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cages.
    One
was crushed flat, along with the creature inside. The other burst open,
liberating its occupant, which darted into the darkness behind the cages.
    Irisis
scuttled out of the way as the lyrinx struggled to get up. The little creature
was savaging its foot, snarling with bloodlust. The lyrinx roared, found its
feet and, with a mighty swing, sent the cage and its attacker creature flying
across the room to smash into the wall. It turned in her direction, limping
badly. She drew her weapon.
    Flangers
appeared by her side, sword out. She had never been so glad to see anyone.
    'Are
you any good with that?' he panted.
    'Not
much. I normally use a crossbow.' Irisis had done sword training, and had a
natural aptitude, but little combat experience.
    'Stay
to my left, one step back. Keep the point up.'
    She
moved into position. 'What if we were to smash open a few more cages?' Already
she was deferring to his greater experience, a rare thing for her. 'A few of
these creatures would give even a lyrinx something to think about.' She had
heard tales of the flesh-formed nylatl that had so terrorised Tiaan, and later,
Nish.
    'We'd
want to be sure the beasts would attack the lyrinx, and not us,' Flangers said.
    The
lyrinx was only half a dozen steps away, advancing slowly. It was a big one,
head and shoulders above them, with scars on its right cheek and across its
breast plates.
    'Looks
as though it's seen a fight or two,' she said.
    'And
won them. It would be handy if Fyn-Mah turned up about now,' he said dryly.
    The
lyrinx kept coming. With its size and reach, there was no need for subtlety or
fancy footwork.
    'What's
the plan?' Irisis hissed.
    'Fight
for our bloody lives!'
    The
lyrinx moved to within striking distance, lunged and slashed with one arm.
Irisis barely saw it move, nor the flash of Flangers's sword, but blood spurted
from the palm of its hand. It jerked away. The cut was deep, though not
incapacitating. They had an instant's respite before the mighty thighs bunched
and it hurled itself at him, arms going like scythes.
    Flangers
threw himself to his right; Irisis went the other way. It ignored her and
pursued the soldier, the claws of its bloody hand raking him from shoulder to
elbow. Another blow tore the seat out of his pants and four gouges across his
buttocks.
    Flangers
fell to his knees and the sword clanged on the floor. He dived for it. The
lyrinx went after him, leaving bloody footprints. Flangers could not reach the
sword in time; the lyrinx was going to slaughter him.
    Irisis
went up on tiptoes, crossed the distance with two strides and thrust at the
lyrinx's exposed side. The sword went between two plates, slid between the ribs
and jammed. She heaved but could not pull it out. The lyrinx bellowed, spun
around and sprang at her, the sword quivering with every movement.
    She
dived over a small cage, lifted it and in one movement hurled it at the
lyrinx's face. It batted it aside like a ball, then tore the sword out and
flung it at her. She ducked and scampered up between the rows, not knowing what
she was doing, only that she was defenceless. As she approached the rear door,
a second lyrinx burst through it. And after it, a third.

Three
    Xervish
Flydd knuckled puffy eyes as he prepared to face his tormentors. The Council of
Scrutators occupied four sides of the makeshift table in the command tent. He
was seated at one corner, which meant that he could not see the whole group at
one time. It was a particular disadvantage at an inquisition. And, not having
slept for two nights, he was in no condition to match wits with Ghorr.
    All
eleven members of the Council were present. Their late intervention had only
saved the disaster from becoming a catastrophe and it would be a sorry remnant
of the army that left here, abandoning thousands of precious, useless clankers.
To protect themselves, the Council had to have a scalp. The scrutators looked
as though they relished the duty.
    Jal-Nish,
being only an acting