Peter Hamilton - The Dreaming Void

'He was fifty yards away, Obron whispered in astonishment and no small measure of apprehension.

'Fahin, Edeard called. 'Fahin, can you hear me? His farsight picked out a tiny iridescent glow that suddenly appeared inside the thicket. 'Fahin?

'Edeard? the lanky boy's longtalk asked fearfully.

'Yes! Yes, it's me and Obron. Come on, come out. It's safe. I think.

They both watched as Fahin crawled out of the bushes. His face and hands had been scratched mercilessly, his loose woollen sweater was missing completely. Tacky berry juice was smeared into his hair, and over his glasses which hung from one ear. Amazingly, he was still clutching his physick satchel. Obron helped him up, and abruptly found himself being hugged. 'I was so frightened, Fahin mumbled piteously. 'I fled. I'm sorry. I should have helped.

'It's okay, Obron said. 'I wasn't much use either. He turned and gave Edeard a long thoughtful look, his mind tightening up pensively. 'Edeard saved me. He's killed a score of them.

'No, Edeard protested. 'Nothing like that— then trailed off as he realized he really had killed people today. His guilty glance stole back to the bandit impaled on his own sword. A man was dead, and he'd done it. But the sword had been slick with blood. And the other bandits… they would have killed us. J didn't have (j choice.

Sometimes you have to do what's wrong in order to do what's right.

'Can anyone still see or sense bandits?

Edeard's head came up as he received Melzar's weak longtalk. Obron and Fahin were also looking round.

'Anyone? Melzar asked. 'Okay, then please make your way towards me. If anyone is injured, please help bring them along. Fahin, are you here?

Somehow, Melzar being alive made the world a little less intimidating for Edeard. He even managed a small grin. Obron let out a whistle of relief.

'Yes, sir, I'm here, Fahin replied.

'Good lad, hurry up please, we have injured.

'Oh Lady, Fahin groaned. 'I'm just an apprentice. The doctor won't even let me prepare some of her leaves.

'Just do the best you can, Edeard said.

'But—

'You cured our hangovers, Edeard said. 'Nobody will start mouthing off at you for helping the injured. We're not expecting you to be as good as old Doc Seneo. But Fahin, you have to do something. You can't turn your back on wounded people. You just can't. They need you.

'He's right, Obron said. 'I think I heard Janene scream. What would her parents say if you walked away?

'Right, yes, Fahin said. 'You're right, of course. Oh Lady, where are my glasses? I can't do everything by farsight. He turned back to the thicket.

'They're here, Edeard said. His third hand lifted them gently into place, at the same time wiping the berry goop from them.

'Thank you, Fahin said.

They hurried through the forest towards Melzar. Other figures were moving with them in the same direction. Several apprentices sent panicky hellos via longtalk. Edeard remembered an image of Alcie, the wound in his thigh. It had looked bad.

Toran and the apprentices with pistols had gathered into a defensive group with Melzar. Edeard exchanged a relieved greeting with Genril, who was all jitters. He said he had one bullet left in his revolver, and he was sure he'd hit at least one bandit. 'I got really scared when the fastfoxes charged us. Toran killed one with his rifle. Lady! He's a good shot.

'You should see what Edeard did, Obron said flatly. 'He doesn't need guns.

'What? Genril asked. What did you do?

'Nothing, Edeard said. 'I know how to deal with animals, that's all. You know that.

'Just how strong are you? Obron asked.

'Yeah, Genril said. 'We heard your longtalk right over on the ridge, it was like you were next to me screaming into my skull. Lady, I almost ducked when that arrow came at you.

'Does it matter? Edeard asked. He was looking round, wondering where the others were. Out of the twelve apprentices and four adults in the flusher line, only five made it so far, including the three of them. Then Canan the carpenter arrived carrying an unconscious Alcie. Fahin gave his friend a worried look, seeing the crudely wrapped wound already soaked in blood. His mind started to get agitated.

'Go, Edeard directed with a quiet longtalk. 'Do as much as you can.

'P-p-put him down, Fahin said. He knelt beside Alcie and started rummaging through his satchel.

Edeard turned back to the forest, sending his farsight ranging out. Where are the others? His heart quickened as he detected some movement. A couple of apprentices came running through the trees.

'It's all right, Melzar said soothingly. 'You're safe now.

'We left Janene, one of them wailed. 'We tried to save her, but she took an arrow. I ran— He collapsed on the ground, sobbing.

'Nine, Edeard whispered as he kept his vigil. 'Nine out of twelve.

Melzar's hand came down on his shoulder. 'It would have been none without you, he said quietly. 'Your warning saved us. Saved me, in fact. I owe you my life, Edeard. We all do.

'No, Edeard shook his head sadly. 'I didn't warn you. I was terrified. That was all. You heard my fear.

'I know. It was — powerful. What happened? What tipped you off?

'I… He frowned, remembering the sensation of fear that had gripped him. There was no reason for it. 'I heard something, he said lamely.

'Whatever, I'm glad.

'Why couldn't we sense them? I thought I had good farsight. They were closer to me than Obron and Fahin and I never knew.

'There are ways you can eclipse your thoughts, bend them away from farsight. It's not a technique we're very familiar with in Ashwell, and I've never seen it practised so well as today. The Lady knows where they learned it from. And they tamed fastfoxes, too. That's astonishing. We'll have to send messengers out to the other towns and warn them of this new development'

'Do you think there are more of them out there? Edeard could imagine whole armies of bandits converging on their little caravan.

'No. We put them to flight today. And even if there were others lurking about, they have pause for thought now. Their ambush failed. Thanks to you.

'I bet Janene and the others don't think its failed, Edeard said bitterly. He didn't care that he was being rude to Melzar. After this, nothing much seemed to matter.

'There's no answer I can give you to that, lad. I'm sorry.

'Why do they do this? Edeard asked. 'Why do these people live out here hurting others? Why don't they live in the villages, in a house? They're just savages.

'I know, lad. But this is all they know. They're brought up in the wilds and they'll bring their children up the same way. It's not a cycle we can break. There are always going to be people living out beyond civilization.

'I hate them. They killed my parents. Now they've killed my friends. We should wipe them out. All of them. It's the only way we'll ever be allowed to live in peace.

'That's anger talking.

'I don't care, that's what I feel. That's what I'll always feel.

'It probably is. Right now I almost agree with you. But It's my job to get everyone home safely. Melzar leaned in close, studying Edeard's expression and thoughts. 'Are you going to help me with that?

'Yes, sir. I will.

'Okay, now call back our ge-wolves.

'Right. What about the fastfox? Edeard was still aware of the animal prowling round at the limit of his farsight. It was confused, missing its original master.

'The fastfox?

'Edeard tamed it, Obron said. 'His third hand scooped it up, and he made it attack the bandits.

The other apprentices turned to look at Edeard. Despite the exhaustion and apprehension dominating their thoughts a lot of them were registering surprise, and even some concern.

'I told you, Edeard said sullenly. 'I know how to deal with animals. It's what my whole Guild does.