#log 17

Me and my colleagues have recently discovered that the hunger phenomenon was caused by a mistake when switching organs, specifically the stomach, and connecting it to the nerves of the other twin. This combined with the psychosis caused by 2b’s mental state is what we believe caused the murder subsequent cannibalism of 1b.

It's also very expensive, at least for what I have right now. So, definitely taking that to a trading post when I can.

I’m not adding any visual of mine to this, I just wanted to say—

WHY ARE THEY SO BIG?!??!

It's just after dark on the pale wood decks of the Wandering Duchess and Catriona's not even drinking. In fact, she's shadow fighting with herself using a sword, going through the paces of a brutal, wild style. But she's clearly having some trouble keeping up the pace. Sweat glistens in taunting beads on her silvery brow, sheens her wan cheeks to rosy red. She's wearing her standard black leather pants with a loose red blouse, silver-gilt hair braided back in a thick, long cable, and every step the ex-Karm takes the thump of the braid is a little heavier, her steps a little harder on the planks of the deck. No one stands watch, but the ship is well lit in the night with illuminata candles.

Alec walks along the docks but stops when he sees shadows breaking the light coming from one of the nearby ships. He draws closer, and upon seeing that it's Cat, he stops and watches for a moment in silence before calling out to her. "Evening!" he greets. "Do you have a moment?"

Cat turns around a touch slower than she otherwise might have, and slightly out of breath. Her eyes, and coincidentally her sword, rest in Alec's direction. It's a moment before she can rein herself in. "Alec of the no last name. For my favourite puzzle, most certainly. Come aboard?" She invites the man onto the Duchess, all the while wiping sweat from her brow with an arm, depositing her sword against the hull.

Alec smiles and joins her on the deck. "There are a lot of questions I wanted to ask you last night," he says. "But with there being a potential of getting killed over it, I didn't want to ask anything around a prince."

"I doubt Corwin would have killed you," Cat chuckles lightly as she responds, crossing the deck towards the amnesiac. "But I understand your cause for concern. I had no clue his strong feelings towards amnesiacs." She waves to a spot at the stern, overlooking Amber harbor and the bustle below. "What would you like to ask?"

Alec shakes his head. "That's not what I mean. Well, I was a little worried he might stab me, but he made no moves for it, so I wasn't too concerned after a while. But no," he says, "I'm more interested in what you and Ailith were talking about when you were puzzling over me the other day. You mentioned a pattern, and Ailith said something about it carrying a death sentence, but you were convinced it might tell me more about myself. Whatever a pattern is, I get the impression it's something important and secret. I asked Kincaid about them and he gave me a non answer and dismissed me, so I assume commoners shouldn't even know they even exist."

"I don't think the Pattern is any huge secret," Catriona replies, moving over to the stern of the ship whether Alec follows or not. Her arms rest upon the rails casually, and she hmms softly a moment before replying further. "The Pattern is the birth right of the scions of Oberon. If you can walk the Pattern, of which there are at least three, one in the Palace, one in Tir, and one in Rebma, then you can manipulate and walk Shadow. And it would mean you belonged to one of the Princes or Princesses of Amber."

Alec walks with her, crossing his arms over his chest. His left arm his now unbandaged but still seems to be healing somewhat. "And that means?" he prompts.

"Are you asking me what it would mean if you were the child or grandchild of one of the Princes or Princesses of Amber?" Cat asks, lifting a solitary brow in confusion. "Or are you asking me to explain the infinite cosmic powers such a thing might bestow upon you if you were?"

Alec frowns. "No, I was more wanting clarification as to what 'belonging to' a prince or princess meant," he says. "I'm not sure I'm going to risk that much to find out that. It seems like a lose/lose situation."

Cat cocks her silver head, looking more than a little amused. "Fortune favours the bold, does it not? Think of how much you would gain, should it prove to be the case. That, and it's said that walking the Pattern can often restore the memories of an amnesiac... if it doesn't kill them."

"There's no gain that I can think of," Alec says. "Ailith mentioned there was a risk of death, and now you're telling me success means that I'm related to the princes and princesses. I'm not risking my life just so I can learn that my love interest is actually my cousin or uncle or even my brother. I'd rather keep my life, and live it in ignorance if I must."

"Hah! I knew you liked men!" Is Cat's take away from that revelation. She seems altogether too pleased with herself. "See? We have so much in common already, you and I. I like a few of your possible Uncles and cousins and brothers, too. Though, to be very honest, intimate family relations aren't actually frowned upon in Amber."

Alec breathes in deeply through his nose and then lets out the breath in a huge sigh through his mouth. "I never once denied that I like men," he says. "I only denied that I wanted to sleep with Bleys. And even knowing that," he says, making a face as Cat mentions Amberite incest, "I'm still not exactly comfortable with either romantically pursuing a relative or risking my life for, well, whatever shadow manipulation is."

"Given long enough time in Amber, you'd likely become accustomed to it," Cat says, shaking her silver-pale head. "Amber has a way of lowering your shock threshold. As for foresaking Pattern, if that's your birthright, that would be a stupid thing to do." The words are blunt and the glance that goes along with it is level. "Imagine being able to do, to create anything you could possibly dream of. To be able to manipulate the very fabric of being outside of Amber. To draw trumps of people, places... to... oh! There are just so damn many things." And she sounds green with envy over not being able to do them.

Alec looks away, completely disinterested until trumps are mentioned. Only then does he look at her again. "I could make trumps?" he asks. "I mean, it still doesn't seem worth it, but ever since Kincaid drew my trump, I have to admit that I've been somewhat interested in the ability." He shrugs in a way that makes it seem as though he's trying to look less interested than he is.

"It's an incredible ability," Catriona concurs. "Not to mention the other benefits such as exceptionally long life, strength, and... hmm. Do me a favour? Try to pick me up. Over your head." She sounds entirely serious, standing as she is. The woman looks tiny, looks slender and fragile, but of course looks can often be deceiving.

Alec scoffs and uncrosses his arms. "Pick you up?" he asks. "Why? I'm sure I probably shouldn't. I'm supposed to be resting my left arm. Doctor's orders. Anyway, didn't Corwin say your tests are unreliable?"

Catriona laughs a little, and shakes her head. "Very well. If you don't want my help, I'll stop. You've made it clear enough that it's unwelcome." She steps back from the bow of the ship, turning. "If you'll excuse me? There's rum in my cabin and a good book just waiting to be read."

Alec raises an eyebrow. "That's strange coming from you," he says. "Cat? Backing down? Still, I have to admit that it's appreciated..." He turns to go. "Well, enjoy your book," he says, "and your drinks."

"You think you know me?" Cat replies, arching a brow. "Interesting." She leaves it at that, and continues towards her cabin, plucking up the discarded sword on the way.