AUTHOR'S NOTES: The last chapter of this story arc, and it's a long one. If you're in the mood for a knock-down, drag-out vicious fight, then this is your lucky day.

Hinata Plains, Northwest of the Tri-Cities

Planting, Jade Falcon Occupation Zone

17 November 3050

Marion Rhialla stared through her binoculars. "Well, I'll be damned. Here they come, right on schedule."

Calla Bighorn-Vlata raised his own binoculars. "You expected less?"

"I expected an ambush," Marion growled. "We're putting a lot of faith in the bad guys being honorable idiots." She thumbed behind her. "We've got you, me, Sheila, and Arla here. That's a good portion of the Sentinels' command staff. They could wipe us out."

Calla sighed. Sometimes Marion was aggravating. "Marion, that's how the Clans apparently work. I guess Kurita did the same thing on Wolcott. It's like the samurai. If we challenged one of the Kuritans to a fight like this, they'd do the same thing to satisfy bushido."

"Yes, because the Snakes are fucking morons, Calla," Marion shot back. "For all we know, ambush is part of the fucking ritual."

Calla smiled. "Where's your faith, Marion?"

Marion pointed behind her, at the twin Gauss Rifles on her Perennium. "My faith is in those. We're sitting ducks out here."

"So are they." Calla shot her a warning glance, and Marion quieted. They were old friends, but Marion knew there was a limit to how far she could argue with her commanding officer. She fell into a sulky silence.

Calla looked behind him. Drawn up in a line behind them were twelve BattleMechs, drawn from volunteers from among the Sentinels' best MechWarriors, along with two of the Eridani Light Horse; General Gray had declined to participate, saying the 20th Arcturan hadn't earned the right—or so he said. Calla wondered if Gray simply didn't believe the Jade Falcons would keep their word. More had volunteered, but Calla wasn't going to put everything out there for Cavell Malthus to kill—just in case Marion was right. A platoon of the Sentinels Light Infantry had come along at Arla's insistence: the rifle-equipped, body-armored infantry would be no match for Elementals, but it would give Calla a guard of honor. At their head stood Arla Bighorn-Vlata, at parade rest; Calla couldn't help but smile. His wife still looked good in her forties—the same combination of beauty and toughness that had attracted him to her in the first place. Calla had set out a small field table covered with a white sheet, with the flags of the Sentinels, the Eridani Light Horse, the 20th Arcturan Guards, and the Federated Commonwealth behind him. He and Major Ken Jolgreen of the Eridani were in dress uniforms.

The ground began to shake with 'Mech footfalls as the Clan contingent came closer. To his surprise, there were only five Jade Falcon 'Mechs: a Thor, Masakari, Daishi, and Mad Cat. Of course, Calla thought, that might just be enough. The Inner Sphere had noticed that the Clans had a few mediocre designs, but none of the ones Malthus was bringing was one of them. From the Masakari flew just one banner: the now-familiar Jade Falcon one. Behind the 'Mechs were fifteen Elementals, in full armor.

The 'Mechs came on to about fifty 'Mech paces, then stopped—almost in unison, which Calla was sure was deliberate. The Elementals came a little closer, then stopped as well. They came to attention. Arla barked an order, and her SLI did the same. Calla watched as a hatch opened on both the Masakari and on the Thor, and two warriors climbed down. He noticed that neither wore the abbreviated MechWarrior gear of Inner Sphere forces—Marion wore a parka over hers to avoid the cutting, cold wind from the northern mountains—but a cooling suit, of a kind Calla recognized as being similar to that of the old Star League. The suits were dark green in color, and Calla noticed both warriors put on capes of green feathers before they advanced forward to the table. One of them was saKhan Cavell Malthus; the other was an attractive young woman he didn't recognize.

"I guess that's our cue." Calla walked forward, joined by Arla, Marion and Jolgreen. Once again, just as he had on Persistence, Calla had a sense of history. This was how they had done it back in the day of muskets and swords, when war was more or less a formalized ritual, when generals would meet between the lines before and after a battle. Calla found himself wishing he had a hat he could doff as he bowed to his honorable enemy.

They stopped two paces from each other, and came to attention, saluting the other. Cavell smiled. "Commander Calla Bighorn-Vlata. A pleasure to see you again, since Persistence."

Calla almost replied that he was not exactly pleased to see Malthus, but that would be impolite. "Thank you, saKhan Malthus. Strange how the fortunes of war have brought us together again."

"True, Commander." He put out a hand. Calla hesitated for a moment and then shook it. The grip was strong, but Malthus was not testing it. He stepped back from the handshake, and gestured to the woman standing next to him. "This is Star Captain Senefa, the representative of the 133rd Falcon Fusiliers. Star Colonel Tarren Roshak sends his regrets that he was unable to attend today." Calla caught the slight disappointment in Malthus' voice, and guessed that Roshak shared Marion's misgivings.

"Star Captain," Calla said, with a slight inclination of his head. The Star Captain returned the nod, deeper and for a moment longer, acknowledging Calla's higher rank. He was taken aback at Senefa's appearance: she was an inch or two shorter, her hairstyle was different—a tail of black hair pulled over one shoulder rather than a ponytail—and her nose was larger, but other than that, she and Sheila could pass as sisters.

Calla introduced his officers. "This is Arla Bighorn-Vlata, commander of the Sentinels Light Infantry; Lance Commander Marion Rhialla, whom you've already met—" Calla noticed Cavell's smile widen at that "—and Major Kenneth Jolgreen of the 50th Heavy Cavalry Battalion of the Eridani Light Horse."

"The Eridani?" Malthus' eyebrows rose. "The reputation of your regiment precedes you, Major." That surprised all of them. He shook hands with Jolgreen, then with Arla; if Malthus noticed the marital link between Calla and Arla, he didn't comment on it. He did not shake hands with Marion, who did not offer her hand. In fact, she seemed to be sizing up Star Captain Senefa, who was returning the favor with icy disdain. Calla abruptly remembered that all the Inner Sphere officers wore sidearms, and the Clan officers didn't.

Malthus seemed to have noticed it as well. He gave Senefa an obvious warning glance, and then faced Calla. "You have challenged me to a Trial of Possession, Commander. I am assuming that, while you know something of what that means, you do not know the details, quiaff?"

Calla decided not to try and bluff his way out of it. "You assume correctly, saKhan Malthus."

"There is no dishonor in this, Commander. You have shown yourself willing to fight with honor and therefore spare lives on both sides…therefore, I am honor-bound to do the same." Malthus put his hands behind his back, setting his feet apart; Calla noticed, not for the first time, that Malthus was a few inches shorter than Calla's six-foot-three inch height, and about thirty pounds lighter. "The rules are simple. Both of us declare what forces we shall use—what we call a batchall."

Calla nodded. "And then we bid until both sides refuse to go lower, and then we go at it. Right?"

Malthus returned the nod. "Aff, Commander. You are very well informed."

"We've been fighting you for six months, saKhan. A wise soldier learns the ways of his enemy." Just like it had been on Persistence, it was starting to get too friendly for Calla. They were enemies, he and Malthus, and one day he might be forced to kill this man with the easy smile and slight build. He knew Malthus was thinking exactly the same thing.

"Aff, quite true, Commander. Very well—as the challenged, I will bid first." His smile turned feral, and Calla's heart sank. "I bid one warrior."

"You what?" Marion exclaimed.

Malthus kept his maddening politeness. "You heard me correctly, Lance Commander. I bid a single warrior—Star Captain Senefa." Senefa took a step forward, then returned to parade rest.

Marion barked a single laugh. "Fuck, I was right! They are fucking crazy!"

Senefa's face darkened in anger, but just for a second. "I will fight all of you, if necessary. Alone or in groups. And I will win."

Marion unzipped the parka. "You fucking got it, you jumped-up little—"

"Lance Commander, enough," Calla stopped her. "saKhan, let me consult with my officers. I admit I was not expecting such a, ah, low bid." Malthus gave a benevolent nod, and Calla pulled his people back to the table, out of easy earshot. He could feel the unspoken laughter of the Jade Falcons, and knew Malthus had neatly outmaneuvered him, reminding Calla he was playing on the Clans' turf.

"Well, that's an unforeseen turn of events," Arla whispered.

"A good one, too," Marion said. "We've got twelve 'Mechs. Unless that whore is fucking Morgan Kell, then we'll rip her into tiny fucking pieces and drink beer in the Tri-Cities by sundown."

"Or maybe not," Jolgreen spoke. He still looked a little rattled that the Jade Falcons knew who the Eridani were. "She's young, Marion, and if she's in any one of those 'Mechs, she's equal to at least three or four of us. She's already a Star Captain—that's what, equal to a Major? She's confident. Look at the way she's standing and her expression. She doesn't think she can beat us, she knows she can."

"Ken's right," Arla agreed. "Calla, we can't throw everything we have at her. We'll make a mockery of this whole Trial thing of theirs. If we ever have to use this again in the future, the Clans won't trust us to act honorably. It's important to them," she continued, cutting off Marion's retort, "just like it is to the Kuritans. Or for that matter, us."

"That's true," Jolgreen said. "We're laughing at their weird ways, but we've bought into it by standing on the field with them." He glanced back at the two Jade Falcons. "I say we match their bid."

"Wait, what?" Arla shook her head. "I had in mind a lance of 'Mechs!"

"Sure, but this will set them back," Jolgreen argued. "They won't be expecting us to just go one-on-one, and that might shock them a bit. And one warrior might just do better than four. A lance could get in each other's way." He shrugged. "Besides, if we lose, it'll look better that we lost in single combat than if this Clan girl took out an entire lance on her lonesome."

"Ken's right," Calla said. "Okay, who do we send up against Star Captain Overconfidence there?"

Marion folded her arms over her breasts. "I'll do it. Let's see if a Gauss round can wipe that smirk off her face."

"She's not smirking," Arla pointed out.

"The hell she isn't."

"What if she wants to fight someone of equal rank?" Arla asked.

"I'll do it," Jolgreen said. "I've been around the block a few times—I've sucked as much smoke as you have, Marion Rhialla. Besides, if I get killed, the Eridani can replace me fairly easily—and easier than anyone can replace you, Calla."

Calla had not actually thought of volunteering; his Battlemaster was there, but he did not relish trying to take a Clan warrior almost thirty years his junior. "All right. It's settled." Calla led them back to Malthus, who returned his attention back to Calla; he looked to have been sizing up the Sentinels and the Eridani force himself. "Very well, saKhan Malthus. We'll match your bid. One warrior."

Malthus was visibly surprised; so was Senefa. "Single combat? I am very impressed, Commander! Bargained well and done. Who is your warrior?"

Calla paused. "Do you require someone of equal rank? I assume Star Captain is equal to one of our Majors."

"It is not necessary, though it would be a gesture of respect."

Jolgreen started to step forward, but Senefa did so first. "Commander," she said to Calla, "I am a MechWarrior. I will fight any of your warriors, inside a 'Mech or outside of it, but I request the right to fight another MechWarrior." Malthus was staring at Senefa strangely, and Calla wondered if the young woman was breaking a rule.

"I figured that," Calla answered. "Major Jolgreen is a MechWarrior, and a superb one."

"Aff, Commander. But what does Major Jolgreen pilot?"

"A Dervish, Star Captain," Jolgreen told her.

"Oh, fuck," Marion groaned. The Dervish was not built for one-on-one combat. It was a fire support 'Mech, thinly armored.

"I see," Senefa said. She pointed to the Thor. "That is what I pilot—a Summoner. I would vastly outclass the Dervish, quiaff?" Not even Jolgreen disagreed with that; it would be a gross mismatch. "I want this to be fair. My 'Mech is seventy tons. I therefore request, if my Khan and Commander Bighorn-Vlata agrees, to fight that one. My guess it is around the same tonnage as my Summoner."

Calla followed her finger. Senefa was pointing directly at Sheila Arla-Vlata's Shruiken.

"She wants to fight me?" Sheila hurriedly asked, pulling on the parka. She and Arla were standing at the foot of the Shruiken. "Why?"

"She said she recognizes you from Pascia Grove. She knows you're a gifted warrior—her exact words."

"I always knew piloting a unique 'Mech would bite me in the ass," Sheila groused. "Dad agreed to this?"

"No," Arla told her daughter. "You have to. If you want, you can tell this Jade Falcon woman to go straight to hell." She looked away from Sheila. "I'm your mother. I wish you would tell her that. This Star Captain Senefa is a killer, Sheila; I see it in her eyes. I think your 'Mechs are fairly equal, but…don't take this the wrong way…she's better, Sheila."

"Mom, we'll lose face if I don't fight," Sheila pointed out. "And then some other poor bastard is going to have to fight her."

"Marion would love to."

Sheila glanced at the monster Perennium. "Senefa's in a Summoner—what we call a Thor, right? She'll run rings around Marion. The Perennium is slow as Christmas, and it doesn't have jumpjets."

Arla sighed. "I had a feeling you might say that."

"The hell with it, Mom. This thing isn't to the death." I hope, Sheila added to herself. Sneuth had not been clear about if Trials were fought until someone died.

They walked to the knot of people, still in the middle of the damp field. Arla inclined her head towards Senefa, and Sheila sized up the person she was going to have to fight, and possibly kill. Just as Calla had been, Sheila was struck at the similarity between herself and Senefa; even their eyes were the same shade of green. Sheila had two inches in height on the Clan warrior, though the cooling suit hugged Senefa's curves enough to show that the Clan warrior was more muscular. Yeah, but my boobs are bigger, so there, Sheila joked inwardly. It wasn't that great of a joke.

Sheila stopped two paces away. "I am Star Captain Senefa, Bravo Trinary, 133rd Falcon Fusiliers," the Clan warrior intoned.

"Lieutenant Commander Sheila Arla-Vlata, Snowbirds Special Missions Combined Arms Team, Sentinels Regimental Combat Team," Sheila answered.

Senefa glanced to Arla, then to Calla. "You…are related to them?"

"My mother and father," Sheila said. The occasion seemed to call for something more formal than 'mom' and 'dad.'

"Freebirth." Senefa looked annoyed.

"You're damn right, freebirth," Sheila snapped. "Born free on Grunwald, right here in the Federated Commonwealth." From the expression on Cavell Malthus' face, Sheila knew she was missing something. She also knew she didn't really care.

Malthus stepped between the two women, joined by Calla. "Lieutenant Commander Arla-Vlata," the Clan saKhan said, "are you familiar with the rules of a Trial of Possession?"

"Only the bidding part," Sheila admitted.

"That is concluded. Now, as the challenged, Senefa will choose how she wishes to fight—augmented or unaugmented."

"What's the difference?" Sheila asked. "Sir," she added hastily.

"Augmented, you fight in your 'Mechs. Unaugmented, the combat will be hand-to-hand." Malthus watched Sheila, to make sure she understood, then continued. "You, Lieutenant Commander, will have choice of venue, where you will fight. You can choose anywhere you like, even if it requires a few days to reach that spot. Do you understand?"

"I do, sir."

"Good." Malthus raised his hands. "I am the Oathmaster," he said solemnly. "These warriors here are the best their respective units have to offer. They fight for possession of the Tri-Cities of Planting. If Sheila Arla-Vlata wins this Trial, then the Jade Falcons will withdraw from Planting. If Senefa is victorious, then the forces of the Federated Commonwealth have promised to withdraw to the Dunbarton Subcontinent." He turned to Senefa. "You are Star Captain Senefa and you have seen nineteen years. Why are you worthy to be chosen for this Trial?"

Senefa once more went to parade rest, meeting Sheila's eyes. "I was chosen for this Trial by my peers in Clan Jade Falcon," she said. "I have fought on Persistence, Golandrinas, Beta VII, and Planting, and have destroyed in single combat eighteen BattleMechs and ten lesser vehicles. I tested out at the top of my sibko. I have never been defeated in a Circle of Equals, either augmented or unaugmented."

"Aff." Malthus turned to Sheila. "You are Sheila Arla-Vlata and you have seen twenty years." Calla had already told Malthus Sheila's age. "Why are you worthy to engage in this Trial?"

Sheila forced herself to meet Senefa's pitiless stare. Okay, bitch, she thought, let's see what you think about this. "I have fought on Persistence, Rasalhague, Blackjack, Twycross, and Planting. I've destroyed five 'Mechs in single combat." Two were technically shared with Max, but Sheila decided he probably wouldn't mind. "I have fought two Elementals in single combat, and killed one of them with my bare hands." Sheila held them up.

"Impossible!" Senefa blurted.

"Ask the survivors of Fort Pilum," Sheila told her. "They'll vouch for the dead man in their graveyard. I'm a Bighorn-Vlata, from fifteen generations of MechWarriors, dating back to Karelia Bighorn-Vlata, who died fighting the Usurper." Sheila was laying it on thick, she knew, but also knew the old Kurita saying that if one was going to bite, bite deep. Senefa's expression lost some of its haughtiness. Not going to be as easy as you thought, huh?

Malthus cleared his voice. "Very well. Your claims are not without substance, either of you. No matter what fate you meet in this battle, the brightness of your light will not be diminshed." He paused. "Star Captain Senefa, as the challenged, do you choose augmented or unaugmented?"

"May I ask a question of you, Sheila Arla-Vlata?" Senefa asked instead. Sheila shrugged, and Senefa pointed to Arla. "That is your mother, quiaff?" Sheila gave her a nod. "She carries a naginata. Do you know how to use one? Has she taught you, as I assume mothers do?"

"Yes," Sheila replied, a little mystified. She's talking like she doesn't have a mother herself.

Senefa looked at Malthus. "My opponent has bragged of killing an Elemental hand to hand. I wish to find this out. Therefore, I choose unaugmented." She reached behind her back and pulled out a length of black metal, no bigger than a water bottle. She thumbed a switch, and two halves of a staff sprang into place. "With staves."

"Aff, unaugmented." Malthus nodded at Sheila. "Lieutenant Commander Sheila Arla-Vlata, you are the challenger. You will choose the battlefield."

Sheila glanced down at her boots. The field they stood on was still wet from the melting snow. "Right here."

"Bargained well and done," Malthus said. "You may begin as soon as we have cleared a circle. Elemental Star Commander Doren!" One of the hulking battlearmored figures stepped forward. "Take off your suits and form a semicircle, here." He pointed to the south. "Lieutenant Commander Arla Bighorn-Vlata, would your infantry form a semicircle there, to the north?"

"We would." She began ordering her troops into the same circle. The Elementals got out of their armor and donned uniforms; Sheila noted in passing that they wore form-fitting gear beneath the armor, and none of them were shorter than six and a half feet tall. All were also very muscular, both the men and the women.

Malthus ordered Sheila to select her arms, so Sheila went over to her mother. Arla unslung the naginata from her back, snapped it into place, then unscrewed the blade. "Something tells me she has spikes in that damn staff of hers," Arla said. "Let's not make this deadlier than it already is." Her hands were shaking. "Dammit, Sheila, why did you agree to this?"

"Too late to back out now, Mom." Sheila took the staff and held it. It was well-balanced, made of a light steel. "Besides, I've beaten you with a staff. I can take this Clan bitch."

"Do you believe that?" They turned as Calla came up to them.

Sheila looked down. "No, not really."

"You'd better believe it," Calla told his daughter. "Because she believes she can take you." He motioned at Senefa, who was pacing around the periphery of the Clan side of the circle, obviously testing the ground. The Elementals were lining up behind her, giving Senefa words of encouragement. Across from them, the SLI troopers also lined up, and the Elementals fell slient as the two infantry groups now began visually measuring the other. The SLI troops derisively took off their body armor and tossed it on the ground. "Mom," Sheila said nervously, "I think if I lose, your bunch might just beat hell out of the Clanners."

"If you lose, I'll help them," Arla replied. "So don't lose." She hugged her daughter, tightly. "I'm sorry I got you into this."

"I got it, Mom," Sheila said with more confidence than she felt. Next Calla hugged her as well. "You are the best that's ever been," he told her, words that Calla had always told Sheila when the latter's confidence had suffered. As Sheila walked to the circle, Calla called out, "saKhan Malthus!"

"Aff, Commander?" Malthus was standing at one end of the Clan semicircle.

"Is this to the death?"

Malthus shook his head. "Only if the warriors wish it. Either can call an end to the fight if they do not wish to go on, either by words or by slapping the ground three times." Calla knew that one, the traditional way to tap out of a wrestling match. "The Trial also ends if one of the warriors is pushed out of the Circle. Naturally, that warrior loses, quiaff?" He hesitated. "I should warn you, Sheila Arla-Vlata, that there are no rules inside the Circle. Only victory."

"Yeah, I figured." Sheila said. Her heart hammering and her mouth dry with fear and anticipation, she stepped through the SLI into the circle. The infantry slapped her on the back and threw insults at the Jade Falcons; in passing, Sheila saw Tooriu Kku running to join the infantry, still dressed in his MechWarrior garb. Some of the other MechWarriors were joining the circle as well. Glad Max is still back at the base, Sheila thought. I'd hate him to see his fiancee getting the shit kicked out of her. She took off the parka and tossed it to Arla. The cold instantly cut across her exposed arms and legs, but she knew she would warm up soon enough, in the exertion of the fight. "Do we shake hands?" Sheila called to Senefa across the circle.

"Neg," Senefa simply answered.

"Fine with me." Sheila took a deep breath. Oookay, she thought. All I gotta do is beat her up until she screams for mercy. She looked at Senefa. Yeah, right…I don't know what would make her scream. She stretched and limbered up; Senefa was doing the same.

"Are you ready, warriors?" Malthus called out.

"Aff."

"Let's do it."

Malthus shared a glance with Calla. "Then begin."

Sheila went into a defensive stance, the staff held in front of her, balanced on the balls of her feet. She expected Senefa to attack right off the bat. Instead, Senefa merely stared at her as if Sheila had lost her mind, and waited. Sheila started to stalk her opponent, moving around, trying to throw Senefa off as to which way she was coming. Senefa moved out a slight distance so Sheila could not trap her against the Elementals or throw her out of the circle with a quick shove. Sheila watched her. Senefa's movements were sure, each foot deliberately placed on solid, dry ground. Total economy of movement, Sheila analyzed. Nothing's wasted. She's not even breathing hard. Both women's breath steamed in the cool air, though the warmth of the bodies around them warmed the circle well enough. Think, Sheila! The Clans fight like that. Cold and calculating. Okay, got to get in her head. Maybe if I do the old scream and leap…maybe it'll rattle her?

It was worth a try. Sheila let loose a shout from the bottom of her lungs, like her mother and the martial arts instructors at the Nagelring had taught, dashed forward, and swung the staff in an arc that would end in Senefa's face. Senefa brought her staff up to block almost lazily, but Sheila continued forward, aiming her knee for Senefa's middle—but Senefa moved out of the way so quick Sheila barely registered it. Oh, shit, Sheila had time to think.

Senefa squatted and threw out her left leg to catch Sheila's planted right foot, knocking the other woman off her feet. Sheila fell to the grass hard and slid, nearly out of the circle, her booted feet ending up against a monumental Elemental, who just grinned and tossed her feet back into the circle. The Falcons let out bone-chilling cries of triumph. Sheila rolled over and got back to her feet, expecting Senefa to follow up her strike, but the Clan warrior was back at rest, the staff held at her side, waiting for Sheila's next move. Her expression was cold, but there was just the hint of derision there. Sheila grumbled a few choice curse words and brushed the mud off her legs. She'll never expect me to do it twice...right?

This time Sheila didn't shout, but feinted right before running at Senefa again. The Jade Falcon stood her ground. Sheila threw a clumsy downward strike, but this was another feint—one that Senefa anticipated. She just leaned back away from the strike, and Sheila's staff thumped into the grass. Sheila, however, let go of the staff with her left hand and snapped the staff hard to the right. Senefa stopped the blow, cracking into Sheila's staff and driving it downwards. She was beginning to disengage when Sheila punched her in the mouth. It was not her best punch—the angle was awkward—but it caught Senefa completely by surprise. She overbalanced, slipped and fell to the grass. Her head whipped around before Sheila could exploit the opening, and Sheila saw blood dripping from a split lip. There was more on Sheila's knuckles, and she resisted the wild, primal urge to lick it off.

Senefa was quickly back to her feet, and Sheila stepped back. There was no derision on the Clan woman's face now, no pretense, no sense that she was toying with Sheila. There was cold anger. "I kin death for thee, Sheila," Senefa snarled.

Sheila could not think of a suitable reply, mainly because Senefa was swinging her staff at Sheila's midsection. Sheila blocked it, thrust back, and had that blocked. Senefa next went for her head, and Sheila just managed to block that as well—then kicked out at Senefa's feet, sliding in wet grass that was becoming mud. The sound of their staves cracked around the circle. No one jeered or catcalled now.

Sheila shot her staff forward again, expecting a block—but hit empty air. Too late, she realized that Senefa had been the one to anticipate the move this time, ducking the thrust and snapping a kick upwards. Sheila had a second to read the pattern on Senefa's boot before the foot caught her in the nose. Everything went black for a second, and Sheila's hasty thrust with the staff was more instinct than planning.

Sheila came to on her back in the grass, her head spinning. She blinked to stay conscious, and tasted something warm and coppery on her lips. From the numbness and shock, she knew her nose was probably broken. Somehow, through the ringing in her ears, Sheila managed to raise her head, and she hazily saw Senefa on hands and knees a few feet away, gasping for breath in dry heaves. Dimly, Sheila realized that somehow her staff had caught Senefa in the stomach. Sheila struggled to get to her feet as her vision cleared, wiping the blood off her lips with a muddy right hand. Senefa did the same and spit vomit into the grass. Both women gave the other a slight nod. The fight was not over.

Senefa blew out a breath, spun the staff in front of her, and this time was the one to charge. She was incredibly fast, but Sheila managed to block first a sideways swing and then an overhead one. As Senefa shifted to one side, Sheila saw an opening and swung her staff at Senefa's exposed back. Too late, she saw that Senefa planned for that: she ducked, Sheila's staff went over her head, plucking at her long hair. Sheila had overextended herself, and Senefa snapped her staff at Sheila's face. Sheila managed to turn at the last moment so that the staff caught her in the cheek rather than her teeth, but it still felt like her jaw had just been broken. As she staggered, Senefa straightened and, with the grace of a dancer, spun and swept Sheila's legs out from under her. She crashed to the ground hard, knocking the wind out of Sheila's lungs; worst of all, her staff bounced out of her hands.

Sheila rolled over on her stomach, once more fighting off unconsciousness. She tasted blood in her mouth now, not just on her lips, and one of her back teeth felt loose. She slowly looked over as Senefa kicked her staff away, then pointed her own staff at Sheila. The edge of the circle, lined by the boots of the Elementals, was only a foot or two away. The implication was clear, even to Sheila's woozy thoughts: give up and leave the circle, or die.

Fuck you, Sheila thought, which hurt too. Now she was angry. Sheila took in a lungful of air, and got back up, on wobbly feet, determined to plant Senefa's untouched face into the grass or get killed in the process. Behind Senefa, Sheila saw her parents behind the line of SLI infantry, expressions of horror on their faces. Sheila staggered, but stayed on her feet, and couldn't resist giving Senefa a come-and-get-it gesture. Senefa smiled, either in respect, contempt, or just the joyous prospect of further bashing the mercenary into the mud.

The Clanswoman moved forward again, swinging the staff at Sheila's side. Sheila was able to block it with her hands, even if the impact sent pain radiating up her arms, and tried to grab the staff. Senefa was quicker and pulled the staff out of reach, then hooked her foot behind Sheila's and tripped her again. Sheila fell back to the mud. Senefa leapt back, away from any riposte Sheila might have left, only to see her opponent roll back unsteadily to her feet.

Senefa stepped forward again, swinging the staff from the other side this time. Sheila managed to dodge and slap the staff aside, then crossed her arms over her head, blocking an overhead swing that probably would've split her skull. It was still enough to drop her to her knees, and Senefa kicked her, sending Sheila sprawling. She was covered in mud now, her hair smeared with it, the ponytail gone, blood mixed in with the foul-smelling dark brown mess. Senefa's cooling suit was still relatively free of the muck. Once more, she stepped back to see if Sheila would stay down, only to see her opponent get back to her feet, arms swaying, coughing and bleeding. Sheila was trying to get her breath, obviously struggling to stay conscious.

The Falcons started screaming at Senefa now, telling her to finish the upstart freebirth. The SLI let out a growl and started forward, only to be shouted back into place by Arla, even as she resisted her own instincts. That was her baby in the circle, bleeding, broken and exhausted, and it took everything she had not to charge forward and knife Senefa in the back. "I'm ending this," she said. "Sheila's going to die."

Arla took a step forward, only to be stopped by Calla. "Wait. Just wait a second." He had seen something in Sheila's eyes.

Senefa was, for once, unsure. She felt foolish, like she was beating on a child. It was no longer a Circle of Equals. Her opponent was almost out on her feet. It was, simply, no longer fun. She looked towards Malthus, who gave her a nod: finish the fight.

The Clanswoman started forward again, this time not twirling the staff or trying to see what futile move Sheila planned next. She intended merely to sweep Sheila's legs out from under her with the staff, and this time stand on her chest: either Sheila would end the fight or Senefa would crack a few ribs until she did. Sheila's eyes were drooping and she blinked, then shook her head. Senefa felt a brief trace of pity and brought the staff around, towards the mercenary girl's ankles.

And then Sheila struck with everything she had left. She suddenly straightened, planted her left foot, and lashed upwards with a vicious kick aimed at Senefa's head, praying her legs would hold against her and that Senefa was watching her hands, not her feet. Senefa was still fast enough to bring up the staff to block, but more from accident than design, Sheila's foot squarely caught the staff in its middle. It saved Senefa's face, but it knocked the staff out of surprised hands. The staff sailed into the air and came down in the Sentinels' side of the circle; Tooriu simply reached up and caught it in one beefy hand.

Senefa jumped back, but Sheila was already moving, throwing herself into a tackle that speared Senefa into the mud. Both of them slid halfway across the circle. Senefa tried to grab Sheila to throw her off, but her hands slid off in the slippery mud. Sheila, with a hazy memory of watching a circus strongman fight a greased pig, rolled over on her back, taking Senefa with her, and got an arm across the Jade Falcon's throat. She tried to dig her knee into Senefa's back, but the other woman was squirming around too much. Sheila grabbed her left wrist with her right hand and tightened the pressure; the hold was having an effect, as Senefa's face had gone beet red, and she was gasping for air. She scrabbled at Sheila's arms. "It's over, dammit!" Sheila yelled into Senefa's ear. "Tap out, you fucking bitch!"

Senefa growled like an animal in response, and Sheila realized that the Clanswoman's flailing arms was not entirely desperation. She dug her fingernails into Sheila's wrist. Sheila yelped in pain and lessened the pressure. Senefa got her knees under her, carrying Sheila on her back, and with a cry of exertion, snapped her head back. Sheila had to let go and fall back into the mud, or have Senefa's skull driven into an already broken nose.

Sheila rolled away as Senefa whirled, trying for a clumsy stomp. Sheila made the mistake of not staying down, because as she got to her feet, Senefa rushed her opponent and drove an elbow into Sheila's ribs. The mercenary doubled over and Senefa raised her hand for a smash to the face, but her foot came down in mud and she slipped. Sheila lashed out and shoved the unbalanced Jade Falcon to the ground, then collapsed herself. She was hurting in places she didn't know she had nerve endings.

Senefa didn't look that much better—now she too was covered in mud. She massaged her throat. "Does it hurt? I hope…it does…" she croaked out. "You…should…you should yield!" She spit into the mud and got back to her feet. "I will…kill you…"

Sheila spit out a tooth, which had finally worked its way free. "Go fuck yourself…" Sheila grinned at Senefa with bloody teeth "…you freebirth piece of shit." From the hissing by the Jade Falcons, she figured she had just handed Senefa a mortal insult. Sheila's intention was to make Senefa lose her temper, and it worked. Normally, Senefa prided herself on not losing her temper, confronting every threat with icy, inhuman calm, but faced with a recalcitrant stravag mercenary sellsword who simply did not have the brains to know she was beaten, her temper finally snapped. Senefa let out an unearthly shriek of pure frustration, and threw herself forward, her right hand balled in a fist aimed at Sheila's throat.

But this time, in her rage, it was Senefa that had overextended. Sheila dodged—barely—and punched Senefa in the stomach. The Jade Falcon seemed to crumple around her fist. Sheila then drove an elbow into the back of Senefa's head, and the Clanswoman went facefirst into the mud. Senefa wasn't down long: she rolled over and punched upwards…and missed. Sheila grabbed her wrist, twisted the arm, and in a flash of inspiration, rammed an open-palm strike into Senefa's elbow. There was the sickening crunch of bone, and Senefa's arm bent in a fashion that human arms are not supposed to bend.

Senefa screamed in agony.

Sheila let go, and knowing Senefa would kill her if she managed to regain her feet again—even with a broken arm—Sheila punched her in the face. Senefa fell to the mud, and Sheila dropped to her knees. As the Jade Falcon tried to get back up yet again, Sheila hit her yet again. The punches lacked much force; exhaustion was setting in, the adrenaline slowly giving way. Yet the fight was out of Senefa: she was weakly resisting, but could barely manage keeping her face out of the mud. Finally Sheila just lifted Senefa out of the mud by her hair. "Dammit…quit…" She let Senefa fall into the muck, but put her aching hands on her head. "I swear…to God…I'll drown your ass…"

Senefa lifted her head up. She lifted her good arm, grabbed Sheila's, but there was no strength left. To Sheila's surprise, she saw tears mixed in with the Clanswoman's blood, sweat and mud. "I…I…I yield," Senefa struggled out. "You…freebirth bitch…I yield…"

Sheila let go and rolled Senefa over; the other woman didn't resist. Sheila had the wild idea to cover her like they did in wrestling, but instead staggered upright. She looked over at Malthus. "She says…" She spit more blood into the mud. "She says she yields."

Malthus broke from the crowd and strode forward; Calla and Arla moved into the circle as well, afraid he was going to attack Sheila. Instead, Malthus ignored her and knelt next to Senefa, and bent down. She said something too low for Sheila to hear, and Malthus straightened up. He motioned one of the Elementals over to gingerly pick up Senefa, and faced Sheila. There was respect in his eyes, but there was also hatred there. He was not smiling now. "Well fought, Sheila Arla-Vlata," he said. "Seyla. The Tri-Cities and Planting are yours."

The Sentinels erupted in cheers. Sheila gave a tired nod. Luckily, her parents were behind her, to catch her when she collapsed into a dead faint.

AUTHOR'S END NOTES: This marks the second time I've written a mud match between two women, though the other one was a lot more friendly (and a lot more naked). But Sheila has won, even if she's in pretty bad shape herself. She's also earned herself a very nasty enemy.

That's it for Snowbird's Battalion; next up will be The Snowbird and the Wolf. Yes, Sheila, Max and company are headed for Outreach. Maybe once Sheila's out of the hospital, her and Max will finally tie the knot...