Hours later, Hadigama awoke in a Yugdab medical center, immediately groaning as he regained consciousness. His sweat-drenched arms sizzled and twitched as he attempted to use his muscles to rise to a sitting position. With great effort, he raised his wrist to his eyes and grinned at the green blood coursing through his veins. Finally, he turned his head sideways on the pillow and glanced at his reflection on a polished metal bowl at his bedside. His smile grew at the sight of his jet-black eyes with streaks of orange running across the glossy surface. 

With a grunt, Hadigama shoved himself into position to sit with his legs dangling over the bedside. He nodded as a trio of medics rushed over from the line of warriors lined up against the wall. 

"Sir, how do you feel?" The first medic inquired as he wiped the champion's arms down with a rag. 

"I feel empowered. In fact, so much power courses through my body that I currently lack the strength to utilize it. Other than that," Hadigama declared as he hopped down from the bed, "I am completely fine." 

"That's great to hear, master." 

A lean Yugdab in flowing black robes stepped up to Hadigama with curiosity in his eyes. "Master, an unsettled matter remains, one that requires your attention." 

"What's that, Jahn?" 

"You have not yet appointed a successor to Govlo's position as your executive officer, after that cursed man's treachery." 

"You are correct." Hadigama motioned two men forward to stand at Jahn's side. "Timethe, Hendell, and Jahn, you have all served me for many years. And you all bear potential merit to take up this honored position. Nonetheless, you all have your glaring flaws." 

"How have I wronged you, master?" Jahn demanded, "I promise, I will make it right!" 

"You have not wronged me directly. You have merely vexed me with your infatuation with pleasantries and your refusal to kill a woman before at least kissing her first." 

"I will repent, master, I—" 

"Will be quiet." Hadigama finished before resting his gaze on Timethe. "You might be a worthy successor if you would make up your mind to think for yourself. Not only that, but every time I bring you along to battle, you acquire a new injury. Pathetic." 

Timethe nodded meekly and stepped back into the shadows. 

"And Hendell, you are perhaps the worst man of all in my inner circle. Your bloodlust rivals that of a sheep. Your dedication to improving your physical fitness is equal to my desire to embrace the Christian Scriptures. And your love for Anjaflic is as cold as Timethe's blade!" 

Hendell prostrated himself at Hadigama's feet. "I will improve myself, my lord! Please, just spare me my life!" 

Hadigama chuckled. "I will do more than that. I love to exalt the unexalted and honor the dishonored. The best way to make a worthless man useful, is to put him to work. Therefore, I hereby declare you, Hendell, son of Samol the lesser, to be my new executive officer!" 

Hendell remained at Hadigama's feet. "Thank you for this honor, my master." 

"You need not thank me now. Instead, gratify me with fresh victories in Anjaflic's name. Rise, and prepare our men for an invasion of Kabor. We will set out as soon as you have finished." 

"Yes, my lord." 

Hendell rushed off a moment later, leaving Hadigama to discuss his physical therapy with the medics. 

********************* 

"Are you kidding me?" Qwarten shouted at Senator Karner Enfijo two days later, "We're giving you a heads-up about an incoming Yugdab attack so you can prepare for it, and yet you want to focus on the fact that we didn't ask you to attack them? Seriously, you guys can go—" 

"I am sorry to say this, Major Rakon," Karner began slowly, "but the law remains steadfast. Miss Oriann, Miss Lanton, Mr. Korgo, and yourself carried out an unprovoked attack on individuals who are legally considered innocent in this matter. You took the law into your own hands, quite violently, I might add, and that is the issue currently under discussion." 

"Wait a minute," Kahiri began with crossed arms, "so you mean to tell us that subjecting people to brutal treatment in a gladiatorial arena is innocent? Murder, both attempted and successful, is innocent? And human sacrifice—" 

"I can certainly understand where you are coming from, Miss Oriann. However, that is beside the point. The fact remains that the law condemns you for your unwarranted actions." 

"What about them?" Meg shouted at the top of her lungs, "When's the stupid law gonna get around to condemning them for verified murder? They killed a legend among us! They murdered Kabor's beloved Erok Fyervor!" 

"A pity indeed, Miss Lanton. We shall punish the Yugdabs for their crimes in due time. However, I have yet to hear a solid argument in defense of your own actions. Mr. Korgo, do you have any input on this matter?" 

Jeng shrugged. "Nothing to add. They're right. You're wrong." 

The senator stuttered for a few moments before he regained his composure. "I see that you are all fools, not to be swayed easily. However, perhaps I may persuade you by means of example." Karner pointed at Dr. Swedo, who sat in the corner of the room and peeled a grape. "Behold an excellent, upstanding citizen, such you ought to be!" 

Swedo put a hand to his chest as a grin spread across his face. "Well, I am honored to hear you say so, Senator. I always strive for—" 

"You really decided to use him for an example?" Qwarten questioned with a furrowed brow, "That jug of dry water who rubs me the wrong way every time he opens his mouth is an example of what I should be? No way!" 

"Well, if you require another example of an ideal citizen, please look no further than Chris Corvin." 

Chris frowned at the senator and crossed his arms. "Woah, why're you pointing at me? I'm with them on this, actually." 

Kahiri smirked at the senator as he visibly struggled to find becoming words to express his opinion. "Listen, Senator, you're not convincing us anytime soon. I think the best thing you can do right now is help us come up with a battle plan. Of course, that's assuming you're planning to actually accomplish something today." 

Karner coughed and straightened his suit jacket. "Of course I do. I shall arrange for one of our generals and perhaps a handful of military advisors to meet with you. However, mark my words, I wish never to see your faces again." 

Qwarten nodded. "Alright, just what I wanted to hear. And the feeling's mutual, by the way. Send me a letter when you've got it sorted out." 

"And pardon them for their 'crimes' while you're at it, Senator." Chris added with a grin. "We're not gonna win this battle if they're sitting in prison cells when the enemy arrives." 

"It shall be done. Farewell, gentlemen ... and ladies." 

"See you later—" Qwarten began before Kahiri shoved her hand over his mouth and opened the door for him. After he stepped through, he frowned at the archer. "What'd you cover my mouth for?" 

"I sensed a foul curse coming, Qwarten. I didn't want you offending the poor senator more than you already did." 

"Your intuition's sharp, then." Qwarten turned to the entire group following behind him. "What do you say we all go and grab a bite to eat?" 

Swedo tilted his head with confusion written all over his face. "Just one bite, Major? That sounds very unsatisfying." 

Kahiri's reaction consisted of a mixture of sigh and laughter. "It's a Rebtenese expression, Swedo." 

"Oh. Those always baffle me." 

"A lot of things do that." Chris retorted with a snide grin. 

With that, the group continued on to exit the senate hall, rejoined with Govlo outside, and crossed the street to enter a popular restaurant called The Starving Man's Portion. 

******************** 

Half an hour later, the circle of warriors found themselves in the midst of a hearty meal in a candlelit corner of the restaurant. As they devoured the delicious food, Kahiri, Qwarten, Chris, and Govlo carried on a lively conversation about a constantly shifting set of topics, with Jeng adding his input every ten minutes or so. Swedo sat quietly for the most part, only speaking when he found an opportunity to inject some medical knowledge into the dialogue. Meanwhile, Meg drank her troubles away with round after round of vodka. Any contribution of hers to the conversation was promptly dismissed as nonsense, as her inebriated stomach guided her words instead of her brain. 

Finally, everyone but Meg snapped to attention as a sharply-dressed Kaborian general stepped up to their table, with a trio of lower-ranking officers close behind. "Excuse my interruption, men, but I've come to introduce myself." 

Qwarten nodded. "Get on with it." 

The general reached out his hand to Qwarten. "I'm General Davinte Enfijo of the Kaborian Army. I see you're a major yourself, sir." 

"That I am. Major Qwarten Rakon, of the same army. Any relation to that wacko, Senator Karner Enfijo?" 

Davinte chuckled. "Unfortunately, yes. My uncle is quite a polarizing figure. His actions seem to make people either hate him, or love him just as fiercely. Now, I'd like to introduce you to my military advisors—" 

Qwarten held up his hand. "Listen, I don't care what their names are, and I'd immediately forget anyway. Just pull up some chairs and sit down." 

The advisors glanced at one another, their faces not at all concealing the offense they'd taken at the major's words. With more or less passionate shrugs, they followed the general's lead and seated themselves at the table. 

Davinte took a deep breath and removed his hat. "So—" 

"Why'd the beef nugget cross the road?" Meg slurred from across the table. 

"Shut your mouth until you have something useful to say!" Qwarten snapped. Then he turned to the general again. "Sorry, what were you saying?" 

"I'd like to ask whether you'd like to discuss our battle plans here, or elsewhere, at a different time." 

Kahiri grinned. "Considering we're enjoying a tasty meal right now, you might want to join us, and then we can begin." 

Davinte nodded and waved the waiter over. After he and his men had ordered their food, the general sighed, slipped a map out of his pocket, and laid it on the table. "Now, where shall we begin?" 

Qwarten slid the map closer to his plate. Then over the course of the next hour, he slowly and methodically laid out his battle plan, with General Enfijo and his advisors also contributing heavily. Occasionally, the others at the table would chime in as well, except for Jeng, who contented himself with eating and listening, and Meg, who had become so intoxicated that even nonsensical speech evaded her. 

******************** 

A/N: Well, both sides are preparing for a final showdown. Who's getting excited? 

I know I am, anyway. And I know I usually make longer author's notes for this book, but I'm on a bit of a tight schedule today. So with that, I wish you a great day, and hope to see you in the comments and next week's update. :D