Both Draama and Kel stood in the preparation tent for their house to watch ready and eager to leave for their games. One went to the tunnel of iron shoes set up in the ground. Another went to the tables with two mugs on her hip. The rest went to the staging area for the defend the keg competition. The two other housemasters of the other houses join her side as well. “ Our wagers are set housemaster Draama, great master Kel.” (Hal)
They both nod to Hal as they take their seats. “ Wagers?” (Peter spirit talk)
Kel chuckled. “ Small bets of property and dignity. If we lost these games I would not have a say on my clutch father in any case but yesterday I wagered on my clutch right if these houses here did not earn three points at least. Today I’m not going to risk doing something obviously a fools wager. I wagered the ones I won that we come within one point of the leaders if we are not them after the first game.” (Kel)
“ That seems cruel?” (Peter spirit talk)
Kel sighed. “ Sadly that is what many are doing today. I know one who has a promise of over three dozen females to their name now that had only one to wager yesterday.” (Kel)
Peter hardened himself some. This is just another one of those things he had to accept. “ I would be a hypocrite if I actually let her lose her clutch so easily. Today it is we only need two more points.” (Kel)
Kel looked away some. “ Then I’ll be able to trade those rights for two of my good friends. They do not deserve the cruelty they will get for what I did.” (Kel)
Peter and Draama paused sorry for her as the iron shoes were cast in the fire. “ It has begun.” (Kel)
Instantly several Drakan started rushing threw the tunnel of fire with a staff on their shoulders and buckets on the ends of them filled with water. Those there notice one come back out almost immediately without the staff whole or the buckets on the ends. “ What happened?” (Peter spirit talk)
Draama raised up to take a closer look. “ She was not in there more than a few moments. No way the staff should have cindered that quickly.” (Draama)
Hal raised up as well. “ What is she doing?” (Hal)
The contestant ran back into the burning tunnel and they all sighed. After a moment Peter became curious. “ Mind telling me more about these contests?” (Peter spirit talk)
Draama took a drink to empty the cup. “ Very well. First the tunnel of fire and water. It is both an endurance contest and a race. Anyone who manages to complete the trek through the tunnel with water remaining with them will get a point. The first one to do so will receive a point and the one to bring the most threw will get a point as well. Not as easy done than said. The tunnels burn hot enough to drains one strength enough to need the water you are carrying to continue working. If one collapses they are automatically eliminated and removed. So they must take heed to both their water consumption and wiriness. By the end of it more than most that make it threw are in vain as they no longer have water. In the case that none with water make it through then all that made it get a point and the first to make it gets one as well.” (Draama Spirit talking)
As Draama was explaining the contest the first contestant makes it threw the tunnel only to fall on their knees then chest and lost the remaining contents of their bucket on the ground. “ A shame, he had quite a fair amount too.” (Kel)
One of the same house that was there to help them after the contest moved to his shoulder and moved him further away from the fire to a row of bunks and some more water and began rubbing him down. As they were doing so another came from their tunnel. This one only had a bucket in their hand instead of two on a staff’s ends. He walked up to the collection spot and tipped the bucket to empty it and the scale did not change. A few sections went up in laughter as the contestant threw the bucket. Kel was one of those laughing. “ An embarrassment to my father for sure. That opens the door for any of the other two houses he is tied with.” (Kel)
As Kel was announcing that three more came threw the tunnels. Each of them without water as well. Then there was some worry from those by the tunnels as many entered in between the burning arches. “ It is about over now. The fires should soon die for all those that have empty tunnels.” (Peter figured the explanation was for him. It was only two more leaving the tunnels. One by the exit and another being dragged out that the tunnels started to be extinguished. Almost in the order, they were emptied is what they were put out until the only one remained lit. The one following along the tunnels outside to the one inside indicated they were almost through. Then from in the blaze, her shape was made out. All eyes were on her as she made it threw without a bucket. Her tunnel watcher moved to her side to help her to the recovery area but she pushed him away with a closed fist as she stepped toward the collection spot and opened her balled hand to a few tightly held drops of water being released. The banner that the house of the Timeless Lance was instantly raised and so was Draama’s spear and so was the spirits and voices of those in the tent under her.
“ From one behind to two in the lead. I doubt many saw that coming.” (Peter spirit talk)
Draama chuckled as she sat down again. “ You would be surprised. Yesterday almost none put bets on us and we were very profitable odds. Today we are the wild card favorite.” (Draama spirit talking)
Draama set her spear to her side as she got a drink of wine and Kel raised from her bowl of such. “ Pigs the lot of them. Show a little tail, shake a little leg and wink an eye at them and most of them will fall for your whims. We proved we are strong and not some house full of females to be taken advantage of.” (Kel)
Kel raised up a little surprised to being heard by the looks of the three housemasters looking at her. “ Sorry, you heard that. Housemaster Hal let me introduce you to Glope. One of my friends and in fact the one I am wagering for now.” (Kel)
Glope’s voice came over to the group. “ Housemaster Hal it is an honor to speak to you. I understand while your house is based in the city you have many members boarding the lands with the humans.” (Glope)
Hal coughed a little surprised. “ Yes, in fact, a settlement is being built in some of my lands now.” (Hal)
Glope sounded joyed. “ Excellent, I always wanted to get away from here and see something green growing. Maybe watch a river. Since I had already sworn myself to Kel’s wisdom if she secured my clutch rights I was wondering if I may partner with your house. Maybe spend my days out in this settlement.” (Glope)
Hal tensed up some. “ Great one it would be an honor but my house only has little more than a dozen in it.” (Hal)
Glope chuckled. “ Nonsense, after today there will be masses wanting to join. Was it your house that earned two points yesterday in the strength of body trials?” (Glope)
Hal looked away ashamed slightly. If it was not for the support and preparation of the house of Timeless Lance they would not even be competing, little alone had a chance. “ They will join because Draama’s house is so strong. We are weak.” (Hal)
Glope sighed loudly to them. “ Strength of their house is not in their bodies or their knowledge but their wills. I watched as so many watched the tunnel event and was surprised how willed the victor was. To move threw the entire tunnel without water but a small amount she gripped speaks volumes about their dedication and devotion. I can see she not only did this for her house but herself as well. She wanted to prove she was strong enough to be worthy of her beliefs.” (Glope)
Hal opened his mouth and leaned back. He had not thought about it but he witnessed that as well. Suddenly a new voice appeared. “ You lack courage but that does not make you a coward. Just afraid.” (???)
Hal’s amulet suddenly started glowing. Peter laughed. “ I was wondering when he would appear.” (Peter spirit talking)
Draama looked down at her own amulet. “ You know this spirit?” (Draama spirit talking)
Peter became even more smug. “ In a way. I and him gained access to our spirit portals that allowed us to become spirits in this realm together near the same time. We are good friends but fate pitted us against the other early on in our journeys. While Naleeit killed his first bearer he himself has been waiting to be awakened again by someone worthy.” (Peter spirit talking)
Hal looked at his amulet even more closely. “ Me worthy? My father was a bounty hunter and won this amulet in a card game. After returning here he and his band drank and screwed their hard work away and left me and those of my house behind with no means to care for ourselves but with some unwanted lands as they went back out adventuring to vanish to it. We were children that had to live in this cruel world on our own. We dreamed of becoming greater than any other house. To show a group of outcasts can make something of ourselves.” (Hal)
Hal gripped his amulet tight as he raised his head. “ Glope you have my oath I will never call myself or my house weak again. Our number is small but our hearts are large. No one will ever speak to our great master in disrespect.” (Hal)
Kel raised up and stretched her hind side. “ Good, I got wagers and promises to collect on.” (Kel)
Kel wandered off as the other attention was put back on the remaining games.
