Peter Hamilton - The Temporal Void

'Edeard.

Through his grief he sighed in understanding, and extended his farsight to where he thought the voice was coming from. Concentrating as best he could. 'The Master of Sampalok himself, he said with bitter affection.

Macsen's soul smiled down at his friend. 'The briefest reign ever.

'The most memorable. Edeard's farsight switched to Dinlay, who stood beside Macsen. 'I'm so sorry.

'There's nothing to be sorry for, Dinlay said. 'You tried to save me.

'I failed.

'But you tried. That's what makes you the Waterwalker.

'Can you hear the nebulas? Can you hear the songs?

'Yes, Macsen said. 'They're very strong, very beautiful. It is hard to resist their call, they promise such a glorious future within the Heart. But we will stay with you for now, we are pledged to do that, no matter how difficult it is to linger. There is one task we are honour-bound to help you with, Edeard, defeating whoever was behind this ambush. You will deliver us justice.

'I will, he said miserably. 'I promise that. And thank you so much.

Macsen smiled sadly. 'Edeard, can you see them?

'See who? He sent out his farsight, thinking some bandits might have survived.

Macsen and Dinlay drifted towards him. 'Beside us, Edeard, Dinlay said. 'Try, Edeard, try to see them. They're so weak now, so fragile. But they endure. For you. Dear Lady, they have lasted for over a decade and a half. You'll never know what that costs until you die.

'What?

'Focus, Edeard, Macsen insisted. 'The same way you see us. But go further.

Edeard attempted to do as they asked, extending his farsight, not lengthening it, but deepening the perception. There, right on the edge of his ability, he discerned two figures. They were incredibly faint. A man and a woman, badly enervated compared to the souls of Macsen and Dinlay.

'I know you, Edeard said in wonder. 'Your faces. I remember them. His thoughts went tumbling back through the years. Back to a time when he'd run through that grand old farmhouse outside Ashwell. Laughed and played all day long. Gone running happily to… 'Mother? he gasped incredulously. 'Mother, is that you? And Father?

The tenuous souls smiled in unison. They linked hands.

'Son, his father said.

It was a voice so frail Edeard was immediately afraid. 'You stayed? the tears had returned as the revelation sapped his physical strength.

'Of course we stayed, my beautiful boy, his mother said.

'You watched out for me. You! It was you all those times. You warned me.

'You are all that is left of us, his father said. 'We had to protect you. To make sure you were safe.

'Oh, dear Lady. What about the songs, the call to the Heart?

'We love you, that's what's truly important.

'But, you're so… small.

'It would be the same if we had followed the songs, his mother said with a gentle smile. 'They are so far away. I tell myself so few souls will ever reach the Heart.

'Go, Edeard said. 'Go now. I want to meet you again on the other side of Odin's Sea. I want to tell you all I've done with my life. I want you to be safe.

'Too late for that, son, his father said. 'This has been our blessing, seeing what you have become. Seeing you grow to this stature. I'm so proud, so very proud, I would never exchange this for another lifetime in the Heart. Not if I had this same choice a million times over.

'My beautiful son, his mother said. 'I could never have dreamed for a child so splendid. You have led this world out of darkness.

'No he hasn't, Macsen said. 'I'm sorry, but Edeard they knew we were coming. This ambush is about as clever and devious as you can get.

'And it didn't work, Dinlay said firmly, then frowned. 'Not against you.

'Who warned them? Macsen asked. 'Who is really behind this? Edeard, the girls! Our wives. What is happening back in Makkathran?

Edeard felt all the joy of his extraordinary reunion drain back out of him. 'I don't know, he said. 'But there's someone left to ask.

The huge boulder was exactly where Edeard had left it, perched on the lip of the ledge. Its immense weight crushing the bandit leader's lower legs beneath it. Despite being trapped, despite the immense pain, the desperate man had managed to reload his rapid-fire pistol. His third hand had gathered up several extra magazines full of bullets. All he needed was a clear shot.

Edeard felt the man's farsight on him as he scrambled up to the ledge. He walked calmly round the boulder, and the bandit opened fire. Edeard stood there grinning as the incessant bullets pummelled uselessly at his shield.

'A truly terrible weapon, Edeard said when the bullets were exhausted. 'Your enemies will surely be deaf for a week after that.

'Go to Honious, Waterwalker.

'A long time after you, I suspect. Edeard's third hand snatched the gun away. 'You never did tell me your name. But now I recognise that nose, it's very distinct. Just how far down the Gilmorn family tree are you?

'Your friends are dead. All of them, I farsighted that. You're all alone in ways you cannot imagine.

'Really? Edeard applied his third hand. The Gilmorn screamed as the boulder rolled forwards; his knees crunched . 'Who told you we were coming?

'It's over, you fucking freak, the Gilmorn yelled against the pain. Cold sweat was seeping down his face. 'We won, even after this, we won.

The boulder turned fractionally again. The scream of agony was terrible as more of his legs were destroyed beneath the stone. 'Who won? Edeard asked calmly.

'You can't win, not now, the Gilmorn wailed.

'An inch at a time, Edeard warned, and moved the boulder again. 'And you're a tall man.

'Nooooo,

Edeard thought the Gilmorn might have damaged his throat the tormented cry which followed was so loud and prolonged. 'Is this how the villagers begged and pleaded? How many have you slaughtered over the years, Gilmorn? Edeard rolled the boulder up closer to his hips.

The bandit began thrashing about, banging his head back frantically against the ledge in an attempt to split his own skull open, to end the torture. Edeard's third hand swiftly immobilized him.

'It was necessary, the Gilmorn gurgled. He was having trouble breathing now, sweat was soaking his clothes.

'Necessary? a disgusted Edeard asked. 'Necessary for what? You have killed — murdered — hundreds of people. Thousands. You have brought ruin to whole villages.

'One nation.

'What? Edeard though he had misheard the phrase. The Slogan. Owain's slogan. Owain .

'We have to be one.

A furious Edeard edged the boulder round again. The man's hips burst.

'Owain! Edeard yelled, his voice full of hatred.

The Gilmorn laughed manically, allowing blood to foam out of his mouth. 'One world, one nation, ruled by those of us who were born with destiny in our blood.

'You did all this to crown an emperor? You… you… Dear Lady, for this? Edeard rolled the boulder forwards and kept it going until the screams and snappings ended abruptly. 'Lady, no, he murmured in anguish.

'For all your strength, you're so weak, the Gilmorn's soul said contemptuously.

Edeard spun round.

The bandit's spectral essence stood above the puddle of his own blood spreading out from under the boulder. He gave Dinlay and Macsen a scornful glance. 'You could have joined with us, Waterwalker. Cousin Ranalee offered you the world. A whole people united in veneration of your strength. And you turned her down. For what? Them? What can these pitiful tragedies ever give you?

'Honious awaits you, an incensed Macsen said. 'Do not tarry.

The Gilmorn started to ascend. 'And guess what, Waterwalker, my family still gets to fuck your little Novice whore. His shape blurred as it shot upwards to be lost amid the glowing beauty of the nebulas.