Date: Sat, 23 Apr 1994 07:38:27 -0500 (GMT-0500)
From: Wendi Strang-Frost <sodapop@mpcc.org>
Subject: Archimedes XIII
To: "jason's amber campaign" <shadows@umich.edu>
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9404230750.A12986-0100000@mpcc.org>
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Archimedes XIII

	Random comes into the infirmary and says Julian is in trouble.  He
asks if I find myself in a position to fight.  I tell him that I do.  He
produces my sword and I run to fetch some armor.  We meet Julian with the
household guard and begin to get pounded.  We do the only thing we can,
start a fighting retreat.
	A bird lands on my shoulder in the midst of battle.  There is a
message tied to its leg bearing Caine's seal.  I lay about me until I have
the space I need to read it.  Caine wants us to retreat following a thirty
degree arc.  We do so. The following catapult fire proves to be an
advantage.
	Benedict charges in with a third of his army.  Caine continues the
catapult support and our lot continues to improve for a time, but time
takes on a surreal quality in the midst of death and destruction.  Soon
Julian, my father, and myself are the only ones left.  To my horror, I
find myself to be better than they, until fatigue startes taking it's
toll.  That's information I never wished to know.  It makes too much of a
sad comment on my life.
	Chaos eventually retreats for the night leaving us exhausted but
otherwise intact.  The armies of Amber have not faired as well.  Benedict
calls a staff meeting and casualty lists are reported off.  The Chaosites
appear to be using poisoned blades.  Benedict discusses his plans for the
next day.  He gives me a larger battalion to command for the morrow.  I'm
to be the front line when the fighting starts.  I introduce myself to the
troops.  Apparently our doggedness of the day has gotten around.  Moral is
high.  Good.  I'm not a good speach-maker.
	Benedict calls another meeting in the morning.  A full five
thousand men are in my command when the fighting begins.  Caine continues
to support us with catapult fire from the sea.  There are skirmishes
behind the lines, so I assume Corwin and Laughter were successful from the
night before.  My men are holding their own.  We've already gone through
one Captain and his replacement flies the standard of Hendrake, I believe. 
He seems intent on gaining my attention. Feeling generous, I grant him an
audience.  He's good.  This won't be simple. I'll have to pit my knowledge
against his speed.  That, and he adapts to foul play.  What a
disappointing feature in a Hendrake.
	He draws first blood.  I find a seem in his armor shortly
thereafter.  He finally gives me the opening I've been looking for.  I
slice his saddle belt out from under him, but the fucker doesn't fall.  I
encourage him with a spiked buckler to the face.  He goes down and I put
my horse over him.  I loose the horse on the second pass, but he never
recovers and dies shortly after.  I reassume my command using his horse.
	The addition of Jubal, Laughter, and Caine's men seem to tip the
balance toward our favor.  The Chaosites begin a hard retreat.  I retrieve
the standard of the fallen Hendrake.  I still have it when Benedict holds
sway over dinner.  It catches Caine's attention.  He informs me that I've
killed Hendrake's eldest son, Lionel.  There'll be hell to pay for that.
	Corwin offers me a drink.  Apparently he's tangled with this
branch of the Hendrake family once before.  I almost accept it.  Benedict
commends my performance after dinner.  I suddenly find it sad that I've
always craved his favor and approval over that of my own father's.  Where
is Random anyway?  I head to my room, where I remove the trappings of war
and sink into blissful unconsciousness, until midnight when I, and most of
the rest of the family, find ourselves on the battlements facing thirty or
so Chaosites who hold my father hostage, a knife at his throat.  This
time, battle makes me nauseous and I hear the voice's of hundreds crying.
	Tianen wants me to abdicate the throne.  Random's eyes say he'd
fuck them all, if he could.  The Jewel is nowhere to be seen.  All eyes
appear to be on me.  I bring Benedict over with a look, desperate for any
council he can give.  He doesn't have the magical solution I was looking
for.  Corwin next.  He offers ifs and maybes.  I set him to what I believe
to be the least dangerous of them to Random.  He uses the Jewel to
increase the cover of darkness, something Benedict might find useful. 
Jubal then.  Is there anything he can do?  He says no, but the fact that
Random survives the first cut denies that.  Tianen doesn't afford Corwin
the time he needs, but he achieves some small effect in obscuring the
lighting.  I hope it's enough for Benedict.  Tianen produces a scroll that
wants my signature.  I tell a guard to be off for the seals and not to be
quick about it.  Tianen provides the pen.  Jubal has disappeared, up to no
good I hope.  The guard returns with a Hendrake escort.  Damn.  I'm
running out of time.  Tianen won't let me near the battlements either.  I
draw out the sealing process for as long as the Hendrake lets me.  Tired
of his help I retreat to my family and use Cameron for a desk.  I hear
Benedict whisper through Trump to go ahead and sign the scroll, everying
will be all right.  Benedict disappeared a small space ago.  I hope I've
given him enough time.  Tianen's demands for the scroll let me know I'm
out of it, even though Sandr did his best to incite her. I hope this
works.
	The scroll turns over and over in the air as I race for Random.
	Blood everywhere, but not as much as there could have been.  I
guess the Chaosites didn't factor vast stupidity on our part into their
game plan.  I clasp my hands around Random's throat, granting a sick wish
from my childhood. I tell him that Vaille would be desperately
disappointed in him if he were to die.  He concurs and knows that when I
say Vaille I mean myself.  Gerard is there and my blood is soon flowing
into Random.  Take all you need Dad, just live.
	I notice a commotion on the battlements.  The family has moved in
around us.  A warrior is wearing the Jewel and Benedict has gone three
shades pale.  He says something about, "With this scroll I shall now rule
Amber!"  The back of my mind informs me that the whisper I heard earlier
most likely came from him.  Is this all a bluff and is he really on our
side?  If not, I hope he won't be too terribly disappointed when he finds
my name in the blank space.