The Curse of the Winged Scorpion
Lourand Rousseau Zoologist, at your service

Rashariswore emphatically and staggered fully to his feet, pushing himself up usingthe arms of the chair. On the floor at his feet the patrolman moaned pitifully.Carefully Fantel sat up, her muscles ached and her head felt heavy, sensescloudy. She watched Rashari warily. He was still cursing. Raking a hand throughhis hair he crouched down in front of the patrolman. He hesitated, clearly notwanting to the touch the man.

“Smith!”He bellowed, voice cracking. There was no answer. Smith did not appear. Rashariscowled, tense muscles jumping in his jaw. He was grinding his teeth. Gingerlyhe shook the patrolman by the shoulder, careful not to touch any bare skin.“Get up.”

Thepatrolman uncurled slowly, rolling over onto his back and blinking dumbly up atRashari. Pain and fear still lurked in the depths of his eyes but was rapidlychased away by a rising tide of confusion.

“Comeon man, get up now,” Rashari cajoled, shifting a little so he could start tohelp the man up.

“Whathappened?” The patrolman sat up slowly, staring at his hands lying limp in hislap. One palm was still sticky with blood, but the other looked fine, no traceof any necromantic taint. “My hand?” The man looked up at Rashari. “Whathappened? Who are you? What did you do to me?”

“Whatdid I do?” Rashari managed to feignincredulity far more convincingly than he managed honesty. “I did nothing. Yousir, are the one who saw fit to pass out on the floor of my cockpit. In fact,I’d very much like to know who youare and what you are doing on my ship.”

“I…?”The patrolman’s gaze darted from Rashari over to Fantel, who peered back at himfrom behind the chair. The man blinked, a little bit of awareness creeping in.“I’m Lieutenant Roake Dannihan, Aramantine Air Patrol. My team was dispatchedto investigate an air crash.” Roake glared at Rashari. “You were found injured at the scene; necromancy poison.”

“Necromancypoison?” Rashari laughed. “I think you are mistaken sir. My – partner – and Iwere fired on by an unknown craft. I was forced to make an emergency landing.”Rashari waved vaguely at the interior of the cabin, presumably to illustratehis point. “We were boarded by slavers – the ruddy bastards dragged my partnerand I aboard their ship.” He paused and glanced over at Fantel, smiling.“Thankfully Madame Chimera is a skilled combatant. Our attackers were greatlyoutmatched. The last I remember is trying to get the power back on so we couldget airborne again.” Fantel and the patrolman both stared at him. His story wasalmost the truth, as far as it went. Lieutenant Roake rose unsteadily to hisfeet, Rashari mirroring him.

“Wefound two dead bodies on the other ship.”

“Thepilot and one of the slavers, yes,” Rashari nodded affecting a look of earnestsincerity. The effect was tempered somewhat by his wild hair, chalk white skinand blood stained clothing. He no longer looked near death, but he certainlydidn’t look well. Fantel couldn’t understand it. He seemed to weave in and outof health like a short circuiting light fixture, flashing brilliantly onemoment, out cold the next. He looked human, acted human –most of the time –butthere had been nothing human about that cold, hungry power she had sensedinside him moments ago.

“Mypartner killed one of the slavers – self-defence I assure you – and the othershot the pilot. I’ll be pit-damned if I know why.” Rashari rubbed his injuredshoulder. “We subdued the raider; chained him to one of the cages in the hold.I disarmed him myself. His weapons should be around here somewhere.” Rasharilooked around the cabin, with every appearance of helpfulness.

“Whoare you?” The lieutenant looked thoroughly exasperated and his left hand, theone he had used to try and heal Rashari, kept twitching.

“LourandRousseau,” Rashari replied promptly, “second assistant gamekeeper for theAvenlieu Zoological Park.” He stretched out a hand which Roake deliberately didnot shake. “I have identification papers in my cabin, as well as a letter ofcommendation, if you’d like to see them?” He smiled faintly, a faint whisper ofthe bluff cheer Fantel had seen him affect before.

LieutenantRoake looked bemused at best, outright disbelieving at worst. “What business doyou have in Aramantine?”

“Samples,”Rashari replied succinctly. “We have a number of Battlan animal species in ourzoo, as well as a great number of plant species. Avenlieu is a leading partnerin the Granine-Richlieu botanical expedition to catalogue and quantify theindigenous species of spine-backed tree frogs native to the Jannow forestregion of the Steppes – perhaps you’ve heard of our work?”

“No.”Roake stated flatly and Rashari seemed to deflate, as if the news upset him.

“Truly,”He shook his head sadly. “Provost Tuft himself is a prominent supporter of theproject. The work we are doing could revolutionise the field of medicine. Didyou know the barbed, blue backed variant of the Greater Reisling tree frogsecretes a form of chemical compound with a mild laxative effect?” Rashari askedwith every impression of sincere enthusiasm for his subject. “Very useful inthe treatment of bowel complaints and quite lucrative with the right processingand marketing.” He added with the air of one passing on confidential secrets.

“Treefrogs,” The lieutenant spoke in a flat voice. “You are here to collect treefrogs?”

“Ohno,” Rashari shook his head so vigorously he swayed and had to reach out a handto brace himself against the back of the chair. He swallowed hard and waitedfor his dizzy spell to pass. “No, no. I’m here for spade grass. It’sgermination season. Our last crop didn’t do so well in the arboretum so we needto collect some more of the spores.” He met the lieutenant’s eyes head on.“It’s all in my paperwork, I assure you.”

“Andwhat about her,” Roake pointed at Fantel, who had remained in her crouch behindthe chair the whole time. “Are you going to tell me she is a damned zoologist as well?” Contempt dripped from his tone.

Rasharistiffened, chest puffing up like an affronted dandy. “That sir is no way toaddress a lady.” He rebuked the man. “Madame Chimera is a valued member of theAvenlieu staff. Her native knowledge has been invaluable in our research sofar.” Rashari paused and shuffled his feet. He looked down as if suddenly uncomfortable.“We also found that having a – native – supporting our expedition madethings…safer.” Rashari very deliberately did not look back at Fantel as helowered his voice and leaned in toward the lieutenant. “I have paperwork forher as well, proving that the Chimera is the property of Avenlieu zoo and theRichlieu zoological academy.”

“She’syour slave?” Roake peered at Fantel, around Rashari’s shoulder. Fantel gazedimpassively back. For the time being she felt it the wisest course of action toplay along, no matter how unhappy she might be about playing the part ofRashari’s savage escort.

Rasharitwitched uncomfortably. “I prefer the term ‘partner’.”

“YourChimera killed a man and attacked another. Is she dangerous?”

“Shewas acting in self defence and to protect my person – as she is supposed to do– and, I would like to remind you, those men were slavers who attacked usunprovoked.” Rashari shot back quickly.

“Soyou say.” Lieutenant Roake flexed his left hand reflexively down by his side.“You and your Chimera are coming with me. My commanding officer can verify yourstory back at the base.” Roake turned to go.

“Wait,”Rashari reached out for his arm, stopping just short of touching him when thelieutenant flinched. “What about my ship? I’m not just leaving her here.”

“Mycrew has called ahead. A tow vessel will be dispatched to bring both ships backto base.” Roake frowned severely. “I don’t trust you, zoologist. Your vesselwill be impounded until we get to the bottom of this mess.”

Rasharisnapped his jaw shut on whatever protest he was going to make and visiblyground his teeth together. He looked anything but happy. After a second hisshoulders slumped and he nodded shortly. “Very well Lieutenant. I have nothingto hide so I will acquiesce to this imposition on my time. However be assuredthat Arnault Avenlieu himself shall be informed about this. He will not lookgladly on any delays to the mission.” All wounded dignity and ineffectualthreat Rashari jerked his chin and looked down his nose at the lieutenant. “AndI must say I am not impressed by your manner, Lieutenant. Do you treat all thevictims of air attacks you come across with such callous suspicion anddiscourtesy? I have half a mind to lodge an official complaint.”

“You’rewelcome to do whatever you want, and tell whoever you want,” Roake repliedunimpressed. “Once you’ve given a statement to Commander Arundel.”

Rasharihuffed but didn’t object as Lieutenant Roake gestured for him to leave thecockpit. He turned back to Fantel and extended his hand. “Madame Chimera?” Withhis back to Roake Rashari let his act fall by the wayside. Fantel could seesomething close to fear tightening the skin around his eyes. His fingers shooka little as he extended his left hand. The stone set into the centre of hisfilament studied palm was a shade of luminous green, paler than emerald. Hisbody language screamed wariness. He was afraid of what she knew, or at leastsuspected. Afraid, she realised, of her.Unlike Roake Fantel had retained full memory of what had happened when thelieutenant had tried to heal Rashari. She knew something deadly lurked insidehim. If she wanted she could ruin his plans, tell Roake what really happened.She could speak up now and expose his lie – all of them. She saw in his eyesthat Rashari knew this, and yet he still reached out for her.

SlowlyFantel rose to her feet, sliding awkwardly out from between the chair and thecabin wall. She did not take Rashari’s offered hand. A flash of hurt crossedhis face for an instant before he turned back to Roake with his mask in place.Fantel stood at his back, close enough for the purposes of their deception, butnot too close.

Headheld high and spine stiff Rashari strode out of the main cabin, Fantel at hisheels playing the meek kept-Chimera. Lieutenant Roake followed them out of theship, a confused, wary presence dogging their steps. Rashari didn’t look backas he and Fantel left Vedeca behind, but she did, wondering what had happenedto Smith and whether the automaton’s convenient disappearance had anything todo with whatever plan Rashari was working toward.

TheAramite patrol ship was not much larger than Vedeca. Fantel and Rashari wereshown to two seats at the back of the main cabin and told to sit there and notto move in no uncertain terms by Roake. Fantel looked around for any sign ofTomah, wondering if the patrol would take him back to base as well or leave himchained up in the cargo hold of his ship. A commotion back in the entrancewayanswered her question as the boy Dane and a red-headed woman in Aramite patroluniform forced a shackled and resisting Tomah aboard. His neck had been treatedand bandaged, the gauze very white against the rich reddish-brown hue of hisskin. Unlike Fantel and Rashari he had evidently not chosen to acquiescequietly to being taken to the base.

“You!”He snarled. He fought against the two patrol officers restraining grip when hesaw them. His face was suffused with fury, gaze locked on Fantel. “You will payfor what you did to my brother.” He promised in Bhuvanti.

“That’senough,” the female patrol officer struck him a glancing blow across the backof his head with the side of her torch. She was a tall, sturdily built womanwho looked as if she might be a match for Tomah in a fight. Her broad,wind-burned face was tight with annoyance. “Sit down and shut up. That’s anorder. Another peep out of you and I’ll sedate you for the rest of the trip.”She and the junior patrolman shoved and herded Tomah into a seat on the otherside of the aisle, pushing him down and then cuffing his wrists to thechair-arms. Tomah said nothing, his muscles stiff with tension. He stared ather, unblinking. Fantel met his gaze, a quiet challenge in her eyes, and awillingness to meet any threat he might make and best it. Rashari, in contrast,remembered the part he was supposed to be playing. He made a show of alarm.

“Isay,” he exclaimed, perfectly modulated quiver in his voice. “What are youdoing? Don’t you have a holding cell to put this brute in? What if he escapesand attacks us again?”

“You’llget yours too Veridree,” Tomah sneered, lips pulling back from very whiteteeth. “Your luck won’t hold for long.”

“Yousee,” Rashari shouted, pointing with his good arm and looking to Roake and thenthe two other patrol officers. “There! Did he just threaten me? He did, didn’the? How can you let this stand? I’m a law abiding citizen of the empire I demandthat you…”

Thefemale officer strode across the cabin and smacked Rashari across the back ofthe head with her hand. “You can shut up too.” She snapped, with less vehemencethan she had shown toward Tomah but considerably more annoyance. “You ain’t inyour precious empire now, boy. You’re in Aramant. You follow our orders andobey our laws. And right now you’re going to shut your whiny little mouth.”

“Ha– brutality!” Rashari yelped before subsiding quickly when the woman threw aglower his way.

“Quietall of you,” Roake had settled down in the pilot’s chair and Fantel saw himshake his left hand again before clasping the steering levers. Unlike Vedecathe Aramite patrol ship did not run using technomantic interface. It wasprobably safe to assume that this ship was just a ship, and not alive.

Asthey took off Rashari twisted to look out of one of the small porthole windows,looking down at Vedeca with a frown marring his face. Now that he had beenordered to keep his mouth shut and the members of the patrol were otherwiseoccupied, he didn’t seem as interested in maintaining the pretence that he wasLourand Rousseau second assistant gamekeeper of the Avenlieu zoo. He sank backinto the chair, stifling a wince as he jarred his wounded shoulder. Fantelwatched him out of the corner of her eye. He very deliberately kept his facetoward the window, avoiding any chance of meeting her eye. They both ignoredthe fact that he clutched at the chair arms with bloodless fingers as if hislife depended on never letting go.