Session
19
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.