Bleys reached the bottom of the stairs and hurried along in the direction of the Pattern. I then saw him pass the entrance to the Pattern and kept heading deeper into the dungeons.

I continued to follow. The shadows that kicked up from our passage danced in the lantern light and played tricks with my eyes. On an impulse, I grabbed a lantern off the wall to better subdue the interplay of shadows. A thought crossed my mind, if it's Clarissa's line and not just Bleyss' prodigy, then the experiment could conceivably be more than a single subject. /And Dworkin had mentioned his intent to meet with me later.../ I suppressed a shiver and asked, "Why is Dworkin so interested in your line?"

Bleys frowned, "More an interest in certain blendings in application to a particular Pattern." His look is sad for a moment "I never realised Beth was pregnant."

/Applications to a particular pattern? We just passed the pattern. What's he getting on about? Beth must be Lisa's mother, but why the sadness? Unless maybe there was misfortune surrounding her./ Bleys recent words came back to me. /Time to expand your knowledge...double meaning?/ "Bleys, I'm not certain I wish to pry into affairs that run so close to your heart. I must ask you. Why am I here?"

Bleys did not slow down as he replied, "I think it's time you saw more of Dworkin and how he works."

I continued to follow though my step grew slightly more cautious. The question, Why?, foremost in my mind. Why now? Why here? Why Dworkin? Why me? The last seemed to intersect with my previous ponderings as to the range of Dworkins experiments. /It is Clarissa's line and not Bleyss' that Dworkin was interested in./

Bleys came to a dead end. He made a swift series of hand movements and a glowing outline appeared in the wall. He pushed lightly on it and a door swung inwards to reveal a steeply sloping downward stair, outlined in a golden light. Bleys turned, "You ready for the fourth Pattern?"

I swallowed and said, "Where you lead, I will follow." As we descended, I palmed the trump that represented Fiona's shadow earth apartment from my case and slipped it into my pocket. Clearing my throat I asked, "What was my grandmother like? I know so little of her and yet I hear her name mentioned from time to time."

The question I had wanted to ask was how many other patterns there actually were, or what the differences could be. But I disliked the idea of revealing my interest to Bleys. There was much I did not know of him for me to risk his knowing my interests. Asking as to family seemed safer.

The stone door closed behind me as I followed Bleys down the hidden stairway lit by this strange fiery light. Bleys is quiet for a moment then replied, "Clarissa was talented magically, no doubt about it, but as a mother no. Fiona was handed off to nannies as soon as she was born. It was Fiona who largely raised me and then Brand. It was a love/hate relationship with Clarissa and Oberon. Clarissa. Bright, fiery and ruthless."

I chuckled in the gloom, "Seems most of the red heads in the family are a lively bunch. Odd how I didn't inherit the Clarissean hair." A gambit on my part. I was curious to see if I could learn of some mysteries closer to my own lineage that Bleys might know of.

Bleys shrugged, "You take after your father. Hardly a crime." The information Bleys leaked was subtle but something new. He used the tense take and not took. If he had said took then my father was dead. His saying take inferred that he was still alive. Interesting indeed. How far could I tease this I wondered?

I smiled, "In looks anyways. I wouldn't know about the rest."

Bleys nodded, "Nice try." and hurried down the last distance. Internally I shrugged. Not totally unproductive. I doubt even Bleys realized his slip. I wondered if there was a way I could leverage the information, but I privately doubted this was a large enough lever to pry any more for anyone else.

I could feel from here an intense heat. Bleys pulled open a set of double doors and the heat rolled out, tolerable but only just. As I descended the last few stairs, I could see Bleys standing near the edge of the Pattern, a Pattern outlined in flame. His focus was on a small, red haired figure moving steadily along the flaming lines. Somehow, Lisa was not being burned in the process. The flame seemed to outline her without harming. Dworkin stood at the side, nodding as if in approval. Bleys on the other hand looked stricken.

/Well this is an education.../ "Okay Uncle, what am I seeing? It's obvious we can't interupt Lisa's patternwalk. For better or worse she's committed."

Dworkin shuffled over and grinned up at me. "It's the Patterns, lad. Each pattern imparts and takes. It likes her. Each of you has your own best Pattern."

My brows furrowed at the old man's words, but my gaze did not depart from Lisa's ordeal. "She's gone through a lot in a very short time. I hope she can make it."

As I watched, Lisa turned into the Grand Arc. I remembered that particular part only too well, the pain and exhaustion after all that has gone before. Lisa was hidden by the wall of flame, now well over her head. There was a final surge of heat and light and then I saw Lisa on her knees in the centre. Beside me, Bleys let out a long breath. The Fire Pattern surged up again and I felt something at the edge of my senses, like a crackling, a whispering. I saw Lisa tilt her head as if listening. Then she vanished and reappeared beside Bleys who put an arm round her. I could see that the young woman was exhausted. Dworkin took her hand and patted it, saying "Good, good. Off you go and rest now." Bleys addressed me, though he looked at Dworkin "Flavel, would you please escort Lisa to her rooms and make sure she rests. There is a matter I need to discuss with Dworkin."

I was about to say something but changed my mind and nodded instead. Taking Lisa's arm I helped her back the way Bleys and I had come. I whispered to her, "That was reckless, dangerous, and quite spectacular." As we began our ascent up the steep staircase I took stock of Lisa's exhaustion and simply picked her up in my arms, "Sleep. The first ride is free." I don’t normally like to get so close to my family as to carry them, but Lisa was too new for her to be a threat. Hell, there aren’t too many royalty that are a threat after just walking the pattern. I was safe enough.

She smiled sleepily, half-asleep as she whispered, "Thank you. He pushed me and it said to keep walking. It was very nice to me..." and then Lisa is asleep, silent and peaceful.

As I carried her up the stairs I remained silent for the most part silent. Although this particular pattern might be affectionate towards Lisa, Bleyss' comment of the pattern both giving and taking concerned me greatly. It's one thing to accept an invitation, quite another to be pushed into accepting power like this. /The games of politics are an exercise in the management of power. Maybe Dworkin decided he needed to elevate a pawn to a queen?/ Shaking my head gently I whispered, "The more I learn the less I know."

Lisa whispered quietly, "He didn't deserve to die. My fault." and I realized she was still sound asleep. Her eyes remain closed, though she whispered softly to herself.

I briefly entertained the thought of questioning her in this state, but as I looked down at the newest Amberite, so vulnerable in my arms, I felt it would be something akin to child abuse. Maybe later when she was established in the game. Right now all she needed was a bed. Belatedly I realized the location of Lisa's quarters was still unknown to me. Probably most of the servants wouldn't know yet, and carrying Lisa around in my arms while searching the halls would definitely raise some questions...Looking down at her I murmered rhetorically, "Have you seen my place?" I’m such a sucker for this kind stuff and now I was in a pickle. I didn’t relish having the castle whisper Idle rumors about us. I had enough trouble with the rumors that were true.

As I walked, I noticed that Lisa tended to shift a little to favour certain points in her spine. An entirely unconcious movement, but... Looking around, I saw that I was near the infirmary. It would certainly provide her with sleep, but what then about Bleys' wishes?...

Given a decision between running round the castle trying to find her quarters with Lisa draped in my arms, and trying to sneak to my room with her unconscious form, the infirmary made for a sensible third choice. /Besides/, I thought, /Bleys instructed me to escort Lisa to her quarters. He didn't say how quickly we needed to get there, and if I need to stand watch while she sleeps, maybe she will continue her monologue.../ I strode down the hall toward the infirmary. Lisa draped in my arms.

When I entered the infirmary, a doctor looked up, alert at once "What seems to be the problem, your Highness?"

Gently I set Lisa on one of the medical cots. My medical training from years spent as a trauma surgeon rose to my consciousness. "Cumulative stress, and general exhaustion. I'd like her to rest here...as it's a controlled setting. She is my patient for the time being." Typical medical ego rising to the surface. Never mind that most of the diagnostic tools I had experience with were not to be found here.

The doctor nodded "Very well, Prince Flavel. Would you like the standard diagnostic spells run?"

I gently lifted the shirt from her back to determine if there were any gross visual signs of damage, "Yes please."

I didn’t see any obvious damage, no scarring or displacement. The doctor readied the spell and explained, "Surface damage shows up as yellow, deep tissue damage as orange and bone damage as red. Along with that, we get a readout of what has caused the damage, duration and age." The spell acted and I saw a number of orange lines criss- crossing Lisa's back, with a couple of red lines on the edges of the spine. Even before the spell delivered the verdict, I recognised the characteristic scarring of whipping and beating. The latest it seemed just a few months ago, the earliest in young childhood with no apparent cessation...

I sucked in my breath at the sight of Lisa's back under the sorcerous x-ray. "Guess that answers that." I turned to the doctor, "This seems to be the providence of physical therapy. Do you have...spells that would accelerate her natural healing?"

The doctor nodded, saying nothing. He looked a little pale and I realised this was probably the first time he has ever seen an Amberite with such classic signs of long-term abuse. Nevertheless, he delivered the healing spell and stepped back. Quietly he said, "It will take a little time to work, given the extent of damage, your Highness."

I bowed to the doctor, "Your work here I am most thankful for." Standing erect I looked him straight in the eye, "I know I can count on you for discretion. Twas stress and exhaustion. Nothing more." I didn’t need Bleys learning of what had happened to Lisa at present. In his current volatile mood he’d probably freak out and nuke her home shadow. Not that I could blame him but I preferr a more reasoned and surgical approach to revenge.

The doctor nodded, "Of course, your Highness. As you wish. Do you require anything else?"

Looking past the doctor I noticed some of the equipment ready for immediate use included various tools that a person would expect to find in a sophisticated hardware store...or machine shop. /Were they expecting trouble with Matt? If so maybe the good doctor would know where he resides./ I walked over to the counter and picked up a device that looked curiously like a rivet remover. Examining the apparatus I said, "When Lisa awakens, please have Margarite sent for. Lisa will require escort to her quarters as she has yet to learn where her residence is. Also, would you happen to know where I might find the cyborg known as Matt?"

The doctor nodded, "Two doors along on the left. He was quartered nearby in the event of medical malfunction in his system."

"Thank you Doctor. I leave her in your care. If her condition should change I will not be far." I slipped out into the hallway and walked down the corridor to the second door on the left. /What is it that both attracts and repels me about Matt? This horrid fascination whose origin is so distant and yet impossibly familiar. Mayhap there be yet time for revelation./

Within a few minutes, I was at the door of the room in which Matt resided. There was no sound of movement from within...

Upon entering, I closed the door behind me. Content to stand there for a measure of time, my eyes roamed around the room taking in it's details, a routine check for things that did not belong or seem odd. I then walked to within six feet of the cyborg and studied it as an engineer. Appraising the workmanship, style, and approximate level of technology. Arching an eyebrow I said, "Matt."

"Flavel." Matt's eyes abruptly opened as he studied me, but said nothing more.

I gazed at the cyborg intently and took a step forward. The distance was now only 5 feet between us. "I thought you would like to know what has been happening of late concerning the Child of Light. Does her welfare interest you?"

"I do not have interests, only duties," he responded blandly.

I took another step forward, four feet between us. "Then I will not bother to tell you her prognosis." Another step, three feet. "Is your duty to rescue these people, or fulfill the prophecy?"

Another step, three feet. "Is your duty to rescue these people, or fulfill the prophecy?" "You are close enough," Matt warns him, rising to his feet. "My duty is to rescue these people and fulfill the prophecy. Not one or the other."

I paused and then smiled, "Do you think your chances to succeed in your mission would improve if I were to come to harm? I doubt the Child of Light would appreciate such action, especially since she is already quite devastated that you killed her suitor."

Matt stared at me emotionlessly...coldly. "You speak of things I have no knowledge of. You are an enemy to my cause. Leave before you are expelled."

I shrugged and turned to leave, "Providing you information does not make me your enemy." As I walked to the door, I added. "Lisa and I might still succeed in rescuing your people but it will be more difficult without your help."

Matt didn’t respond, he just again seated himself and stared blankly.

Opening the door, I stepped out and briefly looked back at the cyborg. "This may be difficult to believe but I'm the best friend you got. If you change your mind and wish to speak further, let me know." I shut the door and leaned against the now closed door and let out a sigh. /Damn that Cyborg. Why can't I find a common ground with him?/

I felt the tingle of an incoming Trump call as he leaned against the door, the familiar sensation at the base of the skull pulling me from my thoughts.

I stepped away from the door and walked to a nearby window. Years of mental discipline shunt the issues and frustrations of Matt to another compartment of my mind. Looking out at the scenary I inhaled deep the cool evening air...and took the call.

Bleys' voice answered, smooth and modulated, yet I could still hear an edge of tension under the surface "Good evening, Flavel. How is Lisa and where are her quarters? I would like to check in on her."

I hoped my own voice didn't show the same tension as I answered evenly, "This will take some explaining. I still don't know where her quarters are. Events running a little faster around here then is normal. Even for Amber standards. Your brave daughter nearly collapsed when she got out of sight of you and Dworkin. I carried her up the stairs as she slept in my arms. I thought it prudent not to hazard carrying her around the castle asking as to her quarters, so I have her in the infirmary. It was closer, and I liked the controlled setting better in light of her exhaustion. She swallowed a lot of power on that patternwalk. Combined with her earlier stresses I was surprised she didn't go into shock. Your daughter is one very tough cookie." I smiled as I watched a bird land on the branch of a nearby tree. "I'm within a stone's throw of her now. Do you wish me to bring you hither?"

Bleys nodded and extended his hand. As I pulled him through, he nodded to me and said, "Thank you." he then frowned, "Lisa has had far more in one day than I would have wished. We should talk later, but for now, I'm going to see how my daughter is." His eyes warmed briefly, "Thank you for looking after her in my absence, Flavel."

I nodded. "Twas not a duty but a pleasure Uncle." As Bleys took his leave, I strolled down the hallway toward my residence whistling an old Chad & Jeremy song. Privately I wondered how many heartfelt 'thank yous' would equal a formal apology in the tip-for- tat that was the Amber game.