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  “The point, my faerie friend, is that it sends a message. It spreads the word and our legend grows,” said Zarim.

  Swul enunciated his points with his cigar clasped between two fingers. “First off, I’m no damn faerie. They cast me out, remember? Second, I was almost killed by one of those Dreadnought squads. I ain’t looking to go up against ‘em again.”

  “You don’t have to remind me, pal. Who’s the one who saved your ass?” asked Zarim.

  “Savin’ me from the fryin’ pan don’t give you no right to toss me in the goddamn fire!”

  “Listen up, short round,” said Zarim. “Last time I checked, I was the captain of this ship, not you! So if you got a problem with the way I do things, why don’t you flitter off somewhere else?”

  “Why you self-righteous, rat-bastard—”

  “You forgot ‘roguishly handsome’.”

  “—roguishly han—hey!”

  Ekala moved towards the helm as Zarim and Swul continued the argument. She leaned against the wall, shaking her head with an amused disapproval. “You’re like damn kids when they get this way.” She knew the faerie had a point, though. Their take? Probably not worth risking Dreadnought attention. But on the other hand, their reputation made things run a bit more smoothly. And she did love going after the rich.

  She finally decided they’d been arguing long enough. “So what’s our travel plan look like?”

  Zarim looked away from Swul, and at console which had a map of the world showing their current position. “I’ve got a course plotted for Delfor. We can refuel and resupply there.”

  Ekala huffed.

  Zarim glanced over at her. “I know Delfor’s not your favorite place, but—”

  “I just don’t trust Gax,” she said. “He’s a first-class creep.”

  “Yeah, but if not for him, we wouldn’t have the Excalibur. And he gives us quite a bit of work,” said Zarim.

  “I suppose,” said Ekala. “Still, he makes my skin crawl.”

  The city of Xanadar sat nestled in the mountainous regions of the Shanla continent. It had been virtually untouched by the expansion of the Imperials based in Serenity, the location providing natural defenses from invading hordes.

  Here was a place of spiritual enlightenment. A long and rough path led to Xanadar, but those who made the trek considered it a test of their fortitude. Many longed to learn from the guru known as Master Quand.

  Quand was in the midst of a meditation seminar with several of his latest students, teaching them proper breathing techniques, when his eyelids snapped open. His head began to throb as an incredible force surged through his body.

  Quand collapsed, his body going into a seizure as the concerned students milled around him. None of them had been here very long and they had no idea if this were part of the class or if Quand was truly in some form of danger.

  A monk standing near the door pushed through the crowd, falling to his knees alongside of Quand. He tried to hold the man down until the seizure subsided. When it finally had, Quand looked up at the students surrounding him, studying their quizzical expressions.

  “Master Quand?” asked the monk. “Are you okay?”

  “No, Fei,” said Quand.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “It’s the Soulstones,” said Quand. “One of them has awoken.”

  CHAPTER 2

  The Excalibur lowered from the clouds, its hull skidding above the surface of the sea. As its speed decreased, more of the hull lowered until it was racing atop the water. The speed decreased even more as the airship approached the port city of Delfor, moving into an open dock large enough to accommodate the ship.

  On the outskirts of the empire’s reach, Delfor was one of the few free ports left in the world. As such, it was a prized location for ships of the air and sea, both legitimate and otherwise, to resupply or rest without any questions asked.

  Once the Excalibur had been secured, the crew disembarked. Wings whirring and cigar clenched between his teeth, Swul relished being out in the open air once again. Without worries of the Empire’s reach, he had nothing to fear from drawing attention to his strange appearance. Ekala, although she generally disliked their reasons for making port at Delfor, did enjoy the freedom the city possessed. Zarim, on the other hand, was here simply for business. He never liked spending too much time in Delfor, just wanted to get in and get out.

  On the pier, Zarim raised the hood on his cloak. “Okay, I’m gonna meet with Gax. Shouldn’t take more than an hour or two. Think the pair of you can stay out of trouble until then?”

  Swul grinned as he wrapped his arm around Ekala’s legs. “We’ll be at the bar if y’ need us.”

  Ekala smiled and patted the top of the faerie’s hat. “Take your time, we’ve got some drinking to catch up on.”

  The two walked past Zarim, drawing quite a few stares from confused onlookers. Zarim called after them, “no brawling, okay?”

  Ekala waved a dismissive hand in response without even breaking stride. Zarim shook his head but couldn’t help the smile.

  “Give ‘em about thirty minutes before they get into trouble, if we’re lucky,” muttered Zarim.

  The young pirate moved through the market square, avoiding peddlers who tried to accost him for his patronage. The food venders frequently approached potential customers, holding skewers of exotic delicacies and enticing them to come to the booth. Others asked if Zarim was interested in some companionship. A few advertised lodging for the night, and there was no end to the vendors who walked around trying to sell jewelry or “priceless artifacts” from some distant, foreign land. Zarim had grown used to the peddlers over his many visits to Delfor. He ignored them, tuning them out like so much white noise.

  Once he reached the end of the market square, he turned down an alley. The shadows cast by the buildings concealed the area in darkness and the alley was strewn about with garbage and occupied by a few homeless vagrants. Two hundred yards down the alley Zarim stopped, his eyes flashing briefly as his hand moved beneath his cloak.

  The attacker came from around the corner, pistol in hand, but by the time he brought it to bear, Zarim already had his own pointed at the man’s forehead. The attacker was unshaven and dressed in miserly clothing. The two foes sized each other up.

  “Do we have to go through this every time, Kef?” asked Zarim.

  Kef just chuckled and lowered his weapon. Zarim did the same. “One day, I will get the drop on you, my friend.”

  Zarim patted Kef on the shoulder. “Keep dreaming. I’m here for Gax.”

  “Of course, of course, come with me.” Kef motioned for Zarim to follow him around the corner. He came to a heavy iron door and banged three times. A panel slid open, a pair of eyes checked them, and then the locks turned. The door opened and a large, burly man stood there, nodding to the pair as they entered.

  “Well, well, well.”

  The voice was nasal-sounding. It belonged to a lanky fellow with round goggles on his thin face and draped in a long coat. He approached Zarim with a wide grin.

  “How’s my ship doing?” he asked.

  “You mean my ship, Gax,” said Zarim.

  Gax snickered. “Did I? Forgive my memory, but the last I remember, the terms of our agreement state that the ship belongs to me. You are still in the leasing period, my young friend.”

  Gax moved to a round table with two chairs and sat in one. He motioned for Zarim to sit opposite him. He linked his fingers together and rested his elbows on the table. “So what have you brought your old friend, Gax?”

  Zarim pulled his cloak back to reveal a satchel hidden beneath it. He rested the satchel on the table and opened it, then drew out a large bag of coins and dropped it on the table. “Ten percent, as per our arrangement.”

  Gax took the bag into his lap and two other arms emerged from the front of his coat to hold the bag open. His upper hands searched through it, running his fingertips over the coins. “Excellent.”

  “So we squa
re?” asked Zarim. “Because we do have some other business to discuss.”

  “But of course. Sit, sit.” Gax closed the bag and handed it off to Kef. “So what can I do for you, Zarim?”

  Zarim sat in the chair and leaned across the table. “It’s been a while since you had any jobs for my crew. The more we pull smash and grabs on rich folks, the more attention we draw to ourselves. We had to tangle with a Dreadnought on this last one.”

  Gax threw his arms to the side. “What can I tell you? Times is tough, my friend. Times is tough. When I get a job, I tell you. These days, not much work going around, though. With the passing of days, Ra’kad increases his empire’s reach. More and more Dreadnoughts patrolling the skies and seas. Making a dishonest living isn’t as easy as it used to be.”

  “Then how about you cut me a break?” asked Zarim. “Let us float for a little longer between payments.”

  Gax clicked his tongue. “‘Fraid not, pretty boy. ‘Fraid not. I’ve a business to run, it don’t stop and start at your convenience.”

  “Well, the more we have to contend with Ra’kad’s forces, the more we risk capture or death. And if that happens, you won’t even get ten percent. You think about that.” Zarim stood. “Now I’ve got some technical things to go over with you. Patch up my ship so we can get away from here.”

  “Very well,” said Gax. “Please.”

  Zarim out a sheet of paper from the pocket of his vest. “We sustained some propeller damage and the rudder needs straightening. Plus our usual refueling costs and some additional supplies.”

  Gax waved a dismissive hand. “Yes, yes.”

  Zarim slid the sheet over. “Just sign the work order.”

  Gax’s lower hands reached to the table, one held a pen and he scribbled his signature at the bottom of the sheet. “There, take that to the workshop and he’ll give you what you need.”

  Zarim folded the sheet and placed it back in his pocket. “Good, now I can go.” Zarim gestured to Kef. “If you ever wanna work for someone decent, the offer still stands, brother.”

  “Either way, he’d still be working for me,” said Gax with a giggle.

  Ekala clutched the tip of the blade with her thumb and index finger. She raised it to her eye level and lined up the target, which had been painted on the wooden wall. With a swift motion, her arm flung forward and the knife left her grip. It struck the target dead-center, right beside two other knives.

  She turned with her hands on her hips and a grin on her face. “Well?”

  A pair of identical twins seated at the bar exchanged glances. One of them held up his hand with his fingers outstretched. “Five outta seven.”

  Ekala rolled her eyes. “First it was two out of three, then three out of five, now five out of seven? I’m startin’ to think you’re stalling, boys.”

  “This is a scam, gotta be,” said the other man. “How do we know that faerie over there ain’t usin’ any funny faerie tricks?”

  Swul looked up from the table nearby. He held a foaming mug in his hand which was the size of his head. Taking a quick swig, he stared at the two men. “Just pay the lady.”

  “Nah, Vance’s got a point, how do we know you’re not usin’ magic or something?”

  “You tell ‘im, Lance.”

  Ekala chuckled. “Vance and Lance? Was your momma afraid she’d forget your names?”

  Vance jumped to his feet, knocking over his stool and pointing an accusatory finger at Ekala. “Don’t you talk about our mom, you bitch!”

  Ekala’s hand went to the boomerang holstered on her hip. “You wanna repeat that, slick?”

  “I said—”

  In the blink of an eye, Ekala hurled the boomerang and it slammed into Vance’s forehead. After striking him, it reversed course, flying right back into Ekala’s waiting palm.

  “Never mind, think I got the gist of it.”

  “Oooh, a brawl startin’ up?” asked Swul with a large smile.

  The bartender looked nervous. He pointed at Swul and Ekala. “Hey, I warned you two last time! Don’t be startin’ any trouble in here!”

  “He started it, Walsh,” said Ekala.

  “An’ I’m gonna finish it!” said Lance, charging towards Ekala with his knife drawn.

  She jumped back and twisted from side to side to avoid his clumsy thrusts. He tried to go for her face next, but Ekala brought up her arms in a cross and trapped his arm between them. She twisted his arm down, causing his body to bend towards the ground and drove her knee into his chest.

  A meaty paw gripped Ekala’s shoulder. She glanced over and saw a large man towering over her. “You leave my friends alone!”

  “Or what, Chubs?” asked Ekala. “You wanna take their place?”

  Chubs raised his fist, reeling back for a strike. Ekala heard a whistle and dropped to her knees. Just as she hit the ground, Swul launched across the room, wrapping his small arms around Chubs’ head. Swul’s strength was far greater than his diminutive size indicated and he was able to bring Chubs to the ground.

  An ugly lump already forming on his head, Vance recovered from Ekala’s initial boomerang strike and came charging at her. Ekala braced herself as he ran at her. She held out her arms and grabbed him as he came within range, then fell on her back. Using his own force against him, she threw him out the bar’s large window and into the street, in a spray of glass shards.

  Walsh struck his fist on the counter in irritation. “Aww come on! I just had that damn thing fixed!”

  A shot echoed in the bar and caused the brawlers to pause. All eyes went to the door where Zarim stood, holding his pistol in the air. Zarim stepped forward, holstering his weapon and glaring at Ekala and Swul.

  “I thought we were clear on the subject of fighting.”

  “They—”

  “Ekala, I swear to the heavens, if the next two words out of your mouth aren’t ‘I’m sorry,’ then I’ll leave the pair of you here to rot,” said Zarim.

  Neither Ekala nor Swul said another word. Zarim kept his eyes fixed on the pair of them as he addressed the bartender. “Walsh, how much do you think it’ll cost you to repair the damage?”

  “Few hundred credits, maybe,” said Walsh.

  The faerie clenched his fists. “Why you lyin’—!”

  “Swul, shut up and pay the man,” said Zarim.

  “Zee, that’s pretty much our share from the last job!” said Ekala.

  “Should’ve thought of that first,” said Zarim. “Now pay up.”

  Ekala and Swul grumbled as they dug through their pockets and pouches for the money. They left the coins on the counter and Walsh gathered them up with a smile on his face. “Thanks a lot, Zarim.”

  “No problem, Walsh. They’ll behave themselves next time,” said Zarim. “You two, back to the ship.”

  Ekala and Swul walked out the front door with Zarim following. No one spoke at all during the short walk from the bar to the dock where the Excalibur waited their return. Once onboard, they proceeded to the bridge and Zarim sat in the captain’s chair. “Once we get these repairs done, we can push off.”

  “So where are we off to?” asked Ekala, leaning against the wheel. “Don’t tell me Gax was actually useful for once.”

  Zarim groaned slightly. “Actually...I stopped by the ship before I found you two causing trouble. Turns out Master Quand left us a message. So I got in touch with him, and—”

  “What did he want?” Ekala’s tone was marked by a total lack of enthusiasm.

  “He sends his regards. And a mission.”

  “Here we go...” muttered Ekala.

  “He sensed the emergence of something called a Soulstone. But what’s more, he sensed something else ,” said Zarim. “A great evil.”

  Ekala rolled her eyes. “Oh please.”

  Swul, on the other hand, had a curious eyebrow raised while he puffed on the end of a cigar. “Tell me more.”

  Zarim shook his head. “There’s nothing more to tell. Master Quand only said we have to find
the Soulstone before it falls into the wrong hands.”

  “I suppose we’re supposed to throw a dart at the map to find it?” asked Ekala.

  “No, he knows where it is,” said Zarim. “Or at least, the general area—Rolyeh.”

  “You nuts?” asked Swul. “They don’t call it Monster Island for nothin’!”

  “I don’t suppose he mentioned anything about payment,” said Ekala.

  “We don’t need payment, we’ll do the job,” said Zarim.

  “Right, of course he didn’t,” said Ekala.

  “It’s serious, Ekala. Master Quand needs my help and he’s gonna get it,” said Zarim.

  “Gax, Quand, you just jump whenever these freaks tell you to,” said Ekala.

  Zarim rubbed his forehead. “Don’t tell me we’re gonna get into this again...”

  “Well...might not be a total loss,” said Swul, trying to derail the potential argument.

  “What are you on about?” asked Ekala.

  “Rolyeh’s got plenty of creatures that aren’t found anywhere else. Those hides can fetch quite a price on the black market,” said Swul. “Might be worth checkin’ out.”

  Ekala paused for a moment and considered this. A smile slowly spread over her face. “Zee, set a course for Rolyeh! After all, when Master Quand needs a favor...”

  “You’re the soul of generosity,” said Zarim.

  “And a monster-huntin’ we’ll go,” said Swul.

  CHAPTER 3

  Any attempts to colonize Rolyeh were abandoned decades ago. Large, vicious creatures existed in all parts of the world, this was true. But nowhere did they congregate in such large numbers as they did in Rolyeh. Beasts of myth and legend, of all different species. Massive reptilian and mammalian beasts battled for control over the land, while sea monsters ruled the oceans and blood-thirsty birds of prey took to the skies. Numerous caves existed as well, rumored to be guarded by dragons. Now it was simply a place where the most skilled hunters would try their luck, and many never returned from their quests.