I succeeded in keeping my face from showing anything. So I was not the only one, then. To reveal my experiences at this point would sound hypocritical, opportunistic, or a flat lie-since in our seeming contact of five years ago he had given me the go-ahead to take the throne. Of course, he could have been referring to a regency then. . . .
“You did not lend support to Eric when he took the throne,” I said. “Would you give it to him now that he holds it, if an attempt were made to unseat him?”
“It is as I said,” he told me. “I look upon him as regent. I do not say that I approve of this, but I desire no further strife in Amber.”
“Then you would support him?”
“I have said all that I have to say on the matter. You are welcome to visit my Avalon, but not to use it as a staging area for an invasion of Amber. Does that clarify matters with respect to anything you may have in mind?”
“It clarifies matters,” I said.
“This being the case, do you still wish to visit here?”
“I do not know,” I said. “Does your desire to avoid strife in Amber work both ways?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that if I were returned to Amber against my will, I would damn well create as much strife as I could to prevent a recurrence of my previous situation.”
The lines went out of his face and he slowly lowered his eyes.
“I did not mean to imply that I would betray you. Do you think that I am without feelings, Corwin? I would not see you imprisoned again, blinded-or worse. You are always welcome to visit here, and you may leave your fears along with your ambitions at the border.”
“Then I would still like to visit,” I said. “I have no army, nor did I come here to recruit one.”
“Then you know that you are most welcome.”
“Thank you, Benedict. While I did not expect to find you here, I am glad that I did.” He reddened faintly and nodded.
“It pleases me, also,” he said. “Am I the first of us you have seen-since your escape?” I nodded.
“Yes, and I am curious as to how everyone is faring. Any major reports?”
“No new deaths,” he said.
We both chuckled, and I knew that I would have to turn up the family gossip on my own. It had been worth the attempt, though.
“I am planning on remaining in the field for a time,” he said, “and continuing my patrols until I am satisfied that none of the invaders remain. It could be another week before we withdraw.”
“Oh? Then it was not a total victory?”
“I believe that it was, but I never take unnecessary chances. It is worth a little more time to be certain.”
“Prudent,” I said, nodding.
“. . . So unless you have a strong desire to remain here in camp, I see no reason why you should not proceed on toward town and get near the center of things. I maintain several residences about Avalon. I have in mind for your use a small manor house that I have found pleasant. It is not far from town.”
“I look forward to seeing it.”
“I will provide you with a map and a letter to my steward in the morning.”
“Thank you, Benedict.”
“I will join you there as soon as I have finished here,” he said, “and in the meantime, I have messengers passing that way daily. I will keep in touch with you through them.”
“Very good.”
“Then find yourselves a comfortable piece of ground,” he said. “You’ll not miss the breakfast call, I’m sure.”
“I seldom do,” I said. “Is it all right if we sleep at that spot where we left our gear?”
“Certainly,” he said, and we finished the wine.
As we left his tent, I seized the flap up high when I opened it and was able to squeeze it several inches to the side when I cast it before me. Benedict bade us good night and turned away as he let it fall, not noticing the gap of several inches that I had created along its one side.