“Oh?” I glanced at Dad. My “making”? That struck me as a curious turn of phrase, but I did not comment on it. Perhaps it was some sort of Chaos formality when talking about new kings; I had little schooling in court etiquette. I'd ask questions about it later, in private.

“Uthor,” I said, deliberately leaving off his title, “I am a man of plain words. All that has happened—here and in Chaos—has given me little cause to like or trust you. Either get to the point or leave.”

“Your honesty is most refreshing,” Uthor said. He toyed with the stem of his goblet. “An excellent wine, by the way. Worthy of a king.”

“I am not here to discuss the merits of table wines.”

My father cleared his throat. “Patience, my boy. King Uthor is visiting under a flag of truce, after all. Hear him out.”

“Very well.” Easily I slid into the seat next to my father. Conner continued to stand behind us. To Uthor, I said, “I'm listening.”

“We have much in common…” Uthor murmured, giving a vague wave of his hand.

“Indeed. Several common acquaintances.” Slowly I reached into the pouch at my belt, found the Trump his assassin had been carrying, and placed it on the table before me. Uthor's eyes flickered down to it, but if he recognized it, he showed no reaction.

Uthor continued, “I am here… to discuss… an alliance.” The words seemed almost painful to him.

I raised my eyebrows. “An alliance? Between Amber and Chaos?”

“Between brother kings.” His lips twisted back almost involuntarily as he spoke; he tried to hide it by taking a sip of his wine. I could tell he did not like calling me a brother of any sort; he clearly considered me his inferior.

I leaned back, studying him. An alliance… this was an unexpected development. He had to be desperate to make such an offer.

“We may have some common interests,” I said. I had to find out more before agreeing to anything. It sounded too good, too easy, to be true.

“A few, at least.” Uthor refused to meet my gaze. “And certainly one common enemy.”

Leaning back, I studied him. A common enemy? I thought him responsible for all the murders and assassination attempts on family members.

“Who might this enemy be?” I asked at last.

“Zon Swayvil, of course.”

Zon… Lord Zon. But hadn't Uthor set Lord Zon against us? Why would those two be at odds now, when they both seemed to want Amber destroyed and my whole family dead?

Dad said, “Zon Swayvil has seized the throne and proclaimed himself King of Chaos. Assisted by the Logrus, of course.”

“And he will die for it!” Uthor snarled, leaping to his feet.

Chapter 26

“Ah.” I leaned back in my chair, mind racing.

Suddenly it all made sense. Lord Zon had been using the fight between Chaos and my family to weaken King Uthor's position. We had all been nothing more than pawns in his game of thrones… moved, then forgotten when he made his play for a larger prize… all of Chaos!

I realized how desperate Uthor must be to come to us here.

“Why should I help you?” I asked calmly.

I picked up the assassin's Trump and turned it over in my hands pointedly. “Clearly you have no great affection for my family, the Pattern, or its Shadows.”

Uthor looked me in the eye. “I will not pretend otherwise. I do not like you. I do not like your father or your family. I gladly would have seen you all dead, your bloodline destroyed, and the Shadows erased forever.”

“But…” I prompted.

He swallowed. “I am prepared to live with them, if necessary.”

“Perhaps we should wait to see what Zon offers us,” I countered. “He holds Chaos. His position is better than yours.”

Uthor leaned forward. His face grew hard, and I could tell it pained him to speak these words. “I have never shirked from my duties,” he said slowly. “This is a time of hard choices. You and your family are enemies of Chaos. You turned your backs on the Logrus and its power. I had no choice but to set myself against you.”

“Much as Lord Zon has,” I said.

“Swayvil wants power,” Uthor said sharply. “He used you to distract me. Instead, I should have been watching him—and now I have been betrayed by the Logrus.” He waved me to silence when I opened my mouth to ask what he meant. How could the Logrus betray him? “Listen well, son of Dworkin. You will only get one chance to join me.”

“When must I decide?”

“Now.”

“Wait here. We must confer.”

He nodded.

“Dad?” I said.

He rose, and together with Conner, the three of us went into the hall. I shut the door behind us.

“Zon,” I said, “seems to be the more dangerous enemy. But if we join with Uthor, can we trust him to keep his word?”

“I trust him,” Dad said simply. “He has not been a great king as kings of Chaos go. But he has always acted out of a sense of duty. And I have never known him to break his word.”

“Conner?” I asked.

“I agree. And if it means peace… if it means we can return home to Chaos…”

I nodded. I had pretty much decided the same way. Their opinions confirmed it.

I opened the doors and went back inside. Uthor rose. “Very well,” I said. “I accept your offer. Let there be peace between us. Together—together, we will defeat Zon and reclaim Chaos for you!”

Chapter 27

There were papers to be drawn and signed, sacred vows to be made, and oaths of mutual defense to be sworn. The three of us—Dad, Uthor, and I—worked throughout the night on the details, haggling, negotiating, compromising.

Finally, just before dawn, we had our agreement.

Simply put, in exchange for military and tactical support of King Uthor, our whole family would receive an official pardon from the king. Our family's confiscated lands in the Beyond and all former titles would be restored. Any family members still alive in the king's dungeons would be freed.

And, most important of all, Amber—and all its Shadows—would continue to exist under my sole rule—provided no more Shadow-storms struck Chaos.

Chaos and Amber would be separate… and equal.

It seemed too good to be true. And as I regarded King Uthor across the table, preparing to sign the last of the documents, I stroked my spikard ring and wondered that it did not pulse in warning.

Perhaps, as Dad said, Uthor really was a man of his word. I certainly hoped so.

He finished signing the paper with a flourish, then passed the pen to me. It still had sufficient ink in the nib, so I signed next to him. Then I used a signet Dad had provided, showing a unicorn, and Uthor did the same with his, which showed a griffin.

We both rose. He did not offer to shake hands. Neither did I.

“I will bring my army to your camp at noon,” I told him. “And together we will march on Chaos.”

“Until then.” He nodded to me. “Iart! Snell!” he called to his men. Turning, the three of them strode from the room.

I leaned back in my seat, feeling exhausted but triumphant. We had done it. Amber would be safe.

Dad leaned forward. “Do not rest easily,” he said. “Zon Swayvil holds the throne now. It will be difficult to dislodge him.”

“One enemy at a time,” I said, grinning. Nothing could dampen my enthusiasm today. “With Uthor on our side… and our combined forces… of course we will restore the rightful King of Chaos! How can we fail?”

“I hope not…” His eyes grew distant.

It took most of the next morning for King Aslom's forces to break camp. Fortunately they were seasoned veterans and well organized. They broke their camp quickly, loading their pack-animals and wagons, then with Aslom and his sons in their battle chariots, the cavalry mounted, and the footmen in ranks, we marched.

Conner and I took the lead again, and he moved us through Shadow. This time, though, we would come around to the other side of Uthor's valley, making camp in whatever fields we could find.