He sighed, pulling the stock into his shoulder and discharging the carbine. Elletra braced for the report, but there was none. A barely-audible thump, perhaps, and a vanishingly-fast silver projectile flew down the hangar to punch through a much-holed metal plate at the other end. Hawkeye calmly pulled the bolt back and set the weapon down again, the open chamber spilling a great deal of smoky-white mist out onto the worktop and floor.

“This kind of thing is why I left, Elletra. He’s in too deep, doing things he shouldn’t, troubling people even more powerful than him. The royal family is one thing, but there are people beyond even that.

“I’m sorry about your friends, Elletra. I’m sorry that you went to such trouble to stop him, then went through all of… that when he caught you. But what do you really want? I’m not my father. He’s done some terrible things in his time – I can believe your story about Nightmare, it fits – but it will take a better man than me to stop him.”