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〃Wait！〃 he cried out。 〃I spoke hastily。 I don't want to lose your counsel； if nothing else。 Stay with me； please。 I will even apologize。〃
〃That is not necessary；〃 I said； knowing what this thing means to a prince of Amber。 〃I'll stay。 I think I can help you。〃
〃Good！〃 and he clapped me upon my good shoulder。
〃And I'll get you more troops；〃 I added。 〃Never fear。〃
And I did。
I walked among Shadows； and found a race of furry creatures； dark and clawed and fanged； reasonably manlike； and about as intelligent as a freshman in the high school of your choice … sorry； kids； but what I mean is they were loyal； devoted； honest； and too easily screwed by bastards like me and my brother。 I felt like the dee…jay of your choice。
Around a hundred thousand worshiped us to the extent of taking up arms。
Bleys was impressed and shut up。 After a week my shoulder was healed。 After two months we had our quarter million and more。
〃Corwin； Corwin！ You're still Corwin！〃 he said； and we took another drink。
But I was feeling kind of funny。 Most of these troops were destined to die。 I was the agent responsible for much of this。 I felt some remorse； though I knew the difference between Shadow and Substance。 Each death would be a real death； however； I knew that also。
And some nights I dwelled upon the playing cards。 The missing Trumps had been restored to the pack I held。 One of them was a portrait of Amber itself； and I knew it could bear me back into the city。 The others were those of our dead or missing relatives。 And one was Dad's； and I skipped it over quickly。 He was gone。
I stared at each face for a long while to consider what might be gained from each。 I cast the cards several times； and the same thing came up on each occasion。
His name was Caine。
He wore satin that was green and black； and a dark three…cornered hat with a green plume of feathers trailing down behind。 At his belt there was an emerald…studded dagger。 He was dark。
〃Caine；〃 I said。
After a time； there came a reply。
〃Who？〃 he asked。
〃Corwin；〃 said I。
〃Corwin！ Is this a joke？〃
〃No。〃
〃What do you want？〃
〃What've you got？〃
〃You know that；〃 and his eyes shifted and lay upon me； but I watched his hand； which was near to his dagger。
〃Where are you？〃
〃With Bleys。〃
〃There was a rumor you'd shown up in Amber recently … and I wondered at the bandages on Eric's arm。〃
〃You're looking at the reason；〃 I said。 〃What's your price？〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃Let us be frank and to the point。 Do you think Bleys and I can take Eric？〃
〃No； that's why I'm with Eric。 And I won't sell out my armada either； if that's what you're after … and I'd imagine you are。〃
I smiled。
〃Perceptive brother；〃 I replied。 〃Well； it's been nice talking to you。 See you in Amber … maybe。〃
I moved my hand； and he cried out。
〃Wait！〃
〃Why？〃
〃I don't even know your offer。〃
〃Yes； you do；〃 I said。 〃You've guessed it； and you're not interested。〃
〃I didn't say that。 It's just that I know where the equities lie。〃
〃You mean the power。〃
〃Okay； the power。 What've you got to offer？〃
We talked for maybe an hour； after which time the northern seaways were open to the three phantom fleets of Bleys； which might enter expecting reinforcements。
〃If you fail； there'll be three beheadings in Amber；〃 said he。
〃But you don't really expect that； do you？〃 I asked。
〃No。 I think either you or Bleys will sit upon the throne before too very long。 I'll be satisfied to serve the winner。 That regency would be nice。 I'd still like Random's head as part of the price； though。〃
〃No deal；〃 I said。 〃Take it as you've heard it or forget it。〃
〃I'll take it。〃
I smiled and placed my palm upon the card and he was gone。
Gerard was a matter I'd leave for the morrow。 Caine had exhausted me。
I rolled into bed and slept。
***
Gerard； when be learned the score； agreed to lay off us。 Mainly because it was I who was asking； as he had considered Eric a lesser of potent evils。
I concluded the deal quickly； promising him everything he asked； as no heads were involved。
Then I reviewed the troops again and told them more of Amber。 Strangely； they got along like brothers； the big red guys and the little hairy ones。
It was sad and it was true。
We were their gods； and that was that。
***
I saw the fleet； sailing on a great ocean the color of blood。 I wondered。 In the Shadow worlds through which they sailed； many of them would be lost。
I considered the troops of Avernus； and my recruits from the place called Ri'ik。 Theirs was the task of marching to Earth and Amber。
I shuffled my cards and cast them。 I picked up the one called Benedict。 For a long while I searched it； but there was nothing but the cold。
Then I seized upon Brand's。 For another long while there was nothing but the cold。
Then there came a scream。 It was a horrible； tormented thing。
〃Help me！〃 came the cry。
〃How can I？〃 I asked。
〃Who is that？〃 be asked； and I saw his body writhe。
〃Corwin。〃
〃Deliver me from this place； brother Corwin！ Anything you name shall be yours in return！〃
〃Where are you？〃
〃I … 〃
And there came a swirling of things my mind refused to conceive of； and another scream； torn forth as though in agony and ending in silence。
Then the coldness came in again。
I found that I was shaking。 From what； I did not know。
I lit a cigarette and moved to the window to consider the night； leaving the cards where they had fallen upon the table…top of my room within the garrison。
The stars were tiny and misted over。 There were no constellations that I could recognize。 A small blue moon dropped quickly through the darkness。 The night had e on with a sudden； icy chill and I wrapped my cloak close about me。 I thought back to the winter of our disastrous campaign in Russia。 Gods！ I'd almost frozen to death！ And where did it all lead？
To the throne of Amber； of course。
For that was sufficient justification for anything。
But what of Brand？ Where was he？ What was happening about him； and who had done this thing to him？
Answers？ None。
I wondered； though； as I stared up and out； tracing the path of that blue disk in its descent。 Was there something I was missing in the whole picture； some factor I didn't quite dig？
No answer。
I seated myself at the table once more； a small drink at my hand。
I fingered my way through the pack and found Dad's card。
Oberon； Lord of Amber； stood before me in his green and his gold。 High； wide； and thick； his beard black and shot with silver； his hair the same。 Green rings in gold settings and a blade of golden color。 It had once seemed to me that nothing could ever displace the immortal liege of Amber from his throne。 What had happened？ I still didn't know。 But he was gone。 How had my father met with his end？
I stared and concentrated。
Nothing； nothing …
Something？
Something。
There came a responding movement； though ever so weak； and the figure on the card turned in upon itself and shriveled to a shadow of the man he had been。
〃Father？〃 I asked。
Nothing。
〃Father？〃
〃Yes。。。〃 Very faint and distant； as though through a seashell； immerse