I awoke this morning to find my journal updated in accordance with my latest

scrivenings.  A not uncommon occurance for me with one exception.  I'd

updated my journal while I was asleep, or more accurately, whilst I lay

dreaming.  I continue to learn the nuances regarding my nightly slumbers. 

Dreaming, when combined with other powers is powerful stuff.  In this

instance I believe I affected a conjuration on my journal that I updated

while sleeping.  I must have pulled it through in some arcane way. 

Cassandra did say I should keep a dream journal.  I now have to wonder if

her words were more literal then I originally supposed.

 

At the risk of boring you here is the substance of my musings.

 

Shifting gears was never one of my strong suits.  Though I've prided myself

on being flexible this was more in reaction to changes in a situation I

found myself in.  What has transpired since my arrival back in Amber has

been a constant blizzard of situations.  The danger being to focus on any

one situation to the exclusion of the others.  It my prove productive to

list the current entrees that are found on the menu.

 

The first being my new role as father and husband.  Quite a change from my

bachelor days.  My mother and new found father are both apparently pleased

at my decision.  Anthony definitely so.  Fiona at least tacitly.  One never

really knows what my mother is thinking except that she does a lot of it.

 

My daughter is growing up faster then she should and probably not as fast as

she needs to.  She continues to find herself learning and experiencing the

arcane at an age that still wrestles with the cause and effect of the

mundane.  This troubles me but there is little that can be done save to

ingrain in her a proper moral code of conduct that she can fall back on.

 

Shado's pregnancy is still unnoticed though she's hinted this will change

soon enough.  I find myself in uncharted territory as to what I should do. 

As a roman husband I should retire her for the next year at least, but she

is not the typical roman wife.  For starters, one of the legion's is hers

and I'm not exactly qualified to tribune a five thousand man military unit. 

She's also one of a handful of people versed in cross realm transportation

and communication.  If I can, I'll place her into an advisory capacity in

Garnath with Julia and Lotus.  Perhaps one of her brothers can see fit to

stand in her place commanding her Legion.  I have few illusions as to our

individual survival if we clash with Quintus.

 

To every allegiance, there is a duty.  Sawall has been tossing me errands on

occasion.  I've executed them with due diligence and marginal compentence. 

Something like a poor bow shot that regardless, somehow manages to hit the

target.  I expect to improve my aim as my understanding of the culture and

politics of the courts of chaos improves.

 

My other alliegance, to the thrown of Amber has me in the role of embassador

to the rebels and refugees of the White Flame court.  A role I'm uniquely

suited to given the congruency of cultures.  These rebels are mostly of

roman heritage as am I.  Given that they are also Shado's people, I've

married into their inner circle and seem to have a vested interest in seeing

them restored to power.  They are a violent people with a gloss of culture. 

In that, I think I may be somewhat unusual to them.

 

This duty has cast me in a role of quasi-leader to this undertaking.  King

Oberon was never one to give exacting instructions and the role of

embassador is highly mutable.  My current instructions has my team mates

scouring the realm(s?) for allies.  The more the better.  I've yet to see

results with this but thats understandable given my requirements to attend

more state functions.

 

I must confess I do feel drawn to the Realm of the White Flame.  So much of

my heritage and upbringing revolves around this place that it seems like a

geas to me that I should sojourn there like a pilgrim.  Maybe one day. 

Until that day it is yet one more lose string that I need remember not to

misplace.

 

On a different subject I should make at least a passing reference to current

events.  My sister, the Princess Faile, and his majesty of Melorian, King

Alphonse Daredly are now Married.  The state functions I spoke of previously

were the bachelor parties and wedding ceremony.  Alphonse rules a golden

circle kingdom so I've now a brother in law who has more then a little

influence in Amber.  This could be useful to me but I've yet to make any

serious inquiries.  Taping his shoulder over trade agreements and such would

be considered somewhat mercenary.  I may wait till after the honeymoon

before looking into any advantages that can be of mutual value to us. 

Alphonse appears to be a gentleman and from what I hear Faile and him go

back a ways so I can't really find fault in the union.  Not that I really

have a right to protest given that I know very little about my sister.

 

My own role in this affair was merely to be present and nod my head where

appropriate.  Not that I minded as it offered me an excuse to spend some

time with my wife.   As bad as my memory has been of late, I'll chance it

and save the memories for myself.  Regardless, romance is better when

experienced rather then read.

 

The kingdom of Melorian, for all its talk about racial harmony has a very

warlike culture.  There were some rumors that its recovering from a rather

nasty civil war.  To that end there may be a percentage of disinfranchised

soldiers that are looking for something to do.  I'm sure such a group would

be nothing but disruption for Alphonse so it could be just the thing to

recruit such personnages.  Veteran's of a civil war are exactly the sort of

people I'm looking for....