Casting the Trumps... by Alric
I cast the cards once again and a familiar face stared back up at me, Alric. You came to us so young, Alric, and I believe we may always think of the same as we do of Random. You were a clumsy, weak and naive young man. Hardly an amberite at all, though I suppose you did feel hurt because you had expected us to recognize your worth. I was surprized when Caine claimed you as his own, though I admit I should have seen it from your colouring and the way your hair resembled the paramour he'd taken as a wife years ago.
How much you've changed over these years! You came to us a fresh faced youth, and grew up in Amber arround us. Over your years here, perhaps you've learned more about our family than anyone else of your young generation. You wanted to be us so badly, and now you've come to despise many of us in your judgemental way. But in the end, haven't you become just as difficult and scheming as the rest of us? There's no doubt you left with a steel trap mind that was an honour to your father's uncanny and ruthless thinking.
You're perhaps the most honest man among us, I'll give you that. Even if I fear your schemes you've always accouted yourself as a prince should. You've never broken your word, and you've always been loyal.
Now that I look at you, I wonder what it is you think of yourself. I see you've grown even more annoyingly handsome, your eyes are still that flashing green, your hair and beard blonde and your tanned skin. You still look angelic and unreal, and proud.
I see you've made yourself a king of some far off hidden shadow realm. You're wearing armor and sitting in a throne that would've befitted a Roman Emperor and in a similar style. Isn't your twin serpent staff with the sun globe atop Egyptian? Are you a tyrant like those who's clothes you wear Alric? Do you fear your subjects, or perhaps do you fear being assassinated by the trump artist who you brought to depict you? Maybe you are just conforming to your role, playing your part as a king, yes I think that would be you. You wanted to be the archetypal Prince of Amber, and you came to be so, didn't you? In the end you may have rejected us and our games and said that such "petty" intrigues were beneath you, but you continue to play the game, don't you?
Certainly you're too proud to lie, too proud to ever give up your dreams, and you were strangely too proud to indulge in arrogance. But we know you can wheel and deal while using your honor to raise your price. Certainly you had good reason to act so mercenary, just like the rest of us, but you would always charge a premium for your "trustworthy and loyal services". And you have the termerity to judge us as beneath you, because you would never lie. Oh, you could avoid the truth all day, but lying, no. Lying was beneath you. Losing any honour was beneath you.
So Alric what is it you're thinking as you sit on your golden sun throne? Do you really presume to judge us? Or are you just in thought? How much have you learned in your studies? And how much have you really grown?
You always admitted when someone was your better, always said sorry for your wrongs, but your opinion of yourself never lowered or waivered either. Maybe I'll never understand where your endless confidence and faith lies, Alric. For better or worse, people follow you, love you, and you love them; maybe you'd even die for them.