All combat is absent from the field of battle, though bodies of all shape litter the battlefield. The alien nature of the place is still disconcerting. Blood floats up through the air ignoring gravity, or burns from wounds like a flame. Perspective and distance change with every few steps. It is a testament to Benedict's skills that he was able to achieve a semblance of victory under these conditions with warriors versed only in warfare in a world of order. It did not bother Roland as much as it did others. Once he came to the realization that this was natural for this place it made it easier for him to deal with it. It also helped that he had trekked to the edge of the Abyss before. He was still angry with his mother and he had a full head of steam going when he headed off. It took him awhile to get here and by then he was much calmer, or at least as calm as he could get. But that was ancient history.
Roland follows Benedict's directions and comes to a mid sized regiment, its numbers depleted far below what they were when they first set foot on this field of battle. A group of humanoid prisoners sits chained and guarded. The enemy prisoners are of all type, some of which Roland had not yet until this moment. The soldiers appear wary of Roland at first, but then a voice cries out his name, "Prince Roland!" A tall, dark haired man, whom Roland recognizes as the young Lord Corwin Rein, dressed in light mail hobbles forward, escorted by guards on either side. Under his left arm is a makeshift crutch - what remains of his leg is twisted and gnarled. The foot itself is gone, and the leg is heavily bandaged. The young Lord Rein still walks. Though the pain must be intense. He is not of the Blood - such a wound will never heal. "What news, Prince?" he says, a note of fear barely detectable.
Roland surveys the field for a moment after Lord Rein finishes talking. Behind the commander, Roland can see little but the Storm, quickly bearing down on them. A howling noise seems to be coming from it. In a flash of lightning, Roland can see the outline of large leaning tower within the Storm - a tower that was not there before the Storm came. There is also a smell of rotting meat in the air. Most of the soldiers, and the prisoners, appear to be looking towards the Storm. Many turn their heads away from it - they have the look of those who expect to soon die. The regiment must move swiftly if they are to reach the position ordered by Benedict. The shackled prisoners and the wounded soldiers, including Lord Rein, will slow down the movement of the troops.
"We are to return immediately to Lord Benedict.” Roland says matter-of-factly, “At the rendezvous point King Corwin will hold back the storm."
He surveyed them again.
"Release the prisoners. We move out NOW," ordered Roland in a tone that allowed for no foolishness. He was not being merciful, just practical. It would take longer to kill them all then release them.
Lord Rein nods. "Yes, sir. Release the prisoners! Hurry!" The troops quickly get to work, and in minutes the prisoner's shackles are removed. All but two immediately rush, whether by foot or flight, towards the abyss and the floating citadel. One of the two remaining is a woman with perfectly white skin, and white hair that flows like a flame. She is dressed in green armor, but is unarmed. Where she should have eyes, there is nothing, just two empty holes filled with darkness. The other is a giant cat with six sets of eyes, and fire red fur whose color seems to change as though it were a flame. The cat's left front leg appears to be badly hurt. The woman and the cat bow low, at least the cat is giving the impression of bowing.
"You have my gratitude lord of Amber-that-was-lost." The cat says in a deep voice that any human tenor would be envious of.
"Honor may yet be returned your line of blood. May Shadow bear you well until the way is opened again." The woman says in a heavily accented voice. Something in the voice is very comforting and soothing. The woman also bows to Lord Rein. "Beware of the twisted path."
Something black and slippery floats out of the sky. It looks much like the thing that Dara was dealing with earlier - although this one is much, much larger. The cat and the woman step onto the oily sheet, and then float, very quickly, towards the floating citadel. Roland wondered idly if had made a friend or a future problem.
Lord Rein looks back at the Storm and then barks out orders to the men. "Don't just stand there. The Prince said to move!" The troops quickly begin moving out, as quickly as they can, given the wounded, along the route Roland dictates. Lord Rein goes as quickly as he can, but he is obviously strained. Droplets of blood float out of the wound on his leg and stay frozen in space in the air behind him.
Catching up quickly to Lord Rein he hands him his ax.
"Here, hold this..." It has become clear in Roland’s experience that whenever he makes this ridiculous command the other person stops long enough for Roland to do what he wants. Sometimes the person even takes the ax. As soon as Lord Rein pauses to take the ax, Roland scoops him up and carries him at a brisk pace.
"King Corwin would be put out with me if I did not return with you.” Said Roland to cut off an argument. For some reason people always argue against help when they need it the most, “I don't have time to make a litter."
Roland arrives just in time with Lord Rein and the Third Regiment. The storm was right on their heels and Roland did not even stop to put Rein down as he approached the others.
There is a hushed silence as the Storm falls upon the family. It comes, but nothing happens. It appears to be all about, but distant, and within minutes, it is all that can be seen. Even the Abyss is blocked from view. Light, colors, shapes, sounds, smells all seem to flow about. People can be seen in the distance, in the Storm, appearing and vanishing. Creatures of all descriptions move about behind its dark walls. Cities can be seen for an instant and are then gone. A thousand voices all talking at voice. The smells of a hundred forests mixed with those of a hundred kitchens all seem to come together. It is a maddening collection of all that can be imagined. Roland’s senses felt as though they were being overloaded.
The Storm is all about, but whatever Corwin and Dara are doing seems to hold, and the Storm does not touch the family gathered or the armies at ground below. A bolt of green lightning strikes out from the storm and touches just in front of Corwin. Where it strikes, the ground dissolves for a moment and grows outward, like a bubbling organic form. A hand and face can be seen, and then a branch of a tree. Dara reaches her hand forward, and the thing that is growing stops and freezes in place. Its texture quickly becomes that of stone.
And then it passes. The Storm moves by. It can be seen now over the Abyss, moving steadily onward. Corwin and Dara hold for a few seconds longer, and then the new King and Queen fall to the ground exhausted.
Roland suddenly realizes that he is still carrying Lord Rein. He puts him down. His whole being feels more than a little numb.
"I'd rather not do that again." Says Roland. Whether he was talking about the trek with Rein, the Storm, or the War was never to be found out.