Chapter 28

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Morning came after a fitful night's sleep. Neither had rested well, both of their minds running through scenarios of what might come to pass at the review session. They didn't even know what alleged misdeed was being questioned, only that they were required to attend, and it was going to force them to miss a day of competition.

They decided to eat breakfast in, the thought of seeing the smug faces of the elites laughing at them enough of a worry that they chose to avoid them entirely. Given the bullshit scenario, neither could guarantee they wouldn't go up and pop one of them in the mouth, and that would definitely be an unforgiveable offense.

They ate quietly for a long while, each lost in thought. It was Ziana who finally broke the silence.

"Dorrin?"

"Hmm?"

"I was wondering."

"As was I."

"No, not about whatever is going on today. I wondered about you and the games. I mean, me? I have no choice. But you? This is voluntary. Why put yourself through all this?"

He took a long drink from his cup, sitting in silence a moment before answering.

"You are aware that the winner of the games receives wealth and social standing."

"Yes."

"But did you also know that there are other perks to victory?"

"There've been some rumblings floating around, but no one's really talked about it. I did hear someone say something about getting a wish. I ignored them though. No such thing as genies."

"Genie?"

"A magical being that grants wishes."

"Ah. Then no, there is no such thing. But wishes? Yes, to a certain extent, that part is true. And in my case, what I strive for is not out of reach."

"So, this isn't just about getting rich?"

"Hardly. I care not for wealth or position, though I will not turn it down. But what I truly want? What I am actually fighting for?"

"Yes?"

Strangely enough, Dorrin's eyes glistened with tears.

"I fight for my father," he said, wiping them away. "He is imprisoned, and I fight for his freedom."

Ziana felt like she'd been punched in the gut. Here she had been so concerned about her own situation, thinking he was just treating the games like an opportunity to get rich. But rescuing his dad? That was a whole different sort of thing, and one that made her plight seem so much less serious by comparison.

"What happened? If you don't mind my asking."

Dorrin took a deep breath. "While his fate is not secret, I do not share this story."

"I understand."

"I wasn't finished. I do not share this story outside of those closest to me," he continued, his glistening eyes locking on hers. "And you have become that, and more." Dorrin composed his thoughts a moment, then settled himself to tell his tale. "My father, as you know, competed in the games. That much is common knowledge."

"Yeah, Flagro was talking shit about that."

"Yes, and he would. But I will get to that. My mother and father did all they could to raise my sister and me in the best way possible given our standing. We weren't rich, but we weren't poor. Just another family living from two incomes and going about our lives. Sure, we watched the games, but we were just kids, and it was all no more than an exciting spectacle for us. And my parents never gambled. Not once. But then, when I was still a boy, my mother died, leaving my father to care for us both."

"Oh, Dorrin. I'm so sorry."

"I am not so self-centered as to believe I am the only child who has lost a parent unexpectedly. But in any case, it became a strain on my father. Too much for him to shoulder alone. With only one income, he found himself falling behind. He hid it from my sister, but I was older, and he confided in me, making me swear that if anything ever happened to him, I would look after her."

Ziana could sense what was coming next. At least the basic gist. "What happened to him?"

"He took a risk. The ultimate gamble in hopes of winning vast riches to support my sister and me."

"The games."

"Yes. That was how he entered. But he put it all on the line when he did that. You see, without a regular partner to enter the games with him, he did the most foolish thing imaginable. He offered himself up as a replacement."

Ziana gasped. Even she realized what that meant. "But replacements wind up in servitude."

"Yes. But he had a trick up his sleeve. You see, the woman who had lost her partner was an old friend of his from his youth. A very strong and skilled fighter and a fierce competitor whose athletic prowess was second to none. Kohlmalla was her name, and she was a heavy crowd favorite to win the games, and the betting pools reflected that. Naturally, the elites couldn't have that, but they didn't dare risk harming someone so closely watched. Her partner, on the other hand, well, he was expendable."

"Hence a convenient vacancy."

"Exactly."

"So he took a huge risk and lost."

"Yes and no. It was a huge risk, most certainly, but he and Kohlmalla were a potent team. So much so that before the games were even two-thirds complete, it was all but a given they would win. This dampened the gaming considerably."

"And the elites do love their gaming revenues."

"Yes. But that alone wasn't enough to derail them. Something more serious was needed. An excuse to remove him from the games. And Vintus, Chancellor Vinchi's younger brother, who was competing at the time, provided just that opportunity. He was cheating, my father could tell, but my father was also winning so there was no need to risk calling him out. But then Vintus staged an injury, both saving face for performing poorly while also framing my father for violating the rules in the most egregious way. The Chancellor had told him where the video feeds were located, and Vintus put on a master class in subterfuge. It was fake, but from the angles available, it looked like my father had attempted to kill him while out on a challenge course. He was immediately pulled from the games, both he and Kohlmalla were disqualified and ejected, and my father was tried and sentenced to prison for something he didn't do. And, of course, no one would challenge the elites. Not when one of their own had been injured."

Ziana gently rested her hand on his arm. "I'm so sorry, Dorrin. I had no idea."

"Of course not. Why would you?"

"So you had to raise yourself? And your sister?"

"Yes. I worked any job I could while also relying on the kindness of family friends. It was difficult, but we looked after one another. And we swore we would get our father's freedom the only way we knew how."

"You trained for the games."

"Exactly. My sister and I were both talented, but we realized we had a better chance of achieving our goal if we worked as two independent teams, each supporting the other. There was no rule against it, but we had to be subtle, nonetheless. Our partners were aware of the gambit, and they supported us fully. Hers was her husband, a man she'd become bonded to in a distant city. When they came to challenge the games, it was under his name, but as she was a local, they were allowed. But when it looked like they would likely win steps were taken to ensure no such thing occurred. And in the end, I lost her too. Not like my father, but for good. I have continued to compete every games since then, but I have never won," he said with a dejected sigh. "None of us do. The elites simply won't allow it."

Ziana felt her heart ache for the poor man. He'd lost so much because of the games. It was no wonder he'd been so gruff when she first arrived. He'd just lost his most recent partner, and with her, what he thought was his best chance to free his father.

She rose from her seat and sat close to him, holding him tight and wishing she could somehow make the pain go away.

It was hours later when the door chimed. Not the overseer come to fetch them for their review, but a simple messenger.

"The request for review has been heard, and the case dropped. You are allowed to compete again. Your names will be added back to the betting boards by the day's end," the woman informed them.

"Oh, great. Just in time for people to profit off us but still keep us at a disadvantage. There's only one more event left, and they did this to put us behind!"

"I assure you, I know nothing about that," the woman replied, then headed off.

Ziana was shellshocked and in a rage. Dorrin just shook his head, upset, but not surprised.

"They just forced us to miss an entire event, and we didn't even get to plead our case."

"If we had the opportunity, it would have been for public viewing. Clearly, they did not wish for their subterfuge to come under too much scrutiny."

"So they screwed us anyway and we have no recourse?"

"More or less," he said, stepping outside. "On the bright side, we are no longer waiting. Shall we head to the practice area? No sense moping around here."

She had to admit he was right, but she was still very annoyed. Still, it made no sense dwelling on things. They needed to properly clear their minds and ready themselves for whatever the next day might bring.

"I suppose," she said as they walked. "But we don't know what the event will be."

"No. But whatever it is, I will never give up, no matter what they try to do to put us behind."

They wandered the training area and made a quick loop, trying to decide what to do, but physical exercise just didn't sound enticing to them. Ziana looked over at the Bolaxis boards, an idea flashing through her mind. "Hey, since we're stuck waiting around, you fancy a game of Bolaxis?"

"I do not much enjoy it."

"Oh, I'll make it interesting. A wager to spice things up. Best of three games."

He raised a brow. "And what are we playing for?"

"Oh, you'll see," she replied with a wink. "And believe me, even if you lose, you win."