Erya did his best not to grimace as the High priest scolded him.

"My king," the title was forced, like a cat throwing up a hairball, "you must choose an heir now, I have heard reports of increased force offspring sightings around the whole of Arcadia. My latest source says that a horde of them bigger than any we've ever seen has just beached. If you don't honour the curse, we will be overrun."

Erya often wondered where Shakur got his information. The priest always seemed too aware of... well everything.

He had felt the presence in the shield only moments ago and already... he'd always had an idea of the how but proving it. Maybe this would be his chance.

The leaders were filtering into his chambers, he noticed the rift immediately. The split in the group as they spread out around him. Things were going to plan. He would have to divide them even further if this was to work.

Ignoring the High priest completely, he faced the leaders of Aradia.

"Shakur is correct. I've just felt the biggest intrusion of my shield in my time as king. At least thirty Forician's will have landed on our shores by now."

He ignored their shock, their fear, their instant sense of duty. He ignored every instinct that told him how to act, and he continued being their king, their leader.

"That is why I've rectified the tournament — as of now anyone can enter, from any race, gender, or platform...

All they have to do is hunt and kill and return the carcass of one of the Forician offspring."

No one objected, and he didn't expect them to. They were leaders, they knew what Forician's — even pups were capable of. The more numbers, the more chance they had of saving their own people.

He did expect Shakur to object and wasn't overly happy when the priest obliged.

"This is foolish, idiotic, we do not have this long to wait around for a test to enter a tournament. If these beasts get..." he trailed off as if he'd almost gone too far, and then looked Erya dead in the eye. "We protected you once, you are honour bound to do the same."

"Protected," Erya spat, and he knew it wasn't in any way kingly, but...

"You go too far High priest," he too forced the title out. "For years you put Tarks, Aradians, all of us in front of the creatures as a first wave — don't forget why part of that rock is blasted away — it is a reminder of where Aradians, Vutans and Frost clans were kept if they refused to fight."

The high priest rose up and opened his arms as if he were imbued with a power no one else could see. "Sulphites were the only ones who had any sort of power against the monsters, if we died the rest of you would've been slaughtered. We needed defenders while we uncovered abilities, while we —

"You," Erya interrupted. "You sat in your caves, holding onto your stones and watched while we fought with nothing more than man-made weapons against the most powerful creatures in Myrrindia. Don't forget our history Shakur," he decided to forgo the use of a title, "I know you like to tell a different story, one you believe and worship. However, it was your abilities that commanded us, until my line discovered theirs."

He saw the slitted eyes widen fractionally at that. He waited for the priest to admit to what he'd always assumed. The Sulphites had given the power to the Aradian line because they wouldn't take on the curse that came with them.

"And then your line took control."

"My line brought peace to all instead of retribution."

Shè stepped between them. Erya hadn't realised how close they had been. "If you haven't noticed Aradia is at peace, our people live happily amongst each other respecting and even partaking in each other's culture."

"You know nothing girl," Shakur spat without even looking at her.

Shayla held up a firm hand before he could defend her. "You will address me with respect high priest, the same courtesy as I give you. Now," she overrode his voice with her own, "we will get back to the more important matters at hand we have enemies on our shore as we speak. We must begin immediately if we're to prevent a rampage."

She was so calm in the face of Shakur, her poise elegant, her mind steps ahead.

Shakur nodded. "You are right my lady," he managed. Somehow, she had gained even the respect of the difficult High priest. Still, it wasn't Captain. A small dig, but that was the clergyman.

"I would just like you to remember," he leant in and whispered so only they could hear, "that this is your call your majesty, the people's lives are in your hands, your decision controls what happens next."

Erya felt as if he'd been slapped. Those words, the responsibility and yet he couldn't. He wouldn't. He couldn't give Aradia what it wanted, only what it needed, as this was the only way.

Shè seemed to read his mind. "Shakur, don't you think the kings knows what his doing? That the curse requires a single heir chosen by him, chosen," she reiterated, her curls of bronze hair glowed against the light creating a halo of colour, it was almost ethereal, "that requires tests, tournaments, evaluations, training... do you think he can just pass that power to just anyone and hope that they fulfil the curse, that they will be-able to handle it?"

Her freckles almost danced as she tested him. She too suspected that the High priest had methods of knowing more...

Shakur seemed to struggle with her words, as if he wanted to shout a proclamation that Erya thought looked a lot like: I KNOW YOU CHANGED THE CURSE!

But he didn't. He simply bowed his head, the polished surface reflecting two untrusting expressions. "I have Aradia's best interests at heart. I simply want to keep us safe."

"Well," Shè's response whipped from her as if she'd been waiting for these words, "you can start by sitting down with me and explaining how your precious gift-stones keep appearing at crime scenes wielded by —

"Aradians."

Erya hated to admit it, but the high priest was a worthy adversary, his wit and tongue were quick, the silver-tongued clergyman was what his father had called him.

"Yes," Shayla admitted, biting her lip; a nervous habit that he'd thought she'd abandoned.

"I don't know how the stones are being stolen," Shakur chided, "but I have people looking into it." Shè stopped biting her lip and stared the high priest down. Which wasn't difficult given that she was taller than him. "So, you knew about it, yet you didn't inform the guards?"

"The stones are our business."

"Oh," the captain of the Aradian army cocked her hip, "I know that. I think everyone knows that. The abilities to strengthen a continent, but you'll keep them for yourselves."

She shook her head. "But I didn't ask to get into an argument about the common sense of sharing something that'll make us stronger. I want to know why you knew stones were disappearing and didn't report it."

She stalled his response. "While it might be your business to know about it, it's mine if they start showing up around murder scenes and unexplainable deaths and disappearances."

Erya had only just realised she was acting nervous to encourage him to say more.

She was on a roll now. Nothing would stop her from getting to the bottom of Shakur's role or knowledge in the matter of the stone-crimes.

"Excuse me," Merran interrupted.

Erya glanced around him surprised to find so many people in his chambers. He'd forgotten they were there. As a good enchantment could occupy his entire attention, a conversation with Shakur could do the same.

"But don't you think the arrival of Forician's on our shores is more important right now, I mean I know Shè doesn't care about the little towns of Aradia, but I'm sure we all do."

A united force nodded at them.

Shè was staring at Merran as if she wanted to say something and was too afraid of the words, or the response. Erya, for once was confused. He didn't know anything had ever happened between the pair.

Shakur took the respite offered. "Yes, Merran of Temis is right. This conversation doesn't help the towns, the people that will suffer. We are wasting time here. Time, we don't have."

Shè looked for the world like she wanted to argue. Her freckles had disappeared into the red anger colouring her face; however, it was Merran who got there first. Her blue eyes ice surrounded by golden flames. "Spare us Shakur, there are things afoot in Aradia at the moment, and when these Forician's are dispatched, I'd like a word with the man who oversees the possession of these abilities about why the old caves are still filled with them."

It was the first time Erya had ever seen the High priest pale, lost for words and wide-eyed.

"Now, can we go? I want to get ready, so I can return to Temis and —

"I'm afraid that isn't going to happen," Erya interrupted. "To become a true king or queen you will have to see all of Aradia as yours, and be able to trust others to protect it, that is why each of you will go to another leader's city."

Outrage greeted this statement, blurring and blaring into a cacophony of unheard accusations and vulgarities.

"QUIET!" Merran's voice rose above the racket. A voice used to rising over crashing waves and oceanic thunderstorms. The hush descended like the curl of a wave before it broke. "I know why that idea appeals to you, but what Shè's strategy doesn't consider is that we know the lay of our land best. We know the best places to attack, to defend, to fight back and trap."

Erya was still reeling from how she'd guessed that the idea was Shayla's when the captain spoke up. "And its high time you trusted your fellow leaders with that information. If every leader knows the lay of the land, we have a far stronger chance of defending these shores."

"From what exactly?" Merran huffed.

Erya could've cursed Shayla for getting so close to the truth, but his captain was as usual a step ahead. "I would rather be prepared for an attack that never comes, then lost and wrong footed when one does."

"Always has an answer."

"If there is an answer Merran, then I suggest you listen to it. Because if it's an answer it's the right thing to do."

Merran chose to ignore her. "So where am I going and who's going to Temis?"

"That information will be provided when all competitors are informed tomorrow."

"Wonderful," Merran said sarcastically.

Erya could only admire the fact that she cared so much about her people that she'd turn on her king and the captain if it meant protecting them.