My doctor tells me that today is the seventh of Zavax and that I have been unconscious for the last four days. They insisted that I rest further but to tell the truth the last three hours in bed have been intolerable. Let me fill you in on what for me has been only a few minutes before I go and consult with Fiona. She could propably do with a break if nothing else.
My Fathers pattern has a completely different feel to the pattern in Amber, its somehow more welcoming, but may be that's me.
Anyway I had settled into the rythm of the Pattern and had just reached the first veil, when my father, well actually his Pattern Ghost, appeared next to me causing me to stumble. it's not the first time he's appeared by in the past he's always appeared in front of me and either walked towards me or waited for me to get to him.
We spoke for a bit and as I reached the second veil he apologized to me for what was about to happen next. When I asked what all he said was that is was necessary. He then drew his sword and proceeded to attack me.
Fighting the Pattern itself is bad enough but having to deal with a Pattern Ghost as well is virtually impossible. I knew only that I must get to and pass the third veil at all costs.
Now I look back on what happened, my father's initial intent was not to kill me but to sap me most of my strength. Each stroke of his sword inflicted a small cut, sapping my strength in a like amount. By the time I neared the third veil each step was a mountain of agony and a torment of will. I was covered in hundreds of bleeding cuts yet no blood dripped upon the pattern. The third veil appeare, and my father forged on ahead before turning and waiting sword in hand.
I calculated, and with the last of my will dived for the veil, attempting to roll past him, but he had anticipated this. Too late I saw the blade as it swung lethally towards my neck.
It's strange to be dead or at least think you are. I remember this vast plain, black and not yet black, shimering yet not shimmering, existing yet not existing, as if reality was bent like a Mobius strip. How long I hung above this plain before I saw the figure I do not know. Once I thought I felt the presence of Charity for an instant, but that faded and ceased to be.
The figure took its time approaching, flying here and there before it too noticed me. As it drew closer I recognized it. It was a phoenix, the symbol not only on my personal banner but also the symbol on the signet ring on my right hand. The difference is it was huge, standing at least twenty feet tall and with a wing span of easily two hundred feet. It's head was plumed in a fine array of multicoloured feathers, and it had wickedly talloned feet. It's wing and body feathers shimmered as if there were on fire, and its tail, I doubt if I will ever see a more beautiful sight. It folded its vast wings, coming to rest and regarded me.
"Ghost of my ring, what brings you to my realm? I see the still shimmering spark of reality about you, so your time has not yet come."
"I don't understand, you said my time has not yet come."
"That is correct, but don't try my patience."
"So where am I?"
"You are in my realm"
"And which realm is that?"
"I believe you would refer to it as the realm of the dead, some you've encountered call it the Hunting Grounds, others as the underworld."
"So I'm dead?"
"As you understand it you are not dead and you are not alive. The best description is that you exist. At this point in your existance you exist in my realm, yet you should not be here. You say your father killed you, then were this true the taint of reality that surrounds you would be gone. Since this is not the case you are not, as you perceive it, dead."
"So as I'm not dead, according to your perceptions, then how did I get here and how do I get back.?"
"I cannot answer either of those questions for I do not know the answers."
"Don't you know anything? What about the ring?"
"The ring was once mine, I lost. Perhaps that is why you are here."
"Do you want it back?"
"I have no use for it currently. You should keep it."
"Is there anything else?"
"Well, once another came before his time. He also left but I do not know how. Then he did something and I was born again in Quatzoquatl's realm. Perhaps one day I shall return there."
"What's Quatzoquatl's realm?"
"Ah, you do not know him by that name, do you not know the Serpents true name?"
"No I don't, but don't names give power?"
"Not always."
"Can't you think of anything that ma help me return?"
"Well the one before I gave a feather. Here take this one. If you are successful then perhaps we shall meet again.
He reached behind himself and plucked a feather from his tail, spread his wings and was gone, the single feather drifting in the blackness just beyond my reach.
Catching that feather has been the most annoying thing I tried to do, perhaps even the hardest. it was certainly more frstrating than trying to walk the pattern 4 days ago. What happened to it I do not know for as I grasped it I woke up.
No I haven't been unconscious agian, I've just not been in a position to do anything. After I left the infimary, I went and ate, catching up on events during the last four days as I did so. I then went to see Fiona.
She looked even more tired and drawn than when I'd first arrived and beckoned me to join her. I was reluctant at first, but it was clear she needed some rest. As I stepped onto the pattern my father appeared and rushed towards me. This time he hadn't come to kill me but seemed over joyed to see me as if he had feared he would never do so again. I felt both his joy and sorrow magnified through the pattern. There were strange forces at work here.
Fiona was indeed relieved at my arrival. She told me to construct a pattern lens and use it to view the construct around her. As the image formed I could see lines radiating out and up and surrounding the castle as if with a cage. Two lines were unusual, one seemed to extend from the pattern into Fiona and the other from her to the crown of the dome.
"You see the lines, one from the pattern to me, and the other from me to the crown?"
"Yes"
"They are the control lines. I wan you to look closely at the junctions with me. You will see two subsiduary nodes, one at each junction. I want you to use your mind and plug into those nodes. Connect to the crown line first."
Doing as she asked was extremely difficult for it required a very fine focus, but eventually I managed it. The power swell as I made the second connection was orgasmic - literally.
Now you've got over that, I want you to hold the reins. It'll be harder than you think, especaially if my brother tries anything. If he does you'll need to open the power feeds wider. Let the pattern do the work but don't let it run out of control and don't let him in, and don't shut the power off I wish you'd had more time to learn but I need to get some rest. I shall return as soon as I've recovered some of my strength."
That was two days ago, all bar an hour or so. I shall now finish my coffee and then go in search of Charity and the others. I'm sure Mikato will relish the challenge of finding them. After all why have a dog that can track and do it yourself?
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| Supporting Cast - Cordelia | The Keep of the Thirteenth Hour |