Arden, year one, day 134 continued

Afternoon

It seems that Shard has never tried to control another person's mind before. Julian only taught him how to dominate animals. It figures. He asked me if it was possible to control another Amberite in the same manner. When I said I had never tried such a thing before, he volunteered himself. Naturally, I did not wish to take him up on his offer. We were in the middle of Arden, and I really did not want to encounter Julian or his men while I was making such an attempt. To say nothing of what might happen if I actually damaged Shard's mind. Instead, I showed him how to talk psychically, which fortunately seems to have made him forget his earlier request.

I learned something interesting as well. I must be very careful when in psychic contact with others. I desired to learn what had really happened to Shard when he went looking for Battlestar. I had no intention of forcing this information from him, but when I thought of it while we were in contact, I suddenly knew the answer. Even though he had no desire to tell me, and I was not really pressing to find out! I suspect this would be more difficult with someone more skilled, but the ease of it surprised me. I hope he understands that it was unintentional.

The information I learned, however inadvertently, was rather amusing, but puzzling as well. Shard was unable to find Battlestar at all. Instead, it was Battlestar who found him. Just in time, it would seem, since some men were about to kill him with their guns. Shard seems to have little common sense as far as dealing with other people. He was wounded by a creature that he encountered in his search, but did not wish to return home empty-handed. So he went looking for a doctor. Apparently he came across an armed encampment and just walked right in, asking for medical aid. Of course they took him prisoner. The amusing part is that these men seem to have been working for a Shadow of Ahab. Too bad that is who Shard chose to name as his employer. Naturally, they did not believe him, and were preparing to shoot him when Battlestar arrived. Battlestar killed the entire encampment. By himself. I have decided to make a special effort not to antagonize the animal.

What I do not understand is why Shard was unable to locate Battlestar himself, when Ahab had such an easy time finding Zero. The only possible explanation I can think off, is that Zero is somehow linked to Ahab, because of what Driscoll did to her. Shard, it would seem, has no such link with Battlestar.

We talked about the attacks on Amber for a while. Between Dalt's attacks on the shrines, the attempts to stir up trouble in the Golden Circle, and the various attacks on Amberites, it seems obvious that someone bears a grudge against Amber. Most likely someone or several people from Chaos. After all, they recently lost a war with Amber. But, is their goal the destruction of Amber? Or just some of its inhabitants? Neither Shard nor myself really know enough of about Amber's past to be certain.

Late afternoon

We were interrupted by the ground shaking fiercely. I had not felt such a thing since the Pattern was damaged by Driscoll. I think I suspected then what might have happened, but I did not want to believe it. I Trumped Felix and had him bring Shard and myself back to Amber. He was running towards Dworkin's lab, so we followed. We found a man standing there with a nasty smile. He said, "You are too late!", to which Felix replied, "Sorry, wrong room." I wish I knew why. I might have tried to kill the man where he stood, if it was not for Felix's remark. I thought he knew the man, or maybe it was Dworkin in some sort of disguise. Why else would Felix address him so? I asked him who he was, but he would not say, and then he disappeared. I wish I had killed him.

We searched Dworkin's lab, but found no sign of him. Felix tried to Trump Ahab, but Ahab would not listen, so I added my help. Ahab was not happy to learn of Dworkin's disappearance. Since he was already on his way to the Pattern room, I decided to maintain the contact, rather than rush down there myself. Oddly enough, Alex joined Ahab, though why he was rushing to the Pattern room I do not know. Perhaps he knew of the attack and was making sure that the damage was done. If so, he must have been delighted. The Pattern is gone. There is no sign that it even existed, other than grooves in the floor. It seems that someone decided to eliminate Dworkin and thereby eliminate the Pattern. I fear we are terribly vulnerable now. I promise, when I find out who was behind this, they will pay dearly.

"Outrageous Fortune"
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All text on this page is © 1993 by Kris Fazzari.

Last modified on November 2, 1993 by Kris Fazzari.