Nine Princes in Amber, chapter 8

Spoiler alert: This post is part of an in-depth discussion of Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny, which will inevitably reveal key plot points. If you don't want me ruining the experience for you, put this post down and go read Nine Princes in Amber now. I promise I won't be offended.

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Corwin's and Bleys's assault on Amber to retake the throne from their brother Eric has failed. Their entire army was obliterated, Bleys fell almost at the gate to Amber, and Corwin was captured.

Imprisoned in the castle dungeon, Corwin is brought in chains to a banquet at which Eric is crowned king of Amber, in spite of many insults from Corwin. Eric has Corwin blinded and thrown back in his cell. He is left alone for over four months, until a knight named Rein, whom Corwin had befriended centuries ago, secretly brings him a gift of good food, wine, and cigarettes. On the anniversary of his coronation, Eric again drags Corwin out to a banquet. "Thus ended the first year of darkness."

With the loss of his vision, Corwin has also lost his ability to move through Shadow. The Pattern can restore the latter; might it also be able to restore his sight?

One of the Chronicles of Amber's more delightful anachronisms is Corwin's family's smoking habit. The palace has ashtrays, and (in spite of the presumably medieval setting) Rein has access to Salem cigarettes. If he's not a member of the royal family, he can't travel through Shadow to get smokes from our Earth. Did he get them from one of Corwin's brothers or sisters? Is there a prince of Amber who makes regular cigarette runs to our Earth? Did R. J. Reynolds open up a branch plant in Amber?

Rein may be an ally for Corwin. Will their friendship come into play later? Rein informs him that Random is also imprisoned, Brand and Benedict remain missing, and Bleys is presumed dead, though his body was not found after he fell off the staircase. Something tells me he successfully used the Trumps as he plummeted off the mountain.

Chapter 8 has little in terms of plot, but what it lacks in action, it makes up for in significance. That last line suggests there will be more years of darkness ahead. Yet only two chapters remain, and presumably the novel ends on a high note. We will find out next week how it all pans out.