“This can’t be real,” Said Stormbristle as he circled nervously

  “I can’t believe it but I mussst agree with the pig,” said Jasssper, “What are you thinking, sire?”

  “Yes, my boy. Or were you thinking? This is a challenge for our lives. And for what!? The chance of one of ours going to one of their institutions?” Stormbristle asked.

  “I’m afraid so.”

  “Why?! Surely we can recruit a water mage from the army.”

  “The only reason our little country has not been subsumed is because we are on the border of Kashu and Ulmund. It is as the king said, their war is drawing to a close. Who will they focus on next? The country of monsters at their doorsteps. If we establish an allyship, or even help one side best the other’s… maybe they will look at us differently.”

  “You believe that this way could be our way in?” Storm asked.

  “It’s not just about helping Julio, although that is the first phase of my plan. We must also make efforts to be more than just ‘monsters’ to them. We must appeal to them with a word they believe is restricted to them. Humanity. And if one of ours goes to college with theirs… that would be a great start.”

  Akun’s shrugged his shoulders, “I’m in.”

  Every turned to him, “You are!?”

  “Not about anything he said. But these games sound fun.” Akun smashed his fist into his palm.

  “Good.” Said Kip, “Because you’re the strongest person here and we need to know who’s going to go to which challenge.”

  “Ah, look, man.” Said Tamas, “I got my lute but that can only do so much. It’s going to be up to you all to do the fighting.”

  “I know. I have an idea,” Kip said, “There are three challenges.”

  He scribbled on a paper, “There’s challenge one, mounted combat. Challenge two, Floor is Lava, and challenge three, one-on-one combat.”

  “To the death.” Said Akun.

  “Yes. To the death.”

  “So…” Kip said, “Let’s start talking teams.”

  “I would be best for Floor is Lava,” said Stormbristle, “I float, for porkssake. And I can zip through the obstacle course.”

  “Yes,” Kip said, “I think that would be good… but I need you in a different part of the game. And you might be quite worn by the time you’re done.”

  “Which part?” Storm asked, “I couldn’t mount something, I’m quadrupedal!”

  Everyone looked at him, he finally got it, “Oh. You want me to be the mount.”

  “Yeah,” Kip said, “I talked to them and it seems they’re willing to provide a horse. That’s not much. Often times what the mount is is equally important as who’s riding it. It would be one of us on a horse against one of their exotic mounts. Now, as for who does the mounting…”

  “Me.” Said Akun.

  “Oh, I was thinking you’d be good for the one on one.”

  Akun showed his chain hook, “I'd be great for both. Anyone got a problem with that?”

  There was a collective sigh amongst the critters.

  “I have some range too,” Said Storm, “Good thinking on me being the mount.”

  This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

  “Great, Akun and you will be in the mounted combat. And Lala… Lala? Where is Lala?”

  “Here!” Said Lala as she scurried in. She was back in Baela’s form, “Here! Sorry. I had to slip out of something.”

  “No problem,” Said Kip, “We just challenged the king to run his games. We’re staying here for the night and discussing what is happening.”

  “You… you did? But that means…”

  “It means we have our work cut out for us,” Kip said.

  “We’ll be up against Ironwood.” Lala finished her sentence.

  “Oh, no.” Said Akun, “I’ll be up against Ironwood. And I’m going to give that punk a run for his money.”

  Lala shook herself to get out of her head, “What would you like me to do?”

  “We’d like you to sit out,” Said Kip, “You’re not a magic user and there’s no point to a shapeshifter for this. Tamas’ boosts will be able to help with the obstacles, but if need be, you’d be good in a pinch because you can mold your size to slightly smaller or larger. So we’ll make you an alternate for Floor is Lava. Does that work?”

  “Uhm, yes. That works.”

  “Great! So, we have Tamas, Jasssper, and I for the Floor is Lava, Akun and Storm for the Mounted combat and for the one on one…”

  Akun grabbed his chain hook, pulling it out, “I’ll be there for that one too.”

  “Amazing!” Said Kip, “Looks like we’re all set.”

  “Oh man,” Tamas said, “Moving. I don’t love a lot of movement.”

  “Are you in, Tamas?” Kip asked.

  Tamas shook his head, “I’m in, I guess.”

  Kip put his fist in, “Let’s all get some sleep tonight.”

  Stormbristle lifted his leg and got it as close as he could. Jasssper put his tail in. Akun jammed his fist in. Tamas reluctantly put his fist in and last was Lala, who crept her fist in passively.

  Davner showed them to their quarters. They were nice rooms on the third floor of the castle, where they could watch the sun set. The rooms were washed in a haze of orange-red. Storm was fast asleep. Jasssper and Tamas were in Kip’s room as he paced around, scribbling on the parchment he had asked for. His fingers were covered in black ink and he was out of spit from talking to himself so much. The drawing was crude, but it was a to scale replica of the obstacle course drawn perfectly from Kip’s memory. Kip frantically explained, not just the optimal movement, but alternative paths and some speculations on what parts of the course were likely adjustable. The information overloaded Jasssper and Tamas until all three collapsed from exhaustion.

  On the other side of the room was Lala, laying patiently in her bed, unable to shut her eyes and sleep. There was a loud knocking on her door. It shot her body up. She went over, and without turning the torches on, placed her ear to the door.

  Three more loud knocks. She covered her mouth and pretended she wasn’t inside.

  “Lala!” It was the gruff, bony voice of Akun, “Lala, let me in!”

  The next morning, Akun and Storm waited in the dugout. The sun hung high in the air and the day was hot. Stormboar had been drinking plenty of fluids from the water fountain they had.

  “Impressive engineering, no?” Stormbristle said as he pulled on the handle.

  “What?” Akun looked over at the pot.

  “Impressive. The Ulmun pump water to water towers all over the city so different buildings have running water. It’s quite impressive.”

  “I don’t care.” Said Akun as he closed his eyes, “I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.”

  “I agree with you, that these humans are up to no good. That this is foolish.”

  “Then why are you going along with it?”

  “Why are you?” The pig asked.

  “Like I said. I wanted to fight. I wanted… to test my mettle against Ironwood. Okay, now you.”

  “I believe in our dark lord,” Storm said, “Besides, it’s not just about what I want. It’s about what’s good for the kingdom.”

  “If these humans all perished that would be good for the system, would it not?”

  “These humans will not all perish. Even the Dark Lord could not make something like that happen. This plan that Kip has, if a little naive, is one that sheds the least blood. It’s a good plan.”

  “Oh there’s going to be blood.” Akun said, but there was a slight quiver in his voice.

  Stormbristle huffed,, “There’s more than just fighting, Akun. There’s fighting… but for something greater. The sooner you learn that, the better off you’ll be. And also… having something to fight for, to sacrifice for, that will make you a better fighter. Which means more fights.”

  “Huh, Bohdi said something similar.”

  “It’s not just about might is right. It’s about doing what’s right with that might.”

  “Pig. I gotta tell you something that Lala said to me last night. It’s about-”

  The door opened, and Danver gestured to the outside, “Let the fights begin.”

  Akun barged inside to Lala’s room, “What happened to you? Why’d you take so long?”

  Lala was in her normal form. “Oh, Akun. I’m sorry for my delay. It was a personal matter.”

  Akun shook his head, waiting for more.

  “Uhm, okay. Sit.”

  “I’ll stand.”

  “Okay… I’ll sit.” Lala took a seat on her bed, “I… bumped into someone.”

  “Right.” Akun said, “Okay. So what? They caught you changing? It’s not a big deal if they know you’re a shifter. There’s not more reason to hide.”

  “No… Akun… It was… Ironwood.”

  Akun stewed.

  “They hurt you?’

  “N-no. I was able to escape. She flew into a rage and I was able to slip out and reconvene but… it rattled me seeing her.”

  “Her?” Akun asked, “Ironwood’s a she?”

  The changeling looked up at Akun, “Akun, she’s not just a she. Ironwood… She’s my sister.”

  Follow To Earn A Bonus Chapter:

  Touch Azami's Hand To Read 6 Weeks Ahead: