'I know what you're saying; but, Dad, you haven't met him. He's so sweet. He doesn't deserve this.
'The galaxy doesn't deserve the Void, but we've got it. And I have met him, darling, I've felt your silly little heart beat faster at the sight of him. I tasted the chocolates you ate when you smiled and flirted with him. I know the urge you've been trying to ignore. I'm sorry. You have to do this. You have to go to Makkathran.
'Oh Goddamnit.
He kissed her brow. 'Look on the bright side, if we lose you get to stay and live in the Void, you can find him again.
'You are a thoroughly fucking useless coach, you know that.
'I know. Now go and wake up.
Justine nodded weakly, knowing she didn't really have a choice. For the first time she looked through the bedroom window. The land outside wasn't the grounds of the Tulip Mansion. Instead, her old home was sitting at the bottom of an impossibly huge valley, with mountains curving away through the sky like a monstrous green and brown wave about to break overhead. The sun was a long band of glaring light. 'What the hell is that?
Gore shrugged lightly. 'I had to make a few sacrifices so I could dream your dreams.
'Dad…
'I'm fine. He raised a hand, waving, his smile fond and proud. 'Go on. Wake up.
Justine's eyes opened wide, staring up at the cabin ceiling. Tears blurred her vision. She wiped them away angrily. 'Oh hell. And Kazimir would know something was wrong. No telepath had the strength to shield those emotions.
Sure enough, he was standing at the end of the rope ladder as she struggled her way down. He even held it steady for her.
'What's the matter? he asked.
'I have to go, she said flatly.
'I see. That's good, isn't it? You know how to reach the nucleus. You wanted to go there.
'I can't take you with me, she stammered.
'I understand.
'No. No you don't. She took a deep breath and kissed him. Delight banished the surprise from his face.
'Kazimir, I want you to know something. If there is a way back here, I will find it, I will find you. I promise that. Know my thoughts and know the truth in them.
He gave her that tentative worshipful gaze which just made her feel worse. She never thought she'd ever see that again.
'I see the honesty in your thoughts, he assured her. 'Now do what you know you must.
Justine sat on a rock a few metres from the Silverbird's landing leg. The warm late-afternoon sun was a pleasant pressure on her face and arms as she folded her legs into a yoga position. Kazimir was squatting down a little way past her, watching anxiously. She gave him one last smile and concentrated.
Her thoughts flowed into the confluence nest, using its routines to hold her mind steady. There were memories in there, the time where Edeard stood on top of the mountain and reached into the fabric of the Void, seeing the past. She followed what he did intently, and tried to shape her thoughts in the same fashion, pushing her farsight down into the nothingness that lay around her.
Her own body was there, a long multiple image winding back and forth across the ground, going up into the ship, talking to Kazimir, radiating such sorrow it threatened to resonate through her now. She pushed past it, saw the Silverbird swoop down from space. Further.
It was incredibly difficult, without the support of the confluence nest she would never have maintained focus. She couldn't believe the Waterwalker had ever done this unaided. There was a single distinctive moment in her life which she wanted to achieve. Her mind held it up, instinctively matching it to the moment contained within the Void's memory of everywhen. Then all she had to do was impel herself into it. There was a cry of desperation somewhere in the physical world as she attempted to force her thoughts into a pattern they were never intended for, calling upon the strength of the confluence nest to support her. The precious moment was there, linking present and past. Justine pushed. The Void reset itself-
Inigo's Thirteenth Dream
The chamber of records was three levels down beneath the Spiral Tower which housed the headquarters of Makkathran's Weapons Guild. In total, the third level had twenty chambers, arranged in a circle and reached by a single ring corridor. They were used as vaults for the most secret guns and ammunition compounds known to the Guild's Masters. For centuries the triple iron doors to each chamber had kept the rapid-fire guns safe, along with long-barrelled pistols and other firearms lost to the rest of Querencia. The mechanisms to produce such devices were also kept in the vaults, as were the raw ingots of specialist metals the designs required.
Just to gain entrance to the Spiral Tower was difficult enough, there was only one entrance, and it was heavily guarded. All visitors had to be accompanied by a Master. Beyond that, armed guards kept a ceaseless vigil on the first and second basement levels. There were also ingenious trips and traps along the corridors and steps to catch anyone using concealment.
It was reasonable, therefore, for those who assembled in the chamber of records two days after Topar's little expedition left Makkathran to exude a degree of security. Grand Master Owain greeted his eleven guests warmly. No one made any attempt to hide their sense of trepidation and excitement as they made their way into the broad cross vaulted chamber. There was a simple wooden table set up in the middle, with thirteen chairs around it. Tall shelving cabinets were arrayed round the lead-grey walls, containing hundreds of leather folders which held every pistol and bullet design produced by the Guild over its two millennia existence. Long teardrop lighting patterns stretched across the curving ceiling, glowing passively.
Bise was the last to be shown in. He smiled round at his fellows as the three thick, heavy doors swung shut behind him. Complicated locks rotated, pushing steel bolts into place and securing them, combination bands were spun.
'My poor boy, Mistress Florrel said, and embraced Sampalok's ex-Master warmly. 'Welcome home.
'Thank you, Grandmama.
'Did you get the food I had sent out to you? I had the bakery on Jodsell Street make those raspberry muffins especially. I know how much you liked them as a boy.
'Yes indeed, it was most kind.
'Was exile so terrible?
'It had its moments.
'It had its costs, Tannarl said. 'Half of your family stayed at my lodge.
'For which you will be fully recompensed, Owain said smoothly. 'Come come, we are not here to squabble among ourselves over a little coinage. Our moment draws near.
'It was drawing near two years ago, Bise said. 'Then he arrived.
'Well the Waterwalker is off running round the countryside now, trying to find bandits, Buate said. 'And when he does, he won't be coming back.
'Don't be too sure, Owain said. 'His telekinesis is incredibly strong. Makkathran hasn't seen the like since the days of Rah. And not even Rah could alter the city buildings.
Bise glowered at the reminder.
'Careful cousin, Tannarl said. 'You tread close to heresy.