The Air War (Shadows of the Apt 8)

Home > Science > The Air War (Shadows of the Apt 8) > Page 65
The Air War (Shadows of the Apt 8) Page 65

by Tchaikovsky, Adrian


  ‘Pingge, step forwards,’ Varsec beckoned, and the Fly-kinden woman did so. ‘Pingge flew in the assault on Collegium. She is the sole survivor. She saw it all.’

  The Fly spoke at length, sometimes faltering with emotion, but pushing herself on. Whatever she had been before, there was a steely determination to her now. It demanded revenge – revenge for all the friends and comrades lost over Collegium. As she made her report, describing Collegium’s new weapon, Drephos became more and more focused, his iris-less eyes gleaming, gesturing for Totho to bring him pen and paper.

  And, when she had finished, Drephos turned to confer with Totho, his guests utterly forgotten, the two artificers muttering together as excitedly as two young students. The Colonel-Auxillian even got as far as sketching three or four figures, before remembering that he had an audience, and at last he said, ‘Why, yes, I believe I see the problem.’ He was striving for calm now, but it was plain that Pingge’s news had inspired him.

  ‘And your price?’ Varsec pressed.

  ‘Can be negotiated with your factor there but’ – Drephos’s tone made it clear that this was the real prize – ‘I will have to see the full schematics for your orthopters, of course.’ Varsec’s great triumph of mechanics had been denied to Drephos’s insatiable curiosity until now.

  But Varsec had thought that far ahead. ‘Of course. I have them here,’ he said, without a pause. ‘But it must be soon – even now.’ Here was a man in whose future loomed the crossed pikes of the executioner.

  Drephos smiled, seldom a pleasant sight. ‘It is an invitation I extend to few, Colonel Varsec, but will you join us, then? For I see what must be done, and we had better get to work.’

  Glossary

  Characters

  Aagen – Wasp-kinden, Imperial ambassador to Collegium

  Aarmon – Wasp-kinden, leader of the new Imperial Aviation Corps

  Aetha – Wasp-kinden, General Tynan’s daughter-in-law

  Amnon – Beetle-kinden, former First Soldier of Khanaphes

  Angved – Wasp-kinden, Imperial artificer

  Aradocles – Sea-kinden, Edmir of Hermatyre

  Arvi – Fly-kinden, Jodry Drillen’s secretary

  Averic – Wasp-kinden, student at the College

  Axrad – Wasp-kinden pilot

  Banjacs Gripshod – Beetle-kinden artificer

  Berjek Gripshod – Beetle-kinden diplomat

  Bola Stormall – Beetle-kinden aviation artificer

  Bordes – Mynan airman

  Breighl (‘Painful’) – halfbreed spy in Solarno

  Bresner – Wasp-kinden aviator

  Brugan – Wasp-kinden, general of the Rekef

  Castre Gorenn – Dragonfly-kinden, exile

  Cheerwell Maker – Beetle-kinden, Stenwold’s niece

  Cherten – Wasp-kinden colonel, Army Intelligence

  Chyses – Mynan soldier

  Corog Breaker – Beetle-kinden, Master Armsman and pilot

  Drephos (Dariandrephos, the Colonel-Auxillian) – halfbreed artificer, leader of the Iron Glove

  Dulci Broadster – Beetle-kinden social history Master at the College

  Edmon – Mynan airman

  Elder Padstock – Beetle-kinden, chief officer of the Maker’s Own Company

  Elser Hardwick – Beetle-kinden pilot

  Erveg – Wasp-kinden, camp colonel for the Eighth Army

  Esmail – Bug-kinden assassin and spy

  Eujen Leadswell – Beetle-kinden student and agitator

  Ferric – Wasp-kinden, engineer with the Eighth Army

  Forra – Fly-kinden air crew

  Franticze – Bee-kinden pilot flying for Myna

  Garvan – see Gesa

  Gerethwy – Woodlouse-kinden student at the College

  Gesa (‘Garvan’) – female Wasp-kinden major, Army Intelligence

  Gizmer – Fly-kinden air crew

  Gjegevey – Woodlouse-kinden, slave and adviser to Seda

  Greenwise Artector – Beetle-kinden magnate in Helleron

  Hallend – Beetle-kinden student

  Harvang – Wasp-kinden, Rekef colonel

  Hasp – Wasp-kinden major, Slave Corps

  Helmess Broiler – Beetle-kinden Assembler in Collegium, Imperial sympathizer

  Hokiak – Scorpion-kinden merchant in Myna

  Honory Bellowern – Beetle-kinden, Imperial diplomat

  Jadis of the Melisandyr – Spider-kinden, Mycella’s bodyguard and chief aide

  Janos Outwright – Beetle-kinden, chief officer of Outwright’s Pike and Shot

  Jodry Drillen – Beetle-kinden, Speaker for the Assembly

  Jons Padstock – Beetle-kinden soldier, Elder Padstock’s son

  Kiin – Fly-kinden air crew

  Kymene – Mynan leader

  Knowles Bellowern – Beetle-kinden, Imperial colonel in the Consortium

  Laszlo – Fly-kinden, former pirate and friend of Stenwold Maker

  Lien – Wasp-kinden, general of the Engineering Corps

  Losel Baldwen – Beetle-kinden scholar

  Ludon – Wasp-kinden aviator

  Lyren – Wasp-kinden, Tynan’s son

  Lissart (‘te Liss’) – Firefly-kinden agent

  Malkan – Wasp-kinden, general of the Seventh Army, defeated by the Sarnesh at Malkan’s Folly

  Marsene – Mynan airwoman

  Marteus – Ant-kinden renegade, chief officer of Coldstone Company

  Mittoc – Wasp-kinden, colonel of Engineers with Second Army

  Morkaris – Spider-kinden, Mycella’s mercenary adjutant

  Mycella of the Aldanrael – Spider Lady-Martial

  Mylus – Ant-kinden, slave to General Tynan

  Nishaana – Wasp-kinden aviator

  Ostrec – Wasp-kinden, Quartermaster Corps and Rekef

  Paladrya – Sea-kinden, advisrr to Aradocles and friend of Stenwold Maker

  Parops – Ant-kinden of Tark

  Pendry Goswell – Beetle-kinden pilot

  Pingge – Fly-kinden air crew

  Praeda Rakespear – Beetle-kinden scholar, lover of Amnon

  Raullo Mummers – Beetle-kinden artist

  Te Remi – Fly-kinden taverner in Solarno

  Reyna Pullard – Beetle-kinden, assistant to Banjacs Gripshod

  Te Riel – Fly-kinden agent in Solarno

  Roder – Wasp-kinden, general of the Eighth Army

  Salthric – Wasp-kinden, Broken Sword Father

  Sartaea te Mosca – Moth-trained Fly-kinden, lecturer at the College

  Scain – Wasp-kinden aviator

  Seda I – Empress of the Wasps

  Shawmair – Solarnese pilot

  Sherten – Wasp-kinden, Rekef agent

  Shoel Jhin – Grasshopper-kinden slave

  Stenwold Maker – Beetle-kinden, War Master of Collegium

  Straessa (‘the Antspider’) – halfbreed student at the College

  Taki (Te Schola Taki-Amre) – Solarnese Fly-kinden aviatrix

  Taxus – halfbreed pilot from Tark

  Tegrec – Moth-trained Wasp-kinden, Tharen ambassador to the Empire

  Tiadro – Fly-kinden air crew

  Tisamon – Mantis-kinden Weaponsmaster

  Toek – Scorpion camp north of Solarno

  Totho – halfbreed artificer, second-in-command of the Iron Glove

  Tynan – Wasp-kinden, general of the Second Army

  Uctebri – Mosquito-kinden, magician killed by Tisamon

  Varsec – Wasp-kinden, aviation artificer

  Vecter – Wasp-kinden, colonel of the Rekef

  Vorses – Mynan airman

  Willem Reader – Beetle-kinden aviation artificer

  Xaraea – Moth-kinden agent

  Places

  Capitas – capital of the Empire

  Chasme – city of renegades on the Exalsee

  Collegium – Beetle city-state

  Commonweal – Dragonfly domain north of the Lowlands

  Coretsy – salt mine near Myna
r />   Darakyon – Mantis forest, formerly haunted

  Dorax – Moth retreat

  Egel – Fly warren

  Etheryon – Mantis hold

  Everis – Spider island city

  Felyal – Mantis hold and forest

  Helleron – Beetle city-state

  Kes – Ant island city-state

  Khanaphes – ancient Beetle city-state

  Malkan’s Folly – battlefield, now site of Sarnesh fortress

  Maynes – Ant city-state, formerly part of the Empire

  Merro – Fly warren

  Myna – Beetle city-state, formerly part of the Empire

  Nethyon – Mantis hold

  Princep Salma – city founded by refugees of the last war

  Sarn – Ant city-state, ally of Collegium

  Seldis – Spider city

  Skiel – Imperial town

  Solarno – Beetle city on the Exalsee

  Sonn – Beetle city in the Empire

  Spiderlands – large domain south of the Lowlands

  Szar – Bee city-state, formerly part of the Empire

  Tark – Ant city-state

  Tharn – Moth retreat

  Three-city Alliance – Myna, Szar and Maynes

  Vek – Ant city-state, recently at peace with Collegium

  Organizations and Things

  Amphiophos – Collegiate centre of government

  Arcanum – Moth secret service

  Aristoi – the Spider-kinden ruling class

  Army Intelligence – Imperial army corps

  Assembly – Collegiate ruling body

  Aviation Corps – Imperial army corps, part of the Engineers

  Battle of the Rails – battle in which Malkan’s Seventh Army defeated the Sarnesh

  Broken Sword – pacifist cult within the Empire

  Coldstone Company – Collegiate Merchant Company, motto: In Our Enemies’ Robes

  Consensus – Mynan ruling body

  Consortium of the Honest – mercantile arm of the Empire

  Corta Obscura and

  Corta Lucida – Solarnese ruling bodies

  Cranefly – Mynan flying machine

  Crystal Standard – Solarnese political party

  Eighth Army – commanded by General Roder

  Engineering Corps (‘the Engineers’) – Imperial army corps

  Esca Magni – Taki’s orthopter

  Esca Volenti – Taki’s previous orthopter, destroyed in liberation of Myna

  Farsphex – new Imperial model of orthopter

  Fierce Lady – Mynan flying machine piloted by Marsene

  Firebug – new Solarnese model of orthopter

  Fourth Army – ‘the Barbs’, destroyed by Felyen Mantids in the last war

  Great College – Collegiate centre of learning

  Greatshotter – new Iron Glove-developed artillery

  Iron Glove – artificing cartel led by Drephos out of Chasme

  Maker’s Own – Collegiate Merchant Company, motto: Through the Gate

  Malkan’s Stand/Malkan’s Folly – Sarnesh defeat of the Empire, now Sarnesh fortress

  Outwright’s Pike and Shot – Collegiate Merchant Company, motto: Outright Victory or Death

  Pacemark – Mynan orthopter piloted by Edmon

  Path of Jade – Solarnese political party

  Prowess Forum – Collegiate duelling school

  Quartermaster Corps – Imperial army corps

  Red Anvil – Mynan flying machine

  Rekef – Imperial secret service, divided into Inlander and Outlander

  Satin Trail – Solarnese political party

  Second Army – ‘the Gears’, commanded by General Tynan

  Seventh Army – ‘the Winged Furies’, Malkan’s command, destroyed by Sarnesh in the last war

  Slave Corps – Imperial army corps

  Sontaken – passenger airship

  Spearflight – Imperial model of orthopter

  Stonefly – Mynan orthopter piloted by Vorses

  Stormreader – Collegiate model of orthopter

  Sweet Fire – Mynan fixed-wing flier

  Tserinet – Mynan orthopter piloted by Franticze

  Twelve-year War – Imperial war against the Commonweal

  Wanderer – Mynan orthopter piloted by Bordes

  Praise for Shadows of the Apt

  ‘A novel brimming with imagination and execution . . . The Shadows of the Apt series is quite distinct, mainly due to the insect-kinden and Tchaikovsky’s fertile imagination’

  SciFiNow

  ‘Epic fantasy at its best. Gripping, original and multi-layered storytelling from a writer bursting with lots of fascinating ideas’

  WalkerofWorlds.com

  ‘Superb world building, great characters and extreme inventiveness’

  FantasyBookCritic blog

  ‘Adrian is continuing to go from strength to strength. Magic’

  FalcataTimes blog

  ‘Reminiscent of much that’s gone before from the likes of Gemmel, Erikson, Sanderson and Cook but with its own unique and clever touch, this is another terrific outing from Mr Tchaikovsky’

  Sci-Fi-London.com

  ‘I cannot even begin to explain how much I enjoy the Shadows of the Apt books. Their level of originality and their sheer epicness makes for some of the best fantasy entertainment out there’

  LEC Book Reviews.com

  ‘Tchaikovsky’s series is a pretty great one – he has taken some classic fantasy elements and added a unique (as far as I’m aware) twist and element to his characters and the world . . . Tchaikovsky has created a world that blends epic fantasy and technology’

  Civilian Reader blog

  ‘Tchaikovsky manages to blend these insect characteristics with human traits convincingly, giving a fresh slant to the inhabitants of his classic tale’

  SFReader.com

  ‘I want more and there’s nothing I can do but sit it out and wait’

  Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review.com

  The Air War

  Adrian Tchaikovsky was born in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, before heading off to Reading to study psychology and zoology. For reasons unclear even to himself he subsequently ended up in law and has worked as a legal executive in both Reading and Leeds, where he now lives. Married, he is a keen live role-player and occasional amateur actor, has trained in stage-fighting, and keeps no exotic or dangerous pets of any kind, possibly excepting his son.

  Catch up with Adrian at www.shadowsoftheapt.com for further information about both himself and the insect-kinden, together with bonus material including short stories and artwork.

  The Air War is the eighth novel in the Shadows of the Apt series.

  BY ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY

  Shadows of the Apt

  Empire in Black and Gold

  Dragonfly Falling

  Blood of the Mantis

  Salute the Dark

  The Scarab Path

  The Sea Watch

  Heirs of the Blade

  The Air War

  Acknowledgements

  I continue to be in debt to my agent, Simon Kavanagh, to everyone at Tor, to the editing prowess of Peter Lavery, and to the constant support and assistance of my wife. I’d also like to thank everyone who has contributed to the Shadows of the Apt Wiki at http://shadowsoftheapt.wikia.com/wiki/Shadows_Of_The_Apt_Wiki, especially Jackson Cordes and Roderick Easton.

  I also owe a debt to everyone at Rebis for making me so welcome in Poland, including the translator Jarek Rybski, and particularly because a fair slice of this book was conceived of or written over there. A surprising amount was also written on trains going in various directions, so possibly I owe some manner of debt to Network Rail, whose many delays gave me so much unanticipated writing time.

  Thanks also to Shane McLean for information on army procedure, and explaining why sometimes the best thing an engineer can do is make sure everyone gets fed.

  And finally, going far back into the mists of time, a
nod to Andy Campbell, porter at the Reading University Faculty of Letters and Social Sciences, who taught me some valuable lessons about warfare in the days of Napoleon, that era when a new war was just beginning to hatch from the cracked shell of the old.

  First published 2012 by Tor

  This electronic edition published 2012 by Tor

  an imprint of Pan Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited

  Pan Macmillan, 20 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RR

  Basingstoke and Oxford

  Associated companies throughout the world

  www.panmacmillan.com

  ISBN 978-0-230-76606-8 EPUB

  Copyright © Adrian Tchaikovsky 2012

  The right of Adrian Tchaikovsky to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

  Visit www.panmacmillan.com to read more about all our books and to buy them. You will also find features, author interviews and news of any author events, and you can sign up for e-newsletters so that you’re always first to hear about our new releases.

 

 

 


‹ Prev