The Guns of Avalon, chapter 5

Spoiler alert: This post is part of an in-depth discussion of The Guns of Avalon by Roger Zelazny, which will inevitably reveal key plot points. Unless you're the sort of person who likes skipping to the last page, go read the book first.

---

Corwin of Amber and Ganelon, steward of a Shadow world called Lorraine, have formed an alliance to retake Amber from Corwin's brother Eric, who has placed himself on its throne. They are former enemies, but Corwin helped Ganelon defeat a dark Circle in Lorraine, a by-product of a curse Corwin placed on Eric. They travelled to a shadow of Avalon, the realm that Corwin once ruled. Corwin plans to obtain a quantity of jeweller's rouge in Avalon, and use it as the propellant in firearms purchased on Earth, because Corwin once discovered that unlike conventional gunpowder, jeweller's rouge will burn in Amber.

When they arrived in shadow Avalon, they discovered that its Protector and ruler was Corwin's long-lost eldest brother, Benedict. He had no interest in getting involved in Corwin's coup, and warned him not to use Avalon to stage an invasion of Amber. However, Corwin spied him using his Trumps to contact someone in the family.

Corwin is waken from a dream by a young woman who addresses him by his real name. He learns that she is Benedict's great-granddaughter, Dara. She recognized him from his image on his Trump. Although she does not know how to use the power, she has limited ability to move through Shadow. Corwin explains the nature of Shadow and the use of the Pattern and the Trumps to her. In return, Dara informs him that his brothers Brand, Gérard, and Julian have all visited Avalon—the latter two only a few months ago, after suffering some kind of accident. Corwin invites Dara to contact him via his Trump in three months, before departing on a journey.

Dara is the first Amberite character we've met that wasn't a son or daughter of Oberon. She was born in Avalon. As an Amberite, she has the latent ability to move through Shadow, and has done so accidentally. She envisions Shadow as a "burning spider web," which Corwin recognizes as the Pattern. Is that what the Pattern represents? A map of Shadow?

While Dara is a common name in many cultures, my guess is Zelazny took it from the Anglicization of the Old Irish name Dáire. It is a unisex name, although predominantly male. Several ancient Irish rulers and legendary figures were named Dáire. The name means "fertile" or "violent."

Benedict is very protective of Dara, not wanting it to be known that she is an Amberite; he passes her off as his ward. Given that her grandmother and mother died violently while he was in Amber, this is a prudent choice, probably. As Corwin advises her, "never trust a relative." Was a relative trying to send Benedict a message? If so, who, and why?

Benedict wants no part of the family intrigue, and I guess he wants to shield Dara from that as well. So I get the feeling that Benedict is dealing with Corwin sincerely. On the other hand, we know that he has tried to contact at least one relative secretly via the Trumps, and we also know that he has met with three brothers in person. Brand visited him eight years ago, and his sympathies (and current whereabouts) are unknown. But Gérard and Julian, who are allied with Eric, were there only a few months ago. So can Corwin trust Benedict? I'd say the jury's still out. (Is even Corwin trustworthy? He still feels like an unreliable narrator.)

What was the nature of Gérard ad Julian's accident? It occurred "on the black road." Are they, too, fighting the denizens of the dark rift? If so, it seems Corwin's curse on Eric, that he would "never rest easy upon the throne," is coming true, albeit in an unintended way.

With chapter 5, we're over the hump in The Guns of Avalon. It's all downhill the rest of the way through this novel (and Volume 1 of my Doubleday set). Stay tuned for the next chapter on Sunday.