Dalen's Journal, Part Eight

Hells! What did this Niro think -- That I would meekly come over and do whatever he asked? As if he would have allowed Desra and Merik to live afterwards anyway! Men who resort to kidnapping and gratuitous torture do not honor promises. There is no honor in them! He chose the wrong victims this time, and I will not rest until he and his henchman are no longer a threat to anyone. If that means I have to destroy that castle brick by brick, so be it. And I bet I know right where it is.

Niro is working for Osric, in so far as we know. Niro has ties to the Moonriders. What other pies do Osric and Niro have their fingers in? Who else is under their sway? Who else is their target?

We have proof of their involvement by Lentaro, but the Ambassador doesn't want Random to know that yet. I understand. I haven't told Random about my own links to our "enemies" yet, and I would rather not. Life is complicated enough without others fretting needlessly over allegiances. Well ... there has to be more information out there on these Bright Pattern people, and their links to the current situations. We just haven't found them yet. Perhaps Galen has some information he'd be willing to share (or exchange), now that he's been alerted to the presence of Bright Pattern agents within his own force.

I wonder what it is Galen stopped himself from telling us?

I haven't moved far from where Desra and Merik are being treated, and I don't plan on it for a while. Not that I'm in very good shape myself right at present. At least we're in Telluria where medical facilities are more advanced than they are in Amber. It's less likely that Merik and Desra can be reached here as well -- not certain, but less likely. This is the second time they have been used as pawns to gain my "cooperation." The first time Galen was honorable about it. Being "kidnapped" by choice is always preferable than having my friends and family taken without. Niro showed no honor.

They don't look very good. If these people just wanted me, why beat my foster parents? I understand that Merik and Desra probably didn't go willingly, but she's not a fighter. Why bludgeon her almost to death? There's really only one answer -- because keeping her alive was not an issue.

What did they want from me? To kill me and have me walk the Bright Pattern, as they did to Lentaro? Do that then hand me over to their contacts in Sh'shari's faction? I know she'd probably be willing to grant a large boon to someone who could deliver my head on a platter to her. Did they just want me as an inside agent for themselves?

We need the retro-virus end of these affairs wrapped up! If this means imbuing it with Pattern to keep it sustainable through Shadow, so be it. This needs to be finished and distributed to Galen's people so we can focus on Osric's happy band. I pray that Galen proves trustworthy, and upholds his end of the agreement. If not ... If not. I believe he is trustworthy ... I hope he is. Please ... don't let my trust be abused. He's one person I truly do not want to have to see as an enemy.

Sentimental, stupid woman! Lay the tears and heart sickness down to being utterly weary after all the shifting you life's blood from spilling onto the floor ... but please, just stop with the sentimentality! It is not going to get you very far, and has the potential to wreak much havoc. You don't *know* any of these people! Don't go there, Dalen. Just don't.

Go back to the first thought -- You're damned lucky. You're lucky Aaron was around to back you up when that Trump call came. You're lucky that the others cared enough to risk life and limb to get you out of that place -- and not for the first time, either! You're lucky that Niro is a gloater -- and gloating gave you just enough time to catch him off guard. You're lucky Merik and Desra aren't dead. You just are damned lucky, woman.

Hold that thought, and work with what you have. Niro's days are numbered. We *will* find out who the Bright Pattern agents are in Amber, and we will see them stopped. We will do likewise to those of Sh'shari's agents. We will do our part to bring peace to the Ghenesh. We will do our best. I only hope our best is enough.

I think it's time for me to explore what I can do with the Vitae.