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Description
There were a few more of those loving nights between them over the next few weeks. They always made sure it was safe before doing anything that was so against Skeksis rules.

But during the day, Chamberlain was finding that his feud with the Collector was growing.

Chamberlain had to find out what the Collector was up to in his secret dealings. He could be good at blackmailing others when he wanted to.

He had some animals approach him and he wanted them to keep an eye on things from the others, especially on Lach’s secrets.

After he sent his little animal spies off to watch his fellow Skeksis for new secrets to pop up, the Historian even caught him talking to himself. Saying to himself how the Emperor would praise him for finding out the best news.

“That just won’t happen, Chamberlain.” Ok spoke up.

“Agh!” Sil was surprised for a moment.

“You’ve been out of his favor for too long, Chamberlain. Some fear you. Some loathe you. Nobody likes you! Praise from the Emperor, for you? You’ll calcify before that happens!” The Historian walked by him.

Chamberlain glared after him. It didn’t matter. He wasn’t going to give up.

Eventually, some few days later, one of his little animal spies came to him and told him that it had heard that the Collector was stealing and keeping Gelfling essence for himself.

That made Chamberlain so happy to hear. The Emperor would hear of it and the Collector’s favor would fall. This had to work.

He started on his way to the throne room where the Emperor was bound to be, when he did run into the Collector on his way there.

“I know of your treachery, Lach!” Sil said.

“What are you talking about?” Lach demanded.

“I know of your taking essence. That’s for the Emperor.”

“No one would believe you, Chamberlain.”

“I challenge you to the Trial by Fire!” Sil said.

Lach had a feeling he and Sil would eventually get into a dual as things had been heating up between them.

“Alright. And if I win, you keep your beak shut!”

“If I win, you admit your treachery.”

“Fine, you got me. We notify others of the challenge.” Lach said.

The two rivals went to the throne room and announced their competition.

The other Skeksis were shocked and surprised, and some were not so much. They had seen how those two had been in rivalry for some time now at the most.

The Emperor approved the challenge. They were all dying for some new action. And immediately after, they headed to the fire chamber.

La had just come out of her study and saw Sil and the others marching somewhere. She didn’t know what was going on, but when she saw all the others following, she knew it was important. She followed too, at the end of the line, especially since it concerned her lover.

She was a little surprised it was the fire chamber. What would be going on in there? She knew it was one way to settle some disputes.

Chamberlain and Collector took their spots and there was the scattering of the others to watch. La stood near to Sil’s side. Now she knew he was in this mess.

Two other Skeksis came forward and began putting big rocks into the two rival’s hands.

Chamberlain knew he had to win this. He glanced briefly to his right and he saw La over there. She gave him a questioning look, but he didn’t have time to explain right now. Another rock was added. He nearly let go of the rocks he held, but he turned back to the situation at hand.

The Collector tried to taunt him that he was going to lose.

Sil glared. A fourth rock was added to each of them. His arms began to shake. He was trying to hold on. He couldn’t lose. He saw Lach wasn’t hardly shaking at all.

Chamberlain knew it. The essence was making him stronger. He knew he didn’t have the strength for much longer.

When a fifth rock was added, that was it. Chamberlain couldn’t take it anymore and he fell to the floor. He grunted in pain.

The others all laughed.

“Ha! Ha! I win!” Lach cackled. He put his rocks down.

The others began to disperse. La stayed.

Sil raised himself up. “No! You don’t!” He got up. He began to make a move.

La wondered what he was doing.

“Sire! Sire, wait!”

“No you don’t, Chamberlain!” The Collector turned. He was going to make sure his rival didn’t tell. “You lost and you won’t tell!”

“Just watch me!” Sil looked behind him. He tried to run to the head of the line.

“Sire! The Collector had committed treachery! He’s been stealing from you!” Sil cried out.

“Don’t be a sore loser, Chamberlain.” Zok said.

“I’m not. I know this-” Sil was cut off by the Emperor’s staff hitting him in the arm.

“Enough of this nonsense. You lost and you can enjoy the victory for SkekLach, or there will be other consequences, Chamberlain.” The Emperor declared.

“Please, Sire, you must listen to me. You don’t know what he’s been drinking.” Sil tried again.

“Enough!”

The others left him alone, laughing at his expense.

Sil growled to himself. He stayed there. Why wouldn’t the Emperor listen to him?

“I believe you.” He heard his lover’s voice.

Chamberlain turned to the Illustrator. “The Collector was so much stronger and he shouldn’t have been that strong. I could see he cheated you out of the competition.”

“Yes, with stealing the essence.”

“Are you okay?”

“Little shaken from the weight and the fall, but fine. But I must still keep trying to warn the Emperor.” Sil tried and he went the same path as the others. La followed him.

The clan had gone to the dining hall ready for their midday meal.

“Stay here, La.” Sil said. La would stay back.

Sil approached the Emperor again, if a little more cautiously.

Chamberlain began his explanation again and this time, it didn’t turn out good at all.

“I will hear no more of this! You are stripped of your duties, for good! Take him!” The Emperor ordered.

Chamberlain had known there were possibilities of consequence that could end in this. He began to slink away, but others cornered him and were more than happy to strip him of his job and robes.

La was the only one that didn’t partake in it. She didn’t like seeing this. Her lover had only been trying to warn the Emperor of the Collector’s stealing and this was how he was repaid?

Sil screamed with fear that he might be killed. Then the Emperor put an end to it.

“You are banished, Chamberlain!” He yelled at the now naked and shamed Sil, who was clinging to the wall, panting.

The others had been looking forward to this for a long time. All but La.

“Now, for the victory feast! You are to be commended on your victory, SkekLach.” So said.

The Collector smiled at his leader and sneered at the Chamberlain.

Sil glared at his enemy. He finally caught his breath enough to get away from the wall and pick up some of his clothes. He began to leave the dining hall.

La began to follow him, but the Historian stopped her. “He had been nothing but trouble for all of us. You are not following him, Illustrator.”

She tried to walk around him and got backhanded by SkekUng. “You heard the Emperor. Now leave it be.”

La held her face.

“Sit down, SkekLa.” The Emperor ordered. “After this, you are going to complete that paperwork for me.”

La didn’t want to abandon her lover, but the others weren’t giving her much of a choice.

“SkekLach, you and your pets make sure the Chamberlain leaves.” The Emperor ordered.

“Yes, my Lord.”

Lach went to his collection room and got his three most vicious animals and they headed out to do the job.
………………

Chamberlain went to a private section to where he could at least clothe himself. He felt disgraced being without robes on. This was the worst humiliation any Skeksis could have.

He had just finished clothing himself when he heard a sound behind him.

He turned and saw the vicious animals coming at him. “Get him, boys!” Sil heard the order.

Sil knew he had to move. He moved out as fast as he could. The animals were nearly right on his tail right now.

When he was chased to the entrance, he managed to get outside and then he slipped on the rough ground outside and fell.

He looked up just in time as the pets of his rival had caught up to him and were now standing there, growling and had their teeth bared at him. Lach then moved in.

“You are no longer welcome here and I was to see that you got your tail out of here!” The Collector said.

“One day, you will fall.” Sil said.

“I don’t think so, now get out before I do sick my pets on you.” Lach said.

Sil got to his feet and began walking away, starting for the north. Lach saw him off. He hated saying goodbye to the only life he had ever known.

Once the Chamberlain was far enough away from the castle, Lach and his pets went back inside, certain he wouldn‘t come back in.

Chamberlain looked back sadly. He didn’t want to leave his lover behind, but it was clear they weren’t letting her leave. She had tried to follow, but they forced her to stay. Now just staying alive out in the wilderness would be up to him. He didn’t know where to go, but he knew he could be attacked if he tried to sneak back in.

He might come back for La when he found a suitable home away from the castle. Then they could do as they pleased. He began heading north.
……………….

The other Skeksis were ever so pleased that Chamberlain was now gone. They went on to eat their lunch in peace. The only one that felt otherwise was the Illustrator. She was unhappy about it. She hoped Sil would be ok out there.

She glared at the Collector angrily. He was the biggest liar. He had the Emperor completely fooled. She would try to tell the Emperor herself if she had to. But he could even be harsh on her too. She had to watch her back too.

Description
There were a few more of those loving nights between them over the next few weeks. They always made sure it was safe before doing anything that was so against Skeksis rules.

But during the day, Chamberlain was finding that his feud with the Collector was growing.

Chamberlain had to find out what the Collector was up to in his secret dealings. He could be good at blackmailing others when he wanted to.

He had some animals approach him and he wanted them to keep an eye on things from the others, especially on Lach’s secrets.

After he sent his little animal spies off to watch his fellow Skeksis for new secrets to pop up, the Historian even caught him talking to himself. Saying to himself how the Emperor would praise him for finding out the best news.

“That just won’t happen, Chamberlain.” Ok spoke up.

“Agh!” Sil was surprised for a moment.

“You’ve been out of his favor for too long, Chamberlain. Some fear you. Some loathe you. Nobody likes you! Praise from the Emperor, for you? You’ll calcify before that happens!” The Historian walked by him.

Chamberlain glared after him. It didn’t matter. He wasn’t going to give up.

Eventually, some few days later, one of his little animal spies came to him and told him that it had heard that the Collector was stealing and keeping Gelfling essence for himself.

That made Chamberlain so happy to hear. The Emperor would hear of it and the Collector’s favor would fall. This had to work.

He started on his way to the throne room where the Emperor was bound to be, when he did run into the Collector on his way there.

“I know of your treachery, Lach!” Sil said.

“What are you talking about?” Lach demanded.

“I know of your taking essence. That’s for the Emperor.”

“No one would believe you, Chamberlain.”

“I challenge you to the Trial by Fire!” Sil said.

Lach had a feeling he and Sil would eventually get into a dual as things had been heating up between them.

“Alright. And if I win, you keep your beak shut!”

“If I win, you admit your treachery.”

“Fine, you got me. We notify others of the challenge.” Lach said.

The two rivals went to the throne room and announced their competition.

The other Skeksis were shocked and surprised, and some were not so much. They had seen how those two had been in rivalry for some time now at the most.

The Emperor approved the challenge. They were all dying for some new action. And immediately after, they headed to the fire chamber.

La had just come out of her study and saw Sil and the others marching somewhere. She didn’t know what was going on, but when she saw all the others following, she knew it was important. She followed too, at the end of the line, especially since it concerned her lover.

She was a little surprised it was the fire chamber. What would be going on in there? She knew it was one way to settle some disputes.

Chamberlain and Collector took their spots and there was the scattering of the others to watch. La stood near to Sil’s side. Now she knew he was in this mess.

Two other Skeksis came forward and began putting big rocks into the two rival’s hands.

Chamberlain knew he had to win this. He glanced briefly to his right and he saw La over there. She gave him a questioning look, but he didn’t have time to explain right now. Another rock was added. He nearly let go of the rocks he held, but he turned back to the situation at hand.

The Collector tried to taunt him that he was going to lose.

Sil glared. A fourth rock was added to each of them. His arms began to shake. He was trying to hold on. He couldn’t lose. He saw Lach wasn’t hardly shaking at all.

Chamberlain knew it. The essence was making him stronger. He knew he didn’t have the strength for much longer.

When a fifth rock was added, that was it. Chamberlain couldn’t take it anymore and he fell to the floor. He grunted in pain.

The others all laughed.

“Ha! Ha! I win!” Lach cackled. He put his rocks down.

The others began to disperse. La stayed.

Sil raised himself up. “No! You don’t!” He got up. He began to make a move.

La wondered what he was doing.

“Sire! Sire, wait!”

“No you don’t, Chamberlain!” The Collector turned. He was going to make sure his rival didn’t tell. “You lost and you won’t tell!”

“Just watch me!” Sil looked behind him. He tried to run to the head of the line.

“Sire! The Collector had committed treachery! He’s been stealing from you!” Sil cried out.

“Don’t be a sore loser, Chamberlain.” Zok said.

“I’m not. I know this-” Sil was cut off by the Emperor’s staff hitting him in the arm.

“Enough of this nonsense. You lost and you can enjoy the victory for SkekLach, or there will be other consequences, Chamberlain.” The Emperor declared.

“Please, Sire, you must listen to me. You don’t know what he’s been drinking.” Sil tried again.

“Enough!”

The others left him alone, laughing at his expense.

Sil growled to himself. He stayed there. Why wouldn’t the Emperor listen to him?

“I believe you.” He heard his lover’s voice.

Chamberlain turned to the Illustrator. “The Collector was so much stronger and he shouldn’t have been that strong. I could see he cheated you out of the competition.”

“Yes, with stealing the essence.”

“Are you okay?”

“Little shaken from the weight and the fall, but fine. But I must still keep trying to warn the Emperor.” Sil tried and he went the same path as the others. La followed him.

The clan had gone to the dining hall ready for their midday meal.

“Stay here, La.” Sil said. La would stay back.

Sil approached the Emperor again, if a little more cautiously.

Chamberlain began his explanation again and this time, it didn’t turn out good at all.

“I will hear no more of this! You are stripped of your duties, for good! Take him!” The Emperor ordered.

Chamberlain had known there were possibilities of consequence that could end in this. He began to slink away, but others cornered him and were more than happy to strip him of his job and robes.

La was the only one that didn’t partake in it. She didn’t like seeing this. Her lover had only been trying to warn the Emperor of the Collector’s stealing and this was how he was repaid?

Sil screamed with fear that he might be killed. Then the Emperor put an end to it.

“You are banished, Chamberlain!” He yelled at the now naked and shamed Sil, who was clinging to the wall, panting.

The others had been looking forward to this for a long time. All but La.

“Now, for the victory feast! You are to be commended on your victory, SkekLach.” So said.

The Collector smiled at his leader and sneered at the Chamberlain.

Sil glared at his enemy. He finally caught his breath enough to get away from the wall and pick up some of his clothes. He began to leave the dining hall.

La began to follow him, but the Historian stopped her. “He had been nothing but trouble for all of us. You are not following him, Illustrator.”

She tried to walk around him and got backhanded by SkekUng. “You heard the Emperor. Now leave it be.”

La held her face.

“Sit down, SkekLa.” The Emperor ordered. “After this, you are going to complete that paperwork for me.”

La didn’t want to abandon her lover, but the others weren’t giving her much of a choice.

“SkekLach, you and your pets make sure the Chamberlain leaves.” The Emperor ordered.

“Yes, my Lord.”

Lach went to his collection room and got his three most vicious animals and they headed out to do the job.
………………

Chamberlain went to a private section to where he could at least clothe himself. He felt disgraced being without robes on. This was the worst humiliation any Skeksis could have.

He had just finished clothing himself when he heard a sound behind him.

He turned and saw the vicious animals coming at him. “Get him, boys!” Sil heard the order.

Sil knew he had to move. He moved out as fast as he could. The animals were nearly right on his tail right now.

When he was chased to the entrance, he managed to get outside and then he slipped on the rough ground outside and fell.

He looked up just in time as the pets of his rival had caught up to him and were now standing there, growling and had their teeth bared at him. Lach then moved in.

“You are no longer welcome here and I was to see that you got your tail out of here!” The Collector said.

“One day, you will fall.” Sil said.

“I don’t think so, now get out before I do sick my pets on you.” Lach said.

Sil got to his feet and began walking away, starting for the north. Lach saw him off. He hated saying goodbye to the only life he had ever known.

Once the Chamberlain was far enough away from the castle, Lach and his pets went back inside, certain he wouldn‘t come back in.

Chamberlain looked back sadly. He didn’t want to leave his lover behind, but it was clear they weren’t letting her leave. She had tried to follow, but they forced her to stay. Now just staying alive out in the wilderness would be up to him. He didn’t know where to go, but he knew he could be attacked if he tried to sneak back in.

He might come back for La when he found a suitable home away from the castle. Then they could do as they pleased. He began heading north.
……………….

The other Skeksis were ever so pleased that Chamberlain was now gone. They went on to eat their lunch in peace. The only one that felt otherwise was the Illustrator. She was unhappy about it. She hoped Sil would be ok out there.

She glared at the Collector angrily. He was the biggest liar. He had the Emperor completely fooled. She would try to tell the Emperor herself if she had to. But he could even be harsh on her too. She had to watch her back too.