As I was considering how I . might best phrase these matters in my reply to Mandor, I was again acted upon. I became aware of a faint feeling of inquiry, as of a cat scratching at the doors of my mind. It grew in force, thrusting aside other considerations, until I knew it as a Trump sending from some very distant place. I guessed that it might be from Random, anxious to discover what had transpired since my absence from Amber. So I made myself receptive, inviting the contact.
“Merlin, what’s the matter?” Mandor asked, and I raised my hand to indicate I was occupied. At that, I saw him place his napkin upon the tabletop and rise to his feet.
My vision cleared slowly and I beheld Fiona, looking stern, rocks at her back, a pale green sky above her.
“Merlin,” she said. “Where are you?”
“Far away,” I answered. “It’s’ a long story. What’s going on? Where are you?”
She smiled bleakly.
“Far away,” she replied.
“We seem to have chosen very scenic spots,” I observed. “Did you pick the sky to complement your hair?”
“Enough!“ she said. “I did not call you to compare travel notes.”
At that moment Mandor came up aside me and placed his hand upon my shoulder, which was hardly in keeping with his character; as it is considered a gauche thing to do when a Trump communication is obviously in progress-on the order of intentionally picking up an extension phone and breaking in on someone’s call. Nevertheless…
“My! My!” he said. “Will you please introduce me, Merlin?”
“Who,” Fiona asked, “is that?”
“This is my brother Mandor,” I told her, “of the House of Sawall in the Courts of Chaos. Mandor; this is my Aunt Fiona, Princess of Amber.”
Mandor bowed.
“I have heard of you, Princess,” he said. “It is indeed a pleasure.”
Her eyes widened for a moment.
“I know of the house,” she replied, “but I’d no idea of Merlin’s relationship with it. I am pleased to know you.”
“I take it there’s some problem, Fi?” I asked.
“Yes,” she answered, glancing at Mandor.
“I will retire,” he said. “Honored to have met you, Princess. I wish you lived a bit nearer the Rim.”
She smiled.
“Wait,” she said. “This does not involve any state secrets. You are an initiate of the Logrus?”
“I am,” he stated.
“… And I take it you two did not get together to fight a duel?”
“Hardly,” I answered.
“In that case, I would welcome his view of the problem, also. Are you willing to come to me, Mandor?” He bowed again, which I thought was hamming it a bit.
“Anyplace, Madam,” he responded.
She said, “Come then,” and she extended her left hand and I clasped it.
Mandor reached out and touched her wrist. We stepped forward.
We stood before her in the rocky place. It was breezy and a bit chill there. From somewhere distant there came a muted roar, as of a muffled engine.
“Have you been in touch with anyone in Amber recently?” I asked her.
“No,” she stated.
“Your departure was somewhat abrupt.”
“There were reasons.”
“Such as your recognizing Luke?”
“His identity is known to you now?”
“Yes.”
“And to the others?”
“I told Random,” I answered, “and Flora.”
“Then everyone knows,” she said. “I departed quickly and took Bleys with me because we had to be next on Luke’s list. After all, I tried killing his father and almost succeeded. Bleys and I were Brand’s closest relatives, and we’d turned against him.”
She turned a penetrating gaze upon Mandor, who smiled.
“I understand,” he stated, “that right now Luke drinks with a Cat, a Dodo, a Caterpillar, and a White Rabbit. I also understand that with his mother a prisoner in Amber he is powerless against you.”
She regarded me again.
“You have been busy,” she said. “I try.”
“… So that it is probably safe for you to return,” Mandor continued.
She smiled at him, then glanced at me.
“Your brother seems well informed,” she observed.
“He’s family, too,” I said, “and we’ve a lifelong habit of looking out for each other.”
“His- life or yours?” she asked.