The Hand Of Oberon

«Only that Benedict had had a vistor named Martin, whom she thought was from Amber,» I lied.

«When?»

«Some while back. I'm not sure.»

«Why didn't you tell me this before?»

«It is not really very much - and besides, you had never seemed especially interested in Martin.»

Random shifted his gaze to the griffin, crouched and gurgling on my right, then nodded.

«I am now,» he said. «Things change. If he is still alive, I would like to get to know him. If he is not…»

«Okay,» I said. «The best way to be about either one is to start figuring a way to get home. I believe we have seen what we were supposed to see and I would like to clear out.»

«I was thinking about that,» he said, «and it occurred to me that we could probably use this Pattern for that purpose. Just head out to the center and transfer back.»

«Going in along the dark area?» I asked.

«Why not? Ganelon has already tried it and he's okay.»

«A moment,» said Ganelon. «I did not say that it was easy, and I am positive you could not get the horses to go that route.»

«What do you mean?» I said.

«Do you remember that place where we crossed the black road - back when we were fleeing Avalon?»

«Of course.»

«Well, the sensations I experienced in retrieving the card and the dagger were not unlike the upset that came over us at that time. It is one of the reasons I was running so fast. I would favor trying the Trumps again first, under the theory that this point is congruent with Amber.»

I nodded.

«All right. We might as well try making it as easy as we can. Let's collect the horses first.»

We did this, learning the length of the griffin's leash while we were about it. He was drawn up short about thirty meters from the cave mouth, and immediately set up a bieating complaint. This did not make the job of pacifying the horses any easier, but it did give rise to a peculiar notion which I decided to keep to myself.

Once we had things under control. Random located his Trumps and I brought out my own.

«Let's try for Benedict,» he said.

«All right. Any time now.»

I noticed immediately that the cards felt cold again, a good sign. I shuffled out Benedict's and began the preliminaries. Beside me, Random did the same. Contact came almost at once.

«What is the occasion?» Benedict asked, his eyes moving over Random, Ganelon, and the horses, then meeting with my own.

«Will you bring us through?» I said.

«Horses, too?»

«The works.»

«Come ahead.»

He extended his hand and I touched it. We all moved toward him. Moments later, we stood with him in a high, rocky place, a chill wind ruffling our garments, the sun of Amber past midday in a sky full of clouds. Benedict wore a stiff leather jacket and buckskin leggings. His shirt was a faded yellow. An orange cloak concealed the stump of his right arm. He tightened his long jaw and peered down at me.

«Interesting spot you hie from,» he said. «I glimpsed something of the background.»

I nodded.

«Interesting view from this height, also,» I said, noting the spyglass at his belt at the same time that I realized we stood on the wide ledge of rock from which Eric had commanded battle on the day of his death and my return. I moved to regard the dark swath through Garnath, far below and stretching off to the horizon.

«Yes,» he said. «The black road appears to have stabilized its boundaries at most points. At a few others though, it is still widening. It is almost as if it is nearing a final conformity with some - pattern… Now tell me, from what point have you journeyed?»

«I spent last night in Tir-na Nog'th,» I said, «and this morning we went astray in crossing Kolvir.»

«Not an easy thing to do,» he said. «Getting lost on your own mountain. You keep heading east, you know. That is the direction from which the sun has been known to take its course.»

I felt my face flush.

«There was an accident,» I said, looking away. «We lost a horse.»

«What sort of accident?»

«A serious one - for the horse.»

«Benedict,» said Random, suddenly looking up from what I realized to be the pierced Trump, «what can you tell me concerning my son Martin?»

Benedict studied him for several moments before he spoke. Then, «Why the sudden interest?» he asked.

«Because I have reason to believe he may be dead,» he said. «If that is the case, I want to avenge it. If it is not the case - well, the thought that it might be has caused me some upset. If he is still living, I would like to meet him and talk with him.»

«What makes you think he might be dead?»

Random glanced at me. I nodded.

«Start with breakfast,» I said.

«While he is doing that, I'll find us lunch,» said Ganelon, rummaging in one of the bags.

«The unicorn showed us the way…» Random began.

CHAPTER 3

We sat in silence. Random had finished speaking and Benedict was staring skyward over Gamath. His face betrayed nothing. I had long ago learned to respect his silence.

At length, he nodded, once, sharply, and turned to regard Random.