Ventus by Karl Schroeder

Karl Schroeder / Ventus / Page 83
"I'm sure you know the Winds destroy all machines that
are not of their own devising. They did this to Armiger's first
probes. He tried hiding some probes in animals, but the
morphs discovered them and took the probes out. But he had
learned that the Winds do not change humans the way they do
other life here. The morphs can kill, but they do not change
people, do they? Only animals. So he realized he could hide
his probes in people. And he did so. One of those people was
you."
"I would remember," he protested.
"No, it was done in your sleep, using very small mecha.
That's all the probe is, a mechal infection on your brain.
Nanotech, we call it. And for six years he roamed Ventus,
casting a wide net to learn as much as he can about this world.
In order to learn how to conquer the Winds."
"You can't conquer the Winds," he said. "The idea is
absurd. Armiger must not be very bright."
"Maybe, maybe not." She shrugged. "His master had
enough power to spare to send him on a mission that had no
guarantee of success. But what if he did find a way?"
She left the question hanging. Jordan stared at the fire,
and tried to imagine the sovereign Winds bowing to another
power, to the thing that had scratched its own name on the
inside of its tomb.
"Armiger," Lady May said, "wanted to become god of
this world. But he had a master, from whom all his power
came. Armiger is only a spy, possibly an assassin. And he has
learned that his master is now dead." She steepled her hands
and glared into the fire. "So now what? Is he free to pursue
the plan on his own? Your story suggests he's gone mad, but
he may just be going to ground, dropping from sight, which
would make sense if he suspected we were going to come after