Spotlight

Chapter 2

I move around on my seat, causing my pantyhose to go even higher. I'm well aware of the cameras facing our box, so I can't do anything about it. I squirm again, it only gets worse.

"Stop that." Kat laughs.

I laugh too. "It's really uncomfortable."

"Power through." She seethes.

"Today is such a beautiful day, we couldn't have asked for better weather as we start our annual games." One of the pundits says from her glass box, it's currently overlooking the bottom field.

This is the biggest stadium I've ever been in. The building is old, built in 1892, the year the tenth Milton's match was held. It's made out of stony gravel and is two and a half storeys high. The building has been renovated many times, one of the most recent renovations made provisions for the Pundits box. Unlike the arena in school, this one provides cushioned seats. The chairs are arranged in a circle, they look down at the spacious green field. The field is divided into two main sections, in each section are three divisions.

The first is called the free zone, you won't be penalized for anything that happens there, you will also not be awarded a point. It's in the middle of the field and it borders your opponent's.

The second division is called the Remedial Zone, it's the biggest. In this zone, you can be penalized and awarded points.

The third is the Death zone. Under no circumstances can your opponent battle you in that zone. If you fall in your death Zone, you are automatically eliminated.

If no one falls in their death zones after three minutes, the game immediately ends and the buzzer goes off. The person with the most points win. Points are awarded for hits, cuts, and style. It's more complicated than normal combat. Some cases call for that though, in the highly unlikely event that there's a tie (points will have to match for that to happen), the board will decide on what to do. The board is made up of past winners. Uncle Max would have been on it, but he's stuck in Malone.

Ryppers have only been spotted three times since the attack. They were quickly removed before serious damage was done. Only one other Illyrian country has recorded an attack, Ferona. The rest are as safe as ever.

"To kickstart our processions, everyone please let's welcome Lady Lilian Harrington." There's some applause.

Lilian stands up from her seat and walks past the gate to the field. We're so close to the front, we might actually get sprayed with blood.

An attendant hands Lilian a microphone. "Good morning, Aldean, welcome to the 138th Annual Milton's match." More applause. "I will be reading a letter from Liege Henry Milton a month before the games were established. This letter was addressed to His Majesty, King Alfred.

'The morale of my men is low, their families have been killed and their homes destroyed. They fear they are not strong enough to defeat our foe. The wise philosopher, Sigrid, once said that once morale is gone, the battle is already lost.

I ask permission to carry out some games. To remind the men that they are Aldean, and Aldeans are strength personified. I wish to remind them who they are. No Rypper invasion can stop them, they need to know they are stronger than the creatures of evil magic.

Thank you for your time, Your Majesty.

Your Humble Servant, Liege Henry Milton.'"

Lilian sighs, her smile is still plastered on her face. "Of course, Liege Milton did die two months after the games in a Rypper attack. But his legacy lives on in this game. It's to remind ourselves that we need not fear, and that we're strong enough to overcome anything. I think this message is more important in these troubling times. So please, enjoy the games and remember that though Ryppers may be lurking in the shadows, we are strong enough to overpower them."