Hours later, Annon awoke to an empty infirmary. He slowly got out of
bed, goaning a bit from his bandaged wounds. He gathered up his
clothes, dress himself, and crept out of the infirmary.

He went straight to his apartment in the castle. He gathered up all
his belongings into his backpack and left.

Annon was greatly relieved when he found Goldenwing in the safe care
of Piper, the son of the head groom of the royal stables. Dragonwing
flew to the only other friend he knew in Amber. The young prince
thanked Piper with some rare gold coins he had gathered on his trips
threw Shadow, and took the dragonette up onto his shoulder.

He then went into the stables and spoke with Piper's father. The
groom had found and buried poor Cajan after the attack. The prince
expressed his deep regret at the loss of such a fine animal and
trusted mount. He told the head groom that he was heading away into
shadow, but mentioned nothing about heading for the Courts. He
thanked both Piper and the old groom then saddled up the black steed
Midnight.

It was not too long after that, that Annon had traveled far away
from Amber to attempt a shadow walk. He focused his concentration
hard, until these lands beyond the Forest of Arden took on a much
dimmer cast of light from the newly setting sun.

And Annon rode on.