Twelve Angry Women
Though her use of the Pattern Lens allows Whimsy to perceive a great deal, she soon realized that she needed more eyes. She simply couldn't be everywhere...and it seemed that Eric's men could. And so she set about recruiting her own network of spies...by gathering to herself those women who had been slighted somehow by Eric...by those women who had something to gain by slowing his drive for the throne.
She gathered these women to her individually, and granted them the power to be something more...the power to move unseen...to cloak themselves magically such that none might see them...to perceive that which is hidden...and so Whimsy created her network of spies. Twelve women, placed in useful positions in the Castle and the city...able to come and go undetected...able to listen, to see...to steal and to poison where needed. They were no match for Eric's forces, but certainly their aid could close the gap.
- Susannah works as a bar wench in Amber City, in a lower-class tavern that is mainly frequented by soldiers and laborers. Her rape at the hands of one of Eric's soldiers has long left her embittered toward the Prince.
- Pamela wanted to work as a castle guard, but was refused on the basis of her gender. She instead took a job as groom in the Castle stables. She is a strident supporter of King Nicholas, mainly due to her strong faith in the Unicorn. Though of military background, she has seen enough of war, and fears the results of the gossip that has begun to reach her. Eric's men would destroy Nicholas' reputation and weaken his hold on the throne. She fears the violence that will come to pass at Eric's instigation and will do what she can to head it off.
- Women are not allowed to be members of the city guard, and for this reason, Tess, Kathy, Drusilla, and Diana have long had cause to resent Eric and his patriarchal ways. Whimsy was able to convince them that Nicholas represented a better chance for change.
- Margaret is a cook in Castle Amber. Though she has seniority to all the cooks on the castle staff, she was passed over for promotion whenthe position of head cook went to a foreign chef imported from the Golden Circle by Eric.
- Claire is a prostitute at the town brothel. Due to her education, she tends to receive the brothel's upperclass patrons. She once had Eric as a 'client' and found him to be an insufferable ass. Though she doesn't hate him, she wouldn't mind seeing him taken down a notch.
- Lady Anna Bonaduce, an older, city noblewoman of immaculate reputation, never forgave the regent for taking as his mistress the same woman who killed her friend, Queen Kimdyl. In her mind, a man so bereft of moral character has no business being on the throne.
- Darya has had plenty of opportunity to witness Eric's recent irrationality, but has been uncertain of what to do. As a maidservant assigned to his wing of the castle, she sees him regularly, but as she is a plain young woman, he seldom notices her presence. She doesn't dislike Eric, but she fears what effects his odd behavior will have on the future of Amber. The fact that he has criticized her work to her superior also hasn't done much to improve her opinion of him.
- The tyranny of Eric's rule is what got Silar put in jail for three years...that and her work as a thief. When she later heard of Vixen's 'punishment', she realized that Eric's contant speeches about justice and truth were so much bullshit. She stole a few coins and got the brig, while Vixen killed Kimdyl and got a plush bedroom with room service for two. Quite irrationally, she has come to blaim Eric personally for all that she suffered in prison.
- Contance has been one of those fortunate enough to make a serious profit off of Nicholas' taking the throne. She was selected by the new king to oversee the procurement of furniture for the planned additions to the castle, as well as its decoration. The gossip she hears about Nicholas is no doubt Eric's doing, and she fears that her good fortune will come to nothing should Eric attempt to retake the throne. He, after all, has no taste whatsoever and would probably decorate the castle with antlers and animal hides.