Prince Gerard of Amber was visiting Begma to check up on the state of affairs here. Rand's duty was to welcome Gerard to Begma and show him around the city for the day. After that Rand would bring the Amberite back to the palace so that the king and Gerard could discuss business. Not a very exciting duty but he had never met an Amberite so it wouldn't be too bad.
With little quickness to him, Rand jumped up onto his black steed and rode to the gate to meet Filkur. Filkur was one of the palace's best soldiers as well as a good friend of Rand's. Despite the fact that Rand was well trained and few knew his face well, his father had insisted that someone accompany Rand in case of trouble. Filkur sat proudly on his gray mare, shining brightly in full armor. Filkur was much more excited that Rand was.
The two friends talked of women and soldiering and the city and many other things as they rode toward the city and the inn where Gerard was staying. "The Golden Stag Inn" or just simply "The Inn" was the best in the city. The rooms were large enough for whole families and cost ten times as much as any other inn in the city. They crested a hill and saw the large building setting in the middle of a large courtyard.
"Stay here Filkur, I will be back with Gerard in a few minutes. I doubt any trouble will cross my path in that time." Filkur nodded his head and Rand rode down to the inn. After tying his horse on the fence Rand opened the door and stepped in.
Rand's entrance was far more surprising than he suspected. The moment he closed the door a man flying through the air crashed into him. Rand fell against the wall with the wind knocked out of him. As soon as he could regain some composure he looked up to see a muscular man picking up another body in preparation of throwing him. Immediately Rand unsheathed his sword and yelled at the large man.
"Unhand him now. You will not go around throwing people as long as I have something to say about it."
"Ohh yeah," said the other man. "Come and stop me."
And as soon as he said that, the other man threw the man he was holding at Rand. Rand stepped aside just in time to clear himself of the flying body and then he went after the man.
Rand took a step forward and lashed out with then blade. In a single move, the other man proved much faster than he appeared and moved to the side of the blade. Then the muscular man grabbed hold of Rand's wrist with a crushing strength. Rand dropped the sword. The man put Rand in a bear hug and Rand, despite his own tremendous strength, could feel his bones about to break. Suddenly Rand saw his one chance. Attack the man where he did not expect it.
Rand focused his mind on the big man's mind. As he had done times before Rand focused his will on the man in an attempt to take the man's mind.
"Haha, you think your pathetic mind can take mine? You shadow people are very amusing," he said with a chuckle.
Rand was in for another surprise. This man fought back with his mind. He was not like the commoners. He was strong in will and mental power. This was not going to be as easy as he expected. The man let up his bear hug and the two fought mentally.
"You are strong," Rand let out in a gasp.
"You are also," said the large man and after that neither spoke.
A minute turned into two, then five. Five became 10 minutes, then 20 and finally as they reached 30 minutes Filkur opened the door and stepped in. Neither the large man nor Rand had given up their attacks but the larger man had been putting his full force into his attacks while Rand used only what he needed. Rand had never faced anyone this strong before and was not sure how everything would go.
The entrance of Filkur gave him the moment he needed. As the large man was slightly distracted at seeing who entered, Rand slammed his full force into the man. There was no contest. Rand had won.
"It's about time you showed up Filkur. What were you doing up there? Sleeping?"
"I ... sir ... I thought you were .... um ... talking with him or something ... I did ... I didn't know something was amiss ... I didn't ...." but Rand cut him off.
"Don't worry about it. Just arrest this man." Rand pointed to the man he still held with mind contact.
The other two men that had been thrown were lying where they landed, still unconscious. As soon as Filkur bound the man's hands tightly behind him Rand released his grip on the man. The muscular man awoke came to with a start and looked questioning at Rand.
"Who are you? What power do you possess that you best me, me of all people, at a psychic battle?"
"You mean for me to take your mind?" Rand responded. "Do not worry about it, I have done it to others before, it is a talent I possess but never have I seen someone with a strength at it like you. I would have had you earlier but your power of mind surprised me."
"I am afraid you do not understand young man. I am an Amberite. No one from the shadows should be able to beat me in a psychic battle. No one, even though I am low in that department."
"A ... an Amberite?" Rand asked a little surprised.
"Yes." And with that the man broke his bonds with a single bulge of his muscles. "Now, I repeat who are you?"
"I am Rand. Prince of Begma. Gerard I assume?"
Gerard laughed a hearty laugh, "Yes I am he. It seems we had a little misunderstanding." Gerard was apparently taking this a WHOLE lot better than Rand.
"But why did you attack a loyal servant of the king? My people?"
"YOUR people? These are no more your people than they are demons ... but they are close. It seems one of my brothers decided to hire some of your excellent members of the Assassin's guild to kill me. It didn't work."
"You mean they were attacking you first?" Rand asked.
"Now you begin to see." Gerard responded. Rand almost fell to the floor. He had to use a chair to support himself.
"I am so sorry. I didn't know ... I thought ... I mean that..." Rand began to say but Gerard cut him off. "I am not interested in that Lord Rand. I am more interested in something else. Who your real father is."
"My real father? He is King of Begma, Lord Cythris, he is..." But again Gerard stopped him.
"No, I do not think so. Only an Amberite could have bested me like you did. You are not a shadow person, your father was an Amberite."
Rand couldn't believe his ears, again he almost fell. Gerard noticing it all bent over and retrieved Rand's sword from the ground. He gave it to Rand then placed his arm on Rand so that he could support him.
"Soldier," Gerard said to Filkur, "Arrest those men. I will take Rand home. Speak nothing of what happened to day. Understand?" Filkur nodded.
Gerard supported Rand as they went to retrieve their horses. Once they were mounted and riding through the city Gerard spoke again. "Now tell me of your city my young Prince of Amber..."
| Tuesday, September 30, 1997 |
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