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I told no one my story.   If you’re going to lecture me on being friendly with Luke without learning his, I’ve already heard it.”
    “And what of Julia?”
    “What do you mean? She never learned...”
    “Exactly.   And she seems like one you could have trusted.   Instead, you turned her against you.”
    “All right! Maybe I used bad judgment there, too.”
    “You designed a remarkable machine, and it never occurred to you it might also become a potent weapon.   Random saw that right away.   So did Luke.   You might have been saved from disaster on that front only by the fact that it became sentient and didn’t care to be dictated to.”
    “You’re right.   I was more concerned with solving technical problems.   I didn’t think through all the consequences.
    He sighed.
    “What am I going to do with you, Merlin? You take risks when you don’t even know you’re taking risks.”
    “I didn’t trust Vinta,” I volunteered.
    “I think you could have gotten more information out of her,” he said; “if you hadn’t been so quick to save Luke, who already appeared to be out of danger.   She seemed to be loosening up considerably at the end of your dialogue.”
    “Perhaps I should have called you.”
    “If you encounter her again, do it, and I’ll deal with her.”
    I stared.   He seemed to mean it.
    “You know what she is?”
    “I’ll unriddle her,” he said, swirling the bright orange beverage in his glass.   “But I’ve a proposal for you, elegant in its simplicity.   I’ve a new country place, quite secluded, with all the amenities.   Why not return to the Courts with me rather than bouncing around from hazard to hazard? Lie low for a couple of years, enjoy the good life, catch up on your reading.   I’ll see that you’re well protected.   Let everything blow over, then go about your business in a more peaceful climate.”
    I took a small sip of the fiery drink.
    “No,” I said.   “What happened to those things you indicated earlier that you knew and I didn’t?”
    “Hardly important, if you accept my offer.   “
    “Even if I were to accept, I’d want to know.”
    “Bag of worms,” he said.
    “You listened to my story.   I’ll listen to yours.”
    He shrugged and leaned back in his chair, looked up at stars.
    “Swayvill is dying,” he said.
    “He’s been doing that for years.”
    “True, but he’s gotten much worse.   Some think it has, to do with the death curse of Eric of Amber.   Whatever; I really believe he hasn’t much longer.”
    “I begin to see...”
    “Yes, the struggle for the succession has become more intense.   People have been falling over left and righ-tpoison, duels, assassinations, peculiar accidents, dubious suicides.   A great number have also departed for points unknown.   Or so it would seem.”
    “I understand, but I don’t see where it concerns me.”
    “One time it would not have.”
    “But?”
    “You are not aware that Sawall adopted you, formally, after your departure?”
    “What?”
    “Yes.   I was never certain as to his exact motives.   But you are a legitimate heir.   You follow me but take precedence over Jurt and Despil.”
    “That would still leave me way in hell down on the list.”
    “True,” he said slowly.   “Most of the interest lies at the top ...”
    “You say ‘most.’ “
    “There are always exceptions,” he answered.   “You must realize that a time such as this is also a fine occasion for the paying off of old debts.   One death more or less hardly rouses an eyebrow the way it would have in more placid times.   Even in relatively high places.”
    I shook my head as I met his eyes.
    “It really doesn’t make sense in my case,” I said.   He continued to stare until I felt uncomfortable.   “Does it?” I finally asked.
    “Well ...” he said.   “Give it some thought.”
    I did.   And just as the notion came to me, Mandor nodded as if he viewed the contents of my mind.