Arlen's ears burned. He was at fault too. He hadn't meant to use civilians as human shields, but by making the fort a shelter and a fighting platform he'd had the same effect. He began concentrating on the shallow water in front of him, beginning to raise a platform slowly. He called out, "I warn you, Thoko. If this fight continues, I will kill many of your warriors. Do you think you have the spirits' blessing with Voz at your side? Because I do too."

The vizier conferred quietly with Thoko, nodded, then stomped forward from shore. And onto the water. He walked across it, alone, and the sea parted slightly under his feet, giving him a wave-bound road to walk. His ears lay back and he carried a staff in one hand, a knife at his belt, armor on his chest.

The men beside Arlen murmured. "A challenge!"

"An insult," said Opaline's chief. "Thoko sends his shaman rather than his best warrior."

Arlen said, "He's dangerous. Is he coming for me, or for you?"

The chief grunted. He shouted at Voz: "Do you challenge me?"

The shaman said, "Arlen, face me."

Arlen nodded. "On my own terms." He dived into the water.

Voz had apparently gained new powers of the sea. Arlen had to work quickly. He hit sand just six feet down, and lifted the little platform he'd begun to grow. The beach swirled and condensed beneath him. He emerged from the water standing on a sandstone block that rumbled and surged at his feet, lifting him higher by the moment. When Voz stopped walking, Arlen was already looking down at him as from a throne.

They were close enough to speak without amplifying spells. Arlen said, "Did you really not know who was in that tower?"

"I didn't. I swear it. I also swear that the spirits have told me, you must be defeated. You'll bring the islands to ruin if you don't submit to me."

"They spoke to me. They said I must prove myself, that I must purge the islands of evil like the Foul Shell monster on Gull Crater."

"After all that Thoko has done to improve our lands, you think you can take over?"

"No. The spirits outright told me I may not. I'm only a war-chief."

Voz spread his arms. "Why all this, then? Thoko's way has been painful, but it _works_! Have you no gratitude?"

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"Look at me and how I'm standing here, Voz. I've changed. I gained power from the ruins of Catacomb, and it seems the spirits have granted you more power."

"To stop your little rebellion."

"Didn't you hear their voices clashing? They want a fight, to settle their disputes about Thoko and the way forward for the isles."

"Then who am I to deny them a chance to thrash you and stop the killing?"

Arlen pointed far out to sea. "You know that the Roaring Storm is gone, right? Men will come from the outside. If we're weak, they'll know. You need me alive. You haven't seen all that I can do."

"Then join us, damn it! Come and stop this battle, and I will see to it that Thoko takes you in."

Arlen gritted his teeth, knowing he could agree. And accept the misdeeds Thoko had imposed on his people already, and try to lessen whatever evil Thoko did next in the name of progress. Better to stop it now. He said, "I have a better idea. Join me. Be the new high chief and defeat Thoko."

Voz said, "What? Why?"

"Quick and decisive. The spirits' goals are met. We both _fight_, just not each other. The islands remain strongest this way. You will set the rules for problems like the Mire."

On the shore, Thoko had grown suspicious. He found another mage to help him call out, "Voz, return."

Voz nodded toward him. Then he said to Arlen, "You speak only for yourself."

"Then I will make sure my people understand." Arlen dived and swam toward his boat.

When he surfaced again, the others were listening. Arlen explained quickly. The Opaline chief looked to his allies. "There would've been talk of it anyway. What say you?"

They grumbled and argued, but there was enough agreement for the chief to take the lead. "I will accept this. May the spirits guide us."

Then he bellowed so loudly, he needed no magic to be heard. "All hail High Chief Voz!" The soldiers raised their weapons and called Voz's name.

Voz had begun walking back toward his current boss, maybe to negotiate. Now he glanced over his shoulder at the shouting, with a terrified wince. The rebels had just made his decision easier.

Thoko raised his hammer. "Voz! Kneel, this instant!"

The shaman leaped backwards and into the water. The betrayed high chief said, "Get him! Third group, go!"

A swarm of lightly armored men waded into the sea and swam, ducking deeply enough to resist any arrow fire.

"It begins," Arlen said. "Start with the swimmers." He dived too and lashed his tail like a shark to rush back to his platform.

Arlen reached the stone dais and locked his mind on it to raise it, especially in front. He grabbed it and struggled to climb.

Voz got there too. Arlen reached down. The spirits' champion grabbed his arm and wriggled up onto the platform, gasping. "Allies?"

"Yes." Arlen crouched; arrows whizzed by but he had decent, rapidly growing cover.

Voz said, "The Black Arrows. He'll dare use them. If he can see us -- quickly!"

An arrow sailed overhead as a dark line against the clouds. Then it whipped around the growing roof of Arlen's tower and slammed into Arlen's left shoulder.

Arlen staggered, screaming. Voz yanked him back from the edge and shouted, "Seal the walls! Now!"

Though his vision was red with pain, Arlen rushed to whip more stone into existence all around the two of them. Sand and dust congealed into a ceiling and walls. He coughed out the word, "How?"

Voz said, "Hold very still." He chanted something, leaned his head close to Arlen to study his shoulder, then wriggled the arrow and yanked.