Soon more of the crystal spheres launched forward, and it became evident rather quickly that the forty feet, max, that the first orb had traveled was child’s play.
I found myself watching Laliera with anticipation. Her orb wasn’t the brightest, but it was close. When it launched, it seemed to roll forever before stopping at least two hundred feet away. Once again, she wasn’t the farthest, but Laliera seemed proud of her performance and it again netted her 13 points as she took fifth.
“That’s my girl.” Opheira beamed, as Reevia took first in the Test of Will. I wasn’t surprised. Spellcasters were the ones most frequently chosen by the hiersver.
She may not be the best at any one thing so far, I thought, but she’s got a broad skill set and it’s working out for her.
That and she had a fabulous ass. Hey, she was looking pretty good for being my next matron, yeah, I looked.
“Only two events remain!” The announcer declared. “Next is the Trial of Endurance!”
I glanced down, forgetting for a moment that my headband gave me elf-sight and being surprised at being able to see the scoring. It took a second for my magic to translate the names, but it looked like Laliera was in second place. Something about her seemed… perfect, and I really hoped she’d pull it out.
For the test of endurance, each maiden was given a wooden staff with multiple curves., and they laid it across their shoulders. One curve fit just over the arch of their neck and a plate, like that of a scale, was hung on each side.
“My Vaisha will win this.” Magnus declared with pride.
Two assistants stood by each of the maidens and at a signal from the announcer a weight was placed on each of the scales. Each maiden focused and tried to settle into their groove. After a minute, another weight was added. The period between weights being added seemed to grow each time, but for the longest time, all the maidens held strong.
“No… no… Vaisha! Your knees!” Magnus gritted through clenched teeth. And looking, I realized her mistake. Vaisha had locked her knees. As anyone who has had to stand at attention will know, locking your knees for an extended period, while standing still, can be disastrous.
And disastrous it was.
Before another maiden had even come close to giving in, Vaisha fell, unconscious to the floor.
“No…” Magnus groaned in dismay.
With a 1 added to her score, Vaisha was now in seventh place, before any of the other maidens had even added their scores for the round.
Vaisha’s unexpected collapse had one of two effects on the other maidens. A couple seemed to despair that even one as strong as she had collapsed and in short order, they tossed the weighted staff from their shoulders, collapsing to their knees. But there were others who saw a stiff competitor drop and took heart.
Like Laliera. She pressed on, even with her legs shaking, until it was just her and the contestant from the Setis Hratha. Only when her legs could hold her no more did she collapse.
Sixteen points. With sixteen points she took the lead by three. And there was only one more competition to go.
The final challenge saw a swarm of mages take the field, and with a chant and actions very similar to what had spawned the bleachers, a course materialized, like something from American Ninja Warrior, though instead of water below to fall into, only unforgiving earth was there to catch the contestants. There were lanes with high walls between them to separate the contenders. Once the course was complete, numbered sticks were drawn to determine which lane each contender was to run in. A measure against cheating, I realized. This way a mage couldn’t make one section of the course easier for any one lane.
“Well, it looks like we are both out of the running,” Opheira noted to Magnus. “Your granddaughter has put on quite the display.”
Granddaughter. I was close.
“As has your representative.” Magnus declared. “But there is more to your words. Speak.”
Opheira smiled. “Nothing gets past you.”
She looked forward. “Unless my ears were deceived, the only masters to be available in your Hratha in the next twenty-five years are too closely related to her for her to be an acceptable matron.”
Magnus looked at his granddaughter as she lined up in lane four. “You were not deceived.”
“Your Hratha has many admirable traits… but you have always lacked the will for great magics,” Opheira stated. “However, my Hratha has produced many mages of great strength. I propose an exchange. Xanthra is with her final child before she must put on an Elder’s gown, Jeisgor will then be available.”
“And?” Magnus pressed after a short break.
“As her uncle, Jeisgor is too closely related to Vaisha to bond with her. But in my Hratha, Preena as well as with her last child, which will leave Zelnin available. If you allow Reevia to be bound to Jeisgor, we will allow Vaisha to be bound to Zelnin.” Opheira offered. “Zelnin is of good stock, and likely has at least two matrons left before his vigor is spent.”
The elders all looked between the two. I could see the wheels turning.
A quick look at the scoreboard told everyone that it would have to line up perfectly for her to tie for first place.
“Begin!” The Announcer called.
The maidens began to scramble through the obstacle course. By the midway point, it was clear that the perfect lineup for Vaisha was not going to happen.
“Sister Opheira, I find myself in favor of your offer.” Magnus declared.
The resulting murmur through the elders was electric.
“We’ll work out the details later.” Opheira declared with a smile.
Laliera was scrambling hard. But the only contender who could knock her out of the first position slipped and fell back three positions. Vaisha did indeed finish first, but it wouldn’t matter. Laliera finished second, earning her an untouchable 16 points.
I don’t know why it made me so happy that Laliera won, but at some point, I’d started rooting for her.
After the final maiden completed the course, the announcer walked to the scorekeeper’s stump. A quick consultation was had, but all the elders were in position, we’d all seen the scores as they were tallied.
“The winner of this tournament is… LALIERA of Hratha Nourna!” The announcer cried. She turned to me. “Master Thomas, do you accept the result of this tournament?”
Silence fell, and Opheira quickly nudged me.
I stood up, awkwardly, and said the first thing that came to my mind. “I do.” And yes, I was hearing wedding bells in my head.
Laliera bit her lip in shyness and excitement and wiped the sweat from her brow.
There was a cheer that rose, especially loud from the bleachers where the members of Hratha Nourna sat.
Magnus was in a surprisingly good mood. “Come, let us go to the temple and see the bonding done. Then you can go and prove your vigor before your elders.”
I glanced at him quickly, but he was turning away.
Prove my vigor? In front of my Elders? That sounded a lot like fucking Laliera in front of the Elders of Hratha Nourna. I was not thrilled about that, but we’d see how it went.
My matrons, maidens, and Amura surrounded me again as I descended from the stand. Quickly, Laliera was quickly brought through the mass and pressed by my side. She looked me in the eye and then glanced away shyly. I knew she was happy, that much was evident on her face, and she had competed, putting her all on the line to win her spot at my side. A flood of wild elves accompanied us.
We were conducted through the ruins back to the temple, where the enclave had met. Walking in, the chairs were gone, though the statues still stood in ruins. The hall into the temple was broad enough that four people could squeeze side-by-side, but once we entered, the majority of the Wild elves stayed outside, seeming to respect what was about to take place. The Nourna elder who had sat with me on the stand led us to the center of the ceremonial chamber. My matrons, maidens, and household, as well as several of the members of Hratha Nourna, entered but stayed at the back of the temple to watch, but even those outside the temple could look down the hallway to see the ceremony.
“Give me your hand, child.” The elder requested, and Laliera offered her hand. Her finger was pricked and a single drop of blood was obtained.
“Que, van iesoval.”
The tiny drop of blood rose into the air.
“Margone Failalithia,” the elder repeated, “Utrail yo, camari tai.”
This time though, instead of having Laliera stand behind me, with her hand on my back, the elder had her stand to my side and hold my hand.