She was the one who snuffed the flame.
She was the one who acted against Meru.
Smite her.
“Our next game will be an individual competition,” Lumeria continued as the cheers died down. “The teams may decide how many champions they wish to put forward to participate. But there are a few considerations to be made…
“The first is that the prize can only be won by a single individual—the games and prizes are designed thusly. So by entering multiple people, your teammates will become your direct competition.
“The second is that you cannot put forth the same individuals twice in the solo games. Meaning it will require an element of strategy on the team’s behalf to determine the order in which it makes sense to put forward their players.
“The third and final consideration that teams should know about the individual portion of the tournament is that these two games are not mandatory and the scoring reflects this. Five points are awarded to the team the winning individual belongs to. But two points will bedeductedfrom the team of every champion who participates and loses.”
With all that considered, it could make sense not to participate in the individual games—or at least never put up more than one person. Eira quickly tried to tally the pros and cons. More people meant more chances of winning, but if a team put up more than two champions they risked more points than could be gained in any one single game.
“We hope the structure of these games will offer an element of strategy for the teams, as it is not merely enough to be strong as a champion. A true representative of one of our great states must be intelligent as well,” Lumeria continued. “Now, would you like to know the reward for the winner?”
The crowd cheered, competitors included. Lumeria lowered both her hands toward the arena. Everyone looked behind them. From underneath the archway that led to the village, attendants marched forward, holding a litter that was covered with a cloth. Eira leaned and looked, trying to see over the shoulders of the other competitors to determine what was on it. But it was impossible to tell beyond whatever it was being surprisingly flat.
They set down the litter and one attendant pulled back the silken cloth with a flourish. Half the champions pushed forward, trying to see what it was. The spectators did the same, peering down from the stands.
“What is it?”
“Can you see?”
“I can’t see it!”
Murmurs and cries erupted. Lumeria waited, allowing the tension to steep. Some of the competitors wandered back, Sorrah and Graff among them.
“What was it?” Eira asked her friends, thankful the Twilight Kingdom was ahead of them in the procession.
Graff opened his mouth to speak but Ducot hit him on the arm.
“Don’t tell them. It’s their fault for not looking,” Ducot said. She didn’t recognize the man in that moment. He had always been so friendly to her. Even though he wore a playful grin, he was acting like a true competitor.
“Tell us, please?” Noelle asked with a slight, sweet upturn to her voice.
“They’re going to find out anyway,” Graff said.
Ducot shook his head. “All right, go on.”
“It was just an envelope,” Graff reported.
What kind of benefit was an envelope? A hush fell over the crowd. It seemed Lumeria was going to tell them.
“The individual winner will be awarded an opportunity to benefit their team, as well as any other teams they have forged a relationship with that they deem worthy. The prize is an advantage that can be used in the next team tournament.”
Yet again, Eira wondered what Vi and Taavin had been planning to tell her about the games. Would they have given her an advantage like this? Had she been too hasty in refusing? She’d been trying to act honorably, but it seemed like there was little point in doing so. They should have told her that advantages were part of the game.
“As for the individual game…” Lumeria turned toward the thrones behind her.
Vi Solaris stood. “The details of the next competition will be revealed on the competition day itself,” she announced. As she spoke, attendants stepped before every team, each with a platter, covered in a similar silken cloth to the reward, balanced on one hand. “Your clue as to what awaits you in the individual game is this.”
As Vi raised her hand, the attendants removed the cloths. On each of the platters was a small, iron ball. Vi held an identical one over her head.
“An iron ball will lead you on your path to victory,” she announced to murmurs throughout the arena. “You will have two days to ready yourselves and choose who among you will compete. We look forward to those of you who will rise to the challenge.” Vi turned to the stands, speaking more to the people gathered than the champions.
“In the meantime,” Lumeria said as Vi sat, “our celebrations will continue with performers in the arena while the nobility of our lands are given a chance to better know the competitors.”
