"Run this by me again," said Riley, "just so I`m clear. You`ve got a fight at Stormhawk. Why?"

　　"Its a fight to the death. I`m sorry I`m only bringing this up now but it should be quick."

　　"And this is against the guy you`re dating?" said Wolfe.

　　"Yes."

　　"Last time when I asked if you kidnapped him, it was a joke," said Wolfe. "For real this time, did you kidnap him?"

　　Magpie starting to snicker.

　　"I mean, you could sort of construe it that way." Magpie clamping a hand over her mouth and being forced to stop, unable to hold it in. The three of us waiting for her. "But that`s only because I tricked him into fighting me the first time, and then some stuff happened and we started working together."

　　"This is your second fight to the death with this guy?" said Riley.

　　"Yeah. He`s in Stormhawk, what do you want?"

　　"Jack`s in Stormhawk and he-" Pausing. "Okay, Jack can be pretty stupid." Then looking at me. "And so can you."

　　"Hey, Mac, what`s the forfeit?" said Magpie, impish and enjoying herself immensely.

　　"Nothing crazy. If he wins he wants me to spruce up my wardrobe, probably brighter colors or show a little more skin. It sounds like fun, I`m going to do it anyway. If I win, I want us to go on vacation. I`d been thinking Ossen, hit the hot springs and volcanoes, maybe the beach, but maybe we`ll go back to that village on Swan Lake. I`ll see what he wants to do. We`re both going to need a temporary schedule change for it, and he`ll need to request some days off at the house. I figure we`re going to do that either way, too."

　　"That`s actually really sweet," said Wolfe. "But why a fight to the death? I have to assume it was your idea."

　　"Kate, its," gesturing with my hands, trying to grasp the ephemeral, "it represents a commitment. Not to be entered lightly and taken very seriously. Afterward we`ll kiss and make up."

　　"When you put it that way, it sounds romantic," said Magpie, sticking her tongue out at me.

　　"I think it sounds phenomenally stupid," said Riley. "You`re going to win, right?"

　　"Sure. I mean, hopefully. But because the stakes are low I`m not really feeling the pressure. I was originally going to buy some scrolls, come in with like a hundred on spells on me. Didn`t do that. I was thinking about poisoning my weapons, there`s this snake over in the swamp to the west of here, I was going to use its venom. Didn`t do that, either. I`ve only got one trick." Pulling out my wand.

　　"Mac, aren`t all those, including that, specifically against the rules?" said Magpie.

　　"Tournament rules. Last time I won using this, also against those rules." Revealing the knife with the red glow, then putting it back. "This time we agreed it wasn`t allowed. Didn`t say anything about wands or any of the others." Addressing Wolfe. "That`s another important reason for making it a fight to the death. Everyone knows the stakes so there`s no arguing over each and every trivial detail."

　　"But if that`s the case," said Wolfe, "what if he did any of those things you said you didn`t do?"

　　"Then he deserves the win. I have to respect him for taking the initiative." Returning the twisted branch to its place.

　　Entering the colosseum plaza and heading toward the Stormhawk house. Stationed on either side of the door, and balancing plates of food on their laps, a couple of guards on the morning shift.

　　"Evie, good morning," said the one on the left. Glancing at the rest of us to extend his greeting our way. "You want me to get Jack?"

　　"Good morning," she said. "Actually I was wondering if we could come in. I heard there was going to be a spectacle today." Her eyes quickly flicking over in my direction. Yeah, yeah, Evie, laugh it up.

　　"Oh, you heard about that?" The one on the right spraying out some crumbs with a guffaw. "Its probably not going to be for a little bit, but c`mon in, the more the merrier. Feel free to grab some breakfast if you want."

　　"Thank-"

　　"If we`re early I have business with Lane. I know he`s in today. Tell him I`m here."

　　"Lucy." Riley`s warning quiet but firm. The two guards turning their attention to me and the one on the right stabbing the air with his fork.

　　"Look sweetie," he said, "take a page from your friend, here. Be polite. I don`t appreciate you snapping orders at me. If you want to talk to Lane you`re going to have to make an appointment."

　　"Tell him Macarthy`s here to see him. I`m sure he`ll make the time to see me."

　　"You`re...?"

　　"The spectacle." Riley helpfully adding.

　　The two guards briefly looking at each other and then the one on the left standing up and heading into the house.

　　"Why did you bring us here today?" said Wolfe. Her attention fixated on the leftover guard. Oh, she can feel my anger but she doesn`t know exactly why.

　　"Nico wanted a rematch and I obliged. We agreed to do it here because he`s got something to prove. A few days ago I found out my deal with Sam is done." Pointing at the guard. "Because these people can`t just let things be."

　　"We`re here as backup, then."

　　"I`m sorry to let you know like this."

　　"Don`t be."

　　"Mac, you really should have said something before we got here."

　　"Yes," said Riley, pointedly, "you definitely should have."

　　"You have nothing to apologize for," said Wolfe.

　　The door to the house opening and the other guard returning, breaking the ongoing staring contest between Wolfe and the other guard. "You can all come in," he said, and then, to me, "Lane does want to speak with you."

　　Filing in and being hit with the smell of breakfast from the dining room off to the side of the entrance. Members of the house, some partially geared up for the day, talking too noisily, eating too noisily, banging around and simply existing too noisily. Their breakfast trays of scrambled eggs, meat and bread. Magpie glancing around the entry and peeking into the dining room. Riley`s focus on the golden statue of a man in the entry, his arm raised in victory, with a confident expression on his face. Wolfe keeping her eyes on the newly returned guard.

　　"I shouldn`t be long. I`ll let you know how it goes." Giving them a little wave.

　　Following the guard up the solid wooden staircase leading to the second floor. Passing several members of the house in the hallway, in various states of dress, some clearly having just woken up. All of them towering over me. Keeping my eyes on them as they passed, returning their curious or neutral glances with squint eyed suspicion. A door opening and a girl coming out in her underwear, giggling, not a care in the world, holding a towel. Followed by what had to be her boyfriend in a similar state. Finally getting to a door, my guide opening it and then gesturing for me to enter.

　　The outer room of a suite. The sounds of the house completely muffled as the door closed behind me. Some boots and shoes lined up by the door, a coat rack currently occupied by several different cloaks and coats of various colors and styles. The main feature, a table covered by an unblemished, white linen cloth. Lane and a woman having breakfast together, fruit, ham, deviled eggs and toast. Almost doing a double take, the woman eating with Lane a member of my book club.

　　Walking over to the table, the flash of recognition on the woman`s face turning to worry, glancing back and forth between Lane and myself. Nodding in greeting at her.

　　"Would you care for something to eat?" said Lane.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

　　"No. I have something very quick to say to you and then I`ll be leaving."

　　"Don`t be like that," he said, patting the table, "I want to discuss something with you. Please, take a seat." Gesturing at the unoccupied chair next to the woman. Putting down my pack, slowly reaching over, pulling the chair out and then taking a seat.

　　"Diane," said Lane, "it may be difficult to believe, but this is Macarthy. The Macarthy."

　　She was aware of that before you spoke, Lane.

　　"Call me Lucy, please," holding my hand out to her. "Nice to formally meet you." Trying to look neutral, trying not smile. Extremely difficult. Bringing her hand up to meet mine. Releasing.

　　"Lane," turning back to him, "after everything I`ve experienced, I`ve developed an immunity to certain things, an indifference of sorts, but if you ever threaten my friends again I`m going to visit horrors on you like you`ve never imagined. Do you understand me?" Starting out in a normal conversational tone and ending up a hiss.

　　"Is that how you interpreted it?" he said, dabbing his lips with a napkin. "That is definitely not what I intended."

　　Studying his face. No tell whatsoever. A skilled liar. Or maybe he actually believes his own bullshit, making him a liar of truly exemplary skill.

　　"In that case, my apologies for misinterpreting." Trying to calm back down. "If you weren`t threatening my friends I can let bygones be bygones, but I have no desire to join your house."

　　"Macarthy," he said, then holding up a hand," Lucy. I really wish you`d hear me out before shutting the door like that. Its not just for your sake that I`m saying this, its for everyone`s sake. When you ran into Barnes a couple cycles back you really ignited something. The last time you came here you had that disguise and, ever since hearing about what happened, he`s been convinced you`re out to do him harm. And, after what you did to Holly, its no surprise House Koln is out for your blood."

　　"I did nothing to Holly."

　　"Abduction and rape is hardly nothing."

　　"That`s not what happened."

　　Lane glancing over at Diane before taking a sip from his cup. "I suppose the point is moot, and you now lack the requisite equipment to perpetrate such violence in the future, so I`ll look past it." Placing his cup back down in exactly the same position and place that he`d found it. "Macar- Lucy. The problem isn`t even House Koln, its that you`ve accumulated such an extensive collection of enemies. I know you thought you were safe under Mr. Phelps, but people are starting to talk. I was hearing things that I thought may lead to very bad outcomes, for everybody, which is why I decided to step in. Sam is a charmer, a flatterer, but his background, his whole mindset, is based on working within the constraints of a system. Simply put, he`d be incapable of dealing with what was coming."

　　"So things were all nice and copacetic and you fucked with it because you thought, never mind Sam, because you thought I couldn`t take care of myself? I think you`re full of shit."

　　"You? I wasn`t thinking about you - I`m sure you have that covered - I`m trying to think about everyone else." The man looking out the window. "I built Stormhawk into the largest house," by cannibalizing the Warrior Guild, "by appealing to what people need. People need stability, they require it." Looking back at me. "You should be aware of that. Do you know what Stormhawk spends most of our time doing?"

　　"You send out your members on patrol, the same areas, for months at a time."

　　"Stability is not glamorous, but it doesn`t have to be. Protecting farms and mines and towns and merchants and roads allows a better life for everyone here. You may think that sort of work is beneath you, but please understand the value it has."

　　"Lane, I didn`t just blow in, I know better than that. Losing some creature comforts that we`ve gained over the years would be no great loss." And since you became the largest house, almost a year now, things are not so exceedingly different as a result.

　　"Fine," he said, shrugging, "you may not be interested in contributing to the good work, but I`m sure your talents could be put to use in other areas. Understand, however, that the majority of my members are perfectly happy doing it. Its relatively light work, they`re out walking around in the fresh air, and each cycle they collect their pay. Most people don`t need more than that. They don`t want more than that. Give them more choices and they end up getting upset. Too confusing or difficult."

　　He may not be wrong, but what`s actually better for a person? Being well fed and content, and with everything predictable, or being upset and struggling? Seems like a simple answer, but the answer isn`t necessarily so simple.

　　"I imagine you thought my guild was an impediment to your stability." His expression souring at my change of topic. "And because of that, because of what you did, what you all did, the absolute last thing I`m interested in is helping to contribute to it."

　　"You`re sure about that?"

　　"Positive."

　　"You need to understand," he said, shaking his head, "its not even my house you need to worry so much about. There are a lot of people who don`t know about your situation and, if they did, your life would suddenly get much more difficult."

　　"I thought you said you wanted stability." Feeling the mania starting to stir, a grin starting spread on my face.

　　"I do," he said, " but if you`re going to be difficult, the only remaining choice I have is to shine the light of day on you. I promise you, its not going to be me and mine causing you the most trouble."

　　"I highly doubt that. You already fucked up my deal with Sam, and I`m not sure what bright ideas you and your band of special children are going to dream up, but I`d recommend you do your best to keep a lid on them. You`re going to get bloodied and you`re going to look like bullies. That`ll only help me."

　　"Bullies?" His face screwing up in disbelief. "Do you really think anyone is going to sympathize with you? I seriously doubt it. You`ve caused to much destruction and misery over the years. Or are you planning on using your so-called friends as human shields? Coward. Women should be cherished and protected. If you truly cared about them you`d cut them loose."

　　"I`m not holding them captive, and if they sympathize with me its because of people like you. You should have left me alone, you all should have left me alone, it never would have come to this."

　　"Letting you hide in plain sight is an affront to everything I stand for."

　　"But you`re fine bringing me into your house? Is that the advice your thing gave you?"

　　"Yes, I am, and yes, it is," he said, squaring his shoulders and sitting up straight. "You`ve proven that you need to be kept under control for the benefit of everyone else. I simply can`t let a villain like you skulk about doing whatever you please."

　　"A villain? You`re deluded. Do you imagine opposing me makes you a hero? What a joke. Lane, if there ever was a hero around these parts, I think we both know what happened. Arrived with the second expedition, killed within twenty four hours of landing here. Maybe if another one shows up they won`t be so unlucky." Lane starting to splutter, furious at my dismissal. "Shine your light of day on me, see if your stability can handle what happens."

　　Standing up. The woman looking at me out of the corner of her eye as Lane visibly worked to compose himself. Walking to the door and then turning around.

　　"Diane," the woman regarding me with a flat expression, "please try and talk some sense into him. I`ll try not to blame you if you can`t."

　　"Don`t you dare threaten-" said Lane, upsetting his neat and orderly breakfast table by getting to his feet too quickly. Closing the door behind me and the rest of his words thankfully muffled. Walking back down the hallway toward the staircase.

　　Lane, you may have a decent grasp of human nature, but you`ve got a huge blind spot. Likely because you`ve never experienced it. Tell everyone you want, but just because someone knows, it doesn`t mean they`ll believe. And then, assuming they do believe, it doesn`t mean they`re going to stick their neck out. Here`s what happens. A person gets a little liquid courage in them, makes some noise, and then their eye gets ripped out out of their socket. The people sitting with them are upset, but they`re too concerned about their friend to really do anything. The other people watching also get upset, but what are they thinking? Glad it wasn`t me.

　　And then what happens? Wheels start to squeak, some get grease and some end up getting greased. Everyone else grumbles, or snickers, or shrugs, and goes about their business. And the five foot tall Runemage? Sympathy points for being attacked on all sides and for being so darn cute.

　　Stopping at the top of the stairs. Being so darn cute. These people, on the other hand, it doesn`t matter, now does it? Probably going to be more than one or two of them there, probably the first time seeing me. Checking the time, half past. Should be plenty. Turning around, bathroom, bathroom, there`s got to be one around here. Here we go.

　　Walking in and one of the showers currently running. Several sinks, one in use, some random guy, bare assed, starting to shave his face with a straight razor. Going to the sink next to him, sneaking a quick peek in the mirror before getting to work. Cloak and left glove off. Tracing, both hands. Running my hands over and through my hair, changing the color to black. Pulling the braid forward, doing the same thing. Turning in the mirror, making sure to get the back and sides of my head.

　　"What are you doing?" said the guy.

　　"I`ve got a thing I`ve got to get ready for. You see any spots I missed in my hair?"

　　"Uh," he said, looking, "yeah, there in the back."

　　Bringing the braid back forward, making sure to get everything this time. Hair done. Face and neck, making it putrid grey, the same color as the Flesh Golems. Closing each eye to get the eyelid. Lips black, continuing horizontally past, adding vertical and diagonal lines to emulate stitches. The shower turning off, a guy and his girlfriend walking out in towels, glancing at me on their way out. Underneath the right eye, dark red, and a trickle down the face. Left side from the cheek, around the eye and onto the forehead, drawing a Rune Trap in red. Cleaning it up, redrawing a piece. Taking a step back. Straight out of the graveyard. Oh, ears, that same grey. Inside the ear. Lifting up the braid, back of the neck. Teeth, black. And my right hand, in black.

　　Looking in the mirror, turning this way and that, everything colored in, looks good. Blinking my eyes. Still normal, not colored in. Hold on, huge combat potential overlooked. How did it take so long to realize? Holding my eyes open and putting a black blot on my eye. Dammit, no difference, my sight in no way obstructed. That seemed like it would have been really effective in a fight to blind people. Aesthetically, though, definitely unsettling. Different color. That dark red, coloring in both eyes. No, can sort of see the pupil and iris. Doesn`t work as well. Changing back to black. Much better.

　　"How do I look?" Turning to him. "I think the eyes and teeth really sell it." Showing him my teeth.

　　"That`s definitely..." he said, trailing off. "Do we have a costume party today? Did I miss a couple cycles, or something?

　　"Nothing like that. Thank you, you`ve been a big help."

　　Checking the time, quarter to nine. The guy finishing up his shave and leaving the bathroom. Wiping down the cloak, changing the green to Stormhawk blue. Putting on the cloak with my braid secured underneath. Final step. Filling in a big cartoon sun on the cloak in Stormhawk gold. Fast, fast, the sloppier the better. Little sun lines all the way around. Googly eyes, circle and a large dot. One looking one way, the other off kilter. Stupid grin. Perfect. Cloak hood up. Doing a last inspection in the mirror and inspiration striking. Putting my cloak hood back down.