To Rule in Amber Read Online Free PDF

universe seemed to beat down upon my head and shoulders.
    I concentrated on one foot at a time. As long as I kept moving, I drew closer to my goal. Just another inch at a time - anything to keep going -
    I could barely see the Pattern. Unable to breathe, I used the last of my strength to take a final step.
    Then I was through. I had made it.
    My legs felt weak. Drawing on final reserves of strength I didn't know I had, I staggered to my father's side.
    "Dad?" I said. It came out barely a whisper. "How about helping me out here?"
    He didn't move. Somehow, I managed to kneel, then roll him over. I checked him for wounds, but he seemed whole - nothing worse than a slight bruise on the back of one hand.
    "What's wrong, Dad?"
    Slowly his lips moved. He seemed to be trying to speak.
    I leaned close, straining to hear. He kept saying what sounded like, "Thellops… Thellops…
    Thellops…"
    "Thellops?" I demanded. "What in the seven hells is that !"
    He stared blindly off into space. His lips continued to move. Clearly he hadn't heard me. What could be wrong with him?
    "Come on, Dad!" I said. I shook him. "Wake up! I can't get you out of here by myself! Dad !"
    Still no response.
    Grabbing him under the arms, I hauled him to his feet. Maybe he'd come out of it if I got him up and moving. His head lolled forward. When I draped his arm across my shoulders, he was so much dead weight. He made no effort to support himself.
    "Attention!" I barked like a drill sergeant. "On your feet, soldier! Move !"
    That would have gotten me up, no matter how hard or painful - as a soldier in King Elnar's army, obedience to orders had been drilled into me. You didn't make Lieutenant without it.
    "Dad!" I said, urgently. "I need you awake now! Dad !"
    I shook him again, but all he did was drool. Just great. Could things get any worse?
    With nothing left to try, I slapped his face. He blinked and moaned. Then his eyes closed and opened several times in quick succession. He seemed to come out of his stupor enough to turn his head toward me.
    "Can you stand?" I asked him.
    "Not… real…" he mumbled.
    "Of course I'm real. It's me - Oberon."
    "Imagining…"
    I slapped his face again, just enough to sting. That seemed to bring him around a bit more.
    "Look at me!" I said. "Can you stand, Dad? Do you need help walking?"
    Mumbling, he shrugged away my hands. For a second he wobbled, but then he seemed to draw on inner reserves of strength. He straightened his back and stood rigidly upright, and an odd, slightly bewildered expression flickered across his face.
    "Where… ?" he whispered.
    "You're back at the Pattern," I said. "Do you know how to get out?"
    "The Pattern… yes…"
    "Good. You do remember." I turned and gazed along the shimmering path I had just walked.
    With all those twists and turns, it seemed a lot longer than I had first thought. "Is it easier when you're leaving?" I asked. "Can you walk? I'm not sure I can carry you back out."
    The faintest hiss of steel leaving a scabbard sent a shiver of alarm through me. Instantly, I threw myself to the left, tucking into a quick roll. I came up on the balls of my feet, fists ready.
    I'd acted just in time - my father had drawn his sword and lunged at me. If I hadn't been fast, he would have run me through.
    "Thellops!" he roared, advancing on my position. He had a half-crazed look in his eyes. "Never again!"

Four
    "Dad!" I cried, backing away desperately. Had he lost his mind? Didn't he recognize me? "It's Oberon - your son! Dad !"
    Howling, he lunged again.
    Fortunately, he barely had enough strength to hold his blade. Batting his sword aside with my arm, I closed fast and punched the side of his head as hard as I could. The force of my blow sent a shock of pain the length of my arm and sent him reeling.
    That blow would have been enough to knock out or even kill a normal man. Not my father, though. Dazed, the tip of his sword dragging across the stone, he gave a low groan and rushed me again,