(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

days, and by the time Hamrys found him going south he'd have forgotten
about this entire affair.
I just hope the next deader they send to talk to him isn't quite so conscious.
~~~~~
"I have the pillow for you," I declared, waving it as I approached Nihl Xander,
"Let's get on with it."
He took it, his lips tightening. His eyebrows rose a little as he examined the
pillow, satisfied, "Any time you're ready for the dream key, scarred man,
give the word and I'll pass it to you."
"I'll take it right now."
He paused, as if gathering errant thoughts. "Close your eyes and stretch out
your hand," he said. "You have to feel this key before you see it or it won't
function."
I closed my eyes, and felt a touch in the palm of my calloused hand. At first I
could barely feel it, but it rapidly grew in solidity in moments, until finally
Xander spoke, "Open your eyes." When I did, I looked down to see a simple
black feather in the palm of my hand. "My work is finished," said Xander
with the satisfaction of completing four generations of work. "Use that key
on the leftmost door of the Foundry and the dreambuilder will open to you.
I must go now... I have work to attend to."
I blinked, "A feather? All that work for a feather?"
"It's the final safeguard on the Dreambuilder, sod," he said with a huff, "D'ya
think I'd want just anyone waltzing in? I ain't stupid. Do you want something
else or can I get back to work now?"
"I'll leave you to your work then. Thanks."
~~~~~
"You sure about this, chief?" Morte chirped, "It looks kinda... spooky."
The archway was sealed, blocked off by an inky black film and framed with
599