He gestured to the player’s chair once more, and this time she responded. Ziana took a deep breath, rose, and moved over, sliding into position, her nerves on edge.
The officiant spun a little disc, this world’s version of tossing a coin, Ziana quickly learned, and with colors decided, the game began.
Bladzo and Skeetaxa were chipper and amused at the prospect of an elite male facing a female, and not just a commoner, but an off-worlder at that.
Their smiles were wiped from their faces quickly and with malice.
“Hey, thanks for the games. That was fun!” Ziana chirped, having dispatched Bladzo with blazing-fast efficiency. “So, now what?”
Dorrin barely contained his laughter. “Now we go have a snack. You made such quick work of him; we have a little respite before learning who your next opponent will be.”
She stood up and stretched, an exaggerated act for the benefit of the crowd, who ate it up with a chorus of cheers. The underdog had just made some of them alotof money. The other players turned and looked at what was going on despite being in the middle of their own games. Ziana was psyching them out before she even sat across from them, and several of the others made unforced errors in their current games as a result.
Dorrin and Ziana sat in a shady spot, snacking and watching the other players on a small display, enjoying their early respite.
He nudged her with his shoulder. “You see? You are a natural.”
She leaned back into him in reply, enjoying the momentary contact but keeping it at just that. For now, anyway. “Thanks for believing in me. This is actually kind of fun.”
“Enjoy it, but do not take the game lightly. It can turn in an instant.”
“As Bladzo just learned firsthand.”
“Yes, that he did. And deservedly so. Just remember, others will not be so easy.”
“Noted. So what now?”
“Now we wait. And then? Then you crush them all.”
The next several pairings went pretty much the same, though Gorrum proved to be a tougher opponent than most. Even so, Ziana was burning through her opponents with speed and efficiency, even potentially unlocking bonus points in the process. It was an obscure part of the game’s rules, and pretty much no one ever claimed those bonuses as they were not easy to win. But Ziana had put on such an impressive display that she’d actually managed it.
Of course, there were objections to the additional points by both the elites and gamblers betting against her, and it would take a while for the rules to be fully consulted and the bonuses confirmed. Even so, by the time they reached their final round, they were in second place.
“This is it,” she said as they climbed to the high platform, to face her final opponent.
Naturally, it was Flagro.
Gone was his joking, sarcastic ribbing. He may have treated her like shit earlier, but he’d seen her play now and wasnottaking this lightly. He was a good player, but he was in no way guaranteed victory. This would be a battle, and against a female, no less.
The first game was unusual. Both players were tentative, refraining from several of their earlier tactics as they felt one another out. This was it. The final three games that would decide it all.
Dorrin kept the Lectrolis cooler coming, making his partner hydrate and fuel her brain as she burned through glycogen likea furnace, her opponent doing the same, both pushing their tactical minds to the limits.
“Yes!” she shouted, pumping her fist in the air, finally boxing her opponent into the corner. “That’s game!”
“Unexpected,” Flagro grumbled.
Dorrin smirked at the man, throwing his own words back at him in the most satisfying way. “Expectations and reality are not always what you plan for, are they?”
Flagro’s eyes flared, his jaw flexing, but he controlled his rage. He turned his attention back to Ziana. “You have been victorious in but a single game. There are still two remaining.”
Ziana knew he was right, but landing that first blow felt good. Damn good.
“Okay,” she said. “Shall we get to it?”
They did, and to her dismay Flagro managed to pull out a win, quieting her celebration and extinguishing her joy, a look of smug amusement creasing his lips. There was only one game remaining. One game to decide it all.
“Ready to lose?” Flagro asked, trying his hand at mind games.
