Nine Princes in Amber Read online

  "What are you doing now?" I ventured.

  "Now that I've got the sky, I'm going to try for the terrain," he said.

  And the rock sheet became rocks, as we drove along. There was bare, black earth between, After a while, there was more earth and fewer rocks. Finally, I saw splotches of green. First a bit of grass here and there. But it was a

  very, very bright green, of a kind like yet unlike that common on Earth as I knew it

  Soon there was much of it.

  After a time there were trees, spotted occasionally along our way.

  Then there was a forest

  And what a forest!

  I had never seen trees such as this, mighty and majestic, of a deep, rich green, slightly tinged with gold. They towered, they soared. They were enormous pines, oaks, maples, and many others which I could not distinguish. Through them crept a breeze of fantastic and lovely fragrance, when I cracked the window a bit. I decided to open it all the way and leave it like that after I'd had a few whiffs.

  "The Forest of Arden," said the man who was my brother. and I knew he was right, and somehow I both loved and envied him for his wisdom, his knowledge.

  "Brother," said I, "you're doing all right. Better than I'd expected. Thank you."

  This seemed to take him somewhat aback. It was as if he'd never received a good word from a relative before.

  "I'm doing my best," he said, "and I'll do it all the way, I promise. Look at it! We've got the sky, and we've got the forest! It's almost too good to be true! We've passed the halfway point, and nothing's bugged us especially. I think we're very fortunate. Will you give me a Regency?"

  "Yes." I said, not knowing what it meant, but willing to grant it. if it lay within my powers.

  He nodded then and said, "You're okay."

  He was a homicidal little fink, who I recalled had always been sort of a rebel. Our parents had tried to discipline him in the past, I knew, never very successfully. And I realized. with that, that we had shared common parents, which I suddenly knew was not the case with me and Eric, me and Flora, me and Caine and Bleys and Fiona. And probably others, but these I'd recalled, I knew for sure.

  We were driving on a bare, dirt roadway through a cathedral of enormous trees. It seemed to go on forever and ever. I felt safe in the place. Occasionally, startled a deer, surprised a fox crossing or standing near the road. In places, the way was marked with hoofprints. The sunlight was sometimes filtered through leaves, angling like tight golden strings on some Hindu musical instrument. The breeze was moist and spoke of living things. It came to me that I knew this place, that I had ridden this road often in the past. I had ridden through the Forest of Arden on horseback, walked through it, hunted in it. lay on MV back beneath some of those great boughs, my arms beneath my head, staring upward. I had climbed among the branches of some of those giants and looked down upon a green world, constantly shifting.

  "I love this place." I said, only half realizing I had said it aloud. and Random replied. "You always did." and there might have been a trace of amusement in his voice. I couldn't be sure.

  Then off in the distance I heard a note which I knew to be the voice of a hunting born.

  "Drive faster," said Random suddenly. "That sounds to be Julian's horn"

  I obeyed.

  The horn sounded again, nearer.

  "Those damn hounds of his will tear this car to pieces, and his birds will feed on our eyes!" he said. "I'd hate to meet him when he's this well prepared. Whatever he hunts, I know he'd willingly relinquish it for quarry such

  as two of his brothers."

  "'Live and let live' is my philosophy these days," I remarked.

  Random chuckled.

  "What a quaint notion. I'll bet it will last all of five minutes."

  Then the horn sounded again, even nearer, and he remarked, "Damn!"

  The speedometer said seventy-five, in quaint, runic numerals, and I was afraid to go any faster on that road,

  And the horn sounded again, much nearer now, three long notes, and I could hear the baying of hounds, off to

  the left.

  "We are now very near to the real Earth, though still far from Amber," said my brother. "It will be futile to run

  through adjacent Shadows, for if it is truly us that he follows. he will pursue us. Or his shadow will."

  "What shall we do!"

  "Speed. and hope it is not us that be follows."

  And the horn sounded once again, almost next to us this time.

  "What the hell is be riding, a locomotive?" I asked.

  "I'd say he is riding the mighty Morgenstern, the fastest horse he has ever created."

  I let that last word roll around in my head for a while, wondering at it and wondering at it. Yes, it was true, some

  inner voice told me. He did create Morgenstern, out of Shadows, fusing into the beast the strength and speed of a hurricane and a pile driver.

  I remembered that I had call to fear that animal, and then I saw him.

  Morgenstern was six hands higher than any other horse I'd ever seen. and his eyes were the dead color of a

  Weimaraner dog's and his coat was a light gray and his hooves looked like polished steel. He raced along like the wind, pacing the car, and Julian was crouched in his saddle-the Julian of the playing card, long black hair and bright blue eyes. and he had on his scaled white armor.

  Julian smiled at us and waved, and Morgenstern tossed his head and his magnificent mane rippled in the wind,

  like a flag. His legs were a blur.

  I recalled that Julian had once had a man wear my castoff garments and torment the beast. This was why it

  had tried to trample me on the day of a hunt, when I'd dismounted to skin a buck before it.

  I'd rolled the window shut once more. so I didn't think it could tell by scent that I was inside the car. But Julian

  had spotted me, and I thought I knew what that meant. All about him ran the Storm Hounds, with their tough, tough bodies and their teeth like steel. They too had come Out of Shadow, for no normal dog could run like that. But I knew, for a certainty, that the word "normal" did not really apply to anything in this place.

  Julian signaled us to stop then, and I glanced at Random and he nodded. "If we don't, he'll just run us down," he said. So I hit the brakes, slowed, stopped.

  Morgenstern reared, pawed the air, struck the earth with all four hooves and cantered over. The dogs milled about, their tongues hanging out, their sides heaving. The horse was covered with a glistening sheen that I knew to he perspiration.

  "What a surprise!" said Julian, in his slow, almost impeded way of speaking and a great hawk that was black and green circled and settled upon his left shoulder.

  "Yes. isn't it," I replied. "How have you been?"

  "Oh, capital," he decided, "as always. What of yourself and brother Random?"

  "I'm in good shape," I said, and Random nodded and remarked, "I thought you'd be indulging in other sports at a time like this."

  Julian tipped his head and regarded him crookedly, through the windshield.

  "I enjoy slaughtering beasts," he said, "and I think of my relatives constantly."

  A slight coldness worked its way down my back.

  "I was distracted from my hunt by the sound of your motor vehicle," he said. "At the time, I did not expect it

  to contain two such as you. I'd assume you are not simply riding for pleasure, but have a destination in mind, such

  as Amber. True?"

  "True," I agreed. "May I inquire why you are here, rather than there?"

  "Eric set me to watching this road," he replied, and my hand came to rest upon one of the pistols in my belt as he spoke. I had a feeling a bullet couldn't breach that armor. though. I considered shooting Morgenstern.

  "Well, brothers," he said, smiling, "I welcome you back and I wish you a good journey. I'll doubtless see you

  shortly in Amber. Good afternoon," and with that he turned and rode toward the woods. />
  "Let's get the hell out of here," said Random. "He's probably planning an ambush or a chase," and with this he drew a pistol from his belt and held it in his lap.

  I drove on at a decent speed.

  After about five minutes, when I was just beginning to breathe a bit easily, I heard the horn. I pushed down on the gas pedal. Knowing that he'd catch us anyhow, but trying to buy as much time and gain as much distance as I could. We skidded around corners and roared up hills and through dales. I almost hit a deer at one point, but we made it around the beast without cracking up or slowing.

  The horn sounded nearer now, and Random was muttering obscenities.

  I had the feeling that we still had quite a distance to go within the forest, and this didn't hearten me a bit.

  We hit one long straight stretch, where I was able to floor it for almost a minute. Julian's horn notes grew more distant at that time. But we then entered a section where the road wound and twisted and I had to slow down. He began to gain on us at once again.

  After about six minutes, he appeared in the rear-view mirror, thundering along the road, his pack all around him, baying and slavering.

  Random rolled down his window, and after a minute he leaned out and began to fire.

  "Damn that armor!" he said. "I'm sure I hit him twice and nothing's happened."

  "I hate the thought of killing that beast," I said, "but try for the horse."

  "I already have, several times," he said, tossing his empty pistol to the floor and drawing the other, "and either I'm a lousier shot than I thought, or it's true what they say: that it will take a silver bullet to kill Morgenstern."

  He picked off six of the dogs with his remaining rounds, but there were still about two dozen left.

  I passed him one of my pistols, and he accounted for five more of the beasts.

  "I'll save the last round," he said, "for Julian's head, if he gets close enough!"

  They were perhaps fifty feet behind me at that point, and gaining, so I slammed on the brakes. Some of the dogs couldn't halt in time, but Julian was suddenly gone and a dark shadow passed overhead.

  Morgenstern had leaped over the car. He wheeled then, and as horse and rider turned to face us I gunned the engine and the car sped forward.

  With a magnificent leap, Morgenstern got them out of the way. In the rear-view mirror, I saw two dogs drop a fender they'd torn loose and renew the pursuit. Some were lying in the road, and there were about fifteen or sixteen giving chase.

  "Good show," said Random, "but you're lucky they didn't go for the tires. They've probably never hunted a car before."

  I passed him my remaining pistol, and "Get more dogs," I said.

  He fired deliberately and with perfect accuracy, accounting for six.

  And Julian was beside the car now, a sword in his right hand.

  I blew the horn, hoping to spook Morgenstern, but it didn't work. I swerved toward them, but the horse danced away. Random crouched low in his seat and aimed past me. his right hand holding the pistol and resting upon his left forearm.

  "Don't fire yet," I said. "I'm going to try to take him."

  "You're crazy," he told me, as I hit the brakes again.

  He lowered his weapon, though.

  As soon as we came to a halt, I flung open my door and leaped out-barefooted yet! Damn it.

  I ducked beneath his blade, seized his arm, and hurled him from the saddle. He struck me one on the head with his mailed left fist, and there were Roman candles going off all around me and a terrible pain.

  He lay where he had fallen, being groggy, and there were dogs all around me, biting me, and Random kicking them. I snatched up Julian's blade from where it lay and touched his throat with its point.

  "Call them off!" I cried. "Or I'll nail you to the ground!"

  He screamed orders at the dogs and they drew back. Random was holding Morgenstern's bridle and struggling with the horse.

  "Now, dear brother, what do you have to say for yourself?" I asked.

  There was a cold blue fire within his eyes, and his face was without expression.

  "If you're going to kill me, be about it," he said.

  "In my own good time," I told him, somehow enjoying the sight of dirt on his impeccable armor. "In the meantime, what is your life worth to you?"

  "Anything I've got, of course."

  I stepped back.

  "Get up and get into the back seat of the car", I told him.

  He did this thing, and I took away his dagger before he got in. Random resumed his own seat, and kept his pistol with the single remaining round aimed at Julian's head.

  "Why not just kill him?" he asked.

  "I think he'll he useful," I said. "There is much that I wish to know. And there is still a long way to travel."

  I began to drive, I could see the dogs milling around. Morgenstern began cantering along after the car.

  "I'm afraid I won't be worth much to you as a prisoner," Julian observed. "Although you will torture me, I can only tell you what I know, and that isn't much."

  "Start with that then," I said.

  "Eric looks to have the strongest position," he told us, "having been right there in Amber when the whole thing broke loose. At least this is the way I saw it, so I offered him my support. Had it been one of you, I'd probably have done the same thing. Eric charged me with keeping guard in Arden, since it's one of the main routes. Gerard controls the southern seaways, and Caine is off in the northern waters."

  "What of Benedict?" Random asked.

  "I don't know. I haven't heard anything. He might be with Bleys. He might be off somewhere else in Shadow and not even have heard of this thing yet. He might even be dead. It's been years since we've heard from him."

  "How many men have you got in Arden," asked Random.

  "Over a thousand," he said. "Some are probably watching you right now."

  "And if they want you to go on living, that's all they'll do," said Random.

  "You are doubtless correct," he replied. "I have to admit, Corwin did a shrewd thing in taking me prisoner rather than killing me. You just might make it through the forest this way."

  "You're just saying that because you want to live," said Random.

  "Of course I want to live. May I?"

  "Why?"

  "In payment for the information I've given you."

  Random laughed.

  "You've given us very little, and I'm sure more can be torn from you. We'll see, as soon as we get a chance to stop. Eh, Corwin?"

  "We'll see," I said. "Where's Fiona?"

  "Somewhere to the south, I think," Julian replied.

  "How about Deirdre?"

  "I don't know."

  "Llewella?"

  "In Rebma."

  "Okay," I said, "I think you've told me everything you know."

  "I have."

  We drove on in silence, and finally the forest began to thin. I'd lost sight of Morgenstern long ago, though I sometimes saw Julian's falcon pacing us. The road took a turn upward, and we were heading toward a pass between two purple mountains. The gas tank was a little better than a quarter full. Within an hour, we were passing between high shoulders of stone.

  "This would be a good place to set up a road block," said Random.

  "That sounds likely," I said. "What about it, Julian?"

  He sighed.

  "Yes." he agreed, "you should be coming upon one very soon. You know how to get by it."

  We did. When we came to the gate, and the guard in green and brown leather, sword unsheathed, advanced upon us, I jerked my thumb toward the back seat and said, "Get the picture?"

  He did, and he recognized us, also.

  He hastened to raise the gate, and he saluted us as we passed by.

  There were two more gates before we made it through the pass, and somewhere along the way it appeared we had lost the hawk. We had gained several thousand feet in elevation now, and I braked the car on a road that crawled along the face of a cliff. To our right
hand, there was nothing other than a long way down.

  "Get out," I said. "You're going to take a walk."

  Julian paled.

  "I won't grovel," he said. "I won't beg you for my life." And he got out.

  "Hell," I said. "I haven't had a good grovel in weeks! Well . . . go stand by the edge there. A little closer please." And Random kept his pistol aimed at his head. "A while back." I told him, "you said that you would probably have supported anyone who occupied Eric's position."

  "That's right."

  "Look down."

  He did. It was along way.

  "Okay." I said, "remember that, should things undergo a sudden change. And remember who it was who gave you your life where another would have taken it.

  "Come on, Random. Let's get moving."

  We left him standing there, breathing heavily, his brows woven together.

  We reached the top and were almost out of gas. I put it in neutral, killed the engine, and began the long roll down.

  "I've been thinking," said Random; "you've lost none of your old guile. I'd probably have killed him, myself, for what he tried. But I think you did the right thing. I think he will throw us his support, if we can get an edge on Eric. In the meantime, of course, he'll report what happened to Eric."

  "Of course," I said.

  "And you have more reason to want him dead than any of us."

  I smiled.

  "Personal feelings don't make for good politics, legal decisions, or business deals."

  Random lit two cigarettes and handed me one.

  Staring downward through the smoke, I caught my first glimpse of that sea. Beneath the deep blue, almost night-time sky, with that golden sun hanging up there in it, the sea was so rich-thick as paint, textured like a piece of cloth, of royal blue, almost purple-that it troubled me to look upon it. I found myself speaking in a language that I hadn't realized I knew. I was reciting "The Ballad of the Water-Crossers," and Random listened until I had finished and asked me, "It has often been said that you composed that. Is it true?"

  "It's been so long," I told him, "that I don't really remember any more."

  And as the cliff curved further and further to the left, and as we swung downward across its face, heading toward a wooded valley, more and more of the sea came within our range of vision.