Callan stood beneath the shadow of the town weathervane, Belinda to one side, Rictee on his other. The bound cultist stared at the ground and refused to respond whenever Callan attempted to engage him in conversation.

“Dang, you really did a number on him,” he finally said to Belinda. “What exactly happened after I left the basement?”

The mayor gave a victorious little smirk. “I told you, Callan, I know my people. There is little that I can’t get my way on, given enough time.”

“Is that why you weren’t particularly bothered that your son straight-up turned against you?” The words slipped from Callan’s mouth before he could call them back. In his head, Xeph muttered darkly.

“Indeed.” Belinda held her smirk, though its edges tightened ever so slightly. “That boy has always been headstrong. It would have made him a good mayor one day, if he weren’t also so rebellious. Luckily, I just about have Alyssa trained for the position, assuming she ever learns to find her confidence.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t worry too much on that front.” When the mayor looked at him curiously, Callan covered his smile with a cough. “So did Rictee here tell you anything useful?”

“No, unfortunately. It seems he spoke the truth about being kept in the dark. This latest avatar of Veritas’s is clever, whoever they are.”

“You know, I’ve been thinking about that,” Callan said. “Is there any chance it’s the same avatar that your goddess failed to kill? I mean, you’re still alive and kicking after fifty-something years. Why wouldn’t they be?”

Belinda glanced nervously at the gathered yeth around them. Most were keeping their distance, clearly sensing a different mood to the proceedings with Rictee bound and tied. Lowering her voice, she said, “Possible, but I doubt that. Still, it doesn’t particularly matter.”

“No, I suppose it doesn’t.”

“By the way, Callan, I owe you my thanks.” The mayor shifted uncomfortably as she said this. “You could have packed up and left after you learned about my... my past. Yet you’re still here. Don’t think I’m unappreciative of that fact.”

“Hey, last I checked we still had an agreement. You hiding information makes the job more difficult, but it doesn’t change the fact that the job needs doing.” Callan ignored the sharp look Belinda gave him, instead staring into the distance. Did he see a figure approaching from the edge of town? It could just be a last-minute straggler, but it could be Veritas, too.

Darn it, maybe he should pick Dveorgeye. There were so many useful applications to that orison.

“Anyway, wouldn’t Veritas just steamroll you if we up and left? After all, it was the implicit threat of your wind powers that was keeping him from using a direct assault before.”

From the shocked expression on the mayor’s face, Callan assumed he’d guessed directly. Xeph let out a laugh like a cascading landslide. Of course, I should have realized. With her temple powering her orisons, the yeth could have held her own against Veritas—assuming the god was as weak as we originally thought. I fear it would not have gone as she planned had it actually come to blows.

Callan silently agreed. The mayor had been blustering against the god because she’d assumed they were on even footing. So far that had worked, keeping the conflict to mostly civil conversations, but it was a dangerous game to play long-term.

“It’s true,” the mayor confirmed. “It was a gamble having both Falchion and I pledge ourselves to Xeph. Please do not let me regret that decision.”

“I’ll do my best.” The figure in the distance had drawn closer now, and yep, that was definitely Veritas, resplendent in their signature wolf-headed mask. As they walked down the street, cultists slid silently from between houses and joined them. Five in all.

So with Rictee here, that meant at least six priests. Belinda had said she thought no more than eight. Could be there was still a priest or two hiding in the community.

Hopefully it wouldn’t matter soon.

Veritas came to a halt several feet from Belinda. Their mask traced over Callan with hardly a pause, coming to rest on Rictee a moment before snapping back to the mayor. “Belinda. What is the meaning of this? Why have you subjugated one of your own citizens? Did they attempt to exercise their right to freedom?”

“The only thing this one has done is make the mistake of siding with you.” Belinda turned to the gathered yeth crowd. “Rictee here admitted to joining Veritas’s cult. Know this—I’m well aware of the bridge committee my son is leading. You are all welcome to have your little opposition parties. In fact, I welcome the discourse. But the moment you actively side with that thing—” she pointed at Veritas. “—You invite exile from the village. Consider these words to be your final warning. Anyone want to step forward and beg forgiveness? Well?”

Her eyes trailed over the crowd, then lingered on each of the masked priests clustered around Veritas. None moved or spoke.

“Technically, you son isn’t our leader,” a voice in the crowd piped up. “He’s more like our spokesperson to the rest of the community. But we’re having a vote next week to—”

The yeth, who Callan suspected was the same pedant who’d complained about the committee name the other night, cut off immediately as Belinda turned a glower in his direction. Once she was satisfied, she turned back to Veritas.

“So, you know that this one now belongs to me.” Though their voice held no hint of emotion, Callan thought he caught a slight pause, like Veritas was weighing each word as they said it. “Very well, name your price for his return.”

“Oh, you think he’s a prisoner, do you?” Belinda said. “That’s not how we do things in a yeth community, Veritas. If he’s yours, he’s yours.”

Moving over to Rictee, she tugged at his bindings. The rope holding him in place tumbled to his feet. Rictee stared about him in shock, rubbing absentmindedly at his wrists as Belinda stepped away.

“Well, Rictee? You’re free now.” Belinda gestured at Veritas.

The cultist glanced between Veritas and the mayor. He took a hesitant step forward.

“Just remember what I said, Rictee. This is your final warning. You go with them, you’re exiled, you understand?”

Rictee paused. He glanced again at Veritas, who stood like a statue, staring at nothing. Then without warning he turned towards Belinda and fell on his knees.

“Please, Mayor, forgive me! I forsake Veritas and deny his cult! Please don’t make me leave the village!”

“There, there.” Belinda held out a hand and helped Rictee to his feet. She turned towards the crowd. “You see? Rictee realizes there is no future with Veritas. He’s seen the light, the wisdom of trusting in my wisdom. Are there any others here who wish to do the same?”

“Clever. I wonder what you said to poor Rictee to scare him bad enough to forsake a sacred vow. Yet, no matter.” Veritas turned towards the crowd. “As I have told you all before—”

“I’m not done yet. Your time of preaching to my people is at the end. I have some new friends I’d like you to meet, Veritas.”

“Ah, yes. You mean these lud priests you have been hosting, hoping I wouldn’t notice their stench?” Veritas tilted their head. “I noticed.”

“Then I will not keep you waiting any longer.” Kivi stepped out the smithy where she’d been waiting, flanked on either side by Paeral and Sworv. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Kivi, high priestess to the god Xeph-Zul-Karatl.”

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“High Priestess?” There was a note of surprise in Veritas’s voice as Kivi joined Belinda. “Your god thought me so much of a threat to their territory that they sent their high priestess themselves to deal with me? I’m not certain whether to be amused or touched.”

“Hmm.” Kivi studied the assembled cultists. “Is it not proper for two high priests to introduce themselves when they come face to face? Who amongst your inner circle stands at the head of your church?”

“That would be I,” one of the masked priests said, stepping forward.

“Greetings. I am Kivi, of Leadership caste, but this you already know. To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?”

The other priest remained silent. Veritas let out an echoing laugh. “Did you honestly expect that to work? You’ll not pry our secrets from us that easily.”

“According to protocol, when two avatars meet—”

“Do not quote divine protocol to me, girl,” Veritas growled. “I was there when it was written.”

Somehow, I doubt that, Xeph muttered.

“Besides, you are wasting your time. There are no other avatars here, just you and your ill-advised attempt to aid this bully of a mayor. What do you expect to do without even a temple to aid you? This is all a foolish waste of—”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Callan said. The masked avatar turned and truly looked at him for the first time. “There is another avatar here.”

“Veritas, allow me to introduce you to Callan Whitlocke, avatar to the god Xeph-Zul-Karatl.” The smug expression on Kivi’s face was worth its weight in gold. It took all of Callan’s willpower not to laugh.

“This—” Veritas froze, staring at Callan. A shiver ran down his spine, and he knew intrinsically that the other avatar was scanning him, reviewing the limited information about his interface that was available. After a moment, Veritas gave a shudder and shook his head.

“I... see. It appears that I was mistaken.”

They seemed genuinely shocked. Callan knew he’d never have a better moment to strike.

Metaphorically speaking, of course.

“I’ve come to depose you, Veritas.” He drew in a deep breath, and when he spoke next, Xeph spoke with him, the words infused with the god’s power. “I, Xeph-Zul-Karatl, do hereby challenge you to a ritual duel for the right to this plateau. Refuse now at your own peril.”

“A duel?” The god stared at him sightlessly. “Very well. Name your terms.”

Huh. That had been easier than Callan thought it would be. He scrambled to remember the next part. “If we win, you leave this plateau forever. You will never return, in this avatar or any other. If any of your followers wish to depart with you, they may do so without ill will or harm, but they too are never to return. You will also seek no sanctuary in any plateau between here and Tokash, the seat of Xeph-Zul-Karatl’s power. These are our terms.”

“I find these terms... acceptable.” Veritas appeared lost in thought for a moment. At last, they spoke. “If I should win, then Belinda and all of her direct descendants go into exile. They, too, may never again set foot on this plateau or any other territory to which I lay claim. These are my terms.”

“Um.” The proclamation caught Callan off-guard. They’d been expecting the other avatar to demand that Xeph be exiled, not the mayor. He glanced at Belinda, who gave a brief nod. “We accept.”

“Very well. I also ask this—allow me five days to prepare. After that, I shall return here for our duel.”

Hmm. If that is a stalling tactic, it is a rather short-sighted one, Xeph noted.

“So is that a yes or a no?” Callan muttered out of the corner of his mouth.

I cannot see what benefit they hope to gain from a mere five days. We should allow it.

“That’s fine with Xeph.”

Veritas nodded. “Then we shall determine our first challenge at that time.”

They turned to leave, robes sweeping the ground around them. A half-dozen paces away and they turned around. “I do hope you know what you are doing, avatar of Xeph-Zul-Karatl.”

“Don’t go counting on your victory before we’ve even begun, Veritas. I think you’ll find me more than a formidable opponent.”

“Hmm, perhaps. That, however, was not what I meant.” For a brief moment, the avatar stared at Belinda. Then they turned and marched away, cultists scurrying after them.

Callan stood there, frowning to himself. That had... happened faster than he’d expected. He still hadn’t had time to process everything, but it appeared their plan had worked, at least. They had their duel.

Now all he had to do was win.

“Is it true, mayor?” someone in the crowd shouted. “Is this another avatar?”

“You heard what Veritas said. What reason would we have to lie about something like that?” Belinda responded testily.

A ripple of mutters ran through the crowd. At last, someone else spoke up. “And is it true you promised we would have to pledge ourselves to this Xeph-Zul-Karatl?”

“Who told you that?” Belinda looked shocked. She quickly composed herself, but not before half the crowd noticed. “There are certain... stipulations we as a community will be forced to meet to repay the avatar for his services, but no one who truly protests will be forced to swear an oath.”

The mayor had better be careful, Xeph muttered. If too many take her up on that offer, she’ll find she’s forcing some of them just to meet our quota, no matter what she’s promised.

Indeed, Belinda’s confirmation had shifted the mood of the crowd noticeably. Now there were small pockets of conversation everywhere, and Callan caught more than a few dark looks being shot in his direction.

“Come,” Belinda took him by the arm. “Let’s return to my house to discuss this whole matter further. There’s nothing to be gained staying and enduring this lot’s complaints.”

She tugged Callan through the streets, Kivi following in their wake. Soon enough they were back at the mayor’s home. They stepped through the backdoor and into her well-lit kitchen.

“Finally, a little breathing space.” Belinda collapsed into a chair. She looked up at Callan. “First things first. How do you feel that went?”

“...Well, I think?”

Too well, Xeph added.

“Too well,” Belinda echoed. “Veritas almost certainly has something planned. Why did you go and let them run off for five days? Damn foolish, that was.”

Callan ignored Xeph’s squawking and crossed his arms. “Because it was the honorable thing to do, that’s why.”

“Hmmph. Suppose I should have expected something of the sort from you. Just don’t let this other god take advantage of you so much you end up losing sight of our goal—or just plain losing.”

“We’re not going to lose,” Kivi said. She glanced at Callan. “Right?”

“Right, High Priestess. Xeph and I have a plan.” Plus a few backup ones, but no reason for the mayor to know about those. The fewer weak links, the better.

Belinda opened her mouth to speak, but at just that moment the back door opened, and Radavan stepped inside, followed by his sister. “We haven’t missed anything important, I hope.”

“No, just getting the avatar’s feel for situation and—what in the blazes happened to you, girl?”

Alyssa shrunk beneath her mother’s attention. From where he sat, Callan could just barely make out a dark ring around one of the girl’s eyes. Already the skin was getting puffy and swollen.

“Was that from Falchion?” he asked, an unexpected flare of anger running through him. Alyssa’s eyes widened, and she quickly shook her head.

“It wasn’t anyone! Just a little accident around the forge, that’s all.”

“Besides, Falchion left already for the north,” Belinda said matter-of-factly. Her daughter started, then rounded on her.

“Already? When?”

“Shortly after his wife threw him out of the house. I sent him off with what few supplies we had around here. Truth be told, I think he was glad to be going.”

Alyssa turned and made for the door. “If I hurry, perhaps I can catch him before he leaves the plateau.”

“You’ll do no such thing, girl.” Even though Belinda didn’t raise her voice, it cut through the room like ice. Her daughter froze, hand resting on the door handle.

“You don’t understand, mother. Falchion promised—”

“I don’t care what promises he whispered in your ear while you were beneath him. He’s gone. If he’s smart, he won’t bother to come back. The old fool can spend his remaining days living in one of Athakolu’s hermitages.” Belinda let out a snort. “Honestly, might do the man some good. Now, sit down.”

Glowering, Alyssa returned to the table and dropped into a chair.

“Now that we’ve settled that matter, let us return to the more important issue.” Belinda turned to Callan. “Veritas may be planning something, they may not. We shouldn’t remain idle either way. You’ve been given five days to prepare for this duel, so I suggest you do just that. No need to maintain the farmhand charade any longer.”

Radavan made a strangled noise and looked like he was going to complain, then seemed to think better of it. After glancing briefly at her son, Belinda continued, “You should also do what you can to determine who the remaining priests are. The more of them I can pin down for a little ‘chat’ the more we might get to defect away from Veritas. If they’re stripped of their priests, it’s possible we can defang this avatar before the duel even begins.”

“I wouldn’t count on it,” Callan said. “Based on our analysis, Veritas would be a powerhouse in a straight fight, even without their priests. But Xeph and I will do what we can to try and root out a few others.”

“Good. Just let me know if you need anything from the village.”

“There is another matter,” Kivi said. All eyes turned to her. “We should consider building some fortifications around town. I did not suggest it before as it would have drawn undue attention, but now that there is no need to hide any longer, it might be prudent to be prepared, should a direct confrontation become unavoidable.”

“Hmm, fortifications, eh? We’re farmers, High Priestess, not soldiers, but I imagine we might be able to come up with a few ideas. I’ll ask around for volunteers that can spare time away from the fields.”

The lud girl gave Belinda a sly smile. “That won’t be necessary, Mayor. Xeph’s priests should be more than up to handling the task ourselves. It will only require some time, something that we have in plenty, it seems.”

“Alright, if you say so.” Belinda stood up. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to go see what I can do about quieting the mutters of rebellion that today’s little show most likely stirred up. Best of luck in your preparations, Avatar.”

“Yeah, thanks.” Callan watched Belinda leave, then turned to Kivi. “High Priestess, would you mind accompanying me to the guest house?”

“Of course not, Avatar. Is there something you need help with?”

“Kind of. It’s time the two of us make a bit of a group decision about the direction our clergy will be taking.”