‘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 –’