Their attention was turned to the drinking contest, which started the same time as the other two. This one was the most popular one, not because it was exciting to watch, but because even the judges took part in the contest slightly as they waited for the competitors to give out. Peter noticed there was a board behind the judges with a small banner of each house beside several dozens of marks. As soon as one of the contestants empty their drink it was taken away and replaced and a mark went up. Their houses were behind by four. “ Do you need me to explain this contest?” (Draama spirit talking)
Justin responded to that one. “ Me and Peter here have plenty of experience in drinking games, huh buddy? Remember that time at the college you threw up all over that girl when you drank too much?” (Justin)
Peter sighed wishing he could punch his friend’s shoulder as Draama actually laughed to herself. “ Embarrassing I am sure.” (Draama spirit talking)
Peter sighed hard. “ It was. I made a fool out of myself. I would like to think I grew out of that.” (Peter spirit talking)
Draama sounded cheerful when she responded. “ I know very little about you, Peter was it?” (Draama spirit talking)
Peter sighed again. “ Please, shaman call me your spirit. I left my real name behind my home realm.” (Peter spirit talking)
Draama grew a little sorry and serious. “ I did not think you went to a school of greatest learning my spirit. You seem different than that.” (Draama spirit talking)
Peter sighed and rubbed his forehead with the palm of his hand. “ Went yes, completed no. I was still in my learning when I first became bound to your father. Please shaman this story is in the past and has no reverence now. I am still dealing with my choices.” (Peter spirit talking)
Draama sobered up to her humor and curiosity. She had no right to dig into his former life. Then Hal spoke out loud. “ My spirit Justin is mocking yours Housemaster Draama. He is quite annoyed about being ignored. Truly even in my lack of training I can see the differences of maturity in the two even if they are similar in age and background.” (Hal)
Peter smiled as he left his eye and hovered over to Hal. “ Grow up Justin. I asked your shaman to confine your annoyances because every Drakan within two sections is hearing you bicker and that is an embarrassment to Hal. I and Dramix spent years getting my soul amulet this strong. Through trials that I know would break you. If you really want me to educate you the same way I will.” (Peter)
Everyone became a little surprised at the cloud of fog in front of Hal. Peter laughed lightly. “ I guess I went a little overboard as well. Shamans Hal I am sorry for speaking this way but it must have been said. Grow strong for yourself and him and he will grow strong for himself and you. Have a clutch of wise and strong children so he knows what it is like for a change.” (Peter)
Peter looked out into the coliseum. “ We are only down by two now.” (Peter)
Draama smirked as she took another drink and closed herself off to all but her spirit who had returned to the eye of souls. “ You seem happy.” (Peter spirit talking)
Draama sighed humored. “ I do not know. I feel lightened. As if a burden I did not know I had has been removed.” (Draama spirit talking)
Peter smiled as an image of Draama appeared in the eye with Peter. “ I felt similar right after I laid with Guinee for the first time. I spoke to him and he spoke to me. They were unimportant things but meaningful and I remember every word of it.” (Draama spirit talking)
Peter rubbed his chin. “ You are opening up and blossoming not only as a woman but a person as well. I am sure it was hard growing up with Dramix as a father. He is kind and caring but cold. He does not take some things well.” (Peter spirit talking)
Draama grabbed the side of her arm and chuckled. “ He tried to raise us as if we were his sons. He taught us how to fight and survive on our own. How to be strong and fair. He was strict but forgiving and understanding. He favored my sister much more than me.” (Draama spirit talking)
Peter sighed as he started to walk around slightly. “ Your sister Nelaait was it?” (Peter spirit talking)
Draama nods. “ Yes, she was so much stronger and more skilled than me. I always trailed behind her. Maybe because I hatched a year after her and she had a head start. Maybe because of the early days of the house she was changed as I do not remember them.” (Draama spirit talking)
Draama looked away slightly. “ She should be the one sitting here with you on this day and not me.” (Draama spirit talking)
Peter lowered his shoulders a little saddened. “ If a choice between two decedents would be made I would choose the heir.” (Peter spirit talking)
Draama looked up a little surprised to his tone. “ Perhaps, still what she did was not excusable.” (Peter felt she was still pained by the story. “ When you are ready Draama.” (Peter spirit talking)
Draama rubbed her arm some before turning away. “ I know. One day soon perhaps. For now, I need to focus on these games and securing the place of my house as the house of trade.” (Draama spirit talking)
Peter laughed. “ I can see you are ready for this challenge.” (Peter spirit talking)
When Draama left her semi meditative state she noticed the drinking game was over. Even with their ace drinker, she figured that they would not out drink the sheer numbers of some of the houses. They were two drinks down from the top drinker as well. Draama sighed to the result being posted on the scoreboards. Then there was the grab the keg game. Another sport derived from a drinking game but this one was to secure the drinks. It was a match of overbearing and oversized males wrestling over each other for the ultimate prize. She knew most females thought being in a pile like that was a turn on but she was not one of them. Even if one of the women of her house wanted to participate in that one she would ask them to reconsider due to the rough actions that would fall on her if she got separated from her allies and cornered in one of the blind spots. That game was ending as well and her house was not one of those that had one of the kegs. She stood and grabbed her spear at her side as she started moving away. Kel was just returning with a pair of young, but not as young as her by their size, dragons. “ Good luck housemaster.” (Kel)
Draama smirked slightly.
Draama entered the preparation and recovery tent to find several in beds knocked out during the last game or treating others that way or even more preparing a select number for the last two games. One holding his bandaged arm looked down and backed away from her ashamed to lose. She put a gentle hand on his shoulder. “ Do not feel ashamed about losing. Never let anyone see the shame on you for losing because we lost. There can only be one winning house and even if we lose there are so many other houses that must look in shame to us. There are so many that must wonder if we were a great house then would they have lost. We are great. Not because we won or lost but because we are doing something so many others are not. We are trying and that is more than most do. Never let shame befall you for trying. Only for not trying.” (Draama)
Draama noticed every Drakan in her presence was lifted up. Her spirit’s speech did wonders for them. She also sees Dramix at Naleeit side speaking to him about something but she did not need to wonder what it was about. Guinee moved to in front of her and gave her a solute by putting the bottom of his fist to his chest. “ Housemaster we are ready.” (Guinee)
Draama does so as well. “ Then let us continue.” (Draama)
Naleeit leads the small prepared group to the final two games marshaling area where the houses of Firebrands and Ironwings were converging as well. This first event Draama knew they had both advantages and disadvantages. She would have to pick her battles wisely. As if practiced two large male dragons land beside their houses and Kel lands beside Draama as a fourth one watches amused in the middle. “ Koal great master of the house of Ironwings and housemaster Fitagron. Five-time winner of the great games. Are you ready?” (elder dragon)
Koal let out a roar that deafened most around him. “ Titanus great master of the house of Firebrands. Two-time winner and housemaster Roc are you ready?” (elder dragon)
Again another mighty roar. The old dragon looked toward Kel a little pleased. “ Kel great master of the house of the Timeless Lance newcomer to these games and housemaster Draama. Are you ready?” (elder dragon)
Kel stood at best an imitation of the other two great dragons in front of her but she had earned her the respect she knew. Even many of the greater houses can not say they stood against these two as equals before. She let her actions speak for her as her words would not carry to these giants in front of her. The old dragon nods his head approving. “ Very well these three houses are the only ones that have a chance at being the victors. As the house of the Timeless Lance has a one-point lead over the other two they may decree which game is first.” (elder dragon)
Draama looked at the groups of the other two. Most of them were there for the show. By the rules whoever picks the game also has an advantage in the second game. “ Test of weapons.” (Kel)
She also knew whoever was picked on each team was decided before the last games ended. As her team was. The old dragon turned from Kel to Koal. “ As the winner of more games than your opponent you may choose the weapon.” (elder dragon)
Koal looked at his daughter then at Titanus. Each of them was a threat he knew. His daughter was the one that had the lead, however. “ Single one-handed swords.” (Koal)
The judge then looked to Titanus who was also considering his play. “ How many combatants.” (elder dragon)
Titanus looked at the groups. “ Two.” (Titanus)
