With our having done as much of Rinaldo's plan, ejected as many DarkWalkers from Amber, as our strength would allow, I decided that a fast-time rest followed by a return to Amber a few (Amber) minutes later was the order of the day. So, to the shadow of mesas and geometric clouds we went, and I accommodated us in the Travelling Mansion. I had forgotten how convenient it is to have such a thing available. But still, if one can carry the comforts of home with one, why should one not?
Apparently Cerebaton and Anntha, Khelladon's construct, are compiling a set of notes on what they have so far learnt of the Dragosian Clan Minds, based on various observations. This should certainly make an interesting read and, one hopes, a document to which I can make a positive contribution.
Cerebaton was able to covertly deliver to me his copies of the Sapphirians Trumps, one for myself and one for Rinaldo, when we arrived in the Mansion. Most excellent. Rinaldo seemed quite pleased - and impressed - by this, which rather pleased me. I hope he finds the Trumps useful in his plans.
From the Trump images it would appear that the Sapphirians were telling the truth in at least some of what they told me about their home. Some of them show a place - Sapphire, one assumes - illuminated by something that looks to be very like electricity. Unfortunately, the Sapphirian place Trumps simply do not work, as if the location they depict is too away - not unlike the Courts of Chaos. However, one hopes that this is a problem that can be overcome...
One hopes, also, that the various copies of the Trumps of the two Clan Minds that I was able to make will prove useful in our fight against them.
Cerebaton is, among everything else, working on the design of a face for himself, with which to represent himself to the world. This seems to be based on the reactions towards Anntha that he observed her gaining from those she interacted with. An interesting new phase in his development, I think, and not one which I really foresaw, but also one which I feel no need to attempt to forestall.
So far he has produced a middle-aged face, with brownish black hair and dark brown eyes. However, this is not, so he claims, a 'final version'. Is this another sign of his wanting to take a more active part in events, to work less behind the scenes? Or is it another sign of his becoming more of an adult, or more human? Or is he simply bored or lonely, and wishes to be able to converse more freely with people, when and where he wishes?
One would hope that it is not the latter, as I would much rather wish him to tell me were that so, so that something could be done regarding it which was acceptable to us both. Let us hope that it is merely a sign of his increasing maturity, and not that he has begun to keep secrets from me...
My dinnertime conversation with Rinaldo was rather interesting, too.
His use of wheedling and family sentiment as a long-term tool of spying. And his entirely valid comment that while we have been wasting our time playing at spies and Family politics, our enemies have been using that time to work against Amber, and indeed the Universe as it now is. Let us hope that it is not too late for us to save ourselves, despite this.
He worried, also, regarding Dworkin's apparent acceptance of his impending fate - or doom. I cannot say that I can blame him for this. I worry, also, but am still unable to see what, if anything, we can do to derail said fate...
Rinaldo does appear to care for his family, though, and enquired regarding the state of Codie and Lady Racilind in Ensilarum. I was, of course, happy to tell him what I know, which seemed to cheer him somewhat. He tells me that Codie does not have a talent for languages, which, until she walks a Pattern, may limit the amount of travelling shadow she can accomplish. I offered to give her a copy of my Amulet of Understanding, but, for now at least, Rinaldo turned me down. He wishes Codie to learn the different ways of thinking which accrue from learning foreign languages. And, to be honest, I quite understand him in this.
I wonder what that martial art which he was practising before breakfast was? It appeared to be ... rather strange. Perhaps I shall ask him when it seems ... more relevant.
Rinaldo and I also discussed which of the two of us should be the true heir of father's 'House of the Phoenix'. At least as far as Chaos is concerned. I am the oldest, but Rinaldo knows more of Chaos than I, and has apparently been there in the past. All of which means that he is probably the better qualified of we two to be father's heir.
To be honest, I am reasonably happy with that. It is, after all, one less responsibility laid upon my shoulders, and one I do not object to avoiding. As long as I do gain full access to anything of father's which may come into his hands. It would be quite nice to be able to avoid any of father's debts of problems in Chaos which may also fall upon his heirs, but that seems to be an inclusive part of becoming involved at all, alas.
Apparently Rinaldo was at the trials of Merlin's sanity in Chaos, after he, for some reason, summoned Primal Chaos in Castle Amber. It appears that the Logrus is more dangerous than I had thought, requiring sanity tests after assaying it and after any undue stress upon the initiate, with failure of said tests leading to mandatory treatment in the best suited of what would appear to be the very many lunatic asylums of Chaos. According to Rinaldo, Merlin's madness was exacerbated by the order in which he assayed Pattern and Logrus, not simply his having assayed both of said powers. Perhaps there is some deep significance in this information, I do not, at present, know.
To be honest, I was not too interested in Rinaldo's tale, never having met Merlin after all. But, now, as I write this, I wonder if such a test of sanity, or the failure or lack of such a test, was the source of much of father's alleged madness. And if that were so, perhaps, just perhaps, somewhere in Chaos there exists the facility in which he could be treated, and cured. This is something to be investigated further, when time allows...
Come the morning, Cerebaton informed me that the battle in Amber has moved on a great deal, despite only a few minutes having passed in Amber. Apparently Benedict has taken control of the situation personally, and inflicted a serious reverse upon the invaders. Good! This was good news indeed, and something to encourage our return to Amber itself.
And it would seem that there is a slight danger of Rinaldo and I entering a Family-of-Amber-style relationship, something I most earnestly do not wish to occur.
And all over such a trivial matter - Rinaldo's enjoying a hearty breakfast of meat and fat, something many shadow dwellers - the vegetarian race of humans from which his wife comes for one - consider to be very unhealthy. And something which his wife ... discourages ... him from enjoying when at home. When he mentioned this, I mentioned, in jest, the oh-so-dire consequences should the Lady Racilind find out about this. Which he interpreted, not without some justification in hindsight, as a mild form of blackmail. Which was not what I intended by any means!
Let us hope that I - we - can prevent our relationship from deteriorating any further towards that of the other members of the Family...