Page 115 of A World Enough

Camber walked towards him as she spoke to Brogan. I asked you to trust me. I will need you, but not yet.

Camber took the bag from Davor and took out the map.

“Give me it.” Davor grabbed at it.

“It’s blank unless I hold it.”

“The First Ones you bend the knee to and their pathetic little rituals. Take it.”

Camber took it, and the map filled in all the portals. “There.”

“As much as I would like to know all those portals, I want what’s called The Beyond, where you can be master of time and space.”

“It was rubbed out. There’s nothing there,” Camber said.

“Touch it,” Davor said.

She looked over at Brogan, then at Vorka. Deep inside, Camber felt there was a purpose for this.

Camber, don’t.

She couldn’t listen to her mate. This had to be done.

Camber touched the top of the map, and an arrow appeared.

“An arrow, is that it?” Davor shouted.

She saw it was pointing to the stone circle outside the cave systems that the monks used and protected.

Camber remembered that when she took Brogan into the RR, and she remarked on the hum of energy she felt. A kind of prickle against the skin. This had to be why.

She started walking towards the circle, and Davor followed.

“Don’t do anything stupid, Map Keeper.”

“I’ll try not to.”

When she walked into the circle, a white whirlwind whisked up around them. Then she had a sharp intake of breath. It was just like her dream. A golden road stretching across a black abyss.

When she looked down, it was so dark, and she felt the panic, like in her dream, of falling into nothingness. She looked around for Davor. She couldn’t see him but could hear him.

“Start walking,” he shouted.

Camber took a step and walked carefully down the trackway towards the portal at the end.

Vorka suddenly appeared at her side as she had been in life, with her stick to lean on.

“Vorka.” When she tried to hug her, Camber’s hands went through her.

“I’m sorry, Camber. I’m dead, but I’m here in my spirit form.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. “I sorry I couldn’t protect you. They said you were alive, out there,” Camber said.

“They are keeping my body alive and no more, but my spirit has gone to be with the First Ones.”

“Am I doing the right thing here?” Camber wiped away her tears.

“I’m so proud of you. You were chosen to be who you became. You’re the first Map Keeper to make it here. Always trust your instincts.”