They got some strange looks on the way to Draklor, but with Larsa walking beside Al-Cid nobody stopped them. Besides which they appeared to be taking little used passages and seldom saw anyone but servants, who would be unlikely to challenge them. Noah felt a certain amount of respect for Larsa, he might be naive but he was clearly no fool, even at ten. Once outside they garnered more strange looks, but 'what is that rag-tag band doing here?' rather than 'summon the guard'. The children they saw were all wearing neat clothes and walking with their parents, Noah was starting to think Archadia had outlawed play.

Draklor itself was an imposing building, square and brutally functional in its design. Larsa led them up to the entrance with such absolute confidence it was almost a surprise when he was challenged.

'Lord Larsa, who are your companions?' said one of the two Judges stationed outside.

'They are here to see Dr Cid,' said Larsa.

'On what business?' asked the Judge.

The other Judge, the one who had not spoken, looked at them and even through the helmet Noah could sense interest and disbelief.

'Dr Cid's business,' said Larsa. Noah tensed, they would not get away with this deception. But there were only two guards to the four of them.

'He did mention them,' said the second Judge. 'I'll take them through to him.'

He turned and walked inside before the other Judge could respond, they followed. Vossler caught Noah's eye and jerked his head towards the Judge, Noah nodded slightly.

'Well, perhaps -' began the Judge, but he got no further. Vossler's sword was at his throat in a single movement.

'Wait!' demanded Larsa. 'You said you would not harm anyone.'

Noah grabbed him by the wrist and jerked him backwards hard, guilt making him rough. 'We said we would not harm your brother,' he said.

'A sword was brought here earlier, and a stone,' said Vossler. 'Where are they?'

'And why would a sword be brought here?' asked the Judge, calm as if there was not a sword pressing through the join in his armour.

'Because it will destroy nethecite,' said Ashe. 'Now tell us where it is, if you know.'

'And you had better know,' added Vossler.

'Easy there,' said the Judge, holding his hands up. 'If you're looking to destroy nethecite we're on the same side.'

'Judge Bunansa, you will allow our enemies to steal in and destroy our weapons?' said Larsa, even now managing a fragile dignity.

'Sorry, but nethecite's not good for anyone. I'd worry about your brother if he's spending time around it,' said Judge Bunansa.

'My brother? Why, what will it do to him?'

'You've seen Dr Cid, surely. He wasn't always that way,' said the Judge, his voice mingling sorrow and mockery.

'No, you are lying. My brother would not use something like that,' said Larsa. He struggled now, trying to wrench free.

'Think what you like,' said Judge Bunansa, turning to lead the way. Vossler followed, his sword still at the man's throat. 'And the sword is this way I believe. Perhaps you should leave the young lord.'

'And have him fetch the guards?' said Noah. He wrapped his arms around Larsa's waist and hoisted him onto his hip. Larsa took a deep breath and Noah managed to clamp a hand over his mouth before he could shout. Larsa slid down slightly now Noah could not support him as easily with both arms, but he was off the ground so Noah followed like that.

As soon as he reached the others Al-Cid exclaimed, 'Stop it, you will suffocate the child.'

'I have not covered his nose,' said Noah defensively.

'Even so, he can hardly breathe carried like that. At least put him down,' said Al-Cid.

Noah lowered Larsa to the floor, he could feel him shaking and a tear landed hot against Noah's hand.

'Had I known it would come to this I never would have allowed you to bring him,' said Al-Cid.

'Then what did you think? That we would let him fetch his brother, or an army of imperials? We needed him to bring us here, and we need him now as hostage if we are discovered. We cannot fail in this! You understand no more than he does what it is to have your country threatened, what your empires do to those smaller than they.'

'How the strong treat the weak? I think you have given him a good indication,' said Al-Cid.

'Fascinating as this is, he won't need to shout for the guards if you do it for him,' said Judge Bunansa. 'Leave him or bring him, but do come on.'

Noah looked down at Larsa, the boy was shaking and tearful. His adult demeanour had shattered completely, and Noah wished suddenly that Basch was here instead of him. Basch would never have thought to do this. 'Cry out and I will suffocate you,' he said, forcing anger into his voice in the hope that it would mask shame and pity. He took his hand away from Larsa's mouth. When Larsa remained silent Noah nodded and hoisted him over his shoulder.

Judge Bunansa led them into a room full of crates stacked against the walls. The sword lay on a table in the centre of the rooms tangled in a nest of wires. Ashe walked over and pulled it free, she looked up at the crates.

'These are all nethecite?' she asked.

'No, nethecite is kept higher up. This is magicite waiting to be treated,' said Judge Bunansa. 'Can you put that blade away now? I think I've shown we're on the same side.'

'Why?' asked Ashe.

Larsa squirmed and Noah jolted him higher to make him stop. Ashe cast him an anxious look, she had not said anything but he doubted she was happy about his hostage.

'Because of Dr Cidolfus Demen Bunansa,' said the Judge, a subtle emphasis on the last name.

'Your father?' said Ashe.

'He was.'

Ashe nodded. 'Vossler, put up your sword,' she ordered. Vossler reluctantly obeyed.

The Judge took off his helmet and placed it on the table where the sword had been. He was a young man of about twenty, and probably slender under the bulky armour. He smiled at Ashe.

'Come, if your sword can destroy nethecite I can show you a roomful of it,' he said.

They walked down a passageway and up two flights of stairs, Judge Bunansa going ahead to order people out of their way before they came through. Larsa was squirming more and more, nearly sending them down the stairwell on more than one occasion. At last they came to another room, it was similar to the first one as all the rooms in Draklor appeared similar. Crates were stacked only along one of its walls, and only to waist height on Noah.

'All the nethecite that is not already in use,' said Judge Bunansa. 'Let's see what that sword is good for.'

He tipped a crate over and shards of nethecite rolled across the floor. Ashe swung her sword at each of them, and although they did not visibly change Noah could sense a lessening of some tension in the air. Sometimes he saw half shadows and almost forms in the air above the shards before Ashe hit them. She worked her way through the crates steadily, methodically, sweat forming on her brow and running down into her eyes.

Noah felt a sharp pain in his side and his knees folded under him. He felt Larsa tumble aside and looked up, astonished, to see Larsa standing before him bloodied dagger in hand. Larsa turned as if to run, but Vossler had been near the door and had already stepped to cover it. Noah reached to grab the boy, but Larsa turned too quickly and had the dagger at his throat before he could.

'Do not touch me,' said Larsa, his voice quivering. Noah looked up into his eyes and saw fear and anger, and something else harder to define. Nobility, perhaps, strength gained by knowing he had the right to it and the duty to show it. If Noah was beaten now, it was by a worthy opponent. And one who had the right to make him pay with his life.

'I am sorry,' said Noah. 'Strike then, if you will.'

'No, please,' said Ashe. 'He acted out of loyalty to Dalmasca. Do not kill him, Larsa, please.'

Noah looked at her, and smiled. 'Either way, we have succeeded,' he said. Ashe looked stricken.

'I do not wish to kill anyone,' said Larsa. 'Only to be let go.'

'Once we have destroyed the nethecite you shall be,' said Vossler.

'No. You shall let me go now,' said Larsa. 'Or I shall -'

He could not say it, and in that betrayed himself. Noah lifted his hand and caught Larsa's wrist. The sword flicked his throat, drawing blood, but there was no stab.

'You cannot kill me,' he said. 'You are too young and too good for that.'

'Larsa,' said Al-Cid. 'Once the nethecite is destroyed we shall not keep you. But these people have too much to lose to allow you to prevent their purpose.'

'And you?' said Larsa. He was still looking at Noah, the two of them caught in a tableau with Noah's hand on his wrist, but he addressed Al-Cid.

'I fear for those caught in the crunch, as you have been today,' said Al-Cid. 'Between countries the effects can be much bigger. Do you know what happened to Nabradia?'

'It was defeated?' said Larsa.

'It was destroyed,' said Al-Cid. Noah heard Ashe gasp. Then she broke free of the stillness that had held them and renewed her attack on the nethecite, Judge Bunansa once again tipping out crates for her.

'Half of it can no longer be inhabited by man, but only the worst kind of beasts. They have made a necrohol of it, a place of death and no life that is not warped,' said Al-Cid. 'And it was done with nethecite.'

'My brother would not do so,' said Larsa, but there was uncertainty in his voice.

Noah looked at him. 'Your brother did. I was there when Nabudis fell.'

'He cannot have known. Nethecite is a new thing. He could not have know it would do that, he will not use this nethecite so,' insisted Larsa.

'Then we are merely making sure he does not,' said Al-Cid.

'Done,' said Ashe, startling them all. 'This nethecite is finished.'

'They have the Dusk Shard, we must find that,' said Vossler.

'Now will you let me go?' asked Larsa.

Noah looked at Ashe, it would be hard to find the Dusk Shard with guards after them. But they had promised.

'Yes,' said Ashe. 'Vossler, stand aside.'

Noah let go of Larsa's wrist and Larsa sheathed his sword, he walked to the door with the gait of one forcing himself not to run. Noah wished there was some way to explain, but they had already told Larsa their reasons. He doubted they would seem good enough to the one who had suffered for them. Larsa looked back at Al-Cid from the doorway, then turned into the corridor and vanished from their sight.

#

'We should hurry,' said Judge Bunansa.

Noah nodded and stood up, pressing his hand to his side as he did so. Blood seeped between his fingers, the wound was not deep but it was awkward. Vossler shook his head.

'And I thought of our hostages you took the easy option,' he said.

'Hardly,' said Noah. 'Were do we go now?'

'Upwards, Dr Cid has rooms on the top floor,' said Judge Bunansa.

They ran, Judge Bunansa's armour clanking as they did. Noah wondered how anyone could run in armour like that. Ashe seemed out of breathe, not surprising after working through so much nethecite, and Noah himself was feeling pain stab him with each step. He wondered how long it would take Larsa to find a guard. By the time they reached the top corridor there wass the distant sound of pursuit. Dr Cid's voice could be heard clearly though, they had nearly reached him.

'A little ahead of schedule, aren't they, Venat? Amazing what a difference adding one can make, or does it all come to the same thing in the long run I wonder? After all they would hardly allow it to -'

Vossler pushed open the door to revealing an enormous room, one which would be more at home in a palace than a laboratory. Dr Cid stood on a podium at the end of it, for all the world as if he were performing before an audience. They approached him, Judge Bunansa taking the lead.

'Well, my son, what have you brought me here?' Dr Cid asked genially.

'I have brought you nothing, but brought them to you at their request. I believe you have sunk to being a thief now as well as misused nethecite,' the tone was steady but sad, it must hurt deeply to fight one's own family.

'This from one who dreams of piracy across the skies? My son, I wished to share with you a dream for all our futures. To finally be free, with the reigns of history back in the hands of man.'

'I don't know about history. But you have not given me freedom.'

The sound of footsteps outside pushed Ashe reluctantly forwards. 'Return the stone to us,' she said.

'Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca, what do you want of nethecite? Did you know it could save your country, put fear into the hearts of those who threaten you? Or will you destroy your country's only hope to live?'

'Give it to me. What I do with it will be my own choice.'

'But you're thinking about it, aren't you? The Empire can make more nethecite, but I know where you can get some of your own. Would you like that?'

He was avoiding a fight, drawing them into conversation instead of action. Understandable, he was an old man and clearly could not fight them. But, no, he was backing towards the doors behind him, hoping to have them too intent on his words to attack. Noah judged the distance. He leapt to the platform and struck in one motion. The walls flew past him and he landed hard on the other side of the room.

'Why, thank you, Venat. A shame our nethecite wasn't ready for personal use, this would have been a fine test of it. Now, Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca. If you want this stone again, or some of your own perhaps, then go to Giruvegan. I, too, go there,' said Dr Cid.

Noah heard the engine of some sort of airship, but he couldn't see. He struggled to his knees and Vossler came to help him the rest of the way. His wound was bleeding again and he could barely stand for bruises.

'Go. I would slow you down, and this is my fault to begin with,' he said urgently, he could hear imperials calling outside the door.

'Not unless you attacked Nabradia. Come, you will slow us down less if you do not try to sacrifice yourself,' said Vossler.

'This way,' said Judge Bunansa.

They followed him, Noah appreciated that they had no time to argue. The warmth of a potion on his side took him by surprise, and he looked up to see Ashe splashing it onto him from the bottle. She half smiled, and turned ahead to Judge Bunansa.

'Where do we go?' asked Al-Cid.

Before he could get an answer, a group of imperials appeared ahead of them. Noah drew his sword and they charged into them without stopping. It was hard to breathe, Noah's chest seemed to be one massive bruise, but he could not give up. If he could protect Ashe then he must do so.

The passage out of Draklor took them by surprise, all the more so as it was not guarded. It seemed to have taken them to a junkyard.

'Draklor also designs airships,' said Judge Bunansa. 'This is where they leave those that don't meet approval.'

'So you've brought us to a place full of airships we cannot use. Is there a way out of this place?' said Vossler.

'I think we might be surprised,' said Al-Cid.

'I certainly hope so,' said Judge Bunansa. 'This way please.'

He lead them to an airship that seemed no better than the others, outside scratched by other scrap metal and rusted. But he opened the doors and lead them into an interior that could have belonged on a luxury liner. It looked like a miracle.

'It would have aroused suspicion if I'd given her a new coat of paint, I'll make it up to her once we're away,' said Judge Bunansa, patting the side of the ship. 'Welcome to the Strahl.'

He slid easily into the drivers seat and soon the engines were running. They took off, the engines sounding surly as they did. There were some dramatic lurches and Judge Bunansa played with some more dials.

'I wonder if I fixed the suspension properly,' he said.

'You wonder?' demanded Ashe.

'I'm not actually a professional engineer,' he said.

Noah thought that Judge Bunansa was trying to worry them, and he was too tired to worry. He slumped into a chair instead and concentrated on breathing.

'Noah, how are you?' asked Ashe, coming over to his side. She hated to see them hurt, and he hated to be the one to make her look so grim.

'Well enough. I am sorry,' he said.

'No need,' said Ashe.

The engines sound smoothed out and then there was a loud whoop. They looked forward to see Judge Bunansa, still in his armour, leaning over the controls and grinning like a child. 'Look at her go!' he called. 'See what my girl can do when she isn't being held in a scrap yard? Archadia's full of fools!'

Ashe drew away from Noah and towards the front, beside Judge Bunansa. His joy must have been contagious, because soon she was looking out the window with a small smile on her lips.