The Curse of the Winged Scorpion
The power of a name, dropped at the right time

Arundellooked like he was sucking on something sour. The drab lines of his face pulledtaut over his flat cheekbones as he stared balefully across the table atRashari. Rashari watched him calmly, letting him stew.

“Iwant you to pass on a message to LePortail.” Rashari said after a moment oftense silence. “Tell him Rashari says he’s hit two birds with one stone but ifLePortail wants the whole nest he needs to do something for me first.”

Arundelreared back, rising half out of his chair. “I don’t work for you boy.”

“No,”Rashari agreed his voice cool and hard, “but you answer to LePortail. Nothinggets in or out of Aramant’s skyport without inspection from the patrol. Youclear LePortail’s shipments and he keeps you in cheap pomade.” Rashari sneered,eyeing Arundel’s slick, greasy hair in distaste. “You want me to give you aworthwhile reason to let us go? Well that’s it. Nothing you can get out of mewill be worth the grief LePortail will give you if you don’t.”

Silencefor several seconds; Fantel found herself counting heartbeats, an all butforgotten audience to the tense stand-off between Rashari and Arundel. Afterwhat seemed like far too long Arundel rose stiffly from his chair his long facetense and anger twitching around his eyes.

“Stayhere.” He snapped turning and striding for the door. He was out of the room inthe blink of an eye. The click of the lock was loud as a gunshot in thesilence. As soon as Arundel was gone Rashari let out a breath and slumped inhis chair, tension flooding out of his suddenly loose limbs like water from abroken vase. Fantel pushed away from the wall, feeling as though she’d justwoken from a fraught and confused dream. She moved back to the table and satdown on the edge again. She wasn’t sure if it was safe to talk yet, so insteadfolded her arms across her chest and settled for giving him a pointed look.

Hegrimaced and mouthed: “Later, I promise”. Fantel made sure her frown clearlyportrayed that she would hold him to that promise. It was frustrating in theextreme that she could not simply slam him against the wall or shake him by thescruff of his neck until she shook the truth out of him.

Timepassed. She wasn’t sure how long they waited. Fantel wondered if the patrolleft people in tiny, empty rooms like this as a form of non-violent torture.Ordinarily she wouldn’t be affected but then, ordinarily she had nothing betterto do. She had endured capture by slavers and any number of hardships on theroad as a ‘Farer, after all. In fact she had thought herself inured to ennui,yet suddenly the years of accumulated patience she had built up seemed to havedeserted her. The last several hours had so drastically altered the patterns ofher life; she had escaped a Dha-hali slaver ring, been chased through thestreets of Remenes, been caught in an aerial fire-fight, held at gunpoint andalmost arrested. Compared to all of that being detained in this room wasnothing at all, yet, the excitement of the last day seemed to have given her adistinct intolerance for simple boredom.

Thedoor opened and Arundel came back in, a tense smile peeling his lips back fromhis teeth. His eyes were flinty and cold. “We’re bringing your ship in now.” Hesaid shortly. “She’s taken damage and isn’t flight worthy. Perhaps you’d liketo come and take a look for yourself?”

Rasharireturned Arundel’s smile tooth for tooth. “I think I would like that.” He rosefrom his chair carefully, bracing himself with his good arm. Fantel rose aswell, easily falling into step beside him as they followed Arundel throughidentical blank corridors, up a steep narrow stairway, and through two securitydoors until they ended up in a different hangar bay than the one they had comein by. They arrived just as Vedeca was being towed into dock.

Theroof of the hangar was retractable, folding back like a paper fan to allow alarge, thick bodied dirigible to slowly descend into the hangar. Vedeca hungsuspended by thick tensile cables from the dirigible’s broad underbelly,looking like a tiny baby bird cradled in the safety of its mother’s immenseshadow. A series of vermillion lights rippled and flashed along the underbellyand around the edges of the balloon, flickering in a complex dance. Threesmaller craft, unmanned helicopters that resembled spindly insects trailingcables like gossamer threads in their wake, floated forward to greet Vedeca asshe was lowered into the hangar. Two of the ‘copters clamped their tentaclesonto Vedeca’s wings, powerful magnetised suction pads welding them in place asthe third ‘copter hovered delicately into position above Vedeca’s cockpit,attaching itself to Vedeca and slotting in snugly under the dirigible’s bulk.Slowly and carefully, the dirigible began de-clamping from Vedeca. The three‘copters rotor blades groaned and began spinning faster to accommodate theburden of keeping Vedeca aloft. Carefully they dragged Vedeca toward thenearest docking bay, the automated clamp arms already moving to seize hold ofthe ship. The big, lumbering dirigible began to rise laboriously back into thestar-lit sky.

Besideher Rashari sighed, head tilted up to watch the dirigible. “Always wanted tofly one of those,” he muttered, mostly to himself.

Almostsilently the roof began to close, blocking out the view of the departingdirigible. brilliant phantasma flood-lights mounted to the highest reaches ofthe hangar walls flared to life, filling the hangar with rainbow light. Withoutwaiting for permission she followed Rashari over to Vedeca. The ship did notlook too damaged, but Fantel could see now where the back thrusters had blownand the tail had taken damage either from the exhaust explosion or from theweapons fire that had clipped the thrusters in the first place. Fantel didn’tget too close, she was no flight engineer after all. She stood in the shadow ofthe wing as Rashari walked to the edge of the platform, leaning perilously farforward over the safety rail to get a better look at the damage. He mutteredsomething she couldn’t catch, but did not seem unduly concerned.

“Youare permitted to gather any personal affects from your vessel,” Arundel toldRashari stiffly, “And then you will be escorted to the train station.”

Atiny smile flickered over Rashari’s lips at that. He nodded briefly inacquiescence, barely sparing Arundel a glance. Vedeca’s damaged boarding dooropened with a groan when Rashari pressed the palm of his left hand against theouter hull. Fantel didn’t see so much as a gleam of a lock sigil flash againstthe paintwork, but then she didn’t expect to. The connection between Rashariand his ship was anything but ordinary. Fantel suspected that touch alone wasall Rashari needed to communicate with Vedeca. He waved her forward through thedoor ahead of him, pulling it closed gently behind them.

“Godsabove and below I need a change of clothes,” he muttered slipping around Fanteland hurrying off toward the cargo hold. Fantel followed, she had nothing elseto do and was rather of the opinion that it would be unwise to let Rashari outof her sight. All manner of strange and inexplicable things seemed to happenaround him, and quite despite herself Fantel found she didn’t want to miss amoment of any of it.

Thecargo hold was in disarray. A number of crates had come free of their moorings,scattering all manner of unusual and illicit materials across the floor. Fantelbent to scoop up a flutter of loose papers and discovered that they werebearing bonds from the Bank of Anioch, or at least, passable forgeries of saidbank bonds. A capsized crate had spilled a deluge of foam pieces onto the floorrevealing the inert form of an aerial camera drone automaton, the sort used bythe Adran Imperial army for unmanned reconnaissance missions. Fantel caught aglimpse of a multitude of metal pieces sticking out of another damaged cratethat may or may not have been disassembled firearms and necromantic rifles,which, unless she was very much mistaken, were most definitely illegal inAramant.

“MadameChimera,” Rashari called to her from across the hold where he was kneelingbefore the same battered steamer trunk she had seen the last time she was inthe hold. He had the trunk open and was rummaging one handed inside. “There’san overhead compartment set into the far wall, near the tertiary fuel exchange;there should be a leather satchel inside. It has papers we’ll need, and money.Would you mind fetching it while I change?”

Fantellooked around the hold blankly. What in Aldlis was a tertiary fuel exchange?When she didn’t react Rashari paused in his inspection of a cobalt bluewaistcoat with grey satin lining to look over his shoulder at her. He must haveread her confusion on her face because he jerked his head toward the far end ofthe hold and the back wall. “It’s over there; the slightly off-colour panel inthe wall, next to the big pipe.” He added helpfully.

Fantelnodded and slipped around some of the still standing crates into the farshadows of the hold. She found the wide, tree trunk thick pipe risingvertically from the floor to the ceiling easily enough. After a briefinspection she found the hidden compartment, disguised as a stained patch onthe wall, slightly tarnished compared to the gleaming steel of the rest of thehold. Fantel studied the panel but couldn’t see any hint of a hinge indicatingthe panel could open, let alone a handle. She pondered how she was going to getthe compartment open, reaching out to brush her fingers against the cool steel.There was a flash of purple light across the panel, and a tingle of warmthagainst her fingertips. The hidden compartment opened, the panel pushing upaway from the wall before swinging open soundlessly.

Fantelblinked in surprise, jerking her hand away. Inside the compartment she couldjust make out a humped shape, the satchel, within the darkness. Cautiously shepulled the bag out of the compartment, noting its weight and the faint clink ofcoins within. She looped the strap of the satchel over her shoulder and reachedher hand inside the compartment one last time. Her fingers brushed against asmall wooden box. The box was plain, its edges were sharp, and the wood scuffedand untreated. The lid was sealed with a sigil – it stung her fingers when shebrushed against it. On a whim she shoved the box into one of the inner pocketsof her coat, hastily shutting the compartment hatch. It melted back into thewall in another purple flash.

Rasharihad finished changing by the time Fantel stepped around the crates. He’dmanaged a quick wash as well. Fantel noted a small metal bowl of dirty waterand a blood stained washcloth set on the floor beside the trunk. He wore a darkpair of slim-line trousers and sturdy travelling boots, and a fitted jacket ofdyed black leather embossed with a swirling pattern picked out in undertones oreplaceigo. The jacket had a high collar, turned up, and dark clasps keeping ittightly buttoned up to his throat. A dark brown full length travelling coat,complete with shoulder mantle, was draped over the top of the steamer trunk.The coat looked well worn and hardy. He gave up trying to comb his hair when hesaw her and smiled, eyes alighting on the satchel.

“Foundit then? Good.” He ambled over, reaching for the bag.

Fantelstepped back, shifting the satchel further back against her hip. “Thecompartment opened for me.” She said, arching an eyebrow.

“Veelikes you,” he shrugged with just his good shoulder. “You acknowledged herearlier, so she returns the compliment.” His dark eyes gleamed. “Five years wewere stuck under Remus’ thumb and he never figured it out. It took you lessthan a day.” Rashari beamed. “Y’know, if there was more time for the two of youto get acquainted I’m sure she’d let you fly her too.”

“Theship likes me?” Fantel blinked not quite sure what to make of that.

“She’snot the only one,” Rashari winked at her before turning to tug the coat on,carefully feeding his left arm into the sleeve while trying not to move hisshoulder more than absolutely necessary. He whistled sharply through his teeth.“Out you come, you sneaky bugger. Coast’s clear.”

“Bloop.”

Fanteljumped. Across the hold a small, upside down wooden crate jittered against thefloor, bands of purple light spearing through the slates. A moment later thecrate bounced up off the floor, falling back to reveal Smith. The automatonzoomed up into the air, quivered in place for a second, and then buzzed over toRashari, his eyebeam pausing briefly on Fantel in silent greeting.

“Showme,” Rashari ordered and a hatch in Smith’s round underbelly opened. Thereticulated arm descended, unfolding as it did so. The Heart of Anoush wasclutched between Smith’s pincers. Rashari dropped down into a crouch in frontof the extended limb and peered critically at the stone without making a moveto touch it. “Bloop-bloop,” Smith said, rotating the wrist of his three prongedhand to aid Rashari’s inspection. “Blup.”

“Really?”Rashari flicked his gaze up to meet Smith’s eyebeam. “That’s…less than ideal.Are you sure?”

“Bloop.” Smith replied, forcibly.

“Iwasn’t doubting you,” Rashari shot back, “much.” He shook his head and stood.“Bashi must have been further advanced in his experiments with the stone thanwe were led to believe.” He frowned, looking pensive, his gaze abstracted.

“Bloop-bloop.”Smith said.

Rasharishook his head. “She’s supposed to be dead…”

“Bloop,blup, bloop.” Smith interrupted waving the stone up and down to emphasisewhatever point he was making.

Rasharilooked worried. “No, she’s dead.” He repeated a lot less confidently thanbefore. “I had the stone on me for several hours and I didn’t sense anything.Yes,” he snapped waving off Smith’s objection before he could make one. “Iconcede that it’s possible, obviously Bashi thought there was life in the stoneyet, but surely if the old girl was still kicking she’d have done something by now.”

“Bloop,”Smith’s scepticism rang like a bell through the hold. Deliberately he extendedthe stone toward Rashari, who rather obviously shied away from touching it.“Bloop.” Smith burbled, sounding vindicated. Rashari scowled.

“I’mnot doing anything of the sort,” he replied stiffly. “And I am most certainlynot in denial about anything. Now stop being difficult and pay attention.Madame Chimera and I,” Rashari waved to acknowledge Fantel, “are headed out toAramantine. I’ve sent word to LePortail, if he bites I’m sure he’ll beextending an invitation to tea.”

“Bloop.”Smith bobbed in mid-air.

“Ofcourse I don’t trust him. Don’t be absurd. That’s why you need to keep thestone. This whole caper has gone straight to the Pit and it wouldn’t surpriseme if the old bugger knows why. I’m not stupid enough to risk letting him gethis hands on the stone.”

“Blup.”Smith said shortly.

“Thankyou,” Rashari snapped drily. “Your confidence in me is truly inspiring. Now,think you can manage to make your own way out of here?”

Smithquivered indignantly. “Bl-looop.”

“Good,”Rashari smiled faintly. “Once you’re in the city make your way to the Fourthcircle. I’m not sure how long it will take me to secure passage out to theSteppes, but I don’t want to dawdle.” He nodded sharply to Smith, who bobbedagain in his version of an answering nod, yet some hesitation seemed to remain.

“Blup-blup?”

“I’mgoing to bribe Arundel to keep her safe of course. We’re going out on theSteppes; airships can’t go there. You know that.”

“Blup.”

Rasharisighed. “I know that Vee isn’t like other airships. But we don’t need anyoneelse knowing that, do we? She’ll be safe here. This is one of the most secureskyports in Aldlis, even if someone wants to take her they’ll have a bugger ofa job stealing her out from under the Patrols nose – at least once I offersufficient inducement to compensate their vigilance.” He added as anafterthought. He turned then, business concluded and gestured for Fantel, whohad watched the whole exchange with rapt – if somewhat bemused – fascination toprecede him out of the hold.

Fantelhesitated, glancing at Smith, who had tucked the stone back inside his shellonce more. The light from Smith’s eyebeam painted a bright purple swathe acrossher clothes as he looked at her.

“He’llbe safe?” Fantel asked Rashari, cautiously, reluctant to ask the question butworried all the same.

“Perfectly,”Rashari assured. “You saw how many automatons they have around here. Smith willfit right in. The patrol won’t notice one more buzzing about, even if he is thewrong make and model.” He shook his head amused. “To be frank with you, Smithis a lot better at getting in and out of places unnoticed than I am. He’s gotthe perfect camouflage; no one ever suspects him,” he cocked his head toward Smith, who hovered quietly andplacidly across the hold, “of anything nefarious. Damned unfair if you ask me.”

“Bloop,”Smith extended his arm once more, the under-hatch popping open. He waved,pincer fingers twitching in the air. Fantel waved back, before she could thinkbetter of it. It still seemed wrong to leave him, and she wasn’t sure if thatwas because she was worried for Smith’s safety or for theirs without him.