Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee

Author:Yoon Ha Lee
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
Publisher: Rebellion Publishing Ltd

JEBI’S HEARTBEAT STUTTERED all the way to the dragon’s cavern in the Summer Palace. Strange how the simple act of walking unseen could be so nerve-wracking. They would have felt better if someone had shown some sign of noticing their presence.

Guards, both human and automaton, stood at the junctures and at the ends of each hallway. The lights in the automata’s masked eyes flickered as they passed, and Jebi had the uncanny sensation that the creatures marked their passing. But they did not raise the alarm, for which Jebi was grateful.

At last Jebi reached the doors and shoved them open, tensing as they did so. The doors scraped against the floor, but the guards showed no sign of noticing. Jebi left them open as they walked through the cavern to where Arazi awaited them.

{I can see you, but your image wavers like smoke,} came Arazi’s observation. {It must not work as strongly on automata as on humans. I wonder how it would affect birds or dogs?}

Jebi ignored these musings, interesting as they would have been at any other time. The manacles ringed each of the dragon’s four legs. They pulled out the stolen keys, but their hands shook so badly that they dropped them with a clatter. One of the guards outside called out an inquiry. Shit, they hadn’t known how fragile the charm’s effects would be.

Still shaking, Jebi snatched the keys up and jammed the first one into the right forelimb’s lock. No luck. Well, there were only five of them, how hard could this be? For the first time they wished they’d spent more time learning disreputable tricks from one of their former lovers. Jebi had dumped her upon learning that she’d stolen art supplies from one of the local merchants, because the only thing more despicable than stealing art was stealing art supplies when you were, as it so happened, the filthy rich scion of a venerable family. It had not been one of their better-thought-out affairs.

Jebi flashed inconveniently on a memory of Vei’s lithe fingers entering them just as the fourth key turned in the lock. The manacle clattered free. Jebi jumped back so it wouldn’t land on their foot.

They’d just gotten started on the second lock when the doors creaked again.

Hafanden’s voice echoed in the cavern, not particularly loudly, but with the accustomed note of authority. “We know you’re in there, Tsennan. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Your choice.”

Jebi’s heartbeat raced. Fuck, they were trapped underground, they couldn’t jump out a window. The key ring fell from their nerveless hand.

While they stood paralyzed, Hafanden entered with Vei, her face expressionless, at his side. Four automata flanked them, two on each side.

{Can you free yourself of the other two locks?} Jebi asked Arazi.

The dragon had already snatched up the fallen key ring with its talons and had twisted around in an effort to unlock its rear legs.

I’m in for it now, Jebi thought, and raced for the door, knowing that they had no hope of squeezing past.

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