Aylwin’s Diary part 17: The Prodigal Returns

In The Doom that Came to Amber

4^th Snake – evening

I settle down in the library to research new schools of sorcery and stay there till supper.

I hobble down to supper, the turn out is large, even Morwaith is there. He states that he has been looking for someone and something vitally important for gaining control of the Unicorn. The someone is Adam, apparently the god and first ancestor of mankind. The something is the true Eye of the Serpent.

When I say that I have a Trump of Adam he seems to think that I had been holding out on him, he is more than welcome to borrow it, he only had to say what he was doing. His plan is that Adam, using the Eye of the Serpent, can shoe the Unicorn.

The true Eye of the Serpent created, and is associated with, the Primal Pattern; the Jewel of Judgement with the Amber pattern, see also Pearl of Wisdom and Moonstone – makes you wonder about some of the crown jewels of the more distant shadow patterns.

Random is reaching the point of negotiation with Mira as, in the long term, Martin and the Mythos gribblies are a bigger threat to the actual existence of Amber. He assigns duty to all the family present. Morwaith and I are to try and contact Adam. Since I cannot go in person we are to leave bringing in troops from Minjoninita.

The meal ends with listing the enemies who might be out there, what they want and the threat this represents.

Mira - Wants to destroy the Unicorn

Oberon (or his ghost) - Wants to restrain the Unicorn and retain the status quo. Somebody suggested he might be involved with Zircon.

Clarissa - wants to conquer Amber

Martin and the Mythos - want the destruction of order.

Asmark comes to tell us that he has sensed something in Gerard’s old room. Morwaith goes to talk to Gerard while I, complete with entourage, go up to the room.

Just as I get there Alaric trumps me, he asks me to promise him life and safety in exchange for the Tarot. I say I cannot promise that he will be unharmed, but he passes me Paulo and then steps through. I don’t release his hand but grab him, he kicks out and my ankle shatters like glass. I hang on like grim death, and don’t feel much better. Alaric starts to concentrate; spell or exit, neither is good so I sink my teeth into his ear, which does distract him. My guards have by now reacted, they have drawn swords so I release the grip on his ear and scream at them not to kill him. He is grabbed firmly and pulled off me.

Morwaith and Asmark arrive to help and I am lifted on to the bed, the pain is so great that I am starting to lose track. Flora arrives, looks at my ankle and seems fit to faint. Julian arrives; I can feel his anger at once, there is even a shadow of it on his face and I tell him not to kill Alaric. He goes out of my sight and I think he hits Alaric hard. I am distracted from this because I have sat up and looked at my ankle; it is an obscene mass of bone fragments. It feels far worse than it looks. Julian is pale and grim, you would not have thought it possible in someone with his complexion and manner for this to show so much!

Mother is there, tanned and well, wearing a bikini; she holds me and gives me a slug of Gerard’s best rum. There are tears in her eyes and a gentleness I have never known. She puts on a coat that someone has brought and kneels at my side. I am given more rum.

Fiona floods my ankle with Pattern energy and starts to construct a spell, even through the haze of pain and rum I can admire its form and intricacy. For an hour it builds and the pain eases, and I can blend some of my own energy into the spell, there is an intimacy that is unfamiliar.

With a glance she tells me that it is time and the spell falls upon my ankle like a hammer and the world explodes in pain. I should have had more rum!