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ad merged into a white noise and vanished。
Suddenly then； I no longer seemed to be moving slowly。 It did not seem as if I had passed a Veil or barrier； but rather that I had undergone some internal adjustment。
It felt as if I were moving at a more normal pace now； winding my way through tighter and tighter coils； approaching what would soon be the design's terminus。 Mainly； I was still emotionless； though I knew intellectually that at some level a sense of elation was growing and would soon burst through。 Another step。。。 Another。。。 Perhaps half a dozen more paces。。。
Suddenly； the world went dark。 It seemed that I stood within a great void； with only the faint light of the Jewel before me and the glow of the Pattern like a spiral nebula through which I was striding。 I wavered； but only for an instant。 This must be the last trial； the final assault。 I would have to be sufficient to the distraction。
The Jewel showed me what to do and the Pattern showed me where to do it。 The only thing missing was a view of myself。 Left。。。
I continued； executing each move with all of my attention。 An opposing force began to rise against me finally； as on the old Pattern。 But for this； I was prepared by years of experience。 I struggled for two more steps against the mounting barrier。
Then； within the Jewel； I saw the ending of the Pattern。 I would have gasped at the sudden realization of its beauty； but at this point even my breath was regulated by my efforts。 I threw all of my strength into the next step； and the void seemed to shake about me。 I pleted it； and the next was even more difficult。 I felt as if I were at the center of the universe； treading on stars； struggling to impart some essential motion by what was basically an act of will。
My foot slowly advanced； though I could not see it。 The Pattern began to brighten。 Soon its blaze was almost blinding。
Just a little farther。。。 I strove harder than I ever had on the old Pattern； for now the resistance seemed absolute。 I had to oppose it with a firmness and constancy of will that excluded everything else； though I seemed not to be moving at all now； though all of my energies seemed diverted into the brightening of the design。 At least； I would go out with a splendid backdrop。。。
Minutes； days； years。。。 I do not know how long this went on。 It felt like forever； as if I had been engaged in this single act for all of eternity。。。
Then I moved； and how long that took I do not know。 But I pleted the step and began another。 Then another。。。
The universe seemed to reel about me。 I was through。
The pressure was gone。 The blackness was gone。。。
For an instant； I stood at the center of my Pattern。 Without even regarding it； I fell forward onto my knees and bent double； my blood pounding in my ears。 Head swimming； I panted。 I began to shake； all over。 I had done it； I realized dimly。 e whatever may； there was a Pattern。 And it would endure。。。
I heard a sound where there should have been none； but my jaded muscles refused to respond； even reflexively； until it was too late。 Not until the Jewel was jerked from my limp fingers did I raise my head and roll back onto my haunches。 No one had been following me through the Pattern … I was certain that I would have been aware of it。 Therefore。。。
The light was almost normal； and blinking against it； I looked up into Brand's smiling face。 He wore a black eyepatch now； and he held the Jewel in his hand。 He must have teleported himself in。
He struck me just as I raised my head； and I fell onto my left side。 He kicked me in the stomach then； hard。
〃Well； you've done it；〃 he said。 〃I did not think you could。 Now I have another Pattern to destroy before I set things right。 I need this to turn the battle at the Courts first； though。〃 He waved the Jewel。 〃Good…bye for now。〃
And he vanished。
I lay there gasping and clutching at my stomach。 Waves of blackness rose and fell； like a surf； within me； though I did not pletely succumb to unconsciousness。 A feeling of enormous despair washed over me and I closed my eyes and moaned。 There was no Jewel for me to draw upon now； either。
The chestnut trees。。。
Chapter 10
As I lay there hurting； I had visions of Brand appearing on the battlefield where the forces of Amber and Chaos fought； the Jewel pulsing about his neck。 Apparently his control over it was sufficient； as he saw it； to enable him to turn things against us。 I saw him lashing out with lightning bolts among our troops。 I saw him summoning great winds and hailstorms to strike at us。 I almost wept。 All of this； when he could still redeem himself by ing in on our side。 Just winning was not enough for him now； though。 He had to win for himself； and on his own terms。 And I？ I had failed。 I had thrown up a Pattern against the Chaos； a thing I had never thought I could do。 Yet； this would be as nothing if the battle was lost and Brand returned and wiped out my work。 To have e this close； passing through everything that I had； and then to fail here。。。 It made me want to cry 〃Injustice！〃 though I knew the universe did not run in accordance with my notions of equity。 I gnashed my teeth and spat some dirt I had mouthed。 I had been charged by our father to take the Jewel to the place of battle。 I had almost made it。
A sense of strangeness came over me then。 Something was calling for my attention。 What？ The silence。
The raging winds and the thunder had ceased。 The air was still。 In fact； the air felt cool and fresh。 And on the other side of my eyelids； I knew that there was light。
I opened my eyes。 I saw a sky of a bright； uniform white。 I blinked； I turned my head。 There was something off to my right。。。
A tree。 A tree stood where I had planted the staff I had cut from old Ygg。 It was already far taller than the staff itself had been。 I could almost see it growing。 And it was green with leaves and white with a sprinkling of buds； a few blossoms had opened。 From that direction； the breeze brought me a faint and delicate scent which offered me some fort。
I felt along my sides。 I did not seem to have any broken ribs； though my guts still felt knotted from the kick I had taken。 I rubbed my eyes with my knuckles and ran my hands through my hair。 I sighed heavily then and rose to one knee。
Turning my head； I regarded the prospect。 The plateau was the same； yet somehow not the same。 It was still bare but was no longer harsh。 Likely an effect of the new illumination。 No； there was more to it than that。。。
I had continued to turn； pleting my scanning of the horizon。 It was not the same place where I had menced my walk。 There were differences both subtle and gross： altered rock formations； a dip where there had been a rise； a new texture to the stone beneath and near me； in the distance what appeared to be soil。 I stood and it seemed that now； from somewhere； I caught the scent of the sea。 This place had an entirely different feeling to it than the one to which I had mounted … so long ago； it seemed。 It was too much of a change for that storm to have wrought。 It reminded me of something。
I sighed again； there at the Pattern's center； and continued to consider my surroundings。 Somehow； in spite of myself