Session
18
Begma, year one, day 133 continued
Late night
I cannot say I think much of the attitudes of these Begmans towards
women. When we first rode up, they seemed quite shocked to see me. I
have since discovered that it was the sight of a woman in armor which so
surprised them. It seems that women here are regarded as something to be
looked at and admired, but they are not allowed to become involved in
fighting or planning. Those are "manly" arts for which they feel women
have no talent. I have never heard anything so ridiculous in my entire
life! Were I not here in a diplomatic capacity, I would show them what I
think of that nonsense! I pity Coral for having to grow up in such a
place. I think I shall have to leave before breakfast tomorrow. I do not
wish to remain here any longer than necessary, lest something occur to
make me lose my temper. Inferior indeed!
Amber, year one, day 134 (Monday, November 29, 2987)
Morning
I decided to avoid wasting another day in travel so I Trumped back
to Amber. The guards seemed as happy to be avoiding the return trip as I
was. Breakfast was interesting, as meals in Amber often are. Jasra was
there, looking rather foul tempered. Normally, I might attribute this to
her being so far along in her pregnancy, but somehow I suspect that her
mood will not improve even after she has the baby. I am thankful I will
not be the one who must deliver it. Jasra does not look like the type who
will handle labor very well. However, I am sure Gérard will be
equal to the task.
Shard arrived at breakfast with a large bandage around his head.
He was reluctant to say how he was injured, but judging by how smug
Battlestar looked, and the way Shard kept pushing steaks on the animal to
keep it quiet, it must have been pretty embarrassing. He asked to speak
with me after breakfast, about something he discovered while out in
Shadow. I must admit to being quite curious as to what he could have
found that would require my expertise. After all, I have little more
experience in Shadow then he does.
Felix seems to have a preoccupation with bestiality. If he is not
insinuating that Ahab is a little too fond of Zero, he is implying that
Shard uses Battlestar for more than just his brains. Needless to say,
Shard was not any happier about this than Ahab usually is.
Felix did manage to inadvertently let me know that something serious
had happened to Deirdre. Felix lies very badly. It is not his fault, but
it does make him a bad person to entrust with a secret. He will not give
away the information openly, but if you ask the right questions, his face
reveals everything. Still, as long as no one knows to ask, he will keep
the information to himself. As far as I know, he has not let the truth
about my parentage slip out. Hopefully, that will remain a subject that
no one thinks to ask him about.
Ahab provided little more information when I talked to him. I am
not surprised. After all, it seems that Deirdre came very close to dying,
and I doubt he wants to recount the whole story to everyone who asks. The
fact that he asked Felix to keep quiet about the whole thing makes me
suspect that there is more to this than a simple worsening of Deirdre's
condition. Ahab seemed almost as though he had given up hope of finding
the guilty party, which is very unlike him. To be honest, I would
normally expect him to either be Hellriding for something to help his
mater, or else to be hunting down whoever is responsible for what has
happened to her. Instead, he seems to have spent the night sitting by her
bedside and plans to come back to Amber to work out some of his
frustration. He told me that there is nothing anyone can do for Deirdre
right now. I do not like the sound of that. Hopefully, I will learn more
this afternoon when we are sparring.
Heather seems to have made some arrangement to talk with Ariadne's
grandmater. Ariadne came into the dining hall and asked Heather for a
Trump of herself, to give her grandmater. Heather looked a bit reluctant
to do this, but left the room to get one. I wonder which grandmater
Heather wishes to talk to, Benedict's mater, or Lintra the Hellmaid's? I
am not certain what she would have to say to either of them, nor why they
might talk to her. I would suspect that Benedict's mater might be more
willing to talk to Heather than Lintra's, assuming that she is alive. I
have always been a bit vague about what happened to Oberon's
wives/mistresses. There certainly are none of them around the Castle
anymore. Perhaps Mirelle knows. Or Sand. I have not talked with either
of them in a while. I would rather ask Mirelle, but I do not have a Trump
of her. I believe Driscoll does, however. Hopefully, he will let me
borrow it. I should warn Mirelle and Sand about the attacks that have
been occurring on Amberites. If Corwin, Deirdre and Eric were attacked,
there is no reason to think that others will not be, even Amberites who
have not been in Amber for years.
Now, to see what Shard wished to speak to me about.
"Outrageous Fortune"
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Last modified on October 25, 1993 by Kris Fazzari.