Prince of chaos

«More security,» he said. «They're surrounding Tubble. I think I'll order him out of here for now. You and Jurt, too. You can come to the temple later. I'll see that security's even heavier there.»

«Okay,» I said. «Is Dara here?» He glanced about.

«I haven't seen her. Don't now, either. You'd better go.

I nodded. As I turned away, I saw a half-familiar face off to my right. She was tall and dark-eyed, shifting from a swirl of multicolored jewels to a swaying flowerlike form, and she had been staring at me. I had been trying to recall her name earlier, and had failed. Seeing her brought it back, though. I approached her.

«I have to leave for a time,» I said. «But I wanted to say hello, Gilva.»

«You do remember. I was wondering.»

«Of course.».

«How are you, Merlin?»

I sighed. She smiled her way into furry, half-human solidity.

«Me, too,» she said. «I'll be so glad when this is all settled.»

«Yes. Listen, I want to see you for several reasons. When would be a good time?»

«Why, anytime after the funeral, I guess. What about?»

«No time now. Mandor's giving me angry looks. See you later.»

«Yes. Later, Merlin.»

I hurried back to Jurt and caught him by the elbow. «We're ordered to leave,» I said. «Security reasons.»

«All right.» He turned to the man he'd been talking with. «Thanks. I'll see you later,» he told him.

The world slipped away. A new one dawned: Jurt's apartment, our clothes strewn about it.

«Good timing for us. Bad for Tmer,» he remarked.

«True.»

«How's it feel to be number two?» he asked as we changed again-both clothing and form.

«It advances your case, too,» I said.

«I've a feeling he died on your account, brother, not mine.»

«I hope not,» I said.

He laughed.

«It's between Tubble and you.»

«If it were, I'd be dead already,» I said. «If you're right, it's really between Sawall and Chanicut.»

«Wouldn't it be funny, Merlin, if I were sticking with you because it's the safest place to be just now?» he asked. «I'm sure our guards and assassins are better than Chanicut's. Supposing I'm just waiting, saving my final effort till Tubble's out of the way? Then, trusting me and all, you turn your back - Coronation!»

I looked at him. He was smiling, but he also seemed to be studying me.

I was about to say, «You can have it, without the trouble,» in a joking way. But I wondered just then: Even in jest, if it were a choice between the two of us… It occurred to me that if we were the only options, this was a circumstance under which I'd agree to take the throne. I'd resolved to give him the benefit of the doubt, to meet him more than halfway. But I couldn't help it. For all his conciliatory talk and apparent cooperation, a lifelong habit is a hard thing to break. I couldn't bring myself to trust him anymore than I had to.

«Tell it to the Logrus,» I said.

A look of fear - the widening of the eyes, the shifting of the gaze downward, a small forward tightening of the shoulders - then, «You really do have an understanding with it, don't you?» he asked.

«There seems to be an understanding, but it only works one way,» I said.

«What do you mean?»

«I'm not about to help either side wreck our world.»

«Sounds like you're prepared to double-cross the Logrus.»

I raised a finger to my lips.

«It must be your Amber blood,» he said then. «I've been told they're all a little crazy.»

«Maybe so,» I said.

«Sounds like something your father would do.»

«What do you know of him?»

«You know, everybody has a favorite Amber story.»

«Nobody around here ever told any to me.»

«Of course not - considering.»

«Me being a half breed and all?» I said.

He shrugged. Then, «Well, yes.»

I pulled on my boots.

«Whatever you're doing with that new Pattern,» he said, «it probably won't make the old one too happy.»

«Doubtless you're right,» I agreed.

«So you won't be able to run to it for protection if the Logrus is after you.»

«I guess not.»

«…And if they're both after you, the new one won't be able to stand against them.»

«You think they'd really get together on anything?»

«Hard to say. You're playing a wild game. I hope you know what you're doing.»

«Me, too,» I said, rising. «My turn.»

I unwound the spikard at a level I'd never attempted before, and I got us there in a single jump.

Luke and Rinaldo were still talking. I could tell them apart by their garments. Corwin was nowhere in sight. Both waved as we made our appearance.

«How's everything in the Courts?» Luke asked.

«Chaotic,» Jurt replied. «How long have we been away?»

«Six hours, I'd guess,» Rinaldo replied.

«No sign of Corwin?» I asked.

«No,» Luke said. «But in the meantime, we've worked out a deal with each other - and Rinaldo's been in touch with the Pattern here. It will release him and continue his maintenance as soon as Corwin returns.»

«Regarding that…» Jurt said.

«Yes?» Rinaldo asked.»

«I'll stay here and cover for Rinaldo while you go find the lady with the glass eye.»

«Why?» Rinaldo asked.

«Because you'll do a better job together and I'll feel a lot safer here than I would most other places.»

«I'd have to see whether that's acceptable,» Rinaldo said.