Being very keen on anything related to Trump, Connie was highly interested in examining Fiona's three special Trumps more closely. We knew what Fiona's Trump of herself did. This left the blank Trump and the Trump of a mysterious man. Connie decided to try to contact the mystery man. After breakfast Connie let me in on his plan. He wanted he to assist him in case something went wrong. I can hardly blame him after his experience with Morganthe. So we Trumped him. He was cold and distant. There was no background, just the man himself. We introduced ourselves, but did he say anything to us? No. He held out and hand. When Connie pulled him through he threw Connie across the room. He rammed me in the forehead with his forearm, and he ran off. Connie and I split up and went searching for him. I found nothing. Connie told me he tracked the man to the kitchen, but lost the trail there. Oh, and our man had a cleaver now too. We tried to Trump him again. Connie drew a new sketch of the man, and we convinced Jessica to join us in case things got violent. It was no use. He was gone. I made up a wanted poster and well... and nothing. The escapee was at least partially my responsibility, but I couldn't muster any guilt. Am I desensitized or just tired of heroics?

Coincidentally Merlin Trumped me just after our failed Trump attempt. I'd been looking for him so that he could take a look at Bleys. I explained the situation to him, but he seemed distracted. First Darien acts oddly around me, now Merlin. Curiosity gnawed at me for an instant, but I let it pass. Merlin has the right to his secrets. He paid close enough attention to what I was saying to agree to see what he could do for Bleys. I Trumped Aurthur and the four of us went to his castle. Merlin did a bit a Logrus probing, but it was soon clear to him that the task was beyond him. He did detect Bleys and Pattern - both of which were good signs. It proved that this wasn't a fake. He also detected life. A third good sign. I asked him who he thought might be my best chance of undoing the process. He suggested Mandor, which was my thinking exactly. The trouble was no one had been able to contact him. I guessed I'd have to go looking for him, but first we all had a briefing for Random to attend in the Amber library.

The Amberites gathered in the library and Random called the meeting to order to clear up what had been going on. Quinn led us in a recounting of the past few days goings-on. We told about Dworkin whisking us off on the night of the event, of our mission, of Random's rescued and of the trail to Fiona's Trump. Connie and I livened the story a bit with tales of Ted Barkley, but not so much as to blur the truth. We told of Connie's miraculous reviving of Ygg/Fiona and everyone's return to normal. Then in sadder news Jessica explained the events leading to Caine's death. Good-bye Caine - we hardly knew you.

Then I mentioned the bit of our mystery, cleaver wielding escapee. I showed them all my magical wanted poster. No one recognized him except Benedict. It was his brother. The man was very dangerous for he had no motives. *sigh* I could see it coming already. He must be stopped at all cost, or surely no one was safe. Sound familiar? Of course. Amber had been in a near constant state of emergency for a month. First Jade, then Eric, then Corwin's version of Brand (there's always the real Brand too), then Dara, now Benedict's brother. Let us not forget that Caine's death may look like an accident, but I have my doubts. Oh yes, things may be back to normal, but normal is a big mess all in itself. I could see why Sand would want to lock herself away far from this pile of disasters waiting to happen. The idea was sounding very appealing. Still, I had business to attend to. I thought to myself that I should see to it that Bleys is returned to normal and then... then nothing. No more emergencies.

The meeting broke up and people left. I noticed Jessica staring out the window. Something was clearly bothering her. I asked her about it. She was very disturbed about Benedict's brother. I could only tell her that I was losing a sense of scale where it regarded danger of this sort. I was becoming either overwhelmed or quite numb. I asked her if she could suggest any method of contacting Mandor. She knew why I needed Mandor's help. She drew out an elegant Trump of Mandor and cast it in my direction. It was unusual to see the normally level headed Jessica drift between moods. Possibly the pressure was getting to her too. She suggested I Trump him, hinting at her inability to contact him through that method. I shrugged. It was worth a try. Amazingly it worked. I explained Bleys' situation and pulled Mandor through to the library. Jessica was shocked, but happy to see Mandor. They hugged for a bit before I Trumped Aurthur to return to his castle. Jessica, Mandor, Connie, and I all went back to see what Mandor could do.

Upon being brought to the Bleys statue he did some things that looked to me very much like Logrus and a few things that looked unlike Logrus. It was all beyond my limited understanding. After a while Mandor informed me that he needed my help. I agreed, but asked him why. He said something about needing my genetic template as a close match for Bleys'. It is rare that a child is able to give back some genetics to a parent. I'd have to mention this notion to Bleys later on. Mandor pressed my hand against Bleys and held his on top of mine. I could sense Mandor and flickerings of Bleys.

Would this work?