The Curse of the Winged Scorpion
Tragedy strikes

Fantelwas dreaming again. Around her the illusion of Aashorum clung close, a thousandshades of green shadow pressing in on her like a spice-scented blanket. Shecouldn’t turn her head or focus, everything was rent and torn. The world was aslow turning kaleidoscope made of a million shattered memories. Her pulsethudded loud and deep in her ears and the air was thick with humidity. She hadthe feeling there was something she needed to do, or somewhere she needed tobe, but she couldn’t quite remember. The stillness of the jungle was at oncefamiliar and alien. Something brushed against her side. She flinched and lookeddown. It felt like hands patting down her flank, invasive and unpleasant, yetshe was alone in the jungle.

Search the Chimera. Shemight have the stone on her.

Inher dream she batted at shadows, claws scratching futilely at the air. For justa moment she thought she touched something, thought she heard a male voicegrunt in surprise and pain as her clawed fingers made contact with pliableflesh.

Ah! The Chimera – shecut me!

Thesensation of phantom hands grabbing, poking and prodding faded for a momentbefore returning once more, the invisible hands less probing and more forcefulthis time. She felt as if she was being dragged across the ground, but in herdream she remained stationary, trapped in the still embrace of the jungle.

……Chain the Chimera tothat pipe. Wrap the chains around her body. I don’t want her getting loose…

Therewas a buzzing in her ears, insidious and annoying, like a swarm of gnatswrithing around her head. She couldn’t locate the source of the noise. Itdidn’t grow louder or fade away but remained a constant vibration in the bonesof her jaw. The small bones in her ear started to ache unpleasantly. When shemoved, she felt steel links digging into her stomach.

…Bring the raider to me.Let him see his little toy…

“Bloop.”

Thehalf-dream dissolved and Fantel came back to consciousness in a disjointedmuddle. She blinked heavy eyelids open, catching a glimpse of dusty woodenfloorboards and the limp stretch of her own legs in front of her. Her head hungforward against her chest and her hair tangled over her face. A nastybitter-sweet taste lingered on her tongue. She was aware of movement aroundher, the shuffle of feet, and the faint odour of unwashed bodies. A double loopof narrow chain had been wrapped around her middle, binding her to an exposedpipe at her back and pinning her arms to her sides. Slowly Fantel lifted herhead and saw that she was in a loft. The ceiling was made of sharp angles wherethe roof sloped and the sky light windows were caked in filth. A handful offlickering phantasma floor lamps had been arranged around the periphery of theroom, the light focused into the centre, leaving the back of the loft swathedin deep shadow. The air carried the scent of dust and cobwebs.

TenDha-hali filled the loft. Three stood guard by the floor hatch leading down tothe rest of the building. Two more lounged against the wall behind her, one toher immediate left and one to her right. Another pair of Dha-hali stood in themiddle of the room, they had one of Rashari’s arms pinned, trapping him betweenthem. A third stood to the side, holding a revolver loose in his hands, positionedso that he had a clear shot at either Fantel or Rashari. Tomah stood in frontof Rashari and as Fantel watched he delivered a vicious punch to Rashari’sstomach, buckling his knees. Rashari gagged and sagged against the Dha-haliholding him. They hauled him to his feet as he wheezed for breath, a rough gaspescaping him.

“Bloop!”A fourth Dha-hali wearing a moss green cloak and hood obscuring his face, heldSmith immobile inside a small cage. Smith’s distress rattled the bars. Thelight from his eyebeam, broken by the bars into violet spears, fell across theside of Tomah’s face and upper torso mixing with the murky rainbow light comingfrom the lamps. Fantel wondered, vaguely, how the Dha-hali had managed to catchSmith inside the cage and why the automaton had not already broken free.

“Howdid you make bail?” Rashari wheezed straightening up slowly from the punch.“You’re wanted in Aramantine.”

“Didyou think you were the only one to play the system?” Tomah gestured casuallywith one hand and the Dha-hali with the revolver stepped up behind Rashari,kicking him in the back of the right knee. Rashari yowled in pain and crasheddown onto the floor. The Dha-hali holding him upright released his arms at thelast moment. He landed awkwardly. They grabbed him again as he twisted to grasphis leg, hands moving to massage his knee. The one with two-tone white andblack braids punched him in the shoulder, knocking him to the ground. Theother, his hair caught back in a single thick orange plait, aimed a kick to hisribs, but Rashari managed to weasel away, and the Dha-hali’s boot only grazedhis side. The black and white Dha-hali seized Rashari by the back of his coat,hauling him up onto his knees. Orange Dha-hali cocked his fist. Tomah waved himback.

“Enough.We made an agreement not to damage him beyond repair.”

Rashariglared at Tomah and from this angle Fantel could see that the cut he’d receivedduring Vedeca’s crash landing had reopened, and a line of fresh blood streakeddown his cheek. His bottom lip was split and swollen. She didn’t know when thathad happened. “Who helped you?” He demanded more angry than afraid. “How arethere so many of you in the city? Who warned you I’d come here?”

“You’llreplace out soon enough.” Tomah told him flatly.

Rasharishook his head, a quick, savage gesture of pure helplessness. “What do youwant?”

“Thesatisfaction of your death at my hand,” Tomah answered him easily. “But that isnot the arrangement.” Tomah’s eyes were hard. “You get to live, traitor, toface those you betrayed.”

Rasharibared his teeth in a half-snarl. “Whatever deal you made with Veridree,whatever they offered you, they’ll betray you. You –and your Dagoman – arebeing played.”

Tomahlaughed. “Do you think I’ll believe a word you say? You who murdered yourcaptain? You have no honour; nothing you say can be trusted.” Tomah steppedclose, reaching down to drag Rashari to his feet by the lapels of his coat. Heclasped Rashari’s head between his palms, his thumbs scraping over Rashari’scheeks up toward his eyes, digging into the delicate skin of his lower eyelids.Rashari tried to pry Tomah away from him and the monochrome Dha-hali grabbedhis arms, twisting them behind his back. Tomah brought his face very close,expression still and intense, as his thumbs scraped at the bottom lids ofRashari’s eyes, teasing the skin back and exposing the vulnerable meat of hiseyeballs. “Where is the Heart of Anoush, thief?” Tomah breathed into his face.

“Youjust said nothing I say can be trusted,” Rashari stuttered, trying to tilt hishead back and away as Tomah scratched his rough thumbnails over his eyeballs.“Why…why would you believe me…if I tell you?”

“BecauseI will hurt the Chimera,” Tomah replied calmly. “The Dagoman wants her alive,but he does not need her alive. Hisobsessions run hot and cold. He will replace a new plaything in time. If I bringhim the Heart of Anoush he will forgive me for the Chimera’s death.” Tomah didsomething with his thumbs that caused Rashari to shudder, his whole bodyquivering as he tried to stay perfectly still. A strangled gasp escaped him. “Iwill first break the Chimera’s legs – such long, limber legs. I will have mymen stamp on her until the bones shatter and break through the skin. Then, whenshe cannot run, Armen will take her face between his hands and wrench her jawsto the side until the bones break. She will not die and she will be unable toscream.”

Fantelshifted against the pipe, the chains wrapped around her middle clinking as shemoved. To her right the large Dha-hali with dark, murky blue hair grinned andcracked his knuckles.

Tomahreleased Rashari and turned to look directly at Fantel. “If you can speakChimera, speak now and save yourself. Tell me where the Heart is and, on myhonour, you will not be harmed until we reach the enclave.”

Fantelignored him. She met Rashari’s wide, frightened eyes. She knew that the fearthere was for her. She also knew that he would not tell Tomah where the Heartwas. In the cage, all but forgotten, Smith quivered. Tomah could not replace outhow very close at hand the Heart really was. Carefully Fantel rose, inching herspine up the pipe and pushing up with her legs. There was enough give in thechains to allow her to stand. She tilted her chin up and met Tomah’s eyes headon. He might break her but she would not make it easy. She would not lie on thedusty floor and let them stamp her bones to dust. If she was to be beaten, shewould stand and face her attackers until she could stand no longer.

Thefaintest hint of a smile touched Tomah’s tattooed features. He nodded. “Verywell Chimera.” Without the need of wordshe acknowledged her silent challenge. To break her bones would be easy but tobreak her spirit was quite another matter. For what she had done to his brotherTomah was willing to meet the challenge on both counts.

Oneither side of Fantel the two Dha-hali closed in. The blue haired Armen grabbedthe back of her neck in one meaty paw. The other Dha-hali, his colourfultattoos pulled out of shape by a long ragged scar scouring the left side of hisface from the corner of his eye to the edge of his mouth, came to stand infront and slightly to the side of her, positioning himself so that Rashari,held immobile once more between the orange and monochrome Dha-hali, would seeevery blow as it landed.

Rashari’sface was a mask of stillness, remote and frozen. His almost black eyes wereblown wide. He was barely breathing and his lips were pursed into a thin,bloodless line. He shook his head, a minute, seemingly involuntary motion. His fearhardened her resolve. Broken bones healed with time. She would not surrender tomen like this. She would sooner die than become the Dagoman’s new ‘plaything’.The scarred Dha-hali drew his leg back. Fantel braced for the impact.

“Wait,”Rashari tried to fight free of the arms holding him. “Pit damn you, wait.”

Tomahheld up his hand, the scarred Dha-hali stepped back. Fantel pulled in a quickshallow breath and stared at Rashari, who met her eyes, his expression tenseand angry and on the edge of panic.

“Ihid it aboard my ship.” Rashari said, words rushing free in his hurry toforestall the Dha-hali. “There’s a secret compartment in the hold. I put itthere.”

Tomahsmiled just a little and shook his head. “You lie.”

Thescarred Dha-hali kicked Fantel’s left kneecap, flat-footed from the side sothat the impact forced her knee to bend in a way nature did not intend. Shecrumpled to the floor, catching herself on her good knee, the sharp shock ofpain flaring throughout her body. She whipped her head up to glare at theDha-hali, lips curling back in a snarl.

Rashariwas cursing Tomah and fighting against the arms holding him. “Pit take you – I just told you where thestone is. What more do you want?”

Tomahshook his head, almost pityingly. “You will say anything to save the Chimera.You didn’t leave the Heart behind where anyone could replace it. It is somewhereclose by.”

“What’sthe point of this?” Rashari demanded, voice rising. “You won’t believe a thing Isay so why go through with this farce? Why hurt her at all?”

Tomahlooked genuinely surprised by the question. “Because she killed my brother;because of this,” he clapped a hand to the bandage taped to the side of hisneck. “Because you were a fool to bring others into this with you, and beforeyou die like the traitor you are, you will know only despair and grief for thesuffering you have brought down upon the Chimera.”

Rasharilooked for a moment as if he would be physically sick. He swallowed hard, eyesgrowing impossibly wide, as if this answer had never occurred to him. It trulyseemed as if had not realised that irrespective of what he said or did, Tomahwished only to kill them, and if he could not have that, he would settle forexacting as much pain and suffering as he could wring from them before handingthem over. This was not really about the Heart, or Veridree, not for Tomah.This was revenge.

“Blooop– bloop.” Smith jostled in his cage, his spherical body clanking against thebars, forcing the Dha-hali holding the cage to adjust his grip and drawing everyone’sattention to him. “Bloop; bloop; bloop.” Purple light began to gather aroundSmith’s shell, yet that corona of light did not expand very far. The cageseemed to absorb and dampen Smith’s energy, almost as if it was draining theautomaton’s power.

“What’sthis?” Tomah stepped forward and took the cage from the Dha-hali. “So yourlittle toy wants to play? I haven’t forgotten its part in the attack against me.”From his belt Tomah detached a slim black tube. It was around four inches longwith two prong-like protrusions on the end. Tomah clicked a switch on the matteblack tube and a spark of energy crackled to life between the two prongs. Henodded for the Dha-hali holding the cage to set it on the floor. Then heswiftly knelt down and shoved the pronged end between the bars until it touchedSmith’s shell. He flicked the switch and an arc of energy jumped from the tubeto Smith.

“Blllllllllllppppp.”Smith juddered, bouncing with the current. There was a flash of violet lightand then Smith’s eyebeam blinked out. The shimmer of purple energy around hisshell disappeared and Smith dropped to the bottom of the cage, looking likenothing more than a badly dented metal ball. Fantel looked from Smith’s inertform to Rashari, who stared down at Smith in anguish before turning furiouseyes on Tomah.

“Wewere told that this thing,” Tomahnegligently kicked the cage with toe of his boot, “was the key to capturingyou.” Tomah shook his head. “It beggars belief that one such as you could everbe as dangerous as the woman said.”

“Thendon’t believe it,” Rashari spat. “Don’t believe what you were told.”

Tomahignored him, reaching down to send another jolt of energy through Smith.“Everything we have been told leads me to think that you would not discard theHeart. We searched you and the Chimera before you woke. If neither of you haveit then there is only one place it could be.” Tomah reached down and unlockedthe top of the cage, picking Smith up in his two hands. Smith didn’t evenquiver and his eyebeam remained completely dark. Fantel felt her heart lodge inher throat as Tomah rose, Smith still clasped between his palms, a thoughtfulexpression on his face as he studied the long horizontal seam in the two curvedmetal plates forming Smith’s shell.

“Armen?”

Thebig, muscle-bound blue haired Dha-hali lumbered forward, his face splitting ina bright white grin. He took Smith from Tomah’s hands. Fantel shot a rapidglance toward Rashari, who appeared stricken, eyes rooted in horror upon Smithand lips parted on a silent exclamation. Fantel strained against her chains,but they were too strong. Armen grasped Smith between his large thick knuckledhands, one on the top plate and one on the bottom and started to twist at thesame time he pushed down on Smith’s shell. There was a crinkling sound, softand almost musical. New dents appeared in Smith’s shell. The muscles in Armen’sforearms bunched and shifted under his dark skin. He readjusted his grip,fingers clawing like spider-legs over Smith’s top plate. The large Dha-hali’sgrin became more of a grimace. He strained his arms, fingertips whitening.There was a hideous tearing sound and the two plates of Smith’s shell twistedapart, breaking open in Armen’s hands. Armen grunted in triumph, dug hisfingers into the seam of Smith’s eyebeam and ripped Smith in two.

Ashower of tiny metal balls and a single reticulated arm rained down onto thedusty floor boards, bouncing in every direction and rolling across the floor.Armen grunted again, peered into the empty space between the two broken piecesof Smith’s shell, and then tossed them down on the ground.

Helooked up at Tomah. “There’s nothing in here.”