Derek told me some interesting things about Etienne.  
Apparently they were acquaintances growing up.  Etienne is one of 
the best people in Hendrake with regard to both shapeshifting and 
fighting ability.  He's also rumored to have been adopted.  This adds 
credence to my theory that he has Amber blood.  But why would 
people as highly placed in Hendrake as his parents adopt him?  Do 
they know who his real parents are?  Have they told him?  Derek 
says Etienne has spent a lot of time in shadow and knows Jasra 
pretty well.  Was he simply hired by her, or is it something more?  
Perhaps she knows who his parents are.  There aren't that many 
Amberites I know of that made their way to Chaos before the war.  
Brand, obviously.  Benedict.  But that doesn't mean those are the only 
two possibilities for Etienne's parent.  If the description of my 
grandfather is to be believed, he couldn't have been Brand or 
Benedict, unless he was in disguise.  So obviously other Amberites 
were here before the war.

	Suhuy was busy, so I made an appointment to see him 
tomorrow morning.  Then I Trumped Markus.  I explained that I was 
under an alias, and why I had been using it.  I'm sure Nicholas 
already told him about my name, anyway.  I asked to come through 
to discuss the second matter, since I didn't want to talk about it over 
Trump.  He took this news of our possible relation better than I could 
have hoped.  He even suggested I walk the Pattern immediately.  I 
must admit, I wasn't expecting to have the opportunity so quickly.  I 
had to think about it for a second.  But Dad's demonstration had 
pretty much convinced me that the Pattern wouldn't kill me, and I 
figured I might never have a better chance.  If you're going to walk 
the Pattern, you may as well have the Regent sponsor you.  Markus 
called Raphael in as a witness, so that if I died, no one could accuse 
him of foul play.  It turns out he needn't have bothered.  Morgan 
joined us on the way, and Rachel was already there, so there were 
plenty of witnesses.

	It's amazing how knowledge that one person considers trivial 
can be valuable to another.  I casually mentioned to Markus that 
Corwin admitted to having a son named Raphael.  Since they'd been 
debating the veracity of his story earlier, I thought he might find it 
useful.  Image my surprise when Markus turned out to be more 
interested in the fact that I'd been talking to Corwin at all.  It turns 
out that he wasn't lying when he'd claimed to be unaware of Corwin's 
whereabouts.  I'd just assumed he was putting Raphael off until they 
could check into his story.  I suppose it's not all that surprising that 
they wouldn't know Corwin's location.  My Trumps didn't work over 
there, and the method of getting to Avalon is not easy.  I wonder if 
their Pattern would be able to take one there?

	Nicholas has apparently been blabbing my name to everyone 
he meets.  Raphael greeted me by it when we were introduced.  The 
man is an arrogant ass.  Maybe I can arrange for him to "visit" Chaos 
some time.  I believe Hendrake is still looking for descendants of 
Corwin.

	Markus gave me some advice, and I walked the Pattern.  Those 
four simple words do not do justice to the difficulty of the task.  I set 
foot at the beginning with a great deal of trepidation.  It is one thing 
to tell oneself that it is safe, it's another to actually test that theory.  
It was in most respects the most difficult thing I've ever done.  It 
certainly required more physical effort than even the Logrus.  But 
instead of madness at the end, there was a remarkable clarity of 
thought, a focusing of will, as it were.  All in all, I prefer it to taking 
the Logrus.  The Spikard was affected by the walk somehow as well, 
for it pulsed continuously on my finger until I left the center.  So far 
I haven't found any change in it, but who knows?

	From the center I could have gone anywhere, but I chose to 
merely rejoin Markus and the others.  I briefly toyed with the idea 
of having the Pattern take me to my Amberite grandfather, but 
vetoed that as foolhardy and dangerous.  Perhaps as a plan of last 
resort...

	Raphael wanted to know more about my encounter with 
Corwin.  I passed along Corwin's message and explained how I got 
there.  For obvious reasons, my method is not an option for him.  He's 
apparently tried walking the Pattern and asking it to take him to his 
father, with no success.  I suggested he try asking it to take him to 
Avalon instead.  It remains to be seen whether he will follow my 
advice.

	We wound up joining Markus and Alexi after a while.  I think I 
saw more Amberites in the Pattern room than I have on any other 
occasion, other than my initial arrival.  Markus also questioned me 
about how I found Corwin.  He wanted to know if I'd tried bringing 
Corwin with me.  Of course not!  That would have been stupid.  I 
think they believe Corwin was a prisoner there.  Not likely.  He 
definitely seemed to be the one in charge.

	Something has happened to Etienne.  Apparently Brand gave 
Bartholomew a ring which caused Etienne to fall unconscious.  
Markus was kind of vague on the details.  I should check on how he's 
doing.  He is the only other Chaosite here, and a future relative as 
well.

	Markus received a Trump call from Julian, and left to meet 
with him.  He suggested I talk to Edward about getting some Trumps 
drawn of me.  How easily Amberites hand out Trump.  It sounds like 
this Edward has been getting bombarded with requests lately, so I 
shall be my most polite to him.

	I used the Logrus to find Etienne.  He seems to be conscious 
again.  He was in a tower in town, talking with Raphael.  I guess he's 
doing better.  If I had his Trump, I would have asked what 
happened.  I wonder if Edward would be willing to draw one of him?

	No luck finding Edward anywhere in the castle.  Damn.  Markus 
didn't know he was gone, but he's going to Trump him for me.  He 
didn't know Etienne was conscious again either.  This is more of an 
anarchy than a monarchy.  Must be the way they were raised.  I 
would never presume to go against our Head of House, unless the 
circumstances were very dire.

	Etienne Trumped me.  Now where did he get my Trump?  It 
turns out that Brand's ring forced Etienne out of his body.  Dworkin 
was able to put him back, but now Dworkin and Nicholas have 
disappeared.  He claims Edward disappeared in his presence as well, 
only that was earlier when they freed Julian.  Of definite interest is 
the fact that Etienne has a sort of Pattern imprint.  Now that I have 
one myself, it's easier to recognize.  He's trying to get rid of it, so he 
can take the Logrus, and he wants to borrow my Spikard to do it.  I 
don't think so.  I offered to help, though.  I couldn't think of any 
Pattern experts, so he wanted to talk to Markus.  Since I was in the 
same room as Markus, I just pulled him through.

	Markus didn't know of any other Pattern experts, either.  
Etienne was real vague about why he wanted to talk to one.  
Bartholomew was there, which didn't help matters.  Brand Trumped 
Etienne, but Etienne managed to break the contact.  When he told us 
about it, everyone ordered him to get out of the room, without even 
offering to help.  With an attitude like that, I don't know how they 
managed to defeat us.  I suggested they find Jacob, since he might be 
able to help.  Eventually, Bartholomew revealed that he has a device 
that somehow blocks psychic contact.  Etienne was able to use it to 
block out Brand, but then Brand contacted Bartholomew instead.  
Bartholomew refused to give any details about that contact in our 
presence, because we weren't trustworthy.  As if he was.  He's 
already been used by Brand against Etienne at least once.  I 
suggested that Markus not be left alone with Bartholomew, so Alexi 
agreed to stay.

	Etienne took me to meet Jasra.  I can't tell you what a 
wonderful experience that was.  Not.  She looked like she wanted to 
eat my Spikard right off of my finger.  It seems Jasra was the one 
who gave Etienne his odd Pattern imprint, and he was hoping she'd 
be able to remove it.  It turns out she can, with Suhuy's assistance.  
Suhuy was booked until this evening, so I graciously allowed Etienne 
to share my appointment.

	We had four hours to kill, so I tried to take Etienne pit diving.  
Three Logrus Masters from Sawall tried to arrest me!  They claimed 
my Spikard was illegal.  I'll bet.  No way was I going to turn it over 
to them.  One of them actually grabbed me with the Logrus, so I 
brought Pattern to mind.  It burned him.  Serves him right.  How 
dare he treat a Lady of Barimen like some common thug!

	I had the Spikard take us to Ygg, and, much to my surprise, it 
actually worked.  I was half expecting to wind up in the Abyss again.  
Etienne and I talked for a while about what Brand might be after.  
We came up with a number of possibilities, including the Right Eye of 
the Serpent.  We thought my Spikard might be able to find it, but no 
luck.  At least I had a chance to rack my spells in Etienne's fast time 
shadow.  It seems that walking the Pattern destroyed all my 
previous ones.

	We were interrupted by the news that Morgan was in the 
Abyss.  Jacob, Raphael and Bartholomew joined Etienne and I in 
searching the Abyss for her.  I tried to find her with the Logrus, but 
to be honest, I didn't think we had much of a chance.  The Abyss is 
much too vast to have any chance of finding something lost in it, 
without any sort of starting point.  I'm not sure how long we 
searched before Raphael was Trumped by Morgan, who apparently 
found her own way out.  Raphael left through the contact and the 
rest of us left the Abyss.

	Suhuy and Jasra were successful, and Etienne is ready to take 
the Logrus.  I wish him luck.  I Trumped Markus to warn him not to 
Trump Etienne for a while, and to inquire about Morgan.  It turns out 
that Etienne has already warned Markus.  And Markus claims 
Morgan is dead.  I asked to come through.

	I don't think she's dead.  I don't think Marcus does either.  I 
don't know what game he's playing, but he strongly hinted I 
shouldn't get involved.  What does Amber gain by pretending she's 
dead?

	Raphael wanted to talk privately with Markus.  It had to do 
with the Eye, and for some reason they decided Trumping Etienne 
was a good idea.  After both Etienne and I warned them.  *sigh*  
Markus apparently forgot about the time differential.  So now 
Etienne is running loose stealing things or setting them on fire.

	The Eye is in the Abyss.  Apparently Merlin had it and it fell 
into the Abyss while he was exchanging it for Morgan.  I'm rapidly 
losing faith in Merlin's ability to rule Chaos.  Only a fool would give 
Brand an object of such power, no matter who Brand held as hostage.  
I've volunteered to take Markus into the Abyss to search for the Eye.  
I hope we find it.  It's not something I'd like to have floating around.

	No luck.  We found an energy trace from it, but it was gone.  
Perhaps it's in Avalon now?  Lacking any other options, we returned 
to Amber, where Etienne is still running wild.  Raphael thought he 
might go after Ygg, so I decided to wait for him there.  He beat me to 
it.

	I should have remembered what a good shapeshifter Derek 
told me Etienne is.  His Logrus madness has not diminished his skills.  
The next thing I remember, I'm lying naked on the ground.  All of 
my possessions were gone, except for the Spikard.  Why was it not 
taken as well?  Does it have some protective mechanism?  I started 
to cast a spell, and Raphael advanced on me.  I didn't want to fight 
him, so I left.  I wound up on Kolvir.  I discussed the situation with 
Marcus, who checked with Bartholomew and claimed I'd be fine.  
Yeah right.  I showed up in demon form, just in case.  Raphael was 
his usual charming self.  And he wants my help in finding Corwin?  
He can sit and spin for all I care!  Bartholomew and Jacob were 
standing over Etienne's body, along with a Chaosite woman.  The men 
returned all my possessions, although they were very snotty about it.  
Bartholomew even propositioned me!  Asshole.  From the sound of it, 
he's been sleeping around quite a bit in Chaos.  The fool.  And Dara's 
been using our ways for this?  It's inexcusable.  I'll have to find a 
way to properly repay Jacob and Bartholomew for their actions.  
They actually were going to keep Etienne themselves, but the 
Chaosite with them finally convinced them to return him to Chaos.  
At least she understood how unlikely the Amberites chances were of 
holding Etienne.

	I Trumped Mom to make sure they returned Etienne as they 
said they would.  When he recovers, he owes me for this!  Mom 
looked pretty annoyed.  I suspect Etienne isn't going to get a whole 
lot of tender loving care while he recovers.  If only Markus hadn't 
been so hasty.  Well, they were the ones to suffer the results.  What 
astonished me is how easily Etienne was able to flit in and out of the 
castle.  Don't they have any alarms?  Serpent, I could probably 
destroy the entire castle right now with only a few spells.  What can 
they be thinking?  At least Etienne's antics should illustrate to them 
how badly they need to establish defenses.  They're lucky we're no 
longer at war.