Needs some editing

• Mike Holmes: Suteh sits beside the lake, considering the fight with the large woman, Orca, and the subsequent events. Certainly all of these signs meant some sort of destiny was in the offing for Green Lake and it's residents, but what?
• Mike Holmes: Concentrating on the serene waters of the lake in the late afternoon, the images dancing on the surface begin to resolve into a vision...a vision of what may some day come here...
• Okhasta climbs up on the bar of the tavern, holding her full mug over her head. "Allright, all you knuckleheads, listen up!"
• Okhasta: She's a dark-haired, statuesque beauty, clearly well-favored by chance, having inherited her father's vigor and her mother's looks, rather than the other way around.
• Okhasta: She sways slightly, and her words are slightly slurred, but no more than anyone else's in the room.
• Okhasta: "Shuddup! I'm.." ::belch:: "I'm going to make a speech."
• Okhasta: "Today, we're cele... cele... having a big party! Why, you ask? Because this is a very imporrant day."
• Okhasta: "We gotta big announcement." She reaches down and grabs the hand of one of the men at her feet. "C'mon up."
• Krag stays seated in the corner with his goblin chained to a ring in the floor. He watches the spectacle, always keen for some sign of when his assignment will here will come to mean something.
• Okhasta: "Come on, you coward, get up here."
• Fleabait dusts off Krag with a handkerchief. Master must be kept clean.
• Fleabait knows that he must earn the rights of a freeman by being more civilized than them. Then he pauses to gnaw on his ankle where the chain has chafed him.
• Mike Holmes: "Celebrating? Isn't this the date of the 'Betrayal'?" says a short figure standing up. "Why do we think of this so fondly, when it represents such a dark day?"
• Mike Holmes: The man's name is Trunwark, and this is typical of his negative attitude. Always seeing the downside of everything.
• Chema Terrance reluctantly allows himself to be pulled up.
• Okhasta grabs Terrance around the neck and give him a huge kiss.
• Chema Terrance lifts Okhasta off the ground as he returns her embrace.
• Mike Holmes: Trunwark casts a dark glance at the pair of them as they ignore his doomsaying.
• Okhasta shrieks with glee as she's lifted off the bar.
• Fleabait observes that Trunwark's breeches are stained and dirty, and his beard is unkempt.
• Okhasta: "Trunwark? I know you come from a nice famly 'n' all, but with all due respeck... shaddup."
• Chema Terrance contents himself with a mocking smile in Trunwark's direction.
• Krag: Standing, tankard in hand, Krag yells out to Trunwark. "We've heard it all before old man. Betrayal, betrayal, betrayal. I have news for you old-timer, the betrayal never happened. It's a story that you tried to scare us with. But in case you haven't noticed, we've grown up." Krag takes a drink. "You need to get out more, that's what you need."
• Mike Holmes: "My father was part of the founding quest," Trunwark says getting worked up. "You can't speak to me that way!"
• Fleabait dabs at Krag's chin with the handkerchief. Temperance is a virtue.
• Krag gestures widely with his great oaken cup at the old fool, eliciting chuckles from many onlookers.
• Okhasta: "Shaddup, all of you! Terry 'n' I got an announcement. You guys can fight it out after we're done."
• Chema Terrance sighs. "Trunwark, we hear this from you every day. Do you think that you could take today off?" He looks to Okhasta expectantly.
• Mike Holmes: Trunwark, now infuriated, and with a target other than Krag interupts, shouting out, "I invoke the Rhiani Tradition! Terrance, meet me in the circle now!"
• Mike Holmes: He looks serious. And not too drunk.
• Krag bursts out in laughter.
• Chema Terrance: shakes his head, "Trunwark... Are you sure this can't wait? You know Okhasta'll be upset if we delay her announcement..."
• Okhasta: Okhasta pouts at Trunwark and waggles a finger.
• Krag: "Better hurry your announcement -- as if we didn't all know!"
• Fleabait: "Summer joy and larking, winter sorrow and darkling. Trunwark, tell your tale now and spare us doom in the future."
• Mike Holmes: "The forms must be obeyed!" Trunwark demands. Pointing back at all of them laughing at him. "We are nothing, if we do not obey the laws the founders set!"
• Fleabait: "Er... spare them. Them. Not us."
• Mike Holmes: "It's my right. I'll not wait." Trunwark spits out.
• Krag looks at Fleabait appreciatively and gives him the remainder of his ale. "That almost rhymed, you little maggot!"
• Okhasta leans over to Terrance's ear and "whispers" loud enough for everyone to hear, "Kick his ass, honey."
• Fleabait: "Fleabait spoke out of turn, master. He is a lowly slave! He knows his place!" Fleabait cringes and rattles his chain piteously.
• Chema Terrance shakes his head again. "Well, Trunwark, if you insist I suppose we should get this over with." He gently sets Okhasta back down and heads for the door."

• Krag unhooks Fleabait and heads for the circle. The betting will start soon and he needs to have his vouchers ready.
• Mike Holmes: The real world comes back to Suteh momentarily as a loon lands in the middle of the picture in the lake's surface. He waits patiently for it to swim off before looking deeply again. As the future presents itself again, a crowd gathers about a stone circle, about waist high, with runes both Rhiani and Tethian on them.
• Orca stumbles feebly into the rear of the crowd, carrying an old spear with the point broken off. Her clothes are all askew, clearly revealing her non-human nature. Several people look away or cough awkwardly at the sight of her.
• Mike Holmes: Trunwark seems to be preparing himself, and says, "I've been accused of falsehood. I must have satisfaction."
• Chema Terrance: nods courteously when he notices Orca, "Good afternoon to you, mother Orca."
• Chema Terrance: sighs and turns back to Trunwark, "It's not the first time either. I'm surprised you challenged me at all, remember what happened last week?"
• Mike Holmes: As Nahiru looks on, his Rhiani eyes protecting him from the sun, he thinks back a moment, and considers that it was Krag that accused Trunwark of lying. But if Terrance wants to accept the challenge...
• Mike Holmes: Trunwark grimmaces at Terrance's words, but continues to brace himself for what's to come.
• Krag notices the new scars on Trunwark's legs. He's been ritually scarred. The pattern looks familiar, but he can't quite place it.
• Chema Terrance limbers up briefly. "You know, Trunwark, if I defeat you I expect you to shut up about this 'betrayal' business. We're all tired of it."
• Orca stares through Terrance, not fully comprehending.
• Mike Holmes: Terrance looks around and sees that the crowd expects a response to this counter-challenge. Grudgingly then, "It's not right that we'd forget. But if that's your condition..."
• Mike Holmes: Nahiru notes Orca off to the side, and steps into the ring, holding up a hand.
• Mike Holmes: "I think the Urust-Mother has something to say, perhaps?" he looks at Orca expectantly.
• Mike Holmes: As shaman, it's his duty to rever Orca's position.
• Okhasta ignores the shaman to make a quick wager with Krag. The odds on Terry are short, but it wouldn't be right not to.
• Krag: There are those who think betting on these duels is crass, but Krag never has a shortage of clients when the time comes. And hey, a fella has a living to make.
• Orca stumbles forward at the sound of her name, holding her left hand out in front of her, while holding tight to the spear.
• Mike Holmes: Nahiru frowns, noting the betting. He looks to Orca again, encouragingly.
• Orca says, "My son is... gone. Gone, gone away... beyond the mountains, across the frost plains... to the land of my fathers' fathers' fathers..."
• Krag Fleabait has been doing a good job -- circulating behind those watching. He returns with secret knowledge. Apparently today is a holy day and blessings are upon Trunwark for it. "Hmm, I wonder."
• Mike Holmes: Nahiru bows and murmurs to himself "The sacred one leaves" hearing Orca recount the tale.

Chema Terrance waits respectfully for Orca to finish and the crowd to grow silent.

• Orca moans deeply, the pain rising out of her, "Why then are the stars content to have me languish here... under the burning sun... my skin melting from my bones... lost... forgotten... alone..."
• Mike Holmes: Nahiru waits patiently for her to finish.
• Krag rolls his eyes.
• Orca trails off into quieter mumbles and moaning noises.
• Mike Holmes: Seeing that she's finished, Nahiru bows to the contestants, and exits the circle.
• Orca drops to her knees, clutching her broken spear with both hands.
• Fleabait hasn't followed most of that. No matter. Master knows.
• Chema Terrance finishes stretching and draws his sword. It gleams brightly in the sunlight.
• Mike Holmes: Trunwark draws his scimitar, too long for his height, from it's scabbard. A Nd? then a light glows up from the new scar tissue on his legs, and infuses his torso and the sword with a light that seems to emanate with the strength of the earth. Krag remembers it now, this is the power of the nefarious Earth Cult of old.
• Krag: Whispering to Fleabait, "Run now. Tell Trunwark's womenfolk about this."
• Fleabait: "Yes master. Fleabait will run with trippings and skippings." He shakes his chain a little.
• Chema Terrance centers himself, recalling the hours and hours of training he spent before his teacher left the camp.
• Fleabait takes off. The women of Trunwark's seraglio do not tend their netherparts properly. A goblin always knows.
• Fleabait: Along the way, Fleabait's chain snags on an iron post. He is running so fast it goes taut, nearly snaps his neck, and throws him to the ground.
• Fleabait: "My pantaloons have become dusty and musty. Gadzooks and ill tidings."
• Mike Holmes: Trunwark strides forward confidently, swinging the scimitar with frightening speed that speaks of the strength he has at the moment.
• Mike Holmes: Terrance dodges, protecting himself with his blade. But not by much.
• Mike Holmes: Terrance takes several more such attacks in quick succession, wondering how he can get past such devastating attacks.
• Fleabait: By the time Fleabait reaches Trunwark's lodge, he is too sweaty and panty to convey much beyond mumbles and dramatic gestures.
• Fleabait: "Muhwuh -- EYE fing. Huwwuh."
• Mike Holmes: The women look at him confused, and demanding to know why he is there.
• Fleabait: As he pauses to catch his breath, he compulsively rearranges the un-symmetric home decor.
• Mike Holmes: Something about the arrogance of Trunwark's attacks raises Terrance's ire towards the offensive man. He channels that into a burst of even more speed than usual and counters the next attack by bending far back and letting the blade go over him, narrowly missing his nose.
• Fleabait: "Trunwark of the Shortened Legs... fighting... married Terrence... Earth Cult ceremony. Come with scurryings and hurryings!"
• Mike Holmes: The women raise their eyes, and gesture for Fleabait to show them where.
• Fleabait nudges the house-servant aside and begins scrubbing at a camisole draped over a chair with a cleaning solution.
• Mike Holmes: Behind Trunwark now, Terrance easily brings his sword to bear on the shorter man, leaving a non-lethal, though very clear cut across his opponent's back. The crowd instantly recognizes his victory.
• Fleabait: He names the location. He appears too agitated between conveying the urgency of master's orders, and the urgency of repairing the housekeeping disaster that is Trunwark's abode.
• Mike Holmes: The women take off at a run.
• Krag considers the implications of Trunwark's behavior while paying out the winners their meager shares.
• Fleabait stays behind a bit, to finish cleaning the camisole.
• Mike Holmes: Trunwark drops his shoulders in defeat. But facing away from Terrance, his face becomes a twisted visage of hate. As Terrance looks to the crowd for accolades, both Krag and Okhasta see a dark intent in Trunwark's eyes. The scimitar starts to come up.
• Okhasta shouts! "Terrence! Look out!"
• Fleabait: "The door to this armoire is ajar. Fleabait shall repair it with mendings and bendings."
• Krag leaps the stone wall into the circle and advances on Trunwark. "What are you doing?"
• Mike Holmes: Trunwark's womenfolk come streaming into the area, just as the scimitar comes up to drop on Terrance. His mother raises her hand and speaks but a work. Suddenly the power drains from Trunwark, and the stones of the circle glow brightly. Trunwark's arm is held in place, and he cannot bring the blow to bear on Terrance who turns to face him.
• Krag freezes, looking around nervously.
• Mike Holmes: Trunwark looks, frightened, at Krag, glad that he's ceased his advance.
• Mike Holmes: He tries desperately to move his arm, but cannot.
• Mike Holmes: Nahiru shakes his head, sadly. "The forms must be followed," he says to Trunwark, with just the smallest bit of irony in his voice.
• Mike Holmes: Inside of Trunwark's armoire, Fleabait espies something shiny on the floor.
• Fleabait picks it up and inspects it in case it needs polishing.
• Krag: "It appears that you have the situation in hand?" Krag says to Trunwark's mother, stepping onece back away from the frozen man.
• Mike Holmes: The woman looks at him grimmacing with the effort. "I can only hold him. One of you will have to observe the form."
• Okhasta walks up to Trunwark and rips the scimitar from his hand.
• Okhasta: "Dog."
• Okhasta: She raises the scimitar over her head, and lops his right hand off neatly at the wrist.
• Chema Terrance looks at Trunwark in shock, "I... I thought that despite your faults, at least you respected the old ways..."
• Fleabait finishes polishing the clue, not looking at it because that would violate a gentleman's secrets, then replaces it, and shuts the armoire door so that it closes properly this time.
• Mike Holmes: Trunwark, once again able to move, falls to the ground clutching the remains of his arm in terror.
• Krag lets himself over the wall, sour bile spoiling the taste of the chewn local herbs on his tongue.
• Okhasta kicks Trunwark's hand out of the circle, and then stalks away, headed down the street towards her family's villa.
• Chema Terrance looks sadly down at Trunwark, "And today started off so well..."
• Mike Holmes: Trunwarks thoughts get even darker, dwelling now upon the icon of the King of the Earth that lies in the bottom of his armoire. They were fools to have left him alive. The betrayer, who Trunwark had reviled for years, was now in his heart, having burrowed in after the years of remembering the act in question. He had become what he hated.
• Fleabait: After checking that yes, the stain came out of the mother's clothing, Fleabait scampers off to join Master.
• Krag: Turning back to Trunwark's party, "There's a fire in the tavern. You should heat his wrist soon."
• Mike Holmes: And the source of that hate would become Trunwark's power. And he'd use it, finally, after thinking about it all these years. But use it to destroy these pretenders to the ancient throne of Green Lake.
• Mike Holmes: Trunwark's womenfolk consider him for a bit, and decide to take him into the tavern. But his mother watches him. Closely.
• Mike Holmes: She looks at Krag as she passes, nodding to him. "Maybe Trunwark should have been your destiny."
• Krag: "My destiny sleeps."
• Fleabait: "Master must sleep and rest. Fleabait will gather victuals for quaffing and laughing."

• Mike Holmes: The vision clears again, the sun setting behind the trees of the White Wood which cast a sinister shadow over its entirity. Suteh looks up from the water wondering about this future. Would it come to pass? Would that be good if it did? So much strife, even in the generations to come.
• Mike Holmes: The future, Suteh remembers, are like the waters, however, and they are never still, always moving, even if subtly. So the details here were unlikely to pass - as such. But there is still a wisdom in such a prediction. Who to impart this wisdom to, however? Suteh looksback at the camp and then to the colony near it.
• Mike Holmes: Then he stands, stretches, and heads for sleep as all men must.

M Holmes? *