The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny Page B

succeeded. Thereafter, he walked in Shadow and I have not seen him since. What have you to say to that, Lord Random?”
    “Nothing,” Random replied.
    “Therefore, I will punish thee,” Moire continued. “You shall marry the woman of my choice and remain with her in my realm for a year’s time, or you will forfeit your life. What say you to that, Random?”
    Random said nothing, but he nodded abruptly.
    She stuck her scepter upon the arm of her turquoise throne.
    “Very well,” she said. “So be it”
    And so it was.
     
    We repaired to the chambers she had granted us, there to refresh ourselves. Subsequently she appeared at the door of my own,
    “Hail, Moire,” I said.
    “Lord Corwin of Amber,” she told me, “often have I wished to meet thee.”
    “And I thee,” I lied.
    “Your exploits are legend.”
    “Thank you, but I barely recall the high points.”
    “May I enter here?”
    “Certainly,” and I stepped aside.
    She moved into the well-appointed suite she had granted me, She seated herself upon the edge of the orange couch.
    “When would you like to essay the Pattern?”
    “As soon as possible,” I told her.
    She considered this, then said, “Where have you been, among Shadows?”
    “Very far from here,” I said, “in a place that I learned to love.”
    “It is strange that a lord of Amber should have this capacity.”
    “What capacity?”
    “To love,” she replied.
    “Perhaps I chose the wrong word.”
    “I doubt it,” she said, “for the ballads of Corwin do touch upon the strings of the heart.”
    “The lady is kind.”
    “But not wrong,” she replied.
    “I’ll give you a ballad one day.”
    “What did you do when you dwelled in Shadow?”
    “It occurs to me that I was a professional soldier, madam. I fought for whoever would pay me. Also, I composed the words and music to many popular songs.”
    “Both these things occur to me as logical and natural.”
    “Pray tell me, what of my brother Random?”
    “He will marry with a girl among my subjects who is named Vialle. She is blind and has no wooers among our kind.”
    “Are you certain,” said I, “that you do the best thing for her?”
    “She will obtain good status In this manner,” said Moire, “though he depart after a year and never return. For whatever else may be said of him, be is a prince of Amber.”
    “What if she comes to love him?”
    “Could anyone really do this thing?”
    “In my way, I love him, as a brother.”
    “Then this is the first time a son of Amber has ever said such a thing, and I attribute it to your poetic temperament.”
    “Whatever,” said I, “be very sure that it is the best thing for the girl.”
    “I have considered it,” she told me, “and I am certain. She will recover from whatever pain he inflicts, and after his departure she will be a great lady of my court.”
    “So may it be,” I said, and looked away, feeling a sadness come over me—for the girl, of course.
    “What may I say to you?” I said. “Perhaps you do a good thing. I hope so.” And I took her hand and kissed it.
    “You, Lord Corwin, are the only prince of Amber I might support,” she told me. “save possibly for Benedict. He is gone these twelve years and ten, however, and Lir knows where his bones may lie. Pity.”
    “I did not knew this,” I said. “My memory is so screwed up. Please bear with me. I shall miss Benedict, an’ he be dead. He was my Master of Arms and taught me of all weapons. But he was gentle.”
    “As are you, Corwin,” she told me, taking my band and drawing me toward her.
    “No, not really,” I replied, as I seated myself on the couch at her side. Then she said, “We’ve much time till we dine.” Then she leaned against me with the front of her shoulder which was soft.
    “When do we eat?” I asked.
    “Whenever I declare it,” she said, and she faced me more fully.
    So I drew her upon me and found the catch to the buckle which covered the softness of her belly.