Work In Progress: Screechers, Chapter 5

Starker is in a bad way...

Starker awoke to a boot in his ribs and a pain screaming behind his eyeballs.

“Up,” said a woman in Meridial. “It’s time to go, Nelos.”

Great. The Protectors had learned his true name. He groaned,  eyelids slagging upward, and light wavered in. Then he groaned again as he shoved himself into a sitting position. The dim cell blurred around him. Everything hurt, especially his face.

“Had a change of heart, then?” He grinned at the Protector. “Or did you finally come to your senses and decide to take my tiles instead of the reward?”

“More like”—she smiled back, a humorless thing—”I decided to take orders. It would seem you’re a favorite of the Protector Captain in Rimes.”

Well, shit. If Lu had heard of Starker’s arrest, then it was only a matter of time before Lachme found out. And if Lachme found out… Ah, this night just kept getting better and better.

Although, Starker realized with a squint at the tiny window in his cell, it was actually morning now. Midmorning, even, which meant he was hou…