Shask slowly unwound as the sun came up. I fed him the rest of theapples and gathered my possessions.

We were riding before too long, slow and easy, since there would besome hard climbing up the back route I favored. During our first break Iasked him to become once more a horse, and he obliged. It didn't seem tomake that much difference, and I requested he maintain it. I wanted todisplay his beauty in that form.

"Will you be heading right back after you've seen me here?" I asked.

"I've been meaning to talk to you about that," he responded. "Thingshave been slow back in the Courts, and I'm no one's assigned mount."

"Oh?"

"You're going to need a good mount, Lord Corwin."

"Yes, I'm sure."

"I'd like to apply for the job, for an indefinite period."

"I'd be honored," I said. "You're very special."

"Yes, I am."

We were atop Kolvir that afternoon and onto the grounds of Amber Palacewithin hours after that. I found Shask a good stall, groomed him, fed him,and left him to turn to stone at his leisure. I found a nameplate, scratchedShasko's name and my own upon it, and tacked it to his door.

"See you later," I said.

"Whatever, Lord. Whatever."

I departed the stables and headed for the palace. It was a damp, cloudyday, with a chill breeze from the direction of the sea. So far, no one hadspotted me.

I entered by way of the kitchen, where there was new help on duty. Noneof them recognized me, though they obviously realized that I belonged. Atleast, they returned my greeting with due respect and did not object to somefruit I pocketed. They did ask whether I cared to have something sent to oneof the rooms, and I answered "yes" and told them to send a bottle of wineand a chicken along with it. The afternoon head chef--a redhaired lady namedClare--began studying me more closely, and more than once her gaze driftedtoward the silver rose on my cloak. I did not want to announce my identityjust then, and I thought they'd be a little afraid to guess ahead at it, atleast for a few hours. I did want the time to rest a bit and just enjoy thepleasure of being back. So, "Thanks," I said, and I went on my way to myquarters.

I started up the back stairs the servants use for being unobtrusive andthe rest of us for being sneaky.

Partway up, I realized that the way was blocked by sawhorses. Tools layscattered about the stairs though there were no workmen in sight--and Icouldn't tell whether a section of old stair had simply given way or whethersome other force had been brought to bear upon it.

I returned, cut around to the front, and took the big stairway up. As Imade my way, I saw signs of exterior repair work, including entire walls andsections of flooring. Any number of apartments were open to viewing. Ihurried to make sure that mine was not among their number.

Fortunately, it was not. I was about to let myself in when a bigredhaired fellow turned a corner and headed toward me. I shrugged. Somevisiting dignitary, no doubt...

"Corwin!" he called out. "What are you doing here?"

As he drew nearer, I saw that he was studying me most intently. I gavehim the same treatment.

"I don't believe I've had the pleasure," I said.

"Aw, come on, Corwin," he said. "You surprised me. Thought you were offby your Pattern and the '57 Chevy."

I shook my head.

"Not sure what you're talking about," I said.

He narrowed his eyes.

"You're not a Pattern ghost?" he said.

"Merlin told me something about them," I said, "after he effected myrelease at the Courts. But I don't believe I've ever met one."

I rolled up my left sleeve.

"Cut me. I bleed," I said.

As he studied my arm, his gaze appeared more than a little serious. Fora moment, I thought he'd actually take me up on it.

"All right," he said then. "Just a nick. For security purposes."

"I still don't know who I'm talking to," I said.

He bowed.

"Sorry. I am Luke of Kashfa, sometimes known as Rinaldo I, its king. Ifyou are who you say you are, I am your nephew. My dad was your brotherBrand."

Studying him, I saw the resemblance. I thrust my arm farther forward.

"Do it," I said.

"You're serious."

"Dead right."

He drew a Bowie knife from his belt then and looked into my eyes. Inodded. He moved to touch my forearm with its tip and nothing happened. Thatis to say, something happened, but it was neither desired nor whollyanticipated.

The point of his blade seemed to sink a halfinch or so into my arm. Itkept going then, finally passing all the way through. But no blood came.

He tried again. Nothing.

"Damn," he said. "I don't understand. If you were a Pattern ghost, we'dat least get a flare. But there's not even a mark on you."

"May I borrow the blade?" I asked.

"Sure."

He passed it to me. I took it in my hand and studied it, I pushed itinto my arm and drew it along for perhaps threequarters of an inch. Bloodoozed.

"I'll be damned," Luke said. "What's going on?"

"I'd say it's a spell I picked up when I spent a night in the DancingMountains recently," I replied.

"Hm," Luke mused, "I've never had the pleasure, but I've heard storiesof the place. I don't know any simple ways to break its spells. My room'soff toward the front." He gestured southward. "If you'd care to stop by,I'll see what I can figure out about it. I studied Chaos magic with my dad,and with my mother, Jasra."

I shrugged.

"This is my room right here," I said, "and I've a chicken and a bottleof wine on the way up. Let's do the diagnosis in here, and I'll split themeal with you."

He smiled.

"Best offer I've had all day," he said. "But let me stop back at myroom for some tools of the trade."

"All right. I'll walk you back, so I'll know the way in case I needit."

He nodded and turned. We headed up the hall.

Turning the corner, we moved from west to east, passing Flora'sapartments and moving in the direction of some of the better visitors'quarters. Luke halted before one room and reached into his pocket,presumably after the key. Then he halted.

"Uh, Corwin?" he said.

"What?" I responded.

"Those two big cobrashaped candle holders," he said, gesturing up thehall. "Bronze, I believe."

"Most likely. What of them?"

"I thought they were just hall decorations."

"That's what they are."

"The last time I looked at them, they kind of bracketed a smallpainting or tapestry," he said.

"My recollection, too," I said.

"Well, there seems to be a corridor between them now."

"No, that can't be. There's a proper hallway just a little beyond--" Ibegan.

Then I shut up because I knew. I began walking toward it.

"What's going on?" Luke asked.

"It's calling me," I said. "I've got to go and see what it wants."

"What is it?"

"The Hall of Mirrors. It comes and goes. It brings sometimes useful,sometimes ambiguous messages to the one it calls."

"Is it calling us both, or just you?" Luke said.

"Dunno," I replied. "I feel it calling me, as it has in the past.You're welcome to come with me. Maybe it has some goodies for you, too."

"You ever hear of two people taking it at once?"

"No, but there's a first time for everything," I said.

Luke nodded slowly.

"What the hell," he said, "I'm game."

He followed me to the place of the snakes, and we peered up it. Candlesflared along its walls, at either hand. And the walls glittered from thecountless mirrors which hung upon them. I stepped forward. Luke followed, atmy left.

The mirror frames were of every shape imaginable. I walked very slowly,observing the contents of each one. I told Luke to do the same. For severalpaces, the mirrors seemed simply to be giving back what was before them.Then Luke stiffened and halted, head turning to the left.