"I have no time for this, Rinaldo," Random said, signing documents and talking with two pages and a nobleman at the same time. "You can walk the Pattern if you want, but I have no time to oversee this. Clear it with... Fiona." Oblivious to my frustrations, the new king saw to the early troubles of his reign. I sighed and left the receiving room, out to the courtyard.
Where were they all? The great Benedict, unseen. Even Corwin, my father's nemesis, not here. The bastard Caine to the seas, I did not miss. But Gerard, the lovely Flora...
Why was no one here to greet me?
I tried the sketch I drew of Fiona, but it would not work. Bleys was in the Golden circle somewhere. Dammit!
I needed answers.
I needed to know why my father had done what he had done.
And it began to become evident to me in meeting them -- their guarded smiles, scowls, scorn. Julian hated me, that was for certain. Caine I never saw, but I would remedy that. Oh yes I would...
And when I finally did meet Fiona...
Those eyes piercing my soul. She knows better than to expect me
to be my dad. "Sadly, Rinaldo, I don't see the son of Brand ever being welcome here..."
I hear the music and the laughter outside of Corwin's window.
Somewhere upside, the boy who I believe to be my son is dancing with a pretty young girl, talking with his friend, son of my father's hated brother.
He is happy.
And though I know my universe ends at that window ledge, I can lay in this bed in Amber with some measure of peace in my heart.