Nathaniel:

As planned, the people were not happy with my decision. They threw eggs at Alvin's hut in the morning as I prepared for what I was about to do.

I planned to execute the chief and let the prisoner that was supposed to be executed, go. It's almost like letting the guilty party go free, throwing the murderer back in the street, either way I will be out of office.

"Looks as if it's your lucky day," Alvin said to the girl I was supposed to kill. "Loki here has granted you freedom."

Her gaze disturbed me, she looked at me as if I was the one in the cage and she was the captor.

"You're too kind sir." Her voice was like a siren.

She made her broken spirit look beautiful, she made her strength look invincible. She walked with the weight of the world on her shoulders as she stepped out from her cell, but the weight was like a pair of wings, moving her through the air faster than anyone.

She tripped, gracefully falling, as I caught her with one quick move. She placed her hand on my shoulder and whispered to me these words as I helped her up. "You will never regret being kind. You're souring higher now."

I knew this girl. Where had I seen her before? I watched her leave the prison, her walk so soft and delicate.

"Nathaniel?" Alvin asked. "You ready to kill the chief?"

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't." I laughed.

The two of us went out into the court yard where a loop of rope hung on a tree branch. The chief's neck was within that loop, he was standing on a bucket. Any second now he would be dead, and his blood will be on my hands.

"By the power, which could be taken from me at any time!" I announced, waiting for them to kick me off, the crowd stayed silent. "I now give the order to execute the chief of the tribe."

A man ran over to Alvin, whispering something into his ear. I watched as the people gazed at their chief, as a man kicked the bucket from his legs, immediately he was dead on the spot.

"The chief is dead." The executioner stated.

"By me." I assured the people. "I killed the chief for no good reason. It seems like a quality you don't want in a leader."

Alvin grabbed my shoulder, pulling me back to whisper something into my ear.

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but your luck is just too great." Alvin whispered.

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"The chief was communicating with the Saxons this whole time. They found the letters in his house."

"No." I groaned, of course, of freaking course this had to happen. I just couldn't get voted out of this stupid system.

"Also, you inherit all of the chief's responsibilities when you killed him." Alvin added. "So yeah, have fun with that."

I rubbed my fingers through my hair and placed them on the back of my neck. I just can't come up with a good plan. Should I just go around killing all the chickens in the land, or do I say the people can't use water, do I tax them, do I beat them? How can I get out of here?

I listened to Alvin give the news about their traitor chief to the tribe. He was so open about his speech, like he could speak all he could envision. Which was saying something, considering he only had one eye.

Now the people would rejoice in my name, sing my story at campfires for generations to come. All because I can't do a single thing wrong.

-------------------------------------------

"I hear the chief's son has a bone to pick with you." Alvin tells me a few hours later. "You should probably meet him for a duel."

"Why?"

"You've just got to." Alvin rolled his eyes as he walked with me to the bar. "Just don't question it, and I would appreciate it if you didn't kill him."

We had gathered with the rest of the tribe at the bar. I saw the girl I set free in the corner. I could now remember her name, Stinger. She was here the last time I was. Her white hair was like sunshine in the darkness as she drank from her cup.

"Tell him I'm busy." I said. "I really don't like fighting."

"I will try to negotiate with him." Alvin laughed, pouring another round for himself. "Speaking of upcoming events."

"What?"

"The Winter Ball is tomorrow night." Alvin gives me a look. "And I hear a lot of ladies will be there."

"Ladies?"

"Yeah, ladies. Lots of them."

"Ladies?"

"So many."

"Ladies?"

I can't believe what he is saying. Ladies? What ladies are there in this tribe? Everyone here is a castaway, no one is a gentleman or a lady.

Besides, it's not like I was having dreams about that Stinger girl or anything... cause I was not! It must be what Azun was thinking about. He was always teasing me about all the girls my age, and pointing out to me ones he thought were cute. None of them were cute, they were girls. Girls are... girly.

"Some are quite wealthy." Alvin tried to convince me again. "Looks are quite something here as well."

"Ok." I hesitate. "I'll go, for you, but you are not making me asking any of these ladies to dance."

"Deal, bud."

We drowned our cups together before leaving the bar.