13.   A Concerned Aunt.

 

 

“Ya coming to bed or not, honey?”

 

“I’ll be there in a few minutes, Charlie.”

 

In front of her exquisite dressing table Deirdre resumed, though somewhat inattentively, brushing her hair.   Son of Corwin... and a complete moron!  Unbelievable!  His mother was dumb, no doubt. If Brand had not been after her originally – and most probably he had not – he sure was now. And Jasra knew exactly where to find her, so it would not take Brand long to arrive. Did this young fool really believe Brand would not be able to trace his Hellride? And then, after settling that, Brand would doubtless return here to deal with her.  There was really no safe place to store the weapons. Might as well attack now. Someone was trying to force the events – that was what today’s troubles were about, and this idiot Gu-Dakk just played right into this someone’s hands…

 

She grimaced annoyingly as her thoughts were somewhat disturbed by the muffled shrieks of Virginia from the basement where the gangsters took their liberties with her. It had been Lucky’s idea to bring her here; hoping that Bugsy would attempt to rescue her.

 

She had not lied to Akin. Her discovery of the Amber-workable gunpowder had been purely incidental, and, at first, she had intended to use it only in case of another attack by Brand. Once in a while, always in disguise – a maid, a sailor’s wife, or sometimes even a young squire – she had returned to Amber and spent her time in the Death Alley taverns absorbing the latest rumors. But years had been passing by and Brand had seemed content with his semi-retirement in wherever his lair was, and while Random’s rule had been wise and benevolent, he was not of Faiella’s line. Eric… he had been a true King; the only reason she had not stood by him was because of Corwin. Oh, Corwin, Corwin… What a great King he would have been!  And instead of all that glory, a little clerk was on the throne. The crown belonged to the children of Oberon and Faiella, and with Eric dead and Corwin abdicated… that had left her.

 

There would have been no need of a large army. Just a few men Trumped from Shadow with Tommy guns could have easily shot their way to Random’s quarters. Faced with abdication or death, Random would have no doubt made the right choice and if not… so much for Random. By the time Benedict’s infantry had marched back, there would have been a new queen in Amber, and enough artillery on the Castle walls to support her claim. The problem was with the family. After all, Oberon had left the choice to the Unicorn, who had selected Random. Never mind that legally she was the first in line after Corwin, the family would never accept the coup d'état unless a threat to Amber appeared that Random would not be able to handle. So she was waiting… and waiting… and waiting…

 

And now someone definitely tried to force her hand. Why? And it all started with arrival of those two – Akin and Allysa. So what was their role in all of this? If only Corwin were here to advise her… She could almost see him… Yes! In the mirror! Waiting for her on the corner of a Parisian street… she was running toward him… but the black mist rising from the pavement… entwining her legs… pulling, dragging her down into the turmoil of the Logrus tendrils… and there… below… was the bottomless void of the Abyss…

 

“Dee? What’s wrong, honey? Ya all shaking… Let me find your pills…”

 

“Oh, I’m fine, Charlie. Just a little cold in here. In the morning, call up your boys. Everyone! Call Meyer and his boys too. It’s time!”

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