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Nicobrus played by Matt Fitzgerald
Well I must say I am impressed with my companion's mystical abilities. Not only have they mastered the art of calling up TWO pattern lenses in the back of a car whilst some of us are trying to keep our brain on the inside, but they managed to lead us off in the wrong direction entirely. Instead of tracking Merlin we just managed to retrace his earlier footsteps. By the time we realised our mistake events had overtaken us, and we were obliged to defend ourselves (and some villagers who had already suffered quite enough) from the attentions of a troop of horsemen. Ernst suffered her usual misfortunes, but I was impressed with Cuchulainn's performance, not that these were very challenging opponents. It's hard to judge on such a limited basis, but I believe he is at least my equal with a blade - I wonder where he picked that up (unless Aunt Fiona ensured he got proper training somewhere, she always likes to arrange 'help' like that for people. Always in their best interests of course. Well ... always in her best interests anyway.). Fortunately Tara had rejoined us by this point, and was able to minimise bloodshed by putting most of the attackers to sleep. They were a strange troop right enough - it seems that others of their kind were pursuing Merlin through shadow, and this lot had followed on under their own power. Some kind of enchanted artefact. They also all had Phoenix symbols enchanted over their hearts, which seem to be some kind of self destruct mechanism amongst other things. Questioning them produced little but Phoenix shaped explosions. According to the villagers the 'Angel of Death' had passed through and then fled about four days ago. Not a very flattering description, but it seems certain to have been Merlin. We sent the surviving prisoners back to Amber, then Adam, Cuchulainn and I carried on with the trail. This led us across the path of a particularly large and virulent Reality Vortex. Adam seemed quite unconcerned - tragically it seems that one of the penalties of excessive Pattern exposure is the belief in your own indestructibility. Suhuy counsels a more cautious approach to these things - roughly translated as 'Run like Hell'. As a compromise I decided to stay back and keep open a Trump link with Adam. A fine plan, except that I couldn't contact him. Well I'm not paid enough to play around with dangerous rubbish like Shadow Storms (or whatever they call them here), so I decided to call in Aunt Fiona. I didn't actually mean to end up in her bedroom, so I made a hasty exit (not wanting Chantala to get the wrong idea. Or Ishmael for that matter), and left matters in her capable hands. Besides, there were more interesting bedrooms to visit.
Once again breakfast in Amber consisted of the amateur Pattern worriers discussion group. They're all obsessed - mind you if a third of the Logrus waltzed off in the middle of the night I dare say others would be just as concerned. At least Tara wasn't force feeding Vialle breakfast this time. Now that she finally had someone tied down where they couldn't escape her Ernst decided to exercise her martial prowess again, with predictable results. Dad took over, using truth drug this time (I'm sure he would have told Ernst about it if she had ever asked, but she was so keen to start on the pain that she never bothered). We thus discovered a little about these horsemen. They come from the land of Atar, where all is not rosy it would seem. They were chasing the 'son of the evil one' [(c) 1996 A.Mitton Music Ltd], the evil one being the 'usurper of the silver sigil'. Good old Uncle Corwin, winning friends wherever he goes. Apparently they all serve the 'Reborn King' (I'm glad Tara wasn't here for this), and get their orders from some woman with red hair and blue eyes (Ah - those crazy redheads, it's where our branch of the family get their natural roguish charm from, don't you know). Unfortunately I then decided to helpfully chip in, and turned out to be no better at this than Ernst (although I did at least have sense enough to stop asking stupid questions at this point, unlike Ernst. Perhaps they remind her of Oswald). It seems odd that these magical rituals should work here in Amber, but no one else seems very bothered by it. Obviously I've been misinformed.
Ernst and I reported back to the King. Since it's his kingdom and his problem I let him volunteer to tell Tara about all this. Apparently the Phoenix was a particular symbol of Brand's during the Black Road War. Apparently Fiona's dealing with informing Dara of our hunt for Merlin. By this stage I needed a shower and a drink. Fortunately I knew where to find both.
Tara joined me later in the garden, and helped me make friends with the rest of my wine. I told her about Atar and it's cosy little religious dictatorship, since Random had already filled her in. On this cheery note the conversation worked it's way around to Brand, which is never a topic that makes me comfortable. I don't subscribe to any theories of 'genetic guilt', but I think Tara does, sometimes at least. Or thinks that she should. What's done is done,and that done before we were even born doubly so. She also asked me about Chess, seems even she doesn't know who her mystery admirer is. Neither do I, as I explained to her.
We then got to pay an unexpected visit to Benedict when he Trumped Tara. I doubt if my desparate attempts to sober up in time really did much good, but I had to be seen to make the effort at least. The errant City had been found - at Corwin's Pattern no less. The others (Adam, Ishmael, Cuchulainn and Ernst) joined us and we made all speed there with Benedict.
I confess even more bafflement than usual at what followed. Somehow Corwin's Pattern had become infused with Logrus, and although the surroundings were devastated by some form of energy discharge it seems to have survived, but in a form quite unfamiliar to anyone I'll wager. It was hard to make out in all the mists, and I certainly wasn't going to try prying. Tir-Na-N'Ogth was indeed there - floating above the mists. I offered to fly up and Trump people up there, but Tara was able to draw down the stairway for us. I had never visited the sky city before, so I cannot say whether it was changed by moving from Amber, but the ghosts there seemed to know and revere my cousin, and some sought her guidance in finding Corwin. I have oft been told that the visions seen in this place are not always true, but my meeting with Chantala's ghost would have disturbed me greatly had not more disturbing matters still followed. She spoke of war between Amber and the Courts, of Random and Vialle's deaths and of King Julian of Amber driving us apart. What can I say my dearest? Not while there is a breath left in my body shall this ever come to pass. Then Corwin's image spoke to Tara, speaking of Eric's reign and Merlin being used to attack his Pattern. Finally we were challenged by King Oberon himself, on the very threshold of the Pattern Chamber. There was more to this Shade than the others, even Icould tell that much. He spoke to Tara only, asking if she was ready for what lay beyond 'beyond the Pattern. See what it will become'. Where the Pattern was inscribed before stood a Crystal Tree, with all of The Blood hung dead from its boughs. I confess I dared not speak there, not to Oberon's presenence in such a place, but Tara and Cuchulainn did. He urged us to seek Corwin and what he bears, the sky city's jewel and more, and that many would die if this were to be prevented. And that when we left we should not look back. The last test was Cuchulainn's - the voice we heard was his mother's, pleading for help, for him to wait, damning her father. He refused the temptation and passed the test. We all descended again, none quite the same as before. I shall write no more of this here just yet, it needs much more reflection I feel.
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The Other Player Characters for Ernst and Benvolio
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