John Cleland's Amber Diaries

Harlequin Diary - Volume Six

8-Jan-93 The Book of Creation tells the story of genesis, this entire shadow and in all likelihood the bulk of the surrounding shadows were created by Michel as a refuge and place of peace for the children of Amber. This does not surprise me at all, this place has a definite feel of Michel about it. What does puzzle me is that he is supposed to have created the place, but to the best of my knowledge Michel has only recently gained the power of Pattern. Many of his special abilities with trump are also a recent development. I assume that someone else found or made the place for him. The region of shadow is shaped like a spiral which draws travellers toward the centre, but can be escaped with moderate effort. Other Amberites have been here before and managed to escape without difficulty. Randall must have seen the promise of this place and decided to modify it to his own ends. The book does not say if this temple is supposed to be at the centre, it doesn't say what is at the centre at all. The library also contains many works on warfare, unsigned but most probably written by Benedict, and a large section on trump written by Michel, Fiona, various locals and probably a volume or two by Dworkin. I am beginning to study these and transcribe some of the information onto micro crystals when Calvin wanders by and tries to disturb my study. Ignoring him is easy. Later after I have returned to my room to work on one of the sculptures Calvin knocks, then slips a note under my door when I don't answer. The note says that he is going off to find his gear. Arrrrggh! Trust Calvin to go and do something foolhardy and dangerous. At least he bothered to inform me. I trump him immediately and warn him repeatedly to be very careful, to monitor for any signs of interference and not to leave this shadow under any circumstances. I just hope that he has the ability not to fuck up. I give him my trump so that he can call if there is any trouble then go back to work. Calvin has not been gone long when a messenger summons me to the lord watcher, together we go to Cal's chapel. His window shows multiple images slowly solidifying. They are concerned, but I assume that it is related to the shadow shifting that Cal is doing and tell them not to worry. The remainder of the day goes peacefully and it is not until after dinner that Cal trumps me. He managed to find his gear but it took a very long time, he searched for his trump, then the sword and lastly the armour, at which point he found a bundle containing all three. This is unusual, but not half as strange as the echoes and reflections of Cal that I am getting through this trump contact. The second that we touch the echo disappears so I give him a lift back. This concerns me enough to go straight to his watcher. The reflections are still evident in his window, and she noticed no change when I trumped him back. This probably means that the reflections have nothing to do with Cal's shadow shifting. Calvins theory that they have cloned him when he was captured seems very plausible. The thought of there being more than one Calvin makes me feel faintly ill. Especially since he is a pretty good swordsman and the clones are not likely to be friendly. Shit! We check out his gear, everything seems normal except that some of his trump are missing - all of the ones from Tarus and those of Selina, Anna, Samrel etc. In fact with the exception of my trump he only has a standard deck. I decide to trump Fiona to tell her what is happening, although I only perceive a few seconds Cal tells me that it took 10 minutes. Fi says that this could be due to the speeding up of the shadow. I fill her in on Cal's lobotomy, the reflections and the clone theory. Then we discuss the nature of the movement barriers around these shadows. They only cover the shadow boundaries but use a mirror effect so that the harder you push, the harder it pushes back. I test it and find that all objects are stopped, not just those from Amber. I find that the call took 1 hour local time, so there is distortion even when contact has been mad e. Cal and I discuss the clones and their likely capabilities, the consensus is that they will probably be quite close to Cal if they have used a brain tape, but over time they will diverge. That night I have terrible dreams of foreboding. The next day I continue my research, conjuration, sculpting and reading. Calvin is not at lunch so that afternoon I take advantage of the privacy to do some Trump scrying. The cards show danger ahead and danger behind, the second indicates a strong affirmative, but the question is undefined. I think that this means we should act positively rather than wait. In the third the card of Oberon is in the central spot. I still have suspicions about Oberon being involved in the Game, so seeing his card show up is very disconcerting. I hope that this refers to Amber, or the family in general rather than the man himself. Given that he and my father did not part on the best of terms I am not sure what his reaction to me will be, or mine to him for that matter. Whatever it means the card of Oberon is sure to mean trouble. After dinner Cal and I discuss the dreams that we have had, then plan what to do next. Cal doesn't have any bright ideas, so I suggest that we kit up and go looking for trouble. He only wants some normal clothes, so I add that to my "to get" list. Cal tries an experiment, trumping himself to see if he can reach any of his clones. He is beginning to get a contact when it shuts off suddenly. Randall probably sensed him playing around and blocked him. He then asks if any of the children from the game have a chapel here, because he has not been admitted to many of the chapels. I tell him no, and do not mention the twins. To forestall any more of his nosy questions I take the opportunity to give him a bollocking about Mitzi. He replies that it is none of my business. I agree but suggest that he get his shit together as he will have to sort it out with Anna and Random if he manages to live through this. Good night Calvin! I investigate the wand from Fiona to see if there is any thing from it that I can adapt, but a brief check shows a complex mix of Pattern, Trump and magical energy so there is no quick solution there. The next morning I speak to my watcher about the nightmares, she has been getting a general feeling of uneasiness but nothing specific. I retire to my room to begin some of the major conjurations and experiments. I find that in addition to not being able to send things out of this shadow there is a finite limit on the speed with which damaging energies can be bought in. When I try a weapon empowerment on my whip staff I find that the magic is taking twice as long and continues to fade even under a strong binding. The item itself seems to be resisting the energy and local items cannot be affected at all. The enchantment works normally inside an axiom bubble but local objects fade immediately when removed and I estimate that others will decay in a few days. Calvins clothing is not affected at all, but the it is not enchanted above a shadow normal level anyway. This seems to be a dead end so I return to my sculpting while I monitor the decay on the weapons. My watcher comes to arrange a meeting with the lord watcher at 6:00. I take along the statuette hidden under a cloth. I tell her about the dreams and the problems I have been having with conjuration. The answer is quite simple. This whole shadow and possibly many of the surrounding ones are opposed to violence and weapons of destruction. She wants Cal and I to return later to try an experiment. This region is psychically active and our dreams could be premonitions caused by the effects of this shadow. I agree to give it a try. Before I leave I present the statuette. It is of Michel working at his drawing board on an etching of the previous lord watcher. The gift is well received and she intends to put it in a place of honour. It is nice to know that I do something right once in a while. I spend the rest of the evening reading and then having dinner before giving Calvin his clothes and returning to the temple with Calvin a nd our watchers. The lord watcher is all decked out in ceremonial clothes and the temple is full of impressive paraphernalia. The lord watcher prepares an enchanted drug to enhance our perception of the vision. Calvin wants to sit out but changes his mind when he figures that he probably won't get the full story if he relies on me to tell him about my visions. Our watchers retire to watch in their chapels as we sit and meditate, then drink from the chalice which is engraved with the likenesses of the elder Amberites, up to and including Random. The vision begins. A snake that glows with the colour of the Pattern wriggles into a spiral then a tree grows in the centre. A red snake hangs out of the tree and wraps a coil around Oberon's neck. The first snake winds a coil about his leg. A dark shadow of a man approaches and rips his clothes and then shoves him against the tree and stabs him with a glowing white blade while Oberon remains passive. The shadow takes more blades and pins his hands and feet to the tree. As crucified Oberon hangs on the tree little snakes bearing the twisted faces of his children come to lick up the blood. The shadow stabs a final white dagger through his heart. In the background an army of Calvins can be seen.

15-Jan-93 We retire to the lord watchers chambers to take refreshment and try to make some sense of the vision. I am sure that whatever it means quick action is required. I fear the consequences of choosing the wrong course, but waiting too long is probably the worst option of all. If they escape the army of Calvins will probably be able to attack Amber despite Fiona's defences because they effectively have Amber blood. I go back to my room to divert Calvins attention, but once he has closed his door I go to my chapel to meditate and speak with my watcher. I ask if she saw anything inspirational. She saw some of the vision, but cannot be sure if it was a true one. A short while later I am disturbed by the lord watcher summoning me back to her chambers. This is starting to become a habit. Cal is already there. She has had a sending from Michel, who thinks that when the family knows about the clones they will destroy these shadows to be rid of them. We will become expendable. As if we haven't always been. He has given her permission to open the gates of Mars, she brings in the two openers, the Sword and the Shield. They think that this effort is necessary to save this shadow, perhaps all shadow. I return to the chapel to continue my meditation, though concentration is very difficult with these recent developments echoing around my skull. Bollocks. Calvin and I of course have the job of leading the defence once the gates of Mars are opened. My watcher takes me to a closed chapel where a woman emerges and conducts me inside. It is Finndo's chapel, wherein I am granted a vision. There is a vast Arabian plain filled with fires and warriors. There is much slaughter, many bodies impaled. Dad is fighting his way toward a pavilion, there are huge black guards, behind which Akeem is holding Farilla hostage and begging for mercy. While they stand at impasse a black shadow rises up behind Akeem and breaks his neck. there follows a happy ending, Farilla recovered and Akeem on a spike. My only regret is that I had no par t in his downfall. I depart and walk across the fields in the cool night air, it is a great disappointment but no surprise that there is no answer from Dad's trump. On return to my room I find a message from Michel, he says to look for the keystone at the Henge. Cal is still up, nosy as ever he asks about my visions, but I have little patience for him. The next morning I go for a walk with Cal up into the hills and tell him that Akeem is dead and Farilla has escaped. I don't ask about Cal's vision but he tells me anyway - he saw Norden hell riding. We sit under a tree, Cal jumping to his feet when a large puppy thing flees from his presence. Cal heads back after an hour, I spend a while longer talking to the frogs. On my way back Fiona trumps, as usual I tell her nothing. Only a few minutes later my watcher calls, Cal is in trouble again, his mind is under some influence and they cannot reach him. I wander back to my room and try his trump. He is freaking out on drugs. Typical for Cal to get stoned at a time like this. After a brief struggle I drag him through along with half of the bedclothes. We bundle him off to the lab to detox him as he is obviously dosed up on some hallucinogen. The lord watcher shows me Benedict's window, he is seriously wounded but still lives. There are as I see it 3 options, stay and fight, go to the centre or split up. None of these are satisfactory but I suggest to the lord watcher that whatever the option the gates of Mars should be opened without delay, as the enemy and the storm will destroy all in their path, even if they don't resist. I go to discuss tactics with Sword and Shield, then perform some tests on various weapons to see what will work in this shadow. Only mechanical and pneumatic weapons will work here, but that may change later when the gates open and the storm comes. When Cal comes around he tells us of the girl who drugged him, and the zipped up book with pictures of Gerard and Randall. I send a message to Michel asking him to get the watchers evacuated. Next mornin g after a quick breakfast I fill Sword and Shield in on my weapons testing and go over some more tactics then go down to the pub with Calvin to investigate the girl's room. The barman does not find the girl in his room. When we search we find that the bottle and glasses have been cleaned and there is no residue of magic, only the smell of the decaying serving girl in the closet, about 3 days old. I suggest the barkeep call the undertaker and the sheriff. As we walk back to the temple we meet an acolyte hurrying to get us, a strange man has arrived claiming to be Francois, son of Sand. He has had a run in with Randall but is cagey about how he escaped. He wants to know the way out, but there is none so I ask him if he would like to be a general. The gates of Mars are to be opened that afternoon so I mope around, killing time, only to overhear Cal suggesting some rather ridiculous plans to Sword and Shield. I tell him that his ideas are loopy then move on. Suddenly the quiet is disturbed by the ringing of alarm bells, there is a fire in the altar room and several watchers have been stabbed. I hassle Cal about his kooky plans as we work to help the wounded before meeting again with the lord watcher, then returning to our rooms. As we talk it becomes evident that someone has been impersonating Cal. He rushes to check on the watchers and the lord watcher. No sooner have I decided that Francois is too obvious to be the agent than he zaps me and reveals himself as Randall. He wants to know how to get out. He refuses to believe that I don't know anything and rummages around eventually finding out about the keystone. He denies being in control of the storm or having lobotomised Calvin, but how can I know who to believe. He is greatly pleased at finding Michel's trump, gloating that now he will get the bastard. Cal comes rushing in, only to be ported away into a wall. Randall takes his leave. I get a trump from Cal, he tries a power word which serves only to upset the trump. Seconds later he rushed through the door again. A few words from Cal to pathfinder are enough to release me from the binding. I have decided to stay here. My hope is that it was no coincidence Michel telling me about the keystone only a day before Randall came to take the knowledge from me. I hope that it is a cunning double bluff to lure him to the centre of the trap. If not then there is little that we can do anyway. At least if we stay here we can try to reduce the ranks of his army somewhat. Cal asks the lord watcher to call Michel and warn him that Randall has his trump, she goes into the temple, a few moments later there is an immense psychic force and a sound like shelling. When we recover the trumps are radiating like Michel's was. Sword and Shield come out carrying an unconscious lord watcher covered in broken glass. All the trump windows have shattered and the watchers are unconscious also. She recovers to tell us that Michel was already in contact with something nasty. Randall can be pretty quick off the mark on occasion. The only windows that have not been blown are the twins Crasus and Icarus and a young woman, Julianus. Back in the main temple, the wreckage has been cleared away and the ceremony begins. She takes out 4 large trumps an places them in slots in the altar. An image of Michel appears speaking suitably grave and serious words then the gate opens and spews forth a long procession of Greek warriors and mythical beasts. It takes a day for the last of the million to come through. We will have trouble feeding this many so when we are fully prepared the lord watcher will again alter the time flow to bring forward the battle. Upon checking I find that none of the shadow axioms have changed in the slightest. At the council of war I warn against the possibility of infiltration by shifters. I spy on the enemy and see the last of the Ubermen get slaughtered. Most of the enemy divisions are backed by a battalion of Calvins. They usually advance behind the storm front, perhaps Calvin can hold it a while with the Pattern.

The fighting begins. Cal holds the storm for only half a minute, at least he tried. Several hours later the axioms shift and the guns start. I order the troops to start collecting weaponry, which we change a bit and use to equip rifle squads. I begin to lay minefields in their path, but despite our best efforts by the fifth day they are almost back to the temple. That night we are bombed. Our forces have been reduced by three quarters. At lest the watchers have had the sense to strip the temple and evacuate. On the eighth day we hold them for several hours at the edge of the next shadow before our line breaks and the 50,000 survivors flee, splitting into several groups to hamper pursuit. Fortunately we have killed a lot of the Calvins but now the best we can hope for is to save some of those who have fought so hard. I check on the enemy, they are scouting and foraging. Though it will do little good we burn and trap what lies behind us. A squad of Calvins ambush us, Cal gets dropped by two of his namesakes, forcing me to lend a helping hand. It must be time for Cal to risk shifting us a bit, the troops cannot keep running like this, I give him a description on the henge as a destination. I call some of the commanders to arrange the evacuation of the other groups, but can only contact two. I gate them through, along with several zillion Calvins, by the time we have killed the last of them only 8000 remain. Cal checks up on the position of our glowing trumps, I am more concerned about the watchers. No one has seen them and I cannot make contact with my watcher. When we wake the next morning there is an arrow embedded in the ground next to my pillow, carrying a not which says RUN. I don't need to be told twice. The enemy have moved ahead of the storm and are only two days behind us. The must be shifting as well. We assemble the generals and prepare to march.

18-Jan-93 We continue shifting towards the centre with our remaining 8000 troops. Outward gates are becoming increasingly difficult and the shifting is slow. Even at our best pace we are not gaining any ground on the enemy. That morning two guards arrive with a captured Calvin. Funny thing is he is not bound. This omission is quickly explained - he alters his features to the grinning likeness of Randall. He says that the centre is a trap and offers to join forces with us to increase the chances of escaping. Cal makes no attempt to conceal his hatred and tries to skewer him, to little effect as he takes a firm blow which sends him sprawling. Sword and Shield arrive to investigate and get the privilege of an introduction to the enemy. He again denies guilt and blames others who have taken his face. This means little to me as it is not his own face in any event. He implied that he had been to the centre, but if so how did he get back. He probably just looked from a distance or sent agents, but the possibility still exists that this area is fully under his control. It could even be that this is a different Randall from the one back at the temple. All debate aside, we cannot trust him and will not make any deal, so he departs with a mocking smile still on his lips. The march is resumed, 8 hours to a grassy plain where we are attacked by wolf creatures in the night. Flash floods in the river valleys, plague lice in the forests. Our friend is having fun playing with the shadows. Mountains, ice fields, more plains filled with stampeding buffalo. Scouts of armoured knights and a city fortified for war, this we bypass only to meet greater threats. A tropical forest filled with pygmy cannibals armed with poison darts, then a tidal wave as we march along the coast. We are down to 3000 men as we march across more grassy plains only to meet a line of soldiers blocking our path. I give Cal a spell of charismatic communication so he can parley with the enemy and an armiger enchantment to help him escape if things turn nas ty. I fly behind their lines to scout out their positions and find a good terminus for a gate to move the troops if the enemy attack. Five miles beyond their line is the henge, nearby are several fresh graves. I fly back to our camp. At least the enemy have not advanced. Cal is back, he says that this place has been set as a trap for Randall, but that is only the secondary purpose, what else is served they didn't say, or at least Calvin is not saying. He is most disturbed because one of their commanders took the face of Eric, his father. We have been offered passage through the henge or we can stay and watch the fight. Cal and I agree to stay, Sword and Shield seem rather pleased about the prospect of another shot at the enemy. If we stay our troops are to be positioned on the west flank. We all head back to the line to finalise the agreement with the other commander. Sword and Shield get kitted up in some fancy armour. Very impressive. An escort takes us into a tent where we meet Eric, I introduce Sword and Shield as our generals. We take some wine, then Corwin arrives. As usual Calvin left a lot out when he told me of his visit. We discuss the storm and the Calvins and how far they are behind us. It should be about 2 days before they strike and another 2 before the storm gets here. They say that this really is the centre. To my senses they both have much power, Eric's of Pattern and Corwin's something much stranger. Perhaps it is the feel of his new pattern. We return to our camp and march the men into position, then for luck as much as anything I throw the I Ching, the trump still being too hot to handle. The double ideogram is of a force or love that is stronger than marriage or travel. Travel is especially appropriate to members of our family. I help some of the wounded then do some scrying and analysis. Magic is weak here and although there are no especial energies this is definitely the centre. I get cleaned up for dinner, which is in one of the large tents. Amongst the various generals are Corwin, Eric an d Oberon. I am almost numb to surprises so this one doesn't bother me much. I was expecting him to turn up sooner or later. My only doubt was on which side. What does surprise me is that he has obviously met Sword and Shield before. Those two are definitely more than I first though. I am beginning to have some interesting suspicions about them. Oberon scolds us both for being bad boys. I should not have messed around with Randall. Calvin it seems has been even naughtier, but no specifics are mentioned. We discuss Randall, Michel, Dworkin and the skymantra as I relate some details of my recent history to our beloved leader. Calvin does likewise but leaves out any reference to Anna or his children. How is it that our elders expect the full story from us but remain consistently parsimonious with their own knowledge? Ah hypocrisy, how I love thee, an all the joys of the meek and downtrodden. How about self pity Alain, you forgot to mention that. Then the dancing girls are bought on followed by dinner, during which Cal and I have a brief discussion about parents, notably the appearance of Eric and my reactions to Oberon given that he and dad didn't get on. I tell Cal that neither dad (were he alive) or Oberon would thank me for my interference and that if he is unsure if it is the real Eric he should still behave appropriately. After dinner Oberon relay some orders then we all say goodnight and depart except for Cal who stays behind. I prepare for the battle then rest before waking early the next morning to go to a briefing. I warn them not to rely on his magic working in a normal fashion, or being weakened by Oberon's intervention, but he passes me off as an ignorant child. Though it annoys me greatly I hope he is right, otherwise we will probably lose. I return to my tent to prepare for battle and keep what tabs I can on the disposition of the enemy forces. Our forces are moved back, positioning them closer to the Henge in case the gate opens and taking more advantage of the hilly terrain. The enemy are camped about 4 hours march away and don't look as though they will attack until tomorrow so I take the opportunity to get in some R&R. Mainly getting away from the troops and troublesome relatives to do a bit of gliding and other non-productive things. As I look over the terrain it occurs to me that he may well be planning to use gates or jumpers to rapidly move his troops into position. I try to scry out any sites that he may have prepared but as expected he is shielding against observation. I go looking for Oberon to warn him about the possibility of gates. Corwin and Eric are just leaving the tent. Oberon clears away the goblets he was using and has a servant fetch new wine and glasses, as if there was something there I was not meant to see. Oberon was also binding his hands with cloth like a boxer. Strange. When I warn him about the gates he insists that the shadow would not accept them. I am insistent that some magic is beyond the properties of the local shadow, and in any case whatever he changes with Pattern Randall can oppose or undo. Perhaps an alarm to warn us of any gatings would be useful. I should have saved my breath and he barely notes my words and goes on to plans of his own. A quick Logrus search and a teleport spell brings a dazed Calvin to my side. Our mission (and we will accept it) is to infiltrate the enemy camp to find out who is there and what there plans are. Pretty tall order. Oberon wants to do my disguise for me, I thought which I don't find at all appealing. He has some appropriate uniforms for us and I prepare to leave but Cal decides that now is a good time to press for some more enlightenment. Obviously he still feels a trifle ignorant. As if a few words from Oberon could cure him! He insists on knowing if it is the real Eric and gets into an obstinate sulk when answers are not forthcoming. Oberon tells him to join the team or sit in the dressing room because he can't just stand on the sideline and watch the game without being involved. As usual Calvin can't tell the difference between stubbor n, stupid and suicidal. I manage to hustle him back to our tent before Oberon loses his temper. On the way I am sure I caught a glimpse of Michel, but he was not in the tent when I checked. Strange, but my suspicions are beginning to solidify. I give Cal a serious talking to, filling him in on a few of the facts of life. Such as you don't say no to Oberon and other little things like that. I then tend to my disguise, wish Sword and Shield luck in the coming battle and return to Oberon's tent. The pushy fucker decides that impersonating an officer isn't good enough, only a Calvin will do. I cannot decide which is worse, having Oberon shift me or wearing the face of a Calvin. We are ready to go once Cal has removed all his extraneous enchanted gadgets and retooled with Calvin clone gear, then Oberon ports us behind the enemy lines. I knew this mission was more than a trifle fishy, but the spell Oberon used must have been felt for miles around. Talk about over use of power. It is next to impossible to make an effective shield differential on a gating, not to mention terribly wasteful, so he just lit up our arrival in neon. The enemy are mostly hanging around sharpening their weapons so Cal and I start to move through the soldiers towards the centre of the camp. I waylay and interrogate a grunt soldier but he doesn't know much of value so we keep going, eventually entering what appears to be a Calvin only area. There is a lot of activity around a large tent which is the only entrance to a secure area surrounded by a stockade. We circle it before entering the tent to find out what is inside. There are lines of Calvins in front of tables, each headed by a large picture of one of Cal's previous lovers. The Calvins are taking numbered chits. This is probably the waiting room for access to a bunch of look alike whores. We wait for a while, drinking and listening to the conversations. The general desire of this bunch is pretty standard. Win the war, walk the Pattern, kill Calvin and have all his women and children. We arra nge a meeting afterwards the I go to the tent, not wanting to arouse suspicions by missing the appointment. As expected the woman is an Anna clone. The thought of this is sickening so I try to convince myself that this is Calvin, not me, performing this depravity. In any case even a clone of Anna is too good for Calvin. We drink and listen a while longer before continuing to move deeper into the camp. A few hours later we come across a heavily guarded command area, the Calvins who are on guard all have a lightning bolt insignia on their lapels and always move in groups of 4, usually escorting a non-Calvin VIP. We see a Dierdrie, but shortly our inspection is interrupted when an officer sends us back to out area. We are planning to loop back but divert to investigate the sound of a scream. A Calvin, probably the one we saw being dragged from the compound is being impaled in punishment for the murder of S. Anna, presumably one of the whores. We keep checking the area but the guards are vigilant and there is no easy way in so we move back and waylay a slightly drunk Calvin and drag him into an empty tent for interrogation. I could have saved myself the effort, he knows nothing of any use. The only thing that I can think of is to send Cal back with what little information we have gained while I try to bug one of the command tents. Since I will need a bit of privacy to construct the bug I walk with Cal, heading away from the command area, back towards our lines. We get stopped a few times by various guards who point us in the correct direction. The risk of being spotted is high since we are the only people still moving about. I need not have worried as out cover was long since blown. A smiling Randall strides out of a tent heading straight toward us. Nothing for it but to salute and hope he is in a good mood. I suspect he detected us the moment we arrived, either through the flare of the teleport, Cal's pattern signature or by explicitly searching for us. Fortunately he is in good humour, after the obligatory offer fo r us to change sides he gives us a message for Oberon, "I'll see your head on a pike tomorrow", then permits us to leave. He acted like he was lowering a barrier, which would not surprise me except that I didn't feel anything, and any sort of comprehensive shield would have to be massive. Once back in my tent I get changed, face and clothes. That feels a lot better. The we head off to report to Oberon, who will be out in a moment. meanwhile I talk to Eric and Corwin and wonder what Oberon was doing while us two patsies were running interference for him. When he arrives I relay Randall's message and fill in the few details we were able to learn, along with the sighting of Dierdrie and my revised estimate of their troop numbers. Cal mentions their general, Tomlinson, who Oberon has heard of. We are dismissed til 03:00 when Oberon will hold the final briefing before the hostilities begin. Z Z Z. It is still very dark when I rise, not even a hint of dawn as I prepare myself for battle. There is nothing new in the briefing, Cal and I take command of 2 legions each, initially to be held in reserve to allow our troops the maximum amount of rest. Afterwards Oberon takes Sword, Shield and myself aside to tell us not to waste any magic until after the signal, since he will be modifying the environment. As we leave Cal tells me that both Sword and Shield have cuts on their hands. Curiouser and curiouser. The battle starts, the magic stops, the enemy advance, right across an area of mines. Then shells start to fall as both sides open up with heavy weapons. As swiftly as it departed the magic returns and the battle begins in earnest. We do not remain in reserve for long as I am forced to use the bulk of my spells to avoid out position being overrun in the initial surge. Nukes and blasts, ballistic projectiles, bindings and mind fries, all are spent except a few flitters and hastes. Even so we are being overwhelmed, most of the men have been killed, Cal and I have grouped together to reduce our front. The battle is starting to look fairly even despite the carnage until the men sag at the sight of hordes of dwarves emerging from the craters in the ground. I just smiled grimly as my suspicions were confirmed. The dwarves piled into the rear of the enemy and bean to commit much mayhem. I love it when a plan comes together. I advance my force to attack their weakened flank. The attack is progressing well, hundreds of the enemy falling, crushed between us, the dwarves and the rest of the army. We are poised to deliver the coup-de-grace to the remains of their western flank when our efforts are distracted. The bulk of the remaining Calvins have formed a wedge and are forcing their way to the Amber banner. I direct one of my last blasts hoping to disrupt their formation, but it fizzles ineffectively against a screen. Our forces charge into their flank to slow their advance, then pull back and wheel as a wedge splits off to engage us while the rest advance on the standard. We fight valiantly but to no avail, the standard falls. Calvin, Sword and Shield charge to the defence while my troops alter position to cover their rear as they advance. I can see Benedict fighting with Eric and Corwin, Randall and Dierdrie are in the middle of the opposing wedge, which is made up of the lightning bolt Calvins. Oberon is not fighting, but seems to be manipulating the environment. A rift opens in the opposing formation and Dierdrie advances through it, Cal begins to retreat but when Sword and Shield charge to the attack he moves to support them. They fight mightily, even managing to hit her on occasion, but to little effect. With a massive punch she knocks Shield several yards through the air, leaving him dazed upon the ground. In desperation Sword zaps her with a spell which, to my great surprise, freezes her in her tracks. Sword runs to rescue his brother but Cal continues to hack at Dierdrie. This gains him the attentions of Randall in the form of a fireball that drops him, a smouldering mess on the ground. Behind me, as I rush to Calvin's aid, the last of our troops are killed. We stand surrounded by enemies as we fight to join with our uncles. There is a brief lull as Randall and Oberon face off, during which we finally manage to link up. Randall challenges Oberon to stand aside from his constructs and fight him man to man. Constructs? Perhaps as Cal suggested Oberon has made creatures of blood or a magical construct and imbued it with the power of Pattern, given it the shape of a son. This could account for the cut on his hand, and those on Sword and Shield. Then Randall disappears and the fighting continues, a few moments later he reappears and gates in 2000 more Calvins before Oberon stops him. I had warned him about gates, this shows that he is not infallible as he would have us think. Pity though, as this has turned the odds against us again. The battle rages on, slowly we gain the upper hand. Through the carnage I see Corwin fighting with Dierdrie, he beats her to the ground but cannot bring himself to administer the final blow, then the lines surge again and she is lost amongst the Calvins. Suddenly it is over. The last of the enemy fleeing in rout. We have won, but to the best of my knowledge Randall and Dierdrie have escaped. The few remaining troops make camp, Cal helps the medics but I can't be bothered doing anything but sleep. Next morning I awake only a short while before a messenger arrives to take me to Oberon's tent. Cal is already there, Sword and Shield arrive a few moments later. We are invited on a short centaur ride to the Henge. There are 10 dead Calvins and a Brand on the altar, the keystone has been painted in blood. They must have escaped during the night, as there were no guards. My stone tell enchantment draws a blank so I cannot determine exactly what happened or whether this is the real Brand. It occurs to me that either Oberon is a total fool for leaving the spoils of the war unguarded or this scene and the surrounding events are Oberon's doing, perhaps by design, action or failing. but in any case we only see what he wants us to see. He wants us to take the troops through the Henge while he brings up the rear. The storm is coming so we don't have much time. The trumps are working again, but when we make contact we are not to tell anyone about Oberon, and I assume that Eric and Corwin, whoever or whatever they are, are also off limits. Sword and Shield will remain with Oberon, I muse over what this implies while Cal asks Oberon some more inane questions. I barely listen since he isn't getting any answers. I try to get a private word with Oberon and then Sword and Shield, then Cal and I lead the troops through the gate.

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