• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • 1
    CommentGo Back
Download
 
TheCourtsOfChaosbyRogerZelaznyChapter1Amber:highandbrightatopKolvirinthemiddleoftheday.Ablackroad:lowandsinisterthroughGamathfromChaostothesouth.Me:cursing,pacingandoccasionallyreadinginthelibraryofthe palaceinAmber.Thedoortothatlibrary:closedandbarred.ThemadprinceofAmberseatedhimselfatthedesk,returnedhisattentiontotheopenedvolume.Therewasaknockonthedoor.“Goaway!”Isaid.“Corwin.It’sme-Random.Openup,huh?Ievenbroughtlunch.”“Justaminute.”Igottomyfeetagain,roundedthedesk,crossedtheroom.RandomnoddedwhenIopenedthedoor.Hecarriedatray,whichhetooktoasmalltablenearthedesk.“Plentyoffoodthere,”Isaid.“I’mhungry,too.”“Sodosomethingaboutit.”Hedid.Hecarved.Hepassedmesomemeatonaslabofbread.Hepouredwine.Weseatedourselvesandate.“Iknowyouarestillmad...”hesaid,afteratime.“Aren’tyou?”“Well,maybeIammoreusedtoit.Idon’tknow.Still...Yes.Itwassortofabrupt,wasn’tit?”“Abrupt?”Itookalargeswallowofwine.“Itisjustliketheolddays.Worseeven.IhadactuallycometolikehimWhenhewasplayingat beingGanelon.Nowthatheisbackincontrolheisjustasperemptoryasever,hehasgivenusasetofordershehasnotbotheredtoexplainandhehasdisappearedagain.”“Hesaidhewouldbeintouchsoon.”“Iimagineheintendedthatlasttime,too.”“I’mnotsosure.”“Andheexplainednothingabouthisotherabsence.Infact,hehasnotreallyexplainedanything.”“Hemusthavehisreasons.”“Iambeginningtowonder,Random.Doyouthinkhismindmightfinallybegoing?”
Page1
 
“Hewasstillsharpenoughtofoolyou.”“Thatwasacombinationoflowanimalcunningandshapeshiftingability.”“Itworked,didn’tit?”“Yes.Itworked.”“Corwin,coulditbethatyoudonotwanthimtohaveaplanthatmightbeeffective,thatyoudonotwanthimtoberight?”“Thatisridiculous.Iwantthismessclearedupasmuchasanyofus.”“Yes,butwouldn’tyourathertheanswercamefromanotherquarter?”“Whatareyougettingat?”“Youdonotwanttotrusthim.”“Iwilladmitthat.Ihavenotseenhim-ashimself-inahellofalongtime,and...”Heshookhishead.“ThatisnotwhatImean.Youareangrythatheisback,aren’tyou?Youhopedthatwehadseenthelastofhim.”Ilookedaway.“Thereisthat,”Ifinallysaid.“Butnotforavacantthrone,ornotjustforit.Itishim,Random.Him.That’sall.”“Iknow,”hesaid.“ButyouhavetoadmithesuckeredBrand,whichisnotaneasythingtodo.He pulledastuntIstilldonotunderstand,gettingyoutobringthatarmbackfromTir-naNog’th,somehowgettingmetopassitalongtoBenedict,seeingtoitthatBenedictwasintherightplaceatthepropermoment,sothateverythingworkedandhegottheJewelback.HeisalsostillbetterthanweareatShadowplay.HemanageditrightonKolvirwhenhetookustotheprimalPattern.Icannotdothat.Neithercanyou.AndhewasabletowhipGerard.Idonotbelievethatheisslowingdown.Ithinkheknowsexactlywhatheisdoing,andwhetherwelikeitornot,Ithinkheistheonlyonewhocandealwiththepresentsituation.”“YouaretryingtosaythatIshouldtrusthim?”“Iamtryingtosaythatyouhavenochoice.”Isighed.“Iguessyou’veputyourfingeronit,”Isaid.“Nosenseinmybeingbitter.Still...”“Theattackorderbothersyou,doesn’tit?”“Yes,amongotherthings.Ifwecouldwaitlonger,Benedictcouldfieldagreaterforce.Threedaysisnotmuchtimetogetreadyforsomethinglikethis.Notwhenwearesouncertainabouttheenemy.”
Page2
 
“Butwemaynotbe.HespokeinprivatewithBenedictforalongwhile.”“Andthatistheotherthing.Theseseparateorders.Thissecrecy...Heisnottrustingusanymorethanhehasto.”Randomchuckled.SodidI.“Allright,”Isaid.“MaybeIwouldnoteither.Butthreedaystolaunchawar.”Ishookmyhead.“Hehadbetterknowsomethingwedon’t.”“Igettheimpressionthatitismoreaperemptorystrikethanawar.”“Onlyhedidnotbothertotelluswhatwearepreempting.”Randomshrugged,pouredmorewine.“Perhapshewillsaywhenhegetsback.Youdidnotgetanyspecialorders,didyou?”“Justtostandandwait.Whataboutyou?”Heshookhishead.“Hesaidthatwhenthetimecomes,Iwillknow.AtleastwithJulian,hetoldhimtohavehistroopsreadytomoveonamoment’snotice.”“Oh?Aren’ttheystayinginArden?”Henodded.“Whendidhesaythis?”“Afteryouleft.HetrumpedJulianupheretogivehimthemessage,andtheyrodeofftogether.IheardDadsaythathewouldridepartwaybackwithhim.”“DidtheytaketheeasterntrailoverKolvir?”“Yes.Isawthemoff.”“Interesting.WhatelsedidImiss?”Heshiftedinhisseat.“Thepartthatbothersme,”hesaid.“AfterDadhadmountedandwavedagood-bye,helookedback atmeandsaid,‘AndkeepaneyeonMartin.’““Thatisall?”“Thatisall.Buthewaslaughingashesaidit.”“Justnaturalsuspicionatanewcomer,Iguess.”“Thenwhythelaugh?”“Igiveup.”
Page3
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
Stormwind

'Save document' option is unavailable (grayed out)

reply07 / 04 / 2009
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...