Well, I have told the Captain of the Guard what I know about the detection of and protection against shapeshifters, much good may it do us all. I am not sure I actually know very much of use, it would seem. I know a great deal about my own use of my own powers, but much less regarding how others may see or detect them. Ah well, I did not lie or hold information back, so we shall simply have to see what comes of it all in the end...
It would appear that I cannot step out of the room for a moment without missing some important event or revelation.
The attack on Tobias by the Hurel, from the sound of it an uncle of mine - ours - is the most recent case in point. At least Tobias lives, is now well on the way to recovery, and no-one else has sustained anything more than superficial damage. And today does seem to be a day for Simon to be blown into walls.
I wonder, too, what Rayner meant when he said that Hurel had 'strange new powers'? Hopefully he will clarify what he means by that before too long. But whatever they are, it seems they allowed Hurel to steal the Eye of the Storm and leave this booby-trapped Chaos Gem in its place (whatever that is and however it works).
What does Hurel want with the Eye of the Storm? I am sure we would all like to know the answer to that question. The only thing I have seen it do is protect us from the storm after the battle by the Abyss, and from that I could conclude that it is very powerful. Perhaps it can raise such storms too, or control them, rather than simply deflect them. Given how worried the others seemed to be by the earlier storm this is, I suppose, some cause for concern.
Whatever the anti-healing power Hurel used on Tobias was, it was not pleasant. It seems to be tied to the Chaos Gem, whatever it was. But as to how it was applied and how it works, that remains mysterious, at least to me. I wonder if it would affect my healing by shapeshifting? Let us hope I never have the opportunity to find out first hand...
And what is this Chaos Gem? I have never seem such a thing, an object that changes shape constantly like that. Why did it speed its changes when I looked at it? The others must have examined it too. Did it do the same for them? Or only for me? If for anyone, presumably it is reacting to their presence in some way. If only me, why? Is it that I am the only shapeshifter present, or the only one half of whose blood is of Chaos? Hopefully this too will be made clear before long...
Who is this Hurel, anyway? No-one here knows of him. Perhaps Llewella would be capable of giving Rayner some information or, perhaps, proving Hural to be an impostor. Not that I see a great deal of point in impersonating someone no-one knows! Other than as a way of misdirecting our attention away from the real perpetrator, of course.
Of course, Llewella, via Rayner, claims to know nothing of Hural, either lying or truly ignorant of him. What a useless waste of space she is. I continue to wonder how long she will be able to maintain her hold on the throne of Rebma, given the skill she has so far demonstrated.
Why is Xandra going to give Dworkin a 'ring'? I thought she was going to Trump him, not give him jewellery! Presumably it is some strange turn of phrase from wherever it is that she comes from.
Rayner said that Rune was reluctant to give the Eye of the Storm to Tobias. Why? A lack of trust of Rayner's new regime, perhaps? Or a desire to hold on to the power he had for a while? At least, from the sound of it, Rune did comply without the need for any violence and that, I hope, is a good omen for future events...
Another irrelevant thought occurs to me.
I always knew I was different from other people, what with not being able to talk, and especially once I learnt how to shapeshift. But it was all right. I had friends, family even, and things were, if not perfect, bearable.
But now I know just how different I am. Not just a shapeshifter. An Amberite. A lord - lady - of infinite worlds.
I think of all the teeming people in Amber, and Rebma, and Timashkurabad, and presumably throughout shadow, and I can feel the difference. Feel the separation, the gulf, between myself and them. And ... I do not think that I like it. I can feel how it could lead me to a disregard, an utter contempt, for people who are not of the family of Amber. And that is something that I do not want. Even if I am not like them, they are people too. Even if I would cheerfully slaughter them in droves to attain my goals, they are still people, not so different from myself. And I must not forget that.
In Timashkurabad, I always hated those who gave themselves airs and graces, placed themselves above the common herd, the impoverished people like us. I do not want to turn into one of those people now that I myself have escaped from those stews, those streets...