Tome VIII:
Transformation
Through the air he moved, wings large and fleshed like a bats, skull flat and triangular. In the form of a man-bat he flew to Amber, awash with rage and confusion. The conversation with Kianne had indeed been eye-opening and snatches of it ran through his head like a maddening cacophany.
...he banished me...barely a child...sentenced me to wander in shadow for no crime other than my birth...
...I claimed what powers I could, to survive....
...the descendents of Benedict will pay for what they've done...Karl, Clarissa, Quynn, Dara, Merlin...they will pay...
...who do you think it was that destroyed Tiberius and made it look to be the fault of Rogers...
...she took you from me...she and Mandor...
...Nicholas is destroying the lords of Chaos, consuming their power...
...you punished her, but her suffering is not done...
He had tried to peer through the illusions...but it was no glamour. He fought his instinct to believe, hoping...praying that it were but some trick of Ariel's. But it was not. Chadwick had brought her through into Amber...and now here...she could do what she wished to. Why? Why had he done it!? And so Konrad flew to Castle Amber to confront him...to demand an accounting.
He landed a half-mile outside of Amber...the storm hiding him from sight. He assumed the form of Cassilda and headed to the castle. It was only as he approached Chadwick's quarters that the guards attempted to hinder him. Waving her fan like an angry bird, Cassilda was insistant...the guards feared she would become violent...and so Chadwick invited her into his chambers.
Immediately Cassilda began raving at him...ranting...questioning...not letting him answer.
"Why did you bring him here? What did you think to accomplish? Do you know what you've done? She'll kill them!"
"What are you talking about?" Chadwick inquired, calmly.
Her eyes went yellow, and then Konrad stood before him.
"Well...at least that deception is past," Chadwick replied coldly.
"What you have let into Amber is far worse than any accident I have brought about by bringing the King in Yellow here. Do you know how many will die because of what you've done? Because you let her in?"
"What are you talking about?" he inquired, seeming for the first time a bit nervous.
"Dorian...." Konrad trailed off. He did not know. "You don't know what you've done...." and then he left, assuming Cassilda's form on his way out. The guards began heading towards him, and so Konrad ducked into a window-lit alcove, opened the glass, and jumped...gently drifting to the glass below. There he hid himself amidst some trees to trump Cassilda.
He explained briefly that he had gotten her in trouble with the guards, that he had had an argument with Chadwick. He promised to clarify the matter immediately. He asked her whether or not she had a trump of Random, and if he might borrow it. She passed it through the trump, and suddenly looked very nervous.
"What's wrong Konrad? What's going on?" she asked.
"I can't explain now...but you must get Quynn somewhere safe...out of Amber...it's not safe here for him. Will you do it?" he pleaded.
"I will...but you must tell me what is going on...." she answered.
"When there is time," and he ran his hand over the card, ending the contact.
He then immediately trumped King Random.
"Your majesty...something important has come up...it's vital that I walk the Pattern tonight. Perhaps in Rebma, where I would be farther from prying eyes. Could you make arrangements with Queen Llewella that I be allowed to walk the Pattern there tonight."
"Well...I can...I will...what's going on? Is there something I should know?" Random responded.
"Yes. No. I can't explain right now. I'll trump you as soon as I've walked the Pattern and explain everything."
"Fine. I'll be in Arden with Julian...make sure you contact me soon." Random finished.
And then the conversation ended. Konrad began to head away from Castle Amber, passing Karl on the way...who did not notice him. He removed his trump, and reappeared at the stairs leading down to Rebma.
The streets of Rebma were empty when Konrad arrived...and Queen Llewella stood at the gates to meet him. They reached the castle after a short walk and she escorted down the long spiralling stairs to the Pattern. She didn't talk as they moved, and even Konrad was strangely silent. The surreality of being under water...of moving through this reflection of Castle Amber...it all reminded him of another castle...of Carcosa. Beyond a large silver-bound door Konrad beheld the Pattern for the first time.
"Random does not hold sway here, Konrad," Queen Llewella began. "You walk the Pattern tonight because I will it to be so."
"Few have been kind to me in Amber, your majesty. I will remember what you have done for me...and honor it. If you ever have need of me, you have but to call," Konrad replied.
And so he removed most of his clothing, leaving only a loincloth...setting aside all of his belongings...and set foot on the Pattern.
This story continues in Tome IX: Prelude to Closure.