Alchymist (33 page)

Silence
fell, long and pregnant. Tiaan could hear her heart thumping.

'What
if the crystal comes to the second stage of awakening and takes control of
her?' said Luxor. 'Should it break out to fulfil its destiny, we won’t be able
to stop it.’

'From
what she's told us.' said Urien, the amplimet is far from ready. We'll salvage
all the constructs we can, for as long as her body can take it.'

'We
will rue this dishonourable day for as long as our Histories last,' said Luxor.

'How
will we write this into our Histories?' said another objector. 'How will we
explain it to our children, and their children?'

'History
is as it is written,' said Urien. 'It will be recorded thus: Tiaan begged to be
allowed to aid us in our extremity, out of her great love for our kind, and
recognising that Aachim are the superior species.'

'You
would put a lie into the Histories?' said Luxor incredulously.

'Once
it's in the Histories, it is truth.'

'Not
if everyone knows otherwise.'

'All
other Aachim will be kept away from her. How will they know?'

'I
know,' muttered Luxor. 'I will make it known.'

'Then
you have your own dilemma. Let it be done.'

'What
if -?' Luxor began. 'What if the worst comes to pass and the crystal reaches
the third stage — full awakening? Would you risk this world, too?'

'We'll
stop well short of the node,' said Vithis. 'The amplimet won't be able to get
close enough to draw real power.'

'And
if it takes over Tiaan?'

'Archers
will be standing by in the towed constructs,' said Urien. 'And mancers, alert
for any sign that the crystal is overpowering her. If they detect such signs,
the archers will be ordered to shoot to kill.'

Even
Vithis let out a muffled cry at that. Perhaps he was remembering that Tiaan had
saved Minis from a fiery death. It was all Tiaan could do to remain silent as
they reached the healers' tent and carried her within.

'It's
a shabby way to treat someone who saved all our lives,' said Luxor.

If
she knew what a fully woken amplimet would do to her,' said Urien, 'she'd thank
us on bended knees.'

There
was shouting in the night, not far from Thyzzea's tent. Recognising Minis's
voice, Tiaan looked out the window flap.

'How
dare you abuse her so!' Minis roared, struggling against a number of guards.

Shortly
Vithis came running and, after a low-voiced argument, Minis went away with him.
Tiaan was pleased to see him go. Whether sincere or not, Minis could do nothing
for her.

She
was woken before dawn by Thyzzea, who handed her a steaming mug. 'You must be
quick, Tiaan. Vithis will soon be here. I brought you clothes, since yours are
.., in need of cleaning.' That was a politeness. Tiaan's clothes were no better
than tar-stained rags. 'Do you need help to dress?'

'Thank
you,' said Tiaan, Taut I'm used to doing it.'

Once
Thyzzea had gone, she eased her legs out of bed. Her thigh and calf muscles
ached but she had more coordination than before; more strength too. She was
able to stand up and take a couple of halting steps, and it felt like a
personal triumph.

The
red drink practically needed to be eaten with a spoon. It was sweet, with a
slightly bitter under-taste that she came to appreciate by the time she had
finished, for without it the beverage would have been cloyingly rich.

The
clothes fitted well enough. She was dressed and sitting at the table, eating
bread and hot sausage, when Vithis burst through the flap of the tent.

'Time
to go to work. Bring her, Guard!

Thyzzea
put her head through the door of her parents' room, said something and picked
Tiaan up. Vithis set off with great strides, so that Thyzzea had to trot to
keep up.

'What
do you want of me?' Tiaan asked Vithis as they crossed between row after row of
silent constructs. She knew, but wanted to hear him say it.

You're
going to operate my construct with the amplimet, and tow the other machines to
the nearest field. Thyzzea will guard you, and if you attempt to escape, her
family will suffer the prescribed penalty.'

At
the furthest end of the row, Vithis stopped at a construct that was somewhat
larger than most others. Its hatch was open. Aachim ran back and forth, packing
gear into it and into a number of other constructs. Each was connected to the
first by stout ropes, around which were looped finer cables that ran
underneath.

Vithis
climbed in. Thyzzea followed, struggling under Tiaan's awkward weight. Vithis
handed Tiaan the package, wrapped in platinum, which she unfolded to reveal the
amplimet. Again she felt that blind terror, but fought it down. The amplimet
offered the only hope of escape for her, too.

'This
machine is linked to six others,' said Vithis. 'Once you draw power, they will
take enough to rise off the ground and maintain direction, though not to drive
themselves. Do nothing hastily. Don't attempt to escape. I'll be with you the
whole time, and I have two guards in the following construct, armed with
crossbows.'

Tiaan
was not planning to escape just yet. First she must be able to walk, even run.

Vithis
climbed onto the rear platform, looking back. 'All is ready. Begin, very
slowly.'

The
nearest node lay not too many leagues to the south. Though small and
nondescript, weak and wavering, she could use it. Locking onto its field, she
drew power smoothly. The construct rumbled and rose up to hip height. She
looked over her shoulder at Vithis, who was shivering with tension. Small
wonder.

'All
is well,' he said. 'Head directly towards the node. Take it steadily or you'll
break the cables.'

She
eased the lever and the construct crept forward until the slack of the first
tether was taken up The machine shook as the weight of the second construct
came on the line. A dull ache tickled across the top of her skull. Tiaan rubbed
the spot with her fingers and drew more power.

So it
went until all six constructs were underway. After that it was routine, though
the work was draining. She headed south towards the node, the construct moving
across undulating plains at slightly more than walking pace, in the general
direction of Gospett. There was no sign of life. The once plentiful game had
been slaughtered to feed the armies.

'Go
round in a circle and stop,' called Vithis some hours later. The constructs
behind him were signalling. 'They can see the field.'

They
were in a circular valley with a rim of low hills on all sides. White quartzite
outcropped in lines across the slope, and along the crest. A dry creek, its bed
filled with white pebbles, meandered across the floor of the valley. Its path
was marked by trees with slate-blue pendulous leaves and hanging purple fruits
like curly beans.

'Set
up camp here and dig a pit in the creek bed. We'll find good water there.'

Vithis
gave orders for the layout of the camp and his people ran to carry them out.
The constructs were unhooked, disgorging about a hundred Aachim. The cables
were reloaded into Tiaan's construct. The others moved under their own power,
making a defensive ring around the camp.

'Head
back to the Snizort camp, Tiaan/ said Vithis, smiling. She'd not thought him
capable of it. 'Make all the speed you can.' He came down from the turret to
stand beside her, leaving a wide gap between them.

Tiaan
glanced up at his stern profile and, despite the way he'd treated her, for the
first time she felt a trace of empathy. Vithis had lost everything. She could
not truly understand his loss, but she could feel it, and it reminded her of
something that had been troubling her for a long time. She opened her mouth to
speak, but closed it, afraid he would blame her again.

But
surely, in spite of everything he'd done to her, it would e wrong not to tell
him. She flipped back and forth as they floated along then, when they were
halfway back, it just burst out of her.

'I
heard them!' Tiaan said suddenly.

'What?'
He roused from his thoughts.

'When
the gate opened, in Tirthrax . . .'

He
spun around, staring at her. 'Yes? Yes?'

'I
heard a host of people crying out in agony.'

He
put his hands on her cheeks, probing her eyes with his own. 'What did you
hear?'

'They
were lost' she said softly, closing her eyes and immersing herself in the
horror of it. 'Lost in the void. It was terrible.'

'You
heard,' he said. 'Ah, my clan, my clan!' He began to weep, but dashed the tears
away. 'Before I do anything else, my dead must be honoured. I will find them
and bring their bodies back, no matter how far I have to go or how long it
takes.' He sprang out through the hatch.

When
she looked back he was standing in the shooter's turret, legs spread, grim face
fixed on the horizon. His cloak streamed out in the wind, lifting his hair,
which had changed from black to silver since his coming to Santhenar. Tiaan
wished she had not spoken.

Vithis
worked Tiaan without respite. For the next trip, ten constructs were linked to
hers, and on the one after that, fourteen, and they travelled more quickly. It
took the most intense concentration to draw enough power, and keep it flowing
smoothly. The amplimet could handle it, though Tiaan was not sure how much more
she could take. The inside of her skull felt as if hot channels had been bored
through it. Once, using her talent had been pure pleasure and the highest
fulfilment she could imagine. No more — now there was just pain and a feeling
of being driven beyond her strength. She wasn't a human being, or even a slave.
She was just a tool to be used and discarded when it was worn out.

They
stopped for lunch in the mid-afternoon, while twenty constructs were linked to
her machine On the trip after that, the number was thirty. By the time she had
hauled all those to the field, it was long after dark.

There
was no break, apart from dinner eaten while they waited for another thirty to
be linked up. They kept going all through the night, pulling thirty each time,
Vithis driving her mercilessly. Dawn revealed another thirty, ready to be
linked up, but Tiaan could do no more.

'My
brain is burning.' Unfastening her belt, she slid off the chair onto the metal
floor.

Thyzzea
and one of the soldiers carried Tiaan out, laying her on the brittle grass. A
healer was brought, then Urien appeared and laid her hands on Tiaan's head.

'No
harm has been done,' said Urien, 'hut you must take better care of her,
Vithis.'

'We've
moved only a hundred and forty constructs,' said Vithis. 'At this rate it'll
take six weeks.'

'That's
a hundred and forty more than was thought possible yesterday, and if you work
her to death you'll get no more.'

'In
two weeks our supplies will run out, Urien!'

'Surely
you understand the risk you're taking?'

All
right!' he said. 'But there's got to be a way.'

Tiaan
lay in a daze, watching as Vithis held a heated conference with Urien, Tirior,
and other Aachim she did not know.

A
buzzing started in her ears, and hot flushes began to radiate out from the
centre of her head. Tiaan heard sounds like speech but could no longer make out
the words. She turned over, shielding her face from the sun.

Thyzzea
helped Tiaan to a seat in the shade and the symptoms gradually faded. She was
sitting there, sipping at a cool drink, when Vithis and Urien approached.

'How
are you feeling?' said Urien.

Tiaan
told her. 'You're killing me.’

'We've
got to move the constructs faster,' said Vithis. 'Should the lyrinx come back
we'll be defenceless.' 'We've faced this problem before,' said Urien.
"There may be a way. Your sickness is not from the amount of power you're
drawing, Tiaan, but the source!

'I
don't understand; said Tiaan.

'You're
taking all that power from one small field and the draw is too concentrated;
that's why it's damaging you. But if you were to draw from a number of fields
at once, spreading the load evenly, you could take as much, or even more,
without harm.'

'I've
tried it before. As soon as I turn to the new field, I lose track of the old.'

Urien
rose, drawing Vithis out of earshot. They had another long, heated argument
before heading their separate ways.

'What
was that about?' Tiaan asked Thyzzea after they had gone.

'It
has to do with forbidden knowledge, and the danger of giving it to you.'

'What
forbidden knowledge?'

'I
don't know.'

'Suppose
that it works,' said Tiaan, 'and the constructs are saved. What then?'

'Better
to ask my father that,' said Thyzzea, looking worried. 'But. . .'