Nathan’s Diary part 7: Abdication

In The Doom that Came to Amber

18^th Bull 3658

Nathan is in Rebma along with Gerard and Llewella.

Llewella says to Nathan that Gerard has regained consciousness and wants to see him. He decides that he might as well get it over with and so goes in to see Gerard. He has a silvery material covering the stumps of his legs.

He says that he knows that it was Nathan who rescued him from the sharks, and that Nathan received a phone call before the attack. He says he doesn’t want to know what part Nathan had in the attack but if he ever finds out that he was instrumental, he will have to kill him.

He offers a large ring to Nathan who accepts. The ring has a picture of a dancing bear. He says to show it to members of the family and tell them to contact him before attacking him.

Llewella returns to say Moire is dead. Her heir is Martin, son of Random. Soon a delegation from Amber is likely to come so Nathan should leave before then.

In her apartments is a room with mirrors which seem to have some trump quality. She causes one to show a view of King Random. Nathan assumes there is a mirror in the room Random is in. He is behaving in a childlike manner. He has a number of trumps on the floor. Nathan remembers the tower, the ten of swords, the hermit and the empress being there.

Random is holding two cards, one of which has a hole in it. Nathan can see that he is pretending that the cards are talking to one another. Then he picks up the trumps of Nathan and Llewella holds them to the glass and then puts them together and starts talking as if they are communicating. Nathan sees that the card torn in half is Gerard and the card with a hole in it is Caine’s. Llewella causes the image to fade.

They discuss the situation. The King is ill and Amber cannot have a weak king for long, since their enemies would take advantage of the situation. Either he must recover or be done away with and a new king found.

Llewella says that Corwin walked the Pattern in order to recover his lost memory. Random must do the same except that he is in no condition to walk the Pattern. Somebody would have to walk the Pattern whilst carrying him. Obviously if the person failed both would die unless Random was thrown away from the Pattern early on. Also if a rival were to do it the temptation for it not to succeed would be too great. It would have to be one of the younger generation.

Nathan suggests among others Bathsheba, Aylwin and Martin. Martin is heir to the throne of Rebma and not to be trusted. She suggests to Nathan that whoever were to do it would be in the King’s high regard and could expect an important position.

She suggests using Tir-na-N'ogth with her in trump contact but Nathan is not happy with this suggestion since clouds are common this time of year. Benedict would have to be involved but would agree when he heard the reasoning.

Nathan is wavering and says he wants time to think it over and if she thinks that he is capable. She agrees to mull it over and says he is capable in her eyes. Nathan suggests he should walk the Pattern in Rebma as a dry run. She dissuades him, saying it is not accessible since the Queen died. Nathan insists on contacting someone and Llewella suggests going up the stair since she does not want to lower the trump barrier.

On the stair, Nathan trumps Oberon and Nathan tells of Moire's death. Oberon says that he had hoped she would last longer. Nathan also tells of Gerard's condition. Oberon seems concerned but says that is the price of the action.

When the King's condition is mentioned Oberon states that he always was a weak reed and heavily influenced by the Unicorn, and that the Queen would have died at Beltane if it weren’t for the meddling Courtier.

When the plan is outlined, Oberon says to go ahead but with some alterations to it. Nathan is to trump through to Amber as soon as possible. He must speak to Benedict and tell him the plan. He must insist on a guard. This would allow for a space between Benedict and himself.

They are to go to the Pattern under Amber. At a key moment, Oberon will cause a diversion, allowing Nathan to contact Oberon via trump and go through to the Primal Pattern. He must walk that one since it has no connection to Amber.

Talking again with Llewella, she says that she may be able to persuade Martin to let them use the Pattern under Rebma. Nathan says he will go ahead with the plan but does not tell her of the amendments to the plan.

He trumps through to the gardens outside Amber Castle, arriving dripping wet. He talks to the guards who contact Benedict via a bell pull system. Benedict orders him to meet him straight away.

On hearing the plan Benedict agrees but will allow no guards to accompany him and the King. They go to see Random. They meet Vialle who does not like the plan but sees the necessity of it.

In his room Random shies away from Nathan but Benedict talks to him. They tell him they are taking him to the Pattern; Random agrees. Heading down, the king needs support and Benedict will only allow himself to support the King with Nathan walking ahead.

They meet Roger who says he was expecting him. On the stairways down the king says he does not want to continue. Nathan starts to carry him. Roger unlocks the room containing the Pattern and opens the door.

At that point, Nathan can glimpse an image appearing behind him. He moves into the Pattern chamber and a little away from the door. He pulls the trump of Oberon from its concealed position.

He hears Benedict gasp and Roger kneels down saying, "Your Majesty". Nathan, knowing time is of the essence, goes for trump contact. After a moment Oberon pulls him through. Simultaneously he hears a swish of a sword and the tearing of fabric.

By the Primal Pattern, Nathan and Oberon discuss the close escape. Nathan is told he has a small cut and that he (Oberon) should have known that Benedict would not want the guards.

Nathan tries to use his shapeshifting powers to heal himself but Oberon produces the Jewel of Judgement and uses it to heal the wound and give Nathan an energy boost.

Nathan takes a moment to clear his mind before setting foot on the Pattern. Random is being carried in a fireman’s lift. The extra resistance threatens to overbalance Nathan.

Nearing the first veil Nathan realises that the boost of energy from the jewel is ebbing. He continues and struggles through to the centre. There is a point when he tries to concentrate on the Pattern in his mind. This only causes him to see the red glow of the jewel of judgement.

He reaches the middle and collapses to the ground with exhaustion. His head aches and he is dimly aware of a figure standing beside him. He looks up to see Random who is fully recovered.

Random thanks Nathan and says his mind is clear and he must go. He tells him that he should go to Julian, the regent, who will reward him. With that he is gone. Nathan realises he must teleport out before he falls unconscious. He opts for his room in Castle Amber.

He arrives and thinks of undressing but instead falls asleep.