Araminta had to be stern with herself not to leak any disgust out into the gaiafield at the Clerics’ sycophancy. “Excellent. So my first question is on the progress of the Pilgrimage fleet.”

“The hulls are all complete,” Cleric DeLouis said. “Fitting out is going to take a while, but hopefully no more than a month.”

“And the drives?” Araminta asked.

It probably helped that Ethan was less than a meter away from her, but there was no way he could hide the little burst of dismay from her. She turned to fix him with a level stare. “By my estimation, it will take nearly half a year to reach the Void using a standard hyperdrive.”

“Yes, Dreamer.”

“There is also the problem of the warrior Raiel. Justine barely made it through.”

“We are making arrangements,” Ethan said grudgingly.

“Which are?”

He made a small gesture with his hand. “They are confidential.”

“No more. This unhealthy obsession with secrecy and violence ends now. It has done untold damage to Living Dream; Inigo and Edeard would not have tolerated such vice. Besides, we are no longer members of the Greater Commonwealth, and you are under my protection. Now, what arrangements have been made?”

“Are you sure you-”

“Yes!”

“Very well. I organized delivery of ultradrives for each Pilgrimage ship. The journey time should be less than a month.”

“Good work. And the Raiel warships? How do we get past them?”

Ethan was completely impassive. “The same manufacturing facility will also provide force fields capable of withstanding an attack by the warrior Raiel.”

“I see. And the cost?”

“It’s budgeted for. We do have the wealth of the entire Free Trade Zone at our disposal, after all.”

Araminta’s voice hardened. “The cost, please, Cleric, specifically the political cost for this technology?”

Everyone at the table turned to look at Ethan. The pressure of curiosity from the gaiafield was extraordinary. Even the Skylord was displaying a minor interest, engaged by the volume of emotion.

“Our supplier is to be taken into the Void with us.”

“Logical,” Araminta said. She smiled graciously. “Thank you one and all for attending me. We’ll convene formally tomorrow when I’ve had a chance to settle in. Ethan, I will be using the Mayor’s state rooms here in the Orchard Palace as my residence until we depart.”

“Yes, Dreamer.” He seemed surprised there had been no censure concerning his Faustian deal.

Darraklan peered in through the door as the subdued yet relieved Cleric Council filed out. Araminta held up a finger to him. “A moment more, please.”

“Yes, Dreamer.” He bowed and shut the doors after the last Cleric had left.

Araminta allowed herself a slow look around the Council chamber, her gaze falling once again on the radiant image spinning endlessly on the ceiling. She wondered how Justine was getting on inside the Void, if she had reached the real Makkathran yet. But no, that would take days-weeks-even with the Void’s accelerated time, although the Silverbird should arrive before the Pilgrimage ships reached the boundary. Ozzie! I hope she and Gore can do something to salvage this crock of shit before then, or I’m well and truly screwed. It sounded like Gore had a plan, or at least an idea. He owes me, too. Maybe he’ll get in touch. Somehow, she suspected she was going to have to do most of the work. But for now, there was the real threat to face. She took a breath, feeling the billions of Living Dream followers share her mind with a sense of trepidation as her own unease leaked out.

“Aren’t you going to talk to me?” she asked the chamber. Her own voice reverberated off the hard walls. “I know you’re sharing me.” Again the chamber was silent. Empty. Araminta let out a mildly exasperated sigh and allowed her ire to show. “I am talking to you, that which emerged from Earth’s prison. You have to speak with me at some time, for I am the only way to reach the Void. Let us begin now. Don’t be afraid. You’ve seen I am both reasonable and practical.”

The curiosity within the gaiafield grew more intense as everyone strained to perceive what she was talking to. Her u-shadow reported that the Upper Council chamber’s secure communication net was activating. A solido projection appeared at the other end of the table. Not a person but a simple dark sphere scintillating with grim purple light. Araminta faced it impassively.

“Congratulations on your ascension, Dreamer.” Its voice was female, melodically sinister.

“And you are?”

“Ilanthe.”

“You must be the one supplying the ultradrives and the force fields.”

“My agents arranged that with Ethan, yes.”

“Will the force fields be strong enough to protect us from the warrior Raiel?”

“I believe so. They are the same type currently protecting Earth.”

“Ah. And for this bounty you expect to be taken into the Void?”

“Without my assistance you cannot reach the boundary.”

“And without me you cannot get inside.”

“It would seem we need each other.”

“Then we have reached an accord.”

“You will take me?” Ilanthe’s voice carried a note of surprise.

“The Void welcomes all who seek fulfillment. Whatever you are, you obviously believe you need what the Void can offer. Therefore, I will be happy to bring you to it. It is, after all, my destiny as Dreamer to help those who yearn to reach the Heart.”

“That’s very noble of you. And completely unbelievable.”

“You are evil,” Araminta said.

“No, I am driven. It is not just Inigo and Edeard who had a vision of a beautiful future.”

“Nonetheless, you are inimical to the Commonwealth and its citizens.”

“Again you are misjudging me. I simply wish to achieve a different goal from the mundane aspirations which have so far existed among our species. A wonderful uplifting goal that everyone can share. I require the Void’s assistance to do that.”

“Then I wish you well on your voyage.”

“Why?”

“Because the Void will obliterate you. The Heart will not tolerate malevolence no matter the intent behind it, deluded or deliberate. You cannot avoid it, you cannot elude it. Despite my many misgivings I do genuinely believe in the goodness of the Heart, for I am twinned with the Skylords, who truly know its munificence. If necessary, I will travel there myself to expose you and your machinations.”

“Good luck with that.”

“Knowing this, knowing I will oppose you, do you still wish to come with us?”

“Yes. Do you still wish to take me?”

“Yes.”

“So be it. Our fate will be decided within the Void.”

“That it will.”

The sphere faded out, and the solido projector switched off. A long breath escaped through Araminta’s pursed lips. She grinned nervously for the benefit of her billions-strong spellbound audience. “Lady! I wonder what day two is going to be like?”

Paula was curious about that herself.

“She’s up to something,” Oscar insisted over the ultrasecure link. “This self-coronation is only the start.”

“I don’t see what else there can be for her,” Paula said.

“Well yeah … If it was obvious, everyone would figure it out and it’d be pointless.”

“I do love your optimism. It was always your most endearing quality. You probably believe Ilanthe will see the error of her ways before long.”

“You sound bitter.”

Paula rubbed a hand over her brow, surprised to find it was trembling. But then, she hadn’t slept for days; even biononics could keep her fatigue at bay for only so long. “I probably am. We’re the good guys, Oscar; we’re not supposed to lose.”

“We haven’t lost. We’re nowhere near losing. The Pilgrimage ships haven’t even been finished, let alone launched. So tell me how many ways covert operations can sabotage them.”

“Hundreds, but that’s only a delay. It’s not a solution.”

“I want to keep going. I want to see if Araminta contacts me.”