I have not seen Camille Justin for almost sixteen years. She was my first love. I was young and foolish then. Camille was mature and worldly. She was becoming a masterful diplomat with a dominating personality. We met by chance in Tuldis - she there with her father to establish exclusive shipping rights from Headwater to the three ports near Tuldis Castle - I there at King Ramiro's summon to read his future. I was present once when she spoke to Ramiro and I was captivated. I might have introduced myself had her presence been less overwhelming. Still, asked enough people about Camille, that soon word of my interest filtered back to her. She approached me in the garden one night after dinner. She told me that she had heard I was the child of demons, but that I looked harmless enough. We talked until sunrise before she fell asleep. I carried her to bed and tucked her in.

Lord Justin returned to his castle, but Camille stayed with me in Tuldis for over a month. We had a great time together. We both had a great deal of leisure time. We rode horses and sailed and sang poetry and fell in love. One day word came by sail that Camille was needed in Hibernia. I offered (begged) to go with her, but he refused. She said she'd need to concentrate on her duties. She would travel alone. She said she'd meet me back at her father's estate in three months. Shortly thereafter Ramiro offered me a station in his court. I declined the appointment. I was still so young. I had much yet to see, much yet to learn. "Maybe someday" I told him. He took the news well and offered to fund my travels. He was very kind.

The months went by quickly enough as I learned to sail. When I sailed into Headwater three months later I received news that Camille was not about. I signed off with my ship and stayed in port. The port was a strange one and the people did not take well to me. They were highly suspicious and even chased me from town one night. It was that night that I learned from a farmer that Camille had was in town under somewhat mysterious circumstances.

I used my magics to predict her movements and met up with her outside her father's castle. She seemed surprised to see me, which was odd, since word of my presence in town was common. She was friendly and polite, but what she made clear was that our relationship was over. Her time away from me had given her new insight and thought it best if I left. I was heartbroken, but I accepted her wishes and sailed out on a cargo ship the next morning. She saw me off that morning with a kiss on the forehead. That was the last time I ever saw her.

Imagine my shock when I first met my daughter. Cayt was not the image of her mother, but she had the same temperament and greeted me with a solid right hook to the jaw when first we met. She was venomously angry with me for abandoning her mother, who died in childbirth leaving poor Cayt parentless. She had been raised by Morgawse of Orkney who had filled her head with half-truths about me which painted me in a very unfavorable light.

I saw that I could do little to convince her otherwise about me. Luckily, while Cayt spent time in Amber others, notably Jessica and Locke, assured her that I was not the monster she had been lead to believe I was. Meanwhile, I pondered the situation. Why hadn't Camille confided in me about the child? It tore me up inside to think that had I been there for Cayt's birth that surely my healing magics could have saved Camille's life. What had I done? Was I not a seer? How could I have not known? How could I have not seen it? Doubts began to creep into my mind. Who was this Morgawse and why had she raised Cayt to despise me? I felt it was possible that she had lied to Cayt about the circumstances of her mother's death. Maybe Camille was still alive. I decided to hellride to Camille to see if it would work. The hellride did work and it lead me right to Morgawse's castle on the Isle of Orkney.

I entered the castle and received audience with Morgawse. I knelt before the Queen of Orkney and told her that I was here searching for Camille. The pattern had lead me to this location and I was reasonably certain that this was where she was. She told me that Camille was not there, that she was dead. She could not tell me why the Pattern might have lead me here. I asked other questions about Camille and Cayt. I asked Morgawse who she was, what she held against me, and what connection she had to Camille. She eluded all my questions and hinted at mysterious malevolence. She even made a veiled threat. The only useful information I got was that she was aware of my aborted battle with Jurt and that she had a strong and sharp mind. I guessed that she was a Chaosite. Was she with The Watchers? I decided that if Camille was here I would probably find her hidden away. But why would Morgawse hold her here? I left with more unanswered than I had arrived with. I also had a bad feeling that Morgawse had some scheme working.

After I returned to Amber I discussed the situation with Locke. He was of the opinion that I should not play games with Morgawse. If she was intent on secrecy regarding the whereabouts of Cayt's mother I should force her hand and find out about Camille for certain. He was right. If there was a chance that Camille was imprisoned in Castle Orkney I had to know. I had to rescue her. We began thinking about what approach to take.

I will tell you right now that my final plan was not well crafted. In the end there were just too many unknowns and too many differing opinions about what course I should take. Thankfully, I receive aid from Jessica, Connie, Quinn, and Locke. As badly as events went, they could have been disastrous had my friends not assisted me.

The plan was as such. Connie drew us two Trumps - one of Morgawse and one of her throne room. Quinn created a ward stone which would lead me to Camille. Connie would Trump Morgawse while Jessica, Locke, and I would Trump into the throne room. That is exactly what we did. However, Morgawse overpowered Connie and threatened to kill him. Locke held Morgawse in a stalemate while Jessica and I followed Quinn's ward stone. Before we reached our destination Locke Trumped me. Morgawse wanted to talk terms. Jessica followed the stone while I returned to the throne room. Morgawse was under the impression that we were here to kill her. I assured her that we did not come here to harm her. We were here to rescue Camille. That is why Jessica and I departed. Why would we have done that if we came to attack her? Morgawse released Connie from the mental stranglehold he was it once it was clear did not intend to attack her.

At this point events became very confused for me. I trumped Connie to make sure he was unharmed. He was, and he joined us. Jessica Trumped me and said the stone had lead her to a flute and a book. A flute? Morgawse figured out what had occurred. The flute was created from Camille's corpse and essence. That is why I was lead here. It began to look like this had all been a big misunderstanding. For the first time Morgawse was forthcoming with information. We sorted out this situation. I offered to apologize and told Morgawse that I bore her no ill-will. She said there was no need for apologies, but that she hoped I was proud of what I had done. Feeling unwanted, Morgawse left my shadow and returned to chaos.

Connie admonished me for a lack of foresight and morals. Locke thought I had not acted forcefully enough. I just wished I had found Camille and not a flute.