The men guarding Song village had yet to learn to be wary of strangers, despite the two weeks or so since those of the Higher Horizons descended to the First Horizon seeking traces of the Divine Seed that had been spotted down here. Kestra could see it by the way they let lechery into their gaze as they looked her up and down.

She wasn't feeling particularly kind at the moment. In fact, she was a little put out. Graemire's admission that he had spent over a millennium's worth of his cultivated power to grow the forest now containing the blight Nicada had made angered her, and she didn't have a good reason for that anger. She knew she didn't like to see her friends hurting, and though the Emperor of Wood seemed quite relaxed about it all, the whole shape of it felt like he was hurting.

Nicada was, by all practical means, dead, and Graemire's sacrifice wasn't something that had crippled him, just cost him in time spent gathering up his cultivation. There wasn't really anyone for her to be angry at , which made it harder for her to let the anger go.

All of that meant that she had zero patience for idiots like the guard leering at her now, and utterly failing to do her the courtesy of speaking to her while he insulted her.

"She'd look so pretty on her knees, right, Bel?"

Kestra didn't mean to break his jaw when she grabbed him by his face and shoved him down. She just hadn't actually figured out what having a 75 in her strength stat meant for the untempered idiots around her. He was lucky she had even been trying to restrain herself at all.

She didn't let the shock of that accidental harm show on her face, though, as she put him on his knees. "Hm. Too bad you're still uglier than an ox's dripping hind end no matter what position you take."

She released him to fall back, shivering and whimpering in sudden shock. Kestra turned her attention to his fellow guardsman.

"Bel, was it? Lord Ramakith had a troop moving through this area about six or seven days ago. Did they happen to come through this village?" she asked.

Bel's gaze was fixed in horror on his duty partner, but he stammered out, "Y-y-yes! Overnighted, left for Sortalheim! Took three families, said they were bandit spies, to be charged at the city!"

"Thank you," she said, turning away from the village without bothering to enter it.

The satisfaction of lashing out was there, but more of a guilty speck in the face of her personal horror at the unintended damage she had caused.

After this quest, she was absolutely ascending the Horizons, just to get to a place where she wasn't so utterly overpowered.

Kestra was out and about on her own because Ralouf was tending to Yorgin, who was still recovering from what Kestra recognized as Blight Sickness and the people of this realm called Befoulment Deprivations. The Elementals were all depressed from the fight with Nicada, though Graemire was the only one to have lost so much to the aftermath of that fight, and working through their grief by harmonizing the expansion of her personal realm.

Graemire still would have come along with Kestra if she hadn't put her foot down and firmly reminded him that he had power leveled her well beyond the average level of the First Horizon's residents. Now, she was happy enough that he hadn't witnessed her unintended maiming.

Not that the man hadn't deserved it, or that she hadn't been seriously considering doing worse. No, it was the accidental quality to the whole thing that shamed her.

And now she had let her emotions distract her from paying attention to her surroundings. That, or the the shadowy figure who appeared next to her was a very good sneak. Eh, it was likely both, considering it was mid morning and she still couldn't make out distinguishing features on the figure. Kestra decided not to make the same mistake the guards had made.

"Rather rude way with the guards you have," the person beside her commented when she noticed … them?

"Not born human, were you?" she responded, deliberately working to project serenity.

The shadowy figure seemed to consider this. "That obvious?"

"I have been honored by the company of Awakened, and befriended sprites," she said, recognizing a certain petulance to the figure's tone of voice. Then she explained her response. "The guard's words were a threat, to which I returned reasons for his compatriots not to collaborate in threatening me further."

"Offing his opinion on how to increase your beauty was a threat?" Now the shadowy figure sounded confused.

"There's a lot of context in there. First, when one is put upon one's knees one is forced into a subservient role to the other. Next, there was body language insinuating the guard's intent to force copulation.

"Copulation is one of those weird parts of the human experience where the intent and spirit in which the mechanics of the act are undertaken renders it Sacred, mundane, or Profane. To force copulation on another is a Profane act, and is named rape. It is a violation of the Four Agreements that each human must bring to the act of copulation for it to be sacred.

"There was an additional level of insult piled on to all this by his refusal to address me directly while issuing his threat. It's one of those aspects where the social instinct inherent to humans makes it easier for us to recognize than to put into words. Now that I'm trying to explain it, I'm reminded of trying to grasp some of the nuances that a nature sprite can discern between two plants that I can't tell apart but for the location of their planting. My apologies if it's as frustrating for you as that experience was for me."

The shadowy figure seemed satisfied with the explanation.

They walked along for a bit longer, Kestra having to work not to forget the figure was beside her without being engaged in conversation with them.

"You intend to go directly to Sortalheim?" the figure eventually asked.

"Yes," Kestra answered.

"You're going rather slowly." That was said more as a question, but also a statement.

"Mm. I needed to calm myself from my anger with how I handled the threat, and then you showed up. It seems rude to just pick up the pace when you feel like you have more questions you're figuring out how to ask," Kestra said.

"What didn't you like about your handling?"

That got a grimace from Kestra. "I'm still getting used to my new strength. I intended a more controlled thrashing, though at the difference in power between they and me, brute barbarity was probably a sufficient reminder that one should treat strangers with civility, if for no better reason than to cover oneself in the social defenses."

The figure picked up its pace while they settled into a conversation on the purpose of courtesy. Kestra refused to move faster than she could comfortable speak at, and so the distance that would have taken a level five human half a day to cross took them more like an hour. They continued their conversation in the queue to enter Sortalheim, gathering disturbed looks from most of the other humans.

They, apparently, couldn't even perceive the shadowy figure who was now asking all kinds of questions about the etiquette of queuing.

Kestra did spot a pair who had glanced over at them, their gazes turning respectful as they looked to the shadowy figure before they went back to minding their own business.

She was explaining why line jumping was a power play when they got to the guards. There was a six man squad watching the gate, and the ones near enough to hear her looked at Kestra as oddly as most of the local population had.

"Five copper for the gate tax," an older man among the guards announced.

Kestra passed him a Base mana stone. "That is the smallest I have to hand. Feel free to consider it payment for the rest of the line, and keep whatever change is left after today's entrants."

The man's jaw dropped at the mana stone so casually deposited in his hand. There was fear in his gaze as he looked at Kestra, and he bowed to her deep enough he had to brace himself upon his thighs. His voice squeaked about as he shouted, "Honorable Divine! Please look with favor upon our humble Sortalheim!"

Kestra sighed. "Eh, fine. Let's go the obvious route. Where am I most likely to find Lord Ramakith right now?"

"Most Honorable One, he is in the Central Plaza for the monthly Dispensation of Justice!"

"Well, then I'm just in time, aren't I?" Kestra mused. "Share your map of the city with me, please," she politely ordered.

The guard did so, and Kestra located the Central Plaza. She and the shadowy figure got to the edge of the crowd there in a few minutes of weaving through pedestrian street traffic.

There was a stage set up near the edge of the Central Plaza backed up to the Lord's Donjon, with a large cage-style structure to the side and surrounded by guards. The cage was still mostly filled with bruised and battered people. Upon the stage a desk sat on the edge farthest from the cage, with a throne-like cushioned dais raised above it. A scribe sat recording the proceedings at the desk while a pot bellied man with gray speckled brown hair and a long braided beard sat cross legged on the cushioned dais. Four female slaves attended him, at least Kestra thought them slaves by the jeweled collars on their necks and the lack of clothing they had been permitted. Kneeling beside the scribe was a small boy with a hanging gong and padded hammer.

Two guards held a woman between them, her hands bound behind her back, and forced into a kneeling position by the guards' hands on her shoulders.

Kestra spotted Puck in the cage, and the big man looked coldly furious.

The city lord was prattling on. Kestra said to the shadowy figure, "Pardon me, but I need to see to completing my quest now. Thank you for the interesting conversation."

"Ah, I shall watch, then! Have fun!"

Kestra carefully let out the presence of her levels. Her natural inclination to fade into the background helped in hiding in plain sight, but required her to focus to stop masking herself.

The crowd parted before Kestra, getting nervous attention from the guards while those on stage ostensibly ignored her. The lord stopped his prattling and the boy rung his gong. The woman was gagged, but as Kestra got closer she could hear muffled screams of rage coming from her. One of the guards snapped a collar around the woman's neck, and her screams cut off as her body went into convulsions.

Kestra got to the stage about then. Guards with pikes were just starting to bring them to bare when Kestra leaped over them, landing on the stage with an impressive sounding boom.

"City Lord Ramakith, I challenge you before the Ten Horizons for control of the city of Sortalheim and all Oaths of Fealty made to you. I do this this under the charge that you have abused your power and wrought unjust suffering upon the local population. I offer up my own complete subjugation should you, and not your champion, defeat me. Should you send out a champion to fight me and defeat me, my forfeit shall be three Earth grade mana stones."

A Righteous Challenge Has Been Issued Before the Ten Horizons!

Kestra Boom-Smiter the Harmonious has challenged Ramakith Ard the Slaver Lord to Righteous Combat on the basis of Abuse of Power resulting in Unjust Suffering!

The Ten Horizons amends the challenge thusly:

- No champions may take the place of the combatants

- Failure to accept this challenge shall be deemed forfeiture

- No Combat Code shall be invoked; all attacks and defenses are allowed

- The challenge will be won by either gaining the willing, verbal declaration of forfeit from one's opponent OR the death of one's opponent

The winner of the challenge shall receive the following forfeitures.

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Ramakith Ard shall forfeit:

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Control of the City of Sortalheim and title of City Lord

All Oaths in support of Ramakith Ard overseen by the Ten Horizons

Upon his death, all his possessions overseen by the Ten Horizons

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Kestra Boom-Smiter shall forfeit:

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Her Oath of Enslaved Subjugation to Ramakith Ard, or

Upon her death, all her possessions overseen by the Ten Horizons

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Payment Received

The Ten Horizons has received four Earth grade mana stones to compensate for the mana expenditure to oversee your challenge.

Kestra had expected the first blue screen notice, more or less. She even felt the amendments were to her favor. The second one, though, was a mild surprise. She had figured there would be some kind of consequence for invoking the attention of the realm, but she had expected to either pay in personal power or a quest in the realm's service. At least, that had been the impression Inspri got from her queries.

The fat man on the cushion blustered, "What is this! Guards, seize her! I declare you a traitor to my cit--ARHH!"

A bolt of golden lightening lanced through the city lord, and the guards, the slaves, the scribe and gong-boy all backed up, away from the stage with the jerky steps of someone whose bodily control had been seized from them.

Ramakith straightened from the pain that had wracked him with a panicked rage in his gaze. "Fine! I will destroy you for this myself!" he snarled.

Golden light once more crackled out of the sky and the earth, this time meeting in a ball that began halfway between Kestra and Ramakith only to rapidly grow to encase them.

Your challenge has been accepted!

Let the battle begin!

"Will you surrender?" Kestra asked, already drawing out her bow from her storage ring, a war arrow crackling with Lightning Affinity coming with it and setting on the bow string with the unconscious grace of habit.

"Never!" Ramakith yelled, a device that looked quite similar to a hand-held bowgun appearing in his hand from his storage. He aimed it at Kestra and a loud explosion went off.

Kestra had already begun circling the man, and with his declaration, she loosed her arrow, aiming for his eye as she did him the honor of believing him.

Pain bloomed in her side. She apparently hadn't moved quite fast enough.

The Righteous Challenge Has Been Resolved!

Kestra Boom-Smiter the Harmonious has defeated Ramakith Ard the Slaver Lord, winning in forfeit:

- Control of the City of Sortalheim and title of City Lord

- All Oaths in support of Ramakith Ard overseen by the Ten Horizons

- All the possessions of Ramakith Ard overseen by the Ten Horizons

The Ten Horizons imposes a one month moratorium upon challenges for control of the City of Sortalheim.

The golden bubble that had surrounded the combatants dissipated into golden sparkles, and a tink-tink noise came from behind Kestra.

She applied her Minor Healing spell to herself, stopping the bleeding, and glanced back toward the noise. A misshapen pellet had dropped to the ground about where the edge of the barrier had been.

Kestra made Inspri deal with the slew of blue screen notices crying for her attention while she absorbed golden motes from Ramakith's corpse, the anchors of the Oaths of Fealty that had been sworn to him, personally. She ignored the odd feel of a literal horde of loot dropping into Inspri's domain.

There were thousands of these oaths, if not tens of thousands. Inspri received blue screens filled with the names of those who had sworn them, along with the wording for each oath.

Kestra retrieved her arrow and stowed her weapons. She then turned to the guards. "Bring forth every slave in this city. Bring them here. Treat them with compassion. You, you're a captain in the city guard?"

"Yes, City Lord Kestra!" the man bowed.

"Go and bring me the former city lord's family. Again, treat them with compassion, but be firm."

She turned to the scribe who had been recording the legal proceedings. "Return to your seat. There is work to be done."

Then she looked at the dais beside the desk and grimaced. She used a carefully modulated Control Fire casting to turn the cushions to ash, then Control Wood to reform the dais into a more comfortable chair, sweeping away the ash with Control Earth.

Then she summoned up Puck from the group of prisoners awaiting trial. "I do not require that any bow before me," she warned the guards. "And remember to act with compassion while we are sorting out the mire of suffering Ramakith created."

When Puck was brought up, she pulled out a note from her inventory and handed it to him. He read it, frowned, then said, "So long as what ya say in here is true, so be it."

You are released from your Oath of Silence before the Ten Horizons

"Where's Tank?" she asked.

"The fat fuck ya just killed had him strung up fer torturin' in case I 'gave him any trouble' while he was after slapping a collar on ma neck." Fury had turned the big man's gaze molten.

Kestra turned to the guards again. "Summon the remaining captains here. You, go ensure the jailers know to treat any prisoners with compassion while they are awaiting my judgment. Specifically, that means ensuring the wounded or sick are given healing treatments as appropriate to restore them to health, feeding them, and giving them sufficient water.

"Send back word with the state of the prisoner who answers to the name Tank, tall, golden haired fellow with light colored eyes. In fact, if he is in good health, have him escorted here."

Her gaze fell upon the crumpled corpse of the former city lord. She frowned, then used Control Wood to shape a funerary altar from a back part of the stage and then floated it over to sit at the back of the stage.

"Move Ramakith's corpse to the funerary altar. Be respectful of the dead," she ordered another pair of guards. When they had done as she ordered, she pulled some water out of her realm and used it with Control Water to clean away the blood that had poured out of his wound. She distributed the bloody water across several nearby planters.

With a considering look at Puck, she pulled up two more, less ornate, chairs from the wooden stage. "Sit and bear witness," she offered.

"I'd rather go get ma friend," Puck said, his gaze evaluating the guards and Kestra.

"If he's well, he's on his way, and if he isn't, are you a [Healer]? Or would you just be getting in the way of those bound on their lives to now heal him?" Kestra pointedly asked.

Puck's jaw worked as he thought. He then flexed his elbows. "Still tied up, so sitting's going to be difficult."

Kestra nodded. "Do not strike out at the guards when they unbind you. They are now sworn to my service, and I will deal with any needful punishments due them. If you lash out at them, no matter how justified, I will put you over my knee and spank you -- and you will not enjoy the experience. Are we clear?"

An odd look crossed Puck's face. "Well, when you put it like that, I kinda want to see what you think I won't like."

"There will be splinters involved," she promised, and Puck grimaced.

"Ahright, no hitting yer guards," he agreed with a sad sigh.

Once Puck was settled in, Kestra turned her attention to the first of the gathered slaves. This was going to take a while.