Kallian's men moved into the camp with haste and quickly began to take over. There was no time for formality; they had to make a defense.

  Kallian walked in, finally barely sober enough to exude some sense of being in charge.

  JaLena runs to Kragon's tent to tell him what happened. She finds Joric already there.

  Kragon's anger at them abandoning the plan turns to joy when he realizes things went to plan anyway.

  He looks out of his tent and sees Kallian going into Janeda's tent. His smile turns to a look of sadness. He knows what comes next. Janeda had helped raise JaKaelath, and she defended her from Kallian trying to take her and execute her. She would take this hard, and take it hard she did.

  The howl was so loud that half the camp could hear it. Kallian walked out smiling. He headed towards Kragon's camp.

  Entering without warning, "Has JaLena told you? I found your Ponu bitch out there, he says, words still slightly slurring, I killed her. If you know what's good for yourself, you won't seek revenge."

  Kragon knows he can not look too happy with the way things unfolded. "She left me...she made her choice. I gave her everything, defended her, and I got left just because she met a few women in a cave for a week. I am sad that she is dead and wonder if there was any other way you could have done this, but trust me, she is dead to me now in all ways".

  Kallian scoffs, one less person to cry over the Ponu's death, maybe JaMaya is around, she was close to the Ponu.

  He goes to the center of the camp. One of his men tries to get him not to speak right now, maybe rest, but Kallian is insistent.

  "Last night, we were attacked in our base camp. A group of Ponu and people helping the Ponu.

  His slurring becomes worse. They tried to take it all from me...from you, I mean, us. They killed Dukota...he was so loyal, such a friend. They killed Jettal and Jarigal. They loved us and hated the damn Ponu. Damn stinky Ponu.

  We will get back at them, they never felt a fury like mine...I killed that bitch that was hiding here too, JaLena can tell you, shot her dead. Everything will be ok now, just follow me."

  With that, he looks like he is about to stumble over, one of his men grabs him and takes him to rest.

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  JaMaya, another one of JaKaelath's friends, runs into Kragon's tent to find her other friends there.

  She is crying at the news. JaLena and Joric comfort her, not sure if they can tell her the truth.

  JaMaya looks at Kragon, who is trying to hide a smile. Soon it will be over, he thinks, Kallian will be gone, and he can tell JaMaya the truth.

  Kragon goes across the camp's central space to Janeda's tent. He sees her inside, sitting in a chair, just crying, tears streaming down. "You did this, I know you did, Joric, as brave as he is, could not have captured her. Kallian mentioned what JaLena told him, Joric was delivering her after capturing her, the same Joric who couldn't hold a candle to her in the arena?!?!

  From behind her chair, she pulls out a shotgun and aims it at Kragon, "SHE TRUSTED YOU!!!"

  Kragon lowers his head with his hands up as he tries to find cover, "Wait, wait, please, I have to tell you something very important, please!

  "You have five seconds, then I start blasting."

  "Wait, please, I must come closer, I must whisper it."

  "You are not getting my gun."

  "Janeda, please, put down your gun. I need to tell you something very important. Please, there is only so much time until one of Kallian's people comes this way.

  She allows him to come closer.

  "Only 3 people, me, JaLena and Joric know this, that was not JaKaelath. When she went on that mission to the cave, she mentioned she saw a twin there, and she and the woman became friends. It was uncanny the resemblance; her name was Francesca. That's who we gave to Kallian."

  Janeda sits down, overcome by the knowledge. "So JaKaelath is still alive?"

  "I have no idea, but if she is, this gives her a chance," Kragon says.

  "This Francesca woman, you just sacrificed her? Kragon, wasn't there another way?"

  "Janeda, you know what Kallian is like. He would not stop until there was a shotgun blast through JaKaelath's chest or worse. This Ponu...She is the enemy. Besides, technically, I saved her life when I first saw her; I could have just let a Sky Reaper get her. Instead, I saved her thinking it was JaKaelath."

  "That was a person, Kragon, not some piece on a game board. Surely even you know that," she says.

  Kragon looks slightly disturbed that she is not seeing the big picture. "This will keep JaKaelath safer. That's the important thing, right? Soon, his agents will be called back. She'll have a chance. The girl that you love with all your heart will have a chance to survive, to live. "

  Janeda holds her chest. "I need...I need to lie down, tell Joric he is running things until I feel better and can get up.

  "But I thought I ...."

  She cuts him off, "Have him talk to Kallian if needed, muscle men respect other muscle men."

  This old lady needs to rest and cry for an innocent life just taken.

  He walks to the tent entrance

  "Kragon", she calls out, "Thank you." Then she sobs heavily for being grateful for the devious act.