Tetrarch (Well of Echoes) (81 page)

‘Vastly superior to our clankers,’ Irisis finished.

‘In every respect. And a damn sight more comfortable.’

The soldiers called clankers ‘boneshakers’, for they were hideously uncomfortable, even on good roads, and prone to breaking down. Constructs, gliding hip-high above the ground, must have been like floating on silk.

‘Better go down and see what we can make of the fellow,’ said Flydd. ‘From what I’ve heard of Vithis, I can’t say I’m optimistic.’

In the next week, five sets of emissaries were turned back by the Aachim. So many spies had been sent out that Irisis wondered if the whole population of Gospett was on the scrutator’s payroll. Few returned. Vithis would see no one and no one knew what was going on. One day he was supposed to have allied with the lyrinx, the next planning war on them, with or without human aid. Other rumours held that he was awaiting a signal to strike at humanity all across Santhenar. Only one thing was certain: he was hunting Tiaan. Aachim roved across the land in small groups of constructs, gathering intelligence and seeking information about her.

‘Time I went to see Vithis,’ said Flydd.

‘What if he won’t see you?’

‘I don’t plan to give him the choice. And once there, I dare say he’ll be interested in Ullii’s discovery.’

‘About the node-drainer?’ said Irisis.

‘Don’t mention that! Tiaan is the key. Find her and we’ll find the flying construct. Then we can win the war on our own, or offer the flier to Vithis in return for his help. The same result either way.’

‘Could be unfortunate for Tiaan,’ said Irisis.

‘The same applies to all of us.’

The generals argued for making a show of strength and taking a squadron of clankers, but the scrutator vetoed that idea.

‘Their constructs are manifestly superior to our machines,’ he said. ‘It would only prove our unfitness to negotiate as equals. Above all we must not appear weak, nor rustic.’

‘Are we to go on horseback then?’ said General Tham. ‘Or on foot, to be turned away like beggars?’

‘We will drop down on them in the air-floater,’ said Flydd. ‘Equal but different. They may dominate the land but they have not mastered the skies. They want to, desperately.’

‘You would fly, unarmed and helpless, into the enemy camp?’ said Tham. ‘I cannot –’

‘They are not our enemy,’ said Flydd. ‘Yet! And the safest way to approach an Aachim army is unarmed.’

‘One ill-disciplined soldier, one frightened Aachim youth with a javelard, could destroy the air-floater, and you. And all our hopes.’

‘I’m sure no soldier of Vithis is ill-disciplined.’

‘Except the one who killed Tiaan’s ward, little Haani,’ Irisis said to herself. Why would Flydd not listen?

The air-floater was cleaned until it shone and everyone was fitted with freshly tailored uniforms. The embassy went aboard, including Irisis and Ullii, and they rotored gently over the Aachim camp, flying the flag of the Council of Scrutators.

The sight was awesome – thousands of constructs arrayed with military precision around a central heptagon of bare land. That space contained hundreds of tents, as yellow as sulphur and marked with swirling patterns in black. A large tent stood by itself.

The constructs had the same general form, though they were of all sizes up to monsters that might have carried fifty people. Each was armed with weapons, mounted on a platform at the rear, and every weapon was trained on their fragile craft. Irisis held her breath as the air-floater hovered over the tents.

‘Take it down next to the command tent there,’ Flydd said to Hila. ‘And whatever you do, don’t hit it.’

She pursed her lips, drifted in and settled the machine in the indicated space so lightly that it would not have cracked an egg. They climbed out, Irisis noting that the javelards still tracked them.

Three Aachim came to meet them, holding themselves erect and walking well apart.

Vithis gave the air-floater a measured sideways glance. ‘A remarkable vehicle.’ He offered his hand to the scrutator. ‘I am Vithis of Clan Inthis, First Clan, at your service. I lead my people, in peace and in war.’

The curly-haired woman to his right scowled. The other man’s face was carefully blank.

‘Xervish Flydd, Scrutator for Einunar, representing the Council of Scrutators in war. We have not had peace in one hundred and fifty years, and we are prepared to fight as long again, if we must.’

‘How does your machine stay in the air?’ Vithis asked casually. ‘Does it repel the field?’

‘It employs a simpler principle. The airbag is filled with a vapour, more buoyant than air, which we obtain from mines deep underground.’

‘Ah,’ said Vithis, and turned away.

Is he impressed by the simplicity, Irisis wondered, or contemptuous of it?

The subordinates on either side were introduced. These included General Tham and his adjutant, Irisis and Ullii. For the Aachim, Luxor, Tirior and Minis. They retired to a pavilion out of the sun and after refreshments were offered Vithis said, ‘Why have you come, Scrutator Flydd?’

‘To see if we might be of assistance to each other,’ Flydd said.

‘You want us to fight your war for you.’

‘We don’t, though I won’t pretend your aid would not be useful. We are both human species and our kinship is close. Should we not stand –?’

‘Old humans are legion!’ snapped Vithis. ‘We are few. Less than one hundred and fifty thousand, many of whom are children. We have much to lose and nothing to gain from an alliance with you.’

‘You have everything to lose,’ said Flydd. ‘Were the lyrinx to defeat us they would attack you at once.’

Vithis shrugged. ‘They will get a surprise if they do.’

‘We estimate their population at three hundred thousand. If they are not stopped, that number will double in ten years.’

Vithis was shocked but hid it well. ‘Do you come here with a proposition? We have much to do this afternoon.’

The scrutator did not react to the breach of civility. ‘There are a number of matters we should discuss, but first – I know the whereabouts of Artisan Tiaan Liise-Mar.’

Vithis rose out of his chair like a rock from a catapult. ‘
Where is she
?’

‘I will tell you, should you be willing to help us with our little problem.’

‘You know this thieving woman?’

‘I do not know Tiaan personally, though my assistant, Crafter Irisis Stirm of the House of Stirm, worked side by side with her for fifteen years.’

Vithis spoke in Minis’s ear. He hurried off, soon returning with a bowed figure whose wrists were in manacles.

Ullii, who wore a mask over her goggles, tore off the mask, peered at the prisoner, screamed ‘Nish!’ and hurled herself at him, knocking him to the ground.

Eventually she was prised free of Nish, who looked bemused. Ullii was led back to her seat, where she kept staring at him. He was not looking at her and her face began to take on an expression Irisis was all too familiar with. Nish had not greeted the seeker with quite the same enthusiasm as she had him. Once again she had built up expectations that could not be fulfilled. She looked let down, angry and confused. Something else to worry about.

‘We were sure you were dead.’ Irisis took Nish’s hand, studying him at arm’s length.

He laughed. ‘If you knew the half of what I’ve been through. Oh, Irisis, it’s good to see you.’

She took him in her arms, which almost caused an incident. Ullii arched her back, hissing like an angry cat. Flydd stepped up smoothly beside her, his fingers danced on her forehead and the light faded from her eyes. Ullii allowed herself to be sat back in her chair, where she slumped listlessly.

‘Quite a family reunion,’ said Vithis with curled lip.

‘Scrutator,’ Nish said, shaking his hand. ‘I’d heard you were dis–’

‘Never been better, thanks,’ Flydd said smoothly. ‘We’ll talk later.’

Vithis gave him a suspicious glare.

‘What the blazes are you doing here, Nish?’ the scrutator went on.

‘I have been advising Minis on how to find Tiaan.’

‘Without success!’ Vithis said sourly.

‘We would have had her, had Minis been allowed to follow my advice!’ Nish snapped.

‘Be silent!’ said Vithis, ‘or you will go back to your cell.’ He turned to the scrutator. ‘Where is the little thief?’

‘If you are referring to Tiaan, I am prepared to tell you …’

‘Your price?’ Vithis interrupted.

‘Aachim aid in the war.’

‘You ask the world, yet offer little, like all your kind’

‘Don’t treat me like a fool, Vithis,’ Flydd said. ‘This flying construct is worth a thousand of yours. If it were not, you would not have broken off your invasion in such a desperate search for it.’

‘It is, as you say, valuable to me. And more valuable to you in your situation, so why give it up so easily? I smell deceit. Either that or a man so weak he cannot make use of it. You are desperate, Scrutator Flydd, and desperate men can’t afford to bargain.’

‘My mechanicians will soon take the flying construct apart and learn how to make more of them, so if you don’t wish to deal with me,’ Flydd said coolly, ‘so be it. Good day.’ Nodding formally to Tirior, Luxor and Minis, he rose.

After a moment’s hesitation, Vithis said, ‘I would be happy to deal with you, scrutator, should we be able to agree on terms. I must have surety before –’

‘My word is the only surety I am able to give you. If that is not enough we can deal in nothing.’

‘What is your offer?’

‘The flying construct in exchange for Aachim support until the lyrinx are defeated. And I would have Tiaan back, plus my servant Nish.’

‘You are welcome to the rogue,’ said Vithis, ‘and I hope he gives you less trouble than he has me. For the rest, you ask too much and offer nothing at all, as the flying construct is Aachim property.’

‘Since Tiaan made it from machines abandoned in Tirthrax, one could argue that it is her property.’

‘Not by the laws of our world.’

‘You are no longer on Aachan.’

‘The construct was taken from an Aachim city.’

‘Their laws are not yours.’

‘Nor yours!’

‘Then the only way ownership can be resolved is by Malien, Matah of Tirthrax, who befriended Tiaan in Tirthrax and no doubt helped her to make it.’

Vithis was shocked. ‘Tirthrax was empty! No one answered the sentinels.’

‘Malien was preparing to go to the Well.’

‘Malien has not come forward,’ snapped Vithis. ‘If she exists! I am within my rights to seize the flying construct.’

Tirior sprang up, but an aide spoke in her ear and she sat down again.

‘I would not advise it.’ Flydd was a small figure before the tall Aachim, but no less formidable. ‘We do not wish to take you on, but you have come to our world uninvited, and not in friendship.’

‘Our own world was lost,’ said Vithis. ‘We had no choice.’

‘Granted, but you come armed for war.’

‘Who would not? The void is no place for the defenceless.’

‘You turn away our emissaries, or treat them with contempt. You rove where you will, deferring to no authority but your own. These are not the actions of a peace-loving people. I would know what your intentions are.’

‘Survival!’ snapped Vithis.

‘By which you mean a piece of Santhenar,’ growled Flydd. ‘If that is your aim, do me the courtesy of stating it plainly.’

Vithis stood up. ‘I will do what –’

Tirior stepped in front of him and when he tried to get by she hissed something that made him leap backwards. ‘Scrutator Flydd, be assured that we come in peace and friendship, and that we acknowledge our kinship with old humankind. You have suffered much in your war with the lyrinx, but we have suffered more! Since the Forbidding was broken, two hundred of your years ago, we have seen Aachan torn apart beneath our feet. Nine-tenths of our people are dead. Everything we created in the ten thousand years of our Histories has been lost, save what you see before you. You have Santhenar. We have nothing. And who brought this calamity upon Aachan?’

‘The forces of nature, before which the greatest of us are humbled.’

‘The Forbidding was broken on Santhenar,’ Tirior said forcefully. ‘That breaking caused the loss of our world. Santhenar destroyed Aachan. Now Santhenar must provide for its homeless. You owe us a world, Scrutator Flydd …’ She met his eye. ‘But we will be satisfied with half.’

For a moment, even Flydd was silent. Irisis, sitting next to him, could not believe their arrogance. Did they truly believe humanity would give Santhenar away, or were they so strong that they could take it? She did not think so, else this debate would not be taking place at all. It had to be a bluff.

‘The troubles of all the worlds began with the Golden Flute,’ said Flydd, ‘as you well know. And that was made on Aachan, with Aachim aid. Tensor himself laboured in its forging.’

‘The troubles began when the flute was stolen and brought to Santhenar. By
Shuthdar
, one of your own. And Shuthdar created the Forbidding in the first place.’

‘Not as I understand the Histories,’ said Flydd. ‘But we can debate those times until the equator freezes over and we will be no closer to the truth. We were prepared to make you an offer of land, in friendship and acknowledgement of your loss. But we are not to blame for it and we will never submit to demands. We will fight –’

‘What offer?’ said Vithis, moving out from behind. ‘You are late in making one.’

‘As are you in putting your true intentions. We were prepared to offer you the land of Carendor, on the eastern side of the Dry Sea.’

‘You dare insult us with a desert?’ cried Vithis in a rage. ‘By –’

‘Carendor is an arid land, it is true,’ said Flydd, ‘yet the fertile valley of the great River Truno runs all the way through it, while the springs and seeps on the slope of the Dry Sea are enough to water a garden a hundred leagues long. Before the war Carendor supported a million people. Its numbers are less now, but even to give that land to you, more than your number must be displaced.’

‘Carendor is too hot, dry and barren. We will take nothing less than all that lies south of the fortieth parallel. One half of your lands. That is our price. And the flying construct, of course.’