Silver Winds

Chapter 25

The game was called ‘stalker.’

Astra smiled as Pengill explained the game for the third time, due to some of the stupider members of the training.

“If you get your target’s beaded necklace, then you get two points if you can return it to me by sundown. If you get another person’s beaded necklace, who isn’t your target, then you’ll receive one point. If you lose your own necklace, then you lose a point for your Munrskipan. Now, enough talk. Come to me to get your necklace and your target.”

Astra pulled herself forward, off the support beam she had been resting against. She could not keep the smile off of her face as she strode calmly toward Pengill among the 45 other people. Her cloak swayed on her shoulders, and the candlelight cast long shadows on her face and body.

The sound of a million tiny drums was a mere whisper behind the noise 45 boys could make. Astra could still hear the small liquid droplets splash against the rooftop, though. She had known it was going to rain. It had begun just after they arrived.

A fleeting thought of a small tabby kitten fluttered through her mind, but she pushed it away as Pengill slapped a necklace and a small slip of folded paper into her hand. Now was no time to worry about an animal. She had survival instincts, same as anyone else.

Astra moved back to the spot she had declared hers, and examined the necklace. It was colorful, of reds, oranges, purples, and yellows. It had a small tag hanging from it, which read ‘Astor Olsen.’ She slipped it around her neck, as she saw many of the others doing. She unfolded the piece of paper carefully, glancing around to ensure that no one else could see.

‘Kennet Fransen,’ the paper said, in neat, curled handwriting. Astra nodded, taking in a shaky breath. Unconsciously, she let her eyes find the man who had attacked her not much longer than a month ago. He was peering down at his paper with a wolfish grin on his face. Astra assumed that he thought his target was easy.

Her eyes neck locked on the three remaining suspects. Odin had paled a bit, Oskar was looking around with a clueless expression on his face, and Onyx was smiling, his eyes locked on the the piece of paper in his hands. Astra marched to Volos. The large boy was staring around the room as if he was indifferent to whom he had received as a target.

She knocked on his waist when she was close. “Keep an eye on Oskar,” she whispered. Volos shook his head, and jerked his head toward another boy.

“Onyx,” he replied. Astra shrugged.

“Okay,” she returned, then moved to Rune. “Watch Oskar,” she commanded. “I’ve got Odin once I get my target.”

Rune nodded, stiffness apparent in his body position. “G-got it,” he murmured. “I’ll try my best.”

Astra gathered her Munrskipan into a circle. The eleven people stared at one another with a certain intensity.

“Look,” Astra began. “This is where we need to get serious. We’re behind because of the last competition, but we can win this one. I know we can.”

“Should we stick together?” Drago asked, moving his hand to his empty scabbard. He frowned when he realized for the third time that it was no longer there.

Sadly, they had been forced to give up their weapons for this challenge. But they had been promised that everything would be returned when they arrived at the Kinerell at sundown.

“No,” Astra answered, her hand held in front of her. “That would make us an easier target. As soon as we hit Mistport, split up. If you see someone from our group after about an hour, I won’t force you to separate. Help each other out if someone looks like they’re in trouble. Got it?”