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ct was both； and he was the best I had ever known。 The recent loss of his right arm had in no way diminished him in this； or for that matter impaired his personal fighting skills。 Had I not been very lucky recently he could easily have turned me into a pile of scallops over our misunderstanding。 No； I did not want it to be Benedict； and I was not about to grope after whatever he had at that moment seen fit to conceal。 I only hoped that he was just saving it for later。
So I settled for his； 〃That is all；〃 and decided to move on to other matters。
〃Flora；〃 I said； 〃back when I first visited you； after my accident； you said something which I still do not quite understand。 In that I had ample time relatively soon thereafter in which to review many things； I came across it in my memories and occasionally puzzled over it。 I still do not understand it。 So would you please tell me what you meant when you said that the shadows contained more horrors than any had thought？〃
〃Why； I do not properly recall saying it；〃 Flora said。 〃But I suppose that I must have； if it made such an impression。 You know the effect that I was referring to： that Amber seems to act as something of a magnet on adjacent shadows； drawing things across from them； the nearer you get to Amber the easier the road bees； even for shadow…things。 While there always seems to be some exchange of materials among adjacent shadows themselves； the effect is more forceful and also more of a one…way process when it es to Amber。 We have always been alert for peculiar things slipping through。 Well； for several years prior to your recovery； more such things than usual seemed to be showing up in the vicinity of Amber。 Dangerous things； almost invariably。 Many were recognizable creatures from nearby realms。 After a time； though； things kept ing in from farther and farther afield。 Eventually； some which were totally unknown made it through。 No reason could be found for this sudden transportation of menaces； although we sought fairly far for disturbances which might be driving them this way。 In other words； highly improbable penetrations of Shadow were occurring。〃
〃This actually began while Dad was still around？〃
〃Oh yes。 It started several years before your recovery … as I said。〃
〃I see。 Did anyone consider the possibility of there being a connection between this state of affairs and Dad's departure？〃
〃Certainly；〃 Benedict replied。 〃I still feel that that was the reason for it。 He went off to investigate； or to seek a remedy。〃
〃But that is purely conjecture；〃 Julian said。 〃You know how he was。 He gave no reasons。〃
Benedict shrugged。
〃It is a reasonable inference； though；〃 he said。 〃I understand that he had spoken of his concern over the … monster migrations； if you like … on numerous occasions。〃
I withdrew my cards from their case； having recently gotten into the habit of carrying a set of Trumps with me at all times。 I raised Gerard's Trump and regarded it。 The others were silent； watching me as I did this。 Moments later； there was contact。
Gerard was still seated in his chair； his blade across his knees。 He was still eating。 He swallowed when he felt my presence and said； 〃Yes； Corwin？ What do you want？〃
〃How is Brand？〃
〃Sleeping；〃 he said。 〃His pulse is a little stronger。 His breathing is the same … regular。 It's still too early …〃
〃I know；〃 I said。 〃I mainly wanted to check your recollection of something： Near the end there； did you get the impression from anything he might have said or done that Dad's going away might have been connected with the increased number of Shadow beings that were slipping through into Amber？〃
〃That；〃 said Julian； 〃is what is known as a leading question。〃
Gerard wiped his mouth。
〃There could have been a connection； yes；〃 he said。 〃He seemed disturbed； preoccupied with something。 And he did talk about the creatures。 But he never really said that that was his main concern … or whether it was something entirely different。〃
〃Like what？〃
He shook his head。
〃Anything。 I … yes。。。 yes； there is something you probably ought to know； for whatever it is worth。 Some time after his disappearance； I did make an effort to find out one thing。 That was； whether I was indeed the last person to see him before his departure。 I am fairly certain that I was。 I had been here in the palace all evening； and I was preparing to return to the flagship。 Dad had retired about an hour earlier； but I had stayed on in the guard room； playing draughts with Captain Thoben。 As we were sailing the following morning； I decided to take a book with me。 So I came up here to the library。 Dad was seated at the desk。〃 He gestured with his head。 〃He was going through some old books； and he had not yet changed his garments。 He nodded to me when I entered； and I told him I had just e up for a book。 He said； 'You've e to the right place；' and he kept on reading。 While I was looking over the shelves； he said something to the effect that he could not sleep。 I found a book； told him good night； he said； 'Good sailing；' and I left。〃 He lowered his eyes again。 〃Now I am positive he was wearing the Jewel of Judgment that night； that I saw it on him then as plainly as I see it on you now。 I am equally certain that he had not had it on earlier that evening。 For a long while after； I thought that he had taken it along with him； wherever he went。 There was no indication in his chambers that he had later changed his clothing。 I never saw the stone again until you and Bleys were defeated in your assault on Amber。 Then； Eric was wearing it。 When I questioned him he claimed that he had found it in Dad's chambers。 Lacking evidence to the contrary； I had to accept his story。 But I was never happy with it。 Your question … and seeing you wearing it … has brought it all back。 So I thought you had better know about it。〃
〃Thanks；〃 I said； and another question occurred to me but I decided against asking it at that moment。 For the benefit of the others； I closed off by saying； 〃So do you think he needs any more blankets？ Or anything else？〃
Gerard raised his glass to me； then took a drink。
〃Very good。 Keep up the good work；〃 I said； and I passed my hand over his card。
〃Brother Brand seems to be doing all right；〃 I said； 〃and Gerard does not recollect Dad's saying anything that would directly connect Shadow slippage and his departure。 I wonder how Brand will recall things； when he es around？〃
〃If he es around；〃 Julian said。
〃I think that he will；〃 I said。 〃We have all taken some pretty bad beatings。 Our vitality is one of the few things we have e to trust。 My guess is that he will be talking by morning。〃
〃What do you propose doing with the guilty party；〃 he asked； 〃if Brand names him？〃
〃Question him；〃 I said。
〃Then I would like to do the questioning。 I am beginning to feel that you may be right this time； Corwin； and that the person who stabbed him may also be responsible for our intermittent state of siege； for Dad's disappearance； and for Caine's killing。 So I would enjoy questioning him before we cut his throat； and I would like to volunteer for that last part also。〃
〃We will keep it in mind；〃 I said。
〃You are not excluded from the reckoning； Corwin。〃
〃I was aware of that。〃
〃I have something to say；〃 said Benedict； smothering a rejoinder from Julian。 〃I find myself troubled both by the strength and the apparent objective of the opposition。 I have encountered them now on several occasions； and they are out for blood。 Accepting for the moment your story of the girl Dara； Corwin； her final words do seem to sum up their attitude： 'Amber will be destroyed。' Not conquered； subjugated； or taught a lesson。 Destroyed。 Julian； you wouldn't mind ruling here； would you？〃 Julian smiled。
〃Perhaps next year this time；〃 he said。 〃Not today； thank you。〃
〃What I am getting at is that I could see you … or any of us … employing mercenaries or obtaining allies to effect a takeover。 I cannot see you employing a force so powerful that it would represent a grave problem itself afterward。 Not a force that seems bent on destruction rather than conquest。 I cannot see you； me； Corwin； the others as actually trying to destroy Amber； or willing to gamble w