Gareth Williams - A Dark, Distorted Mirror. Volume 5 - Among the Stars, like Giants. Part 5 - The Three–Edged Sword

"The coming of the cold."

A pause.

A long pause.

Longer.

"I am Sinoval."

He was holding her cold hand in his. The bier on which he had placed her body was cold. Her body was cold.

"My lady," he whispered softly.

He slumped to the floor against the bier, still holding her hand. He pressed the cold hand to the side of his face.

"My lady," he said again. "My lady, my lady, my lady."

No loss.

No pain.

No grief.

No sorrow.

Could deflect them from their task.

My lady....

"Is it done? Did you do it? Did you do what was so damned important that you'd risk delaying a little longer and almost getting us killed?"

"It's done."

"Was it worth it?"

"I don't know. No, I do. Yes, it was. It was worth it."

"Is there anything else we should stick around for? Anything else that's so important that I can't know about it?"

"No. I'm sorry. I should have told you."

"All right. So what was it?"

"I went to see Mr. Edgars."

"What?"

"I convinced him to kill himself. It's amazing what you can do with the right choice of words."

"What? This.... Why? Do you have any idea what Security will be doing? They'll be out.... We'll never get off–planet."

"It was suicide. That's what they'll see, and if they see more, then.... fine."

"Oh, for the love of.... Why? Can you even tell me that?"

"He did me a good turn. Several."

"That's it? You know he never cared about you, or your cause."

"Any more than you do. No, that was unfair. I know he never cared, but I had to repay him anyway. I have to repay my debts. It proves I'm still a man."

"As opposed to a woodlouse?"

"As opposed to a corpse that just happens to be able to walk and talk."

"....

"I see."

"No, you don't."

"No, I don't. Come on, we'd better go."

"Yes.

"We should go."

Eldest.

Ah. There you are. I have been expecting you.

Disturbing words, Eldest. We.... do not understand.

No, you don't. That is the first piece of real wisdom I think I have ever heard from you.

You helped them against us. Why? All we have ever wanted is for them to be perfect. That was our purpose.

You still do not see. You are right. You do not understand. I doubt if you ever will.

You still defy us, Eldest.

I do what I must. If the Younger Races need help, then it is for us to provide that help. If it is necessary that we intervene directly, then so be it.

We do not see why you defy us, Eldest. We revere you. We venerate you. We worship you. Word of your betrayal will be received with great sorrow.

I would rather it was received with great thought.

Eldest, we will remember you always....

What do you mean?

When you are gone.

They waited, in their charnel worlds. Fire and fury had cleansed their universe once. The Lords of Death, they were called, for they worshipped Death with a fervour that eclipsed everything else.

Once they had glimpsed another universe, but the doors had closed before they had had a real chance to see it.

They were patient.

They had all of eternity to wait.

As the walls between them and their prey grew thin.

And weak.

And malleable.