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Random gnawed his lower lip。
〃Put down your weapons；〃 Brand called out。 〃Do it now； or Deirdre's dead。〃
〃Kill her；〃 Random said； 〃and you lose the only thing that's keeping you alive。 Do it； and I'll show you where I'II put my weapon。〃
Brand muttered something under his breath。 Then： 〃Okay。 I will start by mutilating her。〃
Random spat。
〃e on！〃 he said。 〃She can regenerate as well as the rest of us。 Find a threat that means something； or shut up and fight it out！〃
Brand was still。 I thought it better not to reveal my presence。 There must be something I could do。 I ventured another look； mentally photographing the terrain before I dropped back。 There were some rocks way off to the left； but they did not extend far enough。 I saw no way that I might sneak up on him。
〃I think we are going to have to rush him and chance it；〃 I heard Random say。 〃I don't see anything else。 Do you？〃
Before anyone answered him； a strange thing occurred。 The day began to grow brighter。
I looked all about me for the source of the illumination； then sought it overhead。
The clouds were still there； the crazy sky doing its tricks beyond them。 The brightness was in the clouds； however。 They had paled and were now glowing； as if they masked a sun。 Even as I watched； there was a perceptible brightening。
〃What is he up to now？〃 Chantris asked。
〃Nothing that I can tell；〃 Fiona said。 〃I do not believe it is his doing。〃
〃Whose then？〃 There was no answer that I could overhear。
I watched the clouds grow brighter。 The largest and brightest of them seemed to swirl then； as if stirred。 Forms tossed within it； settled。 An outline began to take shape。
Below me； on the field； the sounds of battle lessened。 The storm itself was muted as the vision grew。 Something was definitely forming in the bright place above our heads … the lines of an enormous face。
〃I do not know； I tell you；〃 I heard Fiona say in response to something mumbled。
Before it finished taking form； I realized that it was my father's face in the sky。 Neat trick； that。 And I had no idea what it represented either。
The face moved； as if he were regarding us all。 There were lines of strain there； and something of concern to his expression。 The brightness grew a little further。 His lips moved。
When his voice came down to me it was somehow at an ordinary conversational level； rather than the vast booming I had expected：
〃I send you this message；〃 he said； 〃before undertaking the repair of the Pattern。 By the time you receive it； I will already have succeeded or failed。 It will precede the wave of Chaos which must acpany my endeavor。 I have reason to believe the effort will prove fatal to me。〃
His eyes seemed to sweep across the field。
〃Rejoice or mourn； as you would；〃 he went on； 〃for this is either the beginning or the end。 I will send the Jewel of Judgment to Corwin as soon as I have finished with it。 I have charged him to bear it to the place of conflict。 All of your efforts there will be as nothing if the wave of Chaos cannot be averted。 But with the Jewel； in that place； Corwin should be able to preserve you until it passes。〃
I heard Brand's laugh。 He sounded quite mad now。
〃With my passing；〃 the voice continued； 〃the problem of the succession will be upon you。 I had wishes in this regard； but I see now that these were futile。 Therefore； I have no choice but to leave this on the horn of the Unicorn。
〃My children； I cannot say that I am entirely pleased with you； but I suppose this works both ways。 Let it be。 I leave you with my blessing； which is more than a formality。 I go now to walk the Pattern。 Good…bye。〃
Then his face began to fade and the brightness drained out of the cloudbank。 A little while； and it was gone。 A stillness lay upon the field。
〃。。。 and； as you can see；〃 I heard Brand saying； 〃Corwin does not have the Jewel。 Throw down your weapons and get the hell out of here。 Or keep them and get out。 I do not care。 Leave me alone。 I have things to do。〃
〃Brand；〃 Fiona said； 〃can you do what he wanted of Corwin？ Can you use it to make that thing miss us？〃
〃I could if I would；〃 he said。 〃Yes； I could turn it aside。〃
〃You will be a hero if you do；〃 she said gently。 〃You will earn our gratitude。 All past wrongs will be forgiven。 Forgiven and forgotten。 We …〃
He began to laugh wildly。
〃You forgive me？〃 he said。 〃You； who left me in that tower； who put the knife into my side？ Thank you； sister。 It is very kind of you to offer to forgive me； but excuse me if I decline。〃
〃All right；〃 Random said； 〃what do you want？ An apology？ Riches and treasure？ An important appointment？ All of these？ They are yours。 But this is a stupid game you are playing。 Let us end it and go home； pretend it was all a bad dream。〃
〃Yes； let us end it；〃 Brand replied。 〃You do that by throwing down your weapons first。 Then Fiona releases me from her spell； you all do an about…face and march north。 You do it or I kill Deirdre。〃
〃Then I think you had better go ahead and kill her and be ready to fight it out with me；〃 he said； 〃because she will be dead in a little while anyway； if we let you have your way。 All of us will。〃
I heard Brand's chuckle。
〃Do you honestly think I am going to let you die？ I need you … as many of you as I can save。 Hopefully Deirdre； too。 You are the only ones who can appreciate my triumph。 I will preserve you through the holocaust that is about to begin。〃
〃I do not believe you；〃 Random said。
〃Then take a moment and think about it。 You know me well enough to know that I will want to rub your noses in it。 I want you as witnesses to what I do。 In this sense； I require your presence in my new world。 Now； get out of here。〃
〃You will have everything you want plus our gratitude；〃 Fiona began； 〃if you will just …〃
〃Go！〃
I knew that I could delay no longer。 I had to make my move。 I also knew that I could not reach him in time。 I had no choice but to try using the Jewel as a weapon against him。
I reached out and felt its presence。 I closed my eyes and summoned my powers。
Hot。 Hot； I thought。 It is burning you。 Brand。 It is causing every molecule in your body to vibrate faster and faster。 You are about to bee a human torch …
I heard him scream。
〃Corwin！〃 he bellowed。 〃Stop it！ Wherever you are！ I'll kill her！ Look！〃
Still willing the Jewel to burn him； I rose to my feet。 I glared at him across the distance that separated us。 His clothing was beginning to smolder。
〃Stop it！〃 he cried； and he raised the knife and slashed Deirdre's face。
I screamed and my eyes swam。 I lost control of the Jewel。 But Deirdre； her left cheek bloody； sank her teeth into his hand as he moved to cut her again。 Then her arm was free； and she jabbed her elbow into his ribs and tried to pull away。
As soon as she moved； as soon as her head dropped； there was a silver flash。 Brand gasped and let go the dagger。 An arrow had pierced his throat。 Another followed an instant later and stood out from his breast； a little to the right of the Jewel。
He stepped backward and made a gurgling noise。 Only there was no place to which he might step； from the edge of the abyss。
His eye went wide as he began to topple。 Then