Unicorn Point

“Let’s make it a war of animals,” Purple said. “Ours ‘gainst thine.” But Blue demurred, for there were more vicious animals supporting the Adverse Adepts than there were supporting Stile, and some of them were dragons and rocs: it would not be a fair contest.

“But my golems will meet thy animals,” Brown offered.

“Thy golems be impervious to pain!” Purple retorted.

“We be going round and round,” Translucent said impatiently. “Let’s hear a suggestion from the animals, then!” He glared around, but there was no peep from the animals.  “What stuff be ye made o’?” he demanded. “Here we have a simple matter o’ dominance to settle; must it come to total internecine warfare? Why, this pup could do better than that!”

“Ask the pup, then,” Purple snapped.

Oops! Forel tried to hide under a chair, but he was in boy form and could not do it before all eyes found him out.

“Aye,” Translucent said, his gaze fixing on him. “How wouldst thou settle this?”

Forel knew he was stuck for it. He could not try to avoid answering, however foolish he made himself, because he was bound to do what Translucent asked. Well, all he could do was say something, and let it be rejected with disgust, and then he would be off the tooth.

“I—methinks I—I would have a siege,” he said, remembering a game of battle he had played with other pups. “Two sides, each laying siege to the other’s flag, and the one who captures the other flag without losing its own—“ He stalled, cowed by their silence.

“A siege,” Translucent said, nodding. He glanced at Kur relgyre. “Would thy Pack meet similar o’ ours in such a game?”

“Aye,” the Pack Leader said immediately. “An it be limited to an equivalent force, and no Adept magic.”

Translucent gazed at the remaining animal leaders. “Any o’ ours to meet this Pack?”

There was a clamor of response. They were all ready! Forel was amazed; had not expected to be taken seriously.

“I see the dragons be ready,” Translucent said. “Now—“

“Nay!” Stile cut in. “Werewolves be brave, but that be foolish. Match them ‘gainst landbound creatures, near their size.”

“Nay, size be no issue,” Kurrelgyre protested. “Make the group o’ similar strength, be all. Few large, or many small, and we’ll accommodate.”

“Few large,” Translucent said. “Such as ogres—“ Here the ogre chief raised a huge calloused fist. “Or many small, such as goblins.” And the goblin chief jumped up, eager to oblige.

“Put up sample tribes, and let us choose one,” Stile suggested.

“My tribe will do it!” the goblin said.

Stile turned to Kurrelgyre. “Wouldst meet that one?”

“Aye,” the werewolf said. “They be a long-time nuisance; my wolves would be glad to deal with them.”

“Then I think we have a match,” Stile said.  But there was another clamor from the other representatives; they all wanted to participate.

“Make it three sieges,” Translucent suggested. “Each a different set.”

“But without blood,” Stile said.

“Without blood!” Purple exclaimed. “Mayhem be the point!”

“Nay. The point be thy style or mine. I will not shed blood unnecessarily to establish a bloodless settlement. Blunt the weapons.”

Purple was disgusted, but in the end the compromise was forged: Adept magic on both sides would be used to make any wounds nonlethal. A wolf’s bite might seem to tear out a goblin’s throat, and blood would flow, but that part would be illusion; the goblin would be unconscious for the duration, but unhurt. A goblin’s club might knock a wolf senseless, but the wolf would wake after the siege unharmed.  They also set up three sieges: first a vampire Flock would engage a harpy Flock, then a unicorn Herd would meet an ogre Clan, and finally the wolf Pack would settle with the goblin Tribe. Two victories would settle the issue, and that side would gain the Book of Magic and the services of Rovot and Bane, or would recover Flach and keep the rest. In short, the future dominance of the frame would be decided by these contests, just as would be the case in Proton.  “But what if one side wins Proton, and the other Phaze?”

Brown asked.

Translucent laughed. “Then we play more games, and yet more, till the sides agree.”

Stile nodded. He wanted the issue settled as much as Translucent did.

So it was agreed. A committee was appointed to work out the details, and the others dispersed. Forel reported to Barel in the globe, who relayed the news to Nepe, verifying what the rovot was sending to the other side.  “Before I go,” Translucent said, approaching Kurrelgyre.  “I promised a small reward, and my hostages behaved well, and I keep my word. Wolf, I would exchange this one,” he indicated Forel, “for another.” He glanced at Forel. “Who be Flach’s bitch?”

“He has no bitch, only his Promised,” Forel said.

“Whate’er. Who be she?”

“Sirelmoba.”

Translucent returned to Kurrelgyre. “Forel for Sirelmoba. She would keep him better company on the isle.”

“Agreed,” Kurrelgyre said.

“One thing more. This one be blooded. He made his first Kill on the isle.”

“Agreed,” the Pack Leader said again.