d to listen； but there were no untoward sounds on the air。 This part of the forest was pretty much the same as that we had left beyond the ridge； save for a small stream we picked up and paralleled for a time； finally crossing it at a shallow ford。 Beyond； the trail widened and a little more light leaked through and flowed with us for half a league。 We had almost e a sufficient distance for me to begin those small manipulations of Shadow which would bear me to the pathway back to the shadow Earth of my former exile。 Yet； it would be difficult to begin here； easier farther along。 I resolved to save the strain on myself and my mount by continuing to a better beginning。 Nothing of a threatening nature had really occurred。 The bird could be a wild hunter； probably was。
Only one thought nagged at me as I rode。
Julian。。。
Arden was Julian's preserve； patrolled by his rangers； sheltering several encampments of his troops at all times … Amber's inland border guard； both against incursions natural and against those things which might appear at the boundaries of Shadow。
Where did Julian go when he had departed the palace so suddenly on the night of Brand's stabbing？ If he wished simply to hide； there was no necessity for him to flee farther than this。 Here he was strong； backed by his own men； moving in a realm he knew far better than the rest of us。 It was quite possible that he was not； right now； too far away。 Also； he liked to hunt。 He had his hellhounds； he had his birds。。。 A half mile； a mile。。。
Just then； I heard the sound that I feared most。 Piercing the green and the shade； there came the notes of a hunting horn。 They came from some distance behind me； and I think from the left of the trail。
I urged my mount to a gallop and the trees rushed to a blur on either side。 The trail was straight and level here。 We took advantage of this。
Then from behind； I heard a roar … a kind of deep…chested coughing； growling sound backed by a lot of resonant lung space。 I did not know what it was that had littered it； but it was no dog。 Not even a hellhound sounded like that。 I glanced back； but there was no pursuit in sight。 So I kept low and talked to Drum a bit。
After a time； I heard a crashing noise in the woods off to my right； but the roar was not repeated just then。 I looked again； several times； but I was unable to make out what it was that was causing the disturbance。 Shortly thereafter； I heard the horn once more； much nearer； and this time it was answered by the barks and the baying which I could not mistake。 The hellhounds were ing … swift； powerful； vicious beasts Julian had found in some shadow and trained to the hunt。
It was time； I decided； to begin the shift。 Amber was still strong about me； but I laid hold of Shadow as best I could and started the movement。
The trail began to curve to the left； and as we raced along it the trees at either hand diminished in size； fell back。 Another curve； and the trail led us through a clearing； perhaps two hundred meters across。 I glanced up then and saw that that damned bird was still circling； much nearer now； close enough to be dragged with me through Shadow。
This was more plicated than I had intended。 I wanted an open space in which to wheel my mount and swing a blade freely if it came to that。 The occurrence of such a place； however； revealed my position quite clearly to the bird； whom it was proving difficult to lose。
All right。 We came to a low hill； mounted it； started downward； passing a lone； lightning…blasted tree as we did。 On its nearest branch sat a hawk of gray and silver and black。 I whistled to it as we passed； and it leaped into the air； shrieking a savage battle cry。
Hurrying on； I heard the individual voices of the dogs clearly now； and the thud of the horses' hoofs。 Mixed in with these sounds there was something else； more a vibration； a shuddering of the ground。 I looked back again； but none of my pursuit had yet topped the hill。 I bent my mind toward the way away and clouds occluded the sun。 Strange flowers appeared along the trail … green and yellow and purple … and there came a rumble of distant thunders。 The clearing widened； lengthened。 It became pletely level。
I heard once again the sound of the horn。 I turned for another look。
It bounded into view then； and I realized at that instant that I was not the object of the hunt； that the riders； the dogs； the bird； were pursuing the thing that ran behind me。 Of course； this was a rather academic distinction； in that I was in front； and quite possibly the object of its hunt。 I leaned forward； shouting to Drum and digging in with my knees； realizing even as I did that the abomination was moving faster than we could。 It was a panic reaction。
I was being pursued by a manticora。
The last time I had seen its like was on the day before the battle in which Eric died。 As I had led my troops up the rearward slopes of Kolvir； it had appeared to tear a man named Rall in half。 We had dispatched it with automatic weapons。 The thing proved twelve feet in length； and like this one it had worn a human face on the head and shoulders of a lion； it； too； had had a pair of eaglelike wings folded against its sides and the long pointed tail of a scorpion curving in the air above it。 A number of them had somehow wandered in from Shadow to devil our steps as we headed for that battle。 There was no reason to believe all of them had been accounted for； save that none had been reported since that time and no evidence of their continued existence in the vicinity of Amber had e to light。 Apparently； this one had wandered down into Arden and been living in the forest since that time。
A final glance showed me that I might be pulled down in moments if I did not make a stand。 It also showed me a dark avalanche of dogs rushing down the hill。
I did not know the intelligence or psychology of the manticora。 Most fleeing beasts will not stop to attack something which is not bothering them。 Self…preservation is generally foremost in their minds。 On the other hand； I was not certain that the manticora even realized that it was being pursued。 It might have started out on my trail and only had its own picked up afterward。 It might have only the one thing on its mind。 It was hardly a time to pause and reflect on all the possibilities。
I drew Grayswandir and turned my mount to the left； pulling back on the reins immediately as he made the turn。
Drum screamed and rose high onto his hind legs。 I felt myself sliding backward； so I jumped to the ground and leaped to the side。
But I had； for the moment； forgotten the speed of the storm…hounds； had also forgotten how easily they had once overtaken Random and myself in Flora's Mercedes； had also forgotten that unlike ordinary dogs chasing cars； they had begun tearing the vehicle apart。
Suddenly； they were all over the manticora； a dozen or more dogs； leaping and biting。 The beast threw back its head and uttered another cry as they struck at it。 It swept that vicious tail through them； sending one flying； stunning or killing two others。 It reared then and turned； striking out with its forelegs as it descended。
But even as it did this； a hound attached itself to its left foreleg； two more were at its haunches and one had scrambled onto its back； biting at its shoulder and neck。 The others were circling it now。 As soon as it would go after one； the others would dart in and slash at it。
It finally caught the one on its back with its scorpion sting and disembowled the one gnawing at its leg。 However； it was running blood from a double dozen wounds by then。 Shortly； it became apparent that the leg was giving it trouble； both for striking purposes and for bearing its weight when it struck with the others。 In the meantime； another dog had mounted its back and was tearing at its neck。 It seemed to be having a more difficult time getting at this one。 Another came in from its right and shredded its ear。 Two more plied its haunches； and when it reared again one rushed in and tore at its belly。 Their barks and growls also seemed to be confusing it somewhat； and it began striking wildly at the ever…moving gray shapes。
I had caught hold of Drum's bridle and was trying to