'Is that good or bad?' Flydd said. 'Either way, it's not a moment too soon.'

'What's the matter now?' said Irisis.

'The Aachim are just over the horizon the best part of a hundred thousand of them, and as many constructs as we have clankers. And doubtless the rest are on the way.'

'Are they for us or against us?'

'If only I knew. Now be quiet. I've got to think.'

They spent what remained of the night on the veranda with Fyn-Mah. 'So the enemy have Tiaan,' said Flydd. 'How did that that come about?' come about?'

'I haven't discovered,' Fyn-Mah replied. 'Muss is trying to find out.'

'More importantly,' said Irisis, 'what does she have to do with their flesh-forming?'

'They used her talents in Kalissin. Perhaps they're doing it again.'

'What are are they doing down there?' they doing down there?'

Fyn-Mah leaned forward in her chair. 'I don't know, though from what Muss has gleaned from their human slaves, they're close to what they went there for.'

'And that is?' said Irisis.

'A vital breakthrough for the war,' said Flydd. 'Our time has run out. We'll have to attack Snizort, and soon.'

'What are our chances?'

'Of winning this battle? Without aid, rather low.'

Fyn-Mah sat up. 'There is one thing ...'

'Yes?'

'Vithis is still hunting Tiaan and the flying construct. He's changed all his plans just to find her. So '

Flydd let out his breath in a sigh that made the candles flicker. 'Of course he is. And we know where she is. I see an opportunity.'

'You wouldn't,' said Irisis.

'What's one life, any any life, before the whole of humanity?' life, before the whole of humanity?'

Two days later the first and greatest fleet of constructs appeared, some six thousand of them, whining in to camp well south of Snizort, where the Westway crossed the River Zort over a stone bridge of seven arches. Irisis and Flydd watched them from the air-floater.

'Not a comforting sight.' Flydd put down his spygla.s.s. 'Their constructs are ...'

'Vastly superior to our clankers,' Irisis finished.

'In every respect. And a d.a.m.n sight more comfortable.'

The soldiers called clankers 'boneshakers', for they were hideously uncomfortable, even on good roads, and p.r.o.ne 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 emba.s.sy 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 s.p.a.ce 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 s.p.a.ce 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 a.s.sistance 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 a.s.sistant, 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.'