I was calm again. The bell rang: it was time for dinner. With as much grace as I could muster, I went down the stairs rather slowly, as if in a dream. I was the first one there, I believe. Anne came in shortly after I, looking disgruntled. Kent entered after her and sat near Anne. "Any luck with Arcanus?"

"Ever want to cheerfully strangle your brother?" Yes, I thought as I folded my napkin on my lap. Many times. Over and over. I sometimes dreamed of it. "He's being a stubborn, self-absorbed punk. I get more help from my Shadow boys."

Ah. I must not have spoken then. I think that was good.

Selene entered next, her black hair piled up in a mass of artful curls. Somewhere, she had found new clothing, a low-cut dress of lace and froth. It was white, and very bright in contrast to my dark grey suit. I looked very dapper, I thought, combed and brushed and washed. The suit was one of my finest from here, with a tie and everything. After all, this was a dinner. Formal, I think. My shirt was forest green, and I remembered to put on the golden cufflinks I had gotten from Mother years and years ago.

"Sorry for earlier," I said as I came in. No...that's not right. "I've had a rather rough day." Over and over again. Did Selene come in already or not? Yes, there she was at my elbow. The right. "But then again, I also wasn't almost eaten by a sea serpant, or whatever that was that attacked your ship, Anne."

That was ages ago, how had I remembered? Was I seated? Yes, there was a napkin in my lap, though I didn't remember putting it there.

"At any rate," I plunged on. "I've a deal to make with you, and Kent. A favor to ask." We're going to call the devil, or God. I misremember.

Anne looked to be a great cat, stretching in the sun. The light was so bright behind her, and curled into the shape of a silver rose. Corwin's, yes, that's right, though I'd never met the man. "Ah, well, all in a day's work, y'know? Poor Mal-baby, all he wanted was a ride on my ship. Now he's hoverin' over near my momma."

"I wouldn't be entirely certain of that, Ana," Kent said, his blonde hair shimmering in Anne's light. No, it was red. Where had I gotten the idea that it was blonde? "Many of our kin have turned up just fine when thought lost. You survived far worse situations yourself, as I recall."

Yes. She had. The Titan for one...and he wasn't called that for his height.

"Did you mention a deal?" he asked of me.

I smiled, inclining my head. "Ah, yes. A simple matter really, especially in return for saving the both of you from the sea." I had done that. Opened a window in the sky, and saw both of them come tumbling down with the fish. It was a big fish, but it turned to mist once it hit the air. "It concerns a Trump." I paused, hearing bells ringing. Was dinner being called? "Lady Selene and I wish to Trump a person, but we haven't enough power between the two of us to get much more than the barest whisper of a contact. If the two of you will aid us, it would be greatly appreciated."

Hmm. Those words...I needed power? Power, I had. Power to unleash the fury of heaven and hell locked within me. Why would I need power? I think it was because I was so tired.

Servants flitted here and there. An entire cadre of them. Wine and lobster and cheesie-poofs they served in massive quantities. I stabbed the lobster with my knife, and heard the echoes of echoes as it screamed for mercy. It whispered at me, "Mr. Lamorak wants to see you. Shall you dine on him as well?"

"Ah yes," I said, nodding. Lamorak was quite tasty this year, I had heard. Or was that lamprey? "And set another place too, I'd suppose." For Mother. When she showed, though I swore I saw her ghost flitting from hall to hall as I had made my way down here.

"Nick, darling, is there a problem?" Selene asked from my right hand.

Yes, I wanted to say. I'm going crazy.

But I shook my head, lest they catch on that I wasn't all there anymore. Home had always done this to me, but I was calm and sedate, choosing words carefully. After all, I was used to this madness, and it wouldn't be much longer at home. "No," I said, then paused. "Well, maybe. Does anyone know a Mr. Lamorak? It's not the kind of name from about these parts, but well..." I let the sentence hang, watching the words drip into the soup. Alphabet soup. Hm. Tasty.

"The name is not immediately familiar to me," Selene said, "but I don't believe he could cause any difficulties that we could not handle...assuming that he is invited in..."

"Never heard the name," Anne said, eating with gusto as the food squirmed on her plate.

A tall, lean man entered, disguised by his very presence. He was real; I could tell that enough, and he looked pissed.

I smiled. "Ah, good eve, sir. Interesting...hmm. Clothes...for dinner, and all." I gestured to Mother's seat. "Please, feel free to join us." After all, my mother's dead and buried, and she won't be eating today. "And what does bring you to my mother's doorstep, hmm?"

The gent turned to me, "Prince, you have broken house arrest. This is a most serious thing. You could have been imprisoned in the depths but you were given the favour of remaining in Castle Amber quarters. I am charged by Prince Julian who has been named Protector and Keeper of Order for the Kingdom of Amber, in the absence of King Random, by the elders of the royal blood. You will return with me at once to Castle Amber or name yourself in opposition to Amber with the doom that shall bring upon you."

This sounded bad.

Selene turned her fury onto him, "Mr. Lamorak, I am responsible for Nick no longer being confined in his room for the 'crime' of being born the son of Prince Brand Barimen. And since King Random DID NOT leave Prince Julian to rule in his absence, intentional or not, I will therefore not leave my... my lover at the mercy of any arrogant fool with delusions of grandure." Her lover? How...embarassing. She certainly must have felt my desire from earlier. That's...well, we'll not go into that right now. Without sparing an instant she turned to me saying, "And dare you not deny the pleasure we share with each touch of our lips." Then, instantly returning her full attention to the newcomer, "So, Mr. Lamorak, either accept Nick's invitation to civilly join us for dinner or pray to whatever beings you believe in that you can make it out the door before 'I' get hold of you... I suggest that you choose to sit... please."

I sighed heavily. Pleasure. If only. "This is just what Mother predicted; I, getting arrested like a common criminal." I paused, shaking my head at the sight of Mother waggling her finger at me. "You can return to Prince Julian to please inform him that I'll return after my errands have been done to resume my incarceration."

Feeling brave, I added, "Other than that, if he wants me, he can damn well come and get me. Lazy bloke; sending others out to do his dirty work." The lobster applauded me as I set back to picking at it.

"Your actions are very foolish. King Random did appoint anyone because he simply disappeared. Someone had to take control and by consent of the elders it was Julian. Julian is therefore busy and to accuse him of being lazy is rude and stupid. You are not under arrest as a common criminal if you return immediately. Failure to return immediately means that you declare yourself outcast from Amber. As an outcast you cannot claim the protection of Amber. If assassins from Chaos saught your life then no aid would come to you and no retribution would be sought for your death. And I am Prince Lamorak." He was certainly windy, that's for sure.

"Hmphf," I muttered, "Everyone seems to be assuming that anyone there gave a damn in the first place--which they didn't." I nodded towards Selene, "It's as she said; my only crime is being the bastard son of a bastard. I'm not returning until my errands are done, and after this...episode...most likely not even then, as good old boy Julian would be apt to start burning off body parts of mine."

Selene made to take my hand then, but I jerked it back, thinking of earlier in my rooms of Amber. My cage.

The stranger stood there, speaking in a monotone, "If you return then you will not be harmed, once the situation is at least partly resolved and Random is located or all matters of crises are either at end or no longer presenting threat then you will be free to go wherever you choose. If you do not at this time return at this time then you permanently declare yourself outlaw from Amber. Why risk this permanent status when you are an immortal? Your confinement will not be in a prison cell and maybe only weeks or a year at most. A year is a very short period compared to to thousands spent with suspicion hanging over your head. Think long term and not short term and your interests will be served."

I really couldn't quite grasp everything that he was saying. It was too dull and boring. The lobster was much more interesting.

"You speak as if you believe all suspicion will simply disappear should King Random return," commented Selene. "And you also appear to operate under the delusion that Amber is the only place of significance in all of existance. But putting even that aside for the moment, the Ass of Arden, pardon me... Prince Julian, has in the not so distant past boasted of his joy of the hunt and his relatives, especially when the latter is the subjuct of the former, and you expect us to trust his word... He could have eleceted to solicit whatever assistance Nick could offer but instead had him confined as if he were the source of Amber's woes, and you expect us to trust his word...," the contempt in her voice dripping venom...

"Your judgement is clouded Selene," he rebutted, "First, you say that Prince Julian says what he has done, which is honesty is it not? Then, you decry him as not honest."

What? That made absolutely no sense.

"No, Lamorka," Selene said, "one such as he can be completely honest about his wanton cruelty and vicious nature and still be totally untrustworthy."

Neither did that, so I spoke up, "So, were you joining us for dinner or not?" I had quite forgotten if he had accepted the invitation.

"Jay-zus," Anne said, looking amused, "Y'all are gonna make us end up on the Jerry Springer show." She tried to stifle her musical notes of laughter, but they bubbled up out of her like a fountain.

Lamorak ignored me, suggesting, "Perhaps if they were to lie down for a years then they may recover their senses."

What? Can't you people talk properly?

He continued to say, "The issue is ar from over, Prince." Since when were bastards made Princes? "It is clear the stance you take, but you will find that outlaw from Amber is not a fate that you will enjoy." He turned on his heel and left.

"I suppose that's a nay, then," I said mournfully to the lobster, "Pity, too. The lobster is rather good."

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