'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.
'Salrana? Edeard murmured in dismay. 'Kristabel!
'Kanseen, Macsen said. 'Edeard, what is happening in Makkathran? If Owain is to be emperor, this trap for us can only be a part of his madness.
'Lady damn it, Edeard spat. He scurried down the slope, and began to run along the gully.
Several of the bandits' terrestrial horses were still tethered to their posts. They were skittish, but Edeard's skilled longtalk calmed them. He found a saddle among the packs and threw it over the first horse.
'Six days since we left, Macsen said. 'What can they have done in six days?
'It'll be another two before I can get back, Edeard said in anguish as he mounted up. 'Perhaps Owain is waiting to hear this ambush was successful and I am dead. He knows I can stop him, that the city sides with me.
'Yes, Dinlay said. 'We must hope for that.
Edeard pictured a map, trying to work out the shortest way back to the main road through the mountains. Disheartened, he realized it was back the way they'd come, past Mount Alvice. But before, they'd ridden carefully, lumbering along beneath trees and in deep ravines so as to avoid notice. Now he had no such inhibitions. He spurred the horse on, and instructed the others to follow.
Dawn found him already long way past Mount Alvice. By mid-morning he was back on the road, and speeding east. He had to switch horses before lunch, the one he'd ridden from the ambush was nearly dead from fatigue. The next one was gone in the middle of the afternoon. Edeard himself was worn out, but sheer determination kept him going. The next two horses only lasted a couple of hours each.
He came to a village as the sun began to dip towards the mountains, knowing full well he looked like something straight out of Honious. They might have been nervous about his appearance, but the villagers knew of the Waterwalker, and gold coinage spoke a welcome language everywhere. He paid a ridiculous amount for three fresh horses, and raced off into the evening.
Despite the cramped muscles, the bruised and bloody chafing on his thighs he kept on going through the night. Morning saw him arrive at the foothills of the Donsori range, with the Iguru Plain spread out below. Makkathran sat on the horizon, the gold sunlight already catching the tips of its towers. He let out a sob of relief at the sight of it, even though he was completely exhausted.
'I have to know, Macsen said, and with that he was gone, flashing on ahead through the warm winds blowing off the land.
'I will stay with you, Dinlay promised.
Edeard urged his last tired horse down the switchback road. That was when he met the caravan winding its way up into the mountains. It was unusual for a caravan to be moving so early in the day. He stopped to talk with the master.
'The city is in chaos, the old man told him nervously. 'There are men with guns on every street claiming to represent the new Mayor. The militia regiments marched in two days ago, and the constables tried to stop them. There was fighting. I have never seen so many dead.
'No, Edeard groaned. 'Oh Lady no. Wait! The Mayor called in the regiments?
'Yes, but not Finitan. He's dead, and nobody knows how that happened. Owain has claimed the Orchard Palace, and the gunmen supported him.
Edeard desperately wanted to know about Kristabel, but the caravan master wouldn't know. 'I need fresh horses. I can pay.
The old man gave him a grim look, then eventually nodded. 'We won't be back this way for a year, probably more, so 1 suppose we will be spared retribution.