The walk was exceedingly difficult. Partly because he was still hurting from his bout with Gerard but mostly it was because the changes he was making to shift through Shadow were making less and less sense. What even made it more arduous was the time involved. Roland was quite sure that this particular hike was pushing months if not a year. Considering the fluxuating time flows they were going through, however, caused Roland to lose track of time frequently. He had only his own internal rhythms to keep him going and he was certain that, no matter what the time was locally, he could still feel Amber Time. At least he hoped so.
Still, this was a very interesting tour his mother was taking him on. Everything felt twisted or, at the very least, odd. He had seen things that were beyond his, or anyone else's, imagination. Which made traveling through Shadow difficult for him. Although he was getting better at it.
"We will stop here," said Roland's mother suddenly. Roland looked around. He appeared to be on a flat plain right before a valley. Dominating the scenery was a giant tree. The whole area seemed very far away as if you could travel your whole life just to get here. Or, if you started here, you would have to travel your whole life to get to where you were going.
"Where are we?"
"We are as far away as you can get from anywhere before you start getting closer to anyplace else," his mother answered cryptically. She sat demurely on the ground and looked up at him. There was a great deal of humor in those eyes and a secret. She was laughing at him again.
"Rest a bit before you make camp," she ordered, "We will be staying awhile."
"Why?"
"Someone is going to meet us here."
"Who? Benedict? So I can have a go at him with my sword?"
"I thought you learned THAT lesson, my son," she said dangerously, her eyes flashing with a hidden fire.
Roland knew better than to answer her when she was getting irritated with him. There was nothing he could say that would not make her mood worse. He rubbed his jaw. It still ached when he talked. With a great sigh he leaned against the tree and watched his mother unpack her bag. He could see her watching him out of the corner of her eye. He tried not to let her know that he knew that she knew he was watching her but they both knew that they knew they were aware of each others observations. He sighed again.
"<Comfortable?>" came of voice floating into his head from elsewhere.
It was at that point Roland discovered that he could draw his sword, jump into the air, spin 180 degrees, and remove his cloak without falling down. He found himself face-to-face with... The Tree.
"<What kind of creature are you that you jump so much?>" said the tree with just a slight hint of wit. Roland was having a hard time trying to articulate his thought when he heard a magical sound from his youth. His mother laughing.
"You should see your face." His mother managed to gasp out between laughs. After a moment she managed to get herself mostly under control except for an occasional giggle.
"Don't be so rude," she said lightly. "Introduce yourself. Try to remember the manners I taught you before you lived with Julian. You remember... using words instead of grunting. And, for pities safe Roland, put your sword away."
She giggled a little more.
"Uuuhhh," Roland started, "Greetings."
"<How articulate,>" chided the Tree. It seemed to study him for a moment, "<You are of Oberon's brood. Very few others would come this far.>"
"Grandson," Roland admitted reluctantly. He was hesitant to discuss his geneology with a tree. Especially with his mother's eyes boring into his back. The Tree seemed to pick up on some of his feelings.
"<Just making conversation. I am Ygg. Your Grandfather planted me here a long time ago. Even as I measure things,>" It then added conspirously, "<Don't worry. She cannot hear what I am communicating unless I want her to. She is too inquisitive and arogant for my tastes.>"
"I agree. I am Roland. It is nice to meet you."
"<Nice of you to say so. What brings you to the center of the universe?>"
That caught Roland off guard.
"I thought Amber was the at the center of all things."
"<It is, it is,>" Ygg reassured, "<The way you use language is cumbersome... Using your perceptions it would be more accurate to say that I am planted midway between the Center of All and the Edge of ALL.>"
What is there?" Roland asked vaguely so his mother would not know the specifics of their conversation. He was quite sure that Ygg understood.
"<I am unsure of the details, suffice to say that it is completely different. Then beyond that there is nothing.>" He paused, "<I think I like you Roland. There is a kind of 'determined recklessness' about you that is reminecent of your Grandfather. Except that you are more wild. Maybe because you are younger.>" Another pause, "<That was meant as a compliment.>"
"Thank you."
"<You are welcome,>" after a pause Ygg continued, "<This is too cumbersome. May I suggest that we commune directly? I yearn to learn the specifics of your side of the universe and I am certain there are quite a few things that you would like to know. If we continue this way it would be decades before either one of us says something that the other considers relevant.>"
"Well..." Roland hesitated as his trained paranoia began to rise.
"<Fear not, Roland, I lack the ability, not to mention the desire to harm you. In addition, I am quite sure that your traveling companion would reduce me to toothpicks if anything happened to you.>"
"OK, you convinced me. What do I do?"
"<Simplicity itself. You place both palms on my trunk and relax.>"
Roland reached forward with his hands....
"Well?" confronted his mother as Roland returned to camp. It was much later. It was dark with no stars overhead. The small campfire crackled merrily. His mother looked at him with irritation. She had changed out of her traveling clothing and was wearing a simple long-sleeved robe.
"Well, what?" Roland responded evenly.
"It's been three days, Roland."
If Roland was surprised about the amount of time he had spent with Ygg he did not show it. He simply shrugged then sat down.
"I learned a lot."
"Care to elaborate?"
"Not really," he looked at her and then sighed. "It's hard. There are not words to describe what I was... Shown... No, that's not the right word. Shared experience... Feelings... No, it doesn't matter what I call it, it won't be right. Let's just say I was granted a unique perspective of the universe."
His mother's eyebrow arched questioningly. Roland sighed again.
"OK. When we see the universe we look at it like one of those plays we saw in France. Our perceptions of the play are based on what we see and hear the actors do. Ygg doesn't perceive it that way. I don't think it can. Ygg perceives the play's lighting, music, and audience responses but not what is happening on-stage. It can't. It must make..." Roland groped for the word, "inferences. Ygg showed me... taught, actually... how to view the universe it's way."
"That is a major intuitive paradigm shift," responded his mother clinically. "Did he 'show' you anything else?"
Roland stared into the fire. Things felt different now. More instinctive. He responded quietly...
"He showed me everything."