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‘Sos are important Others are not Yet all would claim a mortal’s attention It falls to each of us to re of possibilities It is our couided by our indifference to eventualities The moment pleases, the future can await consideration

‘The old histories we brought with us fros Rich ports at river mouths that were abandoned after three centuries, due to silting caused by the clearing of forests and poorly conceived irrigation methods Ports that, were you to visit their ruins now, you would find a league or more inland of the present coast The land crawls to the sea; it was ever thus Even so, e hureatly accelerate the process

‘Is all that relevant? Only partly, I ads, I adressions that, when unveiled, are profoundly exee of the existence of people, this world is very, very old, Brys Beddict’ Kuru Qan gestured

Brys looked down to where he had indicated, and saw the tile of the Dolle, tilted monolith half-buried in lifeless clay The sky behind it was colourless and devoid of features

‘Even seas are born only to one day die,’ Kuru Qan said ‘Yet the land clings to its e Conversely, at the very depths of the deepest ocean, you will find the traces of when it stood above the waves It is this knowledge that we shall use, Brys’

‘Nifadas was rather vague as to my task, Ceda I aod that it is being le Letherii ould claim otherwise for him or herself – ould Mael listen to me?’

‘I have no idea, Brys You shall have to iod is truly and absolutely fallen, until it is little more than a mindless beast, then what?’

Kuru Qan blinked behind the lenses, and said nothing

Brys shifted uneasily ‘If my mind is all that shall make the journey, hoill I appear to myself? Can I carry weapons?’

‘How you manifest your defences is entirely up to you, Finadd Clearly, I anticipate you will find yourself as you are now Armed and armoured All conceit, of course, but that is not relevant Shall we begin?’

‘Very well’

Kuru Qan stepped forward, one are, surprisingly powerful tug pitched hi in alarm, he flailed about, then plummeted doards the tile of the Dolmen

‘Even in the noblest of ventures, there’s the occasional stu’s eyes were flat, his lined face expressionless, as he stared steadily at Tehol without speaking

‘Besides, it’s only a ss considered As for h Truly Yours is the perfectly understandable disappoint of confidence, that comes with an effort poorly conceived No fault in the deed itself, I assure you’ As proof he did a slow turn in front of his th I shall rehts becohts Sultry is best we can rant you, but what’s a little sweat between… uh… the legs?’