Aaron's Journal, Part Ten

I just had the most fantastic brunch with Fiona. Frustrating at the same time. So many unanswered questions, and experiments I want to carry out! Too many problems in the world today.

And unusually, I'm in good spirits. I've always found a good discussion with Fi always does that. It's comforting to have an intelligent discussion about things, and to have someone understand you, not some twit that looks at you funny with you go into the more interesting anecdotes about metaphysics. One thing I have always been sure about is for Fiona to understand what I say. Unlike some people...

I had to say I was a tad disappointed - no, "distracted and annoyed" in Maladin's attitude for my experimentation with the waverider barrier. It was slightly pathetic, but I guess because of my previous actions, he wanted to inform his next of kin or something. Probably just to have witnesses in case he felt like he was going to die or something. Not like he could have... well, maybe. He trumped Random for me and had me explain my experiment to him. Worse then a parole officer. I can't blame him much. I'm sure my reputation at court has gone down the proverbial toilet. I just hope that my future plans will get me out of that mess.

The barrier carried through with good success, as well as an interesting discovery. We found a man-made.. er... twisthole. No. Sinkhole? No. Divot? Wave Fold. Yes! I like the sound of that. A man-made Wave Fold in viate. It was so odd, I was perplexed in the applications of such a thing. It seemed to make Pattern slip right by it, making me think it has some sort of hiding application. Or possibly it could be some sort of beacon for the enemy, like the marker for a meeting point. Blast. It would be so much simpler if I could wield this power, so I can understand its applications thoroughly. I'm thinking it's some birthright, so I'll never master it.

Heh. Maladin came out to be very useful. I have to say I was quite impressed how he was able to get my Aunt Llewellen into it. More, how he got it in with her. We waited for about an hour, so you figure in the time for foreplay and the time shift for the shadow we were in, he must have some endurance to keep up with her. Or strategy. I'm thinking strategy. I'll have to remember to buy him a drink one of these days...

Rhyss was an interesting addition to the experiment, and as it turns out crucial. She is polite, charming, quiet, sweet, and simple. Or at least she shows those qualities well. I doubt she is anything but simple. She understood the complexities of sorcery and conjuration quite well, and Llewellen only had to give her a few pointers. I know she has a strong mind, as well as above average skill in Trump. As well as an interesting Pattern Imprint as well. There's a part of me that wants to roll her around in my palm and dissect her, understand all of the parts of her and how they connect, much like how a child would dismantle a toy to try to fathom how it works. She intrigues me.

As I said before the barrier works. With a few simple modifications, it will be ready for my needs. But I Rhyss to be there as well when I activate it. And it takes so long! Well, for the first actual run, it worked quite well. It took us about twenty minutes to erect half of the barrier when Sh'Shari attacked the Science lab.

Oh, the attack on the lab. Ugh.

We actually did quite well to defend ourselves in the battle. Somehow we were able to keep them at bay, and we didn't lose anyone - the lab was trashed, but it was inevitable. Sh'Shari cast this damned spell on me! It actually linked a shadow storm to me, and followed me around. Hideously complex. Wish I could have studied the structure. It must take forever to prepare. I wish I had thought of to go to an anti-magic realm, that might have broken it, but then again it probably used my Pattern as a source for energy, or just viate. Like I said, I wish I had more time to analyze it, it might have given me more insight onto how I could avoid it in the future.

Of course, who told them? I could theorize, but there's no way to know.

I wish the conversation I was having with Dalen could have lasted longer. I was able to figure out her backup plan if Galen and his forces turned on us. War. And then the Bright pattern people. I was right. I didn't have the heart to rip into her about how foolish this was. We had all been through so much, and it seemed that since they were right at the brink of finishing their virus, it seemed trivial and pointless. As if she'd listen to me anyway. It was interesting to see that she didn't go the route of "you Amberites". I'm sure she could have - I figure she believes it to be trivial point, or that she considers herself to finally be one. I shared cold words with her and she shared her cold words with me. I guess you could call it being to a very "fine" point. I won't say anything if Galen's side decides to screw us over. Dalen seems to have this deeper trust of him - she knows something no one else does. I'd laugh if she actually trusts those visions. There's a small part of me that wishes to see her plans go sour, but I do understand that would not be a good thing, but hell, at least I wouldn't be the primary talk of court anymore.

Which brings me to Lentaro. He stayed in the room as scenery as we had our talk. He threw his two cents at me when he could, but did nothing. I assume he doesn't trust me. I don't really trust him either. I'm still wondering in my mind why I haven't told Random or Fiona about his "condition" he suffers. I have to admit, now that he has that Logrus lock on his brain or whatever, the only way he's dangerous now is that he's a target for the Bright Pattern people to try and retrieve. He's a casualty of the battle. I guess I'll have to talk to Len. I realized after our last conflict with the Bright Pattern individuals, that he knows a lot more about them that I first realized. How silly of me to look him over for information. He may be a very useful key to putting thins back to the way they were. And I really do have to thank him later on for him giving me Llewellen's Pattern sword. A new thing to pour attention over!

I guess that brings me to the dark ideas part. I realize that I want to try to stop these Bright Pattern people, and the Fire Pattern itself. Since we can safely assume Osric is "undead", we can speculate that the Fire Pattern has become some necromantic version as well. Why Osric? Why would his death bring on such a thing - unless he was tied to that particular Pattern in some way. The Fire Jewel he wears could be some evidence to that. So, that means, the final death of Osric should bring on the death of the Bright Pattern. But what if there was a way to revive the Fire Pattern, and return it back to it's natural state? I want to try to bring the Fire Pattern out of its deathly warped ways and revive it to its former beauty. It's weak enough that it might be malleable to untwist it back to its original way.

There has to be a way to heal the Fire Pattern. I intend to find a way!

I'll have to be quick on my findings. Now that Vialle has been taken, and the strike against Random in the castle, it's assured that Random will make swift justice upon their sorry undead selves. Random may just want the entire place destroyed, rather than to find a way to cure the Bright Pattern. I'll be intrigued to know what kind of tactics we use against our enemy, now that he's personally involved. I will observe closely, Random, you are assured of that. I want to see if your preaching words of the ways used against our enemies holds true for our dear King as well. Somehow now that his love is either a walking controlled zombie or truly dead may change his views.

I also come to realize how close we come to war. I must admit I have some concerns for my own life. It's .. odd, how I feel. There's a part of me that wants to hide, and that my "scientific" interests are being lost in the rush. I guess these things can't be ignored. There's also a part of me that feels that if nothing is done, I'll end up dead anyway and that I might as well go down trying to defend what is mine. I guess that's what loyalty to Amber will get you. I just hope that I will be able to .. "save face" with Random. I can understand his... concern. But doesn't he realize the things I do are for Amber? I was trying to get the Jewel back! (and I would have too if it weren't for that meddling dog Dalen) Now he'll never let me have it, and I don't dare try a more underhanded approach to get it, not now. I was so looking forward to Attunement - I knew it was the next logical step in my training, the final step. Well, I guess that's an ulterior motive to my healing of the Fire Pattern - I know a jewel for that Pattern exists, and possibly with the knowledge from that I can find insight if other Jewels exist. I may not be able to Attune to the real Jewel, but I can try to get the same insight from the next best thing.

Well, I guess we all have to shoot for something. I just wish mine wouldn't try to get me killed.

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