A Game of Cards

Chapter IV: Mace Hayes

"Nervous, Crown Prince of Hearts?" sneered an arrogant voice. I turned to see the prince of Spades Dane, smirking down at me, his silver armor already donned, with a gleaming black gem in the shape of a spade at the center of his chest.

"Why?" I asked nonchalantly, "are you?"

He scoffed, but before he could make a retort, the commanding voice of Onyx called him back to the Spades Team.

She was the captain of this year's War Game, again, just like she was last year, and the year before that. I started to fasten my own golden armor, a red heart-shaped crystal on my chest. I quickly summoned my rapier and set the teams into formation, because this year, like the last, and the one before that, I was the captain as well. A horn sounded nearby, and the teams started to move in separate directions, Spades was east, Clovers was south, Diamonds was west, and Hearts was north, positioned based on the geographical locations of each nation. I led my team onto a white patch of grass, and when we all stepped in, a glimmering blue dome f ormed around us. A few new contestants glanced around with concern, while the experienced contestants looked completely at ease. The other teams were now obscured by the thick trees of the Spring Forest, the place where the War Games took place every year.

"Weapons!" I called, and the Heartisian contestants around me all started to summon their weapons, bows, swords, daggers, even a few axes. The booming voice of Headmaster Taneliorence sounded from invisible speakers, recounting the rules of the War Games, the same each year. "Each team consists of fourteen members and one captain, should the captain be defeated, the team would need at least seven members left for their win to be qualified, however, the team can still gain victory if four members and the captain is left. To defeat other students, break the gemstone strapped to their chests. You are forbidden to remove your own gemstone or casting any form of spell or charm that would prevent it from being broken, automatic disqualification would be issued in doing so. Normally, students should not be able to cross the invisible wall signifying the arena bounds, however, should they try to pass the bounds in any way, automatic disqualification would be issued. All types of cards, potions, and weapons are allowed in the game. The team rankings would be based on how long the team managed to last, and the personal rankings would be based on personal wins and role played during the game, both would be released when only one team is left in the games, and that team would be declared the winner. Above all, under no circumstances is murder allowed."

And yes, by this definition, maiming and serious mutilation is allowed. However, considering that all the contestants come from wealthy and powerful families, that is strongly advised against as a wrong turn of the blade could spark a war. This meant that students like Rodina Paget from the Diamond team who did not come from influential families is in serious risk of losing a limb.

Spades had won the War Games for two years in a row now, and every game before that one year when Hearts broke their perfect record the first year I was the captain. The look on Onyx's face that year was delightful. Unfortunately, just like every year since she started to participate in the games, she still got the highest personal ranking that year, and their team had only lost because another member messed up. I usually came in second, only decimal points behind her, but her spot as personal champion remained steady no matter how hard I trained. I reminded myself that this did not mean I was incompetent compared to her, because she had never broken my gemstone before, neither had anyone else. Hearts had always lost because there weren't enough members left to qualify for victory, never because of a defeated captain, thus why I was elected to lead the team every year.

I turned to my team. "Take out the Spadian contestants first, they are our biggest threat. They will deal with the Clovers and Diamonds teams for us, so when you see a Clovish or Daemia contestant, only strike if you are certain you can get the shot right, else, avoid. Onyx will target the Clovers team first, and we attack right after they are out of the game," I paused, looking each member in the eye. "The Spadians will be tired out by the end of it, this may be our chance at getting champion." I prayed that Tamar would be okay, and that Onyx would at least spare his life. Because of the lack of participants in the Clovers team this year, Tamar's brother, the captain of the Clovers team, had begged him to join so that they could reach the fourteen-member requirement. When I waved goodbye to him went our separate ways, he had looked terrified, awkward in his armor, shaking fingers fumbling with his sword.

Just as I finished, another horn sounded, this one much louder and sinister. The War Games have begun.