I told Dad about the guy I ran into in Texorami.  He sent Kilroy 
around to ask me about the encounter.  The asshole couldn't wait to 
get started, it seems, since he woke me up at an ungodly hour of the 
morning.  Then he had the nerve to pry into my personal plans!  
They're none of his fucking business.  I'm damned if I'll make it 
easier for Dad to keep an eye on me.

	I hope Kilroy finds that guy, though.  How dare he question me 
about my loyalties!  Who does he think he is?  I should have killed 
him on the spot, but I was having too good a time to leave the 
shadow.  Do my loyalties lie with Marda or Amber?  Both.  Amber's 
been good for Marda.  If only things would loosen up a bit, it would 
be perfect.  Not that this will ever happen as long as Dad's around.  
He thrives on that crap.  The fancier and snootier the better.  Not me.  
Oh, I can walk the walk and talk the talk.  Mom and Dad made sure 
of that.  But I can't stand that stuff.  I'd much rather be throwing 
darts at a bar, or playing pool.  Mom would be perfectly horrified if 
she knew how many times I've sneaked into what she would call the 
seedier sections of town.  Disguised, of course, more for her sake than 
mine.  I'm sure Dad knows all about it.  How else would he have 
known about Val?  I'll never forgive him for killing Val.  He wasn't 
seditious, at least not around me.  And so what if he was?  He was no 
threat to me.  Dad just can't seem to stop meddling in my life.  And 
I'm getting sick of it.

	I guess that's why I came to Amber.  I'm hoping it'll be harder 
for him to track me here.  I'm probably wrong, but it's worth a shot.  
At least I can do what I want here, without worrying about acting 
appropriately for my position.

	It seems I'm not to have much time to myself here, though.  I 
was Trumped by the acting Regent for Amber, my dear second 
cousin Garth.  How the Hell did he get my Trump, anyway?  He 
"asked" me to go with a group investigating some shadow 
disturbance.  I knew I should have ignored that call.  Well, it'll be a 
good opportunity to meet the cousins I've been hearing about.  I'm 
looking forward to meeting Cuel.  I wonder if the rumors are true?  
I'd find it highly amusing if Dad really had cuckolded Garth.  I'll bet 
the rumor bothers Mom to no end.  Yes, this expedition definitely has 
possibilities.