Well, leaving Rebma has been less than enjoyable so far. Rayner busy somewhere, guards threatening me when I arrived in Amber. Not pleasant. Not at all. Too reminiscent of Timashkurabad. The Oricarians. The fear of capture always with me. At least I was able - had a chance - to explain myself. While I could probably have taken the four of them they could not have been the only guards there, and it would certainly have made my welcome in Amber less warm in future. Fortunately they could read at least.
I feel some chagrin at myself for not thinking there might be guards there when I used the Trump of Amber. Next time I will know better.
I was pleased to hear, from Rayner, that Julian is dead. His head delivered in a box just after I went to Rebma. If what Llewella told me true, he certainly deserved it. I hope Rayner did not notice my glee at the news. He might think it suspicious. But when he mentioned that Julian's ghost had been interrogated regarding his assassin that news did somewhat subdue my thoughts on having him and Caine assassinated which I mentioned to Llewella when we spoke.
And then Simon appeared with Flora - his mother - dead in his arms. The last I knew she had been appointed ambassador to this Chaos place. Simon was - is - not at all happy. Unsurprisingly. Bah. He'll get over it. I did.
But that is no excuse for treating us all in a peremptory manner. I was pleased when Rune slapped him down. Perhaps he will do this King job well after all.
Beware, Simon, I don't take orders from people for whom I have no respect and damn few from people I do have respect for. Suggestions? Requests? Yes. Orders? No. You just lost some of my respect. And I am not your skivvy so do not attempt to treat me as one. Only one person has ever held me in that position, and he is dead, at my hands - my teeth.
Llewella is taking a while to answer her Trump. I wonder why? Perhaps she has been murdered too. That would probably be unfortunate, if only because I suppose that would make me Queen of Rebma, and I don't want that. So I suppose I hope she is all right.
And form what Rayner said this would imply that Flora was killed by this Dara person, whoever they are. Unless there are two or more people or groups out there killing Amberites, of course...