Chapter 7 Julian heads home after running the hounds. Shard is preparing to follow when he notices that the ground ahead seems disturbed. Shard dismounts and investigates. He finds that the sod is about two inches higher than the surrounding ground. He lifts up the sod and finds a something covered with a cloak underneath. He lifts the cloak off and finds a dead body with a cut throat. He starts to leave to get Julian, but Brand appears and cautions him not to do that. Shard asks what Brand expects him to about the body then. Brand tells him that the body belongs to Julian's brother, which makes Shard think that it's all the more important to tell Julian. Brand explains that Julian would feel obligated to attack the murderer, which would get him killed. He suggests telling Gerard instead. Shard agrees, and Brand offers to take him to Gerard. Shard takes Brand's hand and finds himself in the castle. Brand tells him where to find Gerard and disappears. Shard goes to the door and knocks. Gerard invites him to enter, then looks at Shard curiously, trying to identify him. Shard addresses him as Uncle Gerard and tells him that he is Julian's son. This gets a surprised look out of Gerard, who says that he did not know that Julian had a son. Shard explains about the body, which disturbs Gerard greatly. Gerard starts to say something and then freezes. Brand appears, removes the Jewel from Gerard's pocket, thanks Shard for his help, and vanishes. Ariana goes looking for Felix. She can't find him in his bedroom, the kitchen, the sitting room where she first arrived, or the stables, so she starts exploring the castle. She eventually comes across Gerard's room, and hears someone hyperventilating inside. She knocks on the door, which causes Shard to scream. Felix, waiting in the library for the others to return, hears the scream and goes to investigate. Ariana asks if Shard is all right. Shard opens the door just as Felix arrives. Eventually, they learn that Shard is Julian's son, and that Gerard is now doing an impression of a coat rack. Felix pushes Ariana out the door and tells her to get help from the third floor. Ariana starts knocking on doors, waking Ahab up. She fills Ahab in, and they go to the second floor. Ahab suggests splitting up, and knocks on Corwin's door, receiving no answer. Ariana knocks on Eric's door. When he answers she explains the situation to him and they hasten to Gerard's room. Felix asks Shard to explain how Gerard came to be in his present state, which Shard is happy to do. Eric, Ariana and Ahab arrive part way through. Felix asks Eric to trump Julian and confirm Shard's identity. Eric concentrates for a while and disappears. Felix threatens to hurt Shard if he was in any way responsible for Gerard's situation, and then storms out. Ahab relieves Shard of his whip. He trumps Eric and asks if he's been able to verify Shard's parentage. Eric confirms it and tells Ahab to let Shard go. Ahab tells Eric about Caine's body being found. Eric is upset to learn of this, but has no further orders. Heather wakes up in pain, to find that the room she trumped to has been trashed. She finds a lot of shredded paper and realizes that they are all that remains of all of her trump. She investigates the rest of the house and finds that it is equally trashed, and two of her servants are dead. She finds that her trump pictures are slashed, but there is an intact trump of Brand in one of the picture frames. She decides not to use it, in case it is really a trap left by Dworkin. She shifts to another shadow and finds some drawing supplies. She draws a trump of Fiona, figuring that if Dworkin managed to set a trap her outgoing trump calls, she wouldn't mind Fiona getting nailed, but gets no answer. She draws one of Bleys, with similar results. She then draws one of Ariana. Shard asks how to leave, so Ahab and Ariana find a guard to lead him out. Ariana suggests trumping Julian and going through to him. Shard doesn't want to do this, since Julian told him to stay away from Amber in the first place. She asks if he wants to stay in the Castle. He asks what there is to see in the Castle, to which Ahab and Ariana reply "The Pattern". He doesn't know what that is, so they explain it to him. Ahab makes a suggestive remark to Ariana, who offers to take him up on it. Ariana gets a trump call and answers it. Heather asks to be brought through. Ariana refuses until she knows why (not surprising, considering what tends to happen to people that Heather trumps). Heather says that she has important information to tell whoever has the Jewel. Ariana demands to know what it is. Heather refuses to say, so Ariana tells her to trump Eric and explain it to him. Heather says that she needs to come through to get her trump. Ariana asks what happened to the ones Heather had with her. Heather breaks the contact and decides to draw a trump of her room in Amber instead. Ariana tells Ahab about the conversation. Shard asks who Heather is, so he gets their biased view of her. Ahab decides to ransack Heather's room and look for her trump. Shard and Ariana accompany him. After 15 minutes of this, Heather trumps into the room. Ariana and Ahab trade insults with Heather, as Shard stands around looking confused. Eventually they leave Heather alone in her room. Ariana and Ahab spend the night together. Shard and Heather spend the night alone in their rooms. Felix gets drunk at Bloody Jack's, and spends the night in an alley. Ahab, Ariana, Benedict, Driscoll, Eris, Eric, Flora, Heather, Julian, Shard and Llewella are all at lunch. Llewella and Flora are amused by Ariana and Ahab's encounter. Ahab eventually asks Llewella if he can help her with anything. Llewella replies that she's not sure, looks at Ariana and asks "Can he?" The conversation degenerates somewhat from there. Both Driscoll and Shard are somewhat discomfited by the conversation. Ariana teases Shard about this, which irritates Julian. Ahab asks Driscoll if he has any skill in sorcery, but Driscoll does not. Eric, Julian and Benedict get up and leave. Ahab asks to talk with Julian, but Julian puts him off until later. Ten minutes after they leave, Bleys walks in and starts eating. Ahab asks him if he'd be able to help undo the spell that Brand cast on Gerard. Bleys asks why Brand did that in the first place, but Ahab pretends ignorance. Bleys thinks that such an action is out of character for Brand, but Ariana disagrees. Bleys is introduced to her. Driscoll leaves, looking somewhat leery of Bleys. Ariana finishes eating and then goes looking for Driscoll to ask him why he left. He explains that the people who he was forced to work for were fighting against the red-heads, and he's not sure how Bleys stands on the matter. Felix rides to his parents' summer estate and tells his mother the news. She immediately rides for Castle Amber. Felix brings Ariana's servants along, so he can return them to Ariana. Just as Ahab is getting ready to leave, Isabeux and Felix enter the dining hall. Ahab comforts Isabeux. Bleys leaves to remove the spell from Gerard, with Isabeux, Felix, Shard, Ahab and Heather coming along to watch. Bleys examines Gerard and proceeds to remove the spell. Gerard comes to his senses with a brief moment of confusion, then quickly checks his pocket. He is quite horrified to find it empty. Ahab tells Gerard that he was under a spell. Bleys trumps someone and lets them now that Gerard is awake and that he has some information to share. He finishes the conversation and heads off for the a meeting with Eric, Julian and Benedict. Everyone else tries to follow him. Bleys gets rid of Ahab by asking him for the book he removed from Brand's quarters. Ahab agrees to do so if he can be there for the information session. Bleys agrees, figuring that it will take Ahab a while to find the book. He tells Heather that he'll answer her questions later, hinting that she should go elsewhere. Next, he tells Felix to give Shard a tour of the Castle. Felix doesn't want to, but Bleys explains that Felix wouldn't understand what they will be talking about at the meeting anyway, so he reluctantly agrees to keep Shard busy. Both Ariana and Heather decide to go to the library, and arrive at the same time. Ariana starts looking for books on Amber, shadow and the Pattern. She notices that all of the books on shadow and Pattern are missing from the shelves. She also keeps an eye on Heather, who tries but fails to get out of Ariana's line of sight to draw some trumps. Ahab brings the book to the armory, arriving at the end of Bleys' speech. From the discussion that ensues afterwards, Ahab learns that Bleys suggested an assault on Chaos. It seems that he is already building an army for this purpose. Oberon interrupts the proceedings and says that the Jewel is of primary importance. Bleys looks somewhat alarmed to see Oberon. Everyone is very surprised to see Oberon alive. Oberon asks Ahab for the book, and Ahab gives it to him, asking that it be returned when Oberon is done. Oberon replies that he will if he is able. He starts giving orders to Benedict. First, he wants the Jewel back. Once that is accomplished, he wants send a large force to Chaos while he repairs the Pattern with the Jewel. He is somewhat cross with Eric and Gerard for losing the Jewel in the first place. Much to Eric's dismay, Oberon announces that he has chosen Corwin to succeed him. Felix makes sure that his mother is settled and then asks Shard what he wants to see. Shard mentions that Julian didn't want him to go near the Castle, but Felix points out that it's a bit late to worry about that now. He takes Shard on his tour. Ariana manages to find some books on Amber history, although the Book of the Unicorn is missing. She also finds a book on tattoos, which recommends using lasers to remove them. Heather puts a code in the book she is reading, replaces it on the shelf, and leaves. Ariana takes the book, Alice in Wonderland, and starts deciphering the code. After spending fifteen minutes on it, she decides to leave it for later. She takes the books she's found and decides to look for Ahab, since he had mentioned something about books being missing from the library the previous day. Heather draws a trump of Brand and contacts him. She asks him not to repair the Pattern, since Dworkin told her it will kill him. She argues that there are several others who are willing to make the attempt, and she'd rather see them die. Brand is not willing to allow this, since the others might fail. He thinks that Dworkin's claim may just be a scare tactic. Heather can't persuade him not to try, so she breaks the contact in anger. Ariana finds Ahab in the armory, along with Oberon, Benedict, Julian and Gerard. Ariana is confused by Oberon's presence and asks Ahab about it (after all, she was told that Oberon was dead). This attracts the attention of the elders in the room, and Ariana is introduced to Oberon. Ariana is upset to learn that Oberon has named Corwin as his heir. Oberon trumps and pulls through Corwin, Dierdre, Bleys and Fiona. He instructs Bleys and Fiona to get the Jewel back from Brand. He gives orders to the others and then leaves with Bleys and Fiona. As the others leave, Ahab asks Julian for a moment of his time. Julian agrees, and they go off for a moment. Ahab apologizes for his remarks of the other day and offers to let Julian beat him up if it will make things right between them. Julian is impressed by this, but does not immediately take him up on the offer. Ahab returns to the armory. Ariana learns from Ahab that Oberon thinks that he will die soon. She asks him why, and is told that Oberon is planning on using the Jewel to repair the Pattern, which he believes will kill him. Ariana mentions that perhaps that's what Brand has in mind. She tells Ahab what she learned about Brand and the Spikard. They are interrupted by an alarm. The alarm caused by another Chaos attack. The Chaos army makes the mistake of arriving near Corwin's forces, who open fire on them with their guns. Ariana, Ahab, Driscoll, Felix and Shard armor up and head out into the fight. The elders wade into the thick of it, with the younger group holding their own as well.. Heather trumps Mandor in an attempt to escape from Amber. She manages to get through to him, but he is rather preoccupied. She asks him to pull her through to him, but he says that unless it's a life or death situation, he wouldn't recommend it. It seems that Brand has fallen out of favor in Chaos. Heather asks for sanctuary at Mandor's Ways, which Mandor grants. Heather quickly draws herself a trump of the Ways and leaves. As the Chaos army is routed, Oberon sends all of Amber's armies, except for Corwin's, in pursuit of them. All of the elders go with the armies, except for Corwin, Gerard and Benedict. Oberon tells the cousins that they may stay in Amber or go to Chaos as they choose. Ahab, Ariana and Shard decide to go with Julian's troops. Felix and Driscoll decide to remain in Amber. Ariana offers her guards to Driscoll, to help protect Eris. Those departing for Chaos have a quick meal and put together some provisions. Oberon, Corwin and Benedict leave the Castle. Felix spots them heading for Tir-na Nog'th. He trumps Gerard to tell him about it. He also tells Gerard about seeing Brand in the Castle the previous night. Gerard is a little miffed at not being told about this sooner, but Felix points out that he never really had a chance to do so. Ahab, Ariana and Shard ride out. Ahab spots first Corwin, then Benedict heading up the stairs to Tir-na Nog'th, but says nothing. Felix notices that Corwin and Benedict don't leave Tir-na Nog'th until the sun rises the next morning, when they have to be trumped back to avoid falling to their deaths. That afternoon, Benedict and Corwin leave for Chaos, and Oberon goes down to the Pattern room. Two years pass in Amber. The raids on Amber stop two months after the departure of Amber's armies for Chaos. Heather reaches Mandor's Ways and recovers there. After some time passes, she trumps Mandor and asks how things are going. He says that things are not going well in Chaos. Heather offers her assistance. Mandor tells her that he thinks this is a really bad idea. Heather persists, but Mandor refuses to allow it, saying he wants her to remain neutral. Julian's army spends a few weeks resting at Ygg. Ariana finishes decoding the message that Heather left in the book. It reads 'Curiosity killed the cat'. Ahab and Ariana spend some time discussing philosophy with Ygg. They also learn that Battlestar, Shard's Hellhound, can talk. Julian's army continues on to Chaos. The journey takes four months. Eventually they arrive at the Abyss and engage in the final battle with Chaos. Ahab, Ariana and Shard all fight in the infantry. After the fight as been going on for a while, Ahab spots Corwin riding in, looking like shit. Ahab and Ariana start fighting their way towards Corwin. Corwin tells them that Brand has taken the Jewel again, and that it needs to be returned to Benedict. He says that Oberon was able to repair the Pattern, but there is an odd wave of nothingness that is heading towards Chaos, and without the Jewel it might destroy them when it arrives. Ariana starts looking around for Brand as she fights. Eventually, the Amber army begins to fall back, but then Bleys' army arrives and helps turn the tide. Ahab spots Dierdre tossing people into the Abyss. He moves towards her and asks her to move a little further away from the edge. Dierdre laughs at him and ignores his advice. Mandor trumps Heather and asks her to pull him through. He tells her that Chaos has been defeated, and their only hope is for a treaty. Heather trumps Brand, and is relieved to find that he's still alive. She asks what he's planning to do. He tells her that he hasn't decided what role he wants to play. Heather asks him to leave, since the fight is pretty much over, but Brand refuses to go. Heather does get him to maintain the contact with her, so she will be able to see what happens to him. Ariana spots Brand standing on a hill. She informs Ahab and Dierdre of this, and then starts fighting her way to Corwin. Once she reaches him, she points Brand out to Corwin as well. He picks up a crossbow and starts moving towards Brand. Ariana grabs a crossbow and follows. Ahab also picks up a crossbow and maneuvers around behind the hill. Brand sees Corwin approaching and asks if he's still upset about the horse. Corwin shoots at him but Brand shimmers and disappears. Ahab spots Brand as he reappears close by and asks him whose side he's on. Brand smiles maniacally and continues walking. Ahab interprets this to mean that Brand is not on his side and shoots him in the back from 100 yards away. Brand stumbles and then vanishes. He reappears behind Ahab and holds Werewindle to Ahab's throat. He tells Ahab that shooting him was rather rude. Ahab says that he's sorry he did it if Brand really is on Amber's side. Brand pulls the quarrel out and disappears. He reappears near Dierdre and stands there watching her. Ahab yells out a warning and starts riding towards Dierdre. As Dierdre turns, Brand disappears again. Dierdre asks why Ahab is yelling at her. Ahab tells her that Brand was paying a dangerous amount of attention to her and urges her to move further away from the Abyss. Dierdre decides that this is good advice and backs off from the edge. Brand reappears again and motions for Ahab to approach him. Ahab does so, but when he gets near Brand, he disappears and reappears near the Abyss. Dierdre, Ahab, Ariana and Shard approach him. He dangles the Jewel over the edge and tells everyone to back off. Ariana asks Brand to return her trump of Ahab. Brand laughs and tells her that he has already sold it to others. Dierdre gets quite angry upon hearing this and advances on Brand. She makes the mistake of looking Brand in the eyes, and he is able to mind control her. Dierdre starts slowly walking towards the edge. Ahab tries to move between Brand and Dierdre to break the contact. Brand orders Ahab to stop, threatening to send Dierdre over the edge if he does not comply. Ariana asks Brand why he's doing this to Dierdre, but Brand will only say that it's to prove a point. Suddenly, Brand seems distracted and releases his hold on Dierdre. Ahab immediately yells for her to move away from the edge, which she quickly does. Brand brings his hand back in so that the Jewel is no longer hanging over the Abyss, but he is still close enough that if anyone shoots him the impact will knock him over the edge. Ariana tries to sight along her crossbow at Brand, in case he should try to trump out, but Shard keeps pushing the crossbow down. That which distracted Brand is Heather, talking to him through the open trump contact. She begs Brand to come through to her, before the others can kill him. Brand mutters "I've lost, haven't I?", but is reluctant to leave. Ahab motions for Shard to use his whip to pull Brand back from the edge. Shard tries to do so, but his aim is slightly off, so the whip catches Brand around the ankles instead of the waist. Shard is able to pull Brand off of his feet (and also break the trump contact), but can't pull him far enough away from the edge. Brand manages to extend his hand over the Abyss again and threatens to drop it unless Shard releases him. Shard reluctantly complies. Heather trumps Brand again and continues trying to persuade him to leave. Ariana takes aim at Brand once more. Ahab trumps Corwin and asks if he is attuned to the Jewel. When Corwin says that he is, Ahab asks him to create a strong wind blowing in from the Abyss. Corwin answers that he could only do that if he had the Jewel in his possession. He then asks why Ahab wants him to do so. Ahab tells him what Brand is doing. Corwin asks to be brought through at once. Heather continues to plead with Brand. Finally, in desperation, she tells him that she doesn't want to lose her father so soon after finding him again. This manages to get through to Brand, and he softens somewhat. He agrees to come through and holds out his hand. It is obvious to everyone that he is preparing to be trumped out. Ariana looks to Corwin for instructions. Corwin orders her to shoot, which she does, hitting Brand in the chest. Ahab fires as well, and hits Brand in the throat. Brand is hit just as Heather grabs for his hand, and he staggers backwards out of her grasp. Just as Brand falls into Abyss, however, Shard lashes out with his whip and manages to catch one of Brand's ankles. Shard is able to brace himself so that he does not follow Brand over the edge, leaving Brand hanging rather precariously by his ankle. Ariana rushes to the edge and looks over, to find that Brand has somehow managed to hang onto the Jewel. He looks up at her, and holds out his hand, offering her the Jewel. She takes it and tells him that she is sorry it came to this, but she had no other choice. Before Brand can be pulled back up, Heather manages to contact Brand once more, and grabs onto the hand that he held out to Ariana. She pulls him through to Mandor's infirmary and has Mandor summoned. Unfortunately for Shard, he is dragged through as well. Mandor casts a suspended animation spell on Brand, much like the one that Brand cast on Gerard earlier, to keep him from dying until Mandor has the proper spells to heal him prepared. Both Ahab and Corwin grab Ariana, who is still teetering precariously on the edge. Ahab chides her for putting herself in such a dangerous position, since Brand could easily have pulled her into the Abyss. Ariana replies that the Jewel was too important to let fall if she could prevent it. She offers the Jewel to Corwin, since by Oberon's orders he is King now. Corwin accepts it rather reluctantly and says that he will hold it until it can be decided who should have possession of it. Both Ahab and Ariana are surprised to hear this, and Ariana asks why Corwin is giving up the throne, since he spent so much time fighting to obtain it. Corwin replies that he has seen many things on his journey to Chaos, some of which have caused him to doubt whether he really wants the crown. Ariana suggests that someone should trump Julian and tell him about Shard. Battlestar shows up at this moment and asks where his master is.