Today we are joined by two of the most interesting and secretive characters in The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series; Niccolo Machiavelli and The Warrior Maid Scathach! One being a high ranking agent for the Dark Elders fighting against the Humani, and the other being the Greatest Warrior the world has ever seen fighting to stop the Dark Elder's deadly plans.

---

Flamel's Immortal Portal: Welcome Monsieur Machiavelli; alchemist, magician, philosopher, manipulator? Thank you for taking the time to talk to us, we realize you have a very busy schedule being the Head of the DGSE as well as doing the Dark Elders bidding. So, we'll get right to it, shall we?

Niccolo Machiavelli: I will give you five minutes. Not a second more.

FIP: I'd like to ask you if you can tell me about a little about why you decided to become an agent of your Dark Elder?

NM: Am I an agent of an Elder, dark or otherwise? It would be a mistake to believe everything you read about me. But, let us say, hypothetically, that I was to ally myself with ancient forces, surely the lure of immortality would be enough of a reason?

FIP: Besides the obvious loss of your family, have you ever regretted making that decision?

NM: I regret nothing. Only a fool spends time in regrets.

FIP: When you and Scathach fought in the past, you know... When she tossed you through a door... What started that argument?

NM: I have no memory of that event. But I do know this girl you speak of - and she is a terrible liar.

FIP: Do you honestly believe that the Dark Elders return to this Earth will be a good thing?

NM: I believe in the power of strong leaders. Have you read my book, The Prince?. You really should.

FIP: You are well trained in alchemy, who was your teacher?

NM: One of the greatest Alchemists of all time.

FIP: If you could only have one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

NM: A side effect of immortality is that one no longer knows the pleasures of the subtle tastes of food. But I remember the taste of the olives of my youth. I would love to be able to taste those olives again.

FIP: How did your very own agents miss seeing Joan of Arc in Saint Germain's house?

NM: You are ill-informed. Joan of Arc was not at Saint Germain's house. Rumors of the Maids continued existence are completely unfounded.

FIP: Our other interview is with The Warrior Maid, Scathach. If you could ask her one question, what would if be?

NM: I would ask her nothing, but I would tell her that a reckoning is coming. And next time she will not be so lucky.

FIP: You know how long Gilgamesh has been around... If you are able to survive through the summer solstice, would you like to live that long? Or would you choose to end your immortality?

NM: I will treasure my immortality so long as my mind is intact. Once I begin to lose my memories, I will ask my master to remove my immortality so that I may die peacefully. But it would also be a mistake to compare me to Gilgamesh. The king is sui generis.

FIP: Your Elder Master once ruled Egypt, how is it you came to be approached by him for Immortality?

NM: My master has always chosen the best of the best to be his immortal servants. I was simply the best.

FIP: Give me the first word that comes to mind when you hear:

Dee? NM: Fool

de Medici? NM: Catherine

Archon? NM: Terror

Stonehenge? NM: Ley-gate

Perenelle? NM: Death

FIP: I notice you generally travel unarmed. If you had to carry a weapon, what would it be?

NM: The brain is the greatest weapon of all.

FIP: Did you ever consider Awakening your wife or children and getting them Immortality so you didn't have to watch them die?

NM: The pact I sealed with my Elder did not allow for that. It was one of the hardest choices I ever made and I did not know the true cost until I was forced to watch them wither, age and die. If I had a chance to do it again, I would do it differently.

FIP: How is it that Dagon came to be in your service?

NM: I saved his life. He owed me a life debt.

FIP: You were sent to Alcatraz to release the stores of monsters onto the city. Are there other agents being sent to the other stores across the globe?

NM: Yes, even now, there are other immortals gathering to await the word, When Billy and I unleash terror on San Francisco, that will be the signal for other immortals to follow suit. Your five minutes are up, I am a busy man, you are dismissed.

---

Flamel's Immortal Portal: A warm welcome to you Scathach, respected and feared warrior, slayer of many, defender of the humani..and vampire, we're very honoured that you've come to our scrying pool to answer our questions! May we call you Scatty, or would you prefer the Shadow?

Scathach: I don't know you, I don't particularly want to know you. And people who do not know me, call me Miss.

FIP: I know many of our readers would like to know, is it a blessing or a curse to appear 17 forever?

S: I only look 17 when I wear my hair this way. If I put on make-up I can look 25.

FIP: You're not the same as other vampires that we know of, you don't drink blood for example, are any of the other lores typically linked to vampires true of you? e.g. Are you averse to garlic, crucifixes, walking in the sunlight? Do you have no reflection in a mirror?

S: All of that nonsense comes from the movies. I don't especially like the taste of garlic and why should I fear a crucifix? I was around long before it became sacred. With my pale skin I can burn in the sunlight, but I wear sun factor 30 and of course I reflect in a mirror - I am a physical being.

FIP: Your combat skills are legendary, where did you learn them?

S: By doing, by practising, by fighting, and by pitting myself against the best the humani world and the Shadowrealms had to offer.

FIP: You've trained many students, who was your best student?

S: Through the centuries there have been many - so many that their names blend, but before them all, there was one: the boy Setanta, who became the Hound: Cuchulain. There was none greater.

FIP: Amongst your many battles you've laid waste to a large number of the Disir, including their Queen Brynhildr. Has anyone ever defeated you?

S: There was a humani who - temporarily I might add - had the advantage of me. But only briefly.

FIP: We've heard that you do not like ninjas, why is that?

S: It is true that I've never met a ninja I liked. But you probably need to ask them about that.

FIP: You have a twin sister, Aoife, who is also a feared warrior in her own right, if you two fought, who would win?

S: What a ridiculous question. Who do you think?

FIP: You haven't seen your sister in a very long while, what would you say to her if you saw her again today?

S: I would have nothing to say to her, but I would be checking to make sure my weapons were sharp and close by.

FIP: Having spent many years wandering different Shadowrealms, do you have a favourite one?

S: Yes, there is one: Tir na nOg, the land of the Ever Young. Maybe some day in the future - if there is a future - I will retire there.

FIP: Your grandmother, Dora the Witch of Endor is very powerful, do you possess magic like hers?

S: No-one possesses magic like The Witch of Endor. She can use the forgotten Archon lore. I've even heard it rumored that she knows the forbidden Earthlord lore also.

FIP: Some people have said that you weren't always on the humani's side, yet at the moment you appear to be defending the humani, what changed your mind and made you decide to help them now?

S: Anyone who said I had not always fought for the humani is a liar. Choosing the humani cost me everything including my family.

FIP: Aoife has called you a liar, can we trust any of your answers?

S: Well, she's just a big fat liar too!

FIP: You're trapped in the Pleistocene era after Machiavelli tampered with the leygate you used, are you being hunted by dinosaurs or are you hunting them?

S: I have fought - and defeated - creatures that make dinosaurs look like cuddly toys. You will note that the dinosaurs even with their tiny brains, have kept well away. They know who, and what, I am.

FIP: Have you got a plan to escape Machiavelli's trap, or will you need rescuing?

S: I'm working on that. I've got out of trickier situations in the past. I'll get out of this one.

FIP: If you are given the choice of getting your revenge on Machiavelli or meeting Dr Dee in battle, who would you choose to fight?

S: Hmmm, Dee is a mad dog, wild and unpredictable. He is a danger not only to this world, but to all the Shadowrealms. But Machiavelli is infinitely more dangerous. No-one knows what he wants. I sometimes think he is around to keep Dee in check and clean up his messes. I would fight Machiavelli, and then go after Dee.

---

Be sure to pick up Michael Scott's new book in The Secret's of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series, The Necromancer, in bookstores now!

We'd like to give a very special thanks to Michael Scott for agreeing to do this fun interview with us! And also a special thanks to Elizabeth at Random House Children's Books for setting it all up!

Please continue to follow the Blog Tour with Michael Scott! His next stops are:
May 27th with www.bookdivas.com
May 28th with www.suvudu.com

Links of interest:
www.QuestForTheCodex.com
Click the link to play the game and enter the sweepstakes (sweepstakes for US residents only)

Facebook.com/SecretsofNicholasFlamel
Michael will be posting original status updates daily during his blog tour

www.dillonscott.com
Michael Scott's Official site

www.twitter.com/flamelauthor
Michael Scott's Official Twitter page

http://flamelssecret.9.forumer.com
Official Fan Forums