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The Vraxian hung from the top of the pole by one muscled arm, the other raised in triumph. The bell was still swinging on its little chain, heralding her success.

Kara assessed the progress of the others. Three more were nearing the top. Lyrith, Vysh, and of course Layahn.

But the others weren’t far behind, not even Gendril whose face was creased in determination.

Kara tried to think. She couldn’t climb the pole, because something was on it that burned the shit out of her but left no trace.

She looked towards the general, standing at the edge of the arena with folded arms. She could appeal to Ela, ask her to stop the challenge until her pole was cleaned, but that would look weak. And instinctively Kara knew she wouldn’t help. Not while the challenge was in progress.

Come on. Think.

She was a soldier. She’d survived a hostile planet. And she was the daughter of the Earth’s President. No way was she letting that a piece of snake scum like Baelon get the better of her.

A second bell rang. Kara groaned inwardly as she saw Layahn yanking the chain back and forth gleefully.

She noticed Vysh was just inches away from reaching the top but had slowed to a crawl. Lyrith wasn’t far behind but at this rate would be ringing the bell next.

Kara closed her eyes, willing inspiration to hit her. Her mother believed in strength and determination, but her father had been a big advocate of thinking laterally.

She imagined her father speaking to her now.

Let’s start with the obvious, peanut.The challenge is not to climb the pole. The challenge is to ring the bell.

Her eyes flew open. In an instant she was running. She heard the gasp from the crowd, the derisive jeers, and knew they thought she was fleeing the contest. She ignored them and headed for Ela at the edge of the arena.

“Give me your blaster,” she panted.

The general looked at her blankly.

“I can render no assistance.”

“No assistance, and no interference, right?”

“That is correct.”

“Good enough. Then you won’t mind if I help myself.”

“You can’t…”

“Please,” Kara said desperately. “Trust me.”

She snatched the blaster out of Ela’s holster. If the general was going to stop her, now was the time. The general didn’t move.

The guards around the perimeter of the arena drew their weapons but Kara didn’t wait to see what they would do. She raced back into the arena, knowing she was taking a huge risk. A human with a weapon in close proximity to the Zhaal? She’d be lucky if she didn’t get her head blown off.

She could only hope that Ela had realized what she was about to do and ordered her soldiers to stand down. The fact that she was still breathing right now was probably a good sign.

She reached the pole just as a third bell rang out and checked to see who it was.

Lyrith.

Vysh was also at the top of her pole but making no effort to complete the challenge. Instead she was watching Kara with worried eyes.

“Ring your bell, goddammit,” yelled Kara. “Don’t wait for me.”

She changed the settings on the blaster to the least destructive. Then she aimed at the base of the post and fired.

A large chunk of wood flew off, leaving a deep gouge.