Sign of the Unicorn

«I have no idea, but it is possible. You know how secretive he is about some things.»

«No,» Julian said, «it doesn't hold up. He would have given some operating instructions, somewhere along the line.»

«Well, whatever the reasons, whatever the situation, what do you propose doing now?»

«Someone has to occupy the throne,» he said.

I had seen it coming throughout the entire dialogue, of course - the opportunity it had long seemed would never come to pass.

«Who?» I asked.

«Eric seems the best choice,» he replied. «Actually, he has been acting in that capacity for months now. It simply becomes a matter of formalizing it.»

«Not just as regent?»

«Not just as regent.»

«I see… Yes, I guess that things have been happening in my absence. What about Benedict as a choice?»

«He seems to be happy where he is, off somewhere in Shadow.»

«What does he think of the whole idea?»

«He is not entirely in favor of it. But we do not believe he will offer resistance. It would disrupt things too much.»

«I see,» I said again. «And Bleys?»

«He and Eric had some rather heated discussions of the issue, but the troops do not take their orders from Bleys. He left Amber about three months ago. He could cause some trouble later. But then, we are forewarned.»

«Gerard? Caine?»

«They will go along with Eric. I was wondering about yourself.»

«What about the girls?» He shrugged.

«They tend to take things lying down. No problem.»

«I don't suppose Corwin…»

«Nothing new. He's dead. We all know it. His monument has been gathering dust and ivy for centuries. If not, then he has intentionally divorced himself from Amber forever. Nothing there. Now I am wondering where you stand.»

I chuckled.

«I am hardly in a position to possess forceful opinions,» I said.

«We need to know now.»

I nodded.

«I have always been able to detect the quarter of the wind,» I said. «I do not sail against it.»

He smiled and returned my nod.

«Very good,» he said.

«When is the coronation? I assume that I am invited.»

«Of course, of course. But the date has not yet been set. There are still a few minor matters to be dealt with. As soon as the affair is calendared, one of us will contact you again.»

«Thank you, Julian.»

«Good-bye for now, Random.»

And I sat there being troubled for a long while before I started on downward again. How long had Eric spent engineering it? I wondered. Much of the politicking back in Amber could have been done pretty quickly, but the setting up of the situation in the first place seemed the product of long-term thinking and planning. I was naturally suspicious as to his involvement in Brand's predicament. I also could not help but give some thought to the possibility of his having a hand in Dad's disappearance. That would have taken some doing and have required a really foolproof trap. But the more I thought of it, the less I was willing to put it past him. I even dredged up some old speculations as to his part in your own passing, Corwin. But, offhand, I could not think of a single thing to do about any of it. Go along with it, I figured, if that's where the power was. Stay in his good graces.

Still… One should always get more than one angle on a story. I tried to make up my mind as to who would give me a good one. While I was thinking along these lines, something caught my eye as I glanced back and up, appreciating anew the heights from which I had not quite descended.

There were a number of riders up near the top. They had apparently traversed the same trail I had taken. I could not get an exact nose count, but it seemed suspiciously close to a dozen - a fairly sizable group to be out riding at just that place and time. As I saw that they were proceeding on down the same way that I had come, I had a prickly feeling along the base of my neck. What if?… What if they were the same guys? Because I felt that they were.

Individually, they were no match for me. Even a couple of them together had not made that great a showing. That was not it. The real chiller was that if that's who it was, then we were not alone in our ability to manipulate Shadow in a very sophisticated fashion. It meant that someone else was capable of a stunt that for all my life I had thought to be the sole property of our family. Add to this the fact that they were Brand's wardens, and their designs on the family - at least part of It - did not look all that clement. I perspired suddenly at the notion of enemies who could match our greatest power.