“How did you learn all this?”
“Like I said, when deserters head this way I feed ‘em and get the news.”
“You gave me the impression that there have been other attempts to take the place. These would have had to be after she’d taken over.”
He nodded and took another drink of wine.
“Yup. There was apparently a coup back in Kashfa, with both her and her kid away-a noble named Kasman, brother of one of her dead lovers, a fellow named Jasrick. This Kasman took over, and he wanted her and the prince out of the way. Must’ve attacked this place half a dozen times. Never could get in. Finally resigned himself to a standoff, I think. She sent her son off somewhere later, maybe to raise another army and try to win back her throne. I don’t know. That was long ago.”
“What about Dalt?”
“They paid him off with some loot from the Keep-there was apparently a lot of good stuff in there-and he took his troops and went back to wherever he hangs out.”
I took another sip of wine myself and cut off a piece of the cheese.
“How come you’ve stayed around all these years? It seems like a hard life.”
He nodded. “Truth of it is, I don’t know the way home. Those were strange trails they brought us in on. I thought I knew where they were, but when I went lookin’ I couldn’t never find ‘em. I suppose I could have just taken off, but then I’d probably get lost more than ever. Besides, I know I can make out here. A few weeks and those outbuildings will be rebuilt and the peasants will move back in, no matter who wins. And they think I’m a holy man, prayin’ up here and meditatin’. Any time I wander down that way they come out for a blessin’ and give me enough food and drink to hold me for a long while.”
“Are you a holy man?” I asked.
“I just pretend,” he said. “Makes them happy and keeps me fed. Don’t go tellin’ that, though.”
“Of course not. They wouldn’t believe me, anyway.”
He laughed again. “You’re right.”
I got to my feet and walked back along the hail a little way, so that I could see the Keep once again. The ladders were on the ground, and I beheld even more scattered dead. I saw no signs of the struggle within.
“Is the gate open yet?” Dave called.
“No. I don’t think the ones who got in were sufficient to the task.”
“Is that green and black banner anywhere in sight?”
“I can’t see it anywhere.”
He rose and came over, carrying both bottles. He passed me mine and we both took a drink. The ground troops began to fall back from the area before the wall.
“Think they’re giving up or re-forming for another rush?” he asked me.
“Can’t say yet,” I told him.
“Whichever it is, there should be a lot of good loot down there tonight. Stick around and you’ll have all you can carry.”
“I’m curious,” I said, “why Dalt would be attacking again, if he’s on good terms with the queen and her son.”
“I think it’s just the son,” he said, “and he’s gone. The old lady’s supposed to be a real bitch. And after all, the guy is a mercenary. Maybe Kasman hired him to go after her.”
“Maybe she’s not even in there,” I said, having no idea how this time stream ran, but thinking of my recent encounter with the lady. The image of it, though, caused a strange train of thought.
“What’s the prince’s name, anyway?” I asked.
“Rinaldo,” he answered. “He’s a big red-haired guy.”
“She’s his mother!” I said involuntarily.
He laughed. “That’s how you get to be a prince,” he said. “Have the queen be your mother.”
But then, that would mean… “Brand!” I said. Then, “Brand of Amber.”
He nodded. “You’ve heard the story.”
“Not really. Just that much,” I replied. “Tell it to me.”
“Well, she snared herself an Amberite-the prince called Brand,” he said. “Rumor had it they met over some magical operation and it was love at first blood. She wanted to keep him, and I’ve heard it said they actually were married in a secret ceremony. But he wasn’t interested in the throne of Kashfa, though he was the only one she might have been willing to see on it. He traveled a lot, was away for long stretches of time. I’ve heard it said that he was responsible for the Days of Darkness years ago, and that he died in a great battle between Chaos and Amber at that time, at the hands of his kinsmen.”