Aylwin’s Diary part 11: An Unwelcome Guest at the Funeral

In The Doom that Came to Amber

26^th Bull 3658

Hurry to breakfast, cram as much food as I can into a small loaf but do not have a chance to make a break for it before Julian asks me when I am going to Lion Abbey, he obviously feels that 28^th, right after the funeral is not soon enough. I have to attend the funeral and cannot be in two places at once. Khitan offers to accompany me to the abbey, though a little suspicious, I express gratitude.

Julian asks Asmark and me to attend him after breakfast, I suggest 10 o’clock and they agree.

So to Bill Roth; he has researched my queries of yesterday. Apart from being unable to makes changes in constitutional matters (for obvious reasons) the Regent has all the powers of the King and could, should he so desire, lift an anathema but there is no precedent for this.

We also discussed my plans for a gallery. His best suggestion is to use the old Littoral mansion, possibly owned by Asmark, as it will be comparatively cheap and quick. If the idea is a success then perhaps a purpose built gallery on a slum site.

As we finish he asks me to warn the Regent about the unrest caused by rumours of an abdication and of the factionalism among the nobility. Bill also asks if I have heard anything of Corwin? Apart from the faint signs of life in his trump, nothing.

9.30, I am aware I might not last the hour. To face danger I don my fighting kit; the weight of the mail is slight but seems to calm me, the appropriate outfit to risk life in! So to Julian’s office.

The meeting starts with a revelation, though not a total surprise, Peter is kin and has walked the Pattern. We are asked to be discrete about this. I am asked to take Asmark and Peter for a lesson in shadow walking. At least both of them have a good sense of the visual it will make them easy to teach.

After the others have gone I break the news to Julian of my pact with Mira. I request that anathema is lifted and he refuses. I also report Deirdre’s apparent support for the church of Mira. Julian hints that she and Alaric might not survive the experience. I plead for Alaric’s life, with great kindness the Regent will not give an answer; he does not want to deny two of my requests in one day!

Attend the tailor, final fitting for tomorrow. The purple robes fit over the mail, I am glad of that. Purple and red hardly my colours, the things we put up with for appearances.

Lunch, Lord Peter! Asmark, Alaric & others. Lunch is disturbed by a note from Morwaith to say that he is at the Temple of the Unicorn and that he is being declared a prophet and could do with help. Alaric says that Morwaith is the new Arch-Priest. I trump Morwaith, as usual having to push the matter (if his need for help was this great you would think that he would be more open!), and tell him the good news.

Take Peter and Asmark to Minjoninita, the quickest time flow I can trump and spend the afternoon teaching them shadow walking including a hell (or perhaps purgatory) walk. Asmark manages to get to the crystal trees, better than I thought he would do. Usual warnings against mind altering drugs and a description of how to fly through shadow.

An evening spent rehanging my spells to Amethyst.