Jack woke up in the infirmary, the day after he had his talk with Brom. Well, it was called an ‘infirmary’, but it was just a room with a couple of beds shoved in. Helmrest never had a need for a real hospital before. They didn’t have any healers either, so it was just Elia’s advice that had him and Brom stuck in bed the entire previous day. To say that the two normally active fellows were seriously itching to get up and walk about was putting it mildly.

At least Mrk is up and about.

The ratling was less hurt than them and thus, was more easily healed by Elia’s concoctions. He repaid that kindness by acting as her personal assistant and generally unnerving all but the most persistent of her would be clients. She didn’t mind. Way she told of it, it was like having her personal ratling zone of protection.

This was the last day before the election, which will be held in the evening of the following day, following their speeches and the count of hands. Exciting times.

And I’m stuck in bed!

“Couldn’t we just, you know, get up?” he asked.

“Elia said we should wait for her.” Brom responded, from the next bed over.

“I know. But I’m dying here.”

“I understand.”

…

“I mean, I feel fine. Don’t you feel fine?”

“…My wounds no longer hurt as much.”

“Exactly! We’re peachy. Elia’s remedies worked. So…” he said, leaving the hint unspoken.

“Elia is not a healer. But she is the closest thing we have. We should not jeopardize our recovery.”

“You’re no fun.”

“I find myself to be amusing enough.” The dwarf lightly said. “But your wellbeing must be safeguarded.”

That was another new thing. Brom had always… Well, always is a very big word for the short time they knew each other, but still. Brom had always been protective of the clearing and of its Keeper. But after Jack’s act of kindness and Brom’s subsequent oath, he had grown to be more… intense. It was subtle for now, given that they had spent all their time since lounging around in bed, but even Jack had noticed that Brom seemed to dismiss any notion of Jack endangering himself.

Even if that danger was just walking around without Elia giving them their final check.

Come on, Elia. I know you’re busy, but the wait is killing me.

“Hi guys! How is everyone?”

“El- Oh. Hi, Lola.”

The young woman stopped as she entered the room, a faux pout appearing on her face.

“Oh, so now I’m not good enough for you? Wanting to see someone else, Jack?”

“Uh, no, sorry. I’m just… I was expecting Elia, because-“

“I know.” She laughed. “She told me you couldn’t wait to get out of bed.”

She entered the room properly and lay a tray of potions on the table between their beds.

“So, not that I don’t feel happy to see you, Lola, I really do.”

And he was. She had visited them the day before, still teary eyed and continued to look stricken until they assured her they were alright. Apparently, as intense as the fight felt from inside the ‘ring’, it was even more shocking from outside. Lola had spent the entire length of it worrying and even tried to use a Skill to help them, though she neglected to say what it was and Jack didn’t press her on it. He could guess from what Class it came from.

“But is Elia coming by, do you think? As in… anytime soon?”

“Oh, of course. She’s just outside the door.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry Jack, I am.” Elia said, as she entered the room with Mrk in tow. “It’s in bad faith to cause distress to someone in your care. But I couldn’t resist. You should have seen your face.” She laughed.

“Funny. Glad to see you’re in a good mood, Elia.” Jack glared, but his heart wasn’t in it.

It was hard to be even slightly mad at the woman. She was the reason they were alive. And it was good to finally see her relieved of stress.

“How’s things, Elia? You’re going to win this, right?”

“First things first, Jack. I’ll give you two a check and only after I’m done will we discuss the current state of things.”

Never let it be said that Elia’s was anything less than professional, whether in private or in public.

She removed their bandages and had them both point out the spot on their body that still hurt. Jack only had the one, though. His encounter with the knight left him with a scar, on the upper part of his abdomen. It was thin, thanks to Elia’s quick acting and no longer red. It still ached somewhat, so she gave him a lotion and had him promise to use it every other day for the following week.

Brom on the other hand, was both more and less lucky. He didn’t have one big scar, but he did have a lot of small ones. Not all of them hurt, which was the upside. She gave him the same potion, along the same set of instructions, but he didn’t have to promise. It seemed Elia trusted the dwarf’s seriousness more than she trusted Jack’s.

Which was fair.

All in all, they came out of their scrap surprisingly untouched. It wasn’t every day that you got to go head-to-head with a knight. A very angry one, at that. Still, Elia saved them. And she did it with what potions she had left after Mr. Winnow’s goons ransacked her shop. Jack, Brom and Mrk were very thankful and they said as much.

“Oh, shush. I’m the one who’s grateful. You three helped me so much and though dueling the knight was a very bad idea, the results of it were good. It was a major loss of face for Mr. Winnow. Finally, even the most hardheaded villagers are coming to the conclusion it’s be better for me to be Village Head than him.”

“Perhaps it is my lack of knowledge regarding human culture, but I fail to see how that is a hard realization to make.” Brom said.

“It’s… a lot of little things, Brom.” Elia responded. “Mr. Winnow was |Merchant| before becoming Village Head. That meant he was already wealthy and popular. Wealth and influence matter a lot for such things. That’s also the Class that gave him most of his persuasion Skills. Like I’ve told Jack, Skills that affect people’s minds aren’t illegal and can be used freely. People can resist them, but it skews the balance to his favor. The fact that I’m the ‘eccentric village weirdo’ didn’t help matters either.” She laughed.

“You’re the weirdo?” Jack asked.

“I’ll have you know that Helmrest was a perfectly boring village before you came along, Jack. And do you see anyone else with orange eyes?”

“Guess not. I still don’t see that as a real reason, though.”

“It’s not just her eyes, Jack.” Lola said. “Elia continued to talk to me and be my friend, even after my… story got out. She was never one to seek the favor of the Winnows. That made her stand out.”

“And there’s the final thing. Villagers belonging to sleepy little villages like ours don’t like change. Not usually. So what if the Winnows were treating this village like their personal fiefdom? What did they care? At the end of the day, if their belly was full and there was a roof over their heads, people didn’t care who ruled the village, if it didn’t cause them any distress. And by the time the Winnows started causing distress, well… they had gotten too big to stare down. So why invite problems?”

“That’s… so weird to think about.”

“It is. But it’s also how things are, most of the time.”

“But not this time, right? Now you have a chance of changing things.” He grinned.

“I do.” Said Elia, smiling back. “Mr. Winnow hasn’t shown his face since the whole debacle and if the knight is still in Helmrest, he hasn’t left the Winnow’s residence.”

“Knight not happy lost leg.” Mrk added.

“Has he lost the leg?” Brom asked.

“Unlikely.” Elia told him “They’ve stolen everything of worth in my shop and that included a few good healing potions. They’re not healers, but with any luck he’ll be able to walk away without even a limp.”

“Oh, by the way. How come no one is out for blood for the theft they did? Did he try to justify it some way?”

“No. He simply stopped showing his face. People are mad about that, rest assured.”

“And for what that knight did.” Lola said quietly.

“That too. I talked to them, told them the only way to change things is to evict him from his position. To elect a new Village Head. Hopefully, they’ll remember that.”

“Yeah. Anything we can do to help?”

Jack noticed that Brom and Mrk had the same glint in their eyes that he did. The time to do something was now.

Elia didn’t seem to think so.

“No! We’re almost there, guys. If you all walk around the village, his goons might take that opportunity to come after you. So no, do nothing until tomorrow. We’re almost there.” She said, breathing like she just stopped running. “Let’s not jinx it.”

Jack couldn’t argue with that. He wanted to. He felt an incredible need to go out in the village and do something. Punch Louis. Go stand outside and yell at Mr. Winnow’s house until he came out. Talk with the villagers and make them understand that there is no way not voting for Elia was a good idea. Punch Louis again. But he didn’t do any of that. He understood what Elia meant. They were so close and the tables have finally turned to their fortune. Whatever tension Jack felt he needed to release, it wasn’t worth threatening their desired outcome.

So, they stayed in their room. It wasn’t bad, though. Mrk and Lola kept them company after Elia left, the ‘serious’ subjects having ended. It was only then that the main subject of the day hit Jack and Brom. Unbeknownst to them, Lola had finally gotten her |Herbalist| Class. Apparently, running Elia’s shop more or less herself and having to go through a ‘trial by fire’ in creating all the low end ointments and herb packets that people usually bought was enough of an effort that she got offered the Class.

Which she immediately accepted, a she grinningly informed them. It was only Level 2, but she received a couple of decent Skills for someone just starting out, as Elia told her. |Inspect Quality| and |Memory: Herbs|. It allowed her to remember a higher number of plants than she used to be able to, which came in handy and to judge their general quality. All this she told them in a rush, smile reaching up to her ears to her delighted audience.

It seemed things were finally starting to look up. Lola got a new Class, one that actually gave her pride, Brom had found a new purpose, Mrk was no longer viewed as a freak by the villagers and Jack might finally be rid of that nightmare of a family.

Lola left at the end of the day, while Mrk lay down a blanket and made his own ‘bed’ in their room. They were still feeling apprehensive, but at the very least, one way or another, the next day would bring closure for them and Helmrest both.

***

“Wake up!”

The next day did not start off peacefully.

Jack woke with a start and heard Mrk bang his head on Brom’s bed as he did.

“Wh- what?” he asked, blearily.

“I said, wake up!” said the banshee of a woman that stood in the doorway.

Which turned out to be Elia.

“Elia?” Jack asked, coming to his senses. “What happened?”

“Mr. Winnow happened. That slimy, good for nothing, argh!”

He was talking even as he got up and reached for his rapier. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Brom had already gotten a hand on his axe.

“What did he do?”

“I’ll tell you as we’re walking. Come on.” She said, striding out of the room.

Jack followed her, with Mrk and Brom in tow. Elia was walking fast so he had to quicken his pace to reach her. While walking, he noticed that other people were outside too, all going in the same direction they were.

“It was my fault. When I managed to persuade Mr. Winnow to hold the election, I only had him settle on a date. A date! Not an hour! That weasel of a man can’t stop cheating even now.”

“Elia, slow down. What’s this with the hour?”

Not loosening her stride, she answered.

“Me and Mr. Winnow agreed on the details. We agreed the election will take place today. We agreed that we will each hold a speech to the people of Helmrest and since he is still the acting Village Head, he will go first. But… I made a mistake. I thought it was normal for speeches to be said in the evening. When everyone was done with their work. But nooo! Of course he knew I thought that, which is why he let me think it will be done like that. And he went around my back and started his speech now! It’s barely even mid-day.”

As they walked, they approached one of the larger squares in Helmrest. It was clear, even at this distance, that a stage had been erected, complete with a podium. Not grand, but tall enough for everyone in the crowd to see the person speaking. And sure enough, Mr. Winnow’s figure was visible, those his words weren’t audible yet. A crowd had gathered there, listening and more people were trickling in.

“He’s still a jerk, Elia. Don’t worry. You got this!” Jack reassured her.

“It’s more complicated.” She grimaced. “We agreed to be done with our speeches by nightfall. If he started now, that means he gets more time to talk, since I can’t just talk over him. And… this is just a hunch, but I think his Skills work more effectively the more he uses them.”

“But you said people had started to resist them? He can still use his Skills on people?!”

“I don’t know. But why else would he have done this? Just to spite me?”

Jack would have answered that question with ‘duh, of course’, but as they neared the crowd, he noticed the were oddly… complacent. The villagers had been furious at the Winnow’s just days ago, but now they were listening to him speak. With the exception of a rare few, they weren’t nodding or smiling, but neither were the frowning.

These brainwashing Skills are just bullshit.

Mr. Winnow was joined on his side of the stage by his wife and son, along with a few of his goons. Jack was surprised to see Mr. Norn there as well.

He was even more surprised to see the knight. He stood, leg not looking like it had been cut off.

Still, since Mr. Winnow was allowed to bring people on stage, so did Elia. She neared the stage, where she found Lola all ready waiting for her and they all went on. There weren’t any seats, so they simply stood there, listening to Mr. Winnow spit out his poison.

“And I will say this again. Helmrest is great. Helmrest is my home. But Helmrest still lacks the strength to make it on its own. This is why need the strength of others.” He said, pointing at Merial. “This is why we must stand together, not just among ourselves, but between out peoples. Helmrest and Amenor. Safety and prosperity!” he shouted.

“Mrk will be sick.”

“Yeah, he’s really laying it on thick.” Jack muttered.

They were far enough from his side of the stage that they wouldn’t have heard even of they were speaking at normal volumes, but no need not to be cautious.

“He’s been doing this from the start.” Lola said. “Since before you got here. He’s just repeating the same things over and over. Helmrest needs Amenor. He has helped Helmrest. Helmrest needs to be clean of impurities. Different words, but always the same message.”

“Huh. So… what, he’s going to bore the people until he gets them to pick him?” Jack asked, dubiously.

“No.” Elia responded. “At the start people were angry at him. Now, they’re just listening. This is looking more and more like he’s influencing them.”

She said that in a half-voice, but the frustration in her tone was clearly evident. She had suffered through his games far too many times to be able to take it again. But what could they do?

“Could we not just talk over him?” Brom asked. “The people will forgive us?”

Elia looked conflicted. For all she as a firebrand sometimes, she seemed to take these laws and customs quite seriously.

“Brom’s right, Elia. He’s cheating. If you don’t… fudge the rules a little bit too, he’s going to win.”

“Damn.” She breathed out. “Fine.”

Looking like her heart had taken a vacation to her throat, Elia stepped forward.

“If I may-“

“|Right to Speak|” said Mr. Winnow, not even looking at her. “Do you see, my people? See how this charlatan tries to speak over me? Even though we both have our alloted times in front of you? This is how she intends to win. By bullying her way forward and denying me my time to adress you, the people.”

“That was not– I am simply trying-“

“|Right to Speak| She is simply trying to steal your attention. To steal your attention like she is planning to steal Helmrest from you. I wish to have Helmrest grow, to become a town, even though I, as Village Head, will be subordinated to the Lord of Amenor. But I will take this personal sacrifice for you. For your safety! She would have it all for herself!”

Elia stepped back, fuming, but looking shaken.

“Elia, are you alright?” asked Lola, after seeing her face.

“Yeah… The second time he used his Skill, it felt like getting hit in the head with a hammer. I don’t think people are supposed to resist it.”

“But we have to do something.” Said Jack. “If he keeps going, he might actually manipulate them into picking him. And then, everyone in Helmrest will wake up tomorrow in one big nightmare.”

“How many times can he use his Skill?” Brom asked.

“I’m not sure.” Elia said. “I don’t think he can keep using it indefinitely, though.”

“Good.” He said, stepping forward.

“Brom is sure?” asked Mrk.

“Humans love to say that dwarfs are stubborn.” He smiled. “Now is the time to prove them right.”

He laid down his axe and stepped forward on the stage.

“Excuse me.”

“|Right to Speak|”

“Excuse me.”

“|Right to Speak|”

“Excuse me.”

“|Right to Speak|!”

It was comical in a way. Mr. Winnow was desperately trying to use his Skill on Brom and Brom was stubbornly refusing Mr. Winnow to silence him. By the third iteration, Brom had gotten a nose bleed. By the fourth, he was slightly swaying on his feet, though Mr. Winnow looked pained too. It was only as Mr. Winnow gasped his Skill the fifth time, that Brom fell to his knees.

Jack and Mrk hurried to carry him back. There was noise all around him. Brom himself didn’t pass out, but he requested to remain in the crowd for some time, as he would dearly love the use of a chair. As Jack straightened, he realized what all the noise was about. It was the crowd. There were gasps and murmurs. They weren’t cause just by Brom kneeling down. Mr. Winnow was worse for wear too, hunching over, his wife looking worriedly over him.

“I think that means he can’t use it anymore, Elia.” Jack smiled at her.

“Yes. I think so too.”

She glanced over at Brom, sitting in the crowd, before crossing her brows. A glint of steel entered her gaze.

“Let’s end this.”

She stepped forward and addressed the crowd, this time without any interruptions.

“People of Helmrest. Please forgive my interruption. Yet, I see it as necessary. I cannot prove it, but I believe Mr. Winnow has been using his Skills on you.”

Gasps of outrage were heard from the crowd. But not enough, Jack saw. Not enough.

“That is why I’ve interrupted him. That being said, he has already held his speech, over and over by now. He has said what he wanted to say. I believe it is my time to speak. And it is time you heard what I intend for our village and for ourselves!”

A few cheers rang out, before they were cut out.

“Of course!” Mr. Winnow said.

He had straightened back up and had an unsettling look on his face as he looked at Elia.

“Please accept my apologies, Ms. Elia. Far be it from me to willingly take over your times. It is simply a delight to talk to my fellow villagers and I did not notice the passing of time.”

That smile of his fooled no one.

“If you’ll allow me a parting word to my audience.” He said, turning back to the crowd. “You have heard what I plan. You have heard what I intend to do. If my dream pleases you, then I urge you to choose me as Village Head again. Yet, you might find yourselves seduced by Ms. Elia’s ideas. You might find yourselves agreeing with the words coming out of her mouth. If you do, then I ask you all to |Reconsider|.”

He had fit the use of his Skill into his speech perfectly. Jack didn’t think there were many besides them who realized it. Elia, however did. She rounded up on Mr. Winnow, about to tear into him when he spoke first.

“Oh, my dear. You played this game finely. Should you have specialized into my type of Class, you would have been fierce. But you have not. And you are much to young to go against the likes of me. Allow me to give you a parting word as well. And some advice. One does not Level into a Class like mine, for as many years, without learning a few good Skills. |Deny Opposition|.”

Elia’s eyes widened. Her mouth remained open, but no words came out. She struggled, bringing her hands to her face, as if she could yank the stubborn words out of her mouth. But nothing happened. She simply stood there, alternatively looking between the crowd and Mr. Winnow.

The man himself went over to his family and turned to look out at the crowd, smiling all the while.

“That’s not fair!” Jack yelled. “He used a Skill!”

“Skills are acceptable during debates and negotiations. Perhaps if you were not a Jack, you would have known that.”

“But she was supposed to say her speech!” Lola said. “Same as you did.”

He just shrugged.

Elia meanwhile came over to them. She was fumbling around, pulling packets of herbs and vials out of her pockets. Some she threw on the ground, others she ate or drank. None gave Elia her voice back. She was trembling, though Jack didn’t know whether it was out of fury or frustration. The tears in her eyes seemed to point more to the latter.

“Well, it seems Ms. Elia is declining to give her speech. Perhaps we should move on to our election?”

“Shut up!” Jack yelled, before addressing the crowd. “He used a Skill on her! You all saw that. You have to wait until she recovers.”

“Oh, it will be a nice little while until she can speak again. And as I am still the Village Head, I’ll decide whether we wait or not. And I decide we will not.” He grinned.

This can’t be happening. Why are they just standing there?

The villagers looked shocked, but only a few were actively shouting. A few were even grinning at Elia’s misfortune. Mr. Winnow’s supporters. He knew he couldn’t beat her fairly, so he brainwashed the villagers all he could, then denied Elia her right to speak. The people saw all that.

So why aren’t they acting?

Elia’s words came back to his memory. People’s usual choice of action is to do nothing. Even if they are looking at someone they dislike trouble someone they do like. Even then, without something to get them in motion, they do nothing.

Or someone.

He thought he could understand them, then. How long could you live under someone like Mr. Winnow until you come to believe that it’s better to just lay low? A bowed head is more easily missed by the sword, after all.

No. No, this stops now.

“I’ll speak instead of Elia!” he shouted, as he took her place o the stage.

A surprised silence greeted him, from the crowd, Mr. Winnow and his friends too.

He was a little surprised too by his action. Not to mention a little sick. But there was no backing out now.

“You can’t speak in her place, boy!” Mrs. Winnow shouted from behind her husband.

“Oh, yeah? Well… is it- is it a rule?” he shouted back.

Instead of replying, she turned to her husband.

“Ms. Elia has not elected to set up a replacement speaker and as she cannot do it now-“

“I’ll speak. I know what she wanted to say. And the people need to hear it.”

“No. You will not.”

“Yes. I. Will!”

“That is enough of this foolishness. You will be silent, or you will be removed from this-“

“Will you shut the FUCK UP!” Jack bellowed at him. “I will be removed? By who? I defeated Louis. Brom defeated your knight. Think those goons of yours will act high and mighty when I set fire to their face?”

Mr. Winnow furrowed his brows, before addressing the crowd.

“Do you see what her acolytes do? How they try to force-“

“Last time.” Jack said, raising his hand towards his face. “Shut. Up.”

And he did. Merial limped forward, sword clearing the scabbard, but not attacking Jack. Mr. Winnow’s goons remained where they were. Mrk stepped forward as well, dagger in hand, while Brom had gotten up from his chair and was making his way back up the stage again, axe in hand.

It could have come to a fight. It very much looked like the start of one. But Jack knew if it got to that, Mr. Winnow would have spun that tale into one that benefited him and demonized Elia and his friends. So, though he very much wanted to burn Mr. Winnow’s face off, he let his hand fall and spoke instead.

“Look, I think you all know me by now. My name is Jack. I’m not a |Jack| though, it’s just my name. I didn’t have a name until recently, so I picked this one. And yes, I understand how stupid that sounds. I’m not very good with words, but I don’t think I have to be to make you realize that you picking Mr. Winnow to be Village Head again is as stupid as me picking out my name.”

The villagers weren’t grinning or frowning anymore. Instead, they were looking at Jack with rapt attention.

“The first friend I made in this village was Lola. I know what you think of her, but she’s a nice person and a true friend. The only reason she has the Class some of you judge her by is because of the Winnows. Louis and Mrs. Winnow to be exact. You know the story. You might not like to admit it, but you know the truth of it.”

A few were nodding now, while others looked bashful.

“The second person I met in this village was Elia. She is kind. And generous. And has helped me and others, where the Winnows only tried to take advantage. You’ve already heard both of their plans, so I’m not going to repeat them. But I will tell you this. The Winnows have either hurt or taken advantage of everyone they’ve ever met. Whether it was because they wanted something from them” he said, pointing at Louis “or because they wanted to feel superior” he pointed at Mrs. Winnow next “or because they wanted control” he said, finally pointing at Mr. Winnow.

“You now have to pick between someone who wants to keep control of Helmrest, even at the price of it losing its independence and someone who wants to help Helmrest as she has helped its people. Elia has helped Lola get a new Class, one that she can be proud off. Lola’s a |Herbalist| now, thanks to Elia. Elia has helped you all with her shop and she’s planning on opening more shops and finance more businesses. She hired a team of guards out of her own pocket. All this because she believes that Helmrest can grow. She believes it so much she went into this… competition with Mr. Winnow, even though we all know that should he win, he will see her chased from the village. He’s already robbed her or have you forgotten?”

More nodding. Even a few shouts of support. Jack couldn’t tell if there were enough. He looked at the crowd, but he was anxious enough he couldn’t actually process what he was seeing.

“I think the last think I want to tell you is this. After Melena, the Nymph left, she named me the Keeper of her refuge. It’s owner and protector. I am not her and cannot offer you the same protection she did, though I swear I will do my best. That clearing, the Refuge, is my home. Same as Helmrest is yours. Ask yourselves this. Who would you trust to be the Keeper of Helmrest? Mr. Winnow? Or Elia?”

Jack was beat. He had no idea speaking in front of a crowd was as taxing as this, much less keeping your face straight. He wanted to shout, to laugh and to set fire to Mr. Winnow at the same time.

But he had to end it.

“There’s been enough talking today. By those who deserved to talk in front of you and those who didn’t. Let’s put this to a vote. People of Helmrest, by raise of hand, choose your next Village Head. All those who would see Elia as your new Village Head, raise your hand!” he screamed.

He knew there were hands being raised. He knew that. Be that was a whole lot of emotions he had just subjected himself too. He couldn’t count. Couldn’t tell how many of them were. It was like trying to count the stars, when one was inches away from sleep. His vision swam.

It was Elia’s voice that snapped him to attention, quietly uttering a word.

“Jack…”

His opened his eyes again and focused. A sea of raised hands greeted him.