Sign of the Unicorn

«Well, everyone in the family has a pack or two and there were a dozen or so spares in the library. I don't really know whether there are any others.»

«It seems to me that a lot could be learned just by listening in.»

«Yes. Dad's deck. Brand's, my original pack, the one Random lost - Hell! There are quite a number unaccounted for these days. I don't know what to do about it. Start an inventory and try some experiments, I guess. Thanks for mentioning it.»

He nodded and we both sipped for a while in silence.

Then, «What are you going to do, Corwin?» he asked.

«About what?»

«About everything. What do we attack now, and in what order?»

«My original intention was to begin tracing the black road toward its origin as soon as things were more settled here in Amber,» I said. «Now, though, I have shifted my priorities. I want Brand returned as soon as possible, if he is still living. If not, I want to find out what happened to him.»

«But will the enemy give you the breathing time? He might be preparing a new offensive right now.»

«Yes, of course. I have considered that. I feel we have some time, since they were defeated so recently. They will have to pull themselves together again, beef up their forces, reassess the situation in light of our new weapons. What I have in mind for the moment is to establish a series of lookout stations along the road to give us advance warning of any new movements on their part. Benedict has already agreed to take charge of the operation.»

«I wonder how much time we have.»

I poured him another drink, as it was the only answer I could think of.

«Things were never this complicated back in Avalon - our Avalon, I mean.»

«True,» I said. «You are not the only one who misses those days. At least, they seem simpler now.»

He nodded. I offered him a cigarette, but he declined in favor of his pipe. In the flamelight, he studied the Jewel of Judgment which still hung about my neck.

«You say you can really control the weather with that thing?» he asked.

«Yes,» I said.

«How do you know?»

«I've tried it. It works.»

«What did you do?»

«That storm this afternoon. It was mine.»

«I wonder…»

«What?»

«I wonder what I would have done with that sort of power. What I would do with it.»

«The first thing that crossed my mind,» I said, slapping the wall of my tomb, «was to destroy this place by lightning - strike it repeatedly and reduce it to rubble. Leave no doubt in anyone's mind as to my feelings, my power.»

«Why didn't you?»

«Got to thinking about it a bit more then. Decided - Hell! They might really have a use for the place before too long, if I'm not smart enough or tough enough or lucky enough. Such being the case, I tried to decide where I would like them to dump my bones. It caught me then that this is really a pretty good spot-up high, clean, where the elements still walk naked. Nothing in sight but rock and sky. Stars, clouds, sun, moon, wind, rain… better company than a lot of other stiffs. Don't know why I should have to lie beside anyone I wouldn't want next to me now, and there aren't many.»

«You're getting morbid, Corwin. Or drunk. Or both. Bitter, too. You don't need that.»

«Who the hell are you to say what I need?»

I felt him stiffen beside me, then relax.

«I don't know,» he finally said. «Just saying what I see.»

«How are the troops holding up?» I asked.

«I think they are still bewildered, Corwin. They came to fight a holy war on the slopes of heaven. They think that's what the shooting was all about last week. So they are happy on that count, seeing as we won. But now this waiting, in the city… They don't understand the place. Some of the ones they thought to be enemies are now friends. They are confused. They know they are being kept ready for combat, but they have no idea against whom, or when. As they have been restricted to the billets the whole time, they have not yet realized the extent to which their presence is resented by the regulars and the population at large. They will probably be catching on fairly soon, though. I had been waiting to raise the subject, but you've been so busy lately…»

I sat smoking for a time.

Then, «I guess I had better have a talk with them,» I said. «Won't have a chance tomorrow, though, and something should be done soon. I think they should be moved - to a bivouac area in the Forest of Arden. Tomorrow, yes. I'll locate it for you on the map when we get back. Tell them it is to keep them close to the black road. Tell them that another attack could come that way at any time - which is no less than the truth. Drill them, maintain their fighting edge. I'll come down as soon as I can and talk to them.»

«That will leave you without a personal force in Amber.»

«True. It may prove a useful risk, though, both as a demonstration of confidence and a gesture of consideration. Yes, I think it will turn out to be a good move. If not…» I shrugged.

I poured and tossed another empty into my tomb.

«By the way,» I said, «I'm sorry.»

«What for?»