The Diaries of Cordelia Chan

Castle Amber : 23 ^rd Marvich PPF 5

I'd toyed with the notion of repeating yesterday morning's episode but decided against it, which is just as well as the weather had changed over night and a light snow was now falling outside. After the meeting yesterday afternoon, it had fallen to Delwin to give us a guided tour of the castle. He seemed affable enough, although distant, and conducted the tour in a pragmatic manner. Having toured the upper levels and arranged more permanent quarters for us - I would remain in the guest suite until one of the disused towers was re-furbished which would take several weeks -the tour ended with a descent into the lower levels of the castle. The main staircase down must have been built into what once was the main shaft of a volcano, and numerous passages led off as we descended. When we reached the bottom, Delwin checked in with the guard and arranged for additional lanterns. Looking around the chamber there must have been about a dozen tunnels leading off.
"Now remember this route. You'll need it in the morning and Fiona hates to be kept waiting. You need the 7th tunnel counting right from the stairs, and then the third branch on the right. Now follow me."
He set off into the darkness and we followed, our lanterns having little effect until we entered the tunnel inself. We passed one turning on the left, before the third on the right appeared and he turned down it without hesitating. After about 100 yards I detected a change in the air, like that after a voilent lightening storm, but Delwin seemed not to notice. We had gone about another 60 yards when a voice rang out. " Halt and be identified" Delwin responded, " Prince Delwin, Royal Seneschal and Curator of the Royal Gallery, Princess Isla, Princess Cordelia, Prince Archibald."
"Come hither friend;"
As we approached, 4 guards apeared from rock screens to either side of the corridor, returning what appeared to be muskets to their shoulders. About 20 yards ahead of us lay an impressive, bound wooden door. Delwin moved to the right and took a key down from a hook. Drawing his sword, he placed the key in the lock, and opened the door. The sight that greeted us was stunning. Stretched out across the chamber in front of us was an intricate design, etched some how into the obsidian floor.
"Well there it is, the Great Pattern of Amber, for all the trouble its caused. Tomorrow we'll find out whether you really are family or imposters, for only those with the Blood of Amber can walk the pattern and live. Now you can stay here for as long as you like, just knock on the door, and respond with the challenge and the guards will let you out. Whatever you do don't step or walk on any part of the pattern or set foot within the area traced by its boundary. I have things to do so I'll see you later."

It was several minutes before any of us moved, even though the door had swung shut behind us, I later found out that the door is weighted to do this. Slowly we circled the pattern staring in wonder at its design. It is not like a maze symmetrical with myriad of false paths, but appeared to be a single thread composed of three distinct sections, arrange in a squashed circle, and leading to a central void. After about what appeared to be half an hour, as if by common consent we all left. What struck me as we left was that the three of us had no common language, yet we had all been able to converse with members of the family, and some of the servants, and the family had no trouble in conversing with us.

Castle Amber : 24 ^th Marvich PPF 5

When I awoke this morning, my bath and a light breakfast were waiting for me along with a respectable approximation to a Gi. After bathing and dressing I made my way down to the pattern room, to find Fiona and the others already there. With my arrival she launched in to a lecture about the do's and don't of walking a pattern, and demonstrated the affect of crossing one of the blue lines that delineated the path by throwing a hand full of pebbles across the pattern. As each crossed onto one of the lines there was a brief flash and the pebble vanished. Then it was lecture over and time to walk the pattern. Archibald chose to go first, followed by Isla, leaving me till last. As each commenced the walk, blue sparks appeared about their feet, growing steadily in volume and intensity, until they appeared to be wading through a sea of energy.

Unless you have walked a pattern it is difficult to comprehend the effects it has on you both psychologically and physiologically. To begin with it feels like you are walking through deepening water, although by the end it is more like attempting to swim through quicksand. Coupled with this is a tingling sensation, which grows until it feels like you are constantly being jolted by static discharges, whilst your nerve endings are being fried in the midst of an orgasm. By the time I reached the calm which is the center of the pattern I had never been so tired in all my life, and although I had a strange desire to get myself laid, I remembered Fiona's warning and pictured my bed in the guest quarters. There was a slight sensation of movement and then the soft sheets enveloped me along with the refreshing comfort of sleep.

Castle Amber : 25 ^th Marvich PPF 5

It was late afternoon when I awoke, and everything seemed subtly different. Colours were more vibrant, sounds somehow sharper and clearer, and smells as well. There was also something else, I was hornier than I'd ever been before and had an overwhelming need to get laid.
One thing I still haven't fathomed about the servants in the castle is how they manage to appear within a minute or two of you waking, bearing clean clothes and refreshments. I also haven't managed to fathom out why they are unphased by any request however strange it may seem. The response from the maid, when I enquired as to where one would go in Amber to find a man to take to bed, shocked me more than the question did her." For refinement you'll need to try one of the inns at the top of the hill below the castle gates, if you're just looking for a quick tumble try the stables." By the time she'd set the tray down she was carrying, I'd shucked on a skirt and shirt and was in the process of tying the tails around my middle. I thanked her for the information and headed for the stables.

It was several hours before I returned to my room, and only then because the stable hands were exhausted. The desire had somewhat left me, and I now felt relaxed. As I bathed I turned events over in my mind and realized I wasn't actually tired. I got out of the bath and examined my self. The last time I'd done anything like that I'd been bruised and sore for a week, but now I was nothing more than a little pink.

There was a knock at the door. " Hang on. I'm not decent." The door opened and Flora came in. " You and I need to have a little talk."

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