Take, for example, the top item on the list -- Rook. It turns out that there is so much more to him than we gave credit for -- in fact, I'd surmise that probably ninety percent of the spells we'd laid upon him he'd either nullified or found a way to dispel. Then, after more maiming at the hands of Fletcher, it only took a few moments for him to repair the physical damage with his powerful shapeshifting abilities.
I can't trust much of anything that's come out of his mouth, save the info that he revealed by one of the few cantrips that stuck to him. However, he is the best lead to my father that's I've ever had -- and that also scares me a bit, as Rook was sent explicitly by Caine to pull this ruse on use -- to retrieve the Pattern Sword that Roth and Mira were holding.
Perhaps the strangest thing that came out of this entire situation is what we learned of the nature of Chaos and Amber -- that in keeping with the notion of them being counterbalances to each other, it seems that for each person of Amber heritage, there is a duplicate in Chaos. Whether this is a function of the Pattern or whatever power holds sway in Chaos, or is this is just a fundamental law of the way the true universe works, is uncertain. The text from the library that were written by Dworkin were unclear, and seemed more theoretical than anything. Too bad the old man has made himself absent...
The next step will be to take Rook back to his master out in Shadow. I have to admit that my interest in doing this is greater than that of Cecily's, though I think she's giving me more than enough leeway with this mission. I'm not certain what she thinks is going to happen with Rook, though. I'll have no way of making him come back to Amber with us when we go. I can't even be certain that Caine will accept us as guests, even if I can prove that I am his son. There are questions that need to be answered -- why did he want the Pattern Sword? How is it that he's more cognizant of what's happening in the Universe, and not more like Corwin, who the curse has a greater grip upon? From what Embeth and Llewella have told me, Caine was perhaps the most devious and cunning of all of the royal family of Amber, so we cannot underestimate him by any stretch of the imagination.
As for Rook, there begs the questions -- why would he find his (alleged) son's Chaos duplicate and use that person as his agent? This question is based upon the theory of the doubles being true, of course. I suppose it's not out of the question that Rook could actually be my brother or related to me in another fashion. He's loathe to be straight with me, but that could change in Caine's presence, or at least away from Amber. What does he know of Chaos and Zamorna? Why does he work for Caine?
The trip into Shadow may take some time, so there may be a few sleepless nights as I mull over this tangled mess. Although I suppose that won't be the only thing occupying my mind...
I have a theory now that Lucia is not the Claire that I have known, not the original with some kind of amnesia or manipulation. My guess is Lucia is the Chaos duplicate of my Claire, in much the same way that Rook is related to me. I'm going to need to make arrangements for her to stay in Amber while I am gone -- but I'm sure the others will also want to talk to her about her Chaos husband whom we've all gotten to know.
It may be best for me to put some distance and perspective between us -- I was more than willing to accept her as my Claire, and that could have easily led to my downfall. Zamorna is looking for an possible weakness to exploit in us.
Still, after the mess that Syrana left of my feelings, it's hard not to look to something warm and familiar, trying to rekindle feelings of a warmer, better time.
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