Chapter 12   Ten Years Later

Ashlyn took a moment to reflect as she sat at her desk and rearranged the pictures that she had sitting upon it.  There were the family pictures and pictures that were taken on shadow earth at an amusement park called Disney World.  They all looked funny in their mouse ears.  She paused and ran a finger along the frame that held a picture of Luke and her hamming it up for the camera.  She had to admit that she missed him sometimes.

            Things around the Castle had been so quiet and uneventful since the uprising in Amber City so many years ago that there was really nothing to write about.  Consequently, her journal had collected a fine cover of dust.  Blake was still in seclusion; House Jesby of Chaos had been quiet—maybe too quiet.  It was usually commonplace to hear of House Jesby to be scheming over something, but there hadn’t been any news worth reporting of them lately.  Brand had been completely forgiven and was now able to come and go as he pleased and to be a real father to her.  Anastasia had made life a little more fun since she had joined the Rangers.

            Ashlyn sighed as she got up from her desk and strapped on her sword.  She gave herself a once-over in the mirror to make sure that her uniform was straight and went to make her rounds of the Castle.

            She turned a corner and began to walk the length of a long hallway.  Was it her imagination or was it getting darker at the end of the hallway?  She had a hand on her sword and proceeded with caution.

            No, it wasn’t her imagination.  The torches at the end of the hall were out and by magic, one by one, each torch was extinguishing itself, starting with the ones furthest from her and coming toward her.  Her sword was out now as she backed up a couple of steps and turned to go the other direction but found that the torches at the opposite end of the hall were doing the same thing.  She grabbed the one closest to her off the wall before it could go out.  In nearly no time at all she was holding the only means of illumination in the entire hallway.  No light could be seen either in front of her or behind her.

            A hissing sound sailed through the air and something knocked the torch from her hand to the floor.  Just beyond the ring of illumination was the Man in Black.  He looked to be holding something coiled in his hand and he chuckled low.

            “You again?!  What the hell do you want from me?” Ashlyn asked as she took a step out of the light and took up a defensive stance.  Over the last en years, she had honestly thought that she would never hear from him again.

            “Your blood,” was all he said in a throaty, deep voice.  It was obvious that he was trying to disguise it.  He raised his hand and let the coiled thing fly.  It had an ear-splitting report and Ashlyn could feel a sting as the tip of the whip sliced into her left cheek.  She only cowered for an instant as her blood ignited and a flame leaped out of the wound.  She could feel its heat spread over her entire side of her face as she realized with a sickening drop of her stomach that the Man in Black wielded a Logrus whip.  It was common knowledge that a Logrus weapon of any kind could be fatal to an Amberite if it came in contact with their blood.

            Oh, my Unicorn!  He’s gonna slice me up with that thing! Ashlyn gracefully sidestepped the next attack, not wanting to come in contact with it again.  Thunder seemed to roll with its hair-splitting report as it sliced into a tapestry that was hanging on the wall behind her.  Wildly, Ashlyn glanced up at the tear and ripped the whole thing off the wall.  The whip sounded again with another loud cr-aak!  as it rent another tear in the heavy tapestry just inches away from her nose.  Mustering her strength she threw it over him, causing him to stumble and fall back hard against the wall with a loud “Oomph!”  She didn’t wait for him to recover and using him as a steppingstone she knocked the wind out of him and took off at a dead run down the hall.

            Her heart was pounding in her ears as she ran, trying to call out for help along the way, but her tongue felt thick in her mouth and her throat constricted.  As she rounded a corner she ran into a soft, muscular-mountain that yielded slightly and made an “Oomph” sound as she did.  Great big muscular arms encircled her preventing struggle.  With a gasp Ashlyn looked up to see that she had quite literally run into her uncle Gerard.

            “Ashlyn!  Are you alright?  You look a little shook up—what happened to your face?” he asked with concern.

            “The Man in Black—down the hall—all dark—big bad whip—I got away—scared the hell out of me!” Ashlyn sputtered.  Gerard got all serious and went down the hall to investigate.  When they reached the scene of the fight, he began to mercilessly pound the heap of tapestry, but it was quite obvious that the assailant was already gone.  All that remained was a sliced up tapestry sitting in a mangled heap.

            “Well, he’s gone now.  Let’s get you to the infirmary.  That’s a nasty looking scratch that just doesn’t really want to stop bleeding does it?  Yes, Gerard will fix you right up,” he put a comforting arm about her shoulders and led her to the infirmary himself.  He literally pushed the physician out of the way and tended to her himself.

            “That should heal up in no time,” he said as he finished cleaning the wound.

            “I don’t think so,” Ashlyn muttered.                                                                      

            “Sure it will!  Do you see this right here?” he lowered his collar to expose his shoulder.

            “No,” she replied.

            “Of course not.  But a bullet went in this side and came out the back.  This right here,” he pointed to his elbow next.  “Nearly got my arm chopped off by a battle ax.  No scar there either.  You’re an Amberite.  You’ll heal up just fine.  So who do you think is after you?”

            “I wish I knew,” Ashlyn said with a tired sigh.

            “Do you have any enemies that you know of?” he asked.

            “Just being Brand’s daughter would be enough, I would think,” Ashlyn replied and sat still as Gerard applied some ointment.

            “Could it be the same man who killed your brother?” he asked.

            “I was wondering about that.  It’s possible,” was all she said.

            “Let me see that deck of yours,” he held his hand out for her Trumps.  She obediently handed them over and he began to thumb through them.  “So what did he look like?”

            “I don’t know.  He had a mask on.  I know he’s taller than I am and all I know is that his build is large.  I don’t even know his eye or hair color!” she said with another sigh.

            “Let’s see.  Not a whole lot to go on.  Here’s a small list at least.  That could be Osric, Corwin, Caine, Dalt, Marcus, possibly Eric or Draven,” he said and handed the deck back to her.

            “That’s a rather long list,” Ashlyn sighed again.

            “Well, better leave this patch on for the rest of the day and replace it before you go to bed and there’s no reason why you couldn’t return to duty right now,” he said.  “I think you’ll be okay now.  Just holler if you need me for anything and I’ll come running.”

            “Thanks,” Ashlyn warmly squeezed his hand and stepped out of the infirmary.  She had just barely gotten five steps away when she heard her mother from behind her call out.

            “Ashlyn!”  Ashlyn spun around quickly to face her.  Jasra let out a gasp of surprise.

            “What did you do to your face?”

            “It’s nothing—” Ashlyn began.

            “Nothing, my foot!” Jasra snapped at her.  Ashlyn could feel her anger quickly rising, the hairs standing up on the back of her neck and her fist clenching.

            “Did you need something, mom?” Ashlyn asked in a controlled voice.  Her mother seemed to be increasingly irritable recently.

            “We need to talk, dear.  It looks like I lifted that spell too soon,” she sighed.

            “What spell?” Ashlyn asked sharply and raised an eyebrow.

            “I put a spell of protection on you.  You were having that string of simply frightful bad luck, so I put a spell of protection on you with a high compelling on whoever was nearest to you so that they could help you.  Maybe I should put it back on?”

            “And just when did you lift it?”

            “Just yesterday, dear.”

            “And when did you put it on in the first place?”

            “A very long time ago,” Jasra dismissed it with a wave of her hand.

            “Unbelievable!” Ashlyn muttered and turned to go.  “That would explain the place being so quiet for the last ten years!”

            “I did it for you own good, dear,” she said.  “Luke wasn’t so lucky.”

            “Lucky?  Mom, just how old do you think I am?  You don’t think I can take care of myself? —don’t answer that!” Ashlyn turned to face her again, wagging a finger in her face.

            “Ashlyn, you’re still my little girl—” Jasra began.

            “That may be so, but I’m grown up now.  I can’t have you holding my hand anymore.  I have to be able to take care of myself, mother!  I may fall on my ass doing it, but I have to be able to pick myself up again without you!” Ashlyn said passionately, but kept her voice low.

            “So what you’re saying is that you don’t need your mother anymore?” Jasra had begun to cry.  Ashlyn gave a little sigh and went to hug her.

            “Of course not,” she softened.  “I will never stop needing my mother.  I’m just saying that I don’t need you to hold my hand anymore.  And I know that it’s your job to do that, but I’m asking you to let go just a little.  I’m not saying I’ll never need your help again.  Of course I will.  You have to cope with the fact that I’m more grown up now.  Can you be okay with that?”

            “I guess so,” Jasra sniffed.  “I had something to tell you, but with the mood your in, I’m not sure if I should tell you now.”

            “I’m alright, Mom.  Nothing you say can be the wrong thing to say.  What is it?”

            “Your father and I had decided that it was time to try for another child.  I’m pregnant,” she said, her eyes beaming through her tears.  Ashlyn let out a sigh of relief.

            “Mom, that’s great!” Ashlyn smiled now.  At least that would explain Jasra’s ability to get irritated so easily.

            “Yes it is!  I’ll let you get back to duty now,” she said and went on her way.  Ashlyn stared after her for a moment.  What, no concern over her face?  No going into hysterics because her daughter could have died again?  Nah.  Let her be happy with her baby-news.  Why spoil a perfectly good moment?  Why put her out of her good mood?

            Ashlyn continued in the opposite direction down the hall to continue with her rounds.  She was just about to round the corner when she felt the oncoming tingling of a Trump call.  It was Pandora.

            “Hey, Pandora!” Ashlyn greeted.  “What’s up?”

            “I’m out in Arden with Finch.  We’re about to make a discovery of some natives we didn’t know about.  We were wondering if you were free to join us and if I might ask, what did you do to your face, shaving accident?” Pandora seemed to have an amused look on her face.

            “Ha, ha, funny.  Man in Black and I’ll tell you all about it later.  Right now I’m on duty and I really can’t get away for a while.  Maybe you should give Vince a call,” Ashlyn said a little sadly.  She felt a twinge of envy for not being able to go.  It sounded like they were having an adventure without her.

            “I’ll see you later.  Tell me all about it when you get back,” she made Pandora promise and the contact was cut.

            “A little help up here!” Vincent’s voice suddenly sounded from upstairs.  Ashlyn went running, her mind racing.  The Man in Black again?  Would he return so soon?

            Rounding the corner she found Vincent in the middle of the hallway cradling an unconscious girl in his lap.  She had green skin and dark green hair and around her neck was the Jewel of Judgment!  Ashlyn looked to Vincent for some answers.

            “I was just minding my own business.  The Hall of Mirrors just happened to show up and then left this girl here.  She was already wearing the Jewel.  I don’t dare remove it just yet,” he said as Blake arrived with Random and Benedict in tow.

            “What have we here?” Benedict demanded.

            “She’s got a hell of a lump on the back of her head.  Maybe we should get her to the infirmary,” Vincent said.  The girl had begun to stir.

            “Oh, Vincent!  Have I died?” she said.  “How is it that you’re here?”

            “Where’s here?” Vincent asked as he stared at her very hard.  Yes, he was sure that he had never seen her before.

            “Castle Amber, why?  Where were you?” she asked.  She began to look about in confusion.

            “Who are you?” Vincent asked.

            “I’m Sorsha, don’t you remember?  Oh, my head!  You died in the war, Vince,” she said quietly and began to assess her surroundings.  “The Castle is intact?  This can’t be right.”

            “War,” Blake muttered.

            “No really.  Where am I?” Sorsha asked again.

            “Castle Amber.  I’m King Random,” Random stepped forward.  “Would you mind telling me how you acquired the Jewel?”

            “King Random?  No, Eric is king!  And when I saw the Castle last, it was crumbling all around me.  My father gave me the Jewel for safe keeping because the Tamelaks were taking over the Castle.  I ran upstairs and found the Hall of Mirrors.  As I entered, something hit me in the back of the head.  When I came to, I found myself here.”

            “Eric king?  Must be from an alternate reality,” Ashlyn spoke up.

            “Doesn’t look like you’ll be getting back there anytime soon.  Who’s your father?” Vincent asked.

            “Eric—well, he adopted me, actually.  I am half Amberite, though it’s never been found out who my real father is and I’ve walked the Pattern already.  My other half is Tamilarian.  Vincent, I’m your cousin,” she said and struggled to a sitting position.  “Ashlyn?  Blake?  But all of you died in the war!  Pandora and Finch!  Did I die too?  Why don’t any of you remember?”

            “It’s alright, Sorsha.  You haven’t died.  We’re all here now,” Ashlyn stepped forward and helped her up.

            “Just take her to a guest room and get her situated.  When she’s well enough we can get her story.  Maybe after dinner,” Random said.  “Unfortunately, I’ve got lots to do and really can’t deal with it right now.”

            “You’ll be wanting ice for that lump.  I’ll have the infirmary send it up,” Ashlyn offered as she helped Sorsha to walk.

            “Thanks,” she mumbled and let Ashlyn lead her to an empty room.  She gently lowered herself onto the bed.

            “So where were you from originally?” Ashlyn asked as she lit some more lights.

            “The town of Neroon .  It’s north of here—I think,” Sorsha said and began to rub her temples.  “At least—where I came from.  It’s obvious to me that I’m not home anymore.”

            “I haven’t heard of it,” Ashlyn said.  “I haven’t heard of your kind either—Tamelarians, is that what you call your race?”  She sent a servant for the ice.

            “Tamelaks.  Yes.  There was some serious unrest and they were attacking the Castle,” she said quietly.

            “When was it that you left?” Ashlyn asked.

            “Sometime in the future from here, I would imagine,” Sorsha said.  “What year is it?”  Ashlyn took the ice from the servant and gently applied it to Sorsha’s bump as she told her.

            “So I was right.  Maybe I come from a time that hasn’t happened yet,” Sorsha said with an edge of hope in her voice.  “Maybe the war can be prevented.”

            “What war?” Ashlyn asked.

            “The war between my people and yours.  I think House Jesby was involved as well.  When I had left they were destroying Amber Castle.  All the elders had died, and Eric was the only sole survivor aside from myself.  He had given me the Jewel for safekeeping,” Sorsha sank wearily onto the bed.

            “Well, if your reality was real close to what ours is, then that could very well mean that it hasn’t happened yet.  It doesn’t sound like House Jesby is any different no matter when they’re from.  Pandora and Finch were about to discover some locals earlier, but I haven’t heard back from them yet,” Ashlyn said quietly.  “You’re taking your displacement awfully well.  If it were me I’m not sure if I could take it all in as calmly as you have.  Feel any better?”

            “Yes, thanks,” Sorsha said.  “I’ve missed you, Ashlyn.  I miss these talks.”

            “Were we really good friends?”

            “Yes, until the war and you died in my arms,” Sorsha said simply.  “I was the last surviving cousin that I knew of.”  Shivers went down Ashlyn’s spine.  She kept company with Sorsha until dinnertime.

Of course Sorsha’s presence was enough for a family meeting and she told her side of the story.  Pandora and Finch gave their account of their discovery of the Tamelaks and they weren’t exactly what you’d call friendlies.  Benedict decided that the outposts should be fortified to defend against the new threat.  He sent Ashlyn, Marcus, Pandora, Finch and Vincent to defend the northern “wall” that lay a ways north of Mt. Kolvir .  No one really knows how it got there or when it was even built.  It had just always been there to separate Amber from the rest of the unexplored land that lay north of it.

            Along with six of Benedict’s other talented Rangers, they were out there for about a month, raising the army and lying in wait for any attack.  They were very ready for it when it finally did come.  An army of Tamalarians came charging in with something huge in tow behind them.

            Although suffering heavy Ranger casualties, the Amberites were about to claim victory when the huge thing came in on the scene.  It was the Tamalarians’ “god” known as the Gorkamorka.  It was a towering snake-creature and conventional weapons weren’t doing much to it.  In fact, weapons were only making it angrier and it turned its attention to whoever was the closest.

            With Benedict’s help, he and Pandora kept its attention and led it away through shadow.  They returned in one piece, announcing that they had left it in a shadow it was not very likely to get out of.  Victory was won and the remaining Tamalarians were chased off, back to where they came from with explicit orders never to return.  The war had been averted and the Amberites were free to return home.

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