The Courts Of Chaos

«Because,» she said, «I fear that the lords of my realm would go as far for their vision as Brand would for his. Farther, perhaps. That balance I spoke of. Few seem to appreciate what a delicate thing it is. I have traveled in the shadowlands near to Amber, and I have walked in Amber herself. I also have known the shadows that lie by Chaos side. I have met many people and seen many things. Then, when I encountered Martin and spoke with him, I began to feel that the changes I had been told would be for the better would not simply result in a revision of Amber more along the lines of my elders' liking. They would, instead, turn Amber into a mere extension of the Courts, most of the shadows would boil away to join with Chaos. Amber would become an island. Some of my seniors who still smart at Dworkin's having created Amber in the first place are really seeking a return to the days before this happened. Total Chaos, from which all things arose. I see the present condition as superior and I wish to preserve it. My desire is that neither side emerge victorious in any conflict.»

I turned in time to see Benedict shaking his head.

«Then you are on neither side,» he stated.

«I like to think that I am on both.»

«Martin,» I said, «are you in this with her?»

He nodded.

Random laughed.

«The two of you? Against both Amber and the Courts of Chaos? What do you hope to achieve? How do you plan to further this notion of balance?»

«We are not alone,» she said, «and the plan is not ours.»

Her fingers dipped into her pocket. Something glittered when she withdrew them. She turned it in the light. It was our father's signet ring that she held.

«Where did you get that?» Random asked.

«Where else?»

Benedict stepped toward her and held out his hand. She gave it to him. He scrutinized it.

«It is his,» he said. «It has the little markings on the back that I've seen before. Why do you have it?»

«First, to convince you that I am acting properly When I convey his orders,» she said.

«How is it that you even know him?» I asked.

«I met him during his - difficulties - some time back,» she told us. «In fact, you might say that I helped to deliver him from them. This was after I had met Martin, and I was inclined to be more sympathetic toward Amber. But then, your father is also a charming and persuasive man. I decided that I could not simply stand by and see him remain prisoner to my kin.»

«Do you know how he was captured in the first place?»

She shook her head.

«I only know that Brand effected his presence in a shadow far enough from Amber that he could be taken there. I believe it involved a fake quest for a nonexistent magical tool which might heal the Pattern. He realizes now that only the Jewel can do it.»

«Your helping him to get away… How did this affect your relations with your own people?»

«Not too damned well,» she said. «I am temporarily without a home.»

«And you want one here?»

She smiled again.

«It depends on how things turn out. If my people have their way, I would as soon go back - or stay with what shadows remain.»

I withdrew a Trump, glanced at it.

«What of Merlin? Where is he now?»

«They have him,» she said. «I fear he may be their man now. He knows his parentage, but they have had charge of his education for a long while. I do not know whether he could be gotten away.»

I raised the Trump, stared at it.

«No good,» she said. «It will not function between here and there.»

I recalled how difficult Trump communication had been when I had been to the fringes of that place. I tried anyway. The card grew cold in my hand and I reached out. There was the faintest flicker of a responding presence. I tried harder.

«Merlin, this is Corwin,» I said. «Do you hear me?»

I seemed to hear a reply. It seemed to be, «I cannot-» And then there was nothing. The card lost its coldness.

«Did you reach him?» she asked.

«I am not sure,» I said. «But I think so. Just for a moment.»

«Better than I thought,» she said. «Either conditions are good or your minds are very similar.»

«When you began waving Dad's signet around you spoke of orders,» Random said. «What orders? And why is he sending them through you?»

«It is a matter of timing.»

«Timing? Hell! He just left here this morning!»

«He had to finish one thing before he was ready for another. He had no idea how long it would take. But I was just in touch with him before I came here - though I was hardly prepared for the reception I walked into - and he is now ready to begin the next phase.»

«Where did you speak with him?» I asked. «Where is he?»

«I have no idea where he is. He contacted me.»

«And…?»

«He wants Benedict to attack immediately.»

Gerard finally stirred from the huge armchair in which he had sat listening. He rose to his feet, hooked his thumbs in his belt and looked down at her.

«An order like that would have to come directly from Dad.»

«It did,» she said.

He shook his head.

«It makes no sense. Why contact you - someone we have small reason to trust - rather than one of us?»