So, six weeks in Amber. It seems I may have made a slight error in not being more sociable with the family after my arrival here, but learning the background to the family seemed like the more important thing to do at the time. However, since then even Tara has turned out to be more than the mindless degenerate she appears to be - she is definitely my superior when it comes to laying and interpreting the cards, and my discussion with her gave me a few hints which I think may come is useful in the future. She even gave me a Trump of herself, not that I needed one of course, but it at least gives me an excuse if I ever need to Trump her in future. I did find it a little surprising that some, Adam in particular, seem sceptical about the uses of scrying with the cards, when it quite provably works. I suppose the ambiguity makes them dubious.
Like me, Cuchulainn is another member of the family new to Amber, though unlike me he had not walked the Pattern before his arrival. He seems very, possibly over- enthusiastic. At least I was able to talk to him without having him drool all over me. Apparently he is a Celt, from some primitive Shadow. Despite these two great disadvantages I think he might prove useful, both to Amber, and to myself, especially now that he has walked the Pattern, and displayed his really quite impressive combat skills. And now that I have a Trump of him, of course. As when I arrived in Amber, Adam threw a party for Cuchulainn after he walked the Pattern, which was ... interesting in the slightly pathetic way some of the elders, including the King, were bickering over a bottle of wine. I would have hoped that age had brought them some dignity, but it would seem that I was wrong.
After meeting Oswald of House Karm at the coming-out party of Antonia Karm, I can now understand why Osric felt the need to kill off so many of them long ago. How dare the little swine come on to me like that?! While I can't fault his taste, the very thought is nearly enough to make one vomit. His sister perhaps, even if she is a brunette, but him! Ugh! At least Valor and Cuchulainn accepted defeat gracefully! "Has anyone ever told you you have beautiful blue eyes"! He's lucky I didn't kill him there and then. If he tries it on again maybe I will
I was quite surprised at the level of ... contact? Intimacy? existing between Amber and Chaos. Taranis, Ishmael and Adam all appear to be romantically involved with people from the Courts, while Nicobrus, from the Courts, is involved with one of Fionas ladies-in-waiting. I find it strange that those of the pure bloodline of Amber should ... pollute their blood with of the demonstrably inferior Chaosites. I suppose they think the blood of Amber will dominate that of the inferior parent. Perhaps they're right, but why take the chance? Then again, unless they go in for incest, I suppose they have little choice given how inferior shadowites also tend to be. The fact that so few Amberites are of a proper Aryan type is also a little suspect. At least mother is true to it... But. There are so many places where the Aryan ideal is not adhered to, and all Amberites seem superior to all others anyway, that I'm becoming unconvinced how much, if any, of the ideal applies in Shadow at large. We'll see.
Probably the most significant recent event was the disappearance of Tir Na Nog'th during the Karms party. Apparently Corwin was up there when the place disappeared, and he now cannot be contacted. Of course this wouldn't be the first time he had been out of touch only to turn up later.
This crisis at least gives me a chance to make up some points with the King by going along on the expedition to find Merlin and hopefully through him Corwin and Tir Na Nog'th. It would seem we were a little late in arriving at Merlins home on mothers Shadow Earth. Merlin was gone and the Shadow had been severely twisted in an area centred on Merlins apartment with, apparently, a trail of distortion leading off through Shadow.
The extended insight into the Pattern which Ishmael and Adam apparently possess enabled us to get into Merlins apartment, despite the best efforts of various transformed and animated household items. It would almost have been amusing, like some animation out of London, if they hadn't' been so hostile. Still they proved no real threat, especially with Cuchulainn and Nicobrus present, but they certainly gave me a taste of the old combat rush. Facing a foe you know isn't likely to beat you, who you can kill. I'd nearly forgotten how good it feels...
The most unusual thing we found when we finally penetrated into Merlins study was a strange construct of Trump and Magic which spoke with what I was told was Merlins voice, and which called itself Ghostwheel. It claimed to be some kind of Trump computer/processor. Part of me wants it destroyed - think of the danger it could pose in the wrong hands - but part of me wants it, or something like it! I have no idea how Merlin could have built such a thing, but I definitely want to find out!
The only slight down side to this affair has been Ishmael, at least, becoming aware of my ability to draw Trumps, and my knowledge of Words of Power. Still, it was inevitable that these things would come out eventually, but I would have preferred later rather than sooner. I suppose I (and they) will just have to live with it.
House Sawall of Chaos seem to be involved in what is going on in some way - the faces of members of the House appeared on some of the things which were animated in and near Merlins apartment. Were they responsible for it, or the victims of it, or are they being framed? A reading of the cards may be in order.
And with Cuchulainn, Fiona finally returned to Amber, and I was able to talk to her regarding my ... problem. Although it seems that any solution will not be immediate, this would seem to be the best chance I've had so far. Once the current crisis is over, or a quiet time arrives, hopefully a cure will be mine at last. But ... no sense getting my hopes up too much too soon. Patience. Patience...