The remaining bandits followed stealthily. Creeping along under concealment, rapid-fire guns held ready. Edeard let them come close, then killed them. Pulling them from where they crouched and crawled, and snapping their spines. They were discarded one after the other, dropping out of the night to lie broken beside their fastfoxes. He felt nothing. No sorrow. No anger. Nothing.
Dinlay's shredded body was sprawled on the slope above him, where he should have been safe. Where he would have been safe after Edeard dropped him there, if he'd just stayed down. But Dinlay would never cower behind a rock while his comrades were under attack. Not Dinlay.
Edeard focused his farsight down the slope. Macsen's bloody corpse was staring up at Odin's Sea. Defiant to the last, he'd even got off a shot after the first swarm of bullets had struck. Fresage and Topar were buried below mounds of stone. Boloton had been pinned down by a rock landing on his legs. Other stones had battered him while several bullets punctured his chest and head. There wasn't much left that was recognizable. And Verini hadn't got more than half a dozen paces back up the gully before the rapid fire guns had found him. Larby's arms and legs protruded from underneath one of the large boulders; there was nothing left of his torso but a mangled patch of gore soaking into the earth.
Edeard started crying. 'Why do you do this to me? he yelled at Odin's Sea. 'Lady, why? What have I done that's so evil to be punished like this. Why? Why? Tell me you stinking bitch. He sobbed relentlessly. 'Why? Then he was curled up on the ground, helpless. Wanting this monstrous life to end. Wanting to die.
'Edeard.
The voice was spoken from a very long way away.
'Edeard, this is not over.
He wiped a hand over his face, smearing the mud and tears and blood that were clinging to him. 'Who… oh.
'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.