Macsen and Kanseen drifted through the courtyard wall.
'Bijulee and Dybal are dead, Macsen said. 'Bise came back to Sampalok.
'Our baby is lost, Kanseen's soul declared, she was fainter than her husband. 'He may be in the Heart. I cannot stay. Not here. Not even for you, Edeard. I have to know if he's there. I have to know my son.
'I understand, Edeard told her.
'My friend, I must go with my wife, Macsen said.
'Of course you must, Edeard raised a hand in farewell. 'You will be the first of us to reach Odin's Sea. Keep watch for us. We will all join you there eventually.
'That will be the day we smile again.
Edeard watched them dwindle into the sky, then turned to the souls who remained. 'We have lost. I have lost. There is no one left but myself. His hand went down to the pistol holstered on his belt. 'I don't want to be alone.
'Salrana, Dinlay said. 'He said Salrana was still alive, that they would have her.
Edeard's head came up. 'Oh Lady. He sent his farsight flashing out towards Ysidro district, not daring to hope.
Ysidro's church had been pressed into use as a temporary hospital. Several rows of injured people were lying on makeshift beds in front of the Lady's statue. Three harassed, tired-looking doctors moved amongst them, doing what they could to treat the bullet wounds. Novices scurried round, helping the doctors with dressings, and offering comfort where they could. The church's Mother, a kindly grey-haired woman over halfway through her second century, moved through the clusters of parishioners who sat fearfully on the pews. She offered what blessings she could, but it was plain from her face she was as shocked and frightened as everyone else.
The church doors were shut. Fearful relatives of those who lay inside formed a defiant, protective line outside, waiting for the inevitable return of the militiamen or worse, the Weapons Guild guards who swaggered around the streets brandishing their lethal new guns. So far, the sanctity of the church held.
Edeard rose smoothly through the floor of the church. People gasped at his appearance. Except for Salrana, she let out a single piercing note of joy and ran to him. He scooped her up in his arms and hugged her tight.
'They said you were dead, she sobbed.
'No, he said. 'It's not that easy to kill me.
'Oh Edeard, the regiments shot people. There are men with awful guns, just like the ones at Ashwell, who say they were appointed by the Mayor himself.
'I know, he said, hugging her tight. Her Novice uniform was stained with blood, some of which was days old. 'Are you all right?
'Yes, she nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes. 'I'm sorry, Edeard, I'm sorry I didn't talk to you after—
'Hush, he said, and stroked her brow.
'I was so stupid. So stubborn. You're my friend.
'It's over now. Are you sure you're all right? Has anyone come looking for you?
'No. I've been helping the doctors. So many have died. Everyone is so worried the Mayor's men will return. Can you stop this?
Edeard bowed his head. 'I cannot. Anything I do now will only make this worse. I've endangered everyone in this church just by coming here. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
Her fingers stroked his cheek. 'My darling Edeard, you did everything that's right.
'They've killed everyone I know, everyone I love. Except for you. And they'll come for you eventually.
She gasped. 'Your wife?
'Yes, he whispered through the pain. 'Kristabel is dead.
Salrana's head rested on his chest. 'This cannot be happening.
'But it has happened. I want you to come with me now.
'Edeard! She gave the injured a frantic look. The Mother was standing in front of the Lady's statue, a sympathetic expression on her face. 'They need my help.
'They will manage.
The Mother gave Salrana a brief nod of encouragement.
'But—
'Hold me tight, he instructed. 'This will be strange at first. But you have nothing to fear. I will be with you.
'Always?
'Yes, always. He gave Kristabel's soul a guilty glance, but she simply smiled in understanding.
Edeard and Salrana slid down through the floor of the church. He felt her tighten her grip upon him. Then they were standing in a small tunnel beneath the church, with water trickling past their feet. 'There is further to go, he told her, and they continued on their way down to emerge into one of the dazzlingly bright tunnels far below the city streets.
'Edeard! What is this place? Salrana's head turned from side to side, trying to take in what she was seeing. There was surprise in her voice, but no fear.
'I'm not sure. It's a way to travel across the city. A very old one. I think some of Makkathran's past inhabitants used it, but I don't really know. It isn't connected to any of the buildings on the surface. So it probably wasn't the inhabitants before us.
'Oh, she said with a short laugh. 'Edeard, what have you become?
'I don't know, he said lamely. 'Whatever, in the end I was no use.
'Don't say that. She kissed him. 'Why are we here? Where are we going?
He sighed and scratched the side of his head. 'Away, I suppose. Out of the city. Then… exile. We'll find some distant province. I'll grow a beard. You don't have to stay with me.
'I think I better had, at least to start with.
'Thank you. He checked the souls that remained with him. Kristabel, Dinlay and his parents were all waiting silently a little way down the bright tunnel. They seemed content with his lead. Right now he wasn't going to tell Salrana about them, she'd had enough shocks. He reached down into the substance of the tunnel walls, and lot them conduct his farsight. He'd always known the network of tunnels extended out underneath the crystal wall, but he'd never really bothered to see where they led.
Down, he saw now. A long, long way down. The multitude of tunnels merged then merged again and again in a funnel-like web whose last few strands extended for tens of miles beneath him. Down to where the true mind of the city lay.
But… there were a few branches that stretched out horizontally under the Iguru Plain. He asked the city to send him there.
'What's happening? Salrana asked, abruptly clutching at him as she felt the tunnel tilting.
'It's all right, he grinned reassuringly. 'We're going to fly.
'Fly?
They began to skid along the tunnel as it apparently shifted up past forty-five degrees. Then they were falling. Salrana let out a long wail of shock.
'It's all right, Edeard assured her, shouting. He attempted to stroke her back, which really didn't work very well when the skirt of her Novice robe started flapping up, trying to wrap itself round her torso. So he applied his third hand, pressing it down again.
'We're going to die! she shrieked.
'No we're not. I always use these tunnels like this.
She screwed her eyes shut, and buried her head against him. The flight went on for a lot longer than Edeard was used to. The tunnel was obviously carrying them a long way out of the city. He didn't know where exactly.
Before long Salrana calmed a little, and started to look round. 'We're not going to die? she gasped.
'We're not going to die.
'Where are we?
'I'm not sure. Outside the city by now.
The tunnel began to curve sharply. Edeard hadn't experienced that before. And somehow they weren't falling downwards, but rushing up. They started to slow. Edeard glanced up. The tunnel ended a few hundred yards above him in a blaze of scarlet light.
'Hang on, he instructed, and suddenly they were through into a simple circular room with red-glowing walls. There were no windows. The hole below their feet quickly irised shut and they were standing in the middle of the floor.
Salrana didn't let go of him, though she was peering round curiously. 'What now? she asked.