Dramatis Personae:
GERARD, Tyrant of Amber
RANDOM, Prince, later King of Amber
VIALLE, A Rebman lady, wife of Random, later wife of Gerard
MARTIN, Son of Random
MAGNUS, Son of Gerard
ALFRED, Son of Gerard
WILLIAM, Nephew of Gerard and Random, captain of the Royal Guard
ORINDA, Daughter of Princess Florimel
MERLIN, Son of Prince Corwin
YARKEN, Duke of the Southern Marches
War has come to Amber, and Gerard is the only one of his brothers who is not leaving with the army to defeat Amber's foes. He is to be Regent in the absence of his father. Random, his youngest brother, entrusts his wife and son to Gerard's care before his departure.
In the absence of his family, Gerard laments that he is not to be king. Vialle, who is a Rebman witch, unbeknownst to her husband, agrees to help Gerard become king with her magics in exchange for marrying her. She ensorcelled Random after the fashion of Rebman women to obtain his love, but now she's tired of him and wants Gerard as a partner in crime. They rule Amber in the absence of Oberon, with no help from Gerard's sons, the layabout Magnus and the cruel Alfred. Martin, Orinda, and William work to protect the people from their depredations, often unsuccessfully.
Random returns to Amber after the war with the Jewel of Judgement, token that he has ascended the Throne. Vialle convinces him to bathe and lets Gerard into the bath, where Vialle and Gerard murder him. Gerard throws Random's body from Kolvir, where it is found by two fishermen. They summon Alfred, who brutally murders them to hide the crime. Martin accuses Gerard of murder, and Gerard tries to kill him. Martin flees and Gerard outlaws him, proclaiming him mad. He sends men to hunt and kill Martin. Orinda arrives back in Amber and confronts Vialle, who reports her to Gerard. William helps her flee and go into hiding. Gerard cannot prove he did it, but he suspects and deposes William as Captain of the Guard in favor of Magnus.
Gerard and Vialle marry, and now, with no protectors to stop them, begin plundering Amber in earnest. Magnus is dumb and lazy; Alfred imports foreign mercenaries who harrass Amberite women. Reports come from Garnath that the men who serve Amber are being harrassed by Martin, but no one takes this seriously. A conflicted William is sent to find and kill Martin.
Meanwhile, Merlin, son of Corwin, returns to Amber. He meets a guard at the gate of the city who tells him of Random's death and Martin's madness and outlawry. Merlin seeks Martin out in Garnath. Martin tells Merlin that Gerard is magically protected, and that no man can defeat him. Merlin suggests he find a woman of the line of Oberon who can help them. Martin searches out Orinda, who has been in hiding, believing Martin dead. Orinda agrees to act as herald for Martin. William finds the group and and swears allegiance to Martin.
Gerard and Vialle come on progress to Garnath. Vialle is pregnant with what will be a monster child. The progress consists of Magnus' layabouts and Alfred's foreigners. They descend on Duke Yarken and nearly lay waste to his home. Vialle uses Alfred's behavior as an excuse to get rid of him, feeling that he is a threat to her unborn child.
At dinner with Duke Yarken, Orinda arrives as a herald and is admitted by the Duke. Gerard becomes enraged and attacks her. Merlin, Martin, and William are concealed among the guards and leap to her defense. The guards fight amongst themselves as men loyal to William do battle with men loyal to Magnus. None of the men can touch Gerard because of Vialle's protection, but Orinda picks up a krater and strikes him in the head, rendering him unconscious. Magnus' men are defeated.
Martin executes Gerard and Vialle on the field, ending the threat of the witch, her paramour, and the monster child. All swear allegiance to him, including Magnus, who is pardoned for his crimes, and Alfred is exiled.