<div class="floatright">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/4/4f/Native_american_women_photos_02.jpg)</div><div align="center">Ajei</div><br/>This language Raiden’s spell taught her had a complicated system of honorifics.  Ajei was having trouble sorting through them all.  She hoped the right ones would come out when she opened her mouth.<br/><br/>The copper skinned girl tried to get closer as the duel began.   There was no other word for it.  This was no playful bout.  Her people’s wars were usually less brutal—with so many opponents willing to back down if shamed by a superior fighter touching them with a stick or playful grope.<br/><br/>This was total war in the form of a duel, with no quarter asked or given.  Even when the human fighter was defeated, the out world emperor called for her destruction!<br/><br/>If Ajei had been one row closer to the front, then, her instinctive leap to the foreign girl’s aid might have been some terrible breach of formalities.<br/><br/>Like the man-monster who spawned the world’s mosquitos when slain, the Outworld warrior drank from his conquest’s blood rather than beheading her.  Ajei clenched her fists and looked on in macabre fascination.  Her muscles bulged, her hands shook at her sides.  Sweat broke out on her brow and cleavage.  “That thing should be destroyed,” she whispered.<br/><br/>It seemed, perhaps, he offered the human girl some small mercy.  As her body crumpled on the ground, Ajei found herself next to Raiden.  Perhaps her father had been the one to restrain her?  She couldn’t remember.  “Can we help her now, Father?” she asked, placing a hand on the storm-god’s shoulder.  “I have some corn husks to absorb the poison, sacred water to wash the wounds, hide and needles to sew them.  She doesn’t have to die.  She may even fight again one day.”  She was dubious about the last.  Her grandmother had worked such miracles before, but she had paid most of her attention to her grandfather’s skills.  If left to her poor skill, the girl might survive, but would probably need a crutch.<br/>