A tableau in three parts.
A greatroom, filled with books and broad wooden chairs.
A small black-haired girl, strung from blue cord, hanging from the ceiling. Tears pour down her face, her lips tightly shut.
A vicious scorpion-creature menaces her, its body covered in fire-red carapace and spikes. The tip of its tail drips venom, held a hair’s breadth from the child’s neck.
The creature looks up in surprise, but the stinger does not waver.
spell-sword.com 
Hung in what way? At first I thought she was hung by the neck, therefore the dead girl had no fear of the Scorpion, but now I see she’s alive.
What on earth could surprise a creature like that? (gulp)