Sign of the Unicorn

«I hope so,» she said. «Now you can talk about me.»

She winked and went out.

I turned back, saw that Benedict and Llewella were approaching.

«Turning in?» I asked.

Benedict nodded.

«Might as well,» Llewella said, and she kissed me on the cheek.

«What was that for?»

«A number of things,» she said. «Good night.»

«Good night.»

Random was crouched on the hearth, poking at the fire. Deirdre turned to him and said, «Don't throw on more wood just for us. Flora and I are going too.»

«Okay.» He set the poker aside and rose. «Sleep well,» he called after them.

Deirdre gave me a sleepy smile and Flora a nervous one. I added my good nights and watched them leave.

«Learn anything new and useful?» Random asked.

I shrugged.

«Did you?»

«Opinions, conjectures. No new facts,» he said. «We were trying to decide who might be next on the list.»

«And…?»

«Benedict thinks it's a toss-up. You or him. Providing you are not behind it all, of course. He also thinks your buddy Ganelon ought to watch his step.»

«Ganelon… Yes, that's a thought - and it should have been mine. I think he is right about the toss-up, too. It may even be slightly weighted against him, since they know I'm alert because of the attempted frameup.»

«I would say that all of us are now aware that Benedict is alert himself. He managed to mention his opinion to everyone. I believe that he would welcome an attempt.»

I chuckled.

«That balances the coin again. I guess it is a toss-up.»

«He said that, too. Naturally, he knew I would tell you.»

«Naturally, I wish he would start talking to me again. Well… not much I can do about it now,» I said. «The hell with everything. I'm going to bed.»

He nodded.

«Look under it first.»

We left the room, headed up the hall.

«Corwin, I wish you'd had the foresight to bring some coffee back with you, along with the guns,» he said. «I could use a cup.»

«Doesn't it keep you awake?»

«No. I like a couple of cups in the evening.»

«I miss it mornings. We'll have to import some when this mess is all settled.»

«Small comfort, but a good idea. What got into Fi, anyhow?»

«She thinks Julian is our man.»

«She may be right.»

«What about Caine?»

«Supposing it was not a single individual,» he said as we mounted the stair. «Say it was two, like Julian and Caine. They finally had a falling out, Caine lost, Julian disposed of him and used the death, to weaken your position as well. Former friends make the worst enemies.»

«It's no use,» I said. «I get dizzy when I start sorting the possibilities. We are either going to have to wait for something more to happen, or make something happen. Probably the latter. But not tonight-»

«Hey! Wait up!»

«Sorry.» I paused at the landing. «Don't know what got into me. Finishing spurt, I guess.»

«Nervous energy,» he said, coming abreast of me once more. We continued on up, and I made an effort to match his pace, fighting down a desire to hurry.

«Well, sleep well,» he said finally.

«Good night. Random.»

He continued on up the stair and I headed off along the corridor toward my quarters. I was feeling jittery by then, which must be why I dropped my key.

I reached and plucked it out of the air before it had fallen very far. Simultaneously, I was struck by the impression that its motion was somewhat slower than it should have been. I inserted it in the lock and turned it.

The room was dark, but I decided against lighting a candle or an oil lamp. I had gotten used to the dark a long time ago. I locked and bolted the door. My eyes were already half adjusted to the gloom, from the dim hallway. I turned. There was some starlight leaking in about the drapes, too. I crossed the room, unfastening my collar.

He was waiting in my bed chamber, to the left of the entrance. He was perfectly positioned and he did nothing to give himself away. I walked right into it. He had the ideal station, he held the dagger ready, he had the element of total surprise going for him. By rights I should have died - not in my bed, but just there at its foot.

I caught a glimpse of the movement, realized the presence and its significance as I stepped over the threshold.

I knew that it was too late to avoid the thrust even as I raised my arm to try to block it. But one peculiarity struck me before the blade itself did: my assailant seemed to be moving too slowly. Quick, with all the tension of his wait behind it, that is how it should have been. I should never have known it was occurring until after the act, if then. I should not have had time to turn partway and swing my arm as far as I did. A ruddy haze filled my vision and I felt my forearm strike the side of the outflung arm at about the same moment as the steel touched my belly and bit. Within the redness there seemed a faint tracing of that cosmic version of the Pattern I had followed earlier in the day. As I doubled and fell, unable to think but still for a moment conscious, it came clearer, came nearer, the design. I wanted to flee, but horse my body stumbled. I was thrown.

CHAPTER 8