The next morning I woke before sunup. Shask, of course, was still ablue lizard curled at the base of a giant tree. So I made tea and ate anapple afterward. We were low on provisions but should soon be in the land ofplenty.

Shask slowly unwound as the sun came up. I fed him the rest of theapples and gathered my possessions.

We were riding before too long, slow and easy, since there would besome hard climbing up the back route I favored. During our first break Iasked him to become once more a horse, and he obliged. It didn't seem tomake that much difference, and I requested he maintain it. I wanted todisplay his beauty in that form.

"Will you be heading right back after you've seen me here?" I asked.

"I've been meaning to talk to you about that," he responded. "Thingshave been slow back in the Courts, and I'm no one's assigned mount."

"Oh?"

"You're going to need a good mount, Lord Corwin."

"Yes, I'm sure."

"I'd like to apply for the job, for an indefinite period."

"I'd be honored," I said. "You're very special."

"Yes, I am."

We were atop Kolvir that afternoon and onto the grounds of Amber Palacewithin hours after that. I found Shask a good stall, groomed him, fed him,and left him to turn to stone at his leisure. I found a nameplate, scratchedShasko's name and my own upon it, and tacked it to his door.

"See you later," I said.

"Whatever, Lord. Whatever."

I departed the stables and headed for the palace. It was a damp, cloudyday, with a chill breeze from the direction of the sea. So far, no one hadspotted me.

I entered by way of the kitchen, where there was new help on duty. Noneof them recognized me, though they obviously realized that I belonged. Atleast, they returned my greeting with due respect and did not object to somefruit I pocketed. They did ask whether I cared to have something sent to one