SignoftheUnicornbyRogerZelaznyChapter1IignoredthequestionsintheeyesofthegroomasIloweredthegrislyparcelandturnedthehorseinforcareandmaintenance.MycloakcouldnotreallyconcealthenatureofitscontentsasIslungthegutsovermyshoulderandstampedofftowardtherearentrancetothepalace.Hellwouldsoon bedemandingitspaycheck.Iskirtedtheexerciseareaandmademywaytothetrailthatledtowardthesouthernendofthe palacegardens.Fewereyesalongthatroute.Iwouldstillbespotted,butitwouldbealotlessawkwardthangoinginthefrontway,wherethingsarealwaysbusy.Damn.Andagain,damn.OftroublesIconsideredmyselfamplypossessed.Butthosewhohavedoseemtoget.Somespiritualformofcompoundinterest,Isuppose.Therewereafewidlersbesidethefountainatthefarendofthegarden.Also,acoupleofguardswerepassingamongthebushesnearthetrail.Theguardssawmecoming,heldabriefdiscussion,andlookedtheotherway.Prudent.Me,backlessthanaweek.Mostthings,stillunresolved.ThecourtofAmber,fullofsuspicionandunrest.This,now:adeathtofurtherjeopardizethebrief,unhappyprereignofCorwin1:me.TimenowtodosomethingIshouldhavedonerightaway.Buttherehadbeensomanythingstodo,fromtheveryfirst.ItwasnotasifIhadbeennodding,asIsawit.Ihadassignedprioritiesandactedonthem.Now,though...Icrossedthegarden,outoftheshadeandintotheslantingsunlight.Iswungupthewide,curvingstair.AguardsnappedtoattentionasIenteredthepalace.Imadefortherearstairway,thenuptothesecondfloor.Thenthethird.Fromtheright,mybrotherRandomsteppedoutofhissuiteandintothehallway.“Corwin!”hesaid,studyingmyface.“What’sthematter?Isawyoufromthebalconyand-““Inside,”Isaid,gesturingwithmyeyes.“Wearegoingtohaveaprivateconference.Now.”Hehesitated,regardingmyburden.“Let’smakeittworoomsup,”hesaid.“Okay?Vialle’sinhere.”“Allright.”Heledtheway,openedthedoor.Ienteredthesmallsittingroom,soughtalikelyspot,droppedthe body.Randomstaredatthebundle.“WhatamIsupposedtodo?”heasked.

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“Unwrapthegoodies,”Isaid,“andtakealook.”Hekneltandundidthecloak.Hefoldeditback.“Deadallright,”heobserved.“What’sthe problem?”“Youdidnotlookcloselyenough,”Isaid.“Peelbackaneyelid.Openthemouthandlookattheteeth.Feelthespursonthebacksofthehands.Countthejointsinthefingers.Thenyoutellmeabouttheproblem.”Hebegandoingthesethings.Assoonashelookedatthehandshestoppedandnodded.“Allright,”hesaid.“Iremember.”“Rememberoutloud.”“ItwasbackatFlora’splace...”“ThatwaswhereIfirstsawanyonelikethis,”Isaid.“Theywereafteryou,though.Ineverdidfindoutwhy.”“That’sright,”hesaid.“Inevergotachancetotellyouaboutit.Weweren’ttogetherallthatlong.Strange...Wheredidthisonecomefrom?”Ihesitated,tornbetweenpushinghimfromhisstoryandtellinghimmine.Minewonoutbecauseitwasmineandveryimmediate.Isighedandsankintoachair.“We’vejustlostusanotherbrother,”Isaid.“Caineisdead.Igotthereabittoolate.Thatthing-person-didit.Iwanteditalive,forobviousreasons.Butitputupquiteafight.Ididn’thavemuchofachoice.”Hewhistledsoftly,seatedhimselfinthechairoppositeme.“Isee,”hesaidverysoftly.Istudiedhisface.Wasthatthefaintestofsmileswaitinginthewingstoenterandmeetmyown?Quitepossibly.“No,”Isaidflatly.“Ifitwereotherwise,Iwouldhavearrangedforalotlessdoubtastomyinnocence.I’mtellingyouwhatreallyhappened.”“Allright,”hesaid.“WhereisCaine?”“Underalayerofsod,neartheGroveoftheUnicorn.”“Thatlookssuspiciousrightthere,”hesaid.“Orwill.Totheothers.”Inodded.“Iknow.Ihadtohidethebodyandcoveritinthemeantime,though.Icouldn’tjustbringhimback andstartparryingquestions.Notwhentherewereimportantfactswaitingforme,inyourhead.”“Okay,”hesaid.“Idon’tknowhowimportanttheyare,butthey’reyours.Butdon’tleavemehanging,huh?Howdidthisthinghappen?”

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“Itwasrightafterlunch,”Isaid.“IhadeatendownattheharborwithGerard.Afterward,Benedict broughtmetopsidethroughhisTrump.Backinmyrooms,Ifoundanotewhichapparentlyhadbeenslippedinunderthedoor.Itrequestedaprivatemeeting,laterintheafternoon,attheGroveoftheUnicorn.Itwassigned‘Caine.’““Haveyoustillgotthenote?”“Yes.”Idugitoutofmypocketandpassedittohim.“Here.”Hestudieditandshookhishead.“Idon’tknow,”hesaid.“Itcouldbehiswriting-ifhewereinahurry-butIdon’tthinkitis.”Ishrugged.Itookthenoteback,foldedit,putitaway.“Whatever,ItriedtoreachhimwithhisTrump,tosavemyselftheride.Buthewasn’treceiving.Iguesseditwastomaintainsecrecyastohiswhereabouts,ifitwasallthatimportant.SoIgotahorseandrodeondown.”“Didyoutellanyonewhereyouweregoing?”“Notasoul.Ididdecidetogivethehorseaworkout,though,soIrodealongataprettygoodclip.Ididn’tseeithappen,butIsawhimlyingthereasIcameintothewood.Histhroathadbeencut,andtherewasadisturbanceoffinthebushessomedistanceaway.Irodetheguydown,jumpedhim,foughtwithhim,hadtokillhim.Wedidn’tengageinanyconversationwhilethiswasgoingon.”“You’resureyougottherightguy?”“Assureasyoucanbeundersuchcircumstances.HistrailwentbacktoCaine.Hehadfreshbloodonhisgarments.”“Mighthavebeenhisown.”“Lookagain.Nowounds.Ibrokehisneck.OfcourseIrememberedwhereIhadseenhislike before,soIbroughthimrighttoyou.Beforeyoutellmeaboutit,though,therewasonemorething-justforaclincher.”Iwithdrewthesecondnote,passeditover.“Thecreaturehadthisonitsperson.IpresumeithadremoveditfromCaine.”Randomreadit,nodded,andhandeditback.“Fromyou,toCaine,askingtobemetthere.Yes,Isee.Needlesstosay...”“Needlesstosay,”Ifinished.“Anditdoeslookabitlikemywriting-atfirstglance,anyway.”“Iwonderwhatwouldhavehappenedifyouhadgottentherefirst?”“Probablynothing,”Isaid.“Aliveandlookingbad-thatseemshowtheywantedme.Thetrickwastogetusthereintheproperorder,andIdidn’thurryquiteenoughtomisswhatwasboundtofollow.”Henodded.