“Well, anything else I should know about Arkans?”
“Oh, there are lots of other things the Begmans don’t like about him, but that’s the big one—right when they thought they were making some headway on an issue that’s been a national pastime for generations. They’ve even gone to war over the matter in the past. Don’t doubt that that’s why they came rushing to town. Govern yourself accordingly.”
He raised his goblet and took a drink.
A little later Vialle said something to Llewella, rose to her feet, and announced that she had to see to something, that she’d be right back. Llewella started to get up also but Vialle put a hand on her shoulder, whispered something, and departed.
“Wonder what that could be?” Bill said.
“Don’t know,” I answered.
He smiled.
“Shall we speculate?”
“My mind’s on cruise control,” I told him.
Nayda gave me a long stare. I met it and shrugged.
Another little while, and plates were cleared and more were coming. Whatever it was looked good. Before I could find out for certain, though, a member of the general house staff entered and approached.
“Lord Merlin,” she said, “the queen would like to see you.”
I was on my feet immediately. “Where is she?”
“I’ll take you to her.”
I excused myself from my companions, borrowing the line that I’d be right back, wondering if it were true. I followed her out and around the corner to a small sitting room, where she left me with Vialle, who was seated in an uncomfortable-looking high-backed chair of dark wood and leather, held together with cast iron studs. If she’d wanted muscle, she’d have sent for Gerard. If she’d wanted a mind full of history and political connivance, Llewella would be here. So I was guessing it involved magic, since I was the authority in residence.
But I was wrong.
“I’d like to speak to you,” she said, “concerning a small state of war in which we seem about to become engaged.”
8
After a pleasant time with a pretty lady, a series of stimulating hallway conversations, and a relaxing dinner with family and friends, it seemed almost fitting that it be time for something different and distracting. The idea of a small war seemed, at least, better than a big one, though I did not say that to Vialle. A moment’s careful thought, and I shaped the query:
“What’s going on?”
“Dalt’s men are dug in near the western edge of Arden,” she said. “Julian’s are strung out facing them. Benedict has taken Julian additional men and weapons. He says he can execute a flanking movement that will take Dalt’s line apart. But I told him not to.”
“I don’t understand. Why not?”
“Men will die,” she said.
“That’s the way it is in war. Sometimes you have no choice.”
“But we do have a choice, of sorts,” she said, “one that I don’t understand. And I do want to understand it before I give an order that will result in numerous of deaths.”
“What is the choice?” I asked.
“I came here to respond to a Trump message from Julian,” she said. “He had just spoken with Dalt under a flag of truce. Dalt told him that his objective was not, at this time, the destruction of Amber. He pointed out that he could conduct an expensive attack, though, in terms of our manpower and equipment. He said he’d rather save himself and us the expense, however. What he really wants is for us to turn two prisoners over to him—Rinaldo and Jasra.”
“Huh?” I said. “Even if we wanted to, we can’t give him Luke. He’s not here.”
“That is what Julian told him. He seemed very surprised. For some reason, he believed we had Rinaldo in custody.”
“Well, we’re not obliged to provide the man with an education. I gather he’s bean something of a pain for years. I think Benedict has the right answer for him.”
“I did not call you in for advice,” she said.
“Sorry,” I told her. “It’s just that I don’t like seeing someone trying to pull a stunt like this and actually believe he has a chance of success.”
“He has no chance of success,” Vialle stated. “But if we kill him now, we learn nothing. I would like to find out what is behind this.”
“Have Benedict bring him in. I have spells that will open him up.”
She shook her head.
“Too risky,” she explained. “Once bullets start flying, there’s the chance one might find him. Then we lose even though we win.”
“I don’t understand what it is that you want of me.”
“He asked Julian to get in touch with us and relay his demand. He’s promised to hold the truce until we give him some sort of official answer. Julian says he has the impression that Dalt would settle for either one of them.”
“I don’t want to give him Jasra either.”
“Neither do I. What I do want very badly is to know what is going on. There would be small point in releasing Jasra and asking her, since this is a recent development. I want to know whether you have means of getting in touch with Rinaldo. I want to talk to him.”
“Well, uh . . . yes,” I said. “I have a Trump for him.”
“Use it.”
I got it out. I regarded it. I moved my mind into that special area of alertness and calling. The picture changed came alive. . . .
It was twilight, and Luke stood near a campfire. He had on his green outfit, a light brown cloak about his shoulders clasped with that Phoenix pin.
“Merle,” he said. “I can move the troops pretty fast. When do you want to hit the place and—”
“Put it on hold,” I interrupted. “This is something different.”
“What?”
“Dalt’s at the gates; and Vialle wants to talk to you before we take him apart.”
“Dalt? There? Amber?”
“Yes, yes, and yes. He says he’ll go and play someplace else if we give him the two things he wants most in the world: you and your mother.”
“That’s crazy.”
“Yeah. We think so, too. Will you talk to the queen about it?”
“Sure. Bring me thr—” He hesitated and looked into my eyes.
I smiled.
He extended his hand. I reached forward and took it. Suddenly, he was there. He looked about, saw Vialle. Immediately, he unclasped his sword belt and passed it to me. He approached her, dropped to his right knee, and lowered his head.
“Your Majesty,” he said. “I’ve come.”
She reached forward and touched him.
“Raise your head,” she said.
He did, and her sensitive fingers slid over the plane and arches of his face.
“Strength,” she said, “and sorrow. . . . So you’re Rinaldo. You’ve brought us some grief.”
“It works both ways, Your Majesty.”
“Yes, of course,” she replied. “Wrongs done and wrongs avenged have a way of spilling over on the innocent. How far will it go this time?”
“This thing with Dalt?” he asked.
“No. This thing with you.”
“Oh,” he said. “It’s over. I’ve done with it. No more bombs or ambushes. I’ve already told Merlin that.”
“You’ve known him for several years?”
“Yes.”
“You’ve become friends?”
“He’s one of the reasons I’m calling it off.”
“You must trust him, to come here. I respect that,” she said. “Take this.”
She removed a ring she wore upon her right forefinger. The band was of gold, the stone a milky green; the prongs of its setting caught it in a fashion to suggest some mantic spider guarding dreamland treasures against the daybreak world.
“Your Majesty. . . . ”
“Wear it,” she said.
“I will,” he replied, slipping it upon the little finger of his left hand. “Thank you.”
“Rise. I want you to know exactly what has occurred.”
>
He got to his feet, and she began telling him what she had told me, concerning Dalt’s arrival, his forces’ disposition, his demands, while I stood stunned at the implications of what she had done. She had just placed Luke under her protection. Everyone in Amber knew that ring. I wondered what Random would think. I realized then that there would not be a hearing. Poor Bill. I believe he was really looking forward to arguing Luke’s case.
“Yes, I know Dalt,” I heard him saying. “Once we shared . . . certain goals. But he’s changed. He tried to kill me the last time we met. I’m not sure why. At first I thought the wizard of the Keep had taken control of him.”
“And now?”
“Now, I just don’t understand. I’ve a feeling he’s on a leash, but I don’t know who holds it.”
“Why not the wizard?”
“It makes no sense to go to these lengths to claim me when he had me and let me go just a few days ago. He could simply have left me in my cell.”
“True,” she replied. “What is this wizard’s name?”
“Mask,” he answered. “Merlin knows more about him than I do.”
“Merlin,” she said. “Who is this Mask?”
“He’s the wizard who took the Keep of the Four Worlds away from Jasra,” I explained, “who, in turn, had taken it away from Shah Garrul, who is now also a coat-rack. Mask wears a blue mask and seems to draw power from a strange fountain in the citadel there. Doesn’t seem to like me much either. That’s about all I can tell you.”
I’d omitted mentioning my plan to head that way for a showdown soon, because of Jurt’s involvement, for the same reason I hadn’t wanted Random to know about it. I was certain Luke had tossed me the question because he wasn’t sure how far I wanted it taken.
“That doesn’t really tell us much,” she decided, “as to Dalt’s involvement.”
“There may not be a connection,” I said. “I gather Dalt is a mercenary, and their relationship could have been a one-time thing. He could either be working for someone else now or pulling something on his own.”
“I can’t see why anybody wants us badly enough to go to such dramatic lengths,” Luke said. “But I’ve a score to settle with that guy, and I’m going to combine business with pleasure.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“I assume there’s a way to get down there in a hurry,” he said.
“One could always trump through to Julian,” I said, “but what have you got in mind, Luke?”
“I want to talk to Dalt.”
“It’s too dangerous,” she said, “since you’re what he wants.”
Luke grinned. “It could be a bit dangerous for Dalt, too,” he replied.
“Wait a minute,” I said. “If you’ve got more in mind than just talking, you could blow this truce. Vialle’s trying to avoid a conflict here.”
“There won’t be any conflict,” Luke said. “Look, I’ve known Dalt since we were kids, and I think he’s bluffing. He does that sometimes. He hasn’t got the kind of force to risk another attack on Amber. Your guys would slaughter him. If he wants Mom or me, I think he’d be willing to tell me why, and that’s what we want to find out, isn’t it?”
“Well, yes,” I said. “But—”
“Let me go,” he said to Vialle, “and I’ll find a way to get him off your back. I promise.”
“You tempt me,” she told him. “But I don’t like your talk of settling accounts with him at this time. As Merlin said, I want to avoid this conflict—for more than one reason.”
“I promise not to let it go that far,” he stated. “I can read the dice. I’m good at playing things by ear. I’m willing to postpone gratification.”
“Merlin . . . ?” she said.
“He’s right, in that,” I answered. “He’s the deadliest salesman in the southwest.”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand the concept.”
“It’s a highly specialized art, back on that Shadow Earth we both inhabited. In fact, he’s using it on you right now.”
“Do you think he can do what he says?”
“I think he’s very good at getting what he wants.”
“Exactly,” Luke observed. “And since we both want the same thing here, I think the future looks bright for all of us.”
“I see what you mean,” she said. “How much danger would this put you near, Rinaldo?”
“I’ll be as safe as I am right here in Amber,” he said.
She smiled.
“All right, I’ll speak to Julian,” she agreed, “and you can go to him and see what you can learn from Dalt.”
“A moment,” I requested, “It’s been snowing on and off, and that’s a pretty nasty wind out there. Luke just came in from a more temperate clime, and it’s a pretty flimsy-looking cloak he has on. Let me get him something warmer. I’ve a nice heavy one he can take, if he finds it suitable.”
“Go ahead,” she said.
“We’ll be right back.”
She pursed her lips, then nodded.
I passed Luke his weapons belt and he buckled it on. I knew that she knew I just wanted to talk to him alone for a few minutes. And she was certainly aware that I knew it. And we both knew she trusted me, which brightens my existence, as well as complicating it.
As we passed along the hallway toward my rooms, I’d intended to fill Luke in concerning the upcoming coronation in Kashfa, as well as a few other matters. I waited, however, till we were well away firm the sitting room, because Vialle has inordinately acute hearing. This, though, gave Luke a foot in the door, and he began to speak first.
“What a strange, development,” he said. Then, “I like her, but I’ve a feeling she knows more than she’s telling.”
“Probably true,” I answered. “I guess we’re all like that.”
“You, too?”
“These days, yes. It’s gotten that way.”
“You know anything more about this situation that I should be aware of?”
I shook my head. “This is very new, and she gave you the whole story I know. Would you, perchance, know something about it that we don’t?”
“Nope,” he said. “It came as a surprise to me, too. But I’ve got to pursue it.”
“I guess so.”
We were nearing my stretch of corridor now, and I felt obliged to prepare him.
“We’ll be to my rooms in a minute,” I said, “and I just wanted you to know your mother’s in there. She’s safe, but you won’t find her too talkative.”
“I’m familiar with the results of that spell,” he said. “I also recall that you said you know how to lift it. So. That leads into the next topic. I’ve been thinking. This interlude is slowing us down a bit in our plan for going after Mask and your brother.”
“Not all that much,” I responded.
“We don’t really know how long this is going to take me, though,” he went on. “Supposing it drags out a bit? Or supposing something happens to really slow me down?”
I gave him a quick glance.
“Like, what have you got in mind?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I’m just supposing. Okay? I like to plan ahead. Say we get delayed on this attack. . . . ”
“All right. Say that,” I said, as we neared my door.
“What I’m getting at,” he continued, “is, what if we get there too late? Supposing we arrive and your brother has already undergone the ritual that turns him into hell on wheels?”
I unlocked my door, opened it, and held it for him. I did not like entertaining the possibility he had just described, because I recalled my father’s stories of the times he’d encountered Brand and faced that uncanny power.
Luke stepped inside. I snapped my fingers and a number of oil lamps came to life, their flames dancing for a moment before settling to a glowing steadiness.
Jasra was there in plain sight before him, holding a number of my garments on outstretched arms. I was concerned for a moment as to what his reaction might be.
He halted, studying her, then advanced, his speculations concerning Jurt forgotten. He regarded her for perhaps ten seconds, and I found myself growing uncomfortable. Then he chuckled.
“She always liked being decorative,” he said, “but to combine it with being useful was generally beyond her. You’ve got to hand it to Mask, even though she probably won’t catch the moral of it.”
He turned away and faced me.
“No, she’ll probably wake up mean as cat piss and looking for trouble,” he reflected. Then, “She doesn’t seem to be holding that cloak you mentioned.”
“I’ll get it.”
I moved to an armoire, opened it, and fetched out a dark fur one. As we traded, he ran his hand over it.
“Manticore?” he asked.
“Dire wolf,” I said.
I hung his within and closed the door while he donned mine.
“As I was saying when we came in here,” he offered, “supposing I don’t come back?”
“You weren’t saying that,” I corrected.
“Not in so many words,” he admitted. “But whether it’s a small delay or the big one, what difference does it make? The point is, what if Jurt goes through with the ritual and succeeds in obtaining the powers he’s after before we can do anything about it? And supposing I’m not around right then to give you a hand?”
“That’s a lot of supposing.” I said.
“That’s what separates us from the losers, man. Nice cloak.”
He moved toward the door, glanced back at me, at Jasra.
“Okay,” I said. “You go down there, Dalt cuts off your head and uses it for a football, then Jurt shows up ten feet tall and farting fire. I’m supposing. How does that separate us from the losers?”
He stepped out into the hall. I followed him, snapping my fingers again, leaving Jasra to the darkness.
“It’s a matter of knowing your options,” he told me, as I secured the door.
I fell into step beside him as he headed back down the hall.
“A person who acquires that kind of power also picks up a vulnerability, by way of its source,” he said.
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“Specifically, I don’t know,” he told me. “But the power in the Keep can be used against a person who is empowered by the Keep. I learned that much in Sharu’s notes. But Mom took them away before I read them all, and I never saw them again. Never trust—that’s her motto. I think.”
The Great Book of Amber - Chronicles 1-10 Page 140
