The next morning....

"This is it, Maur...." I think to myself.

I arrive at the Felokyle among an abandoned section of the city. The battles have hollowed out the area, with victory leaning toward the Ryoken tribes. I step over a dead body. The shale snaps under my boots. I look around me and see many blurs. I knew what the scene looked like from Toah's description.

A large force of loyal to Luer was across from me. Their armor shined in black and their knee-blades shimmered like a sea of fangs. In front of them was Luer, with the high priest by his side.

Across from Luer, were my men and whatever ragtag starting swarm the temple priests gave me. They stood behind me, with Luer across from me. There was a gap between my rival and I, like a line of pale-blue debris between two flocks of birds. The street divides us. The sound of Luer's men was great. I could see their massive numbers blocking out the sun light around them. I could hear the clanking of my bodyguard's armor, behind me. I was out in front of my men, as well

I step across the divide as the high priest bellows

“This day has been chosen. Our divine tradition will arbitrate this dispute.”

I hear his robes dragging across the street. He stops and waits, as everyone bows their heads.

“Luer. Will you plead your case.”

Luer smiles. I see him through my visor. “I'm Luer, the true king. What more needs to be said.”

A loud roar of shouts fills my ears as Luer walks closer to me. I glare at him as he steps closer. He walks a little too confidently, ejecting his knee-blade so it lands in his hand. Before Luer makes his way to my side of the street, I stop him. I draw a long line on the sandy street and he pauses. We stare at each other, until I whisper to him vehemently.

“Cross that line and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it.”

Luer looks at me puzzled. “Is this one of your dirty tricks, Maur?”

We stare at each other some more, until the high priest interrupts us.

“Maur Crescendo. Demon-eyed Crescendo. Plead your case, now, before my divinity.”

I bow to the high priest. I didn't want to. It just felt like the right thing to do. The salty wind cools me and corrodes my thoughts. I hear Toah whispering behind me with the others.

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“Where is the Neandelerian sky platform? It is dead. The sea ate it. These are my hunting grounds. They belong to the Ryoken tribes.”

There is a silence, as my men nod at each other. I look behind me and ponder some more. The high priest waves me off and makes his decision. He talks to his entourage, making plans to head back to Capara.

“This dispute has been settled. We give these lands to Luer.”

Luer walks smugly around. He paces looking at his men, nodding with self-affirmation. Finally, he speaks to them and raises his hands.

“I am divine! I am divine! Thank you!,” he shouts with a smile. A deafening roar encapsulates me as Luer's flying killers eject their knee-blades and raise them in their hands. They shout in unison with their loud cheers, even threatening to create more rubble from the vibrations. The noise lasts for some time. In jealously, I turn back to my men. I pace around back and forth.

“By the name of my blood and house, I will be our next king!,” I shout with vigor.

I raise my hands. I wait for a cheer, but nothing happens. A sweat rises over me.

“That didn't work well.”

Luer snickers at me. He turns around and walks closer to my the line I drew. “Teh. Some crown, Crescendo.” I look back at Luer, then stare at my men in anger. They remain silent, slightly intimidated by Luer's larger numbers. Only the presence of the high priest, kept everyone from killing each other. I try again, raising my hands.

“The rations come with complimentary booze, tonight,” I say out loud. My men cheer and roar. returning the favor to Luer. I smile and walk around. After, I head to the line that separates Luer and I. I see blurs around Luer's face as he steps within breathing distance of me. The line seems to grow in size, like the silence between us. I glare at him as he questions crossing it. Finally, Luer leans in close to me and whispers so I can hear.

“I'm going to steal your crown, just like I stole your lover, Crescendo. I'm going to pound you against the wall, just like I did to her. I hope you make the same noise.” Luer grins to himself. His wicked smile entices me to react, so I do. Immediately, I grab Luer's arm and cross the line. His eyes fill with shock. I lean close to him and whisper loudly.

“Luer Tellacoselli. Friend of no one good. Proud one without lacking. Man with the arms of a baby spider. I have one thing to say to you.”

Luer waits and I throw his arm down. I hold a final stare and walk away. I didn't have anything to say to him. I forgot to write something down, while in my tent. I felt embarrassed. My failure was due to poor rehearsal and foresight.

I bow once more to the high priest and motion to my men. We were leaving while the high priest graced us with his presence. I listen to the sea roar in the distance. I hear the scavenger birds pick at the dead bodies that were scattered from the previous day. My troops come into view under the shade of my visor.

Now was not a good time to fight a battle with Luer. Technically, I was now in his hunting grounds. I needed to build up my swarm if I was to venture into Luer's lands and kill him before the duel.

Only the high priest could condone and invasion of one noble onto the other. I needed to be ready, if I was given the opportunity. Assassinations were also allowed, but moving more than one contingent of personal bodyguards into someone's hunting grounds was sacrilege. It was time for me to head back into the Ryoken lands. I wanted to kidnap one of their sacred dancers. I needed a willing translator and her tempests.