Nathan’s Diary part 12: Rinaldo – Excommunications – Hall of Mirrors – Rebellion

In The Doom that Came to Amber

28^th Bull 3658 – hellriding to the Hall of Mirrors

Start using the Pattern to head for it. It’s difficult but I continue. I find a building similar to the Taj Mahal. Leading up to the buildings, the path is lined by trees and hedges. Impressive fountains and water features line the path ending in grandiose steps up to the doorway.

Wandered around for a couple of hours without finding the Hall of Mirrors. Use the Pattern to change the interior of the building so that it’s more likely to contain the Hall. Find a couple of likely corridors which don’t feel right. Then I find the real one. It has a sparkle and feels right.

Stepping in first is a mirror. Looking at it, it’s me, mostly healed. Try to head down the corridor to find the portrait of Oberon, without looking closely at the others. The first painting is of Prince Caine. I glance at it whilst walking past. I hear him say,

“Whippersnapper, not worth anything, never will be.”

I reply “At least I’m not dead.” And walk on. I wonder if he was baiting me?

Next is a portrait of Brand:

He speaks, “Looking for something, a trinket, the real thing? It was here all along. Corwin and I made Patterns but they were of no use. Corwin was like Caine without the intelligence and charm. Good luck with everything. Remember your favourite uncle.”

Brand, I trust him less than all my other uncles. A clever man.

The painting of Prince Corwin :

He speaks “Don’t listen to him. I’ve changed. I’m imprisoned.” I ask him where. He looks to be in a blue coloured geodesic dome. “Caught in the Courts. I suspect the mother of my children, Dara. What’s your mission?”

“Trying to find something”

“Aren’t we all” he replies. You remind me of myself when I was young. I grew out of it. Who's your favourite uncle?”

I have some respect for Corwin. Nobody could stop him once he had set his mind on something. He was always getting manipulated though. I must try and not make the same mistake.

Next is Timon, holding a bloodstained handkerchief up to his mouth, He coughs a couple of times.

“Have we met?” he asks.

I reply in the negative.

“Trying to find something or sent to find something?”

“Yes” I reply.

“Why are you talking to me?”

“I don’t know, I think I’ll walk by if you don’t mind.”

“There is a reason for the particular portraits being here. We are alike, you and I.”

I don’t like him.

At last the portrait of Oberon.

“Why have you come?” he asks.

“You sent me to recover the Jewel of Judgement which you hid here.”

“It’s not hidden; it’s here.” I can see it around his neck. “What are you going to do with it?” he asks.

“I’m going to learn its use.” I reply.

“Then you’re not the one I should give it to.”

“I was told to give it to the King but someone needed to look after it until he is chosen.”

“Don’t bother! You’re not good at subterfuge. Tell them something they want to hear. You’d best be going.”

Moving on I see a picture of a small, squat, hairy, dark-skinned imp. It is fiendish and has an evil cunning. Ugly little thing.

“Well, well, well, little Amberling this is a time for reflection…

Between your selfish designs, torn

You scheme and dream your evil plot,

Unlooked hero, to hero born;

Seek your sire and find your lot.

“Like riddles? Well they may make life more interesting. Who is your sire?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then who is your favourite uncle? It’s nearly as good.”

“I haven’t decided.”

I find the door. It’s late Stuart style. It leads to a bright white octagonal room. A door opens. Alaric is there in Crusader style armour. Following him is a man in shirt and pantaloons. Not much chance for a kill. He asks me how I got here. “Through the Hall of Mirrors”, I reply. He leaves the door he came through open. He asks me to stay for lunch though I feel he is only being polite. I decline the invitation.

I walk through to this hall of mirrors. Two in one day it must be some sort of record.

A painting of Deirdre:

“I know there’s reason why I shouldn't but I like you.”

“Someone is impersonating you. I’ve met you in the Abyss and in Amber.”

“There is only one of me. It would be difficult to impersonate me.”

“Are you aware of yourself in the Abyss?”

There is definitely something going on but I’m not sure what.

A painting of a swashbuckler and a woman: they say that they looked for dragons and they found them. Rilga of Cordoba is a handsome woman who threw herself off Kolvir – they never found her body. Have no truck with mythical beasts, they are unsubtle. I wonder if they mean the Unicorn?

A painting of Fiona:

“You can’t have a good conversation. You should be careful in this Hall of Mirrors. Aylwin is a good boy. Alaric, I love him but he’s dangerous if crossed.”

“He left the door to this Hall of Mirrors open.”

“It means he wanted to show you something.”

Alaric’s actions are causing the decline and eventual death of his mother.

A painting of Delwin: He has red blond hair, green eyes and a brown waistcoat. Of slim build he wears several rings.

“Did you kill your mother?”

Not exactly, she just died.

A painting of Richard & Alyssa: He’s big like Gerard and wears red and black. His sister wears a yellow 1920’s Earth style dress.

Alyssa: “Have you met Timon?”

Richard: “Alyssa freed him.”

Alyssa: “Richard brokered the deal.”

Richard: “He was in a trump prison for a thousand years.”

Alyssa: “We think Timon could be Dworkin or one of the redheads.”

Richard: “Probably a redhead, but Dworkin can change so we can’t be sure.”

Alyssa: “Morwaith is around.”

Richard: “He’s sneaky and there are dark things about him.”

Alyssa: “I’ve always thought there’s something odd about him.”

Richard: “We needed his talents but we got rumbled too early.”

Alyssa: “Benedict killed Richard.”

Richard: “Oberon killed our mother, Harla.”

Alyssa: “I am only half dead.”

Richard: “She was in trump contact with Oberon when she died.”

A painting of Katherine (Myra):

“I don’t know you. I killed Lora, my mother. Eaten by a dragon in Arden because she was running away; Lora was being manipulated by dark things.”

A painting of Oberon:

“Did you kill your mother?”

“I don’t like to brag.”

“Amber needs its Unicorn but with a tight reign.”

“I’m here to take the Jewel of Judgement and give it to the King.”

“I never liked Corwin but he’ll make a good king. If you’re lying to me boy I’ll know.”

“Who is the King?”

“He hasn’t been crowned but I think its Corwin.”

He hands me the Jewel of Judgement. I walk through the door at the end of the corridor.