iking wildly at the ever…moving gray shapes。
I had caught hold of Drum's bridle and was trying to calm him sufficiently to remount and get the hell out of there。 He kept trying to rear and pull away； and it took considerable persuasion even to hold him in place。
In the meantime； the manticora let out a bitter； wailing cry。 It had struck wildly at the dog on its back and driven its sting into its own shoulder。 The dogs took advantage of this distraction and rushed in wherever there was an opening； snapping and tearing。
I am certain the dogs would have finished it； but at that moment the riders topped the hill and descended。 There were five of them； Julian in the lead。 He had on his scaled white armor and his hunting horn hung about his neck。 He rode his gigantic steed Morgenstern； a beast which has always hated me。 He raised the long lance that he bore and saluted with it in my direction。 Then he lowered it and shouted orders to the dogs。 Grudgingly； they dropped away from the prey。 Even the dog on the manticora's back loosened its grip and leaped to the ground。 All of them drew back as Julian couched the lance and touched his spurs to Morgenstern's sides。
The beast turned toward him； gave a final cry of defiance； and leaped ahead； fangs bared。 They came together； and for a moment my view was blocked by Morgenstern's shoulder。 Another moment； however； and I knew from the horse's behavior that the blow had been a true one。
A turning； and I saw the beast stretched out； great gouts of blood upon its breast； flowering about the dark stem of the lance。
Julian dismounted。 He said something to the other riders which I did not overhear。 They remained mounted。 He regarded the still…twitching manticora； then looked at me and smiled。 He crossed and placed his foot upon the beast； seized the lance with one hand； and wrenched it from the carcass。 Then he drove it into the ground and tethered Morgenstem to its shaft。 He reached up and patted the horse's shoulder； looked back at me； turned； and headed in my direction。
When he came up before me he said； 〃I wish you hadn't killed Bela。〃
〃Bela？〃 I repeated。
He glanced at the sky。 I followed his gaze。 Neither bird was now in sight。
〃He was one of my favorites。〃
〃I am sorry；〃 I said。 〃I misunderstood what was going on。〃
He nodded。
〃All right。 I've done something for you。 Now you can tell me what happened after I left the palace。 Did Brand make it？〃
〃Yes；〃 I said； 〃and you're off the hook on that。 He claimed Fiona stabbed him。 And she was not around to question either。 She departed during the night； also。 It's a wonder you didn't bump into one another。〃
He smiled。
〃I'd have guessed as much；〃 he said。
〃Why did you flee under such suspicious circumstances？〃 I asked。 〃It made it look bad for you。〃
He shrugged。
〃It would not be the first time I've been falsely accused； suspected。 And for that matter； if intent counts for anything； I am as guilty as our little sister。 I'd have done it myself if I could。 In fact； I'd a blade ready the night we fetched him back。 Only； I was crowded aside。〃
〃But why？〃 I asked。
He laughed。
〃Why？ I am afraid of the bastard； that's why。 For a long while； I had thought he was dead； and certainly hoped so … finally claimed by the dark powers he dealt with。 How much do you really know about him； Corwin？〃
〃We had a long talk。〃
〃And。。。？〃
〃He admitted that he and Bleys and Fiona had formed a plan to claim the throne。 They would see Bleys crowned； but each would share the real power。 They had used the forces you referred to； to assure Dad's absence。 Brand said that he had attempted to win Caine to their cause； but that Caine had instead gone to you and to Eric。 The three of you then formed a similar cabal to seize power before they could； by placing Eric on the throne。〃
He nodded。
〃The events are in order； but the reason is not。 We did not want the throne； at least not that abruptly； nor at that time。 We formed our group to oppose their group； because it had to be opposed to protect the throne。 At first； the most we could persuade Eric to do was to assume a Protectorship。 He was afraid he would quickly turn up dead if he saw himself crowned under those conditions。 Then you turned up； with your very legitimate claim。 We could not afford to let you press it at that time； because Brand's crowd was threatening out…and…out war。 We felt they would be less inclined to make this move if the throne were already occupied。 We could not have seated you； because you would have refused to be a puppet； a role you would have had to play since the game was already in progress and you were ignorant on too many fronts。 So we persuaded Eric to take the risk and be crowned。 That was how it happened。〃
〃So when I did arrive he put out my eyes and threw me in the dungeon for laughs。〃
Julian turned away and looked back at the dead manticora。
〃You are a fool；〃 he finally said。 〃You were a tool from the very beginning。 They used you to force our hand； and either way you lost。 If that half…assed attack of Bleys's had somehow succeeded； you wouldn't have lasted long enough to draw a deep breath。 If it failed； as it did； Bleys disappeared； as he did； leaving you with your life forfeit for attempted usurpation。 You had served your purpose and you had to die。 They left us small choice in the matter。 By rights； we should have killed you … and you know it。〃
I bit my lip。 There were many things I might say。 But if he was telling something approximating the truth； he did have a point。 And I did want to hear more。
〃Eric；〃 he said； 〃figured that your eyesight might eventually be restored … knowing the way we regenerate … given time。 It was a very delicate situation。 If Dad were to return； Eric could step down and justify all of his actions to anyone's satisfaction … except for killing you。 That would have been too patent a move to ensure his own continued reign beyond the troubles of the moment。 And I will tell you frankly that he simply wanted to imprison you and forget you。〃
〃Then whose idea was the blinding？〃
He was silent again for a long while。 Then he spoke very softly； almost a whisper： 〃Hear me out； please。 It was mine； and it may have saved your life。 Any action taken against you had to be tantamount to death； or their faction would have tried for the real thing。 You were no longer of any use to them； but alive and about you possessed the potentiality of being a danger at some future time。 They could have used your Trump to contact you and kill you； or they could have used it to free you in order to sacrifice you in yet another move against Eric。 Blinded； however； there was no need to slay you and you were of no use for anything else they might have in mind。 It saved you by taking you out of the picture for a time； and it saved us from a more egregious act which might one day be held against us。 As we saw it； there was no choice。 It was the only thing we could do。 There could be no show of leniency either； or we might be suspected of having some use for you ourselves。 The moment you assumed any such semblance of value you would have been a dead man。 The most we could do was look the other way whenever Lord Rein contrived to fort you。 That was all that could be done。〃
〃I see；〃 I said。
〃Yes；〃 he agreed； 〃you saw too soon。 No one had guessed you would recover your sight that quickly； nor that you would be able to escape once you did。 How did you manage it？〃
〃Does Macy's tell Gimbel's？〃 I said。
〃Beg pardon？〃
〃I said … never mind。 What do you know of Brand's imprisonment； then？〃
He regarded me once more。
〃All I know is that there was some sort of falling out within his group。 I lack the particulars。 For some reason； Bleys and Fiona were afraid to kill him and afraid to let him run loose。 When we freed him from their promise … imprisonment … Fiona was apparently more afraid of having him free。〃
〃And you said you feared him enough to have made ready to kill him。 Why now； after all this time； when all of this is history and the power has shifted again？ He was weak； virtually helpless。 What harm could he do now？〃
He sighed。
〃I do not understand the power that he possesses；〃 he said； 〃but it is cons