncle and give him the poison arrow and a letter explaining it's significance. The party is in four days and Anna has just reached Jesby.

Later when I speak to Uler he said that visions in Tir-Na-Nogth suggested he take on the icon of Amber. Perhaps they meant Pattern but Uler insists on the unicorn interpretation. I tell him about Merlin's disappearance and the beginnings of a tentative alliance between our Houses. He also saw Merlin in the mirror, he thinks he may have alerted the thing, which could be why I got hit so hard. Perhaps I should suggest Fiona investigate. I also mention the possibility that Hendrake did not have Uler's best interests at heart, maybe they wanted him for themselves.

Uler has an appointment to meet with Random, after a short while the rest of us are invited in. The youngsters are to be landed. I hope that the responsibility will settle them down, maybe give them time to mature. Probably not.

16-Jun-96 Mikal arrives late for breakfast. He comes in with clay on his hands. He collects Vialle and returns to his studio. Private sculpture classes with the Queen? I wonder if Random knows? After all, my brother does have a bit of a reputation. More likely something to do with Trump. I speak to the chamberlain about travel arrangements for the party, but Rebecca and Mikal have already planned it all. This, I suspect, is just a precursor to my increasing detachment from the party. Now that I have gotten the ball rolling I doubt if I will be permitted to garner any of the credit, although I will of course be solely responsible should things go amiss. I should know better.

I grab Uler and take him to Mikal to be tested. Negative. Mike has the poison analysis. I hope it will prove informative. I get a note that Dame Margot is too busy to see me today. Oh well. So much for trying to be helpful. My next good samaritan trip also proves worthless as the King is already aware of the Merlin mirror and my own input doesn't seem to interest them.

Somewhat disheartened I return to Delazny where more bad news awaits me. There has been much flux in shadow and many deaths. There is no obvious pattern to the rearrangement of the shadow paths. I can see no clear pattern and no obvious beneficiary. My long awaited translations of Hergan's books are gibberish. He must have spent an enormous effort tracking them down and scrambling them. I destroy all remaining copies but it is too late. The damage is done. Perhaps, if I manage to live long enough, one day I might actually get some good news. I could happen.

I Trump to Jesby and send messages to Tmer and Rebecca. Later that evening I have dinner with them. The local news is no better than that in Jesby. Dangerous creatures have been appearing out of shadow and Hendrake are still arming, even though Uler has been found. Nor are there any similarities in the poisons. Yet another dead end. I inform them that Arvada will be participating in the hunt, so the gamekeepers will not be surprised by her unorthodox shifting and methods. The guests will begin to arrive tomorrow morning I am to greet them. Excellent. Perhaps this party will not be a total loss after all.

Uler, Arvada and Meloche arrive, sending apologies from Mathias and Alaric. I show them their rooms and give a brief guided tour the we retire down to the lake for the picnic. I make introductions to Rebecca and Tmer. Mandor and Hergan arrive, I had not expected Hergan to attend. Mandor speaks to us but Hergan does the official rounds and then departs. Cousin Paul makes a move on Arvada. I give him the nod. The two of them fly over to the hunting area, I elect to take my skimmer. I need a few moments alone to mull over this unexpected turn of events.

30-Jun-96 The hunt begins. I hunt with Paul and Arvada and our guide. First razorbeaks, then a Griffin. Paul and Arvada both deport themselves well. I offer them my skimmer for the return trip. Paul feigns an important duty and has me sail back with Arvada so I can ask her about the match. Evidently she requested him as an escort. He suspects his elders are pulling his strings again and is not pleaded at the prospect. When I ask Arvada freely admits to having arranged for an escort, though I suspect Flora and Rebecca had a hand in it somewhere. We continue the sail back and change for dinner. I tell Paul about Arvada's response. This seems to settle his fears a little, he seems to find her agreeable and it would be a most fortuitous match for the family. In the reception lounge we talk. Uler leaves for win and does not return. He has been detained in conversation by two very elegant Sawall gentlemen in demon form. I move to relieve him of the wine which ends the conversation. Their discussion is obviously not for public consumption, so why are they speaking here?

At dinner Arvada is seated with Paul, Mathias with Simone, Meloche is next to Gabrielle of Garafiesto and another of Vialle's ladies. Alaric is next to an uncharacteristically aloof Vonnigg who seems engaged with one of his mistresses. The Sawall representatives are further down the table than expected and have retained their demonic forms.

After the banquet there are a couple of inconsequential duels which I must observe, there are few attendees, most notable being one Sawall. When I return Alaric has been captured by Cymelle and looks most uncomfortable. Meloche has handed Gabrielle off to Gerard and they seem to be getting along famously. Dara has Uler in tow and is dragging him around all the formal introductions. Poor boy. Still, it can't be any more dangerous than what he has already been through.

Mathias escorts Chrysabel to Vialle and Simone and then leaves the poor girl high and dry. Before I can reach them she flees in disarray. Kendall speaks to her, and then to Yattaff before she flees the chamber. I ask them is there is any trouble them move on to inquire of the Queen. I drop in Mathias' name to catch their reaction. When I find him Mathias is disturbing Paul and Arvada. I drag him off to talk about Chrysabel. He has nothing useful to say and I can do no more. Gods this boy is a fool.

I hurry off to find Rebecca. She introduced Chrysabel to Mathias but did not have any special purpose in doing so. I don't really believe this, but I prefer Rebecca's hand to another.

Later that evening I again notice Uler in private conversation with the two Sawall demons. There are no raised voices and a few celebratory clinks of glasses so I assume negotiations are going well. I approach but arrange so that Uler is able to hide the demons from me. We drink a glass and he retires after I have subtly let him know I was aware of his conversation and will be waiting if he needs assistance. Meloche arrives looking for Uler. I guide him to his rooms and depart as he does not want me privy to the conversation. I almost like it that these young Amberites mistrust me so. Almost. A demon summons me back to the room where Uler activates a silence device. Meloche has a note delivered by Tonya, Vialle's lady, which was in turn given to her by a servant. It appears to be in an unusual variant of ancient Latin. Despite some effort we are unable to translate it. I think that it is bait. Perhaps useful information with a built in delay, but most likely bait. Someone want to tempt Meloche out into shadow. I advise restraint as Meloche is obviously dying of curiosity. I sail for a few hours before retiring and sleeping late.

The next morning a servant informs me that a duel between Kendall and Mathias has been announced. If only the fool had spoken to me last night when I gave him the change, now boll must be shed. I head down to breakfast with my family. I discuss matters of the duel with family and Mathias. I check the arrangements with Kendall, Yattaf who is his second and Uler who seconds Mathias. Kendall is behaving sensibly and honorably while Yattaf continues to be a fool and tries to stir up even more trouble. There are too many other young hot heads eager to leap to Chrysabel's defense so the only solution was to have the family make the matter official. I show Kendall Mathias' style and later Mathias Kendall's. There are to be no accidents in this fight. It will end with a small wound and that will be that.

I escort Chrysabel to the gardens and explain the facts of life to her. Her foolish overreaction could have Jesby dearly. Kendall wins the fight but Mathias handle himself well. All parties are satisfied and the best has been made of a bad situation. I congratulate them both. Afterward Uler and I discuss the situation with Meloche and Mathias. I also mention to Rebecca and Tmer that someone could have prompted Chrysabel, a possibility, however remote, that they have already considered. This also makes Mathias a target for other such entanglements. I will have to watch closely.

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