Zelazny, Roger - Amber SS 06 - Hall Of Mirrors.pdf

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Hall Of Mirrors
Roger Zelazny
Neither of us realized there hadbeen a change until a halfdozen guys
triedan ambush.
We had spent the night in the Dancing Mountains, Shask and I, where I'd
witnesseda bizarre game between Dworkin and Suhuy . I'd heardstrange tales
aboutthings that happened to people who spent the night there, but I hadn't
hada hell of a lot of choice in the matter.It had been storming, I was
tired, and my mount had become a statue.I don't know how that game turned
out, though I was mentioned obliquely as a participant and I'm still
wondering.
Thenext morning my blue horse Shaskand I had crossed the Shadow
Divide 'twixt Amberand Chaos . Shask was a Shadow mount my son Merlin had
found forme in the royal stables of the Courts. At the moment, Shaskwas
travelingunder the guise of a giant blue lizard, and we were singing songs
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fromvarious times and places.
Two men rose on either side of the trail from amid rocky cover,
pointingcrossbows at us. Two more stepped outbefore usone with a bow, the
other bearing a rather beautiful looking blade, doubtless stolen,
consideringthe guy's obvious profession.
"Halt!and no harm'll happen," said the swordsman.
I drew rein.
"When it comes to money, I'm pretty much broke right now," I said, "and
I doubt any of you could ride my mount, or would care to."
"Well now, maybe and maybe not," said the leader, "but it's a rough way
tomake a living, so we take whatever we can."
"It's not a good idea to leave a man with nothing," I said. "Some
peoplehold grudges."
"Most of them can't walk out of here."
"Sounds like a death sentence to me."
He shrugged.
"That sword of yours looks pretty fancy," he said. "Let's see it."
"I don't think that's a good idea," I said.
"Why not?"
"If I draw it, I may wind up killing you," I said.
He laughed.
"We cantake it off your body," he said, glancing to his right and
left.
"Maybe," I said.
"Let's see it."
"If you insist."
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I drew Grayswandir with a singing note.It persisted , and the eyes of
theswordsman before me widened as it went on to describe an arc calculated
to intersect with his neck. His ownweapon came out as mine passed through
hisneck and continued. His cut toward Shask and passed through the animal's
shoulder. Neither blow did any damage whatsoever.
"You a sorcerer?" he asked as I swung again, delivering a blow that
mighthave removed his arm. Instead, it passed harmlessly by.
"Not the kind who does things like this.You?"
"No," he answered, striking again. "What's going on?"
I slammed Grayswandir back into the scabbard.
"Nothing," I said. "Go bother someone else."
I shook the reins, and Shask moved forward.
"Shoot him down!" the man cried.
The men on either side of the trail releasedtheir crossbow bolts, as
did theother man before me.All four bolts from the sides passed through
Shask, three of the men injuring orkilling their opposite numbers. The one
fromahead passed through me without pain or discomfort. Anattempted sword
blowachieved nothing for my first assailant.
"Ride on," I said.
Shaskdid so and we ignored their swearing as we went.
"We seem to have come into a strange situation," I observed.
The beast nodded.
"At least it kept us out of some trouble," I said.
"Funny. I'd a feeling you would have welcomed trouble," Shask said.
I chuckled.
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"Perhaps, perhaps not," I replied. "I wonder how long the spelllasts? "
"Maybe it has to be lifted."
"Shit! That's always a pain."
"Beats being insubstantial."
"True."
"Surely someone back at Amber will know what to do."
"Hope so."
We rode on, and we encountered no one else that day. I felt the rocks
beneathme when I wrapped myself in my cloak to sleep that night. Why did I
feel themwhen I didn't feel a sword or a crossbow bolt? Too late to ask
Shask whether he had felt anything, for he had turned to stone for the
night.
I yawned and stretched. Apartly unsheathed Grayswandir felt normal
beneathmy fingers. I pushed it back in and went to sleep.
Following my morning ablutions, we rode again. Shask was taking well to
hellrides, as well as most Amber mounts did. Better, in some ways. We raced
througha wildly changing landscape. I thought ahead to Amber, and I thought
back to the time I'd spent imprisoned in the Courts.I had honed my
sensitivityto a very high degree through meditation, and I began to wonder
whetherthat, coupled with other strange disciplines I'd undertaken, could
haveled to my intangibility. I supposed it might have contributed,but I'd
afeeling theDancingMountains were the largest donor.
"I wonder what it represents and where it camefrom? " I said aloud.
"Your homeland, I'd bet," Shask replied, "left especially for you."
"Why did you read it that way?"
"You've been telling me about your family aswe rode along. I wouldn't
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trustthem."
"Those days are past."
"Whoknows what might have happened while you were away?Old habits
returneasily."
"One would need a reason for something like that."
"For all you know, one of them has a very good one."
"Possibly.But itdoesn't seem likely. I'vebeen away for some time,
andfew know I'm free at last."
"Then question those few."
"We'll see."
"Just trying to be helpful."
"Don't stop. Say, what do you want to do after we get to Amber?"
"Haven't made up my mind yet.I've been something of a wanderer."
I laughed.
"You're abeast after my own heart. Inthat your sentiments are most
unbeastlike, how can I repay you for this transport?"
"Wait. I've a feeling the Fates will take care of that."
"So be it. In the meantime, though, if you happen to think of something
special, let me know."
"It's a privilege to help you, Lord Corwin. Let it go at that."
"All right.Thanks."
We passed through shadow after shadow. Suns ran backward and storms
assailedus out of beautiful skies. We toyedwith night , which might have
trapped aless adroit pair than us, found a twilight, and took our rations
there. Shortly thereafter, Shask turned back to stone. Nothing attacked us
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