Vetica

Even the strongest man in the world cannot stand alone. It was a concept her father taught her early in life. The lesson wasn’t to teach her that she needed to depend on others. Quite the opposite, in fact. Others were simply an unfortunate necessity when seeking to exert influence and wield power. After all, it didn’t matter how strong you were, or how much land you could conquer. You could wage war all over the world, but one man can’t protect the borders of a kingdom that large. Even then, you need people to help you protect it. To guard it on your behalf.

For Vetica, it was an eye-opening lesson. For Vedic, it was a frustrating reality. He quite possibly was the strongest man in the world, or at least one of them. But he knew he that power could only go so far. It was a lesson passed down to each generation of Rawlin leadership. Their influence would only ever go so far as they could protect it. To be truly influential, they needed help.

They needed the advisors.

In the Rawlin family, advisors did so much more than give advice. Hosuyo was proof of that. This was a man who had grown the Rawlin’s influence significantly. He’d been in his teens when his whispers first brought about the end of a kingdom. Hosuyo didn’t merely whisper in Vedic’s ear. He grew the influence of the Rawlins. He had a hand in conquering through contract and killing. The kingdom Vedic ruled was an invisible one. A kingdom in the shadows. To protect the borders of a kingdom like that, you needed people like Hosuyo.

The problem was that his advisors each had goals of their own. The laws weren’t there to protect Vedic. They were there to ensure the interest of the Rawlin family as a whole. The laws were what allowed Vedic to protect his kingdom. But they also acted as a form of restraint. A protection for the people who guarded his influence. Now, her father was in an impossible situation. He sought to protect a hereditary power that he believed was necessary for his goals. The advisors sought to protect the laws. The coming clash would determine the fate of the Rawlins.

Unfortunately for Vetica, the clash was a simple one. It boiled down to a single question. Did they sever Vetica’s head from her body or not? Nine advisors, well, eight now, were likely in favor of that. Her father was not.

But even the strongest man in the world cannot stand alone.

Charlie

“What do we do?” he asked.

Merlin eyed the advisors. “For now, we wait,” he whispered close to Charlie’s ear. It was easier for them to communicate now that Charlie was sitting in his lap. It helped that all eyes were on Vedic and his advisors. “If Hosuyo was as strong as Sister said, I’m sure the others aren’t far off. Things are about to get complicated. We’re going to need to play it by ear. For now, we watch. We hope. If things don’t go well during the trial, it’s going to be really difficult to get out of this. It was one thing when it was just Vedic and Hosuyo, but now there are eight others probably just as strong. Things have just taken a turn for the worst, Charlie. Be prepared to take action, but don’t do anything unless we agree on it. Vetica’s life isn’t the only one on the line. We’re all at risk,” Merlin said.

Vedic rose to his feet. “Alona. I’m surprised to see you here.”

The woman who spoke earlier removed her hood. She was pretty. Really pretty. Like so pretty, Merlin gasped when he saw her. Her hair was long and black and combed backward in a style Charlie hadn’t seen before. She was older than Merlin and Vetica. Probably in her mid 40s. “This is an important trial. One that will determine the direction of the Rawlins for generations. We had to be here. I appreciate you sending word,” she said.

Why did she say it like that? There was something in her words. An accusation, perhaps?

Charlie noticed Lilica smiling as she watched the exchange. Merlin caught it, too.

“I get the feeling Vedic tried to make sure they didn’t make it. And Lilica seems happy with how this is playing out. There are things going on behind the scenes that we aren’t aware of. We need to be careful,” Merlin said.

Vedic smirked. “Of course. You’re my advisors. Please, come, take a seat. We must begin shortly.”

Alona and the others didn’t move. “I can’t help but notice my husband is hanging from the ceiling. Might you explain that to me?” she said.

Vedic sneered. The tension in the room was like a spider’s web. Charlie feared if he moved even an inch, he might be caught in it. “That is a discussion for after the trial. We must begin, the laws are clear. There will be no delays,” Vedic said.

Alone smirked at that. “The laws are clear, aren’t they? I’m glad we agree on that.”

“Ouch. He walked right in to that one,” Orb said, from Charlie’s onesie.

Alona and the other advisors walked forward and took their seats. They each walked toward a certain seat, and it seemed as if they were pre-assigned. Charlie couldn’t help but notice that the seat from which Hosuyo was hanging appeared to be Alona’s. Vedic clearly hadn’t expected the other advisors to arrive, but whether or not Alona knew that the slight would be obvious to everyone watching. She did her best to ignore it. She sat forward in her seat instead of leaning back. Despite that, Hosuyo’s feet brushed her back. She scowled, and then lifted her hand and flicked her sharp fingernails outward. It appeared as if she had dipped them in black paint.

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Whatever she did severed the rope holding Hosuyo up and his body fell. She moved quickly, catching his legs, and pulling them out so his body fell directly into a sitting position behind her. She looked back at his corpse and smiled, nuzzling her head against his.

Orb peeked out from Charlie’s onesie. “That woman is absolutely crazy. It’s kinda hot. I could fix her. Not that I would want to. She’s great as is. Hey Charlie, you got to pick out all our other companions. Do I also get a plus one or…”

Merlin grabbed Orb and shoved him inside his cloak pocket. “Enough.”

“You were thinking it, too. Don’t be mad I got dibs, buddy.”

Charlie frowned. “Her husband just died, Orb.”

“Exactly! The funeral is the best time to make a move. Trust me,” Orb said.

Merlin mashed down on the pocket Orb was in. Orb tried to say something, but his words came out muffled. It didn’t actually work like that since his words were telepathic, but Orb was a dungeon core willing to commit to the bit.

Vedic side-eyed Alona’s odd display and then turned his attention to Vetica. “State your name, assassin.”

Vetica sat up in her chair. “Vetica Rawlin.”

“You have broken a contract and brought shame upon the Rawlin family. Do you deny this fact?” he asked her.

Vetica paused for a moment before answering. “No. I don’t”

Vedic stood and looked toward the audience. “The clients were killed shortly after, and though some time has passed, my daughter’s transgressions have not affected our dealings. I have taken this into consideration as well.”

Alona stood up. “Vedic, you can’t possibly mean to excuse her behavior. It’s not about how her actions affected us. It’s about the fact she could do it again in the future. My husband—”

“Is dead. His opinion is irrelevant,” Vedic snapped back.

Alona looked taken aback.

Another of the advisors steepled their hands. “Vedic,” an old man’s voice croaked. “From your words, can we interpret the Hosuyo was also in favor of punishing the girl? And if so, was this the reason you killed him?” the man asked.

This riled up the crowd. It didn’t matter if the question hadn’t been intended as an accusation. The audience had surely taken it that way.

“He’s losing control of this situation quickly,” Merlin commented.

Charlie swallowed. He didn’t like how things were progressing.

Vedic clenched a fist. “I had him killed because he sought to betray me. To overthrow me,” he spat.

At this, Alona and the other advisors went quiet. Vedic seized the opportunity. “You all forget yourselves. I am the leader of the Rawlins, and Vetica is my daughter. My blood. Her value is irreplaceable.”

Charlie noticed the faces of the members of the crowd. The mood was shifting. They weren’t happy with Vedic’s words.

Alona capitalized on this shift. “You’re the head of the Rawlin family. No one can dispute that fact. But…it seems you’ve forgotten that no one is above the law. Look at them.” She gestured to the crowd. “These are as much members of your family as Vetica is. Yet if one of them had broken their contract, then you would have killed them without question. If Hosuyo noticed this as well, it’s no wonder he thought to betray you.”

Gasps. The room was filled with them. Even the other advisors seemed uncomfortable with the statement. The guards along the wall drew their blades but didn’t move. They looked toward Vedic for instruction. He started moving toward Alona. His feet stomped against the ground until he reached her and stared down at the much shorter woman. She stared back defiantly. “Will you kill me too? For speaking the truth? For acting in service to our laws?” she called out loud enough for all to hear.

The muscles in Vedic’s arms rippled, and for a moment, Charlie thought he would kill Alona.

Lilica leaned forward, resting her head against her hand. She was smiling watching the exchanging. “Hey daddy, I have an idea.”

Vedic turned his head slightly toward her. “Speak, girl.”

Lilica shot up out of her chair and moved toward Vetica. “Well, it’s obvious that your advisors think Vetica should be punished harshly. But it’s clear to everyone that despite our laws, Vetica has great value. She’s strong, talented, and until now she’s never made a mistake. Sure, she violated her contract intentionally. But many of the people in this room have made mistakes in the past. Accident or not, those mistakes are often difficult to clean up. Sometimes we kill people for those mistakes, and other times we leave their fates to the gods.” She looked out at the crowd and held her hands out. “So why not do that now?”

Vedic turned to face her. Charlie was surprised he would turn his back on Alona. He killed her husband. What if she attacked him? Was he so caught off guard by Lilica’s words that he wasn’t thinking about it, or was he so strong he didn’t see Alona as a threat?

“What are you suggesting?” he asked.

Lilica sat in Vetica’s lap and wrapped her arms around Vetica. Vetica didn’t resist but turned her head in annoyance. “Isn’t it obvious? A duel! We’ll let Vetica fight for her life. If she wins, then she’ll prove herself worthy of remaining a Rawlin. And if she dies, well, she’ll simply pay the price in blood. It makes so much sense!” Lilica said.

Alone seized on her words. “I think that is an excellent idea. I’m sure the others all agree. Duels have long been a solution to matters in the past. I don’t think it’s ever been a solution to a broken contract, but Lilica makes a good point. Either Vetica wins and proves her worth or settles the matter with her death. Regardless, the Rawlins will be stronger for it.”

The older advisor nodded along. “I concur. But who would this fight battle, that is, if Vedic gives his blessing?” he asked.

Vedic turned to look at him. It was obvious that Lilica’s solution was winning over not only the advisors but also the crowd.

Lilica leaned forward and whispered something into Vetica’s ear. Vetica’s head snapped, and she pushed Lilica off of her lap. Lilica didn’t miss a beat. She jumped back to her feet and held her arms out toward the crowd. “It obviously has to be me. After all, we’re sisters.” The crowd went wild. Many of them jumped to their feet and shouted support.

Lilica grinned and turned to look at Vetica. “And what’s a fight to the death between sisters?”