Aylwin’s Diary part 16: The Return of the King

In The Doom that Came to Amber

4th Snake 3658

A night of bad dreams, faces in the sky, Oberon and “N”, becoming Alaric, fingers of fog following me; I cannot run, my foot is gripped in something’s jaws; I pull free, I think that my foot stays behind but still I run; every alleyway I turn down is blocked; something behind me is chittering in the fog, it is coming closer, I am trapped…

…the servant’s knocking awakes me. Somehow I do not feel rested by the nights sleep! Breakfast is in just 15 minutes. My foot is worse, suppurating and extruding spurs of bone, the pain is worse than ever.

Breakfast: Random, Julian, Flora, Gerard, Llewella, Asmark, Bathsheba, Peter. Random lays out the whole situation and warns me that I should be very wary of using my magic since, as art, it may be influenced by Mira. Gerard reckons that Martin is also poised for an invasion and is responsible for the strange fog that is hanging over the docks.

People have been seeing ghosts, Brand is hanging around in the void holding Deirdre and Sarah (Corwin’s daughter), or what is left of them, in some sort of bubble. Oberon has been seen too, advising people to read the writings of Roger-the-gaoler, I'd be happy to do this but cannot manage the steps.

Random plans to start by raising a wind to blow the fog away and the fleet in. I agree that this is good because I have been dreaming that it was closing in. The Elders seem to find this statement really frightening, which frightens me more than the nightmare.

Then Llewella, by Trump, dramatically produces her daughter Terisa (she had kept that quiet) and after introductions all around she explains that Deep Ones are moving in Rebma, apparently in alliance with Martin (bloody fool). Llewella confirms that, using the Pearl of Wisdom, Martin has control over sea-based weather, such as sea fog.

Bathsheba is to return to the docks and to hold them if possible, evacuate them if not. Terisa apparently has magic based on mirrors and can devise a way to bring supplies through to the castle so we can at least keep our troops supplied.

Assessment of current troops 400 Rangers + 50 walking wounded, 300 Palace guard + 100 walking wounded, 200 marines spared from the ships (more if we are prepared to lose ships), 150 Garnath Light Horse, 6-700 reliable noble retinue, barely 40 militia. Also an unknown number guarding the gate. 2000 more Rangers should arrive today.

Random then queries my meeting with “N” and I explain what was discussed and how we got the tarot deck. If Alaric contacts me I am to try and get the cards back. If I can get him to come through then Random promises to spare his life, but not necessarily his health, as to stop his escape he would have to be fastened to something he cannot Trump away with, probably the bedrock under the castle!

I am ordered to sick bay to have my leg examined by Gerard.

Whilst I am hobbling to the sick bay, Alaric does indeed contact me – alone and barely able to walk is hardly the best time to try and deal with him. He breaks contact and says to call him back. Julian arrives and I explain what happened but neither of us can contact Alaric, the Trumps still do not work for me. So we continue on our way.

I tell Julian that among the ships standing off the port is one carrying the artificial legs I ordered for Gerard; just as I am saying it, Gerard arrives, well so much for the surprise.

Gerard examines the foot, the spurs are actually part of my own bones. Whilst the flesh around them is inflamed they do not actually hurt. He needs mother to take a look at them and will not operate or amputate until she has done so.

Since I cannot move far, or Trump, probably shouldn’t cast spells and could not walk the Pattern, I am assigned to try the remnants of Deidre’s faction. (It could really ruin their day if I pointed out that they had just become traitors out of loyalty to a fake.)

Gerard contacts Bathsheba for me and we agree to appoint Bill Roth as Acting Assistant Deputy Marshal so that he can try the cases with me. (Why does he want a badge to be Deputy Marshal and finds it funny?)

The accused are Zebediah Viscount Khem, Jaime Viscount Mortimer, Geoffrey Lord Mercer and Toliman Lord Taranis.

At noon, when I have just started to wade through the paper work, a message goes around to warn everyone to be alert as Alaric just tried to mentally mug Flora; he is that desperate to get into the castle.

Then a message arrives from Khitan on the tower, which has been via Bathsheba and Gerard, to say that a small battle is taking place on the North Road. From the description, it sounds like our reinforcements had been done over. The message also advises that the fog has been raised by the Rebman priests and can be cleared with Pattern.

Khitan wants to have another go at fixing my leg. I think he had better leave well alone but if he wants to heal anyone then he should help Danesh because the poor sod will die in a few hours.

We go to see Danesh and the repair is made to the burst blood vessel. Watching carefully through Pattern I can see that a tiny fragment of Khitan’s essence has been left behind, forming a sort of suture. I will have to keep a careful eye on that but it looks as though Danesh will live.

Once I have finished the paper-pushing for the forthcoming trial I retreat to the library and start studying the reference works on sorcery and the potential ‘schools’ that I might study, something basic and elemental I think. Terisa comes in and we discuss sorcery and Trump had just said that she would “show me hers tomorrow” and I am just about to make a witty response when Alaric makes contact again.

In a short conversation Alaric implies that he no longer has the Tarot. He says he wants to pass Paulo through, the man is apparently unwell and needs some sort of a rest, but almost at once Alaric changes his mind and says that he will be back in touch. I report the conversation to the King who says that he will station a half-dozen guards near my room. I send a note to Terisa to say sorry for having to end the conversation so abruptly.