Nathan’s Diary part 8: A Funeral & a Duel

In The Doom that Came to Amber

19^th Bull 3658

In the morning, he awakes feeling tired and damp. He has some servants change the bedding while he has a bath. Afterwards he gets some more sleep. Awaking he is famished. It is lunchtime. He heads down for some food and hoping to see the Regent for his reward…

I woke feeling somewhat rested after the ordeal of walking the Primal Pattern with the king over my shoulder. I dressed and went down to lunch where I saw Fiona, Flora, Bathsheba, who I hear is no longer admiral, and the Regent Julian. Sitting near Julian I am told that the King has abdicated. I go to all the trouble of making him well at considerable risk to myself in order to be in a position of power only for him to abdicate saying he’s gone to look for the rightful king, just my luck. An appointment is forthcoming however, the Warden of the Sea of Sands, a first circle shadow. It is peopled by the nobility displaced by the Moghals. They are fierce warrior pirates who raid merchant caravans. I do remember Ambassador Khitan bringing up the subject not long ago. I’ll be reporting to Aylwin, the acting Warden of Arden. I am to be given no troops and the last Wardens’ bones are being bleached by the Sun. They obviously do not want me in Amber.

After breakfast I head to the office of the Overseer. I see Bathsheba there and decide to return later. I learn the following:

Sea of Sands, 1^st Circle: Its main borders are with Arden, Hyderaghat, Cordoba, and Dust. It’s an enormous desert peopled by fierce tribesmen called Sand Devils. Their chief is a shadow of Gerard called Ger’it. The Sand-Devils hate Julian’s rangers & often attack sandships plying the desert between the cities bordering the shadow. This area has its own Warden who attempts to control the Sand Devils. There are also stories of enormous sandworms & violent shadowstorms. The trade between Amber and Cordoba has been disrupted by them.

While Asmark is telling me all this a page arrives with a message from the Queen. She tells me I am to attend her at Moire’s funeral. I am to wear my colours with a white armband.

I trump Oberon who tells me that there has been a Coup d’Etat in Kashfa. Rinaldo I, the son of King Jaston and Jasra, is on the throne. Dalt, the Lion of Eregnor helped put him in power.

I tell him about my appointment and he says to look out for foul magic. He also declares that it is not part of his plans.

Oberon asks about the goings on in Amber. He comments that his sons and grandsons are finally finding out how to juggle political situations. I tell him that Julian is Regent and that Random, having abdicated is spending the next year trying to find the King. Oberon declares that the King must be someone without political connections, since when their favourites are given positions others are ousted.

Nathan suggests Corwin as an option since he has spent little time in Amber in the recent times. Oberon declares him to be the only choice and that I must help Random to find him. Random may contact me and ask for my help. I ask Oberon whether he has considered returning. He replies that he cannot and has served his time as King, It is better for Amber for someone else to assume that role.

Moire’s Funeral: I escort Vialle to an enclosure where Moire’s body is resting. Martin is sitting at the head of a table. Vialle, myself, Llewella and her consort join him. The consort is diplomatic but says nothing of import. Martin snubs Vialle by talking only to Llewella. Vialle bears this rebuke stoically.

Finally Martin asks Vialle when is his father going to visit him. She replies that he will when he can. She then says that we must stop since we are at the pit. The enclosure opens. Martin pushes the coffin which moves downwards into the pit drawn by a current.

I learn that Rebma worships a God in the pit. Cthulhu is the god of the deeps and represents the forces of watery destruction. I am told that, “We do not pray that he wakes and answers our prayers but that he dreams in R’lyeh and does not.”

After I see Khitan and arrange to meet him later.