Free Alchymist by Ian Irvine Page B

taking her anywhere!' and launched
himself through the air. His shoulder struck Merryl behind the knees. He went
down, Tiaan flying from his arms.
    It
made all the difference. In a few strides Vithis was on them. Lifting Tiaan
effortlessly in one arm, he drew his sword with the other hand. She struggled
but he crushed her against his side, his arm squeezing the air from her lungs.
    'Keep
your distance!' he roared at the human soldiers. 'Tiaan stole what was mine and
I will have it back.' More Aachim ran up to support him.
    The
soldiers skidded to a stop, swords drawn. Their line parted and a handful of
black-robed figures pushed between them, including a tall, burly man and a
short one with only one arm. His face was covered by a platinum mask.
    'My
name is Ghorr,' said the big man, 'Chief Scrutator. Give up the artisan, Lord
Vithis.'
    'I'll
go to war against all humanity first; hissed Vithis.
    More
Aachim were running up all the time. Already they outnumbered the humans.
Behind them Tiaan was pleased to see that the construct was blazing head high.
With a loud bang, pieces of metal spun through the air. The secret of flight — the
diamond hedrons and carbon whiskers — would be burned to vapour. Only Malien
knew, and Tiaan herself. But could she keep that secret from Vithis?
    Ghorr
raised a clenched fist, took one step forward, then stopped.
    Tiaan
trembled in Vithis's arms, but the scrutators could not find the courage to attack
him. With a sneer of contempt, Vithis turned his back and headed for the Aachim
camp.

Six
    Nish
had made a terrible blunder and this time the whole world had been there to see
it. Whatever had possessed him to think that the fellow was carrying Tiaan off?
He pushed himself to his knees.
    'Don't
get up,' said Chief Scrutator Ghorr, pressing him down with a shiny boot. 'Lie
in the dirt while we judge you, worm. Who are you, who has so betrayed
humanity?'
    Beside
Ghorr stood Jal-Nish. Though he was greatly changed, and Nish had not seen him
with the mask, he knew it was his father. What could be seen of Jal-Nish's face
was white, but his one eye was blood red.
    'The
worm, surr/ ground out Jal-Nish, 'is my own son, Cryl-Nish Hlar. I have long
thought that he was dead. Now I wish he had never been born.'
    'So
do I, Acting Scrutator Hlar. But since he is your son, and you crave elevation
to the Council of Scrutators, I require you to prove that you are worthy.
Devise a fitting punishment for the creature.' Ghorr's eyes showed his doubt.
    Jal-Nish
cast a wild glance at his son. Nish could not meet his eye; he was too ashamed.
What would happen to him now? A fitting punishment. That could mean anything
from the front ranks of the army to a death sentence. But blood was blood,
after all. Surely his father would not 'Cryl-Nish Hlar,' Jal-Nish said. 'You
have failed as an artificer as you failed as a prober, a diplomat, and at every
other task you've ever been set. You are a liar, a cheat and, as has now been
proven before my very eyes, a vicious traitor. The tragedy we face today stems
from your initial betrayal, with Crafter Irisis, of Artisan Tiaan at your
manufactory. Had you not conspired against Tiaan she would not have fled, nor
fallen into the hands of the lyrinx, nor been ensnared by the Aachim. She would
not have opened the gate that brought them here, with their invincible fleet of
constructs. Had we still the use of her talent, and the precious amplimet, we
might have gained the upper hand over the lvrinx. Alas, we've lost both, and
the secret of flight, and now our alliance with the Aachim is sundered. And
it's all down to you, boy'.'
    I don't
ask why you ensured that Artisan Tiaan, and this most precious of all secrets,
should fall into Aachim hands. No doubt you've had vour bloodstained pay
already.' No, Father!' cried Nish. 'I never —’
    'Be
silent!' Jal-Nish thundered. 'The entire Council of Scrutators saw you betray
us. Your guilt has been proven beyond doubt. Cryl-Nish Hlar, you are no