Well, so much for my cover.  Dad offered to recognize me as an 
Amberite, in front of Gerard and Caine.  Gee, thanks Dad.  He also 
wanted advice on how to deal with Eric and the Jewel.  
Unfortunately, there's not much I can do, so long as he stays out of 
range.  At least I can tell when he's doing something with it.  He also 
wants me to find this guy named Tristan, who's out in Shadow near 
Ygg.  He thinks Tristan might be of Amber blood and warned that 
he's paranoid.  Sounds a lot like you, Dad.  I hope he doesn't shoot 
me.  Apparently the guy hangs out in libraries and really sleazy bars.  
Nice contrast.

	Rasa wants a job.  I don't get it.  She's an Amberite.  She find 
any job she wants out in Shadow.  What is she looking for?  She 
wasn't interested in becoming my assistant, so I sent her out after 
her dad.  I doubt he'll hurt her, and it would be nice to find out 
where he is.

	What a waste of time.  Someone's fucking around in Shadow, so 
Dad sent me after gunpowder.  Actually, it was jeweler's rouge, but 
apparently it works like gunpowder in Amber.  Or it used to.  Dad 
was not pleased.  Neither was I, given that I spent the last hour 
frantically trying to find the stuff.  Shite.  This really bites.

	Dad keeps dumping more tasks on me.  At least this one was 
relatively simple.  Alastair walked the Kolvir Pattern today and Eric 
did something down there yesterday.  That's it, so far as I know.  No 
one's walked the Pattern in Rebma and survived since Dad did so.  
Tir-na Nog'th was not visible before tonight.  And Alastair has also 
walked the Primal Pattern.  Mostly.  Something stopped him at the 
third veil and Fiona had to rescue him.  He would not say what 
stopped him, a fact I find very suspicious.  So I'm stuck keeping an 
eye on him.  This was not a part of my job description!

	Caine is dead.  Swell.  What else can go wrong with this day?

	I had to ask.  There's blood all over the Primal Pattern, and 
judging by the Trump I found, it belongs to Alastair.  No sign of 
Alastair's body, though, so whoever did this to him probably still has 
him.  To make my day complete, getting us there wiped Colin out, so 
I had to lead him out.  It was either that or wait around for someone 
to Trump us, and we just don't have the time.  Dad needs to know 
about this now!  I can just imagine what Colin is thinking.  I'd say my 
cover is pretty effectively blown with him.  I believe I can say with 
authority that this has been the shittiest day of my life, bar none.  
And I haven't even told Dad yet.