“You don’t have to do this. The swarm respects you as the Huntmaster, and you’re better at it than Rulac could hope to be. You understand where the hunt will go best, you understand how to create a great hunting pack, and you are a great leader by example. I don’t think you need to be the First of the Alqat.”

Took waited for me to finish, then, “Rulac sees me only as a female, not as an equal. This needs to be a Razaab.”

“Firstly, no, it doesn’t. That wasn’t how Rulac was chosen to be the First. Second, I will not allow you to kill each other. It would be idiotic. Instead, we’ll change the rules just a little.” Took, even with her permanent respectful deference while I spoke began to crack before I raised a hand. Took nodded curtly at me. “Just trust me.”

I finally let myself take in the view before me—all the Alqat stood in a loose circle, with Rulac standing in the center. Around the ring gathered the rest of the swarm, pushing close and the cacophony of curious creatures swelled, becoming a palpable wave of excitement. Rulac stood tall and proud among the crushing expectations and sound, grinning lackadaisically at the thronging masses. When he saw Took approaching he waved and leered. I could feel Took’s movements stiffen, but she gave no other response.

“Don’t let him get in your head. You know how clever he is, and you’ve become a better fighter than him, so he needs to put you on your back foot, and…” I trailed off as Took almost chuckled. Looking at Took’s face, she simply shook her head and strode forward, passing me. The tension had left her body, and it wasn’t because of my warning but her own self-mastery.

Took entered the circle and stood, battle-ready, just a couple of paces from Rulac. I followed behind, and as I stepped through the invisible line dividing the encircling onlookers from the stage where the fight would take place, the crowding members of the swarm pressed in behind me. Took stood in a ready crouch, every muscle tensed and ready to fire, while Rulac stood tall, relaxed, and looked down at Took. I walked to the middle, between the two combatants.

“We are keelish, and we establish leadership through strength, power, and victory!” The swarm screamed in agreement as I continued, “We are keelish, and we are proud of it. The strong deserve to lead! Here we have two strong keelish, one who has long been known as the head of the Alqat, so long that they have become known as his ‘Killers’, Rulac!” The shrieking mob swelled in volume, and Rulac nodded to each side, the smirk still plastered on his face. “The other is a young keelish, with just two generations younger than her, but she has become known as Huntmaster not just because that is her title, but because that is what she is, a true master of the hunt!” The crowd’s answering shrieks were less overwhelming than those for Rulac, but still impressive.

“Took wanted to challenge Rulac to a Razaab, a duel to the death, but I have asked if the two’s disagreement can only end in death. It is not so,” the crowd began to scream out their disappointment and disagreement, “but blood must still be spilt!” The crowd roared its approval, “Thus, I have devised a new duel, the Khuzaab! Allow me to explain; be the first to spill the other’s blood three times. Try not to kill them… That’s all!” The crowds continued the sounds of excitement and anticipation as I stepped back from the ring. “So, I have deemed this a worthy Khuzaab, and unless there is a participant who wishes to concede…” I paused and looked at each. Took simply looked at Rulac, who chuckled, and spoke for the first time.

“You’re a beautiful one. I meant it and I meant everything else I said.”

Took snarled and threw herself forward at Rulac. I was surprised to see her lose control, but Rulac settled easily into a stance to receive her attacks, and went to catch a wildly swinging claw aimed at his face.

It was a masterful feint.

Took spun ever quicker with the momentum and her tail made vicious contact with Rulac’s knee, causing it to buckle under his weight before she followed up with an upward kick, driving the nails of her right foot into his hip and drawing a small rivulet of blood. Rulac showed his prowess, quickly recovering and bouncing back to give himself space from the more controlled flurry of blows aimed at any part of him that came within reach. Rulac recovered enough to prevent any more sizeable strikes, but the crowd began pushing forward as everyone witnessed the bright red blood flow down his leg.

“Beautiful warrior indeed.” Rulac began to more cautiously gauge his opponent and fight guardedly. Took’s fighting style had become refined, no longer the bullheaded rushes of before, but a precise, blistering onslaught. Wisterl had drilled discipline into Took’s raw ferocity, and Rulac had to take his time to gauge when to take his forward action. Again and again Took pressed in, only to be rebuffed by Rulac’s careful defense.

Neither gained another strike, until Took seized upon an opportunity; as the fight had progressed, the slightest hesitation in Rulac’s gait had developed. Obviously, the kick and claws digging into him had done more damage than he was immediately willing to admit. As his slight hesitation manifested, Took surged forward with three feints, one each of the claw, foot, and tail before she struck a solid blow on his shoulder with her opposite claw.

Again, Rulac stepped back, and Took allowed him to without pressing. “Nievtala bless you, Huntmaster. You’re impressive.” Rulac was honest in his praise as he settled back into a fighting stance before Took rushed forward.

With a subconscious thought, I activated [Combatant’s Bloodlust] and I saw a plethora of pinpricks on Rulac, all smaller than the point of my claws, and only one on Took–large as a fist and at the base of her skull. Time seemed to slow and I watched as Took reached forward with another pair of feints before extending her head and reaching for Rulac’s throat with her wide jaws. At the same time, Rulac arched his neck near perfectly before firmly taking the base of Took’s skull in his jaws right as her fangs made superficial contact with his throat and snipped a 2cm section of flesh from the surface.

Rulac, after a brief moment’s hesitation, released Took and she stepped back before opening her mouth to speak. Rulac interrupted, “That is third blood, your victory. Well fought, Huntmaster Took. I rescind–”

“That was no victory. I should be dead.” Took slowly hung her head before Rulac, “I–”

“I would say that the results are inconclusive. One won by the established rules, the other by the ancient ones. A draw, perhaps?” I interjected, and Rulac looked over at me.

“I’d call a draw overly considerate to me. You, Huntmaster?”

Took slowly shook her head. “A loss is a loss. I am willing to accept it.”

I wanted to interject, but felt it inappropriate. Rulac looked to me, then, “I am an Alqat, a being of honor, as are you, Took, Eighteenth of the Alqat. If you do not accept a draw, that is directly in defiance of your and my honor.”

A pause. “Very well, First.” Took walked away, and Illne quickly rushed to follow.

There are a couple of things about this chapter I’m not thrilled about, even after days of revision, but I’m still posting it. Let me know what you think!