Roger Zelazny - Sign of chaos

«Give us ten minutes,» she told me.

«Let's take a walk,» I said to Mandor.

«Surely,» he agreed, tossing another metal ball toward Nayda. It joined the others in orbit about her, a little above waist level.

I fetched a key from my desk drawer before departing. And as soon as we were in the hall I asked him, «Is there any way Jasra could free her?»

«Not with the additional circuit of confinement I established on the way out,» he replied. «Not many could figure a way past it, and certainly not in ten minutes.»

«She's just full of secrets, that damned ty'iga,» I said. «Kind of makes me wonder who's really the prisoner here.»

«She's only trading some bit of knowledge for Jasra's cooperation,» he said. «She wants the lady to accompany us if she can't go herself, since it will mean extra protection for you.»

«Then why can't we be present?»

«Nothing that I learned from her sheds any tight on this,» he said.

«Well, since I have a few minutes, there is a small errand I want to run. Would you keep an eye on things here and take charge if she calls us in before I get back?»

He smiled.

«If one of your relatives strolls by, should I introduce myself as a lord of Chaos?»

«I thought you were also a lord of deception.»

«Of course,» he said, and he clapped his hands and vanished.

«I'll hurry,» I said.

«Cheerio,» came his voice, from somewhere.

I hurried off up the hall. It was a little pilgrimage, I suppose - one that I had not made in a long while. On the brink of an enterprise such as this, it seemed somehow appropriate.

When I reached the door, I stood outside it for a moment, my eyes closed, visualizing the interior as last I had seen it. It was my father's apartment. I had wandered through it on many occasions, trying to judge from the furnishings, the layout, his bookshelves, and his curious collections something more than I already knew about the man. There was always some little thing that caught my attention, that answered a question or raised a new one - an inscription on the flyleaf of a book or a note in a margin, a silver hairbrush bearing the wrong set of initials, a daguerreotype of an attractive brunette signed «To Carl, Love, Carolyn,» a snapshot of my father shaking hands with General MacArthur…

I unlocked the door and pushed it open.

I did not move for several seconds, however, as a light glowed inside the place. For more long moments I listened, but there were no sounds from within. Slowly then, I entered. A number of candles burned upon the dresser set against the far wall. There was no one in sight.

«Hello?» I called. out. «It's me. Merlin.» There came no answer.

I drew the door closed behind me and moved forward. A bud vase stood upon the dresser amid the candles. It contained a single rose, and it appeared to be silver in color. I drew nearer. Yes, it was real, not artificial. And it was silver. In what shadow did such flowers grow?

I picked up one of the candles by its, holder and moved away with it, shielding its flame with my hand. I crossed to my left and entered the next room. Immediately, on opening the door, I saw that there was no need to have brought the candle. More of them were burning here.

«Hello?» I repeated.

Again, no answer. No sounds of any sort.

I set the candle upon a nearby table and crossed to the bed. I raised a sleeve and let it fall. A silvery shirt was laid out upon the counterpane beside a black pair of trousers - my father's colors. They had not been there when last I had visited.

I seated myself beside them and stared across the room into a shadowy corner. What was going on? Some bizarre household ritual? A haunting? or…

«Corwin?» I said.

In that I'd hardly expected a reply, I was not disappointed. When I rose, however, I bumped against a heavy object hung upon the nearest bedpost. I reached out and raised it for a better view. A belt with a sheathed weapon hung upon it. These had not been present last time either. I gripped the haft and drew the blade.

A portion of the Pattern, contained within the gray metal, danced in the candlelight. This was Grayswandir, sword of my father. What it was doing back here now, I had no idea.

And I realized with a pang that I could not stick around to see what might be going on. I had to get back to my own problems. Yes, timing was definitely against me today.

I resheathed Grayswandir.

«Dad?» I said. «If you can hear me, I want to get together again. But I have to go now. Good luck on whatever you're about.»

Then I departed the room, touched the silver rose as I passed and locked the door behind me. As I turned away, I realized that I was shaking.

I passed no one on the walk back, and when I approached my own door I wondered whether I should enter, knock, or wait. Then something touched my shoulder, and I turned around but no one was there. When I turned forward once again Mandor stood before me, his brow slightly creased.

«What's the matter?» he asked. «You appear more troubled than when you left.»

«Something totally different,» I told him, «I think. Any word from inside yet?»

«I heard a shriek from Jasra while you were gone,» he said, «and I burned to the door and opened it. But she was laughing and she asked me to close it.»

«Either ty'igas know some good stories or the news is favorable.»

«So it would seem.»

A little later the door opened and Jasra nodded to us.

«Our conversation is concluded,» she said.

I studied her as I entered the room. She looked a lot more cheerful than she had seemed when we'd left. There was a bit more of a crinkling about the outer edges of her eyes, and she seemed almost to be fighting the corners of her mouth down into place.

«I hope it was a fruitful interview,» I said.

«Yes. On the whole, I'd say it was that,» she answered.

A glance at Nayda showed me that nothing had changed in terms of her position or expression.

«I'll have to be asking you for a decision now,» I said. «I can't afford to cut things much closer than this.»

«What happens if I say no?» she asked.

«I'll have you conducts to your quarters and inform the others that you're up and about,» I said.

«As a guest?»

«As a very well-protected guest.»

«I see. Well, I do not really care to inspect those quarters. I have decided to accompany you and assist you under the terms we discussed.»

I bowed to her.

«Merlin!» Nayda said.

«No!» I answered, and I looked to Mandor. He approached and stood before Nayda.

«It is best that you sleep now,» he told her, and her eyes closed, her shoulders slumped. «Where is a good place for her to rest deeply?» he asked me.

«Through there,» I said, indicating the doorway to the next room.

He took her by the hand and led her away. After a time, I heard him speaking softly, and then there was only silence. He emerged a little later, and I went to the door and glanced inside. She was stretched out on my bed. I did not see any of his metal spheres in the neighborhood.

«She's out of it?» I said.

«For a long time,» he replied.

I looked at Jasra, who was glancing down into the mirror.

«Are you ready?» I inquired.

She regarded me through lowered lashes.

«How do you propose transporting us?» she asked.

«Do you have an especially tricky means of getting us in?»

«Not at the moment.»

«Then I will be calling upon the Ghostwheel to take us there.»

«Are you certain it is safe? I've conversed with that… device. I am not sure it is trustworthy.»

«It's fine;» I. said «Any spells you want to prime first?»

«Not necessary. My… resources should be in good order.»