“All right, Balar, hit me. What can the good people of Grenus’ Hovel do for your illustrious clan. The clan that just a few days ago informed me that they wouldn’t be having anything further to do with us thanks to the arrival of another band of my people who seem dead set on causing trouble. People who I gave you my assurances that I had nothing to do with.”

Balar blinked slightly at the tone shift. She’d been content to pleasantly banter with him up to this point but the way he’d looked at Keseryn, assurances that it wouldn’t be an issue notwithstanding, had triggered something in her. She needed him it was true, but she didn’t need him to know that. And, frankly, any system that let kids suffer unduly just by virtue of their parentage wasn’t one she was inclined to be generous to. Granted, Balar wasn’t likely responsible for much of that system, but that didn’t mean she needed to shrug off his dismissal of her new ward.

“Right, well, as you can imagine, things have changed pretty rapidly since that last meeting. It turns out that the new commander is somewhat more of a challenge than we were expecting.”

“What’s he doing?”

“Mostly harrying attacks so far, scaring off packs of game that we hunt, attacking the occasional straggler who’s on a path they shouldn’t be. It’s not that we can’t handle the losses, more that we’re getting concerned. Eventually, we’re going to have to meet them in proper combat, and certain forces within our leadership aren’t very confident of our abilities.”

“I thought your force was hundreds of warriors strong. Aren’t you supposed to be so fearsome that our little camp is barely a blip on your…” she caught herself before she could say ‘radar’ and adjusted “a minor nuisance at best? Care to amend that statement?”

“Well,” Balar paused. “It’s not so much that we have no warriors, more that we’ve chased off a large number of them.”

“What do you mean?”

“The challenge system that we use to maintain our political structure, well… it’s had unintended consequences lately. More and more desperate challengers have been driven into Banishment, leaving us fewer dedicated defenders. Several hundred have been sent away from the clan these past few years.”

“What?! I was lead to believe that you had more than enough population to sustain your ranks even with those banishments. What’s changed?”

“It’s not so much that anything has changed directly, more that it’s reached a critical mass at a time when we can’t afford it. The Head has been more aggressive with challenges to his authority lately and now there are barely enough warriors fit to defend the women and children. Perhaps 70 remain, all fiercely loyal to the Head over all other concerns. Honestly, I fear he’s gone mad.”

“You might have mentioned this sooner, you know.”

“Look, can I be honest with you?”

“Please do.”

“One of the reasons I sought to deal with you in the first place was to bolster my options. The Head has always been a touch erratic, but it’s been worse in recent years. We’ve ignored it as best we can because we had no other option, but I was hoping that seeing your people become a stronger presence would at least cause him to reconsider some of his more drastic measures. Frankly, I’m relieved that you took the girl in. Your willingness to ignore lines of loyalty that my clan has taken too far is one of your greatest advantages.”

“I’m trying, but it’s not a fast thing to orchestrate.”

“Of course not, what matters is that you’re doing it at all. I’d been hoping that perhaps you could eventually end up as a sort of middle ground between the Banished and the clan, but that point has become moot now.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Head has become more paranoid since your countrymen arrived, seeing enemies around every corner, assuming that an assassin’s dagger is ready to strike him the instant he turns his back. He’s not fit to lead.”

“That’s rough. I’m not exactly clear on why you’re telling ME about it, though. I’ve got enough on my plate as is. Be clear, Balar: what are you asking me to do?”

“The Head needs to die. Or, at the very least, be removed.”

“Cool, no argument from me. This guy that I’ve never met sounds like a real problem for you and your people. It also sounds like something that’s not within my power to take care of. Mate, I’ve got a small mining camp with some warm bodies that are barely qualified to dig rocks. They’re not warriors. Even if they were, what the hell good would it be to have my people take out your leader? You’ve already got a Demon Army at your doorstep looking to do that. Granted, they’re looking to kill more than him, but still…”

“There’s another way,” Balar said cautiously.

“Do tell.”

“YOU could challenge him.”

“I already thought about that, I was told that only clansmen can make a challenge like that. And that he gets to handpick a champion to fight in his stead. Isn’t that why everyone keeps getting banished? No one strong enough to take on this guy he’s got fighting for him?”

“Ordinarily, yes. The rules are fairly strict on that. But, given the right pressure at the right time, I think we can force him into it.”

“Into WHAT, exactly? Speak clearly, man, I’m running out of patience here.”

“With the right insults, you could taunt him into a battle for his personal honor. It’d be a risky thing, and I couldn’t guarantee your safety, but…” he paused. “When we first met, you told me that you wanted to conquer this land bloodlessly. I laughed it off, but I’ve thought about it since that first day. You weren’t joking, were you?”

“Nope, I fully intend to do what no other commander here has pulled off: claiming this land fully for the Demon Army. Of course, most of those commanders were more interested in the land than the people, happy to throw away lives just for the hell of it, but I’ve got different standards. I’d see to it that your people were treated fairly as members of the Demon Alliance, not as fodder to be slaughtered.”

“I wish that I had more options,” said Balar, “but I really don’t see them. Perhaps, if we had more time, there’d be another way to achieve your goals, but this is likely your only chance. If you get HIM to challenge you to combat, you’ll have the opportunity to claim his position. He’ll still get his champion, but you’ll have the fight that opens up a chance.”

“How would that even work? I can’t exactly stroll into your city and get an audience with the man, even if I DID have the right words at my disposal. Even if I were open to this idea of yours, and I’m not saying I am, how could I get close enough to him for any of this to matter?”

“You’d be my guest. My position as chief trader for our people gives me certain liberties. I can arrange for you to be at the next banquet he puts on.”

“You’re about to go to war and he’s throwing banquets?”

“He has to do what he can to keep his allies content. More than that, I think he needs them for himself. He craves the approval, the adoration, of others. It’s an addiction that’s gotten worse in recent years like everything else. I don’t know that he’d be able to handle going more than a week without one of them.”

“Lovely, you want me to go into the city on your behalf and pick a fight with a deranged narcissist who happens to have a personal army and some sort of super-warrior at his disposal to save your people from a problem you should’ve taken care of. Seriously, if he’s that big a threat, just take him out yourself.”

“There’s no way I could get that close, and even if I did, his personal guard would kill me before I had the chance.”

“How can I even be sure that anyone would follow me after I defeat his champion?”

“There’s no guarantee, I’m afraid, but the old rules are still observed by most of our people, he’s just twisted them to his benefit. If you can best him within those rules, he’ll have no way out.”

“And how would it even work if I DID win? What would happen after that?”

“Well, you’d be our leader, able to order us as you see fit, within certain constraints. It would be an unprecedented situation, though. Visiting humans have been caught up in a challenge from time to time, but never a member of another race, let alone from the Demon Alliance. It might take time to figure out, but I imagine that with the pressing issue of the invading force, many of those considerations would be put aside.”

“This is a bit insane, you know that? Also, while you couldn’t possibly know this, I’m really getting tired of finding myself caught up in gladiatorial combat. I’d really prefer some sort of bureaucratic position with lots of red tape to cut through rather than lots of flesh.”

“If you don’t think you can do it, I won’t push you, but my options are few right now.”

“Well, it would save me a lot of trouble, if I’m honest. I’d rather not spend years trying to build up the relations to convince you all that you should just sign up with me by virtue of the great civilization I’ve built out of a mineshaft. When’s this next banquet going to happen?”

“Three days from now. We’d have to leave immediately.”

“Christ. You’re not giving me a lot of notice here, pal. Let me guess, I have to come alone too. Wouldn’t want to spook anyone with your little trap, would we?”

“I’m afraid so.”

She sighed and pressed her fingers into a triangle, then proceeded to tap her forehead with the tips of her index fingers.

“I’m going to need a few minutes to think about it. Go wander the camp, if you like. Maybe stop by Cookie’s for some of his delicious gruel. Oh, and any stuff you brought to trade today, that’s a gift for even getting me to consider this scheme of yours.”

“Fair enough,” he said, then took his leave.

“Well, Curly,” she asked the goblin that had been hiding in a darkened corner of the tent. “What do you think?”

“I think you should stay away from that man and his schemes. The risk is way too great even if we assume he can be trusted which, to be clear, we absolutely should not be doing.”

“You’re not wrong, but on the other hand, it’s kind of perfect. Kill two birds with one stone. Claim this territory for Astrid properly, get the humans directly under my control, and as a bonus: steal a win out from under Claymar’s nose.”

“That’s assuming that you WIN this challenge. And that they decide to honor your victory. And that you can keep the humans in line after they accept that victory. AND that Claymar just accepts that you beat him. That’s a lot of assumptions to rest your future on, Lenore.”

“Hey, as to the first: I’m offended that you think there’s a chance that I might not win.”

“And the others?”

“Well, you’re not wrong, but it’s rude of you to point it out. Look, we’ll figure it out as we go.”

“Except that WE don’t get to figure anything out here, Lenore. It’ll just be you. I’m very good at stealth, but even I wouldn’t be able to sneak into their city without being spotted.”

“True. Tell you what. Follow me until we get to their city. If he tries anything beforehand, we’ll know that this is all a trick and you’ll be able to save me. If it turns out that he’s telling the truth, though, well… I’ll just have to come up with something, won’t I?’

“You’re being awfully cavalier with your life. You know that, right?”

“Yeah, but it’s my life to risk, and I think the risk is worth it.”

“If you say so, boss.”