“He hasn‘t moved yet,” he reported. Then, “Nobody ever just took me and threw me like that. With one hand yet.”
“That‘s why I told you to wait with the wagon, and not to fight with him if I lost.”
“What is to become of him now?”
“I will see that he is taken care of, soon.”
“He will be all right, though?”
I nodded.
“Good.”
We continued on for perhaps two miles and I halted the horses. I climbed down.
“Don‘t be upset by anything that happens,” I said. “I am going to make arrangements for Benedict now.” I moved off the road and stood in the shade, taking out the deck of Trumps Benedict had been carrying. I riffled through them, located Gerard, and removed him from the pack. The rest I returned to the silk-lined, wooden case, inlaid with bone, in which Benedict had carried them.
I held Gerard‘s Trump before me and regarded it.
After a time, it grew warm, real, seemed to stir. I felt Gerard‘s actual presence. He was in Amber. He was walking down a street that I recognized. He looks a lot like me, only larger, heavier. I saw that he still wore his beard.
He halted and stared.
“Corwin!”
“Yes, Gerard. You are looking well.”
“Your eyes! You can see?”
“Yes, I can see again.”
“Where are you?”
“Come to me now and I will show you.” His gaze tightened.
“I am not certain that I can do that, Corwin. I am very involved just now.”
“It is Benedict,” I said. “You are the only one I can trust to help him.”
“Benedict? He is in trouble?”
“Yes.”
“Then why does he not summon me himself?”
“He is unable to. He is restrained.”
“Why? How?”
“It is too long and involved to go into now. Believe me, he needs your help, right away.”
He raked his beard with his upper teeth. “And you cannot handle it yourself?”
“Absolutely not.”
“And you think I can?”
“I know you can.”
He loosened his blade in its scabbard.
“I would not like to think this is some sort of trick, Corwin.”
“I assure you it is not. With all the time I have had to think, I would have come up with something a little more subtle.”
He sighed. Then he nodded. “All right. I‘m coming to you.”
“Come ahead.”
He stood for a moment, then took a step forward.
He stood beside me. He reached out and clasped my shoulder. He smiled.
“Corwin,” he said. “I‘m glad you‘ve your eyes back.”
I looked away.
“So am I. So am I.”
“Who is that in the wagon?”
“A friend. His name is Ganelon.”
“Where is Benedict? What is the problem?” I gestured.
“Back there,” I said. “About two miles down the road. He is bound to a tree. His horse is tethered near by.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I am fleeing.”
“From what?”
“Benedict. I‘m the one who bound him.”
He wrinkled his brow. “I do not understand . . .”
I shook my head.
“There is a misunderstanding between us. I could not reason with him and we fought. I knocked him unconscious and I tied him up. I cannot free him, or he would attack me again. Neither can I leave him as he is. He may come to some harm before he can free himself. So I summoned you. Please go to him, release him, and see him home.”
“What will you be doing the while?”
“Getting the hell out of here, losing myself in Shadow. You will be doing both of us a favor to keep him from trying to follow me again. I do not want to have to fight him a second time.”
“I see. Now will you tell me what happened?”
“I am not certain. He called me a murderer. I give you my word I slew no one the whole time I was in Avalon. Please tell him I said that. I have no reason to lie to you, and I swear that it is true. There is another matter which may have disturbed him somewhat. If he mentions it, tell him that he will have to rely on Dara‘s explanation.”