"How could you do this to your own people, Hermes?" Zauren said, his face a mask of disgust.

The last time Zauren had 'shown' his face, people had bowed, but now only a few even lowered their heads at his presence. A stark difference in how they were treated just days prior.

Hermes snorted as he turned to look at the Hearthspeaker.

"You are one to talk about betraying the people. You protect outsiders with such evil designs. Or were we mistaken when we witnessed her murdering our people in cold blood?"

Emily frowned; she wasn't sure how, but they had to have been watching the fight. Obviously, it was cherry-picked to show her worst qualities, and man, had she put some on display for them.

Hermes Shaman walked out of the tree behind them, looking stunning, but by the same measure, uncertain. Emily could see a hesitation there, as though she were unsure of something.

If Emily were to guess, she probably hadn't expected the levels her Cheiftan was willing to go to control everything.

Emily's gaze was pulled back to the topic at hand when Zauren pointed at her.

"She is no longer an outsider, Hermes. Her standing is made valid by Kaelan's right to challenge."

Hermes shook his head with a disappointed look on his face.

"This monster tortured your kind, and yet you're still defending it. It even desecrated a father tree to save its own skin, even after we all saw it through the Shaman's magic. Your judgment is as clouded as the sandstorms you like to watch all day."

There was a gasp from the people below as Hermes challenged Zauren. It was clear by the way people were staring at the exchange that this was monumental, but as unheard of as it was, no one else spoke up.

"No, now more than ever, I'm convinced that the roots ought to take a step back. What we need now is powerful leaders. Time is needed for us to discuss and determine where in our great city you belong." Hermes finished with a frown.

His words brokered no argument, but Zauren had been alive for too long to let them dismiss him just like that.

"Even if you have no respect for the land or the people in it, you must respect the rights that keep you in power. The right to challenge still stands." Zauren snarled.

Hermes glanced at Zauren out of the corner of his eye.

"You're right. There's still one loose end to tie up, plus, I fear I won't be able to rest until the killer of our people is swallowed by the father tree."

Emily stared at the man, her shoulders unbunched.

"Then we will put everything on this challenge," Zauren said. "Kaelan, do you accept to fight on the roots' behalf?"

Emily had seen Kael enter the space, but after that, she ignored him in favor of watching the event unfold.

However, glancing down at the man, she now saw no hesitation. His usual languid expression was replaced with unwavering focus.

Emily had been with the guy long enough to notice the way his muscles tensed and jaw ground together. But what was most telling was the look in his eyes. Kael had not been looking forward to fighting Hermes, but now it looked like all he could do was stop himself from attacking right here and now.

He knew. Emily wasn't sure how, but he knew about Sol.

Hermes had called the attack, and Kael's family had died in the process. When Kael spoke, it was filled with malice.

"I challenge Chieftain Hermes to combat for his position, as is my right by blood and battle. I will have everyone know the truth of your lies."

Emily did not like where this was going. She originally thought they would fight together, but by the looks of things, he was about the fight the man on his own, which is probably exactly what he wanted.

Emily stepped forward.

"And what of our deal. I have every right to join in on this fight."

Kael's eyes tore away from Hermes just long enough to frown in her direction, perhaps some of his reason returning.

Hermes chortled.

"If you think I will fight a foul beast like you for something as honorable a the position of Chieftain, you are mistaken. The moment you murder our people, you lose that right."

Emily slowly shook her head.

"Right, wrong, who cares. You desire to remove the Shamans from power to keep more for yourself. They have every right to put forward a champion."

This gave Hermes pause.

"Champion? You? Am I to understand that if I beat you, the Shamans will quietly return to their root and relinquish any hold they have over the decision-making of the city?"

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Emily grimaced. Leave it to this guy to turn something like this into an advantage. He would have made a good villain back in her world.

Emily turned to glance at Zauren, who had pressed his lips together in thought.

Kael hissed beside her.

"Emily, don't. I'll win."

She shook her head.

"Unless you've magically become ten times more powerful, we don't know that. Look, the roots are going down either way. Either they go out today, or in a couple of weeks, as Hermes erodes the rest of their support. This is the only way we have a shot."

Zauren was thinking, but Hermes seemed cocked his head.

"Well? What will it be, Hearthkeeper?"

The old man frowned and looked at Emily.

"Fine, so be it. I will nominate our newest addition to the Shaman ranks. You will have your fight, Hermes."

The man smiled like all of this had gone to plan.

"Very well, then I battle both of you with my own Shaman at my side."

The corners of Emily's lips tugged down. She was certain he'd bragged about being able to take them both without anyone's help, but he'd changed his mind.

Without a single hesitant step, Hermes stepped over the side of the lodge balcony and landed in the arena below, his feet crushing the compacted dirt there before looking up at Emily.

People all around began to scatter, and she saw the other Shaman step timidly to the edge.

Emily was right beside the woman, but before she jumped, she turned to look at her.

"You know, you don't need to do this. I can see you care greatly for him, which is why you're assuming he wants the best for your people. But ask yourself if you truly believe that after everything he's done, because once we're down there, I'm going to try and kill you both. So I hope his vision is worth it," Emily said softly.

It had occurred to Emily that the only way Hermes could watch their actions was with the assistance of a Shaman. And seeing as she was probably one of the few Shamans willing to work with Hermes to destroy her kind's power and respect, it had to be her.

She frowned, and a stale smile appeared on her face.

"...I don't know what you're talking about. Once he's done getting rid of the rotten parts of our city, he'll have more time for what's important. Don't forget I saw what you did out there. I'm not going to hold back either."

The corners of Emily's mouth tightened, and the light in her eyes dimmed to steel.

"Do as you wish, but you're an idiot if you think he'll ever love you, even if you betray your people for him."

Emily wasn't interested in hearing her response, so she hopped down into the arena. As she fell, her eye caught on one particular corner, where the Wandering Fangs had gathered.

At the front stood Kael's leaders, Selia, and beside her, Ashe.

The woman looked pale and sallow, but a relieved smile played on her lips.

Emily landed and didn't try to stop the small grin tugging at her lips. She sent Cupcake and Alex to go stand by them. Whatever happened in the ring, she hoped that Cupcake would at least be able to get the two of them out.

"The challenge for Chieftain status has been heard and shall be honoured. Who shall be our arbiter?" Hermes roared to the crowd, which responded by letting loose a round of cheers—some even going as far as to boo at Emily and Kael.

To Emily's surprise, Zauren stepped forward to the edge of the arena with the help of Ra.

"While I still hold my position, I will act as the arbiter. My stake in the results shall not inhibit my ability to make the final call, so shall I vow."

The corners of Hermes' lips rose, but he nodded, clearly aware that Zauren would now have no leg to stand on if they lost.

"Both sides, please get ready!" he shouted.

Emily walked over to Kael and grinned.

"I can see you're angry—that's good—but don't let it distract you."

Kael worked his jaw, never taking his eyes off Hermes as he and his Shaman did their preparations.

"He is far worse than I ever anticipated… Did he suffer?" Kael asked, unable to look at Emily.

She knew who he meant and shook her head.

"No. Sol died quickly," she lied. "But he's also the only reason I'm alive. His actions are, by your standards, the most honorable thing I've seen since arriving here, even if I don't usually agree with honor."

Kael finally tore his eyes away from Hermes long enough to stare into hers.

Emily wasn't well-versed in reading people's emotions unless they were threatening her, but through the potent cocktail of grief and rage, she saw relief.

"He also had a message for you," she continued.

Kael's muscles bunched.

"What… was it?"

Emily tried to gauge him and shrugged.

"I'll tell you when we've dealt with the problem at hand."

His face darkened.

"Emily…" he said dangerously.

"Nope. Right now, you need something to hold onto other than revenge. I personally love revenge, but you need a reason to survive. So when we win, I'll tell you what he said."

Kael swallowed his rage and let a sigh out through his nostrils.

"Fine," was all he spat.

Emily reached down into her chest and pulled a large packet of vitality, placing her hand on his shoulder.

"Relax, we've got this," she said, but he only hummed in response.

Emily dumped three times the amount of energy as last time, causing Kael to groan as veins pushed up from under his skin, beating with vibrant power.

"I have a plan, but you've got to trust me. When the fight begins, don't charge, just follow me as closely as you can."

Again, Kael only grunted, but this time it was probably from contending with the glowing life force in his muscles, bones, and tendons.

Herme's Shaman arrived and seemed to whisper something under her breath, then a glow began to issue from her body. The light filled Hermes with strength as strands of power moved from the bystanders to the two of them.

The radiance became so brilliant that for a moment it was like staring at the sun.

While everyone was distracted, Hermes slipped a small pill—one that glowed with life force in Emily's senses—into his mouth, holding it in his cheek without swallowing.

Emily frowned and glanced at Kael, but he was too focused on the light, squinting as it obscured the subtle action.

Before she could ask Kael what that was, Zauren dropped his hand.

"Fighters, prepare yourselves!"

Squaring her shoulders, Emily realized she only had a limited amount of time to set up her plan. So, she pulled blood from her back and began gathering it in her hand, slowly building a blood ward out of sight.

Zauren looked between the two groups and dropped his hand.

"Begin!"

As expected, Hermes charged ahead with an explosive burst of movement, dashing straight for both of them, but Emily was already moving.

The blood ward was fully charged with source, so when she activated it. A sudden heat shimmer dropped over the two of them as the forms vanished from view.

True to the plan, Kael was already moving with Emily as she sidestepped the incoming attack and rushed around the chieftain. Their sound was only just muffled as they charged forward.

Hermes cursed and swung his large spear backward blindly.

Unfortunately, their target wasn't him, and they were already well out of his range. No sooner had they arrived than the woman released a dispelling wave of light.

The ward held for a second before shattering in her hands by a disruptive force. The air around their forms shimmered, and they came back into view. But at this moment, it was already too late; Kael's spear was almost at the Shaman's throat.

Blood points: 700

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