A subconscious memory reminded me of the more difficult sections, and here I employed my desire-my will, if you like-to hurry us along the dazzling route, recklessly drawing strength from Random to accelerate the process.
It was as if we negotiated the luminous interior of an enormous and elaborately convoluted seashell. Only our passage was soundless, and we ourselves disembodied points of sentience.
Our velocity seemed to increase constantly, as did a mental aching I did not recall from the previous traversal of the design. Perhaps it was related to my fatigue, of to my efforts to hurry things so. We crashed through the barriers; we were surrounded by steady, flowing walls of brightness. I felt myself growing faint, dizzy, now. But I could not afford the luxury of unconsciousness, nor could I permit us to move more slowly with the storm as near as I remembered it. Again, regretfully, I drew strength from Random-this time just to keep us in the game. We sped ahead.
This time, I did not experience the tingling, fiery sensation of somehow being shaped. It must have been an effect of my attunement. My previous passage through it might have rendered me some small immunity in this regard.
After a timeless interval, it seemed that I felt Random falter. Perhaps I represented too great a drain upon his energies. I began to wonder whether I would leave him with sufficient strength to manipulate the storm if I leaned upon him any further. I resolved not to draw upon his resources any more than I already had. We were well along the way. He should be able to continue without me, if it came to that. I would simply have to hang on as best I could now. Better for me to be lost here than both of us.
We swept on, my sense rebelling, the dizziness recurring. I set my will to our progress and forced everything else from my mind. It seemed we were nearing the terminus when a darkening began which I knew was not a part of the experience. I fought down panic.
It was no good. I felt myself slipping away. So close! I was certain we were almost finished. It would be so easy to—
Everything swam away from me. My last sensation was a knowledge of Random's concern.
It was flickering orange and red between my feet. Was I trapped in some astral hell? I continued to stare as my mind slowly cleared. The light was surrounded by darkness and...
There were voices, familiar...
Things cleared. I was lying on my back, feet toward a campfire.
“It is all right, Corwin. It is all right.”
It was Fiona who had spoken. I turned my head. She was seated on the ground above me.
“Random..?” I said.
“He is all right, also-Father.”
Merlin was seated off to the right.
“What happened?”
“Random bore you back,” Fiona said.
“Did the attunement work?”
“He thinks so.”
I struggled to sit up. She tried to push me back, but I sat up anyway.
“Where is he?” She gestured with her eyes.
I looked and I saw Random. He was standing with his back to us about thirty meters away, on a shelf of rock, facing the storm. It was very close now, and a wind whipped his garments. Lightning trails crissed and crossed before him. The thunder boomed almost constantly.
“How long-has he been there?” I asked.
“Only a few minutes,” Fiona replied.
“That is how long it has been-since our return?”
“No,” she said. “You have been out for a fairly long while. Random talked with the others first, then ordered a troop withdrawal. Benedict has taken them all to the black road. They are crossing over.”
I turned my head.
There was movement along the black road, a dark column heading out toward the citadel. Gossamer strands drifted between us; there were a few sparks at the far end, about the nighted hulk. Overhead, the sky had completely reversed itself, with us beneath the darkened half. Again, I felt that strange feeling of having been here long, long ago, to see that this, rather than Amber, was the true center of creation. I grasped after the ghost of a memory. It vanished. I searched the lightning-shot gloom about me.
“All of them-gone?” I said to her. “You, me. Merlin, Random-we're the only ones left here?”
“Yes,” Fiona said. “Do you wish to follow them now?”
I shook my head.
“I am staying here with Random.”
“I knew you would say that.”
I got to my feet as she did. So did Merlin. She clapped her hands and a white horse came ambling up to her.
“You have no further need for my ministrations,” she said. “So I will go and join the others in the Courts of Chaos. There are horses for you tethered by those rocks.”
She gestured.
“Are you coming. Merlin?”
“I will stay with my father, and the king.”
“So be it. I hope to see you there soon.”
“Thanks, Fi,” I said.
I helped her to mount and watched her ride off.
I went over and sat down bv the fire again. I watched Random, Who stood unmoving, facing the storm.
“There are plenty of rations and wine,” Merlin said. “May I fetch you some?”
“Good idea.”
The storm was so close that I could have walked down to it in a couple of minutes. I could not tell yet whether Random's efforts were having any effect. I sighed heavily and let my mind drift.
Over. One way or another, all of my efforts since Greenwood were over. No need for revenge any longer. No. We had an intact Pattern, maybe even two. The cause of all our troubles. Brand, was dead. Any residue of my curse was bound to be wiped out by the massive convulsions sweeping through Shadow. And I had done my best to make up for it. I had found a friend in my father and come to terms with him as himself before his death. We had a new king, with the apparent blessing of the Unicorn, and we had pledged him our loyalty. It seemed sincere to me. I was reconciled with my entire family. I felt that I had done my duty. Nothing drove me now. I had run out of causes and was as close as I might ever be to peace. With all this behind me, I felt that if I had to die now, it was all right. I would not protest quite so loudly as I would have at any other time.
“You are far from here. Father.”
I nodded, then smiled. I accepted some food and began eating. As I did, I watched the storm. Still too early to be certain, but it seemed that it was no longer advancing.
I was too tired to sleep. Or something like that. My aches had all subsided and a wondrous numbness had come over me. I felt as if I were embedded in warm cotton. Events and reminiscences kept the mental clockwork turning within me. It was, in many ways, a delicious feeling.
I finished eating and built up the fire. I sipped the wine and watched the storm, like a frosted window set before a fireworks display. Life felt good. If Random succeeded in pulling this one off, I would be riding into the Courts of Chaos tomorrow. What might await me there, I could not tell. Perhaps it might be a gigantic trap. An ambush. A trick. I dismissed the thought. Somehow, right now, it did not matter.
“You had begun telling me of yourself. Father.”
“Had I? I do not recall what I said.”
“I would like to get to know you better. Tell me more.”
I made a popping noise with my lips and shrugged.
“Then this.” He gestured. “This whole conflict. How did it get started? What was your part in it? Fiona told me that you had dwelled in Shadow for many years without your memory. How did you get it back and locate the others, and return to Amber?”
I chuckled. I regarded Random and the storm once more. I took a drink of wine and drew up my cloak against the wind.